A Taste of Honey Doctors

'Good morning.'

Morning.

'Oh, darling.

'When will you learn to hang your clothes up properly?'

I'm sorry.

It's so nice that you still keep an eye on me.

'Well, someone had to.

'I don't think you can be trusted on your own.

'How is the garden looking?'

Oh, it's going so well.

We've got crocuses, and snowdrops, and...

-CHAINSAW BUZZES

-'What is that noise?'

It's him. He's cut down the laburnum tree.

'Oh, dear. He's such a dreadful man.

'But you mustn't upset yourself.'

It's so hard. When you see beautiful things being destroyed.

And you can put that there.

Actually, over here.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You don't half carry a lot of stuff.

I didn't know which media to use - ink, watercolour, charcoal, Polaroid.

Seems like a hell of a palaver for a blooming picture.

-Would you say that if I was a civil engineer or an architect?

-No, maybe not.

So this is about my career choice then is it?

-Who said that?

-You did.

You've always seen art as airy-fairy.

-Much less important than science or technology.

-I worry. Not everyone can be Andy Warhol.

I'm not doing this cos I want to be famous. I'm doing it because this is who I am.

-Don't let me stop you.

-I won't.

-I'll pick you up at six.

Aw!

'Who is that girl? She's not from round here.

'Do something, Albert. Do something.'

Hello. Who's there?

Hello?

How's daddy's beautiful boy, his brave boy?

Don't boost his ego too much. He'll start turning into you.

Worse things he could be.

Daddy's perfect, precious little paragon.

You're starting to sound predictable.

-Who is the cleverest boy in the whole wide world?

-Let me see, is it world chess champion Garry Kasparov?

Or theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking?

No, it's Joseph Granger Carmichael.

You amaze me.

I am going to ring my dad,

see if he has any insight into Joe's super-powers.

I'll leave you boys to bond.

Right, that's enough, I'm going to call the police.

No, don't do that.

Who are you?

Well, who are you? You don't live here.

I think I do, actually. My family are about to move in.

Of course. You must be Violet's niece.

I'm her great-great-niece.

Yes, I can certainly see the resemblance.

And you are?

Bilberry. Albert Bilberry.

I live just over the road, I like to keep an eye on this place.

Imogen.

-Sorry?

-Imogen.

Millicent? What a lovely name.

Yes. It is.

And you're moving into a wonderful house,

with a marvellous garden,

but I expect you'll want to tear it all up.

-Put down some decking, or a patio, or a swimming pool.

-No way. I love this garden.

I've just been sketching it, actually.

Oh, Millicent, you really do have an eye.

Thank you. It's for an art project.

The theme is actually Home Sweet Home, and as we're about to move in here...

My daughter's an artist.

Is she? Anyone I would have heard of?

-Emma Titchborne.

-What sort of stuff does she do?

Oh, she does all sorts. Portraits, landscapes...

I think she's done a few of this house actually.

Really?

Yes, come over and see them. I've got quite a collection.

All right.

I'm off for a coffee. So can I...

Hello.

You said do some bonding.

They say skin-to-skin is the best way.

Don't let me stop you.

Although he is looking rather interested in your left nipple.

He's doing really well, isn't he?

And we seem to have recovered.

So maybe we can take him home tomorrow.

Zara, we've been through all of this. He's just not ready.

I, er, like the colours.

Mmm, yes.

Does she always do her work in just acrylic?

Goodness me, no, they take more than just a minute.

She sometimes spends half an hour to an hour on one of these paintings.

I know they're a bit old-fashioned, but she lives down in Cornwall,

and they sell like hot cakes in all the tourist shops.

I've always wanted to go to Cornwall.

You know loads of artists live there because of the light quality.

Emma sometimes says I should move down, but...

I love this place.

I lived here with my parents, and I moved back with my wife.

If I moved away, it would be like losing my life story.

Is that your wife?

Yeah.

Ann.

She passed away last year.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, don't be. We had many happy years together.

And I do still hear her talking to me.

-Are you there, darling?

-'Of course I'm here. Where else would I be?'

You don't think I'm mad, do you?

'Who's the mad one? Have you seen the state of her hair?'

I don't, actually. Loads of great artists heard voices.

And I always feel she's a part of this house.

It's a precious, peaceful place, and I look after it for her.

-We still have a couple of hives out in the garden. Would you like to see them?

-Yeah.

Good.

CHAINSAW BUZZES

What's that noise?

That...

..is the enemy.

He'll be fine. We're both doctors.

Look at him, he's tiny.

He's a baby. He WILL get bigger.

And what if something goes wrong?

You are turning into such a new man. You're practically an old woman.

Because I care about the welfare of our child?

We'll just let Daddy COOL OFF for a bit, shall we?

-CHAINSAW BUZZES

-Excuse me.

Excuse me!

-HE TURNS CHAINSAW OFF

-Yes?

What are you doing?

What does it look like?

How can you cut down a living thing that's been there for 100 years?

Well, why don't you stick around and I will show you.

You're a barbarian.

Mr Bilberry,

I have told you a thousand times why the tree has to go.

And I've got full permission from the council.

Just cos you've got permission doesn't make it right.

Oh, look who it is - Swampy.

How can you cut down a tree he's seen since he was a boy?

Because it's MY house. I can do what I like.

But if you want to buy it, and turn it into a nature reserve, then go ahead make me an offer.

Don't worry, Millicent.

CHAINSAW BUZZES

I've tried and I've tried. There's nothing we can do.

Oh, Freya, I'm so glad you got my text.

What text?

You know, about not wearing anything too smart.

Oh, yeah, I got your text. I was going to wear something else

but then I thought I'd just put this old thing on.

Well, you look great.

Thanks.

So, come on, where we going?

A ceramic cafe.

A ceramic... A what?

What did he mean when he said he'd told you a thousand times why it had to go?

He said his wife was something with the council,

and he needed the space to get her wheels in.

Great(!)

Because she's a some big cheese with a four-by-four,

we've got to ruin the environment.

I feel so helpless. I wonder what Ann would say.

'Feed the bees.'

What?!

'Feed the bees.'

Oh, my word. I forgot.

What is it?

I must feed the bees.

They find it so hard to survive at this time of year.

Do you want some help?

Of course, I'll...

I'll find you a veil.

So what am I meant to do exactly?

It's very simple. You just paint a plate.

Any particular colour?

No, an actual painting.

Just let your creative spirit run free, yeah?

Well that's going to be a bit of a problem.

I'm not very creative on Fridays.

Tuesday's normally my muse day. Wednesday...

It's meant to be fun. I'm in a craft group too.

-OK.

-Oi! It's just to, like, escape from the stresses of the day.

Just move your brush, and see where it takes you.

All right, you're on.

What are you doing?.

I'm not letting you see till it's finished.

That's a bit mean.

-I don't think Picasso had people poking their noses in.

-Ah, OK.

Go, Pablo.

No, don't. Don't.

SHE LAUGHS

-Where is the beehive?

-Follow me.

It's like a picture book.

Is it all right if I go and get my camera?

Of course. I feel sorry for young people nowadays.

They spend all their lives in front of one box or another.

But a beehive is a true box of delights.

Right, time's up.

Put your brush down.

You show me yours, I'll show mine.

Nn-nn. After you.

No, you go first.

You did that on your own?

I did.

It's like you've taken a photo and put it on there.

It's all mine. Right. Let's see yours, then.

No. I don't think that the world is ready for my masterpiece.

SHE LAUGHS: Come on.

OK.

Ta-da!

SHE LAUGHS

Who is that?!

It's meant to be you!

Aw, sorry. No, I can see the resemblance now.

A nose in the middle. An eye on either side.

I'm sorry.

Aw. No.

At least you had a go at it.

At this time of year, the queen should be laying her eggs,

but there's very little food around.

So we like to put down some sugar solution.

-Oh, that's very good.

-It's just for reference.

Come a little closer, you can listen to the bees.

I can't hear anything.

You can always hear something.

In the summer, the hive seems to hum as they beat their wings

to provide air conditioning.

And this time of year, they're having a spring clean

and they fly forth with their droppings.

Good morning, ladies. And drones.

Where are they?

I don't know.

They're gone. They've all gone.

I read an article once about bees disappearing.

Some people blamed intensive agriculture and other people said it was mobile phone masts.

-Well, I know who I blame.

-Who?

-That maniac next door. The tree murderer.

-You don't think he actually...?

I don't think he came in and poisoned them.

But all he's ever done is cut down trees.

He's ripped out the heart of his own garden.

So the bees have nowhere to forage,

and they take their colony elsewhere.

Do you want a glass of water?

I want that man to go back where he came from.

He's a waste of space!

This used to be a very nice road, and he's destroying it.

Would you like to say that to my face?

-Nardee!

-My baby! Oh, look at you.

Come on then, little one.

I'm not afraid of you. It's time someone stood up to you.

Mr Bilberry, I have tried to be a good neighbour.

Good neighbour?! You've done nothing but destroy the neighbourhood.

-Just like you destroy everything else.

-What?

You bring women home at all hours of the day and night.

Heaven knows what your wife must think about it.

You're a completely immoral, work-shy layabout.

What do you mean "work-shy"?

You told me you didn't work.

You said your wife was something with the council,

and you were lived off her.

OK. Let me tell you again.

I did not say my wife was something with the council,

I said she was suffering with cancer.

Which is why I had to cut down that tree, to give her wheelchair access.

That's why I don't work because I'm looking after her.

And, yes, there are women visiting at all hours of the night.

They're Macmillan nurses.

'Oh, Albert.

'When will you ever learn to think first and speak later?'

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

What's the matter with him?

-I don't know

-Help me, Millicent, help me.

You recovered from your little moment of madness?

There is no way that we can think about taking him home right now.

Joe is fine. He's getting stronger every day.

And what if something does go wrong do you want to be miles away from a dedicated baby unit? No.

We'll keep on bringing him in every day.

And he'll keep having checks and tests we'll cope.

-Have you got a phone on you?

-I must have left it somewhere

He's probably got one.

-What's this?

-It's a glucose meter. He's diabetic.

Well, what do we do?

He might have had a hypo which means he needs some sugar.

Don't worry, Mr Bilberry, you're going to be all right.

-What...? What's happening?

-Everything's going to be fine.

For the past few days, I've... been trying to keep it together,

and I'm finding it so hard.

I had no idea.

Got to stop thinking how we nearly lost him.

But the point is we didn't.

We came really close though.

When I found out you'd gone into labour so early,

I thought that I might lose both of you.

Daniel, I'm fine. Joe is fine.

I wanted everything to be perfect, you know?

And then I came in...

..and I saw you lying there

I know.

And now I look at him and I think, what if he falls ill

and there's nothing I can do for him?

How was it for you?

THEY LAUGH

It was a real eye-opener actually.

Really?

Mmm. I didn't know there was quite so much talent

in these little fat fingers.

Well you know, if you fancy, you could always come around to mine.

I could make us some veggie lasagne, we could christen the plates.

I do fancy.

I would love to lick your face clean.

I mean, oh, I'm sorry.

I DO know how you feel.

Believe me, the image of Princess Bubblegum in a blood-spattered wedding dress

is going to stay with me forever.

But Joe's birth WAS perfect it was perfect because it was HIS birth.

The beginning of his story.

You really think he's ready to come home?

I don't know.

We'll have to see what the experts have to say.

But we can't keep him cocooned forever.

No, I suppose not.

He's fine.

Thank you.

He's OK now, Heston. Thank you.

OK, bye.

Oh, dear.

I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble, but I get so confused.

And because I can't always hear what people are saying...

I find myself losing my temper these days as well.

And it was such a shock to find the bees had gone.

Mr Bilberry, you don't keep bees any more.

What?!

You told me, when I moved in, you stopped keeping them

after your wife died.

Ah, yeah. Of course.

They swarmed.

And they all flew away.

Er...I have to get back to Eileen but I'll pop in later.

Thank you so much.

-Thanks. Bye.

-Bye-bye.

What is going to become of me?

I seem to cause trouble wherever I go.

I'm sure he understands.

The problem is, I can't seem to cope without my queen.

See some people can survive without their partner,

but I'm like a bee.

I need guidance.

But you do have a daughter in Cornwall.

I'm sure she doesn't really want me.

But she sent you all those pictures of where she's living.

I'm sure that's a sign.

I couldn't leave this house

I couldn't leave my wife.

It's a house full of memories.

This is where I belong.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Who's that?

I'm sure that's just my dad.

Hi. Your mum said you'd be here.

Ah, you must be Mr Bilberry.

That's right.

Rob Hollins.

Such an honour to meet you.

You have a wonderful, kind, and talented daughter.

And don't I just know it?

I think you really should go now. I'll be fine.

-Are you sure?

-Of course.

-I'll come and see you tomorrow.

-Oh, thank you.

Goodbye, Millicent.

Bye.

Now then, madam, can I tempt you to anything else?

No, thank you, Nardee, I'm full up.

OK, well, in that case

there is a very special surprise for you up in your bedroom.

-Really?

-You go up and I'll be up in a minute.

I'm just going to tidy up.

I thought you were going to photograph this place?

Yeah, but the theme is Home Sweet Home and what house is sweeter than a beehive?

-Dad?

-Mmm?

Imagine if something happened to mum, but she carried on talking to you,

like, giving you instructions from the other side.

Yeah, I'm sure that death won't stop your mother talking.

Mr Bilberry's wife talks to him.

But I just don't understand

why would she tell him to go and feed the bees

if they flew off months ago?

That will remain one of life's great mysteries.

They're dead.

They're all dead.

'No darling. They flew away.

'When I said feed the bees, I meant feed yourself.

'My little worker bee needs his honey.'

You always look after me.

I miss you so much.

'I know. And I'll always be with you.

'But you need to listen to her.'

Who?

'The girl. She's right, you know.

'You need to follow the bees, and fly south to live with Emma.'

I... I couldn't leave our house.

'Of course you can. And I'll be with you.'

I love you.

'I love you too.'

BEES BUZZING

Chloe?

Sweetie, what are you up to?

I'm looking for my surprise.

It's here, sweetheart. It's that pussy cat.

Hey, what's the matter?

Please don't tell me you've grown out of them?

I'm so sorry, it's just that I haven't seen you for such a long time.

No. I thought my surprise was Daddy.

Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry.

I haven't seen him for weeks.

I know.

You know something?

Your daddy really loves you.

And no matter where he is,

he loves you very, very much.

Hmm? Yes. Come here. There's a good girl.

-Chloe did mention.

-What?

-That she's missing her dad

Bravo. Bravo!

I thought you were going to open the Sancerre?

Yes, but with the red meat, I thought...

I'm sorry, what has this got to do with your wife's first husband?

I know he's not real.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd