The House Moving On

GIRLS YELL

-All right...

-Dad! Come on!

Scholes...!

Paul! Come on!

Go on, in you get.

Right, you two - upstairs. Wash your hands and face,

you've got to look smart for Grandma.

-Your dad's already been on the phone wondering where we are.

-All right!

Mrs Jennings, isn't it?

She has the kettle on every time I deliver.

What did the delightful Mrs Jennings offer you with your cuppa today, then?

-She's 80.

-Yeah, yeah...

Come on boys, chop chop!

And you...

- Hey, Grandad. - Grandad!

They're nice, Tommy.

I wonder what it must be like, getting flowers?

I wonder what it must be like, going out for a pint?

Give us a break, lad. You'll have me crying.

"Pick On Paul Day" today, isn't it?

There you go - now find a chair next door

-to sit down to eat, OK?

-Thank you, cheers.

Give us one of those for your mum.

There you go, Shirley. Is Theresa coming?

She's got tons of work on.

She'll ring later - thanks, love.

Save a piece for Theresa.

Of course.

Thanks, love.

I won't be a minute.

Are you having a piece, Tommy?

RINGING TONE

-PHONE: Hello?

-Theresa, it's me.

Listen, it's Mum's birthday. We're all here. Are you coming over?

Right...I was going to ring later.

Right, well can you do it now, on Dad's mobile, please?

It's from my youngest grandson.

Isn't it sweet? Bless his heart.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

He's got to work on that...

-Theresa.

-I told you she would.

It's my daughter, Theresa.

She's assistant head in a girls' school in Cheshire.

-Hello!

-Hiya, love.

Happy Birthday. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there.

I've been that busy here at work, I'm really sorry.

I know you're busy.

Have you had a nice day? Have you?

Lisa made you a cake? I bet she has.

I'd have made you a cake.

but I've bought you a lovely present, you'll love it.

-Mum? Mum...?

-Shirley?

Are you there?

Shirley!

Excuse me, excuse me.

Shirley? Are you OK? Shirley?

Shirley?

Are you OK? Shirley? Shirley?

Are you OK, love? Shirley?

You all right?

Where's your dad?

He's outside with the kids.

I know I'm not leaving here.

He won't cope on his own.

He'll been fine, Mum. I promise you.

He can't even find the washing machine,

never mind use it.

-I'm the same, me...

-Hush!

Don't get me started on the dishwasher.

We've got enough cracked plates.

He's been on his own before. He'll be fine, I promise.

When I was away looking after your nan,

-he lived on a pan of stew for three days.

-I remember.

So...do me a huge favour.

-Anything.

-It'll really...

-..put my mind at rest.

-Anything, Mum. You know that.

Move in with your dad.

I don't think he'll go for that.

Just ask him. Please?

All right. I'll ask him. For you.

Can we play football, Grandad?

Yeah, go on then. The goal's all set up.

-I'll be out in a minute.

-Thanks.

-Thanks, Grandad.

They'll ruin that lawn, I'm telling you.

Gardens are for playing in.

-How are you coping, Dad?

-I'm fine.

I miss her.

Well, I miss her rabbiting.

-Stop it!

-Leave them.

I'm going to ask you something and I know what you're going to say.

And I won't be offended, but I did promise Mum that I'd ask.

She wants us to move in with you.

All of us. One big happy family.

You know what?

-I think that's a brilliant idea.

-Really?

-All right.

-Don't look too excited.

-LAUGHING:

-No. I thought you'd say no.

All right, I'll ask Lisa.

The doctors have more or less said she won't be coming out of the home.

I thought it was just respite care?

These episodes are more and more frequent.

-Is this linked to her dementia?

-They think so.

-Right, well. I'll try and come visit.

-Well, yeah, that'd help, Theresa.

-Course.

-Listen, we're going to go tomorrow if you want...

Yeah, great. Right, keep me in the loop.

I've got to go. Governor's meeting. OK? Bye.

Right.

Not a peep out of them.

Playing football in Dad's garden.

They love it there, don't they?

I'm not sure Dad's going to be able to cope on his own.

He'll be fine.

Out with it.

Mum's asked if we'd move in with Dad.

-What did he say?

-He's up for it.

-Oh.

-Yeah.

-Right.

But what about the kids' schools?

Well, actually, there's a really good one.

A better one. A couple of streets down from Dad's.

-It might not take them.

-It's in the catchment area.

What about me getting to work?

There's a bus stop round the corner. Straight into town.

It's only a couple of mornings a week, isn't it?

You've certainly thought it all through.

You want a cup of tea?

Yeah.

Right - what happens in the future when your dad's not here?

What do you mean?

Your Theresa's going to want her share of the house.

I don't want to be in my 60s, Paul,

having to find 200,000 quid to buy her out.

Don't be worrying about that.

Look at Donald Trump here!

You were suicidal over a £200 gas bill last month.

-She'll be fine.

-No.

You have to sort it out with her first.

I'll ring my dad.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Go on. What did she say?

-We'd both like to move in.

-Fantastic.

Erm...we're just a bit worried about the future.

What are you going on about?

When the time comes, if anything happened to you...

..well, Theresa would want her share of the house, wouldn't she?

-Don't talk daft. She's your sister.

-No, Dad, she'd be entitled.

And we'd have to move out

because we couldn't buy her share of the house.

Well, in that case, I'll sign it over to you then.

-What?

-I'll do it as soon as, it'll stop you worrying.

What about Theresa?

She won't be bothered -

she's got that big house in Cheshire.

I don't know...

-Are you sure?

-I couldn't be more certain.

And you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to buy a trampoline tomorrow for the kids.

They'll love it.

All right, then. All right, then...yeah.

Well, I'll speak to you in a bit.

Lisa?

Come here...

He wants to sign the house over to us.

-Are you joking?

-No. Honest.

He reckons Theresa won't want it -

says she's got everything she needs already.

What do you think? Are you sure about this?

I'm more than sure.

I'd hate to think of Tommy on his own.

-It'd be good, wouldn't it?

-It'd be brilliant.

Garden, big space,

the kids can have their own bedrooms.

We'd never be able to afford anything like that on our own.

-No, I know.

-Oh, come on.

You know I didn't mean it like that.

Our own house!

Dad? Oh...hello.

Theresa!

-Hiya, boys. I didn't expect to see you.

-Hello.

- Hello. Hello, darling. - Hiya.

-How lovely to see you.

-Hello, Dad. Oh that's new.

Yeah, Grandad bought it.

-Hi.

-Hiya.

Right. So...how's Mum?

Oh, fine.

Well, you'll see for yourself in a minute, won't you?

I feel so guilty.

It's so hard managing work and getting over here to see her.

That motorway's a nightmare, you know?

-And now you're all on your own...

-No, don't worry.

Anyway, we've decided on something that's going to help us all.

Oh? What's that?

We're going to be moving in.

-Sorry?

-We've all agreed it might be a good idea

if we were to move in here.

Oh.

Oh, right. No, that's a great idea, yes.

Yes - I've got such a busy schedule coming up,

I've been worried about how I was going to juggle everything.

That's a huge weight off my mind.

-Exactly. So you don't have to do anything.

-Yep.

Yeah...that's a real relief, that. Yeah.

You don't know how busy I've been at work lately.

I'm running around 24/7. It's been hard.

Well, we can do all the running around here then.

Finished that?

Yeah - won't know what to do with yourselves, will you?

All this space!

Well, it certainly is plenty to look after.

But it'll be worth it, won't it?

I mean, this is such a lovely area.

-We'll miss the old place, actually.

-Really?

Yeah. You'll soon see the benefit.

I mean, the schools here are excellent.

We were happy with St Pat's.

Ofsted was never going to rate that "Outstanding".

We're doing this for your mum and dad, Theresa.

She knows Dad'll be looked after.

Well, yeah, good. Sorted.

It seems perfect for everyone, doesn't it?

Look, shall we make a move?

You will be coming back here for your dinner, won't you?

-Oh Dad, I should be getting back.

-Go on.

We don't see you enough as it is.

-All right.

-Great. I'll go the chippie.

-I'll make us a pudding.

-Oh, lovely. A special pudding.

Dad. Come with me.

-Give my love to your mum.

-Ta.

She's all smiles now.

-Wait until you tell her the full story.

-She'll be fine.

Make your tiramisu.

You'll have to have my bag on your lap - no room.

But the roof's off, so it's good.

-There we are.

-Thanks very much, love.

-Hi!

-Theresa!

This is my daughter, the assistant headmistress.

- Nice to meet you. - Hi.

Brought you this.

Oh...

SHIRLEY GASPS

Oh, how lovely. How thoughtful.

-I knew you'd like it.

-Oh, I do.

-It looks expensive.

-Oh, it's my treat.

And I've got some good news to share with you.

Our head teacher is seriously ill, so...

Obviously, that's not the good news,

but it does mean she's going to be retiring early.

So as from next term, I'll be...

Head teacher?!

How about that!

-It's great, isn't it?

-So proud of you, sweetheart.

Mum, Mum, they're back!

Right, get the knives and forks for me.

You hungry?

You want the mat, Lisa?

-Want some of this?

-Not for me.

MESSAGE TONE

Cheers.

-It's a lovely chippy, that.

-Yes.

You'll be able to treat the boys more often

now you're not paying any rent, won't you?

Anyone fancy tiramisu?

No, thanks, I don't do dairy.

I wish you'd said.

Sorry.

-Come on, you two.

-Where are you going?

Going to the supermarket. I promised them ice cream.

-But I've made tiramisu!

-You two can catch up.

-Come on.

-See ya!

Right, I'll do these dishes.

Theresa, you're all right with us moving in, aren't you?

Yeah. Yeah, I mean...saves me a few problems.

And it's great for you, isn't it?

I'm doing it because Mum asked us to.

Listen, we realised that...

..when Dad...passes on...

-Um...

-Go on.

We'd have to find 200,000 to pay your share of the house.

And we don't have that.

And my works pension's not going to be much, so...

-So we made an arrangement.

-Right. What arrangement?

Well, we know that you're OK for money. So, Dad...

He...he gave us the house.

That means we can look after him, long-term.

And of course when he gets older,

-it's going to be much more difficult...

-Hang on.

Are you saying you think this house is some sort of reward

for looking after him?

No, I'm doing it because he's my dad.

-Really?

-Yeah, really. Honestly.

No.

No. There's no honesty about this at all.

So you've worked your way out of some pokey little two-up two-down,

with a postage-stamp back yard,

into some great big four-bedroom detached house?

I'm doing it because he's my dad. That's why I'm doing it...

-Massive garden, tree-lined avenue...

-He loves having us here.

-That's why we're here.

-Right.

-Cos he loves having you around, that's everything?

-Listen! Listen!

You moved away. I've always been here...

I moved away for my job, Paul!

And that meant I could help them out financially.

-With my job, I can't!

-Cash-strapped postman. I've heard it.

-It's not about money.

-It's all about the money!

I decided to have a career, which I have worked really hard for,

because of that, I've got to give up my share of this house?

Theresa, you don't need the money and you don't want to move.

Some people would be grateful we're taking their parents on.

Listen, listen, you! I gave what I had to give,

and that happened to be financial.

You two are a pair of saints, are you?

-You're saints because you decide to give a bit of time to my dad?

-We have no money to give.

We've never taken anything off anybody.

No? No? Caribbean holiday, two years ago? Not remember that?

What? Mum and Dad gave us that. As a treat.

I paid for that, Paul. I paid for all of you.

This is about principle.

You two, you amble through life, not a care in the world.

Then you think, "Tell you what - let's move in, take the house.

-"We'll be set for life!"

-It's not about that.

Of course it is. I can see it now.

You two, conniving together

on your deceitful, selfish little plan...

You're the selfish one!

You write a little cheque,

you press a button on your little computer

-and that's it, your job's done.

-Don't be stupid!

I work my day round Mum and Dad.

You get six weeks off school for summer.

You've got no work, you've got no kids to go home to,

and we still never see you.

Leave it!

You know what? I'm always here for Mum and Dad.

You visit on Christmas Day, and that's it.

-We never see you again until Easter.

-Get off!

Go on, then. Off you go. Like you always do.

Why don't you come back when you get to grips with it?

Tell you what - I can look after Dad by myself, thank you very much.

He's not even your real dad!

THERESA SNIFFS

You don't believe her, do you?

Why would she say it?

Because she's a horrible, selfish cow!

DOOR CLICKS SHUT

-Hiya.

-Hiya. You've been ages, where did you go?

I took them down the Italian. It's proper ice cream there.

-Are you coming?

-Yes!

-Where's Theresa?

-Oh, she had to get off.

-Oh...

-Grandad, come on, we're waiting!

Yes, I'm coming!

MOBILE RINGS

Theresa.

Don't answer it.

I can't have kids, Paul.

We've been trying for years. We've tried everything.

IVF - we even paid private.

It's impossible.

I didn't know.

No-one knows.

It's just that...when you said all that stuff

about summer holidays, with no kids...

-It just really got to me.

-If I'd have known...

I didn't mean to say what I said about Dad.

-I was so upset and I was so tired.

-Is it true?

No.

You and Lisa were ganging up on me, and...

I didn't know how to get back at you. I didn't know what to say.

You always know what to say.

It's not true, Paul.

Please, you've got to believe me.

-Please, you've got to believe me...

-OK.

You do?

Yeah.

Promise me you'll just forget all about this.

OK.

Good.

I've got to go. We'll speak soon, yeah?

Bye.

She's lying.

I need to speak to my mum.

# I'll wait here

# For you... #

Hm...

Oh...

-How's Theresa?

-Yeah, good.

-She get home all right?

-Yeah, she did. She's fine.

-Thanks.

-Me and her were talking, actually.

-Oh?

-Can I ask you a question?

-Yes, sure.

-It doesn't matter.

-Hm?

-Yeah, it doesn't matter.

I was just...thinking. It's fine.

# ..And if you still can't see

# Still my hearts beats, for you

# Have become

# All I lost

# And all I hoped for

# But I

# Must carry on

# Always one

# Never broken... #

I couldn't do it.

# Don't give a damn for your reasons why

# Where soul feels

# Down in the valley where the church bells cry

# I'll lead them over to your eyes

# Whoa

# I am one. #

Oi! No running in the house.

Sorry - we're going to play in the garden on the trampoline.

-Paul!

-Yeah?

Which bedroom's ours?

Dad, which bedroom's ours?

-In there.

-No, no, that's yours.

It's no problem. I'll have the spare.

-Dad, we can't...

-No!

Thanks, Tommy.

Oh, they love it here, don't they? He's so great with them.

He's not even their real grandad.

-Theresa?

-Paul.

-You all right?

-Yeah. You?

-Yeah...sort of.

-Yeah.

How long have you known you can't have kids?

About eight years.

You should have said.

Yeah - I think I just wanted to shut myself away from it all.

We just thought if was cos you were so focused on your career.

You know - everything you've gone for, you got.

The job, this car, the big house and that.

It's the whole package, isn't it?

It's you that's got the whole package now -

kids, the house, all the security that comes with that,

and I'm made up for you. Honestly. I am.

But so have you.

You're so successful at everything you do.

You think that makes up for not having kids?

Not in a million years.

-You could have had our two.

-Yeah, I could.

And that'd be great, because I love them to bits. I do.

Maybe that's why I don't come visit as much.

I see what I'm missing.

-Here. I will knock next time I visit.

-No, no, come on.

I've got the house by default, haven't I?

-He's not even my dad.

-He is, Paul.

I know you. Just tell me, please. Just tell me.

-It was just rumours at school. It...

-Go on.

You were just young.

I needed to find out.

So I started piecing things together, dates and stuff.

I realised it had to be true.

I am so sorry that I ever opened my mouth.

Paul, he's still our dad.

I'm going to go.

-Can we go play on the trampoline?

-Yes, you can.

We're back!

Oi! Take those bags through with you.

Dad was always very proud of Theresa.

I was just the big disappointment.

-Shhh!

-It's all right. He's in the shower.

See all these awards here? They are all Theresa's. Every one.

She was always the high flyer. People looked up to her.

They still do. University, deputy head at 30 odd.

Now she's going to be head teacher.

And look at me - I'm just Postman Pat.

I thought, first-born, Daddy's little girl.

But now I realise that it's...

She is actually his child.

I might find that I have more in common with my real father.

I'm going to see my mum tomorrow, see how she is.

And then I'm going to have to ask her who he is.

You all right, Dad?

What's wrong? Is it Mum? Is she all right?

She's sleeping at the mo.

-I'll take that.

-It's OK, I'll take them.

Listen. Listen, please.

If you and Lisa and the kids hadn't moved in...

-..I don't what I'd have done.

-It's all right, Dad.

It's great, having you there.

Even the kids, 24/7.

What I really want to say is...

I love you and your sister just the same.

Give over, Dad, you're embarrassing me.

I'm being honest when I tell you that I am so proud of both of you.

I know. I know, Dad.

But I don't want your mother to go through any more suffering.

And it's only fair that you should know the truth.

Jonathan Hope.

Optician.

He's got a place on Leighton Street.

-I'll take that.

-Yeah...thanks.

Some with frames, some frameless...

-Can I help you, sir?

-Yeah. Can I get my eyes tested?

Yeah - if you want to follow me.

If you just want to fill in this patient registration form.

It's all pretty straightforward.

I thought Paul was coming in.

Later.

Mr Williams? Would you like to come this way?

-Thanks for fitting me in.

-No problem. We had a cancellation.

Take a seat.

Did you fill in our form?

Thank you very much.

-Paul Williams?

-Yeah.

-53 Windsor Street?

-No, actually. I've just moved.

Right.

To...?

22 Chesterfield Drive.

22 Chesterfield Drive.

Any relation to Tommy and Shirley Williams?

They're my parents.

Right.

Last thing. Date of birth?

10th May 1979.

Tenth...of the fifth...1979.

Right - let's, er...have a look at your eyes.

-OK?

-Yeah.

On the chart, what line are you most comfortable with?

Second from bottom.

Can you read it, please?

K-A-R-M-C-B-H.

Are you....moving in with your parents?

Just my dad.

Oh, I'm sorry.

-Has your mum passed away?

-No.

She's in a care home, in Heywood.

-Is it Sunny View?

-Sorry?

The care home - only I've got a couple of people up there.

No. Green Oak.

It's closer, easier for my dad to visit.

Can we have the same line again, please?

K-A-R-M-C-B-H.

Now, if you just look straight ahead.

-Do you have any children?

-Two boys. Eight and ten.

-You?

-Three.

How old?

My girl's 39, twin boys, 37.

Now the other eye.

How do you know my parents?

They're...customers here.

Strange, that. Because they don't wear specs.

Have you come here to speak to me?

Yeah.

Me and your mum were dancing partners at the local ballroom,

and...we fell in love.

She became pregnant.

DOOR OPENS

Is he back yet?

No.

'Did you ditch her?

'Quite the opposite.'

We made a pact.

We were going to run away and live together.

Even though you both had families?

We were in love. We didn't intend it to happen.

We were going to tell the families the truth...and leave.

Down to London on the train.

But I broke the pact.

I got home...and I just couldn't do it.

I wasn't brave enough.

I never said a word.

What did my mum say?

I don't know. I never told her.

She must have been standing at the station for hours.

She and...and your sister.

I heard that your dad had to get them.

Brought them both home.

We were in love. Honestly.

Just her more than you, eh?

No. I did love her.

I just wasn't brave enough to do anything about it.

I really regret what happened back then.

And I am so ashamed that I turned my back on her and...

..you.

PAUL SNIFFS

Were you ever curious about us?

Do you think I...could go and see your mum at the care home?

I don't know.

You'd have to ask my dad.

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