Blind Moving On

'Who knows what the future has in store for us?

'Who can tell what's around the corner?

'But whatever life throws at you, accept it,

'and embrace the joy of the unknown.'

I don't know what you do that takes so long but we are running late now.

I've got a job to go to straight after this.

-I'm sick of this, Terry.

-I've been waiting for you downstairs.

-I couldn't find the instructions!

-I told you not to.

-Because you always get lost.

-I don't get lost at all.

-I know exactly where I am going. I planned it.

-Honestly...

Every single time this happens. Now we are running late now.

Well, that's not my fault, is it?

'Let's face it, we've all got a date with destiny.

'It's a blind date, but that only makes the journey more exciting.

'As you find your path in life, proceed with courage,

'with resolution, and integrity.

'And remember - there's nothing you can't do.

'There's no-one you can't be.'

There you go, Becks. Home from home.

-Thanks, Dad.

-Come here.

I know it's a big step but you're going to love it.

Look at me.

You're going to have a wonderful time.

These are the best years of your life.

The best years, I mean it.

Thanks, Mum.

We should start making tracks.

Come here. You are just a phone call away.

Thanks, Dad.

Well, she can always come home if she doesn't take to it.

I didn't go to uni. I got a trade. It's not the be-all and end-all.

You can't put a price on a good education.

Actually, you can. It's 27 grand.

It's all about the money with you, isn't it?

Three years reading novels and she'll be working in a call centre.

Yeah, well, at least she won't end up living in a cultural wasteland.

Right, yeah. Just broke with no prospects.

She'll be paying that loan off for the rest of her life.

Where are you going?

Jenny!

I've got a job to get to!

Hey, it's me, Jenny. How are you?

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-'Hey, mate.'

-All right, Kev?

'Are you on your way?'

No, I'm still at the university.

Um, an hour and a half if Jenny gets a move on.

HE HONKS CAR HORN

-It was so great to see you.

-Bye-bye.

Yeah, I'll pick it up on the way back. All right, bye.

-Who was that?

-Old friend from uni.

You want to watch out for that empty nest syndrome.

It's like grief but without the death.

George, put your comfy shoes on.

Women feel it most,

especially if they're going through the menopause.

-Jenny's 39.

-George, are you deaf?

Is she getting hot flushes? Mood swings?

Suddenly going off sex?

Suddenly(?)

I said the trolley, not the bag!

You said no such thing.

Just do as you're told, you stupid man!

If my missus spoke to me like that, you wouldn't see me for dust.

We're just going out to the shops, Terry.

Righto, Mrs B.

I told you to put your comfy shoes on.

Ugh, I'm fine in these! Stop going on, woman.

-What is the point?

-I'm fine in these.

And don't forget, there'll be a student counsellor

if you need any advice.

Mum, I'm fine, honestly. You can't be calling me every ten minutes.

-All right.

-Stop worrying.

-I've got to go.

-Bye, love.

-Bye.

Jen?

Jen?

Jen?

Ugh, perfect.

BIRDS CHIRP

ALUMINIUM CANS CRASH Right, I'm off.

-Just the six cans last night, was it?

-There was a match on.

Yeah, well, I'll put that on your gravestone.

-Oh, don't start.

-You're a heart attack waiting to happen

and it's like talking to a brick wall.

Can we not get through one day without...

Listen...

How about we go out tonight, ey? I'll treat you.

You feeling all right?

Yeah, I've had a cheque come in.

We could have meal and a few drinks. Ey? Yeah?

She's made friends with a girl from Belfast. Fionnuala.

That's good.

-They're off to a fancy dress party later.

-Right.

-I hope they don't drink too much.

-Hm.

What's the score?

Sorry.

Pie's good.

-How's the salad?

-Yeah.

A bottle of wine.

Here she is. Over here. Hiya.

Love the T-shirt.

Well rid!

THEY CHEER

Happy divorce party!

Well rid!

I'm not taking anyone's side.

All I'm saying is we don't know his half of the story.

"Well rid" doesn't mean he just left the cap off the toothpaste!

Haven't you had enough?

I'm beginning to feel like that, yeah.

I can do that. You know, I can make noises.

It's fun that, isn't it?

Give it a rest, Terry, I'm not in the mood.

Oh, you're always in a mood.

Get out of my way.

Move!

Shall we do this, then, eh?

-Do what?

-Get down to it? The nitty-gritty.

Oh, leave me alone, Terry. I'm tired.

-I'm really, really tired.

-Well, you're not the only one.

Look, I know you're upset about Becca...

..but that's not all it is, is it?

Is it the menopause?

Do you think you need to go and see a doctor?

Oh, give me strength.

Well, what is it, then?! Give me a clue for...!

I don't know, Terry, OK? I don't know.

Is there somebody else?

Ha-ha, I wish I had the time.

Keep your fingers crossed

and that heart attack might happen sooner than you think.

The reason I go on about your weight

is because I want you to live!

Have you looked in the mirror lately?

You could do with losing a few pounds yourself.

I am sorry I ever married you.

Well, how do you think I feel?

OK, well, I think you're lazy, I think you're selfish.

You don't lift a finger round the house.

You eat like a pig. And you're a cheapskate.

-Oh, you what?!

-You heard.

-I just took you for a meal.

To the pub. For an early bird special.

Well, listen,

I am sorry that your life's been all downhill since you met me.

-I'm sorry there is nothing on the horizon...

-Oh, do not, Terry...

..but misery and boredom...

Do not play the martyr with me!

All I want is for you to do your fair share!

You're not a day at the beach yourself, you miserable cow!

Is that too much to ask?!

DOORBELL RINGS

Ah, sorry, mate, I don't give on the doorstep.

Is Jennifer in?

Wow. Motivational speaking. That must be interesting.

It's better than working for a living.

I thought you said you were a lecturer.

I've taken a sabbatical.

I'm doing a couple of workshops at the local college.

Listen, have I come at a bad time?

No, no, no, it's great to see you, Daniel.

I shouldn't have just dropped in.

It's fine, honestly.

So, tell me about these workshops.

Well, there's not much to tell, really.

I just try to give people a reason to get up of a morning.

Well, I get of a morning cos I've got to go to work.

So what else is there?

And you're married now, yeah?

-Five years.

-What's her name?

Allegra. I've got a photograph here somewhere.

Any kids?

No, we talked about it, but we like our freedom too much.

She's gorgeous.

I know. I'm a very lucky man.

What are you inviting him round for?

I didn't, I just said if he was ever in the area.

I didn't expect him to turn up tonight.

Haven't you had enough?

He's an old friend who I haven't seen for 20 years.

I think I might "take a sabbatical" at being a spark, eh.

What do you reckon?

I reckon it's nice to have some intelligent company for once.

Why's he carrying a photo of his wife around with him?

-I mean, what's the point?

-Oh, what's the point in you?

You've sat there all night and you haven't said a dickie bird.

Allegra. Sounds like a car.

Can't you just be civil for once in your life?

You OK there, Daniel?

I'm fine, thanks, Jen. Listen, I better make a move,

-I've still got to find a hotel.

-OK, mate, I'll call you a cab.

No, you can stay here. I'll make up Becca's room.

No, thanks, Jen, but I couldn't impose.

-You wouldn't be imposing.

-MOUTHS SILENTLY

Another glass of wine, Dan?

MUSIC PLAYS DOWNSTAIRS AND JENNY LAUGHS

# I would go out tonight but I haven't got a stitch to wear. #

LAUGHTER

LAUGHTER

Sh! Jen! Ha-ha!

-Sh. Good night, Jen.

-Night, Dan.

GUITAR MUSIC PLAYS

So how long have you been doing this motivational thing?

A few years now. Are you going to stay and listen?

I would do, but I can't be bothered.

Listen, when I'm done here, I'll check into a hotel.

No, you won't. Why?

I heard you rowing last night.

It's nothing.

Well, it didn't sound like nothing.

You OK?

I'm fine. Everything's fine.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

I'm in the way, though. I'll check into a hotel anyway.

You don't need a hotel! You can stay as long as you like.

Well, when you put it like that, how can I say no?

Terry and I aren't getting on.

Becca going to uni has just brought it all to a head,

but to be honest, it's been like that for a while.

Well, you know what Montaigne said -

a good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.

Or a dead husband.

-We've got nothing in common.

-You must've done once.

Whatever it was, we've lost it.

You'll work it out.

I don't even know if I want to.

Hey, look, there's one of your posters.

I've never met a famous person before.

Do you have one of those earpieces like Britney Spears?

Yes, I'm just like Britney.

Mr Tanner? I'm Claire Price. We spoke on the phone.

Ah, yes, I never forget a voice.

So lovely to meet you. We're ready for you now.

-OK.

-Good luck, Dan. I'll see you tonight.

Not if I see you first.

I'm looking forward to this. It should be good.

How many people are we expecting?

-PHONE RINGS

-Has he got bad eyesight or is he proper blind?

Sunglasses, guide dog, all that?

He's blind, what do you want me to say?

-Was he born like that?

-I don't know, I didn't ask.

George, will you get that?

It'd be worse to go blind, wouldn't it?

You know, have something then lose it.

I don't know, I haven't really thought about it.

-PHONE CONTINUES TO RING

-George, are you deaf or what?!

I wish I was, then I wouldn't have to listen to you all day long.

I asked you to get the phone.

Why? It's never for me.

-Are you glued to that chair?!

-How do you go from that...to this?

It's a lot easier than you think.

What is the point of being alive?

I'm hanging on so I can see you off.

Dan, that was amazing. You were fantastic!

No autographs, please.

No seriously, it was inspiring. I've never seen anything like it.

You need to get out more.

You should have been there. "See beyond your own limitations."

You pulled a sickie?

They were coming out of that conference hall

feeling ten feet tall.

(What is he still doing here?)

Right, what does everyone want for tea?

-I've not got much in but...

-Don't worry about food,

I was going to take you both out for dinner anyway.

No, no, I can find something.

No, I insist. It's the least I can do.

Wow. You look...

-MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

-Tell Daniel the taxi's here.

-So, have you been here before?

-What, with him?

It's a bit pricey, isn't it?

How do you know you're not getting ripped off?

-What do you mean?

-You can't see the bill, can you?

You've just got to trust people, Terry.

Terry's right, though. We can't let you pay for everything.

No, it's fine, honestly. I've had an advance from my publisher.

I've got a new book of poetry coming out.

You never said! Gosh, it's been a long time.

Tell me about it.

Oh, Daniel, that's brilliant. Congratulations.

-I'm sure it'll fly off the shelves.

-I'm sure it will.

I'll probably end up giving more away.

Oh, it was crazy, Jenny, and the humidity.

I was glad to get out of there in the end.

And then I lived in Paris for a few years.

-Of course you did.

-What was that like?

Paris? Oh, it was wonderful. Except for the French.

I took Becca there for a weekend once. We had a ball.

Did you not go with them, Terry?

No, I had a big job on.

Terry's more of a Benidorm man.

There's nothing wrong with Benidorm.

No, I went to Benidorm a couple of years back for a stag weekend.

Had a brilliant time. Loved every minute of it.

I work my plums off all year, all I want is somewhere I can relax.

I want a pool, a pint and a bit of sun.

You just want what you always want.

I wouldn't bet on that, love.

Well, it's a filthy habit, I know, but I hope you don't mind

if I step outside.

-I'll join you.

-You've given up.

One's not going to kill me, is it?

Cheers. Another thimble of beer here, love.

I'm going to go straight to bed. Night, Jen. Night, Terry.

Night, Dan.

Daniel has just spent a fortune on us

and you can't even say good night?

You were a lot more than friends, weren't you?

What?

-I saw you outside the restaurant.

-What are you talking about, Terry?

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

-We were just mates.

-Just mates?

-What's that, then?

-Don't.

A collection of poetry by Daniel Tanner...

And this - "I Know Why The J Bird Sings."

Oh, I bet he does. This poem's about you, isn't it?

All right, look, we went out for a while,

-but it was years ago.

-Why did you lie to me?

Well, probably because I knew you'd react like this!

You still fancy him, don't you?

Grow up.

Why do you have to ruin everything for me?

So can I have an ex round to stay?

YELLING: What is he still doing here? Can't he find the door?

DOOR SLAMS

'Do you know what time it is?

'I've got to be up in a couple of hours.

'Oh, keep your voice down.

-'You're having a go at me for making a racket.

-Go to sleep.

'Oh, wind your neck in, we were just having a laugh.

-'Yeah, a bit of a comedian, is he?

-Yes, he's a riot.

'God knows I could do with a laugh living with you!

'I am SO sick of it. Honestly, Terry. Please!'

Bloody hell. You're kidding?

-He wrote a poem about her.

-Oh!

Maybe he's writing a new one for his next book.

How do you know he's got another book coming out?

I've been on his website.

Do you know he climbed the Matterhorn once?

All right, he was attached to another bloke,

but I wouldn't have the bottle to do that.

They reckon blind people are dynamite in bed.

They've got like a...heightened sensitivity,

more touch-oriented.

Apparently, they've got magic fingers.

GUITAR PLAYS

Haven't you learnt a new tune yet?

You were playing that at uni.

I've made you some breakfast.

Breakfast in bed. Just like the old days, eh?

You still wear Lou Lou.

It's uncanny, you know.

Doesn't matter where I go, whenever I ever smell that perfume...

I swear to God, I'm right back in digs.

Even now.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

I'd better get that.

'Hi, Geoff.

'No, no, no. That's OK. Sure, I understand.'

Dan, I know we had plans for today but something's come up.

I've got to go to work, Terry, and Dan was wondering

if you wouldn't mind him spending the day with you?

I'm working.

I thought I'd spend the day with the lads, if that's OK.

Fine by me.

Terry, look, I know we might have got off on the wrong foot

but this is an opportunity to get to know each other better.

I've done a deli run. Croissants and pain au chocolat.

I'm only kidding, mate. Sausage rolls and pasties.

Right, Dan, I'll see you tonight.

-See you later.

-Come on, mate.

-What does he do?

-He's a roofer.

It turns out my mother was right, it can make you go blind.

He's joking, you muppet.

Seriously though, mate, if you don't mind me asking, how did it happen?

(Don't be asking him that!)

-What?

-No, it's fine, I'm happy to talk about it.

You know, I was about ten when I first noticed it.

I was OK during the day but I couldn't see anything at night.

I was always fumbling round my bedroom and bumping into stuff.

My mum and dad just thought I was clumsy.

I remember this one time I went to the pictures with my brother.

He grabbed a couple of seats while I went to get the drinks

and I ended up missing the first ten minutes of the film,

just couldn't find him.

They thought I needed glasses so they took me to an opticians,

they sent me to a specialist.

I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa - RP.

It's a degenerative eye disease.

There was nothing the doctors could do.

And then one day, I woke up and just couldn't see anything.

I was 18, I had my whole life in front of me.

It was scary.

You know, I went through the whole self-pitying phase -

"Why me? What have I ever done to anybody?"

I was in a very dark place for a while. Literally.

I thought, "I'm never going to have a girlfriend,

"I'm never going to have kids, I'm never going to see a naked woman."

I wasn't sure I wanted to carry on.

But then I decided I wasn't going to let it beat me, Kev.

I wasn't going to let it hold me back. And I haven't.

In some ways, it's been the making of me.

Mate, I don't know how you're so positive.

Well, if you don't like something, Kev, change it,

and if you can't change it, change your attitude.

You're right, you're so right.

Forget the past, forget the future. You've got to live in the moment.

Are you doing any more talks? I wouldn't mind coming to one.

Do you fancy it, Terry?

We better get back to work. We don't get paid to sit here yapping, do we?

Yeah, I've got my reading list, got my timetable

and there's a library induction this afternoon.

So you're settling in OK, then?

The student bar's good. The beer's well cheap.

Well, don't go overboard.

I got hammered one night and ended up with your dad.

So how are you and Dad?

We're fine.

How are you really?

We're OK.

But you're not though, are you?

You just concentrate on your studies.

I'll be honest with you, Mum, the best thing about coming to uni

is not having to listen to you and Dad

shouting at each other all the time.

Are you going to split up?

You worry too much, yeah. You just concentrate on having a good time.

I'll call you later.

-See you tomorrow.

-Yeah.

Jenny said you had a row last night.

I had no idea she'd kept you in the dark.

I mean, she must have had her reasons, I suppose.

She must've done, yeah.

You know, me and Jenny...we were...

It was just a brief dalliance.

You wrote a poem about her.

To capture the moment. Like a photograph.

Only I'm not very good at taking pictures.

Look, Terry, the past is the past.

"There is no distance on this earth as far away as yesterday."

Can you do me a favour, Terry?

There's somewhere I've always wanted to visit.

You've seriously never been here before, Terry?

It's not really my thing, mate.

Jenny's brought Becca a few times.

And art doesn't mean anything to you?

Stephen Gerard pinging a 40-yard cross-field pass, that's art.

Come on, take me to another one.

-Give me your hand, Terry.

-Why?

Look, I know it's not your cup of tea but let me try something.

What are you doing?

-This one feels different to the last one.

-So?

Well, what does that suggest to you?

Nothing. I don't know.

Think about it.

Even though they all look the same...

they're all individual.

Go on.

Well, maybe the statues are us.

How do you mean?

Human beings, you know, we're all...

I don't know. This is stupid.

What are you afraid of, Terry?

We're all human beings. We all look the same but we're all different.

Big deal!

Are they all facing in different directions?

No.

They're all looking out to sea.

Why?

It's like they're all waiting for something.

Waiting for what?

The tide, a ship...

The future.

That's interesting.

Some of them are further out...

..up to their necks in water.

Time's running out for them.

The future's coming for us.

We all know it...

..but we can't do anything about it.

That's brilliant!

Is it?

-You're a poet, my friend.

-Pack it in.

"The future's coming for us."

I'm sorry I've been acting like an idiot the last few days.

My head's been all over the place.

I misjudged Dan. He's sound.

-I'm not interrupting anything, am I?

-No, mate, no, you're not.

So I thought I'd do a chilli.

I've got a nice bottle of Malbec. Fancy a glass?

Actually, I could really go for a beer if that's OK.

Now you're talking my language.

Football and wine don't really mix, do they?

Football?

Yeah, me and Dan are going to watch the match.

You don't mind, do you?

No.

Maybe burgers would be better.

There you are, mate.

TELEVISION BLARES IN BACKGROUND

'Get in! Yes! Beauty! Get in, Danny, mate!'

'Your eyes are like blue diamonds...

'That's rubbish, come on.

'Your eyes are like the deep blue...'

What are you writing?

Just pricing a job, you know.

Oh, cheers.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Hello?

I don't know.

I don't know what time I'll be home.

I haven't decided.

If I want to go for a drink, I'll go for a drink.

Well, put it in the oven, then.

Yeah.

Yeah, fine. All right.

Bye, Mum.

Women, eh, mate?!

Do you want to know why I get up in the morning?

This. I love this garden.

I sit down here with my coffee before I go to work,

read a couple of pages in my book, listen to the birds sing.

It's my little oasis.

HE SIGHS

What?

Nothing.

No, go on.

I just never saw you being happy with the house in the suburbs

and the English country garden.

What do you mean?

I always thought you wanted more from life.

You always talked about seeing the world.

You say a lot of things when you're 18,

but life doesn't turn out like that, does it?

That depends.

You make your dreams happen, Jen, you don't wait for them to happen.

I've still got plans.

I mean, we've only got 12 years left on the mortgage,

and I've got the endowment,

and Terry's talking about retiring at 55,

so I mean, we can go travelling then.

Wow, mortgages, endowments, how do you cope with the thrill of it all?

Well, we're not all like you, are we, Daniel?

No, I'm not having a go, I'm just interested.

I mean, what are you going to remember at the end of your life?

Is this really all you've got to look forward to?

A bit of decking, a cup of coffee of a morning?

What keeps you going, Jen? Two weeks in Benidorm? Britain's Got Talent?

The occasional night out with a man that's not worthy of you?

-Hang on a minute.

-I'm sorry, Jen, but it's true.

Terry is not the man for you.

And it's not too late to follow your dreams, either.

You know, your daughter's gone to university now.

You don't have to put up with this anymore.

You can still be the person that you wanted to be.

I know you're unhappy, Jen, I can feel it...

I can feel it.

I am a married woman and you've got a wife!

Not anymore. We've been separated for six months.

I had a little fling with a PhD student.

But that didn't work out so there's nothing to stop us now.

Forget about what you're going to do when you pay off the mortgage.

Forget about endowments,

you've got to live for the moment.

-Everything else is...

-Just settling.

And you're still playing the same old song after 20 years.

-I'm not trying to spin you a line, Jen.

-Really?

Listen to me.

I'm no choirboy, I know that,

but I always hoped that I'd manage to find my way back to you.

You were the best lover I ever had, Jen.

You're a still a bright, vibrant, beautiful woman.

You deserve so much more than this.

And I'm going to get that from you, am I?

We've lost our way over the last couple of years...

'but that was my fault too.

'I don't know if Terry loves me anymore.

'I don't even know if our marriage is worth fighting for,

'but the one thing I do know is that I would never cheat on him.'

My husband has a lot of faults.

'He's not the most sophisticated man in the world...'

..but I'll tell you this...

..he's more of a man than you'll ever be.

I'm sorry I've got to go.

I was looking forward to going to the Tate with you.

Maybe next time, eh?

Being blind's definitely got its advantages, hasn't it?

I'm not sure I follow you.

Well, it's a brilliant get-out-of-jail card.

No-one's going to hit a blind man, are they?

No matter what he does.

-Look, Terry...

-You're going to be late for your train.

The tide's coming in.

The future is hurtling towards us

and there is nothing we can do about it.

It's amazing when you look at it that way, isn't it?

Why are we here, Terry?

I've been thinking about our future...

..whether we've got one or not.

I let things slip.

I don't know when it happened or why, but I let it happen.

It wasn't just you.

I just don't want us to be in our sixties and...

still at each other's throats.

Well, then things have got to change.

We have got to start being honest with each other.

When you said that stuff to Becca

about uni being the best years of your life...

it really hurt me.

I was just trying to get her to make the most of things.

All the best times of my life have been with you.

The day we got married...

The day Becca was born...

The day we found out the tumour was benign.

You missed out Istanbul.

You weren't there, were you?

It's in my top four, though.

Let's go home.

Listen, do you fancy going somewhere different next year on holiday?

How about Santorini?

I've been looking it up on the internet, it looks really nice.

It's a four-hour flight.

I'll just have to take two sleeping tablets, then, won't I?

# Love and marriage, love and marriage

# Go together like a horse and carriage

# This I tell you, brother

# You can't have one without the other. #