Episode 2 The A Word

The gap between Joe and the other kids is growing. He's different.

The question is whether Joe can handle this school any more.

Dad, I have a new life in Manchester.

New maybe. I doubt it's a life.

I'm not going to leave till I've got you two back together again.

Guess what? We're engaged!

Let him do the interview but please, Maurice, don't give him the job.

OK, OK.

We're going to find a school for him that's a bit more specialist.

We've always needed other people. You saw that before I did.

I know. I just...

I feel like I'm losing my boy.

# For knowing that someone in this world

# Feels as desperate as me, and what you give is what you get. #

ALARM BEEPS

MUSIC: Start! by The Jam

# It doesn't matter if we never meet again

# What we have said will always remain

# If we get through for two minutes only

# It will be a start! #

Joe...

We can't do this today, mate.

We've got a long car ride, haven't we?

But there will be music. OK?

Come on.

Oh, Joe. No. No. No. No. No!

I laid your new uniform out on your bed.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! We don't have time!

It's only a sweatshirt, Paul.

-Right, well, I'll get it. Get him in the car!

-OK.

Hiya, Joe. Bet you're excited, eh?

Meeting all your new mates!

No fuss, Dad. The whole idea is it's just a normal day.

Not making a big deal.

A normal day? First day at a special school?

It's not a special school.

It's a specialist base at a mainstream primary.

Best of both worlds.

If a school's named after a tree, people are going to join the dots.

That's all I'm saying.

-We don't want to make him anxious. All right?

-Oh. Right. How's that going?

It's just an acquaint day, to settle him in.

They settled me in at Keswick Tech with a Chinese burn and a dead leg.

See ya, Maurice.

Right...

HORN BEEPS

-Morning, Mary Poppins.

-Not funny.

Music walk, then school.

No, not, today, mate, that's changed.

Remember? We talked about it.

Music walk.

I do it. Then school.

We're in a bit of a rush, love.

No! No! Joe! Joe! Leave the door.

-Eh! Eh! Eh!

-Leave the door, Joe.

Pull over.

# And what you give is what you get

# And what you give is what you get. #

Morning.

Just one thing.

It's not the way to school.

It's not...the way...to my...school.

Do you remember, love?

We showed you.

It's going to be new. And it's going to be a bit strange for a while.

It's not the way to my school.

It's not the way to school.

I promise you it is, mate.

Just one thing - it's not the way to my school.

# Strange Little Girl, where are you going? #

Just one thing.

It's not the way to my school.

# Strange Little Girl, where are you going? #

We're going to have to do the book again.

There's Mrs Hankin. And then you at your old school.

And then this is your new school.

Can you remember what that one's called?

Can I remember what it's called?

Come on, that doesn't count as an answer.

Remember the name of your new school?

Germ Free Adolescents.

I wish!

X-Ray Spex. 1978.

The name of your new school is...?

Let me see now...

Pear Tree Primary.

My today school.

Mm-hmm, that's right.

It's a school where you'll get a bit more help with the things you find hard.

And there'll be other children that find things a bit difficult too.

I do like it, don't I?

You will like it. Yeah. I'm sure you will.

Good luck.

So, Ralph. Why do you want to stop being a lollipop man?

I've got plans. I want to meet people.

I think you'd meet more people as a lollipop man than you will here.

All I can offer is me and the Chuckle Brothers.

Do you have any interest in brewing?

No, not really.

Well, that's good too.

I don't want some home-brew amateur dipping his immersion coil in my mash tun.

All I want is someone clean, punctual and hard-working.

Yeah. Me too.

You know, er, your mum won't like you working here, don't you?

Got nothing to do with her.

No. No. No, I don't suppose it has.

Arms through.

Good lad. Bobby Dazzler.

OK, just take your arms out.

That's it. No, we'll just spin it round.

Joe? Not the whole thing.

-All right, OK!

-Just calm down.

I am calm. Aren't we, Joe?

There we go! Arms through.

-Hello.

-Oh!

Hello, Joe.

Sorry we're a bit late.

It's fine. Joe? You ready to come through?

Like that. Watch.

Good morning, Joe.

What do you think, Joe? Where do you think that might go?

-TEACHER AND BOYS:

-Get ready to throw.

It's one, two, three...

Into the river they go!

Would you rather do the tweezers, Lucy?

So, what you thinking?

That the scallops I had last night were off.

And?

That he fits right in.

He was nervous. And they were handling it.

There were kids more autistic than him in there.

He's not going to start copying other kids, Paul.

He's got his own rituals to be getting on with.

That's half the problem, isn't it?

And it's still a mainstream school.

-They do music and PE in the afternoon.

-Can we just do one thing?

Can we stop pretending that it's normal?

Right, he's here and we chose to send him here.

But can we stop pretending that it's...

that it's not just a bit weird?

DOOR BURSTS OPEN

Yes!

At least it wasn't Joe.

HE GROANS

So, all the other kids'll come out in a minute

-and then it all gets a bit more mixed, you know.

-Right.

-It's only his first day. He's doing really well.

-Yeah.

Mr Joe's Grandad? Joe has left, I'm afraid.

What?

Joe left this school. He needed extra help.

He doesn't need picking up anymore.

I know that.

My grandad gets confused too.

One time he came to pick me up in his slippers.

Then the doctor asked him who the Prime Minister was.

He said, "I don't know, but they're making a right mess of it."

What's it like, then, without Joe?

It's better and also worse at the same time.

Yeah. I think you're right.

Can you find your way home?

I think so.

Thanks, son.

Day one done and dusted, mate.

When we get home you can have an ice cream the size of your head.

How about that?

School. Playground. Home.

No, no, not from your new school.

We need to get home, don't we?

It's a bit of a drive.

After school it's playground.

This is my new school and new playground.

We can't go to a playground, Joe.

Joe, you know your new school?

Did you like it?

I felt fizzy.

Well, fizzy's OK.

It was good, good, good.

And tomorrow is my school again.

My real school.

At home.

I don't need a wee, do I?

You know what he's like with new things.

He'll get used to it. And we will too.

Do you remember when he wouldn't sleep?

Do you remember?

-Yeah.

-Three months. Six months. A year.

And you said, "We're just going to shut the door and let him cry.

"Because the first responsibility as a parent is to your own sanity."

-I said that, did I?

-Yeah.

Bit late for that.

No, you know what I mean. What if...?

Maybe it's just too big a change for him.

-It's day one, Paul.

-Exactly.

Which means we can change our minds.

Have you done up your fly?

Top lad.

Top outdoor weeing.

Look.

He's this family's North Star. We follow him.

That's how it has to be.

Something had to change.

That's not the North Star. It's a plane.

Bye, love.

I liked my new school, didn't I?

Let's get you to bed, eh?

Right, come on.

How was it? Did Joe settle in?

Fine. Yeah, it was fine.

Is your boyfriend the barman or a customer? Only he's confusing me.

You coming to our leaving party, Gary?

As long as you promise to actually leave, yeah.

Erm, I am so sorry, Paul. It's a one-off.

His taxi never came and I didn't want to let you down.

It's fine. It's not a problem.

Thank you.

Mark? You hungry, mate?

I'm going to make myself a sandwich. Do you want one?

Mark?

Yes, please.

Good lad. I haven't eaten all day.

So how was it, really? Was there a runner?

How'd you know?

There always is. Mark used to be the runner.

He hailed a taxi one time and got as far as Kendal.

It'll all work out, you know.

Yeah. People keep telling me that.

Well, there's people. And then there's me.

And it's going to be all right.

Hi, honey, I'm home!

I haven't changed your sheets. You only stayed two days last week.

I brought my own duvet.

My old Ninja Turtles cover wasn't doing it for me anymore.

Frowning at it won't make it boil any faster, you know.

You all right?

Ralph stormed the interview for the brewery job.

Oh, that's good, isn't it?

The only other candidate is Dipso Billy from the Rising Sun.

Bet he's got a great palate. Sounds like Ralph's your man.

His mum, Louise - she's asked me not to give him the job.

She won't say why but knowing her she'll have a good reason.

And have you asked Dipso Billy's mum if she thinks he should take the job?

It's not the same.

If Ralph's the best man for the job, then give him the job.

That's how it works, isn't it? Unless you're Roy Hodgson.

What's for afters?

Choc ice. One each.

ALARM BEEPS

MUSIC: You've Got My Number by The Undertones

-See ya later.

-Bye.

Good luck.

Morning.

Morning, Ralph. You don't start for another hour, you know.

Your mam say anything about your job?

No.

We'll start with you making us a brew and we'll go from there, eh?

MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY

It's not gone mouldy, has it?

Oh, no, love, it'll just be the battery.

Never mind.

MUSIC ON CAR STEREO: Getaway by Blossoms

# Your room, I leave wide door open for me

# Dead leaves upon the grass

# I walk myself clean through 70 dreams

# We broke like a paper seam

# But when it breaks, don't cry

# I'll always hold some place for you

# I'm over you, get under me

# This is the last time

# Don't say it's the last time

# Call me up, you've got me choking up

# If we're in love, tonight we can get away... #

Right, time to go, love. Don't want to be late.

Till the end.

OK.

# Tonight we can get away... #

Stockport's finest there, taking us up to the traffic news, unless

you're on the A6, in which case you already know you're not moving.

Later on, we'll have our...

RADIO SWITCHES OFF

OK?

Again.

You can't have it again, Joe. It was on the radio.

I want the song.

You can't do it now, Joe.

Look, how did it go again? Can you remember?

Joe, we need to go to school.

I want the song again.

It was... It was the radio, love. It's not your iPod.

I want the song again. I know I can't.

I want the song again.

Joe, come on.

Hi, Joe. Are you ready?

I want the song. What was the song called?

I want the song again. I know I can't.

Joe. Ask me a question. Ask me a question.

I want the song again. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song again. I know I can't. What was it called?

-Honestly, Joe. I don't know.

-I want the song again. I know I can't...

You really need to go to school. Look, Beth's here.

What was it called? I want the song again.

I know I can't. What was it called?

He's...he's got into a bit of a state

about a song we heard on the way.

It might not just be that.

You know, he might be nervous that I'm not staying this time.

-Do you want to stay for a while?

-What's the song? I want the song!

-It's all right.

-What's the song? I want the song!

I don't know. Do you think that's a good idea?

I want the song! What's the song called? I don't know.

I want the song!

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I'll get you the song, Joe. I'll bring it back. I promise.

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

I want the song. I know I can't. What was it called?

-Have you got the raggy?

-Uh, yeah, I had to wash it.

Really? I thought the essential attraction of raggy was that it

-smelt of sick and baby food.

-No. That's me you're thinking of.

Look at the pair of you.

You get on better than most couples that are together.

The reason being we aren't together.

Eddie, you behave like a husband but you won't commit to being a husband.

Vincent, it's called being civilised.

Right come on, darling, it's time to take you to Daddy's Gone,

the special nursery for broken home babies.

We'll talk some more tonight.

-Why? What's happening tonight?

-I'm taking you out. Manning you up.

No. You're not. Bye.

Learnt any Polish swear words yet, Ralph?

Just English ones.

THEY SPEAK POLISH

You promised me.

I know. I know I did.

But you gave him the job anyway.

Because it was the right thing to do.

For you, but not for me.

PHONE RINGS

For me and for Ralph.

RINGING STOPS

Did you ask him to do that?

I tell you what I'll do.

I'll sack Ralph at the end of the week if you want me to

but I won't do it without a good reason from you

because I won't do your dirty work without knowing why.

You didn't actually want anything, did you, Pavel?

No. But I can smell danger. It's a Polish thing.

Hi! There's this song, right,

my son heard it on the radio this morning.

-Did he?

-Yeah, and he's autistic, right,

-and he's got a bit obsessed with it.

-Hmm.

Right, just sing it into that.

Really?

Er...

# Call me up You've got me choking up

# Da, da-da

# Something getaway. #

Nothing coming up.

You sure that's it?

I only heard it once.

I'm messing about.

It's Blossoms.

There you go.

Are you sure this is it?

It's an old track. Very well known.

Right. Well, thanks.

Hi-five, Captain.

Hi-five. Woohoo.

Hi-five!

Let's have a look.

Orange Juice. New Rose.

Damaged Goods. Rip It Up.

Gang of Four, 1978.

New Rose. Damaged Goods.

MUSIC: I Can't Help Myself by Orange Juice

-Hi.

-All right?

-Did he like it?

-Oh, he will, he will, I'm sure.

I just wondered, is there anything else you think he might like?

Erm...

There's this one...

..this one...

..and this.

My girlfriend really likes this one.

Right.

My girlfriend likes most of these, to be honest.

Why do you keep mentioning your girlfriend?

No reason.

No reason.

I don't really have an autistic son, you know.

Just made him up.

Needed an excuse to come in and talk to you.

Like I say, I'm fixed up, so...

Oh!

Cup of tea? Are you going to make me a cup of tea?

That's it.

Come on now, Miss. A children's playgroup is no place for loitering.

Look at you, Mr Popular.

Nothing more heroic than a man with a baby.

So I see.

Did you just come to heckle?

Cos I thought I was doing this cos you didn't have any time.

I'm on my lunch break. I have a favour to ask you.

Please, Eddie.

I've already said no to a drink with Vincent

so how did adding Dad to the party help?

I thought they'd cancel each other out. Go on.

I'll kill my dad if he stays another night with me.

Then I'll go to prison and Emily will be raised without a mother.

Not for long, I wouldn't've thought.

OK, cocky.

Will you do me this one favour?

One favour? You mean, one more favour.

-I've already pretended to be married to you.

-Was that so bad?

-I'll need a baby-sitter.

-So will he.

Thanks. You're really selling this.

No, he's had a good day.

He, he was a bit upset when we got here

but then by the time I came back the teachers had sorted him.

What, you - you went back? Did they call you in?

No, no... I've got to go. He's coming out.

All right, bye.

Sophie? Sophie?

You didn't have to give me a lift.

The bus would have taken you hours.

Who was talking about the bus? I was going to nick your car.

Does this happen a lot?

No.

But he's a big lad now.

The meltdowns are the same size but he isn't.

All right, Tony?

We had a hell of a time getting him in the car.

I know. I think he must have just got tired.

Good lad.

All right, love. Let's go in now.

LOUD THUDS

Mark.

THUDDING AND PANTING

Calm down.

MARK CRIES OUT

All right, all right. It's OK. It's OK.

Calm down, Mark, calm down. Calm down.

All right. All right. It's OK.

Can I do anything, Sophie?

No. He just needs to get it over with.

Good lad. Good lad. Good lad. Good lad.

All right, love, all right.

Are you safe? Is Mark safe?

He's only about three on the Richter scale.

-Thanks for the lift, Paul.

-Are you going to be OK?

We'll be fine. I don't know if I'll make it back tonight.

I can't have the sitter when he's like this.

Don't worry about that. We'll manage. I'll see you, Mark.

I hope you start to feel better tomorrow, mate.

MARK PANTS It's OK.

It's not OK. It's not OK. It's not OK. Mark's not OK.

Mark's not OK!

Mark's not OK.

Mark's not OK. Mark's not OK.

My dad's just offered me a shift.

-Tonight?

-Yeah, you too if you want one.

You know Steve who we're going to stay with in London?

You all right, Joe?

He's got a mate who works in a recording studio.

Hey, Joe. How did you get on? How was your new school?

-This Charming Man.

-The Smiths, 1983.

-OK.

-Great stuff.

Bet you're ready for your bed, aren't you, Joe?

-Let's have a look at that sticker.

-"Top Work!"

-Anyway, they're looking for a runner.

-Who are?

The recording studio.

Do you think he's having a nice time at the new school?

I mean, did he seem OK to you?

Yeah, he seemed normal. Normal for Joe.

The problem with you, Eddie, is that you're a defeatist.

I wouldn't disagree with that.

Fine. I give up. Can I go now?

No, we haven't finished counselling you.

This isn't counselling. It's emotional heckling.

Nicola, for reasons entirely beyond me, is clearly after a re-match.

Right. That's me. Thanks for the fun times.

No chance. This is our time.

I'm not stopping, but just to say, don't sack Ralph.

He can keep the job. You're absolutely right.

Great. You'll stay for a drink, won't you, eh?

Celebration? Back in a sec, lads. Please rescue me.

Can I buy the most beautiful woman in here a drink?

Ooh, I don't know. You'd better go to the pool room and ask her.

I like a woman with spirit.

Who you trying to convince here, me or you?

See what I mean?

All right. Just the one then.

Dad!

I've still got it.

I'm not sure Vincent counts. His wife's just left him.

-He'll be shagging the bar stool before the night's out.

-Thanks.

Sorry. I...

-There you go.

-Cheers.

A while back, you told me something...about you, about Ralph.

You were trying to knock some sense into me about Joe.

You said, "He will find his way."

Shut up. I've told you. I've changed my mind.

-Aren't you at least going to tell me why?

-No.

What, so that's it? No arguing back?

Now you're really starting to annoy me.

That's more like it.

I hope you like chocolate cake.

What?

It's for your leaving party.

You don't fancy doing one last shift at the Fellside, then,

for old times' sake?

It's not really my thing.

Well, it doesn't have to be your thing.

It just has to help you make money

so you can do whatever your thing is.

Sorry. I'll stop talking like James Brown.

You know, this afternoon, I stood outside Joe's school in Manchester

and thought, "I have been a mother all my adult life."

Right.

Can you imagine that?

Not really.

You know what, James? I'm going to miss our little chats.

Yeah, me too.

Are you not concerned that your son is out on the pull with Vincent?

I don't think he sees it like that.

I don't think he's ever pulled anybody in his life.

I can't think where he gets that from with you as a role model.

Are you taking the piss, by any chance?

You make it pretty easy.

No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Maurice.

I don't know what I was thinking.

Is it because Ralph's here? I forgot. I get it.

No. It's not Ralph, Ralph's out. It's me. It's us.

This just can't be happening.

Did I just get hold of the wrong end of the stick there?

No, you didn't. But I'm sorry. I just can't.

Why not?

-Because I just can't.

-Well, thank you for finding me so irresistible.

-Don't be like that.

-Like what?

Pissed off?

Feeling daft? Well, why not?

DOOR SLAMS

RETCHING

Oh, dear Lord. Oh, dear Lord.

Not sure the Lord's going to help you right now.

What you doing? Did you poison him?

No. Why? Was that the plan?

Just leave me here to die.

Oh, come on. You said he could hold his drink.

He's a fantasist. You know that.

Which is why I didn't want to go for a drink with him in the first place.

That doesn't absolve you from your responsibility to keep him sober.

Ugh...

DOOR CLOSES LOUD RETCHING

Tea's in the pot. Good night in the end?

Not really. You?

Not really.

Do you want to talk about it?

Not really.

Let me rephrase that.

Why didn't you have a good night?

Because, if you must know,

I was led... Well, I misled myself, like...

Well, if you went on a run and you didn't know the route,

you wouldn't be surprised if you got lost, would you?

Thanks for opening up.

So, do you want to tell me about your night?

No. You're all right. It'll keep.

How was it?

Oh, you know.

They ordered food, we cooked it, they ate it, they paid - the usual.

How was Joe on the way home?

His home/school book's in the kitchen if you want to read it.

So he calmed down after they called you in.

They didn't call me in.

I was worried so they invited me in.

He got upset when we got there. There was this song on the radio...

So there wasn't a problem? He had a good day.

Well, that's great, Alison.

Cos he'll have bad days, we can guarantee that.

OK, good you're staying so positive.

I've just seen Sophie's Mark have a meltdown that'd make your hair curl.

Joe isn't Mark though, is he?

Not yet, he's not. No.

And one of the reasons that we sent him to that school

is so that he can get help while he's still young.

Yep. I'm aware of that.

What? Why are you being...?

-What?

-Look, it's like you say,

we've sent him to a school where people know what to do with him,

and they can get through to him.

Joe. Our Joe. And that's great.

And I'm knackered and I'm sure you are too.

ALARM BEEPS

MUSIC: In The City by The Jam

# In the City there's a thousand things I want to say to you

# But whenever I approach you you make me look a fool

# I want to say

# I want to tell you... #

# In the City! Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

# In the City! Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

# In the City! #

Have you got five minutes?

I'm bottling, kegging and casking today - what do you think?

KNOCK ON DOOR

Oh, come in, Ralph. Let's make it Bring Your Mother To Work Day.

You don't need to check up on me.

I'm not. I just want to talk to Maurice.

Tell me if you need help.

Can we talk outside? I've got something to tell you.

Is it, "Bugger off"? Cos you can do that just as easily in here.

No. It's not.

How long have you known?

I found a lump about six weeks ago.

The doctor sent me for a biopsy.

They've confirmed it's a cancerous tumour but

they won't know how cancerous the tissue is until they've operated.

When? When are they operating?

Today. I'm on my way there now.

Today? Bloody hell, Louise. Why didn't you tell anybody?

-Why didn't you tell me?

-I just feel stronger with nobody knowing.

-Why?

-Because it makes me feel weak...

..and I can't be weak.

And as mad as it may sound, the reason I didn't want Ralph

working for you is because I knew he might say I was in hospital.

-So Ralph knows?

-Not that it's cancer, no.

And I knew that if you got one whiff of hospital

you'd be steaming in with 20 questions and a medical dictionary.

Well, what would be so wrong with that?

Because I don't want anybody to know

and I don't want anybody feeling sorry for me, not even you.

Especially not you.

So what was the other night about?

It was a honey trap so you'd come and bring me

a clean nightie and a Woman's Own.

I don't know what's going to happen, do I?

And that made me feel, just for a moment...

..desperate.

Well, thanks a bunch!

-I'm sorry.

-It's all right.

Do you know what? I'm not sorry.

Three years ago, you lost your wife, the love of your life, to cancer,

and now you want to jump in feet first with another woman,

with cancer.

Bloody hell, Maurice, never let it be said you don't have a type.

Just let me help. Low key, you know.

Keeping an eye on Ralph, bringing you things if you need them,

cooking a meal, calming you down,

being on call at night if the steroids drive you doolally.

Do you fancy doing the operation while you're at it?

Just let me help. At least let me drive you to the hospital.

No. No. No. Jesus, Maurice, you're an irritating sod.

I'm sorry.

Just stop and think what you'd be letting yourself in for, eh?

Again.

Cos I don't know if anyone's strong enough for that.

HE SIGHS

ENGINE DOESN'T START

Oh, come on.

ENGINE DOESN'T START

Did you make cheese straws today?

Rattlesnakes.

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, 1984.

-Yes.

-Where's my cheese straw?

I didn't eat it, did I?

Where's yours?

I didn't eat it, did I?

SHE CHUCKLES

What is it?

Making a hat in case we're stranded here.

That's it. Fold it like me.

That's it.

What's wrong with ringing Paul? What've you got on your head?

I couldn't get hold of him. He has to be there for the party anyway.

Now, I can't be bailing you out all the time, you know.

One lift?

It's both. Engagement AND leaving party.

So we're still humouring the happy couple, are we? Pair of daft kids?

Let's just go along with it for now, shall we?

Oh. Any sign of a ring from Mr Dreamboat?

Hey. All right, Superstar!

-Hi, Joe.

-Look at you.

Joe's made a drawing about his new school.

Alternator, in case you're interested.

You're going to need a new one. Where were you when she was ringing?

Putting the finishing touches to this breathtaking display.

School. Car. Bed. Yeah.

-You've nailed that one, sunshine.

-Dad.

-What's he written at the bottom here?

-"Help me."

-SARCASTIC:

-Ha-ha.

It was never going to be easy. We knew that.

Seems to me you didn't know it enough.

There are people that have to wait years to get what we got for Joe.

What's that? Somewhere he spends half his life in a car

and the other half under a desk,

if what Paul tells me is anything to go by.

Nobody said the journey was easy.

If you want to stay over a couple of nights with Joe at my place,

you know, if it helps, the offer's there.

Really, Eddie? Cos that would be a great help, wouldn't it?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I could stay over one night a week.

Thursdays, maybe?

Don't look so worried.

Just till he settles.

Less travelling would really help.

It won't be permanent.

And what about after he settles?

Then it's permanent.

I'm joking.

I'm laughing, inside.

Come on. We'd be company for you.

Who says I need company?

-Really? Something you'd like to tell us?

-No.

If I learn to drive, I could do a night,

give you two some time off.

That'd be great.

NICOLA: It'd be a big change for Joe,

staying at Eddie's, wouldn't it?

Well, at least we'd get to spend some time with him.

As it is, he doesn't see Paul at all,

and all he sees of me is the back of my head.

You know, when the car broke down,

for the first time in like a week, we just messed about

and I thought, "I miss this," and he does too.

What about you two? You'll never see each other,

living 100 miles apart for most the week.

94.5.

Well, we never see each other as it is

and when we do I'm knackered from driving.

At least this way we can

make the best of the time when we are together.

Say that often enough you might even believe it.

Maybe some nights you can bring Emily to me. Joe loves her.

It'll help him settle in and

it'd be nice to have her with me in Manchester.

-Makes sense, eh, Nicola?

-Does it?

You know what, Dad? If you want to help,

you could do a lot worse than give Rebecca driving lessons.

Really? Would you? That'd be great.

-I'm not sure I can. I've a lot on right now.

-Like what?

I can't commit to a regular time and place, all right?

You're not the only one with responsibilities.

SMOKE ALARM

That's mine!

Do you see what happens when you get angry, Dad?

Oh!

-Open some windows.

-I'll check on Emily.

It was Nicola's favourite.

Unless her favourite's burnt shit in a pan, I'm not sure that's true.

-What?

-Don't try and lighten things up with attempts at humour, Eddie.

ATTEMPTS at humour?

-I thought it'd be a nice surprise!

-No, no, no - a nice surprise

would be if you were sat here with your suitcase,

waiting for your taxi to arrive. That, Dad, would be a nice surprise!

She's incredible. She slept through the whole thing.

Here's the deal.

If you tell me you don't want to get back together with Eddie

then I will leave tonight.

I don't want to get back together with Eddie.

I don't believe you.

What've you lost?

I thought my iPod was in here.

What Dad said, when he asked that question about us, and...

..I hesitated.

You don't have to say anything.

It's all right.

Look, I hesitated because I don't know.

I don't...

..know whether it...

..might be worth trying

to get back together...

..again.

Yet again.

I'm seeing someone.

Sort of.

Just started to.

Not seeing exactly.

You're seeing someone.

Yeah.

That figures.

I thought you'd forgiven me.

I couldn't work out why.

Thanks.

So I'm guessing you're pissed off about something or you don't like

chocolate cake, and I know you like chocolate cake, so...

Driving lessons?

They're going to need some help.

We're supposed to be leaving.

Come on. You can see how it is with Joe at the moment.

All hands on deck. Another few weeks isn't going to kill us, is it?

We're supposed to be going down to London.

I've got a job lined up in a recording studio right now.

No, you haven't.

You've got the phone number of a recording studio where

-a friend of a friend brews up.

-OK.

Do you understand what's happening here?

No. Why don't you tell me what's happening here?

When I met you, you were Rebecca.

Here, you're just Joe's sister.

Your family are sucking you back in.

My family who just laid on a party for us, in case you didn't notice.

For us? Really? Cos nobody actually mentioned us.

What were you expecting, a red carpet and a mirror ball?

Fine. I'm not going to get stuck here, Rebecca, even if you are.

How was it? How are you feeling?

I'm just waiting for the doctor to sign me off

and then I've got a taxi booked.

Well, me car's outside and I've paid for the parking now,

and I thought if they decided to keep you in

you might need moisturiser

and lip salve, wet wipes, water spray, fruit,

and I've borrowed Eddie's iPod,

downloaded a couple of audiobooks.

He won't mind. Keep it, yeah, even if you don't need it tonight.

And er...

..a lift's better -

after, you know, what you've had.

This is you being low-key, is it?

I want to help you, Louise, if you'll let me.

If you'll put up with me.

This'll come in handy.

MUSIC: North Of Heaven by Edwyn Collins

Come on.

Joe, come on.

Fancy a picnic?

Do you know what the teachers say about Joe at his new school?

He's got a spiky profile.

Like Bart Simpson?

It means he's autistic in some ways and not in others.

Spiky profile.

It's good, innit?

I prefer it to autistic.

We're going to be all right, aren't we?

We're having a picnic in the dark, with our seven-year-old son.

What makes you think we're NOT going to be all right?

We need to be good to each other, you and me, when we see each other.

We're going to have to talk a lot.

Together and alone.

We're going to have to have a lot of sex.

-Again, together and alone.

-ALISON LAUGHS

# Things can only get better

# What's around the corner, who can tell?

# I'll build a little place just north of heaven... #

Do you know what I think?

I think we chose Joe and Joe chose us

and that happened for a reason.

Because we can do this.

Everything else is just so much bullshit.

Uh-huh.

So you agree with me now?

He's our North Star.

Wasn't necessarily that kind of "uh-huh".

There, that! That's the North Star.

No. That's another plane.

That. That. What about that?

That's a plane. That's another plane.

# I'll build a little place just north of heaven. #

The change with Joe,

it's taking its toll on you and on me.

We need to do something about that.

Wasn't my idea to come here, you know, it was Ralph's.

I'm on steroids. Don't think I won't throw you out if I have to!

Becky? Are you OK?

It will get better. I promise.

Hi, Holly. He's not quite ready yet. Do you want to come up?

You met her, the new girlfriend, he introduced you to her?

I've been staying away for three nights with Joe.

-Are we still here?

-Yes. Is that OK?

-What happens next?

-We enjoy ourselves.