I'm just going to the bathroom.
Yeah, it's at the top of the stairs. You can't miss it.
- Thanks. - Won't be a second.
It's morning outside.
Well, it's night inside.
No, it's not.
Daddy!
That was you.
Laura!
Time for school.
Liam!
Arse out of bed.
Liam, get a move on!
Dad, I've got to tell Caroline
about the holiday this week, it's getting embarrassing.
- I've told you, I need to speak to her parents. - So speak to them.
I will when I get a minute. Liam, for God's sake.
Tonight. Promise me you'll do it tonight.
I might be going out tonight.
- Can you baby-sit? - We're not babies. - If you pay me.
I already pay you, in food and light and heating.
- Will we call it a tenner? - Where you going? - Out.
- You're sitting on Wally. - Out where?
- There and back, see how far it is. - That's so idiotic.
If I gave you an answer like that, you'd be freaking out by now.
I'm allowed to be idiotic, I'm your pa.
Stop! I'm not strapped in.
Liam, strap your sister in.
Sorry, just lift your hands up.
Left indicator.
Right indicator.
Hazards.
- Oi, knobhead! - Greg, I can't take it any more.
I swear to God, any minute, they're going to play
Come On Eileen and I'm going to have to top myself.
- Put it back. - No, I refuse.
- You'll have to sack me. - Fine, you're sacked.
As you leave, put it back.
Ah, Jesus, not Mel and Kim.
That's not funny! This is abuse.
I'm complaining to the European Court of Human Rights.
- Morning, all. - All right, Brenna? - All right, Bren?
- Morning, Bren. - What's it to be, boys?
- The usual, please, Bren. - The usual for Dexie.
Predictable as the rain.
- Can I get a BLT, please? - BLT for lovely Liam.
- Let me guess, Ronnie. - Thank you.
- Ham and pickle? - Cheers, Bren.
- What about the big man? - What's the special?
I've a nice French onion soup,
- but you'll have to stick it in your microwave. - Give us a tuna mayo.
And there's me thinking you were going to be adventurous.
Er, what day is it? Thursday. So that means it must be...
It's his turn.
What's the damage?
Um, £9.80.
But as it's you, call it a round tenner.
Oh, have a drink on me.
Au revoir, gentlemen. Till the same time tomorrow.
- Mwah! Missing you already. - See you tomorrow, babe.
I'll stick the kettle on.
? Take or leave us Only please believe us
? We ain't never going to be respectable... ?
I wish you weren't going.
I'll only be a couple of hours.
Liam's downstairs. You go to sleep.
- Who are you meeting? - Just a friend.
- Who? - Little Miss Nosy.
Old friend, couple of drinks. Lie down.
Promise you'll come home?
I promise.
I really promise.
I'll always come home, right?
Night.
Right, I'm off.
If you need me, call the mobile.
You going out like that?
What?
Well, you look like an estate agent.
(Shit.)
All right?
- Sorry, I'm... Hi, it's... Oh. - Sorry, you first. - No, you.
I was just going to say, "Yeah, it's me. Greg."
- Yes. I guessed. - Sorry, what were you...?
- Oh, just apologising I'm a bit late, that's all. - No worries.
Um... I've been reading.
- Er, The Psychopath Test. Do you know it? - No.
Ah, it's good. It tells you how, er, psychopaths are all around us.
Mind you, if you do online dating, you know that already.
- I'll order a drink. - Oh, of course.
Sorry, let me. What can I get you?
Dry white wine.
Good choice. Have a seat.
Er, you look tremendous, by the way.
Thank you.
Nice... trainers...
- Yes, sir? - Er, pint of lager and...
er, a dry white wine, thanks.
Collection's... Wednesday.
We've got a black bin for general waste,
green one for garden clippings,
brown for plastic and glass and blue for paper.
Right. Blue.
- How about you? - Same.
Only collection day is Monday.
Seen any good films lately?
- Not really. You? - No. I don't get out as often as I'd like.
- Oh, know how you feel. - You have kids?
Three.
Oh, sorry, did your profile say "widower"?
No, I'm a single parent.
What happened to your wife? Sorry, if you don't mind me asking?
Um...
She left.
She left?
That's right. Happens.
- Wow. - Yeah, wow.
And now you're thinking, "What's up with him?" Right?
What'd drive a woman to walk out on her own family, her own home?
What could be so bad about life with this man
that a woman'd do such an unforgivable thing?
- I wasn't thinking that. - Well, you should.
Cos it's the question I've asked myself for the last 11 months.
But I'm sorry to report, I don't have the answer.
And I know you'll find that hard to believe,
cos women don't just walk out on their lives for no good reason.
But this one did.
Or no reason that's anywhere close to good enough.
You mind if I get another drink?
Be my guest.
I'm sorry.
You won't be needing those.
Jealous.
Are you getting embarrassed
to be out with your husband, is that it?
Oh, can I get you a drink?
- Get yourself something fucking else! - Get off!
Answer a straight question and I might begin to trust you, huh!
What do you think of that?!
- Stop! - Walk away, mate. Nothing to do with you, right?
- Let her go. - Man and wife, pal.
- Walk away or you'll get yourself involved. - I said, let her go!
Greg, leave it.
You know her?
You had her, too?
Like the rest of the town?
Garry, stop it! Stop it, Garry!
Fucking whore.
I'm so sorry. Are you all right?
Don't worry about me. As long as you're OK.
He's so... He's a wanker.
- He's such a... - I thought he was going to kill you.
Believe me, I've had much worse from him.
- Husband? - Mmm. When it suits him.
Oh, I need another drink.
Do you want to join me?
I think your man might have something to say about that.
This has been the night from hell.
Can only get better then, can't it?
Are you sure this is OK?
Aye, it'll be fine. Kids'll be asleep.
I've had a bottle of single malt staring at me since Christmas.
Well, I'll happily oblige.
Oh, you like whisky, do you?
I'll drink anything.
Got any gin?
- As long as it's not water. - Exactly.
- Internet dating. - What?
- You don't seem the type. - "The type"? Everyone's on it these days.
Er, correction, Greg, they're not.
Right, these are the people that do internet dating.
One -- saddos.
Two -- women with their biological clock banging in their ears.
Three -- hideously ugly people who can't get laid.
Four -- er, weirdos and sexual deviants.
- Five... - Men with three kids who've no idea how to meet women any more.
- Sorry, I wasn't... - No, you're right.
There's a lot of oddballs out there, or, you know, women like tonight.
Perfectly nice and everything, just... boring.
Have you anything recorded after 1989?
Oh, by the way, what are these strange spherical objects?
- Let me tell you my theory. - Your theory?
I have a lot of theories. And they're all worth listening to.
Oh, jeez, you must be a blast on those dates.
We went from the record to the CD and everyone thought it was better.
"Unbreakable," they said. "Unscratchable. Never jumps."
And now, few years later, has to be downloads,
has to be straight to your iPhone.
No-one sticks with anything any more.
Always looking round for something new, something better.
I'm guessing your wife left you for another man, yeah?
No, she didn't.
If she did, I'd understand it. I'd hate it, but I'd understand it.
She walked out on three kids.
Where is she?
Two mile away.
Living on her own in a terraced house.
- She fighting for custody? - No.
- She doesn't want them? - Mm-hm. - Why?
She said...
she felt like she was drowning.
"Drowning"?
Like she couldn't breathe.
She's full of shit.
I'll drink to that.
He works away for months at a time.
Private security.
Dubai, Cairo.
And then when he comes back,
he thinks he can start calling the shots.
He drinks too much, he talks too much.
I mean, we can barely be in the same room as one another.
Frankly, and I'm not saying this to shock you,
but I wish he was dead.
I don't want my son to have to put up
with his shit any longer, you know? It's not good for him.
Where is he tonight, your son?
Er, at his granny's. My ma lives close by so it's handy, you know?
Do you want to stay here?
- You're a quick mover. - No. No!
I'll have the couch, you have the bed.
I'm worried about you going home on your own.
Thanks.
But, no, I mean, I'll take the couch.
- I can't kick you from your own bed. - I insist.
Or... perhaps we could reach a compromise.
Maybe sleep top to tail or something?
Sleeping in the same bed?
Yeah.
We're both adults.
It doesn't mean anything's going to happen.
- Sorry! - It's all right.
- It's OK. - Sorry...
"For longer lasting performance".
You want to see if you can get a refund on these things,
- I'm telling you. - It's been a while. I'm sorry.
Oh, well...
You know what they say...
Practice makes perfect.
Mummy?
Oh.
I thought you were my mummy.
No, Molly, sorry, this is my friend Brenna.
(Whoops.)
Molly!
Right, are we ready?
Are you for real?
The sandwich woman?
Her name's Brenna, as you well know.
I know she's a rough arse from Cleary Estate.
Aye, you like her well enough when she's filling your stomach.
- Doesn't mean I want my da filling her hole. - Oi, mind your mouth!
- What happened to your face? - I fell.
Look, we had a drink, she stayed the night.
I'm allowed a bit of fun, you know? It is actually allowed.
Do not use that word at school. Now, come on.
- You got it? - Got it.
I'm seeing your ma later.
Is there anything you want me to say to her?
- She's still your ma, Liam. - I don't want to talk about it.
- I know this has been hard... - I don't want to talk about it!
.. but no matter what she's still your ma.
Look, I just don't want to talk about it! Just leave me alone!
I'm not asking you to talk about it...
Hi.
Marie.
For years we woke up in the same bed together.
We did intimate things to each other,
and now you can't sit next to me in a public office?
Don't start, Greg, OK?
"Start"?
I don't need it.
So sit next to me.
It's not appropriate.
Why?
For God's sake!
How are the kids?
What do you care?
Gregory. Marie. Shall we go in?
- Absolutely. - Sure.
May I recap from last time?
£70 an hour, make it the edited highlights.
Well, we're nearly at the end of the road, I think. I hope.
I want to thank you both for your commitment
to the process and your very obvious concern and love for your children.
To sum up, then,
the mediation document is an agreement of the terms
of your separation, and the division of shared resources and savings.
Signing this piece of paper isn't committing you to anything,
but, symbolically, at least, it has force.
So, if you'll both reread the document,
and when you're both in agreement...
Do you hear his wee speech? You're meant to read it.
I know what it says.
Read it.
You don't get to tell me what to do any more, Greg.
- If Marie's happy to sign... - For God's sake.
- For God's sake, Marie! - Gregory, please... - This was your idea.
- I know what it says. - Do you think I want to be here? We agreed.
We agreed, for the sake of the kids, we'd try and keep things simple.
I know what we agreed.
You don't have to be angry with me.
Yeah, well, that's what happens when your wife walks out,
plays havoc with your mood.
Out of respect for the three children you no longer see,
read the document.
I see my eldest daughter.
- I just do it in secret. - Not true.
I'll always be their mum.
Well, you've a funny way of showing it.
Walking out. No reason. Just "Sorry, kids, I feel like a new life."
No reasons?!
Molly still wakes in the night, screaming, in tears.
Sometimes she wets herself, crying uncontrollably.
Cos even now, months later,
she can't understand why her mummy left her.
And frankly, Marie, neither can I.
Read it.
Read it!
Fine.
Mr Farrell! Mr Farrell, please.
There were reasons.
Fuck!
"This time a rope was lowered.
"A boy began to climb and the Martian began to pull,
"and soon the boy was back on the moon.
"The boy fixed up the Martian's engine with the right spanner
"and the Martian filled the boy's petrol tank."
- Looks like Australia. - Australia! - Yeah. - Oh, God.
It's even got a wee Tasmania at the bottom.
I might paint on New Zealand.
Why stop there? Why not do the whole globe?
That's a great idea. Ceiling atlas.
I can make Ireland three times its normal size.
Gregory Farrell, which of my goodies would you like in your mouth today?
And keep it clean.
When can I see you?
What are you doing later?
- What's that? - It's nothing. Don't stop. Oh...
Sh.
Oh, shite. It's the police!
Oh, get your head down.
- While you're down there... - Are they coming?
- I wish I was. - Brenna, have a look.
Brenna.
It's all right, Officer, I'm not charging him for it.
All right, let's see your friend.
All right, Greg.
All right, Tommy.
Actually, I'm glad I've seen you.
Can you fit the Astra in on Tuesday? Gearbox is playing up again.
- What's wrong with it? - Sticks in third. Driving me mad, so it is.
And the missus is getting sick of me using hers.
Aye, bring it in. I'll have a look. Sort it out.
You're a gent, Greg.
Right, I'll leave you to your, er, conversation.
Come here.
- Night. - Come in.
- No. No, the kids'll wonder where I am. - I'll set the alarm.
You could be home before they even wake up.
Molly sometimes comes in in the night.
She'll be scared witless if I wasn't there.
Oh, you are a bad influence.
Where is he?
AWOL.
Haven't seen him since the night he tried to rearrange my face.
This is how it goes with him, he's like the pissed Pimpernel.
- Brenna, about all this... - Stop.
Before you say anything, let me speak.
It's a bit of fun.
We're both adults, we both need some company.
I'm not looking for anything and I'm sure as hell you're not.
- See you soon? - I hope so.
Happy Mother's Day.
Yes, I'll see you for lunch.
Yes, good speaking to you, too. Thanks.
I've gotta go... Yeah?
You all right, darling?
Mm-hm.
- Thought you'd be asleep. - I was just about to.
You talking to someone?
Skype.
Caroline. About the holiday.
I talked to your mother the other day. Said you'd seen her.
I was going to tell you...
It's all right.
I'm not upset.
She's your mother. You can see her if that's what you want.
We just had lunch a couple of times.
Oh, right.
- I didn't want the others to know. Especially Liam. - I understand.
But you should have told me.
Cos, you know, me and your ma have got things to work out.
Has she told you anything about why she's doing this?
She just says she needed some space.
- She says she felt like she was... - Drowning?
She's your mother, why should she need space?
I think she misses us.
I worry about you, that's all.
About you seeing her.
- Dad... - I'm sorry. I...
Forget I said that.
Look, I'm always going to want to be with you.
I'm not asking you to take sides, Lo,
just let me know when you see her, OK?
She's going away.
Some kind of holiday.
I'm not sure where or who with, but...
.. I said I'd feed her fish.
Hmm.
Sorry.
- Brenna? - Greg, he's going to kill me.
I'm locked in the bathroom. He's trying to kick the door in.
- Listen. - Call the police.
What will they do? He'll say it never happened.
God's sake, Brenna. Where's Davey?
He's in here with me.
Greg! Please, Greg, you have to help me.
I've never seen him like this before!
I'll be right over. I've gotta go out.
- Where are you going? - Brenna. She's in trouble. I'll be back soon.
Dad, don't get involved! Don't be putting yourself in danger!
Answer, Brenna.
Come on!
Brenna?
Hello?
Brenna?
I'm coming up. I've got a weapon.
Bren?
It's Greg.
Are you OK?
- Thank God you're here. - Where is he?
Gone, I think. But, um...
I was too scared to come out.
Can I go back to bed now?
Thank you.
You can't stay here. He might come back.
What's the alternative?
Stay at your mother's.
- And have him kick her door down? - A friend's.
- Fine, you're coming to my place. - Don't be ridiculous.
I can't leave you here. God knows what'll happen.
We can't land on you, Greg. This is my problem, not yours.
A couple of days, till we work something out. Pack a bag.
- Where will we sleep? - You in with me, your boy on the couch.
In fact, we've got a Z bed, he can go in with Liam.
- Are you sure this is OK? - You're coming.
- My knight in shining armour. - Mmm.
Just don't tell him where I live.
I'll go wake Davey.
All right, Davey?
Aye.
What the hell's going on? We've been ringing you all night.
- Everything's fine. - Well, it doesn't look like it.
- What are they doing here?! - Had a bit of bother.
- They're staying here a couple of days. - What kind of bother?
- It's nothing. - Look, what happened? - I told you this wasn't a good idea.
- No, you're right, it isn't! - Can everyone just calm down?
Da, can you please just tell us the truth?
You want the truth? Yeah? My husband is a very violent man.
He's been hurting me and scaring my boy.
So, I called your da
cos he's a good guy, and there's not many of them around.
This was my suggestion, staying here.
But, here, look, if we're not welcome, we can go.
No, no, Brenna, this is my house.
I say what happens, right? They're staying here, right?
If you're really in trouble.
Right, er, Davey, you're in with Liam.
- Er, let's get a couple of beds sorted out. It's late. - Yeah.
- Come on, up you go. - Thanks.
Brenna, can we turn the volume down a bit?
No, no! Don't stop, don't stop. Argh!
Davey's at the same school as you.
He's in Year Five.
Yous ever seen each other?
Don't suppose you'd remember.
How'd you sleep?
Good.
- Liam's snoring bother you? - Nah.
Farting?
Look...
.. none of us know each other, so it's bound to be strange.
But as my granny used to say, "Food fuels friendship".
So, tonight I'm cooking a meal, right?
We'll sit, we'll eat, we'll talk.
By the end of the night, there'll be no more awkwardness. Trust me.
- OK. - OK? - You'll be all right? - Yeah, I'll be fine.
- See you later. - See you later.
Laura, wine or beer?
Wine.
Wine or beer, Davey?
Can I have both in the same glass?
He'll have a lemonade.
Right. Coming up.
So, how's your love life?
Er, well, I fancy this boy called Ruairi but I'm just like...
.. waiting for the right moment.
Well, you don't want to wait too long.
Men like women who get on with it.
Ask your daddy.
Your daddy said you packed in college?
I didn't pack it in. I didn't get the grades.
He's thinking of re-sitting next year, aren't you?
No, you're thinking about that. I'm happy earning a wage.
You don't want to be a mechanic.
He's only doing it cos he missed out on college.
- Yeah, and I wonder why. - Yeah, well, it wasn't the best year.
Which is why you should give yourself a second chance.
Yeah, be Mr Saddo, two years older than everyone else.
This is your future, Liam. Don't piss about with it.
Here's to us. Getting to know each other.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
- Oh! - Yeah.
All I'm saying is... all I'm saying is this.
Young people now don't know how to enjoy themselves.
I mean, you see them moping around
as if they've been shat on from a great height.
It's not healthy.
- Your generation don't know how to have a good time. - Bollocks.
It's not bollocks. It's not bollocks. It's right, this.
I'm right, aren't I, Greg? Tell me I'm not right.
- You're not right. - She might have a point. - This is right, this.
Argh!
You don't see it the same.
I know what I was like at 17, and it wasn't like him.
I mean, look at him.
No girlfriend.
Face like that. Pulling his plonker on the internet every night.
Deny it if you want, your da's been on your history page.
Hey, lighten up!
When was the last time we had a laugh like this, eh?
Smile.
Can he do it? Can he?
Can he?!
Ohhh!
- What's with the face thing? - Brenna...
- The twitch, the tic? - It's stress. Seen the doctor.
Stress? What have you got to be stressed about?
- Brenna. - Your mama left, it was crap.
- But life goes on. - They've had it pretty rough.
Haven't we all?
This is my answer to the pain of life.
There's nothing a few brandies
and a good boogie-woogie won't sort out. Tell me I'm wrong.
You're wrong.
- You tried E? Ketamine? - No. - Liar.
- I... I haven't. - What about you?
She's 14.
Exactly.
14 and 17.
Stop treating 'em like they're babies.
- You a big fan of drugs, then, are you? - I've...
I've had my share, in my youth.
Party drugs.
For dancing.
I was going to get some coke for your da,
but I was worried his wee heart wouldn't keep up.
- Dance. - I'm fine with this.
Whoa!
Liam, get up.
Don't leave me hanging.
Come on.
Come on, twinkle toes. I'm waiting.
Have I done something?
They're my kids.
- And? - And nothin'. Just that. You're out of order.
- "Out of order"? - Their mum left. They're not over it.
Whether you think that's right or wrong, they're hurting.
So I look after 'em, right, keep 'em safe.
Not cos they're babies, cos they're my kids.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm pissed.
I'm trying too hard to be fun.
(I'm sorry.)
? Sometimes I feel so happy
? Sometimes I feel so sad
? Sometimes I feel so happy
? But mostly you just make me mad
? Baby, you just make me mad
? Linger on your pale blue eyes
? Thought of you as my mountaintop
? Thought of you as my peak
? Thought of you as everything
? I've had, but couldn't keep
? Linger on your pale blue eyes
? Linger on your pale blue eyes. ?
Shite.
You get back to work.
I'm just going to the bathroom, Marie.
Yeah, it's at the top of the stairs. You can't miss it.
Thanks. Won't be a second.
It's OK. It's all right.
- Nancy, what's going on up there? - Sorry. - Marie. - Are you OK?
There's somebody upstairs. There's somebody upstairs in your bathroom!
- What?! Oh, my God. - Sorry. Sorry!
Marie!
It isn't what you think.
Oh, Greg...
- Who is it, Marie? - It's OK.
I know him.
Just stay there.
Don't come any further.
Greg, what were you doing in my house?
- Have you lost your mind? - Sorry.
- I'm sorry. - Greg, why were you in my house?
I came to feed the fish for Laura.
No, you didn't.
Why were you in there?
I don't know. I don't know...
You can't do this. It's not all right.
I'm calling the police.
No, please! Please, don't call the police.
- Don't call the police. - Marie, is everything OK?
Who's she?
It's none of your business.
I'm her husband, right? I'm her husband, see?
Husband.
Just let me talk to you.
I just wanted to have a look around.
You know, see what kind of life you had, see if there was anyone else.
I miss you.
I just wanted to see what you'd left me for, that's all.
I'm sorry.
- Just please go. - Marie, please.
Just listen to what I'm saying to you.
You've broken my heart, you've broken the kids' hearts.
Whatever it is I did wrong, I... I'll put it right.
Please. Please, Marie.
We've got history, we've got 19 years.
It's gotta count for something.
Whatever you've got here --
single life, freedom --
it's not real.
Greg, please just go home.
I love you.
Ever since you left there's been a hole.
And it hurts. It really hurts.
And I can't imagine a day when it'll hurt any less.
I'm begging you.
Please, we can put all this behind us,
whatever it is we'll put it behind us, if you'll just come on home.
The children need you.
They want you in their lives.
And for you to walk through that door and be their ma again.
I'm sorry.
I can't.
Oh, no!
You're winning.
- Hey, Daddy. - All right?
This'll be ready in about ten minutes if you want to grab a shower?
By the way, I'm going out tonight.
- Good man. Enjoy yourself. - Will do!
Hiya, gorgeous.
- Good day? - Ah, the usual.
Listen, I spoke to housing today,
explaining my circumstances
and they're putting us on a list for a new place.
So, in the meantime, my cousin has said there's room
at her place if we need it.
It's a bit of a squeeze, but at least we'll be out of your hair.
Oh, forget it.
How do you mean?
Forget it.
Stay here long as you need.
Really?
Give me one good reason why not.
Mm!
Thank you.
I'll go tell Davey.
You lying prick!
You fucking bastard!
I want to tell you the truth.
I couldn't stay there. I had to get out.
So you're going to walk out just like Mum?
Come home.
You go to her, what does that tell me?
That you still love her, you still have feelings for her.
It tells you she's the mother of my kids.
I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to lie to you.
Please, can we just talk?
Your dad doesn't tell you stuff.
Protects you like you're little babies.
Even my friends have all just turned their back on me.
- Shit, he's still there. - Who?
Some weirdo outside just like staring.
Your mum had problems. Things she said, things she did.
- Marie? - He deserves a chance to be happy, doesn't he?