I know it's further away but you'll see your mates at school.
And we'll have the new baby for company soon.
Ta-da!
It looks like it's about to fall down.
Nothing's about to fall down. Trust me.
You've got to picture it in your mind's eye, son.
- Your what? - Your mind's eye.
Mikey... you know the flat wasn't big enough for the three of us,
(Dad) I know it doesn't look much but I'll get it all done up.
How come the toilet's not in the toilet?
Er... the man who lived here was... well, he was old
- What happened to him? - He died here.
- What, in this room? - On the toilet.
- Dave! - Joking! I'm joking! - Dave£¡
Mr Myers passed away in the vicinity of the kitchen,
whilst partaking of a bottle of fine ale!
But it was a week before they found him.
The smell drifted down the whole street.
Bugger me, it is! A sm... Lou... Look at that! It's a smile!
I need that room for the baby, my love.
We thought you'd like the top room. You know, a bit of privacy.
Michael...
- (Creaking) - (Footsteps)
Hey, careful. You'll fall right through.
A couple of those boards need replacing.
(Huffs) Give us a hand downstairs. Some boxes need shifting.
Michael, I don't want your mum carrying stuff, OK?
- Mum, there's spiders all over my room. - They're harmless, my love.
Maybe you could skip school today. Stay and give us a hand.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
- Is Dad working? - Get more done without him.
You can help me pick out colours for the baby's room.
Maybe we should have found out what we're having.
Nothing. Just remembered I've got a test.
Well, I can phone your school and let them know that I need you.
#And through it all she offers me protection
# A lot of love and affection whether I'm right or wrong
# And down the waterfall wherever it may take me
# I know that life won't break me when I come to call
Glad we've finally found one subject you could master.
Michael Cooper
(Boy 1) It's easy. (Boy 2) You can do it.
He doesn't like being so high up, sir.
Oh, that's right, yes. Sorry, I forgot.
- He's got a phobia. - (Boy whispers) Come on, Mikey!
- (Teacher) Well? - It makes me feel sick, sir.
All right, get back down here. 20 lengths.
Right, which one of you is gonna show me some guts, then?
Well, don't put your hands up all at once, will you?
It makes me feel sick and all and I gotta do it.
- Give it a rest, Coot. - And I got a dodgy ear.
- You got dodgy hair to match! - At least I'm not a wuss!
Maybe he don't wanna belly-flop like you, Coot.
It's OK, Dad's not on for another hour.
Stepdad's back. (Laughs) Till she kicks him out again!
- (Car horn) - Hey! I'll start the meter in a minute.
# Sha-la-boom-boom, yeah
# Do it, do it, do it, do it
# Sha-la-boom-boom, yeah
# Ooh, do it easy...
# Sha-la-boom-boom, yeah #
Mikey
# Oh, take me higher... #
- (Moans) - Mum!
- You've got a baby sister. - A sister?
- Can she come home? - Soon, we hope.
Did you see that? She looked right at me.
Mikey
I just had a look in that shed down the bottom,
You didn't? There wasn't anything else?
You stay away from it. Do you hear? It's a bloody death trap.
- I better get started in here. - I can... help if you want.
Right, you start clearing all this up.
# If the fish swam out of the ocean
and they started walking
from the trees
and they started talking...
# And the stars fell out of the sky
# And my tears rolled into the ocean
for a reason why... #
- Dad? - Uh-huh?
Do you think Mum would have had the baby yesterday
Do you think if I'd given her more of a hand
and stayed home from school she would have been all right?
Smash it up. Get it all out of your system.
You think too much. Sometimes you've just gotta...
That's it. Carry on like that, I'll let you have a go on that shed.
Michael
And you're the closest thing I've got to a neighbour.
I suppose you'll be putting down lawn.
Your garden's home to a multitude of creatures.
You know that's our wall you're sitting on?
(Dave) They're just being cautious, love.
They've got to play it safe, haven't they?
I've got you a ticket for the County Diving Championship.
Look after that, Mikey. You're the only person I've got coming.
Leakey, so guess what I found down the garden shed?
- I hope you told him to shift it. - Yeah, course.
He was weird, though. He looked really sick.
(Laughs) Mikey, don't be thick! The guy's a junkie!
You'll probably never see him again. Come on, before we're late.
(School bell rings)
Evolution. Do you see how the head changes shape to hold our big brains?
- (Impersonates a monkey) - (Laughter)
Did I say, "big brains"? Maybe I should qualify that, Mr Coot.
Right, get out your exercise books, everyone.
- Michael, where did these come from? - I don't know, sir!
- OK, calm down. Wait. - I dunno!
- Leakey, was this you? - No, sir!
- Do you like birds? - I suppose.
Well, it's better than history and physics.
You ask a lot of questions, don't you?
Drawing makes you look at the world more closely.
- Helps you notice the details. - Whatever.
Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare?
- Black? - (Scoffs)
By the way, there's an insect in your hair.
They're slow-moving little critters, these are.
(Gasps)
Ugh!
We've got crisps, different flavours, chocolate, fish fingers.
27... 53
Then you'll wake up and, bingo, I'm gone.
(Gasps)
- How are you feeling, Gracie? - Never better, dear!
You can't let 'em give up on you. Then you're really done for.
I go once up and down the ward and three times round every landing.
I do that every day. It keeps Arthur away.
Arthur£¿
Have you got a little baby brother or a sister in here?
He was a lovely little boy... like you.
Here... what is it with grapes in hospitals?
(Sings a melody)
How's your dad's cooking? Is he doing all right?
- Too many veggies! - Yeah?
You would tell me if anything was wrong.
What are you doing creeping up on me like that?
- You shouldn't feel embarrassed. - I don't!
- How is she, your sister? - She's in hospital.
- What's her name? - She hasn't got one yet.
- Doesn't your school have a uniform? - I don't go to school.
That's weird, not going to school. What about seeing your mates?
"How can the bird that is born for joy sit in a cage and sing?"
- You've heard of William Blake? - No.
He wrote poems and painted pictures. A lot of the time he lived nude.
You mean, with no clothes on? With his tackle hanging out?
He was extraordinary. He even saw angels in his garden.
(Sighs)
How about Chinese? That'll have a few veg in it!
- All right. - Here you are. What do you fancy?
(Snoring)
I've got a knife and fork or chopsticks.
You having a good look, are you? You're nosy, you are.
- I think you should see a doctor. - Why?
There must be some other sick soul you can inflict yourself on.
- Get off! - (Gasps)
Huh?
Of course, he doesn't look like that now.
He couldn't make it this time but next weekend, he says.
- When are they letting you out? - Oh, any time now.
- Grace... do your hands hurt? - Mm.
Arthur and me, we're old friends, we are.
(Coughs)
There's a lot of homeless about these days.
He's not like us. Not a normal person.
He just sits there, like he's waiting to die
(Snoring)
I thought it'd make a nice garden scene.
(Lou) I thought that shed was coming down.
(Michael) But Dad promised me some shelves first!
It's true, I did. He's living out of a suitcase.
(Baby cries)
(Bird twitters)
(Baby cries)
- Is she gonna be all right, then? - Yeah, my love. Everything's fine.
I think you've got taller these last few days.
- Believe me. - Mum...
You'll always be my baby, you know that.
Don't jump too high. Wouldn't want you getting scared now, would we?
- (Whistle)
Right now, you lot, pay attention. Eyes on me, Lee.
(Groans)
You're gonna take your shirts off. You can do it in skins, right?
Anyone says they're cold, they can run round the field three times.
- Have I made myself clear? - (AIl) Yes, sir!
- Have I made myself clear? - (AII louder) Yes, sir!
(Sighs)
- A bleeding-good Samaritan, you are. - Just take 'em.
Ugh.
That is a vile, unnatural brew, that is!
You eat flies, beetles and spiders and you spit this out?
- You ever tasted spiders' legs? - No.
Well, you're hardly in a position to comment, then, are you?
(Baby cries)
(Impersonates baby crying)
Babies... Spew muck, spittle and tears out.
It's good she's crying. It means she's strong.
You used to hear him on the phone. Most nights he'd ring 'em.
What? You mean you left the shed? Do you do that now ever?
But with Ernie, though, you used to go inside the house?
Brown ale. It's the sweetest of nectars, that is.
(Sighs)
- You're dead! - Only wounded!
(Groaning)
I found it in my stepdad's things. I'll put it back after, though.
(Fluttering wings)
I've been practising. I could kill it stone-dead.
- Leakey! - (Gunshot) - Leakey
- I think it's a hare. - Not any more.
- Where are you going? - Something's wrong.
(Lou) It's not OK. Don't tell me that!
They told me to bring her in. How is that OK, Dave?
(Lou) There is something wrong. I should never have listened to you.
Moving us into some old wreck with damp and no central heating!
You did it for you. So you could be the big man in the big house!
- What if we lose her? - Don't say that.
All those tests and doctors, the miscarriages.
I thought she was our piece of luck, our miracle.
- Please, babe. - We can't lose her. Not now.
(Baby cries)
Ssh...
(Baby cries)
(Sighs)
Don't you worry. Do you hear me? Your dad will be back in a bit.
(Groans)
(Chandelier jingles)
(Heaves)
(Rumbling)
(Groans)
(Sighs)
Come on, I've got something to show you.
I used to come here all the time when I needed to think.
I used to cry all the time... after my dad died.
(BIows)
(Imitates owl hooting)
- Yeah. - Now put your thumbs together.
And now blow across the top of your thumbs.
(BIows)
(Soft hooting)
(Hooting)
(Mikey giggles)
- Dad? - Hmm?
I didn't realise you wanted another one so much.
- You again? - (Shrieks)
Of course it's me. You scared me! You frightened me!
I thought you'd given up coming to pester me.
I thought you'd finally left me alone.
Well, you took your bloody time, didn't you?
My sister... She had to go back to hospital.
Don't you care? The doctors say she might...
She's a speck... in a boundless universe.
What, someone to tell you I'm really here?
- No.
- They're clever. - No.
Well, what am I supposed to do? Just tell me!
My dad's sad, my mum's sad, you're sad.
I'm trying to help you. I just wanna do something right!
This bloody shed's about to collapse and you won't move!
You're nasty and spiteful and I'm sick of you, but...
Bring the whole street. Bring the whole damn town!
(Birdsong)
(Rain pattering)
(Michael) Are you ready for this? (Mina) Yeah!
(Mina) Really? (Michael) Really.
- (Rattling)
(Groans)
(Man snoring)
(Gasps)
I brought my friend, like I said. This is Mina.
(Opens bottle)
(Gurgling)
- (Man sniffs)
Oh...
- You feel like a dead person. - I should be so lucky.
It's calcification. The process by which the body hardens,
- A bit of a show-off, your girlfriend, in't she? - She's not my girlfriend.
- Have you told anyone else? - No one.
- So, what do you think about him? - Mm... I don't know!
- But do you think he's like us? - No.
- So, what is he, then? - (Bird caws)
Your mum was right about that damp. Never seen anything like this.
- (Loud creak) - Hm. That needs sorting.
- I'll be in the shed if you need me. - The shed?
Aaah! Oof!
(Crashing)
- Sorry. - (Crash)
Hello, cherub. What are you doing back here?
- What are they? - Cod-liver oil.
- For your friend with Arthur. - You remembered!
I could come and see you. For a proper visit, in the ward upstairs.
or... or I'm out dancing, maybe, and we miss each other,
just remember, them as can walk should walk.
(Grace coughs)
It's not because she came early or anything.
(Sobbing)
(Whimpers softly)
(Crying)
(Tap dripping)
(Opens bottle)
I should never have brought you all to a place like this.
(Sighs)
(Dog barking)
- (Owl hooting)
(Rattling and creaking)
(Gasps)
I told your mother it was coming down, so by God, it's gonna come down.
Piss off, Mikey! Let a man do one thing right, at least.
Don't we even have sodding matches in this house?
- Dad! You're not going to... - You, bed.
- Dad. - Move it.
- Uh!
- Ah, let it burn. - Move it!
(Dog barking)
- (Man) Ah, get off me. - (Grunts)
(Michael) Aaah! Aaah!
(Gasping)
(Screams)
(Sobbing)
(Imitates owl hooting)
- My dad burned down the shed. - What?
- I burned my hand. - What about him?
- I left him in the woods. - Come inside, but be quiet.
- We have to take him somewhere safe. - Ssh. Don't wake my mum.
(Mina) Aah!
(Groans softly)
Dad. It's really late. You've been working all day.
Be careful in your room. The floor's done, but it needs more work.
- All for you. - (Mina) Let me help you.
- (Groans) - I'll make you more comfortable.
- Trust me. - Get off me.
- (Groans)
(Skellig moans)
(Michael) Wow. (Mina) Michael, I'm scared.
(Sighs and groans)
Aah.
(Sighs)
- Angels, even. - None look like his, though.
- What is he, Mina? - It's like he's something... in between.
- (Giggling) - (Michael) Mina... - Mina
- Do you think Skellig could ever fly? - Ssh. Be quiet.
What about this? It says here that dinosaurs descended into birds.
(Sniggering)
Ah-ah!
(Mimicking) "Michael! We're extraordinary, Michael!"
- (Laughs) - Shut up.
- Thinking about the girlfriend? - She's not my girlfriend.
Let's hear the details. What's your girlfriend's name?
Mina doesn't go to school. Her mum tutors her.
Whoa!
(Creaking)
(Animals squealing)
(Animals squeaking)
- Ssh! - Where is he?
(Owl hooting)
(Footsteps)
- He's much stronger. - (Munching)
(Belches)
(Mikey gasps)
(Laughing)
- (Skellig sighs)
- Ah! - Did it really happen?
(Door opens)
(Footsteps)
You don't have to worry, Dad. Not any more. Everything's gonna be OK.
(Giggles)
- OK, I'm not one to talk... - Dad, what are you on about?
Look, what were you doing up in the middle of the night?
Don't be stupid. I haven't taken your beers.
- It wasn't me, I swear it. - Well, who is it, then, Michael?
- Oh. - Are you sure you've got everything?
- I think so. - We've got to make him strong again, Mina.
Grapes. Only good for one thing, they are.
- He means wine. - I don't like 'em either.
Now, you should take these, once a day, and I'll get you more when they run out.
- What is it? - Cod-liver oil.
- For your joints. - Cod.
They're stinking, slithering, slimy, scaly things, they are.
- Ugh. What now? - It's all the spiders and insects you eat.
- I don't need that. - Yeah, you do.
What you really need is a proper dental regime.
Brushing, flossing... occasional trip to the dentist.
- (Belches) - I'd take it if I were you.
- You're supposed to spit it out. - Why?
Ugh.
(Groaning)
- Stop worrying. - (Skellig moaning)
(Moaning)
Oh!
(Thunder rumbling)
Aaah.
- Oh! Ugh.
- Stinky, slimy, scaly... - Yeah, we know.
- (Cracking)
- Aah.
- It's getting cold.
- We should go in. - Always on the move, in't ya?
Leave the shed, go to the tower, leave the tower, go back to the tower.
(Thunder rumbling)
(Sighs)
Aaah!
(Michael) Then Daedalus and Icarus stand on the edge of the cliff.
The sun's beating down. They're not sure whether the wings'll work or not.
But they're ready to jump. Then there's a big gust of wind.
(BIows raspberry)
(Giggling)
maybe you could inform him, Michael, of what happens to our feathered men?
They do fly, but Icarus... he gets too close to the sun.
Their wings melt and they crash into the sea and die.
Right. We've all heard a little of what Michael's been reading at home.
So, who's going to tell him what we've all been learning here?
Leakey?
- (Knocking) - Come in.
- (Whispering) - (Teacher) OK.
Michael£¿
- You've got to try to help my sister! - Oh...
She's really ill. She has to have an operation.
But my hand healed! You can save her, I know...
I've had an eternity of that, and I want it to stop. You understand me?
That can't just be it! You can't just give up!
(Sobbing)
(Yells)
(Thunder and rain)
- It's over. - What do you mean?
She's gonna die and there's nothing I can do about it.
- But not... - But not what?
- Not a girl. - Oh.
- It's not your fault, Michael. - How do you know?
Anyway, it's not true. Not for me, not for you.
Do you think your mum will get married again?
Then perhaps... you'll have a brother or sister after all.
(Giggles)
(Dave) They've got a heart surgeon coming up from London.
Mina's mum said you could stay at theirs again tonight.
I don't want to stay there! I want to come to the hospital with you.
Me and your mum think it would be better if you went to school.
Well, you're wrong! You're just leaving me out again.
Mikey, trust me. It'll just be upsetting for you.
And also, today, there's nothing you can do. You'll just be hanging around.
- I want to come with you! - No. Sorry.
- We know best. - Do you?
- Right. It's settled, then. - I'm not going to school, not today.
- You will do as you're told. - Why should I?
You think you know best, but you don't know anything.
You just care about the house. All you do is work on the bloody thing.
- Don't say bloody. - Bloody, bloody, bloody...
You're going to school today if I have to drag you there my bloody self!
- You don't know anything about me. - You little shit.
- You just want me out of the way. - OK, that is enough.
You don't include me, you hardly talk to me,
you never told me you wanted a baby, and now you're not telling me the truth!
(Beeping)
- You looking for someone, love? - Grace.
I'm very sorry. Gracie passed away late last night.
- Passed away? - I'm sorry.
(Fly buzzing)
(Grace) You just remember, them as can dance should dance.
- Where have you been? I was looking... - I've got to go.
I want you to know that, no matter what happens...
- Mum... ...we'll always have each other.
- I want you to remember that. - I'm OK, Mum, honest.
- Where are you going? - Can't give up, Mum. Mustn't ever give up.
- Gotta fly! - Michael! - Michael
Mikey£¿
(Thunderclap)
(Heavy rainfall)
Where were you? Don't you even want to ask how I did in the competition?
Is this where you come to get all loved up with your girlfriend?
- No! - Well, what is this place?
- Aaah!
- Get off me! - Aah!
Aah! Oh!
- (Animal squealing) - Skellig!
(Owls shrieking and hooting)
(Screams)
Whoo!
Aaah!
Whoo!
Aaah!
Whoo-hoo!
Whoo!
Aaah!
Aaaah!
(Woman) I don't think she'll make it through the night.
Hm.
(Baby whimpers)
Michael
Michael, wake up. Michael? Michael£¿
- Oh! - Mina! - Mina
(Lou) Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, sssh.
(Baby cries)
She's amazed all the doctors, that's for sure.
I had a dream this man was watching over us while we slept.
- The way he looked at me. - Blimey.
Don't you think it's time she had a name?
Yeah. It's just, nothing seems quite right.
(Gurgles)
- Hello, Grace. - (Cries)
(Lou) Oh! Ssh, ssh, ssh, ssh, sssh.
- (Rock song plays on radio) - Oh, there you are.
- # Why don't you get back into bed? # - This! This is what you call a song.
Why don't you get back into bed?
# Why don't you get back into bed? #
# Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three!
Good Golly Miss Molly and boats
jump back in the alley and nanny goats #
- Yes! There it is! - Get off!
- That was brilliant. - Thanks, man.
- All good. - All right.
- See you later. - See you at school.
Oh!
(Jingling)
- We're swans, you and me. - What?
Nothing, it's just something our son told me.
Sweetest of nectars. Food of the gods.
- You saved my sister. - A heart of fire, that one.
Gave me strength. Just like her brother.
- What are you? - I'm something... like you.
- Something like an angel? - Yeah.
(Michael) It's weird how things can be so normal so quickly again.
- Nice normal? - Yeah.
(Sighs)
- Got a project to hand in tomorrow. - (Mina) What is it on this time?
(Mina) Erm... Maybe. It'll cost you, though.
(Michael) You've changed, you know that? Where's the Mina I used to know?
(Michael) Yeah, well, you're still rubbish at footy, though.
(Both laughing)