Where you going? You'll be OK. Mick'll be down before long.
Down and out!
Come 'ere.
I do like to see you looking nice!
OK, then...? You're a good boy.
See you later, OK, Ma?
SIREN
↑ I do solemnly declare... I do solemnly declare...
..that I know not... ..I know not...
..of any lawful impediment... ..of any lawful impediment...
..why I, Raymond Starling... ..why I, Raymond Starling...
..may not be joined in matrimony... ..in matrimony...
..to Margery Ann Dean. ..to Margery Ann Dean.
I call upon these persons here present... I call upon these persons here present...
..to witness that I, Raymond Starling... ..to witness that I, Raymond Starling...
..do take thee, Margery Ann Dean... ..do take thee, Margery Ann Dean...
..to be my lawful wedded wife.
Now, Margery, repeat after me...
# I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty,
# I feel pretty and witty and bright!
# And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight!
# I feel charming, oh, so charming!
# It's alarming how charming I feel
# And so pretty, I hardly can believe it's real!
# Who's the pretty girl in that mirror there
# Who can that attractive girl be? # Margie...
# Such a pretty face, such a pretty mouth, such a pretty me,
# Such a pretty me-e-e! # Yes?
Are you really happy, Marge?
Idiot!
You have a very erotic nose.
How d'you mean?
This bit here...
It's very erotic.
I've always hated my nose!
Don't you like my eyes?
Yes, they're OK.
But it's your nose that drives me really wild!
I like my eyes best. Eyes are easy.
A nose takes a bit of appreciating.
You can see a lot from a nose! Always been a nose man, me.
What can you see from my nose?
That you're a class bit o' stuff, for a start!
I'm telling you - that's one classy nose!
Then again, it's a clever nose, in't it? Not much'd get past a nose like that!
It's dead proud, see?
You don't get nostrils like those without you get an obstinate woman behind them.
And... And what?
..it's sexy as hell!
I love you, Margie.
Well...
..I should hope you do!
And...er...
..Marge... What, love?
I just...
I love you!
"Lincolnshire Police working on the hunt for the serious killer..." Serial.
Serial?
"..serial killer, known locally as the Butcher,
"..because of the terrible injuries he in..."
Inflicts.
"..inflicts on his victims...
"..admitted last night that they were no nearer making an arrest.
"A man who has been helping them with their enquiries..." Hey! "Enquiries"! Good.
"..helping them with their enquiries for the past two days, returned home yesterday afternoon.
"We do not expect to be...
"..ques-tioning... questioning him any further, said Chief Inspector Car..."
I can't read any more of this depressing junk!
You'll forget it all if you don't practise.
I can't concentrate. Mind the tray!
I'll forget it all if I don't practise! Get off, you nerd!
I won't have this carrying on in my reading class! Ray...
..will you still come to my class? If you'll come to mine! Be serious.
Will you?
Well, I don't think so, love. I'd feel a fool.
BIRDSONG
I think we should go for a walk.
Whatever for? Well, we haven't been out for days. It can't be good for us.
It's terribly good for me!
Your bones'll get porous. I'M the teacher round here!
We needn't go far.
You've gone off me! I knew you would.
TURNS TAP ON
AEROSOL FIZZES
Am I like your mother?
I don't remember 'er.
That's what Della will say. She'll say I'm your mother substitute.
She'll be a bit off the track, wouldn't you say, your Della?
What happened to them?
They were drowned. In the Great Floods.
Not '47 - you wouldn't have been born then. 'Course not. Not THE Great Floods.
Not '53. Was it '78? How old were you?
Four. I was four.
That would make it '63. I don't remember any fl... It don't 'ave to be an 'istory lesson, does it?
THEY weren't school teachers, just ordinary folk.
You're perfectly right, and I'm sorry.
I said I'm sorry.
It's none of Della's business what I see in you!
I feel as if this is the end of something. Well, it's not. It's the beginning.
At least...
..let's not tell people.
Not yet.
Why wouldn't we? I don't know!
In case they take it away.
I want to yell it out the upstairs windows! Rent a hoarding in town! Peak viewing time!
Loud hailers! Hot air balloons! Brass bands! Sky-writing!
I want Terry Wogan! Nothing in the local paper? God, you're stingy!
MARGIE AND ME GOT WED!
Don't!
Are you ashamed of me, or what? I'm just so afraid of losing you.
THUNDERING OF WATER
POLICE SIREN IN DISTANCE
Didn't you ever get anxious, living round 'ere on your own?
I wasn't bothered. They've all been prostitutes, haven't they?
It didn't seem so essential then to be alive.
We could move to Manchester, couldn't we? Or London.
What on earth would we do in London?
This guy I heard of invented a new kind of ring-pull for beer cans.
Owns a stud farm, now, in County Mayo. No kidding!
Do you really want to go to London? And a villa on the Costa del Sol.
I thought you liked it here.
I'm sick of the sky.
There's nothing in a ring-pull, is there? ANY bloody fool can think of a ring-pull!
I don't really know very much about you, do I?
Course you do! What d'you want to know?
I don't know, do I?
Tell me something.
I think you're magnificent!
Something about you. That's the most important thing about me.
All right, then.
Show me something.
Show me...
..where you used to live.
It's only a house.
I want to know everything about you!
I'll show you somewhere else instead.
It's just a trailer.
What d'you use it for? Nothing much.
Somewhere to get away to. What do YOU have to get away from? The usual stuff. Family.
You don't have any family. Me brother.
Can I look inside? There's nothing in there. It's only junk.
I used to grow vegetables out the back. No-one ever bothered.
It could be quite nice.
I don't need to get away now, though, do I?
What's all this for? Just some stuff I couldn't shift. All small sizes.
They're from years ago! Regular 9-to-5 man these days, aren't I?
Look, I promised you!
It'll be damp. I 'aven't been up here for months.
No...it's not damp.
This is where you brought them, isn't it?
This is where you brought women before you knew me.
I don't mind!
We've both got whole lives behind us. It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter!
There's never been a woman in 'ere...until now!
Ray!
Are you OK, love?
What's up? Della's coming.
She's coming 'ere, is it? In time for my birthday.
A lift overland to Paris, then by rail and ferry.
She can't wait to meet you! You'd better be special, she said! Why?
Why? Why can't she wait to meet me?
Most girls would be curious to meet the man their mother had married. You told 'er, then?
Of course I told her! You said NO-ONE.
And you made me promise! I haven't even told Mick!
I didn't mean Della. Of course I'd tell Della! Mick's my brother.
OK, tell Mick. You should tell Mick.
Who else have you told? The postman? The milkman? The whole sodding town?!
MARGIE AN' ME ARE MARRIED! HEY!
WE'VE BEEN MARRIED OVER TWO MONTHS!
Bloody hell, Marge!
What's Della gonna make of ME?
MUM!
MUSIC FROM JUKEBOX
I was lookin' for ya.
I'm not 'ard to find. Even Ruthie found me. Yeah, I did.
I found you very disappointing.
Where the 'ell 'ave you been for two months? Ma's been cutting up rough. I've been busy, haven't I?
Pint of lager, John.
How are you keeping, Ruthie?
As if YOU cared!
Thanks.
Did you take my diamond tie-pin? Diamond? That's never a diamond!
DID you? Does it cut glass? If it cuts glass, it's a diamond.
None of his business WHAT it cuts. It's not his pin. I never tried cutting with it. You took it? Yeah.
You want me to 'ave a nice wedding present, don't you? We're not getting married, Raymond.
Mick an' me are just impediments. Shut up, Ruthie! That's not nice!
I'll definitely not marry you now! Are you winding me up?
Say I give you back your pin, will you do something for me tonight?
Are you sure this'll be the right time to meet her? Don't worry! Just back me up, don't show me up!
# She's got diamonds on the soles of her shoes... #
↑ Nice little place you've got. Wouldn't do for me.
Stuck right out here! It wasn't chosen for you. >
I like to be near the centre of things. Where's this?
Egypt.
See that army they dug out of the ground? That's in China.
Know-all!
They cheat you in those places.
A white skin's fair game to them.
Give us 'em. Pinch your wallet, pinch your bum, disappear round the corner!
Been there, 'ave you? Aren't I right?
It's OK if you keep your wits about you. And it's full of disease.
I expect Della's tired.
Where's this? Greece. We spent a couple of months there last summer.
Get a bit parky if you wore that round 'ere! Get more than parky!
You'd get your tits ripped off and finish 'ead down in a dyke!
Well...I think I'll go on up. If that's OK with you.
Don't mind dirty talk, love.
Not if you're to last five minutes with Ray. His wife can't afford to be dainty!
(For Chrissake, Ruth!)
Delicate little flower, isn't she, your beloved?
Well, thanks for the ale. Some of us 'ave to be up in the morning. Thanks, Mrs...er...
Margerie.
Ray will 'ave to drive us 'ome.
Nobody's driving anywhere.
I'm not walking in THESE shoes!
Belt up, will ya?!
FROM DOWNSTAIRS: 'Ow was I supposed to know he'd fetched up with a geriatric?
MICK: Try some other poor sucker. I'm finished with you, OK?
She's older than Barbara Cartland. She's older than Joan Collins.
Shut up and go to sleep! You've a long walk in the morning.
She'll 'ave to get used to it, that's all I can say! Shut up! Everyone'll think she's 'is mother.
I'm warning you, Ruthie! That's if they don't think she's 'is grandmother!
'He came to my adult reading class. It's easy to slip through the net when you're a kid.
'A life sentence of pretending you've lost your glasses!
'His mother was a dancer. His father was a regular in the army. They both died.
'He's been in and out of trouble. Now he wants something different.
'He thinks he needs me.
'He doesn't, of course.
'But I'd be a damn fool to tell 'im.
'You see, I really DO need him!'
You didn't have to marry him, though, did you? Oh, yes. I rather think I did.
BURSTS OF LAUGHTER
Now what?
Turn the engine off. Engine off.
Neutral. Er...neutral. Hand-brake. Oh, hand-brake!
You should have done this years ago! Maybe there's a LOT I should have done years ago!
Oh...OH! My legs are shaking.
D'you know...I'm scared!
I'm scared of being this happy.
I shall start looking for work next week. What sort of work?
Anything you can get with a middling degree and a year of travelling. Teaching? Anything.
Only, there's a job going up at the school. What job?
Third year. But YOU teach third year.
You're crazy!
You've been a teacher all your life! Exactly. What if you and Ray...
What if it doesn't work out? I intend to see that it does.
HE asked you to give it up!
We asked things of each other, love.
You don't have to like him. Just promise you'll make an effort.
What on earth...?
HAMMERING UPSTAIRS
Oh!
I hoped I might be finished before you two came back.
I got it from the Spalding job.
It's the same brown that's in your curtains.
I'm sorry about last night.
I hope you like it.
Like it?
It's appalling!
It's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen! Get it out of my room!
I just... How dare you touch my room? How dare you LOOK at it?
I only... It's nothing to do with you! I'm nothing to do with you, and I never WANT to be!
A LARK SINGS
Oh, Ray, it's beautiful!
It's the most lovely...
You really shouldn't have bought anything so... Here...
It's all right, then?
It's 18-carat.
You spoil me!
I like spoiling you.
KNOCK ON DOOR
# Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you... #
You know what would be the most wonderful present? I know. I know.
# ..Happy birthday to you! # Come in.
Da-da-a-a!
# ..Oh, my darling Clementine, Thou art lost and gone for ever, Dreadful sorry, Clementine!
# Drove she ducklings to the water, Every morning just at nine... #
Hope you know where we're going. Della does. Birthday surprise!
Mmm... Magnificent!
More cake? No!
Ray? Wish you 'adn't told me what was in it. Carrots are perfectly good food.
This is just the sort of day you look back on and remember years and years later.
I hate carrots! You don't taste them.
And you realise that on that day you were perfectly, perfectly happy!
Puts me off, that it's full of 'em.
Pay attention, you two! I'm giving you the fruits of my wisdom.
She's like this when she's teaching. She's always like this! But...
..the real trick is to realise that you're perfectly happy on the actual day itself!
Then I think you've cracked it.
Is that it? Are you finished now? What? Cracked what?
The meaning of life, of course.
But maybe you have to be very, very old - like me - to see it.
To see what? You're wrong, anyway. Champagne is the meaning of life!
What was it? What did she say? And carrot cake.
I can't believe it - I missed it! I missed the meaning of life!
I, MARGERIE STARLING, AM PERFECTLY, PERFECTLY HAPPY...
..RIGHT...NOW!
In fact, it's American.
What? Carrot cake.
Who taught you to do that, then? I just followed the little old recipe. It's not hard.
Always supposing you can read in the first place, of course.
Sorry!
I AM sorry!
Vicious little bitch, aren't ya?
Remark unreservedly withdrawn, OK? I'm sorry.
Sorry, Ma!
I had a teacher just like you in primary school.
I was so scared of reading to her, I used to go for a pee when it was my turn.
Never did learn how to read. How dreadfully sad(!)
Time you were over it, though. This is SUPPOSED to be my birthday.
I'll behave impeccably from now on.
Like 'ell she will! Little witch!
What're you doing 'ere, anyway? What're you 'anging around for?
She's given you more than 20 years. It's time she had a life of her own.
What d'you need a mother for, at your age? The very thing I was going to ask YOU.
You poisonous little snake!
Stop!
This has got to stop, the pair of you, do you hear?
You're each as bad as the other. It's ludicrous! I feel as if I'm out with my two little children!
Well, now...wasn't that just my point exactly?
LARK-SONG
OK...I'll look for a room in town.
It's what I should have done at first.
< CAR DOOR SLAMS
ENGINE REVS WILDLY
FAINT CALL OF CURLEW
Wake up, sleeping beauties.
Your prince has come.
Look out, it's going to drip.
Oh...! Thank you. What time is it?
Look out, it's dripping. Where did you get these? You must have been miles! Look out!
What time is it? I thought I'd pass you on the road. Come on!
I'll take that. You bring the basket.
Got it?
CLATTERING DISHES
SIRENS
JABBERING OF POLICE RADIOS
Go home, love. Nothing to see here. What happened?
The Butcher at work again? Looks rather like it.
We're following up one or two leads.
↑ Bloody loony, isn't he?
Won't look like a loony, though. They don't. Could be her next-door neighbour.
It'll be somebody who knows the area. Got to be. He's somebody's husband, somebody's son.
POLICE RADIOS CHATTER
NO SOUND ON TV
Hey! Sitting in the dark?
I thought you must be out.
You weren't worried, were you? I didn't think I'd be so long.
I just dropped in at the cop shop.
I gave them the registration number of Della's car. What for?
You've seen the news? Yes, I...
Yes, I know. They need details of who was in the area.
It's near where we had our picnic.
Hey...they'll find him!
Don't let it get to you, love.
Oh, God, I thought...
I thought such a terrible thing. What? What is it?
I thought...
I'm such a fool!
I thought I'd lost my birthday present!
Would it have meant so much?
You could never lose my heart!
You look all in, love.
Put your feet up. I'll get some tea.
You look great now! Egg and chips was all it took.
It was just a plot to get you to cook a meal!
And...what happened to the tea-towel? If you pick 'oles in the service...
Yes, it would be too risky to get everything right first time. You might get asked more often.
Just like a schoolteacher, that is! You put yourself out a bit, do something extra special...
What's this washing? What? All this washing.
What is it?
Oh, that! It's just some stuff from the trailer.
It's OK, I didn't put it in with any of your things.
When did you? While the chips were doing.
What's wrong? I mean, when?
When did you go to the trailer? Steady on, love.
WHEN did you?
I went there to cool off yesterday.
A spell on me own and I'm OK again. You know me!
I cleaned the place up a bit.
I always do the washing. Yeah, but this was from before.
I mean, fair's fair. This was pre-marital dirt!
Guess what? I've found a flat. Hey! A room on the ring road. I'll move at the weekend.
Mum...?
Della...
Don't go. Please don't go!
Mmm...!
It's very light.
You're not overlooked.
It's almost a flat, isn't it? With the cooker and the fridge and the shower.
He's perfectly right, your Ray. This is how it should be. I could even quite like him from here.
Could you? You don't think he's...
DO you like him, Della? Course I do. You do? I really do!
Oh...!
CHIRPING OF MOORHEN
Grand day, isn't it? Yes, it is.
What's all this about, then? I felt like celebrating.
All week, I couldn't get near you, and now, here you are! D'you think I'm crazy?
It's possible.
Do you ever have a terrible dream, and in it you know you're dreaming
but you can't quite wake up enough to turn on the light? You're a mysterious woman, Marge.
We're all a bit mysterious.
Not me, I'm afraid, love. What you see is all there is. Are you quite sure about that?
Me an' the village duck-pond. No hidden depths!
Good.
Let that be what we're celebrating.
DOORBELL
MAN'S VOICE: Mr Starling? Aye.
You checked in with us on Monday. Just routine enquiries. We've just sat down to eat.
Shan't keep you long, sir.
ROOKS CAWING
Mum...?
Wh-what's happened?
Nothing. I-I just... Are you OK?
I just... Come in, for God's sake. You look terrible.
I have to get back. What IS it?
I just wanted to say... WE wanted to say that...
..if you weren't happy in your flat, if it didn't...er... of course, you must come home.
I want you to. If you're not happy.
Thanks, Mum. Thanks. But I love it here, I really do!
And I think it's best. Good.
Good!
At least come in and have breakfast. See you, then.
< BANGING
< Ray!
Ray!
DOORBELL
Ray!
Ray, it's Mick! Come on!
THUMPING ON DOOR
LEANING ON BELL
Ray!
Oh, 'ello. Morning!
Is Ray...er... He'll be at work.
But we were supposed to...
..er...I thought 'e weren't working today.
Aye, well... sorry to bother you, Mrs...er...
..Margie.
Mick!
Some tea?
VAN DOOR SLAMS
Sorry I'm late. Why? Why are you?
Where have you been? Steady on, love, I've just been working late.
You never work late. It's a rush job, in't it?
You promised me. You promised! Promised what?
That you wouldn't steal stuff any more. What IS this? Let me get in the house - I'm knackered!
You're stealing AND moonlighting. Don't lie to me! I don't need this. It's been a long day.
Please, NEVER lie to me! Who's lying? Calm down, will you?
If you lie about one thing, you can lie about anything. I'm not lying!
Do you swear it? I swear it.
Mick's been here. I made him tell me.
DOORKNOB RATTLING
Margie, please open the door!
WRENCHING THE HANDLE
Don't be stupid, Marge, open it!
For God's sake - where am I supposed to sleep?
FRANTIC POUNDING
Bloody ridiculous!
RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS
FRONT DOOR SLAMS
NOISE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Hello, love.
Are you still angry?
Hey - I'm sorry!
There'll be no more thieving, OK?
I can't bear you to be angry with me!
What's the use, eh? I'll never be good enough for you!
BLACKBIRD ALARM CALL
He's gonna be right pissed off wi' me now!
It's not my fault. I didn't know you came here.
Oh, have these, then! Go on - have everything!
Ruth!
Where did you get this?
Don't go shittin' yourself! Just never gave it back to 'im, that's all. But you're...
You're Mick's girl.
Aren't you?
Would you even notice Mick if Ray was there? I thought...
You thought Mick was good enough for me.
What's it to you? Five minutes or five years - it's nothing to you. Please! Bugger off!
It's not because I'm jealous, I promise! I won't tell Ray you went to the trailer. Bugger off!
I can't tell you why. I would tell you, but I can't. I HAVE to talk to someone who really knows him.
There's something wrong with you! You've got to talk to me!
Someone who knows 'im?
OK - go and talk to his mother, right? Go to Carter's Grove and talk to his mother.
SHE knows 'im!
His mother?! Yeah, his mother!
She should do. SHE should bloody know 'im!
She's the one who made 'im like he is, didn't she?
You think I don't know who you are, don't you?
You think you can take my son away from me, and I won't know who you are.
I wanted to meet you. Did you?
Did you want to see how old and frail I was? How lonely and alone?
I haven't taken your son away. We only live at Verner's Dyke.
You're keeping 'im from me. I know what you're doing. He's a grown man, Mrs Starling.
Don't call ME Mrs Starling! No man ever married me. YOU'RE Mrs Starling and you'll get no happiness from it.
Oh, but I AM happy! I'm very happy!
Pull that curtain across.
Come back 'ere.
Well, now, YOU'LL not be having any sons!
I already have a daughter. If it's love she wants, a woman needs sons.
Were you ever a dancer?
You're even dafter than the last one!
Talk to me about Ray! Tell me all about him!
A man's first love is his mother, Mrs Starling.
He may fight it, he may deny it, but he'll always come back to her in the end.
Help me!
You have your child. Leave me mine.
DISTANT POUNDING OF MUSIC
Have you ever been with a prostitute?
What kind of question is that?
Have you?
What's the matter with you, Margie? What's wrong?
Maybe nothing's wrong. I just want an answer.
You're my wife. I love you.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have, I just want to know, that's all.
You'd like it, then, would you? Shall we pretend you're a tart? Would that be exciting for you?
Don't be stupid! I want a wife. I want YOU. That's not what I meant.
Perhaps you meant I ought to go with 'em, instead of bothering you! You don't seem to want me! Stupid!
But I AM stupid, aren't I? Isn't that what's really wrong?
STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!
Help me to understand. Teach it me, Marge!
Let me go.
It's a hell of a lot harder than reading.
You never tell me...you never...
You never tell me anything! Like what? What don't I tell you?
Like, have you ever been with a prostitute? For Chrissake!
You've got to tell me! Have you, have you, HAVE YOU?
NO! No, no! OK? Are you happy now?
NO!
Once there are lies...
..it's all like a lie.
I would never lie to YOU.
FAINT POUNDING OF MUSIC
Piss off!
I have a daughter a bit like you. Oh, yeah? I'd be frightened for her doing this.
At a time like this.
Look, piss off, will ya? You're bad for business!
< 'BIP' ON HORN
Do you do French? Get away! Get away from me!
You're disgusting! An animal! An animal!
LOUD RUSHING OF WATER
CAR ENGINE SPURTS INTO LIFE
MAN'S VOICE: Are you OK, love?
You shouldn't be out here on your own.
Not with all the things that's been goin' on.
Where you headed for? I'll give you a lift home.
OTHER DOOR OPENS
My girlfriend's here.
↑ Come on, love! It's all right.
Hey...
Steady on, love!
I thought...
I-I thought that...
I wish it had been you!
CAR STARTS UP
↑ Sorry to alarm you, Mrs Starling.
We've been waiting for you. Nothing to worry about. We need your assistance.
LOUD RUSHING OF WATER
KNOCK ON DOOR
Margie?
He says you're to rest, and you'll be all right. He says it's only stress.
There'll be no more lies and no more thieving.
I mean it, love! Believe me, Marge! I swear it!
I didn't mean to hurt you, Margie.
I...I just wanted you to think well of me.
I was scared of losing you, see?
Don't shut me out, Marge, please!
I can't bear it if you shut me out!
Well, don't worry about the police reconstruction. The doctor will say you're not fit to go.
No!
He mustn't do that.
I have to be there.
I don't know what to do.
It's not your fault.
Would you mind parking in there, please, madam?
And then we unpacked the picnic. Go on, then.
Would you mind if I...?
Feel free!
That gentleman remembers someone shouting something.
I, MARGERIE STARLING...
..AM PERFECTLY, PERFECTLY HAPPY...
..RIGHT...NOW!
↑ Now, sir, wasn't there an argument between yourself and the young lady?
About carrot cake.
Carrot.
↑ And then the young lady left?
No.
He left.
The gentleman left.
DELLA: That's right. He went off and we stayed here.
- He took your vehicle? - Yes, and came back with ice-cream.
POLICEMAN: And you drove the family home?
That's right, isn't it? Yes, that's right, isn't it, Ray?
She thinks it's me. She thinks I did it!
Look at her! Look at her face!
Raped her.
Hacked her up.
Chucked her in the dyke.
No, I don't...I don't... Of course I don't!
You! Everything will be all right now.
I know it will.
You...
..c-could think that of me!
Please, Ray...
I never thought that.
I swear!