March 1986. Colin finds work in a print shop and volunteers as an AIDS activist along with Jill. Ritchie begins a relationship with another actor but is forced to confront the reality of AIDS. Colin is diagnosed with AIDS and is locked up in a hospital by the Public Health Act, 1984. His mother and friends watch in horror as he suffers rare neurological symptoms caused by progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A one-night stand leads Roscoe to a profitable relationship with a closeted Tory MP. With the help of a lawyer, Colin is released from the Welsh hospital and brought to London to be cared for on a unit where many other men are suffering from AIDS. Ritchie, Jill, Ash and Roscoe visit Colin, but his condition worsens and he dies. Everyone is heartbroken by the loss and it prompts those who were close to Colin to take the HIV/AIDS test.
* * *
(camera shutters)
But then the glint did pale and fade and so the morning shooed his form as truth must know.
My brother dead.
His cheeks so wax and cold.
His hand upon his heart to ne’er grow old.
And now the heptarch stands without a king.
I took his life, that new life might begin.
(upbeat music)
Oh, hello Mrs Goodison.
I was just teaching Lucy some lessons.
But why are you in her bedroom?
Oh mummy, don’t be silly, he’s helping with my exams.
What exams would that be?
I’ve just been helping her with a French Letter.
Get out of my house.
But I’m very good with tongues!
The wind is getting stronger and stronger.
It is blasting you.
Feel the wind,
fight it, fight it!
And now the wind is so strong it’s ripping your shirt off!
I said it’s ripping your shirt off!
It’s ripping your bloody shirt off!
Donald Basset.
(upbeat music)
Next is Peter Brooke-Adams.
(upbeat music)
Donald Basset.
I thought this might be your sort of place.
No, I’m just having a drink before I go back to the wife.
Whoa.
That’s quite a bit of acting. (chuckles)
No, I’m not convinced.
Well, I got that part in The Chimney Sweep, which means you didn’t.
I know.
You stole my life.
♪ Looking for you ♪
♪ You were looking for me ♪
♪ Always reaching for you ♪
♪ You were too blind to see ♪
♪ Oh love of my heart ♪
♪ Why leave me alone ♪
♪ I’m falling apart ♪
♪ No good on my own ♪
(laughing)
♪ Oh L’Amour ♪
(telephone ringing)
[Male caller] Am I dying?
I can’t answer that darling, but have you been to a doctor?
[Male caller] I can’t, I really can’t.
I’ve had the same doctor all my life, ever since I was a kid.
He knows my mum and dad.
I can’t tell him this.
No, it’s okay.
We’ve got numbers of clinics.
You don’t have to use your real name, no-one needs to know who you are, but they can help.
I promise they can help.
(dramatic music)
♪ Beware you rich folk ♪
♪ Beware you wealthy ♪
♪ Here’s the big joke, you’re not healthy ♪
♪ The streets of Paris run with rivers of blood ♪
♪ Dive in deeply, time to save the flood ♪
[Ross’ mother] Oh, just come and have a quick one, Jill.
I promised I’d do a shift.
See ya Ta-ra, girls!
♪ Come and meet my good friend, Madam Guillotine ♪
[Male caller] I can’t tell anybody, I can’t.
♪ Knit one, purl one, sittin’ on my cold bum ♪
♪ Knit one, purl one, never had such good fun ♪
♪ I’m knitting myself a lovely long chemise ♪
♪ While the posh nobs get down on their knees ♪
[Lady caller] He’s sick, he is really, really sick but I can’t help it!
I don’t want to touch him.
♪ Watch your step, love ♪
♪ Don’t lose your head ♪
(laughing)
(audience applauding)
(sighs)
(upbeat music)
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
♪ Oh love to love you baby ♪
Oh, right, I thought you’d done a runner.
Hello.
I’ve gotta get to work if you don’t mind.
Sorry, what was your name again?
Rosco. What was yours?
Cassius.
Haven’t got long though.
Quick shower, yeah?
Together?
Um, yeah.
(upbeat music)
I’m going this way, so thank you, Rosco.
See you round.
Yeah, I’m always in the Bruce.
I work there.
I’m sort of under manager if you wanna find me.
Yeah, I don’t often go to that part of town to be honest.
Slummin’ it last night?
A little.
That’s okay.
Bye then.
(upbeat music)
And what’s for tea tonight then?
Might get some chips on the way home.
You should have proper food.
Long day’s work, good meal at the end of it, fortifies the soul. (laughs)
Oh, I meant to say, Colin, I’ve been considering.
Now I’m very happy with you overall and I think you’re enjoying yourself, am I right?
Oh very much, yeah.
It’s great.
I could, hand over a bit more responsibility.
What do you think?
I don’t mind, yeah.
I was thinking…
(keys jingling)
(Mr Ibisu laughs)
He said I can have a set of keys so I can get in at 8.30, before him and open up for the day.
[Richie] So what’s that, promotion?
Do you get more money?
[Ash Mukherjee] Are you like a manager now?
No.
[Richie] So what does it mean?
It means I can open up at 8.30.
(laughing) Oh my god, Gladys, your life is too exciting, you are killing me.
I’ve had sex with a millionaire, but you’ve gone and beaten me.
[Ash Mukherjee] Colin, you are hilarious.
But I’m proud of my keys.
(sarcastically) I remember Gladys Pew once had a cup of tea and it didn’t have any milk in it, it was so thrilling.
Like being on a roller coaster.
Wow, you don’t take prisoners in this house, do you?
We’re off.
Where are you tonight?
Uh, we might go to Supernatural.
Donald says his mate Chris goes there, he knows Boy George.
He can get us into the VIP area.
Come on, sweetheart.
We’re off, bye.
[All] Bye.
(indistinct chattering)
(door closed)
Sweetheart?
Who says fucking sweetheart?
Are they boyfriends?
He said he’d never have a boyfriend.
I know Boy George, look at me. (chuckles)
We can’t call him Donald.
What does Donald become?
Doreen? Dora?
Diana?
Dolly?
[Rosco] Daisy?
Isla St Clair.
Why Isla St Clair?
He looks like her, around the eyes, I was thinkin’.
(Jill and Ash Mukherjee Chuckles)
Colin wins with Isla St Clair.
That makes Richie, Larry Grayson.
[Ash Mukherjee] That’s it, that is it.
That’s it
[Jill] Oh my…
That’s dope. (laughs)
(upbeat music)
♪ Everyday I hear a different story ♪
♪ People saying that you’re no good for me ♪
♪ Saw your lover with another and she’s making a fool of you ♪
♪ If you love me baby, you’d deny it ♪
♪ But you laugh and tell me I should try it ♪
♪ Tell me I’m a baby, and I don’t understand ♪
This is what I like to see.
Everything up and running.
Good morning.
I’ll have a cup of tea if you don’t mind thank you, Colin.
Oh, it’s colder than I thought.
Said on the news last night 14 degrees.
That can’t be right.
Feels more like nine or ten.
(car honking)
Here I am, hold on.
Oh, it was a hell of a drive.
I couldn’t stop thinking.
Any news?
He’s okay. (Eileen sighs)
Don’t worry, I saw him, he’s fine.
He’s sitting up in bed.
I’ll have words with him.
I’ll give him a good clip, scaring me.
Doctor said you can have a fit just once and that’s it.
Like a storm, it comes and goes.
She said they don’t really understand it.
But you can have one fit and never have another one ever again.
[Jill] What causes it though?
There’s no epilepsy in the family.
I’ll ask your Auntie Jean, but I don’t think there was any on your dad’s side, not that I know.
Doctor said it’s electricity in the brain.
It sort of goes zap.
Not being rude, but if we’re gonna make it back in time…
Oh God, yes, we promised, sorry.
Will you be all right?
Where’s your hotel?
It’s the same B&B as last time.
It’s got access for me, they’re nice people.
I’ll be fine.
I’ll stay and give you a hand.
I just grabbed a few of your t-shirts and things.
What’s the plan?
Well, if I’m all right,
they said they’ll discharge me tomorrow.
Then I’ll take you back to Bringoth.
Your boss said you can have a fortnight off.
I think he was embarrassed because you wet yourself on the carpet.
Okay, mum.
And that kinda stain takes a bit of cleaning, let me tell you.
Okay.
The smell of adult piss can linger!
(laughs) Okay, thanks.
Oh, I love you, Mrs Morris-Jones.
See you later, honey-pie.
Oh, you’ve got a TV lounge down there, try to watch.
It’s Isla St Clair’s big night. (laughs)
Shame on you, shame on you both!
All he’s ever done is work hard!
Don’t, Sarah.
Don’t get involved.
I got involved on the day I married you, Sam and I won’t step away now!
This is really good.
Shh.
What harm’s he ever done?
He’s a chimney sweep for god’s sake!
Happen he’s seen some things.
[Sarah] What’s that supposed to mean?
Things he shouldn’t have seen.
[Sam] I promise, I won’t say a word.
[Donald] Better not, aye, or you know what’ll happen.
What sort of accent is that?
[Donald] We’re giving you one warning.
I think it’s from the Punjab.
[Donald] Have you got that, Sam?
[Sam] Yes, son.
‘Cause the next time.
(Sarah screams)
That’ll be your head!
That’ll be your head.
[Donald] If you’re lucky.
Ecky thump.
I thought you said Isla St Clair was in this?
She might be in part two.
(Jill chuckles)
They should bring you back next week, you were brilliant.
They said if the story goes a certain way I could come back.
They told me to stay in touch.
You were scary.
Was I?
Do that’ll be your head.
That’ll be your head.
Oh Jesus.
(pants) (sighs)
Oh, I thought to celebrate it’s about time we did it properly.
I wanna fuck you, Richie.
I wanna fuck you.
Works both ways.
That’ll be your head!
(sighs)
Hold on… do you think, yeah?
That’s what it say, use a sheath.
I dunno, yeah?
Oh god, they’re tricky…
Ooh. Fiddly bloody things.
They smell don’t they?.
We called ’em dunkers in school.
Hold on, just a sec…
Get it right this time.
Oh shit.
You’re not gonna get it on now.
Give me a minute,
Oh come on.
Oh come on. (sighs)
Oh shit, I’m sorry.
It’s those things, they kill it dead.
Hate them.
I can’t feel anything.
Oh, we can do other stuff.
Oh god, I wanna be fucked by you.
We’re both clean, don’t you think?
I’ve not done anything dirty.
Nor me. I’m clean.
Always have been.
All my life.
Me too.
You can trust me, yeah?
Completely. (sighs)
(upbeat music)
(Rosco knocks the door)
[Garrison] Can I help you?
Oh, (chuckles) sorry,
I was looking for Cassius.
Is he home?
Cassius doesn’t live here.
What makes you think he does?
I must have made a mistake.
Wait a minute.
Did he bring you here?
Have you been inside this flat?
Who are you?
What’s your name?
This is my property!
What the hell have you been doing?
I tell you who else, Philip Schofield.
Oh, if only.
I had a friend who worked in The Broom Cupboard.
Said he’s at it like Billy-o.
And guess who?
My other friend was working at The National,
says this one walks around
with a boyfriend like it’s not even a secret.
Hm? Derek Jacobi.
No way, Claudius!
I-Clavdivs gay!
Can you imagine if people found out.
Mm, never work again.
Never work again.
‘Cause you see those people working for Gay Sweatshop and I mean, well done, but they will never ever ever ever get cast in anything else ever again.
That’s the thing isn’t it.
I wanna be anyone.
I wanna be Hamlet, I wanna be Romeo.
But if I said I’m gay, I’d be just the clown.
So what would you be if you could be in anything?
If you ever get to be in anything.
Uh, (sarcastically) Oh funny, ha-ha.
I just wanna do good work.
I don’t mind, I’ll have two lines as long as it’s good.
Okay (laughs) fuck that.
I wanna be massive.
I wanna be in the West End.
I did Trofimov in The Cherry Orchard
and I fucking revolutionized that play.
I did. And then films.
I’ve planned it out.
I’ll graduate to films.
We can go to the premiere, you and me, not together but in secret.
Oh, do I get a part in this film?
You’re the lady’s maid.
Oh, I found this audition piece the other day.
Hold on…
(sighs) It’s from this uh, play.
They did it back in The Royal Court, back in 1975, and then it disappeared,
Strangers in the Field and the son has this speech.
“It is amazing”.
It’s like the end of Juno and the Paycock.
You can’t have it, it’s mine ’cause it’s amazing for auditions.
Here it is.
Says this thing,
“They’re strangers to me, they’re strangers to life.”
‘Cause he’s in this war…
He never says which war, it’s a bit more the courage, it’s just a war but he’s only 16 and he’s just seen his mum and dad shot dead.
But he can’t say they’re his mum and dad or else he’ll get shot too.
So he just stands there.
But they’ve still got his sister…
Here we are, home again, jiggidy-jig.
Now you sit down, I’ll put the kettle on.
I haven’t got much in.
Didn’t have time with the emergency.
What do you fancy for tea?
I thought faggots and peas.
Is that nice?
Faggots would be great.
[Eileen] (indistinct)
Love a faggot, thanks.
Hang on, we ain’t open for five minutes.
He’s nice ain’t he, Wicksy?
Handsome boy.
[Simon] All right, all right.
All right, hang on.
You know your flatmate, Rosco.
Yeah.
He wears make-up.
Yeah.
They’re a nice little gang, your mates.
I like them.
They’re nice and they’re funny.
They’re a bit different, aren’t they?
I was thinking they’re a queer little lot I suppose.
Yeah.
Well, I think that’s nice.
[Ian over the device] Yeah.
[Simon] Well, what happened?
[Ian] A smack in the mouth from me best mate.
[Simon] You need takin’ out, Ian, come here.
All the same, you shouldn’t go to France, it’s a waste of time.
[Eileen] Who’s goin’ to France?
There is no person in France.
I’m not following.
It’s France, which I said was stupid because there’s no person but you keep insisting.
So I’m telling you once and for all, there’s no point okay?
I think we’ll go get you checked out tomorrow?
Yeah?
It might just mean an increase in dosage.
So what does it feel like?
Does it make you confused?
Uh, I dunno.
It’s like I’m having two thoughts at once.
It all comes in a rush and I get a bit panicky.
There it goes.
What does?
Do you see it?
There it goes again.
What are you lookin’ at?
Do you see?
The light.
(gasps)
Oh my God!
It’s okay, I’ve got you Colin.
I’ve got you.
I’ve got you.
(dramatic suspenseful music)
(keys jiggles)
(Doctor closes the door)
It’s hard to locate the precise cause of the epilepsy, but it’s obviously an effect of the inflammation inside his brain.
We can attack the symptoms, but the cause is incurable.
I have to ask, do you know what that cause is?
No.
I’m afraid the infection exists because your son has AIDS.
Evidently he’s had this, HTLV-III or HIV.
But do you understand?
Has Colin said anything?
Have you heard of AIDS?
Have I heard of what?
It’s the disease that, (sighs)
ended the life of Rock Hudson?
AIDS is associated with the homosexual male population.
But is Colin going to be all right?
I did say it’s incurable.
What does that mean?
You’re not allowed out.
But I need the toilet.
There’s a commode over there.
(sighs) Well, why can’t I get out?
Your son is infectious.
So we’ve been granted a court order for his detention under the Public Heath Act of 1984.
No-one is allowed in and he’s certainly not allowed out.
You mean he’s under arrest?
It’s important to say that none of this is our fault.
AIDS is transmitted by sex with men.
If he chose to be part of that cesspit, well, who am I to judge?
But my judgment is vital when his disease becomes a public menace.
Because that’s what he is now, you see?
Your son is dangerous to others.
But can I just ask, what’s to stop me taking him out of here right now?
The law, Mrs Morris-Jones.
The law of the land forbids you.
You mean he can’t get out?
That’s right.
[Eileen] He’s a prisoner?
(dramatic music)
(car honking)
But he’s got epilepsy.
That was official.
They’ve just got it wrong.
Colin can’t have AIDS, he’s never had it off with anyone.
[Rosco] Don’t be stupid, of course he has.
He’s never said.
Yeah, well when did you actually talk to him instead of taking the piss?
Oh, you’re just as bad.
Yeah, well he did talk about some boy.
Never said who, like years ago before he moved in.
That’s about 20 quid.
I’ve got 200 in the bank.
What for?
I don’t know, lawyers.
Anything, we’ve got to get him out.
His mum says she’s got savings, but I don’t think it’s much.
Pete can help, he knows the right people.
I got paid for that supply, I’ve got about 80 quid spare.
Do you know what we need?
A phone. We need a phone in this place.
We should really, really get a phone.
[Jill] Come with me?
Yeah.
I’ll let you know how I get on.
La!
La!
La!
[Jill] Gladys Pew.
I can’t believe it.
Gets him, could get anyone.
I’ve never had sex with Colin.
Oh, that’s not the fucking point!
I share a room with him.
(dramatic suspenseful music)
(Rosco sobbing)
Hi mum.
Wow, what have we done to deserve this particular honor?
It’s a week night.
Are you okay?
Do you need money?
Look, are you all right?
Just saying hello.
We’re just sitting down now.
I made a lasagne it was very nice.
(clears throat) Bumped into Paul Birch, his son’s applied for a graduate diploma in law.
It’s a one-year conversion course.
He said it’s worth thinking about.
Because have you got any work of your own?
No, you have not.
“Lots of love,” says your father.
“How are you?” says your dad.
For god’s sake, Clive!
Have you got any work?
I’ve got auditions.
Oh I keep seeing people on the telly who are rubbish.
I say, “Richie could do that, he’d be much better.”
Are you okay?
[Richie] Yeah.
And everything’s all right?
[Richie] Yeah.
How’s Jill?
She’s fine.
[Richie’s Mum] Well, maybe you two could come over.
She’s not my girlfriend, mum…
Still, never say never.
Or we could come and visit.
Or maybe I could come without your dad.
[Richie] No, it’s tricky.
I get asked to audition at a moment’s notice.
You are all right aren’t you?
[Richie] Yes.
And there’s nothing wrong?
I just thought maybe life would be so much easier if…
If we had a phone.
The installation’s something like 30 quid on it’s own and then there’s the bills.
But I could phone you more often.
Well, we can help with that.
[Richie] Could you?
Course we can.
Oh, I knew it was money.
That’s what we’re here for.
Great.
Look, I better go, I’ve got some lines to learn.
[Richie’s Mum] Oh, what for?
Just this thing.
Well, take care and let me know how much the phone is.
Night night.
Night.
I love you.
♪ You think you’re a man but you’re only a boy ♪
♪ You think you’re a man, you are only a toy ♪
♪ You think you’re a man but you just couldn’t see ♪
♪ You weren’t man enough to satisfy me ♪
♪ You think you’re a man but you’re only a boy ♪
Richie!
Richie!…
Richie!
Richie!
(foreign language)
Happy now are you?
Happy now?!
(dog barking)
Here I am.
Sorry I took so long.
Oh, Pete Burrows.
Every time I see that face it means trouble.
Can’t I have a quiet life for once?
Uh, never.
Mm-hm.
Oh, It’s good to see you.
It’s good to see you.
This is Jill and Ash.
This is Elizabeth.
So, first things first.
Let me say what they’ve done to your friend is appalling and I’m here to get him out.
Now.
Pete, get me a coffee, white, two sugars.
You two, I want you to tell me everything.
Give me every single detail of what those little Welsh bastards have done, ’cause I’m gonna enjoy this.
There is a precedent for your actions.
Page six.
14th September, 1985 a man was detained at the Monsall Isolation Hospital outside Manchester.
Please note page seven.
Upon appeal he was released immediately.
Further to that, your court order is using a very precise legal phrase here, a mess, an unholy mess.
You made an application under the Public Health Act of 1984, which is incorrect.
The provisions for infectious diseases fall under the regulations of 1985, making this null and void.
Obviously that’s before we even talk about compensation for testing my client’s blood without permission.
And there’s a legal term for that too.
Expensive.
But above and beyond everything else, the most important thing I’ve come here to tell you today is this.
We’re here to help.
[Pete] We just want to help.
We can help.
Because this disease is terrifying and no wonder you’re scared.
Frightens me to death.
But we’ve got guidelines.
We can help your staff, I promise you.
So we could go to court all guns blazing, or we could just step back together, we could pause and step back and think and put Colin first.
So what do you say?
Mum!
Look at you, little chicken!
Oh! Come here darling.
There we’re.
They wouldn’t let me out.
I was stuck.
Where have you been?
I’ve been trying.
They said you’d gone to Japan.
Did they? Who said that?
I dunno. There was a little man.
You’re gonna get a tiny bit confused every now and then, Colin.
But we’ll do all we can.
We’re gonna get you moved back to London.
They’ve got experts.
Sod this lot and you’ll be close to your friends.
I can stay round the corner.
We’ll be fine.
I do get confused.
Why is that?
It’s because of your illness.
It turns out it’s a little bit more than epilepsy.
Dr Williams is here because, uh…
I wanted to be in the room when he tells you.
Why? What is it?
Tells me what?
What’s wrong with me?
I’m sorry.
You don’t have to be sorry.
I’m not dirty.
No-one said you were.
I never did anything bad.
I really didn’t.
Can they make me better?
You’re moving back to London.
They’ll know a bit more there.
But they haven’t got a cure, have they?
Have they?
I don’t know.
They’re trying.
I think…
I-I dunno,
I-I can’t remember things properly.
I think it was him.
Who?
He gave it to me.
Who do you mean?
The football shirt.
Who’s that?
But does everyone die of AIDS?
We don’t know.
Does every single person die?
Yeah, they do.
I read his stuff, that’s what it says.
It says no-one survives.
(sobbing) Oh mummy, make them do something.
I don’t want to die. (sobs)
The thing about AIDS, all your defenses get lowered.
So when people say coughs and colds can kill you, that’s because ordinary illnesses run out of control.
They go mad, ’cause they can’t be stopped.
And that’s inside his brain?
Yeah. And once the brain’s in trouble, everything goes.
They think it’s this virus called JC.
Thanks Leona.
Hi, Jill.
(sighs) And because Colin’s so weak he can’t fight it off, so the virus goes crazy.
He’s going senile, like old people and he’s only 24.
Here we go.
Just be nice.
Hey, I’m always nice.
Hi there. La!
La.
La. He’s taught me, see? La! (laughs)
We’ll go and get a coffee.
[Jill] Don’t mind me, I can sit here.
No, best not have too many.
Be right back, do you want anything?
I’m fine thanks.
Do you know what Jill said, “Be nice.”
Like I’m horrible.
I can’t imagine what she means.
So, how are you?
How’s things?
I saw David Dukes, he sent his love.
He said, “Get well soon.”
And Ruth and Steven Jones says hello.
God, this is weird.
Richie’s being nice to me.
Am I that bad?
Oi, cheeky.
I really must be dyin’.
Oh Gladys, don’t.
Oh, he’s devil may care today.
Did they say we had a meeting of the Pink Palace.
We said we can’t have your mum paying the rent and we refuse to move anyone else in.
Never.
But Ash can pay a bit more and Jill and I’ll get myself some bar work, so your bed’s still there for when you come home.
I do miss you.
We miss you.
We really do.
Every day.
Even though you never said a word.
We miss you not sayin’ it.
I miss you hopping out of the shower in the morning ’cause I always thought you looked so sexy.
Right, (chuckles) good well.
I am.
Oh, it’s all coming out now. (laughs)
I always fancied him.
Did you not know?
Uh, no, I never did.
But you’re wise, Colin, I’ll give you that.
You’ve got very good taste.
You’d walk around in that towel.
I’d take myself off and have a wank.
Right, okay.
Oh, I’m sorry, he can’t quite see the line sometimes.
Stop it now, love.
Colin, did I tell you I went into Printalux the other day?
You look good right now.
Oh my God.
[Jill] No, Colin don’t.
Colin, there’s people here, love.
We should go.
Colin, stop it.
Stop it!
All right now.
Let’s get everyone out.
Quick as you can. Thank you.
On your feet, don’t stare folks, come on.
Show’s over.
Off we go. Thank you.
(sobbing) Why does it have to be so cruel?
It’s bad enough he’s dying and now this. (sobs)
For Christ sake why?
Mr. Ashwin Mukherjee, please.
Rosco Babatunde.
Mr. Richard Tozer.
And then make an appointment to come back at the desk.
Should have the results in six weeks, so within those six weeks it’s best to be sensible.
Okay.
(sighs)
Oh yes, the M25 is a huge opportunity, not just for London but for the whole country.
It represents a benefit.
I think we can probably assume that, we’re gonna become a focal point, a place of ambition for the whole world.
[Reporter] The leader of opposition is demanding an immediate investigation in the rising battle.
(upbeat music)
(instrumental music)
They were strangers to me.
They were strangers to life.
Now they’re nothing but clothes and meat and a stink upon the breeze.
But give the child to me, give me the stranger’s child.
I ask you, sir.
Give the stranger’s child to me.
Okay, I’ll be there at 12.
Thanks. Thanks, Thanks.
(telephone rings)
I got it!
(screaming)
12 weeks! £130 quid a week! (laughs)
There’s one thing I should tell you, because somebody else inevitably will, it really doesn’t matter but you were the second choice.
I don’t care.
As long as I got it. (laughs)
They wanted that Donald Basset.
You know the one who got The Chimney Sweep?
Oh, I know him, yeah.
I know him.
What, did he turn it down?
Uh, not exactly.
Turns out he’s gone home.
For good.
What do you mean?
He’s given up?
There’s a lot of boys who go home these days.
More and more of them, every month, going home.
And I don’t think we’ll ever see them again, do you?
Richie, promise me, don’t go home.
(tense suspenseful music)
[Moustache] Mr Ashwin Mukherjee.
Rosco Babatunde, please.
Richard Tozer.
It’s good news.
There’s no sign of HIV.
You’re all clear.
And yep, there’s nothing to worry about.
The test came back negative.
(laughs) You are fucking kidding me?
No way, seriously?
I’ve had everyone, that’s not fair!
(Jill and Ensemble laughs)
(applauding)
And it was a good show I think.
We always have one or two people walking out when the guillotine comes down but we had about six tonight. (chuckles)
So that was good.
Success.
You had a man faint one week didn’t you?
(laughing) Fell head first!
We did. I told you, remember?
Yeah.
You remember.
Yeah, he remembers everything.
Don’t you?
I think he does.
He just stares into space.
But let’s give him a rest shall we?
Time you two went home and got some sleep.
Goodnight, Colin.
We’ll see you tomorrow.
Night darling.
I asked back home about the funeral service.
(Ash Mukherjee sighs) Well it has to be done.
There’s one firm, they’ve had my mam, my nan and my great grandmother and they said no.
They said absolutely not.
They said their staff didn’t think it was safe to handle a body with AIDS.
The man in charge, I’ve known him for 35 years and he said no.
He said try Cardiff.
So I tried Cardiff, the man said it might be possible, but the cremation would have to be done at the very end of the day, possibly night for fear of contamination.
So there we are.
We won’t have a buffet, we’ll have a supper with very few people I suspect.
Oh Eileen, I’m so sorry.
Oh, what happens happens.
I’ll miss you too my loves.
I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out who gave it to him.
I know, but it’s not like that, Ash.
Don’t go looking for a villain, it will just be some bloke.
Thanks.
(door bell rings)
Hello, I’m Colin.
Well don’t just stand there, in you come.
That’s a good lad.
That’s Mike and my lad, Ross.
[Eileen] You makin’ friends?
Yeah.
[Eileen] See now, lucky them I say.
(indistinct) drinks?
We’re out tonight you two, we’re going to see that Canonball Run.
If you boys are in I can leave some cheese and crackers in the fridge if that’s okay?
I’ll be in, yeah.
I’ll stay in.
I’m always in on a Thursday night.
Are you out every Thursday night?
Oh, we tend to be, yeah.
It’s what Mike and me call our cinema club.
Okay. Good to know, thanks.
Shut up, you little bender.
Yeah!
I don’t care, you’ve got it wrong.
My son is a normal man, he’s not one of those filthy dirty queers!
Whatever is wrong with him, I’m telling you…
Night then. La.
La.
(melancholy music)
(telephone ringing)
Hello. Hi, hi there.
[Eileen] I’m sorry darling…
He’s gone.
Okay.
Oh bless him. I’m so sorry.
(sobbing) He’s gone.
(sobs)
(sobbing)
Was he all right?
Did he wake up?
(melancholy music)
Mr Richard Tozer!
Have we got a Richard Tozer?
(tense suspenseful music)
♪ There’s no time for us ♪
♪ There’s no place for us ♪
♪ What is this thing that builds our dreams ♪
♪ Yet slips away from us ♪
♪ Who wants to live forever ♪
