Characters:
Rachel: English. Mid-thirties at the start of the play.
Dan: English. Rachel's cousin, two years older than her.
Jack: Scottish. Rachel's fiance.
Annie: Scottish. Jack's younger sister, aged late-twenties.
Lizzie: English. Rachel and Dan's great aunt.
Doctor: English, male.
Locations:
Hotel function room. Hotel outdoors. Thames South Bank.
Rachel and Jack's house. Rachel and Dan's house. A doctor's
office. A London pub.
Time: 2001-2004.
INT. HOTEL FUNCTION ROOM - AFTERNOON
F/X: SOUND OF PARTY HUBBUB - VOICES AND DRINKS.
LIZZIE
There's Rachel! Rachel! I want to
find out all about her wedding.
Rachel!
FADE TO:
RACHEL
No, Jack couldn't make it today.
He's attending a conference.
(pause)
Oh, oh - here comes Aunt Lizzie.
I'm about to be interrogated.
LIZZIE (OFF)
Rachel!
RACHEL
Hello! How are you? You look
wonderful.
LIZZIE
I'm fine, but my back is terrible.
Now dear, I hear you're getting
married and I don't even know who
he is. You should ring me and tell
me these things - I like to know
everything that goes on in the
family.
RACHEL
I thought mum had told you.
LIZZIE
She has, but I need you to tell me.
RACHEL
Okay - his name is Jack, he's a
year older than me, he's a Senior
Lecturer in Politics at the
University of Sussex, we're getting
married in two months, and everyone
will receive an invitation.
LIZZIE
Oh, that's lovely, darling. I'm so
happy for you. And where did you
meet?
RACHEL
(hesitant)
Oh, we met on the... train.
LIZZIE
Like 'Brief Encounter' - how
romantic. So I'm going to have
another grand nephew or niece soon,
I hope?
RACHEL
Well, that's the idea.
LIZZIE
I hope you haven't left it too
late.
RACHEL
I'm only thirty-five, aunty! That's
not old these days.
LIZZIE
I suppose not. But in my day, if
you hadn't started by nineteen,
they thought you were an old maid.
Rose was sixteen, you know?
Sixteen!
RACHEL
You see, I could be a grandmother
already.
LIZZIE
Talking of Rose, I hear that your
cousin Dan is back from New York.
Have you seen him yet?
RACHEL
No. No doubt we'll bump into each
other. He's over there, I think.
LIZZIE
Yes. Doesn't he look handsome. He's
done so well for himself over
there.
RACHEL
So I hear.
LIZZIE
Oh, you don't keep in touch any
more?
RACHEL
We did, to start with, and then, I
don't know, we just stopped.
LIZZIE
Oh, that's such a shame. You were
always so close. Like brother and
sister. Anyway, I'm going to speak
to your dad. And I can't wait to
meet your Jack - the lucky man.
FADE TO:
DAN (CLOSE)
No, believe me - New York women are
too hard. They've got a shopping
list as long as your arm and if you
don't match on every item, you're
wasting your money. US-Asians,
first generation - they're
innocent, they're naive, they know
what they want. Beautiful,
beautiful women - those high
cheekbones.
FADE TO:
RACHEL
No, you're Aquarius, aren't you.
And in Chinese, you'd be the year
of the Ram. That's intuition,
femininity, compassion, and... you
like the arts.
FADE TO:
DAN
I get back about twice a year, on
business, but I don't see the
family that much, to tell you the
truth. There's so many of them that
if I see one and not the others, I
end up upsetting people.
FADE TO:
RACHEL
Do they do that rubbing on your
back thing? I had that in Indonesia
- it's brilliant, isn't it? You
just feel all your energy going up
your spine and stopping in your
head.
FADE TO:
DAN
Two and half million euro. And they
moved it between fourteen
jurisdictions so there was no way
we could trace it back.
(pause)
But nobody gets away with it in the
end. We always find them. We have
the best fraud division Stateside.
FADE TO:
RACHEL
He has the same nose as Uncle Eddy -
it's in the family. Don't tell him
I said that.
Rachel and Dan's voices start to overlap as they get closer
to each other.
DAN
Head of Investments for the
European section. If I play my
cards right, I'll be Director of
Finance.
(pause)
It's big, but I can handle it.
RACHEL
She just started shaking one day.
Uncle Tom said that she spilled the
sugar and he laughed at her and she
started crying - he hadn't noticed
until then.
(pause)
Well, that's it. The men were never
around were they, in those days, so
he wouldn't have noticed.
Rachel and Dan back into each other.
F/X: SOUND OF BREAKING PLATE
RACHEL
Oh, bugger!
DAN
Whoops! Sorry.
(realising who it is)
Oh, Rachel, it's you. Let me help
you pick it up.
RACHEL
That's okay. My mum told me to
never walk backwards at a party.
DAN
Did she?
RACHEL
No, but she should have. Right,
that was inauspicious - let's start
again: Dan, how are are you?
DAN
I'm great, thanks.
RACHEL
Give me a hug then.
DAN
Mmm, you smell divine. What is it?
RACHEL
Mine's Chanel Number 5. What's
yours?
DAN
That's my natural aroma.
RACHEL
I should've known. Have you spoken
to everybody?
DAN
Mum, dad, Uncle Tom, Suzanne, Emily
- I'm doing my duty. It's a bit of
a zoo in here - shall we go
outside?
EXT. HOTEL OUTDOORS - CONTINUOUS
F/X: BIRDSONG
RACHEL
So, how is New York treating you?
DAN
New York, is good, I think.
RACHEL
You only think?
DAN
No, it's good.
RACHEL
You used to ring me all the time.
Why did you stop?
DAN
Um - I think I got too busy.
RACHEL
Too busy for your own cousin.
DAN
Well, there are a lot of
distractions in New York.
RACHEL
Two legged ones, I suspect. And no,
I don't want to hear the sordid
details.
DAN
I wasn't going to tell you.
RACHEL
Why? You used to tell me the ins
and outs of your affairs.
DAN
Not literally the 'ins' and 'outs',
Rachel.
RACHEL
No, skip the details. What's her
name.
DAN
There isn't anyone.
RACHEL
I don't believe you.
DAN
Honestly, I think I'll never meet
the perfect woman.
RACHEL
Or maybe you already have and you
let her go by.
DAN
That's closer to the truth.
RACHEL
And what about work?
DAN
Work is good. I'm Head of
Investments for the European
section and next year I want to be
Director of Finance.
RACHEL
Is that likely?
DAN
I normally get what I want, unless
I...
(hesitant)
...mess up big time.
RACHEL
That's not likely, I suppose.
DAN
Hhm... and how's your job. Still
slogging away with Bowharp and
Bowharp.
RACHEL
Still there. I keep thinking I
should get a proper job up in
London, but I like it here in the
village and I couldn't bear all the
commuting.
Pause.
DAN
So! You're getting married, I hear.
What's his name?
RACHEL
Jack. He's a year older than me.
He's a political scientist...
DAN
That's an oxymoron.
RACHEL
What do you mean?
DAN
It's a contradiction of terms:
politics and science are not
natural bedfellows.
RACHEL
Shut up. He's sort of shy, when you
first meet him...
DAN
And then?
RACHEL
He can be quite abrasive because he
has strong opinions. You might find
him rude, but he isn't really.
DAN
Where did you meet him?
RACHEL
Why?
DAN
I don't know, I just want to get
the whole picture, you know, in my
head, of you two coming together -
the fateful moment.
RACHEL
I met him on the Internet.
DAN
The Internet? That's not like, real
life, is it? You're joking.
RACHEL
No, I met him on the Internet.
What's the difference if I met him
in a bar or through an ad in a
newspaper? It's just another way of
meeting.
DAN
So you're in love with him.
RACHEL
Why not get straight to the point?
Don't spare my feelings or
anything.
DAN
You can tell me if you love him.
RACHEL
It's different when you get to
thirty-five, isn't it.
DAN
Is it? Why?
RACHEL
Because, I don't know, you just
don't go around falling in love
like you did when you were fifteen -
it's a biological thing. Now I just
want to get married and have a
baby, so it's more important that
we're compatible and enjoy each
other's company.
DAN
That sounds like a long-winded way
of saying 'no'.
RACHEL
It isn't - look. I like him, he's
nice, he's kind, we have a lot of
fun together...
DAN
And you have this desperate urge to
get married and have a child.
RACHEL
Well, yes, if you put it like that.
The biological clock is ticking
away...
DAN
And he has a key that fits.
RACHEL
Okay, it doesn't sound very
romantic, but surely it's better to
marry someone you actually like and
get on with.
DAN
It just sounds a bit lukewarm,
that's all.
(pause)
Let's change the subject: what are
you doing tonight?
RACHEL
I'm going back to mum's, and no
doubt I'll spend the evening with
them, looking through the photo
albums and sipping hot chocolate.
Why?
DAN
Well, it's my last night here. I
thought that we could go out
together and have a few drinks. You
never know, we might see some of
the old gang.
RACHEL
Don't remind me of old. I really
should go back to mum's.
DAN
Come on, Rach, it will be a good
laugh. I'll tell you all about my
corrupt life in the Big Apple.
RACHEL
Okay, but I'll go home and get
changed first.
DAN
Great. Let's go back in play 'see
who you can remember'.
RACHEL
(mimicking)
'Ooh, you look just like your
grandmother when she was your
age.'.
DAN
You're not wearing a whalebone
corset are you?
RACHEL
Shut up!
DAN
Look, look through the window! My
dad's dancing with your mum. He's
got his hand on her bum.
RACHEL
That's not her bum. That's her...
lower back.
DAN
Oh really? Look how his fingers are
spread out so that his little
finger is just creeping onto her
bum. It's creeping down, creeping
down - it's almost at the
'shouldn't be there' area.
RACHEL
He always was a randy old so and
so, your dad. Come on, stop
gawping.
INT. PUB - NIGHT
F/X: PUB SOUNDS. LANDLORD CALLS 'LAST ORDERS'
DAN
I forget how early the pubs close
in England. Let's go back to my
hotel for another one.
RACHEL
I should go home.
DAN
I'll order you a taxi from my
hotel.
FADE:
INT. DAN'S HOTEL ROOM - LATER
RACHEL
What a great hotel, Dan. You do
live in luxury, don't you.
DAN
I try to. Right what do we have in
the mini-bar? Gin, whisky, white
wine - vinegar probably.
RACHEL
Whisky, it will help me calm down.
DAN
Let me feel your hands. You've
stopped shaking. You were white
when you arrived. What actually
happened?
RACHEL
I was driving back to mum's - you
know the road that goes past the
golf club - and out of the corner
of my eye, I saw a dog, or
something, run out in front of me.
I swerved right across the road. It
shook me up.
DAN
But you're alright now?
RACHEL
Yes, thanks. Cheers.
DAN
Cheers.
RACHEL
This sofa is too small.
DAN
That's okay, you can put your legs
up on me.
RACHEL
We used to walk with our arms
around each other's necks.
DAN
That bloke in the pub tonight,
remembered us from school, thought
we were brother and sister.
RACHEL
I didn't remember him. And I
certainly never used to fancy him.
What a cheek. Mmm, this is a lovely
whisky.
RACHEL
(pause)
So you're going back to New York
tomorrow.
DAN
Yes.
RACHEL
But you'll be back for my wedding?
DAN
I don't think I can.
RACHEL
Why not? You can't be too busy.
DAN
I don't think I could bear to see
you marrying someone else.
RACHEL
Who else would I marry?
DAN
I'd find it very hard to accept
that you'd gone for ever.
RACHEL
What are you talking about, gone
forever? You know where I'll be.
You can come and see us whenever
you want.
DAN
I didn't mean that. I meant, the
thought of losing you forever, that
I would never be able to... to have
you.
RACHEL
Do you mean 'have', as in have?
DAN
Yes. I mean that I love you.
RACHEL
And I love you. We're like brother
and sister.
DAN
But that's just the point - we're
not brother and sister, we're only
cousins and there's nothing to stop
us being together, if we want to be
- if you want to be.
RACHEL
Dan, I've never thought of you in
that way and I never would. You're
my cousin.
DAN
I'm the first boy you kissed,
remember.
RACHEL
Oh that! That was just a dare. We
were only twelve.
DAN
I know, but I can't forget it, and
after that my feelings for you just
grew stronger. That was why I
wanted to be with you all the time.
When I saw you again today and you
hugged me, it overwhelmed me. It's
something I can't explain, a
feeling so deep inside me that I
can't stop it. It overpowers me and
makes me... it makes me happy. You
make me happy and I know that I'm
in love with you.
RACHEL
But you can't be, it's not...
DAN
It's not what? Natural? Legal? It
happens all the time and it's not
illegal. There's nothing to stop us
if we want to, and I want to.
RACHEL
Come on, you're drunk. You wouldn't
be saying this otherwise. Go to bed
and you'll have forgotten it by the
morning.
DAN
I won't have forgotten it. That's
just the point, that I can't forget
you. That's the reason I ran away
to New York, so that I didn't have
to see you all the time, with other
men. And while I was there I dated
lots of women but none of them
satisfied me because all the time
I'm with them, I'm thinking of you.
They seem somehow insubstantial,
unreal - they don't smell right,
their bodies don't seem as soft as
yours. I long to touch you, and
hold you, to make you happy. I
think, I could make you happy.
RACHEL
Dan, don't say anything else. I
didn't know about this and it's
come as a shock to me. I just think
of us as cousins.
DAN
So you don't feel the same about
me?
RACHEL
Well, I love you, obviously, I've
told you that, but I don't fancy
you, to put it crudely.
DAN
But we both love each other.
RACHEL
Yes, but not in a sexual way. I
love you like I love my mum, my
dad, my dog.
DAN
How can you compare me to your dog?
RACHEL
It's an analogy. I meant that I
love my dog, but I don't want to
have sex with it, that's all.
DAN
You didn't mention Jack in that
list.
RACHEL
Well, I love Jack, and we have sex,
and we're going to have children
together. He's not my cousin.
DAN
Why do you keep talking about
cousins - that doesn't matter. If
two people love each other, they
love each other. Einstein married
his cousin.
RACHEL
Well, that's another kind of
relativity, I suppose.
DAN
You see, I even love your sense of
humour. We have fun together, we
joke, we get along.
RACHEL
All of that is true, but that
doesn't mean I want to marry you.
DAN
Admit that you don't love him.
RACHEL
I do love him.
DAN
But you only met him on the
Internet, and you said earlier that
you liked him, you got on well,
that he was a companion. You said
he was 'shy', by which you mean
boring. It sounds like the only
thing he's got going for him is
that he's a good sperm donor who'll
provide for his offspring. What's
the good of that?
RACHEL
You don't even know him, and I'm
not going to stand here and listen
to you run him down. I'm going now.
DAN
Don't go. Stay with me.
RACHEL
I'm not staying with you. It's
crazy.
DAN
You can't say you don't feel
anything for me.
RACHEL
Dan, don't ruin our friendship.
DAN
Don't marry Jack.
RACHEL
Of course I'm going to marry Jack.
DAN
You'll live to regret it.
RACHEL
I'm doing what is right. Dan, when
you can't have something, you can't
have it, and you just have to put
it out your mind.
DAN
I can have it.
RACHEL
No you can't, and if you care about
me like you say you do, you'll
forget about this, like I will.
I'll never refer to it again, so
let's pretend it never happened.
(pause)
I still want you to come to my
wedding.
DAN
No, I can't. I can't.
EXT. CHURCHYARD - DAY
F/X: CHURCHBELLS. VOICES.
LIZZIE
Rachel, you look lovely, and the
bridesmaids were beautiful.
RACHEL
I'm glad you could come. Is your
back better?
LIZZIE
I wear a support, dear. But I
wouldn't have missed your wedding
for anything. The whole family is
here, aren't they, except for Dan.
Why didn't he come?
RACHEL
I don't know. Jack, this is Aunt
Lizzie. She's really my great aunt.
LIZZIE
That's why I look so old.
JACK
Pleased to meet you. Will you be
dancing later?
LIZZIE
Me?! I haven't danced for twenty
years. Since Dan's seventeenth
birthday, when I slipped on a
gherkin. Do you remember, Rachel?
JACK
Rachel, your aunt is talking to
you.
RACHEL
Sorry, what did you say?
LIZZIE
I haven't danced since Dan's
seventeenth birthday. Why didn't he
come?
RACHEL
I suppose he's busy at work.
LIZZIE
Her and Dan were like brother and
sister. Have you met him yet, Jack?
JACK
No, I haven't. No doubt Rachel will
invite him down to see us when
we're in our house.
INT. JACK AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - A FEW MONTHS LATER
RACHEL
(flirtatiously)
Ja-ack, come to bed.
JACK (OFF)
Okay... I'm just doing this.
RACHEL
We have to try again.
JACK
I'm doing something. Wait.
RACHEL
What are you doing?
JACK
Something.
RACHEL
Come now, or I'll fall asleep.
JACK
Don't worry. I'll wake you up.
FADE:
F/X: SOUND OF ALARM CLOCK
RACHEL
(yawns)
Jack, wake up.
JACK
Hmm.
RACHEL
It's your turn to make the coffee.
JACK
What time is it?
RACHEL
Seven o'clock. What time did you
come to bed?
JACK
I don't know - about midnight.
RACHEL
And you didn't wake me?
JACK
You were sleeping peacefully.
RACHEL
We have to have sex - every night,
Doctor's orders.
JACK
I wouldn't have believed that
anything could put me off it, but
having to do it every night for two
weeks with my balls at exactly the
right temperature and the correct
number of pillows under your bum...
RACHEL
Well, I don't like it any more than
you do, but we have to do it. Let's
try now.
JACK
Not now - I'll miss the train.
FADE:
INT. RACHEL'S OFFICE - MORNING
F/X: SUBDUED OFFICE NOISE. PHONE RINGS.
RACHEL
Hello, Rachel Hullet, Bowharp and
Bowharp, can I help you?
(pause)
Hell-o? How can I help you? Is
there anybody there?
F/X: PHONE IS HUNG UP. SOUND OF DEAD PHONE.
RACHEL
Not again.
F/X: VOICE "YOU WERE CALLED TODAY AT 10.39. WE DO NOT HAVE
THE CALLER'S NUMBER."
F/X: PHONE RINGS AGAIN.
RACHEL
Hello, Rachel Hullet, Bowharp and
Bowharp, how can I help you?
(pause)
Look, I don't know who this is
but...
F/X: OVERHEARD AMERICAN VOICE ON OTHER END OF PHONE, SAYING
"DAN, WHEN YOU'RE OFF THE PHONE, CAN I SPEAK TO YOU?"
RACHEL
Dan? Dan, is that you?
F/X: PHONE IS HUNG UP. SOUND OF DEAD PHONE.
FADE:
INT. JACK AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - EVENING
F/X: SOUND OF DOOR SLAMMING
RACHEL
Jack, I'm in the lounge.
JACK
Oh, you're back.
RACHEL
(subdued)
I left work early. I had a
headache.
JACK
Are you okay now?
RACHEL
Yes. I took a load of paracetamol.
JACK
Should you be doing that, isn't it
bad for the baby?
RACHEL
It would be if I was pregnant.
Here, read this letter.
JACK
"...your recent test for pregnancy
returned a negative result." But
Rachel, what about the test that
you did. That ring appeared at the
bottom of the flask.
RACHEL
Home pregnancy test kits can be
wrong.
JACK
I don't understand. We've been
trying for two years.
RACHEL
It takes two to make a baby. Maybe
your sperm count is low.
JACK
There's nothing wrong with my sperm
count.
RACHEL
How do you know?
JACK
Well, my family - we're prodigious
breeders.
RACHEL
But will you get it tested?
JACK
What do I have to do?
RACHEL
Well, I suppose you have to come in
a pot and take it round there? You
should be able to manage that.
JACK
(joking)
Will you help me?
RACHEL
Will I hell. I'm sick of sex.
(pause)
Anyway, how was your day?
JACK
Well, where shall I start? We've
lost thirty percent of our funding,
the Dean is taking early
retirement, Alan has got a post in
Australia, and Miranda announced
that she is pregnant and is taking
maternity leave, so...
(pause)
What's the matter?
RACHEL
Don't tell me things like that. Why
do you think I don't have any
magazines in the house? Because I
can't stand reading about all those
happy couples, celebrities and
their lovely babies, cooing and
grinning at me from their lovely
houses and their perfect lives;
looking at every pregnant woman I
see and wondering what her secret
is; avoiding the baby section in
the supermarket, not walking past
Mothercare.
JACK
We're both trying to have a baby,
you know - not just you.
RACHEL
I'm sorry, I'm sorry - it's selfish
of me. But I'm the one who's
becoming too old. It's different
for men.
JACK
We are married. It's not musical
chairs, and I'm not going to run
off with someone else just so I can
have a child. We are in this
together you know.
RACHEL
You're right - it's not just me. I
should think of you more. I'm sorry
about your job. What's going to
happen?
JACK
They will slowly wind the
department down until we all have
to find other jobs, I suppose.
RACHEL
How easy will that be?
JACK
Not easy. I could try and go to
America, I suppose but I would need
to write more about American
politics before I even apply. It's
a long route, but if I start now, I
could start applying in about nine
months.
RACHEL
Nine months...
JACK
Sorry.
F/X: PHONE RINGS
RACHEL
I'll get it... Hello?
LIZZIE (D)
Rachel, it's Aunt Lizzie. I just
phoned to let you know the good
news - Dan is coming back to live
in England.
RACHEL
Dan... Oh, that's...
LIZZIE
Aren't you pleased? I don't like
the family to be separated.
RACHEL
I am, yes, I am... Of course, thank
you.
LIZZIE
And what about you?
RACHEL
I said I'm pleased.
LIZZIE
No - have you got any good news for
me?
RACHEL
No, auntie.
LIZZIE
There's nothing wrong is there?
RACHEL
What could be wrong?
LIZZIE
Sometimes it takes a long time, if
you've just come off the pill.
Auntie Eileen...
RACHEL
I've got to go auntie, I'll ring
you later. Bye.
Puts phone down.
JACK
Who was that?
RACHEL
Nosey Aunt Lizzie. Why doesn't
she...
JACK
What did she say?
RACHEL
Oh, nothing... Dan is coming back
to live in England.
JACK
That's right. I forgot to tell you
that I saw your mum and she told me
he was coming back to live here.
RACHEL
Coming here?
JACK
Well, not here here - he's being
transferred to London, so I suppose
he'll get himself a swanky
apartment by the river. I hope that
I get to meet him, since you've
told me so much about him. I'm
starting to think that he's
avoiding me.
RACHEL
Don't be stupid!
JACK
Okay - I was joking! But I do find
it a bit odd that he missed our
wedding and he's been back in the
country three times since and
hasn't been to see us. I mean, you
told me how close you are, so...
RACHEL
He's busy with work, I suppose.
JACK
But if I only had one cousin...
RACHEL
Okay, just forget about it will
you. I'll invite him down when he
gets back.
JACK
Maybe we can invite him the same
time as my sister comes to stay.
They might like each other.
RACHEL
I doubt it.
JACK
Why?
RACHEL
She's probably not his type.
JACK
Who is his type?
RACHEL
Dark haired, Asian, I don't know. I
just don't like match-making. It
always goes awry, doesn't it?
JACK
That's how we met.
RACHEL
Okay, it often goes awry.
INT. JACK AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Dinner party with heated conversation.
JACK
No, Dan, you said it was okay for
banks to go into developing
nations...
DAN
I never said it was okay.
JACK
What did he say, Annie?
ANNIE
'Acceptable'.
DAN
(laughs)
That's different.
RACHEL
It's not quite the same as 'okay',
is it Dan?
DAN
You see, Rachel supports me.
JACK
No, be serious. What you mean is
exploit them.
DAN
Whoa, whoa - down tiger! I didn't
mean that, I meant that all complex
societies have provisions for
lending money with interest.
JACK
Usury is forbidden in Muslim
countries - early modern Europe.
Lots of others, not just primitive
ones.
ANNIE
Anyway,- you cannot say that a
society is primitive just because
they don't lend money.
RACHEL
Dan didn't say that - he said the
opposite. Didn't you, Dan?
DAN
I'm not sure, but thanks anyway.
JACK
So-called primitive societies have
sophisticated languages, complex
symbolic orders, religions, oral
histories and stories, science,
kinship systems, rules about who
you can marry, and so on... so are
they really primitive?
DAN
I don't know. I'm not an
anthropologist, I'm just a banker.
ANNIE
A banker wanker.
RACHEL
That's not very nice. Leave my
cousin alone, you're both picking
on him.
ANNIE
Ah, look Jack - she's protecting
him. Kissing cousins.
DAN
Okay, then, answer me this: in this
country, you can marry your cousin,
so does that make us primitive or
complex?
RACHEL
(embarrassed)
Right - I'm going to clear up these
dishes and make a coffee.
JACK
Neither - it just means that Henry
the Eighth wanted to marry his
cousin, so he had the law changed.
DAN
I'll help you, Rachel.
RACHEL
No, it's okay. You stay with Jack
and Annie.
DAN
No, give me that. They might tear
me apart if I stay here.
FADE:
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
RACHEL
I'm sorry about that. They were
ganging up on you.
DAN
That's okay. I can look after
myself.
RACHEL
Annie is very aggressive, isn't
she.
DAN
Feisty, I call it. I like her,
she's a challenge.
RACHEL
So you fancy her?
DAN
She's nice. I might ask her out.
RACHEL
I thought she wasn't your type.
DAN
I don't have a type.
(pause)
Oh, I saw your mum. She showed me
the wedding photos.
RACHEL
Why didn't you come to it?
DAN
You know why.
RACHEL
I thought we were going to forget
that.
DAN
I'm trying.
RACHEL
Why do you keep bringing up cousins
then?
DAN
It just came up, naturally, in the
conversation. Jack mentioned
kinship and...
RACHEL
Okay, okay, okay. I don't want to
talk about it.
JACK
Anyway, I don't think it matters
any more. I was looking at your
wedding photos and I noticed
something very interesting.
RACHEL
What?
DAN
Well, when our mothers were young,
they looked the same, but now
they're older, they don't.
RACHEL
So?
DAN
I realised that it was because when
they were young they wore the same
fashions - same clothes,
hairstyles, makeup. I remarked on
it to your mum, and she told me...
RACHEL
It doesn't change anything, Dan.
DAN
Rachel, of course it does. You're
not really my cousin, by blood.
RACHEL
I still think of you as my cousin.
DAN
But did you know that, on the night
I told you how I felt? Did you know
your mother was adopted?
RACHEL (CLOSE)
Of course I did. I've known since I
was eighteen.
DAN
Well then, why didn't you...
RACHEL
It doesn't change anything. You're
my cousin, whether we're related by
blood or not. It's how I think of
you. Can't you understand that?
DAN
No.
Annie enters.
ANNIE
Is that coffee ready yet? What
can't he understand?
DAN
Annie, I can't understand... what
it is about me that offends you so
much.
ANNIE
It's not you Dan - it's your job.
What's wrong with Rachel?
RACHEL
I've got a headache.
ANNIE
Go and sit down. Dan and I will
make the coffee.
EXT. DAN'S CAR - LATER
F/X: SOUND OF CAR PULLING UP AND HANDBRAKE GOING ON.
ANNIE
Well, thank you for driving me
home. It was a good evening.
DAN
Apart from you and Jack mauling me.
ANNIE
We were only testing you, to see if
you could hold your own.
DAN
So you don't hate me then?
ANNIE
Not at all.
DAN
But you're not going to invite me
up for a coffee.
ANNIE
Sorry - I don't do coffee on the
first date.
DAN
We'll have to have a second one
then.
ANNIE
I'm up for that. What about Tuesday
night.
DAN
I have to look at a flat that
night, on the South Bank.
ANNIE
It's the only night I can do. I
could come with you, and then we
could go for a drink.
DAN
Okay. I'll look forward to it.
They kiss.
DAN
And coffee.
ANNIE
We'll see about that. Bye.
F/X: SOUND OF CAR DOOR SLAMMING. CAR PULLS OFF.
INT. RACHEL'S OFFICE - DAY
F/X: OFFICE SOUNDS. PHONE DIALLING OUT.
RACHEL
Come on, come on, come on!
DAN (D)
Hello, Dan Sayter speaking.
RACHEL (CLOSE)
Dan, it's Rachel. I phoned up to
apologise, about the other night.
DAN
That's okay. I told you that they
were just messing me around. I
enjoyed it. Why are you whispering?
RACHEL
I'm at work.
DAN
So am I.
RACHEL
I had a big row with Jack after you
left. I was angry with him.
DAN
Because of me?
RACHEL
Yes. No. Other things as well. He
was rude to you.
DAN
Honestly, I didn't mind.
(pause)
Are you sure everything is okay
between you two?
RACHEL
Not really. I can't talk now. Can
we meet up? You're the only person
I can talk to.
DAN
Of course. When?
RACHEL
Tomorrow night? I could come into
London after work.
DAN
I can't do tomorrow - I'm seeing
Annie.
RACHEL
You're seeing Annie? What for?
DAN
She's coming to look at a flat with
me and then we're going for a
drink.
RACHEL
Oh. Maybe I should speak to someone
else, then.
DAN
Don't be like that.
RACHEL
If you're seeing Jack's sister.
DAN
I'm not seeing her - we're just
meeting up. You can trust me, Rach.
I would never betray you or
anything you told me. Can you come
Wednesday instead?
RACHEL
Yes, yes, maybe. I'll let you know.
Bye.
INT. DAN'S FLAT OVERLOOKING THE THAMES - NIGHT
ANNIE
What an amazing view!
DAN
We're over a hundred feet up.
ANNIE
The river looks so beautiful at
night.
DAN
And you can see St Paul's.
ANNIE
Where?
DAN
To the left of the Gerkhin.
ANNIE
I can't see it.
DAN
Here, let me point you... Just over
there.
ANNIE
Mmm - it gives you a feeling of
euphoria.
DAN
Unless you're scared... of heights.
ANNIE
I'm not scared of anything.
DAN
Neither am I. Apparently you can
see Shakespeare's Globe from the
bedroom.
ANNIE
Is it fully furnished?
DAN
It seats a thousand people.
ANNIE
How many does it sleep?
DAN
Two, easily.
ANNIE
Let's go and see it.
DAN
Okay. Shall we have coffee now or
later?
INT. BUSY BAR - EVENING
F/X: PUB SOUNDS.
RACHEL
Dan! Dan! I'm over here.
DAN
Sorry I'm late. Problems at work.
RACHEL
Nothing to do with you, I hope?
DAN
No, no, it's just stuff left
hanging since I left the New York
office. It will get sorted out
quickly. Anyway, what's up with
you, missy?
RACHEL
I'm embarrassed about coming to
you. I would have gone to mum or
aunt Lizzie but I don't want anyone
to know. You promise you won't tell
anyone.
DAN
Of course I won't. Have I ever
given away one of your secrets?
RACHEL
You told my mum I hadn't done my
homework once.
DAN
That's because I always copied your
homework, so I got into trouble as
well.
RACHEL
That's true.
(pause)
I don't know what to do about Jack.
He won't look for a job. He just
sits there all day drinking and
feeling sorry for himself. I come
in and he's sitting there with the
lights out, brooding. He's going to
get depressed if he carries on the
way he is. What can I do?
DAN
Have you tried helping him look for
work?
RACHEL
He resents me. He pushes me away.
Everytime I say anything, he pushes
me away and says that he can sort
his own problems out. He's so
stubborn. And aggressive. He threw
something at me the other night.
DAN
What?
RACHEL
It doesn't matter - a clock.
DAN
Why a clock?
RACHEL
I told him time was running out.
DAN
What did you mean?
RACHEL
I meant for me, to have a baby.
DAN
You've been trying then?
RACHEL
God, have we been trying? We
haven't stopped trying, but there's
no point any more.
DAN
You shouldn't give up. Have you
seen a doctor?
RACHEL
Yes, and there's nothing wrong with
me. But Jack is... No, I shouldn't
be talking about this. It feels
wrong.
DAN
You can tell me.
RACHEL
No, I can't. It was a mistake
coming here.
DAN
Now you're here, let's drink.
RACHEL
(pause)
So tell me about Annie. You're
going out with her now are you?
DAN
I wouldn't say I was going out with
her. We went out for a drink.
RACHEL
Just a drink?
DAN
Yes.
RACHEL
That's okay then.
DAN
Are you vetting my girlfriends?
RACHEL
No, I just think that she's too,
fiery for you. You need somebody
calm.
DAN
You know what I need, do you?
RACHEL
Of course I do. You told me.
DAN
Listen, Rachel. If Jack ever hurts
you...
RACHEL
He wouldn't.
DAN
No, I mean, if you're ever in
trouble, you can come to me. I'll
put you up.
RACHEL
I know that. That's why I came to
you tonight. But it's all so
confusing, isn't it?
DAN
What is?
RACHEL
Life - life is confusing. It used
to be simple, as if we had no
decisions to make.
DAN
They were all made for us.
RACHEL
And now we have to make our own.
DAN
But you don't have to make them on
your own. I'm still here for you.
FADE OUT.
INT. JACK AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - LATER
RACHEL
Jack, are you there?
JACK
(aggressively)
Don't put the lights on!
RACHEL
You can't sit here in the dark day
after day, drinking.
JACK
Why not? It's the only thing I'm
good at.
RACHEL
I'm going to put the lamp on.
(pause)
Did you hear back from Keele
University?
JACK
Of course I didn't.
RACHEL
Don't be so defeatist, Jack. You
need to make your own luck.
JACK
Make my own luck? Can I make people
interview me? put me on the
candidate list? reply to my emails?
(pause)
Where have you been, anyway?
RACHEL
I was working late.
JACK
Oh, really?
RACHEL
Why did you say it like that?
JACK
Because Annie phoned. She said
she'd seen you.
RACHEL
I didn't see her.
JACK
She said that as well. She saw you
but you didn't see her.
RACHEL
Why didn't she speak to me?
JACK
Because, you were deep in
conversation.
RACHEL
Oh.
JACK
With Dan, in a cosy little wine bar
in the City.
(pause)
So you have to lie to me now.
RACHEL
I just needed someone to talk to.
JACK
What about?
RACHEL
About us.
JACK
Don't you have any female relatives
you can speak to?
RACHEL
They all gossip. I can trust Dan.
JACK
I can imagine him telling you that:
'You can trust me, Rachel'. So you
told him about us?
RACHEL
Just in general, nothing...
JACK
You told him I'm a sterile,
unemployed, nobody.
RACHEL
Jack, you're not a nobody.
JACK
Not but I am sterile and
unemployed.
RACHEL
You'll get another job.
JACK
But I'll always be sterile, won't
I?
RACHEL
We can adopt. My mother was
adopted.
JACK
Oh, you didn't tell me that. That
is very interesting, isn't it. That
means that you and your cousin Dan
aren't even related. Maybe he would
like to father your child.
RACHEL
How can you say that?
JACK
I've seen the way he looks at you.
RACHEL
He's my cousin.
JACK
No he isn't. Maybe you're already
sleeping with him.
(shouts)
Aren't you?
RACHEL
No. Get off me. Leave me alone.
JACK
Maybe little Danny boy is already
sleeping with my wife!
RACHEL
Jack, don't pull my hair. Let me
go!
JACK
Okay, where do you want to go? To
him? Is that what you want?
RACHEL
I want you. I want to have a baby
with you.
JACK
But you can't, so you'll have to
have one with him. That's what you
really want, isn't it?
RACHEL
No, but at least he cares about me.
JACK
I'm sure he does. I'm sure he told
you that he'll take care of you.
But I've seen through him and the
way he manipulates people to get
his own way. And once he's had his
way with you, he'll leave you too.
RACHEL
No, it's not true. He loves me.
INT. DAN'S FLAT - DAY
F/X: PHONE RINGS.
LIZZIE (D)
Dan, it's aunt Lizzie. Can I talk
to Rachel, please?
DAN
She's asleep.
LIZZIE
How is she?
DAN
She's upset, but I'm looking after
her.
LIZZIE
I don't understand why she left
Jack.
DAN
You'll have to ask her.
LIZZIE
They had trouble having a baby but
that's no reason for them to
separate. There must be something
else. Has she told you, Dan?
DAN
You need to speak to her.
LIZZIE
And she hasn't told her mum,
either. She's upset that Rachel
didn't go back there. It seems that
you're the only one she talks to. I
hope you look after her.
DAN
Well, of course I'm going to look
after her. She's better off here
than in the village, with everybody
gossiping about her.
LIZZIE
Oh, I hope you're right, Dan. She's
so... so vulnerable. She's always
been sensitive and impressionable.
FADE TO:
RACHEL
Mmm, I had a lovely sleep. I love
sleeping in front of the window
with the sun coming in. It's like
being in a walled garden where it's
warm and secure and silent... Who
was that on the phone?
DAN
Aunt Lizzie. I said you'd ring her.
RACHEL
How did she know I was here?
DAN
She used her intuition, I suppose.
She said she didn't understand why
you left Jack and that you should
have gone to your mother's house.
RACHEL
What, and have to explain myself to
everyone in the family? YThe
problem with having a large family,
is that they always want to know
your business. You don't get any
privacy, do you?
DAN
You'll be alright here. You can
stay as long as you like.
RACHEL
Thanks. I just feel so vulnerable
at the moment. I feel as if I've
made a mess of my life.
DAN
You're still young.
RACHEL
I don't feel young. I'll never have
a baby now.
DAN
You will. I know you will.
RACHEL
But I can't bear the thought of
going through all that again -
meeting a man, getting to know him.
And then what if it doesn't work
out again? I think I'd rather be a
spinster, like aunt Lizzie, dressed
in black.
DAN
You feel safe here though?
RACHEL
Safe?
DAN
I mean, for the moment.
RACHEL
Of course I feel safe. But I
wouldn't like it if Annie came
around. She would tell Jack where I
was.
DAN
She won't come around. I'm not
seeing her any more.
RACHEL
I'm glad about that. She wasn't
right for you, Dan.
DAN
Well, I knew that. You just know
when something is right, don't you?
Instinctively.
RACHEL
Yes.
DAN
Things just feel... right.
Everything slots into place.
RACHEL
But I need time to adjust. It still
feels strange to me.
DAN
It's bound to. But eventually it
will seem the most natural thing in
the world.
INT. DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
F/X: SOUND OF CRYING BABY. DOORBELL RINGS.
RACHEL
Hang on, won't be a moment.
F/X: CRYING BABY GETS LOUDER AS RACHEL NEARS.
RACHEL
Come on, Benjie. Let's get you up.
There's someone at the door.
F/X: DOORBELL RINGS AGAIN.
RACHEL
We're coming! Don't go away. Oh,
Annie, it's you.
ANNIE
Hello, Rachel. No, don't shut the
door.
RACHEL
What do you want?
ANNIE
I heard that you'd had the baby,
and I just wanted to see you both.
RACHEL
Why?
ANNIE
Look, there's no reason there
should be hard feelings between us.
I'm not taking sides between you
and Jack. Whatever happened,
happened. That's between you two.
It's nobody else's business as far
as I'm concerned.
RACHEL
If only everyone felt like that.
Come on in, then.
ANNIE
Ah, so this is the wee fellow. Can
I hold him. Come on there... He's a
bonny wee chappie, isn't he? What's
his name?
RACHEL
Ben.
ANNIE
Benjamin?
RACHEL
No, just Ben.
ANNIE
Are you Jewish?
RACHEL
No, why?
ANNIE
It just struck me - Dan, Rachel,
Ben.
RACHEL
It's just coincidence, although
there might be some Jewish blood on
Dan's father's side. I'm not sure.
ANNIE
He looks like you, but he's got
Dan's nose. He looks like both of
you. Eh, Benjie - I've got you a
little toy - where is it? See, it's
a little horsey.
F/X: SOUND OF PLASTIC TOY SQUEAK.
RACHEL
That's kind of you. How's Jack?
ANNIE
Jack is doing well. He's been
offered a position in the States,
in Boston.
RACHEL
That's great. I was worried about
him.
ANNIE
Well, he stopped drinking. Our
father was the same - he was a
demon on the booze, and off it he
was the nicest man you could wish
to meet.
(pause)
How's Dan?
RACHEL
He's fine. He should be home soon.
ANNIE
I'll go.
RACHEL
No, you don't have to.
ANNIE
And your family?
RACHEL
They'll never accept us. The only
one who talks to us is Aunt Lizzie.
But she's too old to get out now,
so I sometimes take Ben to see her.
ANNIE
I don't understand - you're not
doing anything illegal, and if
you're both happy, why can't they
just accept you?
RACHEL
I don't know. My mother is the
worst. She's turned everyone else
against us. I didn't realise before
how small-minded they can be. It
must be the result of village life.
ANNIE
And such a lovely grandson, ay
Benjie. He looks healthy.
RACHEL
He is. The clinic say he's advanced
for his age in all his development
tests.
ANNIE
He's going to be clever, like his
parents.
RACHEL
Do you want a coffee?
ANNIE
No thanks. I'm on my way to a
meeting. I can't stop.
RACHEL
You'll come again, won't you?
ANNIE
Yes, of course.
RACHEL
It's just that we don't get any
other visitors. Everyone seems to
have abandoned us.
ANNIE
But you have Ben, and Dan. You must
be happy.
RACHEL
I am, but I didn't expect to pay
such a high price for it.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
DAN
Annie!
ANNIE
Oh, hello, I, er...
DAN
What are you doing here? Come in
and see the baby.
ANNIE
I've already seen him. He's lovely.
DAN
I was going to ring you, you know
when...
ANNIE
You don't have to apologise.
DAN
But I didn't mean to break off with
you so, so brutally. It was boorish
of me, but Rachel just turned up
and...
ANNIE
You don't have to explain. I
already knew how you felt about
her.
DAN
She needed me then.
ANNIE
She needs you now.
DAN
Yes, but, maybe we could meet up
for a drink sometime, after work.
Just to clear the air.
ANNIE
I don't think so, Dan. You should
learn to be satisfied with what
you've got.
DAN
I only asked you for a drink.
ANNIE
You only asked me for a coffee last
time, remember?
DAN
Okay, if that's what you want. But
I'd rather you didn't visit our
house in that case.
ANNIE
Rachel is lonely, Dan. She needs to
see people apart from you.
DAN
No she doesn't. Me, Ben - that's
her world. She doesn't need anyone
else.
FADE TO:
INT. DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
DAN
Hi, I'm back.
RACHEL
You just missed, Annie. I'm
surprised you didn't bump into her.
DAN
I didn't see her. How was she?
RACHEL
Fine. I've told her to come around
whenever she wants. That's alright
isn't it?
DAN
Not really.
RACHEL
Why?
DAN
Well, she's Jack's sister. It's not
very nice for you.
RACHEL
I don't mind. I like her - she's
kind.
DAN
I'd rather she didn't.
RACHEL
She said she would come back again.
DAN
She was probably just being polite.
How's Ben?
RACHEL
Fine. He's in the lounge, sitting
on the mat.
FADE TO:
F/X: BABY CRYING
DAN
Oh, he's fallen over. Come on, up
you get.
F/X: PHONE RINGS. BABY CRIES LOUDLY.
DAN
What's the matter?
RACHEL
He doesn't like loud noises. They
make him jump.
(answering)
Hello? Hello? Who is that?
(puts phone down)
Another one of those. I'm going to
leave it on the answerphone in
future.
DAN
They'll give up eventually when
they realise we won't be
intimidated.
RACHEL
Why do they do it? Why can't they
just accept us?
DAN
Because, they're jealous of our
happiness.
RACHEL
I'll go and see Aunt Lizzie. She'll
tell me what's going on.
FADE TO:
INT. AUNT LIZZIE'S HOUSE - DAY
LIZZIE
Families are so complicated, my
dear. So many passions, you
wouldn't believe. If I told you
half of what had happened in our
family, you'd be shocked. But I'm
not going to, so don't press me.
RACHEL
But don't you think it's unnatural
that my own mother doesn't speak to
me? Why can't she accept us?
LIZZIE
People have feelings about things
and sometimes you can't explain why
they have them, they just do,
that's all. It's like when you feel
the phone is going to ring and it
does, and it's the person you were
thinking of.
RACHEL
I felt it was wrong at first but
when I questioned my feelings, I
realised it was just prejudice,
something I'd grown up with. When I
thought it through, that it's not
illegal or unnatural, my feelings
changed.
LIZZIE
I can hear Dan speaking. Ever since
he was this high, Dan could argue
black was white and he'd end up
convincing you.
RACHEL
I can make up my own mind. After I
left Jack, I realised how much I...
how much Dan meant to me.
LIZZIE
Well, if you've made your own bed,
you should be able to lie on it. I
just think it's so sad that there's
this rift in the family. We've
always been so close, Rachel.
That's what I've been trying to
tell you - we're such a close
family.
INT. DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - EVENING
F/X: SOUND OF BABY CRYING
RACHEL
Come on, Ben, stop crying. Mummy's
here. Come on, little boy.
DAN (OFF)
I'm back.
RACHEL
You're late.
DAN
Trouble at work.
RACHEL
More trouble?
DAN
Yes, still the fall-out from New
York. What's up with Ben?
RACHEL
I don't know. I'm worried about
him.
DAN
Some babies just cry a lot.
RACHEL
He keeps falling over. I sit him up
and falls over, and I sit him up
again, and he falls over. He never
used to do that.
DAN
Maybe he's tired.
RACHEL
No, he isn't. And then when I held
my finger out so that he could grab
it, he couldn't. Even when I put my
finger up against his palm, he
couldn't grasp it. Look, he's
trying now - his hand won't close.
DAN
When's his next clinic?
RACHEL
In two weeks, but I'm going to take
him to the doctor. There's
something not right.
DAN
Oh, come on, he's perfect, they
told us that.
RACHEL
No, he's not. There's something
wrong.
DAN
You don't know that.
RACHEL
I can feel it inside.
DAN
You and your feelings. You said the
same thing about us.
RACHEL
Yes, I did. I said the same thing
about us.
DAN
And your feelings were wrong,
weren't they?
(pause)
Rachel. Your feelings were wrong,
weren't they?
RACHEL
(distantly)
If you say so.
DAN
What do you mean?
RACHEL
I mean, whatever you say, is right,
isn't it.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY
F/X: SOUNDS OF WAITING ROOM. TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT IN DISTANCE.
RACHEL
I'm nervous, Dan. What is he going
to say?
DAN
Don't be nervous. If Ben has got
anything wrong with him, it's an
infection or something. Something
that can be cured.
F/X: TANNOY ANNOUCNEMENT, "MR AND MRS SAYTER TO DOCTOR
HARGREAVES PLEASE."
RACHEL
Why do they say 'Mr and Mrs
Sayter'? We're not married.
FADE TO:
INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - MINUTES LATER
FADE UP:
DOCTOR
... and in cases like this, the
disease does not show symptoms
until the child is around six
months old, but then it becomes
progressively worse. I'm very, very
sorry.
RACHEL
Oh, Dan... Poor Ben. The poor
little thing.
DAN
Are you absolutely sure? It
couldn't be something else.
DOCTOR
The DNA test was definitive - it's
Tay-Sachs disease. And he's showing
all the symptoms - sensitivity to
noise, falling over, loss of muscle
control, loss of vision. These will
get progressively worse. It's going
to be very difficult for all of
you.
DAN
But how did he catch it?
DOCTOR
You don't catch it. It's an
inherited disease - both parents
have to be carriers. It's very
rare, apart from exceptional cases.
DAN
Like what?
DOCTOR
Ashkenazi Jews, parents who are
related. You're not related, are
you?
DAN
No.
RACHEL
Not by blood, anyway.
DOCTOR
What does that mean?
RACHEL
Our mothers were brought up as
sisters, but my mother was adopted.
DOCTOR
So you were brought up as cousins
but you are not in fact related. I
see. It would be helpful if we took
DNA samples from you anyway, to
help us understand the disease.
Other members of your family should
also be aware, in case they are
carriers.
RACHEL
No! I won't tell them. I don't want
them to know. I just want to look
after Ben. That's all I want to do.
DOCTOR
But you have no objection to giving
a sample of your DNA?
RACHEL AND DAN (TOGETHER)
No.
RACHEL
How long will he live?
DOCTOR
Two, possibly three more years.
Ben's symptoms will become very
severe and distressing for you.
It's a great strain for the
parents.
RACHEL
I can manage.
INT. DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE - DAY
FADE UP:
DAN
(angrily)
You cannot just keep talking about
your feelings.
RACHEL
It's true. If I'd followed my
feelings...
DAN
What? So you regret this now. You
regret loving me?
RACHEL
I never said that I...
DAN
So you don't love me?
RACHEL
You persuaded me. If I'd only
listened to my feelings. It started
with that broken plate when we met.
DAN
That was an accident.
RACHEL
And then I almost crashed my car.
DAN
An animal ran out.
RACHEL
The Jack was sterile.
DAN
Biological.
RACHEL
Then he lost his job.
DAN
A downturn in the economy.
RACHEL
And now Ben. Can't you see that
everything is connected? And what
about your job. What's happening?
DAN
There's a stupid investigation into
what happened in New York. It's
nothing.
RACHEL
It's nothing, but you've been
suspended.
DAN
I'll be cleared.
RACHEL
Of what?
DAN
Of everything.
RACHEL
I don't think so.
DAN
You're getting emotional again.
RACHEL
Dan, stop for a moment and look at
what has happened. Everything has
gone wrong, and I knew inside me it
would. If only I'd listened to
myself, instead of you.
DAN
You can't hold me responsible for
everything - a broken plate, Jack's
sterility. It's stupid.
RACHEL
Yes, it's stupid. But it's true.
It's all connected. It's like we're
being punished.
DAN
Now you're being totally
irrational. Firstly, we haven't
done anything wrong, and secondly,
who, or what, would punish us?
RACHEL
It doesn't matter what you say,
because everything has already
happened. You can't stop it.
DAN
But I can stop you believing that
we're being punished. I can't stand
it when you become so irrational.
Just think for a moment, will you:
we were made to be together.
RACHEL
No, that's where you're wrong. We
weren't made to be together but we
went ahead and did it anyway, and
now all this has happened.
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY
F/X: TANNOY, "MISS HULLET PLEASE, FOR DOCTOR HARGREAVES."
DOCTOR
It would be better if your partner
was here as well, Miss Hullet.
RACHEL
He didn't want to come.
DOCTOR
I understand. What I'm going to say
is very unusual and may shock you,
I think I should warn you.
RACHEL
Nothing can shock me now.
DOCTOR
Hmm, well... we sent both your DNA
samples off for testing, to confirm
that you are both carriers, which
it did. Now I know that you said
that you and the child's father are
not related but...
RACHEL
You mean he is my cousin after all?
DOCTOR
No, he's not your cousin, but you
do have the same father.
RACHEL
Father?
DOCTOR
There's no doubt. He's your half
brother.
RACHEL
You mean, his father and my
mother...
DOCTOR
Yes. It's more common than you
might expect.
RACHEL
What is? Sex between inlaws?
DOCTOR
Misattributed paternity.
RACHEL
My mother? That explains why she
cut us off. She must have known.
DOCTOR
I doubt it - she would have said
something.
RACHEL
But she must have suspected that it
was likely.
DOCTOR
Possibly. You will need to consider
very carefully if you want her to
know. It can be very destructive.
You will need to tell your partner,
obviously. Technically, you are now
breaking the law and should
separate.
RACHEL
He's Ben's father.
DOCTOR
You can ask for assistance with
Ben.
RACHEL
You said last time that Ben's
suffering would get worse and
worse, his pain would increase. I
would find that very difficult to
cope with... I would want to do
something about it.
DOCTOR
Euthenasia is not legal in this
country.
RACHEL
I'm talking about helping Ben, not
euthenasia.
DOCTOR
That is something we will have to
deal with at the time. For the last
stages of his illness, Ben will be
hospitalised.
RACHEL
Then it will be your decision what
happens to him.
DOCTOR
Yes.
INT. DAN AND RACHEL'S HOUSE
F/X: BABY CRYING IN ANOTHER ROOM.
DAN
I'll go to him.
RACHEL
You leave him. I'll look after him.
DAN
Why are you being like this to me?
RACHEL
Because you didn't listen to me,
and I was right.
DAN
There is no way I could have known.
Neither of us could have known.
RACHEL
I felt it inside. No, don't touch
me. Never touch me again. You have
to leave.
DAN
I can't leave Ben.
RACHEL
I'll look after Ben. You have to
leave. Go now, go on. You never
wanted me, anyway.
DAN
How can you say that?
RACHEL
You wanted what you could not have.
Now you've had it, how does it
feel?
INT. RACHEL'S HOUSE - DAY
F/X: SOUND OF BABY'S LIGHT MOAN
RACHEL
Ben, can you feel me? I'm tickling
you. Do you like that? Do you like
your mummy tickling you? Round and
round the garden [etc.]... Come on,
let's sit you up and get you
changed.
F/X: PHONE RINGS. LOUD BABY SCREAM.
RACHEL
That horrible phone. Always
ringing. Let's unplug it shall we?
F/X: PHONE STOPS RINGING. BABY STOPS CRYING.
RACHEL
There you are. There, there. No-one
can bother us again. I'll tell you
a story. Far away, in a sunny land,
there is a valley with a little
house. And in the little house
there lives a little boy called
Ben, alone with him mummy. And the
sun is always shining and the house
is always warm. It's very peaceful
there and there is no noise.
Everything is quiet and peaceful.
F/X: SOUND OF BABY CHOKING AND VOMITING.
RACHEL
When Ben is unhappy, his mummy
cuddles him very tight. She
squeezes him very tight so that he
knows that she loves him. Tighter
and tighter, more and more love.
You see, Ben, it's good to be
loved, that's all that matters in
the world.
F/X: BABY FALLS SILENT.
THE END