Back to Life (2019) s01e01 Episode Script

Episode 1

1
Hi. Hm.
Hi. Hello.
Hello, I'm Miri.
R&B MUSIC PLAYS
Hi, I'm Miri.
Um shit.
Shit.
Oh, no.
Hi, I'm
My—rie or Miri?
It's Miri.
Good. Ha—ha
I once went bivouacking
with a Myrie and she was a lemon.
Oh, so sorry.
No, it's not your fault.
— Thank you.
Supeh
Have you ever bivouacked?
Is that an interview question?
So, your CV, it's quite gappy
as in, there's a gap in it.
It's mostly gap. In fact, it's all gap.
I think that's a matter of perspective.
It says you worked at FatFace in 2000.
Critical role.
And then nothing.
— Yes.
l, um, I went Oh, me? I went
Travelling.
Travelling? Oh!
SHE CHUCKLES
Yeah.
NATHAN (v0): In 2000?
— MIRI (v0): Yes.
NATHAN (VO): Until now?
— MIRI (VO): Mm—hm.
Where did you go?
Burma, which is now also called Myanmar.
Was that before or after
they opened the borders there?
Yeah.
Which?
— Yes.
Yes. Yes, it was, yes.
CAROLINE: What did you wear that for?
— I like it, leave it.
You look like Guy Richie.
Fuck's sake, Caroline.
— Oh.
CAROLINE:
Miri.
Hi.
Sweetheart.
Hello.
— Hello.
Hi.
OSCAR: Hello, darling.
— Dad.
Let me take your bags.
— Get you home, hm?
OSCAR:
How about a selfie?
Your head's not in.
SHUTTER CLICKS
SHUTTER CLICKS
SHUTTER CLICKS
— Not now, Dad.
Er, no, no, right.
No. Ahem.
We repainted the hall.
The same colour.
Yes.
Oh.
OSCAR:
Er, those came for you this morning.
They're from Mandy.
She's very keen to reconnect.
It's garden waste.
Right, I'm gonna go and put this in my room.
Last man standing.
Thank God he's still with us.
Make yourself at home.
Well, I mean, of course, it is your home.
SHE SIGHS
Rest in peace.
OSCAR (VO):
People won ’1‘ think she ’5 still a risk?
People believe what they want.
We need to give her space,
as she readjusts to life in our home
and the wider community.
Are you gonna keep on quoting
from the bloody pamphlet?
Actually, it was on WikiHow.
PHONE CHIMES
Miri!
Oh, yeah, the phone. Yeah.
DOOR CLOSES
DOM ON VOICEMAIL:
Hey, this is Dom, you know what to do.
PHONE BEEPS
— Hello, hi. It's me.
I'm just calling, er you,
because I have got your, um
Hi.
— Shit!
Shit. Not your shit, your Discman.
So, er, anyway, I'm back.
Um, bye. It's Miri.
Oh, God, oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see the——
— No, it's fine.
Hi, I'm I'm Billy.
Oh, hi. Er, I'm Miri.
You are you visiting?
No, no, I'm I'm staying.
Oh, Airbnb?
What?
— Are you Airbnb—ing?
I don't know, are you?
No, I, I I live here.
Well, I'm a carer. I care for a a woman.
Oh, that's a that's a really nice job.
HELAUGHS
Yeah.
Your swing's broken,
I could try and fix it if you like——
No! No, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, shit. No, she's, she's
she's not been well, but she's, um
No, it's fine. It's fine.
Get away from her!
— BILLY: Really nice to
I'd love to, but I've——
— ANNA: Get away from her!
Oh, God. OK, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
SHE LAUGHS
Hi.
You little fucker.
Sorry?
Your neighbours are friendly.
We haven't really met yet.
I've got a job interview,
so I'm gonna go into town tomorrow.
What job?
You won't recognise the place.
Bloody gentrification.
CAROLINE:
It's only one shop.
Manze's was the centre of this community.
And now some arsehole's turning it
into a trendy fish and chips.
We don't know he's an arsehole.
We presume.
Everyone's terrified
we're gonna be the next Margate.
What happened to Margate?
— Don't get him started.
Hipsters.
Oh.
What's the job interview?
Um, it's office cleaning firm.
And they know about you and
and your situation?
I dunno about that.
They just said I should go in.
And they pay, wait for it
£6.50 an hour, so Milky Bars are on me.
That's not even minimum wage.
Oh, OK. Well, anyway, it's a start, isn't it?
And then after that, I might go and see, er
Dom. Just, you know, catch up, say hi.
Have you spoken?
Er, well, no, I just left him a message,
so when he calls me back.
Just just, it's been a long time and you
well, you don't know how he's gonna feel
now that you're back,
or how you're gonna feel.
Yeah, no, that's why I'm gonna wear
full wedding attire.
I'm not gonna wear a wedding dress.
Come on, guys. I'm not gonna
not gonna do that.
SHE SCOFFS
But we were close and, you know,
he wrote to me occasionally
and you said he always asks after me, so.
Well, yes.
— Yeah.
So I'm gonna go and say hi,
if that is something that people still do.
OK?
This is amazing. Thank you.
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Welcome to Home Safe. Your call is important.
I won't hold forever.
Someone's going to have to give me
a straight answer.
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Please continue to hold.
Bastards!
— What's up?
Bloody home insurance.
Apparently, it's compromised because you——
— Oh, I see, because I'm so dangerous.
Does that mean I can't set fire
to the house or do something terrible?
Where are the knives?
Er, I think your mother must have done
something with them.
Oh right, cos I'm gonna stab you both
in your sleep?
HE SIGHS
She's probably polishing them.
PHONE RINGS
— Oh.
Dom?
— WOMAN: Miri Matteson?
Yes?
This is regarding your interview
for the cleaner vacancy.
Oh! Yes, uh, three 3:15 today, yeah?
No, my colleague was mistaken.
This is a family firm.
You can clean offices in hell,
you sick bitch.
PHONE BEEPS
— Amazing. Um
excellent, well, I will, um
I'll see you see you there.
S I can't wait.
Bye!
Right, I'm just gonna just gonna pop out.
Maybe you should check with your mother.
Yeah, or maybe it's OK
cos I'm not a kid anymore.
HE LAUGHS
You're absolutely right.
You're an adult now.
Yeah.
SHE SIGHS
PHONE CHIMES
PHONE CHIMES
DOORBELL RINGS
Dom?
— Oh, shit.
Sorry, I I got a bit of a shock there.
Hi. It's it's me.
It's, um, Miri.
— Yeah, yeah.
Er, why, why why are you here?
Well, to see you.
You look you look so amazing.
SHE LAUGHS
HE LAUGHS AWKWARDLY
Yes.
Of course. Like, sorry, it's just,
it's been such a long
Wow!
THEY LAUGH
Miri.
My Miri Bee, like
all you're all grown up.
Oh, um, er, sorry, I brought you this.
Oh, shit.
HE LAUGHS
I, er, borrowed it slightly longer
than we said, so
SHE LAUGHS
— Oh, yeah, well, I forgive you, you know.
Only cos you've got nice tits.
HE LAUGHS
SHE SIGHS
Nice house.
Yeah.
Like, recruitment, management.
Oh, so you're not a marine biologist?
HE SCOFFS
No never learned to swim in the end.
Oh, well.
I can't believe you're back.
Look, I don't wanna, like, freak you out,
but, um
I thought about you and us a lot when I
you know, I had a lot of time.
And, um, I know
I know that we can't, like, go back——
I don't have any money.
I don't want money.
— Like, I already give to charity.
Charity?
— Yeah, could you just fuck off?
Dom! Language!
DOM: No, she's, like, one of these,
um, like, like
charity bully type, that they
No, no, no, no!
DOM'S WIFE: Ignore my husband.
DOM: No, don't.
DOM'S WIFE:
Here you go.
Oh, no, it's, um
DOM'S WIFE:
No, honestly, have it. Please.
Sorry.
Fifty-three minutes, but I'm still here.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Please continue to hold.
— I will endure.
DOOR OPENS
He's married!
Caroline.
— With kids, with twins!
Caroline!
Why didn't you tell me?
Caroline!
What is it?
You lied to me!
It, it wasn't lying. We omitted--
Big fucking omission.
You you said that he asked after me.
And he did.
— He did.
At the beginning.
You let me believe that he was thinking
about me for 18 years?
Well, he may have been.
You were so depressed,
and we didn't know what to do
and it made you happy.
I just went to his house
with his beautiful, very generous wife,
and I said
"You look amazing." Amazing.
Ugh, like a twat!
WOMAN ON PHONE: Hello, you’re through
to Bethany from Home Safe.
Thank you--
HE SIGHS
HE MUTTERS
Hey
Good.
SHE SIGHS
That is lovely.
SHE SNORTS
Yeah, I've had the, er, sinusitis.
First time I've had dairy all week.
I know it ain't PC,
but I bloody love a bit of dairy.
Do you want, um?
Ooh, I'd love one.
But I've just finished
an enormous bowl of noodles.
Right, um how you finding being back?
Great, yeah. All good.
And, uh, how are the job interviews going?
Oh, er, yeah, brilliant.
Er, just, like, really, really
positive feedback, so it's great.
Good. And how are you finding it?
Being back?
You just asked that.
— Did I?
Yeah.
— Oh! Sorry.
Er, did you answer?
— Yeah.
Oh, my God, I am so sorry.
I'm just so full of codeine right now.
Yeah, I slipped a disc.
That and the sinusitis, well,
the only thing that got me through it
was Naked And Afraid.
SHE LAUGHS
Have you seen that?
How could I have?
— Yeah, of course you haven't.
Well, something to look forward to I suppose.
Google it.
But do not Google yourself.
And listen
if you are experiencing frustration,
depression
or just a deep and consuming sense
of hopelessness
it's normal.
Great, but I'm not.
So, I mean, it's all super cool really, so
Ahem.
— OK.
My ex—boyfriend has twins.
SHE LAUGHS
With a really very beautiful woman.
But I am I'm, like,
completely cool about all that.
And you got this lovely house
and a lovely front garden.
You're like the Queen.
I feel like the Queen.
Do you know, it's fine, isn't it?
It's just like just riding a bike really.
You've just gotta get back on it, peddle.
No, Miri.
You can't get back on your old bike,
because that's a tricycle.
And what you doing
trying to ride a tricycle at your age?
It's broke.
Now listen, right here, right now,
it's a brand—new bike.
No stabilisers.
You've gotta learn to ride it for real
this time, do you get me?
Yeah.
No. What?
Well, that went well.
We got a lot done. Any questions?
Got so many——
— Phew!
I just wanna get home and lie down.
Actually, there's a really good
support group in Eastbourne
I don't drive, so
— Oh.
Well, it's not that great really.
I'll see myself out. Bye.
What's up, gangster?
— Oh.
Oh, thank you. Oh.
Oh, God!
MIRI SOBS
CAROLINE:
Oh, my God, what am I doing?
This is all such a mess.
Ooh, gentle!
It's really hot down there.
This is the last time, do you understand?
She's back, Dom.
Yeah.
I'm serious! We need to stop this.
Oh, OK. If you're
Well, not now!
SHE SIGHS
MALE VOICE:
It is you, isn't it?
Welcome back, Miri Matteson.
Thank you. I'm so sorry, I
I don't remember you.
Because we only just met.
KNOCK ON DOOR
— Hello?
Just checking in.
Are are you OK?
No, not really.
I want a second chance, and
I just thought my life
would be different at this age.
I thought I'd be retired
and living in the Lake District
with six grandchildren by now.
What, you thought I'd have six children?
Well, on reflection, it is rather a lot.
Mm.
I thought this might help a bit.
You deserve a good shot
at all of that life stuff.
It's from the new fish and chip place.
Run by the arsehole?
— Yes.
HE CHUCKLES
I will miss Manze's.
But, like all species, we must adapt
to environmental change or die.
Thank you. Thanks, Dad.
OK.
Our family is finally together.
In one house.
Yes. Wonderful.
We've waited so long for this.
WHALE SOUNDS PLAY
SHE SIGHS
OK
OK.
BRUSH SCRAPES
WATER SLOSHES
It it's not coming off.
Well, what are you using?
Vinegar.
— Well, use white spirit.
We don't have insurance!
I'm not gonna douse the whole place
in lighter fuel!
TAMAGOTCHI BEEPS
R&B MUSIC PLAYS
Hi, I'm Miri. Mm.
MUFFLED R&B MUSIC PLAYS
— Oh, God.
We cannot let her see.
You keep cleaning. I'll distract her.
MIRI, MUFFLED:
Hi.
I'm Miri.
— What's she doing?
MIRI, MUFFLED:
Hello, my name is Miri.
Who's she talking to?
Why aren't you cleaning?
Because you're talking to me.
I, er, I love food and tills
if you've got a till.
Do you like people?
Mm, some people.
Some?
— Well, I mean
does anyone like everyone?
SHE LAUGHS
Yes.
— Then I love
everybody.
Well, very good.
— SHE LAUGHS
Er, and you're available to start-—
Now. Right now.
OK. There's a whole process,
I'm speaking to some other people.
Oh, my God, me too. Totally.
You've got other interviews?
— Yeah.
I've got Blockbuster
and then I have got Woolworths.
HE LAUGHS
SHE LAUGHS
And then BHS!
— SHE LAUGHS
That's very funny.
Thank you.
— That's good.
HE CHUCKLES
Woollies
Ah, Miri, you're there.
Well, it's my room, so
Your hair!
— Yeah, it's, er
it's exactly how I wanted it to be.
Mum, can I borrow some clothes, please?
Why?
— Cos I've, I've got a job interview.
Oh! Oh, lovely.
Um, so I need to borrow something,
like, work—y, cos
Why?
— Mum.
We don't actually
have a mobile number for you.
Oh, er, yes, it's, er, 07700900738.
Just one more time, sorry?
Am I being thick?
— Yes.
It's 07700900931.
That's not the same.
— Yes, it is. It is.
It really isn't.
— Yeah, it really is.
SHE LAUGHS
— It's not.
It is.
SHE LAUGHS
Are you OK?
— Yeah.
This is all l have.
Thank you.
Christ.
Great, that's
that's fantastic.
ZIPPER SLIDES
There's bleach, there.
I'll keep her inside.
OSCAR: Oh, for God's sake, Caroline,
we can't keep her locked up!
CAROLINE:
Oh, she'll be fine. She's used to it.
OSCAR:
| tidied this bloody cupboard last week.
I need to borrow your bike.
We haven't got one.
— Yes, you do.
Oh, that bike, yeah.
What's wrong with you?
Erm
— What's that on your hands?
Er, old age.
Right. I'll see you later.
Would you like some eggs?
Scrambled? Poached? Fried?
You look different. What is it?
Fine.
What did you have to say that for?
— What else was I supposed to say?
Focussing on the positives,
your look is fantastic.
Oh, thank you.
But this is not going well.
Really?
— No, it's, um
quite a weird atmosphere.
Oh, come on.
Look, why should I employ you?
Do you know what? Maybe you shouldn't.
What?
— No, you're right, you're right.
I've got nothing to offer.
I live with my parents,
the man I loved is married with two kids
everybody in this town hates me
but I am exceptional worker
and I can clean a toilet
till it shines like the sun.
Matteson.
Miri Matteson
Are you
Miranda Matteson?
The Miranda Matteson?
Yes, I am.
Oh, shit.
Fucking Chri
No, darling, just wait!
The—the—the saddle's too high, you can't——
— You can't wear that, you look peculiar.
It's a gentleman's bike.
— Come inside
and we'll find you something more suitable——
— Can you just stop Fritzling me?
Just let me out!
Urgh!
I can't just
I once ran over a badger
on my way to the airport.
It broke my heart.
They're running low.
Don't.
— Sorry.
CAROLINE:
Oh, darling!
Oh, she's
OSCAR: Miri, please.
— CAROLINE: Miri, please!
OSCAR: Please don't go out there.
— CAROLINE: Don't go out there!
OSCAR: Miri, Miri, come back.
— CAROLINE: Oh!
Oh, no.
SEAGULLS CRY
OSCAR:
They don't know you.
Oh, lord
Are you happy to start now?
Yes. Really?
Yes.
Everyone deserves a second chance.
Even murderers.
It wasn't like that.
What was it like?
It was a long time ago, and
and I'm ready I'm ready to move on.
# I am a terrible woman #
MUSIC: "Terrible Woman" by Siobhan Wilson
# Have a happy heart, a simple life #
MUSIC CONTINUES
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