The Little House (2010) s01e02 Episode Script

His parents have bought us a place right on their doorstep.
Elizabeth? What is it, Ruth? You look a little pale.
Thought maybe you were harbouring a secret.
You're pregnant? Well done.
Happy Christmas Little Ruthie's gone to have our baby.
Here's your son.
It's a boy! My mother-in-law takes him to the shops, takes him in the car, takes him everywhere.
Where have you been? We've been worried.
Thank you, Elizabeth, but he's my son and I'll do whatever I want.
When I was first pregnant, every day I prayed for a miscarriage.
What's wrong with me? Postpartum psychosis, confused with post-natal depression.
It's a cigarette burn.
I-I never touched him! Unless I have sole charge, I can't guarantee his safety.
Ruthie, we've found a clinic.
Is that what you want? There's too much at stake.
Perhaps go back to America.
With Patrick and Thomas.
No, no, no, Patrick and Thomas would stay here.
We wouldn't think any the less of you.
He's not gonna fall out? No, no, of course he isn't.
Hey-hey! This is the life.
Ooh, isn't it? Almost seems a shame.
Ah, let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
Whooo! I don't know what happened.
I think I was angry.
But I couldn't admit to the anger.
But I hurt him.
I burned my son with a cigarette.
Do you believe you did that, Ruth? In your heart? Yes.
Why? Because .
.
when you first came, you insisted that you hadn't hurt Thomas.
Well, I was ill.
I know that because when I looked at my baby I saw hatred and .
.
contempt, and that wasn't true.
That was all in my head.
And he loved me all along.
And I loved him.
I love him.
I love him.
It's like stepping back in time.
Extraordinary.
He's just that little bit thinner.
Hmm? Oooh! Yes, yes.
Hey.
He's off.
You're a natural, darling.
You've still got some What? I shouldn't really be having this.
Richly deserved, I'd say.
No, I mean, I'm going to see Ruth.
Oh, of course.
Silly me.
How IS Thomas? What's he doing? Tell me everything.
Well, you knowit's baby stuff.
He's .
.
gurgling and pooing and Hey, how are you, more to the point I don't know.
But I want to be better.
God, I miss you.
I miss you, too.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Hey, there you are.
Hello, darling.
I think he was just trying to say 'grandma.
' Ah, so you know who's boss now then, don't you? How is she? Yeah, much, much better.
I don't think it'll be long now.
Oh, darling, we all want to see Ruth back on her feet, but we must err on the side of caution.
No, I know.
The stakes are just too high.
One step at a time.
We'll get there.
Why don't you go in and change and I'll fix you a nice supper? Hmm? Yeah.
OK.
Yes.
I want to be a mother again.
I'm ready to be a mother again.
And with the help of my wonderful family .
.
I'm going to make a full recovery.
I'm not so sure how wonderful they are.
In a way, they put you here.
Nono, they didn't.
I hurt my baby and I needed help.
But you said you didn't want a baby in the first place.
Tha-that's true but - You said you didn't want to move to the country, you wanted to stay in the city, carry on teaching.
That's true but - If you care about someone, you respect their wishes.
It's as simple as that.
Ruth? My in-laws are good people.
They are.
There's nothing in what Agnes says, then? I didn't say that.
They are They did put me in a difficult position and they are controlling - So, when you go home, how are you gonna deal with that? I'll stick up for myself.
Good.
Good for you.
These will help to keep you stable.
I don't think you'll be needing them for long.
Oh, darling, it's so good to have you home.
Hello, dear.
Come on through.
Lunch is ready.
Hey, Dad - Everything OK? Where's Thomas? Oh, he's upstairs sleeping.
I've only just this minute put him down.
Oh, God, he's so lovely.
Darling, let him sleep.
Mum won't want him woken up.
He's just gone down.
You go.
I love him, Patrick, I really do.
I know.
Whatever it looked like .
.
my love was all there.
It was just waiting to come out.
I am so glad you're home.
OK, here I go.
Hey! Are you feeling up to it? Of course.
We should get back now, shouldn't we, Patrick? Go home? I thought it best if we stayed at Mum and Dad's for a bit.
Why? Well, until you're back on your feet, darling.
I'm fine.
I just wanna go home.
Well, there's no food in the house, is there? And it's as cold as the grave.
I could put the heating on and bring Thomas down later.
No, Ruth, we're staying at Mum's just for a few nights.
We just want to support you, that's all, darling, ease you back in.
Make sure you don't get too tired.
Only a few nights, all right? And it'll be fun, all back together again, like old times.
Darling, we'll be home before you know it.
Hmm? I promise.
Absolutely.
You've got your own lives to lead.
So have we, I might add.
Hello, gorgeous.
What's that? Is that funny? Is that funny? Is it? 'Yes, yes, you are.
Yes, you are.
Is that funny? ' I know.
So, what are you? You're gorgeous.
Roley! Great minds think alike.
Mind if we tag along? Course not.
Smells lovely.
Can I help? No, it's all done.
Have a seat.
Elizabeth? Yes, dear? Before I went to the clinic, you suggested I go back to America without Patrick and Thomas.
It was a difficult time, Ruth.
I just wanted you to do whatever you had to do to get better.
And now you are.
You didn't just want me out of the way, then? Of course not.
It'sjust what you did to Thomas.
None of us knew how to react, what was the right thing to do, whether we should call the police or? It was the most ghastly position to be put in, to be honest, Ruth.
I'm sorry I put you in it.
You look tired.
Why don't you have a nap after lunch? Then we'll go down to the cottage and get it straight.
Shall we do that? God, it's freezing in here.
Hmm.
Strange.
Patrick must have forgotten the thermostat.
No, he didn't.
It's right up.
Do you knowanything about boilers? I'll call a heating engineer when we get home.
No, Elizabeth, I can do that.
It is my house.
Don't worry, we'll have you in by Easter, promise.
Manor Cottage? It's for you.
David.
Hi, David.
Yeah.
You should have seen the look on her face when you rang.
It was like she'd stepped in something.
I got that when I spoke to her before.
I called up to see how you were were.
Elizabeth said you'd gone to get some rest.
I thought she meant you were asleep at first.
No, I was ill.
That was Elizabeth's informed medical opinion, was it? I just needed some time away from Thomas, just to get my head together.
They sent you to a looney bin.
Well, they did, didn't they? LookDavid, I know you care about me but .
.
but I'm much better now.
I'm stronger.
And we've spoken about it and they've promised to treat me as an equal from now on.
But you'll never be equal.
Why? Because the whole set-up's weighted against you.
Patrick's got the career, the money, the parents on the doorstep.
There are three of them and one of you.
How is David? He's well.
He says hi.
Oh, er, Gary the engineer just called.
He's got a backlog.
He can't fix the heating until next month.
Sorry, darling.
But you promised we'd be in by Easter.
Best he can do, I'm afraid.
Well, that's not good enough.
Well, I'm sorry.
There's nothing to be done.
Well, can't we just use another engineer? You must know loads, Patrick.
In the city, yeah, but they won't come all the way out here.
Where's the Yellow Pages.
I'll have a look myself.
All right, all right.
I'll sort it.
Did I detect a little Dutch courage there? All right.
All right.
Yes, I know, it's much more fun than all that grown-up talk, isn't it? I know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'll be two seconds.
Two seconds.
Thomas? Thomas! Thomas.
Patrick! Patrick! Ruth, what's going on? M-My bag was on the side and I put the lid on.
I always put the lid on.
Give him to me, give him to me.
Are these your anti-depressants? What are they? Dad, I'll call an ambulance.
No time.
If he's swallowed any, we have to get him to the hospital now.
Patrick, get the car.
Patrick Go, go! Thomas No, Thomas - Just leave him alone, for God's sake! Oh I didn't leave my pills out.
It's our fault.
We let her run before she could walk.
How is it our fault when she's out getting drunk during the day? I didn't leave the pills out! I didn't leave them out! I didn't leave them! I didn't.
Is he OK? Why didn't you call me? He's fine.
Keep your voice down.
He didn't swallow any.
Come on, let him sleep.
Let's have a cup of tea.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
I don't keep my pills in my bag.
I keep them in my top drawer.
What are you saying, Ruth? I'm saying I don't understand how he got them.
Last night you made a fuss of your handbag being out of reach.
Now they were never IN there.
We can't take another risk, Ruth, you know, we .
.
we just can't.
So, in the morning I'll take Thomas for his constitutional, or if rain stops play, rock him in the hall.
And that'll give you a chance to go shopping or whatever you want to do.
And in the afternoon? Elizabeth will take care of her, Patrick is home by six.
You'll be fully supported.
You can say that again Is this an offer or an order? Well, you can take it as you wish.
It's a description of what's going to happen.
For ever? Until we're sure you can care for him on your own.
And if I refuse? Well .
.
I hope you'll see that this is - What if I don't see, though? What if I refuse? Then we keep Thomas here and you'll be welcome to come and live with us again or visit daily.
You know, I could take Thomas right now.
No, we wouldn't permit that.
Besides, you've no money, nowhere to go, no friends, relatives It wouldn't be fair on you.
Or Thomas.
Andit isn't necessary.
Not necessaryto be free.
Let us help you, darling.
Take this in the spirit in which it's meant.
Can I have the towel, please? Ruth? Oh, no.
Oooh.
Yes.
No, she's fine.
He's here.
Do you want a quick word? Yeah.
Dad! It's our Fiona.
She wants to talk to you.
Yeah My birthday call.
My sister.
From Canada? Hmm.
Yes, she's been there a while now.
I'd love to meet her one day.
Why? She'll only be jealous of your happiness.
She'd only want to ruin things, wouldn't she, Patrick? Yeah, you're probably right.
.
.
a grandfather, as you say.
.
.
lots of walks How are your little ones? I'd like to stop by the cottage and say hello.
Yeah.
Sure.
Why not? It's cold for Thomas.
Well, we'll just have to give him a wee dram.
You'll do no such thing.
I'm gonna have a look at the central heating.
Is it wise? Well, it can't hurt.
Don't just thump it with a hammer.
Come on, Patrick.
So, Ruth, what about these curtains? Think you'll stick with them? Hmm? I mean, they're just my cast-offs.
Thought you might want to change them.
No, I think they're lovely.
I wouldn't be offended.
Strangest thing.
The clock was disconnected.
That's the only reason the boiler wasn't firing.
Do you think so? Took all of ten seconds.
I'm sorry.
I don't know how that could have happened.
Well, that's great.
You'll soon be home, darling.
Shall we stay for a while? Make a start on the tidy? Oh, Ruth, it's Patrick's birthday.
Yeah, fine, all right, for half-an-hour or so.
Yeah? Come on, darling, let's get Thomas home for his tea.
Coming? Ruth! Ruth.
Patrick .
.
if I have to be under house arrest, I want it to be in my own house.
Sorry, we got a bit delayed.
It's fine.
Thomas has had his tea.
Ah.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
It was nice for us to have some time together.
Now the heating's fixed, we'll move into the house.
Great.
Just like that.
All the arrangements regarding Thomas will stay as they are.
Don't you think that's a decision we should take together? Well, actually, I think it's a pretty sound idea.
There's no hardship for us to come down to the cottage.
Great.
Then I'd better go down and clean up the kitchen.
I can do that.
Really? The stove's an inch deep in grease.
Don't exaggerate, Mum.
What can I get you, hmm? Sherry? Yes, please.
Hey Hi.
Hello, darling.
I want you to talk to your parents about having Thomas all day every day.
Ruth - It's too much, and it simply isn't necessary.
We're back home, that's the main thing, isn't it? Do you trust me, Patrick? It's not about trust, it's about .
.
it's about not repeating past mistakes.
And what about our future? If you want us to be a real family, you have to let me be a real mother and a real wife.
What more do I have to do to prove to you that I'm better? I'm the Ruth you married.
The Ruth you fell in love with.
Well, what if they have him alternate days? Fine.
But not forever.
No, no, of course not.
And in the summer, I want us to take that sabbatical to the States we were supposed to take last year.
I have to see where I am with work.
Please, Patrick.
It's really important to me.
I want Thomas to meet my relatives.
You have your family right on the doorstep.
Please? Please? OK.
Dadrelax things for a while .
.
Play it by ear with Thomas Where's Thomas? Well, Patrick wants us to step back a bit and, erI think he's right.
What? Look, Elizabeth, I appreciate I've brought you some plants.
Elizabeth.
You should really have called first.
Well, it's really too cold for planting but it seems you're suddenly so keen.
Thanks, Elizabeth, but I'd really rather pick my own flowers.
Gardens are a lot of work, you know.
You can't suddenly up and leave them whenever it suits you.
Heard a little rumour, have we? Patrick can't possibly go to America.
Work wouldn't permit it.
He's already sorted it with work, so He's obviously humouring you.
He's booked the flights.
Who knows? Maybe we'll stay.
Land of opportunity and all that.
There.
I just don't think that you've thought it through.
Ruth's made progress and that's wonderful, but what if it's just cosmetic? Well, you've seen her.
She's transformed.
People with Ruth's problems often appear very together, even cheerful, just before they do something awful to themselves or others.
Doctor Fairley specifically warned us that - She's not suicidal.
Are you a psychiatrist? I'm her husband.
Look .
.
Ruth's yen to go back home is entirely understandable.
So let her go.
Alone.
Mm-hm.
That way you won't .
.
let your clients down .
.
Thomas will be well-cared for, not to mention safe, and Ruth won't feel that she has to rush back.
That's not the idea of the trip.
I know she'll be disappointed, but if she has to go now, then that's the compromise.
No.
What do you meanno? I mean, I wanna meet her relatives, I wanna see where she went to school, where she took her first steps.
Where she was born.
Why? Because I love her, Mum.
Look, I know you've got my best interests at heart, Mum, but .
.
I've made up my mind.
I have to go.
Oh, no, no, no, no, Roley! Elizabeth, I've just cleaned the floor.
I'm sorry, Ruth.
Peace offering? Chocolate mousse, your favourite? Plenty of rum, so don't let Junior get hold of it.
Home-made ice-cream for him.
Plenty for Patrick when he gets back.
I don't think so.
Patrick's getting fat.
Fat? Patrick? He is.
You should see him naked.
He's got a proper pot belly.
Ooh! Shit! It's the fete tomorrow.
I don't suppose for one minute you remembered? Oh, ye of little faith.
Books and bric-a-brac.
Bags of the stuff.
Oh, great.
Thanks.
I just want us to get on, Ruth.
Like we always have.
So do I, Elizabeth.
But not as we always have.
Feelings of intense confusion or agitation.
'Memory lapses, faulty recollection.
Seeing or hearing things that others don't.
' And a basic inability to care for the baby.
I didn't leave them out! I always put the lid on! Leave him alone for God's sake! 'The strangest thing.
' The clock was disconnected.
That's the only reason the boiler wasn't firing.
Oh, my God, darling, it's a cigarette burn! 'I haven't touched him! Somebody must have been in here!' Oh, thought you'd given up.
Change of plan.
He needs a new anorak.
Does he? Yes.
I'm sorry to waste your time.
Why the urgency? That's just cruel.
What did you say? We were playing a nice game.
There's no need to upset yourself like this, you know.
I'm not talking about what's probable.
I'm talking about what's possible.
What COULD have happened.
OK.
She COULD have burnt Thomas herself, she could have tipped my pills all over his playmat, and messed up the central heating so we couldn't go home.
But you thought Thomas hated you.
How could SHE make you think that? I'm not saying I wasn't ill, I'm not saying it was all her.
All I'm saying is that maybe she capitalised on things.
OK, maybe she made a bad situation worse.
What would you say if I told you, on the day I was admitted to the clinic she told me to go back to America and leave Patrick and Thomas behind? I'd say that was pretty bloody unforgivable, but I can't see her burning a baby.
Well, somebody did.
Yeah, well I thought - David, I have no memory of it.
It's not about denial.
I accepted what I did, but I've no memory of hurting Thomas.
Do you think I'm mad? I've never thought you were mad.
Call me later, OK? Yeah.
Ssh-ssh-ssh-ssh.
Patrick! Patrick! What's going on? Roley's missing.
Didn't turn up for supper.
Unheard of.
You all right? Yeah.
Over here.
Oh, my God! Oh, no Doesn't make any sense.
He was perfectly healthy.
Perhaps it was something he ate.
Well, like what? You should get the vet to open him up.
He'll tell you how he died.
Wha-what good would that do? It's not gonna bring him back.
It's just peace of mind.
Actually, I think perhaps we should, you know.
The proof's in the pudding.
No.
No, no, I-I-I won't have Roley butchered.
I won't All right, Mum.
Frederick, I want you to bury him tonight.
Elizabeth, why don't you get an early night? Let us clear up for once.
Yeah, great idea, darling.
Come upstairs.
I'll do the washing up.
Good read? Just wanted to understand what you were going through.
You burned him.
What? You burned Thomas.
To have me locked up .
.
and out of the way.
I'm afraid that's nonsense, Ruth.
And when THAT didn't work, you tried to kill me.
An empty bottle, barely full of pills? Suicide would be the only explanation.
And what with my troubles .
.
and the way my mother died.
Mad people never know they're mad.
It's textbook.
Conspiracy round every corner.
I wasn't mad.
Then maybe you're justbad.
I'm coming round to your way of thinking about having the contents of Roley's stomach examined.
Should they find any substance, any .
.
prescription pills .
.
it won't look good for you.
More evidence of your cruel and unnatural nature.
And then, in a month, Thomas falls down the stairs, breaks his arm, and nobody's gonna believe it was an accident.
And I won't be able to save you next time.
I'll have to phone the authorities, even though we may get our knuckles rapped for not letting them know about last time.
One way or another, Ruth .
.
you're going.
Now it's up to you.
Is that what you said to your daughter? Go near my son again and I'll kill you.
Oh, dear, Ruth.
I'll miss our little games when you've gone.
But at least Thomas will have a mother worthy of the name.
All this fine talk, and you haven't even noticed that he's crying.
Excuse me.
Don't you dare.
It's MY house.
And he's MY boy.
I'll do as I damn well please.
Aagh! What was that? I heard a scream.
Mum? Elizabeth? Darling? Elizabeth? Mum? Please, God.
Get a doctor here now.
Elizabeth? She isn't breathing.
Elizabeth? Oh, God.
Elizabeth? Darling? This is what we need.
A nice home-cooked meal.
There we are.
Cheeky.
After this, perhaps it's time for us to go, eh, Dad? Give you some space.
It just seems so convenient.
If we're wanted, that is.
No doubt about that.
I thought you'd want to go home to our house.
I never really liked it anyway.
Hmm.
It is a bit cramped.
And I can't possibly take care of two houses.
The small house would be perfect for you - Darling .
.
we can't possibly ask Dad to move into our house - Ruth's right.
Itit would make sense in many ways.
So many memories of your mother here.
Well, looks like that's settled, then.
Can you pass me that, darling? But before you move in, we really must re-decorate.
It's shabby upstairs.
And I have this box of beautiful curtain material which really is crying out to be used.
Oh, that was weird.
Perfectly natural, I'd say.
No, I mean in my parents' bed.
It's best to rip the plaster off quickly.
I love all this space in here.
So much potential.
Hmm.
Oh, bring him into bed with us.
Just this once won't hurt him.
What are you crying about? Eh? What was all the tears for, hm? Come on.
What was all the tears for? What was all the tears for? What? What was all the tears for?