Best Interests (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Marnie is very sick.
She has shown no signs of
neurological improvement and is
still ventilator-dependent.
Is it in Marnie's best interests
to continue ventilation or not?
Let's stay on holiday
for a bit longer, eh?
Please don't assume Marnie's story
is going to be any less beautiful.
It'll just be different.
Marnie, honey, can you
do that again, please?
Can you squeeze my hand?
She's going to get better.
You could come to the
hospital, if you like?
I'll be better here.
I'm here on behalf of
Every Christian Life.
We're here to help.
I think we should consider
ending it, the treatment.
I have been fighting
for her all my life!
Just me! Not you!
That's just not true.
Well, prove it, then!
They say she's in a lot of
pain! She is still your child!
Yes! Yes, she is!
Dad, don't go.
Don't leave me here.
This is going to
be a fight, Nicci.
All we want is to
save Marnie's life.
Then, yeah
..I'm ready.
This programme contains strong language and some
scenes which some viewers may find upsetting
So, your line about
the marriage is that
"it's a private matter
for my husband and I."
Right.
And when they say, "Why does he
want her dead and you don't?"
Well, Nihal, he won't say that.
He's excellent.
Right, well, if he hints at it?
Well, then you just hint back
that your husband is, in fact,
an arsehole.
Look, whenever it gets hard, just
think about Marnie, all right?
That'll get you through. They
get a tight 20, then we've got to
get straight off to
the solicitor, OK?
Right, tight 20.
Got it.
PRESENTER: Now, over to
Laura with the travel.
What's happening with
the roads, Laura?
OK?
Hi. Brenda. Nice to
meet you. Nihal. Hi.
Hi. Hi.
We've got 45 seconds of
travel peace. Oh, right.
It's a pleasure
to have you here.
OK, headphones on,
if you want them.
Not necessary if not.
Just talk to me. The
more casual, the better.
Oh, we're just going
to go straight into it?
Yeah. Be yourself.
You'll be great.
You'll be great.
It's 7:34.
We're joined this
morning by Nicola
It's Nicci. Uh, Nicci Lloyd,
who is mother to Marnie,
who is currently in hospital
and extremely poorly.
Yeah, my daughter has a
rare neuromuscular disorder.
She was diagnosed when
she was six months old.
And she's 13 now?
Yeah. They-they they kept telling
us she was going to die at two,
four, seven, erm
..when she was 10, 12.
Now 13.
But she's she's
a strong girl.
You're currently in a dispute with
the hospital about the best form
of future care for her?
Well, I think "care"
is a kind word for it.
They want to switch off her machines
and we want to keep them on.
PHONE BUZZES
CALL DISMISSED CLICK
Hello?
Oh. I've got the wrong place.
Possibly.
My handwriting's awful.
I wrote down 23, but it
could equally likely be 33.
Sorry, who are you looking for?
Are you Caitlin Lloyd?
Yeah. Um, Katie.
I'm Greg from Children
and Family Legal Services.
Here to talk about Marnie.
I had an appointment
with Nicola at 10:00.
Right. Uh
Yeah, Mum's not good at
appointments right now.
Come in. I'll phone her.
Thank you.
So, what are you assessing?
How best to represent
Marnie in court.
You're my sister's
lawyer? No, not a legal.
I'm a social worker.
The court has appointed me to
look after Marnie's welfare.
I sit in court and look
after her best interests.
Isn't that our job?
Well, of course,
but the court feels that Marnie
should have her own voice.
Your mum talks
about her feelings.
Your dad talks about him.
The hospital talks about them.
And I speak to everyone and try to
look out for what's best for Marnie.
I'm not AGAINST anyone.
I'm FOR Marnie.
Right, I'll phone her again.
PHONE RINGS
Hey. Are you OK?
Mum, there's a man here to see you
from the child legal service thing.
A social worker?
Oh, sh
Shite.
Um
I forgot.
Where are you? Er
I've got I've got a lawyer
thing, and then a TV thing.
A TV thing?
Yeah, it's ridiculous, I know.
Do you want me to speak to
him, make it less embarrassing?
No, I'll handle it.
Go be a TV star.
CALL DISCONNECT TONE
Everything OK?
Yeah. Yeah.
So, er, could we
get you a drink?
Coffee, tea, water,
flavoured water?
Er No, I'm fine.
This is Derek.
Derek's your barrister,
and Derek is great.
It is an honour to be
involved in this case.
Thank you.
So, what we're doing is building
our case from the excellent
medical history you've
provided, Nicci.
The hospital has
power on its side.
The white coat - even
unworn - gives credibility.
So, our role is to promote
our alternative hypothesis
that the prognosis they have
given was based on poor judgment,
and to propose that alternative
treatments are still a possibility.
Right, you think you can
show they did a bad job?
We believe we can suggest a bias in
the treatment Marnie has received,
particularly from
Samantha Woodham.
We're looking for moments
when her medical judgment
may have been clouded.
If we can show that, we
can show that similar doubt
must be applied to this case.
Anything and everything that
you've got in that regard
would be most useful.
And there is some urgency with
the court date approaching.
Samantha's a good
doctor, though
No-one's denying that.
And we've had some
wonderful responses in terms
of alternate
treatments for Marnie.
And we're still circling to find
the right doctor to help us
You haven't found anyone yet?
Well, it takes time, Nicci.
Oh
PHONE RINGS
Um, it's the hospital. I
Hello?
I'm on my way.
Do you think you'll win, Nicci?
How's Marnie? Can you
give us a comment, please?
Can can you not, please?
Any change in her condition?
Have you seen her?
Can I just go and see
my daughter? Thank you.
BUZZER
Thank you.
Journalists are outside.
Yeah. I know.
Can't we do better than this?
I'm going to go in.
Is she OK? Doctor's
on her way.
Hey, Marnie. Hey, petal.
Hey, you don't look too bad.
Marnie had a reaction to one
of the drugs we had her on.
We've given her some steroids
and a dose of adrenaline
and she seems to have settled.
What did you put her on?
It was a reaction to the new
antibiotics we've been trying.
She's out of danger.
Right.
I am I've been
..aware of what you've been
saying on the radio, and
..I just wanted to say that
I'm sorry we weren't able
to provide a care that you
For what it's worth, I've always
cared deeply about Marnie.
DOOR OPENS
What what's happening?
Just a small reaction.
She'll be back to
how she was soon.
Chill-out room.
I need some stuff to cover
the chairs and stuff.
That, that Yeah.
Coat room. Can I do coats?
You're not going
to be here at all.
Hang on a minute, Katie.
OK, so I want everything
cleared out of here.
Ah Well, we might not be
able to clear out EVERYTHING.
It's got to be a
dance floor, Dad.
Well, what do you want gone?
The television. Mm.
These cabinets. Yeah.
The sofa. Ugh
Well, the cabinets and the
telly might be possible,
but I'm not sure
the sofa will be.
But it's the biggest thing, Dad.
Yeah, that's
exactly the problem.
If we could just put
it in the kitchen.
It could be quite
cool in the kitchen.
Well, it needs to clear the
doors, that's the problem.
It's not enough space otherwise.
All right. Well, I'm
sure you'll manage.
Hey. You can't not invite
your sister to your party.
I think none of
you should be here.
It'll be OK. We'll
I don't mind.
She can be in your room, if you want
more people waiting and watching.
But I think you'll be better
going out, the whole lot of you.
Go bowling.
We COULD go bowling.
It's my birthday.
She's going to your party,
and we're supervising,
and that's the end
of the discussion.
So, I don't have a
significant life?
Just a significant sister?
Katie, come on.
You're being a child.
I AM a child! And I
don't want her here!
POP MUSIC PLAYS
I really like you.
What?
Happy birthday.
Yeah.
Good party.
Sure.
Sorry. My mum and dad are here.
Oh. Uh, right.
I just have to
Sure. See you.
DOORBELL RINGS
Hi. Hi. Can I come in?
Yeah, yeah, come on in.
Um I have tea, I think.
The milk is possibly off.
I can have black tea.
The milk is my fault.
Hello, Uncle Tom. How do?
It's the way the French do it.
Although I believe they use
lemon. I don't have lemon.
I've got Jif lemon.
For pancakes.
Uh, yeah, just just
black tea is fine.
Oh. OK, I'm, um
..I'm going to go out Right.
..erm get some milk.
OK.
I may be some time. Right.
Don't let him
Don't let him tidy up.
Everything's there for
a reason, OK? I won't.
Yeah, OK.
Bye.
How are you getting on?
Yeah. I'm fine.
One of the most expressive
words in the English language.
"How were your exams,
Katie?" "Fine."
"How's that nasty friend
of yours doing now?"
"Fine."
"How's that graze on your knee."
"Fine."
Which nasty friend?
Ah I want to say Marcia?
The one who bullied
you, you remember.
Marcia?
Do you mean Natalie? Ah.
Do you think you, um, sent me to a
school where I might meet a Marcia?
HE LAUGHS
No. Hmm.
Erm
Thank you. Ow, ow, ow
Inside? Yeah.
I saw your mum.
At the hospital earlier.
Did you have a nice chat?
No.
Um
When my mum died
That's a big when.
Not allowed?
Ah, when she died
..uh, she said two things to me.
She said,
"If I'd known giving up cigarettes
would have got rid of this cough,
"I'd have done it years ago."
So, this is an
anti-smoking thing now?
And, um
..the second thing
she said was
..that I was just like my dad.
I would never reach
my full potential
..because I'm feckless
with my own intelligence.
I can't remember
the exact phrasing.
I know it contained
the word "feckless".
OK, your tea?
Yeah. Tastes a bit, um
..washing-up-liquidy.
Um
It's kind of a dark thing to
say, isn't it, "feckless"?
My mum felt she had a
responsibility to be the guardian
of other people's failings. Oh.
She thought she was helping me.
She wanted to use that
moment of her own death
..to teach me.
So, what did you do?
With the advice? Mm.
I went out and got shit-faced.
And then, um, I sobered up.
And then I
..got your mum pregnant,
and then I married her.
Got a job
..that I didn't care about.
Lived a life.
OK.
That's really depressing.
No, no. Not really, because
Here's the thing.
I loved
I have loved
I have loved her, your mum
..more than I expected to.
And I have loved you
more than I could
ever have hoped to.
And I loved Marnie
..absolutely.
And I think that's an achievement.
I mean, not one that my mum,
my mother - she hated the word
"mum" - would have understood.
But an achievement
all the same.
And I think what I'm doing
and what I'm saying now
..is an act of love.
I just needed to
explain that to you.
Did you?
You're disappointed?
Yeah.
Why?
I'm not I'm not going to back
the hospital or embarrass your mum.
I'm just going to say
my piece in court
I mean, if you frame a
thought with self-pity,
it seems manageable, right?
Your mum was an arsehole.
So what?
I was giving a context.
You were giving an excuse.
It's what all your
generation does.
"I'm not racist, but
if you could understand
"where I come from, you'd
understand my racist thoughts."
"I'm not transphobic.
I'm not homophobic."
I'm not racist or
transphobic or homophobic
Dad, it was your job to love us.
It was your job to be around.
It was your fucking job.
Honestly, so many men - and you
see it all the fucking time -
congratulate themselves for
being, like, family men.
What does that mean?
That they provide?
They don't fuck around? I mean,
that's not an achievement.
Yes, but
You know, this may
be an act of love,
but you performed it
in a cowardly way.
You just ran. You didn't fight.
What, you wanted World War III?
If you believe something, isn't
it better to argue for it?
I was pretty clear
about how I felt.
I was trying to not
make a situation worse.
So, you just left her and me,
without us really understanding
what it meant for us?
No, no That makes it
sound like I abandoned you.
Yeah, cos you did.
I don't give a shit
whether you reached your
potential or not. I-I'm
I'm not marking you.
I'm your daughter. It
doesn't matter to me.
All I care about is,
like, what you are to me.
I wasn't trying to excuse it. I
shouldn't have talked about my mum.
You know what? Like Dad, this
was a test, and you failed it
when you left. I wasn't trying to
excuse it. I don't actually feel
like I NEED to excuse it.
You know it's a mess
Dad, you can fuck off!
Marnie lives! And my
job is to support Mum,
and actually try and survive.
So, your "love" has helped
neither of those things.
Actually, you know what?
It's not my job.
It's actually not my job
to support Mum, or you.
I'm supposed to be
a fucking teenager!
So, fuck you for
doing this to me!
I didn't. Marnie did.
That's interesting you
chose to blame her.
I don't blame her. I
I just acknowledge the fact.
I just acknowledge the
fact that her condition
..caused difficulty. You
didn't say her condition, Dad.
You said her name. You're
the one who can't visit her.
Yeah. I can't.
Right, so that makes me a
dickhead, too. No, you're not
Is that what you want me to
say? No, you're not a dickhead.
Look, I love you and
your sister very much.
Yeah, absolutely. You said
you love Marnie absolutely.
And I know I haven't
been perfect
You let us down.
Please don't do this.
Look, whatever you think,
just just talk about it.
Talk to Mum, and then you
and Mum come to a decision,
and then you stand WITH us.
Please stand beside us.
But we disagree on
the key decision,
the most important decision
we have ever had to make.
And you can't
talk about that,
you can't rationalise it.
You you can only feel it.
OK.
I'm going to go,
leave you to your feelings.
No, don't do Don't do that!
Don't do that. Don't!
DOOR SLAMS
HE SIGHS
TV PLAYS: It's like you say,
when you don't have the support,
these things are made even
harder. That can't have been easy.
NICCI: Yeah, well people think
when you've a disabled daughter
that you're an object of pity.
Fuck off.
You know, they project
their insecurities onto you.
But, really, being a parent
of a disabled child
No.
..it's the most beautiful
job in the world.
Marnie, you know,
she has her downs,
but her ups
She's You know, she's
complicated, she's sparky,
she's annoying, she's difficult.
But, you know, she's,
er she's joyous.
I wouldn't have missed
a single minute of it.
She sounds like a special lady.
Oh, yeah, she is.
Well, I'll tell
her you said that.
She has at least
one of your records.
Well, you know, she's heard
at least one of your records.
Oh, she's a real fan, then.
Fuck off!
DOORBELL RINGS
Listen, I didn't mean
Oh.
We fixed a time, didn't we?
Greg, from Children and
Family Legal Services.
Uh, sorry. I
..I thought you
were someone else.
Maybe I could have a cup of tea?
Ah, there's a coffee truck across
the road. Do you mind if?
Not really supposed to do
this in a public place.
But I guess if we
walk and talk
OK, I'll be two minutes.
Unusual, this.
Normally, I'm talking
to parents together.
Yeah, I can imagine.
Um Yeah, but there's
no, um, legal
I'm not I'm not
instructing a solicitor or
Well, your evidence
should be enough.
So, you want to tell
me when you knew?
Sorry?
When you knew that you
agreed with the hospital
as to what's best for Marnie.
Look, just to be clear,
I don't want to turn this
into a me-and-my-wife thing.
You won't.
I'm proud of my marriage.
I'm proud of what
we went through.
I'm just interested
in your opinion.
It won't be a "he
said, she said."
I won't be reporting this.
I couldn't see her any more.
I couldn't see
..the things that
made her HER.
That's as simple as it
gets, really, isn't it?
Are your parents still together?
No.
Did they have
..different reactions?
To my disability? Yes.
My dad blamed my mum
for taking thalidomide.
He wanted a kid he could
play football with.
Of course, he could have
played football with me.
I mean, I might not have been
the best goalie, but otherwise
However, that
didn't occur to him.
So, you Uh, you
were one of the
..um, thalidomide? Mm.
Seems a long time
ago now, doesn't it?
Easier, I think, when you've got
something clear to blame it on.
When you're someone like my
dad, that is. No, I get it.
Yeah, my brother has Asperger's.
I'm a bit older, so I was already
working when he was diagnosed,
but I saw some of it.
My dad just got shame mixed
up with anger, that's all.
This doesn't have
to be shameful
..for you.
That's my tuppence, anyway.
My disabled tuppence.
I'm sorry, is that? Does
everybody ask you about?
Oh, plenty do.
And some are arseholes about it.
I only really talk about it if
I feel somebody needs an answer.
OK. So, if you're able,
I'd like you to give me
a brief medical history.
Of everything?
From year zero to now.
Well, I'm not sure I'll be able
to. Nicci has all the files.
Ah, just your recollection
should be enough.
My recollection?
Your story.
Of what happened to Marnie,
and to you.
Right, I don't care what anyone
says. We've been on the outside
of this party all night.
We are hitting this dance floor.
We can do the What's
the one with the funny?
We can do the
cha-cha! The cha-cha?
The cha-cha. The
cha-cha-cha
You can do what you like, as
long as I don't have to watch.
Why wouldn't you want to watch
your father? I'll have you know
that in the '90s, he
was known as "The Hips."
Ugh! Was I?
No, of course you weren't.
I'm just trying to ruin
your daughter's evening.
It was the '90s. No-one
danced properly in the '90s.
What? Everyone danced
properly in the '90s!
Ah, if I could take you
to the Hacienda, Katie.
I mean, when that
place was going
I can only imagine. Mwah!
I mean, if it was the Roses,
you'd dance like this
Really? If it was the Happy
Mondays, you'd dance like this
No, that's not right!
No, it was more
Like this No!
That's terrible!
Don't watch her.
Marnie, what do you think?
Have we embarrassed
your sister enough?
Marnie?
Marnie? Honey?
Oh, Jesus.
She's burning up. Marnie.
You're OK, honey.
You're OK, Marnie.
Just breathe.
OK. Mum's here. Mum's here.
Can you drive a bit faster?
Andrew.
It's all right, darling.
It's all right. Shit!
I'll put some music on.
We don't need music on.
MUSIC: Something
Changed by Pulp
It's OK. Deep breath.
Deep breaths.
Fuck it. Bugger this.
We need some help!
We need some help here!
Life could have
been very different
But then
Something changed
Do you believe
That there's someone up above?
And does he have? ♪
MUSIC LEAKS FROM HEADPHONES
ANSWERPHONE: Hey, this is
Nicci. Leave a message.
Wow, you're not even
answering me now. That's
That's a bit tight. Um
Well, just to say
..Katie came to
see me, uh, today.
And, um
Look, I don't know what you said
to her, but we probably need
a rule in place that, um, says
that we're not going to be
saying stuff about each
That that wasn't
a thing. I was
Oh
INTERNAL RINGTONE
Hey, this is Nicci.
Leave a message.
That wasn't a thing. That was
just me dropping my phone.
Hey, this is Nicci.
Leave a message.
Anyway, um, I think perhaps
we should put, like,
a statute in place, you know?
"Thou shalt not make
my child hate thee."
Something like that.
Less Roman, obviously.
But, you know, that
would be great.
INTERNAL RINGTONE
Hey, this is Nicci.
Leave a message.
I really miss you.
And the girls.
I really miss you, and I
..I don't know what I'm doing
here. Am I part of a case?
Am I not? Am I?
What am I?
PHONE BUZZES
SHE EXHALES
She's not going to die, is she?
Why why would you say that?
I was mean to her and
I didn't say sorry.
Come here.
You're not mean.
Don't think like that, OK?
Hey. Um
She has an infection.
We've inserted a central line.
Unfortunately, an artery was
perforated, but we are
She is in surgery
for vascular repair.
Right, well, that's not
great, is it? No, erm
No.
And I am sorry.
Investigations will happen.
But in the meantime, the
important thing is that she is
in the best hands to fix this.
OK. Yeah.
She'll be fine. She'll be fine.
DANCE MUSIC PLAYS
Oh! Never vomit in a bin.
That requires you
to look in the bin,
and looking in a bin is
where the damage starts.
Top tip, that.
Are you OK?
Huh? Yeah, just dizzy.
Well, dizzy is good.
Are you selling
Marnie's diazepam?
Look, don't do that.
Don't be that sort of a prick.
What, I'm the prick?
Oh, my God. My arse feels
like it's spinning now, too.
Look, it seemed
like an easy win.
An easy win with
my sister's pills?
Look, I was going to cut you in.
Or spend it on you. Us.
She's in hospital, and
we're selling her drugs?
Well, you were OK with
me and you taking them.
Look, are you coming?
Cos we can go to
the beach, or
No, erm
I'm just going to stay here.
Do you know what? Fuck it.
I don't want to be kissing
you in that state anyway.
PHONE BUZZES
Hi. Hi. Um, where
..where can we meet?
Hey, I've been trying I've
been trying to get hold of you.
Surely we should have
spoken to a doctor by now.
Yeah, that can wait.
Erm, this is about Caitlin.
What about Katie? Yeah, um
..it's all over
Twitter. What?
What's all over Twitter?
She was spotted in a nightclub.
Right, well, that's hardly
crime of the century, is it?
Sorry, I know, but
..they're saying that she has
been stealing Marnie's drugs,
using them.
A so-called friend took a
picture and put it on Twitter
with a very sanctimonious tweet.
How do I how do
I get on Twitter?
How does that work?
I can send you the picture.
But Marnie's name is on the
packet and it's very visible, OK?
So so we should meet
now to talk about it.
Social media can be really difficult
to handle, and I think that
what we need to do is
just talk it Oh, God.
No, it's fine, OK?
Listen, it's good,
because she's underage,
so they can't print anything.
Yeah, but what what
about police? I mean
Yeah, it's most likely
going to be a theft charge.
But, I mean, you'll hardly
prosecute, will you?
How do I get on fucking Twitter?
Oh, shit.
DISCONNECT TONE Nicci?
PHONE RINGS
Oh, fuck.
Fuck! Shit!
PHONE RINGS
Yeah, she's not at home.
NICCI: You've seen the pictures?
Yeah, I saw.
She wasn't answering the phone, you
weren't, so I came over here and
..she's not here.
SHE SIGHS
I didn't know you
were on Twitter.
Uh, I just
Um, you know, Tim Burgess from
The Charlatans started a thing
where we all listened to
albums together, so
OK. Look, what are they saying?
It's being used by
people who disagree with
what you're saying,
mostly. Arseholes.
You know, um
"Can't even look after
the well child," etc.
They're just doing
it to get at you.
Just slinging mud.
Can you send me the photo?
Fine.
That's Hannah.
That's Hannah, she's
dancing with Hannah.
KNOCK AT DOOR
BANGING
Nicci! Is Hannah here?
What?
I need to speak to
your daughter. Why?
Why? Why would you stop me?
Where's Katie? Is
this your mess?
Where is she?
Don't tell me you weren't involved
in this. Because I've known you
since you were a little
kid, so don't try and
Hang on. I'm not
sure I like this.
Look, it's just dicks being
dicks, OK? Look, it'll blow over.
I knew it was you. I could fucking
see it! I was just helping her
have a bit of fun. What, by
stealing from her sister?!
Well, it's not like Marnie
was going to use them, is it?
You are a disgrace.
Do you know that? She is a
vulnerable kid. You are an adult,
and you should know better! Nicci,
whatever this is, I'm sure
She's vulnerable.
But you don't even know
what and who she fucking is.
You've always been
a little liar.
You're a spiteful
little bitch! Oi! Oi!
Enough!
Nicci, you need to go. What?!
Do you know what she did?!
Katie is yours, Hannah is mine,
and I will not have you
talk to her like that.
Yeah. Of course.
Sorry.
I didn't
I'm sorry.
So, you WERE in the
house? Alice didn't know.
Yeah, well, Hannah did.
Can you stop walking, Mum?
It was a girl called Tricia.
She's mostly OK, actually.
She just saw an opportunity to
send a picture into the world
people would actually look at.
Did you?
Did you do it? Did you take her
medication? Did you sell it?
You've seen the pictures.
Yeah, I know, but I want
to hear it from you.
Yeah.
Because Hannah asked you to?
No. Because I wanted to.
Well, do you know why?
No.
I've never liked her.
Mum, it's not about that.
Telling me that
I don't know you.
Yeah, well, you didn't know that I
would do this. She doesn't even
You know, she's so superior.
She doesn't even think
I know you're gay.
No, erm
Uh
No, I suppose I didn't, erm,
know that I just wanted
you to be the one
..to tell me.
I just wanted to wait until you
were ready. That's all it was.
It felt like it should come
from you, rather than me.
You know, I read a book
about it, actually,
and I didn't want to be
the one to force you
..out. Right, you
..you read about it,
of course you did.
I need to say three
things to you.
Mum, can we just please
leave it? No, just
I'm sorry. The first
is that you're lovely.
OK? You are lovely. I'm
You are one of the loveliest
people I have ever met,
and that isn't
fucking mum chat, OK?
That's just me being an
excellent judge of character.
The second is that
I'm so proud of you.
I know how difficult it is,
what you've been through,
and I'm sorry for the part
that I played in that OK.
Dad gave me the speech already.
It was reckless, OK?
What you did was reckless.
But Hannah's right,
it's not like Marnie was
going to be needing it, and
You know, it's not like your dad and
I haven't ever taken drugs, so
Oh, look, Mum,
please don't do this.
No, look, the third thing
..I want to say to you
is that I love you.
And the one promise that I can make,
the one promise I know I will keep,
is that whatever happens,
whoever you become,
I will fight for you.
I will fight like a fucking
tiger. Do you understand?
And I know I don't always
notice things, and I know that
I haven't been there for you,
and I'm sorry that I haven't,
but when it comes to it
..you know, if I'm
needed, I will fight.
You're not on the
radio now, you know.
There's no-one to impress.
I mean it.
Can't you just be angry?
You know, normal
parents would be angry.
I stole. I used. I was selfish.
Yeah, you're in pain.
No! Oh, my God. Fuck that.
I actually just
wanted to have fun.
I did a terrible
thing, a horrible thing
because I wanted to have fun.
I AM angry.
Yeah, well, then
well, then say that.
Try that. Like, be
honest for once.
And and you're
right, you know.
You..you haven't been there,
and I genuinely don't
Like, I've always tried
really hard not to hate you,
because you're my parents
Right and
..and I know I
know you love me.
Mum, I know you mean some of
what you've just said, but
..we're really good at
pretending in this house,
and and hiding and
being fucking, like
I don't know.
This is about Marnie.
I love her and I
miss her, and
Fuck the two of you for
making it about you.
DOOR OPENS
Hey. Hey.
Uh, I was just about to
make some beans for myself,
but I wasn't sure
if I'll do it.
No, I can make them.
I can do it. OK.
I love you. We love you.
And I'm sorry you've got
tangled up in all this mess.
Andrew, it's maybe
not the time to
I think I'm just going to, um
Do you mind if I just go to bed?
No. No, not at all.
Look, I Look,
I just want to say
that it's important for you
to know how much I love you.
We love you. You said that.
Whatever you do.
Whatever you say.
Whoever
..you are.
OK. Night.
I shouldn't follow,
right? She understands
That you love her? Yeah.
Yeah, I think she
got that message.
Is she OK?
No.
Can I help?
I don't know.
I got your answerphone messages.
Epic, weren't they?
Yeah. Some of your
finest work there.
How much did you have to drink?
Hangover was awful.
I bet you went
cheap on the wine.
Well, they made me smile.
She's so embarrassed.
I swear to God, if
we've done her damage
No, she's strong, our daughter.
Both our daughters are strong.
They get that from you.
She's really angry with us.
Well, I'm angry, too. Aren't
you? I wanted to be with you.
I wanted to be with you, too.
They made you smile?
The messages made you?
Yeah.
Well, they made me sad, too.
I'd better go. Well,
I've not finished
I think that
..once they're ready, I don't
think I could bear leaving again.
Personal limits. Heart strain.
You know, that sort of thing.
There's a doctor from America.
Thinks he can help
her. Treat her.
Right.
Yeah, I mean, they haven't
connected me with him yet,
but they're
they're quite excited.
Right. That's exciting.
Right, so you're just
as dismissive, then?
No.
There's always a
doctor, you know,
generally from America or Italy,
somewhere where there's a
..Christian population, who'll
treat your kid, you know?
And they all always
promise the world.
Well, sometimes they deliver.
Sometimes miracles happen.
Marnie's already been a miracle.
Tell Katie that I love her.
Don't waste the beans.
Just put them in
Tupperware or something.
I love you most of everyone
in the whole world.
I love you that much, too.
THEY LAUGH
No, Katie.
I need you to know that.
I love you more than Mum, Dad
Everyone.
And, you know, I don't mind
..if you hate being my sister.
I don't mind.
Can we just turn this off?
Been a while.
I, um
I brought some things to
change your room a bit.
Now, it is my old one, but
..I put some new songs on there.
SPEAKER BEEPS
You haven't heard this one yet.
You'll like it.
MUSIC: Running by Pip
Millett feat Ghetts
You always liked this poster.
But I, um
..I took it down and I wouldn't
let you have it, cos
..I'm a dick.
DOOR OPENS
Oh. It's a party.
Oh. Is it OK?
Of course it is. I just
need to take readings.
I recognise him.
Uh, yeah, it's Daniel Kaluuya.
I kind of, um
Well, we both really like him.
Nice eyes. Wish he'd smile more.
No-one smiles any more.
Do they not?
This is hard on you.
It's hard on you, too.
Katie
..however you feel about
what your parents are doing,
it's not about picking sides.
Of course it is.
And I'm on Marnie's side.
Her best interests.
That's what they say, isn't it?
I never had a sister.
Oh, sisters are brilliant.
Yeah.
Well, most of the time.
DOORBELL RINGS
Hey. Hi. Come in.
Thanks for coming over so late.
Thanks for finally calling back.
Do you want wine? Uh, no.
Um
If this was me, and I
realise it's not, um
..I think what we need is for
Katie, whatever the truth of it,
coming out and saying
strongly, "This wasn't me.
"It didn't happen."
Do you have kids?
Yeah.
Uh, two boys, seven and 11.
Where are they now?
Well, I left them at home with
the chip pan on the stove.
They'll be all
right, won't they?
No, they're, uh
they're with their dad.
We're divorced.
Yeah, and I haven't
been excommunicated.
I know. I'm I'm driving.
Stick your head above the fence
and people will throw stones,
and they will throw
stones at people you love.
And I'm sorry about that.
But the fight will be worth it.
Samantha's a good doctor.
This isn't about whether
she's good or not.
This is about establishing
that medicine is about opinions
and not just facts.
There's lots of decisions, I think,
that have been made for Marnie
along the way that
have caused problems.
But the only genuine
mistake I can think of
..she, uh, she fitted a central
line when Marnie had an infection
and she perforated an artery.
She perforated an artery?
Yeah, I mean it was fine,
you know, in the end.
But it was a problem.
Do you have a date?
Yeah.
May 24th, 2016.
It was Katie's birthday.
Do you think that'll help?
Well, I mean, it sounds
pretty deadly to me.
Sometimes the law presents us with
cases of extreme complication.
This is one such case.
What is in the child's
best interests?
But applying it
is very difficult.
Because that notion of best
interests has such complexity.
I do not believe that
anyone in this room
does not have this child's
best interests in their heart,
and yet a decision has to be made
as to what is in her best interests.
I ask that we handle this case
with the delicacy it warrants.
That does not mean
soft-soaping matters.
We tell the truth, we challenge
what we believe to be untruths.
But we do so knowing the gravity
that such a decision entails,
and knowing that, above all
else, we must keep the child,
we must keep Marnie Lloyd at the
forefront of our minds at all times.