Life After Life (2022) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Do you think you have
been here before?
From a scientific point of view,
perhaps the part of your brain
responsible for memory
has a little flaw.
A neurological problem
that leads you to think
you are repeating experiences.
Perhaps you HAVE been here before
and your dreams are memories
and premonitions.
We may never know.
Most ancient religions adhered
to an idea of circularity.
The snake with its tail
in its mouth, and so on.
# MUSIC: Black Bottom Stomp
by Jelly Roll Morton
Things had been going fairly
disastrously for Ursula
until she met her knight
in shining armour - Derek.
If the bride's parents
could swap places.
Why is this wedding so small?
We wanted to do it right away.
And Derek didn't want any fuss.
Ursula didn't care about weddings.
She wanted to be married.
She wanted a partner with whom
she could navigate life's obstacles.
Cheerio.
Honeymooners? Yes.
It's going to rain all week.
Doesn't matter. We'll stay in.
You can't stay in.
You've paid for half board.
You've got to be outside between
the hours of ten and four.
Doesn't matter. There's some
wonderful local art galleries here.
I came here when I was a boy.
I nearly drowned in the sea
in front of this hotel.
Trying to rescue my sister,
as a matter of fact,
which, ultimately,
I successfully did.
I nearly drowned too,
when I was the same age.
It's something we've got in common.
Drowning?
Surviving.
I'll unpack.
Let's get comfortable.
URSULA LAUGHS
What's so funny?
Nothing.
Ursula was sure Derek's
first-night nerves would soon pass.
It's just here. Thank you.
She also hoped the house would
look more cheerful in sunlight.
I trust you consider it suitable?
It's very nice.
THEY LAUGH
But as Derek carried her
over the threshold,
she decided to stop caring
that the house was drab.
All that mattered was that
the inhabitants were happy.
Now, I know you're not
used to cooking,
so I'm expecting a few bad dinners,
but I'm confident you'll improve
with practice.
I really like stews.
Ursula hated stews.
I'll make some.
I know you had servants,
growing up
Well Staff.
..but I'm just a humble
schoolteacher.
To my mind, there's not much
more important in the world
than a good schoolteacher.
Let me show you the rest
of the house.
Mother picked out a lot
of the decor.
I hope you like it.
Very much.
What a nice dining room.
Now, we'll be eating in the kitchen.
This is my study.
No girls allowed.
I'm joking, of course.
You may dust the sideboards
and sweep the floor
but I must beg you not to touch
anything on the desk.
On that desk lay the keys
to our future fortune.
My publishers believe the new
textbook that I'm writing
will sell even better
than the last one.
And the last one sold jolly well,
so
Perhaps I could help you
with your book.
I can type up your notes for you,
and the manuscripts,
when you're ready.
That's so sweet,
but entirely unnecessary.
To write, a man needs the three Ps.
Do you know what they are?
Pencil, paper and peace.
Find yourself a flat surface.
Good. Make sure this bar hits here.
Would you like a go?
She said she's a bit of a slave to
the kitchen but she's very happy.
Derek's working hard on his new
textbook, which is exciting.
It's called
From Plantagenets To Tudors.
Oh, God! What's it called?
She really did pick the most
boring man alive to marry.
I think it's rather rum that she
hasn't invited any of us over.
It's not rum, Teddy.
They're newlyweds.
She's fine.
Here, read her letter if you want.
DOOR CLOSES
SHE HUMS 'ST LOUIS BLUES'
SHE WHISTLES 'ST LOUIS BLUES'
# It makes me think I'm
# On my last go 'round #
Oliphant?
Oliphant. Why do I know that name?
Perhaps you know my husband,
Derek Oliphant.
Oh, yes, I knew his mother.
She worked here years ago.
Helped make the sandwiches
for the teas.
So you're married to her son, then?
She used to bring him
around sometimes.
He must have been about nine.
Now he's a teacher and a writer.
Oh.
What was he like as a little boy?
Good?
Or always getting into trouble
with his sister?
Sister? His sister.
There was no sister. Mrs Oliphant
never mentioned another child.
She may not have mentioned another
child, but Derek has a sister.
He's mentioned her several times.
How is it?
Too much salt? Too little salt?
Criticism will be gratefully
received.
There's far too much salt.
I passed the tennis club today.
I filled out a membership form.
Didn't I tell you that I've already
spent all of my money on you?
I've bought you an entire house.
URSULA GROANS
KNOCK ON DOOR
Are you sure you've got
the right house?
If Mr Oliphant resides here,
then we have the right house.
I'm afraid your husband is,
as we say, in arrears.
Considerable arrears.
He owes us a great deal of money
..and has ceased to respond
to our communications.
And you're the bank?
We're the bank's representatives.
We were garnering a proportion
of his salary but, as you know,
he's now been released from
his position at the school.
No.
That's not correct.
That's where he is now.
I don't know where he is now, dear,
but it isn't the school.
He was fired.
He was overzealous
disciplining a student.
They threatened to go to the police.
Well
..what do you want me to do?
Mrs Oliphant, we don't know
where the money is to come from.
But unless it is found,
the bank will retake ownership
over this here house.
Mr Oliphant is writing a book
and he expects that to bring in
a certain amount.
His last one did very well.
I can talk to him about securing
an advance of sales.
Yeah, Mr Oliphant has referenced
the hoards of gold
he made from his last textbook.
Only trouble was, when we looked
into it, it doesn't exist.
It was never published.
Oh, no, you don't.
No, you do not!
You're a liar!
You've written no books!
You don't even own this house!
We're up to our ears in debt!
URSULA GROANS
URSULA SCREAMS
THUD
SHE WHIMPERS
It was the longest walk
of Ursula's life.
Her heart was beating so fast,
she thought it might give out.
All the way, she expected
to hear his footsteps
running up behind her.
DOOR OPENS
Oh, my God.
Her nose is definitely broken.
You'll need an X-ray
to confirm it
but I think her cheek bone is
cracked. That might require surgery.
All right.
Are you going to involve
the police? No!
Apparently not.
Listen, when you called, I thought
it was about having dinner again.
I very much enjoyed myself
last time.
It was a hoot. Let's do it again.
SHE GIGGLES
John, you're half my age.
Another dinner would be madness
and heartbreak.
What good could possibly come of it?
Ursula sent a message to Fox Corner
saying she had gone away
for the summer.
A touring holiday of the Highlands,
with Derek.
URSULA LAUGHS
Those teeth are even better than
your first lot, don't you think?
Thank you.
Thank you for paying for them.
Happy to.
The Adventures Of Augustus
is still wildly successful.
I'm still writing one
every six months,
and they sell out constantly.
I've got fat little royalty cheques
flying about all over the place.
One thing I do not have is anyone
to share my good fortune with.
Well
..thank you for sharing it with me.
MUSIC: Moten Swing
by Count Basie
Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry.
I don't know what's the matter
with me.
I can't keep falling asleep
everywhere.
Sleep is a great healer.
I'm off to what I expect will be
a very dull soiree.
I can't find my keys, so let me
in when I get back, will you?
I won't be late. You're always late.
THEY LAUGH
You can stay as long as you like.
DOOR CLOSES
MUSIC: Moten Swing
by Count Basie
BANGING ON DOOR
RECORD CRACKLES
Teddy?
Where's Izzie?
She went out.
Fine now. You're bruised.
You should have seen me before.
I'm glad I didn't.
Thank God you're leaving him.
You're all grown up.
I know.
Look.
I've got muscles, too.
THEY LAUGH
Champagne.
Your freedom.
MUSIC: East St Louis Toodle-oo
by Duke Ellington
THEY GIGGLE
Oh!
I've got you.
THEY LAUGH
BANGING ON DOOR
Aha! Giddy aunt back from giddying.
Listen, I should be getting back.
What's the story for the parents?
Did I see you?
Where is he, hm?
Who's been here with you?
Who have you been fornicating with?
Fornicating?
Get your hands off her.
Is this him? Is this the man you've
been whoring around London with?
Aargh!
Run away, Teddy.
Teddy.
Be careful, Teddy.
ETHEREAL MUSIC
BABY CRIES
Congratulations, Mr Todd.
Doctor.
I shall call her Ursula.
What do you think?
I like it.
Welcome, little bear.
So I'm not really dying
and being reborn?
I have no idea.
I wouldn't waste too much
time thinking about it.
You'll never know.
So what should I do?
Do what most girls your age do.
Try and enjoy yourself.
Aw!
What did you do that for?
I just wanted a kiss.
Howie?
Howie, come on, chum.
He's coming!
English girls,
you really are something.
MUSIC: A Good Man Is Hard To Find
by Bessie Smith
# My heart is sad
and I'm all alone #
Where were you?
Kissing one of those border
specimens goodbye?
Stop it, Izzie.
I found your ball, Teddy.
Excellent.
What's the matter?
I've written a book
inspired by Teddy.
Instead of being pleased,
he's mortified.
My apologies.
The Adventures Of Augustus?
Why is everything an adventure
with you?
Because life is an adventure,
of course.
I'd say it's more
of an endurance race.
Not that bad, surely.
Sort of an obstacle course.
Wise beyond her 16 years.
Absolutely.
An old soul.
It didn't surprise us, you know,
that Izzie had chosen Teddy
as the hero of her story.
Teddy was everyone's favourite.
Don't get upset, Ted.
Only about three people
will read the silly book.
I don't know why I bother coming.
Everyone is always so rude to me.
It was true that everyone
in the family
was extremely dismissive of Izzie,
except for Ursula.
She adored her aunt.
Ursula intended to model her own
future very much on Izzie's.
She would be independent.
She would make her own money.
Her mother, she knew,
was dependent on her father.
Ursula planned to find ways
to take care of herself.
GUNSHO
Lord have mercy. What was that?
Maurice is teaching Ursula to shoot.
Why?
GUNSHO
She asked.
Again, I ask why.
She's bored, I expect.
GUNSHO
Why do I keep missing?
Well, girls can't shoot.
It's a well-known fact.
I'll become the exception
to the rule.
Is there a shooting club at Oxford
I can join?
There is an excellent shooting club
and no girls are allowed.
GUNSHO
With good reason. Give it to me.
I can't quite see the point
of you going to Oxford.
The chaps there prefer local women,
just so you're aware.
No-one's looking for
a blue stocking.
Thanks for the warning.
Of course, I suppose you're studying
modern languages because
you've finally worked out no man
in England will have you.
Time to offer yourself up
to the Germans.
You are hilarious. You should
be a comedian on the wireless.
Sadly, Whitehall calls.
GUNSHO
GUNSHO
GUNSHO
URSULA GASPS
Sorry.
That was awfully close.
THEY LAUGH
Serve coming in.
It's not the first time
he's nearly killed you, either.
Didn't he tried to smother you
in leaves, once?
He certainly did.
I had to rescue her.
Men are inherently violent
and they don't care a fig
about the toll it takes
on the world. Not all men.
You went to war, didn't you?
Yes, I suppose I did.
He volunteered.
It wasn't any fun, though.
Why don't you children
go and fetch me some cherries?
Bridget can make a pie.
Can Bridget make a pie?
Mrs Glover left us
all of her recipes.
A mixed blessing.
URSULA LAUGHS
Maurice has a point, in a way.
I don't know why I'm going to Oxford
or why I'm studying
Modern Languages.
I don't have a plan at all.
Does there have to be a why?
A thing leads to a thing,
leads to a thing.
I suppose I'll teach.
Actually, what I really
want to do is travel.
There we have it, then. That's
why you're studying languages.
Mrs Livingstone, I presume?
URSULA CHUCKLES
Do you ever get the feeling
you're waiting for something
but you don't know what exactly?
Gosh.
All the time.
THEY LAUGH
Race you.
Go!
THEY LAUGH
Ursula journeyed to
a mysterious forest -
the Bavarian Forest of Germany.
Er kommt! Er kommt!
CHEERING
He's coming?
Oh, goodness.
I would wait all night.
CHEERING
There he is. That's him.
# Ja, wer bliebe da zu Haus?
# Heimatland, Markerland
# Dirzu will ich leben
# Heimatland, Markerland
# Dirzu schlagt mein Herz! #
Halt!
DRUMMING/BOYS CHAN
Halt!
GIRLS GIGGLE
GIRLS CHATTER/GIGGLE
Stop it. Stop.
He is the finest one. Stop.
He is the finest one. Sh. Stop.
Stop.
Wir treffen uns heute Nacht
im Pfadfinderlager,
um uber die deutsche Kultur
zu diskutieren.
We're having a party with them.
I think she said a discussion group
on German culture.
Bis spater! Sie ist Englanderin.
Perhaps a cup of tea
on the veranda later?
I've learned to enjoy a beer.
GIRLS LAUGH
Weiter!
DRUMMING
BOYS CHAN
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Eh' die letzte Bahn kommt
# Kuss mich ohne Pause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Wenn die Bahn dann ankommt
# Muss ich ja nach Hause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Eh' die letzte Bahn kommt
# Kuss mich ohne Pause
# Kuss mich, bitte, bitte, kuss mich
# Wenn die Bahn dann ankommt
# Muss ich ja nach Hause. #
APPLAUSE
Danke schon.
BOYS: Oooooh!
ALL: Yay!
BOYS: Oooooh!
ALL: Yay!
English song! Ja, English song.
No. I don't know any.
Ah, unsinn!
Come. Bitte.
Sing uns ein Lied.
What kind of song?
Wir mochten schunkeln.
Schunkeln, ja!
Schunkeln?
I don't know what that is.
Erm, when you Ah!
I don't know how to explain.
With the arms - when we hold arms.
Ja.
# We two have run about the hills
# And pulled the daisies fine
# But we've wandered
many weary ways
# Since auld lang syne
# We two have paddled in the stream
# From morning sun till dine
# But seas between us broad
have roared
# Since auld lang syne. #
Wunderschon.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
May I kiss you?
THEY LAUGH
It's the Prussian in me.
The Prussian in you is so charming.
May I kiss you again?
When are you going back to England?
In a few weeks. Don't go.
Silly.
THEY LAUGH
What are you doing out here with
us Germans in the countryside?
I've spent the year with Klara's
family teaching English in Munich.
Klara came out here for the summer
so I came to.
Just to have fun.
Are you having fun?
Me, too.
What?
I don't know.
I think that's quite enough
for one night.
URSULA GIGGLES
If you're willing, I'd love to spend
the next two weeks kissing you.
Well
..why don't we just start
with tomorrow?
All right.
Your turn.
No, I told you, I hate the water.
Come on, get in. I can't swim.
Trust me.
Just try to paddle
with your feet, OK?
THEY LAUGH
LAUGHTER
Danke.
Klaus! What?
Before the Fuhrer was the Fuhrer,
he would eat here quite often,
and then he became the Fuhrer
and they doubled the prices!
Inflation. Ja, inflation!
Danke, Klaus! Das ist problem.
Es wird immer schlimmer
und schlimmer und schlimmer!
Are you frightened?
Just that it'll hurt.
From what I understand,
it doesn't hurt very much.
You make me feel like such a fool.
That's an incredible
Zufall? Coincidence.
Yes.
What is?
You also make me feel
like such a fool.
Why?
Beautiful women always make men
feel like fools.
OK?
OK.
Does it hurt?
Not so as I'd want you to stop.
Stay for another year.
There must be plenty more students
looking for English lessons.
I can't.
The main thing I've learned
this year is I hate teaching.
I'm going to have to come up
with a different profession.
SHOUTING
Jurgen.
The violence will pass.
People are letting off steam.
Isn't that your friend?
Yes. This is his room.
SOLDIER SHOUTS
I think it probably is
time for me to go home.
What will you do there?
Iterate.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
Iterating.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
Reiteration.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
Reiterated.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
Reiterating.
On her return, with an eye to
entrance into the Civil Service,
Ursula did an intensive shorthand
and typing course in High Wycombe,
run by a Mr Carver.
..at their meeting yesterday.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
But after some discussion
..they were obliged to
Blindfolds off, ladies.
Madam, I am simply adjusting myself.
Oh.
When she applied for a job
in the Civil Service,
Ursula had rather presumed
that Maurice
would put in a good word for her,
but instead he had blustered on
about nepotism
and having to be seen to be above
any suspicion of favouritism,
so it was without Maurice's help she
was accepted into the Home Office.
She entered a world of buff-coloured
folders and filing cabinets.
I gave him hell.
Can you please get off?!
CHILDREN LAUGH
Maurice, can you please remove
your children from my legs?
Can't hear you.
Watch out, boys. Your uncle Teddy
is coming to get you.
I'm here to rescue my sister.
Release her at once.
BOYS LAUGH
Neeeeaow!
Neeaow!
You do or you don't think
war will be declared this week?
I really can't say.
Oh, come on, Maurice.
Of course, you couldn't possibly say
what goes on within
the hallowed walls of government.
I can't, actually.
He probably doesn't know.
I know all kinds of things.
I don't believe you.
I'm beginning to suspect you just
go around counting things.
LAUGHTER
If you think I don't know anything,
then why did you ask me?
My husband asked me to,
even though I warned him
you'd be terribly annoying about it
and lord it over the rest of us
without saying anything helpful.
Your husband knows I know things.
How is everybody?
Hot and tired, I'd say.
I think they'll announce war
formally very soon.
I heard they're evacuating
London hospitals next week.
You see? This is why you
shouldn't have females
in the bloody government.
Is that really what you heard,
little bear?
Mm.
At least you're too old
to fight this time.
We'll have to join up.
War was declared
and the brothers did join up.
Jimmy joined the Army
and Teddy the Air Force.
Maurice fought the war from
the relative safety of Whitehall.
Ursula's job was to collate
and record an endless stream
of figures that represented
the blitzed and the bombed.
She was to mark down every detail.
What type of bomb, the damage done,
how many killed or injured.
The tally mounted horribly.
She knew girls who collated
statistics from battle.
Those numbers were becoming
incomprehensible.
TYPEWRITERS CLACK
She was surrounded by death
and had never wanted to live more.
KNOCKING ON DOOR
Is everything all right in there,
Ursula?
She had been seeing Fred Smith
for a few weeks.
He'd walked her home
from the London train.
One thing had led to another.
They'd known each other
since they were children.
She imagined what Sylvie
would say if she knew.
"Good God, Ursula. A railway man?"
Izzie would thoroughly approve.
Blimey, it's bright enough,
isn't it?
Makes me think of Donne.
What?
John Donne, the poet.
You know, "Busy old fool,
"unruly sun."
I'm not used to having posh women
quote poetry at me
before they run away to the office.
You must be used to me a little bit.
We've known each other since
we were children. Not like this.
No.
Not like this.
She decided these encounters
with Fred Smith would have to stop.
Then, later, she worried she
had been an awful snob with him.
Why had she quoted John Donne?
A quick word with you, Ursula.
Do you want some tea? I was about
to seek some out. That sort of day.
No tea, thank you. I wonder
if we could have some privacy?
Listen, I'm sorry to have to
tell you this.
Ted's caught one, I'm afraid.
Caught what?
Ted.
Ted's plane has gone down.
Ursula, do you understand what
I'm saying to you? We've lost him.
Well, then, we'll find him.
I think she probably needs
a glass of water.
I'm going to get him back.
What?
I'll get him back.
Thank you.
Years later, at Ursula's
retirement do,
she would realise that the person
giving the speech
about how Ursula had paved the way
for women in the Civil Service
had been the girl who brought her a
glass of water on that terrible day.
MUSIC: Heart Of Glass
by Blondie
# Once I had a love and it was gas
# Soon turned out
had a heart of glass
# Seemed like the real thing,
only to find #
Retirement didn't suit her.
What had she left undone? -
she wondered.
The feeling was a hangover,
she assumed, from a lifetime
of projects and deadlines,
but it was persistent.
She couldn't shake it.
She couldn't help feeling that there
was still some great task ahead
that she needed to complete.
# In between,
what I find is pleasing
# And I'm feeling fine
# Love is so confusing
# There's no peace of mind
# If I fear I'm losing you
# It's just no good
# You teasing like you do
# Once I had a love and it was a gas
# Soon turned out
had a heart of glass
# Seemed like the real thing,
only to find
# Mucho mistrust,
love's gone behind #
DOOR OPENS
Hello.
Hello.
Ursula, come in.
Come in, it's all right. Quiet.
Come and meet your brother, Teddy.
Isn't he perfect?
Yes.
Shall we leave him to sleep?
All right.