Barren (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Hiya, love.

Come on, I know you're well enough to

know when something's amiss.

Will you ever give us a baby?

Oh, I hope so, love.

Just have to trust in his plans.

It's all we can do.

Do you know how many babies I've seen

baptised in this church, week after week,

always hoping that one day it'll be ours?

I know. Our day will come.

What happens if it doesn't?

Hey, hey, it's enough of that...

It's enough of that talk.

You have to stay positive.

This is just pre-treatment nerves.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe not.

Hey, we'll cross that bridge when, no,

if, if we come to it. Alright?

Chin up, hey?

Right, I'll crack on.

By water and the Holy Spirit,

she is to receive gift of new life

from God, who is love.

So I guess you've not brought me out here

to admire the scenery.

I'm pregnant.

Em! Amazing! Congratulations!

Great!

Is it?

Isn't it?

Come on.

You know me.

Come on, Em! You're making amazing, Mum!

What about my career?

Hmm?

I can't have it all.

I grew up in a single parent household.

I know what that means.

Come on, Em. It's not like

you're living on the bread line.

There's childcare and

friends and family to support.

People have done it on way less.

Maybe I don't want to do it.

Maybe if...

Maybe I want to get rid of it.

Look, I'm here to

support you no matter what.

You take your time.

Don't rush into any decisions.

It's your body, your choice, yeah?

Grace.

Julia, how are you?

Oh, he's beautiful.

Thank you.

Would you like to take him?

I need to go get the Bibles anyway, so...

There you go.

Shh.

Beautiful boy.

Thanks for taking him.

Julia.

I can take him back now.

Julia.

He can't beat that

new baby smell, can you?

Till he fills his nappy.

Julia, are you OK?

Me?

Yes. Why wouldn't I be?

You just seem...

distracted.

Have you ever questioned it?

What's that?

Your faith.

Where are you?

Mummy!

Where are you?

Where are you mummy?

Did you hear that Piers is going for partner?

What?

Yeah, I think his

interview's on Wednesday.

The sly b*stard.

It's business.

Are you defending him?

No, but Piers has every

right to go for partner.

The years I've put into that firm,

there shouldn't even be interviews

for f*ck sake.

They've always just implied it would be

mine for the taking.

Things change.

Piers is good, but he's

not that good, come on.

Emily, come on, like that's

life for women in business.

Which rock did you just climb out from?

They know that first and foremost I'm a

career woman and I've

worked bloody hard for this.

I've got a nanny lined up

my mum can help out.

Women can do this.

Women do this all the time.

Not everyone sees it that way.

Look, babies change things.

You're right.

I've always dreamt of being a mum to a

one night stand loser.

Are you even going to

try and talk to him again?

This baby is his

responsibility too, you know?

The only responsibility that man has is

living at home with his mum and dad.

I don't know why I just didn't deal with

it when I had the chance.

There was a tosser stood outside the

clinic with a banner.

Baby m*rder*r, it said,

wrongly spelled of course.

But it was enough to shame me into

turning round and walking home.

Don't say that.

Why not?

It's true.

Sure, I like the idea of the baby, but do

I like it more than a

meaningful career and lifestyle?

Anyway, I can't change what's done.

You know, I don't like you working at

that warehouse, don't you?

It's not right.

You should be looking after yourself.

You know that I do.

Besides, we need the

money and it's good money.

Until a gamekeeping job comes up

that's all that there is.

And I like it.

I get to sit, peace and quiet and knit,

and unravel this mess that's in my head.

I'll see you inside.

Piers, it's Emily.

Look, I need those notes.

Yeah, no, I understand that, but we've

got a deadline, remember?

No, no, it's not possible.

I'm about to give birth

any bloody day now.

I need those notes on my desk as agreed.

Piers, I'm not asking you.

I'm telling you.

And if you value your job

you'll get it done.

Julia?

Julia?

Honey?

Oh, honey, come here.

Come here.

Hey, hey, hey.

Honey, it's all right.

We could go private.

Private?

Honey, you know how much it costs.

We've been through this again and again.

We agreed.

We've got three rounds on the NHS.

We can't do a fourth.

Not financially.

Not emotionally.

You've been through enough.

We're done.

I'll do whatever it takes.

And I can even help out with the lambing

now that I'm not pregnant.

It means you wouldn't have to pay Jim.

Honey, do you think I've got

the money to just throw at this?

At you?

We'll find the money.

Honey, you're barren.

It's tough, but you have to accept that.

You can't say that.

No Ian, no, you can't say that.

You could never say that.

Okay, okay, okay.

Okay, so where does this money come from?

I don't know.

I'll get an extra job.

I'll work more hours.

We're already up to our eyes in debt.

We've got a pile of red bills in the kitchen stacked up.

There's the mortgage,

the utilities, the flaming horse!

That's hundreds in vet bills alone just

to stand in the field eating grass.

You don't even bloody ride her anymore.

Well then, I'll sell her.

Sell her.

Yes.

You'd have to pay

someone to take her away.

No one's going to buy her, Julia.

We tried.

We failed.

We move on.

Julia.

I'm sorry.

I was out of order.

Can you call in sick?

What? For getting my period,

or for being barren?

You know I didn't mean it like that.

I know exactly how you meant it.

Julia, please.

I just want you back, love.

Come to church with me on Sunday.

I can't.

I can't lie to myself and I can't pray to

a God that won't allow me to be a mother.

We can't always understand his plans.

Please, just stop.

You said it yourself.

It didn't work. We won't be parents.

I need some space.

Hey, baby.

Oh, you're a beautiful girl, aren't you?

Are you giving me a cuddle?

I'm sorry.

No, you stay there...

Hi, Laura. Sorry to call.

I'm sure it's nothing. It's just, well...

I've been having a few twinges today...

and now see, well...

I probably just wet myself a little bit.

There's not a lot.

Yep. Still plenty of movement in there.

What? Now?

Can't it wait till the morning?

I probably just need

some tenor or something.

No, I understand that, but...

Okay. I'll be there soon.

DI Jones.

Hi, Guv. I know it's your day off, but we

just got a call in from the

station from Jed at Calder Farm.

Right, and?

He's had words with a friend of yours...Julia.

Well, it sounds like the situation

escalated and she's

threatened him with a g*n.

Err...Yeah. I'm not far away. I'll go and have a look now.

Cheers, Verona.

Hello, I'm Dave. Come in. Come in.

There's soup on the hob if you're hungry.

No, I can't stop.

What happened to you Friday night?

Better offer?

No, no. Julia wasn't feeling great,

you know, with all the IVF stuff.

It all gets a bit much sometimes.

Must be tough. Sorry, mate.

Is...erm.. Julia in?

It's actually her I've come to see.

Official business.

Julia, wanted to by the police?

Is she in?

No, no, no, no....

She's at work at the mill.

When's she due back?

It's night shifts, not till the morning.

What's this about?

Dave, what's happened?

Did she mention that she bumped into Jed?

Jed, no.

She was sh**ting on his field and, err...

They had a bit of a disagreement.

He says that she threatened him with a g*n.

Apparently it's not the first time.

That's what he called us. Sorry, I have

to follow it up, mate.

No, no, no, of course. Of course.

Found out today she's not pregnant.

She's broken.

We're both there.

I'm sorry, mate.

Told her today it was time to stop.

Try and put this behind us,

get back to normality.

Goodness knows how.

How should I take that?

I'm taking her soup as peace offering.

Say no more.

I'll stop off at the mill on the way back,

have a chat with her there.

I'm going anyway, let me.

OK, but, err...tell her I will need to speak to her.

Jed don't want to go in too hard, but...

he is concerned.

Sure thing.

Thanks, mate.

Julia, love, it's me.

When you get a patch of reception,

give us a call, would you?

You were g*ns missing.

I'm sure you just took it

to work with you, but...

Well...

Give us a call.

Sebastian!

Sebastian, is that you?

Sebastian, is that...

Is that you?

I miss you, God.

I miss you so much.

I feel so lost, lonely without you.

Please.

Please, just...

Anything.

Please.

Just a sign.

We agreed.

We got three rounds in the NHS.

We can't do a fourth ourselves.

Not financially, not emotionally.

You've been through enough.

We done.

Do you think I've got

the money to just throw?

At you?

There's the mortgage,

the utilities, the flaming horse!

Honey, you're barren.

Are you okay, love?

I think I hit something.

Or someone?

It would have been just a deer, that's all.

f*ck!

Is the baby okay?

Oh, yeah.

I've been having these pains

on and off all day.

I was on my way to the hospital.

I need to call my sister.

Well, you're not gonna

get reception out here.

Well, why don't you come

back to the mill with me

and I'll ring it in for you, okay?

Okay, yeah.

Okay. Thank you.

We'll get you sorted out.

What is this place?

It's an old paper mill.

Take a seat.

Do you think it'll take my weight?

I'm sure it'll be fine.

Yeah, have a cup of hot water

and it'll take the chill off.

Thank you.

How are you, um...

Oh, no love, no.

But it's for a baby.

Yeah, it's for my sister.

I'm her birthing partner.

So you know if anything

should happen whilst you're here,

you're in safe hands.

How lovely of you.

Is she doing this alone then?

IVF baby.

She has no idea who the father is.

So it could be a stunner, or...

Well, all babies are

beautiful, aren't they?

I feel a pain.

I'm hoping this one

takes after its mother,

or we're all in big trouble.

I'll keep you posted.

I'm sure she'll be glad no matter what,

I mean after what she's been through.

Of course she will.

Doesn't seem fair, does it?

What's that?

A lottery of fertility.

It's like, come on, Mother Nature, you've

got your wombs all mixed up.

So here I am, one mistake

and a beach ball on legs.

Whereas for some...

your sister...

might such a fight.

So you didn't want a baby.

God, no.

It was never the plan.

I'm way too selfish.

I did consider a termination.

An ab*rtion?

Yeah. Yeah, but...

I couldn't go through with it when it

came down to the crunch,

and well, now I've got my head around it.

I'm actually quite excited.

I'm glad to hear it.

And now I'm glad that I didn't, you know.

It's a miracle, right?

And I've worked out that I could afford a

nanny from the get-go,

so I don't have to compromise my career.

Though that might be enforced on me

anyway, the b*stards.

Seems it screwed my promotion to partner.

Right, well, it sounds like

you need a doll, not a baby.

It's not that I'm shallow or anything.

It's just...

I'm going to be scarred as it is with

these stretch marks, so...

if I can retain any peckiness,

I'm going to bloody well do it.

But isn't that why we have

breasts, you know, us women?

To feed and nurture our young.

Yeah, and we have fire to cook our food.

But that doesn't stop us

using the oven, does it?

Look, are you going to

make that phone call?

Right, well, it sounds like

you've got it all sorted out.

I really think I should be get-going.

Give me that number,

I'll get it called in.

I'll get them to call the hospital while

they're at it, you know.

Tell the ward that

you're going to be late.

Thank you.

Julia, and you are?

Emily.

Right, well, I've no pen, so I'm going

to have to take your phone if that's OK.

Yeah... of course.

There you go, that's the number.

All right, do you want me to get them to

bring you anything else?

No, I'll call the

recovery guys when I get in.

Thank you.

Righty-o. Thank you.

I'll be right back.

Don't panic, smile sweetly,

and get the f*ck out of here.

What the hell?

There you are.

Oh, sh*t.

You made me jump.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's a bit strange, I know.

It's just, well, I'm

fascinated with biology.

I'm pretty damn good with a knife.

I'm conducting an experiment.

See this one?

He's been jarred for six weeks now.

Sorry, I was looking for the toilet.

Right, well, follow me.

It's nothing special, but it is clean.

Your sister will be on her way.

We'll get you home safe and sound.

Hello?

Where am I?

What's happening?

The vessel awakens.

Julia?

You collapsed, love.

So I brought you here where

I could keep an eye on you.

I don't feel so good.

I need help.

Please.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Calm down, love.

It's going to be okay.

You don't understand, Julia.

Hey, it's all going to be all right.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

It's okay.

I'm going to be your mummy now.

I think there's something seriously wrong.

I need...

a doctor!

What the f*ck?

You f*cking b*tch!

Get off me, you f*cking b*tch!

[crying]

Please.

Please don't hurt me.

Hurt you?

I don't understand.

Neither did I at first.

He chose me when I thought

he'd forgotten all about me.

He? Who's he?

He kept showing me and

telling me, and then you arrived.

I just crashed my car.

It was just an accident.

It's at His will.

Don't you see he's chosen you too?

You're special as well.

Right.

Let's get this baby out, shall we?

What? No! No!

No!

Where's my sister?

She has no idea where you are, darling.

No one does.

No.

God sent me an unwanted, unloved baby.

No, he is wanted. He is loved.

Yes. By me!

Will you keep still otherwise I'll hurt him.

They say once the waters are ruptured,

the body starts to expel its young.

Julia!

Any noise from you, and there's going to be trouble.

Do you understand?

Dave, what are you doing here?

Aye, how are you? All quiet?

Always is. How can I help?

We had a call to the station.

Oh, right. Jed.

Jed.

Look, do you mind if we can do this in

the morning? It's just up a bit.

He's pretty upset.

He said that you threatened him.

Threatened him? We had words, that's all.

Just stay clear of him.

He says he don't want to press charges,

but if it happens again...

Understood. That's all

I'll bid you good night.

Um...

There's a car out there.

Looks like it's had a prang.

Oh, right. It's still here, is it?

It was here when I got here. Nobody to be seen.

Right.

Well, if I see

anything, I'll let you know.

Seems to be odd though, don't you think?

Just to leave it there.

It's meant some bit of machinery, that.

It'll probably be recovered in the morning.

Yeah. I'll run a number plate check in a minute.

Do you mind if I, um... just

have a look around outside?

No, go for it. Good night.

Night, Julia.

Right, I'm going to take this down.

But any more screaming, it goes straight back in.

Do you understand?

Have you delivered a baby before?

On the farm, hundreds.

Just none of them human.

But the classes with your sister.

I don't have a sister, darling.

Please!

Please, Julia. Please don't hurt my baby.

My baby? Mine.

Right. You need to drink. Open up.

Open your mouth. You need to drink now.

Now, shall we try that again?

That's it.

Calm yourself down.

I need you alert and ready to push.

And I've got a feeling...

that baby's going to be here in a hurry.

Oh Jesus!

Oh, God, careful. Love

you nearly blinded me.

What are you doing here?

I've come to apologise. And, well...

you know I hate you being

out here by yourself.

Did you get my message?

The g*n's gone missing.

I don't want you here, OK? I just want

you to go home, please. I need space.

Please don't be like that.

I'm not being like

anything. Just go home.

Jules, I saw Dave. He said that he...

Aah! Help me please!

Please! Please!

Aah! Help me, please!

What's that?

It's nothing. It's just a radio.

That isn't a radio.

What are you... Just go home.

Just let me pass. Go home, Ian!

Please, please help me. Help me.

What in God's name have you done?

He answered my prayers.

This...

This is our baby.

It's a gift from God.

A gift from God?

Yes.

Have you lost your mind?

He heard me.

It's divine intervention.

You're insane.

She didn't even want a baby anyway.

But I did. We did.

Step away from her.

Ian, I said step away from her.

Jules, please, stop this now.

Give me the g*n.

We can let this lady go.

You won't say a word, will you?

No, see? We'll find

the money from somewhere.

We'll try again. Or we'll adopt.

Hundreds of babies are looking for homes.

You're not listening.

I don't want hundreds of babies.

I want this baby, this child, this one

that was brought to me from God.

No. I won't let you do this.

[crying]

You chose her over me?

Over us? Over our baby?

I was sent from God to protect him.

Honey, please. Listen to yourself.

I shot Holly.

What?

I shot Holly. I did it for you.

You said we couldn't afford her if we

wanted to try again.

You said nobody would want her.

So if she had to die.

I wanted it to be by my hands.

But I shot her and I did it for you.

And this is my reward.

Listen to yourself.

I am not messing around. Next time it

won't be a flesh wound.

Honey, give me the g*n.

Give me the g*n.

You never stuck off of me!

I did. I do. You know I do!

You called me Barren!

You need to call him an ambulance.

No, he made his bed.

I need to concentrate on you

and the baby now, okay?

Yeah.

At least undo ropes.

So I can get comfortable...the pain.

It's unbearable.

[crying]

Why should I trust you?

We need you, Julia. We need you.

I don't want him scared.

I need to keep him safe.

My distress...

it could k*ll our little...

Your little boy.

[crying]

You're right. I didn't want this boy.

I don't want this boy.

I'm a career woman. I'm not a mother.

What will you call him?

Sebastian. Like the Saint.

Sebastian.

I like it.

We haven't got long.

The police will be back again soon.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

[crying]

Please, Julia.

Please, I can't do this.

I need a hospital.

No, I'm sorry, love, but no.

Then please...

I need my labour bag.

It's got thing's for Sebastian.

And it's cold in here. He's gonna need it.

What labour bag?

It's got things for the baby.

What things?

Nappy's. Clothes.

A little hat.

He'll need it in here, it's freezing.

I'm not going anywhere, okay?

I'm staying here.

But, please.

Please, Julia, please.

The bag.

Please.

[groaning]

We've got to go.

We haven't got long.

Come on.

We've got to go now.

You tricked me!

Emily!

Emily!

[gasping]

Hold on to the wound.

Emily!

You can't hide from me, Emily!

I will find you.

Go.

Go.

Just go. I'll hold her up.

No.

I'm a dead man anyway. Just go.

She isn't herself.

Please.

Forgive her.

f*ck that.

[gasping]

Emily!

[gasping]

No.

[groaning]

Do you forgive me?

I love you.

I'll always love you too.

But I will never, ever forgive you.

Please.

Stay with me.

Have a peaceful death, my darling.

Julia!

Move out of my f*cking way!

Julia!

f*cking move!

Move out of my f*cking way

or I'll blow your brains out!

Where do you think you're going?

Are you going to sh**t me?

You don't know much about g*ns, do you?

Oh, Emily.

I thought you were clever,

but you're all out of cartridges, love.

You have no power over me.

This is my baby.

My time!

No!

[crying]

[screaming]

[screaming]

Emily!

Emily!

[crying]

No!

Emily!

[crying]

The baby. He's coming.

He's coming...

[crying]

I can see him.

I can see his head.

You need to push.

I am!!!

Harder, you need to push harder!

[crying]

He's too big.

He's too big.

I need to get him out.

[crying]

He's too big.

He's stuck.

I need to cut him out.

[crying]

He's not coming out.

He's stuck.

I have to get him out.

Anyway.

[crying]

You stay still.

Don't move.

[crying]

Sebastian, you need to come out.

He's stuck.

He's not moving.

Don't move.

I have to get him out.

Julia, we need to talk.

[crying]

My baby's coming out now.

No!

No!

No!

[crying]

No.

No!

[screaming]

[baby crying]

Oh. No!

[baby crying]

Julia?

He's beautiful Dave.

I'm going to come and take the baby.

And we'll get it to hospital, OK?

You're not going to take my baby, Dave.

Julia, I've called it in.

The police are going to be here any second.

It's all over, Julia.

It's all over...

By water and the Holy Spirit,

He is to receive the gift of new life

from God who is love.

I baptize you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son,

our Lord who was born of the Virgin Mary,

was crucified, died, and was buried,

rose from the dead, and is now seated

at the right hand of the Father.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting.

And I reject Satan,

the Prince of Darkness,

and refuse the glamour of evil.

Emily!