02x01 - Birthday

[bunniefuu]

I look at her,

and she looks at me

In her eyes, I see the sea

And I don't know

What she'd see in me

She says she loves me

Her eyes, yeah, her eyes

Her eyes are a

blue million miles

Far as I can see ♪

Morning, you.

Morning. She loves me

Far as I can see

You love me

Far as I can see

She loves me ♪

SHE GRUNTS, PHONE RINGS

SHE GROANS, CLATTERING

HE GRUNTS

'Hey, hey Yeah,

no, I am a legend.'

SHE SIGHS

Your da is on his way. sh*t!

Oh, f*ck!

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

I'm just going for a quick piss.

I was here first.

I was here first!

I don't care! You're

such a little princess.

You're such a d*ck,

just get outta me way!

Get out of my face,

you'll be there for hours.

Are we gridlocked?

I wanna wash myself.

Did we not do a rota? You

use all the hot water.

You always leave your pubes in

the shower! I'm gonna be late.

Oh, the pair of you,

stop! HE GROANS.

Shiv. Happy birthday, love.

Oh, happy birthday, Shiv.

Happy birthday, love!

Happy birthday, Shiv. Happy

birthday, Shiv. Thanks!

Sorry, Ant. Ha! b*tch!

A bit early for

that language, what?

DOOR CLOSES

Someone close, love?

Yeah. Yeah.

Though, sometimes, I

just come for the peace.

Yeah.

It's a good reminder, isn't

it? How quickly life goes. Mm.

You probably don't

need reminding.

Not that you're near death

or anything. I mean

I just meant we're not here

for a long time. I know.

And we're not necessarily

here for a good time, either.

We're here to

We're here to be the best

versions of ourselves.

And it's a choice.

Be a better sister,

be a better daughter,

be a better human.

And, yes, it takes hard work,

and, yes, it takes discipline,

but you've got to keep

trying and trying and trying

every single day,

until eventually, you Oh

Would you like a

bit of spliff, love?

Takes the edge off.

No.

No, thank you.

So

I've been coming

to these meetings

for seven months now.

Don't usually say too much,

but I promised my daughter.

It's her birthday today.

Thirty-six.

How did that happen?

RIPPLED LAUGHTER.

Thirty-six! I mean,

that's nearly 40.

LAUGHTER Yeah.

When I think of

myself at her age

four kids, a husband, a house

a career

But she's doing it her way.

Erm I grew up at a time

when people didn't really

talk about their feelings.

This country was like a

conspiracy of silence.

And for women SHE SCOFFS.

Last year, my neighbour Pam

was m*rder*d by her husband.

And no-one even noticed

It's a disgrace! ..Except me.

I'm going to be a

witness at the trial.

But that's how little women's

lives matter in this country.

We can be m*rder*d by our husbands,

and no-one even notices! Shocking.

Well, let me tell you something

I'm done being silent.

I'm done being buried!

I'm here. MURMURED ASSEN

I have a voice.

And from now on,

I'm ready to roar!

APPLAUSE Wow!

Well done!

Whoo!

Thank you, Bernie!

Powerful stuff there!

You handled that

really well. What?

Her share. What

was wrong with it?

Well, it wasn't exactly

about alcoholism.

Oh, well, it was about how society

covertly silences and devalues women

to such an extent that

a weight of toxic shame

is placed on their

shoulders so extreme,

the only outlet for

many is addiction.

You know?

Yeah in a roundabout way.

Shiv. How do you think I did?

Yeah, good.

For a first time, that was

I think it really struck

a chord with people.

They wanna take me to lunch.

Who? Billy - very

magnetic. And Therese.

They're practically fighting

over who's gonna sponsor me.

It's mad! Yeah, it's really mad.

You didn't want to join? No, no.

Karen and I, actually, are going for

some Bernie, you're on Wikipedia!

No, I'm not. You are. Am I?!

I have to see this.

Oh, I'll see you tonight

at the party, love.

Wear something nice.

DOOR CLOSES

You never thought of

putting a little kitchen

out in the shed

there, Tom, did you?

No. And it's not a shed.

Oh, I know but HE CHUCKLES

you know. Yeah.

It was only meant

to be a temporary

Have you seen the butter?

Butter dish to your left.

You could probably put one

in now. Little galley job.

Don't think there's room.

Oh, you'd be surprised.

You see some of these studios

in New York and Hong Kong

their use of space is inspiring.

Happy to lend a hand.

You may not expect it from

a man of letters, but

I do love me DIY.

Yeah, I'll keep it in mind.

"Good with a bit of

wood", as they say.

Is this today's?

So great she's coming to

meetings now, properly,

and making friends

and you know.

Do you think they were

really fighting over her

cos isn't that against the?

Listen, love, I know

it's weird for you.

It's not weird, it's great.

But like I said at the

start, if you wanna

do recovery with your ma, you

gotta set some boundaries.

I have set boundaries.

Firm boundaries.

We always go to different meetings.

So, what were you doing there today?

Moral support. She was nervous.

Well, you've done moral support

now, you don't need to do it again.

So, let's let your ma

stand on her own two feet,

and let's you and me talk

about something f*cking else

for five minutes! Hi, Alex!

Ladies! Hi, Alex. Oh,

is that a new tattoo?

Mm, no. Don't think

so, Karen. Oh.

I thought it was for Shiv.

It's her birthday. Is it?

I won't ask you how old.

Thanks. Appreciate that.

Any plans for the big day?

Er just having a party, yeah.

A family party,

not a cool party.

Aunts, uncles,

brother, sister, mum

dad She's big into family.

Well, if you feel like

mixing it up later

a mate of mine's playing

a gig in Vicar Street,

and I've a plus-one.

Oh, God, right.

Er I wish I

could, Alex, but, erm

this p-party could

go on all night.

My family are

animals. SHE CHUCKLES.

He's playing Thursday as

well. Thursday? Mm-hm.

Yeah

No. No, I can't.

And next Saturday?

Saturdays are bad for me.

Yeah. No worries.

Worth a shot, right?

I'm free Saturday!

I mean, my husband's

having a colonoscopy,

and I'm supposed to collect

him from the hospital but

what are taxis f*ck'

there for? LAUGHTER.

The usual, yeah?

Yeah, great. No.

Thank No, no,

no. On the house.

Can't have

one of my regulars paying

for it on their birthday.

Here

Happy birthday,

Shiv. Thanks, Alex

Good to see you. You too.

What the f*ck is

wrong with you?!

He's a f*ck'

little beaut, he is!

Anthony, what are you doing?!

Er, market research.

You were looking up

holidays to Crete.

Listen

we'd all like to

go to Crete, OK.

Get a bit of sun on our bellies.

I know you lads like to

put the time in at the gym.

But we're in a

serious situation.

A serious situation? Nothing

to panic about. Oh, good.

But your job is on

the line. What?!

We're a one-man band here,

we're not some fat-cat chain.

Sales are down, properties

coming through are

So, what do we do? Up your game.

Big time.

When you put a fish on the table

you get to stay for dinner.

Get it? PHONE RINGS.

Now HE INHALES SHARPLY.

I need you to do a leaflet drop.

What?

Well, I thought we

had a kid for that.

Oh, yeah, first of the cuts.

Pfff

It's not that I don't wanna go on a

date with a hot barista Really?

Cos you're doing a great job

of making it seem that way.

It's that, every time I've

started drinking again,

it's been because of some

guy. Pfff One guy.

In a hat. No, there were others.

In London, all those

false starts I had.

I had been doing great,

be off the booze,

go on a couple of

dates and then bam!

You're different now. Karen,

you are the one who said,

"No dating in the first year of

recovery!" Yeah, but he's a ride!

Look, Karen.

I've never been sober this long. I

really don't wanna f*ck up again.

You're right.

Just cos I've been looking at

the same bald patch for 15 years

as me life slips by.

If you think a date with a hot

man could risk your sobriety

I think a date could risk

my sobriety. I OK.

Then we'll go somewhere

else for coffee.

Well, no. We don't have to

Oh, sh*t! Here's my boss.

You're late, Shiv. See you.

Put these up around the

college and do a mail out ASAP.

What's this?

Another bursary for

young, emerging artists.

Seven grand and a residency?

You'd swear it was the

f*ck' Turner Prize.

Bibi, I'm locked

out of my e-mails!

SWEETLY: Coming!

SOFTLY: Stupid b*tch.

Marion, hi. Is Rory?

What do you want?

Er, just to, er

Well, is he there or? Rory!

That spunk-soaked evil sl*t

is at the door for you.

Caroline?

CAROLINE SCOFFS

Er what are you doing here?

The sub-letters moved out. I

did the end-of-tenancy clean.

These are yours.

Oh right.

Look, Rory, you can't keep

SHE SIGHS

It's been over six months.

You know, it's not

healthy to just.

SOFTLY: Mope around the

house with your mother.

You need to move on. I

have, and I gotta go.

No, I just meant that Er,

thanks for dropping this over.

SHE SIGHS

PHONE RINGS

Shane, hi! 'Hey.'

You left early this morning.

Is this all you got?

I dropped 80 euro. Hello, hello!

I got balloons. Oh, thank God!

Where would you be

without him, eh?

Right! What?

We have sparkling water,

ginger ale elderflower

cranberry You know.

SOFTLY: I was thinkin'

we don't need to say

anything tonight.

Oh, I'm not gonna make

a big thing of it.

Oh, no, I know, but

They need to know.

Need to know what?

WHISPERS: Just trust me, OK?

DOORBELL RINGS

Hey, Rita. Is that

Caroline's car?

I think so, yeah.

Fair play to her.

OK, I think we're

getting a bit

My family are right inside. Yeah,

well, this is hot, though

Yeah. Totally.

I mean, we could just

pop in for, like, five

Is that you, Caroline? Jesus!

Hi, Aunty Ag! Who's that

in the car with you?

HE GROANS You're gonna

have to come in now.

I'm gonna need to, er

cool off first. You know? Oh.

Great.

Is that the engineer

you were seeing? Shh!

Or the guitarist? I

thought he had a moustache.

The guitarist was three

months ago, Aunty Ag. Keep up.

WHISPERS: Can you keep

your voices down?!

It was a goatee.

Aw, you got balloons! There

she is! Birthday girl.

Thanks, Aunty Rita. So,

tell us all your news.

Oh. Well, let's see, erm

still loving the

job. The admin, yeah?

Yep. Been doing

power yoga every day.

Going to meetings, obviously.

Who isn't these days?

Oh, don't knock it.

It's where I met this fella. Oh!

And I started a

new Hi. Caroline!

We just saw your fella outside.

Now, remind me, is he

the dentist or the actor?

Which one was the actor?

His name's Shane, he's

an investment banker.

We've been seeing each

other for two months now.

And you met on Tinder?

Tinder, Bumble, Hinge

She casts a wide net.

I'm not making apologies for

taking control of my life, Ant.

Good woman! Rory

broke up with me.

Am I sitting at home

feeling sorry for myself?

No. I'm getting back

out there, and

I've got a timeline.

A timeline? Yep.

I'm gonna make

consultant, get married

and pump out two to three

babies in the next four years

cos once you let it slide past 35,

believe me, you're basically f*cked.

Absolutely. Hear, hear!

Someone talking sense.

Hello!

I'm not late, am I?

Dad, you got a cake!

Ah, just a small one. Snap!

Great minds, eh?

Hey. Hey! There he is.

This is Shane, everyone.

Hi, Shane. Hello.

Shane, Finbar

Hi. Hello, Shane.

And you're a banker? Yeah.

Can I get you a drink,

Shane? Er, wine, beer, er

something with flowers.

Nice one. Er, glass

of red. Coming up.

So, er there's something

that I'd like to

Actually, I-I-I might just, erm,

use this opportunity just

to to say a few words.

If you don't mind, Shiv?

You don't have to, Finbar.

No, no, I'd I'd like to,

it's, er, it's a big day. OK.

FINBAR CLEARS THROA

As many of you know,

I haven't touched a drop of the

hard stuff for well over 30 years.

Got sober, got published

the rest is history.

But I can honestly say

those first six months

were by far the toughest.

Getting sober takes guts.

It takes humility.

It takes looking at yourself

with an unsparing

eye every single day.

And that's why I have

so much admiration,

for Bernie. Hm?!

Oh, come on. No, no.

It's a very big

thing she's done now,

at this stage of her life.

After everything

she's been through.

And I think it would be a

mark of respect to Bernie

and to this beautiful home

that she's created for us

if from now on,

we made this house

a booze-free zone.

A what-free zone?

I know we all want

to be supportive.

So, if you could

just put any alcohol

you've brought this

evening into this.

Are you serious?!

Mum, what the?

BOTTLES CLINK

I'll leave it at the front door,

and you can collect

it on the way out.

No problem.

But in here let's

respect the rules.

I mean, finish your

drinks, by all means.

It is a party after all.

Marilyn Monroe died at 36.

Hmm.

Princess Diana, too. Mm.

You in a cult? It's my

mum's new boyfriend.

It's not normally this wei

KNOCKING ON DOOR 'Open

up! We've got booze!'

Aw, legend!

You're not doing drugs

in here, Ant! Why?

It's a week night. Yeah,

we're going to town. Yes!

No, I have an early

start tomorrow.

Don't be such a f*cking grandad!

When was the last time we were out?

Oh, you're such a bad influence.

HE SNIFFS DEEPLY, HE SIGHS

Yeah, that's good sh*t.

Oh, this is gonna be

good. f*ck off, Ant!

Oh, ah

So, how are you, Tom?

Still in the shed?

LAUGHTER FROM BATHROOM

Yeah, what?

Er, do you guys

wanna play a board

game or something?

We're going to town.

Mm. All of you?

Yeah. Sorry, Shiv.

This party blows.

Our taxi's here.

Is everyone going?

It's only eight.

It was just a flying visit.

We can just take

these, yeah? Yeah.

Looks like it's

just the two of us.

Er, cup of tea?

Er just a sec.

Mum?

I have something for you. A

A present. I know

it's a bit weird,

me giving you a present

on my birthday, but

Well, let's face

it, 36 years ago,

you're the one who did

all the heavy lifting.

And it's, you know, it's been

kind of a milestone this year

for both of us.

The last seven months

haven't exactly been easy.

Jesus!

There are days when I think

back on some of the

God, I wanted

Well, I-I think

about you and, erm,

the changes you've made and

the way you've accepted things

accepted me.

And, erm

you know, it gives me strength

knowing I'm not on my own.

Cos 36 years ago, we started

one journey together, and

seven months ago, we

started another, and.

I guess.

I guess I just wanted to say, er

here's to new beginnings.

Will I well, just

leave it out here, or?

DOOR OPENS

I can give it to her.

Didn't want to interrupt.

Beautiful words.

TOILET FLUSHES

Shiv got you a present. Aw.

So thoughtful.

Can I open it tomorrow?

Mm-hm.

Good night, love.

BERNIE LAUGHS

'Ooh!'

SHE INHALES DEEPLY

SHE SIGHS

There's a blue light

Outside the store

The bell chimes

With the sliding doors

Got my shark eyes

So I won't be long

Leave your car outside

With the engine on

We pass the flowers

And the magazines

You're turning heads Oh,

I guess we've caused a scene

In the spotlight

But you wear it well

I call you first prize

You can probably tell ♪

MUSIC PLAYS FROM CLUB

Shiv!

I was just in the area.

Oh. Handy.

Can I buy you a drink?

Take the next left

Down the cul-de-sac

If you get this one Then,

babe, I'll hit you back

Follow the porch light

Climbing up the steps

I call you first prize

Cos I like you best

But I ain't waiting on the

outside Looking for your invite

Wondering how the rules

Might change the game

I'll just say it outright

I knew it the first night

Everything from here's

About to change