Oi! Tonight - I don't know what to wear.
That blue strappy thing? Oh, no! It looked all right in the shop,
but the mirror at home makes me look like a whale! I bet it doesn't. I swear. My belly's out here!
Go out like that, people'll be asking when it's due. You're not, are you?! Fat chance!
Out of the way!
Cab's booked for half seven, OK? Be beautiful.
..Right, seat belt, please. Thank you.
# Ta-da! # How do I look?
Too good to be going out with a bunch of women! Come here.
Will you marry me? Er...all right, then.
CAR HORN BEEPS
There's my taxi. Gotta go.
Hey, don't shag anyone!
Bye!
Be good for Sam. I will. And don't shag anyone!
MUSIC: "Boogie Wonderland"
CHEERING
CHATTER DROWNED OUT BY MUSIC
This one's more for Sam!
Broke his leg when he was six -
had a thing about nurses ever since!
This and no knickers, eh?!
Right, come on, girls - glasses.
To Jenny - the only woman daft enough to take my big brother off me hands. Jenny!
ALL: Jenny!
MUSIC: "Love's Got A Hold On My Heart" by Steps
All right, where are Jenny and Cheryl - our brides-to-be?
Right, girls, serious now. You're both on the verge of committing yourselves to a life of monogamy.
So I've got one very, very serious question to ask you.
Do you fancy a threesome? Yes!
Now, seriously, girls, hope it all goes well for you, and we wish you the best of luck on your big day.
CHEERING
There you go - two more bite the dust. This is for the rest of you.
MUSIC: "It's Raining Men" by Geri Halliwell
I've had a brilliant night!
Everyone's been brilliant...
Everything's been absolutely...
Brilliant? It's brilliant, it's brilliant!
Am I drunk? Yeah.
I feel a bit drunk. There was just drink coming out the walls!
Oh, it was the best night ever!
Jenny! Pull your finger out, will you? Ronnie's waiting to get off.
Jenny!
Fancy a swifty?
We were wasted! Did you see Sheila? She fell asleep on a pile of coats!
Biff had to take her home!
I couldn't believe it when the alarm went off this morning. ..How's your head, Julie?
Key 103 blasting out - I thought I were still in the club.
What did Sam say? Best sex in months, apparently! I can't remember!
I made a right dick of meself with that DJ! I kept asking him to play Groove Is In The Heart,
and he's like, "I haven't got it!"
And I was going, "Sexy stuff, play some sexy stuff! You've got 40 women down there gagging for it!"
I can see meself in the mirror behind him, thinking I'm like Sophie Dahl or something, just flirting like hell.
VOICE FADES: What he must of thought of me! I shouldn't be let out, I should be put in a room...
Hey! I've just done there.
You weren't half mixing them, Jen - wine, Stella, G&T. Then we had them cocktails. It's no wonder you're ill!
You'll be all right. Get through this afternoon and then go to bed. I'll look after Tom for a couple of hours.
Right, come on you two, shake yourselves.
I'll give him his tea. Don't come round till you're feeling better, all right? Thanks.
Bye.
Kiss!
See you later. Be good.
We can't put Merv the perv on the same table as Leslie! Few drinks down her neck, she'll twat him!
Where, then? With my lot from work. What about your dad and Eileen?
Dad at the top table, Eileen with the rellies. That'll cause such a row. She's not family! As good as.
We can only have ten people on the top table - there's no room for her. Fine! It's YOUR dad.
Sorry. I wanna learn to think before I speak.
They'd have been proud of you, Jen, if they were still here.
You know that, don't you?
Hey, come here.
Come on.
I just want a proper family, like everyone else. You've got one.
I mean, I know we're a bit all over the place, but Mum and Dad love you, Suzie loves you...
I think you're all right.
You, me and Tom -
we're a family now, Jen.
Or we WILL be, if we ever get this bloody wedding sorted.
Pete Murray's leaving do... Didn't know Minty were leaving. Yeah. Thirty grand a year, company car.
There's no security in it, though(!) Where's the do? Levenshulme Palace. Got an extension till two.
A free-for-all? Probably. I'm coming!
How much? Tenner. We're buying him a parachute jump.
Fancy it, Jen?
Jen? Just remembered, I've got to ask Grace about my holidays.
Mack, what are they doing? Cooling system's knackered, it's like an oven. Even Freda's got a sweat on!
How long will it take? About a week. Why? Suzie fancies one of them.
These dates are wrong - you wrote "Monday the 18th", but the 18th's a Tuesday... So when do you fly?
Monday. So it IS Monday. That's what I thought.
Where you going? Tenerife. Honeymoon.
Aw, how romantic! I'll be lucky if I get a week in Rhyl!
Carol?
Carol!
Hope there's some decent men at this do.
It's been that long, I think I've healed up!
Mickey Gray! Mickey Gray was the last one. When was he? March!
And he was nowt to write home about.
He had them funny little warts on his fingers, like what grotty kids used to get at school.
I mean, puts you off! Don't want him touching you with them, do you?!
And he smelt.
God, men are disgusting, aren't they?
I mean, would it kill 'em just to change their undies once in a while?
I mean, they obviously don't expect to pull, coming out smelling of vinegar!
Where you going?
Nothing for tea. What about the kids? Five minutes.
Carol! Please, I just wanna talk!
Help!
Carol! Just leave me alone! Carol!
Hiya, this is Jenny Wood, Tom's mum. I'm running a bit late.
Sorry. A flat tyre, then I couldn't get the screws loose - you know what it's like when you're rushing.
..All right, lads? Where's me mum?
Half an hour I was there! Felt like a pillock!
Up and down every soddin' aisle, thinking, "Where is she?"
Didn't think for a minute you'd have buggered off. Had a funny turn. Panic attack or something.
Just had to get out, calm down.
I went to find the car - you'd gone! Couldn't believe it! Where did you go? I'm sorry.
I'm really, really sorry. I don't know what came over me. I felt really jittery.
I feel terrible, but it was just...
I had to get out.
Sorry, Suzie. Honest, I am.
AND they had no bleedin' crumpets.
Right, kid, I'm off. See you later.
Have a good day. See ya, Sam.
Tom, do you fancy a day off?
Suzie, do you mind taking the bus? Tom's off-colour. He's come out in a rash. I'll take him to the doctor.
Tell Mack that I'm really sorry, but I SHOULD be back in on Monday.
Carol Wood?
We've got Carol Smith.
Loading bay.
No, nothing.
Oh, JENNY Wood, SHE'S loading bay.
Where's Tweedledum today?
Hm? Your mate. Oh, Jenny?
Thought you were joined at the hip. Money! Pete Murray's do. Come on, I've forked out, so I want it back.
You wanna pay for Jenny while you're at it? Dunno if she's coming. She better had, I've put her name down!
Now, today, Tom, is just between you and me, all right? Otherwise, I'll get in trouble. So...
You're not married yet, you know. 'I don't feel like it.'
Come on, it'll be a laugh.
Tom's still a bit off-colour. YOU go. I'll look after Ryan. Jen...
Go on. Find a man, shag his brains out! You don't need me.
Are you window shopping? Oh! You're joking! Most of these lot are past their sell-by date!
Don't think we've been introduced. Neil. Oh, Suzie.
Do you fancy a drink? Loopy juice. Ta.
When you look at the videos now, you're like, "Duh! COURSE he's gay!"
I don't know how we didn't realise! I had posters of him on me wall.
I had one of him with no shirt on and his trousers undone, so you could see all his pubes!
I used to love it! It was about Careless Whisper time.
My first love turns out to be a poof! Story of my life!
Right...I'm going on, aren't I? No!
No, quick wee, I'll come back, and you can talk for a bit, OK? Two secs.
MOBILE PHONE RINGS
Hello? 'Is my mum there?' She's gone to the toilet. Shall I get her to give you a ring?
'No. Just tell her not to get drunk - she falls over.' No problem.
What was your name again? 'Ryan.' Good night, Ryan. 'Bye.'
PHONE RINGS
That'll be your mam.
Bet she's got a hangover!
Hello?
'Jen? Sorry, I'm on the walkabout.'
Guess what? 'What?' The drought's over!
# I got sex, I got se-ex! #
And it was great.
And he's good-looking.
And...
And he's still in my bed.
'Who is it? Someone from work?' Sort of. I'll tell you about it later. Can you keep Ryan for an hour?
Yeah, sure. 'Gotta make hay while the sun shines!'
All right. See you later.
..Your mum's a bit up and down at the moment, so I'll take you back in a bit, all right?
Treat her gently - you know what she's like when she's been drinking. Yeah - a grumpy cow.
He's still here.
Neil, this is Jenny. Jenny, Neil. Nice to meet you.
I best be off.
Well, you've got my number. Any time.
Coffee?
You don't even know him. So? You shouldn't just bring people back here - anything could have happened.
It did. Five times. What was he doing there anyway?
He doesn't even work at our place. I don't know. What did you tell him?
You're being weird. What did you tell him?
About what? Anything. Are you jealous?
I don't trust him.
You don't know nowt about him. Neither do you. I know how big his dick is. That's good enough for me.
Did you tell him about Ryan? Yes! Is that what this is about?
I wouldn't lie about my son just to get a shag, Jen.
Did you tell him about Tom? Tom?!
Well, didn't he ask where Ryan was, with you out? Didn't he ask about his dad?
What's that got to do with Tom? Did you tell him he was with me? You must have said something. I didn't!
Why can't you just be happy for me?
I am.
Um... I just don't want you getting hurt,
that's all.
PHONE RINGS
Hello? 'It's me.
'We need to talk.'
You look different.
Older.
It's the hair.
So why did you go?
Carol! Jenny.
It was Carol when you walked out.
And to your mum and dad, Cally and Steph, and everyone else who's spent eight years thinking about you,
wondering what happened to you.
Why?
Why just go?
Not a word.
Not a call, not so much as a bloody postcard. Couldn't. Just couldn't.
They think you're dead. Eight years!
They think you're dead, and yet, every day, they hope you'll walk back in.
Do you care? Course I care. Act like it! What do you want me to say? Ask how they're doing. Ask something!
That life is over -
Carol Wood.
I'm Jenny now.
I like being Jenny.
She's happy, she has friends, she's in love, she's getting married. You can't! Why not? What about Phil?
What about Phil? It's irrelevant. We weren't married.
Irrelevant?!
You ruined his life.
First he loses his son, then he loses you. That's not irrelevant. I didn't mean to hurt anyone.
I was in pain. I was unhappy.
I couldn't cope, Neil... after what happened.
Everything all right for you today?
So...
..what do we do now?
Thanks.
Why Manchester? It's where the coach stopped.
Why are YOU in Manchester?
Lawton's relocated here. Didn't want to move, but they offered me a good deal.
What happens when I go back South?
I see your old man in the pub, and he mentions you - what do I say?
Please.
No-one knows.
No-one.
Not even Sam - the man I'm marrying.
They think my parents are dead.
They don't know anything about Phil,
about...losing the baby.
Nothing.
Um, it was easier that way.
I wanted to start again.
New life.
But I wanted it to be about ME, not everything else. Do you understand?
You've gotta tell him the truth.
You can't marry this guy - he doesn't know you.
He does. He knows ME.
Yeah, the last few years. All the rest is lies.
And what if he wants kids?
He should know what you've been through.
Kids.
After what happened?
I couldn't bear to love something so much, to have it taken away again.
I know this isn't the done thing, but do you fancy a night in?
We've been mates for years. Two women working with a bunch of men - you've gotta stick together!
At first it was just work, but when me and Jeff split up, we started going out.
I tell you, I can talk at the best of times, but with Jen, my mouth was going twenty to the dozen!
She was like a little mouse.
Then we started taking the kids out together at weekends and baby-sitting for each other...
and, I dunno, it just develops, doesn't it?
Before you know it, you can't imagine them not being there.
Jenny's got a kid? An eight-year-old. Tom.
Why? She doesn't look old enough.
And I do?! Cheeky get!
Can we get ice cream? I dunno about that. We'll have to see...
That's it! Wow!
That's a good throw, Tom!
It's going for ages! I used to have one of them as a kid. They're great!
..Run down and get it. The other end. ..What do you want?
Nice kid. I'm looking after him for a friend. Stop lying! I'm not. Stop lying!
Look, Mum!
An eight-year-old son! You've got an eight-year-old son, Carol?
He's Phil's, isn't he, Carol?
Carol!
Where we going? Seaside. What about Sam? He can't come. He's working.
Jen!
Jenny?
Well, when did you last see her? 'Saturday. Why?' She's gone. I mean, they've both gone!
They might have gone to Camelot.
What do you mean? That day, when Tom was off ill, they went to Camelot.
Weren't meant to tell you.
It must be the wedding.
She loves you. She's desperate to marry you. She's told me. Then, why?
Maybe she just needed some space to clear her head.
No note, no message, not answering her mobile...
You didn't know about Camelot? No.
No idea.
The thing is, she's...
she's been acting a bit strange these past few days.
We had a row. I mean, nothing big, but...you know what me and Jen are like - we're thick as thieves.
This week, it's been like there's something else going on, up here. Like what?
I don't believe this. We're getting married!
In a bloody week. Jesus! She picks her moments, doesn't she?!
She's gonna call it off, isn't she? She's gonna call the bloody thing off.
What have I done wrong?
Oi! Where's Jenny? I don't know.
She's YOUR mate. I don't know!
Jenny's gone.
Yesterday. No explanation, just...
My brother is a wreck. It's the week before the wedding.
She hadn't said a word.
I dunno what to make of it.
What?
Truth time.
Can we go back?
It's football after school. They need me!
I'm top scorer.
I don't wanna be here any more, I wanna go back.
I can't believe it!
It's... She's told a lot of lies, Suzie, and there's things I still don't understand.
She broke my brother's heart. Make sure she doesn't do the same to yours. Is that why you shagged me?
To get closer to Jenny? No.
It is, isn't it? Yeah...
You bastard! You using bastard! Hey! Don't shoot the messenger!
I was using you. So? We had fun, and we both know that's not the point.
There's things I need to know.
'Jenny, it's me. Look, I'm sure you must be picking up these messages so, er...
'I've spoken to Neil. And he's told me about...
'He's told me.
'And, yeah, I'm confused,
'but don't run away. Please, don't run away from this. Just talk to me.
'I'm here. Talk to me. I wanna help.
'Just call me, or...
'Call.'
Sam!
(Sorry. I'm sorry.) Oh, it's OK, babe.
INAUDIBLE
I Left eight years ago. I just took off, started again.
I was engaged to a lad called Phil.
He was decent, training to be a fireman.
I suppose I loved him, but, looking back...
We were so young.
We had a kid together - Tom.
He died...
a few months old, in his cot.
Knocked me for six.
I couldn't believe I'd lost him.
Just...unreal.
There are things you should never go through.
Seeing him there - still.
His funeral, with his tiny coffin...
It was like a joke...thinking about all the things he'd never do,
just torturing yourself with it, looking for blame.
See, Phil was there that night and he was supposed to be looking after him while I was out with the girls,
and he was supposed to be looking after him.
We were 21. We were grieving a dead baby.
It tore us apart... I just walked out.
I went.
See, I wanted to get some distance between me and...all that...misery.
You're the best friend I have ever had. You know that, don't you?
Yeah.
I've lied to you, Suzie.
I've lied to all of you. I wanted to run away - my answer to everything -
but I couldn't.
I love Sam so much.
I love you both so much.
I've done something...terrible, Suzie.
Unforgivable.
Nothing's ever that bad.
You see, I was a wreck... and I needed help.
I found myself just...wandering around shopping centres, just...looking.
But they were everywhere.
There were babies...everywhere.
And they all looked like Tom.
And there was this one, and he was sat up in his pram.
He had brown eyes, tiny black curls,
and it looked exactly like him.
It was him... It was my little Tom.
I went crazy.
I must have gone crazy.
Because I took him.
I took him.
I know it's awful, but I couldn't give him back because he got ill.
I was frightened,
and I looked after him till he got better. And then it was too late, you see? It was too late.
Ryan - take him off. What? Substitute him! Take him off! He's playing well. NOW!
Suzie! Suzie!
Tom wants to play with Ryan. ..Don't you, Tom?
Why tell ME?! Why bring this into my life? You're my best friend.
Friend?!
I don't even know you.
I don't know nothing about you. I can't even look at you.
Please...
What do you want me to say? That everything's gonna be fine? I can't do that, Jenny.
I know what I did was wrong...
Wrong?!
He's...someone else's child! Can you imagine what his parents have been through?
Have you got any idea of the pain?! How can you live with yourself?
Christ!
I was ill.
I thought he was mine.
Everything was perfect...
You and Sam, us, the kids...
It's all ruined.
No. It doesn't have to be,
cos we can get through it.
We can sort it out. We can't.
You stupid bitch.
You have to go to the police and you have to tell them everything,
because I don't want this, I don't want any of it. And you shouldn't have that little boy a minute longer.
I'm his mother.
No.
I'm his mother.
You are NOT!
So I give him back?
Tell me this, Suzie - who wins?
Whose life is gonna be made any better? No-one's.
It'll just cause more pain and misery and unhappiness...
What for?
Tom's happy.
Sam's happy.
I'm happy.
The parents.
Seeing me with Tom, after all these years - do you think that's going to make them feel any better?
It'll destroy them!
I'm his mother.
No-one is going to take him away from me.
Get out.
Please, just get out!
So you're back on again, like nothing happened? She panicked. If anyone understands, you should. Why?
You meet someone now, you like 'em, you get on - great.
But now, you're picking a dad for Ryan. What's she said?
Isn't about what she said. She just wants what's best for Tom. Sam...
There's something I've gotta tell you. What?
What?
You should call it off. What? I don't think she's right for you. She's your best friend! I know you love her...
She's your best friend. And you're my brother!
How many women have I had?
I'm only saying it cos I love you. How many? I don't know. How many?! You could form a hockey team.
How many have lasted? How many had a hope in hell of going anywhere?
Jenny's different.
She understands me.
She's like... the other bit of the jigsaw.
I've never met anyone that makes me feel like that.
And I'm not gonna lose her.
Time of the month?
Grow up.
You can take that look off your face. You gave me no option.
Really? She thought you'd done a runner, left her brother in the shit. It seemed familiar.
The kid's Phil's, isn't he? ..Bollocks.
Eight-year-old kid - it all fits. He's not Phil's. Who, then? No-one.
Oh, immaculate conception(?) Nice. Someone else. Who?
One-night stand, shag in the bushes, fling. What does it matter?! He's not Phil's.
It was just...after. It meant nothing.
He couldn't even do it, Neil.
You know, after we lost the baby, Phil couldn't even...
so I'm pretty sure that it's not his.
All right?
Then, why run?
I was scared...of you,
of all this.
It's the truth.
Yeah, well, we're finished here.
Work's done. Tomorrow, out of your life.
Then what? You don't want to be found, so what's the point in them finding you? I'll do you a deal.
I tell them what I tell them, no comeback...something - let them know you're alive.
Then, as far as I'm concerned, it's the past. You sort out the present.
See you around...Jenny.
What do you want me to do? Get off!
Tell me what you want me to do. Tell me. What am I supposed to do?
You've gotta do what's right.
..Mackintosh Textiles, Trencherfield.
Ten minutes. Thanks.
I'll give you a lift. Cab's on its way.
I'll give you a lift. Don't want a lift. It'll cost you a fortune. I'll manage.
Suzie, this is ridiculous.
Please, just get in the car. Get in the car.
Suzie, would you get in the bleedin' car?!
Where you going?
Sam's picking up the kids. They're going to practise penalties in the park. Jenny, where you going?
To do what's right.
Is this what you want?
He's someone else's child. I love him.
But he's someone else's child. I love him. But he's someone else's child!
You've ruined their lives.
You KNOW what it's like to lose a child, and yet you took someone's baby. Someone's baby!
I have to live with that.
At Christmas, on his birthday - the thought of them suffering, wondering what's happened to him,
assuming he's dead, but never knowing, never sure.
He's eight years old, Suzie. He doesn't know them.
If I brought him back tomorrow, he wouldn't even recognise them. I'm all he's ever known.
So are you gonna just keep lying for the rest of your life? Lying to your husband and son?!
You can't live like that, Jenny.
Let's go in.
If you think this is right, let's go in.
I couldn't carry it around with me any more.
I wanted somebody to know.
You're my friend. I need your help.
Suzie?
Jenny!
# Ta-da! #
Well, what do you think?
Bloody hell, what have you done with me brother?!
And look. Grandad's.
Cool or what?
You look brilliant.
Think she'll have me, then?
Yeah!
I don't want you marrying him. I want you out of his life.
That's not going to happen. He's not bringing up that kid. I love him.
Either you go or I'll tell him.
Everything. You'll destroy him.
Disappear. You've done it before. Start again somewhere else.
My life's here. Not any more. I love him, Suzie. I love him.
Either you go or I'll tell him.
It's up to you.
What's happened?
Out the way, you fat bastard!
Happy 40th, to Sally! She grows more beautiful every day.
I love her to bits.
What would I want with a vasectomy? It's for ME, you daft bugger! The snip!
# The first cut is the deepest! #
You're infertile, Mr Preston. You've always been infertile.
I've got two lads! Chris and Daniel, they're called. They look like me!
I saw them being born!
I know, Sally.
I know the children are not mine.
What are you talking about?!
The secret isn't just ours, it's theirs too! What if they find out?
What will it do to them? There's no way they will find out. I'll tell the boys.