The Theory of Flight

I still can't really explain

how it was that I came to be here.

Only that I think that all of us

are probably capable of committing an act..

...completely out of character.

And I know it's easy to look back on it now

and say, "Wow

a little extreme, don't you think?"

Because... it was.

Roger. Stand by.

I was, uh, experiencing

some financial, uh..

...some, uh, personal difficulty.

Look, you have to stop fighting this, Richard.

And I think it's true to say anyone

experiencing that kind of crisis

will always express it in their own individual way..

...and this was my way.

To take everything I had

a-all of which suddenly seemed

to be keeping me down.

And to try to reinvent it into something

that would get me up.

It's Richard again.

- Where? - He's on the roof.

What are you doing?

'Richard.'

I love you.

And, you know, in that moment

I actually thought it might work.

That finally I would get my life off the ground..

...one way or the other.

Turns out, however, that my prototype

at that time, anyway..

...was in need..

No!

...of a little refinement.

Although I have decided a custodial sentence

'would perhaps be inappropriate in this instance.'

You will be required to fulfill 120 hours

community service.

It's, uh, it's a bit rundown.

But no one's lived here for a while, eh?

What brings you here anyway?

Yeah. I'll take it.

'And you must be Richard.'

Yeah. That's right.

And, uh..

...y-yeah, you're probation.

Uh, no. Catherine. Social services.

- They passed you on to us. - Right. Okay.

Well, would you like to follow me?

Sure, yeah.

'Now, we've given you Jane.'

She's got a strain, quite a rare strain

of motor neurone disease.

So she's quite a handful but tremendous fun.

Wait, so she's in a wheelchair, then?

Oh, yes, she's in a wheelchair.

And her voice has now definitely begun to deteriorate.

Which unfortunately does usually signal

the beginning of the end.

It won't be too long before she'll have to rely

entirely on a speech machine.

We're trying to encourage her to use it more now

but quite understandably, she's reluctant.

But it is worth remembering

that mentally, she's still very much all there.

Or here. Indeed.

Oh. Sorry.

Richard, I'd like you to meet Jane.

'And Anne, of course.'

Come on, Jane.

'Sorry.'

Well, say hello, Jane.

Hi.

Hi. So you're Jane?

And you're Richard?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Well, I thought it might be an idea

if you'd take Jane for a short stroll, Richard.

Get to know each other without us two interfering.

'Absolutely.'

So what do you normally do with your days, then, Jane?

Stupid question.

No. I mean, you know, do-do you read?

Or, you know, do you watch videos? Or wh-what do you do?

I like, uh, to leave them-them empty.

Right. I-I'll take you back, then, shall I?

Why did you volunteer?

Uh... well, I've got a lot of time.

All the volunteers I get are either

desperately lonely or just, uh, sorry fuckers.

Yeah, well, much as I probably qualify as both

unfortunately I'm not a very patient, sorry, lonely fucker.

So, um, I'll just take you back, shall I?

I can do it myself.

So, uh, why didn't we do this before, then?

Oh, people usually feel more ridiculous

walking next to me.

Yeah? Why is that?

It implies friendship.

No, no, no. No, she really took a shine to you, Richard.

That's very unusual. It might even be a first.

- 'But, Mrs. Hatchard--' - Anne. Please.

Anne, uh, you-you know, without

wanting to be in the least bit rude

I mean, I honestly don't know if..

I-I think she, Jane, ne-needs somebody

who knows what they're doing, you know

someone who's trained--

Nonsense, Richard.

This is entirely the point of the program.

What Jane needs is to participate a bit more.

Do a few of the things that other people do.

Yeah, but I-I don't think I do the things other people do.

Richard, we can only help out two mornings a week.

That leaves Anne, well, she too needs

the occasional break to get on with her life.

Yeah, but I'm sure you'll find somebody else. Someone who's--

Would I be right in thinking

you're not here entirely

of your own volition?

* On my way *

* On my way *

* On my way *

* On my way *

* I would like to *

* Reach out my hand *

* I may see you *

* I may tell you to run *

* On my way on my way *

* You know what they say about the young *

* Well pick me up with golden hand *

* I may see you *

* I may tell you to run *

* On my way on my way *

* You know what they say about the young *

* Well I would like to hold my little hand *

* And we will run we will *

* And we will crawl *

* Send me on my way * * On my way*

* Send me on my way * * On my way*

* Send me on my way * * On my way*

* Send me on my way * * On my way*

* Send me on my way * * On my way*

* Send my on my way * * On my way *

* Send me on my way * * On my way **

'Yes!'

- 'Yes.' - 'Yes'

'Yes. Yes.'

'Oh! Yes!'

Yes! Yes!

'Yes. Yes.'

He's here, darling.

Okay, I've got the chair here.

- You alright? - Yeah.

Excuse me.

Right. Mm..

Just do it.

Okay. Alright. Okay. Legs first.

- Yeah. - Excuse me.

Alright.

Now. One, two, three.

Oh, sorry. Sorry.

There's obviously a knack to this.

Um, it's... okay.

I'm resilient.

Oh, how original.

Your mother said you'd like it.

My mother knows shit.

I used to paint.

Really?

Males nudes mostly.

- 'You surprise me.' - What do you paint?

Uh-uh, I-I don't. I don't, really.

I was told you did.

Yeah, uh, I-I-I did

but I don't, uh, I don't anymore.

Why stop?

I don't know. Lack of talent probably.

Uh. Lack of talent never stopped anyone.

So, uh, what do you think of this one, then?

I don't think he was religious.

'Who? Who, Christ?'

'The painter.'

Why?

Not a religious dick.

Well, when do you guess it was painted, then?

Wilton. 1789.

- Yeah. Near enough. - Exact.

Yeah. Exact enough.

So, Jane, uh, I can take it that you haven't

overly enjoyed your day so far.

- Whatever gave you that idea? - Oh, I don't know.

Maybe it was the sneering at everywhere

I've taken you that gave it away.

Without saying "Sneer"

it is difficult for me to sneer.

Yeah, well, you haven't exactly been enthusiastic, uh, Jane.