The Durrells

I have something to say.

- If it's about the lavatory seat again... - No, it's not.

It's very much not.

- Sven has proposed. - Say no.

And I have said yes.

I adored your father, but I haven't had a gentleman in my life

for eight years.

And Sven is resourceful and he's handsome and I love him.

- This is so exciting. - Thank you, darling.

- Morning, everyone. - Morning, Nancy.

- Nance. - Nancy.

- Missed you. - Oh, missed you, too.

Anyway, can we talk about me

because I have just told you I'm getting married.

We will need to interview him.

Who is getting married, you or me?

I'm sure you'll want to run your eyes over our potential spouses.

Fine.

Why you have them, all of these animals?

The same reason you have a family.

My mother make me.

Well, normally, it's to enjoy their company.

But you're right, Lugaretzia, I should invite people

to come and enjoy them, too.

I might need some more.

Work is so boring.

I'm stuck indoors, and she's drawn the shutters now.

It's like I'm working down a mine.

A mine filled with Louis Quinze furniture.

If she didn't have this annoying depression thing,

we'd go travelling and shopping, and I'd chat to Angel.

Can't Dr Petridis help?

Oh, I'll get through it.

No, help the Countess?

No. She blames it on the shock of her husband dying.

Her world's been smaller ever since.

At this rate, she'll end up in a wardrobe.

You know, truly, money can't buy you happiness, can it?

But it can buy you some lovely haute couture to be unhappy in.

It's just as well, we don't have any money, really, and neither does Sven.

Are you still wanting to get married?

Since this morning?

Erm... yes, I think so.

Well, we'll see.

We'd like your answers down on paper, please.

Sorry, my lawyers advised me not to put anything in writing.

Can I just say, I don't care who my mother marries, I'm enjoying this.

Come on, why do you want to marry Mrs Durrell?

- Because I love her. - Well, that's easy to say.

- Yes, it is. - Damn, he's good.

Money isn't everything, of course, but is it true you don't have any?

I have some land, I am rich in strength and in spirit.

- May I have one of your goats? - No.

Voltaire said that God created sex and priests created marriage.

- Thoughts? - None.

I come home late with a handsome boy,

wanting to get to know each other better.

Much better. What do you do?

I'll have to hurry you.

I ask your mother.

Hello, Sven. So you're getting the full Durrells assault?

Yes.

Sorry, but would you leave, please? You're not one of us.

Are you thinking of having children with our mother?

Because that would be a bad idea.

I think the joke is over now, don't you?

- May I borrow a goat? - I will discuss it with them.

Thank you.

I feel like an intruder in this house.

- Why? - Your family are fine individually.

- Well, not really. - But together,

it's like living with bees, buzzing in my face,

little stings the whole time.

And it's really crowded.

Just do what I do, shout at them.

- I can't, they're not my family. - You really can.

We'll do it together.

Let's find a place of our own.

- Oh. - We're 22, Larry.

Of course.

Sure. I'd love that.

You're worried about what your mother will say, aren't you?

- Yes, I am. - Hm.

Where are the other two judges?

Larry and Nancy are canoodling.

And Gerry's opening the Durrell Zoo.

Oh. So, may I marry Sven?

Well, we like him.

He's lovely, isn't he?

Well, we... we're worried he's a bit too young and handsome.

- Are we? - Are we?

Look, if you marry an old chap

and it goes wrong, he won't be alive that long.

Do bear that in mind.

Hm.

You don't have to do this, Mrs Durrells.

- I know. - Tell him your mind was disturbed when you said yes.

- What have you got against Sven? - Nothing.

Except he's not Greek and he's not British.

Well, a lot of people aren't, Spiros.

If you must marry again, have my friend Labros.

You will never run out of bread.

- Is he a baker? - No, he just likes bread.

Shall we go?

- Where are we going? - Sven's house.

No!

Well done for passing your audition.

They are good company.

I'm lending Gerry a goat and I am working on Leslie.

So, when do you want to get married?

There's no rush.

- Let's do it soon. - Oh.

What do you mean by soon?

A week, two.

Well...

shouldn't we get to know each other better first?

No. It's romantic, fun.

You're revealing hidden shallows, Sven.

I like it.

Also, I don't believe in...

.. you know, before marriage.

Oh. Well, we'd better get married quickly, then.

I've been living for my family for so long.

It's time I started living for myself.

And for you.

So, in two weeks... a wedding.

I do hope Alecko isn't grumpy.

Yes, we must discourage touching the exhibits.

In Athens Zoo, I saw a tapir bite off a visitor's finger.

- How horrible. - And wasteful, as they are herbivores.

Margo, are you discovering an interest in the animal kingdom?

No. Theo, you know everything, why won't my Countess leave her villa?

This is, of course, agoraphobia, from the Greek -- agorafovia, hooray!

Fear of the marketplaces.

That's so odd. I love shopping.

The fear is of the open space, rather than the market.

Oh. So how can I cure her?

It can stem from feeling out of control,

so reassurance and relaxation may help.

Good. Thank you.

- But the brain is a complex organ, which... - She's gone.

I don't think Durrell brains are that complex.

Sven and I have decided to get married in two weeks.

Why? Are you pregnant?

No!

We just want to do it soon because, well, it's romantic and fun.

No, you can't, we still have our doubts.

That's not long enough to find a dress.

Oh, I've been married once, Margo, I'll just find something suitable

and stick a carnation on it.

You were talking about your dress, weren't you?

No. Not entirely.

- Congratulations, Mrs Durrell. - Well, thank you, Nancy.

Why wait? Strike while the iron's hot.

There's no time like the present.

What is this, platitudes day?

So, why are you and Nancy rowing?

- I'm glad you brought that up. - Oh, dear.

Nancy feels, and, well, I agree with her, but less so...

- Oh, bloody hell, Larry. - OK, we...

.. by which I mean Nancy, but a proportion of me...

.. want to find our own place to live.

No, you don't.

- Well... - We have fun here, don't we, the five of us?

Six.

The six of us, we... we have fun, when we're not arguing.

- Was this Nancy's idea? - Everything's changing, anyway,

- with you marrying Sven. - But the important things, th-th-the

being together, that's not changing.

And you can't afford to move out, Larry, you're broke.

So are you.

I... I can write for money.

I'm sad, too.

Erm... just in case this helps at all,

we think it's fine if Larry leaves.

- We do. - Yeah.

Thank you.

Morning, Nancy.

- Hello, Mrs Durrell. - I brought you some tea.

- Nice cup of rosie. - Thank you.

So, er... I hear you and Larry are thinking about

- finding a place of your own? - Yes.

- Now, it's not because -- - Look, I completely understand.

My concerns are broader.

Oh?

I suppose I'm thinking, does Nancy, a bright young thing,

really want to bury herself away on a -- let's face it,

a primitive Mediterranean island?

Well, you have.

Larry likes it here.

Yes, and he writes really well on Corfu.

So why are you suggesting I take him away?

No, I was just talking about you.

Oh.

See, you're very young to settle down.

And this is going to sound horrid,

but I don't believe Larry's got other women out of his system.

Mr Zookeeper!

- Have a goat. - Thanks, Sven.

And...