Still Life

Thank you, Father.

See you soon, Mr. May.

Loved the music, Mr. May.

Great choice.

Who shall it be today, Mr. May?

Mr. Sandberg, please.

Here's Mr. Sandberg.

Coming up to two months now.

Just the one?

Just Mr. Sandberg, thank you.

We'll give the others a little more time.

You never know.

Good morning, Mr. May. - Good morning, Mr. White.

They're piling up in there, Mr. May.

I'm just expecting some news

for Mr. Radulovitz and Mrs. Casement.

I'm very optimistic.

Mr. Radulovitz has been on the shelf two good months.

What about the others?

Come the summer, they'll be sharing bunks.

We do have leads.

Not every door is shut.

There may still be someone!

She was found two days ago.

Someone saw the cat in the street, leaving.

"To my little Susie."

"Happy birthday, Mum."

I was told there was no family.

In over 10 years I've never seen anyone.

The postmark is last year.

"Monday, went to the shops."

"Bought some fish. She liked it."

"Tuesday, the shops." It's all the same.

A-ha, here you are.

"Dear Mum, thank you so much for my wonderful present."

So she had a daughter?

"Please write again soon. Love you with all my heart."

Ah. "Susie."

Susie's the cat.

Look. It's from the cat.

It's signed with a little paw.

Some people, eh?

Please call these people.

Anything they won't take can be thrown away.

London Borough of Kennington,

Client Services, John May speaking.

Mr. Radulovitz.

Yes! And you are?

Mr. Radley.

And your connection with...

His son?

But your sur...

You've changed it?

Right. Great.

Thank you very much for calling. Great.

That's just... Just wonderful.

Unfortunately, as you know, your father has passed away. Yes.

Died six weeks ago.

Well, you were contact... Well, actually, in this office,

we're charged with tracing the relatives

of those who passed away in the borough.

And, failing that...

Yes. Yes, your fath...

Uh, no, no, there's no obligation for the next of kin to pay for the funeral.

No, you don't.

Indeed.

There is no obligation to attend, but...

If I may say so... I understand, Mr. Radu...

I mean, Mr. Radley.

Your father Mr. Radulovitz might not have been

the best of fathers, but, if I...

What do I... My family?

No, I don't have a...

But surely, now that he's passed away, his children should...

But to have found a father after all these years...

I would...

Wouldn't you want your children, his grandchildren, to know?

It's not too late.

Uh, no. I... I know he's dead, but...

You're right.

I wouldn't know.

And would you be able to think of anyone

who might have had contact?

Someone who might at least want to be present at the funeral?

No.

And you... You wouldn't...

No.

Very well, Mr. Radulovitz.

I'm, I'm sorry, Mr. Radley.

I understand. Thank you.

Good-bye.

Who says it's my dog? How do you know it's his piss?

That dog is always out here, always.

I only have to open my door and he rushes in my house.

Are you some sort of dog piss expert?

Have a look up the wall. Look how high it is.

I only got a little dog.

Yes, yes. I would like to confirm

that a package addressed to Miss Dawn Harvey...

What was in it?

Well, why do you need to know?

Ashes. The ashes of Mr. George Harvey.

What kind of ashes?

Excuse me, am I speaking to Australia Post,

Yeperenye Shopping Center, 13 Cactus Street, Alice Springs?

Uh, what else? Let me see.

He has a blue paw

and there's a gray mark on...

Ah! Now, this could help. There's a...

He has a tattoo on his right ear of...

Well, as I said, we found the dog next to the body.

I mean, in the apartment of Mr. Didion.

And we thought that someone involved with dog racing

might know the dog, and therefore, the owner.

We are here to celebrate the life of Jane Ford,

a woman who enjoyed life for all it could bring.

She was born in the summer of 1945,

as peace finally came to the world, in Scarborough.

The only daughter of Jack and Nora Ford.

And what a joy it must have been for them to hold her.

The lovely, maybe unexpected fruit of a rare reunion in those turbulent times.

She grew to enjoy what life most readily offered,

the warmth of a sunny day at the beach,

a simple yet tasteful necklace,

a new stick of red lipstick.

She was passionate about dance, flamenco in particular,

and always looked gorgeous when stepping out

on the dance floor in her red dress.

Later in life, her love of animals

made her care for her sweet cat, Susie,

with whom she shared many happy years,

always celebrating Christmas together in great style.

Just you again, Mr. May?

Afraid so.

Six in this one already. This is the last one.

Got yourself a cracking spot there, Mr. May.

By the time it's your turn,

those branches will be shading anyone who comes to visit you.

Good to plan this kind of thing.

Uncle Fred ended up in Surbiton.

I'm sure he wouldn't have liked that one bit.

London Borough of Kennington, Client Services.

Good afternoon, Mr. Huxley.

Very well, thank you.

Found today.

No point of contact.

Yes. I will go this afternoon.

And the address?

The neighbors complained about the smell.

The police said it must've been weeks.

I didn't really know him.

Bit of a loner. You know the type.

So you live opposite, eh?

Did you know him?

No, I didn't know him.

I only get involved if there's a problem.

Boiler. Something like that.

You better wear these.

I can't see a record player.

No. He probably sold it for a couple of drinks.

Oh.

Ah! What about that, eh?

Time stops for no one.

Here he is. Billy Stoke.

I can't say I recognize him.

They all look the same, don't they?

Call the health department.

They need to clean and clear this place as soon as possible.

Except for the carriage clock.

That goes to the pawn brokers on the High Street.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Good-bye now.

No family again, Mr. May?

Maybe.

Mr. May.

Mr. Pratchett.

Could I see you in my office, please?

As I said, your department is being amalgamated with that of the Dulwich office,

here represented by Miss Pilger.

And from today the coroner is referring all cases to the new office.

Dulwich. - Mmm-hmm.

I guess I could buy a bicycle.

Oh, no, you don't understand.

You won't need to travel, that's the point.

Uh, given the current pressure on finances,

the council is undertaking a new round of efficiency savings.

We're letting you go.

You're letting me go?

Mr. May, in the two months I've been here,

I've been able to observe you at work.

And there's no doubt you're very thorough,

but, if I may say so, you're also very slow,

not to say expensive,

given the number of funerals you choose

to organize as opposed to cremations.

But when there are indications of religious...

John, you've been with the council for how long?

Twenty-two years.

Twenty-two years.

Well, I think you should see this as an opportunity