Waterland

Once upon a time, children,

there was a history teacher

who came home after giving a class on the French revolution

to find that his wife,

a woman he'd loved since they were children,

had herself committed a revolutionary...

A miraculous act.

Mary?

Mary?

Mary?

Children, I should have seen it coming.

Three months before, we'd been out walking.

Just one of our usual walks,

one of the many things we've enjoyed

in the new life we've built together...

Over the 20 years we've spent in your country.

Yes, he was naughty, wasn't he?

Well, he wasn't that bad, were you, paddy?

I mean, to be fair on him.

Tom, do you remember...

After the war...

you know, when we met again...

do you remember me telling you once that...

It would take a miracle for me to have a baby?

Yeah, yep, I remember.

Well, it's happened.

The miracle's happened.

Love, you can't.

I mean, you...

I'm going to have a baby.

God has said that I will.

Wait.

You'll see.

Why can't you accept that you can't have a baby?

You'll never be able to.

Face that.

I should tell them at work I'm leaving,

probably fairly soon.

What do you think?

I was thinking...

I'm losing her.

She's slipping away from me,

away to where I most feared to follow.

Mary...

Back...

Mary...

Back into the past.

What, are you scared?

Come on, Mary.

I don't like this.

We've done it before.

But we never had your brother watching.

What's wrong with him?

He's a potato head, isn't he?

So?

I don't like him seeing me.

You're such a wall, Shirley.

Now your... Your knickers.

Yeah. Your knickers.

We're equal now.

You've got to do something first.

Go on, Shirley. You ain't scared, are you?

Go on.

You shut up, Freddie Parr.

There.

You've had a feel.

Not bad?

That's not like we used to play it.

Bugger off. Nothing worth seeing.

Yeah. Bugger off.

Get lost.

You coming, Mary?

Go you on, Mary.

You first.

There's four of us.

Do you want me to choose?

Anyway, there's five of you, really.

Come you on, then.

Well?

I don't know.

That ain't fair.

That ain't right. You promised.

Unless... Unless you pass a test.

A test?

Swimming test.

Whoever swims the furthest underwater.

Underwater?

But I can't swim.

You'll just have to learn.

Come on.

Hurry up.

This ain't right. We made a bargain.

1...2... 3...

Go!

Yaah!

I won!

Tom!

Come on.

Tom!

I'm coming.

Come on.

Hey, come on, Freddie.

Grab a hold.

You all right, Freddie?

Me swim, too?

Yes, Dick. You can swim, too.

What is this...

No...

Dick!

Where is he?

Dick!

Dick?

He's gone.

Christ. Did you see?

Dick won, Mary.

He won the game.

So?

So?

So?

Well, you'll have to show him.

Go on, Dick.

Mary's waiting.

Her knickers are going to come down.

Come on, Dick.

She's got to show someone.

Here's your chance, Mary.

Come on, Mary. Loosen up for Dick.

Come on, Dick...

Where you going, Dick?

Dick?

Tom?

Hey.

Morning.

Morning, Lewis.

If a total stranger were to look at these two cars,

which one would he say belonged to the boss?

I don't know how you do it, Tom.

No kids.

Is that it?

You must be a lucky man then?

How is Mary?

She's fine.

Good, good, good.

Rebecca and I were just talking

about how long it's been since we've seen her.

How about dinner next weekend?

Not Saturday. School board meeting.

How about Saturday after Saturday dinner?

What do you say?

That would be very... very nice, Lewis. Thank you very much.

It's a date then. Good.

I'll look forward to that.

Maggie Ruth, light of my life.

Mr. Scott, keeper of my destiny.

Where were we last Tuesday's school council meeting?

I had this history test.

Weren't we talking about how leadership brings responsibility?

Remember, in the French revolution,

people were looking to the past

just as much as to the future.

And when they took up the cry, "back to nature,"

whose cry was that... Originally?

Come on. Which famous thinker?

Price.

A surprise and a pleasure.

Who was it?

Well, what's the point?

You see, what,

you're talking about something

happening in France 200 years ago?

Thank you, price, but if you don't know the answer,

just keep your hands...

no. I know the answer.

I'm just asking you what the point is.

The only thing interesting I see about history

is that it's about to end.

But not today, price.

All right?

Joe?

Vanessa?

Sorry.

Freddie?

I'm sorry. Stephen?

Somebody help Freddie!

O.K.

For God's sake, somebody!

Come on. Somebody.

All right, price.

Tell us...

How is history going to come to an end,

if you could be specific?

Well, take your choice.

Well, I like history.

I don't care if it's got no point.

You go ahead, Mr. Crick.

Yes, sir. You don't...

you don't care.

Just the fucking world's going to end, right?

And you don't...

Are we finished with the French revolution, Mr. Crick?