Breeders

- No. - No?

- No. -

- Dad? - No.

So, I can safely take that as a no, can I?

- Yes. - Okay. Fair enough.

Sorry, Paul, but it really is a straight--

Mm. Dad, I heard. Thank you.

How's the revision going, girls?

We can still study and look at our phones.

No, I... I know. I wasn't being sarky.

I'm just impressed you started so early.

Have you had any breakfast, Grace?

- Ava made me tea and toast. - Classic.

Right, my first day at my new gig, so wish me luck.

Good luck. See you later.

Thanks. Have a good revision day.

Are you gonna do anything fun as well?

Might go shopping and get some chips.

Hmm. That's also classic.

And are we gonna meet Holly this half-term?

- Not sure. We'll see. - Okay. Right. See you later.

- Bye. - Bye.

Hasn't Holly been to your house yet?

No, I see her at her place or at her dad's,

or at Granny and Granddad's sheltered housing

when she's working.

The whole "meet the parents" thing gives Holly the ick.

What about the "meet the friends" thing?

How do you mean?

I still haven't met her yet. Really like to.

She obviously means a lot to you.

No, sure. Yeah. Let's do that soon.

Great.

Oh, hey, Keysha. How are you this morning?

Well, if you're asking as my boss, I'm great, thanks.

And if I'm asking as your friend?

- Hangover from hell. - Ah.

Can barely function.

Probably have a little sleep at lunchtime.

Well, I won't tell your boss.

Thanks. He can be a real tool.

So I've heard, yeah.

Morning, Paul. How's it going?

Uh, pretty good, thanks. Yeah, anything I need to know?

Oh, you already know everything, Paul.

You're like the Borg. Is it the Borg? Star Trek?

Oh, Christ, I don't... I don't know.

I don't really know science fiction.

- I've never seen Star Wars. -

- I've never seen The Godfather. - That's fucking mad.

Oh, uh, by the way, the new kid in the office?

- He's pretty good. - Yeah. He's... Ah.

Actually, no, I'm not a fan, really. Hello, mate.

Ah, thanks, Luke. You're a star.

And the rest of these are for the boardroom?

Yes, there's a meeting going on,

but you can just knock and go in.

Right. Okay. Just sort of knock?

And sort of go in, yeah.

- - Um... hey, you're doing great.

- What's this? Day three? - Yeah.

- Yeah. - Yeah. Good to have a half-term

- job that actually pays. - Yeah.

Feel like a proper working man.

- Good. - Grown up.

- - Like a dad, almost.

Maybe. Um...

[muffled, indistinct conversation]

So, just a knock, and then I go in?

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

[indistinct conversation continues]

No, trust me, Luke.

You're gonna get into somewhere great.

I'm not even sure I wanna get in anywhere.

You know, I'm gonna be a dad.

Maybe I should just get a job and not go to uni.

No, get some offers in first, mate, then decide.

Don't... Don't rush into anything.

Dad, can I tell you something

Dad, can I tell you something I've noticed this week?

I've noticed this week?

Yeah, go on.

I've been watching you at work, and you seem...

happier.

Than?

- Than you are at home. - Oh.

You know, everyone really likes you,

and you seem really up and sort of "on" all the time.

Yeah. That's...

I don't love everyone at work, do I?

Good, because that would be weird.

No, but you know what I mean? I... I love everyone at home,

and so things can feel hugely...

...important, and I can get stressed and angry.

At work, the stakes are much lower.

I mean, I'd... I'd be sad if one of them died, but...

It's just nice to see you happy.

Hmm.

I'm not in misery all the time at home, am I?

No, but--

Haunting the kitchen like a fucking Dementor.

Right. We should get back. I'll ask for the bill.

- Oh, no, I'll get this. - No, don't be silly.

No, no, no. I'd... I'd like to.

I'm earning money now, temporarily.

- Yeah? - Mm.

Okay. Thank you.

This is the first time I've bought you a meal.

This is the first time I've bought you a meal. Yes, it is. Finally...

Yes, it is. Finally...

Finally a return on my fucking investment.

Thank you, mate.

- Mm. Not enough salt. - Too much salt.

- How are we even friends? - It's a mystery.

Can we quickly go back this way? I just realized...

- Yeah. - ...I forgot to get any shampoo.

- Sure. - Ava!

Hey! Hi.

- Is that Holly? - Yeah, yeah, that's Holly.

- Hi. -

- This is Grace. - Hello, Grace.

Ava talks about you all the time.

- Can I nick a chip? - Sure.

Thanks. Now we're friends.

Ooh. Not enough salt.

- Exactly. See? - Let's get some more.

- Well, we like our little flat. - You don't, Mum.

You're always going on about how much you hate it there.

The lifts don't work. You can't use the stairs.

You don't feel safe. There's kids out front smoking weed.

We don't want to go into a home.

No, it's... but it's not a home, Dad. It's...

It's an apartment in a sheltered housing complex, right?

You live independently,

but there's people there to look out for you.

We get by quite all right as we are.

No, you don't. Sorry, Dad, but you... you just don't.

You've both had falls.

But not proper falls. We've always got back up again.

That shower of yours-- impossible to get in and out of.

You.... you were scammed 600 quid

- by that twat over the boiler. - They caught us unawares.

Look, I do what I can, right,

but it's just not practical for me to look after you.

Well, we're sorry to be such a burden.

- Oh, fuck off. - Oi!

Sorry. I'm sorry, Mum.

But this... this place won't be available for long.

Think about it, please.

If you don't do this now, you're gonna regret staying put.

- - Do you want another one?

- Ta. - Thanks.

Mm.

We're not movin'.

No, love, we're not moving.

Ava's grandparents are the best people

at the sheltered housing place.

How long have they been there, Ava?

Six months, just over.

Oh, I love 'em, but there's so many amazing people there.

- Have you met Len? - No, I don't think so.

- Have you met Len? - No, I don't think so. - He drove Bob Marley. -

- He drove Bob Marley. -

Fucking Bob Marley.

He drove him in London in, like, 1973 or something.

- That's incredible. -

There are so many amazing people there

with such amazing stories. You just have to listen.

Right. I mean, although, presumably...

Oh, a lot of them do talk total shit, yes.

- - But don't we all sometimes?

I do. When I get nervous, I feel I need to fill the silence

- - ...and just talk rubbish

until everyone just walks away.

Ava always knows the right thing to say.

Do I?

Yes. You're a genius.

What's it like being best friends with a genius?

What's it like going out with a genius?

Amazing.

- Hey. - Got a uni offer.

- Oh, wow. Where from? - Um, Stockwell Park College.

It's a part-time media studies course. I'll be in London.

I can work evenings and weekends and be with Maya and the baby.

- It's ideal. - Right.

I'm so relieved I know what I'm going to do.

Honestly, I was... I was quite worried.

You're accepting the offer?

Yeah.

Right. Is it a good course?

- It's fine. - Mm-hmm.

Fine, but not good or...

It's what I want.

I'm gonna say yes, Dad. I'm 18. It's my decision.

Yep. Yes.

- I'm gonna text Maya and Mum. - Okay.

So, I've looked it up,

and I don't wanna be too negative,

but it does look like