A Kind of Madness

I'm sorry.

I thought that you were trying to drown yourself.

Were you?

It's not what you think it is.

- Really? - Yeah.

Yeah, really. I swear I'm fine. You can go now.

I was doing a thing.

What thing?

When I was 11, I almost drowned on this beach.

Okay, so…

I don't wanna forget what it felt like.

To drown?

To die.

Wow. That's morbid.

Yeah, but it's also kind of beautiful.

I'm sorry I ruined your death rehearsal.

It's fine, I forgive you.

- Are you gonna try again? - As soon as you leave.

Sticking with the drowning or…

Yeah, I haven't quite nailed it yet, so…

Yeah, but that was my fault.

Well, you're welcome to join me.

No, thanks.

I'm still very much trying to figure out how to be alive.

Well, good luck with that.

Good luck with your thing, too.

I'm Dan, by the way.

What's your name?

Come on.

Hey.

- I'm Ellie. - Hey, Ellie.

Okay.

So you're trying to die?

- It's easy. - Yeah?

Just let go.

Here we are.

This is me.

What do you think?

I want to be this flower.

Ellie.

- Will you marry me? - Yes.

- Yeah? - Yes, yes.

You know what, Dad? This is happening.

I'm getting out of here

and I don't fucking care what any of you say!

I hate it here!

Fuck all of you!

This place sucks and you never understood me, Mom!

None of you did!

Fuck this!

It's okay. It's just you and me now.

Always.

Dan?

Hello?

Excuse me.

Where are we?

They call it memory lane.

I don't understand.

We're in a madhouse, dear.

There's no way out.

And Mr. Brent is still throwing toilet rolls from the third story window.

Setting them free, he calls it.

I mean, just set them free through our plumbing system.

I don't think I'm asking much.

Excuse me.

Yes, dear.

What am I doing here?

Where's Dan?

- Answer me. - Okay, calm down.

We go through this every morning.

No, no, no, no, no. There's been some kind of mistake.

I'm afraid not.

I don't belong here.

Okay, okay, you know what? Let's go have a cup of coffee.

I don't want fucking coffee.

I want to get out of here!

Get me out of here!

Get me out! Get me out of here!

Get me fucking out of here!

- Enough now. - Let me out.

Enough now.

- Just look at me and breathe. - Don't touch me.

It's okay. You'll be okay.

Don't…

Don't fucking touch me.

It's fine. It's okay.

Shh.

Why are you doing this to me?

We're trying to help you.

You're exactly where you're supposed to be.

No… No, I'm not.

I'm here to take care of you.

I don't want you to take fucking care of me!

I want to get out now!

For fuck sakes.

Hello, Madala.

- Hello, elder. How are you? - I am.

- You are, okay. - Can you open?

- Okay, elder. - Okay.

Don't be alarmed. We've had quite the morning.

It's good you came.

You think so?

I think the heart always remembers, even when the mind forgets.

Sweetheart.

Thank God you're okay.

Yeah, I'm okay. I'm good.

What am I doing in this place?

They know how to take care of you here.

They fucking well don't.

Is it because of the accident?

Do you remember that?

Yes, but why, why? Did something happen to me?

Yeah.

- You started to… - To what?

Forget things.

Forget what?

Everything, sweetheart.

That is such bullshit.

I remember.

Look, it's okay if you don't remember.

I do, I do.

- I remem-- - It doesn't matter if you don't remember.

I do.

I remember how we met on the beach at Walker Bay.

You tried to save me.

We fell in love. We got engaged.

It's been us against the world ever since.

You and me.

Dan and Ellie, always.

No.

No, no, look at me. Look, look… Just look at me.

Look at me.

I am not crazy.

I am not sick.

I am still me.

And I don't belong in this place, and you know it.

And where are we off to?

We're going for a smoke.

You don't smoke.

I just started.

I don't think that's wise.

Well, then I'll just light up in here.

For God's sake.

Just follow me.

Bloody attitude.

This way.

Okay, over here we have the smoking section.

That is…

- Help me! Stop them! - Piss off.

- Mrs. Hart, please. - Piss off.

- Please, Mrs. Hart, please! - You fucking old cow.

Piss off…

- Piss off, piss off! - Ow! Stop it.

- That's not very nice, Mrs. Hart. - Piss off!

- Mrs. Hart! - Piss off.

- Go! Go away! - Mrs…

- Mrs. Hart, please. - Piss off.

Please. Oh, my God.

Get out before it's too late!

Whoo-hoo!

Hands, guys. Come, come, come.

Mmm-mmm. Needs more salt.

- Okay. - I'll do it.

I've got it. Don't worry about it.

But this time, she's a Rottweiler.

And she takes a giant steaming shit on my brand new Persian rug.

I'm sorry.

Um, who?

- My mother, the Rottweiler. - Of course.

And why do you think you're having this dream?

- Everyone's on holiday. - Olivia.

What?

What? Spit it out.

It's your brother.

Lucy, please pick up. Dad's kidnapped Mom.

Elder, shall I fill?

Fill it.

Check the oil up front.

Make sure the tires are 2.2.

Then we're on the road.

Okay, yes elder.

You're still trying to save me, huh?

Sweetheart, this time, I think you saved me.

If patients leave the facility, they need to follow protocol.

What made your father do this?

He wasn't entirely on board with bringing her here.

I see.

Look, it's never easy for children to see their parents turn frail.

But you need to be tough with them, like they were with you.

They need nurturing now.

Hmm.

Keep her room. We'll bring her back, I promise.

Well, you'd better get to it.

We found these under her mattress.

Oh, my God.

What?

- Oh, my God. - What?

It's her antipsychotics.

We can hit the road now. I've got a lot of lekker stuff here.

Hey, Brother. Where has my wife gone?