Joan

"Brass in Pocket" by Pretenders.

Hello?

Yes. I'll be straight down.

Yeah. Checking out this afternoon. Thank you. Bye.

For fuck's sake! Where the fuck did that go?

- (Mark) Ms Sullivan. - (Joan) Thank you.

- (music concludes) - (seagulls squawking)

"Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz.

- Here you go, love. - (Kelly) Thanks, Mummy.

K-E-L-L-Y.

- Kelly! - Oh, brilliant girl! (kisses)

- That's mine. - (laughs) You're crazy!

- Happy birthday! - (squeals)

- Hello, darling. - Gary's just dropping me at work.

He'll be back in ten minutes.

Daddy will put you to bed, okay?

- (engine revving) - (suspenseful music playing)

What? (laughs) Oh!

Gary, you're on the wrong side of the road!

- (Gary) Am I? - All right, Gary, Gary, Gary!

- (tyres screeching) - (horn honking)

Oh, my God! Slow down, slow down, slow down! Please, please, please!

Look in the back.

- Happy birthday, Joanie. - Oh, my God!

Gary! (exclaims) Where'd you get it?

Come on, Joanie. You know not to ask.

Yeah, about the telly. But this, and the car?

- What'd you do? - (engine revving)

"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell.

- (indistinct chatter) - Are you done with this? Thank you.

- Bourbon? - And one for yourself.

- How many times? - I don't know. Tell me again.

We could just be friends, you know.

Ah, I think you want more than that. I can see it.

You a salesman?

Same again?

- (music concludes) - (Joan) Gary?

Gary?

Where have you been?

- You left Kell on her own. - (Gary gasps)

Where have you been?

I've got me on my toes for a bit, love.

What did you do?

What did you do?

Gary, what the hell did you do?

Hmm. Cheap. Who is she? Hmm?

Maybe I wanna screw a bird who don't expect me to mind a kid.

- Your kid. (grunts) - (ominous music playing)

- You keep your trap shut! - What could I say?

I don't know anything.

- I'll change the locks. - (scoffs)

- (sombre music playing) - (pants)

I have to smash it with the rock again.

You know what? I think I've got it.

- (seagulls squawking) - (gasps) Oh!

- (Kelly) What's that? - I don't know.

- (laughs) - All right.

You see how many you can find.

See if you can find the prettiest, prettiest shell, okay?

Okay.

I'll be on the bench, okay? Find the prettiest one you can.

Cute kid.

Thanks. I thought you lived in Ashford.

Have car. Can travel.

Shouldn't you be selling windows?

You're trying to soften me up for a set right now.

Who are you?

Just a friend. Someone to chat to.

- You're undercover. - Slow down.

Look, I know Gary's done a big job, okay? He's in trouble.

- Bollocks. - Talk to me.

Okay? Tell me where he is.

I can help you. I can keep you safe.

- He's away on business. - Oh, come on.

Sports cars and fur coats? It's not rocket science, Joan.

- Hey, talk to me, for her sake. - I'm not a grass.

Joan, come on.

Kelly, it's getting cold. Let's go home.

Oh, should we go and get hot chocolate, Kell?

Yes.

- (ominous music playing) - Kell?

Kelly? You all right?

- (floorboards creaking) - (door latch rattling)

Gary's not here.

He... He hasn't told me anything. I swear.

- You're wasting your time. - (lighter flickers)

Get up.

- (breathes shakily) - He owes us money, Joan.

- Where is it? - I don't know. (breathes shakily)

- (thuds) - (grunts, pants, sobs)

Where is he?

If I knew, I'd tell ya.

- You need to open up. - (Joan whimpering)

I said open it.

- Wider. - (whimpers)

- (Don) Now, close. - (sobs)

In the morning, your brain's blown out,

- imagine little Kelly's face. - Oh, he's got a girlfriend.

He stays out. He'll be back in the morning.

Well, let's hope Gary comes home for breakfast, then.

Otherwise, it'll be little Kelly who gets it.

- (door creaks shut) - (sobs)

- (suspenseful music playing) - (Joan breathing heavily)

Kelly. Kelly, wake up. Come on, love.

You need to wake up, all right? We're going out.

- Wait, your nose is bleeding. - It's all right. You get dressed.

Here you go. Good girl. (sniffles)

- (seagulls squawking) - Where are we going now?

A safe place.

It's okay.

So, you've just been made homeless,

and you want to place your daughter in emergency care?

- I don't want to, obviously. - (telephone ringing in distance)

Of course.

And there's nowhere else you can go for a bit? Your parents?

Get hold of my old files. See what I went through as a kid.

What about a sibling?

I've, er, I've got a sister in London,

but I can't take her there.

Is there something else going on, Joan, that I need to know about?

- (softly) No. - Is Kelly in danger?

No. No. Not at all.

I just, er...

I just need... need a bit of a break.

It's okay.

That's what we are here for, to help people in trouble.

And it's only till I find a new flat,

and that won't be long, I promise. A few weeks.

We are gonna place her in a foster family.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't want her in a home.

I was in a home as a kid, and...

And it's definitely just temporary.

I... I won't... I won't lose her, will I?

- Promise me I won't lose her. - Of course not.

- Now, tell me a bit about Kelly. - (melancholy music playing)

She, er, she loves beans and nuggets.

She'll notice if you sneak any veg in.

Oh! (chuckles)

She hates scratchy jumpers.

She's a good girl.

She won't complain.

Look after her.

Of course we will.

There's your bag. Come here.

Hey.

My mummy... gave me this ring so I'd remember when we were apart.

- (sighs) - And look how pretty it is.

- It sparkles. - I want you to stay, Mummy.

- I know. I know. - (sobs)

- (knocking at door) - (door opens)

Hi. It's time to go.

Come here.

- (Kelly sobbing) - You'll be all right.

You'll be all right.

- Will you be all right, Mummy? - Of course I will, sweetheart.

Come here. (kisses)

Don't go, Mummy! Please don't go!

- (sobs) - (music rises)

"Time (Clock of the Heart)" by Culture Club.