Still

STILL:

Whenever I was away.

Jobs, meetings, whatever.

Whenever there was

A pause, a silence,

my thoughts would just

Drift towards him.

He was always the first thing

That came into my head.

Sometimes the only thing.

He would just be there

In front of me.

His crooked smile.

And bow legs.

So involved

In everything around him.

It took my breath away.

It made me feel warm,

accomplished.

I was so happy.

Hello, Tom.

He always used to ask after

You when you were gone.

- I was his dad.

- No, you know, you...

You were the one he wanted

To make notice him.

All those dead-end jobs, Tom.

I thought you did

Them to escape.

- Escape?

- Yeah, from Steven and me.

You know, the dirty

Nappies, the tantrums,

The bad school reports,

The lip.

Now?

Well, you would be

Wasting your time.

Looking in Vanity Fair.

But if you get a glimpse of the

Teachers' union monthly journal,

Well,

There are some lovely head shots

Of the area reps in there.

Done with real anger.

- What are these?

- You remember Stanley James, worked at Maxim.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, he's putting together this book of

Photographs of children through the 20th century.

Innocence and Age.

He was looking for an editor.

Said I would be interested. Oof.

Sucker for punishment.

So... how is work going for you?

Good.

The BMA have published

my first paper,

And two research centers have

approached me about consultancy work,

You know, keeps me busy.

Stops me thinking about Steven.

Yes.

I do not know, Tom. Sometimes

I think I should...

Live more like you, you know.

- It is tough out there for a single woman.

- Yeah?

Yeah. Even in these

enlightened times.

Unlike you, who.

Hooks up with the first

attractive woman who he meets.

What makes you think?

That is the case.

Slim little thing. Huh?

You are happy?

Yes.

Do you really want to?

Go down that road.

Well, I think

I would need another drink.

Thanks.

Sh*t. I am out of tonic.

Do you know what?

It is getting late.

I... I should go anyway.

No, it is all right. I will... I will nip

out to the off-license down at the corner.

- It will only take five minutes.

- Really?

Yeah.

Okay.

So.

It is all right. Do not worry.

It is all right. Go on. Go on.

It is good to see you.

Hello.

- Ed?

- Sadly, yeah.

Poker game at Dave tonight.

Do you fancy it?- Yes.

News to lift the spirits.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

- What time are we on?

- 8:
00, 8:30.

Nice, nice, nice,

nice, nice, nice, nice.

What?

You just barged into me. What?

Are not you going to apologize.

Bruv?

I was just walking

down the street.

It was an accident. I am sorry.

- All right. Cool. Peace. Yeah?

- Yeah.

They argued.

Most of the witnesses

Thought nothing about it.

A second later,

They look around,

He has slumped on the ground

Holding his stomach.

Well.

What line are you taking?

Lot of gangs around here.

Young kids. Start there.

But between you and me.

That is no story.

Football match.

You play.

I am a... watcher really.

Tom. It is I.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I am sorry. I...

Rachel. Tom's ex.

- Christina. Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you too.

- I have heard lots about you.

- I am sure.

I bet Tom's never

mentioned me before.

- You look a bit shocked.

- No, no, no.

He is... He has told

me lots about you.

Where is he? We...

Tom was out of tonic, Therefore,

he has gone to the off-license.

Well, there he is.

Hi.

Therefore, you two have

Met each other then. Yeah?

Yeah.

- Everything all right?

- Yep.

Yeah.

Do you know what? I, um,

really should be going, so...

Sure, I cannot tempt you.

No, no, it's fine, thank you.

- Really. Nice to meet you.

- You too.

Bye good to see you.

- Yeah. You too.

- Yeah.

- Be nice if we could do it again sometime.

- Yeah.

- All right, call me.

- I will.

- Take care.

- Bye.

- I guess that is the hard bit out of the way.

- Yeah.

Come on. You are

breaking my heart. Joseph.

- Jimmy.

- Jimmy.

- Come on. Stand still.

- Shut up.

Yeah? Come on.

Work with me, me old son.

Look, just...

Look, just...

Stand here. Look through there.

Just look in that.

Okay, hands down. Chin up.

Yeah?

Come on. Work with me, son.

I will make you a star.

I do not want to be a star.

Clearly.

Smile, Jimmy. Thank you.

There you go.

See. You are a natural.

Who would have thought? Okay.

Jimmy? Jimmy!

Stop. Stop. Slow down.

- F*** off! Let go!

- Slow down.

- Jimmy. Love. Please.

- F*** off! F*** off!

Okay, folks,

Nothing to see here.

Get back to class, please.

Here you go.

Sorry about that.

I would not worry about it.

Is everything all right?

Sorry?

With, Jimmy.

No, not really.

Not at all.

His brother died a few days ago.

Too soon to have him back.

His mum is coming to pick him up.

Dreadful.

Do you have any children,

Mr. Carver?

No.

Stabbed at a football match.

Some gang fight.

He was a pupil here too.

Bit of a wind-up merchant,

but good kid.

Lovely kid.

- Okay?

- Yeah.

Sorry to keep you. Mr.

It is Ed. Ed Taylor.

Mr. Taylor. My... My head is a bit

foggy, and I am not sleeping a lot.

Yes, of course.

Yes...

This is his last

School photograph.

It is the most recent one

I have got.

Thank you.

He hated having

his picture taken.

Listen. As soon as we've got a

copy, I will get it back to you.

Picture in the paper.

He always wanted that.

Do you want the envelope?

Yeah, yeah. That would be great.

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