"Bailey & Murray"
Inspired by Dom quote: "Mum, so young. She looks like you." Rachel: "No she doesn't." S02E07
(1995. Rachel, 15, stands in the washroom, wearing her school uniform. Her hair is pulled back tightly into a ponytail and she wets her toothbrush and begins the process of brushing her teeth. She hears her father's footsteps approaching. He comes into her peripheral and she keeps on her task.)
Rachel: Almost done. Just my teeth. (She mumbles with the brush still in her mouth. He scowls at her looking her up and down. She takes the brush from her mouth.) I can step out now though, if you're bursting.
Dad: (sighs) I'm not. (Rachel looks him over as he leans in the doorway. She resumes her task a little more quickly intimidated and annoyed by his continued presence. He watches her and tisks.) Sometimes I wonder why you keep on. (Rachel looks at his eyes through the reflection of the mirror. He wasn't drunk and it wasn't residual drunkenness from the night before. He seemed sober.) I look at ya and wonder, why do you bother? What do you get out of it?
Rachel: (spits in the sink and rinses after herself.) What, dental hygiene?
Dad: Don't take the piss.
Rachel: Sorry. I'm not. But you're not making any sense Dad. (She grabs anything that is hers, mostly the best way to avoid getting in trouble was to be as invisible as possible. She steps toward the door and he doesn't budge. She bows her head and he looks down his nose at her.) Excuse me. (He steps back and she exits. He turns watching her down the hallway and then steps into the sitting room where he follows her almost all the way to her corner. She continues tidying her things and getting her school bag from under the sofa.)
Dad: Because if I were you, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't see what the point was. I wouldn't bother.
Rachel: Bother with what?
Dad: Keeping on.
Rachel: Keeping on wha- (her face gets suddenly hot when she realizes that's exactly all he means. He's asking why she's bothering to continue to be. She forces down the knot in her throat and stands hurling her bag over her shoulder.)
Dad: I mean, to me, it seems pointless. (She attempts to step around him but he grips her arm.) Not so fast. I'm not finished. (She drops her head and looks to her feet.) And then, I remember, while I'm looking at ya, you don't think like me. You don't think like the rest of us. Like normal people. You've got her spirit.
Rachel: Who?
Dad: Her. Ya mum! You're just like her. You've got her spirit and that's why you do it. (Shouts) Isn't it?
Rachel: Daddy, I-
Dad: To spite me. You do it to spite me! Because you're a spiteful bitch, just like her. (With her eyes downcast, she can see him reach for his waist where his belt would be.) Where's my belt?
Rachel: Dad, I've already got my uniform on. Remember you-
Dad: Get that cardi off! (He begins searching the room for his belt.)
Rachel: You promised Allison remember?
Dad: (sighs) It's in my bloody room.
Rachel: Not before school, remember?
Dad: What did I say? Get that cardi off, I want you to feel what being spiteful gets ya. (Points) Don't you dare move. I'll be right back. (He starts off to his room and Allison appears, still with sleep in her eyes.)
Allison: Did either of you wake Dom?
Rachel: I tried.
Allison: (sighs and then shouts) Dominic. (Their Dad walks past her to his room.)
Rachel: Ali, tell Dad. Remind him that he promised you.
Allison: What? (Bangs on Dom's door.) Dominic!
Rachel: You made him promise, not before school.
Allison: (looks into the doorway of their father's room, where he's finally found his belt.) Dad, what're you doing?
Dad: Ali-
Allison: Put that away. You promised.
Dad: I was looking at her and she-
Allison: Well, just stop looking at her then! Lay down. You had a late night. (She closes his bedroom door. She shoves Rachel to the side.) Get going to school.
Rachel: Don't you want me to walk with Dom?
Allison: He's gonna be late. I'm just going to have to give him a ride. But you can get going. No need for you to both be late.
Rachel: Right. (Smiles) Cheers Ali. (Allison very briefly hugs her. Rachel begins to the door and Allison grabs her book bag causing her to turn around.)
Allison: And whatever you were doing to irritate Dad, just, cut it out. Alright?
Rachel: (bows her head, knowing Ali doesn't know the implication.) I can't. (She can't help feeling overwhelmed with emotion again. Shouts.) I won't!
Allison: Oiy, don't you shout at me.
Rachel: You're just as bloody awful as him. (Begins to the door.)
Allison: I just saved your hide two seconds ago.
Rachel: Oh, my fucking hero! Bless! (She storms out the house slamming the door behind her.)
(Meanwhile, on another side of Manchester. Gill Murray emerges from her shower, towel wrapped around, her husband and 1.5year old still lay asleep in their bed. She smiles for a moment at that sight but then looks to the time.)
Gill: Dave, get up.
Dave: We were but-
Gill: What're you going to do if you miss the nursery drop off? Eh? I've got to be in Hulme. I'm heading the opposite way.
Dave: I know, but, I mean, look at him. (Gill steps over and together they look at their peacefully sleeping toddler. Dave sits up and puts an arm around his wife's tiny, towel wrapped waist. She was already back down to her pre-baby weight. She carried very small and put on almost no weight other than the babies.) I still can't believe we made that.
Gill: (kisses his temple, marveling at their kid.) We did alright.
Dave: (turns to kiss her lips. She returns the kiss) We could always make another. (He tugs at the towel and she grips it firmly.)
Gill: Dave! I seriously do not have the time.
Dave: C'mon.
Gill: And neither do you!
Dave: Fine.
Gill: And, even if that weren't the case, (she heads to the wardrobe) He's literally right there.
Dave: Mm. I'll keep it up and you keep it down. (He puts a finger to his lips, as if to shush her.)
Gill: Something might actually be wrong with you, if you think that would be ok. Now, get up, get going. I don't want to have to worry about whether you're going to get him to nursery in time, while I'm on the M06.
Dave: So, don't.
Gill: (Warningly) Da-ave.