- Brenda dumps Tom
- One of the Bridge Farm cows is limping
- Pat is for turning?
- No cows at Bridge Farm
Brenda dumps Tom
Brenda called Tom, demanding to meet him at lunchtime.
Tom tried to reason that he need to get a bed ready to drill the carrots. But Brenda insisted.
When he gets in, Brenda asks him to sit …
[Brenda] "What I want to say … this is really hard … I’m so sorry …”
[Tom] “What?”
[Brenda] “The problem is, I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
[Tom] “I don’t follow.”
[Brenda] “Us, Tom. It’s just, not working, I want it to, I wanted it to, but it just doesn’t anymore.”
[Tom] “Brenda, what are you saying?”
[Brenda] “I do love you, but we can’t go on like this. I think we have to split up.”
[Tom] “What?”
[Brenda] “Please, Tom …"
[Tom, penny finally dropping] “We’re engaged,. You're going to be my wife!"
[Brenda] “No. I’m so sorry.”
[Brenda, now incredulous] “You and me. We’re Tom and Brenda, we’re a team. A great team. We’ve got our whole future mapped out.”
[Brenda] “That’s part of the problem, because the truth is what you want and what I want are two different things.”
[Tom] “You’ve never mentioned anything like this before.”
[Brenda] “Yes I have, I’ve tried to make it work, I’ve wanted to make it work so badly because you're a great guy and I care about you, so much.”
[Tom, moving in pleading posture] “I care about you too. I love you. Brenda …"
[Brenda] “I know in my heart our relationship isn’t working, and I have to listen to me heart. Do you understand.”
[Tom] “Listen to me. I love you, and I want to marry you, so much. I’ll do whatever it takes, Bren. I’ll fight for you.”
[Brenda] “I wish it was that easy. I wish it was.”
[Tom] “Look, I know I'm not the easiest person, and I do go on about the business, I know that. But I can change.”
[Brenda] “I don’t want you to change, you’re who you are and you’re wonderful!”
[Tony] “So wonderful that you’re breaking up with me … maybe you need some space … have some space and see how you feel in a week or two … I can’t let you go, not just like that. I won’t. We have a future together. We’ve seen it. We’ve even chosen a place to build our house, to raise our children …”
[Brenda] “That’s the hardest thing. I know you want believe me, but it’s true. I don’t want to have children … I’ve tried to want to because I know you do so much, but it’s something I’ve known about myself for a while now … I love being a sister and an aunt, but that’s enough.”
[Tom] “No!”
[Brenda] “I know how important having children is to you, and I can’t deny you that.”
[Tom] “I can’t believe this is happening. A few hours ago everything was alright.”
[Brenda] “No. It wasn’t.”
[Tom] “So, what now?”
[Brenda] “I don’t know. Seeing you like this is breaking my heart.”
[Tom] “Then don’t break it, please Brenda.”
[Brenda] “I can’t not tell you the truth, I care about you too much for that … I’m so sorry.”
[Tom] “So am I.”And we leave Tom crying to Brenda …
… well, we saw it coming.
But I am surprised Brenda is saying it’s because she doesn’t want kids … could be true, but surely the real reason is that Tom is an insufferable egotist?
Matters not, I suppose.
I can’t say I feel truly sorry for Tom.
In fact, I can’t say I feel sorry for him at all.
It was a long time coming, and more fool him for not having noticed.
One of the Bridge Farm cows is limping
But not to worry. Tony is keeping a close eye in her.
Though she might have bigger problems soon enough …
Pat is for turning?
Tony’s on about accepting Tom’s plan to get rid of the cows:
[Tony] “I know you don’t like talking about it, but we have to come to a decision about these girls.”
The difference is, Tony now agrees with Tom.
The horror …
[Pat] “I’m not just being sentimental you know. I really believe that because we’ve raised the cows on the farm … I think that matters to our customers.”
[Tony] “I'm not trying to do you down love. Standing here watching them graze, it feels impossible to think that one day they might not be here.”
[Pat] “I'm grounded and rooted in the care and raising of cows, it’s what I’ve done all my life.”
[Tony] “But it’s not just about what we feel. We have to consider our children. We have to be realistic. We’ve already lost one son Pat, Tom and Helen are all we have … Tom wants what’s best, for the farm and for the family … Helen and I have made our choice, it’s just down to you now love. Take your time, talk to me, but we do need to decide.”
[Pat] “I can’t shake off the feeling that money is the only motivation he has.”
[Tony] “Well, even if that were true … you can’t leave Helen out of the picture. She wouldn't let him change what our business is about … I don’t want my son to come to work every day in an environment which is alienating or frustrating for him.”
[Pat] “I want him to be happy too, of course I do, but it’s going to cost me. And I think it’ll cost you too.”
[Tony] “What about the cost to us of keeping the cows. My health, our lifestyle, all of us working ourselves into the ground … If we let go a bit, maybe you and I can start to relax, plan some holidays have a proper rest.”
[Pat] “I’m not ready to retire, not nearly.”But sounds like Tony is sold.
He reckons that if Bridge Farm is a family farm, every member of the family must want to work there. And, if big changes are to be made, it should happen while Pat and Tony are there to oversee.
How long can Pat hold out with even Tony now agreeing with Tom?
No cows at Bridge Farm
Well, not very long, it seems.
When Tom gets back to work (claiming he’s fine), Pat and Tony have news for him.
[Tony] “We’ve come to the conclusion that you’re right about the future of the farm. We’ll agree to the selling of the herd.”
[Tom] “I see. Wow.”
[Pat] “Now we’ve made it, I feel much lighter.”
[Tony] “You’ve finally got everything you’ve wanted.”Obviously Tom hasn’t told them that Brenda has just dumped him. He starts sobbing once they’ve left …
No cows at Bridge Farm.
That’s sad.
2 comments:
Best thing Brenda's done for years.
Still can't help thinking that Tom's desire to sell the heard is because he doesn't like hard work.
Yup - delighted Brenda dumped Tom (at least!). But now, feel oddly sorry for Tom.
You could be right about Tom's motivations. Avoid work, and also make sure everything at bridge Farm will eventually have the Tom Archer's brand on it? Shame Helen's turned into such a 'yes' woman.
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