#rick's parents are well aware how he feels about kieren

[halfpastdead]

In The Flesh by Dominic Mitchell (2013), script to screen -> Series 1, Episode 2 (pt. 3 / ?)

David Walmsley - Rick Macy Steve Evets - Bill Macy Karen Henthorn - Janet Macy

EXT. HILLTOP HVF FIRING RANGE - LITTLE LATER - DAY 4

BILL shoots at bottles. He’s not half as good as Rick. It’s pissing him off somewhat. RICK watches, being encouraging. He doesn’t like to see his father unhappy. JANET appears with a flask of tea and some sarnies.

RICK 

Yer alright, mum.

JANET (nods, lies)

Just getting yer room sorted, love.

BILL

Don’t worry. Yer grot mags are still intact. 

JANET

Bill.

BILL

What? Knew that’d be on his mind.

Bill winks at Rick. Rick plays along, smiles and nods.

RICK

Saw Jem Walker out there today.

BILL

Oh aye. She’s a good lass. Great fighter. Considering family she’s from.

RICK

They’re alright are they?

BILL

Who?

RICK

Walkers.

BILL

Yeah. They’re alright.

Bill aims the rifle. It jams. Bill smacks it.

BILL

Piece of crap, always doin’ this.

Bill manages to fix the rifle. Fires at the target.

JANET

They did go through that bad patch before The Rising. 

Rick turns his head. Bad patch?

BILL

Selfish of him.

JANET

There were something wrong in his head, Bill.

BILL

Don’t care how bent out of shape yer are. Yer carry on. Yer don’t take the cowards way out.

Bill offers the target up to Rick. Rick aims his rifle.

RICK (casually as he can)

What happened?

JANET

I shouldn’t have brung it up.

RICK (steady)

Come on. Tell us. (joking) Kieren didn’t get kicked out of college did he?*

BILL

No.

The tension in Rick’s head eases for a moment.

BILL (CONT’D) 

He k*lled himself.

The sky lands on Rick. You can see it happen. Subtly. Just a twitch of absolute agony on the mask that is his face.

BILL (CONT’D) 

Weak ending for a weakling.

JANET

Shouldn’t speak ill of the dead -

Bill and Janet are cut off by furious gun fire: BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG. Rick has unloaded into the target. An unspoken expression of his emotional turmoil.

*(shooting script has Rick saying ‘Kieren didn’t get eaten by a rotter, did he?’, ultimately changed.)