WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY

04 October, 2006 by The_Boss

ITV1 Sunday 8th October 2006 9:00pm to 11:00pm

On paper things look pretty good for Nick Taylor; he’s on a plane with his beautiful wife Laura flying to Malta for a holiday in the sun. But Nick is a troubled man; his parents are also coming with them. His Dad Jim suffers from Advanced Stage Parkinson’s Disease and can barely communicate, and his Mum Lil, (who is his Jim’s full time carer) has a serious heart condition and a mouth like barbed wire. The reason why Nick’s taking them on holiday is because he’s got to tell them that it’s time Dad went into a care home; a fact Mum Lil just won’t want to hear.

If that wasn’t enough to contend with, Laura is desperate to start a family of her own. Even though Nick’s agreed to try, in his heart he feels he is just not ready for the added responsibility; but it’s that time of the month and Laura’s is just not taking no for an answer.

Things go from bad to worse when they arrive in Malta. The hire car is a clapped out wreck; the rented villa does not live up to the brochure’s promise and the next door neighbours, Len and Barbara, are know-it-all ‘expert’ holidaymakers keen to pass on their knowledge at every given opportunity. However, Nick’s problems have only just begun. During dinner on the first evening Jim produces a letter and a photograph of a beautiful young woman called Maria Spiteri; a beautiful young woman who Jim had a fling with when he was stationed on the island in the late 1950s.

Following his return to the UK, he discovered Maria had a baby boy – Jim’s son who she named Anthony. Having had no communication with her in over 40 years, Jim has never seen his son, but now he wants to try and find him. Lil has known all along but that doesn’t necessarily make her any happier with the situation. But for Nick, the news that he has a half–brother comes as something of a shock. He resolves, however, to help his father find the son he seems so desperate to meet. All this of course, is making it even harder to find the right moment to talk to his Mum about the care home…

The hunt for Anthony takes them across the whole of Malta, from the city streets of the capital Valetta where they learn Maria died over 30 years ago, to the quiet rural churches of the island of Gozo, hampered every step of the way by Jim’s debilitating illness.

When they do eventually track the long lost son down, he’s nothing like they expected. Anthony Spiteri is handsome, successful and charming; qualities which Nick feels he is severely lacking.

The whole family take to him instantly except Nick, who begins to grow jealous, especially when Laura and Anthony start becoming rather too close for comfort. Nick’s increasingly desperate attempts to avoid sex have begun to alienate his wife and feeling rejected, Laura responds instantly to the attentions of the charismatic Anthony. Furthermore, Jim displays more emotion in five minutes with Anthony than he ever has towards Nick, even the irritating neighbours think Anthony’s great. Nick begins to feel isolated and, much to his chagrin, and the rest of the family’s pleasure, Anthony insists on spending the rest of their holiday with them. His zest for life is infectious, and the Taylor’s become seduced by his warmth and enthusiasm as he takes them on whirl wind tour of his beloved island.

During a visit to a local Maltese Fiesta the family gets split up in the thronging crowds. Nick sees his brother being chased by two men and follows them into a dark alley where he witnesses Anthony taking a beating. Nick leaps to the defence. However, one of them produces a knife and demands Anthony hands over his car keys. ‘Its only money’ shrugs Anthony, and concedes. It’s a bit suspicious but finally, at least, the brothers have bonded. But while they were fighting, Jim has got lost in the crowds sparking a frantic search through the streets. It takes far too long for the family to be reunited and when they finally locate him, Jim is barely able to stand.

The events of the Fiesta have exhausted everyone, but both Jim and Lil feel it the most. The following morning, while trying to get Jim to take his tablets, a frustrated and worn out Lil loses her temper and starts to hit him. Horrified Nick and Laura separate them and try to take the opportunity to discuss the necessity of a care home. But Lil won’t hear it and is deeply hurt her son is making such a suggestion. They leave Nick and Laura at home and go out with Anthony for the day.

Laura too has had it with Nick. He’s been making excuses all week and now she knows he is avoiding having sex with her and clearly doesn’t want to become a father. Upset and emotional, she explains that she wants to start a family, and if he doesn’t feel the same, then what’s the point of their marriage?

The next morning Lil is tense. Anthony’s supposed to pick them up at 10 but he hasn’t shown up. Their neighbours do instead and they’re furious. Anthony has ripped them off, selling them a timeshare that doesn’t exist. But they aren’t the only ones he’s conned; it transpires that Lil and Jim had bought the same timeshare to the tune of £7,000.

For the first time in his life, Nick takes charge and sets off to try and find his brother with a furious Len in tow. The chase ends in an emotional showdown on the Ferry port before Anthony boards the boat to Sicily. Fists are thrown, with Nick for once winning the day. He returns to the villa complete with money and a new found conviction to make things work with Laura. He might not be able to solve his parents’ problems but he can at the very least, take control of his own.

But what does the future hold for Jim and Lil? His father will continue to deteriorate, and Lil will continue to struggle on, with neither accepting the care home option. There seems to be no solution for either.

Still, at least they’ve got one more day on the beach to enjoy…