Part 1

♪♪ -...give themselves to each other in marriage.

Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?

-My darling Claire, I, uh, honestly thought that I would never find anyone prepared to put up with me.

I thought, uh, maybe I'd done something awful in a past life, and I didn't deserve to feel as happy as I do today.

But, um, it's real and I'm here.

And so is my beautiful bride.

[ Guests murmuring ] Thank you to Peter, Claire's brother, for giving her away and to Claire's mother, Betty.

And to my own Mummy and Daddy.

And it's so lovely to see so many of our new friends and colleagues from the Aberdeen Infirmary here.

In fact, who's running the wards?

[ Laughter ] As nurses, we're always ready with a cup of tea and some soothing words, and if that doesn't work, some good old TLC.

That's Temazepam, Lorazepam, and Clonazepam, by the way.

[ Laughter ] But my toast is to Claire, who has made me the happiest man alive.

To Claire!

-To Claire!

[ Glasses clinking ] [ Dance music playing ] -You know, he's so thoughtful.

He brings me breakfast in bed, gives me little presents, and leaves little messages all around the house.

Just makes me feel so special.

-Jammy cow.

[ Laughter ] -No, I am.

I know I am.

You know my luck with boyfriends, but...

I've finally found the one.

[ Scottish music playing ] [ Rhythmic clapping ] [ Whooping ] [ Rain falling ] -Doesn't take long, does it?

Once you set your mind to it.

[ Both chuckle ] What time do you have to be in for?

-Oh, about another hour.

-When did you get that?

-Oh, the other day.

Better safe than sorry.

No fun running out of petrol around here.

What, uh, time do you start tomorrow?

-Normal.

-Good.

I'm having, uh, something delivered in the morning.

I need you to sign for it.

-What do I have to sign for?

-A clock.

I found it in a little antique shop in Aberdeen.

It was an absolute bargain.

-Didn't think to speak to me about it first?

-Wasn't aware I had to.

[ Fire roars, crackles ] I like nice things.

I've always liked nice things.

-You spent hundreds of pounds on a clock only recently.

Why would we need two?

-Claire, please.

It's my money.

-It's our money.

-They're antiques.

They're an investment.

-There's plenty of things to spend money on before clocks, Malcolm.

-Will you take your hands out of your pockets, please?

Look so slovenly.

-This is our big adventure moving up here.

It's just the two of us.

We've got to be in this together, don't we?

-I, uh -- I may as well go in early seeing as I'm such a disappointment to you.

-Oh, no.

Don't be so silly!

Malcolm!

[ Door slams ] [ Child crying and whimpering ] -And what's going on here?

You're disturbing everybody.

Let's see what we can do, shall we?

[ Whimpering continues ] -[ Snoring softly ] [ Footsteps approach ] -He's fine.

Just, uh, just gone off.

-Okay.

[ Cat meows ] -Oh!

[ Smooches ] Oh, they're gorgeous!

I love them to bits!

-Mm, peace offering.

I was passing the shop, and I thought, "I know someone who'll give them a good home."

They're pedigree.

-How much were they?

-Oh, nothing.

[ Chuckles ] Just over £100 or so if you want to completely spoil the moment.

-£100 is a lot of money.

I'm cutting coupons out of the newspaper to save us £2.50 on our shopping bills.

-Fine.

I promise I won't buy any more thoughtful presents for my wife.

-Malcolm, they are lovely.

And I'm very grateful.

But...I'm sorry.

I opened this by mistake.

It's from the wedding caterers.

They're threatening court action.

-Well, this is addressed to me.

This is my personal mail.

-I just saw "caterers".

I thought it was a receipt.

-Well, this is snooping!

Bloody snooping!

-They say they've made repeated attempts to make contact.

-Well, I sent them a check.

-Malcolm, you've got to stop spending money we don't have.

-I do have money!

-How much do you owe, Malcolm?

All together.

Credit cards, everything.

-Please, this is my business.

Let me sort it.

-I hate being in debt.

I get it from my mum.

I can't stand those little people coming to our door.

Look, we just need to go through everything.

Tonight.

-Okay.

[ Chuckles ] We'll do it your way.

But can I at least get us something to drink?

Cup of tea for you.

-[ Sighs ] We'll get your bank statements and your card statements and go through them together.

-Oh.

Is that what we'll do?

[ Sniffles ] There we go.

-Thank you, sweetie.

Bank statements.

Come on.

[ Cat meows ] You'll feel so much better when we get on top of things.

We don't want any secrets between us, do we?

-No.

Of course we don't.

Now, then, it might take me a while to sort through everything.

[ Chuckles ] [ Cat meowing ] -[ Snoring softly ] -You shouldn't have opened my letter.

I'm sorry, but you really shouldn't have.

That's a line you've crossed.

And you weren't even apologetic.

It was like it was your right.

[ Sighs ] Now, then, on my cards...

I owe... £8,300.

So, now we don't have any more secrets.

[ Sighs ] If you can just give me a little bit of time to breathe...

I will sort it all out.

Is that a deal?

[ Dog barking in distance ] [ Both breathing heavily ] -I'm sorry.

-Oh...God.

-What's the matter?

-I think it's some sort of virus.

But it's getting worse.

I'm asleep more than I'm awake.

When I'm awake, I'm half dead.

My hair's gone all dull and brittle.

Look at me.

[ Sobs ] [ Voice breaking ] We're supposed to start trying for a baby but... how can I when I feel like this?

Sometimes it's getting so bad I've even started blacking out.

-That's not right.

That shouldn't be happening.

You need to take some time off work.

Go and stay with your mum.

-I can't.

Malcolm doesn't want me to.

He says he prefers it when it's just us two.

-For God's sake, Claire, she's your mum.

[ Horn honks ] -Oh, God.

Please don't say anything.

[ Sniffles ] -Good evening, ladies.

-Hey.

-Malcolm?

Don't you think Claire should see her doctor about this tiredness thing?

-Well, it's a virus.

What's the point?

-Yes, but it's been going on quite a while now.

Shouldn't she have some tests?

-Well, they do go on for a while, Lucy, and the body overcomes them and you get better.

That's the nature of viruses.

I'll lend you a book on it if you like.

Come on, hop in.

[ Engine turns over ] [ Spoon clanking on cup ] [ Spoon clanking on cup ] -There you go.

-[ Sighs ] God, I feel so bad.

Mm... Everything tastes funny.

-Oh, princess.

-What's happening to me?

[ Sighs ] -It's a virus.

You're a nurse.

I'm a nurse.

We know what a virus is like.

It looks like this.

It'll pass.

Come on, drink your tea.

That's it.

Plenty of fluids.

You need to flush it out your system.

I never intended for it to go on this long, my darling.

It's just that I don't like people telling me what to do.

[ Chuckles ] But, um...

I'll stop now.

Promise.

[ Wind howling ] Almost home.

You're doing really well.

That's a good long walk we've had.

-I feel like I've got a little bit more energy this week.

-Good!

I'm sure you're over the worst of it now.

-What's going on?

-Wait there.

-Malcolm Webster?

-Yes.

-You have failed to respond to a number of letters about the outstanding balance on your Barclaycard.

-Well, I received no such correspondence.

-So, I am authorized to now take the card from you and serve you with this summons.

-[ Crying ] Thousands you owe!

You just go off on these spending fits!

-I have allowed things to get on top of me.

It's not an excuse, but I've been so distracted with you not being well.

-Yes, well, about that.

I went to see my doctor yesterday.

-What?

-He's really worried about me.

He's sending me for tests.

-You have a virus.

This is madness.

You said you were starting to feel better, and we agreed -- We agreed you would not go to the doctor.

-He thinks something might have got into my system.

He says we need to get to the bottom of it.

He's sending me for blood and toxicology tests tomorrow.

-Tomorrow?!

Well, you're not going!

-I am going, Malcolm.

I still don't feel right.

And it's my body!

And I can make my own decisions!

I made them before I met you, and I can make them now!

[ Sobbing ] No.

-Come on.

-[ Sobbing ] -Okay.

-[ Crying ] -Okay.

[ Sighs ] How about a cup of tea?

[ Clock ticking ] -[ Snoring softly ] -I mean, what am I supposed to do?

You just wouldn't listen to me.

I said "no doctor."

I made that perfectly clear.

But you defied me.

Well, this is your doing.

Yours.

Not mine.

[ Cat meows ] I've got to drop some work in at the hospital so they've got it first thing in the morning.

-Let me stay here.

-No, you need some air, princess.

We can't leave you here like this.

-[ Murmuring ] Isn't this the wrong way?

-Drink up, princess.

Keep your fluids up.

[ Tires screech ] [ Malcolm panting ] [ Vehicle approaching ] Aah!

[ Groans ] -You all right there, pal?

-I'm okay.

It was a motorbike...

I had to swerve to avoid him.

-Anyone else in the car?

-Uh, no.

No, no.

It was a bloody motorbike.

-Look, there's a farm just down the road.

I can go there and phone for help.

-Yes, and, uh, call a tow truck.

-Are you okay here?

-Yes.

-You sure?

-Yes, I'm fine.

Don't worry about me.

Thank you.

[ Vehicle door opens, closes ] [ Engine turns over ] [ Vehicle departs ] [ Fire crackling ] -[ Groaning ] -Are you all right?

Is there anybody in there?

Is there anybody in that car?

-[ Breathing heavily ] My wife!

She was in the car with me!

-Oh, God.

-Oh, God!

[ Explosion ] -[ Shouting indistinctly ] -Get away from the car!

[ Explosion, fire roaring ] -[ Voice breaking ] For she is wise... if I can judge of her.

And fair she is... if that mine eyes be true.

And true she is, that she hath proved herself.

-[ Sniffles ] -And therefore... like herself... ...wise, fair, and true... [ Sobs ] Shall she be placed in my constant soul.

[ Thunder rumbles ] [ Sobbing ] [ Sobbing ] [ Sniffles ] -Mr. Webster?

-Yes.

-Good afternoon.

PC Rae, Grampian Police.

I'm here to talk to you about the investigation into your wife's death.

I'm afraid... we've been unable to trace the motorcycle involved in the accident.

We tried pretty much everything.

Local paper, garages, hospitals.

But we've drawn a blank.

-Oh, dear.

-So, unfortunately, we're going to have to scale down the investigation into -- into your wife's death.

I-I really am very sorry.

-I see.

Uh, well, I do hope you're not going to forget about her.

The man who caused this dreadful accident is still out there somewhere.

-Of course.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call.

Listen, I'll -- I'll let you get on.

Take care.

[ Vehicle door opens, closes ] [ Engine turns over ] ♪♪ -It's no exaggeration to say that Felicity, my darling, sweet wife, has saved me.

When we met, we were both working in the medical field in Riyadh.

At that point, I'd been traveling quite a bit, and Felicity was amassing a small fortune in tax-free earnings.

[ Laughter ] Of course, uh, she was -- she was fully veiled.

And it wasn't until I followed her back to New Zealand and proposed that I actually saw what she looked like.

And what a stunning surprise that was.

[ Whooping and whistling ] Thank you to my new mother- and father-in-law, Margaret and Brian, and to your lovely sisters for welcoming me into your family.

But most of all, thank you to you.

I honestly thought that I would never find anyone prepared to put up with me.

I thought, uh, maybe I'd done something awful in a past life and I didn't deserve to feel as happy as I do today.

But, um, it's real.

And I'm here.

And so is my beautiful bride.

[ Guests murmuring ] To Felicity!

-To Felicity!

[ Dance music playing ] -He's a bit different from some of your other boyfriends.

-You mean he's the first one Mum approves of.

[ Both laugh ] I did think when I first met him he was a bit square for me, but... you know what?

He's kind and he's funny.

He's just a lovely, decent guy.

[ Indistinct conversations ] ♪ This beautiful lady ♪ ♪ Walking around with me ♪ ♪ And then she asks me ♪ ♪ "Do you feel all right?"

♪ ♪ And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight" ♪ -[ Snoring softly ] [ Moans ] -You okay, love?

You thirsty?

Have some water.

-Oh.

Mm.

Oh.

What are you doing?

-Oh, nothing much.

You just sleep.

Been a long day.

-[ Murmurs ] -I've been asleep for 36 hours?

-Well, I was getting a bit worried.

But, um, you woke up every so often, and you just seemed to want to get back off to sleep again.

I assumed you were very tired.

Perhaps it's a little virus you've picked up.

Oh.

Oh, I got an e-mail back from Scotland last night.

My application's been accepted.

I've got the job.

-Oh, that's great!

-He said I'll be starting on the bottom rung, but I'm sure I'll work my way up pretty quickly.

You've been so good about us going back home.

I don't feel I have a choice now.

Mama hasn't got long left.

Papa says she's very frail now.

-It'll be nice to spend some time with them, and, you know, I should be able to find a job.

They must need nurses in Scotland.

It'll be great to finally meet them.

[ Jazz music plays ] -Come on, now.

Come, do sit up.

There's a good fellow.

Don't slouch so.

-[ Chuckles ] -So, what are your plans?

-Well, we want to spend a bit of time with you guys, and then we'll be shuttling up and back between here and the cottage in Scotland.

-This is the one you bought with Claire?

-No, Mummy.

I sold that one, bought another one.

Too many memories.

I wrote and told you.

-So, will you be seeing some of your old friends?

-Well... -Well, I told him he ought to.

It'd be good for him.

-I couldn't.

Far too painful.

-Yes.

Quite right.

So, what will you do up there for work?

-Well, I've got a job lined up.

-Really?

Where's that?

-Well, as you know, I've been wanting to move out of nursing for a while.

It's with an IT company.

-How marvelous.

-Yes, I'm quite pleased.

I was headhunted.

Um, I'll be running a section.

Staring salary 32K, expense account, company car.

-We were so worried when he was younger.

He struggled at school, you see, with his dyslexia.

Imagine how proud we were when he went on to have such a stellar career in nursing.

-And now he's blazing a trail in the IT world.

You're a credit to yourself, Malcolm.

The way you've overcome adversity.

[ Classical music plays ] [ Paint roller swishing ] -See you later, then!

-Where are you off to?

-Uh, just into town.

Thought I'd, uh, pop into work before Monday, say hello.

I'm so sorry I can't help you, darling.

I don't think doing this with an unstable neck fracture's such a good idea.

-Yeah, the blasted thing.

It was the force we were thrown forward with when we smashed into the trees.

Felt the crack.

-You go.

It's fine.

I actually quite like decorating.

-Well, don't overdo it.

[ Door opens ] [ Door closes ] You know, my darling, don't you?

You know it was an accident.

The motorbike was coming straight for us.

I had to swerve.

I was too badly dazed.

I couldn't understand what they were asking me.

Couldn't tell them you were in the car until it was too late.

And I lost everything.

[ Classical music plays ] I spoke to this company today doing a special deal on a Bose sound system.

Absolute bargain.

-You've only just got the Bang & Olufsen.

-Yes, that's for the lounge.

This would be for everywhere else.

-No, absolutely not.

We're supposed to be saving.

-Whatever you say.

[ Pills rattle ] On the, uh, subject of savings, we should clear out a hundred when we do come to sell this place and another 15 savings and investments.

Which is what?

$300,000.

And you've got?

-$300,000 from the sale of my house in New Zealand and, um, $50,000 savings.

-So, together that's in the neighborhood of $650,000 to buy a place in New Zealand.

-That's a pretty respectable neighborhood, I'd say.

[ Both chuckle ] [ Clock ticking ] -There's a problem with my half of the money.

Might as well be honest with you.

I had...thought there might be a modest profit from the sale of this place, you see, but with the mortgage and everything, I'll be lucky to come out even.

My savings and investments... To be frank, I'm actually a little in the red on my account.

Just a couple of thou.

Just under $20,000 if you must know.

And the 200K from Claire's life insurance is all gone.

So, I find myself in a bit of a tight corner, truth be told.

But, uh, there is, of course, your money.

Which would solve all my immediate problems.

Yes.

If only you'd allow us to have a joint account.

Instead of hoarding everything to yourself.

-Oh.

-For goodness' sake, what on Earth were you doing in there?

-Sorry.

I had to use the bathroom.

-Here, for the journey.

-Oh, thanks.

♪♪ -[ Murmuring ] -Come on.

That's it.

-Where are we?

-There we are.

Don't you remember?

You, uh, you said you'd like to see the coast.

Let's go for a walk.

Get some fresh air.

-Malcolm, I, um...

I need to talk to you about something.

-It's important.

-All in good time.

Let's, uh, get to the top first.

-Ooh.

[ Sea gulls cry ] [ Wind howling ] -Isn't it beautiful?

Let's, uh, get a closer look.

The views are spectacular.

-Malcolm, I, um...

I've figured out why I've not been feeling very well.

And, um, why my food's been tasting funny.

-Well, why's that, my darling?

-It's what I wanted to talk to you about.

I'm pregnant.

-What?

-Well, aren't you happy?

-Of course.

Of course I am.

I just, um...

I mean, how silly of me not to have realized that's why you've been unwell.

-I did the test this morning and, um, it's positive.

That's what I was doing in the toilet.

We're gonna have a baby.

-Come away, darling.

You're a little wobbly to be standing near the edge.

It's gonna be a boy.

I just know it's going to be a boy.

And Daddy will be so pleased.

[ Indistinct conversation ] -It's exactly what we're looking for and... [ Baby cooing ] Do you want me to take him, with your neck?

-No, it's fine.

He's only light.

-Could you give us a minute?

-Sure can.

-What do you think?

I mean, I know it's right at the very top of our price range, but Edward's taking a bottle now and I could go back to work soon if I have to.

It's just everything I've ever dreamed of, Malcolm.

-If it's what you want... then you must have it.

-Really?

-Really.

-Eee!

[ Both giggle ] -We're gonna get it.

We're gonna get it.

-How did it go?

-Well, I think we've found our new house.

-Four bedrooms, North Shore.

Mom, it's absolutely gorgeous.

-So, you gonna put an offer in?

-We just need to sort out transferring the money from the sale of my cottage in Scotland, but, yes, we'll soon be out of your hair.

-Oh, don't be silly.

We've enjoyed having you here.

-I'm so pleased.

-Well, I think this calls for a celebration.

Come on.

I've got a bottle of bubbly in here.

-I need to open an account to transfer funds into from the UK.

-We're, um -- We're under contract on a property, and he needs to have his money here ready for when we settle.

-It's not a problem.

Just need two forms of I.D.

-Felicity?

-I told you to bring your driving license and passport.

-I thought you'd brought them with you.

-No.

I reminded you before we left.

-[ Chuckles ] This is embarrassing, um... Why don't we make yours a joint account, and then, um, my money can be paid into that?

-I've told you before -- I don't want a joint account.

-I'm just thinking it'll save time.

-[ Exhales heavily ] Um...okay, yeah.

Yes, put his name on my account.

-Okay.

-All right.

-Well, that's it.

Deposit's paid.

[ Microwave beeps ] We'll be in soon.

-Yes.

It's very exciting.

-Did you speak to your bank in Scotland?

Yes.

The, uh...

The money should be through sometime next week.

-My sisters are so envious.

Such a lovely house.

-And you, uh -- you deserve it, my darling.

Coming through with my famous crumble.

Here, let me do that.

You need to eat to keep up your strength.

-How much have you got in your account?

-I can't remember, off the top of my head.

-Oh, come on, Malcolm.

It's important.

I'll have my half, okay?

Don't keep badgering.

[ Baby cooing ] -[ Snoring softly ] [ Fire roaring ] ♪♪ "The Widower" is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

To order, visit shopPBS.org or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

Also available for download on iTunes.