The Stages of Grief (Ghosts BBC)

Robin

Matilda stands alone at the entrance of Button House. She can hear Kitty and Fanny chatting to Alison as she makes lunch. Through the doorway into the common area, she can see Robin sat at the chess table muttering to himself. She walks into the common room, watching as he stands, and walks to the opposite chair and ponders his next move.

"Interesting," he rubs his chin in thought.

Matilda's eyes scan the room, ensuring she hasn't missed another resident playing with him. The common area is empty though.

"Horse go clop – clop – clop." Robin points out the knight's movement.

He returns to the other chair, and laughs, "Basic move."

Matilda smiles, amused, "Would you like an opponent?" She asks, walking over to him.

Robin glances over at her for a moment, then shrugs, "It whatever." He mumbles but gestures to the other seat.

"I'm not very good." She admits, sitting down in the opposite chair.

"You learn," he tells her. "I best here."

"Who taught you?" Matilda asks, curious as to how this apparent caveman learnt chess.

"Edgar."

"Edgar, who's that?" She didn't recognise the name as one she had heard.

"You don't know him. People come; people go." Robin explains. "Robin always here."

"That must be sad, having to lose so many friends." Matilda sympathises.

"Not all are friends," Robin frowns.

"How many people have been here?" She asks.

Robin makes a noise that means, 'I don't know', then points to the board. "Talk too much. You go." He tells her.

"Sorry." She assumes that for a long time Robin didn't have or need language to communicate. She can understand how speaking may sometimes become overwhelming to him.

Matilda reaches out to move her pawn forward, forgetting her lack of a physical body at the moment, and her hand falls right through the chessboard. Robin finds this hilarious, leaning back and slapping his leg as he howls with laughter. Matilda can't help herself and joins him, clutching her stomach as it begins to ache.

"Not worry, you get used to it." Robin waves his hand through the chessboard too. "Need use brain, remember every place," he explains.

"I'll give it a go, Robin, but I can't promise I'll be any good." She looks down at her pieces. "Pawn to there," she points to her place.

Robin nods, "Prawn, go D5."

"D5, right," Matilda's eyes scan the board, quickly figuring out the system. "Knight to C3," Matilda continues.

Robin smiles appreciatively, "Horsey go clop, F6" his finger jumps around the chest board.

"Bishop C3?" Matilda is unsure.