The English Game (2020) s01e01 Episode Script

[dramatic music playing]
- [player 1] Keep the pack together!
- [players yelling]
[player 1] Come on, Arthur!
[players chattering]
[player 2] Drive it forwards.
[player 3 chuckles] Oi!
[player 3] Well played, Arthur.
- [boy 1] Here he comes!
- [boy 2] Are you sure it's him?
[reporter] Mr. Kinnaird,
will the Old Etonians
take the FA Cup this year?
[boy 1] Can we have an autograph?
What of your quarter-final opponents,
Darwen FC?
What do you think?
Can they stop me winning another Cup?
- Oh, no, no, no! Not at all, sir!
- [boy 1] Never!
You can quote them on that.
Ah, it's a wonder your head
still fits through the door.
[man] Fergus Suter, you and I
are gonna make history.
[station attendant] Darwen.
This is Darwen.
- [train whistle blows]
- Come on. Let's go.
[man] I've seen how you play in Scotland.
Your passing game
is the future of football.
[machinery clacking loudly]
[man] Let's talk in my office.
So
[door closes]
- How you both feeling?
- Ready to get started.
Hmm.
So long as you keep
your end of the bargain.
Food and board's all arranged, as agreed.
They're not gonna know what's hit 'em.
[sighs]
Who are the new lads, then?
No idea.
[man 1] Not from round here,
that's for sure.
They're not mill workers either.
[man 2] Why has Walsh
gone and brought them here?
[man 3] Got our new jerseys, lads.
Finished 'em up last night.
[workers chattering]
[man 3] And youse, captain.
- There you go.
- [man 4] Ready for the big game Saturday?
And one for each of the new lads.
That's all there was, Mr. Walsh.
I've only done 11.
Jones, Harris, you don't mind, do you?
I'd like to give Mr. Suter
and Mr. Love a chance.
Fergus Suter
and Jimmy Love?
Not the Fergus Suter and Jimmy Love
who play for Partick?
They don't play for Partick anymore.
They're Darwen players now.
Mr. Walsh,
with respect, sir, Jones and Harris
helped us get to the quarter-finals.
And these two are going to help us
win the damn thing. Now, this is my mill.
My team.
[Walsh] Now, give 'em the jerseys.
[Walsh] Good lads.
All right.
[indistinct chatter]
I've put you in here.
This is nice.
[woman] Mr. Walsh was most particular.
Which of you is Mr. Suter?
That's me.
That means you must be Mr. Love.
[chuckles]
Guilty as charged.
Does Mr. Platt work for Mr. Walsh?
Uh, he used to. I'm a widow.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
- Jimmy, for the love of God, no.
- What?
[Fergus] Keep your mind on the game.
Did you know there were
43 teams in the Cup this year?
And Arthur's is one
of the last eight left in.
Isn't that splendid?
We're playing a mill team
in the quarter-finals this Saturday, Papa.
Really?
The quarter-finals?
Do the millhands often get that far?
[Arthur] No, not usually.
[Lord Kinnaird] Will you go on with this
once your child arrives?
I hadn't given it much thought.
Did you play much sport, Papa?
Oh. [chuckles]
I shot, of course.
I never hunted.
- I'm not against it
- But you are against football?
No, no, no, no, no.
I think it a healthy way
for little boys to get fit.
[station attendant] All aboard!
All passengers!
Train's about to depart!
All aboard, please!
[man blowing whistle]
[train whistle blowing]
[Walsh] Only gentlemen
have lifted the Cup.
Men from fine schools,
with fine clothes, fine lives.
Imagine what it would mean
to see men like us lift it.
That's the dream.
[Walsh] Well, I want to wake up
and find it's more than a dream.
To find out it's happened.
See, that's the reason I brought
you to Darwen, Fergus.
[Darwen players chattering]
[Walsh] Wait here, lads.
[Darwen player] Stop, lads. Hold up.
What do you make of this, lads?
You'd think the Queen lived here.
Boys.
[bell tolling]
- [Darwen player] Look at these lads!
- Gentlemen.
[Darwen player] Little lads in suits!
[Arthur] Welcome.
I'm, uh
I'm captain of the Old Etonians.
[sharp exhale]
- You're Arthur Kinnaird?
- That's right.
I saw you play at Hampden
a few years back against Queen's Park.
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles]
[stammers] You were good.
Well, that's high praise indeed.
Of course,
the game's changed since your heyday.
I mean, it has in Scotland, at least.
Must be hard moving with the times.
Well, now we've established
that my best days are in the past,
perhaps we should get moving.
- I never meant
- What's your name?
Fergus Suter.
The Suter who plays for Hibernian?
Partick.
Well, I used to, at any rate.
Now I play for Darwen.
It's hardly a
hardly a local team for you.
Jimmy and I wanted a change of scene.
- Jimmy?
- Jimmy Love.
- He made the trip down, too.
- Did he indeed?
Uh, everyone, these boys
will show you to your changing rooms.
[Darwen player] Hurry up, lads.
Suit up and boot up.
I've been through
our Football Association records,
and neither Fergus Suter nor Jimmy Love
played for them in the previous rounds.
There's nothing in the rules that say
they can't switch team members.
True, but why would
two successful Scottish players
leave Glasgow to join
a tinpot mill team in Darwen?
Clearly, they're being paid.
To play football?
But that's against the rules.
Surely, no one would risk suspension
from the Cup?
It would explain why two players
would travel from Scotland
to join a team
they have no connection with.
- Now, how do we prove it?
- [Arthur] We don't need to.
We'll beat them today,
and they'll be knocked out
the competition.
- Are we right, lads?
- [players] Aye.
[Walsh] Now, remember,
they're a rough team.
They'll play as a pack
and try to run through you.
- [player 1] Let's go then, boys.
- [player 2] Come on. Stick together.
When we get out, I lead from the front.
- Come on.
- [Jimmy] Fergie!
You coming?
[woman] What's all this to-do about?
Playing in the quarter-finals
of the FA Cup.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Just waiting on news from the match.
[indistinct chatter]
[audience applauding]
[players chattering]
Well, I've made it, Mr. Suter,
even if my glory days are behind me.
Right. Let's knock these posh bastards
off the perch.
Right. Go on, lads. Let's go.
Is that it?
I suppose he's the captain, Fergus.
Stay tight.
Yep.
[Etonian player] Come on, boys.
Send them back.
[whistle blows]
[Fergus] Play the ball.
[Darwen player] Come on! In tight!
[players yelling]
[Fergus wails in pain]
[indistinct chatter]
[players yelling and chattering]
[Arthur panting]
- [Arthur] Take him!
- [Fergus grunts]
[Fergus groans]
[crowd cheering, applauding]
[Darwen player] Come on now!
Game doesn't seem to have changed
so very much, Mr. Suter.
[Darwen player] Come on. Come on, boys.
[sighs]
[audience applauding]
[man] The Old Etonians have scored again!
[crowd groaning]
[audience applauding]
- [Darwen player] There we go!
- Yes!
- We got one back!
- [crowd cheers]
- It's three-one!
- Yes!
[crowd clamoring]
- [whistle blows]
- [referee] Half-time!
[applause]
[referee] Half-time, gentlemen.
That Kinnaird is a bloody hard man
to get around.
We need to fight fire with fire.
They shove you, you shove 'em back.
They hit you, you hit 'em back.
- You can't win playing at their own game.
- So, what do you suggest we do instead?
[chuckles]
[laughter]
[Etonian] At this rate,
I'm gonna be coming out.
I want five more goals this half,
so we have something to celebrate
at dinner.
[all] Yes!
What makes you such an expert?
I'm telling you how we play
in Scotland, that's all.
Would you listen to him?
But Marshall's the captain.
Well, Suter's the captain now.
Lads, football is not complicated.
We don't always
have to run the ball forward.
I'll stay behind, and I'll play it back.
Jimmy, you know what you're doing, right?
Tommy, this game is about space.
I want you to go out wide on the left.
You're the fastest man on the pitch.
You're not getting a chance to show it.
[Fergus] Let the ball do the work.
We pass, we move, we pass again.
Space.
But that's not how we play.
Wider. Right out onto the touchline.
Spread out.
- They've moved their formation.
- Isn't that better?
We'll run right through them.
- Come on, boys! I want the same again.
- [whistle blows]
- [Arthur] Same again!
- Here we go, Darwen.
[audience applauding]
[players chattering]
[Fergus] Right on it!
[Fergus] Yes!
Yes!
[Darwen players cheering]
[players chattering]
[player] Get it over to him!
Yeah!
[audience cheering]
[Etonian player yells]
[cheering and laughing]
It's five-four!
[cheering]
The ball's gone
before you can put a tackle in.
Just do whatever it takes.
Come on! Come on!
[players yelling]
[grunting]
[grunts]
[woman] It's five-five!
[cheering]
[Darwen players cheering]
Yes!
[Darwen players cheering]
[whistle blows]
[referee] It's full-time, gentlemen.
- [thunder rumbling]
- [referee] Full-time, thank you.
We'll take a few minutes to get fresh air
into our lungs and then extra time.
Look, no extra time was agreed
before the game.
Since when was that a rule?
It's not in Scotland.
It is here.
[thunder rumbling]
Come on, boys.
[Etonian player] I'm glad that's finished.
That was more tiring than I expected.
He said no to extra time.
What's all this about?
Why are we not playing extra time?
[Fergus] Because he knows they're beaten.
It'll be replayed next Saturday.
These men have been up since before dawn
and traveled for hours.
You expect them to do it all again?
We're here now. Let's finish it now.
Look, we can refer this to the president
of the Football Association,
if you prefer.
- Well, how long will that take?
- Not too long.
Marindin?
He's the president of the FA?
He's your bloody goalkeeper.
We're all on the board
of the Football Association.
Do you have a problem with that?
Don't you?
I'm afraid extra time wasn't agreed,
gentlemen.
Those are the rules.
And rules are made to be adhered to.
[Fergus] We had you beaten today.
You know we did.
If you are right,
then you'll beat us again
next Saturday.
[Etonian player scoffs] Come on.
[players chattering]
[laughter and indistinct chatter]
No, I just worry one day
Arthur will come home with a broken leg.
Well, if he does, you can be sure
it won't be his own.
- [Alma laughs]
- What am I missing up there?
Oh, Monkey's telling me about the game.
Ah, Arthur's returning the favor
at this end of the table.
Have you told her how it ended?
[sighs] There's nothing to tell.
Well, now I'm intrigued.
[chuckles] Uh, it's not really my story.
How strange. Usually, I can't stop you
talking about football.
Or cricket.
Or rugby, for that matter.
When it was a draw, Arthur wouldn't
allow them extra time to settle it.
So they must come back next week.
All the way from Lancashire?
In all the years we've been married,
I believe this is the first time
you've ever asked me
a single question about football.
But is it true, Arthur?
We had to do what was right.
It seems rather unkind.
- Can I second that?
- [Marindin] We must follow the rules.
- Or why do we have them?
- Absolutely.
And if you'd agreed extra time,
Darwen would've beaten you.
[chuckles] Don't be absurd.
Sorry, old boy, but I must agree.
Another ten minutes and you would've
been out of the Cup on your ear.
[scoffs]
Are you suggesting I acted
in an underhand manner?
Well, I think "underhand"
is a bit strong.
Shall we say, uh,
the rules were very convenient.
Do you really think we would've been
beaten by a gaggle of
Of what? Mill workers?
No. Professionals.
Darwen team are fielding
professional players.
Paying two members of their team to play.
But what's wrong with that?
[Marindin chuckles]
This is a game for amateurs and gentlemen.
It's our game.
[laughs] Your game?
- We invented it.
- [Alma] Who's "we"?
The Old Etonians?
[Arthur] Yes! As a matter of fact.
Eton, Charterhouse, Harrow.
Lots of schools played a part,
but the point is
we took a raggle-taggle pastime
with different rules
wherever it was played,
and we turned it into a proper game.
For gentlemen.
Heavens.
Do gentlemen shout?
Ladies
I'm catching your eye.
Shall we leave the men to their port?
[door opens]
[door closes]
Well, shall we talk about something
a little less contentious?
What? Like the Russian-Turkish War?
[men chuckle]
[fiddle music playing]
[laughter and indistinct chatter]
[men singing]
There was owd yowe wi' only one horn ♪
O dear Johnny ♪
She made a living
Among the green corns ♪
So turn the wheel so bonny ♪
[cheering]
[singing continues in background]
I feel like a fraud.
We're celebrating like we won.
We didn't win, did we?
We came nearer to winning
than we ever have done before.
And we may yet do it Saturday.
Look around.
You've given these people
something to believe in.
The game feeds the soul
when they have nothing else
that does it in their life.
[fiddle continues playing]
[fiddler]
So pindar sent for his man one day ♪
[all] O dear Johnny ♪
[fiddler]
To pin the old yowe, if only he may ♪
So turn the wheels so bonny ♪
[men laughing and cheering]
So along comes the man
And he grabs the yowe's horn ♪
[all] O dear Johnny ♪
I'm gonna head back.
- Come on, it's just getting started.
- Jimmy, here.
[coins clinking]
Don't drink too much.
Fergie, come on, pal.
Look, what's one more beer?
Come on.
[fiddler] So butcher was sent
To take this yowe's life ♪
[all] O dear ♪
[door opens]
[Arthur sighs]
[door closes]
Well, I suppose I am allowed an opinion.
Not on things you don't understand.
I think I understand perfectly.
You're afraid of them, aren't you?
Afraid?
You're afraid new teams like Darwen
will take over your game.
You and Alfred and all the others.
You're scared you'll lose control of it.
That's ridiculous.
Is it?
Arthur, you're a decent man,
but this game brings out the worst in you.
Makes you childish and defensive
and petulant.
Well, I'm sorry if I disappoint you.
What?
I want us to be good parents
and to set a good example for our child.
We will be.
Of course we will be. Why wouldn't we be?
[sighs]
[Arthur sighs]
I'm a four-loom weaver
As many a one knows ♪
I've nowt to eat
And I've worn out my clothes ♪
My clogs are all broken
And stockings I've none ♪
You'd scarce give me tuppence
For owt I've gotten on ♪
[coin clinking]
[dog barking in background]
I'm Fergus
Suter.
Oh, I know who you are.
People won't stop shouting your name.
I'm Martha Almond.
[coins clinking]
You should've sung in the pub tonight.
I should get going.
I could
I could walk you home, if you like.
See, it's like this.
I have a little girl. She's two years old.
She has no dad.
He's gone, but
I was never married to him
in the first place.
Do you still want to walk me home?
[chuckles]
Sure.
Why not?
We got off on the wrong foot.
Let me buy you another.
I shouldn't.
But go on, then.
I'm buying, though. No arguments.
So what did Walsh offer
to get you all the way down from Glasgow?
[chuckles]
[church bell tolling]
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Oh, my head!
Feels good to have a man
in the house again.
I hope you don't mind me saying, but
you've got a lovely smile.
- Sorry, I don't mean to embarrass you.
- No, you didn't.
What's coming next, I wonder?
How about this?
[footsteps approaching]
We best get going.
Aye, we should.
- Thanks for that.
- Ah, pleasure.
Oh, won't you have some breakfast?
Oh, just a piece of bread.
[laughs]
Gentlemen,
the situation is no longer tenable.
Our mills are struggling to turn a profit,
and the banks are starting
to call in their loans.
It is regrettable
that the only course of action
I can see to protect our business
is a wage cut.
As chairman of the guild,
I must insist that we present
a united front on this matter.
To do otherwise would only invite trouble.
I propose a five-percent wage cut
for every worker.
- All those in favor.
- [all] Aye!
All those against?
Nay.
Most of my workers have families.
They can barely get by as it is.
James, you know I don't like it,
but the alternative is that the mills
go out of business.
[man] How will they get by then?
How many workers do you employ
at your mill, Mr. Walsh?
A couple of hundred?
A hundred and seventy-seven.
Across my mills, I have 3,000.
Cartwright?
Two thousand.
Two-and-a-half.
[chairman] The motion is passed.
Every member of the Cotton Masters' Guild
will impose the same cut in wages.
[horse neighing]
Do you ever worry
about whether you'd make a good father?
Not really.
I suppose I assumed
that it would be just as it had been
for my father.
And for his father before him.
I don't remember seeing much of you
when I was young.
Don't be silly.
You were brought down every evening.
No.
I was brought down every tea time.
Or after tea, if Mama had guests,
but I don't remember
your being there often.
I was here.
You came and saw me sometimes
when I was already in bed.
But not much.
All over this country
all over the world,
there are children with no food
and no shelter.
You really cannot expect me
to feel much sympathy
for the childhood that you enjoyed.
So, there's nothing you would
have done differently?
Don't over-complicate it.
Your role is to provide.
To be the man of the house.
[Alma] Don't tell me
you've quarreled again.
We were discussing fatherhood
as it happens.
Oh, you surprise me. [chuckles]
You wouldn't be surprised
if you heard what he said.
[laughs softly]
And you'll be happy to hear
that I want to know my children
better than he did.
I am happy.
[Alma] I'm so looking forward
to becoming a mother.
- They've cut wages by five percent.
- [woman 1] What?
- And what's next, ten? Fifteen?
- [woman 1] How will I feed my family?
- I know.
- [woman 2] What?
- It's a wage cut, five percent.
- [woman] They can't do that.
- The mill will reopen tomorrow.
- [crowd clamors]
Go and spend the day with your families.
- What? Why?
- [worker] You've already cut our wages.
[Walsh] It don't matter why.
I'll get it sorted.
What about pay?
We gonna get paid for today?
I can't pay you for days
when the mill isn't working.
- [clamoring]
- [Walsh] I'm sorry.
It'll all get straightened out
by tomorrow.
Please, go home.
[clamoring]
All members of Darwen Football Club,
follow me.
[chattering angrily]
The bank called in a loan.
When I couldn't pay up immediately,
they foreclosed on the mill.
Now, I can get the mill reopened tomorrow,
but it'll take all the liquidity.
What's this got to do with us?
The train tickets to take
the team back down to London,
I need that money.
I need it to get the mill reopened
and get the men back to work.
We're gonna have to forfeit the match.
How much did you waste
getting this pair in?
[man] What?
[Tommy] He's paying 'em to play.
- He paid 'em to leave Partick.
- Wait a minute.
- I saw the money you gave Jimmy.
- [Walsh] That's none of your business.
Now we're out of the Cup
'cause you've given away our fares.
You can have it back.
- Barely a quarter of what's needed.
- Maybe not.
But whilst our wages were being cut,
you were paying them to play football.
And what would've happened
if we were found out?
We'd be banned from the Cup
for God knows how many years!
- [Walsh] Enough.
- You cheated.
And you made the rest of us cheat
without even knowing it.
I said that's enough!
So it's over?
I'm very sorry.
Come on.
[indistinct chatter outside]
We don't know that Mr. Walsh
won't find the money somewhere.
We've given him all day.
As it is, we'll be sleeping on the train.
But I
I thought the OEs would beat us,
and we would be sent home then, all right?
With our tail between our legs.
Don't pretend
that you don't care about this place.
I seen it last night when you realized
how much this meant to these people.
You care about them too.
No.
I care about the money.
But we can't give up now! It's the FA Cup!
It is finished, Jimmy.
The mill's closed. We're not going south.
And I can play football for nothing
back home with my family.
Pack your things.
[Jimmy sighs]
Stay.
I can't.
But you can.
I can't.
Fergie and I
We've always been together.
He needs me.
Stay till tomorrow at least.
You don't want to travel at night.
Are you coming or not?
Give me a minute.
I swear to God.
[train whistle blowing]
You need rid of that hat
before we get back.
Folk'll have you down
as a bloody Sassenach.
I don't care what they have me down as.
Jimmy!
- [panting] You've got to come quickly.
- What is it?
You'll see. Come on.
Come with me, both of you.
This is our train.
We're going home.
[indistinct chatter]
[Fergus] I don't understand.
[Doris] Word got out Darwen
would be forfeiting.
The town won't have it.
Tom Hindle came up with the idea.
We're selling subscriptions.
They can either pay weekly
or all at once.
[coins clinking]
The point is,
we're going to the rematch.
- Don't those people need that money?
- Maybe, but they need football too.
[coins clattering]
- [woman] We're proud of you, lads.
- [man] You're what Darwen's made of.
[woman] Here you go.
You're short three players.
The match is due to start in ten minutes.
Well, I'm sure they won't be much longer.
You can use the dressing room
if you'd like to be more comfortable.
We'll be on the pitch.
If you don't have a team on time,
you forfeit.
[Walsh] Or you play with what you've got.
You can't expect us to play
when there's only eight of us.
To quote you, Mr. Kinnaird,
"Rules are made to be adhered to."
That is unless they happen
not to suit you, of course.
Ten minutes
or we claim the win.
To whom will you claim the win?
To the FA committee?
The press.
Then everyone will see
what good sports you gentlemen are.
[scoffs] Who does he think he is?
If we don't have a full team,
we ought to forfeit the game.
What?
Why?
You heard him.
We're supposed to be gentlemen.
Two more minutes and the match is ours.
[crowd exclaims]
They're here. All of them.
Whatever he's paying you,
make sure you earn it.
We had them beat before.
We can do it again.
Where the hell have you been?
You almost cost us the match.
Now, come here.
Now, we'll win this game,
if we stop them playing their way.
Alfred, stay on Love.
Don't give him any time on the ball.
- What about Suter? He's the real problem.
- [Arthur] I'll stay on Suter.
You leave him to me.
- All right?
- [Lyttelton] All right.
- [referee] Time.
- [Lyttelton] All right, gents.
[audience chattering]
[whistle sounds]
[referee] Gentlemen.
[whistle sounds]
[audience exclaims]
[Fergus] Jimmy!
[players chattering and grunting]
[Fergus] Cross it, Jimmy!
[Jimmy groans]
[Alma] Did you see what Alfred did?
It didn't seem quite right.
Maybe not, but I'm afraid
there'll be a great deal more of it.
[grunting]
[audience exclaims]
[Fergus grunts]
[Walsh] Foul! Referee!
[Etonian players yelling]
[audience cheering]
- Forward!
- [Arthur] As a pack!
[grunts]
[audience cheering]
[Jimmy groans]
[players yelling]
- Get off me!
- [grunts]
[players yelling]
[audience cheering]
[Walsh] Come on, Suter!
[player] Front!
[Fergus] Together! Together!
I thought you youngsters were meant
to be quicker than us older folk.
[Etonians yelling and cheering]
Hurry up! At the ball!
Heads up! Heads up!
[Tommy continues yelling]
[audience exclaims]
[whistle blowing]
[Arthur laughs]
[groans]
[referee] Full-time. Full-time.
[thunder rumbling]
[indistinct chatter]
That was a good game.
Did you even play?
Or did you just shadow me
to stop me playing?
There's no need to be a bad loser.
[scoffs]
[laughter]
[audience applauding]
[audience cheering]
[players laughing]
Kinnaird can have his Cup.
Next season, it'll be ours.
Yeah?
If you'll stay.
Do you want me to?
Tommy Marshall thinks I'm a waste
of money.
Well, he's wrong.
You're the only chance we've got
of taking the Cup.
Besides, people here,
they love to watch you play.
It gives 'em hope
and pride and so much more.
You're valued here, Suter.
Come on, lads.
Let's go home.
[indistinct chatter]
Admit it, they won!
[overlapping chatter]
Can I just say,
well done us.
Hear, hear!
Speech!
- Come on, Arthur, speech!
- [man] Speech!
Come on.
[pounding on table]
[laughter]
[Arthur clears throat]
I won't pretend I'm not jolly pleased
the way things have turned out.
[laughter]
[guests pounding on table]
[Arthur] To have beaten Darwen,
and to be once again in the semi-finals
Excuse me.
I'm so sorry, I
I must leave you for a moment.
- Shall I
- [Alma] No, no, no. Please, sit.
Enjoy the rest of dinner.
And And well done.
All of you.
Very well done.
Excuse me.
Please.
[Arthur sighs]
Have they gone?
They have, at last. [chuckles]
Ada had to put Monkey in a fireman's lock
before she could get him out.
How are you feeling? Hmm?
You any better?
[sighs]
No, not much better, to be honest.
[exhales sharply]
[chuckles nervously]
[Alma gasps]
[Alma sighs and whimpers]
No No
[gasps]
[Alma] No!
[Alma sobs]
No! [whimpers]
- [Arthur] Can anybody hear me?!
- No!
Somebody send for a doctor!
[Alma sobbing]
[steam hissing]
[cheering]
[Walsh] Now, we might've lost
but the town's still proud of you.
Here's the man of the hour, Fergus Suter!
[cheering]
[crowd chanting] Suter! Suter! Suter!
Yeah!
[cheering fades out]