Going Straight (1978) s01e02 Episode Script

CAREFREE WHISTLING # I'm going straight, I am # Straight as an arrow # I've paid the price and done me time # I'm going straight, I am # Along the straight and narrow # And I don't think straight back to crime.
# Aye aye.
Oh, dear.
This place hasn't even had a coat of paint since I was here last.
Oppressive, innit? Makes you feel guilty before you walk in.
Liable to admit to all sorts of crimes you never even committed.
Same old magazines, I see.
The British Felon.
The Safecrackers' Weekly.
Ha ha ha.
Just a joke.
You've got to, ain't you? Ain't you? Oh, all right.
Someone else in there is there? Yeah, yeah.
And you two before me.
Still, I'm used to biding my time.
So are you.
Ironic, though, innit, really? The first thing they tell you is keep away from bad company.
Then they stick me here for an hour with a couple of villains like you.
It's the one place you're guaranteed bad company.
What makes you think we're bad company? Come off it.
You're in here for a start.
Besides, I know the criminal mentality.
Certain signs.
I mean, you're a couple of hard lads.
Taciturn, know what I mean? GBH.
Assault with a deadly weapon is written all over you.
We're here to give a quote on the decorating.
Well, assault with a deadly distemper brush, then.
Mr Fletcher? Yeah? I won't keep you a minute.
Sit down, please.
Thank you.
Chapman.
Mrs Shirley Chapman.
How do you do? I suppose you want this - my dog licence.
Your parole licence.
Well, same difference, innit? You've got us on a leash.
There are certain conditions to comply with.
If you don't like it, you can go back in.
No, no, I'll go along.
It's not too difficult.
You report weekly to me, stay out of the company you previously mixed with.
and, as soon as possible, you start gainful employment.
There might be a problem there.
Problem? Isobel, my old lady, she fixed me up with that job.
The cardboard box factory? That's right.
She was very friendly with the owner, Reg Jessop.
And he offered me the gainful employment.
Yes, I have his letter.
In the intervening time since that letter, the friendship between him and my missus hasblossomed.
Blossomed? Yeah.
Or to put it another way, they now live together.
Live together? Yeah, live together.
Know what I mean? Co-habit is the phrase.
And there's no way I'll work for a man named Reg who is shacked up with my old lady.
But this is terrible.
I had to submit your home circumstances report to endorse your parole application.
Yes.
And I stated those home circumstances were stable.
Oh, yes, they are stable, but the horse has bolted.
Or, in this case, the old mare.
Mind you, give Isobel credit.
She didn't let on and mess this up.
But the two most important factors were a) marriage and b) employment.
You're out and you have neither.
Yeah, well, put it like that, I suppose it's true.
This puts me in a most embarrassing position.
It don't do me a lot of good either, does it? It's a lot worse for me, innit, girl? My life's in ruins.
You don't seem particularly devastated.
I suppose you knew.
Me? No, no, no, no.
Bombshell.
It'll take me a long time to get over it, if I ever do.
What I really need is a sort of period of readjustment, by the sea or something.
Mr Fletcher, we have a practical problem here.
Your wife supported your family while you were in prison.
Yeah, that's right.
She had a good job.
Asthe manageress of a dry cleaners? That's right.
We were never short of coat hangers.
Mind you, that was before rollicking Reg Jessup, the cardboard king.
I imagine now your wife's salary is not coming into the house.
No, she don't work now.
She lives in the lap of luxury near Chingford.
You still have a family to support, mortgage payments to make.
My two daughters, Ingrid and Marion, they're working.
You're content to be supported by the female members of the family? My son Raymond is still at school.
But it is his last term, so he'll be able to chip in.
I've had a thought.
Oh, yeah? Is this too outrageous? Go on.
YOU work.
You assume some of the responsibilities they have borne all the years you were inside.
I intend to work! But I'm just not going to work for my wife's cardboard lover.
Fletcher, I don't want to give you a hard time.
I'm here to help you.
Not for the money.
You must do OK.
Not with a husband and two kids to support.
Oh, I see, I see.
He sits at home, does he? Happy to live off a woman? He sits at home because he can't find a job.
Can't you find him one? Not in his field.
Oh, not in his field.
He's a farmer.
He's an aerospace engineer.
That's how tough it is out there.
Fat chance I've got of ever getting off the ground.
We'll get you something and you will take it.
All right, all right.
I'll check in next week, see if you have anything.
Unless I get in touch with you.
No mad rush.
Meanwhile, sign on.
How are you fixed for cash? I had all the money I saved up inside, but blew that when I got off the train.
In a betting shop or a pub? Neither.
I got two bars of Fruit and Nut out of a slot machine.
Hello, Dad.
Hello, girl.
What sort of day have you had? Any tea in the pot? No, but you can put the kettle on.
No, it don't matter.
What sort of day have you had? What time do we eat round here? I'm going out and Raymond's eaten.
He cam pop down the new kebab house and get you something.
Gawd.
Have the Arabs taken over Muswell Hill? What happened to all those English traditional Chinese takeaways? I thought we'd all have a nice meal together, all the family.
We've all made plans, Dad.
Yeah.
I said what sort of day have you had? Not bad.
I popped into the White Hart for a swift half.
Then I had a pint and a pie in the Anchor, signed on at the Labour, and then I popped in the Magpie for a swift half, and then I went down the Old Ship for a swift half en route to the Rainbow Club.
Why did you go down the Rainbow? All that walking about made me thirsty.
You're not supposed to mix with bad company.
I didn't.
I sat on my own.
You'd see all your old crowd.
There's no old crowd left down there.
They're all inside.
Did you see your probation officer.
Yeah, right little tartar.
Yeah, I thought when I met her.
When she was compiling a report on your domestic situation.
She's no fool.
I doubt she was taken in by your broken-hearted act.
"How can I work with my life shattered?" My life IS shattered.
I told her - bombshell it was.
Leave it out.
You knew months back.
But it's only beginning to hit me now, coming home to an empty house.
No tea in the pot, no dinner in the oven.
'Ready to play?' Oh, bleeding Playschool now(!) That's all Mum was to you - a housekeeper.
I don't know how she could abandon you kids.
Abandon?! Abandon?! Well, scarper with that other bloke.
Dad, I'm 26! It's been two years since Marion lived in this house.
What about Raymond? He's only a schoolboy.
Only just.
And Mum did not scarper until after Raymond sat his last "A" Level.
Seen my Led Zeppelin tape? Don't ask me, Raymond.
You leave things all over the place.
What time is it? Ten to.
Seen my bicycle pump? It's in the lav, though God knows why! How are you, son? All right? I can't shake off this catarrh.
Ingrid, seen my extendable steel tape measure? Oh, do you need it this moment, Raymond? No.
What time is it? Ten to! Mmm.
I'm late, then.
What did he get his "A" Level in? Lethargy? He's quite bright academically.
Oh, yeah? He seems to lack something.
Charm I think it is.
Yeah, that's what his school report said.
"Bright, but surly.
" Bright? Needs a new battery if you ask me.
Since I've come out, he's hardly exchanged two words.
He's seen the least of you over the years.
So? Maybe he's not quite sure who you are.
He has withdrawn into his shell because his mum's left him! Dad, Mum owes this family nothing.
The reason this family's intact is all down to Mum.
We're all grown up now and she's got a chance of a few years of luxury.
That's what she wants, is it? Don't we all? I'm here to provide that! Good! Well, start with the garden.
Eh? No one's touched it for years.
It's like the Mato Grosso! What?! The Mato Grosso! It's a deep, impenetrable jungle.
The World About Us - BBC2.
Listen, I am not here to cultivate and carve through a bleedin' jungle! I am here to provide the luxuries that this family has not got.
On what you draw from the Labour? Listen to me, nifty knickers! My dress! Just sit down there and listen to me, will you? My motto has always been it pays to plan ahead, to put something aside for a rainy day.
Oh, blast! I broke a nail.
Listen to me, will you?! Ow! Sorry, Dad.
Look, I'm trying to tell you that a long time ago I put aside a little nest egg.
Against the future, which is now the present.
Did you? Yes.
So we're all going to be all right.
You mean like Post Office savings, a building society? No, not exactly like that, no.
My particular nest egg is well, it's buried in a turnip field in Essex.
Wouldn't it be safer in the bank? No, it was a bank it come out of.
A bank?! Ssh! Stolen money?! Keep your voice down! Raymond! So that's why you've had no anxieties about getting a job.
This is the going straight(!) I AM going to go straight.
Listen, that money is a legacy.
That is just a fewa few thousand quid as a cushion against the harsh realities of life.
This family don't need it, Dad.
I want to buy you things, don't I? Your mum might come back if I have more than promises.
No, she won't.
All Mum ever wanted was an honest wage in this house.
Not a dishonest cushion.
I intend to earn an honest wage, but it's not easy with a record! No, it's not easy, but I know someone who done it.
Who? Leonard.
Leonard? Lenny, then.
Young Godber? Are you seeing him, are you? We keep in touch.
Oh, yeah? And he's doing all right.
He's prepared to take the rough with the smooth.
What is he? A French polisher? No, Dad, he's got a driving job.
Heavy goods.
You can do better than him, you know.
I'll be the judge of that.
All right, when do you see him? When I can.
Oh, yeah? Well, who are you titivating yourself up tonight for? Doing your hair and nails and dress.
Leonard.
Oh, he's in London, is he? Yeah.
He's upstairs having a shave.
He's what? Here you are, Fletch.
Good to see you.
Welcome home.
It took me a while finding you.
I told Ingrid I was going down the local.
You've got 20 locals.
Cheers.
Had a shave, have you? Yeah.
Used one of my blades, did you? We're not inside now.
Naffin' hell! You obviously did then.
I used one of Raymond's.
He shaves, does he? Only just.
You would know, being a resident in my house.
Only twice a week.
I still live in Brum.
Oh, yeah? I bet you pocket the bed and board, though.
I need every penny I can get.
Yeah.
Ingrid's upset.
Why? You know.
Do I? Yeah.
Why? You know! You keep saying she's upset.
I'm asking you why! Because of your nest egg.
She told you? Yeah, well, I knew anyway.
How? You told me once inside.
I never talk about that.
I think you had one too many.
One too many what? Prune vodkas.
I don't remember.
Yeah, few people do after your prune vodkas.
I thought you were going straight.
I am.
Straight to that turnip field in Essex.
Come on, Fletch.
That nest egg is a legacy.
It is to enable me to get on the right financial footing.
I've paid my dues.
Not for this job, you ain't.
Academic.
So you go and dig it up, you come down here, it's doubles in the bar, it's a new washing machine I'm not going to sling it around like Jack-the-lad, am I? It's not much use to you then, is it? Look, shove off, you, will ya? I'm in no hurry.
You will be if I kick you through that door! "Man who strikes first blow admits his arguments have run out.
" Chinese proverb.
"Man with fist in mouth cannot no longer give lip.
" Muswell Hill proverb! How can you say you're going straight, then start life on the proceeds of illicit gain? Your family don't want the money.
My family don't want me at all, it would appear.
My son Raymond ignores me.
All he's interested in is his extendable tape measure and his bicycle pump.
My daughter Marian hasn't been to see me yet.
She phones me up to say hello and reverses the charges.
As for Ingrid, she has taken up with some poncey, long distance lorry driver by the name of Leonard! They still love you, Fletch.
Yeah? Like my old lady loves me? Her that's living it up in the lap of luxury with Jessop the box maker.
She knows which side her cardboard's buttered! They still care, Fletch.
I mean, I know because I know them better than what you do now.
You reckon, do you? I know they love you.
It's their respect I'd like.
Know what I mean? Their respect.
The funny thing is I had respect in the nick.
I always knew where I stood and all the people round me.
Precious little respect out here, in the dole queues or trying to work the Paddington parcels.
It's money.
Money is independence.
Money is respect.
You can look the world in the face and say, "I upped my income, now up yours!" I thought you had more bottle than that.
More bottle than what? More bottle than you've apparently got.
I owe you a lot for what you did for me when I was inside and the encouragement Ingrid's given me since I've come out.
I won't see you ruin their lives and yours.
Forget the money.
It's not worth it.
You what? Just try it, will you? Try it.
All right All right.
Promise? Look, I've said "all right".
If I say I'll try, I will try.
Hello, Dad.
What? What are you doing with that spade? Spade? What spade? The one in your hand.
Oh! Oh, that spade.
Yeah, well Yeah, that gleaming new spade what matches the gleam in your eye.
I just bought it.
What's wrong with that? Spades dig things up.
Yeah, well I'm going to start work on the garden, aren't I? Oh, good.
What is this? Flaming surveillance? Here you are, love.
He's done a heck of a good job on this garden.
Yeah, he never stopped.
Where is he now? He's gone down the chemist to get something for his blisters.
You don't think? It's OK.
Raymond's tailing him.
How long can we keep this up, keeping an eye on him all the time, following him about? It's all we can do.
We've got to save him from himself.
Yeah Do you have to go back tonight? Well, I should really.
Aw! Unless I go back first thing.
I think you should, don't you? Here, you don't really think he bought that spade to dig the garden, do you? No.
Oi, never mind all that! Hello, Fletch.
Unhand him, will you? Do you want a cup of tea, Dad? Oh, yeah, ta.
I'll get you another.
Is that your lorry outside? Yeah.
You'd better get cracking on it then.
It's got 12 punctures.
I don't have to be back at work till eight o'clock tomorrow.
Meaning? He's staying the night! Oh, yeah? On that you are then.
Where else? Seen my earphones? No, sorry, Raymond.
I haven't.
What time is it? Ten to.
Oh.
I missed it then.
Then you shouldn't have accompanied me to the shops, should you? Did you notice? Did I notice! I thought I took advantage of the natural cover.
What, standing behind them lamp-posts? Your ears stuck out either side.
I know what you're all doing.
It's pathetic.
We're not up to nothing.
You are.
What have you done with your day? I've dug the garden all morning, I got a fishcake for my dinner, then I went down the shoe repairers.
It's all in his report there, the Bionic Man.
What did you go down the shoe shop for, Dad? Your shoes is all right.
When I came out of the nick, among my possessions was this shoe repairer's ticket.
It said, "Brown brogues, sole and heel.
" It's four years ago.
Did you think they'd still be there? There was no harm.
I was passing.
What did they say? They said they'd be ready Thursday.
MILK BOTTLE RATTLES TURNS ON IGNITION ENGINE SPLUTTERS ENGINE STARTS Dad! Dad! He's gone! He took my lorry! What am I going to do, Lennie? What am I going to do? I've got to be back in Brum by eight o'clock tomorrow! You shouldn't have left that jacket down there with those keys in it.
I knew it'd be MY fault! Ring the police and report your lorry stolen.
They'll maybe apprehend him before he gets to Essex.
That's a lot of use for a bloke who's on parole.
What time is it? Five o'clock.
Go to bed! What's going on? It's your dad.
He's given us the slip.
And he took my lorry.
Gone to dig it up then, has he? It's exactly what we didn't want to happen.
It's criminal, immoral.
I never want to speak to him again.
I want nothing more to do with him.
Still, he might get away with it.
Even if he does.
No, but if he does What? I want a motorbike.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
45, 46, 47, 48 49! 50, 51, 52, 53 .
.
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100.
What do you want? What? I said, "What do you want?" Who are you? Any gardening required? Want your grass cut or anything? Or crazy paving straightened up? I do all that.
You can start digging the hole for my lily pond.
Oh, nice.
Lily pond? Yeah.
If you'd like to follow me, I'll show you where I want to put it.
You wouldn't rather have it just here, would you? All I can say is thank heavens! We wasn't going to speak to you again.
You got Lennie into trouble.
I didn't know I'd be so long.
You won't get the sack? No, I said I'd broken down.
They said, "Get it fixed and bring the load up tonight.
" It was there.
Right there beneath me.
It could only have been a few feet under.
I know.
We could sell this house and buy theirs! And have you digging up the floors of each room? It would save hoovering, wouldn't it? You could have a lawn instead of a carpet.
You wouldn't hoover it.
You'd mow it.
All right! It's probably been found by now, anyway.
How? When they built the estate.
There's probably a couple of Irish drain layers living in the lap of luxury! If they are, it's probably ruined their lives.
Too much, too soon! Anyway, one bit of good news today.
Yeah? Your probation officer rang.
Yeah? She's got you a job.
Already! Fancy that! What sort of job? It's with the council, you know, local government.
What sort of job? Down Winslow Road.
What are the council doing down Winslow Road? Digging it up.
# I'm going straight, I am # Straight as an arrow # I've paid the price and done me time # I'm going straight, I am # Along the straight and narrow # And I don't mean straight back to crime! #