This Town (2024) s01e02 Episode Script

Before I saw you, I didn't know it,
but now, I discover
I'm not a bad poet.
Fiona, last night I wrote a poem
that could also be a song.
It's about you.
Do you love her?
Yeah.
A medieval kind of love.
Bardon's father is trying to
call him into the organisation.
Talking about sacks of fertiliser,
and the purchase of detonators.
Someone told us you were having
problems with your heart.
I just get off the phone from
your cousin Bardon.
Your nan had a heart
attack this morning.
It's your grandmother.
I have decided to recommend you for
three days' compassionate leave.
Last night was an alarm going off.
I'm going to change the venue,
and I will need new people.
If you're one tenth of what
your brother was,
you can earn a grand a week
just looking like how you look.
Dante, I've had this idea
that I could do the tunes
and you could do the words.
What do you say?
This programme contains
strong language, some violent scenes
and some scenes which some viewers
may find upsetting.
SKA MUSIC PLAYS
LIQUID SPLASHES
Out through the door,
run down 20 floors.
Drive along the motorway
until you reach the Milky Way.
Get directions from a spaceman.
Get a lift in a chip van, and there,
in a hurricane
is my nan.
Is it just me?
All except compassionate leave's
been cancelled
because of the hunger strikes.
Where we going?
Birmingham Bronx.
Where?
Chelmsley Wood council estate.
Just get to Birmingham
and head for the plumes of smoke.
Let's get these loaded onto the van.
I thought we were doing the diesel?
You thought wrong.
Is something the matter, son?
And there's a wee parcel
under the sacks.
Get that as well.
So you start a fire,
the funeral pyre
of all that's normal
and flat and dull,
and the afternoon
has its own mad tune.
Then comes the night.
The bad kids fight,
the dope-heads take flight,
the police flash their lights.
And me? I sit at home
and I write.
Jesus, Dad, what the fuck!
You show me the thing Nana hated
the most the day before we bury her?
When the time comes to bury me,
I'd like good men
standing over my grave,
firing one of these over my coffin.
I'd like one of those men to be you.
So have a fucking go, son.
I'm wondering
if you're a man at all, Bardon.
She's there, above the tower blocks,
landing on the chimney tops.
Singing with the blackbirds,
"Dante,
"you can take your words,
and put them to a birdsong."
Then bang goes the gong.
All along I've been wrong.
How could I have been so thick?
Words need music.
Why here, Mum?
I used to sing here.
On Saturday nights
when you were little.
Are you sober?
You'd think the news would make me
go back, but it was the opposite.
Last night I drank tea.
Mum, you know it were me
who found Nana on the floor.
She loved you.
She loved you as well.
Nah.
I'm the worthless one.
Mum
She said that.
She said, "You are the daughter
I'm not proud of."
You made a lot of people mad,
saying bad things
cos of how you were.
But you're getting better now, Mum, right?
So am I invited?
Am I allowed to attend my own
mother's funeral or not?
Dad says you can come
but you have to be sober.
Ha-ha!
Ah, yes. Company rules.
No volunteer will
drink before 6pm.
No volunteer will take or
deal in any class A drugs
or share a roof
with anyone who does.
But you're clean now, Mum, right?
Any volunteer who breaks the rules
will have their kneecaps drilled,
or have them shot away.
Bardy, if I come to the funeral,
will you hold my arm?
Please will you hold my arm, Bardy?
There's something
I want to do at the funeral.
Why does that make me nervous?
Well, cos you were always
a nervous little boy.
SHE CHUCKLES
I smell diesel on your coat.
You joined the marching band?
No, I just help with the cones.
It begins with the diesel.
Well with me,
it ends with the diesel.
I know when you're lying.
What?
Some stuff came.
They're planning something,
but I said no.
You said no?
Made it clear.
Nothing is clear with them.
You should pack your bags.
Where would I go?
Be with me in my little bucket.
You're worse than the Ra, Mam.
If you stayed sober
for even a month
Dad could ask permission for you
to move back onto the estate.
Nah, the Ra will allow
no reconciliation.
The Ra does not forgive,
the Ra does not forget.
And, anyway, fuck 'em.
I'm OK in my little bucket
by the motorway.
Mum, I will hold your arm.
Just be sober.
Be yourself
when you're funny and nice.
SHE LAUGHS
What songs did you sing?
Shirley Bassey
Judy Garland.
It's only Rebel music now.
In those days, we just had a laugh.
Too much of a laugh, Mum.
Yeah.
Probably.
Probably.
Mum, if you want,
I'll get the bus with you tomorrow.
We can have sandwiches
and cakes, like when I was a kid.
Smoking on the top deck.
Yeah, bus back full of drunks.
SHE LAUGHS
Bardy
Not being with you is like carrying
a chisel in my heart.
We'll get the bus to Birmingham
tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.
Yeah.
I'll bring the cakes.
Just be there.
You. Yourself.
I'll leave the wicked witch
in the bucket by the big road.
See you at the bus stop,
my nervous little baby.
And wash that fucking diesel
out of your clothes,
or you'll get so you can't even
smell it.
If you're late, I'll go without you.
It is you
Oh, yeah
It is you, you ♪
This was my first suit.
I bought it when I was 17
at Palmer's in Kingston Town.
And I did wear it with this hat.
I can't wear this to a funeral.
Your nan loved hats.
She would want you to have some
Style?
She'd want you to have
some stoosh, you know?
You don't like those old words.
Yeah, well, I see you stand up
and look good in this suit,
take me back, you know?
Back where you didn't want to be?
What that girl name again?
Fiona.
Your mama was my Fiona.
My first love.
I was lucky. She liked me.
You need somebody
There's a girl called Jeannie now.
Boy, you move fast, see.
Nah.
Jeannie's just funny.
She writes music.
Your brother coming back today.
You should talk to him.
About what?
About being 18.
Talk to him about spending
a night out in Babylon
and being all right.
It doesn't look like me.
But it is you, Dante.
This is who you are.
About a month ago,
your nan said to me,
"You can't keep that boy
shut up in a box.'
So, today, in her honour
I'm opening up the box.
But just a lickle.
Rock-hard and gorgeous.
DUB REGGAE PLAYS
Hello, uncle Eamonn.
Welcome home, Gregory.
Sorry to bring you all
the way up here,
but Special Branch follow me round.
I didn't think you'd want them
to have photos of you and me alone.
What do you want?
You know what I am,
and I know what you are.
I thought it'd be a good idea for us
to arrange a truce
before the funeral.
I've had plenty to drink already.
Celebrating getting
out of hell for a few days?
A truce
in her honour.
Yeah.
Agreed.
There'll be some of our people
there.
Well, we can talk about the weather.
The hunger strikes are getting
people to act out of character.
But the truce will hold.
That, I can swear.
Let's start the truce now, Gregory.
Go on.
Oh!
You take after your da.
He could drink.
He's been on the wagon for
four years now, you know.
How's Estella?
Riding her addictions madly
through the streets of Coventry
like Lady Godiva.
I'm surprised one of your comrades
hasn't introduced her
to the underside of a bus.
She was found guilty of having
a big mouth, that's all.
I keep an eye on her.
I still love her
if you want the truth.
Love?
In Coventry?
Yeah.
Mad fucking English junkie and still
somewhere in my attic, up here,
is a picture of her
at sweet 16.
Ah, yeah.
Sweet 16.
I loved you as I'd never
loved before ♪
You hate us
but you're learning our songs?
Since first I saw
you on the village green
Come to me
ere my dream of love is o'er
BOTH: # I love you as I loved you
When you were sweet 16. ♪
The only good thing about you
Irish bastards is your music.
DOOR SLAMS SHU
The boy with the ball is strong
and tall and talented and gifted,
and when his hood is lifted,
instead of a head,
there's a football instead.
It's like the ball is tied
to his shoes.
They say he could've
played for the Blues
But he's got these birds
flying around his head,
saying, "Fuck football.
Be a poet instead."
Dad said you only play
football on your own now.
She's not gone, y'know.
Of course she's not.
People don't go
if you don't let them.
I won't let her go.
How is it over there?
Belfast?
It's fucked up.
How's it been over here?
Fucked up.
I thought you'd be famous
by now, you know,
playing for the Blues.
I no longer engage in any activity
that pits working-class people
against each other.
Dad said these days you read a lot.
HE LAUGHS
Did he say, "He reads a lot,"
like he's proud, or did he say,
"He reads a lot," like it's bad?
He just said, "Him read a whole heap
o' book, you know."
So I don't know.
Maybe he just means too much.
Do you read about politics?
Yeah.
About pornography? What?!
I'm just asking.
Cos you don't go to dances,
you don't get into trouble.
I just don't
You sound like you're accusing me
of something.
I'm not accusing you of nothing.
I was asking around about you.
Around the estate.
Mostly people say the same thing,
that they never see you.
Dad keeps me in.
There was this one old guy, though.
He walks his dog at night.
Said he saw you on the bridge.
Like, standing on the bridge.
Like, on the edge.
When Dad was drinking
people laughing at him
I went to the bridge
and I looked down.
No-one will understand
what happened next.
It's my job to stand on a bridge
and look down, Dante, not yours.
I had words come into my head.
Words of explanation.
Words in no order, but I knew
that if I could put them in the
right order
I would understand.
Understand what?
I don't know.
I haven't put them
in the right order yet.
The old guy said it was recent.
I go back there.
I have to go back and stand there
to get the feeling sometimes.
Then I always step back.
Yeah, until the day you decide
not to step back.
I've got too much to do first.
With words?
Yeah.
If you ever, ever think about not
stepping back,
I have your hand, OK?
That fucking hurts.
Yeah, I know, it's meant to hurt,
make you remember
that I have your hand.
Nan has your other hand
and I've got this one.
So if you ever, and I mean ever,
think about not stepping back,
I need you to feel this.
Do you understand?
Good to have you back, brother.
HE SCOFFS
You ready for tomorrow?
I'm going to wear a hat.
What hat?
When I wear Dad's hat,
I feel like dancing.
OK.
So, tomorrow, when it's done,
you and me,
we're going to go dancing.
ORGAN INTRODUCTION PLAYS
Many rivers to cross
But I can't seem to find
My way over
Wandering, I am lost
As I travel along the white
cliffs of Dover
Many rivers to cross
And it's only my will
That keeps me alive
I've been licked,
washed up for years
CAMERA CLICKS
And I merely survive
Because of my pride ♪
Hold it up.
Gentlemen.
Oh, that loneliness
won't leave me alone ♪
BELL TOLLS IN DISTANCE
It's such a drag to be
on your own ♪
How have you been, man?
Studying a lot. Yeah, and me.
LIGHTER CLICKS
What the fuck is this? My dad's.
When he was a bad boy.
Everybody gets a turn at being
a bad boy except me. Come, Dante.
In a minute, Dad.
Somebody told me you'd been
scouted by a football team.
Not really a football team.
Birmingham City.
So, are you gonna play?
I didn't turn up for the trials.
I saw this nice tree.
Decided to climb it.
When I was in the tree,
I had a better idea.
You haven't changed then, Dante.
You're still a fucking lazy,
messed-up Brummie weirdo.
I'm not lazy.
All the others, yeah.
BOTH LAUGH
Are you still dancing? Yeah.
Have you ever heard of
Rock Steady dancing? No. Why?
Are you boys coming in or what?
I actually can't stand for Nana
to be in a box.
I mean, it's like hell for her.
Yeah, she even hated phone boxes.
I can't go in, Bardy.
No, we'll wait outside.
CAMERA CLICKS IN DISTANCE
Bardon, I swear to God,
somebody just took our photograph.
Yeah, that'll be the Special Branch.
Your dad's still a rebel?
Oh, Dante,
he's the fucking King of Coventry.
And you should keep your distance.
Anybody in the same photo as me
will go on their list.
Look at the hat, I'm a rebel.
HE CHUCKLES
I don't give a fuck about lists.
What do you give a fuck about
these days, Dante?
HE SIGHS
Last night, I wrote something
for Nana.
A song.
Come and listen.
"The willow tree I stood beneath,
and cried.
"She found me and asked me,
'What the hell?' and I lied
"She always had a word
for things that I feel.
"I always think of her
when I smell orange peel."
What'd you think?
I thought it was a song.
Why didn't you sing? I can't sing.
What did you think of the words?
I was expecting to be surprised
and hear something fucking amazing.
However, it was really, really bad.
The words are true though, Bardy.
I only write true things.
I mean, seriously, "orange peel"?
She used to peel my oranges.
See
If it's true, it makes you see
things and it breaks your heart.
And there's this girl
and she gave me a cassette.
What are you talking about, Dante?
I listened to it and it's OK.
You asked me what I give
a fuck about.
Well, there's this girl
who came to my bridge.
And then, Bardy, I remembered,
you used to sing those rebel songs
at parties with your dad,
on the flute when we were kids.
And I remembered,
you had a good voice.
And just now, I thought Nan might've
liked it if I wrote the words
and you sung them and this skinhead
girl wrote the music.
CLACKING APPROACHES
Fuck.
Mum!
Oh, shit.
Mum, what are you doing?
I hitch hiked.
Jesus, Mama,
you got into cars with strangers.
I missed the bus by one minute.
But I remembered the cakes.
You've been drinking.
I want to go in.
It's my mother.
Mum, if Dad sees you like this
Fuck him! And fuck 'em all!
I wanna say goodbye to my mother.
And I will.
Hello, Aunt Estella.
Who's this big lump?
I'm Dante.
Holy shit, the size of him now.
Oh!
SHE SNIFFLES, SIGHS
I like the hat.
I think it's actually alive.
OK, I've walked all the way
from the M6 slip road
and these heels
are ripping my feet up
and I'm not sure I can walk
any further.
Dante, you hold my right arm,
Bardy, you hold my left arm.
Take me into that church or I swear
to God, I will set it on fire.
If she says she'll set
the church on fire,
she will set the church on fire.
Take her other arm.
All right, let's go.
CONGREGATION: # ..wither
and perish, but
..nought changeth thee
Great Father of glory
Pure Father of light
Thine angels adore thee
All veiling their sight
All laud we would render
O, help us to see
'Tis only the splendour
of light ♪
Take me up to the front!
..hideth thee ♪
DOOR CLOSES
WHISPERING
WHISPERING: It's Estella.
Yeah, it's Estella.
Did you know she was coming?
Right
Ladies and gentlemen.
Hymns are all very well,
but I am here to say goodbye
to my mother.
In my own way.
In the way she would've wanted.
I'm going to sing
her favourite song.
When I was little and I would
sing it, she would always cry.
Mum, please. Shut up and listen!
SHOCKED WHISPERING
SHAKILY: # When all the world
Is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble
all around
Heaven
..opens a magic lane
When all the clouds
darken up the skyway
There's a rainbow highway
to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond
the ra-a-a-a-ain
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare
to dream
Really do come true ♪
Bye, Nana.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds
are far behind me
Where troubles melt
like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll ♪
That's what I'm talking about.
..find me ♪
Truth.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then, oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow, why
Oh
Why
..can'tI? ♪
Estella, my love.
OK, Dante.
Dad says it's time.
Time for what? Time for all that.
Fuck off! Baptism of fire.
Is that it, Gregory?
Today, all you need to do
is stay with me.
We'll raise a toast to Nan.
Dante, you can drink water
if you want.
Look at ya.
You're dressed for a funeral
and you're wearing Dad's hat.
Look like a proper rude boy.
What's a rude boy?
Inside the Happy Trooper,
you're going to find rude boys,
skinheads and Zulus.
The rude boys come up from Coventry,
the skinheads are from white council
estates in Redditch and Shirley,
and the Zulus are mostly from
round 'ere, and they're in charge.
Luckily, most of the Zulus
are my friends from the past,
so they should leave you alone.
Unless you do something
really weird.
Dante? Don't do anything weird, OK?
Good man.
MUFFLED REGGAE MUSIC PLAYS
MUSIC: Enjoy Yourself
by Prince Buster
Virgil.
HE CHUCKLES
All right, mucker.
Who the fuck's Virgil?
Roman poet from the second century.
Here, you two.
It's me old mate, Wire.
These two boys are with me.
My brother and my cousin.
So leave them alone.
FRIEND CHUCKLES
Dante! You look amazing.
This is Dante, he helped me
shift the stuff we looted.
He did what? The only thing
he wanted to keep was a spaceman.
What spaceman? Dante, come with me.
There's still lots
of the good stuff left.
You can take your pick
for helping me.
Dante, what fucking spaceman?
Did you listen to the music? Yes.
Bardon, come over here.
Bardon can sing.
RUSTLING
Bardon, show her. Sing something.
Dante, your brother said
don't do anything weird.
You're being weird.
Trust me, my cousin can sing
like a bird.
This girl is Jeannie, she looks
like that, but she writes music.
And then in between you two,
there's me.
All this stuff was stolen, right?
Liberated. Outsiders have to pay.
He's our singer,
he doesn't have to pay.
Dante, what the fuck you
talking about, "our singer"?
There's somebody I want to impress.
I want her to listen
to my heart breaking.
Was he like this when he was born?
We'll use the lock-up
where I put the spaceman.
Dante, what fucking spaceman?
Let him talk.
I think he's having an idea.
The three of us will write a song
and put it on a cassette
and then I will take it to
Sutton Coldfield, where she lives.
Sutton fucking Coldfield? Or to
the record shop where she works.
It's a song about love.
Love? I want to express it in a way
she will understand.
Jeannie, come and dance.
Sorry, she's busy.
WHISPERED: No, it's OK.
Come 'ere. No, wait, wait.
Fuck. Dante, let's go
and find your brother.
We can all meet at the lock-ups,
I'll bring a cassette recorder.
Fucking rude boy.
That hat belongs to my dad.
Fuck your dad.
That hat belongs to my dad.
Dante, come. We'll tell your brother
and he will get the hat back.
That hat
belongs to my dad.
Oh, fuck.
REGGAE MUSIC PLAYS
This hat belongs to my dad.
Fuck off.
GLASS SHATTERS
Right, fucking come on, then! Go on!
Let them walk!
..who could ever preach you
He was a son of a preacher man
The only guy who could teach me
He was a son of
a preacher man ♪
Just breathe.
Come on.
Oh, yes, he was
Yes, he was ♪
Jesus, did you know he could do
that? No.
Neither did he.
It's in the blood. Dad could fight.
Army middleweight champion,
Catterick 1969.
Did I hurt anybody?
Yeah.
Me.
You broke my fucking heart.
My My hands are shaking.
Try this. It'll calm you down.
So What the fuck?
DANTE COUGHS
A fight about a hat?
Yeah.
Thing is though, Dante,
you were good.
Two big lads that
I know can handle themselves,
and you put 'em down in ten seconds.
You looked like a natural.
That's not what I want.
Yeah, well
Don't matter what you want.
Some people have it,
some people don't.
Well, I don't want it.
Some of the people who just
witnessed what you did
are people that are always
on the lookout.
Like scouts.
This is how it starts, Dante.
You get spotted in the bar
with a Trooper, you get recruited.
You make some money,
you make some more money,
and then you get caught
and you go to jail.
And you're just one more
black kid in Winson Green.
Dante, don't laugh, it's not funny.
That's nearly what happened to me.
That's why I got out.
When I'm gone, there's going to be
a knock at the door.
And somebody's going to offer you
free tickets to a football game.
And on the coach, you're going to
hear all these stories
about the mighty Zulus.
And it looks like a laugh,
stealing fag machines,
rigging fruit machines, but then you
get involved with illegal clampers,
you start stealing cars,
dealing dope.
They're good people,
but they're dangerous.
That isn't who I am, Gregory.
Yeah, and Bardon isn't
a volunteer for the Ra.
"That isn't who I am", he says.
But they'll get him in the end.
Cos he's a smart Provo boy
from a family of three generations,
so they will get him in the end.
The only way to get away from these
places is to get your body away.
If you don't get away,
you just become what everybody
already thinks you are.
Go home.
Don't let Dad see your fists.
Come here.
Go with him.
SOFTLY: Fuck.
KNOCKING
Deuce, somebody stole my shoes
from the graveyard
and I've no way of getting home.
And I know you've been to the
same corner of hell where I am,
and I just wanted to
ask your advice.
Can I come in?
Yes, of course.
What you doing up here?
Think I come here to pray.
You pray to the M6?
You could have sectarian conflicts
with people that worship the M1.
Nah The M1 people are fine.
It's those M40 bastards that I hate.
What a family we are, eh?
I haven't told a living soul
this, Dante
but yesterday,
my dad took delivery of all the
ingredients needed to make bombs.
Like big fucking bombs.
See?
The bridge does that to people.
Like a confessional.
He's trying to bring me in.
So I'm thinking of going down there
on the slip road right now,
putting out my thumb
and fucking off to London.
Sorry, you can't do that.
Why not? You've got to sing my song.
For some bird in Sutton Coldfield
you're in love with?
Not just that.
What else?
OK
Bridge-induced confession.
I've got to do something to stop
myself thinking
nothing is worth doing.
And right now, that something
is writing a song.
I've got a guitar, a tin whistle
and a big fucking Irish drum.
I'll bring them along.
And if you don't have feelings
for that girl, Jeannie, I like her.
What about her boyfriend?
I'll threaten him with you.
DANTE CHUCKLES
I hope we're not shit.
Nah, we won't be shit.
We'll take over the
'ole fucking world.
I can see clearly now
that the rain is gone
Well, I can see all obstacles in
my way
Yeah
Gone are the dark clouds
that used to make me blind
Well, it's gonna be a bright
Bright
Oh, bright
Bright sunshiny
Sunshiny day
Oh, I can see a bright
Bright
Oh, little bright now
Bright sunshiny
Sunshiny day
Uh, uh, yeah
Looka here. ♪
The middle fingers of
the other two of my doormen
who opened your security doors
and allowed the looters in.
I hope this proves to you
that my apologies are sincere.
And I hope that we can continue our
productive business relationship,
when you collect the insurance money
and reopen your nightclub.
When it reopens,
it won't be a nightclub.
It will be a music venue.
And I can't consider
doing business with you
until I have received
the sufficient level of contrition.
Take it out.
And put it in your mouth.
HE LAUGHS
What?
As an act of contrition to prove
the depth of your remorse.
Put the finger in your mouth.
HE LAUGHS
Fuck off.
OK, let me try this another way.
Put the finger in your mouth
or I pull the trigger.
And you know I'll pull the trigger
because you know I have holes
all over Birmingham
where I can put you
and cover you up with concrete and
the next person to see your bones
will be a fucking archaeologist.
Why?
Why d'you want me to do that?
To control a city,
men like me need legends of madness.
You are engaged
in a legendary moment.
Put the finger in your mouth
or be a dead person.
GUN CLICKS
WIRE BREATHES HEAVILY
HE GRUNTS
HE GULPS
All the way.
HE CHOKES
I'm changing the venue to
cater for a younger audience.
The dinner-dance market, it's dead.
And I will need security,
but I will need people I know
I can trust to never let me down.
Can I trust you to never let me
down again?
HE GULPS
Good.
See, now we're in a good place.
It's a place of trust.
WIRE GULPS
Spit it out.
WIRE SPLUTTERS
HE PANTS
HE SPITS
It's a waste of fucking single malt.
Fuck you, you mad fucking bastard.
Mad is right.
Madness and legends of madness.
The knowledge that I just might.
So, now
HE SIGHS
Do I hear news amongst
the various jungles
and swamps that
fester around this city?
And I heard about an incident
on the Chelmsley Wood estate.
In terms of future potential,
talk to me about Virgil's brother.
I'm watching the birds taking off.
And I'm thinking about you.
I'm watching the clouds opening up.
And I'm thinking about you.
I'm watching the traffic
in the rain.
There's people
waiting for the train.
The lights have just
come on above the shops.
And everything says your name.
I want to walk around beside you.
I want to hear your voice,
I want to show you things
that I won't let anyone see.
Cos you make me see
beautiful things
and you make me
feel beautiful things.
And I can see them.
And I can feel them, everywhere.
So give me a day, I'll walk you
away from everything
that's in your way.
Give me your time
and I'll give you mine
and we can make everything shine.
Because you make me see
And you make me feel
And you make all
these beautiful things real.
Bardon!
I'm going out.
I have a wee task for you, son.
I need you to go
and make a phone call, son.
From a phone box, yeah.
What call?
Just call that number.
Use those code words. They'll know
it's real. Know what's real?
In half an hour, a bomb will go off
inside Coventry rail station. Fuck.
COINS JANGLE
They need 20 minutes
to clear the station,
so you have ten minutes, Bardon.
Welcome, son.
Come here, give me a hug.
HE GRUNTS
The train station's full of people.
Unless you make the call,
a lot of them will die.
We've decided you'll make the call.
It's time a son of mine stepped up.
Now go to the phone box
and make the call! You fuck!
Bang is 10:30.
You have nine minutes.
Go and do your duty.
BARDON BREATHES SHAKILY
FOOTSTEPS RETREAT DOWNSTAIRS
DOOR OPENS, SLAMS
Fuck!
HANDSET CLATTERS
SHE SCREAMS
What? No! What the fuck?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
What're you doing?!
I'm really sorry.
SHE YELPS
Sorry.
Thank you.
DIAL TONE DRONES
CALL DIALS
COINS CLATTER
PHONE BEEPS REPEATEDLY
Agh! Fuck
Speaking, how can I help you?
Michael Collins.
Code word Michael Collins.
There's a bomb.
Coventry train station.
In the station.
I don't know what platform.
Michael Collins.
What the hell?! I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sorry
How was the funeral? Who's asking?
Commander Bentley, Special Branch.
Inside the envelope,
there are photos.
Taken last night at midnight
inside Coventry Rail Station.
I've got a ferry to catch.
If I tell the ferry to wait,
it'll wait.
Open the envelope.
It's an order, Sergeant Williams.
Two platforms blown to shreds.
Were there casualties?
Not this time.
The Coventry brigade has been
activated.
And according to our surveillance,
the funeral you just attended,
you have intimate connections with
some of its most senior members.
Related by blood.
By the way, the call was made by a
boy, estimated age about 18.
Think you might know him.
UNDER HIS BREATH: Fuck.
Yeah. "Fuck."
So, Sergeant Williams,
this is how it's going to be.
You'll return to your unit in
Belfast where you are
already under consideration
for psychiatric assessment.
You'll be recommended for indefinite
leave away from active service.
You'll return to the family
home in Birmingham
where you will engage
with those members of your family
with connections to the
Coventry branch of the IRA.
Your next question is going to be,
"Are you asking me to spy on my own
family?" to which I answer "No".
I'm not asking you to spy
on your own family.
I'm ordering you to spy
on your own family.
If I say "No"
I'm going to pretend
I didn't hear you say that, Sarge.
If you refuse to carry out
my orders, I'll have you
on a charge of desertion.
You'll go to fucking jail.
Keep those if you like.
Keep them as part of
your family photo album.
Fucking sweet family you've got,
haven't you, Sergeant.
CAR DOOR CLOSES, ENGINE STARTS
HE DRIVES AWAY
This is where we find out
if we're any good.
All we need now is our lead singer.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds
are far behind me
Where troubles melt
like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops ♪
CAR BEEPS
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere
Over the rainbo-o-o-ow
Birds fly over the rainbo-o-o-o-w
Somewhere over the rainbo-o-o-w
Birds fly over the rainbow ♪
VOCALISING