A Thousand Blows (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

1
[spectators chanting]
Sugar! Sugar!
It's like looking in the mirror,
and there can't be two of us.
What did you fuckin' see?
You weren't fast enough,
and he would have killed ya.
Until you wear gloves,
you are East End scum.
Meet me in combat, and I promise
I will not stop until you're dead.
I want yellow and blue
silk in gold brocade.
Wait! Fuck two bob a day.
I wanna be an Elephant.
[whistle blows]
[Lao] You're going to steal
from the Queen of England?
[Sugar] You can't feel, Mary,
'cause there's a fucking
hole in the middle of ya.
Fuck him all you want, Eliza, but don't
start believing what he has to say.
Planting bombs
and causing chaos,
anarchists and communists attract
the sort of attention we don't need.
If you lose on Saturday,
- he will kill you.
- Me can't lose.
If you win, he'll
have you killed. So
[groans] Fuck!
- [dog barks]
- [gasps]
[officers chattering]
[gasps]
[grunts]
[pedestrians chattering]
[paperboy] Bombing in
Greenwich! Massive explosion!
Bombing in Greenwich!
Massive explosion!
Two policemen dead!
[pedestrian] I'll
take one of them. Ta.
[parent sobbing]
It's time.
[parent] Don't take her, please!
Mr Goodson, we all appreciate
your generosity in the workhouse.
God's less fortunate
creatures
[Sugar] I'm no saint.
[parent] Please!
[parent] It's all
right. It's all right.
All right?
[parent] No! No! No!
[workhouse staff] Oi, get
back. Get out of the way.
[Mary] He enjoys that.
[workhouse staff]
Get inside. Go on.
I hear you provide a
fish supper on a Friday.
You've always been soft
on us workhouse kids.
Remember you turning up at Christmas
with a sack full of oranges.
I'd never had one before.
You were a scrawny little thing.
Smallest is all.
I taught you how to
fight your way out.
How to fight dirty.
How to win.
Watch me win on Saturday night.
The fight can't happen.
Hezekiah's injured.
Hezekiah!
Hezekiah!
Come out here!
Hezekiah Moscow!
Come out and face me!
Coward.
I am no coward.
Show it to me.
[sucks teeth]
The fuckin' lengths you'd go
to deny me an honest victory.
You did this yourself.
[Hezekiah] It wasn't me.
What? You did this?
Why?
I need him for something.
What? Him?
You don't even know him.
You can't trust him.
What you looking at, hey?
Still get butterflies
in my belly coming here.
[Mary] Hmm, nice to see you Elephant
boys working hard, earning your keep.
- [person] No, don't touch that.
- [Esme] Dickie.
[Dickie] Esme.
[bird chirps]
[chirps]
[whispers] I remember this.
- [coins clink]
- [child gasps]
If you can't earn your keep,
I'll put you in the workhouse.
Here I am.
[whispers] Hello, Mary.
Yes, here you are.
I'll see you in your room.
Eliza and Esme, stay with me.
Of course.
No one gets a free ride here.
Back to work.
We met at Lord
Leighton's, my discretion.
Where's my money?
That all you wanted, Mother?
Where have you been sleeping?
Wapping.
Strange that you
washed up there.
Under Sugar Goodson's
protection again, I assume?
I don't need protection.
Stop lying to yourself.
You moved from your family
who look after their own
to a man you met
in the workhouse.
I am Queen now.
So you say.
But it takes more
than saying to be one.
And much more than
being to stay one.
Well, don't worry, I'm
gonna make my mark.
Your Chinese delegation?
I'm in charge, and
we're doing it.
You will fail.
And why do you
want that so much?
You always were delusional.
You're a stupid girl who will very
soon be put back down in her place.
You can wear that fine dress
along with the airs and graces,
and you can pretend
but if anyone
really knows you
Nice to see you, Alice.
- I'm in a hurry.
- Aren't we all?
Now, Mary sent me
to check on ya.
[chuckles] I know
what I'm doing.
Is that right?
Well, you're taking
your bloody time.
Mary needs the stuff.
Now.
- And I am getting it.
- Mmm.
You can't rush these things.
I need to be trusted.
We're worried
you're not up to it.
- The thing is, I can do things
- Ah.
that you can't,
get in places that you
can't, and Mary can see that.
So get off my back and
run your little errands.
[employer] You're
a quick learner.
[dog squeaks]
And Squashie likes you.
[employer] Dogs are such
good judges of character.
Is there a letter
from my husband?
Uh, not yet, Your Ladyship.
Take care when
you come to marry.
The handsome, brilliant, charming
ones aren't always the best long term.
Madam, let me help you.
Why would I need your help?
Should I take this for
the post, Your Ladyship?
Yes. Yes, you may as well.
I won't be written off.
I run this household.
His life works because of me.
He's lucky to have you.
Milady.
[Belle] It tastes really bad.
[chuckles] Here, have a slice.
Mmm.
That is disgusting.
You've a face on you like a
cat's arse this morning, Eliza.
Oh, you're no oil
painting yourself, Anne.
I agree, but I have charm
and many other talents.
Should I ask ten Spanish
sailors that you didn't fuck
- [Anne] What?
- what that talent might be?
[chuckles] No.
I told you I am not under
the allure of the cock.
[Elephants] Mmm.
[child shrieks]
[children laugh]
Oi. Oi. Oi.
Did you see that?
What?
Your kids go hungry while
you're sat there drinking.
They are feasting on cake.
And take that look out of your
eye. I'd like to see you do better.
Fine, someone needs to
take them under their wing.
May as well be me.
- Here.
- [Verity] All right then.
[shushes]
[children giggling]
Off.
[Esme] Well, pride
comes before a fall.
[Elephant 1] We'll all
enjoy watching that.
[Elephants chattering]
[Mary] Belle, more coffee.
What did Jane want?
To tell me I'll fail.
The Chinese job?
Which only makes
me more determined.
Oh, we're on a roll. Who's
gonna fucking stop us?
[Anne] They found the
cocky little gobshite.
[laughs]
Got it.
Lady Grace's letter.
I also took some extra
letterheads in case.
"Dear Mr Woodhouse,
we would be delighted to
accept your very kind offer
of a Chinese translator
for the coming delegation."
We're on.
Alice Diamond
you're a real
diamond. [chuckles]
And might you be too
good to be true, Alice?
Lady Grace said
something similar.
Tell us about Lady Grace.
What's she like?
Is she as elegant and
eloquent in person?
Another time.
[Esme snickers]
Mm-mmm, no, it's too risky.
Well, I believe in us.
We can do this.
Do you doubt me?
Don't underestimate your mother.
I've known her for 30 years.
She's dangerous.
[winces]
[sighs]
What does she want with you?
[huffs]
You'd be a blasted
fool for trusting her.
But even so, I have to admit,
her methods are effective.
I think I have to box.
Teach me yuh science now,
yuh technique.
When your hand heals up.
[delivery person] Where'd
you wanna hide this lot?
Through there.
Who's the best
that will fight me?
Bare-fist.
I've told you,
everyone's moved on.
There's only dinosaurs left.
Squalid cunts.
I don't want to have to be the
one to scrape you off the floor
and spoon-feed you and wipe your
arse when you've misjudged a punch.
Neither of us want
to wipe my arse.
Ivy can do that.
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
Um,
Bert Arnott has
said he'll fight ya.
I beat him two
years ago, easily.
[Treacle] Exactly.
It ain't ready yet.
Do you know your old
man's in the pub?
Drinking?
Yeah.
[Ivy] Mr Goodson. [panting]
Mr Goodson, please.
Enjoying your drink?
- [choking]
- [Ivy] Please stop, Mr Goodson.
Do something.
[Treacle] Come on
now, he's had enough.
[Ivy] Mr Goodson, please!
- [Treacle] Sugar?
- [Ivy] He can't breathe!
- Sugar! Sugar, you're gonna kill him.
- [Ivy] He's choking!
He's choking. I
said stop! Stop it!
[Treacle] Stop!
I gave you money to take
care of your family,
to keep your wife and kids
out of the fucking workhouse.
Don't you ever abuse my
charity for weakness.
Yeah.
Go and see to the soup.
- [breathing shakily]
- Ivy?
Go and see to the soup.
Bert Arnott, yeah?
- Yeah. [exclaims]
- Hey.
- Yeah?
- [chuckles]
- [chuckling]
- Come here. Come here.
- Yeah?
- [Treacle] Yeah, I've got you. Yeah.
Yeah? When?
Saturday.
- Good boy.
- All right, all right.
[both panting]
[captain] All right,
lads, we're moving.
- Find Saul Woolfe now!
- [officer] Yes, sir.
[Hezekiah] Come on.
[Alec] Look at the boat.
Sorry, sir, sorry.
[Alec] See the boat?
Catch it! Catch the boat!
Beat the boat! Beat it!
[Hezekiah groans]
You have the speed. You need
to work on the stamina now.
I cyaan do this
without you, you know?
No, you can't.
[Anne] Lonsdale's place.
[Mary] Good. I want
all floor plans up.
[Verity] How many
more of these sacks?
[Mary] Just keep sewing.
[police whistle sounds]
[glass shatters]
[Belle] Shit.
Looks like the pigs have raided
your handsome tailor's shop.
What do they want with Woolfe?
[Eliza] Move. Move.
Saul.
I told you not to get involved.
I know what I'm doing.
I can't find it.
It must have been taken.
Here.
Where's her hat and slippers?
I can just find one.
That'll have to do.
What?
I've got mouths to feed.
Thank you, Lucy.
You have a lot of nerve.
Do I look like a
one-legged emperor?
Fuck that and your ignorance.
Only the emperor and members of the
imperial family can wear yellow.
Well, how was I
supposed to know that?
By doing your research
with rigour and care.
[Verity] Well, here's a list
of everyone who's coming.
[sighs]
[Lao] "Lo Feng Luh".
You said £200?
Minus the five I
already gave ya.
I have something I can wear.
[Saul] Eliza.
Eliza. It's me, Saul.
The bomb in Greenwich,
was that you?
Did you do it?
[sighs]
I thought the
building was empty.
Oh, my God.
You'll hang for it.
God, your arm. You stupid fool.
[sighs] I should have left,
but I wanted to see you.
No.
You're not safe here.
[sighs]
[captain] Find Saul Woolfe.
He killed two of our own.
[officer] Afternoon.
[barking]
Out, you lot.
- Move.
- [patron] Right. Goodnight.
[clears throat] We
need to talk. [sighs]
What, is this
about that bombing?
Two policemen died, and the
bomber's still on your turf.
Woolfe. The anarchist.
- What, the tailor?
- [chuckles]
Apparently he's
friendly with Mary Carr.
Bullshit.
Mary would never put herself
out for the likes of him.
She's got no time for politics.
If you want me to turn my back,
you need to clean up your patch.
These illegal
fights can't happen.
Either help me catch the bastard
or assure me that he's been
moved on out of the area.
Make me look good in front
of my superiors, huh?
And if you help me, I'll
continue to help you.
What am I paying you for?
Might want to check
your spelling.
You're spelling East
like "Eels", man.
[barking]
- Hey, slow down.
- [chuckles]
[both panting]
Here, hold on.
I will soon come.
[Alec] Yeah, man.
Would you like some soup?
- Yeah.
- Good.
I made too much.
[chuckles]
Mother used to make
somethin' like this.
My wife did too.
Mm-mmm. [chuckles]
- Yeah, I missed this taste, you know?
- [chuckles]
[in Hakka Chinese]
[in English] after
my mother died.
She was murdered by the British.
And you want to fight the world.
You don't have to see yourself
the way this society sees you.
Don't accept those limitations.
There are other ways to fight.
You are clever.
But I need money and fast.
I'm sorry about the rent,
all right? I promise
Mary paid it.
What?
[Esme] Time to go, Mary.
[Anne shushing]
- [chuckles]
- [whispers] Wait, wait. [shushing]
It's not [chuckles]
Ugh [chuckles]
Stop.
[chuckles]
- [Elephants chattering]
- Come on.
- Why you pay my rent?
- [Anne] I can't hold it.
Think of it as an advance
on the job I mentioned.
But I don't agree
to nothing yet.
- [Esme] Would you stop that?
- Let me help you.
Hey, oh, hey! The
women can manage.
Come on an adventure
with me tomorrow.
You've hardly seen any of London.
I bet you ain't had much fun.
Let me take you out.
- Show you a different world.
- [Esme] This is fucking heavy.
Introduce you to high society.
Four o'clock.
Get your glad rags on.
[Lao] I might have
an outfit for you.
[sighs]
[chuckles]
Don't wait up for him.
[Alec] I can help you with that.
Those are for Mary's room.
What do you think you're doing?
Sorry, this is for Mary.
Yeah, next door.
Please don't tell her I'm
trying on these jewels.
Come in.
Your secret, dem
safe with me, Esme,
as long as you tell me what
Mary Carr want with Hezekiah.
She want a fuck.
[both chuckle]
Don't take it off.
You is a queen.
We don't wear or keep
anything we steal.
It's Elephant rules.
[Alec] Let me.
You still want it though.
It makes me feel
safe and strong.
[door opens]
Please, I need your help.
Esme, Alec, please.
[passenger groans]
Where are we going?
Wait and see.
Special, eh?
London. The West End.
It true what they say.
Centre of the empire.
I come from a very poor village.
It have its own beauty,
but not this wealth.
Is your family still there?
What happened?
My father took a valiant stand
against the British army.
I know what it means
to be an orphan.
You mean you're not
some spoiled white girl?
I might be tonight
if you're lucky.
- You wait and see.
- Huh.
Good evening again, madam.
Are you ready for Lady Farnley?
[orchestral music playing]
- [guest 1] Lady Farnley.
- [Mary] Good evening.
[guest 2] Good evening, Augusta.
Lady Chartwell, how is
your husband's gout?
[Lady Chartwell]
Oh, fine, thank you.
[audience applauding]
Rumour is it's the clap.
[chuckles]
[audience applauding]
Who is that?
Miss Victoria Davies,
the Queen's god-daughter.
[Hezekiah] You know her?
But of course.
Miss Davies, what a
surprise to see you here.
Augusta.
Lady Farnley.
Ah, delighted to see you again.
And I'm not in the least bit surprised
as you seem to be everywhere.
Mmm, and everyone.
[chuckles]
["Champagne Charlie"
playing on piano]
I've seen a deal of gaiety
Throughout my lucky life ♪
[server] Compliments
of Lady Victoria.
Different side to London?
True.
And you are drinking champagne
given to you by near royalty.
In bed all day And
swimming in champagne ♪
For Champagne
Hughie is my name ♪
This is funny.
Earl of Lonsdale is my name ♪
Good for any game
at night, my boy ♪
Good for any game
at night, my boy ♪
Come.
There's a gentleman
you must meet.
Champagne drinking
is my game ♪
Mr Bettinson.
- Lady Farnley.
- [Mary] Mmm.
What a pleasure to see you.
What a lucky coincidence.
Let me introduce you to
the talk of the East End.
Peggy Bettinson, this
is Mr Hezekiah Moscow,
newly arrived from the colonies.
You need to see him to
believe him in the ring.
Hezekiah, Peggy
is the key figure
- in the burgeoning West End boxing scene
- [chuckles]
which is where you
need to be fighting.
[Hezekiah] Mmm.
Are you the lad that
had Sugar Goodson beat?
I surely am.
I'm glad to hear my
reputation is growing.
[chuckles]
What happened there?
Oh, I had, uh, a run-in with a
strange and complicated person.
I see.
Well, when you're ready
to get back into the ring,
come to the West
London Boxing Club.
I wanna see you fight.
I'll be there soon.
Your friend, the Yellow Earl
will also want to meet Hezekiah
for sport and his
entertainments.
Perhaps you might facilitate the
invitation we've previously discussed?
Lady Farnley, you have my word.
To your success.
[Hezekiah] And to yours.
I'm already a success.
Queen of my Forty Elephants.
Well, I know you
will fly higher.
Most men are threatened
by ambition in a woman.
I am not most men.
[audience applauding]
[gasps]
[classical music playing]
[audience gasps, applauds]
Isn't she something?
[Hezekiah] In this room
she has all the power.
She is free.
[Hezekiah] You see how
everybody look 'pon Miss Lala?
Had everyone in the
palm of her hand, you
You see her power?
She is a star.
I waan that.
[sighs]
[Eliza] Alec says you
can't stay here long.
We can go somewhere else.
Together?
Yes, when I'm healed.
We can make a home.
Yeah. [sobbing]
[Hezekiah chuckles]
So you still ain't told
me nothing about the job.
- The Earl of Lonsdale
- Mmm.
that first song
was about him.
He's our Champagne Charlie.
Ah, so him is notorious?
Yes, you could say that.
He's a keen boxer and
friends with Peggy Bettinson.
That's the crowd you
need to be in with.
Why?
I mean, I'm already
in with Lady Farnley.
Champagne Charlie's hosting
a Chinese delegation.
- Ah, so you waan rob him.
- Not him.
The Chinese will be given a very
special present from Queen Victoria.
You waan rob the actual queen?
As I said, there's
£100 in it for ya.
And of course the introduction to
the man who can make you a star.
No.
Me waan 200 pound.
Mary, Sugar is looking for you.
- [Sugar sniffs]
- [knock on door]
- [water sloshes]
- Come in.
Saul Woolfe.
One of your women's hiding him.
My lad saw him in the
cellar at The Green Dolphin.
You're not on top of your game.
Get him off my patch.
It's costing me money.
I will.
Tomorrow. At the latest.
My lad found this an' all.
I know what you're up to.
You gonna rob Lonsdale House?
It won't mess with
anything you've
No, it fuckin' won't.
Sugar, it won't.
We've known each
other a long time.
Don't take me and my
protection for granted.
You're not a kid anymore.
I'll keep your secret.
Remember, I'm still in contact
with your mother and her crowd.
That's all.
- All right, let's be having you!
- [spectators cheering]
Love you, Punch!
All right! How are
you lovely lot?
There we go. Get out there, boy!
Come on then, who's here?
[bell dings]
Knock his head off.
Gentlemen!
And a few brave ladies.
Welcome to another famous night
at the Blue Coat Boy Inn
and fuckin' restaurant!
And what a fuckin' delectation we
have for you this Saturday night.
Please welcome all the way from
the other side of Commercial Road,
- please welcome Bert Arnott!
- [spectators booing]
- Pipe down. Pipe down.
- [bell dings]
Without further hesitation, let
me introduce the legend that is
Henry "Sugar" Goodson!
Sugar! Sugar!
- Come on, Sugar.
- [clamouring, cheering]
Give him a big fuckin' hand!
- [Eliza shushing]
- [Saul breathing heavily]
So it's trouble you're
looking for, huh?
Why hide a wanted man down here?
So wah? You want me
to leave him for dead?
- [Saul whimpering] Please.
- [Eliza shushing]
[Alec] I had no choice.
Look at his arm.
What the f-fuck?
What the fuck?
[Eliza] I know. I know.
I didn't know what to do.
I'm sorry.
I'm afraid he'll die.
[Saul breathing heavily]
Get Charlie Mitchell quick.
[Punch] All right
then. Pipe down.
Pipe fucking down!
May the Lord have
mercy on your souls!
Here we go! Come on then!
[bell dings]
Get in there and
fuckin' leather him.
Go on, son.
Put him down, son.
Walk him down.
[Treacle] Lovely!
- Bring him to the right!
- Lovely!
[Charlie] Catch him on the right, son.
When he opens himself up, counter!
Put it right on him.
Go on, son.
- Come on, Sugar.
- [Charlie] Get out of there!
Go in on him!
Hey! Get up!
Get up!
- Get up!
- Get up, son. Get up!
Get up.
[Treacle] Get out of the corner!
[Charlie] Come on, Sugar, yes!
[Treacle] Come on,
and again! And again!
[cheering] Yay!
The pigs are coming.
The pigs are coming.
The pigs are coming.
[Punch] Get out!
- Clear the ring! Clear the ring!
- Move! Move!
Everybody out!
Get in here and start
playing, you lot!
Police!
[officers clamouring]
[officer 1] Stay where you are!
[officer 2] Everyone get back!
I want this area cleared!
Close it down!
Charlie, please
we need your help.
Hey, you! Get down there!
Upstairs as well.
Hurry, it's Woolfe.
Get up top! Move everything!
[glass shatters]
- Come on, let's go.
- [Charlie] Go on, move.
Next time when I
say no, it means no.
Move! Move!
- [shushing]
- The pigs raided the Blue Coat Boy.
It was fuckin' mayhem.
What if they come here next?
It's him they're after.
His arm's rotten,
has to come off.
[Eliza] No.
Get a grip, Eliza. Do
you want him to die?
[Charlie] Put this
in the fire, son.
[Alec] Don't put
that inna the fire.
Hezekiah.
[Verity] I don't
need to see this.
[Belle] Mm-mmm.
You all right?
Roll up his sleeve for me.
There you go. Keep on
turning. Keep turning it.
You keep twisting that way.
It'll be all right.
It's gonna be all right.
Hold this over his mouth.
It'll help with the pain.
Here you are, my love.
- [shushing] No!
- [Saul grunting] No. No.
- Please! Please!
- [sobbing]
- Hold him down.
- [Eliza] No!
[Charlie] It's all
right. You, hold him.
[Alec] No.
[Charlie] Come over
here and hold him down.
- [Saul grunting]
- Come on.
Yo, Alec, come.
- [sobs] Stop.
- [Charlie] Get here! Hold him! Come here!
Sorry, mate. It's okay,
mate. It's all right.
You'll be all right, mate.
We're gonna sort you out, fella.
[Saul straining]
Grab his shoulder.
Hold him down.
You, here now.
[Eliza sobbing]
- [Charlie] Take his hand.
- No.
[Charlie] You have to hold his
arm down, hold it straight.
You got it?
God, he's strong, this one. He's got
a fight in him. It's good, it's good.
Hold his shoulder.
- We have to do this as quick as we can.
- Higher.
I've seen this before.
You've gotta go higher.
You gotta get it all
off in case it's spread.
[grunts]
[Saul, Eliza screaming]
He's alive. He's passed
out from the pain.
[Eliza sobbing]
[skin sizzling]
I need to get him down to
the river tomorrow night.
[Charlie] Are you mad?
He can't be moved.
He can't stay here.
Sugar's orders.
You're out of favours.
This is why I tell you to
keep emotion out of it.
You can go with him if you want.
Anybody else?
What have you decided?
No. No one else.
My place is here with
you and the Elephants.
[Mary] If you're going to stay,
there's no room in the Elephants for
anyone who questions my leadership.
[panting]
- And you get wah me ask fa?
- Yeah, man.
Dis is the future.
All right.
So a man who wear gloves and
fight by dem West End rules
don't end up dead in the ring.
[grunts, groans]
Feel good?
[both laugh]
Come now.
Go on.
So you can do it.
You can be the next Tom
Molineaux, one of the greats.
American champion.
Should've been British champion
too before dem rob him.
Oh, a Black man?
Yeah, man.
But you, you go
finish wah him start.
Me going to do it.
- [laughs]
- Box with everything that me have.
Me even hear there is a
world championship now.
It's our time now, brother.