The English Game (2020) s01e06 Episode Script

[birds twittering]
[Arthur] Sprint finish!
It's all right.
[both panting]
We can stop now.
It'll give them a chance to catch us up.
Perhaps we should arrange a duel.
Settle our differences.
I'm glad you find it so amusing.
I was hoping we could
put our disagreement behind us.
Well, that very much depends, Arthur.
You see, the, er
The FA board has come to a decision.
[Arthur] What's this about?
What decision?
Is it about Blackburn?
Where was I when this decision was taken?
Moira can rake that out
and light it every morning.
It's not old, and it cooks well.
That's one of the reasons
I took this house.
Thank you, son.
Thank you.
[hurried footsteps]
We got three bedrooms up there!
All to ourselves!
- Jimmy!
- All right, lass?
Mrs. Suter, you're looking lovely as ever.
Give over, you scallywag.
Ah, your ma looks so young,
I still confuse you both.
You were always a good boy, Jimmy.
Mwah!
Morning, Fergus.
Uh, Ma, this is
this is Miss Almond.
[Martha] Martha.
Jimmy told me you were moving in today,
so I thought I'd bring you some flowers,
brighten the place up.
Thank you. That's that's very kind.
[Fergus] Ma's not going to stop
asking after you.
Good.
And you're going to tell me
all about them.
Are we a couple, Miss Almond?
If you'll have me, Mr. Suter.
[Tommy] Fergus!
The bastards!
- [Tommy] Sorry, Martha.
- Give over, Tommy.
They've kicked us out the Cup.
They kicked Blackburn out.
What?
The FA! They've banned us from the final!
I know it'll be hard,
but try to stay calm tonight.
I'll be the very model of composure.
[door bell chiming]
Wilson's found a rather nice Margaux
for us to enjoy.
Oh, what a treat.
Thank you.
You've both been very generous
to the foundation.
We're completely convinced by the cause.
Of course we are.
[clears throat]
Well, I suppose we'd better talk about it.
Very well.
Do you want to start?
Perhaps you'd like to explain to me
why you held a meeting
when you knew I couldn't attend.
Arthur, I understand you may be upset
that we came to the decision without you.
- I'm not upset.
- Oh?
I'm confused as to why men I admire
so much would do something so underhand,
why you would make a decision
as important as this behind my back.
How many years have you known me? Fifteen?
Sixteen? We were We were
at school together, for goodness sake.
And yet you betrayed me.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
I beg your pardon.
I knew this was a mistake.
We have to prevent a repeat
of the barbaric episode
I witnessed in Blackburn.
Come on, this is not about the riot
and you know it.
Yes, it is.
Suter was paid by Darwen,
and then he left to play for Blackburn.
We all know why he left,
and we all saw the results.
Fighting in the stands! Thuggery!
If we don't do something about it,
the game,
our game,
that we know and love,
will be lost forever.
You sound like a child
who takes his ball away
because he is scared of losing.
- You're supposed to be his friend.
- And he's supposed to be mine.
How can you expect me to agree with you
when in my heart
I know what you are doing is wrong?
[Arthur] You will kill the game.
[scoffs] This is ridiculous. We should go.
I'm staying.
[door opens]
Francis, stay.
Please.
Blackburn will have the opportunity
to appeal our decision,
but the rules are what they are.
If they've fallen foul of them,
they must be punished accordingly.
Are you coming, my dear?
[Walsh] Thanks for coming.
[Fergus] Congratulations, sir.
Chairman of the Lancashire FA?
That's a title to be proud of.
Yeah, well, let's hope I can do
something useful with it, eh? Come on.
The Old Etonians are simply
using the hold they have over the FA
to keep the Cup for themselves.
Monkey, you know these people.
Have we any hope of changing their minds?
They're not acting out of spite.
They truly believe that what they're doing
is for the good of the game.
How can excluding people from playing
be good?
Maybe they hope it'll discourage violence
at any future matches.
We broke no rules.
We did break the rules.
We did.
I have been paid to play football.
[snickers]
[Fergus] First by Mr. Walsh,
and then by Mr. Cartwright.
We were kicked out over the riot.
They've got no proof we paid anyone.
If you wish to appeal
against the FA's judgment,
I am more than willing to help,
but if you wish to lie,
I shall have no part of it.
[Walsh] Is there any way
of convincing them
they made the wrong decision?
If you can get Kinnaird on side,
maybe there's a chance.
[Hornby] He might be sympathetic.
He's the key to all this.
[Fergus] I could speak to him.
Direct.
Player to player.
[Fergus] We've spoken before.
I think he's a decent man.
It's worth a try.
I'll suggest we meet for dinner
to discuss it.
And if it doesn't work?
Well, then we'll need to think
of something else.
[Walsh]
Single-breasted with a matching waistcoat,
and, yeah
this is the one. Hmm?
Yes.
You sure this is really necessary?
These men are expecting
some scruffy little tyke
they can just dismiss
the moment you walk in that room.
- I want to show 'em something different.
- It's just cloth.
Mm. And it shouldn't matter, but it does.
[gasps] Ooh.
Oh. Courage, Fergus.
[Walsh] You must suffer to be beautiful.
[pencil scratching]
[man yelling indistinctly]
[dog barking]
- [baby crying]
- [Douglas breathing heavily]
[panting]
[murmurs]
[crying continues]
Where are they?
[women] "The dog ran
home."
[chalk scratching]
And that's it for today.
Keep up with your practice,
and remember, words alone are not enough.
They must be matched with deeds.
[women chattering quietly]
They seem very attentive.
Ah, they're eager to be doing something
positive with their lives,
thanks in no small part to you,
Mrs. Cartwright.
It's the Kinnairds who deserve the praise.
There's a gentleman here to see you.
Yes, sir?
[laughs]
Bloody Nora, Fergus!
Have you pinched someone's clothes?
I'm off to London,
and I need to make a good impression,
apparently.
Gave me a stick and everything.
It's a cane.
- I feel like a prize pudding.
- Why are you going to London?
To fight the FA's decision
to kick us out the Cup.
Probably be a waste of time.
You told me that change happens
through talking,
and you were right.
Stand up to 'em.
Make them listen.
And if that means getting dressed up
like the high cockalorum, then so be it.
I'm so proud of you, Fergus.
Mr. Suter, would you help me
up these steps?
[train whistle blowing]
[Rosie] I never thought I'd see the day
you ordered a lemonade, Tommy.
Under strict instruction,
in case we get back in the final.
No beer, no trouble.
Oh, on the house.
I might hate that you play for Blackburn,
but I hate them southerners
hell of a lot more.
Pint of ale,
and whiskey
to chase her down.
My lad'll pay when he gets here.
Aye, you can drink it when he does.
Oh, you've heard of Fergie Suter?
Aye, he's a big man round these parts,
they tell me.
He'll pay.
- Your Fergie's da?
- Aye.
- Here.
- [beer spilling]
[Rosie scoffs]
[Douglas] What are youse all looking at?
- Can a man no have a drink?
- Alf, we got one here.
[Alf] I've got this, Rosie.
[Douglas] Hey, big man.
You sit yourself down
before I put you down.
Right?
[sewing machines whirring]
[Stokes] Fine work, Jimmy.
You're a quick learner.
You're a good teacher.
Don't thank me, thank Doris.
She put the idea into my head.
[door opens]
- Tommy, you looking for me?
- I'm looking for Jimmy.
Fergus' old man's about
to start a ruckus in the George.
Douglas is down here?
Now, hold on just a moment.
You're not gonna walk out
after all that lathering?
This can't wait.
Don't worry. I'll make up the hours.
- Need help?
- No, no, let's go.
- Monkey, thank you for setting this up.
- Your humble servant, as ever.
Arthur.
Welcome, all.
Mr. Suter.
Heavens, you look
quite a man of the world.
[chuckles]
I'm not a man of your world, Mr. Kinnaird,
and no suit can make me so.
But Mr. Walsh said it would be better
to face them like this.
Well, they certainly can't ignore you.
But then again, I don't believe
they could've ignored you anyway.
That's some collection you have here.
I've never seen four
FA Cup winners' medals,
not in one place.
[chuckles]
Helps to play for teams
in the habit of winning.
You're too modest.
- Not something Arthur is often accused of.
- [Ada chuckles]
[chuckles]
I thought you and I could walk
round to the club after dinner,
play some billiards.
You know the game?
They have billiards in Darwen,
Mr. Kinnaird,
and in Glasgow.
[chuckles] He's going to be
much better than you, Arthur.
Be warned.
Do we not have matters
to discuss after dinner?
I think it's time Mr. Suter and I
we spoke alone.
Ada was right.
You should know I had nothing to do
with banning Blackburn from the final.
They're saying it was because
of the riots.
You think that was a convenient excuse?
[billiard balls clattering]
If they asked whether you were being paid,
would you be in a position to deny it?
Not if I want to call myself
an honest man.
Well, then it's difficult to see a way
of overturning the decision
when the rules have been broken.
Players are being paid
whether the FA likes it or not.
You're used to playing against gentlemen
who don't have to work for a living.
I work.
So do some of the others.
You might work
but you're not breaking your backs.
You're not exhausted
before you even start a match.
Don't you see?
We can't practice. We can't rest.
We cannot improve if we don't get paid.
What's to stop someone buying up all
the best players and the trophy with it?
How is that fair?
A man who works from 5:00 in the morning
till 9:00 at night,
six days a week,
earning barely enough
to put food on the table,
has to compete with men like you,
who are rested,
well fed, with plenty of practice.
- How is that fair?
- I love this game,
and so do my friends at the FA,
whatever you may think.
That's why they're trying to protect it.
They are protecting it for themselves.
Not for the good of the game,
not in the long run.
They can't see that the game is changing,
and I don't think they love it
the way we do.
You know, I remember
my first goal at school.
Everything in life made sense
in that moment.
I know what you mean.
It was just a ball, my pals,
a couple of coal scuttles for posts.
[chuckles]
It's the tight games
that stick with me most, with
one moment where it
it's a piece of brilliance on the ball,
it's a goal out of nowhere.
Three-two against Charterhouse, 1869.
We fought for every blade of grass.
Scored in the final minute.
[both chuckling]
That's why we play.
For the competition.
So, then let us compete.
And let the best team win.
We are here to discuss the scenes
which took place during the match
between Darwen and Blackburn.
Can everyone stop pretending
that's the reason?
[Arthur] This is about money
and professionalism.
I agree. [clears throat]
Uh
"No member shall receive
remuneration of any sort
above and beyond his traveling
and necessary hotel expenses,
and the one day's wages actually lost
owing to his taking part in a match."
That's what this is about.
I believe so.
Everyone who signed up to the Cup
knew the rules.
These men worked hard to get to the final.
What about the team they beat
in the semis?
The Old Carthusians played by the rules,
and lost their place in the final
because of it.
They lost because we were the better team.
You fielded illegitimate players.
There were 11 against 11.
Were you paid to play
or were you not, hmm?
Were you bribed to move clubs?
I was not bribed.
- I was paid for my skills.
- [scoffs]
To entertain crowds
who paid good money to watch me play.
So, you admit it.
You were paid.
I want you to consider what this game
means to the people of Blackburn.
Oh. [chuckles]
They've not got much in life.
They work hard all week,
looking forward to Saturday
when they can cheer on their team
and forget about the daily grind.
If you ban us from the final,
it's not just the players you're hurting.
It's all the people who stood
on the sidelines,
cheering them on come rain or shine.
[Fergus] It's not right.
And I think a decent man
would recognize that.
Well, then.
Can't argue with the passion with
which you make your argument, but
rules are rules.
The decision stands.
Blackburn will be excluded from the final.
[sighs]
Then, with regret,
I must give you this.
The Lancashire Football Association
no longer belongs to your organization.
None of our teams will take part
in next year's tournament.
You will be sadly missed.
[Walsh] And you can expect
further letters.
From Yorkshire,
Sheffield,
Lincolnshire, Staffordshire,
and almost all of the other counties.
You don't honestly believe
people will take your little
breakaway group seriously.
[Arthur] They might do,
if I was their president.
[tapping on crockery]
You know they drowned a man.
- What on earth are you talking about?
- Mm-hmm.
- Happened somewhere in the north.
- Near Derby.
That's the Midlands.
Ah.
North enough.
During the Shrovetide game.
Working men from two rival towns
fight to move the ball from one end
of Ashbourne to the other.
[Marindin] Last year, a man drowned.
Not the first time it's happened either.
I'm still waiting for a point.
That's their game, Arthur.
We introduced rules.
We we made it civil.
So, we should just play each other?
Eton, Charterhouse, Harrow, Winchester?
We should just have
our own little tournament?
Crown ourselves champions of England?
Why are you doing this?
Francis, we gave the game rules.
That doesn't make it ours.
- [scoffs]
- [Arthur] The more you impose conditions
that mean the public school teams
control the FA,
the nearer we get to the day
when we are irrelevant.
Oh. [chuckles]
They will go their own way without us,
and in less than five years
their contest will dominate the game,
and the FA, it'll be nothing.
Is that really what you want?
Don't you see what is happening?
Every year, all around the country
there are dozens of new teams
eager to play for the Cup,
and it won't end there.
Football will spread,
through the empire and beyond.
It's bound to.
To Europe, to to Africa,
to the United States, to South America.
Do you really want to stop that?
Do you really think you can?
So, we should surrender football
to the working class?
We should share football
with the working class. Yes.
Reinstate them in the final.
No.
Let them play.
Why are you doing this?
- Because it is the right thing to do
- No.
I mean, why are you doing this?
- You're supposed to be
- What, one of us?
My friend.
Alfred This is
This is bigger than friendship.
This is
bigger than any of us.
Surely you can see that.
[door opens]
- You're back in the final.
- Hallelujah!
This is your doing, Mr. Kinnaird,
and I want to thank you.
- It had to happen.
- You made it happen.
You're a decent man.
It's hard for me to praise
an Old Etonian, but I mean it.
Well, I take that
as the highest compliment, Mr. Suter.
Don't you think for a second
you're going to beat us.
[sighs]
[men laughing loudly]
[indistinct chatter]
[door closes]
Jesus Christ, Jimmy.
Don't tell me
Doris has kicked you out already.
He started it.
[Jimmy] Alf ended it.
I didn't know what else to do with him.
[groans]
- Shut the damn curtains.
- I've got you a train ticket to Glasgow
and five pounds.
They tell me you went to London
to take on the FA board.
[scoffs]
Well, I hope they sent you back
up the road with a thick ear.
We're back in the Cup.
Then they'll need a better player
than you are,
or ever will be.
Take the money, and don't come back.
Never come back.
[Douglas sighs and groans]
You don't keep anything to drink
in this house.
Take the damn money!
Eh?
You think you can steal my family
away from me and I won't come looking?
You drove them away.
Aileen!
- Aileen!
- Just leave.
We don't want you here.
[Douglas] Well, that's not true,
is it, love?
You don't want to send
your sweetheart away.
Douglas, please.
If you've any love for me in your heart,
just go.
Why would you say that?
We're such a happy family.
This is my house.
I want you gone.
You think because you got all this,
that it makes you better than me?
I think without any of it,
I'm better than you.
A fancy hat. Now you think
you're the cock of the walk. [chuckles]
Ah, Gracie, Moira! Come in here!
Your pa's a gentleman now!
Ah, just like your big brother here!
- You stay away from them!
- Or what?
Oh
You wanna have a swing at me, big man?
Twenty pounds. That's it.
That's all I've got.
Take it and drink yourself to death.
Do whatever you like with it.
Just, please, get out of my house.
I'm not for sale.
I can't be bought
like some.
- [groans]
- [Aileen gasps]
Fergus, stop it.
Leave him be.
[grunts]
[Douglas] It's all right, girls.
Don't worry.
Your pa just took a tumble.
That's all.
[girls crying]
[crying and sniffling]
[Douglas sighs]
I'll be home for tea, love.
[girls crying]
[Douglas] Just make sure
you keep it warm for me.
[Douglas grumbles]
I hit him.
No doubt he deserved it.
Grace and Moira saw.
You're not like him.
You're not.
He taunted me.
- He wouldn't stop.
- And he never will.
- He's jealous of you and he hates you.
- Jesus, Martha.
You need to hear it.
Nobody needs to hear that.
Deep down
you still want him to love you,
but he won't.
He can't.
Let him go, Fergie.
Pray for him if you must, but let him go.
He said that the team
should find a better player.
Well, that'll be hard
because there isn't one.
[door closes]
[Alma] I hope I haven't
interrupted something crucial.
Not at all.
Sit down, my dear.
I thought I'd look in.
I want to talk to you about Arthur.
There's nothing to worry about.
He just needs to grow up a little.
Oh, this is the point.
Arthur has grown up.
You see, I used to think like you.
That one day he'd put football
and the rest of it aside,
- and get on with his life.
- That's all I ask.
But I don't think that anymore.
Now I think he's trying to make the lives
of many people better.
And part of that is to harness
the power of the game.
Have you ever seen him play?
Not since his university days.
You should.
It would make you very proud.
Why don't you come along tomorrow?
[Tommy groans]
My legs are dead.
If they're dead in the final,
are you gonna stop playing then?
We've come this far. We can't stop now.
We'll go right to the end.
Right to the end!
[murmur of conversation]
Where's Tommy and the rest of the lads?
We didn't have room for everyone.
[Cartwright] Tonight is just
for the star players.
Start with the furthest out
and work your way in.
Right, lad?
Thank you all for coming.
I know we haven't seen eye to eye of late,
but I felt it was important to get
together before tomorrow's final.
Has anyone spoken to Alfred?
[Marindin] I'm afraid he said
he wouldn't play.
Not with you as captain.
I'm sorry to hear it.
[Marindin murmurs]
[loud cheering]
Thank you! Thank you!
Tomorrow, we'll be the first
working man's team
to bring home the FA Cup,
and we'll have these lads to thank for it!
[cheering]
Like I say, we've had our differences,
but tomorrow we take part
in the FA Cup final,
and if we go onto that pitch divided,
we will lose.
Against a team which has cheated.
Well, haven't we?
How can you say that?
[cheering]
We've eaten a dinner of five courses,
including lobster and roast lamb.
How many times do you think
mill teams will have done the same?
The night before a game, or any night?
- [Blackburn players laughing]
- Come on, Suter.
Up you pop, you dandy!
[laughing and yelling]
Show everyone your fancy threads.
[mocking laughter]
We've trained today.
Those of us who work,
and is not all by any means,
have taken time off
to practice, to get into shape,
to perfect our game.
And until now, none of the northern teams
could afford to do the same.
Does that strike you
as a fair contest, Francis?
[Arthur] As a decent show?
As behavior befitting a gentleman?
Because we are gentlemen.
And tomorrow, we are going to win
like gentlemen.
- [applauding]
- [Old Etonians] Hear, hear.
[Blackburn players laughing]
Fergus?
Where are you going?
Fergus!
I'm not you, Mr. Cartwright.
I don't play so I can eat off fine china
with silver spoons.
I do it for me.
I do it for all the people like me
stood in the stands.
The whole team
should have been here tonight.
Good night, sir.
I, uh
I don't understand.
[laughs softly]
No.
Mm-hmm. [giggles]
What? Are you sure?
Yes.
[Alma laughs]
- Yes!
- You'll do yourself a mischief!
[both laughing]
[sighs]
This is the last year.
- I promise.
- No.
I am giving up football.
It'll just be you and the baby.
- Or babies.
- Oh, steady on. [laughs]
No, and I don't want that.
That's who you are.
I told your father you've learned
your lessons and I've learned mine.
I wouldn't change anything about you.
We've come a long way together.
[thunderclap]
Good luck, Mr. Suter.
Bring it home for all of us,
for everyone round here.
Enjoy it today. You've earned it.
I wish you were on the pitch with me.
I'll be there in spirit.
Make no mistake.
This is your dream, Fergus.
Remember that.
[Douglas clapping]
- [Douglas] Here he is!
- It's all right, Grace.
- The big man!
- Pay him no heed.
[Douglas] He'll amount to
a whole lot of nothing!
Because he is nothing!
[train whistle blowing]
Aye, just youse wait and see!
[train whistle blowing]
Come on, boys!
[whistle blows]
[audience roaring]
[Arthur grunts]
[Tommy] Hunter!
[audience exclaims]
[Tommy grunts]
[Fergus] Tommy.
Playing against a whole team
of Arthur Kinnairds today.
It seems that way.
Arthur's playing
with fire in his belly today.
I believe it's what's inside mine
that's spurring him on.
- Alma!
- [laughs]
- Oh, I couldn't be happier for you.
- Shh.
Shush.
Oh, look.
He came after all.
Curiosity must have gotten
the better of him.
- [Arthur grunts]
- [audience exclaims]
[Arthur panting]
[exclaiming, applauding]
[indistinct chatter]
Halftime.
Still nil-nil.
[crowd groans]
[Douglas scoffs]
[chuckles menacingly]
[woman] There's still time.
[whistle blows]
- [grunting]
- [audience exclaims]
[Etonian player wails in pain]
- [Arthur] Foul!
- [whistle blows]
[groaning]
[Arthur] He can't keep on.
[Etonian player whimpering]
[audience applauding]
[Arthur] Shall we play on?
You're a man down.
Rules are the game should continue.
We'll play with what we've got.
Your ball.
Come on, boys!
Come on, boys, stay in the game!
[cheering and chattering]
[Tommy] Hunter!
[audience exclaiming]
Right here!
Tommy!
Block him!
- [loud cheering]
- [whistle blows]
Yes!
[yells]
Come on!
Yes! Come on, boys!
[cheering]
[players yelling]
Get the ball!
Go on, Arthur!
How long do we have left?
I make it time.
It's over.
- [Arthur grunts]
- [audience cheering]
[Arthur grunts]
- [gasps]
- [audience cheering]
[both laughing]
[audience cheering]
[panting]
Walsh, where you off to?
Go Blackburn!
[whistle blows twice]
[audience clamoring]
What do you say?
- Extra time?
- Replay.
We're a man down. It's only right.
We can't possibly continue.
[man] Play on!
Play on!
- Play on!
- Come on, boys!
We'll go by whatever you decide.
Play on! Play extra time!
- Extra time!
- Play on!
It's clear what the people want.
Let's finish this now.
[audience cheering]
Morgan.
You're out. I'm sorry.
We don't want them to say we only won
because we had one more player.
[audience applauding]
Gather in, lads.
[players panting]
I know you're all exhausted.
The thought of another 30 minutes
is enough to make you lie down and die,
but think of the chance that you have got.
Think what the men in those stands
would give to be in your boots right now.
What would it be for them
to lift the FA cup?
Thirty more minutes of your life.
That's all I'm asking for.
Thirty minutes.
You with me?
- I said are you with me?
- [all] Aye!
Let's go!
Come on!
[sharp exhale]
[whistle blows]
Go Blackburn!
You got this!
[dramatic music playing]
[audience exclaims]
[audience exclaims]
[loud cheering]
Yeah!
Yes! Yes!
[Fergus yells]
Ball
Ball
Ball!
[Etonian player] Come on!
There's still time!
Come on! We don't give up!
Come on!
[whistle blows twice]
- [audience cheering]
- Yes! Yes!
[cheering fades out]
Suter scores! We've done it!
[cheering]
[crowd chanting] Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter!
Suter! Suter! Suter!
[audience cheering]
Put me down, lads.
[Fergus] You were the best player
on the pitch today, sir.
By a country mile.
The best team won.
You deserve it.
Now it's time to claim your prize.
Marindin.
[Arthur] Marindin.
Someone get rid of these ropes.
All the way.
Let's get this over with, then.
Would your captain like to step forward?
He's asking for you.
Congratulations.
[loud cheering]
[loud cheering]
Well played.
[light chuckle]
Not well enough.
Well enough for me, by God.
Great sportsmanship.
[laughs] Oh!
[loud cheering]
[loud cheering]
[Martha] Fergus!
You did it!
We did it.
[Martha laughs]
Ma?
He's gone, Fergie.
He's gone.
[Grace and Moira laugh]
[loud cheering]
[loud cheering]
[cheering fades out]