The Sandman (2022) s05e01 Episode Script

1
Welcome to Ackley Bridge,
where different cultures live
together in perfect harmony.
- Gypsy scum!
- Oi! Why are you running?!
Come back here again and I'll do you!
- Where families are truly blended.
- Curry?
- Et, voilà.
- I'm not eating that.
Marina!
It looks lovely, Mum.
Where money doesn't matter.
Because who needs money
when you've got love?
MESSAGE ALERT PINGS
Load of rubbish, innit? That's
what you've gotta remember
about this town. Everyone is faking.
And no-one does it better than me.
(MUSIC: BOSS BY MAD CIRCUIT)
- LAD:Oi, oi!
- WHISTLING
I've got that many followers,
I reckon by the time
it's summer holidays,
I'll be getting paid to go to Dubai.
I couldn't get paid to go to Pontins.
You know, you can make money
selling photos of your feet.
What kind of weirdo wants
to look at feet? That's grim.
- It is with your gnarly Hobbit toes.
- Folk are into all sorts.
My Auntie Shanice's neighbour makes
50 quid a pop sending out bottles
- of her dirty bathwater.
- Ugh.
Sometimes, she just uses
what's in washing up bowl.
Marina, my office, now.
Ah, Miss Farooqi. You made it.
- Did you think I'd chicken out?
- Thought you might've decided
to stay in London. I wouldn't
blame you with this mob.
London's overrated.
You need to speak to our receptionist,
she's gonna sort you out. Lorraine!
There you are. Lorraine,
meet Asma Farooqi,
our new English teacher.
Look after her, please.
Thank you. You, come with me.
Yeah. Is there anyone who
could help me move a statue?
Er, yeah. I I've, er
got arms.
Let's see what we've got here.
Media studies: fail.
Business studies: fail.
And, PE, that's a fail.
Every single one of
your subjects, Marina.
You've still got time to
turn this around, you know.
OK, so you're, you're not gonna be
a straight-A student like, er, Kayla.
Kayla's a mug. Don't need A-levels.
Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, I forgot.
You're gonna ticky-tocky your way
to fame and fortune, aren't you?
- Well, I've got news for you, kid.
- Gross. Not your kid.
You're gonna leave here with nothing.
I'd rather leave here with
nothing than be stuck here
for the rest of my life in a bad suit.
Marina?
That didn't go so well.
- Are you gonna be here all day, Ken?
- Rest assured, Martin,
this mock inspection
is merely to ascertain
the level of support you require
and is not intended to judge
nor punish you in any way.
That's good to know.
Thank you, Ken.
She just touched my shoulder, bro.
- Gori girls for fun, innit?
- Like they'd go anywhere near you!
You two are disgusting.
Check her feed out, bro.
- Boys, lend a hand.
- No honestly, I'm fine.
Gawping at women?
You can pay penance
by doing a good deed.
Nah, it's all right,
lads, I've got this.
Who is this guy, anyway?
Lord Ackley. He used to own this town.
Ran the mill. Exploited and
kept everyone in poverty.
You're a history teacher, then?
English.
But as my brother James Baldwin said,
"People are trapped in history
and history is trapped in them."
Does he teach local, your brother, yeah?
PE, I take it?
Yeah, the leggings give it away, right?
- Assalamu Alaikum, sister.
- Morning.
Could you show me where
the prayer room is?
You do pray, don't you?
Oh, I pray in my head, innit? Ha!
What did Evershed want?
I got a B in Business Studies.
Wow, you really turned that around.
Not just a pretty face.
- Get your own.
- I only want a bite.
Oh, my God, that is amazing.
You can do a degree in criminology.
I'll just ask my brother
Kyle. He's out of juvie soon.
- My dad's son.
- Is he hot?
He's 15.
Our Chloe loves a bad boy.
Or girl.
- Fizza? You're joking.
- She's cute.
Right. I'll see you in English.
Why does your sister hate me?
She's just sour 'cos
she flunked her mocks
and Martin's on her case.
Do you think he's gone off me?
He's moved off the traveller
site, into his house.
I thought I'd be round
there every night.
No adults, just the two of us.
- And Queenie.
- No adults, Fizz.
I feel ready.
Like, really ready.
Oh, my God, K. Are you, are you sure?
Yeah, but he doesn't seem bothered.
Have you tried talking to him?
No.
Maybe give that a go?
- She's coming.
- Why do you care so much?
You don't even talk to her.
She's my mate.
Sorry about your results, Marina.
Must be hard. Nothing going
for you but your fake-ass photos
and your lifetime supply
of false eyelashes.
Well, at least I don't
share a bra with my dad.
LAUGHTER
I thought you got a B.
I did.
The conversation around
race was as urgent in
Shakespeare's time as it is now.
Didn't Queen Elizabeth I try and
deport black people from England?
That's right.
Like the government did with Windrush?
Aye. They want rid of us Gypsies, too.
This is why Shakespeare is so important.
He helps us understand that
the people who rule
us have been refusing
to acknowledge our equal
humanity for centuries.
So why bother fighting it?
Why do you think?
Cos they've been getting
away with it for too long.
Exactly.
We have to understand our systems
of oppression before we
can change them, right?
Take this guy. He
exploited your ancestors:
- white and brown to such an extent
- He's got no nose.
that your lives and his remain
inextricably linked to this day.
PHONES BUZZ
Think about the imbalance
of wealth in this town
MURMURED CHATTER
Guys, it's great you're engaging.
share it with the whole class.
A hot or not list.
Seriously?
BELL RINGS
I haven't set your homework!
That didn't go so well. Ha.
The loony lefty stuff
won't wash up here.
You're not in London now.
Are you voting Marina?
Goes without saying, bro-ski.
- Another vote for you, Ruki.
- She does look quite pretty, but,
still, it's all a bit inappropriate.
Oh, my God, Marina.
You're like the hottest girl in school.
Am I?
Oh, no.
I cannot believe this.
You look cute. I voted for you.
I don't care about that.
Oi! Everyone, this is ridiculous.
Here we go. Rating women according
to how hot they are is
sexist and demeaning.
- What's she doing?
- We live in a world where we're constantly
judged by our looks. Who wants that?
Only people who have failed in
every other area of their life.
- That burns, Marina!
- Objectifying us in this way might seem
like a compliment. But it's just
a way of keeping us in our place:
pretty trophies to
be cat-called, groped,
owned.
All right, people, I beg of you,
delete this crap off your phones
and let's start seeing each
other for who we truly are.
She is kind of hot, you know.
- Nice one, Fizz.
- Check her out, she ain't happy.
Look at that thigh gap.
You can see what she's
had for breakfast.
Why do white girls flaunt
themselves like that?
Er, not all white girls.
She's a total randi.
I'll take that, thank you very much.
Hi. Just came to get my folder.
- Fizza, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- Great speech.
- Sorry. I shouldn't have to say that stuff.
What happened in here?
Year 7, would you believe?
They're animals.
I, er, really enjoyed
your lesson, today.
Thank you.
Nasty. Vicious
and it's it's mean.
So I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to confiscate this.
Hey, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, give me that.
I bought that. It's my property.
For one, we do not tolerate
bullying at Ackley Bridge,
but, equally concerning is the
content she's posted of herself -
in revealing outfits.
Oh, yeah, had a good look, did we?
I am absolutely mortified.
Tarting your wares like a common
slapper. What's wrong with you?
Yes, well, it's about
keeping you safe, Marina -
offline and online.
Images like this open
you up to exploitation.
So why shouldn't I share
nice photos of myself
'cos a few lads can't
control their urges?
You should be going after them, not me.
Yes, but while you're at this school,
we have a duty of care towards you.
No-one made me post those photos.
I did it 'cos I looked good.
Make the most of it
love, 'cos looks fade.
You won't be able to
trade off 'em for long.
Watch me.
It's just inappropriate.
Inappropriate?! You're the
one, doing it with my mum.
You are a spiteful cow, sometimes.
Can I come over tonight, Dad?
It's Wednesday night,
innit? Poker night.
Look
make it up to you
next week. Oh, phone.
Give us a ring.
SNATCHED CONVERSATION:
She's gone too far, this time.
I feel so ashamed.
I just don't know what's got into her.
- What was she thinking of?
- Listen, don't worry about it.
I don't know what to
say to her any more.
I'll see you later. She'll come round.
(MUSIC: SUMMERTIME BY DJ JAZZY
JEFF AND THE FRESH PRINCE)
Summer, summer summertime ♪
Summertime!
Time to sit back and unwind ♪
Here it is ♪
The groove slightly transformed ♪
Just a bit of a break from the norm ♪
Just a little something
to break the monotony ♪
Of all that hardcore
dance that has gotten to be ♪
A little bit out of control ♪
It's cool to dance,
but what about he groove ♪
- That soothes and moves romance ♪
- CAR HORN BLARES
CAR HORNS BLARE THROUGHOU
Do it your bloody self, then.
Hurry up, then!
Can we go home? It's freezing!
- How much money have you got?
- Loads.
MAN: She's got nowt on!
Has her mum seen her?
DISTANT CHATTER
Hey, girls!
Absolutely inappropriate.
A bikini car wash?
This could start a culture war.
Yes. Thank you for pointing
that out to me, Ken.
Not bad for a common slapper who's
gonna leave here with nothing.
- I'm gonna have to take that off you, I'm afraid.
- No way.
Made on school premises without
permission, rules are rules.
Washing cars in a skimpy top?
You can do better than this.
I don't think so.
I mean, I probably made more in an
hour than what you make in a day.
- Money isn't everything, Marina.
- Yeah, it is.
It's what's gonna get
me out of this dump.
Me and my mum. 'Cos she deserves
better than losers like you.
Razia! What are you bloody doing, huh?
Ah! Are you filming this? Huh?
- Mrs Paracha! We don't hit students.
- It was Younis's idea.
Student? He's my bloody son.
You. I've caught him looking
at inappropriate photos
of girls twice today.
I'll deal with you later.
Behan, why don't we
take him to the mosque?
- Let the imam talk to him.
- I'm not your bloody behan.
SIREN BLARES
- Bit extreme, innit?
- What is that for?
- Whoa. Whoa. Hang on a minute.
- Asma Farooqi?
- Oh.
- I'm arresting you
on suspicion of the theft of a statue.
That statue belongs to
the people of Ackley,
whose blood this town is built on.
- Power to the people!
- PUPIL: Miss, go on, yeah!
I love her.
Me too, bro.
Me, too.
This is unacceptable!
You leave me with no option, Martin.
This ship needs a steady hand.
I'm moving in. Help you run the place
until I can manage to steer
you away from the rocks.
No, Ken.
Marina, are you OK?
Have you seen this? I'm trending.
CAR HORN TOOTS
- WOLF-WHISTLING
- Hey, gorgeous!
You can wash my car any time!
That's her: the girl from the video.
- Not the telly! Come on!
- Sorry love, we're taking everything.
- I'll be back for the rest tomorrow.
- Are they the bailiffs?
Mum? What's going on?
Mum's broke. We've been evicted.
I'm so sorry.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- Don't have a go at her.
MAN: Look at them.
Do one!
Where are we gonna go?
We're staying at Martin's.
- No.
- It's only for a few nights.
And you'd better not start, lady.
- Oh, Martin.
- What's happened?
LAD: Come on, let's go in.
- It's OK. Come here.
- SHE SOBS
I just wanted nice things,
but it all got out of hand.
Hey. Hey, look, it's OK, Mum.
Look, I'm sorry, Mum.
- What's she doing here?
- She has been very thoughtful,
which is more than I can say for you.
Well, she can stay if you like
her so much, I'll go to my dad's.
Yeah? He doesn't seem to want you, love.
And after the way you've
behaved today, I can't blame him.
Mum.
You shouldn't have said that.
Well, she shouldn't
have been such a bitch.
I have had it up to here with her today.
She had no right talking
to you like that, Fizz.
Is it Johnny?
Go on. I was going to head, anyway.
Hm, you go and enjoy yourself, love.
Thanks, guys.
I know she's all giddy over Johnny.
But she'll never love
anyone as much as you.
I know.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Want some cake?
No.
SHE SOBS
Like I said, this
town is full of fakers.
Bunch of hypocrites, the lot of 'em.
From now on, I'm looking out for myself.
And I'm doing it my way.