Original subtitles

You're great.

Nope.

Your Excellency. That's ambassadors.

Sweetie pie sugar purse.

None of the above.

Give up, then. What do we call you?

Lord Milbourne.

If I could sell the bloody title, I would. You'll never seduce a geriatric

oil heiress without one.

Is that the plan?

You got a better one?

You really want this job?

Yeah. Why?

I'm homeless, I'm an ex -con, I've got no future anywhere else.

Ever bothered you before, not having a future?

I don't know.

Jo once told me about this place.

She loved it.

Had a lot of essence for her. You know, the way she used to go on about essence.

Essence of England.

I suppose I want to keep it alive for her.

That sounds the most monumental bullshit, doesn't it?

Who cares?

If it makes you stay.

I had a phone call this morning.

Anyone nice? The bank wishes to state its position.

They're going to start foreclosure next weekend if they don't see a bit of cash.

Thank you, Jimmy, for a well -timed 300 grand.

Giving it to them is such a bloody waste.

Also, they want to know what we intend to do with Winterley.

Which makes quite a few of us.

You know the only way you're going to save this place is by ruining it?

Yeah.

OK, let's try some jobs for size.

Dudley and Olivia fleece the estate. Piers and Dex rape the house.

Anything we find that someone somewhere might want to buy, we sell or try to.

How does that sound?

Bloody awful.

Oh, is that agreed, then? Well, it has to be, really, doesn't it?

Just a word of warning, though, Derek.

The old biddy's got your number.

I'm only trying to help.

You're only trying to win.

And if the thing you're fighting for gets destroyed in the process, that's

too bad, right?

Do you know it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile?

It's worth the extra effort.

So, the grand tour.

How are we supposed to pay for him?

I'm sure he'll think of something.

Tell me something about Mum.

Did she suffer much?

I'm not entirely sure. You and I are on speakers.

I mean, obviously she suffered being married to you.

But at the end, when she died... Where's the sudden

necrophiliac curiosity, Anna?

Derek Love showed me where he was born, that's all. It just made me think how

little I know.

How little indeed.

Not even enough to alert you to the rampant lunacy of Basing Franklin.

Oh. Oh, moan you may.

His eye will have to sit with him this morning and enjoy his psychopathic

ululations and gnashing of teeth.

You never want to talk about her, do you?

Don't change the subject.

I didn't.

We sell all the land to developers in one big block so they can build big

on it.

Village included.

Sell it. Where do the people go?

They just go.

All this could go. All what could go? The farm.

Auction it. What about the boys?

They go too.

Look, these are suggestions, okay?

I just think this could be the scale of the surgery.

You know that I can't sanction any of this.

I won't sell the house, I won't sell the land, and I won't throw people out of

their homes.

Winterly is not a pretty little orphan that needs feeding up, Piers.

It's a senile, incontinent, smelly geriatric.

Frankly, not worth the price of the iron lung it needs to keep it breathing. I

love the place. Which is why you've got to hang on in there.

You're the only one who does.

Okay.

Look, right?

This all sounds incredibly depressing. A lot of hard work and not very likely to

succeed. So I think we should seriously think about crime.

It's a lot less hassle.

I thought you'd been sacked.

Can't live with me, can't live without me.

You almost certainly ought to take a blood test.

Hmm.

Well, I'm not saying.

How are you, Jimmy? Oh, don't answer that. We'll be in a minute.

Tom, I've intruded on a symposium.

No, Mr. Clement, Mr. Wastey, Clement Wastey, my solicitors, Jimmy Blake, a

colleague and friend. Sit down, Jimmy.

So, if medical examination corroborates Ward's paternity, what then?

In such an eventuality, it would remain incumbent upon Mr. Ward to prove to the

court's satisfaction that he would make a fitter parent for the child than

yourself.

In a word.

Ella.

Tell Warner I want an exhaustive profile of wood.

Recording every vice.

Stress the importance of minutiae.

Also, I want the names of the magistrates on the tribunal.

I want to know which of them are masons, which lodges they belong to.

Mr. Franklin, it is our duty to point out. Of course it is.

Consider your duty discharged.

I'm a dirty fighter, gentlemen.

But I don't lose.

Willie took it.

This is the bunker deck.

This is where I wage the war.

Wars, plural.

You're fighting on two fronts.

That one... and this one.

Don't let me forget.

I won.

What are you doing?

Performing a duty.

Something very unpleasant.

I've been putting it off all week.

Twelve o 'clock, gentlemen.

What is your last word on this matter today?

A proposition.

We think you should consider allowing Ward a degree of access to the child.

What? If Gibson left her.

as we suspect, are preparing a case that is designed to engineer the sympathies

of the court, it might be wise to deploy some compassion ourselves.

I see.

So as not to look unattractively greedy.

I'll consider this.

Thank you, gentlemen. Good day.

Deploy some compassion.

Good Lord.

These men are animals, but I like them.

What's the use of a solicitor with a pleasant personality?

This wretched business about the girl.

Any joy?

She's gone to ground.

Obviously professional. I've trod through Joanna's photograph albums. This

woman's face does not appear.

Well, to business.

Is Michael joining us? But he has one lead to follow.

I shall not give up.

No. As you were saying, yes.

The casinos.

Ray Lowry, Derek Love.

Take a seat, Ray.

Want a drink?

Am I going to need one?

Yes.

I'm afraid so.

Yes.

I knew it when I picked up the phone. Ray, it's streamlined the farm or it's

closed it down completely. What else can I do?

I'm really, really sorry, but that's the way it is.

Listen, I've been on to my cousin. He runs a farm in Northumberland.

Northumberland?

Piers, that's the other side of the bloody planet.

I'm married.

I've got a baby, you know. I live here. This is home.

Ray, I'm sorry.

You can stay on in the cottage. I'll drop the rent as low as I can. Please.

You're a nice guy, OK? I mean it.

But right now, I just want to smash your bloody face in, so I think I'd better

go.

Ray, we've got to talk about your settlement.

Look, I'll catch up with you at the pub again.

Yeah.

That's where I'll be.

I need you to tell me that I'm doing this the right way.

There isn't a right way.

What's the score?

Well, I've done the books and most of the paintings.

None of them worth a sausage?

Not really, no.

I told Piers it was all junk, he wouldn't listen.

Typical Aristotle's family, not a ounce of paste for generations.

A lot of tin folders and a lot of old gubbins from the Empire. Like England,

really.

Jimmy, you look awful.

Would you like a drink?

Several, please.

Simultaneously.

Finish your appraisal?

Yes. Can I go now?

No, you bloody well can't. Franklin is looking for you.

You stay here. You smile.

You assist your host.

Whenever possible, in silence.

Well, that's why I'm at Winterley. What about you?

I have my own reasons.

You've got the hots for Olivia, haven't you?

That's why you threw all the money into her house.

Anna. You're going red, Daddy.

That is a preposterous, vile accusation.

Relax, for God's sake.

I'm only teasing.

True, though, isn't it?

If we're going, we've got to go now.

Go where?

There's a couple of places around here I want to go deck.

Houses that are open to the public.

Both of them doing very nicely, thank you.

Good luck, then.

Need someone to read the map?

I can read.

It's a trick I learned at school. Come if you want to.

Well, Blake told me to stay here.

You have a beautiful daughter.

How long have you known?

From the moment I saw her, give or take an hour or so.

She has the same eyes as her mother and what's the same name? Hannah. Anna.

You are an extraordinary woman.

Why all the subterfuge, Jimmy? We don't bite.

Franklin bites.

Anna of the sleek and elfin foot has trampled the old bugger's touches, I'm

afraid.

It's imperative that she remains my anonymous put -upon assistant a little

longer for her protection and, frankly, mine.

And mine?

Olivia, no man would dare infringe your person, even with a frown. Well, I'm

here to guard you.

You'd better stay on a little longer then, hadn't you?

My bodyguard.

I think the enemy is here already, Jimmy.

What? Derek Love.

Joker in the pack, darling. Nothing more.

And I'm counting the cards.

The barn was ravaged by beaters after the Napoleonic Wars.

Excuse me, lion.

The charm of this place is so

alive.

Okay, let's unalive him.

Why is it so dreadful here?

The people.

The staff or the visitors?

Both.

There's something dead about the place.

You know, wintery stumbling about on the Zimmer, but at least it's still moving.

All these places look as if they've been preserved in jelly.

Mummified.

But, of course, that's what the English want.

Cultural stuff done by dead people.

They don't want anything new here, thank you.

This is a new smoking area, young woman.

You could have put that thing out.

You're spoiling it for everybody.

Lin, dear, the same age as Winterly. I think this will appeal to you a lot

Well, it's got a castle, it's got bumper cars, three restaurants, and a

teenage mutant hero turtle pleasure.

Something for everybody, really.

And, of course, monkeys.

Of course.

Winterly is not going to be like this.

Can you see what he's doing?

He's probably bored.

I might start if we don't get out of here soon.

So the day was lousy?

In a way.

But it might make Piers a bit more amenable to what I'm about to suggest.

You found someone to blackmail?

Not yet.

But this is worse than blackmail, Jo. This is the pit.

Oh, God.

Sometimes, honestly, I'm glad I'm dead.

I don't think I could stand all this. It's brilliant.

It upset absolutely everybody.

Franklin, Blake, the aristocracy, the local council. And does it do anything

all to save Wintley?

Of course it does.

Well, it might.

I want to turn Wintley into a gambling club.

Goodbye, Derek.

You going somewhere?

No.

I rather think you are.

Go on.

We don't need a license. We only need to be registered.

Private parties by invitation.

If our guests want to gamble, they can gamble.

You're a bloody fruitcake, really, aren't you?

Listen.

We tart up the kitchen, bang some wallpaper up in the drawing room, splash

of Laura Ashley around a few bedrooms for those people who want to stay the

night. I'm telling you, Piers, we can clear everything you need to pay the

taxman in six months flat.

Then, and this is the beauty of the whole bloody thing, we close it down.

It's like it never happened.

Local planning will be down your throat so fast.

No, they won't. I've checked.

So long as there are no structural changes, they're cool about the whole

All we need, Piers, to get this thing going is a list of hardcore punters.

People who can't say no to a gamble.

They exist, believe me.

I'm one of them.

Where do you propose to get hold of such a list?

Jimmy has got one, haven't you?

Franklin, Blake and Coley.

The syndicate.

The membership list of those casinos would give us at least 2 ,000 players

within driving distance.

Come on, Jimmy.

If I'd have come to you with this at Claybridge, you'd have torn my arm off.

If you seriously believe, any of you, that I can be persuaded to endorse a

scheme of such block -headed imbecility.

You know it's brilliant.

Propounded by a man as dementedly unstable as that.

Then I wring all the organs of my body in despair.

I think it's a good idea.

Do you?

Franklin would simply adore me to conspire with him to compete against the

syndicate. to provide funds for him to poach the beloved grandchild.

I'm supposed to be promoting these bloody casinos, Olivia, not shooting

the foot.

I think it's a good idea, too.

What? If, as a family and a community, we agree to this club and Jimmy is

sufficiently reassured to give you the necessary help... This is bloody silly.

I'll support you for as long as it takes, although it's totally against my

better judgment.

Thank you, Olivia.

You're welcome.

I'm sorry, but you understand my position.

Yeah.

Crouched under Franklin's bum with your tongue hanging out. You're fired.

I don't think I want to be fired just at the moment, thank you.

Things are getting interesting.

The risk is minimal, Jimmy.

As is evidently your cerebellum.

Good night.

I miscalculated.

I thought if I sprang it on him in public, he wouldn't have the balls to

Lesson one.

Never underestimate Jimmy's balls.

I never have.

There's something going on here that I don't know about.

He lent Wintley money.

Why? If we can suss that Dudley... If you keep playing with that, the whole

system's going to go down.

Expensive gear, this.

I know.

It's very strange.

I have to say, fellas, I think we're wolfing up the wrong bush with this.

There's 75 acres down at Melbourne we could sell tonight over the phone.

I met a bloke down at the Elms who might be interested.

What kind of bloke?

Someone who's looking for property in the area.

Um, a quick shopper that he works for.

I don't think that's an option, Dudley. I know about this guy.

I've seen him around.

Be honest with yourself a minute.

Suppose they do build a supermarket.

It's three miles away.

It's still winterly.

You're not seriously going to lose any sleep over that, are you?

You hate the gambling club.

I like the gambling club, but the law says we can't advertise.

I just don't see how we can do it without the list of sinners.

Look, anything, anything at all.

Jimmy has to be squeaky clean these days.

If the gaming board finds out he nibbles his crusty roll before Olivia says

grace, he's in a lot of trouble.

Look, I've got no dirt on Blake.

You can't work for Jimmy and not see the dirt. And if you're planning to twist

my arm by threatening me with Franklin, let me tell you... I'm not.

Blake can stick me up in front to catch the bullets like that.

The only person who'll get hurt is me, and I haven't got the money that you

want. Why did he lend Winterly 300 grand? I've no idea.

Whose was it?

Not like Jimmy to be generous with his own money. Derek, piss off!

God, you really don't like me, do you?

It crossed your mind to use me as a lever.

And now you know I know that.

I said I'm not going to.

And I've got nothing to worry about, have I?

This is the hand that life in all her ruthless vagary has dealt me.

My money languishes in the grip of a homicidal despot who wishes to drink my

daughter's blood.

My daughter consorts with lizards who seek only my horrid tumbling down into

penury.

Put in the nails.

Daddy, I just wanted to warn you.

You told him nothing?

I don't know anything to tell.

I don't know you.

Why don't you just tell Franklin I had nothing to do with Joe's death?

It'll be one thing off your list.

Franklin is in no mood to be told anything. He would have you hanged

the abuse of his daughter's property.

And don't speak to me about lists.

What am I going to do with you?

Keep me out of trouble.

How nice that would be. By sending me to art school.

Are there arts in England?

I understood the government had abolished that sort of thing.

It's expensive.

Grant is the word that springs to mind. There are no Grants.

Help me help Olivia, and I'll consider it. If you smile even slightly,

I will kill you.

Franklin is here.

What?

What's this, Franklin?

If I touch the baby, does it constitute battery?

Am I being photographed?

Oh, it's all right.

I'm visiting with my grandchild.

You can enjoy his company while I'm here.

This contact does not compromise your case or mine.

I don't understand.

Have a little faith, Pierce.

In France, there is a saying, je suis con, mais je suis pas bête. I'm a bête,

but I'm not a bête.

It's you I wish to speak to. I trust you not to do anything silly while I've

gone, please. If you substitute him for another infant, I might notice.

I was wrong.

I accept that you did not pursue my daughter for her money. You're not a

digger.

I was wrong to insult you with that name.

Do you accept my apology?

Yeah.

And that's that.

The girl who was with Joanna the night she died is the same girl who

impersonated her in Kensington. I worry that accidental death may not be an

adequate verdict.

Do you have an opinion on this matter?

No.

If you...

See this girl. Remember the scope of my generosity.

Jimmy tells me, for instance, that Winterly could use a look of paint.

Douglas, Motors, Derek, the invalid you were determined to save.

I could do the same here.

I'll bear it in mind.

The smallest piece of information that leads me to her will earn you this

reward.

I'm sorry, Tom.

I haven't seen her.

Very well.

You have my number.

Did I just do the wrong thing?

Anna had nothing to do with it.

It was an accident.

Are you sure?

Joe? Thank you for letting him apologise.

That was a nice thing to do.

Do you take him out in the pushchair?

Rain or shine.

I am Master Joseph's appointed chauffeur.

You're going to make him sick if you carry on doing that.

Willie, if I ask you to get in that car, And drive me away with my son right

now. Would you do it?

Unfair of you to push your friend into such a conflict of loyalties.

My ward, Mr. Ward.

Back in the box, please.

My Lord.

My name's Raworth.

We have met. I'm the elected representative of the local council for

preservation of... How are you, Mr Raworth?

Not very happy, actually, my Lord. If I could just have a moment of your time.

Basically, I'm here with the...

authority of the council to remind you of your responsibilities.

Which ones are these?

Your obligation to maintain the state of dignity about Winterley.

Frankly, my lord, if you think you can go turning this delightful historic home

into a seedy little gambling dive... Who told you that? You've got another thing

coming.

I'm afraid that's none of your business.

Thank you for coming, Mr Roe.

Didn't the Whitehall pass, Derek?

My assistant is in her own room.

What did he want?

To kiss and make up. With whom?

Not with your assistant.

Listen. Did you sneak on her?

No. Me and Franklin, we're like that now. So your main objection to the club

gone.

I could even put it to him that we run the place as part of the syndicate.

I'm not giving you the lift.

But why not, Jimmy? I don't understand.

What are you trying to hide?

Dear heart, I'm not the one who fears the too scrupulous attention of their

parole officer.

Are you threatening me?

I've already exchanged telephone numbers with the charmless Claude in question.

He really should know how to find you, Poppet, in case you have a bit of

fitting in with non -criminal persons like me.

The rectangular wooden apparatus in the wall is called a door.

Gently.

Shut the door, please, Dudley.

Yes, sir.

Are we going to be long? I've got a match tonight.

Not long.

Right.

What can I do you for?

You're sacked.

Do what?

Shall I come in again?

What the hell is that supposed to mean? It means you're sacked.

You can't sack me, Piers. Don't be so ridiculous.

I'm not being ridiculous.

Your mother... My mother is not in a position to revoke your dismissal.

But as a matter of fact, she endorses it.

What?

You started the fashion for betrayal, Dudley.

Letting my father piss away thousands.

Because you knew that as long as you told him everything was okay, he'd never

bother to check up and find out that all you do, all day, is sit around with

your ass in a bucket of cream.

I've worked bloody hard!

No, you haven't. I spent the whole night pouring beer down that bugger's throat,

him from Quickshop.

On the off chance that he just might. Give you a 10 % finder's fee, a rake

The Elms is not the place to do business, Dudley.

I can't believe I'm hearing this.

That's what I said.

I was prepared to carry you, Dudley, because I liked you.

I like the jokes, I like the banter.

But these days, I like loyalty.

You ain't got it.

Sorry.

I was wondering about Anna.

What about her?

Whether or not to bring her in on the scam.

Ah, I shouldn't.

I don't understand the deal with her and Jimmy.

He is very good looking, of course.

You don't trust her?

Do you?

So what's the plan?

I don't know yet.

Blake is such a... bastard to do that to me.

You're beautiful.

I'm dead.

Joseph.

Every time I see him... You think you're doing this for

me, don't you?

I think you're doing it for you.

Doing what?

Putting yourself and everybody else in danger.

You love it.

Shouldn't they be a weenie bit bigger?

If you're thinking of forgery.

What did you say?

What about your friends?

In the city?

I've tried them.

I spent this morning running up a huge bloody phone bill I probably won't be

able to pay.

Company dorks.

They can smell the begging bowl before I even open my mouth.

You're a bit hyper, Piers.

All right, Anna, how's it going?

Get lost, will you?

Thanks. Just for ten minutes?

Starting now.

Do you ever sit down for a private moment with yourself and think, why did

have no friends?

Too busy.

Good night, Piers.

Blake's got the list. We need them. We've tried reason, persuasion,

So now what do we do? Get drunk.

Wrong.

We cheat.

Notwithstanding immediate dismissal.

Stephen Crane, that's you.

Used to be.

Fine James Blake.

This guy had a problem with his potty training.

It's the flourishes.

This one's Coley. This is Franklin.

The rest is just handwriting.

Bits and pieces.

Right. OK.

Again.

Right.

A letter to three casino managers signed by the owners.

Coley, Blake and Franklin.

Yeah. The text is there. It's something like, this is to notify you as part of

our promotional campaign we're giving each of our members £1 ,000 worth of

gambling. Please knock out this RSVP circular to everyone on the mailing

Conditions. The punter has to fill in name and address and send it by return

James Blake.

44 Inverness Terrace, London W2.

Where's that?

Nowhere. Safe drop.

There go bloody bananas.

Blake won't give us the list of punters, so we're getting the punters to write

the list themselves.

What if one of these three finds out about the letter?

They won't.

When all's said and done, the syndicate is a British company.

Nobody tells anybody anything.

How long, Cyril?

The job or the prison sentence I get for doing it.

Can you handle it tonight?

What do you think I am?

An amateur?

I want to go to bed with you, Cyril.

Shut up and make some coffee.

If this stops up, Cyril, it won't

get back to you.

Don't worry.

If I was worried, I wouldn't be doing this.

I'm a craftsman. You're a client in the store.

Do you know what I think?

What do you think?

I think this is precisely the kind of thing you want your prison to escape.

It's for a good cause.

It always is, isn't it?

Look, I'm not going back to the way I used to be. That's all finished.

I promised Jo.

Just because she's dead doesn't mean to say I can break that promise.

God, people are greedy.

You ought to be on the radio, Piers.

You're a bit of a philosopher.

That's a good day's work.

Come on, let's get hammered. Blake will have a heart attack.

That would be an added bonus.

All those guys expecting a syndicate to stump up a ground.

What'll they do, those three? Pay up?

Oh, I doubt it. You'd have to be a meeky little mouse to part with two million

quid rather than face a bit of embarrassment.

So, Franklin and co. have to apologise to the punters.

Explain it's all a hoax.

God, can you imagine how humiliating?

Yep. I think people might be disposed to take their custom elsewhere.

Know what I mean?

Explain to me the difference, Miss Gibbs, between a solicitor and a

One is wet and slimy, the other is a fish.

Are there any lawyer jokes you don't know?

No.

The law, ordained by centuries of empirical reason...

To make sacred and protect the rights of the common man.

It's so bloody convoluted, the common man has to pay people like you an arm

a leg to act as interpreter.

If that's your attitude, you can pay me in cash.

A common man is not our offence strategy.

So comb your hair, look knobby.

Why do you solicit? You could have got a proper job.

You're bright enough.

In England, there are more laws pertaining to property than there are to

How does that make you feel? I know how it makes me feel.

Oh, I see. You're a communist.

I've got a few axes.

I like a good grind.

Here he is.

Fat bastard PLC.

A face.

Darling, how did it go?

I've been instructed to take a blood test.

Is that good news?

It's what we hope to achieve today, apparently.

God, everything's so slow.

These things are perking up for this dump.

Oh?

I think we can go for the club.

We've got the list.

The people who gamble.

How did you get it?

Little manoeuvre?

Not exclusively on Jimmy. On Franklin, too. And Kayleigh.

Won't do them any harm.

You did what?

Well, we tried, Tom, when all's said and done.

Yes, our people are in government and they steadfastly refuse to see their

prerogatives compromised by Parliament. I really think we're very lucky. We

fought the war for this.

Concentration of wealth among the already rich.

Exactly. Marvellous. Have a top -up. Yes, what else is there? Jobs for the

yobbs. Yes, in fact, let's have another...

Bloody bottle.

Sure you can afford it, Jimmy.

It's a grown -up freedom I've always relished.

Being able to buy things I can't afford.

Sir, sorry to bother you, gentlemen, but there's a client downstairs wondering

when he can have £1 ,000 worth of free gambling.

Soon.

As soon as I'm certified.

I thought we employed you to weed these bloody people out.

Oh, he's a regular, sir. Kazim Ascari, big vendor.

Why does he suppose he's entitled to such an arrangement?

Well, you wrote him a letter, sir, telling him.

Who wrote him a letter?

You all did.

The entire membership. I've got a copy here.

Why didn't you tell me?

He will go absolutely berserk, you mindless bloody moron. Him too. He's a

You might have felt you had to warn him. Will you stop? telling me how I might

have felt. We didn't want to put you in a difficult position. Well, what the

bloody hell do you think I'm in now? Look, I don't understand. Nor do I. Why

you've got your knickers in such a twist, you don't even like Blake.

Listen, it's one thing taking the piss out of Blake behind his back, but when

comes down to it, he is my boss.

God, you make me sick, the pair of you, pinky and bleeding perky.

Thought we handled that rather well.

Signed by us all.

What should I do, sir?

Shut up and let me think.

God, this is terrible.

We can't have the police in here.

Why didn't you check the authority of this with me?

You told me not to bother you with day -to -day administration, sir. Doloring

out two million quid is day -to -day administration.

Signature is perfect.

Get me a fax machine at this table now.

Well, we have to take this on the chin, I suppose.

Explain to everybody what's happened, yes?

What has happened, Jimmy?

Practical joke?

Sabotage by a competitor?

Quite possibly both.

Excuse me.

Very funny.

My, how we laughed.

Obstruction, yes?

I want that bloody list of names, or I'm on to the gaming board like a starving

fly on a turd. To say what?

What law have we broken?

You don't need to break laws to incur the wrath of the board, you dribbling

ninny. This particular dribbling ninny is your host, Jimmy. Have a care.

Where's all this illicit gambling they're going to investigate?

Where are all the hordes of guilty punters stealing away into the night?

Give me the list, will you?

We'll all avoid a great deal of unpleasantness.

Please.

Pretty please, with sugar on it. Just give it to me!

And any copies?

The club was a good idea, Jimmy.

It wasn't that illegal.

We'd have always given you a nice table.

My heart bleeds.

You should weep with gratitude, both of you, that we've elected not to press

charges.

So, was Blake particularly obnoxious?

Particularly.

He's terrified of Franklin, that's all.

Peace offering.

Piece of tuna.

Most people eat during the day rather than stuff their faces at night.

Most people get into bed rather than wear it round the house.

Jimmy worked it out for himself.

I didn't tell him.

I just wanted you to know.

Good.

You're a big spender when it comes to gratitude, aren't you?

Franklin was here a few days back, sniffing around for information about

He offered me a reward.

Didn't Jimmy tell you this?

No.

You see, he thinks you murdered his daughter or something.

God, Derek, I didn't do anything of the kind. I know you didn't.

That's why I told him nothing.

How did you know I didn't?

You can just feel it.

Here.

Oh, well.

Life isn't everything.

Sorry, Pierce.

He's blaming you. I'm not blaming him.

My mother will probably blame him.

What the hell do we do now?

Come here, you.

Come on.

Why so grumpy, hmm?

I'm not grumpy.

I'm depressed.

Oh, I'm the one who's depressed. There's no room on this chair for another.

Introduced at every turn by shiftless love and the booby peers.

How sad. I have nobody to trust.

Including me?

Featuring you, Lambie.

A big illuminated letter.

Jimmy? It's amazing.

You get an idea, you go for it. You completely bog it up.

You just can't get inside it.

You spend the whole time hanging about on the outside like a dog's bollocks

looking stupid.

I love it in here at night.

So you say, OK, to hell with it, I give up. Let's try something else.

But there isn't anything else to try. That feeling of being contained.

Then there it is, staring you in the face.

What are you talking about?

I just saw Jimmy and Anna having a cuddle. What?

In a swivelly chair.

Are you sure?

Well, it looked pretty swivelly.

He's married. She's half his bloody age. It's grotesque.

No wonder he wouldn't give us the names. He didn't want Franklin sniffing round

here, finding A, her, B, the fact that he's giving her one.

Staring us in the face all the bloody time we didn't see it. It's brilliant.

I think it is.

She saw me looking, but she didn't get up. It was weird.

So what?

It's perfect.

All that remains is for me to say goodnight.

customary in civilized society to knock before entering someone else's bedroom.

Why are you smirking?

Hmm?

What did Piers say again?

He intends to illuminate Franklin as to your whereabouts, to broadcast his

monstrous belief that you are my lover.

Unless... Unless...

I consent to the institution of this gaming club by concluding from Franklin

the providence of this list of his... our customers.

Should I do so, of course, I'm damned.

It's only so long before Franklin finds out himself where you are, how you are

related to me.

From whence came the clientele of this unspeakably sordid enterprise.

I shall almost certainly end up dangling from Blackfriars Bridge with

something frightful lodged in my posterior.

So, what are you going to do?

I'll agree, naturally. What else can I do?

I can't possibly allow a witless loon like Piers to interfere with your

Thank you, Daddy.

Let it be recorded. I stand in credit re

patriarchal duties.

One more thing.

What?

The money Dex won at the casino, the night of the burning bag?

400 ,000 quid.

Now, what of it? I shouted upon Winterley in an ill -judged fit of

300 ,000 actually fell.

100's still up there.

I'd like you to give it back to Dex.

Please? Oh, delirium, Poppet.

Delirium.

You should take a tablet.

He protected me from Franklin, too. I owe him for that.

All he wants is money for Winterley, and I can't give him any.

I know you tend to find these things academic, but the cash is his,

not yours.

It would make Olivia happy, Daddy.

What the hell are you playing at?

Mind your own business.

You are my business, Janice.

Well, I'm not playing.

You're a wicked woman, Anna.

My father's daughter.

I think you'll find there's another one of these in this drawer.

There was one I looked this afternoon.

Wicked.