Original subtitles

From the long walk night to the ocean breeze, to the damp and to the rain of

London city.

We come from the sun to live in the cold, I'm in the rough, I want my

tree.

Let's keep the music sweet, wind up your waist and feel the edge.

What's it for this time? Oh, well, I need money for the summer school trip.

Well, haven't I paid that?

Well, yeah, but this is for the funds to help those that can't pay. Well, if I

knew there was a fund, I wouldn't have paid in the first place.

More?

Don't worry, Sean. I'll give you some.

That's my money.

Our money.

It's in a good cause, Desmond. Yes, it will cause Desmond to go broke.

Thanks. Later, Pop.

That just about sums up, kids. What you on about?

You spend all your money on them and then they leave.

But they're an investment for the future.

What do I want to invest for? I'll be dead.

That will do me.

Good morning, everyone.

Oh, shut up, Matthew.

I hate people who are cheerful in the morning.

Hey, what's wrong, Popeye? The world, Shirley.

That bad?

I mean, a man worked hard all his life, retires and can't make ends meet. And

then you got an African student who's never worked a day. Well, I resent that

remark. Good, because I'll repeat it.

Who's never worked a day in his life, beaming from ear to ear and living the

life of Riley.

I mean, something's got to be wrong.

How much is your bill?

It's the phone bill.

I mean... How can they charge me 20 pounds?

I have made one call on my phone in the last quarter.

I know. You made them all on mine. That's right.

They're charging me 17 pounds for standing charge.

That means I'm paying 17 pounds just to stand and look at it.

Listen, Popeye, I know you're a proud man, and you wouldn't accept it if we

offered you the money. Who say?

I say.

So I think today we should bring you out of retirement and you can be our skivvy

for the day. I like the sound of that. So do I.

What do you want me to do?

Well, for a start, you can see to the needs of this client. Ask her if she

any tea or toast whilst I finish off my customer.

Would madam like to be seated?

Would madam like some tea or coffee and a toast? Oh, yes, please. Ah, shut up.

No, thanks.

What would madam like?

I'd like my father to recognize me.

What?

I want to know the man who called me Denise, Charlotte, Bronte, Christina,

Selena, Cassandra, Grant.

Denise, I didn't recognize you. I mean, you've grown.

You saw the last time you...

Matthew, this is my daughter, Denise.

Denise. Hello, Shirley.

How are you? How's your mother?

Hello, Desmond. I don't believe this.

Hi. Hello.

My name is Matthew, and it's a great privilege to meet you.

So where did you... How did you... What did you... Talk to me, Starks?

You still remember that silly nickname?

Dad used to call me Starks when I was a kid.

Because I used to run around with no clothes on.

So when did you arrive in London?

About three weeks ago. Three weeks?

And it's only now you decide to come and visit me?

Well, it hasn't been easy for me coming to see my father when I haven't seen him

for 20 years.

I wasn't the cause of that.

It was that woman who dragged you away to Canada.

You know where to find us if you wanted to, and you never bothered.

So before you start slamming Mom, you better examine yourself first.

All right.

A man make one mistake.

One? All right, two.

How about...

Don't be cheeky, Stockton. I can still put you over my knee and give you six...

Dad, I'm a 24 -year -old medical student, not a four -year -old brat.

Medicine!

You hear that, Desmond?

My little Stockton's a medical student.

Stockton! My name's Denise.

Okay, Denise.

Tell this African student what my little girl is studying.

Congratulations,

Denise. Sit down. Thank you.

So, how long is the course?

Well, next year I'll become a junior doctor.

Doctor?

You hear that, Desmond?

I've still got a way to go, but I'll get there in the end. Sure you will, my

little star.

Now, have you seen the site yet?

Well, I haven't really had a chance.

You see, I'm also here to do a bit of research, so I've been buried in a

library. But I'm game. Yes.

You want somebody to take you around?

Oh, what about you, Dad?

Me? You see...

I just got this job for a few days. It is a new job. I have to work the

Oh.

Well, that's a shame. Yes, it is. But you need somebody your own age to show

around.

Desmond's son, Michael, will be more than willing.

He will?

Of course.

Yes. Of course he will.

Tell me, where are you staying?

At the Strand Palace.

You see that, Matthew?

In Canada, it pays to be a student.

The company paying for the research is picking up the tab.

So I'll get you to meet up with Michael tomorrow, and I'll catch up with you in

the evening.

What are you doing tonight, Dad?

Tonight?

I've got things, you know. I mean, you see, I didn't know you were... It's

I'm busy, too.

So I'll see you tomorrow night.

Yes.

Bye -bye, everybody.

Bye -bye.

Bye, Denise.

That's my little girl.

Why did she have to come now?

I ain't got no money.

That's why I had to lie to her.

But, pork pie, we can lend you the money.

You can't keep bailing me out.

This is my mess, and only I can clean it up.

Why don't you tell her the truth?

The truth can't buy you anything.

And Michael can't. Well, at least he can pay his way.

Well, he might say no.

You know what he's like.

You better give him a ring.

Now, if I have to ask him a favor, I will see him

personally.

Come in.

Thank you, Mandy.

What is it, Mandy?

Mr. Parkinson wanted these reports back.

You'll have to wait. You'll have to wait.

Mandy, are you trying to get rid of your dandruff or rehearse them for a shampoo

commercial?

I'm sorry, Mandy.

It's quite all right, sir.

These quarterly figures are giving me grief.

Do you look different?

Do I?

Yes. So you're here, isn't it?

Is it?

Maybe not. Give us a clue.

Yes, I've had my hair done.

See, I told you it was your hair.

Did you try anything special?

Yes, me.

Right.

You haven't said whether you like it or not yet.

Well, it's different.

It's supposed to be different. That's why I got it done.

Anyway, Philip liked it. Philip?

Philip Parkinson.

And for your information, he's taking me out tomorrow.

I think he's...

You and Philip?

Philip is a Neanderthal man with a tie.

You deserve someone a bit better.

Oh? Who?

Like, uh, someone suave, sophisticated, good -looking, enigmatic.

Well, someone as interesting as that wouldn't work in a bank.

Come in.

Michael!

What are you doing?

I come to beg your favor.

Oh, Pike, get up and stop being so pathetic.

Pathetic! Who are you calling pathetic?

I knew you before you even learnt that word.

That'll be all. Thank you, Mandy.

Mandy? Yes, sir?

Where is he taking you tomorrow?

Charlie's Wine Bar.

Cheapskate.

Michael, son of Desmond, my best friend's son.

Boy, that's a nice suit you're wearing.

Is it new?

I've had it a year.

Quality always lasts.

What do you want, Porkpie?

You see, I haven't asked you anything yet, and already you're looking down at

me. Porkpie, you came in on your hands and knees. Now get on with it. You see,

now you're impatient.

Young people are always impatient.

No time for their elders.

Porkpie, this is a bank. I'm an assistant manager. I've got a lot of

and you came without an appointment.

Temper, temper.

Future bank manager's not supposed to lose their rag. Porkpie!

All right.

I'll be gone with my bill.

You see, they all came at once. Gas, electricity, water, telephone, poll tax,

everything.

And now my daughter, Dennis, came from Canada.

I blame it on her mother.

I always had bad timing.

Bad timing when she caught me with another woman.

Bad timing that Dennis is here now.

I need you, Michael.

To do what?

To take her out, of course, as I see him.

I mean, I know it's short notice, but... How short is the notice?

Tomorrow. Okay.

Okay? Yes, yes. Thank you, Mike. Thank you.

Thank you. Get off.

Is there anything you... No, no, no.

Don't thank me.

I just hope she's good looking. Of course she is.

Hey, you.

Keep your hands off, you hear?

I'm asking you to take her sightseeing to see the sights of London, not the

inside of your flat.

It's a lot smaller than I imagined.

Well, it was built to cruise around the Caribbean. I know.

It's just that romantic image.

Great white sails flying through mighty seas.

Mark would love... Who's Mark?

My boyfriend.

I miss him already.

He was going to come, but it would have been too much of a distraction, if you

know what I mean.

Mark and I have been dating since we were kids.

He lives in the house next door.

He's an African history major.

We've often talked about going back to our ancestors, he and I.

But A, I'm not sure if they'd have us. And B, I think he'd miss French fries

quarter pounders too much.

Hello?

Oh, bye.

What am I doing with your daughter?

Well, um, I think she'd better answer that.

Hello, Dad?

Yeah, where'd the cutty stock?

Michael's really cute.

Well, no, I don't mean it like that.

It's just an expression.

Look, Dad, I know you want to look after me, but I'm a grown woman, and I can

look after myself.

Bye.

How do you switch this thing off?

I haven't seen the guy in 20 years, and all of a sudden he becomes concerned.

Hello, pork pie.

Well, we're on our way to Soho, where I thought I'd take Denise to a couple of

strip clubs. And then I'll go pick up that one by two friends of mine from

Bangkok.

Where are they?

And you shouldn't have let her go off with your son.

Wait a minute, Popeye. You don't think you might be jumping to conclusions?

If that son of yours has laid a finger on my little daughter, I'll have him for

child molesting.

But, Popeye, she's 24.

So, he's older than her.

My child might be all sorts of things, but I don't think... Think?

Who asked you to think?

You're just a hairdresser.

Hairdressers dress. They don't think.

Popeye, you are in my barbershop, a place you've treated like your second

for years.

And you insult my profession.

That's what you call it?

Popeye, I think you've gone too far. Shut up. You shouldn't worry about how

I go. It's how far your son goes I'm worried about.

Well, pretty far by the looks of things. They've been gone for two days.

That's far enough.

I've been waiting to take my daughter out, but instead she's too busy

gallivanting around London with your son.

Who was the one who begged my... found to take her out in the first place.

I didn't beg him. He was only too willing.

I don't blame him because she's a good catch.

She's going to be a doctor.

Your son is only a bank clerk.

My son is an assistant bank manager.

Your daughter is only going to be a doctor. And she may never make it. And

she's inherited your brains, she never will.

So it's an argument you want.

All right, if that's what you want, I'll give you one. All right, all right.

Now, now, now.

Right, Popeye, you vindictive, pompous, small -minded, jumped -up little tyrant.

Don't you dare come in my shop and unduly belittle my son, the same

bank manager who came to your assistance when you needed it most.

Uh -oh.

So your daughter prefers my son's company at present. So until they come

speak for themselves, you just put your backside on that seat, I tell you.

That's what I was going to say, sir.

Starks, where have you been?

Dad, you rang Michael every half hour to find that out.

He drove us nuts.

And then we had to switch the phone off because you were stopping us from

enjoying ourselves.

So, you were enjoying yourselves.

Yeah? Did he want the two?

Michael, I want a... Denise.

Can I speak to you for a minute, please? Yeah.

Upstairs. Sure.

What is this good time you had with Popeye's daughter?

Good time?

Well, did you have a good time or did you have a, um... Good time?

As far as I took Denise sightseeing, if that's what you call a good time, then

it was.

Michael, you didn't.

You didn't. Listen, Michael, if I hear...

Gentlemen, please.

Look, I have no intentions towards Denise apart from taking her

tedious task which I've performed to the best of my ability.

And in fact, if you must know, pork pan, I hope I don't offend you. Don't worry.

You can offend him.

She was hard work.

All she wanted to do was talk about her boyfriend who couldn't decide between

going back to Africa or quarter pounder with chips.

Well, Africa has been compared with many things, but the quarter pounder with

chips, that takes the biscuit.

Okay,

let's reach a compromise.

Denise will tell you how the story ends, and you go to your room.

Okay,

then let's reach another compromise. You turn the sound down a bit.

And we can talk over there.

I know what you're going to say, Shirley.

All right.

Why haven't you been giving him more of your time?

Oh, I don't know.

I'm afraid that...

If I knock down the barriers that are built up over these years, I might be

saddled with him for the rest of my life.

That's a bit heartless.

Well, what would you do?

I have to be practical.

Yes, well, I suppose the gap's not just 20 years. It's 10 ,000 miles as well.

And I defy anyone to build a bridge that long.

Listen, Denise.

Pork pie is one of our family now.

It's our responsibility.

So don't be scared.

Give him a squeeze.

Before it's too late.

Shirley, what's he really like?

Oh, he's funny, moody, opinionated.

What, who's that?

No, poor father.

Thoughtful. He's generous, great with the kids.

You sure you're talking about Popeye?

Sean.

I'm only joking, man. He's all right, your old man, you know. He's safe.

Safe?

Well, the place wouldn't be the same without Uncle Popeye.

Shame he looks such a mess, though.

Where is she?

Where have you... Where have you been, Denise?

Out with Michael again?

No, I haven't.

I had to wait ages for a bus.

And then when one finally came... I told you I would have picked you up from the

hotel. Okay, just drop it, eh, Dad?

You look great, Dad.

Well, it's really nice to see you.

Is that it?

You're going to look at me all night?

Why not?

Because you're not going to get away that easy.

I don't want an argument, Denise.

Neither do I.

I just want to know a bit about you.

What bit do you want to know?

Well, why I haven't seen you in all these years, for starters.

Because she stopped access.

Because she didn't want me to see you again.

That I would take you away.

But it was he that took you away to the other side of the world, to Canada. No

forwarding address, nothing.

It was like losing both of your legs overnight.

Our friends knew where you were, but they wouldn't tell me.

And then I know I should have come when I did find out.

But I always found some excuse, like maybe I shouldn't come over.

Because it might be too painful.

I know, Dad.

In my pocket.

So that's where I get my common sense from.

Maybe.

Would you like something to eat?

Dad, would you mind if we ate someplace else?

I can't stand burgers.

But you always liked them.

Well, not these days.

These days, Mark is passionate for them.

Who's Mark?

He's my boyfriend.

Is he a doctor?

A surgeon?

No, he's a history student.

Ah, he's a man.

Who specializes in the past?

But what about the future? Do I hear the sound of wedding bells?

Maybe. But we got to graduate first.

I think he wants to be a lecturer.

A lecturer!

He wants to teach people how to teach.

Wonderful. How long have you known him?

Oh, we've been living together for about... What?

Living together?

Dad, don't.

In the same... Hearing the same... Under the same...

Dad, you have to let go.

Build a new me instead of mourning the old one.

I've grown up.

Don't cheer up.

You're right.

We must cheer up.

And I know what will cheer you up, what you always liked.

Waiter! Two large knickerbocker glories, please.

Hundreds and thousands.

I think I'd prefer a large scotch.

Ah, well, Michael, if takings continue like they did today, I'll be able to

build me a house back home by the year 2000 instead of the year 3000.

My papa, she's been gone three days.

There's nothing going that bad in me. She'll come in.

Now, I miss her. I wouldn't have missed her if she hadn't have come.

But you must be glad that she did.

Does this face look glad to you?

Well, you don't look no different to me.

Here you are, Popeye.

Here's something that'll cheer you up.

Oh, come on, Uncle Popeye.

You're still our favourite uncle.

Yeah, man.

Well, you're our only uncle, so... Uncle Popeye, my friend, here are your wages.

Now you're talking.

Just a minute.

What you doing?

Well, this is what he calls, you know, Michael's portable phone.

They cost a fortune.