Original subtitles

* Et secundum multitudinem *

* Miserationum tuarum *

* Dele iniquitatem meam *

* Amplius lava me *

* Ab iniquitate *

* Me-e-e-e-e-e-a *

* Et a peccato meo *

* Mu-u-u-u-u-nda *

* Me-e-e *

[ Chuckles ] No. No, no, no, no.

Um, this is all really nice and stuff,

but I think there's been some sort of mistake.

You do know I'm a Muslim, right?

Lie still, puttar.

I was so worried about you.

You're badly bruised, and you cracked two ribs.

But they say you're going to be fine.

Do you know what happened?

Yeah.

Um, the car.

We were -- We were hit by the car.

Uh-huh.

Where's Missy?

[ Footsteps ]

Can I just say, I know you've been unconscious,

but I definitely came off worst.

Not one broken wrist. Oh, no. But two!

How am I gonna do my makeup? Clean my teeth?

Wipe my bum?

You're gonna have to wipe my bum, Mrs. Paracha.

I'm going nowhere near your bum.

I'll wipe your bum, love.

What, are they all right?

A couple of broken bones, but thankfully nothing too serious.

-Did they catch the driver? -He stuck around. Local boy.

No, he was driving some fancy car

they hired specially for the Mela.

-Oh! -[ Cellphone rings ]

It's Kaneez.

See? I've been banging on about this for years.

You take a teenage lad, you stick him in a sports car...

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Can I just stop you there?

Do you know what this is?

-Tissue, innit? -Yes.

Otherwise known as the "wet wipe of freedom"

on account of its ability to keep you out of detention

by removing all that slap.

-Would you mind? -So weird, bro.

Perfect. Thank you for your cooperation.

Thank you very much.

MANDY: There's not many teachers

walk away from that one with a smile on their face.

I've got a soft spot for the naughty ones.

Yeah?

Well, maybe you can help me out with a bit of a problem child.

Mr. Hussein?

-Morning, Mrs. Carter. -Good morning.

Yeah.

I observed his Year 10 P.E. lesson the other day.

It was like watching starving dogs fighting over a bone.

-[ Laughs ] -It's not funny.

If we don't bring him up to scratch,

don't know what we're gonna do.

-Leave it with me. -[ Bell rings ]

I'll sort it.

Right, I don't know if you've heard,

but I've been asked to coordinate

NQT development and support.

Oh, yeah? That's chill, bro.

I thought we might start with some sessions

on class-management techniques.

Cool. Yeah.

I mean, I know all that stuff,

but we can go through it all again if you like.

Right, well, it's just that Mrs. Carter

thought it might be an area you would like to work on.

What's the problem?

She's all about keeping the kids in their place.

Me, I'm all about setting them free, innit?

Laters.

-Yo! -Ohh!

[ Laughter ]

Yes, lads.

Unbelievable.

Don't worry, love.

Nasreen'll be back home soon, "in-sa-ha-allah."

[ Chuckles ] Inshallah.

I was always rubbish with new languages.

You're doing great, revert.

[ Squeals ]

I've not been gone that long, you soft cow.

-Love you. -Love you.

Coming in or what?

Let me just ring Zaff.

He can come an' all.

Thought you'd just want family around you.

Yeah, well, if he's your fella, I reckon he is family.

[ Down-tempo woodwind music plays ]

Oh, it's true. She were a beautiful baby.

-Mum! -You were.

Not like this one. We tried to send him back.

[ Laughter ]

[ Laughter distorts ]

SIMONE: Aww.

You okay, love?

HAYLEY: You look dead tired.

I'm fine.

We'll head off soon.

Stay.

If you like.

Of course we'll stay.

You head up, love. Get some rest.

I'll bring you a hot-water bottle.

What?! Why is that so surprising?

I'm saying nothing.

Who is she, and what have you done with my mum?

[ Chuckles ] Cheek.

Here you are. Have some chips.

There's loads there.

HAYLEY: Got any good jokes?

-CHILD: Knock-knock. -ALL: Who's there?

-Boo. -Boo "who"?

Don't cry. It's just me.

[ Laughter ]

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

[ Alarm beeping ]

[ Beeping stops ]

Mum?

[ Door opens ]

Hayley?

[ Door closes ]

Where you been?

Thought I'd woken up in the wrong house.

No, love. You're in the right place.

Nana.

[ Laughs ]

Nana!

No. What are you doing here?

But...

But you're dead.

I'm...

It's okay.

No.

[ Crying ] Oh, no, no.

[ Sniffles ]

[ Sobs ]

I leave the kebab for the doctors

because we don't need to bring them home, do we?

-What, you left them there? -Yeah.

They like it. They like that food.

That's sweet.

Go on, then. See bloody drama queen.

Missy?

Missy?

Missy?

Missy?

Missy?

Missy?

Missy?

[ Sobbing ] Missy? Missy, no!

Missy!

Simone!

Simone!

Hayley love.

I made tea.

Simone.

They don't want no tea, love.

-No, I don't think so, no. -Okay.

[ Door opens ]

[ Door closes ]

What did the paramedic say?

She couldn't tell me much.

Thinks maybe she hit her head in the accident,

some kind of internal bleeding.

-[ Sobs ] -Shh.

Shh, shh, shh.

-Nasreen... -I need some air.

[ Sobs ]

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

[ Indistinct talking ]

ANEESA: God, this looks serious.

Reckon she's resigned.

[ Talking stops ]

Sorry to have to call you all out of your lessons, but, um,

there's something that I need to tell you all face-to-face,

um, not over social media.

As you all know, Nasreen Paracha and Missy Booth

were involved in a car accident.

And, um...

...I'm just so sorry to have to tell you

that Missy Booth passed away earlier today.

[ Students gasping ]

I know. I know it's a huge shock to you all.

Missy was a much-loved member of our school family,

and she'll -- she'll be missed.

She'll be missed very much.

No! It's not true! It's not true!

-Shannon. -Shannon.

SAM: Nas!

-Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! -Oh, sorry! You okay?

Yeah.

Oh, my God.

I need to talk to you. Come on.

SAM: What?

I don't know what I can say to make it better.

There's nothing you can say.

But you can do something.

The lad that killed Missy. His name's Anwar.

He lives three streets away from me.

He's got bail.

I want him hurt, Sam. I want him really, really hurt!

Can you do that?

What you're asking me, have you really...

Can you help or not, Sam?!

Yeah.

Good.

Good.

[ Laughs ]

[ Laughter ]

[ Laughs ]

Eh?!

What are we gonna do with you, eh?

Get him on there.

ANWAR: Aah! Ah!

[ Grunting ]

-Get him on the ground! -Oh!

Get him down!

Kick him! This is one's for Missy!

Murdering scum!

[ Grunting ]

-REECE: Get him on the ground! -ANWAR: Oh!

REECE: Get him down! Kick him!

This one's for Missy! Murdering scum!

[ Grunting ]

Have you seen what Dan's just sent me.

-Watch this. -[ Grunting ]

-It's brutal, honestly. -REECE: Get him on the ground!

[ Laughter ]

This one's for Missy! Murdering scum!

-That's madness, bro! -Nearly killed him, bro!

I don't care what you say. He deserved it.

He deserved to be attacked by white thugs?

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Here! What do you think you're bloody doing?!

Shannon! Leave her alone!

-She broke my phone, sir! -What do you mean, she broke --

Looking at a guy getting his face smashed in.

Who's got his face smashed in? Leave it.

REECE: Get him down!

This one's for Missy!

Is that really him?

Everyone's seen it.

Someone would have shown you eventually.

Rather it were me.

I am glad you showed me it.

And I'm glad he got battered.

They didn't do it for Missy. They did it 'cause he was brown.

So? He killed my sister.

Hayley?

[ Groans ]

[ Grunting ]

Why have they stuck it on the Internet?!

What do you want me to say? Do you want me to apologize?

No, I want them to have not done it, Sam!

Mosque sent that video 'round to everyone last night,

saying there was a race-hate beating in Ackley Bridge!

This was never, ever about race!

What?

What?!

When you asked me for help, you knew I'd go to my cousins.

You know who they are and how they think.

But they didn't do it 'cause he was brown.

Do you think they would have done it if he was white?!

What have I done? What have I done, Sam?

What did you think was gonna happen?

I wasn't thinking either.

All I could see was you.

You were in pain, and I just wanted that to stop.

It hasn't stopped.

You can't tell anyone about this.

I know.

[ Up-tempo electronic music playing through headphones ]

[ Indistinct talking ]

Ooh.

Now they know how it feels, innit?

-All right, bruv. -What are you gonna do about it?

-You gonna do something? -I heard that!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Get off him!

[ Shouting continues ]

[ Music continues ]

Hey, come on, break it up.

[ Shouting continues ]

Stop!

Stop!

-[ Music continues ] -Mr. Hussein! Fighting!

Mr. Hussein!

-What the...? -There's a huge row.

[ Shouting continues ]

Zain! Zain, get over there!

-Come on! -Come on, then!

Calm down.

MARTIN: What are you playing at?

Unbelievable.

-Mr. Hussein! -Where were you?!

Come along.

Room for four more, Mrs. Carp?

It would be an honor and a privilege.

MARTIN: In you go.

CLINT: Cory's just been jumped by a load of lads,

and Zain's like "Now they know how it feels."

True, innit?

It ain't safe to be an Asian lad around here.

And you know what I'm talking about, bro, don't you?

Yeah, I do, bro.

I'll leave you to it.

Mr. Hussein, can we have a word outside, please?

You really think that was appropriate,

taking sides like that?

He asked me a question.

And you're a teacher. You're meant to be impartial.

-I am. -Ah, right, okay.

So why didn't you step in

when Zain was throwing Clint all over the canteen, then?

I didn't even see it, bro.

First off...

First off, I'm not your bro, all right?

I'm your boss.

And second, in case you didn't notice it,

we've got a big, fat racial split in this school.

We've got fights breaking out all over the place,

and what are you doing?

What are you doing?

You're strutting around in your own little private mobile disco.

-All right, but -- -I don't want to hear it.

I can't decide whether you're incompetent

or you actually just don't care.

You really need to ask yourself seriously

if teaching is the career for you.

I'll do that for you, love.

I can do it myself.

Talked to Zaff.

We both think I should stay here for a bit.

I just want to be here for you, love.

Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?

Missy had to die before you gave a damn?!

[ Door opens ]

SIMONE: Hayley...

-Hayley... -Get your hands off of me!

You can't run away from this!

Hayley?

Just stay away from me, Nasreen!

I don't want you nowhere near me, all right?!

[ Groans ]

OFFICER: No, no. But we got this on the CCTV.

Hayley don't know what she's saying.

She blames me.

She's just angry, huh?

Seems like the whole world angry.

You hear about the driver? He was attacked.

I went to see his mother.

You know, he's just a normal lad

who made a terrible, terrible mistake.

He want to come and say sorry.

I think it might help.

-No way. -No, listen to me. Listen to me.

Everybody angry. Everybody upset.

But if he came here and talk to Simone and Hayley and you...

-No. -...it might make things better.

-No! -Listen!

He's prepared to come here

despite what them lads did to him, despite everything.

No, I did that, Mum!

I asked them to hurt him. That was me.

No. Why -- Why would you do that?

'Cause I'm angry!

Go to your room.

Go to your room!

I can't even bloody look at you!

And as for that video, I watched that bloody video.

Them lads didn't want justice. They want a bloody war.

"Come to Ackley Bridge!

The Pakistanis are killing the white girls!"

And you did that?!

No, you asked white lads to beat up the brown lad,

when you know the stories

because I have told you the bloody stories!

So don't shake your head at me, Nasreen. Huh?

You want to light that fire,

you better be damn sure you know how to put it out.

This was never about race, was it?

It is always, always about race!

And you should know that.

You should bloody know that.

This anger, you have to let it go, Nasreen.

I can't.

Let it go,

or it will take everything good,

everything good in you.

Wasn't sure that you'd come.

Neither was I.

I had it in my head,

what I'd say.

It's all just gone.

You don't have to say anything.

I'm sorry.

That was the gist of it.

I'm just really sorry.

For hurting you.

For your friend.

If you're asking me to say sorry

for what I did to you, I can't do that.

I'm not.

We are both to blame.

All this fighting,

all this violence, and for what?

What are we doing it for? Are we doing it for Missy?

She didn't have a racist bone in her body.

We need to find someone to make it stop.

I will. I know who to talk to.

So do I.

Hey, I've been thinking about what you said yesterday.

-Don't touch me. -Hey! Less of that.

First off, just 'cause I don't act like you want...

Should maybe we talk about this in my office?

Shall we talk about this in my office?

Don't make out I don't care about this job or these kids.

I grew up here. I am one of these kids.

You're their teacher. You're supposed to be impartial.

All right, hear me out, bro. Or boss. Whatever.

-Oi! Stop it! -Second off...

I heard what you said about the kids and the fighting.

Right.

And I reckon I know how to stop it.

You think you can stop the fighting? [ Laughs ]

Hey. Less of that. I'm watching you.

Just call me the prince of peace, innit?

MARTIN: Okay, send me a memo.

I'm going to speak to the kids now.

-Let's stop them here. -Just here.

Okay, so before we start, I've got a story to tell you.

GIRL: Oh, here we go.

When I were your age,

I used to fight with my dad all the time, right?

Proper madness like 24/7.

So one day, me mum just snapped.

She stuffed us in the car,

drove us halfway to Bradford, and chucked us out.

This story gonna take long, sir? 'Cause I can't feel my feet.

[ Laughter ]

And if you think we're gonna become friends

on your stupid walk, forget it.

Look, you've had a tough week.

You've all had a tough week. We know that.

We get it.

But I don't know, for me,

I think a good school should be like a good family.

And when a family loses someone,

they don't tear each other apart.

They don't argue and fight. They come together.

So we've got seven miles to get back to school.

-[ Students groaning ] -It's not that far.

It's not that far.

So why don't we see if we can all come together

by the end of it, huh?

Yeah?

Come along. Let's go.

[ Indistinct talking and grumbling ]

That went according to plan.

HASSAN: Look, either they'll kill each other,

or they'll sort the beef out.

BOY: Will you stop with that?

Keep on pushing me, I'm telling you.

GIRL: Just ignore him.

CANDICE: Marry, kiss, kill.

It's got to be people from our school.

All right. I'll go first, then.

I'd marry Alya!

In your dreams.

-Then I'd kiss... -Your mum.

Nah, bro. I don't kiss my mum no more.

I'm saving these lips for Chloe.

Oh, gross.

At least he's being honest.

Practice on the white girl, marry the Asian princess.

That's enough.

But I'm right, though, aren't I?

They think they can do whatever they want to a white lass.

Oh, they can even run us over, and no one does owt.

-They've got this town sewn up. -You're being ridiculous!

Oh...

[ Chuckles ]

-They're still fighting? -Yep.

Okay, let's stop here.

RUKHSANA: How long now, bro? My feet are freezing.

She's saying we're racists!

-No, I never! -She's being out of order.

Shut up, shut up, shut up!

What you all looking at?

Our mate died, and this is how we deal with it?

Yelling at each other?

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

We should all be ashamed.

-Small steps. -Yep.

[ Siren chirps ]

[ Siren wails ]

BOY: Hey up. What you doing 'round here?

Think you've come to the wrong house, love.

Wrong side of town more like.

-[ Laughs ] -Hang on. Don't be so hasty.

Maybe she's one of them that likes white lads.

Am I right?

Are you one of them that likes a white lad?

Whoa, hang on, hang on.

What's up? Do you not speak English?

Yeah, I'd just rather to speak to the organ grinder,

and not the monkey.

-Whoo! -[ Laughs ]

[ Door locks ]

WOMAN ON RADIO: ...wants to move to a smaller house

and make use of the equity

locked in her large family home.

It has a decent-sized garden...

How long have you two been at it, then?

[ Sighs ] Don't give me daggers. I've not said nowt.

Chill out, the pair of you. It's the 21st century.

No one cares.

Having said that,

if you've come for her hand in "marriage,"

well, it's got to be a no.

Bloody hell, Mum.

Well, why else does she want to speak to me, eh?

'Cause I want you to make it stop.

People are getting hurt.

People are getting attacked on both sides of town.

This has to stop before Missy's funeral.

The Asian guys will stop but only if the white guys do too.

Well, if you want to talk to the boys, then...

No. No, no, no.

I need someone they know, I need someone that they respect

to tell them that this -- this has to end now.

-And that's me, is it? -That's what I'm hoping.

I'm sorry, but I can't do that.

Okay. Okay. But can I just say something?

You've seen what the police are like, yeah?

Crawling around everywhere.

Well, the longer this fighting goes on,

the longer they're not going anywhere.

Unless, of course,

you find the presence of the police reassuring.

[ Snorts ]

Look, it took some guts coming here tonight. Give you that.

I can't make any promises.

But I'll see what I can do.

Will I see you at the funeral?

After seeing how you just handled me mum,

I daren't miss it.

Okay.

It's time to go.

SIMONE: Thanks for coming.

She'd be so glad you're here.

She thought the world of you.

I thought the world of her too.

Come on.

Come on.

SIMONE: Hayley.

[ Indistinct talking ]

I just can't see how she's ever gonna get over it.

EMMA: She won't.

When you love someone that much,

losing them isn't something you ever get over.

You learn to live with it.

She'll be okay.

-Hayley. -Hayley.

-Come on. -What?

Come on. Come with us.

Trust me. Come on.

Where are we going?

HAYLEY: I don't want to go nowhere.

NASREEN: Just hang on.

HAYLEY: You gonna tell me what's going on or what?

It's a surprise. Come on, we're nearly there.

They wanted to say goodbye an' all.

We love you, Missy!

Bye, Missy!

-Love you, Missy! -Love you, Missy!

Love you, Missy Booth!

-Bye, Missy! -Love you, Missy!

Miss you!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Hayley, I know that you wish it were me, but...

Don't wish that it were you.

I just wish it weren't her.

What do you reckon? Should we ring the police?

No. No police.

MARTIN: Oh, wow. [ Exhales sharply ]

MANDY: [ Sobs ]

Sorry.

It's just, um...

It's unprofessional of me, innit?

Don't be daft.

I never got the time to know her that well -- Missy.

Sounds like a great kid.

Oh, yeah,

Yeah, she was more than just great.

She was...

She was fabulous.

[ Indistinct talking and shouting ]

Bye, Missy!

GIRL: Love you, Missy!

BOY: Love you, Missy!

I love you, Missy.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Ahh, so my spies are right.

Miss Keane is back in the building.

What you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?

Not really. I handed in my notice.

Oh.

Apparently I wasn't delivering the curriculum as prescribed.

I told them if I delivered what they prescribed,

the kids would be queueing up to jump off the sports hall roof.

So they told me to do what I was told.

And you know how much I enjoy that.

I'd have never got to know Missy the way I did

if I thought of my kids the way the trust wants me to.

"He's a five.

She's a seven, borderline eight."

I want to know my kids. To really know them.

Some of us still think that's a good idea.

Come back.

Oh, go on, please. I miss my mate.

You've still got your mate.

I heard you replaced me with a male underwear model.

What, Martin? [ Laughs ]

Are you objectifying a trusted colleague?

A trusted colleague?

You've changed your tune.

-Yeah, I suppose I have. -[ Bell rings ]

I've got to go. I'm meeting Martin, actually.

Aw, good to see you.

And you. Take care.

Girls' rugby? Whose idea was that?

His.

Only input I had was making Sam captain.

All right, chop-chop. Come on.

Controlled aggression, girls. You get me?

-GIRLS: Yeah! -This is rugby, fam.

We're all sisters, yeah?

-GIRLS: Yeah! -Come on, let's go.

[ Cheering ]

MANDY: He's like a man transformed.

-Yep. -How did you do that?

I didn't. He did.

Well, I might've sat him down once or twice,

and talked him through his practice.

You do know that getting the best out of your staff

is one of the key skills for any head teacher.

Think I'm a way off scaling them heights.

I don't know.

This baby's not gonna stay in here forever.

[ Indistinct talking ]

Nasreen.

Are you all right?

Have you got time for a quick word in my office?

[ Laughter ]

Uh, what you doing here?

I don't bloody know. She asked me.

Sit down. Um...

Look, I know you've only just come back into school.

And I do understand how difficult it must be

for you just even being here without Missy.

So, I had an e-mail

from the admissions tutor at St. Matthias,

just saying how impressed they all were with you.

Thing is, they don't write e-mails like that

unless they're gonna offer you a place.

You got in, Nasreen. Oxford. You're in!

No! Oxford, they want her?

Look, I know.

I know it's a lot to take in right now,

and you're probably not in the right state of mind

to fully appreciate it.

But I just -- I thought you should know.

And you should also know how proud I am of you,

how proud the whole school is gonna be when they find out.

You've done so well, puttar! Oxford University.

Wait till I tell your nana. She won't believe it.

She get her brains from her, not from her father.

I'm not going.

I'm sorry, I made my decision earlier today,

and this actually doesn't -- it doesn't change anything.

-I'm leaving school. -What are you talking about?

I am sorry, Mum. I can't be here at the minute.

So, what, you're just going to give it all up?

How are you going to become a doctor?!

You don't have to make any decisions right now, okay?

We can get you more time off school,

I can clear that with the L.A.

No, I can't be here anymore, miss.

You've just got into Oxford University, Nasreen.

That is -- That is an amazing achievement.

-Amazing. -It's potentially life-changing.

I don't want my life to change. Not anymore.

I'm sorry, miss. I'm not... I'm leaving school.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mum.

She don't mean it.

It sounded like she did.

[ Sighs ]

I mean, you should have seen my mum's face.

Her gob literally fell open like she were a cartoon.

She was like [Gasps]

Oh, my God.

You call that shocked face?

No, this is shocked face.

[ Gasps ]

That were me in Asda in the fruit-and-veg aisle.

You remember? When you did a poo.

Yeah. Yeah. I were four!

See, this is the trouble with knowing someone all your life.

There's nowhere to hide.

What you gonna do now, then?

I don't know.

I think I just need to buy myself some time.

God, I feel like someone's just chucked up

all the pieces of my life into the air, and now I just...

I've just got to wait and see where they all land.

You do realize I'll never have another friend like you, Missy?

-That is very true. -[ Laughs ]

'Cause I'm a one-off, me.

Mm. Yeah, they broke the mold. [ Laughs ]

Absolutely smashed it.

I love you, Missy Booth.

Love you back, Paracha.

[ Sobs ]

[ Sniffles ]