Original subtitles

This programme contains some discriminatory attitudes and challenging and worrying behaviour

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, voila. 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... He's got no nose. ..to such an extent

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 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 THROUGHOUT

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! It was Younis's idea. We don't hit students.

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.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media