Original subtitles

[YOUNG JAVED] September, 1980.

My best friend Matt and I have the same birthday.

He got a brand new chopper bike.

It's really fast and looks so cool.

[EXHALES]

I got a Rubik's Cube,

but Matt gave me this diary that he didn't want

and I'm going to write in it every day.

The Russians have been in Afghanistan for 363 days.

"Baggy Trousers" by Madness is my favorite song.

Matt, I can't wait to go to London together.

Look at all the people going there.

Yeah. Who'd wanna come off the motorway at Luton?

- Come on. - Yeah.

Hop on.

- You on? - Yeah.

Let's go.

- [BOTH WHOOPING] - This is brilliant, Matt!

We're gonna be best friends forever!

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[MAN] Coronation chicken next week.

Great. Nice one, thanks. I'll see you later.

There you go, Javed, son.

[JAVED] Goodbye, cheese and pickle.

My summer job is done.

The Cold War rages on.

Reagan and Thatcher are still number one.

But I'm stuck in Luton, one of the herd.

No fun, freedom or future,

'cause Luton is a four-letter word.

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INDISTINCT CHANTING]

[TIRES SQUEAL]

Matt.

[LAUGHS]

J! You Muppet.

- How was Ibiza? - Oh, mate, wicked.

I met Emma over there. She's, uh, from St. Albans.

- Works in HMV. - All right?

All right?

I just finished work.

I'm writing you a new song for your band.

It's about the Cold War.

Javed writes all the time,

you know, like, diaries, poems.

He wrote one about Bo Derek once and he sent it to her.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

[JAVED] And I wrote some of your best essays too.

- Remember? [LAUGHING] - [MATT] Yeah.

[JAVED] Pet Shop Boys got the best

number one this year so far.

I told you, mate. Listen, synths are the future.

- [WHOOSHES] - [JAVED LAUGHS]

Anyway, happy birthday, mate.

Got it at the airport, you know.

It's a fertility symbol from the Balearics.

Thanks.

You know, I thought it might, uh,

help you pick up a bird one day maybe.

He's never had a girlfriend before, so...

Eh? Is it against your religion?

No. Thanks, Matt.

- I'll see you later, mate. - See you later.

- He's missing out. - [VEHICLE APPROACHING]

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON STEREO]

[MALIK] What are they doing?

[HONKS HORN]

[MUSIC STOPS]

[EXCLAIMS IN URDU]

[IN ENGLISH] How can you be friends with that boy?

No shame at all.

[HUFFS]

I didn't move out of Bury Park to see this.

You should tell him this is very bad.

Very bad behavior in a good neighborhood.

Dad, he's English.

Shh! Your sister's coming.

Get the shopping out of the car.

[JAVED SIGHS]

[SHAZIA] Matt's back, then.

[SIGHS] To torture me with his perfect life.

- [HORN BEEPS] - [MATT'S DAD] Go on, my son!

- [MATT'S DAD LAUGHS] - [EMMA] Who's that?

All right, J? I taught him all he knows.

All the moves.

Very nice to meet you, Princess Emma.

[KATHY] There you go, sweetheart.

£19.50.

I'll drop another 30 dresses off to you tomorrow morning.

Oh. Lucky you having such a helpful family.

Look at this. [GASPS]

My kids treat my place like a hotel.

I'll tell you something,

you've done something right turning kids out like that.

- Ta-Ra, sweetheart. - Goodbye.

Javed. [SNAPS FINGERS]

[SIGHS]

[SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING]

[JAVED] September 3rd, 1987.

My dad is stuck in another century.

He treats me like I'm six, not 16.

[MALIK] Javed, beta, come!

- We're ready for your party! - [SIGHS]

He's coming.

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON RADIO]

Happy birthday.

Time to smarten up. You're not a kid anymore, Javed.

Thanks, cuz.

Not cuz. Sister.

[NOOR] Come on, let's light the candle.

[MATCH STRIKES]

Yasmeen, photo.

Say "cheese."

[CAMERA WHIRS]

Make a wish, beta.

[JAVED] Make loads of money,

kiss a girl, get out of this dump.

[MATT SIGHS]

[MATT] You were supposed to be writing a pop song.

Who writes songs about nuclear war and Thatcher anyway?

You write about depressing things,

like you haven't got any money,

or you can't watch Rocky on telly.

That's not true.

I write about politics and Reaganomics and...

Oh, Javed. Javed, Javed,

you spent four years, mate,

going on about your bloody dad

who wouldn't let you have

an Acorn Electron with a 32-kilobyte RAM.

It also had a 32-kilobyte ROM.

Yeah, well, I can't really sing about you and your dad,

can I?

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING ON TURNTABLE]

Is he making you do A-Levels as well?

No. I'm doing it for me. I want to go to college.

[BLOWS RASPBERRY]

Getting good A-Levels will get me into university.

That's my only ticket out of here, mate.

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

It's 4:00 a.m. in New York, 4:00 p.m. in Tokyo

and 9:00 a.m. right here in Luton.

You're listening to Radio LUVIC,

the official radio station for Luton Sixth Form College.

I'm Colin Hand, the hand that rocks the turntable,

with the first lesson of a new year,

and the subject, Lessons in Love.

- [MUSIC CONTINUES] - [TURNS UP VOLUME]

First day. Start at the top and stay there.

Study hard, so you don't have to work

in a factory like me all your life.

Yes, Dad. [SIGHS]

If you want to succeed,

look for the Jews in your class.

Do what the Jews do.

They're very successful people.

I think that's a bit racist, Dad.

It's the truth.

- Oh, hi! - [EXCITED CHATTERING]

Hey, you're here to study, okay?

I'll find you a wife in good time.

You leave that to me.

[JAVED SIGHS]

And remember, stay away from the girls!

Follow the Jews!

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[INAUDIBLE]

[MUSIC STOPS]

I'm really sorry. Did I break it?

- Who's that? - The Boss.

Whose boss?

The boss of us all.

[STUDENTS CHATTERING]

Right, everyone in?

My name is Miss Clay,

and I wanna know why you're here.

- Anybody? - To pass my exams, miss.

Well, thanks to Maggie Thatcher,

even if you do pass your exams and get a degree,

there'll be few jobs waiting for you.

So, what I wanna make this class about

is figuring out where you stand, what you think.

The writers that we'll be studying this year

are immortal.

Their themes are universal. Shakespeare, Dickens, Woolf.

Who here wants to live forever, like them?

Who here wants to be a writer?

- Miss Clay? - Yes, um...

Uh, Eliza.

Isn't the job of a writer to make a difference,

to change the world?

Yes. Yes, that's a start.

The writers I admire make a difference.

They tell the world something that it needs to hear.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

What's your name again?

Javed.

Javed, you put your hand up earlier

and then you put it down.

Um...

Miss Clay, I've been writing poems

and a diary since I was about 10.

But it's really not that interesting.

Then why do you do it?

I don't know.

To put down my thoughts, I guess.

You see, in my house,

no one's allowed opinions except my dad.

[POP ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO]

- What would you like, love? - Chips and beans, please.

[SINGS ALONG TO SONG]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[JAVED] This place is bad.

It's the United Nations of kicking tribes.

You've got Goths, a Salt-N-Pepa crew,

there's Wham! boys, Bananarama girls, and...

then there's Eliza, smart, sassy,

and a politico fighting to free Nelson Mandela.

And then there's me.

I don't have a tribe.

[LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]

[MUSIC CONTINUES OVER RADIO]

[BOY] Oi.

Bilal No-Mates.

- All right? - [CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

What are you writing?

- Nothing. - An essay?

Already? Are you a swot or something?

No, just a diary.

So, tell me about The Boss.

Bruce is the direct line

to all that's true in this shitty world.

- Seriously? - Mmm-hmm.

What does he know about our world?

Guard these with your life, yeah?

You can thank me later.

[SCOFFS]

[MUSIC PLAYING OVER HEADPHONES]

[SPRAY HISSING]

[JAVED] A boy spat at me today,

after he wrote his filth on the wall.

This time I tried not to run.

This time I tried to stand tall and say:

"I'm not scared, you stupid clown."

You're not better than me.

"This is also my hometown."

Stand up to him. Why do you run?

Face the pathetic NF scum. You're better than this.

[PANTING]

- Where's Matt? - He's a bit busy.

[MATT] Emma! Why are you answering the door

just wearing that?

- You all right, mate? - Yeah.

Uh... Got my lyrics, then?

That's what I came round to say. I'm working on it.

[MATT SIGHS]

You still coming to my party tonight?

- Yeah, of course. - [MATT] Good.

Emma's mates are coming,

and I know one who would be perfect for you.

- She's not fussy. - Really?

- Yeah. - Cheers.

I promise this time I'll come.

How many times I have to tell you?

Pakistanis do not go to parties.

I thought I was British.

You do not know this country like I do. Huh?

Do you remember Enoch Powell?

They will never accept you, beta.

Matt accepts me.

Listen to me. You're very lucky.

You will always be Pakistani.

You will never be British.

- [HIP HOUSE MUSIC PLAYING] - [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [BOY WHOOPS] - [LIVELY CHATTER]

- [MUSIC CONTINUES] - [MUFFLED CHATTER]

[MUFFLED LAUGHTER AND SHOUTING]

[MALIK EXHALES]

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

[MALIK MUTTERS]

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

- Okay, wait. - [SHAZIA] Again?

[MALIK] Wait for your mother.

After three. One, two, three, push!

Okay, everyone to the back now!

[SHOUTS IN PUNJABI]

[IN ENGLISH] Okay, one, two, three, push!

Let's go!

[ENGINE STARTS]

Come on, come on, come on, get in!

- Let's go! - [ENGINE REVS]

[MALIK] Great neighborhood, Shah-ji.

[MR. SHAH] We are the first Pakistanis on this street.

[MR. SHAH CHUCKLES]

Remember when we came in the '70s?

- Luton was a good town then. - Ah! [CHUCKLES]

[MALIK SIGHS]

Today there are too many Pakistanis.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[GRUNTS]

[MR. SHAH] I need your help again

for a new mortgage application.

This is next door?

It's for my eldest. He's getting married soon.

Oh! Congratulations.

[SPEAKS PUNJABI]

He doesn't know it yet.

But he's a good boy, he does what I say.

Ah. [SPEAKS PUNJABI]

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

[MR. SHAH SPEAKING PUNJABI]

- [BOY] Let's do the Paki house. - Thank you.

[MRS. SHAH] Eh? Shh!

- What are you doing? - [BOY] He's doing a wee-wee.

- [URINATING] - Aim it down on the carpet.

- [MRS. SHAH] Hooligan boy. - [BOY] It's a wee-wee delivery.

[BOYS CHANT] Pissing on the Pakis!

[MR. SHAH] What is happening here?

[MRS. SHAH] Wee-wee, all on my carpet.

[MR. SHAH] Clean it quickly, come on.

[MALIK EXCLAIMS]

- Please. - Just the young kids

are just playing, you know.

[BOY IN SINGSONG] Smelly, smelly Pakis!

It's okay. That's why we have this plastic here.

I cleaned your floor for you.

[MR. SHAH] Don't let the wee go on the carpet.

- [BOY] Pakis! - [BOYS LAUGHING]

Javed.

Not what you expected?

This is your third essay for me.

I'm beginning to understand you...

I write poems too, Miss.

That's why I thought I understood the assignment.

That brief section about the Indian soldiers missing home

and cooking their own food in the trenches,

that was amazing.

That was your voice.

I wanted more.

Tell me about your poems.

- They're crap, miss. - Yeah, but they're your crap.

And if you keep at it,

one day you might think they're not crap.

I want to write for the paper.

We're not really looking for new writers at the moment.

I like to write, and I want to learn.

I could show you some of my work.

I'd rather you didn't.

I could show you some of my poems.

I really don't wanna read them.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[NOOR] Beti, I'm so happy. They have found a boy.

And he's definitely not a taxi driver?

No, beti. He's a graduate.

MA from the University of Rawalpindi.

[YASMEEN] I want to ask more overtime...

Vauxhall Motors are cutting a thousand jobs.

They're trying to reduce their operating costs by a quarter.

Staff will be cut at their factories

in Luton and Ellesmere Port.

The company says an early retirement scheme

for workers over 55

should bring the present workforce

of 12 and a half thousand

down by the required amount,

but the unions say they believe

more redundancies may be necessary.

[NEWSCASTER] Vauxhall, General Motors' existing

car-making subsidiary in this country...

What are they saying?

Vauxhall's laying off half the workforce. Dad's job.

No, beta. He's been there for 16 years.

Double shift, night shift, whatever they wanted.

[NEWSCASTER] Of more than 50 adults, just four have jobs.

The average period of unemployment is nine years.

[JAVED] Vauxhall dumped Dad like an old, disused engine.

Tell me.

[JAVED] Dear General Motors, Let me speak from the heart.

You took my dad's job and you tore my family apart.

I'll have to stop studying,

and Mum will need to work faster.

My life now is a total disaster.

I wanna escape this depressing town.

Is that such a crime?

How useless am I, sitting here,

trying to make words rhyme?

[ON TV] Earlier on today, apparently a woman rang the BBC

and said she heard that there was a hurricane on the way.

Well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't.

But having said that, actually,

the weather will become very windy.

[WRITING]

[KNOCK ON DOOR, THEN DOOR OPENS]

You okay, J?

What's gonna happen to us?

Javed?

I don't know,

but writing crap poems doesn't help anyone.

Don't say that.

You and me, Shazia, we were born at the wrong time,

in the wrong town, in the wrong family.

[SHUDDERS]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[THUNDER CRACKING]

[SIGHS IN EXASPERATION]

[THUNDER CRACKING]

- [WALKMAN CLACKS] - [MUSIC PLAYING]

[THUNDER CRASHING]

[MUSIC STOPS]

[MUSIC RESUMES]

[WIND WHOOSHING]

Hey! Have you gone mental?

Close the bloody window.

The whole house is freezing now.

You should be listening to our music

before you start getting confused and hating yourself.

- [MUSIC STOPS] - [THUNDER CRACKING]

[SONG CHANGES]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SPRINGSTEEN HUMMING]

"If I could take one moment into my hands,"

Mister, I ain't a boy. No, I'm a man,

"and I believe in a promised land!"

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

My poems.

Did you fish them out of a bin?

I did throw them away last night.

But then I changed my mind.

They're not brilliant, but they're mine.

[JAVED] Roops!

Roops. I listened to everything.

Both tapes.

I'm telling you, I could feel it all right here.

It's like Bruce knows everything I've ever felt,

everything I've ever wanted.

I mean, "Sometimes I feel so weak, I just wanna explode."

Explode and tear this whole town apart.

"Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart."

I didn't know music could be like that.

I mean, "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true?"

Or is it something worse?"

Congratulations. You've popped your Bruce cherry.

You never forget your first time.

[JAVED EXHALES]

[TYPING]

[DOOR OPENS]

I wrote something.

Did I ask you to write something?

I had to write it. It's about music.

- A record review. - Sort of. Can you read it?

[ALAN] "It's a town full of losers"

and I'm pulling out of here to win.

"'Thunder Road.' Springsteen."

No one listens to Springsteen anymore. He's history.

- [TYPING] - Can you just read it? Please.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[MS. CLAY] Javed.

I'm really disappointed in you.

You hated my poems.

I hated that you threw them away

before anyone ever read them.

- You read them? - Every one of them.

Even "Luton Is A Four-Letter Word"?

[MS. CLAY] Yeah.

And I can think of several more

four-letter words for Luton too.

But the point is they're raw, they're distinctive.

You have a responsibility

to make this invisible, this absent voice, heard.

But you're my teacher, miss.

Do you really think anyone else would be interested?

- I'm interested. - See?

Stop doubting. Keep writing.

My dad doesn't even know I'm doing English.

He thinks I'm doing economics.

This is about what you want.

You have a gift, Javed.

You could be a writer if you put the work in.

Really? Me?

Bruce Springsteen is not some romantic, faraway figure

who sings about romantic, faraway things.

He's a local boy, and the things he deals in

are things they recognize only too well.

[MAN 1] Well, he's one of us, you know.

[MAN 2] He's part of New Jersey.

[MAN 3] We call him The Boss and he is The Boss.

There was an exuberance,

let's say, about something like "Born to Run."

[REPORTER] The songwriting seems to have

become more concerned

with rather bleak matters.

[SPRINGSTEEN] Lately, I guess, mainly I've just tried

to scale it down to what I feel.

[CHUCKLES] Life sizes, you know.

My sister, she got married when she was really young.

My brother-in-law was a construction worker,

and then they stopped building the buildings, you know,

when we had the recession.

They just went through a lot of real hard times, you know.

And they had a couple of kids. That was hard to do.

And I guess if I had any heroes now,

they'd be like, you know, like them,

or... you know, people who keep the world turning.

This is for my brother-in-law and my sister.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SINGING ALONG]

- Who was that on TV? - [JAVED] No one.

- It's Bruce Springsteen. - Springsteen? Jewish?

Jewish? No.

He's American.

Have you done that letter for Mr. Shah?

I will.

Hmm.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[JAVED] Hi. Can I help you?

If you've come to complain

about my wife's sewing machine,

you have to appreciate that we have taken on extra work

to make ends meet.

I came about this.

"Don't be Dumb NF Scum"

by Javed Khan"?

Mr. Evans, [SIGHS] writing is my son's hobby.

He didn't mean to offend you. I'm sure of that.

Javed, say sorry.

Forty-eight years ago

I marched into war with my friends

to fight men in swastikas.

Today I see swastikas on young men on the streets of Luton.

That was a very brave poem, young man.

You must write more and get your message out.

NF scum indeed.

Wow. He liked my poem.

Why are you writing rubbish?

[JAVED SIGHS]

[JAVED] Excuse me.

Did you read it?

- I did. - And?

It wasn't really a review, was it?

It was more like a thousand words

of closely argued adulation.

I know I can do better.

[ALAN] Set them out nicely.

You're a Muslim, aren't you?

- Yeah. - A Pakistani into Springsteen?

Now, that's got potential.

Sharpen the opening and I'll run it.

Yes!

Thirteen bundles. That's 130.

Um, 50 pence a pop. I owe you 65 quid.

Lovely. Same again for next week?

My wife wants 20 bundles.

Well, I mean, that's more than double what she did last week.

Twenty is too much.

Yasmeen, Javed, help her.

[EXHALES] Blimey.

[KATHY GRUNTING]

We can do 20 bundles.

Yasmeen can help.

The children can help. I can help.

Yasmeen works. Javed and Shazia have studies.

I have been working till 12:00, 1:00 in the morning.

It's too much.

Electricity bill. Telephone bill.

Rates. Gas bill.

Yasmeen is getting married.

Shazia will be next. We need the money.

What about all the work you do helping people at the masjid?

Why don't you ask them to pay you?

I cannot do that.

You spend time looking at houses you can't buy,

sort out your friends' mortgages.

And what do you get out of that?

What will people say, huh,

if they thought I was doing it for the money?

[KATHY] There.

So, what are we doing?

- Hmm. - Right, 20 it is.

Okay, I'll go and get another seven, yeah?

Javed.

You are my only son.

I need you to do more.

But, Dad, there's no jobs out there.

We have to try, beta.

My dream was to come here and work hard for my family.

We can't give up now.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER WALKMAN]

I'm sorry, boss. It's not gonna happen again.

[FOREMAN] Don't do it again.

Have you got any jobs?

Javed, son, no weekend work, no part-time, nothing.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

- Sorry. Yeah? - Yeah.

You got yourself a girlfriend yet?

[GIRLS GIGGLE]

What are you doing with those?

Help yourself.

[JAVED GASPS]

[ROOPS] You should try telesales.

You could be anyone on the phone.

They don't know if you're Tom, Dick or Ali.

I'll try anything. My dad really needs cash.

Do you, uh, know what you want?

- Tea. - How do you like it?

Sweet, like my girls.

[EXHALES]

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

Do you know what I think helped Bruce

deal with a shitty life?

Girls.

- Girls were his salvation. - Oh, yeah.

We all need that kind of salvation.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I wish I could write about girls like Bruce does.

Listen, life ain't no Springsteen song.

If we end up with a girl

with less facial hair than Chewbacca,

- we'll have done well, yeah? - [BOTH LAUGH]

Hey, uh, I got you this.

Go on. Move.

There's loads of seats free.

Well, this is our table now.

Or do we need to move you Pakis?

[WHISTLING] Get up.

- Come on. - [LAD 1] Off you go.

Quickly.

- Good boy. - Thank you very much. Move.

Oi, oi, oi. No, no, no.

Move over there, mate, all right?

I can still bloody smell you from here,

- all right? - [LAD 2 LAUGHS]

Go on, move. Quickly. Thank you.

[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]

We should have said something.

We can't just take it.

Where's the tape?

I don't care if I told you it before.

No, you carry on, mate.

What are you doing, mate?

Is this a... Is this a special Paki film?

- [LADS LAUGH] - Huh?

Is this the number one Paki film, eh?

- Give it back. - Bruce Springsteen?

He doesn't sound like a Paki, does he?

Oi!

♪ For the ones Who had a notion ♪

♪ A notion deep inside ♪

[JAVED VOCALIZING]

[BOTH VOCALIZING]

I mean, it's got the elegance of Lady Diana

and the earthy sensuality of Tina Turner.

And of course, there's not many women...

I've been door to door to every store in the Arndale.

Do you reckon your dad could give me a job?

You're not dropping out, are you?

No way. But my dad's been laid off.

Dad, uh, J's been looking for a Saturday job.

Can you help him out?

I'm sorry, J. Business is down.

I'll do anything.

Lug boxes around, put up the stall, clear it up.

I'm really desperate.

All right, start Saturday,

but I'm not paying you a lot, eh?

Now, what you got there?

This guy is incredible.

You've never heard lyrics like his.

Is that Billy Joel?

Billy Joel? You plonker. That is Bruce.

God, you try and raise your kids right, J.

I was there, son. 1981, Wembley Arena.

- Row T. The River Tour. - Oh.

Don't go writing me songs like him, J.

- He's too... - Old school?

No, American.

Listen, I can't be dealing with all that, you know,

"Born in the USA," Stars and Stripes shit.

Surprised you're into it, mate.

Actually, that song's about

the desperate plight of Vietnam veterans

who were treated really badly when they came home.

- You tell him, son. - [BOTH CHUCKLE]

[SINGING]

Yeah?

- [LAUGHING] Got you. - [JAVED] See you later.

Saturday, mate.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

[MATT] Come on, mate. What you doing?

You cannot be serious, mate.

You can't sell clothes on the stall dressed like that,

dressed like him.

God.

[EXHALES]

Here, what's that?

- University prospectus. - Yeah, but it's in Manchester.

It's got a brilliant English and creative writing course.

I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna be a writer.

But your dad, he won't even let you cross the road

to come to mine for a party.

You know Manchester's

200 fricking miles away, don't you?

[TURNS OFF MUSIC]

"Someday, man, I don't know when"

We're gonna get to that place Where we really want to go

We'll walk in the sun

But till then, tramps like us

"Baby, we were born to run."

Did you write that?

I've told you before, your lyrics are rubbish, mate.

That didn't even rhyme.

[ELIZA] Do you want to have

- a Red Wedge? - [WOMAN] Fantastic.

[ELIZA] We've got a gig on Friday.

Hey.

Right, hold on to that for a minute, J.

[ELIZA] Can I give you a leaflet, please?

- J. - [ELIZA] Free Nelson Mandela.

[FOLK ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER WALKMAN]

Javed. Wake up, mate.

RIGHT, IMPORTANT: as soon as you've hung it,

make sure there's no creases and just hang it nice

so people can walk up to it and just have a go.

Oh, look at that. The quality. Look at how beautiful that is.

[ELIZA] Would you like a leaflet?

We've got a Red Wedge gig on Friday.

[SINGING ALONG]

Red Wedge! Red Wedge!

Javed.

[BOTH SINGING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

- Whoo! - [CROWD APPLAUDS]

[MATT'S DAD] That's what you call real music,

not the sort of shite my son sits listening to in his room.

Now, look, you're a clever boy.

Educate him.

[JAVED] He's beyond help.

He thinks synths are the future.

[BOTH SNICKERING]

He's a handsome boy, but he's not happy. Look at him.

Oh, here we go.

Look, son, don't get the hump

just because your mate's got taste in music.

[MATT] Thanks for standing up for me, mate.

Here, J, J, leave him.

We got customers to serve. Come on.

Now, then, ladies...

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[JAVED] Matt.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

[MATT] Go away, Javed. You've really pissed me off.

[SLOW-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[MALIK] What is this nonsense?

What kind of economics is this?

It's about the music business.

Why do you have to listen to music while studying?

It's no good.

Have you forgotten why I want you to get an education?

To broaden my mind, learn about the world,

be inspired to make a difference?

No. To get a good job,

so you don't end up driving a taxi

like every other Pakistani in this town.

Ever since you've been following this

American Jewish man, you've changed.

- He's not Jewish. - He's not Pakistani either.

Promise me one thing.

I want you to give all this haram nonsense up.

Do it for me.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Listen to me, beta. [SIGHS]

I'm not your typical Pakistani father

who says you must be a doctor.

I'm saying lawyer, accountant, estate agent.

I am giving you freedom, see?

♪ Till some day They just cut it loose ♪

♪ Cut it loose Or let it drag 'em down ♪

♪ Where no one asks Any questions ♪

♪ Or looks too long in your face ♪

♪ In the darkness On the edge of town ♪

♪ In the darkness In the edge of town ♪

Congratulations.

Look, you got your name in the paper.

They spelt my name wrong.

You could just change your name to Jared.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you fancy some lunch?

I've never seen anyone so committed.

I always see you handing out flyers.

Miss Clay was right,

it is hard getting students interested in politics.

So, are you gonna help me with these or what?

We don't want that witch winning a fourth election.

If I hand those out,

will you go out with me?

Yes.

But... I get to pick where we're going.

[MAN] ♪ R-A-C-l-S-T ♪

♪ F-A-S-C-l-S-T ♪

[ELIZA] Wasn't that great?

I love a good anti-fascist gig.

How come you're so political, then?

- Um... My parents, I guess. - So, what, they're activists?

Uh-uh. No. They are "no society" Tory traitors.

[CHUCKLES] And I thought mine were bad.

Someone in our family has to have principles.

I don't get on much with my dad either.

I don't really get on with anyone in my family.

Except my sister, Shazia.

Well, it's good to not fit in.

If you did, you'd never want to leave home.

[CHUCKLES] I've applied to Manchester.

'Cause of The Smiths?

'Cause it's four hours from Luton.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'm not sure if I'll be able to go.

My dad's on the dole,

goes to the job center every day in his suit.

I kind of feel selfish

thinking about going off to uni

when he'll be struggling at home.

Well, you can't live your life for your dad.

You don't know many Pakistanis, do you?

We only live for our parents.

You lot all go off and leave home.

- We do the opposite. - [CHUCKLES]

Talking of which, I should probably get going.

Bye.

[WALKMAN CLICKS]

So, that's the end of our first date?

[MUSIC PLAYING OVER HEADPHONES]

I don't wanna go.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

"You want it, you take it, you pay the price."

What does that mean?

Bruce Springsteen.

You do know Ronald Reagan listens to him, right?

[CHUCKLES] He's incredible. Political, compassionate.

Just listen to the words.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SINGING ALONG] ♪ But if dreams came true, well wouldn't that be nice ♪

♪ But this ain't no dream, we're living through the night ♪

♪ Girl you want it, you take it, you pay the price ♪

I like it.

But what does it mean?

It means I'm staying.

[SINGING ALONG] ♪ Baby, tie your hair back in a long white bow ♪

♪ Meet me in the fields out behind the dynamo ♪

♪ You hear their voices telling you not to go ♪

♪ They've made their choices and they'll never know ♪

♪ What it means to steal, to cheat, to lie What it's like to live and die ♪

[JAVED] "In my dreams, I am holding you tight."

You are all I ever wanted,

such a magical sight.

I feel a buzz of electricity from my feet to fingertips,

When I try to imagine kissing your beautiful lips.

You light up my life,

give me a reason for being born,

A flash of lightning in a midnight storm,

A gust of wind that lifts me off my feet,

A summer ray that radiates heat.

Every minute I'm with you feels divine

"And makes me wish you could be mine."

[ROOPS] You kissed her.

[LAUGHING] You kissed her. Yeah!

But wait. Is she a Bruce fan?

Not yet, but I'm working on it.

There are 600 people like Eliza in this college

who know nothing about the real Bruce.

We have to do something about that. Come on.

- [POP MUSIC PLAYING] - You want a radio show?

Yes.

We have an Asian music show already, so...

We don't wanna do an Asian show.

Just 'cause we're a couple of Pakis,

you think we'd be asking to play more bhangra.

[CHUCKLES]

So what do you want?

A show that plays only Bruce Springsteen.

[SCOFFS] Nothing but Springsteen?

That's your idea?

Bruce has a lot to say to students in this college.

How will they know there's something better out there

if they don't hear it?

Look at the calendar over there,

the Cutting Crew one.

Can you see what year it is?

It's 1987.

My job is to play music

that the students will connect to, yeah?

That means Bros. That means Curiosity.

And, yes, that even means Debbie Gibson.

But Springsteen,

he's more what your dad listens to.

Not my dad.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- Hey. - Hey.

- All right? - Yeah.

Kevin, move up.

- Hi. - Hey.

I liked my poem this morning.

I couldn't sleep.

Was it another gem from Bruce?

No. It's mine.

You wrote that for me?

[DOOR OPENS]

Javed, your article on how Springsteen inspires you...

Too much adulation?

It was personal, passionate.

I could hear you shouting off the page.

I have a friend at the Herald.

I could contact her,

see if she might be able to find you

some work experience over there.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[MS. CLAY] Right, Return of the Native.

EUSTACIA VYE: victim or villain?

[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

[JAVED BREATHING HEAVILY]

[ROCK MUSIC BLARING OVER SPEAKERS]

[SINGING ALONG]

What's going on here?

Hey! Where were you? Why is that playing?

What are you doing?

Get out of here! Go on! Get off my pitch!

- [SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY] - Calm down. Calm down.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[WOMAN] I'll tell your mother!

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪ One, two, three, four! ♪

Get away from here.

[JAVED AND ROOPS VOCALIZING]

[ELIZA LAUGHS]

[CONTINUES VOCALIZING]

[REPORTER] Tensions are running high in Bury Park

where a pig's head was found hanging

from a minaret here at Luton Mosque.

Witnesses say two men were seen

climbing up the minaret this morning

to place the pig's head before morning prayer.

[ELIZA] I should go. Sorry.

[REPORTER] ...and the police are doing

all they can to support them

in light of this shocking event.

This incident comes the same day

as the extreme-right National Front

has announced their plan for a march

through the streets of Luton.

No date for the march has been confirmed yet,

but all police leave has been canceled.

[FRANCES] Well, I hope we're all hungry.

I had hoped Eliza might change for dinner,

but can't have it all.

[ELIZA] Mum, stop fussing.

- Ah. - Garlic bread.

- Oh, lovely. - Here we all are.

- Good. - Lovely.

So where shall we sit, darling? [CLEARS THROAT]

Um, well, why don't I go at the head here?

- And, Frances, you go there. - I'll pop here.

Yes, that's it. And then you go either side.

- Sit yourself down. - [ROBERT] Mmm.

I'll just place the garlic bread...

- On the table. - Here.

- Lovely. - It is so lovely to meet you.

Eliza's very picky on who she brings home.

Yes, she picks the boys

she thinks we're going to find the most shocking.

[CHUCKLES] Politics.

It's very personal for our Eliza. Isn't it, Princess?

The only thing shocking, Dad, is your bigotry

towards anybody who isn't white,

- middle class and true blue. - Ooh. [CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

You'll have to forgive Eliza.

Sometimes I'm not sure how we raised such a firebrand.

Do you remember the one with the eyeliner

- and the daisies? - Oh!

- [CHUCKLES] Do you remember? - He so wanted to be Morrissey.

Then there was the colored fellow with the dreadlocks.

No one says "colored" anymore, Dad.

No?

With Eliza, it's the more provocative

- the better. - [ROBERT] Mmm-hmm.

Well, what's provocative about Javed?

[FRANCES] Hmm.

Javed doesn't drink. He's a Muslim.

It's against their religion, Dad.

Well, have a little bit, see how you go.

We won't tell anyone if you don't. Right. [CHUCKLES]

[FRANCES CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

[MRS. ANDERSON] You broke into the college radio station

and you played a record of your choice.

We're very sorry, miss.

You see my problem, don't you?

[JAVED] Please don't expel us.

I need my A-Levels.

Yeah, we're very sorry, miss.

So, what I'm going to do...

you will promise, promise,

never to do it again,

and that, I hope, will be the end of that.

Is that it? [CHUCKLES]

They vandalized my studio.

They scratched my Tiffany record.

[MRS. ANDERSON] Oh, please, Colin. Tiffany?

Even I know Tiffany's not all that.

[PHONE RINGING]

Judith Anderson's mobile telephone.

Okay. Right, run along. Yes, hello.

This is my mobile telephone.

Could you call on the office line?

It just turns out this is just much too expensive.

[WHISPERS] Bruce.

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON RADIO]

[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

I'm sorry, mate. I ain't got no change.

I've been offered a job at the Herald for the holidays.

How much will they pay you?

They won't. It's work experience.

They want you to work for no money?

The deputy editor thinks I can write.

It's a great opportunity.

How is it a great opportunity

when they're making you work and not giving you any money?

Dad, I want to be a writer.

- Writing isn't a job. - It can be.

Name me one Pakistani writer. Just one.

Writing is for English people with rich parents.

But this is the chance to do something I really want to do.

"I"? What is this "I"?

Everyone else is making money.

Mum, Yasmeen, Shazia.

The only one who isn't is you.

I don't wanna go and be an estate agent

when I've got the chance to do something I really want to do.

- Get out. - What?

You will not talk to your father like this. Get out.

[STARTS ENGINE]

The biggest mistake I made was coming to this country.

I didn't ask you to come here!

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[HORN HONKS]

[SONG PLAYING ON CAR STEREO]

- [MAN 1] There we go. - [MATT] Nice one. Cheers, boys.

- [MAN 1] Come on, then. - [MAN 2] All right.

[MATT] I'll, uh, see youse later.

You, mate, need to start practicing, seriously.

Because we're all putting the work in.

- [JAVED] Matt. - It was good. Come on.

Matt.

That was all right, wasn't it?

What time are youse coming round tomorrow?

- [MAN 2] 10:00. - Matt.

Just had band practice?

Look, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to upset you.

Can we just forget it and move on?

Let's forget who stood up for you at school

when you were called a dirty Paki.

Let's forget who's been trying their hardest

to get you a girl,

get you a life.

And now you think you're it with this college

and your Bruce philosophies on life,

you think you can shit all over me.

Well, if you strip that away, you're still sad Javed,

whose dad picks on him just like mine does on me.

See you later, boys.

[MAN 1] Right, see you later, Matt.

[MAN 2] Take care, mate.

[MAN 3] Get in.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

I suppose you heard that.

[SONG PLAYING ON CAR STEREO]

All I'm trying to do is stand up for myself,

stop doing what others want

and do what I want for a change.

Good friends deserve to be listened to.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I'm sorry.

You're right, I have been up myself.

Your music is just as great 'cause it speaks to you and...

- You're a wanker. [SIGHS] - I know.

Sorry.

About the finding me a girl bit...

At least you don't have to help me with that.

What?

You got a girlfriend

and you didn't even bloody tell me!

[CHUCKLING] You jammy little sod.

Well, at least I can finally expect

some decent bloody lyrics from you.

[LAUGHS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING ON RECORD]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Everyone's out.

So it's just you and me.

And Bruce.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[ELIZA GIGGLES]

[DOOR RATTLES]

- Shazia. - [SHAZIA] Um...

[STAMMERS] I forgot my textbook and...

You owe me.

- [CHUCKLES] - [DOOR CLOSES]

Can I ask you something?

What?

Are you doing this to shock your parents?

You honestly think I'm thinking

about my parents right now?

'Cause I just want you to know

that I'm absolutely fine with that.

[ELIZA CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

Do you know what time it is, mate?

Here's your lyrics.

You should thank my girlfriend.

[LAUGHS]

You little devil.

Get in here. Get in, come in.

I wanna know all the details. Come on.

I can't. I've promised to take my sister to a gig.

[MATT] Gig?

At 8:00 in the morning?

[JAVED] This is a really big favor, Shazia.

[SHAZIA] I know, but she's worth it, right?

She's really pretty too.

Anyway, are you sure these lot's parents

don't know they've bunked off school

to hit a nightclub at 10:00 in the morning?

Are you sure you're even Asian?

I can't believe you've never heard of a daytimer before.

[UPBEAT PUNJABI SONG PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Jesus, Shazia.

You look like a Pakistani Madonna.

Thank God Mum and Dad can't see you.

That's what's so perfect about daytimers.

- We get to be us. Come on. - [CHUCKLES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPRINGSTEEN OVER WALKMAN]

[PUNJABI SONG CONTINUES PLAYING]

[DJ] Big round of applause.

And for the Asian Michael Jackson, Johnny Zee.

Now, I got a fresh cut coming in

straight off the press in Southall.

They've got the best hair in the West.

- It's Heera. - [ALL CHEERING]

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

Come along. Keep moving. Yeah, thanks for coming. Yeah.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Can I have an NME, please?

- There you go. - Thanks.

Thank you.

[MAN] Hello, young lady, how can I help?

[GIRL] Can I have a Kit Kat, please?

[MAN] That's 20 pence, please.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

Thanks.

We're so even now.

What's his name?

- Kaleem. - How long have you known him?

15 months.

15 months?

He goes to the boys' school down the road.

Shazia, you are good.

I didn't even know you could dance.

[BOTH LAUGH]

It's the only time I can forget life.

When I'm dancing, I block out the world.

I know what you mean.

And this is what you do

in your own crazy gora rock world.

He's coming.

Bruce. Wembley Stadium. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

You know, unless Bruce does a daytimer,

you know there's no way you're going, don't you?

I am going. I have to.

Hi. It's Javed, right?

Yes. You want tea?

You're Muslim, right?

Yeah. I can still stay, right?

Can you speak Urdu?

- I'm not fluent. - That's more than me.

Come on. Got a story to cover at the mosque.

And no one's gonna talk to me.

The mosque?

People are calling for it to be closed down.

You can help get your lot's version over.

If you're lucky, you might get your first byline.

There. This is making you look like a young man.

Am I looking like

- the handsome man you married? - Shh!

Don't talk like that.

Sit still. I have to get back to my sewing.

[MALIK SOBBING]

Why cry? This is a happy time now.

What happy?

I have failed you and Yasmeen.

I cannot even pay for the wedding.

You have to slave

on that sewing machine morning till night.

What happened?

It wasn't meant to be like this.

Chup, be quiet.

You are the head of this family.

No one cares for us like you do,

and no one has been a better father to Yasmeen.

We will have the best wedding party.

You'll see.

Hmm?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Let me show you.

[ALL SPEAKING IN URDU]

[IN ENGLISH] Shaz, I need your help.

Bruce tickets go on sale today.

What, now?

I'll come back quickly. It's only down the road.

I'll meet you at the venue.

If I don't go now, they might sell out.

Okay, fine. I'll cover for you.

Where did you get the money anyway?

Dad takes all the wages.

The Herald paid me for my article,

but I never told Dad.

Oh, God, Shazia, you're making me feel bad.

[WOMAN] Look at the beautiful bride.

[MALIK] That's what a bride should look like, Mr. Shah.

[MAN] Princess of Bury Park!

You should go. You might never get to see Bruce again. Go.

[MALIK SPEAKS PUNJABI]

[MALIK IN ENGLISH] Go and sit down in your car, ladies.

Come on, everyone, quickly, in your cars.

We're going to be late otherwise, let's go.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

We are going to a wedding there, Officer.

- You'll have to wait, sir. - [MALIK] What's going on?

We need to get to the community center.

My daughter is getting married.

[ALL CHANTING] If they're black,

send them back!

[ALL SHOUTING]

[OFFICER] Just move over to the side there for me, please.

Move over, please.

- [NOOR] Beti. - Mum.

Stay here.

[OFFICER] Just move over to the side.

[MALIK] We have to get to the community center.

[CROWD SHOUTING]

- Nazis! - Educate yourself!

Pakis out! Pakis out!

If they're black, send 'em back!

Smash the National Front down!

[MAN] Traitor!

Smash the National Front!

Bruce Springsteen. Do you still have tickets?

Please tell me you still have tickets.

We haven't sold any yet, J.

Oh. Two, please.

That's 40 quid.

It's all there.

Thanks.

[MALIK] Saleem, what are you doing? Come back.

Oi, move! What are you playing at?

We've got to get to a wedding.

[MALIK] Saleem!

[WOMEN EXCLAIM]

[ALL SHOUTING]

Are you okay?

I'm okay.

Go and get him! Go and get him, quickly!

Where is Javed? Huh? Is he okay?

- [SHAZIA] You're bleeding. - [MALIK] Where's Javed?

- [SHAZIA] Javed? - [MALIK] Javed?

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[MALIK] Javed?

[SPEAKING IN URDU]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[NOOR] You should take it off now.

Let me fix it for you properly.

Ah, leave it.

Yasmeen looked so beautiful, didn't she, Mum?

- Thank God she liked the boy. - He liked her too.

I saw him sneak smiles at her a lot.

See? Those thugs couldn't spoil our day.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[MR. EVANS] You've hit the jackpot.

Thank you.

Mr. Khan.

He's only gone and bloody done it.

Front-page credit.

[CHUCKLES]

Congratulations, son.

You're on your way.

[MALIK] On Yasmeen's wedding day?

You're washing your dirty clothes in public.

You think that this is a good thing to do?

What do you know about Islam?

I was just trying to protect the mosque.

I thought you'd be proud of me writing in the paper

like Mr. Evans is.

Proud?

You think bringing attention to us will make me feel proud?

I was giving us a voice, telling our story.

We should keep our heads down.

Your head is full of big ideas, above you.

This is all to do with this Jewish singer.

He isn't Jewish, Dad.

Your son has lost his mind,

listening to this man's bakwaas.

- Dad, just listen to me. - You listen to me. Huh?

Do you think that this man sings for people like us?

But he talks to me.

He's coming to London, and I'm gonna go see him.

He's doing a concert, and I'm going.

Where did you get the money to buy these tickets?

I earned it, at the Herald.

You told me that they didn't pay you.

Your mother has been working night and day for this wedding

and you had money to waste?

This has gone too far. Give me those tickets.

No! They're mine. It's my money.

I can't wait to get away from here.

I want to go to university.

You will go to university in Luton.

Luton doesn't even have a university,

but Manchester University, they want me.

You will not go to Manchester. You will not go anywhere.

- Give me those tickets. - No!

I bought them with money I earned as a writer.

- My words paid for these. - Give me those tickets!

- No! - [SHAZIA] No, Dad, stop!

- [JAVED] Dad! - [SHAZIA] Stop!

[JAVED] Dad, get off me.

[NOOR] Please stop. What are you doing?

What did I say? Huh?

You are not British, so stop acting like a gora.

You are Pakistani. You are my son!

[GRUNTS] I don't wanna be your son!

I wanna be more than that!

[SLAMS DOOR]

[ENGINE STALLING]

[SOBBING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Is your dad okay?

I was there when he got knocked down.

Where were you?

I didn't know the date of the march had changed.

I went to get tickets to the Bruce concert.

Your dad could have been seriously hurt.

You should have been there.

Who goes to buy concert tickets

on a family wedding day?

Ah. So now I've upset you as well.

Sorry for thinking about myself for once.

[SCOFFS] Stop being a prat.

You know what?

There's no point.

- In what? - In this.

Us. It can't mean anything. You understand?

- No, I don't. - I mean, my family...

Javed, stop making your family your excuse for everything.

[KEVIN] That jumper is awful.

- [LAUGHTER] - [MS. CLAY] Javed.

Sorry, I know this probably isn't the best time,

but I gave your essay,

"An American Dream in Luton," to the principal,

and I sent it into a competition.

Why?

Because it's good.

You'll never guess what. You only went and bloody won.

Excuse me?

They picked ten young writers out of thousands

and you are on the list.

Don't you wanna know what you've won?

Not really.

Only a trip to Monmouth College.

They run a prestigious writing competition

and I thought that they would appreciate your sentiments

on a local luminary.

You do know where Monmouth College is, right?

New Jersey, USA.

You'll only be a few miles away from Asbury Park

where your great hero grew up.

They should give the prize to someone who can go.

What?

My dad will never let me go to America.

Right. Act III, Scene IV.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SPEAKS URDU]

I won a contest.

[SCOFFS]

You won something? That's good.

For writing.

If you won, you must have worked hard. That's good.

The prize is

I get to attend a conference at Monmouth College.

- Where's that? - New Jersey, America.

I won out of thousands of students.

America is unsafe. There's drugs, gangs...

There's plenty of drugs and gangs in Luton.

In America, no one cares where you're from.

Anyone can do what they wanna do.

They don't even know what Pakistanis are.

Everything that is bad about England

- is even worse in America. - No, Dad.

Everything that's good in Britain

is even better in America.

The music, the TV, the possibilities.

I wanna taste it all for myself.

It's too dangerous and you're too young.

How old were you when you left Pakistan?

What did your dad say?

That's different.

I'm going, Dad.

I have to.

If you disrespect my wishes and walk out of that door...

don't come back.

[NOOR] Javed.

Beta.

[DOOR THUDS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[NOOR] Beta.

[SONG CONTINUES]

[MALIK SIGHS]

[PASSPORT OFFICIAL] Next.

Purpose of your visit?

I'm going to a conference at Monmouth College.

I won a prize to attend.

But that's not my main purpose.

I'm going to Asbury Park with my friend

to see Bruce Springsteen's hometown.

Excuse me?

Hey, Billy. Check this guy out.

He's come all this way

because him and his buddy are Bruce fans.

I can't think of a better reason

to visit the United States

than to see the home of The Boss.

Next.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Saturday night in The Stone Pony,

where it all began for the great man.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGS ON TV]

[NOOR] Shazia spoke to Javed. He's back from America.

He's living with his Sikh friend.

- You have to make it better. - I have to make it better?

He disobeyed me.

When you left home,

your parents begged you to stay in Karachi,

so why did you go?

I wanted a better life for my family.

You thought you knew better than them.

He just wants to study to be a writer

for a few years in Manchester.

You were leaving Pakistan for good.

I let you come here because I trusted you.

Can you not trust your own son?

If you don't try to fix this now,

we will lose our son for good,

and if that happens, I will never forgive you.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[SCOFFS]

[DOOR OPENS]

Huh. "Father and Son"?

- [SNIFFLES] - Mrs. Khan?

I'm friends with Javed.

[MRS. ANDERSON] Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to a very special evening,

celebrating the very best of Luton Sixth Form College.

Please do stay around afterwards for a reception.

The Chardonnay and Twiglets

- will be flowing. - [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

And now I would like to begin with Javed Khan

reading an extract from

"A Runaway American Dream in Luton."

- [APPLAUSE] - Exciting. Whoops.

Dad, listen to this, yeah?

Thanks.

Bruce Springsteen was,

to quote the album he is most famous for,

born in the USA,

but he has fans around the world, including me.

I was not born in the USA,

and I grew up not in Asbury Park, New Jersey,

but Bury Park, Luton.

But the reason I connected with Springsteen

is because what he sings about and champions

are not only American values

but are the best of human values.

He talks about working hard and holding on to your dreams

and not letting the hardness of the world stop you

from letting the best of you slip away.

In these words, I see a bridge between Springsteen

- and my own Asian upbringing. - [DOOR OPENS]

[TEACHER WHISPERS] Just this way.

And that is why the music and values

of Springsteen's American dream

can reach and touch a boy from...

I'm sorry. I don't know if I can read this.

You can. Go on.

When I wrote it, I really believed

every word, but now...

A lot has happened since I wrote those words.

Then I thought

Bruce Springsteen was the answer

and all I had to do was live by his words.

I don't think that's true anymore.

Bruce Springsteen got out of New Jersey

by following his dream.

BRUCE SINGS:

"If dreams came true, well, wouldn't that be nice?"

But this ain't no dream we're living through tonight.

"If you want it, you take it and you pay the price."

SO THE QUESTION I'M ASKING IS: can I pay that price?

I know having dreams doesn't make me a bad son.

I also know that everything I am

is because of the sacrifices my mum and dad made.

My dad's not a typical dad.

We don't have [SNIFFS] jokey chats.

He's not like the dad you see on telly.

A lot of the time he seems pretty angry at the world.

I think Bruce Springsteen would understand my dad,

'cause, like his father,

they both came from poor backgrounds,

both worked hard in factories,

both had dreams that never came true,

which left them angry.

And they both had sons

who wanted the chance to make them proud.

Bruce has a song called "Blinded by the Light,"

and when I first heard it, I thought it was about love

and being blinded by the love

we might have for a girl or money.

But last night I listened to it again,

and Bruce is saying so much more.

I was blinded by the light

when I first heard Springsteen,

because I was only thinking, in that moment,

about Springsteen and me.

But we're not all just individuals.

We have friends,

and family,

and what they think does matter.

Success without them isn't really success.

Being blinded meant I couldn't see

how much I am like my dad and my dad is like me.

And as much as I wanted to leave Luton,

[SNIFFLES] I understand that it will never leave me.

Bruce says no one wins unless everybody wins.

My hope is to build a bridge to my ambitions,

but not a wall between my family and me.

That's my dream.

My American dream.

In Luton.

[APPLAUSE]

[WHOOPS]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Bravo.

I'm so sorry.

I've missed you like mad.

"Like a river that don't know where it's flowing,"

you took a wrong turn and you just kept going.

"But everybody's got a hungry heart."

Everybody's got a hungry heart.

You told my family, didn't you?

Thank you.

Now go and speak to your dad.

[NOOR] Beta.

- I'm so proud of you. - Thanks. Here, take this.

- Shaz. - You did so good.

Well done. I'll get you a drink.

Hello. Hi. You must be Javed's father.

You should be so proud of Javed.

Thanks, Miss Clay, for everything.

Oh! Well, you did the work. You're the writer.

[MALIK] Son...

This Bruce Springsteen, are you sure he's American?

Yes. And not Jewish.

I read his songs. He said work hard,

don't give up, respect your parents.

This man must be Pakistani.

[ALL LAUGH]

Son, write your stories, yes.

But don't forget ours.

Hmm?

Come.

[MALIK CHUCKLES]

- All packed? - Yeah.

I've made some food for you.

Mum, I meant to give you this.

It's amazing what a good price I got

for my Bruce collection.

I can easily replace that.

[SNIFFLES]

[CHUCKLES]

[SNIFFLES]

Beta.

[SNIFFLES]

[MATT] J! J!

Mate. Hot off the press.

New demo. Listen, thanks for the lyrics.

Plenty more where they came from.

Right, I'm off for a sound check.

Here, I'll try and wing you

some free tickets when we go on tour, yeah?

- See you later. - See you later, mate.

Oi.

[CHUCKLES]

This is it.

- Me in Manchester. - Me and Leicester.

"We're gonna get to that place."

"Where we really wanna go."

"We'll walk in the sun."

[BOTH] Bruce!

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'm gonna miss you.

Come on, Dad. Let's go.

- [NOOR] Drive carefully. - [MALIK RESPONDS IN URDU]

Wait.

- You drive. - [CHUCKLES]

[STARTS ENGINE]

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON STEREO]

[SONG STOPS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SONG PLAYING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Ready? Let's go.

[SONG CONTINUES]