Original subtitles

John James McIver, pass.

Bernard Kearhardy Meldon, pass.

Dougal Alexander Fleming Brown, MD, PhD, pass.

Rory Duncan Campbell, fail.

Fail, fail, fail, fail.

- And this became known as the Highland Clearances.

When the landlords chased all the people off the land

and put in sheep instead.

Please, miss.

- Yes, Veronica?

- What would have happened if the people hadn't moved?

- But they were forced, burnt out.

- But if they all didn't move,

then there's not enough people to move them.

- Well, I suppose you're right.

But it's awful hard when someone burns your house down.

- Rory!

- Watch your step.

No running.

Watch your step.

Claire.

Watch your step.

This is it, and it's not even raining.

The pools just form in the roof.

Hmm.

- Ugh, Rory, it's only the part time fire brigade.

- 15 years on the team.

- Well, you can always be my big, strong fireman.

Sure this is just the fitness test?

- Look, I've got to go, see you later.

- God knows how long that'll last.

The whole thing's knackered, Esme.

You're needing a new roof.

- We're needing a new school.

- Well, I know what I need.

- So, there's this ram, see?

And he's head butting Rory's caravan door, like this.

So, poor old Rory can't get a wink of sleep.

So he gets that mad, he gets up out of his bed, right?

And he's completely starkers, you know, in the scud.

The buffering so

he pulls on his wellies runs down the field after it

waving a stick and you'll never believe what happened

shepherd sees him shouts out, oh Rory if I'd known it

it was the Sheep you were interested in

I would have shampooed its fleece.

Evening Esme,

Rory.

- Barney, Agnes,

- That would be the one about the sheep again

would it Barney

- Right yes it would.

- So what'll you have?

- DuPonney Lemonade and a pint of skull crusher please

- That'll be two pound 80 Isme.

- Here's your DuPonney Rory.

- Must remember to go to the bank farm tomorrow

to pay the deposit in on our holiday.

- I'll see to that.

- You sure?

- Sure, it's no problem.

- Dooley.

- Hamish.

- That'll be the tatties

you've been digging up today Hamish?

- Seven pounds worth.

- Lovely.

- All right same again Agnes.

Sure Rory.

- Alright Rory.

Hamish?

- Not bad, caught some lovely fresh salmon.

- Very good.

- Aye up at um Loch McMartin.

- Right.

- It was lovely up there today.

- Was it?

- Aye, it was.

- The school it's on Fire!

- Oh my God, no.

- Careful Esme.

Come on

Let's go.

- Esme, Esme.

Leave it Esme.

- Come on.

- Forget about the ladder get those hoses on the school.

Are you okay Esme?

I'm sorry we've got here too late.

- What are we gonna do?

What are we going to tell the children.

- Never you mind about that just now.

Come on you've got nothing more you can do here.

- It's amazing how quickly it goes up.

- Aye, it can spread like wildfire.

There you go, that's the game, put smile back in your face.

Here's some more tea Esme.

- Peter, Rory's got his suspicions on the fire.

- Oh has he?

- Yes.

- A pyro forensic expert now.

- 15 years a volunteer fireman, bound to learn something.

- Douglas make sure Mrs. Molly's taken home in the tender.

- No, I'm fine really.

- You go home, please.

I'll see you later.

- You've had a nasty shock.

Now then Mr. Campbell, let's see what you found eh?

- I believe this was the seat of the fire.

- Uh-huh.

- Smell that.

- Mmhmm, tops.

- You saying it was deliberate Rory?

- Correct.

- And what I'm saying Rory is this,

this was the paint color the place was full of tops.

- Oh.

- What about this?

- No, no, I turned that off.

I'm sure there were no flames when I left.

- There weren't John, look over there.

There's your culprit Rory.

A 30 amp fuse and a 5 amp lighting circuit.

- And the water from the roof could have shorted?

- Happy?

- Ecstatic.

- That's the trouble with Rory,

always takes things to heart.

- That roof is in a shocking state.

- If I was Esme I'd have that Clelland up for negligence.

- Well?

- Aye, the cowboy that fixed it last month,

he's got a builder's yard over in Northam.

- He got a white transit van with ladders on the top?

- Aye, I think he has, why?

- Probably nothing.

- Ah Hamish here you are, thank goodness,

now I'm in a bit of a rush.

I just I need your signature here for the insurance claim.

- Check.

Where you off to?

- Good morning John.

The education department with any luck

we're gonna get a new school out of this.

- Well not today you're not, you just missed the bus.

- Between ourselves Hamish,

that blackboard was out of the ark.

all in all of this might be the best thing that's happened.

- You could try claiming against Clelland,

I mean if his dodgy work was responsible for the fire.

- But we won't need to will we, the insurance will pay it.

- Yeah I suppose.

How's Rory these days?

- Oh he's fine, why?

- I don't know I just thought he was acting

a bit strange recently.

- I see.

You know if we get a new gym,

we can have the Christmas concert there,

we won't have to traipse out to the village hall every year.

- thanks very much Hamish I hope I didn't take you

too far out of your way.

- Come in.

thank you Mrs. Murray, you've been very efficient.

- So when can we hope to get something done.

- Oh I think this may well have expedited matters.

- Good,

you see all of seven of primaries

and just two classrooms now we're all right at the moment.

- Don't you worry Mrs. Murray

I'll get the transfers organized today.

- Grand.

Transfers?

- Yes to Northam, this'll just bring the closure

of the school forward a few months.

- Closure? What closure?

- Of Lochdubh primary.

- What are you talking about I don't know anything

about any closure.

- We're closing Lochdubh Primary.

Surely Counselor Campbell informed you.

- No, he didn't.

- Oh, I can't think why not,

we took the decision three weeks ago.

- Rory!

Rory Campbell I know you're in there.

- What is it sweetheart?

- Oh don't you sweetheart me,

I've just been to the Education Department.

- Oh.

Yes oh.

- I'll come down and we'll discuss it.

- You knew they were going to close the school

and you said nothing.

- It's not as simple as it sounds.

Come up and have some tea.

- No, they'll be no tea with you sunshine.

Esme please.

- Judas!

- I've got some lovely Battenberg.

- You know where you can shove your Battenburg.

- Problem Esme?

- Yes him,

he's the problem.

Oh in the future you can get your bed

and breakfast elsewhere,

especially your bed.

I'm not gonna take this lying down.

- It's a damned disgrace.

- It certainly is.

Look, let's not get carried away.

We have to approach this strategically.

Establish winnable goals.

- There's only one goal Agnes,

the school stays open.

- Agreed.

We have to put maximum pressure on the council.

We go on the offensive.

We set the agenda.

- But how?

- A public meeting.

Challenge them to defend their decision.

- Yes, we could use that to launch a campaign,

put them on the spot.

- Set up a phone round.

Contact all the people who,

- What's going on?

- They are going to close down our school.

- Really?

Must be short of money.

- Is that all you can say?

If they close the school they tear the heart out

of the village.

- Aye, right you are.

You could write a letter.

- A letter

- This is no time for letters Barney.

This is war.

What's up?

- Nothing, hang on a minute Archie.

- You okay?

- Yeah, sure,

yeah, I used to live here.

- You'll know where the pub is then.

Esme,

- It's good to see you, sorry, my hands are all sticky.

We've got your poster out in the village.

- I know, I know, I saw them as we drove in.

Yeah, it looks good.

- Oh Isabelle, thanks for coming.

- Well I wanted to cover this story, you know.

It was my school too.

Hello Chuck.

Hello boy, hello.

Hi Hamish.

- You're looking well.

- Thanks.

- Isabelle,

set up over there shall I?

- Are you the cameramen?

Do you point it, if it's not too cheeky, I've been a,

I've got a wee idea, I was thinking if you could go outside

and we could take the ones in the background

and the protest banner in the foreground and then,

- Any chance of coffee?

- Come on Isabelle, I'll make you a cappuccino

and I'll give you accreditation press release so on.

- Very good.

- And I know you've got that couple staying at your house,

would you like to stay with me tonight?

- Thanks Esme but I've got to be impartial.

See you Hamish.

- Yeah.

Save our school save our school, save our school.

- So centralization of resources in Northam,

and increased funding per capita,

more books,

more staff who can offer a wider range of subjects,

more scope for your children to participate

in the wider cultural life of the area.

- Our culture is here.

Aye.

If the kids go what'll be left of it?

- With respect Mrs. Murray,

I do think you're overreacting.

- You close the school, you destroy the community.

Aye.

- What'll be next the surgery?

Aye.

If you'll just listen,

- If you so proud of this plan, how come you've kept it

in the dark?

Right.

- That's right, talk about shifty.

- Your local Councillor has been kept aware of the situation

at all times.

- Well he didn't tell us.

- Ladies and gentlemen, I appeal to you.

- Oh no you don't.

- Counselor Campbell.

- Please please,

it's not just a question of the school,

its resources,

- Oh for for crying out loud Rory,

we're not just figures on our balance sheet you know.

- Resources are not unlimited,

we at Northam District Council are responsible

for all your public services.

- That's right we have to, we have to,

- Prioritize.

Prioritize?

You mean the school isn't a priority?

- Of course it is but so is housing,

so is healthcare, so is public transport.

- Here here, well said.

Well Mrs. Mathers and Councilor Campbell have a point.

- They have to work with a very small budget.

- It's not them you should be booing,

it's the government.

Lochbubh school is run down and outdated

if the children join Northam

they'll have much better facilities,

then the council can plow back all the money

from the land sale.

- Oh yes the land sale, now we're coming to it.

That's all they're interested in.

Aye.

- Now all right, I think we should just all calm down.

After all this isn't gonna happen overnight is it.

- The first phase of rationalization has been penciled

in for Friday the tenth.

- Next Friday?

- Tuition at the school will terminate following Monday

the children will enroll in Northam

and the Lochdubh site will be prepared for development.

- Aye, you mean you're sending in the diggers.

Aye.

taking our school.

Neither you nor the diggers, nor any bureaucrats

from Northam nor the lackies here will ever stop us.

We don't want your diggers, we don't want your diggers,

we don't want the diggers.

- Rory, Rory.

Behave yourself.

in the car.

- They were escorted away under police protection

and it is believed that local counselor

Mr. Rory Campbell is spending the night

in protective custody.

There have been astonishing scenes here tonight,

already in some quarters the question is being asked,

could a stronger police presence have averted the fiasco?

- Oh lovely thank you Isabelle.

Isabelle Southerland Highland Television

in Lochdubh.

- I'm sorry Hamish it's a terrible mess.

- Och Rory, you should have said something.

- I wanted to but,

well I had my reasons,

- What reasons?

Rory you in some sort of trouble?

- Driven out of my home, spending the night in a police cell

no, no, everything's hunky-dory, top of the world.

- Is there something to do with this guy Clelland?

- I hardly know the man.

- Look I saw the pair of you down by the loch the other day,

is it sometime do with this guy Cleland?

- You saw nothing.

- Where are you off to?

- Home

and I'll bid you good night.

- And then the wife died these three years past,

- I know sorry.

- Ach it was a release, she hadn't been well for years.

Since then well you know how it is.

- Yes,

unfortunately I do.

- Esme,

would you like to go for a meal in Northam sometime?

That new seafood place is just opened up, tomorrow maybe?

- Oh Peter I couldn't, I've just got my hands full

at the moment, you know and I've got

the campaign meeting but that's awful nice of you to ask me.

- Oh no that's fine I understand.

- Maybe some other time?

- Ah.

- When this is over.

will be fine.

I better be uh,

- At this time?

- Esme, I'm prostrating myself in apology here.

I'm sorry I never told you it was just I was scared I,

oh, oh, I never realized you had company.

- Peter's just going.

- No, no, allow me I'll go.

- No, no, no please, please, I insist, I'll go, I'll go.

I'll go, let me up.

- Hello.

- I'll just be me off.

- Me too.

- Esme I just got dropped by to run something past you

for tomorrow and I've gotta go first thing.

- Come in Isabelle.

Barking, completely barking the pair of them.

- And as the protest banners are raised in defiance

the battle lines are being drawn.

This is Isabelle Sutherland Highland television Lochdubh.

Okay?

Okay.

- Ready to go home.

- Edie.

- Rory.

- And what can I do for you this fine morning,

oh it's a Shinty World and Popular Mechanics.

- No thank you, in future I'll get my papers

from the van.

- Oh,

- Aye, you can cancel the grocery order too.

I'm fussy about where I shop.

- Not another one.

- Come on Hamish,

sign the petition.

- Oh I'm supposed to be non-political Agnes.

- What you mean you're a Tory?

- No, I mean have to take a balanced view of these things.

- Aye and more.

- Aye and mores granny.

There's some smoke, smokes come out of my house.

Oh my god.

- Get on the phone quick.

- Come on, - It's my house.

- No Esme love.

It'll be alright.

- No rush Peter.

- Thanks Agnes.

- All right Esme?

- You sure you're okay Esme?

- Oh yes I made of sterner stuff.

- Perhaps you'd be more comfortable in the house,

come on let's take your tea inside.

- It's all right, thanks.

I'm fine here.

- Peter, come have a look at this.

- Just smell that.

- Patrol, could have come from the water pump.

- No, I think somebody torched this.

- I think you might be a right.

- That's just too much of a coincidence Esme,

first the school then this.

- Yeah you're gonna have to be careful from now.

- Well if they think they're going to scare me

from keeping that school open

they've got another thing coming.

- Good on ya Esme.

Anytime you need help, with the campaign I mean

or all you have to do is ask.

- Thanks very much Peter but

everything's under control.

- You notice anything unusual this morning Esme?

Anybody snuffing around or anything?

- I left the house early Hamish that damn digger

had me up at the crack of dawn.

- The digger?

- Aye, Clelland's laying a few drains.

- Oh is he indeed?

I'm not taking this anymore Clelland,

you spoiled everything for me.

Esme, my business.

Got yourself into this bloody Campbell.

You're too greedy.

Tonight, tonight and that's your last chance.

Don't you threaten me.

- Hamish.

- Mr. Clelland.

- We had some business I'm just away.

- Listen Rory, Esme had a bit of a close call this morning.

- What?

- Or someone set fire to the equipment hut

behind her house.

- What happened is she?

- No, she's fine, she's fine, she's fine.

Just I'd head home sharpish if I were you.

I hear you were laying a few drains near there this morning.

- What if I was?

It's not a crime is it?

- I also understand that you did a bit of work,

substandard work,

in the porter cabin at the school before that burned down.

- What are you insinuating?

- I'm not insinuating anything Mr. Clelland.

Just a bit unfortunate isn't it?

For Esme.

So if you get some kind of legitimate interest

in these development plans for the school

I suggest you get it out into the open.

- I've got nothing to tell you Macbeth.

- Fine.

I'll remember that.

- Rory's never mentioned this Clelland to me before.

I can't think what they're up to.

- Well whoever he is, there's something going on tonight.

I just thought Rory's not in it.

My God.

- What?

Inverness, taking an interest in a suspected arson.

- There's only one thing for it then,

we sort it out before they decide to come over.

- What tonight?

- We have the technology.

- Hey let's be careful out there.

- Esme,

what re you doing here?

- Leave you on your own?

- It might be dangerous.

I thought we'd agreed that,

- You men agreed.

Nobody asked me.

Anyway, you look as if you could do with a drink.

- I could.

Slainte.

- Slainte.

- Nothing to report red one.

Do you read me, come in please.

- No Hamish, nothing to report.

Nothing to report red two?

- Quiet as the grave.

- Red three here, nothing to report here up at the school.

It's the deceit of it Lachie.

Council closing the school down is bad enough

I just don't understand why he didn't tell me himself.

- Perhaps he was afraid too?

Afraid what of?

- Well, you can be a bit,

- A bit what?

- Nothing.

Nothing.

- He knows he can always come and talk to me.

- Ah well that's the thing, you see,

Rory might think he's a new man but in my opinion

his generation, well take my daddy for instance,

they find it hard to open up.

Whereas me and Jean well,

we build 'em a sense of mutual trust.

- You finished with that bottle?

- This is red one, Hamish,

he's coming out,

he's on the move.

- Where are you red one?

We're following him Hamish,

heading east out of Northam along the Lochdubh road.

We're heading down the road to loch McMartin.

- Loch McMartin?

Stay with him John.

- Let's take it in turns.

- Right actually, I'd better

before we settle down.

- What?

- You know.

- Oh, go on then.

- Hamish,

Hamish.

Red two to base.

- Go ahead red two.

- Rory's on the move,

he's heading east

towards the school.

- Clellands getting into another car.

Can you see the registration?

- I can't make it out Hamish.

What you hearing John?

- Well there's certainly not a lot of talking going on.

- This cannot go on,

you're going to have to tell your husband.

- But Derek, he's such a jealous man.

Oh.

- You can forget about Clelland.

His temperature's rising but it's certainly not

with starting fires.

- Somehow I think the council will be persuaded

to have a rethink about the school.

- Red four to base, red four to base.

- Esme, where's Lachie?

- Just tell the Doc there's someone at the school.

- Red three,

red three do you read me, come in please.

Red three,

red three do you read me, come in please.

Red three, red three.

Doc, what the hell are you doing?

Barney I'm on my way.

I canna see Rory setting fire to things Hamish,

especially Esme's things.

- Neither can I.

- Unless we're call in at the fire brigade.

- What?

- The fire brigade.

- It's not Rory.

- Rory!

- Get back.

Careful, Rory.

Get back, Lachie.

Easy Lachie.

Use your jacket.

- Esme!

Careful Rory.

Smother it, smother it.

No don't go too near it.

Rory, hit it with your jacket.

- You've just floored Peter.

- Did I miss something?

- The first fire and the porter cabin

had nothing to do with it.

It was the electrics, but that's what gave him the idea.

The fire at the school.

- Why?

- He was desperate to play the hero.

He was trying to impress you Esme.

He never meant to hurt anyone.

- I never gave him any reason to think,

- Course not,

but you have the power to inspire passion in a man Esme.

- Rory there is just one thing,

what did you want with the builder,

Clelland?

- Well I lent him money.

- How much?

- A lot of money

and all the money in our joint account.

- That's for our holiday.

- He said he would do all my building work at cost.

Then he only gave me half the money back.

- What building work?

- Esme's kitchen,

class eating joint, I was gonna build it

onto the back of the stores.

I was looking for you tonight, hoping to explain.

- Rory.

- It's for you Esme, it was all for you.

I knew the school was going to close

and I wanted it all arranged before I told You.

We won't be needing now.

- Oh Rory Campbell.

Come inside.

I want to tell you what you inspire.