Original subtitles

"My dear Walter. I have some bad news.

Unfortunately I have been unwell,

but it is nothing for you to worry about.

But I wondered.

I wondered whether you could send a little extra money for..."

(KNOCK AT DOOR) Walter!

There are gonna be redundancies.

What?

Walter, I can't lose this job.

I've put a deposit on that new house.

I won't be able to pay the mortgage.

You've seen what it says on the TV, on those adverts.

"Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments."

That's very good. That's exactly what it says.

Yeah, well, I've got a good memory for warnings.

- God! We'll be homeless! - No, no, no. It won't come to that.

I'll tell you what, we'll call Rajesh

and he'll tell us what is going on.

Right. Walter, please don't tell Agnes.

'Cause she'll tell Kirsty and the last thing I need

is somebody panicking about this right now.

Thanks.

Synced & corrected by kinglouisxx www.addic7ed.com

(DOOR CLOSES)

What are you doing home?

Oh, the pressing machine blew a cylinder head.

I would have stayed and... sorted it but you know what they're like.

Oh, I'm glad you're back, 'cause...

I've ordered this. (SNIFFS)

- Leather? - Yeah.

It's a bit pricy, innit?

- What's wrong with the sofa we've got? - Nothing, it's just that...

You said, "Let's get a leather sofa for the new house."

- Yeah, as a joke. - What?

We're not made of money.

It's not real money, it's on that never-never.

- Are you all right? - Yeah. Yeah, yeah, fine, yeah.

Good.

'Cause I've also ordered a princess bed for Melissa

and I've got a racing car one for Dean.

And we've got a barbecue coming for the garden and...

- Are you sure you're all right? - Yeah.

Yeah, fine.

Is your job secure?

I don't know.

But they would be crazy if they think they can fire me.

Maybe I can get a full-time job, huh?

That's an option but...

Maybe we should think about going home.

- Home? - Home, mm-hm.

We left there because we didn't feel safe.

Now there's a new president.

Things might be different there, huh?

- You said... - My mind's filled in.

I want her to meet Kobna befo...

I know.

I'm not sure, Walter.

Aggie, Siaka Stevens has gone now.

Maybe we can put my degree to good use

and afford to buy a nice house near the water in Freetown.

We will live like king and queen.

What about Kobna?

- The poor boy? - Mm.

He'll be serving us cocktails by the pool.

(CHUCKLES)

If you really want to go back, you can just leave me in the house...

Leave you? Who's going to cook my food?

Your mother?

- She can't cook. - (LAUGHS)

Well, I'll send it to you. Huh?

Don't worry.

I heard Mum and Dad talking last night.

Argument, was it?

Welcome to my world.

Dad said we're moving back to Sierra Leone.

What?

No, you can't! Why?

I think it's something to do with Siaka Stevens and Dad's job.

Why does some music upset your dad so much?

Last year he got the belt out

every time you sang that Band Aid song.

Moving to Essex is bad enough.

I know.

- Let's run away after school. - What? No way!

Mum and Dad will beat me.

Yeah, but if we run away, they'll know how badly we want to stay.

But where would we go?

Penge! My pen pal has a spare room.

Do you want to move to Africa?

No, but...

Then after school, we'll go home, get what we need, and go.

Okay.

Before that, we should hug.

Come on, Rajesh, call in. Just speak clear.

Is he dead?

Uh, Dennis? Yeah. It's Rajesh from Leyton side.

(CHUCKLING) Yeah. Yeah, I know. Yes, I know.

Yeah, yeah, I'm very well, yes.

(LAUGHS FALSELY) That's very funny.

I was just saying to my wife last week,

what a very funny and...

Dennis, some of the men here have heard rumours about lay-offs.

I was just calling to make sure everything's fine.

Tell him I've just bought a house...

Right.

A review? What does that mean?

That doesn't go as far as management though, does it, Dennis?

I mean, my job's safe, isn't it?

But...

You invited me to your house that time!

Those dhokras I brought you, I can just bring more dhokras...

Hello, Dennis. Hello. We met at the Christmas party, yeah.

Remember I told you that joke about the nuns in the greengrocer's.

It really made you laugh.

Anyway, I've just bought a house in Essex...

(CLEARS THROAT)

Hello, this is Walter Easmon.

Yes. No, I just want to...

Well, I just want to understand what is going on.

Mm.

Okay, mate.

Yes.

(HANGS UP PHONE)

- I think we should go to the pub. - The pub?

Come on, you know I don't drink.

- Maybe we could... - All right, fine.

Just one to be sociable, but that's it.

- Come on. - For God's sake.

(REGGAE PLAYING)

(MUSIC OFF)

Hi, sister. I have put the housekeeping in the pot.

Thank you.

Let me have my music.

But I have to tell you, this is the last time I'm giving you the money.

Because... I have a full-time job.

And I'm moving out.

Hey, this is great news!

Ohh, Valey!

I am so happy!

About the job or me moving out?

The job. The job!

Let me help you pack.

Hey, sister, you hide your sadness very well, eh?

Hey, you are now a nine-to-five man.

No, no, no, I'm my own boss.

Your own boss?

Well, paper delivery man.

So as long as I deliver on time, I can start and finish when I like.

Oh, Valey!

I'm so proud of you.

So where do you deliver?

All over the United Kingdom.

Tomorrow I go to Goole,

- To Goole? - the next day Barnstaple.

- Where's that? - I don't know.

I can't wait to see the beaches.

Apparently they are some of the most beautiful in the world.

You will see more of this country than most British people.

Well, you know what we say in Sierra Leone?

BOTH: "We are more British than the British themselves!"

Hey!

- Let's celebrate. - Okay.

- (MUSIC PLAYS) - Hey!

Valey, you have a job!

- Got a job! Mm-mm! - Mm-mm!

Hey!

Oh, you got a job!

You got a job.

Oi, I'm not allowed past the railway bridge.

If I cross here,

it'll be the furthest I've ever been from home on my own.

So what are we gonna do?

(SIGHS)

Now, my friend...

we are men.

Dennis said that he will review jobs

to see where cuts can be made.

Nothing... Nothing definite.

Ah, this is the end.

Listen, Bagpipes, if you lose your job,

just make sure you settle your tab before you leave it here.

I've got much bigger debts to settle than this, mate.

I've got the house,

Kirsty's bought half the catalogue on the never-never.

I just hope I never have to pay for it all.

Hey, you've got time, Bagpipes.

First the Africans will go, then the West Indians,

then the Bangladeshis, then the Pakistanis, then me.

Who am I trying to kid?

We're all just brown to them. It will be all of us together.

Listen. We just need a good plan.

We need a good union leader to represent us at management meetings.

- You understand? - Well, how about Stanley?

I mean, he's been a shop steward for decades.

The management listen to him.

I can persuade the boys to vote for him.

What about you, Walter?

- Me? - Yeah, you.

You're... Y-You're very popular, you speak very nicely.

What say you, Bagpipes? Do you think I can...

I can do that?

Well, I mean, Walter, you know, you'd be... great, of course, but...

Come on, it's got to be Stan.

Stan's our man. He always comes through for us.

Speak for yourself. He's never come through for me.

Stan does his things a certain way and...

he looks out for the majority. That doesn't mean everyone.

Stan is your man 'cause Stan is white.

And most of the workers there are white.

- It's not like that. - Oh, what is it, then?

Oh, come on. How am I gonna get old boys

like Reg and Trev to get behind you?

Why... Why wouldn't they vote for me?

- Because you're black. - No, because they always vote for Stan.

Because he's white!

There's too much at stake for me to risk voting for a mate.

So you'd prefer to work for somebody that would never

defend Rajesh. Or me.

It's not as simple as that.

No, no, no. I think it's as simple as that.

You know what, Bagpipes? Walk a mile in my shoes

and then tell me whether you would vote for Stanley.

He's... He's left his drink. I'll just...

- Cheers. - Yeah.

(THE SELECTER: "On My Radio")

You all right, Kirst?

I ain't seen you in what, like, three years.

Nah. Nah, it's not as long as that.

Guess we're getting old now.

Have you kept in touch with my brother?

Nah.

Don't worry. Plenty of time for that.

We just moved back into the estate.

I'd better run. It was great to see you.

Yeah. We should meet up soon. Right?

Who's moving back?

Uh... Melissa's dad.

That'll be difficult.

But good for Melissa.

You haven't told him, have you?

I didn't think I'd ever see him again.

Kirsty, how can you have somebody's child and not tell them?

Because I thought it was better for everyone.

What about Melissa? Huh?

When she's old enough to ask questions.

- What do you mean? - Well, like...

Where her real father is?

Why she doesn't look like you?

And why her experience of things will be different to yours?

Did it not ever occur to you?

Yeah, course. She looks different. But the rest...

- It's just too much to deal with, yeah? - Oh, Kirsty.

Just don't tell Bagpipes, yeah?

I think he's got enough to worry about already.

You don't know.

What now?

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello.

Kobna?

Huh? What do you mean you're lost?

How did you get there if you don't know where you are?

Kobna? Did you go past that bridge?

Let me, let me.

Hey, how's boy? It's Uncle Valey.

Mmh-mm. Look around. What can you see?

- Hm. The football stadium? - Hey!

Kobna?! You went past that bridge, huh?!

Hey, sister, please, calm yourself.

Don't move. I know where you are.

- The pips are going. - Kobna.

Wait till I get my hands on you. Do...

Sister. Hey. Hey.

- They are in West Ham. - Huh? Where?

You go and tell Bagpipes and Kirsty and I will go and get them. Okay?

West Ham... why, huh?!

When that boy gets home (CLICKS TONGUE)

I will give him a conk on his head he will never forget!

Let me put my... I will beat this boy!

I'm not telling her nothing.

Not about work. Nothing.

I'm not even going to tell her I've been to the pub.

- I think she might guess. - Huh?

- Wives know everything. - Mmh-mm.

You look different, Frank.

Rajesh, why don't you take them glasses back to the bar?

I saw Agnes.

Management have decided to review all our jobs.

Oh, shit.

Nothing's definite for now but...

We have to pick someone

to stand up for us at management meetings.

And Walter got really assy when I suggested Stan

but he's the obvious choice.

(SIGHS)

The thing is...

they don't seem to think Stan will look out for 'em.

Because he's white and they're not.

Walter said it wasn't true.

His experience of things might be different to ours.

What's got you thinking like this?

What if it was Melissa? And not Walter.

And what if somebody refuses to stand up for her?

Well, I'd fight 'em.

Yeah. Depending on size.

So why aren't you backing Walter?

- (SIGHS) 'Cause this is different. - Is it?

Whisky.

- I'll put him in a cab. - Yeah.

Come now, come on.

Uncle, please don't tell Mum and Dad I ran away.

Hey. You want to die today?

If your father finds out he will beat you.

He will put you into a coma. You think I want that?

Just stick to our story.

You took the wrong turn and got lost. Okay? Okay?

- Hey. That's okay. - Took a wrong turn and got lost.

We took a wrong turn and got lost.

Well...?

- We took a wrong turn and... - We ran away.

- Huh? You ran away?! - Sorry.

That's all right, son. We're just glad you came home.

Do you know how dangerous West Ham is?

Do you want to be killed? Is that what you want, huh?

- You want to die? - No.

You are lucky your father is not here.

He'd slap the soul out of you.

Huh?

Yeah. Why'd you run away for? You daft sod.

- I should slap your soul. - Who ran away? Wait. You ran away?

Do you realise how incredibly stupid that is?

Do you have such little respect for us

that you'd rather sleep on the street

than under your own roof? Huh?

- Tell me, boy. - I heard you and Mum talking.

I don't wanna move to Sierra Leone.

Nobody's moving anywhere

but this does not explain this foolishness.

Hey. Brother, please!

Have you forgotten when we ran away from church?

He fell into a ditch and started crying

- when a goat tried to lick his... - Okay. Shut your mouth!

Thank you.

Come on, boy. Tell me.

It's not home. This is.

And I'm scared of Siaka Stevens.

And the mountain lions.

And I wouldn't have any friends.

Come here. Come here, come here.

Aggy.

Come here. Listen.

Next time you run away,

make sure you take some sandwiches,

two Shredded Wheat and a big coat.

Now go on, get out.

I'm very angry with you!

Can I have a word?

Okay.

About earlier.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I've never seen us as... you know, different.

I mean, yes, we look different.

I mean, you're a bit taller and I'm...

objectively better-looking.

- But... - But what?

But this stuff I've... I've never realised.

And if anyone's gonna save my job

it's probably gonna be you.

Don't follow me because we're friends.

Do it because you think it's the right thing to do.

Can't it be for both reasons?

What are you going to do about the house?

Ahh...

Well, as Doris Day said, "Que sera sera."

Baggy!

And anyway... you don't get this in Essex.

- (DOG BARKS) - MAN: Piss off, you tosser!

? Marvin ?

? Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, he was a friend of mine ?

"Dear Momma. I'm sorry you have been unwell.

Is it anything serious?

Agnes, Kobna and I are always keeping you in our prayers.

You'll be pleased to know Valentine now has a job

and is becoming independent."

So, it's... goodbye, then.

- Okay. - Okay.

- I will go. - Take your time.

"Don't worry. I will always take care of my little brother.

No matter how far he goes.

Send my love to everyone. Hopefully we will all be together soon.

Yours, with love, Walter."

? I know you'll pull a crowd ?

? I know you sing proud ?

? On the night shift ?

Synced & corrected by kinglouisxx www.addic7ed.com

? Gonna be a long night ?

? It's gonna be all right ?

? On the night shift ?

? You found another home ?

? I know you're not alone ?

? On the night shift ?

? You found another home ?

? I know you're not alone ?

? On the night shift ?

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0