Original subtitles

DANTE (VO): All along I've been wrong.

How could I have been so thick?

Words need music.

Bardy, this girl is Jeannie.

She looks like that

but she writes music.

You used to sing those rebel songs at parties with your dad

and I remembered you had a good voice.

If you stayed sober for even a month

Dad could ask permission for you to move back onto the estate.

EAMONN: I still love her.

Deuce, I know you've been to the same corner of hell where I am

and I just wanted to ask your advice.

Jeannie, come and dance.

Sorry, she's busy.

THEY GRUNT AND YELL

When you collect the insurance money

and reopen your nightclub. - When it reopens, it won't be a nightclub.

It will be a music venue.

Fiona, last night I wrote a poem that could also be a song.

It's about you. - All we need now is our lead singer.

BARDON: He's trying to bring me in.

I need you to go and make a phone call, son.

In half an hour, a bomb will go off inside Coventry rail station.

BENTLEY: The Coventry branch of the IRA has been activated.

I'm not asking you to spy on your own family.

I'm ordering you.

BARDON: I'm thinking of leaving for London.

DANTE: Sorry, you can't do that. You've got to sing my song.

I've got to do something to stop myself thinking nothing is worth doing.

OK.

Worst case scenario.

SHE PLAYS F-SHARP

And this is a pretty heavy worst case.

DIMINISHED CHORD PLAYS

Our lead singer didn't show up today

because he's been arrested for being in the IRA.

DIMINISHED CHORD PLAYS

MUSIC: "Are 'Friends' Electric?" by Gary Numan & Tubeway Army

Do you mind if I smoke?

You know the Gate pub? - Yes. Do you?

Yeah, I do.

My dad's the treasurer. - And I am social secretary.

Oh, fuck.

Someone on the estate saw you with a sign walking toward the motorway.

They said you looked like you needed a lift.

Yeah, to London.

What's in London?

Freedom.

Beloved to all true patriots.

I am going to London.

It is not a topic of conversation nor is it a matter of speculation.

I agree.

Your destination is not a matter for speculation.

You've taken part in an operation as part of an active service unit.

You have obligations to other members of that unit.

WIND WHISTLES - You wanna jump?

Jump.

Dead, you're harmless.

Alive in London, you're a potential threat to security.

You have nowhere to hide.

MUSIC CONTINUES QUIETLY

Your dad says he needs a hand.

He has some diesel to process.

DANTE: I told him I need him!

He's from Coventry, he probably got the dates mixed up.

Dante, other people were not put on this planet

purely to be of use to you.

Went to the lockup.

Bardon didn't show up.

Might have been a mix up.

More probably a fuck up.

KNOCK ON DOOR

DOOR HANDLE TURNS

Why you not in college?

I found out today, Dad, that apparently

other people were not put on this planet purely to be of use to me.

I also found out today how important other people can be to other people.

Especially if they can sing and you can't.

MUSIC: "Fu Man Chu" by Desmond Dekker & The Aces

I'm going to have to think of a way of explaining it to her.

# It make no sense at all #

# To say where you used to work #

# It make no sense at all #

Sorry I'm late.

Dante, you said you had something to give me.

Something important.

Well, I don't.

I don't have anything for you.

I took a day off college to come here.

So did I.

I took a bus full of mad people to get here.

The number 24.

I actually like it.

So...

what was it you were gonna give me?

I don't want to think about it.

About what?

Look, I have a lockup garage.

I was going to make this thing for you

but events outside my control got in the way.

And you're not gonna tell me what it is?

Have you ever considered the possibility that none of us are real

and we're all just invented?

No.

I was going to make this thing for you that explores that possibility.

It expresses the idea that none of us are real

and that loving someone...

is actually just making somebody up.

I had to invent my mum because I never knew her.

So I made her perfect to make it easy to love her.

You see what I mean?

I know you don't, but try it.

It might stop the words.

Dante, are you also a virgin?

I don't know.

How can you not know?

Well, I'd have to take into consideration previous lives.

You believe in previous lives?

I have recently become convinced that once in a previous life

I was a singer of songs somewhere.

And bit by bit, I'm remembering the words of the songs I once sang.

And when you remember the words, do you sing the songs?

No.

Cos I can't sing.

That's a shame.

That's a real shame.

Cos even though you are very, very strange...

you're also very, very beautiful.

And if you ever showed up at one of the gigs I go to in Erdington

and if you got up on stage...

wearing this hat...

and if you could sing...

Man... - Man, what?

I'd dance naked to any song you sang.

I say no. Fucking no!

I will not be forced to dance to anybody else's fucking tune!

I swear to God, I'll blow this entire enterprise to fuck.

And take us both with it?

I will not be part of your plans to murder people.

Your particular role in this enterprise isn't to harm anyone.

Your job is to save lives, ten pence a time.

You make the calls to warn the Crown forces.

Fucking Crown forces?

So they can clear the innocent people out of the way

and our devices simply destroy the infrastructure

of a system that oppresses us.

I promised Nan, and I will keep that promise.

Where did she sleep?

What? - Your mother.

After the funeral, where did she fuckin' sleep?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about some of the boys stayed over in the Wood after the funeral

and they said they saw your mother.

Saw her what?

She went to Dante's house.

Dante's da let her in. - She had no shoes, Dad.

No shoes?

If she went to Dante's house, it's probably cos she had no shoes

and nowhere else to go.

You care where she sleeps?

Yes, I fucking care!

I still get these scenarios in my head.

Another man touches her

and he's lying dead, you know.

Jesus, you can't let anybody go, can ya?

The same person who saw her go there said he saw her leave in the morning.

She was wearing a pair of old football boots.

Yeah, she probably borrowed them because like I said, Dad, she had no shoes!

HE CHUCKLES

I can picture her in football boots.

None of it is any of your business

and take that look of love out of your eye, you threw her off Hillside Estate.

That was a decision of high command.

Your love lives in two rooms on the fuckin' hard shoulder!

I saved her fuckin' life!

They were gonna put bullets in her knees

for talking business to people outside the organisation

while she was intoxicated.

These friends of yours.

These bosses.

These fucking "freedom fighters".

You'll be needing this

before the week is out.

There's gonna be another wee bang.

Wires are buzzing.

Coventry is alive with overheard conversation.

War.

Rumours of war.

Have you made your decision, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

I have made my decision.

I've decided I do not want to go back to Birmingham and spy on my own family.

OK, relax.

I want to be totally open and transparent with you.

If you decide not to return to Birmingham

and accept an attachment to the Special Branch Anti-Terrorism Unit

these photos are going to be used in evidence.

Now, we can be pretty sure that it was this man...

Boy. - Terrorist...

who phoned in the bomb warning

20 minutes before the Coventry train station explosion.

So we can therefore assume it was him also who planted the bomb.

That's not how it works. - Yeah, I'm gonna explain to you

right now, how this works.

Bardon Quinn's going to be picked up about midday today.

He's going to be taken into custody, charged with terrorism offences.

He's going to be interrogated by the branch, MI5

and West Midlands Serious Crime Squad.

If he survives that encounter, he's going to be charged

with the Coventry bombing and he will be convicted.

We will then see to it that he is sent to Long Lartin Maximum Security Prison

where he'll be joined by other senior IRA prisoners.

Once inside the prison, a rumour's going to emerge

that he co-operated with Crown forces

and he'll be serving a 30-year sentence, so...

really gonna doubt he'll make it that long.

That is not all, Sergeant.

On the strength of these photographs and other evidence

which I myself will manufacture

you'll be charged with conspiring with an enemy of the Crown.

You'll be charged with passing classified information

regarding military procedure in Belfast

to operatives of the IRA in Coventry and you will be convicted.

You fuckers, you set me up. - You will be convicted and sentenced

in a civilian court.

You gave me permission to attend my grandmother's funeral

to set a trap? - Yeah, yeah.

And snap, snap...

snap, snap.

Alternatively...

go home.

Go for drinks with members of your family.

You get drunk, they get drunk.

You don't get too drunk.

You report back to us.

We gather intelligence and together we rinse Coventry of the bad smell of rebellion.

Oh, and you get a medal.

So let me ask my urgent question again, Sergeant.

Have you made your decision?

GUITAR STRUMS

I asked some kids and they said "Dante's on his bridge".

They think this is your bridge.

It is.

Nobody else ever uses it.

You know why?

Cos there is nothing on that side

and there's precisely fuck all on the other side.

A bridge from nowhere to nowhere.

Which means it's of no use to anyone except somebody who likes bridges.

And on the whole of the estate, that's only me.

And me. Where's your hat?

I don't wear my hat here.

Like you don't wear your hat to church.

You singing the words?

You should sing...

cos Bardon might be gone for good.

I can't sing.

I came here so nobody could hear me try.

I'm just glad my hat wasn't a witness.

Everybody can sing.

In their own way.

It's like swimming.

Not everyone can swim, but everybody floats.

I probably don't. - You do.

It's not possible to be somebody who doesn't float.

So instead of trying to sing...

just float.

It's only me who can hear and what does my opinion matter?

HE HALF-SINGS: There is...

a house...

In New Orleans...

That's you talking. What's the tune?

# There is a house #

# In New Orleans #

More tune! - # They call... #

And less of you just being you.

# They call the Rising Sun #

# And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy #

Come on, Dante! - # And me, oh God, I'm one #

You got it!

# And the only thing a gambler needs #

Good! Good, OK, now fuck it.

Belt it out!

Fight the traffic, sing!

# The only thing a gambler needs #

Fuck the tune, just shout!

# Is a suitcase and a trunk # - Louder!

# And the only time he 's satisfied # - Louder!

It's Wembley fucking Stadium!

# Is when he 's all drunk! #

# So, Mother, tell your children #

Oh, fuck.

# Never do what I have done #

Dante... - # Or spend your lives #

# In sin and misery#

# In the house of the Rising Sun... #

My boyfriend.

Dante, they will have knives.

Is that the person I beat up?

Yeah, with his brother and his friend.

Then that's good.

If that's the person I beat up

I want to apologise to him. - Dante...

Now is not the time to be fucking weird! Run!

This is between me and him.

I am going to apologise.

I have a question for you.

The fuck are you doing with my girlfriend?

Just been rehearsing-- - I'm speaking to this cunt.

I asked this cunt a question.

Well, does the cunt speak?

I don't know who you are, but I'm glad you've come here.

Yeah?

Glad I came here, are ya?

Fucking glad I came here! Yeah?

I'm glad you came because I want to say I'm sorry.

You fucking what?

The last time we met, something happened inside me.

Something I don't like.

I became a person I'm not.

I'm a poet.

I don't mean harm to anyone.

Is he taking the piss?

No.

He's really not.

This is how he is.

He's harmless.

Alright, he lives in his own world.

We've had this idea about making music.

PUNCH THUDS - OVERLAPPING CHATTER

JEANNIE: Stop it! No!

Get off him!

Fuckin' stand him up, stand him up. - DANTE GRUNTS

Come on! - My arms are by my side.

I will not fight. - Fuckin' fight back!

He told you, he doesn't want to fight.

Leave him alone.

HE GRUNTS

Fucking-- - Get your animal brother off him!

THEY CLAMOUR

Just leave him alone!

You would be doing my work for me.

What the fuck did he say?

I've apologised. I want to leave now.

I'll cut his fucking face off!

You leave him alone.

Fucking move! - Leave him alone.

I will never see him again.

I swear to God, I swear to Jesus.

Leave him alone and I will never go near him again.

Tyro, I swear.

Stop! Fucking wait.

Just fucking wait a minute.

You know what I'm like about swearing to God.

If I swear to God, I mean it.

I swear by almighty God

if you leave him alone, I will forget the music

and I will never, ever go near him again.

So help me God.

Carl, get off him.

If you ever go near her again, I'll fucking kill you, OK?

DANTE GROANS - OK?

JEANNIE: Just leave him.

He's nothing.

I just felt sorry for him.

Let's go.

Let's go, let's go.

HE SPITS

HORNS HONK OVERHEAD

DANTE WINCES

HE PANTS AND MOANS

# There is... #

# A house... #

# In New Orleans #

# They call the Rising Sun #

# It's been the ruin #

# Of many a poor boy #

MUSIC: "The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals

# And me #

# Oh, God... #

# I'm one #

# There is a house in New Orleans #

# They call the Rising Sun #

# And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy #

# And, God, I know I'm one #

# My mother was a tailor #

# She sewed my new blue jeans #

# My father was a gamblin' man #

# Down in New Orleans #

OK, driver...

take me downtown.

# Now the only thing a gambler needs #

# Is a suitcase and a trunk #

# And the only time he's satisfied #

# Is when he's all drunk #

# Well, there is a house in New Orleans #

# They call the Rising Sun #

# And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy #

# And, God, I know I'm one #

KNOCK ON DOOR

Who is it?

ESTELLA: It's Estella.

Bardon's mum.

Holy shit, what happened to you?

Come in.

You been fighting?

No.

I've been not fighting.

Let me look.

Nothing broke.

You swallow any teeth? - No.

I used to be a nurse, it's how I met Bardon's dad.

Helped sew his thumb back on after a fight.

You seeing double? - No.

What are you doing here?

Come and sit down in the light and let me see if you need stitches.

You're not getting involved in drugs?

No.

Who you been fighting?

It's called reaping what you sow.

That which you do unto others will be done unto you.

Is that from the Bible?

Comes out of me like sweat.

I listen to my dad preaching.

His preaching is why I'm here.

Your dad says God can help me.

Well, I think I'll be a tall order even for God.

He says he knows people who can cure me.

Then my dad's your man.

Yep.

He's my man. - Ouch!

Shh.

He hasn't touched a drink in four years, and you know what?

He looks really sad most of the time.

Oh, that's fantastic motivation. Thank you, Dante.

He'll have you praying and confessing.

I'll do whatever it takes.

My, you are a handsome boy...

even after a beating.

Today she said I was beautiful.

Who did?

HE WINCES

Then... someone comes along and beats the beauty out of me as if summoned.

This is some life we live in these rough places, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's some life we live.

I don't want my dad to find out what happened.

What'll you do, wear a mask?

I've decided to go away for a bit.

Go away where?

Dad's at the soup kitchen until 3:00.

I'll be gone when he gets back.

You can wait here for him.

Where are you going?

You can help yourself to anything.

Dad doesn't allow booze, so there's no temptation.

Dante, I'll have to tell him where you've gone.

Tell him...

MUSIC: "A Message to You Rudy" by The Specials

Tell him...

I'm going to the place where it all started.

# Stop your messing around #

# Better think of your future #

# Time you straighten right out #

VAN HORN TOOTS

# Creating problems in town #

# Ah #

# Rudy #

INDISTINCT CHATTER - # A message to you, Rudy #

# A message to you #

FRUIT MACHINE CHIMES

CHIMING CONTINUES

# Will bloom once again said she #

AUDIENCE APPLAUDS

CHATTER HUSHES

Holy fuck.

IN GAELIC:

THEY LAUGH

What are you doing here?

Finding you.

Why you wearing sunglasses?

Fuck, what happened?

I had a very thorough and eventful singing lesson.

What happened to you?

Something came up.

More important than singing my song?

Yeah, more important than that.

FRUIT MACHINE CHIMES

So, you've decided to start smoking?

Think it will help my voice when I sing.

Or "float" as Jeannie calls it.

Except Jeannie is gone

cos she swore to Jesus that she would never speak to me again.

And I got the feeling Jesus is important to her.

And soon Jesus will be important to your mum if my dad has his way.

What are you talking about?

Your mother's at my house.

She came to see my dad. - EAMONN: Dante.

What the fuck are you doing here? - Hello, Uncle Eamonn.

I was wondering if I could stay at your house for a few days?

That probably isn't a very good idea right now, Dante.

We've got quite a lot going on.

OK.

Well, maybe I could stay at your mum's place, Bardon?

I know she's not there tonight.

What? - Bardon's mum is--

Dad, Dante's having a hard time at home.

Show him your eyes, Dante.

He needs a place to stay, let me sort him out, OK?

Keep him out the way. - What did he say about your mother?

He's not quite right at the moment. He's not making sense.

IN GAELIC:

We were just now this far from my dad going home, picking up a gun

driving up the fucking M6 motorway and shooting your dad through the head.

Why would he do that?

It's called love, Dante.

Let me explain.

DISTANT YELLING

It's like you with the girl from Sutton Coldfield.

She likes my hat.

It's fucking ridiculous.

Writing a song for her is ridiculous.

Some middle-class girl who'll drop the cassette in the bin

and go on to become a surveyor or an estate agent

who wouldn't look twice at trash like us when she reaches 21.

But you do it because of love.

Love makes you do mad things.

Where are we?

We are now in a place where no door is locked

because no one has anything to steal

and anyway, the locks themselves have been stolen.

So the madness of love is what has my dad in its grip.

He's still in love with my mum.

He can't stand the idea of any other man going anywhere near her.

This is your mum's flat?

This is my mum's flat.

Prepare yourself, she's been drunk ever since she moved in

so it might not be pleasant.

DOOR CLATTERS

DISTANT MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS

MOTORWAY TRAFFIC DRONES

Clean, at least...

and tidy.

CUPBOARD DOOR OPENS

No booze.

She's trying this time.

She must really believe your dad can help her.

MOTORWAY TRAFFIC DRONES

Dante, what's wrong?

This place...

This place is fucking heaven.

You should write a song about it.

Already have.

Just this second.

And you'll sing it yourself? - No.

We'll sing it together.

It's why I came here...

to explain it to you.

They call it harmony.

You'll do the tune and I'll sort of talk and growl.

That's not what harmony is.

And I need to think of a way of getting Jeannie back.

All I need is something stronger than Jesus.

PHONE RINGS

DOOR SHUTS

ANSWERPHONE BEEPS

EAMONN ON PHONE: Estella, my darlin '...

are you there?

I know you hate me, and you blame me for your exile...

but when I saw you at the funeral

and heard you sing... - Such a poor stupid fucker.

...I don't have the words

to express my emotion myself, so I...

I'll sing the song we danced to on our wedding.

# They say I'm poor #

# They say I'm young #

# I tell them all #

# To hold their tongue #

# If they can part the sand from the sea #

# Then they can part my true love from me #

Goodnight, my darlin '. - ANSWERPHONE BEEPS

A poet called Philip Larkin wrote a poem.

"They fuck you up, your mum and dad."

That's it.

That's the whole poem.

OK, Dante, let's try it.

Harmony.

The song my stupid dad just sang. - OK.

You start.

# One, I love #

# Two, she loves #

# Three, she 's true to me #

BOTH SING: # They say I'm poor, they say I'm young #

# I tell them all to hold their tongue #

# If they can part the sand from the sea #

# Then they can part my true love from me #

# One, I love #

# Two, she loves #

# Three, she 's true to me #

Not yet stronger than Jesus.

But not bad.

DRUMBEAT PLAYS

SHE YELLS

# Cos I'm a roadrunner, honey #

# And you can't keep up with me #

ROWDY CHATTER

# Well, I'm a roadrunner, honey #

# And you can't keep up with me #

WIRE: Hey, Virgil.

Alright, Wire?

How's your brother? They fixed him up?

My brother?

Thought maybe that's why you came back.

What you talkin' about, Wire?

On the estate, they're calling it "The Massacre under Dante's Bridge".

MUSIC CONTINUES

ROWDY CHATTER

SHE YELLS

SHE SCREAMS

Come on!

CROWD CHEERS

It was one against one, in here, on this dance floor

and my brother won.

And it was three against one on a bridge and my brother lost.

Now it's me against three.

But I've been asked by management to take it outside.

So...

PUNK MUSIC PLAYS

INDISTINCT CHATTER

TYRO: Right, let's fuckin' 'ave it!

MUSIC: "Clampdown" by The Clash

# One, two, three, four #

# Takin' off his turban, they said, "Is this man a Jew?" #

# Workin' for the clampdown #

# They put up a poster sayin' "We earn more than you!" #

# Working for the clampdown #

# We will teach our twisted speech #

# To the young believers #

# We will train our blue-eyed men #

# To be young believers #

# The judge said "Five to ten" but I say "Double that again" #

# I'm not workin' for the clampdown #

# No man born with a livin' soul #

# Can be workin' for the clampdown #

# Kick over the wall, cos government's to fall #

# How can you refuse it? #

# Let fury have the hour... #

MUSIC FADES

MAN GROANS

HE GRUNTS

You, you leave my brother alone.

It's OK.

I already made a promise to Jesus.

HE PANTS

Welcome home, Virgil.

# It's the best years of your life they want to steal from you #

# But you grow up and you calm down #

# Workin' for the clampdown #

# You start wearin' blue and brown #

# Workin' for the clampdown #

LIGHT CLICKS - MUSIC STOPS

KEYS CLATTER

DEUCE: Gregory?

You OK, Dad?

You didn't just leave the other day? What you doing back here?

What you doing sleeping on the sofa?

We have a guest.

Your Auntie Estella.

The 12 steps no work fi' her, so she tryin' God.

Is it working?

She sing beautiful, but...

she giggles a lot.

Come on, man, you know better than that. Not in this house.

HE SIGHS

Talk to me now.

What is going on?

You see when you sorted out my life, Dad...

and I promised you I'd never lie to you again?

Hm.

You can't lie to me, I will always know.

So don't ask me why I'm back here...

cos the truth is dangerous.

Truth could get you killed.

But it's gonna be OK though, Dad

cos I'm a soldier...

and I have a plan.

Listen, I'm tired. I'm gonna get some sleep.

Hold on.

Listen, this one's legal, I promise.

Got it on a Ministry of Defence licence.

Not in this house.

I understand but I'm so tired, Dad--

Gregory!

DISTANT BABY CRYING

HE KNOCKS

Me and Belinda take it in turns.

When it's me, nothing works.

Shh, shh...

Listen.

I need use of the Zulu safe storage facility.

Don't ask. Don't tell.

And, Wire...

put word around the Wood that my brother Dante is now officially a Zulu

and is under Zulu protection.

Maybe that'll stop the stupid bastard getting himself killed.

DOOR SHUTS

BIRDSONG

Mornin', Nan.

MUSIC: "Love of the Common People" by Nicky Thomas

# Living on free food tickets #

# Water in the milk from a hole in the roof #

# Where the rain came through #

# What can you do? Mmm #

# Tears from your little sister #

# Crying because she doesn't have a dress without a patch #

# For the party to go #

# But you know she'll get by #

# Cos she's living in the love of the common people #

# Smiles from the heart of a family man #

# Daddy's gonna buy her a dream to cling to #

# Mama's gonna love her just as much as she can #

Mornin', Nan.

# And she can #

BIRDSONG

DANTE (VO): On the road to "next time 's better".

Driving away from "nothing fucking matters".

Foxes and taxis and drunks in tatters...

sent to bed by birdsong chatter.

# And chills you to the bone #

# Somehow you'd better go home where it's warm #

# Where you can live in the love of the common people #

# Smile from the heart of a family man #

# Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to #

EAMONN: Bardon, get up!

There's been a delivery.

# And she can #

DANTE (VO): Broken glass, guns, dope and concrete.

Mix in bass and drum, and then sing.

Like the M6 was Orange Street.

SHOP BELL JINGLES

# So you can live in the love of the common people #

# Smile from the heart of a family man #

# Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to #

# Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can #

# And she can #

# Living with the love of the common people #

# Smiles from the heart of a family man #

# Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to #

Sorry, God.

# And she can #

# Living in the love of the common people... #

DOOR SLAMS

This blackened shell in which you now stand

will soon become a cathedral.

The broken stage and scorched dance floor will become altar, font and pews

dedicated to the worship...

of live music.

Through that hanging door

the whole of Birmingham will come, and from beyond

from all over the fucking country

and from America, and we will...

we will be ready to greet them.

Now, they will come for the music

but they will also become customers for other merchandise

associated with live music venues.

Now, I'm told by my friend that you are people who can be trusted.

People he has known for many years.

People known on the streets where you live

as Zulus.

So, on his word...

I'm going to invite you all today

to join me

in my holy enterprise.

And as high priest...

I will now initiate you

with this holy sacrament.

HE BLOWS Leave it!

"Hey, that mad bastard Robbie Carmen

blew 50 pounds' worth of cocaine in my face.

Yeah, and then he stared into my eyes...

as if looking for something."

I am looking for something.

A willingness to accept my madness

and obey my rules.

MUSIC: "Cissy Strut" by The Meters

And here are those rules.

Any customer entering my establishment

will be searched for illegal substances.

HE BLOWS

Thank you, Mr Carmen.

All substances you confiscate will be collected and stored for resale.

HE BLOWS

The customers will then be offered our own merchandise

at very uncompetitive prices

which they will accept for want of alternatives.

HE BLOWS

There will be no alternative sources...

HE BLOWS

...because any customer found dealing their own merchandise

on my premises

will have both their arms broken.

HE BLOWS

HE BLOWS

Accept.

Now, it is my intention to use this place to sell hashish, cocaine and heroin

to both young and old on an industrial scale

so that the music on the stage will become secondary

to the powder in the cloakroom.

HE BLOWS

Now then.

Now...

the high priest passes judgement.

Anyone who works for me...

needs to have the same attitude and outlook

as this spaceman.

HE SCOFFS

He does not laugh, he does not cry.

He expresses no opinions.

Offers no objections.

He simply stands in the place where I put him.

He does not speak to the police.

He does not confess to a friend

or tell his mother where all the money is coming from

because money there will be.

Lots and lots of money.

You may now wipe your faces.

The one who took two blows of coke could cause us trouble.

The woman third from the left has an addiction in her eyes

and the last in line who laughed at me smells of whisky.

Get rid of them three.

And then there will be seven.

Maybe there'll be one more to add to the seven.

Guess who's back in town.

LORRY HORNS BLARE

KNOCK ON DOOR

KNOCKING CONTINUES

Bardy?

GREGORY: No, it's me.

What are you doing here?

Bardon phoned Dad and told him where you were in case he was worried.

Why aren't you in Belfast?

Cos I need you to do something for me.

What? - I need you to fucking grow up.

Not possible or desirable.

If someone fights you, you fight back.

Does Dad know?

I never tell Dad anything but he always finds out anyway.

I need to speak to Bardon.

Phone him up.

No, I need you to phone him up.

Why?

For the next few weeks or months, the question "why" is forbidden.

Just phone Bardon and tell him you want to meet him

and talk about something.

Talk about what? - I don't know.

What do you normally talk to him about?

Music.

So phone him, tell him you want to talk about music.

Listen, I thought she was a drinker, there's no fucking booze in this house.

Brother, it's 8:30 in the morning.

Yeah, well, for me it's still last night.

Just phone Bardon and tell him you want to meet him

at Coventry Cathedral. - What?

Tell him you wanna meet him there right now.

Why Coventry Cathedral? - Cos no one from Coventry goes there

and I don't want us being seen.

No more "whys", just phone him.

DANTE: Ba! SOUND ECHOES

Bo!

Ba!

HE WHISPERS: Dante.

The acoustics in this place are amazing.

Listen.

Ba! SOUND ECHOES

Ba!

My brother came back from Belfast.

He wants to talk to you.

Go and talk to him.

Apparently I'm not allowed to hear what he has to say.

Close enough, sit down.

You don't need to speak...

just listen.

You're in a lot of trouble, Bardy.

They have your name for the train station.

I've been sent back to nail you and your dad

and the whole Coventry cell.

HE MURMURS

Look, they'll have my handler in place soon

so I can only say this once, so please just shut up and listen.

You're gonna have to trust me.

I need to give them a big fish

so they let you and your dad off the hook.

It's how they work, they send you after your family

so you deliver commanders instead.

You're gonna have to be hard, Bardon.

You're gonna have to become a man fast.

Real fast.

I need you to get me information about when and where.

I can't do things.

I have college, I have exams.

Bardy, if you're picked up for the train station

you're looking at 30 years. - I just put a fucking coin in a slot.

Yeah, and now you're on the hook.

To get you off the hook

I need the commanders, I need to know who's giving the orders.

In Birmingham, some of the gangs do have contact with the RA

so I do have ways in.

But I will also need information from you.

If you get information they can use, then maybe we can make a deal.

I'm in the middle of my final fucking exams!

I am not made for this kind of work.

Come on, Bardy, no one was made for it.

You make yourself.

I'll get you out of this and your dad off with five to ten

but I need the commanders.

It will get worse before it gets better.

But it will get better

because I'll make sure of it.

MUSIC: "House Of The Rising Sun (Instrumental)"

Why don't we ask the priest if it's OK for us to record my song here?

It's unbelievable.

A recording studio made by God.

MUSIC CONTINUES

DOOR CREAKS SHUT - DANTE SIGHS

OK, God...

I'll rehearse it on my own.

The song I want to record is called "Birdsong"...

and it goes like this.

MUSIC: "The Harder They Come" by Olivia Dean

# Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky #

# Waiting for me when I die #

# But between the day you're born and when you die #

# They never even seem to hear your cry #

# But as sure as the sun will shine #

# I'm gonna get my share now, what's mine #

# And then the harder they come #

# The harder they fall one and all #

# The harder they come #

# The harder they fall one and all #