Original subtitles

BARDON: The man who sets the detonators is called Terry.

He's suspicious as hell.

Stay close to your dad

and listen out for the mention of someone called Lemongrass.

If I'm caught, I'm dead.

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

You have obligations to other members of that unit.

A day dawns when you know you can't go on like this.

Why don't we make that day today?

And so, are you also a virgin?

I don't know. - How can you not know?

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

A deal with the RA.

They will use you for their own purposes

and then they will put you under a motorway.

GREGORY: You have an informant in Coventry.

I know who he is.

You're in this now. There's no getting out.

Armed police! Get on the ground!

Get in.

FIONA: How difficult is it to learn the drums?

We need a drummer.

Drummers are easy to find.

What we really need is someone who knows the record business.

Hello, Jeff? It's Fiona.

Somebody dropped off a tape I think you should listen to.

DANTE (VO): Heaven or hell.

HE GRUNTS

I don't care.

Let it come.

BIRDSONG

DOOR OPENS

You waiting for me?

Jeannie.

Apart from in previous lives, I am a virgin.

And I've decided if I want to write songs about love and women

I can't carry on being one.

So therefore...

So therefore what?

You know lots of girls

and you yourself are a girl.

And I thought there are two possibilities.

Either me or one of the lots of girls?

Yes.

D'you have a preference, Dante?

Yes. Fiona.

But I don't think that's possible.

Bye, Dante.

MUSIC: "Heart of Glass" by Blondie

DANTE: Hello, this is Dante.

INDISTINCT VOICE ON PHONE

Look, apart from in previous lives, I am a virgin.

And I have decided if I want to write songs about love and women

I can't carry on being one.

INDISTINCT VOICE ON PHONE ... what the fuck you talking about?

My first choice is impossible.

And my second choice said no.

You were my third choice.

Songs all written by the same person.

He's sort of like a genius.

KETTLE WHINES

DISTANT CHATTER

IN DISTANCE: Go to Soho and make me an intro.

I think we have...

TAPPING ON MICROPHONE

DISHES CLATTER ON MICROPHONE

HE BREATHES SHAKILY

DISTANT CHATTER

Is the tea boy staying?

My son took a beating from the Branch and never uttered a word.

OK, I'll put it to a vote.

Can I see a show of hands?

Those in favour?

Those against?

Motion carried.

So, let's begin with the business of the day.

Come on.

MRS PORTER: We need to talk about London.

I've had some correspondence from our friends in Kilburn.

EAMONN: Before we get into that, we might have an issue.

Intelligence has come down to us from Birmingham

about an individual called Lemongrass.

DANTE'S TAPE PLAYS:

- BUZZER SOUNDS

MUSIC CLICKS OFF

What do you think?

Jeff?

What do you think of the song?

Not bad.

But too nice.

They are in need of a genuinely bad person.

DOOR SLAMS

You're sure about this, Dante?

So...

Dante?

You want to lose your virginity.

Ba!

Dante, you said you required a particular service.

I remember my brother saying you know people

who will have sex for money.

Does your brother know you've come here? - When does this place open?

One week. -

Actually, Dante, if you've got money in your pocket, you can.

WIRE CHUCKLES

It's a bit early in the day, but there's a place you can go.

She does mornings and she does beginners.

OK.

We'll book this place for our band for opening night.

Opening night's taken.

Red carpet.

UB40 top of the bill. - OK. The night after.

Dante, do you want to lose your virginity or not?

Yeah.

So I'll make the call.

Should be ready in half an hour.

I have no idea how this is going to go.

Worst thing that could happen is nothing happens.

Want a drink?

I don't drink.

You can't do this alone, Dante.

You walk in there alone

you get nervous.

Nothing will happen.

My dad says

it's like you put a thief in your mouth to steal your brains away.

OK.

Even better idea.

I've got something here...

that's really gonna relax ya.

Pop one of these and all your nerves will disappear.

And it'll help you perform at your best.

DANTE (VO): Put a thief in your mouth to steal your brains.

Put your brain on a train on a track through your veins.

Off the rails, reason fails.

Carriage burning, penis yearning.

Trapped in the wrecks, to the rescue comes...

sex?

ECHOING LAUGHTER

The virgin steps in to the original sin.

She's the witch on your broom in the golden afternoon.

The pleasure spills and drowns your will.

You have no choices. Just obey the voices.

And you think you can't take it, too much will break it.

To the rescue comes sex.

You're so sweet.

ECHOING LAUGHTER

Dragged by drugs across inner city rugs

to the well of damnation.

My final station.

Step off the train out into the rain.

Feel the pain and say...

"I'd quite like to do that again."

So this is the big new everything.

ECHOING LAUGHTER - MUSIC: "Dream Baby Dream" by Suicide

HE CHUCKLES

CHILDREN'S LAUGHTER

Faster! Faster!

Right, get lost, you two.

I smell rum.

You don't drink?

I also smell dope.

Jeannie, can I have some of your drink?

HE GASPS

Nothing anybody said was an exaggeration.

Said about what?

About everything.

Except what they taught us at school made it all seem normal

which it isn't.

Sex is like me.

The whole thing is mad as fuck.

You've had sex?

Yes.

Have you got any more?

No. Who have you had sex with?

I have no idea. - OK.

Where did you have sex?

I don't know.

Other than rum and dope, what did you take?

Some pills Wire gave me.

Fuck. - Seriously, Jeannie.

I found something as ridiculous as me.

Did Wire arrange the arrangement?

What arrangement?

Oh, the sex.

Yeah, he did.

Did you wear protection?

Jeannie, the song that's going to come out of this is going to be insane.

Also, Jeannie, the other thing I've decided is we really need a drummer.

But I don't think Fiona would be any good because she's from Sutton Coldfield.

Dante, have you even heard of VD?

Also...

I thought of a name for the band.

Ready?

Big...

New...

Everything.

The Big New Everything.

Today it all made sense.

The stuff that comes to me, it's like I had a way of...

making it make sense.

What were these pills Wire gave to you?

Not sure.

Think he said it was called whiz.

Dante, let's go.

Where's your hat?

Oh, fuck.

Wire will know.

Dante, don't go back!

Dante, do not go back!

If you go back, you will keep going back!

Expenses. For you and the boy.

All me and the boy want is to be set free.

The reason I instructed you to introduce the idea

of an informant to our friends in Sparkhill

was to activate their security procedures.

To force them to make changes to existing operations

in case those operations had already been compromised.

I know.

I spent time with the Hereford boys in Armar.

Well...

our little ruse worked.

I'm not asking the boy to wear a wire ever again.

Next time, he'll break.

Next time won't be his first time.

On the tape, the man Terry talks about making changes to the Kensington thing

and the woman, Mrs Porter, discusses contacting people in Kilburn by post.

Odd that a Coventry cell is discussing a London operation.

What's gonna be your definition of escape velocity?

When me and the boy have done enough.

Having listened to the tape of the conversation

in the Gate Hangs Well pub, I'd say your mission now

is to find out what the fuck a Coventry Battalion

are planning to do in London.

OK.

And if we do?

You can go off.

Live a quiet life of petty crime and violence

and the boy, Bardon Quinn

can go on and become a rock star.

Branch have him under 24-hour surveillance.

We've bugged the warehouse where his band's rehearsing.

Got the tape here.

According to the boys in the branch, they're very good.

MUSIC: "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker

- DANTE SINGS ALONG

You've gone back for more, haven't ya?

DANTE MUMBLES

DANTE INHALES

I'm not shocked about the drums

because Fiona told me she was going to buy them but, fuck...

they look fucking...

They look like...

somebody fat in a smart suit.

I've been playing your tape to scouts.

From their response, I think you're all worth investing in.

How hard could it be, right?

I mean...

Hit the fat man in the smart suit with a stick.

FIONA: Dante.

We hear that since we last saw you

you've changed.

HE STOMPS

She told you about the golden afternoon?

BARDON: How are you feeling, Dante?

LOUD DRUM NOTE

HE PLAYS LOUDLY

CACOPHONY CONTINUES

DRUMS REVERBERATE

DRUMS STOP

I'm feeling like that.

Yeah, you look like that.

It's not just booze.

He thinks sex and drugs will make him a better songwriter.

Fuck. This is so what you'd expect from a normal band.

And so what you wouldn't from Dante.

CYMBAL CRASHES

So...

Who is going to play drums for us?

Fiona, you need to put up a thing in your shop.

An advert.

Fat man wanted, to hit the fucking...

LOUD DRUM NOTE

BARDON: You know what?

He is the perfect candidate for fucking himself up like this.

DANTE VOMITS

They say it can be hereditary.

His dad was an alcoholic.

Some people, if they start, they can't stop.

By the way, I've written this fucking amazing song.

That stuff I discovered on the golden afternoon makes it come easy.

It's like you're walking toward all these locks

with all these keys in your hand

and you just have to try them.

What's the song called, Dante? Can you remember?

CAN CLATTERS

Fuck.

I wrote down the words.

Fuck!

BARDON: You can't remember the title and you've lost the words.

This stuff from the golden afternoon, what's it called?

I had them out on the bus!

Dante, shall I take you home?

No, no.

You won't want his dad to see him like this.

I'll take him to my mother's.

If anyone can talk some sense into him, she can.

HE GASPS It's called "Pelicans".

The song is called "Pelicans".

Because...

even though they have shopping bags for mouths, they...

they look beautiful.

I saw them.

On TV.

When it comes back to me, I'll sing it for you.

That might not be for a while, Dante.

Let's go.

REPORTER: This afternoon, workers leaving the factory

said they'd expected cuts, not closure.

The plant, built in 1976, can make 3, 000 Rovers a week

but last week it produced only 700.

British Leyland say the plant will be maintained.

What's he doing here?

Thought he'd gone back to live at home.

OK, Mum, I've got a job for ya.

It doesn't involve knocking in nails.

It involves knocking some sense into this boy's head.

Estella... I thought of a name for the band.

We're going to be called The Big New Everything.

No, we're not.

Go to sleep, Dante.

He's discovered some shit some idiot gave him.

And he drank and smoked.

And straightaway I get the impression he's like a dealer's dream

with no vetting procedure whatsoever.

I want you to let him sleep it off.

In the morning...

In the morning, explain to him the folly of...

Jesus, Mum, you've been drinking.

Just beer.

Just two cans.

You swore on my life.

It's just beer. - On my life.

Do you not think my life's precarious enough as it is?

They say you've joined the committee at the Gate.

Don't give this to me, Mum.

This concern for me.

Save your concern for yourself.

MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS NEXT DOOR

ECHOING SHOUTS - FAINT HIGH-PITCHED RINGING

MUSIC: "Suspect Device" by Stiff Little Fingers

suss, suss, suss

Y'know, Dante has a point.

If you look at the M6 in a certain way, it is quite beautiful.

As I said, Mum, I'm giving you a job.

It's life or death.

If someone doesn't nip it in the bud, Dante will go all the way to hell.

That is how he is.

Lean on each other.

And keep him clean.

If you help him, this music thing we're doing might work.

People say we're good.

Think about it. If I get famous, I'll be no use to the RA.

You can't have famous people sneaking around

with Semtex in their bag, now can you?

This is my way out, Mum.

And the next sip of booze you have

will be a sip of champagne

when our band reaches number one.

Promise me.

He's too nice to be left in the custody

of someone weak and helpless like me.

You are weak...

but you're not helpless.

I truly believe you don't give a fuck about yourself.

But you do give a fuck about him.

DANTE RUSTLES

TRAFFIC HUMS OUTSIDE

If you fuck up, he dies

we don't get famous

and I will end up riddled with bullets in a ditch in Crossmaglen.

DOOR SHUTS

OK, Dante.

In your honour...

attempt number 535.

GLASS SHATTERS

GLASS SHATTERS

GLASS SHATTERS

GLASS SHATTERS

GLASS SHATTERS

"ESTELLA" PLAYS ON CASSETTE

that she wouldn't give away

people on your side

I've never been alone because of you

GREGORY: Hello?

Hello?

PANTING ON PHONE

BARDON: I know I'm not meant to call, but...

I can't go in again with a microphone.

You have to get me out of this.

Last time I almost told my dad.

I've got fucking college. I've got exams.

Look, I understand, I do.

But listen to me, Bardon.

I need you to find out what you can about the plans for London.

Listen out for people talking about Kensington.

If we can find out something about the plan for London

then you and me can get free, and go fishing for actual fish

and laugh about it all.

And by the way, Special Branch have been bugging your rehearsals.

I'm listening to a tape now.

You're fucking good.

In.

If I ever needed your help, it's right now.

Listen.

Ba! SOUND ECHOES

Ba! - Dante.

You're in the house of God.

I know.

But I don't think he's in.

It's just us.

Ba!

OK.

I want you to hear my new song.

But I wanted you to hear it in the best place.

Which is here.

It's called Pelicans.

That's all I can remember.

It was a complete song, but...

I lost most of it.

Cos you were off your head.

Left it on the bus.

You leave your brains on the bus and the bus drives away.

And then you've no brains, and you do stupid things.

I've left things on the bus half my life.

First it was your mother helping me.

Then it was you helping me.

Now it's us helping each other.

My mum helped you?

She picked up the broken glass.

She was your sister.

Was she like you?

Your dad says we're chalk and cheese.

I want to think she was like you.

Dad says chalk and cheese as if they were different.

But in a song, if you was writing the words

you'd put chalk and cheese in the same line.

My dad likes you.

Your dad's helping me.

This is what he does.

Close your eyes.

Imagine your soul is a well

and at the bottom, there is cool, pure water.

When you feel the desire to give into temptation

drop a bucket

and quench your thirst from the cool water

in the pure well, in your soul.

There now.

How'd you feel?

I feel exactly the same as I did before you put your hand over my eyes.

But I've just remembered the rest of the song.

What you doing, Dad? Building an arc?

No.

And yes.

I'm building a case.

For justice.

In a flood of injustice. - Why?

What's going on?

Yesterday I get a letter

after 15 years.

Myself and 200 others.

Compulsory redundancy, they call it.

Starting as of right fucking now!

I'm going on a protest march.

I go' fight back, ya na?

Help me now.

Ya, man.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Alright, brothers and sisters.

As convenor for track three

the Gypsy track and the paint shop

I call on all Rover workers to give a show of hands.

All those in favour of strike action

against the proposed closure

of the Longbridge Rover production line

show your hands.

CROWD MUTTERS APPROVINGLY

Right.

I propose we march

on the headquarters of British Leyland...

CROWD: Yes!

...and let Michael Edwardes know exactly how we feel!

CROWD CHEERS

MAN IN CROWD: That's right. That's right.

Alright.

MUSIC: "54-46 That's My Number" by Toots and the Maytals

REPORTER: Earlier today, the march against the closure of the Rover plant

began peacefully, as it made its way towards

Leyland's administration block.

Unions want talks with Sir Michael Edwardes.

CROWD: Will not die!

A spokesman said "No one in their right mind

would believe it was possible to close down

the most modern car plant in Europe."

Rover! - Will not die!

Rover! - Will not die!

Rover! - Will not die!

Rover!

In the face of mass redundancies

feelings were running high

and a flashpoint occurred

when the planned route of the march was blocked.

Rover! - Will not die!

Trouble broke out between pickets and police.

Missiles were thrown, including bottles and bricks.

Six police officers were injured in the disturbance.

Among the pickets, there were 15 arrests for public order offences.

A spokesman for Rover said the incidents of violence were unacceptable

and those responsible

would be identified and dealt with. - PHONE RINGS

Hello.

I'm watching it on the news.

I'm on my way.

CROWD YELLS ON TV

Oh, Lord...

if this is all part of the plan

please help me to understand it.

I drop my bucket into the well

and I draw pure water

and I drink and I thank you, oh Lord

for giving me strength.

I was once familiar with these places

but this time...

DOOR SLAMS IN DISTANCE - ...I am here for a noble cause.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

A cause which may be forlorn

but noble nonetheless. - LOCK RATTLES

DOOR OPENS

OK, we're letting you go.

Thank you, sir.

THEY GRUNT

But before you go

I want to give you a little message from my superior officers.

Not only are you a fucking commie

troublemaking, shit-stirring fuck

but you...

are also a nigger.

Which means you are a marked man.

Can't breathe... - Your card is marked.

Your path to misfortune is very clear.

DEUCE CHOKES - Now, you stay out of disputes

and strikes

political trouble...

or we'll make a special example of you.

The next time your sons

Dante and Gregory, carry a coffin

it will be you inside it.

DEUCE CHOKES - Do you understand me, nigger?

THEY GRUNT - Oh!

In case you forget...

HE GROANS

HE COUGHS

HE SPITS

DEUCE COUGHS AND GASPS

HE COUGHS

HE PANTS

CAR APPROACHES

DOOR BUZZER SOUNDS

Dante.

The next song you write, make it about today.

You mean make it political?

Like Bob Marley?

I mean make it about days like today

and men like our dad.

I'll see what comes to me.

Fuck it.

I'll write the song myself.

CAR DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS

DOOR HANDLE TURNS

This weekend, Bardon

you and I are going on a wee trip to London.

BIRDSONG

BELL JINGLES

BELL JINGLES

MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS INSIDE

BANGING ON DOOR

SHE SIGHS

Where the fuck have you been?

I've been making my own out of poppies in the garden.

I've been away.

Camden.

I've got some excellent... people

with excellent...

stuff.

I can, er...

can pay you with money this time.

Oh. I don't want you to pay me with money.

I've got money, so I'll pay you with money.

Been doing a lot of gigs.

You carry that band on your shoulders.

Yeah...

Matty, I'd prefer you not to pay me with money.

I've told you, I will pay you with money.

Why don't you save your money?

I don't want everything this time.

Just, you know, fun instead of money.

But I've got fucking money, Jeff. - OK, alright!

Alright. Give me money then.

Fuck's sake.

You're such a fucking creep festival.

No, I'm not. - Yes, you are.

Fucking festival of creeps.

I am...

paying you with money, yeah?

Don't fucking touch me when I'm asleep either after.

LIGHTER FLICKS

I even thought we might go for a drink first.

Like people.

First?

You mean do something before?

No...

The other day I was played a tape.

There's a new band.

They're from round here.

They're pretty good

but they need a kick.

They need the real thing.

They're advertising for a drummer.

SHE SIGHS

I thought before you go to wherever you go, my dear

I should arrange an audition, yeah?

What... what sort of people are they?

They're young, sweet.

I-I think you could teach them some things.

SHE CHUCKLES

Yeah?

Audition...

Sure.

SHE SIGHS

Why the fuck not?

MUSIC: "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads

DOOR OPENS

DOOR SHUTS

Did a good job on this place.

When do yous open?

Opening night is next week.

Could we get tickets?

If you want, I can get you tickets.

We have a stellar opening lineup.

Yeah, we saw the adverts around town.

We keep a good close eye on you, that's for sure.

I was told you wanted to come and...

pick my brains.

Pick your brains?

Yes.

That is what we want.

Do you mind if I smoke?

No.

It's about a man you know as Virgil.

You know him? - Yes.

Well?

Er, not for a while.

Used to work for you? - Yes.

Then he joined the British Army. - So we understand.

Yes or no is fine. - LIGHTER FLICKS

He made contact with us through you.

He asked, I just--

Yes or no is just fine.

Yes.

Where'd you get the spaceman?

I bought it at auction.

Why did Virgil leave the British Army?

I don't know.

He was always a bit wild.

I heard he got into trouble.

He said it was because he had Irish family.

And you believe him?

As a friend?

I'm not a friend.

How much did you pay for the spaceman?

£225 plus commission.

Is he for sale? - Everything is for sale.

Do you trust Virgil?

I tend not to trust.

Yes or no?

Yes.

He was reliable. - So you vouch for him?

Yes or no?

Er, well, I cannot say...

hand on heart, that I would vouch for him

as I don't know what your relationship with him is.

He's providing us with information.

Should we trust that information?

I cannot, hand on heart--

It's your brains we've come to pick, not your heart.

Although...

both organs are available to us.

Understand this, Mr Carmen.

It was you who put Virgil in touch with us.

And that means you're liable for his actions.

Fuck.

And if it should turn out that Virgil's not actually being truthful with us...

Then his guarantor becomes liable for his mistake.

That's usually the way, isn't it, among friends?

And if your friend Virgil disappoints us

it'd be a shame for all your hard work to go up in smoke.

I understand. - What do you understand?

You want intelligence. - We all want intelligence.

You want me to find out what Virgil is really doing.

We want you to actively pursue information about his true intentions.

Yes.

Through friends and lovers, using any means necessary.

And report that information back to us.

That I will do.

Good. - Get back to us soon.

Because there are things on our agenda on which we need clarity.

I think he won't hang around.

I will make it a top priority.

Let's say you get back to us within the week.

Cos otherwise...

GUNSHOT

Good luck with opening night.

DOOR SLAMS

Virgil, you fucking cunt!

DRUMROLL PLAYS

TEMPO INCREASES

FURIOUS DRUMMING

TUNEFUL DRUMMING

RHYTHMIC DRUMMING

CYMBALS CRASH - SHE YELLS

GLASS BOTTLE CLINKS

Yes, that's the sort of thing that I do.

That the sort of thing that you need?

I don't really know what kind of music you play.

Basically ska and two-tone.

Basically lots of different things that we don't put a label on.

Ah.

I love lots of different things without labels.

Irish as well.

MATTY: My mum was Irish.

What about your dad?

Pakistani.

You're mixed then. Like me.

What music do you like?

Play what comes to me.

Don't really know where it comes from.

Do you like motorway bridges?

You're funny.

He's being serious.

We don't have any money to pay ya.

Been told you're good.

The money'll come.

JEANNIE: Told by who?

Someone I trust.

He also said that this band...

has got a genius.

It's you, right?

Yeah.

He writes the words.

But Jeannie writes the music.

And your music needs to be beaten up a bit.

That's what I was told.

Have a listen.

See what needs beating up.

As a matter of fact...

I have no opinion of motorway bridges.

I'm sure I could be persuaded to like 'em.

Are... you getting the bus to Birmingham?

MATTY: Train.

Station's reopened.

When you've listened to the tape, give us a call.

There's still one in here.

For the train.

So if I like the music, am I part of the band or?

We are a democracy.

We'll take a vote.

Wait. Forgot to ask her something.

Dante, don't make a...

fucking fool of yourself.

D'you see her arms?

No.

She had needle marks.

She is a drummer.

Drummers are not meant to be normal.

If a drummer was normal, that would be weird.

And if we wait for a clean drummer, we'll wait forever.

I vote yes.

I vote no.

Before you decide to give me a vote, I've got something to tell you.

DANTE: I want to ask you something.

When music comes to you

is it like pictures that you can't describe to anyone?

Sometimes, yeah.

I get words coming to me.

I get like screaming to the beat.

Rolls around in my mouth.

That makes no sense, but...

Good.

I don't like sense.

Where do you live?

Moseley. The cool part.

I live on the Wood.

The really rough, shit part.

I collect interesting people.

Do you hang them on your wall? - SHE CHUCKLES

You should come to Moseley.

Hang out at the pub.

It's called the Fighting Cocks. Lot of madness, music.

You come on a Saturday night

and I'll introduce you to some really, really interesting people.

You could talk to them.

About motorway bridges.

I also like space.

Mate...

we love space.

If you've all voted already...

I vote yes.

Before we vote, Bardon has something to tell you.

Something to not tell you

because I don't know what it is yet.

Tomorrow I'm going to London.

I have no idea what it is that they want me to do

but I'm going at the request of my father.

So there's a chance that after I do whatever it is

they're going to send me straight to Dublin or Belfast

to disappear for a while.

But if I make it back here

I want you all to know

that I no longer just want this band to work.

I fucking need it to work.

And just like you, Dante...

I have absolutely no other credible option on this Earth

other than to get famous.

My only option is Tesco checkout.

Me, record shop.

Then some sort of law firm, then marriage.

Probably a solicitor.

Probably called Gary.

I think you all know, for me, it's living on a bridge.

BARDON: So...

I do what I have to do in London.

I do what I can to get back here.

And then when I return

we all do whatever it takes to get famous as fuck.

And to do that, we are going to need the drummer

who's going to beat us up a bit.

All those in favour.

But you...

you stay close to me.

MUSIC: "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" by Gregory Porter