A New Broom Scrappers

MUSIC: "Brindisi from La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi

I'm Terry Walker, and this is my scrap yard.

-Morning, boss.

-All right, Coxy.

-D'ya want a brew?

Cuppa tea, please.

Happy days.

There's profit in every ounce of a scrapped car.

50 quid, pal.

I buy 'em. Strip 'em.

Squash 'em. And then flog the lot.

What a good day!

I started the yard over 20 years ago.

A few years after I met Lindsay, the wife.

-Don't go mad spending money.

-Can I spend it on you, then?

Oh, yeah, no problem.

He just makes money, like. It's just this knack he's got.

I do it by employing lads that no-one else will.

Individually, they're good lads. They're all right.

But together, they're just like a load of hyenas.

CHEERING AND LAUGHING

It's like a circus sometimes.

You got to keep laughing, cos if you don't, you'll cry.

Move these tyres! Move 'em!

I won't have the Mickey took out of me. If they do that, they're history.

There's more cars to come up. Get 'em sorted.

If they show willing and they've got...

and I can see something in 'em, I won't give up on them easily.

Can't get a job nowhere else. Nowhere else will have me.

It's the Metro family, and it's

the family that I've created from scratch.

MUSIC REACHES A CLIMAX

It's all change at Metro Salvage.

-Boyle...

-Yeah?

-..can you come here in a minute?

Terry's wife Lyndsay has banned him from spending at the car auctions.

John?

So Terry's turned his attention to the cars and parts already in stock.

Go on, take that.

That's a Renault, that, it was probably scrapped.

What Lyndsay was saying is, "Whoa! Slow down, and get the best

"out of what you've already got."

Whoo!

And that's what we are doing, really.

Right...

Our Lyndsay is happy as long as the money is rolling in.

To be honest I have always listened to our Lyndsay.

She's all right, though, until she opens her mouth.

Oh, nice, coloured butterfly.

Lyndsay is the boss, isn't she, really?

In the yard Terry is the boss

but behind closed doors I think Lyndsay wears the pants.

John, it's not going to move on its own, you've got to get hold of it.

I'm advising him, saying,

"Look, let's try it this way or let's... I am not against you."

I want to improve things and... "No, you don't know what you're talking about."

She doesn't know about the running of the yard.

But sometimes it's better to listen and have a quiet life.

Just get on with it and have a quiet life.

I can't stand dog hairs. He loves it though.

Last week, Terry struggled to make 25 grand

just to break even.

This week, he's determined to make a profit.

But he's got to do it Lyndsay's way.

This is the biggest scrap metal yard in the North West of England.

Morning!

Another day, another dollar.

It's the centre of Terry Walker's Bolton empire,

selling scrap metal, second-hand cars and used car parts.

Hello!

It's the first day under Lyndsay's regime.

And for the system to work, Terry needs to make sure every

bit of profit is squeezed out of each car.

What's that Renault engine there on top, what's that doing there?

But the lads have got into bad habits.

Jason!

Crane driver Jason has used the grab to rip out an engine

and throw it on the scrap pile.

This Toyota engine here, he's ripped it out

and just cost us 120 quid.

And I have just watched you throw a Renault engine on,

a 16-valve Renault engine.

Thought it was scrap.

How is it scrap? Are you a mechanic all of a sudden?

There's a battery there, see it? Should have had that battery.

I can see a Vauxhall engine there, why's that there?

Sometime it really annoys me when vehicles go through the crushing

machine before we have had enough money out of that particular vehicle.

Just check this one here.

He's doing what I told him to now, he's finally listened.

He can see what's coming and going now.

What he was doing before was buying far

too many, where he were forgetting what he's bought

and he was leaving engines in the rain.

-Everything, so that's why we were losing money.

-Yeah.

-He thinks any car he buys makes money.

-Yeah.

-And it doesn't.

-Not always.

It makes him feel better when he's spending money for some reason,

-I don't know.

-It's like you and your handbags, Lyndsay.

-I don't think so.

-SHE CHUCKLES

In de-pollution, where they remove the oil, petrol, as well

as small parts, Terry has briefed the team to be extra vigilant.

Everything has got to come off... we can sell near enough everything

we take off like, petrol, wheels, battery.

We even sell the bolts off the wheels.

That's your cat, catalytic convertor, that's

probably worth 40-50 quid.

Everything is worth money, where there's muck there's brass

and this is muck and you can make money off it.

But making sure the lads salvage every nut

and bolt is only half the battle.

With over 400 cars and literally thousands of spare parts spread

across 9,000 square foot of yard, finding anything is a challenge.

-Can I get one of these, please?

-What's it off?

-Civic.

Civic, know what year?

And it's affecting the customers coming to buy spare parts.

Christopher...?

Here you are, pal, 2003 Civic.

All right, mate, no probs.

When I'm sending lads down to the yard

and they can't find the parts and you know that the

parts are here but the yard's a mess, and they are missing things.

Here's one, Dave, but it's not got an engine in.

Nothing more irritating than someone coming in for a part,

and you know you've had it and you've got rid of it.

You know what I mean? Cos that's profit gone.

Ain't got one, pal.

Searched everywhere, we ain't got one.

-Sorry about that, mate.

-It's all right.

-Done my best.

If Lyndsay is going to get profits up,

Terry needs to get the yard in order.

I want to get all of the yard nice and clean

and all the cars pointing the right way.

Dave...? You all right, here, spinning these cars round?

The aisle-ways, I like them dead straight.

Bit sad, really, but that's just the way it is.

Get these racks back so I have got the

two straight lines going down the yard for morning.

All the cars have got to come off the rack, spun round

and put back on nice.

That's how he wants it,

he wants it all organised. Everything.

I'll do anything, you know me, I'd do anything.

Whatever I get told to do, I'll do it.

-1.80 each, please.

-Thank you, do you want the 80?

If you've got it, yeah.

Sisters Debs and Michelle run the on-site cafe,

and depend on its takings for their wages.

In the past few months, I'd say it's been quiet.

One thing I do know is I need more customers, cos

I can't just rely on the lads in the yard.

The bank over the road, we get a few of them,

the posties, but we need to get a bit more to start earning a wage, really.

I don't think I am very well known,

because people don't realise there's a cafe in a scrap yard.

Honestly, many a time people have walked in and gone - "Wow!"

It's like an oasis.

It's like being in the desert of Egypt

and seeing this little oasis - green, watering hole...

I think people know what an oasis is.

-I know...

-You don't have to explain it!

SHE LAUGHS

With changes in the yard moving ahead,

Terry is also investing in a bit of staff development.

He's decided to train another member of the team to use the most

important tool in the yard - Gloria the Grab.

A dangerous machine in the wrong hands,

Terry needs to find the right person for the job.

He needs someone level-headed, sensible and trustworthy.

So he's chosen carefully.

Boyle...?

All right, mate, how you doing? You know what I mean, yeah!

Yeah, it's mint working here, it's best days of your life,

you know what I mean? Better than anywhere else, anyway.

I've never had a job anywhere else, actually.

Jump in, pal. Come on, lad, up you go there!

Boyle left school at 14, with no qualifications.

Everybody is sceptical of Boyle, because he's a little live wire.

Sometimes he's really good and sometimes he's a bloody nightmare.

But I have got faith in the lad that one day he will flourish.

You don't need to track anywhere yet,

we'll discuss that on another day, so you're just in position now.

If they can teach him to drive that, they're good.

Boyle, who can't concentrate on anything for more than...

He can't concentrate on what he's eating!

Our Terry knows what he's doing though, doesn't he?

-Hmm...

-Does he?

-Turn the car over here.

-That's what I am doing. I am bringing it to you.

This is what I always do. Then grab it on the side and put it back.

I'm not walking past the machine. Not while he's in that. No way.

Think I am going to take a wider route for the minute.

Drop the dash lightly. Pull it through slowly.

When a car comes to Gloria to be scrapped, the radiator,

shock absorbers and engine - if it can't be resold -

-are ripped out.

-Open your grab slightly.

But the copper wire that comes in car dashboards

needs a delicate touch.

Nice one.

Yeah...

Definitely an accident waiting to happen. He's not old enough yet.

He's never concentrated on anything for more than two minutes

and that scares me with him.

Just don't go near the machine when he's in it.

Worst-case scenario if Boyle is in that machine,

he could drop a car on someone.

I wouldn't leave him alone.

I wouldn't even leave him alone with a sweeping brush, to be honest.

LAUGHTER

That's... Watch out, bro!

They all want him to fall flat on his face, but I believe in him.

I'm going to arrange for him

to take his 360 grab test, you know, to drive the machine.

Once he passes that, it will be like - 1-0 to Boyle.

Legally, you don't have to have passed the test to operate the grab

but Terry is keen for Boyle to have an official qualification.

This is mint, this, I could do it all day.

Right, can I go now?

In the cafe, the day is off to a slow start.

Coxy, one of the mechanics, is first through the door -

but he's brought his own food.

-This is me stew.

-Your stew.

-Do you want a spoon?

-Yes, please.

I'm surprised he's not asked us for a butty to go with it(!)

-Looks good, that.

-Uh-huh. Spicy.

This is regular, I mean,

who can afford to eat out every day? I understand that.

It's his... what he didn't have last night for his tea,

-so he's having it today for his dinner.

-It's a spare one.

-Oh, it's a spare one.

-He had it last night for his tea. Nice chunks of meat.

-Oh, aye.

-Aye.

Delivery service.

I don't mind. It's not as if they don't buy here, they do.

I'd rather them do that than not do that.

-I'd just like a little bit more.

-SHE CHUCKLES

-We've got custard.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I've brought me own cake, but forgot my custard.

SHE LAUGHS

I got me own bowl.

I give up! I give up!

Terry's reorganization of the yard is almost complete.

Obviously, putting sawdust down in case any oil goes on the floor.

It's easier to clean then, isn't it?

It makes the yard look more presentable.

You wouldn't think this is a scrap yard, you'd think it's a hospital,

you know, the NHS hospital, with how clean we've got it.

You'll be able to eat your Sunday dinners off the floor,

cos it will be that clean.

The question is, will Lyndsay think he's done enough?

Right, I've got this vest here,

and I want to show you what we've been doing in the yard,

-if you're interested in knowing?

-You want me to come into the yard?

Yeah, I want to show ya what we've been doing. Do you want to come and have a look, Nat?

No? I didn't think you would.

Mind your back, now. Don't want you jumping too fast.

-So you actually do want to come and have a look?

-Yeah.

Bloody hell, I thought you'd say no.

I have to have a look, I don't trust him.

What d'you mean, you don't trust me?

You were going on about, saying, like, "Get rid of what you've got

"and sell what you've got," and this and that and the other... well...

-HE GRUNTS

-Stop giving me your lip.

HE CLEARS THROAT It's just the way I put things across, I am not giving you lip.

I'll just show you where I'm up to and you can see.

This was bombarded with tyres, they were right up here

but we're on top of everything now because

we're not bringing as much in.

I can see him pointing. I can see him pointing up to cars

-and she's just stood there.

-So we've got...

all these drains were all blocked.

Obviously, still got a few ankle-breakers...

It's sweet that he's took her outside.

"It's sweet that he's took her outside"?!

-It's emotional.

-I know.

That's your Dubai order.

-It's date night as well, isn't it?

-Might think he's on a promise.

CHUCKLING

INTERVIEWER: What do you mean?

Do you really want me to elaborate on that?

-Have you brought any more cars recently?

-No.

-Good, as you can see, we don't need any.

-It's tidier now, isn't it?

You've done well, really, haven't you?

Basically I got a kick up the backside, didn't I?

A verbal kick up the backside.

Yeah, it does look better, honestly.

It looks miles better. I'm really pleased with it.

I am, honestly. He's never really listened to that extent before,

so, yeah, hopefully he'll listen from now on.

I don't know what we'll do though, we won't be having any rows,

will we? With nothing to row about.

I'll have to speak to him!

I'm only joking.

All Terry's hard work seems to have paid off.

But now, he's spotting more and more things he wants to change,

to keep the business profitable.

You all right?

Right now, if feel that I am definitely going to have to

lose staff under this regime.

I feel like there's a lot of staff here now

that are not doing anything

to earn their wages, as simple as that.

There's 40 staff here, remember.

I can easily, easily run this with 20.

Four people work in the de-pollution shed.

It's one of the areas Terry suspects is over-manned.

Where's Dave Locket? What you doing? You just covering for him?

No worries.

Is this engine coming out today or next week?

You've got to finish them off properly. One car at a time

otherwise you'll be the master of the half-finished job.

Yeah.

Chris?

Clearly, this is not looking right.

-I know, I know, mate.

-I could come in and do it myself

but then why would I want to employ people?

I reckon... this is my opinion now...

he does all the work in here.

No, he only works when cameras are here, and you.

When cameras aren't here or you're not here, he does nothing.

He doesn't even take a dinner hour, you're gone for two hours.

-He doesn't take a dinner hour?

-You're gone for two hours at dinner time.

-LAUGHTER

-No way! 20 minutes.

-20 minutes?

-He takes two dinner hours!

Right now, some people are working very hard

and some are getting away with it and it's not fair.

Chris has clocked off for the day.

This is when I get a chance to read, when I'm on me way to work

and when I'm on the way home from work. It's the only chance, really.

When I am at home, I've got the kids and...

It's a bit hard, you know what I mean?

They are all young and loud

and they jump all over you. They won't let you read.

In the cafe, more new customers can't come soon enough.

Well, it's not a lot, I'm a bit disappointed today,

it's been a very quiet day today.

I'm probably left with maybe £40.

Sometimes it can be £30! But you've just got to keep going, haven't you?

Keep going and keep trying and keep plodding.

It's date night.

Since they got married 29 years ago,

Terry has taken Lyndsay out for dinner every week.

You all right, Mario?

-It's bright in here, isn't it?

-Isn't it? It's supposed to be candlelit dinner, this.

It looked really good today.

Honestly, I was dead proud of it today.

But at the end of the day, you know, I have to admit you were right,

it needed a little kick up backside to sort t'job out, didn't it?

God, I need a drink now you've just said that!

-I'm all right.

-You need a bigger one than that!

Oh, my God.

The thing is, now it's all streamlined,

I can spot what everyone's doing, because there's not a great big

pile of cars, so no-one can, sort of like, hide from me.

Like today, there was four in the de-pollution bit.

I don't need four now, I only need two.

Maybe you might not want them as many days.

All I'm saying to you, anyway, is if we get more efficient,

we won't need as many staff.

-Well, we'll see.

-Some of them may have to be put on shorter hours

-or even lose their jobs.

-Right, well. We'll see.

-I don't want...

-Can we talk about something else instead about

-the yard for a change?

-That bloody stupid scrap yard?

-Yeah.

You're getting a bit giddy now, you, put that wine down.

SHE LAUGHS

Morning, Chris. Chris?

Take your time, pretend it's a woman.

Be delicate. You know what I mean? Take your time.

Having slept on it, Terry's decided to hold off on

letting anyone go for the time being.

The lads within the yard are absolutely reliant on me.

I would say some of them are virtually unemployable.

If they didn't work here, they'd be reliant on government hand-outs.

And try and find a job elsewhere, but I think they'd struggle.

When I got out of jail in '92, I applied for about four jobs,

that's yards.

And Terry was the one who took me on.

He's given a lot of people employment.

You know what I mean? He has.

I've been here eight year now. Kept me out of trouble...

I'll be here till I retire.

I don't want to go anywhere else, there's no point.

Like they say... you like the job, so...

This is me for life, I reckon.

It's a bit like social services,

giving people a chance who other people wouldn't, I suppose,

but as Terry sees it, they're helping us as well.

In the cafe, things are still slow.

-Hiya, Layton.

-A brew, cock.

-A brew?

But Debs has got a plan.

-While you're here...

-She wants to print up a new menu

to help drum up trade from the local area,

and she's roping in the yard's IT expert, Layton.

That's me picture.

Who's that supposed to be? Look at the size of the chebs on that!

That's me!

My friend Simon's done that. That's me, can you not tell?

-He's kind, isn't he?

-What you trying to say?

He's just a nice lad.

Right, listen - I want that on the front.

Not that big, obviously.

It just goes, like, there. And that's what goes on the menu.

-LAYTON SNIGGERS

-Just print it into a format.

Right, so I'll go have a crack at this now

-and come back to you with summat.

-All right. Thanks, Layton.

-See you in a bit.

-Thanks, love.

-See you later.

-See you in a bit!

-Bye!

I'm not going to hold my breath.

I'm not going to hold my breath

because he didn't know what the frigging hell I were on about.

The yard is running more efficiently and sales are picking up.

Give that a quick mint-up with Steven.

Under Lyndsay's new regime, Terry's well on target to secure

the £25,000 turnover he needs each week.

So he can now turn his attention to Boyle,

because today is his crane test.

I want him to better himself, you know, to show he can do it.

Also, it's so he can actually take over and do a job

that's worthwhile at Metro Salvage.

The external examiner has arrived for the first part of the test,

the practical assessment.

We're off, mate, we're off, mate.

Oh, sweet, that! It's sweet!

I am looking out for how safe they are.

Obviously, they are working on a very delicate job

with people who are in close proximity.

Boyle's history of taking tests before is a bit of a chequered past.

He's not really done that well.

But when he's doing something that he likes to do,

he's spot on.

For Boyle, the first part of the test has been easy.

-Come on, Slim.

-But things are about to get a whole lot harder.

Crack on your normal, Slim.

-You know what's coming now, don't you?

-No.

-Theory test.

Come on, cock.

Theory?!

You've got to sit down!

You've got to sit down and chill out.

Terry has never taken his theory test either,

so he's decided to give Boyle a bit of moral support

and sit with him.

Right, you've got a theoretical test, 15 questions.

You need to gain 11 out of the 15 to hit the pass mark, all right?

-OK?

-Yeah, spot on.

-You'll do the test separately,

so there's no conferring with each other.

It's got to be on your own initiative.

Any questions before we start this test, anything you want to ask me?

No, I'm all right, me.

If I can't read them, will you read them out to me?

Right, OK, so you have a bit of a problem with your reading.

I can help you with your reading. How are you with the writing?

I can write, but can't spell properly.

It's your knowledge on the machine.

We're not testing you on your spelling, don't worry.

All right, no worries.

-Right, if you want to get your seats...

-Yeah.

I'm ready.

-OK, Boyle, do you want me to read them out to you?

-Please, yeah.

Right...

How do I get this pen...

Right, question number one -

what is the correct way of mounting and dismounting the machine?

-The correct methods for...

-Dismounting? What do you mean?

Getting into the machine and getting out, the correct way of doing it.

All right, erm....

What would you say?

Well, I can't... I know the answers.

Why is it important to travel with the boom low

and the dipper arm folded in?

-What's that, number 17?

-17, yeah.

Right...

-You're going for C?

-23, C, yeah.

-OK, that's the 15 questions completed.

-Yeah.

-OK.

How are you doing, Terry?

-Yeah, I've done it, me, mate.

-OK.

I'll mark them, if you want to just go and wait.

-All right, thanks, Colin.

-All right.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

How do you reckon you've done?

Yeah, I think I've done all right. You?

Yeah, especially when he told you all the answers!

No, he didn't tell me the answers, he were reading me the questions.

Hopefully, fingers crossed, we've both passed.

If I get more than you, you put my wage up to 60 quid a day.

Yeah, we'll see.

While Terry and Boyle await their results...

I'm having a hottie. Can you not see the sweat dripping off me?

Bloody tropical, menopausal moments!

..the girls in the cafe are still waiting for their new menu.

-Hiya, Debs!

-You all right?

-I got a surprise.

-A surprise?

-'R' Deb's cafe.

-Oh, wow!

-Look at that!

-Huh, Debs?

-Huh, Debs?

-Look at that!

Oh!

But Layton has taken a few liberties with it.

They've all got the wrong prices.

Well, I thought you were a bit dear, so I slipped the prices down a bit.

They're all the wrong prices!

Bacon, £1!

Yeah, I knocked 50p off each.

You knocked £1 off that and 90p!

£2 for bacon - your prices have changed since last time you gave me it!

-You can't do that! 20p for a bottle of water?

-Cheap, innit?

Drinks, 30p?!

-Are you for real?!

-They do 30p tea in Blackpool.

-We're not in Blackpool!

-30p for tea.

Layton, we're not in Blackpool, love.

-Oh, what's this?

-That's the extortionate one.

Oh, I like it.

It's the moment of truth.

Time to find out if the boss has proved himself

in front of his protege

and whether Boyle will get his first ever qualification.

Right, Terry...

What did I do with Terry?

You've gained 14 marks out of 15.

So that's a pass, well within...

-Boyle...

-Oh, here we go.

-Here we go.

-Here we go.

Right...

Out of the 15 questions,

you managed only to get...

-..all 15 right.

-THEY CHEER

All 15! Everything!

Yes!

Here, you need a hug for that, you need a hug!

Not me, you answered them, you answered them.

-Yes!

-OK.

-Well done, pal.

-I beat ya! I beat ya!

HE SHOUTS FOR JOY

-Yeah, man, thanks.

-Well done, lad.

-First of many, yeah?

-Yeah.

All right. Knuckle down.

I'm the man! I'm the man!

-LYNDSAY:

-Next one's your driving licence.

That's not a driving licence,

that doesn't mean you can go on t'road with the machine.

-LAUGHTER

-It's been a good week.

They've done it Lyndsay's way and profits are up.

And Boyle has a certificate to his name.

Yeah!

That's the first ever test I've ever passed, full.

Every question right.

Failed every other one.

Buzzing! Buzzing!

Boyle never went to school.

That's why he ended up at Metro Salvage in the first place.

Now he's got a licence, something to look at and be proud of.

And I'm proud of him too.

There'll be fairground rides going on in that area,

up to the edge of that shed.

He's gone absolutely stark-raving bonkers.

Obviously, the two coppers have jumped on me, arrested me...

Just silly. Absolutely stupid.

Not on, this.

SHOUTING: There's too many of you here!

Everybody's upset, really upset.

Another thing she said was, "Get your bags packed and get out."