Episode 1 From There to Here

So...

-So...

-Still alive, then?

Unless we died in the night and went to heaven.

ALARM BEEPS

No.

We're still alive.

HE GROANS

HE SIGHS

Does this feel like a mistake to ya?

I mean, does it feel like that kind of a day?

SHE SIGHS

It's a good thing you're doing, hang on to that.

There are three battles that shape our lives -

nature versus nurture...

..free will versus destiny...

..and City versus United.

MUSIC: "I Wanna Be Adored" by The Stone Roses

# I don't have to sell my soul

# He's already in me

# I don't need to sell my soul

# He's already in me

# I wanna be adored

# I wanna be adored... #

LINE RINGS

PHONE RINGS

'It's Robbo here. Leave a beep after the message.'

-BEEP

-'Yeah, Robbo, this is your wake-up call.

'We're meeting Dad at 10.30.

'I'm not expecting hugs and kisses. Just no fighting, for once.

-'For me.'

-MACHINE CLICKS OFF

# I wanna be adored

# I wanna be adored. #

Hey, get a move on. What time's kick off? You're going to be late!

-Me socks aren't dry.

-Socks.

RADIO PLAYS SOFTLY

-Here. These'll have to do.

-Nice one.

-Here you are.

Right. Good luck with your job interview.

Not that you need it.

Give us a kiss.

-Bye, sweetheart.

-See you later.

-Wash up for me, will ya?

-Yeah.

-Come on, England!

-Come on, you can help with the washing up. See ya!

-Er...

-HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

HE SIGHS

PHONE RINGS

-RADIO:

-'This afternoon, the biggest match of Euro '96 so far.'

-Morning.

-'It's England versus Scotland at Wembley.'

-You all right, Maurice?

-Yeah, I'm all right.

-Yeah?

Mr Cotton?

-Mr Cotton! It's for you.

-I know. I know.

Daniel, he's in the middle of something at the moment. Yeah. Yeah.

-Eh up!

-Come on. Cheers, love!

HE SIGHS

DOOR OPENS

Oh, finally! Where've you been?

Oh, forgive me, I'm passionate about my business.

-You should try it yourself sometimes.

-Oh, I have passions, too.

They just don't happen to include a compressed dextrose tablet

-in the shape of an animal.

-Charming.

What do you think paid for my house? Your house?

What do you think paid for everything you've got?

OK. OK, I'm sorry. You're here now, that's the main thing.

-Is he here?

-No. No, not yet.

Where is he, then? Drugged up in a gutter somewhere, as usual, I think.

I want this to work, OK? So, just go easy on him.

I always went easy on him.

-Well, that was to protect the rest of us.

-He needed protecting, too.

He was old enough to know better.

I know it's the modern way to never actually hold your hand up and say, "My fault",

-but I'm not a big fan of the modern way.

-Oh, you don't say(!)

Hey!

-Hello.

-You all right?

-Hey.

-Hi, mate.

-How are you?

-Yeah, good.

Right, let me get you a coffee or something.

You look almost respectable.

-What you doing for a living these days?

-I've got a club...in town.

-Are there any staff in here?

-A club?!

HE LAUGHS At your age?

What kind of job is that for a grown man?

Says the man who makes sweets for a living.

I'm very good at making sweets for a living.

-Is he good at running a nightclub for a living?

-Yes.

-I am here.

Good. So, we're not getting together because you need money, then?

Oh, lovely. Lovely!

No. No we're getting together for me. OK? For me.

-Morning, Joanne.

-Morning.

So, is this how it went with the Prodigal Son? Remind me.

It's been a while since I read it.

-No, sorry, Daniel. This was never going to work.

-Dad, please, for me.

-Sit down.

-This wasn't my idea.

-I guessed that.

Shut up you! Dad, please.

-No, a waste of time.

-I've got cancer, by the way.

What are you talking about?

-What?

-I've got cancer.

-That's why Daniel wanted you to see me.

-Is that true?

No, it isn't.

But I just wondered what it would take to get you to turn round.

You are a sick bugger, you know? You always were. ROBBO LAUGHS

Hmm.

DANIEL SIGHS

COUGHING

-MUFFLED:

-Are you all right?

Robbo?

Dad! Dad?

Dad? Dad!

Dad?

Come on.

ALARM

Dad!

THEY GROAN

SAMUEL MUMBLES

SAMUEL COUGHS

How come you stayed on your feet?

I don't know.

Did you hear something?

Yeah...a fucking big bang. Did you?

No, I'm serious. Listen.

-WAILING

-There.

CREAKING

Bloody hell!

Right, you two, go on outside. Go on.

We need to get out of here before this place comes down.

I'm all right. No touching.

-WOMAN MOANS

-It's OK, love. My name's Daniel.

What's yours?

Joanne.

SIREN

-WOMAN:

-Can everybody keep back now?

HUBBUB

I'm all right.

Hey, over here, mate.

Over here. There's more. There's more down there.

HUBBUB

Here. Here.

Careful.

-POLICE OFFICER:

-This way. Come on.

SIRENS

ROTORS WHIR

POLICE RADIO CRACKLES SIRENS

BABY CRIES

Any word on the bastards that did this?

Police are saying IRA.

Yeah, well, I'm not surprised.

That's the peace process for you.

Hold still.

-Hey, I drove an ambulance in the war round Trafford Park.

-Yeah?

A bit of flying glass isn't going to scare me, love.

It's better to be on the safe side.

That's the trouble with this country, innit, eh?

You start off banning conkers

and, the next minute, the IRA have taken you for a soft touch.

Excuse me. Excuse me, this lady got hurt. Can somebody have a look?

I'm in shock, right, so what I'm thinking is,

you've got legitimate access to various chemicals

and...I'm a legitimate bomb victim in need of comfort.

So...where's the harm?

Don't push your luck, mate.

SIREN

-Are you all right, Dad?

-Never better. How's the cleaner?

Yeah, she's going to be all right.

He hasn't changed.

We nearly died in there. Doesn't that make you think?

Dead right. It makes me think we should hold on to what's important.

And he isn't important.

Hey, mate... that woman you brought out,

Any chance you could see her home?

Yeah, go on. Hey...make sure you're back for kick off.

-Cheers, mate.

-JOANNE: It's just a scratch. I just need to get home.

-I'll give you a lift home, love.

-Seriously?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Oh, you're a diamond.

-Come on.

ROTORS WHIR DISTANTLY

MEN SHOUT

SIREN

Is that what I think it is, sir?

Cut me some slack, mate, I nearly just breathed me last in there.

So did I.

So...you know.

MUSIC: "Regret" by New Order

Do you need to call anyone? I've got one of these terrible things.

Oh...a megaphone would be more use.

I've got one son playing football and another at a job interview.

-SHE SIGHS

-Job interview?

Are you old enough to have a son that age?

-Sorry, I didn't mean...

-THEY LAUGH

You're going to have to direct me from here.

Oh, turn left here... and we're at the end.

It's not that bad, is it?

No. No. No, no.

-I think I used to live round here.

-You think you did?!

Yeah, I did.

Definitely.

I know I did.

-TV:

-'We've just received these pictures of central Manchester.'

-REPORTER:

-'A massive explosion can clearly be seen.'

-TV:

-'What I can tell you is that, from about a quarter past ten this morning,

-'police were cordoning off a...'

-Adopted, by the way.

When I was about five.

I knew it was somewhere this way and, er...

Well, it started coming back to me, driving you back.

Oh, right.

Thank goodness for that, I thought you were going X-Files on me.

-THEY LAUGH

-Thought you'd let a nutter bring you home.

Not for the first time, believe me. HE LAUGHS

-I can't watch that, sorry. Have a seat.

-Thanks.

HE SIGHS Thank you, by the way, for...

-I never said thank you.

-No, don't, please. You don't have to.

Who were them fellers you were with?

It was me family. Me dad and me brother.

Don't look like you.

Well, there's a reason for that.

Oh, yeah, right, sorry. Adopted, you said.

THEY LAUGH

What did you think about...when that ceiling came down on us?

My boys. Did they have their keys with them?

Could they break in, if they didn't?

Would I be late for me other job? What about you?

That I didn't want to come round and find John Major by the side of me bed.

THEY LAUGH Well, I wouldn't have minded that.

No matter how bad I looked, I know I'd have looked healthier than him.

HE CHUCKLES

I felt sort of surprised, too. You know? I thought...

"Oh, so this is how it ends."

You know?

Do you want a top up or will your wife be wondering where you got to?

I'm not married.

It's a long story and...

you really don't want to hear it.

Don't worry, I wasn't asking to hear it.

Here are. Oh. Cheers.

Where have you been?! You've been ages!

-She lived over Flixton way.

-Oh.

-Got stuck on the M62.

I thought you might have aftershock or something.

-No, that's like earthquakes, innit?

-Are you sure you're all right?

-Yeah.

-Aye, aye.

-Ah, you made it, then.

Just in time for kick off.

-Look at this. TV:

-'One pregnant woman

'was blown off her feet by the blast.'

You know what we should do, we should go to Old Trafford tomorrow for the Germany/Russia game.

Show the paddies we're not afraid.

No Irish Republican is going to want to bomb Old Trafford, Dad. It's a Catholic club.

-So, what's City?

-Buddhist. All suffering leads to enlightenment.

THEY LAUGH

'Well, here we go into the second half, then. It's 0-0, England against Scotland.

'Seaman stands tall as McAlister, has a chance to level the scores.

-'Oh, what a save!'

-Yes, he saved it!

SAMUEL LAUGHS

They're never very good in the heat, are they, the Jocks?

Having a brush with death like that, it brings things home to you -

not letting the moment pass and all that.

You really want to make that bomb an excuse

for a begging letter on your brother's behalf?

-It's not a begging letter.

-He'll never change. Simple as that.

Would it be so hard for the three of us

just to be sitting here watching the game, having a beer and not raking over the past?

-I don't want him back in my life.

-He's your family. He's in your life, whether you want him or not.

-You can't just pick and choose.

-Why not? I picked you, didn't I?

-Bought me, more like.

-"Bought me"?!

Well, that's lovely. Put that on my Fathers' Day card.

You're getting to sound like the other one.

The other one?!

That's my brother, your son.

-His name is Robbo!

-His name is shit!

Yeah? And whose fault is that? You brought him up, you crippled him, like you crippled me

and the only difference between you and the other one is, at least he knows he's fucked.

'Let the celebrations begin! Gazza makes it 2-0 to England!'

Dad? Dad? Dad! Dad!

Dad?! Dad?!

Claire! Claire! Claire!

-Yeah?

-It's Dad!

He just went over.

-Samuel? Samuel?

-Come on, Dad!

-I'll ring for an ambulance.

Dad! Come on, Dad!

Mum?

-Hi.

-Oh, sweetheart. Thanks for coming.

-Hi.

-Are you OK?

-Yeah.

-How is he?

-They're monitoring him.

-What does that mean?

-Well, he's had a stroke.

-Oh, God!

They think it's delayed shock after the bomb.

Could've been the stress I was piling on him.

-Along with 40 fags and a fry-up every morning.

-He was on a health kick. Special K and Silk Cut.

Your dad could start a row in an empty house. He'll be fine. He always is.

I'll just, erm...

Excuse me.

DANCE MUSIC PUMPS CHATTER

-So, he's going to be all right?

-Yeah, the medics seem to think so.

Just my luck.

I put him in there, arguing about you, so lay off, will ya?

I can't help it, I owe money. I owe it to some bad people.

Proper naughty. You know why? Cos of you and Dad.

What do you mean, because of me?!

You promised to help me out.

I've been helping you out all your life!

I know, but you said you were good for a few bob more.

You know, straighten me out once and for all.

-We've been here before, haven't we?

-Play this.

I don't do requests, mate. I'm not a wedding DJ.

Play it!

All right. All right, I'll play it.

I didn't know it was your birthday.

Pussy!

GANGSTA RAP MUSIC PLAYS

Now can you see why I need the money?

It's them I borrowed the money off.

Oh, brilliant(!)

Where have you been?

-HE SIGHS

-Arguing with Robbo.

Did you make him have a stroke, too?

Very funny.

SHE LAUGHS I have perspective.

BOTH SIGH

HE SIGHS HEAVILY

BUZZER

Hiya. Is Robbo in?

Cheers.

-WOMAN:

-Are you telling me you didn't cheat on me?

-MAN MUMBLES

-Go away!

-What?

-I don't care, you cheated on me.

If it's a threesome you're after, we're all shagged out.

Well, I'm glad one of us could sleep.

-ROBBO SIGHS

-What time is it?

-Just gone nine.

ROBBO GROANS

See you, Robbo.

Yeah, see ya...

-Caroline.

-I'd have got there in the end!

-Piss off!

Bit touchy.

So...how much do you owe them?

The Manc Capones?

30 grand...and rising.

Why would you borrow 30 grand off drug dealers?

I got in a bit of a mess.

Right. I owed the brewery. I owed on the lease.

I owed security on the door. I owed business rates.

And, to be fair, the drug dealers

-have proved a more reliable source of liquidity than you.

-Oh, really?

-Hmm.

-So, what happened to the ten grand I gave you last month?

Where did that go?

Buy me breakfast, I'll tell ya.

Ten grand on a five-match accumulator.

I put the full wad on our lads to win it.

This isn't real, is it?

It's real, all right.

Scotland done, yeah?

England just need to win their next four matches.

450 grand...and change.

I think that might be just enough to turn things around?

Sorry, you bet ten...

ten grand that England aren't going to mess up in a major tournament?

Why would anyone do that?!

It's that bomb.

See, one inch either side of that pillar and I'd be dead.

But I walked out of there, nothing heavier than plaster dust on me.

And, I tell you, I knew then

that bomb was the start of my lucky streak.

The bomb? The bomb made you to do it.

Yeah. Yeah.

Why, didn't the bomb tell you anything?

26 bets. Ten doubles, ten trebles,

five fourfold and a straight fivefold accumulator.

I'd better take this for safe keeping, you see,

because you can't be trusted.

DOORBELL

Yeah?

Hiya. Is your mum in?

-Yeah!

-Who is it?

-Some bloke!

Sorry about that.

Oh, I've been called worse.

Just...passing were you?

No, not really. I, erm...

I wanted to see how you were.

-Do you want to come in?

-Yeah. Yeah.

Don't mind him, he's very protective.

Ah.

How are you feeling today?

All right, you know.

Thanks for asking.

I'm off to the shops.

Don't be long.

Listen, I, erm... I just wanted to explain,

I don't know if you thought I was being a bit weird or what yesterday.

We were all being weird yesterday. We nearly got blown to smithereens.

It just freaked me out. You know, the bomb, finding you...

and then coming back here after all that time.

You got a long way away from here.

Yeah, sometimes I think maybe a bit too far.

SHE LAUGHS There's no such thing as too far away from here.

Good place to come from... shit place to stay.

Sounds like a country and western song.

My whole life sounds like a country and western song.

And how are you?

Yeah.

I don't know. I mean...

I, sort of, feel like I've been picked for something.

But, er...I don't know what it is yet.

Do you know what I mean?

Not really.

HE LAUGHS

OK.

-All right?

-This is Daniel. It was him that helped me out yesterday.

Thanks, mate. Nice one.

Yeah.

Anyway, er...I'll see you around.

What is it you do?

-What?

-For work? What do you do?

Oh, er... it's too boring to tell you.

More boring than cleaning?

It IS cleaning.

Yeah, industrial.

You know, factories on... Close down or after they've been built.

That sort of thing. Yeah.

You must be very good at it, car like that.

-Haven't you heard of easy credit?

-SHE LAUGHS

I don't trust easy credit.

That's why I've got two jobs and a sofa from a skip.

And not much time for anything else.

What made you think I was after anything else?

You keep looking at me as if you want to say something and then stop yourself.

In my experience, that can mean one of two things,

you're going to ask me out or you're going to chuck me.

No, it's neither.

I'm a mouth breather.

It's the curse of the windswept Manc.

Right.

Hey, look what the cat dragged in.

Charlie came up from London as soon as he heard.

-That was nice of him. Nice to see you, Son.

-Hiya, Dad.

Nice to see you're in one piece. This is Matilda.

-Hello, love.

-Hi.

-Pleased to meet you.

-And you.

-How are you feeling, Dad?

-Never better.

-It's great to see you sitting up.

-Yeah.

-I thought, erm...

-Well, you know, for a minute, I thought...

-Yeah, well...

the IRA tried to kill me in the morning and you tried to kill me in the afternoon.

-Sam!

-Yeah, but don't worry, I'd feel like shit if I was in your shoes, but we move on.

Get Charlie to tell you what he just told me. This is genius. You'll love it.

-I'm sure you don't want to hear it again.

-Of course I do, love.

I can look at you while he's telling 'em.

Feel free to sue my father for sexual harassment at any stage.

I was just telling Grandad about PFI.

-I thought it was the IRA claimed responsibility?

-Oh, for God's sake!

Just listen, will you? SAMUEL CHUCKLES

Here's the thing. They get this private finance whatsit?

-And that's how Manchester is going to get rebuilt at no cost to the taxpayer.

-I doubt that.

Oh, there you are, you see. What did I tell you?

-He'd have a downer on it. I told you, didn't I?

-Are we going to argue about this now or, erm...?

-No, we're not.

-You're supposed to be resting.

-Right.

-Claire, we listen to.

-Oh, right. OK.

Hello! There he is!

Hello, you two! What a sight for sore eyes!

-Hello.

-Hello, Grandad. How are you feeling?

-Feeling very bored, actually.

-Oh.

-Anyway...

How's life with Tony and Gordon?

You! Oh, hello, you must be Matilda. I'm Louise.

-That's Peter, my husband.

-Hi.

-Why did you bring the kids?

Is this a lefty's idea of Disneyland?

He used to make a lot of Airfix models as a child. I blame the glue.

Hey, don't start, you two, you'll scare the other patients.

-There we are.

-Are you all right, love?

-Yeah, it's just, erm...

-Come on.

-I'll see you at home, yeah?

-Sure. Of course.

And what's your name. How old are you?

If our Louise had said that canvassing meant folding,

I'd have thought twice.

What you worrying about?

The Holland match.

It's only football.

That doesn't...really help.

You see them? It's just a matter of breaking 'em up into individual sweets.

-Stop. Here, try one.

-No, thanks.

-Go on!

-You know you want to!

-Fine.

With a figure like yours, a sweet's not going to do you any harm.

Guilty pleasures are always the best, Samuel.

-Oh.

-Quite right.

-SHE LAUGHS

You understand human weakness, you understand the sweet industry.

That's all there is to it.

You don't win Budget Sherbet-Based Brand of the Year

for ten years on the bounce without knowing a thing or two about human nature.

What are you doing out of hospital? They let you leave?

-No, I checked meself out. Have you ever tried to sleep in hospital?

-Oh!

I'd have died of exhaustion in there.

You shouldn't be here. You should be at home resting.

Yeah, well, I'm just doing the tour and then I'll go home.

Matilda here is actually very interested in sweet manufacture.

Hmm. I did my post-grad thesis on British manufacturing industry so...

You see, beauty and brains. THEY LAUGH

-Grandad, you all right?

-Yeah! Hmm.

-Actually, I think I'm cured.

-Oh.

THEY LAUGH

DOORBELL

Hiya. Please, don't close the door. I'm on a scheme for the unemployed

-and I am just wondering if you'd be interested in buying any cleaning products today.

-No, thanks.

Dishcloths. Chamois leathers. All handmade by mentals.

I don't buy from the door. Sorry.

Say hello to Daniel for me.

What?

-How do you know Daniel?

-Everybody knows Daniel.

He's a mate of Robbo's from the club, in't he?

Erm...just hang on.

Take...this for your trouble.

Thanks. Very righteous of you.

-So what, he just said he knew me?

-Yeah.

-What did he look like?

Like a rat in an anorak.

-Ring any bells?

-No, not really.

Ella's fast asleep.

Oh, well done, Peter. Here, get yourself a beer.

Oh, Samuel, do you want mayonnaise on your chicken sandwich?

No. No mayonnaise, no salt, no pleasure. DOORBELL

All I've got to look forward to is hummus and death.

-Hey, we've got a lot riding on this match.

-Nice to see you.

-Look at this! All the family together. I love it!

-Charlie!

A member of my tribe who really appreciates me.

Come and sit next to me, the pair of you. I want someone I can talk some sense with.

-Matilda, do you want a drink?

-A glass of white wine, please. Thank you.

Can I get a beer, Mum?

-TV:

-'The Dutch have won the toss, so De Boer and Bergkamp will kick off.'

-Thank you.

-So, how did you meet my brother?

Oh, I was an intern in his department and it was raining one day and he lent me his umbrella. Didn't ya?

Oh, that sounds dangerously left wing of him.

Well, it was raining very heavily.

-Overpaid rubbish. Everyone of them.

-SAMUEL: Yeah, I agree.

I tell you who's overpaid - you and your bloody public schoolboy mates.

-Running round waving money at each other.

-England prepared for the tournament

by getting drunk on tequila. What sort of an example's that?

I don't look to Teddy Sheringham and Gazza to give me moral guidance, I look to them to play football.

-So, off the pitch anything goes? Murder? Armed robbery?

-Get a grip, Charlie!

-"Britain won three gold medals today in the Paedophile Olympics."

-Will you just shut up?!

The lot of ya! Can we just watch the match?!

HE SIGHS TV PLAYS

You all right?

It's just the usual crap. Dad playing me off against someone.

Always making me feel like I have to live up to something, but never telling me what it is.

Oh, you nearly lost him!

So, if you have to back down from the odd fight...

Have you ever wanted to be anybody else? Somebody else.

SHE LAUGHS Well, don't take this personally,

but...I wouldn't mind being Mrs Sean Penn for the day.

No strings either side.

No, you know, somebody new. Somebody...more exciting.

-SAMUEL:

-Hey, come on, teams are out!

-Somebody better.

-Come on, second half's kicking off!

Come on.

-TV:

-'England will book a place in the quarterfinals.'

-Come on, lads. Come on, lads. Gazza!

-'Gascoigne...'

Go on, my son! This is more like it!

-You wanted to imprison him ten minutes ago.

-That was before he earned my trust.

-'And Shearer. Yes! Shearer!'

-Yes! Yes!

-Brilliant!

-Yes!

'And that surely will clinch the place on top of the group...'

Yes! Shearer, you beauty!

Oh, God! Yes!

Yehay! Oh, God! Yes!

CLAIRE LAUGHS

Did you see that? Oh! Three!

That's it. Definitely. Oh! Shearer!

'To beat Holland in such a convincing manner is a testament to the quality of this England squad.

'Who knows now just how far this team can go.'

All the fucking way, please, Motty!

'..And the next test is Spain. This afternoon at Wembley three o'clock.'

Don't tell me, you're half Spanish on your grandma's side.

Well, she has got a moustache, come to think of it.

Hey, your dad's not wasted any time getting back in the saddle, has he?

-How do you mean?

-He's in the office?

What, he's in again?! It's Saturday morning, he should be resting up.

Ah, but he's got your Charlie looking after him.

Charlie's here, too? Oh, brilliant!

-WOMAN:

-Morning, Daniel.

-Morning.

-Hello.

-I thought the doctor said you needed to rest.

Listening to our Charlie is the best medicine I could have.

He's got a head full of ideas.

Has he now? And I thought you were here visiting your grandad.

-Aren't we a bit small fry for you?

-Well, if I can do something for the family while I'm here.

You're not in great shape, but the place is ripe for private equity.

Well, there's a sentence to love.

The investors raise capital on the back of the brand,

then the investment reboots the company while you, me and Grandad

stay on the board with a majority stake.

So, the investors aren't really investing their own money, are they?

Ah, you see, Charlie, that's what he lacks...vision.

The money they invest is raised on the expectation of increased market share.

Which is going to come from where? You just said we were in bad shape.

China, India, the old Eastern bloc. What comes with affluence?

A sweet tooth. 1.2 billion Chinamen, one billion Indians,

Croatians, Poles.

-That's a lot of penny chews.

-You should listen to the lad!

And you should be at home in bed!

-Where are you going now?

-Anywhere but here!

HE SIGHS

Is that blue in the sky?

No, it's a tinted windscreen.

SHE LAUGHS

Did you ever contact your real mum and dad?

No.

Never wanted to.

She gave me up when I was five.

Why would I want to?

Hmm. At least it's not raining.

"At least it's not raining".

I don't think that's quite the catch phrase

that Southport Tourist Board are looking for.

Don't worry, I don't like holidays anyway, they remind me of death.

Though, in fairness, that might just be Southport.

No. No. When I was a kid, we'd go away.

And on a Thursday, we'd see a show.

And I'd sit in the theatre and see all the red faces of the people on their holidays.

All scrubbed up, laughing, happy.

And all I could think was, "All these people are going to be dead one day."

-And I wanted to stand up and tell 'em.

-And that's when you knew you wanted to be a Butlins Redcoat.

SHE LAUGHS

Anyway, it's not a holiday, it's a day trip.

I've got another idea.

-Better than this one?

-Ah, it's much, much better. Come on.

I don't want your money.

I'm just trying to help you, what's wrong with that?

I don't need your help.

Joanne, you have two jobs, two growing lads,

-I just think you deserve better.

-Listen,

when their dad buggered off... I felt glad.

I felt guilty about Lee. You do when your child's not right.

And...he went and it was easier.

I stopped feeling like I needed to apologise for bringing Lee into the world.

SHE SIGHS One less to worry about.

I had my team. Me and the boys. I've got my team.

I don't need saving!

-It was something you said about how lucky I'd been to get away.

-I wasn't saying that to make you feel guilty.

I know you weren't. I'd never think that.

Why couldn't you just be like a normal bloke and ask me out for a drink or something?

Or say, "Life's too short", and make a pass at me.

DOOR OPENS

-You're here again? What fell on her this time?

-Light rain.

Well, if you're coming to the pub,

you'll have to get the first round in.

Ryan, on other hand, has no trouble taking hand-outs.

-TV PLAYS

-The traffic's murder, love.

I'm sorry, I'm not going to make it.

I've stopped in a pub to watch it.

-Don't worry.

-Are you sure?

-I'll see you later.

-Enger-land!

-Come on, England!

-SHOUTING

See you, love.

-Oh, he's not coming.

-What?

-Why not?

-Stuck in traffic!

I just hope it doesn't jinx it with him not being here.

-TV:

-'Well, it's another nail-biter for England fans

'as they face that dreaded shoot-out once again.

-'Here's Stuart Pearce. He missed in 1990.'

-It's Pearce.

-Why are they letting Pearce take one?

-No, no, no, no, no!

No. How can he do this to me?

'The nation holds its breath. Stuart Pearce.

'Yes! He's got it!'

-CHEERING

-'An absolute belter of a penalty!

-Yes!

-'Ecstatic scenes around Wembley and, I'm sure, across the country.

'England are 3-1 up

'and surely, a semifinal place beckons for England.'

Cracking game!

We kicked their arse.

Ha-ha-ha!

Here, go on, you get the brews on.

It was good to see you.

You, too.

-I'm sorry...

-I'm sorry...

THEY BOTH LAUGH NERVOUSLY

I'm sorry if I made you feel bad about offering to help me out.

-I just...

-No, no. It was a stupid idea. It was patronising and, er...

No, you were right.

Right. Good night.

I'm sorry, I...

What's going on, Daniel?

Are we mates? Are we going to...?

-What are you doing?

-I don't know.

I don't know what I'm doing.

Right...

Well, don't come back and see me until you do. OK?

'I don't know what it is about her.'

She just makes me feel like my real life.

You like the idea of the scummy estate where she lives.

You like her being a single mum.

You like low-life because you're not stuck there like me,

with blokes whose idea of a down payment is this.

-I take it you didn't tell them about your sure-fire bet?

-I did not.

Spain match was a bit close for comfort.

Which is why I've got a back-up plan.

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

You know what people are saying about the bomb?

Saying it could be the best thing that ever happened to Manchester.

Are they? And who are "they"?

Presumably they weren't lying in dust,

covered in glass, scared half to death.

When Alex Ferguson signed Eric Cantona

it was because Leeds had rung him to ask about selling Denis Irwin.

What?

From time to time, bad shit can, by complete accident,

cause good shit to happen.

Very profound.

I read philosophy on my second stretch at Strangeways.

Bob the Rizla, right, got his tobacconist's blown up in the bomb.

Got no insurance, went down the town hall,

he's going to get full compensation.

No questions asked.

Victim of terrorism.

He's going to have a handshake with Michael Heseltine, the works.

He's going to be minted.

He's relaunching as a tanning studio.

Well, his fingers are already yellow.

A second bomb hits the club early one morning.

IRA, up to its old tricks again.

-Why would the IRA bomb your club?

-They won't. We will.

I'll bomb my own club, nobody gets hurt, IRA gets the blame,

I get the compensation.

What, so, you're thinking of putting on an IRA tribute act?

-Should that worry me?

-All I'm asking from you is an alibi.

Why would I get involved in something as stupid as this?

You already are involved. Don't you see?

Cos if I don't pay the debt, they'll come looking for you.

Don't you think they know who you are? Where you live?

Come to think of it,

Claire said there was some Rusholme ruffian at ours selling dishcloths.

-What've you got me in to here, Robbo?

-Could be worse.

-Could've bought a dishcloth off him.

-It's not funny.

That's what I'm trying to say.

If England lose, a last resort - this place goes up.

England are going to win, and you are going to clear half a million.

-That's what's going to happen.

-That's right. That... That is right.

And then we can pretend this conversation never happened.

I know what you think of me.

I know you think that I've become a pompous, money-grabbing bastard.

But I'm asking you to let me do this for you. It's what I'm good at.

I just don't understand why you'd say no.

I don't think that about you.

I just wish you'd come to me first.

Grandad's an old man and you dazzle him.

-But not you?

-No. You just humiliate me.

Dad, if I'd wanted to humiliate you

I could have asked you what the cash sums you took out over the last year were about.

Ten grand last month, five grand six months ago,

five grand the April before that...

That's a lot of petty cash.

OK. Robbo, your uncle, he has this club and, erm...

He got into a bit of trouble and, well, he's family,

no matter what your grandad tells you.

So, if you believe in family that much,

why won't you let me help the family business out?

What, you can just magic this money up?

That's my job - magicking up money. It's what I'm good at.

I'm assuming things will change.

I'm assuming people don't join the board

just because they want a free lucky bag.

Things have to change, yes.

Right, by which you mean, bottom line,

people are going to lose their jobs.

Those people, out there.

Well, not as many people as if it closes down altogether.

And it will if it carries on like this.

-Come and talk to me after the match.

-What?

-I assume you're coming over to watch it at ours?

-Yeah...

Well, let's talk after the match.

-TV:

-'Well, tonight's the night,

'the one football match you cannot miss - England versus Germany.'

-Everyone all right for drinks?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Everybody's fine. Come on, sit down. Same place as last time.

'..1996 Final...'

-Here you are.

-So...how's life?

As you can see, I'm living the dream(!)

You say that like it's my fault.

Don't flatter yourself. Is the factory in trouble, yes or no?

-I won't let that place close, I promise you that.

-That's a worry.

I remember your promises.

-'Oh, yes, it's Shearer!'

-Come on! Yes!

'..from the box and he puts England ahead.'

THEY CHEER

'..and England are leading...'

1-0! Come on, England!

'That goal has been scored in under three minutes.

'A dream start for England.

Kill it, England.

'..to Helmer. Oh, danger here!

'And Kuntz scores. Germany are level.'

THEY GROAN

'The England players are looking at the linesman.

'I suspect they feel it should have been an offside.'

-Where was Pearce? Nowhere. Where was Seaman? Nowhere!

-I know.

I don't like seeing the Germans giving it plenty.

Brings a chill to my heart.

'It's anybody's game...'

'And so, yet again, England go into the penalty shoot-out

'to determine their fate.'

'Alan Shearer has been the stand-out man

'for England in this tournament.

'He's already scored two penalties, can he make it three?

'You wouldn't want anybody else to be England's first man up.'

I can't watch this.

'We're just waiting for the referee's whistle now.'

WHISTLE BLOWS

'And he scores. Shearer, 1-0 to England.'

THEY CHEER

'David Seaman walks across to his goal. The man who was so impressive.

'Up steps Hassler. Oh, he makes it 1-1, penalty.

'Seaman dived the right way

'but the strike was in the bottom corner, out of his reach.

'Sheringham runs up.

'Great penalty by Teddy Sheringham.

'England are 5-4 up. How tense can it be?

'The pressure is on the Germans now as Kuntz steps up

'to take Germany's fifth penalty.

'He must score for Germany to stay in this championship

'and to prevent England from reaching the final.'

-Oh!

-Ohhh!

Oh, shit!

THEY GROAN

'We move to sudden death.

'The tension here inside Wembley is almost unbearable.

'Who will step up to take England's sixth?

'Oh, here's Gareth Southgate.

'Something of a surprise perhaps, but cool under pressure normally.

'Oh, this is all...'

COMMENTARY FADES

INAUDIBLE

'..England are out 6-5 on penalties. The dream is over.

'And you have to feel for Gareth Southgate in particular

'because Germany have made it through to yet another final

'and, sadly, Euro '96 all ends here for England.'

Here.

Do what you can do to raise money from the firm.

Go with your plan.

What's changed?

Everything.

And, erm...

let me speak to Louise before you do anything.

Of course.

Thanks, Dad.

'Yeah?'

-Roy, it's Robbo.

-'Right.'

That thing we talked about.

'Yeah?'

It's on.

Yeah, I'll leave the money where we said and, er...I'll stay away.

'Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. It'll happen.'

Yeah. Sure.

-ANSWERPHONE:

-'It's Robbo here, leave a beep after the message.'

'Robbo? Call me when you pick this up.

'I've found another way to get the money.'

It's not nice but at least it's legal.

MOBILE RINGS

Robbo, would you please pick up? Why didn't you leave me a message?

'Just tell me you haven't done anything yet!

'And call me as soon as you get this.'

ROBBO!

Hiya, is Robbo in?

Robbo?

-Cheers, boys.

-All right.

Oh, fuck!

PHONE RINGS

-ANSWERPHONE:

-'It's Robbo here, leave a beep after the message.'

-BEEP

I've found it.

I don't know what to do.

You know that Eric Cantona analogy?

It doesn't really hold up any more...

'..so you really need to call me and start telling me what to do.

'I'm at the club right now.'

Daniel?

(Stupid twat!

(You stupid twat! No!)

ANSWERPHONE: 'Hi, this is Daniel...'

EXPLOSION

RUMBLING

# Because if it's not love

# Then it's the bomb, the bomb The bomb, the bomb

# The bomb, the bomb The bomb that will bring us together

# Nature is a language Can't you read?

# Nature is a language Can't you read? #