Scratch Moving On

NOISE FROM TELEVISION

Oi! I was watching that.

Hey, Nathan! Put Abby's programme back on.

Crier!

Oi, you two. Please?

-Big head, have we?

-No.

That's for them. I didn't know you were up.

How can anyone sleep with that going on?

What time did you get in?

It was about half 12.

It said 2:15 on the clock.

-Then why ask?

-I like to see you squirm.

I had to stay out. Our Darren got another round in.

Darren says, you do.

MUSIC PLAYS

Turn that down, Abby.

-I can't hear it.

-Turn it down please.

Mum, where are my ballet shoes?

Where you left them!

Try your wardrobe.

CRASHING OUTSIDE

Seven o'clock this morning that lot started.

It's a nightmare.

Do you want a coffee?

Some of us don't have the time.

Milk's on the step.

RADIO PLAYS

CHATTING

Well, go and get it then. We're on a deadline here!

-It's a nightmare, all this, isn't it?

-Tell me about it.

-They're working tomorrow too.

-Sunday?

That's what I heard.

How did you do that? Your car.

What?

That wasn't me.

-The skip?

-Probably. Go ask that lot.

We need the milk.

Good luck telling her.

Careful with that, yeah?

-Have you sorted the generator in the back?

-No.

That floor's ready for the concrete, yeah?

-All shuttered up.

-Good.

Any further behind, I'm going to need snookers.

-You won't believe...

-How's Lisa?

-It's nothing like that.

-I'm sure.

She was just telling me about the builders working tomorrow.

-Tomorrow?

-Yeah.

But Mum and Dad are coming tomorrow...

For their anniversary!

Oh, I forgot.

I'm not having their day ruined.

She might have it wrong.

Go and have a word with them.

-Sarah...

-John, go and have a word!

They won't listen to me.

Just go and see them.

For once in your life, will you please...?

What am I supposed to say?

You say my mum and dad are coming tomorrow.

They won't care about that.

We've got a right to some peace and quiet on a Sunday, for God's sake.

-They'll finish early.

-Oh, they've said that, have they?

No, but it's a Sunday, so they'll want to get off.

And they might not.

Excuse me.

-Excuse me!

-Yep?

Can I have a word, please?

Give us a minute.

Hold that a sec.

How long is this going to take?

What?

All this?

Well, it's a renovation and an extension, mate,

so how long's a piece of string?

I'm sorry, mate.

Are you working tomorrow?

Yeah, that rain during the week's left us behind.

Only the wife's parents are coming round tomorrow

and she's a bit concerned about the noise.

It's their anniversary, you see.

You can make as much noise as you want up to two o'clock.

Thanks.

So can I tell her it's sorted then?

You can tell her we'll try and keep it down,

-but we're digging up the road tomorrow.

-Digging up the road?

-Yeah, new water mains.

-Can't you put them in today?

Not with two cubic metres of concrete being delivered

any minute now, mate, no.

Look, if it's any consolation,

I'm missing my Sunday dinner with the family and all.

Yeah, but you are getting paid to miss it.

Is there anything else?

Has Dad sorted it, Mum?

No.

Go and get dressed.

-Well?

-Where's the coffee?

-Did you explain about tomorrow?

-Yeah.

-About my mum and dad?

-Everything.

And?

Where's the coffee?

Where it's always been!

-They're digging up the road tomorrow.

-What?!

I did my best.

I know you did.

Hello? Charlie? Phil.

Hiya. Listen, can you do us a skip, mate?

Today.

I know, I know, mate, but listen, I'll owe you big time, yeah?

All right, thanks, Charlie. Thanks a lot, mate. See you later.

KNOCKING

It's your Darren.

-Have you seen your car?

-Why?

-Look.

-Look at that.

-Oh, God!

-Was it like this when you parked it?

-No.

You were looking at it before.

-What?

-You and her. You were looking at it, talking about it.

-We weren't.

-I saw you. And now it's a surprise?

Do you reckon it might be kids?

Nah, this isn't kids. Look at it. That's another vehicle

and they've got off without saying owt.

You know, I think it might be them.

It was them.

That skip wagon, it's up and down here all the time,

turning and reversing.

Oi!

Look, mate, I've told him, we can't help the noise.

You've scratched my brother's car!

I don't think so, mate.

Here you are!

-That's nothing to do with us, that.

-It's everything to do with you!

-Your skip driver did it.

-Everything OK?

-You keep your nose out.

-They're saying Charlie's done this.

-Because he did.

He's a good man, Charlie. He wouldn't do this

-and then get off without saying anything.

-He must've done.

Look, we've got to get on.

-So who's going to pay out?

-You'll have to claim it on your insurance.

-I'm third party!

-Why should he? It was one of your lads what done it.

-That car hasn't moved since yesterday morning.

-So you say.

So he's a liar?

Can't you just phone the skip driver and find out?

-It wasn't him.

-Just ask.

Phone the skip driver now.

-No.

-No?

-No.

All right, well, give us his number, I'll ring him.

Look, I'm sorry about what's happened to your car,

but it's not our problem.

Now, some of us have got work to do. You know what I mean?

Can you believe that?

-Get your car keys.

-What?

-Now!

Where's the car keys?

In my bag. Why? What's happened?

I'm taking the kids out in ten.

-This isn't a bag, it's a Tardis. Here, you look.

-No!

John!

Why do you want them?

-I don't know. Darren asked me to get them.

-What's he up to?

I don't know.

Ten minutes.

Hey!

What are you doing?

You can't leave them like that!

His house. My house.

But they're halfway in the road!

Our road.

We're expecting a concrete mixer!

It's never going to get through there.

Well, we'll move them when you ring the skip driver.

Oh! This is ridiculous!

Look, concrete has to be laid right away!

Sorry, mate, not our problem.

Right, I'll ask you nicely.

Will you move those cars?

Well, since you put it like that...

No!

Cup of tea in yours, John?

Come on.

So what now?

We wait.

For what?

For them to pay up.

I need the car, John.

It's staying put. I'm right, aren't I?

He is right, Sarah.

But I need to go to football, Dad.

-And I can't miss my ballet class.

-You can take them on the bus.

I'm not getting the bus when there's a perfectly good car right outside.

It's just for today.

PHONE RINGS

-Hello.

-Hiya, it's Phil.

-Phil who?

-Phil Wilson.

-No, what job?

-In Linmore Street.

-Hang on, hang on a sec.

Oh, yeah, I've got you.

Look, I've got a situation with a couple of the locals.

-You can't hold the concrete off, can you?

-We've got a deadline.

So have I. I've got two men waiting to lay the floor.

Just a bit of leeway...

Sorry, he's on his way. Left 15 minutes ago.

-You can't delay at all?

-No can do.

I need my truck back right after.

My whole fleet's got a big job in the city. Roads are blocked.

But, hey, if you want to ring their site manager and ask.

Then the council for the traffic lights

and the police for the road closures?

-Not going to happen, is it?

-I'm sorry, I can't recall it now.

Concrete waits for no man.

You've got a two-hour window. Well, hour 45.

It is vitally important that you move those cars.

What? I didn't catch that.

Please, move your cars.

We can't.

We've got concrete coming.

You said.

It's left the depot now - I can't put it off.

It needs to be laid today.

Well, we'll move them when we get the money.

How much? I'll give you the money and I'll get it off him.

No. No, we want it from him and we want him to apologise.

Lads, this could get nasty.

Nasty?

I think you're talking to the wrong guy.

-Darren, maybe it's time we stopped.

-We stick it out, John.

Right?

-Right?

-Right.

-Right.

Get in!

All right, lads. What's going on?

Two apologies required, mate.

One for scratching my brother's car

-and the other for getting off without acknowledging it.

-You what?

It's this one here.

-See that?

-I don't know what you're talking about.

-You did it with your skip.

-Oh, come on. You're having a laugh.

-Do I look like I'm laughing?

-Hey, have you heard this?

-Did you damage their car?

-No!

-We know it was you!

Look, I didn't scratch your car, all right?

Just admit it, please, mate.

-I've been driving that skip for 20 years.

-So?

-I've never had an accident!

-Just admit it.

Look, I didn't do it, all right?

I'm not blaming you for getting off cos you probably didn't hear it.

-Look, I didn't!

-You wouldn't have felt it in that thing but you did do it, mate.

-I could drive that skip blindfolded.

-Looks like you did.

If it was me, I would've knocked. Wouldn't I?

I didn't scratch your car, all right?

Well, these cars stay where they are until you own up.

Come on, what is this, a playground? Grow up, you daft git.

-You know, if you weren't so old, I'd knock you out.

-Darren.

-You're paying for the damage!

-Come on now, lads, we don't want any of that.

-I've done nothing wrong!

-What'll it cost?

Don't know. 200 maybe.

200 pound and 50 pound on top, yeah?

50 pound on top from me is better than an apology from him. Agreed?

-Yeah.

-No!

-What?

His apology, his money, or these cars stay where they are.

You've got no chance.

-Right, just give me five minutes, will you, lads?

-Yeah.

What a cheek, eh?

Can you believe the cheek of them two?

Just say it was you.

-What?

-Just say it was you, Charlie.

-But it wasn't!

I know, we both know that, but just do it.

-Why should I?

-Listen to me.

I have got two cubic metres of ready mixed concrete on the way.

-I understand that.

-That is five tons of the stuff.

Now, the pipeline is 30 metres long,

which means we've got no chance with these cars in the way.

No, I'm not going to lie.

I've got two floor layers waiting around, doing nothing.

-I'm not going to lie.

-Please, Charlie.

No, I'm not going lie, man.

Look, Charlie, my hands are tied.

This job needs doing and it's only you stopping it.

I'm going to have to give Terry a ring.

-Are you serious?

-Deadly.

It's Saturday!

I'm only here because I'm doing you a favour

and now you're trying to get me sacked?

I'm not trying to get you sacked,

I'm trying to get the job finished! It's ringing.

"I'll owe you big time", that's what you said.

"Bring us a skip and I'll owe you big time."

-Is this how you pay a man back, eh?

-Hello? Yeah, Terry, it's Phil.

-Look, just say you'll do it, Charlie.

-No!

Look, mate, Charlie's got the job stopped here.

Hey, Mark. No, I'm good for the airport job.

No, I can do it. Look, I'll leave right now.

20 minutes, OK? Great.

What happens if the concrete doesn't get dropped in time?

-They'll dump it.

-Why?

Because it gets hard, you pillock.

And you can't let it go hard in the mixer.

How much is that going to cost them?

I don't know. Maybe a grand. Maybe two. It's bargaining power.

OK, Terry, I'll tell him.

He said do whatever it takes to get things moving,

or hand your keys back.

-Hand them back?

-For good.

-We're losing money, Charlie.

-And Terry said that, did he?

John, I need to get to work.

We've got a bit of a stand-off with the builders, Lisa.

-Well, I'm sorry about that but can't you let me through?

-Can't you just walk?

I could walk, yeah, but I'm a taxi driver and there's my taxi.

Right, well, as soon as it's sorted we'll give you a knock.

Here you are, speak to him.

Terry, it's Charlie.

We'll be the talk of the neighbourhood.

I don't believe this.

Yeah. No, no, I'll hand him back in a minute.

Do you know? You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me.

You wouldn't have a job. You wouldn't have a company.

-Just say you'll do it, Charlie!

-Aye!

Hello, yeah, yeah, it's Phil again.

All right, yeah. All right, Terry. Thanks.

It's only a little white lie, Charlie... What are you doing?

Well, I don't need them any more, do I? I've been sacked.

You've not been sacked! Nobody wants you sacked! They just...

Look, Charlie, I'm not letting you do this.

I'm not letting you play the martyr. It's stupid. It's just stupid.

Oh, aye, yeah. I've just lost my job, lads. Thanks a lot.

Don't you go telling Karen I've cost you your job because I haven't.

You did it yourself, mate.

It's not even a lie, Charlie.

Say you might have done, eh?

You might have done it and, if so, you're sorry.

Well, what's wrong with that?

Let's go inside.

We've just cost a man his job.

-He shouldn't have lied, should he?

-Get in the house!

What are you going to do?

Here. Get one of the lads to shift that wagon.

I'm going to ring the police.

-Can they move them?

-I don't know. Going to find out.

But I could get Bomber.

-Police, please, love.

-But why not?

-Aren't things bad enough already?

-He'd get them to move them.

He'd kill them. Oh, hello, love, I'm Phil Wilson

and I'm working on a house in Linmore Street.

Now I've got two cars double parked

and they're blocking access to the site. The police.

I don't know the number of my local station, love, no.

Well, to me it is an emergency

because I've got a load of ready mix on the way

and I need it sorting now.

They're on their way.

When, love? Is it minutes, hours, days, or...?

"Hours". Thanks, love. It's...

Thanks, love.

Do you think we can lift them?

Are you sure it was him?

-The skip driver?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-You're not, are you?

-I am.

He's lost his job, John.

We're making a stand.

-Nelson Mandela made a stand!

-It was him.

Why don't you just pack this in right now?

-I can't.

-Why not?

-I just... I can't.

-Because Darren will think you're weak?

-No.

Being scared to appear weak - there's nothing weaker.

Guess what they're doing now! Here.

HE LAUGHS

Just lift it, will you?

Right, one, two, three!

No chance.

-That's it then.

-There is another way.

-What if it wasn't that skip driver?

-Of course it was.

-John's not so sure.

-Of course he is.

Uncle Darren!

Nathan!

Whoa! Hang on!

If you won't move these cars, we will.

-You can't!

-It's against the law.

You're blocking the road!

Your last chance.

-HE SIGHS

-Right, we've got no choice, John.

No.

Tell him to back off.

All right, Joe.

Cheers, mate.

What's he doing?!

Hey! What are you playing at, you?! Hey!

You said you were going to...!

HE SCREAMS

What are you doing?

They can't take it if I'm in it, can they?

Just get it out of here, just move.

He needs help!

Tell Darren you've got to give in.

-He won't do it.

-It's got to stop.

He won't listen to me!

John, the neighbours have been stuck in all day.

The kids are upstairs.

Please, Sarah, I really... I can't deal with this right now!

I know how you see me.

You think I'm a nag.

You see me as the woman who tells you what to do day in day out,

who moans when you have a conversation with the neighbour,

even though it's completely innocent,

and if you stay out a little late.

I understand.

And I understand because I look at you,

and I see a man who would rather cross the street

than even entertain the idea of any sort of conflict,

spends time with his pig-head brother in the pub,

and who doesn't see when I'm just tired.

But then I feel bad because, through the mess and the noise,

I've just lost sight of the real you.

And I see the man I married.

A great father to two infuriating, amazing kids.

A man who knows when things have gone too far...

and that he can do something to change it.

A man has lost his job.

Do you really think he'll listen?

To you?

Yes.

Sarah...

I see you as well, you know.

"Some of us have got work to do" - that's what he said.

Darren...

He's seen me off work all week and just assumed I'm on the dole.

-Darren, I think we should leave it.

-Hm?

I really think that we should leave it now.

-Has she been on at you? Sarah?

-No.

I just think that it's time.

She has, she's been on at you.

I know she has because... This is typical of you, John.

You let her walk all over you.

You let everybody walk all over you.

-You're a doormat.

-I just think that it's time that we left it.

All your life you've been a doormat, even at school.

Especially at school.

How many times did I have to fight your battles for you?

Infant, junior, secondary - a doormat.

A coward.

I was no coward.

-HE SCOFFS

-Yeah, you were.

You are.

The concrete driver's just rung - he's a mile away.

-We're going to have to dump it.

-I know.

-It's put us out days.

And about two grand out of pocket when everything's been added up.

Why didn't Charlie just admit it?

Because he's got principles and I admire those principles.

Only it's me who's ended up paying for them.

Hey, Micky, what time do you call this?

Shut it.

Hi, Sarah? Where's John?

-What's going on?

-Just John and Darren being fools.

What's happened?

The builders scratched our car, right down the driver's side.

-It's got...out of hand.

-You didn't get the note?

-What note?

-I left a note in your letter-box, explaining.

We haven't had a note.

HE SIGHS

It's stuck.

What's going on here?

What do you want?

It was stuck in your letter-box.

-What's this?

-What is it?

What is it?

I scratched your car.

A cat ran across me, I jerked the van.

I wrote that this morning.

It was very early, I didn't want to knock,

that's why I'm back now to tell you.

Anyway, I've had a word with the boss. He's going to sort it out.

I'm really sorry.

Anyway...I'll leave it with you.

-Where are you going?

-In.

-What?

We have to put this right.

Forget it. It never happened.

-It has happened.

-I said, "Forget it."

-We have to talk to them.

-I'm not talking to anyone.

-We have to.

-"We"?

Why do I have to do anything?

-Cos it's the right thing to do.

-No, it's not, cos who's to know?

They'll think we just gave up. What's up with that?

Well, for a start, it won't get that fella his job back.

You're never going to see him again, so why worry about it?

Why are you looking at me like that?

We've been wrong all day, Darren, it's time to admit it.

Are you coming with me?

No.

You not got the bottle?

CAR HORN BEEPS

It's from the milkman.

He never could spell.

Look, I'm sorry.

It was a massive mistake.

You'd better believe it.

I don't know what to say to you.

Is your brother going to apologise as well?

It doesn't look like it.

Where's the big hard case now? Hiding behind his blinds?!

Look, I'm sorry, lads.

Right, let's get cracking.

-This concrete's going to be here any minute.

-Excuse me, mate.

-What?!

I need to speak to that skip driver.

No. In person.

He's here.

It's Phil - the foreman. Can't apologise enough.

-PHONE:

-Are you still there?

I know the feeling.

I told him...I'm glad it happened.

If it hadn't, I wouldn't have known what kind of man he really was.

-PHONE:

-Hello? Charlie, come on!

Isn't that right, Phil?

-PHONE:

-No, listen, I was under pressure.

-What's that?

It's a peace offering.

I'm finishing this call, Phil.

-PHONE:

-No, no, just wait a minute,

-Charlie. Just listen to me.

-No, no, no, it's finished, mate.

We're finished.

Well?

It was the milkman.

Aye, I know.

He left a note but it got stuck in the letter-box.

So where's the other fellow? "Raging Bull"?

That's my brother.

So where is he?

He wouldn't come.

Didn't have the bottle, eh?

No.

I am sorry, genuinely.

Ah, well, I've got my job back...

..that's if I want it. Not too sure I do.

Right. Right.

-Blended.

-Is it?

Yeah. A genuine apology but a cheap one.

Yeah, I-I don't know anything about whiskey, I'm sorry.

Ah, well, anyway... Thanks.

Cheers. See you.

John!

How'd it go?

Do you want to go for a pint and you can tell us about it?

I don't think so. HE SCOFFS

Come on.

No.