(Siren wailing) Come on.
No, really.
Please.
I'd like to.
OK, thanks.
This is the first time I can remember coming out of dinner when it's still light.
- Mint?
- No.
Listen, I'm sorry if I came across just now as the rabid Young Conservative.
- I didn't mean to upset you.
- No, I know.
It's just that, er I don't seem to come across anybody who's directly affected by the cuts.
- No.
- No Are you sure you can't even just be a little late? My flat's only around the corner.
- Door, Charles.
- Yes, certainly, madam.
- RTA? Any pre
-arrival?
- Yes.
Female, about 14, head injury, unconscious.
- How long?
- 20 minutes.
- Too long.
- Football! It's going to be tight, very tight.
If only we had a mobile unit like
- (All) .
.
we had in Oxford.
- Yeah.
And just about everywhere else.
Any sign of Baz? (Siren wailing) Other people who get a lift go faster than pedestrians.
- I didn't know about the football.
Sorry.
- (Car hoots)
- Dinner was all right, wasn't it?
- Dinner was fine.
- Dinner was lovely.
- No chance of a coffee at your place? Unless you've busted your arm, no.
- See you.
- Where're you going? Where do you think? Work.
Baz! When am I going to see you? (Wolf whistles and cheering)
- (Man) What about a kiss?
- (Car horn) Excuse me, I am trying to fall in love here.
(Car horn) All I said was, "Your smile is so sweet.
"
- Why is that funny?
- You need a new sense of humour.
Exactly! Could have got there, you know? Could have got there.
- Delayed?
- Yep.
There's still some bloody idiots.
They think we use the siren to get home in time for tea.
Until they see a kid.
I know we could have done it.
- Have the parents been informed?
- No, police are doing that.
- ID was on her skates.
- Get those off.
They need to be returned.
You know what they say, Doctor? Every yawn is a yearning for a moment of beauty in a past life.
Just get the skates off.
- Seen this?
- Yeah.
"Return to Jasmine or else.
" Just a Dead On Arrival, first thing.
Young girl.
- Parents?
- Police are onto that.
- Any news at all?
- About what?
- That goon from the DHSS.
- No.
- When do we get a look at the report?
- Chances are, we don't.
Not for our eyes.
And you accept that? One night's observation? He virtually had "procedure" tattooed across his forehead.
I don't like it, but that's the system.
OK, let's play System.
As NUPE shop steward, I shall submit a report about this lack of consultation.
Oh, come on, Charlie.
That geezer could lock those doors.
- You think I don't know that?
- You're going to sit and wait? I wanna see what this report has to say.
We all do.
We care about this shift.
You mean I don't? They can't judge us on a document we haven't even seen.
They can, they do and they probably will.
Yeah, well, we're going to have to fight, aren't we? Oh, we'll fight.
(Crowd cheering) Come on! (Clattering) Come on, you blues! (Bin lid clattering) (Footsteps) (Man) Come on, you blues!
- (Chanting) Here we go!
- Just those there.
Cuts seem quite deep.
Smashed their pints, anticipating victory.
OK, I think I'll take five minutes, then.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Sharpe will be in.
Put them in the interview room with two milky teas.
- And lots of sugar.
I know.
- (Shrieking)
- Winnie's back.
- Oh, no, she's moving in.
I'm escaping.
(Wailing) I'll get the spare room done up straight away.
Let's get you sat down.
There's a chair right behind you.
That's it, nice and easy.
It's right behind you.
Down we go.
Good girl.
I'll take your trolley and park it where it usually stays, all right? (Football fans) Here we go, here we go, here we go! Winnie's back.
(Sobs) (Yells) You've shown me up, Kev.
I don't like that.
Don't like it, see? I wanna watch you.
Watch you work.
So I knowyou ain't bottling me.
So I knowyou ain't yellow.
All right?
- So where exactly do you ache, Winnie?
- (Wailing)
- Where, Winnie?
- I want a bed.
I can't help you till you tell me where you ache, Winnie.
(Jeering)
- Paul Sully and Daniel Ward?
- What a load of rubbish! Winnie's got an ache.
She won't tell me where it is, but it looks like it's her leg.
What are you like at braking distances? I've got my test next week.
Down there.
Mrs.
Sharpe? Would you just pop in there?
- Get your hands off me! Bloody blackie!
- Be a good girl now.
- Be a good girl.
- Dirty, stinking That's the situation, yeah.
I just want to get some idea of what You can't.
Well, thanks for nothing.
- They're in the wrong order.
- You want order.
I want clean.
(Phone ringing) Plimmer.
Cassettes, cassettes.
This is not a discotheque.
Oh, Paul.
Hello.
Yeah, I got them.
Yeah, well, you've got energy.
Feed up on the telly, if I were you.
Has she got a friend for a dilapidated older brother? Ah.
Oh, well, maybe.
It's a long time since I've been ermboogieing.
Excuse me.
I'll get some food in.
Tofu burgers? Well, I'll try.
- Have you got a younger brother, Kuba?
- Oh, yes, Mr.
Plimmer.
Long time ago.
Mine's 47.
Looks late 30s, behaves early 20s.
It's immoral.
See, the thing is, what I've heard is that they ask you the question, braking distance at 50, then they wait a split second and say "wet", just when you're gonna answer on "dry".
And you get confused.
So, I got to get it learnt.
- You have passed your driving test?
- Yeah.
I really would appreciate if you'd give me a test.
- Ow!
- Oh, sorry.
A very strong
-willed girl.
Very possessive.
Determined.
Always sticking out her jaw and saying, "I will do something or other.
" Specially with this street hockey thing.
Wanted to be as good as the boys.
They can't compete, you know, the girls.
For some reason.
They were all hoping it would be made an Olympic event.
You know? Dreaming of winning a medal.
They all want to represent their country, you know.
Can't seem to stop talking.
Drink this, it's warm.
Yes.
You're very beautiful.
(Groans) (Moans) (Sirens) (Shouting) (Officer) Start at the top end! Turn around.
Right, move it! Thank you.
All right, Winnie, tell me where it hurts.
Is it your leg? I'll push you round this corner until you tell me where you ache.
- Ah!
- (Cackling) Right, that's it.
That's it! You can sit there and stew.
Then you and your revolting trolley are out.
Understand? (Phone rings) Baz.
Phone.
Thanks.
Hello? Charles? Yes, it was a lovely dinner.
Tomorrow? Well I'm rather tired.
Look, I can't talk now.
I'm busy.
Yes, I know it's difficult, Charles.
Look, I've got to go.
Bye.
Is he a good
-looker? He's got a nice voice.
Oh! From now on, no wine.
(Sobbing)
- Winnie, what is it?
- I can't go back to stay.
(Siren wailing) 17 cuts they counted on him.
My own copper.
Right, into Crash.
And get Mr.
Thalton straightaway.
He's got some lacerations on the chest, and I think a couple of ribs have gone.
Right, I want two units cross
-matched right away.
Let's get a line up.
He'll need some fluid.
And keep him nil by mouth.
- Easy does it.
- Take care.
Kevin Blackwell.
- Address?
- 112 Brunel Terrace.
- Age?
- 16.
Who are you registered with?
- I don't know.
- Mr.
Fox? A word.
- You're breaking the treaty.
- Have you any idea what that vermin
- Has he been charged?
- I got my man in there.
- Has he been charged?
- No.
I expect him to receive medical attention before questioning.
- Now look
- Clear? He's not going anywhere, Constable.
You're not, are you?
- No.
- No.
All right? So, who won the match? Tottenham, 3
-1.
I didn't touch him, you know, that copper.
You don't have to tell me anything.
- The one out there thinks I did.
- He's trying it on.
He wants to get me.
They can, you know.
Just point the finger and This, Kevin, my son, is an ongoing X
-ray situation.
- White, no sugar, right?
- Huh?
- Coffee.
- No, thanks, Susie.
- One of yours?
- Yeah.
You know, it gets me every time.
It's not so bad somehow if it happens to a plain
-clothes like me.
But an att*ck on a lad in uniform, that's an att*ck on the whole system, isn't it? I mean, that is a challenge to law and order.
That's what I think.
Apparently, that makes me a fascist.
How much longer do I have to wait? It's not as bad as it looked.
There's no laceration of the facial nerve, but he is in shock.
Yeah, I can understand that, but I've got to make an identification on the boy.
Nice!
- Tell Clive I want a word, will you?
- Look, I've got to talk to him.
Let's just put his wife's mind at rest first, shall we?
- Saarjek?
- Mrs.
Sajek.
Go and get a cup of tea.
- You cut him up bad, boy.
- I didn't.
Well, I just come from the doctor and the wife.
Laceration of the facial nerve.
Do you know what that means? It means that you can't control the movement in your face.
And do you know what that means? It means maybe you dribble for the rest of your life, out of here.
Now, that wouldn't be too tasty, would it, Kev, down the pub, trying to chat up the girls? I told you, I was walking home.
I was at the match, but I didn't touch the copper.
- So, who did?
- I don't know.
I'd tell you, I would.
Listen, two of my boys find you not 20 yards from PC Sajek.
PC Sajek, that is, with 17 cuts administered by a very sharp Kn*fe.
And you say, A, you didn't touch him and B, you saw nothing.
Can you perhaps understand, Kev, why I find this a bit hard to believe? I was walking home.
I always walk home that way.
It was dark.
I was going round the back of number 27.
I don't know why.
And I got hit from behind.
Oh, from behind! Neat! How do you explain that you were found a hundred yards from number 27? I dunno.
I must have run for it.
This isn't fake! They must have chased me.
They? We've got a memory now, have we? No, I dunno.
Maybe there were a few of them.
There's a woman who said goodbye to a good
-looking husband this morning.
He's ugly now.
You want to go and tell her "maybe"? Go on! A couple of minutes, Mr.
Fox, you can see him.
- But no longer.
- All right.
We'd appreciate it if you didn't raise your voice.
Does your old man know what sort of hooligan you are, Kevin? Right, come on.
I want to know, Clive.
I want to know why a patient with a fracture was left in the corridor, alone.
Why wasn't she referred immediately to me?
- She was playing up.
- What? She was playing up.
What's unusual about that? You know Winnie as well as I do.
I let her sit there.
What's wrong with that? Everybody else does.
She plays up, she stews for a while.
I didn't kick her out.
Some people do, remember? No, you didn't kick her out.
But you did fail to refer a woman with a fractured femur.
- That is extremely serious, Clive.
- All right, I'd just had enough.
I couldn't take any more insults.
See this? She did that.
She's an old woman! Old woman! She's disgusting, you hear me? Spitting and biting.
"Hands off, blackie!" Why should I stand for it? You tell me.
Oh, grow up, Clive.
You think blacks are the only people to get prejudice? You think I don't? "Bloody woman, get me a proper doctor, a man.
" Every time we get dossers in, what do you feel, Clive? This is just a warning.
Bitch! The bitch! What are you looking at, huh? Breathe on me.
- I'm dry, man.
- I said breathe on me, Clive.
(Exhales) See? Nothing.
- Never seen it get to you like that before.
- Yeah, well
- She was right to say what she did.
- Of course she's right.
Of course she's bleeding right! Let me tell you, I don't have to take racism on this job from anyone.
- Check?
- Look, if it goes that deep All right, lecture.
The other side of that line, there's people up to their necks in you know what.
They come in here and spit it all over you.
That doesn't mean All I'm saying is, don't let it get under the uniform.
Clear? Charlie, Charlie, Charlie! All right, end of lecture.
Look, if you had to spend two minutes under my skin in this job, you'd be What's the use? I like your style, Charlie.
Yeah? Well, I'm not too keen on yours, old son.
(Football fans chanting) It wasn't him.
Get back down the station.
Right, come on, Kevin.
Mr.
Fox? A Mr.
Blackwell in the interview room.
Yeah, all right.
Kevin, you wait here.
- Mr.
Blackwell?
- Who are you? Sorry to keep you waiting.
l, erm I want to see my son.
Yes.
I'm pleased to say that we've now got a positive identification.
- Kevin is no longer under suspicion
- Where is he? Yes, I'll get him for you.
We can't afford any mistakes from anyone.
Not at the moment, not ever.
King knows that.
No way do I want to lose him.
Oh, we've all got to be mad, working this shift.
You said it.
I told Ewart I wanted out.
Did you know?
- And?
- He totally ignored me.
- I've got a mate who's a journalist.
- So? This DHSS report.
I thought maybe a bit of media pressure I didn't know what to do, I had to bring her in.
I'm sorry.
- So you were both at the match?
- Yeah.
- But you don't go together, then?
- I'm in the stands, Kev's on the terraces.
Like it that way, don't you, son? I was on the terraces at his age.
Where you should be at 16.
Just cos we got some money shouldn't make any difference.
He's young, right? That's just my point.
It's all a bit dangerous, isn't it? There's a certain element on them terraces.
Think of that? He can take care of himself.
Can't you? Knows how to handle it.
If you can't survive there, what hope have you got in life? But I tell you, time and time I asked him not to come home that way.
But does he listen? No.
Mind you, I'm appalled by that site.
Five years now since they took them houses down.
How can there be a sense of community when the heart's been torn out? I've been campaigning down there in my capacity as a local businessman, Blackwell Motors, you may have heard of us, for something to be done.
Nothing.
I supply half the council with their motors.
I can't do anything.
No one can.
So why didn't you return together? Listen, he's 16.
At that age, they go their own way.
Wouldn't like his dad hanging around.
Be the laughing stock of his mates if I made him come home with me.
- And where were your mates?
- He was coming back home to change.
- Weren't you?
- Change? Does it every week.
Incredible, the young now.
Clothes conscious.
Never had any style at that age myself, but this lot Day wear, night wear.
Let me tell you.
You don't wear the right gear down the pub, you ain't got a chance.
- Mr.
Blackwell, he is well underage.
- Oh, come on.
Show me a 16
-year
-old who says he doesn't drink, I'll show you a liar.
Or a la
-la Leslie.
So, you were going home to change, to meet your mates down the pub.
Yes.
- All arranged, was it?
- Yes.
Could you give me the name of one of these friends? What? One of these friends you were going to meet.
What is it? Are you questioning my son? You said yourself, he done nothing.
Mr.
Blackwell, your son was the witness to an as*ault.
- I need to establish
- You listen! Now, my son has been assaulted.
He's in plaster.
Now, what he needs is to go home.
Mr.
Blackwell, this was a very serious as*ault, and we will require a statement from your son.
- Tomorrow.
- Right.
Clyde Road Station at, say, 11:30.
Right.
Come on, Kev.
Get in.
It was your fault.
You bottled on me.
Couldn't let them see How could l? You showed me up.
I don't like that.
Don't like it, see? (Car radio ) The boys are back in town Boys are back in town Come on, Kev.
Let's go down the club.
There's still time, eh? Eh? Come on, you blues! Find us some (Clicks tongue) It'll be like brothers.
What about it? Kev? Come on, you blues! Eh? Have a laugh.
Find the others, maybe.
They'll be down there.
May have pulled.
We could find us some.
Say something! The boys are back in town (Baby crying) If you'd like to pop into that cubicle there.
I won't be a minute.
Can you pop the baby up there?
- Is Tuesday your real name?
- Yes.
- And your full name?
- Tuesday Anne Sherborne.
Look, I'm sorry about bringing her in.
I would have liked her here a lot sooner.
I was scared.
I couldn't just sit there watching her.
I've explained to Tuesday, her appendix may rupture and then we've got peritonitis.
Do you understand? We've got to move quickly.
The surgeon's getting ready in theatre.
Are you a relative?
- We live together.
- All right, she can sign her form.
- What form?
- The consent form.
- Didn't you tell her?
- No.
Doctor, she's a Christian Scientist.
She won't sign a consent form.
- Don't be ridiculous.
She could die.
- She didn't even want me to bring her.
- This is absurd! This is absurd!
- It's what she believes in.
It's my fault.
I had to feel that I'd done something.
Don't blame her.
This is a casualty department, we're here to treat patients.
If you'd wanted I didn't understand at first.
I thought they were extremists, but it's simple.
I don't have time.
I have a waiting room full of patients, which took second place to an emergency which refuses treatment.
That is simple.
All right? I don't need no operation.
Boss says you must stay with us a few days, Winnie.
Kuba will keep your things safe, I promise.
- I don't need no operation!
- Stay on the trolley, please.
Stay.
- llI'm going home.
- Stay! Get off me.
Go on, get off me.
(Outburst in Polish) All right? Thank you.
- The answer's no, we can't do it.
- She's critical.
It's already been too long.
- Maybe it could ward itself off.
- Excuse me.
- Mr?
- Stephen.
Yes.
- So we leave her?
- We can't discharge her, can we?
- No, of course not.
- So we stand by, just in case.
- What? Changes her mind?
- People do.
- Leave the consent forms by the bed.
- Look, could I just explain?
- Please, Mr
- It may help to understand.
I didn't at first, about Christian Science.
It's not that different from medicine.
Oh, isn't it? Medicine approaches disease from a physical standpoint.
It treats illness on a chemical basis.
Christian Science looks to the spirit for causes, to find a spiritual solution.
It's just opposite sides of the same coin, really.
And what if it fails, your magical spiritual approach? It doesn't claim a hundred per cent success.
I don't think medicine does either, does it? (Phone ringing) No, I can't possibly speak to Charles! I think it was something I ate, some chicken.
It smelt all right.
Well, a bit odd, really, but it was all I had.
Anyway, I thought it were the fridge.
- Eh?
- Smelling.
Well, you've got a lot of rumbling going on down there.
Working away like a volcano.
- You've been sick?
- A couple of times yesterday.
Hmm.
Stools runny?
- My what?
- Diarrhoea.
- Oh, yeah, a bit.
- Breaking wind? Come on.
Have you been breaking wind more than usual? I won't tell anyone.
(Laughter echoing)
- Charles says he likes Colombian coffee.
- Riveting news.
I thought it was q*eer.
- Did he have anything else to say?
- No.
He does have a nice voice, though.
Well?
- Hello.
- How are you doing? I'm fine.
Here, I brought you this.
I thought you might like a cup of tea.
Oh, thanks.
I heard that you only take painkillers in order to help you to pray.
Is that right? That's right, yes.
ItÂs only for if the pain hinders them.
I see.
Would you mind if I stayed a little while? No.
Please.
- A little bit, yes.
- More than usual?
- (Suppressed laugh) Mmm.
- And you haven't been sick again? No, not since yesterday.
What you've got is a case of dodgy chicken syndrome.
- What?
- Food poisoning.
So if you hang on a minute, the doctor'll be in and discharge you.
Otherwise, you're disgustingly healthy.
(Knock at door)
- (Whistling to relaxing music)
- (Knock, door opens) Now, that looks to me like the ideal way to work.
You want to change jobs?
- Chocolate?
- Mmm! How is it you make better hot chocolate than anyone else I know? Mmm! It's like wrapping a warm quilt round your head, closing your eyes and thinking of Hayley Mills in Whistle Down The Wind.
- How's your constable?
- Surviving.
He's better than I thought.
You lot, firemen and us.
Yeah.
A fiver for every bruise, we'd be millionaires.
It's getting serious in casualty.
You want to start thinking about police protection.
Do you ever go boogieing? Well, would you like me to take this consent form away, then? It doesn't matter.
She won't sign.
I wish she would.
It's why I brought her here, I suppose.
Part of what hospitalÂs about, isn't it? Sharing the responsibility.
Putting yourself in someone else's hands.
Delivering yourself.
Stupid, really.
It's what she's doing anyway.
- Oh, so you're not a What is it?
- Christian Scientist.
No.
Oh, I see.
And how long have you known her? Oh, 18 months.
Almost exactly, actually.
I'd never met anyone like her.
- So sure.
- Yes.
I understand it.
It'ssensible, logical.
But somehow, when it comes down to it like this, I don't feel secure.
Something holds me back from really wanting to commit myself.
I suppose it's just weakness, isn't it? Fear.
Everyone's afraid.
- She isn't.
- You might think she's not, but she is.
- No, she's Inside, she is.
She sees things clearly.
She's not like me.
Educated, liberal, sit on the fence bullshit.
I'm like muddy water, she said to me once.
Like muddy water which refuses to clear.
Oh, come on.
She doesn't need anybody, you know.
Not you, not me, not anybody.
God, she's only here because I brought her.
- ( Pop music on radio)
- (Snores)
- Will you test me?
- (Laughs) Come on!
- What is that?
- Local, baby.
Local.
Fish Creole.
You got some yam on the side, some sweet plantain.
- Yeah, all right, all right.
- Sounds delicious.
You want some? Sorry, you can't have it.
Look over your shoulder, check your mirror
- What's that?
- Same as last night.
.
.
second gear
- What's that, Duffy?
- It's avocado salad.
- Thought you were on a diet?
- I am.
- Avocado's fattening.
- Stop, neutral, handbrake on.
- Sorry, only for friends.
- I didn't know avocado was fattening.
- What have you got?
- Fish Creole.
Yam on the side.
Your attention, fellow trade unionists and the odd comatose comrade.
I would like to introduce Marcusian radicalism into this conversation, and suggest an equal sharing of all food resources, for the purpose of social harmony.
- All those in favour
- What's he talking about? Your dinner or your life!
- Counter revolution succeeds again!
- Men of ideas have always gone hungry.
Can I have your attention for a minute? Thank you very much.
I would like you all, without exception, to right now, put down your knives and your forks, please, and to stop chewing.
And to concentrate hard, and to pray.
A period of silence, please.
What, now? (Radio off) Hello.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, thanks.
- That was extraordinary.
- (Laughter)
- What was that all about?
- Handbrake off, first gear.
Baz, a person with a dislocated shoulder in number one.
Third gear? I haven't got up to third gear yet!
- Any pain?
- No.
- There?
- No.
- Temperature?
- No worse.
Well, it looks like she might be lucky.
The inflammation may be settling.
We'll admit her under the surgeons.
I'm afraid we've got to keep her in.
There's a chance she may go off again.
- Charles!
- Hi!
- What are you doing here?
- I'm claiming my coffee.
Your receptionist thought dislocation was more original than a busted arm.
- I don't suppose you've got Colombian?
- Charles! Get off.
No! Who the hell do you think you are? I just took you out.
I thought you'd be pleased.
Well, I'm not pleased.
Look, do you know what time it is for me? It's almost 4am.
What's that for you? Five in the afternoon? Equivalent? I thought it'd be fun.
Sothat's how it is? Yes, that's how it is.
Oh, well, at least I know.
At least it didn't take another three suppers.
Charlie, do you think he's good
-looking? (Phone bleeping) Hello, Roger.
This is Charlie Fairhead.
About that business we were talking about, this DHSS report.
It looks like there could be a bit of a story in it for you.
So give us a bell.
Ta.
Are you all right? Shall I get some help? I couldn't think of anywhere else.
He's going to come back.
- Who?
- It was my fault, see.
If only I'd not shown him up, been more of He's gonna come back.
Wait there, I'll get a nurse.
Don't you understand? That copper tried to protect me.
I want you.
- What's going on?
- Get out.
Hey, you! Now, come on, Kev.
I'msorry.
I said I'm sorry.
Let's go home, eh? We'll talk.
At home, Kev? Now, come on, let's go home.
It was your own fault, you know.
You disappointed me.
I want you home.
Now!
- What's going on?
- Stay out of this, pal.
I don't think he wants to go with you.
- King!
- Come on, son.
Now, you're making a big mistake.
I could make a lot of trouble for you.
I'm warning you.
No closer! Not a step.
Get off me! Get off me, you bastards! Get off me, you bastards! Easy, now.
Easy.
(Spits) You black bastard! (Siren wailing)