03x14 - Episode 14

[bunniefuu]

I won't compromise everything
I've worked for. Just back my bid.

Or you'll ruin me.

It feels like everyone I trusted

is taking turns to let me down.

I've seen how Brett's trying
to make his peace with you,

why don't you message him
or whatever it is you do?

Eric, relax, it's in the bag,
you'll get your tender, trust me.

Yeah, she's just being a bit uppity.

What makes this bid so special
to you, Miss Mason?

Well, I could ask you why you're

so attached to the Ladmore bid,

or might that seem
a bit too uppity?

Davina? What is it
that men can't resist?

She's a flirt and
you could do better.

You're not ashamed of me, are you?
Of course not.

Today can be the beginning of a

long and rewarding relationship.

Your secret is safe with me.

Yo! Get the music on man,

let's start working these moves.

THEY WHOOP AND CHEER, MUSIC PLAYS

Come on!

I can't reach the flaming things!

Oi! Shane! Come here!

Where do you think you're going?

Good timing. I never seen anything!

You're on the rob. That off, and

get that scraggy little arm in there.

I'm not breaking into
somebody's car. Yeah, you are!

Put your arm in there! I'm trying to.

Do you want another smack?

Right, get in! Oi. Get away from him!

Oi! That's as*ault.
What I saw was as*ault.

We were only messing.

Are you all right, Shane?

Yeah, why wouldn't he be?

Maybe he's one of those kids who
doesn't like being battered about the head!

I saw you do it, Michaela.

No, you never. Ask him.

I don't need to ask him.

Yeah, you do. Cos I didn't
hit him and he'll say the same.

Miss, we were only having a laugh.

Weren't we, Shane?

Shane, wait!

Ooh, you've upset him. Is that
how you get your kicks, is it?

By taking advantage of someone
younger and smaller than you?

- Mr Clarkson will be having a word
- with you when you get into school.

Now, what's with her?

MUSIC BLARES

For God's sakes, man,
arch your back!

I said, arch your back, you muppet!

You got your routine sorted then?

Aw, stand back
and see how it's done.

You're a good boy, Shane. Yeah.

I think I'm beginning to like you.

Here you are, take these,
they're yours.

Oh. There's Davina. Didn't recognise
her with her clothes on. Very funny.

Just ignore her, Tom.

Does Davina keep a scorecard, do you know? You
never know where she's going to pop up next.

Look at Lawson's daft 4x4.

What's he looking for?
A herd of lions? Er, pride.

Yeah, ego more like.

It's pathetic, spending
all that money just to show off.

No. "Pride", collective noun.

It's all macho crap.

Deffo. An extension of a certain
part of his anatomy, I'd say.

Sorry? What's that thing you come
to school in, Brett? A skateboard?

Hey, his burns twice what mine does.

You can't have a go about Lawson's
car then drive one yourself.

Which is why I'm thinking
about selling it.

Oh? So someone else can drive it?

That is so green[!]

Bridget, have I missed
an email from Stuart Hordley?

No. What, still no word from Stuart?

Well, it's a massive project, Eddie.

Y'know, there's all sorts
of things involved. Like?

I don't know, I'm not a builder.
He must tell us what's going on.

We don't want to disrupt

these kids any more than necessary.

Hasn't he to submit some sort of building schedule?
Eddie, could you please just stop going on?

I'm sorry. No-one wants this to run smoothly as much
as I do. Beginning to have my doubts about this bloke.

I think he might be a bit of a git.

After all the support you've
given him, he can't even let

you know what the plan is.

Excuse me, "all this support"? Yeah, you know. He
might not have got this gig if it wasn't for you.

He got this gig because his bid
was best. End of, OK?

Yeah, if you say so.

Right. Even if I have to call him
a hundred times, I'm going to get

an answer out of this man.

Well, it would be
Michaela White, wouldn't it?

She's a vicious little madam.

She was really laying into him.

I tried to get to the bottom
of it, but Shane just ran off.

Well, Shane Warwick's no altar boy.

He looked pretty terrified to me.

Right, well thanks, Jas. Listen, fill out an
incident form and I'll sort it from here, OK?

Yeah, you'll get chapter and verse.

And you know, the sooner we don't
have to teach cretins like, her the better.

Well, why has he
missed his start date?

I mean this is getting farcical.

Doesn't he understand
we have to plan around this?

Oh.

MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

Six new messages.

Yeah, they're all from me.

A little matter of a training school
you've been paid to build.

I've been in a meeting all morning.

I've got a sub-contractor who's trying to play me
off against another developer. I called his bluff...

Well, cut a long story short, the
diggers move in tomorrow. About time.

That's really great news.
We're very glad. Good.

Er, Rachel, I'd like to speak to you
about a personal matter if I may?

SCHOOL BELL

I'll get back to my day job.

Look, I'm really not happy about

what transpired between the two of us

and I would like to explain
why I did what I did.

- Why don't you start off with the
- word "blackmail", Stuart?

- I understand how you must be feeling, given
that you think - you compromised yourself.

"Think"? However, I would like

the chance to explain myself.

You can't refuse me dinner,
can you?

Morning. Morning. Coffee? No, thanks.

Yeah, I'd love one.

I finished off my application form
last night. Ah, fantastic.

So you're going for it?

Yeah, do you feel like celebrating?

I promised Chlo I'd make her supper.

The new pizza place.

Right, OK.

I'd love you to come. It's just, well you
know, the girls... It's awkward, isn't it?

Well, I tell you what, I'll
wear a shirt buttoned right

up to my neck just for Mika.

Right. Say, erm... 7.30.

I'll warn the girls.

Sounds positive-ish.

Great, a night of sharing a deep-pan
pizza with him and the girls[!]

They've got him on a string. It's

enough to put you off kids for life.

Yeah, I've had my fair share
of one girl in particular today.

- Who? Michaela White. Oh, right. Well,
I always try and see the - best in the kids

But that one
is a right vicious little cow.

I've pretty much told her
that myself this morning.

Bullied? No way, sir.
We were just having a laugh.

Well, Ms Koreshi says different.

She doesn't know what
she's talking about.

Drop the cheeky tone, Shane.

But she doesn't. She went crazy, and threw Michaela
against a car. Miss Koreshi did? Yeah, she did.

She never even asked any of us what we were doing.
Honest, sir, if I was being bullied, I'd tell you.

OK. So the most important thing
we've learnt from our interviews?

First impressions. We make our minds up about
people pretty much five seconds after we meet them.

So what does that tell us? Paul...?

Best talk fast, then?

LAUGHTER

Fast or slow, it's our manner, our gestures. You
know, the look on our face in those first few moments.

Right, OK, Bolton, pretend Miss Koreshi
is someone you've never met before, OK?

When she walks in the room show us
how you greet her. What, you mean,

like I really would? Yeah.

Yes, yes, you all right?
What ya saying?

No, hang on, guys, that wasn't bad!
It was open, friendly, confident.

Now pretend this woman was the mother
of someone that you're going out with

or someone that you've never met
before but really want to impress.

You'd adapt your style, wouldn't you?

Make it less excitable,
bit more formal. Paul...?

Go on.

Y'all right?

LAUGHTER

Yeah, brief, to the point, certainly.

Right, why don't Miss Koreshi
and I show you what we mean.

OK, eye contact.

I look the person I'm meeting
in the eye. I extend my hand.

Good morning! I'm Matt Wilding. How
nice to meet you. Good morning, Matt.

Firm grasp, we shake once,
none of this, yeah, all right?

And then we let go.

- Right, you want to give it a crack?
- Come on.

Come on! Er, Michaela why don't
you shake hands with Miss Koreshi.

Ms Koreshi? Can I have a word?

See that, sir?

All right, settle down.

I hope you don't believe him. No. But he
did say he saw you throw her against a car.

I had to drag her off him. She was beating
him up. Everybody knows Michaela's a bully.

It's a good job I didn't slap her one! Look, is there
any way it could have just been kids messing about?

She was forcing his arm
through a car window and

smacking him around the head.

I thought we took bullying seriously in this
place. Yeah, of course we take it seriously.

It's just that Shane's pretty sure
that they were just having a laugh.

No, it was bullying,
pure and simple.

- I'm not doubting you. It's just that with the likes
of Michaela and - Shane, what am I supposed to do?

I'm going to have a word with Michaela. I just
wanted to touch base with you before I did.

Well, I'll go and get her.

I can't even bear to look at her!

Morning, Mr Hordley. Stuart. Actually, I'm a bit
late, I've been up half the night making phone calls.

You know, trying to raise funds for
the school from kindly benefactors.

Oh, of course, yeah. Anyway, looks like I've
got myself one in the flesh now... Oh, come on.

It's no secret that you're not
short of a bob or two. Well...

Ey, don't be embarrassed about it.

You should be very proud of yourself,
you know, what you've achieved.

Why do I get the feeling
this is leading somewhere?

We're looking for rich folk like yourself
to donate funds to Waterloo Road School.

By way of... a cheque? I'm sorry, I
don't have my cheque book with me today.

Well, as it's you, then a
simple promise'll suffice.

What can I put you down for?

Let's say...

£1,000?

Come on, it's probably not even
your weekly entertainment bill! Hardly.

Listen, you are Ms Mason's
favourite businessman,

and I can assure you
that she would be very grateful.

Oh, well, in that case,
let's make it £2,000.

I'm just repaying
Ms Mason's generosity.

Funny how great minds think alike.

Well, you wanted to see me
and... I wanted to see you.

Yes, well here we are.

You go first, then.

Erm, well as you know, I'm a keen
observer of staff movements,

and I can see that certain members of
staff have had their roles enhanced.

Steph Haydock for one. And er...

I, just, well, I can see the way
that you're taking the school,

and a certain amount of fluctuation

is part and parcel of any
dynamic organisation.

Well, have you got
anything specific in mind?

Well, just thought that as a senior
member of staff, there might be

an opportunity for me to contribute
to the development of the school.

Grantly, that is really great to
hear and it's quite a coincidence

because that's exactly
why I wanted to see you.

Come, come and sit down, come on.

Now, a little bird told me that
you have got a hidden talent,

and I want you to share it with
the Lessons for Life Group.

We want you to teach
them ballroom dancing.

How did you find out...?

You can't be serious! No -
ballroom dancing to that lot?!

It's PE and history
rolled into one.

Oh, and how does that compare to Madame
Haydock's appointment as Financial Tsar?

It doesn't. No, thank you.

I'll stick to being Head of English.

Yeah, well,
that is on my "to do" list.

We're looking at staff restructuring
in the next few months.

The present structure doesn't fulfil
its purpose at all. Lesson Six, Grantly.

But sir, she just went mental,
she threw me against the car.

Yeah? Because you provoked her.
That's crap. Ask Sash and Anjie,

they'll tell you what happened.

They're your mates, they'll say what you
tell them. That's bang out of order, sir,

I'm not lying. Ask Shane,
he'll tell you what she did.

You might want to wipe
those tears...

SCHOOL BELL

..and that innocent smirk
off your face. Now get!

Let me deal with this.

Hi, Bridget, can you put me
through to Rachel, please?

Sir. This fraction...

The decimal equivalent is 1.52,
to three significant figures. And?

Well, that's just it.
It's outrageous.

Is this another one of your
irritating wind-ups, Brett?

The numerator is the CO2 emissions
from your car, in kilos, per year.

The denominator is the average
household emissions over the same period.

Your car emits 1.52 times as much
as the average UK household.

Can we discuss this
another time, please?

There's not one teacher here
who comes to school on a bike.

Yeah, because if they did,
they'd get nicked. Anyway,

you're a fine one to talk, Jeep Boy!

Point taken, but my car comes
off the road today. Forever.

What about you?

Out.

Tom, you did exactly
the right thing.

..Well, why don't you let me
have a word with her?

..No, I'm sure she was overreacting.

DOOR OPENS ABRUPTLY

Tom, got to go.

Yeah. Who's done what to you?

c*ck little sod!
Showing off to Mika Grainger.

Brett Aspinall?
Ambushed me about my car.

- Why am I driving a planet boiler when I
could be flogging round - on a push-bike?

- That's the trouble with teaching. We give them a
set of values and - then they make us live by them.

You're next on their list, believe me. The new build.
Make sure it's a green paragon or they'll have you.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

That's £2,000 in the kitty.

Thanks to Stuart Hordley.

£2, 000? That's very generous.

I had to work my magic on him. But that's
what you'd expect from a Finance Director.

Even one who doesn't
have her own office.

Who so far has cost more than she's made. It
takes a little time to make contacts, Rachel.

Talking of which, any word from
Claude? That's why I'm so bleary-eyed!

I was on the phone to him
last night for over an hour.

If we get a penny for every minute you spend
talking to him, we could double everybody's wages.

I can't raise money for these "capital
projects" of yours without speaking to people.

Well, well well. Mr Hordley seems
like he's a man out to impress.

And your point is?

Just saying, you know, he might
have a bit of a thing for you.

No, he doesn't.
Well, you might have a bit of a...

Don't even go there.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Carry on.

Hi. Well, what did she say?
Rachel? Has she spoken to you?

No. Michaela. Right, yeah. Erm,
look, she's sticking to her story.

I don't think we're getting anywhere
here. Have you spoke to Sasha and Anjie?

No, but I've mentioned it to Rachel.
She might want a word with you.

- I just think you might be making a mountain out of a molehill here.
- I mean, don't panic.

I hear you're contributing
to our Lessons For Life scheme.

In a way that
doesn't include racing tips.

- I might have known you'd be behind this
madness. Something of an expert, - I'm told.

I'm doing it as a favour, a one-off.

God knows where
she got the idea from.

Well, it pushes all the right
buttons for our Lessons for Life

kids. Poise, discipline, etiquette.

All those key qualities we see

in you, Grantly, in such abundance!

I'm way too rusty to be teaching
anybody ballroom dancing techniques.

Then buy a tin of Brasso.
See you lesson six.

DOOR CLOSES

I'll need a partner.

Then find one!

I just can't believe she's going

to get off with this scot free.

She's a thug and she should
be excluded permanently.

Yeah, we know that. But unfortunately
we can't accuse the girl without evidence.

I flaming saw it... Oh, you don't
believe me either, do you?

I believe you reacted to something
you saw, or you thought you saw.

But maybe next time, you know,
just think before you barge in.

I did what anybody else
would have done.

Yes, but you're not anybody else,
are you? You're a teacher.

And you'll learn with experience.

Sometimes it's better to take a step
back. Oh, so now it's all MY fault?

Don't go getting so defensive.
Just think about this.

You know, maybe your actions have given Michaela
the chance she needs to back up her story.

Oh... Oh, I'm sick of this.

Shane!

Can I have a quick word with Shane,
please? Are you all right? Yeah, fine.

Shane! Come here.

What's he done?

Why didn't you tell Mr Clarkson the truth?
I did! Are they threatening you, Shane?

Well, what is it? Nothing. So you
tell Mr Clarkson it was all a big joke?!

Yeah, it was.

She was beating you around the head and
nearly breaking your arm, remember that?

It's getting junked.

So you really are serious?

You've persuaded me. Yeah?

Pricked my conscience.

So you have got one, then? Proof.

I could've got five grand for that.

But it is better to have
principles and no money

than money and no principles.

I want Lawson to see this.

I want Lawson doing the same thing.

Although he might take
a bit more persuading.

Miss!

Shane says to say hello.

You might have fooled everyone else
but you haven't fooled me.

You're a coward and a liar. And you
two choose to hang around with this?

She's definitely got it in for you.

Swing a punch at me.

Eh? Don't talk daft.
I mean it, do it!

You both saw Koreshi punch me,
didn't you?

You got a minute?

Sure.

I've just had a huge vote
of confidence from Rachel

about the way I dealt
with Michaela White this morning[!]

- Thanks for all your support[!] Jas, just let it go. Let it go?
- What did you say to Rachel?

- Let me guess. Did you use the words
"overreaction" and "inexperienced" - by any chance?

All I said was
we can't prove anything.

I told you Michaela's a slippery

customer. It's not a reflection
on you, I believe you.

I've just seen the spiteful wee
cow now, winding me right up.

Don't let her get to you, OK?
She's a wrong 'un.

Simple as that. A wrong 'un?

That sounds like a compliment.

Heid-the-ba', more like!

I need an interpreter now. Come on.

Let me get you a cup of tea.

I'm sorry, girls, it's just too
easy to accuse teachers of as*ault.

There must be some explanation.

Yeah. Koreshi punched me one.

Well, obviously I don't know that.

Can you believe this? Youse
are like a g*ng or something.

Sticking up for each other.

What do you think this is? Paint?
I can see what it is.

Maybe I should just go straight to the police. I
did not say there would not be an investigation.

There'd better be. Koreshi should be
sacked for what she did to me.

Any more cheek from you and you're going to
the Cooler. So I get punished for getting hit?

Right, you two girls back to class.

You, Michaela, you wait here.

Can I have some water please, Miss?

No way! Somebody must have told her
about my misspent youth.

It wasn't you, was it?

No! Look, why don't you go
and ask one of the other women?

No, no. They don't have your
elegance, your, er...

your je ne sais quoi.

My brass neck, you mean.

Last year's Friends Of
Waterloo Road dinner dance?

Didn't I see you tearing up the
dance floor

with some young chap
who'd made it big in IT?

Oh, yeah. As I recall,
we were rather good together.

Mmm, repeat the performance with me.

What music are you using?

I don't believe it. Jasmine hasn't
got it in her to as*ault a pupil.

Shane whatsisname says she threw

Michaela up against a car. Right?

Maybe I shouldn't say anything... Look,
I know it was just a throwaway remark...

Tom, I need to know all the facts.

Jasmine did say that she
could slap Michaela one.

Join the queue, so could I! I saw
for myself how angry Jasmine was.

We need to investigate this formally. Get
statements from Michaela and her little g*ng.

I'll get them to tell the truth.
You will play it by the book.

They're setting her up.

We need to be seen to be fairer

than fair, which is the best way

to protect Jasmine.

Tom, I want you to re-interview
Shane, yeah?

We've got to know that Jasmine saw
what she claims she saw. All right.

Offer him money. Eddie!

And I guess I will call the parents.

I expect they're upstanding members of
the community just like their daughter[!]

You're pushing
your luck here, matey.

Stephanie, if we are going to perform
in front of the knuckle draggers,

let's at least make sure
we don't fall on our...

WALTZ MUSIC STARTS

Ah!

One, two, three, one, two three,
one, two, three.

Step right to shadow, close, forward.

Step right.
Step back, and foot change.

Twinkle to flip-flop position.

Twinkle to what? Oh, look,
it's a Viennese waltz variation.

Oh, for crying out loud,

why can't we just do that slow-slow,
quick-quick-slow thing?

That quick-quick-slow thing
is a rhythm, it's a system.

It is not a dance.

OK, basic Viennese.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

What now?

Oh, this had better not be for me.

Yes!

Every flaming time.
Look, we'll reconvene at lunchtime.

Oh, I can hardly wait[!]

Sorry to interrupt the fun and games,

but I've been given the dubious
pleasure of covering your class.

[Miss Mason wants you.]

[In her office.]

Why? What does she need me for?

Ssh!

Just one question, Jasmine.
After we spoke this morning,

did you confront Michaela White?

I didn't go looking for her,
if that's what you mean.

But you found her?
Well, she was provoking me.

So I just said what I thought. I
know it was stupid, look, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, it's way too late for regrets.
Michaela's accusing you of as*ault.

No way. There is no way
I assaulted her.

I cannot begin to tell you
how serious this is, Jasmine.

Rachel, you've got to believe me! It doesn't matter
what I believe. The girl's got a cut on her face. What?

Yes, and two witnesses
to say they saw you hit her.

Oh, she's lying.
Her mates are lying.

I advise you to talk to your union
rep as soon as possible about this.

Michaela's dad's coming to see me.
We're going to have to institute

formal proceedings, Jasmine.

And so what's going to happen with me? Well,
I hope if you're telling me the truth... If?

I don't want to lose you. And I hope
to goodness that that doesn't happen.

But you have to understand
striking a child is gross

professional misconduct.

Bit I didn't hit her!

Tread carefully, you lot,

cos if you're in the business
of having it in for Ms Koreshi,

trust me, we'll find out.

In case you don't know, providing false
statements is not only wrong, it's a criminal act.

Well, do you want us to tell
the truth or not, sir?

Back to your class.

All for having a laugh!

What are you going to do, Dad?

Get her jailed. Mr White, I presume?

That's right, the dad
of the assaulted girl.

Alleged assaulted girl.

Shouldn't you two be in class?

You haven't been to the school
before, have you, Mr White?

I'll take you to the
head teacher's office.

WALTZ MUSIC PLAYS

No, no, no, no, no!

Look...! when that left toe hits the floor, you
should be backing straight down the line of dance.

Don't suddenly drop your heel
like that. I'll drop YOU in a minute!

That is it. Find yourself another
partner. I'm off for a butty.

No, Steph, no, no, no, no, no.

You're doing great, you've got the natural turn
off to a tee, and it's a tricky dance to master.

Ey, I'm impressed. Honestly.

Then why are we teaching it to the likes of
Bolton Smilie and Michaela flaming White?

Look, let's get the
reverse turn sorted.

Right, now, it's a mirror image of
the natural turn, with the right

interchanged with the left.

See the big difference there
was on the third step.

Hi. Have you thought about how you're going
to get in to school, now you don't have a car?

Er, walk? Cycle? I quite fancy
cycling if you wanted some company.

You mean you wouldn't try
and run me off the road?

God knows what my bike's like!

I've not been on it for years,
it probably needs repairing.

I could take a look at it if
you like. Come round after school?

Yeah, why not?

Oh, yeah, they would say that,
wouldn't they? They're best friends.

No, they're not.
That's not what Michaela's about.

Well, whatever they are, don't worry.

Even today, with the whole
establishment against the

teaching profession,

it's still relatively hard
to sack a teacher.

Rachel said if they can prove it,
she'll get rid of me.

Yeah, well, she'd be daft, you're one
of the best teachers this school's got.

I wouldn't send my kids to a school
where the teachers hit the pupils.

Why do you think we're in the state
we're in? There's not enough hitting.

Well, that attitude from her
union rep's really going to help[!]

You don't think I did it,
do you, Tom?

You do, don't you? Well, go on,
spit it out. Everybody else does.

No, of course he doesn't.

Look, I'm not going to pretend
it's going to be easy for you.

I talked to Shane again, he's
sticking to his g*ns. I'm sorry.

If the worst comes to the worst,
we'll claim it was an accident.

No, I'm not lying.

Just let me do the talking. I don't
want you incriminating yourself.

I hope you're going to sack her.

Well, not until we find out
exactly what happened.

Have you seen my daughter's face?

What do you think happened, did she
punch herself? She might have done.

I'm not putting up with this.

I'm going to get the police. I don't think it's
in anyone's interests to involve the police.

It is if I get justice for my daughter. Don't the
police already know about your daughter, Mr White?

I'm as shocked about this as you
are. I've told the teacher

if it's true,
she has no future at Waterloo Road.

Mr Lawson's collecting statements

from your daughter and her friends,
and we will interview Ms Koreshi.

It seems obvious to me she's done it. That's
what they said about the Birmingham Six.

I don't like your attitude, mate.

- Well, luckily I'm conducting this investigation,
and I promise you - I will get to the truth

Of what happened. You'd better.

Have a read of these.

SCHOOL BELL

Sit down, Jasmine.

This won't take long. Naturally we
deny all the trumped-up allegations

that the little scallywag's brought.

This is all a load of rubbish.

Well, they have all said
exactly the same thing.

"Exactly" is the right word.

"She through..."

O-U-G-H. "Through her arm..."

God help us, they've even
spelt the same words wrong.

"She through her arm right back
and battered me..."

"battered Michaela...",
"Michaela..." All three

exactly the same words,

exactly the same construction. Well, there
aren't too many ways to describe what happened.

Nothing happened.

They all chose "battered". Why?

Because they collaborated on it.

Exactly. Constructing a little
lie to ruin a teacher's career

is almost a sport for them.

I certainly wouldn't put it
past them. Nor would I.

Can't WE look into this? Get them
on their own, put the pressure on.

They'll soon crack. No, we can't,
Eddie, we won't do that.

Look, we operate in a world, as you all know,
where the teacher's word equals the pupil's.

And we're paying the price for that
every single working day.

Much as I don't like it myself,
Grantly, that is the way it is.

Only we have got
three pupils' words.

I'm sure they wrote this all
together but, unfortunately,

to the outside world
it's a significant indictment.

She deserves to get chucked out anyway after what
she said to me, calling me scum and everything.

Yeah, she is a cow and I hate her,
but she looks dead scared.

Suppose she does lose her job over
this? It's going to be our fault.

She's a stupid school teacher!

There's millions of schools she can
go to, most of them nicer than this.

Suppose they find out? What? That
we've been lying our faces off.

Well, the only way they're going to find out is if
you tell 'em. And you know what'll happen if you do.

Jasmine, erm...

I'm suspending you
with immediate effect.

The terms of the suspension
are explained fully in here.

They require you to leave the premises and
not to return until instructed to do so by me,

and you'll remain on full pay.

This is the last thing
I thought I'd be doing.

Well, don't do it. It sends out all
the wrong signals to them out there.

This is the worst day of my life.

You know, I can't believe I'm being
punished for something I didn't do.

It's not about being found guilty.
No-one in this room thinks you are.

It's only a week, just so that
we can investigate this properly.

Why that little g*ng of th*gs
isn't suspended too is beyond me.

I have to agree with Grantly.

Jasmine, this is a neutral position,
it's a way of defusing the situation.

I know you must be feeling
absolutely gutted, I'm really sorry.

You're a very promising teacher.

It's procedure.

It's a complete farce.

I've got to sort out a lesson plan for tomorrow.
Just leave it, Jasmine. Grantly'll do it.

My Year Nines are watching a DVD
and I've got to set it up.

We'll sort it.

Nothing to worry about.

As clear a case of false
accusation as I've heard.

I've got to go. I'll see you out.

No, look, I'll be fine. Look, at least let me take
you for a drink tonight. You're going to need one.

I don't want to take up
any more of your time.

Don't be daft. We need to talk
about how to deal with all this.

Yeah, OK, that'll be great.
All right.

Poor kid.

Right,

time for you to change hats,
I guess.

From the ridiculous
to the downright bizarre.

Oh, Jas, I can't believe this.

It's true. Oh... Oh, come here.

THEY CLAP OUT OF TIME

Stop there, guys.
What are they doing here?

Mr Lawson wants a little more
structure to your dancing.

Structure? What you on about?

Here we go, Matt.

- What the hell's she doing!
- CHILDREN LAUGH

Strictly Ballroom. As in the telly?
Yup. Mr Budgen was a champion.

CHILDREN LAUGH AND BRAY

Was.

You're having a giraffe, sir.

And I can assure you, if I hadn't
been forced into this, I wouldn't be here.

MUSIC PLAYS

The basic steps are very simple.

Waltz time is three beats to the bar.

A-one, two, three,

one, two, three... And then, for
the ladies, it's just the opposite, OK?

So, it's back on the left, and -

one, two, three, one, two, three...

The waltz relies
on 250 years of history,

and, unlike the breakdance,

it's a dance of communication.

CHILDREN SNIGGER

Two people...

interpreting the same music...

expressing their
feelings through it...

body to body... face to face...

BELL RINGS

..soul to soul.

You mean,
as in coming over for a date?

Actually, and don't laugh,

we're going to try
and do up Mum's bike.

Well romantic[!]

Are you going to try
and give Brett a second chance?

Let's see how much
he wants it first.

Chlo...

there might be hope
for you and Donte an' all, eh?

- Come on, everyone. Round of applause.
- THEY CLAP

Well, we'll let you get on with
writhing around the floor on your backs.

Break dancing! Dancing, my eye!

It's well proper dancing. Not like
that easy stuff youse have done.

"One, two, three, one, two,
three..." That's so minging.

I think maybe the technical aspects
are a little lost on you.

After all, it's only


Oh, yeah? Break dancing's got loads of history
as well. It's from New York, the Bronx.

It was the DJs on street corners
in the '70s that started it all off.

I've done loads of
research about it. 1970s[!]

Bolton, I think what Mr Budgen's trying
to say is that it's not proper dancing.

No way, man! For real,
sir, there's loads of moves.

There's headspin,
backslides, six step.

I bet you couldn't do
one single break dance move.

- THEY LAUGH
- And you can do it to anything, sir.

You can even do it
to that load of pants.

Put it back on, Sash.

Go on!

THEY CHEER

THEY CHEER LOUDLY

OK, then, Mr Budgen,
let's see you do some of that.

I'll think you'll find that with
all forms of modern music,

the roots go back
a lot further than 1970.

I mean, break dancing - of sorts - has been
around for a lot longer than the waltz.

Track five, please.

MUSIC: "Mony Mony"
by Tommy James and the Shondells

♪ Here she comes now
Sayin' Mony Mony... ♪

THEY CHEER AND CLAP

♪ sh**t em down turn around
Come on Mony... ♪

That's wrong!

♪ Hey she give me love
And I feel all right now

♪ You gotta toss and turn
And I feel all right I feel all right

♪ I said yeah Yeah

♪ Yeah Yeah

♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

♪ Well you make me feel
Mony Mony

♪ So Mony Mony

♪ Good Mony Mony

♪ Yeah Mony Mony So good

♪ Mony Mony So fine

♪ Mony Mony Come on

♪ Mony Mony Mony Mony

♪ I said yeah yeah Yeah yeah

♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah
yeah yeah yeah yeah... ♪

APPLAUSE

♪ You could shake it
Mony Mony... ♪

Could have done
with a bit of talcum powder.

Well, I've done it all by the book,
according to the LEA.

- Yeah, and if it goes against her, that's it, end of career.
- KNOCK AT DOOR

Our dinner arrangement?

Yeah, I wasn't expecting you so early. I
thought we might have a couple of drinks first.

And I know teachers don't
like to be out too late midweek.

Must be really nice having
someone look after you so well[!]

- We're going through plans for the new construction.
- You're welcome to join us.

I've made other arrangements. It
would be really great to get your view.

But if you're too busy maybe you
could put some ideas in writing for me.

I'll do that.

Thank God he didn't accept!
We're dining at the Langford.

I thought I'd choose somewhere
quiet where we can talk.

I know you can afford it,
given your generous contributions.

It's an investment in Waterloo
Road and its young people.

BELL RINGS

Erm, girls. About tonight...

Oh, I'm so sorry, Tom,
I completely forgot about the pizza.

Brett's coming round tonight.

Brett? Yeah.
Don't go reading anything into it.

Well, that's good news.

And what you were going to say...

Wasn't anything to do with
Davina joining us, was it?

She kind of manoeuvred me into it.

So... what?
You don't want her to come?

Erm... Tom, stop worrying
about what we think all the time.

What you've done for us,
well, it's just brilliant.

And no, I won't be coming tonight.

You two should spend some
time together on your own.

No. I'm not having that.
I want you there, I mean it.

I want you to get to know her.

That is mad!

Oh, come on, Steph. Yes, it's a competition,
but it's a great way of keeping fit.

I'm telling you, in three weeks
you'd have legs like steel rods.

Grantly, I am not covering my
legs in creosote and flashing

my knickers, so forget it.

That's Latin.
This would be proper ballroom.

You've got all the attributes, deportment.
How long have you known me, Grantly?

You know I don't
respond to flattery.

- It's in two months, and Fleur's organising the over 45s section.
- Come on, we'll walk it!

Over 45? Moi?!

Get stuffed, Grantly!

First prize is a ten-minute
supermarket trolley dash!

Free entry.

Ah... "Dump pile of crap,
buy a new one."

Too much money, that's your problem.

Oh, go on. A pair of his and hers
matching mountain bikes.

No! We're supposed to be
learning how to fix things.

Sorry.

What?

Er... Nothing.

It's just...

Well, then.
How do we get this chain off?

It's good food, huh?

Look, Rachel, I'm not trying
to justify what I did. No?

OK, maybe I am.

The truth is, I don't like myself
very much for what happened.

Perhaps I am trying to find
some kind of absolution.

And the blackmail?
Do we forget about that?

I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have to, I
just needed to know that my bid was on the table.

I'll destroy any evidence that Tess
has. Better still, I'll give it to you.

I just need you to understand.

You know what?
I'd rather give the job up.

I mean it, just say the word.

OK.

OK, that's what we'll do.

I'll get in touch with Mr Philby,

tell him there's been a question raised
regarding the procurement procedure.

Set us back about six
months, we can cope with that.

We need that facility up and running
by next year. I'm aware of that.

I just really wish everything
had been done in the proper way.

What I did at that bidding meeting
put me on a par with you.

You had valuable information and
you used it. You didn't seek it

out, you didn't blackmail anyone.

Philby made the final
decision, not you.

DOORBELL RINGS

Hiya. Hiya. Come in. Just go through.

Hiya. Hi, Chlo.

Right, er, slight change of plan.

The spicy meatball is fantastic.

Oh, right. This your idea?

Er... No, no. It was Mika's,
wasn't it, Chlo?

So, what, we stay in
and she goes out?

No. Mika, come and choose a pizza!

She's in the kitchen with Brett.
They've gone all green.

She's, er,
fixing up Izzie's old bike.

Oh. Sorry, that was a bit
rude of me. No, it wasn't.

Don't worry about it,
Mika knows she's just being stupid.

So, how's Jasmine?

Not good. It's all round the school

that she smacked Michaela White one.

So says Michaela. Well, she didn't.

Everyone was like, "Go, Ms Koreshi!
Give her a Glasgow kiss an' all."

Hi.

Hi.

All right, what you having?

Jasmine? Eddie. If you're not here
in half an hour, I'm coming to get you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy on that, you.

You're not driving anywhere tonight,
are you? I am tomorrow.

We'll be walking everywhere
if Mika gets her way.

Which she usually does.

Maybe, erm, we should all
get a pair of hiking boots.

- Please tell me you're not going to let
her persuade - you to dump your car?

How do we get to school?

On bikes?

PHONE BEEPS

Oh, no, I don't want the girls on
bikes. People get knocked off 'em.

Right, I'm going up.

See you... later, yeah?

Oh, and don't be too late.
You've got school in the morning!

Night, Miss. Goodnight.
Are those two still fixing

that wreck of a bike?

One down, eh?

Hm. It's not as simple as that.

Tom. As long as it takes.

Yeah?

Right, back to cleaning
the rust off these mudguards.

I'll get the steel wool. If you could
find a spanner to take those nuts off.

Brett.

Why are you here?

To save the planet.

This'll need taking apart. Find out
what's clogging up the ring.

But... give it a couple of months,
weekends and after schools,

and we should have it
back on the road.

Or I could buy you a new one.

Second hand, if you like...

..to show you how fantastic
I think you are.

How much I love you, and...

..how sorry I am I hurt you.

How can I make you believe me?

Your commitment, I suppose.

Well, you know you've got it.

Good.

So, we start cycling
and walking everywhere,

and then as soon as we can we're

going to take out Lawson's 4x4.

I took the liberty.


Thank you.

Stuart, I mean this,

you have got to be on site
first thing tomorrow morning.

My credibility's on the line.

Good food, good wine, good company.

Open and honest business practices.

Jasmine!

I've been waiting here ages.
I'm sorry.

I got you one of each, just in case.

You look like you could do with both
of 'em. I'm never going to get over this.

Have you told your mum and dad yet?
Are you kidding? They'd die.

I'm going to resign, Eddie.

Oh, come on.

No, I've been going
over and over this in my head,

and no matter how I look at it, they're
going to find me guilty. Don't give up.

None of the rest of us have.

But you don't know what I know.

The truth is... I did over-react.

I ran at them like a lunatic when I
saw what they were doing to Shane.

Something inside me just flipped.

I knew what he was going through.
Oh, I see...

You were bullied at school?

The opposite. I was a bully.

Well, part of the bully's g*ng,
like Anjie and Sasha.

Terrified to be bullied,
and just so grateful not to be.

You know, we made a girl strip,
tied her to a tree.

And she was begging and sobbing
for us to stop. Flaming hell.

See, this is how I know that
none of them are going to crack.

Cos then they'd have to face
Michaela White,

and that's never going to happen.

Hey, Mum. Where are you?

Rochdale station.

Shouldn't you be at school?
Shouldn't YOU be?

You're not asking me for a reference
for a different career!

Mum arrived. I kind of...
cleared your stuff out. You did what?

How come you let him off? Sure it wasn't
favouritism, cos you fancy the pants off him?

Did you try it on, sir?
Sit down, Michaela.

We don't have to put up with
nothing. He tells on you and

you'll be out, just like Koreshi.

This isn't some game,
this is my future.

I'm trying to save your career.
I don't want it saved!

It's all there, a man of my word.