(Whirring and clicking)
# That's Life
JlMMY: Jackie.
Come here.
That's life.
JlMMY: # That's what all the people say
# You're riding high in April
# Shot down in May
# But I know I'm gonna change that tune
# When I'm riding high, back on top in June
# I said, that's life
# That's life # And as funny as it may seem
# Some people get their kicks
# Stomping on a dream
# But I don't let it
# Let it get me down
# Cos this fine old world keeps us spinning around
(Mimics car engine)
Jackie?
Quetta?
Jackie? It's me.
(Click of door handle)
All right.
No worries.
# That's life
# I tell you
# I can't deny it
(Laughs)
# I thought of quitting, baby
- Mum, is this the one? - Elliot, there is food!
Sue!
- Oh! - Come on, let's get it outside.
- It looks like rats. - What do you mean, rats?
Something horrible! Come on, darling, take it right out. Right out the front door.
# I've been a puppet
You know I have, babe. I've been a puppet. I've been a pirate.
I've been a pawn and a king.
I've been up and I've been down. We both have together.
# And I know oone thing
# Each time I find myself Iying flat oon my face
GUARD: See ya! - Adios!
2ND GUARD: Good night, Jimmy!
(Laughter)
# That's life # That's life
Come on, son.
- All right! All right! Turn it in. - (Laughs)
- You'll give 'em ideas. - Oh! Good to see you.
(Both laugh)
I thought you'd done something stupid and they were keeping you in.
Nah, it's paperwork, innit?
Ain't like the old days when you used to sign your name and they gave you your bus fare.
Well, not that you'd know, Roy.
Ah. Probation papers. I won't be needing that!
Oh, it's taters!
(Exhales heavily)
You might need that.
(Cackles)
(Engine starts)
Jackie? He's here.
(Car horn beeping)
Elliot?
Look at you. You're all grown up.
- Last time I saw you, you peed on my trousers. - Hello, Granddad.
Oh, you lovely boy.
I hung up the banner and all the flags. What do you think?
- Who's been munching at my banner? - Well, Auntie Sue thinks it's rats.
No, no, no. There's no rats in my house, kid.
Look at you! Look at you! Come on.
- Dad! - Julie. Oh!
Oh, you look great. You OK?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Come here. Come here. Come here. How are you?
He didn't deserve you, that Byron. You know that.
Thanks.
Where's Ellie? Ellie, Ellie, Ellie! Granddad's home!
She couldn't make it, Dad. She wanted to.
JULlE: Come here.
- It's my beautiful wife. - Didn't change their minds then?
(Laughs) No.
Oh, er... Roy.
I got you some flowers. The finest in the garage.
Make sure he pays you back, Roy. Thank you.
Come on, Elliot. Let's get Granddad a beer.
- I'd prefer a proper cup of tea. - OK.
Oh!
Right. Let's have some bubbles, eh?
Erm... Oh, God, my hands are a bit greasy. (Chuckles)
- Roy, put the bag down. - Oh.
Just open that.
So, what's it like, Granddad?
- What's what like? - Prison.
Well... It's not good, Elliot, it's not good.
Anyone want any more of anything?
Can I have another glass of red?
Thank you, Sue.
- I googled you. - That's a search on a computer.
I know what fucking Google is, don't l?
It said you were a small-time crook.
Yeah, well, that's the papers, innit?
They like to stick labels on people.
- So what label would you use? - I don't have a label.
- Elliot, he's just got out. - I just made bad choices, that's all.
You know, first choice I got ten years. The second choice I got a 1 2-stretch.
- It also said you did armed robberies. - Yeah, well... Yeah, I did.
Yeah.
But, you know, when I was in the bird I took a degree. I read some books.
I done a bit of physics.
And there's this law by this guy, erm... Isaac Newton.
You know, the geezer, the apple fell on his head.
Well, he reckons... that for every action there's a reaction.
So, I've been living my life like that.
See, the thing is, the police say I broke the law, but actually I haven't broken the law.
Problem is, it's the law of physics, you know? You try telling the judge that.
(Laughter)
- (Drink poured) - That's a lovely drop of wine.
(Sniffs) Beautiful.
(Softly) Oh, God...
(Click and whirring from jukebox)
ROY: Are you OK?
Yeah.
# Cry Me A River - It's the only room I recognised.
- Everything's changed. - Well, it's been 1 2 years, mate.
Yeah. (Exhales heavily)
# Now you say you're lonely - Come on!
# You cry the whole night through
# Well, you can cry me a river
# Cry me a river...
(Song continues)
- Look, Granddad, look. It's me! - What's that?
That's me.
No, no, no, no. You don't poke it, you swipe.
- What happened to buttons? - Progress.
Is it? So, you swipe it, yeah?
ELLlOT: Yeah.
- There's my Ellie! Yeah, I know. I did it for you, Granddad.
Yeah. It's your phone now. That's where you put...
-..you and Elliot a lift home. - Come here. Good boy.
I love you.
Dad. I'm so glad you're back.
# You drove me
# Nearly drove me out of my head
Say hello to Ellie.
I will.
Come here.
I love you, Dad.
Take it easy, mate.
Good to have you back.
Jimmy, up here.
(Footsteps on stairs)
Jimmy.
- They've all gone. - Yeah, I know.
What's it all about?
I need some time.
Well, I've been gone for 1 2 years. How much time do you need?
Oh... Jacks.
I've fancied you since we were nine.
Yeah, well, it's not always all about you, Jimmy.
Oi.
I do love you, you know.
But I don't think I love you any more, Jimmy.
(Exhales heavily)
(Exhales)
(Water running)
(Water off)
(Click of switch)
(Beeping of reversing vehicle)
(Opening and shutting of door)
I got your flowers, Jim.
Oh, Little Gary, innit? Come in.
Ssh. Just put them in here.
Don't nick nothing.
(Sighs)
What's all this about?
- They're for you. I thought you'd like them. - Send them back.
- Oh... I can't send them back. - How'd you pay for them, anyway?
- You left your purse on the side. - (Doorbell chimes)
Oh...
(Door opens)
JACKlE: Oh, hello. Come in. - Hello. Thank you.
- It's Kerry, your probation officer. - That's all I need.
- Hello, Jimmy. - Hello, Kerry.
- Hello. Good to see you again. - Lovely to see you. Yeah.
So, erm... Who did all the flowers?
Oh. Romantic. You settling back in OK, then?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Good.
- It's a lovely house. - Thank you.
It's nice, innit? I'll tell you what. Come and have a look round.
- Go ahead. - Oh. Thank you.
Yeah. We bought it from brand-new, didn't we, Jacks? In about 1 981?
- '86. - Four bedrooms. Two en-suite.
- Wow. - Yeah. You know,
toilets and things like showers.
Yeah. It's lovely. It's lovely.
Jackie put down some new carpets, you know, when I was banged up.
- Er... Any complications? - No, no complications.
No. None. No.
Now this is my Julie's room here. Well, it was.
And er... this is Joe boy's.
Course he's not here any more.
Oh! Excuse me. (Chuckles)
Now, as I mentioned when we last met,
we need to keep you gainfully occupied and from re-offending.
Another ten or 1 2 years, you'd be in your mid-70s before you came out.
This is the master bedroom here. Plenty of action in here, ain't there, Jacks?
- Excuse me. - (Laughs)
No, I'm only playing about.
A friend of mine bought us this. You know, a moving-in present.
- Oh. - Here. Look at this. Look.
Who needs security?
(Both chuckle)
Now, you remember last time we met I said I'd lined up an interview for you?
- Yeah, that's right. - Do you still have your probation pack?
- Er...no...no, I don't. - Yeah. Yeah, you do. Here it is.
Great. Thank you.
Well, you just need to call this number, Jimmy, and ask for Andy.
- Andy. - Ooh. That's positive.
- Is it an interview for a job? - Yeah.
- Great. - Yeah.
- I'd like to see you on a weekly basis. - Sure.
You know if you do break any of the conditions of your probation
- you could be recalled to prison? - This is the piece de resistance, you know?
- This has seen plenty of action, ain't it, babe? - (Giggles)
- Well, look, it's all here in black and white. - Lovely.
And, Jimmy, ultimately, it's down to you, yeah?
Yeah. Of course, yeah. Thank you.
Oh. Look, have some flowers.
- We've got loads, as you can see. - Oh. Thank you.
- All right. - (Both chuckle)
- See you later, Kerry. Thank you very much. - Bye.
- Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
- Thank you. - Comes from a lifetime of lying for you.
- Where you going? - Joseph's.
- All right. I'll have a sluice, get dressed, come... - You're not invited.
What's the occasion, babe?
- It's little lndia's birthday. - Oh, God! How old is she?
- She's five. - Five?
Well, who else is going? Is Roy going? I bet Roy's going, ain't he?
- I mean, what have I done that he hasn't? - He's been around.
Yeah, that's because we never gave the Old Bill his name.
- Otherwise, he'd have done a 1 2-stretch like us. - But he didn't. You never knew when to quit.
Yeah, but that's because I was trying to put food on the table. Who do you think bought this?
Actually, I've paid for all the bills and the upkeep.
What do you mean you paid for the bills? What about the money I invested for you?
- Don't you have to call Andy? - Fuck Andy!
Yeah? Fine. Go to prison.
What about my money, Jacks?
(Door slams)
Hello, baby.
(Key turns in ignition)
(Engine fails to start)
I've killed my car.
(Electric garage door whirs)
(Mutters)
Painshill, please, mate.
You can't use that, mate. We don't take money.
- You don't what? - We don't take money. You need to get a card.
- What kind of card? - Travel card. Oyster card.
- Or get yourself a Freedom pass. - What's a Freedom pass?
Over 60s travel for free.
A Freedom pass? I could have done with one of them 1 2 years ago.
- Do you do a lot of DlY? - Not recently, no.
But you know your way around hand tools?
Some.
- Do you have a favourite? - No. Not really.
No? Do you like paint? Wallpaper? Garden furniture?
I know. You're a timber man!
Our customers like to deal with mature staff who have an expertise in DlY.
They don't wanna ask questions of a teenager
who doesn't know one end of a countersunk screw from another.
It's a minimum wage position. You'll be on a zero hours contract.
- You do know I've just come out of the shovel? - Shovel?
- Prison. - Oh, yes. Yes. Yes.
- Do you know what I was there for? - No. Those details are above my pay grade.
- And that's not a problem? - No.
We wouldn't work with the Probation Service if it was.
By showing trust in you, we firmly believe you'll repay that trust.
Just because you've offended doesn't mean you should be written off.
Well, what if you're wrong?
You wouldn't be here, unless you wanted to make a change in your life.
- So what I'll do is I'll phone Maria next week. - Yeah.
- Probably Wednesday. - She knows her schedule more than I do.
- Rrraah! - (Jackie and Joe cry out)
You cannot scare your granny, you little monster.
You actually scared me.
She's so cute.
I know. She's really enjoying her new school, which is great.
That's good.
Are they still making her wear that ridiculous hat?
(They growl)
It is the best school in the county, Mum. Maria's dad's offered to help pay for the fees.
Yeah.
- So how is he? - Older.
(Joe exhales)
- Did you manage to tell him my position? - I had a go, yeah.
Cheers. Look, Joe, he's out now.
I know you're hurt and up until now he couldn't be a part of all this.
But he could be. If you let him.
You've both got a chance now. He's even gone for a job interview.
- He's gonna get a job? - Yeah.
- Dad? - Yeah.
- No. Oh, I'm so sorry. - (Overlapping chatter)
- Who wants to cut it? KlDS: Me!
- (Doorbell) - Oh, hold on. Yeah, I come back.
Wait for me.
You must be Maria.
- Yeah, I'm your father-in-law. - Yes.
Careful with that, you'll do yourself some damage.
Joe? Hi.
- Where's the birthday girl? - There. Joseph! Carino.
Erm... But maybe I should...
- Oh, yeah. - Oh, no. You bloody idiot.
What are you doing here?
- I've just come to wish my granddaughter... - We talked about this.
I got the job. (Chuckles)
Hello, Joe.
You've done well. It's a lovely house.
- I don't want a scene. - No, no, no. Neither do l.
- Yeah, you do. That's why you're here. - No, no. He's not staying.
- He just came to tell you he's got the job. - Are you gonna introduce us?
No. This is my house, for my wife and my family.
ROY: Come on. I'll give you a lift.
I'll show you out.
Hey. Go to Mum.
I meant what I said, you know.
- Well done. I'm really proud of you. - I wish I could say the same for you, Dad.
- All right. You've made your point. - No, I'm not sure if I have.
Let me spell it out clearly in case you feel like inviting yourself over here again.
You're an embarrassment.
What have you got that anyone could look up to?
Joe, that's enough!
You know, no wonder Ellie turned out the way she did.
- What about Ellie? - What about Ellie?
You know, we were there, when Julie's marriage folded on the back of it.
The best thing you can do for your kids, is be there for them.
I'm here for mine. Where were you for yours?
(Dashboard bleeps)
Tell me about little Ellie. Everything.
- It's a long story. - Yeah? I got plenty of time.
Where is she?
Last we heard she was in a council squat in Lewisham.
- Oh. - Beckenshaw Estate.
- Shithole. - I got Charlie Cook looking out for her,
but he...he drew a blank.
Give me the keys.
- What? - Give me the poxy keys.
- You're not insured. - When has that ever been an issue?
Get out!
It's an automatic.
Shut up, Roy!
- Be careful! - "Be careful."
Excuse me, darling. Excuse me.
Can l...? Can I show you...? Can you help me?
That's my...
You haven't seen this girl, have you? My granddaughter.
No?
Excuse me? Sorry to disturb you.
I'm looking for my granddaughter. I wonder if you've seen that girl?
- No. - Tall girl.
No, sorry. Don't know her.
Excuse me? You haven't seen this girl anywhere, have you?
- There's nothing there. - No... Erm...
What's she like?
- Not to worry. I'll er... - Right.
I'll try and sort this out.
Er... What the...? What do you do with this?
Er...
JlMMY: Oi!
- Did you do that? - Yeah.
It's very good, son.
Look, I got a picture I wanna show you, but I don't know what to do with it...
- Do you know her? - Are you a copper?
- Do I look like one? - Too old.
- She's up there. - What floor?
- Near the top. - Yeah, she would be.
All right. Thank you.
Oi. I'm not that old, son.
Ellie?
It's your Granddad.
Oh. You could eat when you were a kid.
Just like a horse.
- I'm not hungry. - No?
Dip your sausage in your egg. Here you are. A bit of rocking horse.
How do you know this place?
Er... Me and your Uncle Roy used to hang about in here.
We might even have sat at this table. We had a vase with some flowers in.
Very romantic.
Do you still erm...do the eyeball thing?
Yeah. You know.
Watch.
- I remember thinking that was real. - It is real!
What's the matter with you?
(Sighs) I thought you'd gone for good.
Nah, you ain't getting rid of me that easy, babe.
Why did you move out?
- They were just going all weird on me. - What do you mean, weird?
I don't know. Shouting at me. Blaming me for stuff.
- You cold in here? - No.
- I'm all right. - How are you not cold? It's freezing.
- Do you want my jacket? - What? To sell?
- To stop you being cold. - No. I'm fine.
Look, I better go.
Ell...don't you think you'd better come home?
- I've got to go. - Go where?
Just go. Can you lend me some money?
- Like 20 or 30 quid? - What do you want money for?
Because I fucking need it, all right?
Fuck's sake! What's with the stupid questions?
- Wanker! - Ellie.
Ells?
Ellie.
(Police siren wails)
(Music playing from flat)
Ellie? Els!
It's me.
Oh, come on.
We're frigging busy in here.
Did you give her that shit?
Why don't you jog on, Granddad.
- Come here, you mug. - Yeah?
- Come on, then. Right there.
- I'll find you. - Will you?
- And make you eat it. - Will you?
- Oh, yeah. - Oh, yeah?
- Yeah. - Cool.
See you later, then.
(Sighs and mutters)
Jackie?
- Jackie? - Go away. I don't wanna talk.
I need to talk to you, babe.
Roy wants to know when he'll get his car back.
"l don't wanna talk to you..."
So you've been having chest pains because your blood pressure is a bit high.
Is it?
Is there a history of heart problems in your family?
I'm all right, aren't l?
I'm concerned because you're carrying a bit of weight, so...
I lied.
I booked an emergency appointment because it's the only way I could get in to see you.
My granddaughter, she's in a lot of trouble. I believe she's taking heroin.
Is she under 1 6?
No.
Well, then she'll have to make her appointment herself.
I need her to get better.
I think reception can help. They have some leaflets for family counselling.
I need you to fucking help me.
There's no need for language like that, Mr Rose.
Is that what you want?
(Whirring)
(Ellie sobbing and wailing)
(Metallic clanging)
(Screams)
Oh, my God. No!
I don't have any money! Please, don't hurt me!
- (Whirring) ELLlE: No!
(Ellie screams)
I don't have anything! Please, just don't hurt me.
I've got no money. I've got nothing. Please!
(Screams)
- You're coming with me. - You?
- You're coming with me. - No! Get off me!
You need help.
- No! - Somebody should have helped you before.
- Come on. Come on. - No! No!
(Sobs) No!
- I'm gonna take you home with me. - No.
Come home with me. I'll look after you.
Calm down! Calm down.
- Aaron! Aaron! - Keep hold of her, Roy!
Please help me! Get off me!
Eh? Remember me? "Granddad"?
- I didn't know who you were. I'm sorry. - Not such a big boy now, are you? Eh?
What you got here? What's this? What's this?
- Dealing. - Aaargh!
- Are you dealing? - No, no. Please, no!
- Yeah? - You don't know what the fuck you've done.
I think I do. I think I do.
Yeah? Where'd you get it? Where'd you get it?
I found this.
- He dropped it. - Did he?
Yeah.
Thank you.
- Where is she? - She's an animal. She legged it.
Roy, I can't trust you to do nothing.
Me? You're the one who had to beat the crap out of some kid...
I'm trying to solve a problem here, something you all walked away from.
You're her godfather.
- What kind of moral guidance have you been? - All I've ever done is watch your back.
- And all I get is grief! - And so you should.
You lost my retirement fund.
Why in God's name I left it in your incapable hands!
You were the one who wanted it in Spain.
"Overseas property, Roy, that's the place to launder it."
Well, it's laundered.
We're all shafted and it's now a derelict building site worth...Iess than bugger all!
I don't have to take to this.
- (Engine starts) - Oh, and maybe...
Maybe there will be another family garden party I won't be invited to.
How were the vol-au-vents, by the way?
Nobody ever gave your name to the Old Bill, Roy.
- I wondered when that one was coming out. - I bet you were.
- Enjoy the walk. - Yeah. Piss off!
You know your trouble, Jimmy? It's always somebody else's fault. Never yours.
Yeah.
Who was it bailed Jackie out all the years you were inside, eh?
We did. Me and Sue.
- Hasta la bloody vista. - Piss off!
And next time I'll do it myself!
Where's that pizza box?
(Doorbell)
- (Doorbell) - (Vacuum off)
I found her.
Do you want a cup of tea?
Yeah. No, I don't want a cup of tea.
(Water running)
I found her, Jules. I found Ellie.
How is she?
Well, she's living in a squat in Lewisham.
(Footsteps on stairs)
- What's going on, Jules? - I rang you. I tried to tell you.
- But you was just worried about Mum. - Yeah, well, Mum stopped coming to see me.
I'm your dad. You need help, you come and see me.
But you were in prison.
(Sighs)
What's it all about, Jules?
Who's this Aaron geezer?
I don't know. But she's in love with him.
She never brought him home.
She dropped out of school, went out partying all night.
She was experimenting with all kinds of stuff.
But...she just lied all the time.
I had to hide my purse. She took that Tiffany necklace you gave me.
Don't worry about that.
- That's when Byron called the police. - The police?
- We don't call the police. We sort out our own... - It was Byron's idea.
And now she hates both of us. Told us to get out of her life.
How is she?
Is she all right?
Yeah, she's all right.
Tell me... Is it bad?
Well, it's a bit more serious.
She's not gonna die, is she?
No.
- (Sobs) - (Footsteps on stairs)
Hi, Mum. Hiya, Granddad.
Hello, boy. You all right?
(Music playing)
What's all this in aid of?
- Come and have a drink, Jacks. - No, thanks.
Come on. Have a drink.
I saw Julie.
And she told me about Ellie. Everything.
Why didn't you mark my card, Jacks?
Because you'd have only gone back to your cell and brooded on it all.
Yeah. Yeah, I would have.
I found Ellie.
Oh, thank God. How is she?
She's living with a drug dealer. Heroin.
Certain?
(Sobs)
You see, this is what it does to you.
This is what it does.
Come on.
It's all right. It's all right.
It's all right.
I love you.
I fucking love you.
- Hello, mate. - All right.
- What can I get for you? - Er...
What's an American hot?
- Pepperoni, chillies... - Is that spicy?
- I can make it without. - No, I'll have it.
- I'll have a large one. - Anything else?
No, thank you.
Do you give away these empty boxes?
No.
Oh.
That's funny, cos I bumped into a mate of mine the other day
and er... he was carrying one of those with nothing in it.
Well, he had something on him, but it weren't pizza.
- I don't know what you're talking about. - No, I didn't expect you to.
Do you know this girl?
It's my granddaughter.
Now, I'd appreciate it if you wasn't to supply her.
- We sell pizzas. - Yeah, that's what it says on the sign.
But...I'm talking about your sideline.
I don't know what you're talking about.
No? Well, I'll explain it to you in plain English.
She's my granddaughter and I'll be very pleased if you wasn't to sell her drugs.
We're closed now, mate. Get your bus pass out and go home.
What about my American hot?
(Grunting)
Here!
Just get him out of here. Hurry up.
(Groans)
(Gasps and coughs)