[church bell]
[bell tolling]
Today, Piers, is a very special day.
I have a little treat for you.
You may drive my motor car--
carefully.
Thank you.
Carefully.
Mr. Blake.
Mm?
This just arrived.
Thought you might like to take it out with you.
Excellent, Vanessa.
Thank you.
I must always have something sensational to read
on the motorway.
What is it?
A little report I've had run up by assiduous minios
in forecasting--
the role of Douglas Motors in the car industry of the future.
Amusing read.
They did warn me on the telephone the analysis
was a trifle candid.
Not a document to be mislaid on Douglas premises, then.
Not just yet.
I think, Piers, I shall have to thrash this company's
head against a wall repeatedly.
Until it's better?
Until I am satisfied.
[car approaching]
[loud radio]
Sorry. MAN: Colin.
Didn't-- didn't see you there. Wa-hey!
[revving]
MAN: There is someone I hate more than Terry Wogan.
MAN: [inaudible].
Not better yet?
It's really bad.
Well, we'd better get you up to the doctor's, then.
It's only a bit bad.
Do you think you might be able to manage a little ride
around the garden later on?
If I feel better.
Oh, no.
If you're off school, you're in bed.
Understood?
Right.
I have to go out for a while, so bed.
Upstairs, now, all day.
Understood?
I'll be back by lunchtime.
Have you got the price of a cup of tea, governor?
Yes, sir. I'm out of cash.
What cheek.
You haven't a one pound 60 for a pot of Earl Gray, have you?
No.
Victoria.
God, you're beautiful.
Quote poetry at me and I'm likely to be sick.
So, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?
I'm pushing some second years through the Earth's
crust in half an hour.
So I thought I'd come by and tell you I love you.
Ah-ah-ah.
I came by last night.
You weren't in. - No.
I was out.
Where?
Oh, holding my father's hand through yet another crisis.
I expect nothing else with your family.
VICTORIA: Yes, well, it's not a lot of fun watching
the dynasty crumble piecemeal.
TONY: Not when you've got a 10% stake in it, no.
Dad's got a new business consultant.
Who's that, then?
He's a-- well, you wouldn't know him.
Well, no.
But is he old, young, handsome, what?
Oldish, uglyish.
I don't know-- nondescript, I guess.
There's this drinks thing at St. John's tonight.
What's this?
No, Tony.
I've got a lot to do. It's a phone.
Dance.
I've got to do some work.
We don't have to stay long-- just an hour or so.
I'm getting behind.
I was rather hoping we might have
a little sort of celebration?
My paper's out today.
Oh, that's great.
I even managed to incorporate a few of the ideas
that we've been chatting over.
And which ideas were those?
This is your copy.
See what you think.
Dr. Burke thinks it rather fine.
[knocking]
What the hell do you want?
Short term expectation, coffee, bath,
lift back to Montrose House.
Long term, revenge.
I'm busy. [phone ringing]
Is that my phone?
No.
Morning.
He works for my father.
Or he works for me.
This is Stephen Crane.
Oh, at last.
Your phone-- my phone has been continually engaged.
Engaged?
Since when?
Cut the crap, Crane.
Where the hell were you last night?
You dropped Markus right in it.
You're running out of friends here.
CRANE (ON PHONE): There's always you.
Don't bank on it.
You really screwed things up between my father and me.
I tell you, if he ever knew it was you--
Look, Jo, I told you last night,
Victoria insisted on taking me for a drink in the country
and then decided to dump me there.
Then it was too bloody late to make the meeting with Markus.
JO (ON PHONE): Do you really expect me to believe all that?
Yes.
JO (ON PHONE): Have a happy life, Crane.
[beep]
Oh, perfect.
Where's the bathroom?
That, I take it, was our oldish, uglyish consultant.
I thought in the country, they'd still have people
to do this sort of thing.
Don't be so fastidious, Piers.
If you so much as dribble on my chromium,
I will disembowel you.
I spent quite sufficient on motor cars this month.
I think it might be prudent to consign
Douglas Motors to the boot.
I spy with my little eye something beginning with D.
Destitution.
Desperate action, Piers--
the imminence of its necessity.
I want my money.
If Franklyn's offer's grand enough, they may sell.
Did his bloody daughter manifest herself this morning?
She did.
Harcourt's showing her the ropes.
Yeah.
Delightful child.
Whatever can she find attractive about a man as egregiously
ill bred as Crane?
I say, can you direct us to Douglas Motors?
Please.
They've closed down, haven't they?
Oh, come on, Grandpa.
Let me do one of those test drive
thingies on the pretend road.
No, no.
I can't possibly do that.
I'm much too busy.
Anyhow, you're supposed to be sick, aren't you?
Yeah, well, I'll soon be seven.
Is that supposed to be funny, is it?
Eh? - Yeah.
Pretty funny? Come on.
[laughter]
Ah, poor kid.
Going to be another statistic, isn't he?
What's that?
Him.
Part of a one-parent family soon.
KARL: Why don't you shut up and get on with something useful?
MAN: Beats me, Karl.
Why can't I?
I'd be happy to admit it if Gavin was
giving my little sister one.
[laughter]
BLAKE: What the hell's going on?
PIERS: Good grief.
A peasant's ceremony of welcome, perhaps.
MAN: Get off of me.
Get off of me.
BLAKE: Excuse me.
Can you direct me to the offices of Mr. Douglas?
I'm Mr. Douglas.
[grumbling]
Jimmy Blake, chairman of Claybores.
My aide de camp, Piers Garfield-Ward.
Your benefactors, Mr. Douglas.
Sorry to intrude unannounced, as it were.
We were just passing.
We always like to keep an eye on our investments.
I take it we haven't called at an inopportune moment, mm?
Oh, no.
No, no.
Um, would you like to come this way?
Well, thank you.
Just go to your lecture, for goodness' sake, Tony.
I do not need this.
What's he going to do, throw me down and rape me?
Of course not.
I know it's nothing--
Just go to your lecture.
People often arrive late.
You're giving it.
You lied to me, Victoria.
We always said--
I won't have these pathetic accusations.
I spend my life--
just forget it and go, will you?
No.
Go on.
Fitting in around your wife's arrangements.
"Victoria, I can see you this afternoon.
My wife's supply teaching."
TONY: Do you mind?
This is a private conversation.
Well, not that private.
I could hear you in the bathroom.
We'll carry on our discussion tonight, Tori.
VICTORIA: No, we won't.
I'm going home. - Oh, good.
You can give me a lift. I'm in a hurry.
Ah!
Right!
Out, both of you!
And you!
I've had just enough!
Excuse me.
[laughter]
What's the matter?
Listen, just don't mention Stephen, all right?
What are you talking about?
Please, Robert, I'll explain later.
Just don't mention Crane to them.
Explain now.
They'd penciled him in for a top job at the bank.
They were really annoyed when he left
after they'd been grooming him.
They'll only think we poached him.
You didn't take the London job, then.
Didn't make it.
I'd walked seven miles before I realized I was
walking in the wrong direction.
So what are you going to do now?
Apologize to your dad and go back to work-- now!
After that scene yesterday?
Why not?
Well, why don't I just drop you
off at the nearest job center?
Yeah, why don't you?
Well, I don't see why--
You don't see anything, do you?
We're not even living in the same world.
You dump me miles from anywhere, screw up the best job I ever
got, and then piss off all my friends
so I have to come down to this godforsaken hole
to pull your dad's ass out of the fire.
And people still just can't stop taking a pop at me.
So I can do without your helpful comments, OK?
And I'm going to send you the phone bill.
VICTORIA: I can see you and Dad are
going to get on really well.
I'll still be your father's consultant in six months.
No way.
You won't be there in six weeks.
Oh, let's have a little wager on that, shall we?
What shall we say, 20 quid?
Let's make it 50.
Keep your eyes on the road.
God, you're so panicky.
How did you survive the stock market?
What is it?
"Who dares wins"?
Hm.
That's the SAS, actually.
VICTORIA: All right, what is the stock market, then?
"My word is my bond."
Ha.
Oh, and neither of them are particularly
appropriate for you.
It's an honor to be able to support
traditional British craftsmanship at its best.
This is the area that was gutted by the fire.
Fire?
Yes.
Yes, you'd hardly know it now.
Thanks to you, we've been able to jazz it up, so to speak.
Have you disposed of the entire sum?
Yes, virtually, by the time we've paid off the overdraft
to the bank, built the cars for Japanese export,
and put a lick of paint on the walls.
Japan.
Oh, that's interesting.
Well, they never actually got there.
The, uh-- the chap went bust.
And then the customs cut the cars to pieces.
Yes, it was a rum business.
You don't appear to have a great deal of machinery here.
It's a hand-built car.
Not terribly practical, is it?
But most impressive.
Do you want anything?
Just drop me off at the factory, please.
I'm late enough as it is.
I won't be too long.
[revving]
Well, all most illuminating.
Quite a stroke of Stephen's to unearth Douglas Motors.
He drove a Leopard, you see.
Like we were saying, they arouse the passions--
get the roof down, feel the wind in your hair, the open road,
freedom.
You knew him a little, didn't you?
Hardly.
Uh, a little-- you know.
I think he's in Japan.
Well, it's been very nice meeting you.
PIERS: Yes, indeed.
If it's not too much trouble, we'd
like you to come to London for a strategy meeting soon.
Strategy?
BLAKE: To decide on our next move--
the way ahead.
We've been doing a smidgen of helpful research
on your behalf.
And Piers will come up once a month
or so to keep an eye on things--
look after you a bit, as it were.
[car approaching]
And--
Japan?
He's been here as a consultant.
Until he goes.
I've never seen Colin get so angry.
Makes you think there's no smoke without fire.
Oh, yeah?
I wouldn't be surprised if Gavin--
Hello, Tom. How are we?
All right? - Fine.
I got you.
You've come to work with your Uncle Colin, have you?
What was it last time?
A spark plug--
What on Earth are you doing here, Tom?
Why aren't you in bed?
Right.
I'm taking you to school.
If you're not ill, you can go back to school.
What's the matter?
I don't want to go back to school ever.
Why not?
Why on Earth not?
Because they're all horrible to me and saying things.
I hate it there.
[sniff]
Come on.
Tell Mummy what the matter is.
No.
Is somebody bullying you?
Who?
Why?
I don't want you to go and see the teachers.
But we can't keep you off school forever.
We'll have to think of something.
disenchanted to learn that you have afforded
sanctuary to a person as fundamentally
corrupt as Stephen Crane.
But you employed him.
Alas, I did.
But I would not harbor on my staff
an individual whom I discovered to be an insider trader.
Evidently, Stephen elected not to include that particular item
on his curriculum vitae.
Now, at this juncture, I fear I must be forthright.
I'm presenting you with a choice.
Remove Crane from the apparatus of your company,
and I will support you to the hilt.
Otherwise?
I wash my hands of you, and you take the consequences.
GAVIN: But you can't take the money back, can you?
This is my business, Mr. Blake.
I should employ whoever I choose.
BLAKE: In a perfect world, Mr. Douglas.
In a perfect world.
I expect to hear your answer by this evening.
Brill.
Thanks a lot.
You're an absolute angel.
Me?
I'm, uh-- I'm working in this car factory in the Midlands,
would you believe.
No, don't tell me.
What, Douglas Motors?
Well, that's a coincidence.
Well, Jimmy just had a report on them.
He's got it with him up there.
Up where?
Douglas Motors.
He's here?
At Douglas Motors, with the report?
GAVIN: Yes, but insider dealing--
it isn't as bad as it sounds.
Everybody's up to it in the city.
Gavin, you don't know what you're talking about.
I mean, when I think--
when I think that I actually wanted him back-- oh, god!
That man!
And you knew.
Grooming him for a top job, indeed.
I didn't want to worry you.
Worry me?
I mean, when I think of all the guff he gave me to get the job.
Said he's finished, the money's not there anymore--
well, that's true enough.
He's taken most of it, hasn't he?
It isn't the end of the world, Robert.
Come on.
He had a few debts he needed to clear, so--
It's called insider trading, and it's illegal.
- He was just unlucky. - Unlucky?
Oh, brilliant.
He's not only dishonest and a liar, he's also incompetent.
He is not incompetent.
He's finished.
Go and get him.
I want him in here now.
[phone ringing]
Yes?
MAN (ON PHONE): Hi.
Is Stephen Crane there?
Stephen--
I know-- Blake.
I'm going to talk to Robert about it now.
I really wouldn't bother, if I were you.
He's furious.
You're out on your backside, I'm afraid.
Even you won't be able to talk him out of it.
Wonderful.
Two jobs down the pan in as many days, and they call me lucky.
What did Blake tell Robert?
- The truth. - Damn.
And that if we sang to you, they'd
back up their investment without ruining
the accounts of the company.
What?
And Robert believed him?
Yeah.
I know Blake.
He wants me out of the way so they can do what the hell
he likes to get his money back.
I've brought the wolves to your door.
I'm sorry.
If you go with Blake, he will change this company
beyond recognition.
You've got to see that, Gav.
Where are you going now?
Crane's law rule number one, I hate Blake.
Eh?
I'm nipping to London to see a man about a document.
I'll be back later.
Listen.
Be a pal and cover for me.
Also rule number one, never lie down when there's
a vulture circling overhead.
It was like being a small child caught with chocolate
round your mouth.
There we were, saying we haven't touched the cake.
And then Crane drives up in Victoria's car.
Victoria's?
What on Earth's going on there?
PENNY: You weren't expecting him back.
No.
PENNY: Well, you weren't really lying, then, were you?
Mr. high-and-mighty Blake standing there, patronizing us.
Nowhere to be found.
Well, you can't have looked properly.
PENNY: So you've only got the bank's word for all of this.
Well, they're hardly likely to have made it up, are they?
PENNY: We really ought to hear what Stephen has to say.
Well, I can't find him.
And what if he did take advantage of his position
at the bank?
Why should that bother us?
I can't employ people I don't trust.
Maybe a man like him is just what this place needs
to get it back on its feet.
And you have found him useful.
I wouldn't be so sure.
I mean, I know he's my friend--
Oh.
So you ask your friend for help, and once he's helped you,
you stab the poor bloke in the back.
I'm just thinking what would be best for the company.
So we're as untrustworthy as him.
Now, why are you so keen to keep him here?
Oh, god. You're pathetic.
You really are.
DOUGLAS: Look, stop it, you two.
You're like a couple of fish wives.
Crane is out.
I'm going to find him myself and tell him.
All right, Dink?
How are you doing?
Listen, can I borrow this car? - No.
No chance of you borrowing this beauty.
It's somebody else's. - Come on.
This is urgent.
Yeah, it's all money [inaudible] restore your old
mower to its former glory.
Come on, keys.
Look, I've got to be in Birmingham in 10 minutes
to see a possible distributor.
Oh, yeah?
Dixon's?
Yeah, Dixon's.
Robert's OKed it.
[engine starting]
You won't regret it.
Where's he gone?
DINK: Dixon's.
Yeah.
Right.
Thank you.
Dixon's say they've never heard of Stephen Crane.
Man's a pathological liar.
I'm going out.
I might be back later.
Tom is such a little toughie.
Ha.
Well, he is.
I just can't imagine him being unpopular at school.
I can't, either.
And he won't say what it's about.
All I can get out of him is that this fatty,
Croaker, said something.
And instead of it resulting in a lot of ink
getting flicked, which is the usual, Tom's taken it to heart.
Well, they'll be best of friends tomorrow.
PENNY: Probably.
Speaking of friends, what's going on with Stephen?
How do you mean?
PENNY: Richard said Dad's in a force 10 bait.
God.
Yes, he is.
Stephen's mouth seems to be full of truth decay.
Dad hates it.
PENNY: I'm worried about him.
Who?
Dad.
VICTORIA: Oh, yeah.
So am I. I mean, all that bloody business
with the Japanese bloke.
PENNY: I know.
And now Jamie.
PENNY: What?
What about Jamie?
What have you heard?
Well, we don't know anything, as such.
PENNY: Come on!
What don't you know as such?
Were you trying to go through the sound barrier
today, Robert?
You just fill up that tankard.
Or I'm writing to [inaudible] Ronnie about your pate.
Heh.
Aren't you even a bit pleased he might be coming back?
Oh, Penny.
"Oh Penny" nothing.
Jamie's going to come swanning back into Dad's life,
shatter it into a thousand pieces.
And I'm going to be left to glue them all back together again.
It's all right for you, popping home every weekend,
Dad showering you with affection.
I have to live with it seven days a week.
Well, even if he does come back-- and I doubt he will--
how do we know he won't have changed?
Everything's changed.
Mum is dead.
You've forgotten.
Forgotten what?
The absolute hell.
Then what do we do?
Forget he was ever born?
Maybe he'll have grown up.
- Mr. Blake? - Yes.
Mr. Franklyn's waiting in your office.
Damn.
He'll be twining on about Douglas Motors
as soon as I walk through the door.
The man's obsessed.
Hard to see why.
Franklyn will not be denied, Piers.
And to allow him the slightest inhalation
of the scent of Stephen Crane will be an act
of bravura self-destruction.
Before I make a gaffe, I want to be clear--
Franklyn has no idea you're responsible for his daughter's
dismissal and for putting money into Douglas Motors?
No.
That we are responsible.
Neither does Joe?
Apparently.
But Crane does.
One fears as much.
That's a serious weapon for Crane, Jimmy.
Indeed.
So until the young boil is cleanly
burst from Douglas Motors, we're obliged to keep
Mr. Franklyn at bay.
What a torrid and hideous fiasco, Piers.
MR. FRANKLYN: Uh, not too much for me.
I'm taking my errant daughter out for lunch in the park.
She's going to be invaluable.
Delighted to have her on board.
Good of you to give her a chance, Jimmy.
It has been noted.
Let's hope she keeps better company here.
Cheers.
And what news of Douglas Motors?
Are the bailiffs at the door yet?
We popped up to the factory quite recently.
I should have thought to ask you if you wanted to come along.
The Midlands?
Behave, Jimmy.
I hear they got a new manager in from somewhere
with a bit of cash.
But who on Earth would be stupid enough
to throw money in that direction without calling the management
first is hard to imagine.
Quite.
You met the management?
Indeed.
Frightful experience.
A conspiracy of complacent buffoons.
And who is this young gun, then?
I can't quite remember his name.
However, I think I'm safe in saying he's on the way out.
Steps have been taken.
What do you mean, steps have been taken, if you
cannot even remember his name?
Come on, Jimmy.
No, no.
It really does elude.
Uh, perhaps Piers can enlighten us.
Piers, step in here for a minute, will you, dear boy?
[suspenseful music]
Good afternoon, sir.
Jimmy.
I can't quite recall the name of the new consultant
in Douglas Motors.
I told Tom you'd be sure to remember.
Oh, um--
Crane.
Stephen Crane, I think.
Good.
Well, keep me informed.
Such a lovely car.
Such a dozy company, ripe for the picking.
My god.
Hey.
Hey, you.
Get your filthy paws off that motorcar.
CRANE: Or what?
Or I'll turn your ass for you.
Yeah?
Yeah.
You and whose army?
Hello, Willy.
Don't you "Willy" me.
Stevie.
Where have you been, you dafty bugger?
Here and there.
You know, busy.
Jimmy's new toy?
Aye.
Hideous, isn't it?
When did he get back?
Oh, just a wee while ago.
"Guard this vehicle with your soul, Stebbings."
[phone ringing]
Well, if that's Blake, he can bug off.
I've had enough.
Oi, gov, how much room have I got?
- Yeah, you're all right. - Steer us back a bit.
That's it. Keep it coming.
Bit to the left.
No, your left. Right.
More left. Right?
Right, that's it. Lovely.
OK, gotcha.
That is lovely.
Right.
Yes.
Come on. Come on.
Whoa.
PIERS: Seen the crap?
JOANNA: Anagram.
If only I could have made "seen the light."
I didn't realize your boyfriend
was working in northern climes.
Ex-boyfriend.
Really?
Oh.
How are you enjoying your first day?
I'm living with it.
What would you say if I asked you to have dinner with me?
Is he in?
What are you doing here?
Stephen, are you completely mad? - Yes.
Go away.
If Blake sees you, he'll call the police.
I've only come to see Jo.
Well, if she has any sense, she won't--
Yes, well, she hasn't.
Jo's at lunch.
Put that down.
I know what you're after, and it's in with Blake.
He's reading it now. - Reading what?
For God's sake!
It's my job you're playing with, here.
All right.
BLAKE (ON PHONE): Yes.
Hello there, Mr. Blake.
It's, uh, Stebbings here, sir.
I'm afraid there's been a wee accident down here with your--
car.
Go and take your coffee break now.
- What's going on? - Please.
I need two minutes.
Are you trying to get me sacked?
I'm trying not to.
Trust me.
Och, maybe somebody's playing a wee joke on you, sir.
People don't have wee jokes with me, Stebbings.
Well, you can see for yourself, sir.
Aye.
Christ.
You haven't seen anyone around, have you?
Sorry?
Nobody's been in, have they?
I haven't seen anyone.
[gasp]
Thanks.
[elevator ding]
PIERS: Ah, my dear.
I want you to make a table reservation for me.
Next Tuesday, two persons.
9 o'clock.
[door creaking]
Langley's.
Thank you.
What are you doing?
Ah, nobody thought to change it since last month, would
you believe.
What's happening about the insurance, Peter?
Well, it's a bit of a complicated business.
Yeah, well, we won't have a business if we
go on at this rate, will we?
I mean, does nobody cared about this bloody company,
for God's sake?
Am I going slowly, lad?
MAN: Robert.
Are you all right?
Shall I get you some water?
Robert?
Oh my god.
Robert!
FRANKLYN: I saw Ian and Helen at the weekend.
JOANNA: Oh, how are they?
FRANKLYN: Fine.
Fine.
They send their love.
JOANNA: Good.
FRANKLYN: I hoped you'd be around.
JOANNA: I was away.
FRANKLYN: Anywhere nice?
JOANNA: Buley.
FRANKLYN: Huh.
Did you sail?
JOANNA: No.
No, not really.
FRANKLYN: Oh!
Look at them.
Pure animal greed-- which brings us to your recent triumph
with Trans Frontier Haulage.
Well, then, Jo, it obviously wasn't the money.
I was unlucky.
It was brought forward.
I thought it would be safe.
Safe?
Insider dealing is rarely safe--
particularly not when your father heads
one of the companies concerned.
I'm sorry, Daddy.
Please.
If this gets out, think what the papers would write.
Your mother would have cried for shame.
I did it for a friend.
He needed the money.
He asked me to find out what you were working on.
I knew somebody would have been behind you,
forcing you into this.
It's as much my fault as Stephen's.
Stephen?
Stephen who?
Crane.
Stephen Crane.
That's twice today I've heard that name.
Did Ian and Helen say anything about Paul's wedding?
Such a small world.
Hey. [laughter]
What's this?
Going for a laugh, or what?
Yeah. Love it.
Love it, me.
A consultant to a car company what can't even drive, eh?
[laughter]
Oh, just popped in for an oil change, have you?
Yeah, yeah. Very funny.
Where's Robert?
Went home ill.
And the last thing he needs is you upsetting him.
Why don't you just--
go back to where you used to work?
Because I work here now.
Robert's father once told me that the only commodity
in business worth having is integrity.
And the only one not worth having is insolvency.
Make sure he does what he's told.
Thanks.
Well, what did she say?
Oh, I just need to rest, that's all.
Oh, come on, Dad.
I just stood up a little too quickly, went dizzy.
I mean, after a couple of pints of George's bitter,
it could happen to anybody, couldn't it?
Well, has it happened before, Dad?
Oh, Victoria, do stop fussing.
Has it?
No not really.
Once or twice.
I think you should take some time off work.
Let someone else do the worrying for a change.
How can I?
Easy.
Just do it.
The bank will not support us unless we get rid of Crane.
They obviously do not want to have
anything to do with somebody they've
just sacked for dishonesty.
Well, you know what to do, then.
I hate it when you're ill, Dad.
I don't care about anything else,
just so long as you're well.
I don't want to end up an orphan.
I'm an ox.
The doctor said so herself.
Yes, they're the stubborn ones, aren't they?
I'm all right, love.
Listen, if I were to ask Stephen why he left the bank,
do you think he'd tell me the truth?
You are ill.
Do you know that?
[chuckle]
Sorry.
I just don't know who to trust anymore.
Sorry.
How very irritating.
There was a time when I'd have said,
forget that little company.
But now, it's personal.
I want Stephen Crane's head, Jimmy, on a plate.
Salomi will dance for you, Tom.
I-- I guarantee it.
We'll talk when I get back from Hong Kong.
[inaudible]
No, but we can manage it.
How are you feeling, Dad?
Thirsty.
I'm not sure that's a good idea.
Maybe not, but it's the best one I've had today.
[door closing]
That'll be Gavin.
Will you referee, Grandpa?
No.
Your mother will.
Oh, no.
What are you doing up?
Will you referee, Victoria?
Mum's a rubbish ref.
Can't.
I've got to read this paper.
Tony's just been published.
Hello, Robert.
A very successful afternoon, you'll be pleased to hear.
- Will I? - Mm.
Met the distributors.
We'll soon have a real network, at this rate.
Now, what's the matter?
You live in my house, with my daughter.
Don't you dare lie to me.
I don't understand.
Oh, neither do I. You've got a wonderful family.
What the hell do you think you're doing?
I don't know what you're--
I'm not a complete idiot!
I saw you.
This is just what I need right now, isn't it?
And if I saw you, how many other people in the village
must have seen you, eh?
How long has it been going on?
Not long.
You can't change your brand of toothpaste
around here without anybody knowing about it.
And you?
You have to start an affair with a blasted school girl.
She's not a school girl.
Don't start justifying it now.
What do you want me to say?
What can I say?
ROBERT: What are you going to do about it?
Finish it.
Does Penny know?
Right.
Well, you sort it out before she does, or you are
out of work and out of here.
Come on, Tony.
We'll be late again.
Plenty of time, darling.
[phone ringing]
Yes?
Tony?
Look, I can't talk now.
Why not, you bastard?
I just read your paper.
More accurately, my paper.
How could you do this to me?
Mickey!
Look, just because you're a burnt out old hack
does not give you the right to steal my research!
Please, stop being ridiculous.
What would I want to steal your research for,
for goodness' sake?
What are you talking about?
Victoria, you know as well as I do--
look, I refuse to talk to you like this.
I'll call you later.
All right?
Yeah.
Hysterical student.
I had to fail a paper of hers.
Jimmy Blake's got this theory.
He thinks that ideally, people should
be in a state of terminal anxiety all the time.
It's relaxation that gives you stress.
All the time you're relaxing, you
know that afterwards, you're going have to fight like hell
to catch up.
How was Dixon's?
I didn't go to Dixon's.
I hear you've had a bit of a turn, Robert.
I'm sorry.
How are you feeling?
Uncertain.
About what?
You.
Anything you want to know.
Anything.
Why did you leave the city?
It's difficult to say, really.
It was either the insider trading or the embezzlement.
Probably the embezzlement.
Banks get a bit iffy about that.
What?
I know Blake was here today.
ROBERT: He didn't say anything about embezzlement.
Well, he wouldn't, would he?
He's the one I embezzled.
Robert.
There's no way I could legitimately
get anybody to put half a million
pounds into Douglas Motors.
I had to make it look tastier than it was.
That meant sweetening some of the figures.
All of them, as a matter of fact.
Why didn't he tell the police?
Same reason he didn't tell you--
too embarrassing.
Also, Jimmy's got a lot to hide.
His cupboard's stuffed so full of skeletons
he has to stand with his back jammed up against the door.
Next question.
Why did you do it?
You've met Blake.
It doesn't make any difference, Stephen.
CRANE: OK.
You're still sacked.
I suppose Gavin told you.
CRANE: Yep.
I cannot condone fraud under any circumstances.
You'll still keep the money, though, won't you?
I'm also a thief, by the way.
I nicked this off Blake's desk this afternoon--
his plans for Douglas Motors.
Don't read if you're still feeling a bit dodgy.
It's not got a lot to do with cars.
Yes?
Just thought I'd let you know you won your bet.
I know.
You should've told the truth.
I did.
I won't make that mistake again.
I suppose I shall be arrested now
for receiving stolen property.
Practical criticism?
That bastard's only gone and stolen two years of my work.
Half my best ideas, that's all.
Who?
VICTORIA: Tony.
How?
Every original idea in his paper
has been lifted from my research,
from our conversations, and regurgitated in such
an archaic and ponderous style.
Why did he do it?
VICTORIA: I don't know.
When I first met Tony, he was one of most brilliant
young minds in the university.
The fact is, he isn't young anymore.
And he hasn't published a thing in six years.
Everyone's saying Stanhope's burnt out.
Sad thing is, it's true.
What, and he thought you wouldn't notice your own ideas?
Don't touch me.
WOMAN (ON PHONE): Good afternoon.
Claiborne's.
Jimmy Blake, please.
I'm sorry.
What on Earth for?
I've been a bit snappy today.
Tom's been having a problem with a bully at school.
I can't find out from him what it's all about.
Anyway, it upsets me.
I'm sorry.
I don't deserve you.
It's all mine.
You are a rude, arrogant--
Self-opinionated, corrupt, and dishonest young man.
I know.
Cheers.
Unfortunately, you're just the kind of man
a business seems to need these days--
which speaks volumes for the world we live in.
And I told Blake as much.
He's not over the moon.
Have you read the report?
Oh, just the recommendations of the bank.
Which were?
Retire the management, sack the workforce,
move the factory to a huge hangar they've
found in Birmingham, flatten the current site,
and sell it off to developers with a new access road.
Common sense, really.
Make a great Tesco's.
They like the car there.
If anyone can stop them, I suppose it's you--
which is why I'm giving you your job back.
I don't want it back.
Just kidding.