1 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,480 Well, I tend to go for a seven for double knitting 2 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:17,840 cos my tension's too tight. 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,240 But seven-and-a-half, I think, yeah. Ta, love. 4 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:22,240 One first-class stamp there, Megan. 5 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:24,840 28p, please, love. How much? 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,680 I know, daylight robbery. 7 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,440 That's the Post Office for you. HE CHUCKLES 8 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:03,440 Oh, Alan? Alan. 9 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,040 MAN: Alan Bates? Management. 10 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,240 Oh, thugs in suits. 11 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,600 You know why we're here, Alan. 12 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,280 And you know you're a day early. 13 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,720 MAN: Oi! There's a queue here. 14 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,480 I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but this post office is now closed. 15 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,480 Er, not yet, it isn't. That's 2.39, Tom, please. 16 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,960 Alan, come on. Let us in, please. Yeah? 17 00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:25,480 If you'd like to make an appointment 18 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,440 for after my so-called contract ends, 19 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,080 I shall inspect my diary for a window. 20 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,120 We have a right of entry. 21 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,960 I'm the sub-postmaster, so I am locked in, 22 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,720 and everyone else is locked out. 23 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,120 So if you want to see my accounts... 24 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,280 ..you'll have to come back tomorrow. 25 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,040 Right. 26 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,720 Come on. We're gonna need some help. I'm calling the police. 27 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,000 Sorry about that, Tom. FAINTLY: Hello. Police, please? 28 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,520 I'm calling from Craig-y-Don Post Office. 29 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,080 They're not calling me a thief. They wouldn't dare. 30 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,320 They say money's somehow gone missing from this branch, 31 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:07,440 which it hasn't, 32 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,080 and I have to pay it back, which I won't. 33 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,440 So I say prove it. 34 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,520 Prove that I'm wrong and you're right. 35 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,440 Show me the figures, but they can't or won't do that. Alan... 36 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,480 So now they want to close me down to shut me up... 37 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:23,600 That's ridiculous! 38 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,080 ..because they don't want everyone knowing what I know. 39 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:27,400 Which is? 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,800 That the fancy new computer system 41 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,120 that they've spent an arm and a leg on is faulty. 42 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,760 No-one else has ever reported any problems with Horizon. No-one. 43 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,920 I don't believe you. 44 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,280 So no actual crime has been committed here today? 45 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:49,320 Well, Post Office Limited is stealing, er, my livelihood, 46 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,520 my shop, my... my job, my home, 47 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,440 my life savings, my good name. 48 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,400 Civil matter. 49 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,040 Righto. Be getting back to the day job. 50 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,000 Might wanna come back tomorrow, sir. 51 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,000 DOOR OPENS How exactly do you sleep at night? 52 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,600 DOOR CLOSES 53 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,800 Same time tomorrow? 54 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:23,840 DOOR OPENS 55 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,040 DOOR CLOSES It can't be just us, can it? 56 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,120 Morning, Marion! Morning, Jo. 57 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:35,360 All right? 58 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,200 Hello, Jo. You all right? All right? 59 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:40,600 Morning, Jo. Hello, Jo. 60 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,000 Morning, Jo. Morning, Jo. 61 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:43,120 All right, Trevor, Nadia? 62 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:45,600 Hi, Elaine! You look nice, Jo. 63 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,320 Morning. With you in a minute. 64 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,640 No rush. MAN: Morning, Jo. 65 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,560 Ooh! 66 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,960 Ooh, you smell good. 67 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,240 Don't turn your back! They'll all be gone. 68 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:00,840 SHE CHUCKLES 69 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:03,560 What's the matter, Diane? 70 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,840 I can't find it anywhere. It's my pension book. 71 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,680 I can't... can't find it anywhere. You haven't lost your pension book. 72 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,760 I keep it in my drawer, remember? Oh... 73 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,640 Sorry! Spinning plates. 74 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:24,960 Well, it's as much as I can do 75 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,680 to get myself into court every morning with my hair brushed. 76 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,560 Er, a dozen first-class, please. 77 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,680 Whisper it, legal eagle, but I'm happier baking. 78 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:37,000 Book-keeping, accounts and computers... 79 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,080 not so much. Mm. 80 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:40,520 There you go. 81 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,600 Thanks, Jo. Have a good day. 82 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:49,120 No, job, no income, nowhere to live. 83 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,520 All our hopes, dreams. 84 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,000 All our savings down the pan. 85 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:01,080 It's killing us, Alan. My hair's actually falling out. 86 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,640 ALAN: I'm not letting the Post Office get away with it. 87 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:15,480 They already did. 88 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,400 Come on. Concentrate. 89 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,920 Well, I... I'm thinking somewhere quiet. 90 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,560 Up in the hills. I can walk, you can paint. 91 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,040 Am I not allowed to walk? 92 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,120 HE CHUCKLES 93 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,240 Just tell me how we're going to afford any of these places. 94 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:44,520 We'll work. It's what people do. 95 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,400 Now, come on, Suzanne. 96 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,440 If we're going to walk away, let's do it with our heads held high. 97 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,840 OK. 98 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,240 And so they head off into an uncertain future. 99 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,320 On the plus side... 100 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,080 it won't be us hanging around on the phone any more. 101 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,640 "Horizon helpline, thank you for waiting." 102 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,360 Oh, no! SHE LAUGHS 103 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,040 AUTOMATED VOICE: 'Horizon helpline, thank you for waiting.' 104 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,320 HOLD MUSIC PLAYS 105 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,840 WOMAN: 'Hello, how can I help?' Oh, hi. 106 00:06:16,840 --> 00:06:19,640 Er, it's Jo Hamilton here from South Warnborough. 107 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,640 I'm trying to produce this week's cash account. 108 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:22,920 'And what's the problem?' 109 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,720 I know it's probably me because I'm really rubbish with technology, 110 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,560 but... I've declared my cash, I've declared my stock, 111 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,440 I've done it all three times, and I still can't get it to balance. 112 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,000 I hate Wednesdays. JO CHUCKLES 113 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,080 'Hm. And what does Horizon say?' 114 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:44,120 It says I've taken £2,032.67 more than I think I have. 115 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,920 'OK, redeclare your stock holding. 116 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,600 'So, that'll automatically create a discrepancy, OK? 117 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,240 'It'll have inflated your cash holding. 118 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,960 'So now... I want you to reverse that difference.' 119 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:57,280 Righto. 120 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,760 'So now, if you redeclare everything, it'll balance, OK?' 121 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,520 This is so helpful, thank you. 122 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,560 Don't go away, stay with me till I've done it. 123 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:11,920 Oh, my God! 124 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:16,160 It... I-It's just doubled right in front of my eyes. 125 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,720 Now... Now it says I'm £4,000 down. 126 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,880 'It'll sort itself out, these things do. 127 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,000 'In the meantime...' 128 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,160 But I was only doing what you told me! 129 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,240 'In the meantime, you'll need to make good the loss.' 130 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,320 I haven't got that money! And I don't know where it's gone! 131 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,760 'I'm sorry, you are responsible for balancing your account 132 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,600 'and making good any shortfalls.' 133 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,320 SUZANNE: You did your best, love. 134 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,560 ALAN: Well, I wrote a lot of letters. 135 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,760 MPs, ministers, Post Office chairman, 136 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,520 Daily Telegraph, Computer Weekly. 137 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,880 I'd have thought they'd have shown an interest, at least. 138 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,000 We're putting it behind us now. 139 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:42,640 Er, I thought we were walking away? Back burner. 140 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,320 We did say I could have that spare room for my sewing room. 141 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:46,400 No problem! 142 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,280 Alan? Up here! 143 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,840 Careful! Give us a hand. 144 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,280 Do we really need to be keeping all of these? 145 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:06,800 Just in case. I'll, er... I'll go through them all later. 146 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,720 Mind your back. 147 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,920 There's nothing wrong with my back. Yeah, not yet. 148 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,080 All put away, sorted. Almost forgotten. 149 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,720 Hm, maybe things are starting to look up. 150 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,560 Shall we investigate the local pub? 151 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:30,840 Things are definitely starting to look up. 152 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:04,280 No. 153 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,160 No, no, no, no, no. 154 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,360 'I'm sorry, Mum. 155 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,840 'There's nothing left to take out of my wages.' 156 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:18,160 My savings are already gone. My credit cards are maxed out. 157 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,120 I know I should have told you before, 158 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,160 but I didn't wanna scare you. 159 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:23,840 It's all right, love. 160 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:30,120 You're her husband. Tell her it's all right. 161 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,440 I don't know. 162 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,200 Jo... how did the post office money get lost? 163 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,040 What is it you've been doing wrong? 164 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,960 I don't know either. I have no idea. 165 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,000 Oh, I don't wanna cry. 166 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,400 I kept thinking, one day, 167 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,120 some kind of electronic wizardry would kick in 168 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,920 and it would just sort itself out, but it never has. 169 00:10:54,920 --> 00:11:00,720 And now the computer says my shortfall's gone up to £9,000, so... 170 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,760 Remortgaging the house, though? 171 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,120 I know what I'm suggesting is really awful. 172 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,080 But, David, there's the 40-year lease on the shop, 173 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,600 and if they sack me, we'll lose everything. 174 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,800 This house. Our home. 175 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:21,200 I have to make good my shortfalls. It says so in my contract. 176 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,800 I have to find the money to pay them back. 177 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,760 If it draws a line under it. 178 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,400 AUTOMATED VOICE: 'Horizon helpline, thank you for waiting. 179 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,200 'All our agents are busy right now, but please continue to hold.' 180 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,240 HOLD MUSIC PLAYS 181 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,160 Dad? I can't find my trainers. Have you looked under your bed? 182 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:57,360 Have a look. 183 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,720 MAN: 'Horizon helpline, thank you for waiting.' 184 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,280 Hi, yeah. It's, er... It's Lee Castleton here again, 185 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:04,960 er, from Bridlington. 186 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,680 Yeah, look me up, it's all there. 'OK, hold on.' 187 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:10,720 Thank you. HOLD MUSIC PLAYS 188 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,760 Daddy! Yeah, just go and ask your mum, love. 189 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,160 'OK, yeah. I've got your file here.' 190 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,920 Yeah, right. Now, you'll see from my records, 191 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,360 this is the 91st time I've called you about these shortfalls. 192 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,560 'Yeah, it's odd. No-one else is having these problems.' 193 00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:28,000 I-I still can't make any sense of these figures. 194 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,760 You know, I still wonder, someone might have hacked into my account. 195 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:32,200 'No, no, no, that's impossible. 196 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,040 'Branch accounts are totally secure.' 197 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,080 OK, right. So, if it's definitely something that I'm doing wrong, 198 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,880 please can you just tell me what? 199 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,040 'So you wanna request a visit from the auditors?' 200 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,400 Yes, yes! Finally, thank you. 201 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,240 They'll get to the bottom of it. Off to school. 202 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,400 All right. Have a good day, kids. 203 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:49,720 Right, I'm, erm... 204 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,960 Listen, I'm gonna... I'm gonna to write it down now, 205 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,160 so, yeah, they'll definitely be calling me, right? 206 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,360 WOMAN: 'What you need to do is isolate your transaction. 207 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,480 'You need to put in a number that is one digit higher or lower, 208 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,520 'or the computer won't find it.' 209 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:04,760 How's that supposed to work? 210 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,440 'I don't know, it just works. Do it.' 211 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,680 Last time it showed a loss, I had to remortgage my house. 212 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:14,880 I can't understand why it's happened again. 213 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,160 'Me neither. Nobody else has these problems. 214 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,440 'You know, you must balance tonight, or you can't open in the morning.' 215 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,000 I have to open in the morning, my old ladies rely on me. 216 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,560 'So, one digit higher or lower. 217 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:31,040 'Your takings must match your balance on your Horizon...' 218 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:58,480 God forgive me. 219 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,880 'I'll be fine, Mrs Goggins. The post always gets through.' 220 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,960 Mummy? Mummy? 221 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:17,680 Mummy, they're leaving. 222 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,200 Mummy's just nipping down to see Daddy. I'll be back in a minute. 223 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,320 Thanks for all your help, yeah (?) 224 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,960 Did they find the problem? 225 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,080 £26,000 has gone missing. 226 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,240 You what? Twenty-six grand. 227 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,400 Let's go through those figures again, right now. I'm not allowed. 228 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,920 Hey? Suspended. 229 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,640 Locked out my own post office till I pay it all back. 230 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,480 26,000? 231 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,440 What are we gonna do? 232 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:56,640 Fight. 233 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,120 ALAN GRUMBLES 234 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,000 Whatever it is you're reading, Alan, 235 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,360 you're doing it in an annoyingly significant manner. 236 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:15,120 Year one of the degree, there's a core foundation course 237 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,400 including programming and problem solving. 238 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,720 Let's see? 239 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,240 Oh, God! Computer science? 240 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,600 Why don't you do English or philosophy? 241 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,520 Computer science is good. It's career planning. 242 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,000 In which case, why not aromatherapy 243 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,040 or golf club management? 244 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,200 And my student grant will help keep this roof over our heads. 245 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,240 Also, we'll be able to set up a website... 246 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,760 ..so people will be able to find us. 247 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,760 People? 248 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,040 Meaning sub-postmasters? 249 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,000 Three years since we lost the Post Office 250 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,640 and, "Come on, Suzanne, we're walking away." 251 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:06,080 Has a single day gone by when you've thought about anything else? 252 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:11,880 I got a job. 253 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:14,800 Teaching? 254 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,480 Cleaning. Offices. 255 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:22,520 I start next week. 256 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,320 No shame in it, is there? 257 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,120 One day... 258 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:36,720 One day, what? 259 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:39,840 ..we'll get the bastards. 260 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:47,760 Right, Millie, you've been quiet all the way home. 261 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,960 What's bothering you? Don't tell her. 262 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,520 Er, don't tell me what? 263 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,160 That boy made a big spit in Millie's hair. 264 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:57,400 He did what? 265 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,760 The same one who said Dad stole lots of money off old people. 266 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,480 Millie? 267 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,960 You know that's not true, OK? 268 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:09,440 Your dad is not a thief. 269 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:12,480 He's not. 270 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,320 Go on, go upstairs. Go and play. I'll be up in a minute, OK? 271 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,720 Now, look at this! Look, look! 272 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,000 I've been through these 100 times. I haven't seen it before. Look. 273 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,680 I'm gonna have to talk to the school. 274 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,680 23rd of March, right? I'm logged in on terminal one. 275 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:37,800 I put in the transaction... and it shows up on terminal two. 276 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,280 That should never happen. That's proof! 277 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,400 It's proof there's something wrong with the system! 278 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,800 Lee. The children. The bullying is getting worse. 279 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:50,440 I know. 280 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,600 The only way to stop it is to prove that I'm not a thief. 281 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,520 Right? It must be a bug. It must be... 282 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:02,720 It must be a computer bug or... or something. 283 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,800 Right. What are you doing? 284 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,400 Lee? Look, there's 15,000 post offices on that list. 285 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,320 Are you just gonna randomly call them all up 286 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:15,920 and ask if their computer is broken? 287 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,040 How else am I gonna find someone with the same problem 288 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:19,440 before my case goes to court? 289 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,880 I've got to show 'em it's not just me. 290 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:27,960 Lisa, the Post Office are suing us for £26,000 which we didn't steal 291 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,520 and we haven't got hanging around in piggy banks. 292 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:34,760 PHONE DIALLING OK. 293 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:36,360 MAN: 'Hello, Oxford Road Post Office.' 294 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,040 Hello, yeah. I'm really sorry to bother you. 295 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,200 My name's Lee Castleton, and I... 296 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,800 'Sorry, mate, I don't take cold calls.' 297 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,160 LINE DISCONNECTS 298 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,160 It's all right, I'll just call the next one. 299 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:56,360 PHONE DIALLING 300 00:19:56,360 --> 00:19:57,760 WHISPERS: Please. 301 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:05,880 KNOCK AT DOOR Jo? 302 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,520 Jo! Don't come in here, Mum. 303 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,200 Well, you can't keep working these hours. 304 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:14,840 You'll kill yourself. 305 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,560 Oh, Jo. Love... 306 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,440 I don't know what I'm doing wrong. 307 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,520 I keep trying over and over, and I can't make it work. 308 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,080 The numbers, they just slide away from me, 309 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:30,800 and I don't know where the money is. 310 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,120 I don't know where it's gone. 311 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:36,040 They need to send someone down here to sort this out. 312 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,240 No, no, they'll sack me! 313 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,320 Oh, Jo... You need help. 314 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,400 JO SOBS 315 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:01,680 Mrs Hamilton? 316 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,440 I'm Ryan Fleming, from the investigations team? 317 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,160 Thank you. I'll need those keys. 318 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,000 Oh, of course, yes. 319 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:16,800 Morning, Jo! 320 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:24,640 What's going on? Nothing! 321 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,640 Mrs Hamilton, are you surprised to learn 322 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,280 that the audit you requested found a shortfall 323 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:42,000 of £36,644.89? 324 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,200 I've never been able to get to grips with the system, 325 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,080 and when I tried to get help... 326 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,440 As you must know, your contract with us 327 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,320 makes clear losses are your responsibility. 328 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,920 Like, once, I was on the phone to the helpline, 329 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,760 and it doubled, it just doubled, the shortfall, before my very eyes. 330 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,840 Mrs Hamilton, this is public money. 331 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,120 We need to talk about how you are gonna pay it back. 332 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:07,240 Sizing this place up for the bailiffs? 333 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,840 Let me tell you, this house is my house, too, 334 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,120 so you can keep your thieving hands off it. 335 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:16,240 And tell your evil bosses I said so. 336 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,120 The shortfalls we uncovered today 337 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:21,760 do not appear in any of the weekly accounts you've been submitting. 338 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,120 My daughter is not a thief. 339 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:27,560 A formal investigation will follow. No, can I just say something? 340 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:33,200 Why would I do this? I love my post office. 341 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,920 Until then, I'm suspending you, Mrs Hamilton, with immediate effect. 342 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:45,040 DOORBELL RINGS 343 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,560 Jo! Hello. 344 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,360 I think I might need a solicitor. 345 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:56,640 Oh, erm, but I do... I-I mainly just do criminal work? 346 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,960 That's good. That's great. 347 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,240 You do not have to say anything, 348 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,800 but it may harm your defence if you do not mention 349 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,720 when questioned something which you later rely on in court. 350 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,160 Anything you do say may be given in evidence. 351 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:26,600 This is your cash account final for Week 24. 352 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:27,840 Is that your signature? 353 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:30,800 No comment. 354 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,080 This is your branch trading statement for period ten. 355 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:46,120 It states that the cash-in-hand figure is £35,515.83. 356 00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:50,000 Is that a true amount of the cash on hand 357 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,800 for that transaction statement? 358 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:53,440 No comment. 359 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,560 Have you deliberately inflated that cash figure... 360 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:00,840 No comment. 361 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,840 ..to cover the fact that you've been stealing Post Office money? 362 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,240 No comment. 363 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,120 Where's the money, Jo? 364 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,520 What have you spent it on? 365 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:13,680 No comment. 366 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,280 It was good to have a rehearsal, I suppose... 367 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,360 Mm-hm. 368 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:25,720 ..before I have to do it properly with the police. 369 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:27,800 With the police? 370 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,080 Well, they'll arrest me now, for sure. 371 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,360 Jo, the Post Office don't need the police. 372 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,200 The Post Office has the right to run its own criminal investigations, 373 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:41,720 all the way to the Crown Court. 374 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,520 It's been that way for 300 years. 375 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,080 NEWSREADER: 'Disgraced sub-postmaster Noel Thomas 376 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:50,720 'is tonight behind bars, 377 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,920 'starting a nine-month prison sentence.' 378 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,280 He used to be a Federation man. 379 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,400 'Caernarfon Crown Court heard today 380 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,800 'that County Councillor Thomas was previously regarded 381 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,600 'as honest, respectable, a pillar of his community in Anglesey.' 382 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,400 REPORTER: 'What did you do with the money?' 383 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:07,560 'The 59-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty 384 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,240 'to false accounting involving sums up to £48,000.' 385 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,280 Did she just say £48,000? 386 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,720 Well, that's not the odd bit of shortfall. 387 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,840 It's a hell of a lot of money, Suzanne. 388 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,040 And he's pleaded guilty, so... 389 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,520 He didn't look guilty, though, did he? 390 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:30,920 Looked bloody terrified. 391 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,800 How do we know what pressure they're putting people under? 392 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:04,240 Everything all right? 393 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:06,680 What is it? 394 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,560 Royal Courts of Justice? In London? 395 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,920 I'll be the only one there not wearing a wig. 396 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:18,920 Oh, God, Lee... It'll be fine, it'll be fine. 397 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,440 I'll just show the judge my logs, and I'll explain about Horizon. 398 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,720 And I'll just tell the truth. It'll be fine. 399 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,160 It's not a criminal court, is it? They're just suing us for the money. 400 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,520 But, Lee, they'll have so many big lawyers, and you... 401 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,800 Yeah, I know, and I'll be representing myself, yeah, 402 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,280 due to the fact I haven't got a spare million quid to spend. 403 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,400 Look, Lisa, we've just got to trust in the British justice system 404 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:41,880 and everything'll be all right. 405 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,640 I've just gotta tell the truth. 406 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,240 It's fine. Don't worry. 407 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:49,920 Right, erm... 408 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,080 SIGHS 409 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,400 It's called a plea bargain. 410 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,720 The deal is the Post Office will drop the theft charge 411 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,440 if you agree to plead guilty to false accounting instead. 412 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,800 And the plea bargain keeps me out of prison? 413 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:32,200 Well... 414 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:35,440 Sorry. 415 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,040 How is 14 charges of false accounting 416 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,040 better than one charge of theft? 417 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:44,600 Theft is much bigger. 418 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,680 And if you fight it and the jury is not on your side, 419 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,160 then you will go to prison. 420 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:54,400 Also, there are two conditions to the plea bargain. 421 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,440 The Post Office say you have to pay back all the money. 422 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,560 £36,000? How am I gonna to do that? 423 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,880 And you must undertake not to blame the Horizon system. 424 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,800 Well, I am guilty, I am, because I did sign 425 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,760 all those accounts when I knew they were wrong. 426 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,600 But I never stole that money. I never saw a penny of it. 427 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,200 Issy, I still don't know where it went. 428 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,280 WOMAN: 'Computers drive me mad. 429 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,320 'I never got used to Horizon, and I won't say I love it now, 430 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,120 'but I can't claim we've had any real problems, so...' 431 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:30,520 No, no, I appreciate you talking to me. Thank you. 432 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,840 'I've gotta go. Bye-bye.' All right. Bye-bye. 433 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,880 PHONE RINGS 434 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:42,040 Hello? 435 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:43,960 'Sorry about that, I had to nip out the back. 436 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,200 'Everyone's scared to talk. 437 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,120 'There's just one guy that can help.' 438 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:52,440 Hello, yeah. I... I was hoping to speak to, er, Alan Brown? 439 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,240 ALAN: 'You're Lee, right? I've been expecting your call.' 440 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,960 Yeah. 'What happened here in Falkirk 441 00:28:57,960 --> 00:28:59,320 'is that one of our terminals 442 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,520 'just stopped communicating with the network. 443 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,000 'Horizon didn't pick it up, no alarms were ringing. 444 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,640 'Some kind of bug. 445 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,400 'And that bug could be affecting every office in the country 446 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,600 'with more than one terminal.' That's the same thing! 447 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:14,920 Exactly the same thing that happened here. 448 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,000 You see, and they always tell you you're on your own. 449 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,560 'Don't get too excited, laddie, 450 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,640 'cos I'm not going on record wi' any of this.' 451 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,080 Well, no, I just thought that's what you... 452 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,200 'I've got thousands invested in this business, 453 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:28,960 'and I can't afford to make an enemy of Post Office Limited.' 454 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:30,720 Well, yeah, but what's the point...? 455 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,520 'Look, I'll forward you a group email I sent some friends. 456 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,120 'You can use that, if it helps.' 457 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:39,000 Are you gonna send it now? 'Yes.' 458 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,680 All right. All right, thank you. CALL DISCONNECTS 459 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,720 These so-called shortfalls, they're not real. 460 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:27,400 Your system, it produces them out of nowhere. 461 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:32,320 I'm a systems specialist employed by Fujitsu, the manufacturer. 462 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:33,960 I was unable to identify any basis 463 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,320 on which Horizon could have caused the losses. 464 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,480 Ah, no, no, you see, no, I happen to know of another branch 465 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,480 where the same thing has happened. 466 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,120 You must ask Mrs Chambers a question, Mr Castleton. 467 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,720 Oh, OK. Sorry. Erm, just give me a... 468 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,960 You mean the branch at Callendar Square in Falkirk? 469 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:54,440 Yes, that's it, yeah. 470 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:57,440 The exact... The exact same thing, it's happening there. 471 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,480 I-I think... we both have the same computer bug. 472 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:04,480 Yes, but the problem at Callendar Square arose 473 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,320 from an error in the Horizon system. 474 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,960 My Lord, there is no evidence of any such thing 475 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,200 at Mr Castleton's branch. 476 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,040 No, no, no, it's the same thing. It's a computer bug. 477 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:16,800 It's... It's... 478 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,520 I-It's... HE SIGHS 479 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:24,280 The conclusion is inescapable that the Horizon system 480 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:27,720 was working properly in all material respects 481 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,440 and that the shortfall is real - 482 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,600 that the losses must have been caused by Mr Castleton's own error. 483 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,960 There will thus be a judgment on the claim against the defendant 484 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:43,360 for £25,858.95. 485 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:47,520 The claimant is entitled to their costs in the case, 486 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:50,320 and accordingly, Mr Castleton is ordered to pay 487 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:56,920 all Post Office Limited's costs in the total sum of £321,000. 488 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,600 All empty. 489 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,400 Come on, you two. Let's get inside. 490 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,080 'And that was me, thinking I could fight 'em. 491 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,160 'And now the shop's gone and we're stuck living above it 492 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:26,680 'because we can't sell it.' 493 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:29,560 Our proceeds will go to the Post Office cos I'm bankrupt. 494 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:33,640 But, you know, I was an electrician when I was in the RAF, 495 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,200 so at least I've still got a trade, 496 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,440 but it just means I'm living out of me car a bit. 497 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,680 And people think me wife's kicked me out, 498 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,040 but it's not that. 499 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:43,360 'It's not that, just, you know, 500 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:45,320 'gotta go where the work is, don't you?' 501 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,440 Mr Castleton, I'm calling about the computer logs you sent us, 502 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:49,960 but... Yeah, I'm sorry. 503 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:53,960 It's me going on at myself. Yeah, I-I saw, erm... an advert. 504 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,720 Er, "Free expert help with any computer problems"? 505 00:32:57,720 --> 00:32:59,760 Yeah, I'm still looking for answers, you see. 506 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,560 I'm not an expert, I'm afraid, I'm just a reporter. 507 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,600 Mr Castleton... 'Er, it's Lee.' 508 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:06,240 Lee, Lee, yeah. 509 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,200 Apart from the chap you spoke to in Scotland, 510 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:10,280 do you know if this has happened to anybody else? 511 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:13,960 Well, it must have done. You know, it can't just be me. 512 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,680 Morning, Jo. 513 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,680 I've never even had a parking ticket. 514 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:25,120 Shall we? 515 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,560 There we are. Ten o'clock, Court One. 516 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:39,600 "For sentence, R v Hamilton." 517 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,200 Queen versus me. 518 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,600 I wonder if she knows? 519 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:56,480 APPLAUSE 520 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,120 The Post Office, the shop, 521 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,840 is at the heart of any community like ours. 522 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,920 And Jo... well, we all love her. 523 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:19,680 In some ways, she's more of the priest than I am. 524 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:22,200 People confide in her, 525 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,000 and she can always tell when someone's upset. 526 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,640 You see, we trust her, 527 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:32,640 and we just can't believe that any of this was on purpose in any way. 528 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:34,000 Thank you, Mrs Leese. 529 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:37,880 Please stand up. 530 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:44,120 Mrs Hamilton, what exactly are you doing in my court? 531 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:46,840 I don't know, sir. 532 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,680 I have a large number of testimonials before me 533 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:51,040 from your community, 534 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:55,440 all of whom seem to be here today as to your trustworthiness. 535 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:58,520 I still have no idea. This wasn't just a muddle. 536 00:34:58,520 --> 00:34:59,760 It turned into fraud. 537 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,280 It's a very serious state of affairs for someone 538 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,400 in whom the public is entitled to trust. 539 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,440 However, in light of your previous good character... 540 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,360 ..I do not intend to impose a custodial sentence. 541 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,520 You will be sentenced to a Community Order for 12 months 542 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,880 and weekly meetings with a probation officer. 543 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,080 You're free to leave. FOREMAN: Court, rise. 544 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,360 APPLAUSE 545 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,560 I can't believe I'm not going to prison! 546 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,520 You're all right, you're all right. 547 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:45,160 SUZANNE: Maybe she was scared, Alan. 548 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:49,040 Maybe she thought, "Put your hands up, get a lesser sentence." 549 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,160 Yeah, and now she's pleaded guilty in court. 550 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,520 Not everyone is as stubborn as you. God! 551 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:55,800 HE SCOFFS Stubborn! 552 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,560 PHONE RINGS I'll get it. 553 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,280 Hello? 554 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:04,760 Yeah, who's calling, please? 555 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,360 Oh, OK. Yeah. OK. Alan? 556 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:13,320 It's a reporter from Computer Weekly 557 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:15,040 who's read about that woman in the paper, 558 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:17,840 and they want to talk to you about Horizon. 559 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:25,160 Alan Bates. 560 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:28,080 I can see you contacted us five years ago. 561 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,000 Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Never mind. You're here now. 562 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,320 It's odd, because everyone thinks of the Post Office 563 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,520 as sort of warm and cuddly. THEY CHUCKLE 564 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:42,560 You know, when I first got legal advice, right at the very beginning, 565 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:47,960 I was warned that if I tried to take them to court, even if I won, 566 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:52,400 the Post Office would just keep appealing until I ran out of money. 567 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,120 Thank you. 568 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:56,080 But they never accused you of any wrongdoing? 569 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,240 No, no, no. They never tried to prosecute me. 570 00:36:59,240 --> 00:37:01,040 You know what I think? 571 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:05,000 I think they knew that there was something wrong with my system. 572 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,320 But, Rebecca... 573 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:13,040 how many other sub-postmasters have you found? 574 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,240 Six who will go on the record. 575 00:37:16,240 --> 00:37:19,080 Plus you, if you're willing. 576 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:20,400 What do you think? 577 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:23,760 Course I will. 578 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,440 "..problem seems to be affecting a number of people. 579 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:34,480 "A seventh postmaster, Alan Bates, refused to sign his weekly accounts, 580 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,760 "saying it would have made him liable for any losses. 581 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:40,000 "He has called for a public inquiry." 582 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:41,800 Oh, good luck with that. 583 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:45,360 Oh, you'll like this bit. 584 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:48,280 "A Post Office spokesman said Horizon 585 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:51,120 "is an extremely robust system..." Ha! 586 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,800 "..which operates over our entire Post Office network..." 587 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:59,640 "..and successfully records millions of transactions each day. 588 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,800 "There is no evidence that points to any faults with the technology." 589 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:05,280 We had the evidence. They wouldn't listen! 590 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,360 "We would always look into and investigate 591 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:11,320 "any issues raised by sub-postmasters." 592 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:13,240 Turds. Josephine! 593 00:38:13,240 --> 00:38:15,240 Well, honestly! 594 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:18,200 "We do accept that individual branches 595 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:21,040 "may experience very occasional failures." 596 00:38:21,040 --> 00:38:24,400 Oh, yeah, right! I don't think so. 597 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,520 What else have they put? DOOR OPENS 598 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,680 This poor chap got sent to prison. 599 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:31,200 Hello? 600 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:37,920 Noel? 601 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:42,040 Jo? Yeah! 602 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,560 Do you want a... tea? 603 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:49,880 Yes, please. 604 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:53,520 'I couldn't believe it when I first read about you.' 605 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,160 Fallen postmistress. What a claim to fame (!) 606 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:58,840 Just... 607 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:02,400 Just the idea that there was anyone else 608 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,080 caught up in the same trap. 609 00:39:05,320 --> 00:39:08,280 I don't miss the Post Office. 610 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:11,280 Well, I miss the wages, but... 611 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:15,840 17 years old when I started as a postman, 612 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:17,760 delivering letters on my bike. 613 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:22,400 42 years, I worked for them. 614 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:25,480 Think of it. Man and boy. 615 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:30,080 Lord, Noel. And they still sent you to prison. 616 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:34,560 All I heard the judge say was... "Nine months." 617 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,440 I couldn't believe it. I couldn't. 618 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,400 And then... "Take him down." 619 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,320 Had my 60th birthday behind bars, Jo. 620 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:53,880 It was hell on Earth. 621 00:39:57,840 --> 00:39:59,600 I'm really glad you came. 622 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:07,440 Can you believe this chap? 623 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:10,840 Just kept refusing to sign his accounts. 624 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:12,640 Kept refusing to pay. 625 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:15,160 Bloody hero. 626 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:20,520 'Oh, my God, never in a million years 627 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:22,760 'would it have occurred to me I could do that.' 628 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:26,040 They wrote off my first so-called shortfall 629 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:28,840 when I jumped up and down and complained about it. 630 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:31,920 You never thought it was your fault? 'Never.' 631 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:34,080 Well, why am I such a fool? 632 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,240 I mean, I never even thought about the computer, 633 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:37,560 except that it was weird 634 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,000 when they said I wasn't allowed to blame it. 635 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,360 'I hope you don't mind me getting in touch.' 636 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:44,000 I don't mind at all. 637 00:40:44,920 --> 00:40:48,960 But, Jo... can I ask you one thing? 638 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:51,080 Yeah, anything. 639 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:53,560 Why did you plead guilty? 640 00:40:53,560 --> 00:40:56,360 'Oh, I didn't want to.' 641 00:40:56,360 --> 00:41:01,680 Oh, my God, no, but... I really didn't wanna go to prison. 642 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:04,400 And I didn't know how to prove I was innocent. 643 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:06,400 You shouldn't have to. 644 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:10,200 It's supposed to be "innocent until proven guilty". 645 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:11,720 Yeah, right. 646 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:15,120 So, what do we do now? 647 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:18,640 'Alan? Any ideas?' 648 00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:29,560 Thank you for waiting. 649 00:41:29,560 --> 00:41:31,400 CHUCKLES 650 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:38,040 I guess I'll have my sewing room in the next life, then. 651 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:40,880 It won't be for long. Hm! 652 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:56,400 Bridlington, Hampshire, Chelmsford, Somerset, Falkirk, 653 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:58,200 and two in North Wales. 654 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:00,040 That's the seven from Computer Weekly. 655 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:04,400 Then there's, er... the two that came via our website. 656 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:07,720 But where are all the others? 657 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:12,840 I'm thinking, test the water. 658 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:15,560 Set up a meeting, send out invitations, 659 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:18,120 see if anyone turns up? Hm. 660 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:21,480 Somewhere central. 661 00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:25,360 Birmingham? That's pretty central. 662 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:29,040 Fenny Compton. 663 00:42:29,040 --> 00:42:31,400 Fenny... Compton. 664 00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:35,800 OK. Has a lovely ring to it. 665 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,040 Just the place to start really annoying the hell 666 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:41,080 out of the Post Office. SHE CHUCKLES 667 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:45,640 808 inhabitants. 668 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:48,800 And a church hall. I still think maybe Birmingham. 669 00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:53,360 Nah. Today, Fenny Compton... tomorrow, the world. 670 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:54,800 HE CHUCKLES 671 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:57,720 You know... 672 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:01,920 ..this could be huge. 673 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:04,040 Or nobody might turn up. 674 00:43:08,960 --> 00:43:11,160 But it's got to be worth a try. 675 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:40,920 Jo? 676 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:44,440 Alan! HE CHUCKLES 677 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:46,120 Guessed on account of the cakes. 678 00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:48,800 I wasn't sure how many to bring. SHE CHUCKLES 679 00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:50,600 Hi. Suzanne. Oh! Oh, hello! 680 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:52,720 Hello. Oh, thank you. 681 00:43:52,720 --> 00:43:54,320 JO CHUCKLES 682 00:43:55,720 --> 00:43:57,800 We can always take them home if nobody comes. 683 00:43:57,800 --> 00:43:59,240 HE CHUCKLES 684 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:03,440 We'll give it 20 minutes. 685 00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:17,640 Oh, wow. 686 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:20,040 Oh... 687 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:22,680 HE CHUCKLES 688 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:25,160 Oh, wow. Alan, you did it! 689 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:27,040 Look at everyone! 690 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:29,720 Look at them all. 691 00:44:30,720 --> 00:44:32,880 Hi. JO CHUCKLES 692 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:34,640 Are you all here for the meeting? 693 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:37,520 Yes, we are. We're here for the meeting. 694 00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:40,880 Well, you... better come in, then. 695 00:44:44,440 --> 00:44:47,640 We all look knackered. That's cos we are. 696 00:44:51,320 --> 00:44:54,480 INDISTINCT CHATTER 697 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:14,240 Right. Er... Well... 698 00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:18,520 Welcome, everyone. 699 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:26,560 We're all here to share our experiences and... 700 00:45:27,720 --> 00:45:29,840 ..put our heads together. 701 00:45:29,840 --> 00:45:31,480 We're here because... 702 00:45:39,720 --> 00:45:40,960 ..the Post Office... 703 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:46,320 ..told every single one of us sat here today... 704 00:45:47,320 --> 00:45:50,240 ..told us over and over... 705 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:53,800 "You're the only one." 706 00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:59,920 And that was wrong. That was a lie, actually. 707 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:05,560 Because... Well, look at us. 708 00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:08,800 Here we all are. 709 00:46:10,040 --> 00:46:13,200 And from this moment forwards... 710 00:46:14,480 --> 00:46:20,840 ..none of us will be the only one ever again. 711 00:46:26,880 --> 00:46:29,720 # God knows what is hiding 712 00:46:29,720 --> 00:46:33,480 # In those weak and drunken hearts 713 00:46:33,480 --> 00:46:37,280 # Guess he kissed the girls And made them cry 714 00:46:37,280 --> 00:46:41,360 # Those hard-faced queens Of misadventure 715 00:46:41,360 --> 00:46:47,200 # People help the people 716 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:49,720 # And if you're homesick 717 00:46:49,720 --> 00:46:52,640 # Give me your hand And I'll hold it. # 718 00:46:53,880 --> 00:46:55,920 Subtitles by accessibility@itv.com