"Remand number 5." ""Johnson", Your Worship." "This is the case sir, that you put back from last week." "Yes .. yes, I remember." "Is the Probation Officer in court?" "Yes, sir." "─ Ah, Mr Phipps" "You are still with us, I see." "─ Yes, sir." "Well, well." "I'm sure the court is very relieved to hear that." "Now, what have you tell me about this case, Mr Phipps?" "I believe I remanded it from last week so that you could make inquiries." "The boy has had a difficult time at home, sir." "Where the moral influence isn't good." "And has mixed with a set of other youths, some of who have Police records." "He appears to regret what has happened quite sincerely." "And means not to let it happen again." "I feel sir, that any confidence placed in him now, would be justified." "Thank you, Mr Phipps." "Well Johnson, you've behaved very foolishly." "However, as the probation officer seems to think you are genuinely sorry." "I shall give you another chance." "I shall put you on probation for a year, to Mr Phipps." "Who will advise, assist and befriend you." ""On probation to Mr Phipps for a year."" ""Mr Phipps."" ""Probation Officer."" ""It still sounds a little unlikely."" ""Only about a year ago."" ""I was what is called a man of leisure."" ""It was a fairly new experience."" ""The Colonial Office, finding itself no doubt, rather short of colonies."" ""Had made a lot of cuts."" ""I was one of them."" ""At first I welcomed the return to England, but .."" ""Somehow."" ""I wasn't enjoying the leisure to which I had so long looked forward."" ""I had a feeling that I ought to do .. something."" "[ Sound of car-crashing ]" "What are you doing up here?" "What are you doing ..?" "─ Let me go!" "You were in that car, weren't you?" "─ I've done nothing wrong." "You'd better come in here and explain yourself." "I've done nothing, I tell you." "Oh, for heaven's sakes, stop crying." "Now .. what's it all about?" "I was on a date." "I didn't know he'd knocked the car off." "Honest I didn't." "I ought to take you down to the Police." "Oh no, don't do that." "They'll run me in this time." "So, you've been in trouble before?" "I'm on probation." "─ What's your name?" "Norma." "Norma Hart." "Hello, Norma." "What are we going to do with you?" "This is a serious business, you know." "Oh, I knew you were decent." "I'll do anything." "That's very accommodating of you." "I only thought." "─ Your thoughts were crystal clear." "I've got to do something about you." "Not the Police." "Please, not the Police." "Tell Matty." "─ Who is Matty?" "My Probation Officer." "─ Oh, I see." "I suppose I'd better get her to collect you?" "I don't see why I should allow you to ruin my dinner." "You'd better stay and have a bite to eat with me while we're waiting." "Oh .. thanks." "Now, where can I phone her?" "Mayfair 8819." "Miss Mattison." "She seems a nice child at heart." "If you get beneath the skin." "You've found out more about her in half an hour than I have in a year." "Oh no, no." "I didn't mean that." "I have had some experience in dealing with difficult people." "In the colonies, you know." "I see." "─ She's quite blossomed, I find." "Evidently." "Why, I can assure you .." "─ Now that's quite enough, Norma." "Get your things please, and come along with me." "Well, I was only .." "─ I'll talk to you, later." "Thanks ever so, Mr Phipps." "─ Come along, Norma." "Come along, Norma." "You can have a nice cry in my office." "Do try to get inside her mind." "I'm sure it will be rewarding." "Most rewarding." "This is yours?" "Oh, you were right .." "I'm sorry." "Don't look so shattered." "A Probation Officer's life is one of disappointments." "And yet you like it?" "─ Like it?" "I don't know if I've ever really thought about it." "I suppose I must." "It is quite worthwhile." "Goodbye Mr Phipps." "Thanks for all your trouble." ""The idea was already taking shape in my mind."" ""When I went to the hearing of Norma's case."" "Is the girl's Probation Officer in court?" "Yes, Your Worship." "Well, what can you tell me about this case, Miss Mattison?" "You will remember sir, that when she was before you 12 months ago, with Bennett." "She was placed on probation for two years." "She has shown some improvement." "I got her a job as a shop assistant, and she seems to have given satisfaction." "But she spends most of her spare time frequenting clubs and dance-halls." "As you know, sir, her mother is dead." "And her father is on night work and is unable to exercise control over her." "But if Your Worship would consider allowing her to continue on probation." "I feel sure she will still respond." "And something useful will be achieved." "Thank you, Miss Mattison." "Well, what have you to tell me about the man, Mr Dove?" "For a year, he's been on probation to us." "But I'm afraid we've been able to make very little impression upon him." "I am reluctant however, to say that he's a hopeless case." "Although so far, he's shown no wish to be helped." "If Your Worship would like me to continue?" "No, I don't think so, Mr Dove." "─ Very good, sir." "You have heard what your Probation Officer has had to say." "And I must say he appears to have done everything in his power to help you." "But you seem determined to throw away the chances that have been given to you." "I shall send you to prison for six months." "This way." "Mr Bennett, six months." "As for you." "I hear what your Probation Officer has to say, and she seems to believe in you." "I shall give you another chance." "I shall put you on probation to Miss Mattison .. for a further year." ""I knew then, that this was the kind of job I wanted."" ""A worthwhile job."" ""The kind of job I felt sure I could do."" ""Looking back on it now."" ""I doubt if the Home Office shared my confidence."" ""But I suppose it was fortunate for me."" ""That the Probation Service was then very understaffed."" ""I don't think they considered me very promising material."" ""But they took me on."" ""On probation, as it were."" "Shut that door!" "What do you want?" "─ My name is Phipps." "Who?" "─ Phipps." "I'm the new Assistant Probation Officer." "Down the corridor." "Blimey." "Thought the notice on the door would have been big enough." "I'm sorry." "I didn't see it." "Alright Mr Phillips, I'll show you." "Here." "They never collect it." "They'd let it turn to cheese first." "Down that corridor." "All I can say is good luck." "You'll need it, Mr Phillips." "─ Thank you." "The name is "Phipps"." "Excuse me, which is Mr Dove's office?" "Second one down." "You'll have to wait your turn, dearie." "Like the rest of us." "Mattison not in?" "─ I'm afraid not." "My name is Phipps." "I'm Mr Dove's new assistant." "Can I help you?" "Would you tell Miss Mattison the hospital phoned." "To say that Rhoda Dean's blood test was positive, and she's got scabies badly." "And you might tell her that Violet Hodge has got nits in her hair." "Red ones." "Yes." "Red ones." "Exactly." "─ Thanks a lot." "So, the old woman has been shouting off her mouth again, has she?" "Well, she can have her separation order." "And I'm ruddy glad to get shot of her too." "Perhaps if you'd tell me what the trouble is .." "Too lah-di-dah to believe, she is." "I don't have to tell you .." "That if a man ain't master of his own house he may as well be dead." "Yes, quite." "─ That's what my old dad used to say." "He died before his time, poor old sod, because my mother was too much for him." "Just until I find a kip." "Well, I can't stop now." "I've left my cart outside." "I might get pinched seeing as it's near a Police station." "Tata, cock." "You're new here, ain't you Dearie?" "Very new." "What can I do for you Miss ..?" "─ Crockett .." "Mrs." "Glad you've turned up." "Very glad." "I might get something done, now." "It's Mr Phipps, isn't it?" "─ Yes." "Well, here's welcome to you." "Miss Jones, this is Mr Phipps who's come to help us." "How do you do?" "─ Good morning." "Excuse me a moment." "I have them here somewhere Miss Jones." "The Magistrate's wife sent them along." "Ah, here they are." "I think they might do for old Mrs Clark." "There's another pair here somewhere." "Give me the date of your birth." "─ Ha?" "November." "The 16th." "Scorpio!" "I knew it." "Scorpio and Leo." "That's you and me, Dearie." "Come along, Mrs Crockett." "Off you go now." "Now, what about a nice cup of tea, Mr Dove?" "I could do it for you in a jiff." "─ Not this morning, Mrs Crockett." "Oh." "I'm glad you turned up." "Might get something done now." "The finest combination of the lot:" "Scorpio and Leo." "You will get used to Mrs Crockett." "She's one of our matrimonials." "She got a separation order years ago, but it's never been enforced." "Her husband can't be traced." "Here you are, Miss Jones." "─ Thank you." "You don't run, I suppose?" "Run?" "No." "A bit too old." "What about field events?" "Throw the hammer, put the weight?" "I'm sorry." "─ A pity." "The station is going to put up a pretty pitiful show this year." "Well, just leave your things here." "We usually start with the new arrivals from the cells." "On our way there, I'll show you around." "Ah, I see Frank Crump's been in" "Another of our matrimonials." "He'll go back to her." "It's been going on for years." "Always asking for a separation order and then making it up again." "You get used to it." "Here, Mr Dove." "He done it again last night." "And in front of the kids." "─ Alright, Mrs Tyson." "You can tell me about it later." "─ Yes, but he blacked our Alfie's eyes." "Just a few of our clients." "You get to know them all in time." "If you could spare a minute, Mr Dove." "─ Yes, later." "This way, Mr Phipps." "I'll see you all in time." "Mr Dove .." "Mr Dove, have they never done it?" "We'll see what's said in court, shall we, Mrs Follet." "I don't know who gives us more trouble." "Our clients or their relations." "Ah, there is Miss Mattison." "Any more applications for summonses?" "You've met Miss Mattison?" "─ Good morning, Mr Phipps." "Bright and early on the job." "Keep it up." "Oh, someone rang to say that Rhoda Dean has scabies and Violet Hodge has nits." "Not again?" "─ Red ones, I gather." "You think of the loveliest ways of starting the day." "If I had my way I'd .." "Scalp Violet Hodge and scalp the lot of them." "That's Matty all over." "She doesn't mean a word of it." "Anyone answering the bail?" "─ Good morning, Mr Dove." "Morning, Sergeant." "─ Morning, Mr Dove." "This is my new assistant, Mr Phipps." "Found your way alright?" "─ Yes, thank you." "This is the list of runners." "You've got my remand from last week, haven't you?" "Hooker?" "Now, there's a nasty piece of work, Mr Dove." "Real nasty." "His language even had me blushing." "Oh." "If you may, we'd like to see Hooker and Braxton" "First, let these gentlemen down." "Hooker is in trap five, Braxton is in trap seven." "Thank you." "Be good now, or Bert won't let you out again." "And Bert." "It's time for the beauty chorus to parade." "Right, Sergeant." "Here's your tea, Sergeant." "What, no spoons?" "Blimey, I'll have to use my whistle again." "Alright, lads." "Ten o'clock ladies." "The court sits at ten, and the first cases to be dealt with are these .." "Unfortunate ladies." "Young Hooker is in there." "Take a look." "Clear out, you!" "I'll deal with master Hooker." "He's an awkward little cuss." "We're always short of time, so will you have a talk to Braxton for me?" "Bert." "He's in for wandering the world and assaulting a Police officer." "Braxton, I've brought Mr Phipps in to see you." "Have a talk with him." "I'll be in court when your case comes up." "It will be in number two court." "I have to go in to number one now with Hooker." "Well .." "Hello, Braxton." "What .." "Seems to be the trouble?" "I wasn't giving no trouble." "I'd kipped down, quite quiet." "Just had a few pints, see." "And this Copper comes along and he has to start something." "Yes, but where had you .. kipped down?" "The doorway of the Co-op." "What's the matter with that?" "He'd never have seen me if he'd not gone in there himself for a spit and a draw." "Well, we can't have people sleeping about all over the streets, you know." "I knocked his ruddy fag down his throat, all but." "I'm afraid your violence towards him will only make matters worse for you." "Tell me." "Why do you adopt this aggressive attitude towards the Police?" "I don't know." "While I'm at sea, I'm alright" "At sea, I've got friends." "It's when I'm ashore." "Waiting around for a ship." "I don't know what gets into me." "It isn't any one of them in particular." "Just the sight of a helmet is enough." "I don't seem to be able to keep my fists out of their ruddy, silly faces." "Really?" "The case against this man is proved." "Is anything known about him?" "─ Yes, Your Worship." "He's been before the court three times for assaults on Police officers." "Oh the last case he was sentenced to a month for attacking a Station Sergeant." "He's just come out of prison on that charge, sir." "Dear, dear." "You seem to make a habit of this sort of thing." "Have you no home to go to?" "They won't have me at home, sir." "─ Indeed?" "Why?" "I'm trying to help you." "What have you to say for yourself?" "Well, I only came out of he cooler yesterday, sir." "And the Coppers were waiting for me." "I should have known that." "I didn't ask for your views on the Police." "Informative, though they may be." "Is Mr Dove here?" "No, Your Worship." "But Mr Phipps is here." "I don't know if he can help you." "Who is Mr Phillips?" "He is the new Probation Officer, sir." "Ah." "But I don't see him." "Will Mr Phillips be good enough to stand up, please." "I'm afraid I'm only Mr Dove's assistant and .." "This is my first day here." "I can't hear a word you're saying, Mr Phillips." "Will you be good enough to come into the witness box?" "Stick it." "As quickly as you can, please." "Now, Mr Phillips." "What can you tell us about this man?" "I did have a word with the prisoner, sir." "On Mr Dove's behalf." "There has evidently been some trouble at home." "Yes, yes." "We've heard that from the prisoner, Mr Phillips." "I'd like to know what you propose." "Well, perhaps we might persuade his father to take him back." "And you think we can do that?" "I think I might, sir." "─ Oh good, good." "Then I'll remand this case pending your report, Mr Phillips." "The name is "Phipps", sir." "Aha." "Of course, that makes all the difference, doesn't it." "Just one moment, Mr Chips." "Not now, not now." "We have a busy morning, you know." "Goodbye, Mr Chips." "Braxton remanded for seven days." "Come on, Lewis." "You're next." "I've got to go to number One court." "Don't let it get you down." "I certainly shan't." "Your one's next in number One, Miss." "─ Thank you, Sergeant." "How's the new boy doing?" "─ Mr Pyke has put him through his paces." "While Gibbons and Wilson don't appear to respond to leniency." "I do feel that something could be done in Hooker's case." "He appears to be unhappy at home and this has driven him into bad company." "He has no father and his mother seems to have very little control over him." "He's liable to make a probation order as the condition of resident in a hostel." "You think you might be able to help him?" "─ Yes sir, I do." "Thank you, Mr Dove." "You two, Evans and Wilson, have both been up before me previously." "Apparently the warning I gave you then, and the light sentences had no effect." "This time you will both go to prison for three months." "As for you, Hooker." "You have heard what the Probation Officer has had to say about you." "And as it's your first offense I shall put you on probation for a year." "On condition that you live in a hostel arranged for you." "Do you agree?" "Yes, sir." "Mr Dove." "You will see that he fully understands the provisions of the order." "Yes, Your Worship." "For heaven's sake, don't be a young fool anymore." "It isn't worth it, you know." "Next please." "Come on." "Evans and Wilson, three months." "Hooker, probation one year." "Come on, Martin." "You're next." "So long, Charlie." "─ Be a good boy, now." "So long, Buck." "So long, Dai." "─ This way, Hooker." "Lay off, will you." "─ Do what teacher tells you." "Boys .." "I'll be seeing you when you get out." "[ Whistle ]" "[ Whistle ]" "Listen, my boy." "Understand that you'll be in the care of a Probation Officer for 12 months." "Twelve?" "And the other two only got three months." "Do you call that justice?" "─ They have been sent to prison." "You are going to live in a hostel." "─ Same thing, isn't it?" "No Hooker, not the same thing." "We try to get you a job." "Sleep in the hostel, be in by 10 and behave yourself." "Once a week, you will report here." "And you will have to answer truthfully any questions put to you." "Well, for a pinch I should have a go at your job." "You might be very good." "Now go out and get something to eat at the cafe opposite." "Here's an order to get you food and drink to the value of one and sixpence." "I shan't get a bellyache on that, shall I." "Now, none of that." "Off you go now." "Next time you want to take a peep, put a penny in the slot, nosy." "Come back here." "Now, if there is any more of that, you go straight back into court." "If you don't want to be on probation, nobody can make you." "Now get out." "And be here when you are sent for." "He should be a lot of fun, that one." "─ Yes." "I'm sorry I didn't get into court." "I hear you dealt with Braxton." "Yes." "I had to go and see his father." "─ Good." "First day and right into battle." "Let me see now." "Baker, Benson .." "Ah, Braxton." "Yes." "Yes, Braxton lives at Lewisham." "Have a look at his file." "If you'd call on Alfred Potter too." "He's in Deptford." "He hasn't reported." "And if you wouldn't mind on the way, taking Hooker to the hostel." "Hooker?" "Another bundle of baby's clothes." "That's the third this week." "Everybody is so kind." "They always send us things for our people." "I see." "Who needs of this sort of thing?" "I'll send them to Malton Street." "We're a bit short of unmarried mothers here." "But this coat .. is just what I need." "─ What?" "It will set old Mrs Crockett up for the winter." "Do you mind." "Mrs Thomas is up for remand and she couldn't leave these at home." "Yes." "Put them in my room." "I'll be in in a minute." "Just a second, Miss Andrews." "These will keep them amused." "Oh, thank you." "Come on .. come along." "You'd better get off to the hostel with Hooker." "Yes, I'll go and get hold of a taxi." "─ Taxi?" "Well, it would be rather a long walk." "Why not try the Underground or a bus?" "It's quite an experience." "We can't claim expenses for taxis I'm afraid." "No." "It's funny, you know." "But wandering in your own district on your own feet .." "Keeps you in touch." "They get to know you." "There goes old Dove." "Who is in trouble now?" "And they don't mind coming and talking things over." "You know, I know so many people." "So many." "Here, what's this dump like we're going to?" "Your guess is as good as mine." "─ I'd have been better off inside." "You can learn something in prison." "Learn quite a lot there, you can." "Learning demands a certain degree of mental application." "Alright, sarky." "Put a sock in it." "You too, nosy." "─ Behave yourself, Hooker." "How long do you reckon I'll stay in this dump?" "I really haven't given it a thought." ""I really haven't given it a thought."" "Next thing you know, I'll have blown." "In that case, you might save me a journey and run away now." "What?" "You're a funny sort of Probation Officer." "That's the lot." "─ I'm with that boy." "I'm sorry mate, but that's the lot." "Hooker." "Hooker!" ""With Hooker finally settled in the hostel."" ""I set out in search of Albert Braxton's father."" ""I must confess."" ""I always thought of London in terms of Knightsbridge and St James's."" ""But on that first day."" ""I got a glimpse of my London of the future."" ""It wasn't until I arrived at Lewisham, where Braxton lived."" ""That I realized that the file containing Albert's records."" ""Still lay unopened on Mr Dove's desk."" ""Perhaps, after all."" ""It would be a good thing to come to the case with an entirely open mind."" ""Or so I consoled myself for my omission."" "What do you think you're trying to do?" "Break in?" "I'm looking for Mr Braxton." "You've trodden on my daisy plants." "Aren't you clumsy." "Why, I'm so sorry." "Is Mr Braxton in?" "─ Dad's out the back." "Good evening." "Mr Braxton?" "─ Could be." "My name is Phipps." "Probation Officer." "I've come to see you about Albert." "─ Have you now." "The second puncture I've had this week." "Kids will put tin-tacks on the road." "If I could catch one of them, I'd tan the hide off him." "Now, about Albert?" "─ What about him?" "He came out of prison two days ago." "─ More's the pity." "But he's been picked up again for .." "Wandering abroad and resisting arrest." "Oh?" "He wants to come home." "He can want." "But he's paid for his last offense and really it wasn't such a serious one." "No?" "Well I mean, no." "Not really." "What?" "Just hitting a Policeman?" "Any one of us could have done the same thing." "In a spirit of fun, of course." "Would you?" "Well, no." "If you ask me, I suppose I wouldn't." "And nor would I." "I rather gathered from Albert that the Police have it in for him." "It might be a case of .." "Agent provocateur, you know." "─ Agent provac .." "I've nothing against the Police, if you understand me." "I'm trying to." "But .. well, I suppose it's part of their job, getting knocked about a bit." "It's the part of Albert's to do the knocking, I suppose?" "Well, no." "I didn't mean that, exactly." "Then what the hell do you mean?" "Are you aware, Mr Phipps .." "When he was brought into the charge room by the 4 officers it took to arrest him." "Albert broke away from them and attacked the Station Sergeant." "And do you know, Mr Phipps .." "After those officers had picked Albert up off of the Station Sergeant .." "The Station Sergeant had both his eyes closed up." "Two of his front teeth knocked out, and his nose broken." "Well, no." "I'm afraid .." "I wasn't aware of that." "I thought not." "There is just one other point I'd like to mention to you, Mr Phipps." "I .. was the Station Sergeant." "That's for treading on my daisy plants." ""Feet."" ""Sore feet .. blistered feet."" ""Wet feet .. cold feet."" ""Thus were the days and seasons marked."" ""In those first months as a Probation Officer."" ""They took me to places I'd never heard of."" ""Never knew existed."" ""Some I don't believe ever did exist."" "Well, carry on until you get to the traffic-lights." "Not the first lot, but the next, where the old Palais used to be." "Then turn right, not a straight right you understand." "You sort-of turn right back on yourself and follow your nose." "Can't go wrong." "Best ask again when you get to the dock." "Anybody will put you straight there." "Unless you're unlucky of course and get one of these here foreigners." "Ha ha." "Hello." "Does Mrs Williams live up there?" "─ Yes." "Now." "If you want mum, she's out." "Thank you." ""It seemed that a lot of them didn't want to be helped."" ""However much one tried."" ""At least, not by me."" ""Hooker, for instance."" ""I'd got a job for him with a road transport firm."" "Well, Hooker .. how do you like the job?" "It's marvellous .. it's hysterical." "Now look, Hooker." "You've got to coöperate with me .. don't you see?" "Well, I'm doing what I'm told, ain't I?" "Report to me next week." ""I was puzzled to begin with."" ""Then disheartened .. then exasperated."" ""Finally, well it was old Frost really."" ""They found the old fellow sleeping in the street somewhere."" ""More like a bundle of rags he looked, when they brought him in."" ""I got him cleaned up and into an institution."" ""But I wasn't letting it rest there."" ""I'd taken a lot of trouble over his case."" "Well, Frost." "I've got good news for you." "I've traced your son." "He's married, has a family and lives at Enfield." "I eventually convinced him, that it was his duty to take you in." "I've arranged for you to go and live with him." "Have you now?" "─ Yes." "Here .. you see that old man over there?" "Yes, but Frost." "Well, you don't expect manners in a place like this." "But he's a bad habit of swilling his tea round his mouth before he swallows.it." "Real nasty, I call it." "─ Frost." "Did you hear what I told you?" "About Cyril?" "Yes." "And that other old man sitting next to him." "Says that if he don't behave, he's going to push his face in." "Well, we'll see at tea-time." "Frost." "I've persuaded your son to take you home." "Don't you want to go?" "No." "I'm alright here." "It's very kind of him, though." "It's funny to think that I wouldn't know him if I saw him." "Yes, of course." "It is a long time since you saw him." "But you'll soon settle down." "It's about forty years." "I can see his scared little face now, poor kid." "I met him one day coming out of school." "I'd given him half a crown to buy himself a birthday present." "But I took it back off of him again before he had a chance to spend it." "He couldn't have been more than seven then." "Skinny legs, he had." "And curly hair .." "like his mother's." "Do you know that kid never cried." "He looked as though he was going to, but he never did." "I nearly gave it back to him." "Almost wish I had, now." "He's done very well for himself." "He's a builder." "─ Oh yes?" "Frost." "Don't you want to go and live with your son?" "No, I don't think so." "Here." "See that man over there?" "A millionaire he was once." "The richest man in Hyde Park." "Of course, he's got habits too." "Everyone has habits." "I don't know where they got their habits from." "I'll see you the same time next week, Mrs Meade." "Come in sooner, if you have any worries." "─ Thanks Miss Matty, I will." "Come in, Norma." "Sit down." "You know, this sort of thing can't go on, Norma." "This is the third job you've lost in two months." "It's not my fault." "They know I'm on probation." "They never give me a chance." "On to me all the time, they are." "Mrs Sharp doesn't approve when you flirt with every man that comes into her shop." "Them old lot?" "I'm not that hard up." "Probably not." "It wasn't serious, but it's serious the way you spoke when you were corrected." "She had to sack you." "─ Just what she'd been waiting for." "I don't think so." "Mrs Sharp is a very understanding employer." "She's an old cow." "That's rather childish, isn't it." "You don't seem to realize how leniently you've been dealt with, Norma." "Not many years ago, you'd have gone to prison." "Being on probation, you're being given another chance." "And I'm going to see that you take it." "Right." "Now listen to me." "Mrs Sharp has agreed to take you back." "And you are to work in the office." "She thinks you've got a good head for figures." "There will be a lot for you to learn, but she thinks that you can do it." "I'll try, Miss." "You know, I could have taken you back into court for this." "For an unknown reason, I believe in you." "For heaven's sake, don't let me down." "Excuse me, Miss Mattison, it's one of yours." "The honourable Ursula." "To the dance." "Alright, Norma." "See me next week and let me know how you get on." "Yes, Miss Matty." "Poor, poor girl." "─ Run along, Norma." "Yes, Miss Matty." "Dear Matty." "What do you mean by coming to report to me in this condition?" "What condition?" "I'm a little tight, aren't I?" "And you promised you weren't going to get tight again." "I am not tight." "I've got a cold." "Look how thin I am." "I'm sure you are." "─ Go away, Matty." "Dreary Matty .." "This office is much too small." "You look after her until she cools off." "I don't want to have to charge her." "Come on my girl." "─ Where are we going?" "Have you ever been tight, Matty?" "You know, I mean absolutely stinking." "─ No, I'm afraid not." "Then how do you know if it's good to be stinking or ..?" "Or just stinko to be stinking." "Now come along." "Oh but I love you, Matty." "But I want to show Matty how thin I am." "Well, you can show me." "Now come on." "Come and have a drink one day, Matty." "That would be very enjoyable." "─ Come along." "Yes, but I really have lost a lot of weight." "Evening, Mr Phipps." "─ Hello, Crump." "Just been picking up my things." "She's got me back." "I want my head seeing to I dare say." "But you know what it is." "The flesh is weak." "Mr Phipps." "They never collect it." "It's been here since morning." "Oh please, please." "I am Miss Macklin from the buildings." "They are trying to poison pussy." "─ Who is?" "Oh, the people next door." "─ Then you must tell the Police." "They never listen." "The last time they were quite rude to me." "Now look." "You tell that Officer all about it." "I'm sure he'll listen to you." "Poor pussy." "Poor little pussy." "Officer." "What is it Miss Macklin?" "─ They are poisoning Bertie." "What, still?" "─ Yes." "You know, it's something they put in his milk when he isn't looking." "Oh good." "Thank you." "I've been waiting for that." "How do you go on, Matty?" "How do you go on without being driven mad?" "What's the trouble?" "─ Oh, everything." "That old man, Frost." "I fixed up everything for him." "I've arranged for him to live with his son." "I have taken any amount of trouble." "Now, he's changed his mind." "Are you sure he ever wanted to go?" "Are you sure his son really wanted to have him?" "You sure it wasn't just your idea of tidying up their lives for them?" "Well, really .." "I'm sorry, but I don't think you've got the right idea of this job." "It's no good planning for people." "You've got to plan with them." "You only see things from your own point of view." "You don't try to see theirs." "You don't really like them, do you?" "─ How on earth does that come into it?" "Well, do you like them?" "Frost, Hooker, Miss Macklin, Crump and the rest." "But this is a job." "Do doctors have to like their patients?" "─ They have to try and understand them." "I've made every conceivable attempt at understanding." "And you think you can understand without liking?" "I'd have thought it would be extremely dangerous to stop an objective approach." "Oh, don't be so pompous and opinionated." "I know you're kind really, and of course you're no fool but .." "Why don't you meet them on their own level?" "Instead of gazing down at them in a Lordly way like a .." "Botanist at beetles." "I assure you I never thought .." "─ You never thought, I suppose .." "That turning up in a poor street dressed like that would frighten the horses." "Let alone the people you are supposed to help." "I'm sorry." "I must apologize for being myself." "Son of Scorpio, I've got a message for you." "Please Mrs Crockett, not now." "You won't regret it if you listen to me, Mr Scorpio." "Some other time." "─ But .." "But I .." "I brought my albums, especially for you to see." "Go on, Miss Crockett." "Don't you want to see my albums?" "No, Mrs Crockett, I'm afraid I don't." "Not now." "I wish you had looked at it." "Oh, Mrs Crockett." "Come back will you." "I'd like to see your album." "Oh, I thought you'd change your mind." "This is going to be a treat for you, Scorpio." "I don't show this to everyone, I can tell you." "There he is." "─ Who?" "Clinton Parks, the painter." "Haven't you heard of him?" "─ Yes." "Very grand." "That's one of his paintings." "─ Very pretty." "Yes, lovely, isn't it, dear." "There's another." "That was in the academy that was." "I can well believe it." "I expect that was, too." "Yes, he liked me to do my hair that way." "Your hair?" "Yes .. that's me." "I was his model." "Didn't you recognize me?" "No .." "I'm afraid I didn't." "At first, of course." "You'd be surprised how many copies of that they've sold." "That's you too, isn't it?" "Of course it is, silly." "What's that?" "─ Tableau vivant." "You know, living pictures on the stage." "I took to doing them when Clinton died." "Professionally?" "─ Of course." "Madam Clinton Parks, I was." "Top of the bill for years." "Ask anyone." "An English rose." "That's one of my favourites." "You must have been very beautiful." "Really beautiful." "I'll have all my costumes cleaned and poshed up." "Then, in America .." "I left them at the station." "Think they'll be alright?" "I expect so." "You are going to be my manager." "We'll do a long tour first." "Ever been a manager, Scorpio?" "No." "─ Never mind." "That's quite alright." "You'll soon learn." "Come back Mrs Crockett, and we'll talk about it." "I'll be back at the turn of the moon, Scorpio." "You and me has got to stick together." "Goodbye, Mrs Crockett." "What happened in between?" "She grew old." "What can you do?" "Well, we listen." "That's all they want." "Someone to talk to." "Not to be alone." "Every court has its Mrs Crockett." "I'm afraid I can't find it in my heart to send them away." "Hey, Charlie." "─ Yep?" "Went with Danny today in his van." "─ So what?" "I saw your mum." "She sends her love, Charlie." "─ Thanks for nothing." "He's back." "─ Who's back?" "Your new dad." "Take that mucky grin off your face." "That's enough of that, Hooker." "Alright, boys .. the fun's over." "Back to what you were doing." "Better phone his Probation Officer." "If I catch you upsetting your mother again, I'll break your ruddy neck." "Now, hop it back to borstal or wherever it was they sent you." "I wouldn't, you know." "I'm glad I found you, Hooker." "I want to have a chat with you." "Go and chase yourself." "─ I'm too busy chasing you, Hooker." "I'm going to see your mother." "I tell you what." "You go over the road and get yourself a cup of tea." "I'll pick you up in a few minutes." "How do you know I'll be there?" "─ I don't." "I doubt you want to be up in court again any more than I want to see you there." "Go on." "We'll work out something together." "Yes?" "I'd like a word with Mrs Hooker if she's available." "Who are you?" "─ My name is Phipps." "It's alright, Tom." "It's Charlie's Probation Officer." "A Probation Officer is he?" "Hasn't done the little blighter much good." "Come in if you want to." "─ Thank you." "I've just seen Charlie, Mrs Hooker." "I'm sorry he left the hostel." "I don't know what to do about him, I'm sure." "I feel .." "I feel perhaps, I haven't taken the right line with him." "Perhaps there are things about him that I haven't found out." "I'm not wishing to pry." "Please understand that." "I just want to help him." "Won't you sit down, Mr Phipps?" "Tom, bring up another chair and a cup of tea." "You'd like a cup of tea?" "─ Why, yes." "I would." "It's always the same." "Whenever Tom comes back from the sea, there's been trouble." "I see." "I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of meeting .." "This is Tom." "Mr Haynes." "─ How do you do." "Charlie was alright, until his father was killed in the war." "And I was on my own with him." "Things were difficult and lonely until Tom came along." "Of course." "When was that, Mrs Hooker?" "When was it, Tom?" "You're a fine one." "Christmas '44." "My last leave of the war." "─ Yes, that was it." "And it was then that Charlie started behaving like this?" "I tried to get near the boy." "I like kids." "And I miss my own." "They went with the wife when she left me before the war." "But it wasn't any good." "He was always a little devil when I was around." "He still is." "Tom's never got a divorce, Mr Phipps." "We're .." "That's why things are like this." "Yes, it's very difficult for both of you." "I can see that." "Well, thank you." "You've been most helpful." "Thank you for the tea." "I must go and talk to Charlie now." "What a nice geranium." "─ Tom grew that." "Really?" "A beauty." "Goodbye, Mrs Hooker." "Don't worry too much." "Well, goodbye." "And tell Mrs Hooker, I think I can be of some use to the boy now." "What, me jealous of that great big ..?" "─ Yes." "You're fond of your mother, aren't you?" "─ I hate her." "She's very fond of you." "─ Yeah?" "Then why was she always pushing me out, every time that big ape was around?" ""Run along Charlie." "Go and play with them kids, Charlie."" "Kids." "We showed them." "Had every Cop in the district on the run." "I hate her." "If you do, why run away, and go home when you heard that Tom had come back?" "That wasn't the reason." "─ I think it was." "You always resented his taking the place of your father since you were a kid." "And that's been your way of showing it." "It's a perfectly natural psychological reaction." "Blimey, I'm a case." "─ Now don't start thinking that." "Why should you care anyway?" "─ I don't know, Hooker." "It must be because I like you." "I always did say you was a funny sort of Probation Officer." "I've had another report from Mrs Sharp, Norma." "It's not too bad." "Couldn't you get me allowed to go to dances now, Miss?" "Why, have you found someone to take you?" "─ No." "But once you're there, it's easy." "That's just it." "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with myself, I'm sure." "Well, what about the youth club?" "There's a lot of girls there of your own age." "That's just it." "Well, I've got to see how I can get you out of this trouble." "You know you've broken your probation by behaving like this in the hostel." "Do you expect me to go back there?" "─ Certainly." "I've got a job, I'm earning." "Why can't I be in digs?" "Because the magistrate sent you to a hostel." "If you do your job well and don't make a nuisance of yourself." "I might be able to get permission for you to live in digs later." "Promise?" "Alright." "I promise." "If .. and it's a big "if"." "You do your share." "─ Okay." "You wait here." "I'm sorry." "I just wanted a word .." "─ Hello, Mr Phipps." "Hello ..?" "─ Norma." "Norma." "Mr Dove will have gone, I'm afraid." "There's just one point of procedure on which I'd like your advice." "Yes, of course." "Alright, Norma." "We'll call it off until next week. ─ Right-oh." "Bye bye, Mr Chips." "─ Goodbye." "[ Whistle ]" "Hey!" "You gave me a fright." "You're a late customer." "─ I work late, Fridays." "What are you up for?" "─ Nosy." "I'm a psychological case." "─ You're a case, alright." "Sit down." "I'm going home." "─ What's the hurry?" "Fag?" "Sit down." "That's right." "What's yours like?" "Knows all the answers before you give her them." "She's alright, though." "Mine is crackers." "─ Oh, I like him." "I had a date with him, once." "Oh come off it." "─ I did." "Port wine and all." "─ What, old Chips a wolf?" "Get out of it." "Well, it wasn't a date really." "I'd just met him, actually." "How?" "─ None of your business." "I like him, though." "He's not a bad bloke." "I'm learning him." "This affair of his mother's .." "Is obviously the whole clue to his neurosis." "Yes." "I'd be a bit careful how you explain it to Hooker though." "You don't want to give him the idea that he's an interesting case." "Quite." "Well." "I'll send Hooker back to the hostel." "Thank you." "Alright, Hooker, you can .. oh." "I'm still here, Mr Phipps." "─ Yes." "So I see." "I want you to go to the hostel, Hooker." "I'll ring the warden and make it right." "Norma .." "I thought I sent you home?" "Run along now." "─ Yes, Miss Matty." "Can I go too, Mr Phipps?" "─ Yes, I told you." "I'm sorry for what I said the other day." "It was horribly rude of me." "─ It was absolutely right." "Well, not absolutely." "─ Ha." "I expect I was taking it out on you as I was upset at my own failure with Ursula." "It was unforgivable of me." "But please forgive me." "─ Well, of course." "Goodnight." "─ I suppose .." "I suppose you wouldn't care to have a bite to eat with me?" "I'm past it, I'm afraid." "A nice cup of cocoa in bed." "That's me." "Oh." "But I'd love a good stiff drink." "Fine." "So would I." "Port?" "─ No, thank you." "Not for me." "You're most surprising, aren't you." "Well, you say I ran pretty true to form." "Giving up a comfortable, settled life like this to be a Probation Officer?" "I would say that was right outside the form book." "Particularly at your age." "Steady on." "What about you?" "I wouldn't say that you were a typical Probation Officer either." "There is no such thing." "─ Ah." "No, I suppose there isn't." "How long have you been at it, Matty?" "Since '43." "And before?" "It all seems an awfully long time ago." "We lived in Weybridge." "A hideous old house, but the garden ran down to the river." "Isn't if funny how it always seems to be summer when you look back?" "I suppose we were a very conventional family, but it was fun in those days." "There didn't seem to be anything much to worry about." "Perhaps the local tennis tournament." "Believe it or not, I was rather good." "Yes, it was fun." "Then I suppose, the war?" "Is that why you went into it?" "In a way, yes." "But driving an ambulance was my war-time job." "Until '43." "Yes." "I must go." "Thank you so much." "I have enjoyed it." "So have I." "I'll see you home." "Perm any four pairs from five." "Five lines at a tanner." "Four and sixpence." "Shut that!" "Oh it's you, Mr Phipps." "Good morning Sergeant Body." "Can i have the list to run in?" "Yes." "It's a right lot this morning." "─ Thank you." "I'd like to see Stevens, please." "─ Burt, take Mr Phipps down." "Lead on." "Be good, now." "Or Burt won't let you out again." "Ha ha ha." "I will." "Mr Phipps." "Why did they send the doctor to see me?" "There's nothing wrong with me, is there?" "Sit down, Eric." "The magistrate thought when you stole this money you might not have been well." "That's why." "Oh, but I was." "I wanted it for the funfair." "Funfair-mad, I am." "I never win anything, neither." "I might do one day though." "I expect you will." "Your case comes up again this morning." "I'll be in court with you." "I'll see your mother." "She'll be there, too." "Thank you, Mr Phipps." "Morning Mr Phipps." "─ Morning, Albert." "The wife was very pleased with the blankets you sent down. ─ Uhuh." "Good morning." "Mrs Stevens?" "─ Yes." "I'm a Probation Officer from the court, Mrs Stevens." "I just wanted a word with you about Eric." "Please sit down." "Thank you." "I know you've had a very anxious time, Mrs Stevens." "Well, I'm here to try and help your boy." "I'm not a Policeman." "─ No, sir." "You know he was remanded for a medical report?" "But the court wanted to find out something of his history." "That's why I've come to see you." "─ There's nothing wrong with Eric." "He's more sensitive than other boys." "That's all." "That's why he never got on at school." "But with me .. as long as he's with me, he's alright." "I understand him, you see." "─ Of course." "But he did find it difficult to learn at school?" "They don't understand boys like Eric." "They won't be bothered with anybody .. that's different." "I don't want to make you say anything that's painful to you, Mrs Stevens." "We don't think that Eric is a thief." "We must find out why he took this money now." "He didn't mean it, sir." "Eric would never do a thing like that." "Well, perhaps he wasn't really conscious of what he was doing?" "You're like all the rest of them." "Trying to make out there is something wrong with Eric." "He's different." "Let him come back to me, sir." "Please let him come back." "He's alright with me here." "I can understand him." "Now now, Mrs Stevens." "Please don't upset yourself." "I'm sure the court will take a very lenient view." "But they do want to know something about his history." "Now if you'll just sit down." "And tell me all about him." "Where he went to school." "What work he has been able to do." "Little things like that." "Where's Matty?" "I want to see Matty." "She'll see you in a minute." "─ Thank you very much." "Well." "Come along, Iris." "Oh, hello Mr Phipps." "Alright then, Iris." "I'll be in court when your case comes up." "Thank you." "If you see Matron, she'll give you a cup of tea while you're waiting." "Hello." "Hon Ursula's outside." "I know." "I've just seen her." "I should have thought prison for a bit would do her good." "She couldn't get hold of drink there." "─ Why, she'd get something worse." "Cheap notoriety." "What possible excuse has she got?" "She was so obviously born with a silver spoon in her mouth." "When the war started, that girl was seventeen." "She fell in love with a pilot." "Have you forgotten the war years?" "Always that feeling that this was our "last party"." "Then he was killed." "I know it is tragic, but there were other women it happened to." "Well, of course there were." "Thousands of them." "And they are not out there in that passage, thank God." "Many women go shopping." "But only one comes to court as they've stole something they couldn't pay for." "In so many ways, she could have worked it out of her system." "And she had to pick drink." "I'm sorry for her." "I'm sorry, Matty." "I am afraid I was being objective again." "I'll be objective myself, this time." "I'm going to send the Hon Ursula to a convent." "If I can get the order." "Remand number three." "Eric Stevens, Your Worship." "Well Stevens, I've been reluctant to believe that you're a thief." "And that you know the doctor has seen you." "And I have here his report." "As it is evidence in your case, I must read it to you." "It says .." ""This man's history shows that he is emotionally unstable."" ""And he readily confuses fact and fiction."" ""His instability coupled with his degree of mental deficiency."" ""Makes him unable fully to appreciate the difference between right and wrong."" ""If his condition should deteriorate."" ""Which seems likely."" ""He may become certifiable of unsound mind."" ""Although nearly 21 years of age, his mental age is 11."" "Mr Phipps." "Yes, sir." "I shall make a probation order in this case." "For two years." "And I shall put in a condition that he doesn't enter a funfair in that period." "See what you can do for the boy." "Yes, sir." "Here, Mr Phipps." "What have you done with our Ben?" "Ben?" "Ben who?" "─ Follet." "You ought to know." "─ You had him locked up." "But he was released three weeks ago." "He told me he was living at home with you." "Well, we ain't seen him." "─ Then, he's as big a liar as ever." "Don't you call my boy a liar." "─ Now, where is he?" "You're his Probation Officer, ain't you?" "I don't know where he is and at the moment, I can't say that I care." "Well, what's come over him?" "I bet you couldn't go off the top." "Of course I could." "It's not that high." "Go on then." "Let's see you." "Okay, I will." "Oh no Charlie, don't." "You might get hurt." "What, me?" "─ Yes, you." "Tar .. zan." "Yeah." "─ Come on." "Let's sunbathe." "Hello, Charlie." "─ Hi." "Who was that?" "─ Oh." "Just some kid I know." "Oh." "Okay, Norm." "I should worry." "What time you got to get to work this evening?" "Seven." "─ That's early." "A good mind to chuck it." "Oh no you don't." "You've got to earn some money." "I can think of easier ways than that." "Just let me catch you trying." "Hark at Grandma." "Want a fag?" "Not cold are you?" "Good old Norm." "Charlie, you're good." "Mr Phipps." "─ Hello, Miss Macklin." "Oh Mr Phipps, poor pussy is dying." "He won't touch his milk." "He knows it's poisoned." "It's the people next door who are doing it." "I'm down your way tomorrow, Miss Macklin." "I'll look in." "How's that?" "You will?" "Oh thank you, Mr Phipps." "Can you spare me a minute, Mr Dove?" "─ Presently, Mrs Wilson." "Will you be long, Mr Dove?" "─ Oh, as soon as I can." "Jimmy hasn't been home these last three nights, Mr Dove." "We'll see what we can do, Mrs Evans." "Oh, Mr Dove." "─ Later." "Mr Dove .." "─ I'll see you all in time." "Oh, Mr Dove." "─ Yes." "As soon as I can." "What on earth are you doing here?" "─ Oh." "Morning, Matty." "I suppose the doctors are all a lot of nincompoops." "They don't know what they're talking about." "Is that it?" "I always say that a man is as well as he feels." "Yes." "And how well did you feel last Friday when we had to pack you off home?" "Yes." "But I'm alright now." "It was nothing at all." "I promise you." "You know what the doctor said to you." "You should take 3 months rest at least." "What in the world would I do with myself all that time?" "[ Door knocks ]" "Yes, come in." "Come in." "Your remand case, Brown." "Coming up in number 2, Mr Dove." "Yes." "I'll come at once." "Good morning." "─ Oh not again, Joyce." "Why not chuck it and get a regular job?" "What, and pay income tax?" "I don't know what ever made me do it, Miss Mattison." "I didn't mean to .." "I wouldn't have here job." "Not for nothing." "Morning, Mr Phipps." "─ What?" "Not again?" "Just for a couple of days until I find a kip." "You don't mind, do you governor?" "─ Becoming a bit of a habit, isn't it?" "Not no more, it ain't." "I've had my lot this time." "She can have her separation order." "And this time I mean it." "Too lah-di-dah to breathe, she is." "Alright Hooker, you're next." "Scorpio!" "It's the turn of the moon." "Mars is in the ascendant." "Later, Mrs Crockett." "We'll have a nice cup of tea together." "Come on, Hooker." "Me and him is going into business together." "Quite enough of that Mrs Meek." "See me again next week." "Yes, than you very much, Miss Mattison." "Norma, I didn't expect you again this week." "Is anything wrong?" "Well, Hooker." "How's the job?" "─ Alright." "Look, what about keeping your promise." "You said you'd get me out of the hostel if I did well, didn't you." "Yes, I did." "─ Well, I've done alright, haven't I?" "Yes, yes." "The transport people are very pleased with you." "What if I promised to do something and didn't?" "Now, listen." "Other fellahs who got sent in for a stretch are out." "I'm still doing mine." "You made a promise, you did." "─ Shut up." "The trouble is, Charlie." "The magistrate who made the condition about you living in a hostel, Mr Quayle." "Has moved to another court." "─ So what?" "Well, I could have a talk with Mr Pyke." "That old carryall." "─ Mr Pyke is not an old carryall." "Mr Pyke is a very wise and experienced magistrate." "I'm sure he'd give permission." "Does that mean I can look for digs?" "Well." "Yes." "I don't see why not." "Thank you, Mr Phipps." "Thank you very much." "What on earth is all this about Norma and your blue-eyed boy?" "I don't know." "What?" "Well, they want to get married." "Well, well." "Good luck to them." "─ You don't approve, do you?" "Yes .." "I do." "Don't you see?" "It's just what Hooker needs." "Hooker?" "Well, what about Norma?" "It will keep her straight, too." "Best thing to happen for either of them." "─ Well, I don't approve at their age." "Now, don't put your foot down, Matty." "They have found each other." "It's the first real thing they've had in their lives." "If you put the kibosh on it." "It will be a big knock for them and they may not take it well." "But Hooker is still at the hostel." "I'm going to see Pyke and fix that." "You are just enjoying playing Cupid." "Yes." "I am." "I'm right, too." "Aren't I?" "Now listen Norma, you little idiot." "I don't approve of this at all." "What about your father?" "What's he going to say?" "Oh, he's alright." "Glad to get me off his hands." "What do you think you'll live on?" "─ We've both got jobs." "Yes, that's all very well." "I can understand your feelings mind you, but .." "It's all a bit too sudden." "I think you should get to know each other better before the wedding bells." "Yes, Miss." "Norma." "Alright." "You mean we ..?" "─ Mr Phipps thinks it's a good plan." "Perhaps he's right." "─ Oh, Miss Matty .." "Now stop that." "You'll have plenty of time for crying after you're married." "Here." "That's for your bottom drawer, if you know what that is." "Buy yourself something useful." "A dishcloth or something." "Oh thank you, Miss." "Oh, now get out for heaven's sake." "Before you start me off." "It's going to be okay!" "Come on." "Thank you, Miss." "Hello, Matty." "Well, what is it?" "Am I covered with little, white blossom?" "─ No, of course not." "Well, I ought to be after all the orange juice I've crammed down lately." "They're open and I sailed past them without a backward glance." "Oh, I am glad .. sit down." "Have a cigarette." "─ Thank you." "You .. wouldn't like a cup of tea?" "─ Yes I would, rather." "That rocked you a bit, didn't it." "[ Door knocks ]" "Come in." "No point in wearing out a good pair of trousers on the bench." "When all that is exposed is one's upper half." "Now Is there?" "─ Never, sir." "Quite." "Yes." "What do you want?" "─ It's about Hooker, sir." "He was put on probation to me by Mr Quayle before he left." "But I really do think now .." "That more good would come by rescinding the order that he must live in a hostel." "Well I don't, Mr Phipps." "But .. if you will refer to the case .." "─ I have referred to the case, Mr Phipps." "If this young hooligan had been dealt with by me, he'd have gone to borstal." "Well, perhaps." "But in fact, he went to a hostel." "The hostel has done its work." "If he's kept there any longer he'll deteriorate." "And if he's let out and slips back into the company of his old friends?" "He may deteriorate even quicker." "I made a promise to the boy, sir." "I told him that if he did well .." "─ You've no right to, Mr Phipps." "You've no authority whatsoever." "But I'm absolutely certain Mr Quayle would have accepted my recommendation." "Perhaps, Mr Phipps." "But I happen to consider that your recommendation is misguided." "Good morning." "But if you'll allow me to say so, sir." "You've never set eyes on this boy." "I know him so well." "Isn't there a possibility .." "─ That I may be wrong?" "There is .. no magistrate is gifted with infallibility." "On the other hand, I think I've a little more experience than you, haven't I?" "Hooker will remain in the hostel until the end of his probationary period." "Good morning, Mr Phipps." "─ But, sir." "That is all .. good morning." "I can't tell you how pleased I am." "Keep it up." "You won't have to put up with me anymore." "Darling, Matty." "What on earth would you do without me?" "Your prize black sheep." "I'd manage." "Oh, I beg your pardon." "─ It's me, Mr Phipps." "Good heavens, the Hon. Ursula." "─ See you next week, Matty." "I'd never have known her." "Silly of me, but I really believe that girl is going to be alright." "These have come from the YWCA for distribution." "Uhuh." "Trouble with Pyke?" "He won't rescind the order." "I've got to go and tell Hooker he's got to stay on at the hostel." "Damn Pyke, damn Hooker." "Damn the whole lot of them." "Hooker, your Probation Officer is here." "In the Warden's office." "This is it, boys." "You can deal me out from now on." "Hello, Mr Chips." "I hoped you'd come." "I got some digs right near the lorry park." "Only 18 bob a week, so I'll be quids-in." "I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you, Charlie." "I saw Mr Pyke." "And .. well .." "You've got to stay here until the end of your probationary period." "But you promised." "─ I know I did, Charlie." "But .." "There wasn't any "buts" as I remember." "You promised you'd get me out of here if I behaved myself and I have done." "I haven't put a foot wrong." "Ask the Warden." "I know." "I done all I promised and you ain't." "That's all there is to it." "No it isn't, Charlie." "You've made a mug of me." "I've gone straight, and you made a mug of me." "Alright, Charlie." "I let you down and I'm sorry." "But there is Norma." "Don't you let her down." "Norma?" "What do you mean?" "─ She's going straight too, Charlie." "It hasn't been easy for her, either." "But having you has given her something to make it worthwhile." "So don't let her down." "She is going to cut up rough when I tell her we can't get spliced." "It's only for another 3 months, Charlie." "And then you can get married with Mr Pyke's blessing." "That old .." "─ Alright." "So we've got to go on like this." "Always having to look at the clock." "Got to get back to work." "Got to get back to the hostel." "It's only for three months more." "─ That's what you think." "That drip and his promises." "Old Chips is alright." "It's not his fault really." "That's right." "Stick up for him now." "I suppose it's my fault we can't get married." "Oh, what's the good of it all." "A fat lot we've got out of going straight." "Never got any time together." "Never got a bean to spend." "Come off it, Norma." "Look, let's have a cup of tea." "I've just got time before I go on." "Tea?" "Champagne or nothing, I suppose?" "That would be a proper start for the good times we're going to have from now on." "What more can I do on my pay?" "─ Nothing." "That's just it." "Hello, Norma." "Jordie." "When did you get out?" "─ Yesterday." "Come and have a drink." "─ No." "Why not?" "Things is different now." "─ Are they?" "It doesn't stop two old pals from having a drink, does it?" "Things are different, I tell you." "Not for me, they aren't." "You've grown up a bit since I've been inside." "What you been up to, Norma?" "Been dancing?" "I'm not allowed." "Oh, I see." "They have made a mug of you, haven't they." "Yes." "Poor old Norma." "It's a shame." "It's a shame." "Goodbye, Charlie Hooker." "Good morning." "Oh, Mr Phipps." "What a lovely surprise." "Come in." "Come in, do." "This is my little parlour." "So cosy." "This is where I keep all my things." "All the things dear Papa left me." "Yes .. you have quite a collection." "I .." "I suppose this is your cat." "I'm glad to see him looking so healthy." "And why shouldn't dear Bertie look healthy?" "Aren't the people next door trying to poison him?" "What an extraordinary thing for you to say." "Didn't you say your cat's life was in danger because of the people next door?" "Why should you think they'd want to poison Bertie?" "Why they are devoted to him, aren't they, Bertie?" "Well that's alright then, Miss Macklin." "You've nothing to worry about." "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way." "I've one or two other calls to make." "Fancy you thinking anyone could want to poison Bertie." "Oh, Mrs Northgate." "I do want you to meet Mr Phipps." "He's just made such a funny joke." "Do you know he's accused you of trying to poison poor Bertie?" "Well, really .." "I didn't say anything in front of them for fear of hurting their feelings." "But it isn't Bertie they are trying to poison." "It's me." "Four and a half hours dead." "Reckon we've earned a drink." "You've got plenty aboard." "─ What, that stuff?" "It's wallop for me." "Coming, Charles?" "─ No." "I've got a date." "When do we unload, Guv?" "─ It will have to be tomorrow, now." "So long." "So long, Jim." "─ Ciao." "Take that up to the top deck will you." "─ Okay." "Charlie." "Oh Charlie, I'm sorry about last night." "Really I am." "I got a present for you." "Ten quid." "We can have a good time with it." "─ I don't want a good time." "You did last night." "I was browned off." "That's all." "Yeah." "Charlie." "Where did you get that money?" "Pals." "What for?" "Just going to do them a service." "What do you mean?" "That lorry I just brought in." "It's loaded with Scotch." "No Charlie, you mustn't." "I didn't mean what I said last night .." "I was crazy." "I want to go on as we are." "Things will come right." "We don't want no easy money." "I love you, Charlie." "I really love you." "You never said it like that before." "Give the money back." "Okay, Norma." "─ Oh, Charlie." "Go and find them now." "I'll wait for you at home." "I'd better keep out of it on account of the girl." "I don't want no trouble her." "─ Okay." "Hello Charlie." "Hello Buck." "What's this?" "─ Ten quid." "I don't want it." "What's the idea?" "─ I'm not getting into this." "That's all." "Not getting in, Charlie?" "You're in." "Come on." "How do we get that Scotch?" "I'm not telling you no more." "─ Now listen, Charlie sweetheart." "You told us quite a lot last night." "─ And took ten quid for it." "Listen, Dai." "I made a mistake last night." "I was browned off." "Me and my girl had a row." "Have a heart, fellahs." "We're getting married." "I won't get involved." "Okay, Charlie boy." "Send us a bit of cake." "─ Huh?" "Thanks." "For both of us." "─ Thanks a lot." "Here .. are you Charlie Hooker?" "Yeah." "Why?" "─ Just wanted to warn you." "Stay away from Norma." "─ Norma?" "Who are you?" "─ Jordie Bennett." "So what?" "I've been away for a while." "We waited a long time for last night, Norma and me." "Is it true?" "I don't know." "I've never seen him before." "Come and have a drink." "Is it true?" "─ Well, she used to be his girl." "You know Norma." "What's up?" "Have you done it?" "Have you given it back?" "What is it, Charlie?" "You wasn't with him, was you?" "─ With who?" "Jordie Bennett" "Who said so?" "He did." "It's not true, is it?" "Well .." "What did he say?" "That you'd been with him last night, and .." "No Charlie, it wasn't like that." "I swear." "I only had a drink with him." "I left him at the club." "You expect me to believe that?" "─ You've got to." "I hate him, Charlie." "You were with him last night, right?" "─ Yes, but .." "You're not going to do anything with them tonight." "Don't, Charlie." "Don't!" "Charlie .." "Charlie!" "Hello, Charlie." "─ Let's have a drink and talk business." "But I thought you scrubbed it." "─ I can change my mind, can't I?" "Sure." "Hello, Charlie." "Hello, Mr Phipps." "─ I'm glad I ran into you." "Did you tell Norma about the hostel?" "Yeah." "I told her." "Norma and me is washed up." "It's not good enough, Mrs Meade." "You know you have to report once a week." "I'm sorry, Miss Mattison." "Really I am." "Well see that you are at my office at six o'clock tomorrow sharp." "Yes, Miss Mattison." "Hello, Mr Chips." "─ Oh, good evening, Matty." "What's the trouble?" "I'm not at all happy about Hooker." "He's back with his old friends again." "That's bad." "He tells me that he and Norma are .. washed up." "Well that's where the trouble is." "Look .." "I've got a call to make in Norma's district." "Why not come with me?" "I'd like to." "I sometimes wonder if we are any use to them." "Come on, Norma." "What's it all about?" "I was with Jordie Bennett last night." "I don't know how Charlie found out but he has." "And he thinks .." "Oh Mr Phipps, you've got to stop them." "─ Stop?" "Stop who?" "Charlie's brought in a load of Scotch on his lorry." "Him and the others are going to flog it." "You've got to stop them." "Now come on, Norma dear." "Pull yourself together" "She's right." "There's only one thing to do." "Stop them before they do it." "If it goes wrong you're an accessory." "─ I must risk that." "Where are you going?" "─ To find Hooker." "You ought never to have let Mr Phipps go." "You ought to have sent for the Police." "─ What do you mean?" "Charlie doesn't know it, but Jordie is in with them." "He's got a gun." "He's used it." "He'd use it anytime." "Which way?" "─ Up there." "When will Jordie be here with the car?" "─ By the time we're ready." "Come on." "We ain't got all night." "This one is mine with the stuff in it." "Okay." "Get going." "What do you think you're doing?" "Mr Phipps." "You young fool, Hooker." "Do you want to spend the rest of your life in jail?" "You stay where you are." "─ Alright, Evans." "You know me." "You too, Wilson." "Now stop this before it's too late." "Why you dirty, double-crossing .." "Let's blow." "It's too dodgy to unload now." "You're right." "We'll take the lot." "Drive it out and follow me in the car." "Beat it." "Coppers!" "Come on." "We can't leave them behind." "They'll squawk." "Come on, you." "Come on." "Just leave him." "Come on, Mr Phipps." "Beat it." "─ I have no intention .." "Look." "If the Coppers get us, we've had it." "Quick." "Behind these lorries." "Come on." "It's all your fault." "Yours and Norma's fault." "You are wrong about Norma." "I want to tell you." "Shut up." "Why should she bother about you?" "Why any of us should bother about such a pig-headed oaf .." "I don't know, but she does." "She loves you, Charlie." "God knows why, but she does." "Hey." "Here, let me go!" "Are you coming quietly?" "─ I can explain who I am." "Well that's fine." "You can explain it to the magistrate." "My name is Phipps." "─ Right, Phillips." "Just keep moving." "I always did say you were a funny sort of Probation Officer." "Come on." "It certainly makes an original story, Mr Phipps." "In fact, quite outside my experience." "I would hardly say it was a very dignified climax, however." "Would you?" "No, sir." "We agree on something, I'm glad to find." "I realize I have failed and I'm resigning." "Indeed." "Well, any Probation Officer is entitled to do that." "I should like if I may, sir." "To ask you to deal with Hooker leniently." "Oh dear, you are not trying to teach me my business again, I hope." "No sir." "You were quite right." "I should never have promised him his release from the hostel." "We see that now, do we?" "Yes, sir." "It's because I did, that he's in this trouble now." "He's a good lad, sir." "He seems to have let you down." "No, sir." "With all respect." "I let him down." "It was my fault." "I do most earnestly ask you to be lenient to him." "You do seem very interested in this boy." "I presume you want me to salve your conscience for you, Mr Phipps." "It's only that I like the boy, sir." "And have faith in him." "And I .." "─ Yes, Mr Phipps?" "Well, I .." "I .." "─ Please don't stammer at me." "I think I've said all I can, sir." "─ Very well then, Mr Phipps." "And now perhaps you would be so good as to let me continue with my work." "Yes, sir." "Oh come on now." "You've got to sober up." "Dear little flags, Matty." "All for our dumb chums." "What have you done with the money?" "─ Hmm?" "─ The money." "Where is it?" "Stuck flags into them." "Old men, all of them." "Wanting to help our dear dumb chums." "You spent it." "To get drunk." "Only a little drink, Matty." "Feeling rather a little drunk myself." "Look at her." "Just look at her." "Take her away and put her with the other drunks." "There is nothing I more can do." "Come on, my girl." "─ But Matty .." "I want to stay with Matty." "I'm resigning, Matty." "Resigning?" "What about Hooker?" "Isn't his case coming on now?" "Yes." "I just can't face being in at the death." "You can't resign now." "Hooker will go inside." "But what about all the others?" "The ones who have done some good." "The ones who have got to know you." "It's not good, Matty .." "I'm chucking it." "You had better go and tell Mr Dove." "Yes." "I .." "I've come to say goodbye, Mr Dove." "Matty told you?" "Well, I suppose it had to happen." "Though I'm not really such an old crock as the doctor made out." "I'd have like to carry on just a little longer but .." "There it is." "But you and Matty will look after my people, won't you." "And all my old time-wasters, too." "You will be patient with them." "I've been going through my files." "There is a full report on all my people in here." "I'd like you to have this." "If you'd care for it." "I know I'm a sentimental old fool but it's held so many secrets." "And you know, in a way." "It's been my life, this old brief case." "So many people have gone into it." "And out of it." "So many old friends." "So many." ""There goes old Dove."" ""With his music case."" "One of these days." "It will be .. "There goes old Chips"." ""Johnson", that remand case." "Coming up in number 2 now, Mr Dove." "Thank you." "Johnson is yours, isn't he?" "Yes .. yes he is." "Well, I mustn't keep you." "I'm staying, Matty." "You are?" "They can chuck me out if they like, but until they do .." "They won't." "I'm glad you're staying, Mr Chips." "So am I, Matty." "Back again with the missus, Mr Phipps." "Thought you'd like to know." "The kids." "Reginald and Elaine." "See what I mean?" "Too lah-di-dah to breathe." "Well, I won't be long but I must go into court." "Mr Phipps." "They've stopped poisoning me." "─ Oh, I am glad Miss Macklin." "They are gassing me, now." "─ You must see a doctor, Miss Macklin." "Oh, it's the doctor's wife that's doing it." "Oh Mister Scorpio, our destiny is mixed." "Tomorrow we tour the world." "We'll talk about it when I come out of court, Mrs Crockett." "Mr Phipps, I wanted to ask you .." "I'll see you all in time, but I can't right now." "I won't be long, Mrs Stevens." "Therefore, in your case, Hooker." "I have decided not to send you to prison." "I have been influenced in coming to this decision." "By your Probation Officer." "You can be very grateful to him." "I shall extent the period of your probation by six months but .." "On Mr Phipps' advice .." "I shall not any longer require you to reside in a hostel." "I hope you Probation Officer's faith in you." "Will not prove misplaced." "Next." "Hooker." "Probation extended six months." "Your next Johnson." "Come on, Hooker." "Remand number five." ""Johnson", Your Worship." "This is the case sir, that you put back from last week." "Oh yes, I remember." "Is the Probation Officer in court?" "Yes, sir." "─ Ah, Mr Phipps." "You are still with us I see." "Yes, sir." "─ Well, well." "I'm sure the court is very relieved to hear that." "Thank you, sir." "Now, what have you to tell me about this case, Mr Phipps?" "I believe I remanded it from last week so that you could make inquiries." "Well, the boy has had a difficult time at home, sir." "Where the moral influence isn't good." "And has mixed with a set of youths." "Some of whom, have police records." "But he seems to regret .. what has happened quite sincerely." "And means not to let it happen again." "I feel sir .. that any confidence placed in him now." "Will be justified." "I believe in him." "T-G"