" Hey." " Yes?" "Erm, I'm looking for a job." " Who do I see?" " Oh, ho, you're out of luck, chum." " Who's won, mate?" " It's on now." "I heard you needed drivers, for ballast." " You a ballast driver?" " I'm any kind of a driver." "What difference does it make?" "That block, first door, ask for Cartley." "Ah, thanks a lot." "Must be hungry." "Thanks Terry, bung it down anywhere." "Lovely work, Jackie boy, Lucy loves you." "Oh, you're not Terry." "Huh, sorry." "See you later, Jackie." "Thought you were the boy who's mending my typewriter." "I'm looking for Mr Cartley...?" " Is he expecting you?" " I'm looking for a job." "Hmmm!" "You'll be lucky." "My name's Yately, Joe Yately, er I met a character called Legubin." "Oh, you know Leggy." "How is he?" "They've put a silver plate in his skull." "So I, I thought there might be a job going up here." "Why, to get a silver plate put in your skull?" "Leggy said there was good money up here." "Well I'll see what I can do for you." "Yes?" "I heard you needed ballast drivers." "You met Legubin, is that right?" "Yeah." "Did he tell you how much he cost us in compensation?" "He couldn't handle the loads, not at the speeds we wanted." "How long have you been driving?" " Twelve years." " Many accidents?" " No." " You sure?" " Now, look, I told you." " Legubin." "Hm." "No endorsements, no convictions for speeding - why not?" "Huh." "I guess I was never caught." "Name and address of your last employer." "I've been out of the country." "Where?" "Around." "I want fast drivers." "Fifty miles an hour touched, right round the clock." " What kind of roads?" " Bad roads." "Wet or fine." " What about the speed limit?" " That's up to you." "If you're caught you pay your own fine." "So if you don't think you can handle ten tonnes at that speed," " ...just say so." " What's the money?" "We work a bonus system here." "You get seven shillings a load, plus four shillings an hour." " Over what distances?" " Ten miles each way." "Twelve loads a day, minimum." "Anything under, you're fired." "That's a pretty rough pace, isn't it?" "We've got one man that does eighteen runs a day." " And what about breakdowns?" " You maintain your own lorry at night." "If you have a breakdown, it's your fault." "And, ah, we like you to keep your vehicle clean." "There's a bonus each week for the best-looking truck." "If you've got one left." "You don't like the idea?" "I like the money." "An itchy palm doesn't make a good driver." "It needs guts, confidence." "You don't inspire me." "You're looking for a sucker, aren't you, Mr Cartley?" " Lucy." " Yes, Mr Cartley?" "Phone the shop, tell him to bring round a spare truck." " The usual test run." " Yes, Mr Cartley." "Right." "You'd better not be wasting my time, that's all." "Ed, the usual." "Once over the run." "Roger." "Here, you'll want these." "You've driven one of this kind before?" "I said have you ever driven one of these before?" "Yeah." "I've been out of circulation for a little while." "Ah." "Hop in, then." "What have you been driving?" " Oh, this and that." " Oh, yeah." "Well, take a tip." "These trucks, they're light on the trigger." "You don't have to fight 'em, the way you're doing." "Loosen up a bit." "Good." "Now, here's a corner." "Now, don't check." "Let her run into it." " We're going too fast." " No, We're not, We're going dandy." "Step on it, boost her round." "Well, let her swing, let her go." "There, see?" "The brakes don't work, didn't you see?" "They failed on me." "Well, we stopped didn't we?" "Yeah, maybe they need pulling up a bit." "Go on, back up, I'll guide you." "Go on." "Back now, straight on." "Left a bit." "Now straighten up." "Pull left." "Great." "Oh, your face, all them cows!" "Yeah, well, I forgot about the brakes"!" "Wooh." "Now, you see, we get the stock from that pit field." "You bring it round on this belt, up to the ballast office." "This is the three-eight, half-inch model." "This is the quarter-inch gravel." "It's the gravel we use." " You know how to work it?" " No." "Now, get up there and level it off." "The cops like it that way." "Blimey, they've let you out today, have they, Ed?" "Aye, doctor's orders." "Ah, keep your tail down, come on." "Okay." "From now on it's the run." "I'm timing you." "Give her the gun." "Doesn't come round so friendly now she's loaded, does she?" "You gotta keep that needle north of thirty." "Every mile you get above that you can reckon on another sixpence an hour." "Drop below it and you're out of a job." "Savvy?" "Don't ease up." "Suppose we meet something?" "Supposing we don't?" "Look on the bright side." "Now, keep straight on." "Let the road look after itself." "Good for you." "Phew." "Red chasing Johnny." "Well, you didn't have to stop." "Come on, get moving." "We're losing time." "We've got a long way to go yet." "What's the matter?" "Who says anything's the matter?" "Oh, you're improving." "Now, here we are." "You've made it." "Wasn't bad, was it?" "Oi!" "Okay, tip 'er." "Nudge 'er forward a bit." "HOW did I do?" "So so." "Didn't get it, eh?" "Come on, come on." "Wooh." "What happens now?" "Home." " Ah, well, you drive." " Me?" "I can't." "The police took away me Legubin." "Hey." "Come here." "Lucy." "Come here." "Bye bye." "Lets have another look at that Legubin." "Yes, Mr Cartley." "Truck thirteen, make out a log book." "Yes, Mr Cartley." "When do I start?" "Ye--- LUCY!" "Start him tomorrow." "Cards, particulars, next of kin." "Look after him." "Yes, Mr Cartley." " Thanks." " Well, aren't you the lucky one?" "Fitter had me worried." "Ed?" "Oh, you needn't have." "I put in a good word for yer." "Yeah?" "What did you say?" "Oh, I said you were a--- friend of mine." "Why should you do that?" "Do you always know why you do things?" "Huh." "Yately, Joseph." "Same address?" "No." "I'm in between addresses now." "That's yours." "You've got Leggy's old truck." "Number thirteen." "For luck." "Got your cards with you?" "No, I--- I've been away." "I lost them." "Does Cartley know that?" "No." "Well, we won't tell him." "He's got a suspicious mind." "I'll try and get you some new ones." " Thanks." " Got anywhere to sleep?" " No." " Ask at the gate for Ma West." "All the boys stay there." "I'll do that." "Oh, by the way, there's a pull-in across the street where they eat." " Yeah?" "Oh." " Of course you might get to know some nice local girl and get invited for supper." "Do you like home cooking?" "Well, yeah, if it's good." "If I cook it, it's good." "Bye, Joe." "Ah." "I know this might sound funny, but, er everybody calls me Tom." "Bye, Lucy." "So long, Tom." "Pull!" "D'oh!" "No, no!" "Who's that fiddling with the letterbox?" "Come in or stay out, I don't care which." "I just can't pull any harder!" "Oh!" "I'm in the kitchen." "Oh, you couldn't pull your own shoelaces together." "Hullo, who are you?" "Never mind, come in and make yourself useful." "Oh, Jill, go away, you're not strong enough." "This needs a man's hand." "Come on, young fella." "Let's see how strong you are." "Well, they told me I could get a room here." "First things first, here, get hold of these and pull." " Okay." " Go on." "All right." "Nnn'uh!" "Tighter!" "Come on, you won't hurt me!" "59h!" "Om" "That's it." "Oh, that's it." "Steel, these are, young fella." "Supports me spine." "Had an accident." "How long do you want the room for?" "Oh, quite a while, I've got a job over the road." "Good enough." "Thank your mother for the groceries." "Okay, Ma." "Come on, then." "I'll show you upstairs." "That's the kitchen." "When I'm out, the door's locked." "Front door's locked at midnight." "If you're out after that, you stay out." "That's me husband." "Died in a fire twenty years ago." "Hum." "There's the bath." "That's the other place." "No scribbling." "Meals you eat out." "There's a pull-in over the way, most of the men go there." "You can have this one." "Good enough for yer?" "Yeah, how much?" "Three shillings a night." "Sixpence a bath." "Money in advance." "Okay." "Good." "Any clothes you want boiling, there's a basket in the bathroom." "I do 'em meself." "Thruppence an article." "Thank you, Mrs West." "Call me Ma." "Okay, Ma." "What do I call you?" "Tom." "All right then, Torn." "See that you wash the bath out when you finish." "Okay." "You own me ten from yesterday!" "Let me go or I'll lamp you one!" " Hands off, will yer?" "!" " You won't get away with it, Scottie." "Now, this is your lot." "Knock it off, will yer?" " Hey, look at" " Blimey!" "Ma, she's gonna hit the roof when she sees this." " Ah, Tinker, what you got there?" " What's it look like?" " A mess." " I've been after this for a month" " Now I got it." " You can have it." " No, you don't, I'm first." " That's what you think." "You're a first class driver." "Oh--!" "Here!" "Here, where d'you think you're going?" "It's ours!" "Put that name to the bottom of the list." " You fixed it, didn't yer?" "What d'you mean, me?" " Come on." " Come on, yer dirty bastard." " Get outta there." "Come on." "STOP THAT, DO YOU HEAR ME?" "!" "Go take a flying jum--!" "What did you say?" "Not you, Ma, I was talking to these tearaways." "Disturbing a gentleman in his bath." " Get out of it." " Come on, you two!" "Get upstairs to your rooms." "Kick my door and I'll kick you." "What are those?" "I gotta beautiful flowers, for a beautiful lady." "Ah, thank you Gino." " Got 'em cheap too." " Only gentleman among the lot of yer." " Thank you, Gino." " Don't mention it." " I'll go and put them in some water." "Yeah, do that." "Quick." "AND STOP THAT NOISE UP THERE!" " This place is a loony bin." " Sure." "Where else you put crazy people?" " Who is it?" " It's okay." "What are you doing here?" "Who are you?" "This is my room." "Ah, mama mia!" "You give a me a fright!" "Heh!" " You just arrive, huh?" " Yeah." "You're beaten." "I come in." "You lie there." "You say nothing." "You, uh, have a good laugh, huh?" "No." "You know, there is so much noise." "You hear the noise, ah?" "This room is empty." "I use her for, ah like a church." "You know?" "Ah." "You want to know I should move these these things." "Oh, that's okay." "Come in when you like." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, I'm sure." "Thank you." "Is better in here for me." "Some people do not understand." "They make a joke, ah?" "I don't mind, but, uh thank you." "Uh, are you driver with us?" "Yeah, starting tomorrow." "What truck they gave you?" "Number thirteen." "Legubin's." "Thirteen." "Not so good." "You know, you also have Legubin's room?" "Yeah?" "How not?" "Ha, listen the shell, the shell, ah, she never fall in the same place twice." "No, you got a very good situation here." " Ah, what are you called?" " Tom." "To all the boys, I am Gino." "Because I'm Italian, you know?" "But my real name is Manuelo" "Leggy, Legubin he was, ah, my--- my special friend." "You have friends here?" "No." "No, thanks." "You have met Red?" "No, I haven't met anyone." "He's the boss." "What we call the pace-setter, he drive like the Devil." "Legubin." "He's got truck number one." "When you see him coming you keep to the side, that is all I tell you, ah?" "Yeah, I passed him on the trial run." "He was going like he'd been fired from a rocket or something." "That is the one." "That is the one." "I'm glad that you have seen him." "Oh, our Red." "He's a special friend of yours, too?" "I hate the sight of him." "Come over to eat." "Yeah, in the pull-in over the road?" "Yeah, that's right." "Girl in the office told me." "Ah, that is Lucy." "Huh." "Funny girl, Lucy." "The boys like to make out she's, ah, what you call it, erm a hot number." "You mean she's not?" "Ah, Lucy's like plenty people." "Got to make a big impression, you know?" "Because, er, inside they are, erm they're lonely." "That is the trouble with girls today." "All the time they must, ah fight for something." "Fight, fight." "You don't like her, huh?" "I love her." "She is my girl." "Come over." "Yeah." "Okay, come on." "And I tell you something very special." "Lucy, she don't know yet, but when I go back to Italy she is going to come with me." "We're going to have our own bambini." "During the war I am prisoner here, and, uh, I like England I think then I stay forever." "But now, ah, I think different." "Bella Italia is all I want." "That and Lucy." "Small place of my own." "The sunlight, the blue sky." "Ah, the blue sky, eh?" "Ah...!" "You think she'd go with you?" "I pray she will, caro." "I pray she will." " Ah, go on!" " Get it in there, then." "Wait for it!" "YES!" "Come on, now." "I'm gonna stop playing." "Ignore him." "Come on." " One and nine, you owe me." "Come on, boys" " Grab a chair." " I'll get us some matches." "Hello." "New one, come to join us, have you?" " Yup." " What's the handle?" " Tom." " Oh, mine's Dusty." " There's Tinker." " Stinker." " Watch it!" " Father Joe." " Yeah, beautiful bonce." " Ya, ha, ha!" " Come on, Pop, wake up." " What's up?" " Pop, meet Torn." " Hello, there." " Scottie." " Hi, Tom, there's a seat goin' over here." " You can sit next to me." " Ah, no no you can't do that to the guest of honour." " You're gonna sit right next to me." " Yes, you sit here, Torn." "Hey, Dusty." "The new one always get the 'ead of the table." " You blab, I'll break yer neck." " You go on." "Look, he's gotta learn sometime ain't he?" "This our little Jill, our little darling." "Aye, treat her good and you get double portions." "Big enough to look after his self." "Maybe you're right." "Uh, my name's Tub." "Where you from, mate?" "Around." "That's up North somewhere, innit?" "Go on, can't you tell a good Welshman when you hear one?" "Cardiff, innit, mate?" "Near there." "A place called Blaenllechau." "Oh, that a horrible disease." "Nah, he's got the hiccups." "Give 'im some water." "So you're gonna join the 'ell drivers, are yer?" "He's a crack driver, I tell you." " He's come to take Red's place." " Ya, ha, ha, ha!" "Have you, have you got your coffin ordered, mate?" "Yeah, what made you decide to put an end to it all, eh?" "He's after the money." "He's saving for the blind." " Hey, Red." " Red!" "The er, water's getting cold." "One of the very best." "Th-there's no need to start anything, Red." "I'll get him to move." "Red." "Give us it over 'ere, Johnny." "As it comes?" " Yeah." " Nice and warm?" "Gino." "Er, your cigar's gone out." "My Place." "If you think you're good enough to sit in my place." "You have to prove it..." ".uh?" "Yeah." "He's as brave as the rest of yer." "Thought you were gonna see somethin' then, didn't you?" "Ah?" "Who's the Girl Guide, anyway?" " He's the new driver." " What truck's he got?" "I don't know." "Hey, Tom." "What truck you got?" " He's got Legubin's truck." " Who asked yer, spaghetti?" "Nobody asked, but I tell you anyhow." "Hah, I get it." "Him and you's pals, eh?" "Well, just watch he doesn't get in me way out on the run, that's all." "Aye, ah." "Who gets it?" "I done eighteen runs." "Who beats me?" "Don't look at me, thirteen's my lot." "Minimum twelve." "No, chicken done it." "Fifteen, me." "You're still safe." " Fourteen." " Twelve." "Lucky to get that." "Me pressure pump's up the spout." " Fifteen." " Ah, stinking fourteen." "Hey, Pop, you passed me about a dozen times today." "How many runs did you do?" "Look at him." "Blind, deaf, and twice a granddad." " Hm?" "How many runs d'you do?" " Oh, urn, seventeen." " Seven--?" "!" " Hello." " Er, Red you ain't gonna keep that thing much longer." "Is gold, that case." "Here, let the new boy have a look at it." "Look at that, ain't that Legubin?" "Feel the weight of it." "Solid gold." "Ain't that a beaut?" "Do more runs that Red in a day and she's yours." "He's the pace-setter, see?" "He keeps us on the ball." "That's solid twenty-two carat gold." "Worth two hundred and fifty quid." "Oh, two hundred and fifty quid." "Just think what you could do with that!" "Eh, boys, Red's overslept!" "It's anybody's case today!" " Come on!" " Lets go!" "Get off there." "COME ON, GET BACK!" " What's going on over there?" " Oh, Pop's trying to beat Red's time." "Fine chance he's got." "What's he wanna give way for?" "If he don't, he'll have his front stove in an' he'll be off the road for two days." "HEY, RED!" "'URRY UP." "THE SUN'S FADING ME PAINTWORK." "Hey, Tom." "Where you been?" "I look for you, you are not in to supper." "Ah, I'm working on a sick truck." "Jill, you got some sandwiches for me and Ed?" "I'll see what there is." "'Ey, Torn two guys come looking for you." "In a car." "They go away." " Me?" " Yah, at Ma West's." "Who were they?" "What'd they look like?" "I don't know." "I don't see them." "Ma West yell upstairs." "But you are not there." "I see them drive away in a big car, from the window." "Gino, you doing anything tonight?" "I wait for Lucy now." "Take her to see the Italian picture at the Playhouse." "Why, ah, you like perhaps I should do something for you?" "No, it's okay." " You tell me what you" " No, it's okay." "Do you know Chick Keithley?" " Hi." " Hi." "Gino, anybody get the case today?" "The case?" "Ha, ha." "Fat chance." "That's all I wanna know." "Now, listen, Torn." "This is crazy." "I see you try to beat Red today." "Don't do it." "You listen to me." "Don't try it." "So long as he uses a short cut, it's not possible." "Short out'?" "Why don't we all use it?" "Because we are not pazzo like Red, that's why." " You know the quarry, ah?" " Yeah." "Is very dangerous to drive fast there." "If you drive slow, is no longer a short cut." "Is a long cut, hah!" " Well, have you tried it?" " Yah, we all try." "Leggy tried." "He was the last." "We don't go there no more." "I see." "But Red only drives a truck, just like you and me." " Here you are, Torn." " Ah, thanks." "Ham and cheese." "We've got some chicken in the refrigerator, if you'd like." " No, this is fine." " No coffee?" " No." "Bye." " Goodnight, Torn." " Tom." " Yeah?" "Don't try it, ah?" "You listen to Gino." "Jill, you falling for that guy or somethin'?" "I never saw you smile so sweet since we met." "Well, well, where've you been, on a picnic?" "Yeah." "We, er, we had champagne." "Well, just fancy." "There was I thinking of inviting you for supper." "Thanks." "Yeah, well, I've got to get back to work." "Work?" "This time of the night?" "You act as if you're running away from a wife or something." "I'm working on a truck." "There doesn't always have to be a woman in it." "Well, it's usually either that or money, isn't it?" "Is it?" "Of course I may be wrong, and I'm willing to learn." "Why don't you get in and tell me all about it?" "I just love life stories." "Gino's waiting for you in there, remember?" "You think I'm flinging myself at you, don't you?" "You're giving a pretty fair imitation." "What else is wrong with me?" "You wanna know?" "Yeah." " Hi, muscles." " Hi, Lucy." "Hello, boys." " Yeah, were are you going?" " Hey, Lucy." "Tom." "What are you doing here?" "Lucy, we got to hurry, or we miss the picture." "Hey, you want to knock off and come with us?" " Lucy won't mind." " No, I haven't finished the truck." " Ah." " Gino." "Ah?" "I'm gonna take that gold cigarette case from Red." " You can help me." " Huh, Tom I told you, don't do it." "Red is pazzo, he don't let anyone take the case." "He's only a--- how you say?" "A carrot for us donkeys." "And I'm a donkey." " Tom!" " Gino!" "Wait a minute." "Torn, how long you been driving ballast?" " You know how long." " Let it go." "Red been driving it for twelve years." "He knows all the tricks." "You don't." "So you don't wanna help me." "Tom." "All right, huh, I'm with you." "But what do you want me to do?" "I'll tell you tomorrow morning." "Thanks, Gino." "Enjoy the picture." "It's like, like, ah, poison in the blood, this thing." "They all get it." "I will try to see he don't get hurt." "He's a nice boy, ah?" "You like him?" " He's all right." " Ah, he's my friend." "You must be nice to him." "Ah, carissima, you look so, ah ah, you look so pretty tonight." "Come, I drive." "Move over" "Gino, I don't feel like a film tonight." "Especially one of those foreign ones." "Oh, no?" "Oh, it's too bad." "Ls the last night for it." "Huh." "I don't get much chance to, uh, hear my own people talking." "Hey Johnny, come on, 'urry up." "Where're we going?" "Huh?" "Oh, I don't know." "Let's just go somewhere and have a drink, huh?" "All right." "Whatever you say." "Here, we go and, uh, we talk, ah?" "Ah, you don't know yet, but, er, I think I got a surprise for you." "About you and me." "Tonight I tell you." "Er, Gino." "If you really want to go and see the picture...?" "You change your mind again?" "Let's go and see the picture." "Whatever you say, carissima." "COME ON, HARRY!" " What's your hurry?" " Come on, shake it up." "Anybody'd think you're fond of work!" "Get out of it!" "He works very 'ard don't 'e?" "Yeah." " Go ahead, boy." " Yeah." "Come on!" "Get out of it, come on!" "Get out of it." "Look at that." "Red's gettin' some of his own medicine." "Ah, he'll never get away with it." "Hey, Red, how do you like you're own medicine?" "HEY, GINO, GET OUTTA ME WAY!" "That's how it's gonna be, huh?" "HEY, GINO!" " Hey, Torn." " What happened?" "It don't matter." "Get on." " Gino, you all right?" " Ah-ha." "What happened?" "Gino, what's the matter..." " ...with your leg?" " Ooh." "Ah, just a shake-up." "It don't matter, I tell you, get on, go on." "You got a tow chain?" "I've got one." "YAH!" "Hey, Tom!" "Get going, you got to beat him!" "Thanks, Fred." "How much is that?" "Seventeen shillings, Miss Lucy." "Ah." "Oh-oh, Torn, could you lend me a couple 0' bob until tomorrow?" "I'm short." "Oh, yeah, sure." "Thanks a lot." "Thank you very much." "I, uh, I see on the progress report that you didn't break any records today." "Ah, Gino went off the road, I had to help him." "Oh, is he all right?" "I guess so." "He's gone to bed, he doesn't feel too good." "Well, does he need anything?" "No, I don't think so." "He hurt his leg, got shaken up." "He wants to sleep it off." "Yeah?" "That means he won't be taking me to the dance tonight." "Ah, that's too bad." "Very selfish of him." "Oh, I didn't mean it like that." "In what way did you mean it?" "You know, you've got a nasty habit." "Yeah, I got lots of them." "Which one are you talking about?" " I could like you if" " Look nobody's asking you to like me." "You're Gino's girl." "Ever thought of asking me that?" "Look, Gino's my pal." "You're not pulling this kind of thing on him, not with me you're not." "Don't talk to me like that!" "Gino's my friend, too..." " ...and a good friend, and that's all." " Well, treat him like one." "Y'know, the way you act anyone'd think you're the only girl in this town." "I'll give you some fags." "That right, you done seventeen runs today?" "Yeah." "That's pretty close, eh, Red?" "Ah, what about it?" "Pop's done better than that drivin' solo." "If you and spaghetti try any more of them stop tactics on me I'll show you a thing or two you haven't even heard about." "The trouble is, when I teach them, it's the the hard way." "Maybe afterwards you won't be in any condition to use them." "You understand me?" "Yeah, I think so." "Here, where is old spaghetti, anyway?" "He's in bed." "Somebody side-swiped him today." "That's what you two was doing in that ploughed field, is it?" "Thought you'd stopped to have a kip." "If you saw us, why didn't you give us a hand?" "Our job's ballast, not breakdowns." "The recovery people don't like it, either." "If they heard what you did today ah, you'd wake up wearing their footprints." "Why, is somebody gonna write to them about it?" " What?" " I said is somebody gonna" "All right, I heard yer." "What you tryin' to do, be funny?" "D'you know, I don't like your attitude." "You've got a chip on your shoulder." " You think so?" " Yeah." "If I was to knock it off your head might go with it." "Well, I'm the last man who'd wanna walk around without a head." "Hah?" "That's better!" "Here, now, get a hold of this, will yer..." "I, I got two jobs here, see?" "I'm the pace-setter, and the road foreman." "That means I'll be watchin' yer from two directions at once." "To beat yer on the road and to beat yer down, when you get out of line." "I'm not looking for trouble." "Unless I'm pushed." "Even if you're pushed." " Hey, Tom!" " Over here, Red." "You going to the dance tonight, Torn?" "Yeah, I was just gonna ask you." "We're all going in Johnny's car after you've finished eating." "Do you like my skirt?" "Yeah." "Sensational." "Jill?" "Excuse me." "Hello, Red." "You boys gonna behave yourselves tonight?" "Right on, Chas." " My dance." " Oh!" "But I can't." " Shall we sit this one out?" " Yes, dear." " You busy?" " Well, I'm waiting for someone." "Then you're not busy." "Excuse me, sonny." " Remember me last week?" " No." "I'll remind you." "You're not married, are you?" "No." "Are you?" "Silly." "I like you." "You're real dry." "Hey, Dusty." "Over 'ere." "Hello, how'd you make out?" "Red." "All right." "There's a bird sitting over there, remember your table manners." "Where are all the seats?" "What am I, an orphan?" "All right, here y'are." "Sit down." "Wo-ho, he's on to us!" " Hey, hey." " Hey, cut it out." "Fellas, fellas!" "Look." "It can't be." " It is, it's Lucy." " Done up like a dog's dinner." " Great Scott!" " Hello, Boys." " Look at that." " It's suddenly awfully hot in here." "Where've you been keeping that dress all our lives, eh?" "Mind if I join you?" " Mind?" "!" " I've been keeping this place..." " ...'specially for you." " Yeah any fella tries to takes you away from us..." " ...we'll fix him, won't we, fellas?" " Yeah!" "Lucy, you make the rest of the bunch here look like hyenas!" "'Ere, get your plates of meat off..." " ...get the lady a seat, will yer?" " Call yourself a gentleman?" " Your ladyship!" " Oh!" "Thanks, Tink." " Oohh!" " Now look what you've done!" "He'll live." "I wanna thank you boys for all calling round to pick me up." "Well, we thought you was coming with Gino, Lucy." "Jill, do you wanna dance?" "Oh, you kids go ahead and dance." "Don't mind poor little me." " Lucy, Lucy, dance with me!" " No!" "No!" "Get out of it!" "Hey, remember me?" "Having fun?" "Yeah, fine, and you?" "So so." "There's a big brute I want to dance with and he won't ask me." "That's too bad." "What are you trying to prove?" "That you're somebody's best friend?" " Now, look" " Why don't you get it into your thick skull that I'm not anybody's girl and I'm not married!" "Gino's a sweet guy." "He's in a strange country." "I was just trying to be nice to him." "Do I have to suffer for that?" "If you don't like it, that's your problem." "I don't want to be the one that puts him out, that's all." "Come on, let's dance." "Come on." " Let's dance." " I'm, I'm waiting for Tom." "On second thoughts, I think I will." "I just can't imagine what's happened to my boyfriend." "I sent him for a bottle of coke about half an hour ago." "P'haps he thought you said "bucket of coke"." "You're very humorous." "Tom." "Don't tell me you don't feel the same way as I do." "What're you trying to do?" "I'm human too, you know." "It's not fair, if two people feel the same way about each other what's wrong with admitting it?" "I suppose you're the type who'd like to see two men shooting it out over you." "Ah!" "So long as you win." "Ah, damn." "I don't know what it is." "It's not gonna work, Lucy." "It's got to work." "Are you crazy?" "You don't know anything about me." "I know." "I just love finding out." "I'm not kidding, this is a nerve test." " Really?" " A test for steady nerves." " Oh." " Steady 'ands." "Ah, you know you'll never drive a truck if..." " ...you can't hold these like this." " Oh!" " Here we go." " Oh, you're not gonna burn me?" "!" "Oh!" "Careful!" "Steady!" "Oh." "Now this is where it comes very important." "You've gotta hold still now." " Are yer ready?" " Yeah." ""Happy Birthday to you." " Oh - you." " Where've you been?" " Where've I been?" "I was told my old man wanted to see me in the pub opposite." " Wasn't he there?" " No, he wasn't." "So I looked in all the pubs just to make sure." "That's funny." "Must've been some other Bill I was told to look for." "Yeah, maybe you invented the whole story so you can walk off with my girl?" "That's right." "You've had a good drink, now insult me." "A man of my position, taking care of your girl." "You're lucky I didn't charge her for me time." "Piece-work rates!" " Excuse me." " Oh, sure." "Oh, no, you don't." "Not this time." "Look, I said "excuse me" once." "Do you mind?" " Drop dead..." " Bill, please." "...somewhere we won't fall over yer." "I said let go of her." " She's my girl, and I was..." " Oh, Bill!" " ...dancing with her." " Now, look, boy." "Steady." "This is only a joke, don't get rough." "Why don't you buzz off?" "We let you truck drivers use our hall and all you do is muck up our evening." " Yeah...!" " Ask anyone here they'll tell you the same thing." "We're sick and tired of the lot of you." " Hey, Red." " YEAH?" "There's a bloke 'ere says 'im and 'is mates are sick an' tired of us." "Ah, ask him what he's gonna do about it." "Hey Torn, Scottie, Johnny." "Come on!" " Yeah." " Now then, Red, no trouble." "No trouble, please." "Get the police immediately." " HIT THEM!" " Too late." " Red, the cops!" " Blow the cops." "You get stuck in." "Come on!" "HEY!" "Come back, yellow belly!" "Come back, you." "Hey!" "COME BACK, YELLOW BELLY!" "HEY, YOU." "WE'RE COMIN' UP." "BETTER SAY YOUR PRAYERS." "COME OUT, YOU!" "COME OUT, YELLOW!" "COME ON, NOW!" "Stop that!" "Stop that this instant, do you hear?" " But we all get" " Red it's between us and yellow belly." " Here, beat it!" " I don't care what you want." "Now just hold back a bit, will you." "Get back to your rooms this minute." " I'll lay into you with this poker." " All right." " Don't worry, we'll be seeing him..." " All right, yellow belly." "...tomorrow." "How many of those green sweets can you get for a penny?" " Three." " Ah." "Here, you'll like these." " BATTERED BRAZILS!" " OH, BOY!" " You've got more than half." " No, I haven't." "Yes, you have." "Come back, you dirty little rat." " I'll get you for this!" " Ha, ha!" "That's what you think." "How about a packet of fags?" " On credit." " Huh!" "Tom!" "Huh, Tom!" " Oh!" "Oh, Tom." " Jim." "You all right?" "I'm all right." "How are you?" "Ah, huh!" "Oh, you look marvellous." "We heard you were out." " Where you been?" " Oh, what do you mean?" " Don't you read my letters?" " Letters?" "What letters?" "How's Mam?" "I, I thought I'd try to get here while she was in church." "Oh, Torn." "Mam wouldn't keep your letters from me." "Jimmy, the shop looks good." "How's business?" "You know this neighbourhood, Tom." "We've been paying our way." "So far." "Any of the boys still come round, Jimmy?" "Oh, yeah." "For cigarettes, you know." "How are the legs, kid?" "Just the same, Torn." "Excuse me, Tom." "Morning, Mrs Lipton, what'll it be?" "Good morning, Jimmy." "I want a pound of sausages." "Myrtle's bringing her young man to dinner so I've got to make the Sunday roast stretch a bit!" " Anything else?" " No, thank you." "That'll be three shillings, please, Mrs Lipton." "Oh dear, up again, aren't they?" "Oh, well, maybe Myrtle'll be off our 'ands before long." " Remember me to your mother." " I will." " Bye." " Bye, Mrs Lipton." "Thank you." "How was it--- inside, Torn?" "Ah, bad, Jimmy." "I can't ever let that happen to me again." "I can't be tied down." "I know what you mean." "Killed me, Jimmy, knowing what I did to you." "It was an accident." "I never blamed you." "Yeah." "It's more than just making it up to you, Jimmy." "I gotta make the grade for once." "The right way." "Do you know what I mean?" "Yeah, I know, Torn." " I took a job." " What are you doing?" " Driving." " Driving again!" "Huh." "Not what you think." "Listen, Jimmy - it's tough when you come out." "There's only the lousiest jobs and no money, and nobody wants you, so well, I took this one." "Well, as long as you're behind the wheel, you can go anywhere." " I'm driving ballast, Jimmy." " Oh...!" "It's tough but, well - it's good money." "There's even a little solid-gold bonus waiting for me at the end of it." "Jimmy." "Look, I want you to have this." "It's not much, but I've only been working a couple of weeks." " No, Tom, I can't take it." " Take it, will you?" "No, please, I" "Hello, Mam." "What's that." "Ma, take it easy." "Tom's just tryin' to help us." "Take it back." "Why should I?" "It's Jimmy's money, I gave it to him." "I make the money that comes into this house." "And I make it honestly, with the sweat of my brow." "Maybe it's not much, but what there is, is clean." "Well, this is clean, too." "Oh, look, Mam, we've got to have a talk." "Nothing you ever touched was clean." "Ma, Tom's tryin' to help us." "He's got an honest job, he's" " I don't believe it." " Let him finish." "Will you let him finish?" "Look, Mam, you've got to forget the past." "It's not past!" "It's here, all the time." "I live with it." "For you, it was just a year in jail." "For Jim and me, it's a life sentence." "Him stuck in the shop all day, never going out." "I KNOW ALL THAT, MA!" "Tom." "Look, Mam." "I'm only trying to put things right." " How can I make you see?" " I'm not listening." "Tom." "Mam." "Mam." "Please give him a chance." "You and him." "Always the same." "He led, you followed." "I wish you were still inside." "Oh, Mam, no." "All right, Mam." "I'm gonna have to draw a picture." "Don't worry, kid." "Maybe it'll work out." "TOM!" "TOM." "Well, what're you waiting for, yellow belly?" "All right, boys." "On the road." "Eighteen today." "Who gets it?" " Not me." " Nah." "Thirteen, I done." " No good." " 'Ere, Dust, pass the other one." "You got enough bread in that?" " Fill this out, Tink." " Righto, Luce." "G. Redman, eighteen." "Fill this out, Red, please." "Joe Yately, eighteen." " Eighteen?" "Aye, aye." " Yes, he went over the quarry today, I saw him." " He's brave." " Oh, another brave one, eh?" " Hello, Gino." " Hi." "E. Rossi." "Fourteen." "See you tonight." "Miracle." "Magnifico." "How you do this thing, Tom?" "Is a miracle." "Yeah." "It's a miracle somebody didn't get killed." "Ah, Tom, today you proved to me that you are a great driver." "I know you can beat Red." "But everybody is against you." "If you had a clear road - erh!" "Yeah." "If I had a clear road." "Tom." "The money, tomorrow." "I see you get it." " How." " We will change plates, ah?" "You take my number plates." "It's number three." "I put your number thirteen on my truck." "Then for me the boys make all the trouble." "For you there is the clear road." "You like Gino's idea?" "Ah, you, you be number three." " Yeah, but Gino" " No buts." "After, finito." "Finish here." "You go north, look for a good job." "I go south." "You take the gold case, I take Lucy." "Va bene?" "Va bene, pal." "Something stinks around here, don't it?" "Maybe you ought to change your socks?" " Ah, quick as a whip, ain't we?" " "As a wop", you mean." "Watch your tongue, Scotch boy." "Oh, dear, dear, we're getting tough, eh?" "Yeah, tough as macaroni." "Hey, Gino, somethings wrong here." "Huh?" "Twenty-four pound deduction." "What advance you take?" "Four." "Five tax, uh." "No, it's wrong, this." " We see about it." " Buzz off." "There's other fellas waitin' to get paid." "He's got all he's gonna get." "No, no, it's not at all, there's been a mistake." "There's no mistake." "What do you know about it?" " You, I'm talking to you." " I'm, ah not talkin' to the yellow belly." "If he wants to find out why his pay was stopped, ask Ed." " Ed?" " Yeah." "His stuff he wrecked." " Who put this on Torn?" " You mean on yellow belly?" "Me." "I'm the road foreman." "Yeah." "And that's not all you are." "What else am I?" "You're scum." "Ha!" "COME ON, RED!" " Go on, Red!" " Come on, then, Red." " Go on then, get in there!" " Wait a minute..." " ...'e'll bloody murder 'im!" " Go on." "All right, take him." " Huh!" " GO ON, RED!" "Take him, that's it, come on!" "Come on, Red, take him!" "Come on, Red!" "Come on, Red!" " Come on!" " Come on in there!" " Hit 'im!" " Come on, Red!" " On yer feet." " Come on, Red." " Give it to 'im." " Go on, you can do it." " Come on, Red." " Come on." "Sort 'im out." " Take him, come on." " Come on, Red!" "Go on, Red, give it your best." "ARGH!" "Go on, Red, you've got 'im now, good boy, good boy!" "Go on, Red." "Go on." "Give him a head!" "Hey, Torn!" "The assistant manager!" " Come on, straighten up." " What the devil's going on here?" "Oh, er, it's nothing sir, ah a test of strength, ah?" "A bet, nothing." "Nothing?" "Fighting like animals?" " Gibson, why didn't you stop them?" " Well you see" "D'ah!" "You'll pay this damage, both of you." "Got your pay." "Get out." "Go on, get out, all of you." "Once more and it'll be for good." "As for you - you're a foreman." "You're supposed to keep discipline." "I may be a foreman, but I'm not a prison warder." "You think I don't know you just done a spell?" "How can I keep discipline if we're hiring convicts?" "All right, you know." "What are you gonna do about it?" "Is nothing to do with us, sir." "He already paid once for what he done." "He told me." "Mm." "I'll have to check with Mr Cartley in the morning." " Right." " Come on, Red." "Well, he can look after himself, that boy, no doubt about it." "Come on, I'm hungry." "You better come and lie down, ah?" "No, I gotta work." "Ah, this looks bad, you'd better come and get cleaned up anyway." "You all right, Red?" "Yeah." " He kneed me." " Yeah." " You saw what happened." " Sure." "Otherwise I'd 'a killed him." "Here." "Hey." "Oh, well." "Goodnight." "Mailbags." "Hello." "What do you want?" "I hear you're eating in the village by yourself these days." " How's that?" " I like it that way." "I heard what they're saying." "Is it true?" "Yeah." "It's true." "And I wasn't framed, and nobody talked me into anything." "And the judge didn't give me a raw deal." "Happy?" "You still have an invitation to eat at my place." " Where's Gino?" " We're through." "What have you done to him?" "I told him the truth." "I told him I liked him, but I'm not in love with him..." " ...and I never was." " You had no right to do that." "Whose right is it?" "Gino?" "Gino, are you awake?" "Gino." "Gino, I want to talk to you." " London, one way." " The early's gone, mate, that was it." " Nine thirty-five, the next." " All right, let's have it." "Don't you characters ever say "please"?" "Here." "Excuse me." " Hello." " Hello, Jimmy?" " Tom." " Hello, boy." "Listen, Jimmy, if uh, Topper or Mack or any of the boys come round tell 'em to get in touch with Sammy O'Dea." "Sammy O'Dea?" "Are are you sure you've" "Leave me alone, Jimmy I know what I'm doing." "Tell Sammy I'll be around at Harry's place about" "About three o'clock, all right?" "Okay, Tom." "Whatever you say." "Okay, Jimmy, boy." "Oh, Tom, thank God, I've been searching everywhere." "Ma West said she thought you'd gone" " Go away, I'm leaving." " You don't understand, it's Gino!" " Will you leave me alone?" " It's Gino, his truck hit a tree and caught fire and he's very badly burned" " Fire?" " You've got to come to the hospital..." " ...right away!" "Please!" " Come on." "What are they doing in there?" "Why don't they ever tell you something?" "Tom, maybe maybe I ought to go." "Maybe seeing me'll just upset him." "I know, Lucy, but look, you've gotta see him, and tell him what I told you to tell him." "Yes, all right." "I'll, I'll do whatever you want me to." "But--- you've got to stop blaming us." "At least yourself." " What happened would've" " I know what happened." "You don't know everything!" "Tom, listen." "This set up is a racket." "Cartleys and Reds, they don't care how many of you are killed as long as they can split their extra two hundred every week." "Why do you think they specialise in hiring drifters like you and Gino who let themselves be hustled for money?" "But how do they make that kind of money?" " We get good pay." " Not all of it." "Tom, Listen." "The head office pays basic salary for five more drivers than Cartley runs." "Red paces a short-handed crew to meet the contract." "The cash for five drivers never even reaches our pay window." "Did you tell Gino about this?" "Look, are you sure about" "These are friends of his, Doctor." "You can see him." "Er" "How" " How is he, Doc?" "If you've anything to say to him, you'd better say it--- now." "It's Lucy, sweet." "Lucy and Torn." "Ammo." "I wa-I was, I was leaving when--- when I heard what happened." "I was on the railway station, wasn't I, Lucy?" "Yes." "Gino, it was you she wanted." "All the time." "She's your girl, Gino." "Here, you, you tell him, Lucy." "No." "No." "You are right for each other." "Be happy - together." "Ah, Tom." "Torn, ah you take care a' my Lucia." "And one day..." "You take her to Italy." "Ah?" "Va bene?" " No, Gino, you" " Torn." "I drew them off." "Like we plan." "For... for you to win." "Hah, they're crazy." "You don't even come." "Huh." "You--- you changed the number plates?" "And they, they thought you were me?" "I was, uh, number thirteen." "Huh." "Who was it Gino'?" "Was it Red?" "Gi" "Wait outside a moment, would you, please?" "They" "Oh, Oh, my God." "Eddie, take the recovery truck and get out there right away." "Write off or no write off, she'll be good for some spares." "Okay." " COOPER?" " Yeah?" "Isn't this Red's truck?" "What's he doing in?" "Only fuel." "He's losing it somewhere." " I'll fix it tonight." " All right." "He'll be out in a minute." "LUCY!" "Oh, that..." "What are you doing in here?" "Get off my desk." "Gino's dead." "Ah." "That's bad luck." "You" " You helped to kill him, Cartley." "I'll pretend I didn't hear that." "I think you'd better get out before you say something you might regret." "About the money you and Red are grabbing by running us short-handed?" "Yeah." "I know all about it." "Oh." "You do now." "I see." "Well, if you know so much." "Why don't you go and report it somewhere?" "Because that way you'll only get nicked." "And that's too good for you, Cartley." "Why, you cheap lag." "You think that I don't know that you've been driving without a licence?" "How long do you think you'll stay out with your record?" "Then we'll do time together." "And I'm used to it." "I'm giving you a week to pay, Cartley." " One week." " Now listen, where're you going?" "You want loads, Cartley, you'll get them." "But from now on, we're getting all the money that's coming to us." "Every penny of it." "Listen, Yately." "Now, listen, wait a minute, damn you!" "Now, look here." "You're a clever boy and a grand driver." "I've seen it all along." "I can get you a corner on this." "It'll double your wages." "A lot better than a bonus." "TOM, LISTEN!" "Listen, Tom." "I can make things much easier for you here." "Okay." "Then I'll take over number one." "It's better than that junk you gave me." "All right, all right!" "If you want it that way it can be arranged." "But lets talk about it first." "No, Cartley." "I don't want you and Red for partners." "You're not my type." "Oh, now you're being unreasonable." "Tell Red I'm after him." "Tell him I don't have any proof yet that he smashed Gino but one day he'll show his hand." "And I'll smash him." "HEY!" "HEY!" "Hey, what's that Mac doin' in my truck?" " Why didn't you stop him?" " Stop him?" "Huh!" "He knows." "That slut must have told him." "He's taken your job and your truck." "He says he's gonna get yer for killing Rossi." "He is, eh'?" "Rossi's dead?" "R0ssi's dead, yes." "And we're in big trouble." "You'd better get after him quick, now." "There's number three." " How about you?" " I'll back you up." "You will, eh?" "You're comin' with me." "I want a witness in case anything goes wrong." "I'm sick of takin' all the risks." " Now, don't be a fool." " I said you're comin'." " That means you're comin'." " Red." "Red." "All right!" "What are you going this way for?" "I know what I'm doin'." "But he's gone to the ballast pit." "And where does he go after that?" "Well, what are you doing with number one?" "Lam number one." "We're here." "He's taking it slow." "Tom came in." " Is he in the office?" " No, he went back out on the run." "I think he's in for it, too." "He took number one truck." " What?" " Red and Mr Cartley gone after him..." " ...in number three." " Oh, no!" "Open the gate, Harry." " Red" " Shh." " Red." "Maybe we ought to" " Ah?" "This is cold blood." "It's murder." "I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS!" "LET ME GET OUT OF HERE!" " Ah, sit tight." " RED!" "Sit tight." "YOU'VE GOT HIM." "Oh, we haven't." " What's wrong?" " Brakes." "$0!" "TOM!"