Shooting the Past (1999) s01e02 Episode Script

First of all, clearly, I don't have a video camera.
The only time in my life it would have helped having one.
It seems a bit bloody late to buy one, this being the last afternoon of my life.
So why the hell should you be interested in a chubby man wearing a cardie talking into an old tape machine? Because what hit me with such a wallop, and it was a wallop, could happen to anyone, has happened to a lot of people.
Anybody who suddenly loses their job or house or business, or has somebody promoted above them.
Anybody who knows how that feels, this is for you.
(humming "Bless Your Beautiful Hide") I've got to tell him.
I have to tell him.
They've all gone at last, have they? Yes.
For the moment.
And the world's returned to normal? Not quite.
See? We stood our ground and here we are.
Oswald, I've got another week out of them to try to find a home for the entire collection.
Terrific! We'll give it a crack.
Race against time.
It'll be exciting.
But there's a condition.
They want you to leave the building and not come back.
Is that what they said? Yes.
You didn't agree to this, of course.
Yes.
I had to.
You agreed to me being banished? That's being ridiculously over dramatic.
Banished! May I ask why? Well, why do you think, Oswald? Tell me.
You got up their nose.
I did warn you, but you took no notice.
Up their nostrils? I'm glad.
It would have worked splendidly if you hadn't done what they wanted.
Well, you know I don't agree with that.
So I mustn't set foot in this place again.
No, you mustn't.
Attack! That's my advice when put in this situation.
Full frontal attack.
Do the one thing they least want you to do.
(singing "Trumpet Voluntary") Hello, Molly.
Oh, Mr Oswald.
Orange Juice, please.
Just orange.
Hm.
And an apple.
Morning, everyone.
Am I a little late? No big fry up for me today.
No! It's a new world, so a new diet.
So, to work.
Thank you.
What are you doing here? I considered their request carefully and reJected it.
Oswald, leave immediately.
You're putting the whole thing at risk and making me look idiotic.
I gave them my assurance you'd be off the premises.
Let me tell you something, Marilyn.
You may think that this is childish and irresponsible, OK, but you won't manage it without my help.
I am not arguing about that.
You don't know what's happening out there.
We'll see about that.
I told you you could help me from outside.
If you ask me to leave, you won't get that help.
You won't reach me on the phone or get me at my house.
You'll never get help from me! That's ridiculous.
Things are never simple.
It would be simple for me to say, "Fine, I'll be a good boy.
" Wait patiently for you to tell me if you've succeeded.
But you know if I go home now, I will never get re hired anywhere.
You know that.
I don't know any such thing.
Don't lie to me, Marilyn.
Well, since we're talking about lying.
I've seen the letters, Oswald, the ones you said didn't exist.
Why didn't you tell me about them? The extraordinary thing about me Shall I tell you what the extraordinary thing about me is? You haven't answered the question.
Despite what I look like, despite being a shaggy, irritating prat, I know how the world works, OK? OK? If you say so.
I'm also saying, and I don't care how over the top it sounds, you will always regret it, always, if you ask me to leave.
Well I'm asking you to leave.
Fine.
Could you? That is, er That is the worst decision you've ever made.
No, I'm absolutely fine.
I've gone! I've left.
Oswald Marilyn, you have no idea what kind of a hash you're going to make of this.
And what harm you're going to do to yourself.
Why am I making such a terrible scene? That will soon become clear.
Now, watch this.
I don't flounce out.
Never, ever, flounce out.
Busy? Good.
If they fire you, no stomping about.
"You can't treat people like thisl" Et cetera.
It just makes them think they were right to get rid of you.
No clutching at faint straws.
"We may be re hiring in the future.
" Just say bollocks to that.
And absolutely no dignified silences.
They're a complete and utter waste of time.
No, what you have to do is leave a lingering taste.
A lingering feeling of doubt.
Just thought I'd check how you're doing.
How I'M doing? Mm.
Are you keeping an eye on these nutty characters while your boss is off doing more important things? You could be right.
I'm very similar to that machine, you know.
You are? Yes.
I think that's true.
It would be interesting for me to take it on.
My memory against its.
I'm good at fuzzy logic, making connections.
I'd be able to beat it at fuzzy logic.
Of course, my database doesn't need constantly updating.
It does it automatically.
Clearly, I'm not as easy to carry around, though.
Though I'm working on that.
So, Marilyn starts.
I don't think she believed a single word I said.
First, she tried the obvious people, our clients, people we do regular business with.
Television companies, universities, film makers, newspapers, other collections.
Can she even get them on the phone? He's in a meeting.
Can you let him know who's calling? I'll tell him when he's out of the meeting.
Could you let him know now I'm on the phone? It's quite important.
He's just gone into the meeting.
I'll give him the message.
He'll get back to you.
How long will he be in his meeting? Well, he's just gone in.
Oh, I've with the eight hour time difference, we're ahead of schedule! maybe before he goes to the airport.
What's your name again? Margaret what? And when she gets somebody on the phone.
I'm sorry, it's really not for us.
Not a practical proposition.
We've just acquired 30,000 pictures.
What can we do with another ten million? The market's flooded.
Everyone's selling.
But this collection is unique.
Every collection's unique, Marilynl It's best to get somebody in to cream off your best pictures.
You do still have them? The Man Ray and the rest? A terrible thought hits her.
She doesn't know whether the Americans are holding on to those pictures or not, whether they're for sale with everything else.
She forgot to make that a condition of her deal.
Without those pictures, she hasn't got a chance.
Haven't let them go, have you? I've taught her one good thing to lie, when there's nowhere else to go.
And to lie well.
No, we've still got those.
Absolutely.
They're our crown Jewels, after all.
And we could do a very good price, which would include everything.
Marilyn, you will never get anybody to take that sprawling collection.
Nothing works like that any more.
Save yourself the heartache and strip it out.
Take no notice of that.
That might be her now.
She's been ringing me all the time.
Because she's on her own now.
I'm sure he tried to call you.
He didn't.
Is he there now? He's in a meeting.
Can you tell him that it's me on the line and that it's urgent.
In fact I'll hold until he's out of the meeting.
Just hang on a minute.
I'm afraid he's not in the building.
You said he was.
He's in a meeting out of the building.
Rubbish.
Can you tell him I will hold? He will call you.
It is Christmas, you know.
I know it's bloody Christmas! Don't look at me like that.
I know it's not the greatest idea to start shouting.
Can I suggest something? Naturally.
Don't sound so keen (!) I'll listen to anything, Spig.
Celebrity.
What do you mean? Fame.
Celebrity.
I know what celebrity means! You have to have a bit of celebrity around.
Nothing happens any more without it.
What? We get a famous actor in to ring round for us? No.
Of course I don't mean something as dumb as that.
I took the liberty of collecting these.
I Just want you to look at them for a moment without asking me anything.
Let them come at you.
Don't say a single thing.
Just experience them.
Well? What do you think? Wasn't it great? Yes.
Surprised you picked these, Spig.
Most were from before you were born.
I'm not completely ignorant, you know.
I've picked up something from being here.
They're all available somewhere else.
Doesn't matter.
We've got 'em here and we really need media interest.
That would be good, of course.
We use celebrity.
We say we've got these famous people here.
Photos to die for.
What's more, famous people come here.
But they don't.
Film directors have come here for movies, doing their research.
We had that Spanish Italian production about General Franco.
Won't make the "Nine O'Clock News"! We lie.
We exaggerate.
Who's gonna know? We say Hollywood directors have come here.
Who's to tell? It's not exactly my special area, Spig, Hollywood directors.
I could coach you, Marilyn.
If you'd listen, I could teach you.
Well, we did a story about a theatre in Clapham the other week.
We don't like to do too many heritage stories.
It's become a bit of a cliche for local TV.
But you say Hollywood film directors use your collection? You did say that, didn't you? Yes, we have all sorts.
Including Hollywood directors, yes.
Like who, for instance? Like Steven Spielberg Spielberg? Really? Did he come in person? In person? Yes, I believe he did.
Actually, we have a rather wonderful collection of photos of celebrities here.
Almost anybody famous in the 20th century.
Amazing pictures of London, too.
It would be a very visual item for a local news programme.
So do you have any anecdotes about Mr Spielberg's visit to use? Anecdotes? Yes.
Did he have a favourite picture? Favourite picture? Mr Spielberg? Hello? Are you still there? I think his favourite was, um I think it was of his home town.
His home town? That's a surprise.
Hm.
L I see.
And have you had any stars down there with you? Stars? Oh, yes, we have a little queue of them outside the door each morning (!) I've got another call coming in.
Excuse me.
I have to go.
His home town? I had no idea what that sign of yours meant.
Couldn't you have thought of something? Dinosaurs, space ships, extra terrestrials? I don't think we have any pictures of those, Spig.
You could have done better.
We have over ten million pictures covering most forms of human activity.
Nearly everything that's gone on in the last 100 years.
We're Just a tiny bit light on dinosaurs and extra terrestrials.
She's making an absolute pig's dinner, as I think you'll agree.
The odds are stacked so heavily it's almost unseemly.
Marilyn was always wonderful at dealing with all the enquiries, our clients, but she remained very unworldly, not exactly finger on the pulse.
For an example of somebody whose finger is glued to the pulse of everything, we come to my bizarre little intervention.
So, this is clearly a coincidence I could have done without.
You see things on building sites you're never sure whether they're meant to be like that.
Given my threats to burn down the building, I thought it best not to say anything.
The schedule's the same.
We'll try midweek.
It's gotta be Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mr Bates, good morning.
What brings you here? I took the liberty of dropping by.
So I can see.
You must forgive me if we make this brief, because this is all very technical It can be rather technical at this stage.
I know rather a lot about architecture.
I'm sure you do.
We're deep into it and I couldn't repeat some things if I tried.
Why did you have me locked out? That's not what's going on.
It's not personal, the collection has to end.
So I can come back? No.
The library is closing.
In a week, everyone will be gone.
I think you're very wrong to lock me out.
Mr Bates, I have to say you didn't seem happy at how we were proceeding.
Call me Oswald.
Sure.
Oswald.
You found our presence difficult, so What's "difficult"? These are euphemisms.
I didn't find your presence difficult.
I hated you here.
Absolutely hated it.
There you are, then.
There you are what? I'm sorry? You said "There you are, then" as if everything was explained, but it isn't.
If you hated us being here, it's not surprising you found it difficult to work with us.
Excuse me.
These gentlemen are waiting.
You couldn't be more wrong.
I hate you being here, which makes me want to prove you were wrong to lock me out.
That seems a perverse way of thinking, Mr Bates.
I don't believe so.
And I will prove it to you.
This is very much not the time to do that.
I am in the middle of discussions here.
I need one thing.
What? A picture of your mother.
Excuse me? Have you got one on your person or not? No, I don't believe I have.
No.
Are you sure? I don't want to use inflammatory words like "lying".
Just one picture of your mother.
Have you got one? Why should you want to see one? I expect you've got a two sided number.
A picture of both parents, like people carry.
A little double picture? Can I see it, please? You Just want a look, then you'll leave? Of course.
No need to feel uncomfortable.
No one's watching.
I Just need one quick look.
I don't feel uncomfortable.
And I will take all necessary steps to have you removed if you ever set foot here again.
Quick butcher's and I'm off.
Promise.
This is surreal, I have to say.
I know you won't tell me why, so take one look and then go.
It's Just a picture of my mother.
Is she still with us? No.
She died.
I'm sorry.
Is there anything on the back? There's nothing on the back.
OK.
Great.
That's fine.
Thank you.
Um Do you want this? I don't really need it.
Don't worry.
I'll be in touch.
I hope you realise Marilyn is an amazing woman, and a good woman.
I hope you've worked that out.
Sure.
She's a very impressive person.
Sounds like another euphemism to me.
Back to work.
By the way, by some unhappy coincidence, you've got a bit of a fire going here.
There's a bit of a fire raging here.
Guys.
Hup! Hup! Hup! Hup! Get some sand Just my luck, eh? Bloody hell! Kick it in! God almighty! Could you knock on the bathroom door and tell him we're on the line? Yes, and maybe see if he'd like to talk to us.
Oh.
Oh, I see.
Um I don't suppose there's any point in my hanging on, is there? I mean, you don't happen to know at what stage the bath is at, do you? No.
No, no, no, fine.
Oh, no, no, of course not.
I mean, obviously.
Yes.
Yes, well, thank you.
Yes.
Well, I'm sorry.
I couldn't get into the bathroom.
Yes, Nick.
What is it? l I've got someone.
What do you mean, you've got someone? Someone who may buy the collection.
You have? You're sure? Yes.
The whole collection? Yes.
Who are they? A big advertising agency.
Called? Called Good question.
Just wait a moment.
Nearly got it.
Um Marwood Price.
And it's for real.
I've put some brandy in.
You've got an empty tummy, it won't make you woozy? Terrific.
Thank you.
It's as strong as I could make it.
Nick will correct me if I'm wrong, but this is quite a new outfit, Marwood Price? Very successful, very cool.
Cool.
Yes.
They're Yeah, Nick.
Spit it out.
Come on.
They like to feel they're cool Brits.
They like to feel they really created the buzz.
So why would they want us? You didn't misunderstand? No way.
They're very keen.
Just have to persuade Mr Big.
Who is their Mr Big? He He's got a funny name.
No, I I'm allowed not to get this right.
It's, er It's very odd.
Um Spittock.
Something like that.
Spittock can't be right.
We'll make sure once we're there.
Now, Marilyn, the only important thing is There's only one important thing? Yeah.
Make sure we give them the impression we've got other offers.
No desperation.
No imploring.
That was good before, but not this time.
A woman in distress was all I had left.
It's the opposite now.
Be nice, but distant.
A little chilly.
Make them feel they've got to come after us.
Right.
You'll zap 'em, Marilyn.
He does have a strange name, the big cheese.
But it's not Spittock.
It is, in fact, Styeman.
Right.
Nick got quite close.
Why is it called Marwood Price? We are in the right place? Yes.
It'll be OK.
You'll do great.
I'll have to do better than I have been.
This is a real chance, the only chance we've had.
Here, I've got Nick's.
You don't have one, do you? There's my number.
You can ring during it in case you need to create a diversion or anything.
Unless, do you want me to be with you? What do you think? I'd cramp your style a bit, sitting there watching you.
No, no.
It's not that.
Perhaps it would be better if I spoke to him on my own, head to head.
Yeah.
Remember, Marilyn, a bit chilly.
You'll find Mr Styeman over there.
All right? I'm looking for Mr Styeman.
I think that's the name.
That is the name.
And here he is.
Excuse me.
This is Laura.
Hi.
This is Simone, there.
And Doug will be in and out.
Hello.
Anything we can get you? No.
No, thanks.
It's good of you to see me.
It seemed urgent.
No.
That's not the case.
There's no great urgency.
We have a lot of offers.
A LOT of offers.
Good.
Christmas is one hell of a time to shift ten million pictures.
I thought that, but it's amazing how many doors are opening because of what we have to sell.
So, why are you here, then? Well, it would be stupid of me not to explore all possibilities.
Of course.
So where are the other offers coming from? Well, that is confidential, Just at this moment.
You can't tell me what sort of people? Out of curiosity.
It would be good to know.
Well, there's another collection.
And, um, there's a maJor TV company.
And It's idiotic, what I'm saying.
I'm sorry.
It insults your intelligence.
Ah! Everything I've said has been utter rubbish.
Total crap.
But that's my fault, not the collection's.
Just erase it, you know, what I've said so far.
Can I come in again? Hi.
I'm going in five minutes.
Are you coming in? I'll be with you in two.
Seven or eight.
You want to make a call? No, no.
I don't think so.
Please, when you're ready, make your pitch.
My pitch? Yup.
You're right to see me, even though it is your Christmas party.
Because, why is this woman here? Why is she dragging ten million pictures around London, so to speak, trying to find a home for them? That is unusual.
There must be a good reason why she's so passionate.
And there must be a good reason why a cool new agency should want the pictures.
All of them.
To buy them.
Yes.
Why should we want all of them? I'll show you.
I brought these along.
They're Just a tiny sample of what we've got to offer.
Oh.
But they're images you will have never seen before.
There are ideas for a hundred campaigns.
It'll give you constant inspiration.
You're in a market where it's hard to find new images.
These will give you such an advantage over your competitors.
When you're stumped for an idea, you Just have to bring in some of these.
Every evening, we see a thousand images on TV, but hardly any of them stay with you.
They're almost impossible to remember an hour later.
These stay with you.
Images that haunt the memory, that you can look at again and again.
They will be an investment, appreciating in value, a source of constant stimulation providing not Just surprising concepts, but impressing your clients as art obJects in themselves.
Something a lot more original than Just another bit of modern art.
There are pictures here of immense beauty that will give you such pleasure.
And bring added kudos to your firm.
I've pitched, I think.
You chose these pictures to appeal to an ad man.
Yes.
You chose very well.
That was a very eloquent presentation, if you don't mind my saying so.
No, I don't mind you saying so.
We're used to giving presentations, but that was very good.
Did I get anywhere, though? Yes.
I think so.
Yes.
Doug's Just trying to make his presence felt.
You're asking how much? You faxed us a figure but We'd settle for 700,000.
Yeah.
I see.
That's with the Man Ray and everything.
Without those the price is less.
Right.
I've Just got one simple question which which is, nevertheless, of huge importance.
Yes.
How much of your collection is in colour? A rough estimate will do.
A ballpark figure.
Do you have that? l l I Do you want to ring your office to check? No.
I know.
Please, don't take this wrong, but we do want the true figure.
It's about, um seven per cent.
Are you sure? I'm sure.
That's too bad.
I could have gone with 15 per cent but not seven.
It doesn't diminish what I've said because they're black and white.
That's daft.
I know.
It seems banal.
That's the figure I've got in my head, 15 per cent.
It's probably garbage but that's the rules.
We make up the rules like everybody else and that's the figure that we made up.
Let me consider for one moment.
Photographs are wonderful things, aren't they? Yes? It's a no.
Oh, shit! Really? Fuck! You're sure? Yes.
It's OK.
Don't worry.
For some reason, I feel You know.
And I know what to do.
I know exactly what to do.
Where's that number? problems with his pitching elbow Yeah.
This is Marilyn Truman.
Hi.
Are you busy? Not at this moment.
No.
Good.
Let's have dinner, shall we? I'll meet you at your hotel at eight, OK? Yeah.
I think I'm free.
That'll be good.
Fine.
I'm usually pretty punctual.
I'm going shopping now, Spig.
Come and help me choose.
I feel amazing.
So, we're getting quite close to my exit from the proceedings, my suicide.
We'll be getting a bit of a countdown now.
I want to get the maudlin bit out of the way.
It's very important for me to get across the fact that I am not a victim.
And I really urge people not to Jump to snap Judgements.
"He was a bit of a loser so he Just checked out.
" That is not what's going on here.
So do the sentimental thing.
I've got some pictures here of people who took their own life.
Do we see the clues about what's coming if we stare close enough? Hm? We must be very careful about generalisations, but I think it's fair to say they were all terribly unhappy, by and large.
I think that's a pretty uncontroversial statement.
But the really vital thing to grasp is that I'm not terribly unhappy.
No.
"Is that possible?" I can hear people saying.
How can one reconcile what is about to happen with someone not being unhappy.
Well, I have to show, in the little time remaining, that it does make sense.
I'm going out.
Big step.
To get my photos developed.
So people realise that I've taken them.
Why I have to clean my teeth for this excursion I've no idea, but there we are.
Maybe a little more, like really bold.
Hm.
It's me.
Oswaldl At last! Why haven't you answered your phone? It's been ridiculous.
It's not being ridiculous at all.
It's been quite restful.
Are you alone? No.
I'm not alone.
Why? The others all there, are they? Yes.
What do you want to say? I'll ask them to leave if you like.
No.
No need.
I'm in a phone booth, surrounded by "savage Swedish meatball" and "sultry Spanish temptress".
Yes, Oswald.
I wanted to say that I'm on to something.
What does that mean? I discovered something.
You'll find a full account in my flat.
Right.
Perhaps I'll come round tomorrow night.
Absolutely.
That'll work well.
Still there, are they? Yes.
Why do you keep asking that? Could you Just for a moment? They've gone.
What is it? Are you OK? No, no.
I'm fine.
Couldn't be better.
Er, make sure you give them my regards.
Of course.
I Just wanted to say Yes? About those letters.
I'd rather like to clear that up.
Those famous letters I was meant to have replied to.
Let's not discuss that now.
I'll only get angry.
The fact is, it's not quite what it seems.
That's too complicated for me now, OK? You lied to me about the letters and that's why we're in this bloody awful mess now.
That's not necessarily the truth.
OK.
I I'll have to go now.
So, um Yeah, fine.
Off you go.
Er Have you got a buyer for the collection? No.
Well, two days left.
Anything could happen.
I think I know what you're going to do.
You're all dressed up, aren't you? Yes.
It's Just a guess.
I'm sure you look terrific.
Go for it.
I prepared the ground.
Go for it, Marilyn.
How, how was he? He was Just being Oswald.
Hello.
Hi, Mr Bates.
I've got these.
Do me two sets, if you could.
Sure.
Thank you.
Other people's pictures! There are those that find other people's pictures totally dull, Just can't look at them.
But I adore them, absolutely love them.
I Just have to say one thing to make these pictures electrifying.
These people, some of these people, are about to be hit by the most terrible change.
Their whole worlds turned upside down.
They've no idea.
Uncertainty beyond their wildest dreams.
So, on a more cheerful note, I found a mystery.
I'm on to something.
I've made connections between things.
In fact, I don't believe I could have done better.
It worked.
What? I can't stop looking at you.
Good.
It was meant to work.
The whole town having Christmas parties and we're here! Clearly you booked into the wrong hotel.
So, what do you want, Marilyn? It's not what you think.
Well, that could cover a lot of things.
You think I want more time, don't you? Another week.
So, you don't want more time? No.
I don't.
That IS a surprise.
What do you want, then? I want you to buy the collection.
Me? Yes.
The business school doesn't need it I don't mean that.
I want you personally to buy the collection.
You've got a million dollars, haven't you? I'm sure you'd get it for a reasonable price.
Why should I want it? Because I know you're interested in it.
I've been trying not to show it but, yeah, I'm fascinated by it.
And, despite being happily married, I also find you very attractive.
But you're making a mistake.
I don't think so.
I'm not trying to seduce you.
That's not exactly my style.
A more serious mistake than that.
More serious than that? Really? Because I find what you're doing interesting, you have no chance with the collection.
Not with me.
No chance at all.
What does that mean? I don't understand.
My father was a small town businessman.
He brought me up to plan everything.
On a Saturday we'd play baseball with the guys.
The game plan had to be laid out on the dining room table the night before.
One of the myths about where I come from is that it is youthful, spontaneous.
There's a lot of people like me playing old from a young age, saying to the world, "I can run this".
This business school that YOU'VE shown such an interest in, it's geared to a different approach, more spontaneous.
I feel a huge passion for this, as great a passion as you do for your pictures.
There's room for both, surely.
Not with me there isn't.
It's because I know I could be so easily diverted that you have no possibility of winning.
Believe me, Marilyn.
You can't win.
Bollocks! I was Just thinking about Oswald.
Don't mention him.
When I think of him I begin to get really angry with you as well.
It's only He said something odd.
I know he likes to sound like a detective or something with his little secrets, but he said I would find something in his flat.
I Just remembered it.
I might call him.
He puts everything in an odd way.
It's only because you've been out in the real world that you've started to notice.
That's true.
You're right.
Take no chances.
Have all available pills.
Down the hatch.
I'm quite hungry, you know.
I'm not sure you're really meant to feel like that at this stage.