Toxic Town (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
Round, round baby round, round ♪
Spinning out on me ♪
I don't need no man ♪
Got my kicks for free ♪
And we'll ride
Still fired on the beat down low ♪
I don't need nobody… ♪
If you, uh, fold the paper in three,
it actually slides
into the envelope quite easily.
See, my trouble is I missed
the envelope stuffing lesson school.
Too busy wanking Harvey Thomas
at the back of the class.
Oops! I think I ruined that one.
[chuckles]
Thanks for coming, everyone.
[Susan] Welcome to those who are new.
If you're a second-timer,
can't believe you came back.
Third-timers, you're as mad as me.
-[group laughs]
-[Pattie] Way-hey!
The Regional Health Authority report
will be out soon.
And in preparation for the RHA,
Des has a few things he'd like us to do.
As always, it sounds deathly dull,
but give him a go.
Thank you, Susan,
for that generous introduction.
-[group chuckles]
-[Des] We need to prove four things.
One, we need proof that a cluster of women
who carried babies at the same time
and were affected by this exists.
Now, the Health Authority report
will show that.
Two, that there was a reason
why you were affected,
how the toxins from the reclamation
got into your system.
Anglian Water are currently investigating
their supply.
Three, we need proof that these toxins
had a direct impact
on your unborn children.
And then four,
we need knowledge and negligence.
That they could've done more
to prevent this,
and they knowingly didn't.
We're hoping to get disclosure
from the council on that.
I want to introduce to you Dani,
who's working with me on this.
[group] Hello, Dani.
All right. Dani is going to be
handing out some forms,
yes, very dull forms for you,
which will be the beginnings
of your witness statement.
Those statements will be the bedrock
on which we build our case.
[tense music playing]
[Sam] Chair,
I'd like to raise a point of order.
If you want to introduce a motion,
you need a seconder.
While the police investigation
hampered by the fire is ongoing,
I'd like to suggest
that the council consider
suspending contracts
with Rhodes and Miller Construction--
Sam, come on, now.
-[hesitates] Look, is this…
-Sam.
Is this how you're going to do it, Roy?
Be leader?
By silencing anyone
who disagrees with you?
-That's no how you said it was gonna be.
-Do you have a seconder for your motion?
The police investigation
has taken 18 months so far,
and Rhodes and Miller
have been profiteering in all that time.
And I think that is an absolute disgrace.
Councilor Hagen, sit down,
or I'll have to ask you to leave.
Now, minutes from the development meeting,
Councilor Frayn. Are you ready?
[Frayn] Uh, thank you, Chair. Um…
["F.E.A.R." by Ian Brown playing]
For each a road ♪
For every man a religion ♪
[Sam] Come on, Ted!
Come on, son.
Find everybody and rule ♪
Look, I just want to talk.
For everything and rumble ♪
You got the fear ♪
[wind gusting]
[somber alternative song fades]
[man] This report was commissioned
by Northamptonshire Health Authority
in conjunction with Corby Borough Council
to investigate allegations
of a cluster of birth defects in Corby
between 1984 and 1998.
Today, I can confirm
that the epidemiological study found
no difference between the rate
of children with birth defects
born to mothers in Corby
and those in the wider Kettering area.
In fact, the figure was slightly lower.
Therefore, no cluster was found in Corby.
[crowd clamoring angrily]
No, can't be.
-What are we, a card trick?
-If you look in the report…
I'm looking around this room,
and I see mother after mother--
Mrs. McIntyre,
I understand your frustration,
but I believe you've been
encouraged by your lawyers
to look for something
that simply isn't there.
Simply isn't there?
The findings in the report clearly state--
The findings in the report
ignore the fucking facts!
Okay. Okay. Let's keep this civil.
Why don't you take time to digest
what's written, and if you have questions…
It doesn't need digesting. It's already
been digested, and it's a load of shite.
-[crowd applauds]
-[Roy] All right, okay.
Right, fireworks over. Thank you.
Settle down. Thank you. Thank you.
-Let's look at the details…
-Come on. Let's get home.
[hesitates] I feel
as if I should say something.
Say what?
There's no telling some people.
Look, they looked at it,
and it was nothing.
Loudmouths like Susan McIntyre
are always gonna give off,
but we're not her, are we?
-Let's go home.
-Wha…
[doctor] …there is no evidence that links
pollution in this area to limb defects.
[Roy] And thank you,
everyone, for your patience.
Where's Maggie?
Her fella pulled her away.
[Des] This is not
what any of us were expecting.
-They're lying. They're lying and--
-They might be lying, but I doubt it.
People are never
that deliberately pernicious.
I expect it's rather incompetence,
but… it is a setback.
What the fuck's pernicious
when it's at home?
Mean.
-[Pattie] Ah.
-[Des] You disagree?
Well, I have more bad news, I'm afraid.
Anglian Water have come back
and… have produced records
which show that
there were no unusual substances found
in the water supply
during the land reclamation.
And they're not being mean either?
I don't think so.
[Dani] Look…
Let's not pretend
this isn't disappointing,
but there are other avenues
that we can explore.
What about that talk of a police report?
The fire?
Well, the police
are investigating corruption.
It might be useful,
but as it is a criminal investigation,
we can't get involved.
So what do we do, Des?
Uh, well…
As Dani said, we'll find a way.
[hopeful music playing]
[Des] There's generally a way.
[children playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[boy] Daddy. Daddy.
[Marc] Hello. Are you okay?
What are you doing?
[grunts]
Are you okay? How you doing?
Ah! [chuckles]
Okay?
You okay, love?
[Tracey] Mm-hmm.
You still reading that?
[Tracey] Yeah.
I was trying to work out
where Shelby Anne fitted in, but
they use so many words.
Shall I get the tea on, then?
I haven't been reading it all day
if that's what you're thinking.
[knock on door]
I need her.
[somber music fades]
We all do.
He's gone. Don't you know?
-Des is gone.
-How did you figure that?
Trust me, I can smell
when a man has had enough.
Is this a good idea, Susan?
Definitely.
[energetic percussive music playing]
-Probably. Maybe.
-You're a muppet, do you know that?
You're a muppet for following me. Come on.
[Susan grunts]
Okay, I'm going to bunk you up.
-No.
-Come on.
-Come on, I'm ready.
-[under breath] Oh God.
Right.
-[Susan] Yeah?
-[Tracey] Yeah.
[Susan grunting]
You've got a surprisingly muscular arse.
[Tracey] Yeah?
Okay. Go on, then. Get the samples.
Oh, great, so now I'm doing a burglary
without you.
Ah.
[grunts]
Right. There's three bottles in there
and some gloves and a carrier bag,
so you don't get the rucksack dirty.
It's Connor's schoolbag, to be honest.
We need to prove to Des
there's toxic in there.
Okay.
[Dani] Message from the council.
They're disclosing?
Saying that all the pieces we requested
were unfortunately burnt in the fire.
They'll try their best.
Unfortunately, their file index was also…
Burnt in the fire?
[Dani] Mm-hmm.
Who's that?
Lydia Short. She's got a 16-year-old
with an upper limb difference.
[knocking on door]
Good morning.
Even better morning
when you see what we've got for you.
Give me a clue.
It's from the reclaimed land
behind ElectraGen,
where Rhodes-Miller worked.
[splutters] So… why is it useful?
-'Cause it'll show all the toxic.
-[Des] Of course it will.
It's from the reclamation site.
We know that's toxic.
What we're trying to understand
is whether that toxic water
had somehow leaked into the water supply.
Unfortunately for our case, it hadn't.
So all this was for nothing?
-You haven't got a rash or anything?
-No.
But she might when I'm finished with her.
Look, I… I appreciate the effort.
[quietly] Right.
Thank you.
[Des] For what?
For everything you did.
Thank you.
I'm surprisingly grateful,
to be honest, for…
Me too.
But… you're giving up?
No, you're giving up.
Am I?
Why?
Because there's no case.
Of course there's a case.
The RHA can't see a cluster.
We can. We just need to prove it.
Anglian Water says
it's not a problem in the water supply.
But there must be some other way
that it's got into your systems.
We had four points to prove.
We've still got four points to prove.
Justice has to be possible.
And I am far from done. [scoffs]
Tracey, kiss him.
Why do I have to kiss him?
He'll be scared if I try and kiss him.
You're more demure. He likes demure.
-[laughs]
-[Des] Nobody needs to kiss me.
Listen, we will find what's happened here.
I promise.
-[knocking on door]
-Come in.
-Sam.
-Roy.
Been a while since we had chance to chat.
-Ah, I've been available.
-I know.
This office, it eats time.
Well, we're here now.
And I'd like to raise a concern
about the Willowbrook A site.
Sam, it's been decided
at the next election
we need to be renewing candidates.
So who's on that list?
It's the Blair era. You understand?
They like 'em young.
-I'm sure my time is numbered too.
-No, no. You're, um…
My future's
no your decision to make, Roy.
That's the decision of my branch.
Maybe your branch has spoken to me.
Maybe I'm giving you a chance
to get in front of their decision.
-No.
-As a friend.
No, I can't.
You didn't know this was coming?
Come on, you're not so naive
to think this was a grand surprise.
I went to the police
about Rhodes and Miller. Not you.
It's not about that. It's about renewal.
I just think
you got rid of the wrong people.
-And I think if you think about it--
-You think. You think.
You ever think you think too much?
Party discipline matters.
If we all follow our own egos,
nothing gets done.
We toe the line,
and we make the change from within.
I'm never more nervous than when
making proposals to the Labour group
because that's where change happens.
I was a good councilor.
I was a fucking… good councilor, Roy.
And now you'll be a good…
whatever you'll be.
Plenty of time to get that golf in now.
[door slams]
[Roy sighs]
[boy 1] Pass it here.
[excited chatter]
-You got your eyes on her, have you, Claw?
-[Connor] No.
Go on, Claw.
Tell us which part of her
you want to touch first.
You know what?
Claw isn't such a good name.
There's Captain Hook,
Flipper Fingers, Mr. Crab. I don't know.
But I do know what I should call you.
-[groans]
-Twat.
[boy 2] Yes! Fight!
[kids chanting] Fight! Fight!
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
[teacher] Hey! Hey, Connor!
-Get off each other now! Get up!
-[grunting]
Keep up.
I can't say I haven't done worse.
But that doesn't mean that I'm not…
I mean, clocking the lad!
Hey? Bully or not.
Can you not think of something better?
Now you've got yourself suspended.
Though that bitch headmistress.
Fucking…
Come on! Can you keep up?
Ow.
-How long has it been like that?
-Not long.
You're supposed to tell me the minute you…
-Have you been putting your cream on?
-Yeah.
An infection could mean
the doctors delay another op.
-Do you want your hand better?
-This is my hand. This is it.
This is what it looks like.
And I don't like hospitals,
and I don't want it!
Not anymore! I don't want any of it!
[somber music playing]
Connor! Slow down!
[panting]
-[music fades]
-[indistinct chatter]
-Professor Abbey?
-Yes.
Thanks for seeing us.
My name's Des. This is Dani.
We're working on behalf
of a group of parents in Corby
and wondered if you have a moment
to look at a health report
that we're investigating
and believe to be flawed.
[Des] Another blank face. Another no.
[Dani] There must be someone…
who'll prove this report wrong.
[Des] What about food? Beef.
-Sorry?
-Hmm.
The toxins have entered their system
via contaminated beef or…
I don't know, maybe vegetables,
instead of the water and…
[intriguing music playing]
Right.
We get soil samples
from… from all the surrounding farms.
We'd probably first need a sense
of what these women ate.
Hmm.
Right. I'm on it.
[professor] See you all next week.
Dr. Parker?
-Do you have a minute?
-[Parker] You're not students.
We, uh, wondered if you could look
at some documents for us.
Ah, it's been a day.
Can we speak in the morning?
We could do. It's just we've driven
all the way from Northamptonshire
to talk to you tonight.
To see me in Newcastle. Why?
Well, because you never answer your phone
or your emails,
but also because
every other epidemiologist we've spoken to
thinks this report is right,
and we think they're wrong.
Shall we start at the beginning?
What's the report of?
[intriguing music peaks, fades]
[unsettling music playing]
[door opens]
[Pat] I'm stood in the kitchen.
She drives past on the bicycle.
[Sam and Pat laugh]
[Sam] Boddington's, please.
[Pat] True story.
Same again, boys? Yeah?
[clears throat]
Lager and a whiskey, Peter.
Drinks are on Pat Miller.
[Pat] Are they? Fuck.
[Roy] Police report
on the alleged corruption just in.
No charges being brought.
[Pat] Maybe I'll buy
two more drinks, then.
I'd like to make a toast.
[group laughs]
I'd like you to make it to this man.
Pat.
You're an arsehole.
Terrible man.
But you're our arsehole.
-[Pat] Wipe your mouth, Roy.
-You think you should be celebrating this?
One and a half million documents
they looked through.
-[Sam] You know what's there.
-One hundred and ten statements.
You know the truth,
but you don't want to listen.
Because you're frightened
it's gonna damage your town.
-It already has.
-We did nothing wrong!
Because you burnt the fucking evidence!
[Roy] Now, hang on.
[Pat] That's absolute bollocks.
And just so you know,
I'm standing independently
at the election.
You do what you will.
On an anti-corruption ticket.
I'm calling myself
the Clean Corby candidate.
Just thought I'd let you know as a friend.
"Clean Corby." Fucking…
You could have litter picking compulsory.
Like conscription.
Everyone in the town
needs to carry a litter picker.
So they can be a little old woman
just like you.
Heavy is the head
that wears the crown, eh, Roy?
You know, you were always a wanker.
But you never used to be a cunt.
You think you're rebuilding this town.
Truth is,
you're destroying it.
[intense music rising]
Hello, I'm Sam Hagen.
I've been a Labour councilor
for Corby for the last 20 years.
I'm standing as an independent candidate
for re-election.
Thank you.
Oh, hello. Um, my name's Des Collins.
I'm calling from Collins Solicitors.
Looking to speak to a Nicholas McDowell
about a fetal medicine case.
[woman] Anti-corruption?
What this town needs is investment.
Not more bloody red tape.
Okay, thank you.
[intense, rhythmic music continues]
[doctor] This toe here,
the tissues are fit enough
to make it an excellent candidate.
And the infection won't--
The infection will have cleared
before we operate.
Uh, hear that, Connor? That's good news.
[doctor] Let's hope
we get some luck this time.
[children playing]
[Marc] Pizza!
[boy] Daddy!
[kids laugh and exclaim]
He doesn't want
to keep going with the ops.
[Tracey] And what do you think?
I'm just trying to be a good mother.
I don't want him to throw his life away.
This is about his future, you understand?
You don't need two hands for everything.
For the sort of jobs he'll qualify for,
two hands would be bloody useful.
[Marc] Pizza!
-Kids, pizza.
-[boy] Okay.
-How can you do that, and I can't?
-Practice.
[Marc] Ah.
Police report came back.
Sorry.
-[Connor] Did you get pepperoni?
-[Marc] I bought the pizzas.
-I choose the toppings.
-[phone ringing]
Oh, it's Des.
[cell phone beeps]
We've seen. Another cover-up.
[Des] Oh, I'm not ringing about that. No.
Yeah, it's disappointing.
But, well, we'll ignore it because…
Big news just in.
-The RHA double-counted.
-[Susan] What?
They counted birth defects in
the whole Kettering area, including Corby,
and then compared that number
against Corby alone.
It… It threw off
the whole statistical field.
They got the spread wrong.
There is a cluster.
It's the first of the four to us!
The RHA got it wrong?
They're not meant
to get things like that wrong.
[Des] You're going to remind everyone.
We've been offered a slot on GMTV.
I want you to do it, Susan.
GMTV?
Yeah. Every time that we do publicity,
more women come forward.
I… I want you and Maggie to do it.
Me and Maggie?
Well… shouldn't it be me and Tracey?
Well, if you don't mind, Tracey,
I think the mix is better with Maggie.
If you want someone posher,
Tracey's posh enough.
Maggie doesn't like me.
It's more that Connor and Sam
have similar disabilities.
It's a better combination.
I think it's a good idea.
Every time I open my gob,
more people hate me. You know that.
[sighs]
Yeah, I'll do it.
Thank you, Susan.
Thank you, Tracey.
Thought you didn't like people
looking at you. Now you're going on telly?
[Maggie] Well, because Des asked me.
You wouldn't even let
Toby video our wedding.
What is it?
You're worried Pat won't like it?
Yeah, I got my promotion,
just like you asked.
But it doesn't mean what happened
to Samuel means nothing. Does it?
-Do you have to keep hoovering?
-The RHA report was wrong.
You made me leave all those other mothers
because you said
it proved there was nothing to it.
I thought I was right.
Well, you weren't.
And so I'm doing GMTV,
and I don't care what Pat thinks about it.
[softly] Excuse me.
[gentle music playing]
Thank you.
[Connor] Have you been
to the palace before?
You know what?
As cheeky as it is, Liz never invited me.
[chuckles]
Like, outside. For a photo?
With the men on horses and stuff?
No, this is my first time here.
In London?
You've never been to London before?
So, we're just setting up,
and then we'll bring you through.
It is very relaxed,
and we'll make sure you have a nice time.
If you just take seats here.
Help yourself to the fruit and the juice.
All right?
-[Susan] Thank you.
-[Maggie] Thanks.
[Susan] Thank you.
What's your favorite food at school?
Burger or pizza?
Is that what you're wearing?
-Yeah.
-You haven't a change of outfit?
No, have you?
I've dressed wrong, haven't I?
No.
[Connor] What's your favorite ice cream?
[Samuel] Vanilla.
Did you not want me doing this?
Sorry?
It was your campaign.
I told Des when he asked me,
"Is Susan okay with it?"
He said fine.
I know I'm not your favorite person.
Is it because Derek
was on the reclamation?
No. He was just earning a pound.
-Why don't you--
-'Cause you're stuck up.
Mainly.
-I'm… I'm not entirely stuck up.
-Are you not?
[boys speaking indistinctly]
[scoffs]
Anyway, it's not my campaign.
It's all of ours.
Your kid got hurt, same as mine.
And I don't mind you.
I thought you didn't like me.
I've got some wet wipes in here.
Should take the worst of the make-up off.
-[sighs]
-[chuckles]
[interviewer] Tell us about
when you first realized
that Connor's disability might have been
caused by toxic waste mismanagement.
It was more of a case of when I realized
there were more kids like Connor in Corby.
[somber music playing]
Kids with birth defects
and other health issues too.
Babies who aren't even here anymore.
It became clear something had gone wrong.
[train whistle blows]
[Susan] But the council just said,
"It wasn't us, mate."
Wouldn't even let us look at their files.
They just… cut us dead.
So we knew we had to do something.
[interviewer] Maggie,
the impact of all this must be huge.
Yes. Um, both Samuel
and Susan's lovely boy, Connor,
have had years of operations,
years of pain that will go on
for the rest of their lives.
We want to protect them, but we can't.
So this fight is us
doing what we can for them.
We're a good-sized band already,
but we think there's more of us.
More mothers in Corby with hurt kids.
Well done, Susan.
And there's a number.
If people are worried,
there's a number for people to ring you.
Yes, 01536 823457.
-[interviewer] And do you think…
-[phone rings]
Do your children understand?
I mean, have you been able
to explain to them…
Des Collins.
[Susan] I think Connor
understands some of it.
Understands we're not fighting
for ourselves.
This is a battle for the kids.
Because they don't have a choice.
So we don't have a choice.
[Susan] What do you want for tea?
-You can have anything.
-[Connor] Pizza.
[Susan] Pizza?
I don't know if I've got that.
[Peter] Hello, love.
[Connor] Mum.
Hello, son. You've gotten big.
[Susan] Connor, get inside.
It's okay, sweetheart.
In you go. Come on. Be back in a sec.
The polite thing to say is hello
when someone says hello.
I don't talk to ghosts. Sends you mad.
You've still got your wits. That's good.
My great-grandad swore
he could talk to his dead son.
Used to sing him songs.
Eventually, they had
to give him electric shocks.
Yeah, well, I'm flesh. You're flesh.
I just want to talk about it.
I just want a man who pays his way
and sticks around.
Guess we don't all get what we want.
You're upset. I don't blame you, love.
Can I see the kids at least?
You're not their dad. You understand?
You're not that.
Now fuck off.
Okay?
[softly] Sorry.
[Connor] It's not your fault.
That's mostly true.
[chuckles softly]
He didn't look how I expected.
Thought he'd look like George Clooney?
No. Daniel showed me photos.
Did he?
But that was before.
Now I thought he would look like me.
No, you lucky sod.
You get my good looks.
Can I fetch you a tea?
I keep a pot up here to stop me going dry.
We're fine. It's late.
Thank you for analyzing
the paperwork we sent you.
Do we have a case?
Well, I've looked at the toxins
in steelwork by-product.
The culprit, I think,
is heavy metal cadmium.
But no one's ever studied
the effects of cadmium on pregnant women.
And do we have a case, Dr. Penman?
You can prove
that they were exposed to cadmium?
Pretend that I can.
Then I will need to show
that it could cause these defects.
I believe I can make inferences
from studies of agricultural workers
to allow me to do so.
But in cases such as these,
the court requires
a fetal medical specialist
to be 95% certain of their findings.
So, we need to eliminate
as many variables as possible.
Which variables?
In my opinion,
you need to focus exclusively on babies
with upper and lower limb defects.
Well, so, by variables, you mean…
You're talking about women?
Eliminating some of the women?
The pollutants you're talking about
could affect with 95% certainty
the fetus in that way
at that time in its development.
We're representing
dozens of families here.
If you want to win, you have 18.
[tense music playing]
[Des] Dr. Penman, is this…
That's my professional opinion.
[Des] But these are…
are all people who've suffered.
Any child that doesn't meet the criteria
will weaken your entire case.
I'm sorry.
[Dani sighs]
[exhales]
This is going to be okay.
This is going to be okay.
The doctors know what they're doing.
Have this op. Things will be better.
[nurse] All right then, Connor.
You're all set, my friend.
The doctor's here.
If it isn't my favorite patient.
[tense music subsides]
[reporter] Yesterday saw thousands vote
in the local elections
and the results are starting
to come through from the counts.
Roy Thomas and his new Labour Party
have won a landslide victory,
taking more than half
the wards in the county.
A notable result was
in the Corby East ward,
where Sam Hagen,
now of the Anti-Corruption Party,
but formerly of Labour, lost his seat.
27-year-old Hamza Alali--
-[monitor beeping]
-Don't tell my heart ♪
My achy, breaky heart ♪
Just don't think he'd understand ♪
And if you tell my heart ♪
My achy, breaky heart ♪
He might blow… ♪
[alert blaring]
Connor? Connor?
Hey. Connor, you're… Hey, he's boiling.
-We're going to help. Move out the way.
-He's absolutely boiling.
-What's happening?
-We're gonna help him.
-Connor?
-[nurse] We'll check him.
Can someone tell me what's…
I'm not leaving my son.
-Just to the side.
-It's okay. Mummy's here.
I'm staying here! I'm staying here.
Connor, it's okay, baby. Mumma's here.
Mummy's here, okay?
-[orderly] One, two, three.
-Is he okay? What's happening?
It's okay. [sobbing]
It's… It's okay, babe. Okay.
[tense music playing]
[grunts]
[exhales shakily]
[doctor] Connor has an infection,
which led to an increase in heart rate.
If it goes into his bloodstream,
we may be facing a sepsis risk.
[quietly] Fucking hell.
We've reopened the hand.
We're pumping antibiotics into the wound
to clean out any infected tissue.
He should soon stabilize.
Susan, there's nothing
that will be done now till morning.
I suggest you go home and--
What if it doesn't stabilize?
[doctor] Sorry?
What if it is sepsis?
Then we'll…
-We may need to look at amputating tissue.
-Tissue? What does that mean?
You won't have
to cut off his hand, will you?
There's a long way to go
before that happens.
[Susan sighs]
[intriguing music playing]
Hello?
Sorry, I'm…
Just a wee cat nap. My name's Sam Hagen.
I know who you are, Councilor Hagen.
I need you to make me a promise.
What promise you after?
That you're no trying to profit
from these mothers.
I'm working a no-win, no-fee.
I'll make something
if it does turn out right, but not much.
I take other work to survive.
Never agreed with court cases.
Everybody's always taking everybody
to court nowadays.
Uh-huh.
But, equally, I do think that it might be
the only way to stop them.
And they do need stopping.
[bright music playing]
I can't tell you who gave me them.
But I can tell you
you're going to need them.
And I'm no a councilor anymore,
by the way.
[sighs]
He's gonna be okay.
If he loses his hand,
I'm cutting off mine.
He's not going to lose anything.
He's lost enough, you know.
He's lost enough.
Not as much as you.
It's not a competition.
It's all unfair.
I thought you hated hospitals.
I do.
Especially this one.
[Des] Poor kid.
Have they given it a… a percentage?
His chances of keeping the hand?
No.
They haven't given a percentage.
What can I do?
Win the case.
How's it going?
You anywhere with the four tests,
or whatever you call them?
Yeah, uh, we're…
Yeah, we're doing okay.
Listen, Tracey…
You know they're thinking of
turning this place into a call center?
-Oh?
-Yeah.
I miss it sometimes.
I don't miss cleaning
my car twice a day, but
certain places get inside you, you know?
Yes, I do.
After my dad died,
I thought I was done with Corby.
I still looked
into moving my offices south.
-Shame on you.
-[Des scoffs]
Then I read about you lot
and, suddenly… here I am still.
What did they call him again, your dad?
Was it Foot Rot?
His name was Larry.
God. The idea of being
Susan's headmaster. Oof.
He's, uh… He's a lot to live up to.
Why did you have to wash your car
twice a day?
Dust.
Got everywhere. Got inside everything.
Mark had to replace the blades
on my windscreen wipers three times.
With dust? It was that bad?
Well, only here because of the site,
and the lorries, and the spill.
And when the slop dried on the road,
it went everywhere.
Never even considered… Fuck.
[intriguing music playing]
Fuck.
[sighs]
[music fades]
-[Susan] Thank you.
-Cheers.
[Susan] Right.
Okay.
Right, swing your legs round.
Okay. Go gentle, yeah?
-Here you go. Take that to your dad.
-Will do.
[Daniel] Do you want to play something?
[Connor] Yeah.
Right. You've probably had
enough of me, eh?
Play well.
[crowd cheering on TV]
[man on TV] That's a terrific pass!
You kipped on the sofa and not in my bed?
It didn't feel right to do otherwise.
That sofa's terrible.
The neighbors' cat's pissed on it twice.
[Peter] I didn't smell that.
You must have got rid of the worst of it.
Is he going to be okay?
Didn't have to amputate
if that's what you mean.
But they had to take off the toe.
So he's back to having
just one on his hand.
Right.
Thanks for, uh, covering Daniel.
For picking up.
No one else was free, so…
Can I say I'm sorry?
About what?
All the things you said on telly.
I want to bloody stab myself in the leg
for leaving you with… with all that.
I could do it for you.
I've got a knife somewhere.
[scoffs]
I know what I did, Susie.
And I'm sorry.
I sort of need you to forgive me.
Do you?
Really?
Daniel said you forced Connor into it.
This op.
I guess we're all…
None of us are perfect.
That's all I'm saying.
And you think that's the same thing?
You didn't forget to buy the milk.
You fucking left.
You get to see them.
But Peter, you never get
to talk to me like that again.
Not now, not ever.
[Pattie] What are you having?
Don't say nothing
because this isn't a charity house.
A glass of tap water,
then, please, Pattie.
-[Pattie] Twat.
-[Daniel] I'll have a pint.
[Susan] No, you won't.
[Des] Right, okay.
Okay. Thanks for coming.
Uh, I just wanted to update you
on how it's all going.
First things first, the,
uh… the RHA report…
[group jeers]
…we can prove
is utter statistical nonsense.
[group cheers]
Thanks.
Our findings show
that the rate of limb abnormality in Corby
is three times higher
than the regional average.
We also have
what we think is a strong angle
on how the toxins got into your bodies.
Having consulted with our expert,
we believe that we can prove that
the toxins entered your system by dust.
You… You breathed it in.
[intense music building]
[Des] This dust, it contained
a heavy metal called cadmium.
And it's…
Well, according to our expert,
the cloud that the dust created, uh,
it poisoned you.
So, as such,
I'm now in the photo collection business.
Any photo that you've got
that has got a bit of the road
or the pavement on these sites,
your homes included, I want them.
Tony Cox, our expert,
he thinks that this dust
traveled for miles.
It affected the whole town.
We've said from the start that we need
to be able to prove knowing negligence
on behalf of the council.
Now, we have come
into possession of some documents
that we believe proves that.
So… our four pillars,
they've been answered.
And I think…
Well, we are building something
we think has a chance of a settlement.
A good chance?
We have a case, Maggie,
and that's enough for me.
[dramatic music fades]
Oh, hey. Do you want a cup of chamomile?
[Maggie] No, I just want to go to bed.
[unsettling music playing]
[clears throat]
It was dust. They think it was dust.
Dust we… all breathed in.
Dust you brought home. Not that you knew.
Dust? You serious?
They have a case, Derek.
We've got one.
And we're gonna win.
[unsettling music building]
[Susan] It was good tonight, eh?
A bit scary.
Yeah, I felt scared too.
Certainly made me want to hoover
a bit more regularly.
[chuckles]
Oh, when did you get so handsome?
-I'm not.
-You are.
-[Connor] You think so?
-Yeah.
You won't…
That's it now, for ops.
Okay.
I mean no more ops.
Thanks, Mum.
I love your hand. Because I love you.
Right.
Night, babe.
Ugh. How much gel
have you got in your hair? Jesus.
[Connor chuckles]
Night, angel.
Do we have all we need?
Well, that depends.
Are you taking Dr. Penman's advice?
Reducing the list?
[sighs] I don't know.
Okay.
We need Penman's testimony.
She needs to know.
Well, Tracey's not the only one
I have to tell.
No, but if she's going to be excluded
from the case, Des, she needs to know.
When things are in motion,
if there are no other options.
Not till then.
[unsettling music building]
[softly] Right.
What are you thinking about?
Justice.
We're gonna get justice.
[unsettling music peaks, fades]
[somber, rhythmic music playing]
[somber music ends]