Curfew (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

If a man wanted to hurt you,
he could.
You've been walking around
for eight days
with a tag that you can
take off.
Eddie, you haven't told that
detective about our
It's just between you and me.
And he went for my taser,
didn't he?
That's right,
he went to grab it.
He was reaching for his phone
to show her his log.
Hey!
A man who's hurting
is a man who's dangerous.
I'm pregnant.
I bet you made her give up
on work, too, the stories.
What are you talking about?
She was a cam girl, weren't she?
I guess she didn't trust you
as much as you thought.
She changed everything.
It's not an exaggeration to say
that without Valarie Rashid,
there would be no curfew.
She campaigned tirelessly
to make this country
safe for women.
Not that everyone
appreciates it.
What do you mean?
I've had angry
calls from parents
about that display already.
Saying it's prejudiced
against boys,
but it's not.
It's history.
Our history.
Do you think the renewal
vote'll pass?
Yes.
I hope so.
Sometimes I worry the tide
is swinging against us.
Well, we better wrap this up.
It's six o'clock.
You need to head home.
Is that enough to make
a start on the essay?
Yeah.
What is it?
Still getting used
to the curfew?
It's just so weird,
just seeing all the men,
heads down.
Rushing to get home
by some arbitrary hour.
It's not arbitrary, Max.
It's the dark.
Without curfew,
bad things happen at night.
Yeah. Yeah.
Fine.
All right.
Now, should men
be made to stay at home at night
in order to keep women safe?
That's the issue being debated
in the House of Commons today.
The Women's Safety Act
is a law that protects women.
Does this pit
women's rights to safety
against men's rights to freedom?
It's discrimination
against 50% of the population.
Well, that's it.
In a hugely significant vote,
Britain has become the first
country in the world
to introduce a curfew
on all men.
The tag is worn at all times,
and requires men
to remain at home between
07:00 p.m. and 07:00 a.m.
If men learned
how to behave themselves,
then we wouldn't have to have
these extraordinary measures.
The crime statistics demonstrate
that the curfew is working.
We've lived through
a period of segregation.
No progress comes
without pain or reaction.
A group
who call themselves Alphas
is spreading online hate
and misogyny.
Huge protests have
sprung up across the country
calling for an end to curfew.
If we lift the curfew,
how do we protect women?
Helen. It's
hard to find someone these days.
Are you sure you're not lonely?
Of course not, Mum.
I've got friends.
But Patrick's lovely.
Your father and I always hoped
you two might get married.
Is there someone else?
No, don't be silly.
There's no one else.
It's like they've
made romance illegal.
It's okay to want someone,
sweetheart.
It's okay to be vulnerable.
Helen? Helen?
Helen?
We do worry about you, you know.
Well, if you were
really worried,
you wouldn't have moved
to France.
Your dad couldn't live under
those Draconian rules, Helen.
And he shouldn't have to.
Do you want to talk to him?
I know he misses you.
No.
He doesn't get to tell me
what to do anymore.
Helen, please
Would bang.
Would bang.
"How did the activist
Valarie Rashid contribute
to the establishment of curfew?"
Would bang.
Definitely would not bang.
James, you've got
the same essay, man.
Billy, listen.
The line between education
and brainwashing, very thin.
All right, now, shut up
about the essay.
Would bang.
Yeah, but would they
bang you, though?
Wow, you forget
who you're talking to.
But what about you
and Cass Jackson?
There's no banging there, eh?
Let me guess.
She's keeping you
tucked away for a rainy day?
You're friend-zoned, forever.
Billy,
when's it gonna occur to you,
that there must be a reason
that this is literally the only,
only class you're struggling in?
What do you mean?
- I mean, Ms. Jones.
Men's re-education.
It's not right!
She's sowing the seeds
of our subservience.
Wake up, man.
Do you not listen to The Duke?
Yeah, well, it sounds
like you've been on those
Alpha chat rooms, bro.
And so what if I have?
The Duke is a serious
political thinker.
And he says that
this shit, Billy
Yeah, okay.
is there to build us
into compliance.
Yeah, and Ms. Jones is in on it.
In fact,
she's the front-fucking line.
Well, listen, tell her
not to give those chancers
a penny, okay, and I can
come over Saturday.
Will you, sweetheart?
Yeah, yeah, of course, Mum,
it's just the patio.
It's no bother. Honestly.
How you haven't
found the right woman
Well, I've got a date
tonight, actually.
- Ooh!
- Yeah,
She's coming over for dinner.
But it's curfew.
You can't break the law, Eddie.
You're about to be a detective.
She won't be coming inside.
We won't be breaking
any laws, Mum, okay?
I've put a table outside my
flat, and we can share
some Chicken Escalope,
and a nice bottle of wine.
Well, she can have the wine.
I can't. I'm on call.
It's all perfectly legal.
Romantic, even.
Aww!
I'm sure she'll love it.
Yeah. Yeah, let's hope so.
Besides, I'm not a detective
until next week.
did you find out
who your partner's going to be?
Yeah, yeah.
A A DI Pamela Green.
I haven't met her yet,
but apparently
she's a tough nut to crack.
You'll be brilliant.
Okay.
Mum.
It's ten to seven, James.
Yeah, sorry, Ms. Caldrew,
I was just heading out.
I don't want to see
another "C", Billy,
or there will be no more
after school study sessions.
You know this is why Cass
ain't gonna shag you?
You're a pussy.
What wait, what do you mean?
- Because you buy into all this.
Billy, you just lie there,
and you take it.
Listen, women
want to put you in a box.
All right? Don't let 'em.
Watch this. You need it.
Why do women friend-zone you?
The answer is easy.
Women have forgotten that
relationships are transactional.
They desire safety,
food, company,
which we men provide,
in return for having
our own needs met.
But if you give a woman
these things for free,
she'll give you nothing
in return.
Remember, women respond
to power.
You have to show them that
you can exert your own power.
["Wait For Me" by Tim Oliver]
Oh, my darling
My pretty angel
I don't know
Where I'm going to
But I hope
that you're staying ♪
So I know ♪
I can find my way home
Oh, my angel
My sweet pretty darling ♪
I could fall in love
All over again
But I won't be
lonely my dear ♪
If you wait for me
Won't you wait for me?
We can wake up, shake up,
break up, make up ♪
And everything
all under the moon ♪
And the stars and the sun
Bluetooth connected.
Women don't do charity.
Look at yourself.
Really look.
Are you everything you can be?
You're asking this woman
to accept you into her body.
You have to earn it.
You have to show them
you can be a man.
It's a romantic little spot.
All candles,
and twinkling lights.
It embraces the night,
like restaurants used to before.
But there's no curfew here,
and we are free to do
what we like.
You hold out my chair
for me like a gentleman.
And all throughout dinner,
you're flirting with me,
telling me how wonderful I look.
- You really do.
- And then the bill comes.
I'll pay it.
Of course you do.
I like that you treat me well.
The dinner
is cooking in the oven,
the smell of roast meat
hanging in the air.
No.
No?
No, I'm not really,
interested in the food.
Um, tell me about
what you're doing.
What are you doing for me?
Um
I'm
- washing the dishes
- And what?
and, I'm leant
over the sink.
- Yes.
And you're moving in behind me.
No, not yet.
Sir, do you want me
to tell you the story, or not?
I didn't come here to be
schooled by yet another woman.
Hey? This is my fantasy.
Okay.
Not yet.
Don't take no for an answer.
Perseverance is key.
Women can smell weakness.
You have to exude strength.
Women don't want you
to be their puppy.
They want you to be a wolf.
They're your prey.
We haven't caught up in a while.
- I know.
- I don't know,
it feels like
you're keeping secrets from me.
I've just been busy, that's all.
I saw Ben Williams today.
He was in the supermarket
buying spinach and pineapple.
Apparently, he was gonna put
them both in an omelet.
Isn't that odd?
I think he's a little odd.
Is his wife still on at you
to change your testimony?
Yeah, she keeps putting her
business cards in my door.
God, she's persistent.
But I've told her
to leave me alone.
- What is it?
- Nothing.
Just men don't know
how to hear the word "no."
She wants you to be the hunter.
How will you catch her?
This is a world
that wants you captive.
Wants you caged.
But you must resist.
You must break free.
You need to show them
that you're not their lackey.
Or their friend.
Or their toy.
And you won't allow
this oppression anymore.
You won't be complicit.
- Yeah.
- You'll take charge.
You'll demand her respect.
- Hi, Mum.
- Hi, Darling.
I'm not interrupting, am I?
Only, Bethany said,
could you come in the morning
to do the patio,
as she has a doctor's
appointment in the afternoon.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fine.
Did she like the Escalope?
It's not until nine, Mum.
Who's that?
It's just Eddie,
darling. Do you want to say hi?
Why would I
want to say hi to that stupid
He's wandered off.
How is he?
He's fine.
- Mum.
- It's Alzheimer's,
darling, you never know
from one day to the next.
I've been waiting so long
For a chance
I could show you ♪
I'm gonna
keep you in my arms ♪
Are you still there, darling?
Can you hear me okay?
Yeah, listen, I gotta go, Mum.
because I wanted to
- Bye.
Come on, Helen.
Open up.
Helen.
What are you doing here?
I've been trying
to get hold of you for days.
You've been ignoring me.
- You can't just walk in here.
I just want to have
a proper conversation.
Has everyone lost their
understanding of the word no?
A man is dead, Helen.
I don't have
to talk to you about that.
I'd like you to leave now.
All right, well, I didn't
want to have to do this, but
What the hell?
Why would you show me this?
His daughter
is in your class, Helen.
Don't you think she deserves
to know what happened?
Leave now.
- No, come on, Helen.
My son assures me
you're not made of stone.
Go.
Okay, fine.
But I'm sure you'll do
the right thing.
- Yo.
- Bro,
you ain't gonna believe
what I've just found.
Listen, turns out Ms. Jones'
middle name's Ava.
I've been using that to dig up
all her nasty little secrets.
Good for you, James.
All right, well,
that ain't the only thing
I've been digging up.
Look at you.
You're best friends forever.
All right, leave it, man.
And you're so nice.
Honestly, are there any other
chores you can do for her?
Or have you done
'em all already?
And pink.
It's your colour.
Why'd you let her
do this to you, man?
It's embarrassing.
- She
she's just, um
Yeah, got you whipped.
- No, I'm not whipped.
- Alright, mate.
And she says "Jump" and you say,
"All right, how high, Cass?"
Look, she doesn't
tell me what to do.
I I tell her, so
She walks all over you, mate.
You let 'em all
just walk all over you.
You know what?
I told her to take
my tag off, didn't I? Hmm?
Billy, holy shit.
Yeah, I'm not so whipped now.
No way, man.
I mean, in the Kingdom
of the Blind,
the fucker without a tag
is King Bill.
I mean, this is great,
you could be so cool
if you use this just right.
Use it for what?
What do you mean, harassing you?
They just won't leave me alone.
I keep blocking them and they
they keep setting up
new accounts.
But I don't understand,
new accounts on what?
Just Instagram.
Just report them
and ignore them.
- People love to be jerks.
- Jerks?
Sorry.
Spending too much time with Ben.
You're not sleeping
with him, are you?
No, of course not.
- He's married.
- I know that, Helen.
It's just that
It's been ages
since I felt anything.
So, you are sleeping with him?
No, I'm not.
But I want to.
Jesus.
I really want to.
It'll end in tears, Sarah.
- I've got to go.
- Wait, Helen
Huh.
What's happening?
Are they messaging you again?
Yes.
I don't know what I've done.
And I don't know
why they're doing this.
Mum?
No!
Mum?
Don't shout at me!
Don't, please!
I can't take it! For God's sake!
Mum?
- What's they saying now?
- Nothing.
So, they've gone?
Helen!
Helen, are you still there?
Helen, are you listening to me?
Helen!
It's all right, darling.
Look Mum, can you just tell me
what's going on, please?
He's having a bit of an episode.
May be worth you popping over.
No! Put it down!
Mum, I can't come over, okay?
The curfew
Mum, do you want me
to call the police?
No, don't call the police.
We are both
Stop!
No!
Mum, is everything okay?
Mum?
Mum?
He's gone.
He just ran out the door.
They'll arrest him!
Don't you think I know that?
I'm going after him.
- No, no, no.
Just you stay put, okay?
I'll I'll
Mum?
Shit.
Hello, which service
do you require?
Police, please, there's, um
a suspicious character
walking the streets.
Do you suspect
a man of breaking curfew?
I I don't know.
Well, can you
describe the nature
of their suspicious behaviour?
Um, they
they're peering through
people's windows.
What's your location?
- Garland Road.
- Okay.
We'll dispatch an officer
to meet you at your home.
Can I just check
the house number?
Ma'am?
Are you there? I need to know
your house number.
We'll be with you shortly.
Stay away from the windows,
and call back
if anything changes.
Fuck!
Are you receiving, PC Wilson?
Come in, PC Wilson.
Dispatch, this is PC Wilson.
We need you to attend
a disturbance call in your area.
You tag will be remotely
deactivated in one minute.
- What's the address?
- 92 Garland Road.
Do you know it?
- Yep, I know it.
Heading there now.
What are you doing calling me?
I need to talk to you.
I'm with my wife and kids.
I'm sorry, I just
Have you been messaging me?
What are you talking about?
- Did you send me
a sexy school teacher outfit?
I don't know
what you're on about.
Someone who knows
who I really am sent me this.
A bit of a coincidence,
considering you saw me tonight.
Yeah, well, I don't really care.
Okay? And I do not
appreciate this.
I'm not your boyfriend,
Ms. Jones.
Keep me out
of your self-inflicted drama,
and don't you ever
call me again.
I know who you are.
And I know who you are,
you old pig.
Evening, Ma'am.
We've had a disturbance call
from this address.
Well, who are you?
- I'm PC Wilson, Ma'am.
I'm with the police.
We had a call about
some suspicious characters
wandering the streets.
- Yeah.
They're still out there,
you know.
Who are, Ma'am?
- The men.
Yeah, they said
Yeah, they said
they'd locked them up.
But they lied.
So you've seen
a man outside, Ma'am?
I mean, not including myself.
No, they never
locked up Henry, you know.
And they should have done.
They should have done.
Listen, you've got
family inside, Ma'am.
Should we pop you back in
and I can I can have
a wee wander about?
Yeah, but what if
it's Henry out there?
I'll I'll sort it, Ma'am.
I'll check.
Don't worry.
- Thank you.
How's it going up there?
Fuck's sake, man.
Dispatch, this is PC Wilson.
The disturbance on Garland Road
was a confused elderly woman.
- It was a false alarm.
- Copy that.
- I'm PC Wilson.
- All right.
And I'm in my own house,
PC Wilson, yeah?
This is still my perimeter,
so feel free to move on.
You don't look like
you're planning
on staying that way for long.
How come you're allowed outside?
I've got special dispensation.
That's Right, cool.
So, um,
well, you don't feel
like that makes you
complicit or whatever?
You you've been
listening to The Duke?
I I don't even know
who to listen to anymore, man.
PC Wilson, this is Dispatch.
Your call out has been
logged as complete.
You have 15 minutes
to return home
before your tag is reactivated.
Yep, copy that.
So you're just as controlled
as the rest of us, yeah?
What's your name?
- Billy.
I'm Eddie.
Wait, hold on,
what are you doing, man?
It's just easier
to talk this way, that's all.
So what's got you
so upset then, Billy?
Do girls like that you're a Fed?
S Sorry?
Do girls like that you're a cop?
Well, I've actually got a
Shit.
What, what's wrong?
I had a date, but I forgot.
All right, so you forgot.
Yeah, yeah, oddly busy night.
You know who doesn't like me
being a cop, Billy?
My mates.
Not that I have
many of them anymore.
They all think
that I'm complicit.
Where was it
you were thinking about going?
Um, do you know Valerie Rashid?
- Yeah.
- Well, um
there's this display
of her at my school
and my mate wanted me
to tear it down,
mess it up or whatever,
I don't know.
And he wanted you
to break curfew to do it?
I don't know, man,
sometimes I just feel like
life's everyone telling me
how I'm supposed to be
a man, but
none of it adds up.
Do you ever go
to the Alpha chat rooms, Billy?
No, not like that, okay?
But I do go there sometimes
to listen, and to
I don't know, save them.
Give them someone to talk to,
someone who doesn't spout
bile back at them.
Sounds pretty lame
when I say it out loud.
But I've seen what happens,
you know, to men who nurse
their own resentments
until there's nothing
but to swallow them whole,
and I can promise you,
Billy, they're not happy.
I don't know if there's
a right way to be a man.
But I know that if it involves
tearing women down,
then it's probably not it.
You don't happen to have a phone
that I can borrow, do you?
It's just, um,
I need to call my mum.
Thanks.
Hello?
Who's this?
This is PC McCowan.
Curfew Enforcement.
Eddie, is that you?
Listen, he's got
he's got dementia, okay?
I know he looks young,
but it's early onset, and
Yeah, he's been
placed under arrest, I'm afraid.
He's sick, okay?
He just needs help.
Your mother
seems to have received
a black eye.
That was an accident, son!
Hold on just one
second, I'll pass you over.
It's fine, darling,
don't listen to a word they say!
I didn't mean
it, Eddie, I swear!
No, leave him alone!
No, be gentle!
Do you need a doctor, Mum?
No! They won't
let me go with him!
Not if they're
arresting him now.
I've got to go,
they're taking him.
Thanks.
Um, is everything all right?
Yeah, yeah, no, it's,
it's fine, it's just
No.
No, actually it's not.
I I've got to go.
You don't want to be listening
to The Duke, Billy.
Okay?
Or anyone who speaks about
women like they're not human.
So what, I don't get to see you?
Take the mask off.
Who are you?
Take the mask off.
No.
There's no secret here, Helen.
I know who you are.
And I want you to take it off.
I'm keeping it on.
Then I best begin my email.
Fine.
Better.
I already know the story
I want to hear.
- I can't say that.
- Yes, you can.
You can.
And you will.
"You know I like to teach
young boys.
"I like the way they smell."
Say it like you mean it.
"You know I like
to teach young boys.
"I like the way they smell,
"like fresh-cut grass,
and innocence.
"I like the way
their cheeks flush red and hot,
"their hormones
racing in the air.
"I like the way they look at me,
"like I could teach them
how to please a woman."
My God!
"Fine, then,
fuck you too, I guess."
You know I like to teach
young boys.
I like the way they smell.
My girl, my girl
Don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep
last night ♪
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun
don't ever shine ♪
I'll shiver the whole
night through ♪
Hey girl, hey girl
Where will you go?
I'm going where
the cold wind blows ♪