Hustle s07e02 Episode Script
Old Sparks Come New
James, they're called sealed bids, but you don't think they are sealed, do you? Oh, blimey.
Well, anyway, bottom line, your chum needs to stump up another 50k if he wants it.
Well, he shouldn't be so poor, then! That's plain selfish if you ask me.
ASAP, please, James, rushed off my feet here.
Look, I'll work for the minimum All right, I'll work for less than the minimum, I just really Sorry, my boss is giving me a bit of grief.
If you're not going to eat, I need your table.
Oh, I'm sorry, yeah.
How much do I owe you? Just the two coffees, wasn't it? That's 4.
90.
Oh, God! This is really embarrassing, I've left my wallet at home.
I only live up the road, so I can grab it in two minutes.
It comes out of my wages if you do a runner.
I'm not going to do a runner, I swear.
I'll give you this, that's a vintage watch, my gran gave it me, it's got to be worth 50 quid.
What's the difference between vintage and knackered, then? I'll be two minutes, I promise.
Go on, then.
OK Thank you.
Young man I couldn't help overhearing your conversation, might I have a quick look at the watch? Sure.
God damn! You were right.
Yep, Claude Fouchet, early one, too, when he was working out of Marseilles.
How much do you want? No, it's not for sale.
We'll give you two grand.
Two grand?! OK, three, then.
I'd love to, but it's not mine to sell.
But she's not coming back.
She said she was and I trust her.
Sorry.
OK.
If she doesn't Call me.
And I admire your honesty.
Blonde girl on table seven didn't have any money, she's left her watch for security.
She says she coming back! Hi, the guy I was talking to before, he left a watch - that's right.
Thank you.
Er, miss? I couldn't help over hearing your conversation earlier.
I happen to be interested in old scrappy watches.
I just wondered whether you might sell me that for, say, £300? Oh, no, sorry, my gran gave it to me.
For sentimental reasons, we could go to £400? Well, my gran gave it to me.
I guess Granny wouldn't want me to starve.
And £500 would certainly set you back on your feet, wouldn't it? OK.
OK, yeah, you've got a deal.
Well, done you, clever old thing.
Now, one, two, three, four, five, six Emma? Emma Kennedy! Oh, my God, Joe.
Yeah.
Joe Ryan! How are you doing? Oh, my, God, yeah! I'm good.
Erm Sorry.
Could I just have ten seconds? Sorry, yeah, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Yeah, we're just Where were we? Yes, where indeed? I seem to have lost my train of thought now.
That's 300, it's just another two, isn't it? Yes, just another 200.
Oh, I hope she's not pulling a flanker on you mate.
She did me out of an Oasis ticket once for a sherbert Dip Dab and two Curly Wurlies.
Oh, very good Very good.
But not quite good enough.
Something I said? I'm sorry, I'll be two seconds.
OK, I messed something up there, didn't I? Wait, don't tell me, you're a sleazy rip-off merchant.
No, no, no, it was a game, it was a joke, it was like a bet I was having with my mates, that's all.
Do feel free to smack me in the mouth.
No, it's nothing.
Forget about it, it's fine.
Solong time.
What you been up to? I heard you became a teacher.
Yes, call me "sir".
No, I work in a primary school up in Birmingham.
Wow! Are you still married to Kate, was it? Yeah, long story.
You? I'm not married to Kate, no.
So what, do you work round here? Sort of, yeah, I move around a bit.
What sort of work? Money.
Now why doesn't that surprise me? Yeah, yeah, I move it around.
Keeping some for yourself, I hope.
Yeah, just a bit, yeah.
Well, good for you.
You look bigger, Joe, you've filled out, you know.
Yeah, I've piled on the weight.
I used to be eight pounds seven ounces, would you believe? Well, it suits you.
Well, thank you.
You look as gorgeous as you always did, of course.
So what are you doing down here? Oh, you know, stuff.
Well, do you want to get a coffee or something or? I've got to go to a meeting right now, but my train doesn't leave until nine.
How about a glass of wine later? Broke her heart.
Emma? I swear, clean in two, he was the love of her life.
I can't imagine anyone doing that to Emma.
Lads, some of the hearts I've broken, eh? Well, you are a very attractive man, Eddie.
Listen, I remember this one girl, she wanted me so much, she couldn't even call me.
Or answer the phone when I rang her, she was too tongue tied to speak, I had to give her the old Spanish archer.
And this other one who was so transported when we made love, she went into a sort of trance.
If you didn't know any better, you would say she'd fallen asleep, you know.
In the end, you've just got to get rid.
It might hurt them in the short run, but ultimately it's for best, cos these people, you know, they're, em deluded.
Yeah, yeah, I know someone just like that.
So what happened with Emma? Well, they met when they were 15, they became inseparable.
I think she assumed they'd marry.
Emma? Marriage? I'm telling you, she was a completely different girl in those days.
I think he was a bit overwhelmed and he ended it when he went off to college.
Last I heard, he married a nurse.
Yeah, life was good.
Ben was about to start nursery, I had a great job at a fantastic school, just bought our dream house And then she started to get these headaches.
The only blessing is it was over so quickly.
Oh, Joe, I'm so sorry.
Anyway, I took six months off to get my head straight.
By the time I went back to work, I was way behind on the mortgage and in debt, so I ended up borrowing some money from this company I saw on the telly, a company called Dosh4You.
Dosh4You lend to undischarged bankrupts, people with county court judgements and people with criminal records.
So why don't you call Dosh4You now for a free no-strings consultation? Calling Dosh4You now might just might be the smartest call you ever made, so call Dosh4You now.
And let's be friends! So I borrowed three grand from them and, yeah, I should have read the small print about the rates and the penalties if you miss a repayment, but I just I trusted them, I suppose.
So how much do you owe? £31,526.
And £272829! I came down here to meet a debt advice agency.
It's all completely legal, apparently, so in three days' time, they'll take the house, and me and Ben will be homeless.
It works out at an interest rate of more than 4,000%.
Well, can they do that? Yeah, I had a look through the contract, it's all there, Albeit in tiny black and white, so it is legal, but it's wrong.
And who owns it? Georgina Althorp.
I've only done a net search so far, but she sounds like a real piece of work.
The daughter's kidneys failed completely, so the mother had to give up work to look after her, with the dad still crippled from the car crash, of course.
This took them a year behind on payments, so in June I waivered a right to repossess, and then Yeah, did so again on the 15th of last month.
They're now asking for one last extension so they can stay in their home for the final few weeks of little Emily's life.
What can I say? It's simply Appalling.
You know, one of the most desperate case histories I think I have ever heard.
I can't believe you didn't come to see me before.
And ask my permission before granting two frigging loan extensions! I mean, have I missed something here?! Eh? Is it Red Nose Day? Is Richard cocking Curtis about to walk in the door?! This is a business! It is not a charity! Evict! Now! And when you've done that, go and get your P45, because you are fired.
Right Who's next? I think she could benefit from knowing what it feels like to be on the other end of the deal for once.
Where's the company based? Er, Birmingham.
Birmingham?! Yeah, we'd just go up there.
Isn't that where he lives, Joe Ryan? What's that got to do with anything? Come on, sis! She's a great mark, Sean, end of.
I think all Sean is saying is this is work, isn't it? Not some personal thing? Yes, of course it is work.
The woman is greed personified, she's the ideal mark! The rest is my business.
I think Emma's right, the woman is a good mark.
Yeah, I agree.
So unless anyone has any further objections, we have ourselves a new mark.
Now, we need a base man, Mickey, you know, a co-ordinatordown here.
Of course we do.
And I'd really like to be that man.
I have a certain skill, a certain focus And a certain proximity to Sandown Park.
OK, Albert, you're our base man.
I'd also like you to check out the legal situation, the laws governing loan sharking, usury, money lending.
Sean, personal history, where she's from, past relationships, significant others, you know the score.
Emma, professional history, how she got to where she is now.
Ash, interests outside the company, hobbies, diversions, other businesses.
I'll do the company itself.
Tickets, please.
INAUDIBLE Come on, help the homeless! Help the homeless.
Oh, get a job! Good afternoon.
I need a room, please.
Ohbugger! Let me help you, sir.
Oh, yeah, thanks very much, You're very kind.
Oh, I need to get a new one of these things, you know, this one looks like the lock's gone.
Not a problem, sir.
Cheers, thank you very much.
Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I need a room, single will do, and the name's Smith, David Smith.
Of course, Mr Smith, let's just see We've got plenty of singles, but I doubt very much we're going to sell it now - I'll give you our suite for the price of a single.
How's that sound? What's your name, young man? Well, it's William, William Philpott, that's two Ts, and if there's anything else I can do Birmingham? Birmingham.
You've been? There was a bus at the end of our road went there.
Never came back but it went My feelings entirely.
Do you mind? I've got a briefing.
No.
Thank you.
Oh! I don't think we ordered On the house, Mr Smith, for you and your guests.
Oh, thanks very much, William, that's much appreciated.
Enjoy.
Oh, I love me! Sorry about the delay, Albert.
Hi, not to worry.
Right then Sean.
OK.
Our mark was born Gail Latter in a run down suburb of Solihull The daughter of Horace and Doris Latter, she was educated at the local comp but left as soon as she could.
Parents now dead, and she didn't attend either funeral following a family dispute.
Apparently she bought their council house for them Then evicted them! She changed her name by deed poll to Georgina Althorp in 1996.
She started selling double glazing, then the properties the double glazing was in, then the mortgages that bought the properties and then any kind of loan.
She trained at night school to be a lawyer and qualified in '98.
And then, less than three years ago, she opened Dosh4You at the start of the recession.
And it has positively thrived in that market selling loans to skint people who can't get loans anywhere else because, well, because they can't afford to.
I think you'll find if you take a look at your contract, sir, that it is a secured loan and we do have the right to repossess your car.
For secured loans, against a house, or a car, anything worth more than the original loan, and they're ruthless.
Daily letters, hourly phone calls, home visits until ultimately what they call Debt Resolution Advisors.
Please, we have no-where to go, I'm begging you.
Not our problem, sweetheart, you signed the contract, sorry.
No, please! There have been a number of court cases against them, attempts to have their punitive interest rates ruled illegal, but no-one has won.
Clearly what they do is unjust, unfair, immoral.
But it is all within the letter of the law.
OK, she likes a flutter on the markets she uses Standings of Mayfair.
Buys mainly gilt and blue chip but also has a bit in some property companies and a chunk in a boutique private bank Dawlish and Co.
Member of the Audley Hall golf club and has applied five years in a row to join the Troon Hunt.
OK.
What does she want, this comp-educated woman who changes her name to Althorp? What does she really want? To be someone else.
Exactly.
And that's our bait.
We have to offer her the thing she most clearly craves Class.
My old man said you can never buy class.
No, you can't.
But you can sell it.
Or at least a representation of it.
What representation? The very best.
A title.
We are going to sell her a title and we're going to sell her the property that comes with it.
A castle.
Count Victor Lustig.
The Eiffel tower con.
We sell her a building we don't own.
How many times have we sold The Ritz hotel this year? More times than was polite.
So where shall we start? At the very beginning.
With a convincer.
OK Troon Hunt.
"Invite you to a luncheon, master of the hunt.
HUNTING HORN SOUNDS "Final selection process.
Fotherleigh Castle.
" Sarah, I'm going shopping.
MUSIC OVER SPEECH Backdoor, you're the Master.
East End Arthur, you're the Kennelsman.
Rodney, Jessop, Pilchard and Dibble You're the local businessmen on the waiting list.
Platform 4, twelve o'clock, enjoy yourselves, have a good time, smile and good luck.
Let's go.
Oh, come on fellas, one for the road, eh? How about some takeaways? Sorry, Eddie, got to rush.
Servants entrance, chapel and this Is to the grand hall.
How much? A grand.
Why else do you think it's called the grand hall? And you're definitely 100% sure it's empty? It's only open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Then, you're on.
DOORBELL CHIMES No, it's by the fridge Emma! Joe.
Surprise? Found an old dressing up box as we were packing, didn't we, Ben? Hello.
He's a bit shy.
He's gorgeous.
You can't think I would normally wear an outfit like this Pink completely washes me out.
Oh, Joe, I don't know how you manage to stay so cheerful.
Got to, haven't I? Little man's been through enough already, doesn't need his dad moping around feeling sorry for himself.
So what you doing up here? Oh, I was visiting some old friends in Leicester and I thought I'd make a little detour.
Well, I'm really glad you did.
So when's it happening? Thursday, six o'clock.
And you've explored every single other option.
Everything legal, yeah.
And it would have to be completely above board? Yeah, I mean I could never I'd never do anything dodgy, if that's what you mean.
Well, I guess that depends on what you call dodgy, doesn't it? I'm a dad, Em, and a teacher.
And both those jobs come with some serious responsibilities.
I've gotta play this one with a straight bat I'm afraid.
I'm sorry if that sounds pompous.
It doesn't at all, it's refreshing actually.
So did you pack your glasses? Yeah, I've packed away the lead crystal.
Could do you two Simpsons mugs though? Bagsy Marge.
You OK? Yeah, why? You just seem a bit quiet, that's all.
And you have been ever since you ran into this guy.
Right, Mickey Mmm.
Do you ever question what we do? Question it? In what way? Well, I mean, do you ever ask yourself if what we do is wrong? Maybe once when I was starting out when I was a kid.
But, er I'm a grown up, Em.
I know how the world works.
You can't con an innocent man, remember? Yeah.
But? A couple of days ago I met this man I went to school with, who's a teacher himself now and he's got a little boy of his own.
But when what I did for a living came up I lied.
And I lied because I felt something I haven't felt in years.
I felt shame.
And they build Bridewell C nuclear power station and the locals thought it was an improvement.
You've got slum housing, you've got grinding poverty, you've got factories everywhere belching out smoke Hey, Albert, they don't call it the Black Country for nothing you know.
All right we're on.
Good morning, Rupert Worthesely Wethesley, hunt secretary.
Georgina Althorp, prospective member.
Of course, Ms Althorp.
How charming to finally meet you.
And you, Rupert.
If you'd like to follow me.
I'll take you through you can meet the chaps.
That would be lovely.
Coat.
Did you have to travel far? No, no, just from town.
'Standings of Mayfair.
' Oh, hello, can I speak to Lucy Greening, please? 'Putting you through.
' Thank you.
'Hello, Lucy Greening.
' Oh, hello there, Ms Greening, I wonder if you can help me.
I'm looking to move my share portfolio, and a friend recommended you.
'Well, there's lots of ways we can help you with your banking 'For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
' For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
Split your portfo portfolios 'For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
' Don't answer it, Em, just This is not good for you.
You've work to do, you are part of a team relying on you Bollocks! Hello, Joe, how are you doing? If it makes you feel better there are plenty of other people here in the same boat.
Ah, now you must meet Lord Fotherleigh, it is his castle we're trashing after all.
Johnny, I wonder if I might introduce someone to you.
John Dawlish, Georgina Althorp.
Altrup' ducky, we don't pronounce the Oh, well maybe we do.
John Dawlish? Yes.
Of Dawlish and Co? Yes.
Oh, wow! What a coincidence.
You see, I've got shares in your company.
In fact, you could say we're in the same line of business.
Are we really, you do surprise me.
Well, yeah, you run a bank And I run Dosh4You.
HE LAUGHS Oh, that's very good, that really is very funny.
You see, I didn't have you down as a woman with a sense of humour but that is amusing.
God, aren't they just awful those grubby little outfits.
It wouldn't surprise me if there was a "dosh for you".
Urgh! Brings me out in hives just thinking about it.
Anyway, perfectly charming to meet you.
What have I ruddy told you about letting the working classes near me.
Sir I Oh, be quiet you dullard and get the car.
I'm going to the club.
I'm terribly sorry about that, I think he's having a few work issues.
Damn nuisance is he's on the selection committee.
Look, I know our account with your company has been frozen, but if you can let me have a car right now I promise I will make sure you get a cheque first thing tomorrow morning.
No, it's just my boss has taken his car and he's left me No, don't put me on hold.
Do you need a lift back to town? Oh, you'd be saving my life.
Give it a good squeeze in here.
Get the water off.
That's a good one, isn't it? That's good cleaning, isn't it? What? Nothing, nothing.
I just always thought you'd make a great dad.
Oh, I'm just trying to impress you.
Oh, right, right - usually locked in the cellar, is he? Yeah, lives off dry bread and leftovers.
I'm a monster in real life.
Yeah, I often think about what would have happened if you and I had stayed together.
Yeah, me too.
That was all you wanted back then, wasn't it? A proper family.
Mm-hm.
But we were too young, Em, just kids ourselves really.
Not now though, eh? Listen, why don't you come round to mine later? Spag bol on a paper plate What's not to like? Or maybe you've got other commitments.
No.
I've got no otherOh, crap Other commitments.
I've got to go.
How about seven? Yeah, seven's fine.
Yeah, all right.
Can you say bye to Ben for me, yeah? Thanks for this, and I'm really sorry about earlier, that was How does he manage to run a successful business when he treats people like that? What? Nothing.
I was Nothing.
Um, just here's fine.
Thank you very much, once again.
So come on then, one good deed and all.
I'm sorry? Are they having money worries, Dawlish? If I had shares say Would I buy or would I sell? Come on, what do you owe him, eh? Sell.
Like today, like right now.
Sell the bloody lot.
And if you're ever looking for a new financial director.
Right, get me back to my office.
I need my phone and a rolodex.
Hello, Dosh4You.
Hello, Dosh4You, how can I help? PHONE BUZZES Where the hell is she? Lucy Greening.
Oh, hi, Lucy, it's Georgina Althorp here.
I was wondering have you heard any whispers about Dawlish and Co? Well, you know, that's odd, you're the second person to ask me that today.
Really, why were the other people worried? They'd heard a vague rumour about some liquidity problems.
Did they? Right.
What are they trading at now? Hang on Sell 'em, sell the lot.
Whatnow? Yes.
Now.
What've I got a hundred grand's worth? Yeah, just over.
OK, one second.
OK, that's done.
Right, I'll call you later.
Sorry.
I got lost in the one way system would you believe it? No problem.
Let's get the website online and reel her in.
Bloody hell.
PHONE RINGS PLAYS RECORDING OF BACKGROUND OFFICE NOISE Tommy Pinion.
Hello, Mr Pinion, it's Georgina Althorp here.
Oh, hi.
Is there any chance I could call you back? It's just it's not a very good time.
I just wanted to say thank you for the tip, you just saved me 45 grand.
Oh, hey, my pleasure, looks like you got out just in time.
Really? It's way worse than even we knew.
We're trying to avoid a fire sale of all his assets.
All his assets? Between you and me, I think he's going to lose everything.
Yeah, the castle, the business, not to mention his good name.
Look, I'd like to buy you dinner tonight.
That's, that's very kind of you, but it's not really good timing.
I've got a job opportunity that I'd like to discuss with you.
How about Gilroys, 7.
30pm? I'll see you there.
And we're on.
Once you learn this no-one will ever grab you again.
Go on, go on face, up there.
Right.
So, are you going to go and see Joe again? Yeah, I am.
Is this 'a thing' then? I honestly don't know where it's going.
But your share, you're giving it to him? I want to, but I actually don't think he'll take it.
Oh, did he say he wouldn't? No, not exactly.
You haven't told him, have you? What you do? I wanted to, and I will.
Emma, you have to tell him.
If it's serious, he has to know who you are.
Sure If that is who I am.
Hey, how you doing, it's Eddie.
Barman Eddie.
Barman Eddie from Liverpool.
Barman Eddie from Liverpool, what - about 5'7", dark Listen, I was married to you for two years, Rita.
Yeah, yeah that Eddie, yeah.
LAUGHS Anyway, listen, I was just wondering cos, erm I run this new bar now and I was wondering if you fancy popping over Hello? Hello? Must be on a train or something cos the reception went.
Right.
Hey, how about just a day trip up there, Albert, just to see the gang? Like you said, Eddie, this is Birmingham No decent hotels or restaurants.
I'm not entirely sure they even have electricity.
KNOCK ON DOOR Hey.
Hey.
Hi, all right? Oh, my goodness, Joe, you didn't have to go to all this trouble.
Yeah, I did.
Dosh4You cut off the electric.
Good evening, Ms Althorp.
Mr Pinnion, sit down.
Champagne? Oh, yes, thanks.
Here you go.
Lovely.
Cheers.
Cheers.
You see The, the In fact No, in my professional I'll just take these.
Yeah, yeah sure.
In my professional opinion, as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chartered Accountants, and as an RCSC And a And a IFA and an ASAP and an IOU He's, he's buggered.
He is, cos the company, right, has way more debts than it's got assets.
And he's all, like "Wah, wah," He's completely borassic, as well.
He must have some things he could sell? Already sold 'em, all he's got left is that title and then that stupid bloomin' whatsisface castle.
Why doesn't he sell those? What's the point? If he did the banks would simply take all the money he made and use it to pay off his creditors.
If he could sell the castle and keep the money he would, but he can't so he's f BELCHES Sorry.
HIS STOMACH RUMBLES LOUDLY Oh, I think I had a bad oyster.
I feel a bit odd.
BELCHES LOUDLY Oh, I'm sorry.
What are you going to do, Joe, come tomorrow night? Oh, we'll be OK.
I can stay with mum and dad for a bit, till we get some money together for a rental.
The rest? In the end it's just stuff, Em, it's just stuff.
It's not anything that'll really make you happy, you know? Real happiness comes from family, from being around the ones you love.
Yeah.
And I know I've only just met you again, and I know this is ridiculously fast, but I just want you to know I'd so love you to stay.
You mean tonight? I mean for good.
Wherever we end up, stay with us for good.
Sorry about that, looks like it was a bad one.
You need to sober up and you need to sober up fast.
Ring your boss, tell him I've had an idea, a way he can earn some serious money he can keep.
If he's interested, he'll meet me tomorrow morning at nine sharp.
Got it? Yeah, got it.
Ring him now.
Let me know.
Ash, she bit.
I'm not sure I can do this.
This con or any con? Right now I'm pretty confused.
Why don't you take a few days off, think things through? What about the job? We'll manage.
Please don't say anything to Sean until I'm certain.
I'll say that you're not feeling well, you've gone back to London.
Thank you.
You know, just because other people don't do what we do, it doesn't mean it's wrong.
Yeah, I know.
It just means they haven't got the nerve.
Trust me, if they thought they could get away with it, everyone would do what we do.
Yes I'm not sure this is what I want any more.
If it can still make me happy.
A bug? Yeah, 24-hour-thing she reckons.
If it's the bug I think it is, Mickey, it lasts a lot longer than 24 hours.
I'm sorry, I would have told you, but she asked me not to say anything.
How bad's she got it? Bad, I think.
She has this fantasy idea of an idyllic little family Picket fence, wine and roses.
And I think she's falling for that more than the bloke.
So tell her then.
No, I can't tell her, Ash.
Whatever decision she makes has got to be her own.
Yeah, but we don't want to lose her, Mickey, we need her, we love her.
Not to mention how Sean would react.
Yeah, I know.
How about I go and have a chat with the guy, heart to heart, try and understand where he's coming from? And if that doesn't work, I could give him a slap.
Let's just hold fire till this con's finished.
We need to sell the illness idea to Sean, he has to stay focused till the end of the day.
Yeah, got it.
We're on.
Ms Althorp.
Glass of fizz and a pop tart when you're ready there, granddad.
Right.
Let's not beat about the bush.
You are in the shit.
I beg your pardon! Shut up and listen.
You are in the shit and I'm going to help you out.
I want to buy your castle and I am prepared to offer you £500,000 for it.
Half a million?! Half a million?! It's easily worth four times that, more! I didn't have you down as a man with a sense of humour Not to you it ain't.
To you it is worth squat diddly, cos pretty soon the bank is going to come along and take the lot.
Why on earth would I sell it to a common little tart like you then? Because I'm going to buy it cash.
So we write up a contract for a nominal sum, say a pound, and on paper that's what you sell it to me for.
We say it's a money pit, falling down, I'm doing you a favour.
But privately, I give you £500,000 cash.
Cash no-one need know about, specifically your creditors.
No, no, that, that's completely illegal.
Absolutely not, the contract will be watertight.
It may be within the letter of the law, but it's definitely against the spirit and I Oh, please! A contract is a contract - it's either legal or it isn't.
But what about his creditors? What about the small businesses he owes cash to, the friends who've lent him money? What about them? Only a moron lets his hard-earned cash slip through their fingers.
They deserve everything that they get.
Oh, one more thing.
If you choose to take the deal .
.
I want the title.
To be Lady Fotherleigh.
Absolutely not.
No.
The title, that would be all that I had left.
Yeah.
And that is exactly why I want it.
Please I beg you, Georgina.
The title.
Or this common little tart walks.
We'd absolutely have to exchange and complete by close of play today, the administrators are circling.
Can you draw up the deeds of transference in time? If you can get the contracts sorted.
Oh, yeah, I'll do them myself, have a copy with you by midday.
And trust me, they will be watertight.
Then it's a deal.
Well, well, well.
Turns out you're not as stupid as you look.
Oh, what time for the viewing? I'm sorry? The viewing.
Of the castle.
But Um, you've already seen it.
Bloody hell, no wonder your business has gone tits up! I was at a drinks party, I had a cursory look around.
I want to view it properly, check that there's no damp, no subsidence, that the windows aren't too drafty.
It's a 500-year-old-castle.
I'll be there at You'll be there too.
Or the deal's off.
Now that wasn't supposed to happen.
OK, do you want the good news or the bad news? The bad news.
They don't shut till 7.
00pm.
What's the good news? If we buy a six month pass we get a free Mr Whippy.
There's absolutely no way we can delay? No, or she gets her statement from her stockbroker and we're finished.
We're bollocksed then.
There's got to be more than 100 people here.
There's no way to get rid of them all by 4.
00pm.
And not to mention with Emma sick we're a man down.
Like he said - we're bollocksed.
Unless I told you we'd be fine.
Yeah, right.
Ms Althorp.
Not for much longer.
You have the money? You have the deeds? And we've signed our contracts.
Then let's have a look see, shall we? Follow me.
No I want him to do it.
How's your English history? Depends how far you go back.
How far back can you go? I can remember what I had for breakfast.
Beyond that I'm struggling a bit.
Nah, we'll be fine, I'll busk it.
And so we come to the oldest part of the castle, built at the turn of the 15th century.
And if we look up, we can see a typical example of a flying buttocked ceiling.
Moving on to the long gallery where legend has it that William Wallace Simpson fought with Richard de Gere for the heart of Lady Marion .
.
The Faithful.
I'm really sorry to interrupt, but I've just had a text from the office.
The receivers are there and trying to freeze your accounts.
Right, let's do it then.
Keys.
Please.
Money, please.
Half a million.
You're short, a quid short.
Of course Sorry.
Now piss off out of my castle, you pleb.
Did we get it? LAUGHS Told you it would work.
Yeah, I can't believe you ever worried, Mickey.
When you think about it, it had to work - it's a classic.
Unless Unless we try Doomsday? Well, Chemical Ollie lives up that way and Monty John, and they both owe me a favour, yeah, I'll call them right away.
I'm sure they can pull a team together.
SIRENS WAIL I think we should move this way.
This is an emergency.
This is an emergency.
Evacuate immediately, evacuate immediately.
Evacuate and make your way to the bus.
Evacuate area immediately.
Radiation leak at Bridewell C.
Right, back to London, a few beers at Eddie's? Definitely.
But we have a few loose ends to tie up first.
And we need to move it.
It's me, where are you? My husband and I My husband and I, Lady Fotherleigh.
I knew something funny was going on.
What the hell are you doing in our castle? Your castle?! What the bloody hell are you doing in my castle? This is the great hall with all the ancestral paintings.
Your castle? What about this? This castle is owned by Stately Heritage.
No.
No.
No! Call the police, I want the police here now! The police? Yes! Right, and what shall I tell the gentlemen here for your meeting? You?! You! You! Where's my money? Where is my bloody money?! Whoa, Georgina, calm down, calm down.
You'll get your money back.
You what? Yeah, it was a bit of fun A joke, We were just proving a point.
Of course we'll give you your money back.
You are? Yeah, obviously.
You can't go round taking money from people and giving them nothing in return.
No, no, you can't.
Cos that would be absurd, not to mention completely immoral.
Yeah.
We're going to give you back every penny you spent on that castle.
In fact Here it is right now.
£1?! £1?! I gave you 500 frigging grand!!!! No, no, you didn't.
It's all here in black and white.
See, £1.
So you can call the police if you wish, but a contract is a contract, it's either legal or it isn't.
But that's That You have tricked me.
You have conned me, and that is not fair! Guys, can you hear something? Yeah, a sort of whinging sound.
Yeah, sort of a whinging fool sort of sound? Yeah, that's exactly what it is, a whinging fool kind of sound.
Like you said, only a moron lets hard-earned cash slip between their fingers.
You deserve everything you get.
SHE SCREAMS Yeah, go on, so what did they say? When the pig started to sing Yeah, go on then.
.
.
It was a big surprise to everyone.
So what am I, Scotch mist? Hey! Are you feeling better? Yeah.
A lot, actually, yeah.
Good.
When I heard you weren't well, I made some of my special chicken soup for you.
Good to have you back, babe.
Thanks, Albert.
You missed a beaut, Ems.
Sit down and I'll tell you all about it.
I want to hear every little detail.
It was probably the water up there, not safe to drink, apparently.
So? How was your bug? He was good.
He was very good.
But in the end Not quite good enough.
Right, we're ready.
No fuss, here you go.
Hold on to your keys for now, Mr Ryan.
Got a bit of good news for you.
Why would you do this, Mickey? Because I know when I'm beat.
If making his life easier is what makes you happy, then And are they OK with it? Yeah, well, they get their money Why wouldn't they be? What do you think, Emma? An interest rate mistake? Apparently they just lost some big case in London on how they calculate their interest.
Wow.
Anyway, bottom line is the interest I've already paid has more than paid off the loan.
In fact, they owed me money.
No way.
£1,580! Ben, your toys are out! Oh, Joe And, Em, it gets better.
When he gave me the cash, he must have got confused in his head.
What do you mean? The idiot gave me £1,850 instead of £1,580.
Gave me £270 too much.
But you told him, yeah? You gave it back to him? It was cash, how are they ever going to prove that? That's not the point, Joe.
Isn't it? What is the point then? The point is That's not who you said you were.
You know it's odd when you meet someone who seems to see the world in a completely different way to you.
And it just makes you question everything you are.
Particularly if you fancy the pants off him.
Yes, and also if you think they have something you've always wanted.
But you were right.
I usually am.
He's no different from us, and thisthis so isn't wrong.
This is all the family I need right now.
This is who I am.
Then welcome back, Em.
And thank you.
For what? Showing me.
And the extra £270? You have to make it look like a mistake, OK? Like a mistake.
Oh, I know you Mickey Stone.
I was actually hoping he wouldn't take it.
Oh, yeah, right.
No, really.
I don't believe you.
Yep, it is good to be back.
Woo! SHE LAUGHS Cheers, everybody.
Cheers! DISTANT HUM OF VOICES
Well, anyway, bottom line, your chum needs to stump up another 50k if he wants it.
Well, he shouldn't be so poor, then! That's plain selfish if you ask me.
ASAP, please, James, rushed off my feet here.
Look, I'll work for the minimum All right, I'll work for less than the minimum, I just really Sorry, my boss is giving me a bit of grief.
If you're not going to eat, I need your table.
Oh, I'm sorry, yeah.
How much do I owe you? Just the two coffees, wasn't it? That's 4.
90.
Oh, God! This is really embarrassing, I've left my wallet at home.
I only live up the road, so I can grab it in two minutes.
It comes out of my wages if you do a runner.
I'm not going to do a runner, I swear.
I'll give you this, that's a vintage watch, my gran gave it me, it's got to be worth 50 quid.
What's the difference between vintage and knackered, then? I'll be two minutes, I promise.
Go on, then.
OK Thank you.
Young man I couldn't help overhearing your conversation, might I have a quick look at the watch? Sure.
God damn! You were right.
Yep, Claude Fouchet, early one, too, when he was working out of Marseilles.
How much do you want? No, it's not for sale.
We'll give you two grand.
Two grand?! OK, three, then.
I'd love to, but it's not mine to sell.
But she's not coming back.
She said she was and I trust her.
Sorry.
OK.
If she doesn't Call me.
And I admire your honesty.
Blonde girl on table seven didn't have any money, she's left her watch for security.
She says she coming back! Hi, the guy I was talking to before, he left a watch - that's right.
Thank you.
Er, miss? I couldn't help over hearing your conversation earlier.
I happen to be interested in old scrappy watches.
I just wondered whether you might sell me that for, say, £300? Oh, no, sorry, my gran gave it to me.
For sentimental reasons, we could go to £400? Well, my gran gave it to me.
I guess Granny wouldn't want me to starve.
And £500 would certainly set you back on your feet, wouldn't it? OK.
OK, yeah, you've got a deal.
Well, done you, clever old thing.
Now, one, two, three, four, five, six Emma? Emma Kennedy! Oh, my God, Joe.
Yeah.
Joe Ryan! How are you doing? Oh, my, God, yeah! I'm good.
Erm Sorry.
Could I just have ten seconds? Sorry, yeah, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Yeah, we're just Where were we? Yes, where indeed? I seem to have lost my train of thought now.
That's 300, it's just another two, isn't it? Yes, just another 200.
Oh, I hope she's not pulling a flanker on you mate.
She did me out of an Oasis ticket once for a sherbert Dip Dab and two Curly Wurlies.
Oh, very good Very good.
But not quite good enough.
Something I said? I'm sorry, I'll be two seconds.
OK, I messed something up there, didn't I? Wait, don't tell me, you're a sleazy rip-off merchant.
No, no, no, it was a game, it was a joke, it was like a bet I was having with my mates, that's all.
Do feel free to smack me in the mouth.
No, it's nothing.
Forget about it, it's fine.
Solong time.
What you been up to? I heard you became a teacher.
Yes, call me "sir".
No, I work in a primary school up in Birmingham.
Wow! Are you still married to Kate, was it? Yeah, long story.
You? I'm not married to Kate, no.
So what, do you work round here? Sort of, yeah, I move around a bit.
What sort of work? Money.
Now why doesn't that surprise me? Yeah, yeah, I move it around.
Keeping some for yourself, I hope.
Yeah, just a bit, yeah.
Well, good for you.
You look bigger, Joe, you've filled out, you know.
Yeah, I've piled on the weight.
I used to be eight pounds seven ounces, would you believe? Well, it suits you.
Well, thank you.
You look as gorgeous as you always did, of course.
So what are you doing down here? Oh, you know, stuff.
Well, do you want to get a coffee or something or? I've got to go to a meeting right now, but my train doesn't leave until nine.
How about a glass of wine later? Broke her heart.
Emma? I swear, clean in two, he was the love of her life.
I can't imagine anyone doing that to Emma.
Lads, some of the hearts I've broken, eh? Well, you are a very attractive man, Eddie.
Listen, I remember this one girl, she wanted me so much, she couldn't even call me.
Or answer the phone when I rang her, she was too tongue tied to speak, I had to give her the old Spanish archer.
And this other one who was so transported when we made love, she went into a sort of trance.
If you didn't know any better, you would say she'd fallen asleep, you know.
In the end, you've just got to get rid.
It might hurt them in the short run, but ultimately it's for best, cos these people, you know, they're, em deluded.
Yeah, yeah, I know someone just like that.
So what happened with Emma? Well, they met when they were 15, they became inseparable.
I think she assumed they'd marry.
Emma? Marriage? I'm telling you, she was a completely different girl in those days.
I think he was a bit overwhelmed and he ended it when he went off to college.
Last I heard, he married a nurse.
Yeah, life was good.
Ben was about to start nursery, I had a great job at a fantastic school, just bought our dream house And then she started to get these headaches.
The only blessing is it was over so quickly.
Oh, Joe, I'm so sorry.
Anyway, I took six months off to get my head straight.
By the time I went back to work, I was way behind on the mortgage and in debt, so I ended up borrowing some money from this company I saw on the telly, a company called Dosh4You.
Dosh4You lend to undischarged bankrupts, people with county court judgements and people with criminal records.
So why don't you call Dosh4You now for a free no-strings consultation? Calling Dosh4You now might just might be the smartest call you ever made, so call Dosh4You now.
And let's be friends! So I borrowed three grand from them and, yeah, I should have read the small print about the rates and the penalties if you miss a repayment, but I just I trusted them, I suppose.
So how much do you owe? £31,526.
And £272829! I came down here to meet a debt advice agency.
It's all completely legal, apparently, so in three days' time, they'll take the house, and me and Ben will be homeless.
It works out at an interest rate of more than 4,000%.
Well, can they do that? Yeah, I had a look through the contract, it's all there, Albeit in tiny black and white, so it is legal, but it's wrong.
And who owns it? Georgina Althorp.
I've only done a net search so far, but she sounds like a real piece of work.
The daughter's kidneys failed completely, so the mother had to give up work to look after her, with the dad still crippled from the car crash, of course.
This took them a year behind on payments, so in June I waivered a right to repossess, and then Yeah, did so again on the 15th of last month.
They're now asking for one last extension so they can stay in their home for the final few weeks of little Emily's life.
What can I say? It's simply Appalling.
You know, one of the most desperate case histories I think I have ever heard.
I can't believe you didn't come to see me before.
And ask my permission before granting two frigging loan extensions! I mean, have I missed something here?! Eh? Is it Red Nose Day? Is Richard cocking Curtis about to walk in the door?! This is a business! It is not a charity! Evict! Now! And when you've done that, go and get your P45, because you are fired.
Right Who's next? I think she could benefit from knowing what it feels like to be on the other end of the deal for once.
Where's the company based? Er, Birmingham.
Birmingham?! Yeah, we'd just go up there.
Isn't that where he lives, Joe Ryan? What's that got to do with anything? Come on, sis! She's a great mark, Sean, end of.
I think all Sean is saying is this is work, isn't it? Not some personal thing? Yes, of course it is work.
The woman is greed personified, she's the ideal mark! The rest is my business.
I think Emma's right, the woman is a good mark.
Yeah, I agree.
So unless anyone has any further objections, we have ourselves a new mark.
Now, we need a base man, Mickey, you know, a co-ordinatordown here.
Of course we do.
And I'd really like to be that man.
I have a certain skill, a certain focus And a certain proximity to Sandown Park.
OK, Albert, you're our base man.
I'd also like you to check out the legal situation, the laws governing loan sharking, usury, money lending.
Sean, personal history, where she's from, past relationships, significant others, you know the score.
Emma, professional history, how she got to where she is now.
Ash, interests outside the company, hobbies, diversions, other businesses.
I'll do the company itself.
Tickets, please.
INAUDIBLE Come on, help the homeless! Help the homeless.
Oh, get a job! Good afternoon.
I need a room, please.
Ohbugger! Let me help you, sir.
Oh, yeah, thanks very much, You're very kind.
Oh, I need to get a new one of these things, you know, this one looks like the lock's gone.
Not a problem, sir.
Cheers, thank you very much.
Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I need a room, single will do, and the name's Smith, David Smith.
Of course, Mr Smith, let's just see We've got plenty of singles, but I doubt very much we're going to sell it now - I'll give you our suite for the price of a single.
How's that sound? What's your name, young man? Well, it's William, William Philpott, that's two Ts, and if there's anything else I can do Birmingham? Birmingham.
You've been? There was a bus at the end of our road went there.
Never came back but it went My feelings entirely.
Do you mind? I've got a briefing.
No.
Thank you.
Oh! I don't think we ordered On the house, Mr Smith, for you and your guests.
Oh, thanks very much, William, that's much appreciated.
Enjoy.
Oh, I love me! Sorry about the delay, Albert.
Hi, not to worry.
Right then Sean.
OK.
Our mark was born Gail Latter in a run down suburb of Solihull The daughter of Horace and Doris Latter, she was educated at the local comp but left as soon as she could.
Parents now dead, and she didn't attend either funeral following a family dispute.
Apparently she bought their council house for them Then evicted them! She changed her name by deed poll to Georgina Althorp in 1996.
She started selling double glazing, then the properties the double glazing was in, then the mortgages that bought the properties and then any kind of loan.
She trained at night school to be a lawyer and qualified in '98.
And then, less than three years ago, she opened Dosh4You at the start of the recession.
And it has positively thrived in that market selling loans to skint people who can't get loans anywhere else because, well, because they can't afford to.
I think you'll find if you take a look at your contract, sir, that it is a secured loan and we do have the right to repossess your car.
For secured loans, against a house, or a car, anything worth more than the original loan, and they're ruthless.
Daily letters, hourly phone calls, home visits until ultimately what they call Debt Resolution Advisors.
Please, we have no-where to go, I'm begging you.
Not our problem, sweetheart, you signed the contract, sorry.
No, please! There have been a number of court cases against them, attempts to have their punitive interest rates ruled illegal, but no-one has won.
Clearly what they do is unjust, unfair, immoral.
But it is all within the letter of the law.
OK, she likes a flutter on the markets she uses Standings of Mayfair.
Buys mainly gilt and blue chip but also has a bit in some property companies and a chunk in a boutique private bank Dawlish and Co.
Member of the Audley Hall golf club and has applied five years in a row to join the Troon Hunt.
OK.
What does she want, this comp-educated woman who changes her name to Althorp? What does she really want? To be someone else.
Exactly.
And that's our bait.
We have to offer her the thing she most clearly craves Class.
My old man said you can never buy class.
No, you can't.
But you can sell it.
Or at least a representation of it.
What representation? The very best.
A title.
We are going to sell her a title and we're going to sell her the property that comes with it.
A castle.
Count Victor Lustig.
The Eiffel tower con.
We sell her a building we don't own.
How many times have we sold The Ritz hotel this year? More times than was polite.
So where shall we start? At the very beginning.
With a convincer.
OK Troon Hunt.
"Invite you to a luncheon, master of the hunt.
HUNTING HORN SOUNDS "Final selection process.
Fotherleigh Castle.
" Sarah, I'm going shopping.
MUSIC OVER SPEECH Backdoor, you're the Master.
East End Arthur, you're the Kennelsman.
Rodney, Jessop, Pilchard and Dibble You're the local businessmen on the waiting list.
Platform 4, twelve o'clock, enjoy yourselves, have a good time, smile and good luck.
Let's go.
Oh, come on fellas, one for the road, eh? How about some takeaways? Sorry, Eddie, got to rush.
Servants entrance, chapel and this Is to the grand hall.
How much? A grand.
Why else do you think it's called the grand hall? And you're definitely 100% sure it's empty? It's only open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Then, you're on.
DOORBELL CHIMES No, it's by the fridge Emma! Joe.
Surprise? Found an old dressing up box as we were packing, didn't we, Ben? Hello.
He's a bit shy.
He's gorgeous.
You can't think I would normally wear an outfit like this Pink completely washes me out.
Oh, Joe, I don't know how you manage to stay so cheerful.
Got to, haven't I? Little man's been through enough already, doesn't need his dad moping around feeling sorry for himself.
So what you doing up here? Oh, I was visiting some old friends in Leicester and I thought I'd make a little detour.
Well, I'm really glad you did.
So when's it happening? Thursday, six o'clock.
And you've explored every single other option.
Everything legal, yeah.
And it would have to be completely above board? Yeah, I mean I could never I'd never do anything dodgy, if that's what you mean.
Well, I guess that depends on what you call dodgy, doesn't it? I'm a dad, Em, and a teacher.
And both those jobs come with some serious responsibilities.
I've gotta play this one with a straight bat I'm afraid.
I'm sorry if that sounds pompous.
It doesn't at all, it's refreshing actually.
So did you pack your glasses? Yeah, I've packed away the lead crystal.
Could do you two Simpsons mugs though? Bagsy Marge.
You OK? Yeah, why? You just seem a bit quiet, that's all.
And you have been ever since you ran into this guy.
Right, Mickey Mmm.
Do you ever question what we do? Question it? In what way? Well, I mean, do you ever ask yourself if what we do is wrong? Maybe once when I was starting out when I was a kid.
But, er I'm a grown up, Em.
I know how the world works.
You can't con an innocent man, remember? Yeah.
But? A couple of days ago I met this man I went to school with, who's a teacher himself now and he's got a little boy of his own.
But when what I did for a living came up I lied.
And I lied because I felt something I haven't felt in years.
I felt shame.
And they build Bridewell C nuclear power station and the locals thought it was an improvement.
You've got slum housing, you've got grinding poverty, you've got factories everywhere belching out smoke Hey, Albert, they don't call it the Black Country for nothing you know.
All right we're on.
Good morning, Rupert Worthesely Wethesley, hunt secretary.
Georgina Althorp, prospective member.
Of course, Ms Althorp.
How charming to finally meet you.
And you, Rupert.
If you'd like to follow me.
I'll take you through you can meet the chaps.
That would be lovely.
Coat.
Did you have to travel far? No, no, just from town.
'Standings of Mayfair.
' Oh, hello, can I speak to Lucy Greening, please? 'Putting you through.
' Thank you.
'Hello, Lucy Greening.
' Oh, hello there, Ms Greening, I wonder if you can help me.
I'm looking to move my share portfolio, and a friend recommended you.
'Well, there's lots of ways we can help you with your banking 'For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
' For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
Split your portfo portfolios 'For maximum growth, split your portfolios.
' Don't answer it, Em, just This is not good for you.
You've work to do, you are part of a team relying on you Bollocks! Hello, Joe, how are you doing? If it makes you feel better there are plenty of other people here in the same boat.
Ah, now you must meet Lord Fotherleigh, it is his castle we're trashing after all.
Johnny, I wonder if I might introduce someone to you.
John Dawlish, Georgina Althorp.
Altrup' ducky, we don't pronounce the Oh, well maybe we do.
John Dawlish? Yes.
Of Dawlish and Co? Yes.
Oh, wow! What a coincidence.
You see, I've got shares in your company.
In fact, you could say we're in the same line of business.
Are we really, you do surprise me.
Well, yeah, you run a bank And I run Dosh4You.
HE LAUGHS Oh, that's very good, that really is very funny.
You see, I didn't have you down as a woman with a sense of humour but that is amusing.
God, aren't they just awful those grubby little outfits.
It wouldn't surprise me if there was a "dosh for you".
Urgh! Brings me out in hives just thinking about it.
Anyway, perfectly charming to meet you.
What have I ruddy told you about letting the working classes near me.
Sir I Oh, be quiet you dullard and get the car.
I'm going to the club.
I'm terribly sorry about that, I think he's having a few work issues.
Damn nuisance is he's on the selection committee.
Look, I know our account with your company has been frozen, but if you can let me have a car right now I promise I will make sure you get a cheque first thing tomorrow morning.
No, it's just my boss has taken his car and he's left me No, don't put me on hold.
Do you need a lift back to town? Oh, you'd be saving my life.
Give it a good squeeze in here.
Get the water off.
That's a good one, isn't it? That's good cleaning, isn't it? What? Nothing, nothing.
I just always thought you'd make a great dad.
Oh, I'm just trying to impress you.
Oh, right, right - usually locked in the cellar, is he? Yeah, lives off dry bread and leftovers.
I'm a monster in real life.
Yeah, I often think about what would have happened if you and I had stayed together.
Yeah, me too.
That was all you wanted back then, wasn't it? A proper family.
Mm-hm.
But we were too young, Em, just kids ourselves really.
Not now though, eh? Listen, why don't you come round to mine later? Spag bol on a paper plate What's not to like? Or maybe you've got other commitments.
No.
I've got no otherOh, crap Other commitments.
I've got to go.
How about seven? Yeah, seven's fine.
Yeah, all right.
Can you say bye to Ben for me, yeah? Thanks for this, and I'm really sorry about earlier, that was How does he manage to run a successful business when he treats people like that? What? Nothing.
I was Nothing.
Um, just here's fine.
Thank you very much, once again.
So come on then, one good deed and all.
I'm sorry? Are they having money worries, Dawlish? If I had shares say Would I buy or would I sell? Come on, what do you owe him, eh? Sell.
Like today, like right now.
Sell the bloody lot.
And if you're ever looking for a new financial director.
Right, get me back to my office.
I need my phone and a rolodex.
Hello, Dosh4You.
Hello, Dosh4You, how can I help? PHONE BUZZES Where the hell is she? Lucy Greening.
Oh, hi, Lucy, it's Georgina Althorp here.
I was wondering have you heard any whispers about Dawlish and Co? Well, you know, that's odd, you're the second person to ask me that today.
Really, why were the other people worried? They'd heard a vague rumour about some liquidity problems.
Did they? Right.
What are they trading at now? Hang on Sell 'em, sell the lot.
Whatnow? Yes.
Now.
What've I got a hundred grand's worth? Yeah, just over.
OK, one second.
OK, that's done.
Right, I'll call you later.
Sorry.
I got lost in the one way system would you believe it? No problem.
Let's get the website online and reel her in.
Bloody hell.
PHONE RINGS PLAYS RECORDING OF BACKGROUND OFFICE NOISE Tommy Pinion.
Hello, Mr Pinion, it's Georgina Althorp here.
Oh, hi.
Is there any chance I could call you back? It's just it's not a very good time.
I just wanted to say thank you for the tip, you just saved me 45 grand.
Oh, hey, my pleasure, looks like you got out just in time.
Really? It's way worse than even we knew.
We're trying to avoid a fire sale of all his assets.
All his assets? Between you and me, I think he's going to lose everything.
Yeah, the castle, the business, not to mention his good name.
Look, I'd like to buy you dinner tonight.
That's, that's very kind of you, but it's not really good timing.
I've got a job opportunity that I'd like to discuss with you.
How about Gilroys, 7.
30pm? I'll see you there.
And we're on.
Once you learn this no-one will ever grab you again.
Go on, go on face, up there.
Right.
So, are you going to go and see Joe again? Yeah, I am.
Is this 'a thing' then? I honestly don't know where it's going.
But your share, you're giving it to him? I want to, but I actually don't think he'll take it.
Oh, did he say he wouldn't? No, not exactly.
You haven't told him, have you? What you do? I wanted to, and I will.
Emma, you have to tell him.
If it's serious, he has to know who you are.
Sure If that is who I am.
Hey, how you doing, it's Eddie.
Barman Eddie.
Barman Eddie from Liverpool.
Barman Eddie from Liverpool, what - about 5'7", dark Listen, I was married to you for two years, Rita.
Yeah, yeah that Eddie, yeah.
LAUGHS Anyway, listen, I was just wondering cos, erm I run this new bar now and I was wondering if you fancy popping over Hello? Hello? Must be on a train or something cos the reception went.
Right.
Hey, how about just a day trip up there, Albert, just to see the gang? Like you said, Eddie, this is Birmingham No decent hotels or restaurants.
I'm not entirely sure they even have electricity.
KNOCK ON DOOR Hey.
Hey.
Hi, all right? Oh, my goodness, Joe, you didn't have to go to all this trouble.
Yeah, I did.
Dosh4You cut off the electric.
Good evening, Ms Althorp.
Mr Pinnion, sit down.
Champagne? Oh, yes, thanks.
Here you go.
Lovely.
Cheers.
Cheers.
You see The, the In fact No, in my professional I'll just take these.
Yeah, yeah sure.
In my professional opinion, as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chartered Accountants, and as an RCSC And a And a IFA and an ASAP and an IOU He's, he's buggered.
He is, cos the company, right, has way more debts than it's got assets.
And he's all, like "Wah, wah," He's completely borassic, as well.
He must have some things he could sell? Already sold 'em, all he's got left is that title and then that stupid bloomin' whatsisface castle.
Why doesn't he sell those? What's the point? If he did the banks would simply take all the money he made and use it to pay off his creditors.
If he could sell the castle and keep the money he would, but he can't so he's f BELCHES Sorry.
HIS STOMACH RUMBLES LOUDLY Oh, I think I had a bad oyster.
I feel a bit odd.
BELCHES LOUDLY Oh, I'm sorry.
What are you going to do, Joe, come tomorrow night? Oh, we'll be OK.
I can stay with mum and dad for a bit, till we get some money together for a rental.
The rest? In the end it's just stuff, Em, it's just stuff.
It's not anything that'll really make you happy, you know? Real happiness comes from family, from being around the ones you love.
Yeah.
And I know I've only just met you again, and I know this is ridiculously fast, but I just want you to know I'd so love you to stay.
You mean tonight? I mean for good.
Wherever we end up, stay with us for good.
Sorry about that, looks like it was a bad one.
You need to sober up and you need to sober up fast.
Ring your boss, tell him I've had an idea, a way he can earn some serious money he can keep.
If he's interested, he'll meet me tomorrow morning at nine sharp.
Got it? Yeah, got it.
Ring him now.
Let me know.
Ash, she bit.
I'm not sure I can do this.
This con or any con? Right now I'm pretty confused.
Why don't you take a few days off, think things through? What about the job? We'll manage.
Please don't say anything to Sean until I'm certain.
I'll say that you're not feeling well, you've gone back to London.
Thank you.
You know, just because other people don't do what we do, it doesn't mean it's wrong.
Yeah, I know.
It just means they haven't got the nerve.
Trust me, if they thought they could get away with it, everyone would do what we do.
Yes I'm not sure this is what I want any more.
If it can still make me happy.
A bug? Yeah, 24-hour-thing she reckons.
If it's the bug I think it is, Mickey, it lasts a lot longer than 24 hours.
I'm sorry, I would have told you, but she asked me not to say anything.
How bad's she got it? Bad, I think.
She has this fantasy idea of an idyllic little family Picket fence, wine and roses.
And I think she's falling for that more than the bloke.
So tell her then.
No, I can't tell her, Ash.
Whatever decision she makes has got to be her own.
Yeah, but we don't want to lose her, Mickey, we need her, we love her.
Not to mention how Sean would react.
Yeah, I know.
How about I go and have a chat with the guy, heart to heart, try and understand where he's coming from? And if that doesn't work, I could give him a slap.
Let's just hold fire till this con's finished.
We need to sell the illness idea to Sean, he has to stay focused till the end of the day.
Yeah, got it.
We're on.
Ms Althorp.
Glass of fizz and a pop tart when you're ready there, granddad.
Right.
Let's not beat about the bush.
You are in the shit.
I beg your pardon! Shut up and listen.
You are in the shit and I'm going to help you out.
I want to buy your castle and I am prepared to offer you £500,000 for it.
Half a million?! Half a million?! It's easily worth four times that, more! I didn't have you down as a man with a sense of humour Not to you it ain't.
To you it is worth squat diddly, cos pretty soon the bank is going to come along and take the lot.
Why on earth would I sell it to a common little tart like you then? Because I'm going to buy it cash.
So we write up a contract for a nominal sum, say a pound, and on paper that's what you sell it to me for.
We say it's a money pit, falling down, I'm doing you a favour.
But privately, I give you £500,000 cash.
Cash no-one need know about, specifically your creditors.
No, no, that, that's completely illegal.
Absolutely not, the contract will be watertight.
It may be within the letter of the law, but it's definitely against the spirit and I Oh, please! A contract is a contract - it's either legal or it isn't.
But what about his creditors? What about the small businesses he owes cash to, the friends who've lent him money? What about them? Only a moron lets his hard-earned cash slip through their fingers.
They deserve everything that they get.
Oh, one more thing.
If you choose to take the deal .
.
I want the title.
To be Lady Fotherleigh.
Absolutely not.
No.
The title, that would be all that I had left.
Yeah.
And that is exactly why I want it.
Please I beg you, Georgina.
The title.
Or this common little tart walks.
We'd absolutely have to exchange and complete by close of play today, the administrators are circling.
Can you draw up the deeds of transference in time? If you can get the contracts sorted.
Oh, yeah, I'll do them myself, have a copy with you by midday.
And trust me, they will be watertight.
Then it's a deal.
Well, well, well.
Turns out you're not as stupid as you look.
Oh, what time for the viewing? I'm sorry? The viewing.
Of the castle.
But Um, you've already seen it.
Bloody hell, no wonder your business has gone tits up! I was at a drinks party, I had a cursory look around.
I want to view it properly, check that there's no damp, no subsidence, that the windows aren't too drafty.
It's a 500-year-old-castle.
I'll be there at You'll be there too.
Or the deal's off.
Now that wasn't supposed to happen.
OK, do you want the good news or the bad news? The bad news.
They don't shut till 7.
00pm.
What's the good news? If we buy a six month pass we get a free Mr Whippy.
There's absolutely no way we can delay? No, or she gets her statement from her stockbroker and we're finished.
We're bollocksed then.
There's got to be more than 100 people here.
There's no way to get rid of them all by 4.
00pm.
And not to mention with Emma sick we're a man down.
Like he said - we're bollocksed.
Unless I told you we'd be fine.
Yeah, right.
Ms Althorp.
Not for much longer.
You have the money? You have the deeds? And we've signed our contracts.
Then let's have a look see, shall we? Follow me.
No I want him to do it.
How's your English history? Depends how far you go back.
How far back can you go? I can remember what I had for breakfast.
Beyond that I'm struggling a bit.
Nah, we'll be fine, I'll busk it.
And so we come to the oldest part of the castle, built at the turn of the 15th century.
And if we look up, we can see a typical example of a flying buttocked ceiling.
Moving on to the long gallery where legend has it that William Wallace Simpson fought with Richard de Gere for the heart of Lady Marion .
.
The Faithful.
I'm really sorry to interrupt, but I've just had a text from the office.
The receivers are there and trying to freeze your accounts.
Right, let's do it then.
Keys.
Please.
Money, please.
Half a million.
You're short, a quid short.
Of course Sorry.
Now piss off out of my castle, you pleb.
Did we get it? LAUGHS Told you it would work.
Yeah, I can't believe you ever worried, Mickey.
When you think about it, it had to work - it's a classic.
Unless Unless we try Doomsday? Well, Chemical Ollie lives up that way and Monty John, and they both owe me a favour, yeah, I'll call them right away.
I'm sure they can pull a team together.
SIRENS WAIL I think we should move this way.
This is an emergency.
This is an emergency.
Evacuate immediately, evacuate immediately.
Evacuate and make your way to the bus.
Evacuate area immediately.
Radiation leak at Bridewell C.
Right, back to London, a few beers at Eddie's? Definitely.
But we have a few loose ends to tie up first.
And we need to move it.
It's me, where are you? My husband and I My husband and I, Lady Fotherleigh.
I knew something funny was going on.
What the hell are you doing in our castle? Your castle?! What the bloody hell are you doing in my castle? This is the great hall with all the ancestral paintings.
Your castle? What about this? This castle is owned by Stately Heritage.
No.
No.
No! Call the police, I want the police here now! The police? Yes! Right, and what shall I tell the gentlemen here for your meeting? You?! You! You! Where's my money? Where is my bloody money?! Whoa, Georgina, calm down, calm down.
You'll get your money back.
You what? Yeah, it was a bit of fun A joke, We were just proving a point.
Of course we'll give you your money back.
You are? Yeah, obviously.
You can't go round taking money from people and giving them nothing in return.
No, no, you can't.
Cos that would be absurd, not to mention completely immoral.
Yeah.
We're going to give you back every penny you spent on that castle.
In fact Here it is right now.
£1?! £1?! I gave you 500 frigging grand!!!! No, no, you didn't.
It's all here in black and white.
See, £1.
So you can call the police if you wish, but a contract is a contract, it's either legal or it isn't.
But that's That You have tricked me.
You have conned me, and that is not fair! Guys, can you hear something? Yeah, a sort of whinging sound.
Yeah, sort of a whinging fool sort of sound? Yeah, that's exactly what it is, a whinging fool kind of sound.
Like you said, only a moron lets hard-earned cash slip between their fingers.
You deserve everything you get.
SHE SCREAMS Yeah, go on, so what did they say? When the pig started to sing Yeah, go on then.
.
.
It was a big surprise to everyone.
So what am I, Scotch mist? Hey! Are you feeling better? Yeah.
A lot, actually, yeah.
Good.
When I heard you weren't well, I made some of my special chicken soup for you.
Good to have you back, babe.
Thanks, Albert.
You missed a beaut, Ems.
Sit down and I'll tell you all about it.
I want to hear every little detail.
It was probably the water up there, not safe to drink, apparently.
So? How was your bug? He was good.
He was very good.
But in the end Not quite good enough.
Right, we're ready.
No fuss, here you go.
Hold on to your keys for now, Mr Ryan.
Got a bit of good news for you.
Why would you do this, Mickey? Because I know when I'm beat.
If making his life easier is what makes you happy, then And are they OK with it? Yeah, well, they get their money Why wouldn't they be? What do you think, Emma? An interest rate mistake? Apparently they just lost some big case in London on how they calculate their interest.
Wow.
Anyway, bottom line is the interest I've already paid has more than paid off the loan.
In fact, they owed me money.
No way.
£1,580! Ben, your toys are out! Oh, Joe And, Em, it gets better.
When he gave me the cash, he must have got confused in his head.
What do you mean? The idiot gave me £1,850 instead of £1,580.
Gave me £270 too much.
But you told him, yeah? You gave it back to him? It was cash, how are they ever going to prove that? That's not the point, Joe.
Isn't it? What is the point then? The point is That's not who you said you were.
You know it's odd when you meet someone who seems to see the world in a completely different way to you.
And it just makes you question everything you are.
Particularly if you fancy the pants off him.
Yes, and also if you think they have something you've always wanted.
But you were right.
I usually am.
He's no different from us, and thisthis so isn't wrong.
This is all the family I need right now.
This is who I am.
Then welcome back, Em.
And thank you.
For what? Showing me.
And the extra £270? You have to make it look like a mistake, OK? Like a mistake.
Oh, I know you Mickey Stone.
I was actually hoping he wouldn't take it.
Oh, yeah, right.
No, really.
I don't believe you.
Yep, it is good to be back.
Woo! SHE LAUGHS Cheers, everybody.
Cheers! DISTANT HUM OF VOICES