Spyship (1983) s01e01 Episode Script

- Carole.
Give us a couple of quid, love.
- I give you a fiver indoors! That was half an hour ago.
Give us a fiver and I'll give you some change! By heck you will! Here.
- Gin and lime.
- Ooh, deny him nothing! - I never bloody do, I'm soft! - Pint, Johnno? - No, I won't, ta.
- Come on! - No.
- Sure? Martin? - Oh, no, no, no.
Thank you.
- Sure? Martin? - Oh, no, no, no.
Thank you.
- You done? - Yeah.
Back in a minute.
- Whoa! Hey! Are you alright, Johnno? - I can manage! Do you want me to hold it for you?!! - He's well gone.
- Ooh.
I could fancy his son, though.
- Oh, that's right, turn round, you wally! - He's too good for you, Jean.
- Hey, Jimmy! - ls he on the boat, d'you know? I dunno.
I don't think so.
- Ooh.
They're like children.
- I know.
Their last night ashore! - They take you out for a drink - That's a laugh! and they never talk to you! Then you have to carry the buggers home! - They're not bloody daft! - We're the ones must be daft.
You got a fag, Jean? Oh eh, last orders.
- Oh, come on! You bought the last lot! - Oh, give over.
Don't be daft! Ah, isn't she lovely! Norman! Norman! Norman! Lad's here for thee.
- C'mon, let's get some air.
Bye pet.
- Bye! - Bye all! - Get em in, Artie.
Bye! Night, love.
- Night.
- Good night! - Good night.
- Night.
- Why are you so sober? - I don't inhale.
You don't inhale? Ha! I like that.
Phew, I'm pissed! I'm not surprised, everybody buying you drinks.
They're good friends.
Well, they're my sort.
But how about you, are you me friend? - Of course I am.
- Only I like to know, see I like to know who they are.
Here, come wi' us tomorr'.
I can't.
You can! I can fix it.
It'll do you good.
Liven you up a bit.
You know, I don't understand you, son.
- I try, but it's like you're looking down on me.
- That's wrong.
Really.
You know, I'm not like you.
I'm not clever.
But I know.
- Know what? - I know you're not happy.
Your mam didn't mean that much to you.
How often have you been back here these last few years? Only to her funeral.
When people ask me what you're doing like What you've achieved, what you've become I can't tell them, I don't know, 'cos you don't tell me owt.
- Night, Johnno.
- Night, love.
- They're your age.
They're happy! - Oh, come on, Dad.
Eh, I'm pissed! Come on, budge up Give us me bed just now settle now, there There's a good boy! From Greece.
I must've sent this when I was at University.
Aye, don't know how long that's been stuck up there.
You know, I'd like to go somewhere warm for a change.
Ah, there, boy! - How long d'you reckon on stopping, then? - Few weeks.
You know, Suzy'll look after the dog if there's sommat important.
- No.
- Sit down.
You know she's like a daughter to us well, she has been and she's always asking after you.
I were twenty-one when I married Betty, and I don't regret one day of it.
She were a good pal.
Yeah.
Hurts me to see you always moping about, you're always on your own.
You know, I've put a few bob to one side in case you want a house.
Look, she's a good lass.
I I think I'll go to bed.
Aye, well see you then.
Yeah, yeah I'll see you in the morning.
Aye.
Okay, see you then.
- So long.
All the best.
- Take care.
Bye.
Suzy, angel.
What are you doing here? I told you it weren't lucky having women down here! - Oh, rubbish! - You modern lasses! - Hello, Martin.
- Hello.
- This for me? Not going to go off, is it? - It's a fruit cake.
Bloody heck.
What did I tell you? I love this lass! Well, I know you don't eat properly stuck in that house.
- Nowt wrong with that house! - Ooh, always on the defence, your dad, int'ee? He won't answer that if he knows what's good for him! - Hey, Johnno! - Hey! Put her down! You watch yourself.
- About last night.
If I upset you - You didn't.
Any road, it weren't meant.
I know you want to better yourself.
Ta ta, then.
Johnno? Look after yourself.
- See you down below, Pete.
- Aye.
- He speaks highly of you.
- He speaks highly of you! - He does tend to exaggerate.
- Yeah.
Haha! Take the next right at the end.
I'd like to see you not knowing anyone here now Oh, everyone knows you.
Johnno's boy.
Suzy! What are you doing tonight? - Give us a ring and find out! - Right Come along in, Tom.
Thank you, Moira.
- I presume this is Nordex? - Indirectly.
It appears the soviets are testing their SSNX-20s from their typhoon class subs.
Speculation? No, no.
The acoustic listening devices, the SOSUS that the Americans have at Murmansk are reporting a great deal of traffic.
Thirty-four ships in twenty-four hours.
- Confirmed? - Yes, by satellite.
And bang in the middle of our NATO exercises.
- Any idea what their heading is? - Uh, North west Bear Island.
I think they might be testing their new multiples that we've heard so much about.
- Or not heard so much about! - Quite! But this could be a golden opportunity.
We've got the Caistor out at sea beyond the Shetlands.
I'd like her to have a crack at it that is if you're reasonably prepared.
It's very short notice.
Well, we'll get cracking right away! - Operations as before? - Yes, usual back up.
Destroyer standing by on coded contact.
Any idea how long she'll be outside her normal fishing territory? - Ooh, twelve hours? Fifteen at the most.
- Back-up? - Nordex.
- Good.
- We've got half the royal navy out there, Peter.
- Good, good.
Well, when you give the go ahead, we'll contact our regional organiser.
Ah, that's very good of you! - Have I come to the right house? - Hang on a minute, Suzy.
I'm in here! - When did you start this? - Monday.
- It's good.
Does your dad know? - No.
It's a surprise.
- You think it will please him? - Yes, if that's when you want to do.
I expect it is.
Have you eaten? No.
I'm working late tonight.
I eat at the University.
- I was poor company last night, I'm sorry.
- I didn't think so.
Just I'm not used to I'm not used to going out with somebody who actually enjoys talking! - I'm a bit out of practice.
- What about my father?! He never stops talking! Yeah, well, he doesn't expect anything, does he? Will you have supper with me tomorrow night? I mean, you don't have to - if you're doing something or anything.
- Oh, no, no no! - I mean, yes! - Yes?! - I'd love to.
- Nothing special.
That's alright.
- What have you gone and done?!! - I fell, you silly bugger! Ow! - Where does it hurt? - My leg.
- Oh, no! Bollocks! Two-to-one you've broke that.
- Did you find it? - Um, yeah! Hm! You weren't at school when this was written, were you? Oh, yes I was.
Just.
First year.
D'you think that's OK? - How long's it been open? - Couple of weeks.
That's a serious drink problem.
- That guy downstairs.
? - Hoskins? Yeah.
ls he always so nosey when a bloke comes up here? Yeah, well blokes don't come up here.
You know what it's like living in a place like this.
I'm a divorcee.
I've got to be careful who I'm seen with.
- People like me? - Oh, yes! Only the best! - Well, that can't be much fun.
- No fun.
And not funny either, really.
Even with a damn good degree, there's nowhere else I can go to get a job Mmm.
- Do you know, I envy you.
- Why? Well, living in London.
Just getting on with your work.
- What work? - That thing for the Sunday times.
Ha! That's one article! Anyway, I think I've lost me touch.
Listen to this uh "and though the trees are different, the leaves still turn brown and fall to the ground in autumn.
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
" John is right, you do waste yourself! Dear, oh dear! - Get him up! - Go on, you great lump! Oh, bloody hell! Just bring us a saw.
I can't do it with this.
Ey up! You'll be seeing a woman before any of us foreign at that! Aye, there's a blonde nurse waiting for you in Tromso.
- Aye! If you feel a bit stiff! - Don't make me laugh! I'm in bloody agony, man! See you big fellah, ta ta.
- You getting on alright? - Yeah.
Hey, Pete.
Will you do us a favour when you get back to England? - Yeah, what's that? - Post this for us, will you? - Post a letter! - Look, it's very important.
- Only if you're sure you can take care of it, right? - loan post a bleedin' letter! - It in't me brain I've hurt! The wife? - Aye.
In't full of fivers, is it? Only it might get lost in t' post.
- You will post it, won't you? - Course I will, don't worry! Come on.
- Are you cold? - You said you wanted some air.
Yeah.
I discovered my old room today.
I was stripping it and I found the old wallpaper underneath.
Aeroplanes.
Airlines of the world.
- It seems so small.
- Everything gets reduced.
Life's tough.
- And you think I'm cynical! - You are.
- I'm a realist! - Same thing.
Now, that is cynical! You know, you only see what you want to see.
Why don't you write an article about something nice, for a change.
- Such as? - The sea the sky - Life death - The universe! - Yeah.
- That kind of thing.
Why Donald Duck doesn't wear trousers! Well, I'll give it a try.
- Would you read it? - Oh, yeah! If you wrote it.
- You must love me.
- I expect so.
I, er I don't know what Johnno's told you, but er I might be moving on.
Pity.
Life's tough.
Captain, I can't lose it! It's all over the band.
Christ! What's happening? I! Norman?! Are you okay? - We're bloody sinking, I tell you! - No! You can't leave the engine!!! Come on! She's going, I tell you! Engine room! Engine room here! Engine room! It's probably for me.
Hello? Oh Martin Taylor? It's Jack Fielding here.
Your dad introduced me to you, d'you remember? Aye in the pub a few weeks back.
I've got a bit of news for you.
It's not good news, I'm afraid.
It's the Caistor.
Come in.
Mr.
Harding.
My name's Martin Taylor.
My father's on the Caistor.
Ah, yes.
Yes.
Well, still no news, I'm afraid.
But as soon as we hear you'll be told.
Okay? - Can you tell me what's wrong? - Nothing's wrong.
It's a little while since we've heard from her, that's all.
- What's "a little while?" - She was last in contact on Wednesday.
- Th that's four days.
- Wednesday evening.
Okay, it's unusual.
But it's not unprecedented.
I'm not worried.
- She's missing! - How does a thousand ton ship go missing? There's some women out there.
.
.
they've been waiting I know.
But there's nothing to tell them.
Well, shall I tell them that that Caistor's missing? Thank you.
Look, listen, listen, listen.
All I can tell you is she's not the first ship to have lost contact and she won't be the last.
Now, as soon as we hear from her, you'll be told and that's a promise.
Now, in the meantime, try not to worry.
I chartered the Caistor because she's a superb vessel.
I only deal with the best, you know that.
Now I can't say any more for the present, but the moment we hear, you'll be told.
I promise you.
Thank you.
Maybe it is the radio.
Well, of course it is! Why else would they lose contact? Oh, don't be silly! She's enough transmitters on her for Radio One.
No, something's up.
She's not been in trouble before! - What do you think, mister? - I don't know.
- Did he say owt about it to you? - No, no, no.
Exactly the same.
No contact for four days.
ls your husband on board? No.
It's me son, Paul.
Me youngest.
His first voyage.
Sommat would have had to happen.
- There, love.
C'mon.
It'll be alright, you'll see.
- Oh, will it? Leave off, Jean! You should ask them bloody Russians what happened to the Caistor! The Russians? Oh, go on, laugh.
But it's my guess they'll know where she is.
It's them we should be asking.
Not standing around here freezing our bloody arses off! And they went off home.
Nothing much else they could do.
I don't trust that guy, Harding.
He's a good man to work for.
Johnno said.
What? My father knows him? No, I don't think so.
He just said he gets good skippers, that's all.
- Not like some of the others.
- Hmm.
- I had a word with Jack Fielding.
- Oh? What did he think? Probably Caistor's got some RT fault.
That she's up in a fjord somewhere, dodging a storm.
Well, it could be that, couldn't it? Could be.
I don't think he believes it.
Francis, thank you for coming.
How are you? - Very well, thank you.
- Good.
Good.
Have you genned up on the Caistor stuff I sent you? Yes, I have.
Have you anything on at the moment that can't be dropped? What would you like me to do? With your contacts with the other side, I thought you might do some smoothing over.
I'd like you to see there's no evidence left which might be embarrasing to either side.
Do a few odd jobs if absolutely necessary.
- Is this Irving? - It's not his fault.
Entirely.
- I needed somebody thorough, so I chose you.
- Thank you.
- There'll be a search.
- Of course.
Protocol.
I think I'd like to have Simon Tate help me with this.
He's very keen to get on.
Well, he's eager certainly.
inexperienced? An errand boy.
I'll speak to him.
- Mr.
Taylor? - Yes? - You're Johnno's son.
- Yes.
- My husband Alex works the nets.
- Oh, right.
So you're um? - Caroline Lindsay.
- Caroline Lindsay.
Please, come in.
No, I just wanted to tell you something.
I couldn't tell anyone who lives around here.
My husband wasn't meant to be on that boat.
- Why is that? - You see, I had a dream.
I saw my husband sitting in a room.
Just like a prison.
I couldn't hear what he was saying.
It was like he was behind a window.
Suddenly his face turned towards me and it was all blood.
I had my baby and it was crying.
I had this dream and I told him he wasn't to go.
Do you believe you can dream something like that? - Yes, I do.
- He could turn his hand to anything! - Look, please, come in.
- No, I won't.
I can't leave my baby! I just had to tell yer.
You will help us, won't you? - Yes.
If I can.
- Well, thanks anyway.
Search pattern zone J now completed and negative.
Over.
Thank you, Alpha Zulu.
This is Bodo control.
Zone L.
Repeat.
Zone L.
Over.
Alpha Zulu Two.
This is warship matchless proceed to Zone K.
Zone K.
Over.
Report situation and any sightings? Trawler Cape Lincoln, this is Warship Matchless proceed to Zone L.
Zone L.
Over.
Thank you, Moria.
- Morning.
- Ah, thank you Francis! - Morning.
- Good morning! I've just been telling Sir Peter about the air search.
- Oh yes.
Found anything? - You know damn well we haven't, Main! I understand the operation was very slow off the ground.
The leader in today's Times Yes, yes.
We can assume we've all read it.
Fact is, there has been a search.
Eight days.
- It's a long time.
- Cover a lot of ground in eight days.
Water, Peter.
I don't really think we need to bother them any further.
Not one scrap of evidence.
No wreckage.
- No, I think they've done a splendid job.
- Oh, a magnificent job, really.
It does show what the services are capable of, once the stops are pulled out.
All search aircraft and ships.
This is Warship Matchless.
Search abandoned.
Search abandoned.
Proceed to the onpass point, flight level three five zero.
Roger and out.
Trawler Cape Lincoln.
This is Warship Matchless many thanks for your endeavour and handling of trawler fleet God speed and safe return to port.
I've asked you to come here because I feel it's only right that you should know as much as I do.
They've found sommat! The fact is, I'm afraid the news is bad.
The Admiralty will shortly be making a public statement but it's only right you should hear it first, while you're all together.
This telex came through at eleven-fifteen this morning.
"After eight days of search by air and sea, no single indication of the whereabouts Of the stern trawler Caistor has been established.
It is therefore beyond any reasonable doubt right to consider the aforesaid ship lost with all hands.
" - They're all dead? - Oh, Christ! "Right to consider.
" It's not absolute.
There's nothing more I can tell you.
I'm I'm terribly sorry.
Could I um could I see that, please? Well, you've got a lot to be thankful for A lucky accident.
Have you spoken to him yet? - He phoned this morning.
- He breaks a leg and he's the sole survivor.
It's a topsy turvy world, isn't it? That's it, then.
Look, we've got to face it.
Don't you dare tell me what to do! - I loved him as well.
- Hmph! You wouldn't know what love is! You were jealous of him! - He was my son.
- We're both of your sons, mother.
More's the pity.
He was a man.
He took care of me! - And where did he get the money from? - What do you mean by that? Nothing.
I suppose you've got some cankerous lie to try and turn me against him.
I wasn't the liar! If you want to see me dead, you're going the right way about it.
You don't mean that.
I'd do anything for you.
You know that.
Anything? Bring Paul back then.
Find him for me.
Yes Why? What time is it then, love? Of course, of course, yes Yes, I'll see you in a while.
Bye bye, love.
Further cuts may be necessary the strike at Pixgrange components looks set to continue into it's second month the dispute centres on time allotted for changing footwear at the end of shifts both management and union representatives say there is a long way to go before meaningful discussions can be anticipated the search for the trawler Caistor, missing in the Arctic, north of Norway has been called off after eight days.
A spokesman for the board of trade has said that there will be a public inquiry into the disappearance of the Caistor On a date yet to be announced.
And that is the end of the news.
May I remind There y'are.
- Cheers, then.
- Oh, cheers.
How can they have an inquiry if they have no evidence? Ah, it's a formality.
You can bet they have all the evidence they need! - They didn't find anything! - We don't know that.
It's only what they tell us.
Oh, but they will.
I mean, if it were weather, then she'll have taken quite a beating.
- Are you trying to cheer us up or what, Jack? - No, I'm saying what is worst weather in the world up there.
- You know what it'll be? - What? Crew of Caistor found in bar after eight-day piss up! - Well, it sounds like my husband! - Mmm! - Can I join you? - Yes, yes.
- Tom Silvers.
- How do you do? My brother Paul was on the Caistor and Well, I've met your dad a couple of times.
Crazy, isn't it? Calling off the search? I mean, it's just, now they should be looking.
Oh, I'm sorry.
- What's this? - Meterological Office.
- Do you work at the met office? - Yeah, that's right.
You writing for the post? No.
Oh, well in that case, I don't know who I should tell.
Tell what? Well, this it's this idea of mine.
I mean, you see, if the Caistor has sunk well, she'll have been smashed to pieces, I reckon, now now the steel and that would go straight to the bottom, wouldn't it? But you see, everything else would float.
Now, with the winds, tides and currents the way they were well, it's only now you'll get the wreckage coming on shore.
- I should tell that to the Port Authorities.
- Aye.
Aye, I will.
Are you going to be alright? - I couldn't help what happened this afternoon - Oh, that doesn't matter.
It was just the thought that he might be dead I've been thinking of it all week.
I'm sorry.
- Morning.
- This is a bit "off my beat".
Well, it's not exactly my neck of the woods either.
You choose this place because you imagine I'm somehow lost in these tourists? I hadn't thought of it like that.
You could carry a camera next-time.
But I always do.
- My people could do with a little less publicity.
- So could we.
There has to be an Inquiry.
Oh, I know, I know.
Democracy.
Nevertheless, we are concerned.
- There'll be no problems.
- You seem very confident.
There's not one single item of wreckage.
The verdict will record death by misadventure.
- An act of God.
- "An act of God?!" - ls that a promise? - My dear Rokoff - That must be the door.
- Oh, god.
Who the hell's that? Hello? Morning, I'm I'm looking for Martin Taylor and the chap downstairs said he thought perhaps Um, yes! Yes, he's in bed.
Come in.
Hello I'm I'm sorry to bother you, but it it it is urgent.
D'you think we could have a word? Er yeah.
Yeah, come in.
- I'll put the kettle on! - Right.
I'll just put the fire on.
Sit down.
- I did go to your dad's house, but - l wasn't in.
That's right - Well, what's on your mind? - It's what we were talking about last night.
- Oh, yeah.
Have you been to the authorities? - Oh, they wouldn't listen to me! A clerk from the met office.
I mean, they're not going to spend thousands of pounds looking for a bit of driftwood just because Tom Silver says it's there.
So, what are you going to do? I want to set up an expidition to go and look for the wreckage.
Scour the coastline for proof.
Find out why she went down.
- I see.
- And you're a journalist.
Well, I need to write a story you know telling people what I'm trying to do l'm looking for help and money to get out to Norway, and well, you'd know how to do it.
Yeah.
Ah, I don't work for any of the local papers.
- Well, yes, but - I know someone who does.
John Scott at the post.
I could give you his number and then I could phone him and tell him why you're coming to see him.
- Great.
Thanks.
You see it's not just for my brother I know.
- Have you got a pencil? - Yes.
Well, it's only the two of them.
None of the others give it a mention.
Nevertheless, it's not very good to have these scrupulous people turning it into a show especially with the press behind them.
Contributions are being sent to Silvers' already.
"Brother says let's search for our own convinced that wreckage of the trawler can still be found this newspaper thinks he may well be right.
" Oh, honestly! Oh well! I'll take care of this.
If Silvers wants wreckage, we'll give him some.
Abort his enterprise.
But I've already told the Soviets there won't be any wreckage.
Then tell them you made a mistake! - They'll think I'm a bloody fool! - Oh, god.
Pride?! - Whose idea was it? This search party? - Mine, I told you.
No-one put you up to it? Look, I know what I'm doing is right.
I mean, all this says I'm right.
- I've got a letter from a woman in Suffolk - I don't want to hear it! At this rate, we'll have all we need by the end of the week.
There's over eight hundred quid already And six volunteers And the newspapers.
I mean, just today I've had the Sun, the Mirror and the Express and that's just today! Getting to be a big man!