Once a Year on Blackpool Sands (2021) - full transcript

[music playing]

[woman] OK, love.

Breathe.

Steady yourself.

[shaky breath]

He's very close now, darling,
so you just steady yourself.

Is he?

Eddy's holding it together.

I tell you, the strength
and dignity of that man,

it's amazing.

Oh, fuck.



It's so out, Kate, just
like Jason all over again

and Max and Charlie.

No, love.

Darling, if you're
going to be with them

at the end with Tommy--

Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

Pull it together.

[breathing deeply]

[approaching footsteps]

I'll just pop this in here.

[clanking]

You all right, love?

Sorry, is he--



Not yet but not long.

We still have time
for his party.

[bottles clinking]

Well, look what flew
in on a broomstick.

Chuffing hell.

Honestly, I swear, the
water from the tube

is getting longer and longer.

Thank god, I wore my flats.

Oh, afternoon Nurse Ratchet.

I bought nibbles.

You can never tell how
long these final moments

are going to last for.

Her last one went
till all night.

And I got a little bit peckish.

Oh, I heard Petra
is making a baklava.

Did you bring the ouzo?

Did you bring the shot glasses?

[crying]

Hey.

Come on, mate.

He did a remarkable
thing, you know, way back.

So brave.

They've been fighting for
fucking years for our rights.

Fuck!

[sniff]

[music playing]

The bravest thing-- and I
mean, it's hard enough now.

But can you imagine
back in the '50s?

Back then, all those
things they told us,

Rob, in Greece, all those
things in that story--

What story?

They trusted me
with such a story.

It's such a story.

Hmm.

[clank]

Edna, Betty, can one
of you just get up?

Our Thomas forgot
he's packing again.

[music playing]

Well, there's a posh
couple from Leeds

take a day trip down to London.

And he's a bit of a
swap, bit of a show off.

And he takes her to the
National Gallery no less.

And he's talking
out his asshole,

you know, the way these
management types do.

[boisterous laughter]

--and I see this painting,
and they're both shocked.

Mrs. Gore's the
color of beetroot.

Three naked men sitting
on a park bench.

Two with Black dicks, one--

smaller one, mind--
pink as you like.

Well, the man is
right flummoxed,

so they ask the lady in charge.

She comes over, stares
at it for a bit.

Reckon it's a symbol
of African oppression.

Bloody hell.

And then this bloke
from Yorkshire

pipes up, "Is it buggery?"

And Mr. Twat Know All says, "Uh
what makes you think you know

more about art than
what's in charge?"

And he says, "I fucking
painted that there--

three Yorkshire miners!

The middle one went
home for his lunch."

[laughter]

Hi, mum.

Not interrupting, am I?

No, lad.

I'm just telling our
Joe about diesel.

He likes to keep abreast
of what's going off.

How much you tell, then, mum?

Tommy.

Mum.

Not today, all right?

He's broken, you know.

Inside, summat's been damaged.

This whole town knew what
were going off in that house,

and not one hand were
raised in protest.

Not one.

The bloody church.

That God's got a
lot to answer for.

Well, it's a marvel how
you've been a friend

to him all these years.

But one of these days--

Folk don't know him like I do.

Milo, if you squish
my baklava, I'll

be wearing your
bollocks as earrings.

Put it in the fridge
before it drips.

I haven't.

Now, where's my Tommy Price?

Oh my God.

It's Nana Mouskouri.

Sorry, dear.

I don't speak cunt.

Darling, you look amazing.

This old thing?

I've had it for years.

How's my Little Prince?

He's looking brighter.

Bit woozy.

It's morphine.

Wait till you taste my baklava.

I just know you're
all gagging for it.

Nobody's gagging for that.

[laughs]

Here you go, Betty Grable.

Food.

[pigeon cooing]

I know, tastes like muck.

[cage door creaking]

All right there?

So you--

Were talking to them daft birds?

We get more sense out of these
daft birds than I do you.

Yeah?

Your mum's at the church.

[gentle music]

Your dad's in the pub.

Mm-hmm.

Are the girls home?

No.

We can risk a little dance.

Little kiss?

What are you doing,
you daft bugger?

Sorry about before.

Just have it on.

Took it to right now I'm
going to start punching walls.

Eddy--

OK.

You have to--

Have to what?

What do I have to?

Keep it under control?

Keep it locked out of sight?

No, this-- this,
this-- this is love.

This is love.

See what you do to me.

From tomorrow, Eddy.

From tomorrow, Eddy,
we're on holiday.

We have our own room--

No.

A bed.

No, no, no.

Tommy, I need to
feel your skin now.

I need to have you
against me now.

I-- I love you so fucking
much, I can't breathe Eddy.

I can't.

I can't.

No, Eddy.

Fuck it.

[panting]

[unzipping]

I've got some
coronation cake, boys!

Shite!

--if you want for
them birds, love.

No time, on my way.

The farmer called.

Fancy a brew, lads?

Sorry.

There are days,
Tommy, when I've--

I feel like a trapped animal.

Like I'm bleeding out.

Caught in a fucking snare.

No time, mum.

There's a darkness in me, lad.

Powerful darkness.

If you ever give up
on me, I don't know--

Never will.

Yes.

I never have and I
never will, all right?

And you listen to me.

I know you better than anyone.

I know you better than any
mortal soul on this Earth.

It's not darkness, you numpty.

It's him.

He's done this to you, Eddy.

Eh?

All right?

[pigeon cooing]

All right?

[wings fluttering rapidly]

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

What about our brew?

Fucking brew?

I hate him, Tommy.

I hate the very air he
breathes, and she's no better.

Cures everything, does a brew.

Does he, now?

Everything from a broken
leg to a broken heart.

You're right, Tommy.

He was a bastard,
and he needs to pay.

Oh, Tommy, lad.

You're playing with fire.

He needs to fucking
pay for what he did.

Eddy, don't!

Eddy, we're on holiday
tomorrow, for--

sake.

He did this to me.

Eddy, please.

Eddy!

Clean.

Has clean.

Eddy.

It was him.

And the shame--

[yelping]

The shame--

[gasping]

Eddy, Eddy, please!

Just leave him--

Look at me, you bastard.

Look at me.

Just leave him be.

Eddy.

He just needs to--

You need to stay out, mother.

Stay out.

Stay out.

Eddy!

Eddy!

Please!

[sobbing]

I've put the clean
towel in there,

and I've put some decent
soap inside your underpants.

That place you're going
to seems under par to me.

Now if you two want
to fat around so much,

you could have come into
Windsor with your family.

Can't exactly leave Eddy
on his own, can I, mum?

No.

No, you can't.

Hey why don't you nip 'round
and ask him to come for his tea?

That mother of his
can't boil water.

I bet he ain't had a
decent plateful all week.

He reckons he's got
something on, mum.

He's in one of his moods again.

Wake up, lad.

That's just his pride talking.

She keeps a cold house,
does that Agnes Corkhill.

Mind you, she spent most of
her adult life trying to avoid

that monster she married.

He's off in one of
his faraway places.

I can't reach him.

I can't help him
either, can I, mum?

That's not your job, lad.

I keep telling you.

It's fine.

It's fine.

Bus leaves at crack
of sparrows tomorrow,

so don't be too late back.

Oh, I won't miss the bus.

I'd fucking walk to
Blackpool rather than

spend the wage week here.

Hush, now, or your
father will hear.

Let him.

Let him hear!

Don't you ever look
around this house, mother?

Ever wonder why your
sons don't visit?

How each one of them left when
there were work down the mine.

They left because they hate you.

[sniffling, whimpering]

They hate this.

They hate this.

And I really must be as stark
raving mad as everyone reckons,

because I'm still here.

Still in this--
these filthy midden

still, dream in my life,
and fucking wet dreaming

of America.

Hard life,
skyscrapers, all of it.

Why do you want to hurt me?

All the time, day, all day--

You're not hurt!

You don't feel.

You don't know how
to bloody hurt.

I'm here because of Tommy Price.

That's the only reason.

I love him, mother.

I love the bones off him.

You hear that, father?

You hear that?

Yeah, he can still hear.

How dare you speak like
that in your father's house?

My father?

How dare you.

This is a house of God!

House of God!

House of God.

House of God.

I dare you're drunk.

How dare you say
such vile things?

You hold your mouth, mother.

If you breathe-- if
you breathe one word--

one word to Alice Price,
I swear I'll strangle you

with me bare hands, you hear?

I will.

It's an abomination.

You know, one of these
days, that old bastard is

going to die.

And that, mother, will be the
one and only time I will pray--

fall to me knees, and I'll
clasp me hands together.

And I hope, and I hope, I hope
it's a quiet day for your God,

I do.

I do.

A Tuesday, maybe.

A half day in heaven because
I want him to hear me.

I want him to get
the message send

that sadistic animal
downstairs to hell,

where his flesh will scorch and
he will spend-- look at me--

you will spend
eternity in agony.

You will.

You will.

Eddy.

And then, and then
when your time comes,

mother, same message.

Tell him to move over
and make room for you.

Eddy.

I tried.

No

Yeah, we're excited to
go Blackpool, aren't we?

[all cheering]

[chanting]

Very tripping
funny, you tossers.

Hey, I'll have you know
vertigo is a proper illness.

Hey, there were some boogers
scared of heights stone pit.

Yeah, bloody sky.

Come on, here he is,
Sick Noah Sydney.

See, it wasn't my idea of
a national health service.

I'd have knocked out
straight on that, wouldn't I?

Eh?

Calm down, lad.

Go get yourself a pint.

They're only pulling your leg.

Full house.

We're not in Blackpool yet.

If there's one thing
that rattles my teeth,

it's folk having a good time.

Disgusting behavior,
if you ask me.

One more pale ale, then
I must be making tracks.

I'm doing ham this year.

You?

Egg and cress, same as always.

On best Hovis of
course, as its wakes.

I hope they come down on
the bus, bloody heathens.

When you're management,
family or no family,

I'll not be having that lot in
my three-bedroom semi-detached

with indoor facilities.

Not on your Nelly.

Do you hear me?

I'm sorry, my little mushy pea.

I feel fragile, I really do.

Anyway, don't get the hump.

It's wakes night tonight.

You know?

Sex?

Sexual intercourse?

Oh, flying pigs might go by.

Really, I'm pissed off, Wilfred.

They should take him to
bed and have him put down.

He's harmless.

Leave him be.

Can barely walk.

Give us a hand, Tommy.

He don't care.

Look at him, running
around after Eddy

like a bloody lap dog.

Bloody hell.

Your fancy woman must be
somewhere to Wakefield

at this hour.

She is, man.

I swear to God she makes Jayne
Mansfield look like dog shit.

Whoever she is,
I hate the bitch.

Aye.

Night, all.

Enough of a mystery
man malarkey.

It's chucking out time.

In fact, it's past
chucking out time.

You waitin' for
the last bus then.

You must be.

Otherwise you wouldn't
be sat here, would you?

Question is why.

Don't ask.

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

You wouldn't understand.

What's to understand?

Go Blackpool come tomorrow.

Half the town's home packing.

The other half shift in pints.

Me old fella's legless.

Half the town was
in the pub tonight.

The lot apart from
you, the best man.

Obviously you've got--

No, I just need this.

Don't fucking push me, Tommy.

Don't fucking push me.

I just need--

It's bedtime, Eddy.

It's under my skin, Tommy.

Can't fucking breathe.

This place, this place, it
strangles the bloody life out

of me.

I just want to be
somebody else for a bit.

To walk in a place where
every pair of fucking eyes

doesn't know every
bloody thing that's

ever occurred in your life.

The last time I took a shit.

All right?

That too much to bloody ask?

Don't be late.

I won't.

A whole week, Eddy.

Place to ourselves.

I know.

I know, I just need--

Yeah.

I understand, mate.

You think I don't, but I do.

Just watch yourself, OK?

I will.

You must have some bloody
money to burn if you're

going to Wakefield for a pint.

Could have had one
here, you daft sod.

A pint?

You-- Aye.

See you tomorrow.

You think I'm a pint?

Where are you off to
at this hour, Eddy?

Me and our Dot usually
have bus to ourselves.

Keep your money, love.

My treat.

Hmm.

Thank you very much.

Hello, dear.

All right?

Might as well sit next to me.

Keep each other company.

All right.

[coughing]

Oh, it's you again.

I've not seen you
in a good while.

You all right?

Did you book it?

The guest house?

Aye.

Aye, I did.

She's as mad as a box
of frogs, is our Gladdy.

But if it's Blackpool and a
bit of privacy you're after,

you can't do far wrong.

She takes all sorts, even
butch numbers like you.

Tell her Bonnie sent
you and say she owes me

a long gin in a frosted glass.

Bonnie?

As in goes like rabbits.

Right.

Right.

I'm off.

Apart from you, I wouldn't
touch any of these.

Oh, bless.

Luke.

It's a little fawn
hiding in the forest.

Well, goodbye.

Two's company, three's a crowd.

Excuse me, sir.

Do you have a light?

Aye, lad.

I do.

You're very polite.

Put it down to Sunday school.

Ah, right.

Right.

Knees together, back straight,
minding one's P's and Q's.

Thou shall not have
lustful thoughts

about Father Paddy doing
unimaginable things

in the vestry.

No, only when I come here.

Some men don't
care for the more--

well, you know the sorts.

But I've seen you here before.

You just watch.

Same with me.

Well, very
occasionally I indulge.

I have someone, you see.

I thought as much.

You look like a man
that somebody cares for.

I was looking at you,
and I was thinking,

wouldn't it be nice to
hold his hand for a bit?

All right.

Go on, then.

[whistle]

Fuck, it's the bloody copper.

Run.

Run.

Leave me alone, you bastards!

What have I done?

[shouting]

Shit scumming fairy!

That lad needs help!

don't show the bastards that
you're frightened, and don't

tell them your real name.

I already did.

Mr. Jones, will our
names be in the paper?

It's jail this time.

Edward Corkhill!

Fucking bastards.

You know, even now,
why is it that people

think that they could
cheat anyone in such a way

just because they're gay?

You know, when Jason
died, when my lover

died, in not room full
of wires and tubes

and that smell, the smell.

I heard this woman
down the corridor.

And then his smartly dressed
woman say, I stood next to one

in the post office, she said, so
nobody could call me prejudice,

but these people are
diseased and they are dirty.

And I looked at Jason
as they covered his body

in a plastic sheeting so
soon after he passed away,

and I felt this
struggled scream, just

wouldn't make a noise.

Trapped.

Yeah.

It's why you lads
need to keep fighting.

Never give in.

Ever.

We're gone.

Many more to follow,
we all know that.

And they won't spend
money on queers.

You just keep fighting.

Should never be a time when
loving someone to the very core

of your soul is wrong.

It takes guts to be a queen.

They foolishly think it's
all glitter and disco.

But we're hard as steel beneath.

And our time will come.

Did you enjoy the
pork casserole, James?

I thought the sage gave it a
little something added extra,

don't you?

I did consider using
rosemary, going

against years of tradition,
pork instead of lamb.

But in the end,
tradition won the day.

It was either that
or killing myself.

[singing] It's a long
way to Tipperary.

It's a long way to go.

Are you done?

Not yet, my little pork pie.

[singing] It's a long way to
Tipperary to the sweetest girl

I know.

Oh.

[heavy breathing]

Well, that's the shop shut
till Christmas morning,

so don't be pestering for
sexual intercourse in Blackpool.

I want to enjoy myself.

No, dear.

I shall have to calm a
tiger the best way I can.

He's turned out
quite nice, you know.

Were a black cloud at top of
Bill's mother's house all day

yesterday.

I says to the lads,
I says, let's hope

for a spot of
sunshine for tomorrow.

You know, for Blackpool.

Breakfast won't cook itself.

Such fuss over a hair clip.

Not one that belongs to
me, James, your wife.

I think that warrants a
little fuss, don't you?

As I say, I have
no idea how that

came to be in my pocket,
Susan, not at all.

Darling, another woman,
not one like me, of course,

would let her
imagination run amok.

A feminine object, a
husband packing a suitcase,

closed in mystery for a
seemingly odd but vague trip

to Blackpool, of all places.

That carries a seemingly odd
but vague necessity, considering

the line of work you are in.

Is that why they keep you
and the rest of the moles

hidden in the firm's basement?

Paper pushers,
procedures, compliance.

The very vocabulary would
send you into a coma.

Is it true you've
got guests arriving?

Bloody Nora.

Is that tea part mushing?

Not for the likes
of you, it's not.

Is it one of them
queer sorts again?

You deserve a medal, you
do, putting up with that.

Oh.

Turns my stomach.

If you ask me, folk should
be one thing or the other.

And all that makeup.

Like clowns from tower circus.

It's none of your business
who stays in my establishment.

I can see why they'd
be comfortable here.

They go for the more
garish, don't they.

You can't afford to
be picky, can you?

Well, I most press on.

I've got a Victoria
sponge on the rise.

My guests enjoy a
bit of home baking.

We go the extra mile here.

Now shop rot.

So your mother were
making a show of herself

again last night.

Call me old fashioned,
but dancing on table

and mooning at the
Bandstand at her age.

Trust me, Gladys, no one
wants to see her wire wool,

I can assure you.

Oh.

It must be painful, dear.

Sorry?

That cork stuck up your arse.

Your best get see a doctor,
get a bit of lubrication.

[interposing voices]

One minute, Tommy Price,
and not a minute more.

You think on lad.

If I don't see sea at Blackpool
3:30 on dot as arranged,

I won't be best pleased.

You can count on that.

Alright Mrs. Spoony he's coming.

Calm down.

And so is pig in Christmas.

If my egg and cress
go on the coal,

you can be expecting my wrath
in biblical proportions.

Mom, tell her, will you?

Ellis Price won't be telling
me out, not the way your family

carries on.

Heathens, the lot of you.

Calm down, you old windbag.

Blackpool will still be there.

What's a few minutes?

Keeping everyone waiting is
shameless, that Eddy Corkhill.

Oh, he's bloody
coming, all right?

He won't let me--

he wouldn't miss this.

Once a bloody year
we get this place.

No doubt tom catting
some trollop.

Can't keep it in his
trousers, apparently.

Oh, take that look off
your face, Perrier.

You're enough to curdle milk.

You're on bloody holiday
stop acting like you're

sitting on a trapped fart.

Well we wouldn't be if that
reprobate would show up.

He's here.

He's here!

Tommy!

He's here.

Eddy's here.

Eddy, what's happened?

What is it we thought--

are you bleeding?

You all right?

Going on all day.

[cheering]

Oh.

Bloody hell.

Go on, Tommy.

Don't keep folk waiting.

(SINGING) And if one green
bottle should accidentally

fall there'll be eight green
bottles standing on the wall.

Eight green bottles
hanging on the wall.

Eight green bottles
hanging on the wall.

And if one green--

May I ask, what was
that strange aroma?

Oh, that'll be mother.

It's her age, if
you catch my drift.

Eat your puff.

Do you by chance have
an alternative room?

Where there's a
will, there's a way.

Come on there, don't be soft.

You're old enough to
tell it to do one.

Maureen, she treats
you like a chair

and I am sick of running around
like some love struck teenager.

Come to Liverpool.

We can get married.

No, sir.

I'm never getting married.

Well, unless Tab
Hunter should ask me,

which he won't, seeing as
he's in Hollywood, America,

and I'm still here
in this pig's palace.

Might be a bit more
much, with the geography.

What do you mean?

Sh!

Come, tonight.

Let's get this done
and dusted, all right?

Oh, so you can have sex on top?

Sh!

Yeah, why else?

I want to, I do.

I just--

Maureen, you're
dancing with one eye

on the door waiting to see if
there might be a better offer.

And there won't be.

Very sure of yourself.

I am.

That's because I have
an enormous willy.

That means I get
everything I desire.

Disgusting.

May I present the bridal suite.

I've got an egg custard cooling.

I'll bring you a
piece up in a bit.

Enjoy.

Did you see what I just
saw on the landing?

A man in a dress, and a
horrible dress at that.

I will not share a WC with
a person who cannot decide

whether to stand or sit.

And as for that bag of old bones
and rags, the one with the fox,

who greeted you
like some sort of--

Oh.

Well, you know, Sandra,
it's reasonably priced.

Money don't grow
on trees, you know.

Bleek times.

Need to tighten our belts.

Look.

This bed seems comfy enough.

Dread to think, get
your feet off the bed.

Honey, look at this stain.

Oh, no.

You are going to have to find
an alternative establishment,

quick sticks.

Oh, I can feel bloody
fleas crawling all over me.

I could cry, if I was
that way inclined.

It's disgusting.

It's a sham, that's what it is.

This place has gone
from rat to ruin.

Back in the day
went out like this.

What are you blathering
on about now, Reginald?

I mean, is it safe to sit?

Pass me that magazine.

You know, when i was in variety,
this place were proper grand.

Oh, great.

You stop here, Sandra.

Well, if these walls
could talk, Sandra.

The parties, the women.

Well, thank the Lord you put
that sinful life behind you

and married me.

Besides, you were
never very funny.

I think folk used to squeeze
out a chuckle more out of pity

than mirth.

I know I did.

Oh, she had room, Sandra.

Ethel.

Boy, back in the day,
she had the room.

She had a voice like a
canary, mouth like a sewer.

She owned that stage as if
it were glued to her feet.

I would give me right arm
for one moment like that.

Are you done?

Come on.

We are leaving right now.

Reginald, get up!

These walls, thin as sliced ham.

Now then, Reg.

I know you've only got one
bollock, but for fuck's sake,

start using it and put this
snotty bint in her place.

Sorry, Ethel.

You will be, married to her.

Well, I run a clean house here.

Unlike her next door,
that flighty piece.

She got bedbugs as
big as bath buns.

And as for a so-called
full English breakfast,

I don't know who eats that
slop for breakfast in England.

Nobody in Lancashire,
that's for sure.

Her marmalade has never
so much shook hands

with a Seville orange.

Wait till you partake of my
homemade cumberland sausage

ring.

It's so moist.

There's naught worse
than a dry ring.

Shall I lay out
your smalls, then?

Oh, I beg your pardon?

It's all part of the
five star service.

Nay, we can we can tend to
ourselves, if it's all right.

Yeah, fine.

Fine.

Oh, well.

As you wish.

You will have noticed my decor.

I'm very big on Hollywood.

I like to think my
icons are keeping

a watchful eye, so don't
be fetching any girls back.

Not in front of Joan.

It's a little quirk of mine.

I have a Hollywood
staff at every occasion.

I slip them on
like a second skin.

Miss Crawford, Miss
Davis, Miss Turner.

Right.

Well, we need a swill,
if you don't mind.

A swill?

Aye.

A wash.

Yeah, aye, a wash.

We said we'd meet my family
for a puddle swim and then--

Fish supper.

Supper.

Yeah, fish--

[interposing voices]

Well, when you're ready to bathe
and take your evening toilette,

you'll find the
facilities top and right.

You'll need a shilling
for the water meter, mind.

Right.

A wash, then.

Come on, Maureen.

Move yourself.

What the fuck?

Fucking hell.

What the hell have I done?

We can't stay here.

I know.

I know.

She's as batty as a fruit loaf.

Fuck me, look at this place.

What are you talking about?

That maid, she's
fucking copped on.

She knows.

No.

Did you not see the way
she's looking at us?

It's like she's looking
right through us.

And I could tell
she were thinking,

you're not fooling anyone
with your nice manners.

Your one bloody suitcase,
you bloody share any bruises.

She basically said it out loud.

You pair of fruits.

It's not funny, man.

We can't stay here.

Does she hell as like.

She don't know what
fucking day it is.

Go ahead.

She...

besides--

Besides what?

What now, Eddy?

Well, I think--

Look, Tommy.

There's something
you need to know

about this bed and breakfast.

Oh.

Maureen.

Hello.

Come in, why don't you?

Your mom sent you some fancies.

These plum tarts are to die for.

I thought you'd be
ready, Mr. Elbridge.

See?

Told you we'd be safe here.

We can swing naked
from the banister

and nobody will bat an eyelid.

However did you know
about this place?

Some bloke I overheard.

In the park, I think.

The park?

Which park?

I don't recall.

What's with all the questions?

Now.

Just now.

Anyway, let's be getting up.

Promised me dad we'd
meet him down the pier.

Five more minutes while
I cover you all over me.

Tell me, look out that window.

What do you see?

I don't know.

Look.

I don't know.

Falcon holiday.

Partly eaten ice cream.

See that stretch of sand
just pass the donkey rides?

I do.

That's our stretch of
Blackpool sands, that is.

That's the very spot,
three year ago today.

All you did was
brush my shoulder.

Be ready, you says.

You call it the song.

And I knew--

I bloody knew that this thing
we'd been hiding for so long

was all the time
right in front of me.

All I had to do was
reach out my hands.

I wanted to cry.

Wanted to stand there out
on that beach and weep.

How about this one?

Dear God, no.

Afraid I'm running
out of options, Ethel.

Mr. Elbridge, look.

It's Phyllis.

Indeed it is.

Now then, Phyllis, what
is that frock saying?

I beg your pardon?

I've got a frock
that'll do the trick.

This old slag from
the follies once

told me, when you're
dolling yourself up,

find a frock you'll see
falling to the floor in less

than two hours.

The best place for a nice
frock, is 'round your ankles.

Having a bath, lad.

The hot water's still on meter.

Tell you what.

Ready for this fish and chips.

I'm starving already.

Don't.

Stay in.

Blimey.

What?

Can't do something daring?

Live a bit risk free
once in my life?

Wash me hair.

Really?

Aye.

It's always been a
long held wish of mine.

And if we really are as free
as you say we are, then.

Do it slow, Eddy.

Fish and chips can wait.

Slow, Eddy.

[music playing]

Look at you.

We're safe here, I told you.

Did you see the way that Eddie
wolfed down my butterfly split

fairy.

I almost said it out loud.

Chew, you bastard.

I've spent an age perfecting
a mixture as light as air.

That's the last time
I offer refreshments

on arrival, Maureen.

Oh, what's the point?

I want to feel that
knot of excitement way

down in the pit
of my stomach yet.

And we can.

You can.

Let's go.

Let's go.

We can-- You and me
can just go away.

I want to.

I can't.

Can't be scared of life.

You can't.

Otherwise-- fuck
me, otherwise it's

just going to run away from you.

It will.

If I had money, if I had
a 20 brass in my pocket,

we'd be gone.

We would.

Seeing the world,
all corners of it.

Not like this, never like this.

Listen, Tommy.

We get a bus to Liverpool, then
buy a boat ticket to New York.

Me and you.

Me and you stand there
on the ship's deck

surrounded by the mighty
ocean sea on all sides.

And then we take
on New York, Tommy.

We take on New York and we win.

We fucking win.

Yeah.

I like the way nowt changes.

Each day is the same.

And now were frozen off balance.

Apart from you.

You make my fucking head spin.

We can't go back to
that town, can we?

We can't.

There's no fucking room.

There's no space for us.

And you see these folk.

You think you know.

You see how fast they turn when
you reveal this, and they will.

They will, they'll turn like a
pack of dogs, I'm telling you.

But I won't live a lie.

I just won't.

I am this.

This is me to my very core.

And you know what, mate?

so are you.

You are.

You are.

Then I'll cut it out of me.

No you won't.

You won't.

I'll put it out of me.

No you won't.

I will.

I'll cut it out of me.

I'll force myself to change.

I will.

I have to.

No.

I have to, mate.

So do you.

Always bluster and brave, you
must know it's not true for me.

It might-- no.

I know how you feel,
man, but it's who we are,

it's where we belong.

No.

Not anymore.

I'm not going back.

Open your fucking ears, Tommy.

I am never going back.

Eddy.

Eddy, we have to go back.

We have to go back.

Find some lass, get
wed, and forget this.

When that day
comes, man, you need

to make me one promise, right.

Listen to me.

You need to make me one promise.

When that day comes, you
never reach out to me.

Don't reach out
to me ever again.

I won't be able to endure that.

Sorry.

Could be said I'm quite
the connoisseur when

it comes to buttered fish.

Is it any wonder you
haven't got a woman?

How's your haddock?

Nice.

Mine's a bit dry.

Tommy, what's the
matter with you?

You've got a face
like a wet weekend.

Stop going on at me.

Pecking me nothing's wrong.

I only asked.

Don't only ask.

Eat your chips and
keep your nose out.

Is this you, Eddy Corkhill?

Have you been upsetting him?

No, it's you lot yaddling away.

Him, pissed as a
parrot as always.

And you pair fight
like cat and dog.

Aw, shut up, we enjoy it.

Do you ever stop
and think, do you?

When Eddy's sat there.

Sat there saying no,
you're not fucking

going on about whatever.

Everything that's
gone on with him.

One week bloody year, we get.

Yeah, I know, we
come as a job, but we

call Blackpool mob handed,
but you selfish fuckers.

Tommy, don't.

No.

let him have his way?

Selfish, are we?

Am I?

Am I?

I fed that friend
of yours for years.

And when men went
out on strike, it

were me that went
without to beat Perrier.

All of you.

And it were me that
bathed his cuts

and wash the bloody
fleas off him.

And your dad, your dad,
he what wound up finally

stop that Eubert
Corkhill with his fists.

Tommy!

I'm stepping out
meself this evening.

It's the annual Sewage and
Waste Works Dinner Dance.

My companion, Deputy Mayor
and Councelor Allacock,

he's sending me a car.

Despite what folks say, it's
all a very platonic call.

Now then, what about this walk?

Seem to have lost my nerve.

Such a mess.

I was at Dunkirk, you know.

But this, it frightens me more.

All that noise, all that war.

I saw things, such
terrible things.

What effrontery to mankind.

I was brave that day.

Tonight, I--

I took a shrapnel to the leg.

As I lay there in the
mud, the dirt, the stench,

I thought to myself, yes.

Let me die.

Oh, now, now, Mr. Elbridge.

Phyllis!

For heaven's sake, look at me!

It's Phyllis.

Phyllis.

That moment came such calm.

I felt her.

All of them.

All these women hiding
beneath this man's skin.

There they are.

This body that never felt
like it belongs to me.

Have you ever
considered Denmark?

We've had a few booking a year.

We are known in such circles.

You know that I've
shed the caterpillar

and found the
butterfly, so to speak?

We had one.

She was so beautiful, Phyllis.

Just like you.

Sorry if I've unsettled
you yet again.

I know I do that, unsettle you.

Don't.

Don't take it out on your mum.

She's got thick skin.

Not really.

I know.

I do love you, Eddy.

I know.

Then what's going on?

I mean, it's all out
of kilter, isn't it?

I wait a whole year
for this holiday.

I mean, I count down my bloody
days and we're fighting.

I mean, why are we falling out?

One week a year we
get to be together

and you're spoiling it.

Sorry, Tommy.

Want to say good night?

I don't know what I want.

It's all fucked up, isn't it?

Ever since you can run
to the boss this morning.

You're hiding something.

I know you are.

You're not telling me something.

You see, I know you
better than anyone.

See, you forget I've
known you my whole life.

Ever since we were nippers.

We stood next to each other
in line for the nit nurse.

Aye.

Don't forget a single moment.

We always talk about going away.

I mean it's not like I've
not heard it a million times,

but this time's different.

This time it chills
me to the bone.

It's like you're actually going.

I am going.

What?

Why don't you get that?

Where are you going?

Don't know.

America.

Over there.

Over there?

Right over there?

This island?

You daft sod.

Well, it's a start in the
right direction, isn't it?

Anyway, come on.

I told Maureen we'd meet
her at cinema later on.

Maureen?

Yeah, Maureen.

My new best man.

Oh, right.

I just need--

Yeah.

Tell them sorry, eh?

I'll buy her cream
cake tomorrow.

[sniffling]

You've done great, you know?

Must still be raw.

Only a few months since.

You did the right thing, you
know, bringing Tommy home.

I was so sick and
tired of us hospitals.

It's all the rage, lad.

It's not like they want
us there now, is it?

Aren't you scared?

I'm not scared of dyin.

Fucked off it's so early.

I just don't want
to leave Tommy.

I don't mind telling you, Eddy.

You and Tommy, I've never
seen two people so in love.

It's like I can see
this twine between you.

But we have to listen
to all this hate.

It's on the telly, on the
radio, in the newspapers.

All the time it's
fucking everywhere.

It makes my piss boil.

We're just people, Eddy.

We're just people
trying not to die.

It's not fucking fair.

People are dying these
terrible deaths and nobody does

anything-- not anything--

to try and stop it.

Nothing to help.

Nothing.

Nothing to help you
or Tommy or anyone.

Not yet.

How is he?

What's going off, Eddie?

He's all right, he's just
doing what he always does.

He's sorry.

I know he's sorry.

It's not that.

Things have shifted.

He's never spoke to me
that sharp, all his life.

I know.

Can I have a cigarette please?

A cigarette?

Aye.

All right.

But, in all, I keep on at him.

He's not made like you, Eddy.

Aye.

Oh, love.

I didn't mean--
you've got strength.

You're stronger,
you've had to be.

Tommy's not.

I just know there's a better
picture out there, better

for the both of us.

What likes you and our Tommy.

I'm not blind, love.

I've known for years.

I knew before the pair of you.

I just waited for one
of you to tell me.

Or not tell me.

And then if you didn't
tell me, well, it

might have just gone away.

Well, there you have it.

This thing happens
for years spoken of,

then I pitch up in Blackpool,
I can't fucking stop.

Sorry.

I'm sorry.

All I ask.

Oh, I see.

Of course you couldn't love him.

Ma'am.

I should do--

Tommy promised we'd go to
the pictures with that lass

from the guesthouse, Maureen.

They're as thick as thieves now.

His new best friend,
by all accounts.

That's nice.

If you say so.

You're not jealous,
are you, Eddy?

No.

We'll see you tomorrow
after breakfast, yeah?

You will, love.

Yeah.

Stanley, I'm so sorry.

Can we watch the
second show and then--

Gram, what the hell
are you doing here?

Seeing what all
the fuss is about.

Your fella.

So what kept then?

Well, me mum's had me running
chuffing cakes up and down

stairs all day.

And then I literally bumped
into Tommy, one of the guests,

and he was all upset, so I just
went to the chippy with him.

Nice.

Change of pace.

Right.

Well don't mind me, then.

You can do better.

Not exactly Tab
Hunter, is he, love?

Bloody hell you doing with him?

Old enough to be your dad.

He's got a massive cock, if
it's all the same with you.

Where is Eddy?

He's coming.

He's going to miss the picture.

This is me gran.

Evening.

Speak of the devil.

Oh.

You're right, Maureen.

Pair of handsome of boogers.

Sorry, ran all the way.

Is she--

She's fine.

Do you want to
sit next to Tommy?

But no snogging or smooching
because I don't want to miss--

Fucking hell.

What is it about today?

God and his dog thinking they
can talk about me this way?

Some things are
private, Maureen,

not for you to be
giggling about, all right?

Calm down, will you?

She only having a laugh.

I'm sick of it.

Eddy, I'm sorry.

Now you know.

What's going on with you, eh?

Sort yourself out.

Ruining my bloody holiday
with these moods of yours.

Fine.

Come on, Maureen.

We'll go get a pint, shall we?

Well, Tab Hunter!

Come on.

You should go after him.

Our Maureen didn't
mean harm, lad.

It's the way she is.

You need to grow a fucking skin.

It's hard enough
when you're queer.

Yeah.

You wait.

There'll be more shit
than sugar to come.

And you?

Are you?

Katya.

That was her name.

Love of my life.

Katya.

I lived a life, lad.

I saw my chance and I
took it with both hands.

I see it, lad.

That rage.

Don't you ever let that go.

They hurt me.

They fucking hurt me.

The police?

Yeah.

It's what these
bastards want, for us

to keep hiding like that
Mr. Elbridge, like him.

Phyllis.

Yeah.

Yeah, Phyllis.

Phyllis.

Well, I'll tell you no more.

I'm not going back
to hiding, aching

to touch him, to feel him
beside me, sleep holding him.

Why is that a crime?

How is loving him a crime?

Feels I can't breathe
sometimes when I see him.

It's like the
fucking world stops.

I mean, he feels the same.

He does.

Why is that so wrong?

Why?

Don't ask mother, all right.

Don't say a word.

I'm humiliated beyond endurance.

Might as well come and
join our pity party.

Maureen's just realize she's
going to piss her life away.

Phyllis is crying into
a sherry because she's

lost her nerve again, and I just
busted a gut to come and join

the party and then caught
myself in the mirror,

and the penny dropped.

I'm old, Gladys.

I'm past it.

I fucking hate old age.

It's a bitch.

Well you've got enough
piss and vinegar

to keep going all
the years, mum.

You ran off to Russia.

You just that.

I swear to God, I am going
to make that walk tomorrow.

This is why I came.

Oh, Phyllis.

We've had many ladies like you
here over the years, right mum?

Hundreds.

I always remember one
of them once said--

I've never forgotten it--

you're never free,
you're never truly free,

until you let her
go out in public.

Show her the world.

Show her the world.

I'm never going to
marry Tab Hunter, am I?

No.

Out with it then, daughter.

I was humiliated.

I was taking a nibble of my
first smoked salmon canape

and I was thinking,
buy it, Gladys.

This is high living, this is.

Best of the best with
heaven sent trimmings.

Then I heard them.

Them bitches from the
Women's Institute.

"She cheats," said one.

Cheats.

"That can't be me, I thought.

Me, who spends an
entire day baking, who

falls into the
depths of depression

if a Victoria sponge don't
rise into equal parts.

She gets the bus to Fleetwood.

They do mean me.

She buys all the so-called
cakes and preserves from Marks

and Spencer's and then
washes the labels off.

Not true.

That's a bare-faced lie.

Your Victoria sponge
is lighter than air.

I don't boil my cabbages
twice for no booger.

I flew at them.

Next thing, there's a tray of
devils on horsebacks flying.

Mavis Bunnage's hairpiece ended
up in the sherry trifle bowl.

Oh, suffice to say that
Deputy Mayor of all Cork

is not a happy man.

Oh, fuck him and
them snotty cunts.

Have a beer.

Thanks, Mum.

What's going on?

What's going on?

Why be so rude?

Poor lass, I am
trying to be nice.

So bloody sick of it.

Everyone at me all the time,
fucking making a laughingstock

out of me.

She wasn't.

She bloody was.

She wasn't.

Everyone treats me
like I'm a joke.

You know what?

I am.

Eddy, stop it.

I've done it this time.

[interposing voices]

I'm so angry.

Eddy, stop.

No, I'm fucking over it.

[interposing voices]

Fucking waste of air, ain't it?

Fucking hell Eddy.

For fuck's sake.

Feel it, Tommy.

Can't you feel this bloody rage?

Why can't I love you?

Why can't I walk down the
street holding your hand?

Why do they get to go fucking
courting in the bandstands

while we look?

Stop it.

Why is it?

It's not right.

It's just not right.

What the fuck is it?

What's wrong, man?

It's just so lonely.

Tommy.

It's been weeks.

Fucking weeks since I--

weeks since I touched
you, since I kissed you,

felt you in my arms.

I've been trying to
tell you, trying.

Open this door right now.

What the bloody hell
is going on in there?

Stop it, Eddy.

Go away.

Fuck's sake.

I paid for this room.

Eddy, stop it.

I paid for this fucking
room, so go away.

Go away.

I just want the floor to
open and swallow me up.

I'm so ashamed.

But you, you fucker,
you won't let me.

You never listen.

Eddy, for fuck's sake.

I'm calling the police.

Eddy.

Fuck it.

[knocking]

Open your ears.

I paid for this room.

How dare you.

Fuck off.

Well, you can pay for that lamp.

And that damage?

Joan.

What's wrong with you?

We can pay, OK?

He's sorry.

He's really upset right now.

I've ruined it all.

I want to hurt you,
Tommy, in the worst way.

Oh, I couldn't bloody wait.

Just one more night, but
I was so fucking lonely.

Snake.

Boils inside of you.

Wish you were brave like that
Mr. Elbridge but I'm not.

I'm a filthy coward.

Come on, lad.

Pull yourself together.

Just look at this mess.

What would Joan say?

It's like a pain in me, God's.

I've been trying to tell him.

Just tell me.

Tell me.

Oh, go on.

Shall we send for the doctor?

What's so wrong with me?

Why am I the one who
wants to get his guts

ripped open all the time?

It's all the fucking time.

You can speak free with me.

Both of you can.

I've had more queens stop
here than the coronation.

You know, when I was a
kid, next door's budgie

escaped from its cage.

Go away birdie!

Go away, Birdie!

God.

It kills me.

Those children.

A blessing and a gift.

Their lives are filled with
innocence, joy, and laughter.

Jesus actually tells
us to be like children

and to come to him for
trust, faith, but not you.

You spawn of the devil.

What a filthy creature.

Get out.

He did things.

He hurt me, Tommy.

He heard me.

It's OK.

Please don't.

Don't touch me.

Don't look at me.

Keeping myself hidden
so the neighbors

wouldn't see the marks and
the cuts and the bruises.

I heard it.

The bird went the window.

The flashy tail feathers,
and then he heard him.

The magpies.

First one, then another.

This savage, savage pecking.

I just wanted to
scream out loud, see.

Boys don't scream.

Men, real men, don't
cry and make a fuss

(VOICEOVER) No, Dad.

No, Dad.

Go away, birdie.

No, Dad.

I was six, you bastard.

Six.

Still in short trousers,
I didn't need a thrashing.

What had I done?

Tell me what I had
done that was so wrong.

And every Sunday after chapel
for years he whispered.

He whispered, "I will beat
the queer in you away."

Tommy, there's something
need to tell you, mate.

I was arrested.

The reason I was
late for the bus.

What are you talking about?

Tommy, I'm so sorry.

Oh, lad.

Have pot of tea.

And don't worry about that lamp.

It was a wedding present.

I've always hated it.

It'll be in the paper.

Me name, they'll put that
in the fucking paper.

Jesus, Eddy.

So you see, we have to go.

We have to leave.

We-- Tommy, we have to go.

I've got money I keep
here in my socks.

Look.

Go where?

America.

America?

Anywhere.

But not home.

Tommy, that place will
never be home to me again.

You know that.

People don't go to America.

They do.

No, they don't.

You said you loved me.

I do.

You know it.

You said we were special.

You said it was
a fucking miracle

that we found each other.

And I believed you.

Like a fucking fool,
I believed you.

They do.

We can.

We have to.

Not me.

Not if you want
lads in that way.

[interposing voices]

It has to mean something.

Busted.

You turned my world upside down.

You shake everything up.

You asked me to hurt
my family, my mama.

They'll never let us be.

They'll never let us be.

Touch me.

Touch me.

It means-- it means the world.

I would die for you.

I'm glad.

Tommy.

Look, your mom and your
dad, they know who we are.

They know.

They know.

And you see the sky falling in--

You're a fucking liar!

No.

How can they?

I've been so careful.

Been so fucking careful.

And they know.

They know.

But I won't pretend,
not anymore.

Don't you feel it, just like
burning heat, this anger.

How dare they?

How fucking dare they?

No Tommy, look at me.

I will never again feel
frightened and helpless, scared

shitless, looking at all the old
fashioned faces in those cars.

I'll never again feel blood in
my mouth, my own blood where

some busted copper took a swing
simply because he knows he can.

No.

So you choose.

You choose, Tommy.

I have loved you all the days
of my life, so you choose.

You fucking choose.

But I will not go
back to that time.

I will not marry to conform.

Shh, shh, shh.

Get off!

How could I be that cruel?

How could I destroy
another person's life

because I was too scared
to be truthful myself?

No.

No, I will fight.

Tommy, I will fight.

I will fight them.

I'll fight them.

That man downstairs,
Tommy, he's working up

the courage to do the bravest
fucking thing I ever heard.

And I'll tell you, I'm going to
it that man by the hand and I'm

going to walk with him--

Her-- along that promenade.

Let them stare.

But if one hand
is raised again--

Phyllis?

Phyllis, come here.

You look right bonny tonight.

You don't have to.

No, you do.

Dear, you do.

You look lovely.

You all do.

It's OK.

It's OK, just trust me.

We're going on this walk.

I'm leaving with Stanley.

We're going to Gretna
Green to the chapel.

We're getting married.

Stanley?

Who's Stanley when he's a Tom?

Oh, fool you.

You can go and ruin
your life tomorrow.

Tonight, you're part of this.

We're all going and
that includes you.

I'm not going to waste
this wash and set.

How bloody marvelous.

Maureen, go and
fetch me best hat.

All of us, here
tonight in Blackpool.

What's all the
commotion, Gladys?

What's to do?

We're walking with Phyllis.

And don't she look lovely?

And see this
handsome booger here?

Queer as they come.

So you, Brenda, can
kiss my spotty ass.

With knobs on.

[coughing]

He's gone, my darling.

He's gone.

He's at peace.

Well done, lad.

Well done.

You bloody queer!

Get off my pier.

Do that again and I'll kick
the fucking shit out of you.

Bloody freaks.

Come back when your balls have
dropped, you silly little man.

Clear off!

We did it.

We did it, Tommy lad.

We did it, lad.

Remember?

Out and proud.

North to South Pier.

[sobbing] We did it, lad.

We did it.

We did it.

We did it.

Look at us.

Look at us, fighting back.

Laws can be changed.

One voice becomes
another, then another.

I will fight.

I will fight them.

From tonight, I'll bloody take
them all up, tooth and nail,

for our rights, signed on the
equal ground as everyone else,

because no one is going
to tell me that how I

love Tommy Price is less valid.

Nobody, ever, ever again.

Eddy, wait!

I love you so fucking much.

[music playing]

(SINGING) I close my eyes.

I count a moment to pass on by,
a silent whisper, a sacred cry,

dreaming to tell
that feeling goodbye.

In the world full of
papers, Columns of numbers,

daily small town routines.

In the life played upon a stage.