Play for Today (1970–1984): Season 1, Episode 10 - The Hallelujah Handshake - full transcript

[dramatic music]

♪ All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name ♪

♪ Let angels prostrate fall ♪

♪ Bring forth the royal diadem, ♪

♪ To crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him Lord of all ♪

♪ Sinners whose love can ne'er forget ♪

♪ The wormwood and the gall ♪

♪ Go spread your trophies at his feet ♪



♪ And crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him Lord of all ♪

[laughing]

[muffled chatter]

♪ Oh that with all the sacred throng ♪

♪ We at his feet may fall ♪

♪ Join in the everlasting song ♪

♪ And Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him ♪

♪ Crown Him Lord of all ♪

Let us pray.



Oh Lord and Heavenly Father,
giver of all good things,

we thank you for the
fellowship of this, our church,

for the gift of communal worship,

for neighbours and for friends.

[muffled chatter]

We thank thee, Heavenly Father,

for the warmth and comfort of our homes,

for the love of our
families, and we ask you-

No husband, gone.

No children, never born.

No grandchildren.

Sisters and brothers,
yes, but never caring.

Enemies, many.

Friends, a few.

Comfort me, God, I'm lonely.

For peace, universal
prosperity, and justice.

I wish I was kneeling.

I always feel I wanna kneel.

Chelsea 2, Leeds 1.

Mind wandering again.

Why is it, I wonder, my mind wanders?

Okay, I suppose this sort of prayer.

Eyes together, hands closed.

Peace, universal justice, and Wendy.

Thank God for Wendy.

Something's wrong with that oven.

It always undercooks.

It's him twisting the knobs the wrong way.

Loosened them.

Not accurate anymore.

Must remember to put the lamb in early.

Give it time.

Lamb.

My dad.

"Where's the sauce, Nora?"

Dad.

He must be somewhere.

Such sparkle.

Can't just die.

We thank thee for charity,

for the gift of hospitality,

for the clasp of a stranger's hand.

A baby of my own.

A baby.

Please, God, a baby.

But most of all, oh God,

we thank thee for the greatest gift.

The gift of love, which
alone as thy son Jesus Christ

has taught us, is the
foundation of true happiness.

For his namesake, Amen.

Now let's sing together The Lord's Prayer.

♪ Oh Father ♪

♪ Which art in Heaven ♪

♪ Hallowed be thy name ♪

♪ Thy kingdom come ♪

♪ Thy will be done ♪

♪ In earth as it is in Heaven ♪

[footsteps]

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name of all ♪

♪ It makes the wounded spirit whole ♪

♪ And calms the troubled breast ♪

♪ Tis manna to the hungry soul ♪

♪ And to the weary rest ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name of all ♪

♪ Dear name ♪

♪ The Rock on which I build ♪

♪ My shield and hiding-place ♪

♪ My never-failing treasury filled ♪

♪ With boundless stores of grace ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

Good morning.

♪ O how I love the Savior's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name of all ♪

On Tuesday this week,

the Women's Social Hour,

and by popular request,

Mrs. Atkinson will be showing
slides of her recent visit-

Poor, pitiful Mrs. Atkinson,
showing her slides again.

Guaranteed to snatch your
soul from the brink of despair

and gel it in a morass of mindlessness.

Why do they fill this place?

These furies of Acacia Groves.

In their clochettes and winged spectacles.

Christ, why has your strident call to arms

peppered your ranks with these
post-menopausic monsters?

God forgive me, but I'll
burn the lot of them

crisp on their husband's funeral powers.

Wednesday, the youth club will be meeting

to discuss this year's pantomime.

Mr and Mrs Stokes will
be pleased to welcome

any young people who are interested.

Now, last year's pantomime
was a very great success.

Get away, you fools.

Nip on a bus and get away from here.

They'll gobble you up.

Chop off your hair, stamp
you 'saved', wind you up,

and launch you down the
aisle, hand in hand,

in blinkers as big as bin lids.

You tear them off and you're married,

and sitting here, churning
out the next generation,

and the world's three stops on

while you're still stuck at the Depot.

Last Sunday, you were invited
to join a sit down and fast

as a protest against the war in Vietnam.

Of course, this was a matter
for individual consciences,

but on behalf of Mr. Hill and myself,

I would like to thank those
of you who did attend.

I feel sure they will
agree, it was a statement

well-worth in making.

On Monday...

Would you like some trifle?

Give me your plate.

All right, but not too much.

Big man like you.

'Specially in your job.

Now, what about [muffled speech]?

There's always a house with the job.

The one perk.

It's not easy for her, they say.

No, it's not.

It'll be worse when when the baby comes.

Brenda!

No, she means when we start a family.

There's plenty of time for that.

Get your home sorted first.

Yes, that's what June says.

You don't look as though
you're enjoying that.

Well, I would be

if I hadn't had half a
hundred weight already.

Why the plateful, then?

Oh, I see.

This the one with the double cream

and the hundreds and thousands?

It is.

Oh, get it down you.

I made that.

You want to stand up and be counted, mate.

Just stirring Alfred's conscience here.

Wendy, please inform
your husband, will you?

I'm spoken for.

It's a job, a church, a wife, and a God,

and if he wants a piece,
well, he can fight me for it.

[relaxing piano music]

Stop it, for God's sake.

We have to put up with
all these rodeos of yours

without you trying to
indoctrinate everybody.

[mumbling]

He must think I'm worth converting.

Alf Stokes, who's doing
his bit for mankind

where you was to learn
your 10 commandments.

10 what?

Ooh, you might very well ask.

Well, he has his ways, I have mine.

Pity he didn't realise that.

The page.

Eh?

The page, the page!

Oh.

Going very well.

Yes.

What's the yes for?

Yes, it's going very well.

It's harmless enough.

Harmless?

Not [mumbles] by being harmless.

We are not to shift mountains.

There's no harm in trying.

It's all too cosy, too insular.

Well, it all started with
him coming in one day,

right out of the blue.

We'd had a social evening.

Oh, it wasn't at a service.

No, no.

He wandered by and wandered in.

Well, the point is this, you see.

We're always on the lookout for a catch.

The net is out.

So this is not known,
for a chap to wander in

and asked to see the
minister, and this he did.

How do you do?

Good evening.

Oh, are you looking for someone?

I'm new in the area.

I thought I might join your church.

I've got a lot of experience,
you see, in youth work.

Oh, I see.

I am a Methodist.

Lapsed a little, I'm afraid,
but I'm still a Methodist.

Well, you'll want a
word with our minister.

He's over there with his
wife, in the blue dress.

The wife, not the minister.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Who's he, I wonder?

Laughing boy.

Perhaps he's come to read the metre.

I were wondering if I
might join your church.

Right, just give me a minute

and I'll come and have a look.

We're waiting to do the washing up.

Well, I can't do two jobs at once, can I?

[mumbles]

All right, Mrs Atkinson.

Here, you turn the pages,
and I'll do the heater.

I am a Methodist.

Lapsed a little, I'm afraid.

'Cause I'm new in the
area, I was thinking-

[Minister] What an ideal way
of getting to know people?

Yes.

I mean, I don't want you to think

I'm making a convenience of you.

That's what we're here for.

Yes, that's what I thought.

Well, welcome, Mr...

Jones, Tobias Jones.

Henry Tobias Jones.

Looks like a fish on the hook.

He's practically in the pan, that fellow.

Yes, he's a catch, all right.

Look at Geoff.

He's got his paternal face on.

[Minister] Oh, this seemed
almost too good to be true.

And although we're always after people,

I was a bit suspicious of this approach.

So I weighed him up.

[Police Officer] And
what was his appearance?

[Minister] His appearance was very smart.

[Police Officer] In what sort of way?

I mean, what would you say his job was?

[Minister] I'd have said
something like a bank clerk.

Mr and Mrs Hill, Mr Jones.

Mr Jones is interested in joining us.

So he was saying.

Hello.

Mr Jones is a colleague of yours, Wendy.

You teach?

Yes.

Locally?

I'm very experienced with young people.

What subjects?

I've just moved into the area, you see.

Thought I might be of some help.

Well, great.

We can do with a bit of
support, eh, Mr Evans?

We intelligentsia.

[Minister] We can indeed.

A bit reactionary around here, Mr Jones.

It's the water.

Talking of water-

The heater's gone again.

So I believe.

I've just had a look.

I can't find a thing.

Hello there.

You popped in after all, have you?

On the porch, last Sunday, remember?

I went to get you a hymn
book, but you'd gone.

Must've frightened him off.

Mr Stokes, Mr Jones.

[Mr Stokes] Oh, delighted.

Shall I have a look?

I'm quite handy.

The water heater?

Yeah, that's it.

Come on.

I've had a look and I can't
find a thing wrong with it.

Alf's quite bowled over.

The way to a man's heart
is through his ascot.

What's his name again?

Henry Tobias Jones.

M.A. Oxen.

♪ Blessed assurance Jesus is mine ♪

♪ O what a foretaste of glory divine ♪

♪ Heir of salvation purchase of God ♪

♪ Born of His Spirit washed in His blood ♪

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ This is my song ♪

♪ Praising my Saviour all the day long ♪

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ This is my song ♪

♪ Praising my Saviour all the day long ♪

Will you see to the kids?

Yes, I'll pick them up now.

Okay.

Morning, Miss Hudson.

Morning, Minister.

Getting colder, isn't it?

Colder, yes, it is.

Goodbye.

Einstein was in again.

Did you see it?

Don't be cruel.

He's a very nice young man.

So all you women tell me.

I'll see you later.

Good morning, Mrs Atkinson.

Enjoyed your slides on Tuesday.

Quite the little photographer, aren't you?

I've seen worse.

Very interesting afternoon.

Glad you enjoyed it.

I did.

Hypocrite.

Oh, me?

Never.

She couldn't photograph a brick wall.

As long as she thinks she can.

Faith, son, faith.

Well said.

The opium of the masses.

Excuse me, Bob.

I managed to bring him
in this time, Mr Evans.

Yes, so I noticed.

Nice to see you again, Mr Jones.

Thank you.

Enjoyed your sermon.

Very interesting.

That's a taste of your own medicine.

What do you mean?

I was very good, wasn't I, Wendy?

Pass me the opium, darling.

Henry says he'd like to
have a word with you.

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ This is my song ♪

♪ Praising my Saviour all the day long ♪

America, Canada, the continent.

I've lectured all over.

Mostly young people.

In Wales, I was in charge of
a multipurpose youth centre

in Wales run by the local authority.

Wales?

My home, you see.

My home's in Wales.

Why'd you leave?

Restless.

All the travelling, you see.

Can't stay in one place anymore.

Did you like America?

Scouting.

I've always liked scouting.

Queen scout as a boy.

Do you have Scouts?

A troop?

I'm afraid not.

I'm not too keen on uniforms.

We have junior clubs, a youth club.

Great.

I'll be able to help you, then.

Well, you do appreciate, Mr Jones,

we do like to get to
know people a bit first

before we offer them
positions of authority,

especially where the young
people are concerned.

Young people.

I like working with young people.

Perhaps I could help
with the Sunday school?

Perhaps.

Have a word with the superintendent.

I will.

Well, this is where I turn off, here.

Oh, I'll walk you home.

I'm in no hurry.

You've made me very welcome, Mr Evans.

It's all part of the service.

I can see there's great scope

for a person with my sort of training.

Who do I see about the youth club?

Mr Stokes.

Oh.

Yes.

He runs it with his wife.

Yes.

It's a great place, America.

Your home church in Wales,
who was the minister?

I might know him.

He's dead.

I did a lecture tour here, and Canada.

Mostly young people.

I found it very rewarding.

I'm glad.

Well, here we are, Mr Jones.

Call me Henry.

Henry.

I'd ask you in for coffee,

but I've got to look at
tonight's sermon before lunch.

My busy day.

I'll be there.

Pleased to hear that.

I'll see you this evening, then.

[Henry] Right.

And don't work too hard.

Tobias Jones, M.A.

He walked me home.

Nice.

Seeing him again?

And again and again, and again and again.

♪ He who would valiant be ♪

♪ 'Gainst all disaster ♪

♪ Let him in constancy follow the Master ♪

So it went on from there.

He attended church very regularly,

appeared at the Sunday
school offering his services

to the Sunday school superintendent,

who immediately got involved.

We're always keen on people
helping in Sunday school

and that sort of thing.

He helped with the youth fellowship.

And that's the youth club?

The youth club, yes.

And he was making himself out

to be much younger at the time.

Well, bearing in mind, he
weren't acting suspicious.

Although I did have some
question marks in my mind,

as I do with everyone I meet

about what sort of person they are.

You try to weigh them up
to make an assessment,

to try to discover, is there
any gold in this bit of rock?

So when Henry was offering
himself around like this,

he seemed quite harmless.

And although I realised his
stories were exaggerated...

In what way?

How do you mean?

Well, the first time he came
to the youth fellowship.

We've got about 20 or 30
youngsters there, you see,

and we used to like to have
people come and speak to them.

And this was very popular.

So we're always on the lookout

for someone who could do something.

So Henry said,

"I've been to The Bahamas,
and I can give you a lecture."

The Bahamas contain nearly 700 islands,

most of them uninhabited,

and about 2,400 rocks and caves.

The Island chain starts
from about 50 miles

East of Palm Beach, Florida,

and stretches 750 miles in
a southeasterly direction

to within 50 miles of Cuba.

Chief island is New Providence,

known best for its attractions of Nassau,

a city characterised by its
wealth of historical charm

and tropical atmosphere.

Wonderful, soft, sand beaches.

Water spots, sightseeing,

and a wealth of exciting night life.

Spend the sun filled days
lazing on the beaches,

and at night, enjoy the
never ending entertainment.

The other islands bearing
magical names like Ulisaria,

Andeos, and Harbour Island

offer a true escape from the crowds

and cares of everyday life.

A memorable holiday can be had

by hopping between the islands,

for the sportsman world record catches

can be made in these waters.

From Columbus on, travellers have extolled

the climate of the Bahamas,
the playground of the world.

[applause]

♪ There's no discouragement ♪

♪ Shall make him once relent ♪

♪ His first avowed intent ♪

♪ To be a pilgrim ♪

♪ Who so beset him round ♪

♪ With dismal stories ♪

♪ Do but themselves confound ♪

♪ His strength the more is ♪

There again, you see, despite all this,

he constituted no danger, no problem,

and we exist to help people, you see.

Of course, by this time we realised

that his degree and his lecturing were,

well, really, a fib.

But we carried on because
we thought this boy

had a genuine Christian experience.

He was genuinely enthusiastic

about the sort of things we were doing.

Any chance of a game?

Want a ref?

I'll ref for you, shall I?

Come on, goalie, let's
see what you're made of.

Out the way.

[yelling]

Watch this.

[muffled speech]

Come on, lads.

Oh yes, yes.

Wait, wait, wait.

Come on, lads.

Hey!

Shoot!

Come on, lads, keep it going.

[whistle blows]

Half time.

Now, hands up those boys who
don't go to Sunday school.

♪ Father lead me day by day ♪

♪ Ever in Thine own sweet way ♪

♪ Teach me to be pure and true ♪

♪ Show me what I ought to do ♪

Good.

And now, can anyone tell me what this is?

[Children] 30 miles an hour.

Good.

And now this one?

[Children] No right turn.

Good.

And now this one?

[Children] Humpback bridge.

Humpback bridge.

Good.

Now, these are the rules which
we have for our safety on the

[Children] Road.

Good.

Now the Bible tells us
that God gave us some rules

by which we live.

Now, can anyone tell
me what they're called?

[Children] Ten Commandments!

Good.

Now, children, there's someone
here I'd like you to meet.

You may have noticed him sitting with us

for the past two weeks.

Would you mind standing up
for us, Mr Jones, please?

Now Mr Jones has been watching us to see

if he'd like to come and teach
here in our Sunday school.

Would you like him to?

[Children] Yes!

Good.

Now Mr Jones has told me he'd be delighted

to come and help us here,

and he's going to begin
today by reading us

a passage from the Bible,

which tells us how God gave us the...

[Children] Ten Commandments.

Good.

Would you come over, Mr Jones?

Thank you.

"And God spake all these words saying,

'I am the Lord thy God,

which have brought thee
out of the land of Egypt,

out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt not have any other God but me.

Thou shalt not make unto
thee any graven image,

or any likeness of anything
that is in the Heaven above,

or that is in the earth beneath,

or that is in the water under the earth.

Thou shalt not bow down myself
to them, nor serve them,

for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God,

visiting the inequity of the
fathers upon the children

unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me,

and showing mercy upon
thousands of them that love me

and keep my commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name
of the Lord thy God in vain,

for the Lord will not hold him guiltless

that take of his name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy.

Six days shalt thy labour
and do all thy work,

but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God.

In it thou shall do no work.

Thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter,

nor thy manservant, thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle,

nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

For in six days the Lord
made heaven and earth,

the sea and all that in them is,

and rested the seventh day,

wherefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother,

that thy days may be long upon the land,

which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife,

nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,

nor his ox, nor his ass,

nor anything that is thy neighbor's.'

"And all the people saw the
thunderings and the lightnings

"and the noise of the trumpet
and the mountain smoking.

"And when the people saw it,
they removed and stood afar off

"and they said unto Moses,

'Speak thou out with us and we will hear,

but let not God speak
with us, lest we die.'

"And Moses said unto the people,

'Fear not, for God is come to prove you,

and that his fear may be
before your faces that,

that ye sin not.'"

Thank you, Mr Jones.

That was wonderful.

Now, will all group teachers
expand on this theme

in any manner they wish.

Do you know all your Bible off by heart?

Only parts.

Had them drummed into me as a boy.

Never could [muffled speech], never.

This is marvellous, Mr Jones.

Call me Henry.

Hello, Henry.

It's fantastic, Henry.

Where do you get them?

They must have cost the earth.

[cheerful jazz music]

[muffled speaking]

♪ Then fancies fly away ♪

♪ We'll fear not what men say ♪

♪ We'll labour night and day ♪

♪ To be a pilgrim ♪

It's for you.

It's what?

For you and Connie.

A present from me.

Oh, never.

No, I can't accept that.

Please.

You've been so good to
me since I've been here,

and I was too late to contribute

to the youth club present
for your birthday,

so I got you this.

It's a good one.

The man in the shop said so.

I asked for the best.

A gift?

Birthday present, yeah.

It looks expensive.

20 quids worth.

Well, we can't accept it.

It's way out of proportion.

We don't need it.

Perhaps he needs you to take it.

It could be the only way he
can find to show his gratitude.

What for?

We only try to make it feel at home.

But for Henry, that's
a brand new experience.

The club he expressed interest,
particular interest in,

was the nines, 10s, 11s, and 12s.

The 10 plus, really.

And he came and helped out,
and he was magnificent.

He got on well with these youngsters,

and he spent time with him.

Ages of time.

He brought all his own
equipment, plastic balls, rings,

hoops to play with, that sort of thing.

How did you think he
could afford all this?

Well, remember, he was at this stage

still a school teacher.

Where you been?

Having a snatching there, are you?

Trying to grab yourself a handful?

[muffled speech]

Where's your [mumbles] William?

The one with a smile on his face?

One of these days, bill boy.

Won't I just...

[muffled speech]

Bring them down, then!

Put a smile on his face!

Why can't you?

Well, she's only just
had cubs, hasn't she?

[laughing]

Two, four, six, eight.

10, 12, 14, 16.

Right, eight a side, two captains.

Peter and Robert.

Right, lads.

Two dozen wood screws, two inch.

One three and a half inch bit,

and a big French kiss for your Uncle Bob.

[laughing]

What's the matter with you?

Don't you love us no more?

Hurt his feeling, have we?

Sensitive boys, these poofs.

Gentle souls.

What souls?

Arse holes.

♪ Are cheap today ♪

♪ Cheaper than yesterday ♪

♪ Standing up or lying down ♪

♪ A pack and six or half a crown ♪

♪ Tralalalalala ♪

♪ Tralalalalala ♪

[banging]

Thank you very much.

You're a Christian!

♪ I need Thee every hour ♪

♪ Most gracious Lord ♪

♪ No tender voice like Thine ♪

♪ Can peace afford ♪

♪ I need Thee O I need Thee ♪

♪ Every hour I need Thee ♪

♪ O bless me now my Saviour ♪

♪ I come to Thee ♪

What are you doing about lunch?

Probably fry myself something.

I don't eat much.

Good.

You come home with us, then.

The kids have been
telling us all about you.

At the youth club, you
made quite an impression.

It's like feeding the 5,000.

Do you like spuds, Henry?

[Henry] One will do fine.

Can I have your other?

Nick, leave it there.

There's two each.

I know there's two each.

And Henry only wants one.

He may want one later.

Will you, Henry?

I don't think so.

Great, I can have it then.

Ta.

That's not fair.

You can have one of mine.

[Girl] That's not fair.

You like potatoes, Henry doesn't.

Oh, I do.

[Girl] See, Nicholas?

Henry does like potatoes.

Give it him back.

He just said he didn't want it.

Oh, for God's sake, get it down you, Nick.

More sprouts, Henry.

No, thanks.

Claire, you can have Henry's sprouts.

[Nicholas] Don't you like sprouts, Henry?

[Woman] Never mind, Nick, just eat.

[Nicholas] I want some gravy.

Gravy coming up.

Nice bit of meat.

Yeah.

What butcher did you get it from, then?

One on the corner.

The twinkle.

The young one.

If I went there, we
wouldn't be able to cut it,

let alone eat it.

All right, Henry?

Fine, thanks.

♪ Let's get away you say ♪

[Announcer] Camden beating Webb.

A neat one through to Bellamy,

just inside the Chelsea penalty area,

but easily taken by Macready
and pushed through to Hollins.

Hollins still, a long board on the left,

quickly across the wall.

Osgood now great running

[yelling]

Oh, just over!

What a marvellous run from Osgood.

[muffled speaking]

You a football fan, Henry?

Yes.

I was there yesterday.

Often go.

Know all the players personally.

I had a trial once.

Cardiff City, as a boy, just to try.

Can you get me any autographs?

And cricket.

Like to keep myself fit, you see.

Not a patch on playing, watching.

Insult to the soul, a body gone to seed.

Teacher always saw that.

Really?

Nicholas, don't pester.

I only wanted to know
if he knew [mumbles].

[Announcer] Osgood, unmarked on the left,

crossing it, Harrison in.

Oh, just wide!

Oh, how close can you get?

People ignore me, usually,
or get aggressive,

one of the two.

But usually they ignore me.

It's always been like that.

Nobody's ever listened.

It makes you think, wonder
if you have anything to say,

interesting, worthwhile.

But after a while, you stop
believing, thinking at all,

but nobody tells you, you see,

who you are, when you're
right, or when you're wrong.

You just agree.

Agree with everybody.

But here today, you've all listened.

Well, there must be a
lot of people like me.

You've got such deep,
secure roots, spreading out.

We could all sit in your
branches, hide in your shade.

Better than all your marches,
that, Bob, don't you think?

And your kids, proper little
bushes they are too, eh?

Take a lot to shake those two beauties.

When I was a kid, I wanted to
wake up 25, when I was a kid.

Dad?

Yeah?

Why did Mr Jones tell lies?

He's never away.

Calls at all times.

Just can't get rid of him.

I mean, we don't mind.

The lad's lonely, but
he seems to want more

than honest to goodness company, I fear.

I caught a glimpse of him
one night, the real Henry.

A rare lucid moment.

But otherwise, it's the kids.

What about them?

Well, I mean, they're not stupid.

They're beginning to notice.

Yes, well done, Brenda.

Yes!

I just don't know why.

There's nothing wrong, sex wise.

Jim and I love each other.

It's always been marvellous.

At least I think it has.

I have nothing to compare it
with, but nothing ever happens,

and I want to have a baby.

Oh, I didn't know.

It's just,

well, he's beginning to make
it all seem a bit futile.

I can't explain it, but without
results, what's the point?

Talk about supply and demand.

You're demanding, and the supply is there,

if you're willing to look.

Oh, you mean adopt one?

No, I couldn't.

It's not the same.

No, it's not.

It's misery all over.

Nobody sees it.

It's hidden away, under stones.

Real misery.

Miserable kids.

Souls growing up in a desert,
crying out to be grabbed

and held and shielded and warmed.

And all the world sees

are the strapping young lads at Wimbledon,

running after balls.

You've got a hole in your life.

A vast void pleading to be filled,

and you hang about for
an accident of nature.

You can have a double helping my way.

You catch your happiness
and cure a kid's pain.

All in the one fell swoop.

Henry.

No one's ever talked
to me like this before.

Not even Jim.

You're the first person I've known-

Me?

You don't know me.

You've got friends, Henry,
you've got lots of friends.

We're all very fond of you.

You're not.

Not me, you're not fond of me.

Well, who, then?

I'm fond of you.

You, I'm looking at now.

I'm very fond of you.

[screaming]

Now, you see, I had to play all this down,

because the reputation of
the church was involved.

The parents became worried
about their children

because he'd take them out
all day on a Saturday morning

and not bring them back
till nine o'clock at night,

and all this without

the superintendents knowledge
or approval, or mine.

So then I took time out to
examine him and study him.

By this time he'd got himself a job

as a playgroup organiser with
the local authority here,

under another completely
different name, of course.

And I watched him
ordering those kids about.

I saw him lose his temper,
violently and nastily.

He was taking too much on himself.

You see, there's a very fine line

when you're playing
about with little girls.

Now, I play with little girls.

I loved them.

And I give the kids a swing,

as you do as a father,
you swing them around.

Well, Henry did the same thing,
but there's a difference.

He put his arms under their arms

and he'd swing them, swing
them around, close to them,

and he'd give them a hug.

This is just wanting affection,

and even now, I wouldn't
read too much into it,

but not with the boys,
no, I'm not so sure.

But the boys, I think undoubtedly,

the tendencies were there,

because he was not fulfilled, you see.

And then there was one other
disastrous thing happened.

Ogling at me.

I know.

I can see, the way you look at me.

Undressing me, lusting after me.

I feel your knight clawing at me.

I can feel your breath.

Why don't you leave me alone?

Please leave me alone.

♪ O God be in my eyes ♪

♪ And in my looking ♪

♪ O God be in my mouth ♪

♪ And in my speaking ♪

It's as if he's in constant chaos,

reaching for outstretched hands

that just crumble in his grasp.

He's bewildered, crying for help.

And somewhere in that
chaos, Geoff, in that limbo,

this Henry, we've got to find him.

And in Christ's name, embrace him.

I tried to reach him, to talk to him.

He didn't hurt me, believe me.

He wouldn't hurt a fly.

The man's ill, I realise that.

We all do, but he needs treatment.

The devil casting out, so to speak.

But there are places, special
places, qualified people.

Not us. Not our church.

It's the children I think about.

He's not fit.

Well, something's got to be done.

It's passed a joke.

No, it was never a joke.

I was stupid to ever think it was.

Yes.

What's he to do?

He can only respond to his instincts.

He's crying out to belong, to be accepted.

On fictitious terms.

So flaming what?

Anyway, he does belong.

He belongs with us

For how long?

Knives are out already.

No knives are out.

Shields are up.

They're only human, after all.

They're frightened for their
children and themselves.

But most of all, for him.

I'm proud of them all.

All of them want to help him.

This is what it's all about.

You can keep your sit
down, meals on wheels,

your glorious hymns.

This is a real cry from the wilderness.

Why did he come to us, I wonder?

Why didn't he go to the pubs
or the society of queers?

He probably did.

We can't fail him, Geoff.

We won't, as long as we listen.

He's his biggest danger.

That lad will have to be to cloistered.

Henry.

I'm perfectly certain you
know what I'm gonna say.

If I may judge, it's been
said to you before many times,

in part, at least.

Some of it may be new to you.

If it wasn't, you wouldn't have come to us

in the first place.

I'm taking you off Sunday
school and the youth club.

You've been taking too many liberties.

Some of the parents are getting worried

about your involvement
with their children.

I'm afraid it can't go on.

Now, let's get down to brass tacks.

I want your full case history.

I'm going to tell you some
things about yourself,

which I think may be true.

But as far as I'm concerned,
they don't really matter.

You've been a most kind
and generous person,

and we're grateful to you,

and you've helped in the
church, and we'll stand by you.

You've got more things going in
your favour than against you,

and we won't wash our hands of you.

We want you to stay in our church

because we think of you as one of us.

But we think you need treatment.

Well, what the hell did
you expect him to do?

Bombarding him with that lot.

That was a traumatic experience, mate.

Even a balanced person will crumble

under that sort of hammering.

My God.

No wonder he hopped it.

It's a wonder he didn't jump in the river.

That's just the point.

He didn't because he feels
no guilt, no remorse.

Why should he?

Because he did wrong, that's why.

Ill or not, the same law applies.

That same man stood up in my Sunday school

and recited them passionately,
the 10 commandments.

The children were spell bound.

Now we find he's a thief and a liar.

To Henry, they're just words.

Beautiful words.

Poetry from childhood.

No more than a nursery rhyme.

He's no conception of their meaning,

their application to everyday life.

His life is unreal, a fantasy.

Such rules don't apply.

Neither does shock therapy.

Did he admit it?

Did he say I am all these things?

He doesn't know who he is.

He's just the man he invents
in fleeting grasps of time.

The teacher, the lecturer,
that traveller, athlete,

and he builds on these
great towers of fantasy

till the whole thing topples over.

Or is systematically shattered.

He was harmless.

He was happy.

Why did you have to crush him like that?

Do you believe he was harmless?

The boy was blossoming.

We all knew the score.

We could have contained him.

Through our church,

he'd become a human being
with blood in his veins.

He was liked and disliked,
admired and ridiculed.

What the hell if he lived a lie?

Here, he was somebody.

Now, God knows who or what he is.

Can't we get him back?

No, he wouldn't come back.

Why?

Our only hope was to get
through to the real Henry.

This I tried to do, and this was too much.

I had to because of the
others, the people he touched.

I wanted to put him right.

That was the crunch.

He's happier in make belief.

♪ Immortal invisible God only wise ♪

♪ In light inaccessible
hid from our eyes ♪

♪ Most blessed most glorious
the Ancient of Days ♪

♪ Almighty victorious Thy
great name we praise ♪

♪ Unresting unhasting
and silent as light ♪

♪ Nor wanting nor wasting
Thou rulest in might ♪

♪ Thy justice like mountains
high soaring above ♪

♪ Thy clouds which are
fountains of goodness and love ♪

[car engine rumbles]

Morning, Henry!

♪ Great Father of Glory ♪

♪ Pure Father of Light ♪

Henry!

♪ Thine angels adore Thee
all veiling their sight ♪

Hey, Henry! Henry!

♪ All laud we would
render O help us to see ♪

Henry!

♪ Tis only the splendour
of light hideth Thee ♪

Henry!

I knew he was heading for disaster.

In another environment,
an unsympathetic one,

he could land himself up in court,

and this I was determined to
prevent happening at all costs.

Hello, Howard.

Geoff Evans here.

Hello, Geoffrey.

How are you?

[Geoff] Fine.

And the family?

[Geoff] They're all fine.

You?

In the pink.

How are things down at Transport House?

Swinging.

The palace?

Strength to strength,
I'm delighted to say.

What can I do for you?

It's about a young man, a
parishioner of yours, I believe.

I'm not quite sure about his name,

but I could describe him to you.

He's about 5'5", slightly
built, darkish hair,

29 or 30, nicely spoken.

Enthusiastic sort of chap.

[Howard] You mean John?

Do I?

[Howard] Sounds like him, yes.

John Reese Davis from Wales.

A musician.

Yes, that does sound like him.

He's a musician, is he?

Used to be. Violinist.

Welsh BBC Orchestra.

Had to give it up, damaged his hand.

He's volunteered to help with the choir.

Very willing sort of fellow.

Yes, he is.

Now, that's what I wanted
to talk to you about.

So I told him, laid it out
before him over the phone.

Spoke for over an hour, giving
him the facts, the evidence.

Henry was serving, you
see, and taking communion.

'Course, I realised by this time

that his links with the Free
Church were largely fictitious,

but I couldn't believe he
was a confirmed Anglican.

What I did know was that he had

a Free Church heritage from some way,

some institution, a
Barnardo's Home or the like.

I was certain of it.

And there he was
parading, dressed to kill,

at an Anglo-Catholic altar.

And this would have been
sacrilegious to Howard Whithead,

if he'd chosen to believe it.

Come off it, Geoff.

He up and left you, didn't he?

And came to me.

Well, it's happened before,
it'll happened again,

and vice versa.

No need to hound a fellow

just because he wasn't happy with you.

He couldn't have been happier.

Oh?

Then why did he leave?

Because I asked question,

questions he didn't want to answer.

Oh Lord.

What do you mean, "Oh Lord?"

You've been poking into
his past, have you?

There were some things I had to know.

Not had to know, wanted to know.

Look, it's because people have pasts

that they come to us in the first place.

It's not their past we're concerned with,

it's what a man he is,

he's seen to be that matters.

And what do you see Henry to be?

Let's just say I prefer
to form my own judgements

and not rely on hearsay.

Heresay?

I've given you the facts.

Morning, Sister.

Anybody new for me today?

Pity, you make the best
cup of tea in the place.

Facts, you say?

Let's look at these facts you've given me.

Gifts you suspect he can't afford,

hysterical outbursts on
a sexually deprived girl,

who insists he didn't hurt her,

hints of homosexuality,

but nothing you can put your finger on,

and then delusions of grandeur.

God knows if I didn't have
to lose with a vanguard,

I wouldn't last five minutes in this job.

These are facts.

You condemn a man on
this sort of evidence?

If this is progressive
Christianity, God save us from it.

And then you say you suspect
he's not a confirmed Anglican.

Do me a favour, Geoff.

Please stick to spotting the Wesleyans.

Leave the C of E's to me.

I couldn't care less what Henry was.

He could've been a New Guinea
cannibal for all I care.

I only mentioned that aspect of the case

because I knew it mattered to you.

I'm concerned with the
fact that he need help.

And I'm not, I suppose.

His mind, his body.

His soul can wait.

That's stray talk. Watch it.

Wouldn't put it past you either.

Those were the days.

No, honestly, Geoff, I
feel just as qualified as-

To do what?

Stick him in a night shed
and light him to bed?

Nasty.

Look, Howard, you must
realise the potential danger

this man is to your church,

if you don't want to
look at it any other way.

I'm warning you now, without treatment,

he could bring your church down.

[mumbles]

Superintendent'd be proud of you.

No, John, or Henry as you call him,

came to us for succour,
and succour he shall have,

in the manner he's chosen.

Night shirts and all.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

[Howard] Be my guest.

Embrace him by all means.

God knows your way's as valid as ours.

Very generous of you.

But please be warned, the lad's ill.

[Howard] Oh?

Whose diagnosis? Yours?

Mine, and various members of my church.

All qualified psychoanalysts, no doubt.

Now, look-

I have looked, and I've
liked what I've seen.

He romances, admittedly,
but he's enthusiastic

and extremely devout.

He's the sort of man I'm
proud to call a friend.

He's ruining the choir.

Ruining it.

All the hard work over the years,

ruined by this charlatan.

I think they must be mad, giving
him a free hand like that.

BBC Welsh Orchestra.

He couldn't conduct a number nine bus.

He's reduced us to shambles.

[Howard] His musical
background's invaluable to us.

We lay much greater emphasis

on the quality of our music than you do,

and he's also had a lot of
experience with young people.

He's accepted a great deal
of responsibility already.

He's very enthusiastic
about the scout troop.

We just can't afford him.

We just can't afford to take the risk.

The whole reputation of
the troop's at stake.

Some of the boys are
encouraging him, true,

but he's the adult, not them.

God help us if the parents
start getting ideas.

I wouldn't dare approach the vicar.

He not only gives his time,

he goes to considerable personal expense.

You how difficult it is
to find help these days.

It's such a relief to be able to unload

some of the responsibility now and again.

And he's very popular with the ladies.

Enjoy the melodies of
Mexico, paid by Mariachi.

Dine leisurely...

How dare he.

He must take us for idiots.

The man's quite obviously
never been near Mexico.

He must be unbalanced.

To think we entrust our
children into his care.

Lord knows what sort of
rubbish he pumps into them,

or what he gets up to.

Most of all, he has what I
like to call stickability.

Fruitfulness.

Above all, young John is faithful.

He'd be faithful to a cabbage
if it hid him in its leaves.

Sorry you have such a poor opinion of him.

On the contrary, he's very precious to me.

Somebody well worth saving.

[Howard] Don't evangelise to me, please.

Perhaps you need it most.

All right.

What do you propose I should do?

Send him packing back to
good old home, wholesome,

warm hearted Methodism?

Care for him.

Feed your lamb.

God knows it's what we're paid for.

[Howard] Perhaps we
should form a trade union.

We're his only hope.

That's why he turned to us.

To me, Geoffrey.

In the final analysis, he turned to me.

He's my concern now, not yours.

You remember that.

Oh, look, he's happy with us.

I can stand a little eccentricity
if I see a man's content.

Cast jealousies aside.

Leave him in peace.

Goodbye, Howard.

Sometimes I wonder if you
and I are on the same side.

My dear friends, today, I
have to mention a matter

which has long been a source
of great anguish to me.

Doubtless, there are those among you

who have experienced
similar troubled hours,

but have chosen to let their misgivings

smoulder in their breasts.

However, when you hear what I have to say,

I'm sure you will agree with me

that it was better faced
now than allowed to go on

from bad to worse.

I refer, of course, to
the very dilapidated state

of the vestments belonging
to this historic church.

We are extremely grateful
to Mrs Alice Marshall Rose

for her most generous gift
of a gorgeous set of cloth

of gold vestments in
memory of her late husband.

To ensure that we have a complete
set for use at festivals,

we have decided to add
a dalmatic and a tunic,

the vestments worn by the
deacon and the subdeacon.

The tunic has been presented by the vicar.

The dalmatic has yet to find a donor.

On my recent visit to Rome,

I purchased these magnificent vestments

in the anticipation...

Your Reverend, I should be delighted

if you would accept the
dalmatic as a gift from myself,

in gratitude for the
kindness and understanding

you have shown towards me.

♪ Onward Christian soldiers
marching as to war ♪

♪ With the cross of
Jesus going on before ♪

♪ Christ the royal Master
leads against the foe ♪

♪ Forward into battle see His banners go ♪

♪ Onward Christian soldiers
marching as to war ♪

♪ With the cross of
Jesus going on before ♪

Form an orderly queue.

And your name, Sir?

Greaves.

How many?

Four.

One more.

Here we come.

What is your name?

[Mother] Shordan.

[Henry] Shordan.

Choose a number.

Choose any number.

There's one.

There you are, love.

Right, number 12, number 12.

It only takes one to win, one to win.

Cheaper wholesale.

Five for two shillings.

Sixpence each.

There, my love.

And the next, please.

[Geoff] The man isn't
responsible, he's ill.

[Howard] He's kindness itself.

[Geoff] He'll steal.

He can't help himself.

[Howard] He bought me a
wristwatch, inscribed.

[Geoff] He needs treatment.

[Howard] Affection.

[Geoff] You'll bring your church down.

Could I have a word with
you sometime, Vicar?

Perhaps this evening?

It's about Mr Davis.

[Henry] How many tickets, Vicar?

And you, Mr Jackson?

Come on, now.

Set a good example.

Yes, Mr Davis.

Put me down for a dozen.

The same.

Thank you.

And the next, please.

This evening, Mr Jackson?

After dinner, say eight o'clock.

[Henry] Form an orderly queue.

I'll be with you in a minute.

There's the lucky prize.

Who's the lucky winner?

Any numbers there?

Your name, son?

Hendrick.

Hendrick.

I should be delighted if you'll
accept the dalmatic from me,

for the kindness you've shown towards me.

Thank you very much.

A heart as big as a house.

What wouldn't I give for one of those?

Your attention, please.

I'd now like to call upon the vicar,

the very Reverend Howard Whithead,

to draw the winning ticket

for our star prize of the afternoon,

the automatic tea maker.

[applause]

Here we are, Vicar.

Number 252.

252.

And it's yellow.

Ah, Mrs Marshall Rose.

[applause]

252, well done!

May I say, I can't think of
a more worthy prize winner.

Mr Davis, can we have the prize, please?

Mr Davis, can we have the
tea maker on the platform?

Has anyone seen Mr John Reese Davis?

Your attention, please.

Has anyone seen Mr John Reese Davis?

There we are.

[siren wailing]

Is your name John Reese Davis?

He was there.

Straight up he was.

All right, thanks, Sid.

Right, name.

Williams.

Christian name.

David.

David Williams.

Alias, John Reese Davis.

Sex.

Male.

Hey, Bill?

Tub'll tell you.

He saw her first.

Yeah, I just remembered.

Hey, ask him.

Go on, call him.

He'll tell you.

Address.

74 One Stoke Street, SW12.

[Officer] Mr Andrews,

would you come in here a minute, please?

Is this the man you know
as John Reese Davis?

[Mr Andrews] Yes, it is.

Thanks very much, Sir.

We'll be getting in touch with you.

[muffled speaking]

You tell him he's a bastard liar.

He was the first one that put me on to it.

Hey, tell him he's a bloody
liar from me, will you?

Oh, Joe, this is the fella.

Oh, is it?

You know what you're here for, do you?

Yes.

Stand up, then.

David Williams, alias John Reese Davis.

Charged on the sixth of August 1970

at St Anthony's Parish Church.

You stole one automatic tea
maker, the value of £15,

and £15 cash,

the property of the
Reverend Howard Whithead.

He shopped him.

No other word for it.

Howard Whithead shopped him.

I wish you'd come to me earlier.

I only found out about it last night.

I have only the one case here.

I doubt if I could do much now, anyway.

How do you mean?

My hands are tied, and they've
to refer the case to me

before I could act.

Well, surely you can
speak to them informally.

Tell them what I told you.

If what you suspect is true,

I'll take the opinion that
society must be protected,

especially for the kids, and
for his own sake as well.

There's simply no evidence, you see.

Nothing concrete to say.

It's simply opinions,
and lay opinions at that.

But you could recommend treatment.

Well, I'll do my best.

He's an incorrigible, petty thief.

That's how the court will see it.

They're a dime a dozen.

I doubt that they'll
even stomach a remand.

As such, he's simply not dangerous enough.

I'm sorry.

I agree with you.

He shouldn't be here at all.

But the courts do have a responsibility.

Yes, to Henry.

They may still refer the case to me.

You never know your luck.

Now this is a case which
you can either have

dealt with here in this
court this morning,

or you may, if you wish, be
heard before a judge and jury

at the next quarter sessions.

Do you understand this?

Yes.

[Clerk] Do you want the case
dealt with this morning?

Yes.

Did you plead guilty or not guilty?

Guilty.

[Clerk ] I swear by almighty God...

Whithead's not coming.

No, he's washed his hands of him.

Well.

Three facts of this case, your worship,

are following a complaint of a theft

of a tea maker and £15 cash,

I went to St Anthony's Church

and saw the vicar, the
Reverend Howard Whithead.

He alleged that the prisoner
had stolen the property.

When I questioned the defendant,

he admitted the offences

and said that he had
given it away to a woman.

He was unable to supply
any details of this person.

Further inquiries have since been made,

and police have not been
able to trace the property.

He was cautioned and taken
to Edge Green Police Station.

where he was charged.

[Clerk] Who was this woman you say

you gave the property to?

A lady, an elderly lady.

She said she could do with
it, so I gave it to her.

You didn't know her,
yet you gave it to her.

She needed it.

She looked as though she really needed it.

Is there anything else you'd
like to tell the court?

No.

Anything known?

On the 2nd of February,
1965, at West London,

he was convicted of theft and fined £5.

On the 23rd of April at Acton,

he was convicted of theft and fined £15.

On the 10th of June, 1969, at Bow Street,

he was convicted of theft, fined £15,

and received 12 months probation.

On the 16th of November, 1969,

at West London Magistrate's court,

he was again convicted of theft

and received three months imprisonment,

which was suspended for 12 months.

You're just going to sit
there and let the lad fry?

It's out of my hands.

He's not my pastoral
responsibility any longer?

Oh, to hell with your parson's etiquette!

They're going to send him to
prison, can't you see that?

Get up, damn you, and tell them!

I already have.

I have to go, or I'll be in trouble.

Pop round to see me sometime.

We might still be able to do something.

There's nothing to stop
you from saying something.

It might even carry more weight.

David Williams, you were
welcomed by this community,

accepted into the family of a church

and placed in a position of trust,

which you have chosen to betray.

You say that you gave
these goods to a lady

you felt had a need for them.

This lady cannot be
traced, and if she were,

it would not affect the
judgement of the court,

for how you disposed of the
goods does not alter the fact

that you misappropriated
them in the first place.

You are already under a suspended
sentence of three months.

This will automatically be implemented,

with an additional three
months imprisonment

for today's conviction,
making a total of six months.

Right, strip off.

Excuse me, Sir, but-

Shut up!

[water splashing]

♪ How sweet the name of Jesus sounds ♪

♪ In a believer's ear ♪

♪ It soothes his sorrows
heals his wounds ♪

♪ And drives away his fear ♪

♪ It makes the wounded spirit whole ♪

♪ And calms the troubled breast ♪

♪ Tis manna to the hungry soul ♪

♪ And to the weary rest ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name on earth ♪

[enthusiastic drumming]

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name on earth ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name on earth ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ O how I love the Saviour's name ♪

♪ The sweetest name on earth ♪