Steve (2025)
Director: Tim Mielants
Writer: Max Porter
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo, Emily Watson
Plot: Follows headteacher Steve battling for his reform college’s survival while managing his mental health. Concurrently, troubled student Shy navigates his violent tendencies and fragility, torn between his past and future prospects.
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Steve (2025) | Transcript
[Steve] Hi. Hi, all. Hey.
[woman] Hi, Steve.
[sucks teeth] Um…
Thanks for coming down.
No problem.
[woman] Take a seat there.
Okay.
Angus is gonna put a mic on you.
[Angus] Sorry, I’m just gonna pin this to you.
Then I’ll stick that in the side pocket.
Okay.
Thank you.
Okay.
[Angus] All right.
Sorry about this, Steve.
It won’t take a sec.
Yeah.
[exhales]
[Angus] We’re rolling.
I just gotta get rid of this.
[exhales]
[woman] You okay to do this?
Mmhmm.
I’m probably actually not okay with it.
Do you mind if you just stop filming for a sec?
[woman] Yeah.
[Angus] Yeah, sure.
[exhales loudly]
We really don’t have to do this now.
No, no, no.
We should… We should…
We’re here. We should do it.
Let’s do it.
[Angus] Yeah. Sure?
Yep.
[Angus] Okay.
[Steve sighs deeply]
[woman] Um… so just tell us a bit about Stanton Wood.
[“Deep Shit Part 1 & Part 2” by Kruder & Dorfmeister playing]
♪ Ayy, ayyayy, ayy ♪
♪ Ayy, ayyayy, ayy ♪
[birds chirping]
[car door closes] Okay.
Uh, if Jenny wants to stick around after her sessions, then maybe we can all have a chat.
[groans loudly]
Try and get them in a room together.
Um…
Riley needs an intervention, Steven.
Fuck’s sake, never called Nabeel’s dad.
Okay, four, call Nabz’s dad.
Basically, Steven, basically, deal with it.
Get through the day.
You’re 48 years old.
This is what human beings do.
You’re an adult human being.
[man over radio] There’s the big confrontation between friends and club teammates.
An old family argument, England v. Scotland, where the losers could most certainly be out of Euro ’96.
[music playing faintly over headphones] Fuck! Oh, my God!
Morning, Shy.
[Shy] Wow!
[chuckles]
Stealthy Steve, you know?
[Shy stops the music] This isn’t great, is it?
What?
Oh, come on, Shy.
Tell me you know it’s not all right to be out here at breakfast time getting fully baked.
Hold this.
[drum and bass playing over headphones]
Yeah.
[Shy] What are you doing?
No, I…
Dark, yeah. [chuckles] It’s quite hard, isn’t it?
[Shy] Hard. Yeah, so hard.
[Steve] I like… I prefer when it gets a bit more… when it’s spacier.
Spacey. Love it.
Synths and all that.
Eh, I could actually get into that.
[stops music]
So, how are you doing?
I’ve been worried about you.
[Shy] I just feel a bit more, like…
Barbed wire than… slippy, you know?
Yeah.
I hear you.
You’re at the top of my list today, right? So, we’ll find a time to chat.
Someone pissed in my glass, and I drank a load.
It was probably Jamie.
[Steve snorts] What? Was that a laugh?
No, that’s terrible.
You want piss in your mouth?
You have to tell me this stuff, Shy. It’s terrible.
Hey, Steve.
Check this.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, that’s a beauty, isn’t it?
Yeah, man.
Love it.
No, you keep it.
I’m gonna sit on the bonnet, you drive me really slowly into school!
No, absolutely not. Get off, Shy.
[Shy] The film crew can film us arriving.
What did you say?
The film crew can film us arriving when we go in.
Fuck, it’s Thursday! Fuck, I’m gonna be late. Get off!
I wanna talk more!
Get off!
Come on, Steve. Man, don’t be like that.
Shit. No, Shy.
Everyone’s acting like twats…
Get off!
Get off!
[honks horn] Come on, man.
Shy… All right.
[engine starts]
[screams]
All right. Get off, get off!
[laughing] All right!
[giggling]
Now, listen.
♪ Sittin’ on my front step
Thinking of an action ♪
♪ Action ♪
♪ Attraction ♪
♪ Yeah, I got my traction
With the ladies ♪
♪ Ladies ♪
♪ Like I’m Patrick Swayze ♪
♪ Swayze ♪
♪ I drive the girls crazy ♪
[Riley] Wait, wait.
Shut up. Hold on.
♪ I drive ’em all crazy, unlike
Jamie Who’s a baby and a dickhead ♪
[Jamie] You fucking what?
Hello, Posh Cal’s mum. We got Posh Cal kidnapped.
He sells 50 grand, 50…
Hey, 50K, mummy! 50K!
[boys continue chattering inside]
[man] Angus, won’t be a sec…
[chattering continues]
Tarone, you good?
Mmhmm.
[Steve] Owen.
Hey, there he is.
Ah, brilliant. You must be the famous Steve.
Steve, whenever you’re ready, mate.
Yes. Okay.
Um, Steve, Kamila from Points West. Hi.
Yeah. Hi.
Boys, boys! Boys, come on.
Take it down, take it down.
Jamie, give us a sec here.
Come on. Common room now.
[Ash] Sorry about Jamie, he just wants…
Off you get, lads.
Sorry. It’s all right.
Um, Steve, this is Geoff, who’s directing the piece.
Great to meet you.
Wow. Directing?
They said it was just kind of going to be just about the school and what we do.
You know, like, five minutes at the end of the…
[boy] I’ll fucking slice you!
Five minutes at the end of the news kind of thing?
[Geoff] Well, yeah, it’s Points West, so it is a segment after the news.
Um, but it still needs thinking about.
Yeah.
[Geoff] This is Angus. He’s sound.
Hiya.
[Geoff] And Claire is cameras.
Hiya. Sorry, guys, one second.
Uh, hey, Shola.
Hi.
Can I have a quick word?
Let’s go to the staff room.
Sure.
Sorry, it’s just crazy this morning, um…
Are you, uh, all good? All good?
[Shola] All good, yeah, um…
Actually, Steve, can we talk about some stuff?
Tarone, you know…
Yes.
[door opens]
Hi, Steve. Can I quickly ask, are we good to wander upstairs and look at some shots?
And, um, outside in the garden?
No, no. Uh, no, no.
No to the boys’ rooms.
Yes to wander around, but no to the boys’ rooms, if that’s okay.
Shola, yes, yes, 100%.
Yes, we’ll speak.
You’re top of my list. Promise.
Okay.
Um, sorry, guys. Uh, excuse me.
[boy] Get off of me, you fucking cunt!
[Steve] Boys!
[Riley] I’ll kill you!
Jamie! That’s enough!
[Riley] I’ll kill you!
Riley, Riley, Riley!
[Jamie] What?
Jamie!
[Riley] Get off me!
[Jamie] Come here, you pussy!
[Riley] Fuck off!
Lads, lads. Lads.
What?
[screams]
Stupid fat, fucking cunt!
Riley, stop! Enough!
Fuck off me, Steve!
Whoa. Riley.
Come on then!
No, no, no.
No, come on, don’t do that.
Fucking stupid cunt.
Jamie. Jamie, come on.
You scratched my face, you little bitch.
Fuck off, you fucking bloody homo!
Right.
You little cunt!
I’ll fucking stab you!
[Steve] Pool table privileges gone. Okay.
That’s enough.
[Riley] Fucking idiot, man.
[Steve] Riley, Riley!
[thwack] Always fucking…
Riley, what was that?
Nah.
No, man. He’s a fucking sicko.
[exhales]
Okay, let’s just take it down, will we? Use deep breaths.
He’s a fucking psycho, Steve. He’s a cunt.
You all see it, but we have to live with him!
He’s always on us every fucking day!
No, no.
Come on, you’ve got to relax now. Relax, okay?
You and Jamie are actually friends.
You don’t know it, but you’re friends.
You can’t keep having these little wars. It’s no use.
He licked my fucking face, Steve. He spitted in my mouth.
That’s sexual assault.
Okay, Riley, I’m going to say something, and you’re going to roll your eyes at me.
“You’re better than this, Riley.”
Yeah! [chuckles] I mean, that’s pretty much it.
But if you raise your fist at me or another member of staff ever again, then… then you’re gone.
You’re out of here.
Okay? I’m here for you, all right? I’m here for you. Okay?
Thanks, Steve.
Right. Right, let’s go.
More focus, less fighting, yeah?
Let’s go.
[woman] Some call it a last chance.
[Riley] Oh, yeah!
[Steve] No, Riley. Riley, Riley!
[Riley yells] Shit… [laughs] [Geoff] Hang on. No, again.
No, I actually really liked it.
Sorry, sorry.
[Geoff] If you could start further back and walk more before you start talking.
We got plenty of time.
Some call it a last chance.
Some call it a very expensive dumping ground for society’s waste product.
A radical progressive educational intervention or a waiting room for borstal?
Maybe here, at Stanton Wood Manor, it’s all of the above.
[inhales] Yeah.
[Geoff] Yeah, that’s great.
Shall we try somewhere else?
Are we rolling?
[Kamila] Yeah.
Fuck! Shit! Cunt! Bollocks!
Riley, 17.
And threequarters.
[Kamila] And, uh, can you describe yourself in three words?
One, a Cornish legend.
Two, hardcore.
And three, cheeky.
What did Jamie say?
Jamie, uh, said, “Charismatic, uh, sexy, and irresistible.”
[giggles]
He’s such a twat.
[Kamila] Last question.
If 1996 Riley could say anything to 1990 Riley, what do you think he’d say?
Hello, Riley.
Don’t anyone ever talk down to you.
Remember who you are, and keep your fucking head up high.
‘Cause you’re Riley, yeah?
You’re fucking Riley!
[closes door]
Fuck’s sake.
[clears throat]
[Steve over tape recorder] …that will put Jamie next to Riley.
[tape speeding up]
…with Jamie because that will put Jamie next to Riley.
Maybe Nabz and Shy swap.
That won’t fucking work.
Mum, don’t bother with that. I just… I just lost my temper.
That’s all it was. Like…
[Shy’s mother] Shy, stop talking and listen.
That was not okay, Shy.
I was really, really upset, and we… lain and I, well, we just can’t.
It was the final straw for us.
So we’ve decided that while you’re at Stanton Wood, we’re…
Done.
[takes shaky breath]
What… what are you talking about?
No more phone calls or visits.
[breathes shakily]
[chuckling nervously]
What are you saying?
You can’t pause contact with me. I’m your son.
Shut up and listen.
It’s over.
You ringing and screaming at me, insulting us, threatening us, it is ruining our lives, Shy. It’s over.
Ruining your lives?
Mum, you’re insane. What?
I never threatened you.
That’s just what I…
That’s what I get like sometimes, you know, and…
Yeah, exactly.
That’s the point I’m making.
Am… Am I dreaming this?
It’s for the best. All right? For all of us.
W-What if…
[Shy’s mother crying]
What… what if I…
I n… I need you?
[Shy’s mother crying]
Shy. I’m 17.
[Kamila] Is Shy your real name?
It is now.
[Kamila] And if you could describe yourself in three words?
Uh, depressed.
Angry and bored.
[Kamila] Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
[puts phone down] [breathes deeply]
[exhales]
[banging on door]
[Nabz] Peedy Paul, I know you hear me!
Fucking Peedy Paul!
Nabz?
I’m gonna come in and fuckin’ kill you!
Nabz.
Huh?!
He’s been in there for two hours.
I’m not joking. Peedy fucking Paul!
No, don’t… If you’re desperate, use the other one.
Use the other loo. Paul, come on. Out.
[bangs on door]
[Nabz] Fucking hell.
Rap, jungle, drum and bass, funky house, fashion.
I’m into the ladies, I can’t lie.
I’m into styling. I wouldn’t mind being a model, you know?
People say I can get into modelling, so…
I can’t really blame them. I see where they get it from.
Morning, all.
There you are, Steven. Good.
[Owen] You all right out there?
[Amanda] All right?
All good.
Today’s a total cluster fuck.
There’s no other way around it. Okay?
This documentary crew are going to be filming until at least the end of lessons now, which is a massive help. Thanks, Steve.
It’s a good thing for the school. I think it’ll be a good ad. You know?
We should embrace it.
[Amanda] Sure, sure.
They seem like a nice bunch. I’m fine with it.
But, um, Steven, physio time.
Get yourself lying down.
[Steve] Okay.
Okay.
I’ve told them they’ve got to be done by 5:00.
And they can’t interfere with lessons.
Yeah.
You know, distract the kids. All right?
Yeah.
Have you had your pills?
Yes.
Oh.
Oh, I’ve just got five minutes, guys.
Then I have to go and deal with Jamie.
[Amanda] Okay.
All right, the main thing is, 11:00 a.m., we’ve got the trust meeting with Julian and Charlotte.
[man groans] Yeah, I know.
[Steve] Coming in and wanging on, and telling us we can’t have the heating on next winter? Okay.
I’d like for us to get together with the boys’ folders and just find some time to get up to speed, yeah?
And just join the dots on where everyone is, where Jenny’s at, and what our plans are for next term.
Let’s just focus on today.
[Andy] Yes.
[exhales]
Good speech, boss.
[Owen] Woo!
[woman] Yay!
Yeah, thanks.
Go on, tell us what’s on the board. Let’s hear it.
Well, firstly, Andy and Owen, um, I’m sorry, but you’re covering.
[Andy] Today, defo, tomorrow, likely.
Yeah.
[Amanda] Shola.
[Shola] Yeah?
Uh, you’re all set, no changes.
Tarone is back in class, back in with Jenny.
If it’s all right with you, he’s going to be back playing football today.
[Shola] Um… That’s… that’s all good.
If… I’ll let Owen know if there’s any hassle during football.
But to be honest, once them boys see me play…
[Amanda] Who’s that?
Can we help you?
Yeah, just going to grab that power, if that’s okay, for my battery packs.
[Amanda] Uh…
Sure.
Oh, Shola, how are you, uh, how are you getting on with your, um, Surround Sound Steve audiobooks?
Has he done his tapes?
Yeah. Very helpful, Steve.
So, my name’s Shola Marshall.
I’m 28 years old.
And yeah, I’ve been at Stanton Wood for a little over a month now.
[Kamila] We’re asking people to describe themselves in three words.
Oh. [exhales] Uh…
I’d say I’m focused.
Dedicated.
Flexible.
[Amanda] Now listen, remember when they tried to get the local MP to come do a “meet the yobbos” photo call?
[Steve] What’s his name?
Uh, uh, Right Honorable Farquhar Puts His Penis in Farmyard Animals.
Hey.
[Owen] Fuck’s sake.
Oh, fuck, Jamie!
I got a fucking…
[Amanda] His name, Steven, is Hugh Montague-Powell.
Mmhmm.
Pronounced “Pole.”
I see.
All right. Ya.
Now, he’s… he’s coming at 12:00 p.m. today to be filmed as part of the Points West thing.
Okay?
Okay, fine.
[Amanda] He’s been in touch with the crew, he’s asked to be shown round the school, and we’ve all got to be on camera shaking his hand, and thank him for fucking our country in half.
[Kamila] If 1996 Jamie could say anything to 1990 Jamie, what would he say?
Shit, we did this in English. Right.
Cool.
Jamie, you sexy little bastard, give your nan a hug.
Watch out for the little traitor fuck-wads and bitches in this place.
Can’t trust any of them.
Carry a blade.
You know what? Fuck the police, you can’t trust them either.
Um…
Don’t lend Paul Howarth your Mr. Scarface tape!
[Kamila] That’s brilliant.
Hold on a minute, I ain’t done.
Jamie, don’t go to Freya’s house party.
Don’t do coke. You’re an ecstasy man.
I could write a book. Don’t smoke the squalids Nathan’s brother give you.
Don’t headbutt the ginger girl…
[Kamila] And cut.
Detractors of schools like this will often point to the costs.
After all, £30,000 per child per year straight out of the taxpayer’s pocket.
Are we paying for badly behaved young men to attend a luxury private school?
Or are we investing in radical societal surgery, turning rotten apples into valuable fruit?
Critics of a place like this will say it’s too expensive, too hard to staff, too dangerous.
The police are here so often, they have a specially-assigned officer.
It’s always so shocking to me, Jamie, that a man of your taste, a man of your expertise in the field of good music, would consider Tupac a decent rapper.
As if.
Well, Cal… Cal agrees with me, Ash agrees with me, Shy agrees…
Now I know you’re fucking winding me up. All right?
Posh Cal knows nothing about anything.
All right? Asking Ash, that’s like asking a fucking…
You know? And Shy wouldn’t know Tupac from Gary fucking Barlow.
He just does whatever Benny says!
Jamie, I’m winding you up.
I get it. I agree with you.
Steve, you dick.
You know, Jamie, you can’t… This is the thing.
You can’t just casually call me a dick and a poof all the time.
You just… You can’t.
Fine.
Fuck’s sake, you win. All right?
And I’m sorry for spitting in Riley’s ugly mouth.
[chuckling] Go on.
[sighs]
I know it’s not helpful to wind Riley up, especially when I said to you and Jenny that I wouldn’t.
I know you’ve got a busy day today, and I pick the worst moments to start stuff.
I also know I’m on my last warning, and you can’t protect me from criminal charges if it happens again.
That’s it.
Yeah.
[chuckling] That’s actually it.
And, Jamie, it’s really simple.
Stop fucking with Shy, okay?
‘Cause you’re going to break him.
Stop trying to murder Riley all the time ’cause one day you’ll succeed.
He calls me “chubba” though, Steve.
Yeah, I know. I hear you.
But listen, I know a little bit about the insult ratios in this house, and you, my friend, are top of the charts.
If you give it out all the time, sometimes you get some in return, right?
It’s fair enough.
Whatever.
Whatever.
Just… just surprise us by not always taking the bait.
As if.
As if.
Wow, great teaching, Steve. You’re really fucking wise, aren’t you?
[chuckling]
[sarcastic] I won’t give up on you, Jamie. I’ll never give up on you.
Come on. Off to English now.
Come on. Enough bollocks.
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.
Right. It’s, like, called the body.
And it’s fucking beautiful. [kisses] So, we’ve got this. It’s called the bicep.
There’s two parts of it, long and short.
On the back, got the triceps there.
You want to see something really fucking good?
Okay.
This… is called a work of fucking art.
Bro, why are you taking your top off?
I’d taken mad, mad whizz.
I was really into whizz at the time, especially with Captain Morgan.
You know, innit? You know! Good times.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, um, I drove into the ticket office of a tube station and very nearly killed a fucking load of people, but I didn’t!
Original glazing.
[Kamila] No, they’re not.
They are.
Must be hundreds of years old.
Yeah. Grade I listed.
[Andy] What does the choice given to the knight symbolize, and how does Chaucer use irony to develop his characters and themes?
Okay, so where were we in the prologue?
Ash!
[Andy] And who is…
What?
[Andy] Riley, Ash, what’s going on?
Holy shit!
[Andy] Guys.
[laughter]
[Riley] Hey!
[banging on window]
[Geoff] Way too much money.
[Kamila] Hang on.
God, don’t break them windows, mate.
I’m gonna get it!
What? Oh, brilliant idea.
They’re not gonna let…
I’m getting it.
[Kamila] We won’t get permission.
[clamoring]
[Geoff] He’s fine. We can blur faces.
[Claire] It’s perfect!
[Kamila] Bloody hell.
[Geoff] Look at him.
[clamoring]
[Andy] Guys. Guys!
[Geoff] Exactly what we want.
Are you actually shooting this?
They’re not gonna use this.
[Geoff] I hope this is directed at you and not me.
[Kamila] Why do you hope it’s directed at me? That’s off, Geoff.
[Geoff] Well…
You’re acting like a bunch of animals in the zoo.
Animals in a bloody zoo, innit?
[Andy] Tarone, nice to have you back.
[Riley] The fuck was that for?
[Andy] Shall we get on with it?
Okay, very good. Off you go. Right, Shy.
[music plays through headphones]
[Ash] Can you hear?
[Nabz] Oi, fuck off.
[Andy] All good here, mate?
[music stops]
Just give me a shout if you want to chat, okay?
Okay, everybody, ten more minutes, and then…
You fucking slag!
[indistinct shouting]
[drum and bass music playing]
[silence]
[Steve] Hey, it’s them.
[Amanda] Don’t bite your nails.
[Julian] I mean, it’s…
What I love about this place every time, it’s like a time capsule.
[laughing]
There they are. “Three lions on a shirt. Jules Rimet still gleaming.”
[Charlotte] Hi, Owen. How you doing?
[Julian] Don’t worry about tea, coffee, biscuits, no poncy stuff.
No, there isn’t anything.
[Julian] Although a glass of champagne wouldn’t go amiss. You know?
Anyway, it’s just… The vibe is just terrific.
Every time I come here, it just feels like…
Bosh, you know? This is where the real action happens.
Yeah. Welcome. Good to see you, Charlotte. Julian, thanks for coming.
Of course.
Yes.
Any time.
[Amanda] Yeah. Julian, this meeting…
Yes?
If you could just get on with it. I think she really wants you…
If we could… That was rude of me.
Yeah, sure. No, no.
It’s cool. No problemo. Um…
Well, okay, let me just start by saying, as always…
Go, you.
Steve, you know, and all you guys.
What… what you have achieved here, um…
Well, the…
I was just saying to Charlotte in the car over… [scoffs] …what these guys have achieved is, um…
I’m rambling. Charlotte, please.
Yeah, um… Okay.
So, we had previously talked about two distinct phases, um, last time we met.
And actually, it seems like, for various reasons, those two phases can become one.
So, Stanton Wood being on the market has meant that…
Um…
So we vacate the site in December.
Sorry, can I just stop you there for a second? Um…
What are you… What are you saying?
What?
Are you… What are you saying?
[Amanda] “Vacate the site”?
Are you talking about the trust selling the school?
[Charlotte] Um…
Yes.
What’s happened is that we’ve been able to…
Wait. No, wait a second.
I can’t really believe what I’m hearing here, so…
Wait a second. We have…
You guys have, on various occasions, speculatively discussed how a… a… a closure might be approached long-term, logistically.
That’s it. Yeah?
Is that true?
[Julian] Yeah.
[Charlotte] Yeah.
Right? Now you say, all of a sudden…
What? You’re just saying you’re just doing it?
[scoffs] Am I…?
Charlotte, you said… you said, uh, um, vacate the site in… in December.
So, are you… are you…
Are you talking about closing the school in… in less than 18 months’ time?
Is that what you’re saying?
My God.
Um… Um… Steve…
We’re talking about December 1996.
We’re going to be, um…
What six months’ time?
In the middle of the school year?
Okay! Okay, okay, guys.
You’re kidding me!
If you could just let me speak.
If you could just let me speak.
[Kamila] Tell us a bit about Stanton Wood.
It’s sort of like a prototype, you know?
To bring kind of more of a rehabilitative approach to…
To residential schooling, you know? It’s based off a Finnish model, actually.
[Kamila] Sorry, Steve.
Sorry. Can we just go again?
You still look quite emotional and…
No, no. Do I? I’m fine.
[Julian] Spectacularly unsustainable in today’s climate.
Shut up, man.
[Julian] Sorry?
Just shut up.
[Julian] Steve, come on, buddy.
We knew this day was coming…
Stop talking. Just stop talking.
Stop talking!
Or I’ll climb over this table, and I’ll strangle you with my bare hands!
How would you like that, Julian?
[Julian] Death threats are a little much!
Shut up!
Shut up! Shut up!
[Amanda] Whoa! Steve! Steve!
Shut up!
[chair clatters loudly]
[Amanda] Wow.
Oh, my God.
[Amanda] God… Steve…
Got ya.
[exhales]
Th… Th… These are extraordinarily complex, uh, young people, these lads.
Extraordinarily complex.
And as you know, we have zero legal jurisdiction to keep them here.
So, on top of every moral, and… and logistical, and emotional, and…
And… and educational catastrophe you’re about to visit on them, I think that if… if…
If you say the school is closing in the middle of the school term, then they’re gone.
We have to care for these kids.
This is their home.
This is a place that’s in the process of saving their lives.
You know?
There is busy, messy, wildly complex shit going on here, there, and everywhere.
Each day, every day.
I mean, you… You cannot just stop.
You can’t press a button and say, “No more.”
You know? I mean, we need much, much more time.
Okay.
Charlotte, go on.
[clears throat]
[scoffs] It’s…
It’s too late.
It’s happening. We’ve sold Stanton Wood.
[Owen] God…
[Charlotte] I’m sorry.
Give me a second. I can’t deal with it.
[Owen] Yeah.
[Kamila] Why don’t we start summarizing your relationship with the boys?
What do you think of them?
Official answer.
They are hugely complicated, intricate human beings who require enormous amounts of what we’d now call special educational care.
It’s exhausting, complicated, demanding work, and it’s destroying us.
We are underpaid, we’re understaffed, we’re chronically under-resourced.
I am part prison guard, I’m part nurse, I’m part battleaxe, I’m part mummy.
I’m part… You know, you get me.
[Kamila] Yeah, I hear you.
[Amanda] Um…
Unofficial answer?
[Kamila] Go on.
I fucking adore them.
Fuck.
[Jamie] What the fuck do you mean? They were asking me…
[voices continue in background]
[Amanda] Hey, Steve.
I’m so, so angry right now.
I know.
I know.
[inhales]
I’ve got ya.
I’m so angry. I don’t know what to do.
Oh, God.
[cries softly, sniffles]
Our beautiful, fucking terrible boys, Steve.
I know.
Our boys.
I know. I know.
[softly] I know…
We’ll carry them through this, and we’ll…
One by one, yeah?
Like we always have.
[sniffles]
Like we always have.
Yeah.
You know, they… they won’t let us anywhere near ’em.
You know? [sniffles] Steve, in a minute… in a minute, we’re going to be out on our arses, unemployed fucking strangers, you know?
I know, but we’re here now.
And then…
We’ve got ’til like Christmas…
We’re here now, Amanda.
We’ll probably never see them again.
[Sarah] Here you are.
Give me a shout if you need help.
So, uh, Shy and Benny, yeah? The drum and bass nerve center, I’m told.
Nah, listen, listen, innit?
Atomic Bass Recordings, yeah, will be bigger than anything you’ve ever seen.
You see Shy? He’s the CEO. He’ll run, like, the label side of stuff.
See me? I’m the day-to-day boss of the club.
[Kamila] Nightclub?
Yeah, it’s all in one huge building.
Offices upstairs, shop and studio, and then there’s a club in the basement.
Fucking polytunnels on the roof growing the crops.
Yeah, of course.
This is in London, yeah?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. 100%.
Yeah, listen.
Also, we have to build it like a fortress, because, see, Shy, he’s kind of a wanted man where he’s from. So, we have to protect the governor, the Shy One, the jungle bunny.
[Kamila] Why is that? Sorry, do you mind me asking?
Shy’s a wanted man. He cut a lad’s face open with a bottle.
Shh!
[Steve] Nabeel, stop talking.
Stop talking. This is not… not okay.
[Kamila] Steve.
Stop filming.
Please. Like, we… we… You said…
Even if you blur out their faces, legally, you can’t have them talking…
[Sarah] He’s here!
It’s not appropriate.
I understand.
I thought we…
They’re waiting for you in the hallway.
Thanks. I’m coming.
Guys, can you please stop filming?
Look, I… I can’t…
I’m not happy with this.
None of that’s staying in.
I’m not happy. It’s not staying in.
I understand.
Steve, Steve, I’m… I’m so sorry. Well, it’s cool…
I’m very sorry. It’s not cool, actually.
You have our absolute assurance…
Steve, he’s waitin’!
No, no. This guy is coming now. He’s only here because you guys are here.
So, film him, and then we’re done!
Fuck’s sake.
[clamoring]
Hello there. Hi there. I’m… I’m Steven.
Hello, hello, Steven.
Hello, nice to meet you. Come on this way.
That’s enough!
This is Amanda.
[Amanda] Welcome to Stanton Wood.
Amanda.
I’m Amanda, deputy head.
Henry Harvey.
Uh, this is Sarah. She’s part of our wonderful team.
Sarah.
Let’s go this way.
[Hugh] This is, um… quite something.
So, uh, I suppose this is a kind of a social area, recreation area.
Look, he’s there. He’s coming.
[Steve] And… everyone’s waiting! Here we are.
Right, everybody, take a seat.
There should be enough seats.
Great.
Uh, so, everyone, this is Hugh Montague…
Sorry, I’m not sure the correct…
Sir Hugh Montague…
Powell. Montague-Powell.
Spelled “Powell,” pronounced “Pole.”
Like Anthony.
“Pole.”
Eh… But who cares, eh?
Well, welcome to Stanton Wood.
Thank you.
[mimics posh accent] Well, Mr. “Pole”, Sir Benjamin Griffith here.
Very good. Well met, Benjamin.
[Hugh] Now, boys, you’ll know this because you’re all bright, young chaps, but I’m your local parliamentary representative, your MP.
So, uh, I toil away in Westminster making decisions about everything from foreign wars to the price of beans, to teachers’ pay.
[Hugh guffaws]
And very soon, uh, you’ll be getting a vote, provided you stay out of prison, and you’ll want to use that vote very wisely.
You’ll want to think about who will protect your money, your possessions, your freedoms.
But we ain’t got none of them.
[Hugh] Sorry, say again?
Don’t matter.
Uh, the lads have been doing, uh, democracy.
You know, just, uh, discussing d… democracy, uh…
Unpacking it in their Russia and Communism course.
Well, there you have it.
I’ve been working…
When I’m not whizzing around meeting people like you, I’m working hard to make sure we don’t go down that route.
Communist Britain would not be the green and pleasant land we currently all so enjoy.
Brilliant.
Okay, brilliant. That was great.
Inspiring for the lads. Um…
Take a few photographs…
Any questions about what goes on up in the smoke?
[Amanda] Come on, lads, you’re not usually backwards in coming forward.
Princess Di gossip?
State secrets?
Come on, gents, ask away.
Yes, young man?
I wondered if, sir, is it a part of the training for, like, becoming an MP, or have you always been a cunt?
[boys laughing]
[Nabz] What…
[Andy] Shy!
He’ll just fucking say anything.
[Nabz] What the fuck?
[Steve] Sir.
[Shy] That’s what I was wondering, though.
You won’t be using that.
[Shy] I wanted to… to ask my question.
We can ask questions though.
You said he could ask questions.
Can I ask you a question?
[Jamie] “Pole”!
[Shy] You said that I could ask…
[Amanda] Okay, everyone.
[boy] “Pole”!
[Riley] Please answer the question, Mr. Powell.
[exhales]
[Tarone] It’s bullshit.
It’s fucking racist.
That’s interesting, Tarone.
Why do you think it’s racist?
[Tarone] I don’t know. You tell me.
Okay, if that’s what you want to do, fine.
Maybe that’s a good idea, um…
Perhaps you feel that if one of the other boys had spoken to Shola in the way that you spoke to her, said those things to her, they would be punished in a different way.
You get me.
‘Cause I’m Black, and she’s Black, and they don’t know what the fuck to do, and they think I’m some weirdo, a rapist…
Okay, I’m going to stop you there. I quite strongly disagree.
Of course you do, Jenny. ‘Cause you’re all the exact fucking same.
[Jenny] Careful, Tarone.
I’ll say how it looks from here. May I?
Go on, tell me.
One month special detention and extra sessions with me for repeated instances of sexual innuendo, abuse, and one instance of severely inappropriate physical behavior towards Shola.
[chuckling]
You know, if you’d been hauled out of here and the police had been called…
Yeah.
…I might wonder if they were being evenhanded.
But look at Riley.
Look at Jamie earlier this year.
I think the punishments are extremely evenhanded.
Thoughtful. Mild, even.
In a normal school, if you’d said those things to Shola, you would have been expelled, no question.
And Shola could have pressed charges.
[sighs uncomfortably]
[indistinct chatter]
[Riley] Oh, Sarah, this looks lovely.
[Jamie] Thank you, Sarah.
Looks lovely.
[Ash] Thank you.
[Sarah] Thank you.
[Riley] Took mine as well.
Come on, leave it now.
You’re not Alan Shearer.
You scored one goal.
[Tarone] It’s mine.
No.
You didn’t. What the fuck?
[giggling] He just stole that off you like a baby.
Nah, bruv. I’ll take it.
Don’t start.
Fuck, man!
Yeah, listen.
Well done for not getting rapey with Shola again today.
What?
Yeah. Though she does look fit, innit, doesn’t she?
[spits]
[guys] Ooh…
Oh, my fuck!
Shit, yeah?
Pack it in!
Fucking hell. Come on, what? What, pussy? What?
[items clattering]
[Sarah] Get out of the kitchen!
[Riley] Give it to him!
[Sarah] Stop it!
[Riley] Fucking have it!
[Sarah] How many times have I told you?
[utensils crashing]
[Ash] Oh, fucking hell.
[guys banging on counter]
Tell me. Why are you running, man?
Why are you running, Jamie? Huh?!
[thwack]
[guys] Ooh!
[Tarone] Fucking prick!
Ah, fuck!
[screaming]
Come on!
[guys cheering and yelling]
[Tarone] Move!
[Ash] Oi, smack him up!
[shrieks] No! Stop!
[yelling stops]
Everyone, just calm the fuck down!
[Tarone] Fucking little shit!
Oh, shit!
[Ash] Fuck.
[Shy] Why do you have to be such a prick all the time?
[Tarone] What?
Why do you have to be a prick all the time?
I’ll fucking murder you, Shy!
[Shola] No!
I’ll fucking murder you!
Enough! Enough!
[Kamila] If 1996 Shy could say anything to 1990 Shy, what would he say?
Honestly, I just can’t be arsed for it.
[Kamila] Okay, let’s stop.
No, I want to do the thing. I just meant with myself. I just hate it.
My… Myself, sometimes.
[Kamila] Ah, well, okay. Let’s stop then.
[Shy] I want to do it.
[Kamila] Okay.
[Shy] I was so obsessed with getting weed, and fags, and lemon Hooch, and…
And rum.
I wanted to get wasted all the time and be agg to my mum and stepdad.
I hurt a kid really badly.
And I stabbed my stepdad.
[Kamila] Oh, shit.
Only in the finger. He’s fine.
It actually…
It ended up…
It ended up being a bonding thing with us.
And he’s got chubby fingers, anyway.
[Kamila gasps incredulously]
Yeah, he’s a prick.
Steve told us specifically not to do this.
I think he meant when there are boys in the room.
[Kamila] I’m not okay with this.
It’s fine, the rooms are empty.
Come in here, Claire.
Get some of this artwork.
[Kamila] Claire, don’t film this!
[Claire] It’s okay.
He doesn’t like to talk about it, but Steve was in a serious car accident about two…
Actually, it’s like, more than three years ago now, and it was not good.
I mean, literally, you know, cutting him out of the car on a roundabout.
[door opens and closes]
[Geoff] Oh.
[Kamila] Right, shall we go now?
[Geoff] Oh, my God.
[Kamila] Um…
God.
[Geoff] “Shy.”
[Kamila] Shy.
[Geoff] Just looks like a nice kid.
[Kamila] Yeah.
[Claire] Geoff, can you clear the frame?
I’m…
[Geoff] I’m not sure about going through the drawers.
Maybe just what’s on the shelf.
It’s breaking.
Fucking hell! What’s in here?
[Claire] “Atomic Bass Recordings.”
Have you seen how heavy this is?
[Geoff] Go on, have a look.
[Kamila] Um…
[laughing] Literally a bag of rocks.
[“Black” by DJ SS playing over headphones]
[inaudible over music]
[inaudible over music]
[music continues loudly over headphones]
[music softens]
[Jenny] Thank you.
Please respect me enough to listen to what I have to say.
[music stops]
You know, actually, I’m thinking, if we’re looking for a reason you’re not getting REM sleep, we need look no further than this music, right?
It’s very fast and choppy and metallic.
It’s very “on”.
Isn’t it, Shy?
[exhales]
We’ve been making such good progress recently.
Oh, dear. Okay.
Has something happened with your mum and lain?
Has there been some kind of trouble I’ve not been made aware of?
Everything all right with Benny? Plans for the label?
You still enjoying science?
Geology?
Why don’t we get out one of your charts?
[Shy sighs deeply]
[slams chair] Stop pretending you know me!
You don’t know me!
You only know what I tell you!
Okay, Shy.
[thud]
[panting]
[slams door]
[Jamie] Cal, you’re finished, by the way.
[Riley] Smashed through it.
Punch the gay boy already!
Like, boom!
Ow!
[laughter]
Stop being a girl. Go on, Cal.
Get him back.
Shy. Shy, can I…
[music blaring through headphones]
Huh?
Can I take you for two minutes?
I know what you’re gonna say, though.
Come on, just out in the corridor. Two seconds.
[indistinct loud chatter]
[Jamie] Said I’m such a girl, bro.
I’m fucking missing that shit.
Um…
So…
I heard about what happened with Jenny.
Good news is, the chair isn’t pressing charges.
[dryly] So funny, man.
Shy…
Okay, that was a bad gag.
Right? It was a… It was naff.
Listen, I think we’ve always been honest with each other.
I can tell there’s something up with you, and all I want for you to do is to just use us.
You know, use the people here that care for you.
Speak to us.
Just me, or Amanda, or even the lads. Whoever.
‘Cause you’re not alone, Shy. That’s the whole point.
[sighs deeply]
Come on.
Or call your mum, and then she can come with lain, and we can all have a discussion.
Oh, my God.
[Steve] Talk it out.
Just actually fuck off, Steve!
Dude, I don’t want to talk. I am sick of talking.
I am sick of Jenny.
And I’m sick of you.
Yeah, I get that. I get that.
I understand.
What about you, Steve?
Let’s talk about you.
Why do you fucking give a shit?
You weirdo.
Shy.
What are you anyway?
Are you a fucking alky or something?
[Kamila] So, what we’re doing is we’re asking everyone to describe themselves in three words.
Oh, okay.
Um…
Very, very tired. [chuckles]
[clears throat]
[reflective music playing]
[Kamila] And, um, what about the boys?
What do they think of you?
[Riley] Cal, fucking do something!
Punch him in the fucking fanny!
All right, gents. Sit down.
Boys, sit down, please.
Um…
Okay, so today has slipped out of shape for various reasons…
[Steve] I think they think I’m all right.
Ash, are you good? Riley?
I mean, I’m a dickhead, and a wanker, and a tosser, and a knobhead, and…
I could get ’em all arrested for verbal abuse. [chuckles] And antiIrish bigotry.
But I think that they maybe…
I hope that they trust me.
Remember I was talking about the age of the planet?
So, this line that I drew here, lads, okay, so this, all the way is like the age of the planet, all the way round, round, round.
Right, all the way, all the way. Way, way, way, way, way into town, yeah?
You know, you get involved in some explosive situations because the kids are angry with each other, or they’re angry with authority, or…
Over here…
…their mum and dad.
This is humanity. Do you get it?
[Jamie] Holy shit.
So, that’s what I’m trying to…
[Steve] People have bailed on them for various reasons.
So, all my staff are here because they want to be here.
You know? That’s what I’m trying to…
And I think that that means something.
How old do we think these rocks are?
[Jamie] Uh, wank.
No, chalk, Jamie, chalk. Just re… re… regular old chalk.
Anyone?
Fifty mil!
No.
Yeah, Benny. Yeah.
What?
And, um…
[inhales]
Um…
Can anyone… Does anyone know what chalk is made of?
Anyone?
You’re fucking stupid.
Shut up, man.
Shut up.
Billions of little crushed up, like…
What, Shy?
[Shy] Billions of little crushed up…
Yes, that’s it.
[Shy] No, I don’t know.
No, you got it.
No, I don’t know.
[Steve] You got it.
So, it’s like millions and billions of crushed up little fossils, basically.
Like, uh, like little seashells…
[Kamila] If your teachers could describe you in three words, what do you think they’d say?
That’s what I’m saying. One day to the next would be mad different.
Like, some days, they’d say chatty, clever, chilled.
And then, the next day, say…
Miserable and disruptive, pissy.
[Kamila] You seem like someone very emotionally intelligent, if you don’t mind me saying.
I know. It’s like looking at the night sky and trying to hold it all in your head.
[Benny] All right, don’t cry, Steve.
What? [chuckles] [Steve] You’ve seen it. I mean, it’s chaotic, right?
But we… we think it’s working.
You can lock these kids up and throw away the key, but we feel we’re doing something.
There’s an alternative.
[indistinct chatter]
[Cal] Fuck off!
[student] Prick! Come here, you dickhead.
[exhales]
[fire alarm ringing loudly]
[student 1] Fire!
[student 2] Steve! Steve!
Fire!
[clamoring]
[ringing fades]
[clamoring distorting]
Steve, who pulled it?
It was pulled.
[“Jungle Jungle” by Total Science playing over headphones]
[ringing growing louder]
[Kamila] Uh, can you describe your colleagues in three words?
Love it. Um… Off the record?
[Kamila] Yeah, yeah, totally.
It’s just for fun and therapy.
Okay.
Steve… [chuckles] Steve is…
Proper.
[clattering]
[Shola] He’s one of the good guys, you know?
He’s authentic.
Yeah. He’s the boss.
I get it.
Okay?
I hate class, yeah?
I’ve been mad stressed out.
Missing out on pool table privileges basically ruined my fucking life!
I miss drugs. I miss pussy.
I wish I was out of fucking school!
Okay, thank you.
Oi.
You know, you might actually like this, Jenny.
I was chatting to Jungle Bunny.
Shy.
Yeah.
And he was saying how our mums always used to be up in our shit.
You know?
Hassling us.
“Stop this. Stop that.”
“Don’t do this. Don’t do that.”
“You’ve ruined this family.”
And he said to me, “Bro, I miss that.”
I told him, “Look, I’m…”
“I miss that too, innit. I miss her.”
Ah, my mum.
I ruined her life, innit?
But there it is, Jenny.
There you go.
Jenny. Jenny penny menny.
Take that, put it in your pipe, and fucking smoke it.
It’s pretty much exactly what I said to Tarone this afternoon.
In a normal school…
He’d be arrested, sorry to be blunt.
Well, quite. It’s what I’ve been trying to say to you.
But from Shola’s point of view, we’ve…
When I say “we,” I mean you, the school, have been remiss to the point of negligence in not…
Sorry. Sorry, Jenny.
Is the bloody film crew hiding in here?
[Andy] I think they’re done.
God, they’ve been everywhere.
[Amanda] Hope so.
Hello, Steve. Quite the day you’ve all been having.
Yes. Yeah.
Shy narrowly escaped getting carted off to the Tower of London for verbally assaulting a lord, or a sir.
Is he a sir? He’s a sir.
Ugh. Yeah, Amanda was telling me.
[Amanda] Fucking hell.
I’ve never disliked a person as much in my entire life.
And the timing, you know.
Poor old Shy. He’s up, he’s down, and then bam, he’s a comedy genius.
[Jenny] Yeah, I really want to discuss that.
Or, Steve, do you want to, um…
No, you go. You go.
All right. Um, well, I had… I had a disastrous session with him this afternoon. A…
He attacked a chair, but I think I need to go back further than that to last Thursday, or even the Thursday before.
I have noticed a distinct change in his receptiveness to the things that we do here week in, week out.
He’s completely stopped his diary.
He’s completely stopped his morning sentences, his breathing.
He says it’s all pointless.
And he’s previously been so eloquent about his night terrors and his…
His barbed wire feeling.
And just in the last month…
Yeah, it feels like he’s backed out of the room.
[Jenny] Yeah, Steve, he has.
[fly buzzes] And I’m worried.
Yeah.
I mean, I think things are okay within the group.
You know, the drum and bass crew. Yeah?
Yeah, they seem to be.
[thunder rumbling] Oh, no.
It’s pissing down, look at that. Oh!
Yeah, he’s… He takes things to heart, but he’s…
I mean, him and Benny are fine, him and Cal are fine.
You know, I mean, he’s been quiet.
[door thuds] [Steve] Yeah, um… he, um…
He, um…
I asked if his folks would want to come up for the weekend, and he reacted very badly to that.
But he’s been very, very quiet, mostly. Up until Cuntgate.
[chuckles]
[Amanda] Ooh.
[Jenny] You know, I know you adopt an outofsight policy here.
I’m talking about marijuana.
[Amanda] Bloody hell, I wouldn’t go that far. We do our best.
[Jenny] Most boys are social users.
[Amanda] We’ve got to pick our battles.
But I think Shy would rather smoke alone.
[Steve] We can confirm on the weed. Me and Owen can do better.
We’re on it, um… But it’s always been a tricky aspect of this site.
[yelling indistinctly]
Yeah, he has a genuine desire.
You know, and I really fucking feel for him.
He has a genuine desire to clamber out of himself.
[shouting]
[Riley] Owen, a fucking handball!
Look, I’m…
I promise I’m not criticizing anybody personally here, but…
I’ve never felt like this at Stanton Wood before.
I asked to speak to you about Shy two weeks ago, and I asked you again twice this week.
[cheering]
[Jenny] That is your basic, basic duty of care.
[Amanda] Jenny, it’s been a bit mental.
[Jenny] You know that I adore coming here, and I respect what you all do so much, but Steve, you can’t do it all.
And with someone like Shy…
[Amanda] Why don’t you just magic up some more staff, Jenny?
[Jenny] Look, I’m not casting aspersions, but Steve…
Perhaps there’s a limit to what you…
[Amanda] I’ll stop you there before you offend anyone.
It’s over anyway.
[Jenny] What do you mean, “It’s over,” Amanda?
[Amanda] They’re closing the school.
[deep moody music plays]
[Shy] I want to be here, like, at Stanton Wood, but sometimes I just want to be four years old, and…
Start again and not fuck it up.
Have another run at it, but not in my head.
Not fuck so much stuff up, not feel like all the things I fuck up are on me.
Like, stuck to me.
[boys yelling indistinctly]
[Shy] What about you, Steve?
Let’s talk about you. Why do you fucking give a shit?
[Steve] Shy.
[Shy] What are you anyway?
Are you a fucking alky or something?
[Shy’s mother] It’s over. No more phone calls or visits.
[Shy] You can’t pause contact with me. I’m your son.
[Shy’s mother]
Shut up and listen.
[drum and bass beats play]
[Steve] This is your fault, Steve.
This is your fault.
[frenetic drum and bass music playing]
[music stops]
I’ve gotta get on with stuff. I’ll see you soon, Jenny, all right?
[boys shouting outside]
Steve.
I’m sorry.
[sighs]
[exhales]
It’s okay.
[sniffles]
You okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, it’s good. It’s good.
Bye.
Okay.
[Steve breathing heavily]
Fuck off!
Fuck off!
[Steve] You’re all good?
You’re okay, Shola?
[hesitating] Yeah.
Yeah, I’m all good.
Okay. Um, Amanda, can you undersign this, please?
[Amanda] Okay. Yep.
There wasn’t any shit during the football?
[Shola] No.
Yeah, I think I kinda schooled them, to be honest.
Unless I’m being naive, but everyone was pretty wellbehaved, and Tarone hasn’t uttered a word to me.
[Amanda] All right, I’m gonna go and do the rounds and smoke a rollup.
[Steve] Right. Yep.
[Amanda] Yeah.
[Steve clears his throat] [Amanda] As a great poet said, “We must smoke while we still have mouths to puff with.”
Oh, Shola. Shola?
Can you just hang on for a minute?
Maybe we can have that chat?
Right now?
[Steve] If that’s okay, yeah.
‘Course.
Yeah, come into my office. [exhales]
[door closes]
[sucks teeth]
[chuckling] What a fucking day.
[Shola chuckles politely]
Yeah, well, up until that whole chicken Kiev war zone, it was all going so well. It was a pretty chill day, I think.
[chuckles]
Um, right, so… first things first.
Yeah. So, these… uh, stupid tapes, I know they’re really silly, but we didn’t have time for a briefing, so that’s why I’m doing them.
They’re… They’re great, Steve.
Really?
Yeah.
Shola says she actually likes the tapes, Steve.
[rewinds and plays the tape]
[Steve over tape recorder] Shola says she actually likes the tapes, Steve.
[Steve stops the tape]
Good, and the rota… the rota…
Is your… is your rota better?
Yeah. I’m loving the new days, so thank you.
I know… I know Amanda doesn’t think I’m…
Up for this, or ready, or…
What do you mean, “up for it”?
Uh, this, the teaching, this place.
No, that’s not it. That’s not it.
I mean, she literally said that.
No, Amanda…
Amanda, she’ll say shit if she’s stressed, you know.
Like, none of us are fucking… [snorts] None of us are, like, paid enough or trained enough or good enough.
None of us are. So, don’t…
That’s not enough…
That’s, like, not reason to…
You can’t just jack it in.
Mm.
It’s all fucked.
Yeah, it’s just, I’m…
I really want to be here, Steve. I’m…
I’m really good at this.
You really are, Shola.
Just the whole Tarone situation, it was just bad timing.
And I feel like if I was here maybe a year ago, I’d have handled it differently.
And look, if I… I feel like I wasn’t on that quick enough.
And I… And if you felt unsupported or… alone at any point, I truly, truly am sorry.
[scoffs] Damn it, Steve, gonna make me cry.
It’s all good. It’s a massive learning curve.
[Steve] Well, we’re really lucky to have you. I mean that.
[Shola] Thank you.
Uh…
Something else I’d like to ask, if that’s okay.
Oh, maybe you don’t know or…
What the fuck? [chuckles] December?
Yeah.
[Shola] Like, what does… what does that mean exactly?
Do we have to start looking for jobs or…?
I don’t know. I don’t know, Shola.
I don’t…
I dunno, I dunno.
Um…
Well, at least…
At least we met an MP.
[chuckling]
[Shola] A reallife MP.
Yeah.
That was, um, a true honor.
A reallife MP.
[Shola] W… Was there anything else you…
No.
No, okay. Um…
Cool. Well…
Cool.
I’m off. I’ll see you bright and early?
Yeah. See you.
You overnight?
Yeah, me and Amanda and Owen. Yeah.
Cool. Okay, get some rest. I’ll see you.
All good, yep.
[door closes]
[starts tape recorder]
Okay. Um, call, um, Shy’s mum and stepdad, and, uh… note to file, full disclosure on his behavior… [inhales] …and our concerns.
Um…
A full written report from Jenny and full mea culpa from me, um…
Reset on the meds with the GP.
Tttry and sort out the fucking rooms with, uh…
[voice cracking] And just fucking deal with it, Steven.
[stops tape recorder]
[starts recorder] You’re fucking, fucking heading on this fucking stupid, fucking roundabout of doom.
You f…
They’re closing your school, Steven.
[rewinds tape]
[plays tape] [in highpitched voice] …Steven.
[rewinds tape]
…fucking heading on this fucking stupid, fucking roundabout of doom.
[plays at normal speed]
[Steve] They’re closing your school, Steven.
[rewinds tape and replays]
They’re closing your school, Steven.
[static]
…Steven.
[grunts]
[door closes]
[Amanda approaches]
You working hard?
[Steve chuckling] Ha.
[Steve sucks teeth]
You… You’re drinking?
Yep.
You’re drinking?
Yep.
Just having a glass of wine.
It’s not a big deal. Having a… There’s loads over there.
It’s the Christmas red. You should have a glass, Amanda.
Have you taken something?
No!
Ha!
No, Amanda. Come on. Just leave me…
[exhales] Like, I’m just having a glass of wine.
Really. I’m just having a glass of wine. You should have a glass.
You know, none of this is your fault.
Mm.
[Amanda] Steve.
Yeah, but it is.
[Amanda] No, it’s not.
But it is.
No, it’s not!
Steven, it’s not your fault.
The school closing, not your fault.
The car crash.
The little girl dying.
Oh, please, please, please.
No. I mean, look, I’m…
Please.
Why don’t you talk about it?
No, no, Amanda, I’m not doing this now.
Somebody died, and if you’re numbing…
I’m not doing this now.
Here’s to you too. Come on.
No, no.
Take your gla…
No, no.
I want you to talk about it.
I want you to say it’s not your fault. I want you to acknowledge it.
I want you to look at me and acknowledge it!
‘Cause you’re in agony, mate.
You’re in fucking agony!
You really are, and you can’t numb it, and you can’t stop it ’cause you don’t fucking deal with it, Steve!
You don’t fucking deal with it!
Me and Steve, you know, we expected something quite different here.
Two full year groups, you know, 60odd kids, and almost as many teachers.
And it was supposed to be this center of excellence.
And cut after cut, and we are down to the bare bones, and we’re just limping along in a sort of permanent crisis mode.
And…
[Amanda sighs]
Steve feels bad about it, and he shouldn’t, you know?
Um…
And I get it ’cause I feel bad about it, and I shouldn’t, but I think that’s why we work, because both of us, you know, we’re really locked into this place for better or worse, and it’s almost always worse.
[“Suffer in Truth” by Meshuggah playing]
[extreme metal music continues]
♪ I see ♪
♪ Unseen ♪
♪ I feel ♪
♪ Unseen ♪
[song stops]
[heavy thud]
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[solemn music playing]
[water sloshes]
[solemn music continues]
[bottle clatters]
Fucking…
[gurgling]
[sloshing]
[solemn music continues]
[discordant notes play]
[exhales sharply]
[unsettling discordant notes rising] [Shy, distorted] Just actually fuck off, Steve.
Dude, I don’t want to talk. I am sick of talking.
I’m sick of Jenny.
What about you, Steve?
Why do you fucking give a shit?
[unnatural distorted voice]
[muffled heavy breathing]
[faint ghostly ringing]
Oh, no, no.
No, no.
Oh, no!
No, no, no.
Amanda. Amanda!
[Amanda] What?
Amanda, Shy’s gone.
What’s that?
Shy’s gone.
What?
Shy’s gone. He left a note.
What?
Don’t wake up the boys.
He’s not there, he’s gone!
What are we gonna…
Come on, we gotta go find him. But he’s…
It’s okay.
What the fuck have you done? You’ve taken something, haven’t you?
What have you taken?
I just had a few glasses of wine.
You lied to me. You lied to me, you weak, stupid…
Fucking lied to me.
You fucking find him.
You fucking lied.
[breathing shakily]
[Steve] Shy!
[violin playing high, lingering notes] Shy!
Shy!
Shy?
[Steve] Shy!
[Amanda] Shy.
Shy!
[Steve] Shy?
Shy!
[Amanda] Shy!
[Owen] Shy.
[Steve] Shy!
Shy!
[knocking]
I’m going to call the police.
No, no, no.
Check the attic, check the cellar.
I’m gonna look around here.
Shy!
[Steve in distance] Shy!
Shy!
Shy!
[music rising]
Shy!
Shy!
[crying softly]
[exhales]
[music fades into silence]
[breathing quietly]
[Shy, trembling]
If I could go back…
Uh…
I’d just…
I would go to my nana’s house and just… spend time.
I would sit…
In my nana’s house.
And just listen to her…
Chatting.
Just smell her house.
Eat her soft, manky Bourbon biscuits.
Just…
I would just maybe pack it all up and…
[spluttering]
Pack it into a caravan, take it out on the road. You know?
Thelma and Louise-style geography class.
Full speed into the abyss.
[brake clicks]
[door opens]
Dad! Daddy!
[chuckling] Hi, there! Hi, there!
Daddy!
Dad!
Daddy!
[Steve] How are we?
How is everyone?
Daddy.
Dad.
Yeah.
Dad!
You’re so muddy.
I know. So muddy.
Why are you muddy?
It looks quite yucky.
Yuck.
[Helen] Come on, girls.
Thanks, Mum.
We’ve got muffins today!
Christ, Dad looks fresh.
We’ve got muffins.
Morning.
Late one? Tricky one? Fire? Murder?
Everyone okay?
All good.
How come you’re muddy?
Oh, it’s just… It’s fine.
Everyone okay?
Yeah.
One of those?
Yeah, one of those.
Come on. We’re gonna be late.
Come on, girls. Let’s go.
Remember, be good, be kind, be clever, be brilliant at everything, especially…
Running.
No, especially…
Very special painting.
No, especially science, yeah? And inventions.
Sleep. Sleep all day. Do nothing.
Then cook for us, okay?
I will. Okay.
Love you.
Love you.
Now, let’s go. Come on, girls.
We’re gonna be late. Let’s go!
Let’s go.
[girl 1] Bye, Daddy!
We haven’t got science.
[Helen] Chop-chop. Your rucksack strap.
[exhales]
[Steve on tape recording] All right, so, Shola, it’s Steve.
You already know that, so blah, blah, blah.
Um, look, ignore this or listen to it as you please.
There’s absolutely no pressure from me.
So, Ash. Right, you’ll… you’ll love Ash.
He’s one of those kids who’s all chip and grift, and he’d, like, nick the shirt off your back.
He’s a proper fucking scally, but he’s so smart and funny.
And he’s just great craic.
Benny. Benny’s got a big presence in the house.
Sometimes he’s more… kind of more like the staff than a student.
And you need Benny on your side in a crisis ’cause he can sort stuff, you know?
He lost his dad a while ago, and he never got to say goodbye.
I think his dad was inside.
So, in there, there’s just a grieving kid, you know?
Riley, oh, man, this kid. This kid.
Riley is powered by a different kind of engine than the rest of us.
He is a fascinating, beautiful kid, and he’s… he’s relentless.
He’s fighting all the time with himself or with the others.
He’s got this kind of mad momentum.
It’s attack, attack, attack all the time. He’s always on.
He’s like the wild boy, you know?
Encyclopedic knowledge.
Cornish and proud. So clever.
Nabeel. You’re gonna love Nabeel, Shola.
He’s Mr. Cool, Mr. Smooth.
And he’s very strong academically when he tries.
Jamie. I earn my fucking salary on Jamie alone.
If there’s a fight, he started it.
If there’s a weakness, he’ll find it. But I adore him.
He’s very insightful and wise, and he can read people.
That’s how he pushes their buttons.
I’d like him to knuckle down, obviously.
He could get very good results.
He talks about business studies or something like that.
He can remember insane details. Ask him anything about hip-hop. Anything.
All right, Shy.
It seems like I’ve known Shy forever.
[glass shatters] Where to start?
[Ash] What’s that? Oh, fuck! Guys!
Oh, boy.
[Benny] Holy shit!
[Ash] Who the fuck’s throwing that?
[Tarone] Oh, shit.
[Nabz] What the fuck?
[Jamie] There’s glass everywhere!
[windows breaking]
[clamoring]
[Ash] Oh, shit!
Oh, shit, it’s Shy!
[all] Shy! Shy!
[Riley] Shy, what the fuck?
[yelling indistinctly]
[poignant music playing]
[Steve] There’s like this reserve of sadness in Shy.
Like he’s seen the whole, bleak, terrible truth of the universe.
And he’s right.
Like, when Shy tells you why things are fucked, it’s… it’s hard to argue with him.
[yelling] Shy!
[Steve] But he’s so sharp and insightful when he wants to be.
And he’s got, like… I don’t know.
Just, he’s got, like, a… a generous pain, if that makes sense.
And I just pray for the weather in his head to be kind.
To clear for a bit, you know?
For luck. Because when Shy’s upset, it’s like having a bomb go off in the house.
[screaming]
And he has these horrifying night terrors, and they sort of bleach into his days, and you’ll see it.
But the thing is, I get it, you know?
I really get it, and I just want to say to him, “There’s so much, and it’s a lot, but hold tight, because you won’t always feel like this.”
You know, and I’m lying to him, of course.
You know what I’m saying, I want all these lads, and my own kids, my little girls, you know, it’s the same, I want them to know that there’s something else.
[Steve] That there’s, like, infinite things, music you can’t even imagine in other places, and the weather, and love, and maybe nothing but ruin, but who knows?
Who knows?
The disaster changes shape, and it becomes tomorrow’s joy or whatever.
And there’s… there’s someone you haven’t met, and it’s…
It’s, you know… You know what I’m saying.
Anyway, I’m rambling.
But it’s enough, isn’t it?
[recorder clicks off] [silence]
[waves lap softly]
[seagulls calling in distance]
[“Don’t Leave Too Soon” by Little Simz playing]
♪ Out of sight, out of mind
Out of time, out of love ♪
♪ Out of breath Out of
body, out of friends ♪
♪ I can tell That you
don’t get out as much ♪
♪ With these rocks on your
back Weighing you down ♪
♪ ‘Cause you feel All
of you is not enough ♪
♪ You’re out of touch and out of sight
Out of mind, out of time, out of love ♪
♪ Less is more unless you feel
That you’re lesser than the rest ♪
♪ You think that
you’re out of clutch ♪
♪ Out of money in your pocket ♪
♪ Raging doesn’t stop Until you
let the demons out your closet ♪
♪ They out to get you ‘Cause
you putting out a message ♪
♪ Like say the response
won’t affect you ♪
♪ Out of respect You say
you’re out of sight ♪
♪ Out of mind, out of
time, out of love ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Don’t leave too soon ♪
♪ Your pain ♪
♪ I feel it too ♪
♪ Out of line, out of fight
Out of shrooms, out of wine ♪
♪ All these feelings in your pocket
Weighing you down through this tunnel ♪
♪ Hope you make it out in time ♪
♪ Hope you make it out in time ♪
♪ In this concrete jungle
Patience isn’t kind ♪
♪ I hope you make it out alive ♪
♪ I hope you make it out alive ♪
♪ It’s like they
left you out to dry ♪
♪ Is it you? Is it I? Is
it both of us combined? ♪
♪ When you was down and out ♪
♪ Couldn’t be without The darkest
thoughts chasing you around ♪
♪ I see the pressure
on your face ♪
♪ While you vet the crowd Don’t
know if you should be in or out ♪
♪ Asking to be shown a sign ♪
♪ But it’ll never be revealed
If you do not know your why ♪
♪ So you’re out of reach Tryna
find what you want out of life ♪
♪ Out of sight, out of mind ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Don’t leave too soon ♪
♪ Your pain ♪
♪ I feel it too ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
♪ Don’t leave too soon ♪
♪ Your pain ♪
♪ I feel it too ♪
♪ Out of sight, out of mind
Out of time, out of love ♪
♪ With these rocks on your
back Weighing you down ♪
♪ ‘Cause you feel All
of you is not enough ♪
♪ You’re out of touch ♪
♪ Out of sight, out of mind
Out of time, out of love ♪
