Gangs of London - Episode 1 PDF
Gangs of London - Episode 1 PDF
Gangs of London - Episode 1 PDF
Episode 1
Pulse Films Ltd. & Sister Pictures Ltd This script is strictly confidential. Please do not discuss the contents of this
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Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 1
LONDON.
VICTIM
Please! No, no! I swear down man, I
know fuck all...
Then reveal...
SEAN pops open the can of lighter fuel - drizzling the rope
with it, then...
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 2
SEAN leans further over the edge to make sure he covers the
victim’s clothes with the flammable liquid - seems unaware of
the 400 foot drop below.
VICTIM (CONT’D)
Please -
SEAN looks him in the eye, flame fluttering in the breeze but
staying alight, then an odd vulnerability - for a moment he
hesitates, the briefest flicker of uncertainty. But within a
moment, his eyes harden once again and he steps forward
towards the edge. He looks down at the still struggling
figure...
SEAN
What else can I do?
VICTIM
Please ... please! I don’t wanna-
Until...
LONDON -
GANGS OF LONDON
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 3
Music screams from tannoys. Local girls and local lads eye up
their chance to dance while parents, uncles and aunts keep
drinks and conversations alive.
Elsewhere...
From: JOB
Message: Flat 6A, 132 MERTON COMMON, 23:40.
DARREN steps out from the caravan, walks past the party all
blind to his presence, all bar one boy -
EOIN, 17 years old also and best friend to DARREN, peels away
from the lips of his girlfriend KEELA and rushes over.
EOIN
Darren, Darren!
EOIN (CONT’D)
Did’ja get it?
DARREN
Aye.
EOIN
Are ye gawn do it?
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 4
PATRICK
Where tha’ fuck’ja think yer going?
EOIN
Ah c’mon Patrick, we’re out n’ dry
back there, won’t be long wit’ her
I promise, just a quick run, refuel
like...
PATRICK
Bring us back a flaggan’ or two...
EOIN
Sure Patrick, nae problem there.
PATRICK
You’re paying.
EOIN
Ah come on...
PATRICK
Do ye’s want the car aw naw?
EOIN
Fine.
PATRICK turns back to the party. EOIN and DARREN get into the
car.
EOIN touches two wires together under the dash - brake lights
paint the grass red as the engine chugs to life.
Now far from home, DARREN and EOIN pull up, parking outside a
run down tower block.
EOIN
Three bullets gawn be enough ya
think?
DARREN
Gawna hafta be!
EOIN
Ye sure ya want to do this?
Door pops open, out steps DARREN lifting his hood over his
head.
Casts a gaze upon the entrance to the tower block. His eyes
follow its structure, rising high into the sky.
EOIN sees them coming towards him, sinks into his seat.
EOIN
(to himself)
Ah fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
The GANG are fast up to the car, and then all around it.
RING LEADER
Yo, who’s dat?
EOIN
No, wait, now listen lads...
RING LEADER
Shut the fuck up, you ‘ad your
chance to open up
(to GANG MEMBER)
Fucking pop it already!
GANG MEMBER
Fucking run!
The gang scatter for the shadows leaving EOIN to sit and
watch as the pristine car parks up ahead.
A driver, JACK (mid-40s) steps out and opens the back door
for his passenger.
FINN
Keep it running, Jack.
JACK reaches the car, yanks out the crowbar and casually
tosses it to the side of the road. He knocks on the window.
JACK
You ok there mate?
EOIN
Yeah - thanks.
JACK
The fuck you doing in Albania, boy?
EOIN
Soon as me girl comes down I’ll be
on ma way. She always keeps me
waitin’ -
JACK
Girl?
JACK (CONT’D)
Went for the car did she? Thought
you pikeys kept amongst your own.
No wheels on these homes, Paddy.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 9
PING. Doors open with a jolt. He steps out into the CORRIDOR.
FINN walks along the CORRIDOR, towards the door for FLAT 6A.
BLAM!
The impact of that bullet, hitting this man will soon echo
through the entire city.
EOIN looks to the front door of the building, panic mode sets
in.
JACK is fast to his car, reaches in, pulls out a gun and
rushes towards the tower block.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 10
DARREN steps out, his stomach flips as he sees for the first
time, the face of the man he has killed.
DARREN
Oh Jesus. Fuck. No.
Paces around, wipes the door handle to the flat the best he
can, trembles as he puts the gun back in his jacket.
Pulls Darren close. Inches from the mass of torn flesh and
blood. Horror show.
DARREN rushes out from the tower block and races towards the
car.
EOIN
WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?
DARREN
JUST FUCKING DRIVE EOIN!
The sound of the lone car engine fades into the night.
MARIAN (O.S.)
Use your old room upstairs, love -
mind the boxes.
ALEXANDER (O.S.)
Thanks.
SHANNON
(harsh under her breath)
Don’t run!
SEAN stands under a shower, calmly washes dirt and blood from
underneath his finger nails.
Two spare single beds, room split in half with posters and
decorations - boys side / girls side.
ALEXANDER
Come on bud, help me out here.
Takes the walkie talkie from him, tosses it onto the bed.
DANNY
Uncle Alex, when was the last time
you and mummy stayed here?
SHANNON
Long time ago, Danny. When he was
your age.
DANNY
Aunt Marian says it’s my room now.
ALEXANDER
Maybe so, but they’re my toys.
Don’t you go breaking ‘em.
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
Righty-o. All done.
DANNY
(mimicking his Uncle)
All done.
SHANNON
Okay, you’re all set. Go find
grandad.
She watches Turkish heroin dealer LALE (40s); every inch the
successful entrepreneur.
CLICK-CLACK!
SHANNON (CONT’D)
Jesus Alex!
SHANNON (CONT’D)
Is this who you are, now?
ALEXANDER
For today at least - until we know
who and why...
WONG (60s, Old School Triad) hands his phone to MARK, head of
Wallace security, and stretches his arms out.
WONG
(smiles)
What do they think we’ll do? He’s
already dead.
LALE
(to Mark)
And him?
ED
When you’ve paid your respects,
please make your way to the board
room.
DANNY
Who are they, Grandad?
ED
Just friends of the family, Danny.
As she notices Ed, she sighs, and turns her back, moving away
towards the utility room.
MARIAN
He’s grieving, Ed
ED
We all are. But what he did last
night gave us nothing.
She shuts the door and turns the switch with a click. As the
machine starts up, she picks up a belt and screwdriver.
She turns to ED, driving the tip into the surface of the
leather.
MARIAN
At least he’s trying.
ED MARIAN (CONT'D)
And I’m not?! Finn was like a He has a right to find out
brother to me and it fucking who killed his father.
hurts!
ED
Of course he does and we will.
MARIAN
He should be in that meeting.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 17
ED
Marian, the boy’s about to bury his
father -
MARIAN
He needs to be strong, Ed. They
need to see that what should have
broken us down and made us weak
gave him strength.
ED
No one’s doubting him, Marian. But
just for today, let the boy grieve
his father. Alex and I will take
care of everything - we’ll reassure
them that we have things under
control.
ED (CONT’D)
Finn always said Sean and Alexander
would one day front the
organisation side-by-side. He saw
it before any of us.
MARIAN
But he never had the chance to tell
them, let alone prepare them for
it.
ED
Trust me, Marian, All I want is for
his legacy to continue - through
our boys.
ED (CONT’D)
Together.
ED (CONT’D)
Finn was a good man
MARIAN smiles.
MARIAN
More often than not.
SEAN walks over to the HiFi, picks up the record cover next
to it: Cream - Disraeli Gears. Looks at the garish red and
green sleeve defaced with white poster paint - written across
it -
“To Dad,”
“Love, Sean”
SEAN
I thought he’d be pleased -
BILLY
He wasn’t -
The last of the GANG LEADERS are moving into the boardroom,
confused looks as the blaring music drifts out.
ALEXANDER
Dad. Let me.
SEAN knows he’s been sent to turn the music off - but he
doesn’t immediately move, still looking at the sleeve.
BILLY
Alright Al?
ALEXANDER
Looking good, Billy.
(to Sean)
C’mon Sean, mate.
SEAN looks up from his thoughts, lifts the stylus off the
record.
SEAN
One of those fuckers killed my dad.
ALEXANDER
I know.
SEAN
I can’t go in there pretending
things are ok Al, can’t shake the
hand of the person that killed him.
ALEXANDER
I can.
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
And when we know who it is, we’ll
destroy them. I want the same as
you. Honest to god I do. But we
have to do this the right way,
Sean.
(softer, treading
carefully)
Not like last night.
(not giving Sean chance to
react)
If we don’t go in there and
convince them that this business
can function as normal, forget
finding his killer we’ll have a war
on our hands.
SEAN
Maybe. Let’s see.
ED (O.S.)
It’s time, Alex.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 20
ALEXANDER
You have my word, Sean. Me and dad
won’t fail him. And we won’t fail
you either.
ED
Please excuse Sean’s absence from
the table, I’m sure you understand
he is - grieving more than most.
ED (CONT’D)
I just want to thank you all for
your patience over the last two
weeks.
WONG
Patience isn’t infinite, Ed
ED
We appreciate it has been a
difficult time for all of you. As
it has been for us.
WONG
Some of us still have cargo ships
anchored out at sea. I take it we
can expect something in return for
the losses we have incurred? Yes?
ED
No.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 21
LALE
Wong you have a box of silicon
pussies doing laps of the Indian
Ocean - I have 80 kilos of product
sitting in the docks.
(to Ed)
With respect I just want to know
where we stand.
ED
Of course, which is partly why we
are gathered here today.
Firstly, I -
(gestures to Alexander)
- we, hope you can all understand,
why we did what we did. After the
sudden, and brutal murder of Mr.
Wallace - we had to close all
operations. To protect all of us.
But as of today this... grace
period is over. After the funeral,
business will resume as normal.
ALEXANDER
Over the last week we’ve been
putting into place a system for
transition. By dawn we will have
the docks back open and fully
operational-
WONG
That’s good, but it’s no good to us
unless we can continue to clean our
profits.
LALE
Agreed. What about our money? We
can’t afford more downtime. Where
do we stand now with Mr Wallace
gone?
ALEXANDER
Each and every one of your deals -
every detail that Finn carried in
his head - I have in mine. Only I
know how to take what that great
man started, and make it better.
For all of us.
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
I’ll be personally liaising with
our financial partners at BNT to
get all laundering facilities
stable, and functioning as always.
I’ll make myself available to speak
to each of you individually to
improve operations across the
board. Trust me, once our investors
are satisfied, it will be business
as usual, and then we all prosper.
SEAN (O.S.)
Nothing to be afraid of, Danny...
SEAN (CONT’D)
Come here.
SEAN (CONT’D)
Come on. Come to your Uncle Sean.
SEAN (CONT’D)
See that man there...
SEAN (CONT’D)
It’s okay Danny, you don’t need to
be afraid. Be strong, don't look
away.
DANNY makes eye contact with MARIAN as she walks past, still
working the belt in her hand.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 23
SEAN (CONT’D)
That man there, he loved you. Loved
you like you were his own.
DANNY
He looks... empty...
SEAN
(gestures at the board
room)
All those people in there - they’d
be nothing if it wasn’t for this
man. They loved him.
DANNY
But-
DANNY (CONT’D)
If they loved him, why did they
kill him?
The scar where his face has been put back together.
Puts DANNY down and starts walking. Faster. Feet hitting the
floor like fists pounding flesh.
ED
...we’d like to thank you all
for...
NASIR
Sean, I know I speak for everyone
here when I say how deeply sorry we
are for your loss.
ED
As I was saying Alex and I...
(regathers)
Alex and I would like to thank you
all for coming. Today we mourn the
loss of a great man, but tomorrow
we shall honour his memory.
ED (CONT’D)
I assure you that it will be
business as usual from now on.
SEAN
No. The tap stays off.
SEAN (CONT’D)
Nothing gets brought in. Nothing
gets shipped out. No dirty money is
washed. No one sells a fucking gram
on those streets -
SEAN (CONT’D)
It’s what my father would have
done.
SEAN (CONT’D)
Everything stops until I find out
who killed him.
She looks back into the office, and hands the belt to BILLY
in the office - he takes it, and threads it though his
trousers as MARIAN looks back to the closed boardroom door.
She listens intently; but now it’s quiet...
LALE
Sean, think about it. When business
stops, people stop talking.
LALE (CONT’D)
Keep the gates open, the sooner my
dealers will hear something -
SEAN
- and the sooner you start making
money and forget my Father was
killed. No. The only business
that’s going to get done - will be
finding out who pulled the trigger.
GANG LEADER 1
With respect. You seem intent on
punishing us. Your business
partners.
SEAN
My customers.
GANG LEADER 2
But we all know, your father was
killed in an Albanian tower block,
on Albanian turf - forgive me, but
I look around and I don’t see the
great white Albanian chief - just
an empty chair.
ED
Luan is cooperating -
ED (CONT’D)
...the Albanians are trying to find
out as much as they can -
WONG
(meaning Sean)
Who is in charge here, Ed?
ALEXANDER
Sean is. And he’s made himself
clear.
SEAN
If you want access to our business,
you’ll hunt down my father’s
killer.
SEAN (CONT’D)
I’m sure he’s not that far away.
ED
OK, everyone - give me time, the
boy is clearly emotional, he’s
about to bury his father. Please,
we will sort this out -
ALEXANDER
We’ll see you at the church.
NASIR
You know this won’t work for us,
Al.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 27
ALEXANDER
Nasir, please tell your father -
this won’t affect our arrangement,
We’ll make sure of it.
LALE
Divert the boat. Send it somewhere,
anywhere else -
He peels open the cling film, counts a few notes off for
himself, thinks it through, ‘fuck ‘em’; he skims more cash
from the bundle, pockets ‘his take’, wraps the cash back in
the cling film.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 28
MARK’s. Only they are far less warm. Far more angry in fact.
A look of what the fuck are you doing aimed right at Elliot.
Stolen thunder.
This is it. The place that he must say goodbye to his father.
SEAN
(quietly spoken)
You think I did the wrong thing?
ALEXANDER
It’s not important right now, mate.
What’s important is we’re united.
SEAN
I love you Alex, but it has to be
my way on this. It matters.
ALEXANDER
Then we’ll make it our way.
SEAN takes a deep breath and nods. ALEXANDER smiles and hugs
him, a genuine hug between ‘brothers’ united in grief.
Alex glances back down the steps at the faces now beginning
to notice Sean’s moment of indecisiveness.
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
Go inside, your family needs you.
I’ll take care of out here.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 30
SEAN nods takes his mother’s arm. With BILLY on the other
side, the family follow Finn’s coffin as its carried into the
church...
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
They’ve brought their dogs with
them...
ED
This is what happens when you
create uncertainty: people get
nervous.
ALEXANDER
(to Mark)
Get their people off the streets -
That’s what the pub’s for - I want
them all inside. Now.
HAKAN
We couldn’t reach them in time. Our
entire cargo is sitting at their
docks. It’s a complete shut down.
Can’t get anything out.
LALE
Then buy me someone who can.
HAKAN
They’re all on Wallace payroll.
LALE
All we have is in that dock. We
can’t wait a day longer just
because a “dead man’s son” has said
’no’. He has known one death. One.
He’s a child.
HAKAN
Leave it with me.
LALE
Grief is expensive.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 31
ED
Good of you to come -
JEEVAN
Of course. They send their
condolences.
JOSEPHINE
No, mum.
SEAN
Mum.
SEAN (CONT’D)
(to Billy)
They gonna be okay?
BILLY
Dad’s dead. They’re in the same
room. What do you think?
SEAN
Come on Jo, just come to the
front...
JOSEPHINE
Don’t start, Sean.
SEAN
Jo, for the both of us, please.
It’ll be ok. I’ll sit between you.
(smiles)
If we can get one good thing out of
today -
She relents, stands up. SEAN takes one hand, BILLY takes the
other.
JIM
United Nations in here today -
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 33
JIM (CONT’D)
Fuck me! What were you hoping? That
they’d ask you to carry the coffin?
JIM laughs.
ELLIOT
Fuck off, Jim. There’s a lot of
people out there - crowd control
and that...
JIM
Yeah well they’re all in here now.
So stay put. It’s a funeral, not a
job interview.
(another glance)
Suit and tie can’t hide a washed up
squaddie. No matter how hard you
try. You’re stuck with me.
JIM (CONT’D)
Things are looking up.
ELLIOT
They’re about to bury your boss.
JIM
Twenty years of service and I never
even met the man.
JIM (CONT’D)
The money you just skimmed from me:
buy us both a drink with it, then
put the rest back.
ELLIOT looks out of the window - he can see the church down
the street.
ALEXANDER
Detective.
GORDON
You’re going to want to see that.
[You’ve] got about an hour until
the footage is transferred over to
the murder investigation team.
GORDON (CONT’D)
Make sure your dad knows that came
from me -
ED
Luan - is this wise?
LUAN
(hushed)
Ed. I must say, I was... surprised
not to be invited to such an
important meeting of minds this
morning.
ED
We didn’t invite you to the church
either, but here you are.
LUAN
Am I really that unwanted?
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 35
LUAN (CONT’D)
I’m here to pay my respects, the
same as everyone.
As SEAN takes his seat, he takes one last glance towards the
entrance to the church, and sees:
LUAN
I need to know our agreement will
still be honoured.
ED
Your agreement died with Finn.
LUAN
Ed, I’ve honoured my side of the
arrangement -
ED
There’s nothing honourable about
what you did.
LUAN
What I did, for him.
ED
Now’s not the time.
LUAN
When is?
ED
Not now.
SEAN
[What the] fuck is he doing here?
LUAN
Sean, we’ve never been properly
introduced, Luan Dushaj -
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 36
LUAN holds out his hand. SEAN is too angry to reply. LUAN is
quick to go on -
LUAN (CONT’D)
At moments like these, I know that
fingers are quick to point-
SEAN
Yeah, and they’re only pointing in
one direction
LUAN
I can assure you, we had no hand in
his death. But we will find answers
SEAN
Look forward to it. Now take a seat
and pay your fucking respects.
LUAN
(to Ed)
It’s a trying time, I’m sure.
LUAN and TARIQ walk along the aisles. As he watches SEAN take
his seat, LUAN speaks quietly to TARIQ in Albanian.
LUAN (CONT’D)
A boy like him would burn cities
just to convince the world he’s a
man.
JIM
Fucking nerve on them. Coming here.
You know I offered to send a couple
of boys over there. Make it right.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 37
ELLIOT
That’s kind of you.
JIM
(backtracking)
Well I say I offered. I thought
about it.
ELLIOT
It’s the thought that counts, Jim.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Alright Bes?
BESMIR
Are we good?
ELLIOT
Ish.
BESMIR
I have nothing to hide.
ELLIOT
Regardless. You lot shouldn’t
really be here.
BESMIR
Is that so?
ELLIOT
Take a step. You’re blocking the
sun.
BESMIR
Elliot, seriously? He hasn’t had
breakfast yet.
ELLIOT
So why’d you kill Finn?
The GOON swipes a glass off the bar. ELLIOT doesn’t flinch.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
That’s not mine.
BESMIR
(to Elliot)
Are you for real?
BESMIR (CONT’D)
(to Jim)
Jim, you gonna let this prick bark
at me?
ELLIOT
‘the fuck, Jim?
JIM
We’re keeping the peace here,
Elliot. No matter the cunt. Heel.
Stops. Looks at the door to the pub, sees through the green
tinted panel glass a view of the church in the distance.
A decision.
ELLIOT
(nonchalant)
To Finn Wallace!
ELLIOT moves away from the pub - checks to make sure no one
is coming after him - no one is...
The streets are almost empty now, feels like a ghost town.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 39
ED
No Blacks. No Irish.
ED (CONT’D)
So Finn and me hit the jackpot.
ED (CONT’D)
Finn came over, a 12 year old
immigrant, all alone. We met in
London, young teenagers; every one
of those doors closed to us. I got
angry. Finn got busy. He led. I
followed. He saw hope in this city.
Instead of suffering the indignity
of prejudice, he drew strength from
the barriers that were put up to
deny him and he vowed to take them
down.
ED (CONT’D)
Finn did things differently, he
built a new world, where a man’s
success was not determined by the
colour of his skin. London was open
to all who came - it became a place
where we could coexist, grow
stronger. Together.
ED (CONT’D)
He took the best of us, created
something unique. Something that no
door could keep out. I am so proud
to have known the man, to have
worked for him all these long
years. When I lost...
(steadies himself)
(MORE)
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 40
ED (CONT’D)
...when I lost my beautiful Ayana -
it was Finn and Marian who helped
shield Alexander and Shannon from
the pain of watching her fade. They
took them in, showered them with
the warmth and love I struggled to
find. From that day I truly felt
part of his family, and have since.
And with his passing, as I look to
those that survive him -
(looks to them)
I promise my heart and soul to you.
ELLIOT follows...
MARK and his TEAM are huddled around the phone in a quiet
corner of the church grounds.
ALEXANDER
This is from the back of the
building. Watch -
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
That’s Jack. Finn’s driver. He’s
still alive.
JACK is bundled into the van and the balaclavas follow him.
The doors close, and tyres turn as the van speeds off.
PAUSE.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 41
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
(points to white van)
...if we find them, we find him.
ELLIOT O/S
Play it back.
ALEXANDER
Who the fuck are you?
ELLIOT
I work for Jim.
ALEXANDER
Who the fuck is Jim?
ELLIOT
(to Alexander)
Play it back, I think I know that
van.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
That’s Besmir.
ALEXANDER
(to MARK)
Who?
ELLIOT
One of Luan’s guys
(to MARK)
You literally just walked him
across the street. He’s in there
downing shots as we speak.
FACES turn towards the pub - Now he’s got their attention.
MARK, humiliated, can only glare furiously at ELLIOT.
ALEXANDER
(to ELLIOT)
You’re sure about this?
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 42
ELLIOT
Broken headlight passenger side.
Dent in the back. Cheap little
beads hanging off the rear view.
It’s his van. It’s him.
ALEXANDER
Alright...You go over there, show
him...
(meaning MARK)
...who you’re talking about.
ELLIOT
Of course -
ALEXANDER
And that’s all you do. Nothing
more.
(to MARK)
Don’t lose sight of him, don’t do
anything; nothing kicks off. We’ll
handle it after the funeral. If he
leaves, you follow - but low key -
unseen - understood?
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
Do not fuck this up.
MARK
Right, let’s take the fucker out,
make sure my path is clear.
ELLIOT
Wait-
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Alexander said-
MARK
Fuck that office boy, he’s out of
his depth: We’ll take him straight
to Sean ourselves-
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 43
ELLIOT
No, this isn’t-
MARK
Either stay down or fuck off - I
know what an Albanian looks like.
Mark and his men enter the pub, leaving ELLIOT on the floor
outside.
He hears the commotion from inside the pub and picks himself
back up onto his feet.
ELLIOT
Besmir! Where the fuck is Jack?
Closes the gap. Enough to grab BESMIR by the collar and spin
him around, hurling him into some nearby industrial bins.
ELLIOT
Where is he?
BESMIR
I swear I don’t know what -
ELLIOT
Fuck you! You were seen! Your van.
Very quick to arrive, scooped him
up -
BESMIR
Fuck you, Elliot.
ELLIOT
I work for the Wallaces now - you
want to fuck with them?
BESMIR
Wait, wait, wait!
BESMIR (CONT’D)
We were out picking up tabs, we
heard gun shots - we were streets
away. I get a call, shit’s going
down - we just turned up to it
BESMIR (CONT’D)
(in pain)
I swear it’s true, we didn’t expect
to find what we did.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 46
ELLIOT
So why not hand him over to the
Wallaces? Get the glory - and a big
fat thank you?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Is the driver alive?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Take me to him -
BESMIR
Elliot, you have no idea -
ELLIOT
Take me!
BESMIR
Whatever you say.
SEAN
Respect. Honour. Dignity...
SEAN (CONT’D)
These are the things my father
taught me.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 47
Reaching into her bag she pulls out a book wrapped in brown
paper, rests it on the seat between them. Finally they look
eye to eye.
SEAN (CONT’D)
His loyalty to us, his family, and
those that worked for him was
unflinching. Today we may lay him
to rest, but he has not gone from
this world. Look around you - every
corner of this city will remind you
of him. Every development, you’ll
see prosperity to the downtrodden
and the disadvantaged.
TARIQ leans over and whispers into LUAN’S ear. LUAN’s eyes
widen in the dark.
SEAN (CONT'D)
My father gave his life to this
city. There are of course those who
betrayed him - betrayed his
trust...
SEAN (CONT’D)
They soon regretted it, and I swear
on his grave today that they always
will...
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 48
The huge GOON looks back from the front passenger seat.
Smiles.
BESMIR
Almost there.
ELLIOT
You’ve been keeping him here?
BESMIR
Would anyone have looked?
ELLIOT
They stay.
ELLIOT drags BESMIR out of the car onto a busy high street
with heavily populated ethnic food stores, salons, newsagents
and bureau de changes.
ELLIOT
Where?
ELLIOT
I’m just collecting someone.
Nothing more.
BESMIR gives the tiniest shake of the head towards the ELDER.
ELLIOT taps the back of BESMIR’s head with the knife, like a
lazy horse. Humiliated, he leads ELLIOT to a door at the back
of the room.
No going back.
CORRIDOR
Dusty boxes filled with dusty paper and old broken office
chairs line the stained, damp walls.
BESMIR
(hoarsely)
Relax, Elliot.
ELLIOT grips tighter as they pass the GUARDS, and enter the
room, eyes locked for any sudden movement.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 51
BESMIR
He’s in much better shape now than
when we picked him up, trust me.
ELLIOT
(to JACK)
Can you walk?
JACK
(weak)
Who the fuck are you?
ELLIOT
I’m going to take you back to the
Wallaces.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Come on. Let’s get you up.
BESMIR
You make sure you tell Sean we took
care of him yeah; like I said we
didn’t know what was -
ELLIOT can only stand, head spinning, face to face with one
of the city’s most feared gang bosses. On his territory.
LUAN
(to ELLIOT)
Don’t recognise you.
ELLIOT
No reason to.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
(dry mouth)
Elliot.
LUAN
Get rid of the body. If you get
caught, you did it. We’ll provide a
lawyer.
GOON
Yes sir.
LUAN
(to JACK)
I had no knowledge you were being
held here. I’m just glad to see you
were at least looked after.
Back to ELLIOT.
LUAN (CONT’D)
You got this far, I trust you can
find your way safely back.
Please...
LUAN (CONT’D)
But Elliot? Do not ever come into
my place of business brandishing a
weapon again.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 53
ELLIOT
I’m just here to retrieve what
belongs to the Wallaces...
LUAN
And I let you. Make that clear when
you take him back.
ELLIOT nods, and leads JACK out of the cafe with a DING of
the bell.
LUAN (CONT’D)
(in Albanian)
Deal with them. I want to know what
has been happening on my own
fucking doorstep.
ELLIOT
(to TAXI DRIVER)
Say something.
TAXI DRIVER
(thick cockney accent)
[the] fuck you on about mate?
ELLIOT
Good enough.
ELLIOT
(to Jack)
What happened?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Who killed him?
JACK
Just ... I fucked up. Should’ve ...
ELLIOT
Who? Who killed him?
JACK
Nobodies. Kids. I’m not ... a
fucking traitor.... Red Nova...
(slurring words tapering
off)
CV...97...
EOIN (O.S.)
We should leave. Should we leave?
EOIN
Darren!
DARREN
I don’t know, ok!
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 55
EOIN
They hav’ta know it was us.
EOIN (CONT’D)
An’ if they don’t by now, your da’
will.
DARREN
[We] got enough here to stay low,
jus’ have to wait...
EOIN
Wait? For how long? S’not like ye
fucking forget about something like
that.
EOIN (CONT’D)
(points to DARREN’s phone)
Try calling ‘em again, maybe they
can do something, help us.
DARREN
I keep tellin’ ya, it’s a dead
line. They fucked us. We’re on our
own.
PATRICK
Ah bollocks, she’s leaking - grab a
towel for us...
PATRICK (CONT’D)
Fuck, Kinney! Please, no!
The weight of the car crashes down, the rim of the wheel
snapping his shin in two - burying it deep into the mud.
Blood and mud drips down from the wheel, landing on PATRICK’s
trembling face.
PATRICK (CONT’D)
Fuck no Kinney!
KINNEY
Where’s your fucking brother?
He starts to turn the jack, the car jolts down - one crank at
a time - descending towards PATRICK’s face.
PATRICK
Ah Christ!
KINNEY
(points to KEELA)
Cos his girl says your braw had a
fucking pistol on ‘im and that he
n’ my boy were off to put a bullet
in some Albanian nobody. Now I
ain’t seen either since. But I know
they ain’t in fuckin’ hiding cos of
some dead Albanian.
PATRICK
I swear I don’t know anything about
it...
KINNEY
Well that makes two of us now.
PATRICK
(to MACK)
Dad!
PATRICK (CONT’D)
E-E-Eoin - he asked to borrow her,
I had no fucking idea Kinney. God,
they were supposed to be back -
just said they were going to buy
drinks...
PATRICK (CONT’D)
Please. Don’t. I’ll do anything.
KINNEY
Find ‘em. Both of ‘em.
SEAN
I want Luan!
SEAN (CONT’D)
Right here, on his knees explaining
himself. His men took Jack, and I
wanna know why-
ED
Sean, please. Will you just stop?
ED (CONT’D)
We don’t know the whole picture
here? We’re creating chaos and
confusion at a time when we don’t
need either.
SEAN
I have the entire city looking for
him.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 58
ED
By starving it!
ED (CONT’D)
You’re making enemies out of
business partners. And the longer
this goes on, the closer they are
to turning on you. On all of us.
SEAN
And we’re suddenly afraid?
ED
Marian, please...
MARIAN
I agree with Sean. It’s the right
move.
MARIAN (CONT’D)
Whoever killed Finn remains the
greatest threat to this family.
SEAN
If we back down now, they’ll walk
all over us.
ALEX
Enough! Both of you. Our strength
lies in our smarts, in unity...
(to Sean)
That’s what your dad built for us.
ED
Please...
(changing strategy -
softer)
Listen to me, son. I want nothing
more than to give you the head of
whoever had the fucking nerve to
hurt us. But you have to involve
me.
(pointing at the
boardroom)
You acted alone in there and it
made us look weak. Divided. Work
with me, Sean, and I’ll give all I
can to you, as I did for your
Father.
SEAN
I’m glad to hear it.
VOICE (O.S.)
OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!
ELLIOT
Take your fucking hands off him!
SEAN and ALEXANDER are fast along the hallway towards them.
SEAN
Jack!
(to the GUARDS)
The boardroom!
ED
(to Mark, about Elliot)
Get him, outside!
SEAN
No! He stays.
ED
We know nothing about him.
SEAN
We know he knew where Jack was.
ALEXANDER
(to Ed)
It’s ok, Dad. He’s one of ours.
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
(to Elliot)
You’ve had quite the day.
(points to a chair)
Wait there.
ELLIOT looks down at his shoes. Caked mud hangs off them.
Considers the plush rug that runs down the corridor.
SEAN (O.S.)
Come on Jack. Talk to us!
(beat)
What’s he saying?
ED (O.S.)
Give him time and some space to
breathe; doctor is on his way...
SEAN
Fuck!
JACK slumps back. ALEXANDER stops his head from hitting the
table.
ELLIOT
Is he ok?
ALEXANDER
He passed out.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 61
ELLIOT
He does that a lot.
SEAN
Alright, who the fuck are you?
MARK
He’s the one that tore up the pub -
ELLIOT
Elliot. I’m the one who found him.
SEAN
You did all that? Empty handed?
What was it? Six of them?
ELLIOT
Eight. But I had a dart, so...
SEAN
(smiles)
This way.
ELLIOT
If he’d wanted to he could’ve
killed us there and then. Easily.
ALEXANDER
Doctor gave him a shot, he’ll be
out until the morning...
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 62
ED
(to Mark)
Take him back to his flat, put a
medic on standby throughout the
night.
(to SEAN)
Let him sleep it off, you can grill
him in the morning.
SEAN
(quietly)
Trust me.
Reaches inside his jacket and takes the gun from his holster.
SEAN (CONT’D)
[It’s] a good thing you didn’t need
it.
SEAN (CONT’D)
Get on your fucking knees.
ED
Sean?
SEAN
I don’t buy it. That Albanian prick
killed my dad.
ALEXANDER
You heard him, Luan gave Jack back
to us. That has to mean something.
SEAN
(to Elliot)
Nah, nah, nah - he sent you! Didn’t
he?!
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 63
ELLIOT
What? No. I work for Jim, I work
for you.
SEAN
You expect me to believe some
street grunt can do what you just
did? We spent a week searching the
city and you find him in a day?
Bullshit. You’re a fucking wooden
horse.
ELLIOT
Then go ahead, cut me open.
SEAN
Don’t even. I’m my father’s son and
I’ll take a fucking belt sander to
your eyes if you don’t start
talking.
ELLIOT
Jim was right, years I’ve shed
blood for this organization - risk
my life to carry that dizzy cunt to
your door and you point a fucking
gun at me?
SEAN
You done?
ELLIOT
He saw who did it. Jack. He saw who
killed your father.
Yes, Sean still has a gun. But now Elliot has his attention.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Said it was a couple of pikey kids.
SEAN
You fucking high?
ELLIOT
I’m telling you what he said.
SEAN
What else?
ELLIOT
Gave me a number plate.
SEAN
If any of this is bullshit...
ELLIOT
Belt sander I know. But when you
find out it’s all true...
Sean waits.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
I work for you. Not Jim. Not even
fucking Mark. You.
SEAN
Make it known, I want everyone
searching for these fuckers. Don’t
care if they work for us or are
paid off by us - they join the
hunt.
(to Elliot)
Elliot, right?.
ELLIOT nods.
SEAN (CONT’D)
That includes you.
Breathe.
SHANNON (O.S.)
DANNY! What have I told you?
DANNY
Mum!
ELLIOT
Here.
DANNY
Thank you.
ELLIOT
That your mum?
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 65
DANNY
Yep.
ELLIOT feels the flap of his collar sticking out, adjusts it,
fixes it.
ELLIOT
[Does] she tell you not to play
football in the house?
DANNY
But I wasn’t...
ELLIOT
...Do you think she knows I saw her
throwing it?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Tell you what, lets keep it a
secret so your mum doesn’t get
embarrassed. Deal?
DANNY
Deal!
ELLIOT
Good lad.
SHANNON
(to Danny)
Right you, back in there.
(to Elliot)
Sorry about him, he’s a handful...
ELLIOT
So am I...
SHANNON
Yeah, so I’ve heard. You new?
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 66
ELLIOT smiles.
ELLIOT
Ish.
ALEXANDER
(to ELLIOT)
Don’t you have work to do?
ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
I want you back here first thing
tomorrow. You’re working for me
now.
ELLIOT smiles.
ELLIOT steps into the small entrance hall. Look close enough
and you’ll see his expression soften.
As he closes the door and takes a few steps, even his posture
shifts slightly. The confident squared shoulders slump just a
touch. No need to keep wearing a mask. No need to present a
tough exterior. Not here at least.
ELLIOT
Dad, it’s me.
CHARLIE
Elliot?
ELLIOT
Just a second Dad, make you tea
first.
CHARLIE
Carer made me a fresh one ‘fore she
left.
ELLIOT
When did she leave? Last month?
It’s got more skin than Auntie
Jean.
CHARLIE laughs.
As ELLIOT tosses the old tea into the sink, he looks back
through the crack in the door - CHARLIE back to him is more
focused on his game show.
He takes out the cash he skimmed from the drain pipe earlier,
counts it, then pulls a wad of notes from inside a shoebox
stuffed with money.
CHARLIE (O.S.)
Sally says she might not be able to
come next week. Says its not up to
her.
ELLIOT
Don’t you worry about that. She’ll
be here.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
That should cover for a few weeks
in advance.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
I may not be able to pop in next
week. Work’s picking up.
CHARLIE
I’m sure a week late is fine, son.
ELLIOT
Yeah, well, just in case. See, I
may not be able to get in for a
little while.
He can feel his fathers hurt expression even with his back
turned.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
You make sure you give her that
tomorrow. Right, let me see em’.
CHARLIE
Elliot...
ELLIOT
Go on, put them up.
CHARLIE
Social is fine boy. I’m not
completely incapable you know.
ELLIOT
I know you’re not, Dad. No Sally on
the social though. She’s taken a
real shine to you, am I gonna have
to tell her you wanna break her
heart?
Charlie laughs.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 69
CHARLIE
She’s just a good kid, that girl.
Reminds me of Naomi.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Can’t run from it forever, you know-
ELLIOT
Right you’re all set. Going down in
the 4th this time?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Or is it the 3rd? It was usually
one or the other. Barely broke a
sweat some nights did you, Dad?
CHARLIE cuts the figure of a broken man. A far cry from the
promise of the poster.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
[I’ll] watch a bit of telly with
you, before you go to bed?
SEAN
The flowers are filling up the
garage.
MARIAN
They’ll all be rotting soon enough.
He would’ve hated it.
SEAN
Killed - by a couple of kids, mum.
MARIAN considers her son. Pulls his head round so she can see
his eyes.
MARIAN
They won’t go unpunished, Sean. I
know you’ll do right by him.
SEAN
Maybe Ed was right. He knows what’s
best for the company.
MARIAN
Sometimes.
MARIAN (CONT’D)
My beautiful boy. It was always you
that he wanted to lead this
organisation.
SEAN
I just want him back so much, mum.
MARIAN
I know, my love. But you can do
this- and you’ll always have me
behind you. Every step of the way.
EOIN sits on the floor at the edge of the bed, eyes heavy
through lack of sleep and worry.
Almost immediately...
PATRICK (O.S.)
Eoin? That you?
EOIN
Pat, I’m sorry ‘bout yer car.
PATRICK (O.S.)
(relief, obvious)
Fuck sake forget about the car, ye
useless prick.
EOIN
We fucked up.
PATRICK
What were ye thinkin’ boy?
EOIN
We didn’t know, [I] swear. I mean,
we thought it was just a job.
Naeone naebody’d miss like. I saw
him, I tried Patrick, I really did
try to stop it...
EOIN (CONT’D)
[The] fuck’re we gonna do, Pat?
Help us, please.
PATRICK
I’ll try. I promise you I will. But
you gotta tell me where you are.
EOIN
Darren says we gotta lay low. Wait
it out.
PATRICK
There’s no layin’ low, man was too
big for that.
(beat)
Please, tell me where ye are. Let
me help you.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 72
EOIN
Saint Ralph’s, by the old train
tracks. Fifth floor.
PATRICK
Good lad. Ye did good there boy.
Now stay put, just wait ‘til I get
there, OK?
EOIN (O.S.)
Please hurry Pat.
PATRICK
Of course I will. I’m already on ma
way.
He smells blood.
EOIN (O.S.)
I love ye Patrick. I’m so sorry.
KINNEY and his MEN brush past him heading for the door.
PATRICK
(voice almost cracking)
S’alright. Stay safe for the now.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
VOICE (O.S.)
St Raphael’s, Stratford. Room 518.
Click.
Elliot looks through the ajar door out into the lounge - sees
Charlie passed out on the sofa chair - TV light flickering at
him.
Beep-click.
DARREN
Shhhhh...
But EOIN’s head already hangs low - the knock at the door is
no surprise to him.
EOIN
I’m sorry Daz...
KINNEY (O.S.)
Open the fuckin’ door boy.
VOICE (O.S.)
Would ye shut your mouth wi’ ya
crying. Fuck sake Patrick, he did
it to himself...
PATRICK
SAVED HIS OWN THO’ DIDN’T HE?!
VOICE
Blood’s blood.
PATRICK
Aye, so’s mine.
LEN
You gawna take on Kinney now kid?
(beat)
Didn’t think so. Your da would beat
ya worse than he did, hear ye
talkin’ like that. Bag the money
for us, have to burn it else they
tie it tae us...
PATRICK
My da? He’s no my father no more.
No da would let him do that...
LEN
You’d do right to be glad he let
you live.
LEN (CONT’D)
Now bag that money.
LEN crawls out from the bathroom and grabs a handful of black
bin liners, as he does he spots something in the corner of
his eye.
ELLIOT.
A bullet tears through the bag, embeds itself deep into the
wall leaving LEN unscathed.
Catches him. Not enough to take his hand, but enough to make
him drop the gun.
They clash.
LEN rushes in, lashing out wildly with the meat cleaver, but
ELLIOT regains composure enough to duck away from its path.
But LEN keeps his grip on ELLIOT’s neck, eyes glass over,
face flushed red.
Elbows drive into LEN’s head, nudging him closer and closer
to the meat cleaver until it buries deep into his throat -
blood gushes from the wound, bathing ELLIOT’s face.
ELLIOT
Where are they taking him?
PATRICK’s broken smile pushes the tears out from his eyes.
PATRICK
I’d never know.
ELLIOT, rushes in, grabs the gun from PATRICK’s hand. Scoops
up the bag of Finn’s money, notices the foreign currency.
KINNEY
(to MAL)
Head west. To Evie. She’ll have a
boat for ye once they get tired of
tracking ‘im.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 78
MAL nods. KINNEY looks over his shoulder, at DARREN, his son.
KINNEY (CONT’D)
(to DARREN)
I’m not sorry. Cos I’m not the one
who should be. Some day you’ll
understand. Say nothing. To no-one.
Ye hear?
(to MAL)
Watch over him Mal... for me.
MAL
Of course.
The main fleet of KINNEY and his men head back to the city as
DARREN, the involuntary passenger and MAL, his protector,
head west.
ELLIOT steps out from the DOSS HOUSE, out onto the street.
Panic sets in, he scans the area as the sirens grow louder.
Follows.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 79
She moves quickly back to the front door of the car and leans
in. The headlights extinguish, and a moment later she emerges
with a bottle of water.
ELLIOT
I needed that address.
NISHA
And we got it to you.
ELLIOT
I needed it sooner.
NISHA
What have you done?
ELLIOT
I had no choice. I was too late to
help him. They took the other kid
before I got here.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Two years undercover - Have I ever
fucked you over?
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
We have an opportunity here. In the
space of a day I’ve gone from being
a nobody outside that church to
being invited into their home.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
No more bullshit stings, no more
small tip off’s Nisha. You saw it
yourself, the people at that
church. The power there! I can be
on the inside of all of it. Real
progress. Really make a difference.
He reaches into his pocket, hands her the black bag of money.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
Found this up there - Belize
dollars, fucking ton of it - way
more than anyone would pay them.
May be nothing. May be something.
ELLIOT (CONT’D)
You know I need this...
NISHA
Stop.
ELLIOT
We both need this.
NISHA
It’s too late - every day I’m
fighting off the inevitable. They
want you out, and I’ve run out of
ways to keep you in.
(stops herself)
We haven’t delivered, Elliot.
ELLIOT
(softens)
But now we can. Don’t let this all
be for nothing, Nisha. Please.
She shakes her head - takes the bottle of water from his
hands.
NISHA
They’re clean.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 81
ELLIOT
Thank you.
POLICE CARS pass by, flashing red and blue lights paint the
side of his face.
Parked at the top of a hill, LALE walks from her car to join
HAKAN.
HAKAN
There’s nothing I can do, they’re
too afraid to cross the Wallaces. I
can’t get any of our shipments out.
LALE
Then why drag me here, Hakan.
HAKAN
You need to see who can...
They look down from their vantage point: ALEXANDER and NASIR
stand with a CUSTOMS OFFICIAL, as a series of container
trucks drive past them and out through the gates.
HAKAN (CONT’D)
For Nasir and his father, it seems
the gates aren’t closed. Business
as usual...
LALE
I want my girls ready.
Caused by...
JACK stirs...
He looks from his bed, to see a shadow stood by the open plan
kitchen - pours a kettle of boiling water into a mug.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 83
JACK
Who...
ED
Good to have you back with us,
Jack.
JACK
Jesus, Ed - I thought...
ED
They found money on him. On his
body.
JACK
He had a bag of it...
ED
I’m tired Jack. Tired of being the
one holding all of this together.
JACK
Ed, sooner or later - they’re gonna
find out. About her. About...
ED
Jack...
JACK
(sincere)
They won’t hear it from me, you
have my word - but when they do
know, they’ll wanna know why I
didn’t tell them. Look, I guess I
just want to be in the clear here.
ED
Where were you taking him? Later?
What was the plan?
JACK
I don’t know.
ED
Yeah. You do.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 84
JACK
Ed, - I took a fucking car to my
body. I didn’t do nothing wrong.
ED
No one is gonna think that. No one.
Trust me.
Suddenly...
JACK
Ed, I can’t feel my arms.
ED
I know.
JACK
Wait...
JACK (CONT’D)
No, Ed - please...
ED
Believe me, I take no enjoyment in
this. I wish I didn’t have to. But
I do.
ED (CONT’D)
Truth is I haven’t had to do this
in years...
Watches as JACK’s tear filled eyes stare hard into his soul.
Fingers stretching as his wrist pulses the very lifeblood out
of him.
ED (CONT’D)
But it’s for the good of the family
Jacky. It really is.
Gangs of London Episode One 11th September 2018 85
The blood has stopped pouring down the side of the bed, it’s
just a drip - drip we hear.
ED stopped being able to watch him fade some time ago, eyes
rooted to the floor.
ED (CONT’D)
(broken)
And that’s all there is to it.
END OF EPISODE