All language subtitles for Blinded.by.the.Light.2019.720p.BluRay.x264.[YTS.MX]-English

[YOUNG JAVED] September, 1980.

My best friend Matt and I
have the same birthday.

He got a brand new chopper bike.

It's really fast
and looks so cool.

[EXHALES]

I got a Rubik's Cube,

but Matt gave me this diary
that he didn't want

and I'm going to write in it
every day.

The Russians have been
in Afghanistan for 363 days.

"Baggy Trousers" by Madness
is my favorite song.

Matt, I can't wait
to go to London together.

Look at all the people
going there.

Yeah. Who'd wanna come off
the motorway at Luton?

- Come on.
- Yeah.

Hop on.

- You on?
- Yeah.

Let's go.

- [BOTH WHOOPING]
- This is brilliant, Matt!

We're gonna be
best friends forever!

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[MAN] Coronation chicken next week.

Great. Nice one, thanks.
I'll see you later.

There you go, Javed, son.

[JAVED] Goodbye, cheese and pickle.

My summer job is done.

The Cold War rages on.

Reagan and Thatcher
are still number one.

But I'm stuck in Luton,
one of the herd.

No fun, freedom or future,

'cause Luton
is a four-letter word.

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INDISTINCT CHANTING]

[TIRES SQUEAL]

Matt.

[LAUGHS]

J! You Muppet.

- How was Ibiza?
- Oh, mate, wicked.

I met Emma over there.
She's, uh, from St. Albans.

- Works in HMV.
- All right?

All right?

I just finished work.

I'm writing you a new song
for your band.

It's about the Cold War.

Javed writes all the time,

you know, like, diaries, poems.

He wrote one about Bo Derek
once and he sent it to her.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

[JAVED] And I wrote some
of your best essays too.

- Remember? [LAUGHING]
- [MATT] Yeah.

[JAVED] Pet Shop Boys got the best

number one this year so far.

I told you, mate.
Listen, synths are the future.

- [WHOOSHES]
- [JAVED LAUGHS]

Anyway, happy birthday, mate.

Got it at the airport, you know.

It's a fertility symbol
from the Balearics.

Thanks.

You know,
I thought it might, uh,

help you pick up a bird
one day maybe.

He's never had
a girlfriend before, so...

Eh? Is it against your religion?

No. Thanks, Matt.

- I'll see you later, mate.
- See you later.

- He's missing out.
- [VEHICLE APPROACHING]

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON STEREO]

[MALIK] What are they doing?

[HONKS HORN]

[MUSIC STOPS]

[EXCLAIMS IN URDU]

[IN ENGLISH]
How can you be friends with that boy?

No shame at all.

[HUFFS]

I didn't move out of Bury Park
to see this.

You should tell him
this is very bad.

Very bad behavior
in a good neighborhood.

Dad, he's English.

Shh! Your sister's coming.

Get the shopping out of the car.

[JAVED SIGHS]

[SHAZIA] Matt's back, then.

[SIGHS] To torture me
with his perfect life.

- [HORN BEEPS]
- [MATT'S DAD] Go on, my son!

- [MATT'S DAD LAUGHS]
- [EMMA] Who's that?

All right, J?
I taught him all he knows.

All the moves.

Very nice to meet you,
Princess Emma.

[KATHY] There you go, sweetheart.

£19.50.

I'll drop another 30 dresses
off to you tomorrow morning.

Oh. Lucky you
having such a helpful family.

Look at this. [GASPS]

My kids treat my place
like a hotel.

I'll tell you something,

you've done something right
turning kids out like that.

- Ta-Ra, sweetheart.
- Goodbye.

Javed. [SNAPS FINGERS]

[SIGHS]

[SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING]

[JAVED] September 3rd, 1987.

My dad is stuck
in another century.

He treats me
like I'm six, not 16.

[MALIK] Javed, beta, come!

- We're ready for your party!
- [SIGHS]

He's coming.

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON RADIO]

Happy birthday.

Time to smarten up. You're
not a kid anymore, Javed.

Thanks, cuz.

Not cuz. Sister.

[NOOR] Come on, let's light the candle.

[MATCH STRIKES]

Yasmeen, photo.

Say "cheese."

[CAMERA WHIRS]

Make a wish, beta.

[JAVED] Make loads of money,

kiss a girl,
get out of this dump.

[MATT SIGHS]

[MATT] You were supposed
to be writing a pop song.

Who writes songs about nuclear
war and Thatcher anyway?

You write
about depressing things,

like you haven't got any money,

or you can't watch
Rocky on telly.

That's not true.

I write about politics
and Reaganomics and...

Oh, Javed. Javed, Javed,

you spent four years, mate,

going on about your bloody dad

who wouldn't let you have

an Acorn Electron
with a 32-kilobyte RAM.

It also had a 32-kilobyte ROM.

Yeah, well, I can't really
sing about you and your dad,

can I?

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING ON TURNTABLE]

Is he making you do
A-Levels as well?

No. I'm doing it for me.
I want to go to college.

[BLOWS RASPBERRY]

Getting good A-Levels
will get me into university.

That's my only ticket
out of here, mate.

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

It's 4:00 a.m. in New York,
4:00 p.m. in Tokyo

and 9:00 a.m.
right here in Luton.

You're listening to Radio LUVIC,

the official radio station
for Luton Sixth Form College.

I'm Colin Hand, the hand
that rocks the turntable,

with the first lesson
of a new year,

and the subject,
Lessons in Love.

- [MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [TURNS UP VOLUME]

First day. Start at the top
and stay there.

Study hard,
so you don't have to work

in a factory like me
all your life.

Yes, Dad. [SIGHS]

If you want to succeed,

look for the Jews in your class.

Do what the Jews do.

They're very successful people.

I think that's
a bit racist, Dad.

It's the truth.

- Oh, hi!
- [EXCITED CHATTERING]

Hey, you're here to study, okay?

I'll find you a wife
in good time.

You leave that to me.

[JAVED SIGHS]

And remember,
stay away from the girls!

Follow the Jews!

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[INAUDIBLE]

[MUSIC STOPS]

I'm really sorry.
Did I break it?

- Who's that?
- The Boss.

Whose boss?

The boss of us all.

[STUDENTS CHATTERING]

Right, everyone in?

My name is Miss Clay,

and I wanna know
why you're here.

- Anybody?
- To pass my exams, miss.

Well, thanks to Maggie Thatcher,

even if you do pass your exams
and get a degree,

there'll be few jobs
waiting for you.

So, what I wanna
make this class about

is figuring out where
you stand, what you think.

The writers that
we'll be studying this year

are immortal.

Their themes are universal.
Shakespeare, Dickens, Woolf.

Who here wants
to live forever, like them?

Who here wants to be a writer?

- Miss Clay?
- Yes, um...

Uh, Eliza.

Isn't the job of a writer
to make a difference,

to change the world?

Yes. Yes, that's a start.

The writers I admire
make a difference.

They tell the world something
that it needs to hear.

[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

What's your name again?

Javed.

Javed, you put
your hand up earlier

and then you put it down.

Um...

Miss Clay,
I've been writing poems

and a diary
since I was about 10.

But it's really
not that interesting.

Then why do you do it?

I don't know.

To put down my thoughts,
I guess.

You see, in my house,

no one's allowed opinions
except my dad.

[POP ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO]

- What would you like, love?
- Chips and beans, please.

[SINGS ALONG TO SONG]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[JAVED] This place is bad.

It's the United Nations
of kicking tribes.

You've got Goths,
a Salt-N-Pepa crew,

there's Wham! boys,
Bananarama girls, and...

then there's Eliza,
smart, sassy,

and a politico fighting
to free Nelson Mandela.

And then there's me.

I don't have a tribe.

[LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]

[MUSIC CONTINUES OVER RADIO]

[BOY] Oi.

Bilal No-Mates.

- All right?
- [CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

What are you writing?

- Nothing.
- An essay?

Already?
Are you a swot or something?

No, just a diary.

So, tell me about The Boss.

Bruce is the direct line

to all that's true
in this shitty world.

- Seriously?
- Mmm-hmm.

What does he know
about our world?

Guard these with your life,
yeah?

You can thank me later.

[SCOFFS]

[MUSIC PLAYING OVER HEADPHONES]

[SPRAY HISSING]

[JAVED] A boy spat at me today,

after he wrote his filth
on the wall.

This time I tried not to run.

This time I tried
to stand tall and say:

"I'm not scared,
you stupid clown."

You're not better than me.

"This is also my hometown."

Stand up to him. Why do you run?

Face the pathetic NF scum.
You're better than this.

[PANTING]

- Where's Matt?
- He's a bit busy.

[MATT] Emma! Why are you
answering the door

just wearing that?

- You all right, mate?
- Yeah.

Uh... Got my lyrics, then?

That's what I came round
to say. I'm working on it.

[MATT SIGHS]

You still coming
to my party tonight?

- Yeah, of course.
- [MATT] Good.

Emma's mates are coming,

and I know one
who would be perfect for you.

- She's not fussy.
- Really?

- Yeah.
- Cheers.

I promise this time I'll come.

How many times
I have to tell you?

Pakistanis do not go to parties.

I thought I was British.

You do not know this country
like I do. Huh?

Do you remember Enoch Powell?

They will never
accept you, beta.

Matt accepts me.

Listen to me. You're very lucky.

You will always be Pakistani.

You will never be British.

- [HIP HOUSE MUSIC PLAYING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [BOY WHOOPS]
- [LIVELY CHATTER]

- [MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [MUFFLED CHATTER]

[MUFFLED LAUGHTER AND SHOUTING]

[MALIK EXHALES]

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

[MALIK MUTTERS]

[SYNTHPOP MUSIC PLAYING]

- Okay, wait.
- [SHAZIA] Again?

[MALIK] Wait for your mother.

After three.
One, two, three, push!

Okay, everyone to the back now!

[SHOUTS IN PUNJABI]

[IN ENGLISH] Okay, one, two, three, push!

Let's go!

[ENGINE STARTS]

Come on, come on,
come on, get in!

- Let's go!
- [ENGINE REVS]

[MALIK]
Great neighborhood, Shah-ji.

[MR. SHAH] We are the first
Pakistanis on this street.

[MR. SHAH CHUCKLES]

Remember when
we came in the '70s?

- Luton was a good town then.
- Ah! [CHUCKLES]

[MALIK SIGHS]

Today there are
too many Pakistanis.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[GRUNTS]

[MR. SHAH] I need
your help again

for a new mortgage application.

This is next door?

It's for my eldest.
He's getting married soon.

Oh! Congratulations.

[SPEAKS PUNJABI]

He doesn't know it yet.

But he's a good boy,
he does what I say.

Ah. [SPEAKS PUNJABI]

[SIGHS SOFTLY]

[MR. SHAH SPEAKING PUNJABI]

- [BOY] Let's do the Paki house.
- Thank you.

[MRS. SHAH] Eh? Shh!

- What are you doing?
- [BOY] He's doing a wee-wee.

- [URINATING]
- Aim it down on the carpet.

- [MRS. SHAH] Hooligan boy.
- [BOY] It's a wee-wee delivery.

[BOYS CHANT]
Pissing on the Pakis!

[MR. SHAH] What is happening here?

[MRS. SHAH] Wee-wee, all on my carpet.

[MR. SHAH] Clean it quickly, come on.

[MALIK EXCLAIMS]

- Please.
- Just the young kids

are just playing, you know.

[BOY IN SINGSONG]
Smelly, smelly Pakis!

It's okay. That's why we have
this plastic here.

I cleaned your floor for you.

[MR. SHAH] Don't let the wee
go on the carpet.

- [BOY] Pakis!
- [BOYS LAUGHING]

Javed.

Not what you expected?

This is your third essay for me.

I'm beginning
to understand you...

I write poems too, Miss.

That's why I thought
I understood the assignment.

That brief section about the
Indian soldiers missing home

and cooking their own food
in the trenches,

that was amazing.

That was your voice.

I wanted more.

Tell me about your poems.

- They're crap, miss.
- Yeah, but they're your crap.

And if you keep at it,

one day you might think
they're not crap.

I want to write for the paper.

We're not really looking
for new writers at the moment.

I like to write,
and I want to learn.

I could show you
some of my work.

I'd rather you didn't.

I could show you
some of my poems.

I really don't wanna read them.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[NOOR] Beti, I'm so happy.
They have found a boy.

And he's definitely not
a taxi driver?

No, beti. He's a graduate.

MA from
the University of Rawalpindi.

[YASMEEN] I want
to ask more overtime...

Vauxhall Motors are cutting
a thousand jobs.

They're trying to reduce their
operating costs by a quarter.

Staff will be cut
at their factories

in Luton and Ellesmere Port.

The company says
an early retirement scheme

for workers over 55

should bring
the present workforce

of 12 and a half thousand

down by the required amount,

but the unions say they believe

more redundancies
may be necessary.

[NEWSCASTER] Vauxhall,
General Motors' existing

car-making subsidiary
in this country...

What are they saying?

Vauxhall's laying off
half the workforce. Dad's job.

No, beta.
He's been there for 16 years.

Double shift, night shift,
whatever they wanted.

[NEWSCASTER] Of more than 50
adults, just four have jobs.

The average period of
unemployment is nine years.

[JAVED] Vauxhall dumped Dad
like an old, disused engine.

Tell me.

[JAVED] Dear General Motors,
Let me speak from the heart.

You took my dad's job
and you tore my family apart.

I'll have to stop studying,

and Mum will need
to work faster.

My life now is a total disaster.

I wanna escape
this depressing town.

Is that such a crime?

How useless am I, sitting here,

trying to make words rhyme?

[ON TV] Earlier on today,
apparently a woman rang the BBC

and said she heard that there
was a hurricane on the way.

Well, if you're watching,
don't worry, there isn't.

But having said that, actually,

the weather
will become very windy.

[WRITING]

[KNOCK ON DOOR, THEN DOOR OPENS]

You okay, J?

What's gonna happen to us?

Javed?

I don't know,

but writing crap poems
doesn't help anyone.

Don't say that.

You and me, Shazia, we were
born at the wrong time,

in the wrong town,
in the wrong family.

[SHUDDERS]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[THUNDER CRACKING]

[SIGHS IN EXASPERATION]

[THUNDER CRACKING]

- [WALKMAN CLACKS]
- [MUSIC PLAYING]

[THUNDER CRASHING]

[MUSIC STOPS]

[MUSIC RESUMES]

[WIND WHOOSHING]

Hey! Have you gone mental?

Close the bloody window.

The whole house is freezing now.

You should be
listening to our music

before you start getting
confused and hating yourself.

- [MUSIC STOPS]
- [THUNDER CRACKING]

[SONG CHANGES]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SPRINGSTEEN HUMMING]

"If I could take one moment
into my hands,"

Mister, I ain't a boy.
No, I'm a man,

"and I believe
in a promised land!"

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

My poems.

Did you fish them out of a bin?

I did throw them away
last night.

But then I changed my mind.

They're not brilliant,
but they're mine.

[JAVED] Roops!

Roops. I listened to everything.

Both tapes.

I'm telling you, I could
feel it all right here.

It's like Bruce knows
everything I've ever felt,

everything I've ever wanted.

I mean, "Sometimes I feel
so weak, I just wanna explode."

Explode and tear
this whole town apart.

"Take a knife and cut
this pain from my heart."

I didn't know
music could be like that.

I mean, "Is a dream a lie
if it don't come true?"

Or is it something worse?"

Congratulations. You've popped
your Bruce cherry.

You never forget
your first time.

[JAVED EXHALES]

[TYPING]

[DOOR OPENS]

I wrote something.

Did I ask you
to write something?

I had to write it.
It's about music.

- A record review.
- Sort of. Can you read it?

[ALAN] "It's a town full of losers"

and I'm pulling out of here to win.

"'Thunder Road.' Springsteen."

No one listens to Springsteen
anymore. He's history.

- [TYPING]
- Can you just read it? Please.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[MS. CLAY] Javed.

I'm really disappointed in you.

You hated my poems.

I hated that you threw them away

before anyone ever read them.

- You read them?
- Every one of them.

Even "Luton Is
A Four-Letter Word"?

[MS. CLAY] Yeah.

And I can think of several more

four-letter words for Luton too.

But the point is they're raw,
they're distinctive.

You have a responsibility

to make this invisible,
this absent voice, heard.

But you're my teacher, miss.

Do you really think anyone
else would be interested?

- I'm interested.
- See?

Stop doubting. Keep writing.

My dad doesn't even know
I'm doing English.

He thinks I'm doing economics.

This is about what you want.

You have a gift, Javed.

You could be a writer
if you put the work in.

Really? Me?

Bruce Springsteen is not
some romantic, faraway figure

who sings about
romantic, faraway things.

He's a local boy,
and the things he deals in

are things they recognize
only too well.

[MAN 1] Well, he's one of us,
you know.

[MAN 2] He's part of New Jersey.

[MAN 3] We call him The Boss
and he is The Boss.

There was an exuberance,

let's say, about
something like "Born to Run."

[REPORTER] The songwriting
seems to have

become more concerned

with rather bleak matters.

[SPRINGSTEEN] Lately, I guess,
mainly I've just tried

to scale it down to what I feel.

[CHUCKLES] Life sizes, you know.

My sister, she got married
when she was really young.

My brother-in-law
was a construction worker,

and then they stopped building
the buildings, you know,

when we had the recession.

They just went through a lot
of real hard times, you know.

And they had a couple of kids.
That was hard to do.

And I guess
if I had any heroes now,

they'd be like,
you know, like them,

or... you know, people
who keep the world turning.

This is for my brother-in-law
and my sister.

[CROWD CHEERS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SINGING ALONG]

- Who was that on TV?
- [JAVED] No one.

- It's Bruce Springsteen.
- Springsteen? Jewish?

Jewish? No.

He's American.

Have you done that letter
for Mr. Shah?

I will.

Hmm.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[JAVED] Hi. Can I help you?

If you've come to complain

about my wife's sewing machine,

you have to appreciate that
we have taken on extra work

to make ends meet.

I came about this.

"Don't be Dumb NF Scum"

by Javed Khan"?

Mr. Evans, [SIGHS]
writing is my son's hobby.

He didn't mean to offend you.
I'm sure of that.

Javed, say sorry.

Forty-eight years ago

I marched into war
with my friends

to fight men in swastikas.

Today I see swastikas on young
men on the streets of Luton.

That was a very brave poem,
young man.

You must write more
and get your message out.

NF scum indeed.

Wow. He liked my poem.

Why are you writing rubbish?

[JAVED SIGHS]

[JAVED] Excuse me.

Did you read it?

- I did.
- And?

It wasn't really a review,
was it?

It was more like
a thousand words

of closely argued adulation.

I know I can do better.

[ALAN] Set them out nicely.

You're a Muslim, aren't you?

- Yeah.
- A Pakistani into Springsteen?

Now, that's got potential.

Sharpen the opening
and I'll run it.

Yes!

Thirteen bundles. That's 130.

Um, 50 pence a pop.
I owe you 65 quid.

Lovely.
Same again for next week?

My wife wants 20 bundles.

Well, I mean, that's more than
double what she did last week.

Twenty is too much.

Yasmeen, Javed, help her.

[EXHALES] Blimey.

[KATHY GRUNTING]

We can do 20 bundles.

Yasmeen can help.

The children can help.
I can help.

Yasmeen works.
Javed and Shazia have studies.

I have been working till
12:00, 1:00 in the morning.

It's too much.

Electricity bill.
Telephone bill.

Rates. Gas bill.

Yasmeen is getting married.

Shazia will be next.
We need the money.

What about all the work you do
helping people at the masjid?

Why don't you ask them
to pay you?

I cannot do that.

You spend time looking
at houses you can't buy,

sort out
your friends' mortgages.

And what do you get out of that?

What will people say, huh,

if they thought I was doing it
for the money?

[KATHY] There.

So, what are we doing?

- Hmm.
- Right, 20 it is.

Okay, I'll go and get
another seven, yeah?

Javed.

You are my only son.

I need you to do more.

But, Dad,
there's no jobs out there.

We have to try, beta.

My dream was to come here
and work hard for my family.

We can't give up now.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER WALKMAN]

I'm sorry, boss.
It's not gonna happen again.

[FOREMAN] Don't do it again.

Have you got any jobs?

Javed, son, no weekend work,
no part-time, nothing.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

- Sorry. Yeah?
- Yeah.

You got yourself
a girlfriend yet?

[GIRLS GIGGLE]

What are you doing with those?

Help yourself.

[JAVED GASPS]

[ROOPS] You should try telesales.

You could be anyone
on the phone.

They don't know
if you're Tom, Dick or Ali.

I'll try anything.
My dad really needs cash.

Do you, uh, know what you want?

- Tea.
- How do you like it?

Sweet, like my girls.

[EXHALES]

[CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

Do you know
what I think helped Bruce

deal with a shitty life?

Girls.

- Girls were his salvation.
- Oh, yeah.

We all need
that kind of salvation.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I wish I could write
about girls like Bruce does.

Listen, life ain't
no Springsteen song.

If we end up with a girl

with less facial hair
than Chewbacca,

- we'll have done well, yeah?
- [BOTH LAUGH]

Hey, uh, I got you this.

Go on. Move.

There's loads of seats free.

Well, this is our table now.

Or do we need to move you Pakis?

[WHISTLING] Get up.

- Come on.
- [LAD 1] Off you go.

Quickly.

- Good boy.
- Thank you very much. Move.

Oi, oi, oi. No, no, no.

Move over there, mate,
all right?

I can still bloody smell you
from here,

- all right?
- [LAD 2 LAUGHS]

Go on, move. Quickly. Thank you.

[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]

We should have said something.

We can't just take it.

Where's the tape?

I don't care
if I told you it before.

No, you carry on, mate.

What are you doing, mate?

Is this a...
Is this a special Paki film?

- [LADS LAUGH]
- Huh?

Is this the number one
Paki film, eh?

- Give it back.
- Bruce Springsteen?

He doesn't sound like a Paki,
does he?

Oi!

♪ For the ones
Who had a notion ♪

♪ A notion deep inside ♪

[JAVED VOCALIZING]

[BOTH VOCALIZING]

I mean, it's got the elegance
of Lady Diana

and the earthy sensuality
of Tina Turner.

And of course,
there's not many women...

I've been door to door
to every store in the Arndale.

Do you reckon your dad
could give me a job?

You're not dropping out,
are you?

No way.
But my dad's been laid off.

Dad, uh, J's been looking
for a Saturday job.

Can you help him out?

I'm sorry, J. Business is down.

I'll do anything.

Lug boxes around,
put up the stall, clear it up.

I'm really desperate.

All right, start Saturday,

but I'm not
paying you a lot, eh?

Now, what you got there?

This guy is incredible.

You've never heard
lyrics like his.

Is that Billy Joel?

Billy Joel? You plonker.
That is Bruce.

God, you try and raise
your kids right, J.

I was there, son.
1981, Wembley Arena.

- Row T. The River Tour.
- Oh.

Don't go writing me songs
like him, J.

- He's too...
- Old school?

No, American.

Listen, I can't be dealing
with all that, you know,

"Born in the USA,"
Stars and Stripes shit.

Surprised you're into it, mate.

Actually, that song's about

the desperate plight
of Vietnam veterans

who were treated really badly
when they came home.

- You tell him, son.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

[SINGING]

Yeah?

- [LAUGHING] Got you.
- [JAVED] See you later.

Saturday, mate.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

[MATT] Come on, mate.
What you doing?

You cannot be serious, mate.

You can't sell clothes on
the stall dressed like that,

dressed like him.

God.

[EXHALES]

Here, what's that?

- University prospectus.
- Yeah, but it's in Manchester.

It's got a brilliant English
and creative writing course.

I'm gonna do it.
I'm gonna be a writer.

But your dad, he won't
even let you cross the road

to come to mine for a party.

You know Manchester's

200 fricking miles away,
don't you?

[TURNS OFF MUSIC]

"Someday, man, I don't know when"

We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go

We'll walk in the sun

But till then, tramps like us

"Baby, we were born to run."

Did you write that?

I've told you before,
your lyrics are rubbish, mate.

That didn't even rhyme.

[ELIZA] Do you want to have

- a Red Wedge?
- [WOMAN] Fantastic.

[ELIZA] We've got a gig on Friday.

Hey.

Right, hold on to that
for a minute, J.

[ELIZA] Can I give you a leaflet, please?

- J.
- [ELIZA] Free Nelson Mandela.

[FOLK ROCK MUSIC PLAYING OVER WALKMAN]

Javed. Wake up, mate.

RIGHT, IMPORTANT:
as soon as you've hung it,

make sure there's no creases
and just hang it nice

so people can walk up to it
and just have a go.

Oh, look at that. The quality.
Look at how beautiful that is.

[ELIZA] Would you like a leaflet?

We've got a Red Wedge gig
on Friday.

[SINGING ALONG]

Red Wedge! Red Wedge!

Javed.

[BOTH SINGING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

- Whoo!
- [CROWD APPLAUDS]

[MATT'S DAD] That's what
you call real music,

not the sort of shite my son
sits listening to in his room.

Now, look, you're a clever boy.

Educate him.

[JAVED] He's beyond help.

He thinks synths are the future.

[BOTH SNICKERING]

He's a handsome boy, but
he's not happy. Look at him.

Oh, here we go.

Look, son, don't get the hump

just because your mate's
got taste in music.

[MATT] Thanks for standing up
for me, mate.

Here, J, J, leave him.

We got customers to serve.
Come on.

Now, then, ladies...

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[JAVED] Matt.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

[MATT] Go away, Javed.
You've really pissed me off.

[SLOW-TEMPO ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[MALIK] What is this nonsense?

What kind of economics is this?

It's about the music business.

Why do you have to listen
to music while studying?

It's no good.

Have you forgotten why I want
you to get an education?

To broaden my mind,
learn about the world,

be inspired
to make a difference?

No. To get a good job,

so you don't end up
driving a taxi

like every other Pakistani
in this town.

Ever since
you've been following this

American Jewish man,
you've changed.

- He's not Jewish.
- He's not Pakistani either.

Promise me one thing.

I want you to give
all this haram nonsense up.

Do it for me.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Listen to me, beta. [SIGHS]

I'm not
your typical Pakistani father

who says you must be a doctor.

I'm saying lawyer,
accountant, estate agent.

I am giving you freedom, see?

♪ Till some day
They just cut it loose ♪

♪ Cut it loose
Or let it drag 'em down ♪

♪ Where no one asks
Any questions ♪

♪ Or looks too long in your face ♪

♪ In the darkness
On the edge of town ♪

♪ In the darkness
In the edge of town ♪

Congratulations.

Look, you got your name
in the paper.

They spelt my name wrong.

You could just change
your name to Jared.

[CHUCKLES]

Do you fancy some lunch?

I've never seen anyone
so committed.

I always see you
handing out flyers.

Miss Clay was right,

it is hard getting students
interested in politics.

So, are you gonna
help me with these or what?

We don't want that witch
winning a fourth election.

If I hand those out,

will you go out with me?

Yes.

But... I get to pick
where we're going.

[MAN] ♪ R-A-C-l-S-T ♪

♪ F-A-S-C-l-S-T ♪

[ELIZA] Wasn't that great?

I love a good anti-fascist gig.

How come
you're so political, then?

- Um... My parents, I guess.
- So, what, they're activists?

Uh-uh. No. They are
"no society" Tory traitors.

[CHUCKLES]
And I thought mine were bad.

Someone in our family
has to have principles.

I don't get on much
with my dad either.

I don't really get on
with anyone in my family.

Except my sister, Shazia.

Well, it's good to not fit in.

If you did, you'd never
want to leave home.

[CHUCKLES]
I've applied to Manchester.

'Cause of The Smiths?

'Cause it's four hours
from Luton.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'm not sure
if I'll be able to go.

My dad's on the dole,

goes to the job center
every day in his suit.

I kind of feel selfish

thinking about going off to uni

when he'll be struggling
at home.

Well, you can't live your life
for your dad.

You don't know
many Pakistanis, do you?

We only live for our parents.

You lot all go off
and leave home.

- We do the opposite.
- [CHUCKLES]

Talking of which,
I should probably get going.

Bye.

[WALKMAN CLICKS]

So, that's the end
of our first date?

[MUSIC PLAYING OVER HEADPHONES]

I don't wanna go.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

"You want it, you take it,
you pay the price."

What does that mean?

Bruce Springsteen.

You do know Ronald Reagan
listens to him, right?

[CHUCKLES] He's incredible.
Political, compassionate.

Just listen to the words.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SINGING ALONG] ♪ But if dreams came true,
well wouldn't that be nice ♪

♪ But this ain't no dream,
we're living through the night ♪

♪ Girl you want it,
you take it, you pay the price ♪

I like it.

But what does it mean?

It means I'm staying.

[SINGING ALONG] ♪ Baby,
tie your hair back in a long white bow ♪

♪ Meet me in the fields
out behind the dynamo ♪

♪ You hear their voices
telling you not to go ♪

♪ They've made their choices
and they'll never know ♪

♪ What it means to steal, to cheat, to lie
What it's like to live and die ♪

[JAVED] "In my dreams,
I am holding you tight."

You are all I ever wanted,

such a magical sight.

I feel a buzz of electricity
from my feet to fingertips,

When I try to imagine
kissing your beautiful lips.

You light up my life,

give me a reason for being born,

A flash of lightning
in a midnight storm,

A gust of wind
that lifts me off my feet,

A summer ray that radiates heat.

Every minute I'm with you
feels divine

"And makes me wish
you could be mine."

[ROOPS] You kissed her.

[LAUGHING] You kissed her. Yeah!

But wait. Is she a Bruce fan?

Not yet, but I'm working on it.

There are 600 people
like Eliza in this college

who know nothing
about the real Bruce.

We have to do something
about that. Come on.

- [POP MUSIC PLAYING]
- You want a radio show?

Yes.

We have an Asian music show
already, so...

We don't wanna do an Asian show.

Just 'cause
we're a couple of Pakis,

you think we'd be asking
to play more bhangra.

[CHUCKLES]

So what do you want?

A show that plays
only Bruce Springsteen.

[SCOFFS] Nothing but Springsteen?

That's your idea?

Bruce has a lot to say
to students in this college.

How will they know there's
something better out there

if they don't hear it?

Look at the calendar over there,

the Cutting Crew one.

Can you see what year it is?

It's 1987.

My job is to play music

that the students
will connect to, yeah?

That means Bros.
That means Curiosity.

And, yes,
that even means Debbie Gibson.

But Springsteen,

he's more
what your dad listens to.

Not my dad.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- Hey.
- Hey.

- All right?
- Yeah.

Kevin, move up.

- Hi.
- Hey.

I liked my poem this morning.

I couldn't sleep.

Was it another gem from Bruce?

No. It's mine.

You wrote that for me?

[DOOR OPENS]

Javed, your article on how
Springsteen inspires you...

Too much adulation?

It was personal, passionate.

I could hear you shouting
off the page.

I have a friend at the Herald.

I could contact her,

see if she might be able
to find you

some work experience over there.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[MS. CLAY] Right, Return of the Native.

EUSTACIA VYE: victim or villain?

[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

[JAVED BREATHING HEAVILY]

[ROCK MUSIC BLARING OVER SPEAKERS]

[SINGING ALONG]

What's going on here?

Hey! Where were you?
Why is that playing?

What are you doing?

Get out of here! Go on!
Get off my pitch!

- [SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]
- Calm down. Calm down.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[WOMAN] I'll tell your mother!

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪ One, two, three, four! ♪

Get away from here.

[JAVED AND ROOPS VOCALIZING]

[ELIZA LAUGHS]

[CONTINUES VOCALIZING]

[REPORTER] Tensions are
running high in Bury Park

where a pig's head
was found hanging

from a minaret
here at Luton Mosque.

Witnesses say two men were seen

climbing up the minaret
this morning

to place the pig's head
before morning prayer.

[ELIZA] I should go. Sorry.

[REPORTER] ...and the police are doing

all they can to support them

in light of this shocking event.

This incident comes the same day

as the extreme-right
National Front

has announced their plan
for a march

through the streets of Luton.

No date for the march
has been confirmed yet,

but all police leave
has been canceled.

[FRANCES] Well, I hope
we're all hungry.

I had hoped
Eliza might change for dinner,

but can't have it all.

[ELIZA] Mum, stop fussing.

- Ah.
- Garlic bread.

- Oh, lovely.
- Here we all are.

- Good.
- Lovely.

So where shall we sit,
darling? [CLEARS THROAT]

Um, well, why don't I
go at the head here?

- And, Frances, you go there.
- I'll pop here.

Yes, that's it.
And then you go either side.

- Sit yourself down.
- [ROBERT] Mmm.

I'll just place
the garlic bread...

- On the table.
- Here.

- Lovely.
- It is so lovely to meet you.

Eliza's very picky
on who she brings home.

Yes, she picks the boys

she thinks we're going to find
the most shocking.

[CHUCKLES] Politics.

It's very personal for
our Eliza. Isn't it, Princess?

The only thing shocking, Dad,
is your bigotry

towards anybody who isn't white,

- middle class and true blue.
- Ooh. [CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

You'll have to forgive Eliza.

Sometimes I'm not sure how
we raised such a firebrand.

Do you remember the one
with the eyeliner

- and the daisies?
- Oh!

- [CHUCKLES] Do you remember?
- He so wanted to be Morrissey.

Then there was the colored
fellow with the dreadlocks.

No one says "colored"
anymore, Dad.

No?

With Eliza,
it's the more provocative

- the better.
- [ROBERT] Mmm-hmm.

Well, what's provocative
about Javed?

[FRANCES] Hmm.

Javed doesn't drink.
He's a Muslim.

It's against
their religion, Dad.

Well, have a little bit,
see how you go.

We won't tell anyone if
you don't. Right. [CHUCKLES]

[FRANCES CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

[MRS. ANDERSON] You broke into
the college radio station

and you played a record
of your choice.

We're very sorry, miss.

You see my problem, don't you?

[JAVED] Please don't expel us.

I need my A-Levels.

Yeah, we're very sorry, miss.

So, what I'm going to do...

you will promise, promise,

never to do it again,

and that, I hope,
will be the end of that.

Is that it? [CHUCKLES]

They vandalized my studio.

They scratched
my Tiffany record.

[MRS. ANDERSON]
Oh, please, Colin. Tiffany?

Even I know
Tiffany's not all that.

[PHONE RINGING]

Judith Anderson's
mobile telephone.

Okay. Right, run along.
Yes, hello.

This is my mobile telephone.

Could you call
on the office line?

It just turns out this is
just much too expensive.

[WHISPERS] Bruce.

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON RADIO]

[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

I'm sorry, mate.
I ain't got no change.

I've been offered a job at
the Herald for the holidays.

How much will they pay you?

They won't.
It's work experience.

They want you to work
for no money?

The deputy editor thinks
I can write.

It's a great opportunity.

How is it a great opportunity

when they're making you work
and not giving you any money?

Dad, I want to be a writer.

- Writing isn't a job.
- It can be.

Name me one Pakistani writer.
Just one.

Writing is for English people
with rich parents.

But this is the chance to do
something I really want to do.

"I"? What is this "I"?

Everyone else is making money.

Mum, Yasmeen, Shazia.

The only one who isn't is you.

I don't wanna go and be
an estate agent

when I've got the chance to do
something I really want to do.

- Get out.
- What?

You will not talk to your
father like this. Get out.

[STARTS ENGINE]

The biggest mistake I made
was coming to this country.

I didn't ask you to come here!

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

[HORN HONKS]

[SONG PLAYING ON CAR STEREO]

- [MAN 1] There we go.
- [MATT] Nice one. Cheers, boys.

- [MAN 1] Come on, then.
- [MAN 2] All right.

[MATT] I'll, uh, see youse later.

You, mate, need to
start practicing, seriously.

Because we're all putting
the work in.

- [JAVED] Matt.
- It was good. Come on.

Matt.

That was all right, wasn't it?

What time are youse
coming round tomorrow?

- [MAN 2] 10:00.
- Matt.

Just had band practice?

Look, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to upset you.

Can we just forget it
and move on?

Let's forget
who stood up for you at school

when you were called
a dirty Paki.

Let's forget who's been trying
their hardest

to get you a girl,

get you a life.

And now you think you're it
with this college

and your Bruce philosophies
on life,

you think you can shit
all over me.

Well, if you strip that away,
you're still sad Javed,

whose dad picks on him
just like mine does on me.

See you later, boys.

[MAN 1]
Right, see you later, Matt.

[MAN 2] Take care, mate.

[MAN 3] Get in.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

I suppose you heard that.

[SONG PLAYING ON CAR STEREO]

All I'm trying to do
is stand up for myself,

stop doing what others want

and do what I want for a change.

Good friends
deserve to be listened to.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I'm sorry.

You're right,
I have been up myself.

Your music is just as great
'cause it speaks to you and...

- You're a wanker. [SIGHS]
- I know.

Sorry.

About the finding me
a girl bit...

At least you don't have to
help me with that.

What?

You got a girlfriend

and you didn't even
bloody tell me!

[CHUCKLING]
You jammy little sod.

Well, at least
I can finally expect

some decent bloody lyrics
from you.

[LAUGHS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING ON RECORD]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Everyone's out.

So it's just you and me.

And Bruce.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[ELIZA GIGGLES]

[DOOR RATTLES]

- Shazia.
- [SHAZIA] Um...

[STAMMERS]
I forgot my textbook and...

You owe me.

- [CHUCKLES]
- [DOOR CLOSES]

Can I ask you something?

What?

Are you doing this
to shock your parents?

You honestly think I'm thinking

about my parents right now?

'Cause I just want you to know

that I'm absolutely fine
with that.

[ELIZA CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

Do you know
what time it is, mate?

Here's your lyrics.

You should thank my girlfriend.

[LAUGHS]

You little devil.

Get in here. Get in, come in.

I wanna know all the details.
Come on.

I can't. I've promised
to take my sister to a gig.

[MATT] Gig?

At 8:00 in the morning?

[JAVED] This is
a really big favor, Shazia.

[SHAZIA] I know,
but she's worth it, right?

She's really pretty too.

Anyway, are you sure
these lot's parents

don't know
they've bunked off school

to hit a nightclub
at 10:00 in the morning?

Are you sure you're even Asian?

I can't believe you've never
heard of a daytimer before.

[UPBEAT PUNJABI SONG
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

Jesus, Shazia.

You look like
a Pakistani Madonna.

Thank God Mum and Dad
can't see you.

That's what's so perfect
about daytimers.

- We get to be us. Come on.
- [CHUCKLES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SPRINGSTEEN OVER WALKMAN]

[PUNJABI SONG CONTINUES PLAYING]

[DJ] Big round of applause.

And for the Asian
Michael Jackson, Johnny Zee.

Now, I got a fresh cut coming in

straight off the press
in Southall.

They've got the best hair
in the West.

- It's Heera.
- [ALL CHEERING]

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

Come along. Keep moving.
Yeah, thanks for coming. Yeah.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Can I have an NME, please?

- There you go.
- Thanks.

Thank you.

[MAN] Hello, young lady,
how can I help?

[GIRL] Can I have
a Kit Kat, please?

[MAN] That's 20 pence, please.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

Thanks.

We're so even now.

What's his name?

- Kaleem.
- How long have you known him?

15 months.

15 months?

He goes to the boys' school
down the road.

Shazia, you are good.

I didn't even know
you could dance.

[BOTH LAUGH]

It's the only time
I can forget life.

When I'm dancing,
I block out the world.

I know what you mean.

And this is what you do

in your own
crazy gora rock world.

He's coming.

Bruce. Wembley Stadium.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

You know,
unless Bruce does a daytimer,

you know there's no way
you're going, don't you?

I am going. I have to.

Hi. It's Javed, right?

Yes. You want tea?

You're Muslim, right?

Yeah. I can still stay, right?

Can you speak Urdu?

- I'm not fluent.
- That's more than me.

Come on. Got a story to cover
at the mosque.

And no one's gonna talk to me.

The mosque?

People are calling
for it to be closed down.

You can help
get your lot's version over.

If you're lucky, you might get
your first byline.

There. This is making you
look like a young man.

Am I looking like

- the handsome man you married?
- Shh!

Don't talk like that.

Sit still. I have to get back
to my sewing.

[MALIK SOBBING]

Why cry?
This is a happy time now.

What happy?

I have failed you and Yasmeen.

I cannot even pay
for the wedding.

You have to slave

on that sewing machine
morning till night.

What happened?

It wasn't meant to be like this.

Chup, be quiet.

You are the head of this family.

No one cares for us like you do,

and no one has been
a better father to Yasmeen.

We will have
the best wedding party.

You'll see.

Hmm?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Let me show you.

[ALL SPEAKING IN URDU]

[IN ENGLISH] Shaz, I need your help.

Bruce tickets go on sale today.

What, now?

I'll come back quickly.
It's only down the road.

I'll meet you at the venue.

If I don't go now,
they might sell out.

Okay, fine. I'll cover for you.

Where did you get
the money anyway?

Dad takes all the wages.

The Herald paid me
for my article,

but I never told Dad.

Oh, God, Shazia,
you're making me feel bad.

[WOMAN]
Look at the beautiful bride.

[MALIK] That's what a bride
should look like, Mr. Shah.

[MAN] Princess of Bury Park!

You should go. You might never
get to see Bruce again. Go.

[MALIK SPEAKS PUNJABI]

[MALIK IN ENGLISH] Go and sit
down in your car, ladies.

Come on, everyone,
quickly, in your cars.

We're going to be late
otherwise, let's go.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

We are going
to a wedding there, Officer.

- You'll have to wait, sir.
- [MALIK] What's going on?

We need to get
to the community center.

My daughter is getting married.

[ALL CHANTING] If they're black,

send them back!

[ALL SHOUTING]

[OFFICER] Just move over to
the side there for me, please.

Move over, please.

- [NOOR] Beti.
- Mum.

Stay here.

[OFFICER] Just move over to the side.

[MALIK] We have to get
to the community center.

[CROWD SHOUTING]

- Nazis!
- Educate yourself!

Pakis out! Pakis out!

If they're black, send 'em back!

Smash the National Front down!

[MAN] Traitor!

Smash the National Front!

Bruce Springsteen.
Do you still have tickets?

Please tell me
you still have tickets.

We haven't sold any yet, J.

Oh. Two, please.

That's 40 quid.

It's all there.

Thanks.

[MALIK] Saleem, what are
you doing? Come back.

Oi, move!
What are you playing at?

We've got to get to a wedding.

[MALIK] Saleem!

[WOMEN EXCLAIM]

[ALL SHOUTING]

Are you okay?

I'm okay.

Go and get him!
Go and get him, quickly!

Where is Javed? Huh? Is he okay?

- [SHAZIA] You're bleeding.
- [MALIK] Where's Javed?

- [SHAZIA] Javed?
- [MALIK] Javed?

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[MALIK] Javed?

[SPEAKING IN URDU]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[NOOR] You should
take it off now.

Let me fix it for you properly.

Ah, leave it.

Yasmeen looked so beautiful,
didn't she, Mum?

- Thank God she liked the boy.
- He liked her too.

I saw him sneak smiles
at her a lot.

See? Those thugs
couldn't spoil our day.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[MR. EVANS]
You've hit the jackpot.

Thank you.

Mr. Khan.

He's only gone
and bloody done it.

Front-page credit.

[CHUCKLES]

Congratulations, son.

You're on your way.

[MALIK]
On Yasmeen's wedding day?

You're washing
your dirty clothes in public.

You think that this is
a good thing to do?

What do you know about Islam?

I was just trying
to protect the mosque.

I thought you'd be proud of me
writing in the paper

like Mr. Evans is.

Proud?

You think bringing attention
to us will make me feel proud?

I was giving us a voice,
telling our story.

We should keep our heads down.

Your head is full
of big ideas, above you.

This is all to do
with this Jewish singer.

He isn't Jewish, Dad.

Your son has lost his mind,

listening to this man's bakwaas.

- Dad, just listen to me.
- You listen to me. Huh?

Do you think that this man
sings for people like us?

But he talks to me.

He's coming to London,
and I'm gonna go see him.

He's doing a concert,
and I'm going.

Where did you get the money
to buy these tickets?

I earned it, at the Herald.

You told me
that they didn't pay you.

Your mother has been working
night and day for this wedding

and you had money to waste?

This has gone too far.
Give me those tickets.

No! They're mine. It's my money.

I can't wait
to get away from here.

I want to go to university.

You will go to university
in Luton.

Luton doesn't even have
a university,

but Manchester University,
they want me.

You will not go to Manchester.
You will not go anywhere.

- Give me those tickets.
- No!

I bought them with money
I earned as a writer.

- My words paid for these.
- Give me those tickets!

- No!
- [SHAZIA] No, Dad, stop!

- [JAVED] Dad!
- [SHAZIA] Stop!

[JAVED] Dad, get off me.

[NOOR] Please stop. What are you doing?

What did I say? Huh?

You are not British,
so stop acting like a gora.

You are Pakistani.
You are my son!

[GRUNTS] I don't wanna be your son!

I wanna be more than that!

[SLAMS DOOR]

[ENGINE STALLING]

[SOBBING]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Is your dad okay?

I was there
when he got knocked down.

Where were you?

I didn't know the date of
the march had changed.

I went to get tickets
to the Bruce concert.

Your dad could have been
seriously hurt.

You should have been there.

Who goes to buy concert tickets

on a family wedding day?

Ah. So now
I've upset you as well.

Sorry for thinking
about myself for once.

[SCOFFS] Stop being a prat.

You know what?

There's no point.

- In what?
- In this.

Us. It can't mean anything.
You understand?

- No, I don't.
- I mean, my family...

Javed, stop making your family
your excuse for everything.

[KEVIN] That jumper is awful.

- [LAUGHTER]
- [MS. CLAY] Javed.

Sorry, I know this probably
isn't the best time,

but I gave your essay,

"An American Dream in Luton,"
to the principal,

and I sent it
into a competition.

Why?

Because it's good.

You'll never guess what.
You only went and bloody won.

Excuse me?

They picked ten young writers
out of thousands

and you are on the list.

Don't you wanna know
what you've won?

Not really.

Only a trip to Monmouth College.

They run a prestigious
writing competition

and I thought that they would
appreciate your sentiments

on a local luminary.

You do know where
Monmouth College is, right?

New Jersey, USA.

You'll only be a few miles
away from Asbury Park

where your great hero grew up.

They should give the prize
to someone who can go.

What?

My dad will never
let me go to America.

Right. Act III, Scene IV.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[SPEAKS URDU]

I won a contest.

[SCOFFS]

You won something? That's good.

For writing.

If you won, you must have
worked hard. That's good.

The prize is

I get to attend a conference
at Monmouth College.

- Where's that?
- New Jersey, America.

I won out of
thousands of students.

America is unsafe.
There's drugs, gangs...

There's plenty of drugs
and gangs in Luton.

In America, no one cares
where you're from.

Anyone can do
what they wanna do.

They don't even know
what Pakistanis are.

Everything that is bad
about England

- is even worse in America.
- No, Dad.

Everything that's good
in Britain

is even better in America.

The music, the TV,
the possibilities.

I wanna taste it all for myself.

It's too dangerous
and you're too young.

How old were you
when you left Pakistan?

What did your dad say?

That's different.

I'm going, Dad.

I have to.

If you disrespect my wishes
and walk out of that door...

don't come back.

[NOOR] Javed.

Beta.

[DOOR THUDS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

[NOOR] Beta.

[SONG CONTINUES]

[MALIK SIGHS]

[PASSPORT OFFICIAL] Next.

Purpose of your visit?

I'm going to a conference
at Monmouth College.

I won a prize to attend.

But that's not my main purpose.

I'm going to Asbury Park
with my friend

to see Bruce Springsteen's
hometown.

Excuse me?

Hey, Billy. Check this guy out.

He's come all this way

because him and his buddy
are Bruce fans.

I can't think of a better reason

to visit the United States

than to see
the home of The Boss.

Next.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGING]

Saturday night
in The Stone Pony,

where it all began
for the great man.

[SPRINGSTEEN SINGS ON TV]

[NOOR] Shazia spoke to Javed.
He's back from America.

He's living
with his Sikh friend.

- You have to make it better.
- I have to make it better?

He disobeyed me.

When you left home,

your parents begged you
to stay in Karachi,

so why did you go?

I wanted a better life
for my family.

You thought
you knew better than them.

He just wants to study
to be a writer

for a few years in Manchester.

You were leaving Pakistan
for good.

I let you come here
because I trusted you.

Can you not trust your own son?

If you don't try
to fix this now,

we will lose our son for good,

and if that happens,
I will never forgive you.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[SCOFFS]

[DOOR OPENS]

Huh. "Father and Son"?

- [SNIFFLES]
- Mrs. Khan?

I'm friends with Javed.

[MRS. ANDERSON]
Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to
a very special evening,

celebrating the very best
of Luton Sixth Form College.

Please do stay around
afterwards for a reception.

The Chardonnay and Twiglets

- will be flowing.
- [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

And now I would like to begin
with Javed Khan

reading an extract from

"A Runaway American Dream
in Luton."

- [APPLAUSE]
- Exciting. Whoops.

Dad, listen to this, yeah?

Thanks.

Bruce Springsteen was,

to quote the album
he is most famous for,

born in the USA,

but he has fans around
the world, including me.

I was not born in the USA,

and I grew up not in
Asbury Park, New Jersey,

but Bury Park, Luton.

But the reason
I connected with Springsteen

is because what he sings about
and champions

are not only American values

but are the best of
human values.

He talks about working hard
and holding on to your dreams

and not letting the hardness
of the world stop you

from letting
the best of you slip away.

In these words, I see a bridge
between Springsteen

- and my own Asian upbringing.
- [DOOR OPENS]

[TEACHER WHISPERS]
Just this way.

And that is why
the music and values

of Springsteen's American dream

can reach
and touch a boy from...

I'm sorry. I don't know
if I can read this.

You can. Go on.

When I wrote it,
I really believed

every word, but now...

A lot has happened
since I wrote those words.

Then I thought

Bruce Springsteen was the answer

and all I had to do
was live by his words.

I don't think
that's true anymore.

Bruce Springsteen
got out of New Jersey

by following his dream.

BRUCE SINGS:

"If dreams came true,
well, wouldn't that be nice?"

But this ain't no dream
we're living through tonight.

"If you want it, you take it
and you pay the price."

SO THE QUESTION I'M ASKING IS:
can I pay that price?

I know having dreams
doesn't make me a bad son.

I also know that everything I am

is because of the sacrifices
my mum and dad made.

My dad's not a typical dad.

We don't have
[SNIFFS] jokey chats.

He's not like the dad
you see on telly.

A lot of the time he seems
pretty angry at the world.

I think Bruce Springsteen
would understand my dad,

'cause, like his father,

they both came
from poor backgrounds,

both worked hard in factories,

both had dreams
that never came true,

which left them angry.

And they both had sons

who wanted the chance
to make them proud.

Bruce has a song called
"Blinded by the Light,"

and when I first heard it,
I thought it was about love

and being blinded by the love

we might have for a girl
or money.

But last night
I listened to it again,

and Bruce is saying
so much more.

I was blinded by the light

when I first heard Springsteen,

because I was only thinking,
in that moment,

about Springsteen and me.

But we're not all
just individuals.

We have friends,

and family,

and what they think does matter.

Success without them
isn't really success.

Being blinded
meant I couldn't see

how much I am like my dad
and my dad is like me.

And as much as I wanted
to leave Luton,

[SNIFFLES] I understand
that it will never leave me.

Bruce says no one wins
unless everybody wins.

My hope is to build a bridge
to my ambitions,

but not a wall
between my family and me.

That's my dream.

My American dream.

In Luton.

[APPLAUSE]

[WHOOPS]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Bravo.

I'm so sorry.

I've missed you like mad.

"Like a river that don't know
where it's flowing,"

you took a wrong turn
and you just kept going.

"But everybody's got
a hungry heart."

Everybody's got a hungry heart.

You told my family, didn't you?

Thank you.

Now go and speak to your dad.

[NOOR] Beta.

- I'm so proud of you.
- Thanks. Here, take this.

- Shaz.
- You did so good.

Well done. I'll get you a drink.

Hello. Hi.
You must be Javed's father.

You should be so proud of Javed.

Thanks, Miss Clay,
for everything.

Oh! Well, you did the work.
You're the writer.

[MALIK] Son...

This Bruce Springsteen,
are you sure he's American?

Yes. And not Jewish.

I read his songs.
He said work hard,

don't give up,
respect your parents.

This man must be Pakistani.

[ALL LAUGH]

Son, write your stories, yes.

But don't forget ours.

Hmm?

Come.

[MALIK CHUCKLES]

- All packed?
- Yeah.

I've made some food for you.

Mum, I meant to give you this.

It's amazing
what a good price I got

for my Bruce collection.

I can easily replace that.

[SNIFFLES]

[CHUCKLES]

[SNIFFLES]

Beta.

[SNIFFLES]

[MATT] J! J!

Mate. Hot off the press.

New demo.
Listen, thanks for the lyrics.

Plenty more
where they came from.

Right, I'm off
for a sound check.

Here, I'll try and wing you

some free tickets
when we go on tour, yeah?

- See you later.
- See you later, mate.

Oi.

[CHUCKLES]

This is it.

- Me in Manchester.
- Me and Leicester.

"We're gonna get to that place."

"Where we really wanna go."

"We'll walk in the sun."

[BOTH] Bruce!

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'm gonna miss you.

Come on, Dad. Let's go.

- [NOOR] Drive carefully.
- [MALIK RESPONDS IN URDU]

Wait.

- You drive.
- [CHUCKLES]

[STARTS ENGINE]

[HINDI SONG PLAYING ON STEREO]

[SONG STOPS]

[SPRINGSTEEN SONG PLAYING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Ready? Let's go.

[SONG CONTINUES]