Original subtitles

Good night, sweetheart.

All my prayers are for you.

Good night, sweetheart.

I'll be watching over you. Tears and

cotton may make us more lonely.

But we'll be gone.

My one -length swimming certificate.

Hey, Gary, in 1972, I swam 25 yards.

Never done it since, mind. Well, there's no need, is there? How many

certificates do I want?

So, you're leaving me too. Very poignant.

First, my wife ejects me from the marital home so she can more freely

another. I move in here, your wife goes to Korea, and now you're off too.

A more sensitive person might be getting quite depressed about now.

This trip isn't my idea, I can assure you.

Phoebe wants me to meet her grandmother, and if she's the only one left on her

mother's side, I could hardly say no.

So, now it's off to Liverpool on the train.

Yeah, but not now, in 1942.

It was cheaper back then, and interestingly enough, it was just as

Now, come on, be useful. Do you know about northern pastes? What would

Liverpudlian grandmother in 1942?

Twenty park drive and a crate of Guinness.

What kind of tie?

She wouldn't care about the tie as long as you had the park drive and the

Guinness.

The green one.

So, it's off to the pool.

Give my regards to Life Street.

Send my love to the Pierhead.

Make a wish of... Leave it out, Ron, for God's sake.

Oh, it's a magic city, Gary. There's nowhere quite like it.

He couldn't wait to get out of there.

What is it about you northerners, always waxing lyrical about places you

wouldn't be found dead in?

He'll be there in 1942.

Did you know, Gary, 54 years ago this week, my grandad was elevated to hero

status.

As witnessed by the Liverpool Echo.

Albert Wheatcroft of Union Street.

Carried the child from the blazing building.

Your grandad? My grandad.

Grandad Wheatcroft. A legend in his own time.

You know, sometimes when the self -esteem's on the slide, I take out that

particular clip just to remind me what a Wheatcroft are made of.

Pics of old newspaper.

Hey, you said that Phoebe's family were from Walton.

That's Grandad's old stomping ground.

I know it's a long shot, but if you should meet him, buy him a drink from

Oh, sure. Yeah.

No, it's all right, mate. This one's on Ron, your unborn grandson.

In fact, he isn't even conceived yet, but you can't knock his generosity, can

you?

And could you give him this?

I think he'll appreciate it.

Oh, what is it?

A small Melton Mowbray.

Are you out of your mind?

Nobody goes time travelling with a pork pie.

That's got to be the quickest way to get salmonella.

Last thing at night, double lock the back door and put the cat out.

You don't have a cat, Phoebe.

Do you want me to borrow one?

Put the light out, Reg.

Light?

I'm just nervous, Reg.

I mean, Liverpool.

I've never been that far.

We will be all right, won't we?

Boy, you never know. You hear some terrible stories.

While we're doing the force, there was one just the other week.

Ooh, yeah.

Funny enough, it happened in Liverpool.

Thank you, Rach. I was looking for some comfort.

You're going to need a lot of that where you're going.

Yes. Thank you, Rach.

Do you know they've had 500 air raids there?

500!

I think I'll unpack. I'm not so sure about this now. No, you go, love. You

yourself.

Gary! Hi.

Sorry I'm late.

Everything all right? It should be. I've given Reg a list this time.

Gary, who persuaded you to wear that tie?

A friend.

A friend who wants to see you hanging from the rafters of McMichael's

They won't even serve gin and lime in there.

Haven't you got an orange one?

I'll get the packed lunch.

Attack lunch?

Does this mean we've predated the British Rail sandwich?

Eh? No, nothing like that.

So, how's the marital strife? Oh, much the same.

Well, no, matter of fact, it's worse.

Last week I threatened to withdraw all marital rights.

Is that funny?

Well, my Minnie couldn't stop laughing.

Shackling about that for days she was.

I don't understand women, Gary.

I know, Reg, you're famous for it.

Still, never mind. You've got the spare room here while we're away. Spot a

police leave?

You could be living like a single man again.

Yeah, that's right.

I could iron me shirts the way I like them.

Go for it, Tiger.

Are we ready, then? Off into the great unknown?

Liverpool has been mapped, Phoebe. They do speak English.

Well, after a fashion.

Good luck, Reg. Good luck.

And give my regards to... Salome Street, yes, I know. I was going to say Arthur

Askey, but suit yourselves.

Come in, come in.

Sit down, sit down.

Make yourself comfy.

Oh, it's lovely to see you, Phoebe.

So, this is your Barry.

Oh, Gary.

Gary, is that right?

Or whatever will they think of next?

Is it American, like Gary Cooper?

Or Italian, like Gary Baldy.

Gary's a Londoner, born and bred.

Aye, he looks a bit peaky.

He brought me some tea.

Well, I hope you brought something to dip in it. I've got nothing. Up here,

only thing not on points is fresh air. There's not much of that about.

Well, we brought you all our spare coupons.

Oh!

Oh, I knew you'd get yourself a nice young man.

Oh, what a nice young man.

And we also brought you a nice bit of meat.

That's right.

You have a little Jack Russell.

No, no, no, no. He ran away, love. Oh.

Well, as I say, it's a lovely piece of meat. All you have... Meat.

Well, all right. I keep him in the broom cupboard. He hasn't run away. Not yet.

He might have to, though.

The army have taken the Alsatian from the corner house to train him as a guard

dog. and they're calling up all our stations and collies.

It's only a matter of time before they want him.

So what's his name? Jack Russell's don't need a name. They've already got one.

Well, word is they'll be calling up all the lurchers and Afghans next.

All the clever ones.

I'm training them to a daft.

Come on, let's put our things away and take Gran for a drink. Oh, what a good

idea. I'll show you up to your room, Phoebe.

Your room is down the road. You'll be staying with Mr Clary.

Oh.

Oh, it's all right.

Mr Clary's the scoutmaster.

Right.

Well, I'll be prepared.

Remind me again, Phoebe, when exactly did your Donald pass away?

We heard a few days ago.

You decided to get over it quickly.

Life goes on, Gran, I'm sorry, but... Oh, there's nothing to worry about,

Well, your Auntie Alice was the same.

Her Jack was a roofer, fell off a gable end. She was married again before he hit

the deck.

So, what do you think of Gary then?

Has been material.

What's husband material?

Put them in cold water, they all shrink.

Oh, she was fine enough.

Have you tried them?

Have you tried them?

When? I wasn't brought up like that. I was taught to save myself.

Oh, it's all very well being pure as the driven snow.

I was that way when I met your grandad.

I soon could have stopped at hand.

No, you're quite right, landlord. You spotted it. I'm not from round here.

London. Cricklewood.

Oh, I would have said London.

Well, this is my first trip to Liverpool, so I'm on the lookout for

you know. Anything local.

Tram timetables.

Posters. Programmes.

Yeah, programmes. You bet.

The last game I went to see.

Everton versus Liverpool in the World Cup.

The first leg at Anfield. We hammered them 1 -0.

Everton had to change the team at the last minute.

Jonesy played because Plummy Lawton didn't turn up. Or just didn't bother.

No, he probably got on the wrong tram. You know what centipodes are like.

They're all puddles.

So you have tried him then? Gran.

And? And what? Well, was it a glorious gift from God and an everlasting memory

of wonderment?

Or was it like me and your grandad?

Gary's quite... He's fine, Gran. He's fine.

I'll help Gary with the drinks.

There you go.

Oh, and have one for yourself for the programme.

Oh, thanks very much.

Hey, my wife might have a programme.

She went out once.

Gary, what are you doing? Ruining it yourself?

Have you told her everything yet?

I can't tell her about the baby, Gary. I just can't. Why not?

It's partly why we came.

I know.

But she started to talk about Donald and how long he's been dead.

If I tell her how long I've been pregnant, it doesn't sound very good,

No, I suppose not.

All right, we'll leave it out. We'll drop her a line another time.

Here we are.

Chew milk down.

Sit down, Gary.

Can's been asking all about you.

Oh, has she?

Well, we haven't got any secrets from each other, so... I don't believe it.

Albert Wheatcroft.

No secrets, eh?

You would think that in two days' time, you'll be a local hero.

What are you... smirking at, pal.

You looking for something to run under the cold tap?

No, actually, I was looking to buy you a drink.

I don't accept drinks from strange men.

But now I know you better, I'll have a whiskey, say, sir.

Langley Bexham Lodge whiskey for Mr... Albert Wheatclough. Gary Sparrow.

Fivers! You don't see many of them up here.

Who prints them for you, eh?

Do my ears deceive me, or are you from parts other than these?

A threepenny bit says London.

Cricklewood. Really, and I put money on London.

All right, you caught me with that one.

So, what can I sell you?

Well, it's funny you should say that, actually, because a friend of mine's a

of a collector. Gary, I'd like a quick word.

Yeah, two minutes, Phoebe. I'm just doing a bit of business.

That's why I'd like a word. We came up here to see Graham.

Now, where are your men at? Two minutes, Phoebe, I promise.

So this pal of yours, what does he collect?

Oh, you know, odd things.

Odd things?

No problem.

This place is full of them.

He's building up a picture of the war years. You know, he likes tickets,

posters, dig for victory, make do men, that sort of thing.

Hey, Gary, come on.

There's two women sitting on their own over here.

Listen, missus.

All over the world, there are women sitting at tables waiting for their

A lot of those men will never be coming home.

Even though they're only in the pub down the road.

It's only here, love.

Aye, that's what I'm worried about.

I'll be over in a minute, Grant, honest.

Palomine does the printing for the Pavilion Theatre.

He's got a stack of Panto posters.

I've seen them.

Cinderella with Albert Burden and Mavis White.

Albert Burden and Mavis White, eh?

Names they'll remember forever.

Well, here, let me buy you another. Oh, no, go!

Pal, I wouldn't dream of it. Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention,

please? The best of order now.

Best of order. A little bird has told me that someone special is drinking with

us tonight.

Mr. Gary Sparrow.

Thank you very much, Phoebe Banford. He has played the musicals down in London.

Perhaps we should persuade him to play something for us, a beer.

Yeah, go on, Gary. He might have given me some warning.

Sorry, Gary, but I did it for a reason.

I'll explain later.

Well, do I become the first person ever to sing Long Tall Sally in Liverpool, or

shall I... This is a little song I wrote about Liverpool.

Oh!

In Penny Lane there is a barbershop...

Of every head he's had the pleasure to know.

And all the people that come and go stop and say hello.

On the corner is the banker with a motor car.

The little children laugh at him behind his back.

And the banker never wears a mask in the pouring rain.

I should stick to writing songs about London if I were you, pal. It's your

piano. It's that tune.

Call that songwriting.

He's got a one -year -old at home that could write better songs than that.

Isn't that right, Mr Lennon? That's right.

I blame you for this.

She only did it for your own good. That's right, Gary. You were drinking

low life.

Grandpa, he's a villain.

No, he's all right. He's just... He's just gone.

And so's my wallet.

Harry, I don't see the problem. The police caught him and you got your

back. You only lost ten, Bob.

I know, I know. And Wheatcroft is under arrest.

But they reckon he won't be up before the bench until next week.

So? Three cheers. Liverpool will be just that bit safer for a week.

Phoebe, you don't understand.

All this changes things.

Well, I mean, if I hadn't tempted him, you know, flashed my wallet, he'd never

have stolen it.

No, he'd have... stolen your overcoat instead.

He's a thief, Gary. That's what Graham was trying to tell you.

Now stay quiet and don't wake her up. I'll make you some cocoa.

Remember, shh.

If Albert's locked up, that means he can't do his heroic rescue tomorrow.

And if he doesn't do that, it changes everything that follows.

Doesn't it?

Well, who knows?

I've got to talk to Ron.

Phoebe, I've got to pop out tomorrow.

There's somebody I've got to meet.

Where's my shop?

I'm going to see him.

I'm going to see him.

Believe it. Ron!

You left the front door wide open!

Ron?

What's with all the bicycles and... Why

are all the kids stuck?

Ron?

President Thatcher wins five more years.

Ron!

Yvonne, you're back.

Who the hell are you?

It's me, Gary.

Your husband, remember?

Ron! Ron, we've got a nutter in the living room! Ron!

That's not Ron. It's nothing like him. He is never a Ron.

All right, all right, Ron. All right, all right. Take it easy. Ron, just calm

down.

Ron!

Yes, my son?

Well, just go off and leave a girl stranded.

Now, tell me that. I'm not stranded, Gran.

And I've tried to explain.

Gary has secret war work to do. With the likes of Albert Wheatcroft.

Oh, aye. He disappears for days on end, does he? Oh, very hush -hush.

How very convenient.

Well, he certainly puts the wool over your eyes.

No, he does not.

Gary and I have a very honest and straightforward relationship.

Oh, this is bound to be him. See, he even upsets the dog.

You let him in if you must.

Oh, Phoebe, thank God it's you. Thank God you're still here. Of course I'm

here. This is where you left me, waiting.

Look, Phoebe, just... Phoebe, just let me hold you.

Oh, it's just you and me.

You're my whole world now.

You should think so, Gary Sparrow.

You don't say that very often.

Yeah, you're not feeling guilty about something, are you?

You are being honest with me, Gary, because if I thought you'd been

Phoebe, for God's sake, I'm... I'm sorry. Phoebe, I'm sorry. I... Oh, God.

Gary, what is it?

Look, I know your mission's a secret.

I respect that. I never pry, do I?

I've never seen you like this.

Talk to me.

Somehow, if we're going to be husband and wife, we have to find a way to talk.

Of course, if there's someone else you'd rather talk to. There is no one else I

can talk to now.

It's just you and me.

Look, Phoebe, it's difficult to explain, but something has gone terribly,

terribly wrong.

I knew it.

We should never have opened up that second front in Egypt.

Ronald would be straight through. I said that to Graham. No, Phoebe, it's a

little more complicated than that. Somebody has been messing around with

destiny.

Hitler.

Me.

Gary, what have you done?

How can you mess around with things like that? What's it all mean?

It means I've got to sort it out.

It means I've got to put it right. It's as simple as that.

Phoebe, thanks for being here.

I'm sorry it's all been gibberish, but thanks for listening.

So, what happens now?

Now, a man's got to do what a man's got to do. Not in my hair, she doesn't.

Here you are, Phoebe.

One for you, and one for me.

That's all right.

I think I need something stronger.

because now I'm going to have to spring Albert Wheatcroft from jail.

So what was all those papers you were waving about?

Never you mind.

Well, I do mind.

Who are you, anyway?

Popeye the Sailor Man. Come on.

All right, look, if you're unhappy about being out and about, we'll go back,

shall we? Come on, back on the lock and key. No, no, I didn't say that, did I?

Well, you can't blame me for wondering what it's all about, though.

What is it all about?

I've got a job for you.

A job?

trapped up there. Who said?

I did. So get up there and rescue it.

Pardon? You heard.

Look, it's time to be a hero, Albert.

So just bite the bullet and get on with it.

Now, Gary, I want to get this right. We don't want to make any mistakes here.

You want me to enter a burning building and stumble about in the suffocating

smoke looking for someone's kit.

Forget it.

Do you want to go back under lock and key?

Yes, please.

instead of you.

Oh, well.

Every dog has his day.

Even old dogs like Albert.

I can't believe that Wheatcroft's being a hero.

I might even let him buy me a dinner.

So you didn't tell her after all?

No. Well, babies just didn't crop up again.

Well, I know. Emily, look at this.

Albert Wheatcroft, the hero.

I know.

Sticks in the throat, doesn't it? Said the Lord Mayor shook his hand. But he's

been two fingers short ever since.

So you're off then?

We're off.

It's been lovely to see you, Grant.

Keep in touch.

Now, don't you be letting her carry that case.

Not in her condition.

Well, you must be four months gone at least.

And here was me wondering how to tell you. You ought to be showing a treat at

the altar.

I can say nothing. I left it late myself.

In fact, your poor mother, God rest her, was one of me bridesmaids.

Well, we've got a train to catch, so lovely to meet you.

Meet you?

Brown rice?

Lentils?

Beans?

Well, there you go.

A confirmed vegetarian.

Every morrow, it's just you wait and see.

Heavy fun and laughter.

Oh, well, well, well.

The traveller's returned.

How was the big trip? You may well ask. What did you call it, Gary?

A magical mystery tour.

Well, come on, Ray. Excuse me, I'll know if I can measure a pint.

Oh, right.

Seems like you've been gone for weeks.

Sorry, Reg.

No, no, no, it's been wonderful.

I've been staying up really late playing me Vera Lynn records.

What, both of them?

It's very quiet, Reg.

Oh, yeah, it's been lovely and quiet.

What have you been doing with the barrels, Reg?

Not a lot.

All right, Gary, all right. There's no call for that sort of behaviour.

That's not beer.

No, it's dandelion and burdock.

But there's still no reason to spit it all over the floor.

Reg, how long have we been running a temperance bar?

Since the beer ran out. Well, no, tell a lie, since the day after the beer ran

out. The brewery didn't deliver, Phoebe.

You were supposed to telephone them. It was on the list.

Phoebe, the list broke down.

The list of what? Well, I couldn't get it to work.

I had nothing for the customers till Mrs Moss from the herbalist offered me a

barrel cheap to keep us ticking over.

It was better than nothing, innit?

That's debatable.

I was trying to use my initiative.

I'm very proud of you, Reg.

You've done wonder with the place.

Yeah, that's what the Salvation Army said.

What are you doing in my house?

Only joking.

Only joking.

Only you've been gone so long, I was going to claim spots as right.

How was Liverpool?

Full of snidey little geats waiting for a fight.

Hustlers on the make and tow rags who'd tell their own mothers.

Yeah, there's no place like it.

Did you come across my grandad?

You know me, Ron. I'm lucky like that. Yeah?

Well, what was he like?

Did he have great charisma?

If he did, he nicked it off somebody.

Yeah, us Wheatcrofts have not always been as honest and upright as myself.

Genetically, I'm something of a quantum leap.

So what was he like?

Oh, Ron, that answer could take all night.

Great! I'll get the beers.

I never really knew him.

Really? Well, you're the lucky one.

What a total waste of space. What a complete and utter scumbag.

You know, I bet he didn't do a decent day's work or an honest thing for his

entire life.

Sorry, Gary, I missed that.

Start again.

Go on.

This is really important to me.

Grandad Wheatcroft was my light in the darkness.

Something to live up to.

Something that's kept me on the straight and narrow all these years.

You didn't know that?

I didn't know that.

That's why I have to know, Gary.

Grandad Weecroft was a hero, wasn't he?

Of course he was, Ron.

Of course he was. You see, I used to get a lot of stick at school from the kids

about that newspaper clipping.

They'd say it was one of those mock -ups you could have done.

Sort of joke.

It's not a joke, is it, Gary?

Here you go.

Liverpool Echo, June 27th, 1942.

From Paige.

A man rescued a child from a burning building, and I know that man.

Oh yes, you know the man who did that.

Were you there when it happened?

Did you see him do what he did?

I saw him do what he did, yes.

Honestly.

Ron, would I lie to a man of the cloth?

Good night, sweetheart.

Sleep well, banished sorrow.

Good night, sweetheart.

Till we meet tomorrow.