Original subtitles

ISLE OF WIGHT

December 1983

First you wanna be an actor,

then you wanna be Barry Manilow and you know what they say about him.

Who ends up paying for it all? Muggins here.

It's like Richie said, we're only doing it to get an Equity Card.

That's how it works,

if you can prove enough work with an Equity contract, you get a card.

Now, I don't understand why it's so hard to join.

Thank God for Maggie, she made a pledge,

she's gonna stop all this union stuff.

I know, good for her, just wish she'd hurry up.

What's it all for?

So you can end up in Birmingham Rep saying, "Anyone for tennis?"

- Alright, you've made your point. - What, so I can't even speak now?

Is that it? Shall I just shut up?

What do they say about Barry Manilow?

Your father says he's queer, which is ridiculous. The ladies love him.

I've gotta get this signed, or it doesn't count. Might take a while, yeah.

Actually, if I do end up in Birmingham Rep, I'll be happy,

because I'll be working and that's all I want. Okay?

That's me told.

It's a shame you can't stay for Christmas, Jill,

you can't go back to London, not after the bomb.

No, I'll go straight home, my mum does a great Christmas.

Alright. All the same, you're very welcome to stay.

You two, you spend so much time together.

I think Ritchie's gonna miss you.

We're not a couple though. I've told you, we're really not.

I saw you. Singing a love song.

I know it's acting, and I'm hardly an expert,

but, from the little I can gather, good acting is when it's true, isn't it?

Slow down.

I haven't got long, my dad's up there in the car.

We can meet tomorrow, there's a party on the beach.

I can't, I've gotta get back.

- Back where? - London.

I thought you lived up the hill?

I do. I did, that's my family. I live in London.

I'd better get back.

- Come on, let's finish off. - No, I'm fine, I better go.

- What happened, what did I do? - Nothing. Just...

- What? - London.

So? Oh, my God, don't be so stupid,

it's Americans you don't sleep with, not Londoners, Americans.

There's nothing wrong with boys from London!

IT'S A SIN

LONDON

You look really nice.

- You look lovely. - Gregory's outside, he's waiting.

- See you later. - Roscoe, don't get in trouble.

Me?

Look at you, Rosalind, very nice.

I've decided, in honour of the big day, I'm not gonna charge you petrol.

Thank you very much.

- How far is she gone now? - Five months.

Naughty boy.

- What's he like, is he handsome? - Don't know.

See you then. Bye.

Bedroom's free.

- Who was he? - Dunno.

- Don't you even know his name? - Have you ever had sex?

- Yeah. - When?

Colin?

- Question, have you got a passport? - No, sorry.

It takes three to four months, so you've got time if you apply straight away.

We've booked three days from Sunday, the 8th of July.

- What for? - New York. You're going to New York.

But why?

The Honourable Clement Bridger is a long-standing customer

and he's removed himself to New York

and he needs fittings for a number of winter suits,

which requires Mr. Hart.

And his assistant.

- But New York. Is it expensive? - No, we pay.

Colin, you are funny. It's all on expenses.

Hard work though. Don't go thinking it's a little jolly.

You're there to do exactly what Mr. Hart says.

I'd give anything to go to New York.

You're such a bloody misery, what is the problem?

It's the boss, he's a bit creepy.

For God sake, Gladys Pugh, I'd suck him off to get to New York.

You'd suck him off to get to Ealing Broadway.

I would, sexual Ealing.

Just be careful though, you know what they say,

don't sleep with anyone out there.

- Yeah, 'cause Gladys never stops. - Sex machine.

The virgin from the valleys.

Only you would go to the one place in the world where you can't have sex.

- Can I leave these with you? - Oh, for God Sake, don't be so stupid.

Grizzle, he's doing it again, we're being victimized.

You should read this stuff.

For the last time, get out and take these sodding things with ya.

I just wanna leave 'em on the bar, I'm not causing trouble.

You wouldn't say that shit about straight people.

Roscoe, get him out.

Come on, we're trying to earn a living, this stuff's gonna drive people away.

It's all true, every word of it.

Listen, my father preaches Armageddon every Sunday afternoon,

and every Monday morning I wake up, still alive. Go.

Do you see? It's not fair, every time we go out, it's this shit,

the whole thing is a pack of lies.

No, but that man, Pete, he said he met this man, who said he was--

He said, she said, they said, they're always saying something.

But do you wanna know the truth? Do you know what it really is? AIDS?

It's a racket, it's a money making scheme for drugs companies.

Do you seriously think there's an illness that only kills gay men?

It can calculate that you're gay and kill you, but no one else?

What about bisexuals, do they only get sick every other day?

And they say it's a cancer, but you can't catch cancer.

Cancer is not a thing that can get caught.

It's not like a cold or a cough, it's cancer. It doesn't transmit.

'Cause imagine it, gay cancer, how is a cancer gay? What does it look like?

Is it pink? Where is it? Is it in the wrists? For God sake.

You get all these stories and all these rumours and all these nightmares,

because that's what they want you to think, that lot.

They wanna scare us and stop us having sex and make us really boring,

basically because they can't get laid. That's the truth.

'Cause according to them, how does it work, this AIDS thing?

Okay, they say it's spread by poppers.

They say it arrived from outer space on a comet.

And they say that God created it to strike us dead.

They say it was created in a laboratory to kill us.

They say it's the Russians. They say we got it from the jungle.

They say it's caused by friction!

They say it's in the spunk.

They say Freddie Laker spread it, when he introduced cheap flights.

They say there's one patient zero spreading it wherever he goes.

They say it affects homosexuals, Haitians and haemophiliacs,

like there's a disease which has targeted the letter H.

Who's it gonna get next? People from Hartlepool

and Hampshire and Hull?

Don't you see what all of these things have got in common?

They're not true!

And how do I know?

How do I know it's not true?

Because I'm not stupid. Which means...

I don't believe it.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe a word of it. Now hit me with those lasers please.

- Ding, ding, all aboard. - Hi, Gloria, nice uniform.

The joys of nylon, one spark and I'll go up like a Buddhist monk.

So, are you gonna be there? Ritchie's big day?

Ritchie Tozer's 21st. There'll be such a queue, legal at last.

Excuse me, can we move on now, please?

Keep your hair on, Shirley Williams. Hold tight, girls!

- See you Saturday, Bill. - See you, Glo!

I tell you what, I haven't seen Gloria, is he here?

- No, I don't think so. - He said he was coming.

Maybe he's working late, he might have a shift on the night bus.

- Did you see Gloria last night? - No, I haven't seen him for ages.

Not like her to miss a party.

He always disappears, he'll have found some bloke,

then he'll come crawling back, same old story.

I'm looking for Jill Baxter.

Jill Baxter?

It's your brother, he called the office, said it was an emergency,

that's his number. It sounded quite urgent.

He said it was about someone called Gloria.

Okay. Thanks, I'll phone him.

Hello, it's Jill, who's this?

That took you long enough, I wish to God that you lot would get a phone.

I'm missing my class, what's all this stuff about a brother?

I haven't been very well. I just need someone to go shopping.

- Why? What's wrong with you? - Can you just say yes or no?

Of course I will, I'll come round tonight. I'll bring the boys.

No, don't tell anyone, okay, don't tell that lot, I mean it.

I swear to God, don't tell anyone.

Why not?

I don't want anyone to know. That's why I phoned you. Please.

Gloria? Come on. Are you there?

Just keep your distance.

Close the door.

I'm not infectious, I'm absolutely not, you're perfectly safe.

But I need milk and bread and food and stuff.

I've wrote a list, it's there with my card.

If you could just go shopping and bring it back for me.

Okay, but I'm not doing anything until you tell me what's wrong.

They said it was tuberculosis.

Oh, my God, that's infectious, you let me walk inside?

No, but it stopped, I'm getting better. I had this cough and it stopped.

Look at me, am I coughing? No. I'm a lot better than I was.

- So, what did the doctor say? - They took me into hospital.

And they gave me this questionnaire

and I was like, "What's this for?" They said, "It's for people like you."

And it asked about, you know, medical history and place of birth,

and it said sexual preference

and then it said there was a question that said...

have you ever had sex with animals?

- What? - Have you ever had sex with animals?

I don't understand.

It said in the questionnaire, 'Have you ever had sex with animals?'

But why?

They don't think that it's tuberculosis.

Then, what is it?

What do you think it is?

But I'm getting better, and you don't get better from AIDS do you?

I don't know.

You don't, you die. And I'm getting better.

They say that AIDS is a cancer and I haven't got cancer.

But the I and the D stand for immune deficiency,

and that could be tuberculosis, is that right?

But, caused by cancer, the deficiency happens when you get cancer, doesn't it?

- Does it? - I don't know.

I don't think anyone knows. And what's it got to do with animals?

I don't know. Someone told me this story.

There was a production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in Chicago.

And all seven brothers are dead.

Is that true?

I just like the idea of seven brothers fucking each other.

The point is, they let you go home. So you can't be that bad.

I discharged myself.

But they didn't try to stop me, so how infectious is that?

All I need to do is keep getting better.

They gave me the drugs and I've got a letter saying it's tuberculosis,

so that means I can have four weeks off work.

If I can use those four weeks to get better and shake it off,

then I'll be fine.

If you help me.

- What do you want me to do? - Just this. Just shop and things.

You can pop into work and get my sick pay.

You can leave things on the table,

you don't have to come anywhere near me, just in case.

But... please don't tell anyone.

We could all help though.

I'll get sacked if word gets out,

they sack people for being gay, never mind AIDS.

- Let me tell Roscoe, he's your mate. - Roscoe talks.

He talks and talks and talks

and I don't want anyone to know, because I'm not...

Not what?

A slut.

Okay.

Back, back back!

- Where have you been? - Big surprise.

We were heading back from Pamela Tanner's and guess--

She's having a party next Saturday, so we can all come.

And guess who we bumped into, long time no see?

- Oh, my God. Hello. - Hiya, Bill.

He's been ill. That's why we haven't seen him. He's been sick as a dog.

We caught him in the street, we said,

"Come back and have a laugh. That's what you need."

My first time out. I just needed sunlight, found myself walking.

And I feel good, I do, I really do.

Which means we've got Gloria Monday literally in sick transit.

A joke which none of you are gonna get.

So, what was wrong with you?

I had a cold, which got worse. But I'm better now.

The man on the phone said,

"We don't give out Equity Cards to someone who sings in a pub."

And I said, "I'm far more than that."

My voice went all grand, I said, "I love it." I said, "I'm born for this."

But he said, "I'm gonna have to check these contracts,

"'cause what happens is, venues get sent a booklet of Equity contracts,

"but if you're mates with the boss, you can get a few signed on the sly."

So I said, "Are you accusing me of cheating?"

And then he started blustering, but that's what he meant, calling me a liar.

I'm a bit knackered, to be honest. I'll get a taxi on the main road.

Money bags, look after yourself.

I'm feeling a lot better now, I really am.

Glad to hear it. See you soon. I'll come round one day, yeah?

Yeah, that'd be nice. Bye then.

Thing is, his dad's the money bags. He's in the tax office,

apparently they've got a really nice house in a posh bit of Glasgow.

- So, what happened? - What do you think?

Gloria ends up in a council flat, 'cause he's a friend of Dorothy.

Bunch of bastards.

How's it been? Any sickness or headaches? Have you put on weight?

No, I've been fine.

It's not like I need the pill, to be honest, but you never know.

I live in hope.

I wanted to ask, have you got any... I just thought I'd ask while I'm here,

I was wondering if you had any information about AIDS?

What would you want that for?

I just wanna know. You know, any official facts.

It doesn't affect you.

- I know. - Literally, it doesn't affect you.

I know, but for friends of mine,

I just wanna help, have you got anything, any booklet?

Why would I? I don't understand what you mean.

Why on earth would I have anything to do with that? Are we done?

- Yes. - Good.

We're only going for three days,

but Mr. Hart says I need a different suit for every day.

He says, "It may be the New World, but we still have standards."

He actually calls it the New World.

Yeah, I was wondering, I got this list,

there's all these gay bookshops and things in New York,

I thought, if you could pop in and take a look.

I'm going there to work, I'm not shopping.

I just need some help. I'm trying to find stuff about AIDS.

What for?

Because there are boys dying, all over the world, from sex,

and I wanna know why, but no one knows, Colin, no one really knows,

no one knows anything.

And there's nothing in the library, there's nothing on TV,

there's nothing in this entire country, there's no information anywhere.

We've got this great big killer disease and it's happening in silence.

But it's bigger in America, it's more advanced,

so here's 20 quid, go to those bookshops

and anything you can find, buy it for me?

Okay?

Don't, it's breaking my heart. Our little girl's flying the nest.

- Send us a postcard. - I'll be back by Wednesday.

Remember now, don't touch the boys, no yanking the Yanks.

1949. I was a lad, brought here by Sir Nicholas St. Laine.

He needed a new suit

because he had a special game of poker planned for the Friday night.

A new suit for a game of cards.

And we made it with Brooks Brothers in five days flat.

And let me tell you, we stayed in a better class of hotel back then.

Room 218, that's you.

209, right opposite.

I'll leave you to your own devices tonight.

I'll be dining with the Bridges. But don't wander.

Busy day tomorrow. Breakfast at seven sharp. Muldoon's.

Thank you, sir.

- Too late, here she is. - Oh, my God, I was tidying.

This is her, look.

Stellar, say hello to your uncle Roscoe.

That's amazing That is not true, she's not yours, you stole her.

- Do you want a cup of tea? - I'd love one, thanks, no sugar.

- I'm supposed to be losing weight. - Okay, give us a minute.

- Here, take her. - Yeah?

Yeah. There you go.

- Careful, hold her head. - Yeah.

- There we are. - There, that's it.

I don't believe it. You can't have a baby, you're just a kid yourself.

Ruben's at the football, I've got ages. He won't even know I'm gone.

It's our little secret, Stellar.

Has anyone said, Stella doesn't have an R on the end.

Stella with an R on the end is a word.

But the name Stella doesn't have an R,

it's just Stella with an A, it ends in an A, that's how you spell it.

- Not if you spell it with an R. - But it doesn't have an R.

- I like Stellar with an R. - Don't say I didn't say.

She's my baby, and if I want Stellar with an R, then that's that.

- Alright, I've said it, I'm done. - Can't you just be happy for me?

Shut up.

How's Mum? How's things?

Yeah, she's alright, she's got Aunty Bea and Aunty Bomasola moving in.

They're gonna live in your room and my room, so she's not on her own.

What do you mean? Where's dad?

He's going back to Lagos and then he's travelling up north to Sokoto.

What for? It's the fucking Dark Ages out there. Sorry, Stellar, but it is.

He needs a cause, he needs comfort, he needs help.

- Why, what's wrong with him? - Us. It's because of us.

We broke his heart, Roscoe. I got pregnant, you got bent.

And he walks around all day in despair.

So, it's our fault? Yeah, well, good riddance.

Oh, Colin!

The wine was a gift. And rather expensive.

But I don't want to carry it home in my suitcase,

so it would be rude not to share.

- Did you have a nice night? - Yeah.

- Did you eat? - Yeah.

Good. Build yourself up, there could be a little bit more of you.

- Will you join me? - I'm alright.

- I insist. - I shouldn't though.

Who's in charge?

- Salut. - Salut.

You need to beware of stains.

Did you get hot water? It takes a while for the pipes in these old buildings.

I had to stand there, waiting, naked, for ten minutes.

But then I got a good hot steam.

It's important to be clean, don't you think?

What's your ritual, Colin? Shower or bath?

I like a shower.

So, you smell clean? Do you? Do you smell clean?

- I suppose. - Let me see. Come and sit over here.

- I'm okay. - Come on. Come on. All boys together.

Come and sit with me.

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GAY METROPOLITAN AIDS PLAGUE TERROR

Better get some sleep.

- Muldoon's, seven o'clock. - Yes, sir.

- Goodnight, then. - Goodnight.

Only me!

Didn't know if you wanted me to keep on coming, but I made some lasagne.

Who are you?

- I'm sorry. I'm Gregory's friend. - How'd you get a key?

She's the one with the food, obviously. He did say.

We've got him now, so you can leave the key there, thank you.

She's wearing rubber gloves.

- Where's Gregory? Is he alright? - Why is she wearing rubber gloves?

I said, you can go now, thanks.

Dad, should we be wearing rubber gloves or what?

Christ, will you stop going on, Irene? How do I know? We're taking him home.

- Oh, my God, are you alright? - What, are you a doctor?

No.

Do us a favour, keep out of it. We've gotta hit the road.

My dad and my sister. They're taking me back to Glasgow.

- But is that what you want? - Yeah.

What about Roscoe? Don't you wanna say goodbye? I can go and get him.

Don't tell him, Jill, please, don't tell him.

Don't you say a word about my son to anybody.

You understand that? Have you got that? Not one word.

I just want to know, right, should we be wearing rubber gloves?

Will you stop squawking? Find out.

Do some work for once in your life, find out.

And you! Thank you, for nothing.

For encouraging him?

We're done, aye? The key?

- I made some food. - Fuck off!

- Guess what?! - Ritchie's got news.

- It's really seriously fantastic! - Not now. Can it wait?

No, but, guess what? Go on, just guess, guess what arrived.

- Boys I'm knackered, honestly. - No, listen to him. No.

Come see, come and see. Jill Baxter, what could this be?

Oh, no. Really?

First post, 9 a.m. I was screaming.

- We're members of Equity! - Yes!

You're gonna be superstars!

Sugar, don't be daft. Look at us, we did it. We're proper actors.

- What is it? What's wrong? - Nothing.

But this is good news, isn't it?

I saw Gloria. He's going home. I mean, for good.

- What do you mean? - He's going back to Glasgow.

He never said. When's he going?

Now, he's gone. Don't go round, 'cause he won't be there.

I saw him on the street and he said goodbye.

I thought he hated Glasgow, the way he talked about his parents.

Sod it, don't go on about him, he was someone we knew, that's all.

He couldn't hack it. That's what London does, it's tough, so what?

He's walked off owing me ten quid. Thanks very much, Gloria, bye.

Did you ever go out with him? Did you sleep with him?

No, thanks.

- What about you? - He's too old, he's 30.

He's 34.

He was there that night, the general election.

- The general erection. - He just had a wank in the corner.

- We were having Bobbie McCreadie. - God, you all had each other.

- When I'm desperate. - You're begging for it.

- You beg for me, boy. - I don't beg, I just wanked.

- Don't you ever think you should-- - What?

Stop for a bit.

- Stop what? - Sex.

- Why do you say that? - I don't know.

No. Why did you say it?

Oh, my God, they got you. The thought police, you are infected.

- No, I'm just saying. - Jill, don't listen to that shit.

Do you know, I'll listen to whatever I want.

Because the problem with you is, you're too clever.

- It has been said. - No, I mean it.

You're too clever by half,

like, in your mind, you can think your way out of anything.

But think about this, head boy. If there was an illness,

and say you had it and you slept with him

and then you slept with him and then you slept with 500 people,

like all of you do every weekend,

then tell me, Ritchie, if you're so clever,

what's going to stop it spreading?

What's gonna save you?

Your A Levels?

Get smart, idiot.

I didn't actually go anywhere, 'cause we were too busy working.

I saw the Empire State and the Chrysler Building in the distance,

that was good enough for me.

Funny thing is, steam really does rise up from the streets.

Like in the films, steam from the subway.

But I'm sorry,

I did look for that stuff, but I couldn't find anything anywhere.

I did try.

- That's okay. Never mind. - No, I'm lying, here you are.

- You fibber! - Fooled you! There you are.

- You're getting cheeky, you are. - Yeah. And I had pastrami.

Colin, you can get pastrami on the corner.

I tell you what, you know your Filofax has got everything?

Yeah.

Do you have an address for Gloria, I mean, Gregory?

- A home address, in Glasgow? - I've got it, yeah.

Have you?

- Why? - I've got everything.

I don't know his father's name, but the surname is Finch,

36 St. Elm Road, Mount Vernon, Glasgow, G32.

No, sorry, that number's ex-directory.

Right, sorry. Thanks.

Hi Gloria, Bill here! Just hoping you're okay and enjoying...

- Do you want to say hello? - What for, he's gone, hasn't he?

Colin!

Apparently, it all went very well. A great success, I'm told.

- It was brilliant. - And New York?

- Amazing. - I've never been lucky enough.

Now, Mr. Hart said he's been reviewing the books

and, well, really, it's been three years,

so we can consider your apprenticeship to be at an end. Very well done.

Thank you.

So, that'll be it. I'm sure you understand.

- What do you mean? - The job has come to an end.

But I don't understand. Am I sacked?

No. It's more like you're not employed anymore.

- But can't I stay? - I'm afraid not.

- Did I do something wrong? - I don't know, did you?

I'd really like to stay.

I'd love to stay, I love it here. I really love it here.

Is there anything I can do, to stay?

We're duty bound to give you one month's notice,

but I'll just post you a month's salary in lieu,

because there's no point in haunting the place, is there?

Best to move on. Today.

- I'm finishing today? - No need to wait.

You want me to go?

I don't see why not. And thank you very much for everything.

Thank you very much.

- Working? - Yeah!

Okay. So by public demand, for one night only, called out of retirement,

'cause the stripper got stuck in a bomb scare.

Ladies and gentlemen, the final appearance of Tozer and Baxter!

- Baxter and Tozer. - I'll go away.

Thank you.

That's great, yeah.

LONDON GAY

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