Original subtitles

Attention please, attention please.

A fire has broken out in the first floor changing rooms

and all persons are requested to leave the building at once.

I repeat, please leave the building as quickly as possible

following the routes indicated by the staff.

Thank you.

Your attention, please.

The fire in the changing room has now spread

to the children's play area

and covers most of the first floor.

Exits B and F are therefore blocked.

This means stairways E and G are also out of action

and the only safe routes are those leading to assembly areas H and M. Thank you.

Morning, Carole. -Mrs. Brittas, I'm sorry I didn't see you.

How may I help you?

I wanted to take this up to Gordon's office.

I wondered if it was safe to use the stairs?

I'm not sure.

I haven't actually been listening.

Please, straight out through.

Gavin, has she had some morphine?

Not from us, Mr. Brittas.

Well I think she needs it, don't you?

Soon as you get outside please.

Hello Gordon. -Ah, darling.

Still alright for lunch?

Lunch yes, it's not yet is it?

No, no I'm early.

I thought we might have a picnic in your office.

My office?

Yes, that's alright isn't it?

Yes, it's fine.

The fire's only sweeping through the far side of the building.

Will you be long?

I don't think so. Soon as everyone's evacuated and accounted for

I'll be right with you. -I'll see you then.

Colin, where did you think you're going? You're dead.

No, I'm not Mr. Brittas.

Yes, you are, you were in the kitchen when the gas cylinder exploded.

No, I wasn't. I was shielded from the main force of a blast by a table.

That way you see, I'd only be blinded.

I could feel me way along the corridors carrying Hilary here.

Colin, you are dead.

And since this young lady had a ruptured spleen at the time,

you've done for her as well.

She's very plucky Mr. Brittas.

I think it would take rather more than a ruptured...

Don't argue Colin, go and sit down and have a coffee.

Coffee? Oh are we allowed a coffee?

Not until you're dead, Tim.

And you've got some nasty head injuries to get out of the gymnasium, alright?

Before you do that, I want those flames at the door, please.

Attention please, attention please.

Unfortunately, the fire on the first floor

has fallen through a badminton court

and into the boiler room,

igniting 300 gallons of oil that was delivered yesterday,

creating a fireball that has demolished the reception area

and the main doors.

Corridors PS and T3 are now closed.

Ah, ah, ah, ah Julie, you're too late I'm afraid.

What?

You heard what I just said, we just had a fireball.

This exit's closed.

But those doors are made of glass and steel.

There's nothing to burn.

Well, I'm afraid they have burnt

and this whole area is now awash with molten glass.

Back down the corridor, please.

Mr. Brittas?

Are you sure that last announcement was correct?

Yes, Laura.

Well, according to my map, if you've blocked off T3 as well as all the others

there's no way out.

Fires don't happen just where we want them Laura,

they can be extremely inconvenient.

You don't think it's rather discouraging, for the people in the exercise

to know they've got no chance of getting out alive?

Laura, there's still one exit available if people look carefully.

If they go along A1 and A4, up stairwell Y

and down this corridor...

Attention please, attention please.

A water storage tank has just burst extinguishing the fire in corridor T3.

I repeat, corridor T3 is now accessible to anyone wishing to leave The Centre.

Oh God.

Does that mean we have to go all the way back again?

Oh why don't we just nip out this door here?

I'm sorry, Gavin. This is on fire or something.

I'm supposed to make sure no one gets through.

Oh, well I'm not going back up those stairs again.

He's always telling us to use our initiative.

Why don't I leap daringly through the flames and out the door?

You can't -Linda, they're imaginary flames, right?

I just happen to have an imaginary fire extinguisher,

hidden in my stocking tops and Pshhh. There we are...

Just put it out.

Julie please, you can't. You know what Mr. Brittas will say.

And where do you think you lot are going?

These doors have been welded together in the intense heat.

Back down the corridor, please.

That's 10 penalty points for you.

And I'm gonna give you an extra casualty

and this one's unconscious

and will have to be carried, alright?

I'm sorry about that Mr. Brittas.

It's alright, Linda,

we can't all have forceful personalities.

But next time instead of "Oh no, what would Mr. Brittas say",

you could use a little bit of realism.

Oh?

Something like,

"Don't come this way, it's a raging inferno back there",

see what I mean?

I'll try it Mr. Brittas.

Good.

And where do you think you're going Colin?

T3 Mr. Brittas.

It was a great relief to hear about that burst water tank.

Colin, you are dead.

But yes, I mean that's what I thought,

I'd almost given up the will to live

and then somebody gave me this injection, and suddenly...

Colin, you are dead!

How many times do I have to tell you?

You're all dead, dead, dead!

Back to Reception to join the other bodies please.

Yes Mr. Brittas.

Bad news, Carole? -It's from an old boyfriend.

He wants me to go and join him in Australia.

That sounds rather nice.

He heard about my divorce

and he wants me to go and stay on his sheep farm.

It would be so wonderful for little Ben.

All that fresh air and wide open space, instead of...

Instead of living in a drawer?

I should go.

How can I?

I need I,200 pounds for the tickets.

Now where am I going to find I,200 pounds?

Mrs. Carole Parkinson?

Yes, how may I help you?

If you could sign here.

What for?

The bag you handed in last September, Mrs. Parkinson.

It was never claimed so we're returning it,

along with the 100 pounds left inside.

Thank you.

100 pounds? Oh if only...

12 to 1 Gavin. It's a dead cert.

Are you sure?

I'm telling you the horse can't lose.

Alright everyone, listen carefully please.

I have the results of this morning's exercise,

and sadly, I have to report that casualties

throughout The Centre have averaged at over 82%.

Does that include the suicides Mr. Brittas?

I was coming to that Colin.

In order to cut down on the rate of suicides,

I've decided that from now on,

anyone dying at their own hands,

because they panicked or because they lost their nerve

or because they ran headlong into the flames, Patrick

will not be allowed to use the coffee machine.

Oh!

Is that understood?

Right, a word about why I think that 82% casualty rate

is particularly worrying.

This morning's exercise was just a fire drill.

This afternoon and tomorrow things will not be so easy.

You'll be dealing not only with fires,

but with the added hazards of an outbreak of contagious

disease in one of the toilets. I'm not going to say which one.

Chemical spillages.

Earth tremors.

Poisonous gases

and a de-railed train sliding down the embankment

and covering our all-weather hockey pitch in nuclear waste.

Oh!

Now, it's hardly worth going on with that little lot

if we can't cope with a simple fire is it?

So, everyone back on their feet, and let's do it all again.

Helen?

Has a bulb gone?

No.

Oh! Your husband asked me to say that he'll be a few minutes late.

Oh no, is it anything serious?

Oh no. Too many people died, and we're doing the exercise again.

Goodness, this looks lovely.

It's just -- it's lunch.

I'm trying to give up the pills. -The Valium?

The Valium, Diazepam, Lithium. Well, all of them really.

Doctor Grey suggested I ought to try and cut back a bit.

I see.

You see and we've got this new woman at marriage guidance

who says I don't need tranquillisers at all.

What I really need is a new centre to my life.

Yes, she says, I'll only find real inner peace

and tranquillity, through the comfort

and security of a warm and loving relationship.

With Mr. Brittas?

That's what she said.

Well, I think that's lovely.

And she said the important thing was to try and spend more time with each other,

just talking and well, being together.

She thinks that'll help you stay more calm?

Well no, but I've tried everything else, Laura.

Acupuncture, aromatherapy, Export lager.

I'd like to give it a try.

Well I think the best thing that I can do,

is to remind Mr. Brittas,

that he has a very important lunch appointment.

Oh, would you?

It's not just for me, you see,

it's Tom's parents' evening tonight

and if I could just meet his form teacher

feeling calm and relaxed.

Right, I'll pass that on.

Thanks.

Tim, Gavin.

I couldn't help overhearing you talk about a horse earlier.

Australian Journey?

Is that what he's called?

In the 2:30 at Kempton.

12 to 1.

And you really think he might win?

We've had a hot tip, Carole.

One of Timmy's friends is head stable boy.

We've put 50 quid on.

Do you think you could put on something for me?

Alright Carole, but keep it under your hat, eh?

We don't want everyone to know.

How much do you want?

Well I've got a hundred pounds, and I...

Timothy, that lady's life is ebbing away.

This is not the time to stand around gossiping.

No Mr. Brittas.

What was that all about Carole?

Nothing, Mr. Brittas.

Carole!

Well, I'm not really supposed to tell anyone,

but it's wonderful news.

Tim's heard from a friend about a horse.

And if I bet a hundred pounds...

Carole, I cannot believe I'm hearing this.

It's a dead cert Mr. Brittas.

I'm sure if you wanted to put something on...

Carole, Carole, Carole. Are we suddenly so rich

we have money to throw away?

Well, I've got a hundred pounds.

Well, why don't you take it down to the boiler

and throw it into the flames?

Do I have to?

That's what you might as well do

if you're determined to waste it down at the bookmakers.

At least my way would help heat the swimming pool.

Oh I thought, if I...

Why don't you give the money to me

and I will take it down to the building society for you.

That way, at least after a year, I guarantee

not only when you still have your money,

but that hundred pounds will have grown, to 108.50 pounds.

See? Think about it.

I think that's everyone out, Mr. Brittas. -Out?

They're all waiting for the roll call in the car park.

But they can't be, we haven't had the fireball yet.

Half of them are still trapped in the squash courts.

They broke out of there with a sledgehammer.

I'm all for using imagination Laura,

but for a start that's a load bearing wall, you couldn't...

No, no, no, they've done it. They smashed a hole in the back.

They what?

Well it was Colin really,

I don't know where he found the sledgehammer though.

Colin is dead. The lavatory roof fell on his head.

You saw it.

Ah well, you see, he told me that he'd been left for dead,

but in fact he was only stunned, and miraculously recovered.

Colin is dead, I'll kill him.

Timmy's just nipping down to the bookmakers Carole.

Do you still want that 100 pounds?

I don't think it's a very sensible idea Gavin.

Oh?

Will you take the bag to Mr. Brittas' office

for me please?

Yes. -Thank you.

Yes of course. -Thank you.

Come in.

Oh, Mrs. Brittas.

Looks like you've lost a bulb.

I'm afraid my husband's not here.

Oh, that's alright,

I just have to leave this handbag on his desk.

It's some lost property that Carole found.

Would you like a drink Gavin?

What?

Glass of wine?

No, thanks, you see I'm on duty

and I've got to get...

Oh, thanks.

Sit down Gavin.

Can I ask you something rather personal?

What?

Oh, yes of course Mrs. Brittas.

Do you ever get wound up, emotional, nerves on edge, that sort of thing?

Sometimes.

And what do you do?

What?

To unwind?

Well I-- I might have a cigarette.

You see drugs are not the answer Gavin.

What you need is a warm and loving relationship.

Ah.

With someone who can give you emotional support

and provide a real centre to your life.

That's what you need.

Have a cigarette, Mrs. Brittas.

Here, I'll light it for you.

See, it's just another crutch, Gavin.

Sorry?

You shouldn't need things like this.

We should be able to rely on our inner resources.

That's what Tim says.

Is it?

Yeah, he hates me smoking.

I have to go out to the garden to do it at home.

Well, when I used to smoke,

Gordon used to leave ghastly health leaflets all over the house.

With pictures of people's lungs? Yeah, Timmy does that.

I know he meant well,

but I don't think people should pressure their partners like that.

Absolutely,

I mean, we're all individuals in our own right, aren't we?

Absolutely yeah.

Would you believe it?

I have a deputy manager

who's just caused 700 pounds worth of damage

in our number one squash court.

What's that Gavin?

Nothing Mr. Brittas.

That's a cigarette.

Ah.

I thought we'd established at our last staff seminar

that smoking is only for the weak willed and feeble minded.

Yes, erm, yes.

We'd better meet at five o'clock Gavin.

I'm gonna have to take you through the health statistics again.

Yes Mr. Brittas.

Before you go, Gavin,

I think an apology might be in order.

Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Brittas.

Not me Gavin.

Oh.

Go on. I'm sorry Mrs. Brittas,

for shortening your life by an estimated three minutes.

And endangering your respiratory system,

by my thoughtless and selfish behaviour.

Erm, Mrs. Brittas.

It doesn't matter Gavin, go on.

Thank you.

Gavin? -Yes, Mr. Brittas?

Have a shower and some clean clothes

before you're back on duty, please.

Yes Mr. Brittas.

What was he doing here anyway?

Oh it's something to do with lost property.

Lost property, it doesn't come up here.

Gavin knows as well as I do,

it goes straight down to the lost property cupboard.

Honestly...

Oh not now Gordon, please?

What?

Well we're only got half an hour now as it is.

I'm sorry, darling.

Have we lost a bulb in here or something?

I've made lunch.

Ah.

Have you done something to the car?

No, that's what that woman said at marriage guidance

about spending more time together, remember?

Quite right, my love.

I was just wondering if now's really the time?

You said this morning, you were taking an hour for lunch.

I asked you twice.

You promised me.

Quite right, my love.

Apologies if I'm a few minutes late.

You see, I've decided Gordon.

I want you to take these.

Right.

It's all my medicines.

I want you to take them away, and get rid of them.

I'm giving them up.

Are you quite sure?

Well, I think we've got to give it a try.

Well, Helen, my darling, a toast.

To my brave little Helen,

and may you find the serenity you seek.

Thank you.

Have you lost a bulb in here?

What is it Julie?

Councillor Dapping's downstairs, Mr. Brittas.

Dapping, I wonder what she wants.

Tell her to go away, Gordon.

Alright Julie, I'll be right down.

Gordon. -Yes?

You can't do this to me. You promised.

It's Councillor Dapping my darling.

So?

Head of the recreation committee, could be important.

So bloody what?

Helen, you're overwrought.

I know I'm overwrought. That's why I came here,

and you said you'd help.

I think you're being a little bit unreasonable, my love.

I'm gonna pop downstairs, find out what she wants,

tell her I'm not really available,

come back up here, 5 minutes.

Starting when?

What?

The five minutes, when does it start?

Right now, my love, right now.

Forgot the bag.

May as well drop it in to lost property on the way.

Save time later when I've got...

Gordon. -Yes?

Four and a half minutes.

Right.

Excuse me, not in there please.

What?

That's the ladies changing rooms.

I realise you're probably not a peeping Tom

but we must allow the women as much privacy as we can.

I am a woman.

Ah so you are. I do apologise, it was all that padding.

I'm not wearing padding.

In that case, can I interest you

in the women's rugby club?

We're trying to get it off the ground.

We're a bit short of weight in the front row.

Simple courtesy costs nothing you know.

Ah, Councillor Dapping.

How nice to see you.

We'll make this a quick meeting, if you don't mind,

I've got another appointment.

I see you've closed our centre again, Mr. Brittas.

Yes, just for three days.

Safety exercises.

I realise not everywhere's as scrupulous

but personally I'd be terrified to let the public in here

without properly trained staff.

I've come about the new fire escape.

Ah, you got my letter.

All three of them, yes.

Now you, apparently, want one built

from a store room on the third floor.

A matter of some urgency I think you'll agree.

Mr. Brittas, you already have a fire escape up there.

But, can it cope with the potential traffic?

It's a disused room, the size of a cupboard Mr. Brittas.

How much traffic are you expecting?

58,000 is a great deal of money.

Whoo.

Weighed against the lives of my staff and customers,

I wonder Councillor. Perhaps if I showed you the problem.

Are your legs alright or should we take the lift?

I can manage the stairs, thank you.

Carole, if anyone calls,

I'm taking the Councillor up to the roof space, alright?

Right.

I sent the money upstairs to your office, Mr. Brittas.

Pardon?

I took your advice about the hundred pounds.

Well done Carole.

And now you'll sleep better tonight,

knowing that money is safe.

Now, this is the only room on the third floor, is it?

Yes.

And the floor below is served by four separate fire escapes of its own?

That's right.

Now at the moment,

there's a fire ladder in this room

with a capacity for 8 people.

If you'll forgive me Councillor,

there lies the problem. Only 8.

You couldn't fit more than 8 people in this room, Mr. Brittas.

With respect Mrs. Dapping, I don't think you've thought this one through.

Let me paint you a picture.

An ordinary working day, we have electricians

in the roof space attending to a lighting problem.

A couple of plumbers have been asked to fit a new hot water pipe.

Cheery carpenters are up here too, fitting a couple of shelves,

while outside a team of young lads are painting the fire escape.

Let's say, a couple of my staff

just brought them all a cup of tea. That makes 14 people, Mrs. Dapping.

When a fire breaks out,

one of the plumbers' blow-torches accidentally ignites

a carpenter's wood shavings outside in the hall,

cutting off all access to the stairs.

You really think this could happen?

The stairs are ablaze. 14 panicked and desperate men

trample their way onto a fire escape

that's, as you say, only designed for 8.

Not very likely is it Mr. Brittas?

Mrs. Dapping, I haven't even considered

the 6 men re-tiling the roof,

after the storm the night before.

What is it Linda?

I've been asked to give you this.

It's from your wife.

Well I'll put your arguments to the committee, Mr. Brittas,

though the likelihood of finding that many people up...

Mr. Brittas are you listening?

If you've seen everything Councillor, perhaps we can make our way downstairs.

Mr. Brittas.

I'm sorry, Councillor, I cannot understand this irrational hostility.

I'm not being hostile, Mr. Brittas.

I'm just saying that it would be a complete waste of money.

Well if you're the one prepared to go on

the 6 o'clock news, surrounded by bodies,

having to admit to Kate Adie,

you didn't think a proper fire escape was necessary.

That's a risk I'll just have to take Mr. Brittas.

I'll put your views to the committee

with my personal recommendation

that they take no notice whatsoever.

Goodbye.

Bye, bye.

I've got something from your wife, Mr. Brittas.

What is it Colin?

I think it's soup.

Well I wouldn't eat it if I were you Mr. Brittas,

there's a certain amount of broken glass.

Alright Colin, I'll look after it.

I know it's broken glass

because I saw her throwing it against the...

Colin, back to your fire point please.

Goodness.

Oh!

[fire whooshes]

Helen, what on Earth are you doing?

Where do you keep the really big envelopes Gordon?

Did you give this to Colin?

Yes, the five minutes were up.

I thought you needed a reminder.

That's it, I'm calling a doctor.

Why?

You're obviously ill.

I'm not ill, I just want what I was promised.

I assure you my darling,

ordinary women do not go around putting soup

into plastic bags and handing it to Colin.

I'm telling Doctor Grey.

Well when he asks, I shall tell him it was your fault.

Mine?

You promised to be here and you weren't!

So, I'm a couple of minutes late.

I have to go a parents' evening tonight.

I want to be calm, I want to be serene and dignified.

I want to bring some inner peace and tranquillity in my life.

For God sake, is that too much to ask for?

Fire!

Fire!

It started in the lost property cupboard.

Which is the quickest way out?

Well you can't use these stairs.

It's a raging inferno down there.

There's been an oil spillage, with flames, fumes, everything.

You'd never get through.

Right, up the stairs everyone.

Come on everybody. Up the stairs quickly.

I'm sorry.

What?

I apologise, I was wrong.

It doesn't matter.

You'll forgive me my darling, but I think it does.

You needed me and I wasn't there.

The least you deserve is an explanation. -Oh Gordon.

Cards on the table time, Helen.

I realise that I should've told you a long time ago

you are not the only woman in my life.

I have a mistress.

No, you don't.

I do.

She's demanding, takes up my time, drains my energies,

and in her own way, she needs me every bit

as much as you do.

When she calls, I can't refuse her.

It's not Mrs. Dapping is it?

I'm talking about The Centre, my love.

You mean the building?

The building, the philosophy, the dream,

and sometimes in forging that dream,

and sometimes in forging that dream,

in the effort of, holding things together

and moulding the whole community into one,

I forget that I have a flesh and blood wife as well.

I see.

I'm torn between conflicting loyalties

and perhaps now is as good a time as any to

remind oneself that deep down,

one of them is far more important than the other.

Which one, Gordon?

Julie. -Yeah?

I believe we have a safety exercise starting -- in 10 minutes.

It's cancelled.

What?

I shall be in conference with my wife

for the next 35 minutes.

I do not wish to be disturbed.

Oh Gordon.

When I say not disturbed, I mean not disturbed.

I do not wish to know about anything happening in this building

short of a major catastrophe.

You can't get out that way. Get off, get off.

It's not safe! There's too many of you.

It won't take your weight.

Gordon Brittas, manager.

Mr. Brittas, how do you do, Carole Jones.

We'll go straight into it if you don't mind.

Fine, no problem.

Ready Peter?

The accident happened early this afternoon

when a fire escape toppled

from the far side of the building behind me

and 14 people fell nearly 80 feet to the ground.

The manager of the leisure centre is Gordon Brittas.

Mr. Brittas, I believe you were in your office

when the accident happened.

Yes, that's right.

When the alarm was raised, I came out to do what I could,

but my staff, who've already been trained

to cope with emergencies, like today's

had done a wonderful job.

I'm very proud of them.

I'm sure you are.

Mr. Brittas, I've been told that this fire escape

was only designed to hold 8 people.

Yes, 8 people, that's right.

And there were 14 on it at the time it broke away from the wall.

Yes.

As leisure centre manager,

isn't it your responsibility to ensure that the safety equipment is adequate?

Certainly. I'd like to put it, on record

that I take full responsibility

for everything that happened here this afternoon.

You do?

Indeed. The only thing I can offer in my defence

is that I do have three letters

that I wrote over a period of months, to the Council

begging them to replace this very fire escape.

Did you get a reply?

A downright refusal at first, but I persisted,

and after the third letter,

they sent someone, at last, to take a look at the problem.

And?

Well, the tragic irony is, that Councillor Dapping

was one of the people involved and injured in the accident.

In fact she fell further than most.

It's all very sad.

And as you can imagine, it will take a long time for me

and my staff to get over the ghastly misfortune of today.

Could we do that one again please?

And I was thinking, maybe we could move over more

in front of the bodies.

And I'll get some of my staff, to move.

Well we can keep that one, shows how people care.

God they look awful don't they?

That's mainly make up of course.

What?

Some of them were involved in a safety training exercise earlier you see.

If you take a look at this wound,

you'll notice... Ooh, that's a real one.

If you look at this one,

that'll just peel off -- probably.

Ready Peter?

Okay, we're ready.

The accident happened early this afternoon,

when a fire escape toppled at the far end of the building behind me

and 14 people fell nearly 80 feet to the ground.

The manager of the leisure centre, is Gordon Brittas.

Mr. Brittas? -Sorry?

Mr. Brittas, as manager of the leisure centre.

Would you excuse me for moment please?

Could you hold those?

Linda, I wonder if you'd give my wife these please.

And she better have these too, and these, and those, and those...