Original subtitles

Of course, I should have known.

Now, sir, I'm afraid I can't serve you any petrol.

What's the trouble then?

They've got a new pump attendant.

Is that all?

Seems to be enough.

And getting the bucket of water and sponge

that we do provide free of charge. It's not to wash your face you know!

What is going on here?

Well as far as I can tell,

that elderly gentleman in the grey suit

has just had his ignition keys confiscated

until such time as he's cleaned his windscreen properly.

You're kidding?

I'm afraid not.

And I'd say that was just the start.

I don't care if you're the Queen of Sheba, get back in your car.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

Well yes, I have actually. I used to work for him.

Can I have your attention please, everyone,

would you all like to wind down your windows, so you can hear me?

Right, now,

we obviously have a bit of a problem here

with such a high demand for petrol this morning.

So this is what I'm gonna do,

I'm gonna go over to my office,

get some paper, issue each person with a number,

depending on what time they arrived,

petrol will then be served consecutively to each customer.

I think that's the fairest way to do it.

So, if you'd all like to form an orderly queue please, over at my office.

Time to go, I think.

Don't you want no petrol then? -Not that much, no.

And if you've got anything important to do this morning,

I suggest you do the same, while you still can.

Well, I've been running empty for the last 20 miles.

If I go any further, I'll end up walking to the nearest garage.

I think you might find that's quicker.

Oh Julie, if you're going up to the office, could you take some of this money?

It's just the notes really, I had to take them all out of the till,

I couldn't close the drawer.

What, all this is money?

Yes, and the other one.

I'm afraid I haven't had time to count them yet.

Oh don't worry, I'll do that.

Just as soon as I've finished rubbing it all over my body.

A bit of a change from the old days, isn't it?

You could say.

No more empty, silent corridors

and Mr Brittas pacing around, wondering why nobody's come.

More peaceful now isn't it.

Carole. -Morning, Laura.

Goodness, I've never seen the car park so full!

Is anything special happening here today?

No, no, things just seem to have picked up a bit.

Come for the rest of your things?

Yes, yes.

Laura, I have to ask you a favour.

Sure.

I've got Ben outside in the car,

and when he knew we were coming here today, he was so excited.

I wondered if, if anyone would mind if...

You want to put him back in his cupboard?

It's where he grew up, Laura. He's been so terribly homesick.

It'll only be for an hour or so, Mrs Brittas wants to be gone by 12.

Helen! She's here?

Yes, in the staff room I think.

Ooh.

Hello Helen.

Morning, Laura.

I was just helping myself to a coffee, is that alright?

Of course it is. -Do you want one?

Yes please.

How are you? -Oh, not so bad.

Well, fairly bad.

You know Carole's living with us now.

And her children.

And Gordon.

Oh yes, I saw him this morning.

Did you?

At a garage, starting his new job.

Oh that.

Oh, he's lost that I'm afraid. -Really?

Yeah, he was back home by 10 past nine.

At least that meant he didn't get blamed for the flour.

Flour?

You didn't hear about the lorry? -No.

Well, there was this big flour tanker

that had been queuing for petrol since about eight o'clock,

and the driver got a bit impatient, and decided to reverse out,

ripped open the side of his lorry on a steel girder

and sent 6,000 cubic feet of self raising flour, blowing across the dual carriageway.

Well I mean, you can imagine. -Yes, I can.

The police had to send in a snow plough in the end.

Good job it didn't rain.

I'm sure Gordon would have been blamed for it if he hadn't already got the sack.

Helen, how is he, in himself?

Awful, Laura.

It's broken his heart leaving here.

It's like living with Greyfriars Bobby.

Well, it meant a lot to him.

And the awful thing is, he still believes deep down

he's coming back. But he's not is he?

I mean, can you imagine any circumstance

in which the same local authority might be persuaded to have him back?

Frankly, no.

No. And yet he comes in at every opportunity he gets.

He's up in his office now.

Helen!

Oh, I'm doing it as well now.

It's not his office any more is it?

It's what's his name, Andy?

Alan.

Phew!

Call yourself a leisure centre manager, Mr Digby?

Oi, can I help you?

Ah, it's you.

I'm sorry, you startled me, Alan.

I thought I told you yesterday, Mr Brittas,

as much as I appreciate your wanting to help

and give us the benefit of your advice...

No, no, that's not why I'm here.

Not today.

No?

I came to give this to the staff.

It's a little token of my appreciation, for all their loyalty over the years.

And I wondered, could you spare me a couple

of minutes during the lunch time staff meeting?

We don't have any lunchtime staff meetings any more, Mr Brittas.

My policy is to let the staff do their work, then have their dinner.

But if you'd like to take your little present down to the staff room

and leave it on the table with a note, I'm sure someone will find it.

Right.

I'll do that then, that's what I'll do.

Oh Al, you know about the bin do you?

What?

Someone's put the foot hygiene book in the bin.

And the blacklist of children banned from The Centre.

And my personal notes on the staff,

you don't want to lose those, Al.

No, thank you.

There's a lot of very important details about their private lives in there.

Come in.

Oh, Mr Brittas.

Ah Tim, what is it?

It's Fiona's first aid class.

She seems to have lost two of the children. I wondered whether...

Alright Tim, don't panic. Get Laura to gather up the staff

and organise a search of the surrounding woodlands.

I'll get on to the police.

Tell Fiona, there's a couple of girls

like to slip off to the loos for a smoke, will you Tim?

I'll be down in two minutes.

Right. Two minutes?

Is that a problem?

No.

No, I suppose it probably isn't.

Whoa, I'm not sure that was wise, Al.

Mr Brittas.

Dealing will children, and I speak with experience here.

Mr Brittas!

I don't think you've heard a word I've been saying, have you?

I don't want your advice. I don't want any lectures.

I don't want to hear how things used to be done when you here!

Now, it's very nice of you to bring a present.

I suggest you take it downstairs,

give it to someone, and then -- leave!

So we can all get on with our work!

Goodbye.

You got any idea where I can find a garage, mate?

Well, there's one up by the dual carriageway. -No.

No? -No thanks.

Well, the only other one's back towards town.

Right.

It's a two mile walk I'm afraid. -Excellent!

That is wonderful, Mr Brittas.

It is rather, Colin.

I got it last year in Italy at Verdi's birthplace souvenir shop.

A clock? -That's right, Tim, a musical clock.

Every hour, on the hour it plays Verdi's Anvil Chorus.

And this little chap here, bangs out the time.

Every hour?

That's right, Julie.

There's summat to look forward to.

Would you like to make your presentation speech now, Mr Brittas?

No, Colin. I'll wait until a few more people arrive.

I've got quite a bit to say and I'd like...

Gavin!

Come on in.

I can't stop, I'm afraid, Mr Brittas. I've just got a message for Tim.

Bouncy castle's arrived.

Oh, right.

I hope they remembered the pump this time. I'm not blowing it up on my own again.

Oh, I'll get that.

Hello, yeah.

Okay, okay, I'm on my way.

You've got to go as well, Julie?

Oh, Scottish dancing in the main hall, Mr Brittas.

They need me to play the accordion.

Colin, there's a blocked toilet in the downstairs gents again.

Alan says, can you fix it.

Cheers.

It's been like this ever since you left, Mr Brittas.

Rushing here, rushing there.

Nobody seems to have time to sit down and talk any more.

Well, things are going to be different with the new man, Colin.

Alan.

You've got to give him time to settle in.

He cancelled my course on herbal healing yesterday.

What?

Alan.

He said it wasn't important just because nobody ever came.

Well...

You never cancelled anything just because nobody ever came, Mr Brittas.

You always said the important thing was to be there.

Colin.

But you can't be there can you, not if they've cancelled your course.

Colin.

These are not easy times for any of us.

What you have to remember is,

it's the difficult times that help to make us grow.

Sorry Mr Brittas?

That's why I bought you this clock, Colin.

Life is like this smithy.

We are the iron.

Now it may be uncomfortable to suffer

the blows of the hammer and the heat of the furnace,

but that is how iron is turned into steel.

That is how we are forged ourselves

into better, stronger people.

Right, Mr Brittas.

Now I want you to go down and fix that toilet,

and all the time you're there with your hand up the bowl,

I want you to say to yourself,

I am being forged in the fire.

Right, Mr Brittas.

You know, that's what we've missed since you've been gone,

someone who always knows the right thing to say.

Oh, no!

Please, no.

What?

I mean...

Why?

You've got quite a lot of stuff, haven't you Carole?

It's amazing how it builds up, isn't it Mrs Brittas.

It's not until you move that you realise just exactly how much you've got.

You don't want to get rid of any of it, do you?

Like this for instance?

What is it?

I'm not quite sure.

But someone's been sick in it.

Quite a long time ago.

Oh no, Mrs Brittas, you can't get rid of that.

Ben's got all his Christmas money in there -- somewhere.

Alright Carole, let's go.

I've moved the car around to the back,

so that we can carry everything straight through.

Good morning sir, how can I help you?

There's a car parked outside, a grey Nova, H reg.

You got any idea who's it is? -Oh I think that might be Mr Brittas.

Yeah, well could you tell him to move it please.

It's blocking in my gas tanker.

What's going on? -Sorry, Alan?

What's all this?

Electrical repairs?

I haven't ordered any electrical repairs.

The lady's dealing with me at the moment, if you don't mind.

What?

She is dealing with me, alright?

Oh, sorry.

So...

I think you'll find Mrs Brittas is just moving the car.

They might even have gone -- by the time you get back.

What the hell are you doing?

What are you going to do about Ben, Carole?

I thought I'd leave him there, Mrs Brittas.

He's quite happy having a little scamper through the ventilation system.

Carole, I'm not sure that you can...

Someone plugged up the hole at the back

of the drawer, but he was through it in no time.

And I couldn't bear to bring him in,

not when he's having such a good time.

Are these all ours, Mrs Brittas? -Just chuck it in, Carole.

Oi!

Sorry Al, what was that?

I said what the hell are you doing?!

My little present to the staff. I think you'll find it will help

in terms of timekeeping and punctuality.

I'll tell you what would help with time keeping and punctuality.

What would help with time keeping and punctuality,

is my staff being able to get into their staff room!

You've blocked off all the doors!

Standard procedure when working with power tools, Al.

Patrick had to cancel a Judo lesson

because he couldn't get in here to get his kit!

Now, how am I...

You've been fiddling about with the noticeboard again, haven't you?

Just a few errors in punctuation and spelling, Al.

Oh, and I've made a few minor alterations to the timetable.

I think you'll find if Colin does pool duty on Thursday...

That does it! Out!

What?

I said -- out!

Take it easy, Al.

Someone's going to get hurt.

Too right someone's gonna get hurt.

In fact, if you're not out of this building in the next 10 seconds,

someone's going to get very seriously injured!

Now come on, out.

As from now, you are banned from this building, do you hear me?

Banned!

And don't let me catch you with so much as a foot in this building again.

Mr Brittas, your wife said she'll pick you up later.

Sorry, Linda?

Your wife.

Apparently the car was very full, so she'll call back for you in about an hour.

Would you like to wait in the staff room?

No, I'll wait outside I think, Linda.

A bit of fresh air.

They've only gone and driven off with it now. -What?

My can of diesel, they've put in the back of the car, and they've driven off with it.

Well, I'm sorry.

How am I supposed to deliver your gas if I can't move my damn lorry?

You're delivering gas?

No, not if I can't drive it to your tank I'm not.

We had a gas delivery yesterday. Yes, here we are.

Alan rang up for it specially.

Don't start mucking me about, love.

I've got an order here,

signed by your manager.

Oh dear, I see what's happened.

What?

This is signed by the old manager, Mr Brittas.

He must have ordered them before he...

I'll erm, have a word with Alan.

Brittas.

Alan?

Alan, there's a man at the desk who...

Alan,

are you alright?

Yeah, I'm fine Linda.

Absolutely fine.

What does he want, this man?

Well he's rather unhappy because he's got an order for gas from Mr Brittas.

That big fellow is it?

Yes, I suppose he is -- fairly.

Well, in that case, you can tell him that the order was a practical joke

and give him Mr Brittas' home address and phone number.

Haven't got any cigarettes have you?

I don't smoke, Alan. Mr Brittas always...

Yes, yes, I'm sure he did.

Tell Laura she's in charge, for the next 10 minutes, will you.

I've got to -- pop into town.

Right.

Well, I'm still stuck in Whitbury, haven't had a cha...

Yes well, I keep trying to tell... Yes, yes alright! As soon as I can.

You'll need to get a bit closer than that.

You what?

If you want to deliver the propane, you'll need to get a bit closer than that.

Because your hose won't reach it from there.

It's too short, I can tell.

Oh you can, can you?

Yes. I used to be the manager here.

You're that geezer in the garage this morning, ain't you?

Pardon?

What's your name?

Mr Brittas, I thought you'd left. -I'm trying to, Tim.

Come here.

Linda, where's Alan?

He's had to pop out for 10 minutes, Laura. He told me to tell you, you're in charge.

Oh great.

Anything wrong? -There's no gas in the kitchens.

There's a birthday party of 24 children

expecting hamburgers and nothing to cook on.

I thought we had a delivery yesterday? -We did.

We can't have got through a whole tank unless...

Can you smell anything?

No.

I can.

Oh my God.

Phone the gas board, Linda. We've got a leak.

Can anyone smell gas?

There's a leak in the staff room. -Staff room, how?

I don't know but it's probably got something

to do with the electric drill stuck in the wall.

I better go and turn it off at the tank. Julie, I think we've got a gas leak.

Can you turn off the power at the main fuse?

No, Gavin's doing the tank,

Linda's phoning the gas board, and I'm just about to evacuate the building.

I don't know where Alan is, he's gone out. God knows where!

Attention please, your attention please!

Would everyone please leave the leisure centre

via the nearest exit immediately.

I repeat, please leave The Centre immediately.

Laura?

What's happening?

A gas leak?

Alright, don't panic, I'm on my way.

Brittas.

Yes Colin, I know there's a gas leak,

I'm coming up to deal with it now.

Colin, get Laura to turn the electricity off.

The most important thing is to make sure

there's no chance of a spark.

Help, somebody help me!

Come on everybody, this way.

Mr Brittas, are you alright?

Try and keep everyone moving, Colin. -But Mr Brittas...

Go on Colin. I'm not sure how long this thing's gonna hold up!

Go Colin! Get them all out of here.

Quick as you can!

Laura, how are things looking upstairs?

Not good Mr Brittas. All the other entrances are blocked.

I think we got everyone out though. How long will the ceiling hold?

Are you alright?

Don't worry about me, Laura, just get everyone out!

Go on Laura, run.

Laura!

Don't let Colin give anyone mouth to mouth!

Is there anybody else still down there?

Only Mr Brittas.

And he's there all by himself, he's holding up the ceiling.

He's what?

It's unbelievable. He was just standing there.

He must have a backbone of steel.

And he kept...

Laura. You alright?

Yeah, I think so.

It looks like we lost a couple of Fiona's first aid class an' all.

What?

Yeah, she thought we'd got them all out, but there's two missing.

Probably went off for a quick smoke.

God, what a mess.

The cause of the explosion seems to have been a leaking gas pipe,

and the fire then spread to engulf a tanker parked just outside The Centre.

The staff managed to evacuate most of the building

but it's feared that at least three people lost their lives.

The death toll would've been even higher

but for the extraordinary bravery of one man,

Gordon Brittas.

Colin Weatherby, the assistant manager, saw what happened.

I certainly did, Janine.

You were trapped in a basement corridor, Colin.

Can you tell us how you got out? -It was Mr Brittas.

He just sort of, held up the ceiling on his shoulders.

And like a rock, he just stood there alone.

Until you and the others managed to get by?

Right.

I was just saying to one of my colleagues, now there's

only one left down in the cellar, but the roof caved in.

Yes. How do you feel about what Mr Brittas did?

I'll tell you this, Janine,

at the bottom of that Centre lies a big, big man.

Ben, what's happened to him?

What's happened?

She left her child in the ventilation system.

Ben?

What are you doing here, Ben?

It's alright Ben, Uncle Gordy's not cross.

In fact, Uncle Gordy would like you to help him.

You see that first aid box?

I want you to open it and bring me the scissors.

The scissors, Ben.

That'll probably do the trick.

Mrs Brittas?

What?

Mrs Brittas, I just wanted to ask you how you felt about what your husband did?

Well I'm appalled, obviously.

Sorry?

I know I'm his wife, and I'm probably not supposed to say this,

but, well, look at it. He's really done it this time.

I don't quite follow?

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I, I really am very angry.

Helen?

He wasn't even running the place, he was just visiting.

Helen, it wasn't Gordon.

What?

The fire, it wasn't his fault.

Your husband is a hero, Mrs Brittas, and I just want...

Will you just keep out of this a minute. What's happening here, where is Gordon?

Helen, he's dead.

Dead?

Gordon?

But he can't be.

Helen, I know it's difficult to accept.

No, no, I can accept it. It's just that, if Gordon's dead,

who's that?

Tell me Mr Brittas,

how did you feel when you heard that Her Majesty

had awarded you the George medal?

Unbelievable, Janine. Absolutely bowled over.

You weren't expecting it?

Certainly not, no.

I didn't think I'd done anything really.

I just happened to be the bloke under the beam at the time.

You must be very proud of him,Mrs Brittas?

Oh sorry, are you talking to me?

I was saying you must be very proud of him?

Who?

Your husband.

Oh, oh yes, yes.

He's got a medal you know.

Yes.

Well Mr Brittas, now that the previous manager has resigned

after admitting publicly that he'd popped out

to a pub while his centre burned to the ground,

we wondered if it was true that you might be taking over

the new leisure centre in Whitbury? -Well!

The tabloids have been demanding it very forcibly.

They've been extremely supportive, yes.

And if I'm offered the job, I will of course be proud to accept.

I've always thought managing a leisure centre

had to be one of the most satisfying jobs in the world.

As a matter of fact, it's all I ever wanted to do.

Help bring people together.

I suppose you could say, it's my dream.

Right, no silly faces please.

Right, everyone say smile.

Say smile everyone, to the lens. Smile. Smile.