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Subject, Jesmond, Frank.

Jesmond at school was once youth middleweight champion

and also army boxing representative and still keeps

fit training young contenders at a local gym.

Some years in the army fighting abroad and

in Northern Ireland where his record was impressive.

His work for us so far has been

entirely professional.

You're late.

I can't just walk out in the middle

of a sale.

Oh yes, your regular job.

I've got a wife and kid.

Occasional fees from you people are not enough.

Is that a complaint?

Before the briefing even starts you're complaining.

You come strongly recommended, Jesmond, but this is,

shall we say, highly specialised work.

How did you get started in all this?

Down the gym one night after a sparring

session.

I still train young boxers in my spare

time.

Yes, I know.

Why do you suppose they chose you?

There were two of them.

I never saw them again.

They said they'd been watching me and they

thought I had the killer instinct.

Very subtle.

And how did you begin?

They just wanted someone roughed up.

But you graduated to hire things.

Right.

And newspapers have called your jobs very professional.

Big headlines, no clues.

Very professional.

And yet...

there is something.

I like any man I hire to be

in complete possession of himself, in control.

No personal or emotional involvement.

I've never blown a job yet.

At one point.

How do you feel?

Afterwards.

I was in the army for years.

Seen a lot of blows killed.

Killed some myself.

No regrets?

No remorse?

No-one's ever done a thing for me.

It's dog-eat-dog in this life.

Anyway, some people are asking for it.

The way they live.

And you're the angel of death, meeting out

justice?

I just do a job.

You're a good man with a gun, Jesmond.

That's one of the problems.

I don't believe in all that old-fashioned

gangland stuff.

For this assignment, a certain finesse.

Are you up to it?

In some ways, you realise, it's more risky.

Does that mean more money?

I could get someone else.

No.

Money problem?

We live in expensive times.

Your fee could be a little higher than

usual.

Or, if all goes well, a bonus.

OK.

I'll do it.

All decided, have you?

Look, Jesmond, I'm the one who says OK.

OK?

Yeah.

But I've seen you now.

Haven't I?

Oh, Jesmond, you've got me so worried.

Sit down.

We don't insist on it, but one of

the methods open to you, and very safe,

we think.

No colour, no taste, and very difficult to

trace.

You're joking.

This is comic book stuff.

There won't be time to read a comic

book before that works.

Don't worry.

We have a highly skilled chemist advising us.

Our target flew in from the States today.

How long for?

It has to be tonight.

He's been in America for years.

One of our chaps who did very well

out there.

Something of a golden boy, you know?

Everything he touches...

Wait a minute.

These big corporations.

My tangle would end up with their own

hitmen out looking for me.

This is nothing to do with business.

Strictly a private affair.

He's been playing around.

So he must pay the price.

A woman?

As we understand it, he has a sort

of cocktail party launching of some new project,

then a brief private meeting with some government

bureaucrat.

No official dinner engagements, so in between business...

and pleasure, he'll be back at his hotel.

Have a quick meal on his own before...

What's his name?

You may have heard of him.

He gets into the papers often enough.

His name's Madison.

Peter Madison.

And I don't want any mistakes.

Peter Madison.

Peter Mad...

Jimmy?

Hello, Dad.

I thought I told you not to come

here.

I was just wondering about a lift home.

You shouldn't be out of school this early,

should you?

Trip to a museum.

It was boring.

I cut out.

You did what?

How much is one of these?

Yes, well...

I'm sure you'll appreciate these are for the

use of senior representatives only, not just anyone

in the firm.

A question of trust and privilege.

Where the hell have you been all afternoon?

Someone came in to look at this jag.

But I didn't have an appointment.

I felt damn stupid when it wasn't here.

I was with a client.

But you can't just take off.

Why didn't you leave a message?

I thought I did.

You're blowing it, Frank.

I've got a lot on my mind.

Look, get it together, Frank.

It's not the first time and you're not

so brilliant that we can't manage without you,

OK?

I'm sorry.

Not good enough.

Don't you ever come here again.

Understand?

Where's our car?

In the back car park.

It won't be a minute.

Here, take this.

Wealthy businessman returns from US to make lavish

endowment to old school.

Best sports complex in this country, thanks to

Peter Madison.

The district surveyor agrees with the builder that

it's not just the roof, it's the bay

window as well.

Do we have to get into all that

now?

Could I just enjoy my supper?

I'm sorry.

You look ever so tired again.

This meat's tough.

I've had it on the slow burner all

day.

Why do I always have stew?

Casserole, if you don't mind.

Same thing.

Don't contradict your mother.

On the days I go into work, it's

the easiest thing, that's all.

I wish you'd give up that job.

I just don't like the idea, my wife

in a shop.

Actually, it may be giving me up.

I thought they liked you there.

They do, but business is slack and part

time people are usually the first ones to

be put off.

How was work today?

Oh.

Our score was in the paper.

Oh?

Timmy, give it here.

This American came and endowed it.

Biggest sports centre in the country.

He's not an American.

Do you know him?

Oh.

Peter Madison.

Was he there when you were there, Frank?

He's in my year, yes.

Really?

He looks so much younger.

I'm sure he does.

Never had a thing to worry about in

his whole life, has he?

Everything given to him by his doting parents.

Money, clothes, cars.

Some people have all the luck.

I had to work three nights a week

and weekends to help my folks get me

through.

Very grateful they were to kick me out.

Let's not have your family tonight, all right?

You just don't understand the advantages some men

start with.

His people had millions.

I mean millions.

Of course he looks younger than I do.

He must be good.

What?

It's very competitive in America.

He must be good.

Are you arguing with me?

Are you telling me I'm a fool?

Hey!

Timmy, go and watch your programme.

It's not on yet.

Go on, take your food in with you.

Will you tell me what's wrong?

You haven't smiled in weeks, months.

You drive yourself so.

It can't be necessary.

The roof and the bay window will pay

for themselves.

We're not rich.

And the mortgage.

I know which bet we ever will be,

but who cares?

We're no worse off than thousands of others.

Probably a lot better off than some people.

It's what you're doing to us as a

family.

Timmy's almost frightened of you, you know.

These rages you get into.

We have each other.

We have Timmy.

We'll be all right.

We'll manage.

You see, we will.

It's not enough for you, is it?

You're a good car salesman.

Can't you set it up properly?

For that, you get these large bonuses.

Chicken food.

Won't get me anywhere in the long run.

If you knew what I had to do

to get them.

Just...

Just stand by me.

Don't let me down.

I'm not criticising you.

I just can't bear to see you eaten

up with envy and...

I have to go out.

Where?

Don't ask.

We need the money.

I'll get the money.

Are you cheating your firm?

Frank, is that where this money's coming from?

It's got nothing to do with my firm.

Well, what is it, then?

Just a good car salesman.

If you knew.

Well, tell me.

Morning.

Peter Madison.

I'm sorry, I don't know you.

Frank.

Frank Jesmond.

From school.

Frank, how are you?

I'm fine, great.

How are you?

It's good to see you.

Good to see you.

You remembered me?

Yeah, of course.

You were in the papers sometimes.

You were at the school today, weren't you?

Yeah, that's right.

Are you staying here?

No, just having a drink with a friend.

My God, this is great.

It's really great.

I never get to see any of the

guys from those days.

I spend most of my time in the

States.

Would you believe I was looking at a

photograph of you only this morning?

You were?

Yeah, at the school.

That brought back a flood of memories, I

can tell you.

I really used to envy you.

Envy me?

Come on.

Oh, yeah.

I mean, you were the champ, right?

You still look like you're in pretty good

shape.

Yeah, I'm all right.

Mike.

Yeah, sure.

I mean, I wasn't a bad all-rounder,

but...

I never had that little extra, you know?

It really was your year, wasn't it?

Number one.

What are you doing?

Come have a drink with me.

Well, I don't...

Oh, come on, Frank.

I'm right in here.

Okay.

Frank Jessmans.

My God, this doesn't beat all.

A nicer day I haven't had in years.

You know, Dusty Miller's still teaching there.

He's got to be 150.

He never did get to be head.

He stayed there all those years watching people

come and go.

Imagine that.

Were they grateful for your donation?

Yeah, I think so.

Made me feel good to do it.

Does that sound self-indulgent?

That's what I'm always accused of.

With money, I always seem to be giving

myself a good time.

Some people get very jealous.

Do they?

Yeah, I suppose some do.

It's funny.

I expected you to be a much tougher

kind of bloke to get on in the

business world, as you have.

I'm lucky.

I've always been lucky.

I had everything given to me right from

the start by two parents who adored me.

God love them.

I suppose they meant well.

Been trying to break the influence ever since.

It was important to me to do something

on my own.

Build something for myself.

Prove I could, I guess.

I never had to trample on anyone in

order to get somewhere.

I didn't need to make myself tough.

All the best.

Cheers.

I'm a pretty good businessman, though.

I come up with some good ideas, and

they sell.

Yes, well, that's the difference, isn't it?

You were given everything right from the start.

That's right.

It's good seeing you again.

You look well.

Only trim.

I believe in it.

That's the only thing that's ever brought me

any glory, my own strength.

Tell me, Frank, how you doing?

Not as well as I'd like to.

Married?

Yep.

Kids?

One boy.

He's...

He'd like to love me, but his contempt

gets in the way.

You sound embittered.

That's easy for someone like you to say.

Sure.

Well, I'm not lucky in every department, you

know.

Marriage?

Two so far.

Both ended in divorce.

Not that I'm complaining.

I mean, women are so available.

Well, I've got to see someone tonight.

She's an old friend.

We get together whenever I'm in this country.

A lovely person, and she is safely married.

It's a bit risky, isn't it?

I knew somebody who used to do that

kind of thing.

He got badly beaten up by...

some of her husband's friends.

Not in the circles I'm moving.

It's all very discreet.

Of course.

Look, I've got a call to make.

You freshen up the drinks, get yourself nice

and relaxed, and then I want you to

tell me all your problems.

Oh, why not?

It's what old friends are for, right?

Can you speak?

It's all right.

I'd like to see you.

Look, next month I'll be over for a

long weekend.

I don't have a lot of time.

I'll be seeing you.

At the usual place.

I bumped into an old friend.

I'll tell you all about him.

All right, see you tonight.

Bye.

Well, that's all fixed.

What it is to be successful, eh?

Well, here's to success.

To your success.

Mine?

Yeah.

Yours, Frank.

Why not?

You know, seeing you makes me feel like

a kid again.

All that promise, all that hope.

Yes.

Where did it all go to, eh?

I've had a great idea.

It's so simple and logical.

I don't know why I didn't think of

it the second I saw you in the

corridor.

I want you to come work for me.

Look, I gave that school today a fantastic

recreation centre.

That's what my company manufactures, after all, sporting

goods.

We've got branches all over the world.

Yet not one of them has a recreation

centre attached to it.

This is, uh...

It's been on my mind for some time.

I look at my colleagues getting...

getting thick round the middle.

Young guys drinking too much, don't get enough

exercise.

Now, it'd be great for our image as

a company.

It'd be good for the staff.

But who to put in charge, that's been

my problem.

Well, you've solved it.

You've got all the qualities it needs.

Look, I'll buy you out of whatever you're

doing now.

I'll pay off...

What have you got?

You got a house, mortgage?

I'll take care of all your debts.

I'll transport you and your family to our

headquarters and I'll find the very best school

for your son.

The salary will be generous, I can promise

you that.

There'd be a fair bit of travel in

it.

I mean, supervising, setting up each new centre.

What's up, Frank?

You can't believe your luck?

I don't think you'll, uh...

I don't think you'll ever get another opportunity

quite like this.

Well, don't just stand there, man.

I mean, take it.

Oh, God!

Frank!