Letters from the Big Man Page #2

Always Jack the Lad.

Do you think these people

care if you went to prison,

never get a job down a mine?

Danny, I know it could

have been anyone else.

The point is, it was you.

And I stood by you

because it was a principle there.

It was about leading ordinary,

decent lives. We fought for that.

I never wanted to see you hurt.

I love you.

Isn't that enough?

You don't have to go out and get

yourself brain damage just to

prove you're still Danny Scoular.

Go to sleep.

I took the man's money, Beth.

And you could just give it back.

Roll over Sugar Ray Robinson!

Bite your bum Muhammad Ali!

In the red corner,

the man you wouldn't

take home to see your sister,

Thornbank's answer to Rocky Marciano,

the mad miner himself, Danny Scoular.

# Here we go, here we go,

here we go! #

Dad, dad! Come in.

Go on your bike. Go on.

Mum, dad's going running - running!

I know.

Come on.

Come on. Keep those knees up now.

Come on!

You're running like a big jessie.

So who's this I'm fighting, Frankie?

What do you want to know that for?

All you have to do is

batter the sh*t out of him.

Slow down, you bastard.

I'm the pacemaker.

Slow down before I lose

my balls in this saddle!

Danny!

Danny!

Hey!

Look at that.

Still in working order.

You know where they bring

the coal in from now? China.

Good riddance. Let the chinkies

do it. That's what I say.

That was more than a job, Frankie.

That was worth fighting for.

Not for me it isn't.

What did they do for you and

the rest? Where did it get you?

Thornbank, land of the living dead.

Your brains are boiled away until

there's nothing left in the bag.

Look at me - made my own way

in the world, a travelled man.

America, the Wild West!

You were always a bloody

cowboy, Frank.

HORN HONKS:

Hello! Yeah!

Beth! What are you doing? Beth!

He's running now. Faster, dad.

Faster.

Kids! No!

Hello, darling.

Here you go. Come now.

Oh, Beth.

They're my kids too.

Stay quiet. Don't move.

I'll fix the tea.

Other men have shifted themselves,

made something of themselves

after the strike. Not Danny.

He organises his life with the

precision of a road accident.

Everything I loved about him

makes me angry now.

He could get up and do something

at a moment's notice. I loved that.

But he can't concentrate on anything

for longer than five minutes.

And if he does do anything -

if he irons a shirt - he

expects a gold medal for it.

He doesn't understand he's

got to take what's there -

the oil rigs, van driving,

cleaning windows, whatever it is.

And now he's working for gangsters?!

Thinks he's Jack the Lad again!

For God's sake, how can you

hope to bring the kids up decent?

He doesn't even know himself

what he believes in.

I gave up everything for him,

Gordon and college and...

Beginning to sound like my mother.

Everything she said about us...

it was all true.

Sometimes you sound as if we'd

brought you up as a punishment.

Your mother happens to be my wife.

Another day, another dollar!

I want you on the road in ten.

Why me?

Why you what?

Why did Mason pick me?

Mr Mason's been like a father to me.

Trust me. Up and out. Shake it!

Oi! Where you going? Danny!

Hey!

Bastard.

Mr Murtagh.

About the job -

I've come about the job.

Sorry. Mr...?

Scoular, Danny Scoular.

The interviews were

yesterday, Mr Scoular.

I know I'm late, but I'm here now.

Just ask me some questions.

I need the job.

Do you have any

van driving experience?

You know, I've always

wanted to be a van driver.

What are your qualifications?

I was a miner, 13 years.

I see you have a criminal record,

Mr Scoular.

Not a criminal record -

a political record.

Hardly a qualification

for driving a van.

What sort of qualifications

are you looking for?

I don't want to waste

time here, Mr Scoular.

We've had a lot of applicants.

With qualifications?

We have applicants

with impressive credentials.

Hey!

What about that for credentials?

My arse flat enough

for the seat in the van?

I think the interview's

over, Mr Scoular.

Aye.

Hi, Danny! Hey, ladies.

Danny, here's some steak to keep

your strength up and something

for Billy, the dog.

Thanks, Alec.

Danny, vitamin C, multivitamins,

iron, ginseng!

That'll make you run like the wind!

Thanks!

Frankie!

So how's it going, then?

Give us a news bulletin.

Nae bother, son. Floats like

a butterfly, stings like a bee.

We're just prising up the edge of

the envelope here. No pain, no gain.

HORN HONKS:

Hi, Eddie.

Nice of you to show up.

Your man's looking

brilliant, 100% on target.

All right, Danny?

Last time I saw one of those,

Hitler was in it.

Where's the Big Man today?

Mr Mason sent you this.

I'm in the dark, Eddie.

Ah, it's the best way.

The man I'm to fight?

Cutty Dawson. Is that his name?

Did you not know that?

Who does Cutty Dawson fight for?

Don't ask me about Cutty Dawson.

Be a pal. Just don't ask. Come on!

Come on! All right. Hey, hey!

Ever get the feeling you're being

played for a shithead, Eddie?

Perhaps Mason better find

himself another monkey.

Ask Frankie.

He's got a big gob on him.

Ask him about a man called Colvin.

Cam Colvin!

So he's looking good?

Aye, he's looking good.

Well, I'm glad he's looking good.

You think The Big Man's

all he's cracked up to be, eh?

He battered Billy.

Could have been a lucky punch.

Oh, thank you.

Frankie was thinking of getting

some of the Thornbank boys

to come up to the fight.

Forget it. Home team.

Frankie was saying

that psychologically speaking,

he needs motivation.

He needs a reason to fight.

Did you give him the money?

Aye, I did.

A man of principle. I see.

Mr Stalker. Uh-huh.

Mr Colvin.

Mr Mason.

Stalker, you should be in Spain.

Just leave it open.

Come on, Billy.

OK, Eddie?

Yeah, I'm OK.

Eddie, how's it going?

Come on. Get in.

Move over, Billy boy.

Come on!

DRUMS START UP:

BAGPIPES START UP

CHEERING:

Danny, you take care,

and remember - you're not just

going up there for yourself.

The whole village is behind you,

so don't let us down, son.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Go on.

All the best, Danny.

Gaun yersel, Danny!

These are your people,

Danny, hearts of gold.

Get away with you - "land of

the living dead", is that not

what you called them?

Good luck to you, Danny!

Huh?

DOG BARKING:

INSECTS CHIRP:

KNOCKING:

HORN HONKING:

DOOR CLANGS:

Is this your man? What do you think?

I'll soon tell you.

Come on. Jab. Push it. Go on.

Give it your best. Come on. Jab.

Push it. On your face. That's it.

Jab. Come on, Danny, elbow in.

One, two, three.

Double jab, right cross.

Too slow. Come on. Jab.

That's it. Elbow in, Danny.

Double jab, right cross! Again.

Come on! One, two, three!

Come on, Danny!

Ah!

Time!

I want you to take

Billy the dog back to Beth.

Why?

He farts in the night.

It's getting on my nerves.

He can come in with me if you like.

I want you to take Billy

the dog back to Beth.

HORN HONKING:

Is Beth still at her mother's?

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