Made in Dagenham Page #3

I could do

with a cup of tea.

I could do with something

a lot stronger than that.

Now, I realize this is

my first day in the job

and it may be

that I am missing something here,

but when we were elected

two years ago,

it was on a wave

of optimism

that Labour would utilize its

close relationship with the unions

to develop manufacturing industry

so that it would better serve

the employer

and the employee.

Yes, I think that was

in the manifesto.

It was. Trust me.

So, what have you been doing

since 1966?

I...

Two years this department has had

in which

to make a difference.

Shall we see what has been

achieved in the last 12 months?

Twenty-six thousand strikes

in the United Kingdom,

with the resulting loss

of 5 million working days.

Unions and management

barely talking to each other,

productivity levels

through the floor,

and our balance of payments,

the wrong side of catastrophic.

It's hardly the stuff to set

the champagne corks popping, is it?

Thank you.

See yourselves out.

Here you are, babes,

you forgot your flask.

I love you Dave, cheers.

You too, darling. Good luck.

You get stuck in, girls.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Monica, that's yours.

Cheers, love.

Happy with that.

It's a holiday.

What's this? A mothers' meeting?

Hey, cheeky sod. Are you all right?

How you getting on?

Give us half a chance.

Good luck.

See you later.

Come on, ladies, let's hear you.

Bye. See you later.

Cheers, Eddie.

What have you done to your eyes?

It's amazing, isn't it?

My friend showed me how.

Scouts everywhere. That's

how Twiggy got discovered.

Up west, you dozy sod,

not Dagenham.

You never know.

We'd better shut this gate.

I've spelt it right,

haven't I?

Close the gate.

I know.

At least they know we're serious, eh?

Not as helpless as they thought.

Come on then, girls.

No more seats today, Mr. Ford.

Come on, girls, let's get together.

What if we form a line or something?

Line up there.

Yeah.

Hold the banners up.

- We need some in the back.

- Standing?

- Like that.

- Come on, then.

That's it.

Here we go.

Like this?

Yeah.

They're running low

on finished seats.

So get these down

to the Cortina line,

then come back for the Escorts.

They're calling.

Come on.

Anyone fancy a cuppa?

Yeah.

Tea's up, ladies.

Come on.

Yeah, put that down a bit.

That's gonna

hurt your arms.

Get me Tooley.

Stand by, girls, could be trouble.

- Hello, girls.

- What's Brenda got?

Tea's up. Bananas,

apples, pears, the lot.

Thanks for the ride, Arthur.

He's lovely.

Brenda, you never.

- Why not? He's gorgeous.

- I would.

Just as I was leaving with the fruit,

he goes:

"I believe all the workers of the world

should unite." So I thought:

"I can help you

with that one straight away."

So I did.

Hey, Peter. Bobby here.

What can I do for you?

We've got another dispute,

I'm afraid.

Another one? Who is it this week?

It's the women.

Quick. Quick, quick.

Come along, girls.

You're gonna get soaked, love.

Oh, no. They're

gonna drip, aren't they?

- It'll pass.

- What are we gonna do now?

Pubs ain't even open.

Monica.

Just wanna have some chips.

I suppose we've done a full day,

haven't we?

- We have, haven't we?

- Yeah.

I have gotta get

down the dogs later.

Yeah. I did promise my mum

I'd cook her tea.

Did you?

Yeah.

Oh, sod it. We've registered

the protest, haven't we?

Yeah.

Go on. School's out.

Yeah!

Home time.

Onwards and upwards, Rita.

- Well done, girls.

- See you.

Hey, and Rita, well done.

It was your gob what got us

here, wasn't it?

Sandra?

I've just been

round to your house.

I've just been round to your house.

Why?

I thought you would've

gone home ages ago.

No.

I'm lucky if I can get the lads

to hold out for a full hour.

Look, I wanted a little chat.

You fancy a cup of tea?

I can't. I'm sorry, I've got stuff to...

I'm buying.

Go on, then. Seeing as it's pelting

it down, a quick cuppa won't hurt.

Over there by the window.

Over there.

I'm dripping all over the floor.

Come on, Albert, spit it out.

Yeah.

Sorry.

It's all right.

This dispute's got nothing to do

with what skill level you are.

Ford decided to give you

less money because they can.

They're allowed to pay

women a lower wage than men.

All over the country, Rita,

women are getting less

because they're women.

You'll always

come second.

You'll always be fighting

over the scraps.

Until you...

We get equal pay, yeah.

Yeah.

What I don't get is

why it's so important to you.

I got brought up by my mum.

Me and my brothers.

She worked all her life

and she paid my Aunt Lil

to take care of us during the day.

And it was hard.

Especially as she was

getting less than half

what the blokes

at the factory was getting

for doing the same work.

And there was never any question

that it could be any different.

Not for her.

Yeah.

Someone has gotta stop

these exploiting bastards

getting away with

what they've been doing for years.

And you can.

You can, Rita, believe me.

What about Connie? I mean, she's

shop steward. We voted for her.

But this needs a leader.

Someone to inspire the girls,

to make the points clear.

And that ain't Connie.

Not at the moment.

Not with George

the way he is.

I've already spoke to her. She's

more than happy for you to have a go.

More than.

Look, don't say nothing now.

Just sleep on it. Will you?

Do you want to wait in here?

Ey?

Do you want to wait in here?

No, you're all right.

It's tipping it down. Please.

I'm dripping.

I know. Get in.

I'll get it all over your car.

Come in, quick, quick, quick.

Thank you.

Oh, my God.

Gosh, you're soaked.

I'm so sorry.

It's fine.

I'll ruin your car.

We met before, actually.

Do you remember, in the corridor?

Yeah.

I've been hoping to run into

you for a day or two, actually.

Oh, yeah?

Um...

I was wondering if you'd sign a

letter. I'm making a formal complaint

to the headmaster about

Clarke's use of the cane.

What?

He seems to think my son...

Sorry, I mean...

You were there

for the same reason I was?

Yes. He was indiscreet enough

to mention you.

Of course.

I think he was suggesting

we were hysterical

and desperately needed

to calm down.

I had it all straight in my head

what I was gonna tell him

and what I was gonna say.

It's just...

Oh, you can't talk to Mr. Clarke.

I mean, nobody can. He...

You have to listen.

He's a bully.

Which is why he beats them.

Yeah.

Yeah. Go on, then.

Give us a pen.

Thanks.

It's stopped.

Yeah. That's just my luck, isn't it?

Thanks.

Look, um,

I know you're not mentioning it because

you're being polite. It's just...

You know, when we met in

the corridor, I was really upset,

and I never usually use

that type of language.

Don't you?

No.

Because I called Mr. Clarke

a complete cock.

Oh. Oh!

Did you? Fair enough.

Well, he is.

Here they come.

Left a bit of a puddle, now.

It's all right, David's

getting in the back.

That dress, I've seen it before,

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