PEAKY BLINDERS II Page #12

ESME:

Polly?

Aunt Polly sighs but works on...

ESME (CONT’D)

I don’t wish to pry into your

business.

Aunt Polly looks up. Esme finds courage again...

ESME (CONT’D)

But you should know something.

A pause.

ESME (CONT’D)

That woman is a trickster.

A pause.

AUNT POLLY:

What woman?

ESME:

Her sister was in the wash house

early and she was boasting there’d

been a Shelby at the table...

AUNT POLLY:

What woman?

ESME:

Gypsies talk to each other...

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.51

43 CONT'D:
43

AUNT POLLY (FIRM)

What woman?

Aunt Polly waits. Finally...

ESME:

You went to see Mrs Price in the

Patch last night.

Esme sees a furious reaction and withdraws...

ESME (CONT’D)

I’m sorry, I....

Esme gets to her feet fast. Aunt Polly flies at Esme and

grabs her and pushes her against a wall...

AUNT POLLY:

What do you know?

Aunt Polly is strung out, sleepless...

ESME:

I know they push the glass. The

man. He’s her cousin. He pushes the

glass. It’s a trick. They tell you

what you already believe.

A silence between them.

ESME (CONT’D)

She set up after the war because of

all the widows.

Aunt Polly lets Esme go.

ESME (CONT’D)

Polly, I just thought you should

know...

AUNT POLLY (INTERRUPTING)

So in this f***ing wash house did

they say why I went there?

Esme hesitates. Then she nods gently. Aunt Polly suddenly

pulls a stiletto, strides forward and puts it to Esme’s

face...

AUNT POLLY (CONT’D)

You ever tell a soul in this family

I swear I will cut you open.

Esme’s face hardens and she provokes the knife by jutting out

her chin. Esme is a fighter too...

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.52

43 CONT'D:
43

ESME:

I don’t need a knife to stop me

telling secrets given in

confidence. It is a matter of

honor.

The two women face off, the knife between them. At this

crucial moment there would be war or reconciliation. Aunt

Polly wants neither. She drops the knife and walks...

44 EXT. CANAL SIDE - MORNING 3 44

Aunt Polly stands alone. She lights a cigarette and looks

into the dark water. Her hand shakes as she smokes.

AUNT POLLY:

Everybody’s pushing the f***ing

glass.

Suddenly...

45 INT. CHURCHILL’S OFFICE - DAY 3 45

Against a bare wall we see a naked woman.

She is generously proportioned and middle aged. She has a

white sheet fluffed up around her.

We pull wide to reveal an easel and an artist. It is WINSTON

CHURCHILL who is making a rough sketch of the naked woman in

charcoal.

His office is an oak panelled inner sanctum within Whitehall.

A portrait of the King looks down sternly. Churchill sketches

with intensity for a few moments.

The door is knocked and Churchill absent-mindedly calls out

‘come’. The door opens and Campbell walks in. He sees the

naked woman and immediately turns his back, blushing wildly.

CAMPBELL:

Dear God...

Churchill reacts...

CHURCHILL:

Good lord. I assumed it was Betty

with tea.

CAMPBELL (DEEPLY FLUSTERED)

Sir, I’m sorry...

CHURCHILL:

Have you never heard of lunch hour?

Campbell is horribly embarrassed, his hat in his hand, his

back turned.

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.53

45 CONT'D:
45

CAMPBELL:

Forgive me. Your secretary was not

at her desk.

Churchill and the naked lady are now both privately amused...

CHURCHILL:

No. Because she takes lunch. Like

normal people. And you can turn

around, the lady is a professional

life-model. She does this for a

living.

Campbell doesn’t turn.

CAMPBELL:

I’m more than happy to come back

later Sir.

CHURCHILL (DESPAIRING)

No, no, no. Later, I’m in the

house. Just...

He gestures at his amused life model...

CHURCHILL (CONT’D)

Keep your back turned if you must.

Churchill goes back to his sketch...

CHURCHILL (CONT’D)

I would guess you haven’t been

exposed to London’s Bohemian

society, Major?

CAMPBELL:

I...play cards on occasion.

Churchill is more amused...

CHURCHILL:

You know I do believe middle class

men like you are behaving far more

decently in these decadent times

than we who are your social

superiors. You are a stranger to

cocaine and exotic dancing too I

imagine.

Campbell is two yards away with his back half turned.

CAMPBELL:

I visit the pictures on occasion

Sir.

Churchill and the model swap smiles. Churchill continues to

draw...

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.54

45 CONT'D:
45

CHURCHILL:

So what business is so urgent, it

trumps lunch?

Campbell is uneasy and half glances at the naked lady...

CAMPBELL:

Our man in Birmingham has passed

his first test with flying colours.

Churchill is distracted in his drawing...

CHURCHILL:

What man?

CAMPBELL:

The man we have chosen for...

Churchill waits...

CAMPBELL (CONT’D)

Sir, I am loathe to discuss this

confidential business in front of

the lady.

Churchill smudges a line...

CHURCHILL:

Then just continue to speak in

code.

Campbell is horribly uncomfortable. Churchill is Campbell’s

opposite, erratic and light and fun. Campbell clears his

throat...

CAMPBELL:

Our man is now on the hook. Our

friends in Birmingham are satisfied

with the outcome of his first

mission...

CHURCHILL (DISTRACTED, MUMBLING)

I am horrible at faces...

CAMPBELL:

So we can begin to prepare him for

the bigger task in hand...

CHURCHILL (MUMBLING)

Expressions elude me. I think too

much.

A puzzled impasse as Campbell half turns. He speaks

delicately...

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.55

45 CONT'D:
45

CAMPBELL:

Sir? I need your authority to

proceed with all urgency in

preparing the new man for

the...bigger task.

Churchill traces a line.

CHURCHILL:

You’re talking about your

bookmaker.

CAMPBELL (SOFTLY)

Yes Sir.

Churchill is distracted but is no fool.

CHURCHILL:

You have a history with this man.

Why did you choose him? Love or

hate?

CAMPBELL:

Not love Sir.

CHURCHILL:

Then be careful of hate. It is not

a good master.

CAMPBELL:

To apply pressure on man for this

kind of work you must know his

weaknesses. I know this man’s

weaknesses intimately. And he is

very efficient at this kind of

work.

Campbell decides to add...

CAMPBELL (CONT’D)

But vengeance is not my lord, Sir.

It’s an odd comment and Churchill stops sketching and peers

at Campbell. Campbell sweats a little under his gaze.

CHURCHILL:

And after ‘mission accomplished’ do

we trust him to keep his mouth

shut?

Campbell looks to his feet.

CAMPBELL:

Absolutely not Sir.

A pause.

CAMPBELL (CONT’D)

When he has served his purpose...

(CONT'D)

PBII - Ep 1 - Steven Knight - SHOOTING SCRIPT - 20/02/14 p.56

45 CONT'D:
45

Campbell half turns to the naked lady...

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