Scum Page #3

Synopsis: An uncompromising story of life in a British juvenile offender institution in the 70's.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Director(s): Alan Clarke
Production: Berwick Street Films
 
IMDB:
7.6
Rotten Tomatoes:
88%
R
Year:
1979
98 min
Website
2,813 Views


no violence in this institution.

There is no violence here.

- Do you understand me?

- Yes, sir.

Yet no sooner

are you settled in than, well,

the marks are visible on your face.

I'm a generous man, Carlin,

but I will not have any

trainee take liberties.

If you are brought here again,

you will be in very serious trouble.

- Do you understand?

- Yes, sir.

Now, have you anything to say?

Well, not really, sir.

Except I wasn't fighting, I fell.

Wasn't used to the concrete steps.

However, I can understand the officer

thinking I had by the state of my face.

So, I've got no excuse really, sir.

I mean, what else could he think?

- C of E, are we?

- Oh, yes, sir.

My religion is a great comfort to me.

Good. Then it may even have

some guidance for your reform.

Three days solitary in the block.

Loss of earnings for two weeks.

- About turn! Out! Out!

- Come on, Carlin. Move it!

- Move! Pick your feet up.

- Move! On the double. I said double!

- Meakin!

- Sir?

Visitor.

None of the lads will wear it, Banks.

You know they won't.

What they going to do, then?

Walk about with pound notes?

Pound notes aren't allowed in here,

are they, Dougan?

Very stiff penalties

for anything but small change.

And there's very stiff penalties for

anyone that tries to undercut my rate.

You make sure certain parties

know that, Dougan.

Right. Come on, Dougan.

Now there, that's eight quid

altogether, right?

I get 70 pence

for a quid from the screw, right?

Your cut's five pence

and mine's 15.

That leaves 50 pence.

Fifty pence for a quid!

I've got f***ing overheads, haven't I?

Haven't those bastards

heard of inflation?

You give them that 50 pence, and

if they don't like it, they can see me.

Screw.

I'm granting your request

to marry, Betts,

and I hope this may

induce you to work hard,

cooperate and leave here

as soon as possible.

It all depends on you.

One month hence, you'll be released

for four hours, under escort

to marry.

- Right, Betts?

- Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

This causes no little

inconvenience, Betts.

It's at cost to the taxpayer,

and I cannot pretend to be pleased that

you're marrying in a registry office.

That's just for now, sir.

We're going to have a proper

church do when I get out.

Let's hope you are released

before the child is born.

Yes, sir.

And see you don't

misplace my trust, Betts.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

- Right. Out you go.

- About turn. Quick march.

Move it, Betts!

- Registry office!

- Archer, in!

- Name and number for the governor.

- 4721, Archer, sir.

Ah, Archer.

Still a vegetarian, are we?

- Yes, sir.

- And still barefoot too?

Yes, sir.

Well, Archer, we have every respect

for another man's sincere beliefs here...

the individual is to be encouraged.

And at no little trouble and expense,

we have procured plastic boots for you.

- Do you appreciate that?

- Yes, sir.

- No objection to plastic, have we?

- No, sir.

Good. Then I hope the cooperation

will be reciprocated.

Indeed.

Have you read The Life of

Saint Francis of Assisi, Archer?

No, sir. Though I am sure it is

a most engrossing epistle, sir.

It is. The son of a wealthy man,

he converted to Christianity in 1208

and turned from his life of pleasure

to commit himself to poverty

and the life of the gospel.

- You should read it.

- As a matter of fact, sir,

I wanted to mention

access to literature to you.

Well, you see, I'm finding myself

strongly drawn to Mecca,

sir.

Very strongly indeed.

- Mecca, Archer?

- Yes, sir.

It's something stirring within me, sir.

I'm sure you understand

what I mean, sir.

Archer, you will see

the chaplain tomorrow.

I'm an atheist, sir. It's on my record.

Atheist and vegetarian.

You told them you were Christ at Dover.

You will see the chaplain tomorrow.

And there will be no more talk

of Mecca in this establishment!

- Get him issued with the boots!

- About turn! Quick march.

Move it, Archer.

Come on, move! Move!

Come on, you bastards, move!

Face the front, Angel.

Get in line, Davis.

Come on, move it!

Pick those feet up!

Enjoy our little holiday, did we?

Good.

Now, you rest assured, my beauties,

whenever you feel like a break,

it's always there.

Always at your disposal.

- Right, Carlin!

- Yes, sir.

Now get moving! Put your gear

in your rooms and straight to ablutions.

I want work out of you toerags,

and plenty of it.

Now move! Pick those feet up!

Double up!

Out!

Right. What shall we talk about?

Any problems?

Come along,

that's what I'm here for.

Why am I so far from home, Matron?

- 'Cause you murdered that kid.

- All right, Eckersley.

Formby, I am forever

explaining this to you.

- Do try to let it sink in.

- He's 14 years old, 14.

Quiet, Archer!

But I never get a visitor.

Well, that is unfortunate, Formby.

But you have to be detained

during Her Majesty's pleasure.

As there are no special places

for boys like yourself at the moment,

you have to remain here.

Now, here you have the opportunity

to learn and to improve.

If you behave and apply yourself to your

duties willingly and to the rules,

there may be every chance

that Her Majesty

or one of her representatives

may consider your release

and rehabilitation

much earlier than you imagine.

Much earlier than what, Matron?

Meanwhile, try to remember

that you are more fortunate

than boys similar to yourself

who are held

at Wormwood Scrubs for years,

until they are old enough

to transfer to prison.

All right?

My dog had three puppies.

Three! It's in my letter.

Yes. I read it, Woods.

That is good news, isn't it?

- Where are you going, Meakin?

- Out.

- Out, what?

- Out, Matron.

Will you sit down, please, Meakin?

- Everything all right with you, Toyne?

- Yeah, fine, Matron.

Good. Good.

Anything else?

Trust.

Pardon, Archer?

I would like to suggest

a discussion on the nature of trust.

Are you sure that's not a matter for you

to take up with your housemaster?

You see, Matron, we are continually

bombarded with instructions to trust,

but at the same time

we are continuously informed

that we are completely untrustworthy.

So you see, Matron, perhaps it might be

of some benefit to all of us,

if we were to openly

discuss the nature of trust

and explore those areas where such

a valuable commodity may be nurtured,

and not stifled or eroded.

Does anyone want to continue

this discussion suggested by Archer?

- Matron.

- Yes, Meakin?

Look, is there any chance of you

calling us by our Christian names?

I mean, it's the only reminder

of our identities we have left.

Now, my own feelings

on that subject don't enter into it.

I'm bound by Home Office rules,

as you are.

So whatever I may personally feel,

well, that is the rule.

And we are all here to learn to obey.

So, thank you all for coming.

Next week, same time.

And if any of you have any problems,

do not hesitate to come to me.

And if I can't help,

I know that Mr. Goodyear will.

Carry on.

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Roy Minton

Roy Minton (born, in Nottingham, England) is an English playwright best known for Scum and his other work with Alan Clarke. He is notable for having written over 30 one-off scripts for London Weekend Television, Rediffusion, BBC, ATV, Granada, Thames Television and Yorkshire Television, including Sling Your Hook, Horace, Funny Farm, Scum, Goodnight Albert, and The Hunting of Albert Crane. He has translated and performed several of his plays overseas and at festivals in the UK, including a reading of his play for Scum at the Royal Shakespeare Company, London; and Gradual Decline at the Riverside Studios London. Minton also wrote the screenplay for Scrubbers, a film from which he disassociates himself totally. During his absence overseas, he felt the original screenplay had been "savaged" and describes the final production as "...arguably the worst film ever made." more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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