Still Life Page #3

John, there's really no need for you.

Miss Pilger can sort it.

It'll only take a few days.

Right, alright. But it'll

have to be in your own time.

Your termination notice

has already been signed,

and the Council can't

re-issue it, Ok?

Of course.

I understand, Mr Pratchett.

No, no, no. We have no knowledge

of an actual conviction.

But you see Mr Stoke was on a...

a particular trajectory.

I think mostly short spells, vagrancy...

assaults, that sort of thing, but uhm...

- No trouble inside.

- And you have no record of any visitors?

No, we sent the old logs off the

to the Metropolitan archive.

- And they can't find them there.

- Well you could try the Home Office.

But you know, we're talking

about 20 years ago.

- It's 17, actually.

- Mr May if we have to remember

what happenes to every man

whose walked through here

we wouldn't get much sleep at night.

And I like my sleep.

I'll tell you one thing.

Your Billy once hung over the

edge of the 3rd floor landing

from a belt with his teeth.

Three and a half minutes.

He was raising money for some charity.

All the lads put a few quid in.

- His teeth?

- Yes, his teeth.

How about that then?

Goodbye Mr May.

Yes?

Kelly Stoke?

Sorry?

You're not Kelly Stoke?

- Sorry?

- The daughter of William Stoke?

Yeah. Sorry, who are you?

I'm John May.

Kennington Borough Council.

- Kennington?

- I have some sad news I'm afraid.

Your father has died.

When?

Well it's hard to say exactly.

Why?

Because...

I don't want to know.

Thank you.

Miss Stoke...

There is this.

I found it in his flat.

He never even wrote.

I was so angry.

Still am again.

Then one day it was my birthday, 18.

He called.

He didn't mention my birthday.

He must've know.

He must have, don't you think?

Yes of course.

Of course he knew.

He remembered.

Well he was in prison, drunk.

Or so it sounded.

He'd hit rock bottom, and...

he wanted to square things before

he got out so he could start again.

Mum wasn't sure, but we still went though.

Almost didn't recognize him.

But he knew who I was.

And I had changed, you

know, in eight years.

- But he knew, as soon as I walked in.

- Yeah, yeah.

Only, as soon as he turned round...

It all came out.

I don't know where from.

We just started about...

Mum, him leaving us...

How selfish he was.

Then he started shouting because...

Billy Stoke never backed down

in the face of a row, did he?

It was horrible.

The Guard had to come over.

And then, he punched the Guard in the face,

turned round, walked out the door...

and I never saw him again.

There's Dad with Jumbo.

Both Paras, in the Falklands.

They were best mates.

He got in touch with me about...

ten years ago.

Wanted to find to find Dad. I couldn't

help him, but he sent me that anyway.

No, take it.

I don't need it, I mean...

I don't know why I kept it really.

Miss...

Fine, nothing, really.

It's just uhm...

It's just the shock.

I must ask...

your mother, is she...

She's dead.

Quite peacefully, and someone with her.

Too early though.

Three years ago.

So an orphan as of today.

Yes.

That's not nice...

- Whenever it happens.

- No.

I should go.

I am very grateful for your time.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming to tell me.

Of course.

And you have my number...

if you decide to involve

yourself any further.

The funeral...

- And I've arranged a...

- Please Mr May, don't say any more.

You've already said such a lot.

Excuse me, your door!

Your door!

Your door!

John May.

I thought I heard you

coming down the corridor.

Young folks steps, not

many of them round here.

Come in, I'm Jumbo.

- Very pleased to meet you Jumbo.

- Made you some dinner, I hope it's out.

Some tea there just brewed.

Pour yourself a cup and sit down.

Eat.

Thank you.

Very much.

Alright?

Yes, thank you.

Perfect.

So...

Billy's daughter told you about me.

I remember her voice...

Must be a lovely girl, gentle.

Yes.

Gentle.

Didn't get that from her father.

Knocked my bloody head in,

in my first day in the Army.

Wouldn't be here now though,

if it wasn't for him.

Didn't leave me on that bloody mountain.

The Falklands?

Right.

F***in' place.

You've been in the Army?

Me? No.

No, I haven't.

That's worst of our lives, the Paras.

They picked the meanest

bastards, they didn't...

When I found him again, he was

on the streets, a dosser.

Mind you, he only slept

in the poshest places.

Barclay Square, Green Park.

No King's Cross for him.

The drink... helps you forget.

Helps you to sleep without dreaming.

Then it gets inside you

and it won't come out.

It's awful when you think about it.

Killing a man.

- And you? You stayed on?

- No.

As soon as I got out of hospital,

came down to London.

Tried settling down.

Even got married.

What a day that was!

Fell asleep in the church.

We met at a dance.

She was hiding behind the pillars,

pretending not to look.

Two left feet, lovely!

They were the days.

It's alright Officer.

Just here havin' a think, that's all.

- He's not the law, he's from St. Jude's.

- St. Jude yeah?

Still tryin' to turn us

off drink for a soup?

What happen? They used to send

pretty birds to convince us.

- What? We're not worth it now?

- I'm from Kennington Borough.

I'm looking for people who might

have known a man called William Stoke.

Billy Stoke.

- I'm told he used to come here often.

- Billy Stoke, you mean Big Billy.

- What's with him?

- Actually he passed away a few weeks ago.

Weeks?

Well, we ain't seen him for months.

- Years even.

- What is it you want to know?

I'd like to know what he was like.

- What acquaintances he...

- Yeah?

Well information like that's

worth the price of a drink.

D'you think?

Bottle of whiskey please.

Wood's.

The large one.

That's what I call a drink!

Good man!

Thanks.

Sit down, sit down

You'll give us a toe neck.

Big Billy...

- He was the worst beggar.

- Hold on a minute.

Here, have a red one.

They're good.

No, thank you. I haven't eaten.

He was outlinging it, see.

The punters felt it, they never stopped.

It was Lesley who got him the drink.

He would have been sober without her.

Lesley?

- We were all mad for her, really.

- I weren't.

But out the crew she picked Billy.

The only one who didn't pester her.

- I didn't.

- You did!

God, do you remember the time he

nicked the chocolate for her?

It was all melted, he...

He's all...

caked in it, all covered in this...

Sticky chocolate.

Oh yeah, he got 3 months for that.

Just for chocolate.

Do you know where

I can find Lesley?

Bone yard.

Good funeral though.

Lovely lady, good drink after.

You know, they never seemed to talk.

They just sat there on a bench together.

Well that's what we all want, isn't it?

A woman to be quiet with.

K, G...

This one here, G-93485

93485, right.

Good views.

Aren't they?

Lovely.

And you would like to...

I'd like to make it

available for someone else.

Family member?

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