The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Page #3

- I'm 21 today, right, mate?

- That's right, yeah.

- You coming?

- Where you going, then?

- Where do you wanna go?

- London.

Me as well.

We're going to, aren't we, Colin?

Well, you can count me out.

I've got better things to do with my time.

Don't be like that, darling.

We could've been there and back by now,

scooting up and down them hills,

round them bends.

I said you can count me out.

- Anyway, that isn't your car.

- It is, honest.

- Come on.

- Hey, come on, let's go for a ride.

No, I've got to do

me mum's shopping today.

- Oh, do it tomorrow.

- Oh, shut up, you.

Look, well, I'll help you

if you want to do it later.

Come on, duck, don't play hard to get.

Come on, Audrey.

- Well, not too far then.

- In you get, love.

- Make yourselves comfortable.

- I mustn't be very long.

- All right?

- Okay.

Away we go.

- I'm puffed.

- Your old man must be well off, then,

- buying you a car for your birthday.

- Yeah, he is.

Where did you get it from?

We found it on a rubbish heap,

didn't we, Mike?

- Yeah.

- But keep it to yourself.

You pinched it, didn't you?

- Say I borrowed it.

- You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I wanted a breath of fresh air.

I'll take it back tonight.

- You'll end up in prison one of these days.

- lf he ain't careful.

It would get me out of this dump.

Is that the only way to get out of it?

- Tell me another way then.

- You can stop that for a start.

London's the place

I've always wanted to live in.

I went there once with a friend.

We went on a day excursion,

looked all around the shops.

Oh, Oxford Street was lovely.

You should have seen Piccadilly Circus.

Oh, it was wonderful,

all lit up like day.

- They get all the films there first, too.

- Yeah, I know.

Phyllis had a fair job dragging me

to the station.

I wanted to stay there, get a job.

There's other places

besides London, you know.

Well, I don't think so.

- Well, I'm off home now, anyway.

- Why?

- Come on, Gladys.

- What?

Oh.

- I'll drive you back.

- Don't bother, we'll take the bus.

Suit yourself.

- Hey, where'd you dump it?

- Where we found it. Nobody saw me.

Hey, he won't know anything,

till he looks in the back

and sees somebody's

pinched his hat and coat.

Well, that's me last.

That's five bob up the spout.

Get out the way. Hold your hands out.

Hey, great!

- See you.

- Goodbye, lads.

- Hey.

- Huh?

- Come on.

- What?

Share and share alike,

all for one and one for all,

united we stand, divided we fall.

You're a bloody poet, aren't you?

Here you are.

Anybody at home?

- I'm not taking any pills.

- Suit yourself.

Dad.

Faster.

This is where Stacey

always leaves them, sir.

You keep back, Smith.

Well, slow the bastard down, then.

Well, well run, Smith. Well run.

I thought you were a sprinter

when you scored that goal,

but you're a stayer, too.

That was a good spurt just now,

- you put it on just at the right moment.

- It just happened, sir.

- What do you mean, it happened? Instinct?

- Sir?

What, you mean you didn't plan it?

You didn't think it out?

- Just found I could do it, sir.

- Well, it was a good effort, anyway.

You don't get anywhere without effort,

do you, lad?

- No, sir.

- Eh, Stacey?

No, sir.

I used to be a runner myself.

Quite a useful one, too,

but a bit of a plodder.

You know, we might think of training you

for that long-distance cross-country run,

with Stacey's help here, of course.

And, who knows,

with a bit more style, and more strategy,

and, of course, effort,

you might win that cup for us, eh?

- Sir.

- Well, be off with you.

And, you, too, Stacey.

Anyway, the competition

will put Stacey on his toes.

We've got to win that race.

- What the...

- Reeking bastard.

- What's up with you?

- I told you to hold back, didn't I?

Come on.

Get him, Stacey. Go on.

Break it up. Break it up.

Come on, break it up! Stop fighting.

- What's happening here?

- Put their names on report, Mr. Roach.

I'll see them tomorrow at 3:00

in my office.

All right, get inside there! Get moving!

Come on. Inside.

Don't force it, use the pliers.

Keep this out of there.

Looks like you're gonna be

our champion runner now, Smithy.

Yeah, don't talk so daft.

- Well, you beat Stacey.

- So what?

We'll both be in the block

on bread and water

by the time

the Governor's finished with us.

Nah, look, if he thinks

he can make you win that cup,

- he'll make you his favorite.

- Look, I'm nobody's favorite.

If I could run as fast as you,

I'd be out of this place.

What's the point of scarpering?

The best thing to do is to be cunning,

and stay where you are.

You see, I'm gonna let them think

they've got me house trained,

but they never will, the bastards.

To get me beat, they'll have to stick

a rope round me neck.

- That's a job they don't mind doing.

- Oi, nit, nit, the old man's coming.

The lads in here

are dismantling equipment for scrap.

Later, we try to find them

something more constructive,

you know, to find out if a lad

has any special aptitude or skill.

And that's not always easy, of course,

because sometimes

they can prove,

well, a bit uncooperative and, then,

or, if they're unsatisfactory

in any other way, a lad is sent back here.

It's not exactly a punishment,

but they just have to start all over again.

It's the only way.

Right. Well, I'll lead the way, shall I?

- All correct, sir.

- Morning, Craig.

Well, you can see what these things are,

or were.

I would be careful, sir. That is,

you know, sometimes it's absolutely...

Oh, look.

All right.

Oh.

Thanks, Smith.

Bread and water, my foot.

You won't see the inside of no cell.

He smiled at you, actually smiled.

- Mum, isn't Dad coming back anymore?

- Shut up. He's dead.

Come on, get inside, you lot.

I'll get your dinner ready.

Ta, love.

- Mrs. Smith? And, this is your son, is it?

- That's right.

Won't you sit down?

I was sorry to hear about your husband.

He was a jolly good worker,

and served the firm well.

We've arranged to pay you

the 500 insurance in cash.

- That is what you wanted, wasn't it?

- That's right.

You're the new breadwinner now, are you?

- I am.

- Well, he will be, when he gets a job.

- We could always fix you up here.

- No, thanks.

Would you sign this receipt, please?

It's a shame you have to wait

for a poor old devil to die

before parting with 500 quid.

Come on.

Goodbye to you both.

"Served the firm well." Like hell he did.

I expect they're glad this happened

after that last strike.

Dad gone out all right.

He got the raise as well.

- Did you see him all right?

- Yes, thanks.

Ma! Ma!

Have you all been good

while I've been away?

- Johnny kicked me.

- Oh, shut up, you big fat...

Oh, shut your big face!

- Hey!

- Okay, now, that will do.

What's up, then?

Couldn't you wait

for the poor devil to get cold?

Well, I just nipped in to see

if you needed any help, love.

- Don't get like that.

- I don't need any help with this.

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