This Sporting Life Page #2

Goodbye, Frank.

Who was it?

You know, Frank.

Who was it, Dad?

Guess. Go on, have a guess.

Who was it?

That's mean.

That's mean.

Who was it, dad?

That's mean.

Why did you squeeze my wrist?

Don't know.

Why?

Was it Weaver?

You hurt me, you know.

Just because it's Weaver.

You get far too excited, lad.

I thought you knew it was.

I was surprised, him talking to me.

Must have been impressed.

You think there's something?

Aye.

Want me to come home with you?

It's no trouble to me.

Aye.

Come, have some tea.

Mrs. Hammond won't mind.

A coincidence, know her husband.

Yep.

Not well. Maybe a year afore he died.

Them not his boots, are they?

What she keep 'em for?

I don't know.

How long you lived here?

About five or six months.

She had kids, didn't she?

Aye.

How does she manage?

She does all right,

she does all right.

She just

put up the shutters

and stopped living.

My wife left me 10 years ago.

Can I have orange juice, Mum?

And me.

Isn't it warm, Mum?

Warm!

We can't use all that coal.

I'll fetch you a load from pit.

Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Hammond.

Lan and Lynda.

We haven't much for tea.

Don't boast.

He might think we're poor.

Sit down.

Hi, young un.

You're getting very heavy.

I know.

Tell me,

what have you been doing?

Been shopping with mam.

Have you! And where else?

To see our dad.

How'd the match go?

Did you win?

He played a blinder, Missus.

Did he?

They signed him on?

It's not as quick as that.

But he can ask anything he likes.

Isn't that right?

Isn't that right?

I don't know.

It won't pay them to turn you down.

They'll give him it, Mr. Johnson.

Aye, he'll sail away.

He'll sail away.

He'll be very pleased.

I'll see you, Dad.

You mind me helping you, Frank?

Why do you say that?

I'm in a position to help.

It's only right.

Aye, I think it's right.

You don't mind?

No.

Don't know what you're talking about.

That's all right, then.

I'll see you.

You know, any time at all.

See you, Dad.

You play for nothing?

Amateur pay, thirty bob.

That's hardly a wage.

They pay good when the sign you on.

The old man treats you like a son.

I call him Dad because he's old.

I don't mean that.

What then?

The way he treats you.

He ogles you,

looks at you like a girl.

Don't come with that.

- He's interested, that's all.

- I'd say excited.

What are you getting on about?

He hasn't much to get excited about.

He's done a lot for me.

He's never had a job.

How do you know?

I've got eyes.

Just look at his hands.

He's got awful, soft hands.

What's hands got to do with it?

He's got awful hands,

I got awful hands.

We're not all women.

It's nothing to do.

You husband, I gather he worked

at Weavers Engineering.

Who told you?

Johnson said he used to know him.

He told you something else.

No.

I expect he thought it's very

chivalrous of you, helping

a widow, and all that.

It's nothing to you

what people think?

It isn't.

It's bringing Eric's name

into it I don't like.

When Eric died

all my world went out.

He'd say he didn't know why

he was living.

He used to say:

"How was I ever made alive?"

When he went, I felt I

hadn't been proper to him.

I hadn't made him feel he belonged.

I shouldn't be telling you this.

I, I don't mind.

No.

You being what you are.

Self-reliant. All that cockiness.

You don't seem worried like Eric was.

I:

mentioned it because

I saw you polishing the boots.

Is there anything the matter?

No.

Like I said, I don't mind.

1.000 pounds.

A thousand.

1.000.

That's a lot for

a player just entering.

I want 1.000 down.

Look here, Frank,

it's not a comprehensive

insurance policy.

Mr. Riley's offer is fair.

I want a thousand pounds down.

We're not trying to put

anything over on you.

Get that into your head.

But we represent other people.

We're responsible for

investing their money.

I can't change my mind.

I feel I'm worth it.

What's Mr. Slomer think?

I'm surprised you discussing

such a figure at all.

What figure would you suggest?

I'm far from convinced he's

the kind of player we want.

You realise, as I'm sure Frank does,

that we're not the only club interested.

Forget other clubs.

We're here to decide

whether we want him.

You have my opinion.

Wait outside a minute.

How goes it, Frank?

They fixed you up?

They're talking.

A drink? Whiskey?

Whiskey, Bob.

Phillips from the City Guardian.

You needn't take it seriously.

Why not?

It's only a game, old sport,

for Weaver's benefit.

They act like that for Weaver?

It's his or Slomer's cash

they're dishing out.

If Slomer hates you, Weaver'll

buy you out of spite.

You got a bruise coming.

Aye.

Weaver wouldn't have you

up to say ta-ta.

Frank.

What will you do

if we don't sign up?

Don't know.

Carry on as I am.

Change your mind about

splitting payment?

No.

No, 1.000 down.

There's nothing else for it.

You're not going to sign me?

That's it, we'll have to.

Congratulations, Frank.

Congratulations, Frank.

Hold it.

Aren't you going to read it?

Aye.

Don't spend it all at once now.

What does it feel like now?

I don't feel much.

It's all a bit quick. That's my fault.

I like to get things settled.

I suppose you don't mind.

Not now, I don't.

Did you have other offers?

No, at least

I didn't hear anything.

If you do, you'll know what to say.

Property of the City.

Best to make sure.

Fairfax Street. That rings a bell.

Hammond used to live there.

He got killed at your place.

Weaver's.

I've got digs with his widow.

Hammond. It was Eric Hammond,

wasn't it?

Yeah.

I remember the funeral.

How'd he get killed?

Quite nasty.

He worked with a lathe.

Very careless.

He was using a hand-file.

It shot off and stuck through him.

We thought he'd done it on purpose.

On purpose!

Yes.

Funny way to commit suicide.

She got no compensation.

The case went against her.

We gave her a bit, not much.

End of the street, or front door?

End of the street will do.

Right.

Good night, Frank.

Good night, Mr. Weaver.

Frank! Aye, Frank!

Hi, Dad.

What are you doing here?

Have they signed you on?

They wouldn't have me, Dad.

You ought to see 'em

round that Weaver like a

pack of dogs around a b*tch.

I told them what to do

with their bastard money.

You haven't done that?

Aye.

You're not crying, are you?

You're not crying?

So it was all for nothing.

Hey, Dad.

I was only kidding you.

I was only kidding.

How much do you think it is?

You tell me, Frank.

You tell me.

A 1.000 quid.

Nay!

Aye.

You want to see the check?

Could I see it?

You and me, Frank.

That's us.

How much do you want?

Oh, no, Frank.

What, "oh, no, Frank"?

Oh, no, Frank.

Now, Dad, listen.

I don't enjoy getting kicked about for

other people's enjoyment.

Only if I've been paid a lot for it.

Share some of this.

No, Frank, I don't want any.

All right, I'll send you some of it.

No, wait, Frank, I didn't

do it for the money.

That Johnson called early on.

That friend of yours.

I just saw him.

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