Waterloo Road Page #3

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- I don't know who it can be, I'm sure.

- They may have come for me, Mum.

- What, Jim?

- I didn't wait for a pass. They're looking for me.

- Jim! The police?

- Yeah.

- Then they'll have to go on knocking.

You haven't seen me.

I don't want you in trouble.

- But, Jim...

- Wait a minute.

Jim!

Go ahead and open it. I'll be OK. Go on!

(lnsistent knocking)

- Mrs Colter?

- That's right.

Sorry to worry you

but we're looking for your son.

- Has he called here yet?

- I haven't seen him.

Do you mind if we look around?

- You won't find him here.

- It's just a formality, Mrs Colter.

The constable's got a warrant

if you want to see it.

- I'll take upstairs.

- Right.

Has he done anything wrong?

Absent without leave.

He gave me the slip off his train,

so I've got a strong personal interest.

Well, he's not here.

Whose room is this?

My lodger's

Corporal!

- Hello.

- Someone up here.

What's the idea, waking me up?

No, no, that's not him.

Bad enough with the blitz, without

the police force clumping all over the house.

No privacy anywhere these days.

- A man's not safe in his own bed.

- Sorry, chum.

- He don't seem to be here.

- Not a sign of him.

Why don't you leave our boys alone?

They're doing their bit, aren't they?

Always badgering 'em.

Sorry, but if they did things right

we wouldn't have to do it.

OK, we may as well push off.

When your son comes back, tell him to be

a good lad and come and see me.

I told you, he's never been here.

You weren't quite quick enough

with that belt, lady.

I don't want to see your boy get into

serious trouble.

Don't forget. He knows where to find me.

Oh, that was my lodger's belt.

He's in the Home Guard.

Sorry, Mum, but the Home Guard's never been

issued with webbing belts.

Jim! Hurry, Jim.

Get away from that window.

They know you've been here.

Got to find Tilly

before they catch up with me again.

- Where is she, Mum?

- I don't know where she is.

There's one thing I do know.

You're not leaving without a bite of something,

not as long as I'm your mother. You sit down.

I've got to see Tilly.

- Do I have to change anywhere?

- Not on the 1.10.

- Are there any more trains?

- Just a minute.

Ruby?

- Can I have a word with you?

- Kindly take your turn.

- Just a minute.

- Is there a restaurant car on the 1.10?

No, it's been taken off now.

Really. The comfort of paying passengers

is quite the last consideration.

I came straight up as soon as I got your letter.

Better know what you were driving at

before I see Tilly. Who's Ted Purvis?

You must know him. Used to fight

in the old days at The Ring, Blackfriars.

- How far has it gone?

- Excuse me, but I have a train to catch.

- I don't know. Not for certain.

- Why'd you write me that letter?

- When 's the next train to Basingstoke?

- I didn't want to make trouble.

I've been so worried. Heaven knows how many

people I've given the wrong trains to.

- She's meeting him today, isn't she? Where?

- Basingstoke?

- I don't know, Jim.

- Where can I find Purvis?

He might be at his pin table saloon.

The Lucky Star it's called.

Lucky Star? OK, see you later.

Jim!

Young lady, heaven forbid I should intrude on

your affairs with my petty concerns

but I want to go to Basingstoke.

Basingstoke? There's a train leaving now.

Platform 12.

- What?!

- Oh, I'm sorry.

(Whistle blows)

Hiya, Till.

- Afraid I'm late.

- That's OK. Woman 's privilege.

I knew you'd turn up, anyway.

I only came because

I couldn't let you wait for nothing.

Why, what's up?

- I'm not going out with you, that's all.

- What's the matter?

Nothing, just that I've changed my mind.

- I'd better be going.

- OK.

Thanks for coming along and letting me know.

- Cheerio, Till.

- Goodbye.

Which way are you going?

- Home.

- I'll walk with you as far as the Lucky Star.

- All right.

- We might have a quick one at the Canterbury?

- I'd rather not, if you don't mind.

- OK. I get it.

(Street vendors shout)

(Rifles pop)

Tell Ted Purvis I'd like a word with him.

He ain't in.

- You sure?

- Course. Why?

- Boss around?

- No.

- Told you so, didn't I?

- Where is he?

- Out.

- Expect him back?

Maybe. What do you want?

I'll wait.

There's no use waiting, chum.

You just tell me where he is and I won't.

- We can't, cos we don't know, see.

- Cagey, aren't you?

Look here, what do you want?

Mr Edward Purvis.

(Whispers)

You Jim Colter?

Yes, that's right.

(Chuckles)

What's so funny about it?

He's asking me...

- Better get out, soldier.

- I'm waiting for Ted Purvis.

Get going now unless you want a roughhouse.

Proper roughhouse, over at the Lucky Star.

Oh.

All right, I'll take a look.

Come on.

What, over there?

What's all this about, eh?

I understand there's been a roughhouse.

Nothing like that, Officer.

We gave him fair warning, didn't we?

That's right.

He puts his penny in that machine there.

The next I know he makes out it's been fixed.

Sees me doing this repair job.

"Look, he's fixing that," he says.

As if they need fixing.

I'm an old man, I am.

Have I got to be knocked about by drunks?

My pal tries to stop him going for the old man

and gets a packet in the derby instead.

I come up and push the soldier away,

strictly in self-defence, like.

He loses his balance and hits his napper

on this machine.

We done our best.

We saw he was out for the count.

Yes. What about you?

Didn't see nothing.

Nasty

Can I use your phone?

We'll have to get an ambulance.

Er... no, no.

There's Dr Montgomery a couple of doors away.

- Can you walk?

- Sure.

All right. Give me a hand with him.

Hi. Hey, you.

- Me?

- Don't you want your prize?

- Eh?

- You've knocked up 11,000. Highest this week.

Not just now.

You stay in that saloon. I want a word with you.

- OK.

- In here, Officer.

Careful of the step.

Here's a chair.

I'll soon put that right.

Knocked him a bit silly, I expect.

- Bless my soul.

- Hello, doc.

- You know him, then?

- Yes, he's one of the lads of the district.

- You say this happened at the Lucky Star?

- Yes.

I'll just take his name and number,

if you don't mind.

There might be an assault charge

come out of this.

- You on leave?

- Er... yes.

Got your pass?

- Got your pass?

- Er, Officer.

Give him a minute to get his wits back.

Besides, I can tell you anything about him

you want to know.

I'm glad to hear you're going to take

proceedings.

- It's time these pin-table parasites had a lesson.

- It's him I mean, not them.

What? Surely it's obvious he's the injured party.

- Look at him.

- The evidence is all against him, you know.

These fellas would swear away their

grandmothers for a packet of Woodbines.

It's our duty to bring them to court.

If this young soldier's willing to make a charge.

Are you?

You mean you've no complaint whatsoever?

That's right.

There you are, Officer. If he won't, he won't.

As you said yourself,

it would be absurd to charge him.

Nothing much more you can do about it.

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