Thank you Father See you soon Mr.May
Lovely music Mr.May Great choice
Who shall it be today? Mr Sandberg please
Here's Mr Sandberg Coming up to two months now
Just the one?
Just Mr Sandberg, thank you
We'll give the other a little more time
You never know
Subtitles: Emrys Jones
Morning Mr May Morning Mr White
They're piling up in there Mr May
I'm just expecting some news of Mr Radulovitz and Mrs Casement. I'm very optimistic
Radulovitz has been on the shelf two good months What about the others?
Come the summer they'll be sharing bunks
I still have leads Not every door is shut
There may still be someone
She was found two days ago
Someone saw the cat in the street, bleeding
"To my little Suzie, happy birthday Mum"
I was told there was no family
No, for 10 years I've never seen anyone
Postmark is last year
"Monday, went to the shops
Bought some fish Tuesday shops. It's all the same
Here y'are! Dear Mum, thank you so much for my wonderful present
Does she have a daughter?
"Please write to me soon. Love you with all my heart ...
Nah, Susie" Susie's the cat
Look
It's from the Cat Signed with a little paw
Some people, eh ?
Please call these people Anything they won't take can be thrown away
London Borough of Kennington Client Services, John May speaking.
Mr Radulovitz ? Yes, and you are ...
Mr Radley. And your connection with ...
His son?
But your sur ...
You've changed it?
Right, right!
Thank you very much for calling Great, just, just wonderful
Unfortunately, as you know
your father has passed away. Yes
six weeks ago
Well you were contac ... Actually in this office we're charged with tracing the relatives
of those who passed away in the Borough and failing ...
Yes, your father ...
No, no no, there's no obligation for the next of kin to pay for the funeral
No, you don't
Indeed ...
There is no obligation to attend, but ...
If I may say so, I understand, Mr Radu...
I mean ... Mr Radley.
Your father, Mr Radulovitz, might not have been the best of fathers, but if I ...
What do I?
My family? No, I don't have ...
But surely, now that he's passed away his children should ...
But you've found a father after all these years ...
I would ...
Wouldn't you want your children his grandchildren, to know?
It's not too late
No, I know he's dead, but ...
You're right
I wouldn't know
And would you be able to think of anyone who might have had contact?
Someone who might at least want to be present at the funeral
And you, you would ... no
Very well Mr Radulovitz.
I'm sorry, Mr Radley.
I understand. Thank you
Goodbye
Case Closed
says it was my dog?
That dog is always out here. Always
I only have to open my door and he rushes into my house
Look at that on the wall, look how high it is I've only got a little dog
If you kept him on a lead ...
Yes, yes I would like to confirm that a package addressed to Miss Dawn Harvey...
What was in it?
Why do you need to know?
Ashes
Ashes, the ashes of Mr George Harvey.
What kind of ashes?
Excuse me, am I speaking to Australia Post, Yeperenye shopping centre,
13 Cactus Street, Alice Springs ?
What else, let me see ...
He has a blue paw
and there is a grey mark ...
Ah now, this could help
He has a tattoo on his right ear ...
Well as I said, we found the dog next to the body ...
in the apartment of Mr Didion
and we thought that someone involved with dog racing might know the dog and therefore the owner
"We are here
to celebrate..."
We are here to celebrate the life of Jane Ford.
A woman who enjoyed life for all it could bring
She was born in the summer of 1945, as peace finally came to the world, in Scarborough
The only daughter of Jack and Nora Ford
And what a joy it must have been to them to hold her
A lovely maybe unexpected fruit
of a rare reunion in those turbulent times
She grew to enjoy what life most readily offered
A walk on a sunny day at the beach,
a simple yet graceful necklace
a new stick of red lipstick
She was passionate about dance, flamenco in particular
and always looked forward to stepping out on the dance floor in her red dress
Later in life, a love of animals made her care for her sweet cat Susie
with whom she shared many happy years
Always celebrating Christmas together in great style
Just you again, Mr May
'Fraid so
Six in this one already, this is the last one
Got yourself a cracking spot there Mr May
By the time it's your turn those branches will be shading anyone who comes to visit ya
It's good to plan this kind of thing
Uncle Fred ended up in Surbiton
I'm sure he wouldn't have liked that one bit
London Borough of Kennington, Client Services
Good afternoon, Mr Huxley.
Very well, thank you
Found ... today
No point of contact
Yes, I will go this afternoon
And the address?
The neighbours complained about the smell
The police said it must have been weeks
I don't really know. Bit of a loner.
You know the type
So you live opposite, eh?
Did you know him?
No, I didn't know him
I only get involved if there's a problem
Boiler ...
Something like that
You had better wear these
Can't see a record player Probably sold it for a couple of drinks
What about that eh!
Time stops for no one
Here he is
Billy Stoke.
I can't say I recognize him They all look the same don't they?
Call the Health Department
they need to clean and clear this place as soon as possible
Except for the Carriage clock That goes to the Pawnbrokers in the High Street
Violent. Refuse assistance
Tank you. Thank you very much
Goodbye now
No family again Mr May?
Maybe Mr May!
Mr Pratchett
Could I see you in my office please?
As I said, your Department is being amalgamated with that of the Dulwich office
Here represented by Miss Pilger
and from today the Coroner is referring all cases to the new office
Dulwich?
I suppose I could buy a bicycle No you don't understand
You won't need to travel, that's the point
Given the current pressure on finances the Council is undertaking a new round of efficiency savings
We're letting you go
You're letting me go? In the two months that I've been here
I've been able observe you at work and there's no doubt you are very thorough
But if I may say so you're also very slow. That's expensive
given the number funerals you choose to organize as opposed to cremation
There were no indications of relig ... John, you've been with the Council now for how long?
Twenty two years Twenty two years
I think you should see this as an opportunity for a new beginning, don't you?
A new life
I'm sure the Council's references will enable you to find new and challenging work
A job where people are alive for a change?
What about this morning's case?
This morning? Ah yes, that'll be your last one
Please close it in three days
Should be the right size Sorry about this, you know ...
Health rules
I understand. I also have to wear this stuff at work sometimes
You're in food processing too then? Baking?
Baking? No not really baking. I'm actually a ...
Well, I only have to see this when I see people
People?
Yes, I mean people ...
who don't bake anymore
Billy...
Billy Stoke
Worst player in the team Nobody would dare kick him out
Bloody temper
Hear that?
Managed to fight both Management and Union reps about the afternoon break
He won us 5 extra minutes then dropped off, just packed it in
But before he does that, what does he do?
Pisses in a vat of pork meat
Some of the batch got through Pies never tasted so good
Here, have one
Thank you, I don't smoke
We found this ... in his home
Do you know who she might be?
No idea
Looks a bit like him
Daughter maybe? Yes
That's what I think
Would be nice to give it to her if she was still alive
He must have loved her
Funny though Never mentioned a family
We ere best mates really ...
for a time
Like school kids you know, just, older
He was like my older brother
Then he met the "Fish & Chips" lady in Whitby and ...
he left to be with her Whitby?
Would you know her name? Her address maybe?
No sorry, only saw her a couple of times
Lovely girl though
Billy always had a way with the ladies Something about him ...
Always on the edge
I don't know ...
Do you understand women?
There will be a funeral
in a few days time in London
Would you consider coming? To the funeral?
Dunno
I mean it would be good to have a drink with him but ...
A funeral
After so long
You miss that train next time and I won't be waiting
Yeah you will, you want me too much Don't count on it!
Bollocks!
You'll never find anyone who loves you as much as I do Yeah? And how much do you love me then?
Well I love you more than you love me That's for sure
A black tea please You should try the hot chocolate
We just got this new machine It's gorgeous
Alright
A hot chocolate please
The train now departing from platform 3, is the 12:30 service for London St. Pancras
Hello, Mr Pratchett. Yes, it's John May.
John May, Client Services
Yes I know, I'm sorry
I haven't been feeling myself today
No, still not quite right
I don't think I will be in tomorrow
Yes of course
Goodbye Mr ...
Just put them on top of the others
When he were good he were wonderful
Very kind and loving ...
When he were bad ...
you got out the room
Just half a sack
in the peeler and then ...
pull the switch above your head. The one on the left
When they're done
In the chipper
And don't put you hands in if you like your fingers
I can only tell about his life here wi' me
he never spoke about his life before
He could give you so much in a day that you didn't want to be anywhere else but with him
Do you know what I mean?
It was me who asked him to move in. He worked a while on the boats
That went, thanks to those fools in Brussels so he started helping out in here
He were good at it
Put extra beer in the batter. Customers were happy
It were nice to have him around all day
Strange job you've got
All those lives ...
I couldn't do it
I like my work. Here y'are
You got the paperwork? Oh hell, I forgot. Give me a minute
Mind the child
Bit early for another inspection Had the last one mid-summer
No, no I'm here to find people who were friends maybe
for a man who was here 20 years ago, William Stoke.
Him? You won't find any friends of his round here
What's he done now? Killed somebody?
No, actually he died a few weeks ago
Hmm ... good riddance
Fried a man alive he did
This guy were faffing wi' Mary Billy gets vexed, lands him one
So the guy picks up knife Billy grabs his arm
shoves it in the fryer up to here, and holds it there, knife and all
Mad I tell you
Says here it should be paid in June. Hello
Good morning Don't worry about that love We'll sort that out
Did you miss mummy?
I were just telling him about when Billy fried that guy. Mad eh?
Eat that one
Don't forget we promised mam we'd take her to the Bingo
Some more?
Don't listen to him
Billy were cleared, completely
But he wasn't the same after that
He started drinking a lot Became impossible even wi' me
And after a while he just upped and left
We found this in his room
do you recognize her?
Did he ever speak of a family?
No, he never spoke of having a family
he did leave something behind but he never knew about it
She's Den's at 4:30, so see you then
Bye love! Bye
Miss Jones, there'll be a funeral, Billy's funeral, in a few days in London. You must come
Bring his daughter, and his granddaughter It's one ..
I'm sorry, it's not possible
But ... you're his family
We're not his family. He didn't want one
And I can't. It's too long ago It's too much to explain
The Council could help with transport I loved him
Never loved anyone else since but I can't
I can't. Please don't insist
Do you know where he might have moved on to when he left?
No idea
Prison most likely
Morning Mr White. Mr May.
What news from the land of the living?
Friar in Robin Hood's band, 4 letters
Tuck Tuck!
You're wasted here Mr May
Mastermind, big leather chair, that's where you belong
I'd give it a go if I were you Mr White.
Our last case, William Stoke. Row 2,
tray 8, 40 days rotting, I believe
Forty?
Well he won't have to wait any longer If you can get him ready please
Oh, they've just taken another 3 for cremation this afternoon
There's a lot more checking out than checking in these days. I'll be out of a job soon
Here, Mr May...
Flightless bird, 4 letters
Dodo
Dodo, I never heard of it
You're the best thing Mr May!
Another fruitful day, John ? Almost there?
Mr Pratchett.
Miss Pilger tells me of great progress John The Council's very pleased
I'm sure you'll be pleased in turn with the references I am preparing
Thank you
You see it wasn't that difficult after all
Sorry? We have to think about this?
Your job
And let's face it, the dead are dead The funerals are for the living
So if there's no one there, there's no one to care, right?
I mean, for the living ...
could be better not to know. You know, no funeral, no sadness, no tears
What do you think?
I can't say that I've ever thought of it that way Mr Pratchett
Well anyway, the dead are dead
They're not there, they don't care Alright?
Mr Pratchett!
Yes, John? Mr Pratchett!
I need a few more days More days?
I'm afraid that won't be possible John, the Council as already ... My last case, William Stoke.
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, 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 er ...
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
We're talking about 20 years ago 17, actually
Mr May if we have to remember what's happened 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
"Stoke became violent"
"The visitors name was Ms Kelly Stoke"
Yes?
Kelly Stoke?
Sorry?
You're not Kelly Stoke?
Sorry? The daughter of William Stoke ?
Yes. 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
though 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 Yes, yes
Only, as soon as he turned round ...
it all came out
I don't know where from
It just started
about Mum, him leaving us
how selfish he was
Then he started shouting
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 ... 10 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 ... Erm, fine
Nothing really, it's just erm ...
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
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 ... Please Mr May, don't say any more
You've already said such a lot
Excuse me, 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, mi' 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
Fuckin' 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 didn't they ...
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 won't come out
It's awful when you think about it
Killin' 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't they used to send pretty birds to convince us
We're not worth enough 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 use 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!
Thank you
Sit down, sit down You'll give us a toe neck
Big Billy...
he was the worst beggar Hold on a minute
Have a red one, they're good
Thank you, I haven't eaten
He weren't one you 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, I was
But out the crew she picked Billy The only one who didn't pester her
I didn't You did!
Do you remember the time he nicked the chocolate for her, it was all melted
It all ...
caked in it, all covered in this ...
woo, 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
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
OK, G
This one here, G-93485
93485, right
Good views
Aren't they?
Lovely
And you would like to ... I would like to make it available for someone else
Family member?
No family
Just a friend
London Borough of Kennington Client Services John May speaking
Yes
Miss Stoke, of course
11
Not Plymouth, two stops before Plymouth
Off platform 2
Yes, I'm sure I'll find it
Thank you very much Miss Stoke.
I mean, Kelly.
Thank you, Kelly.
See you tomorrow
I thought this piece here ...
it really has something
I'm sure it's never been used in a funeral before but you'll see ... you'll hear,
when you hear it next Friday
Ah yes, the memorial
They call it red granite but it's not red, it's darker
more maroon, it's like the colour of his beret in the Army
I thought your father would have liked that And the place, I really hope you like it, it's
Well on a good day you can see for miles and even when the weather is not that great
it's so open, you really feel you've got, you really feel
I mean he is, he is outside
He's not inside. Not under
I was thinking next Friday, after the service
maybe we could go somewhere, a cup of tea or a chocolate
Just, you know just to chat if we have time of course, if you ...
Yes
yes, I would like that very much
Just a cup of ...
something, and I do have time
I have lots of time
See you there then ... John
And thank you
Thank you for everything you've done
No need
It was ...
just my job