14x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

I've been speaking to Uncle Rob,

and he said we can live with him.
Are you sure you want to go?

At least your sister's got some
sense between her ears.

He always had
summat about him, Steve.

Nicky Rafferty!
I didn't know you worked here.

Neil, what on earth are you doing?
I like you.

I'd really like to give this a go.

She was home-schooled

but now, unlucky for us,

we have to put up with her.

I am so proud to be stood
here as your new acting head.

It's about us having serious
concerns about your leadership.

Have you ever known an entire staff
walk out on a headteacher?

I will be stepping down.

The Trust have approached
me to step in as head.

But I want you to know
that your job is safe.

Nobody knows Waterloo Road like you.

MUSIC: Movin' On Up
by Primal Scream

# I was blind, now I can see

# You made a believer out of me... #

Oh, God.

Morning, Miss.

Don't worry, I've not forgot
me pencil case and me ruler.

As long as you're not
claiming it on expenses.

"Expenses!"

How do you think I got this car?

I love working for you.

SERENA-MICHELLE SIGHS

I know what happens
if I don't keep a close eye on you.

Oh, aye, I get schools
out of special measures -

I'm a right nightmare.

And that's why we've flown
you in on short notice.

But this isn't St Clements.

Waterloo Road is not a school,
it's a ticking time b*mb

and it's always ready to go off.

Well, I'm a big boy,
Serena-Michelle,

I think I can handle it.

I'm serious. Joe Casey thought
he could shake this place up

and it blew up in his face.

And he knows Waterloo Road
better than anybody.

I need to reassure the board that
everything's back under control.

No governors' meetings
coming to blows.

Honestly, you punch one Governor...

Steven!

No surprises. No drama.

By the book.

You understand me?

All right. By the book.

Thank you.

You're welcome!

"Your mum is with the angels now.

"Giving us all down
here a right slagging.

"Auntie Eileen." Bless.

I just can't believe
she was on her own.

I think, if I'd have
taken her to hospital,

I wouldn't have left her
to go to work.

Well, it was out of the blue.
I don't know how you can go now.

I like to keep busy.

Stops me thinking bad thoughts.

What you going to
do about the funeral?

Are you just leaving that as well?

It'll be the church hall, won't it?

I can make the butties meself.

No. Cos that's not what she wanted.
Look.

"Barbara Rafferty's
funeral wishes."

What's all these names?

People she don't want coming.
KELLY JO LAUGHS

"Horse-drawn carriage"?
"Six white horses"?! Yeah.

I think that'll be really nice. Have
you read that bit about the doves?

Yeah. What are they for, crapping on
the people she didn't want coming?

Well, there's no need
for that negativity!

Kelly Jo, we can't afford a scabby
donkey, never mind six white horses.

I'm not asking you to pay for
it all. I just need a lend.

Oh, here we go. It's not my fault
she didn't have a policy, is it?!

It's typical of mum
though, isn't it, eh?

Can't be bothered
paying for it herself,

so someone else'll do it.
Well, it won't be me.

Why are you being like this?

It's what nan wanted.

Yeah, I know what she wanted -

to make things as
difficult as possible

for the rest of us after she'd gone.

Do you know what?
I've heard it all now, Nicky!

Too tight to pay for
your mum's funeral!

Oh, shut up, Deborah.

It's all right.

Morning.

Builder's, am I right?

That's the chipped one
we give to parents we don't like.

I think the word you're
looking for is "thank you".

Now, don't be expecting
this every day but...

Oh! Thank you.

Oh! No chocolate on my
cappuccino - you remembered.

Can we chat while I get straight?

Yeah.

You are so easily bought, you.

I know you and Kim
were a proper team.

Same as me and my old deputy.

She got me though a
fair few scrapes.

Which is why I need to rely
on you in the same way, Joe.

Not really got the best track record
right now, though, have I?

I'm the new boy.
I need to learn from you.

I'm not really sure
what I could teach you.

I see every
troubled school like a...

Like a broken-down car.

You can have the best mechanic
in the world but it's the fella

who drives it every day
who knows where to kick it.

You realise I ride a bike.
STEVE LAUGHS

I've already got Serena-Michelle
breathing down me neck.

You know all the personalities,

how they fit together,

and I want to learn
how to manage them.

So today, I'm going to take a
back-seat and watch you run the
show.

Me? Whatever happened at the
start of term, I trust you, 100%.

I just need you to learn
to trust me the same.

Yeah, right.
Good.

Let's start by getting the staff
back onside, shall we? Yeah.

Wow, an actual staffroom.

What a luxury!

Don't let it suck you in.

I know Steve Savage -

gives you a few chairs

and a pile of tatty TES's
and he'll be asking for the world.

So, did anyone else wake up to
a surprise in their inbox today?

What you and Neil get
up to is your business.

Can't just be me shortlisted for
the co-deputy head role?

No? Nope.
I'd probably k*ll the head.

I'd rather poke me own eye out.

One of you must have gone for it.
It can't be that easy for me.

CLEARING OF THROAT

I hope you're messing.

Well, I've been passed
over time and again,

and finally a head comes
along who I can work with.

I mean, this is the
only chance I've got.

Or you could support your partner.

Well, it's me that needs support.

I'm a cis white male

or, as they used to call it, a man.

The odds are stacked
against me from the start.

When I get the job, it will be
because I'm the best candidate.

MUSIC: Lovers Come And Lovers Go
by Pigeon Detectives

Schuey. Get you, on time.

What...?

What have I got to stay home for?

Still all right for cash?

Cos, I told you -
you need anything, just ask.

I shouldn't do this, but...

..I'm only looking out for you.

Go on, then.

Put a smile back on your face, eh?

You thought any more
about doing summat for me?

Morning, everybody.

Get ready for the tubthumping.

Now, I'm not going to start
off by doing a big speech.

But what I will say is,
I'm excited to be working in such

a fantastic new building with
a dedicated and talented team.

I thought you weren't
doing a speech. Oh, no.

You're quite right.
You must pick me up on that.

This week, my main aim
is to keep a low profile.

I want to see what work,
what doesn't work

before I jump in with my size tens.

So, for the sake of continuity,

Joe Casey is going to continue
to run the show for now.

Now we know we got off
to a bit of a rocky start

but we can all agree that Joe
is a major asset to this school

and I know that you'll
give him the support

and respect that you'd give
any senior manager. Has he met us?

Joe.
Thanks, Steve.

Yeah, tie didn't suit me anyway.

LAUGHTER

Now obviously, there were a few
problems,

and Steve and I really think
it's down to communication.

So, we want to give you a voice.

Today, we'd like you to carry out a
review of each other's departments.

Sorry, you want us
to report on each other?

No, we want you to
learn from each other.

Yeah, share your experience
and your talent.

Right, where can we improve?
What can we do cross-curriculum?

You tell us and we will listen.

You know I've got a full timetable?

Oh, we're well aware
that it is a big ask

but Joe's organised some
cover to buy you some time.

BELL RINGS
Oh, right yeah.

It's a new day, yeah? Great.
OK, thank you. Thank you.

See? Typical Steve Savage.

Gets us doing the work for him,

makes it sound like
he's doing us a favour!

Preston, have you seen Tonya?
She went off upset.

How come? Your mum and my mum
having a go at each other.

I know. Nan would have loved it!

Hey, you know what else she loved?
When you used to...

..you used to get your little
instrument out in the living room.

What are you on about?

I'm on about your guitar.

The Kumbaya and... Eugh!

Ugh. And, anyway,

she actually wanted you
to do a song at her funeral.

But don't worry, I told my mum
that you don't play no more.

Says who?

You haven't played for years.

All right, but it's natural talent,

it doesn't just go away.

Who said that you had talent? Nan?

Preston, nans think that you have
talent if you wipe your own bum.

Right, OK. Well, tell
Auntie Debs I'll do it.

You're funny, man.
That was funny.

How's this?
I don't know why you're...

I'm being deadly serious!

KELLY JO LAUGHS

Oh, Mog. I didn't see you at
basketball practice this morning.

I got up late.

Well, that's a few times now.

Maybe cut back on
the all-night gaming?

I don't feel well, actually.

Yeah, so...

..so cut back on the all-night ga...
Just...

..leave me alone.

I see they all can't wait to
get into their shiny new building.

It's a daily routine, this.

Right. The bell has gone!

And we'll be taking
those vapes, thank you.

They are not allowed
in or out of school!

Get a load of the new TA.

Thinks we have to do what he says.

Oh, yeah. Mr Savage is
your new head teacher, Weever.

Right! Anyone with vapes,
hand them over now!

Give me that, Ronaldo.

New TA, eh? Great line.

Thanks for making me feel like
I'll always remember who you are.

Come on. Erm, excuse me.

Where do you think you're going?

Shop. Erm, no, in.

I'll only be a minute.

School's started. In.

Come on, let's go. Come on.

Carla Duggan?

What are you doing here?

You want to get out my way?
I will do when you tell me

what you're doing in my school.

You're not my head teacher now.

Joe, the pupils vaping -
have we taken names?

I'd have a list long as my arm!

Let's do a full bag search.

What, for vapes?

We don't know what effect they're
having on children's health -

and that's the legit ones.

The snide ones could
have anything in 'em.

Oh, I don't disagree but...

Are we allowed vapes in this school?

No. Right. But the full bag search,

you've got to have proper grounds.

I've got proper grounds.

Well, what are they?

Let's just get on with it.

I know it seems heavy-handed

but I've got me reasons, Joe.

Right, fine. Erm...

..so much for taking a back-seat.

Right it's £2.50 each

but I can do you a special offer,

two for a fiver.

Why you looking at me like that?

It's £2.50 -
I'm literally robbing myself.

Are you stupid or what?
Selling vapes in school?

Shop's closed, doughnuts.
What?

What do you think's going to
happen if Mr Savage catches ya?

Well, some of us don't have
a rich new mummy and daddy

that we can go to for cash.

You know what? I'm so glad
I listened to Tonya.

Running away with you would have
been the worst thing I ever did.

Wait, wait... WHAT are you all doing
here? Shouldn't you be in lessons?

Why are you loitering?

I'm looking for a pen.

"Pen"? Wow.

Schumacher Weever arrives
with pen, shock horror.

Get to lessons.

Come on.

BELL RINGS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

What?

Erm, do you know where 10S is?

Are you all right?

Do I look all right?

Erm, well, are you not
going to lessons or...?

Me nan's died.

I ain't going nowhere.

Why are you even in school, then?

Mum's acting like nothing's happened

so the rest of us have
to an' all, that's why.

Oh, it's bad, that.

I was off for weeks.

When you lost your nan?

Erm, not my nan, no.

Have you tried phoning her?
What?

Her voicemail, I mean.

Hear her voice.

Leave her a message, even.
Helps, somehow.

Does for me anyway.

"Phone her"?

You're weird.

LINE RINGS

I'm pressing the button.
Yes, I've tried that.

There hasn't been any beep.

There hasn't! Yeah, well, I didn't
hear... This is Barbara Rafferty.

I'm afraid I...
BEEP

Nan, it's Ton.

Mum's wrecking me head.

I reckon she's in a big
nark with herself

and she's taking it
out on everyone else.

If you were here,
I'd tell you all about it.

You'd give some rubbish advice.

It'd still help.

See you, Nan.

Your nan sounds class.

Yeah. She was.

You new?

Erm, Billy.

Tonya.

Was it your mum?

How'd you know?

She'd never let you come to
school with your tie like that.

I'm in 10S.

Come on, I'll show you.

Hey. No-one's expecting
you back at work, you know.

Yeah, well,
I'm a manager now, aren't I?

I can't just be taking time off.

Hey.

This place ain't going
to fall down without you.

What is it, because of
the new head starting?

Hasn't even crossed my mind.

The funeral, Nick, yeah?
You need to be involved.

Yeah! Yeah, why don't we just
have a two-minute silence

and get Elton John
to write a song and all?

Well, we could always get a loan.

If that's how your mum
wanted to go out...

SHE doesn't have to sit through it.

SHE doesn't have to pretend
that she's just lost

a devoted, loving mother.

Because she's going to be
in her top-of-the-range

Versace bloody coffin having
the last bloody laugh!

OK.

Look, I nearly let my anger get
the better of me at Chlo's funeral,

and I would have regretted it...

You didn't know my mum.

Not really.

Not when she was bad.

Yeah, I know, I'm just...

No, you don't get it, Donte.

BELL RINGS
Don't forget to upload your answers.

Tonya, new kid I don't know,

be on time next lesson.

Soz. And when you are late,

I expect a bit more than a "soz".

Soz, Miss.

"Soz, Miss"! "Soz, Miss"!

Tonya! What have
you said to Portia?

Get lost. She was totally
up for going with me,

and then it all changed.

I told her she'd be mad to listen to
anything you said - 'course I did.

And how is that your business?

She said, "Get lost."

Billy, it's fine.
So, get lost.

Stop right there, Weever!

I didn't even start it.

I don't care who started it.

You both go to Mr Casey's office.

Now!

You are dead. Dead!

That is NOT the way
to Mr Casey's office.

New school. I don't know my way.

Billy, you don't want
to pick a fight with him.

Mr Casey, I was just sending
this boy to come and see you.

Oh, well it's your
lucky day, isn't it?

Cos you get me instead.

Miss Chandra, do you mind if we
use your classroom? Yeah, sure.

Right, the rest of you, off to
your next lesson, thank you,

and have your bags out, on the
desk, ready for inspection.

Inspection?

Yeah, that right, Dwayne, go on.

We're just looking for vapes.
Nice and quick.

Fighting?

The other lad's a little rat
who likes threatening girls.

Or are you trying look
cool in front of everyone

before they find out
you're the head's son?

I brought you here to keep you
out of trouble. I was fine.

That school wasn't helping
you reach your potential.

Well, I might have if you'd
not been down there

every five minutes kicking off
like you knew better.

I expect the same standards
of your school as I do of my own.

So, now it IS the same school -

how exactly do you think
that's going to go down for me?

I don't HAVE bullying at my school.

I know you don't believe this, Dad,

but there are some things in life
that you just can't control.

Three strikes, Billy,

and that's your first.

You can't do this
for no reason, Sir.

CLEARS THROAT

I do have a reason, Shola.

Anyone else?

Let's see who's missing.

Billy Savage.

Oh... "Savage"?

As in, like, Mr Savage?

Right, Mog, thank you.

Yeah, right.

Clean sheet, Year 10.
Let's keep it that way.

Thank you, Miss.
Thank you, Sir.

Right, let's get on.

Last lesson, we covered
the world and context

in which Shakespeare...

In which he wrote Macbeth.

So, today, we'll go through
a summary of the story.

Don't mind me. Just here to
do a inter-department review.

So, on the board, you'll see
b*llet points with the themes.

It's a tale of ambition, m*rder,
deceit and betrayal.

Be-trayal!

What do you want?

You...play guitar, don't you?

Yeah. No-one spanks
the plank like me.

OK. Well, I've accidentally
asked Preston

if he can play a song
at our nana's funeral.

He's going to show
himself up - and me.

Noel... What do you want
me to do about that?

Well...maybe help him out.

Give him a lesson.

Him? Yeah.

You know he's never even thanked me
for my part in saving his life.

He's really upset, Noel. You're not
going to play the dead nan card!

He's really, really upset.
No, don't...

WEEPILY: Our nana just died!

SHE SOBS

HE STRUMS OUT-OF-TUNE

POUNDS ON DOOR
OK. C'mon, open up.

Oy! A few vapes, but that's it.

Yeah. Same. Problem?

Yeah, I think
someone's avoiding a search.

Oh, right. It's Mr Casey.

Open up or we'll open it for you.

Right... OK. All right,
I'm coming in.

Right. You can't open
the door on me. I'll sue.

Give me the vape. No.

I'm not going to give you anything.

Oh, hey, don't touch me.
Schuey.

You and me know every time
you open that without thinking -

makes things worse, doesn't it?

So, you tell me - what do you think
is your best option right now, Hmm?

Thank you. You got any more?
No.

Turn your pockets out, then.

Office, now!

Thanks for that. Donte, isn't it?

We sort of met the other day.

Oh, yeah, my other half
was the stranger

that were sobbing her
heart out on your good suit.

Oh, we're not strangers.
We went to school together.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, course you did.

Steve...

They are not mine.

They were hidden where we found you.

I were only in there to
stop you getting my vapes.

Oh...

Oh, that's OK, then, isn't it,
during school time?

Where'd you get your vapes from?
The shop.

They weren't given to you for free?

Little extra for the work
you're doing, maybe? No.

Did somebody ask you to deliver
this package somewhere? No.

Did Carla Duggan ask you?

No. Schuey, I saw her
outside this morning.

OK, but I don't know her.

Former St Clements pupil,
bright girl.

Not bright enough to
steer clear of the gangs.

Did she tell you how much
money you could earn, yeah?

Did she also tell you about
the time she was hospitalised?

What about when she did
time in young offenders?

No, I didn't think so.

And do you know how she started?

Selling vapes in my school.

Do not make the same mistake.

I'm trying to help you, Schuey.

Funny.

That's what Campbell said.

Helped get my dad in prison,

get me in a dive living by myself.

Miss Campbell is the only
reason you weren't excluded.

Schuey, you've brought drugs,
yeah, into school.

If you don't want to be chucked out,
you need to start talking.

What's the point? What is the point?

I mean, it don't matter what I say -

you two, you've already
made your minds up.

Right, OK. I think you need
to go to isolation for a bit

whilst we decide whether
to contact the police. Nah!

You should have said
about Carla, Steve.

I'm safeguarding lead
for the school,

so if there's a county lines dealer
hanging around, I need to know.

I could have reeled off
a list of vulnerable kids

before we'd done a
full bag search. Yeah.

And if I had, Schuey Weever
would have been right at the top.

They went right through
my stuff, though.

I mean, it's wrong, it's invasive!

Get your dad to complain.

Has the new Head not heard
of civil liberties?

Well, you raise
a very interesting question,

from a historical perspective.

You'll remember we were
discussing liberalism

in 20th-century Germany.
KNOCK ON DOOR

Sorry.

Erm... Just get your worksheets
ready, please. Thank you.

You're not down to observe me.

I swapped, after I saw you
scribbling your little notes

all through my lesson.

Well, it's like Joe said -

what are the problems
and where can we improve them?

Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm.

We can all play that game.

Right, so...

The Weimar Constitution provided us

with a lot of rights that
we take for granted today,

such as...freedom of speech

and anti-discrimination laws...

PEN CLICKS

..and so on.

Yet democracy failed and Germany
ended up with a fascist dictator.

So...

..how do we reconcile this?

Hmm?

Who let you in?

You're not answering my calls.

Well, I'm at work
and we're short-staffed, so...

I've got to ring up
the funeral director, and...

..I don't know what to say.

Do they do a cardboard box?

That's not funny.

Look, I... I can't do this
by myself, Nick. I'm brassic.

You were working in Ibiza,
weren't you?

Well, yeah. By the time
I'd paid my rent and whatnot...

And had it large every night.

I've helped you out plenty of times.

Oh, yeah, I know. And you
never let me forget it, have ya?

You're just like her.

Someone else'll pay - namely me.

I'm sorry, but I...

PHONE RINGS
I just can't afford it.

Moira, where are you?

What do you mean,
you're not coming in?

Well, what time is this
to be telling me that?!

Great! And where am
I supposed to get cover now?

I think Mum would want us
to help each other out, don't you?

Here you are. Slice these potatoes
up small or they won't cook in time.

Yeah...
SHE SIGHS

Nicky?

All right?
Didn't see you there.

Yeah, well, I... I can go.

No, no, no! No, you don't have to.

I don't want to get in your way.

Well, I mean, you are in the place

I like to take out my grievances
on inanimate objects.

I mean, that bin's had
a right kicking.

LAUGHS
Yeah, I bet.

Hey, you know, like, I used to
smoke. I struggled to give up.

Missed my ciggy breaks.

Well, eventually, I realised -

it wasn't the ciggy I was missing,
it was the break, the thinking time.

So now I still have the ciggy break,
without the ciggy.

Right, well, whatever
gets you through the day!

Listen... I'm sorry
about the other day.

You know, getting
all emotional on you.

Hey.

You'd just lost your mum. There's
nothing to be embarrassed about.

How are you?

You'll think I'm evil.

I always liked that about you.
THEY LAUGH

Well, she wants
this big, mad funeral

and I'm expected to
just go along with it -

like she was some kind of saint!

Your mum? Yeah.

That's how she saw herself,
you know.

Like, she was hard done to
and I abandoned her.

I was the world's worst.

I'm sure she loved you,
in her way.

Here.

Don't have a ciggy.
THEY LAUGH

It helps!
Ta.

Oh, I met your fella properly.
Did you?

Yeah. Wasted as a caretaker.

Oh, yeah, I know. He hates it.

He's got it in him to be
so much more, you know?

Yeah, well, I might be able
to find him something better.

We're in the middle of a staffing
crisis, so we need good people.

Oh, that'd be so good of you.

Yeah, well, I owe him one.

He helped me out
with a difficult pupil.

Do you know, erm,
a lad called "Schumacher"?

Oh, absolute little rat!

I was going to say he reminded me
of myself, when I was his age...

..when people just saw
a "kid in care".

No, he's just a bad 'un...

..and I'd say that whether
he was in care or not.

Some kids, you can just see
they're trouble a mile off.

BELL RINGS

Right.

Best be off.

THEY LAUGH

See ya.

Right, I've left a message
with his social worker.

If she calls back,
will you let me know?

I'm going to have to get
the police involved as well.

Who do you get to deliver
your big bag of pills?

Mine?! A lad like Schumacher,

he'd get stopped every two minutes.

The gangs know that.

They're looking for the kids
who fly under the radar,

the ones you don't notice.

I don't think he's our man.

What, you think
he's telling the truth?

Well, he clearly knew
Carla's name.

The ceiling panel's been moved.

Someone's been back to
look for their stash.

I'm telling you, Joe,
there's someone else involved,

and we need to figure out who it is.

BELL RINGS

LOUD CHATTER

Ah! So, you did get my text.

I knew you couldn't resist
half a veggie wrap.

I'm in trouble.

Like, bad trouble.

OK.

Just take a deep breath and...

What's happened?

I'm supposed to be in Leeds.

"Leeds"?

To deliver a package.

Mog... I got caught trying
to bunk off first thing,

then they did the search,
so I hid it -

but I went back and it's not there.

Now Carla's going to k*ll me.

So, Carla's a dealer, yeah?

How... How do you even know her?

From a game.

What?

I've got loads of friends
I've met in games.

We were doing
all these missions together,

she started buying me upgrades.

Next thing, she's saying I owe her.

And I realise I've told her
loads of stuff, like where I live,

where I go to school, all this -

and she's like, "You do a
thing for me to pay it back."

I thought it'd be once,
and that's it, but it wasn't.

It's going to be OK.

I'm going to get help.

You can't tell no-one.

Mog, you have to.

I just want help from you.

Look, if you lent me some money,
I could pay her back for it.

Even if I could do that, it's not
going to make any difference.

You need to tell a teacher.

It'll just make everything worse.

But that's what I used to think,

with my eating.

But they know what to do,
they know how to fix things.

Not this, they don't.

If I grass, it'll be
a million times worse.

You can't say a word. Promise me.

CHATTER

Right, if you've not decided
by the time you're here,

you can get what you're given.

Next!

A "thank you" would be nice.
What's this?!

Just...saving your Auntie Nicky's
backside, aren't I?

What do you think? Well, yeah,
you're rocking the hairnet, I guess.

Suits me, don't it? Yeah.

Hey, I'm available
tomorrow, you know?

And the next day.

And the day after that.

Yeah, I'm not buying this.

I know what you're doing.

What... What's that?

She's just trying to get me to pay
for your nan's ridiculous funeral.

No, I said I'd pay.

If I give her a job, it'll be a week
before she's bored and chucks it,

and then who ends up out of pocket?
Me.

This isn't even about money, is it?

This is about you having
one final dig at Mum

while you've got the chance.
Oh, I'll tell you what.

Why don't we all just go
along with it, then, eh,

like she was some kind of saint?
She was, for putting up with you.

Oh, yeah. That's right, yeah. That's
right. That's the story, isn't it?

I was the problem!

Aw, Nan didn't think that of you.

You reckon?

Yeah. She was your mum, loved you,

even if she didn't say it
every two minutes.

No, she didn't think about me.

Your shift's over.

DOOR OPENS

Sorry, I'm just working on my staff
review. Can you come back later?

What did you write about me?

Oh!

I'm afraid I found your rote
and uninspiring methods

somewhat lacking.

DOOR OPENS

Sorry, is it OK if I borrow a...?

Tried and trusted methods!

Waiting for a hands up?

Have you even heard of cold calling?

Oh, well, I don't suppose
there's much need for hands up

when there's so little
knowledge content!

Look, I don't want to say any of it.

I'm just making a point that
any of us can go in and be negative.

Suppose you do get the job. Mm-hm?

That will make you my boss.

You can't tell me that that's not
going to affect our relationship.

No, I don't think it will, no.

Cos there isn't going
to be a relationship.

Oh, come on! No, I don't think
I want to be with someone

who feels so
obviously threatened by me.

Sorry, is it...
Is it OK if I just borrow these?

Yes!

BELL RINGS

GROANS
He thinks it's a game!

Apologies for
disturbing lessons, everyone.

Now, earlier today, as you know,
we had a search for vapes.

We've become aware that
gangs are using vapes...

WHISPERS: Tell your dad
we've heard all this before.

Say it a bit louder, why don't you?

Billy's a grass. Whatever, I get it.

Are you kidding me?

You're Teflon! This is not
some sort of abstract concept...

You're my new bestie!
..this is happening,

right now, in this school.

Someone you know is involved
with a drugs g*ng.

And let me tell ya -
that person's life is in danger.

WHISPERS: Of dying of boredom.

Now, if it is you, we can help.

You'll not be in trouble.

And I promise you
that I will keep you safe.

If it's not you, then do you
know who the person might be?

Has someone you know been missing a
lot of school, without explanation?

Do they seem more
isolated than usual?

Are they dropping out of activities?

They suddenly have more money.

If you recognise any of
this in one of your mates,

you owe it to them to come forward.

It could save their life.

Just ask yourself this question -

"How would I feel if
something happened to my friend?"

"How would I feel if they
never got out of that world?"

Cos I think you'd feel
pretty terrible.

I think you'd feel that
maybe it was your fault.

So please,
if you're any sort of mate...

..do the right thing. OK?

BELL RINGS

Thank you, sixth formers.

Have we got a Mog Richardson?

Mog Richardson?

Oy, Mog? Where you going?

Move, move, move!

Mog!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
OK, stop there.

Do we need to have a chat
about a few things, Mog?

Mog, you need to trust us.

We know it was you.

You're the girl that I stopped
going to the shop this morning.

Is that when Carla
gave you the package?

Where were you really taking it to?

Come on. I know it feels like
no-one can help, but we can.

You can't, though. Hey, we've been
in this position loads of times.

Believe me. Yeah, you're not
the first person to be involved.

The police...
You can't tell the police!

We have to. Please, just give me
the package, just this once.

You know we can't do that.

But they'll k*ll me and my mum.

She said my mum could get hurt!

You have a chance here, Mog,

not just to help yourself
but to help others, too.

To stop Carla Duggan
putting other kids

into the position that
you're in right now.

That... That is not important
right now, though.

What is important is that we
get you the help that you need.

Mr Casey, a word.

I do not want Carla Duggan
walking away from this.

Our responsibility is Mog.

ECHOING: We refer her
to the police,

we do what we can to
support her and her family.

The rest is out of our control.
I don't accept that.

I know it went bad for Carla,

but that's not down to
anything that you did.

We've got to just do it by the book.

I did it by the book, Joe.

I referred her to the police,
social services.

Someone somewhere dropped the ball.

I should have done more.
I can't let that happen again.

What do you think you're going
to do, go after her yourself?

What do you want above
your door, "Mr Liam Neeson"?

ECHOING: I want Carla Duggan
out of the picture...

..for Mog's sake, for the sake
of all children

she's got her hooks into.

And how are you going to do that?

We get Mog to arrange a meeting, and
I go too. Are you out of your mind?

I just need one chance to see Carla
face-to-face. I really think...

You are talking about deliberately
putting a pupil in danger.

Well, she won't be in any danger
because I would....

Steve, you said that you trust me.

Yeah, and I mean it.

So don't do this.

Right, this...

This is breaking every rule.

Joe, sometimes in life, you...

You reach a fork in the road and
you can either play by the rules

or you can get stuff done.

This needs fixing now.

Look...

..I know you're scared.

Any of us would be -
you've been threatened!

They threatened your mum!

But my worry is, how many
other kids is she doing this to?

How many others didn't have
the bravery to tell a friend?

Mog, we can help stop this.

Plus...

Well, you've brought drugs
into my school

and, whatever the reasons,
that is a permanent exclusion.

What? I can help you with that.

But I need you to help me,

if you want to stay in school.

Call her.

Tell her you want to meet.

I think you sent one of your
reviews to the wrong printer.

"Lacks authority".
Really?

Do you mind?

It's...an early draft.

You heard what Coral said about me.

Just never knew
you were so ambitious.

I presume you were as harsh
on the other departments!

Look, I just get the one free period
when I'm not observing, so...

I just...

Throwing your relationship
away for a promotion,

it's a bit Wolf of Wall Street.

Thank you for bringing back
my private documents.

Yeah. No, yeah,
I can totally see it -

blood pressure rising cos
you've got the Head and the Trust,

and the governors to deal with,

and none of them agree
with you about anything.

Yes, well, I can be very diplomatic.

Coral should realise that
I am playing to win!

Yeah, I think she's starting to.

And I think that's why
she's so disappointed.

Coral is the best thing
that has ever happened to you.

You do realise she
actually wants this job.

This is not a game
for her, you know.

You were supposed to go to Leeds.

I told you what to do -
dead simple.

Why didn't you do it?
Back off, Carla.

What's this? Don't speak to her,
you speak to me.

Oh, my God. You're stupid.

Do you know what you've done?
I said, "Don't speak to her."

What do you want?

I want to know how you made such a
spectacular car crash of your life.

That what you think? Cos I make
more money than you. I know that.

Yeah, I'm sure you do. But how?

Ruining kids' lives?

"Ruining" 'em? I'm helping 'em.

I'm the biggest job
agency around here!

What a waste.

You could have done anything.
You were dead clever.

What do you know? Well, I know
you had every opportunity.

Who told you that, my mum?

Surprised you could ever even
get her down to school.

She couldn't get out of bed
before half three.

You're not the only one
who had a crap start,

but it's no excuse
to make crap choices.

I've given you a million
chances over the years.

Let me give you one more.

It's not too late
to turn your life around.

I can help you.

Or...you can take these
and you can disappear.

And you don't come near my school,
or my pupils, ever again!

You OK? Yeah.

Good girl.

Mike Rutherford?

Yeah, it's Steve Savage,
Waterloo Road.

It's not the best introduction,

but you might want to know
that there's a dark blue Mazda,

turning onto Burnside Street.

The driver may have some
Class A drugs in the vehicle.

What rhymes with "heaven"?

Devon?

You know people are staring at me.

Yeah, cos you're new. And you're
actually not that bad to look at.

That doesn't make sense.

Me nan never went to Devon.

You know, I'm just going to end up
like one of those freaks

that people have to avoid.

And I told my dad about it,
but he didn't listen - again.

Never does.

I'm massively sympathetic and that,

but you try writing something poetic

about someone who wore the same
trackie bottoms for three weeks.

Why do you have to write it anyway?

Cos our Kelly Jo said it was my job.

And would your nan really
want you stressing out

over a poem at a time like this?

No.

She'd properly say, "Just copy
it out of a book or summat -

"no-one will notice!"
Well, there we go!

It's what she would have wanted.

SIGHS
You're not THAT much of a freak.

You might actually be
quite useful to have around.

Cheers! It's all right.

GUITAR PLAYING CONTINUES

It's bad, isn't it?

I'd be struggling too

if I had to play in front of
all my dead nan's mates.

Nah, it's not that, really.

Just...

Bad day.

Look, it's not awful, right?

You're just making things
very hard for yourself, yeah?

Slow it down. Cos you can
always get faster, yeah?

If you mistake... Thank you!

..stop it, forget it, move on.

Yeah? Yeah. Right,
we're going to go from the...

From the C.
The C?

Yeah, play me that. Right.

THEY SING: # Oh, Danny boy

# The pipes, the pipes
are calling... #

Preston, can you...
Can you not play that one?

I... I'm just getting
the hang of it.

Yeah it's just that,
that's what your...

Your nan used to sing that
to me when I was little.

Yeah, I know.

She... She wanted me
to play it at the funeral.

Yeah? Yeah. Right.

From the top, yeah?
From the top. On you.

# Oh, Danny boy

# The pipes, the pipes
are calling... #

Yes, see, you're getting it now!

# From glen to glen
and down the mountain side... #

BELL RINGS

How about "Remains"?

That's got some, like, fella
getting his guts ripped out!

I'm not reading anything
from Power and Conflict

at my nan's funeral, you doughnut!

Keeps me in isolation all day...

..then says I'm lucky
not to be excluded.

I'm going to wreck
Savage's head, man!

See him? I heard that's his lad.

What you still doing here?

Waiting for Kelly Jo.

I'm not angry with her
for anything she did.

I'm angry with her for going.

SHE SNIFFLES

Still not having you back
in there showing me up.

THEY LAUGH

Got you a cleaning job,
though, if you want it.

Are you serious?

How have you done that?

Have you fluttered them eyelashes
at that ex-boyfriend of yours?

Er, no. I'd rather that wasn't
common knowledge, thank you!

OK.

Got it.
Never happened.

And...

..I'll find the money
for Mum's funeral.

You're right. She should
go out the way she lived -

sticking two fingers
up at the world!

THEY LAUGH, SNIFFLE

What's brought this on?

Don't know, I just...

I think I need you more
than I thought I did.

Come here.

I'll pay you back with my wages.

No, I don't want it.

I'd rather see you getting
yourself back on your feet.

It's what Mum would have wanted.

Mog, are you OK?

Your mum's on her way.

What's going to happen?

What's going to happen is
we're going to do things properly.

Right, the police will speak to you,

put you in touch with
an agency that specialises

in getting kids out of
situations like this.

I believe Carla Duggan
has been arrested,

picked up with a quantity
of drugs in her possession.

Wendy, can we...
get Mog some tea?

Come on, Mog.

Steve, what you just
did is unforgivable.

She's been picked up by
the police - it's over.

You risked a kid's safety
on a personal vendetta.

I did what I had to
do to keep her safe.

Some mentoring advice I probably
should have probably given you, Joe,

what they're really paying you
for, when they make you the boss,

is to make the decisions
no-one else wants to.

You cannot expect me to support...
I don't.

That's the beauty of it.

I take all the risk,

you take none of the responsibility.

Enjoy it.
Let me tell ya -

if there's a fire in
this school while I'm Head,

I'm the one holding the matches.

Joe, it's going to get bumpy.

It's the only way I know.

But I promise you -

we will get to where we want to be.

What, without giving me
a heart attack in the process?

Well, I can't promise you that.

HE CHUCKLES

Look at you on there.

Aw, Nan looks gorge here.

She always put in an effort,
didn't she?

Yeah, sometimes she managed to put
on her dressing gown AND slippers.

Preston! What?!

Oh, I'm telling you, you need
a mortgage for chips these days.

Preston, plates. Come on.

Yeah, I like that one.

That one is for on the front
of the funeral booklet.

Hey, that's a thought.
What are we going to bury her in?

She'd want to go out looking
her best, wouldn't she? Yeah.

She wouldn't want no-one
getting her stuff cheap

in the charity shop, though.
Oy!

Ain't she still got
them designer heels?

Oh, not the ones she got for free!

What, bought a blag pair
from the market?

Yeah, and then she took
'em down King Street,

told them they were faulty
and swapped 'em for a real pair!

She'll still have 'em.
I'll go and have a look.

You all right? Yeah.

Hey, you'll never guess what.

Mr Savage messaged.

Reckons he's got a new role for me

and wants me to go see him about it.

Right! Yeah, that's brilliant.

Hey, why didn't you tell me
that you knew him?

What do you mean?

Well, he said that
you and him go way back.

Ah, yeah, well,
I'd just lost my mam.

I mean, it wasn't the time
to get out the yearbook.

Yeah. Yeah.
Course not.

And what I noticed in music is that
Val begins with a communal warm-up.

It knocked out a lot of
the restlessness. It's...

It's something we could
employ across subjects.

I love it. I love it.

What about rooms
for improvement, Coral?

Well, I must admit, there
are certain department heads

that seem...

..resistant to change.

Sorry. I have been
working on my feedback.

OK, take a seat, Neil. Go.

So, as I was saying, my observations
in certain departments...

..gave me cause for concern.
Actually...

Can I jump in with mine?
Excuse me!

It's just that I've got...

..w*r game club, you see,
and I should really be there now.

w*r game club's just you and Rolf.
You can't just barge in!

I happen to take my extra-curricular
duties seriously.

Erm... Sure, Neil.

Right, thank you.

Right, I will be starting
my observations

with the English department.

Miss Walker.

She comes in at weekends
to do wall displays...

..gives GCSE lessons
in the holidays,

lives and breathes the job,

and for me...

..that has been an education.

It goes without saying that she
is unbelievably valued by pupils

and by her colleagues...

..and by me.

Look, I know that...this
wasn't the aim of the review,

but I would like to recommend
Coral for Deputy Head.

Knock yourself out, mate.

Oh, great, you've found 'em!

OK... Wait.

No! Is that Nan's?!

Oh, my God - hiding
it from the social!

She weren't daft, were she?!

How much is even in there?

I've not even counted.

Here y'are, take this.

What's this?

For the chips.

What are you on about? That's going
to have to pay for the funeral.

No. You said you'd pay
for that. This is separate.

Well, if that's the case,
I'm owed more than 30 quid.

Well, it was in my house,
so finders keepers.

After everything I said before?

The brass neck on you! Whoa, whoa,
whoa! Hey, let it go! Come on!

You won't get away with this,
you thieving cow!

Come on. Tonya...

What about my chips?

Thanks for today, everyone.

I know it was a bit of a pain
that you could've done without,

but it was incredibly useful.

And actually, I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed listening how passionately
you speak about this school,

about the pupils, about your job,

about each other.

There he is. Daddy's boy!

But in between all the words,
I heard a request.

You want change.

Get lost! Hey, come here!

I'm not in that classroom
inspiring children,

enabling them to be the
best version of themselves,

giving them hope for their future.

You may as well top yourself now

cos every second of every day
that you spend in MY school,

you're going to hate.

It's YOU in that classroom.

It's YOU who they remember
for the rest of their lives.

And every time that
you see me coming,

you'll wish you were dead.