Blackout

Sorry about this. Sorry.

Tough day.

Meg was amazing.

- Really beautiful. - Which is a sweet way

of telling me I'm a terrible father.

Or maybe I'm just trying to tell you what you're missing.

Alex, late is late.

- Late is not "don't care". - Yeah, well,

you just watch out for those tough days, Daniel,

because they have a sneaky way of destroying your liver.

I thought we'd treat the kids to an Indian on the way home.

I've gotta go. Business to do.

Well, you can tell Meg yourself.

Well I came, didn't I? I turned up.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think you really believe that.

You got it all from me, didn't you? Fantastic.

Hey, mate, was that a pas de deux or a pas de don't ?

- All right, mate? - Hi, Dad.

- All right, son? - You all right, Dad?

OK, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to go again - work.

Why can't it wait till the morning?

Because people who matter won't wait till the morning.

Listen, I'm gonna give it up, my job.

Who wants to be a local councilor all their life?

We'll open a shop. Dancing shoes.

- How does that sound? - (CHUCKLES)

Dad, it sounds like bullshit.

Daniel...

Look, you look really tired. Why don't you just come home and get some real sleep?

You have no idea how good that sounds.

I'll go and do this and I'll be head-on-the-pillow by 11.

12 at the latest.

- (DOG BARKS) - (MAN SHOUTS)

Nice shoes.

You noticed my shoes?

How could I miss them?

You never came to say hello.

I just did.

This is Daniel Demoys- Leave a message.

Why do you always have to be late?

What's that stink?

Oh, it's us.

- How did that happen, Henry? - How did what happen?

You and me. How did we end up the blokes who meet down a dark alley

late at night? That wasn't the plan. How did we end up the bastards?

Danny!

You cut this crap.

You're beginning to sound like a drunk.

You get your act together.

- How can they do it at this price? - How d'you think?

They'll hire your staff and pay 'em less.

You're not the only one who can sell a bag of bullshit to the council

and call it "new, improved services".

They can't pull it off at this price, Danny, it's not possible.

No-one gives a shit if they can pull it off. "Are they cheap?" "Yeah, they are."

- "Do we like it?" "Yeah, we do." - I can't beat this, Danny.

Ah, well,

then they get the deal!

They get the deal? Is that what you're saying to me?!

So, we shake hands, nice doing business with you down a dark alley. Is that it?

You think I'm here with you because I like you,

because we're mates, because you matter one bit to me?

You take my money, son. D'you know what that means?

That means I own you, Danny boy.

I know everything there is to know about you, son.

I know where the money goes,

and I will use that.

You want your kids to know what a whore-loving scumbag you are, eh? Eh?

You get me what I need, or I'll destroy you.

You understand?

You're mine.

Charlie! Are you dressed, sweetheart?

Do you want a bacon sandwich?

Mum, I don't know how this works.

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER) - Come on, it's easy.

Luke, come on. - Are you up? (LAUGHS)

Sweetheart? Are you up?

It's all right, Charlie.

Just cut my hand.

It's OK. Have your breakfast.

- Oh, no... Now, come on.

Come on!

- (KNOCK ON DOOR) Oh, Dad, come on!

I'll have a birthday out here if I wait much longer.

Luke?

Luke, come on, sweetheart

Are you UP?

I hope that the window's open and the seat down.

I need to know you're up.

I'm going in ten minutes. Now, come on!

- What've you done to your hand? - Luke!

Eddie Dayton was smashed last night - took me down with him.

OK...

- How's your hangover? - Beautiful(!)

- So, how did you get home? - I got a cab.

I didn't hear it.

I got a quiet cab.

Do you even know how you got back?

Automatic pilot.

You know, Daniel, there are times, when you've had a drink,

and you have such a look -

- it's like you're not even here. - It's called having fun.

- You used to join in. - No,

it's called alcoholic blackout.

There are whole conversations that we have, you don't remember them.

Well, maybe there's a reason for that.

It's the bids and tenders today.

- I've got to get moving. - Daniel!

While you were out all night, I started looking on the internet.

Now, people think that blackout's just memory loss...

Alex, I like getting lashed sometimes.

That makes me normal. Step outside.

- Everybody's doing it - "When I drink,

"it's like I die and another person takes over my body,

"talks for me, thinks for me."

Whoa. Big word, alcoholic.

Do you see a man with a string tied around his coat, or a man going to work?

"It's like I'm not present in my own life."

A man, by the way, who is chairing...

- "I was awake, talking..." - ...the Bids and Tenders committee...

"...when I came to, on a flight to Amsterdam. It wasn't that I forgot..."

...if he can just get out of the house.

"...getting to the airport or on the plane.

"It's that I wasn't conscious in my own mind when I did it!

"I am here, but I'm gone."

Yeah. Some people can't get enough melodrama.

I'm gone too. To work.

- (PHONE RINGS) - Charlie, get your coat on, sweetheart

You all right, Chaz?

Sometimes I wish you didn't make it home.

Well, let me know when them times are and I'll sleep on Eddie's sofa!

You think we can just cam! on like this, do you?

Just having the same battles, over and over?

I don't want to live like this any more.

Will you drop Charlie off on your way in?

Will you pick me up tonight, Dad?

- Yeah. Of course I will. - Oh, I need some money for a drink.

All right, buy juice. Not the...fizzy stuff.

Here you are.

Tonight.

Go on.

Sorry I'm late. My son was sick.

So, er...

we're down to two bidders and we've got 'em both in this morning

to give their pitch.

- I'll start with... - Daniel...

You haven't heard?

What? Heard what?

I've been trying to call you all morning.

Henry Pulis is in a coma.

He was attacked last night.

It sounds like he was mugged, or worse.

Danny!

You cut this crap.

You're beginning to sound like a drunk.

You get your act together.

Obviously, it doesn't seem right to do any business today.

We can't renew the contract until we find out how Henry's doing.

I had no idea.

My boy was sick so I just dived in the car and drove straight here.

We'll reschedule the meeting.

We've had some flowers sent over to the hospital.

What's going on out there, eh?

Well, if you don't mind, Eddie, since we're rescheduling,

I'll head home, see how my boy is.

I'll call the hospital on the way and see how Henry's doing.

Just turn on the radio.

It's all over the news.

Prominent local businessman Henry Pulis

is in a critical condition in hospital today

following what police are describing as a brutal attack in the city last night.

Pulis is a key player in the fulfilment of council...

...shocked by the news of the incident...

- How can they do it at this price? - How d'you think?

They'll hire your staff and pay 'em less.