[lively conversation, gavel bangs]
We need to vote - now.
And I urge you all to remember,
my father and every headmaster before him
protected this school and its legacy, tooth and nail.
- Bloody freezing out here. - I know.
But we can't go in till that stupid board meeting's over.
They were supposed to be done by now.
Even the council agreed, before the Planning Act was overridden.
We should not sell this land.
[murmurs]
OK, I really do think we should wait.
The vote is split down the middle, so Vincent's vote will matter.
The headmaster knows the vote is due.
It's not our job to wait for him.
What do you think, deputy headmaster?
He's not answering his phone.
Perhaps he's excluding himself.
I doubt that, it's his proposal.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Let's take a 20-minute break, then, but no longer.
- We've been here all evening. - [grumbles]
The lights are still on.
[crows cawing]
What the hell is that?
[dripping]
No!
Hurry up and go!
[theme music]
You don't need to do anything, all right?
Just be free for those two days. I'll book it.
[Lola] Are you sure? I have travel vouchers.
Will you just let me surprise you?!
- [laughs] - OK.
Gotta go, Lols. Chat later.
Oi! Reid!
[pacey, dramatic music]
This isn't school.
I'm not scared of you or your little gang.
- Jesus! Bloody hell! - Ow!
- What did you do that for? - You were coming at me!
- I wasn't coming at you. - You were chasing me!
- To ask for your help! - Help?
Help with what?
People think I'm a murderer.
I need you to clear my name.
Ow!
[sighs] Really, Fergus? Is this a new approach to clients?
He's not a client.
He's probably just in trouble with a drug dealer or something.
- You heard of St Bart's? - Yeah, I've heard of it.
It's a boys' boarding school, very exclusive.
Yeah, an old friend of mine, um...
Kevin Monroe was the principal there.
Well, he passed ten years ago
and I think he was replaced by Vincent something?
Quinn.
Last week, he was thrown out of the top floor.
- Oh, so you pushed him? - No, I didn't.
We'd a bit of beef. He kept trying to expel me.
Ooh, what do you mean expel you? You're not in that school.
I am. Now.
- I got a scholarship. - Very impressive.
There's no way you got in. You're a bullying little shit.
Well, from where I'm standing, you're the one that clocked him.
He used to call me Weedy Reidy.
Really? That's funny. No, I mean... it's terrible.
Really, it's terrible. It's terrible.
Can you help me?
Why do people think that you killed him?
I did some stupid shit, all right?
Just messing, like, but...
I kept getting into trouble with Mr Quinn.
Mm-hm.
So, when he died, the police went straight for me.
I was in me form room when he died.
I didn't leave it. I swear on me ma's life.
I couldn't have killed him.
What?
[Charlie] From Jordan. "Vincent Quinn.
Bruising to indicate he was pushed
from the top floor of St Bart's.
They were doing some renovations so there was scaffolding,
but he hit his head off another balcony on the way down.
Instant death, approximately 9:30pm.
His spectacles were missing, they found that odd.
He always wore them.
They suspect they fell from his face during the altercation
and the killer picked them up."
Ah. Thanks, Jordan.
- Crime scene pics. - Hm.
He left the school board meeting at 9pm
after receiving a call on his mobile.
The call came from the school's internal phone system,
so they can't pin it down to a specific phone.
All the boys were in their form rooms, allegedly.
Well, he's unlikely to have left an important board meeting
to go and inspect construction at that hour.
Somebody obviously summoned him to the top floor.
Yeah. Derek.
Well, that's not proven,
but I would be inclined to check on him closely.
Kids these days, Ma, they're a different breed,
and it sounds like he had cause.
There'll be a memorial, I think we should all go.
My old friend's daughter's still involved in this school.
We could ask questions without deciding one way or the other.
This is a time of great sadness,
and while we are mourning now,
we must remember that St Bart's is not just a school.
We are a community
- and we will support each other. - It's Sherry Monroe, previous headmaster's daughter.
I believe that's her husband.
We should mingle.
[Sherry] My father was very fond of you.
[Harry] And I him. He was a good soul.
It's good to see that you're still involved with the school.
Oh, St Bart's is our family.
- My two sons go here. - [hum of conversations]
This school means everything to us.
It's a tragedy what happened.
Did you like him? Vincent, I mean.
Of course.
I heard there was a vote taking place the night he died.
- Is that true? - Mm-hm.
Vincent wanted to sell off some of the school land,
and he'd brought half the teachers and board around.
So, it was split down the middle?
Mm-hm.
Why did anyone want to oppose it?
That land had protected status.
Even the council acknowledged it.
And it was used by the local community, not just the school.
And then, suddenly, it was overturned
and they decided to zone it for houses.
The area would lose a resource, the school would be flanked.
I mean, Vincent was like a dog with a bone trying to sell.
Yeah, we're friends of the family. It's great to see how well-loved Vincent was.
Yeah, Quinner, he was, er... he was all right.
It's not true what they're saying, though, is it?
That, er...
[whispers] That Derek pushed him?
- Who's saying that? - Everyone.
What was the story between him and, er... Quinner?
Well, Derek, he was always fronting up to him.
And as head boy, I tried to rein him in
but they had a massive blow-up that day.
Hm.
I heard Derek didn't leave his form room that night.
Did he say that?
- So, you're in charge now? - Acting head.
Sherry tells me that your son is a senior Guard.
On sabbatical at the moment.
Does he have any information about this case?
It's just, the board doesn't know what to do
until the Guards charge Derek.
Or not.
He could sue the school if we expel him during all of this,
claim that we prejudged the outcome.
We have to be very careful, what with him being a scholarship kid
and the fact that he's...
Poor? Disadvantaged? Marginalised?
Oh, that has nothing to do with it!
This school has always been about equality
and giving the less well-off access.
Derek has been very welcome here.
Even Vincent said the sale money would go into more scholarships.
Well, did you agree with his plan?
God, no!
It's a terrible idea. Putting profit over history?
Well, if the vote was contentious
and I was the police, I would be wondering
who was benefitting from Vincent,
the casting vote, not being there?
Look, everybody knows that it was Derek.
That's why we're so eager to hear what the police think.
I really think we should just suspend him, Arthur.
- It's not that easy, Sherry. - Tell her what he did that day.
He messed with the handbrake on Vincent's car.
It rolled into the lake. Totalled.
Well, luckily, Vincent wasn't in it, but he could have been.
- Hi. - Hm?
- Could I speak with you? - Of course.
I overheard your conversation with Sherry,
and...
I just think someone needs to say it.
Derek's not a bad kid. Well, he's misunderstood.
And, I mean, Vincent...
Vincent upset a lot of people with that board vote.
I don't think it's fair that people go straight to Derek.
If that's what the police are doing.
Unfortunately, the police always take the most direct route.
It... It's good of you to, er, to speak up for him.
Yeah.
That vote seems to have frayed a lot of tempers.
It has.
And...
Sherry insisted on having the vote when Vincent wasn't there.
- None of this feels right to me. - Ah.
And I feel so bad for Derek's mother
coming here every day with all this happening.
What about Derek's mum?
- [Fergus] Harry. - Um... I'll leave you to it.
- Thank you, again. - Yeah.
Everything all right?
Mm.
That's his first lie exposed.
Now, he left the form room that night.
The lads don't believe in snitching.
- But they did. - A man was murdered, Mother.
Yeah, and why do you want him to be innocent?
I just want him to have a fair shot.
Why do you want him to be guilty?
- Because he most likely is. - Oh, I get it.
He tormented you, but you don't know anything about his life.
I think Fergus has a point. Whatever about his background,
the kid obviously has anger issues.
Well, that doesn't make him a murderer.
Look, let's not pretend
that you didn't grow up in a nice little bubble, Charlie,
and despite our problems with Marcello.
You both have had tough times in your life,
but both of you have had people who loved you.
And you, Fergus, you've had people who gave you a chance.
Doesn't Derek deserve a chance?
No, it's not even remotely the same thing, Harry.
- [Skeevie] All right, Happy? - Don't do that. He's a bully.
I might have a bit of gear that needs shifting. You interested?
Nope.
I'm out of that game now, Stephen.
On the straight and narrow.
I had to hear it for meself!
So, Paula has you whipped.
And I've never been happier.
Oh.
[Malky] Once a toe-rag,
- always a toe-rag. - [Fergus sighs] Jesus!
And there's you telling Paula you are done with the dodgy dealings.
Now look at you, chatting to Skeevie.
I'm just having a quiet pint, Malky.
Maybe go home and have a coffee, yeah?
[Skeevie] I'll be off.
Let's have no trouble.
[door creaks open, closes]
You're messing her around.
Nope.
That was you for years.
And you lost her because of it.
- Hey! - Jesus!
Whoa, whoa, Malky. Hey, here. Calm down.
What are you doing?
He's scum.
You've always been scum!
He's taking your mother for a ride.
She can look after herself, Da.
[Charlie] Grab that.
I'll take him home.
- Oh, oy, oy. There we go. - Come on.
That was my dad, growing up.
And I didn't become a bully.
People don't change, Harry.
And I'm telling you, Derek Robinson hasn't.
But you don't wanna hear it.
Hi, this is Jordan. Leave a message.
- [beep] - Jordan, I need a favour.
I need to know about Derek Robinson.
And I want a contact for his mum.
[Harry] Thank you for being willing to talk with me.
[woman] I'm happy to talk.
Sorry I have to do it here. I've got to finish up.
- I have to get to work. - I thought this was your work.
I have a second job.
You know your son, Derek,
came to my company and asked for help?
The police will realise he did nothing wrong.
Is that your experience with the police?
That they always get things right?
My colleague doesn't want us to take this case.
Derek lied to us already
about leaving the form room that night.
He didn't kill him.
I promise you that.
Look, my colleague also said that Derek was trouble in his last school.
Boys aren't always easy.
And Derek's father... was especially difficult.
For me and my son.
- Do you have any children? - I have a son.
- His father? - Absent.
- So you know how hard it can be. - I do.
My boy isn't perfect, but he has a good heart
and he deserves this chance.
As one mother to another, will you help him?
I'll do my best.
[Charlie] You left your form room that night.
- Where did you go? - Who ratted?
- Oh, answer the question. - We know you're lying.
This is stupid. You sound just like those cops.
I thought you'd help me.
- Did you kill him? - No!
It's best you tell the truth, son.
You did, didn't you?
Charlie, Fergus, stop it! Sit down!
Derek, pick up that chair!
Stop ruining my bloody furniture.
Look at me, young man.
I've met your mum.
She's a good woman, she works hard.
A woman like that doesn't raise an idiot,
even if you choose to act like one.
[sighs] Look, I've promised her that I will help you,
so I'm going to take on this case,
but we're going to start with the truth.
What were you doing outside your form room
and why didn't you tell us in the first place?
You're not supposed to leave after 8:30 on week nights.
But the school doesn't pay great,
so my ma had to take another job.
I sneak out and help her clean
so she can go off and do offices.
If the school found out, they'd probably sack her
and use that as another reason to throw me out.
I see. But the pranks you were playing.
Totalling the headmaster's car seems extreme.
It's hard to explain.
Well, try.
In me old school,
I made sure people were too afraid to pick on me.
[scoffs]
At Bart's, I thought I could change,
but me accent and me uniform, being second-hand,
the lads had a pop.
I knew I couldn't intimidate them
so I thought I'd make them like me.
By being a rebel?
Why pick on the headmaster?
You must have known that would be trouble.
He didn't care the other lads were making things hard for me.
Quinn only liked rich kids.
He was the real bully.
[Charlie] He wasn't actually with his mother at the time of death.
And even if he was, your own mother is not a solid alibi.
I'm not saying he did it!
I'm just saying sometimes it's more obvious than you think.
Go with the evidence.
Fergus] We all heard him, OK? He hated Quinn.
We need to look at that vote over the land.
- There's something there. - And how are we gonna do that?
Er... I don't know.
Charlie, shouldn't you be getting home to Orla?
Mm? Oh, yeah, er... fair point.
[front door closes]
What are you up to?
[bike bell rings]
I could lose my job, letting you in like this.
Once we get in, you go.
If we get caught, we won't mention you, I promise.
Look, I told you on the phone
that we've investigated dozens of cases and got to the truth.
I think that Vincent was murdered because of that vote.
So, if you truly want to help Derek, help us.
Yeah.
[lock turns]
Good luck.
[Harry] Where there's land, there's money.
Where there's money, there's greed.
Yeah, sure, but what are we looking for?
I don't know. Poisoned letters? Emails? Brown envelopes?
Yeah, I thought the land was being sold for the school's benefit.
Aren't they building affordable homes on it?
I mean, if no one personally benefits, if that's the case,
it's a good thing, right?
Unless...
Unless what?
Unless someone very dodgy is involved.
Guess who personally overturned the Planning Act
to rezone that land.
Nicholas bloody Samson.
A woman in a dress like that shouldn't open her own door.
Give me a second to be a gentleman, won't you?
I gave you five seconds. Then I got impatient.
[chamber music playing]
I had no idea you were a patron of this charity.
Well, you know me, I like to help the underdog.
I'm not sure I know you at all, but I'm enjoying getting to.
Ooh.
- Great speaking with you, Nicholas. Let's talk soon. - Of course. Good to see you.
[chuckles] Awful man.
Oh. Ms Wild, isn't it?
So good to see you again, and such a worthy cause.
It seems we're both invested in eradicating homelessness.
There's barely a project you haven't put your personal seal of approval on.
Including, of course, the protected land at St Bart's?
Sometimes, tough decisions have to be made.
It's my job to make sure that homes are built.
And will these homes be affordable
or luxury developments?
I'm confused. Don't you want people to be housed?
If so, you're at the wrong charity event.
I just want you to know that I'm still around.
So I see.
Did you know Vincent Quinn?
He was the headmaster at St Bart's, he was murdered.
Strange how these things keep happening around you.
What interesting things you say.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about you recently.
Mr Kennedy, I must tell the Minister for Justice that I saw you.
We're due to review your tenure, aren't we?
Enjoy your evening.
So, we're not here for the bad roast dinner.
If he tries to interfere with your position,
- it'll be my fault. - Please, Harry.
I know how to play the game.
But I get the sense that he doesn't just play.
Think he had your headmaster killed?
Well, I think they were on the same side, but...
if Vince couldn't deliver the vote,
I mean Samson's capable of having him murdered.
But I don't think that's what happened.
- That man is Icarus! - Flying too close to the sun.
Ah, and I for one can't wait to watch him burn.
[insistent knocking]
Oh, keep your pants on!
Sherry?
[Fergus] What's going on?
The police have been questioning Arthur.
Arthur hasn't done anything wrong,
but the board was about to vote on him becoming permanent head.
I have to abstain because of our relationship,
but with the police interrogating him
and me not there to speak for him...
But why are they questioning him?
He wasn't with anyone, see? When Vincent was pushed?
We'd taken the break from the meeting
and Arthur wanted some air.
I was with the other board members.
Well, this could be a little difficult, Sherry.
We're working to prove Derek's innocence.
But isn't the most important thing to get to the truth?
I'm telling you, Arthur did not kill Vincent.
He's a good man
and he's the best headmaster that Bart's could have.
Well, for us to get to the bottom of what happened that night,
I need to be inside the school.
OK?
Oh.
You mean inside-inside the school.
[Fergus groans]
What?
Some of the other teachers are aware of why you're here,
but for the most part, the staff and the student body
believe that you are just a substitute teacher.
It's very important that the boys' education doesn't suffer, Ms Wild.
It's Professor Wild, and can I assure you,
these will be the best English lessons of their lives.
[phone rings]
If you'll excuse me, another worried parent.
Of course.
Ah.
I wasn't expecting this.
Well, the police have started to look at Arthur
so he was willing to oblige.
This is the best way for me to figure out what really happened.
Look, I hate to say this,
but Arthur and Sherry do seem like the most obvious suspects.
They were both vehemently against Vincent's plan to sell the land.
Unfortunately, for the police, that's still Derek.
He has a bit of a reputation with them.
And he was a bully in his last school.
He was a bully? I didn't know that.
Well, that doesn't make him a killer.
Oh, but it's still a surprise.
Would you... Would you like me to show you around?
That would be lovely.
Yeah.
- [Harry] Very impressive! - Oh, we do OK.
- Ooh! Percival D'Arcy. - [self-effacing laugh]
Chess champion.
- You were a student here? - Yes, yeah.
And now you teach here.
Yeah, well, some would call it Stockholm Syndrome.
[chuckles] Nine years ago.
Vincent was your headmaster!
Yes, he's the reason that I came back. He was a great man
and, well, I was honoured when he accepted me for the position.
I heard that his favourites were always the rich boys.
- You must come from money. - [uncomfortable laugh]
Well, the first rule of money club
is that we don't talk about money club.
- [chuckles] - Shall we?
Yes.
This year's reading list is very male heavy.
East of Eden. Nicholas Nickleby. Ulysses. Ugh!
So, let's shake it up, shall we?
How about some Woolf? Or Harper Lee? Or the Brontes?
- My father calls that chick-lit. - [students laughs]
The Brontes were literary geniuses.
They were so far ahead of their time
that their writings are still considered feminist,
politically and racially astute today.
And all of that
while living a very sheltered life in a parsonage,
never ever seeing the world!
- So, they were bored chicks. - [laughter]
No one with a brain is ever bored.
Their lives were very difficult.
Almost half the population of their village
died before the age of six.
The sisters themselves all died young.
Many historians now believe that most of the village of Haworth
was drinking water that was contaminated by the graveyard.
[students] Eugh!
Well, poverty and hardship wasn't their only challenge.
The sisters had to use male pen-names to get published.
Because, of course, the world was dominated by stupid men.
And going by your and your father's opinion,
not much has changed.
- [students] Ooh! - [laughter]
So, shall we ditch the navel-gazing of Ulysses
and visit the mad woman in the attic of Jane Eyre, shall we?
[knock on window]
How did the police miss evidence?
I don't know,
but Vicky told Charlie that they've found something
and they believe it's significant.
They've taken some of these blue chips as evidence.
It's like the killer put his foot up, like this.
And used it as leverage to push Vincent over?
Yeah.
Do the police know where the blue paint came from?
Mm-hm.
Some people might feel this way about Yeats
but I, for one, have always found him fascinating.
"An aged man is but a paltry thing,
a tattered coat upon a stick."
But wait, perhaps this isn't your reflection on the poetry.
It's a... self-portrait?
[laughter]
Less arse, more art.
Hm.
"Yeats, a man willing to examine and eviscerate himself
at every turn without fear or censorship,
to give of himself these glorious words."
This is beautiful. What's your name?
Peter, Miss.
Alexander, you should read Peter's essay.
- You might learn something. - I don't need to read his essay.
Headmaster Quinn personally chose me
for the annual essay-writing competition.
Did the headmaster ever comment on your work?
Well, you're the one that should be submitting your work
for that competition.
You have a way with words.
- Ssh! - [laughter]
[school bell rings]
[Harry] I am getting the distinct impression
that Vincent wasn't the fairest of headmasters.
Telling me the truth won't make me think you're guilty.
Vincent could be narrow-sighted.
He thought that some boys needed more pressure than others.
Let me guess, the poor ones?
- Huh. - Was he a bully?
Did he torment Derek or the other kids?
Well, that's the problem.
If he was doing something outright, something you could put your finger on.
But he wasn't.
And there are many boys and teachers
and parents associated with this school
who feel that Vincent was a brilliant head.
That just means he was a clever bully, Arthur,
and nobody here was willing to catch him out.
I guess you're right.
[phone buzzes]
Hello?
[distorted voice] Back off, you stupid bitch.
- That cape fools nobody. - Who is this?
You're not even a real teacher.
Keep asking questions and see what happens to you.
[call ends]
[beep]
I'm fine, it takes more than that to scare me.
[Fergus] Look, you're obviously asking the right questions,
but I'm not sure about you being in there on your own, Harry.
Well, what are you suggesting? We smuggle you in as a student?
Hell, no!
I had enough of real school. I'm barely able for lectures.
[unclear banter]
I have to call you back, Fergus.
If you're going to get a pair of fake trainers, at least get a pair that can pass muster.
- Just give it a rest, Tobias. - Do what your master says, will ya?
- I'm just trying to help out, pal. - Pal? I'm not your pal.
I can't stay here, mate. What makes you think you can speak to me like that?
- What? Speak to you like what-- - Everything OK here?
Just messing around, miss.
Well, try messing around with someone else.
[floorboards creak]
[tense music]
Ooh!
Hello?
Hello!
Really, Ma? You're doing undercover work now?
Keep up. I've done it loads, it works and I'm learning things.
Yeah, like how to get locked in.
You can't stay here. If you're right and Derek didn't do this--
I'm right.
Then the real killer is obviously onto you.
Oh, number one, I am staying here. Number two,
take out both your phones.
Specifically, the photographs of the crime scene.
Is that from the first set that Jordan sent?
Yes.
Fergus, I need the second set that Jordan sent,
the one you showed me with the paint on the rail.
- Here. - Hm.
That paint wasn't there
when they first examined the crime scene.
- Somebody put it there. - Shit! Why?
To frame Derek Robinson. Those were his shoes.
You need to let Jordan know this is a ploy.
[phone beeps, ringing]
- Hup. - [Harry] Excuse me?
I, er, I believe you're the boys that told this gentleman
that Derek left his form room the night that your headmaster was murdered?
- Yeah. - And?
Well, and you drew attention
to the fact that his trainers were fake
and there was blue paint coming off of them.
Yeah, so what?
Well, it's almost like you want him to be in trouble.
We shouldn't have to go to a school with kids like that.
Do you know how much my father pays for me to go here?
I think the relevant information there is that it's your father paying.
- Excuse me, but who are you? - OK, Tobias, mate... chill.
We're sorry about that. We're just kidding.
We understand how serious all of this is.
I'm glad to hear that.
So, did the police ask you any questions
about where you were the night your headmaster died?
Oh, our... our parents wouldn't allow us to be questioned.
It's crazy, that. We liked him.
We could have just pushed him off for fun,
and made sure Derek took the blame.
[both laugh out loud]
But of course we'd never do that, but if we did...
If we did, our parents would make sure we were never held to account.
I'm sure you'll find that Mummy and Daddy can only do so much.
Money doesn't buy you everything.
It'll buy us futures outside of this place.
We won't be stuck like those paupers who end up working here.
- What paupers? - The scholarship kids.
They all end up teaching here in the end.
Nowhere else will have them.
Which teachers?
- Half of them. - Mm.
- D'Arcy. Rowe. - Yeah.
- Mr Loomes. - [both snigger]
What's it they say? "Those who can't do, teach."
You could say the same for those who come here on scholarships.
I mean, it's true, isn't it?
You know, I never thought I'd say this,
but I really hope you're right about Derek
and it's one of those two who go down.
All right, Harry? You still with me?
Oh, sorry. I have to go to class.
I promised Arthur that I'd give these boys an education.
I've got to go.
OK. Bye so?
Guess I'll make my own way out.
[Harry] "'Sit down, beggar!'
screamed Squeers, almost beside himself with rage
and seizing Smike as he spoke.
'Wretch,' rejoined Nicholas, fiercely.
'Touch him at your peril!
I will not stand by, and see it done.
My blood is up, and I have the strength of ten such men as you.
Look to yourself, for Heaven I will not spare you,
if you drive me on!'
'Stand back,' cried Squeers, brandishing his weapon.
'I have a long series of insults to avenge,'
said Nicholas, flushed with passion,
'and my indignation is aggravated
by the dastardly cruelties practised
on helpless infancy in this foul den.
Have a care;
for if you do raise the devil within me,
the consequences shall fall heavily upon your own head.'"
Fergus, I think I know what happened, but I need evidence.
And get Charlie. We need a plan.
[Jordan] I just wanted to update you all
on the current state of the case.
Now, as you may know, we found what we believed to be
some evidence where Mr Quinn was pushed.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions
doesn't believe it's substantial enough to issue a warrant.
We're now considering the land sale as the primary motive.
That is nonsense. We all know who did this.
When are you going to arrest him?
- Sherry! - There is a strong suspect,
but we need more evidence
and for now, we have to keep our options open.
Mr Rowe, I wanted to reinterview you, if that's all right.
You're meant to be helping him.
It's obvious that Derek did this.
And it's obvious that they need proof.
[huffs]
Caught in the act,
Percival.
Planting evidence that only the killer could have.
I presume you took these as security,
in case you needed to frame somebody.
- [Percival] This is a mistake. - The mistake's not realising
we searched your room earlier and discovered these glasses,
owned by the victim, but we left them in place
so that you could do exactly what you just tried to do.
Nicholas Nickleby, that's when I realised.
You were a scholarship student here,
but you were bullied by Vincent.
You didn't come here because of Stockholm Syndrome.
You came here because you wanted revenge.
And you didn't know how to go about it.
But then you saw Vincent picking on other kids, especially Derek.
That day, Derek pulled the prank of all pranks,
totalling Vincent's car, and Vincent lost it.
And you saw the equivalent of the cruel headmaster in Nickleby
caning Smike, and something in you snapped.
I did this to help Derek and all the others.
This was self-defence, I... I swear.
Vincent made my life hell when he started here as headmaster.
But why let Derek take the blame?
Well, I hadn't planned to but then when I found out he was a bully in his last school,
he was no better than the others.
Everybody in life has been bullied, Percival.
But if you'd just lashed out at yours,
this would seem understandable.
But to frame a child?
You're the one that's no better than Vincent.
What the hell would you know?
With your plummy accent and your fancy college job!
You've no idea what I've overcome.
- [sirens approaching] - No idea!
- [handcuffs click] - Stupid bitch!
- You should have stayed away when I warned you-- - That'll do!
Come on.
[owl hoots]
Me ma wanted to say thanks as well.
Well, you're very welcome. You both are.
And I wanted to say sorry for...
you know, being a little git in school.
Don't worry about it, pal.
Plus, you were never little.
- [chuckles] - I mean it.
From the bottom of my heart.
There's not many people that stuck up for Derek.
- I wish we could pay you back. - He can.
Do brilliantly in your life, Derek. I'll be watching.
Not sure if they'll let me stay.
Ah, they will.
Just make them see that it's worth it, yeah?
[Arthur] Derek?
OK, I'm sorry. You were right about him.
- I'm always right. - And yet you liked Percival.
- Didn't you? - Oh, no, not at all.
- I found him intolerable. - [laughs]
- Time to rain on their parade. - Oh, absolutely.
Told you, it's always the scholarship ones that cause the problems.
Not quite. Not your problems, anyway.
What problems?
Oh, we had a few hours to kill earlier.
[Harry] And we were very productive with our time.
We passed every one of your essays through an AI check.
[Fergus] Turns out, you've been cheating for a whole year.
Mm, your headmaster is furious.
He wants you to rewrite everything before the exams.
Which are in three weeks, right?
Mummy and Daddy can't get you out of this one.
[Harry] I'm proud of you, Fergus.
It takes a lot of strength to let go of old grievances.
Yeah, well, I still wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
I wouldn't want to meet anyone in a dark alley.
I meet some of best contacts in dark alleys.
[Charlie laughs]
- You OK? - Absolutely.
I just need to make a quick call.
And afterwards, may I take you out for dinner?
- Oh, it's my turn. - Mm, like I said,
let me be a gentleman for a second?
OK, OK, you can treat me.
All right.
[Fergus] Well, you look very happy.
I am.
Very much so.
[theme music]