Curfew 1x4

1. If a man wanted to hurt you, he could.

2. You've been walking around for eight days

3. with a tag that you can take off.

4. Eddie, you haven't told that detective about our...

5. It's just between you and me.

6. And he went for my taser, didn't he?

7. That's right, he went to grab it.

8. He was reaching for his phone to show her his log.

9. Hey!

10. A man who's hurting is a man who's dangerous.

11. I'm pregnant.

12. I bet you made her give up on work, too, the stories.

13. What are you talking about?

14. She was a cam girl, weren't she?

15. I guess she didn't trust you as much as you thought.

16. She changed everything.

17. It's not an exaggeration to say that without Valarie Rashid,

18. there would be no curfew.

19. She campaigned tirelessly

20. to make this country safe for women.

21. Not that everyone appreciates it.

22. What do you mean?

23. I've had angry calls from parents

24. about that display already.

25. Saying it's prejudiced against boys,

26. but it's not.

27. It's history.

28. Our history.

29. Do you think the renewal vote'll pass?

30. Yes.

31. I hope so.

32. Sometimes I worry the tide is swinging against us.

33. Well, we better wrap this up.

34. It's six o'clock. You need to head home.

35. Is that enough to make a start on the essay?

36. Yeah.

37. What is it?

38. Still getting used to the curfew?

39. It's just so weird,

40. just seeing all the men, heads down.

41. Rushing to get home by some arbitrary hour.

42. It's not arbitrary, Max.

43. It's the dark.

44. Without curfew, bad things happen at night.

45. Yeah. Yeah.

46. Fine.

47. All right.

48. Now, should men be made to stay at home at night

49. in order to keep women safe?

50. That's the issue being debated in the House of Commons today.

51. The Women's Safety Act is a law that protects women.

52. Does this pit women's rights to safety

53. against men's rights to freedom?

54. It's discrimination against 50% of the population.

55. Well, that's it. In a hugely significant vote,

56. Britain has become the first country in the world

57. to introduce a curfew on all men.

58. The tag is worn at all times, and requires men

59. to remain at home between 07:00 p.m. and 07:00 a.m.

60. If men learned how to behave themselves,

61. then we wouldn't have to have these extraordinary measures.

62. The crime statistics demonstrate that the curfew is working.

63. We've lived through a period of segregation.

64. No progress comes without pain or reaction.

65. A group who call themselves Alphas

66. is spreading online hate and misogyny.

67. Huge protests have sprung up across the country

68. calling for an end to curfew.

69. If we lift the curfew,

70. how do we protect women?

71. Helen. It's hard to find someone these days.

72. Are you sure you're not lonely?

73. Of course not, Mum. I've got friends.

74. But Patrick's lovely.

75. Your father and I always hoped you two might get married.

76. Is there someone else?

77. No, don't be silly. There's no one else.

78. It's like they've made romance illegal.

79. It's okay to want someone, sweetheart.

80. It's okay to be vulnerable.

81. Helen? Helen?

82. Helen?

83. We do worry about you, you know.

84. Well, if you were really worried,

85. you wouldn't have moved to France.

86. Your dad couldn't live under

87. those Draconian rules, Helen.

88. And he shouldn't have to.

89. Do you want to talk to him?

90. I know he misses you.

91. No.

92. He doesn't get to tell me what to do anymore.

93. Helen, please...

94. Would bang.

95. Would bang.

96. "How did the activist Valarie Rashid contribute

97. to the establishment of curfew?"

98. Would bang.

99. Definitely would not bang.

100. James, you've got the same essay, man.

101. Billy, listen.

102. The line between education

103. and brainwashing, very thin.

104. All right, now, shut up about the essay.

105. Would bang.

106. Yeah, but would they bang you, though?

107. Wow, you forget who you're talking to.

108. But what about you and Cass Jackson?

109. There's no banging there, eh?

110. Let me guess.

111. She's keeping you tucked away for a rainy day?

112. You're friend-zoned, forever.

113. Billy, when's it gonna occur to you,

114. that there must be a reason

115. that this is literally the only, only class you're struggling in?

116. What do you mean? - I mean, Ms. Jones.

117. Men's re-education. It's not right!

118. She's sowing the seeds of our subservience.

119. Wake up, man. Do you not listen to The Duke?

120. Yeah, well, it sounds like you've been on those

121. Alpha chat rooms, bro.

122. And so what if I have?

123. The Duke is a serious political thinker.

124. And he says that this shit, Billy...

125. Yeah, okay.

126. is there to build us into compliance.

127. Yeah, and Ms. Jones is in on it.

128. In fact, she's the front-fucking line.

129. Well, listen, tell her not to give those chancers

130. a penny, okay, and I can come over Saturday.

131. Will you, sweetheart?

132. Yeah, yeah, of course, Mum, it's just the patio.

133. It's no bother. Honestly.

134. How you haven't found the right woman...

135. Well, I've got a date tonight, actually.

136. - Ooh! - Yeah,

137. She's coming over for dinner.

138. But it's curfew.

139. You can't break the law, Eddie.

140. You're about to be a detective.

141. She won't be coming inside.

142. We won't be breaking any laws, Mum, okay?

143. I've put a table outside my flat, and we can share

144. some Chicken Escalope, and a nice bottle of wine.

145. Well, she can have the wine. I can't. I'm on call.

146. It's all perfectly legal. Romantic, even.

147. Aww! I'm sure she'll love it.

148. Yeah. Yeah, let's hope so.

149. Besides, I'm not a detective until next week.

150. did you find out

151. who your partner's going to be?

152. Yeah, yeah. A... A DI Pamela Green.

153. I haven't met her yet, but apparently

154. she's a tough nut to crack.

155. You'll be brilliant.

156. Okay.

157. Mum.

158. It's ten to seven, James.

159. Yeah, sorry, Ms. Caldrew, I was just heading out.

160. I don't want to see another "C", Billy,

161. or there will be no more after school study sessions.

162. You know this is why Cass ain't gonna shag you?

163. You're a pussy.

164. What... wait, what do you mean? - Because you buy into all this.

165. Billy, you just lie there, and you take it.

166. Listen, women want to put you in a box.

167. All right? Don't let 'em.

168. Watch this. You need it.

169. Why do women friend-zone you?

170. The answer is easy.

171. Women have forgotten that relationships are transactional.

172. They desire safety, food, company,

173. which we men provide,

174. in return for having our own needs met.

175. But if you give a woman these things for free,

176. she'll give you nothing in return.

177. Remember, women respond to power.

178. You have to show them that you can exert your own power.

179. Bluetooth connected.

180. Women don't do charity.

181. Look at yourself.

182. Really look.

183. Are you everything you can be?

184. You're asking this woman to accept you into her body.

185. You have to earn it.

186. You have to show them you can be a man.

187. It's a romantic little spot.

188. All candles, and twinkling lights.

189. It embraces the night, like restaurants used to before.

190. But there's no curfew here,

191. and we are free to do what we like.

192. You hold out my chair for me like a gentleman.

193. And all throughout dinner, you're flirting with me,

194. telling me how wonderful I look.

195. - You really do. - And then the bill comes.

196. I'll pay it.

197. Of course you do. I like that you treat me well.

198. The dinner is cooking in the oven,

199. the smell of roast meat hanging in the air.

200. No.

201. No?

202. No, I'm not really, interested in the food.

203. Um, tell me about what you're doing.

204. What are you doing for me?

205. Um...

206. I'm...

207. - washing the dishes... - And what?

208. and, I'm leant

209. over the sink. - Yes.

210. And you're moving in behind me.

211. No, not yet.

212. Sir, do you want me to tell you the story, or not?

213. I didn't come here to be schooled by yet another woman.

214. Hey? This is my fantasy.

215. Okay.

216. Not yet.

217. Don't take no for an answer.

218. Perseverance is key.

219. Women can smell weakness.

220. You have to exude strength.

221. Women don't want you to be their puppy.

222. They want you to be a wolf.

223. They're your prey.

224. We haven't caught up in a while.

225. - I know. - I don't know,

226. it feels like you're keeping secrets from me.

227. I've just been busy, that's all.

228. I saw Ben Williams today.

229. He was in the supermarket buying spinach and pineapple.

230. Apparently, he was gonna put them both in an omelet.

231. Isn't that odd?

232. I think he's a little odd.

233. Is his wife still on at you to change your testimony?

234. Yeah, she keeps putting her business cards in my door.

235. God, she's persistent.

236. But I've told her to leave me alone.

237. - What is it? - Nothing.

238. Just men don't know how to hear the word "no."

239. She wants you to be the hunter.

240. How will you catch her?

241. This is a world that wants you captive.

242. Wants you caged.

243. But you must resist.

244. You must break free.

245. You need to show them that you're not their lackey.

246. Or their friend.

247. Or their toy.

248. And you won't allow this oppression anymore.

249. You won't be complicit.

250. - Yeah. - You'll take charge.

251. You'll demand her respect.

252. - Hi, Mum. - Hi, Darling.

253. I'm not interrupting, am I?

254. Only, Bethany said,

255. could you come in the morning to do the patio,

256. as she has a doctor's appointment in the afternoon.

257. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fine.

258. Did she like the Escalope?

259. It's not until nine, Mum.

260. Who's that?

261. It's just Eddie, darling. Do you want to say hi?

262. Why would I want to say hi to that stupid...

263. He's wandered off.

264. How is he?

265. He's fine.

266. - Mum. - It's Alzheimer's,

267. darling, you never know from one day to the next.

268. Are you still there, darling?

269. Can you hear me okay?

270. Yeah, listen, I gotta go, Mum.

271. because I wanted to... - Bye.

272. Come on, Helen. Open up.

273. Helen.

274. What are you doing here?

275. I've been trying to get hold of you for days.

276. You've been ignoring me. - You can't just walk in here.

277. I just want to have a proper conversation.

278. Has everyone lost their understanding of the word no?

279. A man is dead, Helen.

280. I don't have to talk to you about that.

281. I'd like you to leave now.

282. All right, well, I didn't want to have to do this, but...

283. What the hell? Why would you show me this?

284. His daughter is in your class, Helen.

285. Don't you think she deserves to know what happened?

286. Leave now. - No, come on, Helen.

287. My son assures me you're not made of stone.

288. Go.

289. Okay, fine.

290. But I'm sure you'll do the right thing.

291. - Yo. - Bro,

292. you ain't gonna believe what I've just found.

293. Listen, turns out Ms. Jones' middle name's Ava.

294. I've been using that to dig up all her nasty little secrets.

295. Good for you, James.

296. All right, well, that ain't the only thing

297. I've been digging up.

298. Look at you. You're best friends forever.

299. All right, leave it, man.

300. And you're so nice.

301. Honestly, are there any other chores you can do for her?

302. Or have you done 'em all already?

303. And pink. It's your colour.

304. Why'd you let her do this to you, man?

305. It's embarrassing. - She...

306. she's just, um...

307. Yeah, got you whipped.

308. - No, I'm not whipped. - Alright, mate.

309. And she says "Jump" and you say,

310. "All right, how high, Cass?"

311. Look, she doesn't tell me what to do.

312. I... I tell her, so...

313. She walks all over you, mate.

314. You let 'em all just walk all over you.

315. You know what?

316. I told her to take my tag off, didn't I? Hmm?

317. Billy, holy shit.

318. Yeah, I'm not so whipped now.

319. No way, man.

320. I mean, in the Kingdom of the Blind,

321. the fucker without a tag is King Bill.

322. I mean, this is great, you could be so cool

323. if you use this just right.

324. Use it for what?

325. What do you mean, harassing you?

326. They just won't leave me alone.

327. I keep blocking them and they...

328. they keep setting up new accounts.

329. But I don't understand, new accounts on what?

330. Just... Instagram.

331. Just report them and ignore them.

332. - People love to be jerks. - Jerks?

333. Sorry. Spending too much time with Ben.

334. You're not sleeping with him, are you?

335. No, of course not.

336. - He's married. - I know that, Helen.

337. It's just that...

338. It's been ages since I felt anything.

339. So, you are sleeping with him?

340. No, I'm not. But I want to.

341. Jesus.

342. I really want to.

343. It'll end in tears, Sarah.

344. - I've got to go. - Wait, Helen...

345. Huh.

346. What's happening? Are they messaging you again?

347. Yes.

348. I don't know what I've done.

349. And I don't know why they're doing this.

350. Mum?

351. No!

352. Mum?

353. Don't shout at me! Don't, please!

354. I can't take it! For God's sake!

355. Mum?

356. - What's they saying now? - Nothing.

357. So, they've gone?

358. Helen!

359. Helen, are you still there?

360. Helen, are you listening to me?

361. Helen!

362. It's all right, darling.

363. Look Mum, can you just tell me what's going on, please?

364. He's having a bit of an episode.

365. May be worth you popping over.

366. No! Put it down!

367. Mum, I can't come over, okay?

368. The curfew...

369. Mum, do you want me to call the police?

370. No, don't call the police.

371. We are both...

372. Stop!

373. No!

374. Mum, is everything okay?

375. Mum?

376. Mum?

377. He's gone. He just ran out the door.

378. They'll arrest him!

379. Don't you think I know that?

380. I'm going after him. - No, no, no.

381. Just you stay put, okay?

382. I'll... I'll...

383. Mum?

384. Shit.

385. Hello, which service do you require?

386. Police, please, there's, um...

387. a suspicious character walking the streets.

388. Do you suspect a man of breaking curfew?

389. I... I don't know.

390. Well, can you describe the nature

391. of their suspicious behaviour?

392. Um, they... they're peering through

393. people's windows.

394. What's your location?

395. - Garland Road. - Okay.

396. We'll dispatch an officer to meet you at your home.

397. Can I just check the house number?

398. Ma'am?

399. Are you there? I need to know your house number.

400. 92.

401. We'll be with you shortly.

402. Stay away from the windows, and call back

403. if anything changes.

404. Fuck!

405. Are you receiving, PC Wilson?

406. Come in, PC Wilson.

407. Dispatch, this is PC Wilson.

408. We need you to attend a disturbance call in your area.

409. You tag will be remotely deactivated in one minute.

410. - What's the address? - 92 Garland Road.

411. Do you know it? - Yep, I know it.

412. Heading there now.

413. What are you doing calling me?

414. I need to talk to you.

415. I'm with my wife and kids.

416. I'm sorry, I just... Have you been messaging me?

417. What are you talking about? - Did you send me

418. a sexy school teacher outfit?

419. I don't know what you're on about.

420. Someone who knows who I really am sent me this.

421. A bit of a coincidence, considering you saw me tonight.

422. Yeah, well, I don't really care.

423. Okay? And I do not appreciate this.

424. I'm not your boyfriend, Ms. Jones.

425. Keep me out of your self-inflicted drama,

426. and don't you ever call me again.

427. I know who you are.

428. And I know who you are, you old pig.

429. Evening, Ma'am.

430. We've had a disturbance call from this address.

431. Well, who are you? - I'm PC Wilson, Ma'am.

432. I'm with the police.

433. We had a call about some suspicious characters

434. wandering the streets. - Yeah.

435. They're still out there, you know.

436. Who are, Ma'am? - The men.

437. Yeah, they said...

438. Yeah, they said they'd locked them up.

439. But they lied.

440. So you've seen a man outside, Ma'am?

441. I mean, not including myself.

442. No, they never locked up Henry, you know.

443. And they should have done. They should have done.

444. Listen, you've got family inside, Ma'am.

445. Should we pop you back in

446. and I can... I can have a wee wander about?

447. Yeah, but what if it's Henry out there?

448. I'll... I'll sort it, Ma'am. I'll check.

449. Don't worry. - Thank you.

450. How's it going up there?

451. Fuck's sake, man.

452. Dispatch, this is PC Wilson.

453. The disturbance on Garland Road was a confused elderly woman.

454. - It was a false alarm. - Copy that.

455. - I'm PC Wilson. - All right.

456. And I'm in my own house, PC Wilson, yeah?

457. This is still my perimeter, so feel free to move on.

458. You don't look like you're planning

459. on staying that way for long.

460. How come you're allowed outside?

461. I've got special dispensation.

462. That's... Right, cool.

463. So, um,

464. well, you don't feel like that makes you

465. complicit or whatever?

466. You... you've been listening to The Duke?

467. I... I don't even know who to listen to anymore, man.

468. PC Wilson, this is Dispatch.

469. Your call out has been logged as complete.

470. You have 15 minutes to return home

471. before your tag is reactivated.

472. Yep, copy that.

473. So you're just as controlled as the rest of us, yeah?

474. What's your name? - Billy.

475. I'm Eddie.

476. Wait, hold on, what are you doing, man?

477. It's just easier to talk this way, that's all.

478. So what's got you so upset then, Billy?

479. Do girls like that you're a Fed?

480. S... Sorry?

481. Do girls like that you're a cop?

482. Well, I've actually got a...

483. Shit.

484. What, what's wrong?

485. I had a date, but I forgot.

486. All right, so you forgot.

487. Yeah, yeah, oddly busy night.

488. You know who doesn't like me being a cop, Billy?

489. My mates.

490. Not that I have many of them anymore.

491. They all think that I'm complicit.

492. Where was it you were thinking about going?

493. Um, do you know Valerie Rashid?

494. - Yeah. - Well, um...

495. there's this display of her at my school

496. and my mate wanted me to tear it down,

497. mess it up or whatever, I don't know.

498. And he wanted you to break curfew to do it?

499. I don't know, man,

500. sometimes I just feel like life's everyone telling me

501. how I'm supposed to be a man, but...

502. none of it adds up.

503. Do you ever go to the Alpha chat rooms, Billy?

504. No, not like that, okay?

505. But I do go there sometimes

506. to listen, and to...

507. I don't know, save them.

508. Give them someone to talk to,

509. someone who doesn't spout bile back at them.

510. Sounds pretty lame when I say it out loud.

511. But I've seen what happens,

512. you know, to men who nurse their own resentments

513. until there's nothing but to swallow them whole,

514. and I can promise you, Billy, they're not happy.

515. I don't know if there's a right way to be a man.

516. But I know that if it involves tearing women down,

517. then it's probably not it.

518. You don't happen to have a phone that I can borrow, do you?

519. It's just, um, I need to call my mum.

520. Thanks.

521. Hello?

522. Who's this?

523. This is PC McCowan. Curfew Enforcement.

524. Eddie, is that you?

525. Listen, he's got... he's got dementia, okay?

526. I know he looks young, but it's early onset, and...

527. Yeah, he's been placed under arrest, I'm afraid.

528. He's sick, okay? He just needs help.

529. Your mother seems to have received

530. a black eye.

531. That was an accident, son!

532. Hold on just one second, I'll pass you over.

533. It's fine, darling,

534. don't listen to a word they say!

535. I didn't mean it, Eddie, I swear!

536. No, leave him alone!

537. No, be gentle!

538. Do you need a doctor, Mum?

539. No! They won't let me go with him!

540. Not if they're arresting him now.

541. I've got to go, they're taking him.

542. Thanks.

543. Um, is everything all right?

544. Yeah, yeah, no, it's, it's fine, it's just...

545. No.

546. No, actually it's not.

547. I... I've got to go.

548. You don't want to be listening to The Duke, Billy.

549. Okay?

550. Or anyone who speaks about women like they're not human.

551. So what, I don't get to see you?

552. Take the mask off.

553. Who are you?

554. Take the mask off.

555. No.

556. There's no secret here, Helen.

557. I know who you are.

558. And I want you to take it off.

559. I'm keeping it on.

560. Then I best begin my email.

561. Fine.

562. Better.

563. I already know the story I want to hear.

564. - I can't say that. - Yes, you can.

565. You can.

566. And you will.

567. "You know I like to teach young boys.

568. "I like the way they smell."

569. Say it like you mean it.

570. "You know I like to teach young boys.

571. "I like the way they smell,

572. "like fresh-cut grass, and innocence.

573. "I like the way their cheeks flush red and hot,

574. "their hormones racing in the air.

575. "I like the way they look at me,

576. "like I could teach them how to please a woman."

577. My God!

578. "Fine, then, fuck you too, I guess."

579. You know I like to teach young boys.

580. I like the way they smell.