EPISODE ONE

In brief:
Billy and Icky return to school after months away because Billy wants to go to the school camp to Wales - but he is knocked back. Billy's family life is a disaster, and his mother is chronically depressed and addicted to bingo. After a fight with the local rival gang Billy and Icky are targeted and warned they are not going to be protected by their gang leader anymore. Billy steals his mothers bingo winnings to run away to Wales.

Memorable moments:
The 'Mastermind' quiz at the top of the bus
The boys with their ciggies and porno mags in the first class train carriage

Screenshots

We first meet Billy and Icky on the streets of Liverpool. They are bored, and decide to rob the local storeowner Mr. Wally. Icky goes into the shop and chats pleasantly to Mr Wally, in the process establishing that Mrs Wally isn't in the shop. He then uses their last 5p to make a phone call and distract Wally long enough for Billy to dart in and steal some cigarettes.

Billy and Icky haven't been to school for three months. As they hang out outside the school they are spotted by one of the teachers. He convinces Billy to return to school so he can sign up for the summer camp, which Billy says is the only good thing he remembers about school.

Billy comes home to his dysfunctional family - a mother who is hooked on bingo, depressed, paranoid and crazy and his bitter spiteful sister Maureen.

Billy has tried to help his mother in the past by giving her money, and he tries to talk her into seeing a doctor.

When his pleas are rejected, in desperation Billy mugs a drunk coming out of the pub for the 4 pounds his mother needs to go to Bingo.
Drunk: "I've only got a fiver - have you got a pound change?"

When Billy gives his mother the money she and the sister head for Bingo, with Maureen's baby in tow. His sister says to him:
Maureen: "I bet you had that money all the time"
Billy: "Oh yeah - I was saving it." (sarcastic)
Maureen: "Saving it? What for? Your future?" (mocking)

The whole gang are at the top of a double decker bus. They are playing a mock game of Mastermind, with Icky as the contestant. He answers all his 'specialist knowledge' questions on Soccer to loud cheering. Billy is the only one sitting silently, not participating in the clowning around.
The gang leader Louie then switches to "General Knowledge.
Louie: "Who is the Queen's Sister?" Icky: "Margaret Thatcher" Louie: "Correct"
(Loud cheering and heckling. One of the boys objects and says the answer's wrong but he's shouted down and everyone continues to laugh at and cheer Icky)
Louie: "What is meant by the term Common Market?" Icky: "Dunno" Louie: "Correct"
Louie: "What is an adjective?" Icky: "Dunno" Louie: "Correct"
Louie: "What are we gonna do with the Swanjacks?" Icky: "Get them Lou" Louie: "Correct"
Louie: "Who's the hardest in this gang?" Icky: "You are Lou" Louie: "Correct correct correct!"

They start to discuss what they will do to the rival gang and Billy voices up "Why are we going after them anyway Lou?". As Icky takes a seat beside Billy, Billy tells him quietly:
Billy: "When we get there you stick close to me"
Icky: "Why?"
Billy: "Why do you bleeding think? So I can hold your hand"
Icky: "Oh - yeah alright."

Icky is again the butt of the gangs jokes as he misses getting off the bus with the others, but Billy protects him. Louie is threatened and warns him to keep in line.

Meanwhile Billy's Mum and sister are at the bingo at the same time as the confrontation begins between Louie's gang and the Swanjacks.

The Bingo game is stopped by an announcement a baby has been left in the foyer and it is crying. Billy's sister Maureen leaves unwillingly amidst the jeers of the other women.

The Swanjacks say they want to talk and asks for one gang member from each side to meet in the centre of the ground. Icky is chosen to face off one of the Swanjacks alone. Billy warns Louie that it is a trap and offers to go in Icky's place, but Louie insists Icky go alone to meet the Swanjacks.

As they meet in the centre suddenly the Swanjack heavy pulls a knife. Billy cries out and Icky is cut.

While Maureen is away her mum wins on her Bingo card, and an argument ensues between the two women about who's winnings they are.

Later that evening Billy and Icky stay behind at an Indian diner as the rest of the gang take a bus home. They are ambushed by the knifer and other Swanjack gang members. Billy grabs the knife by the blade as the Swanjack boy tries to cut him, and the boys escape by throwing the curry they have bought in the faces of the Swanjacks boys.

Billy is stopped on his way home that night and questioned about the mugging at the pub.
Police: "I could get you for this son, but it's not worth the bloody effort. Won't be long though will it son? You'll walk into a big one and we'll have you for something tasty then. It's all on the cards for you lad. There's nothing down for you."

When Billy gets home him mum and Maureen are fighting over the bingo winnings. He tries to get his mum to bandage his badly cut hand but it's as if she doesn't hear him. His mother gets suspicious that Billy is also after her winnings when he starts to question her on how much she has won, and says they should go away together to somewhere she can 'get better'.

That night he watches his mother sleeping. He studies the knife he has grabbed from the Swanjacks , and she wakes ups just as he puts it back in his pocket. She accuses him of trying to steal her money, and he glances first at a photo on the dresser of the family, a group shot in a park, all smiling in happier times, then her eyeline leads him to the framed picture of the Virgin Mary. He realises this is where the money is hidden.

After he leaves, his mother carefully removes most of the money from behind the picture, and places it under her pillow.

The next morning Billy and Icky arrive to class late, as an angry teacher is showing the unruly class a slideshow of the previous Wales holiday camp. The class is uncontrollable.

The teacher questions both boys about where they've been for the last three months. Billy explains he has been sick - Bronchitis. Finally he says:
Billy: "Can I go on the 'oliday?"
Teacher: "So that's it is it? "
Billy: "I've seen Mr. Ferris. He says I can go."
Teacher: "Christ you make me sick. Because there's a few goodies on offer you think you can just appear and take them for the asking. You really expect me to say yes. Pat you on the head and put your name down. You did didn't you? You think it's your right don't you? You know since I've known you Rizley you've never shown a scrap of human decency. You're responsible now lad. Nobody is ever going to do a thing for you. You're on your own. And the sooner you get that into your head, the better for you."

The two boys escape the class through the back window to the cheers of the class. Outside the school grounds one of Louie's gang (Rabbit) warns them that Louie is out to get them, and won't protect then from the Swanjacks gang, who will be looking for them that night.

With nothing to loose Billy announces he is going to Wales and asks Icky if he will come.
Billy: "What would your Ma say is you just disappeared?"
Icky: "There are ten of us in our family. It'd be 3 months before she noticed I was missing."
Billy: "Are you coming then?"
Icky: "Are you going? Well I'm not hanging around here on my own."
Billy: "Come on then"
Icky: (singing) "We're going on hol-i-day!"

Billy returns home and steals the money from the back of the Madonna picture frame in his mothers room. He searches the rest of the room but cannot find any more money. Icky waits outside and gives a whistle as Maureen and her boyfriend arrive. As Billy races out of the flat he meets them on the stairwell. Billy pulls out the knife and escapes past them.

At the Lime Street train station Icky buys cigarettes, a dozen Mars bars and some girlie magazines. Billy tries to buy two tickets to Wales.
Billy: "Two tickets to Wales please."
Ticket man: "It's a big place Wales."
Billy: "You what?"
Ticket man: "Whereabouts would you like to go in Wales?"
Billy: "Look I just want two tickets to Wales."
Ticket man: "Yeah, but whereabout do you want to go to?"
Billy: "Benllech mountain"
Ticket man: "We don't have any stations at the top of mountains, son."
Billy: "Well the nearest station to it then."
Ticket man: "Look, I just sell tickets, I'm not a geography teacher. Whereabouts do you want to go lad?"
Billy: "Wales."
Ticket man: "Jesus, why do I always get the funny buggers. Hang on - these will get you to Wales son."

We see the boys in a first class carriage, smoking and waving an open centrefold under the nose of a businessman in the compartment. The man taps the glass to draw the attention of a platform inspector. Gleefully the boys hold the magazines up to the glass for the inspector to see as well.

The boys gather their things and move out of the compartment down the train, but Icky returns to the compartment just as the businessman picks up a left behind Penthouse and folds it into his newspaper. Icky stares at him for a moment then leaves.

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