The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Page #4

Get out of there.

Quiet! Quiet in the shower!

All correct, sir. Class 22.

It was that new lad, Smith,

who scored that goal, wasn't it?

- Yes, sir.

- He can run.

- He's not bad, sir.

- Well, he might be useful to us.

- We'd better keep an eye on him.

- Right, sir.

- Where is he?

- Oh, he's in the shower.

Oh, right. Come along, Brown.

All right, now, get on with it! Get moving!

That was a good goal, Smith.

- It was a good goal!

- Oh, thank you, sir.

Hello.

Often, a moment like that can make

a big turning point in a lad's life.

It's not hard to guess what

sort of home life that lad had.

- Where the bloody hell have you been?

- Out.

You're never around when I want you.

Here am I, struggling,

and I don't get a blind bit of help from you.

He's always out he is. He goes after girls!

- He goes after girls!

- All right.

Shut up, you lot!

- How's Dad?

- The doctor's with him now.

Poor devil. Breaks your heart to see him.

I don't know.

This is the last thing I expected.

- It'll be all right, Mum. Don't worry.

- Don't be daft.

Even the doctor said it's no use hoping.

He's trying to get your dad

to go to hospital,

- but I know he won't.

- No.

Mum, could I have some money

to go to pictures?

No, you can't.

You can go to your Aunty Vi's

- and look at her television.

- Don't want to.

- She only got BBC.

- Be quiet.

Can't you see your mum's upset?

You won't get me to go to no hospital.

I'm no bleeding guinea pig for anybody.

- When's Dad going to die, our Colin?

- He isn't gonna die, Johnny.

Doctor told Mum he was yesterday.

- We'd do best to leave him.

- It seems so, but he's very poorly.

He's in quite a lot of pain

and won't even have anything to help it.

I'll need you to see he takes this though.

It's a difficult time, but all we can do now

is see that he's comfortable.

I'll look in tomorrow.

I'll not go to no hospital, hear?

- I'm not going to no hospital!

- All right, we know you're not.

I'm going to be late for work.

Billy, take that round to the chemist.

- I'm not taking any pills.

- Suit yourself.

- Mum, can I go?

- Can I go!

Shut up!

Don't bother about the chemist.

He won't take it.

Here, run down to Mrs. Rolly's,

and get some of that herbal pain killer.

Mike! Hang on a bit.

Our Col.

- How's your dad then, Col?

- Oh, he's asleep.

- You coming?

- Where to?

I don't know. Come on.

Hey!

- Where'd you learn to drive like this?

- Me cousin had a taxi.

Hey, look. Keep death off the road.

Hey, get a load of this gear in the back.

- What's in here?

- I'll wear that.

- Hey, do you want a fag?

- Great.

- Here you are.

- Thanks.

Where should we go to then, James?

Who do you think I am,

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