Guilt

What I want to talk about is the land.

He wants a legacy to be proud of.

Well, he's not getting it.

Two weeks.

I'd need a confession or a body.

JACKIE (on phone): Let's give Max all the space he needs to give us Roy.

Pull back from Kenny.

She was after Roy.

And soon enough, she would've seen through Roy to me.

You gave me a way to do what I'd always done.

You gave us a story.

(thunder claps) (whimpers) (click) MAGGIE: Family.

Family.

That's the weakness.

Yours.

Mine.

And that's why it broke my heart.

Seeing you two.

Out there.

Out on the street.

Seeing the pain between you.

Seeing how old it was.

Pain like that, it only comes from family.

And only family can take it from you.

And you two weren't ready to take it from each other.

So you found a way to make it worse.

And it made me think about pain.

And about family.

And about the parts of this city that specialize in putting the two together.

Betrayal and regret, and how quickly one follows the other.

I thought about all the steps taken in this city by those marked souls, and how their feet have worn sorrow into our streets.

And that's why.

That's why it broke my heart.

Seeing you two.

Out there.

Out on the street.

I mean, don't get me wrong.

I got over it.

Why were you there?

Was Roy there?

Why was Roy there?

You.

Nice to see you, Max.

You and them.

MAGGIE: You two can get to that.

But it's cold and I want to go to bed, so... Tell me what you've done or I'll get those men over there to kill you and then your brother.

Sorry?

Or maybe the other way round.

I've not worked out the order yet.

What is this?

MAX: What did they tell you it was, Jake?

What master plan did they come up with to dupe you?

I got a call to say that you were in hospital, that you were dying.

(laughing) Jesus Christ.

It was Lothian Police.

You don't question a phone call from Lothian Police.

Two years gone and you just roll back in on a (muted) wave of stupidity.

That's outtae order!

I didn't have to come.

That's kind of my point.

I'm doing well over there, Max.

I've got Angie, I've got a whole life.

And then I get a call to say my brother's been hit by a bus.

Who gets hit by a bus?!

And I came!

Without a moment's thought, without a moment's hesitation.

So, so just show me some respect or I'm walking!

Has he always been so dramatic?

Sit down, Jake.

You're not here to help me.

You're here to help them.

I've just haven't worked out how yet.

It was my idea, not hers.

I was trying to make some money to ease my post-custodial life.

I put the land in her name and she was going to pay me off.

I can tell you how I did it, and I, and only I, can tell you how to fix it.

You turned our daughter against us and you think you can fix it?

Their daughter?

I've taken precautions.

That is mental.

If something happens to me, then something happens to Roy, Erin, and perhaps yourself, seeing as you're so hands-on.

We take precautions, too, son.

We tell a story with things like this.

A story that protects us from you and your precautions.

I kept quiet.

When I was arrested.

We're looking into how quiet you kept.

Good.

But none of that saves you.

What saves you, for now, is lying for her.

That it wasn't her idea.

You'll go to Erin today and say what we tell you to say.

And then?

Be grateful that there is a then.

(footsteps retreating) Sending me down was good for you.

Good for Roy.

What, was it money?

I was going to do it anyway.

Thought I might as well get paid for it.

Seeing as how you were gonna leave me with nothing.

Seeing as how you were gonna do the same to me.

And yet, even though you'd do that to me in a heartbeat, it just sat there, inside me, every day.

Why do I feel things that you don't, Max?

Why do I suffer for doing things that you'd do without looking back?

Because you never had the damage I did!

The early stuff, the stuff that never goes away!

You should come back with me.

I'm not in the market for a holiday right now.

I used Roy's money to buy a bar.

Pub.

Get away from Edinburgh, Max.

Away from the damage.

That's the answer to your problems.

To your flaws-- to you.

But it's there, in Chicago.

Just waiting on you.

You know, Jake, before you came along, things were okay.

I mean, they were (muted), but they were okay.

Dad came home from the pub singing Frankie Miller every night three sheets to the wind and as happy as that can get you, and Mum was only half-mad.

But then you came along.

And Dad didn't sing anymore.

And Mum... Well, you know what happened to Mum.

It's you.

You're the problem.

You always were.

Bye, Jake.

I didn't deserve it.

(inhales deeply) (sighing): It would have let me off the hook from facing my stupidity at trusting Max.

At trusting anyone.

Did you know he was working with you lot?

Yes.

(exhales) (scoffs) So the thing with you and me, was that, was that part... No, that was real, which... ...was a complication.

Thanks for coming.

I'll take it from here.

(papers rustling) A couple of years ago, I was the key witness against a joyrider who ran over a woman in Craigmillar.

I never made it to court.

I was drunk, or hungover, or... Somewhere between the two.

He got off.

They called a mistrial.

(slams papers down) I managed to hide it from everyone except my partner.

And he didn't report me, he just sat on it, then used it to get the job that I should have got.

But now I've got a chance to take him down.

And by taking him down, we take Roy Lynch down.

And by taking Roy Lynch down, we take Max down.

And then you and me, that won't be a complication anymore.

So why don't you tell me what you know about Max and Roy Lynch?

ROY: It's not about peeking at his file.

I want every bit of paper in that place with his name on it.

Every interaction.

I want to know if anyone would come looking if they didn't hear from Max again.

You can't ask me to do that.

It would raise flags.

It would be suicide.

ROY (on phone): By tonight.

(call ends) (sighs) ERIN: So it's her.

MAX (on phone): Yeah.

She has summoned me to see you and confess all.

Act shocked.

She's been behind it all, everything they've done.

And now we've flushed her out.

So they can go down together.

But they know what you're doing.

MAX: And I know what they're doing.

So it's a race.

ROY: They say you can crack an egg on a rock and it will fry, right there, just from the sun.

Death Valley.

That's where I'd start.

Then I'd have a wee wander all over the West.

The Old West, you know.

The Great Plains, the Rockies, the Alamo.

(chuckles) It's all I've ever wanted to do and I've never done it-- why's that?

Hard to say.

Maybe it's because I want to keep it as a dream.

An escape.

I want to go home.

Home?

(chuckles) You've been over there two years and you sell Edinburgh down the river.

I want to go, Roy.

And you shall.

Just one wee favor first.

MAX (voiceover): Here's the thing about being a puppet.

The world doesn't see the strings.

So you can cut them whenever you want and the world won't know.

On paper, to the world, you're Phoenix.

This is a chance to make that a reality.

Phoenix doesn't own the land.

That's why I'm here to sell it to you at half the market value.

Which you could raise in a day.

You don't own the land, either.

It's owned by the Lynch family trust, in which the controlling share is owned by Erin.

Over whom I have power of attorney.

So here I am, selling you the land.

Does Roy know?

No.

When he does, he'll be in prison.

(sighs) You want to be in there, too, or out here and rich?

He's Roy Lynch.

Yeah, well, come tomorrow, that won't mean so much.

This is a good deal at the best of times.

Right now, where you are, this is a miracle.

So you've got the church?

Yeah, we've got the church.

It's not a good time, son.

I'm about to do my loaves and fishes act.

I should have known.

Dirty money, the development-- I should have worked it out.

Spaghetti hoops.

If you ever find yourself running a food bank in Leith, it's all spaghetti hoops.

If I ever find myself running a food bank in Leith, spaghetti hoops will be the least of my worries.

Why haven't you sold them it?

I've already given him everything.

He's not having this place.

Roy's property holdings are being sold, this place needs to be a part of it, and I'm running out of patience.

(hatch closes) (sighs): You know, son, whoever told you you were scary, I think they might have been having a wee bit of fun.

(car door opens) (muted) So, how have you been?

Oh, you see it all, Jake.

Look, Kenny, tomorrow...

It's on his desk.

Max said you might be in, with company.

He's left you something.

A memento, he called it.

Don't come here tomorrow.

What are you doing?

What have you done?

You told me once that Max shouldn't get away with being who he is.

And I didn't let him get away with it.

But you did.

And it looks like you've given him another chance for luck.

And I can't imagine that's going very well, either.

This is Max's doing.

It's not mine, it's not yours.

I don't want it to end like this, but it's the only way it can.

Do not come here tomorrow.

You and I...

It wasn't what you thought it was.

We weren't working together.

I was taking it all for myself.

Which has now been... rectified.

ERIN: You were my escape.

You were my lifeboat.

With respect, you don't need a lifeboat.

You've got a big house, and a father with lots of money that has to go somewhere.

ROY: Careful.

ERIN: Being his daughter doesn't bring many benefits, but one is not having other men speak to me like that.

(cellphone ringing) You'd best be off down the road, son.

(ringing continues) Yes?

He's out on license.

They took it out of the file, but I found the original.

ROY: Which means?

Which means he's working with someone here, and if they can take it out the file, then I imagine it's undercover.

I imagine it's her.

Bring me the file.

STEVIE: Well, that's not gonna be easy... (call ends) He wants the file.

Good.

I'm sorry, Roy, I...

I was just trying to get back, you know?

I understand.

Divide and conquer.

But in the end, you just pushed her back to us.

That helps you, that you took me on.

(chuckling): And only made my life better.

And what else helps you is that you're right.

I need you for Phoenix.

I, I agree.

I'll come to your office tomorrow.

Tell your thirsty friend to make himself scarce, and we'll sort something out.

Thanks, Roy.

Max took me to see them, at the Playhouse.

July 23, 1985.

It was my first gig.

People say that it was the day that punk died, the Clash signing to CBS.

And then they went away and made the greatest punk record of all time.

I remember Max telling me that this record was an act of revenge.

That appealed to Max.

There's something else.

About your father and I.

This is one of the blocks of flats in the development.

We're taking the top one.

We're going to see out our days together.

Back in Leith.

Where it all began.

I might even start the physiotherapy again on my legs.

You never know.

The blood.

On Christmas Eve.

You weren't washing it from Dad's hands.

He was washing it from yours.

We hit a deer.

No lies.

No more.

Your father was... mistreated by a man when he was a wee boy.

A teacher.

So I killed that man.

What did he do to you?

If he was here now, I'd kill him again.

So what happened to the car, what happened to you, it wasn't Dad's fault.

Your father sacrificed his relationship with you to protect your relationship with me.

That's the man he is.

But you didn't let me know that.

ROY: It was my decision.

You stole him from me to keep me for yourself.

It was my decision.

The chair.

You hide behind it.

Just like you hide behind him.

Think less of me, and more of him.

This is a great day.

KENNY: He wanted to wait.

A great day.

(door closes) MAX: I suppose these things are relative.

I'm gonna serve these on her the night, at Nathaniel's karate.

You wouldn't really be serving them...

I'll probably say something about her being for the chop, like a pun sort of thing.

(laughing): Christ.

I still have nae worked that bit out.

(clears throat): Well, you don't really need to involve me in the...

Hug for Nathaniel, shake hands with Sensei, then leave with dignity.

(sighs) Glad to be of service.

You have really turned this around for me.

(sighs): That's depressing.

You're a pair of angels, lads.

A pair of angels!

(door opens, closes) No message?

From Jake.

Uh, no, he just popped in to say hello.

Like you said he would.

Okay.

(sniffs) I need the details of the account you set up for me.

The one with Roy's money in it.

Why?

Proof of funds, for a wee mortgage.

I've seen a flat-- I mean, it's not flash, but it's not Pilton.

Good for you.

(drawer opens) (papers rustling) It's all there.

You know, Kenny... (drawer closes) ...spending all this time in Leith, I've got awful nostalgic.

It's made me think about the past.

About the... damage I've done.

And I'm sorry about that.

I, I also wanted to tell you that this is yours.

I put the business in your name.

Time for you to start building your empire.

A good living, and a good life.

And where would you be?

I'll be in tomorrow, clear my desk.

We'll talk then.

People think I'm stupid, Max.

For the chances I've given you.

(sniffs) But they don't know that when I said I wanted to go to university, my old man said no, no, that wasn't a place for people like us.

But then my mum said, "Well, hold on now.

"What about that Max McCall fae Lochend Road?

"Whose dad ran for the hills and left him with "a sick mum and a wee brother?

"He went to the university, "and now Max McCall is working uptown, "and drives a Merc, and got his mum a timeshare in Aviemore for Christmas."

And that got my dad interested, see, the bit about the timeshare, because he'd always wanted one of them.

He said that with a timeshare, you knew you were having a holiday every year, whether you're working or not.

So I went to university.

Because of you.

And I lasted a month.

Because I wasn't you.

When you looked at those people, you thought, "Aye, that'll do me."

But I looked at them like they were from the (muted) moon!

They did the same to me and that was that.

One month.

And no timeshare for us.

You came from where I came from.

But you weren't scared.

I don't know how you do that.

And that's why I've given you so many chances.

I was scared, Kenny.

I still am.

And I'll see you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

(airplanes flying in distance) Could you not have dropped me a wee bit closer to departures?

No.

What's this?

A story.

No.

No.

Wait!

Wait!

Jesus Christ!

That's an artery!

Is that an artery?

It feels like an artery!

ROY: I heard you were dramatic.

I'm glad you like it over there, son.

Because you can't come back now.

(footsteps approach) Again?

Anyone would think you want to convert.

To free yourself from the yoke of popery.

(sniffs) (exhales) Do you know why I became a lawyer?

Because you're a prick?

(laughs) That's the short answer.

The long one is that I wanted the world to be black and white.

I came from chaos, so I wanted rules-- clarity.

But the more I looked for the black and white, the more I found gray.

And the more I found myself in the gray.

Because that's where the action is.

The good stuff.

And then I look at you.

And I see a man doing everything he can to put time and distance between himself and the gray.

And whatever you did when you were in there.

Kenny told me about you once.

A dry drunk without a pot to (muted) in and a kid who doesn't even know you exist.

I would suggest caution in relying on Kenny for clarity.

(car door closes) Stay.

What for?

Revelation.

SANDY: Have you ever been up the Church offices in George Street?

Thankfully not.

It's full of lots of clever folk in suits.

Nearly fell over themselves to take your offer.

Said this church was "low impact."

Which hurt a little, but there you go.

Finishing up on Sunday.

Telling the flock.

It's yours, Roy.

It's all done.

(exhales) So why the silence?

I wanted to see you.

You think I do this job because of the guilt of what we did to that man.

And you're wrong.

That's just the final installment.

I was already carrying a heavy load.

An old load.

I thought doing this might make it lighter.

But it just got heavier.

And how could it not?

After 39 years?

(voice trembling): What are you telling me?

Now we've both lost everything.

(door creaks open, closes) Use it kindly.

We both know how you want me to use it.

What will you do when they knock it down?

I'll find a way to serve.

If I gave you some money, um, could you use it around here to help?

You know, sad kids, that kind of thing.

Yes.

Right, well, we'll do that, then.

Let us bring light to those who live... No thanks.

To those who live in darkness.

Roy?

I don't think it'll work.

(sniffs): The flat.

The...

Being together.

I think you should stay here.

Do you want to talk about it?

Never.

Erin?

After I'm gone.

I, I had no good options.

You stay here, love.

They know you're here.

(door opens, closes) (dishwasher door shuts) Erin... Mum.

She confessed.

That's great.

Can I have the recording?

I deleted it.

They talk about other stuff, as well, things about my dad that other people don't need to know.

I told you what I wanted, what I needed.

He doesn't deserve to end his life in prison.

Not the way it started.

The land is sold.

Fine.

If it hurts her as much as it hurts him, she deserves it.

If the land is sold and he's not in prison... Then you should leave Edinburgh.

And take me with you.

(exhales) You... You've got more in this city than you think you do.

(chuckles) I'm not saying it would have to be...

It wasn't just us being lonely, or us and him.

It wasn't just that.

He's a poison.

That's what you told me when we first met.

And now he's got inside you.

He's always been inside me.

And there are reasons for who he is.

And he's my dad.

Meet me tomorrow.

Where?

What will Max get if you arrest him?

I don't know.

You don't know what?

If he'll be arrested.

(quietly): I've told you where the money is, and how he cleaned it.

With his record, surely that's...

The money is evidence against Roy.

Everything is evidence against Roy.

It's not about Max.

It is for me.

The joyrider in Craigmillar.

A few weeks after the mistrial, they found his body, right there where he ran her over.

The woman's family all gave each other alibis.

There's justice, and there's natural justice.

The decisions Max has taken, the positions he's put himself in, he'll end up in prison, or worse.

You know, that's not the world I want, but it's the world we've got.

Roy and the daughter.

I'm still working it out.

But I think someone may have been killed.

Maybe at her house, over the money that he brought me.

Joe McLean.

He was found in Corstorphine Woods last week.

You'll have it down as suicide, but... it wasn't.

She won't have had anything to do with it, but... Roy would.

Okay.

Will that do it?

Murder?

Yeah, that'll do it.

Looks pretty at night.

You can't see the dirt.

("Go to the Light" by Murder by Death playing) A lonesome star In a bitter sky I hear the hungry ghosts Calling out in the night Just a couple victims Of this brutal reprise Am I strong enough To let things just die?

I fight and I fight Just to keep The spark alive But if there's nothing On the other side Why can't I leave well enough alone And go to the light?

Go to the light Go to the light A shadowy hand Turns the page A dark theater Move across the stage Stealing a few extra moments And fighting against time Just let it die Go to the light Just let it die Go to the light Just let it die (song ends) What is he doing here?

JACKIE: He's cooperating.

He's a target.

Roy's the target.

How is he cooperating?

It's an ongoing situation.

He's been a cancer in that place for years.

And now I'm here to make amends.

Shut up, you're here to save your arse.

You can't let him walk for the sake of a few more years for Roy.

A few more years?

I want Roy to go in there and never come out, and you've given me money laundering.

What did you mean, an ongoing situation?

Thanks for your help.

You've gone rogue.

I'm calling this in.

She was a grandmother, was she not?

Who?

The woman in Craigmillar that the kid mowed down.

The kid that got the mistrial.

What are you two doing?

Thanks for your help.

And stay out of Leith.

What's happening in Leith?

What did you think he'd do when you gave him the file?

You're setting up Max, for Roy.

What Max has come up with, Roy could get out of in his sleep.

Maybe there's another way that Max can serve the cause.

You can't do that.

Then what can you give me instead?

Last week, Roy asked me to give him an address from a car reg.

The next day, I was out in the car and I heard it on the radio.

I made sure I got there first, to see what he'd done.

To see what I'd done.

It was a stabbing, close enough to the heart for attempted murder, and it was Roy.

He wouldn't do it himself.

He would if she told him to.

Who?

The wicked witch of the East.

We've taken the land.

Taken it and sold it.

You and Max?

I'm gonna meet him now.

I can understand why you might do that.

I thought I was doing it because of you.

Now I realize it's because of her.

Everything's because of her.

I wish I'd known you better.

Understood you better.

But it's too late.

I'm doing it to find something honest, something good.

And I'm... going to go meet him now, and we're gonna go somewhere that's not here.

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

I don't remember much from that place, but I remember the hypocrisy-- I remember the wolves.

That may not surprise you.

But this might.

(presses button) MAX (on recording): There's something else, more recent.

Roy and the daughter.

I'm still working it out.

But I think someone may have been killed.

Maybe at her house.

Joe McLean.

He was found in Corstorphine Woods last week.

You'll have it down as suicide, but it wasn't.

(recording stops) They've got nothing on us.

Except Max.

Max gives them a shot.

What are you going to do?

Don't meet him.

He won't be there.

Why can't I escape?

You, her, this world of endless (muted) liars?

I actually don't know how many more chances I've got to say this, because life might pull us apart again, and I wish I had the education to say it better.

The pride I feel, that I've always felt, in getting to call you my daughter.

Bye, Dad.

(door shuts) MAGGIE: You took your time.

JACKIE: He'll talk.

And he'll talk a little more on top, so we don't look into what he was doing here.

Sorry, love, you've lost me.

It's a nice place this, secure.

With all the cameras.

They picked up the two of you, your little chat.

Common purpose.

That's the legal doctrine.

Which means you'll both get charged with attempted murder.

Which feels fair, does it not?

You and Roy, and your common purpose.

I felt bad about what happened to your family.

Not as bad as I did.

And I always said to Roy that it would be you.

I hope you get the chance to tell him that you were right.

I'm allowed a phone call.

It's too late.

Can you get me my chair, please, love?

And my pills, from the bathroom.

Dementia.

Gets worse by the day.

God knows what a judge'll make of it.

(unzipping) (keys jangle, engine starts) (phone calling out) (cellphone ringing) (ringing stops) (door opens) (door closes) The soldier.

He was my brother.

And there's something about brothers.

I used to say blood's thicker than water.

But Maxie told me that's not the original saying, and how it's actually about blood being spilt on the battlefield, and how that's the thickest blood in the game.

And that's okay.

That makes sense, too.

I don't know what Max told you, but she had nothing to do with it.

It was her house.

Her husband was a degenerate, and I ran out of patience.

Your brother was...

Unfortunate.

And now you have to do what you have to do.

I understand that.

I respect that.

But she had nothing to do with it.

Maxie said that, too.

That's fair.

Are you from Leith, son?

Aye.

Well, that's something.

(door closes, footsteps approaching) (chuckles) (phone calling out) Hi.

I'm here and you're not.

MAX: You don't need me, not for this.

The escape you wanted, it's not me.

It's not the money, either.

I can give you the escape you wanted.

I can release you.

If that's what you want.

What is this?

MAX: I could have told you last night, but I'd only have done it to hurt Roy.

But now it would be for you.

What's in there?

MAX: Everything you need.

Everything you weren't given.

You just need to ask.

Tell me.

And I want you to know this isn't...

It's not about revenge.

Because revenge only gets you halfway.

What I'm giving you comes... ...from love.

And hope.

For you and for me.

I'm giving you what I never had, so you can heal.

Like I never did.

Tell me.

(exhales, door opens) (door closes) (footsteps approaching outside) (siren wailing) ("Police and Thieves" by the Clash playing in background) MAN: They're going through a tight wind.

Hey, kid.

Police and thieves in the street Oh, yeah (click) Police and thieves in the street Oh, yeah ANNOUNCER: Go to our website, listen to our podcast, watch video, and more.

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Fighting the nation with their Guns and ammunition From Genesis