Top Dog

Fear is an amazing weapon.

With fear on your side, you can get people to do anything.

Say anything or believe anything.

That's power. Real power.

Where I come from, you learn that at a very young age.

But power through fear comes with a price.

Because there will always be those who cannot be threatened.

That's the law of the jungle.

In this jungle,

those who decide to try and seize power had better watch themselves.

You see, real leaders are defined by their strength in the face of challenge.

No matter where or who it comes from.

And no matter what the consequences.

AC! AC! AC!

What's happening? What's up, Bill?

Here, Tubbs, thought you had a meet sorted with Villa?

No, the old Bill had them all wrapped up when I got down there, Bill.

Oh, that explains all the uniforms down the high road, then.

That's sweet. All right, mate.

Biggest firm of the lot, Old Bill.

Yeah, knowing Villa, soon as they got off the train

they went looking for the plod to hold their hands anyway.

- Fucking two-bob firm. - Fucking pricks...

Thank fuck for away days, that's all I can say. Much more fun.

Ain't that the bloody truth, bruv?

'Ere, PJ, get up there, give 'em a shout.

- Go on, mate. - AC! AC! AC!

Listen, Hawk. Talking about away days, we got a few big ones coming up.

Might be a good idea to get the chaps together one day.

When you thinking? Thursday?

Yeah, sweet. Listen, not here though. We need to mix it up a little bit.

- Where? - Don't know. How about The Saint George?

Your uncle's gaff? You haven't been there in ages.

You sure Sal ain't gonna cut your throat?

Guess we'll find out Thursday, won't we?

'Ere, come on then, who's got a bugle?

- Have that one. - Sweet. Ta. Lovely.

Fuckface. Nearly home.

Oh, shit. Sorry, I'm knackered.

What time you got work in the morning?

I ain't. I got the day off.

Lucky fucker.

I got to be in Brixton by 10:00.

Some geezer wants me to take a couple of motors of his hands.

Christ. It's tough at the top. Innit!

Will be for him when he finds out what I'm offering him.

Go on, then. Piss off.

Oh, give the missus a big kiss from me?

Oh, yeah, she'd love that, wouldn't she?

- See you later. - Good night, bruv.

Fucking cunt! Fucking thing.

No, no, mate. Seriously. It wasn't me, was it. I told you.

You know me fucking better than that. I wouldn't, would I?

For fucking hell! What the fuck have you done to this machine?

Jesus. I'm spending all my bloody money on this.

You still there? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'll be round later.

I'll be round later and talk to you about it, yeah.

Yeah, I'll speak to you later, mate. Bye-bye.

Where's my crispy duck?

- I'm sorry! - For fuck's sake!

How fucking difficult is it, you stupid Chink?

Fucking shithole, this place.

What's your fucking problem, eh? Dickhead!

See you, sunshine, you need to learn some fucking manners, don't you?

What? You fucking want some as well, do ya? Fuck off!

Hey, love. Take the day off tomorrow and get the window fixed, yeah?

Has this got serviettes in it?

Lovely.

Who are you smirking at?

Trying to figure out how you're going to pay me for that.

- Oh, yeah? - You're even sexier egg-flavoured.

Oh, you're disgusting. Oh, actually babe, listen.

I'm going to see Julie tomorrow so I might need a little bit of money

'cause I want to take her out and treat her.

Yeah, sweet. Right.

I'm gonna go check on Alfie and then have a shower.

Have a shower first, yeah?

You're fucking beautiful, you know that?

Jesus Christ, you couldn't given it a lick of paint?

What the bloody hell do you want?

- Billy! Long time no see. - Hello, Steve.

- So, how's life out in the sticks? - Barnet's hardly the bloody sticks.

- Still got the garage? - Yeah. It's doing OK, as it happens.

I'm meeting a few pals down here in a little bit.

Is it OK to use the upstairs?

You'd better not be dealing in my pub again!

Behave. That was year's ago, Sal. Ain't grafted any of that shit in ages.

On my boy's eyes!

- So, how's the cousins, all right? - Yeah, fine.

- Darren's still boxing, ain't he? - Yeah.

Yeah, he's doing nice. I see him in the trades.

Right. So how long has that been going on?

What?

Oh, come on, don't treat me like an idiot, Auntie Sal.

You know what it's like round here. It's a legitimate business expense.

- How much? - 250 a week.

For that, we get to keep the windows.

- So who are they? - We only ever deal with them two.

- They work for Mickey James. - Mickey James?

- Thought he was still inside. - No, he got out. Six, seven months ago.

He got a toe in all the pubs around here now?

Seems like it. I know he's got a few in Camden and a couple in Kilburn.

Surprised the Paddys ain't put a block on that.

Different times, ain't it? Coming, love.

What do you want?

You don't have to take it, Sal.

Just say the word and I'll put the AC mark on this place.

- Then what? - He won't come near you again.

It's a nice idea, Billy, but this isn't a game.

People like that don't piss about.

What, you think I do?

Just say the word, Sal.

It's good to see you, Billy.

But you're still a little shit.

I think that's about everything, yes? This'll be simple.

- You know what you're doing? - Yeah, I know what. Yeah, yeah.

Oh, so that's it, then.

- Yeah. - Everyone's sorted?

- Sweet. - Done.

- Are you all right, boss? - You all right, Bill? You're a bit quiet.

I got some business.

It ain't strictly football, but it does concern the AC and this place.

This place? Mate, this place is a shithole.

Yeah, but it's my aunt and uncle's shithole. Someone's putting the squeeze on it.

So what are you saying?

What I'm saying, is that this place is our new official home.

- You make all the decisions now, eh? - Yeah. Anyone got a problem with that?

Good.

The first thing we got to do is sort out this little firm draining the till.

I want some faces here next Thursday. Lots of them.

You don't change do you? Mix it up a bit.

Do you know I can't remember the last time I had my nails done, you know?

It's so nice to be a bit girlie.

Thanks, honey. I really needed that.

Shush. And by the way, you look...

Don't say glowing, for God's sake. Because Graham says it all the bloody time.

Well, if you let me finish, I was actually going to say you look gorgeous.

Well, thank you, but I look like a house.

No you don't, you just look like you're pregnant. Do you remember me?

I was massive with Alfie. Massive.

Ankles the size of a rhino's. It was ridiculous.

So how's Graham then?

Oh, he's all right.

A little bit stressed since he lost his job, but what can you do, you know?

What? Why didn't you say anything?

Something'd come up. Always does, doesn't it?

Babe, just hear me out here.

Look, I know you and Billy don't see eye-to-eye,

but do you want me to have a word with him?

'Cause, babe, I'm sure we can sort something out.

No, 'cause he don't want Billy to know.

Besides, it's bad enough them watching football all the bloody time.

Can you imagine them working together and all?

Besides, that even might have to go soon.

Well, babe, don't tell me things are that bad.

No, not at the moment. Ooh!

Bloody little bugger! I swear to God, if this peanut kicks me one more time today,

I'm gonna do my nut!

Do you know what he wants to call him?

- Oh, God, what? Go on. - Glenn. After Glenn Hoddle.

- What? Oh, God, that's horrible. - I know.

What are you going to do if it's a girl?

Well, he said it can be called Glenn too, because Glenn's also a girl's name.

Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction.

I mean, what a blood idiot. What's he thinking?

I mean, talk about bunny-boiler.

Ooh, there it goes again.

Bill? Lift off.

What's so important?

Come through to upstairs.

Hello, Mickey. Long time no see.

Billy Evans.

This is all a bit Lock, Stock, innit?

What the fuck's all this about?

This place. It's ours now.

What do you mean, "Ours"?

- The AC's. - Acton Casuals.

Fucking hell. Has no one told you all that football bollocks died out years ago?

It's a fucking joke now, fella.

We ain't laughing.

Listen...

You step on my toes, and that's disrespectful.

And the thing is, I've got a reputation to consider.

So have I. Ours.

Then you've got a problem, ain't you?

Not me, you.

And how'd you work that out?

Have you ever seen a football mob trash a pub, Mickey?

Takes about two minutes.

You come near this place again and we'll blitz two of your gaffs.

Three if I'm in a bad mood.

And every time I get a sniff of you being near here, it'll be the same.

And then I'll start on your clubs.

See what that does to your poxy reputation.

We'll tear your fucking head off.

Oh, ain't it sweet. Does he get a treat for doing that?

You mugging little cunt.

Look.

All I want is this place left alone. That's it.

Well, I hope you boys know what you're getting yourself into.