A Thousand Blows

They killed my brother, so I killed one of theirs.

When the killer pulled out his gun, an inch of his wrist was uncovered.

His skin was black.

We're interested in the man who lives in the Wapping Wall. The fighter.

Mr Moscow.

This is Prince Albert Victor, second in line to the British throne.

You said you have an offer for me?

I have land.

A sugar plantation in Jamaica. It's a place called Morant Bay.

If you lead me to victory, then it's yours.

A job's come through from New York.

We have an associate on the way. She's a very smart woman.

You want me to run?

Well, if you don't, there'll be a war.

Hezekiah Moscow. The day of judgement is upon you.

I'll handle this. You take care of the girls.

Sugar Goodson?

The Jeremy family and the fighting men of Elephant and Castle

demand that vile, murdering beast be handed over to our custody here and now.

Or I will burn the Blue Coat Boy to the ground

with all the souls contained therein!

Jesus.

I will burn it. Every single one, they will die. Bring him out.

Let's have him.

Last chance, Sugar.

I will talk to you, and you only, Bull.

Oh, Mary.

Is that your pretty voice I can hear?

I should have known you had a hand in this.

Right, Sugar. You can hand her over and all.

We take both of 'em, we'll be on our way.

My answer is fucking no!

We don't give up souls on Goodson territory!

Fuck it.

Mr Jeremy!

I am the man you seek.

Hezekiah Moscow.

Nice to put a voice to the name.

There's only one honourable way of ending this.

You and I fight.

One to one.

What do you say?

Well, I say you've got a deal.

They will kill you.

Get in there, get Mary, and drag that fucking bitch out here.

Hezekiah Moscow.

The man himself.

Oh.

What happened to a fair fight?

Oh, I've heard all about you, boy.

I think... I think this helps even up the odds, boys.

What do you think, hey?

This makes it fair.

Oh, hit him. Come on, Bull. Hit him.

Come on!

What the fuck are we supposed to do now, Mary?

Listen, I had Indigo done in for us.

Now you can cower here like lambs for the fucking slaughter,

or you can back me all the way and finish this.

Well, it looks like the savage has won the day.

But the day's not over yet.

Come here, you.

There she is.

Murdering fucking whore! Come on!

Come on!

Shit. They're coming inside.

- Well, what'll it be then? - Well, come on, girls!

Fucking--

Daddy.

Oi!

Rose.

Come on, Rose. I've got you.

I've got you. Come on. Come on.

Come on.

Your kings are dead.

You are a disgrace to the Elephant name.

Take your wounded back home with this message.

The Forty Elephants have risen.

I am queen.

Now fuck off!

If we live, we live for the Lord.

And if we die,

we die for the Lord.

In a time where life hangs in the balance,

it can be difficult to find solace.

But it can be found

when we understand the nature of God.

Oh, come on. We don't need your God.

She's a fighter.

She's gonna live.

The House of God is always open to you, Mr Goodson.

For we are all His children.

Oh, no one asked you to come, you fucking ghoul.

- I, uh, understand you're angry-- - I'm sorry, Father. I'll show you out.

You're bleeding.

It's nothing.

How is she?

She'll survive.

So are you still planning to go back to Jamaica?

I have something that keeps me here a lickle longer.

What kind of something?

Business.

Well, talking of business, I could do with some of your rooms.

You should go back to Elephant and Castle.

I don't feel at home south of the river.

- A queen with no palace? - A boxer with no ring.

A man and a woman with no kind words to say to each other.

You can take rooms at the Green Dolphin.

But me no want no trouble.

That all?

That's all.

Mary.

I received word that the Jeremys marched on Wapping Wall,

and you came out on top.

No thanks to you.

You don't know what you're talking about.

You knew they were coming and you didn't warn me.

I tried, but there wasn't time.

I don't think you did.

What would I have to gain from having my daughter killed?

To kill a creature that crawled out of you and ruined you. I don't know.

I don't know what goes through your head.

I built the Forty Elephants,

wretched women who found means to survive in a world that hated us.

I had to make sure we survived, even if it meant putting you in harm's way.

You had to show them that you were worthy of the crown you now wear.

Why are you saying all this?

Because my days are numbered.

There is a growth inside my belly.

Another face-saving lie.

No.

You can feel it.

A notch.

It's a strange thing.

Very strange.

But I've gotten what I wanted.

You are queen again.

Stronger than ever.

I will die happy.

You always looked to me for something I can't give.

I gave you something much more precious instead.

I gave you the tools to survive.

I gave you a family.

Don't you see it?

"Abstain from biting your lips or putting your tongue between your teeth.

Very serious accidents may occur from doing so.

The mouth is to be firmly closed..."

Good afternoon, Mr Moscow.

Good afternoon.

Your Royal Highness.

Mr Moscow.

I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to today's session.

Have you been boxing, Mr Moscow?

You could say that.

An unsanctioned bout.

Right. Well,

I won't enquire further.

We're not going to box today.

We're going to talk.

All right.

And... what is it that we'll be talking about?

The man you will be facing

and the fundamental question.

Why do you want to fight, Your Royal Highness?

It is a vendetta.

I want satisfaction.

A petty grudge?

No, no.

Look, you might not understand.

But as an English Royal, I am bound by an ancient code of honour.

Then tell me.

I was a naval cadet for three years.

Now, you might assume that someone of my standing would be shielded

from the brutish mess deck culture, yes?

But you'd be wrong.

There was an older boy.

Well, he made my life a living nightmare.

But I am a man now.

And one day, I shall be king.

And when I finally beat him,

I shall be worthy.

There are plenty, plenty trainers at West London Boxing Club

better suited to this type of fight.

No, but you're different.

I wasn't talking about your skin colour. I-I-I meant your style.

It's evidently different, the fruits of it.

I don't follow.

Look, I want the best trainer.

I want someone with that deadly touch.

What?

Boxing

is an art and a science.

One thing it is not is the pursuit of another man's death.

And I hope I'm clear.

Yeah.

And if you want to talk about killing,

look closer to home, hmm?

Look around you and remember where all of this came from.

Listen here. I am more than aware

of the blood that has been spilt on my family's behalf.