A brand new four part drama, shown across four consecutive nights, which
depicts the powerful and emotional story of one man's mission to save his
son.
PRODUCTION NOTES
Introduction .............................................................. Page 3
Tribute to Frank Deasy by Andy Harries ...................... Page 5
Dougray Scott is Michael O’Connor ............................. Page 6
Reece Noi is Sean O’Connor ...................................... Page 10
Sophie Okonedo is Connie ........................................ Page 13
Episode synopses ..................................................... Page 16
Cast list .................................................................... Page 23
Production biographies ............................................. Page 24
Production credits .................................................... Page 27
ITV Press Office
Press contacts:
Father & Son
2
Natasha Bayford - 0161 952 6209 /
natasha.bayford@itv.com
Kate Richards – 020 7157 3039 / kate.richards@itv.com
Picture contact:
Patrick Smith - 0207 157 3044 / patrick.smith@itv.com
INTRODUCTION
Hollywood actor Dougray Scott joins BAFTA and Oscar nominees
Sophie Okonedo and Stephen Rea in a new four part drama series
Father & Son, co-produced by ITV and RTÉ.
Written by the late Emmy Award-winning Irish writer Frank Deasy
(Prime Suspect: The Final Act and The Passion), Father & Son is the
latest television drama to be stripped across the schedule, going out
across four consecutive nights on ITV1.
Set in Manchester Father & Son, depicts the complexity of modern
inner-city life where crime is now a global business, and where gun
culture is an ever more entrenched part of everyday life.
Ex-criminal Michael O’Connor (Dougray Scott) returns to Manchester
from his quiet life in Ireland in order to save his teenage son Sean
(Reece Noi) from prison and to redeem his own troubled past.
Father & Son
3
Michael was once a king-pin in the Manchester crime-world running
one of the biggest and most dangerous gangs in the city. A few years
back, on a trip to Ireland to pick up some decommissioned weapons to
run into Manchester, Michael was arrested. Three days later his wife
Lynn was murdered. A devastated Michael turned his back on his life
of crime and when released from jail, went to live in Ireland,
determined to build a new life. But his decision to leave this world
behind him meant his only son, Sean, was left behind under the care of
Lynn’s sister, Connie (Sophie Okonedo). Their relationship, fractured
by Lynn’s death, is further complicated by Michael’s lack of contact
with Sean.
Connie is a serving police officer, living and working in Manchester.
Sean lives with Connie and her 10 year old daughter Imani (Imani
McLaren) and has managed to keep out of trouble until now. It’s only
when his girlfriend Stacey (Wunmi Mosaku) arrives at Connie’s house
with friend Maurice (Ciaran Clancy), a young member of the MotorWay Crew, things take a turn for the worse. Maurice has a gun and
wants to leave it at Sean’s for safekeeping but Sean is horrified and
refuses, despite Maurice and Stacey’s entreaties.
And then tragedy
strikes and Sean ends up in jail, charged with gunning down a member
of the Young South gang.
Michael returns to Manchester to help Sean but it quickly becomes
clear there is a greater force at work in his son’s arrest. Sean is sharing
a cell with Barrington Smith (Terence Maynard), Michael’s old partner
in crime. Barrington kidneys are failing; he needs to get out of jail so
he can get an operation to save his life. Barrington believes Michael is
the only person who can rescue him.
Forced to make a deal with Barrington, Michael is reacquainted with
the ghosts of his past including Augustine Conlon (Stephen Rea), an
IRA gun dealer turned property magnate, and Greater Manchester
Police DCI Tony Conroy (Ian Hart). Conroy has been pursuing Michael
for years and is determined to put him behind bars for good. And a
powerful man like Conlon has his own agenda where Michael’s
concerned.
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4
Michael is second generation Irish, and his father John (John Kavanagh)
is less than pleased to see him back in Manchester. Their relationship
was destroyed by Michael’s criminal past. However his father’s ill
health puts further pressure on Michael’s situation.
With so many forces working against him, will Michael be able do right
by his son while at same time protect his future wife Anna (Flora
Montgomery) and their unborn child? Has he the courage to reject his
past and choose the future? Will he set himself and his loved ones
free?
The co-production between ITV & RTE has seen Father & Son pick up
two awards: Irish Film & Television Award and ZeBBie Award both
honoured for Best Television Script.
The 4 x 60 minute series has been produced by Michael Casey and
directed by Brian Kirk, whose previous credits for ITV include the
BAFTA award winning My Boy Jack, starring, David Haig, Kim Cattrall,
Daniel Radcliff and Carey Mulligan.
Father & Son is a Left Bank Pictures production for ITV1 and is
executive produced by Andy Harries and James Flynn and Morgan
O’Sullivan from Octagon Films. Laura Mackie, Director of Drama ITV
and Sally Haynes, Controller of Drama ITV commissioned the series.
Father & Son will be broadcast on ITV1 and the ITV1 HD channel which
is available on the following EPG numbers:
Freesat
119
Freeview 51
Sky
178
Virgin
113
The series will also be available on 2 entertain DVD from Monday 14th
June.
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TRIBUTE TO WRITER FRANK DEASY
BY ANDY HARRIES
I never imagined I would have to write a note like this for a press pack.
Frank was a very close personal friend and a wonderful writer.
His sudden death last September at just 49, whilst in the midst of a life
saving liver transplant in an Edinburgh hospital, was a terrible shock.
He was a truly wonderful man, a great husband to his wife Marie and a
loving inspiring dad to his three young children.
Frank was a great writer all his working life and was at the very top of
his game when he died.
I first worked with him as the writer of the very last Prime Suspect -
The Final Act where he wrote a blistering brilliant and powerful script
that won him an Emmy in 2007 with both Helen Mirren and Director
Philip Martin picking up Emmy’s as well. He so deserved that golden
moment in the sun. He was incredibly happy.
I loved working with Frank .We spoke most days and he was always
excited by the work and always totally engaged in it. He threw himself
into every project with incredible passion and always researched his
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chosen stories in minute detail.
For Father & Son he spent weeks in Manchester meeting the special
police unit that deals with the gun crime in the city as well as meeting
many of the kids involved in the teenage gangs and sadly attending
some of their funerals.
Father & Son is an original, honest and visceral piece of writing which
is uniquely Frank’s.
He was a writer who really engaged with the real world and its
problems and even though his subjects were frequently quite tough
and challenging Frank himself was always cheerful. Despite his long
running battle with cancer he was one of the most generous, kind
and optimistic people I have ever met.
There wasn't a better time to be had than having a long supper with
Frank and comparing notes on the world.
I miss him terribly. We all do.
This is his final piece of television that he was able to write and
properly supervise as executive producer with me. He was incredibly
proud of it - and very proud that ITV - and in particular Laura Mackie had supported it with such commitment.
We both are.
Enjoy.
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7
DOUGRAY SCOTT IS MICHAEL O’CONNOR
A-list actor Dougray Scott is known for his well established career,
including
roles
in
Desperate
Housewives,
Heist
and
Mission:
Impossible II. Here Dougray declares that as a father of two, playing
Michael O’Conner in Father & Son resonated on a personal level for
him.
“My own experience of being a father and my understanding of
Michael’s relationship with Sean fuelled my desire to do this project.
“I have got twins, a son and daughter. And when I first read the script
for Father & Son I found the dilemma that Michael is faced with
incredibly intriguing. I was very familiar with the world Frank Deasy
was talking about, not that I knew a lot about gangsters or criminals,
but certainly on an emotional level, it resonated very deeply with me.
“When you become a father your whole perspective on life changes and
you become a protector. I think that is ultimately what Michael is; he’s
a protector and a facilitator for the life and wellbeing of his son Sean. I
feel the same way about my children. When I’m asked the question
who would I die for, my answer is absolutely my children.
“When you have children you discover a whole new emotion that no
one else can understand. When Sean gets into trouble in Manchester
Michael goes into automatic pilot and has to help him no matter what.
Father & Son
8
He’s already carrying a lot of guilt because of what he left behind and
this is his chance to redeem himself on many levels.
“As a father I tend to deal with issues when they come up. I try and
prepare my children for the world which they are involved in and for
any problems that may arise, especially living in London. My kids are
still young so I want to give them their innocence for as long as it will
last. It’s not easy being a parent but it’s an incredibly wonderful thing
to be.”
Working on Father & Son also made Dougray think about his own
relationship with his father.
“I was very lucky. He was everything you could hope for in a dad and
we had a good relationship. He came from Barrhead in Glasgow, which
is a tough area, but he was a very gentle man”.
In preparation for his role as Michael, Dougray sought advice on his
Mancunian accent from veteran actor David Threlfall and visited people
from Manchester’s criminal underworld.
Dougray explains: “It is true I had help with my accent from fellow
actor David Threlfall. He is from Manchester so gave me tips on dialect
from the different parts, pointing out that people from the south
speak a certain way compared to other areas. David listened to my
accent and went over it with me again and again. I also had a dialect
coach called Brendan Gunn who was amazing.
“I also spent a lot of time in Manchester meeting people of the world
Michael is meant to be embroiled in. That experience was invaluable
and gave me a huge insight. Acting is a lot about imagination so
talking to people helps me to understand how someone else thinks;
it’s like seeing the world through their eyes as apposed to your own. I
would never be in that particular world, but if I was I would have done
Father & Son
9
things differently to Michael. However, that is the character that Frank
Deasy wrote so my job is to really understand him.
“I loved the preparation. Talking to the people I met in Manchester was
fascinating. You often read a lot of things and you think, ‘is that really
true?’ because it’ll say that this person is a monster, a cold blooded
killer. You’re given the impression of someone who is really scary.
Sometimes these people are put in a box so it can be safe to call them
evil and the underbelly of our society which has to be tackled and
fought. The world is not like that. I’ve met a lot of people in my life
and I’ve met some in that world before. People do bad things but
within that world in which they are committing crimes, they also do
good things as well. It’s an intriguing journey to understand that
world.”
Speaking about his role as Michael and the character’s relationship
with his son Sean, played by Reece Noi, Dougray says: “This is a story
about a father and son and their reconciliation. They have a fractured
relationship that was unavoidable because in order to try and save his
family, Michael left behind the violent criminal world in which he was a
prevalent part of to start again and his son, Sean ended up living with
his auntie Connie.
“Michael extricated himself from the violent self-destructive world he
is a part of to become a better person. I think everyone deserves a
second chance. The penal system is about what crimes people commit
and
the
punishment
fits
the
crime.
“However, looking at it from a spiritual point of view, you want people
to understand that certain things in society are not good for the world
Father & Son
10
at large, for the energy, for the influence, for the examples you set, for
the way in which you deal with other human beings, and if people stop
behaving in a certain way and take a different path then that’s got to
be a good thing for the world, hasn’t it? Redemption is in the bible,
not that I’m overly religious, but redemption is a very strong and
powerful word. I think it’s relevant and should be encouraged. You’ve
got to encourage people to change if they have taken the wrong path
in life.
“Ultimately Michael did what he did out of love for his son. He was
desperate to get away from his past including the violence that he was
a part of and helped create. When Michael hears about the shooting
that his son is accused of, he feels honour bound, morally and
intellectually, to get involved and try and help. But this forces him to
re-enter a hell-hole world of violence and crime, the world that he was
trying desperately to get away from.
“Michael has to jump into his old skin in many ways when he comes
back to Manchester. A soft guy is such easy prey in that world so he
has to don his armour again in order to survive in that world and to
achieve what he wants to achieve, which ultimately is to save his son.
Inside he’s not the guy he used to be so it’s a difficult task for him.
“The story shows how one can find beauty, sensitivity and love within
this world of violence and darkness. The great thing about Frank
Deasy as a writer is that he doesn’t give you black and white; there are
many shades of grey and different colours within it. Frank recognises
that the world doesn’t operate like that at all, as I do. I think what the
audience will get is a revelation of many sorts of the world which Frank
writes about. It’s a lovely relationship drama. It’s a rollercoaster ride in
terms of the story and plot.”
During the filming of Father & Son Dougray established a close
friendship with the late Frank Deasy. He later supported Frank in his
campaign to enlist organ donors to help those in need.
“Frank and I became very close during the production of Father & Son.
His help was invaluable to me understanding the character. He was
incredibly supportive.
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11
“As a human being Frank shone. His humanity and his personality
came through incredibly strongly, like a beacon. He was an amazing
man and I really adored him. When you were with him he made you
feel great because he had such an intelligent and different view of life.
“We talked a lot and I knew Frank was ill but I was very upset and
shocked when he died. In the last few months of his life Frank
campaigned to get people to register as organ donors. It’s an easy
thing to do, it only took me two minutes. Frank was taking the
initiative because he was thinking about other people and the situation
they face with the lack of donors in this country. After he did a radio
programme in Ireland the amount of donors went up by such a huge
percentage. He made a difference to peoples lives.
“I believe the world lost a great writer. His work stands out with all the
wonderful writing he has done over the years but this will be the last
produced drama that he did. If Frank was still alive I’d just be talking
about his wonderful writing but now I hope people will see what a
fitting tribute it is to Frank Deasy and what an extraordinary writer he
was. I’d like the audience to understand and recognise what an
amazing writer and talent we’ve lost.
“I hope the audience are moved by Father & Son and the compassion
Frank shows in his writing shines through. I hope they see the
humanity that’s within this world and that they are surprised by it. It’s
a different perspective on that violent world. There are a lot of
fractures in that society and a lot of instability and violence but at the
same time there is humanity, love and a desire to survive and fight for
a better world.”
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Dougray Scott has recently starred alongside his wife, Claire Forlani, in
feature film No Ordinary Trifle. He has also completed filming
Harmony, a physiological thriller directed by Dana Lustig. His previous
credits include, New Town Killers, The Day of the Triffids, False
Witness, Enigma, Ever After and Twin Town.
Father & Son
13
REECE NOI IS SEAN O’CONNOR
Rising star Reece Noi was born and raised in Manchester and continues
to live there now. Here he explains his own experiences of a city where
crime is prevalent and how these experiences echo with his role in
Father & Son.
“Father & Son is set in Manchester and my character, Sean, lives on an
estate where there are gangs and crime. He’s not involved with a gang
but others around him are. He gets caught up in a shooting and tries
to do the right thing but that backfires and he finds himself in jail.
“I’m not too distant from Sean in the sense that I was raised in
Manchester and when I was younger and hanging around with different
crowds I saw people who got caught up in similar situations to him.
“Parts of Manchester are renowned for crime and living there it’s not
hard to see. I’ve been a target a couple of times. Four lads once tried
to rob me of a chain and another time a thief tried to rob me with a
knife at a bus stop. It wasn’t secluded, it was a busy road and people
were walking past. The terrible thing is that people would rather not
get involved so choose to stay out of it. Thankfully both times I
managed to get away and was unhurt.
“There is a scene in Father & Son involving a shooting in hospital
grounds. A similar thing actually happened in a Manchester hospital
Father & Son
14
about six years ago. There was CCTV footage of the rival gangs shown
on the news. The gangs were on BMX bikes with guns and they were
running riot in the hospital!
“I think the view of gangs and youth crime in Father & Son is realistic.
It portrays how much misery gun crime can cause and the ripple affect
of it all the way down to the youngest characters. Sometimes dramas
can be accused of glorifying gun crime but Father & Son doesn’t
glorify it at all, the drama delves much further than this. The series is
more complex, has a good mix of adult characters and as it continues
there are some prominent story twists.”
Reece was instantly keen to star in Father & Son for a second chance to
work with Emmy award winning writer Frank Deasy. He then fulfilled
his career dream by acting alongside Sophie Okonedo and Dougray
Scott.
“Frank is an amazing writer; I knew I wanted to be involved with the
drama as soon as I heard it was a Frank Deasy script. Father & Son was
the second project I worked with Frank on. I’d also worked with him on
a two part drama for the BBC called Real Men which he wrote and
produced.
“When I found out who was starring in Father & Son I was ecstatic. I’ve
always been a massive fan of Sophie’s after seeing her in Hotel
Rwanda. I thought I’d be intimidated but they were both so grounded
they made it easy. I never once felt uncomfortable around them and
we could always have a laugh on set together.”
Before filming Father & Son, Reece previously starred as Earl Kelly in
the BBC’s Waterloo Road.
“When Father & Son began its production I had literally just finished
Waterloo Road and was desperate to play a completely different
character. In comparison to Earl Kelly, Sean is much more vulnerable
and almost childlike in a sense. He’s easily taken advantage of but
Father & Son
15
starts to get a bit stronger the more time he spends in prison. He has
got a lot to deal with from his past and he still hasn’t laid this to rest.
“Sean’s mum Lynn was killed seven years previously. When she was
found by Sean, his father Michael fled the country so whether Sean
liked it or not he had to go and stay with his auntie Connie.
“His relationship with Michael is rocky. When Sean needed his dad the
most he disappeared and left him on his own. Sean feels a lot of
hatred towards him. He wants to make his dad suffer like he did for all
those years but at the same time what he really wants is for his dad to
hug him and say everything is going to be alright and that he is sorry.
Essentially it’s a story about family. The audience are taken on a
compelling journey with Sean and his father; it’s about the two of them
connecting.”
Reece had to film many of his scenes from within a disused prison.
“We filmed in a real disused prison and that made the experience quite
scary at first. I walked in and thought, ‘I bet there are so many stories
from within these walls.’ I was probably more intimidated because it
was one of those old-style prisons. Filming there helped me as an
actor because it made it easier to understand what it would be like for
real, especially when we filmed the scene when Sean first arrives there.
We had quite a lot of supporting artists in as prisoners and they were
positioned on the top and first floor looking down and heckling me!”
Reece has ambitions to continue with acting on screen and stage. He’s
also an aspiring screen writer.
“I love to do thought provoking TV drama. I like to do subjects that
make people sit up and think. If I can continue to do a variety of roles
that are challenging I’ll be very happy.
“I’ve just finished writing a feature length script about self-inflicted
racism within the black community. I saw a lot of it when I was
Father & Son
16
younger, light skin to dark skin and conflict between African and
Jamaican. I’m hoping to try and get it made but I’ve got a long, long
way to go until I can call myself Frank Deasy!”
Reece Noi’s previous credits include, Paradox, Emmerdale, Dalziel and
Pascoe, Grange Hill, Clocking Off and Shameless.
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17
SOPHIE OKONEDO IS CONNIE
Oscar and BAFTA nominated actress Sophie Okonedo jumped at the
chance to work with the late Emmy Award-winning Irish writer Frank
Deasy on Father & Son.
“I have always been interested in Frank as a writer because he has
always done really remarkable projects. Prime Suspect: The Final Act
was tremendous. As soon as I heard that Father & Son was a Frank
Deasy script I wanted to read it.
“The subject matter is very thought provoking and relevant. It is a dark
piece. When I signed up to play Connie I’d only read the first script so I
had to trust Frank and the director, Brian Kirk, in their interpretation of
Connie.
“I was very sad to hear that Frank had died. He was a really genuine
person, very kind and thoughtful. I found him really approachable. He
Father & Son
18
is going to be missed as a writer and producer because he was a great
talent.”
Sophie’s career to date has seen her take on numerous challenging
roles. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in
Hotel Rwanda (2004) and for a Golden Globe for her role as Susie in
Tsunami: The Aftermath in 2007. In early 2010 she featured as Winnie
Mandela in the critically acclaimed Mrs Mandela which has recently
secured her a BAFTA nomination. Sophie admits that playing Connie in
Father & Son was just as challenging.
“Connie was a demanding role to play. She is strong with high moral
standards. Connie has taken on her nephew Sean following his
mother’s death. She feels very protective towards Sean and very
responsible for his welfare. She’s wanted to protect and guide him,
especially as they live on a rough estate, so he wouldn’t get involved in
all of that. She has done a good job bringing him up and keeping him
and her daughter Imani out of harms way until this point.
“Sean’s father, Michael has a reputation as a hardened criminal in
Manchester. He represents everything she is opposed to. Connie
blames Michael for everything that has happened since Sean’s mother
was killed.
“She is appalled that he hasn’t been around for Sean and she’s had to
call him to tell him that something has happened to him. She can’t
stand the sight of Michael but as a police officer, it’s a conflict of
interest for her to work on Sean’s case. She needs Michael because he
understands the whole arena. As much as she doesn’t want him there
she needs his help to clear Sean. It’s very difficult and frustrating for
her. She is caught in an impossible situation.
“I relate absolutely to all the characters I play because I always start
from myself. I relate to Connie in that I’ve always had maternal
Father & Son
19
instincts. I have a 13 year old daughter so can’t remember what it was
like not to be a mum!
“Also, I grew up on an estate so I know what it’s like to live on one.
However, my experiences were very different to what we see in Father
& Son because I lived in council flats rather than in a house and I don’t
remember there being gangs.
“My imagination is very strong so I can imagine myself in most
circumstances. I did research for this role as I felt Connie was quite a
difficult person to play. Consequently, I wasn’t sure how I was going to
approach it. I went to meet two wonderful women. One of them was a
community spokesperson living in Manchester. She was really great
and gave me a good insight because she worked closely with the
police as a liaison between them and the community. The other lady
had a son who was in a gang. Both of them told me about the area and
what it was like living on an estate.
“I also went to Moss Side a couple of times to look around and I visited
the local police force. The officers talked a lot about gun crime and
about the gangs. They told me it was very difficult not to be in a gang
when you live in a particular area; a person’s postcode makes the
decision about how their life is going to be up to a certain age. If you
are unfortunate enough to be born into these certain postcodes it
would be very difficult to avoid.”
Having lived in London for most of her life, and with the scenes on the
estate actually filmed in Dublin, Sophie had to look to her fellow cast
members for advice on what it would be like living in Manchester.
“The estate in Father & Son is set in Manchester but in reality we shot
the scenes on location in Dublin. Sometimes that made it hard as I had
to keep taking myself to a different place and imagine we were in
Manchester. Reece Noi and the other young actors come from
Manchester so gave it a sense of realness. They were also really helpful
and very supportive. I’m not from Manchester so they gave me much
more of an insight into what it was like growing up there as well as
ideas of what would happen in certain situations.”
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20
Sophie has a personal connection to Dublin so was pleased to film on
location in the Irish city.
“I was delighted to be filming in Dublin. I love Dublin and I know it
really well because I have spent much time there. My daughter’s father
is from Ireland and I have a lot of friends there. I love the countryside.
I’m big into climbing and hill walking and there are a lot of places to
do that in Ireland! One day I’d like to live in the countryside, either in
Britain or Ireland but at the moment I am waiting for my daughter to
finish her schooling.”
Sophie’s other credits include Doctor Who, Criminal Justice, Skin, The
Secret Life of Bees, Oliver Twist and Stormbreaker.
Father & Son
21
EPISODE SYNOPSES
The following synopses are published in the production notes for
forward planning purposes only. Please do not reproduce entirely and
do not publish the end of the story. Many thanks.
EPISODE ONE
Seven years ago Michael O’Connor (Dougray Scott) was a lynchpin of
Manchester’s organised crime.
Upon his release from an Irish jail,
Michael decided not to go home but instead start a new life, with his
girlfriend Anna (Flora Montgomery). Anna is now heavily pregnant and
they are looking forward to the birth of their first child.
Father & Son
22
Meanwhile 15 year old Sean O’Connor (Reece Noi), Michael’s son by
late wife Lynn, is living in Manchester with his Aunt Connie (Sophie
Okonedo).
As Connie leaves for work, Sean’s friend Maurice (Ciaran Clancy)
arrives with Stacey (Wumni Mosaku), Sean’s sassy and beautiful
girlfriend. To Sean’s shock Maurice has a gun. Maurice and Stacey try
to get Sean to look after the gun but he refuses, despite Stacey’s pleas.
Two youths appear, speeding towards Maurice on their bikes. One has
a blue plastic bag concealing a gun. He raises it and in a split second,
Maurice is gunned down. The gunman trains his sights on Sean - but
too many people are watching now - he runs - but with a warning this isn't over.
At the hospital, Maurice's gun falls to the floor. Sean grabs it, he and
Stacey go to take it out of the hospital only to be confronted by the
same gang as before. Stacey grabs the gun. A shot rings out; Stacey
has shot Elijah King (Lucien Laviscount). Coming to her senses, Stacey
pleads with Sean that she can’t go to jail and he decides to take the
rap for her. The police arrive and Sean is arrested.
The shot gang
member is alive but critical.
Sean's Aunt Connie arrives at the scene - in uniform - she is a serving
police officer on the Manchester gun unit. Tony Conroy (Ian Hart), the
DI in charge of the operation, tells a shocked Connie that Sean appears
to have shot a gang member and that a prior shooting took place
outside their house. A distressed Connie has to watch as Sean is driven
off to the police station. She phones Michael and tells him what has
happened. Michael leaves immediately for Manchester, leaving behind
an apprehensive Anna.
Michael arrives in Manchester and is determined to save his son. In the
cab on the way to the city, he gazes out, memories of his old life
flooding back.
DI Conroy gives a colleague, Blanchflower (Darren Morfitt), the
background on Michael O’Connor and his criminal partnership with
Barrington Smith. They set up the original Motorway Crew who were
into drugs, guns and armed robbery. O’Connor had all the trappings, a
Father & Son
23
flash car, big house in Cheshire, “the lot”. Then he got arrested in
Ireland picking up guns to be run into Manchester.
Three days after his arrest his wife, Lynn, Connie’s sister was shot by a
rival gang. Forty eight hours later two members of the rival gang were
found executed, tortured and wrapped up in chicken wire. Although
the police couldn’t prove it they knew Michael had ordered the hit
from his prison in Ireland in retaliation for wife’s death.
Blanchflower questions Stacey who is cool as a cucumber and says that
Sean shot the gang member in self defence and saved their lives.
Elijah’s life support machine is switched off, his grieving mother by his
bedside. Watching, stunned at the door is Elijah’s 10 year old brother,
Bennie (Omaar March).
Sean signs a statement admitting he shot King. Shortly after, Conroy
informs Sean that Elijah has died so he’s now up on a murder charge.
When Conroy tells Sean that his father is here Sean angrily refuses to
see him.
Conroy sees a worried Michael and informs him that Sean is going to
jail even though he’s a 15 year old. Guns are involved and there’ll be
no leniency. After all, Michael and his gangs changed the rules.
Sean arrives in jail and is terrified. Barrington Smith (Terence Maynard)
appears, tells Sean he is an old friend of his father’s and takes Sean
under his protective wing, sharing his prison cell.
Barrington takes Sean to task for using a gun in the hospital as it’s his
hospital where he goes 3 days a week for dialysis for his severely
damaged kidneys. However, he congratulates him on killing Elijah King
and is chuffed to find out that Michael has returned to the city to save
his son.
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Michael meets his father, John (John Kavanagh), outside the jail. John
and Sean have grown close in Michael’s absence. John berates his son
for being the cause of Sean’s predicament. Once inside the jail, Sean
refuses again to see his father. Barrington appears and tells Michael
he’s looking after his son but whispers to Michael that he should meet
him at the Infirmary at 4pm.
Connie, still suspicious of Stacey, has a word with her at Maurice’s
funeral. Is there anything she can tell her? Stacey accuses Connie of
trying to pin the shooting on her.
As arranged, Michael meets Barrington at the infirmary. Barrington
wants to cut a deal with Michael. His kidneys are deteriorating fast
due to a gunshot wound and he’ll be dead if he doesn’t have a
transplant in six months. There’s a waiting list, but as a prisoner he’s
not on it.
But if he could escape and get to China…If Michael can
break Barrington out of the hospital, he’ll protect Sean in return.
Barrington has £5 million to take with him but only ‘The Builder’ aka
Augustine Conlon (Stephen Rea) can shift that sort of money.
And
whilst The Builder won’t listen to Barrington he will listen to Michael.
Barrington puts it plainly – if he gets too sick to get out, then Sean will
be found dead in his cell.
Michael accuses Barrington of setting the whole thing up and believes
Sean is in jail in order to elicit Michael’s help. Barrington confirms that
he set up the gun but not the shooting. Either way Sean is now under
his control. There’s nothing Michael can do, he’s got to go along with
Barrington for Sean’s sake...
Michael contacts Augustine Conlon in Dublin. Michael receives a call
on his mobile from Sean ringing from prison. It’s the first time father
and son have spoken in six years. Michael vows to get Sean out of
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this....
EPISODE TWO
Police raid the King family’s flat hoping to find the gun Jacob King
(Dwayne Scantlebury) killed Maurice with and stop any revenge
killings. But 10 year old Benny (Omaar March) smuggles the gun out
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26
in his schoolbag.
Michael goes to see Sean and tries to convince him to withdraw his
statement. Full of resentment towards Michael Sean sees this as
betraying Stacey so won’t agree to it.
Benny is in class, staring at Imani (Imani McLaren), Connie’s daughter,
across the room as he fiddles with Jacob’s gun under his desk. When
the teacher challenges Benny to show what he is hiding, Benny points
the gun at the teacher, then at Imani. Imani knows why she’s been
targeted.
She knows what’s gone on, even though she’s so young.
All hold their breath as it looks like he’s going to fire. At the last
minute, the teacher manages to retrieve the gun from a dazed Benny.
Michael meets with Augustine and asks him to clean up Barrington’s
£5m and arrange a plane to get Barrington to France.
Augustine
guesses that Michael’s involvement is down to protecting Sean, so
agrees to help.
A distressed Connie (Sophie Okonedo) is taking Imani home. Conroy
(Ian Hart) tells Connie she’ll have to move house but she refuses,
instead she wants to come back to work. Conroy relents, but she can’t
touch this case or any related to it.
Michael (Dougray Scott) informs Barrington (Terrance Maynard) of
Augustine’s (Stephen Rea) terms. They go over the escape plans and
Barrington reminds Michael, that if he dies, Sean comes with him.
Michael arrives back in the hotel room to find a bag of money. This is
the money which needs to be ‘cleaned up’ for Barrington. Michael
stares at it – can he do this? Can he go back to his old world? No
question, he needs to protect Sean.
Anna is visited by two detectives from the Gardai, Norman McGinty
(Michael, McElhatton) and Declan Henderson (David Wilmot). They
question her about Michael. Not satisfied with what she has told them
they promise to return.
Police investigations have revealed that the gun used by Sean had not
been used before, which means it’s an organised crime gun. Where did
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27
it come from?
Augustine arranges the transfer of the money. He gives Michael the
address of a mini market. Michael will give them the money and he’ll
receive a piece of paper with a code on it, in Urdu. That will get the
money out of Britain. Michael will then go to Dublin, to an internet café
there, show them the code and they'll give him the cash. The cash then
goes into an account Augustine has set up, the codes of which
Barrington re-sets and voila, £5m is laundered and ready for
Barrington’s use.
Connie visits Sean as she wants Sean to tell her the truth. Did Stacey
shoot Elijah King? Sean explains that his only protection, if he gets
out, is the Motorway Crew. But if he crosses Stacey then he won’t even
have that. Connie is devastated, she can’t argue and weeps in
frustration.
Anna (Flora Montgomery) arrives in Manchester. As she and Michael
are getting out of the car, Jacob King appears from nowhere and
shoots, just missing Anna.
Anna questions Michael’s love for her. Michael explains that this time,
he can’t turn his back on Sean. He’s changed, but the past is real and
Sean is paying the price now for what Michael was. Anna decides to
help, she'll pick up the money as she wants to move things along
quickly and get Michael out of Manchester before he’s killed.
Stacey, looking her seductive best, goes to see Sean, telling him she
went to Lynn’s grave and told her how Sean was bravely trying to
protect her when he shot Elijah King. She ensures his loyalty to her.
A nervous Anna collects the money at the internet café in Dublin and
delivers it to Augustine. Michael lets Barrington know the money’s
been delivered and in return Barrington tells Michael he knows where
Jacob King is. Does he want the address? Michael loads his gun and
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28
drives off.
Stacey visits Barrington in hospital. He tells her they’re on their way to
St. Lucia. As they kiss seductively we realise they are lovers who have
been working together to set up Sean and Michael. Stacey’s a little
uneasy as she thinks Connie has sussed out she is the shooter. But
Barrington’s not bothered, to all and sundry Sean’s the killer.
Michael kidnaps Jacob King and drives to a run down area. Michael
goes to shoot him, pushing his gun in King’s face but instead he tells
King to get out of town, no phone calls, no contact. If he comes back
he’s dead.
Michael's in shock, he’s come very close to going back to his old ways.
Can he trust himself? Has he really changed?
EPISODE THREE
Michael (Dougray Scott) makes an offer to Connie's boss DI Conroy (Ian
Hart). He will give the police inside information on drugs and gun
running in exchange for a reduced sentence for Sean (Reece Noi). But
Conroy tells him there’s a catch – the information will only be accepted
if it comes from Sean.
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Connie (Sophie Okonedo) and Michael are
29
nervous; it’s a risk for a 15 year old boy to give sensitive information
on organised crime. But Conroy assures them he will look after Sean
with a witness protection scheme.
When John O’Connor (John Kavanagh), Michael’s father, suffers a heart
attack, Michael has to go to his home to retrieve his medication for the
doctors. But whilst there, Michael discovers that his father gave the
police information on him years earlier, information which may have
led to Lynn's murder. Michael accuses Connie of being in on it. She
denies this, but how can they now trust DI Conroy?
Meanwhile, Michael’s girlfriend Anna has returned to their home in
Ireland where she is visited by two detectives. They know all her
movements and their manner is menacing.
Michael continues with Barrington's escape plan. Conroy reveals to
Connie further facts about Lynn’s death, but is this the truth? And
Sean’s worst fears are confirmed when he uncovers photos of Stacey
on Barrington’s mobile phone.
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EPISODE FOUR
Michael (Dougray Scott) and Sean (Reece Noi) agree to the police deal.
They will provide insider information on guns and drugs in exchange
for a reduced sentence for Sean. Conroy (Ian Hart) arranges a secret,
early morning meeting between Michael and Sean in prison, so Sean
will be able to get the information from his father and then give it to
the police.
But Barrington (Terrance Maynard) is suspicious.
He
phones Michael, unaware he’s in the prison. Today is the day for his
escape and he doesn’t want anything to go wrong. Michael reassures
him.
During their meeting Sean reveals to Michael what really happened to
Lynn.
Michael is shocked and it’s a deeply emotional, a cathartic
moment between father and son. And Michael can’t deny it, Lynn’s
death was a consequence of Michael’s past life.
In Ireland, the two
detectives arrive back to see Anna (Flora Montgomery), barging into
the house and tying her up. One of them takes photos of Anna on his
mobile.
In Manchester Augustine Conlon (Stephen Rea) shows Michael the
photo of Anna tied up and tells him the two rogue Gardai’s, in his pay,
are holding her prisoner. If Michael kills Barrington he’s home free, if
he doesn't, Anna dies.
Michael sets about carrying out Barrington’s plan. As he’s wheeling
Barrington down the corridor to freedom, Michael sees Connie and
Sean, who are just saying goodbye to his grandfather, John. Sean
ducks out of sight. Connie lets Michael go.
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In an abandoned factory Barrington is set free. Michael tells him he's
going nowhere. This is it. This is the world they made. He kills
Barrington to save Anna, to save his unborn child and to set Sean free
from the past. There's no going back for Michael now but he's finally
at peace with himself.
The above synopses are published in the production notes for forward
planning purposes only. Please do not reproduce entirely and do not
publish the end of the story. Many thanks.
CAST
Michael O’Connor ............................................Dougray Scott
Sean O’Connor ...................................................... Reece Noi
Connie......................................................... Sophie Okonedo
Augustine Conlon .............................................. Stephen Rea
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Tony Conroy ............................................................. Ian Hart
Barrington Smith......................................... Terence Maynard
Stacey............................................................ Wunmi Mosaku
Anna ........................................................ Flora Montgomery
Imani .............................................................. Imani McLaren
John O’Connor ............................................... John Kavanagh
Blanchflower ................................................... Darren Morfitt
Maurice ........................................................... Ciaran Clancy
Elijah King ................................................ Lucien Laviscount
Benny King .......................................................Omaar March
Jacob King ............................................ Dwayne Scantlebury
Norman McGinty ......................................Michael McElhatton
Declan Henderson ............................................ David Wilmot
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PRODUCTION BIOGRAPHIES
ANDY HARRIES
Executive Producer and Chief Executive Left Bank Pictures
Andy’s career began as an award winning documentary maker for
Arena, Omnibus, The South Bank Show and the Emmy nominated
Africa for Channel 4 before moving into the world of comedy and
producing and directing Lenny Henry’s feature film; Lenny: Live and
Unleashed.
As Head of Comedy and Entertainment at Granada Television, Andy
brought The Mrs Merton Show and The Royle Family to the small
screen before becoming Controller of Drama, Comedy and Film for
Granada Productions where he was responsible for, amongst others,
the award-wining series Cold Feet, The Forsyte Saga, Dr Zhivago, The
Street and The Deal.
Among many BAFTA and RTS awards throughout his career Andy was
also responsible for the Emmy-winning television dramas Longford
and Prime Suspect: The Final Act and the Academy Award Winning
feature film, The Queen.
In 2007 Andy was given the lifetime achievement award by BAFTA.
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FRANK DEASY
Writer and Executive Producer
Frank Deasy had a distinguished career as a television writer, winning
an Emmy in 2007 for the final installment of Prime Suspect: The Final
Act in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries. The drama
was a global success and won other award nominations including two
Golden Globes.
Deasy brought fresh debate into the Gospel story with his BBC/HBO
mini-series The Passion in 2008, retelling the last week in the life of
Jesus Chris played by British film and television actor Joseph Mawle.
In previous years he scripted the TV film The Grass Arena and
Captives, a film starring Tim Roth, as a violent prisoner, and Julia
Ormond, as the prison dentist with whom he begins an illicit
relationship.
He went to Glasgow for the BBC drama Looking after Jo Jo which
starred Robert Carlyle as a drug dealer. During his research for the
drama he met lawyer Marie Connolly, who became his wife, and he
moved to Scotland.
Deasy scripted The Rats (2002); Real Men (2003); England Expects
(2004), a BBC drama about racism, starring Steven Mackintosh.
Before his death in September 2009 Deasy had been developing Gaza,
a film in which Dame Helen Mirren is to play a Jewish woman living in
the Gaza Strip.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
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MICHAEL CASEY
Producer
In 2007 Michael Casey produced the BAFTA award winning TV drama,
My Boy Jack, for ITV1 starring David Haig, Kim Cattrall, Daniel Radcliffe
and Carey Mulligan.
Michael’s previous feature films include Freeze Frame (a thriller
starring Lee Evans) and Middletown (a drama starring Matthew
MacFadyen). Together these films received twelve nominations at the
Irish Film and Television Awards, going on to secure four awards en
route to international distribution and film festival recognition.
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Michael’s co-producing film credits include The Mighty Celt (starring
Robert Carlyle and Gillian Anderson), Waz (Stellan Skarsgard, Melissa
George) and Kings (Colm Meaney), which is Ireland’s foreign language
entry in the 2008 Academy Awards.
Most recently Michael has produced feature film Cherrybomb starring
Rupert Grint, and directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn.
Michael is currently in production on Zen, 3 x 90 minute films for
BBC1.
BRIAN KIRK
Director
Brian Kirk has directed critically acclaimed television drama in both the
UK and the USA.
In the UK Brian most recently directed Luther for BBC Drama
Productions starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson. In the US he has just
finished Boardwalk Empire for HBO, starring Steve Buscemi, written by
Terence Winter (The Soprano’s) and produced by Martin Scorcese.
Other UK credits include the ITV1 BAFTA award-winning drama, My
Boy Jack starring David Haig, Kim Cattrall, Daniel Radcliffe and Carey
Mulligan.
His UK television career started with a BAFTA nomination for Best New
Television Director. He also directed Funland, which was nominated for
a BAFTA for Best Television Drama, and Murphy's Law, which received
a Best Television Drama nomination in the Irish Film and Television
Awards.
His other US credits are Dexter, The Tudors, Brotherhood (all
Showtime), and The Riches (FX).
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Brian’s 2007 feature film Middletown, starred Matthew MacFadyen and
received nine nominations in the Irish Film and Television Awards,
including Best Film and Best Director.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Executive Producers .......................................... Andy Harries
.......................................................................... James Flynn
................................................................ Morgan O’Sullivan
Writer & Executive Producer .............................. Frank Deasy
Producer .........................................................Michael Casey
Director ................................................................. Brian Kirk
Line Producer .................................................... Kate Murrell
Head of Production .......................................... Marigo Kehoe
Director of Photography .................................. Ruairi O’Brien
Casting Director ..................................... Kate Rhodes James
Editor ................................................................. Tim Murrell
Sound Mixer ....................................................... Simon Willis
First AD ........................................................... Raymond Kirk
Location Manager ............................................. Eoin Holohan
Production Designer .................................. Dave Arrowsmith
Art Director ..................................................... Irene O’Brien
Costume Designer ......................................... Kathy Strachan
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Chief Make Up Artist ....................................... Denise Watson
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