Production Notes

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

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 / [email protected] Kate Richards – 020 7157 3039 / [email protected] Picture contact: Patrick Smith - 0207 157 3044 / [email protected]

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.

Father & Son 3 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.

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 Motor- Way 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

Father & Son 4 powerful man like Conlon has his own agenda where Michael’s concerned.

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

Father & Son 5 The series will also be available on 2 entertain DVD from Monday 14th June.

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.

Father & Son 6 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 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.

Father & Son 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 at large, for the energy, for the influence, for the examples you set, for

Father & Son 10 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.

Father & Son 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.”

Father & Son 12 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 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.”

Father & Son 14 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 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

Father & Son 15 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 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.

Father & Son 16 Father & Son 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 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

Father & Son 18 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 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.

Father & Son 19 “ 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.”

Father & Son 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.

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

Father & Son 22 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 flash car, big house in Cheshire, “the lot”. Then he got arrested in Ireland picking up guns to be run into Manchester.

Father & Son 23 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.

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.

Father & Son 24 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 this....

Father & Son 25 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 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

Father & Son 26 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 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

Father & Son 27 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 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

Father & Son 28 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. Connie (Sophie Okonedo) and Michael are 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.

Father & Son 29 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.

Father & Son 30 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.

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

Father & Son 31 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.

Michael O’Connor...... Dougray Scott

Sean O’Connor...... Reece Noi

Connie...... Sophie Okonedo

Augustine Conlon...... Stephen Rea

Tony Conroy...... Ian Hart

Barrington Smith...... Terence Maynard

Father & Son 32 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

Father & Son 33 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.

Father & Son 34 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.

Father & Son 35 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.

Father & Son 36 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).

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.

Father & Son 37 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

Chief Make Up Artist...... Denise Watson

Father & Son 38 Father & Son 39