Five twenty-two. That's the train I get home tonight.
Same carriage. Name's Ron.
Ronald Arthur Biggs
has a list of petty crimes to his name as long as your arm, in and out of prison.
But I love him!
He's a degenerate! What will become of you?!
You'll never know how much it means to me, to have you visit me.
No-one's ever done that for me before. I love you, Charm.
That's all you ever needed, Ron. A family.
It's from the landlords. They want to sell the house.
We need to find a deposit of £400.
I need to borrow some money. All my money's tied up in a job I'm planning.
What I can give you is a place on that job. It's a big one, Ron.
I did the express trains. All over the country. Loved it.
You know that job I was telling you about? We need a train driver. Badly.
You'll be away for your birthday. I have no way of reaching you.
And you don't know anything about tree felling.
It's on. We go tonight.
It's taken on a load of extra mailbags at Carlisle.
Ronald Biggs is his name.
His brother Jack has died. I'm trying to reach him to let him know.
(BABY GURGLES) Ssh, ssh.
Yeah.
No, no, wait, wait, wait.
(GROANS)
No, no!
Get him!
Get the old man up here, now!
Go, go, go, go!
He's all right, Pop. Now, get us moving.
About a mile down the track, there's a white marker.
Stop at that. Righto.
Get in here. Watch him. Let's go.
What are we waiting for? What's the matter?
I can't take the brake off till I've got 21 inches of pressure.
Oh, fuck the pressure! Get the driver back!
Come here.
Get this fucking thing moving and stop when I say.
Slow down. Slow. Slow.
OK, stop now.
Well done, chaps.
The old boy, get rid.
Take him back to the Landrover.
Wait there with him.
Up, up.
I could have driven it if they'd just waited a few more seconds.
I had to get the pressure up.
I've driven trains for 40...
..for 40 years.
Go on, boys.
That's right.
That's it. Let's go.
(MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY)
Lads, wake up.
Ron, Bruce wants a word.
That's what a million pounds looks like. We're not even half way through yet.
The shares are going to be much bigger than we thought.
Look, Bruce, I'm sorry about Peter.
Forget about it.
Here, I've just remembered.
What? Happy birthday.
(ALL LAUGH)
(ALL CONTINUE LAUGHING)
RADIO: Buckinghamshire CID detectives...
Nicky, tea time.
RADIO:..just after 3am. The driver, Jack Mills...
Come on, Nicky, tea time.
..at a red signal in Buckinghamshire.
A gang of 12 men then boarded the train by force.
After uncoupling the high-value package carriage from the rest of the train,
it moved a mile further down the line to Bridego Bridge,
where the assault on the carriage took place.
It is estimated the amount stolen could be in excess of two millions pounds.
Hello, love.
I've finished a bit early.
Upstairs, Bruce.
Charmian.
(DESCENDING FOOTSTEPS)
I'll leave you to it, then.
Night, Charm. Night, Bruce.
Goodbye, Ronnie.
Goodbye, mate.
Be lucky.
Before you say anything...
..come upstairs.
It stinks.
£147,000, Charm.
At last I can afford to be an honest man.
How could you, Ron?
How could you risk everything?
Our whole lives.
They'll come after you.
Oh, no. I've got a record, but it's all low-level. Nothing like this.
They'll never link me with it.
Red stamp, no good. It's only a tiny mark.
They'll know about stuff like that and they'll be looking for it. Guaranteed.
We have to burn any marked notes.
They know you know Bruce. You were in prison together.
They'll come after him. They won't find any clues.
We used gloves and boiler suits on the job
and the farm used for the hideout is being stripped out and burnt to the ground.
We all chipped in five grand to pay for it.
Old Peter moaned like hell.
Peter?
They needed someone to move the train. You got that nice old man involved?
The joke was, the silly old sod couldn't do it.
We had to get the driver to move it. 40 grand for not driving the train!
No, listen to me.
Look at me!
If the police do come here, we say we went out to Brighton with the boys.
Do you remember that day?
Everything that happened we just shift to the day of the robbery.
That way we're not making stuff up.
Our stories will be word perfect.
I've done it before.
You'll have to think of another alibi. That one won't work.
Why not?
Because your brother Jack has died.
He had a heart attack.
Jack...
I'm sorry.
But I rang Wiltshire Police in the week to try and find you, so they know you weren't with me.
I don't want it in the house. You can't keep it here.
Well, we can keep 500.
Cos we can prove I won that on the horses.
The rest I thought we could...
..divide and put with people we can trust.
Who? Bertie from the pub.
And Cliff, that electrician I did the house over Reigate with.
And then I thought old George and his wife would help us out.
Not Bertie, he's too much of a gasbag.
What about Eddie with the two little girls? The roofer?
I think we can trust him.
How much will you pay them?
Well, I was thinking...
..two grand each.
Make it five. They'll be scared but five is too much to just walk away from.
Means they're in it too, up to their necks.
Bloody hell, I'm glad you're on my side. I'm not sure I am any more.
I hate what you've done.
And right now I hate you.
But I refuse to let this family go under.
# From a jack to a king
# From loneliness to a wedding ring
# I played an ace and I won a queen
# And walked away with your heart
# From a jack to a king
# With no regret I stacked the cards last night
# And lady luck played her hand just right
# To make me king of your heart
# For just a little while
# I thought that I might lose the game
# Then just in time I saw the twinkle in your eye
# From a jack to a king
# From loneliness to a wedding ring
# I played an ace and I won a queen
# You made me king of...#
We'll take the matching shoes as well.
They're wonderful, aren't they? No, Ron.
Size six.
Any problem?
I'm sorry. We've been asked to look for notes from the train robbery.
Am I going to be clapped in irons?
Not today.
Ooh, let's use the new knives.
I forgot about them.
(MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY)
Tuck in, while it's hot.
(SNIFFS)
Cor, go through it like butter.
What's the matter?
You don't have to have it rare. I can cook it some more for you.
You talk too much.
They'll never give up.
You saw her in the shop checking serial numbers. The whole country's after you.
She was just looking for the new notes.
We know not to use any of them for a couple of months, till it's all died down.
What if they already know it's you, Ron?
What if they're already watching you? And what about me? I've spent some of it too.
I'm involved now. What'll happen to the boys?
Charm.
The future's full of possibilities.
That past will only drag us down.
Hey?
Come here.
Ssh.
I'm not ready to be caught yet.
Ssh.
Hello, Dad.
Bernard, come and see Charmian and the boys. Please.
I came to repay you, Dad.
For the money I took from my old employers.
Take it, please.
Ron won it on the horses.
Our first thought was to pay you back.
I will not accept money from a jailbird.
Can't we put this behind us?
I'm a mother now. You're a grandfather.
Take the money, Dad.
Would you please tell her I have no wish to see her...
..or her offspring.
(DOORBELL)
Nicky, no. I've told you.
Only Mummy and Daddy can open the door.
Agh!
Detective Inspector Williams, Detective Sergeant Slipper. Flying Squad.
We'd like to speak to your husband Ronald Biggs.
He's not in.
Where is he?
Away, working, in Dorking. What's this about?
Jack.
I'm afraid it's serious.
We're here about the train robbery.
He's a family man. He runs his own business.
Save your breath, love. (BABY CRIES)
What time's he due back? That's my son. Can I go to him, please?
I can probably get him on the telephone. Let's not be silly now.
Ssh.
I've told you, he's out working. You'll have to come back later.
He should be home around half six.
We're not going anywhere and neither are you.
We'll all have to sit tight till Ronnie comes home.
(BABY CRIES)
What about my baby? He's got to have his vaccination today.
The doctor's been told there's no need for conversation beyond what's necessary.
It's just the injection and then we're away.
What about the toilet? Am I allowed to empty my bladder?
Be quick.
(BABY GURGLES)
My little 'un was just the same after his jab.
It'll pass soon enough. He'll be fine by tomorrow.
(PHONE RINGS)
Don't make things worse for yourself, love.
(CONTINUES TO RING)
(STOPS RINGING)
That's it. Sensible girl.
Is that both of them off now?
That's good. Need their sleep, growing boys.
(CAR PULLS UP OUTSIDE)
Not a sound.
Back door.
(MUFFLED CRY)
Charm?
Jesus! What's going on?
DI Williams. Flying Squad. Want to ask you some questions about a train robbery.
You've got to be joking. No joke, lad.
Get the cars round the front.
Come on, Ron. Let's get this over with.
I'm arresting you for robbery and conspiracy to rob.
You do not have to say anything but anything you do say...
(BABY CRIES) Ron!
It's all right, Charmian. Stay calm.
NICKY: Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
Can I at least say goodbye to my little boy?
No.
What happened to innocent till proven guilty, eh?
(BABY CRIES IN THE BACKGROUND)
Come on, darling. Good boy.
Mrs Biggs. ALL: Mrs Biggs.
Inside!
(SHOUTING)
Have they said why they arrested you? What evidence have they got?
Keep your pecker up, Charm, eh?
They can't have anything on me, love, because I wasn't there, was I?
I'm innocent.
Good boy.
Thank you so much.
Now, I'm guessing your Ron's wife.
Charmian. Am I right?
Who are you? Oh, not here.
Come on. We'll give you a lift home.
Thank you.
Everyone's heard of Ruby Wright. Just ask around. There'll be someone who knows me.
Alan's a sailor. He's home on leave.
Handsome bugger, ain't he? Mum.
I'm allowed to say it.
Anyway, I'm a friend of Bruce's. That's all you need to know.
I'm looking after his baby boy for him while he's away.
Where is he? If I knew that, I wouldn't tell you, dear.
He's asked me to look out for you. He wants to make sure his friends get some support.
He don't want them to feel on their own.
He wants to make sure we won't drop him in it more likely.
I like you.
She's only young but she's nobody's mug, is she, Alan?
You see, it all happened so quickly.
Bruce didn't have a chance to warn no-one.
The police found the farm and it weren't burnt down like it was supposed to be.
What? Word is that the bloke they paid to do it got scared.
Took the money and did a runner.
So they've got fingerprints? Everything?
Oh, God. If they go down for this, the papers are saying they could get 20 years.
I shouldn't worry about it. Not just yet. They've got a long way to go.
And Bruce is organising the best lawyers to represent them.
You just keep going to see Ron. Keep him happy.
Alan will give you a lift down there, when he can, won't you?
Any time, Charmian. Just give me a call.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Can I come in? It's about Ronnie. It's urgent.
What are you doing?
Where's the kitchen?
Here it is.
Where are the boys? In bed? Bed.
Aren't you going to put the kettle on? Who the hell are you?
What are you doing here? That's not very friendly.
I'm sorry, I'm very tired.
Of course you are.
You've got a lot on your plate, living here all by yourself.
You never know who's going to come knocking on the door, do you?
No. No, I don't.
All that money you come into...
Make sense to have a bit of protection, wouldn't it?
Yes.
That's what I was thinking. That's why I come round.
Yes, and I'd be willing to pay you.
Not that I have any money in the house right now.
No.
No, I didn't expect you to have it here right now. I expect it's hidden away, yeah?
So you've got nothing in the house?
Only what I've got in my purse.
How much is that, then?
It's... Here, you can have that.
Advance payment.
Yeah. (BABY CRIES)
Yeah, advance payment.
That's my baby. I need to go to him.
I'd better get going myself anyway.
Go up to the little baby.
I won't charge you too much.
Even though I know you can afford it now, eh?
(SOBS)
He came into our house. God knows what might have happened.
Leave it with me. You? What are you going to do in here?
I'll sort it. Charlie Wilson will know what to do.
I haven't slept for two nights.
We've got to move out of that house.
The press are camped on the doorstep.
Every time I go for a walk people look at me like I'm a zoo exhibit.
OK, I'll find you somewhere else to live. No, I'll find us somewhere else to live.
By myself. Just like I have to do everything else.
And your son has two new teeth.
There's no need for you to be nervous, dear. You leave it all to them. They'll sort it all out.
You've got to think about the other families. You don't want this happening to them, do you?
I hope it won't take too long.
Dad'll be wondering what's happened to me.
Right.
I just want them to warn him off, that's all.
I expect they'll do that all right.
(GASPS)
I didn't mean to frighten you the other night.
I was just showing you...
how easy it would be for someone to get in your house without protection.
Yes.
Did you bring some money with you?
It's in my bag.
Sorry.
No! No!
He was trying to apologise to me.
Get out of here!
Get him in the back.
MAN: The crime of which these men are accused...
is one which strikes at the roots of our society.
A crime against the peace of our sovereign lady the Queen.
Her Crown and her dignity.
Over the coming weeks, you'll hear from witnesses
who will tell you how, like a modern-day highwayman,
the defendant stood before you today
conspired to halt a Royal Mail train
and rob it of more than two and a half million pounds in bank notes.
When the driver of that train, Mr Jack Mills,
bravely attempted to resist,
the gang showed him no mercy,
bludgeoning him, repeatedly,
with an iron bar.
This violent and cowardly attack
inflicted serious injuries on Mr Mills,
injuries from which, even today, he's not fully recovered.
We hit him once.
So, as far as you were concerned, Mrs Biggs,
your husband left you on Tuesday August the 6th
to go on a tree-felling job in Wiltshire.
That's right.
And while he was away, you were informed that his brother had died.
So you contacted the police.
I asked them to try and find him. I had no way of reaching him myself.
A little odd, wasn't it, leaving you like that with two small children
and no way of contacting him?
Tell me, Mrs Biggs, when did you next see your husband after Tuesday the 6th?
It was on the Friday evening.
Friday?
The night.
In your police interviews, you said...
the tree-felling was expected to take seven to 10 days.
Yet you've just told us he was home after four.
I assumed they'd finished early.
And of course, Friday the 9th just happens to be the day after the train robbery.
I told Charmian about the tree-feeling job
as a ruse to get myself a few days away from the house.
She was unaware of what you were really doing that week?
That is correct.
And what were you doing, Mr Biggs?
My friend had got us a job clearing out this place called Leatherslade Farm and burning it down.
I guessed it was probably connected to some type of illegality
but when we got there we found it deserted.
An army truck was parked in an outbuilding
and inside were piles of tinned food and army uniforms.
So what did you do?
Well, we made ourselves something to eat
and, as we chatted, I concluded there must have been a raid on an army camp or depot.
I said, if that was the case,
I wanted out.
So you left?
As I'd won £500 on the horses that weekend, I decided I didn't need the aggravation.
Listen to me, Charm.
If this doesn't go well for me, I want you to know that you're free to live your life.
What do you mean? I mean, you're 24, you know. You've got your whole life in front of you.
I want you to do whatever you have to do to make yourself happy.
Do you understand me? You're the only man that can make me happy.
Just look after the boys for me.
Ronald Arthur Biggs...
..you are a specious and facile liar.
And you have, during the course of this trial, undoubtedly perjured yourself time and again.
The sentence of the court upon you in respect of the first count is 25 years imprisonment.
(GASPS)
And in respect of the second count, 30 years imprisonment.
You're off your rocker!
30? He's got to serve 30 years?
(BABY CRIES)
I'll wait out here for you.
Come on, boys. Let's see our new home.
Here it is.
(MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH)
This is the dining area.
(MUSIC DROWNS OUT SPEECH)
The living room.
Fireplace...
You've got to be kidding me.
MOTHER: Dear Charmian,
this has been a very difficult letter to write.
But what with all that has happened,
I think it would be best all round if you don't come to the house again.
I am sorry it's come to this.
But your father tried to warn you.
Lie back on the bed for me.
And open up your legs.
All that 'butter wouldn't melt' doesn't wash with me.
I think it's time you left.
(PANTING)
(SOBBING)
30 years for knocking over a mail train? Blimey.
(SHOUTING)
RON: We have something between us that can't be beaten or broken.
A new life, Char. We'll go somewhere no-one will find us.
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