Frances reveals Ryan’s unstable home life
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Frances attempts to redirect Tommy’s focus to Ryan’s well-being, mentioning Clare’s drinking problem and the general instability of Ryan's home environment and suggests keeping an eye on him. Tommy, frustrated by Frances' inaction, insists that's not enough.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Guilt-ridden and fixated on Tommy (inferred); his emotional state is a tool in the conversation, used to manipulate both Frances and Tommy.
Ryan is not physically present but is the emotional and narrative center of the conversation. Frances describes his fixation on Tommy, his guilt over the 'petrol incident,' and his belief that Tommy’s actions were driven by illness. Tommy reacts to this information with a mix of hope and frustration, his obsession with Ryan driving the exchange. Ryan’s vulnerability—highlighted by Clare’s alcoholism and the chaotic home environment—is used as leverage in the conversation, framing him as a pawn in the conflict between Tommy and Catherine.
- • To be protected from the chaos of his home life and the influence of Catherine.
- • To reconcile his feelings about Tommy, who he sees as both a source of comfort and danger.
- • Tommy’s actions were driven by illness, not malice.
- • Catherine’s influence is harmful and distorting.
Angry, hurt, hopeful, and increasingly frustrated; his emotions swing wildly as he grapples with Frances’ cautious approach and his own desperate need for control.
Tommy sits across from Frances, his emotions oscillating between hope, anger, and frustration. He clings to Frances’ account of Ryan’s feelings, initially daring to feel happy but quickly slipping into defensiveness. He denies his convictions (raping Ann Gallagher, killing the police girl) and justifies his past actions (e.g., the petrol incident, violence against Catherine), his paranoia about Catherine’s influence growing more pronounced. His body language shifts from leaning in eagerly to slumping back in frustration, his voice rising as he demands Frances take immediate action to counteract Catherine’s narrative.
- • To convince Frances that Ryan is in danger from Catherine’s influence and that immediate action is needed to protect him.
- • To shift blame for his crimes onto others (e.g., Lewis, his grandmother) and portray himself as a victim of circumstance.
- • Catherine is actively poisoning Ryan’s perception of him and staging murders to frame him.
- • Frances is his only ally, but she is not acting quickly enough to counter Catherine’s influence.
Not directly observable, but inferred as anxious or overwhelmed (given her alcoholism and the chaotic home environment).
Clare is mentioned by Frances as Ryan’s aunt, described as a 'nice woman' struggling with alcoholism. Her addiction is framed as contributing to the unstable home environment Ryan is exposed to, adding to his vulnerability. She is not physically present but serves as a symbolic representation of the chaos in Ryan’s life, which Tommy and Frances both acknowledge as a problem.
- • To provide stability for Ryan despite her own struggles.
- • To avoid further destabilizing Ryan’s emotional state.
- • Her addiction is a source of shame and guilt, but she is trying to do better for Ryan.
- • The home environment is harmful to Ryan, and changes need to be made.
Ann Gallagher is indirectly referenced by Tommy, who denies raping her and claims he was kind to her (e.g., 'I …
Lewis is indirectly referenced by Tommy as the actual rapist of Ann Gallagher and the killer of the 'little police …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The knife is indirectly referenced by Tommy as the weapon Lewis used to attack him, justifying his retaliatory killing of Lewis. He claims, 'I had to kill him because he come at me wi’ that knife!' The knife serves as a narrative device in Tommy’s self-defense, shifting blame for Lewis’ death onto Lewis himself. Its mention underscores Tommy’s paranoia and his tendency to frame his violence as justified retaliation, further obscuring his true nature.
The bucket is referenced by Tommy as part of his claim to have treated Ann Gallagher with 'kindness' during her captivity. He states, 'It were me that used to give her Mars bars and let her use the bucket,' using it as evidence of his supposed benevolence. The bucket symbolizes the dehumanizing conditions of her captivity, yet Tommy reframes it as an act of generosity. Its mention highlights the moral contradiction in his narrative—acknowledging her suffering while denying responsibility for it.
Frances’s chemical spray is accused by Tommy of being used against him, framing it as an attempt on his life. He claims, 'She’d have killed me on that boat an’ all if that other woman hadn’t pulled her off me,' tying the spray to his grandmother’s alleged murderous intent. The spray serves as a narrative device in Tommy’s paranoid worldview, reinforcing his belief that he is constantly under threat. Its mention underscores his tendency to see violence as justified retaliation, further obscuring his true motives.
Tommy’s grandmother’s harmful spray is referenced by Tommy as part of his justification for violently beating her. He claims, 'She’d have killed me! Spraying me wi’ that stuff!' The spray symbolizes his grandmother’s aggression and his own fear, which he uses to frame his violence as self-defense. Its mention reinforces Tommy’s narrative of being a victim, further blurring the lines between his aggression and his claims of innocence.
The Mars bars are referenced by Tommy as symbolic gifts he gave to Ann Gallagher during her captivity, which he uses to assert his kindness and innocence. He claims, 'It were me that used to give her Mars bars and let her use the bucket,' framing these small acts of 'generosity' as proof of his benevolence. The Mars bars serve as a narrative tool in his self-justification, contrasting with the violent acts he is accused of. Their mention underscores the moral ambiguity of his character—capable of both cruelty and twisted acts of 'care.'
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Gravesend Prison visiting area serves as the neutral yet constrained setting for Frances and Tommy’s tense conversation. The sterile, institutional environment—marked by hushed voices, watchful guards, and the weight of Tommy’s incarceration—amplifies the emotional stakes of their exchange. The location’s confined space and formal rules create a pressure cooker for their interaction, where every word carries high stakes. The visiting area symbolizes the boundaries of their relationship: Frances is an outsider granted temporary access, while Tommy is trapped within the system, his desperation and paranoia on full display.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Calderdale Police is indirectly referenced through Tommy’s paranoid accusations against Catherine Cawood, a sergeant in the force. Tommy claims Catherine is 'making it look like a serial killer' and 'poisoning' Ryan’s perception of him, framing her as a corrupt or manipulative figure within the organization. The police force’s role in this event is tied to Tommy’s distrust of institutional authority, particularly those who have wronged him in the past. Frances, as an outsider, navigates this tension carefully, avoiding direct confrontation with the organization’s representatives.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Tommy's frustration that events he felt terrified during lead him to attempt to re-write the narrative for Ryan and Catherine, this has Tommy wanting the truth about the past events'."
"Tommy's frustration that events he felt terrified during lead him to attempt to re-write the narrative for Ryan and Catherine, this has Tommy wanting the truth about the past events'."
"Tommy's frustration that events he felt terrified during lead him to attempt to re-write the narrative for Ryan and Catherine, this has Tommy wanting the truth about the past events'."
"Tommy's frustration that events he felt terrified during lead him to attempt to re-write the narrative for Ryan and Catherine, this has Tommy wanting the truth about the past events'."
Key Dialogue
"TOMMY: We don’t talk about me dad? FRANCES: Yeah, but listen, don’t get cross! He said that, but then nothing could be further from the truth! Once he started it was like he could talk about nothing else. TOMMY: ((suspicious, anxious)) What did he say? FRANCES: He said how much he liked you. When he met you. Outside the shop, and on the boat. And how he still thinks about you."
"FRANCES: He’s been talking about things at home. His Auntie Clare drinks. I’ve met her. She’s a nice woman. But between the grandmother’s anger, and his auntie’s problem... yes. We could ask for better things. TOMMY: Got to get him out of there. FRANCES: Well. We can’t get him out of there just yet. But we can keep an eye on him. Can’t we? TOMMY: ((he’s smiling. He’s calm. But we - and she - detect his increasing frustration with her)) No. Frances. I keep telling yer. And you keep not hearing. That’s not enough."
"TOMMY: I did kick the shite out of his granny, but a). she were asking for it, and b). she’d have killed me! ... And now there’s been another murder. On t’news. Have you seen it? Just same as me mother. She’s a clever bitch. Making it look like a serial killer. I know. I’ve told you before, I know how a bitch like that thinks. She’s poison her, she’s dangerous, I know we try not to have nasty thoughts, Frances, but - she needs putting out of her misery that one."