Peaky Blinders: A Reckoning in Small Heath
EXT. SMALL HEATH STREET - DAY
Smoke hangs in the air, as small groups of men in flat caps, waistcoats, and overcoats noisily pass newspapers among themselves. An imposing pub with PROCLAIMED LEGAL occupies one corner.
INT. PROCLAIMED LEGAL PUB - DAY
The SHELBY FAMILY: TOMMY SHELBY (early 30’s, serious, and calculating), ARTHUR SHELBY (mid-30’s, violent, and unpredictable), JOHN SHELBY (late 20’s, impulsive), and ADA SHELBY (early 20’s, smart, defiant) occupy a dimly lit booth.
TOMMY: (reading newspaper) By order of the Peaky Blinders, it's time to shake things up.
ARTHUR: Another business, Tommy? Hasn't this gotten us far enough?
TOMMY: It's not enough, brother. London might've given up on us, but the Italians and the Irish won't forget their grudges.
ADA: (raising a sarcastic eyebrow) What's your plan then? Betting, smuggling, or some new form of criminal genius?
TOMMY: (grinning) Ada, don't be so cynical. I was thinking about investments in Small Heath, in our own backyard, for a change.
JOHN: I'm with Tommy on this one. We protect our people; we keep the rivals at bay.
Suddenly, MICHAEL GRAY (early 20’s, a mix of innocence and ambition) barges in, visibly upset.
MICHAEL: Tommy, you need to hear this. I got a tip from a reliable source.
TOMMY: Not now, Michael. This is family business.
ADA: (defending Michael) He's family too. We don't shut out our own kind.
TOMMY: Spit it out, what’ve you got?
MICHAEL: Seems like 'reliable sources' tell us that some old enemies are gathering strength, planning for a surprise attack.
ARTHUR: Bloody hell! But who is it? The Italians or the Irish?
TOMMY: Maybe both. We need to prepare ourselves.
The door swings open with a bang, and ENTER AUNT POLLY, matriarch of the family, in a splendid but intimidating dress.
AUNT POLLY: While you lot were busy squabbling, half of Small Heath just went up in smoke.
The Shelbys exchange glances of shock and disbelief.
TOMMY: Who did this? Was it the Italians?
AUNT POLLY: (an ironic laugh) Oh, it runs deeper than that, Boys. Do you remember our biggest rival from our childhood?
JOHN: You don't mean...
AUNT POLLY: Yes. He's back and now he wants a piece of our territory.
TO BE CONTINUED
Peaky Blinders: A Debt Repaid
INT. GARRISON PUB - NIGHT
The usual smokey, dimly lit atmosphere. Tommy and Arthur sit at a corner table, talking and drinking whiskey. Finn sits at the bar, a bit drunk, chatty with the bartender.
ARTHUR
So, that's it then? You're taking this deal with the Russians?
TOMMY
I don't have much choice, Arthur. They've got something on me, but they've also got something I want.
ARTHUR
(sighs)
Bloody Russians. I don't trust them.
TOMMY
Neither do I. But we don't get to choose who we do business with now, do we?
As they talk, a new visitor enters the pub. A tall, intimidating character with a facial scar, OLEG VORONOV. He approaches the bar and Finn takes notice.
FINN
(to the bartender)
Who's that, then?
BARTENDER
(whispers)
That's Oleg Voronov, a dangerous man. Don't provoke him.
Voronov eyes Tommy and walks towards him.
OLEG
(heavily accented)
Thomas Shelby, I presume?
Tommy slightly nods, with no fear in his eyes.
ARTHUR
Who's asking?
OLEG
(smirks)
My name is Oleg Voronov. I have a message for you. A debt must be repaid.
TOMMY
What debt? To whom?
OLEG
To Mikhail Romanov. His son, Yuri, was killed by your men. He wants retribution.
TOMMY
That was years ago, and for good reason. Yuri betrayed the alliance, tried to have us killed.
OLEG
No matter. The debt must be repaid.
ARTHUR
(tense)
What does Romanov want?
OLEG
Simple. Do a job for him. Steal a prized family heirloom: The Romanov Emerald, from the people who took it from his family in the Russian Revolution.
ARTHUR
(scoffs)
And what makes you think we'll do your job?
OLEG
(smirking)
One word from me, and your family's entire operation falls apart.
Arthur gets up, furious, but Tommy holds him back.
TOMMY
(very calm)
Alright, Mr. Voronov. We'll get your damn emerald. And then, we're square.
OLEG
(smiling)
That's what I like to hear.
Voronov exits the pub, satisfied. Tommy and Arthur exchange uneasy glances.
ARTHUR
(turns to Tommy)
Are we really doing this, Tom?
TOMMY
(stern)
We don't have a choice, Arthur. Now let's get the men together, we have a heist to plan.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Peaky Blinders: The Lost Ledger
INT. SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED - DAY
The episode opens with TOMMY SHELBY seated at his desk, meticulously going through paperwork. He looks up and takes a drag from his cigarette.
TOMMY: Arthur, hand me the ledger for last month’s shipments.
ARTHUR SHELBY, sitting in a nearby chair, stands up and starts rummaging through a stack of papers.
ARTHUR: (frustrated) I can't find the bloody thing!
TOMMY: (sternly) It was right there. We can't afford to lose that, Arthur.
Cuts to INT. CHARLIE STRONG'S YARD - DAY
ADA SHELBY, dressed in a long coat and hat, is seen talking to CHARLIE STRONG.
ADA: My brothers need a security upgrade for their export operations. Can you help with that?
CHARLIE: I'll see what I can find, Ada. Let me know about their needs and I'll get a plan sorted.
ADA: Do it quick, Charlie. They won't be happy if something goes wrong.
Back to INT. SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED - DAY
POLLY SHELBY walks in, seeming quite perturbed. She slams a newspaper on Tommy's desk.
POLLY: Tommy, did you see the front page?
Tommy glances at the newspaper. A headline reads: "IRISH REBELS ESCAPE CAPTIVITY. WAR IMMINENT!"
TOMMY: (calmly) Yes, Pol. I saw it this morning. Ada is taking care of our security.
Cuts to EXT. STREET - DAY
A MYSTERIOUS MAN is seen lurking and observing the Shelby residence. He snaps a few photos before walking away.
INT. GARRISON PUB - NIGHT
FINN SHELBY, JOHN SHELBY, and a few PEAKY BLINDERS are enjoying a game of cards and drinks.
FINN: Do you think this mess with the Irish is going to blow up in our faces, John?
JOHN: (confidently) It's not the first time we've dealt with this, Finn. We'll be fine.
MARIA, the new barmaid, approaches the table with a tray of drinks.
MARIA: (flirting) Can I get you anything else, John?
JOHN: (grinning) Maybe later, love.
Cuts to INT. TOMMY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Tommy is brooding at his desk, staring at the ledger pile. The door opens and MICHAEL GRAY enters the room.
MICHAEL: I looked everywhere, Tom. The missing ledger isn't here. Maybe it's at the yard?
TOMMY: (determined) It's there. We need that ledger, Michael. Let's go to the yard.
Tommy grabs his coat and exits the room, MICHAEL follows close behind.
TO BE CONTINUED
Peaky Blinders: Broken Alliance
EXT. SMALL STREET - NIGHT
Dark smoke rises from chimneys, streetlamps glow dimly, and rain falls over 1920s Birmingham. The Shelby family walks down the street, wearing their signature peaked caps, led by TOMMY SHELBY.
TOMMY: (to his brother, ARTHUR) We've got to collect from the Devlins today. Nasty business, but it's got to be done.
ARTHUR: (nods) Aye, I thought the alliance would last longer, Tommy.
POLLY: (interjecting) The moment Billy Devlin started moving his own product, he left us no choice.
EXT. DEVLIN'S PUB - NIGHT
The Shelby family approaches the dimly lit, shabby pub. Perceiving their arrival, DRUNKARDS scatter in fear.
INT. DEVLIN'S PUB - NIGHT
The family enters the pub, and it suddenly becomes still and quiet. At the back, BILLY DEVLIN stands next to a couple of HIS THUGS. Tommy approaches him.
TOMMY: Billy, I don't want any trouble. Just pay us what you owe.
BILLY DEVLIN: (laughing) Oh, you come here thinking you can intimidate us, just because you're the bloody Peaky Blinders? You've got another thing coming, Tommy!
Meanwhile, Arthur and John stand guard, scanning the room for signs of trouble. A SUSPICIOUS MAN stealthily approaches John.
ARTHUR: (warning) John, to your right!
John swiftly grabs the suspicious man and pins him against a wall.
JOHN: Got anything you wanna say for yourself, mate?
SUSPICIOUS MAN: (panicked) I... I want no trouble. I-I swear!
Tommy continues talking to Billy Devlin.
TOMMY: Billy, we had a deal. We run things together, or we bring each other down. Make your choice.
As tension rises in the pub, the front door swings open, and THOMAS MCCARTHY, the owner of the competing Garrison Pub, walks in flanked by three of his henchmen.
THOMAS: Well now, if it isn't the illustrious Shelby family. Causing trouble in the neighborhood again, huh?
TOMMY: (visibly irritated) This is none of your business, Thomas.
THOMAS: Oh, but it is. You see, Billy here made a new friend. Seems the Devlins and the McCarthys have a common enemy.
Tommy looks at the situation, realizing he's outnumbered. He conceals his concern.
TOMMY: Well then, that's an interesting change of events.
Arthur, John, and Polly prepare for a fight, as tensions rise.
TO BE CONTINUED
Peaky Blinders: Risen Ashes
INT. SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED - DAY
TOMMY SHELBY sits behind his desk, smoking a cigarette in front of his tall window. ARTHUR, JOHN and FINN are seated in front of him. The room is tense.
TOMMY
I just received word that the Scots are planning to take over our territories down South. We need to take action before it's too late.
ARTHUR
(mocking the Scots)
Well, those bloody Highlanders will be in for a surprise, won't they?
JOHN
We can't let those bastards take what's ours, Tommy!
FINN
Yeah, the Peaky Blinders won't just stand by.
TOMMY
(exhaling a cloud of smoke)
Of course not, but we need to be smart about it.
INT. SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED - POLLY'S OFFICE - DAY
POLLY is pouring over paperwork when ADA enters the room with a determined look on her face.
ADA
Polly, we have a problem. The manager of the betting shop said that a few Scots came around asking about our operations.
POLLY
(dropping her pen and looking up)
Alright, gather everyone in Tommy's office, we need a family meeting.
INT. SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED - TOMMY'S OFFICE - DAY
The SHELBY family members and MICHAEL file into the room, awaiting news.
ADA
(to Tommy)
Tom, it seems like they're getting bolder.
TOMMY
(angrily crushing his cigarette)
It's time to send them a message then.
INT. GARRISON PUB - NIGHT
The Peaky Blinders are huddled in a corner, scheming.
TOMMY
Alright, Arthur and John, I need you to track down those Scots and... make it clear that they're stepping on our turf.
ARTHUR
(raising his glass)
Cheers to that, brother.
JOHN
We'll teach them not to mess with the Shelbys.
TOMMY
And Polly, we need to make sure our businesses are prepared for any surprises.
POLLY
We'll double check everything in the morning, Tom.
TOMMY
(serious)
No, not prepared, protected. We need to send a strong message, and we'll need Michael for that.
MICHAEL
(hesitant)
Of course, Tommy.
TOMMY
We're at war, and we're not going to let anyone steal what's ours. And remember, we are the Peaky fookin' Blinders.
TO BE CONTINUED
Peaky Blinders: The Lost Treasure
EXT. BIRMINGHAM ROAD - DAY
A horse-drawn carriage speeds down the road, stopping abruptly in front of a pub. The Shelby brothers, TOMMY, ARTHUR, JOHN, and FINN, step out, dressed in their expected, well-tailored suits.
TOMMY: (Adjusting his hat) Keep your eyes sharp, boys, something's at play here.
ARTHUR: (Nods)Feeling the same. You said the meeting would've started already?
TOMMY: Yeah, and things can go south quickly.
INT. THE PUB - CONTINUOUS
The Shelbys enter a full-looking pub where a band plays lively music. Surrounded by cautiously watching patrons, they approach the person sitting at the shadowy corner of the room.
YOUNG LADY: (Smiling) You must be the infamous Shelbys.
TOMMY: (Coldly) And you must have business with us.
The lady signals her men to keep the patrons away during the conversation. She then relays a cryptic message and removes an old map from her bag, spread it out in front of them.
YOUNG LADY: Somewhere across this city, there's a lost treasure, hidden years ago. And my employers believe you're the best guys to find it.
ARTHUR: (Skeptical) Why us? And who the hell are your employers?
YOUNG LADY: (Smirks) Can't say, luv. But I can tell you it ain't a simple request. There's a catch-
JOHN: (Interrupting) Of course there is. What's the catch?
YOUNG LADY: There's another group, quite vicious, after the same treasure. You'll have competition.
FINN: (Grinning) Of course there is. So what do we get in return for discovering this treasure?
YOUNG LADY: Our employer is willing to pay handsomely for its retrieval, alongside protection against the competition. And maybe, a few other advantages too. You'll be making some powerful allies.
TOMMY: (Leaning over the map) Alright. We'll find this treasure. And if your competition gets in the way, they'll go down like the rest.
TO BE CONTINUED
