Just Good Friends1983

[Les is having a father-to-son chat with Vince]

Vince Pinner:
Penny's husband Graham doesn't like me.

Les Pinner:
I'd have thought you'd have got used to that sort of thing by now.

Vince Pinner:
But this is different - he's some kind of black-belt judo ace. I'm supposed to have a meal with a First Dan who don't like me. Flick of the wrist I could be doing a Fosbury Flop over the sweet trolley.

Les Pinner:
I see. You're scared of him.

Vince Pinner:
[doubtfully] No. I'm not scared of him. It's just that I've always led my life by one simple code. And that is: never wind Bruce Lee up.

Les Pinner:
I don't know what you're worried about. Upstairs you've got a cup for boxing.

Vince Pinner:
I won that in a game of brag.

Les Pinner:
*He* doesn't know that, does he?

Vince Pinner:
So what do you want me to do - take the cup to the restaurant with me?

Les Pinner:
So what you gonna do?

Vince Pinner:
I won't go. Penny doesn't want me to be there.

Les Pinner:
She's just saying that because she's frightened you'll get hurt.

Vince Pinner:
Well for once in our lives I'm in total agreement.

Les Pinner:
Look, son. *Everyone* gets scared at one time or another. There's no shame in that. A coward ain't a person who *feels* fear. A coward is a person who runs away from that fear.

Vince Pinner:
But I'm not running away. I won't even be there.

Les Pinner:
Now you listen to me. I remember an occasion many years ago. I'd just started out in the metal game on me own. Opened me first yard round the back of Reedbridge station. I was doing very nicely, thank you. Till one day this bloke walks in. George Fimbo. Small-time heavy. Used to be an enforcer for the Kray brothers. Till they sacked him for being too aggressive. He knew I was earning and he wanted his cut. Now I'm like you, Vincent - I ain't never been a fighting man. But I knew I had a straight choice. I either paid him what he wanted and had him on me back for the rest of me natural, or I fronted him out. And that's what I did. I was scared, petrified. But I stood up to him. And d'you know what? I discovered I had an inner strength. It was as if it weren't me fighting - it was another feller, stronger than me, who had no fear. Every blow was considered in a calm and clinically violent way. George Fimbo never came near or by that yard again. All right?

Vince Pinner:
Were you hurt?

Les Pinner:
Hurt? Three months in a convalescent home, eighteen months before I could walk without a stick.

Vince Pinner:
[unconvinced] Yeah, well, thanks for talking to me, Dad.

Les Pinner:
There were four of them! He came mob-handed. What chance did I have? You can have all the inner strength going, but the bloke with the gang will always win. What I'm trying to say is: sometimes you win by losing. Think about it, son.