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In his visionary Channel 4 drama, Peter Morgan imagines what really went down at the historic Granita meeting
EXT. GRANITA
- EVENING (31ST MAY 1994)
A neon sign, ‘Granita’
.GORDON and ED BALLS arrive outside the restaurant. GORDON takes a deep breath, then opens the door, and walks in. In the far corner, TONY is as we left him - reading the newspaper. His expression changes when he looks up to see GORDON and ED BALLS walking towards him. TONY gets to his feet, there’s that disarming smile.
TONY
Thanks for coming, Gordon.
(shaking hands)
Ed.
The THREE MEN sit down. TONY calls the WAITER.
TONY
You sure you won’t eat?
GORDON
Positive.
TONY
OK - then let’s get down to it.
ED
(taking the hint)
Er ... I’ll go for a walk around the block.
WAITER
Ready to order?
TONY
Yes - I’ll have the rabbit.
WAITER
Tuscan rabbit on a bed of polenta?
TONY
And a glass of white.
GORDON
Water for me will be fine.
TONY
I’m sorry it’s come to this.
GORDON stares anywhere but at TONY.
I’ve hated the last few days.
GORDON
Why? In years to come, you may come to see them as your finest hour.
TONY
How can you say that?
GORDON
It’s a stunning coup. You’ve come from nowhere - and will probably become Prime Minister.
TONY
(thrown by this, and smiles nervously)
Come from nowhere?
TONY
I accept I may not have been out there, barefoot on cobbled streets, handing our party leaflets aged 12, but I have hardly come from nowhere either. You and I have been MP’s exactly the same amount of time.
GORDON
But, I taught you everything. Without me - you’d have been consigned to the dustbin of also - rans in this party.
TONY
With respect, Gordon, that’s just delusional crap, and an insult to my supporters.
TONY’s eyes flash in anger ...
... but I don’t want to get into a slanging match. All I want - all I have ever wanted, is to get out of opposition and be part of a Labour government. If I thought that having you as leader would give us the best chance of achieving that, believe me, I would step aside in a second.
GORDON
Bollocks.
TONY
That is the truth.
GORDON
A man who does what you have done the last few days - that is not a man who steps aside.
TONY
We all come into politics for the big job, Gordon.
GORDON
Ah, so you admit it.
TONY
And when the opportunity came again - I went for it.
GORDON
Despite our understanding?
TONY
(holding head in disbelief)
What understanding?
The WAITER brings their drinks.
Look - I accept you are the stronger candidate in many ways. You are the better thinker - the better strategist - and you undoubtedly have the better party pedigree. It is a quirk of fate that at this moment that might be counting against you, and that I emerge as the better candidate to lead this party, but that fact remains.
TONY
I also acknowledge that without your support - without your influence in the party - my leadership might fail.
GORDON
Would.
TONY
So, I propose the following.
TONY leans forward.
That I make you the most powerful Chancellor in history.
GORDON flinches, ‘Chancellor’; it’s a stab in the heart.
You will have complete control over social and economic policy - you can chose your own team. I won’t interfere.
GORDON
And if we get re-elected for a second term?
TONY looks at GORDON, checking whether he’s joking.
TONY
Gordon, we haven’t been in power for fifteen years. You want to discuss a second term?
GORDON
C’mon ... if the opposition continues to disintegrate at the current rate, it’s not inconceivable that we become the only party in power for a generation.
TONY takes a deep breath, then.
TONY
Well ...
(giddy at the thought)
... under those circumstances, I wouldn’t make the mistake Thatcher made, and go on too long.
GORDON’S expression changes, immediately understanding the implications.
GORDON
And after a second term?
(beat)
Would you stand down after that?
C’mon ...
(gestures)
... this whole conversation is crazy.
GORDON
Not to me, it isn’t.
TONY locks up, can see the intensity in GORDON’S eyes.
TONY
Well, whatever the circumstances, obviously I couldn’t go on forever.
GORDON
In which case, would you support my candidacy?
TONY
(shrugs, this is madness, a meaningless pledge)
I suppose so.
GORDON
Good.
WAITER
One Tuscan rabbit, crushed polenta, sauteed pumpkin and raspberry sauce.
GORDON’S eyes widen in horror.
GORDON
(shudders)
I ‘ll leave you to it.
GORDON takes out his wallet, leaves money for his drink. Over his back, TONY notices a brown-haired WOMAN entering the restaurant.
TONY
One last thing, before you go.
(stares at GORDON)
I think we should do a photo call.
GORDON
What?
(can’t help smiling)
You want me to step aside, and look happy about it too?
TONY
People will need reassuring this was done ... amicably.
GORDON
What?
TONY
I thought outside number 1, Parliament St. Or on College Green?
GORDON
No. The hacks get close enough to ask questions there. I might say the wrong thing.
TONY
All right. I’ll give it some thought.
GORDON gets to his feet.
GORDON
Who?
TONY
Michelle, you know. From EastEnders?
TONY indicates the brown-haired WOMAN sitting in the corner.
Got pregnant by Dirty Den.
From GORDON’S blank expression. (shoots look, ‘don’t you know anything?’)
Den and Angie?
GORDON stares bewildered and not understanding, then goes, passing the actress’s table. The actress, (SUSAN TULLEY), raises her glass across the room to TONY, who raises his glass back. Celebrities one and all.
