One of the PIFs I want to obtain from Film Images is the World Cup 2000 drug smuggling one featuring Gary Lineker and David Ginola, but until I get it, here's one on the same theme: http://tmf.ecwhost.com/extra/media/PIF-PIFS-DRUGSABROAD-PUB-1970s.rm. TMF says it's from 1970.
(Ordinary pub with background noise of people chattering. Two men, one tall and besuited, the other bearded and Scottish, are drinking pints and talking to the barman, who slightly resembles the publican in "Only Fools and Horses")
BARMAN: Ken (I think) not coming in tonight?
1ST MAN: No, he'll be in later. British Consul's ringing him tonight with the result of Geoff's trial. His case came up today.
2ND MAN: It's nearly a year he's been held out there. It's criminal!
BARMAN: Give over. (Waves a finger) What Geoff did, THAT's criminal.
2ND MAN: Just 'cause he gets caught carrying a piece of dope. He was just a bit unlucky, that's all.
1ST MAN: Yeah - anyway, I don't suppose he'll get more than a fine.
BARMAN: Don't be too sure, Pete. I've been going to Spain for twenty years now and I've heard of plenty of cases where they got several years for doing drugs.
1ST MAN: Yeah, but Geoff weren't carrying that much. And it's his first offence.
2ND MAN: And he's already done a year waiting trial. They're bound to let him off. (Waves glass to demonstrate)
BARMAN: (Sighs) Look, there's people abroad doing time who didn't even know they were carrying drugs. They just took a parcel through Customs for other people.
2ND MAN: You'd think the Consul could have got him out, wouldn't you?
BARMAN: (he laughs) He can't, can he? (The other two look disheartened) I mean, the law's the law, whatever country you're in. He can come and visit you, help you find a lawyer and that, and help pass messages back home. But he can't alter the law of the land. Anyway, young Geoff could be a lot worse off. He could be facing a death sentence in Malaysia or Thailand, you know. (Gestures)
(Another man comes in and goes up to the bar)
3RD MAN: I don't believe it!
2ND MAN: What?
3RD MAN: They've given him four years!
1ST MAN: Four years?!
3RD MAN: His Mam's in a right state.
(They all turn to leave)
BARMAN: Hey! (They turn round again) I wonder how his - what's her name - his girlfriend's gonna take it?
3RD MAN: Ex - girlfriend, you mean. She's getting married next month!
(Scene changes to the exterior of the pub as the camera slowly zooms out)
VO: If you break the law in other countries, you might not see home for a very long time.
I can't find the Film Images entry for this film so I don't have any more background information, but with friends like this, who needs enemies? The mesage I get from this is "Don't smuggle drugs. Not only are you liable to be locked up for years but your so - called mates will be stabbing you in the back as well and your bird will go off with someone else."
Then there's "Holiday of a Lifetime" which was, according to Film Images, first broadcast in 1996 and an edited version is still running now. I got the current one from the COI TV Fillers website: http://www.coitvfillers.co.uk. If you can convince them to give you a password (I got one because I linked them to this site) you can log in and view all the latest modern PIFs.
(We open with black and white visuals of a man in a prison cell, as the bars open and he files out with other inmates)
VO: If you get into trouble in another country,
(Change scene. A big, scary, foreign prison officer - think 1970s Guardia Civil during the Franco era in Spain - is silently ranting and raving at someone. An interpreter is translating for our reluctant jailbird)
the British Consul can get you legal help - but end up in jail
(Change scene. Colourful shots of people dancing in a club, with background of trancey music. We see a bag of drugs being passed from hand to hand)
and they can't get you out.
(The offender, still in colour, is led away by foreign police in black and white, with police cars and sirens sounding)
Break another country's laws and you become a criminal, not a tourist.
(Change scene. Back in black and white, the man is in a prison cell. The door clangs shut. Fade to black. Endline and VO: "Stay Legal Abroad", with the FCO "Know Before You Go" logo at the top of the screen)
Sounds obvious, but it's still the case that people think the British Consul can get you out of jail if you are caught smuggling drugs abroad. I know someone who served time for illegal weapons trafficking in Europe and thought she'd go free because she was a British citizen - didn't happen. Just don't bloody do it, OK? And stay tuned for "The Finishing Line" and more.
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