# Tube Tales

Tube Tales is a 1999 British anthology film of nine short films based on the true-life experiences of London Underground passengers as submitted to Time Out magazine. The stories were scripted and filmed independently of each other. Filming took place on the London Underground network in 1999 by nine directors including Stephen Hopkins, Charles McDougall and Bob Hoskins, with directorial debuts by Ewan McGregor and Jude Law. The film was produced by Richard Jobson and is also Simon Pegg's film debut, in a small role.

## The films

In order of screening:

### Mr Cool

Director: Amy Jenkins Writer: Amy Jenkins Originator: Sue Smallwood Starring: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher and Kelly Macdonald Synopsis: After failing to impress his dream girl, Mr Cool suffers the embarrassment of becoming trapped on a train to nowhere.
Cast: (in alphabetical order) Jason Flemyng (Luke); Dexter Fletcher (Joe); Kelly Macdonald (Emma).

### Horny

Director: Stephen Hopkins Writer: Stephen Hopkins Originator: Alex Piro Starring: Denise van Outen and Tom Bell Synopsis: A young woman flirts with a businessman somewhere under Liverpool Street. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Denise van Outen (Alex); Liz Smith (Old Lady); Tom Bell (Old Gent); Leah Fitzgerald (Little Girl).

### Grasshopper

Director: Menhaj Huda Writer: Harsha Patel Originator: Gary Dellaway Starring: Dele Johnson, Ray Panthaki and Stephen Da Costa Synopsis: Two inspectors close in on a suspected fare dodger, only to discover their target is not quite what he seemed, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Stephen Da Costa (Mr X); Alicya Eyo (Shantel); Roger Griffiths (Charlie); Dele Johnson (Stevie); Preeya Kalidas (Reena); Peter McNamara (Roy); Mazhar Munir (Mazaar); Raiyo Panthaki (Mo); Ashish Raja (Bulla); Marcia Rose (Miss Clinique); Jake Wood (James).

### My Father the Liar

Director: Bob Hoskins Writer: Paul Fraser Originator: Christine Barry Starring: Ray Winstone and Tom Watson
Synopsis: A young boy and his father witness an incident that causes the father to lie to his son. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Edna Doré (Bag Lady); Frank Harper (Ticket Inspector); William Hoyland (Suicide Victim); Richard Jobson (Vendor); Tom Watson (The Son); Ray Winstone (The Father).

### Bone

Director: Ewan McGregor Writer: Mark Greig Originator: Sam Taggart Starring: Nicholas Tennant and Kay Curram Synopsis: A musician invents a fantasy world surrounding the owner of a lost travel card displayed in the window of the ticket office. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Corrinne Charton (Pot Plant Lady); Kay Curram (Louise); Joe Duttine (Flamboyant Soloist); Douglas L. Mellor (Concert Hall Manager); Nicholas Tennant (Gordon).

### Mouth

Director: Armando Iannucci Writer: Armando Iannucci Originator: Peter Hart Starring: Daniela Nardini Synopsis: A crowded compartment's attentions are drawn to an attractive well-groomed woman, but she doesn't quite live up to their individual expectations. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Buster Bevis (Father); Helen Coker (Bride To Be); Mark Frost (Dude); Sky Glover (Girlfriend); Simon Greenall (Business Man); Dominic Holland (Cello Player); Daniela Nardini (Heroine); Matthew Xia (Boyfriend).

### A Bird in the Hand

Director: Jude Law Writer: Ed Allen Originator: Jim Sillavan Starring: Alan Miller Synopsis: When a trapped bird stuns itself on a window, a couple of passengers debate the bird's fate before an elderly man liberates it above ground. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Ed Allen (Youth 2); Frank Harper (Station Guard); Morgan Jones (Youth 1); Alan Miller (Old Man); Cleo Sylvestre (Woman).

### Rosebud

Director: Gaby Dellal Writers: Gaby Dellal and Atalanta Goulandris Originator: Tracey Finch Starring: Rachel Weisz Synopsis: A mother is separated from her daughter and experiences agonising panic as she searches for her, whilst the child discovers a surreal wonderland. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Joao Costa Menezes (?); Doña Croll (Elizabeth); Leonie Elliott (Rosebud); Danny Cerqueira (Station Guard); Frank Harper (Station Guard); Ian Puleston-Davies (Typewriter Man); Rachel Weisz (Angela).

### Steal Away

Director: Charles McDougall Writer: Nick Perry Originator: TJ Austin Starring: Hans Matheson and Carmen Ejogo Synopsis: Two young opportunists steal a briefcase, which turns out to contain wads of money. Their victim shoots at them, but they seem to escape unscathed onto an unused platform where they board a mysterious train. A preacher reads from the bible and a young boy washes passengers' feet. Leaving the train the couple leave the money with a tramp before heading to the exit where only one of their tickets is valid. Cast: (in alphabetical order) Tim Barlow (Elderly Drunk); Darren Carr (Black Boy); Jim Carter (Ticket Inspector); Emma Cunniffe (Drained Young Woman); Clint Dyer (Walkman Boy); Jello Edwards (Middle Aged Woman); Annette Ekblom (Boy's Mum); Carmen Ejogo (Girl); Simon Kunz (White Pinstripe Suit Man); Hans Matheson (Michael); Simon Pegg (Clerk); Sean Pertwee (Driver); Lee Ross (Male Reveller); Don Warrington (Preacher).