Scum

Carlin, Angel, and Davis arrive by prison van and are allocated to living quarters within the borstal. Carlin attempts to stay low-profile, while Angel and Davis receive single rooms and Carlin is placed in a dormitory. The arrival foreshadows the harsh hierarchy that will dominate the wing.

Carlin meets Archer, a reflective inmate who pursues peaceful disruption over violence. Archer explains Banks—'Daddy' of the wing—keeps control through bullying, aided by Richards and Eckersley and a compliant staff. The conversation sets up the power dynamics that will drive later conflicts.

Carlin witnesses Davis being hazed and attacked by Banks, and Angel is beaten in his room by Banks and Richards. Carlin himself is headbutted by Banks in an unprovoked assault, highlighting the violent regime that governs the wing. These events crystallize the threat Carlin faces and his potential for action.

Davis is framed for theft by Eckersley and placed on report. The three newcomers are subsequently moved to solitary confinement as the staff's tolerance for dissent shrinks. The episode marks the escalation toward collective resistance.

Carlin prepares to assert control by arming himself with an improvised cosh: snooker balls stuffed into a sock. He uses this weapon to threaten Richards, forcing Eckersley to back down. The act signals his readiness to challenge Banks's regime.

Carlin tracks Banks to a washroom and delivers a severe beating, making it clear who now governs the wing. He then explicitly warns Banks about his future under Carlin's 'natural leadership'. The confrontation marks a turning point in the wing's power balance.

A rival wing's Daddy challenges Carlin, but Carlin overpowers him in a brutal fight and imposes his rule across the broader borstal area. The defeat deters further challenges and consolidates his authority. Other inmates begin to expect more protection under Carlin's leadership.

The warders acknowledge Carlin's burgeoning leadership and entrust him with responsibility as a 'natural leader'. In return, he secures a single cell, moving from the dormitory to a more privileged accommodation. This change solidifies his status among inmates and staff.

Meakin's friend Toyne receives news of his wife's death by letter and falls into deep despair. Warders scold him for moping, but his gloom deepens, leading him to injure himself and later transfer to an adult prison where he dies after a second suicide attempt. The tragedy compounds the sense of hopelessness in the facility.

While working in a greenhouse, Davis is gang-raped by three youths who had asked for a smoking break. Warder Sands sees what happens but grins and does nothing to intervene, then resumes supervising without addressing the assault. The guards' indifference amplifies the inmates' sense of injustice.

Distraught by the assault, Davis kills himself with a razor blade. He presses the call button but warder Greaves ignores him as he bleeds. The suicide becomes the breaking point that triggers broader unrest.

In response to Davis's death, the inmates refuse to eat and Carlin initiates a full-scale riot in the dining hall. The hall erupts into chaos as guards move to restore order. The event demonstrates the collective anger and the fragility of the borstal's control.

Following the riot, Carlin, Archer and Meakin are beaten and dragged, bleeding and unconscious, into solitary confinement by wardens. The punishment underscores the high cost of their rebellion and the regime's continued control. Their injuries reflect the physical toll of challenging the system.

The governor informs them that the damage to the dinner hall will be paid through lost earnings. He then leads a minute's silent prayer for Davis and Toyne, offering a somber closure to the events. The scene marks the moral reckoning and the official response to the turmoil.