Grantchester (TV Series)

Episode #6.8 (2021)

Tom Brittney: Will Davenport

Photos 

Quotes 

• [reading extracts from the old Testament to Henry Jones and Mrs Chapman, practising his speech for Leonard's hearing by the bishop] 

  Will Davenport : "When men fight one another, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him, and seizes him by his private parts, you shall cut off her hand. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman: it is an abomination." All verses from the Old Testament, since perfected by Christ's new law of love and forgiveness. What is the value of outdated rituals and conventions, of attitudes that condemn more people than they save? I am imploring you, imploring us, to perfect our rules in the same way, and to reaffirm our commitment to redemption, to compassion, to love. And be a force for change in the law, the country and ourselves.

• [Geordie is tearfully telling Will about his time in a Burmese prisoner-of-war camp.] 

  Will Davenport : I know I will never understand what you and Johnny went through. But what is it you owe him?

  [Geordie produces a piece of paper with a list of names] 

  Will Davenport : What's this?

  Geordie Keating : It's a list. Of the men that died in our time at the prison-of-war camp. It was the last man's job to tell the families what had happened to their boys. I was the last man. By the end of the war, they knew they were losing. The guards would take one of us out every couple of days. It started with the sick, those who couldn't work. And they shot him. To save food. Not that we got much. Keep the rest of us on our toes. But by the end we were... all broken. So there was no order, no... rhyme nor reason. They just picked someone. Until there was only two of us left.

  Will Davenport : You and Johnny.

  Geordie Keating : That last night... I said "I hope they pick me". And he said the same. But when I rolled over to sleep that night, do you know what I did? I prayed they'd pick Johnny instead of me. Can you imagine... praying for your friend to die? Then in the morning, he was gone. And then there was a shot. And then another. And another. The Yanks had armed up the Burmese and they liberated the camp. When we got home, I lost him after demob. On purpose. And I never saw him again until he turned up here.

  Will Davenport : But you both survived.

  Geordie Keating : But it doesn't matter. I prayed for him to die. I begged for it. That's who I am! I know it. And God knows it now.

  Will Davenport : No, God heard your prayer for what it was. Fear, desperation. You didn't pray for Johnny to die. You prayed to live.

• [Geordie is in church, praying] 

  Geordie Keating : Dear God. It's been a while. I don't really remember how this works. But hopefully you still forgive. I'm hoping you can make me a better man...

  [Will comes in and walks towards Geordie as he continues to pray] 

  Geordie Keating : ...To my family. To my friends. And to you. Amen.

  Will Davenport : Mind if I join you?

  Geordie Keating : [to Will]  He's your boss.

  Geordie Keating : [to God]  I've got Will Davenport on Line 2, sir.

  Geordie Keating : [to Will]  He says he'll meet us at the pub.

  [they both chuckle] 

  Will Davenport : Are you all right?

  Geordie Keating : No. But at least I know it now. Will, I do not think any less of you for not serving. In fact, I'm glad you didn't. Because you can see the world as it ought to be.

  Will Davenport : The only reason I didn't have to is because of men like you and Johnny.