Didn't You Kill My Brother?
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Didn't You Kill My Brother? was an episode of the satirical Comic Strip TV comedy series in which Alexei Sayle plays both halves of a pair of gangster twins, not so loosely modelled on the Kray twins, the notorious Moss Brothers (also the name of a well known dress hire firm in the UK), Carl and Sterling. The episode also remakes Bicycle Thieves whilst lampoooning British liberal values.
There were cameo appearances in the show by reggae poet Benjamin Zephaniah and also Beryl Reid in the role of the mother of the twins.
The theme song title to the show, also called Didn't You Kill My Brother?, was released as a single on the CBS label in 1985.
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[edit] References
Carl/Sterling Moss
[edit] Plot
The story begins as Carl Moss is about to be released from prison for complicity in the murders of 'Fireplace' Eric Driscoll and 'Cheese Dish' Jim McSweeny. Because of his astounding educational qualifications, his is granted early parole and is released after serving just 5 year of his original 30 year sentence. He has become engaged to his parole officer and sociology teacher, Pauline Sneek, who wants to use him as an example of her work, to advance herself socially and professionally. We learn that he was apparently framed by his identical twin brother, Sterling Moss
Upon release, Pauline arranges a job for him at his old school,(now a community centre) as an "unstructured activities co-ordinator". When Carl discovers that the school has various pieces of equipment which could be used for training young people in manufacturing and technology, and enthuses on its educational potential, Pauline retorts:
"I don't want to go on Wogan with a man who makes things - this isn't the seventies. Anyway the [CBI[3] would never stand for it. If I catch you making things you'll be back inside pissing in a tin pot before you can say Amnesty International!"
Nevertheless, Carl begins to teach the local teenagers how to use the equipment, and together, they begin to manufacture bicycles, which angers Carl's brother, Sterling. He conspires with their mother to bring about Carl's demise, and in a confrontation at the Community Police Over 60's Reggae Night, one of the brothers is killed, although it is not clear whether it is Carl or Sterling.
[edit] Subtext
The characters of Sterling and Carl Moss are in many ways parodies of the opposing political poles which existed at the time - opportunistic capitalism, and idealistic socialism. One one hand, the rehabilitated, self educated Carl Moss is community focused and wants to build a better world, whereas his unrepentant criminal brother, Sterling (after the British currency, or a mark of the purity of silver) is simply interested in profit, but has nevertheless created a criminal empire from humble beginnings. However, neither side is portrayed realistically, and the conclusion is ambiguous as to which side eventually wins. At the end, after one brother has killed the other (although we are not sure who survives) Alexei Sayle recites to the viewer:
"And now, our story's finished, our tale is almost told, but can we find a moral, in the story of the Moss brothers so bold?
Well this country's built on stealing, The poor are on the rack, But men like me will always be plotting To steal this country back."
This can either be read as a socialist statement of intent to return power to the people (by any means necessary) or an affirmation of the triumph of capitalist free enterprise over socialist intention.
[edit] Carl's Qualifications
During his 5 years in prison, Carl Moss gained 428 educational qualifications, including 147 O levels, 41 A levels, 19 BSc's, 8 BAs, an MA, 4 PhDs, training in hairdressing, and a gold medal from the Académie française for his contributions to the new cuisine. He has also inexplicably gained a scouse accent.
