Dumping Ground Island

OMINOUS THUMPING MUSIC

I can't believe Mike banned me from the trip.

He's totally got it in for me.

-It's not fair!

-Well...

My birthday was two days ago, my mum, she's definitely forgotten.

She knows I wanted to watch the cricket!

I had it on series link.

One episode left, and he deletes it for cricket!

So, what exactly do you want me raise, at the forum?

You're meant to represent us - sort it!

I'm fed up of getting the blame for everything.

That's not really what the forum...

-It's not fair!

-So you've said.

-Mum says she's picking my head.

There must be something that you can do.

-Can you have a word with her?

-Can you have a word with him?

-Are you even listening?

-Tyler...

-It's not fair!

-ALL:

-Tyler!

Well, what are you going to do about it?

WAVES LAP, SEAGULLS CAW

PEACEFUL MUSIC

THUNDERING NOISE MOUNTS

THUD!

THEY COMPLAIN AT ONCE

Listen, Tyler!

THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

MUSIC TURNS OMINOUS

THUNDER CLAPS

THEY CONTINUE COMPLAINING

Oh. Have they gone?

-Have who gone?

-Never mind.

Nothing?

Nothing. I literally open my mouth and nothing comes out.

And this podcast was due yesterday.

-You still not sleeping?

-No.

Cos...it was due yesterday.

I've got no ideas.

-I will when you grow up!

-I'm 11 years old!

-Could I put a lock on that door?

-Nope.

In fact, you have spent far too long hiding up here.

Come on, there's no-one downstairs.

-Hey... You ever thought about interviewing this lot?

-Yeah.

See what they'd take to a desert island.

-Hasn't that been done?

-Yeah, well, you know, put your spin on it.

But I don't have a spin.

What's wrong with him?

Oh, podcaster block.

-I am awesome!

-What?

But what I haven't decided is

whether I should use my powers of awesomeness for good or evil.

But what I have decided is that as the most evil person I know,

you can teach me...

..the dark arts.

I'm not evil.

SHE LAUGHS

-Oh, you were being serious.

-I'm not.

I just like to look after myself, that's all.

By being horrible all the time?

-OK, let's go.

-No!

-Yep.

-Come on, just one evil thing.

-Bye.

-Find something, please!

See? This. Now. Evil.

OMINOUS ORGAN MUSIC

I really wanted to watch that.

I get it, you're annoyed with me for wiping your exciting music

programme. Just an idea, while you're annoyed, could you bowl?

-GLASS SHATTERS

-Oh...

So that's where the neighbour's cucumber frame is.

No, wait. Wait, Sasha... Leave me alone!

HE SIGHS

Living with your mates is all well and good,

but what we all really want is our own space.

A place to get away.

A desert island.

PEACEFUL MUSIC

A desert island...

RECORD SCRATCHES Hey!

-What was that for?

-You've been well weird lately, all...mopey.

Well, you've hardly been a barrel of laughs either.

I'm sorry.

-Have you spoken to your mum?

-Not yet.

Actually, I was wondering if you'd help me write a text.

I want her to know how I feel.

A card would have done, you know?

Just something to show that she hasn't completely forgotten me.

PEACEFUL MUSIC

Or a fish in a suitcase.

Or a fridge in the jungle.

-SHE SCOFFS

-Tyler!

RECORD SCRATCHES Sorry, what?

You're doing it again!

Sorry. It's just hard, you know?

There's a lot going on at the moment.

I mean, the stupid podcast, the forum, school, exams, my mum.

-What's wrong with your mum?

-Nothing, well, more than usual.

All I want to do is just switch off,

run away to...to this place in my head.

Like an imaginary...

..desert island. SHE LAUGHS

See? This is why I didn't want to tell you.

-A desert island?

-Whoa! Will you stop doing that?

Only when you stop being an idiot.

When you're shipwrecked on the Dumping Ground Island,

you hold on to any part of family you can.

My mate...Cody, for example.

All she wanted was a birthday card from her mum

to show she hadn't been forgotten.

GLASS SHATTERS

-Dexter!

-Dexter?

Not that having a sibling on the island makes it any easier.

Selfish...Hector has a bossy sister who thinks she's his mother

and never lets him do anything.

While his sister, Tasha,

well, she has a problem with most things, really.

You stay out of this, May-Li. This is between me and him!

Which can cause more trouble for the both of them.

Because it's difficult to have all your problems on an island.

But not impossible.

Yes!

-Guilty about something?

-What?

Nothing.

Just if you're not going to teach me the dark side,

then I'll have to...

..observe.

What are you up to, Ryan?

-EMPHATICALLY:

-What are you up to?

Making a cheese sandwich.

Aha!

Only a wicked, dark mind would make a sandwich with TWO types of cheese.

-We ran out of butter.

-We've run out of butter?

Perhaps someone stole it for devious ends.

Yep, definitely thinking of a plan.

You are, aren't you? Something dark and dangerous.

-You have no idea.

-Come on, Ryan.

Think of me as Padawan to your Jedi, the evil Jedi.

-What are they called again?

-Sith?

-Sith, I knew you'd know!

-You have got to talk to Dexter.

-Why me?

-Cos he listens to you!

-Maybe later, yeah?

All right...

Now, the other thing about the DG Island is

the bad things about you, your flaws, they're magnified.

And no matter how hard you try to hide them...

..the island always seems to get the better of you.

You want evil? Fine.

-You're an annoying little brat who's no use to anyone!

-What?

Revealing the truth.

Move!

Exposing your darkest secrets.

It's the other castaways, not the island that's the problem.

And the last thing you want is for...

Hello?

Hi, um... What's up?

May-Li was looking for you. Something about your mum visiting.

Right.

I think it was pretty urgent.

Oh. OK.

When you're shipwrecked on the Dumping Ground Island,

you hold on to any part of family you can.

So...

So?

Well, Ryan said you wanted to speak to me.

Hey, guys, you'll want to hear this.

Two secs.

What are you doing?!

My mate, Cody, for example - all she wanted was a birthday card

from her mum to show she hadn't been forgotten.

-What? No. They were just ideas. I haven't finished.

-Whatever.

You tried the same thing with me and Chloe before,

for that stupid newspaper article.

No. That was totally different.

I, um...

-I changed the names this time.

-Cody? You changed one letter.

-That's not all.

-Hang on.

Selfish Hector has a bossy sister who thinks she's his mother.

-Hector?

-Bossy? Mother?

-What's going on here?

-Tyler stole our lives.

-It was her idea.

What?

And he threw away the note to the Council forum.

Probably didn't even intend on going.

-Tyler?

-I reckon he ate all the butter too.

Although, there was cheese. Who knew?

Look, you were elected. You have a responsibility.

How could you do this?

I'm not selfish!

THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

HE YELLS

-Tyler...

-Leave me alone!

-Don't be an idiot.

-Tyler...

Tyler, open the door.

-PHONE BEEPS

-Tyler!

Tyler!

SILENCE

SEAGULLS CAW

WAVES LAP

PEACEFUL MUSIC, HE YAWNS

Phew, back on my island. That's better.

Although, that's weird. I don't usually talk when I'm here.

Something feels different.

No way!

I'm here...

I'm actually here!

Wow.

TOOT!

Yes!

Whoa!

This is so cool!

YELLS: Yes!

No. No way!

This is MY island!

Dexter! Stop fishing around!

-What are you doing on my island?

-Hang on, YOUR island?

THE island. And is it just you or...?

Jody!

An actual fish just touched my leg!

Well, we're shipwrecked.

So what now?

Well, I usually just sit around, work wood, stare out to sea.

OK, so the only food and drink we have is the bits in my bag,

so we'll have to ration it.

-Dex, what are you doing?

-I'm hungry.

-Great. What food do we eat now?

-Well, I thought you'd know.

You're the one who's always banging on about having your own island!

Yeah, but, you know, by myself.

Well, I'm sorry we got shipwrecked on Tyler Island.

I guess we should have just swam around for a bit, you know,

found a different one.

Dex!

Don't climb too high, you'll fall.

Seeing as you're so keen on being in charge, where do we get food?

I... I never said I wanted to be in charge.

Dexter! Are you listening to me?

Well, you do have the big shell.

I'm really not the leader type.

So that's why you threw away the note to the Council forum.

-I just thought you couldn't be bothered.

-Dex!

Will you tell him to get down?

-Why should I?

-Cos he listens to you!

I'm... I'm... I'm going to explore that way.

See what I can find. SHE GRUNTS ANGRILY

Why don't you cut Tyler some slack?

He's going through a tough time.

Have any of us been over here yet?

No.

-IRONICALLY:

-Tyler's going to be happy.

There's someone else on the island.

Here.

OK, to sum up,

we are on an island

with no food, water or shelter.

And it's going to be dark soon.

And these words are well spooky.

Oh, and there's someone else on the island.

Someone probably watching us now.

TWIGS BREAK

What was that?

There's someone in there.

-Come out!

-No!

I mean... Don't come out!

Stay in there!

Or preferably just go away?

I warn you, I've got a...

..a big shell!

It's coming. It's coming closer.

It's coming closer.

Hiya!

So, is that it now? Nobody else is going to turn up? By pedalo?

-Joseph, Mike?

-What's his problem?

-He reckons it's HIS island.

-No. It's just...

..more difficult when there's lots of us.

-Mate, you are the worst leader.

-You kind of are.

Right, fine.

All right, I'll do it.

Tomorrow, Tyler and Jody build the shelter,

Dex and Sasha get food.

-And we make fire.

-Uh-huh.

DEX SCREAMS

There's spiders on this island!

-Is that it?

-Are you kidding me? Look at the size of this web!

-RYAN:

-It's really not that big.

-They'll be huge tropical island spiders.

-Dexter, no!

-No!

Great, now we're going to have to go and look for some water.

What are we going to do?

It's not like anyone's going to be able to sleep.

SHE SNORES

She is unbelievable.

THINKS: They just don't get it, this is supposed to be MY place.

Maybe I'll just get some sleep.

They might all be gone by the morning.

PEACEFUL, HAPPY MUSIC

RECORD SCRATCHES Ah!

What did you do that for?

Cos you're annoying me.

Right, fair enough.

-Where are the others?

-They've already gone.

-Wow, that's amazing.

-I'm amazing, you mean.

-You're a waste of space.

-Yeah. Both of those.

I tell you what, I'm only going to get in your way,

I'll go look for water.

Caves! Caves have water, don't they?

Uh, yeah, OK.

See you later.

So this was your big, evil plan!

OK, A - there's no such thing as an evil plan to make fire.

What?

Not counting dragons or evil wizards or anything else that doesn't exist.

THUNDER CLAPS

B - for the last time, I'm not evil, I'm resourceful, which is

a little bit hard on an island without resources.

All right, if you're going to be like that, then I'll go join others!

-IRONICALLY:

-Oh, please don't!

I don't know how I'll cope without you!

THUNDER CLAPS

Don't touch anything.

-Don't leave my sight, don't...

-Breathe?

SHE SCOFFS

Oh. Weird.

CELESTIAL MUSIC

Guys!

That's better.

It's not, though, is it?

Not if you ever want to get off this island.

Ah!

Cucumber, tomatoes, melons...

Anything less...healthy?

Oh, wouldn't you like to know?

I don't care what it is as long as it's food.

-Hand it over, though.

-Yeah, I'm starving!

See, that's the thing,

I'm evil, remember?

To an evil person,

this isn't food,

it's power.

What? Who are you?

Someone trying to help you get home...

..and stop you running away.

What? How?

I told you, stop running away, face your fears,

before it's too late.

That means all of you.

If you don't, none of you will go home,

and you'll lose everything.

Stop running away? From what?

Oh, come on, that can't be it.

What's this?

-You are in so much trouble!

-That's me.

Why are you showing me this?

-Well, congratulations...

-CROWD CHANT:

-Tyler, Tyler!

At the end of the day, we look out for each other.

We are who we are.

We fall out and we make up, OK?

You want this food,

you've got to start being nice to me.

Like... Saying you're good at football and that?

I was thinking of something a little more useful.

You can all help Jody finish the shelter for a start.

I'll be wanting a private room.

There is literally no chance.

-Then literally no food.

-No.

We don't need him.

We'll find our own food.

-Are you sure? I mean, we've looked pretty much everywhere.

-Shh!

Good luck with that.

Mm. So nice.

Come on.

Bye.

I was right about you.

Evil.

Yep. It looks like you were.

Mmm!

It was Carmen's idea.

I was trying to cheer you up because you said you were sad.

I know, but...

Just because I haven't got stuff doesn't mean I haven't got memories.

THINKS: Right, I get it, the old me.

Stop being mean to me.

You've done pretty well.

THINKS: I remember this.

Well, they're not here now, are they?

THINKS: I was actually trying to help for a change.

Maybe you should just tell yourself

you're allowed to be good at something.

See what the rest of us see.

FIRE ALARM BEEPS

-I'm coming, I'm coming!

-Tyler!

Jody, get down - smoke rises. Come on. Let's go, let's go!

SHE COUGHS

I'll call Mike and May-Li.

Why show me that?

Where does Ryan get off?

And you, "We've looked everywhere."

Now he knows how desperate we are!

Why are you always on my case?

Because everything you do - EVERYTHING - is selfish.

-What?!

-You do whatever you want.

You delete my programme, you eat all the food,

without a care for anyone else.

You are a useless, whining, selfish baby!

Fine then, if that's how you feel, maybe we should split up.

Fine by me.

Tyler!

Dexter!

Dexter!

Oh...

Hi.

-Have you seen Dexter?

-Have easy Tyler anywhere?

-He's just gone off...

-He's been ages.

-You know what he's like.

-He went to a cave to find some water.

-BOTH:

-Not that I'm worried.

SHE LAUGHS

Dexter's down at the beach, trying to catch fish in a suitcase.

Ah. Yes.

So...

..still hung up on Tyler, then?

No!

I'm so over all that.

I wouldn't even be bothered if I never saw him again.

Tyler!

I thought you were lost!

Not that I was worried.

At all, actually.

Don't say anything.

So, were you scared of...?

Ow!

I wasn't going to say anything.

Sorry.

Right... Well, quite a lot of news.

-They look like...

-Us?

Yep. And on the other side...

How did you...?

The me from the magic laptop gave it to me, only it wasn't me.

Well, not really.

-So this me...

-In the magic laptop?

-Yeah.

He said the only way to get off this island

is to, like, face our fears, or something.

The MAGIC laptop?

I know, OK, but how do you explain this?

Pictures of us.

You've been out in the sun too long and forgot that you drew it?

No, I'm telling you, this happened.

You believe me, don't you, Jody?

Er...

What's up with her?

Oh, she thinks Ryan's cool now that he's all evil and stuff.

He found food, but he won't let us have it.

Just chill. I mean, none of this makes any sense anyway, does it?

Just go with the flow.

Well, wait, shouldn't we all stick...

..together?

Go ahead, you'll never find it.

How about I swap you, then?

Food for information.

I'm starving!

All right.

Right, so Tyler found out from this magic laptop

that the way to get off this island is to face our fears.

Right...

So?

But you've told me now. I don't need to give you anything.

What?!

Evil lesson one -

knowledge is power,

so don't give it away so easily.

Go on, then.

Urgh! Tomatoes are, like, the worst thing in this world!

Take it or leave it.

Actually, you know what? It's not bad.

SHIMMERING SOUND

She's moved!

She's home.

She must have faced her fear.

That's it, she faced her fear.

Here, fishy, fishy, fishy.

Oh, nearly, nearly...

Nearly, nearly...

No.

Must have...

I'm getting closer.

So, his plan to catch fish is to put a suitcase under water

and just wait for the fish to swim in?

Yeah. And shut the lid.

Cool, harpoon - give us a go?

No way.

-Give it back!

-Don't worry, I've totally got this.

I see one!

-Where?

-There.

No!

So, we do a Floss - we all face our fears

and, once we've done that, we go home!

I'm never letting you do anything on your own again.

That's it. That's your fear. Letting go.

-Worrying about Dexter too much.

-I'm only looking out for him.

I know, cos your mum couldn't, right?

Tyler!

Sorry, that just came out.

But it's kind of true, isn't it?

Yeah.

And...you know I'm grateful,

but you're my sister, not my mum.

Let me prove to you I'm not selfish.

You said something about hearing a waterfall when you explored, right?

Er...yeah.

Um...

It's around here.

But I couldn't find a river, so it might be underground or something.

I mean, it might be, but I'm not sure.

Let me go. Please.

I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing.

OK.

But the water can't be standing.

I did a project on it at school.

It...has to be running freshwater.

SHIMMERING SOUND

Yes!

You see? You're back at the DG. You did it!

You faced your fear!

Dex, you go, and if you could think of your biggest fear

in the meantime, then blinkin' well face it!

Be careful!

Are you helping or what?

Even better than that, I've just realised my fear.

What?

-Oh, come on, just one more.

-Nope.

It doesn't matter anyway, Tyler's going to get us home,

and you'll be back being the one no-one likes at the Dumping Ground.

Maybe I should stop him, then.

-How?

-Easy.

I just have to find out their fears before they do.

Jody, for example.

If I can work out what she's afraid of,

I could stop her facing up to it.

Tyler!

Were you scared of...?

Knowledge is power, eh?

Yep.

I know something else.

Food first.

HE SIGHS

You're learning.

I get it now.

What you said before, that I was happy before, and now...

..not so much.

And that's my fear, that it's finally happened.

I've got what my mum's got.

Jody was right about me acting all weird, all mopey.

Well, maybe she's right.

Me being quiet, I was struggling with things.

That's how Mum was.

It's right, isn't it?

Not necessarily.

PHONE RINGS That's weird.

Like I said, not necessarily.

Jody?

No, I can take many forms.

I can show the past, the present and the future.

You don't sound like Jody.

-You're an idiot.

-That's better.

Hang on, what?

-You heard, Jody looked into your mum's condition.

-Did she?

Well, yeah, she cares about you.

Does she?

Well, I wouldn't go that far!

-Of course she does!

-Shut it!

Anyway, what you're describing, it isn't necessarily...

-Because you looked on the internet, you're an expert now?

-No.

I just mean don't go jumping to conclusions.

If you're worried, see a doctor, just don't...

What?

Don't use it as an excuse to run away...

..and not deal with it.

What do you mean run away?

That's what Jody said before. Hello?

HE SIGHS

FAINT RUNNING WATER

That's it.

MONKEYS SCREECH

Face my fears. Face my fears.

What am I afraid of?

Nothing.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Apart from the...

..biggest web in the world.

DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFIES

HE YELLS

HE YELLS

There's no other way round.

They don't have to know I found it.

Saving yourself from being eaten by a giant spider, that's not selfish.

I'm not running away this time, I'm not!

They don't need me anyway.

Ah, good, you're back.

It'll be night soon,

better finish this shelter.

Build it yourself.

Dex!

You did it!

Well, someone had to.

-REMEMBERS:

-It's not selfish.

Everything you do - EVERYTHING - is selfish!

You're a useless, whining, selfish baby!

They don't have to know I found it.

HE ROARS

WATER SPLASHES

HE YELLS JOYFULLY

Yay!

-Well done, bro.

-You're forgetting I still have all the food.

We found water, we'll find food.

I reckon we found your fear, Ryan -

losing control.

Yeah? Well, we all know what your fear is.

So go look facing that.

What are you talking about?

What you're afraid of.

It's obvious.

The truth -

Tyler doesn't fancy you.

What?

-No.

-Oh, don't bother pretending.

-LOVEY-DOVEY:

-Because you love him!

-Shut up!

But, of course, you won't do anything about it

because you know he doesn't care about you that way.

-He just sees you as one of the lads.

-You're horrible, you.

You know nothing about me. Nothing!

Well, you told me I was evil.

-STUTTERING:

-You-you-you know nothing about me!

-What?

-Nothing!

-What's going on with her?

-Nothing about me!

-You're horrible.

-You told me I was evil.

-You told me I was evil.

-You know nothing about me.

-You're horrible.

-Nothing! You know nothing about me!

-Nothing!

-What's going on?

Talk to me! Stop!

I don't want to watch this any more.

Yeah? All right, then.

There, go and stare at your poster,

run away, like you always do.

HE SCREAMS

HE SIGHS

HE SCREAMS

RYAN CACKLES

-You told me I was evil.

-No.

Not any more.

I'm not letting him hurt my friends!

Nothing! You know nothing about me!

-You told me I was evil. You told me I was evil.

-Shut it! Nothing!

Jody! Jody!

I think she went to find your cave.

Floss was right about you. You're evil!

You know, it's not nice being told that all the time.

It's all I've ever heard since I was a kid.

That's because it's true.

And you're the other person who can change the way

people think about you.

Why are you so afraid of being nice?

It's... It's nice.

Just try it.

This whole place, the island,

that's what it's about.

It's about getting us to stop running away...

..from the things we're afraid of.

There's a fridge with food in it, about 50m that way.

-A fridge?

-Yep.

Full of surprises, this place.

SHIMMERING SOUND

-You know nothing, nothing!

-You told me I was evil.

-Nothing!

You know nothing about me! Nothing!

You saw.

Jody, I've been an idiot, hiding away.

I mean, obviously he's right.

You didn't get me a card either.

-What?

-For my birthday.

You or my mum.

But... I wrote in the big card.

From all of us.

Of course you won't do anything about it

because you know he doesn't care about you that way.

-Oh, wait.

-He just sees you as one of the lads.

He's talking about me.

And you reckon that's true?

Isn't it?

Get off!

What did you do that for?!

I'm sorry. Um, I don't know.

I guess...

..just...to show how much you mean to me.

To stop running away.

Face my fears. SHIMMERING SOUND

I did it!

I'm home.

It's...just you left now.

SHIMMERING SOUND

Of course it was a dream, you idiot!

You were talking to your laptop!

And you kissed...

Yep. Definitely a dream.

Truth is, none of us asked to be shipwrecked

on the Dumping Ground desert island.

She's just looking out for you, mate.

You're lucky to have her.

I know.

GLASS SHATTERS

On reflection, we've agreed to give cricket a miss for now.

Yeah. Soz, Sis.

WOOD CLATTERS

No way!

No. No chance!

VOICEOVER: And none of us can choose who we're shipwrecked with.

-Dexter, put it down!

-Hey, Sasha, duck!

Floss would like to have at least two types of cheese

in her sandwiches at all times.

VOICEOVER: But we can learn to understand each other.

I was wrong to throw those notes away.

And I'll have a chat with Mike for you.

Right.

Do you know what really annoys me about you, Ryan?

It's not the scheming,

it's not the being mean to people to get your own way,

it's because you try really hard to be horrible,

when underneath it all, you're all right.

You're nice.

I'm not nice.

But...as you know, I can be a bit of an idiot sometimes.

And, believe it or not,

I'm working on it.

Well, good.

And...I reckon I have an idea where you can start.

And while we're learning from those mistakes,

we make amends for our own.

-You really want to know what it takes?

-Yep.

Triangles, not squares. It tastes way better.

That...is genius!

Try and stick together along the way.

Who knew?

But sometimes we have to face down our fears.

Oh. Hi, Jody.

Um, hi.

Did you just, um...?

Did I just what?

Never mind.

It was definitely a dream, wasn't it?

The island, the cave...

You and I, you know.

What?

Yeah, of course it was. Ignore me.

Tyler.

What are you so scared of?

Um...

Why would you ask that?

All you've done lately is run away.

From me, from everything.

Yeah. That's not going to happen any more.

Good.

Cos it's well annoying.

It's just the usual stuff, what I'm scared of,

you know - failure,

everyone hating me...

..getting ill like my mum.

But probably most of all...

..losing you.

SHE EXHALES

-As a mate, you know.

-Yeah.

You should probably stop acting like an idiot, then.

Yeah, good call.

SHE LAUGHS

But do you know what the best thing is about being on a desert island?

Really? Seriously?

-Put this apple on your head.

-I'm not putting an apple on my head

-I'll look ridonculous.

-You'll look amazing.

Ridonculous.

THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

You'll look amazing. Put it on your head.

Yeah, thin slices of cheese.

Anything particular kind of cheese?

All right.

It's when you find a way back to your family.

-Then the bread, squash it down.

-Squash it down.

-Give me the apple.

Have you heard this, about the cheese sandwich?

-Don't squash it.

-OK, what, does it marinate with the flavour?

Try it. Really, try it.