Take a Hike Millie Inbetween

They just need a really good clean up!

Or a really good throw away - I'm not wearing second-hand boots!

School's doing a Highland Challenge and Lauren wants to do it.

Usually she's about as sporty as a hibernating tortoise.

They're already broken in for you.

-So now they're broken!

-That's a good thing.

-I bet they're all sweaty and cheesy.

-No! No, they smell...

..of the countryside!

Cowpats?!

Mum's got burned before buying Lauren pricey kit.

And then her giving up faster than you can say "Billy Elliot"!

Someone might have died in these!

Hopefully not doing a Highland Challenge?

She could've at least got me a pair with heels.

Oh, yeah, all the mountaineers

are wearing three-inch heels this year, Lauren.

See, these are just not on trend!

If you actually finish, I will personally eat these.

With pickle!

-So, all I need is a decent pair of boots..

-Mm-hm.

-..and a tent...

-Mm-hm.

-..and my hair tongs...

-HE LAUGHS

And why are you laughing?

I'm sorry, no, it's good.

But you know there's no room service, right?

Funny(!)

She will be up all night trying to find somewhere to plug in her tongs!

DAD LAUGHS

What about the last Highland walk?

She wouldn't even get out of the car!

There were midges the size of blooming bats!

Those WERE bats!

Oh, imagine how long she'll last on a hike.

Carrying everything herself!

Wait, do I have to carry my own luggage?

Luggage?!

Oh, thanks for the support, people!

Yeah, at least she's willing to give it a try!

You can borrow my old festival tent if you like?

Thanks, Amber, at least SOMEONE believes in me!

What colour is it?

I mean, it's just not like you to want to share your personal space...

with insects, in a tent, with no hair product or tablet.

-I know - it's a dare!

-No.

-You're bunking off a maths test?

Maybe I've just got something to prove?

MILLIE SCOFFS Right. Come on. Seriously, why?

Harley Chang's doing it!

Harley Chang?

Ha! Hot Harley's way out of your league.

-Yeah, well, my league's going up.

-Ooh, burn!

Mum, can you just sign this? You don't need to read it.

Oh, you still keen? I am impressed!

30 quid fee? No way.

Mum, please, I really want to do this.

No, because when you change your mind...

-But I won't.

-..I will be down 30 quid.

-I'll chuck in a fiver.

-That's my boy! Nice one, my son!

It will be worth every penny

when we get to see the state she's in afterwards!

Mum, please?!

Why don't you put these on and walk round the block ten times,

see how you feel?

Look what a nice job Mike's done.

He's not put heels on them.

LAUREN SIGHS

I think you should sign it.

You never know, Lauren might surprise you.

Oh... Oh, yeah. Lauren's full of surprises.

It's weird how the only people who think Lauren might do it

are Mike and Amber.

'..And I know she only wants to do it because of some boy,'

but surely your own mum should have some blind faith in you?

Not like you and your dad - the dream crushers.

What do you mean?

You were both laughing your heads off at poor Lauren

for even thinking about trying.

Oh, we were! Well, at least, I guess, I was.

Well, that's horrible, with a side order of terrible!

Stop doing it then.

Step forward everyone that's doing the Highland Challenge.

Go on, give us the punchline

so we can all just split our sides laughing and then move on.

The punchline is...it's Lauren!

You got her to sign?!

Shame you didn't get her to chuck out the boots as well.

-How?

-Well, I was very persuasive, and moving.

You have to see it through now

to prove to Mum and Dad that you can do it.

-Why?

-Because Amber and Mike had more faith in you than your own parents.

It's only cos they don't know me so well.

Lauren, don't you care that Mum and Dad expect you to fail?

I kind of expect me to fail too.

But at least I'll be failing

-while watching Hot Harley zooming up the hill in front of me!

-LAUREN LAUGHS

Well, you've clearly thought it through

and I'm loving your positive attitude.

Thank you!

You'll have to give it a good airing,

I haven't used it since T in the Park.

You camped in a park?

It's a festival - duh!

Fantastic. Is it easy to get up?

Yup, it's a pop-up tent, so you just throw it down and it pops up.

..And pop it up!

-Yeah, but don't...

-ALL GASP

-Is it hard to get down?

-No, it's fine, just do it like this.

Hey.

-AMBER:

-This goes like this...

-JAKE:

-Do you need some help?

It's OK, you don't need to help, Jake.

-We could have a sleepover while Lauren's away!

-Oh, brilliant!

We could get pizza, watch DVDs,

fill our onesies with popcorn then try and eat our way out!

Try on some of Lauren's clothes, see if we can work a new look!

Oh, she'd go mad.

Are you OK, Lauren?

BOTH: If she found out!

Are you sure you don't need help?

No, I'm completely capable, thank you.

No, it's fine. I definitely... No...

I've got it. Look, it's fine, I can do it.

You'll have to put Jake on speed dial while you're away,

or carry him in your rucksack!

..Then I'll never have a chance to do it.

She'll be zooming home in a cab before dark, eh, Millie?

Dad.

How can you laugh at poor Lauren like that?

What, me? You were...

-I

-am going to do everything I can to get her ready for success.

So you better stop smirking... and start working.

-All right.

-AMBER:

-OK, let us get up...

So, I'll be Lauren's chief overseer, making sure she's getting...

Overseen?

I was going with, "getting fitter"?

Shouldn't I be doing the personal training,

seeing as I'm a personal trainer?

Yeah, I was getting to that, Mike, but I'm still on Mum.

You'll be head of food and nutrition.

-Spinach smoothies!

-Ooh, you temptress!

And YOU...will be head of training.

Don't go getting any T-shirts printed, though,

this is Lauren we're talking about.

Faith is the bird that feels the light

and sings while the dawn is still dark, Sharon.

-What do I do?

-Close your mouth.

And don't open it unless it's to encourage Lauren.

You will be head...

of cheerleading!

-No-o-o-o!

-Oh, yes!

Lauren's doing the Challenge, I'm going to make sure of it.

And I know what you're thinking.

But it's not about getting her out of the house

just so I can have a sleepover.

That's a bonus. For me, being so noble!

-Oh, thanks, babe.

-There you go.

Oh.

-Belly dancing music? Is this yours?

-What you trying to say?

No, it's mine. I thought I'd lost it.

-It must've been in the tent bag.

-You do belly dancing?

Yeah, I give classes.

I am a midwife - expert in all things belly!

"Arabic cultures have been using belly dancing for centuries

"to condition women for childbirth."

What, pregnant ladies? Big wobbly bellies belly dancing?

-Whoa! Whoa-ah!

-Tony, would you grow up?

Teach me.

Ah! You got me to sign Lauren's form so you could have a sleepover!

No! You think I spend all day thinking up devious schemes?

-Yes.

-Whatever. Can we? Please?!

Sure, why not.

I promise, it won't be any extra work for you.

You'll just have to buy sweets and make popcorn.

-You can have a sleepover, if...

-Yes! Oh, no. Not an "if".

If you get Lauren to do the Challenge.

How do you rate my chances?

Ah... Let's just say I'm willing to throw in a million pounds

and a life-size chocolate fountain!

-Mum!

-Would I be making this refreshment helmet for Lauren

if I didn't think she could do it, Sharon, eh? Hm?

Oh, no, really need a wee, sorry, excuse me!

-What sleepover?

-The one that's none of your business.

-Which means it totally is.

-SHE SIGHS

-OK. You have to isolate the pelvis.

-Isolate it where?

Oh... Put my midwife things down, please,

although, actually, that's pretty good.

-Er, can I have a go?

-Yeah, come on, join in!

But I haven't got a belly!

Oh, you're so sweet! Come on.

-BELLY DANCING MUSIC PLAYS

-Now, relax...

and let the belly be jelly.

And to the right.

That's my campsite dinner outfit sorted.

Halfway up a mountain with bat-sized midges or sideyways rain?

Either way, good choice(!)

Yeah, says our fashion correspondent(!)

It's not about fashion,

it's about you freezing to death, trying to get Harley to notice you.

So, I get hypothermia, he has to hold me to warm me up -

it's a win-win.

You've got to get fit. You need endurance, speed, stamina...

Nmm...

..and legs Harley can't help but notice.

When do we start?

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

That's it, get those knees up!

-Go on, Lauren! That's it, that's it. Go on, all the way, that's it.

-LAUREN GROANS

Come on! Whoo!

Go on, stretch those quads!

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

Come on, keep up!

-Come on, Lauren!

-My hair looks so...

SHE YELLS

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

SHE YELPS

SHE SOBS

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

That's it, Lauren. Go on, yes! Go on.

Use the compass!

Over here, over here!

Yeah, yeah!

-All right, OK.

-Yeah.

HE SIGHS

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

SHE GROANS

Come on, all the way, all the way, all the way, all the way...

-No, I'm done...

-Don't give up!

-..I'm going to stop doing it!

But it's fun!

ALARM CLOCK RINGS

You can do it, Lauren. You're the champ!

That's it, keep going, good girl.

-ALARM CLOCK RINGS

-Go!

Good footwork, excellent work! Go on, Lauren, that's it.

Go on, that's it, you're a superstar.

-Go, go, go, go, go...

-SHE SCREAMS

Ye-e-e-s-s-s!

Shaved 15 seconds off her running time.

You see, it's all in the mind.

I got her to imagine that the nail bar was closing - phheeow!

And her refreshment helmet didn't slow her down one bit.

Still needs a bit of work, though,

I'm thinking of adding an emergency compass.

She doesn't need a compass... She only knows about ONE DIRECTION!

You should add an emergency lip gloss instead!

-Hey, inspired!

-LAUREN SNORES

Even in her darkest hour, she can still have perfect lips.

BLENDER WHIRS

LAUREN SIGHS

LAUREN SNORES, BLENDER WHIRS

LAUREN SNORES, BLENDER WHIRS

BLENDER WHIRS

Am I late for school?

Not till Monday morning.

Oh...

Don't you want your beetroot smoothie?

-Mike can have it.

-Really?! Oh, fantastic!

BLENDER WHIRS

SHE SIGHS

You are going to rock that hike. You totally look the part.

-Baby, you got it!

-Wow, thanks, Craig.

It's not personal. I'm, um, head cheerleader...

just without the pompoms.

Oh, well, thanks anyway.

You don't stand a cat's chance with Harley though.

He doesn't exactly go for grunge.

You should not have done that.

Now I'm not going to tell you about Millie's secret sleepover.

What sleepover?!

-BELLY DANCING MUSIC PLAYS CD:

-'Forward...'

And forward, and forward, and forward... Coming back...

And... Hey! Come and join us!

I'm happy just watching, thanks.

My belly doesn't dance, it stands by the cake table.

Come on, it's fun!

That's fantastic, Fran, you're so graceful.

I'm good too, watch my hips wobble.

RATTLING

Good hips, bro, but maybe you should try something with fewer scarves?

Such as?

Well, it just...doesn't seem to be quite his thing.

Because he hasn't got the belly for it?

Because he's too young or because he's a boy?

What was the first one again?

Five, six, seven, eight...

KNOCK AT DOOR

I know it looks like a mouse died in the blender,

but I promise you, it'll give you a boost.

SHARON GROANS

Is Millie having a sleepover tomorrow night?

Well, only if your bed's free cos you're doing the Challenge,

which, I guess means...probably not?

Great. Another one who thinks I'm just going to quit.

Oh, love. You've done ever so well.

No-one'll blame you if you're having second thoughts.

TEXT MESSAGE ALERT

Finally, a reason to quit.

OK. So that's the beginner's class?

Perfect. We'll see you then. Bye.

It won't make me late for my sleepover, will it?

-Of course not.

-And I can come too?

You bet! We'll be a belly dancing quartet.

Er, you mean tritet? Trio.

I... I'm not going.

Just think of it as supporting Lauren.

She won't be the only one getting out of her tiny little comfort zone.

I like my comfort zone, it's comfy!

Come on, Tony.

I could teach you some new moves. I call this one the swaying camel.

Er, no thanks, Jake, it's really not for me.

How do you know if you've never tried?

You can wear scarves and bangles and you can wiggle about everywhere!

-Yeah, what's wrong with it?

-Nothing, if you're a girl.

-TONY SIGHS

-Oh, sorry, look...

There's girl's things and boy's things, everyone knows that.

Well, everyone except for me, apparently. Such as what?

I don't know, um, ballet.

Yeah, cos there are no guy ballet dancers. Oh, no, wait, there are.

Bad example. Weightlifting.

Well, that'll be news to all the Olympic women weightlifters.

Beach volleyball... Eh, lion taming. Competitive moustache growing.

Skirt wearing.

There is one thing some boys are bad at.

-What?

-Admitting they're wrong.

HE SIGHS

Big day tomorrow - the sleepover. Oh, and the Challenge.

I guess I should have told Lauren about Fran coming over.

But what if she locks her wardrobe?

-TV BLARES:

-'Get ready for spring with this season's newest and...'

What are you doing?

Popcorn is not a part of your nutrition plan,

especially the night before the Challenge, when you should be...

..Eating what I want because I'm not going.

What? Why? So you just quit?

For no reason?

No, for a very good reason.

Right, so Trixie told Cora, who texted Maddie,

who messaged Emma that Harley dropped out.

A dog chewed his head torch.

That is so lame.

Does he even have a dog?

Or a head torch?

Do I even care?

No Hot Harley and no wet, tired, insect-bitten Lauren.

But it's such a waste!

It's not just you you're letting down, I worked hard as well.

You did work really hard...

getting me out of the house so you could have a sleepover!

You go, girl! Rock that Challenge!

-BOTH:

-Shut up!

-I didn't do it for that!

-Well, you certainly didn't do it for me.

Thanks for all the fake support, Millie!

You told her about the sleepover? This is all your fault.

It can't be. And you said it was none of my business.

TV CONTINUES TO BLARE

I wasn't helping you just for the sleepover, Lauren, I swear.

Then why keep it a secret?

It wasn't a secret. Everyone knew except you.

This is so not helping.

It's not just like I killed your pet rabbit, I made a mistake, OK?

What rabbit? Did you buy me a rabbit?

No! Look, there wasn't a good time to tell you.

I didn't want you taking it the wrong way.

What, like I'm taking it now?

What part of "I made a mistake" don't you get?

The part where you randomly buy me a rabbit!

There isn't a rabbit, Lauren!

You're so close to actually achieving something.

And I'd love to see you do it.

Just like you'd love to have a sleepover.

Well, you're going to be disappointed on both counts

cos it isn't happening,

no matter how many rabbits you try and bribe me with!

-Do you want to give me a hand, Jake?

-Soon.

-I'll give you two.

-No need.

We've got girl power.

And to fix a motorbike... Imagine!

My sleepover's cancelled. Lauren quit the Challenge.

Oh, I'm sorry, that's a shame on both counts.

Yeah, sorry, Fran. Still, it was a long shot.

Hey, did I tell you about the time when she took up curling?

She goes, "This is just mopping on ice!"

Not really helping, am I?

Hey, it's not all bad, you're all going belly dancing in the morning!

I'm not, I'm staying here.

No-one does the swaying camel like you!

All right, then, I'll come.

But I'm not dancing, my belly's not happy enough.

-What's this?

-It was the start of my college fund.

-£8.50?

-I'm only 13.

I made you sign the form, so I'm paying back the registration fee.

Here's an IOU for the rest.

Look, Lauren quit... because that's what Lauren does.

Just after I'd put the finishing touches to her refreshment helmet.

SQUELCHING

This isn't about you.

That's not how it feels from where I'm standing.

I feel terrible.

I hope she didn't do it cos of the sleepover.

You know it's not about that.

But I made it worse.

You just think that because you're feeling guilty.

I bet Lauren decided to quit the moment she heard about Harley.

But she trained so hard.

I've never seen her stick at anything like that before.

You know, she'd have nailed it tomorrow.

And I'd have loved to see her get a Highland Challenge medal.

She clearly didn't want it as much as you.

Yeah, that's a shame.

-Night.

-Night, Mills.

BIRDS TWITTER

LAUREN GROANS

Lip gloss was a nice touch.

Anyone want to give me a lift to the drop-off point?

-Oh, yeah!

-Good for you.

Here you go...

-MIKE GROANS

-I'll just... I'll swing it over.

-ALL GASP Watch that...

-There we go.

-OK.

-Yeah...

-You go, girl!

-OK...

You the bomb!

-LAUREN GROANS

-She'll be back by lunchtime.

You should have tried it, Jake, it was great.

DRUMMING

What's that?

BELLY DANCING MUSIC

-Ah!

-I thought I'd do some exercise as a tribute to Lauren.

What idiot said belly dancing's only for girls?

So now we can ALL go next time?

Too right!

Hey, w-w-wait, what are you doing?

Showing my mates how cool you are.

-CAMERA CLICKS

-Ah, in for a penny...

-Come...on!

-Come on! All in for a shimmy!

-Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy...

AMBER LAUGHS

Almost 12 hours later and Lauren is still out there!

That one, but don't get it creased.

It's linen. It creases as you look at it.

TEXT MESSAGE ALERT Oh, Lauren alert!

Oh, that is so gross!

Blisters on her blisters.

-Bad.

-Worse than falling in nettles when she was having a wee?

Mm, that's tough. Avocado skin soother?

-Thanks.

-TEXT MESSAGE ALERT

Oh, no! Now there's a storm!

Don't worry, we've been in storms in that tent.

She'll be fine.

I hope there isn't any thunder.

I mean, Lauren freaks when Craig does a loud burp.

-I better send Mike out to get her.

-Get a grip.

If she'd have wanted to come home, she'd have said so.

And she hasn't.

Oh, I don't know what's more exhausting -

doing the Challenge, or hearing about it.

Hearing about it, totally.

BIRDS TWITTER

-Oh...

-Lauren?

Oh...

LAUREN GROANS

Oh, you did it! You so rule.

-Oh! Do you want to sit down?

-Do you want a glass of water?

Are you going to faint?

You look well rough, ha-ha!

-SOBBING:

-It's been a nightmare. But I've made it!

-Ow...

-I'll bring your rucksack.

I've got this!

Oh! Oh...

-Do you want some breakfast?

-You go, I'll be there soon.

You were right about Lauren. And I'm so proud of her.

And extra bacon in your sarnie if you don't say, "I told you so!"

Oh!

HE PANTS

Brought it up. Respect.

I was going to leave it downstairs so I could get everything washed.

Ahem!

HE GROANS

-I knew you could do it.

-No, you didn't,

or you wouldn't have turned me into your personal little project.

Well, that was mostly because I wanted Mum and Dad

to stop seeing you as a quitter.

But you did too.

Well, you did quit after Hot Harley did, so...

It wasn't just cos of Harley, or the sleepover...

I just got cold feet.

So those boots Mum got you were rubbish?

-LAUREN LAUGHS

-No! I mean...

It was the first time I've ever had to work that hard

for something in my life.

-What if I couldn't do it?

-But you did.

Yeah... And I couldn't have done it without you.

-Can you help me get these off?

-Mm-hm.

-Come on.

-(Ow...)

(Ah...)

-These...are minging!

-Mm.

Hopefully Mum'll get me some new ones now.

-Oh, I forgot, I got you something.

-Oh, you didn't have to.

-But I did!

-LAUREN LAUGHS

Pickle?

Yeah, to go with those boots that you promised to eat.

-Oh...

-Bon appetit!