The Broken Soldier Rocket's Island

My mum and your dad?! You're now my sister?

I could walk out of here tomorrow, you'd never see me again.

It's that idiot Brandon. I'm done with him.

You'll destroy the one that goes fast in the sky.

-Rocket?

-No way, that's stupid. This one's for you.

Shh, you've got to be really quiet. Otherwise they'll hear.

I know you don't like the dark any more than I do,

so I'm going to let you bunk in with me tonight.

But you best not hog the pillow, or else.

Archie Beckles.

If you've got any of those insects out of that tank again,

you are for it.

First rule of The Knot -

no bugs in the bed.

I... I haven't. Honest.

Hold your hand out.

Open it.

Oh.

A thousand pardons.

Now, sleep tight.

Make sure the bed bugs don't... You know.

Mikey Valentine eats many juicy satsumas under nightfall.

Eh?

It's a mnemonic - a way to remember the order

and the names of all the planets.

Oh.

Do you...?

-Do you think there'll ever be a day when...?

-What?

When we stop missing them? All the kids that have ever been to stay?

No, Rocket. I don't.

Mercury, Venus,

Earth, Mars,

Jupiter, Saturn,

Uranus and Neptune.

Johnny? You don't need to hide.

It wasn't even a lie.

You're not an insect, you're an arachnid.

Johnny?

Johnny?

Ugh!

Argh!

Dad says I've got to make sure

you actually get to school on time for once.

Jade, what you doing?

Seeing if we can sleep standing up.

It's definitely doable.

Cows and horses do it all the time.

I'll try it in assembly. It'll be well easy there.

Look, it's not too late.

To contact your mum.

Brandon! What did you do that for?

Cos you lot are freaks, and he knows it.

Just because you live with them,

it don't mean you have to hang round with them.

Uh, we're Brandon's friends, actually, Tyler.

No, you're not, you're family. There's a difference.

Hey! Who got you that?

No-one. I found it under my bed.

-SHE SIGHS

-Will you lot...?

See that hole there?

-That's where I found them.

-What?

Cowboys and Indians. A whole tin.

And even though I knew what it said in The Book of Dirgelmore,

I wasn't just going to leave them, was I?

What does it say?

If ever you find a toy hidden away,

you shouldn't move it.

Why?

Well, in case you bring it to life, of course.

Bring a figure to life? As if.

So said I, young Jade.

But the very next morning, there they were -

dozens of real-life cowboys and Indians

charging down Ballabungie High Street without a by-your-leave!

There were running battles,

shoot-outs, scalpings -

the lot!

Trust me, if a toy's been hidden away,

it must have been for a good reason,

so never disturb it.

Soon as we get home,

that soldier is going right back where it came from.

You need to stop hanging out with them.

Why?

Because I think, as long as he's here,

-you're in danger.

-What?!

Trust me, Dibs...

it's not me that's in danger, it's you.

Don't you be thinking that my dad's suddenly your dad too,

cos he isn't, and he's never going to be.

Well, I'm glad you said that,

because I've already got a dad and he's well cool.

But your one looks like Long John Silver!

Stay away from my house, Daniel.

With pleasure, Bethany Summer.

INAUDIBLE SPEECH

Mum! Where's your moisturiser?

I'm having trouble with my oily T again.

Daniel...

Mr Summer and Bethany have come by.

Alvin would like to take us all out to dinner.

Who are they?

You can tell me. I'm your friend.

No, you're not.

You're my family.

There's a difference.

You know, I preferred it when you didn't speak.

Is it all right if I...? If I hang out with you?

Tell a soul about this and your life will not be worth living.

Whoa!

See? I knew it would be fine.

From now on, I'm only ever going to talk to you.

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

-Oi!

-Give that back!

-Hey, that's mine.

-Oi!

-Hey!

What you doing?

Brandon, these aren't your mates.

-You're nothing like Tyler McCray.

-Yeah, I am. I'm exactly like him.

You just forgot, that's all.

Brandon!

-Don't you remember what The Book of Dirgelmore said?

-The what?

It's this stupid thing that the old man has in his store.

It's where most of their stories come from.

It could come to life.

You see? That's why he'd rather spend time with us!

Don't worry. I'll sort it.

Archie, why did you do that?

Do you really want a real-life soldier hiding in your room?

The soldier? Did you see him too?

The one who was charging through the village last night?

I was coming back from a picnic when he just appeared out of nowhere.

Are you...

-making this up?

-No!

And I can prove it. He was with me too.

Spirits of the bed...

..I'm sorry for not listening to the Oldest Man in the World.

It was only one night.

Please don't make this soldier come back to life.

Bye, soldier.

It's too late.

I'm here.

CHICKENS CLUCK

I've only ever had one friend like Rocket in my entire life.

I wouldn't do anything to hurt him, I swear.

Benjamin?

We need to talk to you.

What we hoped wouldn't happen?

It has.

Come inside, yeah?

Why would Archie stop speaking again?

I mean, he hasn't shut up for weeks.

I don't know, but I haven't got a peep out of him since last night.

There is something going on with that Mean Bean.

Your mum's with him and now and I've never seen her look so serious.

Come on!

What's wrong with you?

You know who I am, don't you?

You should do.

You brought me to life.

I thought the Oldest Man was just making it up!

I want you to go, please!

Where?!

Back under your bed?

How am I going to manage that? Have you seen the size of me?

I won't fit.

You can't stay here - this is my room!

Mine too.

And I was here before you.

Don't you be feeling sorry for yourself.

This is miles worse for me.

I was quite happy with the way things were.

You don't have much to worry about when you're made of plastic, but...

flesh and blood's another matter.

I'm absolutely starving, for one.

Well, why wouldn't I be? I haven't eaten since the last idiot moved me.

When was that?

I dunno, when's this?

-2015.

-2015?!

I've got eight years' worth of scoffing to do.

I can make you a butty.

I'm going to need more than that.

I'll see what I can do.

What's going on?

You know we never talk about the kids' lives away from here.

Yeah, but what if it affects us?

It is nothing for you to worry about.

And Daniel shouldn't have given you the impression that it was.

What are you doing here?

-Brandon's in our gang now.

-JADE:

-I don't see how.

Looks like your gang's only made up of

people who have been dumped by Alli.

THEY SNIGGER

Hungry, Archie? What would you like?

-BRANDON:

-I'll be in my room.

For a little fella,

he can't half tuck it away.

-JADE:

-What is it, Archie? What's wrong?

Have you put the soldier back?

Right, no touching it again this time, yeah?

With a bit of luck, we might just have got away with it.

There's something about him they're not telling us,

and it's big.

Dibs, you heard what my mum said. It's nothing.

-You can't do this again.

-It's different this time.

Why?

There was another Tell Stone.

He said someone was going to destroy you,

and I could tell from Ben's face it was him. You've got to believe me!

ROCKET SIGHS

I'm sorry, mate,

but I just don't.

HORSE WHINNIES

Hey! Give me that!

Who were they?

It were my mum.

And me.

And her bloke at the time.

Well, if you've got a mum,

-why are you here?

-She didn't care about me.

And I don't care about her.

Can't see how she could be any worse than this lot.

I live here.

And that's it.

But it's all right, I'm one of you now, aren't I?

Not yet, no.

First...

you've got to prove you don't believe

in all them stupid stories they do.

You're going to steal that Book of Dirgelmore.

Was it lonely under there?

Where?

My bed.

Nah, I had my mates.

You didn't think I was on my own, did you?

There was loads of us - there was me, Little Ted, Robby Robot,

Mr Plasticine. There was loads.

When are you getting them out?

-I don't want any more of you.

-Aw, come on, fair's fair.

You bring one of us to life, you have to do it with the lot.

You're making this up, aren't you?

Well, if you don't believe me,

go and have a look.

COCKEREL CROWS

I'm serious, Grandad.

Benjamin Bean is planning something.

Maybe, Daniel, maybe.

But here's what I think is more likely.

You're missing having your best friend to yourself

even more than usual, because for once,

you don't have your mother to yourself either.

-That's not right.

-Look, I have my concerns too.

I'm not so sure your mother should rush into anything with a man

who looks like he makes people walk the plank.

But don't you worry, though.

I'm going to have a word.

But if I sort that out,

-it's up to you to show Rocket...

-DOOR OPENS

..that his friends are your friends too.

-RECORDING PLAYS:

-'If a toy really did come to life,

'how would you get rid of it?'

As far as I know, once you've brought a toy into the world,

you've a duty to look after it forever.

What are you using that for?

You know you can talk to us.

Of course, it's entirely different if the toy's broken.

I was fortunate - lots of my cowboys and Indians had bits missing

and obviously there's something you can do then.

Fix them.

If something is broken,

you've a duty to repair it.

Fix it, put it back where it came from,

and all will be fine.

WAVES CRASH OUTSIDE

I've been looking for you.

Dibber annoys me so much.

He's got a lot on his plate at the moment.

-You've still got me, though.

-You're going to leave eventually.

Just like all these did.

Dibber and Alli, they're the only people who don't move on.

When I go, I'll never forget you,

-or here.

-And why should I believe you?

Cos I do.

Forget the stupid prophecy.

You're all right.

What's he doing there?

CATTLE LOW

Archie!

You want me to fix it?

It's too late for that, isn't it?

He's already here, isn't he?

Hello?

Are you here?

Rocket, Al!

BOTH: Mikey!

It might have been nice if you'd let us know you were here,

instead of creeping around and hiding in the barn.

Archie's been looking after me, haven't you?

He's not being rude, he's just not speaking to anyone at the moment.

Is that right?

Well, he's been speaking to ME.

This is the first foster kid who ever came to stay with us.

And if Mikey Valentine hadn't been such a little star,

we might not have taken on anyone else.

It's because of him that you're all here.

You got me into astronomy, didn't you?

Taught me how to remember all the planets.

Mikey e-mails us every year on the anniversary of the day he left,

but Rocket's been feeling a bit sorry for himself,

cos this time he didn't get one.

I tried to write it, it's j...

It's just...

I wanted to say everything was great.

But it's not.

I don't want to be a soldier any more.

-I've gone AWOL.

-You've left without telling anyone?

I thought, "Why e-mail, when I can just go and see them?

"I'll be all right there.

"On the island."

But...

when I got here...

..I thought...

-I thought if I told you, you might make me go back.

-You're right.

-We WILL.

-But I want to be a farmer, like you.

Well, that as maybe,

but running away and hiding from everything, that's not the answer.

You're going back today.

And I'm coming with you.

If you want to leave the army, we'll do it properly.

Knot kids don't stop being Knot kids when they leave.

Knot kids are Knot kids forever.

I wasn't really lying, you know.

This was my room before yours

and I did use to pretty much live under that bed.

Hid all those things there for the day that I came back.

Didn't know it was going to be eight years.

My stepdad got me that.

He said it's what I was born to be.

But...

..I don't think I agree.

Hey.

Just cos I'm not really a toy...

..it doesn't mean you can't talk to me, Archie.

What's happened?

Eh?

What's made you shut yourself off again?

Me.

Thought you'd bottled it.

Hurry up.

It's got that soldier on it.

The Oldest Man reckoned if it's disturbed, then it'll come to life.

Then that tells us all we need to know, doesn't it?

You ARE as soft as them.

You get it.

Tyler, I don't think we should do this.

I knew it. I knew it!

Wouldn't want to upset Alli Boulsworth, would we?

Fine.

You shouldn't have done that.

Why, is it going to come and get me?

I hate being pushed around.

HE GASPS AND WHIMPERS

Go, go, go, go!

Did you see his face?!

THEY GIGGLE

THEY WHOOP AND EXCLAIM

You keep that one.

As thanks for bringing me back.

If you hadn't have found that figure,

maybe I'd have gone somewhere else.

Don't be thinking that spiders and toys are your only mates, though.

Cos I were wrong.

We ARE your friends.

As well as your family.

ENGINE STARTS

HORN HONKS

Bye, Mikey!

I'll look after your room!

He never forgot the Knot Rocket.

And we won't either.

How about we all stay in your room tonight, yeah?

Bye, farmer.

Right, come on.

Sleep.

LIGHT SCRATCHING

Brandon! Don't flick me.

I didn't.

Jade, don't touch my hair.

Never touched it. I'm up here.

Brilliant!

Johnny 8's back!

THEY SHRIEK

Good night.

Don't let the bed bugs, well...

you know.

Is it true Madison got bitten by a bat?

She can't stand the light.

She gets this thirst...for blood.

I suppose "vampire" is as good a word for it as anything.

We draw her out, trap her somehow,

and when the sun comes up,

everyone will see what she really is

and they'll have to act.

We have to get to Madison's right now.

Mum's there.