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My name is Polly Smith.

This is my first day at De La Salle Academy.

This is a glimpse into the life of a new girl.

And this is me.

Yep, my uniform looks as thrown together as Dad's car,

but it's the best we could manage.

OK, deep breath.

Here we go. Walking into my brand new life.

Welcome to the first assembly of the new term.

MICROPHONE FEEDBACK

I'd like to remind our older pupils

that our new arrivals, our acorns,

might be a bit shy at first

but it's our duty to look after them.

There is a proverb - "mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

So, let's all work hard this year and we'll work hard with you.

And perhaps one day, our acorns will grow into mighty oaks.

LAUGHTER

Housekeeping. The portable communication device,

otherwise known as the mobile phone,

will not be tolerated on school grounds.

Any mobiles found on school premises will be confiscated.

Do we understand?

BELL RINGS

According to experts,

when a reporter is dropped into dangerous territory,

she must quickly make contact with the natives.

Didn't you hear what he said about no mobile phones?

You look like you're lost.

You're in the same class as me!

Stick with me and you'll be fine. I...

definitely know where I'm going.

You're lost too, aren't you?

Well, not lost, but...

you know, searching.

You into films, then?

My favourite film's about two people on a boat.

Are you coming?

Anyway, they're on this boat on this river. His name's Humphrey Bogart.

Beware, local sources yattering on to cover the fact

that they don't actually know anything.

Those stripes on your bag.

They're messing up my shot.

Nervous. Don't be.

My dad says all you need to do is network.

I mean, make friends. Like, friends with me?

I'm not that good with new people.

-Honestly, it worked for Humphrey Bogart and Katharine...

-Hepburn.

-How did you know that?

-I used to watch old films with my mum.

Used to?

Are you like me? You know. Different.

What are you talking about?

Ah!

Charlie Finch?

Polly Smith?

At last! Term has begun.

BELL RINGS

-You not filming?

-Shhh.

I don't suppose you've heard of Alfred Hitchcock? He made 65 films.

66.

I bet you're always filming. Not now, obviously.

-I'm an undercover reporter.

-Brilliant!

But I can't do my job with all of this.

I have to be... I want to be alone.

This is the Blackboard Jungle, where the boys behave like children,

trying to look tough. Pathetic.

And the girls have already got their little huddles

sorted before first break.

And this is Serena Hanson, the coolest girl in De La Salle.

Beautiful. Well feared.

There are 10,000 stories in this playground

and this is just one of them.

-Embedded.

-What?!

That's what they call it when a war reporter off the telly

goes into dangerous places.

Embedded in dangerous terrain. It's just absolutely brilliant.

Luca Wibley. Always in the park opposite our house.

Never really noticed him.

What do you think you're doing?

Err, watching football. I love football.

-Were you filming us?

-It wasn't switched on.

All right.

That's what I like to see. That is what I like to see.

See?

Full of himself.

BELL RINGS

Good day, love?

No-one knows what any of this stuff is, not even my dad.

He's like a mad inventor.

Steady on.

But none of his inventions actually seem to...

work.

In the olden days,

people used to make films on old machines like this.

Dad doesn't hold with anything digital.

Says he can't see how they work, can't see the parts move.

He won't even have a mobile phone, says they're an abomination.

Now, stop pointing that thing at me!

I'm just trying to...

A-ha!

That's got it!

This is my room. Only the cool stuff here.

This is my mum and dad's room.

Now it's just my dad's.

This used to be the guest room.

Mad Aunty stayed in here at Christmas.

Me and Mum would spend ages getting it ready.

Now it's just Dad's junk room.

Have you hung your uniform up?

Yes!

That was Mum's. She loved films.

She was like me.

'What do you think you're doing?'

'Err, watching football. I love football.'

-'Were you filming us?'

-'It wasn't switched on.'

This is alive with possibilities, this.

Dad?

First day go OK?

If I wanted some advice...?

Well, never use a screwdriver for anything else other than

screwing stuff in.

I've been using this to open the car door. It's absolutely ruined!

Oh, right.

Anybody home?

Phil!

Got a bit of a sick old lady here, Doctor.

Oh, dear. What seems to be the trouble?

I think she's having a spot of bother downstairs.

THEY LAUGH

It's hard to break a story these days

when the powers-that-be won't agree to a proper meeting.

This is Polly Smith, embedded in the field.

I need to go behind enemy lines if I'm going to get to the truth.

I have to win the trust of a possible eye-witness.

You just going to stand there, or are you coming over?

Can I show you something on my phone?

-Better not be of me.

-I...

I think I filmed something I wasn't supposed to see.

-I thought you said your phone was switched off.

-I was undercover.

Why?

You know Serena Hanson?

Err, yeah, she's my girlfriend.

Oh.

Going already?

I'm having tea with my producer.

Right. Great talking to you.

Funnily enough, there was a pasta making machine down the car boot.

Chrome-plated, with tagliatelle and fettuccine blades.

-'I can't let Serena get away with it.'

-I didn't buy that.

'It's a criminal act.'

Sorry, what?

I was thinking, maybe I could wire it up and get a bulb in there somewhere,

and when you wanted pepper, you just...

You OK?

Yeah.

You off?

-Just remembered something.

-OK.

Charlie.

You still on the internet?

It's getting late, Pol.

I've never trusted the AA.

Always better to do it yourself.

-They actually know how to fix cars, though, Dad.

-And?

-And you don't.

-Now that is not, strictly speaking, true.

I'll be late. See you.

You need anything?

Sweetie?

Hiya.

Quite ready, Mr Finch?

Good. For the benefit of Mr Finch, I will repeat.

Our school has a zero-tolerance policy on mobile phones.

Thanks to the benevolence of our Head, yesterday was an amnesty.

As from today, all persons found in possession of a mobile phone

will have their communication devices confiscated.

Are we understood?

Right. Now, Mr Finch, what do you fancy doing today?

Um, some work?

Is the right answer.

BELL RINGS

Charlie!

Day two of the scandalous goings on at De La Salle Academy.

Charlie Finch, the victim of extortion,

is reluctant to cooperate in my investigations.

But the truth must be told in this dangerous environment,

where a reporter could get caught by either side at any moment.

Charlie!

Listen, I'm sorry if I was a bit off yesterday. I'm not brilliant at...

-Communicating.

-I know what happened to you.

-What?

Yesterday, at the back of the football pitch. I saw it all.

-Mind your own business!

-Charlie!

I filmed them robbing your money.

I don't want anything to do with this.

-You can't let Serena get away with it.

-It's just messing about.

-No, it's not. It's a criminal act.

-Serena will batter you.

-I'm not scared of Serena.

-Are you talking about me?

-No. You're my mate.

-Weirdo.

-He's not weirdo.

-Who's this, then?

-Your girlfriend?

-Just leave him alone.

-Know who you're speaking to?

-I'm the voice of truth!

-What have you got to say about extortion with menaces?

-Freak!

What have you got to say about bullying Year Sevens

-on their first day?

-No comment.

We'll get to the truth. Me and Charlie.

-We're making a stand.

-Shut up, Polly. Serena's right.

You are a freak.

Looks like your boyfriend's done a runner.

Aww, Polly want a sweetie?

Whoops!

Did you see her face? That's so good!

Well, that went well. Polly No Mates. Maybe she's right.

Maybe I am a freak.

Who are my mates? Just me and my camera phone. How pathetic is that?

No mates, no use, no bottle.

Hey, hey! None of that nonsense,

otherwise it's straight to the headmaster's office, OK?

-Yes, sir.

-BELL RINGS

'Straight to the headmaster's office...'

Aww, Polly no mates. On your way to snitch on me, are you?

See you at home time.

CLOCK TICKS

BELL RINGS

STUDENTS CHATTER

The voice of truth's gone a bit quiet.

Aww, is Polly scared?

I'll take that, thanks.

-Leave me alone!

-The voice of truth?

Voice of a grass, more like. Here, you have it.

-Oh, give it back. Stop it, give it back!

-Oh, Polly!

Let's see you tell the truth about that, Polly No Mates.

-LUCA:

-Wait up!

Polly, what's up?

Sit down, love.

Oh, hey.

Let me get something for that scratch.

That was your mum's, you know?

I've been on it for months, but I just can't get the parts.

KNOCK ON THE DOOR

-Get down, get down.

-Who are we hiding from?

-Bill, from next door!

-Dad, have you finally lost it?

He must have come for this.

He's going to kill me.

-Can you fix it?

-What, the vacuum cleaner?

No, I meant your problem.

If you want me to step in?

I'll let you know.

-You've got to do the right thing.

-Like Rick, in Casablanca!

Here's looking at you, kid!

COMPUTER PINGS

There you are!

Thanks for sticking by me in the canteen yesterday.

I know exactly what happened to you at the garages.

-Serena pushing you, smashing your phone.

-Telling everyone, is she?

-The voice of truth.

-No. I witnessed the whole thing.

You're as bad as Luca.

No, I filmed it all from the rooftop.

-'Aw, is Polly scared?

-Aww, little baby Polly.

-I'll take that, thanks.'

What? You just happened to be there?

'Stop it! Give it back!'

Me and Luca did some networking.

-This is dynamite.

-And not badly shot, either.

-You're not supposed to be enjoying this.

-Sorry.

But you have got a good eye.

-Well?

-Well, I've been making this documentary on my...camera phone

about my first days at a new school.

-Big school.

-Yes.

-Ignoring school rules?

And I accidentally got this footage of someone taking money.

-Extortion with menaces.

-Yes, extortion with menaces. Off a boy.

-Off this boy.

-It's blurry, but you can definitely see it.

And then we've got more footage of bullying,

with theft of personal property.

My phone.

This is the very reason I won't tolerate mobile phones.

I downloaded the evidence onto my laptop. I can bring it in tomorrow?

You don't need to make a silly little film to convince me about bullying.

-It's not silly!

-What?

-Sorry.

The ban on mobile phones helps our pupils with...

Concentration!

-It's not a quiz, Mr Finch.

-I'm sorry.

I know it's only my first week and I haven't made a great start,

but please, Sir, could you just watch the film?

-'Aww, is Polly scared?

-Oh, Polly.

-I'll take that, thanks.'

-'Leave me alone!

-The voice of truth? The voice of a grass..'

-Evidence based learning, eh?

-Yes, sir!

-Dad! Dad!

-Good day at school, love?

-Dad, it was awful.

-I had to talk to the headmaster!

-Headmaster?

-And Charlie did, too.

Who's Charlie?

I was just trying to do the right thing, and my phone got smashed.

I'd have fixed it.

Yesterday I was ambushed by a group of Year 11 girls.

-What did your teacher say?

-I didn't tell anyone at first.

-No-one listens.

-I would.

-You never listen.

I'm always listening, Pol.

Making my film was more hassle than it was worth.

I should have just kept my head down like you.

I don't really think that you're the keeping your head down sort.

I don't know what I am. I know one thing.

I'm not cut out to be a film-maker.

Well, I guess you won't be needing this, then?

Wow.

Mum's Super 8.

You can forget your gigabytes and your megapixels.

Cine film is beautiful.

Like memories flickering. Like ghosts.

This is Polly Smith, at the end of the first week at big school.

And this is my dad.

The whir of a spool turning.

The old film of people you loved.

Love.

All you need is a sheet pinned to the wall and it's like a magic lantern.

It's just so beautiful.

-Come on!

-Where are we going?

You'll find out when we get there.

You ready?

MACHINERY WHIRS

OK, give us a big smile!

Ready?

LAUGHTER

-PROJECTOR CLANGS

-Dad!

-I'll fix it.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd