Carmen The Dumping Ground: I'm...

'Attention! The My Life In Care videos are about to receive

'their royal premiere in the TV room.

'Don't miss these personal takes on what life is

'really like in Ashdene Ridge.

'And next up, it's Carmen.'

Finn, you are down by them on the floor. Careful.

Mo, you're here, Ryan, on that beanbag over there.

You boys are there and there.

And Kaz, you are here on this lovely seat.

Sheuch!

We are...

ready to watch.

OK.

I'm Carmen Howle, and I have lived here at the Dumping Ground

since I was quite little.

'And if I'm being honest, I know more than...

-A-choo!

-OK! Are we quite finished?

Thank you.

Continue.

PROGRAMME SPOOLS BACK

I've lived here at the Dumping Ground

since I was quite little and, if I'm being honest,

I know more about how life works here than most others.

It's not their fault.

'They just don't have as much experience as I do.

Is she saying she's the best at being dumped in care?

Think so.

"The real me".

Well, I think there's only one real me. What you see is what you get.

This looks disgusting. I'm not eating this.

'Why beat around the bush? That's what I say.'

I'm not going to a party with you looking like that.

'Some people, you never know what they're thinking.

'I'm definitely not one of them.'

Put them back, Jody. You can't

borrow Carmen's things without asking.

You can't borrow them at all!

'I like to get stuff out in the open.'

-Why?

-Look, I don't want a roommate.

-Specially one who stinks.

-Carmen?!

'Yeah. Be direct.'

Ooh, "direct"? So that's what they're calling "rude" nowadays!

Anyone else here that buzzing?

No? Just me?

Oh, it's just Jody. I thought it was

an annoying little insect ruining everything.

Hey, come on, you three...

I think it's fair to say I'm an ambitious person, too.

"Ambitious"?!

As in, pushy?

With this, you will totally stand out in the audition.

Hm, yeah. The world is my lobster.

You're going to need to get the job first.

Oh, well, I can feel it. It's going to lead to things.

Yeah, yeah, I want to make something of myself.

'But success won't just fall in your lap.

'You need to set yourself targets and go for them.

Are you just going to sit around on the sofa

and just expect things to happen for you?

Well, guess what?

They won't.

You've got to get up

and you've got to make the most of who you are

and what you want to be.

Maybe you do have something.

'And if you're going places, you have to face the fact

'that not everyone is going to be as motivated as you are.'

"Motivated"! So that's, like, really, really bossy!

THEY CHORTLE

These are all over the lobby. Can you please pick them up?

YOU pick 'em up!

If you could go down there and do some hoovering, please?

-It's filthy.

-We are not your slaves.

So, that's the real me. What else?

Oh.

"What's my thing?"

Well, I think you can guess just by looking at me what my thing is.

What do you reckon her thing is?

Sitting in an uncomfortable position with a weird grin on her face?

No, I think it's being really vain.

Yeah, that's right, you've got it!

My thing is fashion and beauty.

'Caring about your appearance is very important, I think.

'Whatever you're doing, it's good to look the part.'

How do I look?

We're getting a bus and a train to Wales,

not a first-class ticket to Hollywood.

But there's more to it than meet the eye.

You know, it's not just about sticking on an outfit

and shoving on some make-up.

'Getting the look just right does take a lot of planning.'

-What is that?

-It's a professional nail-filing kit.

I bought it online. It's the real deal.

-OTHERS:

-Ooh!

Welcome to Carmen's world

of Cute Cuticles and "No Way!" Nails

It's got everything.

It's got extensions, fibreglass wrap,

art transfers...

'And I won't lie,

'for a super-image-conscious person like myself...

'..face furniture did take a bit of getting used to.'

Join the club!

I'm not joining the Speccy Dork Club!

Wow!

You look...different.

What?!

Thanks!

Carmen, I meant it in a good way!

It's about styling it out.

I'm just lucky that I look absolutely fabulous

'in pretty much anything.'

Yeah, I'm starting to feel dodgy, man.

I think I ate something real nasty last night!

HE SNIGGERS

Ah!

Now, this is an easy one.

I want to travel the world.

That's always been my dream.

I just don't get how some people can stay at home

seeing the same view every day.

Yeah, I want to get out there and live life to the full.

'But I guess I'll have to wait until I'm earning decent cash

'with my chain of high-end beauty shops

'before I can do that.'

'For now, it's the number 179 for me.

'Although there have been a few times

'when I thought my dream was about to come true.

'Once, I really thought I was off to Brazil!'

Catching a plane tomorrow.

-To Rio.

-Are you serious?

Decided to go. By myself.

You're so lucky.

-Come with me!

-What?!

-Come with me.

You keep saying you'd love to see Rio, so come.

'I guess someone like Esme, who had it all on a plate,

'could never understand how much her offer meant.

'Otherwise she wouldn't have let me down so badly.'

I called my dad about coming to Rio.

And?

DOOR SLAMS

Turns out my mum wasn't lying.

He actually IS too busy to see his own daughter.

So, what?

That's it?

Give me a break, OK?

I've just found out I'm basically unwanted.

You don't understand, do you?

I ran away from home for you!

'That was bad, but not the worst. Oh, no.

'You can always rely on my mum

'to really dash my hopes.'

I have just had the best idea.

Come with me to Spain.

You know I would've taken you with me if I could,

but Lee said it wouldn't work

and, well, he's gone now, so you can come.

So, like, for a holiday?

No, silly! To live!

'What an offer! I wasn't sure at first.'

Spain? That's amazing.

-Isn't it?

-I don't know.

'But the more I thought about it,

'the more it was a no-brainer.'

You will love Christmas in Spain.

We go to the beach.

I'm going to Spain!

THEY GIGGLE

I was so excited, I couldn't sleep.

Wonderful news, darling.

Lee and I are going to give it another go.

Oh, no, don't look like that!

He's already agreed that you can come and live with us.

Well, not straightaway, of course.

I mean, the flat really isn't big enough for three,

but we're going to find somewhere bigger

and when we're settled in, you can join us!

So that's really good news, isn't it?

SHE SIGHS

Well, don't be sulky, Sweetie!

This time yesterday you didn't even know you were coming.

Helen?

You need to leave now.

Yeah. Not a good memory.

Anyway, moving on...

Ah!

"My worst day".

Mike, what are you trying to do to me?

CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL

OK, that's fine. I'll tell you about my worst day at the Dumping Ground.

How long you got? There's plenty to choose from.

There was that time when you broke a nail.

-Ooh, and there was that other time when you broke another nail.

-Hm.

Or there was the day that you arrived.

GROANING

SCREAMS AND GASPS

'Where to start? I've been soaked...

'..quite a few times...

Ooh, he wee-wee'd! Ah, take it,

take it, take it! Take, take, take!

..in all kinds of ways.

If a hamster wees on you, it's a sign of affection.

I'd be happy if it was me.

And, if it hasn't been water, then it's been the opposite.

'Like when I lost those dresses in a fire.

My mum bought me a new dress every birthday.

And I kept them all.

It's like I've lost another part of that.

'I have been the victim of hilarious pranks.

Who put glue in my shampoo?!

Because when I find out who it is, I'm going to...

DERISIVE LAUGHTER DROWNS OUT SPEECH

It's not funny!

'I've had brushes with the law...

..and where to start with all the injuries?

-What's happened to your eye?

-I'm fine.

'You name it, it's happened to me.'

WOOD CRACKS

-SHE SCREAMS

-Carmen!

SCREAMING INTENSIFIES

Help!

-Pull yourself up!

-Please help me!

Pull yourself up!

Oh, stop me, I'm falling!

'But that was nothing compared to

'the one black day of total horror

'which I will never forget.

'Haddon Hall.'

This is the worst day of my life.

I should be upstairs, you know,

wearing all the glamorous clothes.

But you're a scullery maid.

Mm-hm. Accidentally!

Look, can't I just switch and be with my friends?

Here are your duties for the morning.

Set the table for dinner.

Pick herbs for the kitchen?

Clean out the fireplace?

Do we actually have to do this?

Of course you do. They're your jobs.

I mean, come on. Me?! A scullery maid?

Mike, if you are watching this,

you're meant to be looking after us,

'not mentally scarring us for life!'

I don't know, I thought you showed great promise as a scullery maid(!)

Now that I think of it, there might be a few

fireplaces around here that could do with your expert touch.

Hmph! With these nails, don't even go there.

Right, let's move on to something a bit less traumatic.

Ah, that's a good one.

Although...I miss Lily so much.

'The thing is, I have loads of really good friends here,

'like Tee

-'and Kaz.

-Thanks.

-When she lets me.

'But, if you were to ask me my best,

'best, best friend ever - Lily! -

'there could only be one answer.'

I didn't mean to upset you.

'Lily and me have been through so much together.

I want Poppy and Rosie back!

'There have been days that were simply smashing...

'but not in a good way.

'There have been pamper parties that went wrong...'

Carmen, what have you done? My eyes are burning.

I haven't done nothing! Ow!

Oh, you saw me chop the chillies over here!

-Chillies! Can you just...?

-No, Carmen!

CRASH!

'..badly wrong.'

POIGNANT PIANO

Ah, it's OK, I'm here now. Hey, don't cry.

'And there have been weepy goodbyes.

'More of them than I'd like to remember.

SHE SNIFFLES

I'm not going to watch you go.

I've said goodbye.

OK?

'Being apart from your best friend is never easy.'

Look, I'll call her and you can speak to her.

-No!

-Why not?

Because she'll think I'm stupid!

No, she won't. She'll see that you're missing her.

You're missing a friend.

Not just a friend!

What do you mean?

Lily was like a sister to me.

And it doesn't get any easier.

How can you say that you're going to come and visit

when you won't even bother to come across town

to tell me you're going?

-Carmen, I will visit.

-No, you won't.

Carmen, I have to. Poppy and Rosie are here.

Oh, that's right, your perfect little family.

Well, if there is any time left,

you can come over and give me five minutes.

Or you can stand at the top of the street and wave.

-Carmen, please...

-Leave me alone!

'The thing about me and Lily, though, is while we do fall out

'sometimes, and we are very different people,

'we'll always be close.'

How did you find me?

Well, there's not many Vasquez-Jones in the phone book.

Pretty unique.

So are you.

Are you really running away?

Why do you care?

Do you even have to ask?

I don't know any more.

Carmen, you and Esme might want the same things,

but when something goes wrong,

who's going to be there for you?

I will, stupid!

Because we're best friends. We always will be.

Come here.

So, that's me. That was rather a lot to say.

Anyway, I've got to run now, because I've left myself

next to no time to get ready for Danny Finch's party. And...

Oh, no! It's 3½ hours! How am I going to fit it all in?

All right, laters!