Ryan The Dumping Ground: I'm...

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

their world 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 Ryan.

What's your name, blondie? What's your name?

'Hi, I'm Ryan Reeves.

'Mike's got me doing this "I am" video thing.

'How would I describe the real me?

'Well, I'm definitely someone who likes their privacy.

'I like to get away from the madness in this place

'now and again and chill by myself for a bit.

'Not to get up to anything dodgy.'

-Oh, really?

-'That's not my style any more.

'But it's good to be able to think about stuff.

'Take stock of what's going on around you. That sort of thing.

'And that's especially important when you're somewhere new.

'Which is why, no offence meant to Mo, but I wasn't exactly

'overjoyed with the sleeping arrangements when I first got here.'

I know it's strange being new, but you get used to it.

-Sure.

-Do you want to go and look for some treasure?

Maybe later, yeah?

I'll have to sort me stuff out first.

'So there I was, cooped up with this wannabe junior pirate.

'Meanwhile others like Johnny were living it up in mini palaces.'

-What are you doing in here?

-Sorry, mate. I got lost.

-This place is amazing.

-He earned the right to that room.

You'd only been here five minutes.

Is that your own bathroom?

Yeah, Mo did me a favour.

'The funny thing is that it was through hanging out by myself

'that I was able to sort out the room situation.

'Cos I'd spotted this girl called Maud whose parents

'wanted to foster Harry.'

Do you guys fancy a cup of tea before you head off?

'But there was something about her that just didn't add up.'

Care kids are messed up.

I can't believe you want to bring one of them into our home.

'All this made me wonder

'if there was more to little Maud than met the eye.

'Especially when loads of money went missing.'

They said they're searching the neighbourhood this afternoon.

Who knows?

He might have been dumb enough to leave his fingerprints.

I'm just going to the toilet.

'Turned out she'd gone to all sorts of lengths to avoid having

'a new little brother.'

-You've just proved my theory.

-What theory?

You wanted to put your parents off fostering so you nicked the stuff.

It was tough for poor Harry, as if he's not been through enough.

You're not too disappointed?

I always knew something would go wrong.

But good for Johnny, though,

as he'd been prime suspect for the theft.

Mate, I owe you a big one,

so if you want to take the room then you can have it.

I'll share with Mo until the flood damage is sorted.

'Result. And not before time too.'

-Yes.

-Johnny should never have given up his room.

Just shows that being a selfish cow doesn't run in the family.

'What talents do I have?

'There's one thing I would say - I'm quite good with technology,

computers, phones, stuff like that.

'You're arrogant and you're a bully.

'You're arrogant... You're arrogant...

'You're arrogant...arrogant... Carmen, Harry, Tyler and Jody.'

Can't you see I'm busy?

'Apparently a mobile phone these days has more computer power than

'they did for the first moon landings.

'We've got this amazing power in our hands,

'so it's good to make full use of it.'

'Bailey is a bully.'

-What, so I'm a bully now?

-What?

'Although you do have to be careful.

'You can end up with all sorts of private stuff on your phone

'that you wouldn't want ending up in the wrong hands.'

Baths are supposed to be private.

You should have locked the door, then!

They've got proof. Everyone's going to know what you did.

What did he do?

Grab his hand. Don't let him delete the call.

No!

'The way I see it,

'a good knowledge of computers is essential.'

-It's almost prehistoric.

-It's not that old.

100 quid and it's yours.

The thing is it's me mum's birthday.

She must be well proud of you.

Cos anything worth knowing is on a computer these days.

It's in the past, yeah?

This is a chance for a fresh start.

-Who's that?

-What?

I think there's a man outside trying to break into the car.

All right. Stay there.

You just need to know where to look

and everything you could possibly need to know

about anything can be there for you.

And you know what they say - knowledge is power.

And you know what they say - power corrupts.

And you know what they say - corruption conquers all.

Actually, Ryan, it's love conquers all.

'I suppose I'm just a normal, honest lad, really.

'No fancy tastes or anything like that.

'I like the simple things in life -

'like bowling.

'Although I do have to improvise to get a game.'

Three strikes in a row. New record.

'So a proper bowling trip is always good news.'

The bowling alley is booked, my lady.

-Brilliant.

-For Johnny, not you.

-But we're all going, right?

-Course, it's a house trip.

I'm going to smash the house record.

Harry, time's running out.

Harry, mate, you're so rubbish at this game.

'But living in care means you don't get

'to the bowling alley as often as you might like.

TEXT ALERT HOOTS

'So when the chance does arise, you have to make sure you take it.

'Yep. Nothing should get in the way

'of a game of good old tenpin bowling.'

We'll have to go, otherwise we'll miss our slot.

Why don't you leave a note?

Cos I want to be here when he gets back.

OK, we'll see you later, yeah?

HORN TOOTS

'It's the same with skate-boarding. I love it.

'And I'm not bad at it too.

'But living in care means it's hard to get the chance to compete

'cos you're not like the other kids who have their mummies

'and daddies running round after them like a free taxi service.'

I haven't seen you use that since you've been here.

-I've got to fit some practice in.

-What for?

There's a skate contest over at Haversham tomorrow.

You can't go all that way on your own.

I thought you might say that.

-I was going to say I'll take you there in the minibus.

-Really?

-Yeah.

'I tell you what, though.

'When you're sharing your only hope of a lift with loads of

'other people, you can always guarantee that something

'more important will crop up at the worst possible moment.

'It always does.'

You said you'd take me. You promised.

I know and I'm sorry, but I have to be here tomorrow.

All right. I'll just get the bus to the skate competition, then.

I told you you can't. It's too far.

'Worst fears, nothing much frightens me, to be honest.

'There are a few things I'm not a big fan of.

'Like Bailey's fleabag on legs, Mischief.'

Mischief's no fleabag.

I'm only joking.

Nah, I brushed all those fleas out and put them in Carmen's bed.

-Eh, you did what?

-Funny.

'It's not that I'm scared of Mischief or anything.'

-You scared of a dog?

-Yeah. Petrified, more like.

Not true.

You tried to protect yourself by throwing a pair of pants at him.

DOG BARKS

-Are they mine?

-Now, that is funny.

'I'm totally not scared of Mischief.

'It's just that I can quite happily get by without

'being covered in dog drool.'

So you're not going to say goodnight to him?

No, it's a dog.

Keep him out of my face and I'll be fine.

'It's a fact of life that people are into different things.

'Some people like dogs, others aren't keen.

'It's the same with all sorts of things. Like birthdays.

I'm pretty sure I said no party.

'Most people like them, I don't.'

-Did you know?

-They told me they were having a picnic.

-What is going on?

-Shh. It's a surprise.

It's not a very good one.

Get rid of it before Ryan sees it.

-Please, come on.

-Sees what?

# Happy birthday to you... #

Is this for me?

# Happy birthday... #

No. Stop.

'It's not that I'm bothered about getting older.

'I can't wait to be old enough to get out of this place

'and lead my own life.

'My problem with birthdays is all about the past.

'And I have to admit that I don't come out of this smelling of roses

'cos I have done a lot of bad stuff on people's birthdays.'

I'm Laces. Ryan here used to live in my care home.

And he ruined every single birthday that he was there.

-Come down.

-That's a lie.

He used to steal people's presents

and flog them down the second-hand shop.

-So?

-You tore up my mum's card so I thought she'd forgotten me.

Who's going to remember you?

-You're sick.

-This is not the time or the place.

Yeah, it is and Billy was right.

I was sick, sick of being bullied by Laces and his mates.

'There was a good reason for doing them things, though.

'A really good reason.

'That's why I can't be doing with birthdays.'

On my fifth or sixth birthday my sister gave me a card

that she'd drawn herself.

It meant the world to me because that day I went into care.

Laces and his mates tore it up.

So when it got to his birthday I just snapped.

And I know it was wrong. Coming here has been a fresh start.

I am trying to be a better person.

'And who knows?

'Maybe it is working.

'Maybe living here is making me become a better person.'

Well said. Good lad.

Or maybe you're getting worse and it's just

that no-one has noticed.

'My friends...

'The last thing I expected when I moved in here

'is that I would be best mates with a kid half my size.

'But then again most kids aren't Harry.'

-I've got something for you.

-Lead the way, my man.

'The little guy is a legend.'

'How long must it have taken for him to make that contraption thing

'with all those dominoes that he built for my birthday?'

-That's amazing!

-Oh...

CHEERING

'Part of the reason we got on so well, I think,

'is that it turns out we have more in common than you might expect.

'So if you understand what someone has been through,

'it's only right to help if you can.'

I know what happened to you before you came to Ashdene Ridge.

-How?

-I looked on the file. It's all on there.

I know I shouldn't have opened it, but...

-People are cruel, Harry.

-How do you know?

Did those things happen to you too?

-Something like that.

-Bye, Harry!

It was good to see him get fostered, though.

Or I thought it was.

This is your allowance.

I've put a little bit extra in there, all right?

So you can buy something for your new room.

I tell you what. Why don't I look after it for you?

I got a night-light for you cos I know you're scared of the dark.

It's so you don't have to ask him for one.

Come on, Harry. Let's go.

'I wasn't sure about that Adam guy,

'but still it was a bit of a shock when that text came through.

'You can't ignore something like that.

'I knew it might mean trouble for me,

'but I just did what I needed to do.'

SHOUTING

'Of course, Harry being Harry, he was trying to watch my back.'

You need to leave.

You don't know what he's like, how angry he gets.

-Come with me.

-What, now?

Yeah. Come on, let's go. SHOUTING

No-marks like that Adam might be able to play the big guy

with little kids, but he didn't scare me.

Have you completely lost your minds?

Stupid idiots.

'I'd done what I could,

'but it did look like this Adam guy was going to get away with it.'

-Harry, would you like it if I came back with you?

-Yeah.

That's really not convenient.

-Harry's going nowhere.

-Ryan!

Get out of my way.

Harry, remember what I said. You have to tell Mike.

I can't.

Harry, tell me what, Harry?

Don't make us go back. You don't know what it's like.

Please, Mike.

'I was worried he was going to bottle it

'but eventually Harry stood up to be counted.

'Hopefully that's something the little guy learnt from me.

'In life there's only so much others can do for you.

'Eventually you have to help yourself.'

Help yourself. You certainly do that.