Truth The Dumping Ground Survival Files

-BOTH:

-Welcome to the Dumping Ground.

CHEERING

Woo!

SHOUTING

Help! Help!

It's not as bad as it sounds.

If you're watching this, you're one of us now.

Relax. You're going to love it here.

You'll meet some amazing new friends.

Tah-dah!

Get to try exciting new food.

We promise, it's an experience you'll never forget.

What?

No...

Brilliant.

But remember,

this is a place where random chaos can strike at any time.

So, you have to be prepared for pretty much anything.

SCREAMING

So, that's why we've made this video blog.

We've been through all this...

So that you don't have to.

This time on the Dumping Ground Survival Files...

We're in search of the truth.

Solving mysteries, uncovering scammers

and trying to see the bigger picture.

Today we're going to talk about the truth, the whole truth...

-And nothing but the truth.

-Yep.

We're going to sort out the solid facts from the crazy fiction

-and work out what's really going on in this place.

-Or are we?

-Yes, we are.

-OK.

Let's face it, most of us Dumping Grounders have secrets...

-Spying on Lennie?

-None of your business.

Frank told me what was going on.

-It's none of your business.

-Yes, it is.

'..or at least things we don't want to talk about.'

-What are you doing?

-None of your business.

-Let me see.

-The truth is out there.

-Or is it?

MUSIC: "Mandy" By Barry Manilow

People can lie about the strangest things, like Elektra.

You mean Mandy!

Mandy's got a visitor.

-Who?

-It's Elektra's real name.

How weird is this?

-You're Mandy.

-Elektra.

-BOTH LAUGH

She should have just told us. We wouldn't have taken the mick...

much.

Guys, this is my...

My sister.

-Melissa Perkins.

-Perkins.

Pleased to meet you.

Pleased to meet you all.

So that means you're Perkins too.

Genius, Sherlock(!)

'Yep, not just Mandy but Mandy Perkins!

'Mandy Perkins!'

People hide the truth for all sorts of reasons...

Mandy Perkins!

..but you have to be careful.

Cos if people suspect you're not being straight with them,

they might jump to the wrong conclusion.

MUSIC: "Face Up To The Truth" By Doris Troy

For example, nobody knew the truth about Faith...

until the day the police turned up to speak to her.

-Faith's been nicked.

-No way.

Yes way. They're arresting her now.

ALL TALK OVER EACH OTHER

(Put a sock in it. Quiet.)

-Faith has not been arrested. Faith is not in any trouble.

-Yeah, right.

She could have been robbing stuff for ages.

Some people start when they're little - Jody's brother did.

I can't believe you lot. Faith's supposed to be our friend.

That doesn't mean she hasn't nicked stuff.

And Mike said she's not in trouble.

I forgot the police are always popping round to see people

-who aren't in trouble.

-Mike's not going to lie about that, is he?

He is protecting her - it's his job.

How many of you actually know why Faith is in care in the first place?

I mean, I share a room with her and she hasn't told me

anything about herself.

'Without any facts to slow us down,

'we were free to make up our own gossip about Faith.'

-They found drugs on her.

-Really?

-Yeah.

It's a secret, so you have to promise

-you won't say anything, OK?

-Yeah, I promise.

I can't believe you just did that.

You better watch your back cos I will get you back.

-I know why Faith got arrested.

-Why?

She was dealing drugs and that's not all. She did!

-What you on about?

-It's true. She's a big dealer called Raz.

Got her own gang and everything.

-Police found her stash and loads of money.

-Says who?

Well, I'm sworn to secrecy,

but I reckon she'll get at least ten years.

'But none of that was true.

'In fact, the police wanted to speak to Faith

'because they thought her brother Raz was dead...

'..but he wasn't.'

You all right?

Wait. Wait. Faith. Faith. Faith.

-I thought you were dead.

-What?

The police came. They found a body, said it was yours.

-What?! How come?

-They had your wallet.

-Must have been when I got mugged.

-I kept thinking about you!

My brother being dumped in some river.

Faith, I'm really sorry.

Faith, why didn't you tell us about Raz?

I don't have to tell you every single tiny detail of my life.

Yeah, but this was important!

I know. All right.

To be honest, I wasn't exactly proud of Raz

or some of the things he'd done.

-I waited and waited!

-I was going to call you.

Don't lie to me!

You're my big brother.

You were meant to take care of me and you ran.

I'll make it up to you.

It's too late.

'Raz kept the truth from Faith and that really hurt her.

'In the long run, it's better to know the truth,'

even if it's painful.

But getting to the truth isn't always easy.

Sometimes you need to keep asking questions, like Gus.

He never gave up. He just kept asking and asking.

-I have a question.

-Go on then, shoot.

-At what?

Have you come to close us down?

-Have you come to arrest Tracy?

-'Didn't that get really annoying?'

Have you come to arrest Liam?

It did sometimes, but it was really useful,

like when we had that fire.

Oh, yeah, the Great Fire of the Dumping Ground - I heard about that.

Right! Who set off the fire alarm?

Me!

Just thought I should let you know that the attic's on fire.

ALARM BLARES

So, what happened?

Well, Dennis tried to blame Harry.

-Look here.

-What's that?

Burned out sticks.

It wasn't my fault.

Harry, we're not angry, OK?

We just want to know where you got them from?

Saffy used to burn them. Did you get them from her room when she left?

They smell like sapphire.

OK, he's admitted it.

I told Dennis it wasn't my fault, but he wouldn't believe me.

I thought he was going to call the police and they'd put me in jail.

So Gus set out to discover if Harry was really to blame.

Gus always had to know the truth.

Breakfast finished at 8.57am - everyone was present.

The fire alarm went off at 10.31am.

So, we need to know where everyone was between nine and half ten.

8.57am, 10.31am, yeah.

OK, let's go.

-I was with Tee.

-Yeah, all morning. Then we phoned Lily.

I was probably in my bedroom. Who wants to know?

Who? Me? I was with Frank.

-Yes.

-What were you doing?

-We were just talking.

-About what?

Nothing.

I was in my room.

Yes, by myself, the way I like it. Is that illegal or something?

We were in the attic, then we were in the garden.

Anyway, as I was saying, I came out when I smelled smoke.

Then the fire alarm went off. It wasn't my fault.

'Luckily for Harry, Gus worked it all out.'

Gus saved me.

He kept asking questions

until he found out who really started the fire.

'And it was...Dennis.

-'Dennis started the fire himself?!

-Yep.'

You were on overnight duty.

Why do you think I've been doing overnights all week?

And it was raining last night.

-What do you expect?

-It's been raining all night.

You couldn't be bothered to go outside,

so you decided to go up to the attic instead.

You knew you were safe cos you had taken the batteries

out of the fire alarm.

You'd smoked there before.

You put the cigarette end in the sawdust.

But you hadn't put it out properly.

By the morning...

..it was too late.

While everyone was blaming Harry, you thought you were safe.

But then we found the cigarette butts.

You've got no evidence whatsoever.

We'll let the police decide that, yeah?

Or you could...take a seat...

..and write your letter of resignation.

So Dennis told all those lies and blamed everything on Harry

-just to cover up his sneaky fag habit?

-Yes.

What a snake. He deserved to lose his job.

He should have just told the truth.

But people don't always do that, do they, Frank?

I don't know what you mean.

I think you do.

Remember that time we were home alone

and you went out to buy food with the last of our money?

Oh, yeah, that time.

There must be some way of getting cash.

Frank?

Bowling?

Huh?

Frank, 10p falls machine!

That's enough for a bag of crisps.

Forget it.

We can be heroes.

Come on.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Oh!

-Mate!

-I've got a system.

That doesn't work!

More cash.

Urg!

-Come on.

-That's the lot.

I'll get this one.

Oh, I can't watch this.

My system never fails.

No!

'What were you thinking? Gambling's a mug's game.

'Not for me. I've got a system.'

-No!

-Yes.

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

This is going to work.

I bet you. I bet you.

-Oh, I hope so.

-Come on.

Come on!

-Come on!

-Yes!

BOTH: We on! We won!

I told you.

'Nice one. Your system actually worked.

'Yeah...kind of.'

Where's the money?

Hey, we've just won the jackpot and no money came out.

We did win fair and square.

Congratulations. But winnings over £500 are given in the office,

so I just need to see some ID.

ID?

Something with proof of your age.

I mean, you have seen the signs, haven't you?

And you are over 18, aren't you?

Yes.

I've just not got any ID on me.

Well, you better go home and get some then.

That's not fair. He saw us play. He never stopped us.

Yeah. Just give us the money.

I will. I will...as soon as you can prove that you're 18.

'We were robbed. That man cheated us.

'Yeah, and you cheated all of us.'

You've just lost everyone's money.

Can't we get some ID or forge one?

They knew I wasn't 18.

What are we going to tell the others?

The truth?

You were mugged?

BOTH LAUGH

Why did we lie? Good question.

Well, we lost everyone's cash, and cos of us the whole

Dumping Ground was about to starve to death. Why wouldn't we lie?

Poor guys.

You actually believe them?

Why wouldn't I?

Cos they stole all our money.

And did what with it?

Hid it, bought pizzas, I don't know.

You always see the worst in people, don't you? They're our friends.

Well, you've only been here five minutes.

You have a lot to learn.

It wasn't just us though - Elektra lied too.

In fact, that's how we got caught.

Give it up, Tyler.

Frank has just confessed and we know what you really did with the money.

It wasn't our fault.

We won fair and square. How were we supposed to know you had to have ID?

You won fair and square?

So you gambled the money?

Oh, no!

-What a pair of muppets.

-Harsh!

-But fair.

Nobody's perfect. Lessons were learned.

Yeah. The lesson was, never trust Frank and Tyler with your cash.

They'll gamble it away and tell a massive load of lies to cover it up.

I meant, we learned to tell the truth.

I am telling the truth.

What have we learnt

so far about truth to upload into the Survival Files?

Sometimes the truth isn't what it might seem,

so an experienced care worker turns out to be a coward and a liar.

And Elektra turns out to be a Mandy.

And two boys who claim to be mugging victims turn out to be

complete idiots who've thrown away all our money.

Sometimes the truth is hard to pin down.

And that's when loads of made up stuff

makes its way in to fill up the gap,

turning someone like Faith into a drug-dealing gang leader

when that couldn't be further from the truth.

So, it's good to have someone around who can sort out

the truth from the lies.

Because, believe me, sometimes the truth is much stranger than fiction.

It's hard to be truthful all the time.

Sometimes it seems like lying just makes life easier,

whether it's to Mike, your teacher, your friends...

Or to yourself.

Why would you lie to yourself?

Well, there was this girl called Lizanne.

She was absolutely gorgeous.

You mean, you fancied her?

Come on, ten minutes till Dennis kicks us out.

This won't take long.

Look, I'm sorry to ask but I really need to borrow some cash.

-No. You're right, it didn't take long.

-Lee, please.

Thanks, Frank, I owe you a big one.

What are you doing? You're meant to be a scammer, not a mark.

I don't know. Seriously, she's a user, mate. Bad news.

She's all right.

'Of course I fancied her...'

Did I get the smell of smoke out?

Yeah.

'..but I wasn't the only one.'

She sounds like a player.

You have no idea.

It's so long since I've had to share - I've forgotten how.

I mean, what if I touch something of hers by accident?

Like with another girl's shampoo?

I know. You could move in with Tee instead, that's my sister.

That's kind, Johnny, but I don't think I can.

It's the sharing that's freaking me out.

Oh... I feel sick.

I think I'm having a panic attack.

Tell me about you and Lizanne?

I was just being nice to the new girl.

-So you didn't fancy her?

-No.

-She was hot though.

-Can't say I noticed.

-You know she fancied you?

-What? Really?

-Did you get her number? What did she say?

-Ah, got you!

Oh, really mature.

I'll be fine...honestly.

You have my room, Lizanne. I'll move in with Tee.

Oh, thank you!

That Lizanne sounds like a right piece of work!

Yeah, I miss her.

Boys never learn.

Sexist!

Sorry. I meant, Frank never learns.

Let's talk about Angel...

the so-called psychic.

Oh, do we have to?

I see a tree, an elm tree.

Elm tree?

The colour red is important to you.

Manchester United.

Very important. I see red playing an important part in your future.

What else?

The rest...

It's not clear.

You're at a crossroads.

'She seemed amazing.

'Yeah, amazingly fake.'

There's someone else here.

Who is it?

Matthew? No.

Mr Matthews.

-Granddad?

-Yes.

Your granddad. He says, "Have you still got it?"

Got what?

He gave you a gift...

to remember him by.

Oh, the watch. Yeah.

He's very pleased. He's been worried about you.

Why?

Things are changing in your life.

You're in turmoil.

Worried about the future.

I'm working on it.

He knows.

He believes in you.

She was good. She really knew how to play you.

-You rest and I'll go get you a green tea.

-Thanks, poppet.

It'll give me the energy for the walk home.

Can't you get a taxi?

My pension doesn't stretch to luxuries.

If it wasn't for Jade here I wouldn't even be able to afford a cup of tea.

Don't you get paid for reading?

I don't do this for money.

Though, of course, people do sometimes give me what they can.

Here...

get a taxi...

on me.

Bless you.

'She certainly saw you coming.'

I wasn't the only one.

Faith fell for it, too.

Yeah. Just like Frank wanted to hear from his granddad,

Faith was desperate to find out the truth about her missing brother.

She didn't even know whether he was alive or not.

But you're strong, independent.

You don't need anybody's help.

But you're still worried.

Not for yourself.

Someone else.

A loved one that you've lost.

A woman. No...a man.

Your father?

Your...brother?

You're not to worry, love.

The spirits are telling me your brother is at peace.

You mean...?

He's dead?

His suffering has ended.

I guess I thought, deep down, Raz was dead.

She must have picked up on that.

It was like she could see into my mind

and I believed every word she said.

What a sucker.

Me, too.

Why do you think we both fell for it?

I think her lies were too big.

I didn't believe anyone could be that crooked.

Lucky for us, Rick was more cynical.

Frank told me what was going on.

Well, it's none of your business.

Yes, it is. I don't want my mates getting conned.

-It wasn't a con. Angel knew my name.

-Cos she heard Frank say it.

Well, she knew I was looking for answers.

Because you went to a psychic.

How could you be so sure? You'd never even met Angel.

Right. You've got to remember, I was brought up by scammers.

I know all the tricks of the trade.

Sometimes you don't even have to lie to people,

you just let people fool themselves.

It's called cold reading.

Basically, you make a guess and let the punter fill in the gaps.

If you're really good, people will tell you their life story

-and believe that they heard it from you.

-No.

There's got to be more to it than that.

Rick made a lot of sense,

but I didn't want to believe him.

'So, you put Angel to the test.'

Do you still have the present he gave you for your birthday?

-The guitar.

-Yes, the guitar.

-Tell him I practise every day.

-He knows.

He loves to hear you play.

What's his favourite song?

The one you play most often.

Angels by Robbie Williams.

Yes, that's right.

He says it has a very special meaning.

We sung it at our sister's wedding.

He said she looked beautiful and so did you.

-Liar.

-Frank!

'Angel was no psychic. She was just a con woman.'

Because I don't have a sister. I've never played the guitar in my life

and my brother can't stand Robbie Williams, nor can I.

I don't think you're talking to my brother.

I don't think you're talking to anyone.

We used lies to catch a liar, and she deserved it.

I can't believe the way she used us.

Angel told some pretty massive lies.

What made you believe her?

I wanted to.

-Because you missed your granddad.

-Yeah.

I wanted to believe that he was out there,

somewhere, but now I know he isn't.

No, you don't know that for certain.

'Yeah, there are many things we may never know for certain,

'but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep searching for the truth.'

Sometimes the truth can surprise us,

so it's important not to jump to conclusions.

Yeah. You might make a really bad mistake.

'Like when Tee met Gina's mum.

'It started off brilliantly. They hit it off straight away.'

-It's this way, Mrs...

-Call me Hattie.

-Tee.

-I'd love one.

Hattie was so sweet. Such a lovely lady, you know.

I guess she was a bit absent-minded.

-What did you say your name was again, child?

-Tee.

I take mine with milk, plenty of sugar.

And then I heard what Gina was planning. I couldn't believe it.

It must be a bit of a strain on you and Greg.

He wants me to put her into a home.

I know it's hard, but find the right home for her.

It might be just what she needs.

She belongs with me.

I understand that, but you have to think about your wellbeing, too.

-I can cope.

-You say that...

I'm not putting my own flesh and blood into a home and that's final.

You tell him. How could you say something like that?

-Tee...

-You go on about us being a family

and now you want Gina to chuck her own mum out?

It was just so wrong. Hattie's Gina's mum.

You have to do everything to keep your family together, don't you?

-I think what Mike actually...

-I know what he meant.

The problem was, Tee didn't have all the facts.

So she wasn't seeing the whole picture.

'Tee didn't realise that Hattie was losing her memory,

'and Gina was really worried about her.'

There she is.

-There you are.

-Queue starts behind me.

-Hattie.

-How you know my name?

It's me, Tee.

-Tee?

-From the Dumping Ground.

-Everyone's...

-Who is everyone?

And why are you putting me in some dumping ground?

-Hattie, please...

-Get away from me!

Mum, calm down. There's no need to shout.

Gina?

Gina?

Who else would it be?

Where are we?

The truth was that Hattie needed proper help.

Gina loved her, but she couldn't look after her any more.

'And finding out the truth changed everything.

'Mike had been right all along.

'The best and kindest thing was to find a good care home for Hattie.'

Tee, it's hard for me to say this

but I know how you feel about what Mike said and how fond you are...

You're doing the right thing.

She deserves to be safe, day and night.

She deserves to live somewhere like here.

It wasn't an easy thing for Gina to do,

-but sometimes life isn't easy.

-And that's the truth.

So, what have we learnt about truth to upload into the Survival Files?

It's a tricky business, getting to the bottom of things.

Sorting out the facts from the fiction is hard to

do for lots of reasons.

Firstly, some people don't want you to know the truth.

Whether it's a name you're not keen on,

or something you've done you don't want others to know about,

lots of us like to play our cards close to our chest.

Or sometimes we can kid ourselves about stuff.

We can all be guilty of wishful thinking,

when you try to convince yourself that something is true

when deep down you know it probably isn't.

And be careful. No-one sees the full picture all the time.

Appearances can be deceptive.

It might seem obvious to you that something is true,

but make sure you have all the facts before jumping to conclusions.

That's what we've learnt about truth,

safely uploaded to the Dumping Ground Survival Files.

Good luck. And remember,

we've been through all this...

So that you don't have to.

# Tell the truth

# Tell the truth

# Well, you know you can make me do what you want me to

# Loving you... #