Change The Dumping Ground Survival Files

Welcome to The Dumping Ground.

THEY CHEER

Woo!

ALL SHOUT

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.

Ta-da!

Get to try exciting new food.

HE GROANS

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

What?

No, no, no...

Brilliant.

But remember,

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

So you have to be prepared...

My face!

..for pretty much anything.

THEY SCREAM

And that's why we've made this video blog.

Now, we've been through all this so you don't have to.

This time on The Dumping Ground Survival Files...

Change.

Trying to keep up in an ever-changing world.

Having to adapt to survive.

Believe me, this blog could change your life.

Right. You listening? OK, let's begin.

Now, there's one thing you need to know in this place.

And that's... to expect the unexpected.

Life is all about change.

Hello. I'm Harry.

Especially in a care home.

There are always new guys moving in, and old mates leaving.

I'll be in touch.

You get used to it - but that doesn't mean it's easy to deal with.

Get in there!

Sometimes you just suck it up...

See you soon, kid.

..but sometimes it hits you like a runaway train.

Like when Sapphire left, cos she'd turned 16.

That was OK for me,

cos I got her room - well, half of it.

# These are the days of change They still remain... #

But Harry wasn't happy.

# And the days of change are here to stay. #

This is Sapphire's room.

No, Harry, it was, but she don't need it any more.

Rick and Tyler do. Hm?

She wouldn't mind.

Harry!

Ugh...

-Nobody can stay here forever.

-Yeah, that's true.

Sapphire's grown up now. She's got her own flat.

How do you feel about that?

I'm happy, cos Sapphire's happy.

You didn't say that at the time, though, did you?

Why can't I come and live with you?

Harry, I'm not your mum.

Come on, Harry. Saff's got to do her paintings for college.

Oh, it's OK, the paintings can wait.

We should go.

Jeff wants to go.

No!

Leaving can be stressful.

But when new people arrive, it can be even worse.

If you're moving into this place,

chances are you haven't exactly had a perfect life so far.

So everyone has their issues.

Some more than most.

ALL SHOUT

-Who's this?

-Your new roommate.

Yeah, maybe not the best start.

But come on - my mum and brother had just been banged up,

and it felt like I'd lost everything.

And it seemed like nobody wanted me -

not even The Dumping Ground.

No, I don't want a roommate.

-Especially one who stinks.

-Er, Carmen!

Some kids just don't want to be here.

They don't even try and fit in.

And others try a bit too hard - and then they get it wrong.

Ta-da!

Like Mo, with his ant theme park.

The mind boggles.

Mo, mate, what were you thinking?

I was thinking I would build an ant theme park.

OK. Yeah...

Second question - why?

Why not?

It's a theme park treasure trail for ants.

Those better not be my baby books!

ALL SHOUT

Stop it!

He didn't mean any harm.

ALL SHOUT

I'll be straight with you.

Fitting into Dumping Ground life isn't always easy.

You've got to get used to us, and we've got to get used to you.

But don't panic.

It might take a bit of time - but it'll be OK in the end. Trust me.

# Don't ever change... #

Because we're all right when you get to know us.

Most of us. Most of the time.

It takes time to settle down into a new place, but you're not alone.

We've all been through it, and we're here to help you.

For a start, you're probably going to want to speak to this next guy.

As the Dumping Ground's oldest resident,

he's seen more change than most...

OK, Frank. What's the biggest change you've seen in your life?

Well, I suppose it was...

when Grandad died.

Then, when Liam left...

Adios, Dumping Ground.

You going without saying goodbye?

I hate goodbyes, you know that.

Come here, big fella.

I know, mate. That was rough.

But you've seen good changes too, right?

-Yeah...

-Such as?

Well...

When I met Jade...

You're special.

So are you.

You see? Change can be good.

Sometimes, life takes a turn for the better -

just when you least expect it.

Right, so whether change is good or bad,

at least it shakes things up a little bit,

-and without it, life would be pretty boring.

-Hah! Like this video.

Cheers, mate.

Nobody's going to watch this snoozefest.

Where's your razzle-dazzle?

Where's your showbiz glamour?

This is a video for new kids, not the X Factor.

Good. Cos you, my friend, have got the "Zzz" factor.

Moving on.

Carmen, how do you cope with change?

Well, it's just a part of life,

so I just try to get on with things, really.

Ha, ha! Yeah, right.

You're the biggest drama queen in this place!

-I'm the drama queen?!

-Tyler!

You are the one who's always trying to cause chaos here,

running around, trying to stir things up.

-But oh, no, I'm the drama queen.

-Tyler!

"Look at me, I'm Tyler, I tell not-funny jokes..."

-That's it, keep it coming.

-Tyler!

-That's not attention-seeking, is it?

-This is brilliant!

-OK.

-You're doing it right now!

-Cut.

One thing's for sure.

When a new person barges into your life, it can get really annoying.

As Lily found out.

Ooh...

Sorry.

-It's broken.

-It was an accident, Lil.

I'll get you a new frame.

Me and Dad were the most important people in each other's lives.

Then he met Shannay and everything changed.

Not all at once - but the changes just kept on coming.

What is this?

-A cat bowl?

-It's Wilbur's.

He's not living here, too.

He can't. Shadow hates cats.

-We don't actually know that.

-Of course she does, she's a dog.

All dogs hate cats.

Or are you sending her back to the dog home? Is that the plan?

-No!

-Why not? You're changing everything else.

Hey. Don't be like this, Lil.

-You knew Shannay was moving in.

-This isn't moving in.

This is taking over.

I couldn't believe that Dad was letting this happen.

I know Shannay living with us is going to feel strange for a while,

but we'll be fine. I promise you.

I wasn't planning to rid of Shadow - Lily, I'd never do that.

My old flatmate was going to keep Wilbur if they didn't get on.

Look, I'm sorry we've started out all wrong.

I really want this to work.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-Really?

-Really.

Then don't move in.

-What?

-Me and Dad are fine as we are.

-Lily.

-It's taken us ages to get this far, and you wouldn't understand.

-I do.

No, you don't! I helped him get better, it was me who did that.

-I know you did, Lil.

-Not so you could run off with her!

Shannay's good for me. Good for us.

It was like he became a completely different person.

Like he'd forgotten everything I'd done for him.

What about Poppy and Rosie?

You gave them up because you couldn't handle more kids.

They were settled at the Perrys'.

And I've got Shannay now, it's different.

So get Poppy and Rosie back and put that one into care.

-You don't mean that.

-Why not?

-Get it adopted now, it'll never know the difference.

-That's enough!

-Easy, Lily.

-Just admit that you love that baby more.

That's not true.

Shut up! What do you know about it? I hate you and your stupid baby!

Lily!

-Lily...

-Just leave me alone!

Sorry, Steve. I didn't see that coming.

-GINA:

-Are you OK, babes?

-I think my waters have broken.

Right, well, come on, come on. Take a seat, yeah?

-It's..it's too soon.

-How many weeks are you?

-36.

Well, it's a little early, but...you'll be all right.

-Girls, go and get some towels.

-BOTH: OK.

Guys, what's going on?

Shannay's went into labour.

-What?

-She's having contraptions.

-Contractions.

I was scared, but it was all OK -

Shannay had the baby and they were both fine.

But now, Shannay was the one that wanted things to change.

Shannay took him to her mum's.

What? Why?

She's had second thoughts, Lil.

Us all living together isn't going to work.

What?

I realised that Shannay and Jonah had changed our lives -

for the better.

We needed them. And so, I changed my mind.

It's beautiful!

Well, open it, then.

It's from me. To welcome him - both of you.

It's kind of like a family tree.

That's the baby, and that's you, and Dad, and me and my mum,

and Poppy and Rosie.

Cos we came first, and we'll always be here.

But you're Dad's new family.

Well, and the baby - and me.

Lily!

Cos I don't want it to be just me and Dad any more.

You're not just saying that?

Well, look, I've been split up from my sisters.

I don't really want to be split up from him as well.

Plus...I don't even know his name yet.

It's Jonah.

Jonah.

Hey, Jonah!

Right, now, of course change isn't just something that happens TO you.

You can take control and change stuff yourself.

-Ha, ha, good idea!

-Oi!

Now it's time for some decent questions.

If you could change one thing about yourself, Faith, what would it be?

I'd knock ten seconds off my 800m PB.

Boring! Next...

I'd like to be able to fly.

Now we're talking.

I don't really know what I'd change.

How about that dress?

Ow! Big bully.

I'll take that, thank you.

See, this is the problem.

Some people try to make a change

when there's absolutely no need at all.

Take our fun-loving, camera-nicking friend

and the day he decided it was time for a change.

My name's Tyler.

Tyler. Tyler.

That's Tyler.

And I have a very important job for the government.

And people take me very seriously indeed.

Yeah, what WAS that spy thing all about?

That was all about me trying to be more grown-up.

Because SOMEBODY told me I should.

Who was it again?

Fine, it was me. And this was why...

She's coming! Ready?

Three, two, one...

It's coming!

# Always a... #

CRUNCH

CRUNCH

Tyler!

THEY LAUGH

Yeah. A water bomb fired by a catapult

ends up going through my bedroom window by "mistake".

Oh, my aching sides(!)

You still actually find this funny?

What? Oh, come on!

It was comedy gold.

The look on Elektra's face.

I didn't look at Elektra's face.

I couldn't take my eyes off my shredded albums.

They'd survived years of moving,

explosions, the fire...

and the other fire.

But now, they were plastic shrap.

And, as if that wasn't bad enough,

Tyler insisted on trying to cheer me up.

-Everything's just a joke to you, isn't it?

-Well...

Elektra getting splattered is. You know that.

What about my records?

It's a smash hit!

-Record breaker?

-What's wrong with you?

They're the only things my dad gave me that weren't nicked.

We used to listen to them after I came back from school.

The Jam, Squeeze, Style Council.

I could sing to you instead.

# Well, it's cool for cats

# It's cool for cats! #

Why can't you just grow up?

'Ouch! Nobody wants to hear that.

'I thought, "Am I really that annoying?"'

Yes. You are.

People look at me, and they just see funny boy Tyler.

The Dumping Ground clown.

'Sure, I'm a comedy legend.

'But I'm so much more than that.

'And I thought it was time for the world to see another side of me.

'Starting by mending Rick's records.'

Is that supposed to be funny?

I was trying to fix it.

What, by gluing them to your hands?

I was trying to get into the groove.

There you go again.

-It was just a joke.

-I don't know why I bother with you.

You're clearly not right in the head.

'And it wasn't just Rick who couldn't take me seriously.'

Who here thinks I'm funny?

You have to say that, cos you're my friend.

-I think you're funny.

-Johnny?

-Why are you asking?

Well, cos Rick says I need to grow up.

-He's right.

-OK.

I tell a lot of jokes and play a lot of pranks,

but I can do other stuff too.

Why are you all laughing at me?

Cos of your records!

I'm not being funny, I'm trying to be serious right now!

'So that's why I had to make some serious changes.'

Argh!

How's about we fill this up with treacle, then, eh?

-I don't do bombs any more.

-Why not?

You were right. I need to start growing up.

-He wants to be taken seriously.

-Tyler?!

But Tyler loves playing pranks!

-Not any more, he doesn't.

-But that's not who he is.

You try and be someone you're not, and it'll just end up going wrong.

Well, yeah. People aren't going to take you seriously

if it's just all pretend.

-You need to stay true to who you are.

-Be proud to be different.

I had to make a decision.

Should I grow up and become a boring old fart like everyone else?

Or should I stay true to myself, the hilarious joker that everyone loves?

Now, that IS funny.

There could only be one winner.

Don't you dare!

Tyler! I'm warning you!

Mike! You'd better do something!

Don't you dare!

THEY GASP

Elektra...

I'm really sorry!

I didn't mean to splatter you!

Nice shot.

Tyler's back!

I decided to keep it real.

Yeah, he did. He really is an immature idiot

with the attention span of an ant

-and the common sense of a garden gnome.

-Ha, ha(!) Thanks.

Don't go changing.

I won't.

So, what have we learnt so far about change

to put into the Dumping Ground Survival Files?

Well, none of us find it easy when things change.

Whether it's old friends leaving, new arrivals turning up

or unexpected surprises coming out of the blue.

Now, it can be tough for even the most sorted person to cope

when new stuff happens.

Not that change always has to be bad.

Now, Frank will tell you all about that one.

And sometimes it's good not to get stuck in your ways.

Mixing everything up a bit every now and then

can keep things interesting.

It would be a very boring world

if everything just stayed the same forever.

Change is hard, and don't let anyone tell you any different.

Even adults - well, some "adults" -

find it hard to accept that the world's moved on.

-# A change

-A change would do you good

# Would do you good... #

Like when the legendary Justine Littlewood tipped up.

Now, we'd heard all about her from Tracy, our care worker,

and they'd been winding each other up since they were in nappies.

Tracy Beaker?

Justine Littlewood?

I'm an estate agent. I work for Wolfman and Kronk,

-have you heard of them?

-Yeah, they're massive.

Well, last year I won their national sales award.

-I was their youngest ever winner by, like, ten years.

-Really?

-That's amazing.

-Yeah, amazing.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Just hay fever.

You don't get hay fever.

I used to, when I was little, Must've come back.

Like Justine?

Who does she think she is? "I've won an award.

"Got a big fat diamond ring."

Mike's just lapping it up.

-I thought she didn't want sugar.

-Yeah.

'But they were grown up now,

'so they couldn't fight the way they used to.'

They had to get sneaky.

Years ago, they would scrap over Mickey Mouse alarm clocks

and who got a telly in their bedroom.

But now they had new weapons -

their boyfriends.

First it was competitive hand holding...

and when that ended as a draw, it was time for the penalty snog-off.

It's funny. When Tracy was a kid, she used to lie a lot.

She'd say her mum was a big Hollywood star,

and that she was going to go and live with her and be a star too.

She was so convincing I almost believed her. Almost.

I'd believe you.

-You're a star to me.

-Thanks, Seth.

It's true.

1-0 to Tracy.

Or so it seemed.

Some of us are trying to eat.

And of course, eating was the next challenge...

-What was the last dare, again?

-To eat a worm. And I did it.

She says so on page 36.

-Tracy says a lot of things.

-Say what you like, Justine.

You know I ate that worm.

Well, there's an easy way to prove it, isn't there?

What?

This.

Tracy, don't.

It was like the last ten years hadn't happened.

Before you knew it, history was repeating itself

before our very eyes.

Tracy became a completely different person.

She'd stopped being our responsible care worker

and turned into a sulky little kid.

It was brilliant!

How far would it go?

She bottled it. I knew she would.

Would she actually eat a worm?

Tracy, don't. Don't!

Augh...

ALL GROAN

Now do you believe me?

I believed you all along. Just wanted to see you do it again.

Oh, she's going to be sick!

SHE COUGHS

Tracy?

Tracy?!

You ate a worm?

Again?

Tracy ate a worm.

Tracy, Tracy, Tracy.

Tracy...ate...a...worm.

Twice.

So, it was clear that Tracy hadn't changed. Nor had Justine.

It just goes to show,

just cos you're getting older doesn't mean you're getting wiser.

# I said something better change... #

Take a good look at this guy.

He claimed to be a boiler repair man.

But no. He's my dad.

-Hey, son.

-Are you off your head?

Well, it's good to see you, too!

-Dad, you've got to turn yourself in, pronto.

-Rick, calm down.

I'm not on the run, OK? They moved me to an open prison three weeks ago.

I come and go as I please, now.

So what's with the get-up?

-I wanted to see you.

-By sneaking in?

I didn't want social workers watching our every move, OK?

Still got the moves, then.

Well, it helps if you're properly motivated, you know?

I missed you, son.

Right, so the rubbish disguises might change, but my dad doesn't.

He always lets me down.

And every single time, it's,

"Yeah, we're going to do it differently this time."

If I had a penny every time I heard that, I'd have...

23p.

I wish I could turn back the clock, do things differently, I really do.

It's all right, Dad.

I'm lucky. Elmtree House is a good place.

We're like one big family.

I don't mean... I mean, not like you and Mum.

-Obviously.

-That's OK.

Look, six months, then we'll both be out. We'll start somewhere new.

We'll put this old life behind us.

Sounds good to me.

Get proper jobs, live like real people for once, you know?

Be a family.

-That's all I ever wanted, Dad.

-Yeah.

Now, the thing about my dad, though, is he's a man with a plan -

or, should I say, a scam - for every occasion.

What do you think you're playing at?

-Nothing!

-Don't give me that. You trying to steal my tools?

-No!

-Don't lie to me!

-I'm not lying!

That's what they all say.

Who?

Thieving little toerags like you.

Now get lost!

It's not his fault. He can't stop himself.

You give him the chance to scam someone - even a total stranger -

and this happens.

He thinks he's a big man, roughing up a little kid?

I'm not little! He was just big.

Well, let me tell you something, the bigger they are,

the harder they fall, yeah? You remember that.

You want to teach him a lesson?

What sort of lesson?

There's a little old grift I know called the window show.

You interested?

The window show.

The window show! That was awesome.

An unbeatable combination of your dad's scheming mind

-and an Oscar-winning performance from me.

-Hmm.

-My dad and Tyler. The dream team.

-The dream team!

Where was I? Oh, yeah.

The window show.

HE BANGS ON WINDOW

Oi, you! Yeah, you big bully!

HE IMITATES A MONKEY

-What's Tyler doing?

-I don't know.

Oi, you! Yeah, you, you big ape!

You little...

You're witness, right? When I clock him one, he went for me.

'Your dad rocks! What's your problem?'

'No, the problem is, it starts out OK.

'But Dad doesn't know when to stop.

'He never has done.'

-That was awesome! How much did you get?

-Don't know, about 300 quid.

-Whoa!

-Here, take it.

-Seriously?

-Call it compensation.

-You're kidding.

-You earned it.

-But, if anyone asks where this comes from...

-This never happened.

But it did. Tyler, you take that money, you become a thief.

Frank's a witness, and so is Jade.

-Whoa, Rick, I thought you trusted your mates.

-I do.

And more to the point, they trust me.

-Or at least they did.

-Hey, where are you going?

To take this back.

He can't do that! Tell him!

Rick, look, you saw what he did to him back there,

-it's just a bit of payback, that's all. Bit of justice.

-Yeah!

Dad, don't use that excuse. You did it for the buzz. You always did.

Look, I'll talk to Frank. Give him a cut - he'll understand!

Why don't you understand? What you did was wrong.

Your dad said I earned it.

You don't earn by stealing, scamming and lying like my dad.

It just gets you messed up and then you get banged up

and it's goodbye to everyone that you care for.

Is that what you want?

-Cos seriously, mate, this is where it all starts.

-Look...

-I overstepped the line.

-Dad, you don't even know where the line is.

You never did. Nor did Mum, for that matter.

I can't believe I fell for all this "fresh start" rubbish.

It wasn't rubbish, OK? I meant every word.

-Rick...

-Just save it.

I'm not interested.

Just go back to prison, where you belong.

Now, I was brought up by scammers. Never knew any different.

And when I was a kid,

I used to go along with all my mum and dad's dodgy plans.

But I grew up. And they didn't.

I can't help myself, OK?

I get a kick out of fooling other people.

I can't help myself, it's just what I'm good at.

But all that's going to change...(!)

-No, not here it won't.

-And why are you here?

-To tell you my plan.

-Here we go.

-Please, just hear me out, OK? New start.

All legal and above board, just the way you wanted.

I want us to move to New Zealand.

-Land of the Long White Cloud.

-Are you actually being serious?

I've got an uncle out there, he's straight,

he's got a business he's getting too old to run.

We could take it over, me and your mum.

-You're living in dreamland, Dad.

-No, I'm being realistic, Son.

You're the one that's living in dreamland,

thinking things are going to change for us if we stick around here.

You wait till I get out,

you'll see just how serious I am about this. Come here.

I'll see you in six months, OK?

Mm-hm.

-So that's it? You just gave up on your dad?

-Never.

I'm still hoping that one day, things will be different, you know?

I don't want him spending his life in and out of prison.

-So why don't you try and change him?

-Because it wouldn't work.

People change when they're ready - they have to want to.

Ah! So you're saying you can't change others just cos it suits you?

-Unfortunately.

-Aha!

So, what can I tell you about Change

to upload into the Dumping Ground Survival Files?

It's true that for most of us it can be difficult when stuff changes.

You get used to things being one way

and having one set of people around you,

then everything gets thrown up in the air.

It can be hard to adapt. It can be sudden,

like when someone says they're leaving out of the blue.

Or it can creep up on you,

like it did with Lily when her dad and Shannay

started spending more and more time together.

Now, as we grow up, we all change in all sorts of ways.

It's fine to want to change something about yourself.

It's good to set goals and have plans.

But make sure you aren't trying to change

just because someone else thinks you should.

We all have to face up to change some time or other,

and, in a way, that's a good thing.

It's always worth talking stuff through

with friends and family.

They might have good advice which they have learnt from experience.

If you are struggling with changes in your life,

remember that it's something that does affect everyone.

So, don't panic.

That's the lowdown on change uploaded into the Survival Files.

And don't forget...

We've been through all this...

..so you don't have to.

# Don't you ever change now

# Always be the same now

# No, don't ever change from the way that you were

# Last night

# Don't ever change

# Don't ever change. #