Dreamland The Dumping Ground

I'm off to the athletics club.

Gina, Mike again.

I'm not sure where you are but could really do with an ETA, please.

BELL RINGS

-I did some hurdles yesterday.

-That's great, Johnny.

-They said I was pretty good.

-Yeah?

Fitness isn't about muscle building.

It's all about the cardiovascular system.

-Morning, sir.

-Stamina's the key.

Council Services. Annual boiler inspection.

There must have been a mix-up, mate.

One of your fellas was here last month.

They want me to try everything.

New regs, I'm afraid. All certificates need to be re-done.

See which event suits me best.

All right, Johnny.

Someone's killed the toaster.

Try sticking the plug in.

Gina chooses my breakfast.

It's the red tape that does my head in. You know what I mean?

I know how you feel. The boiler's in there on the left.

Johnny's a bit keen.

It won't last.

-You reckon?

-Where's Gina?

She's running a bit late, Harry. What can I get you?

Cereal, please.

This workshop is like on another level.

The magician that runs it once made a plane vanish,

and performed on the same stage as Siegfried and Roy.

As long as I don't get sawn in half, it's all good.

-Do you want some cereal?

-Yeah.

Hey, Ricardo!

Ssh!

-But we've had this planned for ages.

-I know.

You promised you'd go with me.

And now something's come up.

What something?

Fine, have it your way. I'm going to speak to Mike.

No, Tyler.

I'll explain everything later,

but I really need you to cover for me right now. It's important.

You never told me you worked in a mansion.

I'd hardly call it a mansion, Mum.

Always been your problem, you never count your blessings.

Morning.

Erm, Mum, remember Mike?

The face rings a bell.

My boss.

You have my condolences, darling.

Tee, Tee, please do me a favour and take Mum into the lounge, yeah?

Er, yeah. OK.

I won't be long. I've just got to catch up with Mike.

She treats me like a baby.

I heard that!

-It's this way, Mrs...

-Call me Hattie.

Tee.

I'd love one!

You can't bring your mum into work.

I had no choice. The carer called off sick.

You couldn't find a replacement?

What do you think I've been trying to do all this morning?

I'm not been funny, but health and safety...

Oh, c'mon, Mike, Mum will be as good as gold.

Trust me, it'll be fine.

OK, but on your head be it.

I know.

Mike...

I need to ask another favour.

Thank you, child.

No problem.

So, my Gina looks after you, does she?

Yeah. She's really, really nice.

You mean bossy.

She's not that bossy.

Mmmm. Bossy, bossy, bossy!

OK. Maybe a bit. But we all love Gina.

-She really cares about us.

-I know she does.

Always putting others before herself.

Including me.

What did you say your name was again, child?

Tee.

I take mine with milk. Plenty of sugar.

How much is plenty?

More than a little, less than a lot.

OK, I'll go check with Gina.

I'll pay you back at the end of the month.

No bother, Gina. Whenever you have it.

Home care, it's very expensive.

How in debt are you?

More than a little, less than a lot.

Must be a strain, on you and Greg, eh?

He wants me to put her in a home.

I know it's hard.

But find the right home for Hattie, it might be just what she needs.

-She belongs with me.

-I understand that,

but you have to think about your well-being, 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?

-Babe, I think what Mike actually meant...

-I know what he meant!

-Hey, son.

-Are you off your head?

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?

So, 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've missed you, son.

I missed you, too.

Oh, here he is.

Still in love, then?

Is this our nicest cup and saucer?

-What do you want a cup and saucer for?

-Gina's mum.

Gina's mum's here?

Yeah, she's in the living room.

-How old is she?

-I don't know.

Does she smell?

-Carmen!

-I'm just asking!

Well, let me ask you something.

If your mum was really sweet and she really, really loved you,

would you put her in a home just because she's old?

I don't know, do I? My mum's none of those things.

What about you, Frank?

It depends.

If Granddad had been in a home, he would've had a proper funeral.

Yeah, but if you'd been older, you'd have looked after him, right?

Definitely.

So are you saying Gina wants to put her mum in a home?

No. That's the worst part. Mike wants her to.

There's a dead lady in the other room!

This doesn't look good.

Sssh!

If she's dead, why are we whispering?

She's not dead!

Check if she's breathing.

No. She's Tee's problem.

OK.

I'll do it.

Hello?

Are you OK?

Ah!

Ah!

Is this where you come with your mates?

Not really.

-Thanks, Jade.

-Cheers.

Something I ought to know?

No. She's Frank's girlfriend.

Who's Frank?

A friend. From the Dumping Ground.

Dumping Ground?

Yeah. It's what we call the home.

I'm sorry, son, OK.

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

It's all right, Dad.

I'm lucky. Elm Tree House is a good place.

We're like one big family.

I don't mean...

I mean, not like you and mum, obviously.

It's OK.

Look, six months, then we'll both be out.

We'll start somewhere new. Put the old life behind us.

Sounds good to me.

Get proper jobs, live like real people for once. Be a family.

-That's all I ever wanted, Dad.

-Yeah.

Use the ace, darling.

That bone with the dot on the end.

Why do they call them bones?

Dominoes used to be made from animal bone or ivory.

Not any more, Tee.

-So, can you play?

-A little bit.

A little bit, she says.

My baby was school champion three years on the trot.

Chicken-foot Gina, they used to call her.

Chicken foot?

It's the name of a game. Like Snap or Gin Rummy.

She also had feet like a chicken.

What's the joke?

Hattie's teaching us dominoes. But we can throw her out if you want.

-Tee!

-Throw me out?

Nobody's throwing you out, Mum.

-Can we have a word?

-What about?

Tee, go and speak with Mike.

What?

Firstly, can we lose the attitude, please?

You've got the attitude, not me.

-You don't understand the full...

-Yes, I do!

Gina wants to look after her mum and you want her to throw Hattie out!

No, I don't. What I want is what's best for both of them.

-Gina loves her mum and her mum loves her!

-Yes.

So why is that so bad? Or do you want everyone to live in a care home?

£300 to hang a door.

Some people WERE born yesterday!

OK. I'll grab a bite at the caff here first, then I'll be over.

-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 toe-rags like you!

Now get lost!

Scallions...

Mum, I know your curry goat recipe.

And curry powder?

Yeah, but we want the Jamaican curry powder, it's different.

Why don't you make your own?

Because it takes too long.

Hattie, by "curried goat" do you actually mean curried goat?

-It's like lamb.

-That's even worse!

Seriously, you'll love it.

Right, that's it. Yeah.

And Gina, remember, Daddy likes the fat trimmed off.

And go to the Leckys, yes? I don't trust the Isaacs.

I understand.

Well, what did you expect?

You blow me out to sneak off and meet the boiler man.

Dad, meet Tyler. Tyler, my dad.

You all right, kid? I seen what happened there.

He's got no right, beating you like that.

You going to call the police?

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. You remember that.

You want to teach him a lesson?

What sort of lesson?

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

You interested?

I'm sorry about earlier.

It's OK.

It's just Mum, she gets confused. But it's nothing to worry about.

I don't feel too well. I think I need a little lie down.

OK, Mum, shall we go in the other room?

Hey.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Look, your dad's the coolest. It's time. Go away!

KNOCK ON WINDOW

You! Yeah, you big bully!

TYLER IMITATES APE

What's Tyler doing?

I don't know.

Oi, you! You big ape!

Little...

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

Tell me what's going on.

That bloke was picking on Tyler. My dad helped him get his own back.

In Jade's cafe?!

Frank. I'm sorry. He deserved it.

Seriously, I know it's traditional and everything,

but no one's going to eat goat.

You don't have to eat it if you don't want to.

You will once you taste it.

I'm going to go and check on Hattie.

OK.

You mind if I ask you something?

No.

Do you think all care homes for the elderly are bad?

No, I don't.

I just wondered, because you're so dead set against it for your mum.

Well, it's like this, a few bad days, a few bad weeks,

it doesn't cancel out a lifetime of love.

She's my responsibility.

But when you love someone, you do what's best for them.

I am doing what's best for her.

Hattie's gone!

What? Where?

That was awesome! How much did you get?

I don't know, about £300.

-Whoa!

-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. More to the point, they trust me. At least they did.

Where you going?

To take this back.

You can't do that. Tell him.

Rick! Look, you saw what he did to him back there.

This is payback, that's all. A bit of justice.

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 you care for!

Is that what 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 that fresh start rubbish.

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

Save it. I'm not interested.

Go back to prison, where you belong.

I swear. I had it when I came in.

I don't suppose anyone's lost this cash?

That's mine. Where'd you find it?

Just outside.

I could've sworn I put it in my pocket.

Maybe you dropped it earlier when you were scaring that little kid.

The one you were slapping around, the one you kicked?

It's not true! He's making up stories.

Then you won't mind telling that to the police, will you?

I've just heard him call them. They're on their way now, actually.

Keep the change, love.

ALL LAUGH

There she is!

There you are!

Queue starts behind me.

Hattie?

How do you know my name?

It's me, Tee.

-Tee?

-From the Dumping Ground. Everyone's really worried about you.

Who's everyone? Why 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?

It doesn't matter.

Let's go home, yeah?

-You took your braids out.

-Yeah.

Suits you. More natural.

OK, come.

All right?

That's it.

Look at my baby.

Chicken-foot Gina.

So worried, so tired.

What am I doing to you?

I don't want to hear this now, OK?

Tough, cos you're going to.

I can't recall the last hour, Gina.

Not a thing.

All I have is this fog up here.

It's just old age.

We both know that's nonsense.

You promised I wouldn't become a burden to you.

And if you do, I'll let you know.

Boo!

What is it, Tyler?

I thought you might want some company.

So what did my dad say?

He said that I should listen to you.

And that you're a better role model than he ever was.

Then he went.

Said he had a lot of thinking to do.

And I said good,

cos we've still got time to catch that magician's workshop!

Ah, well. Maybe another day, eh?

Unless you think he could change my dad into a law-abiding citizen.

Do you know what's crazy, though?

We could have had it so perfect, me, him and Mum,

but he just can't help himself.

Dad'll never change.

Well, then he's an idiot.

Hattie.

Hattie.

Yes, child?

What's your name?

Tee.

That's a sweet name.

I don't know this place.

Elm Tree House. Where Gina works.

Gina?

Gina's here?

Special curry tonight. You're invited.

What's the occasion?

Only one way to find out.

MUSIC PLAYS: "Crystal Days" by Echo and the Bunnymen

KNOCK AT DOOR

I'm busy!

I'm not in the mood for a row, Frank.

Neither am I. But your dad is.

What?

He's in the garden.

What are you doing? Go.

Not till we have this out.

Dad, you'll get in trouble.

I don't care about that. You and me, that's what matters.

There's nothing left to say.

Fine. I'll sit here till they take me away.

Fine.

Wait there, I'll come down.

What's the verdict?

Needs a little something, you know. Just hold on.

Right. Talk.

Look, I've been thinking about what you said.

And you're right. I can't help myself, OK?

I get a kick out of fooling other people. I can't help myself.

It's what I'm good at.

But all that's going to change(!)

-No. Not here it won't.

-Then why are you here?

-To tell you my plan.

-Here we go.

Please, just hear me out, OK?

A 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 living in dreamland

hoping things'll change for us if we stick around here.

A move. Somewhere new. A new beginning.

That's the only way things are going to change for the better.

We can't change who we are, but we can change what we do, yeah?

You wait till I get out. You'll see how serious I am about this.

Come here.

See you in six months, OK.

Mm-hmm.

Let's keep this amongst ourselves for now, shall we?

But if he turns up again...

He won't.

I think he finally got the message.

Fair enough.

Thanks.

Thank you, Rick.

What for?

I think I finally got the message, too.

I don't get you.

Let's just say you're not the only one that's been living in dreamland.

You were right about Mum.

It's time to find her somewhere else to live.

OK, Mum? All right.

Where's the fire?

I just wanted to say goodbye.

Greg found Mum a carer, so I'm taking her home.

Good. She looks really peaceful.

Yeah.

Tee, it's hard for me to say this, but...

I know how you feel about what Mike said, and how fond you are of Mum...

You're doing the right thing.

She deserves to be safe day and night.

She deserves to live somewhere like here...

Hey.

C'mon, you've always got us to look after.

There is that.

I should do what Mum says and I should learn to count my blessings.

Thank you.

-See you later.

-All right.

-This looks disgusting, I'm not eating this.

-Yeah, you are!

Stop pulling your faces, we've been cooking this all day.

All right. You first.

No, you first.

OK, I take it back. It's actually quite good.

I propose a toast!

To Gina's mum.

Without her, we wouldn't be eating this, and we wouldn't have Gina.

Aww!

ALL: Cheers!

Wait, wait!

There's one more toast.

To the future.

No one knows what it will bring. A lot can happen in six months, yeah?

-To the future!

-ALL: The future!

OK, so are you going to try it?

OK. I'm only doing this for Hattie.

Well?

I told you!

Get stuck in, all of you! Eat it up!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media