First Past the Post The Dumping Ground

SHE YELPS Oh, I'm so sorry.

-SHE SIGHS

-What time do you call this?

Ah...washing machine broke and flooded the kitchen.

Oh.

Cheers. Thank you.

You didn't take the files home with you, did you?

Oh...

it's just paperwork on the holiday funding.

Risk assessment.

Oh, is that my file?

Oh, no. Your file's locked away i-in my drawer.

-But, Mike, I need it for my review meeting.

-I know Carmen, I know.

-I could do it if you're swamped.

-No, no. I have to do it,

it's my responsibility. And I'm doing it now, today. Yeah?

Well, I don't care who does it,

-just make sure it gets done, please. It's important.

-(Yeah, sure.)

55, 56, 57...

-HE GROANS

-What on earth are you doing?

Are you gambling?

Come on, just give me another chance. I need that cash.

What for?

I passed the leisure centre - they've just done it all up.

It has a wave machine and everything.

-You're entitled to a free pass. You all are.

-What?

Yeah, it's in the forum newsletter.

What's this all about?

The Children In Care Council forum?

All the members are young people in care. It's good.

It gets things done.

A free leisure centre pass? Brilliant!

They do other things.

Can I get a season ticket for the football?

Not just free stuff, Tyler. You know, it gives you a voice...

lets you be heard.

OK, so who do we ask about this?

We don't have a representative, but we can put one up.

There's a space for Ashdene Ridge,

-all we've got to do is nominate someone.

-Seriously?

-I'm well up for that.

-THEY TITTER

I'm serious. I could do that.

It's, you know...? Important.

Come on, you've only just heard of it.

OK, so Tyler it is then.

Hold on a minute. I want to do it.

-HE SCOFFS

-Oh, come on. You?

Yes, and it's not just because I want the freebies.

-But I don't just...

-You so do.

All right, all right.

Looks like we're going to have an election then -

Tyler against Floss.

Oh, the box - do you need it?

Um...no, why?

Oh, we're having an election

for our Children In Care Council forum representative. Ooh!

Do you know what you need?

-BOTH:

-A system.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

Have you done it yet?

Oh...Carmen, I promise.

-That means that you haven't.

-What? Done what?

Uh, my file.

No, I just need to update it first, OK?

Yeah, well, my review meeting is tomorrow.

-Carmen's chairing it herself, which is great.

-Oh, wow.

And I want to talk about work placements.

Carmen? Today, I promise.

PHONE RINGS OK?

All right.

You should have put yourself up for this election, Sash.

-Oh, you reckon?

-Yeah, you'd be well good.

You having a laugh? She makes Tyler look like Barack Obama.

Uh, who asked you?

It's all right, you don't have to stand anyway,

we already know you're a loser.

Hey, Sash, could you, um, walk Mischief today, please?

Uh, yeah, suppose so. Why?

I'm just a bit, um, busy today.

But thanks, yeah?

-Come on. Come on, boys.

-DOGS PANT

-Thanks.

-They'll be no trouble, Bailey.

What are you doing there?

I was going to ask you the same thing.

Whose are those?

They're a friend's, I'm...

just looking after them.

Can you not tell no-one, please?

OK.

OK.

HE CHUCKLES

Right, everybody listen up.

There's a few rules, OK?

Um, everyone has one vote on these.

So you put your "X"

next to Tyler or Floss.

Only vote for Floss.

Yeah, thank you.

And then you pop it in the slot, like this.

How do we know who to choose?

Well, they'll have to persuade you.

And you have until...4 o'clock.

Got it.

Mm-hm. Oh, hang on, wait, one more thing -

no asking Mike and I for help, yeah?

We have to be impartial, and we can't be seen taking sides.

OK? So good luck to the both of you.

Don't forget, vote Floss.

THEY CHATTER

-Uh, Carmen?

-Don't even try it. I know exactly

what you're going to say, all right?

Now don't get me wrong, you're a nice person,

but you're not really cut out for this.

Go back to balancing oranges on your nose.

FLOSS GIGGLES

-Come on.

-DOGS BARK AND GROWL

Sit. OK, you.

Where you going?

Just stay, please, please.

Stay, stay.

(Sit, sit, sit, sit.)

Please, just sit down.

OK. All right? No!

Sorry, you want me to do what?

Tell me what to do - how to win this election.

But be quick!

-Nice try.

-Well, the one piece of advice I'll give you is,

-get yourself a campaign manager.

-A what?

Someone who's good at organising.

Go, shoo, shoo, shoo, shoo. DOG BARKS

Hey, what's all this?

-I just, uh...

-Yes?

Oh, there they are. They, um, ran in from the garden.

We're going to look for the owners.

-Right, Bailey?

-Yeah, yeah.

All right, well, just get 'em out, yeah? Out. Out!

Can I help at all?

Well...

is this really the right day to have an election?

-I'm going now, OK?

-Where are you going?

To the skate park. You said I could.

Oh, yeah, of course. Go on, off you go.

You've done the risk assessment for that, right?

No. Harry?!

Sorry, mate, but you can't go today.

But you said. I'm meeting my friends there.

-I know, but I haven't done a risk assessment.

-Do it now.

It's not that simple, Harry. I'd have to go to the skate park and...

Come on, my friends are waiting.

-Harry, no!

-What?

-I can't just drop everything.

Why not? What's so important?

You're not the only person here!

-Yeah, but, Mike...

-Some of us have to keep this place running.

-I don't suppose you think about that, do you?

-(Mike!)

Forget it.

Oh...I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that.

I promise you that I'll sort it out. You can go tomorrow, OK?

(Come on.)

PHONE RINGS

Nice...um, thing.

-It's a magnifying glass.

-OK.

What do you want, Floss?

I was just wondering - do you know what a camping manager is?

Do you mean "campaign manager"?

Yeah, that.

It's someone who organises the election campaign.

Does all the publicity and opinion polls.

Makes sure their candidate wins, basically. Why?

BOMBASTIC MUSIC

Hey, you're not the only one, Harry.

Four times he said he'd do my file now.

Four times.

-MAY-LI SCOFFS

-I'm sorry he hasn't done it yet.

-And Harry's form.

-(Oh, yeah.)

Come on, let's have a kick about.

We need paper - lots of paper.

And colouring pens - the thick ones, like markers.

Maybe you need one, too.

One what?

Campaign manager.

Did you make that yourself, or...?

SHE LAUGHS

Right. What do you reckon about badges?

-Mm.

-Forget badges.

Posters.

Posters? Yeah, that could work.

It's so stupid. Why do I need a form just to go out and meet my mates?

Just the way things are for us, mate.

They're always letting us down.

Some people more than others.

Campaign manager? Me?

Yeah! Go on, you'd be great.

Then THAT can go.

Let's start with the basics.

What do you stand for?

-Free sweets.

-What?

Free sweets if you vote for me.

I'm not sure it works like that.

OK...

..free sweets and DVDs.

How about a name?

The Voice Of The Young?

Kazima, would you vote for "The Voice Of The Young"?

No.

Forget that.

What about policies?

Policies?

Toni, if I get you free sweets

and DVDs, will you vote for me?

Yeah.

Well, then we're never going to win, because you're an idiot.

Vote for Floss, and you will get free sweets and DVDs.

Eh, not yet - you'll get them when the election is.

You've got to find out what they want from the forum,

and then promise people that you can get it.

And end up making loads of promises I can't keep?

That's not right.

-FLOSS:

-Carmen and Kazima, what would you like?

Oh, I want some chocolate-covered marshmallows,

and I also want the box set of the Vampire Diaries.

Got it. Kazima?

Well, I wouldn't mind some sours.

-Oh, she can't do that.

-She IS doing that.

Now do you want to win this election or not?

HE SIGHS

No, no, no, no. Close the door.

(Hey.)

With you outside it.

-SHE SCOFFS

-Oh, come on. What's the deal?

Told you...

I'm just looking after them for a friend.

And I'm a secret millionaire(!)

How much are you getting?

£5.

Each? So a tenner?

HE SIGHS

-All right, go on, how much do you want?

-Nothing,

but you can do me a favour.

Someone's been winding me up, and he really hates dogs.

Ryan.

FLOSS GRUNTS

You all right?

It needs to go...

It's OK, I'll help.

Hey, yous - when did the rules change

about May-Li not helping?

Oi! How's that not taking sides?

What? No, I was just putting a poster up.

So you're doing ours next?

No, cos you're tall enough, and you have been...

Do you want to bet, Floss?

THEY SHOUT OVER EACH OTHER

Quiet!

Maybe you should put the posters up where you can reach, Floss.

-Can you reach the bin?

-Shut up.

-Thank you, Tyler(!)

Let's try and keep this on track...

shall we?

We'll help you get it down, May-Li. Down on the floor!

All right, OK...

I'm already voting for Floss.

You don't really think you're going to get those box sets, do you?

-SHE TUTS

-Fair play.

Look, it's not just about free passes, OK?

I can help you...

if I win.

-HE SIGHS

-There must be something you need.

I want access to my own file.

Um...

-that might be a bit tricky.

-See? I knew it.

All right, why not?

I'll say to the forum that's what Ashdene Ridge wants -

full access to our own files.

All right, then you've got my vote.

Hey, Tyler?

You know Mike made Harry miss his trip today?

Cos of some stupid form?

Yeah, I know - how stupid's that?

So you can get rid of all that, yeah? In this forum thing?

Yeah, OK. First day in the job -

risk assessments gone.

You should speak to Kaz about that.

She was moaning about it the other day.

I think she's in the kitchen.

MOBILE PHONE ALERT

They're coming. OK, ready?

What are you doing?

Are you serious?! What you doing?

Oh, chill out.

Tyler likes jokes - right, Tyler?

Cheer up, Tyler - it's just a joke.

Tyler?

"Vote Floss! Tyler is an idiot"?

-Not funny.

-But they're your ideas.

"My five best practical jokes, by Tyler.

"Number one - the slop bucket.

"Number two - the sign on the back."

Now that's a classic.

HE SIGHS

So who hasn't ordered their DVDs yet?

We can make it work to your advantage.

"Tyler - the candidate with a sense of humour."

HE SCOFFS

They're right, I'm a joke.

I can't even beat Floss.

I mean...I told Harry I could cancel risk assessments.

As if.

How do you know you can't?

Well, I don't.

I suppose I could ask the forum.

And to do that, you'd have to win the election.

Do you reckon I can?

What kind of campaign manager would I be if I didn't?

Let's show them you mean business.

Oi, Ryan? You and me, penalties.

You having a laugh?

You want me to humiliate you in front of all these?

-I can take it.

-OK. You asked for it.

-Best of three.

-OK.

SHE WHISTLES

-DOGS BARK

-Ah!

HE PANTS

Get them! Someone get them!

DOGS SNARL

MUFFLED CRIES

-My file?

-I'll do it next, Carmen. I prom...

-LOUDSPEAKER:

-Vote for Tyler!

Vote for the end of risk assessments.

-What?

-Don't vote Floss - she's corrupt!

Everyone vote for...

Get down from there, now.

What, do away with risk assessments?

Is that what you're telling people? Is it?

What? And this isn't any better. Free DVDs?

Look, the CIC forum isn't a game,

it's a responsibility.

And it looks like you two don't seem to be ready for it.

So I'm sorry, but this election's over.

-Mike, you can't!

-Hang on a minute.

If you cancel the election, then we've got no voice for the forum.

Look, I know you all thought it was just the free passes and stuff...

Well, I did, too, I can admit that.

But it's not - it's so much more.

We can meet councillors - politicians even -

and they'll listen to us,

help us get a bit of control over our own lives.

-HE SIGHS

-You've always told us

-we can do what we want, Mike.

-Yeah.

Well...

I want this.

All right, Tyler, last chance.

Do not waste it.

Right, polls close in 15 minutes, guys. What you waiting for?

I'm supervising this election from now on.

-I thought you were busy.

-I am.

Has he not done your file yet?

Right. Leave it with me.

-I want a truce.

-Are you having a laugh?

You heard what Mike said. We start taking this more seriously,

not just hand out sweets and DVDs.

But that's how I'm going to win.

Now close the door on your way out.

Floss, you do know what the forum is?

Yeah, course, it's a voice.

-HE SCOFFS

-So what are you going to say

-with that voice?

-Want to hear my ideas

so you can nick them? I don't think so.

HE SIGHS

They're panicking. We are so going to win this.

-Pow!

-Yeah!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

HE SIGHS

Oh, Ryan? Is Harry OK?

He's not still upset about...?

-Yeah, he is a bit.

-HE SIGHS

What are you looking for?

Oh, Carmen's file. I could see how busy you are.

I thought I'd update it. Where is it?

It's in my car.

-It's in your car?

-Yeah.

Mike, those files aren't

-allowed outside the house.

-HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

We'll continue this later, yeah?

-I thought you wanted to speak about Harry?

-Ryan, please, just go.

I know I shouldn't have, but I took it home last night.

-You took it home?

-I wanted to finish updating it.

What would you be saying to me, if I'd have done that?

HE EXHALES

Bailey, why are these dogs still here?

We found the owner.

Ugh, not this time. Thank you, Sasha.

Oh...

I'll put that in the holiday fund, shall I?

-It was only for one day.

-Without permission.

-I'll let you know next time.

-Next time?

-Uh, Mike?

-Yes?

Where you going? You do realise the election is about to end?

-Oh, yeah.

-Come on.

I really need you.

-I'm not going to tell you who I'm voting for.

-You got to...

THEY CHATTER

CLOCK TICKS

All right, listen, I'll vote for Tyler, yeah?

-TEE:

-Jelly Babies!

INDISTINCT SPEECH

-Tee!

-MO:

-Tee, please vote for us.

INDISTINCT SPEECH

INDISTINCT SPEECH

You've already got the twins.

Yeah, I was just double-checking...

..just to see if they've changed their minds.

Right, well, we have - sorry, you have - one more to win.

-Oh, Kazima?

-Hm?

-Sours, right?

Oh, yes, you're right.

Right, everyone, last chance to vote.

May I be the first to congratulate you?

-How we doing?

-I don't think we've got enough.

Floss got the twins.

MIKE: Thank you. And the polling booth is now...

-closed. MAY-LI:

-Yay.

Do you want some sweets?

HE LAUGHS

Right. As the chief returning officer for the house,

I hereby declare that the duly-elected member

-for Ashdene Ridge, to serve on...

-Get on with it!

Oh, all right. SHE SIGHS

And the winner is...

HE IMITATES HEARTBEAT

Just tell us.

-..Tyler.

-Yes!

-MAY-LI:

-Yeah!

Um, where is he?

-ALL:

-Tyler! Tyler! Tyler! Tyler!

Tyler! Tyler! Tyler! Tyler!

THEY CHEER

Well done, mate, well done. Well done.

Don't forget our leisure centre passes, yeah?

Yeah, and, um, access to our own files?

-Well done, I suppose.

-Cheers. No hard feelings, yeah?

Can we have our sweets now?

Yeah.

We voted for you, like Floss said.

-TYLER AND MO:

-Really?

Yeah...

I thought you'd be better at it.

It's a lot of work. Good luck, though.

Being a campaign manager's hard.

Biscuit?

HE MOUTHS

-Did they take anything?

-Yeah, my bag's gone.

Police? Yes.

Uh... HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

A-A break-in, a-a car.

Uh, outside Ashdene Ridge.

Oh, hi. Um, thanks for coming.

I'm really sorry, Carmen.

-You got any idea what was in that file, Mike?

-(Yes.)

My life. My entire life!

-Huh. Have you told them?

-POLICE RADIO CHATTERS

I wanted to talk to you first. SHE SCOFFS

Uh, it was my car that was broken into, so...

Excuse me, um...I want to report Mike.

It was my file that got stolen in the car, and now it's gone.

You're going to need speak to head office.

Maybe Mike's won the lottery?

Like he'd tell us if he did.

What do you reckon, Carmen?

Hey, everyone. Thanks for waiting.

So earlier today, someone broke into my car.

-Did they nick anything?

-Shh!

No, Jody. Jody, it's fine.

Yes, Harry.

Um, they took my bag and some paperwork.

Paperwork to do with running this place.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT Some important files that

I shouldn't have had in the car,

so there's going to be an investigation.

-By the police?

-Not just that, Sasha.

Um, I shouldn't have taken this paperwork out of the office

so my bosses will want to have a look at it, as well,

and while they're doing that...

I'm stepping down.

Hang on. What, so you're leaving?

For the time being, yes.

You can't do that. What are we supposed...?

INDISTINCT SPEECH

Hey, guys? Let Mike speak, yeah?

But it's not his fault - someone broke into his car.

It is my fault, Tyler, I made a mistake.

I let you down. That's... That's why I think

it's right to step aside.

I shouldn't have got angry.

I let YOU down.

Look, this isn't easy, believe me.

I don't know when I'll be back.

But I-I do know that you'll all be fine because you'll...

..watch out for each other.

(Mike?)

You OK?

I think I'm going to say that I made it all up about my file, OK?

-I'll just say that it was all a lie.

-No, no. No.

Come on.

You know that wouldn't be right.

(I didn't want this.)

Look...

..no-one's blaming you.

I'm the one who messed up.

Yeah, but I made it worse for you, didn't I?

HE SIGHS

Carmen...

..I'd have done the same thing if it was me.

But right now, I need you to help look after the others for me.

They look up to you, so I can rely on you.

OK?

SHE SNIFFS

Oh, come on.

I just can't imagine this place without him.

-SHE SIGHS

-Try and be positive, Tee.

-We don't know what's going to happen yet.

-Yeah, exactly.

So what's the plan then, Tyler?

-Sorry?

-To get Mike back?

You're our voice now, right?

-Uh, yeah?

-Right.

So make sure we're heard -

we need Mike back.

# Hear

# Hear the noise that moves so soft and slow

# That's the sound of freshly-fallen snow

# Your love is gold

# Your love is gold

# Seems

# Seems as though we'll be stuck out here for days... #