The Switch The Dumping Ground

'So, this is the book.

'Everyone in it is waiting for the right person

'to see a child they think might want to go and live with them.

'There's always some new faces.

'And some older ones.

'Always hopeful it won't take long,

'but sometimes it does.

'So it's just a matter of waiting for their happy ending.'

-Hi, how you doing?

-How are you doing?

Billie, Toni, this is Sally and Dom Harper.

-Hello, girls.

-You look just like your photo.

How really lovely to meet you.

Oh, wow! They're amazing!

-Oh, cool.

-Thank you.

Oh, the top... Over the top!

The best look.

-Thank you.

-That's for you.

-Thank you.

Cheers.

THEY LAUGH

This will be your room.

Wow!

Really cool.

Is that a trampoline?

Do you want to have a go?

Can we meet Tinker first?

Toni is such an animal lover.

Are you thinking about the girls?

Won't it be fantastic if this works out for them?

Who's messing about with the electricity?!

Hello? Why has my hairdryer gone off?

-It's ridiculous!

-Always rely on this place to take your mind off things.

Anyone?!

So cute!

He's gorgeous.

Toni is good with all animals.

Except mice. We used to have a rabbit when we lived with our dad.

We read about that, after your mum...

After our mum died.

It must have been very hard.

Especially losing your mum.

Who wants to try that trampoline?

I'm OK. I think I'll stay with Tinker.

-I'd love to have a go.

-Excellent!

It just kind of popped,

and then this puff of smoke came out of the side of my bed.

Hey, don't get electrocuted.

My hairdryer better not be broken.

There's some wires exposed under there.

It's not safe. You'll have to stay somewhere else.

Why does this always happen to me?! Where am I going to sleep?

Oh, everything is such a tragedy.

Shut up!

No need for that. But I'll tell you where there is a spare bed.

-No way!

-Forget it!

He likes you.

Did you have him from when he was a puppy?

Yeah, pretty small. Mum didn't want him, I guess.

But we knew he was special.

So hopefully I won't be too bad a mum.

I think I'd like to try the trampoline now.

Oh, look at her face!

Why can't I just sleep downstairs?

Because there is a bed here.

You know how much I love this idea, too.

Sharing my space with you.

Well, one of us has got to be an adult about it,

and it's only for one night.

-Hey, you're back!

-Hey!

Jane's downstairs. She wants to talk to you about the interview tomorrow.

-Oh.

-I'll go.

-Thanks, May-Li.

So, how was it?

Dom and Sally were lovely.

They have a trampoline and a big back garden.

-And a puppy.

-Great stuff!

You're not saying much.

I'm just tired.

MUSIC PLAYS FROM BEDROOM

Maybe she isn't too keen.

Floss, go easy.

Um, headphones? Stop being so selfish!

Oh, yeah, I'm the selfish one!

I asked you to pick your clothes up off the floor!

-You didn't even give me a chance to tidy them!

-Girls!

And anyway, what about all your stuff?

Oh, so now you're telling me how to live in my room?

-Yeah.

-I told you, just cool it, please.

BOTH: Tell her!

OK, well, look, I'm sure that you'll figure out a way to get on.

-When are you going to tidy this up?

-What do you think?!

I thought you'd be more excited.

I'm all right.

I was just thinking about how much we'd miss being here.

Yeah, but it's about being part of a real family, though, isn't it?

How was the house, then?

Can we have sleepovers?

It was fine. Pretty small.

Really different from being here.

I'm going to watch TV.

It takes her time to get used to new things.

What happens if she messes it up for you two tomorrow?

Your chance to be fostered.

You need to make sure she doesn't change her mind.

Yeah...

So what do I do?

We need one brilliant idea.

And leave that to me!

SNORING

Will you shut up?!

That was totally out of order.

You wouldn't stop, and nothing would wake you up.

Girls, please. You've got the whole house up.

-She poured water on my head!

-She's louder than a warthog!

Whose bright idea was it to put them two in the same room?

I don't snore!

-Tyler!

-I recorded it.

Want to listen?

Well, if I do snore, it's probably from the dust you've got everywhere.

You're the one who lives like a pig, leaving your tissues everywhere,

squeezing your blackheads.

Urgh!

Calm it down!

When is the electrician getting here?

Soon-ish.

All the council-approved guys are busy.

Meanwhile, would you both please behave?

Go on, go. Go, go.

They fight over nothing.

I know she's his sister, but those two are really annoying.

Tell me about it. "This is not your side of the room!

"That is your side of the room!"

"They are both my side of the room!"

Maybe it's time to remind Toni of how annoying it is

living with so many people.

-Hurry up, Floss.

-Just be another five minutes!

But you said that five minutes ago.

Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to share a bathroom

with ten other kids?

She's coming!

-There you are!

-We've been waiting for you.

We thought we could have a sneaky biscuit and a drink.

Oh, cool.

They're all gone.

-This place.

-I can't believe it.

TV: 'The feathers of adult male ostriches are mostly black,

'with white primaries and a white tail.'

Mouse!

Mouse! Somebody, mouse!

-Somebody, mouse, help.

-Mouse!

-All right!

Calm down. Are you sure?

It's down there.

For crying out loud.

Oh.

It's Matthew!

I wonder how he got there.

Very funny.

Do you think you'll still be laughing when the others hear this?

SNORING

Oh, no, don't play them that.

I'll do anything.

We haven't got to the best bit yet.

'Tyler!

'Why do you want to go there?'

I reckon Tyler would love to hear that.

Ha!

You really think I'd only have one copy?

Tidy this up, or the whole house hears it.

Tyler!

Tyler!

It's blocked.

Thank you.

I shall miss my DIY twins.

What was it your mum used to say?

Never pay anyone to do something when you can do it yourself.

Yep, that's got it.

I don't want to be fostered.

I'm fed up with you making all the decisions.

You couldn't even be bothered to ask me what I want.

Fostering was your idea, and that's what I'm telling the social worker.

Hang on.

Did she just say she didn't want to be fostered?

After all that?

She's so selfish!

At first, I thought it was just about her not wanting to leave here.

But now she's saying I'm being bossy!

I don't understand.

Hey, girls, are you all right?

Just had a call. The social worker will be here in an hour.

-What?

-You and Toni will be interviewed separately.

It won't be Jane because she's away.

Just tell this lady why you want to live with the Harpers.

Will you let Toni know?

Good girl.

That's it. It's over.

Not necessarily.

OK.

That's very neat.

Yup. So you can delete that recording now.

No, you can keep tidy and respect my stuff until you leave.

Then, I'll delete the recording.

I knew you'd be like that.

So I took out some insurance.

Where is my jacket?

That's my favourite jacket!

It got tidied.

You've got...

..an hour to delete that recording,

or you will never see that jacket again.

Sorry, I wasn't being very fair.

-It is all right.

-Why don't we play a game?

Hide and seek?

OK, but can we talk about this?

Of course! But let's just have fun for now.

Right, you're counting, me and Billie are hiding.

In there, and no cheating!

LOCK CLUNKS

Very funny.

Billie?

Floss?

Billie!

Billie, Mike's looking for you and Toni.

-The social worker's here.

-OK, thanks.

Hope it goes well.

I wouldn't go out back if I was you.

I heard digging across the road,

and I think they've busted a sewer pipe.

Nasty.

Oh! Yeah, I think you're right!

Candi-Rose, can you close the back door for us, please?

Well, when you meet them, you meet them, you'll see...

Oh, hi, Billie. Come here. Come and say hello.

-This is Diane.

-Hi, Billie. Nice to meet you.

-Hi.

Where's Toni?

She was just finishing something.

She said I could go first.

Right you are. Come on.

I think we're done now. That is really helpful, Billie, thank you.

-That's all right.

-You really like the Harpers?

Yeah.

I really do.

OK.

Oh, it's time to meet Toni.

Necklace off, hair down.

Come on!

Hi, Billie.

Everyone is always getting us mixed up.

Hi, I'm Toni, are you Diane?

I am. You really are very alike.

Do you want to ask me about the Harpers?

I just love them. They were so nice to us.

It sounds like you like them just as much as your sister.

Toni hasn't stopped talking about them.

You mean Billie?

Yeah, did I say Toni?

We have days like this where we, like, think each other's thoughts.

That must be weird.

Why don't we get started?

You can't. You're not allowed!

It's stinky. You'll get ill.

Found these in my swimming bag!

Yeah, come on.

That's fabulous, Toni, thank you.

So I'll give them a ring and then we'll be in touch in a day or so.

-Is that OK?

-It's been lovely meeting you.

Thanks so much for coming to see us.

It is my pleasure, really.

So, I'll just need to see Mike

and it would be nice to say goodbye to Billie.

Billie is in the toilet.

She ate something.

She's fine, but she's going to be a couple of minutes.

Found her! And you found Mike.

So I'll leave you two to chat.

-Thank you, Floss.

-Wow, you two really are so alike.

Do you think?

-Yeah.

-Maybe I'm just used to them.

Goodbye, then. Nice meeting you.

Don't you think it would be nice if your sister came down as well?

I've already said goodbye, haven't I?

I mean Toni has, hasn't she?

Come on.

BANGING

Do you hear banging?

It's just May-Li.

What am I going to do? Mike's going to know it's me!

I don't know. I've come up with the big stuff.

You can't expect me to fix everything!

Well, think!

-Billie.

-Mike!

Diane's waiting, she's got to go. Where's Toni?

I'm not letting you out of my sight until I get my jacket back!

That is not happening!

-Mike, I've got something in my eye. Help!

-Let me see.

Splash some water on it.

Mike, no!

I told you someone was in there!

-What are you doing?!

-Aren't you meant to be with the social worker?

Thank you very much. We really appreciate it.

It's my pleasure, and I'll be in touch soon.

-Yeah, that's great. Yeah, you need to go.

-OK.

-But...

-Oh, there you are, Billie!

Not you as well. This is Toni!

She just came to say goodbye.

No, this is Billie.

How could you do that to me?!

-Thanks for all your help.

-I am sorry.

-That's OK.

-I will see you out.

-I'll contact the Harpers.

-Great.

Goodbye, girls.

I understand.

BOTH: Bye.

That was a horrible thing to do.

You were going to spoil it.

You can't force somebody to do something,

no matter how much it matters to you.

I wish I didn't even have a sister.

Then, I would only have to worry about myself!

Are you going to talk to me?

I just didn't get it.

Why you don't think the Harpers are perfect for us.

I thought that there was something you weren't telling me.

And...

..that you were going to change your mind.

So does this mean the twins aren't getting fostered?

-Probably not, no.

-That's a shame.

They seem so great.

I didn't want the girls to go,

but the way Billie talked about the Harpers sounded like

they really belonged there.

Mike, please can you talk to this thief?!

No, actually, you need to speak to this...

Right. That is enough!

Billie and Toni have probably lost their chance of a family,

so Mike and I have slightly more important things to sort out

than your silly little squabbling. And you know what?

An electrician won't set foot in here till you two learn to live together!

So I suggest you work it out.

-But...

-No!

Can I have your sister?

If you don't want her any more.

I always wanted a sister.

And a mum and dad.

-You've got a mum.

-Somewhere.

But I wouldn't mind a different one.

And she probably wouldn't mind, either.

So...

I guess we're stuck with each other forever, then?

I suppose so.

Which is kind of ironic,

because we probably hate each other the most in this house.

I don't hate you.

You hate me.

I don't hate...you.

You just upset me when you called me and Dexter criminals.

I suppose I shouldn't have said that.

A bit rich with my family background.

And I suppose I shouldn't have said some of the things I did, too.

A bit of a big mouth.

Takes one to know one.

I hid it there after you checked.

And I only saved another recording on my phone.

Look, there. Deleted.

I wouldn't have let anyone hear it.

I know.

I think.

Thanks so much for coming.

Billie really wanted the chance to say goodbye.

And, well, to explain.

Oh, hello, sweetheart. Are you OK?

I'm really sorry.

I thought that Toni would change her mind.

We understand.

I'm so sorry I hurt you.

I've messed up everything.

No, you haven't.

I thought I could picture myself calling Sally mum.

But then I thought I'd be turning my back on our mum.

-Toni...

-Let me finish.

Now, I think mum would want us to be with Sally and Dom.

I think she would want us to have a family.

I'd never leave you.

You're my best friend.

KNOCK ON DOOR

What are you up to?

Er, just defacing Candi-Rose's magazines.

Do you want a pen?

Um, no, you're all right. I was going to watch a film.

OK.

Hey.

Jodie, no guarantees,

but it looks like the electrician can come this afternoon.

-You will get your room back.

-Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's great, but...

-whatever.

-OK.

-It's nice.

-Thanks.

Are you using my leg as a table?

Yeah.

I think if you just... Oi! No, that's better! That's better!

Good luck. Enjoy.

All right, see you, girls. We'll see you soon, all right?

All right, kids, on the bus.

Goodbye!

-Bye!

-Goodbye!

If you need anything, give me a call, OK?

Sleepover, right?

And a trampoline.

Bye, girls! Goodbye! See you soon!

Come on, sit down.

Seat belts! Have a seat, come on. All aboard!

Let's get you unpacked.

I'm not naming any names, but someone forgot to feed Tinker,

so that needs sorting out.

Bye-bye!

'So it's just a matter of waiting and waiting.

'For the right people to come along.

'And there'll be some ups and downs.

'But all you can do is hope for a happy ending.

'Because these kids,

'they deserve a happy ending.'