Sick The Dumping Ground

It started off just like any other week.

'All the usual stuff.'

Move!

-Sasha,

-I

-need to go in!

Then you'll have to wait your turn.

Sasha!

Let me in!

I was here first. Just go downstairs.

DOOR KNOB HITS FLOOR

-SASHA: Floss? Floss, come back.

-What's that smell?

Something stinks.

-Floss!

-Or someone.

Help. Oh, come on,

I've been in here ages.

Hey. Sasha, is it?

-Who's asking?

-I'm Josh.

Dave the joiner's apprentice?

Or, you can call me knight in shining armour.

Yeah? Well, I don't do knights.

Good, cos I don't do shining armour.

You don't do sparkling wit, either.

TOOLS RATTLE

Are you going to get me out of here before I hit 21?

RATTLING AND CLICKING CONTINUES

Are you always this charming?

Are you always this stu...?

..pid?

Nice to meet you, too.

Hi.

Someone left this in my room.

Maybe you should try it. Air freshener. It's lovely.

-Don't need it.

-Well, how about ditching that top?

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

Maybe go for natural fibres.

You mean like a grass skirt?

What are you staring at?

There's something huge on your face.

What? What?!

Seems to have its own blood supply.

Yeah, it's kind of like an extra head.

Oh, it's just a spot.

It happens at your age.

Stop staring!

I don't get spots.

Make us a cup of tea?

-Get lost.

-Nice, and after I busted you out the bog and all.

-What do you take?

-Skinny chai latte, if you've got it.

Builder's. Take it or leave it.

Any biscuits?

-MIKE:

-How much longer are you going to be doing that?

Don't know, Mick, mate.

It's Mike, and I'd appreciate it if you got a move on.

Can't rush perfection, Mikey.

Look, if I'd known it was going to take as long to fix

I would never have asked you. It's just a hinge.

See that?

Proper artist, me.

No-o-o-o!

-There you go, Josh.

-Thanks.

I'm just doing this cos I need the dosh.

What do you want to do?

Comics.

-Graphic novels.

-A bit daft.

Now, street art...

Is that what you're into?

Sick!

Thrash and all?

No, not really.

She loves it.

I'm going to a gig tomorrow for Death Knight Thrashers.

-Oh, yeah?

-You tried to get tickets for that, Sash?

They sold out.

I've got a spare, if you want it.

No. Skint.

He was SO asking you out.

No, he wasn't.

-Was, too.

-Yeah, well, not interested.

Shame. Reckon you might have met your match there.

Oh, and how would you know that?

Butt out.

Fine.

It's still shining through.

Put it on thicker!

There's no point. That zit needs something industrial.

That's not just a spot - it's like, I don't know. Landfill.

Why is this happening to me?

It happens to all of us.

You just need to be ready for it.

FLOSS SIGHS

Right, so you mean meet the enemy head-on?

Yeah, kind of.

Right, you pesky hormones,

bring it on.

Maybe I could see your stuff sometime?

My mate does wheatpastes.

You know, in that abandoned warehouse at the docks?

He's not Robbo, is he?

Yeah.

He's really up.

I've seen his sticky sides down the street.

He's totally awesome.

Is that the graffiti on the bins?

Yeah. Sick, ain't it?

-Yeah, it's really cool.

-No.

It's really vandalism.

No, this is proper art, mate.

He's doing a wall this afternoon.

A bunch of us are going to watch.

-Fancy it?

-I-I'm not doing anything else.

I'll see you at the warehouse at three?

Yeah. See ya.

Cool.

See you, lads.

Oh, yeah.

Marbles!

-No, please don't ruin the game.

-No, no, no, no, no. Don't.

Yes!

Sorry.

-What's wrong with her?

-She's in love.

-No, she isn't.

-Well, love makes you all soppy.

She's not in love.

The hormones, they can give you mood swings.

I watched it on a documentary.

Maybe that's what's wrong with Floss.

-Yeah.

-She's been really bad-tempered.

So stinky.

Definitely her hormones.

They're like aliens - they take over people's bodies.

Ew!

It's called puberty. It happens to everyone.

All this stuff, it's just nature.

Yeah, and it makes you an idiot.

LOUD ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

MIKE: Sasha! Turn that racket down!

MUSIC STOPS

Sore! Are you enjoying this?

I'm your own personal pimple-popper.

Ugh.

Try again?

You could just go and buy some spot cream.

At the chemist?

Over the counter?

-Yeah.

-But then...then people would,

you know, know.

-Know what?

-That I've got...

-WHISPERS:

-..a spot.

Time to go nuclear.

This will sort it.

A-Actually, I think I'll suffer it after all.

Why don't we help you pull together your perfect first date look?

She's got great taste.

Look, she styled me.

Oh, go on. Let us choose your outfit.

Tempting, but, no.

What are you going to wear, then?

Please, tell me not this?

SHE HUFFS

Whatever it is, it won't be pink.

-BOTH:

-Shame.

Let me do your face, then.

No offence, babe, but a bit of lippy would make a world of difference.

-Right.

-She really can work wonders.

Miracles, even.

Gloss. Never underestimate the power of lip gloss.

Suppose blush is out of the question?

-DEXTER:

-Where are you going?

Just out.

You said you'd help me with my Titanic project.

-I'll help you tomorrow.

-What time did you tell Mike you'd be back?

What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

I'll see you later.

INAUDIBLE

MUSIC: Sunshine by TIEKS feat. Dan Hartna

I've been calling you all evening.

Ran out of battery.

You didn't have permission to go out.

I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Give me a break.

I'll do that if you start behaving like a responsible adult.

Just get out my face.

The Titanic. Looks great.

Mike helped me with it last night.

We haven't finished it yet.

You could help make the figurines for the ship, if you like.

I'm going out.

What?

Not with that Josh fella? Again?

You need my permission to go out.

It's none of your business.

Didn't nearly getting sent to secure teach you anything?

No.

I'm not having you get in with the wrong crowd,

not while you're living under this roof.

I checked with my mum. She said it was OK.

I checked with my social worker. He said it was OK.

So you can't stop me.

Sasha?

Sasha!

DOOR BANGS SHUT

I haven't been down here in ages.

I used to bring Dexter here all the time before...

Must be tough...

..being in there.

It's better now it's the two of us.

My mum,

she tried her best, but...

Bad girl, eh?

Something like that.

Better keep my eye on you, then.

-Give us a look.

-It's not finished.

Come on.

It's me.

Rotten model and all - never stays still, never shuts up.

-And attitude?

-HE SCOFFS

It's good. You're really talented.

Not talented enough, though.

I got a knock-back for this course I wanted to do in Brighton.

Street art was one of the modules.

Sounds ace.

Got down to the final two for last place.

The other guy got it.

Unlucky.

Try again next year?

Nah.

I bet you're as good as any of them.

I was gutted when I didn't get in.

But, now...

..maybe staying here won't be so bad after all.

It's their loss.

Thanks.

You're really good at throwing stones.

THEY LAUGH

I was awful.

I never got it.

How's things...Mickey?

SASHA LAUGHS

It's Mike,

and things are fine.

-Do you and Sasha have plans?

-Plans are for losers,

Miguel.

It's still Mike.

We're just going to go with the flow.

See where the vibe takes us.

Cool. Great.

So you can stay for lunch, then. Sausage and mash.

So, Josh, you've left school?

-Yeah.

-You left, or you got kicked out?

Ryan.

-Which was it?

-Uh, none of your business.

It's OK, Sash.

I had the grades for college.

But you didn't go?

-What's with the third degree?

-I didn't get into the course I wanted.

Oh, no career plan, then, eh?

MAY-LI CLEARS HER THROAT

I've got three other offers.

Just haven't decided which one to take.

Do you, you know, go out much

of an evening? With girls?

Or with boys?

I'm taking Sasha to a music festival later.

DOORBELL RINGS

I'll get it.

So...you ever had a lie detector test before?

Uh...no.

A few test questions to start.

Is your name Josh?

Yes.

Are you sitting down?

Yes.

Why do you want to go out with my sister?

Do you...fancy her?

Yes or no?

Yes.

Are you going to cheat on her,

mess her around, play her?

No, no, and no.

No sign of sweat.

What are your intentions towards Sasha?

After this? He's going to do a runner.

I don't know. I just think she's...

great.

I've never met anyone like her.

-I don't know.

-Steady pulse.

He's telling the truth.

-I'm so sorry about that.

-It's OK.

They were just joking around.

Listen, listen.

You can go to the gig tonight.

Have her back in good time, though.

-No worries, Mickey.

-MIKE SIGHS

Remember...

Hey.

Can I help?

There.

He'll stay there now.

You're going to go off with that boy and leave me again, aren't you?

No. Why would you say that?

Cos...that's what always happens.

Look, listen.

Josh isn't like the idiots that Mum used to see.

I'm not her.

I'm not going to leave you.

OK?

Give me a hug.

You stole my spot cream?

AND my deodorant? Finn saw you.

-No, not me.

-What's that on your nose, then?

Yeah, what else have you nicked?

-Hey, what's going on?

-She's been stealing our stuff.

I'll speak to you in a minute.

Ladies?

Just cut Floss some slack, yeah?

I've cut enough slack.

Popping that spot was gross.

Guys, come on. She's going through puberty.

Yeah, but she's just being dead mardy.

Yeah, hormones will do that to you.

Look, all I'm asking is just remember what it was like for you.

-Hello, there.

-Hi.

Hi.

HEADS CACKLE

Hey. You're back early.

Sasha, what happened?

-Get lost.

-Sasha?!

I hope you're happy.

You scared him off big time.

What's going on?

I thought Josh was sick.

Turns out he's like all the other guys...

..a waste of space.

He's probably having a right laugh with his mates now

about how he stood up the short girl.

SHE SOBS

I feel like a total idiot.

Maybe Sasha's not so fierce after all.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Go away.

Josh couldn't make it?

I don't know.

He didn't bother to tell me.

-I'm sorry.

-No, you're not.

You couldn't stand him.

Just leave me alone.

Please.

SHE BREATHES RAGGEDLY

SHE SOBS

BELLS CHIME AND RESONATE

Om.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Om.

Hey. What you doing?

Meditating.

Good for...things.

-What things?

-Om.

Floss.

-Om!

-Come on, stop om-ing and answer me, will you?

Are you worried about your body changing?

I just wanted to be more prepared.

That's natural. But come to me, don't steal things.

What's with the bells and the incense anyway?

It enhances the journey to womanhood.

I heard some girls at school talking about it.

Floss, they're talking rubbish.

Your body's pretty clever, you know. It works things out for itself.

All the meditating in the world's not going to help

-if you're not ready.

-Phew. It was so boring anyway.

-Coming downstairs?

-There's another thing that supposed to help.

-What's that?

-Chocolate chip ice cream.

Hey, Sash, are you all right?

I'm sorry for kicking off earlier.

It wasn't your fault.

Get your coat, we're going out.

-What?

-To the gig.

With you? You're joking.

I'll stand at the back. Pretend you don't know me.

How about two streets away? MIKE LAUGHS

Come on. Probably hasn't started yet.

Please, just give me five minutes.

Give him the benefit of the doubt, hey?

Sash...

..I was going to call, but...

..I didn't know what to say.

You just...

left me standing there.

I'm sorry.

That's why I came to explain.

I got a call.

The course...

..someone dropped out.

They're offering me his place.

But it's miles away.

I don't know what to do.

You've got to take it, Josh.

It's what you've always wanted.

That's what I thought...

..until I met you.

You finished it.

It's brilliant.

Thank you.

You're brilliant.

It's the most amazing thing anyone's ever given me.

I was going to give it to you on our date,

but...

Well, we can still go, can't we?

What are we waiting for?

Come on.

-TV:

-'The feathers of adult male ostriches are mostly black...'

-Hi.

-'..with white primaries and a white tail.'

We're sorry for going off the deep end at you earlier.

But we thought that this might help.

This is for when you get moody.

Moody? Cheek.

And pretend you're throwing these at whoever's annoying you,

-and you'll feel better.

-Or earplugs.

Just block them out.

And just know, no matter how rubbish it gets, it'll pass.

-You'll be OK, Floss.

-Thank you.

See ya.

I thought Josh had messed me around.

Then, I realised he was actually OK.

Was more than OK.

I got my first kiss.

Maybe they don't all have to be bad guys.

Sometimes, people surprise you in the best way.

This is Sasha, signing off.

Fiercer than ever.