#SaveTheDG The Dumping Ground

Definitely a yeti.

Look at all that hair.

Why do they keep showing up here?

Maybe he's measuring.

Checking us out for his den.

Yeah, but why this place?

There's a food source here, isn't there?

May-Li's sprouts?

No, us!

THEY SCREAM

Hey! What's going on?

He dropped this.

Looks like a recipe for roasting kids.

Cruickman Developments, Goodrich Heights, phase one,

3-storey, multi-occupancy housing.

What's multi-occu-pansy?

Flats.

Someone has applied to build flats here.

-Where?

-There's no room.

What this is saying is they're going to knock Ashdene Ridge down.

Yes, I am aware that it's been on the table for years.

But you can't just make a decision without letting us know.

What written notice?

We have definitely not had a visit from the head of building planning.

Maybe they've got us mixed up.

I mean, this has got to be a mistake.

We've got to complain, like when we got your job back.

They took notice of us then.

Just a second.

Just go to the council.

How come you're the boss?

Cos I'm the Children in Care council rep.

Whoa, I'm scared.

Look, I don't care what their records say.

Nobody has informed us of anything.

Letters. What letters?

Taz!

My dad told me to hide all the brown ones.

I'm just going to take ten, and I'll get straight back to you, OK?

It's council... Council.

Oh, they're all council. Oh, Taz!

I'm sorry, Mike.

Last day to put your objections in writing...

..a month ago.

Oh, no.

Come on, Mike, you and me, let's go.

-Where?

-Council.

Come on.

Good luck.

-I'm sorry.

-It's OK.

-Well?

-They didn't listen.

Kept going on about budget cuts, and selling off assets.

But this isn't an asset.

This is our home.

They reckon they can find spaces.

They can rationalise, streamline.

I don't get it.

If they kick us out, they get more money.

Tyler Lewis, the voice of the people.

HE SIGHS

But, it's nearly Christmas.

Will it be after that?

No. We're not just taking this.

We're not giving in.

I tried everything, Jody.

If you want to go, then fill your boots. Show us how it's done.

You should have asked me in the first place.

You're an idiot. You wouldn't even know where to start.

Quiet!

If we're going to save the Dumping Ground, we have to work together.

-Seems to have been a breakdown in communication.

-I know that

-we've missed the deadline.

-Well, a postal issue really.

-Yes.

Neither I or Mr Milligan had actually been informed.

-May-Li, about the other kids' homes...

-Meeting, what meeting?

..I can't be anywhere with gerbils, and the countryside makes me sneeze.

Not now. Look, and it's not my call, you know?

Your social worker contacts the placement team.

You're forwarding it now?

And Chloe, I'm not going on my own.

SHE GROANS

All right, thank you. Thank you for trying.

Thanks for nothing.

Right, they're not budging an inch.

They're saying we're inefficient.

-Don't get mad.

-What?

Don't get mad, but there was a meeting.

Ashdene Ridge, managing transition.

I thought it was for the care leavers, you know,

and we don't have any care leavers right now.

I don't believe it.

All this time lost, and we could have been fighting.

Ssh!

HE GROANS

Hi, guys. Now, we've got an emergency situation in DG Land,

and we need your help.

I'm halfway through contacting all the old residents.

And I've made and handed out a petition.

I'm digital.

Good job.

Tyler's on PR.

The radio station won't let me on.

But I thought you had all the contacts.

Yeah, I do, but they're all over this dumb museum opening.

Just because the Royals are showing up.

What Royals?

A Royal, as in family.

-It's the Duke of somewhere.

-Cool.

Who cares about a room of old relics anyway?

Especially when the council are trying to shut us down.

Old relics?

I think that's treason.

No, not them, the new Ancient Roman wing.

If only we could get a fraction of their publicity.

And, what are you doing?

Important stuff like eating.

Yeah, we're still waiting for your brilliant input.

So, me, Jody, Tyler, and Sasha would go into supported flats.

-We're nearly old enough for that anyway.

-Cool, me and Sash.

I don't think so, Dex. You'll all go into a kids' home,

and the little ones into foster, I reckon.

How do you know all this stuff?

Just using my brain.

But I like it here.

I'm sure they'll find us all somewhere nice.

Sorry, how many kids' homes have you actually lived in?

-One.

-Yeah, well, I've lived in loads and this place and Mike are by far

the best.

And May-Li.

Yeah, but Mike's official,

he's got a medal from the Queen and everything.

I've seen it.

Oh, yeah, his MBE.

You're a genius, Dexter.

Well, is he in the office at all?

Can I speak to him? Is that possible?

No, there's got to be something you can do, please.

Can we not at least try to reschedule something?

We'll keep it a secret, yeah?

If the Royal family can't help us, I don't know who will.

No, there's got to be something you can do.

So, May-Li says we have to write to our social workers

all the reasons why we have to stay together.

I brought my glitter gel pen.

What about Ryan?

Won't he go in a flat like Jody?

No, they wouldn't do that, he's my brother.

Yeah, but you don't really get along, and...

..true family's the one you choose.

CHEERING

Hey, Your Royal Highness, over here!

Hey, over here.

-Alex, what are you doing?

-Publicity, innit!

Me and the random Royal.

He isn't a Royal.

You feral brat, I might have known! Well, get him!

What do we want? To save the DG.

When do we want it? Now!

Come on, Ryan.

Save the DG!

-And him!

-Oh, him, he's an accomplice!

What? I haven't done nothing.

Thank you for being so understanding.

You could have been charged with public disorder.

I expect this from you, but you? Did you put him up to this?

-I didn't even...

-Quick, you guys are on the news.

What do we want? To save the DG! When do we want it? Now!

-Got us on the telly, didn't I?

-What?

You couldn't even make the radio, mate.

Did you show the MBE?

What do you think?

So, what is the DG?

-See? We're famous.

-That's the question on everyone's lips.

-Councillor Umbleby...

-They're outside with Umbleby.

DG is what the residents call this place, the Dumping Ground,

or Ashedene Ridge.

It's a children's home, which we're unfortunately closing down.

And as head of building planning you spearheaded this?

He's head of building planning!

He knew this whole time, and never said anything.

Financial considerations drove the decision.

We've managed to sell a site to the quality developer to the relief

of local residents.

That's not true!

Here are some of the youngsters themselves.

I wouldn't get too close. They have behavioural issues.

No, we don't.

You're the one with issues, mate.

Excuse me!

Get that camera away from the young people, please.

Finally, he emerges.

This is the first Mr Milligan's had to say on the matter.

That's because we didn't know.

We had a...

..postal issue.

Go on, go inside now.

We should not be closed down.

All right? We have excellent relations with neighbours.

Mrs X might disagree with you there.

She's remaining anonymous for fear of harassment.

They used to come into our garden...

That's Mrs Dumbleby.

..knocking on the door at all hours.

They spread rubbish all round the living room once.

It wasn't rubbish!

It was the furniture.

I'm scared to leave the house in case they throw things at me.

-What?

-What's wrong with the woman?

I had to send my son away.

They bullied him so badly.

He went to clarinet college.

I was trying to be his friend.

HISSING

RATTLING

Passions clearly run high in both sides of this story.

Back to the studio.

You two, grounded.

-I haven't done nothing.

-You went out without permission.

-End of story.

-Egging.

You are such an idiot.

I'm sorry, OK?

No, it's not OK.

We're going to be all over the papers tomorrow.

Compared again to criminals.

Ungrateful brats who don't deserve a home.

My blog is losing followers.

It's like... It's like...

The Dumbleby's stitched us up big-time.

Who's going to want to save the DG now?

DOORBELL RINGS

-Don't answer it.

-It's the army.

OK.

I'll deal with this.

You guys just stay there.

SHE GASPS

-It's Tee and Johnny.

-When are you going to stop growing?

-Amazing.

-I got a two-day pass from the barracks.

I told my CO it was an emergency.

You didn't say that you were coming.

-No Carmen?

-No, she's in France with college.

Nice threads, man.

So, we just saw the news.

Attic, yeah?

We have some serious damage limitation to do.

Joseph, Johnny.

Johnny, Joseph.

So, you lived here and you became a soldier?

Yeah, Mike made us believe we could be anything we wanted.

Yeah, so no matter how much that councillor disses us,

we come back with all the good stuff that we've done.

I've tried that with my blog.

Yeah, but you don't quite have enough followers.

Umbleby's got 1k and it's growing.

We need to reach out to all of our supporters, ex-care kids.

Yeah, their families, foster families, adoptive parents.

What the DG did for me across every social networking sight.

1,026?

To look at his toady face?

We can get more than that if we do what Johnny said.

Contacting all these people.

Yeah, and get them to share it with their friends.

Bailey in America.

Liam's brother's a copper.

Yeah, and doesn't Gus play in that massive orchestra now?

Look how many people we've got and look how many they've got.

We can totally beat Dumbleby.

Our school, the new playground.

They crowd-funded that.

They contacted all the old pupils, parents, and made the money in days.

We could buy the DG.

That is a brilliant idea.

So, do you really think Mike's medal's going to make a difference?

Well, yeah, he's a Member of the British Empire

for the work he does here.

So, they're not going to let us down.

Then we need to get a message to the Palace.

I could go to London.

That would make them see me.

-What?

-But they might not be there.

I've checked, they are.

The crowds, something terrible could happen.

Something terrible has happened.

The council are trying to shut us down.

Look...

..this could be our only hope.

But how...

I'm going and that's that.

You won't change my mind.

All right, this one's the same size as Ashdene Ridge.

We can get an idea on price.

But it's serious cash.

Well, split it between 1,000 people.

And it's no more than a pair of trainers.

Yeah, like designer limited-edition,

diamond-encrusted trainers.

All right, well, I'll put the first fiver in.

That way we don't start on zero.

We can do better than that.

We could all put in our Christmas money.

-Yeah.

-But how long we got?

We need to find out from Dumbleby when the final contracts are signed.

Oh, yeah, and he's just going to tell us.

Oh, he will. Don't worry.

Well, that's practically in the bag, then.

ALL: Ah!

You're having a laugh? Buy the DG?

What money?

We can start with the money we get from our social workers for

-Christmas and birthdays.

-So, does that mean we don't get

a Christmas present?

Does that mean you don't have to go to the Palace?

Well, every plan needs a backup.

And, well, me and Ryan have already planned my route.

So, we own the DG, all of us?

It's our home and we can't let anyone take that away from us.

All right, who's in?

It's the stupidest idea ever.

Hey, folks. How goes the petition?

It's old news.

Brace yourself, old man.

Mr Umbleby...

..I've got this really rattly bedroom window, you know?

Does it look as if I'm remotely interested in your domestic issues?

Well, no. But, I was wondering if you could tell the developer.

I mean, I know we're not here for much longer, but they should still

pay for repairs.

They don't own you yet, you stupid boy.

Contracts aren't exchanged for another week.

A week, right.

That's really useful to know.

Try earplugs and an umbrella.

HE CHUCKLES

Oh, well, I will.

Once I've been in touch with my consortium of buyers.

Consortium?

-What are you blathering on about?

-#savetheDG.

You might want to take a look.

You can't save it. Don't be ridiculous.

I prefer enterprising.

I've got a meeting with the leader of the council tomorrow morning.

I'm sure she's going to love the idea.

Sacrificing Christmas pressies to save your home.

That is PR gold.

You know you've only got about a quarter of a percent of what you

actually need?

Right, the contracts will be signed in a week.

That's from Umbleby's lips.

-He told you?

-Yeah, he couldn't resist my charm.

Call it 650 over seven days, 2,000 people,

£100 each.

2,000 people?

Divided by the combined 43 years you and May-Li have been care workers.

Someone's been doing their homework.

Right, so you own the DG.

Who's going to pay the daily running costs?

Well, we get the money the council pays for each young person.

-And then employ you and May-Li.

-Led by me and Johnny.

People crowd-fund for things all the time now.

Schools, sports centres.

So, what happens in a week if you don't hit your target?

The money goes back.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

This looks like something Sasha would draw.

-Cheek!

-You're lucky we got the money out at all.

I only took it out so we could do the Christmas shopping.

Bye-bye, new phone. Hello, home.

This might be the most bonkers things you've ever done...

..but we might just pull it off.

THEY CHUCKLE

MUSIC: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

-Have you checked the total?

-200 quid.

-300 now.

We got 100 by a girl called Sapphire.

See, they're all putting in. Have you got any spare towels going?

-Can I have your hat first?

-Don't tell my Sarge.

OK.

Come on.

Hey, what's your name again?

Uh, none of your business.

-What's yours?

-Tee.

You really remind me of someone.

DOOR SLAMS

Not your best side.

What do you mean gone? Things don't just vanish.

Stop shouting and maybe I can think.

-What about your bag?

-Stop it!

Why are you being so horrible?

Oi, oi. What's with all the shouting?

Please.

Well? Anyone?

Chloe?

It's not Chloe's fault, but she did lose something really precious.

-That's all.

-No, I didn't.

Will someone tell me what's going on, please?

-It's your MBE.

-What?

Chloe was meant to take it to the Palace.

What? Why would you take my MBE to the Palace? I mean...

Oh, right.

The Royal family can't meddle in council business.

And even if they could, they give hundreds of them away every year.

So, you was going to send Chloe to London for nothing?

Some brother you are!

-Mike.

-Yes?

-Mike, it's the money.

-What?

It's gone.

I'm sorry.

Posting pictures of cash was so stupid.

-So, how many people could have seen it?

-I don't know.

Got thousands of shares.

Free money, come and get it.

-That's enough.

-Wait, hang on.

Mike's MBE's gone as well.

There was no post about that.

Do you think it's been stolen too?

Well, I know I didn't lose it...

..whatever Ryan says.

So, if the same person broke into the office and stole the MBE,

then it has to be an inside job.

Which means it's got to be one of us.

Yeah, let's guess who's top suspect.

I never said it was you.

You don't need to.

-Alex...

-Room search.

Stay put.

HE SIGHS

Alex, it's me.

Look, you don't leave without permission,

especially not when you're grounded.

Look, just come home when you get this, OK?

He's guilty. It's so obvious.

No.

He's only gone because everyone's picking on him.

Yeah, but Alex was the only one who didn't donate his Christmas money,

-though.

-That doesn't make him a thief.

And why'd he steal Mike's medal? Is it even worth that much?

Cos he clearly doesn't want to save the DG at all.

Right, seeing as we're all stuck in here we might as well make ourselves

useful.

A mutant dog with horns?

That's a reindeer.

Yeah, me and Cara made it.

Come on, we've got work to do.

# From everywhere, filling the air

# Oh, how they pound, raising the sound

# O'er hill and dale, telling their tale

# Gaily they ring, while people sing

# Songs of good cheer

# Christmas is here

# Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

# Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

# On, on they send, on without end

# Their joyful tone to every home

# Oh, how the bells, sweet silver bells

# All seem to say, throw cares away

# Christmas is here, bringing good cheer

# To young and old, meek and the bold

# Ding dong ding dong that is their song

# With joyful ring all carolling

# One seems to hear words of good cheer

# From everywhere filling the air

# Oh how they pound, raising the sound

# O'er hill and dale, telling their tale

# Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer

# Christmas is here

# Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

# Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

# On on they send, on without end

# Their joyful tone to every home. #

SHE KNOCKS

You can't come in here till I'm done. You know that.

But I've got tinsel and glitter all over my top.

HE SIGHS

Go on, then.

-Mike...

-Yes!

I didn't steal the money. Honest!

Why?

Cos, uh, she wanted to make you mad with me.

You're supposed to be her best mate.

I am. That's why we're meant to be placement partners.

But you were going to choose him.

-It's just not fair.

-Placement what?

Candi, I told you, it's not that simple.

It is to me.

I've finally got a proper best friend who I don't have to be

fake with...

..and now I've ruined it.

Oh, hello, Sergeant.

It's Michael Milligan from Ashdene Ridge.

Yeah, I'd like to report an office break-in, please.

Cash. Just short of £1,000.

No, no, no, I've searched.

It's not here.

Oh, Faith's just given 50.

Who's Faith?

Didn't she fall off the roof?

-No, that was Lily.

-Oh.

We need a family tree.

What's the total at now?

£500, and it's not even lunch time yet.

We can do this without the Christmas money.

DOORBELL RINGS

What now?

Just give me a second to have a word with him, please.

Alex, the police officers are going to take you down to the station

-to take a statement.

-No. They picked us up for no reason.

An eye witness saw someone matching your description climb through

-that window last night.

-I haven't done anything.

-I believe you.

And I'll stay with you.

Just keep it cool, or you're going to make it worse.

Yeah?

Come on. That's it, lad.

What's going on?

HE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR

Mr Umbleby.

This really isn't a good time.

I heard about your unfortunate break-in.

And the culprit is one of your own.

The eyewitness, it was you.

-It was Alex, then.

-No!

Can you wait in the car for a couple of minutes?

Alex, go on. You'll be fine.

Go on, lad.

So, um...

..how do I put this?

There are grave concerns about the management of this establishment

following today's events.

Concerns?

The council want to extricate themselves ASAP before any further

embarrassment is caused.

Do you want to try that in English?

We're moving the sale forward.

-What?

-New contract will be drawn up tomorrow.

A new completion table will be set.

You can't do that.

You and Miss Wang will be notified of your redeployment.

You lot will be allocated your new placements over the next week.

But...

What about our plan?

The fundraising?

We won't have enough time.

You're only doing this to stop us.

Cos you know we'll win.

Boo-hoo.

Great, now what?

We need another plan.

MUSIC: Left Hand Free by alt-J

ENGINE REVS

BEEPING

-Dig.

-Here I am, back at Ashdene Ridge,

reporting on the latest surprising development.

Can't let you go without a bit of Christmas dinner.

You are a terrible roommate.

No, I'm not.

We're just remembering it all.