Cat's in the Cradle The Dumping Ground

DOORBELL RINGS

Good morning, Madam. We would like to...

-Good morn...

-DOOR SLAMS

Good morning...

Good morning.

We're from Lawn Kids and we're here to sort your gardening needs.

DOOR SLAMS

Good morning, Madam.

-DOORBELL RINGS

-Good morning...

DOORBELL RINGS

-Hi, we're...

-Hold on.

It's Aileen!

Yeah, with an A.

You realise you've got a severe moss problem...

in the grass?

If you don't get it under control soon

you're going to have to weed out the lot.

I bet it's just as bad round the back.

We could take a look for you?

I'll call you back.

You'll ruin my carpets.

Meet me in the garden.

THUNDER RUMBLES

I need to go.

-But, Alex, we're in here!

-I'm sorry.

Alex?

We got the job, by the way.

Why'd you run off like that?

I think I've found her.

Your woman?

I think I've found my mum.

Hold on, let's just back up a little bit.

When's the last time that you saw her?

About ten years ago.

She left him at his dad's work.

Outside my dad's work!

On the street.

When you were five?

Nice woman, eh?

What do I do now?

Go and see her.

Do you think?

Whoa, whoa! Hold on...

How can you be sure that it's even her?

After all this time...

She might just look similar.

To another Aileen?

Why don't we take the job, do some digging?

Let's do it.

D'you want a shot?

Erm, no, thanks.

Er, what's up with all the popping stuff?

-What, the piano? It's going.

-What? Why?

Mike stubbed his toe on it, said a lot of bad words,

then decided it was in his way, so he's getting rid.

You OK?

We can come back another time.

I need to know.

Hello, gardeners.

Meet me round the back.

-Sorry, Taz, it's going - end of.

-Because you stubbed a toe?

That's your fault, not the piano's!

Look, the place is already really cluttered and nobody ever plays it!

-It's going somewhere it'll be used.

-Well, I think we should keep it!

-You haven't given me one good reason why.

-Well, it...

-It looks nice!

-It's old!

Well, you're old and we're not getting rid of you, are we?

The piano goes!

Please!

The guy's picking it up today. I'm sorry.

No!

Just make sure the paperwork is ready to send to Dubai.

If they try and fob you off again or lower the price,

I'll deal with them personally.

Right. Bye.

That sounded important.

-Excuse me?

-The phone call.

What is it that you do?

-So you have everything you need?

-Yeah. Thanks.

I'll be upstairs in my office,

so just knock on the door again when you're done, please.

Get in!

No chance! I'm on you.

-Taz, get out the way!

-Taz, what are you doing?!

-I need your help.

-Taz, move!

I'll-I'll make it worth your while.

Now, open!

-Carrots?

-Well, I had a pound left,

and Big Tom from the market said that they were a really good deal.

-You going to help or not?

-How much you think this place is worth?

She's going to get suspicious if she comes out here

and we haven't done anything.

I'd say half a mil, no problem.

Alex, work!

-In a minute.

-Where are you going?

No, no, no, no! No! Alex, stop!

What if she catches you? Alex, don't!

Oh.

Hi.

-We were just wondering if we could have a glass of water, please.

-Oh.

-Sure, I can get it.

-Thank you.

I've got a sister.

COULD have a sister.

-Yes!

-Aww!

Jody wins again!

Does someone want to tell me where the piano's gone?

What piano?

The piano that's been sitting in that hall

since before most of you were born piano.

Oh, yeah, THAT piano.

Some guy came to collect it.

-Mr Harris?

-That's him.

-He was supposed to call before he came.

-He said he tried to.

The phone, it was constantly engaged.

-Sorry. I should've told you.

-All right. OK.

Good. Great.

Huh?

-I don't want a fist bump.

-Show us the money!

They can't stay here.

But...

I can find loads of uses with these carrots.

Like?

There's loads of things you can do with carrots.

Just get them out my kitchen, Archie.

What are you doing?

You've got an amazing house.

-I prefer my old one.

-You moved?

For Daddy's job.

Mummy didn't want to, though. She doesn't like it here.

So what does she do, your mum?

Not really sure.

But she won a prize, for her work.

She got a trophy.

Can I see it?

It's in the house. Come on.

-WHISPERING:

-This really isn't a good idea.

-It's her, Charlie.

I know it is.

Come on. We're roomies!

Besties! Please don't tell Mike.

I'm sorry, Taz, but honesty is the best policy.

Really? Since when?

Wait, Floss.

Do you really think you can pay me off?

Yeah.

Course you can!

That was in Switzerland.

Can you ski?

-No.

-I love it.

That was my last birthday.

I got a pony.

Hey.

I should be in these photos.

I should've been there.

-Alice, darling!

-Two secs, Mummy!

She thanks her husband, her daughter...

What about her son, eh?

What about the son that she dumped?

It's like she's completely airbrushed me out of her life!

What are you doing?

-Guy for the piano, Mr Harris?

-No refunds.

Not that he paid anything anyway.

Sorry?

He can't bring it back.

He doesn't want to bring it back.

He's coming to collect it, you know, in 30 minutes?

No, he's already been...

Tasmin!

Alex, wait!

My sister got everything!

A nice house, big TV, holidays, and a mum and a dad,

to take care of her, to love her.

-She got a family, Finn!

-Alex...

-And what did I get?

A life on the street, begging for food, trying to keep warm everyday.

What did I do to deserve that?

It says that she went from rags to riches.

She was going through hard times and she turned her life around.

-But she didn't come looking for me!

-No, you don't know that.

You should tell her who you are.

What's the point?

She couldn't care less.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Alex, there's some girl here to see you.

Roll up, people from around the world!

Oh, sir, I've got some carrots!

Oh, please, sir, fat, juicy, succulent carrots!

Would you like some? Roll up, everybody, people!

Are you sure you don't want any carrots?

I've told you! I don't want any stupid carrots!

You shouldn't be here.

Why did you steal Mummy's newspaper thing?

-Come on.

-This isn't good.

-Nope.

-Hey...

Roll up! Roll up, people from around the world.

Please, sir, delicious, amazing carrots.

Buy one, get one free. And that makes two!

You need to keep out of sight.

-Why?

-It's a kids' home.

We're not meant to have people round.

What's a kids' home?

It's where children stay who don't have mums and dads.

Look, I'm sorry for taking the cutting.

I just wanted to show my mates...

..that I was working for someone famous.

-My mummy isn't famous.

-She's in the papers. Of course she's famous.

So why are you in a kids' home anyway?

Did your mummy and daddy not want you?

No.

No, they didn't.

That's not very nice.

Children should be with their parents.

Stay here.

And don't let anybody see you.

Oh, madam, would you like one of your five a day?

Have you had your five a day yet?

Cos these are really tasty, I'm telling you now.

Right, I'll give you another 30 minutes,

but I'll be watching from the office, OK?

Oh.

You've got no chance.

Come on then, Einstein, tell me,

because I need to prove that these weren't a waste of money.

Nobody likes carrots, Archie.

But everybody likes ice cream.

If I don't start getting some answers soon...

Now, how could I move a piano?

Look at the size of me.

Well, that's a good point.

Would anybody like to confess to helping Taz?

Fine.

Well, it's not just you who's lost TV privileges, Taz.

-It's the whole house.

-What?

I've had nothing to do with it and I can't watch TV for a whole day?

No. The whole week.

Are you having a laugh?

You need to tell him.

Taz! Taz, what is so special about this piano, eh?

DOOR SLAMS

OK, eh, I'll be downstairs when you're ready.

But we are going to deal with this, young lady.

You need to get rid of Alice before Mike and May-Li find out.

What did she say, Alex?

I think the local newspaper will be interested in that, do you?

How businesswoman of the year dumped her own kid on the street.

-Alex.

-Well, that's neglect, right?

She'll probably get locked up for it. She could lose everything.

Then you destroy your sister's life as well.

Does she deserve that? She's a good mum now.

She's not that person any more.

I just can't let her get away with it, Charlie.

I just can't.

Alice?

Alice?

I'm here.

-I told you to stay put.

-I made you this.

Where are they now, your mummy and daddy?

PHONE RINGS

-RINGING STOPS

-She'll be wondering where you are.

Come on, I'll take you home.

Are you sure about this?

Yeah. Just like carrot cake.

Why aren't we making carrot cake, then?

Carrot ice cream. Unique selling point.

All right, then, taste time.

-It's...

-Erm...

..disgusting!

THEY SPIT

What now?

We'll wait till Christmas.

Why?

Cos at Christmas people build...

Stupid idea, Archie.

What state do you think the carrots would be in in five months?

When in doubt...

..bring in the science.

So what's she like, your mum?

She's the best mummy ever.

She does work too hard.

Maybe that's just so she can buy you nice things.

That's what she says.

She just wants to make sure I have the kind of life she didn't.

What does she mean by that?

She used to be really poor.

Like your mummy.

Truth or dare?

-Sorry?

-Truth or dare?

Truth.

-Do you fancy Charlie?

-What?

I saw the way you look at her.

I change my mind. Dare.

SHE GIGGLES You do.

-I'm saying nothing.

-OK. Dare.

Go knock on that door and run.

No chance.

Alice, wait.

Alice.

Hurry up.

Oi, you! What are you up to?! Come back now!

Come on!

What did you do that for?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

What's going on?

Carrot smoothie.

We've juiced all the carrots to prove, once and for all,

if they make you see in the dark. It's a scientific experiment.

Which I'm going to write up and send into a journal.

We're going to be superstars.

If you drink all that in one go, you will never be off the toilet.

I'll tell you what?

Give a small glass of this to everyone and I...

..I will give you your money back.

But, Archie...

I know. I won't spend it unless I absolutely need to.

PIANO PLAYS IN DISTANCE

I...didn't know you could play.

I can't.

Not really.

It's one finger virtuoso.

But you can.

Can't you?

My dad used to teach me.

But...

..when Mum went to heaven, he just stopped.

Stopped everything.

He was just sad all the time.

Haven't played since.

I'm really sorry.

Piano's already been sold.

It's fine. I was just being stupid.

Why don't you play something?

Before it goes.

Cos I think when you have played it...

..it might make you feel a bit better.

Hmm?

Did you see the face on that guy?

He nearly caught us.

I've had fun today.

Yeah, me too.

Thanks for bringing me home.

You might not have found your way back.

Alice!

I better go.

See you later, Alex.

Alice, where have you been?

I just went for a walk.

I was worried.

You know, you're supposed to tell me if you're going out.

I left a note for you.

I didn't see it.

Anyway, you're OK.

That's all that matters.

Come on. Let's get pizza for dinner, eh?

-Double pepperoni.

-With extra mushrooms.

You're the only nine-year-old I know who likes mushrooms.

You don't have to do this, Taz.

I...

I want to.

OK.

She's amazing.

Isn't she just?

My mum loved that one.

So the guy's here to collect the piano.

It's... It's fine...

But he's gone again.

I heard you and Mike talking, so I just told him the truth.

And he understood.

Cos every home should have a piano, right?

-One condition, though.

-You'll play us another tune.

Deal.

-I don't dance.

-You do now.

EXCITED CHATTERING

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yello!

What have you done now?

What? Nothing.

Open the door, Archie.

-Is someone under there?

-No, no.

-Eh?

May-Li, no!

Parsnips?!

I give up. I give up. I totally give up.

They were really cheap.

KNOCK AT DOOR

You were right.

She's a pretty decent mum now.

To Alice anyway.

So what happens now?

Alice is happy.

For the first time in a long time, I am too.

Can I really ruin that?

So I guess we all move on. I mean, they've got their lives.

And I've got mine.