Family Tree The Story of Tracy Beaker

# I can make my world come true

# All my dreams will see me through

# Doesn't matter what may come my way

# Believe me now, I will win some day... #

Hey!

What idiot sets you lot a family tree project?

I've got some interesting royal ancestors.

-You haven't enough family to fill a phone box.

-I've got my mum.

Your invisible mum who never comes to visit you. I've got a real dad.

-You can include Carrie.

-I thought we could only include humans.

Well, at least I've got someone.

-And Lou might as well. Mightn't you, Lou?

-Hmm.

< Fostered by this lot? No chance!

-Give it back!

-You can't use them. They're not family.

-Not yet.

But after this picnic, who knows?

They'll turn up all smiley-smiley. By teatime, everyone will hate you.

-The two of you will have something in common.

-Tell us about fostering,

Miss Know It All. The promises, the forevers, then the dumping.

Who was that woman who dumped you back here? Anyway, she's history.

Just like you lot after the picnic. Louise will be alone again.

Just like you were, Tracy.

What did I say?

I'm not alone. I'm not!

-Yes!

-Oi! >

What do you think you're doing?

-We're bored.

-Yeah, B-O-R-D, bored.

You can help with the gardening.

Hello?

Big families are the worst. They'll treat you like a slave.

She'll be fine. You'll see.

Well, if by some miracle she is, that'll be the last you see of her.

-And you've definitely confirmed the time?

-Twice.

I'd have done it at least three times and then...

Look, I know this is my first case, but you can trust me, dude.

Just relax, Elaine.

-Sorry.

-Just relax.

-It's just fine.

-And if it's not, who's gonna get the blame?

-Eh?

-Don't worry. Everybody goes weird when a fostering's in the air.

It's a scary business.

Yeah. Just imagine how the kids feel.

-Oi, Justine! Coming shopping?

-Yeah, in a bit.

No, now. She's seeing me off.

Need her hand holding, does she?

We'll still be best friends.

-For how long. For ever. Right, Justine?

-Yeah.

For a month. Maybe a week.

She'll walk out the gates and not even remember what you look like.

That's rubbish! Isn't it, Justine?

I'm off. Coming?

-Here we go.

-It'll be fine.

Nathan's got everything sorted out.

-Sure, I've got forms, documents and...

-Louise?

-Come on, Grandad.

-Come on, Dad. Come on, kids.

Louise will be down in a moment.

I'm sure everything's going to be fine.

I'm not going and that's that. They're great people.

Sure. You'd fit in perfectly. >

Just think - a real family.

But what about friends? Justine's my best friend.

At least she was until this stupid foster thing came up. I hate it!

Oi, smiley! Can anyone use these stairs

or are they for a special occasion?

-Sorry. I can't get Louise to go on this picnic.

-Course not.

You're a trainee social worker. Even the trained ones are rubbish.

You need help from a real expert.

-If that's an offer, I'll take it.

-I'm not cheap.

-I can't pay.

-Ice cream?

-Possible.

-Coke?

-Sure.

-And I get to go on this naff old picnic with my client.

-No, I couldn't.

-Suit yourself. I tried.

-Hang on.

-(Bingo!)

-I won't go.

-I don't blame you. Stupid fostering trips!

Only real families matter.

My mum and I ruled over a happy land.

Then one day, the evil social workers invaded.

My mum knew there was only one thing to do.

Since then, I've been on hundreds of useless fostering trips.

-Never again.

-Right.

-Some kids go on these trips for ice cream and Coke.

Imagine that - using people just to get what you want!

And to avoid one of Nathan's corned beef meatball lunches.

-Hey, Tracy...

-Hmm?

-She's going.

-She is?

-Yeah, they're leaving now.

-That's a relief.

-Both of them.

Both?

Yeah, she's taking Tracy with her.

Tr...? AAAAAARRGGGHHH!

-I've got a free day...

-Can't stop. Louise is entering fostering hell.

-I have to protect her interests.

-Don't mess it up for Louise.

It's a fostering. It'll mess up by itself.

-Louise might be luckier.

-Get real!

-You're a PC whizz, aren't you?

-I wouldn't say that.

Our PC crashed and I still have homework to finish when I get back.

Please?

Are you sure it's OK Tracy coming with you?

No problem.

CHILDREN: Bye, Grandad!

-Sure you'll be OK, Dad?

-Yeah.

-You behave!

-They won't know I'm here.

What's this? Computer games? On a day like this?

-There's more to life than computer games.

-Right(!)

-I'd have learned survival skills.

-Hold me back!

Like catching wild animals.

BOTH: Wild animals?

There! Now we just wait.

Yeah, a couple of decades should do it.

What animal's gonna be dumb enough to fall into that?

Aaagh!

I hope you don't take out all your foster kids in these conditions.

All? She's the first one.

I see. They've got a lot to learn, haven't they, Lou?

You have to look after kids like us, spoil us, lots of ice cream,

-Coke, that sort of thing.

-Really?

-Or we could turn ugly.

Believe me, you wouldn't want to see that!

So do you have a regular job?

-Seven days a week.

-And wages?

-Excellent.

-How much?

-Two-fifty.

-250,000 a year?

And we only get a tiny bit of cake?

-£2.50 an hour.

-That's rubbish money!

Other paper rounds only pay two quid.

No-one's taking this fostering thing seriously.

Oh, some of us are.

We only fire it away from the buildings, OK?

-Of course.

-How perfectly sensible!

With any weapon, the key words are discipline and safety. Got that?

-Yeah, discipline and safety.

-Try that tree over there, Bounce.

No, only fire it the other way!

I bet he can't hit it.

-Me? I was the best shot in our street.

-I bet he could hit it.

-No chance.

-Which tree?

-That one over there behind the summer house.

-Just you watch!

GLASS SMASHES

Lou won't move in with people I don't know. You could be monsters.

-That's us.

-This might be just a big laugh for you,

but not for me and Lou. Imagine being in a kids' home!

-You've got no idea what it's like.

-I know exactly what it's like.

That's why I've always wanted a house full of kids. Happy kids.

Like her.

-Oh.

-So, do we get your approval?

Don't rush me. I'll let you know.

-What else can you show us?

-There's starting a fire.

-Yeah!

-No, I'd better not.

-OK, see you.

-Yeah, this survival stuff yawns!

-Yeah.

Hang on. I mean, I shouldn't.

It could be. You might... Let's find a couple of sticks.

CRACKLING SOUND

Go on, you're good at this. Go on!

CLEARS THROAT

Hi, Duke.

How's the garden?

Oh, it's fine. It's in great shape.

Considering!

STIFLED LAUGHTER

-What happened? Is everyone OK?

-Yeah, all back safely.

-Really?

-It was wicked.

Nathan, I told you everything would be OK.

-Bye!

-Bye!

-Oi!

-Wait!

-Grampy! Give me the GameBoy back!

-Have you got a GameBoy?

-Yeah.

-Justine!

-I'm not here!

So...had a nice time?

Yeah, it was perfect.

Well, nearly. They had this great cake with cream.

But they only let us have one piece each. So I saved mine for you.

We'll still be mates, won't we?

Half each?

I was promised two ice creams. I got one and had to share it!

-Family life!

-You can keep it.

-Hear, hear!

-Still, Louise deserves some love.

-Yeah, we all do.

That's true.

Now I've fixed the PC, you could finish your homework.

Oh, thanks a million(!)

Subtitles by Subtext for BBC Broadcast 2003