Free Louise 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...

-No! No!

# Believe me now I will win some day. #

No, no, no, no, no, and for the six billionth time...NO!

Will you come back here and discuss this like a sensible human being?

Tracy! You're only supposed to be living here temporarily!

You've got to get out and start meeting some new families.

What if I don't want to? What if I like things as they are?

-We all have to move on.

-OK, so why don't you bog off to Australia?!

I made a list of potential parents

and I've chosen the couple I think are most compatible with your needs.

YOU chose them! YOU! So my lifelong happiness now depends on a madwoman

who eats lentil sandwiches and wears old men's sandals!

Tracy?

Mr and Mrs Jebble are very nice.

They're...responsible and conscientious and very well-meaning.

Like my social workers! If you really cared about me,

you'd let ME choose who I'll live with!

-All right...

-But, no, you're not a real professional!

You're a skanky wind bucket with a face like a shrivelled baked bean!

Tracy, I said all right.

-What?

-You choose who you like best and I'll fix up a meeting.

-Really? You mean it?

-It's not quite the official approach,

but everyone is vetted so I can't see any harm.

There you go. It's down to you now.

OK. ..I might not have time today.

Well, Louise is visiting and I haven't seen her in ages so...

Are you making excuses now?

Course not. This lot'll be fighting over me.

Roll up! Roll up! Bargain of the century!

Who will foster this lovely little girl?

This wonderful child! This marvellous little gem!

Can't wait to tell Justine about places we've been, my hamsters...

-Lou, maybe you shouldn't boast too much about things.

-Why not?

-It might upset your friends. They still live here.

-I never thought.

-Louise!

-Hiya!

-Hello, Louise.

-Hello.

-..Mrs Morris, I'm Shelley.

You've brought CDs, great. ..I got this new nail kit!

-You can do my nails, I can do yours and we can go...

-I have to go soon.

But you just got here. You hardly ever come round.

It's difficult. I'd like to stay.

-It's just...

-What?

Well, I'm not allowed.

Have to go to the boring old park with my foster family.

Jackie, this is Louise.

-She used to live here but she's been fostered now.

-Lucky you.

Not really. Fostering's pretty hard going sometimes.

-It's horrible living somewhere you hate.

-It's horrible.

You can always come back here.

You can have my room anytime. I'm not staying long in this dump.

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

You're lucky, Louise! You've got a mum and dad to look after you.

-Oh, they never make a fuss of me, Dolly.

-Why?

Because...they've got four other children so they're really busy.

-You said they were gonna take you to the park.

-Yeah...

-but I'd rather stay here.

-Should've rang if you weren't happy.

They don't let me use the phone.

-You're joking?!

-They're not allowed to.

They do. And they're really horrible.

-You lot are better off here in the Dumping Ground.

-Louise? Time to go.

Bye, then.

< Have fun.

Sorry, couple number one. Thank you and goodnight.

Potential family number two, do you really think someone as cool as me

could live with THAT hairdo? Get real.

-What are you doing?

-Sorting out new foster parents.

-Is Louise here yet?

-Been and gone.

-What?! Thanks for telling me(!)

-Louise is really miserable.

-Justine's gonna tell Elaine to get her back. You coming?

-You bet.

It's about time Elaine realises that fostering's a waste of time.

You've got to help Louise! She hates the Morrises!

-She did look nervous.

-Mrs Morris was telling me she's settling in well.

-Don't say you've fallen for that one.

-What are you talking about?

-It is so obvious, an amoeba can work it out.

-A what?

The Morrises are only pretending to be nice in front of stupid adults

such as social workers and care home employees.

But really, they're hiding a horrible and unspeakable truth.

Tracy, you're just projecting

all your own bad feelings about fostering onto Louise's situation.

-I'm not.

-Well, have you chosen your family from the list I gave you?

I really need to sort out a meeting.

Well, actually, Elaine, I HAVE decided.

Oh, good.

After weighing up the pros and cons of each,

and seeing what a wonderful time Louise is having,

I think fostering is the worst idea since homework.

I won't be meeting ANY of your sad losers.

I'm going home soon, so don't think of putting me up for fostering.

If you two won't do anything about Louise, we will. So there!

Girls.

She's refusing to even consider fostering now, Duke.

I don't know what's going to happen to Tracy, really I don't!

She'll be OK, Elaine.

She's a natural born survivor - more bounce than a kangaroo.

-'We've Tracy on the line.

-I'd like a request for my friend Louise.

'She's been forced to live with really horrible foster parents...'

I'll handle this, Duke. ..Tracy?! Tracy, what are you doing?!

-'They should be locked up...

-Give me that phone!

-Bog off, Elaine!

-'Free Louise from her foster family!

-I'm sorry.

'The child's got challenging behavioural difficulties.

'ALL: Free Louise from her skanky foster family!

'You can't stop us, Elaine. We'll show you.

-'We'll go on hunger strike till you free Louise!

-Thank you. Goodbye.

'Thank you, Tracy. This one's for Louise, then.'

-What's up? No-one hungry today?

-We're all on hunger strike.

-Yeah!

I'm not.

-Everyone except him. Nobody eats till Louise is free.

-Yeah!

Thought you might not fancy fish fingers, so I cooked a few treats.

Chocolate cake?

Pizza?

Wait! What about our hunger strike?

-Think of Louise!

-Come on, you lot. This is our one chance

to change someone's life.

Our one chance to save a victim from fostering. Who's with me?

Tracy, life's hard... and then it's over.

Well, I'm never giving in.

Mmm...you sure about that?

Positive.

-Justine...

-I can hold out just as long as Tracy Beaker.

Boy, I'm stuffed.

You need a run around the park. Yeah.

-Duke, can we go to Pond Park this afternoon?

-OK.

-Great.

Justine!

Jackie! Jackie! ..Here.

Now, you're going to promise not to run away again, OK?

I'm not promising anything.

Elaine, keep an eye on Jackie.

-Can we get some ice cream?

-No ice cream, no.

-What?!

A brisk walk round the park. Come on.

-Tracy!

-Justine, I'm not talking to you! Three pieces of cake you had!

Tracy! Louise is in the park with the manky Morrises.

We only have to find out where and rescue her.

-It's beautiful.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

Don't stop for anyone.

I can't go any quicker!

-Think of Louise!

-I AM thinking of...

-Ssh!

-Yes! Come on!

-Justine, I can't... Justine, no...

What?!

I...

I can't ride a bike.

Right, then.

We'll take this one, please.

Hey, Duke. When do WE get to go on the bikes?

Hey! Come back here, you two!

I'm sorry, Duke, I can't hear you!

Tracy, that is not...! Come back here!

-Bike!

-Bike!

Tracy! Here come the kennel police!

-Go, Duke, go!

-Come on, Elaine!

-Go!

-Morning!

-Sorry!

-Just shut up and keep looking for Louise.

-Keep your eyes on the path!

-Which way?

-That way! That way!

-This way?

-Yes... No!

-This way?

-YES!

-Louise!

-Where is she?

-Justine, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!

-What?!

Come on, let's get her. Turn around!

-Duke and Elaine will find us! Are you mad?

-Come on, just do it!

-Faster!

-Just keep pedalling!

BOTH: Yes!

Go, go, go, go, go! Go!

-Gooooooo!

-I'm going, I'm going!

SCREAMS AND YELLS

-Louise! Louise!

-Louise!

What are YOU doing here?

-We've come to save you from the Morrises.

-Get in.

-Stop there!

-We're only trying to help Louise!

-She hates living with...THEM.

How would you like being prisoner, treated worse than a slave?

-Louise?

-The Morrises aren't horrible at all.

They're the best thing that's ever happened to me, in my whole life.

I didn't want you to think I was showing off or boasting.

-Do you realise we've been on a hunger strike for you?

-I'm sorry.

-Louise, you made me think you were in trouble.

-I'm so sorry.

-Come on. Let's go.

-I hate you, Louise.

Can't we make up? Please?

-These are undertakers and that was a lollipop lady.

-Tracy?

Tracy, I want to have a serious talk with you.

You need to work on your fostering fears.

-I'm prepared to offer you a weekly therapy session.

-No, thanks, Elaine.

You have to face your fears and...

-This one.

-..Sorry?

-Well, THEY don't believe in giving children sweets.

-And THEY don't have a garden.

-And SHE'S got a moustache.

Justine, Louise and Jackie have helped me decide.

This is the lucky family I'll meet with a view to fostering me.

-You'll give fostering a try?

-Well, worked for Louise, didn't it?

Yes! Yes, it did.

So, if you'd book up a meeting,

we might be able to get something sorted.

Well, go on. Chop-chop.

Subtitles by Alison Rae BBC Broadcast 2003

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