The Finishing Line/Dear Dad The Story of Tracy Beaker

# I can make my world come true All my dreams will see me through

-# It doesn't matter What may come my way...

-No! No!

# Believe me now I will win some day. #

Then she said she hadn't said that

and I said I know she did because I was there. It was so funny.

Are you and Jackie going to natter all night?

That's what sleepovers are for. That and pillow fights.

-Gotcha!

-Ow!

Jackie.

Jackie.

Jackie, it's your grandpa.

He's very poorly.

The hospital rang. Would you like to go to him?

-He seems to know you're here.

-Of course he does.

You're his only family?

We're a team.

We run everywhere together.

He bought me my first pair of running shoes.

He had a proper training programme for me and everything.

He helped me to be a real athlete like he was.

I got older and faster. But Grandpa got older and slower.

MACHINE BLEEPS STEADILY

You must be very tired.

You know, some people, they hold on.

-They don't want to let go even when they really need to.

-Why?

They don't want to leave their loved ones alone.

I'll be all right, Grandpa.

Honest.

Grandpa's gone.

-How is she?

-Did she get some sleep?

-I am here, you know!

-You don't have to worry about a thing.

-The funeral's being arranged. I'll take you.

-No!

Sweetheart, these things have got to be done.

-We'll get him nice flowers. He'd like that.

-You don't know that.

He'd like a proper sendoff with all this old friends,

not just Elaine the Pain and me.

-Who's that?

-Arthur something.

Grandpa's old running mate. He talked about him all the time.

-Do you have his address?

-Grandpa got sick, he couldn't remember.

I should have made him write it down. It's my fault.

He'll have nobody to say a proper goodbye to him.

Look. It's dated the year they won the medals.

A proper champion runner but I can't think of his name.

There must be a way to find him.

Oi! I was run running the 1952 marathon.

Look through those for local athletics clubs.

Names and numbers of national running associations.

Hello. I need information about some championship runners from the past.

-I'm not hungry.

-Try and eat something later, then. Just for me?

OK, Tracy, it's getting late. Time to call it a day.

I have got an address and phone number for Arthur.

I think Jackie's still up.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Arthur MacDonald.

-What?

-His last known address and phone number. He's not far away.

-How did you do that?

-Looked in the phone book, athletics associations.

Super intelligence.

RINGING TONE

He's not in. It's too late. The funeral's tomorrow.

-He might be back soon.

-We'll keep trying for you.

Still no answer.

Face it, guys, Arthur MacDonald doesn't live there any more.

I can't find Jackie.

Does anyone know where she is or why she might have run off?

-We'll split up.

-No, let me look for her.

She'll get more upset if she thinks everyone's on her case.

-I've an idea where she might be.

-OK. ..You go with her.

I want a phone call when you find her.

-Where do you think she is?

-Where does she always go?

I'll meet you there later. I have to try and find Arthur for Jackie.

And for her grandpa.

You'd have been in loads of trouble if I hadn't found you.

-I'm not going back with you.

-You have to.

-The funeral's in a few hours.

-I'm NOT going to the funeral.

What?!

You're just going to let Elaine the Pain say goodbye to your grandpa?!

Oi! What do you think you're doing?

-Does Arthur MacDonald live here?

-Nobody lives there. Clear off.

Slow down! I just want to talk to you.

He lived just round the corner, No 17.

-Let me pass!

-Explain why you're not going to your grandpa's funeral.

It's none of your business.

Come on, Arthur.

Hello.

Uh...

It's a funeral, not a race meeting. Don't you have a suit?

It's a fellow athlete's funeral. I'm going in uniform.

-OK, fine. It's that way.

-We're going this way.

-It's the wrong way.

A few of the old team that used to run with us are still around.

They'd never forgive me if I didn't run them up for Jack's funeral.

I said they ran with us. Ran behind us, I should say!

-I remember...

-We don't have time for this.

Not if you stand around yakking all day! Move your carcass!

Now, um...

this lad calls himself Crash. ..And this is Freddie.

Flying Freddie Mercer. Pleased to meet you.

Hi. Can we go now?

Just one more stop.

You know as well as I do, if I'd run on the inside, I'd have beaten you.

Rubbish! Your motor was dead...

Can we please go?

So, THIS is the granddaughter that Jack went off to bring up!

-I imagined she'd be taller.

-Just have to look - a sprinter, I bet!

Why do people talk like I'm invisible?

-I'm not a sprinter, I'm a distance runner.

-Ah!

Do you remember that marathon? What year was it...? Jack and me.

Were you there that year? Save the memories.

-We'll be late.

-We won't all fit into the car.

-You go with Jackie. We'll walk.

-I'm not going to the funeral.

-Just leave me alone.

-Jack's temper!

It's the red hair.

We were just trying to help.

-We thought you wanted his old friends there.

-I do.

So would Grandpa.

You take them.

You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't go.

Please.

I can't.

Why not?

Because the last thing I said to my grandpa was a big, fat lie.

-What lie?

-I told him I'd be all right without him.

-You will be.

-I can't watch him go away for ever.

He's the only person I've got in the whole world.

I'll never be all right without him.

Know why I made it as a champion runner?

No.

Because of your grandpa.

I was plagued with injuries, thought I'd never make it.

We didn't have personal physiotherapists in those days.

But Jack...

exercised me, trained me.

I'd never have made it without him.

He was my friend.

Like...these two, YOUR friends.

-You're not alone, girl.

-I didn't think...

Now...

shall we go and say a proper goodbye to Jack, then?

Great. But can we please get a move on?

ENGINE COUGHS AND BANGS

We're never going to make it now.

-Ring Sid. He'll bring the minibus.

-Battery's gone.

-There must be a bus.

-Even if there is, it'll only go round the houses.

-We'll never get there in time.

-We're gonna let Jack down.

Not on your nelly!

But you can't. You're...

Old? You're not wrong. But I've still got some breath left in me.

Flying Freddie Mercer is going to that funeral if it kills him.

-See you at the funeral. ..No offence.

-Watch out, lad.

You could still make it.

Oh, not me. Leg's gone.

But you go without me.

But you're Grandpa's best friend.

-Tell him ta-ra from me.

-Go!

-We're all here, then?

-WAIT! >

I knew I could beat you.

Oh, I don't believe it! It can't be true.

Flying Freddie Mercer!

And George Devine!

I followed your careers when I was a boy. Oh, how wonderful!

We'd best get on with it. Follow me, gentlemen.

WAIT!

It's Arthur MacDonald. What an honour, sir! What an honour!

-Let's get on with it.

-With pleasure. With pleasure.

CROWD ROARS

We're gathered here today to say...

goodbye...to Jack Hopper.

Athlete...

friend and beloved grandfather.

You do know that every Tracy Beaker episode starts with a...BANG!

-Looks like the pressure's getting to someone.

-Like your front teeth?

Oh! You put me off! I'd have beaten him if you hadn't have put me off!

-You tell her, Rio!

-I didn't do anything!

-I won, fair and square.

You didn't! Jackie put me off!

-Put a sock in it!

-Typical Wellard.

Bad loser.

-Oh, come on, lads.

-Go on, Crash!

EVERYONE SHOUTS Rio! Rio! Rio!

-Crash, my office.

-But...!

-Now!

Isn't it about time you started using your brain before your fists?

He'll have to find it first!

-Don't let them get to you.

-Yeah, they're losers, Rio. Losers.

-She put me off!

-Face facts, Rio.

-When it comes to games...well, well, you're just rubbish!

-Shut it!

Shut it or I'll...

You'll what? Report me to Elaine?

Oh, Rio, I'm so scared(!)

You'll be laughing on the other side of your face, when I tell my dad what you said.

When my dad gets out of prison, I'm going to tell him about you.

And when he finds you, you're gonna be sorry, very sorry, you ever made a fool out of me.

-You're bluffing.

-He isn't.

-Rio's dad is a very...

-Very...

..nasty piece of work.

Ask the last man he put in hospital.

Rio started it. It wasn't my fault!

Crash, I haven't called you in here to talk about Rio.

You've got a letter.

It's from your dad.

-What are you doing?

-Looking for spiders. What are YOU doing?

I'm looking for my chocolate cake.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say it had been...

stolen.

Don't let Rio wind you up.

He's bad news.

-Who's the letter from?

-My dad.

-Isn't he in...?

-No. He's out.

-He wants me to write to him.

-Are you going to?

-Why should I?

-But he's your...

-It's no big deal, is it?

You say it was a chocolate cake?

Yes, Marco.

-When did you last see it?

-This morning.

I'm going to have to take your fingerprints, for the investigation.

Hmm, interesting.

-I was thinking...

-That makes a change.

-Rio's dad...

-Spit it out, lollipop.

Why is he in jail?

Um, er...teacher abuse. Rio's teacher gave him a detention,

so his dad tied him to the seat with sticky tape.

That's not so bad, is it?

It is when it's the last day before the summer holidays.

They found him...

six weeks later.

What was she banging on about?

Rio's dad. He's a right hard case.

-No wonder he's in jail.

-Jail?

-Ergh!

-The sooner someone fosters you weirdos, the better.

-What's wrong with you?

-Nothing.

The only reason you won was cos Jackie put me off.

Darts, football, pool...

I'd thrash you. Anywhere, anytime...

-What you reading?

-Get off!

-Weirdo.

-Game of pool?

But...I don't want you throwing a wobbler when I beat you again, OK?

As if!

-What are you doing?

-Investigating the Mystery of the Stolen Cake.

I could help you...for a price.

I'm an expert in thieves. Rio's dad's a thief - puppies.

He snatches cute little doggies when their owners aren't looking.

Then he tries to sell 'em.

And the ones nobody wants, well...

GRRRRRR!

-What does he do?!

-When the cops caught him,

-he was boiling up a big bowl of puppy soup...

-Stop it!

-I'm only telling him about Rio's dad!

-You're frightening him!

It's a true story.

Red ball...bottom left pocket.

-Yes! Said I was good, didn't I?

-Did your dad teach you?

-He gave me a few tips.

-I don't remember much about my dad.

Why? Is he dead?

No. He was in jail for ages.

Jail?

Yeah. Like yours. Er, Rio...?

Your shot.

What d'you want now, freak-boy?

-Roxy said Rio's dad's in jail for stealing.

-So?

-Did he ever steal cakes?

-Yeah. The police caught him

with two doughnuts and a jam sponge hidden in his pockets.

-Really?

-No! Rio's dad was a big-time thief!

He used to break into the world's biggest banks.

He'd be flown in by helicopter in the dead of night,

and blow open safes with dynamite to get the money.

He's in jail for stealing GOLD bars, not Mars bars.

But I thought he was...

Chantal? A word?

Wey-hey! No hard feelings, eh?

You didn't know you were playing a champion. I know loads of tricks.

Did your dad teach you those, too?

Er, yeah.

-There's one where you line up the reds...

-Do you ever hear from him?

-Sometimes. Another game?

-Do you write to him in jail?

-Erm...

I'll go and see if Duke's got any chalk.

-Very cosy.

-I thought you couldn't stand him.

-He... He's all right.

-That's not what you said earlier.

-Crash is OK! Leave him alone!

I've been looking for you everywhere.

Do you want to break?

-Erm, I'm sort of playing with someone.

-Who?

-Duke hasn't got any chalk, but...

-Him! But you hate him!

-Oi!

-If you don't mind, we're busy.

-It's boys stuff...

y'know?

Hey! What are you doing?

-Looking for the stolen chocolate cake. You're the prime suspect.

-Why?

It's probably in there.

You cheeky...! Come here!

I think it's in the drawer.

Quick, then, before Sid comes back.

-A-ha!

-What?

Feeling hungry?

If I had a penny for every time I'd heard that!

-KNOCK ON THE DOOR

-Yes?

I'm investigating the Mystery of the Stolen Cake.

Well, I can assure you it's not in here...

-Shall we try the garden?

-Mm-hm.

How's the investigation going?

Rubbish. No-one will help me with my enquiries.

I haven't even questioned Crash yet.

-He's playing pool with his new friend, Rio.

-Rio?

Who'd want to be friends with him?

-He's horrible!

-I think it's because Rio's dad's in jail,

so Crash thinks they've got something in common.

Rio's dad sounds even worse than Rio!

Chantal says he's in jail for robbing banks. And he nicks puppies.

-Jackie, I haven't got X-ray vision.

-Yeah. Shift your big bum.

-Rio's dad...

-What about him?

-Why is he in prison?

Cos the police caught him, stupid!

-For stealing?

-Yeah. What's it got to do with YOU anyway?

Stealing?! You said Rio's dad was in prison for teacher abuse!

-He stole dogs as well.

-And robbed banks?

Rio's dad isn't even in jail at all!

-What's going on?

-Rio lied about his dad being in prison.

-I haven't!

-Then why is your dad in jail?

-You don't have to tell them!

-If he hasn't got anything to hide, he'll tell us.

-Well, spit it out!

My dad's in jail...

because...

..because...he stole...

he stole a car...and...

he drove it to this big bank, and then he, um, went inside,

and nicked all this stuff, um...

stuff, you know, from the safe, um, money and jewels and, um,

money and stuff.

Everything, he stole everything in the whole place. The lot.

Dad didn't flinch, not even when the big, angry guard dogs

started growling and showing their teeth! Grrrr, grrr, grrr!

That's my dad, see, not frightened of anything.

Nothing at all!

He's a hard man, a tough nut, a real hero!

-He's making it up!

-I'm not!

Happy now?

-I knew you were lying.

-Oh, get a life, lollipop!

-They're losers.

-Especially Jackie.

She's not. She's just sticking up for her mate.

Like we would.

-What's up, buddy?

-I don't want to be a detective any more.

-Why?

-I'm not very good at it. I didn't find your cake.

Oh, that's all right.

I made another one.

-And this time, I'm gonna keep it in a very safe place.

-Where?

Thought you might fancy playing cards later?

You could teach me.

Or we could go on the computer...

if you want.

I only said my dad was in jail to frighten Lol.

I didn't know your dad had...

I...

I didn't know...

At least you know where your dad is.

I don't even know WHO mine is.

-Maybe tomorrow.

-What?

Cards.

KNOCK ON THE DOOR

Crash!

I was just, um...

-What can I do for you?

-Have you got a stamp?

I need to send a letter.

Subtitles by BBC Broadcast 2005

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