A Dog's Life/Whodunnit 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. #

Stop the presses!

Who wants to be in the newspaper?

-What?

-The local paper

has finally noticed my talent as a reporter.

They want to run a care home story and I suggested Tracy might write it.

-Fancy helping me dish the dirt on the Dumping Ground?

-Tracy....

no gossip and no scandal.

What? Well, what can I write about?

They want the truth about life in care, so tell them how tough it is.

It's not just hanging out with your mates playing pool.

There are deeper issues about family and loneliness, abandonment...

-all that sort of stuff.

-So we can't mention Mike's...?

-No.

-Or Shelley's... No.

-Or Elaine's got...

-No! Elaine's got what?

Look, if I was writing it, I'd go for gritty social realism.

Do you know what I mean?

Note to self. Get a dictionary...

..and a Dictaphone.

Taxi for Ms Cam Lawson.

You're late. No tip for you.

-Oh, that is rank.

-Nice to see you too, Tracy.

I'm not a dog, Gary.

It's not working.

He's lost forever.

Wait...I'm getting something.

-Roxy!

-Sticks and stones may break my bones.

But not if I break them first.

Hi, Roxy. We're looking for Layla's dog Rufus. Have you seen him?

What does he look like?

He's got soft brown fur, long ears and a pink tongue.

Not any more he hasn't.

Rufus!

ARGH-GH!

DOG BARKS

PIERCING SCREAM

What?

I needed something to keep stuff in, so I had to pull his stuffing out.

Look, he's got a lovely new collar!

And a cute little hat!

That's not a hat.

I sewed his ear back in the wrong place.

It's gonna be all right. Here...

Put this on.

-It's a charm necklace blessed with mystical powers.

-How does it work?

Close your eyes, turn around twice and make a wish.

The fairy queen appears, waves her magic wand

and turns you into a princess, I s'pose?

Don't be silly. That's my necklace with the glass beads.

One...two.

DOORBELL RINGS

-I told you the necklace was magic.

-Yeah, right.

-There's no-one there.

-So much for your stupid necklace.

Hello! Where did you come from?

-Dogs can't talk, stupid.

-She must be to replace Rufus.

The necklace worked!

"To whoever finds me,

"my owners have split up and can't look after me any more.

"They've left me here because you look after unwanted things."

Ah, she can write too!

Are you ever gonna grow a brain?

The harsh reality of life in care.

-Where are you gonna start?

-I'm not gonna write that twaddle.

-You're not?

-Don't you know how the adult mind works?

Cam wants me to write about how rubbish it is at the Dumping Ground,

so it'll make me want to move back in with her.

What will you write about?

About how fun it is living here, and what a great laugh we all have.

She can't stay here. Some potential foster parents are coming round.

-I don't want anything to put them off.

-Oh, ple-ease, Shelley?

I can't have dogs running round the place.

But she's been dumped with no-one else to look after her.

Just like us.

She's gonna need food, exercise, entertainment...

Just like us. What, are you saying we're too much hassle?

-No, I meant that...

-We could always drop her off at a rescue centre.

-Fantastic idea!

-She'll be well looked after.

-It's like here really.

A care home for dogs till they find new owners.

Won't that be great? Just like here, but not here.

But what happens to dogs that nobody wants to foster?

Well, they...

Well, um...

THEY SCREAM

What?

I only wanted them to taste my meat pie.

It was my necklace that brought her here, so we've got to help.

-Why can't she go to a rescue centre?

-If no-one wants to foster her...

Don't be daft. She'll be like us, in care until she finds a home.

But she might not find a home without our help.

Then she's in the right place. We're fostering experts!

-Think of what we can do.

-She's doomed.

-We could stick posters on lamp posts.

-OK, what's her name?

Er...she hasn't got one yet.

Daisy! That's a cow's name.

My grandma was called Daisy.

She definitely reminds me of someone.

-Oh, Tracy!

-What?

-The dog, it looks like Tracy.

-Two Beakers in one Dumping Ground.

That's gotta be bad news. Better get cracking.

Let's show this dog that she's not alone.

Is not having parents bossing you about the biggest advantage

-about living in care?

-There is Shelley.

-And Elaine.

-They tell us what to do.

-True.

Er...the food. The food here is great, isn't it?

-It was until Duke left.

-OK, OK forget that question.

Let's start with something easier.

What would you say

is your favourite thing about living at the Dumping Ground?

Second favourite thing?

This is a masterpiece. You'd need a heart of stone not to be moved by it.

-Rubbish.

-Like I said, a heart of stone.

-Just one more thing.

-Oh, please! You don't actually believe that.

One...

Two...

DOORBELL RINGS

You must be the Lucres?

Please come in. I'm Shelley Appleton.

Is it safe to leave the Ferrari there?

Oh my, yes, of course.

Only two seats? So you won't be taking anyone with you today then?

We've got a people carrier for that. You can get in the back.

We've built a tennis court near the swimming pool.

-We'd love to have someone to share it all with us.

-When can I move in?!

Think I'll go and change my socks.

Pathetic.

-So it's a big house then?

-Huge.

-A gothic mansion with towers, spires and gargoyles.

-Sounds pretty spooky.

Oh, it is. But if you can live with the cobwebs, it's great!

-You're not helping.

-You're making the place sound like a holiday camp.

Living in care is dull and boring.

Don't you mean a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of recreation time.

We're getting somewhere. Anything else?

There's no privacy for starters.

No privacy? Don't you mean "constant care and attention"?

And People are always arguing and shouting.

Lively atmosphere.

This is good stuff. Keep it coming!

-Don't twist our words. You hate being in care.

-Oh, stop whinging.

-You came limping back from the sports academy.

-That's out of order.

-Temper, temper.

-OK, I admit it.

Living at the Dumping Ground must be absolutely brilliant.

Why else would somebody who had a chance to have a home move back?

You have to come and meet these people!

We've got a whole range of children here.

It's difficult to get them all together...

Good afternoon. My name's Rio W'lard. It's a pleasure to meet you.

May I introduce some of my friends?

Milly.

-Alice.

-How do you do?

Layla.

Pleased to meet you.

-Wolfie.

-Bonjour.

Lol.

Marco.

And this is...

-Who are you?

-Your sister.

Of course, this is Roxy.

Oh, what an adorable group of children!

I just wish I could take all of you!

If you come back with the people carrier,

-we'll be ready in...half an hour?

-Oh, and who's this?

-Are you looking to get fostered too?

-No!

This is Tracy. She's had a very hard life and is looking for a good home.

Please foster her.

We couldn't leave a cute little thing like you here!

Actually, she's...

-Got fleas.

-She'll ruin your sofa!

-She isn't housetrained.

-She's vicious... She's ferocious!

ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

What's going on?

Perhaps we'd better foster a dog to start with?

-See how it goes.

-Let me get this straight.

You came to foster a child and you're leaving with a dog?

But she needs a good home.

We all do! This isn't a holiday camp. It isn't fun living here.

You have opportunity to change someone's life

and you're gonna give it to a dog?

I'm sorry. We've decided we're taking Tracy.

-Me?!

-No. Tracy...the dog.

That's her name, isn't it?

The dog is called Tracy? You named that wiry haired fleabag Tracy?

-It was her.

-It was him.

ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

Roxy! There's a present for you on the driveway.

That dog of yours must've left it. Clean it up, would you?

Alice!

Oi you! Stick around, there's more Beaker to come.

Oh!

KNOCK AT DOOR

What now?!

Come in.

I said, come in.

Arrrrrrrrrgggggh!

-Elaine?

-Don't even think of laughing.

Whoever did this is in so much trouble!

-It's not funny.

-I want whoever's done this to own up.

-Well?

-It wasn't me.

-What's going on?

Cool! Who iced Elaine?

-It's not funny!

-This is serious! Elaine's clothes are ruined.

And the office needs cleaning. Now, who did it?

Um, Shelley, I wonder if Justine knows something we don't.

She arrived later than everyone else.

Why don't you hop back under your stone, Bex?

-Touched a guilty nerve, have I?

-Rebecca, you're wrong.

At the time of the incident, Justine was with me in the quiet room.

Then you multiply by 24.

Arrrrggghhh!!

BOTH: Elaine.

Probably got her finger stuck in the disc drive.

I'll see what's going on. You finish your homework.

So Justine, seeing as you're the only one I can rule out, you can go.

-Everyone else will stay till the culprit owns up.

-That's not fair!

-Tell 'em, Justine!

-Jackie, Crash and I have cinema tickets.

You can't go till we find out who did this.

With your powers of deduction that'll be the 12th of never.

-What if I solve the crime?

-That's up to you, Justine.

Whoever did this will be grounded. and will clean the office tomorrow.

If no-one owns up, you'll all be grounded.

What?!

You've got one hour.

One hour!

Well, I'm not spending my Saturday scrubbing out the stupid office.

Come on, own up. Who did it?

ALL DENY IT

-Pack it in you lot. I'm trying to concentrate.

-On what?

I'm drawing a plan of the Dumping Ground,

-so I can track everyone's movements.

-Like that's gonna to help!

-If I can't solve this I'm mate-less for the night.

-No change there then.

-Please don't argue.

-Roxy and I are seeing Chantal tomorrow.

If Shelley doesn't let us go, someone's going to be VERY sorry.

Chill, Roxy.

I'll sniff out whodunit.

Yeah, course you will.

Right, let's get started.

Motives.

Who would have a reason to commit such a despicable

yet a genius crime against Elaine the Pain?

I overheard a certain conversation earlier,

I might already know the answer to that.

Rebecca! You really should watch where you're going.

-But YOU walked into ME!

-I'm carrying things.

-Never mind. I'm sure you'll remember next time.

-Next time!

SHE LAUGHS

Don't laugh. She's ruined my brand new top! Ruined it!

She's going to pay for this.

So you've made Elaine pay and now it's time to own up.

Surely you don't think it's me, Inspector Moron!

There's no denying it, Becky. You are so guilty.

Right, you gonna confess to Shelley or what?

No, I am not because I didn't do it.

But on the subject of motives, Roxy,

I think you and Rio have some explaining to do.

Elaine, someone must want to foster us!

It's hard to place siblings with behavioural problems.

-So we're rubbish?

-No! You're both very...special.

Your stupid foster parents aren't good enough for us!

-Yeah, they're the rubbish ones!

-And so are you!

We'll talk about this when you've calmed down a bit.

Don't worry, Rio. We'll sort the old bat out in our own "special" way.

We're always shouting at Elaine. Doesn't mean we did it.

-Mmm, the plot thickens.

-Oh, this is stupid!

Yeah, come on, one of you obviously did it.

-What?

-Well, you three weren't exactly nice to Elaine earlier.

-Um, more lemon.

-And lots more sugar.

Elaine!

-Mmm, totally delicious.

-That's the first successful cake I've made!

-Except you didn't make it, we did it.

-And it took us ages!

-Elaine, that was for our tea!

-Very scrummy it'll be too.

Elaine!

What?!

Mmm!

-It wasn't us.

-I kind of wish it was, though.

Let's face it, Elaine had it coming to her.

She's managed to irritate everyone today.

Including us, she gets on my nerves...

-Oops.

-Something you want to tell us, Marco?

-Aagghhh!

-Girl over-board, me hearties!

-What is going on in here?!

-Shark attack!

That's enough of that!

Milly! Have you been in the treat cupboard again?

-Get your paws off our treasure.

-You don't help yourselves to chocolate!

You could have had my eye out with that! Now play something quieter.

It's about time Elaine the Pain walked the plank!

So, c'mon Miss Marbles. Whodunit?

Looks like, um... you've all got a motive.

-What about Alice?

-Don't be a muppet!

Alice wouldn't do something like that.

Yeah, she was probably chatting to her fairy friends.

Oh, this is stupid! Justine hasn't got a clue who did it.

-Why should we...?

-According to the evidence, you're the prime suspect.

-So, let's hear your alibi.

-What?

-You had the motive and the opportunity.

Where were you when Elaine got iced?

I don't have to answer your daft questions, Justine Littlebrain.

Rub that out! Rub it out!

What about Roxy and Rio?

Don't they need an alibi too?

We didn't ice Elaine, did we, Rio?

No need. We were too busy getting our own back on her.

If we were letting Elaine's tyres down,

-we couldn't be in two places at once. That's our alibi.

-Fair enough.

Two down, six to go.

-What about you three?

-Cross us off, too. We'd already got our revenge.

I don't think she enjoyed her second slice of cake as much as the first!

So we're left with Marco and Milly, plus our prime suspect, Bexie,

-who won't or can't provide an alibi because she is guilty!

-I think not.

Tell her, Crash.

Crash? Weren't you with Jackie?

No, because he was declaring his undying love to me at the time.

You and Rebecca? That is the saddest thing I've heard all year!

I was just helping her with her English homework!

Whatever. Moving swiftly on.

Weapons. Whoever iced Elaine must have used a weapon

-to create that amount of force. OK. I need a volunteer.

-What for?

Well, it's called a reconstruction.

I'm not doing it.

Exhibit A. Not a very likely weapon of revenge.

Fire.

Pathetic. Next.

Exhibit B, or more commonly known as The Wellards' Weapon of Choice.

Fire!

Oh!

Excellent shot,

but I think it's obvious that this gun wasn't used in the crime.

OK. Exhibit C. Marco and Milly's pirate cannon.

Fire!

Busted!

You little monsters!

I think we can surmise this was the weapon which iced Elaine!

But we've got an alibi.

We were hiding our treasure from Blue Beard Boyack!

So you can cross us off that list too.

-Inspector Clueless gets it wrong again!

-Shut it.

-Oh, this is a waste of time.

-I've had enough.

-Be quiet!

I did it.

I was too scared to tell you earlier.

But why did you do it, Alice?

What's up with you?

Elaine wants me to go out with a new foster family who don't believe in fairies.

What am I going to do, Roxy?

Can't you consult your crystal ball?

I'm serious.

Just tell Elaine to stuff it.

Oh, I couldn't do that.

Take a leaf out of the Wellard book.

We've found that actions speak louder than words.

Nice one, Alice.

-So, how did you do it?

-I borrowed Marco and Milly's pirate cannon...

Added a few improvements...

The rest was easy.

I'm sorry everyone. I wanted to get grounded

so I didn't have to go out with any foster families,

especially ones who don't believe in fairies. I don't want to leave.

You lot are my friends.

-I'm not!

-Shut up, Roxy.

-Don't worry, Alice.

-It's gonna be all right.

Time's up.

I want the guilty party to step forward.

This is ridiculous! You're all going to be grounded.

I want to talk to you all about discipline. Justine, you can go.

-But...

-Now please. This doesn't involve you.

Right then.

ARGH!

-Justine!

-Silly me!

I won't be spending tomorrow on my own after all.