Lies The Tracy Beaker Survival Files - Tales from the Dumping Ground

My name is Tracy Beaker and these are my Survival Files,

-your essential guide to the ups and downs of growing up.

-Tracy...

-Tracy!

Life in the Dumping Ground has taught me a lot about stuff.

-Tracy Beaker...

-Scary stuff.

THEY SCREAM

Complicated stuff.

Stuff that can make you want to scream.

If you can cope with the stuff that goes down here,

you can cope with pretty much anything.

I've spent most of my life here, first when I was a kid

and now it's where I work. I've learned a lot about friends.

About enemies.

About what life can throw at you.

It's not always been pretty.

But it's made me who I am today

and now I'm passing on my wisdom to you guys in a video blog.

Pay attention. I've lived through all this so you don't have to.

On the Tracy Beaker Survival Files this time, lies.

Why we tell them,

the trouble they get us into and is it ever OK not to tell the truth?

Sometimes, we're talking way back in the past,

I used to be a little economical with the truth.

Some people called me a big fat liar.

-It must be weird not having a mum.

-I've got a mum.

-Yeah, I know.

It must do your head in, not knowing where she is.

I know exactly where she is.

'She's on a top secret mission to make first contact with aliens

'on the most distant planets

'that only the president and my Mum even know about.'

I got myself a bit of a reputation.

Elaine the Pain once said, "How do you know Tracy is lying?

"Because her lips are moving." Harsh!

Things changed when she left to become a film star.

Um... Tracy, do you expect me to believe all that?

Why should I care what you believe?

I wasn't lying, exactly.

I was just taking real life and brightening it up.

I wanted to make it more interesting.

'I'm a computer genius. I come up with new games worth millions.

'I'm so important I have round- the-clock protection from minders

'in case I'm kidnapped.'

Or a lot more interesting.

-Come on.

-She doesn't have to.

-She does.

-Don't worry.

-He's one of my minders.

-I'm big, I'm mean, I'm a muscle machine!

'Well, I'm basically a truthful person.

'Ask anyone.

'Well, maybe not "anyone".

'I know.'

-Cam, can I ask you something?

-Sure. fire away.

-I was never a liar, was I?

Well, you had a very vivid imagination.

-And you loved to keep everyone entertained.

-Erm... Tracy?

-We believe your mum's coming, but if she doesn't...

-She'll be here.

She'll probably bring treats for everyone.

'She IS coming. And she's a fantastically generous mum.'

Exactly. I was just trying to entertain people.

-So how come they called me a liar?

-Liar's a very strong word.

You were an exceptionally creative kid.

You never let facts get in the way of a good story.

-And that's totally different from lying, right?

-Well..

-Cam!

Yeah, course it is! Totally different.

Cam is one person who would never lie.

So there you go - proof I am as truthful as you can get.

Too truthful sometimes.

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

'Once, when I was a kid, I got called a liar one time too many,

'so I decided to show them.'

-..Pants on fire!

-If that's the way you want it, I'll tell the truth.

All day until 6pm. You'll be sorry!

-ALL:

-Ooh!

You've just unleashed pure evil.

'They wanted the truth? So that's what they got!'

-All of you, what is going on?

-Lots of things have been going on.

I was going to keep quiet about everything,

but they're forcing me to tell the truth.

-You know that sandwich toaster that went missing?

-I didn't.

-Don't believe her!

-Midnight feasts in your room! Tut tut!

-And how did that glue get on the sofa?

-It was him.

-You liar!

Anyway, you broke that lamp.

And Louise, what were you doing with Justine's bag on Saturday?

I thought I lost that. You bag thief!

'At first, I thought it was genius.'

-Get out of my room, liar!

-It's my room, traitor! Argh!

I think I like this truth business.

'But then I realised how much I'd upset everyone.

'I found myself feeling a bit rubbish.

'I couldn't wait for this day of truth to be over.'

It's not my fault if the truth hurts.

The truth can be painful,

especially when it's something you don't want to hear.

-Sorry.

-You smell.

-So would you if you'd just run three miles.

See what I mean? Sometimes, it's good to bend the facts a bit.

GLASS SMASHES

Who is responsible for this?

Me. Sorry. I kicked it too hard.

Anyone squeals, they get rat poo in their cereal.

Why did you lie that time about the window, Mike?

-You told us lying was wrong.

-I thought you deserved a break.

You were always in trouble. You could do without the grief.

Anyway, it was an accident.

-How could you be sure it was an accident?

-What? You?

Hit a target with a football?

I've seen some things, but I wouldn't see that if I lived to 200!

-Er... Bit rude.

-Bit true!

'He might be a lousy judge of football talent, but bless him.

'Mike lied for a reason - to keep me out of trouble.

'And more recently,

'when I pulled the Great Tracy Beaker Power Cut scam.

'I wasn't exactly being truthful,

'but it was all done with the best of intentions.'

Liam!

'The Dumping Ground was like a war zone that day.

It had started with a bust up between Liam and Johnny.

It was just one of those days when everyone had the hump. It happens.

People go stir crazy, especially Johnny,

who's a moody little whinger.

Liam started it, thinking he knows what's best.

I still haven't got an apology.

Me say sorry? I'm sorry, that is never going to happen.

Stop it!

Then Frank and Liam were at each other's throats too.

-What are you moving out the way for?

-You're kicking it too hard.

-I'm not.

-It's your turn in goal.

-No.

-What do you want me to do? Roll it at you?

-Stop shouting!

It's not like you and Liam to argue.

Well, he was really winding me up that day.

You can tell when things are bad, when me and Frank argue.

He's like family to me.

-Johnny thinks parents are the answer to everybody's problems.

-So?

-You still don't get it, do you? You've got a family.

-One granddad.

Yeah, one granddad more than me.

'It was horrible. Gina and Mike thought they had the answer.'

-We're going to have to do something. The atmosphere's terrible.

-Cinema?

-It's worse than that.

-Bowling then.

-Won't work. Take everyone bowling?

Like that was going to work! I did try to warn them.

Kids only get taken bowling if you're trying to distract them.

-It won't work. They're on to you.

-We've been working here a while.

We know what we're doing.

-Don't talk to me!

-Like I was going to!

-Stop arguing.

Everybody, upstairs to bed now.

'You have to let the older generation make their own mistakes.'

'It's the best way for them to learn.'

Will you all shut up now!

Went well then(!)

-Told you a treat wouldn't work.

-All right, what's your solution?

You don't need a treat, you need a disaster.

-What kind of disaster?

-You leave that to me.

'I took a more creative approach to the problem.

'If you're going to lie, you may as well make it a really big one.

'Nothing brings people together like a major crisis.'

We have to empty the freezer, we have to prepare the garden. Come on.

-What for?

-For a barbecue! Come on!

'There was loads to do and no time for arguing.'

# Yeah, yeah

# I use to think maybe you loved me, now baby I'm sure

-# And I just can't wait... #

-'Instant peace and harmony. Result!

'Until later that night

'when Mike decided he needed to check his emails. Bad move.'

ALARM

Power must be back on.

-I hope it was worth the risk.

-Yes, loads of emails.

I'll rest easy in my bed tonight.

Boys, I think we've been had.

We couldn't believe it. Me especially.

The king of scamming outdone by that lot.

Were we going to take it lying down? What do you think?

Liam said I had to make a phone call to say the electricity was broken,

even though we knew it wasn't.

But they thought we didn't know it wasn't really broken.

Because they thought that we thought it was really broken.

That's right. Elm Tree House. Very urgent. Yes.

-Who are you talking to?

-The electricity man.

I found this old phone and it works.

Gina Conway, she works here.

He wants to talk to you.

Hello.

Yes. Well, we have had sort of a...power cut.

Yes, I understand you don't expect to hear it from a child.

No. No, no-one has been messing around with the electricity.

Investigation team?

No. I... I... I don't think that anyone should get fined.

It's hard when you're trying to make your way in a confusing world

and the people you look up to as role models set a bad example.

They lie to us and we need to teach them the errors of their ways.

-Why didn't you bring a torch, Mike?

-It was broad daylight upstairs.

Is the fuse box on this wall?

Which wall? I can't even see you!

-Is this what you're looking for?

-Cancel the investigation team.

I think we've found the problem.

I was...acting!

Call it acting, call it lying.

Either way it was young people 1, care workers 0.

We told a lie and it backfired.

But Mike and Gina should have known better. I'm a junior staff member.

They shouldn't do everything I say without thinking it through.

So what have we learned so far about lies to put into my Survival Files?

1 - Telling the truth is the best thing to do.

Lies never end well and that's something I've always said,

ever since I was a girl. Honest.

2 - sometimes telling the truth can be painful, can't it?

So if you don't want to hurt people's feelings,

be careful what you say. You might want to pull your punches.

3 - When it comes to pulling off a scam, total amateurs

like Mike and Gina should leave it to the professionals.

As we've seen, sometimes people lie for the best of reasons.

But that doesn't mean it won't come back and bite you on the bum.

# Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies... #

Louise was one of my best mates and she was one of the lucky ones.

She got fostered. It's a big day when a kid gets fostered.

There's a lot of emotion flying around.

-You're not going to forget me are you?

-You're coming round on Sunday.

'Excitement about living with a new family,

'sadness at saying goodbye, even jealousy from those left behind.'

-You're not going to forget me.

-Stacy, isn't it? Stacy Baxter?

'It can be hard for the one leaving, especially on return visits.'

I can't wait to tell Justine about all the places we've been,

Annie, my hamsters...

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

-Why not?

It might upset them. They still live here.

-I never thought of that.

-Louise!

-So Louise felt guilty.

She had this amazing family and we were still at the Dumping Ground,

so she decided to tell a little white lie.

Ow, ow, ow! You're lucky, Louise, you've got a mom and dad

-to care for you.

-Oh, they never make a fuss of me.

-Why?

-They've got four other children, they're really busy.

You said they were going to take you to the park.

Yeah, but I'd much rather stay here.

You should've rang if you weren't happy.

They don't let me use the phone.

-You're joking!

-That's not allowed.

Well, they do. Oh, they're really horrible.

You lot are much better off here.

Louise, time to go.

Bye, then.

Have fun.

We were guttered. Louise was with the family from hell,

we had to save her. I took direct action to get the message out.

-'For the next dedication, Tracy is on.

-I'd like a request for Louise.

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

I'll handle this.

-Tracy! What are you doing?

-'They should be locked up...

-'Give me that phone!

-Bug off!

-'Free Louise!'

-THEY ARGUE

'I'm sorry, the child has got challenging

'behavioural difficulties.

-'Free Louise! Free Louise!

-You can't stop us. We'll show you.

'We'll go on a massive hunger strike until you agree to free Louise.

-'Yeah!

-Thank you, bye.

-Thank you, Tracy. This one is for Louise then.'

What's up? No one hungry today?

-We're all on a hunger strike.

-ALL: Yeah!

-I'm not.

-Except him. Nobody eats to Louise is free!

-ALL: Yeah!

-Shame!

I thought you might not fancy fish, so I made treats.

-Chocolate cake?

-Pizza!

-Wait! What about our hunger strike?

-Think of Louise!

-Come on, you lot,

this is our chance to change the course of someone's life,

to save a victim from the horrors of fostering.

-So, who's with me?

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

THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE

Well, I'm never getting giving in.

Then, the chance we were waiting for.

We were in the park so those traitors could work off

the cake they had stuffed down their necks when we spotted her.

-Justine, stop! Stop, stop, stop!

-What? What? What?

What are you doing here?

-We've come to save you!

-Quick, get in!

-Stop there, you two!

-We're only trying to help Louise.

-She hates living with THEM.

Would you like being a prisoner? Treated worse than a slave!

-'The truth was out at last.'

-Louise...

-'Or was it?'

The Morrises aren't horrible at all.

They're the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I didn't want to hurt your feelings,

or have you think I was boasting.

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

-I'm sorry.

Louise meant well, but she didn't realise what she had done.

Once you lie, you can't get it back.

It takes on a life of its own.

-I'm so sorry.

-Come on, let's go.

-I hate you, Louise.

Can't we make up? Please!

See what I mean about lies biting you on the bum?

Something else to think about -

little lies don't always stay little.

A tiny fib can start to grow.

And before you know it, it's too big for you to handle.

-TELEPHONE RINGS

-One day, at the Dumping Ground,

the phone was ringing and no one was picking it up.

Until Toby got it, and that was when the trouble started.

'Congratulations! You could be the winner of a fabulous,

'free family vacation in Florida! To win this fabulous, free holiday,

'please confirm that you are over 18.'

-Um... Well...

-'Thank you.'

-What's going on?

-I'm winning a holiday!

-'Please answer the following questions.

'What place is known as the Sunshine State?'

-What's the Sunshine State?

-Happiness?

No, something else, something...

-Florida!

-'Correct'

-BOTH: Yes!

Toby hadn't really even told a lie,

he'd just forgotten to tell the truth.

Frank, you must have known, you were never getting away with this.

It did seem too good to be true.

Good stuff never happens to us. You've got to grab the chance.

We just wanted to go to Florida.

-What would you have done?

-I would've gone to Mike and...

You'd have had your cosy, a litre of factor 50

and a stupid hat.

'Congratulations! You have now won your fabulous...'

-BOTH: Yes!

-'Family holiday in Florida!

'Please hold for one of our Sunscreen representatives.'

Our luck has finally changed!

# Lucky you Oh, lucky you

# There's nothing to lose

# If it's really true... #

'Well, Toby, you've won a free holiday for you and your family.'

-Do we have to be a family?

-'We do specialise in family holidays.'

That's good, because we're a big family.

-Sorry, that was my brother.

-'Great.

'So, what can our local representative, Terrie Fender,

'visit to get your details?'

Lies feed on lies, and this tiny lie needed another lie to keep it going.

Toby, you're not supposed to touch that without our permission.

-Uncle Andrew called me.

-Really? What did he say?

He wants to come to see me. Now. Is that OK?

-Well, it's a bit sudden.

-I know.

He's having one of his good days, they don't usually last very long.

It's OK. We see. We'd be happy to meet him at last.

Don't be surprised if he acts a little strange,

-meeting new people stresses him out.

-Don't worry,

-we'll give you guys all the space you need.

-Thanks.

And then another life.

Auntie Sandra! Oh, she must have come instead!

Oh!

Welcome to our house.

-Is that your dad?

-Yeah.

-Hi!

-Hi!

-And another lie.

This place used to be a care home, didn't it?

Oh, years ago, but our family live here now.

-And then, even more lies.

-That's my half-brother, Frank.

-Hi, Frank.

-And you've met my other brother, Liam.

-Hello, Liam.

Show us the tickets, then.

So, how many are in your family?

-13.

-13, wow! That is a big family.

-Is it too big?

-No, absolutely perfect.

But what the boys didn't know was they weren't the only ones lying.

Here's the receipt and the tickets will be mailed to you tomorrow. Bye!

-I can't believe this!

-The receipt?

-Wait!

-You got a problem, boys?

-We thought the holiday was free.

It is, the villa is yours for free.

But you charged Mike for £5,000 on his credit card!

-Yeah, that's for the flight.

-You tricked us!

No, you tried to trick me.

Wait!

We are so going to die.

One little lie grew and multiplied until it became

one bog-off enormous £5,000 lie charged to Mike's credit card.

£5,363!

-How did you know my credit card...?

-ALL: Gus.

You know, I thought I'd seen it all in this place, but £5,000,

that's quite something even for this lot.

I need to see this woman and talk some sense into her.

-You can't just walk in, there's rules!

-Yeah?

-Want me to call the police instead?

-Sorry, I couldn't keep her out.

Next thing you know, Toby's auntie comes storming in,

saying not only had the boys been lying, but they'd also

broken into her office and stolen her computer memory stick.

You come back here!

-Couldn't you just...?

-No.

Sunscreen Holidays doesn't offer refunds or exchanges. Company policy.

You're just an old-fashioned crook, aren't you?

Sunscreen Holidays operates within the law.

We conform to the very highest industry standards.

That includes conning kids, does it?

No, they tried to con me. They told me they were over 18.

-Is that true?

-Tracy...

-Oh...

-Oh!

'..in Florida!

'To win this fabulous, free holiday, please confirm that you are over 18.

'Um... Well...

'Thank you. To claim your free family holiday...'

Well?

The tape never lies. Faced with the truth,

the rep from hell had to back down.

Fine, I'll cancel the transaction and you'll get your money back.

Good. Better do it now, we'll watch.

Make sure you live up to industry standards.

It was an hour escape, but I think the boys learned a lot.

What lesson have you learned, Frank?

Tell the truth. That's always best.

-What about you, Liam?

-Oh, a big lesson, a massive lesson.

-Which is?

If you're going to scam a holiday of a lifetime in a dream resort,

-make sure you don't get caught.

-Liam!

So, what can I tell you about lies

to upload into the Tracy Beaker Survival Files?

Well, first, it's best not to tell them.

It's usually safest to stick to the truth. Like I always do.

All right, nearly always.

People tell lies for many reasons. Sometimes to cheat someone.

Sometimes to try and get what they want.

And sometimes they don't mean any harm,

they just get a bit mixed up between the truth

and what they want the truth to be, apparently.

People tell lies for good reasons. Total honesty can be pretty hurtful.

It's good to stop and think before you blurt out the truth.

It might be best to be considerate in the way you put things.

And be careful, lies are unpredictable.

They can take on a life of their own

and you can find yourself in more trouble than you ever imagined.

That's the Beaker Guide To Lies

uploaded to the Tracy Beaker Survival Files.

# Reactions to your lies. #

More gems of wisdom from my experiences next time

on That's No Lie.

Remember, I've been through all this so you don't have to.

# I just want to see you smile

# Don't ever think you made me mad

# I didn't listen to your lies

# Lies, lies. #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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