0:00:05 > 0:00:06My name is Tracy Beaker
0:00:06 > 0:00:08and these are my Survival Files,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11your essential guide to the ups and downs of growing up.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Tracy...
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Tracy!
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Life in the Dumping Ground has taught me a lot about...stuff.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20- Tracy Beaker!- Scary stuff...
0:00:20 > 0:00:21THEY SCREAM
0:00:21 > 0:00:22SHE SCREAMS
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Complicated stuff...
0:00:25 > 0:00:28- Stuff that can make you want to scream.- Tracey!
0:00:28 > 0:00:31If you can cope with the stuff that goes down in this place
0:00:31 > 0:00:33you can cope with pretty much anything.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I've spent most of my life here.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38First when I was a kid, and now it's where I work.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42I've learned a lot about friends...
0:00:42 > 0:00:44About enemies...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49About what life can throw at you.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55It's not always been pretty
0:00:55 > 0:00:58but it's made me who I am today.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02And now I'm passing on my wisdom to you guys, in a video blog.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Pay attention,
0:01:03 > 0:01:07I've lived through all this so you don't have to.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11On the Tracy Beaker Survival Files this time, first impressions.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14How much can we tell about people on first sight?
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Are first impressions reliable?
0:01:16 > 0:01:18And what did Cam think when she first met me?
0:01:23 > 0:01:25We all meet new people all the time
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and some are like an open book.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The moment you meet them, you can tell exactly what they're like.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Oh! Sorry,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37um, hi. Nathan?
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Trainee co-worker?
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Like Nathan. We had him sussed in seconds.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Hi, dudes.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44Da-da!
0:01:45 > 0:01:48He was just a big dopey kid. End of.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Da-da-da! Ace!
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- Told you Tracy Beaker was the best. - You've got it! Nice one, Tracy!
0:01:55 > 0:01:57With Nathan, what you see is what you get
0:01:57 > 0:02:01but other people try desperately hard to be what they think you want.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Meet Kez. She's our trainee social worker.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Yo, kids. What's up?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Er... "You seem bling."
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Word!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Kez made a very strong first impression,
0:02:15 > 0:02:16of a desperate saddo.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Wait, is it fist then fingers or...?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Her attempts to be down with the kids
0:02:22 > 0:02:24even made Elaine the Pain look good.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Yeah, that bad.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27Bye.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Sometimes first impressions are totally accurate, but not always.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Some people are careful not to give themselves away.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36For example, not so long ago
0:02:36 > 0:02:39a lovely polite new girl arrived at the Dumping Ground,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41a girl with blue hair.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Tracy!
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Sorry, Elektra!
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Um, loving the hair. Do you want to come meet the others?
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Do you mind if I meet them without any adults?
0:02:52 > 0:02:57I just feel it's always so formal when there's staff there.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Whatever you feel is best.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03'But as the girl was Elektra, our first impressions were way off.'
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Aw, she seems really sweet.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Hi. You must be Elektra.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14- Oh, wow, amazing hair. How did you get it like...- Shut up.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Who's in charge?- Oh.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Are you all thick or something? I said, who's in charge?
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Left alone with the other kids,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24she certainly was...less formal.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Come on, then!
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Hello, Jeff.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Next in line for the Elektra shock treatment
0:03:34 > 0:03:36were Harry and Jeff.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I didn't like Elektra. Nor did Jeff.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40HARRY GASPS
0:03:49 > 0:03:53As soon as I saw her, I knew she was trouble. Big trouble.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Who did this?
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Elektra.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- You freak!- Get off of me!
0:04:08 > 0:04:10You blue-haired freak!
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Ow! Get off! Get off me!
0:04:13 > 0:04:14That's enough!
0:04:14 > 0:04:16No, Mike!
0:04:16 > 0:04:18I'm not finished with her!
0:04:18 > 0:04:20- No, Mike!- Right, enough!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Now I've got to know her much better
0:04:22 > 0:04:23and I've come to realise
0:04:23 > 0:04:25that I was dead right.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28MUSIC: "She's Electric" by Oasis
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Elektra is...complicated.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33She's angry and manipulative
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and worst of all, she's smart.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38She's good at putting on an act.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41She certainly fooled me that first day.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44And for a girl who can pull the wool over my eyes,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Carmen was just too easy a target.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48KNOCK AT THE DOOR
0:04:48 > 0:04:50- Are you OK?- I'm fine.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Sorry, I'm just having a bad day.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57So, why did you want to fight Liam?
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I don't. Everywhere I go, someone beats me up on the first day.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01I wanted to get it out of the way.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- That's awful.- You get used to it.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09So Carmen gave Elektra the benefit of the doubt.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Of course, she regretted it later
0:05:11 > 0:05:15when she found out what Elektra was really like, but here's the thing.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The tough hard-face Elektra isn't the real Elektra either.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Underneath it all, she's almost human.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23With me, what you see is what you get. Simple.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- I don't think that's true.- What?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Behind the loudmouth troublemaker front,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30I think there's a caring person in there.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I'm not a caring person.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33- Oh, really?- Yeah.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36You know what, shut up, Beaker, you don't even know me.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Maybe I know Elektra more than she realises.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42I know about acting tough when you're hurting inside
0:05:42 > 0:05:45which might be why I can see right through her.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46Every now and then, the mask slips,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48just for a little while.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50You can borrow it if you like.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Nah, it's too pretty for me.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54What do you mean, too pretty? You are pretty.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55No, I'm not, I'm ugly.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Rubbish. You can wear it tomorrow and then it'll have a memory.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01What memory?
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Um, the day I realised that me and Elektra could be friends.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Hang on while I puke everywhere.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Fine, then give it back. I don't care.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10No. Sorry, it's just...
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I never had anything nice before, so...
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Honestly, Elektra,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17you're just so...
0:06:17 > 0:06:18So what?
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Just so!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Aw. Course, it didn't last.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26It all went wrong pretty quickly.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- Elektra? - As soon as Carmen changed her mind.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Could I have my necklace back, please?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But you said I could wear it today.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Um, because, I was kind of planning to give it to Lily
0:06:39 > 0:06:41- as a welcome home present.- Oh!
0:06:41 > 0:06:45That's great. Give Lily the present you were going to give me first!
0:06:45 > 0:06:47It wasn't a present.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49More of a...
0:06:49 > 0:06:50borrow.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55Yeah? "The day I realised Elektra and me could be friends!"
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Know what, I don't want your stinking necklace.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Why would I even want a stupid piece of plastic all for your friend?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03I'm sorry, Elektra, you can take it... Ow!
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Oops, I slipped.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Mike, you've seen a lot of kids go through the Dumping Ground.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11What do you make of Elektra?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Elektra's...
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- Complicated?- Yeah.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Yeah. She's been through a lot, so she tries to protect herself.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21She puts this hard face on, so she doesn't get hurt.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24So what can we do to help her?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27We can try and respect her, and not judge her too harshly.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29There's a great girl in there somewhere.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33If we keep being there for her, she'll eventually shine through.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34When do you think that might be?
0:07:34 > 0:07:37By the time you retire, if we're lucky.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Elektra can be trouble, but there's only one of her.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Imagine coping with three Elektras.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Actually, I don't need to imagine. I know exactly what it was like.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52When the Wellards first hit the Dumping Ground
0:07:52 > 0:07:55they made quite an impression.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58The Wellards believed in arriving with a bang.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59They were not to be messed with
0:07:59 > 0:08:02and they wanted everyone to know that from day one.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06THEY YELL
0:08:06 > 0:08:08What are you doing?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11This is a Wellard's room.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- Ha-ha!- Wellard's room. - Course it is. Silly us.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Sorry, we're just... tidying up for you, yeah.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Pass me an egg, Marco.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Pass us an egg, Chantelle.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Everyone was fair game for the Wellards. Kids, adults...
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Oops.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Even innocent dollies.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Uh-oh! Another terrible accident!
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Bye-bye, dolly!
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I'd just moved out to live with Cam. Again.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53But I was still the undisputed Queen of the Dumping Ground
0:08:53 > 0:08:57so when there Wellards took over, everyone came running to me.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Tracy, can we stay?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Oh, well, I am very busy!
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Aw, Tracy, seriously, we can't go home!
0:09:04 > 0:09:06The Dumping Ground's been taken over by aliens.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Yeah, please, Tracy.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Honestly, there's no escaping from you lot, is there?
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Time to find out if these Wellards could stand up
0:09:16 > 0:09:17to a little people power.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22- I'm Tracy Beaker.- Yeah! - You might have heard of me.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Charge!
0:09:27 > 0:09:28So there you go.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32All it took was a military charge from the entire Dumping Ground,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34led by me, and the Wellards crumbled.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Well, we won that one anyway.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40But the Wellards didn't give up just like that.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Whenever there was a chance to big up the legend of the Wellard clan,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46they would take it.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- I was thinking.- Makes a change. - Rio's dad.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Why's he in jail?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Umm. Teacher abuse.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Rio's teacher gave him detention so his dad paid him a visit
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and tied him to the seat with sticky tape.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Not so bad though, is it?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05It is when it's the last day before the summer holidays.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08They found him six weeks later.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12So, Rio's dad was a dangerous criminal then.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15No wonder Rio was such a hard case.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It all fitted in perfectly with the Wellard image.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23The only snag was none of it was true.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- Rio's dad.- What about him? - Why's he in prison?
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- Because the police caught him, stupid.- For stealing?- Yeah.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- What's it got to do with you anyway? - Stealing?
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- You said Rio's dad was in prison for teacher abuse.- Stole dogs as well.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38And robbed banks.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Rio's dad isn't even in jail at all.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- What's going on?- Rio lied about his dad being in prison.- I haven't.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52- Then why is your dad in jail? - You don't have to tell him.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54My dad's in jail because...
0:10:56 > 0:11:00..because he stole a car.
0:11:00 > 0:11:06And he drove it to this big bank and then he went inside and nicked
0:11:06 > 0:11:08all this stuff from the safe,
0:11:08 > 0:11:13and money and jewels, and money and stuff.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18Everything, he stole everything in the whole place. The lot.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Dad didn't flinch.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Not even when the big angry guard dogs started growling
0:11:22 > 0:11:24and showing their teeth.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25GROWLS
0:11:25 > 0:11:30That's my dad, see. Not frightened of anything. Nothing at all.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35He's a hard man, a tough nut, a real hero.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39LOUD BARK
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- He's making it up!- I'm not.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Crash had made a big mistake. He was trying to be mates with Rio.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Crash's dad really was in jail
0:11:54 > 0:11:56so he'd thought they had something in common.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59He wasn't impressed to find out that Rio had lied.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03I only said my dad was in jail to frighten Lol.
0:12:04 > 0:12:10I didn't know your dad had... I didn't know...
0:12:12 > 0:12:17At least you know where your dad is. I don't even know WHO mine is.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22So, the Wellards weren't quite what they seemed.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Funny how often that happens.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27If you take the trouble to dig beneath the surface,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29you'll find all sorts of surprises.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31What have we learned so far
0:12:31 > 0:12:35about first impressions to put into the Tracy Beaker Survival Files?
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Elektra and the Wellards deliberately went out of their way
0:13:18 > 0:13:21to look tough but that's not always how it works.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Some people can make a bad first impression, totally by accident.
0:13:28 > 0:13:29Hold that.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I wonder how fast this thing goes.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35# White riot, I wanna riot
0:13:35 > 0:13:37# White riot, a riot of my own
0:13:37 > 0:13:40# White riot, I wanna riot... #
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Take Liam. High-spirited, fun-loving, enjoys a good laugh.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45Wait your turn.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51Yeah, he can be a bit of a tearaway but his heart's in the right place.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53That's how his friends see him,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56but when Liam decided to borrow a mobility scooter,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59the owner saw things a bit differently.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Oi! Get off!
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Mr Spooner, who owned the scooter, was not impressed,
0:14:13 > 0:14:14nor were the police.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18So Mike begged Liam to try harder to impress the magistrate.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Liam, face the front. Take your hands out of your pockets
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and try to make a good impression for the magistrate.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33I despair with Liam sometimes. This was really serious, you know?
0:14:33 > 0:14:36He could have been looking at time in a young offenders' institute.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38The least he could do was try
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and make a good impression with the magistrate.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43BEEPING
0:14:43 > 0:14:47What's with the phone?! I don't believe you. This is big stuff.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48All right.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55Tracy, what am I doing wrong? He's out of control.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59PHONE BEEPS
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- Gus has got a date!- Tracy. - Good morning.- Sorry.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09At times like this, it's important to give the right impression.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12We had to look responsible and serious
0:15:12 > 0:15:15and Liam needed to show he was sorry for what he'd done.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18He's the thieving beggar who took my scooter.
0:15:18 > 0:15:19Thank you, we have your statement.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24He might as well have taken my legs. I can't go anywhere.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- What, you've still got your scooter. - But it's broken because of you.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32- Give him the maximum, go on. He's a little menace.- You lying old codger.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33- Quiet.- See, no respect.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38- This is the thanks an old war hero gets.- Quiet!- It wasn't going well.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Spooner had called Liam a young thug
0:15:41 > 0:15:45so it was up to Liam to prove that basically, he's a decent lad.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48To be honest, my hopes weren't that high.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50This isn't the first time
0:15:50 > 0:15:53you've been before a magistrate, Mr O'Donovan.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I don't have any parents to show me a good way, your Honour,
0:15:56 > 0:15:57living in care.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01We've read your file and it would appear
0:16:01 > 0:16:04previous punishments have not acted as a deterrent.
0:16:04 > 0:16:11I'm afraid this time we shall have to consider a more serious sentence.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I knew I was going down but my sentence was worse than I thought.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Seven days of community service working with old people.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20That was bad enough,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23then they told me which old people I was working with.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- Aah! Didn't think he'd have the guts to show.- You?
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Come to do his time, he has.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Help himself, more like, thieving little beggar.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40No way was I sticking round for a week.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43As soon as Spooner would see me, he'd start banging on again.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44He was doing my head in.
0:16:44 > 0:16:51What are you doing hanging around here for? Casing my room, eh?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54I'm sorry about your scooter. I'm not a thief,
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I wasn't casing your room.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Eavesdropping though, weren't you, little tyke?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Are you all right?
0:17:01 > 0:17:05No. Yeah, just get me to a chair.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06COUGHS
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Look, I'm going to get you some help, OK?
0:17:12 > 0:17:18No, this is just a dizzy spell, that's all. I've had them before.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20They'll only fuss.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22When someone collapses in front of you,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24you've got to make sure they're all right.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible
0:17:27 > 0:17:29but then I spotted something on the wall.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31That the war?
0:17:31 > 0:17:36No, Suez Canal crisis, doing my national service.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- National service, what's that? - In my day,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42you had to join the army for two years whether you liked it or not.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- You just did it?- Of course.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Happy days. All gone now.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52So that's how you got all them medals?
0:17:52 > 0:17:55I don't like to talk about it.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57You did in the courtroom.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01You lot have it easy nowadays.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Those fellas, they were the only family I had.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I've got no family either.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13I don't like to talk about it.
0:18:13 > 0:18:14You did in the courtroom.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20All of a sudden, something amazing happened.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24The thieving little beggar and the lying codger started swapping stories.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27It turned out they had more in common than they thought.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29A right old scrape that was.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33I think I was chased for about a mile before the old bill got me.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- I don't think I could keep that up now.- No.
0:18:36 > 0:18:42Look, I'm sorry about the scooter. I was just mucking about, honest.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Look, forget the scooter. It's been nothing but trouble.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51I've spent nearly all my savings on it and it still won't work.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Look at that lot.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02150 quid for brakes? What brakes?
0:19:02 > 0:19:07Look, I'm no expert but I think this guy's ripping you off.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10No, he wouldn't do that. He's ex-forces.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13We look out for each other, like family.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Spooner thought all young lads were trouble
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and all ex-soldiers were heroes but life's not that simple.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Some people you hate, they can surprise you by doing good things
0:19:23 > 0:19:26and the people you trust, they can let you down.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Oh, keen customer. That's what I like, Mr Spooner.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42We don't need to go through it all again, eh?
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Two honest squaddies like us.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51You really are a class act, Eddie. What's this?
0:19:51 > 0:19:57150 quid a service, 200 for wheel bearings. It goes on.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59About two grand's worth of bills.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01On top of what Mr Spooner paid you
0:20:01 > 0:20:03for that heap of rubbish that you sold him.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05What's this, Mr Spooner?
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- You hired some yob to shake me down or something?- No, Eddie.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12He's just an honest young lad who opened my eyes.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15You're a cheat, a liar and a thief.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call the police?
0:20:17 > 0:20:20So I helped Spooner out and he realised just because
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I borrowed his scooter doesn't make me a violent yob,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27and I realised he weren't so bad for a shouty old man,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29so we'd both changed.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Just goes to show, you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35You can't tell everything about someone by their age,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38the way they dress or seem to behave at first sight.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44'Certainly no-one had Mr Spooner down as a boy racer,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46'but it's easy to be taken in by appearances.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49'Even I've been known to make that mistake.'
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Sorry, couple number one. Thank you and good night.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56'Looking back, I could have been more open-minded.'
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Potential family number two -
0:20:58 > 0:21:01you think someone as cool as me could live with that hairdo?
0:21:01 > 0:21:02Get real, lady.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05'I could have tried to get past my first impressions.'
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- They're here! 'Especially when it was important.'- Wait there.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13'When I was meeting people who could have changed my whole life,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15'like potential foster parents.'
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Tracy,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18this is Mr and Mrs Brown.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- Call me Terry. - I'm Jill, pleased to meet you.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- There must be a mistake.- What?
0:21:24 > 0:21:27These people are old.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30But there was one visitor to the Dumping Ground
0:21:30 > 0:21:32who I definitely wanted to impress.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36She wasn't coming to foster anyone, at least that's what she thought.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39She thought she was coming to write an article about care homes.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I've written about how upset my foster parents were
0:21:42 > 0:21:44when I made them bring me back,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47so I've drawn a picture of them crying a river of tears.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49More like tears of happiness, getting shot of you.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52This couldn't even go in a puddle, let alone a river.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- Come over here and help me tidy this lot away.- I can't.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I won't have enough time to finish this before the writer gets here.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02I'd better start at the top then work my down then, had I?
0:22:02 > 0:22:06I don't know why you're bothering. I bet she won't even read it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11So there was this writer called Cam coming to meet us
0:22:11 > 0:22:13and I wanted to be a writer.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I knew we were bound to get on
0:22:15 > 0:22:17and that she would foster me, eventually,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20but just to be safe, I decided to go the extra mile
0:22:20 > 0:22:21to make an impression.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- Hi, I'm Cam Lawson. - Hello, Jenny Edwards. Do come in.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Cam, what do you remember about the first day
0:22:32 > 0:22:35you came to the Dumping Ground?
0:22:35 > 0:22:38I was a bit nervous, really. Don't know why.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40I suppose I had no idea what to expect,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42what all of you would think of me.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45The kids I did meet certainly made an impression.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47This is my granny.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52She's dead, and so's my mum. They're angels in Heaven now.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58There was one who stood out from the crowd.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Someone's been using my make-up. One person's missing
0:23:01 > 0:23:03and when I get my hands on her I'll kill her.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Hello!
0:23:05 > 0:23:08At first, the crowd was stunned into silence as Tracy Beaker,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11the glamorous best-selling writer
0:23:11 > 0:23:14arrived to be interviewed by another famous best-selling writer.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Then they couldn't control themselves a moment longer
0:23:18 > 0:23:20and went absolutely wild!
0:23:20 > 0:23:24No-one told us there was going to be a freakshow.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Cast your mind back then, to the moment we met.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31What was your first impression?
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Hard to say. I couldn't really see you under about 15 tons of make-up.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Yeah, maybe the make-up was a mistake.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Should have gone for more glitter.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Hmm, more glitter?
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Could have worked.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Now, Tracy, come and meet Cam.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Tracy's the girl I told you about who wants to become a writer.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Tracy, a writer?
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Yeah, that's really going to happen(!)
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Give that back!
0:23:57 > 0:24:01I'm Tracy Beaker, with my incredible heart-rending story.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06Tragic - she's only cut out a picture from a magazine
0:24:06 > 0:24:08pretending it's her mum.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13You two girls, stop that!
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Now, be honest. It wasn't the perfect start.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27- You made sure I could never forget you.- I hate you.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I'm sorry about this, Cam.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33You're a total headcase, Tracy Beaker.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I thought I'd blown it. Cam would never want to see me again.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Bog off, Jenny. I hate you.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42You knew how much I wanted to meet that writer.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47And I hate that Justine Littlewood. She always spoils everything.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Tracy, it's me, Cam.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I just wanted to tell you that I've looked through your life book
0:24:55 > 0:24:57and you've written some fantastic stuff.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02I adored the bit about your foster parents and the river of tears.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03Showed a lot of imagination.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06The thing is, first impressions can often go wrong.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08That's why it's good to give everyone
0:25:08 > 0:25:09a second chance to get it right.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11That's what I did.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13No, not exactly.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Are you just saying that because you feel sorry for me? You better not,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- because I don't care.- I know.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23No, you don't. I'm the one stuck in here, not you!
0:25:23 > 0:25:25I bet you're not even a proper writer.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Writers don't bite their nails or wear tatty jeans.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32You look like a right loser, you do. Not rich and glamorous at all.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35That's how smart writers are.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Really smart with posh hair and swanky clothes and loads of make-up,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41and loads and loads, and loads and loads and loads.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44So what did you think of me after that?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Well, if I'm going on first impressions,
0:25:46 > 0:25:51I thought you were stroppy, moody, difficult...
0:25:51 > 0:25:55- Hang on!- Rude, unreasonable, obstinate.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57But when you got to know me better...
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I found out you were all those things and more.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Go on, put the boot in, why don't you?
0:26:02 > 0:26:06But I also found out that I wouldn't want you any other way,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- because then you wouldn't be you. - Aww.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Thank you!
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Lucky for Cam I made such a big first impression,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37or she could have missed out on all the happiness
0:26:37 > 0:26:39I have brought into her little world.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48So, what have we learnt about first impressions
0:26:48 > 0:26:50to upload into my Survival Files?
0:27:32 > 0:27:37So, that's the Beaker guide to first impressions safely uploaded
0:27:37 > 0:27:40to the Tracy Beaker Survival Files.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44More gems of wisdom from my experiences next time.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47On this occasion, your first impression is right.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48It's going to be unmissable.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Remember,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I've been through all this so you don't have to.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk