Chain Reaction Tracy Beaker Returns

I keep having a dream I'm on a ship.

My real mum and Cam are with me, but a huge wave is coming,

so I grab the anchor and throw it over the side to keep us all safe.

But it doesn't work, and Mum and Cam disappear,

I'm all alone, and the wind keeps coming and...

Toy cupboard's sorted, laundry's clean,

and you can see the actual living room floor.

Above and beyond the call.

Tidy house, tidy minds!

Are you feeling all right?

Why don't you go home?

Um, oh, I'll just do the kitchen first.

So she's been in New York, how long now?

Three weeks. One more to go.

-Wow, a whole month with the flat to yourself.

-It's been great.

Honestly, you're going to love living on your own.

-I'm having such a good time.

-Really?

Yeah. Parties every night.

-Then why are you here, Tracy?

-Hmm?

-Why are you here, cleaning at...

eight o'clock at night? If you're having such a good time, I mean.

-Oh...no reason. I just wanted to get it done.

-Right.

You're right. Something's definitely up with Beaker.

-Make yourself at home(!)

-I always do.

-What you doing?

-Nothing.

-How can one person have so much glitz?

-Well, it makes me happy.

-Why? It's just stuff.

Well, no, each one has a memory.

What?

Um... That one, I think,

I bought when me, Tee and Lily... and Tracy went into town.

-Big deal.

-And then when Tracy made Tee laugh,

milkshake just shot out her nose!

OK, um, this?

That was a "sorry" from my mum one night when she didn't come home.

-Oh. What about this one?

-Um...

nothing really, I just like it.

Mike.

-Yes?

-Sapph agrees that something's not right about Tracy.

-Really?

Cos let's face it, Tracy isn't shy about telling

when there's something she's not happy about.

I know, I know. But that's what's odd. I mean, she's staying late.

-Everything's getting cleaned.

-Well, don't knock it.

At least this place will be tidy.

Maybe there's something she doesn't want us to know about?

-PHONE RINGS

-Hello, Elm Tree House.

Lily's social worker.

Can borrow it if you like.

Nah, it's too pretty for me.

What do you mean "too pretty"? You are pretty.

-No, I'm not, I'm ugly.

-Rubbish!

Now you can wear it tomorrow and then it will have a memory.

What memory?

Um...the day I realised that me and Elektra could be friends.

Hang on while I puke everywhere.

-Fine, give it back. I don't care.

-No, sorry, it's just...

I've never had anything... nice before.

Honestly, Elektra, you're just so...

-So what?

-Just so!

-Look, Elektra, it's your boyfriend.

-Ha-ha(!)

-You have such a big room.

-Don't you think it's a bit too big though?

OK, how can a room be too big?

-I don't really like sleeping in here on my own.

-I could move in.

OK, I was joking! Why would I want to live with a squirt?

-Elektra!

-Thanks!

House meeting. Come on.

This isn't going to take long.

Tracy, what are you doing here? It's ten past eight.

What is it with everyone?!

-Right, Lily's social worker called.

-Is she all right?

-Mm-hmm.

Just let me finish. She's going to be coming here for respite care.

-Maybe three, four times a month.

-What's respite care?

It's like when a parent or carer has a break

away from the person they look after.

So has her dad been drinking again?

No. It's just her dad needs to have time on his own

and Lily needs to see her friends, yeah?

Well, wouldn't she go back to Tracy's?

She can't, not while Cam's away.

-So she's coming here.

-Lily's coming back!

-Hi from over here!

-'Well, hello, over there!

'Hi from over here in New York!'

Well, hello, over there! How are you?

'Oh, missing you of course, but good. Hey, I've got some great news.'

-Ooh, me too.

-'Well, you first.'

-No, no, you go first.

-'No, go on. You go.'

OK, Lily's having respite care, it's going to be a regular thing.

Which means, she can come back to us. How brilliant is that?

'That's great, Tracy.'

So, what was your news?

'Oh, it's nothing, honestly.

'So, how's the flat? Still a tip, I bet.'

-I'm trying my best, Cam, but some mates have just left.

-'Show me.'

No! There's pizza boxes everywhere.

'Tracy Beaker! You're impossible.'

Thanks, guys, I can do the rest from here.

I swear, I shouldn't be shifting beds, I'm no removal man.

Oh, really? You smell like one!

Oh, is that right?

Lucky I didn't move in, then.

-You didn't really want to move in, did you?

-No.

Elektra, could I...have my necklace back, please?

You said I could wear it today.

Um, because I was kind of planning to give it to Lily

as a welcome-home present.

Oh... Oh, no, that's great.

Give Lily the present you were going to give to ME first.

It wasn't a present, more of a...

-borrow.

-Yeah?

"The day I realised Elektra and me could be friends."

I don't want your stinking necklace.

Why would I even want a stupid piece of plastic, or be your friend?

I'm sorry, Elektra, you can take it... Ow!

Oops, I slipped.

-Morning!

-Morn... Tracy, you're four hours early for your shift.

Well, it's nice to feel wanted.

No, really, why are you here?

Mike said he wanted the files reorganised.

They've needed doing for years, why now?

Tidy filing cabinets, tidy minds.

Well, you can do them when you come back.

Now, go home and come back later.

Overtime, um, Mike said it'd be cool for me to get some extra cash.

Tracy, are you all right?

Absolutely fine. You won't know I'm here.

-Lily!

-Tee! Hello!

-Hey, everyone.

-Lil-l-l-l-l-ly!

Oh, here we go! Hey, Carmen.

I made you this card and, like, everyone's signed it.

Oh, wow. I love it.

I love it, Carm, thanks.

It's all right.

It's good, really good.

It's just with work and looking after me,

I think he needs a little bit of a break.

Well, we're always glad to have you here, Lil.

-Aw, I've really missed you.

-Me too.

So you've had the flat to yourself, then?

Yeah, it's been brilliant, parties every night.

Cam's back in a week, told her you'll be moving back into the flat.

Oh, right.

Obviously, cos Cam's your foster parent,

I can't have you in the flat now, with me on my own.

-But when she's back?

-Yeah.

You do want to come back with us, don't you?

Yeah, sure. I mean...course I do.

Cool.

Elektra?

Would you take these up to Carmen's room for me?

Please. And you can help her make the bed too, yeah?

ELEKTRA SNIFFS

There's a disgusting smell in this room.

Can't you smell it?

Oh! Tracy!

Look, when you start a job, you must finish it. I mean, look at the mess.

-I can't move.

-Sorry. I got distracted by Lily, but I'm on it.

Could you just put it all back?

Mike did say he wanted it done.

-Did he?

-Yeah.

-So Mike said he wanted you to earn overtime?

-Uh-huh.

Well, maybe you should tell Mike how much,

because he doesn't remember that conversation.

Tracy, what's wrong?

-Nothing.

-Is Cam all right?

-Cam's fine.

-So why are you doing all this extra work?

-Tidy office, tidy...

-Please, don't.

Just clear it up, will you?

You all settled then, Lily?

-That is SUCH a nice necklace, by the way.

-Thanks.

Are you sure you want to sleep in this room?

It's just there's been a really funny smell coming from here recently.

Just thought I'd let you know.

-What was that about?

-She's just being her.

Can I ask you something?

Yeah, sure.

Tracy's sorting it so that I can have my respite care at hers,

and not here.

Well, I suppose they are your foster family.

It's not that I don't like it at Tracy's.

It's just that... I think I'd rather be here.

Well then, you need to tell her.

Look, look, I'm just saying, my idea of a party

and your idea of a party are two completely different things.

What's going on, guys?

-Oh, we're sorting out who does what for your party.

-My party?

-CARMEN:

-Lily's having a party?

-FRANK:

-Yeah, it's a welcome-back thing.

-Yeah, it's a bit much.

-Don't mind Moody over there.

Well, Sapph, why don't YOU make the ice cream and jelly?

We can all sit around, eat fairy cakes, and play pass the parcel!

Does that sound fun?

I'll sort the music if you like.

-Yeah, great. All we need now are decorations.

-We've got no money.

And? We'll just have to make them. How about paper chains?

Jeff doesn't know what a paper chain is.

I've got a book. It's called How To Make Everything.

It tells you how to make everything.

-Dunno. That's quite nice.

-Mmm.

What top?

Hello, girls, looking lovely.

Oh, hi!

Um, I'm going to go and borrow a hair band from Tee.

Why don't you help choose what top?

Well, this top would go lovely, but it's...

Tracy, we need to talk about where I stay when I'm not at Dad's.

Yeah, I've been thinking about that too.

You need more time with kids your own age,

so why don't you have your respite here at the Dumping Ground

-instead of with me and Cam?

-Really?

It's not because me and Cam don't love you to bits.

I would love to have you back.

But it's your respite care

and you should really think about what you want from it.

-Thanks, Tracy.

-My pleasure.

(Spying on Lily?)

-None of your business.

-This just proves you can't be trusted.

First you give a necklace to me, then you give it to Lily.

-Who's next?

-Look, I'm really sorry about...

ELEKTRA SNIFFS

That's what stinks. Man, you're rank.

So, Toby, each chain link

-must be precisely 15 centimetres by 4 centimetres.

-Check.

Harry, you're gluing the links together.

-Check!

-One dab for one link.

-Be careful.

-I know!

I am doing the most important

and difficult job - looping the links together.

One misaligned link and it all falls apart.

-Can we just get going?

-OK...

begin!

-Here's your glue.

-HE SNIFFS

-No, Carmen! Don't sit there!

-All right, sorry.

What are you lot doing?

I read that the world's longest paper chain is 32.7 metres long.

Gus thinks we can break it.

-I'll help.

-Me too.

OK, but there's a system.

There's a surprise(!)

INTERNET CONNECTION DIALS UP

'Hello? Hello, are you there?

'Hey, Tracy. Look, I'm at work. Can we talk later?

'I'm a bit snowed under here.'

Oh, sure.

Sorry, no, this won't take long. It's about Lily.

She's going to have her respite care at the Dumping Ground, so...

-Well, that's it, really.

-'Oh, right. Is she happy with that?'

Yeah, it's what she wanted.

'Oh, great.

'OK. Oh, great!'

Cam?

'Sorry, look, this kind of changes things.'

What is it?

'I've been offered a six-month contract here at the magazine.

'Um, obviously, if Lily was coming back, I wouldn't take it.'

But now?

'Well, it's incredibly flattering.'

That's great. Was that your news yesterday?

'Yeah. Well, what do you think?

-'This'll give you the independence you've been waiting for.'

-Right.

'But if you need me back I won't take it.'

I'm a grown up now, Mum... Cam.

This is an opportunity of a lifetime. You have to take it.

'I'm so excited, I can't tell you!

'Sorry, I've got to go. Can we talk later? Love you!'

Love you, too.

'Oh, Tracy, you're looking tired.

'Enough of the parties, yeah?

-'Get some early nights, OK?'

-OK.

-'OK, bye!'

-Bye.

SHE SCREAMS

SHE BREATHES QUICKLY

Hi, Seth.

'Hi, how are you doing?'

You're calling me.

Yeah, I'm calling you. How are you?

I'm on tour with the band.

'Yeah, I heard. Congratulations.'

What are you up to?

Working, as usual.

I've got the flat to myself for six months.

Cam's in New York.

Wow, that's a big deal.

Yeah, parties every night.

Nice.

I miss you.

Seth?

Trace, this is tough...

I've met this girl on tour.

What was that, Mike? Yeah, I'm just coming.

Sorry, Seth, it's Mike. I've got to go.

Tracy, listen...

SHE BREATHES QUICKLY

Come on, pull it out.

Don't break it. Pull it out.

-Pull it straighter.

-Gus, it's droopy over here!

-Pull it straighter, Sapphire.

-I am.

Pull it straighter!

If you shout at me again, I'll thread this chain through your ears!

If people don't pull it straighter we can't measure it.

We're doing our best.

-Everyone spread out and pull, yeah?

-Don't break it. Pull it out.

Oi! Don't even think about it.

-We've worked on this for hours!

-You lot are so pathetic.

OK, then, get measuring.

-Where have they gone?

-I beg your pardon?

I had the files in separate piles,

alphabetically ordered, and by year.

Current here, those who've gone and under 16 here,

and those who are over that age over there.

I, um... I put them back.

Keep going. It's a five-metre measure.

When you get down there, put a mark

so we can measure it from there again.

Make sure you're careful with that,

it'll whizz back and take his fingers off.

-Tracy...

-I had a system!

I said leave it.

Fine, organise your own office!

Pull it straight. Tracy, no-o-o!

Aah.

That flipping hurt!

THEY LAUGH

It's not funny!

What are you doing?

I was the one person in this house who was prepared to be your friend.

Elektra, you don't have to be like this!

THEY ARGUE

-Right, can you please just all get out of here?

-What?

And take this with you.

All right, you don't have to get twisted.

Go to the living room. That's where Lily's party is,

so you may as well make it in there.

It's all your fault...

THEY ARGUE

Have you had a row, said something to upset her?

Why don't you just try sorting it out between yourselves.

-Talk to Elektra.

-I heard my name. Hey, Carmen.

-Look, is there something going on between you two?

-Um, nothing much.

We had a row earlier about a necklace,

but I'm willing to make it up if you are, Carmen?

There, see? Now, clear the air.

If there is one thing I hate more than a tell-tale,

-it's a tell-tale that stinks.

-Ow!

PHONE RINGS

Whoa, look out!

I just need someone to help me.

We need to help mend it.

Can you just help me, please...

-Tracy...

-Tracy...

-Tracy...

-Tracy...

-Tracy, come here.

-Speak to her.

What on Earth is going on in here, please?

I can't breathe.

This has got to be the worst party ever,

and we haven't even had it yet.

I don't really feel like a party now.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

Is Jeff all right?

Bit scared.

I'm sure Tracy'll be fine.

-Look what I've got...

-What?

It's an invisible cloak of bravery

and when Jeff wears it,

he feels brave and nothing scares him.

How does Jeff feel now?

Jeff feels brave now.

Cup of tea, lovely?

I'm so sorry.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

You've had a panic attack,

you'll be OK in a few minutes.

Just try and calm yourself.

A panic attack?

Tracy, is everything all right?

I don't know.

I'm fine.

Things are just piling up, I guess.

Cam's staying in New York.

Really?

For six months.

I've never seen her so excited.

How do you feel about it?

And Lily coming back here?

She's better off here than with me and Cam.

I asked you how you felt about it.

It doesn't matter how I feel.

It's about the kids, they come first.

Isn't that what you're always telling me?

When people we love do things we don't expect,

things we'd rather they didn't do,

they can make us upset, angry.

-I'm not angry.

-No, no, I know.

But I can remember a young Tracy Beaker who,

when she would get upset with people,

would get very, very angry.

Now, this grown-up Tracy Beaker may not get so angry,

thank goodness for that, eh?

But perhaps she still hasn't quite learned

how to express it when she's upset.

Talking, you mean?

When someone loves you,

really loves you,

you can tell them that you're upset with them, you know.

They won't go away.

Is growing up always this hard?

Only when you care about things so much.

32 metres, 53 three metres exactly!

It's a new world record! Woo!

Sorry, Carmen.

Elektra?

What's going on?

Elektra's messing about in our room again!

OK. Elektra, I've had enough.

Enough of your cruel remarks and horrible looks,

of you hurting me and making me feel bad.

Just because you don't like yourself,

don't take it out on other people!

You won't bully me again!

Understand?

Understand?!

Wow!

Sorry if me not moving back into the flat made you unhappy.

Don't be silly.

I was the one that suggested it, remember?

I don't like seeing you upset, Tracy.

You were always the one that I didn't have to take care of.

The one that took care of me.

Like a big sister.

Your life's changing, Lily.

So is mine.

If you ever need to see me, you just call, OK?

-Now, why aren't you at your own party?

-I came to get you!

I think I'll pass.

You don't want me hanging around like a wet blanket.

Please, come, just for a bit.

For me?

They're coming!

ALL: Surprise!

Why on Earth would you want to throw me a party?

You needed one more than me.

You're feeling out of sorts.

I certainly was. Thank you.

It's a horrible picture,

but, you know, we're all in it.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Let's get this party started!

THEY LAUGH

MUSIC PLAYS

-Are you OK?

-I'm fine.

-Hmm.

-Look, I'm all right. Now, go back to your party.

You've got to stop doing this.

Upsetting people and running away from the consequences.

Well, what about the people who upset me. What happens to them?

Did you tell them they upset you?

Or did you just hide it away?

Please, come.

I'm sorry.

I know it was just a borrow...

It just really hurt when you took the necklace off me and gave it to Lily.

I'm sorry too.

I mean, it was really mean of me to give it to Lily.

-I really am sorry.

-Stop the music!

-You idiot!

-What?

The longest paper chain

was 327.1 metres long!

-What?

-Not 32.7!

327!

Och, aye. I mean, I'm no good at...

decimal points.

Decimal point!

-Decimal point!

-That's funny!

DOORBELL RINGS

Hello, Tracy Beaker.

-Seth, hi!

-Hiya, Tobes. How are you?

-I didn't know you were coming!

How could I not come to a party in honour of Tracy Beaker, eh?

In this house, everyone is linked by troubles

that sometimes make you feel like you don't belong.

But we can get over those troubles,

because this is our home,

a place of friendship and trust.

One weak link can upset or break the chain.

But not for long...

because none of us will let it.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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