The Invitation Tracy Beaker Returns

-It's the royal crest.

-What do you think's inside?

I haven't got X-ray vision. Open it!

-I've been offered an MBE.

-An MBE?!

I knew it as soon as I saw the envelope!

That means you go to Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen.

Mike's meeting the Queen?

-Jody, don't tell anyone.

-Mike's going to meet the Queen!

-Jody!

ALL TALK AT ONCE

Who nominated you because somebody must have?

Enough! Just one at a time, please.

-Will we have to call you Sir Mike?

-No, that's for knights, not MBEs.

What is an MBE?

MBE stands for Member of the order of the British Empire.

It is very rare and is presented by the Queen to people who have

done very, very good things.

-So what's Mike done?

-Well, he looks after you for a start.

-When do you go?

-In the next few weeks.

-Can you take anyone with you?

-ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

Guys, listen.

QUIET!

Look, I'm sure that Mike has got friends and family

that might want to go, too.

KIDS GROAN

This is so unfair. Surely we should all be invited.

Yeah, I mean, meeting the Queen is something you'd never forget.

You'd always be a somebody.

-You lot are pathetic!

-Why?

-The Queen doesn't care about Mike or us.

What's your problem?

-He's probably a Republican.

-What's that?

Someone who doesn't believe in having a Royal family.

I believe in them. I just think they're really elegant.

No, you're missing the point.

We're all owned by the State and we have no say in what's done to us.

The Queen - she's the head of State, so when Mike goes,

he can say what's wrong with the system and what needs to be done.

Atually, Mike's not allowed to tell the Queen anything

unless she asks him a question.

Cos like I said, the Queen doesn't want to know about us.

Services to children and young people in care.

-I didn't think anyone even knew we existed.

-Maybe it was a mistake.

-Yeah, it's probably a mistake.

-Mm, definitely a mistake.

So, Michael Milligan, careworker extraordinaire,

he who hob-nobs with royalty, who are you going to take with you?

Some random relatives or your biggest ever success story?

Naughtiest kid in care, allegedly,

who turns out to be a pretty terrific careworker herself.

Or your ever-loyal longest-serving co-worker.

Thinking about what you were saying, Tracy, this MBE is supposed to be for

work I do with young people. Shouldn't it be them that come?

Of course you should take them.

Just one slightly huge problem - you only get three guests.

So who are you going to take?

Tig! Tig! Mike's allowed to take three people to the Palace. We have to make sure he picks us.

You did say three of us.

Look, we're not cleaning or anything

just so Mike can take us to the palace.

They heard us.

House meeting!

So I can take three of you with me

but I can't choose based on how much cleaning is done.

We need to find a different way, a fairer way.

-How about you pick three names out of a hat?

-Excuse me.

How is that fair? Some of us have been here longer than others.

Some of us left but then came back to squat in someone else's room.

-Sorry, did you just say squat?

-Until they find somewhere else.

I don't want it to cause arguments. If it does, I'll bring my relatives.

You all need to decide how you want to play this and let me know.

Right, is there anyone who doesn't want to go?

Mike's trip is on a Wednesday and I have piano practice on Wednesday.

Are you sure?

OK. Rick?

He doesn't like the Queen.

-He's scared she'll chop his head off.

-Don't be daft, Tyler.

-She can't do that.

-She can do what she wants. She runs the country.

No, she doesn't. The Government does.

-The ones we vote for after we're 18.

-It's called democracy.

MPs can do that if the Queen lets them. They swear allegiance to her.

And if they don't, off with their heads!

-LAUGHTER

-That's it!

-What, execution?!

Democracy. We'll have an election and each of you gets a secret vote

and the three with the most votes get to go with Mike.

I know who I'm voting for.

You can't vote for yourself, or everyone would have one vote each.

Each of you has to vote for someone else, someone who deserves to go.

Don't bother begging me for my vote. You're not getting it.

-Well, that's your democratic choice.

-Good.

OK. Well, we'll take the vote at five.

You have until then to persuade the others why you deserve

to go to the Palace.

-Who are you?

-Nobody. I'm just a nobody.

I have just spoken to the council. Your flat's not a priority.

If you're so embarrassed by me, just tell everyone that I'm dead!

ALL TALK OVER EACH OTHER

-All sorted.

-Who's going?

-We'll find out at five.

-And what are they doing until then?

-Holding an election.

Three people with the most votes go with Mike.

It's educational and practical. Genius!

-That sounds like a Tracy plan to me.

-You'll miss them when I'm gone.

The point is, you need someone who will speak up for your rights,

who will tell these people what it's really like to be in care.

I'm that person. If you've got a problem, I will voice it for you.

I will speak on your behalf and get things done.

-Nice one.

-So you'll vote for me, right, Frank?

-Yeah.

Blah blah blah, blah blah.

-Anyone else?

-Well, I'll vote for you if you vote for me.

-You have to vote for me.

-I've got to vote for Johnny.

Look, Mike needs us. We're elegant. We can fit in.

-When will you get another chance to mix with royalty?

-Never.

-So don't let Johnny stop you.

-I won't go behind his back.

If you're not going to vote for me,

then I'm going to swap mine with someone who will.

Just wondering if you're still going to vote for me.

Of course. We had an agreement. Why?

Just checking. I'll be voting for you, too.

-I don't want you to.

-What?

-It's a waste.

You've got more chance of going than I have.

What would you rather show your kids? A picture of you at the Palace

or nothing? Take my vote and swap yours with Carmen.

-Don't you want to go, too?

-I'd rather you went down neither of us.

This way, you already have two votes and I'll make sure you get more.

-Wow. You've really thought about this.

-It's important.

You have to take every opportunity to fight for your rights.

She just wants her old flat back.

-Well, at least she's got a campaign. What's yours?

-Don't need one.

Well, you probably won't get any votes, then.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

Why do you want to go anyway?

I just can't picture you sipping tea politely at the Palace.

Well, you've met my mum.

Imagine her seeing a picture of me at Buckingham Palace,

hanging out with the Queen. She'd be seething for years.

-This is just make your mum jealous?

-It's as good a reason as any.

I'm going to be the first person ever to make the Queen laugh.

-No-one can.

-Will you vote for me?

-If I laugh.

OK.

Well, there were two sizzling sausages in a pan and one

of them said to the other one, "Is it me or is it hot in here?"

And the other one turned and said,

"Argh! A talking sausage!" Ba-doom-tish!

Tough crowd, eh?

What's up?

Well, no-one'll vote for me.

-That's not going to get any votes.

-It'll get more votes than your jokes.

-Want to bet?

-How much?

-A quid.

-Done. Wahey!

-Ha-ha, funny(!)

I don't know what you're so smug about. That won't get you any votes.

-Well, I have already got two votes, so...

-So you think.

What are you saying?

Carmen's not voting for you, I wouldn't be sure about Frank,

and everyone will lie to get votes.

What I'm saying is play the brats at their own game.

You vote for me and I will vote for you.

Plus, I get an extra metre in the bedroom.

-Excuse me, how come you get the better deal?

-It was my idea.

Well, tough. You can get the extra metre if I get more wardrobe space.

You don't hang up any of your own clothes anyway.

Fine.

He's my campaign manager instead.

Well, that's very unselfish of you, Johnny.

Have you finished now?

Because you should let the others have a turn, yeah.

-OK. Thank you.

-OK, babes.

We should do democracy more often. Empowerment and responsibility.

Might write it up for my NVQ assessment.

Oh, right. So they do qualifications in Tracy plans, do they? Huh!

-Carmen, I can't believe my eyes! I said...

-Look, if you vote for me,

then I'll vote for you.

Hey, Gus, vote for Tee, the girl who got your holiday back.

But Tee lost it in the first place.

-Yeah, but thanks to her we then got a better one.

-True.

-So are you going to vote for me?

-It's a secret ballot.

I've made a list of things you have to learn before the big day.

OK.

You're a care kid now. You need to think about your future.

Well, I don't know what it says.

Oh. Well, it says, "No-one else in this place will

fight for your right for a better life and I will."

Vote for Tee, the girl who got your holiday back.

-I didn't go. Can we get some chocolate biscuits?

-Sorry?

There's only ever plain, never chocolate.

We'll get you chocolate biscuits.

If you vote for me, I'll make sure they only buy double chocolate chip.

-Cool!

-So you'll vote for me, OK?

-Yeah.

Excuse me.

Oh, very good, Harry. Is that Mike?

And you're going to vote for me to go with him, aren't you?

What is a vote?

A vote is when you say who you think should run things.

It's like your chance to decide stuff.

So you have a vote on who you think should go to the Palace with Mike.

Will you and Jeff vote for me?

Good boy.

And... that says Matthew will meet the Queen and I'm the only one left.

You're not fooling anyone, Frank.

TYLER HOOTER

Vote Tyler! Make the Queen laugh!

-What's black, white and red all over?

-A Newcastle fan with a tan.

-Stick to your sob story.

-Time to change yours.

TYLER HOOTER

-What's wrong?

-Well, my grandad had a dream that one day...

-Look, if you vote for me, then I'll vote for you.

-OK, yeah.

Tee got us the best holiday ever. She deserves this trip.

Don't bully him, Johnny.

Jody, come here a minute.

-I made friends with you and I got you your own room.

-No, you didn't.

Yes, I did. Mike just didn't tell Sapphire and Elektra that.

-Look, this is why you have to vote for me.

-Will you vote for me?

Of course I will.

-OK.

-What are you doing? I thought you were supposed to vote for me.

-I am.

But one vote for you isn't going to be enough for me, as it?

-So you're just lying to everyone?

-Well, not to you.

-How much?

-How much what?

-To vote for Tee, how much will it cost?

-So, still planning on wasting your vote?

-You heard what I said.

Well, if you don't like the Queen so much, isn't it worth

voting for someone who would cause a little bit of trouble at the Palace?

Think how many chocolate biscuits you get with this.

Uh-uh!

-First you have to vote for Tee.

-No!

Imagine all the tasty biscuits, covered in thick, gooey chocolate.

All right.

And, you don't tell anyone I gave you this money, especially not Tee.

-Say you promise.

-I promise.

-Oh, and you can do my chores next week.

-What?!

Say promise or I'll tell Tee.

Promise.

-Harry.

-I'm voting for Sapphire.

-I knew that.

-My grandfather had a dream that one day...

-Stop it, Frank.

-Have some pride.

-I can't. There's a pound at stake.

-You're doing this for a pound?

-It's a bet with Tyler.

-So you don't actually want to go?

-Yeah.

-Why?

-Something to do.

-Who are you voting for?

-Sapphire.

-And she's voting for you?

No, but she has the best reasons.

No, she doesn't. She just wants a new flat.

She thinks she can nag someone there to kick up a fuss on her behalf.

Vote for me and I will vote for you.

-Harry, are you voting for Sapphire?

-Yeah.

You know that if she goes to London with Mike, she won't be coming back.

Mm, it's her big secret.

She's planning on running away and I don't want her to go. Do you?

Mike, you have to wear a morning suit. And shiny black shoes,

not your smelly old trainers.

-Yes, Gus, that much I did know.

-Mike, we need to talk about etiquette.

Yes, we do, Gus, but not now. Hey, Harry.

-What's this?

-My present to you. It's not finished.

-Thank you, Harry.

-That's fantastic. Is this me getting an MBE?

-Yeah.

-That is brilliant.

Look. There's me and there's the Queen.

-I can see three inaccuracies.

-Gus.

-You have grey hair, not green,

you're kneeling, not standing,

the Queen's knighting you with her sword.

-Did I do it wrong?

-Yes.

No. It's perfect, Harry.

Time to vote!

-Changed your mind, then?

-Not about the Queen.

Nice to see you exercising your democratic right to vote.

Are you sure about this, Harry?

Thank you, Carmen.

Where's Jody? She hasn't done her vote yet.

Well, if she's not here on time, she misses out.

It is time for me to vote for Tee now, Johnny?

OK. Here are the results of the votes, in reverse order.

Those with no votes are Gus, Harry, Johnny, Rick, Jody, Tyler...

You're joking me?

-Pound, please.

-Frank!

Pa!

..and Sapph.

-What? No way! There's been a mistake.

-Sorry, that's the results.

-You've forgotten Harry. He must not have voted.

-No, Harry did vote.

Right, I've had it with this place. I've had it with all of you.

-I'd rather sleep on the streets.

-Ooh!

-Does that mean I get my room back?

-Sapph!

-Sapphire!

-Can we carry on and see who's got votes?

-Sure.

Mike got one vote from Gus, just to be sure.

-LAUGHTER

-Secret ballot.

Sorry. Carmen, one vote.

Erm, one?!

-Elektra, four votes and Tee, five votes.

-Yes!

So that's Elektra, Tee and Carmen going to the Palace with Mike.

-Yeah!

-Yes, we won!

-Get in!

-So you bribed Judy and Tyler to vote for me?

-Tenner each.

It had to be done, Tee.

Without them, the vote could have been split four or five ways.

-And the fifth vote?

-I don't know who that was.

It still doesn't make it right.

Look, it's my savings, not yours. You should be grateful.

-Don't you want to be somebody for once in your life?

-Not like this.

-My room is a mess.

-So tidy it.

-We had a deal.

Yeah? Well, tough. The vote's over and Tee won.

How many people did you say you'd vote for?

Erm, only Sapph, Frank, Tyler, Johnny and you.

But in an election you can't say

you'll do something to get votes and then not do it.

Of course you can, it happens all the time.

But Johnny bribed people and you lied to everyone.

-I voted for you.

-That doesn't make it right.

So, I'm sick of this trip.

KNOCK ON DOOR

No!

What's going on? Why did you vote for Elektra?

Her Majesty's Prisons.

So what's letters from your mum and dad got to do with Elektra?

It's the Queen, not Elektra. They're in her prisons.

Sentenced by a Crown Court. Her crest was behind the judge's chair.

They got sent down in the Queen's name and now I'm stuck in care.

She told you I was running away?

And that's why you voted for her, to stop me going?

-Harry, what she told you was a lie. I wasn't running away.

-Sorry.

-It wasn't your fault.

-Can I get my vote back?

-Don't worry about it, sweetheart. I'll get it back for you.

-Sapphire?

Frame Mike's picture for me?

Of course I will.

It's just an emblem.

-The Queen and the law are two separate things.

-Not to me.

So because your mum and dad broke the law and went to prison,

you want Elektra to ruin Mike's day?

Not Mike's. The Queen's.

Rick, it's Mike being honoured, not the Queen,

because he spent years looking after kids like you and me.

If Elektra causes trouble, it won't ruin the Queen's day,

it'll ruin Mike's and everything he's worked for.

And for what? So you can feel better about your mum and dad's crimes?

Don't you dare! Don't you dare ruin Mike's big day!

-Been talking to Rick, then?

-I mean it.

Nobody went after his vote, so I just told him what he wanted to hear.

-I declare this election null and void.

-Here we go.

-On what grounds?

-She's a sore loser.

-On the grounds that she is a lying, cheating snake.

-And you're not?

She told Harry I'd run away if I went to London.

-That's why he didn't vote for me.

-You said that?

Well, Sapph didn't vote for him.

No, she was too busy thinking about herself.

Hey! I kept my word. I voted for you.

Then you're not cut out for politics.

-What are you doing?

-I'm getting my wardrobe space.

-Sapph, stop it! Elektra, just calm down!

-Not that one!

Harry did that for Mike.

-Tyler, give him his money back.

-No.

-Keep it, Tyler.

-The election's over.

-Elektra!

Fight, fight, fight, fight!

-Get off me!

-Stop it!

-Fight, fight, fight!

-Oi, what's going on?

-Put down the cushion.

-She started it.

-Do it.

-Mike, I won my vote fair and square.

-Carmen, you lied to everyone.

-You liar!

-Oi! Shut up!

Is that what this is about? My MBE?

Is this how you choose amongst yourselves?

-Johnny bribed Jodie and Tyler to vote for me.

-Tyler...

ALL SHOUT OVER EACH OTHER

I demand a recount.

That's it.

We have been given an opportunity of a lifetime

and this is how you choose to treat it, is it?

There's going to be no trip to Buckingham Palace.

I'm certainly not going. Neither are you lot.

We ruined it for him.

We've all ruined it for him.

Well, it's not one of my worst plans. We do live in a democracy.

I know, but you didn't set any ground rules, did you?

Lying, bribing, cheating, fighting -

hardly the bedrock of a just and honest society, is it?

Well, you should still collect your MBE.

How can I accept an award for work with young people when that happens

under my supervision? I'd be a hypocrite.

-But...

-I've made my decision. Come on. Let's hang this up somewhere.

I've seen that look before. He's not going to change his mind.

-What's he been doing?

-Oh, Gus got him to write an acceptance speech,

just in case he got interviewed.

"Today has been a great honour,

"one I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life.

"But a greater reward is seeing young people in my care content,

"laughing and happy.

"I'm never more proud than when I see them being kind, helpful

"and loving to one another.

"People often think that young people in care are bound to be

"difficult and troublesome but that's not the case.

"They're fantastic, compassionate youngsters

"with a lot of obstacles to overcome, who know right from wrong,

"can grow to become amazing adults,

"if given the help and support they need."

What Mike would have said if he collected his MBE.

Just thought you should know how proud he is of you.

Most of the time.

So, how are we going to put this right?

Gus, we need you to come downstairs.

Apart from this sentence, I'm not talking to any of you any more.

What's all this?

"Dear Mr Carmichael, thank you for drawing our attention towards

"Mr Milligan and suggesting him for an honour." You nominated him?

No, I wrote the letter to the council asking them to nominate him.

It took them months and months to listen to me and you all ruined it.

All the more reason to come downstairs. Please, Gus.

For Mike.

Can you come into the living room for a minute, please?

-What's happened now?

-Nothing. We just want a word.

-Come on, then.

-Mike, we messed up, and we're really sorry.

-Thank you, Sapphire.

-Let's just forget the whole thing, shall we?

-But we've all agreed.

Without arguing or elections, who we think should go with you.

People who deserve to go the most.

-All right. I'm listening.

-Well, first, Harry.

He's worked really hard on that picture for you.

None of us thought what he might want.

So, Harry, you want to go to Buckingham Palace and see the Queen?

-Second is Gus.

-Me? But I said I couldn't go.

Yeah, but you've been helping Mike all day.

And he'll need your advice at the Palace. You have to go.

It's only one day, Gus. Mike needs your help.

All right, that's two of you. Who's the third one?

Well, she's not exactly one of us.

Me?

You made us all realise how out of order we'd been.

So, are you going to go to the Palace or not, Mike?

ALL SHOUT AND CHEER

Oh, stop, you'll make me blush!

-Ha-ha! I didn't mean you, I meant these two.

-Ha-ha!

We've got a surprise for you, Harry.

Here you go. Matching ties.

-Where's Tracy?

-Here!

Da-da!

ALL: Awww!

-Wow! Princess, can I take you to the Palace?

-Ooh, that'd be lovely.

Thank you. Bye, guys!

ALL: Bye!

This would make such a cool brooch. Can I borrow it?

No, you cannot. LAUGHTER

It's on. This is it.

Oh, do we have to watch it?

'Finally this evening, to Buckingham Palace.'

Oh, I like your suit, Mike. Mike, you dropped Jeff!

Harry asked me to bring Jeff up to meet the Queen.

I didn't know what to do when I dropped him.

-Oh, no, Tracy!

-Oh, no, no, no! I was just picking him up.

You don't mind, do you? No, see, but the Queen's cool, man!

GROANS

Tracy!

LAUGHTER

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd