Episode 5 Invasion of the Job Snatchers

Christchurch. A small town on the South coast of England,

where a third of the population is over 60.

Nicknamed God's waiting room, it's the ultimate pensioners' paradise.

But now the town has opened its gates to a swam of young job seekers

to work in their old-fashioned businesses.

All the butchers that I know are all getting old now.

This trade needs new blood.

Senior employers have offered eight weeks' work experience

and, for those that impress, the chance of a permanent job.

In exchange, the town will receive an injection of new blood.

Lovely to meet you.

I'm Adam. We're on the boat then, yeah?

The invasion has begun as 13 young people have been selected to

live together and work across nine local businesses,

from a fish stall...

I nearly broke a nail as well.

..to the local butchers.

My little mate. As you can see,

there are the hairs on his chinny-chin-chin.

The bosses review the trainees' work at weekly appraisals...

That's very good, Renee. Absolutely.

..and already three people have fallen by the wayside.

I can't take this.

I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go.

For the remaining nine trainees, there's only two weeks left.

If they can maintain their focus and make it to the end, that

elusive permanent job and a new life in Christchurch could be theirs.

Till's broken.

If I got offered a job here, I'd snap it up.

# I love her, she wants it. #

I really want it, man. That is an absolute life-changing situation.

Coming up, the trainees get out and about

and spend some quality time with the locals...

HORSE SNORTS

Sex.

THEY LAUGH

Right now I do feel like I'm going to court.

..and find time for some drink and disorder.

It's a good night but I think them girls

had me out for free drinks, didn't they?

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, you turd, you've been sick on yourself.

You cannot do everything you want to do.

You can't carry on like this.

This programme contains strong language

Last time, two new trainees arrived in Christchurch.

Hiya.

THEY SCREAM

Oh, my God!

Sean struggled with the workload at the smoke house...

I did throw up a little bit but that's probably just from exhaustion.

..and was let go...

There's no way we can continue the relationship.

..but given a second chance at the garden centre.

-How are you?

-I'm good. I'm Sean.

With his character, I think he'll fit in really well.

Amber filled a vacancy at the fish store...

-Hiya.

-You must be Amber.

..and took a shine to fellow trainee Adam.

No.

Oh, less of it, yeah?

Others weren't having quite so much fun.

Leave me alone, yeah? Please, just leave me alone.

Carl lost his enthusiasm for the job

when mentor Robin went on holiday and began to let the team down.

Mark, sorry I'm late, mate.

That is an important thing, though, getting up, ain't it, to be fair?

Yeah.

Deneka started well at the salon...

Quite sharp really, aren't you?

She's not been using me like I'm some skivvy,

like all the other placements I done.

..but as the novelty wore off so did her interest.

Smile. Don't look so cross.

Boring. Getting bored of it now.

Because it's beginning to show you're fed up.

Even so, Irene allowed Deneka a day off to go back home to Manchester.

-Thank you very much.

-But I'm still cross with you

-and you need to pull your socks up.

-OK.

It's Sunday evening in Christchurch

and, while the housemates relax before a new week at work,

Deneka returns from her long weekend back home in Manchester.

I'm really knackered.

-How long was your train?

-BLEEP too long.

And I've not... I've hardly had any sleep. On the Friday, I didn't

go to bed till, like, nine in the morning. Yeah, nine in the morning.

Being home was great. Devastated about being back.

I didn't even want to come back, to be honest.

I like Manchester, not here.

House is full of mad heads.

THEY LAUGH

And now I'm back to this shit hole. Yay(!)

Monday morning and, with two weeks left

of their eight-week work placement, Carl's up before dawn.

Today is a special day. His mentor Robin returns from holiday.

I'm looking forward to finding out what he got up to.

I've come to an epiphany recently. I want to... I don't want to leave.

I don't think wild horses could drag me away if they offered me the job.

So, as Carl heads into work, his mentor Robin catches up

with fellow butcher Mark to see how Carl has been getting on.

Yeah, no, it's all been good, to be honest with you.

I can't really think of any down...downsides really.

Good. Time keeping all right?

-He had a couple of issues but he made that up.

-Yeah?

All right with the customers. Probably needs to just turn himself

down a little, turn the volume down a little bit. But he's missed you.

You'll be able to see what he can do this week, really.

That's the thing, ain't it? To see him get on with stuff and that.

That's the main thing, yeah.

-I think he'll be an asset, to be honest with you.

-Good. Jolly good.

Morning, Robin.

He's here. The man himself.

-How are you, Rob?

-All right, mate? Yeah, fine.

-And you got a tan.

-No that's...

-Yeah, you got a tan. I used a paint brush.

-You not had a bath for three weeks?

-No, that's right.

Yeah. You all right, are you?

-Yeah, yeah, I've enjoyed myself.

-Good.

I'm getting to see the place a little bit more.

I've seen the beach. I went up onto the hill the other day.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, really...

-Good.

-..really going for it.

-Jolly good.

-Coffee? First things first.

-Well, yeah, yeah.

ALARM BLARES

I'm really looking forward to today.

Back at the house, the rest of the trainees drag

themselves into another week.

Oh, my head really hurts today.

With the end of their work experience two weeks away,

it's time to pull out all the stops to ensure

they secure that coveted permanent job and a new life in Christchurch.

If they don't, they face the sack and a return home.

It is alive! It is alive!

Oh!

Today is a new start for Sean. He leaves the house with Rachel

and James for his first day of work at Stewarts Garden Centre.

Sean is struggling up the hill, while James and Rachel march on.

25-year-old Sean's a single parent from Liverpool who's found it

difficult to hold down a job

while trying to raise his six-year-old daughter.

Oh, what a tune.

At the garden centre,

he's hoping he'll be able to cope with the workload

after he struggled last week at the smoke house and was let go.

-Appreciate it, mate.

-Thank you.

-# Good morning, good morning. #

It's nice to be back in an environment where you're working with a lot of people.

It should be fun, hence why I'm smiling of a morning.

There to meet him is mentor Martin Stewart.

Come on, I'll show you round.

-We didn't go round on Friday, did we?

-No.

Can I introduce you Sean, who's starting in the garden shop?

-This is Julie.

-Very nice to meet you.

You're from Rachel's neck of the woods then?

I'm from Liverpool, she's from Birkenhead.

We have Sunday dinners, they have beans on toast.

THEY LAUGH

Right, this is going to be entertaining then. Brilliant.

So you're going to be working in the garden shop?

-Garden shop.

-Let me loose on your public.

This week at Stewarts,

his new job will be on the shop floor in garden produce.

So we'll get rid of these, we'll get some onto the shop floor there.

You're just going to replace them with the teapot nesters

and we've got some hedgehog houses.

The department supervisor is Matt

and he'll be overseeing Sean's work today.

So whatever we can,

we're going to squeeze onto this little weed killer part.

Again, there's massive space underneath there.

'Compared to last Monday, the tempo is a bit different.

'It's a lot more relaxed here.'

I'm happy here. This is a place I could see that

I could work for the rest of my days.

Matt knows that Sean found

the physical nature of the work at the smoke house too much.

He needs to get the measure of their new employee,

so gets him busy straightaway.

All right. Give it a wipe down?

Yeah, with these. We'll take them all off, apart from the base

and we'll just work our way up.

Five minutes and I'm already wringing.

It gets warm in here, doesn't it?

Physically, yeah, I feel that I could survive here

whereas, after about a week of the smoke room I'd have been dead, yeah.

-Do you want a water?

-No, no, no, I'm good.

-Are you sure?

-I'll ask.

-It does get quite...

-It's me as well. I'm a sweaty git as well.

-Well, feel free to pop off

-if you want to get a drink.

-Oh, cheers, man.

Matt just said to me, "Well, you know, if you're a bit hot

"and you're a bit thirsty, go and get yourself a drink."

I mean, I had to ask in the smoke room.

Just the feel to this place and the atmosphere, everything about

it is a lot different from that job and it's more me, this place.

Ew, what did I just touch that was wet in the bin? Ugh.

After a great weekend at home in Manchester,

Deneka's not happy to be back in Christchurch.

To make matters worse, her mentor Irene is off sick.

Assistant Gemma is in charge and has a long list of cleaning chores.

Yeah, I think I do more cleaning than actually

the hairdressing side of the job.

I don't expect to be cutting hair and colouring and all that

but I do want to learn a bit more.

Their fucking grey hairs.

I'm going backwards instead of forwards.

I think, anyway, I am, anyway.

Like, I did like it at first cos, like, for my first few weeks,

like, she was letting me have a go at the hair

and, like, let me do the tint

but, like, now I'm just, like, not doing anything.

Hairs flying around my nose and everything. It's fucking disgusting.

One trainee who IS having a crash course in learning new skills

is 18-year-old Amber from Slough.

Look how big he is.

Last week, Amber started at the fish store, working with mentor Russell.

If I give you...give you these...

-OK.

-..that's everything that's there...there now.

Then we'll have a little look in a minute and see how you did.

-OK.

-All right?

Done.

That was quick. You've got them all right.

I'm not sure I'd have done that on my first morning

but anyway, well done.

Today, Amber's working with Russell's wife, Becky.

Go on, don't tickle it, pull it.

Do you fancy one for your tea tonight?

Do I fuck!

We will make a fishmonger out of you yet, Amber.

I'm definitely getting over, like, the whole phobia of the fish thing.

Like, I work here, I do have to touch the fish.

And it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Today, Amber is being taught how to prepare the fish for sale.

We're going to head and gut this fish, OK?

When there's loads of customers, I can't always help out

cos I can't do things like that

so being able to do that would...would be good.

Hold it hard.

I would hold that hand there, yeah. Where you are, yeah.

Flip it over.

Again, go in at an angle. In halfway. Again, don't tickle it.

Cool. OK. So now you're going to pull your guts out.

Oh, wow.

10/10 for your head and gutting.

Really, truly, you've just shown me that you can do it

so I know you can.

The next person that comes in for a whole fish headed and gutted,

can you do it with Amber, please?

-Well done.

-Thank you.

Across Christchurch, it's lunchtime...

-See you in a bit, Gemma.

-Bye.

..and an opportunity for Deneka to catch up with Renee,

who works at the wool shop.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

How was your weekend?

It was great without you.

What?

-I'm only joking. I did miss you.

-Did you?

-Yeah.

How was going home making you feel? Especially when you had to come back here.

Well, to be honest, I didn't really want to come back but...

I'm back.

Yay. Cos I didn't want to come back, I just had to think,

"Right, you've done so long so you might as well just, like,

-"face it out."

-Do you want to stay here though? Like, if she offered

-you a job, would you stay here?

-No.

-You wouldn't?

-No.

-Why?

It's too far. Nah, I couldn't live round here.

Number one, it's too expensive. Number two, it's too far.

Do I have a number three? No, I don't have a number three.

But you'd be getting a job, though.

Yeah, I know but forget that. Not down here.

BOTH: Thank you.

Why do you need to scrub your feet? Are they dry?

THEY LAUGH

After her lunch with Renee, Deneka is feeling upbeat.

HORN BEEPS

Swing on my nip, mate.

Back at the salon, it's quiet so Irene's assistant Gemma

boosts her mood even more with a chance of some extra training.

-OK, do you want to put some rollers in my hair?

-Now?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

I think Gemma, like, kind of seen I was kind of bored

so she just said, "You can do my hair."

If you just take it just a little bit from there

and a little bit from that side and then do that, yeah?

It's like brickwork. So you've got like two then one,

then two then one, then two then one.

I like to do things. I don't like to be stood around.

'That's what work placements are for, to train you up.'

Even when we started,

we had models come in regular for us to...to practise.

Salon stylist Jane tells Deneka about her early days

hairdressing and her first work placement.

For the first six months, you didn't do the cutting.

The thing is, even though they were models, they didn't want to go out

with one side shorter than the other. With pieces missing.

'I think I was expecting a bit too much. Maybe I'm just not

'being patient enough but I'm just going to stick it out.'

This is what you call buckling.

-Can you see?

-Oh, right, yeah. I can tell.

-Where the ends go like that, yeah?

-Yeah.

Where you haven't put the roller quite to the end,

it causes buckling.

'Even if I make mistakes, I can always show,

'like, get shown ways of improvement.'

It's like bridal hair. Yeah, well done, Deneka.

Oh.

'You know what they say. Practice makes perfect.

'Me saying I'm not going to stick it out, I think

'I was just being a bit moody cos I really enjoyed today.'

-Ciao for now. See you tomorrow.

-Bye.

-Bye.

You all right, you turd?

Turning into a trolley dolly.

It's the end of Sean's first day at the garden centre.

Mentor and owner Martin Stewart is keen to check on his progress.

-How's he getting on?

-Really well.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, really well. Fits in quite well with the team.

-Good.

It is a lot better here than the smokey? I mean, I'm smiling.

'Last week I was smiling but inside I wasn't, whereas here, I am.'

-I think he's so excited to be here...

-Yeah.

..and so relieved to be here that you know when we were showing him

round this morning he was so eager to get going,

his enthusiasm bubbles over and I didn't know whether

he'd be too enthusiastic, you know what I mean?

No, no. He's, he's been perfectly fine.

He likes talking to people, meeting new people.

If he's being over-familiar and over-jovial then just say...

-Yeah.

-..calm it.

I mean, it's nice round here, ain't it? It's really... It's a nice place.

-It's quiet, it's relaxed.

-It's bright. It IS relaxed

and I've noticed that.

I feel so relaxed and so myself and down to earth down here, ain't it?

Back at the house, other trainees

are thinking about a permanent future in Christchurch.

I think a new start would do you the world of good.

Essentially, you could be

moving down here with a couple of people that live here.

I'd just be like, proper... I was lonely in Warrington, man.

Do you know what I mean?

Can you imagine how lonely I could possibly be down here?

I would take a job down here. I think the main thing that would

make me want to take the job is if somebody off this got it as well.

If I could now get a bedsit or just, like, an apartment,

I would leave here and just, I'd carry on my job happily.

They're like a little family at my work. Do you know what I mean?

Everyone's so caring and thoughtful and it's just nice to feel that.

I like it here and I like the fact it's near a big city.

It's near Bournemouth, it's not far from London

but then you have that country feel as well.

Yeah, I think I would move down here, you know, though.

The things I think about is missing, like, me family and stuff.

I miss me cats. They was only, like, three months when I left them.

-You got a cat?

-Yeah, two cats. John and Yoko.

John and Yoko? Where does that... where did them names come from?

John and Yoko - John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

You've heard of John Lennon, haven't you?

Ain't he a football player?

HE LAUGHS

-Adam, mate.

-What?

-John Lennon, like,

one of the most famous people to ever walk the earth.

THEY LAUGH

Next morning, and the trainees head into work.

See you later, bitches.

With the possibility of a new life in Christchurch on the horizon,

some of them have been getting to know the area.

It's funny, the past few weeks, I've realised what a gorgeous

place we live in. You know, I went to the, the beach the other day.

I've been to the hills, the top of the Christ...St Catherine's hill.

Absolutely idyllic place to live.

So I'm treating it like a girl at the moment - you know,

she's shown me her beach, she's shown me her hills

and now she's going to show me her forest.

Today, some of the trainees have been invited on a day trip

by a group of Christchurch's older residents.

I'm looking forward to this afternoon

cos we're going to the New Forest with,

I believe, 50...50 young dears of the widows club.

In Christchurch, nearly one in three people is over 60

so a move to the area would mean mixing with a lot more old people

than they're used to.

Fucking hate old people.

I've worked with them and I got shit on and it was disgusting.

I've spoken to guys in the cafe that are getting on a bit.

They're not aliens. Old people are just people.

I think the ladies at the widows club will be really nice

but I don't want to, like, hear, like, death stories

cos they really do depress me.

I might get a bit depressed but I could be wrong.

I might come back to the house smiling.

We've got some lovely young people with us today, joining us.

The New Horizons Widows Club is a local group who get together

to support each other and have some fun in the autumn of their lives.

My name's Betty. If you want to know anything, just ask us ladies.

We've been there and done it, haven't we, girls? Right?

APPLAUSE

I've always wanted a cuddle from a big fella.

You can have plenty. You can have... Come on, bring it in.

-Girls, can you hear me?

-ALL: Yeah.

-Now, I want you to start a clap up.

All together.

# We are the New Horizon ladies

# We are going to rise above it all

# Support, love, companionship we offer... #

Come on.

# We are going to open up the door

# Open up the door

# For us sweet, old ladies now and forever

# We will rise, we will rise we will rise!

# Once more. #

Thank you. Thank you, Sean, very much.

Sing-song over, the group arrive in the New Forest,

home of the famous wild ponies.

-Have you lost your young lady?

-Yeah.

-Blonde girl?

-No, she's tall.

-Oh, Deneka.

-Deneka, yes.

-Yeah, yeah.

Lovely.

She's from Manchester. Boo!

HE LAUGHS

-Come on, then.

-What if I get chased?

HORSE NEIGHS Oh.

HORSE SNORTS

SHE WHIMPERS

Ah, it's a good little horse.

IT SNORTS LOUDLY

LAUGHTER

I told you something was going to happen with them horses.

AMBER LAUGHS

Yeah, you fucking laugh. You laugh.

IT WHINNIES

The lady who I sat next to on the bus didn't actually smell of wee

like I thought they were going to.

But, you know, there probably is one round here somewhere.

But, you know, I'll take it as it comes.

-We'll circle round.

-Yeah, we could circle round,

-have a good look at the village.

-Come on, then.

Obviously, once upon a time, old people were young but times have

changed a lot since they were young.

They probably don't like the stuff that we like now.

Like, it's the 21st century now.

I don't even know when these people were born

but it probably was a long time ago.

I always say we've all been there and worn the T-shirt.

Fortunately I've always had work.

You owned your own knicker shop, didn't you?

I swore... My own knicker shop.

Yeah, it was, I'm not kidding you.

If you saw the number of knickers I used to sell.

While Sean talks pants, Carl drums up some trade for the butchers.

I'll get your order all sorted

and I'll get it sent out for you delivery, how about that?

-Very nice.

-Sounds as if you're in charge.

THEY LAUGH

I use me initiative, go on. It's a lovely place though, ain't it?

Amber and Deneka are still struggling to find common ground

with the elderly of Christchurch.

We don't really have anything in common. Our music tastes

are probably totally different.

I like house music I can dance to, get drunk to.

They probably listen to, like, Michael Buble or shit like that.

Like, I fucking hate him.

Or clothes, no.

I don't see them rocking a leather jacket like I am today.

No, they are wearing rain macs cos they came prepared for the weather.

I didn't.

No, they don't have fashion and... See? I can't relate to them.

Come on you turd, let's go. This way.

Is this the menu?

HE LAUGHS

No way.

Hey, girls, have you seen this?

Freddie Lambe's gammon ham.

-I peel that ham. They've got it on the menu here.

-Oh.

Despite her misgivings...

-Excuse me. Hot chocolate incoming.

-Thank you.

..Amber settles down for some lunch and a chat with 68-year-old Janet.

How long have you been living in Christchurch?

I've been here about two and a half years now.

The only people I knew were my daughter, who has a husband

and kids so she's got a busy life,

so I had to make my own life

and, in Christchurch, for a person my age, that is not difficult.

Christchurch works for me

but I would imagine, as a younger person, it is a bit quiet.

Compared to what I'm used to,

there's not many young people around.

No, and what about you, James?

-I don't mind.

-If you were to go out on an evening where would you go?

-I wouldn't go out.

-You're not one...

No, I'm not one for going out. I don't mind.

Old, young, you know, it don't bother me.

How long have you been, like, a widow for?

My husband died five years last August.

So although I don't like... I didn't like being on my own,

I've never liked being in a house on my own,

I used to think it was eerie at night,

but you kind of get used to it.

-I'm afraid you have to, really.

-I'm sorry to hear about that.

Yeah, it was... it was a blow, actually.

AMBER: You must get a lot of support from all the others

-that are in the club as well.

-Well, we're all widows

and although we don't have therapy or counselling or

anything like that, we do understand each other and...

Particularly with the music, the music session.

You'll see a little tear in somebody's eye and you know why.

-And you just give them a hug.

-Oh, that's lovely.

-You know, nobody's embarrassed.

-No.

We've all got favourite songs, haven't we? I'm teary myself now.

-Oh.

-No, it's worked well.

After today, after meeting all the women

my perception has changed a little bit on old people,

that they don't all smell of wee

and they don't all want to poo on me and sick on me and die on me,

that they are actually quite nice people and they've all gone through

some hard times and they all come together and it's nice that they can

have each other for support as well.

Whilst Amber has warmed to the charms of the older generation,

one trainee has built up quite a fan club.

Yes, he... Carl will make a good butcher.

-He's got that personality...

-Yeah.

-..for putting customers at ease.

Very tall, very handsome.

She's cheeky, ain't she?

-He's caught everyone's eye here.

-Yeah, and at church, ain't he?

-Yeah.

And he's got time for everyone and I love him for it

and I can see that he's a very considerate young man.

-I've not had a girl's phone number for ages! I'm only joking.

-I know.

His biggest fan is club president Betty Hope.

Because I know so much about you and I know you're above board

and everything, yes, you can come round my home.

Oh, really? Have you got any jobs that need doing?

Yeah. By the time you come round, the windows will want doing again.

Yeah, yeah?

Sex.

THEY LAUGH

Will we try another one?

Sit on me knee. Come on, then.

Don't blame it on me.

You look quite worried there.

THEY LAUGH

You know what's coming, don't you?

# We are the New Horizon ladies

# We are going to rise above it all... #

I'm late!

It's Wednesday morning and our trainees head off, focused

on doing good work and being one step closer to that permanent job.

PHONE RINGS

Hello. Peeks The Event Makers. Benny speaking. How can I help?

One second. I'll just put you through to one of our sales team.

At Peeks Party Store, Benny has been working for a week now,

in telesales with department head Alan Trowbridge.

I hope there's loads of cock.

Benny arrived in Christchurch six weeks ago.

Thank you, Mr Taxi Man, you sexy bitch.

I don't want no midnight visiting, thank you.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, my God, it's massive.

When he started at Peeks, his short attention span

and potty mouth nearly got him the sack.

They're fucking lovely. Oh, I thought I fucking shit it.

You have to watch how much you swear on the shop floor.

-You can't use that language.

-Sorry.

-It's not funny.

-No, it's not funny.

But his behaviour quickly improved.

-I work well as well though.

-You do now.

-What did you mean before?

And he went on to be a hit with his colleagues and his boss.

-A lot of good reports.

-Have you had any negatives at all?

-No.

HE GASPS Yes!

Success in telesales is important to Benny

because this is where the vacancy lies at Peeks.

I don't know whether you want to make notes of this.

Are you comfortable with it?

Yeah, honestly, I'm really good at things like this.

Last week, his work was outstanding...

Correct. Spot on, 100%. I mean, that is brilliant.

..but since then, his concentration has lapsed...

You ready to put the order on now then, Benny?

Do you want to do that now?

..and old habits have returned.

F for fanny. W for wanker.

Seb? Seb? Do you fancy a coffee?

-Do you want a coffee or a tea?

-No thanks.

-Are you sure?

Benny has lost his focus.

He isn't concentrating on processing orders and it's worrying Alan.

There's a few little niggly things that have sort of come to the fore.

There's a few things that he's not sort of...

Not what I would call... Unacceptable.

Alan, do you want a coffee or a tea?

I was going to grab you for a quick ten-minute meeting just to

sort of catch up and then we can grab one.

-You're on the old cranberry juice, are you?

-Yeah.

Yeah. Come on in. Let's have a catch up.

-Grab a seat, mate. I know you initially sat with me...

-Yeah.

..on sort of training or watching how orders were put on.

I noticed that whilst you were sort of being trained,

you didn't make any notes. Was there any reason for that?

I like to think that I've got a photographic memory.

-Oh, right.

-And I do pick up things quite quickly and I find

if I make notes I'll rely on them too much.

I think in life you have to know how to go wrong to go right.

I think I've picked it up better by doing that than...

Yeah. At the moment, the success rate of obviously you completing

an order are 100% stands at 20, 22%.

I thought I was doing all right. A bit shocked by that but...

You're missing off telephone numbers, you're missing off...

-Yeah, really simple things.

-..names, you're missing off house numbers.

-Yeah.

-So I'm just wondering whether you're not fully focused.

Is it just a lack of concentration or...?

Yeah, I just think it's a lack of love for it really.

My head's not really in it, I don't think, up here.

-Maybe I think that's probably the issue.

-You think?

-Yeah, I think.

And then obviously I get distracted so easy.

When something else is distracted, I lose concentration.

I'm like, "Screw this. You know, that phone keeps ringing,

"that's pissing me off," so my mind goes elsewhere, unfortunately.

That's terrible, I know.

What I'm, what I'm thinking, Benny, is that perhaps revisit

-some of the training...

-Yeah.

-..on the web orders. We'll get out there,

-we'll get some more orders for you.

-Thank you.

OK.

Little bit tricky there, I found,

because obviously he hasn't got a particularly high esteem

of himself, doing this particular function here,

and I need him, even if he doesn't particularly relish the job,

to actually be a bit more concentrated and focused on what he's doing and try and obviously

avoid all these interruptions.

And try and get him focused.

If he doesn't like office work, he doesn't like office work, but I just

need to sort of try and encourage him to actually leave here with

a bit more bounce in his step than what he is at the moment.

Nice to hear some negatives, obviously.

With doing so well here and stuff it's nice to be brought back down to earth a little bit and stuff,

and I like to improve on things.

When I first got told I was coming up here I was like, "Oh, it's

"sitting at a desk, when you could be downstairs interacting with people,

"the new people of Christchurch." And I love people. I think everyone

here kind of knows that I really loved being in that party store.

Alan will feed back to company boss John Peek

so it's vital that Benny regains his focus before his weekly appraisal.

The green buoy you've got to go round... That's the one.

And your next green is down there, yeah?

Down on Mudeford Quay, 19-year-old reformed bad boy Adam

is working the ferry with mentor Paul.

You can knock her up to 11.

He's a long way from his gang life in Nottingham,

where he's seen friends killed and was once stabbed himself.

To be able to walk around and not have to keep a guard up

all the time, like, it's a totally different new planet.

There's never any trouble, it's just so nice.

I feel like a brand-new person down in Christchurch.

He's grown to love it here and wants to make the move

if he can land a permanent job.

And down the left-hand side here...

On the quayside, Adam's parents have made a surprise day trip

to Christchurch.

They're here to see for themselves where their son

is considering spending his future.

It's nice to come down here and see if he is really,

really serious about staying here.

Our Adam is going to be shocked that we're down here.

-Doesn't know a thing.

-200 miles, to come down here and surprise him.

It's going to be worth every mile.

He's just going to scream like a girl!

I think he's going to be so surprised he'll end up crashing the boat into the harbour, I really do.

Why is my mum and dad here?

-What are you even doing here?

-Have we been rumbled?

You're making me worry now.

Excuse me! Has one of you lot left your hat down here?

You knew, didn't you?

Surprised?

I thought you'd be screaming like a girly!

I think they've come down, yeah, because obviously I've been gone for two months now.

I really want to stay down here, I don't want to go home.

I think that's part of the reason they have come down, to see the area,

and think, yeah, this is the right area for Adam to live in.

Like, so start a nice fresh life.

I can understand why you don't want to leave down here.

-Isn't it gorgeous?!

-Beautiful.

-You telling me this ain't gorgeous?

It's a bit cold and windy today, but...

It's so picturesque, it's lovely.

Do you want to come for a boat trip to see what Adam gets up to?

-Why not?

-Come on, then.

-As long as it's not going to be a submarine, Adam.

-No!

He just seems such a totally different person.

Two months ago he was sat at home in his boring little flat,

pulling his hair out, trying to apply for jobs, and getting nowhere.

To then come down here, and in the space of a few weeks,

he's driving a boat.

I am very impressed at you doing that.

-Are you, Darren?

-Yeah, can't believe he's driving it.

-Know what all the buttons are for?

-He tells me which one!

-Drive forward, captain!

-Keep your eyes at the front!

I'm a person that's prepared to try anything.

It's one of them, I need work,

and I have to work, I can't sit on my ass and be a dole dosser.

It's surprising how, in the space of six weeks,

-there's such a change in you.

-You seem so much more focused here.

Do you actually feel like you're achieving something?

That's what it seems to be, and it's brilliant to see.

I feel like I'm a fresh born baby.

I really don't know what it is about it, it's just being down here,

-right, just to ride down the street and not know nobody that's going to shout your name.

-Yeah.

You've got to think in Nottingham I've got areas I can't even go

to because I know if I go in that area I'll never get seen again.

Yeah, I want a new life.

'I want to come down here and start a fresh life, start a family off, have some babies,'

and start a brand-new Adam off.

-Like some ketchup, brown sauce?

-We'll probably need more mayonnaise soon, but I'll let you know!

It's appraisal day in Christchurch, when all the trainees

sit down with their mentors for a weekly assessment of their progress.

HE BURPS

In telesales at Peeks Party Store, Benny's gone from 100% perfect

processing to 20% this week, and his concentration is flagging.

They're not answering, she said I'll definitely be in at ten, if not before ten.

She's not in, she obviously doesn't want to pay.

Well, you ain't getting the goods, then, are you, love?

His choice of outfit is also causing a real distraction to the rest of the office.

-She can remember what she said now.

-"Oh," I said, "I like your new boots, Benny."

-Oh, thank you.

-They look well nice. Oh, I say!

-When you've finished that Benny can I borrow you for a minute in the office?

-Yeah, that's fine.

Benny's a popular member of the telesales department so before

his appraisal with mentor John Peek, Alan wants to offer him some advice.

I thought I'd drag you in here a little bit early because

you know you've got your weekly appraisal with John Peek today?

-Yeah.

-The actual clothing you're wearing today I think is

inappropriate to see John.

Why?

Believe me, Benny, if you go into a meeting to see John Peek dressed

like that, he'll turn you straight round and you'll be back out again,

so you'll be wasting his time and your time.

Why is that? Why would he turn me around and...

It is just not accepted.

But why is it not accepted?

From the sort of side view, I mean those trousers,

they're probably showing more than what you intended.

Like what?

You know, that sales office environment where we've potentially got clients coming in,

that's just not really suitable.

Would you not feel that that sort of dress is perhaps not becoming

-of a meeting of that importance, or not?

-I don't really dress to impress, I dress to express

and personally I don't really think there's anything wrong with it

but it's his company not mine, who am I to argue with that?

Just...take it, as is, this is experience talking.

And so what I was going to do was arrange to get you sent back home,

get a change of clothing, get you back here in time for John's meeting.

Mm-hm.

Feeling a bit shit about it, really, if I'm honest,

but I'm just looking for something to wear.

So, as Benny thinks about a different outfit, the other trainees

catch up with their mentors.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-You all right?

-Yeah, are you OK?

Yeah. So another week.

Another week now, I'm getting much much better

and much more comfortable answering questions, as well,

and, you know, if I don't know the answer I know where to go

and find it or I know who will know the answer.

So another good week for Rachel at the garden centre

and in the cafe it's all going well for James.

Personally, I think you're doing well.

You're in on time now, which is good.

I have to say, personal appearance is good.

-It's good for the customers to see somebody nicely turned out, you know?

-Yeah.

Last week, Sean was let go from the smoke house

because he wasn't fit enough to cope with the physical work,

so it's vital that this week he's proved he can deal with the workload at Stewarts.

His first appraisal is with garden shop manager Duncan.

I don't think you need to be too worried about the speed

of doing things. It's far better to do the job properly than

quickly. If you end up doing it quickly, you make mistakes

and you'll then end up coming back to re-correct those mistakes.

So I, I'm not worried about you taking time to do a job.

I've been quite impressed how you've picked things up,

and talking to Matt and the rest of the team they echo that.

They tell you once how to do something and you've picked

it up straightaway, so you should be proud of yourself for that.

-Thanks a lot.

-Keep doing what you're doing.

-I will do, thank you.

The feedback Duncan give me was fairly positive, to be honest.

In here, it's just been one big nice confidence boost

because, as I say, I've put more pressure on myself than

probably anyone else does, so to hear him just say, yeah, just

doesn't matter. You know, I mean obviously don't spend two hours

on one display, or like a whole day, but, you know, as long as it's

done properly he's happy...and I've just opened a bag I shouldn't of.

At the salon, Irene is still poorly

but she makes it in to hear how Deneka's week has gone.

This week's been all right though. The girls have been keeping me busy.

-Have they?

-Mm-hm. I put rollers in Gemma's hair as well.

Oh, that's good. So we'll start again next week.

Okey dokey. Are you feeling more better now?

Well, I will do, I'm sure, after a weekend of antibiotics.

I'm sure I shall. I'd better.

Take the weekend easy then, that's what I say.

At Peeks Party Store, the job vacancy is in telesales.

Hello. Is there a Miss Fiona Williams available

to talk to, please?

Benny's changed into something a little less comfy

and joins mentor John Peek.

He's been receiving reports from Alan about Benny's

performance in telesales.

Hi, Mr John.

Welcome, Benny. I'm a bit perplexed and I don't really

know how to help you.

When you started you, you got absolutely 100% right

and then the next day you go back and it's...

Yeah, my concentration span's terrible.

I'm so keen on getting so much done and them being,

"Wow, Benny, you've done so many orders",

when really I should've slowed down and focused

on the quality of it rather than the quantity of how many I'd done.

Yeah, quality is important because

people are relying on what you're writing down.

If you are concentrating and up to the job then I'd like you in there,

-but you've got to prove that you are...

-Worthy.

Worthy of doing that last week, but I think you can do it.

-I hope so.

-All right.

At the butchers, Carl's had another good week.

So instead of an appraisal,

he's arranging to go out with his mentor Robin.

I need a wing man, you see. I've got a few tickets for a gig.

-Great.

-Do you want to come?

-Oh, you want me...?

Yeah, I do, I'd love to. Oh, brilliant

-Now, I don't buy the drinks.

-Oh...

I'm just hoping, with it being like my night,

do you know what I mean?

Is there any possibility I could have the day off on the Saturday

so I can hit it proper?

I'd like to be drinking until the early hours of the morning,

-do you know what I mean? For a good night out.

-And what?

And I'm coming with you and I've got to come into work?

-Is that fair?

-Not really, but...

You've just had three weeks in Thailand, haven't ya?

-Yeah, well, that's not the point.

-It surely is, Robin

Come on.

Bye.

Another week draws to a close, and with wages in their pockets

the trainees gear themselves up for a big night out.

Deneka and Amber are going drinking in town,

Carl's heading to a gig with mentor Robin,

and Adam has a more sedate evening ahead of him.

-Oi, you turd, where you going tonight?

-Paul and Julie.

-Oh, are you going to their house?

-Mm-hm.

-Oh...

You're like their son - it's so cute.

It's not the ideal situation, innit, man?

See you later, everyone!

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

SHE SINGS

As Amber and Deneka hit the bottle with Benny,

Adam has an appointment at the captain's table.

DOORBELL RINGS

-Good afternoon, sir.

-Good evening.

Oh, good evening. Sorry, I got it wrong.

You... You scrub up pretty well, Adam. Come in, come in.

Thank you very much.

-OK.

-Two, three...

-Ooh!

-Guest of honour.

Cheers, Adam. This is your evening.

-Thank you for my invite tonight.

-That's all right.

The one thing you've got to do is hold your glass better,

-OK, there's a thing, right?

-Sorry.

ALL TALK OVER EACH OTHER

When... When you go cheers with a lady, right?

It's stems and eyes, OK?

-Stems and eyes, OK?

-Well done, Adam.

-Thank you very much.

-So what's been more of the challenge?

Working with us, because we're so difficult

to work with or, or the house?

Coming down and learning how to work on a boat so fast,

I think that's I think that's been the hardest.

-But you've actually managed to do it...

-You said that.

..and passed with flying colours, so well done.

-I'm going to try one of these.

-Yeah, very good.

-What's on it? Salmon?

-Mm-hm.

I've never even tried salmon,

-so it's going to be the first time.

-Hmm.

I've never tied it and that is actually quite beautiful.

That is actually really nice.

While Adam enjoys his amuse bouche,

Carl from Warrington wants to give his mentor Robin

a taste of his northern roots at a gig by Smiths cover band

The Smyths...

and get plenty of drinks in while he's at it.

ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

Did you enjoy that?

Not on me...corduroy T-shirt.

ROCK MUSIC CONTINUES

I feel a bit guilty, you know.

Robin doesn't like dancing, does he? I like dancing.

Plus there's a few young girls on the scene,

you know, giving it a wiggle.

He'll be all right. He's been there, done that, ain't he?

He's got the T-shirt. T-shirt's that old it's gone out of fashion.

CHEERING

-Give us a 20 quid, I'll...

-I gave you a 20 in there.

All right then. All right, fair cop. I'll give it you back on Monday.

-There you go. I'll tell you what Carl...

-You what?

Don't be late in the morning, will ya?

Oh, fuck off, Robin. HE LAUGHS

That's a nice way to talk to your governor, ain't it?

Fuck off. Take care, mate.

-Are you off?

-Have a good weekend.

Robin's got to get up for the morning and fucking...on me own.

It's a good night but I think them girls

had me for free drinks, didn't they?

I'm going to go somewhere else.

As Carl goes in search of his next drink, the bubbles are flowing

at the captain's table and Adam's talking about his childhood.

When I was in school I was diagnosed with ADHD.

I couldn't sit in lessons and look at the teacher

and concentrate on what she had to say.

If I sat in school and a teacher brought a piece of paperwork in front of me,

I'd draw a smiley face and say, "F-you, I ain't doing none of that."

Like it still scares me till this day to bring stuff out like that,

but like I feel like I'm in a good environment to actually

sit there and explain it now.

But what I've seen when you came down here...

Yes, we had a bit of rocky start,

but the way you pick up stuff and the way you...

conduct yourself, I genuinely think that you're a good worker.

We can't employ people all year round, but we do have a lot

of contacts in this area, so all we can do is like put your name forward

to various organisations, set up meetings and then it's up to you.

-If that's possible, that would absolutely be amazing actually.

-Ah.

You've got to aim for the stars, mate.

-Aim higher.

-Yep.

-Aim higher than what...

And I truly believe that you can achieve

-whatever you want to achieve.

-Oh, thank you very much.

-OK.

As Adam ends the night with a glass of brandy,

Deneka's stayed out,

and Amber returns to find Carl crashed on the floor.

SHE LAUGHS

Carl...you turd, you've been sick on yourself.

The night ends and Deneka still hasn't returned to the house.

You see, I'm just trying to piece together what happened.

The next day and it's one o'clock in the afternoon.

Carl's sleeping off his hangover and Deneka has only just

returned to the house.

She has some disturbing news.

Last night I went out with Amber, went to a club,

got really drunk, wandered off, had an argument with a girl,

got into a fight, got arrested.

-Fucking hell.

-Well, she was... She literally gagged for it.

She got on her knees and asked for it.

Cos we was having an argument

and like I offered her out, as in like said,

"Well, come on. Let's just have a fight, right here, right now."

And then like some guy stood in front of her.

And like I was going to leave it,

and then she was like pulling faces behind him like, you know,

smug smileys, and like putting out her tongue.

And I thought, "Fuck this shit."

Managed to get round the guy, swung for her, she fell on the floor.

-Fuckin' hell.

-I was about to walk off, police came and marched after me

and arrested me, got took into a cell, got interviewed this morning

I'm on bail. It's like a criminal. Well, I am a criminal.

Hmm.

Yeah, possibly might have blown my opportunity, but...yeah.

Nothing you can do now...so...yeah.

I'm going to have to explain to Irene what happened.

I don't have a clue what she's going to say, I really don't.

Knowing she'll be appearing in court in three weeks' time,

Deneka has to talk to mentor Irene before she starts work.

I think Irene will be disappointed, but I'll go and see what she says.

-Morning.

-Morning.

-All right?

-Yeah, thank you. Can I talk to you?

-Yes, you can.

-Okey dokey.

-We'll go upstairs.

-Oh, OK.

Basically, I got into a bit of a fight on Friday.

Have you got a brain?

-Yeah, but...

-Have you?

-Not when I'm drunk, no.

What did you say to me when you came here?

You said you'd already been told that

-if you were caught fighting once more by the police...

-Yeah.

..then you'd get a record.

I just don't know what to say to you.

Trust me, I'm disappointed about it.

You don't look very disappointed.

I am. It might not look like it, but I actually am.

-I'm just horrified that you've done something like that...

-I know.

I thought you knew better.

-One thing that I said that I wouldn't have done.

-No.

You'll never get a job and keep it if you don't tone your life down.

An employer is not going to...

If you were just working for me, I would've sacked you...

..and I'm going to think about it.

So I think the best thing you can do is go home

-and have a damn good think about it.

-OK.

And, seriously, sort your life out.

I'm really not impressed.

Half of me, to be honest, when I knew that there was some trouble,

I thought she'd either had her head

shaved or a tattoo in a ridiculous place. I didn't expect this.

But I do need time to think about it.

I can't seem to make her realise she needs some

standard of behaviour to be working somewhere,

and I cannot get it through to her head, I just can't.

I think this is about the last straw really.

HE LAUGHS

You reckon you'll get sacked?

She asked me if I had brains and I felt like actually turning

round saying, "Are you fucking being real?

"Shove your job up your fucking arse", but I bit..."

Are you fucking stupid?

..my fucking tongue, do you know what I mean?

You know what? You're lucky though. I can't do that, innit?

Back in the day I wouldn't have been able to

take that. "Have you got brains?" Er... "Have you got brains, love?"

Three hours after sending Deneka home,

Irene's made her decision and heads to the house.

I have tried with her.

There are glimpses of when she's...

She's really quite bright, but I don't think she's stupid.

I just don't know what goes on in her head.

And I've tried to make her realise that she is capable of

doing something...but I don't know.

I'm on the verge of getting sacked.

Bit nervous, but maybe if she

wanted to sack me she would've done it there and then, but I don't know.

I really don't have a clue what to expect.

I suppose once you're drunk you don't know what you're doing.

I mean, I drank when I was young.

I'm not saying I didn't. I was no goody-goody.

I'm not too sure what to expect...

because it's my first like proper job and this isn't really good.

-Hello, Deneka.

-Hello, do you want to come inside?

-Yeah.

I've thought very carefully about what you've told me this morning.

OK.

-And I've decided I think you ought to go home.

-OK.

-All right?

-Yeah.

-I'm very sad that it's come to this...

-Yeah.

..for your sake as well as mine because I've tried hard, Deneka,

but you can't carry on like this.

You just must get your head round the fact that you cannot

-do everything you want to do.

-OK.

Nobody will employ you like that. Nobody

-And I don't want that to happen to you.

-OK.

You must realise that you have responsibilities towards

your work, and it comes across as you haven't got any at all.

You're a silly girl. You've got a brain,

there's no doubt about that.

You pick up things really quickly, but then you get bored

and you think, "Oh, well I'm nearly at the end of this now."

And I've given you loads of chances, loads and loads, but this...

This just isn't on.

Have you learnt anything from being with me?

I don't know.

I need to go downstairs for one second.

She'll just say whatever she wants to now to cover herself.

I'm afraid that's the way it goes.

She's been backed into a corner, so she's going to come out fighting.

How dare she try to tell me I don't put effort in. How dare you?

Oh, she's just fucking come in my room trying to tell me

I don't try and work.

Are you fucking kidding me? I always ask for extra jobs.

I even asked the other day, "Oh, maybe,

"one day, maybe could you like show me...?"

Don't worry about what's she saying about me - I don't care.

Apparently I don't try, but yet I asked for more jobs.

I feel justified in what I've done.

She's acting as I knew she would act

and so I've done the right thing, I know that.

I've tried to help Deneka and it clearly hasn't gone in, has it?

She doesn't know what she's learnt from me, if anything.

So I'm afraid it's the end of the line.

I actually don't even know what to say, man.

I've never been sacked from a job, that's the thing.

It's a bit hard for me to put a word into...

Just because something happened on the weekend? Oh, my fucking god.

I think it's best if she rants and raves on her own.

If you ask me, she's being a bit unfair there.

I didn't think I'd get sacked, but guess what?

Deneka just got fucking sacked.

I'm going to miss you. Love you.

Love you, too.

-Oh.

-Come here. Oh, my gosh.

I think she may regret, you know, being fired.

I hope it doesn't knock her too bad.

I mean, it's near the end and I'm just gutted that she's gone now.

I've let myself down a lot

because I didn't intend to come in here and get sacked.

When she came here, I had some really high hopes for her

and it's not going to anything.

And I think that's sad,

because she's had the opportunity and she's thrown it away.

# I love her

# She wants it... #

Next time, it's make or break as the trainees' placements come to an end.

Five weeks. It flies by when you're having fun, doesn't it?

Who will be sent home?

And who will be offered a permanent job

and a bright new future in Christchurch?

If you really want this job

then you've got to prove that you want it.

I want this, innit?

Like I really, really want it.

CHEERING