The Children

This programme contains some strong language

and scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

CHILDREN CHATTER

You're in the way.

Sweetie, I'm sorry.

It's OK, you can be the winner.

Why can't we live in a house like Auntie Chloe?

CAR HORN BLARES

CHILDREN SCREAM EXCITEDLY

Come on, Paulie.

-Heaven would be a drink.

-Hey, amigo.

Happy New Year in Chinese?

-Still going, yeah?

-Yeah!

-Never given this away.

-Just got to know how to run it properly.

-You are looking gorgeous.

-I look like crap.

-No, you do.

Casey!

HE CHATTERS EXCITEDLY

I thought you want to be a glove puppet!

-Hey, Casey! Look at you, all grown up.

-Hi, Uncle Robbie.

Feel free to lose the "uncle." Come on, let's get the party going!

KIDS: Yay!

-Say hello to Auntie Chloe.

-Hello, sweet pea.

Who wants a Christmas present?

Who think this is going to be the best New Year ever?

KIDS: Yay!

Look at Leah, running around and everything.

I know. Isn't it amazing, I've almost got her off the inhaler.

-That's fantastic.

-It's great.

The kids are nearly as excited as we are.

Come here, little sis.

-Hey, Casey!

-Hi.

Case...

Don't spoil the weekend. OK?

-There will be other parties.

-It wasn't just a party.

You know why you can't go.

Cos you're married to a knob?

It's two days, OK? You lot get your way for the rest of the year.

Maybe I'm allowed just a few hours.

You know how much I was looking forward to it. Pretty please...

-Mouse?

-Don't call me that.

-Please...

PAULIE RETCHES

Paulie!

It's OK. It's OK. Oh, sweet pea.

-Mummy!

-Are you car sick? It's OK. It's OK, darling.

And help out with Paulie a little bit this weekend. OK?

Did you ever hear of contraception?

Mum was in great form at Christmas.

-Yeah, she was, euphemistically speaking.

-Did they ban her from another pub?

Dad! Look, look!

KID MAKES SHOOTING SOUNDS

Sorry. Casey got the Christmas presents.

Did you know Mum actually called here at eleven o'clock at night

and she wanted to speak to the kids?

Hey! I sorry I can't invite her. She messes with their routine too much.

Do you know what I mean? Hey, sweetheart, is that make-up?

We had a real waste of space Christmas.

Once we put the kids off to bed, we made our special punch

and we had a naked snowball fight.

-You should see the photos. They're great.

-Sound a bit different from ours.

Granny fell off the toilet!

LAUGHTER

Mummy! Mummy!

It's all right, it's all right.

His latest trick, anyone would think he likes the attention...

Oh, Jonah. He doesn't like that rough stuff.

Come here, darling.

Not like his mum then...

THEY LAUGH

OK!

I swear I had to grovel to the head and all of Casey's teachers.

It was terrifying. I think a bit of wee might have escaped.

You should have just offered them a BJ!

I didn't know how to speak with my mouth full.

-What's a BJ?

-Big Jim-jams.

SCREAMING

Hey, did you ever read that article I sent you about MMR jabs?

Are you going to brush your teeth?

Come on.

-Hey, Leah, Nicky!

-Having a nice time with your cousins?

-Bed time.

I love you.

What happened with that web-design plan thing?

That was a complete waste of time. Complete waste of time.

It was a bunch of techno-stoners playing Sim City all day.

I've got a much better idea. I've met these guys recently...

I can't get reception here.

Oh, there's a spot outside. I'll show you.

You can use the land-line.

Casey's not supposed to be speaking to anybody.

Daddy has grounded her.

Grounded! That sounds exciting.

Mum's trying to build up Jonah's confidence,

so we try and act like we listen to him.

-Yi.

-Yi.

-San.

-San.

-Si.

-Si.

-Wu.

-Wu.

-Liu!

Casey's drinking whiskey.

Now, this is heaven.

CASEY PLAYS LOUD SONG ON HER PHONE

Oh, did you tell Elaine that we're going to home school the kids?

You qualified?

The school's not far away?

No, but it just makes sense.

Since we sold the business, we have the time.

-Jinxie!

-They're like sponges at that age,

and I just want to give them a chance before...

I think that's a good idea, I'm trying to teach Miranda Mandarin now.

How many schools are doing that? None! Why? Certainly none in Hackney.

It's crazy. Look at the state of the global economy.

Is this another cult thing? We're not going to start chanting?

I look really fat in cowls!

THEY CHUCKLE

Hey, baby!

What is it, baby?

Come here, sweetheart. What's the matter?

Paulie's scaring me.

Sweetheart, hey, it's just Paulie.

You told me you loved him the morning.

OK?

-Miranda, why don't you take Leah upstairs?

-No!

-Darling, don't start.

-Just let her stay up.

Well, Leah would love that. Wouldn't you, sweetheart?

Maybe then we'll give Miranda a gold star? Yeah.

-Wan an daddy.

-Wan an, Princess.

-Off you go.

Night, night.

Night, night, slug.

-Night Mum...

-Good night, Mum.

-Super Mum!

-Yeah.

TALKS GIBBERISH

(Miranda?)

What?

Do you know what a real UFO sounds like?

BLOWS A RASPBERRY

REPEATEDLY HITTING DISCORDANT NOTES

-Are you still with the school orchestra?

-No.

Your mum and dad said you played a mean flute.

I don't really call him Dad.

Then you definitely don't have to call me Uncle.

OK. Try here.

-Got it?

-Yes.

-Good night.

-Good night.

ANSWERPHONE: 'Hi, it's Lisa. I'm either busy or dead.'

Thanks for picking up.

You'd better not be this useless tomorrow.

CAT GROWLS

Jinxie?

Ah!

Isn't this great? We should have ten more kids.

And look as tired as Lainey? Think she's all right?

You'd look tired after all that rough stuff she's getting.

Ecotourism? What a joke.

Snatch a glimpse of a gorilla picking fleas off its arsehole

and we'll burn off your atmosphere with the air travel.

So lucky. They haven't got five business brain cells between them.

And the home schooling thing.

I thought Chloe's only qualification was in yurt design.

Maybe they're getting into fundamentalist Buddhism.

Why did you bring your Chinese medicine vase?

Just thought Robbie'd be interested.

Why did you interrupt me when I was talking about China?

-Just support me a bit, OK?

-I told you, it's a great idea.

Come on.

I thought you and me were going to have some fun this weekend, mm?

-Did your daughter get that memo?

-Ha-ha!

Good night, angel.

RUMBLING BUILDS IN VOLUME

HIGH-PITCHED CACOPHONY

SILENCE

CHILDREN CHATTER

CHILDREN YELL

Come play with me!

To the moon!

Yee-ha!

Woo-hoo!

Leah, Nicky!

Me, me, me!

Don't let another kid go on that run, Robbie. It's getting too icy.

Come on then, race to the top of the hill.

Whoever gets there first goes first!

HAMMERS GLOCKENSPIEL TUNELESSLY

Leave that now.

HAMMERS TUNELESSLY

-Where are you?

-'We've just got to pick Danny up.'

Danny's, like, about five.

'He's cute, and his cousin's in one of the bands.

'He's feeling sick, got to cheer him up.'

I've just had 24 hours of nonversation. Just get here.

Don't pick me up at the house, I'll meet you at the tunnel.

-You've got my map, right?

-'Oh, shit!'

-Lisa!

-'We'll be there by two, latest.

'Why don't you go fuck your horny uncle or something?'

Whatever, baby-raper.

HAMMERS TUNELESSLY

-Have you seen Jinxie?

-Catching mice in the woods? Fancy a go?

-Exercise gives you cancer.

No adults in the tent!

I'm so sad I could fart.

Jinxie?

Jinxie!

Jinxie...

-TOY BABY:

-'Mummy.

'Mummy.'

TOY BABY CRIES

CHILD BABBLES

COUGHS

DISTANT TUNELESS HAMMERING CONTINUES

HE STOPS HITTING GLOCKENSPIEL

Ha-ha!

Yes! Aah!

I must be the most lapsed vegetarian ever. I'll have a bit of salmon.

Oh, me too!

-Does Robbie go to the city much these days?

-Once in a while.

-New lot need his advice.

-Does he stay over?

-Not that often.

-Where does he usually stay?

-Oh, the milk!

-Something smells good.

-Paulie OK?

Yeah, think so.

You two, you seem good.

Hmm? Yeah, great.

We're going to do much more family stuff.

-That's the new year's resolution I've made.

-Does Casey help out much?

-Brought the Christmas presents.

-Oof.

-Was I that much trouble?

-Lainey, you were pregnant!

We didn't exactly have the best role model.

-Not doing that bad a job, am I?

-No, Lainey, no!

Sorry. Promise you'll kill me if I turn completely into Mum.

LAUGHS

Missed!

THEY SHOUT

-You must know all about Chinese medicine.

-What?

It's another internet scam he's fallen for.

-You could help Elaine, Chloe.

-Ever heard of feminism?

No, has it got anything to do with self-absorbed lazing around?

I'm going to get you!

Check this out. Welcome to my office.

I've been talking to these guys, they import... Hey, darling!

A lot of the ingredients from China.

It's already... Thank you! It's already a huge market. We know that.

But they really think it's going to explode...

EERIE MUSIC OBSCURES TALKING

Health's a shambles. You go to hospital with one disease,

come out, you've got five.

There's 50 new viruses identified every year,

and they're spreading round.

EERIE MUSIC OBSCURES TALKING

TCM, that's traditional Chinese medicine, not the TV channel,

is about to go ballistic.

Interesting side-effects.

-Ow!

-I'll get you!

-Yay!

-Come and get it!

Where's Paulie?

Hey!

Oh, Jesus!

-You OK?

-Fine!

Paulie!

-It's just a graze.

-I'm sorry!

CHILD CRIES

-It was an accident!

-We don't hit kids here, Jonah!

-Listen, it's OK, he's not angry.

-Daddy IS angry.

-Who's looking after him?

-Where were you, Casey?

-What did I do?

It's OK, don't cry. Don't cry.

I don't want to be here.

It's just a little quiet time while we get ready for the party.

You're the oldest, you have to be the mummy.

I feel sick, Mummy.

You should be a good boy and lie down.

(Mummy, I don't like them.)

(If you help me out for the party, I might give you another gold star.)

Leah, come here.

LEAH GROANS

Ah, sweetheart.

DOOR CLOSES

Stop it.

Can I have some?

Come on. It's not like I've never had it before.

SHE SPLUTTERS

Hey, Jim Morrison. Thought you're supposed to be an expert.

Jim Morrison? Just a little bit last century.

-Miranda and Paulie are a nightmare.

-Nah, they're just testing boundaries.

Like you.

What's that?

They don't know, so you can't say.

-It's a... Oh, it's a baby.

-Didn't you know?

I'm the abortion that got away.

-Hi.

-Hey. Carving time, huh?

-I was just looking for Miranda.

-She's upstairs with the other kids.

Happy nearly-new-year! Yay!

THEY ALL CHEER

-Just start, everybody. Don't let it get cold.

-You got any pepper?

Do you do roasting?

Peas for everyone.

Robbie is getting pretty excited by my new business plan.

Has he told you?

I think it's right up your street, and it'd be fun.

-Like a family business.

-Let's talk about it later.

You think there's something in it. It's your thing.

-Bon ap, everybody!

-Bon appetit.

Chloe, we could do a junior TCM thing, building the kids' immunity

in natural ways, instead of all those dodgy jabs.

-Leah!

-No, no, no!

-Come and sit down. Come on.

Jonah, I'm happy you think you've found a way to make a fast buck,

but I don't know why you think we'd want to be involved in that.

Illegally importing rhino horn or tiger bone to cure fatal conditions

like acne and impotence.

You do remember what Chloe and I do for a living?

Is that a tattoo, Casey?

Remember you always wanted one, Lainey, but Mum wouldn't let you?

Show me?

Oh, that's lovely. Very seasonal.

It's just a self-portrait, really.

You know?

-SUDDEN LOUD JARRING SOUND

-What might've been.

-I think it's cool.

EERIE, DISTANT RUMBLING

-COUGHING

-I feel sick.

SOBBING

Mummy, I feel sick.

No, you're not sick, sweetheart.

You don't have to copy everything your cousins do.

CHILDREN CRY

-Miranda, eat some dinner, please.

-Leave her.

CHILDREN ALL CRY

-Oh, Jesus, come on.

-Oi, oi!

Give it a rest, will you?

What if...

I were to give Miranda another gold star

for eating some of your peas?

-It's OK, I can handle it.

-It's fine.

HISSING

SCREAMING

Just leave her, she's unsettled!

SHE SCREAMS LOUDLY

Come on, let's have a playtime.

-Let's make an indoor igloo, come on!

-I want to go play outside!

-OK, we'll play outside. Casey, give me a hand.

-Everything's ruined.

It's OK, let me see.

SHE SCREAMS Just stop it! What's the matter with you?

-Who's going to be the eskimo?

-Me!

-Who's going to be the adventurer?

-Me!

-Leah, your coat's not done up properly.

-I'm glad YOU liked it, anyway.

-Let's just help your mum and Chloe.

I've got to make a call.

Beep beep! Beep beep!

-CHILDREN LAUGH

-I'm coming!

I'm so sorry.

Maybe she's ill.

I thought Paulie was a bit car sick last night,

but maybe he's picked up a bug.

Great(!) You bring them here when they're sick.

You know how susceptible Leah is.

Just kids, Chloe. Things go round. It's just the way it is.

SHE SCREAMS

Sit down! That's enough now.

THEY CHUCKLE

DISTANT SCREAMING CONTINUES

EERIE RUMBLING

LAUGHTER

EERIE, RUMBLING MUSIC

Yah!

SCREAMING

Waaaah! Wheee!

Yay!

Ow!

DISTANT SCREAMING

GLASS SMASHES

THEY SCREAM

Robbie! Robbie!

Oh my God, Robbie!

Get the children inside, please!

GET THE CHILDREN INSIDE!

Oh my God, Lainey!

Come here!

It's all right.

Shh.

Oh, shit! Shit, what the fuck is happening?

-'Emergency, which service?'

-Ambulance, please.

It's all right, it's all right!

Listen to me, listen to me!

Sit up there for one second.

Agh! Paulie!

Ambulance and police are going to be half an hour.

-Police?

-The roads are really bad.

-Oh, my God, what happened?

-Bloody Paulie. What do you think?

-Is he OK?

-It's my blood, for God's sake!

Pass me the TCP...

Casey, can you...

SHE GROANS

No!

SHE SOBS

Lainey!

Where are the children? Where are my babies? Where are they? Where are my children?!

I think they ran into the woods.

-Oh, God!

-No! Stay! I'll get them.

I'll find them. I'll get them.

-They're just in the woods.

-I want my babies!

I don't know what to do.

Paulie?

Leah!

Nicky?

Leah?

SOFT RUNNING FOOTSTEPS

Leah?

Nicky?

Is he really dead?

Oh, you're so cold.

Tell me what happened, darling.

I don't know.

You were there.

-I think he was on the sledge. He must have...

-You must have seen...

I didn't. I didn't see it, OK?

But you were helping Robbie with the kids.

I wasn't there.

I was going up the road to meet Lisa.

She was picking me up so we could go to the party.

I came back.

I should be with Chloe.

Look for the kids.

SHE SNIFFLES

BEEPING

Leah?

Leah?

Leah?

SOFT CRYING

Leah? It's OK.

COUGHING

Leah?

Leah, what's wrong?

CRYING CONTINUES

It's me. Casey.

Leah?

It's OK. It's OK.

COUGHING

LAUGHTER

SHE SCREAMS

DISTANT SCREAM

Princess?

Hello, Princess.

-Are you angry with me?

-Of course not. No.

I can never be angry with you. Whatever you do.

Where's Uncle Robbie?

Listen. Come here.

Sit down.

There's something I've got to tell you.

"Wo ai ni."

-I love you.

-"Wo ai ni," Daddy.

-I'm sorry I hurt you. I just felt upset.

-What was upsetting you, Princess?

Casey.

It's OK. Come on, Chloe. Please come inside.

-No, I do not want to leave him.

-You're freezing.

-Casey will help the kids back. It's OK.

-We can't leave him!

They said not to move him.

Come on. Chlo, come inside.

'We're swamped at the moment. The roads are blocked.'

I understand, but it's been much more than half an hour.

-'There's no-one available for non-urgent...'

-This is urgent, yeah.

-'Someone should be with you in an hour.'

-Just try and get here as soon as possible.

CHILD GIGGLING

Leah?

Leah?

SHE GASPS

SCREAMING Mummy!

-Paulie!

-Mummy!

-Paulie!

-CHILD GASPING AND CRYING

Oh! Oh!

Oh, it's OK. It's OK.

Mummy!

It's OK. It's OK.

Come here, darling. Come on.

Mummy's here. It's OK, Paulie.

No, Paulie. Wait. It's OK. Take my hand.

Take my hand. That's it. Good boy.

Don't move. Give me your hand. It's OK. It's OK. No, don't move.

No, no, no.

Come to me. Come on. That's it.

SHE SCREAMS

CHILD GIGGLING

Mum! Mum! Mum!

Mummy! Oh, Mummy!

SHE MOANS IN PAIN

SHE CRIES OUT IN PAIN

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

NOTE PLAYS

-Paulie.

-Sh, sh.

THEY SCREAM

DISTANT SCREAMING

SCREAMING

Paulie! Paulie!

Mummy.

Stop it!

KETTLE WHISTLES

What's the matter with you?!

Leah?

CHILD SCREAMS

Chloe! Don't let her go in the tent!

-I'm not going to leave you with him!

-Leah?

Please! Don't let her go in there!

CHILD CRYING

Leah?

Sweetheart. It's Mummy.

CRYING CONTINUES

Sweetheart.

-SHE GASPS

-Leah!

My God!

'Mummy.'

'Mummy.'

'Mummy.'

SHE SCREAMS

'Mummy.'

SHE SCREAMS

SHE SCREAMS

SCREAMING

SHE SCREAMS

Paulie! Paulie?

No!

Paulie? Baby?

HE YELLS

SHE SCREAMS

SQUELCH

LIGHT NOTES PLAY

No, no.

No! No! No!

No!

-Paulie?

-Oh, my God, no!

It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right. It's all right. I've got him. I've got him.

Paulie? Paulie? Paulie, darling?

Paulie? Paulie? Paulie?

Paulie? Paulie, come on.

Come on. Look at me.

Paulie?

Daddy!

It's all right, darling. I'll be in in a minute. Just go inside.

She mustn't see.

All right, my darling?

Paulie was going to stab me in the face.

Mum had to get him off. She had no choice.

Lainey?

Mum.

You have to tell them.

I don't know.

I don't know.

You're monsters.

How could you?

You never were much of a mother, Lainey, but not even Mum...

You killed your baby.

Jonah? What are we going to do?

I think we... Maybe we should drive to the police station.

-Nobody leaves here until we find my children.

-We can't go out there!

They were trying to stab you in the tent. You saw them!

-We have to find them!

-No, Chloe!

-Get off me!

STRUGGLING >

SHE GASPS IN PAIN

I'm sorry.

Elaine, you stay here, wait for the police and the rest of us will look for the kids.

-I'm not leaving Mum.

-You do what I fucking tell you.

-No, she stays away from my family.

Mum? It's me.

Mouse.

It wasn't your fault.

They attacked me, too. I think they're ill.

There was puke in the woods and Paulie was sick last night, wasn't he?

Even if you don't believe me, please do not go near Leah and Nicky.

I think they're really sick.

INDISTINCT RADIO SIGNAL

We were here.

Nicky!

Leah!

Chloe!

What did she do to my babies?

Open your eyes! Jonah, it's Casey.

She was out there with Robbie.

She attacked me and then she made Lainey kill Paulie!

Oh, God! Look, Jonah!

Blood. My children's blood.

She's in my house.

What if they go back to my house? She's in there!

We have to do something, Jonah!

You have to take some control!

Leah!

Nicky!

Why aren't the police here yet?

-We can't just stay here.

-Shh! You're upsetting Mummy.

She's hurt.

She needs to rest. Poor Mummy.

ELAINE GROANS GENTLY

What about Lisa?

-I'll call her, she can pick us up.

-Shh!

-Help me find the phone.

-I'm looking after Mummy!

-Shut up!

Whatever you do, please don't let them in. Please. OK?

SHE GIGGLES

QUIET SOBBING

-Aaaagh!

-Mummy!

Oh, sweetheart! Oh, God, you're so cold. Are you sick?

Oh, God. You must be so cold.

Oh, sweetheart, where's your brother? Where is he, baby?

Where is he?

SHE GASPS

DISTANT KEENING

HUMMING IN DISTANCE

-(IN DISTANCE)

-Meow!

Oh, my God, I love you both so much.

-It's OK.

-Mummy!

-My beautiful boy.

Mummy's here, I won't let anything happen to you.

YOWLING

PURRING

Meow! Meow!

SHE HISSES Aaah! Nicky! Don't do that.

HISSING

SHE SCREAMS

-ANGRY KNOCKING

-Get up! Open the door! Come on!

Miranda?

-SCREAMING

-Miranda?

Get out! Miranda, get out! Get out!

No! Miranda!

-SHE SOBS

-Daddy!

If you've hurt her, I swear to God...

Dad?

SHE GIGGLES

No! No! SHE SCREAMS

Jonah? What's going on?

Casey was hurting me.

Jonah?

Stay here, darling.

SHE SHOUTS IN PAIN

-Fucking deserve each other.

-Jonah, please!

-Miranda!

-Oh!

-Bye-bye, Mummy.

-What?

-Be nice to Leah and Nicky.

SHE SCREAMS

Coming, Daddy!

SHE SCREAMS AND CRIES

It's OK, Princess. Everything is all right.

Mum?

Mum!

-Casey!

-Mum!

Aaaggh!

SHE SOBS

Mum!

Mum, don't let them in!

(SCREAMS) Mum!

Mum, say something!

SHE WAILS WITH EFFORT

-Please, say something!

-Casey! Shh!

SHE WHIMPERS

(Mum?)

(Please...)

OK, Case...

CASEY SCREAMS AND BANGS ON DOOR

Nicky?

It's all right, Leah. It's Lainey.

Oh, God...

Stay away from me! Please!

Please!

No...

I don't want to...

Please, Mum! Please!

Where's Mummy?

I can't...

Oh, God...

I'm sorry, Casey.

I'm just sorry. I'm sorry.

Mum! Mum! Mum! Mu-u-um!

MUM!

THEY GIGGLE

LEAH SCREAMS

Casey!

Please...

CAR SPLUTTERS AND STARTS

Bloody Jonah.

I'm so sorry.

I told you he was a knob.

STATIC ON RADIO

Oh, Jonah.

No, it's OK.

I'll go.

Case?

Casey! Casey! No!

SHE SOBS

SHE COUGHS

SHE STARTS THE CAR

CASEY SCREAMS

OK, baby. OK.

It's OK. It's OK.

My brave little bunny.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd