Episode 2 The Estate

This programme contains strong language.

Ballysally, on the edge of Coleraine,

Home to almost 3,000 people.

Times are tough and money is tight.

This is the story of a year on the estate.

It should be just another ordinary school day.

Come on, get up.

-What?

-Get up.

I'll be up in a minute.

If you're not up, I'll be back up again.

But Kelly-Ann, Louise's 15-year-old daughter,

isn't much of a morning person.

Fuck off, spastic!

-There's no sugar in that.

-What?

There's no sugar in that.

Even though this is a GCSE year,

getting up for school is always a battle.

Oh, my God, twenty past eight.

Have you ever in your life? Oh, my God.

Fuck.

I can't even be bothered. It's, like, not even funny.

Kelly-Ann's truancy has put her mum in trouble with the authorities.

Me ma can get a fine...

..and then...

..get took to jail, like.

So, it is mad, like.

I try not to think about it too much

because it stresses you out, like, but...

..just...shit happens!

What can you do? I don't like the place, like.

The way it's going, now, everybody's losing their jobs and everything

and there's no point me going to school, getting an education

if I'm going to come out and have nothing.

Oh, my God, ten to nine.

Today she's supposed to be on a placement for her GCSE coursework...

..and she's late.

I'm ready, but I just don't like going to school!

That's crooked!

Is it?

I'll be home early.

-Why?

-Cos I'm sick.

-You're what?

-Eh?

-You're what?

-I'm sick!

Aye, sick in the head!

They've gutted the whole thing.

It's beautiful.

It's really, really spacious...

but its only...£250,000(!)

That's way out of our league. Way out!

Denise and Jimmy are among the minority

who own their own home on the estate.

But they need to move.

I'm not from Coleraine but if I had anywhere to pick,

like a housing estate, it would be here.

The reason we're moving is we need a bungalow for Lauren.

Nine-year-old Lauren's spina bifida makes the stairs a daily trial.

Just wish somebody would come out and have a look at it.

If they didn't work and own their own home,

the Housing Executive would consider finding them a bungalow.

I want to move house because I need a bungalow,

because I'm always tired going up the stairs.

So I am.

The house has been on the market for over a year

and they've only had one viewer.

I say, ring them.

If we don't ring them they're going to think we don't care.

That we'll just sit here.

But we don't want to sit here. We need a bungalow.

Fuck! I really don't want to go here today.

You know the way I've been up since, what, eight?

I haven't been on Facebook once.

And as soon as I open my eyes, I'm on it.

Kelly-Ann is half an hour late for her work placement.

I'd like the school to just

give me a thing, for me just to go in, like,

two days a week from, like, one to three or something.

So it's still something, like, but they probably won't.

So I don't know.

Hello.

She's having second thoughts about starting a career in childcare.

I don't want to do this, anymore.

I don't want to do the courses and stuff, to get there.

I've no patience, I don't like waiting for things.

I'd rather just do them, but...

Despite his best efforts,

Martin's fight to stay sober has lasted just two weeks.

He's now back on the drink

and he's spent the last pound of his benefits

on a can of cider.

This is the best place, you see.

You stay away from the rest of the alcoholics

and you get a bit of peace. It gives you time to think.

He's back begging till his next cheque comes in.

Whenever I get paid again, I'll be dead on

for another seven days, but I'll have to tap

until I get my DLA.

That's me only fag, as well.

It takes me about over an hour to drink a can.

I sit here, like this...

listening to people coming up.

Around about 4 or 5 o'clock, it's good

cos they all have to go back to their cars.

The streets can be stressful.

But I only do them whenever I have to.

But I'm not proud of it.

I'm just phoning up to see

if there's any interest on our house lately.

Just that we've noticed there is houses selling round Ballysally.

There's actually a couple that have been sold here.

Aye, well, we'll have to, sort of, think about it.

OK. Right, right. That'll do. Right, bye.

Annoy you a minute, so it would.

She says there's nothing there.

Would we think about dropping the price? But...don't know.

I'd have to talk to Denise but then that's maybe putting us

out of the market if we do bring it down.

We're going to give this two years.

If it doesn't sell, we're going to stay here.

Then we're going to have to think to see if we can get a stair lift

in for Lauren, but they really won't do that for her age.

It'll be more or less like a lift. It'll be in this living room.

I think it's a big track goes up your wall and everything.

We don't really fancy that in the living room.

It's just getting somebody to buy this house so we can get a bungalow.

This is my good Proddy orange bathroom!

It's Egyptian Sun or something, you call it.

Prod Orange does me!

And not forgetting the almighty beat box.

Need that.

Kyle's on the dole and, courtesy of the Housing Executive,

has just moved into what he sees as his very own bachelor pad.

That living room floor's brave and good.

Dad Rab is on hand to help before the furniture arrives.

I always did want to move out anyway, because me and me da

don't get on, so...

..us living together is just constant nagging

and constant fighting every time I drink and stuff.

It's just...at least in me own house I can drink without him

yapping down your throat, like, so...

Do what I want.

Now that I have this place, that'll be me out on my own, now,

for the rest of me life...

..so...need to get used to it.

One day at a time, or one weekend at a time, should I say.

Think I'll blend in with all the neighbours,

they all like a drink, too.

I'd say there'll be a few parties in here.

I've got the dog in the kitchen

but I put the washing machine on for him...just to keep him busy.

So as he can hear something when he doesn't hear anything.

Martin's alcoholism stops him working.

He's on his way with support worker Emma to a medical at the job centre.

Everybody around me drinks.

Nowadays, alcohol's taken over this planet.

Ultimately, to give up anything or make any decision,

you have to do it within yourself

and not for anybody else other than yourself.

Even whenever you're trying to get off it, it's all around you.

Martin claims nearly £200 a week in benefits

but it doesn't sit easily with him.

I believe a man needs to work.

It'll kill a man if he just sits about.

Needs to keep his self busy.

I was a worker.

I'm a painter and decorator. I worked dead hard, so I did.

He's had to take some tests to prove

he still needs Disability Living Allowance.

Well, I had to do it. If I didn't do it, I wouldn't be...they'd cut me.

He asked me to stand up and close my eyes.

He did a balance test, you see.

I said, "My balance'll be all right."

I had a couple of cups of cider before I came out at seven o' clock.

If he was hiding that then... It doesn't make sense for Martin

to withhold that information because that's why he...

-That's why I'm in this situation. The drink.

-Well, one of the reasons.

Right, it's half nine, bedtime.

Uh-oh, bedtime, bye-bye.

Getting a bickie!

Bickie!

Ah, you wee cow!

Move it, now!

With the boys dispatched to bed,

Louise settles down for a heart-to-heart with Kelly-Ann.

She's stopped going to school again.

I went back for how long?

I think it was two weeks.

You went three days one week, four days the following week

and three days the week after that and never went back.

I just had enough of it.

I mean, them days, that was, like, a big step for me, cos, like,

I was never, ever, there

and then, like, going for that length of time, it was a big step and then just...

I don't know. Just got...

She is, she's a torture.

If she'd get up and go to school for you in the morning,

-it'd be less hassle.

-Mine's broken!

OK.

So it would. But no.

Ben. Go away!

Urgh! Knickers!

You loss the head and then I loss it with you.

There's something wrong with me, but.

-You need signed in somewhere, I think.

-Tell me about it!

I'm being serious.

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

Over the past year, I've got wild, like,

bad and cheeky and ignorant and crabbed and...

..everything.

I feel sick.

Ah, you wee cock!

I'm going to turn the television off. Give me the remote.

I will turn it off.

You're seeing the real Lauren.

What she can be like sometimes.

Am I going to get a kiss?

-You're sweating!

-It's warm! Give me a kiss.

-Can you get me a drink?

-Mm-hm. I'll get you a drink.

TV BLARES

Lauren, that's too loud.

-TV:

-They removed my entire back. And my arms.

Are you all right? Are you warm too?

You can put the telly on if you want for a little while.

Night-night. Kiss.

-Love you.

-Love you, too.

When we first found out about Lauren, we lay up in our bed

and held each other and cried.

The two of us.

Cried because we thought it was the worst thing in the world.

And then they tell you all these things like, you get it because you

don't eat your green vegetables, you don't have enough folic acid

and one thing and another and I got myself into thinking

that it was my fault.

We decided, "Well, this is what's happened.

"She's coming and this is what she's got

"and we're going to have to shake ourselves, and just get on with it,

"learn what we can and just

"get on with it, the same as everybody else."

When she's not having a little strop,

she is a wonderful, wonderful little girl.

MUFFLED DANCE MUSIC

Nearly 12 o'clock or one o'clock in the day and he's still in his pit.

Rab's been trying to get hold of Kyle all morning,

but he's had no joy.

Answer your door in a wee while every day?

He's worried about Kyle coping on his own.

My head's busting.

I had a few Magners last night

so my head's busting today.

I only got in at four o'clock this morning or after four.

-I'm wrecked.

-A bottle of vodka got drunk last night.

Oul dirt.

That was drunk on Saturday night.

You told me and your ma it wasn't even touched.

I said there was a glass left in it.

You told me and your ma it wasn't touched on Saturday night.

Gurn. Does nothing but whinge.

Aye, see why?

I wasn't even drunk last night.

It's just Magners gives you a sore head the next day.

You must've had more than two Magners if you've a sore head.

Aye, maybe five, then.

He can't drink and come home at 12 o'clock like anyone sensible would do.

He has to drink and stay out till five in the morning.

I was wondering, can I get photos and stuff like that?

Martin's just had a letter from social services telling him

his two children from a previous relationship have been adopted.

Aye, but I'm allowed photos and stuff, aren't I?

I mean, I want to see how my kids are growing up.

Right, thank you.

I'm their father. I should be getting photos.

They were in care for a couple of years before they got adopted.

I was invited to visit them.

At that time, I was on the street. I didn't want to go there looking dirty.

Plus I thought it would be better for the wee 'uns, instead of being selfish.

Let them get on with their lives.

As long as they're safe and healthy

cos I know...they need a wee start.

Whenever two wee 'uns are gone,

you feel like...

your whole life's over.

You just feel...deadly.

Aye, well,

that's the way the cookie crumbles.

But I've got a good sense of humour.

That's the best thing.

Cos if you lose your sense of humour, then you've lost everything.

Come on.

Up you go.

Are you going to have a go today by yourself?

-Give me your hand, Mum.

-With a bit of help maybe?

Lauren is growing up fast and her independence will be crucial.

Denise is teaching her how to cope with her condition.

Into your room.

Up on the bed.

Denise has to show her how to use a catheter.

-On the towel.

-Why did you bring that mirror?

Because you need to be looking in it.

I'm trying to introduce Lauren to catheterising herself.

We need the mirror just to let her see just what happens

with the catheter.

But it's hard for me to do it, so it is.

And I don't know which hole it goes into.

See where mummy's fingertip is?

It's teeny. You can't even see it.

It's like an earring hole, so it is.

Can you see it? A little hole.

-And then your pee comes out.

-Can I hold it?

-You can hold that.

Is that a last big blow?

Do you want to take it out by yourself?

Twist and pull, twist and pull.

Good girl.

You know, she's growing up

and I think it's time...

-She's old enough now.

-Ow!

It's time for her to learn to look after herself...

-Which colour bin's this going in?

-..for her own independence

and for her own personal care when she is out with her friends.

-Well, do you think you'd be happy when you can do it yourself?

-Yes.

We'll leave these here.

Good girl.

Another little step forward.

LAUREN LAUGHS

So we'll try again tomorrow.

Sit, sit.

This is what I want. I see boys out there kicking a football

and being happy and stuff.

Happiness comes first.

Money doesn't matter.

I appreciate the money

cos I do need stuff for my flat, but I think it's all wrong.

They should make them people get to work if they're an alcoholic,

to keep them busy instead of giving them money in through the post.

I think that's silly.

Because then, sure, we're just sitting killing ourselves.

Go on, Bobby, go on.

I don't think if you're drawing the DLA because of being an alcoholic,

they should give you money. I mean, that's stupid.

I think the government's all messed up.

They're not really helping me.

I'm sick of being lonely.

I'm sick of living on my...

See living on your own, it's shite.

It is shite.

Do you not answer your phone?

-Me?

-Aye, who do you fucking think?

My fucking phone's on, you must be ringing my old number.

You're a lying bollocks.

Aye, it's a small estate when you think about it.

Everyone hears everything.

Half the wee girls here, they run about and tell all their mates,

then it's halfway about Coleraine.

Can't keep nothing to themselves.

A few drunken mistakes.

A few you've chucked out too in the middle of the night, I would say.

THEY LAUGH

When I'm not going with someone, aye, I like to ride rings round me.

You'd need to ask the ladies around the estate

to see what reputation I have, as I don't even know myself!

I think I was born too early!

£4, mate.

-Do you want a bag for that?

-Ah, it's all right.

-Cheers, all the best.

-See you later.

It's the night before Kelly-Ann's English exam

and a big decision is looming.

I have to be in school for 9 o'clock for my exam

and there's no way I'm going to do it.

No way I'm going to make it.

I want to go and do it but I won't be able to get up.

She's missed so much school,

she wonders if it's even worth turning up.

I'm not going to know anything

and I'm not going to be there on time

so there's no point in going.

I don't know what to do any more.

I just...

I don't know.

Next time on The Estate...

Them people would be stupid if they let you go!

It's not just me that's losing a job. They're losing support.

You could set up your own business.

-"I'm pleased to inform you have been shortlisted..."

-Oh, my goodness!

-"..for an interview!"

Say no. Say no.

He's very smart. He just wants to do something.

Just wants to make something happen.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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