Episode 7 The Estate

Ballysally, home to nearly 3,000 people.

How they cope in a raging recession

is the story of a year on The Estate.

This programme contains strong language and scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

23-year-old Kyle is coping with an unusual intruder.

You can't blame it on nothing.

Unless the fucking foreign tobacco's doing something to me, I don't know.

He and 16-year-old Annie are convinced his bedroom is haunted.

I told my da about it and he says, "Ach, your arse."

I says, "It's caught on video."

If you'd had seen it with your eye,

and told somebody, "Aye, they can see whatever you want."

But it's caught on video. There's proof!

I never really wanted to believe it until I seen the footage.

People are going to be thinking I'm a bloody looper.

She went to bed first.

She was out cold in a couple of minutes.

Then I came into bed and I tossed and turned for a minute.

After about five or ten minutes,

these wee orbs started floating about the room.

There.

It started there.

Look, going up there.

It'll come down here and come up the curtain in a minute.

It's going there and up there.

I like having sex with an audience so it'll make no difference to me!

It would be off-putting for me. I can't believe you said that.

It's kind of off-putting the dog being in the room when you're at it!

I thought you said you like an audience.

The dog's a different story.

Beats watching Jeremy Kyle at half one on ITV2.

Need something to do. Something with a bit of excitement.

Can you open that? That's a good girl, Lauren.

Jimmy and Denise, at last, have a potential buyer who wants to view their house.

They need to be smart about the room they have to offer.

The things you do.

They're doing all they can to make the house more attractive.

-You're not getting rid of that!

-It's just going in the car.

Hiding stuff!

We've so much junk in this house, we're hiding it in my car!

Try and make the house look a bit neater and make the rooms look bigger.

A mad dash at the last hurdle.

So, I think a couple more boxes and that will be it. Sorted.

Dylan, stay off that grass. It's all wet.

We'd kind of written off the rest of this year.

We'd written it off, saying,

"We'll redecorate, do a few odds and ends and be ready for next spring."

Catriona, you wouldn't mind moving that bit of wood?

We've got a viewer coming to look at the house.

-You want me to move it?

-Just throw that down out of the way.

-Aye.

-You know the way some people are.

-It's all going to the skip, you see.

I'm not counting my chickens. I'm just glad someone's...

Well, if she turns up! I'm just glad somebody's coming to see the house.

It's been so long!

Hello, Jim. How are you today?

All right, well, I'm out here now so come on down whenever you're ready.

That'll do. See you in a minute, bye.

Alcohol support worker Emma is taking Jim for a daytrip to the beach.

He says he's all right. Sounds a bit tired, I think.

Apart from that, he sounds all right. He's sober.

That's the main thing.

Good morning to you all.

I was thinking, since it was a nice day,

we could go to Portstewart or something.

-That's what I was thinking myself.

-Stay outside instead of sitting in.

But Jim's cheeriness masks a darker mood.

He's on the verge of an alcoholic meltdown.

I had to take a diazepam this morning.

Did you take one last night?

Aye, it done no good, Emma. My head was spinning like a top.

I think we're going to make another appointment, Jim.

It's maybe not the tablets, do you know what I mean?

It's a bloody nervous breakdown that's been going on

for fucking years.

I'm on the edge here and I don't give a shit really.

-You're all right...

-I'm not all right, Emma!

-You will be OK.

I've a Stanley knife in the house.

I'll cut my jugular to fuck.

There's no point in letting this build up. It's away. It's no more.

Things are good at the minute. OK, we have a wee blip at the minute,

but we'll get through.

We'll sort it out the way we've had everything else sorted out.

I'm doing so fucking well.

-I'm not giving up on you yet, Jim.

-What else must I do?

We're in Portstewart, we're going to get an ice cream and that's all I want you to think about, OK?

-We'll take today as it comes, all right?

-Yeah.

I'm going to put the water heater on for 10 or 15 minutes.

Kyle is a changed man.

I tried to have a drink on Saturday night after fishing, but...

I don't know what it is now.

Every time I drink, I drink about one glass.

He found me.

His relationship with Annie is going from strength to strength.

I've always wanted to settle down and I think I'm at the age now...

so it's about time I did.

And he's doing his best to shake off his playboy reputation.

There's part of me misses what I used to be.

Where I could go out five nights drinking, do whatever I want,

and then have no worries about it in the morning.

I've already told him if he wants to do that he can,

I'm not stopping him, but I'll not be here.

I would say I've a bit of a reputation.

I've went with some fat middens in my life I'm definitely not proud of.

That many, I can't even flipping mind.

I was 13 when I lost my virginity.

Everybody was talking about it so it happened.

It wasn't the best experience like, but sure the first one never is.

It's not as if you can Google how to do it!

I guarantee in my lifetime I've probably spent

about flippin' £50 on pregnancy tests.

I never covered up as well so it was half my own fault.

-That'll be our baby for a while.

-Yeah, that'll be our baby for..

She's our baby.

..until we're ready.

I could do with a job before I have another baby.

WATER RUNNING Here. Come here.

Come here! Where are you going?

In the bath, you stinky shit!

I would have got rum and raisin but I was scared it would make me sick!

That would be a sad loss. I never even thought of that!

Emma has managed to calm Jim down.

You definitely have settled a good bit.

-Had you nothing to eat this morning?

-Not a thing, no.

I think you just needed to get out and clear your head.

That's it, yes.

-Just everything comes out in one go.

-Before I'd have been reaching for the bottle.

That's the thing. That shows how much stronger you are.

Yeah. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

If I keep the way I'm going, that's it, like.

As far as I'm concerned, if I get a year over me,

the battle's beat.

Cos I've always been so close to a year and then I've had a drink.

15-year-old Kelly Ann's mind is made up.

She doesn't want kids anytime soon.

They're just so much work.

I'm just lazy, couldn't be arsed to get up and feed them.

I just wouldn't be bothered.

I'd be shouting at my ma to do it all cos she's already done it, so she can do it.

I just wouldn't be bothered.

She's been using precautions and mum Louise has just found out.

I didn't say to her. She found the condoms in my bag

and that's how she knew.

Like, I never actually said to her but whenever she'd said to me

I didn't deny it or anything, so I didn't.

But I think that's the best way to be.

You're better off telling the truth than keeping it from them.

I mean, that's the way I was whenever I started smoking as well.

I mean, I just told her.

In a way, I am glad she has come and said about it, like,

because me ma never told me nothing like that.

But...at the same time, she's too young to be doing things like that.

I dread to think what she was doing at my age.

I wasn't doing anything because your grandad would've killed me!

She shouldn't be doing it. She should be thinking of her career.

Kelly Ann's booked a doctor's appointment to get advice

about her contraceptive options.

It's what I want to do, so, I think it's for the best as well,

but cos I am so young, they're like, "Just imagine having a wean at this age."

It's not...not good.

You're are really so going to hurt yourself!

We don't let her do that, but she does it sneakily. Sneaky!

The house-viewer has been and gone without making an offer.

But Denise and Jimmy are more determined than ever to sell their house.

The race is on to get these two rooms done as quick as possible,

in case we do get lookers.

They're hoping a fresh coat of paint will make the difference.

I haven't seen Lauren's room like this before.

I suppose you don't remember.

And where the hell is that wee fairy thing?

What about my room?

Your room will be getting done next, never you worry.

Well, what do you think?

-What happened to my room?!

-Are you OK?

She's wanting this room done inside five minutes.

We'll wave a magic wand, will we?

You're too slow at it, Daddy. Dad, when are putting that wallpaper up?

-I want it all done today.

-All done today?

-Yeah.

You won't even get any dinner either.

Well, how's it going?

That's all the paper off now.

Hopefully it will work. Hopefully it will do the trick.

I better not do that, I've so much hairspray in my hair.

Kelly Ann is babysitting her youngest brother Ryan...

Hello!

..with the help of big sister Sarah.

I don't like doing dishes. It makes my hands all dry.

Well, it needs to be done.

-You're here.

-If I wasn't here they would have sat here.

Mummy would have done them.

Get away, Kelly Ann!

17-year-old Sarah lives with her boyfriend.

He's just given her a promise ring.

Get away with that ring, Kelly Ann.

I want to be engaged. I need to find a boyfriend.

A half-decent one first.

Sarah, you get on like I go with all the fucking dickheads!

Shut up!

Kyle too thinks it's time to make a commitment.

I'm going to get my girlfriend an engagement ring.

Well, we've been going long enough. Just getting to the next step.

I got paid this week and last week so I sort of have money.

I'll be getting her ring and then later on, I'll be going up

to order a couple of new fishing rods for myself.

Aye, dead on. £1,800. No chance.

Let's hope Argos still have that ring.

Saved myself a hundred quid there.

Happy it was down in price too.

Not only has he saved for the ring.

He reckons he has a master plan to make Annie say yes.

Rose petals going from the front door into the bedroom.

Have the ring on the dog somewhere.

And then when she comes in the door she'll see a wee note,

follow the rose petals into the bedroom.

When she goes in there'll be the dog and me.

And I'll propose in the room.

Recycling.

Jim is back on the drink and it's turned into a three week binge.

On a serious bender like this, Emma's unable to help him.

You just kind of get anxious because there isn't an awful lot I can do.

At the end of the day, I'm only an Outreach worker.

The thing with alcohol is you can't be counselled

while you've alcohol on board, it just wouldn't work.

Event to get a proper psychiatric assessment isn't going to work

while the person is drinking alcohol

because alcohol will change them so much.

So really, for them to get a true assessment, they need to be sober,

so there isn't an awful lot those people can do.

I suppose my job is to get them to that stage and pass them on.

Ah! Nectar. Nectar of the gods.

I was doing great. Emma helped me so much, but...

I shouldn't be drinking, I know that.

Emma will give me the riot act when she sees me again.

So...

And that's what I need.

Someone to tell me, "Get a grip.

"You were doing so well, what are you doing now?"

I'm being an eejit.

Badness.

Pure badness.

It's an uphill struggle.

It's an uphill struggle but I've done it before, I can do it again.

You know I can. I know I can.

Alcohol normally makes me happy

but I'm drinking for the sake of drinking now, to tell you the truth.

It's that or kill myself, you know.

The sober Jim's long gone.

This is the end of the road Jim.

This is the end of the road Jim. I've given up.

What are you trying to do?

It's the wrong way.

MUSIC BEGINS

What are you doing?

Ben! For God's sake!

Louise has just found out that she's going to be a granny.

I was 18 when she was born... No, I wasn't, I was 17.

17-year-old daughter Sarah is pregnant.

Just following in my footsteps.

Making the same mistake as I done.

So I can't really say much, you know what I mean?

But sleepless nights and nappies are the last thing Kelly Ann wants.

Cos I don't want to be lumbered with a wean at 15.

It's just stupid.

Kelly Ann, you won't be the only 15-year-old to get pregnant.

She's been fitted with a contraceptive implant.

It doesn't stop you from getting STIs or STDs or nothing.

But it's better than being on nothing.

Kelly Ann's just a wee bit too young to be pregnant.

Oh, my God, I'm done.

I'd make a good mummy.

But...it's not going to happen yet, is it?

For another three years.

Thank God.

There's something wrong with my head but I don't know what it is.

It takes a psychiatrist to tell me what it is.

After his three week binge, Jim is sober, but fragile.

I'm taking the help. I'm more off the drink than I am on it.

Even that last binge I had, I didn't drink vodka.

I drank beer.

Right enough, I drank too much beer. I went on a three week bender!

But I didn't drink the vodka.

But I know the state of mind I'm in at the minute that

if I did go on a mad bender,

a mad bender for two or three weeks, fuck knows what I could do.

There's knives there.

It doesn't take long to just fucking say, "Fuck it."

And commit Harakiri.

No-one worries about anyone anymore.

I've no worries, the people's no worries.

Another dead drunk.

Another statistic.

Afternoon.

Emma's convinced Jim to go into rehab.

I want to start me life anew, clean slate.

And try to live the second half of my life the way I should have lived

the first instead of fucking up all the time through drink.

Hopefully, it will be a big crossroads in breaking it.

because there's a lot of things going on in Jim's head

that he's addressed to a certain extent,

but he needs to completely get to the bottom of and let go of.

-Oh, aye.

-And I think that the only way to that would be an intense treatment programme.

I am hopeful, very hopeful. Determined.

More than hopeful, determined.

Cut the fucking habit out altogether.

Number one, I'd have more money,

and a better fucking normal lifestyle, instead of madness.

I reckon that's the best thing for the drugs and all,

is to get into fucking Northland and get it all sorted.

Jim now has to wait for a place at the clinic.

I put my handbag in there.

Can we do up and down kerbs, first of all?

Lauren's about to road test her new wheelchair for the first time.

Can we do up and down a kerb?

Dad Jimmy's on hand to catch her... if she falls.

That's maybe too high. See, like that. Push.

Push.

Lauren's mobility is deteriorating because of her Spina Bifida.

She's starting to drag her wee leg again which is a shame

cos Lauren might end up stuck in a wheelchair permanent, you know.

The two of us are proud of her, what she's come through.

I was going to say a great wee girl but I suppose she's going to

turn into a young woman soon. We are really proud.

It's just great seeing the wee smile on her face.

She brightens up your day, you know.

We've always said Lauren is special. So she is.

I wouldn't change her for the world, you know.

You're a great wee girl, aren't you?

-Daddy, can we go to the sweetie shop?

-I've no money.

I have to go to the bank.

We'll have to raid your piggy bank. Take all the 2ps and 1ps out of it.

After a week of waiting, there's still no word for Jim about rehab.

His answer is to hit the bottle... and worse.

I'd received a phone call from Jim where he had been quite abusive

and we'd spoken to him

and decided that he might need to take some time out from the project.

Not that we would cut him off completely.

We made him aware that if he did need us we were there.

It was just to make him aware of his behaviour.

I rang to explain that to him.

I wanted to keep it quite informal

because we didn't want him to feel abandoned.

I knew she was helping me so well.

I thought... I've really messed up here

so I went to the off-licence

and I got eight tins of Stella Artois and I drunk four of them.

Like, the four tins of Stella nearly knocked me out, man.

I got really dizzy because I was on the Antabuse tablets.

I don't know what time it was. Later. I started phoning and...

I turned on my phone to find a number of voicemails from Jim.

Just very abusive and really to the stage

where he was threatening my life.

Yes, I threatened to kill her but it's an old '70s expression.

"I'll rip your head off, I'll fucking kill you."

I was brought up in bars in the '70s in Londonderry, man.

Everybody used...

It was drunken and disorderly in them days,

but now it's threats to kill.

It was very, very frightening. As professional as you want to be

and as professional and prepared as you can be, you can't really

prepare yourself for something like that.

This was not something that had been building up over

a couple of months and I was, like, just waiting for it.

I wasn't prepared for it at all.

This is it. This is it.

No more drink entering this fucking body ever again. No.

Not when you act like that, kid. Can't be done.

I deserve everything I get.

Jim was convicted of threatening to kill Emma.

He received a six month suspended sentence,

a fine and a restraining order.

Next time on the estate...

Just know it's coming soon and I really can't be bothered.

I know I have to so... I'm just going to have to.

I never thought I'd see the day that Kyle went to a church.

He's proved me wrong.

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