Part 1 of 2 of the 1989 drama from the anthology series ScreenPlay. The Taylors are an ordinary happy family, but Paul and Jill are worried about their 11-year-old son Mark, who is not eating and has become withdrawn of late. The family GP has diagnosed 'failure to thrive', but unhappy with the diagnosis Mark is sent to the hospital for a check-up. However, they are shocked when the doctors declare that Mark has been sexually abused and he and his sister Rosie are taken into care by social services. As investigations are carried out, accusations fly as the parents wonder how the authorities could of got it so wrong. But have they? Is Mark being abused, and if so by who? Or is his change in his behaviour down to the arrival of his young sister?
Starring John Bowe, Jill Baker, Jonathan Leigh, Victoria Shalet, Heather Tobias, Paul Copley, Dermot Crowley, Ann Curthoys, Anthony Smee, Lucy Foxwell, Kate Lonergan, Marlene Sidaway and Deborah Winkles.
Starring John Bowe, Jill Baker, Jonathan Leigh, Victoria Shalet, Heather Tobias, Paul Copley, Dermot Crowley, Ann Curthoys, Anthony Smee, Lucy Foxwell, Kate Lonergan, Marlene Sidaway and Deborah Winkles.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Oh
00:30Wide legs, wide legs, striding home.
00:36Wide legs, striding, long legs, riding.
00:42Daddy legs, long legs, coming home.
00:46That one doesn't rhyme.
01:00Oh, Mark.
01:04You all right?
01:05Yep.
01:06Here, carry my case for me.
01:16Knock, knock.
01:16Who's there?
01:17Lettuce.
01:18Lettuce who?
01:19Lettuce in, I'm cold.
01:27Knock, knock.
01:27Please.
01:28Please.
01:29Please.
01:30Please who?
01:32Please let me in before I knock the door down.
01:35Oh, come on.
01:42Knock, knock.
01:44Who's there?
01:45Doctor.
01:46Doctor.
01:48You just said it.
01:50Knock, knock.
01:53Who's there?
01:55Ivan.
01:56Ivan who?
01:58I'm an owl in my bucket.
02:00Oh, it's a little.
02:03Pathetic.
02:06At least eat the fish, Mark.
02:13Perhaps he isn't hungry.
02:15Maybe wait again tomorrow?
02:18Well, tonight's meal's not going to make much difference, is it?
02:20School all right today, Mark?
02:31I want another story.
02:33No, he's tired.
02:34No, he's tired.
02:36The Magic King is exhausted.
02:40Please?
02:41No, the Magic King ain't got no more stories.
02:48Come on, let's end.
02:50Oh, Dad.
02:51Ten minutes, then.
02:56No more.
02:58Got a kiss.
03:03Teddy bear's picnic, Mark.
03:06Not the horrible side.
03:08I know.
03:09I know.
03:27If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise.
03:32If you go down in the woods today, you'll never go in the sky.
03:37If I get this finished tonight, we'll have a clear weekend.
03:54Jill?
03:54I just keep thinking. Cancer. Leukaemia. Horrible things like that.
04:07Jill.
04:13You hear such terrible things.
04:24Darling, he's off his food, that's all.
04:33He's a perfectly normal kid.
04:36He's a crazy father, someone telling what to do.
04:51Hush, hush, hush.
04:53Here comes the bogeyman.
04:54Don't let him come too close to you.
04:57He'll catch you if he can.
04:59Just pretend that you're a crocodile.
05:02And you will find that bogeyman will run away a mile.
05:07Say, shoo, shoo, and stick him with a finger.
05:11Bogeyman will very nearly jump out of his skin.
05:14Could you just pop next door for me, Mark?
05:40And we'll take a little look at you.
05:46Mark Taylor, Mark Taylor.
05:49I'll tell you again.
05:52Your head will be splattered by white-coated men.
06:00Women.
06:01But what does that mean?
06:09It's a formalisation of the previous diagnosis.
06:12But there was no previous diagnosis.
06:15The GP's.
06:18Well, that wasn't a diagnosis.
06:20That was just, well...
06:23Failure to thrive.
06:25Is there something wrong with him?
06:28A disease?
06:29There's no sign of disease.
06:33Look, I'm sorry.
06:35Is Mark ill or not?
06:37He is, to all intents and purposes, a healthy boy.
06:40That is, he should be a healthy boy.
06:46Failure to thrive can be due to a physical problem,
06:48or it can be due to a psychological one.
06:51Psychological?
06:52There was a little mister who had a little sister
07:01right on the edge of his brain, brain, brain.
07:07And then that little mister would turn around and kiss her,
07:12and then he would kiss her again, again, again.
07:28We have to wait.
07:31You're all right, Mark.
07:48Who's that?
07:50He said something about a social worker.
07:53One of them.
07:54Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, would you like to come in?
08:11No one is accusing anybody.
08:16Mr. Taylor, if your son is being abused, damaged,
08:20don't you want to know who's doing it to put a stop to it?
08:26He isn't being abused.
08:29But if he was.
08:37Yes, yes, I suppose so, yes.
08:42Mark has been repeatedly buggered.
08:44We're getting a second medical opinion.
08:55Dr. James is bringing in a paediatrician from the general.
09:00You don't understand.
09:03We're not that sort of family.
09:07Are we?
09:11We don't know anyone who...
09:13We're all shapes and sizes, Mrs. Taylor.
09:17They don't wear uniforms.
09:23He goes to school.
09:26The rest of the time, he's with us.
09:31It just isn't possible.
09:35He'd have told us.
09:40He'd have told us, wouldn't he?
09:41He's back.
09:50He's back.
10:05He's back.
10:06Just like that.
10:08If we try and make it as painless as possible for the children...
10:11I don't understand.
10:12Mrs. Taylor, after Mark's examination, I applied for the place of safety order.
10:18We really had no choice.
10:20And now we must remove the children, at least for the time being.
10:24Christ.
10:24Mommy.
10:25It's all right, my darling. It's all right.
10:28If you would just make your goodbyes and we'll get the kids up to the warden time for tea.
10:37They're not going anywhere.
10:39Mr. Taylor, your solicitor will advise you. Perhaps you should contact him.
10:44Oh, I'll certainly bloody do that.
10:46You can phone from Dr. James' office.
10:48In the meantime, Mr. Taylor, if you say goodbye to Mark and Rosie, then we could get on with this.
10:53How do you suggest I do that?
10:54Please, Mr. Taylor.
10:55What are you supposed to say when your children are being snatched?
10:57Mr. Taylor, please.
11:05It's only a few miles away, so they'll be able to carry on at the same school.
11:09And you'll be seeing them regularly.
11:23Eight days.
11:25Yes.
11:25Here we are, then.
11:42You can watch telly later on.
11:44Children's programmes.
11:46We're not allowed to watch unless Mummy says so.
11:48No, but today's special.
11:51It isn't.
11:52It's a long time till supper.
11:58Dr. James said that a social worker will be coming for you.
12:02There was a silly doctor called Silly Dr. James.
12:08Got a silly badge on with all her silly names.
12:12Wore a silly coat and smiled a silly smile.
12:17Jumped onto a sailing boat and sailed off down the line.
12:21You should be looking after your sister, not being silly.
12:24You don't take ice cream from strangers.
12:44You don't talk to strangers.
12:46You don't talk to them ever, ever, ever.
12:49It's only for a week.
13:17They'll feed them, then.
13:22Just in case.
13:23You can't have had much notice.
13:26You're only going for eight days.
13:27For God's sake.
13:33Jill.
13:34I have something to say.
13:36Leave it a minute.
13:36I haven't abused Mark.
13:57I haven't abused Rosie.
14:03Don't be so stupid, Paul.
14:10So stupid.
14:13They're sick.
14:16Mad.
14:17It must be to think the things they think.
14:21Mad.
14:22You're all right.
14:42I'm here.
14:48Mark's swimming.
14:49A nice towel with trunks.
15:09Yeah.
15:11Oh.
15:13Yes.
15:14Yes.
15:15Yes.
15:15Yes.
15:16Yes.
15:16OK? Now, when you've decided, I want you to put it into a particular scenario, so I want you to decide what sort of shop you want, all right?
15:34OK? Right, in a moment, we'll just get out of the end, but we've talked about it. Now, who are you?
15:41You'd better go and sit next time, wouldn't you?
15:42Why do you say that?
15:45I mean, the lad's got problems. Yes, I can see that. But this?
15:51Well, I'm sorry. I'd never have thought it. Never in a month of Sundays.
15:54Have you met his parents?
15:56Yes.
15:56Well, I mean...
16:02The boy has been abused.
16:05We must find out who the abuser is and stop it happening.
16:09How long have you known Mark?
16:18Oh, God.
16:25Sorry, sir.
16:28There must be somewhat better to talk than this.
16:30We have to look at all the possibilities.
16:46I can see that.
16:48It's just I hadn't thought.
16:51It came as a bit of a shock.
16:53But the girl's involved as well.
16:55I never taught her.
16:56No, the headteacher told me.
17:04If you're not on playground duty at lunchtime,
17:07do you usually go out?
17:09Get a break from the place?
17:10Is it because I'm not married?
17:12Gerry, it's what I'd be asking any teacher of an abused child.
17:17Rosie's Mrs. Watsoname.
17:18I'll be asking her the same questions.
17:19I thought perhaps it was with me being unmarried.
17:23People get funny ideas.
17:24No.
17:28Oh.
17:31Mark.
17:33Tell me about him.
17:36Mark.
17:37Mm.
17:38Mark.
17:42Words.
17:43The lad had a head full of words.
17:46Rhymes.
17:47Word games.
17:48Little poems.
17:48Poems in his stories.
17:52Even poems in his maths book.
17:57At least,
17:59they used to be.
18:05Used to be.
18:18Sit down.
18:19Make yourself at home.
18:21How many of us will there be?
18:23Oh, not many.
18:25Five or six.
18:26Maybe seven.
18:28Well, there's not a lot I can say.
18:30I mean...
18:31Well, I've been the family's health visitor ever since Mark's birth,
18:34and they really are very...
18:36Nice.
18:38Yes.
18:38Yes.
18:40Well, you just say that when the meeting starts, ma'am.
18:46Come in.
18:50Oh, I was late.
18:54Not as late as some.
18:55Denise, let me introduce you to Charles Selby Lewis, the parent solicitor.
19:01This is Mark's teacher, Jerry King, and our health visitor, um...
19:05Carol.
19:05Carol.
19:07All we wait for now is the prosecuting counsel.
19:09Dr. James is taking a clinic.
19:12She'll be here.
19:13I couldn't come.
19:15I just couldn't come.
19:17Oh, well, that explains it.
19:21I thought I could, but when it came to it,
19:24the thought of meeting people.
19:27In the street, outside the solicitor's office.
19:31Neighbours.
19:32For heaven's sake.
19:33It happens.
19:36Look, I can't explain it.
19:39What did he say?
19:47I told him everything.
19:50He went straight to the hospital.
19:52He didn't have time to say anything.
19:56This is how it happens, you know.
19:58People losing their children.
20:01We are not going to lose the children.
20:03Did he say so?
20:04The solicitor?
20:05He didn't have time to say anything.
20:08Then how do you know?
20:10Our children could be anywhere doing anything
20:13and you have no more interest in it than...
20:15That's not fair.
20:16You seem to forget that I have a job to hold down.
20:20Bloody hell, Jill.
20:22I have other things to consider.
20:23Unlike me, I suppose.
20:25I didn't mean that.
20:27Mark and Rosie could be anywhere.
20:29Anything could be happening to them.
20:31Don't be so bloody stupid.
20:33Don't be so bloody stupid.
20:53Hello.
20:53Hello, Dad.
20:57Mark?
20:58Mark.
20:59Jill, it's Mark.
21:02Hello, old son.
21:03How are you?
21:04Mark, darling, how are you?
21:06OK.
21:06Did you sleep all right?
21:08Yes.
21:09Are you eating?
21:10Oh, Mum.
21:12Of course you are.
21:13Everything OK?
21:14Is she nice?
21:18All right.
21:18My turn.
21:19Get off, Rosie.
21:20Is Rosie there?
21:21We're going to school in a taxi.
21:23A taxi?
21:25What sort of taxi?
21:27Tell him it's my turn, Mummy.
21:30Tell him not to be a hug.
21:32Rosie, Posey, is that you?
21:34Have you got your own room, Mark?
21:36Tell Mrs Harrison I forgot to put in Rosie's slippers.
21:39Oh, Dad.
21:39The medical evidence is certainly not enough to get them into a court.
21:46Not that it will come to that.
21:49These medical things are very open to dispute.
21:54And the police know it.
22:00Christ.
22:03And as for the disclosure work with your children,
22:05well, it's very low-key stuff, really.
22:11Chats.
22:12Games, tapes, videos.
22:14They'll take videos.
22:16And we can't object to that.
22:19Our children on video.
22:22It's not worth getting unpleasant about.
22:25The evidence of a child is so...
22:28open to question.
22:30And my job, after all, is to put it in context.
22:33Now...
22:35your wife,
22:38I suppose she is supporting you?
22:41Yes, yes, of course.
22:44She's, uh...
22:45she's lying down.
22:48I mean, she's enough at stake for all this.
22:52If we could just get some facts down.
22:55Is the boy a...
22:57normal,
22:59naughty, outgoing little chap?
23:00Well, he's a bit quiet.
23:08Would you agree that he's...
23:10withdrawn?
23:13No.
23:15No, that makes it sound like he's...
23:18well, like there's something wrong with him.
23:22He's...
23:22a quiet sort of boy.
23:25And has he always been...
23:27quiet?
23:27He's not.
23:29Mmm.
23:32Mark's...
23:34teachers are not copies of old reports, you see.
23:38And at one stage, he was...
23:40a chatterbox...
23:42and rather boisterous.
23:45When he was younger, yes.
23:49And so...
23:52has he always been quiet?
23:54Well, I suppose not, no.
24:04And when would you say he became the...
24:06quiet child you now know?
24:10I don't know.
24:16Social services do.
24:18The school told them.
24:19Oh, I don't know.
24:28A couple of years.
24:30And would you say he's become more withdrawn over the last few months?
24:34He's not withdrawn.
24:36I told you.
24:39You didn't tell me that Jerry King had asked you into the school last term to discuss, Mark.
24:44We sorted all that out.
24:48He was overreacting to the new baby being born.
24:51We were thinking of buying a new house.
24:54There was a lot going on.
24:56He starts comprehensive next year.
24:58There's all that.
25:00Just a pity you didn't mention it before I tried to beard the social worker.
25:03Look, I'll give Jill a shout.
25:13She'll put all this into perspective.
25:15And when, as far as you can remember,
25:17did your child first go to the doctor with constipation?
25:25Come in.
25:32Hello, Mark.
25:33This is Sylvia.
25:39Come and sit down.
25:40Make yourself comfy.
25:42And you, Jerry.
25:43Thanks.
25:54I've just been looking at your painting, Mark.
26:00I think it's a very interesting painting.
26:02Would you like to tell us about it?
26:06No.
26:11Oh, it's all right.
26:17Mark, the day you painted this,
26:19Mr. King asked for pictures of where I'd like to be.
26:23Could you tell us about that?
26:24No.
26:24No.
26:34No.
26:34No.
26:35No.
26:35Aren't you cold?
26:46Aren't you cold?
26:56You believe that my husband, my Paul, has had sex with his children, don't you?
27:10I believe that someone has indulged in sexual behaviour with them.
27:17Sexual behaviour.
27:22Indulged in sexual behaviour.
27:29And that's the sort of language you use, is it?
27:33You must be very cold.
27:35Not our sort of people.
27:38We have a very good sex life, Paul and me. Very good.
27:44Strong. Safe. Clean.
27:51But you wouldn't want to know anything about that, would you?
27:55You just stick to the slums and the people who live in them.
28:13Oh, God, just listen to me.
28:16What could happen to Paul?
28:22When?
28:26If the worst happens.
28:28Well...
28:34Prisoner sentence.
28:37And then perhaps therapy.
28:41Prison?
28:43Most child abusers do.
28:45Paul isn't one of them.
28:48He isn't.
28:51They aren't monsters.
28:53But they are.
28:55Mrs. Taylor, it doesn't help to think like that.
29:00People who abuse children aren't two-headed.
29:03They're not untouchables.
29:04They're just...
29:07They're just...
29:10Monsters.
29:34High.
29:40Wow.
29:41Hoority.
29:42Don't lose.
29:44How long have you heard that?
29:46Oh, take your whole way an end.
29:47So he'll be very broad.
29:49So, you're watching the��이 end.
29:52Yes.
29:53Brother Allen came in.
29:55Born?
29:56What are they doing now?
30:26What are they doing now, Rosie?
30:28Horrible!