Part 2 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ordinary happy family, but Paul and Jill are worried about their 11-year-old son Mark, who is not eating and has become withdrawn of late.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? But as the social services begin to question the children, things become ever more disturbing...
Starring John Bowe, Jill Baker, Jonathan Leigh, Victoria Shalet, Heather Tobias, Paul Copley, Dermott 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, Dermott Crowley, Ann Curthoys, Anthony Smee, Lucy Foxwell, Kate Lonergan, Marlene Sidaway and Deborah Winkles.
Category
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TVTranscript
00:00Friday tomorrow.
00:18We'll hear about the access visit.
00:23I could get the train set out.
00:26No, train set next time.
00:28Next time?
00:30There won't be a next time.
00:33You heard what Selby Lewis said.
00:36They haven't got anything from the kids.
00:38There won't be a next time.
00:43They'll be home on Wednesday.
00:45Don't.
00:46Don't?
00:48Don't what?
00:49Pretending that everything's going to be all right.
00:54Darling!
00:55We don't know when we'll get them back.
01:00If we'll get them back.
01:03Chris Draper said they could apply for a care order.
01:07Do you know how long that lasts?
01:11Do you?
01:12It lasts until they're eighteen.
01:19Eighteen.
01:22It's not going to come to that.
01:26Listen, Joe.
01:28Listen.
01:31Selby Lewis told me that Mark and Rosie haven't said anything.
01:34And the magistrate won't give another eight-day order if there's nothing to go on.
01:39Chris said.
01:40Chris said.
01:41Chris said.
01:42You could end up in prison.
01:46You could end up in prison and all you do is pretend that everything's all right.
01:52I'll pay the mortgage.
01:55And the car.
01:57And the neighbours knowing.
01:59Acting as if the children are away on holiday.
02:03They're not.
02:05The other mums know.
02:07Everyone knows.
02:09They'll take the children and the baby and everything else.
02:12And all you do is just wave a hand and everything's all right.
02:17And the baby, Paul.
02:20The baby.
02:23They could take the baby.
02:26They come into the hospital and they wait for the baby to be born.
02:31And they take it.
02:33Just like that.
02:35Nothing left.
02:39They could take the baby.
02:43Could they do that?
02:45At the moment, there's barely enough evidence of the removal of the two older children.
02:50But they could.
02:51Under certain circumstances.
02:55Look.
02:56When is the baby due?
02:58A few months.
03:00Well, with any luck, all this will be over by then.
03:03Luck?
03:05Is that what we're relying on?
03:13And what if I confess?
03:18Do you want to?
03:21I don't know.
03:24Get in.
03:42If it brings my children back to their mother.
03:51If it means she can keep the baby.
03:56Maybe.
03:58Are you guilty?
04:04Perhaps I ought to explain what an admission of guilt would mean.
04:08Well, first of all, there'd be a prosecution.
04:11Care order for the two children.
04:14Place of safety order for the new arrival, followed rapidly by a care order for that child.
04:19Therapy.
04:21Family therapy.
04:24And if you're very, very lucky, the children will be returned to you in a few years' time.
04:31If they haven't been adopted in the interim.
04:37And a few years in prison for you meanwhile.
04:40But you now accept the children have been abused?
04:45No.
04:47No, I don't.
04:49But I accept now that they may have been abused.
04:53And if they have been?
04:55Who do you think could have done it?
04:59You tell me.
05:05Who passed the children?
05:09You know what tickles me about all this?
05:15My children have been taken away from me.
05:18They're still going to that school.
05:20They're still in the care of that bloody teacher.
05:25Are you accusing Mr. King?
05:28I'm just saying it's odd, isn't it?
05:39What?
05:41I don't know.
05:45This is so stupid.
05:47Sometimes I bath them and sometimes Paul does.
05:50Look.
05:52We've got a lot to do.
05:53The children are coming for the afternoon tomorrow.
05:56Just a few more questions.
06:00Who usually puts the children to bed?
06:03Paul does.
06:05He tells them stories.
06:07He tells them stories.
06:13I want a cheese toastie!
06:16I want a cheese toastie!
06:18There's more than enough on the table, Mark.
06:21It won't take a minute, Paul.
06:23That's not the point, Jill.
06:26He doesn't come swanning in here telling us whatever he wants.
06:31And don't look at me like that, young man.
06:33I'm still your father!
06:34You can stick that in your report for the next meeting.
06:48How about a cheese straw, Mark?
06:51I want it to be like always!
06:53I want it to be like it always is!
06:59I want tea!
07:01Ordinary tea!
07:04I want tea!
07:05I want tea!
07:06I want tea!
07:07I want tea!
07:08I want tea!
07:09I want tea!
07:10I want tea!
07:11I want tea!
07:12I want tea!
07:13Incy wincy spider climbed up the spout,
07:40Down came the rain and washed the spider out,
07:48Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain,
07:57Incy wincy spider climbed the spout again.
08:06She would do it again.
08:36See?
08:38What happens next, Rosie?
08:43What happens next, Rosie?
08:59Other things.
09:03What other things?
09:05Everything.
09:07Tell me.
09:10I told you, everything.
09:13Nothing.
09:20Not then.
09:21And who do you do that with?
09:26Shh.
09:27Why?
09:28Magic little stories for a magic little girl.
09:33Is this Wales?
09:35The
09:36Is this Wales?
09:39Yes.
09:40We have to get up with the snow.
09:42They would come across the star.
09:43And who do you do that with?
09:46Shsh.
09:47Why?
09:49Magic little stories for a magic little girl.
09:53Is this Wales?
10:05Yes.
10:10Do you remember that holiday?
10:13Yes, of course I do.
10:17Rose are going for a ride with her dad.
10:20Yes.
10:23She says that you stayed behind at the cottage.
10:29Yes, reading.
10:32While she and Paul and Mark went for a ride in the hills.
10:41Mark rode on.
10:44No.
10:45I'm sorry.
10:47Mark rode on.
10:49And Paul took Rosie up into the trees.
10:57And Mark won't talk to us about the holiday at all.
11:00We've looked at his schoolwork.
11:05And that's where there was the drastic change.
11:09After that same holiday.
11:11It was a new class.
11:16It was a new teacher.
11:18We told him about the new baby when we got back.
11:22It unsettled him.
11:23It was natural.
11:24Do you tell Mark that he must look after Rosie?
11:35What?
11:38You see, Mark feels that it's his job to keep Rosie safe.
11:44Safe from some terrible threat.
11:46He's a very frightened little boy.
11:54I don't want to hear any more of this.
11:58I don't want to.
12:03Remember your white room?
12:06Does that help?
12:08All on your own?
12:10In that white room?
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:11No.
12:12No.
12:12No.
12:12No.
12:12No.
12:13No.
12:13No.
12:14No.
12:15No.
12:16No.
12:17No.
12:17And your poems?
12:18Do they help?
12:21My head powers.
12:23Oh.
12:27I don't do them anymore.
12:29Don't you?
12:32Not even in your head?
12:37Oh.
12:39They're still there.
12:43I just don't do them.
12:45so they might come back then
12:47when you go home
13:09I've got a brick in my mouth
13:11I'm sorry
13:13they're bad people
13:17yes there are some
13:21they take
13:23the brick out of your mouth
13:24and bash your brains out
13:27do they?
13:33you keep your mouth shut
13:35tight
13:35no one will hurt you
13:38I see
13:41someone told you this
13:44did they?
13:51why don't you go and have a game
13:52with the other lads
13:53that'll make you feel better
13:56go on
13:59you like to play dick and nick don't you
14:01sit down
14:22go on
14:24go on Paul
14:25I mean
14:29they have all their meetings
14:31they make all their
14:33accusations
14:34and we just sit here
14:36and wait
14:36well
14:37this is a meeting
14:39isn't it?
14:40Christ
14:41I'm very tired
14:43Jill
14:44look
14:45here
14:46have some plonk
14:47come on
14:48there
14:49that'll buck you up
14:51now
15:01we can start
15:03by writing to our MP
15:04and then we'll write to the BMA
15:06write that down Paul
15:08Paul
15:11write that down
15:13write it
15:17BMA
15:19and MP
15:21do it then
15:25I'll do it all
15:28I'll fight for the children
15:30and I'll fight for you
15:31and you just sit there
15:33you just bloody sit there
15:35I'll do the painting
15:37and I'll do every bloody thing
15:38and you just sit there
15:39because you're tired
15:40look
15:47Jill
15:47I'm sorry
15:48perhaps you're right
15:50perhaps we should fight back
15:52it's a thought though
15:54it's a thought though
15:54we could run rings round them
15:56look
15:59you and me Jill
16:01all they've got
16:02is a test
16:03that no one
16:04believes in
16:05anymore
16:06and Rosie's infection
16:08and Mark's behaviour
16:10his appetite
16:11his weight
16:12poor
16:14Chris Traitor
16:16it's them against us
16:17at the end of the day
16:18innocent until
16:21proved guilty
16:22and they can't
16:25prove anything
16:26because I haven't
16:33done
16:33anything
16:34people will support us
16:52you know
16:52no one wants to believe
16:55in people like that
16:56people aren't stupid
16:59Jill
16:59no
17:01I mean what have they got
17:04Rosie burbling something
17:07about god knows what
17:08gibberish
17:10Selby Lewis said
17:11Wales
17:18what
17:20she says it all started
17:26in Wales
17:26Wales
17:29come off it
17:32on that bike ride
17:34Jill you don't believe that
17:39Jill
17:41darling
17:44I packed three separate
17:48picnics that day
17:49yours in your saddlebag
17:51Mark's in his satchel
17:54and Rosie's in that terrible
17:56pink handbag mum gave her
17:58darling don't
18:00we'll soon have them back
18:03we will
18:04back to normal
18:07normal
18:10for us
18:12will it ever be
18:15normal for us
18:16again
18:16how can it be
18:18normal
18:19always
18:20always
18:24thinking
18:25what
18:25what Jill
18:29what will you always
18:32be thinking
18:32I'll never
18:34know
18:35will I
18:35Christ
18:38don't
18:39look at me like that
18:41this is all we need
18:43now
18:43I mean
18:45now
18:46I don't know
18:47what to think
18:48anymore
18:49all of a sudden
18:51I just don't know
18:52for Christ's sake
18:54I can't help
18:56thinking
18:57I mean
18:58there is a brain
18:59in there
18:59you don't just
19:00switch it off
19:01out of a sense
19:01of loyalty
19:02do you
19:02Jill
19:03it's nearly
19:03over
19:04it's nearly
19:06all over
19:07I don't know
19:08how I keep
19:08on breathing
19:09how do we
19:12go on
19:13getting up
19:15washing
19:16curtains
19:17bloody
19:19painting
19:20I just wish
19:47you'd quietly
19:48die
19:50you
19:59you
20:05you
20:12you
20:16you
20:19Catch, catch, catch, run, run, run, tickinick, play a trick, fun, fun, fun.
20:49Fine.
20:54What are you up to?
20:57Mr King?
20:59Yes, that's me.
21:01Catch, catch, catch, run, run, run, tickinick, play a trick, fun, fun, fun.
21:07Fine.
21:08That sounds okay.
21:12What's that for?
21:14Music time.
21:16Well, I'm very sorry, but the head likes it.
21:19He doesn't have to watch it.
21:21No, he's got no sense.
21:25Anyway, you're looking a bit pleased with yourself.
21:28Mr Harrison said they'll take me fishing.
21:31Cold feet, cold worms, wet water.
21:37You want to give me a hand with these books?
21:42No, I think I'll play with James.
21:45You asked me a question.
22:00I'm trying to give you the answer.
22:02On its own, a child's evidence doesn't stand up.
22:06In court, the father's solicitor will make it look like a bad joke.
22:09It's not on its own.
22:11There's the medical evidence.
22:14A child's evidence is worse than useless.
22:17If a solicitor can shred it into tiny little pieces, and he will.
22:21We know Charles Selby Lewis.
22:24And no one likes to put weight on the rad test.
22:27I'm sorry.
22:29There's no point taking it to court.
22:32What's the point?
22:34There's one kid that never stops talking, that says yes to every damn thing.
22:38And one that won't say a word.
22:40A family that makes the rolls look negligent.
22:43We have one day left.
22:45One day.
22:46Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing new from me.
22:51You've got my notes.
22:53There's Rosie's episodes of sexual behaviour, but they're woven into fantasies and fairy tales.
23:01There's a magic king.
23:04And a magic kingdom.
23:06And everyone keeps their mouths shut.
23:09But as I see it, the real problem is Mark.
23:13Not disclosing anything at all.
23:18Erm...
23:20Cherry.
23:21I'm sorry, it's nothing really.
23:27It's just, you mentioned a magic king.
23:30Hmm?
23:31He wrote that.
23:32He wrote it in a story.
23:36I can't remember really.
23:38It rang a bell, that's all.
23:40That's bloody marvellous.
23:43Bloody...
23:46Yes, yes, I understand that.
23:51Yes, well, you can imagine, we've been waiting all day.
23:54Yes, she will.
23:57I'll tell her now.
24:00And thanks.
24:01Thanks.
24:02Tomorrow afternoon.
24:14We have the personal assurance of the director of social services.
24:19Tomorrow.
24:20The eighth day, you see?
24:21They're not going to pursue it.
24:22And a letter of apology from the department.
24:36Selby Lewis said that they could have come home today if he pushed it.
24:40I thought tomorrow was better.
24:41More organised.
24:42Oh, darling.
24:43Oh, Paul.
24:45I'm sorry to disturb you.
24:46It's all right.
24:47Isn't it wonderful?
24:48I'm sorry to disturb you.
24:49It's all right.
24:50Isn't it wonderful?
24:51I don't know what to do with myself.
24:52You must be very excited.
24:53I'm sorry to disturb you.
24:54It's all right.
24:55Isn't it wonderful?
24:56I don't know what to do with myself.
24:57You must be very excited.
24:58Who's the magic king?
24:59Who's the magic king?
25:01Only Rosie talks about the magic king.
25:02Who's the magic king?
25:03You're the magic king.
25:04Who's the magic king?
25:12How can you tell me?
25:13How can you tell me?
25:14I don't know what to do with myself.
25:15I'm sorry to disturb you.
25:16I'm sorry to disturb you.
25:17It's all right.
25:18Isn't it wonderful?
25:19I don't know what to do with myself.
25:20You must be very excited.
25:21Who's the magic king?
25:25only Rosie talks about a magic king and Mark Mark's spoken about a magic king
25:34magic kingdom and magic law
25:41I was on my way to get some bits and bobs for the children a while ago Mark drew a
25:46white cell it's some sort of prison somewhere he wants to go to somewhere
25:51he'd be safe poor little lad I have a lot to do and with Rosie talking about a
25:58magic king too I wondered if you'd have any ideas who is the magic king I don't
26:07know what you're asking me
26:21a magic king can reach the sky his boots can climb and cling his face is red his
26:33breath is hot and he knows everything a magic king can make you laugh and then he
26:41makes you cry he whispers don't tell anyone and if you do you'll die
26:53yes never occurred to me it was anything more than a kid's story I have things to
27:04do
27:06mrs. Taylor look I appreciate your concern but everything's been sorted out it was
27:15all a mistake the children are coming home it's over Charles Selby Lewis is going to
27:24insist on a letter from the social services an apology
27:38don't understand
27:54do
28:02do
28:06do
28:08do
28:10do
28:14do
28:16do
28:18do
28:20do
28:45do
28:47do
28:55do
28:57do
28:59do
29:01do
29:03do
29:07do
29:15do
29:17I'll go get out of the suit.
29:47Daddy!
30:05Daddy!
30:07Daddy!
30:09Hug me, hug me!
30:15I think Daddy will get in it.
30:45I think Daddy will get in it.
31:15I think Daddy will get in it.
31:45I think Daddy will get in it.
32:15I think Daddy will get in it.
32:45I think Daddy will get in it.