Original subtitles

MUSIC: Into The Blue by Kylie Minogue

# No angel's too good to fall from grace

# If she lets go of whatever keeps her holy

# But I'm still here holding on so tight

# To everything that I left behind

# I don't care if the world is mine... #

- Kenzie Calhoun? What you doing here?

Did you miss me?

- Like a dog misses mange.

- You always had such a lovely way with words.

- Up yours, moron.

- # Cos I ain't waiting up for no miracle

# Yeah, tonight I'm running free... #

- What are you doing, you muppet?

Aah!

Darren, stop it!

- # Into the blue

# Into the blue

# Got my back up against the wall

# Don't need no-one to rescue me

# Cos I ain't waiting up for no miracle... #

WOLF WHISTLES

# Into the blue

# Into the blue

# With nothing to lose

# Into the blue. #

- Can you just grow up?

Oh, my God! Is that Boring Bonnie?

- CAMERA PHONE CLICKS

Feels good to be back, doesn't it?

Fresh bite at the educational cherry.

- The what? - A new dawn, Sonya.

- You know the council have rung? - Stall them.

Don't want to see them, don't want to speak to them.

- New graphics teacher ain't turned up neither.

- Get a supply teacher in. Michael Taylor, get down, now.

- There's no sign of your English bod, let alone your new deputy.

- She not here yet? Eh, got something to show you.

- Maybe it's like fate or something. you know, throwing us together.

- Back off, Fairchild. - Ah, don't be like that.

You've got to admit, it's becoming a bit of a habit, right?

- You can talk. - I just can't keep up with you.

How long are you going to last here before getting kicked out?

- Sooner the better, seeing as you're here. Think you're some kind

of big shot, don't you? Well, you're not.

- Not had any complaints so far. - You think you're so smart.

- Compared to some. - 'Scuse me?

- Not exactly Einstein, are we?

Oh, look, I'm sorry. Why can't we just forget what happened,

move on? - You know full well why not!

- Hey, watch it! - No. You. Stay out of my face.

Mum was right about you, she always said you were a LOSER!

- WOMAN GASPS

PUPILS: Ohh! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

- Right - that's enough! - Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

- ENOUGH! Get to your classes, now! All of you, now!

Inside, now!

- Says who? - Yeah, take a walk, tramp.

- Says your new deputy head!

Now!

- PUPILS: Ooooh!

PA SYSTEM CRACKLES

This is your headmaster speaking.

'You've had your fun. Time to get down to some hard work.

'Registration...now.'

Ah, you made it. Good.

And you brought your bodyguards - nice touch.

Er, could you look after these two for a moment?

I need to borrow you.

We need to say a quick hello to everybody.

- Erm, well, I'm not really...

Really sorry I'm late.

- STAFF CHATTER

Ahem. Good morning, everybody, I would like to intro...

- Car broke down. Sorry. I'll make it up.

- I'd like to introduce our new deputy, Lorna Hutchinson.

I'm sure you'll give her all the support she needs.

- And likewise, obviously. It's a pleasure to be here.

- Any other surprises we need to be aware of?

Only, you know, Tannoy systems...

chimney sweeps...

I'm not sure Audrey's heart could cope with much more.

- Er, Vaughan, we seem to be slightly understaffed as well.

- Nothing we need worry about, is it?

- No, course not. Why would there be?

Right, let's get on, shall we?

George, quick word.

I thought we had a deal.

You'd get your old job back in return for

not banging on about a merger.

- I thought you said there wasn't going to be one.

- Well, there isn't! No news.

Nothing to report, therefore nothing to talk about - except you did.

Which means you lose your job again, right?

- What was I supposed to think? There's clearly something going on.

- It's called "work", George - try it.

- Oh, sorry. - No, George was just leaving,

he's burning to get to his first lesson,

where he will educate, inform and inspire.

HE SIGHS

- Not doubting our plan already, are you?

- I've made some stupid decisions in my time.

George, for example.

But I've never given up on a kid.

- Good. Because that's the vision you sold me the job on.

Second chances as a way of saving the school.

How do the other staff feel about it?

- Oh, well, you know.

- They do KNOW about the threat of a merger with Havelock High, right?

- No. George had heard a rumour, I told him it was false.

Look, I am trying to protect everybody from something

that may not even happen.

They'll only worry, or panic, or quit - possibly all three.

Better if we keep it between ourselves for now, don't you think?

- Mmm.

- SHE EXHALES

Better.

- Oh, thanks.

- Still with me? - What do you think?

- What happened to your chin?

- Oh, it's...erm...nothing.

- Shall we get 'em in?

- Welcome back.

Welcome back, Justin, how was your holiday?

- Had worse, thanks, Miss. - Glad to hear it.

Onwards and upwards, young man.

Welcome back. Rhiannon, Darren.

John, welcome back.

Oh, now, I was told we had a newcomer or two.

Your name is? - It's me, Miss.

Bonnie.

- Bonnie Kincaid?

Good grief, what's happened to you?

- Don't know what you mean, Miss.

- (Nice.)

What'd you do that for? - Window shopping.

It's no more looking for you mate, they're the rules now.

- God, you're so embarrassing. Can you just put your tongue away?

We could all do that if we wanted. - Could you?

- You really want to do this?

- Should have quit while you're ahead, lad.

- So... A new beginning for us all. Let's get started, shall we?

Scott Fairchild. Six schools.

Five exclusions, one walk-out, disruptive behaviour,

persistent breaches of school behaviour code,

and yet talented...if lazy.

Kenzie Calhoun. Seven schools.

Three exclusions, four walk-outs, one school you even tried to sue.

- Well, they said I was mental.

- No, they said you were sociopathic.

Another describes you as "antisocial"

and a third mentions "kleptomaniac tendencies."

- Is "complete nutjob" in there too? - Shut up.

- You don't seem to have stayed in one school long enough

for anyone to have really made sense of you.

- You're running out of chances. Both of you.

We're it - your last chance.

- Whoopee.

- We're prepared to draw a line in the sand and move on.

Are you?

- What's going on with you two, anyway?

You were both briefly at St Dominic's, right? What happened?

- I dunno.

All I know is she tried to punch me in the playground today.

All I did was say hi.

- Is that true? - Not exactly.

- We have a zero-tolerance policy to violence around here.

- But you're OK with bullying?

- No, of course we're not OK with bullying.

- Well, then, why'd you take him in, then?

Cos that's what he is. And you're OK with that?

- You don't get to decide who comes to this school.

- All children have the right to be able to

give their opinion when an adult is making a decision that will

affect them, and all adults should take them seriously.

Unicef. Charter of Rights for Children. Article 12.

- KNOCK ON DOOR

- Couple of things, the, eh, council...

- Can wait.

- Oh. And your Bradley Wiggins fella

and his coach are at the schoolhouse, then headed over here.

I told 'em you'll catch up with them when you can.

- All right, thank you.

Let's hope he's less of a challenge than you two.

Welcome. - Hi.

- You must be Dale, right? - Yeah.

Bit of a dump, isn't it?

- Not exactly tactful are you, bonnie lad?

- Like I explained on the phone, he's only focused on one thing -

long-distance road cycling.

- And breaking the law, from what I gather.

- That was a one-off.

Can we see what you've got in the way of facilities?

- You do realise this is Greenock and not the Olympic Village?

SHE CHUCKLES

'Scuse me, ladies. Head teacher coming through. Thank you.

- Oh, Vaughan, just wanted to ask about my new English teacher?

- You're looking at him. - No, I don't mean a stand in.

- Neither do I.

- You? How long has it been since you taught?

- The contemporary author at that time, I think, was Chaucer.

Hasn't changed much, has it? My first class is S5.

I thought I might hit them with The Wasp Factory, what do you think?

- Bit progressive for them maybe? - Progressive?

Progressive...is my middle name!

- OK, your English resit is this...

OK, no, hang on, it must be this way.

- Take it you're not a geography teacher then?

- Maybe I'm a bit dazed after the left hook you gave me.

Want to tell me what's going on with you and Scott?

- Want to tell me why you didn't dob me in for the punch?

- Well, for one thing, it wasn't me you were aiming at.

But also, in my experience, women tend to get violent for a reason.

I'd rather find out what that reason is.

Care to explain? - Not really.

- Oh, Mrs Mulgrew, right?

- Last time I looked.

- Well, er, one of yours, I believe. Kenzie Calhoun.

- UNCERTAINLY: - Well, in you go then, Kenzie.

Thank you. - Erm...

Tread carefully. She's complicated.

Mr Fitzgerald and I are keen to build bridges.

- Oh, OK. Er, listen, if you need any tips or advice...

- Why would I?

- Well, just if... - I'll be fine, thanks.

- You are quite young for a deputy though, aren't you?

- Well, if you're good enough, you're old enough.

- So where were you deputy before?

- Edinburgh. Only not as deputy.

- Were you head, then? - Neither.

- OK. I see. Well, welcome to Waterloo Road.

And good luck.

Kenzie?

What are you doing?

- Nothing. - Exactly.

You're meant to be writing a list of texts you've studied before.

Well, you must know them,

because you've already sat the exam previously.

- MUSIC PLAYS THROUGH HEADPHONES

- Excuse me... can you take those off, please?

- Hey, get your hands off them! Trying to nick them or something?

- Who do you think you're talking to? - You.

So go and give an earful to someone who gives a stuff.

- OK. Cooler - now. - What?

- Oh, you'll like the cooler. Well, you better had.

I get the impression you're going to spend a lot of time there.

- Oh-my-good-God. Check him out - sex on legs or what?

What I wouldn't do for five minutes alone with that bod.

- I didn't recognise you earlier. You look really different.

- Do you think so? I wasn't sure. It's not too much, is it?

- No, you look great. Really, really great.

- Leo's not pestering you, is he?

- No.

- I can't believe it's the same person.

She looks AMAZING, doesn't she?

- Yeah...if you like that, you know...

look.

- Wow! Talk about Before and after.

- Hell yeah, girl.

From brown-haired buckteeth bore to babelicious beauty.

- Yeah. Yeah, thanks, guys. I think.

- Hotness isn't just about how you look though, is it?

I mean, you've got to fake it till you make it, right, Bonnie?

- Yeah, sure.

- Fix that pedal. - All right.

- So, how are you liking your own personal gym space?

- Is this place secure? Only Dale's bikes are worth thousands.

- What, for a bike?

In my day, you were lucky if you had brakes.

- Mr Spencer, nice to meet you. And you must be Dale.

We're delighted to have you with us. - Not very chatty, is he?

- He's not here to chat, he's here to train.

He knows the drill. - Ooh, the drill.

- Trials are in six weeks, so no distractions.

Isn't that right, Dale?

And you never know, if things go well, your school will have

a future world champion, and the press will be

all over it when he does well.

- WHEELS WHIRR

LOUD: We'll do whatever we can to help.

And in return, of course, Dale will have to meet...certain standards.

- He'll pull his weight, won't you? - I'm sure he will.

- He's not going to get very far like that though, is he?

Ahem.

- Fitzgerald? Teaching? Voluntarily? The man's clearly deranged.

- There's nothing wrong with teaching. I'm proud of my career.

- I rest my case. I mean, first the loud-hailer,

then reconnecting with the nation's youth -

he's going to be invading Poland next.

- Well, I'm very happy to take on this Dale lad,

but since when have we been a sports academy?

- You know, it does seem a bit strange,

parachuting in a new deputy who, I should say,

has never been a deputy before. - Mm.

Biscuit?

- Ah-ah-ah. Don't spoil your lunch, I've made us smoked trout salad.

- A bright-eyed, bushy-tailed deputy with no experience

isn't a good idea, is it?

"Mr Fitzgerald and myself"(!) She's all over the place,

and she's only about, what, 12?

- I'm 32, actually.

- Tumbleweed, anyone?

- About the new intake... - Mm.

The one you sent to me clearly has behavioural issues.

- Kenzie presents a fresh challenge. - No, she has behavioural issues.

Which we can deal with, of course,

but some sort of explanation would be nice. - Mr Fitz...

WE are implementing a new strategy whereby Waterloo Road

holds out an olive branch to difficult pupils.

And we hope that any challenge those new pupils do bring will

be met without the default settings of discipline,

like sending them to the cooler.

- Excuse me?

- Mrs Mulgrew, if you find the new strategy a daunting prospect

and need some support, my door is always open.

- And if you need some friendly advice on how to manage your staff...

so is mine.

- BELL RINGS

End of round one.

If a surveyor so much as sets foot on school property,

I will kick them off.

How's it going on the front line?

- So-so. Kenzie Calhoun's already made it to the cooler.

- Ah, she didn't hang about.

Olga?

Hi! Erm... This is my new deputy head, Lorna Hutchinson.

Lorna, this is my wife.

Well, ex-wife. - Still wife, actually. - Well, separated.

- Nice to meet you.

- What's going on? Only I am in the middle of the first day of term.

- I know. I'm the supply teacher.

- Are you seriously going to do this? - If you mean earn a living, yes.

- No, I mean get back at me.

- I'm here to teach! I'm better and I want my career back.

- What about the kids? Have you thought about them?

- Did you? - Look, I was just getting them back on an even keel.

They're doing really well, especially Justin. Therapy is going very well.

- I know. I don't see how my being here will affect that.

- Because we had an agreement - you would move back into the area,

we would see you at the weekends, we'd take it from there.

Suddenly you're here! - I got a phone call!

- What if they think you're going to move back with us? With me?

- This is so not about you. I do a shift, I leave.

If you're not happy with that then take the classes yourself.

- I've got a lot of classes of my own, thank you.

- You haven't been in a classroom for years.

- Thank you for that vote of confidence. - Likewise.

- Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but bring back Simon Lowsley.

- I don't know where you dug your new deputy up from,

but she needs to brush up on her management technique.

- I beg you, not now.

Can I introduce our supply teacher for the day...

- Olga? - ..Mrs Fitzgerald.

- No relation, I take it. - Depends.

Does wife and mother of children count?

- Estranged wife. - Of adulterous husband.

- Today is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?

- Let's get on, shall we?

Could you show Mrs Fitzgerald where graphics and product design is?

- I'd be delighted. We can compare notes.

- OK, who can tell me about Omega-3s?

- Doesn't he get abducted by aliens in that computer game, Miss?

- It's a fatty acid, Darren.

- Are you allowed to say that?

- So, you're one of the new ones we've been hearing so much about?

Miss Calhoun, is it? Any ideas?

- Mackerel, Miss. - Mackerel. Very good. What else?

- Salmon, sardines, walnuts. Tofu?

- Tofu.

- They act as anti-inflammatories, so they help ease pain.

They also help balance chemicals in the brain.

- Mm-hm. How do you know that?

- Cos hers are all over the shop.

- Pipe down, Mr Big Shot.

So who can tell me about beans and pulses?

And don't even think about making a fart joke, Darren.

- Spoke to their former school, Kenzie Calhoun and Scott Fairchild

were excluded at different times for different reasons.

Everything OK with your wife?

- It's complicated.

- Relationships always are, right? - You in one?

- No, I, erm... No. No time.

Job to do, kids to teach, staff to alienate.

- Christine mentioned something.

- I get defensive when I'm nervous, that's all.

You know, you should talk to your staff.

They're unhappy about me, they've no idea why we're taking on

difficult pupils and they don't know

about the very real threat of a merger.

Whereas at least if you tell them, maybe you'll get them onside.

- OK, thanks.

- Sonya said the council called again.

What's that about? - Nothing.

- Is everything OK with Kenzie?

- A pleasure to teach. Don't know what everyone's going on about.

- Sorry. Accident.

- 'Scuse me. Cheers. Sorry. Sorry.

SHE GASPS

- Look at that peachy bum.

- Isn't that a bit sexist? Anyway, what you slobbering over him for?

- I'm not, what you on about?

Oh, come on, soft lad, you know I love you.

But just because I'm on a diet doesn't mean

I can't look at the menu.

- Nah, you can have what you want. I've got spag bol here myself.

- It was a metathingy, you muppet.

- Oh, right, all right, well,

I'm going to gawp at Bonnie then, all right?

- Wrong.

- Can I sit here? (Thanks.)

Leo's cute, isn't he?

- Leo? Er, no!

Why have dog meat when you can have steak?

Rolls-Royce when you can have Mini.

- Shouldn't that one be the other way round? - No.

Me and you, you and I, we can do so much better.

You just need the swag attitude to go with it.

- So what, then she could go for someone like Scott?

- She's had a makeover, that's all.

Punching above her weight a bit with him.

- Ignore her, she just wants him to herself, and that's NGH -

never gonna happen.

But you're defo in with a shout,

even if you are behind me in the queue.

(Oh, my God, don't look now.)

- Hey, how's it going?

- OK, I guess.

- Hey! Good to see you.

- Mum's teaching. Just for today. Is that OK?

- Well, it's a bit embarrassing having your mum here.

- I don't see why. You see me around the place the whole time. - Exactly.

- Darren! - Lenny!

- Wouldn't you rather be playing footy with that lot?

- Nah, not really.

Hey!

- Er...

- Idiots!

- Are you looking out for your housemate, then?

- No way. He needs to get off his high horse bike thing first.

- Come on, Lenny, remember what it was like for you and Lisa

when you first arrived. Think about it. And you.

- Mind if I join you? - Seriously? Not got any friends of your own?

- Actually, no. Looks like you could use the company.

- Do I look like a charity case? Why are you even here?

- Want to help you settle in. Part of my gig.

- And your idea of helping me settle in

is making me look like a teacher's pet?

Thanks a bunch. How does that help exactly?

- If you want me to back off, maybe you should stop shutting me out.

How's it going with Scott Fairchild? - How do you think?

- Has he given you grief? - Nothing I can't handle.

- Well, I'm here if you do decide you do want to talk,

or just let off some steam. Within reason.

How does he know your family? - What are you asking that for?

- Well, when I saw you this morning,

you were telling him what your mother thought of him.

- I thought you said you'd back off.

- Kenzie.

- Hey! Watch where you're going.

"All our lives are symbols.

"Everything we do is part of a pattern

"we have at least some say in."

- Sorry, can I just get some books?

- That is a quotation from the book we will be studying.

What do you think? Lenny?

- Bit heavy if you ask me. - It is a bit heavy.

It's about a 16-year-old called Frank, who's a murderer,

who's friends with a dwarf... Oh, and he has absolutely no genitalia.

Anyone know what the book is? Lenny?

- Is it Viz? - No. Lisa.

- Is it King Lear?

- No.

No, it's a book called... The Wasp Factory.

SCOTTISH ACCENT: It's Scottish.

PUPILS: Wahey!

It's about identity, gender, alienation,

uh, the feeling that you don't belong anywhere.

The central character, Frank, claims to have killed three children,

and lots of animals, which makes him what?

It makes him perfect...for Waterloo Road.

So, hang on a second, Mrs Fitzgerald, can I ask a question.

Are you and the head married, then?

- That's actually none of your business.

- It is if Justin gets special treatment.

- He doesn't. - Shut it, will you?

- Justin. - See? "Justin."

I mean, talk about keeping it in the family.

- Warning you! - OK, enough! Sit down, both of you.

- Does Mummy's little boy want to play?

- Leave it out, Scott. You're always so full of it, aren't you?

Always dissing other people.

Always showing off in front of sad little wannabes

with fake tan and push-up bras. - Kenzie!

- Kids who might have a pulse but actually have zero personality.

- What's your problem, you jealous?

Or are you just as lame as that sponging layabout mother of yours?

- Kenzie! - Whoa-whoa-whoa!

He's not worth it, all right?

- INTENSE DANCE MUSIC

SCISSORS CLATTER LOUDLY ON FLOOR

- All of you, sit down!

- I knew you being here was a bad idea.

- It's not my fault. Justin was provoked.

- He's meant to control himself. - He did.

He stopped that Calhoun girl from attacking someone.

She's the problem here, not him. - Kenzie's left the premises.

- It's no great loss if you ask me. - We didn't.

- Right, well, I need to talk to my deputy. So if you don't mind...

- I do mind. Can I at least be included in the conversation?

- Thank you, but we'll take it from here.

Olga, you are a supply teacher. Please, don't start.

We're lucky no-one was hurt.

Giving someone a second chance is one thing,

'being naive is quite another.'

- 'You brought me here to lead this process,

'you can't bottle out on it now.'

- 'I can if pupils are at risk!'

- A public row, how fabulous.

- 'No.'

We need to see this through,

and at the moment that's just you and me.

'Who else is there?

'Look at the alternatives.

'Christine - some middle-aged alcoholic with no ambition.

'Some fuddy-duddy old historian.

'Old Mother Hubbard running the boarding house,

'and a snake-in-the-grass French teacher who seems to have

'a pathological hatred of children.'

- 'I do understand. We're in this together.' - Turn it off!

Make it stop! - '..no-one wants this to work more than I do. Trust me.'

It is my idea and my plan to

'stop any sort of proposed merger with Havelock High.'

- Can you believe this?! He lied to me!

- So, the second chance policy was just all for show?

- It's a strategy.

I know it's a long shot, but it might just save us.

- No, stop, it's on, the thing, it's on!

- PA SYSTEM SQUEAKS

- Maybe this Tannoy system's not such a bad idea after all.

- I don't understand.

Why would Vaughan not tell us a possibility of a merger?

- So that we don't all start looking for other jobs.

- I can't believe that Lorna woman, slagging us all off.

Mentioning...sensitive issues. - I know.

Believe me, no-one calls me "middle-aged" and gets away with it.

- BREATHLESS: Um...

I'm sorry about that little... technical error.

I'm not sure if you heard anything.

- Don't worry, we heard everything.

Haven't been entirely straight with us, have you?

- When were you going to tell us that our futures

and the futures of the pupils were in jeopardy?

- When we knew more about it.

There may be absolutely nothing in it.

- We have a right to know, and so do the kids!

- Christine. - Don't you "Christine" me.

- You would have known in the fullness of time.

- Not good enough.

And you can tell that deputy of yours

she won't get a "second chance" from me.

- Nothing like kicking off a new term with all your staff on board,

is there, Vaughan?

- Ow!

- What you doing?

- You heard what that Kenzie Calhoun said. Who am I trying to kid?

- And what? You're going to let some gobby little mare

put you back in your box?

- Thought I could pull it off, but I can't.

Once a bore, always a bore.

- You can't give up already. Do not be a quitter.

That's what the old Bonnie would do.

I think the new Bonnie should stop worrying about looking hot

on the outside, and concentrate on being hot on the inside.

- Mother.

- Well done for not getting angry before.

But in future, can you not step in like that?

- Had to break the moment to get her attention, that was all.

Learnt it in therapy.

- What's happening now? We all doing something or what?

- No. It's not my night and I've got a ton of stuff to sort at the flat,

but I'll see you both at the weekend. That's OK, isn't it?

- All right, Dad? See you've figured out the tannoy, then.

- It seems to have turned itself on.

- Faulty wiring I expect.

- Come on, we should go.

- OK, I'll see you guys later.

- SHE WOLF WHISTLES

It was her, not me.

- Where are yous two off to then?

- Schoolhouse. Boyfriend. - Home.

Unless you've got any better ideas. Any plans?

- Nothing that can't be changed. If a better offer came along.

- What kind of better offer might that be, then?

- A Bonnie-shaped offer.

Do you fancy a walk? - Yeah.

What a day. Kenzie and the scissors.

What is it with you two? Did she dump you or something?

- No way. Look, don't be soft. Forget about her.

- But what, you two go way back, right?

What, was that another school, or were you neighbours or something?

- Look...I said forget about her.

- Someone might see. - So?

- Should we go somewhere else?

- What for?

- Whatever you want.

- You've got to be kidding me. What you doing here?

Did-did you bring the police?

- Not yet. We need to talk, so I thought...

- No, there's nothing else to talk about. I lost it,

you've got to get rid of me,

and I don't even want to be there anyway.

So, can you please just go?

- I want to speak to your mother. - She's at work. She works nights.

- 'Who is it?'

- Mrs Calhoun, can I have a word?

- What right have you got coming round here

and sticking your beak in where it's not wanted?

- 'Kenzie? Who's that? What do they want?'

- Mrs Calhoun. I'm Lorna Hutchinson from Waterloo Road.

- What's happened? Are you in trouble?

- No, it's OK. She just wants to talk.

What? Mum has ME.

Most of the time she's fine, but she has episodes.

- How long has she had it?

- Why are you still here?

MUFFLED: - ..don't understand why she's here. What does she want?

- I dunno, I'll find out, don't worry about it.

- No-one's come before. Sure you're not in trouble?

- Already? No way. It's probably just a social visit.

A getting to know me kind of thing,

with it being my first day. - None of your other schools did that.

- This lot are into that kind of thing.

There's been other new kids starting as well.

Miss Hutchinson's new, she's probably just making an effort.

You know what teachers are like.

- You would tell me though, wouldn't you?

- They just want to make sure I'm settling in. It's fine, really.

CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY

Back in a minute.

- Do you look after your mum alone?

- God, no. We get 24 hours round the clock(!)

An army of carers. Everyone in the neighbourhood mucks in as well.

No-one has a bad word to say about us.

All REALLY supportive.

What do you think?

- Why not meet me in the middle?

We need to do an incident report,

and that will stay on your file indefinitely.

But we have decided not to call the police this time.

And I will fight for you to have another chance.

But you have to promise never to lash out, provoked or not.

- Why are you doing this?

- My colleagues would say because I'm naive,

inexperienced and totally out of my depth.

But I think those books in there say different.

I think they say you do want to be there really.

- You had no right to snoop.

- You had no right to threaten Scott Fairchild.

Don't run away. Don't throw your future away because of some bloke.

We can get you some support here. - No, I wouldn't.

I can manage, I've looked after her since I was six.

- Six!

- Look, just... Just do one, OK?

- Whatever Scott Fairchild has over you, don't let him win.

- DOOR SLAMS

SHE SIGHS

- I should get going. - Yeah, me too.

I'm meant to be meeting some mates for a five-a-side, so...

- Sure. See you...?

- Tomorrow. I guess.

- RUSTLING BACKSTAGE

- Someone there?

- See you later.

- Oh, Kev, going to stop doing your homework, please?

You're giving me a headache. And a guilt complex.

- No, it's these graphic design classes they've got us

doing at Havelock. The homework's mental.

- You're like bikey next door. Obsessed.

- Did you not ask Dale to join us?

- No. He's too interested in his wheels.

- Well, at least he's got an interest, unlike you two.

I'm going to go wash my hair.

- What is up with you?

You've been a right weirdo since Bradley Leggings showed up.

- Stop it, you're going to have Maggie up here.

- What's it to you? If you want to go next door with him.

- Darren, shut up. You're making a total show of yourself.

- Not stopping you. If you want to give his "peachy bum" a squeeze!

- Now you're just being ridiculous.

- Am I?

Well, how's this for ridiculous? I've had enough.

Eh? Why do you get to stare at him

and if I even so much look at someone I get the third degree?

- I'm not listening to this. - Tough!

If I can't, then you can't.

You better like it, else you can get lost, end of!

- KNOCK ON DOOR

Come on, you can all get to your rooms.

And if there's so much as a drop of drink in here, you're all grounded.

I want you off my land. - It's not your land.

It's the council's, and we can have access at any time.

- Not when there's school in progress.

- There isn't. That's why we came first thing.

You'd know if you'd listened to your messages or read your e-mails.

- Day two off to a flier then? Anything you want to tell me?

- No. Everything's fine. - About Kenzie...

- There's no need to apologise. - I wasn't going to.

I went to see her last night. - You did what?

- Hear me out. Turns out she's a full-time carer for her sick mother.

Has been since she was six.

She's the adult in that household and she needs to be at school.

It's the only time she gets to be a teenager.

- And threaten people with scissors?

- For which she knows there will be consequences.

We'll get their parents to discuss it,

and she will have to undergo counselling.

But I looked at her file. It turns out she's never had

a proper educational assessment. We could at least give her that.

- One more day. - Assuming she turns up.

Any more aggression towards Scott Fairchild, or anyone else

for that matter, and I can't help you.

Those exercise books you stole, why did you do it?

- I wanted to catch up, didn't I? I was sent to the cooler.

- What about the ones from the other schools?

- Keepsakes.

- OK. Let's see how we get on.

- Hey, Bonnie, how are you? - Will you stop stalking me?!

- You're back, then. This time, if you're going to have a go at Scott,

can you let me know first? So I can get out of the way. - Maybe it'll be

you I go for next time. - Whoa.

Just trying to be friendly. - Don't do friends.

- Please yourself.

Stay out of my way.

- Likewise. Ah...

You made it back, then. You must be slipping.

- I'm not going to let you get to me any more.

- You're the one who attacked me.

You're lucky I'm not pressing charges. - You're no innocent.

- You should know. - Wouldn't brag about it. You were no great shakes in bed.

- Yeah, well, I've been around since then.

- Like I care. - Clearly do.

- No, all I give a damn about is that you made a fool of me.

You could have my virginity, I wanted that gone.

But you took it, you blabbed about it and you made me a laughing stock.

I'll never forgive that. But now...you can't touch me.

- Hey.

- Scott. What you doing here? Why aren't you in school?

- I saw Kenzie, she said you thought I was a loser.

Is that true?

Can I come in?

- Look at the state of me. - You look fine from where I'm standing.

- Darren? You were right about last night.

Are we OK? It's just you've been

ignoring me all morning and I'm starting to get worried.

- Yeah, well, so am I. You've not even said a word.

- Well, I thought you had the hump.

- I thought maybe I'd blew it.

- What? No.

Look, I've been thinking and you proper stepped up last night.

Very manly, I have to say.

- Was I?

- HE LAUGHS

- You'll have to tell me what I said then, cos I can't remember a thing.

- SHE KNOCKS

I need to prepare for my next class,

so if you're here to apologise for yesterday's debacle...

- I'm not.

I'm here to look at the work of one of your students.

Paula Collins. - Like to explain why?

- Kenzie Calhoun stole her English book.

I'm not sure why, so I wanted to try and figure it out.

- Do you know if it's something she's done before?

- Yes, at other schools, but before you accuse her,

I don't think it's to cheat.

- Perhaps it was to copy.

Kenzie kicked off when I asked her to write something down.

Have you considered dyslexia?

- Thanks.

- Even middle-aged alcoholics have their moments.

- OK. So, today we're going to do a physics test.

- On what? You've not even taught us anything yet.

- I just want to know where you're at. It doesn't count towards anything,

it doesn't matter if you get them all wrong...

just do what you can.

You can start.

You OK, Kenzie?

- MUSIC PLAYS THROUGH HEADPHONES

SHE RAISES VOLUME

Do you want to get her to shut up?

- Kicking off won't work.

Whatever you do, I'm not going to send you out.

I know it's an act. A strategy.

- MUSIC CONTINUES

- A way to get sent out so you don't have to...what?

- Are you trying to trick me?

You asked me to come back here today to make a fool of me?

No-one makes a fool of me.

- I'm trying to help you.

- I can't believe you did that. I trusted you.

- I looked at the work you copied. Identically. Why did you do that?

Says on your file you've been in trouble for cheating, stealing...

- So punish me. - No.

Because that's exactly what you want, isn't it?

Get punished, get sent out, but, whatever happens, don't get rumbled.

That way no one'll find out you've got a learning difficulty.

That's what it is, isn't it? You're dyslexic? Or is it dyspraxia?

Maybe you don't know.

- You haven't a clue. - Because you've never been tested.

You've never let anyone. Because you've seen how people treat

your mum with her condition,

and you think the same thing is going to happen to you.

Kenzie, it's OK, I can help.

I can make a difference. - You get off on this or something?

- Here we go, the eloquent defence. You're bright, you're intelligent,

you can stand up for yourself, you look after your mum single-handed.

- It's got nothing to do with my mum! - Well, if you won't talk to me

about your issues, maybe she will. - I said leave her out of it.

- Or what, you going to lash out?

- Who the hell do you think you are?

You don't know the half of it. You've got it all wrong.

- Let's talk about it then. - There's nothing wrong with me, OK?

- Something's not right, Kenzie. - Just stop it! Stop it, OK?

- I'm trying to help. - That's just it - you're not!

You're just picking at it like a scab.

Just leave me alone.

- Whatever it is, we can work it out.

What are you looking for? Something to grab?

What about me? Why don't you hit me again?

- I-I'm thick.

OK?

I'm stupid.

Don't you get it?

I...I can't read. I can't write.

I never learnt.

I fake, everything, I...

- Why didn't you tell anyone?

- Because no-one ever asked! And then it was too late.

I don't want anyone...

I don't want you, I don't want Scott Fairchild...

looking down on me.

- We can help you.

- I just want to learn.

- We can help you.

- The possibility of a merger with Havelock High is a threat

which we will fight with a second chance strategy.

We'll invest in lost souls.

We'll take on pupils no other school will take for whatever reason.

Pupils who will be a challenge for all of us.

But facing up to challenges is what this school is about.

It's a strategy which will give Waterloo Road a unique place

in the educational needs of the community.

- You are joking. This is a kamikaze approach.

Taking on reprobates, that will affect our performance

and make the merger even more likely.

- OR offer something no other school does.

It's high-risk, I grant you, but it plays into the ethos

of the school and it's something we should try.

There is one other thing.

The council wants our land.

- They own it.

- They want to sell it so they can fund the building

of a new state-of-the-art science block at Havelock.

- But if they sell it, then Waterloo Road will cease to exist anyway.

- It'll be razed to the ground.

- We can't let that happen. The impact on the kids would be massive.

Our pupils would get swallowed up and spat out at Havelock.

- Which is why the merger mustn't go through.

- So how do you intend to stop it?

- I don't know.

But I do know I need your help.

I thought I could do this on my own.

I was wrong.

Welcome to Waterloo Wheelers, our new bike bank.

It's for fun, it's for fitness - off you go.

- Agh! - Agh!

- Do you see Scott, like, out of school?

- What? Not if I can help it.

- I saw the way she touched you. I saw the way you touched her.

- What if I transferred to Havelock completely?

- We couldn't set that kind of precedent.

- I just don't think you should sacrifice his prospects

to suit your own political agenda.

- You bust my bike! - You bust my arm!

- Oh, you're not even sorry, are you?

- PUPILS: Fight! Fight! Fight!

- I'm sorry, mate. Come on, you need to say something, please.

You're going to be OK. Where's this ambulance?!

- There's been an accident.