Jordan? Are you drunk? Please! Please, don't tell your mum.
Jordan, what could I do to you that
could possibly be worse than what you're doing to yourself?
She's gone. What?
Jordan?
No, now is not a good time.
To be honest, it'll never be a good time. K. Bye.
Mum, who was that? Oh, just one of them scam calls.
Who are you? What do you want?
Jess, I'm your dad.
You...
You're my Dad? Yeah.
You don't remember?
I was a baby.
You weren't a baby. You were old enough to run about, I...
..would take you to the park. I'd push you on the swings.
Mum said you did that.
Once.
It was more than once.
Like I said.
I don't remember.
OK. What else did she say about me?
That we're better off without you.
I guess I deserve that...
Yeah, you do.
Wait. Please, Jess. Will you just talk to me, please?
I can't. My friend's gone missing and I need to find her.
Maybe I could help you. No. Just go away. Leave me alone...
But I'm your dad, Jess.
You...you don't get rid of me that easily.
No, you don't get to show up out of nowhere and say you're my dad.
OK, look, I know. I know that this is a lot,
and that I have done this all wrong,
but your mum wouldn't give you my messages.
What messages? Just ask...
Ask your mum, OK? But I have been trying to put things right,
but she won't trust me. So why, should I?
BECAUSE...
Cos you're my daughter...
..and I really want to be a part of your life,
and I will do anything to make that happen,
and you don't have to believe me, but it's the truth.
I do believe you.
I just don't care.
Jordan?
She's not here. I've looked everywhere.
She's not hiding upstairs either.
Tracy?
I told you not to come back here again.
Tracy, I've spoken to Jess.
You did what?
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I came here to speak to you.
Again? After I told you not to?
How long are you going to keep punishing me for this?
This isn't about you! This is about protecting Jess.
From me?! Look, no. I know that I've done a lot wrong. OK? Trust me,
and I hold my hands up to that, but I can't change the past.
I want to here. For you. For Jess. We don't need you.
Jess said that someone's gone missing? A friend?
That is none of your business. Tracy, it's my daughter's life!
Which you chose to walk away from.
Jordan?
Of course, she wasn't there. She didn't even have a key.
But I still hoped.
Maybe, if I waited long enough,
Jordan would come back.
And we could start again.
Jess.
Mum.
Did you find Jordan?
No. I'm sorry.
She's run away, hasn't she?
It's OK. We'll find her.
Will we?
Look, your dad told me what happened.
He's not my dad.
I warned him not to do this.
He said he'd sent you messages for me.
Yeah. He did send some emails.
And you never told me?
I was just putting it off.
I was testing him, I guess.
I needed to be sure.About what?
I told him if he wanted to be your dad he needed to prove it.
I didn't want you to spend your life waiting by a window.
OFF-SCREEN: I think we have to face the fact that
Jordan may have left town altogether.
How could she do that?
Tracy, check your purse.
I shouldn't have given her that £10,
but she won't get far on that.
I know it was in here. I know it. I saw it.
Oh, Jordan.
Just give me a minute.
JESS NARRATING: The purse was gone. Mum never carried much cash,
but her debit card was in there.
And when she checked her online balance...
£500.
SHE GASPS
What? This morning. First thing. Gone.
Did Jordan know your PIN number?
She writes all her passwords down in her diary.
I keep telling her not to.
Well, it's a bit late now, isn't it? OK, now we know the full picture
I don't think we've got a choice. We need to involve the police.
No. I promised her I'd help her.
This is helping her.
She's a child, she needs to be found.
But she stole £500.
Yeah, but nobody needs to know that! You can't lie to the police!
What am I supposed to do, Jess?
I don't know!
Listen, I'll call the police.
KNOCK AT DOOR
All right, Beaker?
Tyrone, You made it!
Told you I would. It's not that far. You OK?
No.
Don't blame you. 500 quid.
It was the only money we had left from selling the Cadillac.
At least you've got rid of Jordan.
She won't show her face after this.
No.
And you've finally met your dad?
What do you mean, finally? I never wanted to.
Are you joking? I would love to know my dad.
When you've got a mum like mine...
..you don't need anybody else.
But you said he sent messages. Don't you want to read them?
I don't want to upset Mum.
Does she have to know?
There's already an open investigation into Jordan Whiteley.
She's listed as a medium-risk misper...
A what? Missing person. I know police lingo.
I've played everything from WPC to Commissioners.
I hope you've got the choppers out.
Helicopters won't be much use, I'm afraid.
We know she took the train to London in the early hours.
She could be anywhere by now.
Exactly. We need specific information.
Who she knows, and where she might go.
And what is her relationship to you?
None. We found her living on the streets.
Did you know she'd been in trouble before?
What sort of trouble?
Shoplifting, vandalism.
Nothing gang related,
but she does have form for running away from care.
Can you blame her? I mean, they tried to lock her up.
So, you did know, and you didn't think to tell us?
I was just trying to help her. Is that such a crime?
You could be charged with abduction of a child in care.
What? Laws are there to protect people like Jordan, and I'm afraid
to say your irresponsible behaviour has put her at even more risk.
No, no, no, no. I'm sorry. I won't accept that.
Tracy stepped in when Jordan had been failed by everyone else,
including the care system, and the police.
She took a risk, but she did it for a girl she didn't even know.
We need more people like Tracy. I'm not too sure...
Peter's absolutely right. Now, on with the job.
In cases of this type, the first 24 hours are crucial.
Yes, ma'am.
JESS NARRATING: Meanwhile, Tyrone assisted me
with my own investigations.
Writing down your passwords? That's some weak security choice, Beaker.
Well, she trusted Jordan, and she trusts me, and I'm doing this.
What she don't know can't hurt her.
Wow.
Have you found it?
Yeah. Si Martin. That's my dad's name.
There's loads of emails here. HE WHISPERS: Quick, put it away.
Hey, you two. Er, Jess, the police need to search the flat.OK.
Hello, Jess. Where was Jordan sleeping?
My room.
We'll start there. OK.
It's just through here. Thank you.
Mum, can we go down the beach?
Of course. You two get some fresh air.
Hey, it's going to be OK.
Don't look. All right, whatever.
He's sent videos.
You going to watch them, then?Uh...
Will you watch with me?
ON PHONE: Hello, Jessica. Jess.
I have no idea if you're watching any of these, but I told your mum
I'll keep sending them for as long as it takes.
Er, to prove that I'm serious.
So, here goes.
Erm, Tracy, Jess...
..I've changed.
I'm not the daft young lad who didn't know what he wanted.
I'm your dad, Jess. That's never going to never change.
I know that I can't make up for the last ten years, but...
..er, I really want to try.
HE SNIFFLES
Are you OK?
Yeah, I'm OK. What about you?
What are you going to do, Beaker?
I don't know.
Mum?
Has the policeman...
Gone.
Are they going to find her?
I hope so. I don't know.
Come here.
They caught her on CCTV at the train station.
She made it to London.
So, they know where she is?
London's a really big place.
It's easy to fall through the cracks.
What does that mean?
Nothing. Sorry, I'm being silly.
We'll find her.
I love you, Mum.
I love you, too.
Do you want to talk about your dad?
Um.
Not now. If that's OK?
Of course.
Whenever you're ready.
£500?! I told you, that brazen child.
You're better off without her.
Yeah, but she's not better off without us.
Forget her, divvy. She don't give THAT for you.
But you know who does care?
My dad.
Right, so did you message him yet?
No. I can't do that to Mum.
If it was my dad, I'd want to meet him.
That's what Tyrone said.
See? You've got good friends. You don't need that Jordan.
SCHOOL BELL RINGS
We've got English. You coming?Yeah.
JESS NARRATING: All these months,
Mum had been talking to Dad without telling me.
Why shouldn't I do the same?
Phones away, Jessica.
If I see it again I will confiscate it.
We're going to begin today with a refresher test on basic grammar.
Make sure you all know your fronted adverbials
from your subordinating conjunctions.
JESS NARRATING: I thought this afternoon would never end.
I was desperate to see if my dad had replied.
Jessica Beaker! Aaargh!
What is it Patience?
A MASSIVE wasp. It's crawling on my shirt.
For goodness' sake, Patience. Grow up, everyone. It's only a wasp.
Well, don't bring it over here. Go away! Where is it?
It's fine.
It must have flown away. It's gone.
Hmm.
Funny how we didn't hear it buzzing.
Yeah, well, everyone was making too much noise.
Yes, I noticed. In future, Patience,
you will wait for permission to leave your seat.
Regardless of any such alleged wasps.
Back to your tests.
Concentrate.
JESS NARRATING: My dad must have seen my message by now.
After everything he promised, surely he would reply.
Is that?
Yes.
Mum? So. You've been messaging Simon.
Just one email. I didn't mean to...
It's OK.
It wasn't fair of me to keep secrets from you.
Your mum was only thinking of you, Jess. But from now on,
we're all going to be honest with each other.
This time, we're going to get things right.
I'm going to get things right.
What does that mean?
Well, we've agreed it's time for you to get to know your dad.
But only if you want to.
Your choice, Jess.
I'm really glad you said yes.
This doesn't mean anything.
JESS NARRATING: Did I want to know this man? How could I know that,
when I didn't even know him? It was all very confusing.
That is such a dad shirt.
Thank you so much.
Right, what we doing first?
Something not too scary.
But not a kiddie ride either.
Yeah, yeah. Not too scary, not a kiddie ride either. OK.
I know.
That way. We've got to... To the rides! I'll race you.
Good?How fast does it go?
Fast enough. Don't worry, you are going to be fine.
People are screaming. Yeah, course people are screaming.
That's part of the fun of it, isn't it?
Will you scream? Uh, yeah, I'll scream if you want me to scream.
Oh.Agh! AAAARGH! See, I'm screaming.
I'm screaming louder than you are. No, you're not. I am.
I'm screaming louder than you. BOTH SCREAM
Here we go. Here we go!
Woo. OK.
Here we go.Here we go.
Oh, it's higher than I thought it was going to be.
THEY SCREAM
OK. It's all fine. It's all fine.
JESS NARRATING: I hadn't realised how much I needed to scream.
THEY LAUGH
Oh. I feel sick.
Me, too. OK.
What are we doing next?
You choose. OK. How do YOU feel about going upside down?
Bring it on. Oh, yeah!
I was born upside down.
JESS NARRATING: In the end, we went on every ride, even the scary ones.
We stayed in the park until it closed,
and then said we can stay out even later and have chips.
This is never going to work unless you two can be friends.
Jess, you've got to understand, me and your mum,
we're not getting back together.
Duh. She'd never take you back.
Oi. I mean, it's true.
It's not funny. You broke her heart.
Does Cam still hate me?
Cam? She is not my biggest fan. I mean, I don't blame her. I was...
I was a very different man back then. I was...
..angry, and jealous. Me and your mum, we would fight a lot.
I wasn't even sure if...Yeah, she said you wanted to get a test
to prove you were really my dad.
She told you that, huh?
She tells me everything.
OK, well...
..did she tell that you I changed my mind?
What? Yeah, about the test.
Jess, I...
I couldn't get my head around being a dad. I thought that stuff happens
to other people. It doesn't happen to me.
And then the moment that I first held you, I...
I knew.
Knew what?
That you were my daughter.
And I'm so sorry.
I'm so...
..sorry.
You deserve a better dad than me.
You're all right...
..Dad.
Thanks, Jess.
That felt weird, saying that.
Did it feel weird hearing it?
No way.
It felt, erm...
It felt right.
So, um, there's a few things you need to know.
What things? Oh, it's nothing bad. Well, I hope not. Um.
Well, firstly...
I'm married, and I'm stepdad to two brilliant kids
who cannot wait to meet you.
But, that's...that's a whole family.
Yeah. I know.
And there's one more thing. There's MORE?
Last year, we, um,
we had a baby boy.
Alex.
I've got a baby brother.
JESS NARRATING: I couldn't keep up.
The whole world was changing around me, and I was changing, too.
I wasn't little Jess any more. I was a big sister.
Why didn't you tell me about my brother?
Your dad wanted to...You knew. He told me you've known for ages,
haven't you?
Yeah.You tell me not to keep secrets,
but you're just a massive liar. I didn't lie.
You didn't tell the truth. Why?
I don't know. Maybe I didn't want to share you.
You were jealous of my own brother?
No, it's Si. Your dad.
Now he's never going to be out of our lives.
I had to share you with Sean. And with Jordan.
That was completely different... What, because you're the mum,
so you have to be right all the time, even when you're wrong?
No. You're right.
I'm wrong.
I'm sorry.
Really? I didn't think things through.
But I'll do whatever it takes to make things right.
So, I've packed everything that you'll need at your dad's.
Make sure you suck on one of these if you start to feel sick,
and don't be afraid to ask them to stop the car.
Mum, I haven't been travel sick for years.
It's a long drive, that's all I'm saying.
And, I just...
..think that.
Gran and Cam!
Hi, you two. It's so good to see you.
I didn't know you were coming.
We said we'd pop round and keep your mum company.
And I'm going to cook.
That's the real reason I invited you over.
Please tell me those are muffins.
I'll help you. You take those.
So, are you excited?Yeah.
Are you OK?
Ask me again later.
Oh! You did bring muffins.
You can have one for the trip.
And one now?
Go on, then.
Cam?
Yes?
Why do you hate my dad?
Did he tell you that?
Well, he's being a bit dramatic. I don't hate him.
But you don't like him.
It's not him. Not really.
But, well, the choices he made had consequences.
And we all had to live with that.
What do you mean?
You remember when you lived with me when you were tiny?
Of course. Well, that was after your mum and Simon broke up.
And, at first, your mum was...
..very sad.
Like after Sean Godfrey?
Worse than that.
Much worse.
But, you know, these things happen. And your mum,
well, you know your mum.
She doesn't let herself love many people.
But when she does, she loves so hard she almost loses herself.
And it always breaks my heart to see her let down.
He...he didn't mean to let her down, did he?
No, of course not. I'm not saying that.
He was just a silly young man, but...
His choices had consequences.
Yeah, and no matter how young you are, your choices always do.
JESS NARRATING: Suddenly I did feel a bit sick.
I felt as if I was leaving my home for good.
As if Jess Beaker was going away,
and some other girl would come home and take my place.
Hey, Jess.Hi.
Ready to go?No.
OK, well, go get the rest of your stuff.
I can't.
Why not?
I'm sorry. I can't meet your family.
Why?
What's your mum said?
It's nothing about Mum. OK.
Is it me? Have I done something wrong?
No, it's not about you, either.
It's about me.
You said I could choose, and I...
I've chosen.
Please, Jess. I'm your dad.
I love you.
If you really mean that, then...
..prove it. How?
Go away.
And don't message me or Mum until I ask you to.
OK.
Whenever you're ready - call me.
You were out there for ages.
I thought you'd gone without saying goodbye.
I'm not going. What?
You were right. I don't need anybody in my life
who's going to let me down.
But, Jess, they're your family.
I've got all the family I need.
Come here.
THEY CHUCKLE
Move along.
We've got work to do here.