All language subtitles for Waterloo.Road.S08E28.720p.iP.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-420D_track3_[eng]

- Nox Pharmaceuticals are criminals.
- Change the record.

- Make the school fee-paying and
you'll kill this community.

- Well, taking Waterloo Road back
under LA control is good for everyone.

- We won't let it happen.
- And just how are you going to stop
it?

- As long as the school keeps its head
down, we'll be fine.

- You should be ashamed of yourselves.

- You needed to know.

- On my wedding day!

- If you leave with him tonight, then
you are nothing to me.

- Scope the factory. Security, CCTV.
Everything.

- Too busy to take your old job back?

- Got the future all mapped out, have
you?

- Well, I don't know. I had a few
thoughts in the church today.

Feel good being back in the hot seat,
Mr Byrne?

- Look, Nikki did her best.

- Robert Bain. From the Education
Department.

- Are you expected?

- Yeah, I'm here to see Michael Byrne
and Lorraine Donnegan?

- Who's that?
- Give me a minute.

- Ah, he's here.
- Ah!
- Good morning.

- Good morning, how are you?
- Good.
- Thank you.
- This way.

- You're welcome.

- How are you this morning?
- I'm very good, how are you?

- Excellent.
- Good.
- Just down here. On the left.

Can I get you a tea? Coffee?

- Tea, please. Lorraine not here yet?

- She'll be here, don't worry.

- You know, I'm still surprised she's
agreed to this takeover.

Why would you invest all that money
then just walk away?

- That's multimillionaires for you.
Milk? Sugar?
- Just milk.

- Is your sister in yet?

- Oh, no. But she's just texted to
bump your finance meeting to 10.30.

- Why didn't you call me?
- I only just got the text.

- Well when she does get here, tell
her I need to see her immediately.

And two teas when you get a second.

Robert, I'm sorry,

it looks like Lorraine is running a
bit late this morning.

I was wondering if you could wait,
maybe till 10.00?

- Oh, yeah, I've got a free morning.
You could give me the tour?

The committee still want me to cross
the Ts and dot the Is. Problem?

- Robert Bain is here, Director of
Education.

Just...something weird's going on and
I just thought you should know.

Give me a call back when you get this
message

and maybe just get into school. All
right. Bye.

Lula, starting early?

- Big day, Miss. Trip to Nox
Pharmaceuticals.

- How's things?

- Yeah, it's getting better.

- Ta-da!

- Are you really cooking tonight?
- Yeah.
- I thought you were joking.

- No, I stole the recipe from Chalky's
MasterChef book.

Tagliatelle carbonara.

- Oh, aren't you posh?
- Well, it's for Dynasty, you're worth
it.

- Dynasty!

You've not been answering my calls. No
signal at your new gaff?

- Just leave it, Mum.

I'm...WE'RE trying to get on with our
lives right now.

- Look, babe, I know things haven't
been easy lately,

but come home. We can put things
right.

- Things are right.
- What, with that little weed?

- Kevin's been there for me. What have
you done, eh?

He's stood by me. Believed me

- I believe you too, babe. Course I
do. I'm here for you.

Maybe if you hadn't turned your back
on us, things might been different.

- Meaning?
- We would've protected you.
- And what, Kevin can't, right?

- He's hardly Arnold Schwarzenegger!

- Yeah, I know, but he's mine. And I
love him.

Go on, let's get inside.

- Aw, Dynasty, don't walk away,
please. Come home.

- I'm sorry, Mrs Barry, but she's
already got a home.

- This is you, isn't it? Turning my
daughter against me.

You think you're better than everyone
else, don't ya?

Looking down your nose, with your
fancy words...

- He hasn't said nothing!

- YOU leave my daughter alone.
- Mum? What are you doing?

- I'm sorry, Mrs Barry, but I've got
nothing against you.

- It's obvious you think we're scum.

- Yeah.

- Aw. He's got egg on his face.

- Very mature. Mum, get lost!

- What have I done?

- Dynasty's happy, Mum. Can't you just
leave her be?

- No.

- You're not going home? Barry, you've
got to stop her.

- Go on, admit it, Lorraine's
overcommitted.

Running this place must make a hefty
dent in her bank balance?

- Would you excuse me for a second?

- Mr Byrne. I'd like a word about my
Dynasty.

- I'm sorry, Mrs Barry, but we're
rather busy this morning.

- Oh, really? Well, that's a shame.

After all my family have been through
lately.

You couldn't just squeeze me in later?
I can wait.

Promise I won't get in the way.

- Sonya, can we see if we can
accommodate Mrs Barry later on?

- But you're really busy this...

- Sonya, any time this afternoon will
be fine.

And get Mrs Barry a cup of tea for me?
Please.

- Look, instead of us hanging about,
why don't we have this tour?
- OK.

- Miss, I couldn't sleep last night.

I'm just so excited about getting into
the Nox lab.

- I know how much you want the animals
free again, but just remember,

this is about raising awareness,
showing what Nox is doing.

- I'm going to take my phone in so I
can film inside.

OK, I'll see you on the bus, Miss.

- Lula, I'm not going.
- What?

- They can't prosecute a child. But
me?

Nox would make sure I didn't teach
again.

- The Barrys present a unique
challenge,

but thanks to the PRU, it's one we're
more than happy to take on.

- I'm looking forward to seeing it in
action.

- ..get a bit grimy, just stand them
up.

- What's going on in there?
- I thought I was showing you the PRU?

- Bob's your uncle.

- Apologies for the interruption, Mrs
Budgen.

Mr Bain here was keen to see what you

and your class were getting up to
today.

- Don't look too hard. I'm just making
it up as I go along.

- HE LAUGHS

- Everybody, carry on with your
shopping lists.

- We're trialling a new initiative
here today.

Mrs Budgen will use her extensive
experience in the professional world

to help with life skills.

- Well, well, very...holistic.

- I couldn't believe it when Mr Byrne
gave us the go-ahead.

They never had anything like this in
my day.

- We're using it as a bit of
curriculum down time for the
sixth-formers.

- This lot might be whizz-kids on the
internet,

but you give them a budget and a house
to run? Ha!

- Well, I think what you're doing is
great.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- My pleasure.

That's what the private sector does so
well - innovate.

- Hygiene with an "I".

- I'm so excited.

- It's a trip to a pharmaceutical
company, not Alton Towers.

- This trip is important.
- Why?

- Why? Kacey, we need to make these
people sit up and listen.

- And who are these people, Lula?

- Nox Pharmaceuticals. She never shuts
up about them.

- And this relates to Cathy's views on
love, how exactly?

- This means nothing.

What use is Emily Bronte

when there are things going on out
there that actually matter?

- OK, I think we need to have a little
chat.
- Why?

- Outside. Now. Please.

The rest of you, get on with your
work, quietly.

I was going to speak to you after
class but...
- But what?

- But we've thought about it and after
your poison pen letters last week,

we can't possibly let you go on the
trip.

- But I've said I'm sorry about that.

- Ms Donnegan doesn't want any more
trouble.

- She is only interested in how much
money Nox can make for her.

- It's none of your business where Ms
Donnegan invests her money.

The decision's been made.

You won't be going. I've got Mrs
Collins coming in to see you instead.

- No.

I don't want to see a psychologist.

This can't be happening.

- It can and it is. Now back inside.

Now!

- See, I think in Act One Macbeth's a
war hero. He's brave, honourable.

- Good point, Kevin.

- And that is why Duncan came to visit
in the first place.

- Yeah, but Macbeth uses the visit to
bump Duncan off.

- So you think that Macbeth is a
villain?

- Yeah. In Scene Three, it's Macbeth
who starts thinking about murder.

The witches never say to kill the
king.

- But they say he will be king, it's
his destiny.

- Yeah, but he could change that,
though.

- Could he? Isn't that what the play
is asking us?

Is our fate set in stone or do we
choose our futures?

- But that's in the witches' prophecy.
It can't be Macbeth's fault.

- She's good.
- Yes, yes, she is.
- PRU?
- Of course.

- Thank you, Mrs Mulgrew.

- Thank you.

- Well done.

- So what's happening with your new
friend? I'm feeling suspicious.

- We should talk. I thought maybe we
could go out for lunch?

- I'll hold you to that.

- I've got to...
- Go.

- He never takes her out for lunch.

- Maybe he's got something important
to say.

- Oh, she's been banging on about
weddings since Ms McFall's.

Since the Additional Support Act,

we've struggled to sustain a referral
unit.

Not something I'm proud of.

- Well, we'll be happy to be a beacon
of excellence for the other schools.

- It's just so rare to be handed a
school that's doing so well,

that knows exactly where it's going.

- We've worked extremely hard to make
a success of our PRU.

- And it shows. I can't wait to thank
Lorraine.

- Shall we?
- Yeah.

- There's only one Year 12 group for
English Literature, Mrs Barry.

- So?

- So, Dynasty and Kevin can't be
separated

if they are both doing the same
subject.

- They're teenagers. They shouldn't be
joined at the hip.

- I'd like to get started as soon as
possible,

the process is a little complicated,
so...

- I want to take my daughter out of
this place.

- Mrs Barry, you'll have to wait.
- No. I've waited long enough.

I bet you don't send your kids here.

- Actually, if mine were still young
enough,

I could think of nowhere better to
send them.

And from what Michael's told me, his
school's worked wonders with yours.

- DOOR OPENS

- I wouldn't believe everything you
hear, Mr Bain.

And it's not his school. It's mine.

- I can't believe that you haven't
discussed this.

- Robert, look, I'm sorry. I just
wanted you here to help

explain to Lorraine our vision for the
place.

- I have a plan for my school.

- Come on, Lorraine, this is your out.
Work on an agreement with the LA.

Robert's very impressed with what
we're doing here.

- And that's down to our independence.
- Do you really need the grief?

- Mr Bain, I'm sorry, but Michael has
clearly wasted your time.

- Yes, he has. I don't appreciate
being used, Michael.

- Robert, please...
- I'll make one observation.

Schools fail not because of poor
teachers or badly-behaved pupils.

They fail because of a lack of clear
leadership and direction.

And for what it's worth, I think

Michael knows more about leading this
school than anyone.

- Michael lives in a fantasy land
where private money is dirty

and infects everything.

It's called the '70s, but I'm way too
young to remember.

- Lorraine, can we just...?

BELL RINGS

- Did you get my voicemail? Can I
help?

- Just get him away from me for
starters.

- Lorraine, just listen to me.

HE SIGHS

Give me a moment.

- What's happened?

- He wants me to give the school to
the council.

- What's that?

- Don't pretend like you didn't know.

- Come on. My office.

Did you know?

- No. Mr Clarkson's just told me. I'm
sorry, Lula.

- Can't you talk to Ms Donnegan or
something?

- It wouldn't be appropriate.

- You talk about saving animals, you
talk about doing something to

stop their pain but as soon as it gets
difficult, you back down.

- There are some wars that just can't
be won.

If Ms Donnegan says you can't go,

there is nothing I nor Mr Clarkson can
do about it.

- Talk, all I hear is talk.

You know what, I don't need your talk.

- Shall we go in, Miss?

- Wait. Five minutes. I'll be right
back.

- STUDENTS CHATTER LOUDLY

OK, quiet, listen up.

We need everyone to be on their best
behaviour at the lab, please.

Remember, you're all ambassadors for
Waterloo Road.

Now, Mr Singh and Mrs Abernethy will
be supervising

and reporting back on any nonsense.
OK?

Harley Taylor.
- Yep.

- Kacey Barry.
- Yeah.

- Richard Barnes.

- What are you doing here?

- OK, so let them have your normal
phone, smuggle this one in.

- For what?

- Harley, film as much as you can, OK?

We need to see where they keep the
animals, how they treat them.

Then you can post it online after the
tour.

I've already set up the link.

- Lula, are you sure about this?
- Of course. Are you not?

- Eh, yeah.

- Good. Harley, don't let me down.

Please.

- Ah, nice of you to join us.

- I will keep checking the website.

- Now we can get on the minibus.
Quietly, please.

DOOR OPENS, CLOSES

- I know about the council.

Lorraine told me. Well, shouted it at
me.

- It's immaterial now. Lorraine won't
budge. The deal's off

She wants things her own way.

- So she's still going to charge fees?

Well, she's digging her own grave.

- I just wish there was some way to
make her see sense.

- Well, I can help you with that over
lunch.

Be nice to get out for a bit.

Lorraine's stubborn.

I'm not sure you'll be able to make
her change her mind.

- No, maybe I won't.

But perhaps someone else will.

- In a war, people get hurt. The
butchers at Nox.

They need to pay for hurting the
innocent.

- Mr Clarkson tells me

this passion for animal welfare has
come about very quickly.

Has anyone influenced you - a friend,
a family member, a teacher?

- I can read, you know. The internet?

I had enough. It was time to act.

- Coffee.
- Thanks. Got anything stronger?

Do you know, it feels like you're the
only one

fighting my corner here. I owe you.

- I support you, Lorraine, but I'm not
against Michael.

- What?! He went behind my back, he
had no right to do that.

- Have you ever considered the
possibility that

you're both as bad as each other?

- No. In my position, you have to know
you're right all the time.

- KNOCK ON DOOR

- Michael, he said that I might lose
my job if I didn't help him.

- You've lost me.

- Follow me.

- What's going on?

- Nikki, Sonya, could you leave us to
it, please?

- What is this?
- Just look at the picture, Lorraine.

This is the newspaper report from the
day we opened the school.

Breathing new life into a dying
community.

- Yeah. And?

- We did that.

You and me.

The council were going to knock this
building down.

Local kids were being bussed out miles
to the new Havelock.

- I don't see how any of this is
relevant.

- Tariq Siddiqui.

A lost kid that we turned around.

His parents could never have afforded
to pay for his education.

Jodie Allen. Now in her first term of
teacher training.

Look at the slogan, Lorraine.

From the estate to the campus. We did
that for her.

Kevin Chalk.

Up to now, he's spent most of his time
in the care system

yet he's the brightest kid I've ever
had the honour of teaching.

Liberty Gordon, Jade Fleming, Phoenix
Taylor,

the list goes on and on.

All kids whose parents have no money
that Waterloo Road has

sent on to better things.

- Michael. Cut the schmaltz.

You stab me in the back, and I'm
supposed to thank you for it?

- Lorraine Donnegan, aged 15.

She couldn't have paid for her
education.

Let our kids keep their school.

- Tell me a bit more about your
family. And the pastor.

- You told her?

- I had to.
- You had no right!

- Lula, please. Mr Clarkson briefed
me. It's nothing untoward.

- It was in the past, OK?

- That's not really what I'm getting
at.

Sometimes we bury things from our
past. Things we want to forget.

- I should not have sent those
letters. I know I was wrong.

- So you understand that actions have
consequences?

- Yes.

I behaved badly and I wasn't allowed
to go on the trip with

the other pupils.

- Lula, will you meet us halfway? Help
us find a way forward?

- Yes. That would be good.

- So we'll set up some more sessions
and take things one step at a time.

- Sounds like a plan.

OK, you can go to class.

- Thank you.

- Well?

- All right. I'll see you now.
- About time too.

- Right. I want to send a letter out
to all parents

and then I want you to call an urgent
staff meeting.

- Why? What are you going to do?
- It's none of your business.

And I don't appreciate you giving that
article to Michael.

- I never. He had it already.

Lorraine, I think you should listen to
Michael about the council.

Please don't be pigheaded.

- Who said I was being pigheaded? Now
just type, will you?

Right.

Dear Parent.

It is with much thought and
consideration

that I'm announcing today that
Waterloo Road...

- I want them separated.

- Dynasty and Kevin's relationship is
absolutely

none of the school's business.

If you have a problem with who your
daughter is seeing,

I suggest you take it up with her
yourself. At home.

- Well, that's just it, see. She's not
at home.

She's shacked up with Little Lord
Fauntleroy in some flat

that one of your teachers gave him.

- Mrs Barry. Dynasty could do a lot
worse than Kevin.

- What are you trying to say about my
daughter?

- This conversation is over.

- You'll regret this.
- I doubt it.

- I'm about to talk to the staff. You
coming?

- That head teacher is a jumped up
little plonker.

- So nothing came of the timetables
then?

- Looks like Mr Byrne got rid.

- Never underestimate my mother.
There's always a Plan B.

- Everyone. Can I have a moment? This
won't take long.

Michael's convinced me that my fee
paying plan won't work.

- What are you telling us?

- So from tomorrow, this is no longer
Waterloo Road,

but the Lorraine Donnegan Institute of
Excellence.

- What? What are you talking about? Is
this a joke?

- You swayed me, Michael. Kids like
Kevin and Tariq.

They can't afford a private education.
So they're all out.

- You can't do that.

- Just did.

From next term, there will be a 100%
fee paying enrolment.

Every pupil will get the benefit of my
expertise

and when that generation is out there
making millions,

you can all pay me the respect I'm
due.

I know some of you won't like my plan.

So this afternoon, I'll be in the
deputy's office.

You can either sign up or collect your
P45s.

- Is she for real?

- Just give me a minute.

- Blimey. Where did you learn how to
type?

- Isn't my fault.

Someone was leaning over my shoulder,
and putting me off.

- I'm going out for lunch.

When I get back, I'll clear my desk.

- But can she really change to fee
paying? Just like that?

- Yeah. It's her school.

- After us all trailing up here to
keep Waterloo Road alive, she's
killing it.

- What about the schoolhouse? The
kids? Where are they going to go?

- Clearly not a priority for Her
Majesty.

- Well, it's obvious what you're going
to say to Lorraine.

- I don't know what I'm going to say
to her, I don't want to

work in a private school but trying to
find somewhere new...

- The Lorraine Donnegan Institute for
Excellence,

where profit comes before people.

- Let's go.

- Oh, what?
- Just don't.

- PHONE RINGS

- Hi.

What?

Two of them?!

You're joking?
- What's wrong?

- Right, I want them all on that bus
and back here immediately!

I'll be waiting for them. The little
cow.
- What's wrong?

- Lula Tsibi and her little gang of
saboteurs have gone way too

far this time.

- Drinking at lunchtime? That's not
like you.

- Nothing else for it.

- Not exactly fighting talk.

- What's the point?

I thought I was building something
here,

asking all those teachers to join me
in Greenock.

And for what?

It's a disaster.

Not just for the school, but for the
whole community.

I'm handing in my notice, and I'll do
it properly this time.

- You're the best thing in that place.

The PRU, the exam results, university
acceptances?

It's all because of you.

You should be proud. I am.

Michael?

- I meant what I said. About moving.

- Yeah, I know, we...we can go
anywhere.

- Yeah, but that's just it, Christine.
I'm not sure where I want to go.

- We can decide together.

- Christine...
- We're a team, aren't we?

We're there for each other, we get on,
we have a laugh?

- Yeah. Of course we do.

- You've been my biggest champion.

- You know how much I care about you.

- Don't...

- Look, this isn't easy, all right?

Maybe we've just been there for each
other.

- I am still sober...
- That's not all because of me, is it?

We've both been feeling guilty.

You with your drinking and me about my
father.

Maybe it's just been an easy fit.

- Don't you dare.

I know you probably don't want to hear
it,

Michael, but I love you. There, I said
it. I love you.

Just a shame you're too wound-up to
hear it.

Excuse me.

A large glass of white wine, please.
- Christine...

- For me.

- You!
- Get off me!

- I know it was you behind things at
Nox.

- I don't know what you're talking
about.

- I poured my heart and soul into this
place and for what?

For the likes of you to throw it back
in my face?

Well, no more.

This is my school and I want you out
of it. Got it?

Oh, and just so you know, I'll be
increasing my shares

in Nox Pharmaceuticals as of tomorrow.

- You can't do that!

- Just you watch me!

- Thank you.

Did you have it all planned?

Lunch in a fancy restaurant, let her
down gently?

- It's not like that.

- You really shouldn't have bothered,
I'm obviously not worth it.

- Christine, I don't think that's a
good idea.

SHE SIGHS

- You were the one that gave me focus.
How could you do this to me?

- I'm sorry.

I do...
- What? Love me?

But let me guess, you're just not in
love with me?

- I wish I could find the right words.

Christine, you're an intelligent,
passionate woman

so I'm not going to lie to you.

You'd see right through me. In fact, I
think you already have.

I'm sorry, Christine, but I don't love
you.

Just trying to be honest.

- No, no, no. You've said quite enough
already.

- Lula?

- There's no video. And Ms Donnegan,
she knows.

- Sorry, Miss.

- We wanted to talk to Lula.

- We'll never get the chance now! How
could you be so stupid?

I could kill you right now!

- Stop it!
- I told them EXACTLY what to do.

How could they screw it up?

Are you happy now? Leaving the animals
to be tortured?

- Enough! Lula!

- Is she giving you grief?

- No. It-it's fine.

- You two. Cooler. Now.

I heard all about your little phone
japes at the lab. Move.

These animal rights protests are
getting out of hand.

You do know that Lula saw a counsellor
this morning?
- No.

- If there's anything wrong, I need to
know.

- There's nothing wrong, Tom.

- Good. Well, wish me luck. I'm off to
resign.

Have you made up your mind?

- I haven't got a clue what I'm going
to do yet.

- Hey!

Shouldn't you be in class?
- Just going, sir.

- Right, I want an employment lawyer
on speed dial, just in case.

This lot are precisely the type to get
legal with me.

Cheers.

I don't care how much it's going to
cost.

This time next year,

the school is going to be paying for
itself anyway.

- Lula?

I assume there is a class somewhere
bereft of your presence.

Make your way to it immediately,
please.

- You can't tell me what to do.

- Excuse me, young lady, but I think
you will find that I can

and I just have. Now, off you go.

KNOCK ON DOOR

- Audrey. Take a seat.

- Thank you.

- Right, let's get to business. In or
out?

- I'm going to stay.

What with Grantly and everything, I
need this job.

- I don't even need to ask, do I?
- Correct.

- I just don't know what to say. This
is so sudden.

- Actually, I'm sorry

but I think I won't be requiring your
services next term.

It's not complicated.

- It won't be the same without
Michael's leadership.

But I suppose Waterloo Road... Sorry,

the Lorraine Donnegan Institute of
Excellence

would be rather handy for me.

- Your home economics? Well, it's a
gimmick and the schoolhouse

doesn't quite fit into my plans going
forward.

- What about the kids who are living
there already?

Some of them have nowhere else to go.

- So I take that as a yes then?

Good.

No hard feelings, Tom.

- The feeling isn't mutual.

- All the best.

- Um, Lorraine's seeing people in the
deputy's office today.

- Yes. Yes, I know that. It's you I've
come to see.

I'm going to be staying on here

and a lot of our friends are going to
be leaving.

I just think it's important we clear
the air and stick together.

- I'm so sorry, Audrey. For
everything.

- Do you know what is worse than a
broken heart?

- No.

- Two.

- Do you know? We're going to make one
hell of a team

once we clear out the dead wood.

- I won't be part of it, Lorraine.

You haven't got the first idea about
teachers, about what makes us tick.

Especially not a teacher like Michael
Byrne.

It's his lifeblood and you're
destroying it.

His passion, his vision.

- His ego, more like!

- And the Lorraine Donnegan Institute
of Excellence isn't about yours?

- So you'll be wanting your P45 then?

- You just don't get it, do you? This
school?

We're trying to build lives, not put
bums on seats.

- Hang on a minute...
- Save it!

You talk about the business of
education,

but you just, you don't get it.

And it seems there's no teaching you
either.

- Just take it and go.

You'll be leaving with Michael?

- You've got one half of that right.

- What?

- I am leaving. But...Michael...

I couldn't care less what he does.

- Something happened?

- You were right all along.

He was always going to put his beloved
job first.

- You've split up?

Christine, I'm sorry.

- Don't pretend you have a heart,
Lorraine.

Everybody knows you haven't.

- Is it true that you're kicking us
out, Miss?

Guess it was only a matter of time
before you gave up on us.

But it don't matter, everyone does.

- I'm not everyone.

- LULA SCREAMS

- We can't go attacking people! That's
the opposite of what we believe!

- You are a fake.

You don't have the courage to do the
things that need to be done.

- What have I done to you?

I lost control of what I was doing.
You're vulnerable.

- What do you mean?

- Mr Clarkson told me about the
counsellor.

- I am fine!
- Lula, you need help.

- I don't care what people think of
me, OK, I'm not crazy!

- Did Lula put you up to this? Running
riot at the lab?

- She did but we think it's Miss
Fairclough telling her to do it.

- Mr Clarkson. We need your help!

- What's happened?

- It's an accident. I'm fine.

- I did it. It was me.

- What?

- Don't listen to her. It's my fault I
put her up to this crusade.

- I don't understand.

- The anti-vivisection protests. It
was down to me.

Her campaign was my campaign.

I thought I could control the
situation,

but everything's gone wrong.

You need help, Lula. Mr Clarkson will
help you.

Won't you, Tom?

- I'm more concerned with what we're
going to do with you.

- I came to the school with a vendetta
against Lorraine

and her investments.

I shouldn't have involved you, Lula,
I'm sorry.

- Lula, go to the pastoral care
office. Now, please.

- But, sir?

- Go on.

- I think we better go to the police,
don't you?

- Whatever you think, I deserve it.

- Well, Lula is my priority at the
moment.

But I'll drive you to the station,

and you can explain everything to
them.

- Am I the bad guy here?

- You really want me to answer that?

- This place is putting years on me.

- And I offered you a way to change
it.

- That's what I love about you,
Michael. You never give up.

- No. Not when it comes to protecting
the futures of my pupils.

- Our pupils.

- Does this mean?

- Call Bain.

Let's make a deal.

- DOOR OPENS

- Mum?

I just wanted to say,

if you and Mr Byrne are getting
married, it's cool.

He's good for you. You're happy and,
well, you deserve it.

What's wrong?

- KNOCK ON DOOR

Mrs Mulgrew? Mr Byrne would like to
see you in his office. Now.

- Thank you for joining us, Christine.

Er, is it OK if I call you Christine?

- Yeah.

- Ms Donnegan's changed her mind.

Waterloo Road is going to be taken
over by the local authority.

Leading a school in transition is
always difficult.

It requires careful handling

and the respect of both the pupils and
their parents.

- And the staff.
- Exactly.

- I agree. So what?

- I would like you to be the acting
head teacher, Christine.

- Michael is the head here.
- Michael is stepping down.

Anyway, he's too much of a maverick
for our LA taste.

You were Michael's recommendation.

Christine?

- It's...

I'll need some time to think about
this.

- Of course. Go and have a cup of tea,
talk it over with...

- Actually, no, I don't need time.
You've got the wrong person. Sorry.

- Michael's treated you abominably,

but you'd be a fool not to take this
chance.

- I'm not up to it, Audrey.

- Oh, yes, you are. What's the
alternative?

Crying in your cups all day?

You step up to the mark.

You take this biggest challenge of
your life.

- Christine.

- Do you think that makes it OK to
treat me like this?

Throw me a bone, make me head teacher

and everything will be all right?

- No, I recommended you because I
think you'll be a great leader.

You know I would never compromise the
children's education

by recommending a second-rater.

The job is yours, Christine. Please.

Mrs Collins will be able to see you
again tomorrow.

Ms Fairclough and I are going to the
police station after school.

What Ms Fairclough did was wrong. She
knows that.

And I think you do too.

- What's going to happen to her?
- She's going to get help.

But you need to concentrate on your
future, Lula.

- What about the animals?

- Well, I'm not saying turn your back
on the cause.

But there are other less extreme ways
of getting your point across.

Maybe we could organise a class
debate.

See if we can't convert the
non-believers.

Esther?

BELL RINGS

- Everyone, I know the bell's gone so
thanks for staying behind.

We've all been through the mill over
the past few weeks and the

priority now is to restore stability
so we can all do what you do best.

That is to learn and to teach.

Mr Byrne and I are leaving the school.

- STUDENTS GASP

But, Mr Byrne, you can't leave. You're
the best head teacher ever.

- Don't go, sir. Stay.

- Please, sir. Stay! Stay...

- CHANTING

Stay, stay, stay, stay!

Stay, stay, stay, stay!

OK, OK, calm it down, calm it down.

Take your seats, come on, thank you.
Take your seats.

No, really, thank you, I'm very
flattered.

But the school's being taken over by
the local authority and

I suppose I got too used to things to
let someone else take control.

Now I'd like to thank Miss Donnegan,
personally.

Without her vision, her energy and her
tireless commitment

and let's face it, her money, we would
not have a school at all.

THEY APPLAUD

- And because County Hall probably
won't, and because I want to,

I'm going to keep on funding Mrs
Budgen and the school boarding house.

- THEY APPLAUD

It is with great pleasure that I can
tell you

that your new acting head will be Mrs
Mulgrew.

- Did you know?
- Effective immediately.
- Don't you think I would have said?

- Where is she?
- Michael's office.

- I'll be leaving you soon, but before
I do, I want to say a few words.

You've all achieved so much this year
and I know that

under Mrs Mulgrew's leadership,

you'll go on and achieve so much more.

I'm proud of you.

But Waterloo Road isn't about who sits
in the head's office.

No, it's about you guys.

And your classrooms. The PRU. And in
the staffroom.

You're the lifeblood of this place.

Pupils and teachers.

You're what makes this place tick.

I'd like you all to remember that.

Mr Bain here thinks that you could be
the best school in the county.

I know that you already are. Thank
you.

THEY ALL APPLAUD

- Ah, here we are. Never miss a photo
opportunity, Robert.

Right, all get in. Come on! Get behind
us! That's it.

Ready? Right!

Three, two, one! Smile!

- It's done.

- Don't go.

- I'm sorry.

- Lorraine?

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Did I just do the right thing?

- Yeah. You always do.

- Except with us, eh?

- Ancient history.

I'll see you around.
- I better go.

- Lula!

- LORRAINE: Yeah, thank you very much.
I can't wait.

- Are we OK?

- I think we will be.

What now?

- Babe...
- Mum, I don't want to hear it.

- I got us on the Julian Noble show.

I called them, told them our story.
They want us on.

They think Julian can help us sort out
this mess.

- You have got to be kidding.

- What? The whole country gets to see

what a car crash of a mother you are
on TV?

Win-win, I'd say. Right enough. We're
in.

- No way.
- Good

- Bring it on!

- Mum?

Come here.

- Just me and you again, Connor.

Me, you and this place.

- Michael?

Were we a success?

- Well, we built this place up from
nothing.

These kids have got a safe place to
learn and grow so,

yes, I'd say we were a success.

What's next for you?

- Make lots and lots of money. You?

- Another school.

- If you ever decide you want a proper
job, call me.

- No, no, Lorraine, there's only ever
been one proper job for me -

running a place like that.

- Want a lift?

- No, I'm all right.

Bye, Lorraine.

- Bye.

- ENGINE STARTS

- I don't think that you and your mum
having

a scrap on the Julian Noble show is
going to be the key to our future.

- If she wants to go on telly slagging
me off, then bring it on.

- You again?

- Imogen can finish out the week and
then I'm moving her to Havelock.

- It might be a boycott, I'm afraid.
- About what?

- Me.

- Our next guests are a family from
Greenock who've stopped

communicating because as Mum, Carol,
says,

"My daughter's boyfriend has poisoned
her mind."

- CROWD GASP

- What's your problem with me?

- I think this school needs strong,
clear leadership.

I'm not sure you've got the thick skin
required for the job.

- We've tried every treatment
possible,

and now we have to discuss taking him
off the ventilator.

- Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd