The Daisy Chain Page #2

You have Daisy Gahan?

- We do.

- Is everything okay?

- Ah, well, now it is.

Come on in.

- Look, I can't find

any extended family,

and there's a dire shortage

of foster carers available.

She's lucky to get a bed.

- Maybe she could stay here

for a couple of nights

until they find

a foster family for her.

- No, but, Martha,

you're exhausted.

- No, no, I'm fine.

You know, it's Daisy

that I'm worried about

and her mental stability.

- But there are procedures

to be followed.

You're not qualified,

and she needs to be assessed.

- Well, she clearly

has difficulties.

I mean,

do you think it's--

do you think it's possible

she has something like autism

or something?

- Maybe, she's just in shock,

you know, after what she's seen.

- I'm afraid I don't know.

There's been no file

on Daisy.

- Yeah, but surely her school

had some idea?

- She never started school.

- [sighs]

- Look, can you get her things,

and I'll take her now.

- That's ridiculous.

- Come on, Daisy, love.

- I'll get her things.

- Do you like ice cream?

What's your favorite?

Chocolate?

- [screaming]

- Come on now, Daisy.

Daisy, stop it now.

Daisy,

you're all right.

Daisy, stop it!

- Please, just leave her.

- [screams]

- Daisy, it's Martha.

Come on, Daisy.

Daisy, it's Martha.

Come on.

Daisy, come on.

Come on.

[whispering]

That's it, good girl.

I mean, maybe, you know,

she could stay

just for a couple of days

while you get

a foster family for her?

- I'll have to speak

to my team leader but, yeah,

maybe for a couple of days

till she's settled,

but I'll be back for her.

Here's my card

if you need to contact me.

- All right, thanks.

- No one's going to hurt you.

[door clicks shut]

Okay?

You're safe.

- [over radio]

Hopefully shining some light

on what seems to be

a very common...

[tires squealing]

[tires screech]

[tires squealing]

[metal crashing,

glass shattering]

[haunting music]

- There was no sign of her

in the house,

not even a toy.

Looks like

she's been living in the shed.

Has she said anything

about what happened?

- She hasn't said a word.

Do you think

it was an accident?

- Petrol all over the place.

Would have gone up

like a bomb.

One of them could

have caught fire.

The other one

tries to help.

They catch fire too.

But what really bothers me

is why they built it

in a fairy ring.

- It wouldn't

mean anything to them.

- Yeah, but, Tomas,

they could have built it

anywhere.

And on Halloween night...

- [screaming]

- I'm going

to take her home, okay?

- One of us should stay.

- No, we love Daisy.

Smile at Daisy

like you smile at Martha.

Yeah.

- Tell Martha I sorted it,

though.

I bought only the best.

- [squeals]

Mine, my doll, mine!

- That's grand, thanks.

- Give me it.

Give it.

Give it!

It's mine.

- Oh.

Daisy?

Will you give the doll

back to Eva?

- Eva, love,

give Daisy the doll.

You promise to look after him,

don't you, Daisy?

- Say thank you, Daisy.

- Come on, Eva.

[baby doll crying]

- So what shall we call him?

[scissors snipping]

Shall we call him

Murgatroyd?

[giggles]

No?

Bertie?

No.

I like Eddie.

Shall we call him Eddie?

Okay.

I think it's time for Eddie

to have a sleep now.

Put Eddie to bed?

Good night, Eddie.

[baby doll cries]

Would you

like to tuck him in?

Here, there you go.

His new blanket.

Oh, no.

No, we mustn't do that.

If you look, the baby needs

to be able to breathe,

so we pull the blanket back down

and tuck him in.

He can breathe now.

I'm going to have a baby.

Feel my tummy.

Baby's saying,

"Hello, Daisy."

[man speaking indistinctly

over radio]

- Well, how long did they say

they're going to be?

- They didn't say.

- Yeah, okay,

we'll see.

- Easy there

with that rope, Jack.

Slowly, slowly, slowly.

- I will do.

Okay, thanks, bye.

- Okay?

- Oh, Daisy.

That's kind.

Thank you.

- [whispering]

Martha.

- Can you draw

a green circle?

- Margaret Lindsay's

had an accident.

Social worker.

She's dead.

They, uh, they want her

to go to the care home.

Daisy?

[plaintive music]

Hello, I'm Tomas Conroy.

- Tomas.

- This is my wife, Martha.

- Hello,

this is Ciara.

You're sharing a room

with Ciara.

- Hello,

my name is Ciara.

- Give me her bag.

- Daisy.

- Mummy!

Mummy!

[shrieking]

Mummy!

- Listen to this.

It says, "'Autism,' from 'auto'

for 'self' or 'same,'

"the tendency to view life

in terms of

one's own needs and desires."

It says here

they don't like to be touched.

Well, she touches me.

She looks me in the eye.

- No,

she doesn't look at me.

- Ah, look at you.

Where you going?

- I thought we might

go for a little walk,

maybe to the playground.

- I need to finish this.

- Okay.

See you in a bit.

Hello.

[woman vocalizing]

[peaceful instrumental music]

- Do you like living

with Martha and Tomas?

Do you miss

your mum and dad?

Would you like

to sit down again, Daisy?

Do you remember

anything about the fire?

- It was hot,

hot, hot, hot.

- Daisy,

did someone hurt you?

Who hurt you?

- Well, you have a lovely home

and a good support network,

and more importantly,

Daisy seems very happy here.

Ah, ah, this is Tomas,

my husband,

who I was telling you about.

- Hello, Tomas.

- Hello.

- These ladies

are from the social services.

- Hello.

- Well, there should be

no problem with the application,

and we'll be in touch

about her assessment.

- Okay.

- And lovely to meet you.

- Lovely to meet you too.

Thank you for coming.

- Okay.

Thank you.

- Very nice to meet you.

- Tomas, bye.

- Thank you for coming.

[door clicks shut]

- What's going on?

- I've had to apply for us

to foster Daisy.

- Do I have any say in this

at all?

- Yes, of course.

I mean,

nothing's been decided yet.

You know, there's--

there's still assessments

to be made.

Tomas, she needs a family.

- Is this about Chloe?

- No, not at all, no.

This is about Daisy

and what she needs.

She's happy here.

She makes me happy.

I love her.

- Hello?

Everybody,

quiet please.

Can everyone say hello

to Daisy Gahan.

all:
Hello, Daisy Gahan.

Two times two is four.

Two times three is six.

Two times four is eight.

- [giggles]

- [giggles]

Look at me, Mummy.

Look at me.

I'm a fairy.

- Why lock it

with your one inside?

- Evening, Sean.

- No one mixes

with that crowd

and comes away unmarked.

- Oh, for Christ's sake.

- She has Martha bewitched.

There'll be no room

for your little one.

- Stop it, Sean.

That's enough.

I don't want you

around the house, okay?

- Whatever you do,

don't say no to her.

- [giggles]

- [shuddering]

[giggling]

- Rip it.

Come on.

[laughs]

Oh.

[laughter]

It's pretty,

isn't it?

Daisy chose it.

Do you like it?

- Yeah, but this is

the baby's room, isn't it?

- No, no, the baby's

going to sleep with us

to start with, anyway.

- Right.

Hey, take it easy.

Let me do it.

- Thank you.

That bit up there.

[kids squealing]

No, Eva, come back.

Go on,

keep on going.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote