Mike via old style video recorder:
Alright.
I think it's on.
[background noise fades into music]
All right, Reg?
Zara via video message:
Mike I just wanted to wish you a very, very happy birthday.
[Mike walking into his house unaware of his birthday bbq]
Wife:
[quietly, hushing the guests]
Shh, shh.
He’s back.
Zara via video message:
‘So gutted I can't be there in person-’
But I hope you have a wonderful day.
[Mike enters the room and Everyone is cheering]
We all do!
[Indistinctive Chatter whilst Mike makes his way around the party]
Will via video message:
‘Mike-’
[Cut to Mike hugging family members at his party]
‘We can’t believe you’re turning the Big SIX-O,’
‘You don't look a day over 59.’
Mike:
[spots zara]
Zara!
Zara:
[Hugging Mike]
- Surprise...
We proper fooled you.
[Music]
Mike:
You sure did.
Chris:
[Taking off a face mask]
Happy Birthday, Dad!
Mike:
[Hugging Chris]
- Chris! So lovely to see you mate
Chris:
[Hugging Will]
Will, how you doing, mate?
Will:
I hope you’ve got plenty of veggie burgers ready.
[Mike cooing over Will’s Baby]
Chris:
Don’t worry, mate we’re on it. BBq’s on...
Mike:
‘Uh BBQ that’s my domain!’
[Walking over to the grill]
Will via video:
You know...
‘It's hard to put things into words.’
‘But I'll try.’
[Small boy, younger Will knocking on the door with a black sack of clothes]
[Shot of older Will washing his hands then walking ot his childhood bedroom]
Young Will:
[sat on the bed getting frustrated with Mike putting his clothes away]
What is the point?!
Mike:
[Finishing putting his clothes away]
Just... pop down for some dinner
when you're ready.
[Young Will frustrated on his bed]
[Older Will reminiscing in the same spot]
Zara:
[Wandering over to the bird feeder]
When I first came to stay with you,
I was so nervous.
Mike:
[Showing young Zara the bird feeder]
We get plenty of sparrow
and maybe, if we’re lucky, a goldfinch.
Young Zara:
[Frustrated]
Can we go in now?
I’ve had enough.
Mike:
Ketchup?
Young Zara:
- Put it on the bun, not the burger.
That's how my dad used to do it, it’s way better.
[Mike squeezing ketchup on the Bun and smiling, trying to make Zara feel at home]
[Older Mike handing Older Zara a burger, the way she likes it]
[Zara smiling and thanking Mike]
Mike:
[Teaching Zara guitar]
Play an E minor
Older Zara:
‘But I have such great memories of that time.’
[Young Zara playing the chords on the guitar]
Younger Chris:
You're a natural
You’re not a bad teacher are you, Dad?
Older Zara:
[Smiling at Mike whilst he talks to her]
‘And I hope you do, too.’
[Mike and Will flipping Burgers]
Older Chris:
Hey, you have got to see this.
[Hands Mike a video tape]
I found it in the loft.
Younger Mike on Tv via Video tape as seen in the beginning:
‘I think it's on.’
Older Chris watching Tv with Will:
Watch this, mate.
[Turns to TV with video tape playing]
Young Will:
‘Woohoo... camping!’
Older Chris:
I forgot we even filmed it.
Young Chris via Video Tape:
You alright, Will?
Young Will via video tape:
Yeah
[Video plays camping montage of the boys]
Younger Chris:
Here we are looking for exotic animals.
[Younger Will smiling]
Young Chris:
[pointing up at a tree]
Oh, up there.
[The boys in a pond with a net]
Young Chris:
Oh, haha! Look at it!
[Will lifts up a animal in the net]
Young Will:
- I got something!
Oh my God...
[Montage of the boys rolling down a Hill]
Young Chris:
Yeah!
Younger Mike in video:
Nice straight peg.
[Younger Mike helping younger Will with his homework]
Mike:
It’s alright, don’t worry.
Younger Will:
[Getting frustrated]
- I don’t get it.
What am I meant to do? It’s stupid.
Mike:
It's okay.
[Cut back to video of Mike and Will pitching a tent together]
Younger will:
Think I’m starting to get the hang of this.
[Cut back to Mike and Will sat on Wills bed trying to do his homework]
Young Will:
It’s not okay! I don’t get it!
[Throws book and pencil on the floor and walks out the room]
It’s just stupid!
Mike:
[In video watching Will and Chris put up the tent]
Well done.
Young Will:
- Thanks.
[Clip of them back from holiday and Mike watching Will hang his clothes up and smiling at how far he has came]
[Older Mike standing with the boys at the BBQ smiling at Zara playing the guitar]
Zara:
I guess what I'm trying to say is
[Zara playing guitar]
I don't really know
what would have happened to me
Without you.
[Zara and Mike hugging through indistinctive chatter]
Will via video message:
It's hard to put things into words,
[Saying bye at party]
but I'll try.
[Wife cleaning up after everyones left]
[Mike watching videos as his wife walks up to him]
Wife:
Y’alright?
[Mike nods and continues watching]
Will via video message:
Everything I've got,
[Will and his Partner with the baby]
everything I have now...
[Will and Mike talking]
I look back and well…
[Montage of different memories of Mike and Will when he was a child]
For everything...
[Mike watching the video on his phone]
Thank you.
[Mike smiling as words on the screen appear]
Words:
What you do with your Life could forever change someone else’s.
Foster for your local authority.
End screen:
Kent County Council. Kent.gov.uk
Proud Partners of
Local Authority Fostering South East.
Funded by UK Government
Lafosteringse.org.uk
03001312797