"What Lies Beneath" is the 22nd episode in Series 5 of The Dumping Ground and the 89th episode overall. It aired on 15th December 2017. It is the finale of Series 5.
Characters[]
- Tee Taylor
- Johnny Taylor
- Elektra Perkins
- Taz De Souza
- Archie Able
- Dexter Bellman
- Sasha Bellman
- Finn McLaine
- Charlie Morris
- Joseph Stubbs
- Candi-Rose
- Chloe Reeves
- Ryan Reeves
- Frank Matthews
- Alex Walker
- Jody Jackson
- Tyler Lewis
- May-Li Wang
- Mike Milligan
- Mr. Umbleby
- Mrs. Umbleby
- Tracy Beaker (mentioned)
- Sally Lewis (mentioned)
- Edward Umbleby (mentioned)
Synopsis[]
Tyler and the YP face a desperate race against time to find the evidence that can save Ashdene Ridge.
Plot[]
Work on demolishing Ashdene Ridge is about to start while overseen by Mr. Umbleby just as Elektra pulls up on her motorbike after Tee texted her. Introducing herself to him and stating her knowledge of his nickname as given by the kids ("Dumbleby"), Mrs. Umbleby informs him that someone has phoned to check his email which Elektra states was her MP; the Dumping Ground is supposedly built on Roman remains which means the council is delaying the sale (to Umbleby's anger). While Floss tries to question why Mrs. Umbleby lied about them, donations are still pouring in though Jody states that they no longer need any. Infuriated, Umbleby goes to complain to the council while Johnny leaves to return to his army base since he's no longer needed and says goodbye and Elektra leaves without saying anything. Meanwhile, Umbleby attempts to voice his complaints but instead encounters Frank. While everyone is excited about the fact that Ashdene Ridge is supposedly built on Roman remains, Frank states that his boss is apparently away on a dig in York and they have stopped the sale of the Dumping Ground because of it supposedly being an archaeological site (the evidence of which is in the site report his boss is writing up). However, it appears that Frank and Elektra are up to something.
Back at the Dumping Ground, Alex is still annoyed about the fact that he's been believed to be the thief and was only let go due to lack of evidence but still has to go back the next week. Meanwhile, Umbleby has got Brucie (the head of development) get an archaeological expert in and is still intent on destroying the Dumping Ground (and go so far as to bribe anyone he can, which Alex overhears). Mike has also been on the phone with some news people who want to do a special report on Ashdene Ridge while the kids decide to be Romans. However, when Tyler, Jody and Alex go to see Frank who is in the garden, they find out that Frank and Elektra had made the whole thing up as real Roman remains can hold back building work for years and they needed to think of something in a hurry as it's worth it to save Ashdene Ridge. Although Jody attempts to object to faking a Roman villa, Tyler suggests that they could do a small one and they haven't got much of a choice. The kids decide to buy replica Roman coins online, but Alex thinks that that's not enough even though they don't have the money to get anything else. As for the rest of the kids who believe that it's all true, Floss finds a cup that she thinks could be a Roman artifact but is really just a music award Edward won when he was in school.
Mike prepares for them all to appear on TV and have some Roman-themed snacks made when May-Li states that the reporter is asking for Alex since they want to show another side considering the egging he was involved in. While Tee, Tyler and Jody attempt to look up how far down the coins need to be buried in order for them to appear as if they're the real deal, they find out where Alex has gone; the museum, with the thought of possibly taking some of the artifacts and making them look like they were buried in the garden. Meanwhile, Floss presents Edward's old trophy which Mrs. Umbleby sees, only for Floss to keep hold of it and still admonish her for lying about them (especially since Floss wanted to be friends with Edward). Mrs. Umbleby confesses that she didn't want to lie about the kids, but was "asked" to by Mr. Umbleby who has subjected her and Edward to similar treatment as he has with the kids. Edward even threw out all of his music awards before he went to the clarinet college since he didn't want to go, though Mrs. Umbleby was forced to ignore his pleas. Feeling sorry for her, Floss hands her back the trophy while Jody has to prevent Alex from stealing the artifacts.
Back at Ashdene Ridge, Mike and May-Li present themselves to the news reporter (the same one who interviewed Umbleby outside the home) and show them the kids who have been digging the garden for the "treasure". The reporter finds one of the coins, but she unfortunately knows that it's just a replica since it's shiny which is how Roman coins look once they've been professionally cleaned. Extremely angry, Mike tells off all those involved, telling Frank this isn't like the burger dive and he's just lost his job and there's nothing to stop Umbleby now. The next day, Umbleby arrives with an excavator to demolish the Dumping Ground while everything is packed into boxes. Some of the kids are left remembering about their time in care while several of the others are distraught about where they'll be sent; the only place suitable for Ryan and Chloe is too far apart from Candi-Rose who needs Chloe, while Tyler is sent to live with his mother who Jody is concerned will be put under more stress and end up in hospital again. Online, Tyler finds out about Umbleby's blog and through it that he's made seven deals throughout the year, though Jody too upset about being separated from Tyler to think about anything else. Alex then reveals Umbleby's attempts at bribery while Finn is worried about being fostered again, having already dealt with it.
With Frank, Tyler finds that Umbleby's also selling off his house to the developers which was left to him and Mrs. Umbleby by her Aunt Agatha and Brucie has made worthwhile. The two then realise that Umbleby has been trying to gain a luxury home through illegal means when May-Li calls the kids down; she and Mike have done Christmas Dinner for them all just before they go. Although Tyler and Frank know what Umbleby's doing is illegal, they can't find any evidence since there's no mention of his name anywhere. Downstairs, the kids are very solemn during the Christmas Dinner despite Mike and May-Li's attempts to cheer them up with how great their lives in foster care and living independently will be and that they'll all have a DG in them alongside their memories and friendships. Although Jody's upset that Tyler's not with them, he's in the garden when he's offered a "Christmas gesture" by Mrs. Umbleby; the money from the office that was actually stolen by Mr. Umbleby who knew about their campaign. She then informs Tyler that she knows how they feel about being split up since she misses Edward, but doesn't have the courage to stand up to Mr. Umbleby; the money was in his desk, having supposedly paid someone to do it and set Alex up. Mrs. Umbleby also states about how much she's loved living where they are, having spent her summers with her Aunt and "Granny Goodridge" who would be ashamed of what's going on which leads to Tyler realising something; "Goodridge" is the name that Umbleby's using to sell both homes and has Frank research it.
Soon enough, Mike approaches Umbleby about the fact that the kids are apparently refusing to leave without a fight. When the two go inside, the kids interrogate him concerning his dodgy deeds; "Cruickman" is the last name of his friend Brucie (or Bruce) whom he's involved in a house swap with to gain a free five bedroom mansion in his wife's name which is illegal. Mike and the kids then blackmail him into cancelling the sale, resigning from the council and getting Frank his job back or they will upload the information of his misdeeds online. With Umbleby furiously running off, the home happily celebrates Christmas with Tee, Johnny, Frank and Elektra as a proper family while gifts are given out to the kids.
Trivia[]
- The end credits feature Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade, rather than the usual theme. The very end where the CBBC logo appears is also edited to feature animated snow falling.
- Although an episode from Series 2 of The Story of Tracy Beaker was centred around Christmas and the special Jody in Wonderland was created as a Christmas special (though neither were actually set during Christmas time), this (alongside it's first half) is the first ever actual Christmas special set during Christmas.
- Christopher John-Slater (though now cast as Christopher Slater) makes a guest appearance as Frank, last seen in the series 3 finale "Refuge".
- This is the first time Tracy has been mentioned since "One For Sorrow".
- This is the second time a "previously" recap has been seen, after "Jody in Wonderland".
- This is the first time burger diving has been mentioned since "Finding Frank".
- Finn says "I didn't like it last time," referring to the events of "The Long Way Home".
- It is revealed Elektra did live at Ashdene Ridge.
- Although it's not the first time a previous care home was referred to in the franchise, this is the first time that the previous one was referred to by name.
Cast[]
- Connor Byrne as Mike
- Stacy Liu as May-Li
- Miles Butler-Hughton as Tyler
- Kia Pegg as Jody
- Lewis Hamilton as Ryan Reeves
- Connor Lawson as Alex
- Hannah Moncur as Chloe
- Carma Hylton as Candi-Rose
- Sarah Rayson as Floss
- Yousef Naseer as Joseph
- Emily Burnett as Charlie
- Ruben Reuter as Finn
- Annabelle Davis as Sasha
- Alexander Aze as Dexter
- Jethro Baliba as Archie
- Jasmine Uson as Taz
- Mia McKenna-Bruce as Tee
- Joe Maw as Johnny
- Jessica Revell as Elektra
- Christopher Slater as Frank
- Simon Ludders as Mr. Umbleby
- Alison Pargeter as Mrs. Umbleby
- Rayna Campbell as TV Journalist