- I've lost my daughter! - Ali!
Speak to Dr Meath. This time of year's always bad.
They never found her little girl's body.
It is her, David. I saw our baby.
Our daughter is dead.
That is not your daughter!
You took my baby!
Get away from me!
I'm so sorry.
Just over an hour ago she told us that in 1996,
a year before she met Steven Taylor,
she abducted a four-year-old child from a beach
and that child is Lori.
Dad! What's happening?
I'm scared.
Thanks.
Sit down, sweet pea.
- Lori! - No! No! No!
No!
- Lori! - Come on, if you want the toilet.
- Lori! - Come on.
Lori!
Sarah, we can't just hand her over.
She's my daughter. That woman admitted it.
We have to do a blood test. Social Services have to be involved,
the courts - there are legal procedures-.
- It's all to protect Lori's interests. - Alice.
OK? Her name is Alice.
Well, looks like just you and me, kiddo.
For a bit, anyway.
Come here. Come on.
How are you doing?
Right, this is the situation.
The swabs have been sent off to the lab, they will be fast-tracked.
Joanna Taylor is being kept in custody pending the results of those tests.
In the meantime, and given her age we had little control over this,
Lori... Alice...
has chosen to go back to her home with her...
with Mr Taylor.
Sorry, what do you mean, given her age?
She's 16. Legally, she's an adult- She has a right to make her own decisions-.
- No, she's 14. - She's 16.
Excuse me, I know how old she is, I know when her birthday is
and I am telling you that she is 14 years, five months and three weeks old.
She would've guessed, wouldn't she?
Erm... I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Lori! Lori!
Oh, you bastards!
- Just calm down. - You bastards!
- Get off me! - Calm down, Mr Taylor.
(Social worker) You'll be all right.
Well, nothings certain yet
but everyone seems to think that it almost certainly is Alice.
- When will we know for sure? - No, it is Alice, darling, I know.
It's your sister.
(David) Well, then, if Mum's right...
this is obviously a fairly momentous piece of news.
It's a very happy one
but one that is going to have a big impact on all our lives.
And we just want you to know that right from the start, we're here for you,
to talk to, whenever you want.
But as your dad says, we should all be very happy...
about this.
Will she come and live with us?
Well, of course she'll live with us. She's your sister, she's our daughter.
She's part of the family.
- What does she look like? - Oh, she is so pretty, Jas, so pretty.
You're gonna love her, I know it.
Whose room will she have?
Well, I don't know, darling, yet. We'll son these things out.
- She's not sharing my room. - Jasmine!
Let her go.
Jasmine, come back!
I'll go and speak to her in a minute. It'll be fine.
I think it's cool, Mum.
I never knew her but...
I'm pleased for you.
Thanks, Sean.
- What did you expect? - Well, more than that.
- Thank you. - So when can I see her?
Soon.
I'm sure. Very soon.
- OK. - Look after yourself.
Thank you, yeah, I will.
The results of the tests came back an hour ago
and confirmed that Lori Taylor is indeed your daughter, Alice.
So what happens now?
Well, obviously we don't want her in care any longer that is absolutely necessary.
Er...but I hope you agree with this,
for her to come and live with you immediately would be traumatic for her.
Of course, yeah. Absolutely.
So if she's agreeable - and her needs are obviously paramount-
we want to suggest a series of visits over a period of weeks and months,
which, if all gees well, would lead to her being able to move in permanently-.
How does that sound?
So when will the first visit be?
Well, we thought initially, we could put together a sort of folder about you all to show to her.
What, like a brochure?
- They are trying to help. - I know but I just want to see her.
I just want to hold her.
- That's not unreasonable, is it? - No, of course it isn't, Sarah.
We completely understand how hard this must be for both of you,
so, really, the sooner we can show her something the better.
This is Sean?
He's 12, nearly 13, now.
And that's Jasmine.
They call her Jas.
That's me.
I remember that bike.
I remember this.
Oh! Jesus!
I remember them.
I want to see my m...
I want to see her, in prison.
Hello, sweetheart
Thanks for coming.
I don't know what to say to you that can make anything better, Lori.
I know I did a terrible thing.
But I always loved you.
And all I ever wanted was for you to be happy.
Say something. Please.
How does it feel?
How does it feel, Joanna, to know you've ruined so many lives?
- Lori... - Alice! My name is Alice.
- Please! Lori! - Sit down, please, miss.
I want to meet my parents.
- OK? - Yeah.
If it all gets too much, tell me.
Sarah, hi.
- How are you? - Well.
Alice.
Alice, this is Sarah.
- Hi. - Hi.
I can call you Lori if you'd like.
Alice is fine.
Well, I don't know about you but I'm petrified.
Welcome home, Ali.
Oh, welcome home.
Should... Should we go in and meet the others?
Yeah, of course, sorry. Come on.
- This is David. - David. Hi.
Hello, Alice.
We're very glad to have you here today.
- Oh! - Sorry.
Sorry.
And this is Sean.
Hi.
Seany.
Yeah. That's Seany.
And, finally, this is Jas.
- All right, Jas? - Jasmine.
Nice to meet you.
OK, well, why don't we let Alice put her bag in her room
and get ourselves settled and take it from there?
- Good idea. OK. - Yeah.
Would you like to follow me?
I hope you like it
but I mean, if you don't, we can erm... we can change it.
It's bigger than our whole flat.
Whose is that?
That's yours.
- Just mine? - Just yours.
Well, listen, unpack your bag. Take your time.
And when you're ready, if you're hungry,
come and join us.
OK.
Am I what you expected?
Exactly.
You are exactly howl imagined, in every way.
You're...
you're perfect, Ali.
I'm not, trust me.
Do you remember me?
Yeah.
More now I'm with you.
More than I thought.
What do you remember?
The way you smell.
It's...clean, like washing.
Didn't know I'd forgot it till I remembered it.
Well, listen, like I said, take your time-.
- OK. - There's no rush.
No rush at all. OK.
So what son of school do you go to, Alice?
Ambrook. It's a bit of a shit-hole, to be honest.
- Sorry. - Don't worry, it's fine.
Normal round ours. Well, was normal.
It's fine. Don't you worry.
- Why's it a shit-hole, then? - Jas...
Why don't you like it, Alice?
Just don't.
Don't think I was out out for exams and all that.
- What subjects are you doing in the sixth form? - I'm leaving in a couple of months.
I didn't get any decent mocks, anyway, so, I thought, you know...
Well, you are in the wrong year, so if you wanted to, you could take them again.
- Mm. - Er... Not that bothered, to be honest.
Well, your school's great, isn't it, Jas?
I mean, maybe we could show Alice some pictures later.
OK.
- Er, Alice, we would prefer... - You'll need an ashtray, won't you?
I'll, er... see if I can dig one out.
Well done.
I thought you did brilliantly today.
Oh, thank you.
Sorry, I just... I don't want to spill this.
Come in.
- Hi. - Hi.
- I thought you'd like a hot drink. - Oh, thanks.
Listen, I was going to wait a few weeks to give you this
but, erm...
That's a little lock of your hair.
Joanna Taylor remained impassive throughout the brief hearing
and spoke only to confirm her name and to enter a plea of guilty.
No bail application has been made and she'll remain in custody till the trial,
which the judge set for just under three months' time.
You're spoilt! You fucking princess!
Posh bitch!
Hey! All right, moneybags, lend us a pound.
You off to your posh school, then? Babes, I'm sorry.
Leave me alone.
OK?
Yeah.
Good morning. This is Alice Hooper, ward of court
OK, in our favour, you were clearly mentally unbalanced when you took her.
We have doctor's records detailing repeat prescriptions for antidepressants.
The punishment you've already suffered as a result of losing Lori
and the loving home you've provided for her over the past 11 years.
And against us?
The victims - her, her family.
Her real parents, the real mother.
What you took from them.
What you took from her.
If the prosecution do their job well when it comes to trial,
it won't be good.
- She's yours. You can take her home. - Oh, thank you so much!
- Thank you. - Congratulations, David.
- Oh! - Thank you.
- Well done. - I'm so relieved.
- But it's your birthday, Alice. - Whatever.
A party'll be fun.
I've done a fifteenth and a sixteenth and they ain't all that, all right?
Well, you could think about it.
Why do you talk like that?
- Like what? - Like you're black or something.
- Jasmine! - I was just asking.
- Finish your homework upstairs, please. - Mum!
Upstairs.
- Hello? - Is that Sarah?
- Yes. - It's Joanna Taylor.
Thank you.
Thank you for coming.
You said you wanted to ask something of me.
You can probably guess what.
I wanted to ask if you could...
forgive me.
I know what I put you through.
And I am so, so sorry for that-.
Believe me, now I know what that must've felt like.
And that's why I hope you'll understand
why I'm asking you for something else, as well.
I don't know if you was planning to speak or anything...
in court
I wanted to ask... I was hoping...
you might say you don't want me to go to prison.
I'm not asking for me, I'm asking for Lori.
And I know she's angry and I know she doesn't want to see me at the moment
but I was her mum for 11 years.
And I brought her up and I gave her everything I could
and I think she'll realise that and I...
I think she'll want me to have a place in her life.
And I know she's yours now
but surely it would be better for her if I was there for her, too.
And I'm sure you understand because...
Well, we're both mums, ain't we?
No. OK? You are wrong.
And you are, frankly, deranged if you think I will ever allow you
any place in my daughter's life again.
And I wouldn't speak for you if my life depended on it.
- Sarah... - No, I hope they give you
the maximum they can.
I hope you rot in here.
Let me out of here, let me out of here.
Thank you.
Well, I think you should consider it.
I think it might do you some good.
- Do me good? - Are you happy, Sarah?
Because you don't seem it.
I thought Alice would give me back the woman I married but...
I want her to suffer!
Like I did.
I mean, that's what she deserves.
- Surely you understand that? - You don't think it's time to move on?
- Like you did, you mean'? - Sarah...
No, David, I found her because I didn't move on,
because, in here, as a mother, I knew that I was right-.
And I feel the same way now. Whatever I do, I do to protect Alice.
And I find it depressing, as her father, that you don't see that.
You have to speak to her.
Tell her...what you tell me.
How can you speak to someone that you don't understand any more?
I mean, I don't know her any more.
I'm not even sure I know myself.
There is no question that what you did was a dreadful thing.
The suffering you put the Hooper family through
is one that perhaps you only now understand...
...finding yourself as they did, 11 years ago,
robbed of the thing most precious to you.
I have no doubt, as your counsel has said, that you were not...
fully mentally aware of what you were doing when you took Alice Hooper.
But this does not begin to explain why,
once your depression lifted, as it surely did...
you did not own up to your crime-.
What is clear, however,
is that you and your partner brought the girl up
with all the love and devotion you could give her.
In my sentencing, I'm minded to consider both this
and the fact that no sentence I pronounce
can give them back what you took.
Joanna Marion Taylor, I therefore sentence you to the term
of five years' imprisonment...
...which term, after much consideration,
I'm going to suspend for five years, on the condition...
- No! - ..that you make no further attempt
to contact the young girl you once called your daughter.
Any breach of this condition
will result in your immediate return to jail to serve the full term of your sentence.
- Do you understand that? - Yes. I understand.
Then you're free to go.
(Usher) The court will rise-.
She took her once, she could do it again. Or something worse.
She is desperate, David.
If you force people into a corner, they do desperate things.
So it's my fault for not speaking for her?
- No, I'm not saying that. - You'd side with her?
I'm not siding with anyone.
I'm just trying to find a way forward, Sarah.
We're out of milk.
- I said we're out... - Yeah, I heard you.
Don't you be angry with me.
Don't you be angry!
What do you want from me, Steven?
I've said all the sorrys I can.
I can't give you anything more, I can't give you anything to make it better.
Is this it, then?
Is this how it is now?
What else is there?
I mean, tell me if you've got some great scheme,
please, please tell me.
- Was she all that kept us together? - I didn't think so.
Nathan.
- All right. - Yeah, but what it is...
Nathan!
I was just wondering if you'd seen her.
Who?
Lori.
Alice.
- Yeah. Have you? - Yeah, I seen her.
- You been to her house? - She comes down here, innit?
She comes back here?
A few times.
All right.
- (Boy) Yeah, send me it. - So how is she, then?
All right.
Does she know I'm out?
Don't know.
Does she not mention me, then, at all?
Sometimes.
Does she'? What does she say?
- Does she hate me? - I don't know what she thinks,
she's just messed up with it all, you know?
- So, you not been round to hers yet'? - No, not yet.
Rich, ain't they?
I bet she loves all that.
Going on Friday. They're having a birthday party for her-.
See you around, yeah?
- Hi. - Hiya.
- You're a bit late. - Yeah.
I went for a coffee with some girls in my class.
- Did you? - Yeah.
Well, that's great.
Which girls? Are they coming to the party?
Dunno. I haven't decided yet.
I'm gonna get changed.
Harley.
Seany, supper!
Oh!
Er, sorry, I was just grabbing these.
- That's OK. - I'll get out of your hair.
- Hi! Happy birthday! - Oh, hi.
Happy birthday.
Oi-oi!
- Hey! - Nate.
Oh, here - your mum give it me.
- Thanks. - Happy birthday.
Look, we didn't invite them, we don't want them in our house,
so let's ask them to leave, OK?
But these are Alice's old friends
and this is her party and if that's the way she wants it---...
- Right, and what Alice wants... - Oh, David, please don't make a scene.
Please.
Fine. Whatever.
It's your call.
- Hi. - All right?
- You OK? - Yeah.
Excellent, in fact.
Great party. Thanks.
Christ!
You all right? Hi.
You ever had one of these before?
(Man on TV) No, hold everything, hold everything.
- Tel! them it's a dessert - (Whooping)
I can't tell, I can't walk in these things.
(David) What the hell?
What's going on?
Listen, I had one sip and then I realised it was a mistake, OK?
Then I'm just struggling
to work out how you managed to miss our house being trashed,
our daughter taking drugs and the neighbours calling the police.
- Where the hell were you? - I went to the pub
because you said they were fine.
For God's sake David, just come out and say it.
- At least be honest. - Say what?
That if it wasn't for Alice, everything would be fine.
She invited them, it's all her fault- the house, Jas, us-.
Us? What do you mean, us?
Look, all I know is, since she came back, things have been worse, Sarah.
Not better - worse.
We'll get you a nice hot drink and then we'll get you to bed.
- On. - Hi.
Hi. We got a call about Jasmine.
We thought we'd come round to see how she was.
How you all were.
Well, she's fine. We're all fine.
Where's Alice?
Well, she's here, isn't she?
She said she was going up to the hospital, to see Jas.
I'll get Jas to bed, then I'll drive up there. We must've just missed each other.
I think you need to get some kip, Sean.
- I'm fine. - Up, now. Please.
Please, just...
He said she'd taken them loads of times.
Oh, Jas.
Listen, to me.
You are you, Jas.
You're you.
That's all you should ever want to be.
It's all we ever want you to be.
Oh, darling.
All we're saying is, it's not a problem to have problems
and we're here to help.
Sean shouldn't be left alone.
- We thought Alice was with him. - Sure.
Though it's not really her responsibility to look after Sean.
You know what, now's not the best time for this,
so would you mind very much if I asked you to leave?
Please let us know that Alice is OK?
I'm attached to your family, Sarah, not just Alice,
and if I see any child not being cared for properly...
- What is it? - What do you think it is?
It's from her. And you thought I was being paranoid.
- You thought I was imagining things. - Oh, Sarah...
This woman is evil, David, and she will do everything in her power to lure Alice back.
Lure her back?
If we keep on like this she won't need to be lured back,
she'll be bloody sprinting back.
My God, I can't believe you just said that.
For Christ's sake, would you want to live like this?
With a sister who can't stand the sight of her,
a brother who's got a bloody crush on her
and a mother who is so consumed with fear
that she can't see that her own family is falling apart?
Fuck you, David. Do you know what the real problem is?
A father who doesn't love her.
Oh, that is crap. That is absolute crap!
- Where are you going? - To find her.
To find her where?
Oh, God...
You will not destroy our family.
I swear.
Where is she?
- Leave me alone. - Is she here?
- I've got nothing to say. - I know what you've done
and I'm gonna call the police and you are gonna go to prison.
I can't stop her coming over here.
- She's been here? - Loads of times.
- No, you're lying. - She loves me. I brought her up.
- I was her mother, she still loves me. - No.
She hates you, she told me.
She hates living with your stuck-up family
and as soon as she's 16, she's gonna leave.
Please. No, please.
Please, please, don't take her away from me.
- She's my daughter, too. - I can't bear it.
- Please, please... - I'm sorry.
(Sarah) Please don't...
Where are they?
I wonder what she must've been feeling.
It's hard to believe.
- What happened? - The woman that nicked that kid,
she jumped.
I don't think anyone would've wanted her dead.
We don't believe she jumped.
I left her confused and upset
and unhappy.
I hated her when she was alive and I hate her now that she is dead,
for what she is still doing to my family.
Sarah, she's there!