Programme 3

Programme Outline

Ruby notices an advert asking for twin girls to audition for the starring roles in a new TV serial. She seizes on the idea as a way of escaping their current situation. Garnet is not keen on the idea of auditioning or acting, but Ruby is determined. 'Mega excited' at the prospect of becoming movie stars, Ruby tries to persuade her father to take them to the auditions. Dad is quite firm in his refusal, especially when he notices how unenthusiastic poor Garnet is.

Undeterred, Ruby continues to prepare for 'flashy film star' status by finding other ways for them to attend the auditions. Reluctantly, Garnet is forced to sell her great grandmother's doll for much less than it is worth and Ruby steals from Rose's purse to give them enough money for a taxi to the station and train tickets to Birmingham.

Arriving in Birmingham, they eventually find the venue for the auditions, shocked by the number of twins already lining up. Ruby realizes that many of the girls are from stage school and have specially prepared audition pieces, but Garnet is too busy being sick for them to practice and when the casting director (the real Jacqueline Wilson) calls them on stage, it is Ruby who ostentatiously improvises whilst Garnet cowers behind her.

By this time, Dad has arrived at the theatre, and angrily witnesses Ruby's performance and the humiliation of Garnett, who is unable to speak let alone act. Back at home, the twins are sent to bed, banned from watching TV, but Rose calls them down to see a news report on the auditions of the new series which is to be set at a boarding school. This gives Ruby the idea for the girls' next escape plan - together they write a letter to the head teacher of Marnock Heights - a real girls' boarding school!