PARENTS AND TEENS: WELCOME TO MY WORLD

PROGRAMME 7: GEMMA AND GRAHAM

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00:00 – 07:40 Monday

It's a long journey from the backwater where Gemma lives to her school in Dundee. While her friends can enjoy everything the town has to offer, Gemma's stuck at home in the countryside, with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Gemma gives her parents vital help in their restaurants on two nights of the week, and she thinks it's unfair that she doesn't receive anything in return. For Graham, Gemma's still essentially a child, like her little sister. At dinner, Gemma's parents question her about a shopping trip she wants to make with her friends.

07:41 – 11:16 Tuesday

Graham wants Gemma to have the opportunities he missed out on, but she feels that he puts her under too much pressure. There are regular arguments over homework. Gemma hates being nagged, and she likes it even less when Graham insists on going over work she's done, pointing out where he thinks it could be better.

11:17 – 14:24 Wednesday

Although she'd love to do after-school sports like her friends, Gemma has to come straight home because her parents work in the evenings and can't collect her. Graham thinks Gemma can enjoy freedoms in the country that town kids don't have, but Gemma would rather have more of a social life. Her parents aren't happy about Gemma's friends, either, and are reluctant to let her spend more time with them.

14:25 – 16: 23 Thursday

Gemma's allowed to go shopping, but despite what he says, her dad isn't keen on her growing desire for independence. Her friends want her to come to a party, but Gemma has to work in the family business, otherwise her parents will have to pay for someone else to do the work instead.

16:24 – 19:53 Friday

The only activity Gemma's allowed to do is Cadets, but there's a mix-up over the pick-up time and Graham isn't pleased because he's losing valuable work time. Gemma's on duty in the kitchen again tonight, and will miss the party. She helps out every weekend, but now she's getting desperate to have some fun instead.

19:54 – 20:59 Saturday

Because of the usual problems with lifts, Gemma has to join in with her little sister's gym class. Graham wants Gemma to realise that her parents can't give her what she wants because of their business, not because they want to upset her.

21:00 – 25:00 Sunday

Graham's surprised to see how strictly he behaves in the film. Even so, he's not willing to give Gemma any of the freedom she wants straight away and can't see any way of making her situation less frustrating. He rounds off by asking her to do more homework. It doesn't look as if life will be changing much for Gemma in the near future.