It's been four months since you left inpatient.
Yeah, I should bake a cake or something.
I know you're being sarcastic, but that's actually a lovely idea.
Too bad I was being sarcastic, then.
But it'd be nice to mark the occasion. You've come a long way.
What, you don't agree?
- I don't know. - Ah, let's try something.
I want you to name three bits of progress you've made over the past four months.
Come on, humor me.
You know I like my thought exercises.
Progress how?
Well, how about I start?
So you settled back in at school in January.
I'm here if you want any extra support, okay? Whatever you need.
Thanks.
Go get 'em.
Obviously…
- Hey, Charlie! - Charlie!
- Hey! - How you doing?
- Charlie! - Welcome back.
Take a five-minute break, all right, Charlie?
Don't push yourself too hard.
You okay?
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, I had a lot of help.
I still relapsed two weeks after.
I know. It happens. It's normal. We've talked about it.
But you continue to criticize yourself about it.
Does it weigh on you?
- Can you just eat half? - I said I can't!
- You're not even trying. - You're making me feel like shit.
If you're gonna make me feel insane, just fuck off!
I'm sorry.
Sorry. I didn't mean to.
Self-harm relapses are normal. They don't negate any progress you…
- I know. - You are three months clean.
That's our second bit of progress, isn't it?
Okay. Fine.
Happy?
Yeah, I'm delighted. So progress number three. Let's hear it.
I've done the first two for you.
Me and Nick.
I don't know.
No, no, that's great.
So you feel you and Nick have progressed in your relationship?
Yeah. I… Probably since that night of the argument.
I guess we feel a lot closer.
I mean, he's seen me at my absolute rock bottom
and hasn't run away screaming.
Now I feel like I'm in relationship therapy or something.
Save that until you're ten years in and having marital problems.
But I expect your progress has allowed you to deepen your connection with him.
If your intrusive thoughts have lessened,
you've more energy to give to your relationship.
More energy? Yeah.
I still feel like I've got a long way to go.
Still have a lot of bad days.
Well, you've experienced trauma, Charlie.
Yeah, but I really don't want to be defined by the fact
that I was bullied at 14 and had one toxic ex-boyfriend.
Trauma doesn't define you.
But it also doesn't vanish in five minutes, so…
so give yourself some grace.
And you've got people around you who love and care for you, so enjoy them.
Do you practice motivational pep talks, or do they just come to you in the moment?
Oh…
You know, they just come to me. I'm just a talented person.
Yeah, I think we're out of time here, so I'll see you next week.
Oh, and enjoy your birthday, and party hard.
Sixteen's one of the big ones.
How long have you been working on that?
None of your…
Elle, wow, this captures your spirit as well as your likeness.
Miss, how come you never compliment my work like that?
Felix, I'd compliment your work
if you could actually show me a completed piece.
She has a point.
Elle, I wanted to talk to you about something.
We've had contact from a local radio station about you.
- What? - Yeah.
They heard about your social media and want to interview you.
"Local young artist achieves Internet fame."
Okay.
Now, it's completely up to you,
but I want you to think about whether it's something you feel comfortable with.
- I'll email you the details. - Thank you.
Elle, that's so exciting. You're literally famous.
- I'm not famous. - You are.
I am not.
Finish your painting.
Welcome back from the Easter holidays, everyone.
Spring is in full bloom
while summer peeps out from the horizon
with all its endless possibilities.
So knuckle down, work hard, and… and don't forget to have some fun.
Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday! - Oh! Nick!
Are you ever gonna get tired of doing that?
Absolutely not, no, but I did get you a present.
Okay.
It's that Instagram-famous historian you like, Jack Maddox.
He's doing a book signing on Sunday. Maybe we could go after the sleepover?
- Wait. We get to meet him? - Yeah.
I love you so much!
Well, clearly not as much as Jack Maddox, but I'll take it.
Do I also get a birthday kiss?
Yeah.
We should… we should probably…
Uh, yeah, yeah. Not at school.
It's almost form time anyway, so…
Sleepover on Saturday though.
Yeah.
Mm.
- It happened again. - When?
- Yesterday before form. - What happened?
Me and Nick were making out, and it got really intense really quickly.
Then it stopped, and it was kind of awkward and overwhelming.
- Do you wanna say it? Or shall I? - No, I think he's nearly worked it out.
Charlie, have you considered the idea
that you and Nick are ready to take things further?
He's talking about sex.
Yeah, I know. I know.
And I know it's obvious we both want to. It's not like we've done nothing.
I mean, it's all been over the clothes, but sometimes when we're making out, we…
Ugh!
- Spare us the details. - What? I want all the details.
I'm just scared that he's not ready to… do anything more.
I'm scared I'm not gonna know what I'm doing.
And I'm scared he's gonna take one look at me and…
Well, when me and Elle started having sex, it was in the spur of the moment.
An outburst of fiery passion in the light of the New Year's fireworks.
Yes, we've all heard this story before.
Why you interested in Charlie's sex life, not mine?
Get out. I need to change.
- What? We're talking about sexy time. - I wanna talk about it! Charlie, why…
We know you like sexy time.
Everyone, uh, my parents are out,
but please don't break anything or be sick anywhere, please.
- Fine. - Yes, sir!
- Sounds like a note for Imogen. - How have I got this reputation?
- Drink that, you'll be sick. - Careful.
- We'll have another vomit situation. - Shh.
Just need a night off from everything.
- Ew! - What are you guys doing?
We're making a potion that the loser has to drink.
- Oh, Darcy, not crisps. That's so gross. - Ugh!
- Darcy! - You guys are gross.
Things have been awkward between me and Sahar since New Year's.
Like, we're still friends.
- I… I think. - Ooh!
I… I dunno.
Um…
Sounds like you should probably talk to her.
- Right. - I am not drinking that. No way!
That looks so gross!
Try it!
Charlie, we need a drummer for our summer-fête slot.
You're literally the only person we know!
I… I don't know. I don't really like performing in front of people.
Well, think about it.
That smells disgusting.
- Cheers? - Cheers.
- Ugh! - Oh, I'm so sorry.
- What is in that? - Everything!
- d Happy birthday, dear Charlie… d - Charlie Spring!
- Happy birthday, Charlie! Yes! - Happy birthday.
We love you.
- Who made this cake? - I did.
- Guys, do you like it? I made it. - Best day ever!
I can do it. I wanna try.
- We need a game. - Oh, yeah, games!
I have a really good idea!
- Would you like to play Never Have I Ever? - Hello.
Charlie!
Do you have a friend we don't know about?
Hi, Michael.
Happy birthday.
Um…
Sixteen is when everything starts to make sense.
Or when nothing makes any sense anymore.
Kind of the same feeling either way. Beautiful chaos.
Yeah. Thanks.
Uh, this is for you. I found him at a charity shop,
and he just had your energy, so I figured he belonged with you.
Also, it made me sad seeing him sitting on a shelf on his own, so…
Uh, okay. Well, um, bye, everyone.
Have a fun time!
Whoo! Bee-boo-bee-boo.
- So who's that? - It's Michael.
It's… Met Tori a few months ago.
Is he Tori's boyfriend?
She won't confirm whether they're dating.
- Meow. - Meow.
Meow!
Here goes. You're so tiny. You'll fit right in.
- This is big. - I know.
It's nice.
- Very nice. - You'd better put that down.
'Cause this needs to be Tao and Elle time.
Have you decided about the radio interview tomorrow?
I think I should do it.
It's a really cool opportunity.
I think so too. You're so talented.
- The world needs to know. - Stop.
It's gonna be a whole chapter of my Elle documentary.
Elle Argent, how are you feeling about your radio interview?
- I will pour my drink on you. I will. - No, no, no!
Things have been really awkward with us.
Yeah.
I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting recently.
I have no idea who I am.
I don't know much about anything at the moment, actually.
But what I do know…
is I don't wanna keep hurting you.
Do you hate me?
No.
I don't think I could ever hate you.
You helped me realize something pretty big about myself.
I mean…
I guess I could say the same about you.
But you know we'd be awful together, right?
Yeah. I know.
- I like us better as friends. - Mm.
- Can we go get crazy drunk now? - Yeah, let's go.
- Yes! - But let's start right here.
- Wine? - Yeah. That's your drink of choice.
Is it sustainable? I'm trying to do my bit.
Just drink it, Imogen.
Happy birthday!
La-la-la!
Whoo!
- Amazing! - That's the ticket!
It's Charlie's birthday!
Charlie Spring! Yay!
I'm sure you're lovely in other ways. How is it?
Aww!
- Hello. - Hello.
- d But, I guess, good for you d - Drink, drink, drink!
Have you started thinking about uni options?
Mm. Gap year for sure. I love staying at my gran's.
I think I wanna go to a super old university and study history.
Like, dark-academia vibes.
- Yeah, totally. - Mm.
I'm thinking of doing, like, business or politics.
Tara, what about you?
Uh-huh.
I dunno.
- Nick? - Uh…
I'll probably just try and get in somewhere local so I can stay here.
You want to stay close to Charlie!
Can we not talk about uni stuff right now?
- Think you could do long distance? - I hadn't really thought about it.
You're going to Oxford, aren't you?
You're doing all that Oxbridge prep stuff.
You're so smart. You'll get in.
Tara?
That was a good shot.
Tara?
Hey.
Oh, okay. I think… I think you're having a panic attack.
It's okay. My… my therapist gave me some exercises to help clear my brain
whenever I'm having thoughts that I can't control.
Let's do deep breaths together.
Breathe in for three.
And breathe out.
And breathe in.
And breathe out.
Let's do it one more time.
Okay?
We're in my house. We're chilling. We've had a few drinks.
But everything's fine. Everything's good.
Hey, Tara.
Hey.
Are you okay?
Sorry. I was just…
Just stressed about everything right now.
Charlie was helping.
I'm fine. I'll be fine.
That was amazing.
I'm so drunk right now.
Maybe you've had enough now?
I really like you.
I like you too.
Don't ever leave me.
I wasn't planning on it.
Let's, um…
let's get you some water. Okay?
Come here.
- I've been thinking about something. - Mm-hmm?
What's that?
You and me.
We could… do things.
What kind of things?
We could…
have sex.
I, uh…
I think about it all the time.
Yeah.
Yeah. So do I.
Do you?
Yeah.
I know I wasn't ready in Paris, but…
that was a long time ago.
We can go upstairs.
Char…
you… you're incredibly drunk.
When I'm sober, I'm scared that…
that you might just…
that you'll look at me and…
I… I think… I think I'm gonna be sick.
Oh. Oh shit. Um… Let's go to the toilet. Come on!
Wait! I'll hold your hair back!
Oh, I feel so ill.
Do you remember last night?
I remember running around in the garden,
and then we were in the kitchen.
And then…
Oh my God, I'm so embarrassing!
No. No, I'm… I'm glad you brought it up.
Yeah?
Morning, campers.
Mum and Dad will be back in half an hour. Just so you know.
Oh God.
Clear up before going to see that historian you're obsessed with.
I could make egg on toast.
I feel like you guys need the egg on toast.
Did he stay over?
Yeah.
So? I can have friends over too.
Mm. Friends.
- I'm nervous. - It's all right.
Where are we going?
How do you feel?
I'd feel less nervous if you got that camera out of my face.
But this is history in the making.
Famous artist Elle Argent for her big first interview.
And if you're lost for words, you can just talk about what great parents we are
and how everything you've achieved is thanks to us.
Stop! Thanks, Dad.
All right. Come on.
Your parents and your boyfriend will have to wait out here, if that's all right.
Um, you'll be great. Katy knows exactly how to keep the conversation going.
And, uh, we're just through here.
It'll be great. You're amazing.
- Yeah. - Okay.
Here we go.
Through here.
Sorry. We're just here.
- Ready to meet the love of your life? - You're so jealous right now.
- I'm allowed a crush on a celebrity. - I can't believe I'm about to be replaced.
Hello.
Hi. Hi.
Oh my God, he's so hot.
So good to see so many of us united in our love of classical art.
Of history, philosophy, and of literature.
Just make sure you speak nice and clearly, Elle. Shall we get started?
Okay.
Hello and welcome to Local Voices with me, Katy Newnham.
I'm here this afternoon with Elle Argent,
a sixth-form student of the Lambert School of Art
whose art has skyrocketed to popularity on social media.
Tell us about that, Elle.
Um, well, I just started to post my art to my social media,
um, just wanting to share it with my friends and family.
But it just started to get more and more likes,
and now I have over 50,000 followers.
That's amazing. Is the attention at all overwhelming?
Maybe a bit. I mean, that… that's a lot of people.
Now, much of your art explores your identity as a young trans woman.
Why is that your focus?
Um, I'm very, very proud to be trans. It's a big part of who I am,
so I like to explore and express that in the art that I create.
And that's so important right now, isn't it?
Yeah.
Trans identities are the hot topic of the moment.
Some call it a culture war.
Feminists versus trans activists and so on.
Last week, we had a feminist speaker on the show
who talked to us about the importance of same-sex spaces.
I think it's so important we hear all voices and opinions,
so I'd love to hear your thoughts on the debate.
Trans people aren't a debate.
We're human beings.
Well, I mean, our speaker last week…
…believed that the presence of gender-neutral bathrooms
will increase cases of sexual assault against women.
I'm very interested to get your thoughts about that.
Well, your speaker last week was transphobic, then.
It's a bit of a heavy topic, isn't it? Let's move on to something else.
Okay.
Now, there've been rumors…
- We were told she was here to discuss art. - Should we go in? Stop it?
…which states that teachers must inform parents
about students changing their pronouns.
Now, as someone who transitioned very young,
I'd love to know how you feel about the potential new law,
which could come in as soon as…
- Um, I… I think I need to go. - I'm sorry if I offended you.
She's a teenager. This is not what we agreed.
It is inappropriate, and it is manipulative, and…
- You should be… - It's okay, baby. Come on.
- Come on, let's go. - Let's go. Let's go home.
You'll be hearing from me.
You know you can't trust a Mesopotamian to source your copper ingot.
Okay, who's got another question?
Uh…
Yes. Young man in the denim jacket.
I was just wondering
if you had any book recommendations about queerness in Ancient Greece?
Now, that is a wonderful question.
That's a wonderful question because I have just finished reading
the most enthralling book last week while I was in Milan.
- There. Thanks for coming. - Thank you so much.
Um…
Hi. Uh, I'm a really big fan.
I probably wanna do classics at uni, so you're a big inspiration to me.
Ah! That is so lovely to hear. Classics was my favorite at school.
- What's your name? - Charlie.
Well, Charlie,
study hard, and…
don't ignore your Latin vocab.
- Thanks. - Uh, what can I do for you?
Uh… m… Uh, me?
No. Um, nothing. It's…
Um, really… really interesting talk.
Really fun. The "Mesopotome" joke was…
- Yeah. Thanks. - You're very welcome.
Nice to meet you.
Uh, shall we… Yeah. Nice to meet you.
Oh! Um…
- Sorry. Um… - Hello.
What would you like?
- Yeah, he's… he's really hot - Oh my God!
Oh.
Should we stop?
No. I… Do you… do you want to?
No. No.
Can I take this off?
Oh…
- All right, we should stop. - No, no. Wait.
I… I…
- Door open, please, Charlie. - Yeah.
Ah.
Had a nice time today?
Yeah.
Okay.
I'm nervous about taking my shirt off.
I… I don't look like… Jack Maddox or anything.
- Charlie… - And…
And you know that I've got scars.
I know.
You know I really fancy you.
Like, infinitely more than Jack Maddox.
Even though he's got a six-pack?
I don't care about that.
I like you
so much. I… I love you.
I want you.
I… I really did wanna carry on. I really want…
Mum, have you seen my laptop charger?
- Looked under the sofa cushions? - Don't worry. It was…
Maybe just not at your house, eh?
Yeah.
I get into this headspace
where all I can think about is how disgusting he'll think I look
'cause I'm skinny and I've got scars.
Being skinny and having scars isn't disgusting.
I know, and I don't actually think I do look disgusting,
and I know that Nick won't think that either.
I love him, and he loves me.
I don't understand why I get so anxious.
We've talked about how you get anxious when you feel like you don't have control.
Part of intimacy is trusting someone enough
to let go of some control,
and that's scary.
But as long as you and Nick respect and trust each other
and you communicate and listen to each other, then you're safe.
And as long as you practice safe sex.
You can get some free condoms from the reception.
Oh, I… Obviously we will.
Just wish I was more confident.
Charlie, I think you have a lot of confidence.
Aren't you the one who confessed your feelings to Nick first
when you didn't even know whether he liked you back?
I don't feel confident.
That's just a challenge you're gonna have to face.
And not just with Nick, but with every aspect of your life.
But I know you have it in you, Charlie.
I really do.