BBC Drama

Ups and Downs (2019x3)

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Conal is a 22 year old with Down's Syndrome. Full of heavy metal attitude, he wants to be a rock star. Mum, Fionnuala lost her husband five years ago and places a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of her daughter Gemma, 18. She is mum number two. Conal wants to be treated as an adult and Gemma wants her own life, but Fionnuala is too stressed to take this on board. While Gemma looks forward to university in Scotland, Conal can only see his life getting worse. But he has a plan. He hoodwinks Gemma into taking a trip to Antrim, agreed by their mum, for a job. After missing the train, they get onto a tour bus, then things get a bit out of hand. Mum is mad with Gemma, blaming her during a phone call, for taking Conal to Antrim. Conal then reveals his plan - he has bought tickets for an Ash gig in Belfast that night. Meanwhile, Fionnuala enlists the help of family friend Fergus to chase them down. What happens next involves vodka, crisps, a tractor crash, losing the tickets, a sports car, separating and getting lost in Belfast, selling everything, but still having no way of getting to the gig together. Meanwhile Fionnuala is learning to chill. So how will it end? Will they all get together somewhere? And most importantly, will they get to the gig?