(TONI SINGS DROWSILY) ¶ Here comes the bride
¶ Fair, fat and wide
¶ Slips on a banana peel and goes for a ride
¶ Here comes the groom... ¶
(TONI MOANS)
(NED LAUGHS)
Good morning, beautiful.
Where are we? Just passed Wanganella.
How much further? Nearly halfway.
You're fucking kidding. (NED LAUGHS)
Would I lie to you, my beautiful?
Don't call me that. What?
'My beautiful'. You sound like an old person.
I am an old person. Yeah, well, pretend you're not.
I feel like I'm eloping with my grandfather.
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC PLAYS)
SONG: ¶ Well, I'm goin' up the country
¶ Babe, don't you wanna go?
¶ Well, I'm goin' up the country Babe, don't you wanna go?
¶ Takin' you some place I've never been before
¶ I'm goin', I'm goin' where the water tastes like wine
¶ I'm goin' where the water tastes like wine
¶ Can jump in the water Stay drunk all the time
¶ I'm gonna leave this city Got to get away... ¶
What are you looking at? The old watering hole.
What?
The old watering hole.
Why didn't you tell me we were nearly there?
Oh, we're not.
Wal-lum-bee. Wal-lum-bye.
Is it big?
Massive. (LAUGHS)
Hey, Ned? Yeah?
Tell your dad that I am an actress.
What sort of actress? Actress-actress, shithead.
Gotcha.
(TYRES SCREECH)
TONI: I've always wanted to live in the country,
you know, with a porch and slaves and shit.
NED: Well, there's plenty of shit.
Where do you reckon these slaves are coming from?
(MIMICS SCARLETT O'HARA) I know. We'll go back to Wal-lum-bee...
Wal-lum-bye.
..to the red soil of Wal-lum-bee.
Yes, as God is my witness...
BOTH: As God is my witness, I will never...
(TONI SCREAMS)
Toni! Toni! Shut up!
It's a kangaroo. It's a kangaroo.
Is it dead?
Don't.
Oh, poor kanga.
Oh, shit! It moved.
NED: OK. Get in the car.
It's got a baby. Get in the car.
What are you gonna do? Get in the car, Toni.
TONI: Friendly-looking folk.
TONI: This is it? This is what we drove halfway across a fucking continent for?
It's called a home. A place of refuge, succour.
Ah. Well, why not honk the horn? Stir 'em up a little.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(RATTLES DOOR)
WOMAN: Alright. Alright.
(DOG BARKS)
Who is it?
Ned?
Ned! Oh, my God!
Ned, you came.
I was beginning to think you weren't gonna come. Come in.
(DOG BARKS) Shut up, Bitsie.
Let me take that.
My God, look at you. Would you have a look at you!
Oh, come here.
Oh!
You must be exhausted. When did you leave? Let me take that.
You didn't drive straight through, did you? Hmm?
(BARKS) Bitsie, shh!
It's only Ned. Hey, how's Sydney?
TONI: Jesus. There's still tomorrow, isn't there?
Oh.
This is my sister Sally. Sally, this is Toni.
Hi. Hi.
Does she have a suitcase?
No, no. She's an actress. They don't wear clothes.
Ha ha!
Oh.
Hey, Bitsie. (BITSIE WHIMPERS)
So is the old man still with us?
Bruce. Is he?
Yeah, yeah, course he is. Oh, look, I'll go tell him you're here.
No. Don't wake him. He'll want to know you're here, Ned.
We'll be here in the morning. There's no need to wake him. Let's...
OK. Well, I'll go get sheets, huh? OK.
(DOOR SQUEAKS)
(DROPS ITEM)
Which bed do you want?
Can't we put them together?
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SCRAPING ON FLOOR)
Oh...
I'll, um...
Don't you have any doubles?
Yeah, I'll get 'em. No, no, no. I'll go.
Who's Clifford? That's my brother.
Is he cuter than you? Much.
Older or younger?
Ned? Huh?
Your brother -- older or younger?
Uh, older.
Damn. Cuter and younger would have been perfect.
It's mine, Neddy.
Close your eyes. Why?
This is Nelson's hair.
This is Nelson's nose.
This is Nelson's stump. This is Nelson's belly.
Don't look! I'm not!
And this is Nelson's...bum hole!
(LAUGHS)
CLIFF: Shut up, Kate, or go back to your own room.
You shut up, Cliff.
Tickle me, Ned.
(WHISPERS) Walking in the jungle, X marks the spot.
Dot-dash-dot-dash,
dot-dash-dot.
Knife stabs you in the back, blood gushes down.
Spider bites you in the neck,
blood trickles down.
Tight squeeze...
(MOANS GENTLY)
(BLOWS)
A cool breeze. Mmm.
Now you've got the shiveries.
What do you do stuck all the way out here?
Oh, I work in the community.
What community? The Aboriginal one.
You would have passed it on the way in.
Well, what do you do for fun?
Oh, you'd be surprised.
Anyone looking for a piss-up can usually find one. Right, Ned?
Oh, did I tell you Dougie sold the roadhouse?
No. Yeah.
Wanted to be closer to the grandkids.
Would you believe Tamara's on her fourth?
BRUCE: And ride him! Ride him! Ride the old bull! Come on!
CLIFF: Aaah! Get back!
Don't go whingeing to your mother. Now get back up, you bloody sook!
You'll never be a real bull rider if you don't get back up, Cliff.
Come on, Ned, show your brother how it's done.
(CLIFF CRIES) He'll see you now, Ned.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Hey, you OK?
Yeah, course I am. Why wouldn't I be? Good. Good.
(BRUCE WHEEZES)
What happened?
South American heiress dump you? (LAUGHS)
(FLIES BUZZ)
Uh, Toni, this is Bruce. Bruce, this is Toni.
Hi.
This the new one?
A very pretty girl.
Then I don't suppose you ever had any trouble picking 'em.
His trouble was in keeping 'em. They all seem to get his number eventually.
Oh, yeah? What number's that one?
Don't ask me. I'm not a girl. (COUGHS)
SALLY: Uh, so, everyone catching up?
So what's wrong with you, Bruce? I'm dying.
Congestive heart disease.
Well, it's, uh, treatable.
Yeah, sure it is.
They thin your blood, they put you in an oxygen tent
and you live a couple of months longer.
Big deal.
You don't look so hot yourself. You look soft.
Oh, we're not talking about me. We're talking about you.
Yeah, well, don't you worry about me.
I haven't come to the end of my breathing yet.
Come on, since Ned's come all this way, could we all just try to get along?
Yeah.
Maybe she's right. Maybe we need to clean up our act, eh, Ned?
It's loaded. That's the idea.
SALLY: Yeah, Bruce reckons the black fellas burnt down the meat shed
and we're next.
I didn't reckon anything. That was five years ago.
Oi! That's enough for you.
SALLY: Oh, Jesus.
TONI: Who's this?
My daughter.
(TALKBACK SHOW ON RADIO)
TONI: She's beautiful.
Alright. Think I'll take a look around before it gets too hot.
MAN ON RADIO: But all of this has been rigorously tested.
I don’t want to comment too much on the report the government’s about to put out.
You know as well as I do that things get skewed in the media.
That’s not to say. of course. that the government doesn’t have a position
that it seeks to hold as well.
(GUNSHOT) Shit, missed!
(GUNSHOT, EMPTY ROUND DROPS)
Bingo! Your turn, Neddy.
Hang on, Neddy!
(SCREAMS)
(SOFT ACOUSTIC MUSIC)
(SIGHS)
(DOG BARKS)
NED: Hey, do you want a hand?
Ow!
Why'd you have to bring her, Ned?
Oh... Hmm?
What's your problem?
He's waited 20 years to see you and he's dying.
Doesn't that deserve your full attention?
I'm here, aren't l?
Ned? What?
Blame's a mug's game.
What, you tell him that too, or is that just for me?
It wasn't my idea to drag you back here. He wanted to see you.
Just give him a go, would you?
(MOCKINGLY) Oooh!
You gonna stay here after? Hmm?
There's no 'here' left. The bank's got it all.
What?
Nothing?
Nup.
Sorry to break it to you, Ned.
You won't get anything but the contents of his workshop and his best wishes.
Yeah, that'll be the day.
Nuh, Bruce reckons it's worth 50 grand.
You wanna see? Nuh.
I'll take your word for it.
Have we still got those yabby traps? Yep.
No dam, but.
(DOG BARKS)
NED: What happened?
SALLY: No rain.
No-one used it much after anyway.
Do you remember when that leech went up my fanny?
Everyone thought I was haemorrhaging. (LAUGHS)
Yeah, yeah, I remember that.
I remember it crawling out all fat and happy
and you screaming your head off.
Yeah, can you blame me?
Bruce was carping on about, "That'll teach you all to swim in the raw."
Didn't stop Kate but, did it?
Yuck.
What is that?
A witchetty grub.
Did she eat it? Yep.
Gross.
Here we are.
Here, Dad.
Is she coming?
Who?
Beautiful Kate.
Doubt it.
Where is she?
SALLY: She's no longer with us, Toni.
Is she dead?
BRUCE: Well done.
Wow. (DOOR SLAMS)
Ah, here he is -- my one and only son and heir.
Did you have a good poke around, did you? Everything to your satisfaction?
Front loader still running?
If the blacks haven't filled the tank with sugar. Why?
You allowed a beer, Bruce? No. Bruce can't drink on his medication.
Course he can.
Not every day a father gets to share a drink with his long-lost son.
Good health. To yours, anyway.
I didn't know you had another sister, Ned.
SALLY: Yeah. Kate was his twin.
Certainly not identical.
No, no, certainly not.
But just as attractive. Right, Bruce?
Like I always said, with his looks and talent,
he could've been famous if it wasn't for his weakness.
TONI: Yeah, which one's that?
For cunt. (LAUGHS)
(BRUCE COUGHS)
Finished yet?
Toni likes our dirty linen, don't you, Toni?
SALLY: That's enough for you, Dad. TONI: Jesus.
NED: Sal, have you got some boots for her?
Yeah, at the door.
(DOG BARKS)
(SCREAMING) Cliff!
Cliff!
TONI: What happened?
Huh? What? How did she die?
In a car accident.
Soon as we get all this crap buried, we're outta here.
Thank God for that.
It's not worth the cost of a fuckin' auctioneer.
(ENGINE TURNS OVER SLOWLY)
(ENGINE STARTS)
What about your brother? What?
What about your brother? Yeah, both of them. Put these on.
In the accident? Yep. Put these on.
When? Now.
No, when was the accident? Years ago.
So sad, Ned.
Hold on. (TONI SCREAMS)
(TONI CONTINUES SCREAMING)
(WINDMILL RATTLES)
(SOBBING)
(SOBS)
(SOBBING STOPS)
(OPENS DRAWER)
(MUSIC PLAYS)
WOMAN: OK, you ready? We're gonna turn. Ready?
(HORN HONKS) Cliff, look at me.
Now, eyes on the road, Kate.
Not too hard on the wheel, sweetheart.
MUM: OK... Whoa! Stop, Mum. I wanna show Dad.
Dad, look! I won, Dad! I won!
(ANGLE GRINDER STOPS) Dad, I won, I won! Dad, look.
You've got a long way to go before you're a real bull rider, Cliff.
(ANGLE GRINDER WHIRRS)
What are you looking at?
I:ve been back all of two days. back at my father’s house.
So where else would I find myself but in the old schoolroom
picking at my brother’s suicide like an old scab
and following a trail of wounds
that leads inexorably to the bastard dying next door.
(BIRDSONG)
(THE WIGGLES SING) ¶ Oh. my goodness. it must be Jeff
¶ Wake up. Jeff Everybody’s wiggling
¶ Wake up. Jeff We really need you
¶ Wake up. Jeff You’re missing all the fun now
¶ Wake up. Jeff. before the day’s through... ¶
(INSTRUMENTAL BREAK)
(SNORING)
Ned?
(SNORING CONTINUES)
(COUGHS)
GIRL: Tu aimes. BOY: He loves.
Il aime. We love.
Nous...
I read in the paper here
that Gary Fraser's son won a scholarship to King's.
Why do you think that is, Cliff?
Is it because he's smarter than my son or just a harder worker?
Maybe because his father doesn't make him do the work of six blacks
and all this French crap besides.
(DOOR OPENS)
N'est-ce pas, Neddy?
Can I help you with something, Bruce?
What is this?
Can't visit my own son in my own house? Is that against the law now?
Nope. Just thought I'd get some work done.
Work? Writing.
It's what I do. I'm a 'writer'.
Ah, yes. Now I remember.
Written anything worth reading yet?
No, same old tripe.
What was that last one you wrote?
'Half His Luck', wasn't it?
The one I had to hide from Sally 'cause it was so filthy.
You mean the one that's in its 3rd reprint but that's not my last one, Bruce.
They get even filthier after that?
Oh, yeah, yeah. It's wall-to-wall fucking now. No more smoking gun.
Always the smart arse,
even now when you're...
How old are you? 40.
Christ. Almost old yourself.
You know, we never got the chance to talk about that last summer, did we?
What about it? TONI: Ned!
I never understood it. I never understood any of it.
What's to understand?
Cliff swerved to avoid a roo, Kate's killed, Cliff...
I know that! TONI: Ned!
BRUCE: But I thought you might know more.
(NED LAUGHS) That's all I'm asking.
Huh? It was a long time ago, Bruce. I don't remember.
Why did you run off like that then? (COUGHS) Can you answer me that?
Look, we couldn't do this, uh, some other time, could we?
Do you have any idea how much we needed you here?!
TONI: Ned!
(DOOR SLAMS)
Can you work this stupid thing?
Alright. Don't sulk.
Sit on it proud. Stick your back in a little bit.
That's it.
Now, you squeeze in with your thighs, stick your tits out.
That's it. Now...
Put your hand up.
Uh...hold on with this.
Hands up nice and high, right?
You know what do to with that rope. Hold on. Tits out.
Now, smile. You're happy, right? (LAUGHS)
You're riding the bull now. Yee-haa!
Yee-haa!
Just hold on. (ROCK MUSIC INTRO)
Just enjoy the ride.
Whoo!
SONG: ¶ Bad to the bone... ¶
MAN ON P.A.: Now today’s final event. it’s the girls: turn -- the 3-legged race.
Come on. girls. Choose your bloke. Don’t be shy now.
NED: Hey, think I might get to cop a feel?
(SLAP!) What was that for?
What are you talking about, you twerp, you butthole?
You haven't even kissed a girl.
Hey, feisty. You and me, babe. How about it?
GIRL: Hey, Neddy, got a partner? Nuh.
You do now.
You're looking all grown up today, Neddy. I like that shirt.
Are you gonna save a dance for me later?
I might. Hope so.
BOY: Where you going, baby? Come back!
(GIRL SCREAMS)
Stop! (SQUEALS)
You fuckin' did that on purpose!
(LAUGHS) Now you're a real cowgirl.
Fuck you.
(FLIES BUZZ)
Now what are you doing?
I'm going to work.
What am I supposed to do? Too fuckin' hot here.
I dunno -- have a bath, wash your hair or something.
Fine, I will.
(FLIES BUZZ)
(TV PLAYS)
You want a cuppa?
Do you like being everyone's slave?
I'm sorry, you just do everything for everyone.
No, you're right. Tea's there. You can make it yourself.
I'm not saying you shouldn't.
Don't you get sick of it, though? Sick of what?
Fuck, if it was me, I'd leave the bastards to get on with it.
Probably bloody kill each other.
(MIMICS SCARLETT O'HARA) Well, frankly, my dear, I'd risk it.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(BRUCE COUGHS VIOLENTLY)
(CHUCKLES)
(FAINT LATIN MUSIC PLAYS)
SALLY: Mm-hm. Yeah.
Hey, can I come in? Yeah, sure. Want one?
What is it? Mojito.
Oh, yes, I do. You got lime?
Yeah. It's in the fridge.
Welcome to the Jungle Bar,
where everyone is beautiful and the drinks are free.
Hey, George, my brother just turned up.
Say hi to Ned.
MAN WITH ASIAN ACCENT: Hello. Ned.
Your sister is hot. Red hot.
(NED CHUCKLES)
Which one are you? Veronica.
Wow, that's really quite a set.
George is a tit man. I promised I'd go up two sizes if he bought me a ring.
See? Bling-bling.
It's good because if it doesn't work out, I can sell it.
If what doesn't work out?
Us.
Oh.
What? He's got his charms.
GEORGE: You still there
(SWITCHES OFF COMPUTER) Like that!
(LAUGHS)
That's Mum's ring. Hmm? Oh, yeah.
Do you remember her at all? Nuh, not much.
I remember one time in the kitchen, she had a head scarf on.
She was trying to get me to help make the Christmas cake and I wouldn't
'cause I was so mad at her for losing all her beautiful hair.
You're a lot like her. Yeah?
Anyway, I reckon it's my turn to piss off for a while.
Here, it's all written down.
(BRUCE COUGHS)
Where are you going? I've got to go take care of a few things.
Bullshit. You're joking? He's all yours, Ned.
Oh, come on. I'm not a nurse.
I'll probably end up killing him. Well, we'll see, won't we?
Come on, it's easy. Just watch the salt.
Keep his head above his shoulders, otherwise he'll drown.
Don't look so tragic. It'll only be a few days.
I'm not gonna wipe his arse. (SNIGGERS)
Yeah, you'd leave that to Toni!
There you are.
Go away, Toni.
No, I don't think so.
You're the one who dragged me here. Now you have to entertain me.
Look, if you've got nothing better to do, you can go check on Bruce.
No bloody way. He's not my father, and he stinks.
You come from a stinky, stinky family, Neddy.
What are you doing here? Just making some notes.
Jotting some stuff down. A bit like a diary.
Oh. Well, I hope you noted the great head that you...
Oh, you didn't get it last night. No, I didn't actually.
Yeah.
What's this?
Oh, School of the Air satellites. We're the red flag.
Didn't you go away to school? Nope.
Why not?
Bruce thought he knew better than anyone else.
You know, I am trying to write.
I don't know why you bother. No-one reads anymore.
Is that so? Uh-huh.
We do far more interesting things now.
Oh, yeah. Like what?
I dunno. You're supposed to be the one with the imagination.
(SPITS)
(NED MOANS)
Oh, yeah.
Ohhh, yeah.
Is this what you had in mind? Uh-huh. Sure.
Oh, yeah.
Fuck me.
Fuck me, Ned! Shh.
(SHOUTS) Harder, Ned!
Shut up or I'll stop. (MUFFLED) Uh-huh. OK.
Mmm.
Oh, yeah.
Harder, Ned. Harder!
(SLAP!)
What? You sound like a fuckin' tart.
That's because you fuck me like one, you shit.
How come you never look at me? What?
How come you never look at my face when we fuck?
I love looking at you. You're beautiful.
Do you love me? I'm marrying you, aren't l?
You're such a shit. What kind of answer is that?
Toni. Toni, Toni, Toni. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Come here. Look at me. Look at me.
Course I love you.
You silly old cow, I love you.
Do you promise? Yes.
Cross my heart...
..and hope to die.
(NED CLEARS HIS THROAT)
I'm sorry, it's...
It's just this fuckin' place, Toni.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(ALARM BEEPS)
TONI: Ned!
(FLIES BUZZ)
(CRIES OUT)
TONI: Ned!
(FLIES BUZZ)
(WHEEZES)
TONI: What are you doing?
I need help, you stupid girl.
Hey, say 'please'.
Please get Ned.
No, Ned's out.
Have you pissed your pants?
Yuck.
Come on. Put your arms up.
OK, I'm gonna pull you up. One, two, three!
(GROANS) OK, one, two...
Oh! Oh!
Yeah, I've got you, I've got you.
(GROANS)
Jesus.
(GROANS)
Oh, cramps! Terrible...ah...terrible cramps.
Well, you should have taken your pills.
Oh... Oh!
(CRIES OUT)
OK, and up. Ohhh!
And up. There we go.
There we go.
(MOANS)
Where are your PJs kept? What?
Aargh!
Yeah, I know.
One foot in.
(GROANS)
Oh. Oh.
(FLY BUZZES)
I can smell burning.
Oh, it's just Ned burning the junk. Junk?
All that junk in the work shed.
What the fuck does he think he's doing?
I'm not dead yet. That's my fuckin' junk.
I don't understand it. What?
Why such a pretty girl would waste her time kicking round the dust
with some loser who's nearly twice her age.
Oh, well, maybe I have a weakness for older men.
Wasted.
Girl like you should be in Hollywood.
You reckon? Without a doubt.
That's exactly what I've been saving for -- go to Hollywood.
I've been taking classes. Good girl.
Don't you wait too long.
Youth is beauty and beauty is youth.
And that's all you need to know.
(WHISTLES)
(DISTANT VOICES)
TONI: I want to sleep with you.
I want to sleep in your dirty, filthy man's sheets.
In the morning,
I'm gonna wake up and leave while he's still asleep.
I'm gonna walk out and never see him again.
Right now, I wanna dance.
Paula, dance with me.
(CHUCKLES)
(GIGGLES)
BRUCE: Do it again. That was very good.
Get out, you perv! Get out! Kate, I didn't know you were in there.
Well, frickin' know next time!
(COW MOOS)
Sorry, Kate, I didn't know you were in there.
It's not fair.
Something so cute could grow up to be just another ugly old cow.
Bulls don't think they're ugly. Well, they are. Old is ugly.
You're getting old, Kate.
We all are. Good.
What's so good about it?
I liked it better before. Before what?
I dunno.
When we were kids, I suppose.
Tickle?
(KATE SNIFFS)
Have you got a cold?
No, I just like the smell.
It reminds me of Mum.
(SOBS)
Kate, are you crying?
Kate, don't cry. It's alright.
I miss her. It's alright. Don't cry.
(WEEPS)
(NED MOANS)
(MOANS)
(NED MOANS)
(MOANS)
Oh, my God, Kate. I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Oh!
(GROANS)
Bruce?
(SIGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Room service.
(DOOR CREAKS) Toni?
(DOOR SLAMS)
"There the evidence was,
"as hot and sticky and shocking to me as it was to Kate.
"She turned to me with disbelief as her hand touched the semen
"and brought it up, viscous and dangling,
"for her eyes to see."
Did you try and fuck her, did you, Ned? Fuck your sister?
Don't be ridiculous. It's fiction.
"Then she got up slowly
"as though she had been lying with a beast she feared to rouse again."
Give it to me. Fucking sounds like you tried!
Give it to me.
I'm sorry, Toni. I'm sorry.
Stay away from me, Ned. You fuckin' pervert!
Fuckin' had it with you sickos.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(SIGHS)
I know you're in there.
(FLIES BUZZ)
(RATTLES DOOR)
You can't stay there forever.
Kate, this morning, it wasn't you. It was...
I don't want to talk about it.
It was my fault, OK? Just pretend it never happened.
Come here.
Closer.
Kiss and make up?
(GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC)
(GRUNTS)
Whoo!
Ahh!
(SPRINKLER SHOOTS WATER)
(SHOUTS)
(GIGGLES)
(KATE SQUEALS)
(LAUGHS)
(SQUEALS)
(HORN HONKS)
(HURRIED FOOTSTEPS)
(DOOR OPENS, THEN CLOSES)
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(SHOUTS) Toni?
Toni! Toni!
What did you do? Huh? Did you pay the blacks to come and get her?
What money have I got left to give anyone? She just got your number.
You're a fuckin' liar, Bruce. They all do. I did you a favour.
You're a liar and a bully. You killed Cliff and you're still at it!
Why don't you fuckin' hurry up and die
before I kill you myself just for the pleasure of it?
(BRUCE COUGHS VIOLENTLY)
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(HORN HONKS)
Stop, you bastards!
(HORN HONKS)
Fuckin' stop!
Pull over!
Pull over! I'm not fuckin' joking!
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
I'm still here!
(ECHOES) I'm still here!
You hear me?!
Still here!
(SOBS)
KATE: Neddy?
Neddy?
Ned?
What? Shh.
'Night, Ned. Don't let the bed bugs bite.
(BIRDS SCREECH)
(GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC)
(POURS GLASS OF WATER)
Never let your gun pointed be at anyone.
You think I've forgotten what you said?
I was drunk, Bruce.
I was drunk. I could hardly stand up.
(COCKS GUN)
Come on, Bruce.
Cliff accidentally killed his sister.
He blamed himself. He punished himself.
It's the end of the story.
I'm not a good drunk.
I'm sorry.
(BREATHES LABORIOUSLY)
(PUTS GLASS DOWN) Come on, mate.
Take your pills.
Get me out of this mess.
How does it feel to be drunk?
Liberating.
I've never been drunk in my whole life. Never liked the feeling.
Well, I seem to.
Yes, you always did, didn't you?
(MEN IN CAR JEER)
Piss off, you mongrels!
(CRICKETS CHIRP)
(COUGHS)
KATE: There you are. I thought you'd drowned.
What are you doing here? What does it look like?
Go home, Kate. I'm drunk. I don't want you here.
Tough. It's my dam too.
(SQUEALS)
(WATER SPLASHES)
Boo! (LAUGHS)
Remember at the rodeo with Tamara and you
and you wanted to cop a feel?
Well, I wouldn't care if I never even kissed a boy.
So?
Well, that's not normal, is it?
That's what I was doing in the bathroom when you broke in,
wondering if I'd ever be normal.
I didn't break in. The door was unlocked.
Well, anyway, when we were on the bed like that...
I know, Kate. I was there.
What happened?
Don't.
It's OK, Ned.
It made me feel better.
For the first time in my life, I didn't feel like a freak.
I thought you didn't want to talk about it.
Fine, then. I won't mention it ever again.
You can touch them, Neddy.
It'll be our secret.
Oh, God.
Oh, God, Kate. I'm sorry.
It's OK, Ned. I'm OK.
(MOANS)
(WATER SLOSHES)
(KATE SINGS) ¶ If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands
¶ If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands
¶ If you're happy and you know it
¶ And you really want to show it
¶ If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. ¶
It's OK, Neddy. Just pretend I'm someone else.
(WHISPERS) Oh, God, oh, God.
BRUCE: Ned!
Ned!
(CLEARS THROAT)
Ned! Here.
(SIGHS)
Not a day goes by I don't...
..see her face all bloodied like that.
In my mind I hear her too.
And it's you she's calling for --
you and sometimes Cliff, never me.
I'll get your breakfast.
Do you hear her, Ned?
You know how you hear, like, twins are connected?
Do you? Do you ever hear her?
No. Never.
(BREATHES IN)
(BREATHES OUT SHARPLY)
(BREATHES IN)
(BREATHES OUT)
(KETTLE WHISTLES)
Glad you could join us, Ned. I'm not hungry.
Well, you can sit until we're finished.
(POURS LIQUID)
If you give us a couple of weeks away, Bruce,
I'll re-stump the posts on the Fraser boundary where the sheep get through.
Get it done before Christmas.
BRUCE: You hear that, Cliff?
At least one of my sons is prepared to put a bit of hard work in on the farm.
I said I'll quit the roadhouse and I will.
Sure you will, after frettin' and fussin' about it like some pathetic old woman.
I don't care what time you finish. I want you back inside these doors by 12:00!
(DOOR SLAMS)
Sit down!
Come on, Sally. Stop playing with your food.
NED: Sally, pass us the water.
(KETTLE WHISTLES)
Oh!
Oh, Jesus.
Bruce, Jesus. Get up, get up, get up.
(BREATHES IN SHARPLY) What are you doing?
(BREATHES OUT)
What are you doing, you silly old bugger?
(GROANS)
(BREATHES IN)
(BREATHES OUT)
Come here, OK. I got you.
I don't know what Sally was thinking, leaving me with you.
Right.
You're gonna eat something or I'm packing my bags and going.
I wouldn't miss you, not for a bit.
I want salt. You can't have any.
Come on, Bruce.
Please, just eat something. Just a little bit.
(WHISPERS) There you go, there you go. That's good.
That's good.
Thank you.
(LAUGHS)
OK.
Alright.
Well, we'll try a bit of juice, then, shall we?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Come on.
Bruce, you've gotta get something into you.
Just drink.
(KATE LAUGHS)
Where's Cliff?
(BELCHES)
He got home from the roadhouse 10 minutes late
and the bastard grounded him.
I brought your stupid posts.
(MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO)
Thanks. I'll walk back.
Nicked 'em from Bruce. Do you want one?
Cliff'll will be home tonight.
Good for him.
Do you wanna come back for a swim later?
Just the three of us, like old times? I don't think so.
Well, you needn't be frightened.
Cliff will be there. He'll protect widdle Neddy.
Jeez, Kate, how can you joke about it?
God, sometimes I think you're from outer space.
Well, I guess I thought you were different from the herd, Ned.
Not so fuckin' timid!
(OPENS DOOR, SLAMS DOOR)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS)
Don't bother coming back! You won't be missed!
YOUNG SALLY: Aren't you going to the Christmas party?
Nup. Good.
We'll have our own party.
You can play Rudolph.
(BOTH SING) ¶ Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
¶ Oh, what fun... ¶
Cliff wants to see you.
Why?
Hold these for Rudolph.
There we go.
He's waiting in there for you.
You told him?
He said he's waiting for you. Why? Why did you tell him?
I'm asking you why!
Yeah, what?
Kate told me what you tried, Ned. What?
(DOG WHIMPERS)
That you tried to cop a feel.
Hey, Jesus, Ned. What has happened to you, mate?
What are you gonna do about it, huh? Huh?
Come on. Hit me. Hit me. Come on.
Hey, take it easy, mate. It's OK. No, it's not OK. Come on. Hit me.
Hit me, come on!
(DOG BARKS)
Get off me, Ned. You little friggin' girl. Fight me.
(DOG BARKS)
Bruce! Bruce!
Let go, Ned!
Fight me! (DOG BARKS)
Come on. Fight me.
Break it up! Let go of him, Cliff.
Stop. It was Ned's fault. BRUCE: I don't care whose fault it is.
I won't have any fighting. You hear me, Cliff? Get up.
You hear me?!
Now, you! You go and get yourself cleaned up.
You're taking your sister to the Christmas party.
I don't want to go. You'll do as you're told. You'll go.
And you'll bring her back when she's had enough.
(MOUTHS)
(ALARM BEEPS)
Where's Sally?
She'll be back today.
Yeah. Oh.
I suppose you'll be off then.
Want to finish writing my story. Oh, yes, the magnum opus.
No, more of a record.
A record of what?
Finished?
I can imagine what you're saying about me.
Buzz if you need me.
(ALARM BEEPS)
(COUGHS)
Alright. Here?
I'll tell you when.
Here.
Round a bit.
I know you children never cared for me, especially you and Kate.
You're wrong, Bruce.
Like that -- calling me 'Bruce'.
You never called your mother 'Emily', did you? (COUGHS)
You're making it worse, Bruce.
When your mother died...
..I wanted to fill her place,
get close to you like she did.
But I didn't know how.
I thought my world would be in politics but that didn't pan out.
But what could I do? Teach?
Not your father. Too proud.
You know what, Bruce?
I don't think that many people feel like they've lived successful lives.
I know you blame me for Cliff's suicide.
I thought I was helping him.
I thought it was going to be a tougher world for Cliff...
..than it was for you and Kate.
(SCOFFS)
I'm done.
Come on.
Let's get back to your record.
(CHEERING)
MAN: Thank you. And here's one for the ladies.
(SLOW SONG INTRO)
(MAN SINGS) ¶ Maybe I didn't love you
¶ Quite as often as I could have
¶ Maybe I didn't treat you
¶ Quite as good as I should have
¶ If I made you feel second best
¶ Girl, I'm sorry, I was blind
¶ You were always on my mind
¶ You were always on my mind... ¶ MAN: Sorry.
I don't want to stay here anymore. I wanna leave. Will you take me?
I'm not ready to go home yet, Kate.
I didn't say 'home'. What?
I didn't say 'home'.
The answer's no, Kate.
You have to. Bruce said you had to look after me.
Well, can you just take me home, then?
Come on. Let's go.
GIRL: Will she be alright?
Sure. Cliff will look after her. I'm looking after you.
¶ I just never took the time
¶ You were always on my mind
¶ Tell me... ¶
Come on, let's go.
(BED SPRINGS SQUEAK)
(NED MOANS)
Ohhh!
Ohhhh! (GIGGLES)
Happy now, Neddy?
(SINGS TO RADIO) ¶ Don't need lots of people to tell me what to do
¶ Don't need long-haired ladies to love me true as true
¶ All I need is a rock'n'roll band
¶ Somewhere to play... ¶
(SONG CONTINUES)
(CAR REVERSES)
(TURNS OFF ENGINE)
Cliff?
(DOG HOWLS)
Hey, Cliff?
Oh, God.
Oh...
Oh, Kate.
(SHOUTS) Cliff!
Oh, God. Cliff!
(BARKS)
NED: Cliff!
(CREAKING NOISE)
Cliff!
(FLIES BUZZ)
(CAR APPROACHES)
(HORN HONKS)
(DOG BARKS)
(DOG WHINES)
Bitsie.
Here, let me take that.
Trip OK? Oh, thanks.
Yeah, no -- good, good, good.
So, did you kill him yet?
Almost. Hmm?
(DOOR OPENS)
Hardly touched a thing.
How did he eat for you?
Oh, not much.
Hmm.
He loves his custard. Maybe I'll get some of this into him, eh?
Sure.
Did you get what you wanted, Ned?
Yeah. Got some books.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, good.
Good. I'm glad you got what you wanted.
Sorry about Toni. Liar.
Hey, Sal? Sal... Hmm?
Here, let me take it in to him.
I'm going in the morning, I'll say goodbye to him.
Ned? Yep.
You won't make it any worse, will you? No.
You won't tell him about you and Kate? What?
About what happened between you and Kate.
I don't know what you're talking about. Yeah, you do.
Remember that night you came home with a big cut on your head?
What did we have for dinner?
It was yabbies.
I remember 'cause I had to go get them from the dam.
I must have been -- what was I -- 10, 11?
I thought you were hurting her.
(SIGHS)
Stop looking at me.
Don't touch me.
I forgave you, Ned, a long time ago.
How could you? How?
You wanna know something?
I don't reckon Cliff was any better than you.
He was just more remorseful.
Mmm.
Did you know the clock stopped on impact?
Nobody could figure out why it took them so long to get home from the dance.
Bruce nearly drove himself crazy, trying to put all the pieces together.
Took me a long time to figure it out as well.
See, I reckon Cliff could have lived with himself for killing her.
It was the other stuff he couldn't live with.
You think... you think Cliff and Kate...
What do you reckon they were doing out there? Really?
You reckon they were fuckin' stargazing?
What are you doing, Ned? What are you gonna say, Ned?
What? That he failed again?
That his greatest achievement was just a messed-up little girl?
Ned, please don't!
Bruce?
Ohh...
You want to know what I remember about that last summer?
I remember the Christmas party and not wanting to go
and you telling me that I had to go, that I had to take care of my sister
to bring her home when she wanted to leave.
But I wouldn't. I didn't.
You want to know why?
You remember Tamara from the roadhouse?
It's just like you said.
It's my weakness.
So you're off the hook, old man.
Much as I wanted to nail you for Cliff's suicide...
..I can't make it stick.
If anything, you should've been tougher on him,
you should have squeezed every last drop of goodness out of him
and then maybe he would have put himself first just for once.
Maybe he would have said, "No, Kate, I'm not taking you home.
"I'm not going to drive you home. I'm staying here,"
and then I would have had to drive her.
Wouldn't l? I wouldn't have swerved for no fuckin' roo.
(SOBBING) I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry.
I hated you.
I'm sorry, Dad.
(NED WEEPS)
SALLY: Ned?
(FLIES BUZZ) Ned?
(KOOKABURRAS LAUGH)
Dad always said no two people would give a damn
whether or not he lived or died but you wait,
wait till word gets out.
Half the community's gonna be at the door.
You know, I couldn't make a decision between the blue and the green shirt.
What do you think?
I like the stripe. It's funny, isn't it?
Now he can't argue with me, I can't decide.
I reckon the green.
Hmm?
That looks nice, doesn't it?
Yeah.
MAN: I am going now to prepare a place for you.
And after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me, so that where I am, you may be too.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Amen.
MOURNERS: Amen.
Ned.
I want to show you something.
(CHILDREN CALL OUT)
Won't you be lonely?
I've got 20 kids here call me 'auntie'.
I don't reckon I can get that lonely.
(CHILDREN CALL OUT)
(GALAHS SQUAWK)
It's funny, you know.
A man can live his whole life
and never cop to his greatest achievement...
..you.
(CAR HORN BEEPS)
¶ There's a little bird that somebody sent
¶ Down to the earth to live on the wind
¶ Born on the wind and she sleeps on the wind
¶ That little bird that somebody sent
¶ She's light and fragile, her feathers sky blue
¶ So thin and graceful, the sun shines through
¶ This little bird that lives on the wind
¶ This little bird that somebody sent
¶ She flies so high up in the sky
¶ Out of reach of human eye
¶ And the only time she touches the ground
¶ Is when that little bird
¶ Is when that little bird dies. ¶