Original subtitles

DAVID: My brother Jack doesn't come into the story straightaway.

DAVID: My brother Jack doesn't Nobody ever does,

Nobody ever does,

because a person Nobody ever does,

because a person can't begin to exist without parents

and legendary tales told about ancestors without a home.

Ours was called Avalon.

The mess of memories and impressions.

Always at its centre was my mother

either holding our little household together

either holding our little household or ministering to the jetsam

or ministering to the jetsam

that the Somme and the Marne and the Gallipoli beaches had thrown up. or ministering to the jetsam

that the Somme and the Marne and the Gallipoli beaches had thrown up.

How are you today, Gabby?

About usual.

Wake up, Stubby!

It's time for your dose.

Down the hatch, lad.

Got a song for us today, Stubby?

Oh, let me see.

# There's a rose that grows

# In no-man's-land

# And it's wonderful to see

PATIENTS: # Though it's sprayed with tears # And it's wonderful to see

PATIENTS: # Though it's sprayed with tears

PATIENTS: # Though it's # It will live for years sprayed with tears

# It will live for years

# In my garden of memories # It will live for years

# In my garden of memories

# In my garden of memories # It's the one red rose... #

# It's the one red rose... #

I was barely seven years old when the First World War ended.

Having taken place thousands of miles away from our suburban home

at the bottom of the world,

at the bottom of the world, that gigantic and sombre event had no powerful effect on me

that gigantic and sombre event had no powerful effect on me

until the day Father came home from France.

(CHEERING)

(BAND PLAYS LIVELY TUNE)

I'm comin'!

Wait there. Wait there.

WOMAN: Jack!

Over there.

Perhaps my brother Jack, three years my senior,

had paid more attention to the course of the Great War

and become more attuned to its tragic undertow.

Oi...

..look after your pins, young fella. Oi...

..look after your pins, young fella. You're nothing without him.

Minnie!

Jack!

Pappi.

Thank God you're in one piece.

Jean, kiss your father.

Hasn't she grown?

Davey, your turn.

You're not gonna, right? It's for sissies, isn't it, son?

You're not gonna, right? Hey?

Hey?

Where's the other catastrophe?

Jack. Jack!

Jack!

Go on, get your backside over here, boy.

Where I can give it a nice healthy boot.

Well, what have you got to say for yourself?

Well, what have you Why aren't you dead?

Why aren't you dead?

You just watch yourself, little Jackie Horner.

I can still box you around your ears.

I can still box you My name's Jack.

My name's Jack.

Make yourself useful. Carry that.

Come on, young fella.

Let's go.

At the age of seven, the Great War had meant only an absent father

and a succession of mutilated young men

whom mother brought home to convalesce.

The last of these was Bert, a country boy who'd lost his leg

on the first and only day of action he ever saw in France.

on the first and only day Davey!

Davey!

For what we are about to receive

May the Lord make us truly thankful.

ALL: Amen. Amen.

ALL: Amen. Hey!

Hey!

Now, if I want to be eating with Hey!

Now, if I want to be eating with a gang of peasants, young fellow,

I'd have stayed in France with all the Frenchies.

I don't know what you've done with these children, Min.

You let them all run wild. That's not true.

You let them all run wild. Jean's been an angel.

Jean's been an angel.

Davey's as good as taught himself Jean's been an angel.

Davey's as good as taught himself to read while you were away.

We sit together over a book every evening, don't we?

We sit together over a book And as for Jack, well...

And as for Jack, well...

I ran wild.

That'd be right, wouldn't it?

We kept all your cards and souvenirs from the front, Poppy.

How was France?

Yeah, Pop, give us a laugh. Say something in Frog.

Oh...

La...

..repas...

c'est magnifique.

C'est magnifique. (ALL LAUGH GENTLY)

(COUGHS)

Pappi. Pappi.

Mustard.

He means the gas.

I beg your pardon.

Vimy Ridge in France. Vimy Ridge.

I saw men drowning in mud.

And they were glad of it.

Nice bit of cow, Mrs M.

Are you ready?

Oh, you don't ask. Ah.

Ah.

At that tender age, I couldn't even imagine how we appeared to him

At that tender age, I couldn't even after those years of slaughter.

after those years of slaughter.

On the surface, life at Avalon seemed to go on as it had before.

But I saw in my mother's anxious eyes

that nothing would be quite the same.

(COUGHING)

(COUGHING AND GAGGING CONTINUES)

Good night, Davey.

Give my love to the milkman.

Come on, you two terrors. Haven't got all day. Hurry up.

Come on.

Come on, boys. March in step. Hup-two. Hup-two.

We'll make tram drivers of you both. Come on.

You're the man in charge here. No-one can tell you what to do.

Engage your keys. That's a boy. Reach forward. Cut a notch.

And here we go at the top of Fitzroy Street.

And here we go We're going down to the sea.

We're going down to the sea.

Now, look down there.

That's your terminus. Now, look down there.

That's your terminus. That's St Kilda Beach.

That's your terminus. And that's a drunk. Is it Clarrie?

And that's a drunk. Is it Clarrie?

You better watch out. By crikey! Look at him go!

Brake, boy! Brake! You'll hit him! Oh, no! Oh, you squashed him.

Clarrie!

Good to be back.

It's good to have you back, you mad bugger!

It's good to have you back, No! Get out of it!

No! Get out of it!

They want you upstairs.

Strike me. I've only been back five minutes.

This is young Davey. What do you think of him? Eh?

Where'd he go? (CLARRIE CHUCKLES)

You kept number 15 free for me, I trust.

Actually, you mightn't need this anymore.

They've got you earmarked for a desk job.

Earmarked, have they?

I'll give them ear.

Oh, no. No, no.

Hey, Jack,

look after your little brother.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Jack, good to see you.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) What do you mean, policy?

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

I'm not much truck sitting behind a desk.

Take him home.

Make sure you go straight there.

How you going, Jack?

Oh, better after a beer.

Pow!

Kaboom!

Come on, Minnie, let's have a dance.

No. Come on.

(SLURS)..Palais...used to take you there, the arvo session?

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

You don't have to work at that hospital all the time, darling.

You don't have to. I can support the family.

But you know it's not for the money.

I just... What is it then, darling?

I just... What do you mean?

What do you mean?

You want to go, What do you mean?

You want to go, all those dirty old cripples?

It's not the time to talk about it. And you know that's not true.

Do you want to... Stop it! That's not true.

Hey, want to taste the back of my hand? Is that it?!

Hey, want to taste You want this?! Hey!

You want this?! Hey!

Min!

(SOBS)

Min! Where are you?

Get back here now!

You'll stop nursing and you'll stay home.

If that's what I want, that's what you'll do.

You hear me?

Stop!

Young bastards in there are making a fool of a man.

Min!

Min. (SOBS)

(SOBS)

What I realise now

is that my father's life What I realise now

is that my father's life was oppressed by fear and change

and by disillusionment.

The world to which he had returned

was a constant and sinister reminder of the price of glory.

And glory itself had for him curdled in the tram sheds.

The frustration arising from his failure to make anything of his life

affected all of us.

JACK: Come on.

All of us, that is, except Jack.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Despite all the time and distance between then and now,

Despite all the time and distance that's the thing,

that's the thing,

the thing I simply have to get at.

What made Jack different from me?

Not just older or nobler or braver

or less clever Not just older or nobler or braver

or less clever than I believe myself to be,

or less clever but different at the deepest level.

but different at the deepest level.

As soon as he was old enough,

Jack had been pushed out to work for a plumber called Fred Foley.

Jack had been pushed out to work He learned something of the trade,

He learned something of the trade,

but the impression he gave at home He learned something of the trade,

but the impression he gave at home was that all he'd learned

was how to get drunk with his workmates

and drive poor Foley to the point of a nervous breakdown.

Possibly Jack had no idea what he wanted to be,

Possibly Jack had no idea but a plumber certainly it was not.

but a plumber certainly it was not.

There's nothing I could do. It's stuck.

Oh, crikey, Mum,

you don't want him dakked and duffed on his first day, do you?

He's got more sense than you. He won't let it happen.

Oh! Oh! Get out of it, Jack.

It was only school, Davey.

Funny the things you learn not to miss.

My own education had also been cut short.

Because I could never grasp more than the simplest mathematics,

I had failed the Intermediate Certificate.

I had failed My father had me indentured

My father had me indentured

for a six-year apprenticeship with a lithographic firm.

Under this arrangement,

I entertained the prospect of reaching manhood

as a fully qualified decorator of jam labels.

At that stage, I'm not sure

that I even knew At that stage, I'm not sure

that I even knew what lithography really was,

but evidently there were no other applicants for the job,

but evidently there were no other so I was put to work immediately.

so I was put to work immediately.

Holy of holies.

Best litho stones in the country

and carried by Herr Klebendorf Best litho stones in the country

and carried by Herr Klebendorf all the way from Bavaria.

These are clean. Yes?

You may touch one.

Watch.

Listen. Study.

One day, six or seven years from now,

you may be permitted to seat yourself before one of these.

Dave, is it?

Well, everyone calls me Old Joe.

To avoid confusion Well, everyone calls me Old Joe.

To avoid confusion with young spotty face here,

To avoid confusion the fruit of these loins.

the fruit of these loins.

But you won't catch me playing favourites with him or anyone.

Now, within reason, you may speak prior to being spoken to

and singing, provided it's G&S, is permitted

as the day grows long.

Here are your nibs.

Ink,

pencils...

..gum Arabic.

I will instruct the paymaster

to draw you a salary of 15 shillings a week.

Sign here.

# Come, friends who plough the sea

# Truce to navigation

# Take another station

# Let's vary piracy (WHISTLES)

# Let's vary piracy # With a little burglary

# With a little burglary

# Come, friends who plough... #

Ow! Ow! Ow!

Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

Ow! Ow! (LAUGHTER)

Oh.

(LAUGHTER CONTINUES)

(THWACK! THWACK!)

You could say my backside became (THWACK! THWACK!)

You could say my backside became the barometer of an entire epoch.

On the last day of each and every month,

dad called first Jack, then me, into the bathroom.

(THWACK!)

His idea was to settle the account

for any offences we might have committed

that had escaped his attention.

In the blind rage of those days

he seemed not to care about In the blind rage of those days

he seemed not to care about the strength he possessed,

he seemed not to care about nor the injury he inflicted.

nor the injury he inflicted.

Ow! Ow! That was your last hurrah.

(GRUNTS)

I'm working now. I pay board.

Plus, I'm big enough to put you six I'm working now. I pay board.

Plus, I'm big enough to put you six feet under any time I feel like it.

Plus, I'm big enough to put you six So the jig's up. Finished.

So the jig's up. Finished.

Alright?

Huh? Yeah.

Huh? Hey!

Come on. In here.

(WINCES)

You could have stopped the old man belting me as well, you know.

You've got to fight your own battles, Nipper.

How can I?

Listen, you...

You've got to have a go at things.

What things? You've got to have a go at things.

What things? Anything.

What things? Not just Dad, the world.

Not just Dad, the world.

Even if you can't bloody win, you've still got to have a go.

Even if you're just pissing in the wind,

it doesn't mean it's not worth giving it a burl.

Yeah. Easy for you.

No, it's not. It's not.

I just make it look easy. Now, come on.

Show us what you're made of.

Hey?

Oh.

Not too shabby, Nipper.

Not too shabby at all.

Look at that.

Oh, sorry.

Off, out?

Pop's lending you his car?

Told the old coot I'm going for Pop's lending you his car?

Told the old coot I'm going for a talk at the Mechanics Institute.

Told the old coot I'm going for When really...?

When really...?

Three guesses.

Are you meeting a sheila? Tart with any luck.

Are you meeting a sheila? What's the diff?

What's the diff?

A tart is a Sheila What's the diff?

A tart is a Sheila on her second shandy.

A tart is a Sheila So, where are you taking her?

So, where are you taking her?

A dimly lit little car park at Point Ormond.

The advantage...

No. You don't want to know. What?

No. You don't want to know. What? Tell me.

What? Tell me.

The advantage of being near the beach is seawater,

The advantage of being in case you sprog on yourself.

in case you sprog on yourself.

it's the only thing for getting it off your daks.

Sprog?

You ever heard of the penis?

The male penis? Yeah, that's the one. Good boy.

You know what you're supposed to do with it?

You know what Leave it alone.

Leave it alone.

You leave it alone

it'll come home with its tail between its legs, Nipper.

The male penis is specially designed to do battle

with the female apparatus.

And remember...

In love, as in war, the male penis never surrenders.

(CLOCK TICKS)

(COOR CLATTERS) That bloody door.

This was the one time in my life

when I came close to hating my brother.

If the old man asks, I got home no later than one.

Alright. Huh?

He was forever braying about semen stains and coupe crouch,

a hilarious curvature of the spine, according to Jack,

induced by buttoning your waistcoat into the fly of your trousers

inside a darkened vehicle.

# And I polished up the handle of the big front door

# Polished up the handle of the big front door.

# I polished up that handle so carefully

# That now I am the ruler of the Queen's Navy

# He polished up the handle so carefully

# That now he is the ruler of the Queen's Navy

# As office boy I made such a mark

# That they gave me the post of a junior clerk... #

Jack! (DOG BARKS)

What are these things doing in my automobile?

I thought they'd make an excellent duster.

Never, never do I want to see the likes of these things

in my automobile again. These?

Never? Never.

In our car? In my automobile.

You've got yourself a deal, Pop.

Dad.

Bert's got something he'd like to say.

Bert's got something Has he?

Has he?

I won't stand if that's all the same.

Well, um...

I...

..that is...we.

Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai.

What's this 'we' business. Jean and me.

Oh, Jean and I.

We...

That is I. (SNIGGERS)

What is everyone staring at?

Your hair, dear?

I beg your pardon.

You were saying, Bert.

(STAMMERS) Mr Meredith... Mmm.

I'd like to ask for... for Jean's hand in marriage.

Is that all?

You don't mind, Poppy? No.

You don't mind, Poppy? It's your funeral.

It's your funeral.

If you're happy with the prospects It's your funeral.

If you're happy with the prospects of...

Of course I am. I love him. Oh, good for you. That's lovely.

See, Jean, I'm not going to get my bowels in a twist

See, Jean, I'm not going over some female folly.

over some female folly.

Cheers to you.

The future of this family, Cheers to you.

The future of this family, the future,

the Meredith line, lies with these fine young fellows here.

I've got bad news for you, Pop.

You've put half your eggs, at least, in the wrong basket.

I quit Foley's. Told him to shove his U-pipe up his S-bend,

and I'm off.

You're what? Off where?

You're what? The Wimmera.

The Wimmera.

Sit down. Sit down at this table!

Calm down, Pop. Take a look at that.

In case you missed me. I've left you a year's supply of dusters.

With you gone...

..I won't know what to do.

So? You didn't know what to do when I was here.

What's that?

Come on.

Come on, my girl.

He'll be back as large as life before you know it.

You mark my words, he will.

(COUGHS)

I think I'll sleep in here tonight.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah!

Stop!

I forbid you to hit my boy once more.

With any other family I would file a police report post-haste.

But I am loath to put a man from my own division into the authorities.

If I could have some assurance, there will be no repetition?

You have my word, doctor.

I started leaving home an hour earlier in the mornings

to have some time to myself before Klebendorfs opened.

I came to be aware, for the first time in my life,

of the existence of true beauty.

A world of infinite promise that had nothing to do

with the shabby suburbs that had engulfed me since birth.

This beauty filled me with an excitement,

almost an exultation I could tell nobody about.

I can't really draw.

Never a truer word spoken.

We must do something about that.

Where did you find this?

Oh, on a beach near the port.

Oh, who knows how many thousands Oh, on a beach near the port.

Oh, who knows how many thousands of miles it must have travelled.

Where's Antofagasta?

On the way to South America, Where's Antofagasta?

On the way to South America, on the nitrate routes.

They were the days, my boy.

When the bay was a-shimmer with so many white sails.

It was as if a fog had rolled in at the blaze of noon.

Four-masters home from the Fuzhou Tea Races,

trimming their stun'sls against the Cutty Sark.

Stun'sls?

Look it up, my boy.

In your own time, need I add?

I did more than just look it up.

I tracked down everything I could about the era of sail.

And it was as if I had been led to this moment.

And that all the reading in my bedroom,

the exercise book of attempted poems stuffed inside my mattress,

had been a preparation,

all coming together into the semblance of a path

all coming together that could lead somewhere.

that could lead somewhere.

I was 15 and I was a writer -

lonely, secretive and desperately anonymous, but still a writer.

I was too afraid back then to sign my name to what I had written.

Perhaps I could use some of that fear now.

Now that I am driven to use not just my name, but my life

and the lives of everyone I have known as fodder for what I write.

And yet, having begun, there's no more turning back for me now

than there was for that boy in a library,

than there was first discovering the power of words

first discovering the power of words

to make his world an intelligible and a bearable place.

And so it stood in all that curious time, midway between two wars,

the world was so sure of itself then.

Prosperous.

Smug.

Complacent.

You'll report to the Gallery art school

every Tuesday evening for drawing lessons.

Why me?

Shouldn't Young Joe or one of the others...?

Ah!

Your need is greater.

"Dear Davey, Generally speaking, life up here in the Wimmera

"Dear Davey, Generally speaking, "is you beauty bottler, mate.

"is you beauty bottler, mate.

"There's a nice girl working on the same property as me.

"We've been going steady now for two weeks

"and you'll never pick her handle.

"She's a sheila called Sheila.

"Come Saturday, we hightail it into Dimboola

"for the old time night

"at the Mechanics Institute, would you believe?

"at the Mechanics Institute, "And blow me down, Nipper,

"And blow me down, Nipper,

"If under Sheila's guiding hand

"I'm not becoming an expert at the polka, the veleta

"I'm not becoming an expert "and the parmer bloody waltz."

"and the parmer bloody waltz."

Morning Post, please.

With the relentless optimism of youth

and a state of apprehension With the relentless optimism of youth

and a state of apprehension in equal proportions,

I bought the paper every morning on my way to work,

both expecting to see my story in print

and at the same time expecting nothing.

It was like a mighty river flooding and changing its course

the way the Great Depression came.

One by one the factory machines fell silent,

and the men who had stood at them were swept away.

My father was now depot foreman, and he kept his job at the tramways.

But even those of us who held on to our jobs

felt the press of the unemployed at our flanks,

felt something rub off on us

from the black-dyed army coats they wore like a stigma of suffering.

from the black-dyed army coats JOE: I'm sure everyone here knows

JOE: I'm sure everyone here knows

how hard people are doing it JOE: I'm sure everyone here knows

how hard people are doing it these days.

Good men are being laid off wherever you look.

Mr Klein and I have been in discussions with the owners,

and we've come up with a scheme.

If everyone has two weeks leave without pay,

we think we can keep the place going without giving anyone the sack.

Naturally, Young Joe and I would go first.

This would give the rest of you

the time to make whatever preparations you need.

the time to make whatever (MEN MURMUR)

(MEN MURMUR)

The one good thing the Depression did

The one good thing was bring Jack back into our lives.

was bring Jack back into our lives.

Jack.

Look at you, Nipper. Hey? Alright.

Where's the Sheila?

Get me bags, will you?

If you ever need anything, I'm your man.

If you ever need anything, Just take care.

Just take care.

Double pneumonia, Nipper.

It's Mum's speciality.

OK.

Give me some elbow room, Jack.

Tongue.

Nice coat. From Myers?

Family heirloom.

I hope you're not planning to bunk down

in the same room as that young madam.

I don't think it's contagious, Pop. Or I would have caught it by now.

It's not your physical health that bothers me, boy.

Unless I haven't been told something,

Unless I haven't been told the pair of you are not married.

the pair of you are not married.

While you live in my home, I'll not have you living in sin with some...

What?

Roman Catholic piece of baggage. Oh, is that what's up your khyber?

What's wrong with being a Mick, for Christ's sake?

The Catholics have been the ruination of the tramways.

(LAUGHS)

Oh, you think it's funny, do you, boy?

Well, every soldier loyal to the Crown

was risking his life out there on the lines in France.

The Micks were back here in Melbourne,

and they were helping the Kaiser by opposing conscription.

All of them, Dad. Every single one of them.

You'd be the man to know, wouldn't you?

You'd be the man to know, Hey? You've got a bloody hide.

Hey? You've got a bloody hide.

You come crawling back to me Hey? You've got a bloody hide.

You come crawling back to me with your arse out of your trousers,

dragging your floozy with you, and you stand in my home

and you tell me about the men I served with.

Just. Just wait a minute. You know nothing about it.

Just hold on, Pop. Just stand back. Right?

I brought Sheila here because she's sick.

I thought Mum would know better than anybody

how to take care of her while I look around for a new job.

I promise you, the moment she's well enough to move,

I'll be out of here like a shot.

But what I really want to know

is what in God's name is wrong with you?

I know you had a rough trot,

but can't you bear to see anybody else have even a moment's happiness?

I'll run Sheila a good hot bath

with some eucalyptus for her head and chest.

Now, Jack, you see that she has a good long soak.

(WATER SPLASHES)

Are you having a fair dinkum bog in there

Are you having a fair dinkum bog or are you just reading as usual?

or are you just reading as usual?

Use the garden like you always do.

I'll tell you. I've got to get Sheila out of the old man's way

I'll tell you. I've got to get now that she's better.

now that she's better.

Just got to scrape some money now that she's better.

Just got to scrape some money together first.

I've got a bit saved up.

Well, it's not much, but you can have it if you need it.

No, thanks, Nipper, but I'll make my own way.

I'm thinking of going rabbiting.

Reckon you can make a few bob at it if you're smart.

Smarter than a rabbit, anyway.

You should romp it in.

(HUMS TO HERSELF)

There you go.

Oh. Thank you. You're welcome.

Excuse me. Would you good folk, by any chance have a spare shekel?

I could give you a hand with that, if you like.

Never you mind about that.

There you go. There's sixpence.

And good luck to you. Thanks, lady.

Those old army coats they make them wear, it's terrible.

Government dyes them black, so there's no honour in wearing one.

What did he want? Nothing you'd know how to give.

That would be bloody right, wouldn't it?

Your boy in the bloody Vatican,

he's finally squeaked up about what Joe Stalin is doing

to Christians in Russia.

Your boy wasn't too worried about

the Christians I knew at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele.

Left them bloody lying there.

These poor bastards in Russia, he'll leave them lying there too.

Because they're not his sort of Christians, are they?

Because they're not his sort Nor yours.

Nor yours.

They're not bloody Catholics, are they?

Yeah, you and you're holy poly bloody...

Bloody Catholics.

You know, I can't help it if I'm as Irish as Paddy's pig,

You know, I can't help it as you so charmingly put it.

as you so charmingly put it.

(EXAGGERATED ACCENT) I'm twice as dirty. Oh, to be sure. To be sure.

Any chance of enough hot water

for a filthy darn tyke to bathe in, Mum?

I'll put some more chips in the bath heater.

I promise not to baptise any passing little babies while I'm in there.

# Oh, Danny boy

# The pipes, the pipes are calling

# From glen to glen

# And down the mountainside

# The summer's gone

# And all the flowers are dying

# It's you, it's you must go

# And I must bide. #

No amount of drawing cubes and cylinders or bowls of fruit

had prepared me for the challenge of the life class

at the National Gallery School.

There, for the first time,

I found myself in the company of young Melbourne bohemians,

and it was there that I had my first unsettling confrontation

and it was there that I had my first with the spectacle of a naked woman.

with the spectacle of a naked woman.

MAN: Two minutes.

Quite good.

Except for that unfortunate bit in the middle.

Philistine. I'm Sam, by the way.

David.

Do you feel like joining us later?

Having a little soiree back at my digs.

Uh, well...

What...what brings you here?

Given my total lack of any What...what brings you here?

Given my total lack of any discernible talent, you mean.

Given my total lack of any Yes, in a nutshell.

Yes, in a nutshell.

You should come to this party. I'll give you the address.

Here, you can write it on the back of nude with the unfortunate middle.

Here, you can write it on the back of Time, ladies and gentlemen.

Time, ladies and gentlemen.

(MUSIC, CHATTER)

Give it a burl.

(MUSIC, CHATTER)

Ooh.

Ooh...

Have you read this?

The Sun Also Rises. It's about astronomy?

Please tell me you're not another artist.

I'm only training as a designer at the tech,

I'm only training as a designer and I'm feeling distinctly left out.

and I'm feeling distinctly left out.

Are you at the Gallery School, too?

Well, yes, I'm afraid so.

do you want to be a real artist Well, yes, I'm afraid so.

do you want to be a real artist like everybody else in the room?

Well, I don't know about an artist, but I want to be a real something.

A real what?

Writer.

Yeah, I want to be a writer.

In fact, one day I mean to write a novel.

Will you put me in it?

If you give me your address.

You wouldn't prefer If you give me your address.

You wouldn't prefer to start with my name?

Now, Jessica. Meet David.

You might remember him Now, Jessica. Meet David.

You might remember him from our art class today,

though what he was doing there still remains a mystery,

as indeed what he's doing here, for that matter.

But what is clear is the man needs a needs a drink.

Just a small one.

Nurse, the patient shows acute symptoms of Presbyterianism.

Cheers.

Now, young Christian soldier, you and I have a mission.

We do?

Together, you and I

are going to shake this drab, retrograde dump of a town

till its teeth rattle.

And how are we going to do that again, exactly?

With these.

You see, religion is merely With these.

You see, religion is merely the opiate of the masses.

You see, religion is merely Art is their suppository.

Art is their suppository.

If I was going to go around impressing pretty girls at parties

with the claim that I was about to become a writer,

I thought I had better at least look the part.

Have a go, Sheila.

Right... (KEYS CLATTER)

Oh! (LAUGHS)

What is that? It's a typewriter, Pops.

Don't you have them in the tramways? I've got eyes in my head, haven't I?

I can see what it is. What's it doing here?

I can see what it is. It's mine.

It's mine.

What do you mean it's yours? It's mine.

What do you mean it's yours? It's not, is it?

You don't type. It's a bloody woman's job.

I need it to write my articles.

Look what you've gone and done to this boy.

Forget about your articles, Davey.

You've got an apprenticeship.

You've got a trade. And you're bloody lucky to have either.

I'm not gonna have you doing a Jack.

I'm not having you chasing after some silly pipedream.

I'm not having you chasing after I won't have it.

I won't have it.

You get that blasted contraption out of this house, boy.

And if you don't like it, mister,

you can take yourself with it for all I care.

Davey.

It really will be your house when there's no-one else left in it.

Darling heart, did we order a drowned rat?

Davey.

I've walked out of home.

What's happened? This.

You've eloped with your typewriter.

Jess, could you, um, clear some of your stuff off the couch

so Davey can doss down here for the night?

No, please, Sam. I just need somewhere to leave the machine.

And where will you go? I'll sleep in the park.

No. It's alright.

It's all just experience, right?

Well, I prefer my experiences indoors with beautiful women,

but if that's what you want.

Take this. And please, please call back in the morning.

Thank you, Sam, but I'll be fine.

No, bugger you. That's my favourite coat.

Thanks.

The trouble was the bloody...

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Yeah, yeah.

(HARMONICA PLAYING)

Who is to blame for this?

The bank?

(COUGHING)

Oh, no, thanks.

Give it time.

(TYPEWRITER KEYS CLATTER)

Jack.

So, I finally tracked you down, eh?

You here by yourself?

Sam's just gone out to bring some friends back.

Sam's just gone out Mmm.

Mmm.

What sort of a frigging joint is this place, anyway?

Is this Sam bloke some kind of Tonk, or what?

Is this Sam bloke Smells like a tart shop.

Smells like a tart shop.

Hey.

Oh, cripes.

That doesn't leave much to the imagination, does it?

Have you moved in here?

Sam's letting me stay here for a while till I work things out.

So, when did you get back?

This morning. Sheila's found us a room.

This morning. We've moved in together.

We've moved in together.

So, you're back for good, then? Yeah.

So, you're back for good, then? Listen, Davey,

Listen, Davey,

Mum got herself in a real stew Listen, Davey,

Mum got herself in a real stew when you shot through,

so I thought I'd better come and find you

before she starts calling the cops.

Yeah, well, I didn't shoot through, did I?

Yeah, well, I didn't shoot through, Huh?

Huh?

Dad kicked me out.

Davey, that flamin' house is no good for anybody.

But it's Mum we've got to think of.

We just can't leave her alone with him, can we?

We just can't leave her alone I mean, that wouldn't be very fair.

I mean, that wouldn't be very fair.

Fife and drum till the fun begins.

Fife and drum My bloody oath it does.

My bloody oath it does.

Have we got enough? My bloody oath it does.

Have we got enough? Plenty, mate.

Oh. Excuse me.

Well, who's this divine specimen, Oh. Excuse me.

Well, who's this divine specimen, then?

Fancy getting your togs off for an impromptu life class?

How do you fancy the inside view of a dead dingo's bum?

Jack...

Hello. So, you found him then?

Am I the only one who hasn't been introduced?

Sorry, Sam. This is my brother, Jack.

Oh, my dear Stunsail. I didn't know you had a brother.

You must make yourself absolutely at home while we organise...

..the orgy!

ALL: Yeah.

He was just leaving. Was I?

If I'd realised you were having a brawl in here,

I wouldn't have broken in, follow what I mean?

I wouldn't have broken in, No trouble, Jack.

No trouble, Jack.

(COUGHS AND SPLUTTERS)

She lets you paint her like that without a stitch?

She lets you paint her like that Stitchless.

Stitchless.

Absolutely completely stitchless.

You know, she's as frivolous as you or me.

She'll sleep with you or me or anybody.

Yeah?

That brother of yours, he has serious purpose.

Yeah, he was born serious. Mmm. What's wrong with that?

Nothing. Kid's alright. Just serious, that's all.

Mmm. Yeah. You know what worries me?

It's the first girl he meets.

Give him a dose of the clap, or worse, get up the duff,

Give him a dose of the clap, his whole life's ruined.

his whole life's ruined.

You watch out for him for me?

I can be trusted to act as his moral guardian.

I reckon for a ponce, you're not too shabby.

I reckon for a ponce, Mmm.

Mmm.

To ponces.

A phone call for David Meredith, Esquire.

I trust it's important enough to be taken on the firm's time.

Two minutes.

David Meredith speaking.

Who the hell are you? Meredith, Sir.

Who the hell are you? I hope to God that's your surname.

I hope to God that's your surname.

David Meredith.

You can't possibly be Stunsail.

Yes, sir.

We were under the impression you were a retired sea captain.

A sailing ship man, an old shellback.

Huh!

Fascinating.

What do you do?

I work in a lithographic studio, sir.

You write well, young man. You write very well.

Even though you have a weakness for splitting the infinitive.

Have you considered journalism as a career?

I mean, as a full-time thing. Not just as a contributor.

No. Not really. Think about it.

You clearly have a bent for it.

You could start on the shipping columns.

I'm indentured, sir.

Well, your father could buy out your indentures.

I don't think so, sir.

He doesn't approve of my writing.

Really?

How extraordinary.

Well, there's no urgency.

Just keep the articles coming.

500 words on my desk every Thursday.

Think you can do that? Yes, sir.

Think you can do that? Thank you, Sir.

Thank you, Sir.

You're next.

Come on, Nipper, have a trot. (LAUGHS)

Come on, Nipper, have a trot. Come on. Come on. Up you get.

Come on. Come on. Up you get.

First things first. Come on. Come on. Up you get.

First things first. Get a nice, firm grip on the girl.

First things first. That's it.

That's it.

Loosen up.

He's not bad, you know. Loosen up.

He's not bad, you know. He's a natural.

He's not bad, you know. Give him a kiss, Sheila.

Give him a kiss, Sheila.

That's not a kiss.

Go on, give him a real kiss.

(GIGGLES) Jack!

To the family genius.

At least one of you boys is going to be staying put.

You're not heading off on one of your trips again, are you, Jack?

You just got back. A man's got to go where the work is.

You just got back. They say New South Wales is the go.

They say New South Wales is the go.

It's like the Depression They say New South Wales is the go.

It's like the Depression never even hit up there.

Who told you that? Jungle telegraph.

I'll be back before you can say 'yours truly, Robinson',

with more money in my pocket than our famous family author here.

Cheers. Cheers.

(BURPS)

(BURPS)

Typical blasted Mick!

I've been thinking about home and everything.

And I reckon I probably could put up with Dad again for a while.

For Mum's sake. After all, I survived you for 15 years.

JESSICA: (SHOUTS) I spend days at a time sitting here for you

when I could be doing my own work.

I'm not even allowed to express a bloody opinion.

I'm not even allowed And what am I to you?!

And what am I to you?!

When you sit there, And what am I to you?!

When you sit there, you are form, light and colour.

You're nothing more than a bowl of fruit.

A bowl of fruit doesn't need to express a bloody opinion.

How dare you? I'm just as much of an artist as you.

How dare you? I'm just as much You have an artistic temperament.

You have an artistic temperament.

As far as actual skill, talent, dedication for real artistry,

the second you put your clothes back on, that is where it stops.

Stunsail.

I just came to get the Remington, toothbrush and razor.

Oh, you're going to shave your legs at this time of night?

That's right. Everything's a joke to Sam 'smart-arse' Burlington.

Oh, my dearest Jessica,

the hairiness of the human leg is the overwhelming issue of our time.

the hairiness of the human leg is To hell with you. Let me go!

To hell with you. Let me go!

Where are you going?

Oh, God. Oh, God.

Gone too far. Gone too far.

God, I'm a bastard.

Go after her, will you?

Make sure she's alright.

I feel like such a fool.

He really is sorry.

I mean, I don't think it was just an act.

Maybe you should call him.

Why do you care?

Because I grew up

seeing what happens when two people Because I grew up

seeing what happens when two people stop talking to one another.

I know how it ends.

I will call him.

There's no phone where I stay,

but I can use the box There's no phone where I stay,

but I can use the box at the post office.

but I can use the box I'll come with you.

I'll come with you.

Carting that thing? Well, I promised Sam.

It's 50 yards down the street. I'll be fine.

If Sam's calmed down a bit, I might even catch a taxi back to his place.

If Sam's calmed down a bit, I might Thanks.

Thanks.

Bye.

I couldn't have known that I would never see Jessica again.

That the tragedy brewing for my two closest friends

would soon dwarf the simmering tensions in my own family.

Eggs Marconi.

For those of you who are interested,

the Meredith family vehicle departs for service at St Andrews

the Meredith family vehicle departs in 10 minutes.

in 10 minutes.

He is glad you're back.

He just doesn't have the first clue how to make the words come out.

Hey, listen to this.

"In the course of the interview,

"the self-styled artist Sam Burlington

"admitted that intimacy had taken place between him and the victim."

"admitted that intimacy had taken Her.

Her.

If that's anything to go by, I'd be willing to admit intimacy myself.

How many times?

Oh, just once would do me.

Just once. (LAUGHTER)

What's wrong with you?

Hey!

(LAUGHTER)

The police are here.

The newspaper said that Jessica had been brutally assaulted

and strangled to death in a desolate area beyond the tramway.

Sam Burlington was the only suspect.

He'd been taken to Russell Street police station,

where he was being held for questioning.

What the police didn't know

was that I was the last one to have seen her alive.

was that I was the last one But I haven't been there.

But I haven't been there.

You know of any threats or physical violence?

Sam and I weren't even friends.

We hardly even knew each other.

And as for Miss Rae, we'd barely ever met.

You'd be much better off asking someone else all these questions.

What I didn't understand then, and barely do now,

is the panic of denial that took hold of me that day.

And what I cannot justify ever in my life

is why I didn't simply tell them that Sam was my friend,

is why I didn't simply tell them a gentle, kindly sort of person

a gentle, kindly sort of person

who could never have done the terrible things

of which he'd been accused.

What's all your news? Nothing.

Well, you have now. A letter.

And from Jack, too, I think.

"By the time you get this, I will be working my passage

"By the time you get this, "on a steamer to Chile."

"on a steamer to Chile."

Chile. Where's Chile? Oh, shush up.

"There's work laying a pipeline across the Andes.

"Incredibly well paid over there, so they say."

"Incredibly well paid over there, That would be right.

That would be right.

You ever heard such a harebrained That would be right.

You ever heard such a harebrained scheme in your life?

That boy will come home in a box. You mark my words.

That boy will come home in a box. I just hope it's not a C.O.D.

I just hope it's not a C.O.D.

Dad, that's an awful thing to say.

What else has he done?

Is he well? He's alright?

Read us some more, Davey. Read us some more.

Of course I never read them Jack's postscript.

"That terrible business about that murdered girl

"even made it into the into the Sydney papers.

"I'm sure you're doing the right thing

"and standing by your mate Sam.

"Give him my regards, if they're letting you visit him on remand."

You can knock as long as you like.

But Sheila packed all her things

and hoofed it off up the road last week.

Did she leave a forwarding address?

I was going to ask you the same question.

I was going to ask you Oh, this came in the mail today

Oh, this came in the mail today

from that, uh, husband chappie of hers.

If he is her husband.

Not that it's any of my business.

I won't keep you, then.

Well, I can't say I blame her I won't keep you, then.

Well, I can't say I blame her for doing a bunk.

That rapist fella struck again, apparently.

The what? A 12-year-old this time.

Can you believe it?

Still one good thing, at least it wasn't that poor model's fancy man.

Still one good thing, at least it Coppers are letting him go.

Coppers are letting him go.

Here, do you want this letter?

Used to think it might be possible to live in a new country like this.

Used to think it might be possible Be different.

Be different.

I'll have to pay a price.

You know, you're the only one of my so-called friends

who's bothered to visit me.

My brother wanted you to know

he never believed My brother wanted you to know

he never believed any of the accusations.

Not even for a second.

Shit. Don't make 'em like you two anymore.

Look, I'm so sorry. No, no, no, no.

Occasionally, when I was locked up...

..they let me see a newspaper.

The poor thing looked like the moths had been at it

after everything to do with the investigation had been cut out.

Once a week, there'd be the good old Stunsail column.

Kept me going.

What are you going to do in Europe?

Stuffed if I know.

Just pray I don't end up growing roses.

Why roses?

It's what my father did.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate irony?

After everything we strive for,

we end up becoming our fathers regardless.

we end up becoming our fathers God, I hope not.

God, I hope not.

Well, you'd better be ready

to betray everything you're comfortable with.

Everything you believe in.

Do you think you can do that?

(KNOCKING) Mum???

Mum!

Is he alright? I don't know. Let's get him inside.

So, you'd like that in Friday's morning edition, sir.

Missing persons section, thanks.

Well, blow me down if it isn't Stunsail.

Well, blow me down I've been meaning to call you in.

I've been meaning to call you in.

No, really, I have.

There's a vacancy coming up on the reporting staff here.

Are you out of your indenture to that, what is it,

Are you out of your indenture lithographic firm yet?

lithographic firm yet?

Not quite, Mr Brewster. That's a pity.

We could use someone like you who can crank out words like sausages.

But I can't hold the spot open indefinitely.

Well, leave it with me, sir. I'll work something out.

Well, leave it with me, sir. Will you? Good man.

Will you? Good man.

That'll be three shillings, thanks, sir.

How is he? He's pretty crook.

Can you come and see him?

Can you keep your old man out of the way?

I can try.

I'm not bringing the baby.

Whose baby?

Jack's, of course. Whose do you think?

Why didn't you get in touch, Sheila? I could have helped.

You must have had an awful time. I managed.

It's the reason I took off without telling anyone.

It's the reason I took off I didn't want Jack finding out

I didn't want Jack finding out

he had a little girl he couldn't afford to raise.

And I'll be damned if I'm going to torture him with her now,

if he's not going to pull out of this.

Come on! Get back.

Get up.

We gradually pieced together what had happened to Jack.

After a year of bitter disappointments in Chile,

he fell into a mysterious fever

and was shipped back to Sydney as a distressed British subject.

and was shipped back to Sydney (CALLS OUT)

(CALLS OUT)

Shh. It's alright.

Without a penny to his name, he set out to walk home to Melbourne,

a journey of over 700 miles.

By all the standards of reasonable chance he should have perished,

of starvation, of exposure, of exhaustion.

Yet somehow, Jack being Jack, he survived.

(MUMBLES AND MUTTERS)

Yellow or black?

Yellow.

(SOBBING) I can't watch you.

What I couldn't grasp through the whole ordeal

was why opportunity after opportunity should fall into my lap,

while at every turn, Jack's decency and goodness of heart

were rewarded with a kick in the teeth.

G'day, Nipper.

Sheila.

Here.

I've called her Sharon.

Sharon.

I'm sorry...

For being a mad bastard?

We can't help the way we're born.

None of us.

By my reckoning, you owe us 22 more months hard labour

for the time and money we've invested in you.

for the time We might be willing to release you

We might be willing to release you

if you're prepared to sign a guarantee.

A guarantee?

That you won't practise commercial art with any of our rivals.

I think I can definitely guarantee that, Mr Denton.

I think I can definitely Definitely.

Definitely.

I'll have the paperwork drawn up.

Tell me one thing.

Why?

Why now?

Well, my brother's seriously ill,

and my mother could use the help Well, my brother's seriously ill,

and my mother could use the help at home.

And I have something else lined up.

The newspaper?

Yes.

(CHUCKLES)

Try putting something of yourself into your new work.

Who knows?

You might even get good.

Jack, I've been thinking.

If I didn't completely burn my bridges with Old Joe,

he might be willing to swing you a storeman's job at the printery

once you're back on your feet.

Yeah?

You hear that, Sheil?

Ha-ha!

I'm gonna be a breadwinner again.

Hey.

I might just have a job for you, too, Nipper.

How'd you like to be my best man?

Oh, wouldn't I?

Come here.

Even armed with a smart suit and hat,

I felt unprepared for the new world that I was entering

and the brave new face I would need to present.

The Morning Post was rather a special sort of newspaper,

known in those days for its high standards of reporting.

First-year cadets were expected to have private school educations

First-year cadets were expected and impressive university degrees.

and impressive university degrees.

Having neither, I felt like an imposter.

I'll show you where you'll be working.

Good morning, Mr Brewster.

Kevin. Bernie.

It's a real honour to be here, Mr Brewster.

It's early days yet, sunshine.

And it needn't concern you for quite a while.

And it needn't concern you This is the special writers room.

This is the special writers room.

And the Shakespeare with his feet This is the special writers room.

And the Shakespeare with his feet up on the desk is Gavin Turley.

And the Shakespeare with his feet Special writer.

Special writer.

Reptiles.

If I may have your attention.

This is Mr David Meredith.

He'll be joining your ranks as of this morning.

I trust you will all make him welcome at the Post.

I trust you will all make him And assist him in learning the ropes

And assist him in learning the ropes

as swiftly And assist him in learning the ropes

as swiftly and as painlessly as possible.

as swiftly Curtis?

Curtis?

Sorry to interrupt. Oh, just a minute.

Yes, sir. Meredith. That rings a bell.

Wesley. Coxless fours.

Well, they're all coxless at Wesley.

So I've been told.

Uh, actually, I went to Elsternwick High if you're that interested.

No rowing there, I wouldn't think.

No, no. Just boxing.

Ah, Mr Meredith, laddy.

Condon, Curtis Condon, Ah, Mr Meredith, laddy.

Condon, Curtis Condon, chief of staff.

Condon, Curtis Condon, You found yourself a desk, I see.

You found yourself a desk, I see.

If you want to stay in my good books, you'll remember three things.

One, a sentence has to make sense.

Two split an infinitive and I'll split your head.

And above all, three. Don't try to be funny.

I only see jokes by appointment.

Here's your list of day rounds. That tie could use a straighten.

Condon took particular delight

in assigning me to cover the cover the drownings, car accidents,

in assigning me to cover the cover and suicides.

and suicides.

But since the Post and suicides.

But since the Post never ran a suicide story,

But since the Post as it was a respectable paper,

as it was a respectable paper,

the sole purpose of sending cadets along

was to have our natural sensitivities rubbed into calluses

against the raw, stark facts of death and life.

against the raw, stark facts Oh, struth.

Oh, struth.

Oh...

Yeah, well, you got two choices.

Either you go under or you toughen up.

You tell them bunch of chinless wonders

you're tougher, smarter, quicker than any of them.

you're tougher, smarter, Yeah, I know, Jack.

Yeah, I know, Jack.

That's good. I'm glad to hear it.

I won't have to beat the living daylights out of you then.

I won't have to beat the living I told him I studied boxing.

I told him I studied boxing.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah, I do remember that uppercut.

And I remember that haymaker.

Yeah, it wasn't too shabby at all, was it, Nipper? Hey.

It was Jack who convinced me to put the childish things behind me,

to hammer out the past and seal it all off forever

behind a sheet of polished veneer,

desperately driving nail after nail

through the treacherous emotions of a tiny suburban history.

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(HAMMERING CONTINUES)

Give it a spark, Mum.

Then I bade farewell to the crutches and gas masks,

to the memory of mother weeping in the night

of Jack's body sprawled in exhaustion at our front step.

Of Dad imprisoned in his own nightmare.

And of myself running through the rain with a banished typewriter.

And I steeled myself for whatever might happen next.

(POPS AND EXPLOSIONS)

(HEARS GUNFIRE AND LOUD EXPLOSIONS)

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation