Original subtitles

[crickets chirping]

Downloaded from YTS.MX

-[Lyndal humming] -[soft music playing]

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

Okay God, it's Lyndal.

I'm ready.

Make it rain.

Jodie, listen. You sit up in my seat, next to Henry.

Uh. [sighs]

Just make it look like

-business as usual. -Yeah, go.

-[handbrake ratcheting] -[seatbelt clicking]

[Stephen grunts]

Rachel.

[Andrew grunting]

-[Lyndal moans] -[Andrew grunts]

[door knocks]

[woman] Andrew!

[door knocks]

No. [groans] No.

[woman] Andrew!

Be quiet.

They'll go away.

-[Lyndal] No! -[Andrew grunts]

-[Lyndal] No! -[Andrew] Fuck!

[pants]

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

-[Lyndal groans] -You crazy bitch.

-[door knocks] -[woman] Andrew!

I can bloody hear you in there, you arsehole!

-[door thuds] -[woman] Lyndal, is that you?

Just open the fucking door.

[door knocks]

-[Lyndal grunts] -[woman] Andrew!

[woman] Open the door!

[Andrew] Don't go.

[door knocks]

Well, where are you going to go?

-Listen-- -[gunshot fires]

Oh, fuck!

-It's all right. Calm down. -[gun cocks]

[Andrew] Please. Calm down.

It's all right.

It's all right.

It's all right.

[sombre music playing]

How could you do this to me?

I took you in!

[door knocks]

[Stephen] Rachel, I... I can hear your phone.

I know you're in there.

[phone ringing]

Rachel, look, I'm coming in.

[lock clattering]

This abuse started a long time ago

and was repeated over a number of years.

Now, I realise the plaintiff

is under cross-examination, Your Honour,

but this morning's newspaper article

-is of concern. -Oh.

...committed suicide.

-[judge] Mr Carter? -Oh!

-[indistinct chatter] -Oh, no. [cries]

-No! -You did this.

Should have left it alone!

You!

[judge] Mr Carter.

-[door closes] -[Stephen] Uh, Your Honour, um,

there's... there's been a development.

Uh, unfortunately...

uh, the... the plaintiff, my client...

um... [clears throat]

...she's taken her own life, Your Honour, this morning.

[stenographers keys clacking]

[judge] I'm very sorry to hear that.

Um, how would you like to proceed?

We need time to confer with her family.

[judge] Uh, well, I can adjourn this matter,

pending your application to continue. Uh, Mr Myers?

Oh.

That seems, uh...

prudent, Your Honour, under the circumstances,

although my client has been put to considerable, uh...

inconvenience and expense. So I am flagging that the Church

will be seeking an order for costs...

and that they be paid by...

-[stenographers keys clacking] -...the plaintiff's firm.

[judge] You can argue that when the time comes, Mr Myers.

This case is adjourned.

[clerk] All rise.

Mate, I'll go and talk to her family.

Please, please.

I am very sorry, Steve.

[lips smack] Another win for the Pope, hey?

Nobody wins here, Steve.

I invited you to settle.

I think we made you a very fair offer.

[door closes]

-[soft music playing] -[birds chirping]

[train whistle blowing]

[train whistle blowing]

[children exclaiming]

[indistinct chatter]

[Josh] Have you told Dad yet?

Shut up.

-Someone's in a bad mood. -[Wendy] Enough.

[Stephen] What happened?

-My English teacher's a cow. -[Stephen] A cow?

Tom got a C-minus in his test last week.

[Tom] She didn't count two of the pages.

Yeah, because they were identical to Cameron Bruce's.

You cheated?

I didn't cheat.

Cameron is a meathead. He copied me.

And you let him?

-No, he sits right next to me. -Just talk to him.

Tell him it's not on.

-It was nice knowing you, Tom. -[blows raspberry] You're dead.

[Stephen] Hey, you two.

All right, you're done. Go, you're excused.

[Wendy] Plates in the dishwasher.

-[crockery clattering] -[Wendy] Here, take mine.

Are you going to be all right?

I've never lost a case like this before.

[Wendy] Are we going to be okay?

Yes, we'll be fine.

[footsteps receding]

[car engine revving]

[coin clattering]

-[crickets chirping] -[phone ringing]

[cup clatters]

[phone continues ringing]

[Tony] Hello. You've reached Tony and Sue.

Please leave a message after the tone.

[machine beeping]

[Lyndal] Dad?

[sighs]

It's me.

[Lyndal breathes heavily]

Pick up.

Please?

-[Kevin] Lyndal. -[dramatic music playing]

[Lyndal] You stay away from me!

Lyndal!

-Stay away from me! -[Sue] Lyndal?

Lyndal!

[gasping]

Lyndal!

Lyndal--

[petrol pump beeping]

[Joy] Hello, stranger.

[car door closes]

Long time, no see.

[Lyndal] I had no one else to call?

I'm glad you did.

Hey.

I see him everywhere, Joy.

Kevin Guy killed himself ten years ago. You know that.

[sobs] Do I?

What if they lied to us?

No, they didn't.

But if you need proof...

we can get that.

[gate opens]

[gate swings shut]

Joy.

Thank you.

[Joy] She is still pretty angry.

But at least she's home.

[crickets chirping]

Lyndal, love...

[Joy] I'll call you tomorrow.

Thanks.

[footsteps receding]

-[indistinct chatter] -[whimpers]

[whimpers]

[Lyndal] Just looks like he's sleeping.

[Joy] He's not.

He's dead.

Well, I wish he'd shot himself.

What's that?

In his pocket?

This must be the handwritten note.

The suicide note. It was found with the body.

Can we see that?

Jesus, there's so many names.

[sniffles]

"From a distance, God is watching us".

"Heaven is a place called love".

"Why do I have to justify my love?" [sniffles]

[sighs]

He's got no hold on you anymore.

Then why can I still feel his breath on me?

I should have said something.

I should have fought him off.

You were a child.

But you could fight back now.

If you feel strong enough.

[sighs]

So Katherine referred you to me?

Yes, she's gone on maternity leave.

Hmm. Well, I... I've had my share of these sorts of cases

with limited results.

Yeah, I heard about that case. Sorry to hear.

[Stephen] Well, then you'll understand

why I'm not interested in taking on another one.

[Joy] You have a little girl. Is that right, Steve?

Eleven?

Yes, Hannah. I have four children.

-Mrs Conolly-- -[Joy] Hannah.

Well, in 1990, my patient Lyndal,

she was barely a year older than your Hannah.

She was groomed...

sexualised and repeatedly molested

by her housemaster at Toowoomba Prep.

If it was 1990, unfortunately we're out of time.

No, no, no, sorry, I didn't explain myself.

Uh, Katherine actually filed before Lyndal turned 21.

So we're in time.

We have a mediation booked in

and a barrister has already been briefed.

All we need is you.

-Can you, um... -[Joy] Leave it with you.

Thank you.

-What exactly did Kat say? -[Joy] She said that you might

just be crazy enough to take the case.

And not to tell you who the barrister was

until you'd agreed to read the file.

[tape clatters]

Holy shit.

[sighs]

He would have his arms around my back.

Touch my hair.

Touch my face.

He asked if I wanted to lie down.

I said I didn't know and he kissed me.

He said I was a good kisser.

Jesus, Steve, one of the kids could walk in.

-No they're asleep. -Well, why don't you

turn it down at least?

Yeah, I got it, I got it, I got it.

- Then he touched me. -[Stephen sighs]

[Wendy] Who is she?

Twelve-year-old, abused

-by a boarding housemaster. -Twelve years old.

Toowoomba Prep.

Half the people we know have kids there.

Exactly.

I thought you said no more cases like this.

Well, look, this one's different.

I'm just going to do the mediation

and get her a settlement.

-Mummy? -[Wendy] Hannah?

-Did Daddy wake you? -[Hannah] No.

-Come here. -[Hannah] You did.

-I did? -[Hannah] You were yelling.

-I wasn't yelling. -[Stephen grunts]

[chuckles]

Off to bed, girl.

Come on.

[footsteps receding]

[Stephen grunts] I got you.

[sighs] There we go.

[sighs] Now close your eyes.

-[soft music playing] -[birds chirping]

[cows mooing]

[train whistle blowing]

There you go.

I hate eggs.

I've always hated eggs.

I could do with some help with the feed.

You should just sell them off now.

Cut your losses.

[soft music continues playing]

[crockery clattering]

[footsteps receding]

[woman on radio] The epic dry continues in Queensland,

with 84% of the state drought-declared.

A fourth failed wet season in a row

has led to little...

The state's official drought declaration...

[radio continues indistinctly]

-[handbrake ratcheting] -[seatbelt clicking]

[Stephen] Lyndal.

-Steve Roche. -[Lyndal] Found it all right?

[Stephen] Yeah, I grew up not far from here.

Dairy farm.

Mum won't let us smoke in the house.

Fair enough, I guess. I do need to speak with her.

How long till we go to court?

[Stephen] If.

And I'm not your lawyer yet.

It's a long way to come to tell me you're not interested.

Well, I guess that's why I'm here...

to find out whether or not... [sighs] ...you can handle this.

I came to you.

I can fucking handle it.

-[birds chirping] -[dramatic music playing]

[Stephen] Beautiful country.

I hate it here.

[Stephen] You've never even told your parents the whole story.

I mean, how can you tell a...

whole courtroom if... if we go to court?

[Lyndal] You keep saying if.

[Stephen] Well, your barrister doesn't think

court's a good idea.

He thinks the Church is going to...

going to want to settle at mediation.

Settle?

They'd pay you off to...

to shut you up.

So they just tell everyone I'm a liar

and then give me some money?

Look, Lyndal, I'll be up front with you.

You've barely got a case.

There's no physical evidence.

There's no witnesses. Kevin Guy is dead.

And on top of all that, the defence is going to do

everything it can to convince the judge...

that you made this all up.

There's nothing I haven't heard before.

I think it's only right for me to advise you that...

-I had a client recently. -[Lyndal] She topped herself.

I know.

If we go to trial...

this becomes public.

Very public.

Every sordid detail of what happened to you in that school

will be dragged through the papers.

Do you want to do it or not?

I want what's best for you.

In the long run.

[Lyndal exhales heavily]

What's he like?

The barrister?

[Stephen] Well, he's...

he's smart. He's... he's cunning.

Shrewd.

He's one of the best.

Can't stand the prick.

"The little children were brought to him that he might

put his hands on them and pray".

"But the disciples rebuked him".

"But Jesus said...

'Let the children come to me, do not hinder them'.

'For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven'".

Thank you, Mr Brewster.

And thank you for joining us today.

Much of the refurbishment of this part of the school

began when you were principal.

This magnificent centre...

owes its existence to you.

[crowd applauding]

I now declare Toowoomba Prep's new Millennium Centre... open.

[crowd applauding]

[children exclaiming]

[Peter] You can be very proud of this school, Bob.

[Bob] Thank you, Archbishop.

Or should I say Governor-General?

[chuckles] It doesn't make any difference.

I'm still God's humble servant.

Are you sure we can't tempt you with some morning tea?

[Peter] I have to push on, I'm afraid.

My time's not my own anymore.

[boy] Harry!

This case that's been filed

against the school and the Church.

We're dealing with that.

Make sure you keep my name out of it.

The lawyers are very confident we can settle cheaply.

Very good.

Well done again, Bob.

-Thank you, Peter. -[Peter] Hmm.

[car engine starts]

[dramatic music playing]

[Lyndal] Remember has to be exactly on the knees, Mum.

[chuckles]

[Sue] She was so bright. We just wanted to give her...

the best chance, you know, so...

we sent her up to Toowoomba. That was the best school.

She was 11 years old there.

She was sports captain. Very fast.

Very fast in the pool.

The headmaster, he, um,

he gave us a tour of the school. They... they all came out.

It was-- They introduced us to Mrs A, Mrs Aderman, um...

Brewster, um, and, um, Kevin Guy.

He was all smiles. He just...

picked up Lyndal's bag and we handed her over.

They... they all seemed...

Well, they all seemed just so nice.

When did things change?

June holidays, she was just...

she was just a completely different person.

She was aggressive.

She spent a lot of time in her room.

She said she didn't want to go back to school.

And did she say why?

Well, she said she... she missed home.

She had no friends. Um...

But I made her stay...

you see.

Now...

I want her better, not worse.

Can you promise me that?

[Stephen clears throat]

Tell me about her arrest, um...

in New South Wales.

When she was 15, she stole Tony's car.

She was out of control. She was wild. So we...

called the police.

She wasn't coping.

I... I would like to speak to your husband as well.

What's he doing out there?

Waiting for you to leave.

[crickets chirping]

[sighs]

[Stephen] Kids asleep?

Yeah.

So you're doing it?

Yes.

The bank couriered these over today,

so we have to sign them.

The house?

Hmm.

And the office.

It's just temporary.

-[children laughing] -[projector clattering]

[Kevin growls, barks]

[barks]

[all laugh]

[Kevin imitates birdsong]

Lyndal...

come sit here next to me.

[projector continues clattering]

-[chuckles] -[chuckles]

[man 2] Did you think he was abusing these girls?

No.

No, Kevin was extremely popular with the girls.

Unfortunately, some of them have very powerful imaginations.

[man 3] The plaintiff alleges that you were given instances

of Guy's behaviour and did nothing.

Well, I investigated this matter at the time

and there was simply no evidence

that any abuse had ever taken place. None.

But he offered you his resignation.

[Robert] Well, that's the integrity of the man.

I wouldn't accept it.

What about the suicide note?

All those girls he loved.

The only crime that Kevin Guy was ever guilty of...

was a poor choice of words.

No, Kevin loved his job. He was very good at it.

If this goes to court, Mr Brewster,

will you be able to testify to what you've told us today?

Absolutely.

Thanks, sir.

[man 3] I think it's all hogwash.

But whatever the result, the school will be in the press

for all the wrong reasons.

The new Archbishop and the Governor-General

are breathing down my neck.

Settle at the right price.

It'll be cheaper anyway.

I'm authorised to settle for up to 40,000.

I'm sure they'll leap at it.

Bob.

Nice suit. Did I pay for it?

I don't think you could afford it, Steve.

[chuckles] How's our client?

Well, she's a tough talker, but fragile. Wounded.

On those three points, she's pretty fucking consistent.

How much does she want?

Oh, we haven't discussed money.

So you haven't explained the situation properly to her?

[stuttered exhale]

She's open to a settlement, yes. But maybe...

maybe what she needs is to look them in the eye,

tell her story in court...

and be believed.

Both you and I know that neither of you can afford that.

As it stands, no judge will rule in our favour.

That's the cold, hard truth.

[Stephen] Lyndal. Um, Bob Myers...

our barrister.

It's good to finally meet you, Lyndal.

I think that what's happened to you is deplorable.

And I'm proud to be able to act on your behalf.

Thanks.

Well, our case will be simple because there is no proof

anything untoward ever happened to the plaintiff

whilst at Toowoomba Prep.

One might well view this claim as the deluded crusade

of an unstable woman who, as a young girl,

made dangerous and false allegations

which arguably led to the death of an innocent man.

Fuck you.

[Stephen] Lyndal.

So, we would question the reliability

of the testimony from the plaintiff,

but beyond that, there is nothing.

The plaintiff's case is all about some easy money

at the expense of the good name of the school and Church...

and we're simply not playing.

[Stephen] If... if, um...

Our case is pretty... pretty simple too.

It was a cover-up.

Uh, there was a paedophile at the school.

The school knew...

and they did nothing.

Against all our advice...

Mr Yorke is prepared to offer $40,000 to settle the matter.

No admission of guilt.

Full confidentiality.

[Bob] We appreciate your offer, Mr Bowers.

We, too, have had time to consider the situation...

and I would advise that our client...

is prepared to accept an offer of...

$300,000.

God, it's not even in the ballpark.

No, it's not.

Because I don't want your fucking money.

And you all have to get that through your fat heads.

I guess we're done here.

[door closes]

[Stephen] What are you doing?

[Bob] Well... [sighs]

I don't expect we'll get 300, but they will up the offer.

But were you not listening to her?

Were you not in there?

It's... it's not what she wants.

She's not going to settle.

She's not going to win.

The suicide note is the key.

On it are the names of another 18 little girls...

-It doesn't matter how many... -We're tracking them down.

...little girls you find.

Deaton versus Flew.

Unless we can prove the school knew what he was doing...

they are not liable.

[crickets chirping]

[metal clattering]

[soft music playing]

[Sue] $40,000 is a deposit on a flat, you know, Lyndal.

That's good to know.

You won't find any.

There's not a drop in the house.

[Jodie] Deaton versus Flew.

A barmaid who threw a glass at a patron

and blinded him in one eye.

But the hotel didn't employ her to throw glasses,

-so they weren't liable. -Yes, I'm familiar with it.

What's all this?

Profiles and recent judgments of our four potential judges,

-if we go to trial. -[sighs]

-A gift from Bob. -How kind of him.

Monday night's Chinese.

Yeah, I put it to a vote.

Chinese versus pizza. The jury was unanimous.

What?

Where... where's my keys?

[keys jingling]

Genius.

[car horn honking]

[handbrake ratcheting]

Bob, listen.

I would ask you in, but I don't want to.

You said it.

Judges trade their hearts for robes.

Juries don't.

A civil case in this state can be heard by a jury of four,

if requested by either party. We're requesting a jury.

They knew about him, Bob, and with a jury,

we can go after them for exemplary damages.

Look at the time.

You could have mentioned this at a decent hour...

with only slightly less dramatic effect, Steve.

There's your game, Bob.

It's what she wants.

And how many times did you visit him in the common room?

[soft music playing]

Thirty.

-[Bob] About 30. -Exactly 30.

[school bell ringing]

[Kevin laughs] All right. Hey, cut it out.

[Bob] How can you be certain?

[Lyndal] Because I marked the days in my homework diary.

[Kevin] Bell's gone, off to class.

-[girls] Bye, Mr Guy! -[Kevin] Lyndal.

-[indistinct chatter] -Over here, please.

Off you go, Sophie.

Now, you put that in the bin once you've read it.

[Bob] And what did the first note say?

[Lyndal] "I need to see you in the Year 7 common room

tonight... at 10:00 pm".

[Bob] And do you still have it?

[scoffs]

Nah, I burnt it.

And you never kept one note?

No, he told me to bin them, so I fucking did.

I think we should have a break.

-[clears throat] -Lyndal.

The other barrister will try to make you lose your temper,

as you just did,

so he can show the jury, the surly,

rebellious, angry side of you.

The side they won't like.

Well, angry is the only thing keeping me here.

Hey, Lyndal, why don't we go grab some fresh air?

Yes, good idea.

[footsteps receding]

She is too volatile to go to court, Steve.

She's in therapy, for Christ's sake, Bob. Just...

back off.

[birds chirping]

Apart from the night that Lyndal went missing,

were you ever concerned about Kevin Guy's behaviour?

I did think he was allowing the girls in the boarding house

to be overly familiar with him. Yeah.

I mentioned this to Brewster.

"O... overly familiar"?

He was very popular.

The girls would just walk up and plonk themselves on his lap

or hang around his neck.

Could it have been just... just innocent fun?

That's the problem. It could have been at the time.

I never saw anything more alarming.

What about your colleagues? Did they see anything?

Mrs Aderman.

Lorraine Dobson, the school nurse,

was bothered by something.

Bothered by what?

You'd have to ask her.

[phone ringing]

This is Jodie.

[Stephen] Jodie, got a favour to ask.

The previous school nurse.

Can you track her down? Name's Lorraine Dobson.

[Jodie] I'll see what I can find out.

-Good. -[Jodie] And Karen?

Yeah, I'm here now.

[phone clatters]

[doorbell ringing]

Hi, uh, Karen?

-Yeah. -Uh, my name's Steve Roche.

I'm a... I'm a lawyer representing

a classmate of yours from Toowoomba Prep.

-I was wondering if, uh... -Will you...

-wait there just a sec? -[Stephen] Yeah, certainly.

[footsteps receding]

[footsteps approaching]

She's got nothing to say to you.

I don't know how you tracked us down,

-but don't come back. -Look, if I could just talk

to you for a moment. I'm sure that...

[man 4] You should be ashamed of yourself.

Dragging all this stuff back up again.

Look, just get... get off my property.

[footsteps receding]

[woman on radio] While an unseasonal downpour

brightened the spirits of graziers

in Queensland's Channel Country earlier this week,

the majority of rainfall across western Queensland

this year has been patchy at best.

[indistinct chatter over radio]

There are a lot of good people at that school.

I hardly think it's fair to blacken their names

-because of a few bad apples. -A few?

I would let you come in, but I'm sorry.

-I've got to go out. -[Stephen] No, no, I understand.

It's just that Mrs Aderman, um...

she... she said something to me that...

she remembered you being concerned with

something that happened in 1990.

I don't remember.

I'm sorry, Mr Roche. I can't help you.

Uh, do you remember a transitional student

named Lyndal?

Is she your client?

Yeah.

She was sweet.

Well, I, uh...

think you'd hardly recognize her now,

given all she's been through.

I'm really very sorry, Mr Roche. I don't recall...

But if there is anything that you do remember,

anything out of the ordinary...

please give us a call.

You've got my card.

The trial starts in three days.

[Bernard] The suicide note's ambiguous.

There is no admission that he acted inappropriately.

So, then, there's just the testimony of the girl.

The girl was a model student before the abuse.

[scoffs] We have drug abuse.

A string of inappropriate de facto relationships from 15.

Her own parents even filed a complaint against her.

We need to protect the school.

Well, undermining her credibility is all part of that.

You've plenty for you to work with.

If I were you, I would keep the channels of negotiation

open with Bob Myers.

Sorry, am I missing something?

Uh, the jury. We have a jury here.

Not just a judge, but regular people.

This so-called ambiguous suicide note is dynamite.

If the jury see this,

and then I go after the plaintiff,

it'll be like throwing petrol on flames.

-She's right. -I don't agree.

At your peril.

Oh, Christ.

Ron, what's the real figure the insurance company will cop?

[Jean] And don't forget they're going

for exemplary damages, so it's hot coffee territory.

Someone explain that to me again.

Um, beyond compensation for suffering,

the jury can impose additional amounts...

for wilful misconduct.

-How much? -Could be double.

And your insurance doesn't cover it.

Shit.

Let's up the offer.

$80,000?

Make it a 100.

-[Jean] I'll take it to Myers. -[crockery clattering]

[sombre music playing]

[Kevin] Now, if we both take our clothes off...

that'll be fair.

But don't tell anyone.

It's our little secret, okay?

You know...

I dream about you every night.

This morning, I woke up hugging a pillow...

thinking about you.

[sombre music continues playing]

[sniffles]

[Bob] All right, Jean. I'll take it to them.

But without an admission,

I don't think it's going to fly with this plaintiff.

Oh, but you know it's a good offer.

The jury could just as easily backfire on you.

These are Toowoomba people.

Your client...[chuckles] ...she's no angel.

[Bob] Thanks to your client.

But the jury will see her as representative

of all those little girls

in Kevin Guy's confessional suicide note.

No one wants this to go to trial, Bob.

Mr Staniforth, you're... you're no longer serving

on the school council.

We are simply trying to make them accountable

for the pain they have caused the victim.

Bob just rang. He needs to speak to you.

[Stephen] Another offer?

-You think we should take it? -Absolutely.

It's more than double what they last offered.

Steve...

the jury was a smart idea.

And it worked.

[sighs] She needs to see justice done.

She does?

Or you do?

Oh, Bob.

[Bob] Oh, come on, mate.

The Church will stop at nothing to protect their reputation.

They could ruin you too.

Then we start with the suicide note.

[stutters] Before we even put Lyndal up there,

we show the jury

what a serial predator Kevin Guy was.

And those bastards knew.

Where's the justice...

if she loses, Steve?

$100,000, mate.

[sighs]

I'll take it to her, but we both know

what she's going to say.

Absolutely not.

Myers turned down $100,000.

If they can get the jury on side,

you are looking at double that with exemplary damages.

We need trial strategy.

And this is the way that we can take

their biggest piece of evidence off the table.

-It's pretty ballsy. -But it's smart.

It's really smart.

Bernie, I think we should go for it.

Oh, shit.

I'm going to have to run it by the Archbishop.

[car engine revving]

[soft music playing]

[sheep bleat]

-[car approaching] -[birds chirping]

[Stephen] Hello. Uh, Tony, Steve Roche.

-Steve. -[Stephen] How was the trip?

Well, it's good to have you here. Um.

Well, we, uh, we have two rooms, one for you and Sue.

That's 17, I believe, and, uh, and one for Lyndal.

But, uh, you guys get settled in.

Lyndal and I have to go through quite a bit

before court in the morning.

There may be some reporters

in the morning.

It's probably best you don't talk to them.

But I want it in the papers.

Yes, but we... we can't control the context.

There'll be plenty of time...

after we win.

[Lyndal] What are you worried about?

You.

I'm not afraid of them. [chuckles]

I know the truth.

They should be afraid of me.

Come on. I'll walk you back. [sighs]

[Lyndal] I think I'll stay for a bit.

Someone booked me a non-smoking room.

I'm fine.

Go.

Just, um...

I'll meet you out the front of the court in the morning.

We'll, uh, we'll go in together.

Don't be late.

[background music playing]

[pokies jingling]

One more.

[birds chirping]

What the fuck is this?

-This could be a blessing. -You had no right.

Oh, don't get your knickers in a knot, Steve.

No, we... we can't afford this.

What if they apply to adjourn or say the jury's compromised?

Maybe our jury just got a little bigger.

[Peter] How is this in the newspaper?

Fix it as soon as possible. We need to clear this up.

[Bernard] Yes, Your Excellency.

That was Hollingworth.

Your plan better bloody work.

[dramatic music playing]

Sorry we're late.

-[camera shutter clicking] -[indistinct chatter]

Mr Myers.

-Mr Roche. Bob. -We won't be commenting

until after the trial.

Okay, uh.

Now, Sue, you can't come in until we call you as a witness,

but Tony, feel free.

No, I...

-I'll stay with Sue. -All right.

-You ready? -[Lyndal] Mm-hmm.

[Stephen clears throat]

[clears throat]

[clerk 2] All rise.

[Margaret] Members of the jury,

Mr Myers, representing the plaintiff,

will now give you an opening address.

Uh, could I make a formal admission

before Your Honour proceeds further?

Uh, one of the allegations, ladies and gentlemen,

made by the plaintiff is of the sexual abuse itself.

In the middle part of the year 1990,

the plaintiff alleges that she was repeatedly subjected

to assaults of a sexual nature

perpetrated upon her by Kevin George Guy.

It is admitted by the defendant that this did occur.

[Margaret] Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

have a short break while I speak to counsel.

[crowd whispering indistinctly]

What's happening?

Well, they just admitted Kevin Guy abused you.

-But why now? What's happening? -We just have to listen.

-[Margaret] Ms Dalton. -Uh, I have two matters

I'd like to raise, Your Honour.

Firstly, that there was an article

in the Courier-Mail today about the case.

-It could prejudice the jury. -Your Honour...

this is a case that has the attention of the public.

We cannot expect the media to ignore it.

[Jean] But the article refers to the suicide note

which it said detailed Mr Guy's abuse

of several other girls in the school.

This is not an accurate read of the note in any way.

My learned friend knows full well

we don't control the media, Your Honour.

[Jean] In any case, the jury has been poisoned.

[Bob] This is a jury trial, Your Honour.

The defence should not be permitted to dictate terms.

Secondly, now that we have admitted the abuse,

the suicide note is no longer probative.

It's unrelated to what the school knew or

didn't know and it should be ruled as inadmissible.

[Bob] Your Honour, the suicide note is evidence

that the school should have been aware of what was going on.

The jury must be allowed to see it

and to make their own determination.

[Margaret] Are you seeking an adjournment of the trial?

Come back with a fresh jury when the publicity has died down?

-[stenographers keys clacking] -No, Your Honour.

Regarding the second matter, I agree.

The suicide note is no longer probative

and is therefore inadmissible.

The jury will not be able to see the note.

-[Bob] Your Honour-- -I've ruled, Mr Myers.

In that case, I need some time

to amend our statement of claim.

[Margaret] We'll adjourn for the day.

I'll see you back here tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.

Outstanding start.

We're leaving.

Lyndal.

[Bob] It's just going to be a lot tougher on her now.

I can't afford an adjournment, Bob.

Better than losing.

Well, I'm losing everything either way.

It would have been a lot easier with the suicide note.

We just need more ammunition.

[Bob] Anything new turn up in discovery?

The school council minutes,

but there's... there's nothing there.

The whole incident...

-hardly rated a mention. -[Bob] Really?

What about the school councillors themselves?

Well, there were five of them.

Three of them are still serving. They won't talk to us.

One of them is dead. He won't talk to us.

-And the last one, um... -Staniforth.

...is Staniforth.

He's not giving us anything either.

Lyndal's diagnosis is post-traumatic stress disorder.

She suffers very badly from low self-esteem.

She self-harms.

She also hallucinates.

She relives the abuse as flashbacks,

as though it were real.

And this impacts on her ability to learn and work?

Yes.

She self-medicates,

uses drugs and alcohol.

She regularly wipes herself out.

-[stenographers keys clacking] -[Bob] Is there a time

of critical importance in relation to disclosure...

to enable children to move on from sexual abuse?

Yes, immediately.

But there was no support whatsoever from Toowoomba Prep.

Had there been an apology or some nurturing concern,

that would have let Lyndal know that she'd done nothing wrong.

But in the absence of anything from the school,

she was left to believe what Kevin Guy told her,

that it was her who was in error

and that nobody would believe her.

[Bob] Did you do anything to achieve

some acknowledgement or support from the school?

Yes. I called the principal, Mr Brewster.

I expressed my concern about Lyndal,

that I felt she was at great risk.

There was no acknowledgement...

that any abuse had taken place and

he seemed more concerned about...

his own sorrow over Mr Kevin Guy's suicide.

[Bob] Let's move on to Archbishop Peter Hollingworth.

You phoned him on the 12th January?

I object, Your Honour. The phone call is inadmissible.

It is not relevant to the case.

It goes to exemplary damages, Your Honour.

He was head of the diocese.

[Jean] Mrs Connolly was acting outside the bounds

of professional psychologists

when she contacted the Archbishop.

Your Honour shouldn't be ruling on this at all.

I'll decide what to rule on, Ms Dalton, and I will allow

the witness to answer.

Why did you phone the Archbishop?

I wanted the Archbishop to call Lyndal's parents.

The parents were falling to pieces.

They needed help, some nurture, a word.

Did you say this to him?

Yes.

[Bob] And what...

and be careful, did he say to you...

as closely as you can recall?

He said he was very tired

and that he needed a holiday

and that there was nothing he could do.

[Bob] One more question about Lyndal.

By taking this action...

what difference will it make to her life?

Well...

she won't be dead.

[Jean] Objection, Your Honour.

Ms Connolly has been presented to the court

as an expert witness.

Her answers are speculative and emotional.

Yes. Ms Connolly, please try to be more clinical

with your testimony.

[Bob] No further questions, Your Honour.

[Margaret] Ms Dalton.

Mrs Connolly, you are very emotionally involved

in this case, aren't you?

Well, I have a warm

and supportive relationship with Lyndal.

Are you appearing as an expert

or as an advocate for Lyndal in these proceedings?

Well, I am an expert.

But I'm also an expert in what happened to Lyndal.

Lyndal and her parents received

absolutely no support from Toowoomba Prep.

And I believe that that had a very negative impact

on the outcome for Lyndal.

You see, you've just chosen to make that speech

without being asked a question. So I put it to you

that you're losing your role as therapist

or anyone with independent credentials

and becoming an advocate for Lyndal.

I'm just calling it as it is.

Mrs Aderman, I'd like you to tell the jury

about what happened on the 8th November

when you were boarding housemistress

of Brewster House.

Most of the boarders were away on choir camp.

[indistinct chatter]

[Mrs Aderman] Okay, hop into bed, girls.

Lights out.

No talking.

Goodnight.

[door closes]

-[soft music playing] -[flag pole rattling]

[whispers] Margaret.

[sighs]

[stairs creaking]

[door knocks]

[Kevin whispers] Hi.

Go sit down on the pillows.

[lock clicks]

[Mrs Aderman] Margaret woke up and saw

that Lyndal was not in her bed.

So she ran to my room to tell me.

Lyndal!

Lyndal!

Lyndal!

Lyndal!

[Kevin] Don't you say anything. You'll be in big trouble, okay?

Oh, look, it's Mrs A.

I found Lyndal crying on the steps inside.

Which steps?

Uh, near the common room.

I looked there.

Are you all right, Lyndal?

[Lyndal] Yes.

-What were you upset about? -[chuckles]

Not going to choir camp.

-Is that right? -Yes.

Gave me a fright.

Mrs Aderman, did you at any time discuss this incident

-with Principal Brewster? -Yes.

He spoke with Mr Guy and the school council about it

and they accepted his explanation.

And did you take any further action?

No.

I left it with Mr Brewster.

[Jean] Because it seemed like a plausible explanation,

did it not?

Mrs Aderman?

Possibly.

[Grace] I shaved my legs and somebody dobbed on me.

Mr Guy sat me down and said,

"Girls shouldn't shave their legs any higher than their knees

because when men like to feel their legs...

they like to feel them smooth...

and not prickly".

As he was telling me this, he had his hand up my uniform...

and was feeling my leg right up to where my knickers go.

I was afraid to tell my mum...

but the next time I saw her I did...

and she grabbed me by my hand

and took me to Principal Brewster's office

and my mum said that, "Mr Guy's been touching Grace".

And what did Brewster say?

He said, "Grace has a vivid imagination".

"I wouldn't believe everything she says".

You were sent to the school because your parents split up?

Ah... yes.

[Jean] Did you miss your father?

Yes, like any child would.

Do you accept that you sought out Mr Guy's company...

because of that?

[Grace] I didn't seek out his company.

He was... he was there as a father figure.

He was there to provide care for us. That was his job.

What did Mr Brewster tell you he would do...

after you and your mother went to see him?

Well, he told my mother that he would talk to Mr Guy

and investigate further.

No more questions, Your Honour.

[Karen] Mr Roche?

[Stephen] Yes?

-You came by my house last week. -Karen.

[Karen] Can we talk for a minute?

Yes, of course.

Oh, uh, Bob Myers. He's... he's the barrister

representing Lyndal in the case. Bob.

It's okay.

Please, go on.

I told Principal Brewster what Mr Guy did to me.

[Stephen] Yes?

I told him that...

Mr Guy...

put his hand on my breast.

Mr Brewster said that it was probably accidental,

that Mr Guy may have brushed over my breast

by accident, but I told him it wasn't an accident.

Mr Guy's hand stayed there.

And... and when was this?

[Karen] Just before Easter.

You're... you're sure it was before Easter?

Yes.

I remember he gave me an Easter egg.

That was before Lyndal's abuse even started.

If Brewster had acted then.

Will you testify tomorrow?

[Stephen] We had a better day.

Oh. Bully for you.

[Stephen] I'm in trouble, aren't I?

Oh, Tom got into a fight with that Cameron Bruce kid.

There was lots of pushing.

-[sighs] -Yeah.

And then he called you a fucking Judas.

It's an opinion held by his... his dad after he read the paper.

They've got a couple of kids at Toowoomba Prep.

I'll sort it.

When?

[Stephen clears throat]

I'm sorry about what happened to you.

Tom, please talk to me.

No.

It'll be all right tomorrow, Daddy.

[Stephen sniffs]

-Jodes. -Hey.

Karen's not here and she's not answering her phone.

[Stephen] Oh.

-Who've we got left? -Mrs Aderman, Sue and Lyndal.

Go. I'll get Bob to stall.

Fuck.

Karen? Steve Roche.

Mr Atwell, have you seen Karen this morning?

She's due in court.

[scoffs]

She won't be giving evidence.

Sir, she's 22 years old. Legally, you can't stop her.

[chuckles] She's gone to London.

-London? -Hmm.

-Surprise birthday present. -For how long?

Oh, I don't know. I think you can get a visa for two years.

Your daughter was probably abused when she was 12.

You don't want to deal with it.

There's nothing to deal with.

Good day.

[footsteps receding]

-[Stephen] What's happening? -[Jodie] Bob suggested

the jury take a look at the school before further testimony.

Oh, that's clever.

It's another stupid delay.

[Stephen] But one we needed. [sighs]

Lyndal, I think it's a good idea that you come with us.

-No way. -I know it will be hard,

but, um...

it'll be good for the jury to see how hard.

It will help the case, please.

[soft music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

This is the Year 7 common room, everyone.

Lyndal.

Lyndal, come in, come in.

[gasps]

[Stephen] Lyndal.

It's okay.

-[whimpers] -Just--

[Lyndal] Get away!

[Stephen] Sue!

[Sue] Lyndal!

Lyndal! Sweetheart!

-Lyndal! -I can't do this!

You sent me back here and I... I begged you, I...

I begged you not to send me back.

[Stephen] I'm so sorry.

Please, look, just get her back to the hotel.

I'll deal with this.

[dramatic music playing]

[phone ringing]

I spoke to Sue.

She's definitely in her room,

but she's not answering the door.

-Oh, I'll go over. -[Jodie] It's fine, Steve.

She knows she's on the stand tomorrow.

Okay, Sue reckons she just needs to sleep.

What are you doing?

School council minutes. You sure we've got a full set?

Yeah, school council met fortnightly.

It took them forever, but they're all there.

Why?

January 19 was the first meeting of the year

after the suicide and police report,

and they hardly discuss it.

What about the redaction?

-What this? -[Jodie] Hmm.

A couple of sentences.

Brewster would have to be one hell of a summariser.

"Girls abused. Stop. Call the Archbishop. Stop".

Right, I'll go through it again.

Don't you need to go?

Yes.

Yes.

[soft music playing]

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

You're so late.

You're so beautiful.

You're still in trouble.

Mum showed me the newspaper article.

She was Hannah's age at the time.

I'm glad you're doing it.

[chuckles]

Hey.

-[Wendy] Yes? -I gotta go.

[Wendy] Then go.

-[handbrake ratcheting] -[seatbelt clicking]

[glass crunches]

[dramatic music playing]

[door slams shut]

[phone ringing]

Lyndal, it's Steve again.

Please call me back.

[dramatic music continues playing]

-[handbrake ratcheting] -[seatbelt clicking]

Going somewhere?

You cleared out of your room.

That's right.

They're gonna win, Steve.

Because they got more money...

and more lawyers...

and they're all smarter than you.

[inhales, exhales sharply]

So just settle the thing like you wanted to.

Hmm?

Cover your costs.

Save your reputation.

Least you still got one.

So that's it, is it?

"I can fucking handle it". Didn't you say that?

It's okay. Come on, let's just get back.

[Lyndal] No!

-No, you know what? -What?

You and your baggy suits...

and your shitty car...

and your "I just want what's best for you

in the long run" routine.

No.

I'm not buying it.

You're just like them.

But I'm not like them.

If you give up...

they will have screwed us both.

[soft music playing]

[sobs]

[train whistle blowing]

[train approaching]

[Sue] I got a letter from...

Lyndal just out of the blue saying she hated school.

Nobody liked her and she wanted to come home. So I...

drove straight to Toowoomba to see Lyndal.

You see, I just couldn't understand why,

she wanted to come home. So...

I made her stay there.

And when did you find out

what had been going on with Kevin Guy?

[Sue] Well, it wasn't until the police phoned

in the school holidays. They said they were concerned

that something may have happened with Lyndal

-and another girl at the school. -[stenographers keys clacking]

[Sue] Lyndal said

that she did have something to say to the police,

but she wouldn't say anything to us.

I told her, "If...

this little girl is making things up,

it will do dreadful damage to this man's name".

Can you tell the court how you found out

about Kevin Guy's suicide?

[door closes]

[phone ringing]

The police called a few days later.

[phone ringing]

[Sue] Hello?

Yes, it is.

Yes.

Oh God.

Oh, my God.

Okay.

Okay, thanks.

[phone clatters]

What?

Mr Guy's dead.

They found his body up near Perseverance Dam.

It was in his car. It was suicide.

[cries]

God, it's awful.

Don't you dare cry over him!

[poignant music playing]

[sobbing]

[poignant music continues playing]

[Lyndal sobs]

[sobs]

[sobbing]

[Sue] I wrote letters to Brewster...

to Bishop Charles, to the school P&C, to the school committee.

I rang Hollingworth eight or nine times.

I'd even rehearse what I was gonna say,

but he was never available.

And what did you want?

[Sue] I wanted help.

[Bob] What happened?

Nothing.

So when you drove your daughter to the police station

that first time, you told her to tell the truth

and not make anything up.

-Yes? -Yes.

Was your daughter prone to...

telling lies or making things up?

[Sue] No.

[Jean] Then why would you need to tell her to tell the truth?

Well, it was the police

and a man's reputation was at stake.

I put it to you

that you had your doubts about the facts of the story

just as the school did.

I just didn't know all the facts at the time.

Thank you.

If I had have attacked

the mother's credibility any more,

it would have done more harm than good.

There's too much to try and refute.

We have not had Lyndal on the stand yet.

The longer this trial goes on,

the more adverse the publicity will be.

We need to settle.

The school council won't budge. We can't go any higher.

Remember you said that if they slam you

-for exemplary damages-- -We need to remain calm.

Our case is strong.

And remember, we still have Brewster up our sleeve.

The mother's testimony was emotional.

The law is not emotional.

Are you ready, Lyndal?

[Lyndal] Mm-hmm.

It's just me.

First he asked if I'd like to take my shirt off,

but I said no.

Objection. The abuse has been admitted.

My learned friend is just going over the facts

-that are no longer in dispute. -The very reason we're here

is that she has never been allowed

to tell her story.

The defendant has never wanted to hear it, Your Honour.

Go on, Lyndal.

After a few weeks, he asked...

if he undressed, would I undress?

He said that would be fair.

When I was naked, he would kiss my breasts.

My nipples.

And he put his finger in my vagina.

He would take my hand and put it on his penis

and talk about how big and hard it was.

He said, "Don't be frightened if something wet happened".

When he put his penis in my vagina for the first time,

it hurt, so he took it out.

And he asked about my period,

said right after was the best time to have sex.

And he kissed me between my legs.

He told me that I was special...

and that he was falling in love with me.

Not long after we had full sex, he didn't see me as often.

[lips smack] Maybe only once a week.

[Bob] How did that make you feel?

Rejected. [chuckles]

Like I wasn't special anymore.

[Bob] Thank you, Lyndal.

Nothing further, Your Honour.

[clears throat] You told, uh, Mr Myers

that you were good at maths and wanted to go to university.

-Yes. -But the abuse left you unable

to study and unable to go to university?

[Lyndal] Yes.

University?

Really?

Was that a realistic goal?

Well, I did want to go to university.

[Jean] Has anyone in your family finished high school?

No.

Your sister, Melissa, was expelled from St. Ursula's,

-wasn't she? -[Lyndal] Yes.

[Jean] And after she was expelled,

she never returned to school?

No, she didn't return to school.

She married early and... and had a family.

-[Lyndal] Yes. -[Jean] Did she ever work?

She worked as a secretary in Moree.

[Jean] Hmm.

So isn't it more likely that you might have become

a secretary or stayed on the farm?

No... no.

[Jean] I'd like to turn, if I might, to your arrest record.

[indistinct chatter]

[Margaret] Ms Dalton, might now be a good time

to break for the day.

I'm almost finished, Your Honour.

Lyndal...

why didn't you just tell somebody?

Mrs Aderman asked if there was anything going on.

Mr Brewster asked if there's anything going on.

Even your mother asked.

He said, "Don't tell".

That it was our secret.

That I would be in big trouble

and that no one would believe me.

I was scared.

Then how could anyone have known?

They couldn't have known.

Could you repeat that?

[soft music playing]

They couldn't have known.

They couldn't have known.

Nothing further, Your Honour.

[soft music continues playing]

I think I have something.

Okay, the first motion of every school meeting

is to verify the minutes from the previous meeting, right?

That's what's redacted.

[Bob] You're guessing.

Because the previous minutes...

are from a meeting that the school

didn't want us to know about.

An emergency meeting of the school council

prior to the January 19th meeting.

And that would explain why it looks like the school council

has barely discussed the abuse at all.

It's too flimsy, Steve.

Dalton will have Brewster well prepared.

[Stephen] Just get me Staniforth.

-[Jodie] On it. -[phone keys clacking]

[phone trilling]

-[phone clicks] -[Mr Staniforth] Hello?

Mr Staniforth, it's Steve Roche here.

Look, I'm sorry to bother you so late.

I thought we agreed that I could not

in good conscience talk to you, Mr Roche.

We're just, uh, we're just doing some last minute housekeeping

for tomorrow and I just wanted to be sure that you were present

at the extraordinary meeting that was held

to discuss the allegations of sexual abuse.

The December meeting?

From memory, we were all there.

But any absences will be listed in the minutes we supplied.

The December meeting.

You've... you've supplied those, of course.

I'm... I'm looking at the March meeting.

I... Thank you. Have a good night.

[Jodie chuckles]

[Stephen] We need those minutes.

Mrs Dalton.

Bob.

[dramatic music playing]

Here are the minutes for a meeting

of which I was completely unaware until last night.

Thank you.

But my responsibility is still with my client.

[Jodie] Of course.

Nice shirt.

[Stephen] What have you got?

[Jodie] The school council, they were divided.

And the school nurse? She complained about something.

Brewster wanted her silenced.

-What for? -Didn't say.

[Stephen] You make Brewster squirm.

-Just take your time. -[Bob chuckles]

[Stephen sighs] Oh, here, my bag!

Take my bag.

When a teacher feels it is appropriate

to demonstrate some form of tactile communication,

then contact should be made only on the head or shoulders.

And this is school policy?

Yes, yes, it's just one part of a policy

that I introduced in 1986 when I first started at Prep.

It was important to me that we remain vigilant.

Mr Brewster, did you ever personally see Kevin Guy

breach your policy?

No, I did not.

Did you ever receive any complaints

about Mr Guy's conduct in 1990?

Yes, uh, I'm a bit vague on the exact time.

One of the girls alleged that Mr Guy

had brushed against her leg while explaining

the school policy on shaving.

The, uh, the girl involved was prone to heavy exaggeration.

The nurses, um...

they thought that Kevin was perhaps a bit over-familiar

with the young girls, allowing them to...

drape their arms around his neck.

[Jean] And did this make you suspicious of Mr Guy?

Not at all.

No, I thought Kevin was doing his very best

to comfort young children a long way from home...

without their parents for the first time.

[door knocks]

[Lorraine] Mr Roche?

[Stephen] Look, I'm sorry to just come around like this.

-But-- -As I said the other day,

-I can't help you. -In late 1990,

there was an emergency meeting called by Mr Brewster

for... for the school council to get together.

-I never attended those! -No, I understand that.

But... but at that meeting, Brewster told the council

that you wanted to speak

to the Parents and Friends Association

in regards to inappropriate staff behaviour.

I don't recall.

And he stopped you from going and saying anything.

Now please.

Look, I don't know. I wasn't there.

But you... you were there...

at the school, and you saw something.

Something strong enough for the parents of those kids

to come to you looking for the truth.

You were their nurse.

You were there to care for them.

I'm sorry...

that I'm such a bitch. [chuckles]

[chuckles]

No.

No, I'm the one...

who should be saying sorry.

Watching you...

being so bloody brave...

makes me realize what a coward I am.

[sobs]

I think I'm going to go in.

Then I'm going to come with you.

[chuckles]

[Robert] "You would all now be aware of the recent tragic death

of our senior resident master, Mr Kevin Guy".

"Mr Guy was a lovely man

and the best thing to happen to this school since sliced bread".

"His love and great effort for the school

will be sadly missed".

Just to confirm, sir.

You delivered that letter to parents,

including Lyndal's parents...

after Kevin Guy was charged with child sex abuse by police?

Yes.

[Bob] It's right to say there isn't

a word of contrition in it, eh?

It is right to say that, yes.

[Bob] Running schools is a multimillion-dollar business

for the Anglican Church.

Most certainly.

It's also a Christian school, with Christian values.

[Bob] So it would be fair to say that

admitting child sexual abuse had been prevalent

at your school would not be good for business.

Objection, Your Honour. Speculation.

Sustained.

[Bob] Let me rephrase.

Why has it taken so long for the school to admit

that this abuse took place?

The school council was unanimous at that time in our belief

that there was insufficient evidence

that any actual wrongdoing had occurred.

For the last 11 years, you maintained

Kevin Guy was innocent.

A person is entitled to the presumption of innocence,

aren't they, Mr Myers?

And when Guy offered his resignation,

you still thought he was innocent?

I thought he was trying to protect the school.

-[Bob] From what? -Adverse publicity.

Is that why he committed suicide?

Your Honour.

[Bob] I withdraw the question.

But you say the school council shared your view?

-Yes. -[Bob] Even after his suicide?

Yes.

I ask you to look at this copy of the minutes

from the emergency meeting of the school council

in December 1990.

The school council minutes are not relevant.

We have admitted the abuse.

It's relevant to exemplary damages, Your Honour.

I'll allow it.

[Bob] Page six, second paragraph.

Mr Brewster, you told this court only moments ago

that the school council was united in their belief

that the allegations against Kevin Guy were false.

But these minutes clearly show several members

of the school council were not convinced

of Kevin Guy's innocence and pressed for

a thorough investigation. But you shut them down.

Would you agree with that or do you need to read them out?

-Just a moment, I haven't... -[Bob] Come on, Mr Brewster.

You were never interested in ascertaining the truth,

-were you? -I was absolutely interested

in ascertaining the truth.

I listened to accounts from both Lyndal and Mr Guy

about the night that Lyndal went missing.

And I, uh, I was of the opinion

that Guy had not interfered with her.

I was... Well, that was my conviction at that time.

[Bob] Did you threaten to sack staff members

for talking about school matters to other people?

[Robert] No.

-No, I simply... -[door closes]

...reminded them of their--

Did you conceal information about Kevin Guy

from the parents of the school?

-Objection, Your Honour. -I concealed.

[stenographers keys clacking]

I concealed what I was instructed to conceal...

by the school's legal advisors.

You were worried any admission would cost you financially.

You were constrained by your lawyers

and the insurance company from telling the truth?

But the truth was within yourself,

you had no doubt, no doubt whatsoever,

that Lyndal was telling the truth.

You had no doubt Guy was guilty.

Did you?

Mr Brewster?

In my heart of hearts...

yes.

Yes, he was.

[Bob] So you made her suffer...

and continue to suffer...

for 11 years.

Why?

One can only do what...

is right and appropriate...

at the time.

Hindsight, however, often declares...

-otherwise. -[indistinct whispering]

[Margaret] Quiet, please.

Mr Myers?

Mr Myers, is Mr Brewster excused?

Uh, Your Honour, one last question.

Mr Brewster, before you're finished,

was it ever part of any male staff member's duties to...

supervise the girls' showers?

Absolutely not.

I felt quite strongly that was their private domain.

No further questions.

But at this time, Your Honour,

we would like to notify the court...

that we're seeking to add a rebuttal witness to our list.

Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

[Bob] Ms Dobson, apparently there was a particular problem

with head lice at some stage.

Uh, girls kept coming and saying they had itchy heads...

so I went to the showers to distribute

medicated shampoo for them to use.

I pushed open the door...

and saw Mr Brewster.

He was in charge of getting the girls in and

out of the showers. I really didn't like that.

And what was the state of their dress, or undress?

Well, they were naked.

They were all naked, running past him.

[Bob] When he saw you, what was his reaction?

Like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

[Bob] Thank you. No further questions.

-[soft music playing] -[indistinct chatter]

[Jean] Although we're all sensitive

to the circumstances of the plaintiff...

when assessing her evidence, you must remember

that the plaintiff was 12 at the time

that these events occurred, and by her own admission,

there would be errors in her recall.

[Bob] Mrs Dalton...

wants you to believe that no one at Toowoomba Prep...

knew what Kevin Guy was up to.

But the truth is that Brewster created a culture where

certain behaviours were tolerated.

You must understand that the Anglican Diocese

was another victim of Kevin George Guy.

And you must remember that even though the defence

has admitted that Kevin George Guy

was abusing the plaintiff, there was and is no proof.

[Bob] Guy...

told Lyndal, "Don't tell, no one will believe you".

[Jean] Toowoomba Prep...

is a Christian school, and here was this man

betraying the trust of the school.

You have to decide whether the diocese is responsible for that.

[Bob] When you send a child to school,

you expect that child to return.

Lyndal's childhood...

ended at Toowoomba Prep.

You need to consider whether or not what he did

was closely tied up to what he was employed to do.

It was not.

So members of the jury, you cannot find the school...

or the Church...

responsible.

[Bob] This case is... is not about the guilt of one person.

This case is about the guilt of many.

And if we here today...

justify their behaviour, then...

we too must share...

that guilt.

[Margaret] Ladies and gentlemen...

please retire and consider your answers.

[Margaret] Members of the jury, are you agreed on the verdict?

Yes.

[Margaret] Did the defendant fail to take reasonable care

of the plaintiff while she was a boarder

at Toowoomba Preparatory School?

[man 5] Yes.

[Margaret] Did she suffer loss or damage as a result?

[man 5] Yes.

[Margaret] Is the defendant vicariously liable to

the plaintiff for the assaults on her by Kevin Guy?

[man 5] Yes.

[Margaret] How much should the defendant pay

in compensatory damages?

Four hundred and fifteen thousand dollars.

-[sobs] -[indistinct chatter]

Quiet, please.

Should the defendant pay exemplary damages

as well as compensatory damages?

[man 5] Yes.

[Margaret] How much should the defendant

pay to the plaintiff?

Four hundred thousand dollars.

[soft music playing]

[Margaret] Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

You're excused. Court is adjourned.

[clerk 2] All rise.

[indistinct chatter]

[soft music continues playing]

My sincerest, best wishes for the future, Lyndal.

I hope you can make the most of it.

Well, you're not a complete prick.

And you're not a complete fool.

[Peter] It is with deep regret and after much thought

that I have today advised the Prime Minister

that I wish to resign from the office of Governor-General.

Despite the misplaced and unwarranted allegations

made against me as Governor-General that went on,

it's clear that continuing public controversy

has the potential to undermine...

["Torchlight" by Missy Higgins playing]

♪ Torchlight on the shadows♪

♪ Daylight to the black♪

♪ I've been holding♪

♪ Onto something♪

♪ But I'm giving it back♪

[thunder rumbling]

♪ If I could reach out♪

♪ To you, dear♪

[rain pattering]

♪ Reach back over time♪

♪ If I could hold you♪

♪ I'd tell you that one day♪

♪ We'll be all right♪

♪ Sometimes people ♪

♪ Let you down♪

♪ Sometimes evil Is a quiet town♪

♪ Where nobody wants To hear your truth♪

♪ And nobody wants To believe you♪

♪ But I do♪

♪ I do♪

♪ Someone out there will too♪

♪ Torchlight in a locked room♪

♪ Unwind and untangle This mess♪

♪ If I could go back♪

♪ I'd hide you somewhere They would never guess♪

♪ 'Cause you're a blank page Right now♪

♪ But they'll cover you in ink And black your heart out♪

♪ If anybody tells you Not to tell♪

♪ Don't listen♪

♪ 'Cause sometimes people Let you down♪

♪ Sometimes evil kings Are crowned♪

♪ 'Cause nobody wants to See the light♪

♪ And nobody wants to Believe you're right♪

♪ But I do♪

♪ I do♪

♪ And someone out there Will too♪

♪ Torchlight on you♪

♪ Unwind and untangle This mess♪

♪ Unwind and untangle This mess♪

♪ Unwind and untangle This mess♪

♪ And hold on tight♪

♪ We're gonna drag the dark Into the torchlight♪