Original subtitles

You're still there, aren't you?

Ghost burned, do you know that?

He did the dirty on you.

Did the dirty on us both.

Come on, May.

May!

Hey, it's Nona.

Hey, brilliant news, I'm coming home.

It's Monday.

Oh, Nona, when?

But he'll be too late, and it'll all go up in flames.

you

What are you doing?

These are Mum's clothes.

Yeah, well, she doesn't need them anymore.

Mum's doll. Hey!

Betcha she was looking at Nora Arlen when she died.

Doubt it.

What were her last words?

Giggle, giggle.

Hey, do they still have listings of what's on?

Like rodeos?

I was kind of hoping there was a rodeo in town.

My dad could be in town. Maybe he heard about Mum's death.

Turn it off. I hate country in Weston.

She's not going to turn up, is she?

She looks drop -dead gorgeous.

Not like some people.

She's got the best voice.

Hello, Chrissie.

Mum would have been pleased to have come.

I thought she'd live forever.

I think she was threatening to... Don't!

Mum died there.

Nona!

How long have we got?

A little while, but Nona will make sure we're late.

Get ready, Nona.

Do you want some water?

Yes, that'd be nice.

I forgot how hot it gets up here in the tropics.

Well, the hotel on Johnston Street's got air conditioning.

I had no intention of staying.

Thanks.

Tap water.

Yeah, I got it from the tap.

Ahem.

You can't wear that.

Why not?

Not to your mother's funeral.

I'm not fully dressed yet.

Still got to put on my knickers.

The dress. The dress.

It's black.

You're almost naked.

I'm a fashion victim.

Have you got any black knickers?

No.

Christ, we'll never get there.

She arrived last night and already the place is a pigsty.

I'll be waiting in the car.

Just like Mum.

She was into dress -ups too.

Mum was a real spunk, wasn't she?

You know what I used to love?

Rushing in here after to hear a new man go.

Throw myself under these pillows and smell him.

And Mum would talk about a new bloke.

What's with the eye?

What? Did some guy hit you?

No. No guy touches his face and gets away with it.

Mum said he was really handsome.

Who? Dad.

You never met him, did you?

Mum called him the Black Prince.

Every night I went to sleep dreaming of him.

When I was 15, I heard he was in Bungary, so I ran away and went to the

there. I took up with this bloke, went from rodeo to rodeo, thinking that one

day there'd be this man, this guy standing tall in his cowboy boots.

Leaning against a veranda post, you know.

Silent type.

There.

Gone.

That's really nice.

Can I wear it?

here and spent many years away before returning and so I didn't get to know

as much as I wanted.

But she was born a Catholic and stayed one.

She saw in the Jesus Christ that he was offering forgiveness for our sins.

And let me say this, that to be born human is to be born flawed.

As you are flawed, so I am.

That is the nature of being human.

And so on occasions like this, I cannot say that the deceased was perfect.

No human is.

Mary McKenna was not perfect.

She knew this and struggled to be a better woman.

Close your legs.

Mary produced...

Three wonderful daughters.

One of whom is especially talented.

Would you like to lead us in the singing of the hymn, Cressy?

I don't do hymns.

Well, um... Let's all try to sing it together, shall we?

And it's hymn number 56, Amazing Grace.

Thank you, Myra.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

that

What can you do?

Hey, I don't want to wait.

Right, Mum's dead.

No one turned up for the funeral.

I'll get some beer.

I don't drink beer.

Well, I'll get some champagne.

My shout.

Why didn't anyone else come?

I don't know.

Didn't you send out any RSPCA?

I said I don't know, so lay off.

Couldn't have done it better myself.

You should talk.

Our mother's funeral.

You showing off your muppy and the priest with a heart on. You had no black

panties. He was looking right up your dress. You must have known.

I was thinking about Mum.

What are you staring at, bug eyes?

Usual. Give us a slab of beer, another bottle of champagne and a couple of

packet of chips, thanks.

And a couple of cigarettes.

And? A bottle of vodka.

How do you help?

Me when I was five.

He's got a picture of us in a wallet. Pretty neat, eh?

Some people carry pictures of their dog.

At least someone remembers.

Harry Wells did.

Hello? Harry!

It's me!

in a chair, looking at Noor Island when she died.

The Japanese have a tourist resort there now.

Hey, we should claim it. I had a Japanese lover once.

It's true.

What's true?

Japanese guys do have small dicks.

A toast.

What's he?

To mum, I suppose.

Don't toast the dead.

No, incinerate them.

Well, to... To us.

Oh, God.

Oh, yeah. Oh.

Oh. Oh, baby, please.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, God.

Oh. Oh.

Oh. Oh. Oh, but you will never know.

I've no idea what planet you come from.

Well, maybe the Black Prince has gone back to his own planet, the dark side of

the moon.

That's where they've all gone.

Cressy's father.

Mine's in purgatory, I think.

And yours is in hell.

The very pits of hell.

Why don't you stay?

I have to fly to Sydney.

But I haven't seen you in years.

I'll miss my connection.

This is like last time.

Last time?

The three of us.

You were passing through to go to that music conservatorium in London.

I was five.

We had a picnic down on the beach there.

Mum, us.

You took pictures, lots.

That's where you took that picture of us.

Hey, I've got a great surprise for you both.

I'm going to have a baby.

Do you know the father?

Of course.

But I pissed him off.

And where do you think you're going to live?

Here.

I think that's good news.

That's good.

Yeah, so do I.

Morning sickness is a bit of a bummer, though.

Well, I'll just go and see what's taking this cab so long.

Better put on my face.

I'm happy for you.

Really.

Sorry about the funeral.

Money.

Didn't think.

It's okay.

I didn't expect you to.

I've sent money before to help you.

Help fix up the house, so thanks.

You don't have to thank me.

Never knew she went off on the rodeo circuit.

Yeah.

A black prince.

I'm just gonna have to wait. Now I'm busted!

I believe this.

There it is.

Where's the next one?

Mail plane's at six.

Looks like you'll have to come back with us.

I'll wait here.

Wait here?

But there won't be another plane for hours.

Yeah, well, at least they won't miss it.

Christy, don't be stupid. If she wants to, then let her.

What's this for?

Look after yourself.

Hey, thanks.

You keep it.

Cool.

Nona! I'm leaving!

get rid of me.

That's right.

We are not going back.

What do you want?

Standing ovation.

Mum. She should stay in her chair.

It's eerie to think it's her, isn't it?

How do we know it is?

I heard this story once.

About a man who had his parrot cremated. When he checked the ashes, found dog

bones in it.

Big scandal in America.

Well, check it for dog bones.

Oh, God, you do it.

We should scatter them.

Where? On Nora Island.

She would have loved that. She always wanted to go back.

Well, that's what we should do.

May said the tide's the lowest tonight.

We'll walk across the mudflats to the island, get the Japs to buy us

May'll be in it. She likes a drink.

Stick to what you know best.

Men.

What's this thing about men?

You look cheap.

Sugar?

Anyway, what would you know?

At least I don't live off men.

Milk.

What the fuck does that mean?

You've been picking on me since I arrived.

I've never lived off a man.

I've never taken money from a man for sex.

That's what you hate about me, isn't it?

I like men like Mum liked them.

And look how she ended up.

Deserted by them.

I need some air.

I'll wait for me.

Why don't you take off your shoes?

Can you feel the electricity?

Yeah, there'll be a storm soon.

God, I love that house.

Do you know Harry Wells gave it to Mum as a present?

A sign of his love.

He was scared his wife would find out, so he gave her that cheque to keep her

quiet.

Mum would never have said anything.

Men never trust a woman, Nono. You should know that.

I've been called that for years. Nono always said yes, yes.

May thinks I'm a slut.

And aren't you?

It's only a word, Nona.

So what are your plans?

I don't know.

Maybe open a wig shop.

Have singing lessons.

I've been in a few bands.

I'm ambitious, you know. I'm going to make it. Listen.

Six years...

Come on.

Shit, it's like concrete.

Give me the heebie -jeebies.

Sacrifice.

Yeah.

You'll be able to give great head.

You're embarrassed by me, aren't you?

I read an article about you.

No mention of Queensland.

Here, mum, mate, me.

It wasn't intentional. You're lying.

I'm not lying.

You're ashamed of the way I look.

I would never be ashamed of you.

What the fuck is that?

It's a turtle.

Why don't you just let the little bugger go?

Don't be slack.

It'll be like last time. Remember?

Curried turtle.

Mum here.

Well, they're ashes anyway.

You and me, Chrissie.

Let's have a proper wake for her.

We'll do it right, traditional way.

Mum said you leave them on their backs till they die.

How long do you reckon it'll take for this size to cock it?

Could take a couple of days.

Looks like you'll just have to really throw them.

That's instead of spaghetti.

You got any more candles?

What, are you going to whack this bikini line?

Ha ha, idiot.

Remember last time we had dinner by candlelight?

There, in the drawer.

Halstone.

What is it?

What's happening?

They're just some boys.

What are they doing?

Don't cause a fuss.

Don't get down. Don't get the hell.

Only on the roof.

Do they do this a lot?

They're only boys.

Well, the fuck am I not going to do it again?

No, no.

Ma 'am, what's happening?

Why are they doing this?

I guess they don't know. Don't know what?

That she's dead.

Get the fuck out of the garden.

Get the fuck off.

If they see you back here, rip your heads off.

This is against mum.

They're calling her a witch.

But she was.

She was a witch.

She was.

She spat on people if I took her out.

Cursed anyone in the street.

Men, women, children.

Spat on them.

Why do you think no one turned up today?

No one goes to the funeral service of a witch.

I bought this because of you.

One night I was flicking through channels and I'm trying to get Melrose

there's this arty farty opera.

And I realised it was you dressed as a Japanese.

Sing.

Sing Man of Butterfly.

No.

Go on. I haven't heard you sing before except on the CD.

My voice is tired.

Act it out.

No.

Thought I might become a geisha.

Only I don't know Japanese.

You should have seen her, May.

My fabo is not the word.

And then what happens, mate, is the American soldier comes back home with

white woman. And they want to take the baby. And Butterfly, she's really pissed

off. And she thinks, hey, I'll kill myself.

So she does that curry, curry stuff with the knife.

She grabs it.

There's a moment of pause.

Something takes.

Good.

Your acting is kind of free.

I wish I could be like that.

A wig doesn't suit you.

Let's go to the island.

Come on, this is the only time during the year we can walk there.

There's a storm coming.

We're in the rain, the lightning.

I don't have time.

You've got a couple of hours.

You two get out of the house and leave me in peace.

Wait until it's past then.

Then we'll go scatter mum.

I'll wear this.

It'll get dirty.

It's not as if I'm going to get married in it.

In fact, I'm going to be like mum and never get married.

You didn't know much about mum then.

She was desperate to get married.

Bullshit. Yeah?

We'll see about that.

Mum deserved to be properly scattered.

We're strangers because of her.

She had us with an active son for our future.

She was kind to me.

When officials came, she'd always hide me.

You were special.

When they came for May, she just handed her over.

Easy as pie.

Same as she did with me. And then forgot us.

She didn't. She was always talking about you.

She knew where I was, where May was.

All she had to do was visit.

Just once.

She tried to.

All she had to do was ask the nuns.

She saw you. I was there.

We took a train to Brisbane.

I still feel her hand. It was really damp and shaking.

We stood behind some bushes outside the fence.

Stood for, I think, hours until there you were with two nuns.

Mum put her hand over my mouth and said, that's it.

I just wanted to see her once, she's in safe hands.

And then left.

Not good enough, no, no, not good enough.

You know, on visiting days, some parents would come from interstate.

And there I'd be, with a few other girls who had no visitors.

Because we had no visitors.

The nuns would get us to do the laundry, to pass the time.

I came through here on the way to London.

You remember.

Mum was proud of you.

She said that the wind was coming up from the island and my ancestors were

telling me not to go.

I walked out that door and made it on my own.

Well, at least she gave you her voice. She gave me nothing.

What I can't forgive is that she didn't fight for me.

Well, what could she do? She had no husband. The law was against her. She

young. Forgive her.

You have no idea.

She kept you.

What do you want me to do?

Get down on my knees and apologise for the fact that I stayed with her?

Mum and I were flat.

What more could you expect?

Flucks don't write. Shut up!

You tell me, I'll be what you know.

Freddie's waiting in the car.

No planes have taken off in this weather.

Nothing. I've been wrapped up by experts.

So you are going to keep it?

What?

That's why you gave me the money, isn't it?

To have an abortion.

I just want you to make the right decision.

Yeah, and I made it.

So you're going to sleep in here or you're coming in?

Mate.

It's Mum.

It's not.

Spent two years paying it off on lay -by at David's with Robert Ashery.

We're still in a box under the bed.

To marry the Black Prince?

No.

Very well. A man she truly loved.

He said he was going to leave his wife.

Nought.

Poor Mum.

Typical, eh?

Go in this.

We can see her then.

When we take her to the island, think how classy she'll look.

Here.

Could you do it?

No.

May? Me?

You were the nurse.

Oh, that'd be right, wouldn't it?

You must have done this all the time.

No, no, they were bodies.

This is Mum's ashes.

You're so keen to get in there, you do it.

All right, I will.

Looks like someone's cleaned out the fireplace.

Well, just put them in there.

They can't. Oh, don't be silly.

If you're going to do it, then do it.

No, I can do it.

You'll be ours.

Give it to me.

No way.

No, no. Give it to me.

I said I can do it. Give it to me. No.

Oh, Ma.

You spilt Mum on the floor.

I'm going to have to tell the laundry.

It's not a stain.

That's my mum.

We can't leave her on the floor. We have to pick her up.

We can't.

It's impossible.

We'll want to scatter on the island, not here.

I'm probably standing on a nose.

Fluff. I've got Mum.

I've got it.

The tin box.

Radiance, licorice, nougat.

Nougat. No, that Italian fella bought it for Mum.

Even when it was empty, it's still smart volition.

You're not going to put mum in a tin box.

She'll smell great.

Where are you going?

Under the house.

No, don't go under the house.

Anyone want to join me?

No, no.

Getting a wee -wee in the house.

She didn't leave her will.

So what have you decided?

To burn it to the ground.

What about Nona?

She lived out of suitcases.

Here comes the boogeyman.

Found it.

Guess what else?

His. I found it. The Black Prince's.

The Black Prince?

It is. Mum told me. She said he wore a cowboy hat.

It's not his.

It's just a hat.

It belonged to one of her boyfriends.

Why don't you tell her?

Tell her what? The truth.

There was no rodeo star, no black prince.

What are you talking about?

She was there.

He's not my father.

Tell her. She should know.

There was no black print.

Tell her the truth.

Mum's boyfriend?

You were playing under the house?

Mum's boyfriend?

She was under the house, under our feet.

Do you want me to tell her?

No.

No.

I was under the house.

Playing.

Mum.

was with this guy up here in the living room.

I could hear her saying, no, no.

He began to shout.

He was calling her name, Worth.

We were flapping her around.

I heard him grunting, grunting like a pig.

After he left, I came up here expecting to find her dead.

But she was sitting in her chair, smiling, singing to herself,

her face all puffed up and bruised, her lips cut.

She was pretending everything was alright.

Sorry, Nona.

I don't believe you.

Don't search for him.

I don't believe you.

She's lying, isn't she?

Going

to

the island to scatter mum.

the smell of licorice.

Let's stop.

We don't have time.

Someone's burning off their cane.

Very well, it's plantation.

Maybe he's burning it off in Mum's honour.

You're pathetically romantic.

You're so uptight, mate.

What you need is a good anima. I don't need an anima.

You give me the shits.

You're that, Harry!

I'm gonna get ya!

Are you fuckin' mad? I'm goin'.

Put

your face in a bowl of cracked ice for half an hour every morning.

No wonders.

You're joking.

No.

Want me to hold my breath too?

Ice helps the skin. It just refreshes the skin. That's all I'm saying, May.

Why don't I just put my head in the freezer? No one can see it then.

I'll come off it, May.

Does it help you forget who you are?

May, what's got into you?

Put your face in a bowl of crack ice.

Put your head in the sand.

I came up here.

She was ill, but she was disappointed it wasn't you or you.

I told her lies.

You were overseas and you'd be home soon.

It was your choice to stay. I couldn't leave her.

Don't you understand how every time I told those lies, I hated you? I hated

your selfishness. I hated you.

I know how you feel. You don't know?

about my father.

About her.

I couldn't leave her.

Too much of a sense of duty.

Same old May.

Isn't she a trooper? Isn't she just the best?

Look, it's not as if I'm ungrateful for what you did.

Listen, you!

The first time I knew something was really wrong.

She came into my room with something in her hand.

She was really puzzled.

This just fell out of my body.

What is it?

She had a hand full of shit.

I took her to the doctor.

Precocious senility.

She got worse and worse.

Sometimes... She'd yell and yell and scream at me for hour after hour until

went hoarse.

I had no idea why.

Except in her heart of hearts, she hated me.

She didn't hate you, May.

Oh, let me finish.

I took her to that revivalist church on Johnson's Crossing.

In church, she'd make fire.

This old farmer, he got up and he started speaking in tongues and Mum

and she was speaking in tongues too and they leapt her thinking she was

possessed by God.

Eventually even they understood she was possessed by madness and not by God.

I caught her and I dragged her back into the house and I tied her like some

animal into her chair.

She started to scream and scream at me until I thought I was going mad.

And I put my hands around her throat.

I squeezed her throat so hard, she went purple.

I only stopped from killing her because I saw the fear in her eyes.

of the last day she stopped screaming at me and was looking at me with

love I didn't know

and like she was possessed by the devil she got this

energy and started to scream her eyes on fire scream and scream

You have us?

The house?

I don't have the house.

Yes, we have. It's ours.

It's not.

Harry gave it to Mum.

Harry's taken Becky's house.

It's not ours?

Why didn't you tell me?

Because you're always feeling sorry for me.

I didn't want you to feel sorry for me.

I wanted to do it by myself.

Do what?

Burn down the house.

The house?

I didn't think you two would be here.

I thought I'd set fire to it and Harry'd get there too late.

He'd see the flames in the distance, think of them somewhat firing their cane

and then, fuck a duck, it's my house.

You weren't serious.

I absolutely get my revenge on this town. My revenge on Harry.

Mum's revenge.

Do it.

Do it now.

Burn it.

You two are crazy.

Do you want to?

No, it's just a stupid idea.

Do it, Marie.

No, I think I was going crazy.

the idea.

Yeah, you're fucking right there.

You're crazy now, mate.

Burn it.

Crazy, don't.

You'll regret it, mate.

You'll look back and think I should have burned it. You wacko sisters, listen to

yourself. I'll help you.

You won't have to do it by yourself.

Do you want to?

Oh, fuck yeah.

Don't.

No, no, pack your stuff.

I'm going to put it in the car.

You can't burn it. They'll jail us.

Be prepared, I say.

Why not, Nono? The house can be her grave.

No bloody way.

We scatter her properly.

You can't burn her twice.

What are you trying to kill me to?

Let's do it.

This is so operatic.

We'll go to the island, gather her ashes.

Too late, Nona.

We'll bury her in the cemetery.

Let's just watch the house burn.

No, but before the tide comes in.

You go.

Come with me.

May? No, no.

It's too late.

Tomorrow, we'll take the ferry in the morning.

Come on.

He came especially for her funeral.

Well, then let's make it special.

I didn't come for her funeral.

I came to see you.

Fuck!

Go on, run.

You'll make it.

Looks like just me then.

Look at her. Not touching a fucking mat!

I'll give it. Thank you.

that fucking hat.

No! Get away!

No!

Don't start that!

Maybe the Black Prince is on the island.

I've always dreamed I'd meet him somewhere.

Wouldn't recognise him, just a cute older man.

Go to bed with him.

No, not.

You'd be hot and sweaty.

You'd be sliding all over the place.

I wouldn't know I was my father until morning.

The best love I've ever had.

And I'd have this orgasm. Shut up! The best I've ever had. His daughter. And

he's watching me moaning, moaning, moaning.

Shut up! Shut up, you dirty bully! Go on, eat it! You want to eat it? Eat it!

on!

You were born from dirt.

Your father was dirt.

He never raped her.

He raped me.

Bullshit. I'm the bad house.

You was just one of mum's boyfriends.

I hate you.

In that house?

In Mum's bed.

I was 12, Nona, 12.

I hated her for not believing me, but at least she pretended you were hers.

That's not your mother, Nona.

I'm your mother.

Stay away from me!

You were born.

Because your so -called black prince raped me.

You're just a filthy pig smelling of petrol.

No.

I named you Nona.

That's all she would allow me to do. Name you. This is my mother. You're my

sister. I'm telling you the truth.

You're my flesh and blood. My daughter.

I'm going to scatter my mother's ashes.

You're a liar.

Nona. Nona.

Six years I've lived in the city, and every night

I dream of the sea.

They say home is where you find it.

Will this place ever satisfy?

We've always...

Where the fuck do you two think you're going?

Where do you want to go?

Come on.

No fucking way I'm calling your mum.