Original subtitles

PLUM: How did you do that? BRIDGET: I just looked inside.

Have this.

Write a poem. PLUM: Ooh!

You're in the big leagues now, mate. Yeah.

AINSLEE: You going to keep ignoring him?

I'm not gonna pretend like nothing happened.

Is that a yes? It's a whatever, Dad.

RENEE: We're here because of you, OK?

No, you're not. You're here because of what it gives you.

LIZ: I'm gonna tell you, it is pretty standard stuff

for what is happening to you.

PLUM: You reckon you can fix it?

LIZ: No, it's just the beginning.

PLUM: I mean, I could never speak like that.

SYLVIA: You could speak about the game like that.

RENEE: You still love me?

PLUM: Always.

Lover. Mother. Smotherer.

She is... (OPENS DOOR)

..motherfuckin' next of kin, she is.

DANA: How are you today, Dad? DAD: Good.

DANA: Where were you born?

DAD: Maroubra.

DANA: Who was your wife?

DAD: Jill Hanlon.

DANA: What team did you play for...

..when you were younger?

DAD: Mighty...

..mighty South Sydney!

(LAUGHTER)

DAD:

DANA: How are you, Dad?

DAD: Good.

DANA: Where were you born?

(LAUGHS)

DANA: Who was your wife?

Jill Hanlon.

Your mum.

DANA: What team did you play for?

Yeah, um...uh...

DANA: A bunny.

(LAUGHS)

DANA: A bunny. (SIGHS)

Uh...erm...

DANA: Where were you born?

PEOPLE: Maroubra.

DANA: Who was your wife?

(SIGHS)

DANA: Dad.

Dad? What team did you...

Are you one of the nurses?

DANA: No, I'm your daughter.

DAD: I put... (SIGHS)

..the money in...in the fruit bowl,

and it is gone the next day, and I think one of the nurses...

DANA: How are you today, Dad?

Dad?

What team did you play for when you were younger?

(SOBS)

Was it the South Sydney Rabbitohs?

The mighty...

Dad?

The mighty...

(SOBS AND SNIFFS)

DAD: Is it time to go to school?

LIZ: (IN VIDEO CHAT) This is the brain.

And CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy,

is a progressive deterioration in the brain,

caused by the sum total of head trauma or head impacts

over your career.

Every impact is doing you damage,

just like ciggies do.

Make sense?

You said all my tests were Plum normal, Liz.

You said "Plum normal", Liz.

There were some denser areas, some darker areas.

But above all... It doesn't say I've got it.

You can't make the diagnosis with living people,

because it's an examination of the brain tissue.

Look, depending on where the lesions are,

in the front of the brain, or frontal lobe, as we like to say,

symptoms include a personality shift, a behavioural change.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

A short fuse.

Depression. Mood...

Doesn't sound good.

At the back, it is memory loss,

difficulty with planning and organising

and challenges with attention.

Sorry, what was that?

Joking.

(PUTS CUP DOWN)

Aced it.

So, what we see here is it starts with a scattering of tau proteins,

and in this slide,

they've spread across the whole brain.

And got darker. Mine got darker.

You said...

..darker?

Are you taking the medication I prescribed you, Peter?

Well, I would get that filled.

Because, as I said, it's a progressive disease,

and it is 100% coming for you, Plum.

Yeah, I just want to give the booze a rest to do it, I'm...

..and...and I'm going to.

(SNIFFS) Well, that's great.

Because the drugs won't work as well if you're still...

And when Gavin gets back, you know, I'm gonna get off it,

when Gavin gets back.

Is he back soon?

Well, how would I bloody know?

(PUTS CUP DOWN)

Sorry, Liz.

Was that a symptom?

Hey.

Hey. You alright?

Yeah. What are you doing all over there? I want a cuddle, Gavvy.

What time you get back last night?

I think I was asleep.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Oh, my God!

What? I got in!

Got into what?

The Australian women's hockey team. Look what Mum sent me.

Training camp?

Yeah, in four days! We have to fly back, babe.

I have to pack my stuff, and move to Perth.

But I thought maybe you were gonna move to Melbourne with me.

And give up playing for Australia? Are you crazy? It's the Hockeyroos!

(UNZIPS BAG)

(ZIPS BAG)

Guys, guess what!

WOMAN: What? AINSLEE: Check it out!

I'm a Hockeyroo! (LAUGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Spirulina.

Nurofen.

That's what I reckon. Spirulina. (CLEARS THROAT)

I don't take that shit. Really?

Oh, mate, I'm... Hey, g'day, Ollie!

OLIVER: Oh, gents. Renee.

Hot, eh? G'day, Renee.

Hello, Brick.

Peter. Morning, bubs.

Hey. What's, uh, the baby's name, again?

Fanoula, is it?

Tallulah is my child's name. Tallulah.

Tallulah is correct. Tallulah. Nice one, nice one.

Oh, Plum.

Did you see Dana Hanlon's article in...in the paper this morning?

Ollie. I don't read the paper.

Easy, big boy.

Have you seen the video?

They mentioned, um...

..CTE.

Oliver! Oi!

Yes. How's Gym'n'Trim going, Brick?

I heard you're working very closely with Charmayne on the cafe project.

Is that right?

Yeah, it was time for a shake-up.

Um...

..Char's a deadset weapon.

Sweet.

Too hot here for the baby.

Whew!

Oh, we might head in and grab a...

OLIVER: Come on, Tallulah.

Just message me if you hear from Gavin.

Yeah, likewise.

OLIVER: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Cheers, Ollie. Come and see me at the practice.

It's just down... Ollie!

What?

Jeez, she's a kick in the nuggets, old Renee, isn't she?

She's got a lot on her plate, Renee. She's got a lot on her plate.

We right here?

If Plum has CTE, he needs to be addressing it.

One of those seizures could kill him, just like that.

Are you aware? Yeah, I'm aware. Yeah, Oliver.

And he's not your patient.

Doesn't even like you.

Oh! Hey, I...

Well, he's warming to me.

We've been talking about going out and getting a craft beer.

Well, I asked him to go and get a beer with you

and he didn't answer me.

Well, he never says anything.

He...he...he never says ANYTHING.

That's why it's so hard to tell what's going on.

(SIGHS) Oh, God. OK. Jesus.

Are you OK? You seem quite worked up.

Yeah, I'm just hot! Yeah, OK. OK.

What are you doing?

Getting on the hostel wi-fi.

I don't understand why you're not coming with me.

You've been wanting to leave since we got here.

(PHONE ALERT CHIMES)

You could be a bit more supportive.

Munted. (LAUGHTER)

AINSLEE: Gav! MAN: Munted.

(LAUGHTER) AINSLEE: What the hell?

I'm going. You're on your phone.

MAN: Munted.

(LAUGHTER) AINSLEE: OK. Fine. Bye, then.

(PHONE ALERT CHIMES)

Ains! Nah, shit.

(PHONE ALERT CHIMES)

Munted. (LAUGHTER)

Munted.

Has Char seen the vid?

Don't know. Want me to ask?

So it's going good, is it, Char and the cafe, Fit'n'Go?

Gym'n'Trim. Gym'n'Trim.

Look, she needs more space, Plum.

What?

She needs more time to think.

I was just asking about the food, mate.

Oh, food's amazing.

Woman clients love it.

She's even got this vegan wrap going with jackfruit.

You don't even notice it's not chook.

Do you want to have a couple of beers on my deck?

Got some sixpacks I've got to clear out before I...

Yeah, I better get back to the gym.

Be 1,000 sweaty women in there by now,

begging for quinoa salad.

Quinoa. Quinoa. (LAUGHS)

Quinoa.

Oh, fuck you, then. (LAUGHS)

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

LIZ: And it is 100% coming for you, Plum.

(SNIFFS)

(PHONE POWER-UP TUNE PLAYS)

Oh, fucking Gavin.

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

Gav, it's me.

Um, I... (SIGHS)

..I, uh... I just got your missed call, so...

..uh, I hope you're having the best time with Ainslee and...

..and...and...and seeing the sights.

Um, I miss ya.

Uh...

(SIGHS) ..yeah.

Give us a call back.

(SIGHS)

(SIRENS HOWL)

Well, I could stay over.

Then we could swim together.

Well, Hugh...

Mmm. ..it depends.

Mmm? On what?

Come on. You can say it. I'm a big boy.

(LAUGHS) What?

You...

..cishet men...

..often see...

..a T-girl like me as some...

..exotic experience,

and not...

..a human being, with feelings.

I just want to make sure that you're not...

..passing through town.

I'm no tourist.

(LAUGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

PLUM: What?

Oh. Plum, what are you doing here?

I work here.

Yeah, but back here?

I'm getting my work shirt from the lockers.

What are you doing, back here?

I think that's Jupiter calling.

I'll leave you boys to it, then.

(LAUGHS)

(SIGHS)

Don't you dare tell Brick or Magic Matt, OK?

It's good, mate.

It's good.

Yeah. Thanks.

(LAUGHS)

I had a dog named Dali, a bastard bag of bones,

a smelly, slobbering, moulting mobile flea retirement home.

It ripped up lounges, barked and howled

and bit the postman's arse,

but the bottom line was when it dined on my prize book of art.

He started shitting out Ken Dones in sunny diarrhoea

until a Jackson Pollock...

(IMITATES EXPLOSION)

..exploded from his rear.

But the Brown Poles, they were nothing to what he had rehearsed.

One fine day, a Monet came in a fragrant burst.

He laid down Water Lilies outside the butcher shop,

even as the butcher kicked his arse, he had to stop.

"Fuck me drunk," the meat man cried,

"he's a clever little tyke.

"I don't know that much about art, but I know what I like."

My dog's a friggin' genius, with talent, true and class.

Mark my words, these are turds from a dog with a golden arse.

(LAUGHTER) Boom!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

I...I could never do that.

Yeah, that's true.

It's just, like, his words. Yeah, HIS words.

Whereas you would use your words.

TATIANA: Give it up for Tug!

Now, my little LFWs,

the wonderful Von the poet,

with her latest offering, Life at 80.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

VON: If you are up to date... Cool hair.

..with your pills, bills and shots,

carry a mask,

have a great GP,

save your sense of humour...

Fuck, it's hot.

It's gonna be hotter tomorrow. Really?

Yeah. Don't you watch the news? No.

I've got a pool! Shh!

(WHISPERS) No, I'm just saying.

If you want to have a swim tomorrow,

I got the facility to make it a reality.

What?

If you want to have a swim tomorrow...

No.

VON: Superannuation came in in 1992...

BRICK: Char!

Char!

Hey!

Brick's Gym's going for beers.

You gonna come?

I can't.

Why not?

Because I don't want to sit in a bar and have everyone ask me

if I've seen the video.

I feel for Plum.

And, you know, all that stuff you said,

looks like you were right about him.

I'm going to go now.

Where you gonna sleep tonight?

Hatchback Hotel.

(LAUGHS) You've got a bed in there.

Listen.

I run from things, it's true.

But I don't cheat.

You know?

I don't want to cheat again.

I love you, Char.

The gym and the cafe,

it's killing.

We could even start it bigger and better on the Gold Coast.

Just the two of us.

(KISSES)

Have a good night, Brick.

(CAR DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

(ENGINE STARTS)

(LAID-BACK GUITAR MUSIC)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

TUG: The meaning of life. I think life is happening now as we speak.

BRIDGET: Mmm. That's why they call it a gift.

The present... Is the now.

But I wonder, is it something that we should embrace

and gather to ourselves or something we should...

..be patient?

Just be patient. BRIDGET: And be kind.

If you're kind and you make life about others, then...

But life is a living thing, is it not?

TATIANA: What do you think, Plum?

In, like...

..in footy...

Oh, here we go.

..when you have the ball,

you try and run to space.

But if there is no space,

then you pass the ball to space

to see if your teammate can find more space, you know?

BRIDGET: Yeah. VON: Mm-hm.

But if there is space when YOU have the ball...

..that is beautiful. (LAUGHS)

It's like a door opening up and golden light pours in.

BRIDGET: Oh, yeah. TUG: That is nice.

Space. BRIDGET: Yeah.

WOMAN: Yeah.

Is this for me?

Yes, sir.

(BIRDSONG)

What happened here?

How about these?

I get this rage...

..I can't control.

And it pushes people away.

Well, I'm not swimming, by the way. (LAUGHS)

I'm not a poet, by the way.

But I did write a poem last night,

so I guess that means you ARE swimming today.

Cool?

Shit.

What?

No, I just thought of a poem and I don't have my book with me.

Never stops with you, does it?

Yeah. Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.

What's it called?

I Had a Swim with a Thug and I Liked It.

I like that. Well, I like you in this.

Oh, you like me in this?

BRIDGET: Yeah. (LAUGHS) PLUM: How's that one?

Looking good on me? BRIDGET: Yeah.

Then I can swim.

Char!

Charmayne!

BRIDGET: Plum?

PLUM: Charmayne!

Oi! (SIGHS)

(SIGHS) Fortress.

Who is the girl in the wheelchair? That's my buddy, Bridget.

Why is she wearing my swimsuit?

She wasn't.

(SIGHS)

What did you spend that money on?

Drinking? Gambling?

Drugs? Where did it go?

I'm sorry about that.

I tried to call you, but you...

Well, try harder!

Just for once!

Fucking Australian men! (SOBS)

Could you not just stop with the bullshit excuses

and try fucking harder?

No! No!

(SIGHS)

I saw the video of you at the airport.

Plum?

(SIGHS)

Was that you working at Freight? Huh?

You told your family you were doing a second shift at Freight.

Oh.

Oh! (SIGHS)

Don't you remember our mantra?

No judgement.

And always be kind.

I lost my job at the airport.

Really?

For what?

Being drunk? (SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS AND SNIFFS)

I judge you now, Peter Lum,

because your silence is unkind.

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

(ENGINE STARTS)

(OLIVER DRINKS)

(SIGHS)

Still nothing from Gavin.

Trying not to worry.

He's with his girl, being young.

He'd call you if there was anything wrong.

He's just been weird with me,

ever since we got back from Melbourne.

Why is that?

I think it must have been strange seeing me and...

..Plum together again in the one space.

It affected him.

Oh.

Sweetie.

I just want to say,

sitting out here...

..with you, just enjoying a bevvy...

..it's really wonderful.

(PHONE BUZZES)

No. No, no, no. No.

No. Leave it. No.

Could you hear what I just said?

(PHONE BEEPS) Charmayne.

CHARMAYNE: Yeah. Hi. Hi.

Um, I...

..I'd like to talk to you in person.

No. No, no, no.

OK.

CHARMAYNE: Um...

..are you free tomorrow for a coffee?

How about a wine or two now?

Yes.

Come on, Treasure! Bangkok.

Koh Samui. That's a resort. Get up!

I go pee-pee twice a night. How often do you guys do pee-pees?

Oh, nice beret, Pierre Lum. Oh. Merci.

Pepe Le Pew. Magnifique on your head, monsieur.

Sacre bleu! Is that it?

You guys have been doing Duolingo or something, have ya?

I'm taking French classes. Oh, speaking of.

I want to do something.

We're gonna go around the circle, square,

and you've got to say your...your best memory or your biggest regret.

What?

This is pretty heavy for a boys' arvo, Plum.

Yeah, I mean, we...we should all be talking about this stuff. Yeah.

I might have to go get some more beers.

PLUM: No, no. No more beers. We come here every day.

We...put bets on, we drink piss... No!

No! ..we talk shit.

Today, we're getting real.

So, best memory, biggest regret.

Who's first?

Erm...

Hughie. I said I don't want to do it.

You go first.

(LAUGHTER AND SNORTING) SQUEAKY: Uh...best memory.

Winning the Merrett—Murray Medal. PLUM: Hm?

BRICK: Huge. Merrett—Murray Medal.

Twice, wasn't it? Consecutive years, yeah.

Consecutive years. The first time was the best.

Uh...biggest regret would be...

..cashing in my super and pissing it up the wall.

MAGIC MATT: I'll go second.

Best memory, competing in the Olympics.

100%.

You, uh, dunked on Magic Johnson, didn't ya?

I finger-rolled on him.

Did a lay-up in his face.

MAGIC MATT: In his grill. In his grill.

(LAUGHTER)

(SIGHS) Biggest regret.

Not asking Sandra White to the dance in '87.

Fuck, Magic. You're gonna make me cry. It's beautiful.

Regret.

You can all guess that.

Uh...

..me best memory?

Playing alongside you, Pierre Lum.

Legend. (LAUGHS) Undoubtedly.

Merci.

I guess I'd better go, since I made you pricks do it. Uh...

Yeah, best memory would be the day Gavin was born.

Have you spoken to him? MAGIC MATT: Priceless.

And, um...

..biggest regret would be...

..um...

..not contacting my dad

after the day he turned up pissed to see me get my Australian captaincy.

Uh, 'cause he died soon after that, and, uh...

..you know, I just realised I'm no better than him.

(CLEARS THROAT) Plum. The devil. 10 o'clock.

Dana the devil. Oh.

She did the video. Drinking with all her friends.

There's an article too, yeah? Haven't seen the article.

There's a video and an article.

Article on Plum having CTE.

What's CTE? Plum.

It's when you get hit in the head. Plum!

No, no, no. Mate.

What are you trying?

That's exactly what Chris Davidson asked me when HE saw the piece.

It went viral.

Did you read the article or did you just...

Why? ..watch the video?

But...what have I done to you? I was always kind to you even before you...

Before what?

Before you wrecked it by going on Facebook

and writing shit about all your colleagues.

Oh, about my colleagues and their cover-ups?

You can't do this to people!

The truth is, I'm trying to save your legacy...

..actually.

Oh, I'd... Plum.

..step off if I was you, Dana Hanlon.

I'd just watch your step, OK? (LAUGHS)

My dad died

of what you have, Plum.

I can see it clear as day exactly what you're hoping to hide.

I just want it all to go away.

Just let me do an interview.

On TV. A tell-all one.

The only way to make the noise stop

is to own it.

OK?

(DOOR OPENS)

(SIGHS)

Hey. (LAUGHS) Hey. (LAUGHS)

Hi. Hey.

Thank you for meeting me.

Oh. I'm always up for a wine.

I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle.

Yes. I'll get the next one.

It's usually a bit busier in here.

The girls from walk club and I were here last week and it was...

..it was packed, seriously.

Oh!

Well...I'm glad it's quiet, actually.

It's probably 'cause it's early that it's...it's empty.

Yeah. OK.

I'm sorry. I...I look like a slob.

(LAUGHS)

It's...

..it's because I've been living in my car.

What?

Oh, God! (SIGHS)

Oh, don't do that.

I mean...come and stay at our house. It's...it's huge.

(SIGHS)

Can you tell me what's going on with Plum?

He's fucked.

(INHALES)

You and me were soldiers together out there, you know,

and people outside who don't play, they just don't know

how the tie goes on and the connection goes on

between the men that play together.

(SNIFFS)

Oh! No, no, no.

I just want to say, with your bird and everything,

Gym'n'Trim-wise...

No, it's a nonstarter, pal. That's all.

Let me get this off me chest. (SIGHS)

She knows, Char, that I'm your mate first,

even though I love her.

You love her?

You love her? I mean, I love her smarts.

You love her arse.

Her smarts. She's a smart-arse.

I'll put you to sleep in a second!

Look, I'm not gonna do anything with your missus.

Oh, well, uh, that's a... that's a nice surprise.

Plummo, mate,

if you talked to 'em when they needed you to,

they wouldn't come crying to Brick looking for a nice hug.

Oh! You know?

A nice hug?

Is it? It's a hug, is it?

Is that what it is?

Oi, Bricko, it's a fuckin' hug, is it?

It's a hug, eh?

Petey!

So nice to have a wine. Mmm.

(SIGHS) You need it.

I need it.

Mmm. Every day at 4pm, I'm, like, "Ice bucket."

(LAUGHS) (LAUGHS)

(SIGHS)

You know, they only called me

because he has me as his next of kin.

Mmm?

The airport.

They only called me.

But I'm...I'm sure if they knew...

No, no, but...

I don't mind that. No, I get that.

You're both still...

..you know.

You know, I... (SIGHS)

..I don't really understand it either.

(SIGHS)

But it's affecting his brain.

According to my husband, he...

..he could die.

Or...

..need to be in full-time care if he...

..if he doesn't follow Liz Lombardo's protocols.

(SIGHS)

You OK?

I know it's a lot... (SIGHS)

..to take in, but...

..I think it's better that you know,

so that we can start working it out.

Do you think he's losing his mind?

I mean... Sorry. That's not fair to ask.

But...

I think Peter doesn't know how to lose.

That's the problem.

Yeah.

(SNIFFS)

Might as well finish what we started.

Mmm. (SNIFFS)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Sometimes you just need to pee in the sink.

Oh, please. Not you two. Not now.

Peter, you didn't tell me. Tell you what?

About this confectionery. (LAUGHS)

It's so fascinating.

Sylvia, we need to focus on the job at hand. If Peter goes in there...

My favourite chocolate as a kid was the Anglesey sea salt truffle.

Sophia, shut the heck up, woman!

I wish I were a man, but that does not mean I would prefer it.

You go back in there, Peter...

You'll be sliced open.

BUKOWSKI: Ruined.

Wrecked. Rewritten.

SYLVIA: Don't do it, Daddy.

They'll kill you before we get time.

Who the hell ARE you people?

I mean, can I see your driver's licence

or some sort of ID that proves...anything?

In that bar...

..vultures wait.

You will die a spiritual death.

I'm not dying!

Do you hear me?

What did he do,

if you don't mind me asking?

I mean, you don't... you don't have to tell me, but...

Uh, I wouldn't even tell Oliver. (SIGHS)

He...

..punched holes in the wall.

Wow.

'Wow' is right. (SIGHS)

Well, I know...I... I know YOU'RE tolerant.

Oh, no. Not of that.

Never of that.

But we do have a...

.."no judgement" rule.

No judgement and always be kind. (LAUGHS)

(SIGHS)

Have you ever been jealous of me and Plum?

(LAUGHS)

No.

Oh, great.

(LAUGHS) That's...that's great.

Because there's nothing between us.

(LAUGHS) (LAUGHS)

Oh.

That's... (SIGHS) ..that's so good.

You and Plum...

Oh, no. I think it's too late for me and Plum now.

(LAUGHS) Really?

Do you want us to be close and tell each other things?

Yes. (LAUGHS)

I...

..fucked Brick. (SIGHS)

And... So did I.

(LAUGHS) What?!

Yeah.

Well, I didn't fuck him, but I may as well have.

Oh, my God! Yeah. (LAUGHS)

Oh, that's great. That's really great.

What's great?

Why is everything great?

Did he do that bear hug thing to you, where it's, like...

.."I got ya. Brick's got ya."

(LAUGHS) "Brick's got ya."

He did! Oh!

(BOTH LAUGH)

"I got you." Oh!

(BOTH LAUGH)

(PHONE BUZZES)

RENEE: Oh!

Oh.

Get it. That's OK.

You just tell him that I am here.

(SIGHS)

OK.

(SIGHS)

Gavin.

Hi. (SIGHS)

GAVIN: (ON PHONE) Why didn't he just tell us?

He could have just said that he was pissed at work.

(SIGHS) I don't know, honey.

I guess he was embarrassed by it.

What do you think? He's a dickhead.

Everyone is.

Everyone's a dickhead.

CHARMAYNE: I'm so sorry about Ainslee.

But it doesn't mean it's over forever.

Perth's a shithole anyway. Who'd want to go live there?

It's so cold.

Well...

..Melbourne is cold.

Perth is hot.

Is it?

I thought Melbourne was all bushfires.

Max said that his parents had to go evacuate their farm.

Come home, Gavin.

We all miss you.

Come on, Floodlight! Get around! Come on, Floodie!

Get round, Floodlight! COMMENTATOR: He's on the fence.

He's on the fence. MAGIC MATT: Come on, Floodie!

Come on, horse! Ah.

Was it a number one or a number two, Plum?

Hey?

You know those adult nappies on the market?

Oh. Good one, mate.

Nice beret.

What, are you a poof too?

Step off, mate,

and get your dickhead's phone away.

(LAUGHS) That's not very nice.

We're just telling you about grown-up nappies.

Come on, Floodlight!

What size nappies?

Come on, Floodlight.

Beret poof.

(GROANS) (SHOUTING)

Hey, Plum, Plum!

This isn't good, buddy.

PLUM: Bricko, we're gonna win! Fuck!

SQUEAKY: Plum. Come on, Floodlight! Here he comes.

Bricko, look. He's making a play.

Floodlight! Oh, he's up!

MAN: Lum.

What are you doing?

We're gonna go get inked.

They're hell cheap here. You should come.

Yeah, alright.

Yeah.

What'd you get?

The Flying Bear's open till one.

(LAUGHS) We could do that. Margaritas?

Oh... Yes.

Oh, you OK?

Uh, yeah. I'm just a bit dizzy.

Mmm. Well, we did have two bottles of wine.

No, but I've been feeling like this for a couple of days now.

Like...maybe the heatwave or the stuff with Plum.

Oh.

Well, you could be pregnant with Brick's baby.

Have it in July, come out with a massive head.

(LAUGHS)

I don't know what Plum told you.

But...

..I got pregnant at 45.

They weren't my eggs, but I did carry it.

And it was just...

..having a...

..a 14-year-old boy

and...and Oliver's daughter under the same...

Renee. It's OK.

No-one thinks...

It's OK.

OK.

(LAUGHS)

You know, Plum was never in love with me.

But he is in love with you.

Remember that.

OK?

SONG:

to shave the belly

to bring the bacon home

(INAUDIBLE)

(BIRDSONG)

(COUGHS)

(MUTTERS)

(SIGHS)

Son?

(INHALING)

Gave?

Mate?

Me china plate?

Daddy?

What?

Oh, Peter. Look at your face.

You have fallen quite a long way.

I lost my beret.

We poets,

there are dark things living in us.

Dark angels sleep in us, Peter.

No smoking in my son's bed!

I'm not smoking. I'm vaping.

Who are you, again?

Sylvia Plath.

Confessional poet.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

Coffee?

I love coffee.

It's the best part about waking up.

(SNIFFS)

(GROANS) Oh, my God.

Oh, you're so heavy.

(STRAINS) No. I don't want to get up.

I don't want to!

Fucking patriarchy!

(SIGHS)

(BIRDSONG)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS) (DOORBELL RINGS)

KAIA: Oh. Hey, Char.

Do you want to come in?

Renee?

RENEE: Seriously?!

Oh!

Oh, sweetheart. Hey.

I've realised I don't see red flags.

What's that?

With men.

I don't see the red flags.

I just...

..barrel through.

(SOBS)

Maybe you need a little sleep.

Uh, I'll...I'll make us some... (SIGHS)

..lunch.

I'm going to go back to Argentina.

Oh, no, no, no. (SNIFFS)

Why?

To have the baby. (SIGHS)

The baby?

(SNIFFS) Oh, Charmayne.

(BUBBLING)

It'd be nice,

living in the suburbs like this with...

..piles of kids and a...

..pool as clear as their eyes,

wearing what my grandmother called wash dresses.

Peter.

Would you like me to bend on you?

Little boy lost.

(SIGHS)

You got kids?

Mm-hm.

With who?

Ted.

Ted who?

Ted Hughes.

Don't you know?

With the birthday letters, etc.

Now, he's much like you,

gentle and fractured,

with the face of a brute.

(GRUNTS) Yorkshireman, see?

Where is he?

No-one knows where he goes.

(INHALES)

(SIGHS)

I broke my leg skiing.

That's why Esther breaks hers,

in The Bell Jar.

Write what you know.

I'm not the dad in that shot.

I'm a shit dad. So was my dad.

I'm so sick of feeling like this. (PUTS CUP DOWN)

I'm so sick of living this way and...

..the lies,

the pain and the shame

and the shit!

And it's the same fucking thing over...

..and over and over and over...

..and over...

Sylvia.

I get it.

Oh, do you?

See, I...I just don't quite know if you do, Sylvia.

I don't quite know if you do.

My father died when I was eight.

His name was Otto.

And at home, his word was law.

German, you know.

But he had this soft side,

especially when he talked about bees.

He loved bumblebees.

My dad loved trucks.

You know, big trucks.

He...

..he asked me to buy him a truck once, but I was...

..just...

They live in here...

..our fathers.

Which is why we need to write them...

..a letter.

Why would you do that?

I mean, how...they...they... that'd be pointless.

The dead...the dead can't read.

Because we need to start getting better.

(LAUGHS)

(INHALES AND SIGHS)

Davo.

Hello, big fella. (LAUGHS)

What's happening? (SIGHS)

How's it going? Oh, yeah.

Mate, it's Rugby League. It's the game that never sleeps.

(SIGHS) Yeah.

What size nappies?

Beret poof.

PLUM: Come on, Floodlight! Here he goes.

He never said thanks...

..taking the hits.

Getting bashed so he could look pretty.

20 years of that shit.

The punishment.

Yeah, I get it.

Plum.

Immortal.

Captain.

Champion.

And what am I?

Fuck him.

(SIGHS)

Is he doing it?

Uh... Yes. I believe so.

This is our last shot, Plath.

If we don't break this stubborn asshole now,

they're gonna call us back.

I know... I'm just saying!

I like it here.

Cold beer.

And the broads with the bikinis that go right up the middle.

You're a sloth! I don't want to go back to hell!

But I like this job!

Go back in your shrub! This is my plan.

You failed at your down-and-out thing.

Now begone, Hank!

(SIGHS)

On this idyllic night, in God's own country,

otherwise known as 'Cranoula'...

..we shall receive not a poem

but a letter

to the late,

and not always so great,

Albert Lionel Lum.

Take it away, Daddy.

Oh! Fuck!

(SIGHS)

"To Dad.

"Don't know if this is a good time or not to write this one, but...

"..yeah, I'm caught between saying thanks

"and sorry

"and lastly why?

"Thanks for teaching me to hit and spin...

"..for teaching me to enjoy running

"and teaching me to never take a backwards step.

"Sorry.

"Sorry for the last time I saw you.

"Sorry I turned away."

(INAUDIBLE)

"And, yeah, why?

"Why did you turn away from us?

"Was there something I don't know involving Mum?

"Or did you just no longer want us?

"I miss you."

(INAUDIBLE)

PLUM: "I always missed you...

"..even when you were right in front of me.

"I always felt you were about to go,

"or had already gone, in your head.

"So, Albert, Dad..."

Dad?

Son!

Three of us back together. Dream team.

Full disclosure - I haven't had a drink in three days. I'm on day four.

So good to see you! Yeah, it is.

Now, Mum's gone to bed.

There's this new priest in town. Mum's obsessed with him.

We spend a lot of time together. Yeah.

She needs full-time care. We're not selling the house!

Why? Because YOU'RE not ready?

See how sweaty Dad's been?

You think there's something wrong with him?

Why don't you ask him? And be direct.

He's gotta start talking to someone.

Who is this bloody loser?

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation