Back to the Rafters (2021) s01e01 Episode Script
Kung Pao Chicken
[upbeat music]
All around ♪♪
[bird chirps]
I love you.
With all my heart.
[Julie] Six years ago,
we set out on our road trip.
Ready, Rubes?
- [giggles]
- Yep.
[chuckles]
[Julie] One life ended
and another began.
No firm plans,
off into the great unknown.
- Bye!
- See ya.
Bye!
[Julie] Our much-loved green van
unfortunately didn't
last the distance.
But we weren't about to stop.
Before we knew it, we'd been
on the road for four years.
We'd move, settle for a bit,
back to Sydney for visits,
head off again.
Life had a rhythm.
I spy, with my little eye,
something beginning with"F."
Lame, Mum.
It wasn't lame yesterday.
It's been lame for a long time.
It was "foliage."
"F" usually is.
[sighs]
[bang!]
- Whoa!
[rubber slapping]
What's
[Julie] But it couldn't
go on forever.
Or for "flat."
[Julie] Who knows where we might
have put down roots
if we hadn't blown that tire.
- I can do it.
- It's too dangerous.
- Dave, it's on a slope.
- It's fine.
- I'm not a kid, Dad.
- Next time.
You said that last time. He
did, right?
You'll have plenty of chances
when you're older.
What if we stop moving?
Why don't you go
and tell me what that sign says?
Yeah, good idea.
Let's go check out where we are.
I'm not stupid. It's called
a diversionary tactic.
It'd better be next time.
Come on.
Diversionary tactic?
[Julie] Every family
has its old soul.
Ruby is ours.
Maybe it's being
a late-life baby.
Come on, grumpy.
[Julie] Maybe the years on the
road or maybe it's just her.
[sighs] Buradeena.
[kookaburras laugh]
[yells] Buradeena, Dave!
Buradeena!
Never heard of it!
[clang!]
- Dave!
- Dad!
[Julie] We changed a lot of
tires along the way
but this was a broken axle.
Still, every cloud, as they say
Our silver lining.
While we waited
for repairs,
we fell in love
with Buradeena.
Amazing.
[Ruby] There's, like, three ice
cream places in this spot.
[Julie] In the blink of an eye,
we found our new home.
[chuckles] Oh!
[strains] I'm too old for this.
[laughs] I was a bit lighter
last time we did it.
[Julie] We found peace here.
Quiet.
Sometimes.
[motorbike engines roar]
[Julie] Dave found
motocross
Whoo!
[Julie] ..a mate
Whoo-bloody-hoo! [laughs]
Ah, will you look at that?
[Julie] ..and we found a lodger.
Was the cake lady there?
No. But the
broccoli boys were.
Haha! Your lucky day.
[Julie] The perfect tenant
for our garden flat
and the best apprentice
Dave's ever had.
- Yuck.
- [laughs]
[Julie] I fluked a boss,
next-door-neighbour and friend.
All in one.
The family come up as much as
possible. I go down to see Dad.
Has anyone got a ten?
[Julie] The kids
are wonderful with him.
- [both] Go fish!
- [Julie] That helps so much.
You do lose touch with people,
though. It happens.
Time happens.
Buradeena happened.
And here we are,
two years later.
[sighs] And here I am.
[sighs] Big day. You?
Busy afternoon. Country Women's
girls are out in force.
[clucks]
Oh, stop it.
[bottle lid pops]
It's about
the fifth one of those.
Hm?
New-agey things.
You looking for answers?
No. I'm just sick of novels.
That's the good thing about not
reading. Can't get sick of it.
[clucks]
[Julie] That's us. With our 35th
anniversary approaching.
Dave settled.
But my first thought
every morning
is that something's missing.
It was Ruby that put me
on the road to an answer.
You sure you don't need a lift?
Stuff to do on the way.
- Lugging all of that?
- I'm alright.
[Julie] With a painting
- I'll see you there.
- Don't be late.
[Julie] and some poo.
Who says life's not strange?
[dog barks]
Yappy!
Hi. Yappy.
Hi! Ay you.
Donation gratefully received.
Oh, hello, you.
Hi. Um
[dog barks]
[Julie] From one small act,
great change.
[Tessa] Yoo-hoo.
[Julie] Ah! In here.
Is Ruby on a clean-up kick?
Hm?
She just grabbed Yappy's crap
from the front yard.
- Oh. Dave?
- [Dave] Yeah!
Why would Ruby be grabbing
dog poo from Tessa's yard?
Hey. Search me.
Paddo! Come on!
You're dragging the chain.
Stress will kill you, mate.
Thanks, Mrs. R.
Cougar cool there, Tess.
Oh, I wish.
Move ya arse, big fella.
[Tessa] Boys will be boys.
Ah, second childhood.
Hey, don't forget the art show.
[Dave] I'll pick you up.
So poo.
Uh Ruby's Ruby.
[man] Alright, come on.
Paintings on the wall.
Place your sculptures carefully
on the tables. Oi!
Nice work there, girls.
Well done.
Oh, beautiful work there, Hugo.
Well done.
Alright, come on, guys.
C'mon. I want you here
straight after the final bell.
We're expecting a lot
of parents.
Well done, Ruby.
Come on, let's pop it up.
Uh it's meant to be like
that.
Why?
Ruby?
Otherwise they'll roll off.
Ruby
Is there a problem?
[phone chimes]
Hello.
Oh, Mrs Spade.
What's she done now?
- [Julie] Dave?
- Yeah.
The school,
they want to see us both.
Don't tell me - the poo.
How do you know?
Wild guess.
[Mrs Spade] A primary school art
show
is no place for faecal matter.
It's a health issue.
She's got a point, Rubes.
And "Stubborn Old Men?"
A title designed to offend.
It's true, though.
Climate-denying politicians.
After last summer, Ruby
is worried about the future.
Global warming, pollution
So she chooses some sound grab
from the media as her title?
She's too young to even
understand what she's saying.
Oh, I think a lot of our
children understand these days.
Try debating her
on it some time.
Actually
[Mrs Spade] Whatever I feel
about her notions,
it's not a political rally.
I hear you.
Most art is political.
[Mrs Spade] Not at Buradeena
Primary end of term exhibition.
The issue, Mrs. Rafter,
is doo-doo.
Doo-doo?
Doggie doo.
Or don't do.
Don't express the fears our
children
have of inheriting a world
too polluted to live in.
A world left to them
by stubborn old men.
- The title fits.
- [whispers] Settle.
I think it's the one interesting
statement in the room.
[Mrs Spade] We did not ask for
statements.
The title is unfortunate.
The doo-doo unacceptable.
And without it?
A perfectly lovely abstract
of the world from space.
Another title, preferably.
Right.
Mrs. Rafter
Julie.
Lose the doo-doo, darling.
[Julie] Oil.
Not just for the car.
There we go.
No health issue there.
Oh, and new title -
"Fossil Fools."
Says what you want to.
Loving it.
Ah, seems to fit the criteria.
Do we have a deal?
She's her mother's daughter.
[Ruby] Legendary, Mum.
Yes, well, next time you
get a bright idea,
make sure you run
it by us first.
I knew you'd say no. You stuck
up for me but you would have.
That's true.
How come?
Because not everyone
appreciates nine going on 19.
Kids your age aren't meant
to have political opinions.
That's so Buradeena.
No, I think you'd find that
anywhere!
More likely here.
Hey.
We love Buradeena.
Dad loves Buradeena.
You love bits but all I'd miss
would be Paddo.
Right. Well, like you say,
your dad loves Buradeena
and we love your dad so
And I think if you made a list
of the things you like
about Buradeena,
it would be a lot
longer than just Paddo.
Tessa - for a start.
OK, mwah.
Goodnight.
I bet if you made
a "don't like" list
it'd be a lot longer
than your "do likes."
Go to sleep.
[sighs]
[Julie] Every small town needs
an art scandal.
Buradeena now has theirs.
She put poo on the painting.
Seriously?
Absolutely 100% real poo.
Well, at least it's given
business a boost.
They are dying
to have a go at you.
Well, why don't they?
They like you enough
not to say it to your face.
Take it as a compliment.
Someone's gotta be on our side.
Most – on climate change.
None on Ruby's.
That one over there.
"We don't need
some uppity city kid
"telling us what we know,
stinking up the school."
We've been here two years.
You've gotta be born country
to be country. [giggles]
[Julie] The old power of
persuasion.
Have I still got what it takes?
How flush are we?
Flush enough.
To allow you to take some
time off?
I'm pretty booked.
I just thought we could get away
for the school break.
Let the fuss die down.
The kids are coming
for our anniversary.
[Julie] Yeah, but the highway
leads to them
as easily as it does to us.
Can't we celebrate there?
Not like you to run.
Call it a tactical withdrawal.
I just think we could all do
with some city. I know I could.
And Ruby never says no, so
Paddo could hold the fort.
Thank you. Mwah!
But I um
Ah, yes.
[Julie] It seems I do.
[scoffs]
[Dave and Julie hum Beethoven's
"Symphony No. 5"]
[phone chimes]
[Julie] So the Poogate scandal
had us heading off.
Oh, they've booked
That's where we had our 25th.
You weren't even a twinkle
in my eye, Rubes.
Oh, gross, Dad.
Polar bears are invading towns
they've never gone into before.
They're starving.
Rich white men,
poor white bears.
Good title.
[Julie] Don't come back?
Bored country kids.
Another one for
the "don't like" list.
A change of scene.
Just what we needed.
[bright music]
[Anna] Hello, petal.
[Ben] You talking to me?
I would never call my boss
petal.
I think you just did.
She did, right?
See? We both talk to flowers.
Hey, if they're
left over tonight,
you should take them
home for Cassie.
Good thinking.
[woman] Ben. Phone.
- Who?
- Nathan.
Tell him I'll call him back.
Your brother sounds rather
flustered.
[police radio babbling]
[Nathan] Mate, this is a
disaster.
[Ben] So sorry. Total bummer.
We'll fit you all in somehow.
What about my toys?
We'll get them when we can,
little guy, OK?
Cassie will be fine with it.
I'll catch you at mine.
It's an emergency, Donna.
Reckon you could sub for me?
With 50 for dinner?
This'd better be good.
How's Nathan's building's
falling down?
He's out on the
street.
Mum, Dad and Ruby are lobbing
and we'll have to fit seven
people into a two-bedroom house.
Better than most excuses.
What happened?
I don't know. One of those
structural flaw thingys.
He rocked up home and cops
and emergency were everywhere.
They won't let anyone in.
Go, yes. Poor Nathan. Tell your
mum I can't wait to see her.
Yeah.
Quick sticks.
I have an air mattress.
Thank you.
[groans]
We can blow it up later.
How are they?
Edward thinks it's
a big adventure.
While Nathan's a little bit
rattled.
Are you OK with this?
- Of course.
- You sure?
We both are.
- Cute answer.
- It's going to be a cute kid.
[Ben] Donna said Mum and Dad can
stay with her
if it gets too much.
It's their anniversary.
No way.
It's not going to be for long.
How did I get so lucky?
You swiped right.
It was a hot photo.
Had no choice.
Gotta love
modern dating rituals.
[Edward] Uncle Ben.
Uncle Ben. Where are you?!
Better go check on them.
Attaboy, eh?
You tuck that side in,
I'll do this one.
You might fall out
of a little bed, Dad.
I certainly won't be able
to spread out, that's for sure.
Lucky we didn't rush to set this
up as a nursery.
We were just discussing
the limitations of a single bed.
That'll take you back.
Oh, sure will.
[bed rocking]
Hey Eddie, please stop bouncing,
alright? It's not our bed, mate.
Hey, Eddie. Auntie Cassie's got
some cake if you're up for it.
- Yeah!
- Yeah.
Your place won't fall down,
will it, Uncle Ben?
No way. Go on.
He seems fine.
He's the glass half-full kid.
How are you?
Add mine to the list of
defective apartment blocks.
They reckon
the foundations have subsided.
Well at least you're both
safe.
It's probably worth about
half of what I paid for it now.
[horn honks in distance]
[groans]
Mum and Dad.
Yeah. Just let them
settle first, hey? Yeah?
Oh, thanks.
[gasps] You made good time!
"'Heavy on the Metal Dave"
they call me.
- Hello, my darling.
- Hello.
How's our embryonic darling?
[Cassie] Ben shouldn't have told
you.
It's early, I know,
but he's rapt.
Ruby!
Same name as last time you
saw me.
Oi! What about us?
- Hey!
- Granny!
- Granddad!
- Hey, kiddo.
Looks like we've got the whole
welcoming committee.
Hey. I guess you have.
[all greet at once]
Hi, Mum.
We're here 'cause
our place is falling down.
What?
Thanks, Eddie.
Come on.
[Julie] You're not lifting a
finger while we're here.
I'm not an invalid.
No, but you're
carrying our grandchild
and you got the Rafters roadshow
so you just sit there
and catch me up on everything.
- Well, I'll just
- Ah! Sit!
OK!
Everything fine?
So far. It's gonna be.
I just have to
You're talking IVF. You are.
- Right?
- We are.
It beats collapsing apartment
blocks on loop.
How many ways
can you say "This is screwed?"
Hey, language.
And we're pulling our weight,
thank you.
I'll make sure the men know
so they can do their share.
The men are sorting the
sleeping arrangements.
Such a cliche
division of labor.
She's either going to end up
an anarchist or prime minister.
Buradeena's betting
on the former.
Oh, and make up your own bed.
The couch, right?
Yes. Sheets and stuff are
in the hallway.
How come she takes after the one
sibling she's hardly seen.
Rachel?
Yeah, she gave
good attitude at that age.
You all gave your fair share.
[pump whines]
[chuckles]
- [laughs]
- What?
The mattress. It's like my life.
It needs the air back in.
I mean, come on.
Trust me to buy a lemon.
It mightn't be
as bad as it seems.
Oh! Every other place
it's happened has been.
I think the word you're
looking for is "disaster!"
[pump powers down]
Anything you need. You know
that. Whatever we can afford.
None of you are made of money.
I'm not asking Rachel.
Well, she wouldn't mind.
Just get her by herself.
If she does manage to make it.
She's trying.
She wouldn't leave deciding
to the last minute if she was.
She is busy.
New York's a long haul.
Yeah. Yeah.
[pump whines]
Yeah.
[Julie] Goodnight.
[Dave] Don't let
the bed bugs bite.
[Ruby] Dad
[Cassie] Sleep tight!
[Nathan] Thank you all.
Whatever, whenever.
Sweet dreams.
[farts]
- Dave!
- Gross, Dad.
It's not me. It's the mattress.
Sprung a leak.
Got a surprise.
Poor Nathan.
What a shemozzle.
Hello, stranger.
[squeals]
Oh!
Cheese and nibbles.
And if seeing you isn't the best
excuse for vino before noon,
I don't know what is.
Nathan's building falling down.
Goodness. How is he?
Well, they're
letting people back in today
but just to get essentials.
It's not sounding good.
If there's anything
I can do to help.
Thanks.
Now, you, country life
agrees with you.
Ah. [chuckles]
Either that, or you snuck off
for a nip and a tuck without
telling me.
I miss you.
Well, you can visit whenever you
want.
What, with this place to run?
Work, work, work.
I'm sure I look a fright.
You look glowing.
35th anniversary.
Mmm-hmm.
Gorgeous.
I just wish we could throw
the party here.
We're celebrating where
we had our 25th.
Ben said.
- Yeah.
- Lovely.
All the family?
Dad. Depends on this afternoon.
I'm sure he'll be fine.
And that's worth drinking to.
It is.
And to the wicked girls' night
we're having before you go back.
- To friendship.
- To friendship.
[glasses clink]
That it?
Yeah.
Yep. They're letting us
back in tomorrow
if there's anything we forgot.
Big of them.
And that's it till they
work out what's next.
Could be months, the guy
reckons.
He had this look in his eye
that said "maybe never."
- He probably didn't.
- No, he did.
He did. The upside is it can't
get much worse, right?
[Julie] We visit dad once a
month, at least.
He's going downhill.
But slower than expected.
Ready?
[sighs]
I'll settle for a smile.
Even if he doesn't recognise us.
I'll test the water.
Hey, Dad.
My little girl.
I was just saying
to your mum this morning,
"It's been a while
since Julie dropped by."
I said, "Get Julie something
good for her anniversary."
We're off to Shanghai Express
and kung pao chicken.
You remember!
A fella doesn't forget
something like that.
Oh, Dad.
[Julie] Remember we were out the
front where we got the photo
taken and we ended up
with S-E-X over our heads?
Sort of rings a bell.
Sex. [laughs]
Where's your mum?
Um she wasn't there
that night, Dad.
Of course she was.
No, she'd passed away by then.
Don't be so bloody silly.
Settle, Dad.
[Julie] Maybe you just thought
she was.
I know what I know.
Don't get upset, Granddad.
She's talkin' rubbish!
You know what?
Maybe I just got confused.
As if your mum
wouldn't be there!
She loves you, your mum.
Yeah, I know.
We better go.
OK, well, we'll be back to pick
you up in three days time, Dad,
OK?
At 6:00.
I'll be ready.
No show without punch.
Yeah. See you then.
- See you, Ted.
- [Ruby] Bye, Granddad.
Bye.
[Dave] You sure it's worth
taking the risk?
[Julie] He was good just then.
And we managed when he wasn't.
One of his big turns
could ruin the night.
It's not like it hasn't
happened.
- I'll watch him.
- Thank you, sweetheart.
Another option is we could all
drop in here on the way. What?
Well, just saying.
Look, I understand
but I'd rather be positive.
That was so lovely
sharing the memories.
What say we share some more? Hm?
- [Julie] Do you remember it?
- [Ruby] Sort of. Not really.
It's almost 30 of
our 35 years here.
Good times.
Wonderful.
[Dave] All of us under the same
roof.
Ben next door.
It was a special time.
Yeah, it was.
You want to knock on the door?
You know, I thought I did
but no, I don't.
No.
No going back.
No. What's past is past.
[Dave] Golden time.
Living the dream now, though.
Yasou koukla! [smashes plate]
When your romance
is starting to cool
and your chickadee is not giving
you the honey
as much as you
think she oughta,
this will get her every time.
Yasou koukla -
hello, babydoll.
Not to be mistaken
for "yasou katsika,"
which means, "hello, goat."
[goat bleats]
And definitely don't dress
like that.
She'll likely tell you to get,
get, get, get carbonated.
Next time, I'm gonna
go skateboarding
around the Acropolis.
That's actually taken off?
Yeah. It makes people laugh.
He still makes me laugh.
He really has over a million?
Yeah, and sponsors
and other platforms.
Mate, we're in the wrong game.
Oh! Tell me about it.
Oh. I gotta return the van.
Eddie?
Or I could do it?
No, no, no.
You have done plenty.
Besides, little man here will
enjoy some time by the river.
Hey! We gotta go.
I was just putting
my stuff away.
No, it's alright, we'll finish
it later. Come on, come on.
Let's roll!
[Edward yells]
Retta must wonder sometimes.
She gets the joke.
What?
Nothing.
Oh, no.
[Cassie crying]
Cassie?
[Cassie sobs]
Cass?
[Cassie] We're losing it, Ben.
[crying continues]
You were right.
I shouldn't have said anything.
You OK?
You heard the doctor.
I'll be fine.
You sure you're up to covering?
I don't want to spoil
their anniversary.
It's just for a few days.
We can try again.
I can't do it.
Keep practicing.
Pirates. Pirates!
En garde, ye scoundrel.
Ha hoo-ha!
- OK, everyone. Let's go.
- [Edward] Take that and that!
I thought you were teaching him!
Oh. Eddie's pirates game.
- Let's hit the frog-and-toad.
- Don't invite them to dinner.
Oh, Ben, did you confirm
the table?
It's Sunday night,
the queue could be a mile long.
Onto it.
If we're a few minutes late,
it 'll be because of Dad.
All aboard The Shanghai Express.
[all imitate train]
[Nathan] Ah! Eddie, please leave
the lobster alone.
I wonder if everyone knows
something we don't.
When was the last time you were
here?
Ages ago.
Henry was talking of selling.
Well, I'd say he has.
Lazy Susan, Lazy Susan.
- That's lame, I know.
- Actually not.
[all cheering]
I say that we skip the prawns.
I want prawns!
Mate, trust me
[imitates vomiting]
You listen to your dad, Nathan.
I'm Nathan, Grandad.
This is Edward.
Kung pao chicken!
Mmm! That was dad's favourite
when we used to come here.
I love it too, Ted. What's
that Chinese lass doing here?
This is Cassie, Grandad,
my wife. And she is Vietnamese.
Where's Mel? You're not Mel.
Mel died, Dad.
Oh. Well, you moved on
fast enough.
- A long time ago.
- Do you remember?
I like Mel. Yeah.
We all did.
You should've had kids.
You got kiddies?
Um, no. No, I don't, Ted.
Ah, waste of a life, no kiddies.
Mel liked the Chinese.
Dad!
She wasn't a racist, our Mel.
- I'm so sorry.
- Oh, no it's fine
- Can we just order please?
- Miss?
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Ben said.
Three days covering.
I've had my friend
Anna to talk to.
So like you to put us first.
He's so desperate
to hold his baby.
Would you think about yourself
for a change?
Let us be there for you.
Just rest.
Let your body restore.
And when you're ready,
maybe another try.
Four times?
I don't know if I can
bear it again.
I told him before we got married
that I had problems
in that area.
We were so in love.
What if he stops loving me?
Oh, Cassie. You are so loved.
By all of us. Never doubt that.
OK?
I will be.
Rachel.
Oh, go, go. I'll be fine.
OK.
You too.
You sure?
Yeah.
I just need a minute.
[Ben] Here she is.
[Ruby] Rachel, hi!
Hi.
Shanghai Express isn't
what it used to be.
- No kung pao chicken.
- Mum!
[Rachel] The ultimate sin.
Not according
to your grandfather.
Hello. Hi, sweetheart. Look!
We set the laptop up with its
own seat as if you were here.
I would be if I could.
I did try.
Yes, we know you did.
She's wearing her pyjamas.
It's early morning here,
Grandad.
- It's night!
- I'm in New York.
We miss you.
I miss you all too.
So what's the news?
Nathan's apartment's screwed.
Language!
- [Ruby] Well, it is.
- What?
[Ben] You're a downer, Rube.
[Nathan] Yeah. Bad
building practices.
I'll send you the news link.
It's happened
to about five places.
Nath, what are you gonna do?
Stay with Benno for a bit.
You know, forget about that.
Now that you're here
and I've got the floor,
have you
got a glass of something?
Opening the bottle now.
Solo drinking - careful.
That's assuming you are solo.
O solo mio. You know me.
[Nathan] I would like to propose
a toast
to the best parents
in the world.
I'm glad they married,
if for no other reason
than we were all born.
Such self-interest.
[Nathan] And because we love
them.
- [Julie] Oh!
- Amen to that.
- Thank you.
- Cassie, grab your glass.
And let's all raise them to the
legendary Dave and Julie Rafter
as they celebrate
35 wonderful years.
To our father, mother,
grandfather, grandmother,
son-in-law and daughter.
And our role models
for happiness.
- That's quite a responsibility.
- You're up to it.
To Mum and Dad.
[all] To Mum and Dad!
Cheers!
[all sing] For they're
a jolly good fellow ♪
For they're
a jolly good fellow ♪
For they're a jolly
good fellow ♪
And so say all of us. ♪
- Oi!
- Ay!
That's me. I've gotta go
get ready for work.
Wait! Before you go - any news?
Anything exciting?
Nothing that won't keep.
[Julie] Oh. Did you run a
marathon?
Ah, not this year.
But you always do.
[Rachel] I had other things
going.
Oh, OK well, don't work
too hard. We miss you.
- Love you. See ya.
- Bye.
[kisses hands]
Love you.
Alright, everyone. Back
to ours for kung pao chicken -
what do you say?
Yes. Let's do it.
You don't say I'm pretty ♪
Not like you used to ♪
And I never admit it ♪
I'm trying so hard for you ♪
But all of
the moments I treasure ♪
In the morning,
you will remember ♪
Don't know why you can keep it
together long enough to try ♪
I make big things
out of little things ♪
And I watch you
keep missing them ♪
Plenty of time to meet them
once you're born, munchkin.
[Julie] Kung pao chicken.
Like a life well lived,
you marinate your feelings
Make sure there is flavour.
Plenty of sizzle.
Make sure nothing sticks.
Add heat. Flesh. Spice.
And stir together.
Then garnish
to individual taste.
And if you're very lucky,
it's done with love.
Dinner is served.
Two, four, six, eight.
[Julie] A good life.
Bog in, don't wait.
Aye!
Thank you.
[Julie] Dave and I,
kung pao chicken, with love.
But if it goes wrong,
like Ben and Cassie,
you're missing an ingredient.
Chow down, Mum.
Well, hurry up.
If you going to serve me food,
you gotta do it quick.
[Julie] Or Ruby.
There's too much sauce.
Kung pao chicken, Jules.
- [Nathan] That's Ruby, Grandad.
- Who?
[Julie] Dad,
you forget the recipe.
Or Nathan. It just won't
come together, somehow.
And it all gets out of whack.
[Nathan]
Past your bedtime, Eddie.
PJs on, brush your teeth.
Come on.
[crash!]
[Edward] Come on, Ruby.
[Ruby] Wait a second.
35 years, Mrs. Rafter.
Mmm-hmm.
- Come here.
- Oh!
All the ups and downs, the ins
and outs and here we still are.
It's quite an achievement in
the modern age.
I reckon so.
I remember being nervous about
my performance on our 25th.
But with this set up,
there's no chance
of any performance to be
nervous about.
Well, you could file it
away under business pending.
It better not pend too long.
- You've still got it, you know?
- Oh, stop it.
- Oh, you love it.
- I do! [laughs]
[Nathan] I'm just pulling my
weight. Oh!
Oops.
Still life in the old folks yet.
It's way too much information,
thank you, Dad.
Half your luck.
Oh, I worry about him.
It's been so long since there's
been anyone.
Hard with a kid in tow.
Yeah, he must miss intimacy.
I miss intimacy.
- Oh! You get quite enough.
- Well
Here. You rinse, I'll stack.
- Romantic.
- Practical.
I do worry. How we
used to clean up after them.
Yeah, we still are.
No, I mean, you know,
when things went
wrong in their lives,
we used to be there
to help clean up.
[Dave] They're adults now.
Yeah, well, they're still ours.
What brought this on?
Kung pao chicken.
What?
Metaphor overload.
And Dad's just
so much more alert.
In his own funny way.
It just seems wrong going back
with so much happening.
Ben and Cassie don't need this
place stacked to the ceiling.
- Well, they're coping.
- They need to heal.
Our life is back home.
Yes, and they're down here.
And we could help them heal.
And Ruby could do
with a longer break.
- A few days, sure.
- No, longer!
We help Ben and Cassie,
we get Nathan back on his feet,
we can see Dad more.
Ruby could go
to Edward's school.
- How much longer?
- Play it by ear. A while.
- And where are we in that?
- We're parents.
Yeah, with our own life.
I have a business,
you have a job.
Where would we live,
for a start?
This set up is fine
for a few days, tops.
I'm just not sure where you're
coming from.
Look I just I know is what we
have to do or we're bad parents.
[glasses clink]
[Dave] We're not bad parents.
The best way to help Nathan
is to earn
the money he'll probably
need to borrow.
And Ben and Cassie will be fine.
- I mean it, Dave.
- So do I.
You said it yourself,
outside the old place.
The past is the past.
We're not those parents now.
Always are.
Rubes is responsibility enough.
It's our time, Jules.
Let's sleep on it.
[Julie] Poogate, a miscarriage,
a crumbling building,
a crumbling mind, and something
Rachel's not saying.
I've felt it for a long time.
Someone has to help clean up.
That's when it hit me.
I've been looking for an answer
to a scary question.
I'm not the woman I was. So
Who am I?
I wanna move back here.
For good.
[gentle piano]
[gentle guitar]
All around ♪♪
[bird chirps]
I love you.
With all my heart.
[Julie] Six years ago,
we set out on our road trip.
Ready, Rubes?
- [giggles]
- Yep.
[chuckles]
[Julie] One life ended
and another began.
No firm plans,
off into the great unknown.
- Bye!
- See ya.
Bye!
[Julie] Our much-loved green van
unfortunately didn't
last the distance.
But we weren't about to stop.
Before we knew it, we'd been
on the road for four years.
We'd move, settle for a bit,
back to Sydney for visits,
head off again.
Life had a rhythm.
I spy, with my little eye,
something beginning with"F."
Lame, Mum.
It wasn't lame yesterday.
It's been lame for a long time.
It was "foliage."
"F" usually is.
[sighs]
[bang!]
- Whoa!
[rubber slapping]
What's
[Julie] But it couldn't
go on forever.
Or for "flat."
[Julie] Who knows where we might
have put down roots
if we hadn't blown that tire.
- I can do it.
- It's too dangerous.
- Dave, it's on a slope.
- It's fine.
- I'm not a kid, Dad.
- Next time.
You said that last time. He
did, right?
You'll have plenty of chances
when you're older.
What if we stop moving?
Why don't you go
and tell me what that sign says?
Yeah, good idea.
Let's go check out where we are.
I'm not stupid. It's called
a diversionary tactic.
It'd better be next time.
Come on.
Diversionary tactic?
[Julie] Every family
has its old soul.
Ruby is ours.
Maybe it's being
a late-life baby.
Come on, grumpy.
[Julie] Maybe the years on the
road or maybe it's just her.
[sighs] Buradeena.
[kookaburras laugh]
[yells] Buradeena, Dave!
Buradeena!
Never heard of it!
[clang!]
- Dave!
- Dad!
[Julie] We changed a lot of
tires along the way
but this was a broken axle.
Still, every cloud, as they say
Our silver lining.
While we waited
for repairs,
we fell in love
with Buradeena.
Amazing.
[Ruby] There's, like, three ice
cream places in this spot.
[Julie] In the blink of an eye,
we found our new home.
[chuckles] Oh!
[strains] I'm too old for this.
[laughs] I was a bit lighter
last time we did it.
[Julie] We found peace here.
Quiet.
Sometimes.
[motorbike engines roar]
[Julie] Dave found
motocross
Whoo!
[Julie] ..a mate
Whoo-bloody-hoo! [laughs]
Ah, will you look at that?
[Julie] ..and we found a lodger.
Was the cake lady there?
No. But the
broccoli boys were.
Haha! Your lucky day.
[Julie] The perfect tenant
for our garden flat
and the best apprentice
Dave's ever had.
- Yuck.
- [laughs]
[Julie] I fluked a boss,
next-door-neighbour and friend.
All in one.
The family come up as much as
possible. I go down to see Dad.
Has anyone got a ten?
[Julie] The kids
are wonderful with him.
- [both] Go fish!
- [Julie] That helps so much.
You do lose touch with people,
though. It happens.
Time happens.
Buradeena happened.
And here we are,
two years later.
[sighs] And here I am.
[sighs] Big day. You?
Busy afternoon. Country Women's
girls are out in force.
[clucks]
Oh, stop it.
[bottle lid pops]
It's about
the fifth one of those.
Hm?
New-agey things.
You looking for answers?
No. I'm just sick of novels.
That's the good thing about not
reading. Can't get sick of it.
[clucks]
[Julie] That's us. With our 35th
anniversary approaching.
Dave settled.
But my first thought
every morning
is that something's missing.
It was Ruby that put me
on the road to an answer.
You sure you don't need a lift?
Stuff to do on the way.
- Lugging all of that?
- I'm alright.
[Julie] With a painting
- I'll see you there.
- Don't be late.
[Julie] and some poo.
Who says life's not strange?
[dog barks]
Yappy!
Hi. Yappy.
Hi! Ay you.
Donation gratefully received.
Oh, hello, you.
Hi. Um
[dog barks]
[Julie] From one small act,
great change.
[Tessa] Yoo-hoo.
[Julie] Ah! In here.
Is Ruby on a clean-up kick?
Hm?
She just grabbed Yappy's crap
from the front yard.
- Oh. Dave?
- [Dave] Yeah!
Why would Ruby be grabbing
dog poo from Tessa's yard?
Hey. Search me.
Paddo! Come on!
You're dragging the chain.
Stress will kill you, mate.
Thanks, Mrs. R.
Cougar cool there, Tess.
Oh, I wish.
Move ya arse, big fella.
[Tessa] Boys will be boys.
Ah, second childhood.
Hey, don't forget the art show.
[Dave] I'll pick you up.
So poo.
Uh Ruby's Ruby.
[man] Alright, come on.
Paintings on the wall.
Place your sculptures carefully
on the tables. Oi!
Nice work there, girls.
Well done.
Oh, beautiful work there, Hugo.
Well done.
Alright, come on, guys.
C'mon. I want you here
straight after the final bell.
We're expecting a lot
of parents.
Well done, Ruby.
Come on, let's pop it up.
Uh it's meant to be like
that.
Why?
Ruby?
Otherwise they'll roll off.
Ruby
Is there a problem?
[phone chimes]
Hello.
Oh, Mrs Spade.
What's she done now?
- [Julie] Dave?
- Yeah.
The school,
they want to see us both.
Don't tell me - the poo.
How do you know?
Wild guess.
[Mrs Spade] A primary school art
show
is no place for faecal matter.
It's a health issue.
She's got a point, Rubes.
And "Stubborn Old Men?"
A title designed to offend.
It's true, though.
Climate-denying politicians.
After last summer, Ruby
is worried about the future.
Global warming, pollution
So she chooses some sound grab
from the media as her title?
She's too young to even
understand what she's saying.
Oh, I think a lot of our
children understand these days.
Try debating her
on it some time.
Actually
[Mrs Spade] Whatever I feel
about her notions,
it's not a political rally.
I hear you.
Most art is political.
[Mrs Spade] Not at Buradeena
Primary end of term exhibition.
The issue, Mrs. Rafter,
is doo-doo.
Doo-doo?
Doggie doo.
Or don't do.
Don't express the fears our
children
have of inheriting a world
too polluted to live in.
A world left to them
by stubborn old men.
- The title fits.
- [whispers] Settle.
I think it's the one interesting
statement in the room.
[Mrs Spade] We did not ask for
statements.
The title is unfortunate.
The doo-doo unacceptable.
And without it?
A perfectly lovely abstract
of the world from space.
Another title, preferably.
Right.
Mrs. Rafter
Julie.
Lose the doo-doo, darling.
[Julie] Oil.
Not just for the car.
There we go.
No health issue there.
Oh, and new title -
"Fossil Fools."
Says what you want to.
Loving it.
Ah, seems to fit the criteria.
Do we have a deal?
She's her mother's daughter.
[Ruby] Legendary, Mum.
Yes, well, next time you
get a bright idea,
make sure you run
it by us first.
I knew you'd say no. You stuck
up for me but you would have.
That's true.
How come?
Because not everyone
appreciates nine going on 19.
Kids your age aren't meant
to have political opinions.
That's so Buradeena.
No, I think you'd find that
anywhere!
More likely here.
Hey.
We love Buradeena.
Dad loves Buradeena.
You love bits but all I'd miss
would be Paddo.
Right. Well, like you say,
your dad loves Buradeena
and we love your dad so
And I think if you made a list
of the things you like
about Buradeena,
it would be a lot
longer than just Paddo.
Tessa - for a start.
OK, mwah.
Goodnight.
I bet if you made
a "don't like" list
it'd be a lot longer
than your "do likes."
Go to sleep.
[sighs]
[Julie] Every small town needs
an art scandal.
Buradeena now has theirs.
She put poo on the painting.
Seriously?
Absolutely 100% real poo.
Well, at least it's given
business a boost.
They are dying
to have a go at you.
Well, why don't they?
They like you enough
not to say it to your face.
Take it as a compliment.
Someone's gotta be on our side.
Most – on climate change.
None on Ruby's.
That one over there.
"We don't need
some uppity city kid
"telling us what we know,
stinking up the school."
We've been here two years.
You've gotta be born country
to be country. [giggles]
[Julie] The old power of
persuasion.
Have I still got what it takes?
How flush are we?
Flush enough.
To allow you to take some
time off?
I'm pretty booked.
I just thought we could get away
for the school break.
Let the fuss die down.
The kids are coming
for our anniversary.
[Julie] Yeah, but the highway
leads to them
as easily as it does to us.
Can't we celebrate there?
Not like you to run.
Call it a tactical withdrawal.
I just think we could all do
with some city. I know I could.
And Ruby never says no, so
Paddo could hold the fort.
Thank you. Mwah!
But I um
Ah, yes.
[Julie] It seems I do.
[scoffs]
[Dave and Julie hum Beethoven's
"Symphony No. 5"]
[phone chimes]
[Julie] So the Poogate scandal
had us heading off.
Oh, they've booked
That's where we had our 25th.
You weren't even a twinkle
in my eye, Rubes.
Oh, gross, Dad.
Polar bears are invading towns
they've never gone into before.
They're starving.
Rich white men,
poor white bears.
Good title.
[Julie] Don't come back?
Bored country kids.
Another one for
the "don't like" list.
A change of scene.
Just what we needed.
[bright music]
[Anna] Hello, petal.
[Ben] You talking to me?
I would never call my boss
petal.
I think you just did.
She did, right?
See? We both talk to flowers.
Hey, if they're
left over tonight,
you should take them
home for Cassie.
Good thinking.
[woman] Ben. Phone.
- Who?
- Nathan.
Tell him I'll call him back.
Your brother sounds rather
flustered.
[police radio babbling]
[Nathan] Mate, this is a
disaster.
[Ben] So sorry. Total bummer.
We'll fit you all in somehow.
What about my toys?
We'll get them when we can,
little guy, OK?
Cassie will be fine with it.
I'll catch you at mine.
It's an emergency, Donna.
Reckon you could sub for me?
With 50 for dinner?
This'd better be good.
How's Nathan's building's
falling down?
He's out on the
street.
Mum, Dad and Ruby are lobbing
and we'll have to fit seven
people into a two-bedroom house.
Better than most excuses.
What happened?
I don't know. One of those
structural flaw thingys.
He rocked up home and cops
and emergency were everywhere.
They won't let anyone in.
Go, yes. Poor Nathan. Tell your
mum I can't wait to see her.
Yeah.
Quick sticks.
I have an air mattress.
Thank you.
[groans]
We can blow it up later.
How are they?
Edward thinks it's
a big adventure.
While Nathan's a little bit
rattled.
Are you OK with this?
- Of course.
- You sure?
We both are.
- Cute answer.
- It's going to be a cute kid.
[Ben] Donna said Mum and Dad can
stay with her
if it gets too much.
It's their anniversary.
No way.
It's not going to be for long.
How did I get so lucky?
You swiped right.
It was a hot photo.
Had no choice.
Gotta love
modern dating rituals.
[Edward] Uncle Ben.
Uncle Ben. Where are you?!
Better go check on them.
Attaboy, eh?
You tuck that side in,
I'll do this one.
You might fall out
of a little bed, Dad.
I certainly won't be able
to spread out, that's for sure.
Lucky we didn't rush to set this
up as a nursery.
We were just discussing
the limitations of a single bed.
That'll take you back.
Oh, sure will.
[bed rocking]
Hey Eddie, please stop bouncing,
alright? It's not our bed, mate.
Hey, Eddie. Auntie Cassie's got
some cake if you're up for it.
- Yeah!
- Yeah.
Your place won't fall down,
will it, Uncle Ben?
No way. Go on.
He seems fine.
He's the glass half-full kid.
How are you?
Add mine to the list of
defective apartment blocks.
They reckon
the foundations have subsided.
Well at least you're both
safe.
It's probably worth about
half of what I paid for it now.
[horn honks in distance]
[groans]
Mum and Dad.
Yeah. Just let them
settle first, hey? Yeah?
Oh, thanks.
[gasps] You made good time!
"'Heavy on the Metal Dave"
they call me.
- Hello, my darling.
- Hello.
How's our embryonic darling?
[Cassie] Ben shouldn't have told
you.
It's early, I know,
but he's rapt.
Ruby!
Same name as last time you
saw me.
Oi! What about us?
- Hey!
- Granny!
- Granddad!
- Hey, kiddo.
Looks like we've got the whole
welcoming committee.
Hey. I guess you have.
[all greet at once]
Hi, Mum.
We're here 'cause
our place is falling down.
What?
Thanks, Eddie.
Come on.
[Julie] You're not lifting a
finger while we're here.
I'm not an invalid.
No, but you're
carrying our grandchild
and you got the Rafters roadshow
so you just sit there
and catch me up on everything.
- Well, I'll just
- Ah! Sit!
OK!
Everything fine?
So far. It's gonna be.
I just have to
You're talking IVF. You are.
- Right?
- We are.
It beats collapsing apartment
blocks on loop.
How many ways
can you say "This is screwed?"
Hey, language.
And we're pulling our weight,
thank you.
I'll make sure the men know
so they can do their share.
The men are sorting the
sleeping arrangements.
Such a cliche
division of labor.
She's either going to end up
an anarchist or prime minister.
Buradeena's betting
on the former.
Oh, and make up your own bed.
The couch, right?
Yes. Sheets and stuff are
in the hallway.
How come she takes after the one
sibling she's hardly seen.
Rachel?
Yeah, she gave
good attitude at that age.
You all gave your fair share.
[pump whines]
[chuckles]
- [laughs]
- What?
The mattress. It's like my life.
It needs the air back in.
I mean, come on.
Trust me to buy a lemon.
It mightn't be
as bad as it seems.
Oh! Every other place
it's happened has been.
I think the word you're
looking for is "disaster!"
[pump powers down]
Anything you need. You know
that. Whatever we can afford.
None of you are made of money.
I'm not asking Rachel.
Well, she wouldn't mind.
Just get her by herself.
If she does manage to make it.
She's trying.
She wouldn't leave deciding
to the last minute if she was.
She is busy.
New York's a long haul.
Yeah. Yeah.
[pump whines]
Yeah.
[Julie] Goodnight.
[Dave] Don't let
the bed bugs bite.
[Ruby] Dad
[Cassie] Sleep tight!
[Nathan] Thank you all.
Whatever, whenever.
Sweet dreams.
[farts]
- Dave!
- Gross, Dad.
It's not me. It's the mattress.
Sprung a leak.
Got a surprise.
Poor Nathan.
What a shemozzle.
Hello, stranger.
[squeals]
Oh!
Cheese and nibbles.
And if seeing you isn't the best
excuse for vino before noon,
I don't know what is.
Nathan's building falling down.
Goodness. How is he?
Well, they're
letting people back in today
but just to get essentials.
It's not sounding good.
If there's anything
I can do to help.
Thanks.
Now, you, country life
agrees with you.
Ah. [chuckles]
Either that, or you snuck off
for a nip and a tuck without
telling me.
I miss you.
Well, you can visit whenever you
want.
What, with this place to run?
Work, work, work.
I'm sure I look a fright.
You look glowing.
35th anniversary.
Mmm-hmm.
Gorgeous.
I just wish we could throw
the party here.
We're celebrating where
we had our 25th.
Ben said.
- Yeah.
- Lovely.
All the family?
Dad. Depends on this afternoon.
I'm sure he'll be fine.
And that's worth drinking to.
It is.
And to the wicked girls' night
we're having before you go back.
- To friendship.
- To friendship.
[glasses clink]
That it?
Yeah.
Yep. They're letting us
back in tomorrow
if there's anything we forgot.
Big of them.
And that's it till they
work out what's next.
Could be months, the guy
reckons.
He had this look in his eye
that said "maybe never."
- He probably didn't.
- No, he did.
He did. The upside is it can't
get much worse, right?
[Julie] We visit dad once a
month, at least.
He's going downhill.
But slower than expected.
Ready?
[sighs]
I'll settle for a smile.
Even if he doesn't recognise us.
I'll test the water.
Hey, Dad.
My little girl.
I was just saying
to your mum this morning,
"It's been a while
since Julie dropped by."
I said, "Get Julie something
good for her anniversary."
We're off to Shanghai Express
and kung pao chicken.
You remember!
A fella doesn't forget
something like that.
Oh, Dad.
[Julie] Remember we were out the
front where we got the photo
taken and we ended up
with S-E-X over our heads?
Sort of rings a bell.
Sex. [laughs]
Where's your mum?
Um she wasn't there
that night, Dad.
Of course she was.
No, she'd passed away by then.
Don't be so bloody silly.
Settle, Dad.
[Julie] Maybe you just thought
she was.
I know what I know.
Don't get upset, Granddad.
She's talkin' rubbish!
You know what?
Maybe I just got confused.
As if your mum
wouldn't be there!
She loves you, your mum.
Yeah, I know.
We better go.
OK, well, we'll be back to pick
you up in three days time, Dad,
OK?
At 6:00.
I'll be ready.
No show without punch.
Yeah. See you then.
- See you, Ted.
- [Ruby] Bye, Granddad.
Bye.
[Dave] You sure it's worth
taking the risk?
[Julie] He was good just then.
And we managed when he wasn't.
One of his big turns
could ruin the night.
It's not like it hasn't
happened.
- I'll watch him.
- Thank you, sweetheart.
Another option is we could all
drop in here on the way. What?
Well, just saying.
Look, I understand
but I'd rather be positive.
That was so lovely
sharing the memories.
What say we share some more? Hm?
- [Julie] Do you remember it?
- [Ruby] Sort of. Not really.
It's almost 30 of
our 35 years here.
Good times.
Wonderful.
[Dave] All of us under the same
roof.
Ben next door.
It was a special time.
Yeah, it was.
You want to knock on the door?
You know, I thought I did
but no, I don't.
No.
No going back.
No. What's past is past.
[Dave] Golden time.
Living the dream now, though.
Yasou koukla! [smashes plate]
When your romance
is starting to cool
and your chickadee is not giving
you the honey
as much as you
think she oughta,
this will get her every time.
Yasou koukla -
hello, babydoll.
Not to be mistaken
for "yasou katsika,"
which means, "hello, goat."
[goat bleats]
And definitely don't dress
like that.
She'll likely tell you to get,
get, get, get carbonated.
Next time, I'm gonna
go skateboarding
around the Acropolis.
That's actually taken off?
Yeah. It makes people laugh.
He still makes me laugh.
He really has over a million?
Yeah, and sponsors
and other platforms.
Mate, we're in the wrong game.
Oh! Tell me about it.
Oh. I gotta return the van.
Eddie?
Or I could do it?
No, no, no.
You have done plenty.
Besides, little man here will
enjoy some time by the river.
Hey! We gotta go.
I was just putting
my stuff away.
No, it's alright, we'll finish
it later. Come on, come on.
Let's roll!
[Edward yells]
Retta must wonder sometimes.
She gets the joke.
What?
Nothing.
Oh, no.
[Cassie crying]
Cassie?
[Cassie sobs]
Cass?
[Cassie] We're losing it, Ben.
[crying continues]
You were right.
I shouldn't have said anything.
You OK?
You heard the doctor.
I'll be fine.
You sure you're up to covering?
I don't want to spoil
their anniversary.
It's just for a few days.
We can try again.
I can't do it.
Keep practicing.
Pirates. Pirates!
En garde, ye scoundrel.
Ha hoo-ha!
- OK, everyone. Let's go.
- [Edward] Take that and that!
I thought you were teaching him!
Oh. Eddie's pirates game.
- Let's hit the frog-and-toad.
- Don't invite them to dinner.
Oh, Ben, did you confirm
the table?
It's Sunday night,
the queue could be a mile long.
Onto it.
If we're a few minutes late,
it 'll be because of Dad.
All aboard The Shanghai Express.
[all imitate train]
[Nathan] Ah! Eddie, please leave
the lobster alone.
I wonder if everyone knows
something we don't.
When was the last time you were
here?
Ages ago.
Henry was talking of selling.
Well, I'd say he has.
Lazy Susan, Lazy Susan.
- That's lame, I know.
- Actually not.
[all cheering]
I say that we skip the prawns.
I want prawns!
Mate, trust me
[imitates vomiting]
You listen to your dad, Nathan.
I'm Nathan, Grandad.
This is Edward.
Kung pao chicken!
Mmm! That was dad's favourite
when we used to come here.
I love it too, Ted. What's
that Chinese lass doing here?
This is Cassie, Grandad,
my wife. And she is Vietnamese.
Where's Mel? You're not Mel.
Mel died, Dad.
Oh. Well, you moved on
fast enough.
- A long time ago.
- Do you remember?
I like Mel. Yeah.
We all did.
You should've had kids.
You got kiddies?
Um, no. No, I don't, Ted.
Ah, waste of a life, no kiddies.
Mel liked the Chinese.
Dad!
She wasn't a racist, our Mel.
- I'm so sorry.
- Oh, no it's fine
- Can we just order please?
- Miss?
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Ben said.
Three days covering.
I've had my friend
Anna to talk to.
So like you to put us first.
He's so desperate
to hold his baby.
Would you think about yourself
for a change?
Let us be there for you.
Just rest.
Let your body restore.
And when you're ready,
maybe another try.
Four times?
I don't know if I can
bear it again.
I told him before we got married
that I had problems
in that area.
We were so in love.
What if he stops loving me?
Oh, Cassie. You are so loved.
By all of us. Never doubt that.
OK?
I will be.
Rachel.
Oh, go, go. I'll be fine.
OK.
You too.
You sure?
Yeah.
I just need a minute.
[Ben] Here she is.
[Ruby] Rachel, hi!
Hi.
Shanghai Express isn't
what it used to be.
- No kung pao chicken.
- Mum!
[Rachel] The ultimate sin.
Not according
to your grandfather.
Hello. Hi, sweetheart. Look!
We set the laptop up with its
own seat as if you were here.
I would be if I could.
I did try.
Yes, we know you did.
She's wearing her pyjamas.
It's early morning here,
Grandad.
- It's night!
- I'm in New York.
We miss you.
I miss you all too.
So what's the news?
Nathan's apartment's screwed.
Language!
- [Ruby] Well, it is.
- What?
[Ben] You're a downer, Rube.
[Nathan] Yeah. Bad
building practices.
I'll send you the news link.
It's happened
to about five places.
Nath, what are you gonna do?
Stay with Benno for a bit.
You know, forget about that.
Now that you're here
and I've got the floor,
have you
got a glass of something?
Opening the bottle now.
Solo drinking - careful.
That's assuming you are solo.
O solo mio. You know me.
[Nathan] I would like to propose
a toast
to the best parents
in the world.
I'm glad they married,
if for no other reason
than we were all born.
Such self-interest.
[Nathan] And because we love
them.
- [Julie] Oh!
- Amen to that.
- Thank you.
- Cassie, grab your glass.
And let's all raise them to the
legendary Dave and Julie Rafter
as they celebrate
35 wonderful years.
To our father, mother,
grandfather, grandmother,
son-in-law and daughter.
And our role models
for happiness.
- That's quite a responsibility.
- You're up to it.
To Mum and Dad.
[all] To Mum and Dad!
Cheers!
[all sing] For they're
a jolly good fellow ♪
For they're
a jolly good fellow ♪
For they're a jolly
good fellow ♪
And so say all of us. ♪
- Oi!
- Ay!
That's me. I've gotta go
get ready for work.
Wait! Before you go - any news?
Anything exciting?
Nothing that won't keep.
[Julie] Oh. Did you run a
marathon?
Ah, not this year.
But you always do.
[Rachel] I had other things
going.
Oh, OK well, don't work
too hard. We miss you.
- Love you. See ya.
- Bye.
[kisses hands]
Love you.
Alright, everyone. Back
to ours for kung pao chicken -
what do you say?
Yes. Let's do it.
You don't say I'm pretty ♪
Not like you used to ♪
And I never admit it ♪
I'm trying so hard for you ♪
But all of
the moments I treasure ♪
In the morning,
you will remember ♪
Don't know why you can keep it
together long enough to try ♪
I make big things
out of little things ♪
And I watch you
keep missing them ♪
Plenty of time to meet them
once you're born, munchkin.
[Julie] Kung pao chicken.
Like a life well lived,
you marinate your feelings
Make sure there is flavour.
Plenty of sizzle.
Make sure nothing sticks.
Add heat. Flesh. Spice.
And stir together.
Then garnish
to individual taste.
And if you're very lucky,
it's done with love.
Dinner is served.
Two, four, six, eight.
[Julie] A good life.
Bog in, don't wait.
Aye!
Thank you.
[Julie] Dave and I,
kung pao chicken, with love.
But if it goes wrong,
like Ben and Cassie,
you're missing an ingredient.
Chow down, Mum.
Well, hurry up.
If you going to serve me food,
you gotta do it quick.
[Julie] Or Ruby.
There's too much sauce.
Kung pao chicken, Jules.
- [Nathan] That's Ruby, Grandad.
- Who?
[Julie] Dad,
you forget the recipe.
Or Nathan. It just won't
come together, somehow.
And it all gets out of whack.
[Nathan]
Past your bedtime, Eddie.
PJs on, brush your teeth.
Come on.
[crash!]
[Edward] Come on, Ruby.
[Ruby] Wait a second.
35 years, Mrs. Rafter.
Mmm-hmm.
- Come here.
- Oh!
All the ups and downs, the ins
and outs and here we still are.
It's quite an achievement in
the modern age.
I reckon so.
I remember being nervous about
my performance on our 25th.
But with this set up,
there's no chance
of any performance to be
nervous about.
Well, you could file it
away under business pending.
It better not pend too long.
- You've still got it, you know?
- Oh, stop it.
- Oh, you love it.
- I do! [laughs]
[Nathan] I'm just pulling my
weight. Oh!
Oops.
Still life in the old folks yet.
It's way too much information,
thank you, Dad.
Half your luck.
Oh, I worry about him.
It's been so long since there's
been anyone.
Hard with a kid in tow.
Yeah, he must miss intimacy.
I miss intimacy.
- Oh! You get quite enough.
- Well
Here. You rinse, I'll stack.
- Romantic.
- Practical.
I do worry. How we
used to clean up after them.
Yeah, we still are.
No, I mean, you know,
when things went
wrong in their lives,
we used to be there
to help clean up.
[Dave] They're adults now.
Yeah, well, they're still ours.
What brought this on?
Kung pao chicken.
What?
Metaphor overload.
And Dad's just
so much more alert.
In his own funny way.
It just seems wrong going back
with so much happening.
Ben and Cassie don't need this
place stacked to the ceiling.
- Well, they're coping.
- They need to heal.
Our life is back home.
Yes, and they're down here.
And we could help them heal.
And Ruby could do
with a longer break.
- A few days, sure.
- No, longer!
We help Ben and Cassie,
we get Nathan back on his feet,
we can see Dad more.
Ruby could go
to Edward's school.
- How much longer?
- Play it by ear. A while.
- And where are we in that?
- We're parents.
Yeah, with our own life.
I have a business,
you have a job.
Where would we live,
for a start?
This set up is fine
for a few days, tops.
I'm just not sure where you're
coming from.
Look I just I know is what we
have to do or we're bad parents.
[glasses clink]
[Dave] We're not bad parents.
The best way to help Nathan
is to earn
the money he'll probably
need to borrow.
And Ben and Cassie will be fine.
- I mean it, Dave.
- So do I.
You said it yourself,
outside the old place.
The past is the past.
We're not those parents now.
Always are.
Rubes is responsibility enough.
It's our time, Jules.
Let's sleep on it.
[Julie] Poogate, a miscarriage,
a crumbling building,
a crumbling mind, and something
Rachel's not saying.
I've felt it for a long time.
Someone has to help clean up.
That's when it hit me.
I've been looking for an answer
to a scary question.
I'm not the woman I was. So
Who am I?
I wanna move back here.
For good.
[gentle piano]
[gentle guitar]