Cloudstreet (2011) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) (PEOPLE SPEAK INDISTINCTLY) MAN: Will you look at us here by the river? The whole restless mob of us, skylarking and chiacking about for one day .
.
one clean clean sweet day in a good world in the midst of our living.
(PEOPLE CHEER) From the boardwalks and spaces, you can see them all again "because it never ceases to be.
" And you can't help but worry for them, love them, want for them .
.
those who go on down the close, fettered galleries of time and space .
.
without you.
(CHILDREN SING) " With its crystal tide forever" " Flowing by the throne of God" " Yes, we'll gather at the river" " The beautiful, the beautiful river" " Gather with the Saints at the river" " That flows by the throne of God" " On the margin of the river" " Washing up its silver spray" " We will walk and worship ever" " On a happy golden day" " Yes, we'll gather at the " Don't smile, Fish.
You'll frighten the prawns away.
Hey, Quick, look at Dad.
He looks like a statue in a fountain, with that lamp.
Wanna be careful someone don't come along and toss a penny at him to make a wish.
What would they wish for, you reckon? Probably wish they could get their money back, I reckon.
Kooky blighter.
" Gather with the saints at the river" " That flows by the throne of God " SPLASHING Oh ! WOMAN: Oh, Jesus.
Lest! Lest! Lester! Where is he?! Oh! Lester! Fish! Son! Son! Where is he? Get off him! Get off! Quick! Pull him up! (GRUNTS) (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) (ETHEREAL CHIMING) (WOMAN SCREAMS INDISTINCTLY) You're standing on the net! I'm not standing on it! Let's pull it in! Pull it in! Get him out! (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) Hurry! Fish! Get him over here! (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) Get it out of the water! Quick! Mum's here! Mum's here! Fish! WOMAN: Argh! Argh! Argh! LESTER: Fish! WOMAN: No! Oh, God! Bring him out! Jesus! Oh, Jesus! Jesus, raise him up! Raise him up! Oh, God! Christ Almighty! Blessed, blessed Savior! Show us thy mercy! Show us thy mercy! Bring him back! Please! Bring him back! Bring this boy back! Show us all thy tender mercy! (CRIES) (MUFFLED) Bring him back! Oh, God Almighty! Now! Raise him up! Raise! (SOBS) (COUGHS) (GASPS) (MAN AND WOMAN LAUGH) (GASPS) (LAUGHS) Fishy Boy.
Oh, he's back.
He's back.
He's back.
(SOBS) Oh, mate.
(COUGHS) He's here! Come here, come here.
(PEOPLE SING) " I am weak and thou art strong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong" " I'll be satisfied as long" "As I walk, dear Lord, close to thee" "I Let it be, dear Lord, let it be " (WOMAN LAUGHS) "Just a closer walk with thee " (HONKS HORN) " Grant it, Jesus, is my plea " The war? Is the war over? No, no, it's better news than that.
We got him back, our boy! Our blessed boy! Back, Fish Lamb! Back from the dead! Praise the Lord! (LAUGHS) Churchy buggers, aren't they? Still, back from the dead - that's not a bad result.
LESTER: Righto, matey, get ready! You ready? GIRL: Yep.
GIRLS: Jâ Grant it, Jesus, is my plea " Daily walking close to thee" LESTER: " Just a closer walk with thee" Let it be, dear Lord J LESTER: Come on, kid! What are you doing? (LAUGHS) " I am weak and thou art strong" " I am weak and thou art strong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong " Come on, lady.
In you get.
" I'll be satisfied as long-.
.
" You right? The water.
The water.
LESTER: Come on, kids.
" Grant it, Jesus, is my plea" " Just a closer walk with thee " (CHOIR (SINGS) MAN: Dead, he was.
Lying there on the riverbank, gone from his earthly body, dead to this wretched world .
.
until the faith of his loved ones stirred the Almighty to have mercy.
Praise Jesus! MAN: Amen.
Right as rain, aren't you, son? Restored to himself and his god-fearing family.
Right as rain.
My boy, my darling.
It's a fair dinkum miracle.
LESTER: Yeah, yeah, that's what it is.
And that's what we are celebrating here today, a triumph of faith.
LESTER: it's a triumph.
It is a triumph! We don't deserve it, but the Lord has given us this gift, given us our boy twice, twice over! PASTOR: Mrs Lamb, God hears a mother's call.
PEOPLE: Amen.
He listened.
(SNEEZES) (PEOPLE LAUGH) Oh, God.
Oh, God! Fishy.
Sitson.
Fish Boy.
Hey, Fish.
Fish Boy.
Hey, mate.
(GRUNTS) Fish! FISH: Water! I want the water! It's him.
He is a miracle.
(FISH YELLS) QUICK: Hey! Hey, Fish! He is a miracle! Stop, stop, stop.
Fish, Fish.
Water! Water! Fish! Ouch! I want the water! Fish! Come on! (MAN LAUGHS) MAN: Come on, Sam.
Wakey-wakey, hands off snakey.
Bloody Wilson will be here in a sec and he'll go through you like a dose of salts, mate.
All that bird poo out there just waiting for us.
Not today.
What are you talking about? Special work this, cob - shoveling shit for the war effort.
Where's your sense of king and country? Not today.
You crook, or something? Shifty shadow.
Shift me what? I can feel it, a shifty shadow.
Lady luck, mate.
The hairy hand of God.
Not this stuff again.
Mate, I can feel it on you.
Best justlie in here till it blows over, see what happens.
Tell you what'll happen, you silly prick, you'll get sacked.
What about the missus and kids, then, huh? Sam? You're in enough strife already, mate.
(MEN LAUGH) Can't be helped.
Come on, now, bugger.
You can't fight the shifty shadow.
(DOOR BANGS) Nob, you can't beat bad luck.
Well, I'm off for brekkie, then.
Pickles! Yep.
Get your lazy arse out of bed or get another job! You mad bastard.
Give 'em shit, ladies.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you dingo.
NOBBY: That fuckin' Wilson, eh? Never off your back, is he? Pickles this, Pickles that.
Bet I'm gonna wake up one day and find you've murdered the bastard in his sleep, not that anyone would blame you, eh? Aarggh! (EXCLAIMS) Fuckin' what did I tell you? Get off! (ENGINE RUMBLES) Man, he's gonna wish he was never born.
Poor luckless bastard.
(PLANE ENGINE DRONES) (KIDS SHOUT) Whoo-hoo! It's freezing! BOY: Get off me.
BOY: Go, go, go now! Go get the ladder.
And hurry up.
Hurry up.
MAN: We've got him.
Down.
Clear the bar.
Got the rope down, boys.
Just clear the heads.
(COUGHING) (sighs-us) Lucky they sewed them back.
My arithmetic's not too good.
Your working hand.
Well, Rose, now your old man's a mollydooker.
Dad.
(CRIES) We'll be right, darling.
Our luck will change.
Yeah.
Go get your mum.
Go on.
You're back early.
(AMERICAN ACCENT) Yep.
Re-routed five minutes up - medical evac.
How long have I got you for? 40 minutes.
The guy was a real mess.
Poor luckless bastard.
Quit yakking and make yourself useful.
Honey, your old man don't know what he's missing.
Shut up about him, eh? Goddamn, but you're loyal - staying for the kid's sake, working the bar despite everything.
I guess I admire that.
That's what keeps you coming back, eh? Admiration of a woman's loyalty? (LAUGHS) Bloody Yanks with all your fine talking.
It's like you said, Doll, at least we say something, huh? (KNOCK AT DOOR) ROSE: Mum! Mum? What, love? I'm getting dressed.
You better come quick, it's Dad.
He's back already? In the hospital- his hand.
Oh, Jesus, him? It's him? (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) MAN:She'll be down in a tick.
Come on, Rosie.
AMERICAN MAN: Chewed the whole thing off.
It's a goddamn stump.
Oh, God.
Sam.
We'll go get the boys.
Come on.
Piss off.
Go on! And take the back stairs.
Sam.
(WATER SPLASHES) FISH: I want the water.
I'm in the water.
I'm in the water, Quick.
Come on, Quick.
I'm in the water, Quick.
Water.
(LAUGHS) I'm in the water.
Water.
I want the water, Quick.
Yeah, I know, mate.
The Water.
More Water.
Water.
(WATER SPLASHES) FISH: Water.
The Water.
Water! In the water, Quick.
More water, Quick.
(CLEARS THROAT) FISH :i The water.
First the bank and now this.
Oh, we'll manage, love.
The Lord will provide.
No.
No more.
Oh, love, come on, we'll Don't you understand? Nah.
There's nothing there.
Nothing here.
Nothing at all.
It's just a cruel joke, all of it.
Come on, Orry, wewe'll No.
You know, we'll No more.
FISH: The Water.
LESTER: Then we lost, Orry? Cast out? ORIEL: Yes.
it's how it is.
Gone, all of it.
MAN: Limestone dust flies into the trees.
For each of them, some old nightmare is lurking.
Some memory of flames or water or dark wind.
It touches something sudden.
No-one says a damn thing.
No-one believes any more.
(RACE CALL PLAYS ON RADIO) G'day there, 'Leftie'.
(CHUCKLES) G'day, Doll.
Round on the house.
My shout.
(MEN CHEER) MAN: Bloody beauty! He wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.
(PEOPLE LAUGH) G'day, mate.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on, kids, grab a squash and scoot.
I'll come up in a minute with some chips.
(PEOPLE CHATTER INDISTINCTLY) Yeah, g'day, mate.
You'll be right.
Your luck will change.
(SCOFFS) Yeah.
Every time I look at you, you arsy bugger, I remember.
All it takes is one good moment.
One good horse, you mean.
Well, a good horse in a good moment.
Good old Eurhythmic, eh? Ran like a thief.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Well, you're going to have to work somehow.
Can't sit on your date and make Dolly work.
Show me.
What? What's left.
It's not pretty.
(SIGHS) Jesus wept on a Sunday.
One bad moment.
Let's get out of here.
Where we going? Sit around here like a stale bottle of piss.
Let's go fishing.
Oi, oi.
Alright, here we go.
Here we go.
Om (sighs-us) First bloody line you cast, you arsy bastard.
Oh, yeah! Come on.
Come on.
Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! Yeah! (LAUGHS) (GROANS) You alright? (GROANS) Joel? (MAN READS) âThe Eurhythmic Hotel is to be sold âwith the proceeds going to the Geraldton Turf Club, âexcept for ã200 which I leave to my brother, Samuel Manifold Pickles.
âFurther, the property at Number 1 Cloud Street, Perth âis left to the same Samuel Pickles "on the proviso that it cannot be sold for 10 years.
" And that concludes the reading of the will.
(SNORTS) Didn't even know he had it.
Part of a deceased estate.
The home of a very respectable woman, I believe.
She used to take in native girls and try and make ladies of them so they could set a standard for the rest of their race.
She tried to teach them how to make their beds and serve at the table, play the piano.
Unfortunately, you just can't help some people.
Didn't work out, then? Well, let's just say it ended badly, Mr Pickles.
Now it's vacant, eh? Vacant possession.
Been boarded up for years.
Lucky me, eh? It's bloody huge.
Bloody strange, if you ask me.
Where are we going to sleep? Must be a dozen rooms or more.
Take your pick, I suppose.
BOY: I want this one! BOY: This one's mine.
(BOTH LAUGH) Come look at this, Chub.
Show us your room.
Crabs, missus.
You want fresh crabs? Shoo.
Shoo.
Just swept this path.
MAN: No! Get here! Don't you never go near that house.
Never.
What happened? Got a story for this place? I got a big mob of stories for this place.
I'll tell you one day.
Now, go on.
I'm here, house.
I'm watching and waiting.
I see you.
One day I'll come back and finish that story proper way.
One day.
(PIPES THUMP) (LAUGHS) Looks like we're in business.
Maybe you come good after all, little gimpy bugger.
ROSE: Who'd have believed it? A house of our own.
BOY: Some house.
Hey, all we need is a bit of spit and polish.
Looks great, Dad.
(SIGHS) There you go, son.
Good old Joel.
Now, I am going to head down the street.
Are youse hungry? Because we are going to have a celebratory lunch.
And I am going to get a leg of lamb as big as a banjo.
CHUB: Roast lamb? Like Christmas! Mm-hm.
Light up the stove, boys.
That'll be right- you slip off, I'll unpack.
Well, youse hungry or not? My oath.
BOY: You're always hungry.
There's nothing wrong with that.
I'll see youse directly.
Get that stove burning.
Just to the butcher's.
Oh, just to the butcher's, she says.
Don't you want spuds and peas? (LAUGHS SOFTLY) (DooR CLOSES) (SIGHS) (DOOR OPENS) Chops? CHUB: Oh, he's done it again.
You bloody didn't.
Oh, it was a sure thing, Doll.
The horse was even called Cloudburst.
Cloudburst, for God's sake.
Cloudburst, come on.
Mum! Everything? Dad! Mum! Well, no.
Saved enough to buy chops.
(LAUGHS MIRTHLESSLY) You you moron.
(SIGHS) Should've done the flit when I had the chance.
You can't help bad luck, Doll.
Ha! (HEELS RAP LOUDLY) (SLAMS DOOR) (SIGHS) (TRAIN WHISTLE BLARES) (TRAIN CHUGS) (MAN PLAYS BANJO) RED: I wanna sleep with the boys.
ORIEL: Stay where you are.
How long are we gonna have to live like this? Like natives? It doesn't worry ME.
I'm not scared of roughing it.
Well, Red, some of us are more delicate than others.
RED: La-di-dah! GIRL: Give over, you two.
Mum! ORIEL: Oh, leave it! We're gonna have to go somewhere.
Well, your mum will have a plan.
Wouldn't be the same if your old mum didn't .
.
didn't have something squared away, eh? Mum? Ask your father.
Dad? Well, there's lots of places we could go.
Tell you what - why don't we ask the butterknife, eh? After all, the knife never lies, you know? Mum says that's heathen claptrap.
No.
No, it's cutlery.
It's honest eatin' irons.
Now RED: Yeah, spin the knife! Alright, well, we better get a good one, then, eh? Oh, that'll do.
Righto.
Which way will the knife send us? Here we go.
North.
Ish.
GIRL: Perth.
Right.
Well, that's it, then.
Now, come on, go to bed.
We don't know anyone in Perth.
No.
No.
So what do we do? What we can.
We go to bed.
(CHICKEN CLUCKS) Alrighty, here we go.
One, one, one! Yep.
Just shift to the left.
Yep, that's it.
Move around.
(HAMMERING) Go on.
TED: Grab that end.
What the hell is this?! Temporary solution.
You had a permanent one yesterday, you useless mug.
Don't go crook, Doll, I'm doing me best.
That's the bit that scares me.
We'll be right.
I've got an idea.
Christ, it gets worse.
Yes, it does.
(SNICKERS) (RADIO PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND) (DOOR OPENS) (DOOR SHUTS) (SIGHS) Kept the commode from the pub.
I just wanna get to me room.
The dunny man won't mind.
Can't you even chuck it in the lane? Nah, it's for the bonfire.
Guy Fawkes Night this Saturday.
Whoo-hoo! Two chairs.
No wading.
(LAUGHS) Yeah, always fancied myself a bit of a landlord.
God help us.
Yeah.
From now on, this side's ours, we rent out the other half, hallway's no-man's-land.
Yeah.
Nah.
Decision made.
You're gonna make us live with other people again.
Yep.
And who's gonna pay to live with the lucky Pickles? Whoever CAN pay, Doll.
MAN: We look like reffos (SCOFFS) We ARE reffos.
Yeah, but you saw the way that landlord looked at us.
Him and her and all the others.
No-one's gonna take a risk on us.
What's left? Just this.
Doesn't look very promising.
Oh, no, I don't know if I could share, love.
We've been sharing the roadside and the creek banks and the public toilets for the best part of a week.
Yeah, butwe're not that sort of people, Orry.
Red.
LESTER: Let's look a bit further, eh? Something better will come up.
You take the good with the bad.
No.
No, you don't.
You know about boats, you know you can't steer unless you're going faster than the current.
Fishy, come back here.
ORIEL: But if you're if you're not under your own steam, you're just flotsam.
I do not want to spend my life taking the good with the bad.
I'm not standing for the bad - bad people, bad luck, bad ways, not even bad breath.
(LAUGHS) We make good, Lester.
Mmm.
We make war against bad.
And we don't surrender.
Yep, righto.
Go on, go and tee it up.
Righto Lester.
(FLY BUZZES) (Dos BARKS) (KNOCKS) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) Yeah? Um I, um Jesus, mate, if you're selling something, forget about it.
We're poor, We're stupid.
Try up the road a bit.
No, no, Il I called about the house.
Ah.
Oh, you've come about that? Yeah I'll just get my hubby.
Sam! Sam! (SCOFFS) You look like the wreck of the Hesperus, pardon me for saying.
Yeah, nah, well, we've been, uh, been camping out sort of thing.
We're up from the country.
Where exactly in the country? Margaret River.
Knew a bloke from there once.
He had hair growing out of his nostrils.
Alright.
Sam! Come down here! Quit buggerising about.
(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) (FOOTSTEPS) Lester Lamb.
Why? What's That, um His name's Lester Lamb.
He's all yours.
Yeah, right, I'm with ya.
You called.
G'day.
Yeah.
I suppose you wanna come inside and have a look? Yeah.
Yep.
Uh, you get half the house Right.
Half the yard, your own dunny.
Oh, good.
Yeah.
Um, corridor's no-man's-land, same as the stairs.
Big bloody joint, eh? Yeah, look, um I've got six Kids.
Ah, yeah.
Catholics? Nah.
Nah, nothin'.
Not any more.
Well, can youse pay? Oh, we can pay.
We'll always pay.
Well, if youse can pay, youse'll do.
Right, um Might as well bring 'em in.
Oh.
Oops, right.
OK.
Got a girl and two boys meself.
Eh, there we go.
Oh.
Kids.
Uhit's Guy Fawkes Night.
Having a bonfire out the back, just might wanna bring 'em out once you've settled.
Oh, right.
Yeah, wellyeah.
Oh, I'llI'll put it to the committee.
Name's Pickles, by the way.
We're gonna sound like a counter lunch, eh? Aa? Lamb and Pickles.
Oh, yeah! (LAUGHS) Right, yeah.
Um, right.
Lamb and Pickles.
RED: it's not exactly Tara.
But it's a step up from camping.
Did you see the dunny out back? TED: They're funny-looking, eh? CHUB: Ugly as a hatful of arses.
One of them's a bit slow.
Did you see? I seen it.
He's a spaz.
What would you know? I betcha.
You're a Pickles - you'll bet on anything.
Here, there's Red and Hat and E.
Mum and Dad are downstairs.
Hey.
Here's ours, Fish.
Big window.
Look out on the front yard, see? Number one? Yeah (DISTANT SOBBING ECHOES) (NOTE ECHOES) (HUMMING AND GRINDING) (METAL RAPS) Sad.
What? Sad.
(METAL WOBBLES) (METAL WOBBLES) (METAL WOBBLES) (FIREWORKS EXPLODE) GIRL: it's OK, Lon, it's finished now.
SAM: Come on, boys.
BOY: Thanks, Mr Lamb.
(COUGHING) SAM: Is that your hat, mate? Oh, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, the, uh, the last war.
Ah, yeah.
See any action? Yeah, if you can call it that.
Gallipoli.
The, uh, 10th Light Horse.
Ehcavalry.
Yeah, yeah, um Yeah, the cook and stretcher bearer.
Right.
Yeah, I'm too old for this one, though.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Count your blessings, I guess.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
So, uh not a war wound, then? No.
A bit of a tangle with a shifty shadow.
Right.
Yeah.
(PLAYS BANJO) Well, here we are.
(CHUCKLES) No, thank you very much.
SAM: Ah, temperance fella.
Um un, on, well (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) .
.
yeah.
Hearth and home.
Yes, yes.
Yes, indeed.
Indeed.
(BANJO PLAYS) BOY: Nah, nah, stand back! (CHILDREN SCREAM) Oh, yeah! Whoo-hoo-hoo! Look at that.
There you go, eh? (CHUCKLES) Have a look at that! Oi, Chubby, come and have a look at this.
SAM: Righto Alright, come on now.
Come on, boys.
Whoo! One, two, three! SAM: Yes! Well done.
Burn.
Guy Fawkes, eh? Now, there is a bloke who pushed his luck, eh, boys? Eh? There we go.
No! Don't bum the man! SAM: Calm down.
No! Stop it.
it's alright, son! It's alright.
You're hurting him! No! Go away! We'll manage, thank you! Quick, grab his legs! Get his legs! (FISH YELLS) Fish! Quick! QUICK: Fish! Hey, come on, Fish.
Come back here! Fish, mate! Fish! SAM: Jesus.
Mmm.
Go away! (THUMPS KEYS) Go away! Stop it! Go away! Stop it! Go away! Don't you dare! Mum, just leave him! Leave him? This is what you get when you just leave him! Just once, one time, you could have kept your wits about you! (PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTES) Oh, I didn't mean that, son! Quick! Go away! Silence! Go away! (DISCORDANT NOTES PLAY) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Are you alright? Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! (PLAYS BANJO) (THUMPING ON PIANO FROM INSIDE) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (BREATHES HEAVILY) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (FOOTSTEPS) (SOBBING) (PIANO PLAYS FAINTLY) (CHILDREN LAUGH FAINTLY) (THUMPING) (FOOTSTEPS) MAN: Across the plains, all things still play themselves out.
All fun and fear all the silliness and quaking effort .
.
all the bickering and twitching .
.
all the people going about the relentless limited endeavour of human business.
And the sight of it reminds you that the worlds are still connected.
The lives are still related.
And the here still feels the pangs of history.
Those who have gone before do not lose their feelings only their bodies.
(METALLIC CLANGING) (ORIEL YELLS IN DISTANCE) The early bird catches the worm! (SIGHS) (ORIEL CONTINUES YELLING) You're the bloody landlord, for God's sake.
Do something.
It's still dark, woman.
Exactly.
(SIGHS) ORIEL: Boys! Wakey-wakey! ORIEL: Oh, Mr Pickles, good morning.
Oh, would you be so kind? Yeah.
Thank you.
Ooh.
Yeah, I (CLANGING) ORIEL: Lester! (SIGHS) Lester, get here.
(WIND HOWLS AND WHISTLES) (MAN GROANS AND SIGHS) (SNORES) (SNORING CONTINUES) Plumbing.
We need proper plumbing.
Andand a stove.
And beds.
We need We need proper beds.
And money.
We need money to pay the rent on this place.
Last night, Oriel Today.
Lester Yeah, but We start today.
Hear me? LESTER: So how exactly does this work? MAN: it's a business transaction.
Which means? I buy low, sell high.
Everybody's happy.
Oh.
Buy low, sell high.
Oh.
ORIEL: Get a wriggle on now, son.
That's the way.
Off you go.
Quick.
Oh, that's nice and straight.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Get after this.
Quick.
Clean in the front.
You'll wear that bottom out if you sit on it too long.
Up you get.
Give it a good scrubbing.
Hat, you can get higher than that.
Get right up to the top.
That's the girl.
Elaine, a broom is not for skipping on.
It is forsweeping on.
Oh, for goodness sake! ORIEL: Red, would you go and get that soap, love? You got that end? (GROANS) Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on.
Righto, she's back here.
Right.
You take that.
Yeah.
Well, come on.
I'm bringin' it Pull it, mate.
ORIEL: Lester, what in the (GASPS) I've cottoned on to something What are you doing? I'veI've brained it out.
It's better than a job.
It's perfect.
Have you gone mad? You'll have us evicted in five minutes flat.
No.
I've Written it down.
Come on.
I'll show you.
Oh! Come in here.
Dad! NowI've been up and down all day.
GIRL: Dad! Dad! Prices, right? Dad! Distances.
When I stepped it out, street by street Alright, just hold your horses, alright? We would be the only shop this side of the railway line.
You're a farmer.
Dad! Yeah, well as a farmer, I played pretty good accordion.
This is REALLY heavy! You don't know anything about this stuff.
Nor do I.
Come on! Well, we've got grit, haven't we? We're not afraid of hard Work and you've got the enterprising spirit, Orry.
Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Hold your horses! Hey, now, look, you buy low, sell high, but not too high as to, you know, appear unfriendly.
Dad, are you coming? Kind of thing.
Eh? What do you reckon, Orry? In for a penny, in for a pound? Shop.
Can you see it now? We've got shelves up there.
QUICK: Dad! Yeah, righto, we'll be with you in a tick, mate.
Just hang on.
How d'you know these prices? I've told ya.
I've been at it all day.
I've been down the markets.
These are the prices That's the price.
I wouldn't pay that for bananas.
No, but we Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad! (GLASS SHATTERS) What? What?! (SIGHS) Oh, mate.
What happened? LESTER: Yeah.
Yeah.
Got a few yeses.
I can't hear ya.
Yeah, alright.
Go into business or not? Yes or no? Why don't you bloody do something? We own this place.
They paid two months, Doll.
(HAMMERING) Yes or no.
(DRUMS) (LAUGHS) Yes or no.
(DRUMS SLOWLY) Uhuhuhuh (LAUGHS) Yeah! You let these wowsers in, Sam Pickles.
Didn't see you bustin' a boiler to help us out of the shit, did I? (LAMB FAMILY SINGS) "10 green bottles hanging on the wall " You're lucky I'm here at all, hear me? " Would accidentally fall " Lucky.
" Nine green bottles hanging on the wall" " And if one green bottle should accidentally fall " (FOOTSTEPS CLUNK) Remember who you are.
Thanks, Mum.
Hmm? Reckon I can hit 'em? You're hopeless.
Shut up.
It wasn't that far off.
(LAUGHS) (ACCORDION MUSIC) (ACCORDION CONTINUES) (BANGING, METALLIC CLANG) (LAUGHS) Hey.
Om (LAUGHS) HEY! (BOTH LAUGH) Oh! (SCOFFS) Terrible throw.
Hope he's not disturbing you.
No, not him, no.
He's a good boy.
Seems harmless enough.
We've never been in a situation quite like this before, and this is all very new and very strange to us.
I hope we're not making too much noise for you.
I'm sure it's only temporary.
(ROOSTER CROWS) (SIGHS) Fish, there's brekkie inside if you're hungry, love! Fish! (WHISTLES 'BOTANY BAY') (MOANS) ROSE: Dad? What's this? What's it look like? A football? ORIEL: Lester! Where did you get him? Sports shop.
Say hello, Col.
âHello, Rose.
â (CHUCKLES) You won him, didn't you? Just don't tell your mother.
Alright? ORIEL: Lester! What do we feed him? Well, birdseed, of course.
(SQUEALS) Oh, good God.
What is that? DOLLY: Think you'll have to do this, love.
OhDoll.
(SLAMS DOOR) (SQUAWKS) (DOOR CLATTERS) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) Good afternoon.
Mrs Lamb.
Mr Pickles.
Afternoon.
Half an hour's grace until the school bell, eh? (CHUCKLES) And Mrs Pickles? Mrs Pickles is elsewhere.
(CHATTER) (TIMIDLY) Mum? (SCREEN DOOR BANGS) (THUD!) DOLLY: Whoop! Oopsy.
(GIGGLES AND SIGHS) Jesus! (DOLLY LAUGHS) SAM: Doll, fair go.
Come on, the boys are counting sheep.
Up, up.
Get up! Come on.
Come on, up.
Everything alright? SAM: Yeah, no worries, mate.
Just high heels, you know? Should be a law.
(GIGGLES) SAM: Shh.
Stair Corning.
Come on.
Stair here.
(DOLLY LAUGHS) Come on, Doll.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN) Oh, I've got all the pillows, love.
Got work to do.
It's alright, love.
it's alright.
Mmm.
(SIGHS) Night, love.
(SIGHS) (GIRLS SING) " The cows are in the meadow" " Eating buttercups" " Atishoo, atishoo" "They all jump up" "Ring-a-ring-a-rosie" " A pocket full of posies" " Atishoo, atishoo" " We all fall down" "The cows are in the meadow eating buttercups" "Atishoo, atishoo" BOY: Bowl him out.
Bowl him out.
Come on.
(BAT HITS BALL) Oh! Oh, go and get it.
DOLLY: I don't give a red-hot bugger.
Just leave me alone.
SAM: Keep it down, for Christ's sake.
I'm only asking you for Rose's sake.
Oh, she can't talk to me herself.
There's no talking to ya! Pissed or sober.
It's killin' you, Doll.
You should have seen yourself last night.
(SQUAWKS) (COIN CLINKS, RATTLES) DOLLY: Swear to God, Sam.
That's gonna come back at ya.
The memories - I can't get 'em out of my head.
(BIRD SQUAWKS) SAM: What about Rosie? We're losing her, Doll.
You can't blame all of us.
At least put her in the picture.
Never! I can't just tell her.
Stop poisoning yourself! A couple of fucking drinks.
That's not poison.
That's mercy.
That's compensation.
A river of lies, a fucking lifetime of suffocating lies - that's poison.
That'sthat's what's killing me, Sam Pickles.
It's fucking eating me alive.
Yeah, alright.
You want to swim in the past, go for it.
I can't stop you.
Don't say I didn't try and help.
Help?! Yes.
You?! Me.
You lose every penny we get! Alright, I'll be home directly, alright? If I'm not here, I'm not here.
This bird justdelivered itself of a shilling.
I'll thank you to keep that out.
WOMAN: A shilling, you say? (COIN ROLLS AND RATTLES) (SQUAWKS) Sixpence.
Yeah, well, it did a shilling just now.
Ohh.
Well you took your time, Col.
What.
.
what do you mean he took his time? What, you reckon I keep him around for his good looks? Oh.
Mate, my luck's turned.
ORIEL: Lester, we need extra ham! I thought it'd never happen.
Yeah, righto, righto, love.
You believe in luck? Oh, I don't know what I believe in.
Orry believes in stickability.
Reckons you make your own luck.
That thing you said about business.
Umwhat? Buy low, sell high? Yeah? Yes, darl! Yeah.
Yep.
Yep.
Righto, love.
Ham, ham, ham, ham, ham, ham.
Yeah, luck enhancement, I call that.
Right.
That all sounds great, Sam but I gotta fly.
Couldn't give a bloke a lift, could you? Yep, jump in the truck.
Know where the mint is? Where they make money? Don't think so.
Oh, well, hop in, I'll show you.
But, Sam, I gotta get that ham.
Yeah, yeah.
Jesus! There'll be time for that.
(ENGINE RUMBLES, GEARS WHINE) What, you .
.
you're takin' that with ya? Yeah, know a bloke in the union.
Seeing him about a job.
G'day, mate.
Sam Pickles to see Mick Donnell.
Yep.
(GATE SQUEAKS) SAM: This shilling was shat out of that bird, right? And all I'm saying is if I can just get a ticket into the union, you can have the bird that shits out the shillings.
You forgot the bird, Sam.
Nah, nah.
Just giving him a change of scene.
What, you left him there? Look at that.
Union ticket.
Start Monday.
Like you said, buy low, sell high.
Eh? Yeah.
What high-minded fella is gonna say no to the gift of a money-shitting bird? Yeah, yeah.
(MEN YELL) (HORSES (GALLOP) YES! YA-HOO! YI-HEE-HEE! Mwah! I'm havin' a good bet.
Come on! (SOFTLY) whoa.
(STRUMS TUNE) Ah.
(CHUCKLES) (ACCORDION PLAYS) Ooh.
Wrong bag.
(ACCORDION PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTES) (SOFT GRUNTING) Shh Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
(PIG SNORTS) (DOOR CLATTERS OPEN) Oops.
(ACCORDION PLAYS) Hham.
Ham.
Ham.
(SNUFFLES) (PIG SNORTS) (CHICKENS CLUCK) (SNORTS) Just careful of that water, Fish.
Drought on.
(HEN CLUCKS) Hey, mate, give us a squirt of that, will ya? Yeah.
Ohhh, beautiful.
You're a gem.
LESTER: Hey, don't drown it, son! Ohh.
I needed that, you little bottler! (DOOR CREAKS) We've gotta sell that ham, Fish.
I like him.
Yeah, butit's gonna get eaten, son.
Lester, no! Yeah, I'll drink to that.
My bloody oath I do.
Think I'd better get your mother.
ORIEL: Show me this pig.
LESTER: But, Orry, I'll get another ham.
We'll smoke it ourselves now you've landed us with it with all your shenanigans.
Yeah, but we CAN'T, Orry.
We've gotta keep it.
What do you mean it SPEAKS to him? It speaks.
Speaks.
It sp Well, in a manner of speaking, it diddidit speaks to him.
And he's latched onto it.
You think of that poor boy, Orry.
There is not a day goes past when I don't think of this poor child.
Yeah, I know that, love.
I know.
I know.
But, look, hehe's befriended it.
Alright.
The pork stays.
Talking pig.
it's always the miracles you don't need.
Oh-ho-ho-ho, marvelous woman! (LAUGHS) Hey, did you hear that, pig? PIG: Don't worry, sport.
She'll be having me pay rent by Christmas.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Yeah, too right, sport.
(LESTER AND HAT SING) .
P Do-wacka, do-wacka I Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do I I hear tell you're doing well " Good things have come to you" " I wish I had your happiness" "And you had a do-wacka, do-wacka" "Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do" " They tell me you're running free" "Your days are never blue" "I wish I had your good luck charm" "And you had a do-wacka, do-wacka" "Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do" " I see you running down the street in your big Cadillac" " You got girls in the front " I got girls in the back" " And way in the back you got money in a sack" " Both hands on the wheel and your shoulders right back" " Ding, ding, ding, ding " Well, I never" "I hear tell you're doing well" " Good things have come to you" "I wish I had your happiness " ROSE: What have you got there? Couple of bottles for Mum? Me first pay.
Had to spend it on somethin', didn't I? (SQUAWKS) Oh, bugger me.
Looks like he's done a flit " I wish I had your good luck charm .
" (CLINK!) " Do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka-do" " I see you driving down the street in your big Cadillac" " You got girls in the front You got girls in the back" " And way in the back you got money in the sack" " You got hands on the wheel and your shoulders right back" "Ding, ding, ding, ding " Well, I never" "I hear tell you're doing well" " Good things have come to you" " I wish I had your happiness" " And you had a do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka-do " ORIEL: Knew I had one hidden away through there.
(PHONE RINGS) Can you get that? Lamb Smallgoods.
Yes.
(PLAYFUL GRUNTING) (TRAIN WHISTLES) NARRATION: There'd been times Lester thought Fish would have been better off dead.
but he knew life was something you didn't argue with, because whether you barracked for God or nothing at all, life was all there was.
They love those pasties of yours.
Good.
Is he up? He's not even eating.
Well, the boy saw a terrible thing, Orry.
Can't let it beat you.
You have to fight.
Beautiful dayagain.
Gee, there are a lot of sad people there, Quick.
What are you doing with them? What does it mean? Knocks me around to see you like this, boy.
You eat something, eh? (CHICKENS CLUCK) it's a flamin' tragedy, Quick.
That boy (sighs-us) It's an honest-to-the-Lord flamin' tragedy.
But lyin' there is not gonna change it.
Feelin' sorry for the lad's one thing.
Feelin' sorry for yourself's not quite the same.
Look at these poor sods.
You don't wanna end up like them.
You don't have to.
There's no need.
You got a roof over your head.
You got a family.
Wellwe're not much chop, I know.
(CHUCKLES) Eh? (WIND WHISPERS, HOUSE RATTLES) FISH: Quick? Quick Boy? Quickie?! No! (BASHES PIANO REPEATEDLY) Oi, Fish! FISH: No! Bit early, isn't it?! (SLAMS PIANO) Noooo! DOLLY: Sam, stop him! Lester! CHILDREN: Dad! Dad! Dad! (PIANO POUNDS REPEATEDLY) Shut up! Dad! (FISH CONTINUOUS SHOUTING AND PIANO BASHING) FISH: Noooo! Get off it, you thick-headed spaz! (PIANO SLAMS REPEATEDLY) Christ almighty, boy! FISH: No! Don't do that! NO! You care so much about someone from school! Why not spare a thought for your own flesh and blood? FISH: Don't do that! (POUNDS PIANO) No! Noooo! Don't go! Don't go! (PIANO POUNDS REPEATEDLY) Listen to him.
Listen to him! You know damn well your poor brother's busted in the head.
He'll never come good, heâll never grow up right.
The least you can do is let him be happy! (PIANO BANGS) He waited like a dog, like a dog for you, Quick! And I won't bloody have it any more! BOY: Oi, Fish! Shut up or I'll fart on your forehead! Yeah, alright, dry up and suck a lemon! (PIANO BASHING CONTINUES) You and me, we understand about Fish.
We were there.
We were there.
Huh? We owe him things, Quick.
I don't.
.
(sighs-us) You know We've got a big debt to pay.
You and me.
I don't need magic or a miracle from you, Quick Lamb.
I just want you to be his brother.
Alright? And don't you forget about him, boy.
Or your life won't have been worth living.
(PIANO BASHING CONTINUES) Get up! Get your brother! Go and fetch him.
Oriel! Hat, Elaine! Red! Don't open the shop! No school today! We're going fishing! FISH: That way, this way, that way, this way, that way, this way (MUMBLES) this way LESTER: Come on, Fish.
Let's take this little wriggler for a walk, eh? Bring your mate.
Watch your mum's line there.
There we are.
You can help Red and your little brother build a sandcastle, eh? QUICK: it'll be right, Mum.
What you thinking? Family.
You know, you never asked me about my family.
I just never imagined you with anyone but us.
I do come from a family, Quick.
I was a little girl, you know, once.
Bet you were bossy then too.
I was a farm girl.
But when I was about six, it all went.
Fire.
Our dad taught us that when there's a fire, you run to the cellar.
There it comes.
There it is, suddenly, in the home paddock, like a wall, licking its spit in.
So I run to the house.
Bossy, Quick.
But obedient too.
And there I am, in the cellar.
Wondering where everyone else is.
Feeling the heat overhead.
So scared.
I don't think I was in my right mind.
When I finally crawled out I saw them my mother, my sisters, my brothers - like black stumps.
In the yard.
Still smokin'.
It was as though I'd walked into hell.
That's what hell's supposed to be like.
All that burnin'.
And I just stood there next to their smokin' bones until Dad rode in.
Out of my head, I was, trying to scrape the picture of it off my eyes.
Mum, I don't I know.
You see something a body isn't meant to witness.
And the truth is you can't unsee it.
They're never gone.
You can't unfeel them.
But you can endure.
You will endure.
Strong people endure.
Because that's all life leaves you.
Just being strong? Yep.
That's all? Mm-hmm.
That and being right.
Here! Eh! You'll never guess.
On (sighs-us) it's cheap, love.
Oh, Lester, you didn't! Yeah.
Man can always do with a boat, I reckon.
We'll whack it on the back of the truck, Bob's your uncle.
It'll never fit on that, mate.
Besides, it weighs the best part of a tonne.
I'm just giving you the gen.
Righto.
OK, OK.
Well You want to row it home, then, boy? On me own? Welland take someone.
Up the river, you mean? No, you'd go around the world, but up the river'd be a bit quicker.
Hey? (LAUGHS) Put her in at Crawley, alright? Crawley's pretty close to home.
HAT: Don't be daft.
It's miles, Dad.
God, you're a fool.
No.
No.
I can do it.
I won't have it.
Mum, it's alright.
I can row! He can't do it on his own.
Yeah, I know, I know.
I know that, yep.
No, he needs a first mate.
Yeah, well, I'd go myself, but the .
.
missus can't drive the truck.
See? So Fish.
I want Fish.
Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Yeah, alright.
Alrighty.
On the water with Quick Boy! If he wants to.
If you're careful.
Fish Boy! Alright, then.
LESTER: Right, I'll get you sorted out, Fish Boy.
Stop wriggling around.
Keep still.
You'll be right, mate.
You'll be right.
There we go.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Head for the north side, Quick.
Alright, you hug the bank as much as you can.
I'll meet you at Crawley.
You pull in at Crawley.
Be good, Fish! It'll be apples, love.
You'll see.
People murder each other, Lester.
You get to the point where you can understand it.
(QUICK GRUNTS) You right? Yeah My oath.
Cracker boat, eh? Cracker.
It's ours, Fish.
Whacko! Whoa, whoa! (LAUGHS) Come on.
Whacko! Come on, Shirley, show us your boosies.
Your boosies, your Knockers.
Shirley Baxter doesn't have mutton lumps, Teddy.
Leave her alone.
Tell your father I'm going out.
Where? Just out.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES) (QUICK GRUNTS) Long, Quick? Yeah, it's a fair whack, alright.
Can I do? Do what? Do thesticks, the rowers.
Yeah.
We'll share.
That way we'll go faster.
(MUSIC ON RADIO PLAYS) RADIO ANNOUNCER: ABC presents 'The Lawsons' by Gwen Meredith.
Episode 539.
There's a certain amount of mystery concerning some of John Lawson's sheep, which were (CHATTER ON RADIO IN BACKGROUND) (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) SAM: The Yanks have just wiped out a whole Jap city with an atomic bomb.
Stopped the little buggers.
Just chops.
Tea fit for a king.
How's school? Good.
That's the ticket.
Rosie.
People can't help being who they are.
(SIGHS) (DOOR SLAMS) (BELL DINGS) (BELL DINGS) Sing, Quick.
Sing what, mate? Songs.
Come on, singing! (SINGS) " D'ye ken John Peel" " With his bollocks on a wheel" " And his cock bashed in" " And his eye in a sling" " And he's lying on the grass" " With a candle up his arse" " And they can't get it out" " Till morning" " Morning" " Morning! " (KNOCK AT DOOR) Slip down the street and get your mum, will you? No.
Get someone else.
(LESTER HUMS) (ENGINE SPUTTERS) Oi! Rosie! Come home, Mum.
Later, love.
We'll be home directly.
Come on, love.
You'll have the law on us.
Hey.
Leave her be.
Time to go, Doll.
(DOG BARKS) Can't even show a bit of loyalty to the bloody nation.
Bloody humiliating, if you ask me.
You goody two-shoes.
Little princess.
(GIGGLING) The water (GIGGLES) The water (GIGGLES) Are we in the sky, Fish? Yeah The water.
The water.
I fly.
(GIGGLES CONTINUOUSLY) We're asleep, aren't we? No.
The water.
(GIGGLES) (LAUGHS) (BOTH LAUGH) (BUMPING) (CREAKING) (BUMPING) (CREAKING) LESTER: Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! Stupid, stupid.
(SIGHS) You'd think a man'd learn about rivers.
You'd swear a man'd smarten up.
Oh.
Oh, stupid, stupid, stupid! (HOUSE RUMBLES) (CREAKING) (BELL DINGS REPEATEDLY) Ohh! Ohh! Ohh! (GRUNTS) Ahh! Ohh! (LAUGHS) Boy! Ohh! You little beauty! Ohh, boys! You're here! Little beauty! Ohh, Quick, thank God! Good boy! Hey, Quick, come here, son.
Ohh, come here.
Fishy.
Ohh! Ohh, mate! I was so worried about you.
(QUICK LAUGHS) Ohh! (LAUGHS) You did it! You did it! Little beauty.
(SIGHS) Come on, boys, not far to go.
Come on, Fish.
Put your back into it, son.
(LESTER LAUGHS) Oh, your poor hands! Hungry.
Eh, ran out of petrol, love.
No juice, no money.
No brains, no wonder.
Inside.
Oh, Orry? Run a bath.
Then you can give me a hand after you've finished your breakfast.
Yeah, but they're They're fine, love.
There's a list of the morning's orders on the icebox.
Baxters have promised us 20 pounds of butter by 8:00.
Then you can help me with the furniture.
MAN ON RADIO: Ladies and gentlemen The water.
The water.
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia The water.
.
.
Mr J.
B.
Chifley.
CHIFLEY: Fellow citizens Water! .
.
the war is oven The Japanese government has accepted the terms of surrender Water! .
.
Imposed by the Allied Nations, that the hostilities will now cease.
The reply by the Japanese government to the note sent by Britain, the United Nations (GIGGLES) "the USSR and China" "has been received and accepted by the Allied Nations.
" "At this moment let us offer thanks to God.
" FISH: Water! Let us remember those whose lives were given that we may enjoy this glorious moment and may look forward to a peace which they have won for us.
Let us remember those whose thoughts, with proud sorrow You can help Hat and Elaine with my things.
(GRUNTS) Don't you let Quick carry anything.
I'll bandage those hands when the ointment has sunk in.
Yeah, but whatwhatwhat's this? It's all there ready and waiting in the hall.
Lamp, stand, bed.
So, what, you're .
.
you're moving out here, outside, in the outdoors? Outside, in the outdoors.
Done it before.
Orielwe gotta stick together.
We are together.
(HAMMERING) NARRATION: No-one ever really knew why Oriel Lamb moved out into the backyard at Cloud Street.
Not even SHE knew.
What do you want from me? But whatever else she was, Oriel was not the sort of woman to argue with a living, breathing house.
CHIFLEY ON RADIO: I'd be justly proud of everything they have done.
I'm sure that you would like me to convey to the commanders of the fighting forces the warmest thanks for their skill, efficiency and great devotion.
Especially do I mention General Douglas MacArthur; for whom we have so much in common and with whom we shared the dangers when Australia was threatened with invasion.
In your name I offer to the leaders of the United Nations our congratulations and thanks.
We join with the United States in a common regret that their inspiring leaden the late Mr Roosevelt, did not live to see this day.
We thank his successor President Truman, for the work he has done.
Australians too will feel their happiness tinged with sorrow that another man who gave his all was not spared to be with us today.
That man was John Curtin.
To Mr Churchill, Generalissimo Stalin and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek go the unstinted thanks of free people everywhere for what they have done for the common cause.
Especially do we honor Mr Churchill, with whom in the dark days, to use his own words, we had the honor to stand alone against aggression.
And now our men and women will come home - our fighting men with battle honours thick upon them from every theater of wan Australians stopped the Japanese in their drive south, just as they helped start the first march towards ultimate Victory in North Africa.
Australians fought in the battles of the air everywhere and Australian seamen covered every ocean.
(SPEECH CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
.
one clean clean sweet day in a good world in the midst of our living.
(PEOPLE CHEER) From the boardwalks and spaces, you can see them all again "because it never ceases to be.
" And you can't help but worry for them, love them, want for them .
.
those who go on down the close, fettered galleries of time and space .
.
without you.
(CHILDREN SING) " With its crystal tide forever" " Flowing by the throne of God" " Yes, we'll gather at the river" " The beautiful, the beautiful river" " Gather with the Saints at the river" " That flows by the throne of God" " On the margin of the river" " Washing up its silver spray" " We will walk and worship ever" " On a happy golden day" " Yes, we'll gather at the " Don't smile, Fish.
You'll frighten the prawns away.
Hey, Quick, look at Dad.
He looks like a statue in a fountain, with that lamp.
Wanna be careful someone don't come along and toss a penny at him to make a wish.
What would they wish for, you reckon? Probably wish they could get their money back, I reckon.
Kooky blighter.
" Gather with the saints at the river" " That flows by the throne of God " SPLASHING Oh ! WOMAN: Oh, Jesus.
Lest! Lest! Lester! Where is he?! Oh! Lester! Fish! Son! Son! Where is he? Get off him! Get off! Quick! Pull him up! (GRUNTS) (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) (ETHEREAL CHIMING) (WOMAN SCREAMS INDISTINCTLY) You're standing on the net! I'm not standing on it! Let's pull it in! Pull it in! Get him out! (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) Hurry! Fish! Get him over here! (PEOPLE YELL INDISTINCTLY) Get it out of the water! Quick! Mum's here! Mum's here! Fish! WOMAN: Argh! Argh! Argh! LESTER: Fish! WOMAN: No! Oh, God! Bring him out! Jesus! Oh, Jesus! Jesus, raise him up! Raise him up! Oh, God! Christ Almighty! Blessed, blessed Savior! Show us thy mercy! Show us thy mercy! Bring him back! Please! Bring him back! Bring this boy back! Show us all thy tender mercy! (CRIES) (MUFFLED) Bring him back! Oh, God Almighty! Now! Raise him up! Raise! (SOBS) (COUGHS) (GASPS) (MAN AND WOMAN LAUGH) (GASPS) (LAUGHS) Fishy Boy.
Oh, he's back.
He's back.
He's back.
(SOBS) Oh, mate.
(COUGHS) He's here! Come here, come here.
(PEOPLE SING) " I am weak and thou art strong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong" " I'll be satisfied as long" "As I walk, dear Lord, close to thee" "I Let it be, dear Lord, let it be " (WOMAN LAUGHS) "Just a closer walk with thee " (HONKS HORN) " Grant it, Jesus, is my plea " The war? Is the war over? No, no, it's better news than that.
We got him back, our boy! Our blessed boy! Back, Fish Lamb! Back from the dead! Praise the Lord! (LAUGHS) Churchy buggers, aren't they? Still, back from the dead - that's not a bad result.
LESTER: Righto, matey, get ready! You ready? GIRL: Yep.
GIRLS: Jâ Grant it, Jesus, is my plea " Daily walking close to thee" LESTER: " Just a closer walk with thee" Let it be, dear Lord J LESTER: Come on, kid! What are you doing? (LAUGHS) " I am weak and thou art strong" " I am weak and thou art strong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong" " Jesus, keep me from all wrong " Come on, lady.
In you get.
" I'll be satisfied as long-.
.
" You right? The water.
The water.
LESTER: Come on, kids.
" Grant it, Jesus, is my plea" " Just a closer walk with thee " (CHOIR (SINGS) MAN: Dead, he was.
Lying there on the riverbank, gone from his earthly body, dead to this wretched world .
.
until the faith of his loved ones stirred the Almighty to have mercy.
Praise Jesus! MAN: Amen.
Right as rain, aren't you, son? Restored to himself and his god-fearing family.
Right as rain.
My boy, my darling.
It's a fair dinkum miracle.
LESTER: Yeah, yeah, that's what it is.
And that's what we are celebrating here today, a triumph of faith.
LESTER: it's a triumph.
It is a triumph! We don't deserve it, but the Lord has given us this gift, given us our boy twice, twice over! PASTOR: Mrs Lamb, God hears a mother's call.
PEOPLE: Amen.
He listened.
(SNEEZES) (PEOPLE LAUGH) Oh, God.
Oh, God! Fishy.
Sitson.
Fish Boy.
Hey, Fish.
Fish Boy.
Hey, mate.
(GRUNTS) Fish! FISH: Water! I want the water! It's him.
He is a miracle.
(FISH YELLS) QUICK: Hey! Hey, Fish! He is a miracle! Stop, stop, stop.
Fish, Fish.
Water! Water! Fish! Ouch! I want the water! Fish! Come on! (MAN LAUGHS) MAN: Come on, Sam.
Wakey-wakey, hands off snakey.
Bloody Wilson will be here in a sec and he'll go through you like a dose of salts, mate.
All that bird poo out there just waiting for us.
Not today.
What are you talking about? Special work this, cob - shoveling shit for the war effort.
Where's your sense of king and country? Not today.
You crook, or something? Shifty shadow.
Shift me what? I can feel it, a shifty shadow.
Lady luck, mate.
The hairy hand of God.
Not this stuff again.
Mate, I can feel it on you.
Best justlie in here till it blows over, see what happens.
Tell you what'll happen, you silly prick, you'll get sacked.
What about the missus and kids, then, huh? Sam? You're in enough strife already, mate.
(MEN LAUGH) Can't be helped.
Come on, now, bugger.
You can't fight the shifty shadow.
(DOOR BANGS) Nob, you can't beat bad luck.
Well, I'm off for brekkie, then.
Pickles! Yep.
Get your lazy arse out of bed or get another job! You mad bastard.
Give 'em shit, ladies.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you dingo.
NOBBY: That fuckin' Wilson, eh? Never off your back, is he? Pickles this, Pickles that.
Bet I'm gonna wake up one day and find you've murdered the bastard in his sleep, not that anyone would blame you, eh? Aarggh! (EXCLAIMS) Fuckin' what did I tell you? Get off! (ENGINE RUMBLES) Man, he's gonna wish he was never born.
Poor luckless bastard.
(PLANE ENGINE DRONES) (KIDS SHOUT) Whoo-hoo! It's freezing! BOY: Get off me.
BOY: Go, go, go now! Go get the ladder.
And hurry up.
Hurry up.
MAN: We've got him.
Down.
Clear the bar.
Got the rope down, boys.
Just clear the heads.
(COUGHING) (sighs-us) Lucky they sewed them back.
My arithmetic's not too good.
Your working hand.
Well, Rose, now your old man's a mollydooker.
Dad.
(CRIES) We'll be right, darling.
Our luck will change.
Yeah.
Go get your mum.
Go on.
You're back early.
(AMERICAN ACCENT) Yep.
Re-routed five minutes up - medical evac.
How long have I got you for? 40 minutes.
The guy was a real mess.
Poor luckless bastard.
Quit yakking and make yourself useful.
Honey, your old man don't know what he's missing.
Shut up about him, eh? Goddamn, but you're loyal - staying for the kid's sake, working the bar despite everything.
I guess I admire that.
That's what keeps you coming back, eh? Admiration of a woman's loyalty? (LAUGHS) Bloody Yanks with all your fine talking.
It's like you said, Doll, at least we say something, huh? (KNOCK AT DOOR) ROSE: Mum! Mum? What, love? I'm getting dressed.
You better come quick, it's Dad.
He's back already? In the hospital- his hand.
Oh, Jesus, him? It's him? (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) MAN:She'll be down in a tick.
Come on, Rosie.
AMERICAN MAN: Chewed the whole thing off.
It's a goddamn stump.
Oh, God.
Sam.
We'll go get the boys.
Come on.
Piss off.
Go on! And take the back stairs.
Sam.
(WATER SPLASHES) FISH: I want the water.
I'm in the water.
I'm in the water, Quick.
Come on, Quick.
I'm in the water, Quick.
Water.
(LAUGHS) I'm in the water.
Water.
I want the water, Quick.
Yeah, I know, mate.
The Water.
More Water.
Water.
(WATER SPLASHES) FISH: Water.
The Water.
Water! In the water, Quick.
More water, Quick.
(CLEARS THROAT) FISH :i The water.
First the bank and now this.
Oh, we'll manage, love.
The Lord will provide.
No.
No more.
Oh, love, come on, we'll Don't you understand? Nah.
There's nothing there.
Nothing here.
Nothing at all.
It's just a cruel joke, all of it.
Come on, Orry, wewe'll No.
You know, we'll No more.
FISH: The Water.
LESTER: Then we lost, Orry? Cast out? ORIEL: Yes.
it's how it is.
Gone, all of it.
MAN: Limestone dust flies into the trees.
For each of them, some old nightmare is lurking.
Some memory of flames or water or dark wind.
It touches something sudden.
No-one says a damn thing.
No-one believes any more.
(RACE CALL PLAYS ON RADIO) G'day there, 'Leftie'.
(CHUCKLES) G'day, Doll.
Round on the house.
My shout.
(MEN CHEER) MAN: Bloody beauty! He wouldn't shout if a shark bit him.
(PEOPLE LAUGH) G'day, mate.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on, kids, grab a squash and scoot.
I'll come up in a minute with some chips.
(PEOPLE CHATTER INDISTINCTLY) Yeah, g'day, mate.
You'll be right.
Your luck will change.
(SCOFFS) Yeah.
Every time I look at you, you arsy bugger, I remember.
All it takes is one good moment.
One good horse, you mean.
Well, a good horse in a good moment.
Good old Eurhythmic, eh? Ran like a thief.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Well, you're going to have to work somehow.
Can't sit on your date and make Dolly work.
Show me.
What? What's left.
It's not pretty.
(SIGHS) Jesus wept on a Sunday.
One bad moment.
Let's get out of here.
Where we going? Sit around here like a stale bottle of piss.
Let's go fishing.
Oi, oi.
Alright, here we go.
Here we go.
Om (sighs-us) First bloody line you cast, you arsy bastard.
Oh, yeah! Come on.
Come on.
Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! Yeah! (LAUGHS) (GROANS) You alright? (GROANS) Joel? (MAN READS) âThe Eurhythmic Hotel is to be sold âwith the proceeds going to the Geraldton Turf Club, âexcept for ã200 which I leave to my brother, Samuel Manifold Pickles.
âFurther, the property at Number 1 Cloud Street, Perth âis left to the same Samuel Pickles "on the proviso that it cannot be sold for 10 years.
" And that concludes the reading of the will.
(SNORTS) Didn't even know he had it.
Part of a deceased estate.
The home of a very respectable woman, I believe.
She used to take in native girls and try and make ladies of them so they could set a standard for the rest of their race.
She tried to teach them how to make their beds and serve at the table, play the piano.
Unfortunately, you just can't help some people.
Didn't work out, then? Well, let's just say it ended badly, Mr Pickles.
Now it's vacant, eh? Vacant possession.
Been boarded up for years.
Lucky me, eh? It's bloody huge.
Bloody strange, if you ask me.
Where are we going to sleep? Must be a dozen rooms or more.
Take your pick, I suppose.
BOY: I want this one! BOY: This one's mine.
(BOTH LAUGH) Come look at this, Chub.
Show us your room.
Crabs, missus.
You want fresh crabs? Shoo.
Shoo.
Just swept this path.
MAN: No! Get here! Don't you never go near that house.
Never.
What happened? Got a story for this place? I got a big mob of stories for this place.
I'll tell you one day.
Now, go on.
I'm here, house.
I'm watching and waiting.
I see you.
One day I'll come back and finish that story proper way.
One day.
(PIPES THUMP) (LAUGHS) Looks like we're in business.
Maybe you come good after all, little gimpy bugger.
ROSE: Who'd have believed it? A house of our own.
BOY: Some house.
Hey, all we need is a bit of spit and polish.
Looks great, Dad.
(SIGHS) There you go, son.
Good old Joel.
Now, I am going to head down the street.
Are youse hungry? Because we are going to have a celebratory lunch.
And I am going to get a leg of lamb as big as a banjo.
CHUB: Roast lamb? Like Christmas! Mm-hm.
Light up the stove, boys.
That'll be right- you slip off, I'll unpack.
Well, youse hungry or not? My oath.
BOY: You're always hungry.
There's nothing wrong with that.
I'll see youse directly.
Get that stove burning.
Just to the butcher's.
Oh, just to the butcher's, she says.
Don't you want spuds and peas? (LAUGHS SOFTLY) (DooR CLOSES) (SIGHS) (DOOR OPENS) Chops? CHUB: Oh, he's done it again.
You bloody didn't.
Oh, it was a sure thing, Doll.
The horse was even called Cloudburst.
Cloudburst, for God's sake.
Cloudburst, come on.
Mum! Everything? Dad! Mum! Well, no.
Saved enough to buy chops.
(LAUGHS MIRTHLESSLY) You you moron.
(SIGHS) Should've done the flit when I had the chance.
You can't help bad luck, Doll.
Ha! (HEELS RAP LOUDLY) (SLAMS DOOR) (SIGHS) (TRAIN WHISTLE BLARES) (TRAIN CHUGS) (MAN PLAYS BANJO) RED: I wanna sleep with the boys.
ORIEL: Stay where you are.
How long are we gonna have to live like this? Like natives? It doesn't worry ME.
I'm not scared of roughing it.
Well, Red, some of us are more delicate than others.
RED: La-di-dah! GIRL: Give over, you two.
Mum! ORIEL: Oh, leave it! We're gonna have to go somewhere.
Well, your mum will have a plan.
Wouldn't be the same if your old mum didn't .
.
didn't have something squared away, eh? Mum? Ask your father.
Dad? Well, there's lots of places we could go.
Tell you what - why don't we ask the butterknife, eh? After all, the knife never lies, you know? Mum says that's heathen claptrap.
No.
No, it's cutlery.
It's honest eatin' irons.
Now RED: Yeah, spin the knife! Alright, well, we better get a good one, then, eh? Oh, that'll do.
Righto.
Which way will the knife send us? Here we go.
North.
Ish.
GIRL: Perth.
Right.
Well, that's it, then.
Now, come on, go to bed.
We don't know anyone in Perth.
No.
No.
So what do we do? What we can.
We go to bed.
(CHICKEN CLUCKS) Alrighty, here we go.
One, one, one! Yep.
Just shift to the left.
Yep, that's it.
Move around.
(HAMMERING) Go on.
TED: Grab that end.
What the hell is this?! Temporary solution.
You had a permanent one yesterday, you useless mug.
Don't go crook, Doll, I'm doing me best.
That's the bit that scares me.
We'll be right.
I've got an idea.
Christ, it gets worse.
Yes, it does.
(SNICKERS) (RADIO PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND) (DOOR OPENS) (DOOR SHUTS) (SIGHS) Kept the commode from the pub.
I just wanna get to me room.
The dunny man won't mind.
Can't you even chuck it in the lane? Nah, it's for the bonfire.
Guy Fawkes Night this Saturday.
Whoo-hoo! Two chairs.
No wading.
(LAUGHS) Yeah, always fancied myself a bit of a landlord.
God help us.
Yeah.
From now on, this side's ours, we rent out the other half, hallway's no-man's-land.
Yeah.
Nah.
Decision made.
You're gonna make us live with other people again.
Yep.
And who's gonna pay to live with the lucky Pickles? Whoever CAN pay, Doll.
MAN: We look like reffos (SCOFFS) We ARE reffos.
Yeah, but you saw the way that landlord looked at us.
Him and her and all the others.
No-one's gonna take a risk on us.
What's left? Just this.
Doesn't look very promising.
Oh, no, I don't know if I could share, love.
We've been sharing the roadside and the creek banks and the public toilets for the best part of a week.
Yeah, butwe're not that sort of people, Orry.
Red.
LESTER: Let's look a bit further, eh? Something better will come up.
You take the good with the bad.
No.
No, you don't.
You know about boats, you know you can't steer unless you're going faster than the current.
Fishy, come back here.
ORIEL: But if you're if you're not under your own steam, you're just flotsam.
I do not want to spend my life taking the good with the bad.
I'm not standing for the bad - bad people, bad luck, bad ways, not even bad breath.
(LAUGHS) We make good, Lester.
Mmm.
We make war against bad.
And we don't surrender.
Yep, righto.
Go on, go and tee it up.
Righto Lester.
(FLY BUZZES) (Dos BARKS) (KNOCKS) (FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) Yeah? Um I, um Jesus, mate, if you're selling something, forget about it.
We're poor, We're stupid.
Try up the road a bit.
No, no, Il I called about the house.
Ah.
Oh, you've come about that? Yeah I'll just get my hubby.
Sam! Sam! (SCOFFS) You look like the wreck of the Hesperus, pardon me for saying.
Yeah, nah, well, we've been, uh, been camping out sort of thing.
We're up from the country.
Where exactly in the country? Margaret River.
Knew a bloke from there once.
He had hair growing out of his nostrils.
Alright.
Sam! Come down here! Quit buggerising about.
(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) (FOOTSTEPS) Lester Lamb.
Why? What's That, um His name's Lester Lamb.
He's all yours.
Yeah, right, I'm with ya.
You called.
G'day.
Yeah.
I suppose you wanna come inside and have a look? Yeah.
Yep.
Uh, you get half the house Right.
Half the yard, your own dunny.
Oh, good.
Yeah.
Um, corridor's no-man's-land, same as the stairs.
Big bloody joint, eh? Yeah, look, um I've got six Kids.
Ah, yeah.
Catholics? Nah.
Nah, nothin'.
Not any more.
Well, can youse pay? Oh, we can pay.
We'll always pay.
Well, if youse can pay, youse'll do.
Right, um Might as well bring 'em in.
Oh.
Oops, right.
OK.
Got a girl and two boys meself.
Eh, there we go.
Oh.
Kids.
Uhit's Guy Fawkes Night.
Having a bonfire out the back, just might wanna bring 'em out once you've settled.
Oh, right.
Yeah, wellyeah.
Oh, I'llI'll put it to the committee.
Name's Pickles, by the way.
We're gonna sound like a counter lunch, eh? Aa? Lamb and Pickles.
Oh, yeah! (LAUGHS) Right, yeah.
Um, right.
Lamb and Pickles.
RED: it's not exactly Tara.
But it's a step up from camping.
Did you see the dunny out back? TED: They're funny-looking, eh? CHUB: Ugly as a hatful of arses.
One of them's a bit slow.
Did you see? I seen it.
He's a spaz.
What would you know? I betcha.
You're a Pickles - you'll bet on anything.
Here, there's Red and Hat and E.
Mum and Dad are downstairs.
Hey.
Here's ours, Fish.
Big window.
Look out on the front yard, see? Number one? Yeah (DISTANT SOBBING ECHOES) (NOTE ECHOES) (HUMMING AND GRINDING) (METAL RAPS) Sad.
What? Sad.
(METAL WOBBLES) (METAL WOBBLES) (METAL WOBBLES) (FIREWORKS EXPLODE) GIRL: it's OK, Lon, it's finished now.
SAM: Come on, boys.
BOY: Thanks, Mr Lamb.
(COUGHING) SAM: Is that your hat, mate? Oh, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, the, uh, the last war.
Ah, yeah.
See any action? Yeah, if you can call it that.
Gallipoli.
The, uh, 10th Light Horse.
Ehcavalry.
Yeah, yeah, um Yeah, the cook and stretcher bearer.
Right.
Yeah, I'm too old for this one, though.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Count your blessings, I guess.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
So, uh not a war wound, then? No.
A bit of a tangle with a shifty shadow.
Right.
Yeah.
(PLAYS BANJO) Well, here we are.
(CHUCKLES) No, thank you very much.
SAM: Ah, temperance fella.
Um un, on, well (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) .
.
yeah.
Hearth and home.
Yes, yes.
Yes, indeed.
Indeed.
(BANJO PLAYS) BOY: Nah, nah, stand back! (CHILDREN SCREAM) Oh, yeah! Whoo-hoo-hoo! Look at that.
There you go, eh? (CHUCKLES) Have a look at that! Oi, Chubby, come and have a look at this.
SAM: Righto Alright, come on now.
Come on, boys.
Whoo! One, two, three! SAM: Yes! Well done.
Burn.
Guy Fawkes, eh? Now, there is a bloke who pushed his luck, eh, boys? Eh? There we go.
No! Don't bum the man! SAM: Calm down.
No! Stop it.
it's alright, son! It's alright.
You're hurting him! No! Go away! We'll manage, thank you! Quick, grab his legs! Get his legs! (FISH YELLS) Fish! Quick! QUICK: Fish! Hey, come on, Fish.
Come back here! Fish, mate! Fish! SAM: Jesus.
Mmm.
Go away! (THUMPS KEYS) Go away! Stop it! Go away! Stop it! Go away! Don't you dare! Mum, just leave him! Leave him? This is what you get when you just leave him! Just once, one time, you could have kept your wits about you! (PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTES) Oh, I didn't mean that, son! Quick! Go away! Silence! Go away! (DISCORDANT NOTES PLAY) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Go away! (SOBS) Go away! Are you alright? Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! (PLAYS BANJO) (THUMPING ON PIANO FROM INSIDE) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (BREATHES HEAVILY) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (GRINDING AND HUMMING) (FOOTSTEPS) (SOBBING) (PIANO PLAYS FAINTLY) (CHILDREN LAUGH FAINTLY) (THUMPING) (FOOTSTEPS) MAN: Across the plains, all things still play themselves out.
All fun and fear all the silliness and quaking effort .
.
all the bickering and twitching .
.
all the people going about the relentless limited endeavour of human business.
And the sight of it reminds you that the worlds are still connected.
The lives are still related.
And the here still feels the pangs of history.
Those who have gone before do not lose their feelings only their bodies.
(METALLIC CLANGING) (ORIEL YELLS IN DISTANCE) The early bird catches the worm! (SIGHS) (ORIEL CONTINUES YELLING) You're the bloody landlord, for God's sake.
Do something.
It's still dark, woman.
Exactly.
(SIGHS) ORIEL: Boys! Wakey-wakey! ORIEL: Oh, Mr Pickles, good morning.
Oh, would you be so kind? Yeah.
Thank you.
Ooh.
Yeah, I (CLANGING) ORIEL: Lester! (SIGHS) Lester, get here.
(WIND HOWLS AND WHISTLES) (MAN GROANS AND SIGHS) (SNORES) (SNORING CONTINUES) Plumbing.
We need proper plumbing.
Andand a stove.
And beds.
We need We need proper beds.
And money.
We need money to pay the rent on this place.
Last night, Oriel Today.
Lester Yeah, but We start today.
Hear me? LESTER: So how exactly does this work? MAN: it's a business transaction.
Which means? I buy low, sell high.
Everybody's happy.
Oh.
Buy low, sell high.
Oh.
ORIEL: Get a wriggle on now, son.
That's the way.
Off you go.
Quick.
Oh, that's nice and straight.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Get after this.
Quick.
Clean in the front.
You'll wear that bottom out if you sit on it too long.
Up you get.
Give it a good scrubbing.
Hat, you can get higher than that.
Get right up to the top.
That's the girl.
Elaine, a broom is not for skipping on.
It is forsweeping on.
Oh, for goodness sake! ORIEL: Red, would you go and get that soap, love? You got that end? (GROANS) Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on.
Righto, she's back here.
Right.
You take that.
Yeah.
Well, come on.
I'm bringin' it Pull it, mate.
ORIEL: Lester, what in the (GASPS) I've cottoned on to something What are you doing? I'veI've brained it out.
It's better than a job.
It's perfect.
Have you gone mad? You'll have us evicted in five minutes flat.
No.
I've Written it down.
Come on.
I'll show you.
Oh! Come in here.
Dad! NowI've been up and down all day.
GIRL: Dad! Dad! Prices, right? Dad! Distances.
When I stepped it out, street by street Alright, just hold your horses, alright? We would be the only shop this side of the railway line.
You're a farmer.
Dad! Yeah, well as a farmer, I played pretty good accordion.
This is REALLY heavy! You don't know anything about this stuff.
Nor do I.
Come on! Well, we've got grit, haven't we? We're not afraid of hard Work and you've got the enterprising spirit, Orry.
Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Hold your horses! Hey, now, look, you buy low, sell high, but not too high as to, you know, appear unfriendly.
Dad, are you coming? Kind of thing.
Eh? What do you reckon, Orry? In for a penny, in for a pound? Shop.
Can you see it now? We've got shelves up there.
QUICK: Dad! Yeah, righto, we'll be with you in a tick, mate.
Just hang on.
How d'you know these prices? I've told ya.
I've been at it all day.
I've been down the markets.
These are the prices That's the price.
I wouldn't pay that for bananas.
No, but we Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad! (GLASS SHATTERS) What? What?! (SIGHS) Oh, mate.
What happened? LESTER: Yeah.
Yeah.
Got a few yeses.
I can't hear ya.
Yeah, alright.
Go into business or not? Yes or no? Why don't you bloody do something? We own this place.
They paid two months, Doll.
(HAMMERING) Yes or no.
(DRUMS) (LAUGHS) Yes or no.
(DRUMS SLOWLY) Uhuhuhuh (LAUGHS) Yeah! You let these wowsers in, Sam Pickles.
Didn't see you bustin' a boiler to help us out of the shit, did I? (LAMB FAMILY SINGS) "10 green bottles hanging on the wall " You're lucky I'm here at all, hear me? " Would accidentally fall " Lucky.
" Nine green bottles hanging on the wall" " And if one green bottle should accidentally fall " (FOOTSTEPS CLUNK) Remember who you are.
Thanks, Mum.
Hmm? Reckon I can hit 'em? You're hopeless.
Shut up.
It wasn't that far off.
(LAUGHS) (ACCORDION MUSIC) (ACCORDION CONTINUES) (BANGING, METALLIC CLANG) (LAUGHS) Hey.
Om (LAUGHS) HEY! (BOTH LAUGH) Oh! (SCOFFS) Terrible throw.
Hope he's not disturbing you.
No, not him, no.
He's a good boy.
Seems harmless enough.
We've never been in a situation quite like this before, and this is all very new and very strange to us.
I hope we're not making too much noise for you.
I'm sure it's only temporary.
(ROOSTER CROWS) (SIGHS) Fish, there's brekkie inside if you're hungry, love! Fish! (WHISTLES 'BOTANY BAY') (MOANS) ROSE: Dad? What's this? What's it look like? A football? ORIEL: Lester! Where did you get him? Sports shop.
Say hello, Col.
âHello, Rose.
â (CHUCKLES) You won him, didn't you? Just don't tell your mother.
Alright? ORIEL: Lester! What do we feed him? Well, birdseed, of course.
(SQUEALS) Oh, good God.
What is that? DOLLY: Think you'll have to do this, love.
OhDoll.
(SLAMS DOOR) (SQUAWKS) (DOOR CLATTERS) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) Good afternoon.
Mrs Lamb.
Mr Pickles.
Afternoon.
Half an hour's grace until the school bell, eh? (CHUCKLES) And Mrs Pickles? Mrs Pickles is elsewhere.
(CHATTER) (TIMIDLY) Mum? (SCREEN DOOR BANGS) (THUD!) DOLLY: Whoop! Oopsy.
(GIGGLES AND SIGHS) Jesus! (DOLLY LAUGHS) SAM: Doll, fair go.
Come on, the boys are counting sheep.
Up, up.
Get up! Come on.
Come on, up.
Everything alright? SAM: Yeah, no worries, mate.
Just high heels, you know? Should be a law.
(GIGGLES) SAM: Shh.
Stair Corning.
Come on.
Stair here.
(DOLLY LAUGHS) Come on, Doll.
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN) Oh, I've got all the pillows, love.
Got work to do.
It's alright, love.
it's alright.
Mmm.
(SIGHS) Night, love.
(SIGHS) (GIRLS SING) " The cows are in the meadow" " Eating buttercups" " Atishoo, atishoo" "They all jump up" "Ring-a-ring-a-rosie" " A pocket full of posies" " Atishoo, atishoo" " We all fall down" "The cows are in the meadow eating buttercups" "Atishoo, atishoo" BOY: Bowl him out.
Bowl him out.
Come on.
(BAT HITS BALL) Oh! Oh, go and get it.
DOLLY: I don't give a red-hot bugger.
Just leave me alone.
SAM: Keep it down, for Christ's sake.
I'm only asking you for Rose's sake.
Oh, she can't talk to me herself.
There's no talking to ya! Pissed or sober.
It's killin' you, Doll.
You should have seen yourself last night.
(SQUAWKS) (COIN CLINKS, RATTLES) DOLLY: Swear to God, Sam.
That's gonna come back at ya.
The memories - I can't get 'em out of my head.
(BIRD SQUAWKS) SAM: What about Rosie? We're losing her, Doll.
You can't blame all of us.
At least put her in the picture.
Never! I can't just tell her.
Stop poisoning yourself! A couple of fucking drinks.
That's not poison.
That's mercy.
That's compensation.
A river of lies, a fucking lifetime of suffocating lies - that's poison.
That'sthat's what's killing me, Sam Pickles.
It's fucking eating me alive.
Yeah, alright.
You want to swim in the past, go for it.
I can't stop you.
Don't say I didn't try and help.
Help?! Yes.
You?! Me.
You lose every penny we get! Alright, I'll be home directly, alright? If I'm not here, I'm not here.
This bird justdelivered itself of a shilling.
I'll thank you to keep that out.
WOMAN: A shilling, you say? (COIN ROLLS AND RATTLES) (SQUAWKS) Sixpence.
Yeah, well, it did a shilling just now.
Ohh.
Well you took your time, Col.
What.
.
what do you mean he took his time? What, you reckon I keep him around for his good looks? Oh.
Mate, my luck's turned.
ORIEL: Lester, we need extra ham! I thought it'd never happen.
Yeah, righto, righto, love.
You believe in luck? Oh, I don't know what I believe in.
Orry believes in stickability.
Reckons you make your own luck.
That thing you said about business.
Umwhat? Buy low, sell high? Yeah? Yes, darl! Yeah.
Yep.
Yep.
Righto, love.
Ham, ham, ham, ham, ham, ham.
Yeah, luck enhancement, I call that.
Right.
That all sounds great, Sam but I gotta fly.
Couldn't give a bloke a lift, could you? Yep, jump in the truck.
Know where the mint is? Where they make money? Don't think so.
Oh, well, hop in, I'll show you.
But, Sam, I gotta get that ham.
Yeah, yeah.
Jesus! There'll be time for that.
(ENGINE RUMBLES, GEARS WHINE) What, you .
.
you're takin' that with ya? Yeah, know a bloke in the union.
Seeing him about a job.
G'day, mate.
Sam Pickles to see Mick Donnell.
Yep.
(GATE SQUEAKS) SAM: This shilling was shat out of that bird, right? And all I'm saying is if I can just get a ticket into the union, you can have the bird that shits out the shillings.
You forgot the bird, Sam.
Nah, nah.
Just giving him a change of scene.
What, you left him there? Look at that.
Union ticket.
Start Monday.
Like you said, buy low, sell high.
Eh? Yeah.
What high-minded fella is gonna say no to the gift of a money-shitting bird? Yeah, yeah.
(MEN YELL) (HORSES (GALLOP) YES! YA-HOO! YI-HEE-HEE! Mwah! I'm havin' a good bet.
Come on! (SOFTLY) whoa.
(STRUMS TUNE) Ah.
(CHUCKLES) (ACCORDION PLAYS) Ooh.
Wrong bag.
(ACCORDION PLAYS DISCORDANT NOTES) (SOFT GRUNTING) Shh Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
(PIG SNORTS) (DOOR CLATTERS OPEN) Oops.
(ACCORDION PLAYS) Hham.
Ham.
Ham.
(SNUFFLES) (PIG SNORTS) (CHICKENS CLUCK) (SNORTS) Just careful of that water, Fish.
Drought on.
(HEN CLUCKS) Hey, mate, give us a squirt of that, will ya? Yeah.
Ohhh, beautiful.
You're a gem.
LESTER: Hey, don't drown it, son! Ohh.
I needed that, you little bottler! (DOOR CREAKS) We've gotta sell that ham, Fish.
I like him.
Yeah, butit's gonna get eaten, son.
Lester, no! Yeah, I'll drink to that.
My bloody oath I do.
Think I'd better get your mother.
ORIEL: Show me this pig.
LESTER: But, Orry, I'll get another ham.
We'll smoke it ourselves now you've landed us with it with all your shenanigans.
Yeah, but we CAN'T, Orry.
We've gotta keep it.
What do you mean it SPEAKS to him? It speaks.
Speaks.
It sp Well, in a manner of speaking, it diddidit speaks to him.
And he's latched onto it.
You think of that poor boy, Orry.
There is not a day goes past when I don't think of this poor child.
Yeah, I know that, love.
I know.
I know.
But, look, hehe's befriended it.
Alright.
The pork stays.
Talking pig.
it's always the miracles you don't need.
Oh-ho-ho-ho, marvelous woman! (LAUGHS) Hey, did you hear that, pig? PIG: Don't worry, sport.
She'll be having me pay rent by Christmas.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Yeah, too right, sport.
(LESTER AND HAT SING) .
P Do-wacka, do-wacka I Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do I I hear tell you're doing well " Good things have come to you" " I wish I had your happiness" "And you had a do-wacka, do-wacka" "Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do" " They tell me you're running free" "Your days are never blue" "I wish I had your good luck charm" "And you had a do-wacka, do-wacka" "Do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do" " I see you running down the street in your big Cadillac" " You got girls in the front " I got girls in the back" " And way in the back you got money in a sack" " Both hands on the wheel and your shoulders right back" " Ding, ding, ding, ding " Well, I never" "I hear tell you're doing well" " Good things have come to you" "I wish I had your happiness " ROSE: What have you got there? Couple of bottles for Mum? Me first pay.
Had to spend it on somethin', didn't I? (SQUAWKS) Oh, bugger me.
Looks like he's done a flit " I wish I had your good luck charm .
" (CLINK!) " Do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka-do" " I see you driving down the street in your big Cadillac" " You got girls in the front You got girls in the back" " And way in the back you got money in the sack" " You got hands on the wheel and your shoulders right back" "Ding, ding, ding, ding " Well, I never" "I hear tell you're doing well" " Good things have come to you" " I wish I had your happiness" " And you had a do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka do-wacka-do " ORIEL: Knew I had one hidden away through there.
(PHONE RINGS) Can you get that? Lamb Smallgoods.
Yes.
(PLAYFUL GRUNTING) (TRAIN WHISTLES) NARRATION: There'd been times Lester thought Fish would have been better off dead.
but he knew life was something you didn't argue with, because whether you barracked for God or nothing at all, life was all there was.
They love those pasties of yours.
Good.
Is he up? He's not even eating.
Well, the boy saw a terrible thing, Orry.
Can't let it beat you.
You have to fight.
Beautiful dayagain.
Gee, there are a lot of sad people there, Quick.
What are you doing with them? What does it mean? Knocks me around to see you like this, boy.
You eat something, eh? (CHICKENS CLUCK) it's a flamin' tragedy, Quick.
That boy (sighs-us) It's an honest-to-the-Lord flamin' tragedy.
But lyin' there is not gonna change it.
Feelin' sorry for the lad's one thing.
Feelin' sorry for yourself's not quite the same.
Look at these poor sods.
You don't wanna end up like them.
You don't have to.
There's no need.
You got a roof over your head.
You got a family.
Wellwe're not much chop, I know.
(CHUCKLES) Eh? (WIND WHISPERS, HOUSE RATTLES) FISH: Quick? Quick Boy? Quickie?! No! (BASHES PIANO REPEATEDLY) Oi, Fish! FISH: No! Bit early, isn't it?! (SLAMS PIANO) Noooo! DOLLY: Sam, stop him! Lester! CHILDREN: Dad! Dad! Dad! (PIANO POUNDS REPEATEDLY) Shut up! Dad! (FISH CONTINUOUS SHOUTING AND PIANO BASHING) FISH: Noooo! Get off it, you thick-headed spaz! (PIANO SLAMS REPEATEDLY) Christ almighty, boy! FISH: No! Don't do that! NO! You care so much about someone from school! Why not spare a thought for your own flesh and blood? FISH: Don't do that! (POUNDS PIANO) No! Noooo! Don't go! Don't go! (PIANO POUNDS REPEATEDLY) Listen to him.
Listen to him! You know damn well your poor brother's busted in the head.
He'll never come good, heâll never grow up right.
The least you can do is let him be happy! (PIANO BANGS) He waited like a dog, like a dog for you, Quick! And I won't bloody have it any more! BOY: Oi, Fish! Shut up or I'll fart on your forehead! Yeah, alright, dry up and suck a lemon! (PIANO BASHING CONTINUES) You and me, we understand about Fish.
We were there.
We were there.
Huh? We owe him things, Quick.
I don't.
.
(sighs-us) You know We've got a big debt to pay.
You and me.
I don't need magic or a miracle from you, Quick Lamb.
I just want you to be his brother.
Alright? And don't you forget about him, boy.
Or your life won't have been worth living.
(PIANO BASHING CONTINUES) Get up! Get your brother! Go and fetch him.
Oriel! Hat, Elaine! Red! Don't open the shop! No school today! We're going fishing! FISH: That way, this way, that way, this way, that way, this way (MUMBLES) this way LESTER: Come on, Fish.
Let's take this little wriggler for a walk, eh? Bring your mate.
Watch your mum's line there.
There we are.
You can help Red and your little brother build a sandcastle, eh? QUICK: it'll be right, Mum.
What you thinking? Family.
You know, you never asked me about my family.
I just never imagined you with anyone but us.
I do come from a family, Quick.
I was a little girl, you know, once.
Bet you were bossy then too.
I was a farm girl.
But when I was about six, it all went.
Fire.
Our dad taught us that when there's a fire, you run to the cellar.
There it comes.
There it is, suddenly, in the home paddock, like a wall, licking its spit in.
So I run to the house.
Bossy, Quick.
But obedient too.
And there I am, in the cellar.
Wondering where everyone else is.
Feeling the heat overhead.
So scared.
I don't think I was in my right mind.
When I finally crawled out I saw them my mother, my sisters, my brothers - like black stumps.
In the yard.
Still smokin'.
It was as though I'd walked into hell.
That's what hell's supposed to be like.
All that burnin'.
And I just stood there next to their smokin' bones until Dad rode in.
Out of my head, I was, trying to scrape the picture of it off my eyes.
Mum, I don't I know.
You see something a body isn't meant to witness.
And the truth is you can't unsee it.
They're never gone.
You can't unfeel them.
But you can endure.
You will endure.
Strong people endure.
Because that's all life leaves you.
Just being strong? Yep.
That's all? Mm-hmm.
That and being right.
Here! Eh! You'll never guess.
On (sighs-us) it's cheap, love.
Oh, Lester, you didn't! Yeah.
Man can always do with a boat, I reckon.
We'll whack it on the back of the truck, Bob's your uncle.
It'll never fit on that, mate.
Besides, it weighs the best part of a tonne.
I'm just giving you the gen.
Righto.
OK, OK.
Well You want to row it home, then, boy? On me own? Welland take someone.
Up the river, you mean? No, you'd go around the world, but up the river'd be a bit quicker.
Hey? (LAUGHS) Put her in at Crawley, alright? Crawley's pretty close to home.
HAT: Don't be daft.
It's miles, Dad.
God, you're a fool.
No.
No.
I can do it.
I won't have it.
Mum, it's alright.
I can row! He can't do it on his own.
Yeah, I know, I know.
I know that, yep.
No, he needs a first mate.
Yeah, well, I'd go myself, but the .
.
missus can't drive the truck.
See? So Fish.
I want Fish.
Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Fish Boy! Yeah, alright.
Alrighty.
On the water with Quick Boy! If he wants to.
If you're careful.
Fish Boy! Alright, then.
LESTER: Right, I'll get you sorted out, Fish Boy.
Stop wriggling around.
Keep still.
You'll be right, mate.
You'll be right.
There we go.
Good boy.
Good boy.
Head for the north side, Quick.
Alright, you hug the bank as much as you can.
I'll meet you at Crawley.
You pull in at Crawley.
Be good, Fish! It'll be apples, love.
You'll see.
People murder each other, Lester.
You get to the point where you can understand it.
(QUICK GRUNTS) You right? Yeah My oath.
Cracker boat, eh? Cracker.
It's ours, Fish.
Whacko! Whoa, whoa! (LAUGHS) Come on.
Whacko! Come on, Shirley, show us your boosies.
Your boosies, your Knockers.
Shirley Baxter doesn't have mutton lumps, Teddy.
Leave her alone.
Tell your father I'm going out.
Where? Just out.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES) (QUICK GRUNTS) Long, Quick? Yeah, it's a fair whack, alright.
Can I do? Do what? Do thesticks, the rowers.
Yeah.
We'll share.
That way we'll go faster.
(MUSIC ON RADIO PLAYS) RADIO ANNOUNCER: ABC presents 'The Lawsons' by Gwen Meredith.
Episode 539.
There's a certain amount of mystery concerning some of John Lawson's sheep, which were (CHATTER ON RADIO IN BACKGROUND) (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES) SAM: The Yanks have just wiped out a whole Jap city with an atomic bomb.
Stopped the little buggers.
Just chops.
Tea fit for a king.
How's school? Good.
That's the ticket.
Rosie.
People can't help being who they are.
(SIGHS) (DOOR SLAMS) (BELL DINGS) (BELL DINGS) Sing, Quick.
Sing what, mate? Songs.
Come on, singing! (SINGS) " D'ye ken John Peel" " With his bollocks on a wheel" " And his cock bashed in" " And his eye in a sling" " And he's lying on the grass" " With a candle up his arse" " And they can't get it out" " Till morning" " Morning" " Morning! " (KNOCK AT DOOR) Slip down the street and get your mum, will you? No.
Get someone else.
(LESTER HUMS) (ENGINE SPUTTERS) Oi! Rosie! Come home, Mum.
Later, love.
We'll be home directly.
Come on, love.
You'll have the law on us.
Hey.
Leave her be.
Time to go, Doll.
(DOG BARKS) Can't even show a bit of loyalty to the bloody nation.
Bloody humiliating, if you ask me.
You goody two-shoes.
Little princess.
(GIGGLING) The water (GIGGLES) The water (GIGGLES) Are we in the sky, Fish? Yeah The water.
The water.
I fly.
(GIGGLES CONTINUOUSLY) We're asleep, aren't we? No.
The water.
(GIGGLES) (LAUGHS) (BOTH LAUGH) (BUMPING) (CREAKING) (BUMPING) (CREAKING) LESTER: Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! Stupid, stupid.
(SIGHS) You'd think a man'd learn about rivers.
You'd swear a man'd smarten up.
Oh.
Oh, stupid, stupid, stupid! (HOUSE RUMBLES) (CREAKING) (BELL DINGS REPEATEDLY) Ohh! Ohh! Ohh! (GRUNTS) Ahh! Ohh! (LAUGHS) Boy! Ohh! You little beauty! Ohh, boys! You're here! Little beauty! Ohh, Quick, thank God! Good boy! Hey, Quick, come here, son.
Ohh, come here.
Fishy.
Ohh! Ohh, mate! I was so worried about you.
(QUICK LAUGHS) Ohh! (LAUGHS) You did it! You did it! Little beauty.
(SIGHS) Come on, boys, not far to go.
Come on, Fish.
Put your back into it, son.
(LESTER LAUGHS) Oh, your poor hands! Hungry.
Eh, ran out of petrol, love.
No juice, no money.
No brains, no wonder.
Inside.
Oh, Orry? Run a bath.
Then you can give me a hand after you've finished your breakfast.
Yeah, but they're They're fine, love.
There's a list of the morning's orders on the icebox.
Baxters have promised us 20 pounds of butter by 8:00.
Then you can help me with the furniture.
MAN ON RADIO: Ladies and gentlemen The water.
The water.
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia The water.
.
.
Mr J.
B.
Chifley.
CHIFLEY: Fellow citizens Water! .
.
the war is oven The Japanese government has accepted the terms of surrender Water! .
.
Imposed by the Allied Nations, that the hostilities will now cease.
The reply by the Japanese government to the note sent by Britain, the United Nations (GIGGLES) "the USSR and China" "has been received and accepted by the Allied Nations.
" "At this moment let us offer thanks to God.
" FISH: Water! Let us remember those whose lives were given that we may enjoy this glorious moment and may look forward to a peace which they have won for us.
Let us remember those whose thoughts, with proud sorrow You can help Hat and Elaine with my things.
(GRUNTS) Don't you let Quick carry anything.
I'll bandage those hands when the ointment has sunk in.
Yeah, but whatwhatwhat's this? It's all there ready and waiting in the hall.
Lamp, stand, bed.
So, what, you're .
.
you're moving out here, outside, in the outdoors? Outside, in the outdoors.
Done it before.
Orielwe gotta stick together.
We are together.
(HAMMERING) NARRATION: No-one ever really knew why Oriel Lamb moved out into the backyard at Cloud Street.
Not even SHE knew.
What do you want from me? But whatever else she was, Oriel was not the sort of woman to argue with a living, breathing house.
CHIFLEY ON RADIO: I'd be justly proud of everything they have done.
I'm sure that you would like me to convey to the commanders of the fighting forces the warmest thanks for their skill, efficiency and great devotion.
Especially do I mention General Douglas MacArthur; for whom we have so much in common and with whom we shared the dangers when Australia was threatened with invasion.
In your name I offer to the leaders of the United Nations our congratulations and thanks.
We join with the United States in a common regret that their inspiring leaden the late Mr Roosevelt, did not live to see this day.
We thank his successor President Truman, for the work he has done.
Australians too will feel their happiness tinged with sorrow that another man who gave his all was not spared to be with us today.
That man was John Curtin.
To Mr Churchill, Generalissimo Stalin and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek go the unstinted thanks of free people everywhere for what they have done for the common cause.
Especially do we honor Mr Churchill, with whom in the dark days, to use his own words, we had the honor to stand alone against aggression.
And now our men and women will come home - our fighting men with battle honours thick upon them from every theater of wan Australians stopped the Japanese in their drive south, just as they helped start the first march towards ultimate Victory in North Africa.
Australians fought in the battles of the air everywhere and Australian seamen covered every ocean.
(SPEECH CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)