Sisters (2017) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1 & 2
1 [GENTLE UPBEAT DRUMS.]
Shit! Shit! [TUNE TO CHI-LITES' ARE YOU MY WOMAN?.]
- [MAN SCATS IN BARITONE.]
- [OTHERS HARMONISE IN HIGHER PITCHES.]
Seems to be a misunderstanding 'Bout who you belong to I'm tired of he saying, she saying who's your john I don't know where he came from But he better go back where he's been 'Cause I don't want my heart broken Don't wanna commit no sin 'Cause I'm so tired Oh, you set my soul on fire I'm so tired Well, you set my soul on fire Are you my woman? Tell me so - [SCREAMS.]
- [SCREAMS.]
Sorry, sorry! God! Sorry! Oh, I mean It's OK.
Your hair's good.
Thanks Hello.
- Julia? - Yes.
Who else would it be? [LAUGHS.]
Oh Sorry.
That came out wrong.
Oh, I'm so nervous.
Say something! [LAUGHS.]
You're not like your photo.
Really? Oh, sorry.
- I'm Sam - Yes.
- to complete the introductions.
- Sam, yes.
Hi.
Do you want a drink? Martini.
Sure.
[LAUGHS.]
Two martinis, please.
The truth is I'm just I'm taking a break from my life and, uh so my my father is dying, basically.
- I'm sorry to hear that.
- Oh, no, no.
I don't want your sympathy.
Um But my mother's already gone, and I don't have any brothers or sisters, so it's just me and I just wanted to put on a nice dress and be a woman meeting a man out in the world and, you know, just feel alive and, like, alive.
I But the thing is, I'm nursing my dying father, as I said, and, um I want sex.
Yeah, I really want sex.
- Uh! - Uh! - Yeah! - Uh! Uh! - [MOANS.]
- [MOANS.]
[LAUGHS.]
Oh! Sorry.
I'll let the agency know you stayed longer.
NURSE: Not a problem.
Goodnight.
I rode my bicycle past your window last night I rollerskated to your door at daylight It almost seems like you're avoiding me I'm OK alone, but you've got something I need Well, I got a brand-new pair of rollerskates You got a brand-new key I think that we should get together - And try them out, you see - [CROCKERY CLATTERS.]
Ooh.
Dad? Mmm Time? Is it? It's time for this.
Here.
- There you go.
- Oh Whoop.
Let me have the television.
You're bright-eyed this morning.
- Where's the remote? - Uh somewhere.
Has the paper come yet? I'll bring it up.
Which channel? Oh, no here.
Give it.
Give it, give it.
Whoa NEWSREADER: The veteran star died peacefully in her sleep aged 98.
Oh, another one fallen off the perch.
Recapping our top stories this morning, and severe flooding in northern New South Wales continues, with the Prime Minister declaring a state of emergency.
And shocking news from Melbourne, where a pioneer of IVF has delivered a revelation that will send shock waves through the community.
Julius Bechly, the Nobel Prize winning reproductive scientist, has published an open letter announcing that over his 30-year career, he supplemented his own sperm in place of that many infertile fathers.
The deception may have resulted in the births of more 100 children.
MAN: And playback! When you sneeze, sneeze, sneeze Achoo, achoo! In the autumn leaves Achoo, achoo! If you please, please, please Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
There you go, Farmyard Frank.
Oh, Miss Roxy! All that sneezin's got me tuckered out! Cut! Cut, cut! So it's "please, please, please", then "autumn leaves".
Are you serious? Does that does that really matter? [SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Just, um Can I just take one second? Can I have my bag? OK, let's reset.
OK, kids.
Hand actions, hand actions.
Great! Playback! [LISTLESSLY.]
When you sneeze, sneeze, sneeze Achoo, achoo! In Achoo, achoo! Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
- Roxy? - Sorry.
- Roxy! - Sorry.
Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
Sorry, I OK, yep.
OK.
Cut.
So can we get the kids out, please? Clear some space.
Thank you! - MAN: Some water? - Yeah.
Roxy Can we grab a bottle of water, please, over here? WOMAN: Honestly, I can't guarantee no-one is going to talk if this keeps happening.
WOMAN: It won't.
Oh, my God, these pills are a hundred times more powerful than a regular painkiller.
- I mean, where did she even - MAN: Diane.
Diane.
Hello, love.
What's going on? It's alright.
The shoot's over, love.
It's over.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
Um they're just they're those They're just if I was told to take one if my shoes get really uncomfortable, so I had to take one.
I sincerely hope no-one on the production Has someone told you to take these? Don't worry about that now! Look, just have have a sip, love.
Focus on feeling better.
And nobody's angry.
Nobody's angry.
Nobody's angry.
Honestly, it was one pill! I swear I don't need to go to rehab.
It's not rehab.
It's a refocus centre.
Just a few days, love.
That's all we ask.
I don't even know if it was that pill! I didn't have breakfast this morning and I think I've got an ear infection! Look, Roxy, I know that you probably can't see it now, but this is what we call a defence mechanism.
That doesn't even make sense! No, you don't you don't understand.
I do not have a drug problem.
The only problem is when we shoot five eps in one day.
It's not a problem.
It's a journey.
- Listen to me.
Listen! Mum! - It's a journey.
It's a long journey.
And your father and I want you to know that we are partners with you on this journey.
- Aren't we, Ron? - We are.
Now get in the car.
We're doing this because we love you.
Oh, for fuck's sake, Ron! Get a wriggle on.
Friggin' paparazzi will be here any second.
When you I'm I'm sorry.
I I Just tell me what you like and what you don't like.
When we have sex you're all on top of me.
And you're up in my face and it's all just hair and grunting and I don't like the intimacy.
I think intimacy's my problem.
No, no.
What were you gonna say? [SIGHS.]
Don't flick my nipples.
I don't like it.
- Don't flick your nipples? - No, don't.
It's always just too hard or too soft.
Just leave 'em alone.
And when you pat my stomach Just don't pat my stomach.
OK.
I I promise I won't pat your stomach again.
And when you go down there, Tim Well, you've never liked that.
Well, when you do it, it's just wrong.
OK, that's not helpful, Edie.
You need to be more specific.
Right.
Well Uh It's the pressure, Tim, with your tongue.
It's just - [SIGHS.]
- Yes? What is it about the pressure with my tongue? Step it through for him.
It's way too heavy.
It's like you're starving.
Well, I've gone online for pointers, I've spoken to other people You've spoken to people? - Yeah.
- Are you serious? Who have who have you spoken to about this? Well, it doesn't matter who I've spoken to.
- It does! - Are you sure that it's my technique? No.
I mean Yeah.
No.
It's it's probably me.
Actually, it is.
It's me.
It's it's my fault.
Edie, that's a cop-out.
I will try harder.
Don't you think for our marriage to survive, your body just needs to love my body? I know that's not everything that marriage is, but it seems to me like that is the one thing that you can't cure with therapy.
Well, that's depressing.
[SIGHS.]
I feel really bad for the things I said in there.
Don't feel bad about being honest.
Oh, God.
Is this the right thing we're doing? I hope so.
Ooh see, I like it when you do that.
Which way are you going? - That way.
- That's the long way.
Is it? - WOMAN: He's waiting.
- Thanks, Amanda.
That's the password for the wifi.
Don't we already have a password? Yeah, but that wifi didn't work.
This is for the new wifi.
- The working wifi.
- Hopefully! Great.
Thank you.
- Is everyone here? - Yep.
Ready to go.
OK.
- Oh, file, file, file - There.
- Hi, Tim.
- You're a bit behind time, Edie.
We've got the Ky Emerson litigants to brief.
- Yes.
I'm ready.
- OK.
So we just need to prep them for the months ahead, because once we file - They need to know what they're in for.
- Yep.
So I'm gonna reassure them that we're a team and we're gonna be in for the long haul.
- And I'll fire them up.
- Yes, please.
There's this too.
I thought you should see.
Bechly Institute.
Julius? What? Using his own sperm? - No way.
- Poor Julia.
Show them in.
[PHONE RINGS.]
WOMAN: Bechly Institute.
Please hold the line.
- [PHONE RINGS.]
- Bechly Institute, please hold.
I've run out of phone lines.
I'm only catching about a fifth of the calls that are coming in, and all I'm saying is, "Please hold.
" OK.
We're gonna have to record a message telling people that if they are former clients and they have concerns, to leave their details and we'll get back to them.
Is a statement coming? Working on it.
Anyone coming in today reschedule.
I've done that.
Mr and Mrs Hobbs are here already, though.
- They got in early.
Should I? - No.
I can see them.
Isaac did you know about this? - No.
- [PHONE RINGS.]
Bechly Institute, please hold.
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hello.
- What's going on? Oh um I don't know.
He didn't tell you that he'd written to the paper? - Julia? - Um Oh, I posted a letter a few days ago addressed to the editor, but he writes to them all the time, so usually to take issue with grammar and But he didn't tell you what was in the letter? He didn't hint, even? No.
I He must have a reason.
Yeah, there must be an explanation.
There must [GASPS.]
Maybe it's, um his medication.
OK.
I'm gonna come over.
Don't worry.
I'll be right there.
Hang on.
Julius quite the prank you've played on us.
Unless it's not true.
Dad, has there been a mistake? The clinic has to release a statement.
And, uh Julia - well - I'm fine.
I don't think that's true.
Whatever Dad's done, there's reasons.
There's mitigating circumstances.
I'm not worried, Dad.
The paper said that over the course of your career, maybe 30 years you used your own sperm.
Mmm.
Did you, uh keep records of which samples you've tampered with? No.
Uh You must have some idea.
Some of them You must remember.
Uh, well, there's no formal, uh list.
I'm gonna go make some tea.
When I look up from my pillow I dream you are there With me Though you are far away, I know you'll always be near To me I go to sleep Sleep And imagine that you're there With me I go to sleep Sleep And imagine that you're there With me [SOBS.]
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hi.
- Uh - Where are you? - Oh, I, um I just realised we were out of milk, so yeah, I just ducked out to get some.
- I'll be back in a minute.
- OK.
Bye.
[HANGS UP.]
Could've been anything, you know.
Setting fires.
Cutting yourself.
- [SIGHS.]
- Anything.
It's just whatever gets rid of that noise in your head, you know? - Yeah.
- And for me it was flashing.
Just the right tit, never the left.
Oh.
NEWSREADER: pioneer of IVF has delivered a shocking revelation.
Julius Bechly, the Nobel Prize winning reproductive scientist, has published an open letter announcing that over his 30-year career, he supplemented his own sperm in place of that of many infertile fathers.
The deception may have resulted in the births of over 100 children.
REPORTER: Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! How have you reacted to Mr Bechly's actions? REPORTER: Have you spoken to Julius Bechly? The actions of Julius Bechly have brought shame to this institute and to the whole field of reproductive science.
We do not endorse his actions, and we will be launching a thorough investigation into every one of his cases.
It will take time, and I apologise.
You're a close friend of Julius Bechly.
He has been my mentor and friend since I came to work at the Bechly Institute as a young postgraduate.
I condemn his actions in the strongest terms.
What Julius has done is a despicable deception perpetrated against innocent people over decades.
He has negated a lifetime's work.
Are you disappointed? I will never forgive him.
Ah! [LAUGHS.]
Were you or any of the staff aware of this indiscretion? - [JOURNALISTS CLAMOUR.]
- Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! But that definitely was the clinic you went to, wasn't it? I really think you're barking up the wrong tree here, love.
I remember when I was little, that doctor was in the paper, he'd won a prize.
And Mum said, "He was the doctor that helped us have you.
" I remember his funny cheeks.
You, young lady, are just looking for a distraction.
That is all this is.
It's not a distraction.
It's my whole identity.
He he would've helped hundreds of couples.
Thousands! So, you admit, it was him? The important thing right now is for you to focus on your treatment.
I knew it! For God's sake, you've only been there for five minutes! Yeah, well, all the counsellors here say that the most important thing is to get to the root cause.
What what if this is is my root cause? - Of what?! - Of everything.
Why why nothing feels right.
Why Why I can't get through the day.
Why Why Dad and I look nothing alike.
Wha?! I think we look alike! [SIGHS.]
You need to come and pick me up.
You need to give the treatment time to work.
You cannot leave me here when all of this is happening.
This is not a healthy conversation.
- I'm hanging up.
- No! I love you.
- [DIAL TONE.]
- [WHIMPERS.]
[RECEIVER CLATTERS.]
Fuck.
[SIGHS.]
[HUFFS.]
[VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRS.]
[SIGHS.]
- Hi.
- Hey.
So, you've seen the news? Yes.
Yes.
That flooding in New South Wales, that's terrible.
No, Mum.
Can you engage with this, please? What do you know? [SIGHS.]
Do you like yourself? - What? - I just I just want to establish that first.
Because, if you do, then Mum, you told me that I was conceived using sperm from an anonymous donor.
I see you're not gonna have a sense of humour about this one.
Humour, Mother? Yes, Mother, because you didn't have a father.
You know? I'm your one and only parent, just little old me.
And you are you beautifully are because of that.
OK, you are being really combative right now.
- I'm not.
I'm not.
- You are.
I just want to remind you that, you know, we were a really good team.
We didn't have anyone else, - but we didn't NEED anyone else.
- You're giving me statements of - personal policy now.
- I'm not.
I'm not.
I'm not.
I'm just Just - You didn't miss out on anything.
- Can you just stop? And take this seriously, alright? Because, if Julius is my father, then - it really matters to me.
- OK.
OK.
He's your father.
There you go, the secret's out.
I mean, has your life changed? Ugh [LAUGHS BREATHLESSLY.]
Wow.
You told me it was an anonymous donor.
[SIGHS, TUTS.]
Look, Julius Bechly, he helped a lot of women I mean, he helped me.
You made this - decision for me, about - Oh Parents make a lot of decisions for their kids, honey.
Yeah, yeah, they do, they do.
But this one was about who I am as a person in the world.
Because you knew who my father was and it's it's someone I've known my entire life.
Were you ever gonna tell me? No.
Because, well, he's a narcissist.
- I mean, you know, that's what he is.
- Oh, for God's sake.
So, look, he is not a father, he is a donor.
- And you didn't miss out on anything.
- He is a father.
He's my father.
He's not your father.
Don't look for a father in him.
I [SNORTS.]
I really don't think he's capable of that.
[TUTS.]
MAN: Mr Hulme! Has Julius Bechly confided in you which of the I've made a statement already.
In which you said Bechly was your mentor.
Can you get off the property, please? I Are you Miss Julia Bechly? - Yes.
- Go inside, Julia.
How have you reacted to your father's revelations, Miss Bechly? Um fine.
What, you're fine with this deception? - What? - Don't talk to them.
Did you aid and abet his activities? - Are the two of you - Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
- Uh, aid and abet? For real? - Yeah.
Don't talk to them.
Sorry.
- Is he awake? - Um, yeah.
JULIUS: You did well.
The personal angle was exactly the thing.
And when you said you would never forgive me, that was perfect.
[CHUCKLES.]
Now, I think you've done a wonderful job protecting the institute, but we should be estranged, you shouldn't come here anymore.
I'm not going to.
Mm mm Yes, good.
Not good.
Nothing that you have done is good.
- Mm? - I meant everything that I said.
- No.
- You've destroyed us.
All of our work.
It's gone.
- Wait a minute - There's a thing called trust.
There's a thing called consent.
There's a thing Yeah You know how our whole field began, women etherised, impregnated, but there was no There was no consent! I know.
I've heard it a thousand times.
[STAMMERS.]
There was no designer element to it.
You just said thank you and went home with your baby.
That doesn't make it right.
Well, it makes a baby, though, that's for sure.
Hm? You did the wrong thing and you knew it.
And if you didn't, you should have.
Shame on you! This is me.
I know that that's me.
- Like - INTERVIEWER: Wow.
- Yeah, it was very - That's extraordinary.
It was very, like a deep You know, when you just A knowing.
- Yes.
Yeah.
A knowing.
- A knowing.
What is this? Uh, she's a children's entertainer.
Roxy Karibas.
Farmyard Frank.
Yes, I do She thinks she's Dad's child.
my life, it's because I never knew my father.
What chance did I have? My childhood was [SOBS.]
was stolen from me.
[SNIFFS.]
I just I just want to know my father.
That that's all I want.
To know him.
And to meet any siblings I might have.
- [SOBS.]
- [TURNS TV OFF.]
That's it.
That's how I can turn this into something positive.
What if I welcome it? I mean, these people are my siblings What do you mean by 'welcome it'? They're Dad's children.
If I want to be good to them, then shouldn't I What, invite everyone to lunch? - Exactly.
- I'm joking.
Dad has made me the central hub of this huge wheel.
I can help everyone.
That's the meaning of it.
What are you doing? Julia? Julia.
Hi.
I'm Julia Bechly, Julius's daughter, and, um uh, I guess a lot of people are surprised and confused and, um, possibly angry about what's happened.
But the one thing that we've all found out is that we're connected.
You know, for 30 years this invisible family has existed and we've only just found out about each other.
So I'm going to invite everyone together.
- REPORTER: Your siblings? - Yes.
Yeah.
Um, like a gathering.
Um, oh, like a family reunion, but for the first time.
And uh, we'll collect DNA samples.
And, um I'm going to host it.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Oh, Julia.
Julia, arrivals.
Oh.
Sorry.
Hm? - Hi.
I'm Colin.
Hello.
- Hello.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Oh! No.
- REPORTER: Hello, Julia.
- Hi.
Sorry.
You can't - You can't come in.
- Just It's - Sorry.
No, no, no.
Thank you very much.
I didn't even know I was an IVF kid and then it was on the news, my parents told me, and I'm like, "Holy shit!" - Yes.
- Like, I grew up in WA.
So, I guess, everyone's coming from, like, everywhere.
DNA tests Hello.
I'm Julia.
Hi.
Awesome.
Well, help yourself Julia.
Hello.
OK.
I'll tag you.
I'll tag you.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
Vegetarian sausages there.
Hello.
- Come in, guys.
- Hello.
- Drink, mingle.
- Hello.
- How's it going? - Um, I'm good.
- Good.
Good.
Excellent.
- Yeah.
It's Brothers.
Brothers.
Lots of brothers.
- Hello.
Hello.
- Hi! - G'day.
How are you going? - Hello.
- Oh.
Cool.
- MAN: Yeah.
This could be a sister.
- Oh, God.
- What? - Oh, God.
- Uh, you know them? Oh, yeah.
And I don't want either of them to be my siblings - EDIE: Julia.
- Oh Hello.
They've seen you.
Hi, guys! - Hey.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Hey.
Tim.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Ohh.
What are you doing here? Mum had me after treatment at the Bechly Institute.
[LAUGHS.]
Sorry.
Um You're you're - might be one of - Surprise! Oh! - No.
Sorry - Yeah, I know.
- Drinks? - BOTH: Yes.
- [SIGHS.]
- So, um The "anonymous donor" turned out not to be anonymous.
But we had sleepovers.
Uh, yeah.
And your dad called me 'Sparky'.
How are you feeling, Julia? I don't know.
[CHUCKLES.]
Ah Oh.
You should have one of these.
[CHUCKLES.]
Um, there's one for everyone.
- So, this can be yours.
- Oh.
- Uh, it's a show bag.
- Oh, a family welcome bag.
That's what I was gonna say, but [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
Yeah, and there's, um there's DNA testing information in there, so we can find out for sure.
Does it feel really warm in here? - Mm, nope.
Not overly warm.
- No.
Temperature feels fine to me.
Oh, OK.
- Mm.
- Julia! Hmm! REPORTER: Doctor, what's your role here today? - I'm hoping today can start a new - No, sorry, you can't just film this.
No, no, I do not give you permission to film me.
I do not give you permission.
Sorry, no, they, um they came in with me.
- Uh, no.
They can't be here.
- Uh, just What you are doing is so beautiful, and you should let them film it.
Julia, come with me.
Come with me.
Well, maybe just just hold back.
Hold back.
Maybe just hang back a bit, but don't go.
I will not participate in anything that they are filming, alright? Are you are you OK? Oh.
Yeah.
Sorry.
My mouth is just really dry.
MAN: Hello.
I'm Oscar.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Hi.
I'm Roxy.
- Do you want some more? - Oh.
No, I'm good.
Um Sorry.
Excuse me.
- Hi hello.
- Hi.
Um, I'm Sam.
Yeah, I remember.
[CHUCKLES.]
You two know each other? This is Natalie, my wife.
Oh.
Um, hi.
I I'm Julia Bechly.
Hi.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, do you two know each other, or? Nope.
Oh.
Uh, no.
Uh Sorry.
It's my mistake.
There's so many people here, and, um, yeah, I think there's a Sam that I was talking to earlier.
- [SIGHS.]
- Thank you for hosting this.
You! Oh! Are you a Bechly baby? No.
Uh, that's My parents had IVF at your father's clinic.
Wow.
Welcome.
Excuse me for a minute.
Excuse me everybody! Hello! GUEST: Whoo! I'm Roxy Karibas and I am so excited to meet you all.
Hands up, all the brothers! [MEN CHEER.]
And hands up, all the sisters! Whoo! Whoo.
Whoo [CHUCKLES.]
Wha? [CHUCKLES.]
Three of us! [CHUCKLES.]
Well, isn't that something.
- I prepared a song - GUEST: Whoo! for the occasion.
I feel it in my fingers I feel it in my toes Love is all around me And so the feeling grows It's written on the wind It's everywhere I go So if you really love me Come on and let it show Let it show Everybody! [OTHERS JOIN IN.]
You know I love you, I always will My mind's made up by the way that I feel There's no beginning, there'll be no end 'Cause on my love you can depend Gotta keep the believing, oooh! Thank you very much! Go, family! [CHEERING, APPLAUSE.]
Killer.
Killer! - [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- ROXY: It's amazing.
Yeah.
It was OSCAR: Oh, I'm really excited about Julia.
Who is she [CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
[TAPS ON MICROPHONE.]
Hello? - Hi, everybody.
- [CHATTER DIES DOWN.]
Hello.
Hi.
I am Edie Flanagan and I have known Julia for a very, very long time, actually.
And now it appears we may have more in common.
[CHUCKLES.]
I have set up a Facebook page, because the most important thing is for us to get to know each other, to exchange contact information, so that over the coming weeks and months we can all support each other.
And I really strongly urge you to use the DNA tests that Julia's handed out, because that way we can get a real clear picture of the scale of what has happened here.
Thank you.
[SCATTERED APPLAUSE.]
JULIA: [SLURRED.]
Hello.
Hi! [CHUCKLES.]
Hello, everyone.
I'm Julia.
Um I'm the one who grew up with dad, and, uh I guess I'm the boring one compared to those ISAAC: Julia.
Julia.
[LAUGHS.]
- Um yeah.
- [FEEDBACK WHINES.]
And, um, I just You know, Dad is not well, and, um you know, in his words, he's about to fall off the perch.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah, and I don't like that phrase either.
Um But you know, I'm just Oh! I'm just so glad everyone's here.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Except for one guy, um, but you know who you are, because I accidentally I slept with my brother! [GUESTS MURMUR.]
[GASPS WITH LAUGHTER.]
Sorry.
I sh I shouldn't have said that.
[LAUGHS.]
Uh EDIE: Do you want a drink? - No, thanks.
- Sure? So how was that for you? There are 40 or so people who can potentially trace their genes back to Julius.
Mm.
And there's more out there, lots, lots more.
And? - And what? - What was it like meeting your brothers and sisters? Fine.
[ICE DISPENSER RATTLES, ICE CLINKS.]
The class action you're planning, do you want to tell me about that? - You noticed that? - Yes, I noticed that.
I notice your ideas.
[CHUCKLES.]
Mm.
So, you think I'm getting ideas? - What's this? - I don't know.
Maybe I'm just in the mood.
No, I think you're trying to distract me.
Oh.
Well, you need a bit of distracting sometimes.
OK.
[CHUCKLES.]
I am just gonna have a shower and wash off the day.
- Right.
- I'll be one sec.
Yeah, sure, except you'll be half an hour, and you hope that I'll fall asleep waiting.
And then you'll remember an email that you have to send and you'll disappear and then I'll come and find you asleep on the couch.
- Tim - A class action, Edie? Really? Someone will mount a class action! Come on, you know they will.
This is a car crash! That doesn't mean you have to be the one chasing the ambulance.
I'm going to bed.
I have some emails to send.
Yeah, thought so.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
SONG: We've come a long, long way together Through the hard times and the good Today, I am successful.
Tomorrow, I will be successful.
Every day, I am successful.
You're so rare, so fine I'm so glad you're mine You're so rare, so fine I'm so glad you're mine You make me glad I'm a woman 'Cause you're a feeling, thinking man [ALARM SOUNDS.]
[SNIFFS.]
- Shut up! - [ALARM STOPS.]
[GRUNTS, SIGHS.]
[BICYCLE BELL RINGS.]
OK, so, today's experiment, which is really fun, is called Sink or Float? And, uh, yeah, so, the main question is, will this sink or will this float? Now, I have all sorts of things, I've got some wood, some metal, some plastic, and - [LAUGHS.]
- [AMUSED.]
What's so funny? If I understand the joke, I'll laugh along too, I promise.
Um you Uh-huh? Your brother.
[GIGGLES.]
What about my brother? You sex feeling? [ON VIDEO.]
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah, except for one guy, Um, but you know who you are, because I accidentally I slept with my brother! Fuck! Shit! WOMAN: Roxy, can you tell me about Julia having sex with her brother? Oh, no, no, no, no.
I can't comment on that.
You'd have to ask Julia.
And that footage, it was just one moment.
Is she an alcoholic? She's a lovely, lovely person and the day was beautiful.
It felt like pieces coming together, pieces of a vast puzzle.
But the biggest piece is still of course missing, and that is my father Julius.
And until I meet him, well, this is a puzzle with a hole in it.
Right in the middle.
10:30 and we're on the line with Roxy Karibas at the heart of the [CALL DISCONNECTS.]
Dad! Mum! I was just This is not helping anyone.
It's not helping you and it is certainly not helping your father.
It is not about either of you.
- You know that.
- Of course it is! We don't even know yet, Roxy.
We don't know anything.
But you're acting like it's a done deal.
And you seem so excited about having another father.
No, Dad, I'm not excited, I just I really wanna know.
I want to know the truth.
Don't you? I don't wanna know that you're not my daughter.
I'm so sorry, Dad, but I can't pretend it's not happening.
Well, you could be a little bit more private about it.
You have never been private about anything in our lives.
Well, this is different! This whole business is horrible.
We lost our entire life savings to that clinic.
I was sick as a dog.
And to think now that we might be being betrayed No matter what I find out you will always be my parents.
Always.
Well, as your parents, we are no longer enabling this behaviour.
I am not going back to rehab.
Well, you won't be continuing with this ridiculous quest either.
Not if you're under our roof.
Um Dad, there's some footage from the gathering and it's bad.
It's, um it's mortifying.
I've seen it.
Oh, Daddy, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry that you Well, that's why I did the announcement, to avoid interbreeding.
You're all reaching that age now to have no modesty.
Sorry? Well, it's a bit late to have you all put down now.
You gave me that letter to post to the paper without even the littlest bit of warning about what was in it.
You made me post that letter and now you say, "Oh, I did it to stop interbreeding.
" Well, maybe the best day to have done that would have been the day before I slept with my brother, not the day after, Dad.
- [WHIMPERS.]
- Dad! [GASPS.]
Dad! Dad, can you understand what I'm saying? - [MOANS.]
- You're going to be OK.
Isaac.
- Did you just say Isaac? - Could you wait here, please? [JULIUS MOANS.]
- Me? - Yes.
Um, that's what he said.
I think he wants you to forgive him.
That's not fair.
I already told Edie to come.
I don't know, it just seemed it just seemed fair.
And Roxy called, so I told her too.
I let him have it, that's what triggered this whole episode.
And I just I should have sucked it up, because he's not gonna be around much longer and I'll come.
Thank you.
Cool.
OK.
Thank you.
Thanks for doing that.
I've been really worried about you.
On the way here I was thinking that we have to get free.
- Free? - Yeah.
We've been living under his rules for a long time, you and me, and it's enough.
We're our own people.
We're not his minions, right? - Right.
- The reality of you, it's not what he says it is.
You have to live your own life.
Because you're a unique and beautiful person.
- Yes.
- You've gotta back yourself, OK? Like, go for what you want.
Really go for it because you deserve it.
Yeah, I do deserve it.
[LAUGHS.]
And so do you.
We both do.
We have to, like I don't know, take chances and see what's out there, and You deserve everything you hope for.
Yes! Julia, so do you.
- No, no, no.
No, no.
Sorry.
- Oh! - No, no, I didn't mean that.
- Sorry.
Don't worry.
Hi.
I don't know what I'm supposed to call you.
- Dad.
- You can call him Julius.
- [GIGGLES.]
- [LAUGHS.]
When I first walked in and saw you, at first I didn't feel anything, but [SNIFFLES.]
but hearing you say that one word, Dad it felt like like history.
- Do you mind? - Uh I kind of would mind.
- Please? - OK.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Dad, I was hoping that meeting you would be just the beginning.
I imagined our long conversations into the night.
I wanted to hear all your stories.
Hear about your work and all of your favourite foods, and books.
Waltzing with you on my wedding day, with you in a wheelchair and me spinning you.
Are you sure he's conscious right now? - [JULIUS MOANS.]
- Yeah, I think, um, he's just tired.
[CONTINUES MOANING.]
Maybe I should sing his favourite song.
Do do you know what it is? Orchestra music.
I'll just hum.
[HUMS FUR ELISE BY BEETHOVEN.]
[CONTINUES HUMMING.]
Julius is your father.
[ROXY CONTINUES HUMMING IN DISTANCE.]
Thank you.
It's good to know for sure.
Mm.
What's this? The results of the DNA tests.
Julius is my father.
Ha.
- OK.
- OK.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
- Yeah.
- So, the results? Yeah, I can't tell you.
The results are between the clinic and the potential siblings.
How will I know if people coming forward are authentic? I'll have to ask them for proof anyway, so you may as well just tell me.
I'm sorry, Julia.
You know, Roxy's in there and she just promised to waltz with Dad at her wedding.
- Her tests? - I can't.
I guess I was secretly hoping that she was mistaken.
- What have you got against her? - Are you serious? Yeah.
She's not so bad.
Men.
It is a male thing.
Tim was exactly the same.
How can you not see what she is? She's a bird with a broken wing.
Oh, no, she is not a bird with a broken wing.
She is a bird who won't stop flapping, eating everything in sight and flapping.
And takes up all the space in the room with all the flapping.
Before going into a bigger room and then flapping around more and eating everything up again.
And then shitting on all the other nicer birds.
- Mm.
- You guys are the nicer birds? [SIGHS.]
He wants me to come and stay.
I told him how my parents have rejected me.
Rejected you? Disowned.
It's painful.
But, anyway, Genetic Dad has said I should come and stay.
Is he, though, your genetic dad? Is he? Sister! You're my sister.
- Oh! - Wow.
Oh! I'll just grab some clean PJs for Dad.
Oh, my God, we can totally help.
This is your dad's house? - Oh, you can't stay here.
- Where are we staying, then? - Oh, you can stay with me.
- Oh.
Why can't you stay at a friend's place? I don't really have any friends.
Right.
But you're not broke.
Yep.
Farmyard Frank? You must have been earning money? Well, as a hired performer.
I don't own any of it.
And it's easy to spend the pay cheque.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm not about money.
Cool.
OK.
Are we OK? Do you mean am I OK with finding out that you're my sister? Yes.
Let's start with that.
OK.
Um let's start with that.
Well, with our history, all these years that we were friends, and now it turns out that Friends.
Yeah, I guess I guess we were, like, a version of friends.
I'm trying to find out how you feel.
OK, how I feel? Um, hmm.
Well, you kind of stole my boyfriend.
Right.
Right, yes.
OK, this is exactly what I'm talking about.
You think that I stole your boyfriend.
It's more of an objective fact.
There are no objective facts, first of all.
That's an extraordinary admission from a lawyer.
I didn't steal anything from anyone.
Tim did not belong to you, and do we really have to go into a long list of who did what to who? You brought it up.
Yeah, but I don't wanna fight for control of some idea of the past.
[GROANS.]
I knew you'd do this.
- Do what? - You'd bully me into Bully you.
I'm not How am I bullying you, Julia?! You ask these very loaded, very leading questions, but before I can say anything, you're cutting me off and then I just think if we're facing this, is it not better that we face it together? That's what I want.
Isn't that what you want? You could help me with this, if you want.
Julia?! OK.
Is this your dad's work room? Uh, yeah.
It's his study.
These.
Oh.
Yeah, parents would send them to say thank you.
And these are the pictures he decided to put on the wall? Look, that's me.
Ha.
Oh, my God.
He said there was no formal list.
Like, no formal one.
These are them, aren't they? Dad's children.
Who was the first? I assume Julia.
Oh, I'm not sure.
There were people at the gathering that seemed older, I think.
I'm 30.
- I'm 30.
- Oh, me too.
Gemini.
- Gemini.
- Gemini.
[DUMPS BIKE.]
Hi.
Suppose you're after some explanations too.
You and my mum were friends.
Yes, yes.
And you conceived Edie at my father's clinic.
Yeah, that's right, yeah.
And you knew.
You knew it was with my father's Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Your father.
He helped me, that's right.
How much did my mother know? OK.
I'm I'm gonna tell you what actually happened, alright? Because you've been told your whole life that your mum and dad met, - they fell in love, had a baby.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, that's not exactly what happened.
Um Well, Vita and I, we went together to the clinic to get treatment and your mum met your dad at the clinic when she was conceiving you.
What? Well, it's pretty romantic.
I mean, I really don't know why she felt this need to weave a story of a I think that she got scared and she just wanted you to feel normal.
- Oh.
- Oh, honey, honey.
I know.
I know.
You are upset, of course, but you have been told bullshit your whole life.
And I just think that Vita never imagined that you would find out and I promised, I swore that I wouldn't tell you, and It's just, Julius, he just He ruined it! Didn't he? Oh, Julia, honey.
Julia [SIGHS.]
God.
Fuck! [CRIES.]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Mum.
Sorry.
How is he? He's probably ready to go home soon.
This is the end.
Oh, no, no.
No, it's not the end.
He needs looking after.
Um Sorry, I don't He's been refusing interventions and when he came in he was dehydrated, but now he's rallying.
He's eating, eating well, bowel movements.
Are you sure this isn't some last-minute thing, you know, when someone seems to improve and then No, I think he's on the rebound.
I'll leave you to it.
Amanda, I want to run a square-off with you.
You'll be devil's advocate.
You've got prep materials? No prep, just you and your brain.
- When? - Now.
No, you don't need them.
Just Come on.
The guy uses his sperm instead of other men's, inserting himself into the lives of the people that are paying him, and then he keeps pictures of the children on his wall.
Like trophies.
OK.
What are the damages you want to sue for? Malpractice, wrongful life, wrongful birth.
Being alive isn't an injury that you can sue for.
Yes, that is a good point.
Also, wrongful life cases have lousy precedents.
OK, wrongful conception, then.
It's genetic rape.
Eat.
You're not eating.
In this case, if Julius Bechly hadn't done what he did Spoofed all over everyone.
These people, your siblings, they wouldn't exist at all.
Yes, but they do exist, and therefore they have rights.
Do you agree that Julius did the wrong thing? And by that, I mean that he acted in a manner at odds with ethics.
At odds with the law.
- Yes.
- Alright.
So this case will address that wrongdoing, do you think? I'm asking what you think.
I think anger is exhilarating.
Hate is exciting.
But they aren't the only options.
So This a landmark case and it's right here.
It's career making.
- It doesn't happen every day.
- Uh-huh.
Yep.
So - OK.
- OK.
[MOANS.]
[GASPS.]
So, is this a thing now? Every time you want to see me you just send me a two-word email? "My office.
" Every time I do that, you come.
So yeah.
So, why haven't we gone after Julius Bechly yet? Every five minutes I'm checking the email thinking, "Are we doing this yet? Are we having a meeting?" - Why not? - A lot of reasons.
I'm not convinced it's for us.
It's a medical class action, it's high profile and we're connected to someone involved in it.
- As your partner in this - I'm not convinced.
What would it take to convince you? I'm worried that Edie hasn't processed the full impact of it yet.
So Let's just hold off, OK? I take it back.
I don't think the therapy is helping.
I think you're going backwards.
- Get fucked.
- It's gonna happen anyway, Tim.
Someone will take on Bechly.
If it's us, at least Edie'll have a measure of control over it.
She'd probably prefer that.
- Shall we call her in here? - No, we shouldn't.
And don't start having private conversations with her about it.
She wants to do it, doesn't she? Saying it for the third time now.
I'm not convinced.
Fine.
Thank you.
Tell me honestly, do you ever imagine yourself fucking your therapist? It must happen, right? Has my name ever come up? In therapy? Even once? You're all we talk about.
[FUR ELISE PLAYS ON PIANO IN BACKGROUND.]
Ah.
[SETS TEACUP DOWN.]
How are you? Cool.
I have something to look forward to.
[CHUCKLES.]
That Roxy is something.
[LAUGHS.]
I like her.
I saw that.
Dad.
Um You and Mum got married later.
After she was already pregnant with me.
[FUR ELISE CONTINUES PLAYING.]
Uh, so my question is, um did you do it to boost success rates of the clinic? Or are you just a psychopath with a God complex? You never stopped to think about what these lies would do to people? Or what your confession would do? Huh.
No, because you didn't plan on being around for the consequences.
Well, you're going to be, Dad.
Because you've played with people's lives.
Oh! Do you know what everyone's problem is? - What? - You're all so entitled.
So precious.
You're not even sorry! Well, you're alive.
Your genes are good.
Get on with it.
You see me as your carer.
As your servant.
OK.
Being your daughter has defined me.
That's me, the daughter of the Nobel laureate, but I don't even have that to myself anymore.
I'm glad that you're home and I'm glad that you're looking forward to getting to know your children, but I'm not gonna look after you anymore, Dad.
Wh I'm finished.
You should know I've decided that I am going to pursue the class action against Julius.
Once you begin an action against Julius Bechly, there is no turning back.
I don't want to turn back.
Julia is your friend.
This isn't about Julia, OK? I'm not trying to hurt Julia.
See, I don't know what's more frightening, the fact that you're telling yourself that or that you actually believe it.
Tim, you know, I do really love it when you patronise me but right now I'm actually just not in the mood, - so can we just not go there, please? - You know, Julia has let you in.
She has invited you in.
- Her motives are pure.
- Pure.
Really? Pure? What kind of a word is pure? When has a human being ever had pure motives? - And whose side are you on, Tim? - Yours.
- Really? - I'm on your side.
Everything you do here you're gonna have to live with forever.
I'm trying to make you see that! What I see is my husband defending everyone apart from me.
Because you're making a mistake.
Are you still in love with Julia? - What? - The question was plain.
The question was cheap.
Oh, right, so I'm cheap now as well? Do you have any more terms of abuse you want to maybe chuck at me? You're a shitty friend.
You're a shitty sister.
And you're turning into someone I don't recognise.
Keep up.
Roxy! Are you here? Hello? ROXY: Don't come in! Uh, I'm going to order food.
Pizza, probably.
Oh, OK.
[PHONE RINGS.]
[RINGING STOPS.]
Hey! Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? You're in my house sleeping with my sister after you know how I've been The hospital? I thought that was just - You're like family.
- I don't need any more family! - Julia! - Julia! - What's going on? - Julia.
- Julia.
- It's fine.
I am so sorry.
I don't do this.
- I totally don't.
- It's fine.
You're free people.
- Who are you calling? - Pizza.
- Should I go? - No.
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
Great.
Somebody else is here.
Excellent! Hi.
Tim and I had a fight and it was about you.
Because you're a good person and I'm a bad person.
Maybe I am.
I am.
What are you doing? Just making up somewhere for you to sleep.
Julia, before you offer me somewhere to stay there will be a class action against Julius.
- You? - Yes.
And I think it's only fair that I tell you.
What is wrong with all of you? We're a family.
I We're related! This is our once in a lifetime - chance to be a family.
- I know.
I know.
I get it.
It's a lot to take in, but Julia, he broke the law.
I am not attacking you.
It kind of feels like you are.
And you're still making up the bed.
Well, it's the right thing to do.
Tim was right.
You always put yourself last.
[LAUGHS.]
No, you're following me.
I want to be alone.
Do not film this.
Oh, I You and us and just this Put words around it.
I learnt that in rehab.
There's a difference between being related and being family.
Family takes time and care and effort.
And meals shared and dishes washed and beds made and shared history.
And intimacy.
Not lies and lawsuits and this fundamentally messed up shit.
Sorry.
This whole thing has landed on you and I'm so sorry.
I'll order pizza.
I've got money.
I didn't know you felt I don't.
I do, but [LAUGHS.]
Don't worry about it.
[ORDERS PIZZA.]
[UP-BEAT MUSIC.]
[ALL CHAT INDISTINCTLY.]
I once had a life Or rather life had me I was one among many Or at least I seemed to be But I read an old quotation in a book just yesterday Said you're gonna reap just what you sow The debts you make you have to pay You can do that Can you get I want to know
Shit! Shit! [TUNE TO CHI-LITES' ARE YOU MY WOMAN?.]
- [MAN SCATS IN BARITONE.]
- [OTHERS HARMONISE IN HIGHER PITCHES.]
Seems to be a misunderstanding 'Bout who you belong to I'm tired of he saying, she saying who's your john I don't know where he came from But he better go back where he's been 'Cause I don't want my heart broken Don't wanna commit no sin 'Cause I'm so tired Oh, you set my soul on fire I'm so tired Well, you set my soul on fire Are you my woman? Tell me so - [SCREAMS.]
- [SCREAMS.]
Sorry, sorry! God! Sorry! Oh, I mean It's OK.
Your hair's good.
Thanks Hello.
- Julia? - Yes.
Who else would it be? [LAUGHS.]
Oh Sorry.
That came out wrong.
Oh, I'm so nervous.
Say something! [LAUGHS.]
You're not like your photo.
Really? Oh, sorry.
- I'm Sam - Yes.
- to complete the introductions.
- Sam, yes.
Hi.
Do you want a drink? Martini.
Sure.
[LAUGHS.]
Two martinis, please.
The truth is I'm just I'm taking a break from my life and, uh so my my father is dying, basically.
- I'm sorry to hear that.
- Oh, no, no.
I don't want your sympathy.
Um But my mother's already gone, and I don't have any brothers or sisters, so it's just me and I just wanted to put on a nice dress and be a woman meeting a man out in the world and, you know, just feel alive and, like, alive.
I But the thing is, I'm nursing my dying father, as I said, and, um I want sex.
Yeah, I really want sex.
- Uh! - Uh! - Yeah! - Uh! Uh! - [MOANS.]
- [MOANS.]
[LAUGHS.]
Oh! Sorry.
I'll let the agency know you stayed longer.
NURSE: Not a problem.
Goodnight.
I rode my bicycle past your window last night I rollerskated to your door at daylight It almost seems like you're avoiding me I'm OK alone, but you've got something I need Well, I got a brand-new pair of rollerskates You got a brand-new key I think that we should get together - And try them out, you see - [CROCKERY CLATTERS.]
Ooh.
Dad? Mmm Time? Is it? It's time for this.
Here.
- There you go.
- Oh Whoop.
Let me have the television.
You're bright-eyed this morning.
- Where's the remote? - Uh somewhere.
Has the paper come yet? I'll bring it up.
Which channel? Oh, no here.
Give it.
Give it, give it.
Whoa NEWSREADER: The veteran star died peacefully in her sleep aged 98.
Oh, another one fallen off the perch.
Recapping our top stories this morning, and severe flooding in northern New South Wales continues, with the Prime Minister declaring a state of emergency.
And shocking news from Melbourne, where a pioneer of IVF has delivered a revelation that will send shock waves through the community.
Julius Bechly, the Nobel Prize winning reproductive scientist, has published an open letter announcing that over his 30-year career, he supplemented his own sperm in place of that many infertile fathers.
The deception may have resulted in the births of more 100 children.
MAN: And playback! When you sneeze, sneeze, sneeze Achoo, achoo! In the autumn leaves Achoo, achoo! If you please, please, please Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
There you go, Farmyard Frank.
Oh, Miss Roxy! All that sneezin's got me tuckered out! Cut! Cut, cut! So it's "please, please, please", then "autumn leaves".
Are you serious? Does that does that really matter? [SIGHS.]
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Just, um Can I just take one second? Can I have my bag? OK, let's reset.
OK, kids.
Hand actions, hand actions.
Great! Playback! [LISTLESSLY.]
When you sneeze, sneeze, sneeze Achoo, achoo! In Achoo, achoo! Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
- Roxy? - Sorry.
- Roxy! - Sorry.
Farmyard Frank has got hay fever.
Sorry, I OK, yep.
OK.
Cut.
So can we get the kids out, please? Clear some space.
Thank you! - MAN: Some water? - Yeah.
Roxy Can we grab a bottle of water, please, over here? WOMAN: Honestly, I can't guarantee no-one is going to talk if this keeps happening.
WOMAN: It won't.
Oh, my God, these pills are a hundred times more powerful than a regular painkiller.
- I mean, where did she even - MAN: Diane.
Diane.
Hello, love.
What's going on? It's alright.
The shoot's over, love.
It's over.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, no, no.
Um they're just they're those They're just if I was told to take one if my shoes get really uncomfortable, so I had to take one.
I sincerely hope no-one on the production Has someone told you to take these? Don't worry about that now! Look, just have have a sip, love.
Focus on feeling better.
And nobody's angry.
Nobody's angry.
Nobody's angry.
Honestly, it was one pill! I swear I don't need to go to rehab.
It's not rehab.
It's a refocus centre.
Just a few days, love.
That's all we ask.
I don't even know if it was that pill! I didn't have breakfast this morning and I think I've got an ear infection! Look, Roxy, I know that you probably can't see it now, but this is what we call a defence mechanism.
That doesn't even make sense! No, you don't you don't understand.
I do not have a drug problem.
The only problem is when we shoot five eps in one day.
It's not a problem.
It's a journey.
- Listen to me.
Listen! Mum! - It's a journey.
It's a long journey.
And your father and I want you to know that we are partners with you on this journey.
- Aren't we, Ron? - We are.
Now get in the car.
We're doing this because we love you.
Oh, for fuck's sake, Ron! Get a wriggle on.
Friggin' paparazzi will be here any second.
When you I'm I'm sorry.
I I Just tell me what you like and what you don't like.
When we have sex you're all on top of me.
And you're up in my face and it's all just hair and grunting and I don't like the intimacy.
I think intimacy's my problem.
No, no.
What were you gonna say? [SIGHS.]
Don't flick my nipples.
I don't like it.
- Don't flick your nipples? - No, don't.
It's always just too hard or too soft.
Just leave 'em alone.
And when you pat my stomach Just don't pat my stomach.
OK.
I I promise I won't pat your stomach again.
And when you go down there, Tim Well, you've never liked that.
Well, when you do it, it's just wrong.
OK, that's not helpful, Edie.
You need to be more specific.
Right.
Well Uh It's the pressure, Tim, with your tongue.
It's just - [SIGHS.]
- Yes? What is it about the pressure with my tongue? Step it through for him.
It's way too heavy.
It's like you're starving.
Well, I've gone online for pointers, I've spoken to other people You've spoken to people? - Yeah.
- Are you serious? Who have who have you spoken to about this? Well, it doesn't matter who I've spoken to.
- It does! - Are you sure that it's my technique? No.
I mean Yeah.
No.
It's it's probably me.
Actually, it is.
It's me.
It's it's my fault.
Edie, that's a cop-out.
I will try harder.
Don't you think for our marriage to survive, your body just needs to love my body? I know that's not everything that marriage is, but it seems to me like that is the one thing that you can't cure with therapy.
Well, that's depressing.
[SIGHS.]
I feel really bad for the things I said in there.
Don't feel bad about being honest.
Oh, God.
Is this the right thing we're doing? I hope so.
Ooh see, I like it when you do that.
Which way are you going? - That way.
- That's the long way.
Is it? - WOMAN: He's waiting.
- Thanks, Amanda.
That's the password for the wifi.
Don't we already have a password? Yeah, but that wifi didn't work.
This is for the new wifi.
- The working wifi.
- Hopefully! Great.
Thank you.
- Is everyone here? - Yep.
Ready to go.
OK.
- Oh, file, file, file - There.
- Hi, Tim.
- You're a bit behind time, Edie.
We've got the Ky Emerson litigants to brief.
- Yes.
I'm ready.
- OK.
So we just need to prep them for the months ahead, because once we file - They need to know what they're in for.
- Yep.
So I'm gonna reassure them that we're a team and we're gonna be in for the long haul.
- And I'll fire them up.
- Yes, please.
There's this too.
I thought you should see.
Bechly Institute.
Julius? What? Using his own sperm? - No way.
- Poor Julia.
Show them in.
[PHONE RINGS.]
WOMAN: Bechly Institute.
Please hold the line.
- [PHONE RINGS.]
- Bechly Institute, please hold.
I've run out of phone lines.
I'm only catching about a fifth of the calls that are coming in, and all I'm saying is, "Please hold.
" OK.
We're gonna have to record a message telling people that if they are former clients and they have concerns, to leave their details and we'll get back to them.
Is a statement coming? Working on it.
Anyone coming in today reschedule.
I've done that.
Mr and Mrs Hobbs are here already, though.
- They got in early.
Should I? - No.
I can see them.
Isaac did you know about this? - No.
- [PHONE RINGS.]
Bechly Institute, please hold.
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hello.
- What's going on? Oh um I don't know.
He didn't tell you that he'd written to the paper? - Julia? - Um Oh, I posted a letter a few days ago addressed to the editor, but he writes to them all the time, so usually to take issue with grammar and But he didn't tell you what was in the letter? He didn't hint, even? No.
I He must have a reason.
Yeah, there must be an explanation.
There must [GASPS.]
Maybe it's, um his medication.
OK.
I'm gonna come over.
Don't worry.
I'll be right there.
Hang on.
Julius quite the prank you've played on us.
Unless it's not true.
Dad, has there been a mistake? The clinic has to release a statement.
And, uh Julia - well - I'm fine.
I don't think that's true.
Whatever Dad's done, there's reasons.
There's mitigating circumstances.
I'm not worried, Dad.
The paper said that over the course of your career, maybe 30 years you used your own sperm.
Mmm.
Did you, uh keep records of which samples you've tampered with? No.
Uh You must have some idea.
Some of them You must remember.
Uh, well, there's no formal, uh list.
I'm gonna go make some tea.
When I look up from my pillow I dream you are there With me Though you are far away, I know you'll always be near To me I go to sleep Sleep And imagine that you're there With me I go to sleep Sleep And imagine that you're there With me [SOBS.]
[PHONE RINGS.]
- Hi.
- Uh - Where are you? - Oh, I, um I just realised we were out of milk, so yeah, I just ducked out to get some.
- I'll be back in a minute.
- OK.
Bye.
[HANGS UP.]
Could've been anything, you know.
Setting fires.
Cutting yourself.
- [SIGHS.]
- Anything.
It's just whatever gets rid of that noise in your head, you know? - Yeah.
- And for me it was flashing.
Just the right tit, never the left.
Oh.
NEWSREADER: pioneer of IVF has delivered a shocking revelation.
Julius Bechly, the Nobel Prize winning reproductive scientist, has published an open letter announcing that over his 30-year career, he supplemented his own sperm in place of that of many infertile fathers.
The deception may have resulted in the births of over 100 children.
REPORTER: Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! How have you reacted to Mr Bechly's actions? REPORTER: Have you spoken to Julius Bechly? The actions of Julius Bechly have brought shame to this institute and to the whole field of reproductive science.
We do not endorse his actions, and we will be launching a thorough investigation into every one of his cases.
It will take time, and I apologise.
You're a close friend of Julius Bechly.
He has been my mentor and friend since I came to work at the Bechly Institute as a young postgraduate.
I condemn his actions in the strongest terms.
What Julius has done is a despicable deception perpetrated against innocent people over decades.
He has negated a lifetime's work.
Are you disappointed? I will never forgive him.
Ah! [LAUGHS.]
Were you or any of the staff aware of this indiscretion? - [JOURNALISTS CLAMOUR.]
- Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! Mr Hulme! But that definitely was the clinic you went to, wasn't it? I really think you're barking up the wrong tree here, love.
I remember when I was little, that doctor was in the paper, he'd won a prize.
And Mum said, "He was the doctor that helped us have you.
" I remember his funny cheeks.
You, young lady, are just looking for a distraction.
That is all this is.
It's not a distraction.
It's my whole identity.
He he would've helped hundreds of couples.
Thousands! So, you admit, it was him? The important thing right now is for you to focus on your treatment.
I knew it! For God's sake, you've only been there for five minutes! Yeah, well, all the counsellors here say that the most important thing is to get to the root cause.
What what if this is is my root cause? - Of what?! - Of everything.
Why why nothing feels right.
Why Why I can't get through the day.
Why Why Dad and I look nothing alike.
Wha?! I think we look alike! [SIGHS.]
You need to come and pick me up.
You need to give the treatment time to work.
You cannot leave me here when all of this is happening.
This is not a healthy conversation.
- I'm hanging up.
- No! I love you.
- [DIAL TONE.]
- [WHIMPERS.]
[RECEIVER CLATTERS.]
Fuck.
[SIGHS.]
[HUFFS.]
[VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRS.]
[SIGHS.]
- Hi.
- Hey.
So, you've seen the news? Yes.
Yes.
That flooding in New South Wales, that's terrible.
No, Mum.
Can you engage with this, please? What do you know? [SIGHS.]
Do you like yourself? - What? - I just I just want to establish that first.
Because, if you do, then Mum, you told me that I was conceived using sperm from an anonymous donor.
I see you're not gonna have a sense of humour about this one.
Humour, Mother? Yes, Mother, because you didn't have a father.
You know? I'm your one and only parent, just little old me.
And you are you beautifully are because of that.
OK, you are being really combative right now.
- I'm not.
I'm not.
- You are.
I just want to remind you that, you know, we were a really good team.
We didn't have anyone else, - but we didn't NEED anyone else.
- You're giving me statements of - personal policy now.
- I'm not.
I'm not.
I'm not.
I'm just Just - You didn't miss out on anything.
- Can you just stop? And take this seriously, alright? Because, if Julius is my father, then - it really matters to me.
- OK.
OK.
He's your father.
There you go, the secret's out.
I mean, has your life changed? Ugh [LAUGHS BREATHLESSLY.]
Wow.
You told me it was an anonymous donor.
[SIGHS, TUTS.]
Look, Julius Bechly, he helped a lot of women I mean, he helped me.
You made this - decision for me, about - Oh Parents make a lot of decisions for their kids, honey.
Yeah, yeah, they do, they do.
But this one was about who I am as a person in the world.
Because you knew who my father was and it's it's someone I've known my entire life.
Were you ever gonna tell me? No.
Because, well, he's a narcissist.
- I mean, you know, that's what he is.
- Oh, for God's sake.
So, look, he is not a father, he is a donor.
- And you didn't miss out on anything.
- He is a father.
He's my father.
He's not your father.
Don't look for a father in him.
I [SNORTS.]
I really don't think he's capable of that.
[TUTS.]
MAN: Mr Hulme! Has Julius Bechly confided in you which of the I've made a statement already.
In which you said Bechly was your mentor.
Can you get off the property, please? I Are you Miss Julia Bechly? - Yes.
- Go inside, Julia.
How have you reacted to your father's revelations, Miss Bechly? Um fine.
What, you're fine with this deception? - What? - Don't talk to them.
Did you aid and abet his activities? - Are the two of you - Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
- Uh, aid and abet? For real? - Yeah.
Don't talk to them.
Sorry.
- Is he awake? - Um, yeah.
JULIUS: You did well.
The personal angle was exactly the thing.
And when you said you would never forgive me, that was perfect.
[CHUCKLES.]
Now, I think you've done a wonderful job protecting the institute, but we should be estranged, you shouldn't come here anymore.
I'm not going to.
Mm mm Yes, good.
Not good.
Nothing that you have done is good.
- Mm? - I meant everything that I said.
- No.
- You've destroyed us.
All of our work.
It's gone.
- Wait a minute - There's a thing called trust.
There's a thing called consent.
There's a thing Yeah You know how our whole field began, women etherised, impregnated, but there was no There was no consent! I know.
I've heard it a thousand times.
[STAMMERS.]
There was no designer element to it.
You just said thank you and went home with your baby.
That doesn't make it right.
Well, it makes a baby, though, that's for sure.
Hm? You did the wrong thing and you knew it.
And if you didn't, you should have.
Shame on you! This is me.
I know that that's me.
- Like - INTERVIEWER: Wow.
- Yeah, it was very - That's extraordinary.
It was very, like a deep You know, when you just A knowing.
- Yes.
Yeah.
A knowing.
- A knowing.
What is this? Uh, she's a children's entertainer.
Roxy Karibas.
Farmyard Frank.
Yes, I do She thinks she's Dad's child.
my life, it's because I never knew my father.
What chance did I have? My childhood was [SOBS.]
was stolen from me.
[SNIFFS.]
I just I just want to know my father.
That that's all I want.
To know him.
And to meet any siblings I might have.
- [SOBS.]
- [TURNS TV OFF.]
That's it.
That's how I can turn this into something positive.
What if I welcome it? I mean, these people are my siblings What do you mean by 'welcome it'? They're Dad's children.
If I want to be good to them, then shouldn't I What, invite everyone to lunch? - Exactly.
- I'm joking.
Dad has made me the central hub of this huge wheel.
I can help everyone.
That's the meaning of it.
What are you doing? Julia? Julia.
Hi.
I'm Julia Bechly, Julius's daughter, and, um uh, I guess a lot of people are surprised and confused and, um, possibly angry about what's happened.
But the one thing that we've all found out is that we're connected.
You know, for 30 years this invisible family has existed and we've only just found out about each other.
So I'm going to invite everyone together.
- REPORTER: Your siblings? - Yes.
Yeah.
Um, like a gathering.
Um, oh, like a family reunion, but for the first time.
And uh, we'll collect DNA samples.
And, um I'm going to host it.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Oh, Julia.
Julia, arrivals.
Oh.
Sorry.
Hm? - Hi.
I'm Colin.
Hello.
- Hello.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Oh! No.
- REPORTER: Hello, Julia.
- Hi.
Sorry.
You can't - You can't come in.
- Just It's - Sorry.
No, no, no.
Thank you very much.
I didn't even know I was an IVF kid and then it was on the news, my parents told me, and I'm like, "Holy shit!" - Yes.
- Like, I grew up in WA.
So, I guess, everyone's coming from, like, everywhere.
DNA tests Hello.
I'm Julia.
Hi.
Awesome.
Well, help yourself Julia.
Hello.
OK.
I'll tag you.
I'll tag you.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
Vegetarian sausages there.
Hello.
- Come in, guys.
- Hello.
- Drink, mingle.
- Hello.
- How's it going? - Um, I'm good.
- Good.
Good.
Excellent.
- Yeah.
It's Brothers.
Brothers.
Lots of brothers.
- Hello.
Hello.
- Hi! - G'day.
How are you going? - Hello.
- Oh.
Cool.
- MAN: Yeah.
This could be a sister.
- Oh, God.
- What? - Oh, God.
- Uh, you know them? Oh, yeah.
And I don't want either of them to be my siblings - EDIE: Julia.
- Oh Hello.
They've seen you.
Hi, guys! - Hey.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Hey.
Tim.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Ohh.
What are you doing here? Mum had me after treatment at the Bechly Institute.
[LAUGHS.]
Sorry.
Um You're you're - might be one of - Surprise! Oh! - No.
Sorry - Yeah, I know.
- Drinks? - BOTH: Yes.
- [SIGHS.]
- So, um The "anonymous donor" turned out not to be anonymous.
But we had sleepovers.
Uh, yeah.
And your dad called me 'Sparky'.
How are you feeling, Julia? I don't know.
[CHUCKLES.]
Ah Oh.
You should have one of these.
[CHUCKLES.]
Um, there's one for everyone.
- So, this can be yours.
- Oh.
- Uh, it's a show bag.
- Oh, a family welcome bag.
That's what I was gonna say, but [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah.
Yeah, and there's, um there's DNA testing information in there, so we can find out for sure.
Does it feel really warm in here? - Mm, nope.
Not overly warm.
- No.
Temperature feels fine to me.
Oh, OK.
- Mm.
- Julia! Hmm! REPORTER: Doctor, what's your role here today? - I'm hoping today can start a new - No, sorry, you can't just film this.
No, no, I do not give you permission to film me.
I do not give you permission.
Sorry, no, they, um they came in with me.
- Uh, no.
They can't be here.
- Uh, just What you are doing is so beautiful, and you should let them film it.
Julia, come with me.
Come with me.
Well, maybe just just hold back.
Hold back.
Maybe just hang back a bit, but don't go.
I will not participate in anything that they are filming, alright? Are you are you OK? Oh.
Yeah.
Sorry.
My mouth is just really dry.
MAN: Hello.
I'm Oscar.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Hi.
I'm Roxy.
- Do you want some more? - Oh.
No, I'm good.
Um Sorry.
Excuse me.
- Hi hello.
- Hi.
Um, I'm Sam.
Yeah, I remember.
[CHUCKLES.]
You two know each other? This is Natalie, my wife.
Oh.
Um, hi.
I I'm Julia Bechly.
Hi.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, do you two know each other, or? Nope.
Oh.
Uh, no.
Uh Sorry.
It's my mistake.
There's so many people here, and, um, yeah, I think there's a Sam that I was talking to earlier.
- [SIGHS.]
- Thank you for hosting this.
You! Oh! Are you a Bechly baby? No.
Uh, that's My parents had IVF at your father's clinic.
Wow.
Welcome.
Excuse me for a minute.
Excuse me everybody! Hello! GUEST: Whoo! I'm Roxy Karibas and I am so excited to meet you all.
Hands up, all the brothers! [MEN CHEER.]
And hands up, all the sisters! Whoo! Whoo.
Whoo [CHUCKLES.]
Wha? [CHUCKLES.]
Three of us! [CHUCKLES.]
Well, isn't that something.
- I prepared a song - GUEST: Whoo! for the occasion.
I feel it in my fingers I feel it in my toes Love is all around me And so the feeling grows It's written on the wind It's everywhere I go So if you really love me Come on and let it show Let it show Everybody! [OTHERS JOIN IN.]
You know I love you, I always will My mind's made up by the way that I feel There's no beginning, there'll be no end 'Cause on my love you can depend Gotta keep the believing, oooh! Thank you very much! Go, family! [CHEERING, APPLAUSE.]
Killer.
Killer! - [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- ROXY: It's amazing.
Yeah.
It was OSCAR: Oh, I'm really excited about Julia.
Who is she [CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
[TAPS ON MICROPHONE.]
Hello? - Hi, everybody.
- [CHATTER DIES DOWN.]
Hello.
Hi.
I am Edie Flanagan and I have known Julia for a very, very long time, actually.
And now it appears we may have more in common.
[CHUCKLES.]
I have set up a Facebook page, because the most important thing is for us to get to know each other, to exchange contact information, so that over the coming weeks and months we can all support each other.
And I really strongly urge you to use the DNA tests that Julia's handed out, because that way we can get a real clear picture of the scale of what has happened here.
Thank you.
[SCATTERED APPLAUSE.]
JULIA: [SLURRED.]
Hello.
Hi! [CHUCKLES.]
Hello, everyone.
I'm Julia.
Um I'm the one who grew up with dad, and, uh I guess I'm the boring one compared to those ISAAC: Julia.
Julia.
[LAUGHS.]
- Um yeah.
- [FEEDBACK WHINES.]
And, um, I just You know, Dad is not well, and, um you know, in his words, he's about to fall off the perch.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah, and I don't like that phrase either.
Um But you know, I'm just Oh! I'm just so glad everyone's here.
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Except for one guy, um, but you know who you are, because I accidentally I slept with my brother! [GUESTS MURMUR.]
[GASPS WITH LAUGHTER.]
Sorry.
I sh I shouldn't have said that.
[LAUGHS.]
Uh EDIE: Do you want a drink? - No, thanks.
- Sure? So how was that for you? There are 40 or so people who can potentially trace their genes back to Julius.
Mm.
And there's more out there, lots, lots more.
And? - And what? - What was it like meeting your brothers and sisters? Fine.
[ICE DISPENSER RATTLES, ICE CLINKS.]
The class action you're planning, do you want to tell me about that? - You noticed that? - Yes, I noticed that.
I notice your ideas.
[CHUCKLES.]
Mm.
So, you think I'm getting ideas? - What's this? - I don't know.
Maybe I'm just in the mood.
No, I think you're trying to distract me.
Oh.
Well, you need a bit of distracting sometimes.
OK.
[CHUCKLES.]
I am just gonna have a shower and wash off the day.
- Right.
- I'll be one sec.
Yeah, sure, except you'll be half an hour, and you hope that I'll fall asleep waiting.
And then you'll remember an email that you have to send and you'll disappear and then I'll come and find you asleep on the couch.
- Tim - A class action, Edie? Really? Someone will mount a class action! Come on, you know they will.
This is a car crash! That doesn't mean you have to be the one chasing the ambulance.
I'm going to bed.
I have some emails to send.
Yeah, thought so.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
SONG: We've come a long, long way together Through the hard times and the good Today, I am successful.
Tomorrow, I will be successful.
Every day, I am successful.
You're so rare, so fine I'm so glad you're mine You're so rare, so fine I'm so glad you're mine You make me glad I'm a woman 'Cause you're a feeling, thinking man [ALARM SOUNDS.]
[SNIFFS.]
- Shut up! - [ALARM STOPS.]
[GRUNTS, SIGHS.]
[BICYCLE BELL RINGS.]
OK, so, today's experiment, which is really fun, is called Sink or Float? And, uh, yeah, so, the main question is, will this sink or will this float? Now, I have all sorts of things, I've got some wood, some metal, some plastic, and - [LAUGHS.]
- [AMUSED.]
What's so funny? If I understand the joke, I'll laugh along too, I promise.
Um you Uh-huh? Your brother.
[GIGGLES.]
What about my brother? You sex feeling? [ON VIDEO.]
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah, except for one guy, Um, but you know who you are, because I accidentally I slept with my brother! Fuck! Shit! WOMAN: Roxy, can you tell me about Julia having sex with her brother? Oh, no, no, no, no.
I can't comment on that.
You'd have to ask Julia.
And that footage, it was just one moment.
Is she an alcoholic? She's a lovely, lovely person and the day was beautiful.
It felt like pieces coming together, pieces of a vast puzzle.
But the biggest piece is still of course missing, and that is my father Julius.
And until I meet him, well, this is a puzzle with a hole in it.
Right in the middle.
10:30 and we're on the line with Roxy Karibas at the heart of the [CALL DISCONNECTS.]
Dad! Mum! I was just This is not helping anyone.
It's not helping you and it is certainly not helping your father.
It is not about either of you.
- You know that.
- Of course it is! We don't even know yet, Roxy.
We don't know anything.
But you're acting like it's a done deal.
And you seem so excited about having another father.
No, Dad, I'm not excited, I just I really wanna know.
I want to know the truth.
Don't you? I don't wanna know that you're not my daughter.
I'm so sorry, Dad, but I can't pretend it's not happening.
Well, you could be a little bit more private about it.
You have never been private about anything in our lives.
Well, this is different! This whole business is horrible.
We lost our entire life savings to that clinic.
I was sick as a dog.
And to think now that we might be being betrayed No matter what I find out you will always be my parents.
Always.
Well, as your parents, we are no longer enabling this behaviour.
I am not going back to rehab.
Well, you won't be continuing with this ridiculous quest either.
Not if you're under our roof.
Um Dad, there's some footage from the gathering and it's bad.
It's, um it's mortifying.
I've seen it.
Oh, Daddy, I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry that you Well, that's why I did the announcement, to avoid interbreeding.
You're all reaching that age now to have no modesty.
Sorry? Well, it's a bit late to have you all put down now.
You gave me that letter to post to the paper without even the littlest bit of warning about what was in it.
You made me post that letter and now you say, "Oh, I did it to stop interbreeding.
" Well, maybe the best day to have done that would have been the day before I slept with my brother, not the day after, Dad.
- [WHIMPERS.]
- Dad! [GASPS.]
Dad! Dad, can you understand what I'm saying? - [MOANS.]
- You're going to be OK.
Isaac.
- Did you just say Isaac? - Could you wait here, please? [JULIUS MOANS.]
- Me? - Yes.
Um, that's what he said.
I think he wants you to forgive him.
That's not fair.
I already told Edie to come.
I don't know, it just seemed it just seemed fair.
And Roxy called, so I told her too.
I let him have it, that's what triggered this whole episode.
And I just I should have sucked it up, because he's not gonna be around much longer and I'll come.
Thank you.
Cool.
OK.
Thank you.
Thanks for doing that.
I've been really worried about you.
On the way here I was thinking that we have to get free.
- Free? - Yeah.
We've been living under his rules for a long time, you and me, and it's enough.
We're our own people.
We're not his minions, right? - Right.
- The reality of you, it's not what he says it is.
You have to live your own life.
Because you're a unique and beautiful person.
- Yes.
- You've gotta back yourself, OK? Like, go for what you want.
Really go for it because you deserve it.
Yeah, I do deserve it.
[LAUGHS.]
And so do you.
We both do.
We have to, like I don't know, take chances and see what's out there, and You deserve everything you hope for.
Yes! Julia, so do you.
- No, no, no.
No, no.
Sorry.
- Oh! - No, no, I didn't mean that.
- Sorry.
Don't worry.
Hi.
I don't know what I'm supposed to call you.
- Dad.
- You can call him Julius.
- [GIGGLES.]
- [LAUGHS.]
When I first walked in and saw you, at first I didn't feel anything, but [SNIFFLES.]
but hearing you say that one word, Dad it felt like like history.
- Do you mind? - Uh I kind of would mind.
- Please? - OK.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Dad, I was hoping that meeting you would be just the beginning.
I imagined our long conversations into the night.
I wanted to hear all your stories.
Hear about your work and all of your favourite foods, and books.
Waltzing with you on my wedding day, with you in a wheelchair and me spinning you.
Are you sure he's conscious right now? - [JULIUS MOANS.]
- Yeah, I think, um, he's just tired.
[CONTINUES MOANING.]
Maybe I should sing his favourite song.
Do do you know what it is? Orchestra music.
I'll just hum.
[HUMS FUR ELISE BY BEETHOVEN.]
[CONTINUES HUMMING.]
Julius is your father.
[ROXY CONTINUES HUMMING IN DISTANCE.]
Thank you.
It's good to know for sure.
Mm.
What's this? The results of the DNA tests.
Julius is my father.
Ha.
- OK.
- OK.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
- Yeah.
- So, the results? Yeah, I can't tell you.
The results are between the clinic and the potential siblings.
How will I know if people coming forward are authentic? I'll have to ask them for proof anyway, so you may as well just tell me.
I'm sorry, Julia.
You know, Roxy's in there and she just promised to waltz with Dad at her wedding.
- Her tests? - I can't.
I guess I was secretly hoping that she was mistaken.
- What have you got against her? - Are you serious? Yeah.
She's not so bad.
Men.
It is a male thing.
Tim was exactly the same.
How can you not see what she is? She's a bird with a broken wing.
Oh, no, she is not a bird with a broken wing.
She is a bird who won't stop flapping, eating everything in sight and flapping.
And takes up all the space in the room with all the flapping.
Before going into a bigger room and then flapping around more and eating everything up again.
And then shitting on all the other nicer birds.
- Mm.
- You guys are the nicer birds? [SIGHS.]
He wants me to come and stay.
I told him how my parents have rejected me.
Rejected you? Disowned.
It's painful.
But, anyway, Genetic Dad has said I should come and stay.
Is he, though, your genetic dad? Is he? Sister! You're my sister.
- Oh! - Wow.
Oh! I'll just grab some clean PJs for Dad.
Oh, my God, we can totally help.
This is your dad's house? - Oh, you can't stay here.
- Where are we staying, then? - Oh, you can stay with me.
- Oh.
Why can't you stay at a friend's place? I don't really have any friends.
Right.
But you're not broke.
Yep.
Farmyard Frank? You must have been earning money? Well, as a hired performer.
I don't own any of it.
And it's easy to spend the pay cheque.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm not about money.
Cool.
OK.
Are we OK? Do you mean am I OK with finding out that you're my sister? Yes.
Let's start with that.
OK.
Um let's start with that.
Well, with our history, all these years that we were friends, and now it turns out that Friends.
Yeah, I guess I guess we were, like, a version of friends.
I'm trying to find out how you feel.
OK, how I feel? Um, hmm.
Well, you kind of stole my boyfriend.
Right.
Right, yes.
OK, this is exactly what I'm talking about.
You think that I stole your boyfriend.
It's more of an objective fact.
There are no objective facts, first of all.
That's an extraordinary admission from a lawyer.
I didn't steal anything from anyone.
Tim did not belong to you, and do we really have to go into a long list of who did what to who? You brought it up.
Yeah, but I don't wanna fight for control of some idea of the past.
[GROANS.]
I knew you'd do this.
- Do what? - You'd bully me into Bully you.
I'm not How am I bullying you, Julia?! You ask these very loaded, very leading questions, but before I can say anything, you're cutting me off and then I just think if we're facing this, is it not better that we face it together? That's what I want.
Isn't that what you want? You could help me with this, if you want.
Julia?! OK.
Is this your dad's work room? Uh, yeah.
It's his study.
These.
Oh.
Yeah, parents would send them to say thank you.
And these are the pictures he decided to put on the wall? Look, that's me.
Ha.
Oh, my God.
He said there was no formal list.
Like, no formal one.
These are them, aren't they? Dad's children.
Who was the first? I assume Julia.
Oh, I'm not sure.
There were people at the gathering that seemed older, I think.
I'm 30.
- I'm 30.
- Oh, me too.
Gemini.
- Gemini.
- Gemini.
[DUMPS BIKE.]
Hi.
Suppose you're after some explanations too.
You and my mum were friends.
Yes, yes.
And you conceived Edie at my father's clinic.
Yeah, that's right, yeah.
And you knew.
You knew it was with my father's Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Your father.
He helped me, that's right.
How much did my mother know? OK.
I'm I'm gonna tell you what actually happened, alright? Because you've been told your whole life that your mum and dad met, - they fell in love, had a baby.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, that's not exactly what happened.
Um Well, Vita and I, we went together to the clinic to get treatment and your mum met your dad at the clinic when she was conceiving you.
What? Well, it's pretty romantic.
I mean, I really don't know why she felt this need to weave a story of a I think that she got scared and she just wanted you to feel normal.
- Oh.
- Oh, honey, honey.
I know.
I know.
You are upset, of course, but you have been told bullshit your whole life.
And I just think that Vita never imagined that you would find out and I promised, I swore that I wouldn't tell you, and It's just, Julius, he just He ruined it! Didn't he? Oh, Julia, honey.
Julia [SIGHS.]
God.
Fuck! [CRIES.]
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Mum.
Sorry.
How is he? He's probably ready to go home soon.
This is the end.
Oh, no, no.
No, it's not the end.
He needs looking after.
Um Sorry, I don't He's been refusing interventions and when he came in he was dehydrated, but now he's rallying.
He's eating, eating well, bowel movements.
Are you sure this isn't some last-minute thing, you know, when someone seems to improve and then No, I think he's on the rebound.
I'll leave you to it.
Amanda, I want to run a square-off with you.
You'll be devil's advocate.
You've got prep materials? No prep, just you and your brain.
- When? - Now.
No, you don't need them.
Just Come on.
The guy uses his sperm instead of other men's, inserting himself into the lives of the people that are paying him, and then he keeps pictures of the children on his wall.
Like trophies.
OK.
What are the damages you want to sue for? Malpractice, wrongful life, wrongful birth.
Being alive isn't an injury that you can sue for.
Yes, that is a good point.
Also, wrongful life cases have lousy precedents.
OK, wrongful conception, then.
It's genetic rape.
Eat.
You're not eating.
In this case, if Julius Bechly hadn't done what he did Spoofed all over everyone.
These people, your siblings, they wouldn't exist at all.
Yes, but they do exist, and therefore they have rights.
Do you agree that Julius did the wrong thing? And by that, I mean that he acted in a manner at odds with ethics.
At odds with the law.
- Yes.
- Alright.
So this case will address that wrongdoing, do you think? I'm asking what you think.
I think anger is exhilarating.
Hate is exciting.
But they aren't the only options.
So This a landmark case and it's right here.
It's career making.
- It doesn't happen every day.
- Uh-huh.
Yep.
So - OK.
- OK.
[MOANS.]
[GASPS.]
So, is this a thing now? Every time you want to see me you just send me a two-word email? "My office.
" Every time I do that, you come.
So yeah.
So, why haven't we gone after Julius Bechly yet? Every five minutes I'm checking the email thinking, "Are we doing this yet? Are we having a meeting?" - Why not? - A lot of reasons.
I'm not convinced it's for us.
It's a medical class action, it's high profile and we're connected to someone involved in it.
- As your partner in this - I'm not convinced.
What would it take to convince you? I'm worried that Edie hasn't processed the full impact of it yet.
So Let's just hold off, OK? I take it back.
I don't think the therapy is helping.
I think you're going backwards.
- Get fucked.
- It's gonna happen anyway, Tim.
Someone will take on Bechly.
If it's us, at least Edie'll have a measure of control over it.
She'd probably prefer that.
- Shall we call her in here? - No, we shouldn't.
And don't start having private conversations with her about it.
She wants to do it, doesn't she? Saying it for the third time now.
I'm not convinced.
Fine.
Thank you.
Tell me honestly, do you ever imagine yourself fucking your therapist? It must happen, right? Has my name ever come up? In therapy? Even once? You're all we talk about.
[FUR ELISE PLAYS ON PIANO IN BACKGROUND.]
Ah.
[SETS TEACUP DOWN.]
How are you? Cool.
I have something to look forward to.
[CHUCKLES.]
That Roxy is something.
[LAUGHS.]
I like her.
I saw that.
Dad.
Um You and Mum got married later.
After she was already pregnant with me.
[FUR ELISE CONTINUES PLAYING.]
Uh, so my question is, um did you do it to boost success rates of the clinic? Or are you just a psychopath with a God complex? You never stopped to think about what these lies would do to people? Or what your confession would do? Huh.
No, because you didn't plan on being around for the consequences.
Well, you're going to be, Dad.
Because you've played with people's lives.
Oh! Do you know what everyone's problem is? - What? - You're all so entitled.
So precious.
You're not even sorry! Well, you're alive.
Your genes are good.
Get on with it.
You see me as your carer.
As your servant.
OK.
Being your daughter has defined me.
That's me, the daughter of the Nobel laureate, but I don't even have that to myself anymore.
I'm glad that you're home and I'm glad that you're looking forward to getting to know your children, but I'm not gonna look after you anymore, Dad.
Wh I'm finished.
You should know I've decided that I am going to pursue the class action against Julius.
Once you begin an action against Julius Bechly, there is no turning back.
I don't want to turn back.
Julia is your friend.
This isn't about Julia, OK? I'm not trying to hurt Julia.
See, I don't know what's more frightening, the fact that you're telling yourself that or that you actually believe it.
Tim, you know, I do really love it when you patronise me but right now I'm actually just not in the mood, - so can we just not go there, please? - You know, Julia has let you in.
She has invited you in.
- Her motives are pure.
- Pure.
Really? Pure? What kind of a word is pure? When has a human being ever had pure motives? - And whose side are you on, Tim? - Yours.
- Really? - I'm on your side.
Everything you do here you're gonna have to live with forever.
I'm trying to make you see that! What I see is my husband defending everyone apart from me.
Because you're making a mistake.
Are you still in love with Julia? - What? - The question was plain.
The question was cheap.
Oh, right, so I'm cheap now as well? Do you have any more terms of abuse you want to maybe chuck at me? You're a shitty friend.
You're a shitty sister.
And you're turning into someone I don't recognise.
Keep up.
Roxy! Are you here? Hello? ROXY: Don't come in! Uh, I'm going to order food.
Pizza, probably.
Oh, OK.
[PHONE RINGS.]
[RINGING STOPS.]
Hey! Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? You're in my house sleeping with my sister after you know how I've been The hospital? I thought that was just - You're like family.
- I don't need any more family! - Julia! - Julia! - What's going on? - Julia.
- Julia.
- It's fine.
I am so sorry.
I don't do this.
- I totally don't.
- It's fine.
You're free people.
- Who are you calling? - Pizza.
- Should I go? - No.
[KNOCK AT DOOR.]
Great.
Somebody else is here.
Excellent! Hi.
Tim and I had a fight and it was about you.
Because you're a good person and I'm a bad person.
Maybe I am.
I am.
What are you doing? Just making up somewhere for you to sleep.
Julia, before you offer me somewhere to stay there will be a class action against Julius.
- You? - Yes.
And I think it's only fair that I tell you.
What is wrong with all of you? We're a family.
I We're related! This is our once in a lifetime - chance to be a family.
- I know.
I know.
I get it.
It's a lot to take in, but Julia, he broke the law.
I am not attacking you.
It kind of feels like you are.
And you're still making up the bed.
Well, it's the right thing to do.
Tim was right.
You always put yourself last.
[LAUGHS.]
No, you're following me.
I want to be alone.
Do not film this.
Oh, I You and us and just this Put words around it.
I learnt that in rehab.
There's a difference between being related and being family.
Family takes time and care and effort.
And meals shared and dishes washed and beds made and shared history.
And intimacy.
Not lies and lawsuits and this fundamentally messed up shit.
Sorry.
This whole thing has landed on you and I'm so sorry.
I'll order pizza.
I've got money.
I didn't know you felt I don't.
I do, but [LAUGHS.]
Don't worry about it.
[ORDERS PIZZA.]
[UP-BEAT MUSIC.]
[ALL CHAT INDISTINCTLY.]
I once had a life Or rather life had me I was one among many Or at least I seemed to be But I read an old quotation in a book just yesterday Said you're gonna reap just what you sow The debts you make you have to pay You can do that Can you get I want to know