Bay of Fires (2023) s01e03 Episode Script
Road Kill
1
STELLA: My name is Stella Heikkinen.
My children and I just moved here.
I am living on top of
a floorless drug empire.
The town is full of psychopaths.
Clear off or I'll call the police!
I'm your new neighbour,
Frankie McCleish.
Might be good to have
some new blood in town.
Please tell me that is not Kumar.
They would have done this
if they didn't think he knew
something and passed it on to you.
That new mob are they
gonna be safe down there?
Dunno.
WOMAN: If he asks about
school, say say you love it
but you don't have money
for books or a uniform.
If we're lucky, Uncle Robert will
help us with our money problems.
Do you understand? Where
the hell are my ciggies?
(MUSIC PLAYS IN VENUE)
- Did you take my cigarettes?
- I don't smoke.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MUSIC PLAYS IN VENUE)
- G'day, Tina.
- Just stay here, Brony.
Mummy needs to talk to
the man for a second.
G'day, Gary.
(GUNSHOT)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
- (VENUE DOOR OPENS)
- (PATRONS LAUGH, CHATTER)
(YELLS) Gary!
Fuckin' hell! Get inside, Brony!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(HOOFS CLOP ON APPROACH)
What's happening?
Francis Pike.
The Community. Giving
him a good send-off.
(HOOFS CLOP)
Who or what is the Community?
Religious group.
What, so, they're just gonna
bury him? Just like that?
Yeah.
All Francis wanted was
for this town to prosper.
Sad, isn't it?
Well, I'll certainly miss cheery smile.
He certainly knew how to smile.
Hm
Although sometimes I wondered
if it wasn't about him prospering
at the expense of the town.
Well, we won't ever know now.
No.
- Stay.
- No, I think we need to, uh
feed the pig.
Suit yourselves.
I need to know more
about that new woman.
Why no investigation?
There needs to be an inquest.
- Death by misadventure.
- Must be slippery by the water.
Yeah, especially with a
plastic bag over your head.
Probably a sex thing for him.
Whatever floats your boat.
A man is dead, and you're
not asking questions.
We're not cops. Are you?
Francis Pike may as well be a goldfish
for all the concern around here.
Look, slipped on a rock.
Like I said,
it was an accident.
You don't want to be
overthinking things.
Why is she asking so many questions?
She should mind her own business.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
(DROPS PATTER)
(DROPS CONTINUES PATTERING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Do you have a minute?
Uh Actually, I'm quite busy.
Well, I've located a file
that needs to be investigated.
Sadly, I couldn't read some
of the crucial information
because water has destroyed much of it.
I actually raised the risk
of this happening last year,
and I was duly ignored.
And the file you want actioned?
It's a bit of a mystery.
$18.600.033
paid out in regular payments
to recipients in the same
town from 1994 to 2011.
1994 was a long time ago.
There's an older file.
- No repayments, no
- Well, the good thing is it's ancient history.
Probably some oversight
from the old days.
All the recipients reside
in the same town in Tasmania.
Leave the file with me.
I'll give it a look when I get a chance.
- Did you happen to receive my memo?
- Uh Which one?
The one regarding office etiquette.
It covers numerous topics
that need to be discussed.
There's kitchen protocol,
untidy work stations, etcetera.
Mm. Mm.
I'm happy to plan out
the topics with you.
- Oh, yes.
- Yes, and we can work together.
- Good idea.
- Yes!
You say the money went to Tasmania.
In regular payments.
You know, on reflection,
you're right to be concerned.
These things need to be investigated.
Why don't you
fly over and look into it?
Go to Tasmania?
There's money in the travel budget
and you've never taken any leave.
(LAUGHS) I don't
I don't like Tasmania.
Everybody loves Tasmania these days.
Go there. See what you can find out.
Go hiking. Send us a postcard.
No, I don't like hiking.
I would prefer to investigate from here.
My hunch is you might be onto something.
Thank you so much for
bringing it to my attention.
IRIS: And the unicorns flew down
to their new home on the moon,
where they could eat all
the cheese they wanted.
And that's the end of my story.
Oh, and Francis the real-estate agent
drowned with a plastic bag on his head.
WOMAN: (ON PHONE) Oh,
that's lovely, darling!
- Gotta go, Grandma.
- (PHONE BEEPS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(HORSE SNORTS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(HORSE WHINNIES SOFTLY)
(BODY THUDS LOUDLY)
Death entered the world through sin
and now threatens to destroy
and ruin God's creation.
(FIRE CRACKLES)
The Son of Man shall
send forth his angels
and they shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend them
and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire.
And thus shall the earth
be freed of their pestilence.
(SOMBRE ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(TRACTOR RUMBLES)
(PANTS)
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(PHONE BEEPS)
RECORDING: This service
is no longer activated.
(PHONE BEEPS)
- This service
- (PHONE BEEPS)
Wh
- (PHONE BEEPS)
- This service is no longer activated.
Argh.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Great. Middle of nowhere,
no fuckin' phone service.
What is this shithole?
Fully booked.
I'm not looking for accommodation.
I'm staying in the
nice town up the road.
We're fully booked anyway.
I'm looking for a Graham Gordon Ellery.
He died.
Oh.
GRAHAM: (CALLS OUT) Who's wanting me?
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
(STAMMERS)
My name is Robin Ricketts.
I'm here on behalf of
the Department of Finance.
I've been asked to investigate a file,
and your name appeared on it.
You gave this as your address
back in, uh 1996.
Well, yes, because this is where I live.
Ah.
You've been here this whole
time. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Well, it's a
It's a very nice room.
A large sum of money
was paid out to a number of residents
- living in this town.
- Of course, being blind, the room
- may not be how I remember it.
- It was never repaid.
- It was never signed off.
- It used to have a credenza,
but I kept walking into it.
Right.
There was no tax collected on it.
Well
maybe it was a gift.
(CHUCKLES) The government
doesn't give gifts.
One of the recipients was a family.
I wondered if you know where I can
find Vicky, Jonathan, Edward Stiles.
- Bong Cha!
- Reginald Greene.
Madeleine Kokoris.
- Ohh
- Ali Achmed.
Uh Mei Fong.
Bong Cha!
I would like to talk to a Terence Smith.
Do you know where any
of those people are?
My God, what is wrong?!
Bong Cha, this is not my sandwich.
What happened to my sandwich?
- This IS your sandwich.
- No. This is not my sandwich!
I made it, you stupid
man! This is your sandwich!
(LOUDLY) Ohh
- If you do think of anything
- Ohh
here is my card.
You give a card to a blind man?
- Maybe you can read it out to him.
- Ohh
- I
- Ohh
apologise for any inconvenience.
(LOUDLY) Ohh
Ohh!
How is the sandwich?
It's a perfectly good
sandwich, thank you.
(ENGINE STARTS)
(CAR DEPARTS)
(WIND GUSTS)
- (RADIO STATIC HISSES)
- (OVER RADIO) Can you hear me? Over.
What now?
This is Growling Panther. I
must speak to the Lioness. Over.
What is it, Bong Cha?
We have a visitor in town.
She came to the motel. Over.
Don't feel you have to call me
every time someone drives through.
This is a government
woman. Robin Ricketts.
Asking questions of Graham. Over.
What sort of questions?
She has the names of
lots of people. Over.
What sort of names?
Real names.
She's looking for some
people at your house.
A family called Miles. Over.
- Do you mean Stiles?
- Yes.
Maybe. Over.
Ask him if he brought the money.
Yeah, OK.
(WIND WHISTLES)
Uh
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
OK.
Uh
He says
yes.
Well, where is it?
I'll, uh go get it, yeah?
I'm on it.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Eh?
OK.
He say a third now,
the rest on delivery.
Bay of Fires is a definite ask.
Bay of Fires, definite ask.
Leave it with me, OK?
Ay-ay-ay-ay.
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Mm.
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
OK.
(CLEARS THROAT)
He say, uh
yes, that is confirmed.
And he's all good with the day?
Yes, I will confirm that.
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
- (SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
- Yeah?
OK.
Just call it out!
Uh He say all good!
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
What's he talking about?
He say
we must not meet here again.
Why not? What's the problem?
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Ah! He, uh
He has the vertigo!
Very dizzy!
You have no idea how
problematic this is for us.
What, a mother can't travel with
her children to school anymore?
Not on the same bus.
Reputation ruined on the first day.
We don't have a choice.
I don't have a car.
It's OK, Mum. I don't have a reputation.
(TYRES SKID)
Here we go.
Alright, let's line up.
(RETRO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ON VAN STEREO)
Hey, hey, Julie.
STUDENT: Hey.
Hey!
Where do you think YOU'RE going?
Oh, um I'm going to ride the
bus to school with my children.
I want to make sure they
get off to a great start.
- (SWITCHES OFF MUSIC)
- It's their first day.
Uh The 7:45AM service is a
dedicated school run, alright?
It's children only.
Listen
Manfred,
I don't know you from Vladimir Putin,
but I'm willing to entrust the
lives of my children into your care,
so, the very least you can do is
trust that I will behave myself.
Hm?
Mum, you can sit next to me.
SONG: Stretching on out
and I'm feeling fine ♪
- (TYRES SKID)
- The fool and me ♪
Two fools dancing on
the hands of time, yeah ♪
The fool and me ♪
- And, ohh, oh, wherever we go ♪
- (TYRES SKID)
We keep the spirit free ♪
Hey! Hey, y
You're You are going too
fast. You need to slow down.
- This isn't fast, lady.
- (TYRES SKID)
Driving down the Yungas Road
in Bolivia with no brakes
that was fast.
Yeah, Death Road, they call it.
69 kilometres of switchbacks,
the whole way single lanes.
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
And, let me tell you,
carrying four tonnes of
expired dynamite on the roof
in the middle of a Bolivian summer,
that is no cake walk.
Just slow down.
And keep your eyes on the road.
Well, I will if you stop talking to me.
Calm down, you're scaring the kids.
Alright, listen to this one.
One of the best solos of the
'70s. Let it flow over ya, kids.
Flow over ya.
(GUITAR SOLO PLAYS)
Might be a little better
with stimulants, of course.
(TYRES SKID)
(BIRDS TWITTER)
(RADIO STATIC HISSES)
Oh, we survived that.
(CHUCKLES) Come on, sweetie.
This is it?
There's, like, five people here.
The bike shed at my school was bigger.
You're being melodramatic.
I've heard good things
about this school.
From all your friends in town?
OK, the headmistress is waiting for us.
Please let me do this.
It's enough you've ruined
my reputation on the bus.
I've got this.
And what is your name, young lady?
Iris Heikkinen, aged 10.
Born 13 March 2011.
Now, it's very important you don't
draw any attention to yourself, OK?
Otis, what is your name?
Otis What The Fuck Am I Doing Here?
Love you! Bye, Mum!
(SCHOOL BELL BLEEPS)
Have a good first day at school!
Look at 'em. Blood-sucking
carrion feeders.
- Yeah.
- Like a nest of vipers!
Maybe don't mention it to 'em, eh?
Nah, bugger 'em. I've come here
- Jesus, Dad.
- to tell them what I think.
Hello.
What can I do for you today, Mr Gurvan?
Well, we got your letters,
and if you vultures think
you're gonna be taking my farm,
you've got another think coming.
- Dad, I'll do the talking, yeah?
- Well, why don't ya, then?
Do it. I'm just a silly old bugger
who's not long for this world.
We're here about the
notice of foreclosure.
We need more than two weeks
to come up with the money.
We've been issuing notices of
default for the past nine months.
- Cocksuckers!
- How much would it cost to stall it?
Well, frankly, I think
that's a waste of time.
Yours and mine.
I think I'm gonna have
to empty my catheter.
Oh, can you just hang on?
Yeah, sure, I can hang on.
I'm just a poor sick old bugger
dying from prostate cancer.
Alright. (SIGHS)
Which way's the toilet?
Public toilet's two
blocks down, going east
No, YOUR toilet.
(QUIETLY) The toilet here
is for bank staff only.
Bank staff only?
Maybe you want him to empty his catheter
right here on the floor, huh?
Huh?
Just
Thank you, Miss.
You've been very obliging.
(PHONE RINGS)
Why aren't you calling
me on the burner phone?
The phone didn't work.
I told you each SIM is
only good for one call.
No, I didn't call anyone.
It just didn't work.
If someone has used it,
I'll mail you some more.
Just understand that each time I
send anything, it comes at a risk.
Look, when can I get
my family out of here?
We are not suited to
this place, believe me.
Until I get to the bottom
of this, no-one is safe.
We're not safe here.
It's not about you.
It's bigger than that.
What did Kumar tell you?
Nothing.
He was killed before he could tell me.
He gave me a USB, but it
He gave you a USB and
now you decide to tell me?
Were you planning on using
it as a bargaining chip?
I don't I don't know you.
I don't know who you work for.
I don't even know your name!
How do I know YOU'RE not involved?
How do I know YOU'RE not involved?
What's on the USB?
A curry recipe.
Send it to me.
Make Kumar's death mean something.
Sure.
Thanks.
It's Airini.
My name is Airini.
(PHONE LINE BLEEPS)
- CONNOR: Ryan Raymond Greene you say?
- Mm.
His is one of many names,
and I have this address.
Done something naughty, has he?
Well, that is a government matter.
Yeah, well, he married that
Carlita girl from Mexico.
Bought a boat and sailed
to Fiji, I think it was.
Oh!
And what about Madeleine Kokoris?
Word around town is she
caught her hand in a harvester,
took up singing.
I think it's more likely, though,
that she ran off with that
professional waterskier.
Either way, never seen again.
Oh.
And uh and Terence Darby Smith?
Oh, Terry.
Terry.
Decapitated himself.
Decapitated?
Yeah. Not on purpose.
He was cutting down a
dead tree and it twisted.
That's the thing people don't realise,
is dead trees are
the real widow-makers.
Not that Terry was ever married.
Bit of a pants man, truth be known.
This was back when he
had a head, obviously.
Ladies don't tend to go
for that headless look.
Bad enough if you haven't
got hair, innit, these days?
Terry had a lovely head of hair.
Ironically it was that that
got caught in the chainsaw.
It's like swings and rounda
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DOORS BUZZ, HYDRAULICS HISS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
Hey, can you open the door?
(RETRO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS)
Oh Uh Oh!
Hey, what are you doing?!
I want to get on the bu
Hey
Come on!
Ohh!
(BIRD SQUAWKS)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ON TRUCK STEREO)
Why is everybody here an arsehole?
Oh, my God.
Thank you for stopping.
Don't mention it.
I won't.
Oh.
Well who have we got here then?
I'm Stella.
She's our new neighbour.
Is that right?
What were you doing out there
walking around without a vehicle?
Well, my car's in
with Connor for repair.
Good luck getting that back.
Here's one for you
why is our little town
called Mystery Bay?
Uh Because it's a mystery.
Where the hell is the bay?
- (BOTH LAUGH)
- You got that right.
Where's the goddamn bay?
I like this one, Jeremiah.
Oh, ease up, will you?
You're like a bloody octopus.
Oh, you're jealous?
It's been quite a while since I
sat next to an attractive woman.
- Oh.
- Not since my Pearl passed away.
Oh, she was the sweetest
woman that ever drew breath.
We had a nice right family back then.
Pearl and Jeremiah and Billy.
Who's Billy?
Billy's his big brother.
Oh.
He's doing a sabbatical at
the moment up on the mainland,
but he'll be back soon.
He's not coming back, Dad.
Why don't you just clam up?
You'll like Billy.
Everyone likes Billy.
Some people are just
irreplaceable, you know?
What is meant by Dalton's three laws?
Anyone?
We did this last term.
Um The invisibility of
an atom was proven wrong.
When elements were excited
by an electrical current,
atoms broke down into several parts.
Well done, Otis.
Elysha, can you read from
page 65, third para down?
Um
(READS) "By adding
the elec trons
of the atoms,
the mole
molec"
(WHISPERS) Molecule.
- Molecule.
- Shh!
That's great. Thanks, Elysha.
OK.
Page 65, everybody.
- (WIND GUSTS)
- (FOLIAGE RUSTLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
(CONTENTS RATTLE)
Robin Rickett.
(CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Are you from the Tax Office?
No, the Department of Finance.
I've already told you bastards
I've got no idea what happened
to the receipts for the machinery
No, no, I'm not here for your tax.
I'm not responsible for what
happened to those receipts.
I'm hoping you can help me locate
some people I'm looking for.
Yeah?
No. I doubt it.
Terence Smith, Mei Fong,
Madeleine Kokoris, Reginald Greene?
Perhaps Vicki Johnathan
and Edward Stiles?
I've got no idea who these people are.
Ah.
How about you? I didn't catch
your name. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Myfanwy.
Cardiganshire.
Welsh.
That on your list?
(SIGHS) You know, if I were you,
I'd get back in the car and
head back to your office.
Hm?
Well, I don't have an
office here, actually.
(BARREL THUDS)
It's not tinea. It's just,
like, a foot-rot sort of thing.
One tick.
Who did you say you were with again?
Jason, we are not paying
for a dog licence for a pig.
Well, it's on the card.
Not happening, Jason.
Uh Sorry, sorry.
(STAMMERS)
What are you doing here again?
The department would like
to locate these people.
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mm.
Mm.
Oh
Mm. Uh
No.
Nup.
Never seen those names before.
But they can't have just disappeared.
Mm, I think they might've.
Mm.
I tell you what, I'll look
into it and I'll call you later.
Could you look into it now?
Mm-hm.
Later.
I'm on an important case.
What about you ladies?
Recognise any of these names?
Poor Madeleine Kokoris.
She She had heart attack, didn't she?
I was told she moved.
Right after the heart attack.
She married the
dentist. Moved to Broome.
I was told she married a
professional waterskier.
Dentists can waterski too.
We're not paying, Jason.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Janine Pilchard,
you left your school bag
again in the luncheon area.
Please report to lost property.
GIRL 1: Yeah, cool, we can get apples.
- GIRL 2: Yeah, cool.
- Yeah.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Sorry I'm late. I was helping
Ms Butler put the books away.
- That's slave labour.
- She says we have to do a family tree.
- We can't have family here.
- Yes, we can.
I'm making up a new one
with new aunties and uncles and cousins.
Do you think we'll have any
royal people in our family?
- (GRUNTS)
- Youse won't let me.
- You come and grab him.
- (GRUNTS)
- Grab him, Stretch, pick him up.
- Yeah, I got him, I got him.
Hurry up, clip him so I don't drop him.
(GRUNTS) There.
- (CUTTER CLICKS)
- (SHEEP BLEATS)
(SIGHS)
There you go.
- How do I look? Do I look pretty?
- Ugh.
- Pretty ugly.
- (CHORTLES)
(SHEEP BLEAT)
- Quick, get the one with the yellow tag.
- Oh!
FRANKIE: Oh, what a shame!
Lovely shoes.
Can I get you a cloth?
No. Thank you.
They are most likely
ruined. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
If you're a Jehovah,
you've wasted your petrol, I'm afraid.
Oh, no, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness.
Uh My name is Robin Ricketts and
I'm with the Department of Finance.
I'm looking for the Stiles
family, a Vicki Stiles.
This was her last listed residence.
Hmm
No.
No-one of that name around here.
- Oh.
- (SNIFFS)
Well, it was 20 ago. (CHUCKLES)
How long have YOU lived here?
A whiles.
Perhaps you'd recognise her.
This is Vicki Stiles circa 1996.
Oh!
We have the same-shaped face.
There are some similarities.
(CHUCKLES) I was never THAT pretty.
No, I'm afraid I'm
sorry, I don't know her.
I don't think I got YOUR name.
Frankie.
Frankie McCleish.
Frankie.
Would it be possible, Frankie,
to get some form of identification?
- Passport
- (DOG BARKS)
Ooh.
Routine authentification.
Of course!
Though (CHUCKLES) it
might take me a whiles to find it
because there's not much call to
show that sort of thing round here.
But tell you what,
I'll give you a ring when I do.
Well, you have my card.
I sure do.
(SHEEP BLEAT)
I do have a 4:00PM flight tomorrow,
so, I will need that information
by noon at the latest.
I understand.
First the strutting poodle
from out of town moves in,
and now this yappy
one's sniffing around.
They sound the same.
Yes, they do.
(CAR HORN BLARES)
(BIRD CAWS)
STELLA: Can you explain to me
why I saw you driving my car
with our goat dead tied to the roof?
CONNOR: Test driving.
Still a problem with the transmission.
I found a goat already dead on the road.
Here you go.
It's a loaner from Frankie.
Just till I fix yours.
Frankie is loaning me a car? Why?
Used to belong to Francis.
He won't need it no more.
Well, any vehicle is
useful. Thank her for me.
You can thank her yourself.
She said to go up to the
house tonight for a feed.
Feed? Tonight?
Yeah, you and the kids.
Good way to make friends.
We all need friends, don't we?
(INSECTS CHIRP)
(KNOCKS)
Good evening. I'm I'm Stella.
And this is uh Otis and Iris.
(BABY GRIZZLES)
What's this little guy's name?
- Bastard from hell. (SCOFFS)
- (BABY GRIZZLES)
(YELLS GRUFFLY) They're here!
(BABY CRIES)
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS)
No wallabies tonight. (CHUCKLES)
Now, before we start, I
want to give thanks to Jack.
- Where is he?
- Said he wasn't hungry.
Well, he should be here.
Maybe he doesn't like killing so much.
He's such a soft cock.
Now, Stretch, that's enough from you.
Remember what we've been working on
empathy, sensitivity and kindness.
Oh, everybody, just dig in.
We've Jack to thank for the lamb.
His first kill.
He opened its throat
and drained its blood
like he'd been doing it all his life.
He's well on the way to
being the head of the family.
Boys!
Brony.
(SINGSONG) Boys.
We've got guests.
What are you knitting?
Every year, the ladies from the CWA,
we club together and we make
blankets for the homeless.
There are homeless people here?
No, no, no, not here.
In the big cities.
- Like in our city.
- Mm, which city is that, dear?
- Melbo
- The main street of
We, uh lived in Sydney, in
Dover Heights.
Mm.
Very fancy.
Hm! I can't imagine why anyone would
want to leave fancy Dover Heights
for our little Tassie town!
(LAUGHS)
I just wanted a safer
place to bring up the kids.
And you chose here?
(CHORTLES)
Is that your first grandchild?
Oh, no, no, he's not mine.
Not technically.
No, Jack is my only true born.
No.
I'm a foster mum to all this lot.
- Ah.
- And I love 'em all the same.
Otis, I see you've given
up being a vegetarian.
Uh He's a flexitarian.
Mm!
Here. There you go.
- (CHATTER AND LAUGHTER IN OTHER ROOM)
- (BABY CRIES)
Can I help you with the dishes?
Look, thanks for
organising the car for me.
(SIGHS)
I think you'll find that
most people in our little town
love to lend a hand.
You don't want to become
friends with the wrong people.
- What does that mean?
- Oh
Well, there's people, dear,
well, you just can't trust.
Same as everywhere, I suppose.
No.
It's not the same as anywhere here.
You'll learn that.
Oh! You know, when I first came here
I was almost as green as you are.
So, how long HAVE you been here?
Do you know you're the second
person today to ask me that?
What do you want to know all
about me all of a sudden for, eh?
(LAUGHTER IN OTHER ROOM)
(CHUCKLES) Think it's time
we ladies joined the party.
IRIS: No, stop!
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
- Stop! I don't want to! (YELPS)
Stop!
(OTHERS LAUGH)
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Boys, that's enough with
the headless chicken dance.
You're scaring the poor wee girl.
(DOG BARKS)
I apologise, Iris.
Jackie!
Glad you could make it.
Smelt the apple pie, I see.
(GASPS) I know!
Since Jackie's here, let's play stories.
He's the best one at that.
It's tradition around here.
Someone starts a story,
and then everyone gets to add to it.
Do you wanna play?
OK.
(DOG BARKS)
I'm gonna let you start.
Once upon a time
a girl met a unicorn in the forest.
The girl was cold,
so, she asked the unicorn
if she could take her flying
up to feel the sunshine.
Brony?
So, the unicorn said to the
girl, "Get off me, you lazy ho."
The girl stuck a knife
in the horse and said,
"If you don't carry me, I'll
cut you from neck to tail."
No, no, no.
- That's not how the story goes.
- Alright, it's pretty,
- It's pretty late, so
- Iris.
Iris, sweetie,
no-one knows how the story ends.
That's, uh That's
the rule of the table.
Jackie.
They flew for so long
that when the unicorn
brought the girl back
she actually wasn't
a little girl anymore.
And when she realised how old she was,
she hit the unicorn (BANGS TABLE)
- and set it on fire.
- Mummy.
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
- Yum, yum, yummy, roasted unicorn!
And the fire spread,
and the girl, who was now a woman,
was trapped.
She'd forgotten that the unicorn
could fly and save itself.
Ah!
And it said to her
"I can save you too
if you tell me one true thing."
Mm?
But the girl, who was now a woman,
couldn't think of a
single true thing to say.
So, she said,
"I come from
Dover Heights."
Let's go, kids.
I don't like that lady.
I don't like her either.
She can't be in the family tree.
Definitely not.
Quick, kids, hop in.
You You don't recognise
any of these names,
and what would have been
hundreds of money transfers?
Yeah. Memory's not my strong point.
Charlie would know. He
works here full-time.
Charlie?
Brian, when's Charlie coming back?
Oh, he's in week two
of his long service,
so, I'd probably try again in 26 weeks.
- Yeah.
- 26 weeks.
Cool. See you then.
Uh I need a priority envelope.
What size? Where's it going?
Uh Express. Small. Does
it matter where it's going?
Only if you want it to get there.
- Oh, right. Yeah.
- I need an address.
Oh, right, of course. Um
It's, uh It's going to a
(WHISPERS) PO box in Canberra.
I think a parcel arrived for you today.
- Charlie?
- Oh, yes, it did.
For me? Here?
They used an address.
Yeah, it's from your aunty.
Oh!
Right, this must be the
photos from her son's wedding.
Travis. He was getting married.
Um Thanks. Thanks, Charlie.
You gonna buy that?
No.
(ELECTRONIC GUNFIRE SIMULATION)
Calling Lioness. Calling Lioness. Over.
How about knocking and
asking me first, Bong Cha?
Why?
(OVER RADIO) Government woman
spotted at post office. Over.
(NEW-AGE MUSIC PLAYS)
I suppose you don't
know a Benjamin Rooney?
Dead.
Course he is.
Oh.
Just the porpoise then?
Oh, it's a dolphin.
You can tell because it
has an elongated beak.
I collect them.
(CHUCKLES)
How much for this one?
$25.
$25?
Oh
Oh, Lord, there's a
piece of its fin missing.
Is there?
She's heading west.
(TYRES SKID)
(SCREAMS)
- No!
- No, no, no, no. (YELLS) No! hey!
Get off me! Get your hands off me!
- Help me!
- (TYRES SKID)
Did you Did you see that?!
That woman was just
abducted in the street!
What woman?
Wha
Can you please call the police?!
Can
- (TYRES SKID)
- (YELLS) Hey!
You gotta pay for that!
(TYRES SKID)
People get abducted by aliens
every year and no-one believes it.
Ironic, isn't it? (CHUCKLES)
(ROBIN CRIES)
I haven't done anything wrong.
Please, please, let me go.
(WHIMPERS)
That hurts my arm! Please!
Why are you doing this?
Who are you people?
She's got over half the names.
(DOG BARKS)
I am here with the government.
This is a terrible idea!
Government people are going to miss me.
Government people will find me!
(DOG BARKS)
No-one's going to find you.
You're all alone here.
(DOG BARKS)
It's entirely up to you
how hurt you get.
(WHIMPERS)
Tell me about Stella Heikkinen.
Who is she really?
Who?
Stella.
- No
- From Dover Heights.
- What?
- You know her.
No.
No, I don't. I promise you.
I do not know who Stella is.
Please, please, don't hurt me.
Please, just let me go.
(KICKS CAGE)
(DOG BARKS)
(MENACINGLY) Who is Stella?
I don't know!
(DOG GROWLS)
(BREATHES RAPIDLY)
How about I check in
on you in the morning?
- No.
- And see what you can remember
about how you know Stella.
(DOG BARKS)
(CRIES)
Your porpoise is mine now.
It's a dolphin!
- No!
- Love?
Love? I'd watch your
hands outside the cage.
The dogs get mighty hungry.
- (DOG BARKS)
- (SCREAMS)
- (CRIES)
- (DOG BARKS)
(SCREAMS)
- (DOG BARKS)
- (SCREAMING CONTINUES)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(TASMANIAN DEVIL SHRIEKS IN DISTANCE)
STRETCH: I don't know why they
always put me out here on lookout.
(SCATS)
(INSECTS CHIRP)
There's nothing here. They
always put me out here.
(TASMANIAN DEVIL SHRIEKS IN DISTANCE)
(QUIETLY) What the fuck?
No, please, please, please,
please, don't hurt me.
(WHISPERS) Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
I'm gonna get you out of here.
Oh, my God. What the fuck?
- Who are you?
- Stella.
- From Dover Heights.
- What?
- No! No!
- Stay back!
Come on. Quick.
(DOG BARKS)
Stay in there.
- (DOGS BARK)
- Wait!
- (WHISTLING)
- (DOGS BARK)
Get her out of here before she sees you!
(DOGS BARK)
Bruno. Come here, boy. Dinner!
Here, boy!
(WHIMPERS)
Shh! Shh!
No. Not that way.
My car is this way.
I can't go with YOU.
You're the one they want!
What?
What do What do you mean?!
Fuck.
(WHIMPERS)
Oh, thank God.
(WHIMPERS)
(ENGINE RUMBLES)
(LOUD THUD)
(TYRES SKID)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
Otis! Get away from there!
- What's that in the back?
- It's roadkill.
Let's check on our guest.
Someone let that woman escape.
Just wondering if
you've heard from Robin?
No, I haven't heard. Should I have?
Hide. Now.
AIRINI: Until recently
I hadn't heard a squeak.
I thought the place was safe.
STELLA: My name is Stella Heikkinen.
My children and I just moved here.
I am living on top of
a floorless drug empire.
The town is full of psychopaths.
Clear off or I'll call the police!
I'm your new neighbour,
Frankie McCleish.
Might be good to have
some new blood in town.
Please tell me that is not Kumar.
They would have done this
if they didn't think he knew
something and passed it on to you.
That new mob are they
gonna be safe down there?
Dunno.
WOMAN: If he asks about
school, say say you love it
but you don't have money
for books or a uniform.
If we're lucky, Uncle Robert will
help us with our money problems.
Do you understand? Where
the hell are my ciggies?
(MUSIC PLAYS IN VENUE)
- Did you take my cigarettes?
- I don't smoke.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MUSIC PLAYS IN VENUE)
- G'day, Tina.
- Just stay here, Brony.
Mummy needs to talk to
the man for a second.
G'day, Gary.
(GUNSHOT)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
- (VENUE DOOR OPENS)
- (PATRONS LAUGH, CHATTER)
(YELLS) Gary!
Fuckin' hell! Get inside, Brony!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(HOOFS CLOP ON APPROACH)
What's happening?
Francis Pike.
The Community. Giving
him a good send-off.
(HOOFS CLOP)
Who or what is the Community?
Religious group.
What, so, they're just gonna
bury him? Just like that?
Yeah.
All Francis wanted was
for this town to prosper.
Sad, isn't it?
Well, I'll certainly miss cheery smile.
He certainly knew how to smile.
Hm
Although sometimes I wondered
if it wasn't about him prospering
at the expense of the town.
Well, we won't ever know now.
No.
- Stay.
- No, I think we need to, uh
feed the pig.
Suit yourselves.
I need to know more
about that new woman.
Why no investigation?
There needs to be an inquest.
- Death by misadventure.
- Must be slippery by the water.
Yeah, especially with a
plastic bag over your head.
Probably a sex thing for him.
Whatever floats your boat.
A man is dead, and you're
not asking questions.
We're not cops. Are you?
Francis Pike may as well be a goldfish
for all the concern around here.
Look, slipped on a rock.
Like I said,
it was an accident.
You don't want to be
overthinking things.
Why is she asking so many questions?
She should mind her own business.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
(DROPS PATTER)
(DROPS CONTINUES PATTERING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Do you have a minute?
Uh Actually, I'm quite busy.
Well, I've located a file
that needs to be investigated.
Sadly, I couldn't read some
of the crucial information
because water has destroyed much of it.
I actually raised the risk
of this happening last year,
and I was duly ignored.
And the file you want actioned?
It's a bit of a mystery.
$18.600.033
paid out in regular payments
to recipients in the same
town from 1994 to 2011.
1994 was a long time ago.
There's an older file.
- No repayments, no
- Well, the good thing is it's ancient history.
Probably some oversight
from the old days.
All the recipients reside
in the same town in Tasmania.
Leave the file with me.
I'll give it a look when I get a chance.
- Did you happen to receive my memo?
- Uh Which one?
The one regarding office etiquette.
It covers numerous topics
that need to be discussed.
There's kitchen protocol,
untidy work stations, etcetera.
Mm. Mm.
I'm happy to plan out
the topics with you.
- Oh, yes.
- Yes, and we can work together.
- Good idea.
- Yes!
You say the money went to Tasmania.
In regular payments.
You know, on reflection,
you're right to be concerned.
These things need to be investigated.
Why don't you
fly over and look into it?
Go to Tasmania?
There's money in the travel budget
and you've never taken any leave.
(LAUGHS) I don't
I don't like Tasmania.
Everybody loves Tasmania these days.
Go there. See what you can find out.
Go hiking. Send us a postcard.
No, I don't like hiking.
I would prefer to investigate from here.
My hunch is you might be onto something.
Thank you so much for
bringing it to my attention.
IRIS: And the unicorns flew down
to their new home on the moon,
where they could eat all
the cheese they wanted.
And that's the end of my story.
Oh, and Francis the real-estate agent
drowned with a plastic bag on his head.
WOMAN: (ON PHONE) Oh,
that's lovely, darling!
- Gotta go, Grandma.
- (PHONE BEEPS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(HORSE SNORTS)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(HORSE WHINNIES SOFTLY)
(BODY THUDS LOUDLY)
Death entered the world through sin
and now threatens to destroy
and ruin God's creation.
(FIRE CRACKLES)
The Son of Man shall
send forth his angels
and they shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend them
and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire.
And thus shall the earth
be freed of their pestilence.
(SOMBRE ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(TRACTOR RUMBLES)
(PANTS)
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(PHONE BEEPS)
RECORDING: This service
is no longer activated.
(PHONE BEEPS)
- This service
- (PHONE BEEPS)
Wh
- (PHONE BEEPS)
- This service is no longer activated.
Argh.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Great. Middle of nowhere,
no fuckin' phone service.
What is this shithole?
Fully booked.
I'm not looking for accommodation.
I'm staying in the
nice town up the road.
We're fully booked anyway.
I'm looking for a Graham Gordon Ellery.
He died.
Oh.
GRAHAM: (CALLS OUT) Who's wanting me?
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
(STAMMERS)
My name is Robin Ricketts.
I'm here on behalf of
the Department of Finance.
I've been asked to investigate a file,
and your name appeared on it.
You gave this as your address
back in, uh 1996.
Well, yes, because this is where I live.
Ah.
You've been here this whole
time. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Well, it's a
It's a very nice room.
A large sum of money
was paid out to a number of residents
- living in this town.
- Of course, being blind, the room
- may not be how I remember it.
- It was never repaid.
- It was never signed off.
- It used to have a credenza,
but I kept walking into it.
Right.
There was no tax collected on it.
Well
maybe it was a gift.
(CHUCKLES) The government
doesn't give gifts.
One of the recipients was a family.
I wondered if you know where I can
find Vicky, Jonathan, Edward Stiles.
- Bong Cha!
- Reginald Greene.
Madeleine Kokoris.
- Ohh
- Ali Achmed.
Uh Mei Fong.
Bong Cha!
I would like to talk to a Terence Smith.
Do you know where any
of those people are?
My God, what is wrong?!
Bong Cha, this is not my sandwich.
What happened to my sandwich?
- This IS your sandwich.
- No. This is not my sandwich!
I made it, you stupid
man! This is your sandwich!
(LOUDLY) Ohh
- If you do think of anything
- Ohh
here is my card.
You give a card to a blind man?
- Maybe you can read it out to him.
- Ohh
- I
- Ohh
apologise for any inconvenience.
(LOUDLY) Ohh
Ohh!
How is the sandwich?
It's a perfectly good
sandwich, thank you.
(ENGINE STARTS)
(CAR DEPARTS)
(WIND GUSTS)
- (RADIO STATIC HISSES)
- (OVER RADIO) Can you hear me? Over.
What now?
This is Growling Panther. I
must speak to the Lioness. Over.
What is it, Bong Cha?
We have a visitor in town.
She came to the motel. Over.
Don't feel you have to call me
every time someone drives through.
This is a government
woman. Robin Ricketts.
Asking questions of Graham. Over.
What sort of questions?
She has the names of
lots of people. Over.
What sort of names?
Real names.
She's looking for some
people at your house.
A family called Miles. Over.
- Do you mean Stiles?
- Yes.
Maybe. Over.
Ask him if he brought the money.
Yeah, OK.
(WIND WHISTLES)
Uh
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
OK.
Uh
He says
yes.
Well, where is it?
I'll, uh go get it, yeah?
I'm on it.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Eh?
OK.
He say a third now,
the rest on delivery.
Bay of Fires is a definite ask.
Bay of Fires, definite ask.
Leave it with me, OK?
Ay-ay-ay-ay.
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Mm.
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
OK.
(CLEARS THROAT)
He say, uh
yes, that is confirmed.
And he's all good with the day?
Yes, I will confirm that.
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
- (SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
- Yeah?
OK.
Just call it out!
Uh He say all good!
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
What's he talking about?
He say
we must not meet here again.
Why not? What's the problem?
(SPEAKS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(FOREIGN DIALOGUE CONTINUES)
Ah! He, uh
He has the vertigo!
Very dizzy!
You have no idea how
problematic this is for us.
What, a mother can't travel with
her children to school anymore?
Not on the same bus.
Reputation ruined on the first day.
We don't have a choice.
I don't have a car.
It's OK, Mum. I don't have a reputation.
(TYRES SKID)
Here we go.
Alright, let's line up.
(RETRO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ON VAN STEREO)
Hey, hey, Julie.
STUDENT: Hey.
Hey!
Where do you think YOU'RE going?
Oh, um I'm going to ride the
bus to school with my children.
I want to make sure they
get off to a great start.
- (SWITCHES OFF MUSIC)
- It's their first day.
Uh The 7:45AM service is a
dedicated school run, alright?
It's children only.
Listen
Manfred,
I don't know you from Vladimir Putin,
but I'm willing to entrust the
lives of my children into your care,
so, the very least you can do is
trust that I will behave myself.
Hm?
Mum, you can sit next to me.
SONG: Stretching on out
and I'm feeling fine ♪
- (TYRES SKID)
- The fool and me ♪
Two fools dancing on
the hands of time, yeah ♪
The fool and me ♪
- And, ohh, oh, wherever we go ♪
- (TYRES SKID)
We keep the spirit free ♪
Hey! Hey, y
You're You are going too
fast. You need to slow down.
- This isn't fast, lady.
- (TYRES SKID)
Driving down the Yungas Road
in Bolivia with no brakes
that was fast.
Yeah, Death Road, they call it.
69 kilometres of switchbacks,
the whole way single lanes.
Yeah. (CHUCKLES)
And, let me tell you,
carrying four tonnes of
expired dynamite on the roof
in the middle of a Bolivian summer,
that is no cake walk.
Just slow down.
And keep your eyes on the road.
Well, I will if you stop talking to me.
Calm down, you're scaring the kids.
Alright, listen to this one.
One of the best solos of the
'70s. Let it flow over ya, kids.
Flow over ya.
(GUITAR SOLO PLAYS)
Might be a little better
with stimulants, of course.
(TYRES SKID)
(BIRDS TWITTER)
(RADIO STATIC HISSES)
Oh, we survived that.
(CHUCKLES) Come on, sweetie.
This is it?
There's, like, five people here.
The bike shed at my school was bigger.
You're being melodramatic.
I've heard good things
about this school.
From all your friends in town?
OK, the headmistress is waiting for us.
Please let me do this.
It's enough you've ruined
my reputation on the bus.
I've got this.
And what is your name, young lady?
Iris Heikkinen, aged 10.
Born 13 March 2011.
Now, it's very important you don't
draw any attention to yourself, OK?
Otis, what is your name?
Otis What The Fuck Am I Doing Here?
Love you! Bye, Mum!
(SCHOOL BELL BLEEPS)
Have a good first day at school!
Look at 'em. Blood-sucking
carrion feeders.
- Yeah.
- Like a nest of vipers!
Maybe don't mention it to 'em, eh?
Nah, bugger 'em. I've come here
- Jesus, Dad.
- to tell them what I think.
Hello.
What can I do for you today, Mr Gurvan?
Well, we got your letters,
and if you vultures think
you're gonna be taking my farm,
you've got another think coming.
- Dad, I'll do the talking, yeah?
- Well, why don't ya, then?
Do it. I'm just a silly old bugger
who's not long for this world.
We're here about the
notice of foreclosure.
We need more than two weeks
to come up with the money.
We've been issuing notices of
default for the past nine months.
- Cocksuckers!
- How much would it cost to stall it?
Well, frankly, I think
that's a waste of time.
Yours and mine.
I think I'm gonna have
to empty my catheter.
Oh, can you just hang on?
Yeah, sure, I can hang on.
I'm just a poor sick old bugger
dying from prostate cancer.
Alright. (SIGHS)
Which way's the toilet?
Public toilet's two
blocks down, going east
No, YOUR toilet.
(QUIETLY) The toilet here
is for bank staff only.
Bank staff only?
Maybe you want him to empty his catheter
right here on the floor, huh?
Huh?
Just
Thank you, Miss.
You've been very obliging.
(PHONE RINGS)
Why aren't you calling
me on the burner phone?
The phone didn't work.
I told you each SIM is
only good for one call.
No, I didn't call anyone.
It just didn't work.
If someone has used it,
I'll mail you some more.
Just understand that each time I
send anything, it comes at a risk.
Look, when can I get
my family out of here?
We are not suited to
this place, believe me.
Until I get to the bottom
of this, no-one is safe.
We're not safe here.
It's not about you.
It's bigger than that.
What did Kumar tell you?
Nothing.
He was killed before he could tell me.
He gave me a USB, but it
He gave you a USB and
now you decide to tell me?
Were you planning on using
it as a bargaining chip?
I don't I don't know you.
I don't know who you work for.
I don't even know your name!
How do I know YOU'RE not involved?
How do I know YOU'RE not involved?
What's on the USB?
A curry recipe.
Send it to me.
Make Kumar's death mean something.
Sure.
Thanks.
It's Airini.
My name is Airini.
(PHONE LINE BLEEPS)
- CONNOR: Ryan Raymond Greene you say?
- Mm.
His is one of many names,
and I have this address.
Done something naughty, has he?
Well, that is a government matter.
Yeah, well, he married that
Carlita girl from Mexico.
Bought a boat and sailed
to Fiji, I think it was.
Oh!
And what about Madeleine Kokoris?
Word around town is she
caught her hand in a harvester,
took up singing.
I think it's more likely, though,
that she ran off with that
professional waterskier.
Either way, never seen again.
Oh.
And uh and Terence Darby Smith?
Oh, Terry.
Terry.
Decapitated himself.
Decapitated?
Yeah. Not on purpose.
He was cutting down a
dead tree and it twisted.
That's the thing people don't realise,
is dead trees are
the real widow-makers.
Not that Terry was ever married.
Bit of a pants man, truth be known.
This was back when he
had a head, obviously.
Ladies don't tend to go
for that headless look.
Bad enough if you haven't
got hair, innit, these days?
Terry had a lovely head of hair.
Ironically it was that that
got caught in the chainsaw.
It's like swings and rounda
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DOORS BUZZ, HYDRAULICS HISS)
(ENGINE STARTS)
Hey, can you open the door?
(RETRO ROCK MUSIC PLAYS)
Oh Uh Oh!
Hey, what are you doing?!
I want to get on the bu
Hey
Come on!
Ohh!
(BIRD SQUAWKS)
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ON TRUCK STEREO)
Why is everybody here an arsehole?
Oh, my God.
Thank you for stopping.
Don't mention it.
I won't.
Oh.
Well who have we got here then?
I'm Stella.
She's our new neighbour.
Is that right?
What were you doing out there
walking around without a vehicle?
Well, my car's in
with Connor for repair.
Good luck getting that back.
Here's one for you
why is our little town
called Mystery Bay?
Uh Because it's a mystery.
Where the hell is the bay?
- (BOTH LAUGH)
- You got that right.
Where's the goddamn bay?
I like this one, Jeremiah.
Oh, ease up, will you?
You're like a bloody octopus.
Oh, you're jealous?
It's been quite a while since I
sat next to an attractive woman.
- Oh.
- Not since my Pearl passed away.
Oh, she was the sweetest
woman that ever drew breath.
We had a nice right family back then.
Pearl and Jeremiah and Billy.
Who's Billy?
Billy's his big brother.
Oh.
He's doing a sabbatical at
the moment up on the mainland,
but he'll be back soon.
He's not coming back, Dad.
Why don't you just clam up?
You'll like Billy.
Everyone likes Billy.
Some people are just
irreplaceable, you know?
What is meant by Dalton's three laws?
Anyone?
We did this last term.
Um The invisibility of
an atom was proven wrong.
When elements were excited
by an electrical current,
atoms broke down into several parts.
Well done, Otis.
Elysha, can you read from
page 65, third para down?
Um
(READS) "By adding
the elec trons
of the atoms,
the mole
molec"
(WHISPERS) Molecule.
- Molecule.
- Shh!
That's great. Thanks, Elysha.
OK.
Page 65, everybody.
- (WIND GUSTS)
- (FOLIAGE RUSTLES)
(RAIN PATTERS)
(CONTENTS RATTLE)
Robin Rickett.
(CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Are you from the Tax Office?
No, the Department of Finance.
I've already told you bastards
I've got no idea what happened
to the receipts for the machinery
No, no, I'm not here for your tax.
I'm not responsible for what
happened to those receipts.
I'm hoping you can help me locate
some people I'm looking for.
Yeah?
No. I doubt it.
Terence Smith, Mei Fong,
Madeleine Kokoris, Reginald Greene?
Perhaps Vicki Johnathan
and Edward Stiles?
I've got no idea who these people are.
Ah.
How about you? I didn't catch
your name. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
Myfanwy.
Cardiganshire.
Welsh.
That on your list?
(SIGHS) You know, if I were you,
I'd get back in the car and
head back to your office.
Hm?
Well, I don't have an
office here, actually.
(BARREL THUDS)
It's not tinea. It's just,
like, a foot-rot sort of thing.
One tick.
Who did you say you were with again?
Jason, we are not paying
for a dog licence for a pig.
Well, it's on the card.
Not happening, Jason.
Uh Sorry, sorry.
(STAMMERS)
What are you doing here again?
The department would like
to locate these people.
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mm.
Mm.
Oh
Mm. Uh
No.
Nup.
Never seen those names before.
But they can't have just disappeared.
Mm, I think they might've.
Mm.
I tell you what, I'll look
into it and I'll call you later.
Could you look into it now?
Mm-hm.
Later.
I'm on an important case.
What about you ladies?
Recognise any of these names?
Poor Madeleine Kokoris.
She She had heart attack, didn't she?
I was told she moved.
Right after the heart attack.
She married the
dentist. Moved to Broome.
I was told she married a
professional waterskier.
Dentists can waterski too.
We're not paying, Jason.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Janine Pilchard,
you left your school bag
again in the luncheon area.
Please report to lost property.
GIRL 1: Yeah, cool, we can get apples.
- GIRL 2: Yeah, cool.
- Yeah.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Sorry I'm late. I was helping
Ms Butler put the books away.
- That's slave labour.
- She says we have to do a family tree.
- We can't have family here.
- Yes, we can.
I'm making up a new one
with new aunties and uncles and cousins.
Do you think we'll have any
royal people in our family?
- (GRUNTS)
- Youse won't let me.
- You come and grab him.
- (GRUNTS)
- Grab him, Stretch, pick him up.
- Yeah, I got him, I got him.
Hurry up, clip him so I don't drop him.
(GRUNTS) There.
- (CUTTER CLICKS)
- (SHEEP BLEATS)
(SIGHS)
There you go.
- How do I look? Do I look pretty?
- Ugh.
- Pretty ugly.
- (CHORTLES)
(SHEEP BLEAT)
- Quick, get the one with the yellow tag.
- Oh!
FRANKIE: Oh, what a shame!
Lovely shoes.
Can I get you a cloth?
No. Thank you.
They are most likely
ruined. (CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)
If you're a Jehovah,
you've wasted your petrol, I'm afraid.
Oh, no, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness.
Uh My name is Robin Ricketts and
I'm with the Department of Finance.
I'm looking for the Stiles
family, a Vicki Stiles.
This was her last listed residence.
Hmm
No.
No-one of that name around here.
- Oh.
- (SNIFFS)
Well, it was 20 ago. (CHUCKLES)
How long have YOU lived here?
A whiles.
Perhaps you'd recognise her.
This is Vicki Stiles circa 1996.
Oh!
We have the same-shaped face.
There are some similarities.
(CHUCKLES) I was never THAT pretty.
No, I'm afraid I'm
sorry, I don't know her.
I don't think I got YOUR name.
Frankie.
Frankie McCleish.
Frankie.
Would it be possible, Frankie,
to get some form of identification?
- Passport
- (DOG BARKS)
Ooh.
Routine authentification.
Of course!
Though (CHUCKLES) it
might take me a whiles to find it
because there's not much call to
show that sort of thing round here.
But tell you what,
I'll give you a ring when I do.
Well, you have my card.
I sure do.
(SHEEP BLEAT)
I do have a 4:00PM flight tomorrow,
so, I will need that information
by noon at the latest.
I understand.
First the strutting poodle
from out of town moves in,
and now this yappy
one's sniffing around.
They sound the same.
Yes, they do.
(CAR HORN BLARES)
(BIRD CAWS)
STELLA: Can you explain to me
why I saw you driving my car
with our goat dead tied to the roof?
CONNOR: Test driving.
Still a problem with the transmission.
I found a goat already dead on the road.
Here you go.
It's a loaner from Frankie.
Just till I fix yours.
Frankie is loaning me a car? Why?
Used to belong to Francis.
He won't need it no more.
Well, any vehicle is
useful. Thank her for me.
You can thank her yourself.
She said to go up to the
house tonight for a feed.
Feed? Tonight?
Yeah, you and the kids.
Good way to make friends.
We all need friends, don't we?
(INSECTS CHIRP)
(KNOCKS)
Good evening. I'm I'm Stella.
And this is uh Otis and Iris.
(BABY GRIZZLES)
What's this little guy's name?
- Bastard from hell. (SCOFFS)
- (BABY GRIZZLES)
(YELLS GRUFFLY) They're here!
(BABY CRIES)
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS)
No wallabies tonight. (CHUCKLES)
Now, before we start, I
want to give thanks to Jack.
- Where is he?
- Said he wasn't hungry.
Well, he should be here.
Maybe he doesn't like killing so much.
He's such a soft cock.
Now, Stretch, that's enough from you.
Remember what we've been working on
empathy, sensitivity and kindness.
Oh, everybody, just dig in.
We've Jack to thank for the lamb.
His first kill.
He opened its throat
and drained its blood
like he'd been doing it all his life.
He's well on the way to
being the head of the family.
Boys!
Brony.
(SINGSONG) Boys.
We've got guests.
What are you knitting?
Every year, the ladies from the CWA,
we club together and we make
blankets for the homeless.
There are homeless people here?
No, no, no, not here.
In the big cities.
- Like in our city.
- Mm, which city is that, dear?
- Melbo
- The main street of
We, uh lived in Sydney, in
Dover Heights.
Mm.
Very fancy.
Hm! I can't imagine why anyone would
want to leave fancy Dover Heights
for our little Tassie town!
(LAUGHS)
I just wanted a safer
place to bring up the kids.
And you chose here?
(CHORTLES)
Is that your first grandchild?
Oh, no, no, he's not mine.
Not technically.
No, Jack is my only true born.
No.
I'm a foster mum to all this lot.
- Ah.
- And I love 'em all the same.
Otis, I see you've given
up being a vegetarian.
Uh He's a flexitarian.
Mm!
Here. There you go.
- (CHATTER AND LAUGHTER IN OTHER ROOM)
- (BABY CRIES)
Can I help you with the dishes?
Look, thanks for
organising the car for me.
(SIGHS)
I think you'll find that
most people in our little town
love to lend a hand.
You don't want to become
friends with the wrong people.
- What does that mean?
- Oh
Well, there's people, dear,
well, you just can't trust.
Same as everywhere, I suppose.
No.
It's not the same as anywhere here.
You'll learn that.
Oh! You know, when I first came here
I was almost as green as you are.
So, how long HAVE you been here?
Do you know you're the second
person today to ask me that?
What do you want to know all
about me all of a sudden for, eh?
(LAUGHTER IN OTHER ROOM)
(CHUCKLES) Think it's time
we ladies joined the party.
IRIS: No, stop!
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
- Stop! I don't want to! (YELPS)
Stop!
(OTHERS LAUGH)
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Boys, that's enough with
the headless chicken dance.
You're scaring the poor wee girl.
(DOG BARKS)
I apologise, Iris.
Jackie!
Glad you could make it.
Smelt the apple pie, I see.
(GASPS) I know!
Since Jackie's here, let's play stories.
He's the best one at that.
It's tradition around here.
Someone starts a story,
and then everyone gets to add to it.
Do you wanna play?
OK.
(DOG BARKS)
I'm gonna let you start.
Once upon a time
a girl met a unicorn in the forest.
The girl was cold,
so, she asked the unicorn
if she could take her flying
up to feel the sunshine.
Brony?
So, the unicorn said to the
girl, "Get off me, you lazy ho."
The girl stuck a knife
in the horse and said,
"If you don't carry me, I'll
cut you from neck to tail."
No, no, no.
- That's not how the story goes.
- Alright, it's pretty,
- It's pretty late, so
- Iris.
Iris, sweetie,
no-one knows how the story ends.
That's, uh That's
the rule of the table.
Jackie.
They flew for so long
that when the unicorn
brought the girl back
she actually wasn't
a little girl anymore.
And when she realised how old she was,
she hit the unicorn (BANGS TABLE)
- and set it on fire.
- Mummy.
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
- Yum, yum, yummy, roasted unicorn!
And the fire spread,
and the girl, who was now a woman,
was trapped.
She'd forgotten that the unicorn
could fly and save itself.
Ah!
And it said to her
"I can save you too
if you tell me one true thing."
Mm?
But the girl, who was now a woman,
couldn't think of a
single true thing to say.
So, she said,
"I come from
Dover Heights."
Let's go, kids.
I don't like that lady.
I don't like her either.
She can't be in the family tree.
Definitely not.
Quick, kids, hop in.
You You don't recognise
any of these names,
and what would have been
hundreds of money transfers?
Yeah. Memory's not my strong point.
Charlie would know. He
works here full-time.
Charlie?
Brian, when's Charlie coming back?
Oh, he's in week two
of his long service,
so, I'd probably try again in 26 weeks.
- Yeah.
- 26 weeks.
Cool. See you then.
Uh I need a priority envelope.
What size? Where's it going?
Uh Express. Small. Does
it matter where it's going?
Only if you want it to get there.
- Oh, right. Yeah.
- I need an address.
Oh, right, of course. Um
It's, uh It's going to a
(WHISPERS) PO box in Canberra.
I think a parcel arrived for you today.
- Charlie?
- Oh, yes, it did.
For me? Here?
They used an address.
Yeah, it's from your aunty.
Oh!
Right, this must be the
photos from her son's wedding.
Travis. He was getting married.
Um Thanks. Thanks, Charlie.
You gonna buy that?
No.
(ELECTRONIC GUNFIRE SIMULATION)
Calling Lioness. Calling Lioness. Over.
How about knocking and
asking me first, Bong Cha?
Why?
(OVER RADIO) Government woman
spotted at post office. Over.
(NEW-AGE MUSIC PLAYS)
I suppose you don't
know a Benjamin Rooney?
Dead.
Course he is.
Oh.
Just the porpoise then?
Oh, it's a dolphin.
You can tell because it
has an elongated beak.
I collect them.
(CHUCKLES)
How much for this one?
$25.
$25?
Oh
Oh, Lord, there's a
piece of its fin missing.
Is there?
She's heading west.
(TYRES SKID)
(SCREAMS)
- No!
- No, no, no, no. (YELLS) No! hey!
Get off me! Get your hands off me!
- Help me!
- (TYRES SKID)
Did you Did you see that?!
That woman was just
abducted in the street!
What woman?
Wha
Can you please call the police?!
Can
- (TYRES SKID)
- (YELLS) Hey!
You gotta pay for that!
(TYRES SKID)
People get abducted by aliens
every year and no-one believes it.
Ironic, isn't it? (CHUCKLES)
(ROBIN CRIES)
I haven't done anything wrong.
Please, please, let me go.
(WHIMPERS)
That hurts my arm! Please!
Why are you doing this?
Who are you people?
She's got over half the names.
(DOG BARKS)
I am here with the government.
This is a terrible idea!
Government people are going to miss me.
Government people will find me!
(DOG BARKS)
No-one's going to find you.
You're all alone here.
(DOG BARKS)
It's entirely up to you
how hurt you get.
(WHIMPERS)
Tell me about Stella Heikkinen.
Who is she really?
Who?
Stella.
- No
- From Dover Heights.
- What?
- You know her.
No.
No, I don't. I promise you.
I do not know who Stella is.
Please, please, don't hurt me.
Please, just let me go.
(KICKS CAGE)
(DOG BARKS)
(MENACINGLY) Who is Stella?
I don't know!
(DOG GROWLS)
(BREATHES RAPIDLY)
How about I check in
on you in the morning?
- No.
- And see what you can remember
about how you know Stella.
(DOG BARKS)
(CRIES)
Your porpoise is mine now.
It's a dolphin!
- No!
- Love?
Love? I'd watch your
hands outside the cage.
The dogs get mighty hungry.
- (DOG BARKS)
- (SCREAMS)
- (CRIES)
- (DOG BARKS)
(SCREAMS)
- (DOG BARKS)
- (SCREAMING CONTINUES)
(WIND WHISTLES)
(TASMANIAN DEVIL SHRIEKS IN DISTANCE)
STRETCH: I don't know why they
always put me out here on lookout.
(SCATS)
(INSECTS CHIRP)
There's nothing here. They
always put me out here.
(TASMANIAN DEVIL SHRIEKS IN DISTANCE)
(QUIETLY) What the fuck?
No, please, please, please,
please, don't hurt me.
(WHISPERS) Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
I'm gonna get you out of here.
Oh, my God. What the fuck?
- Who are you?
- Stella.
- From Dover Heights.
- What?
- No! No!
- Stay back!
Come on. Quick.
(DOG BARKS)
Stay in there.
- (DOGS BARK)
- Wait!
- (WHISTLING)
- (DOGS BARK)
Get her out of here before she sees you!
(DOGS BARK)
Bruno. Come here, boy. Dinner!
Here, boy!
(WHIMPERS)
Shh! Shh!
No. Not that way.
My car is this way.
I can't go with YOU.
You're the one they want!
What?
What do What do you mean?!
Fuck.
(WHIMPERS)
Oh, thank God.
(WHIMPERS)
(ENGINE RUMBLES)
(LOUD THUD)
(TYRES SKID)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
Otis! Get away from there!
- What's that in the back?
- It's roadkill.
Let's check on our guest.
Someone let that woman escape.
Just wondering if
you've heard from Robin?
No, I haven't heard. Should I have?
Hide. Now.
AIRINI: Until recently
I hadn't heard a squeak.
I thought the place was safe.