8MMM Aboriginal Radio (2015) s01e05 Episode Script

1
LOLA, VOICEOVER: Hey, you mob!
This Central Australia,
it's a prettiful country.
Real pretty one.
That's why all the mad people,
they can go walkabout here.
But us blackfella
mob, we not mad one.
We know how to sit down in
shade and find it water.
But these days, problem is not
from perishing for no water.
No, trouble is people
is too greedy for grog.
Stick around. You might
learn at something.
Aaaahhhhh
Look, I'm here
I'm from the bush
Don't be shy 'cause I'm black
Listen to me
Talking to you From the bush. ♪
You know, out there in the
desert, I had an epiphany.
Now, we are going to bring Stuart
and his party through the Gap
to kick off Founders
Day celebrations.
~ JAKE: The Gap?
~ Mate, it'll be very impressive.
Oh, yeah, go on, bring
them through the Gap.
It's only one of the most sacred
sites in Alice Springs.
~ KOALA: Extremely sacred.
~ We can't talk for that place.
You gotta talk for man. People
not allowed to go through.
Oh, what are you talking about?
Cars and pedestrians go through
it every day! No-one gives a shit.
Might be bitumen on top, but the
ground's still dancing underneath.
~ Dreaming's still going. Tjukurrpa.
~ Mmm.
Dave, your Founders Day committee
did come to 8MMM for cultural advice.
And I'm almost sorry we did, alright?
Jampajinpa's got the men organised.
Why can't you be as supportive?
JAMPAJINPA: And I get
Dave's car! Woot!
He is gonna lead the welcoming party.
JESSIE: What welcoming party?!
(Groans) Oh, for Christ's sake!
The Aboriginal warriors
who greeted Stuart
on his triumphant arrival into town!
~ (Groans)
~ Hey! Hey! Read your history books.
It's all shit!
(Music thuds in headphones)
I can't believe you
agreed to stand by
and let Dave and his men waltz
in and plant the Union Jack!
Me and the 'G's gonna be represented
in full get-up and killer spears.
This celebration's a travesty
that marks the decimation
of Aboriginal culture!
How about when you're
black, you get a say?
I reckon we should get a petition
going to have Alice Springs renamed.
I think you're right, Dave. A little
acknowledgment would go a long way.
I mean, who was Alice anyway?
Does anyone even know?
Yeah, don't you know how to research?
She was the wife
of the Superintendent of
Telegraphs for South Australia.
Fuck's sake! I mean, hardly justifies
having a town named after you!
Hey, what now, you mob? Dave's shout.
And they reckon you're a tight-arse.
Er, you just got discharged
from hospital, Dave.
You sure drinking's a good idea?
Mate, the alcohol's fine. It was the
fucking water that nearly killed me.
Hey, I gave you 100.
Where's my change?
~ (Tuts)
~ Come on, cough up. Change.
Alice Springs? That's just
a waterhole down the road.
They should never have
changed the name.
They probably had to.
No-one would have been able
to pronounce Mparntwe.
Um-buh-buh-buh what?
It's the traditional
name for Alice Springs.
Yeah, I know, mate. I'm just joking.
You know what, if they're
gonna change it, Dave,
they should do it so it honours the
Arrernte people, the true owners.
Arrernte? No, no, I was thinking
about changing it back to Stuart.
What's your sudden obsession
with Stuart anyway?
~ Hey, we're related!
~ Oh, what?
Which way?
Oh, proper way, Lola. Non-gammon way.
~ To claiming. Real big way.
~ (All laugh)
No, no, mother's maiden
name - Stuart.
~ That explains a lot!
~ (Mobile phone chimes)
Oh, I gotta go.
Good luck with the petition, Dave.
Oh, thanks for your support.
Don't you mean Stuart? See you!
MILLY: See ya.
Yo, Jessie. Come drink with us.
Not likely!
~ (Door opens)
~ JESSIE: Bub?
~ Finally!
~ What's wrong?
Just wanted to know when
you were coming home.
Can't I have a couple of drinks
without being harassed?
Be a grog-face, then.
You don't know what you're
talking about, Thomas.
You can't bring grog into town camps.
You wanna be living in
the creeks, eh, mad one?
Oh, God, you're so dramatic!
It's not like I'm getting horrors!
Put your belly close
to mine Wiggle your bum
So, I gave her inches
seven and drove it home
I gave her inches seven
She said 'Good Lord,
I'm in heaven' ♪
OK! OK, I think it's time we
all wrapped it up there, eh?
No, it's not! Come on!
Yep, I'm heading home too.
Want a ride Lola?
~ Yep.
~ (Groans)
~ Dave, give me your keys.
~ Hey, not bloody likely!
Well, you're not driving.
Give me your keys!
Yeah, well, who's gonna make me?
~ Give them to me now!
~ (Laughs)
~ Hey, hey!
~ Give me the key!
There you are, there you go. Don't
get your knickers in a knot.
Really mature.
(Keys jangle)
(Laughs)
(Music blares)
Bub, what are you doing?
Too noisy. Can't sleep.
Don't put that
(Crash!)
~ (People boo)
~ (Sighs)
~ (Music silences)
~ Hey! That was my favourite song!
Really? I never would have guessed!
I've only heard it 15 frigging times.
Come on, sis. We're the lovers.
We're not the fighters.
Well, I ain't feeling
the love at the moment.
Thomas is using bread for earplugs
because you mob making
too much noise!
Oh, well, I don't know
what we'll do now.
~ (Siren yelps)
~ (Groans)
Hey! What's your name?
~ Jampajinpa. What's the problem?
~ Your Christian name.
My adopted name is Benjamin Weetman.
This is whacked! I'm
just taking a shortcut.
~ What have you been up to?
~ Just having a few drinks at work.
~ How many's a few?
~ I didn't drive, so, a bit.
~ And where's work?
~ The radio station.
~ Radio station?
~ Mmm.
~ Like, a DJ or something?
~ Yep. Whoop, whoop, whoop!
Mr Weetman this is your third
alcohol-related offence in two months.
You're going to the lock-up,
son. It's mandatory.
Screw that! I've never
been arrested before!
I tried to get arrested and
you mob wouldn't let me!
Well, looks like this
is your lucky day.
You just can't go trespassing
on private property, son.
You can't just go running around
on other people's land.
This is black land! (Grunts)
(Chatter and whooping)
(Car approaches and stops)
(Music blares)
(Cheering and shouting)
What a night.
~ (Siren yelps)
~ Ah, shit.
~ Good evening.
~ Evening, sir.
I just need to advise that
you've been pulled over
for a random identification check.
~ Licence, please.
~ Coming right up.
Yeah, can I get a plates check?
Coming right up. I only just
live around the corner.
There you are. Oh!
~ Oh!
~ Stay in the vehicle.
Stay in the vehicle.
Look, we both know if I put
you on the bag, you're gone,
so I'm gonna let you walk.
I really appreciate that.
You have a good night.
~ (Engine starts)
~ Hang on! What are you doing?
~ Get out of the vehicle!
~ Oh, shit.
Hang on, hang on. I'll be
with you, I'll be with you.
Yep, going up. They're all going up.
~ Don't make me regret it.
~ I will not make you regret it.
(Groans)
~ Honestly will not do that.
~ How you going?
Go on, get - before I change my mind.
Alright.
JAMPAJINPA: Oi, Dave!
Dave, it's Jampajinpa!
Give me a CD.
~ Scottish bagpipes?
~ It's Nan's.
Hmm.
(Bagpipe music plays on car stereo)
(Dogs bark)
Hey, hey, hey! We're
trying to sleep here.
Now you might wanna sleep.
Well, we wanna party!
Hmm? You mob like to party all night!
You're not supposed to bring grog
into town camps in the first place!
Oh, yeah, it's alright for you!
Just 'cause you hide inside
and drink like a white fella.
Well, I can handle my grog.
It's fellas like you that make
the rest of us look bad!
Mum!
Marley, you don't even live here!
Oh, whatever!
Fucking hell.
Where are the cops
when you need them?
~ (Phone rings)
~ Uh No, of course not.
Hello, 8MMM. This is
Jake speak (Groans)
Hi, er, officers.
I'm Jake Henson, the general
manager. What can I do for you?
Just a courtesy call, mate.
One of your staff was
drink-driving last night.
Right.
We let the gentleman off
with a warning this time.
OK, well, thanks for that,
officers. I appreciate it.
Well, you can understand how bad
habits would have rubbed off on him,
working in an Aboriginal organisation.
Excuse me?
These people can't handle their grog.
Well, I can assure you that's not
a problem in this workplace, OK?
With the exception of the gentleman
you picked up last night,
our staff are extremely responsible
when it comes to alcohol -
role models, in fact - so next
time you wanna cast aspersions
Oh, this place stink like grog, true!
I look like black slave for you mob?
I'm not even worker for this place!
No, that's right. She's not.
This is Lola, who's
a volunteer at 8MMM.
~ She's been here for
~ MILLY: Hey!
Woman got a hangover. Can you take
the blah-blah somewhere else?
(Retches)
Yeah, we had a bit of a do
here last night, so, that's
A celebration, actually.
Anyway, I should get back to work,
but thanks for letting us know.
It's noted, and I'm gonna talk to
the gentleman in question for you.
(Puffs)
Oh, nice of you to show your face.
Car trouble.
I don't suppose it had anything to do
with you being pulled over
for drink-driving
Hey, if the cops had let me drive
home, I'd still have my wheels.
Please tell me you're joking.
Oh!
Dave, have you thought
about getting some help?
Yes! I'm gonna ring the tow truck,
alright? No-one else is gonna do it.
No.
Fucking jungle out there.
JAKE: Brilliant! So, guess what.
Dave got pulled over for
drink-driving last night
and someone stripped
the wheels from his car.
You should sack his arse.
You know what, I think we
should ban drinking at work,
or just whenever staff are
in public representing 8MMM.
Why should we suffer for Dave's sins?
Hey, hey, hey, Jampajinpa's nan rang.
Lola, Lola, tell them, tell them.
Jampajinpa never been
go home last night.
His nan proper worried one, true.
God, I hope he's alright, nothing
bad's happened to him.
I mean, he could be lying in a ditch
somewhere. No-one would know.
Well, I don't know who
he's got organised.
The re-enactment tomorrow!
We thought you actually grew a heart!
Marley might know
where Jampajinpa is.
Well, maybe you should
take Dave and look.
~ Why do I have to hold his hand?
~ Hey, car trouble.
Wheely? Well, whose fault's that?
Just do it for Jampajinpa.
Come on.
So, how bad was he? Was he horrors?
Was he?
Hey, Milly!
~ (Gasps) Oh!
~ Milly!
~ 8MMM!
~ No, Milly!
~ Huh?
~ No, Milly, it's me, Koala!
~ I'm calling from the other room.
~ What?
Who does this sound like?
'Known as a heavy drinker, often
spending days at a time drunk.'
Like, nearly everyone I know.
No, Dave!
(Sighs) Well, I know
him too, don't I?
Yeah.
~ On your bike.
~ What? Why can't you do it?
Hey, last I checked I
was doing your a favour.
WOMAN, ON RADIO: 8MMM FM.
(Music plays on car radio)
~ Oi, oi, what's his name?
~ Marley.
Very traditional.
Oi, Marley!
~ You there?
~ (Music plays faintly)
~ Marley!
~ MARLEY: Yeah, yeah.
WOMAN: Marley! Someone here for you!
Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.
About bloody time. I'm after
Jampajinpa. Where is he?
I can't tell you where Jampajinpa is.
Why?
Jessie! I'll tell you
if you dance for me!
Not in this lifetime!
Oh!
Is this some bloody cultural
nonsense? We haven't got all day!
Just can't you just
do the dance, woman?
Mm-mm.
~ LOLA: Jakey!
~ Yeah?
Jakey! Jampajinpa's nan been rung up!
Policeman been chucking
Jampajinpa in rehab!
~ Rehab? Are you sure?
~ What, I gotta be liar for you?
No, I
White people only gammon blind,
locking it up all the blackfellas.
White people got grog sickness too,
you know. Jampajinpa is good boy.
~ Well, what do you want me to do?
~ Stop the grog!
I can't control the
alcohol in town, Lola.
I can't even control this workplace.
'Can't', 'can't', 'can't'! I'm
sick of it, all the 'can't's!
Nothing gonna change! We
gotta do something, Jakey!
(Sighs)
Yeah, you're right. You're right.
I'm gonna call an emergency meeting.
We'll make Founders
Day a dry event, OK?
Dry party can't get
Jampajinpa from rehab!
Alright, I'll call Jessie.
~ Kelhe.
~ (Ringing tone)
~ (Mobile phone rings)
~ What?
~ So, Jampajinpa's in rehab.
~ He's where?
What now?
Come on, dance for me, sis.
Jampajinpa's in lock-up!
Yeah, word on the street
is po-po got him in rehab.
He's never been picked up by the cops
before. Definitely not three times.
Oh.
You've been telling the cops
your name's Benjamin Weetman
when you've been getting picked
up horrors, haven't you?
Not just me, sis. Other mob too!
You wait! You wait
till I tell your nan.
Out of all the drunken Benjamin
Weetmans in this town,
they throw the wrong
stinking one in rehab!
What? What are you talking about?
As the Founders Day advisors
on cultural practice,
we at 8MMM would like to suggest
that maybe we make Founders
Day a dry event.
~ (Groaning)
~ First you ban grog at Founders Day!
~ What's next - no happy hour?
~ WOMAN: Oh, God!
Then you'll have us serving
cups of tea in the pub,
then no-one will have
any human rights!
Hear, hear!
Ridiculous! What about the right
to sober parents and a safe town?
If it wasn't for the pubs,
there wouldn't be a town!
The Aboriginal people want
the rivers of grog to stop!
What are you talking about?!
Aboriginal people own liquor
licences, you know!
It's not our fault Aboriginal people
can't handle their alcohol.
They need to learn how to drink,
develop their tolerance.
It's like anything! You've gotta
put in the hours - practice.
You mob talking shit! Practice
killing my people!
Mparntwe is a very sacred place,
and white people came in
with all their bad vibes
and upset the spirits!
~ Oh, you'd know! You'd know!
~ All of them!
~ The whole lot!
~ You'd know!
~ Every single one!
~ Everyone!
~ Let's tone down on the aggression.
It's an exchange of ideas,
that's all, alright?
Oh, hallelujah!
Hey! How'd you bust me out, sis?
All the other so-called
Benjamin Weetmans
on the police files are black.
~ er.
~ Uh, what?!
~ Blacker.
~ What are you doing here, Dave?
~ Hey, I care a lot about you.
You only care about your
stupid re-enactment!
No!
Hey, what's up with the
ride? Where's my wheels?!
Cops around here are useless! They
should be chasing real criminals.
He's just bitching 'cause the police
picked him up for drink-driving.
I saw you staggering
around last night!
If you weren't so wasted,
you could have helped me!
Anyway, no point holding
out. Give me the keys.
It's no good anyway, brus.
It doesn't even have wheels.
~ Yeah.
~ (Mobile phone rings)
Are you trying to hold
out on me here, Dave?
~ Yep?
~ Oh!
Alright. Be five minutes. Get us to
the council office, will you? Quick!
~ Let's go.
~ I'm staying here.
~ It's just gonna be the same bullshit.
~ What? What about you?
I'm staying with her.
Great lot of cultural advisors
you lot turned out to be!
~ How was rehab?
~ Saddest crib.
Full of blackfellas.
Why is it such a big deal to have
a celebration without alcohol?
It is hardly a celebration
without alcohol!
WOMAN: Not to mention it's
an insult to our founders.
Stuart liked to drink. He'd
be rolling in his grave!
ALL: Hear, hear!
If Stuart and his little friends
didn't bring alcohol
in the first place,
the true owners of Mparntwe wouldn't
have the problems that they have.
The problems wouldn't be problems,
because the problems wouldn't exist.
~ (All exclaim)
~ Boo! Boo!
Well, if you wowsers
are gonna ban alcohol,
we might as well cancel
the whole bloody event
No, no, no!.. because
no-one's gonna go!
No, no, hey, come on.
Let's not be too rash!
~ Oh, come on!
~ We could have two separate areas.
You know, alcohol, non-alcohol.
I mean, that's an easy solution.
We don't need to cancel the
whole thing, I mean, come on!
Dave, a surprisingly
rational suggestion.
Can we vote on that, please?
~ A dry area at Founders Day.
~ Yeah.
Everyone in favour,
put your hands up.
If you're against it, put hands
down. It's a negative vote.
Yeah, we carried it. Yep, yep, yep.
OK, there'll be a dry area at Founders
Day and one for drinkers.
Good. Sensible solution, I think.
Thanks, everyone, for coming!
Hey, Stuart's here!
JAMPAJINPA: Oh, shame.
Won't bow down to you! Nah!
Oi! Get off our land!
WARRIORS: Yeah!
You got no shame, running
around other mob's country.
~ It's just not right.
~ Yeah!
This is whacked! Nah,
this shit going down.
Get him! (Yells)
Flog him, Jampajinpa! Flog him!
(Dave cries out)
(Laughter)
It's lucky nobody showed up.
It's pretty embarrassing.
It was a fucking travesty, and
not historically accurate at all.
That's not entirely true.
The Warumungu people actually chased
Stuart and his men off their land.
You people, you just
gotta get over the past.
~ Hey, Dave?
~ Hey, yeah?
I did some research, and you're
not related to Stuart.
Oh, right! So, you know all about
my family history now too, do you?
Your mother's family changed
their name to Stuart
to hide their German
heritage during the war.
What?
Don't worry, Dave.
You can still say you're related
to Stuart - blackfella way.
Mmm.
LOLA, VOICEOVER: Hey, like I
was telling you mob early part,
people, they too greedy
for grog, true.
Us mob, we got hard history -
that Captain Crook and all his mates,
they been making lot
of trouble for us.
Mm-mm.
LOLA, VOICEOVER: Now it's up to
everybody to stop going wrong way.
We gotta make them right track
for our kids and grannies.
I don't want to hear
it, any more 'can't's!
Grog is not racist one.
It can grab them, blackfellas
and white fellas.
WOMAN: Hey, you never learn.
Keep telling you to stop drinking
grog, but you still going.
~ Everybody else is drinking!
~ You got no ears or what?
KOALA: Jampajinpa!
Think about it. This 8MMM FM.
Aboriginal radio in
Aboriginal country.
Well, I think we should
try anything we can
to help bring black and white
people closer together.
~ Jessie?
~ What? What?
We can be the pin-up organisation
for black and white relations
with 8MMM's very own
reconciliation action plan.
You still don't know anything
about blackfellas, do you?
He knows it's an act, doesn't he?
Alright, cue the stupid white fella.
~ Hey, Jakey! The set!
~ (Speaks in local language)
(Tapping on microphone) LOLA:
Hello? This thing on?