The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023) s01e07 Episode Script
Sturt’s Desert Pea
1
[PHONE BUZZES]
[BIRDS CALL]
[PHONE CONTINUES TO BUZZ]
[PIP WHIMPERS]
[SCRAPING, CLATTERING]
[SIGHS]
[EXHALES, INHALES]
[METAL CLANKS]
[WHISPERS] Pip
Hey.
- [LOUD KNOCKING]
- [GASPS]
[BARKS]
[BARKS]
[METAL SCRAPES]
- [KNOCKING]
- [LULU] Alice?
Alice it's me!
[LULU] Oh, my God.
We We had a fight.
You know, he got mad and
- What?
- I just
I just need to call him, you know?
What happened?
- [PHONE BEEPS]
- No, no
No, no, it's like It [STAMMERS]
[RECORDING] Hi, you've got Dylan
- Fuck, his phone's off.
- No, no, you don't need to call him.
You don't understand, you know
He saw Aiden give me
a hug and he got mad.
- He just told me
- A hug?
Yeah, he just saw me give him a hug
and I just don't think he un
Understood kind of what was going on.
I just, you know
If I can just explain it to him
What are you
What are you doing?
I need you to see yourself.
[SHOWER RUNS]
[LULU] You need to report it.
What's going to happen if you don't?
You You take some sick days,
try to cover up your bruises,
act like nothing's happened?
And then what? You have
to keep working with him.
And then he just gets away with it?
[WHISPERS] Did he ever
hit you?
He could be
Cruel
Jealous.
He scared the shit out of
me a couple of times, but
he was never in love with me.
♪
Can you help get these off?
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
[LAUGHS]
[BOTH CRY]
[EXHALES]
You look different.
Well, I
went looking for
Alice out in the desert
and ended up out on
country with all the aunties.
It was amazing.
I got a message from Alice.
And she said she wasn't ready to talk.
But she's fine.
She's happy, in love.
Thank you.
[DOOR OPENS]
Um Thanks for seeing me
Yeah, look, just before
you say anything,
I just want you to be aware that,
uh, Dylan's been in to see me
and he's made some very
serious allegations against you.
Against me?
Yeah, he's saying that the
relationship that you were in,
it's become toxic
and he claims that you were both
verbally and physically abusive
and that last night you
violently attacked him.
No, he assaulted me.
I can see that you're hurt, but, um,
well, Dylan, he's got cuts
and bruises go all over his
Yeah, 'cause I was defending myself.
I mean, he was
He was going to kill me.
Dylan is also claiming, um
Alice, I do have to
ask you this, I'm sorry.
But he's also claiming that
[BECOMES DISTANT] you lied to me
about your qualifications,
about your degree, just to get this job.
And he's also saying that
That you've got a violent history,
dating back to when you were a kid.
And he also mentioned a fire.
And these are very serious allegations.
- So I really
- [LAUGHS]
Alice, I
I really don't think this is funny.
You know, Dylan, he is one
of our most senior rangers
and we have never had any
problem, not in four years.
But, um, today I
I've never seen him so upset.
These are up all over Agnes Bluff.
Now, I have to suspend you from
duties, pending a formal inquiry.
[BECOMES DISTANT]
That means HR from Canberra
♪
[LULU] I can't believe she said that.
Nah, fuck her.
And fuck the sunset circus.
Someone else can take my tour.
I'm taking you to the police.
No, don't get in trouble on my account.
I'll go after. It's OK.
You can't stay here, though.
[RUBY] Hey.
Come on. You're coming
with me on the tour.
I'll look after you, OK?
[BIRDS CALL]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, what are you doing?
Why don't you mind your business?
It clearly says don't take the flowers!
- Stop!
- Jesus!
Alice, what are you doing?
What are you doing?
- [WOMAN] Somebody help me, please!
- [LULU] Alice, stop!
Alice! Alice, get off her!
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY]
[PANTS]
[MEN TALK INDISTINCTLY]
[THUGGER] Who knew Alice
was such a crazy fucking bitch?
Did you see this?
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING ON RECORDING]
- I told you she was fucking crazy.
- [WOMAN] Somebody help me
- [RECORDING CONTINUES]
- She does this to a tourist?
[RUBY, ON RECORDING] Alice, get off her!
[SNIFFS]
It's going to be alright, mate.
Knack for trouble, eh?
Let's have a look at you. Come on.
Got to be one headache, I reckon, that.
Jesus. Who's got the beers?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MAN] Get one for me.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[DIALS PHONE]
[PHONE RINGS]
Alice.
Alice?
Alice.
[SNIFFLES] I need to come home.
Darling girl
What is it, sweetheart?
- What's happened?
- [SNIFFLES]
[SIGHS]
[SOBS] I I need you to come get me.
I need to come home.
[SOBS] I don't
I don't want to be here.
[SOBS]
I'm here.
I'm here.
I'm here.
[BIRDS CALL]
Now I get to go back to Thornfield,
another fucked-up flower.
[WHISPERS] Not so.
Not so.
♪
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[CRIES]
[DIALS]
Sally.
Um, it's June.
I'm, uh, calling to
♪
[JUNE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
[PANTS SOFTLY]
[GASPS]
[WAVES ROLL ON THE BEACH]
[ALICE] Why are we here?
[JUNE] A long time ago, I
I lied to you about
something very important.
Your brother didn't die in the fire.
Your mother went into labour,
and he was born much
too soon and very sick.
- And they took him to Sydney
- What?
to try to save him,
and eventually they did.
I gave him up for adoption
to Sally Morgan.
She's the librarian
who took care of you
in the hospital here.
[STAMMERS]
I have I have a brother?
[JUNE] You have a wonderful brother.
And I'm so sorry I kept you apart.
You see
Are you fucking kidding me?
No.
Agh! [SCREAMS] You are not!
Fuck!
Do you want me to go after her?
No, just watch her.
[SIGHS]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WOMAN] Like a little
alleyway crossing this way.
- [BIRDS CALL]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Looking for this?
What's he like?
He's kind of hard to sum up.
Probably better to let
Charlie speak for himself.
He's so excited to meet you.
He's He's waited a
long time for this day.
- He knows about me?
- Of course.
He's always known about you, Alice,
his big, beautiful sister.
I'm
I'm a bit of a mess, hey?
I don't know that I'm
I'm not quite ready.
How about I just make
us a nice cup of tea?
We can eat some cake.
I made you lamingtons.
You knew I was coming?
June.
[BOYS CHAT AND LAUGH]
- Hey, Twig.
- Hey, Charlie.
- I'll leave these for Alice.
- OK.
- Thank you.
- That's alright.
Give us a hug, bub. Hey.
- See you.
- Bye, Twig.
[BOYS CONTINUE LAUGHING AND CHATTING]
[EXHALES]
Where to? Home?
Come on.
Watch your step.
Don't you go dying on me, woman.
I've got to get you up
these bloody steps.
Trapped
Want to go home
Children
Escape
Returned to
her sisters
What the hell is this?
It was the only way we could communicate
without Clem knowing.
He kept
He kept a close eye on your mum.
So you sent messages through books?
You were friends?
I wanted to help her.
She was trying to leave your dad
take you away to somewhere safe,
you and Charlie.
Was she going to go, or was it just talk
and more fucking fairytales?
No. She had a definite plan.
She knew where she wanted to take you.
It's all in here.
I only realised when I went to
Thornfield and I saw the sign.
You ended up exactly where
your mum wanted you to be.
So it is all my my fault?
No, Alice.
- I fucked the plan. I fucked the plan.
- No.
[SOBS] I fucked the plan, with the
With the fire and
I fucked the [SOBS]
No, no, no. This is
This is not your fault.
I
With the fire in the shed, I didn't
I didn't mean to kill them.
I I didn't
Alice, there's something
you need to see.
Trust me, it's not your fault.
I didn't know the plan
♪
[INAUDIBLE]
It's OK.
"An inquest is not
designed to apportion blame.
It's an inquisitorial process.
"The aim is to obtain a full and
frank account of what happened
"in the lead-up to Agnes
and Clem Hart's deaths,
"and determine whether
lessons have been learnt
"so that lives can be
saved in the future.
"At the time of inquest,
"Alice Hart was unable
to be interviewed,
"as she was still recovering
from her injuries in hospital.
"The sustained assault by her father
"resulted in broken
bones, collapsed lung,
"head and neck trauma.
"Alice Hart has not spoken
since the day of the fire.
"Agnes Hart lived in fear for her life
"and the lives of her daughter
Alice and her unborn son.
"Her husband, Clem Hart,
"was both a committed partner
"and also deeply controlling.
"Despite these impediments,
"Agnes befriended librarian Sally Morgan
"and made plans to leave Clem
"and take her to a refuge known to her,
"somewhere she believed they'd be safe.
"On 7 January 2007,
"Agnes attended her pre-natal
check-up at the Wyuna Base Hospital,
"accompanied by Clem."
We'll pick you up some more books
from the library if we have time.
Can we keep the Selkie story?
We've already read that.
OK, please try to be good.
"After the hospital, they
visited the local library,
"where Agnes updated
librarian Sally Morgan
"of her plan to leave Clem,
"the message contained in a book."
"Agnes then returned home with Clem.
"From forensic reports,
"a small fire had
broken out in the shed."
[BARKING]
[CLEM] Alice!
[AGNES] Alice!
- Clem
- [SHOUTS] Alice!
[AGNES] Clem! Please, Clem!
Clem, please!
Please don't hurt her, Clem!
[GASPS]
Alice!
[AGNES] Clem!
- Alice!
- Clem!
[BARKING]
[SCREAMS] Clem!
Clem, stop it!
Clem, stop it! Please!
[BARKING CONTINUES]
[ALICE GASPS]
[AGNES SHOUTS] Stop it! Clem!
[ALICE GASPS AND CHOKES]
[SCREAMS]
[ALICE STRUGGLES TO BREATHE]
[ALICE READS] "Agnes then left
the house and returned to Alice,
"going into early labour.
"First responders found her suffering
from severe smoke inhalation
"and in distress.
"It is the finding of this inquiry
"that Agnes Mary Hart
"Killed Clem Hart
"to save her daughter's life
"as she was attacked by her father,
"her final actions borne out
of years of violence and abuse
"at the hands of her husband."
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
♪
["O WALY, WALY" PLAYS]
- ♪♪
-
[TWIG] How's Alice?
[SALLY] Uh, better, I think.
Still processing.
I spoke to her about Clem and Gemma.
How did that all play out?
Well, it was fine.
She and Charlie are
making up for lost time.
How's June doing?
She's still here.
Still sleeping.
I think she can here hear us.
We've loved hearing Charlie's messages.
But if you could get
Alice to give us a call,
I know June would
love to hear her voice.
I can't promise anything, Twig,
but I will try again.
Speak soon.
[NURSE] Keep up the fluids.
Don't worry about food anymore.
It's just about keeping her
comfortable at this stage.
Thank you.
Come on.
Boo, you're up.
I know you prefer poker,
but we're playing patience.
No cheating.
I know what you're like.
["O WALY, WALY" CONTINUES]
♪♪
What about Clem?
Do I look like him a bit or?
I kinda hate that idea.
You do look like him a little bit.
But it's
It's not a bad thing.
'Cause he wasn't all bad, you know?
There was good too.
He was artistic and strong.
But, you know, just when you
were feeling safe and happy
he'd turn
as if some invisible slight or
Are you ever going to charge him?
With assault?
Dylan.
Aren't you going to be late for school?
Hi.
Not to pile on too much pressure, but
Twig called this morning.
June's not doing well.
They'd love it if you gave them a call.
Or even left a message for her.
What do I say in that message?
"Thank you so much for telling me
"my brother was dead the last 14 years?"
[SYCCO: "GERMS"]
♪♪
- [PHONE DINGS]
-
[SYCCO: "GERMS"]
♪♪
[TWIG] You always said
honey could cure anything.
Um
♪
[CLEM] We're going to
get married at Thornfield
and then afterwards
get a place of our own.
But we wouldn't go far.
I couldn't imagine
living without you guys.
Well, actually,
I was thinking I could
build a us a cottage.
Here.
Down by the river.
[AGNES] Really?
Yeah.
Thornfield has been rundown for so long.
The whole place needs to be modernised.
There's so much land here.
There's so much
So much opportunity.
Maybe we could even renovate this place.
Just think about what it could become.
Clem, I would like to see you privately.
Now.
You will not be building anything
at Thornfield because it is not yours,
and never will be.
Why are you saying that?
You know why.
When I die, Thornfield goes
to Twig and your sister Candy.
Not you.
The Candy stuff, it's nothing.
Well, if it's nothing,
you won't mind me telling Agnes
that you raped your little sister.
- [SHOUTS]
- Agh!
[JUNE GROANS AND GASPS]
You won't tell her a thing.
Not a word.
[JUNE GASPS]
Clem! Get off her!
[JUNE GASPS]
Get out of here!
[COUGHS]
[CLEM] Agnes!
[COUGHS]
[CLEM] Agnes!
[JUNE COUGHS] D Don't
Don't let him take Agnes!
[COUGHS]
[WIND CHIMES TINKLE]
[AGNES] It had to be this way
for Alice.
[TWIG] June.
Come on. [GRUNTS]
You need anything else?
I'm finishing this for Alice.
OK.
♪
[WHIMPERS]
[THE TRIFFIDS: "BURY ME DEEP IN LOVE"]
♪♪
[KNOCKS]
[SALLY] Hi.
Alice, I don't want to intrude.
I don't think you should be
Sucked back into Dylan.
And that stuff is dangerous.
Can make you crazy.
There are ways of
blocking that. I can help
Yeah, no, I I I know.
Really, I'm not going back there.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[ SONG CONTINUES]
[PHONE BUZZES]
[BEES BUZZ LOUDLY]
You hear that?
They're swarming.
The bees.
♪
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
It means a new queen has been born.
[BEES BUZZ]
I could murder a gin and
tonic and a bag of chips.
I'll get you one. I'll get
you one. [CHUCKLES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[INAUDIBLE]
[THE ROLLING STONES: "GIMME SHELTER"]
♪♪
[INAUDIBLE]
Chips?
[MUSIC FADES]
Just a little bit.
[EXHALES]
[LYREBIRD CALLS]
[LYREBIRD CONTINUES]
- One more for the road.
- Mmm.
June?
[FAINTLY] June?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
♪
[CANDY] Hi.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh! It's OK.
It's OK.
Oh, I've missed you.
You're here now.
Oh, my goodness.
Charlie.
[GASPS] Charlie! Oh, my goodness.
Hello.
So good to meet you.
- You really do have the blue hair.
- I do.
- Hi, I'm Candy.
- Sally.
Sally, nice to meet you. Hi. Candy.
- John.
- John, nice to meet you.
Welcome, welcome.
- Oh, it's beautiful.
- Thank you.
- Isn't it?
- Welcome to Thornfield.
[CHATTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
How many people are you expecting?
Just us.
And the flowers.
My mother June would have hated this.
- [ALL LAUGH]
- Yes, she would!
She made it very clear she
wanted a simple send-off,
no fuss, as few words as possible.
Just family and flowers.
Well, I kept my word.
It is the flowers and their families,
and look at how you
wildflowers have bloomed.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
- We love you.
- [CHEERING CONTINUES]
Can Charlie and Alice
come up here, please?
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
We all know Alice,
June's much-loved granddaughter.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Welcome back!
And this is Charlie
June's grandson.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
They are the children
of June's son, Clem,
and his lovely wife, Agnes,
who are no longer with us.
♪
[CRIES SOFTLY]
[BOTH SOB QUIETLY]
[SOBS SOFTLY]
We all got one.
[JUNE] "My darling daughter
"What a gift you are"
[SNIFFS]
Oh
[LYREBIRD CALLS]
[CRIES]
[CRIES SOFTLY]
[JUNE] "Dear Alice
"When we stay silent, they win.
"In my shed there's a book
I've put aside for you
"that I call 'The Lost Flowers'.
"Alice, these are the stories
I should have shared with you
"when you were old enough to hear them,
"and still looking for answers.
"When women started to come here,
"it became almost a ritual that
"one night they'd come to the shed
"and tell me what had happened to them
"and watch as I wrote it down.
"A record, there in black and white.
"They're the stories I started
to write as a young woman.
"I had my voice taken from me
"in a brutal crime at the river
"when I was very young.
"I let men silence me.
"Writing down these stories,
"I found my voice again.
"The stories of 'The Lost Flowers'
"are of women whose lives
and histories have been erased,
"mainly by men.
"Men who will never be made
"accountable for what they've done
"because they are our sons,
"they are our brothers, our fathers,
"our lovers, our heroes.
"To speak out against them,
"people who we love, that we trust,
"who live in our homes,
"who should be there to protect us,
"to tell those stories
and be heard, believed,
"it is so hard."
What did she leave you?
A final job to do.
Are you ready?
[CANDY] What's lost is found.
My love will never leave you.
Resurrection.
Have courage, take heart.
[JUNE] "But we pay
for our silence, Alice.
"The secrets, the shame,
"it eats away at us."
[TWIG] Watch your step.
"It lets men like Dylan
get to be the only voice.
"They get to rewrite history,
"erase us, define who we are.
"I found my voice again
"by listening to other women's stories.
"Hearing them speak,
"I realised I wasn't alone.
"I give you my story, Alice,
to add to yours,
"because you have a voice,
"a great big beautiful voice,
"and now is the time to use it."
♪
[PHONE BUZZES]
[BIRDS CALL]
[PHONE CONTINUES TO BUZZ]
[PIP WHIMPERS]
[SCRAPING, CLATTERING]
[SIGHS]
[EXHALES, INHALES]
[METAL CLANKS]
[WHISPERS] Pip
Hey.
- [LOUD KNOCKING]
- [GASPS]
[BARKS]
[BARKS]
[METAL SCRAPES]
- [KNOCKING]
- [LULU] Alice?
Alice it's me!
[LULU] Oh, my God.
We We had a fight.
You know, he got mad and
- What?
- I just
I just need to call him, you know?
What happened?
- [PHONE BEEPS]
- No, no
No, no, it's like It [STAMMERS]
[RECORDING] Hi, you've got Dylan
- Fuck, his phone's off.
- No, no, you don't need to call him.
You don't understand, you know
He saw Aiden give me
a hug and he got mad.
- He just told me
- A hug?
Yeah, he just saw me give him a hug
and I just don't think he un
Understood kind of what was going on.
I just, you know
If I can just explain it to him
What are you
What are you doing?
I need you to see yourself.
[SHOWER RUNS]
[LULU] You need to report it.
What's going to happen if you don't?
You You take some sick days,
try to cover up your bruises,
act like nothing's happened?
And then what? You have
to keep working with him.
And then he just gets away with it?
[WHISPERS] Did he ever
hit you?
He could be
Cruel
Jealous.
He scared the shit out of
me a couple of times, but
he was never in love with me.
♪
Can you help get these off?
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
[LAUGHS]
[BOTH CRY]
[EXHALES]
You look different.
Well, I
went looking for
Alice out in the desert
and ended up out on
country with all the aunties.
It was amazing.
I got a message from Alice.
And she said she wasn't ready to talk.
But she's fine.
She's happy, in love.
Thank you.
[DOOR OPENS]
Um Thanks for seeing me
Yeah, look, just before
you say anything,
I just want you to be aware that,
uh, Dylan's been in to see me
and he's made some very
serious allegations against you.
Against me?
Yeah, he's saying that the
relationship that you were in,
it's become toxic
and he claims that you were both
verbally and physically abusive
and that last night you
violently attacked him.
No, he assaulted me.
I can see that you're hurt, but, um,
well, Dylan, he's got cuts
and bruises go all over his
Yeah, 'cause I was defending myself.
I mean, he was
He was going to kill me.
Dylan is also claiming, um
Alice, I do have to
ask you this, I'm sorry.
But he's also claiming that
[BECOMES DISTANT] you lied to me
about your qualifications,
about your degree, just to get this job.
And he's also saying that
That you've got a violent history,
dating back to when you were a kid.
And he also mentioned a fire.
And these are very serious allegations.
- So I really
- [LAUGHS]
Alice, I
I really don't think this is funny.
You know, Dylan, he is one
of our most senior rangers
and we have never had any
problem, not in four years.
But, um, today I
I've never seen him so upset.
These are up all over Agnes Bluff.
Now, I have to suspend you from
duties, pending a formal inquiry.
[BECOMES DISTANT]
That means HR from Canberra
♪
[LULU] I can't believe she said that.
Nah, fuck her.
And fuck the sunset circus.
Someone else can take my tour.
I'm taking you to the police.
No, don't get in trouble on my account.
I'll go after. It's OK.
You can't stay here, though.
[RUBY] Hey.
Come on. You're coming
with me on the tour.
I'll look after you, OK?
[BIRDS CALL]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, what are you doing?
Why don't you mind your business?
It clearly says don't take the flowers!
- Stop!
- Jesus!
Alice, what are you doing?
What are you doing?
- [WOMAN] Somebody help me, please!
- [LULU] Alice, stop!
Alice! Alice, get off her!
[BOTH BREATHE HEAVILY]
[PANTS]
[MEN TALK INDISTINCTLY]
[THUGGER] Who knew Alice
was such a crazy fucking bitch?
Did you see this?
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING ON RECORDING]
- I told you she was fucking crazy.
- [WOMAN] Somebody help me
- [RECORDING CONTINUES]
- She does this to a tourist?
[RUBY, ON RECORDING] Alice, get off her!
[SNIFFS]
It's going to be alright, mate.
Knack for trouble, eh?
Let's have a look at you. Come on.
Got to be one headache, I reckon, that.
Jesus. Who's got the beers?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MAN] Get one for me.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[DIALS PHONE]
[PHONE RINGS]
Alice.
Alice?
Alice.
[SNIFFLES] I need to come home.
Darling girl
What is it, sweetheart?
- What's happened?
- [SNIFFLES]
[SIGHS]
[SOBS] I I need you to come get me.
I need to come home.
[SOBS] I don't
I don't want to be here.
[SOBS]
I'm here.
I'm here.
I'm here.
[BIRDS CALL]
Now I get to go back to Thornfield,
another fucked-up flower.
[WHISPERS] Not so.
Not so.
♪
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[CRIES]
[DIALS]
Sally.
Um, it's June.
I'm, uh, calling to
♪
[JUNE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
[PANTS SOFTLY]
[GASPS]
[WAVES ROLL ON THE BEACH]
[ALICE] Why are we here?
[JUNE] A long time ago, I
I lied to you about
something very important.
Your brother didn't die in the fire.
Your mother went into labour,
and he was born much
too soon and very sick.
- And they took him to Sydney
- What?
to try to save him,
and eventually they did.
I gave him up for adoption
to Sally Morgan.
She's the librarian
who took care of you
in the hospital here.
[STAMMERS]
I have I have a brother?
[JUNE] You have a wonderful brother.
And I'm so sorry I kept you apart.
You see
Are you fucking kidding me?
No.
Agh! [SCREAMS] You are not!
Fuck!
Do you want me to go after her?
No, just watch her.
[SIGHS]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[WOMAN] Like a little
alleyway crossing this way.
- [BIRDS CALL]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Looking for this?
What's he like?
He's kind of hard to sum up.
Probably better to let
Charlie speak for himself.
He's so excited to meet you.
He's He's waited a
long time for this day.
- He knows about me?
- Of course.
He's always known about you, Alice,
his big, beautiful sister.
I'm
I'm a bit of a mess, hey?
I don't know that I'm
I'm not quite ready.
How about I just make
us a nice cup of tea?
We can eat some cake.
I made you lamingtons.
You knew I was coming?
June.
[BOYS CHAT AND LAUGH]
- Hey, Twig.
- Hey, Charlie.
- I'll leave these for Alice.
- OK.
- Thank you.
- That's alright.
Give us a hug, bub. Hey.
- See you.
- Bye, Twig.
[BOYS CONTINUE LAUGHING AND CHATTING]
[EXHALES]
Where to? Home?
Come on.
Watch your step.
Don't you go dying on me, woman.
I've got to get you up
these bloody steps.
Trapped
Want to go home
Children
Escape
Returned to
her sisters
What the hell is this?
It was the only way we could communicate
without Clem knowing.
He kept
He kept a close eye on your mum.
So you sent messages through books?
You were friends?
I wanted to help her.
She was trying to leave your dad
take you away to somewhere safe,
you and Charlie.
Was she going to go, or was it just talk
and more fucking fairytales?
No. She had a definite plan.
She knew where she wanted to take you.
It's all in here.
I only realised when I went to
Thornfield and I saw the sign.
You ended up exactly where
your mum wanted you to be.
So it is all my my fault?
No, Alice.
- I fucked the plan. I fucked the plan.
- No.
[SOBS] I fucked the plan, with the
With the fire and
I fucked the [SOBS]
No, no, no. This is
This is not your fault.
I
With the fire in the shed, I didn't
I didn't mean to kill them.
I I didn't
Alice, there's something
you need to see.
Trust me, it's not your fault.
I didn't know the plan
♪
[INAUDIBLE]
It's OK.
"An inquest is not
designed to apportion blame.
It's an inquisitorial process.
"The aim is to obtain a full and
frank account of what happened
"in the lead-up to Agnes
and Clem Hart's deaths,
"and determine whether
lessons have been learnt
"so that lives can be
saved in the future.
"At the time of inquest,
"Alice Hart was unable
to be interviewed,
"as she was still recovering
from her injuries in hospital.
"The sustained assault by her father
"resulted in broken
bones, collapsed lung,
"head and neck trauma.
"Alice Hart has not spoken
since the day of the fire.
"Agnes Hart lived in fear for her life
"and the lives of her daughter
Alice and her unborn son.
"Her husband, Clem Hart,
"was both a committed partner
"and also deeply controlling.
"Despite these impediments,
"Agnes befriended librarian Sally Morgan
"and made plans to leave Clem
"and take her to a refuge known to her,
"somewhere she believed they'd be safe.
"On 7 January 2007,
"Agnes attended her pre-natal
check-up at the Wyuna Base Hospital,
"accompanied by Clem."
We'll pick you up some more books
from the library if we have time.
Can we keep the Selkie story?
We've already read that.
OK, please try to be good.
"After the hospital, they
visited the local library,
"where Agnes updated
librarian Sally Morgan
"of her plan to leave Clem,
"the message contained in a book."
"Agnes then returned home with Clem.
"From forensic reports,
"a small fire had
broken out in the shed."
[BARKING]
[CLEM] Alice!
[AGNES] Alice!
- Clem
- [SHOUTS] Alice!
[AGNES] Clem! Please, Clem!
Clem, please!
Please don't hurt her, Clem!
[GASPS]
Alice!
[AGNES] Clem!
- Alice!
- Clem!
[BARKING]
[SCREAMS] Clem!
Clem, stop it!
Clem, stop it! Please!
[BARKING CONTINUES]
[ALICE GASPS]
[AGNES SHOUTS] Stop it! Clem!
[ALICE GASPS AND CHOKES]
[SCREAMS]
[ALICE STRUGGLES TO BREATHE]
[ALICE READS] "Agnes then left
the house and returned to Alice,
"going into early labour.
"First responders found her suffering
from severe smoke inhalation
"and in distress.
"It is the finding of this inquiry
"that Agnes Mary Hart
"Killed Clem Hart
"to save her daughter's life
"as she was attacked by her father,
"her final actions borne out
of years of violence and abuse
"at the hands of her husband."
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
♪
["O WALY, WALY" PLAYS]
- ♪♪
-
[TWIG] How's Alice?
[SALLY] Uh, better, I think.
Still processing.
I spoke to her about Clem and Gemma.
How did that all play out?
Well, it was fine.
She and Charlie are
making up for lost time.
How's June doing?
She's still here.
Still sleeping.
I think she can here hear us.
We've loved hearing Charlie's messages.
But if you could get
Alice to give us a call,
I know June would
love to hear her voice.
I can't promise anything, Twig,
but I will try again.
Speak soon.
[NURSE] Keep up the fluids.
Don't worry about food anymore.
It's just about keeping her
comfortable at this stage.
Thank you.
Come on.
Boo, you're up.
I know you prefer poker,
but we're playing patience.
No cheating.
I know what you're like.
["O WALY, WALY" CONTINUES]
♪♪
What about Clem?
Do I look like him a bit or?
I kinda hate that idea.
You do look like him a little bit.
But it's
It's not a bad thing.
'Cause he wasn't all bad, you know?
There was good too.
He was artistic and strong.
But, you know, just when you
were feeling safe and happy
he'd turn
as if some invisible slight or
Are you ever going to charge him?
With assault?
Dylan.
Aren't you going to be late for school?
Hi.
Not to pile on too much pressure, but
Twig called this morning.
June's not doing well.
They'd love it if you gave them a call.
Or even left a message for her.
What do I say in that message?
"Thank you so much for telling me
"my brother was dead the last 14 years?"
[SYCCO: "GERMS"]
♪♪
- [PHONE DINGS]
-
[SYCCO: "GERMS"]
♪♪
[TWIG] You always said
honey could cure anything.
Um
♪
[CLEM] We're going to
get married at Thornfield
and then afterwards
get a place of our own.
But we wouldn't go far.
I couldn't imagine
living without you guys.
Well, actually,
I was thinking I could
build a us a cottage.
Here.
Down by the river.
[AGNES] Really?
Yeah.
Thornfield has been rundown for so long.
The whole place needs to be modernised.
There's so much land here.
There's so much
So much opportunity.
Maybe we could even renovate this place.
Just think about what it could become.
Clem, I would like to see you privately.
Now.
You will not be building anything
at Thornfield because it is not yours,
and never will be.
Why are you saying that?
You know why.
When I die, Thornfield goes
to Twig and your sister Candy.
Not you.
The Candy stuff, it's nothing.
Well, if it's nothing,
you won't mind me telling Agnes
that you raped your little sister.
- [SHOUTS]
- Agh!
[JUNE GROANS AND GASPS]
You won't tell her a thing.
Not a word.
[JUNE GASPS]
Clem! Get off her!
[JUNE GASPS]
Get out of here!
[COUGHS]
[CLEM] Agnes!
[COUGHS]
[CLEM] Agnes!
[JUNE COUGHS] D Don't
Don't let him take Agnes!
[COUGHS]
[WIND CHIMES TINKLE]
[AGNES] It had to be this way
for Alice.
[TWIG] June.
Come on. [GRUNTS]
You need anything else?
I'm finishing this for Alice.
OK.
♪
[WHIMPERS]
[THE TRIFFIDS: "BURY ME DEEP IN LOVE"]
♪♪
[KNOCKS]
[SALLY] Hi.
Alice, I don't want to intrude.
I don't think you should be
Sucked back into Dylan.
And that stuff is dangerous.
Can make you crazy.
There are ways of
blocking that. I can help
Yeah, no, I I I know.
Really, I'm not going back there.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[ SONG CONTINUES]
[PHONE BUZZES]
[BEES BUZZ LOUDLY]
You hear that?
They're swarming.
The bees.
♪
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
It means a new queen has been born.
[BEES BUZZ]
I could murder a gin and
tonic and a bag of chips.
I'll get you one. I'll get
you one. [CHUCKLES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[INAUDIBLE]
[THE ROLLING STONES: "GIMME SHELTER"]
♪♪
[INAUDIBLE]
Chips?
[MUSIC FADES]
Just a little bit.
[EXHALES]
[LYREBIRD CALLS]
[LYREBIRD CONTINUES]
- One more for the road.
- Mmm.
June?
[FAINTLY] June?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
♪
[CANDY] Hi.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh! It's OK.
It's OK.
Oh, I've missed you.
You're here now.
Oh, my goodness.
Charlie.
[GASPS] Charlie! Oh, my goodness.
Hello.
So good to meet you.
- You really do have the blue hair.
- I do.
- Hi, I'm Candy.
- Sally.
Sally, nice to meet you. Hi. Candy.
- John.
- John, nice to meet you.
Welcome, welcome.
- Oh, it's beautiful.
- Thank you.
- Isn't it?
- Welcome to Thornfield.
[CHATTER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
How many people are you expecting?
Just us.
And the flowers.
My mother June would have hated this.
- [ALL LAUGH]
- Yes, she would!
She made it very clear she
wanted a simple send-off,
no fuss, as few words as possible.
Just family and flowers.
Well, I kept my word.
It is the flowers and their families,
and look at how you
wildflowers have bloomed.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
- We love you.
- [CHEERING CONTINUES]
Can Charlie and Alice
come up here, please?
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
We all know Alice,
June's much-loved granddaughter.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Welcome back!
And this is Charlie
June's grandson.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
They are the children
of June's son, Clem,
and his lovely wife, Agnes,
who are no longer with us.
♪
[CRIES SOFTLY]
[BOTH SOB QUIETLY]
[SOBS SOFTLY]
We all got one.
[JUNE] "My darling daughter
"What a gift you are"
[SNIFFS]
Oh
[LYREBIRD CALLS]
[CRIES]
[CRIES SOFTLY]
[JUNE] "Dear Alice
"When we stay silent, they win.
"In my shed there's a book
I've put aside for you
"that I call 'The Lost Flowers'.
"Alice, these are the stories
I should have shared with you
"when you were old enough to hear them,
"and still looking for answers.
"When women started to come here,
"it became almost a ritual that
"one night they'd come to the shed
"and tell me what had happened to them
"and watch as I wrote it down.
"A record, there in black and white.
"They're the stories I started
to write as a young woman.
"I had my voice taken from me
"in a brutal crime at the river
"when I was very young.
"I let men silence me.
"Writing down these stories,
"I found my voice again.
"The stories of 'The Lost Flowers'
"are of women whose lives
and histories have been erased,
"mainly by men.
"Men who will never be made
"accountable for what they've done
"because they are our sons,
"they are our brothers, our fathers,
"our lovers, our heroes.
"To speak out against them,
"people who we love, that we trust,
"who live in our homes,
"who should be there to protect us,
"to tell those stories
and be heard, believed,
"it is so hard."
What did she leave you?
A final job to do.
Are you ready?
[CANDY] What's lost is found.
My love will never leave you.
Resurrection.
Have courage, take heart.
[JUNE] "But we pay
for our silence, Alice.
"The secrets, the shame,
"it eats away at us."
[TWIG] Watch your step.
"It lets men like Dylan
get to be the only voice.
"They get to rewrite history,
"erase us, define who we are.
"I found my voice again
"by listening to other women's stories.
"Hearing them speak,
"I realised I wasn't alone.
"I give you my story, Alice,
to add to yours,
"because you have a voice,
"a great big beautiful voice,
"and now is the time to use it."
♪