Scripts - Episode 1811

A ROAD

QUINN and ALF are there.

ALF

Why didn’t you tell me who you were?

QUINN

I didn’t think there was any point.

ALF

No point. You come halfway around the world to find me and you go home without a word.

QUINN

I got what I came for.

ALF

I don’t understand.

QUINN

I came to find out who my father is and now I know.

ALF

No you don’t. I’m sorry Quinn. It was a misunderstanding. You might think you’ve got me worked out. Whether you have or not, I think I deserve the same chance.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

MICHAEL and JACK walk down the stairs. SAM is in the hall.

JACK

We weren’t doing anything.

MICHAEL

I know what I saw Jack. You were in bed together.

SALLY walks down the stairs.

SALLY

We weren’t in it, we were on it.

JACK

There’s a big difference Michael.

SALLY

You were under the downer. Now what have you got to say for yourselves.

SAM walks into the living room. PIPPA is there.

SAM

I knew they had the hots for each other.

PIPPA

Michael, what’s going on?

MICHAEL, SALLY and JACK walk in.

MICHAEL

I just found these two in bed together.

SAM

See.

PIPPA

What?

MICHAEL

Sam, go to your room.

SAM

I’m not a kid.

MICHAEL

I said go to your room.

SAM walks out.

THE BAYSIDE DINER

IRENE and MARILYN are in the kitchen.

MARILYN

Now, Irene, be honest. What do you think?

MARILYN puts the glasses on and then takes them off.

MARILYN

They don’t suit me, do they?

IRENE

Love, if you gave me half a chance to have a good look at them I would tell you.

MARILYN puts the glasses on.

MARILYN

They make me look twenty years older.

IRENE

Piffle darl. They look great. Real sophisticated. You just get them, did you?

MARILYN

Actually, I got them two years ago, but I was vain to wear them. Now with all this studying lark, it’s starting to hurt.

IRENE

Love, trust me. They look fabulous.

ALF and QUINN walk in.

ALF

I thought it might be a good idea if we had a bit of a yarn before I took you home to meet Ails.

QUINN

Sure.

IRENE serves them.

IRENE

So, what can I get you guys?

QUINN

Black tea, thank you.

ALF

And coffee for me, thanks.

IRENE continues to stand at the table.

ALF

Thanks Irene.

IRENE walks away.

ALF

Tea, eh. I thought you Yanks never touched the stuff.

QUINN

Yeah, I know. You expect it to heal the wounds on the tarmac when I touched down.

ALF

Fair enough.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

MICHAEL, PIPPA, SALLY and JACK are there.

SALLY

We weren’t doing anything.

MICHAEL

And what if I’d come in ten minutes later.

JACK

Well, what if you had?

PIPPA

I didn’t even know you two felt this way about each other. How long has this been going on?

SALLY

Not long.

JACK

We only realised not long ago how much we liked each other.

MICHAEL

And what’s wrong with holding hands?

SALLY

What’s wrong with what we were doing if it’s not going to go any further?

PIPPA

That’s just it Sal. I mean, you wouldn’t do anything intentionally, but in the heat of the moment you might just get carried away.

SALLY

So now you’re saying we’ve got no self control.

MICHAEL

If we did we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

JACK

Hey, Michael. We’re seventeen. We can.

MICHAEL

Sally is sixteen and while you’re living in this house you’ll abide by our rules.

PIPPA

Look, I just think we should talk about this another time. You’ve both got exams tomorrow. I think you should be studying, right.

MICHAEL

In separate rooms, this time, thanks.

SALLY walks out.

JACK

I’m going for a walk.

JACK walks out the house.

THE BAYSIDE DINER

ALF and QUINN sit at a table.

ALF

So, how’s your mother?

QUINN

She died a few months ago. Cancer.

ALF

I’m sorry love. I didn’t know. I just wish I did, about lots of things. Did she ever talk to you about me?

QUINN

No. Not to me. I guess it must have been too painful.

ALF

She was a great dancer your mum. Did you know that?

QUINN

No.

ALF

That’s how we met, at the dance. She was down on R and R from an aircraft base up the coast. It was during the Vietnam war. I nearly didn’t go. They were Seppos everywhere. I’m sorry. That’s what we called you yanks.

QUINN

Yeah, I know.

ALF

Anyway, they weren’t all that popular the yanks. They used to swan around town throwing money around everywhere sweeping the local girls of their feet. I was working at the bar at the time, in the pub. Your mother and I got talking and it turned out we were both Elvis fans. I don’t know what else she saw in me, but one thing led to another and.

QUINN

And here I am.

ALF

I’m sorry love. I just wish you’d tell me.

JACK and CURTIS walk in.

JACK

Yeah, well you should have seen the way Michael went off his head, you know, especially about me. You know what the funny thing is, as soon as something like this happens it’s always the guy who gets dumped on.

CURTIS

Yeah.

JACK

Well thanks a lot man. Remind me never to come to you again when I’ve got hassles.

CURTIS

Sorry man. I was just wondering why Alf’s having a chat with the yank. I mean he was trying to cut her this morning.

QUINN

I still can’t believe you even bought that. I don’t even look like a journalist.

ALF

Yeah, but you know that development of mine that I told you about. Well, the American investor I heard had a bit of a shady past and I thought you might have been here to dig up some dirt on him.

QUINN

Certainly seemed to have opened a can of worms.

ALF

Anyway, look, that’s enough about me. Let’s hear about you.

QUINN

Well, what do you want to know?

ALF

Well, when did your mother first tell you about me?

QUINN

She didn’t. Dad did after she died.

ALF

About what?

QUINN

Him and me. I always thought he was my father, but there was something, a distance between us. Maybe he never got used to the fact that I wasn’t his child.

ALF

He never mistreated you?

QUINN

Oh, nothing you could call abuse.

ALF

Em, and what about brothers and sisters?

QUINN

A brother, Clem.

ALF

Yeah, well you can add these to the list. There’s young Duncan, he’s six and there’s Ruth who I’ve told you about. She’s a few years younger than you and she’s from the first marriage and then of course there’s young Curtis, who I think you’ve already met.

QUINN

Oh, I always wanted to be part of a big family.

AILSA walks in.

AILSA

Oh, I see you finally tracked down my husband.

ALF

Ails, I didn’t see you come in.

AILSA

It looks like you’ve been caught with your hand in the biscuit tin.

ALF

Well there’s something I have to tell you.

THE STEWART HOUSE

QUINN, ALF, CURTIS, AILSA and DUNCAN walk in.

QUINN

Are you sure it’s all right for me to stay?

AILSA

Yes, of course. You’re family. How could we let you stay anywhere else?

QUINN

Aw, thank you. You have a lovely place. A bit of a shock, huh.

CURTIS

Yeah, yeah, a bit.

DUNCAN

I don’t like you staying here.

ALF

Aw, now just a minute little matey. I know it’s a bit of a surprise, but, em, well it could be a bit nice having a big sister.

QUINN

Yeah, I cook good chocolate brownies and the best thing about having me as a big sister is you can tell your friends I worked at Disneyland. I ate my lunch with Mickey and Donald every day.

DUNCAN

I’ve got a Donald Duck bag. Come and see it.

CURTIS

I’ll give you a guided tour.

CURTIS, QUINN and DUNCAN walk out.

ALF

Thanks Ails.

AILSA

What for?

ALF

For taking this so well. For not judging me.

AILSA

Aw, how could I? You had a life before we were married love. I’ve got no right to be upset or jealous about something that happened before we even met.

ALF

I didn’t do the wrong thing by her mother, you know. If I’d known Mary was pregnant.

AILSA

Alf, I know you’re not that sort of man.

ALF

Talk about knocking you for six, eh.

AILSA

Yeah, it’s going to take getting used to.

THE BEACH HOUSE

MARILYN and DON are there.

DON

I thought we could move our lessons to lunchtimes if that’s all right with you. The exams will be over, the students will have gone home so we won’t be interrupted.

IRENE walks down the stairs.

MARILYN

Aw, that sounds fine.

DON

New glasses. Very nice.

MARILYN

Oh, do you think so? Thank you Donald.

DON

So, how’s the other reading coming along?

MARILYN

Well, I don’t see how The Canterbury Tales is a classic Donald when Chaucer couldn’t even spell properly. I don’t even understand what half the words mean.

DON

Yeah, well I had a feeling you might find it heavy going so I brought something more modern. The language is contemporary. I think you’ll find the issues more relevant and well, just generally easier to read.

MARILYN

But I have to learn the classics Donald. My education won’t be complete without them.

DON

Well we can always go back to Chaucer. Now, I recommend this one in particular.

MARILYN

The Remains of the Dead.

IRENE

Aw, I saw that at the movies.

DON

Yes, it was a novel to begin with. It won the Booker Prize a few years back.

MARILYN

Aw, that’s nice.

DON

Yes, yes, it’s a very prestigious literary award.

MARILYN

Aw, well, it would be with a name like that, wouldn’t it Donald?

DON

Yeah. Yeah, all right. I’ll see you later.

MARILYN

Oh no Donald. You must stay for coffee. I like talking about literature and sounding well read, even if I’m not.

DON

Aw, all right. Thank you. I’d like that.

MARILYN

OK.

MARILYN walks into the kitchen.

IRENE

I must say Donald, it’s very nice of you to call around especially. You don’t give all your students this much attention, do you?

DON

Well Irene, I spend most of my life teaching kids who do not want to learn. I can not tell you how refreshing it is to have a pupil as enthusiastic as Marilyn. It reminds me why I became a teacher in the first place.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

SALLY, MICHAEL and PIPPA are sitting at the table. SALLY goes to clear her plate from the table.

PIPPA

No, no, Sal. Michael and I will clear up. You’ve got some study to do.

JACK and SAM are watching TV.

PIPPA

That goes for you too Jack.

JACK

Aw, yeah, when this is finished.

PIPPA

There’s plenty of time for TV tomorrow after the exams thank you.

JACK goes to walk out the room.

MICHAEL

Ah, Jack.  You stay down here mate.

JACK

Aw, what?

SALLY

Shannon’s upstairs. We won’t be alone.

MICHAEL

I’d just prefer it if you did.

SALLY

Michael, this is ridiculous. Why don’t you put bells around our necks and then you’ll always know where we are.

JACK

How am I supposed to study down here with all the distractions.

MICHAEL

They’re worse distractions upstairs. Sam, turn off the TV.

SAM

But why should I?

MICHAEL

Just turn it off mate.

THE STEWART HOUSE

ALF, DUNCAN and AILSA sit at the table. QUINN walks in.

QUINN

Here you go folks. Genuine Yankee flapjacks.

AILSA

Thank you Quinn. They look delicious.

DUNCAN

Where are the brownies?

QUINN

Aw, these are just as nice and I don’t think your mum would like you eating chocolate for breakfast.

AILSA

Well Kansas must have been a wonderful place to grow up. All those wide open prairies to play in.

QUINN

Yeah, nothing, but the horizon everywhere you looked. It was miles to town and our neighbour, we had to drive down the road to get there. Now, growing up here is wonderful. The beach and a wonderful home. Not dry, dusty, boring. I hope Curtis and Duncan know how lucky they are.

ALF

Yeah, you know, I’m sorry I wasn’t around for you before love, but I’m really pleased we’ve got this opportunity to get to know each other.

QUINN

Yeah, me too.

AILSA

Oh, I can smell something burning.

QUINN

Oh.

QUINN runs into the kitchen.

ALF

What do you reckon Ails? I could really get used to this sort of service.

THE BAYSIDE DINER

MARILYN sits at a table. IRENE walks up to her.

IRENE

It’s three o’clock darl.

MARILYN ignores her.

IRENE

Oh my god, the diner’s on fire.

MARILYN

Sorry.

IRENE

Love, isn’t your tutorial in half an hour?

MARILYN

Well why didn’t you tell me what the time was?

IRENE

I’ve been trying to.

MARILYN

I’ve only read this much.

IRENE

Yeah, get it out and watch it on video.

MARILYN

That’s cheating. How am I supposed to learn about literature if I don’t read the words on the page.

IRENE

Love, I’m sure the same words will be in the move.

MARILYN

Not all of them, and besides, maybe the books I’ve read have never turned out the way I imagined and I’ll stick to the images up here, thank you very much. I wonder what Donald thought of my essay on capitalism?

IRENE

Love, pardon my ignorance, but what’s that got to do with literature?

MARILYN

Well, Donald said if I was planning to a business course I need to learn about how the economy works. Of course, the books are just to expand my mind so I have something more to talk about than waxings and inflation. That’s the good thing about Donald, you see. He can teach me both at the same time.

IRENE

Aw, you’re really enjoying these classes with him, aren’t you?

MARILYN

He’s a very interesting man. Donald just knows everything about everything. He’s got a wonderful mind.

CURTIS and JACK walk in.

JACK

I’m finished mate. Finally I’m free.

CURTIS

Yeah, I’m finished too if Alf sees my marks.

JACK

I reckon I’ll get eighty at least thanks to Sal. Em, speaking of her, where is she? Weren’t we supposed to meet her here.

CURTIS

I wish that’s the only problem I had. Hey, do you reckon you can get less than zero?

MARILYN walks over to them.

MARILYN

Hi guys. I’m off to the fountain of knowledge.

CURTIS

The what?

MARILYN

The school. Don’t you just love it. Oh, well. I used to be like you once. Couldn’t wait to leave, but now I can just feel it oozing knowledge, just waiting for me to pick it up. Bye.

MARILYN walks out.

CURTIS

Yeah, right.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

MARILYN and DON are in his office.

DON

I was glad to see that you hadn’t forgotten how to set out an essay Marilyn, but.

MARILYN

But.

DON

Well, eh, I had a bit of problem following the argument you put forward. You were meant to discuss the importance of competition in a free market system, but you said it wasn’t.

MARILYN

Well, no Donald, not to me, it isn’t. I mean how can competition be good for my salon?

DON

But you were meant to examine the system as a whole, not just your little share of it.

MARILYN

Well, I thought the whole point of writing the essay was that I understand a bit more about running my own business.

DON

Yeah, well it was, it was.

MARILYN

Well what’s wrong with using my salon as an example.

DON

It’s the only one you’ve used.

MARILYN

Yes, but I’m only running one salon Donald, not the entire country.

DON

Yeah, but you must realise what happens in a countries economy and indeed the worlds, will eventually affect your business.

MARILYN

Oh, don’t be silly Donald. This is Summer Bay. The rest of the world never comes here.

DON

No, no, no. I didn’t mean literally, good heavens no. No, I meant movements, movements in the world.

MARILYN

Donald, this is so fantastic. Last night we talked about literature and now we’re talking about economics. Is there anything you don’t know about?

DON

Yeah, well I didn’t know much about beauty salons until I read your essay?

MARILYN

What? So you mean, I’ve taught you something. Donald, what a compliment.

DON

Yeah. Let’s leave the cosmetics shall we and try get back to this free market system, if I can.

A PARK

QUINN walks up to sign for the time-share apartments. MICHAEL walks up to her.

MICHAEL

G’day.

QUINN

Oh, hi.

MICHAEL

Checking out your old mans business interests are you?

QUINN

News travels quickly, huh.

MICHAEL

Small town.

QUINN

Alf told me this was to blame for your falling out.

MICHAEL

Would you like to come down the house for a cup of tea, not that Alf would approve?

QUINN

Well, he’s not had anything to do with my life so far. He’s not about to start running it now.

MICHAEL and QUINN walk away.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

DON and MARILYN are there.

DON

Maybe an example will help you see the point I’m trying to make. Your salon uses imported products, right?

MARILYN

Oh, yes. Well they generally are the best Donald, though I don’t use the ones that are tested on animals.

DON

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure Marilyn, yeah, but if the manufacturer put their prices up, to you that would effect your running costs and the prices you charge.

MARILYN

Oh on.

DON

But it must Marilyn.

MARILYN

Yeah, but I give a fair service for a fair price, Donald. I couldn’t possibly charge more than I do now.

DON

Yeah, but if the cost goes up to you then you have to.

MARILYN

No, well then I just change brands or use less than what I’m using now.

DON

Ah, which brings us back to the original topic of the essay. That competition is good. It keeps prices down because you can go to another manufacturer.

MARILYN

Donald, I don’t need competition to provide good service. I offer my clients value for money because I want them to come back. I couldn’t sleep at night if I knew I was ripping them off.

DON

Well, in the improbable event that the capitalist economy was run entirely by such high-principled people, as yourself, then I’d guess I’d have to agree with you. That competition wasn’t important.

MARILYN

So, you mean, I’ve written a good essay.

DON

Well, in those terms, yes. You’ve drawn a perfectly valid, albeit most unlikely conclusion. Well done.

MARILYN

Thanks.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

PIPPA, MICHAEL and QUINN are there.

QUINN

There must be a lot of money involved. It looks like it’s going to be huge.

MICHAEL

Which is exactly why we wanted it stopped.

QUINN

Surely there’s a compromise that could have been reached.

MICHAEL

Well if there was, Alf didn’t want to know about it. He could see past the fact that he wanted to look after Duncan’s future, but if the development goes ahead and ruins us, what sort of future do our kids have?

PIPPA

Oh, well, that’s our problem really, not yours. The most important thing is that you get to know your dad.

MICHAEL

Yeah, despite everything that’s happened lately he’s still a good man. I miss our friendship.

QUINN

It’s a shame that this business venture is more important, right. Well, thanks for the tea.

PIPPA

Aw, our pleasure. Any time.

QUINN

No, please I can see myself out.

MICHAEL

OK. We’ll see you later. Bye.

SALLY and JACK walk in.

JACK

Hi.

SALLY

Hi Quinn.

QUINN

Hi.

QUINN walks out.

SALLY

What was she doing here?

MICHAEL

How come you’re walking? I thought I was going to give you a lift.

SALLY

Well, we didn’t want to hang around. Besides.

MICHAEL

Yeah, I bet.

PIPPA

So, how was it? Tough.

SALLY

Aw, what I expected really.

JACK

I reckon I did all right.

MICHAEL

After the way you supposedly studied yesterday. I find that very hard to believe.

JACK

Michael, are you ever going to get off our backs?

JACK walks upstairs. SALLY goes to follow him.

SALLY

And don’t say that I can’t go upstairs too.

SALLY walks out.

MICHAEL

That’s exactly what I’m talking about Pip. They’re not making any effort at all.

THE BAYSIDE DINER

DON sits at a table. IRENE serves him. ALF is there.

IRENE

There we go.

DON

Thanks Irene. Thank you.

MARILYN walks across to his table.

MARILYN

Don, you’re not eating here again?

DON

Ah, hello Marilyn. Yeah, well I’ve finished your casserole and it was lovely, but please, it’s not your responsibility to see that I’m fed.

MARILYN

Yeah, but you can’t eat out all the time Donald. What you need is a good home cooked meal.

ALF

That’s exactly what we serve here Marilyn.

MARILYN

Oh, I’m not saying it’s not good food Mr. Stewart, but still, it is a diner and not a home if you see what I mean. You really must come round and have a meal with us sometime. We could talk literature and economics again.

DON

That would be lovely. Thank you.

MARILYN

No, thank you Donald. I had a most stimulating day.

DON

Yeah, well so did I, believe me. It was an education.

MARILYN walks away.

IRENE

Still appreciating your keen student, I see Don.

DON

Yeah, as delightful as she is, she can be a little exhausting as well.

IRENE walks behind the counter.

ALF

Stimulating, exhausting. What are they doing in these classes?

IRENE shrugs.

THE STEWART HOUSE

CURTIS, QUINN and DUNCAN are there.

CURTIS

You know, I bombed out in every exam. Alf’s going to go off his brain.

QUINN

And you’re lucky.

CURTIS

You reckon?

QUINN

Yeah. My father, well my stepfather never asked about school. Never seemed to be interested.

CURTIS

Well, I guess if you put it like that.

QUINN

Alf obviously cares about you and Duncan and his daughter.

CURTIS

Roo.

QUINN

Roo, very much. You should be grateful that you’ll never you know what it’s like to miss out on it, because nothing can ever make up for it.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

SALLY and PIPPA are there. PIPPA does the ironing.

SALLY

I’m really sorry about what’s happened. I didn’t mean to upset you.

PIPPA

Yes, I know.

SALLY

But it’s really unfair the way Michael’s treating Jack and I. He’s never acted this way about anyone else’s boyfriend or girlfriend.

PIPPA

That’s because they weren’t living under the same roof. Sal, that’s what’s making this so difficult. You and Jack live together. You see each other all the time. Now that’s bound to put incredible pressures on a relationship, especially a new one, especially at your age too.

SALLY

Yeah, but this isn’t some silly crush. I’m old enough to be serious about someone and I really like Jack.

PIPPA

Sal, that’s what you say now, but what about in a few months time. You might break up.

SALLY

No, we won’t.

PIPPA

You’ll still be living under the same roof, wouldn’t you, and what if the break up wasn’t a happy one? Imagine how the rest of the family would feel about that.

SALLY

That wouldn’t happen.

PIPPA

Sally, you can’t say that for sure. Please, sweetheart, just have a think about how you really feel for Jack. It’s only fair, because this relationship could end up affecting a whole load of other people.

SALLY walks upstairs. JACK is there.

JACK

Are Pippa and Michael downstairs?

JACK goes to kiss SALLY.

SALLY

No, Jack. We can’t.

JACK

Aw, come on Sal. Just a kiss goodnight.

SALLY

We might get caught.

JACK

No we won’t.

SALLY

They’ll never forgive us Jack.

JACK

Sal, this is stupid.

SALLY

I know.

JACK

Well don’t let them get to you. We’ve got a right to be together if we want.

SALLY

No, Jack, please. I can’t risk it.

SALLY walks into her room.