Scripts - Episode 2767

THE BAYSIDE DINER

AILSA, JOEL and DUNCAN are in the kitchen. AILSA is taking food out the fridge.

AILSA

Do you know if Liang touched any of these?

DUNCAN

I don’t know.

AILSA

I suppose we can’t take the risk.

AILSA throws the food in the bin.

AILSA

It’s such a waste.

JOEL

Sorry about this Ailse.

DUNCAN walks out.

AILSA

It’s hardly your fault. This typhoid scare could ruin us though.

JOEL

Well, let’s not starting chickens yet.

AILSA

I suppose you’re right.

AILSA and JOEL walk out the kitchen.

JOEL

Now mate, do you have any idea where this Liang girl might have gone?

DUNCAN

Eh, I don’t know. She’s probably hiding somewhere.

JOEL

Well, can you remember where you first met her. Maybe she’s gone back there.

DUNCAN

Not really. Do you know what happens to Liang when they find her?

JOEL

She’ll go into hospital for tests and then into a detention centre with the others before being sent back to China.

DUNCAN

But that’s not fair.

JOEL

Those are the rules mate. Now, are you sure you can’t remember? Now, if Liang does have typhoid, she’ll need treatment.

DUNCAN

Well, actually, I think it was around the surf club somewhere.

JOEL

OK, well I guess that’s a start. Can you show me where?

DUNCAN

I can try.

JOEL

Ailse, you don’t mind if I take?

AILSA

No, no, he’s all yours.

JOEL

Come on.

JOEL and DUNCAN walk out.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

EDWARD is in a classroom reading a book. PETA walks in.

PETA

So, this is where you’ve been hiding?

EDWARD

If by hiding, you mean to be out of sight or to conceal oneself then no. I haven’t been hiding. I’ve just been enjoying my book.

PETA

But why in here? It’s such a beautiful day, the sun’s shining.

EDWARD

And.

PETA

And you should be outside. No one in there right mind sits inside on a day like today.

EDWARD

I never claimed to be, in my right mind that is.

PETA

Why do you have to be so?

EDWARD

What? Weird?

PETA

You’re not weird.

EDWARD

It was on the tip of your tongue.

PETA and EDWARD walk out the classroom.

PETA

OK, you do act weird sometimes, which is fine. It’s just like, I don’t know, you take pride in being the school freak show.

EDWARD

Your point is?

PETA

My point is, even freaks can enjoy a nice day out, at least once in a while, so humour me. Meet me after school.

THE BEACH

JOEL stands beside the police car. DUNCAN is inside.

JOEL

Are you sure this is the spot?

DUNCAN

Yeah, yeah I think so.

JOEL gets into the car.

JOEL

Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did come back here. She could easily spend the night in one of the dressing rooms along the beach somewhere.

DUNCAN gets out the car.

DUNCAN

So, do you need me for anything else?

JOEL

Eh, no mate, you’ve been a great help. Thanks.

DUNCAN

No worries.

JOEL

See you.

DUNCAN runs off.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

IRENE and EDWARD walk along a corridor.

IRENE

I suppose you lot are all off down the diner, eh? Gee, I bet Ailsa missed the usual after school crowd during the holidays.

EDWARD

No one’s going to the diner today. It’s closed.

IRENE

Edward, don’t be ridiculous. Ailsa never closes the diner, come hell or high water.

EDWARD

Well it’s about as close to that as you can get. There’s a typhoid scare.

IRENE

Typhoid. Good grief. How did that happen?

EDWARD

Duncan had one of those illegal immigrants hiding out at the diner. They think she might be.

IRENE

Oh, my godfather. Will.

EDWARD

What?

IRENE

Where’s Hayley?

EDWARD

She’s at home. She had a free period.

IRENE runs off. DON walks up to SAM.

DON

Sam.

SAM

Yeah.

DON

I’ve been thinking about you staying with your father and, em, well I actually think it’s a good idea, well for a few days anyway, on a trial basis.

SAM

On a trial basis. What do you mean?

DON

Well, I, I think it would be a good time for you to make up some lost time with Greg. I mean, you never know, he’s bound to have changed a bit.

SAM

Yeah, right. What about school?

SAM and DON walk into a classroom.

DON

Well I’m sure you can cope with missing a few days of class.

SAM

You’re going to let me wag.

DON

Well it’s hardly wagging Sam. You can make the time up later on.

SAM

Yeah.

DON

I think you should go. It would be good for you.

SAM

Yeah, right.

DON

Yes. Anyway, I’ve made a tentative booking with the bus company for this afternoon. All you have to do is show them this reservation number.

SAM

You’ve already booked.

DON

Yes, yes. All you’ve got to do is check with Greg.

SAM

Thanks.

DON

It’s no trouble. No trouble at all.

THE BEACH HOUSE

WILL lies on the couch. HAYLEY hits him with a pillow.

HAYLEY

Were you looking through my portfolio?

WILL

No. Why?

HAYLEY

Because one of my pictures is ripped, so unless there’s gremlins in the house, which I doubt, it had to be you.

WILL

No, it wasn’t me, so give me a break. I’m sick.

HAYLEY

Yeah, right, you big fat liar.

IRENE walks in.

IRENE

Hey, hey, hey. What’s all the carry on about girlie?

WILL walks into his room.

HAYLEY

Why don’t you ask Mr. Skin Disease?

IRENE

Look, I’ll sort you lot out later. In the meantime, first things first.

IRENE walks into WILL’S bedroom.

IRENE

Love, how are you feeling?

WILL

Pretty crook.

IRENE

Ah, listen. Did you em, eat at the diner yesterday?

WILL

Yep. Why?

IRENE

Oh, god.

IRENE runs out the room.

WILL

Irene. Where are you going?

IRENE picks up the phone.

IRENE

Look, love, I don’t want to get you panicked.

WILL

Well you’re not because I don’t know what you’re talking about.

IRENE

Look, they seem to think that the food at the diner might be infected typhoid.

THE BEACH

PETA and EDWARD walk along the beach.

PETA

See, I told you it was a nice day.

EDWARD

The walrus and the carpenter were walking closely and they wept, like anything, to see such quantities of sand.

PETA

Come on. Admit it. It’s a nice day and it’s nice to be walking along the beach, don’t you think?

EDWARD

If seven maids with seven mops swept in for half a year, do you suppose, the walrus said that they would get it clear.

PETA

Idiot.

EDWARD

Oh, so now I’m weird and an idiot.

PETA

Yeah, but I still like you.

EDWARD

You still like me.

PETA

Yes.

Two guys, ROB and ROY are sitting on the beach.

ROB

Hey man, would you check out the freak.

ROY

Yeah, nice coat.

ROY grabs the book from EDWARD, whilst he is kissing PETA.

EDWARD

Hey.

ROY

What’s the freak reading?

EDWARD

Give it back.

ROY

Ah, poetry. How terribly backward.

ROY throws the book to ROB.

ROB

Freak in the middle.

EDWARD

Please. Don’t you ruin it.

PETA

Just leave him alone, OK.

ROB

What? This country art.

EDWARD

Look, you don’t understand. That book is not mine, OK and it’s irreplaceable. It is a collectors item.

ROB

A collectors item, huh. Well.

ROB throws the book to ROY.

ROY

Wouldn’t be much use wet now, would it?

PETA

Stop it you jerks.

EDWARD

Look, throw me in the water, throw her in the water.

ROY throws the book back to ROB.

EDWARD

Please do not throw that book in.

ROB pushes EDWARD.

ROB

Nice boyfriend.

ROB throws the book at ROY.

ROB

Here you go mate.

ROY

What a loser.

ROY dangles the book above the water.

ROY

Better come and get it before your little books swimming.

EDWARD runs to get the book, ROY draws the book away and EDWARD ends up in the water. ROB and ROY laugh. PETA grabs the book off ROY.

PETA

Moron.

ROY and ROB walk away congratulating each other. PETA helps EDWARD up.

PETA

Are you OK?

PETA

Yeah.

EDWARD and PETA walk out the water.

JESSE’S GARAGE

JOEL and a COP get out the car.

JOEL

Could it be here?

COP

That’s what the notice said.

LIANG is inside.

COP

Some kids been hanging around.

LIANG hides from them.

JOEL

It seems secure enough. See if I can get the key at the real estate agent, just to make sure.

COP

Where to next?

JOEL

Well, how about you two go to the boatshed after you drop me off?

COP

Fair enough.

JOEL and the COP walk away.

THE STEWART HOUSE

MITCH and HAYLEY walk into the kitchen.

MITCH

So, what’s wrong?

HAYLEY

Will, that jerk.

MITCH

Why? What did he do?

HAYLEY

He looked through my portfolio.

MITCH

Eh. How do you know?

HAYLEY

One of my sketches has a huge rip in it, so it had to be him. I just can’t believe that he would look through it. He knows how private it is. I hate him.

MITCH

Well, you could have done it yourself and not noticed.

HAYLEY

No way.

MITCH

Well, Irene could have been up there dusting or something and just knocked it over.

HAYLEY and MITCH walk out the kitchen.

HAYLEY

Why are you trying to protect him?

MITCH

I’m not.

HAYLEY

You know something.

MITCH

No I don’t.

HAYLEY

Did he show them to you?

MITCH

No way. I would never look at your nudes, I mean drawings.

HAYLEY stands up and begins to walk out.

MITCH

Hayley, it’s not what you think. I was going to get that painting framed as a present.

HAYLEY

I don’t care.

MITCH

Hayley, listen.

HAYLEY

I never want to speak to you again.

HAYLEY walks out.

THE SURF CLUB

EDWARD and PETA walk in.

EDWARD

Well at least we saved the book.

PETA

Yeah, lucky. What I can’t believe is that you chose that book over me.

EDWARD

Peta, you can dry. This cannot.

PETA

That is not the point. I mean, whatever happened to chivalry.

EDWARD

Long dead, like I would have been if I had thought those idiots. Anyway, I just don’t believe in it.

PETA

In what? Chivalry? Big surprise there.

EDWARD

No, in fighting. I don’t believe in violence, full stop.

PETA

Ed, there is a difference between violence and defending yourself.

EDWARD

Not in my book. Violence up against violence and things just continue on.

PETA

Aw, spare me the sermon on the mount. Look, the fact is that we had to put up with those jerks and we almost lost your precious little book all because we couldn’t defend ourselves. Am I right? Well I have an idea. Let’s try this.

PETA points at a sign for self defence classes.

EDWARD

No.

PETA

Just like that.

EDWARD

Just like that. I’m not interested. It’s the principle of the thing.

PETA

And what principle is that? Not sticking up for your girlfriend.

EDWARD

I think it’s called turning the other cheek.

PETA

Why do you have to be so stubborn about everything?

THE BEACH HOUSE

WILL is lying on the couch. HAYLEY hits him over the head with a cushion.

HAYLEY

You are such a slime.

WILL

Can you stop doing that.

HAYLEY

You looked in my portfolio and don’t lie because Mitch told me.

WILL

Yeah, Mitch just wanted to frame one of.

HAYLEY

I don’t care. You know how I feel about my portfolio. It is totally private and you still showed it to him.

WILL

Yeah.

HAYLEY

How could you do that to me?

WILL

I’m sorry. I just did. I just didn’t think you would mind.

HAYLEY

That’s just it. You did not think Will and you totally wrecked things with me and Mitch.

HAYLEY walks up the stairs. IRENE comes downstairs.

IRENE

Oh. What’s the carry on now?

WILL

Hayley’s portfolio again.

JAMES walks in.

IRENE

Aw, love. Thank you so much for coming over quickly.

JAMES

No worries. What’s up?

IRENE

Will ate at the diner yesterday and then he’s come down with a fever and a rash. Do you reckon it could be this typhoid?

JAMES

No.

IRENE

Love, are you sure.

JAMES

Typhoid has an incubation period of a week, minimum.

WILL

Aw, and those boat people have only been here for a few days.

JAMES

Exactly. He has a high fever though. But like I said, it’s extremely unlikely that any symptoms of typhoid have come on so quickly.

IRENE

Thank god for that. I could see us all in quarantine.

JAMES

Nothing that extreme, but I would like to take him down the hospital to do a few tests to find out what is wrong with him.

JESSE’S GARAGE

JOEL gets out his car. LIANG hears him coming. JOEL begins to unlock the garage whilst LIANG grabs her bag and escapes through a hole in one of the walls. JOEL opens the door.

JOEL

Liang. Hello.

THE SURF CLUB

JUDITH and DON sit at a table.

JUDITH

So, Sam’s going to visit Greg?

DON

Yes, he’ll be away for a couple of days.

JUDITH

You don’t seem very happy about it.

DON

I am. I am. For Sam’s sake I am. I just hope that Greg doesn’t let him down. He has a history of being unreliable.

JUDITH

Aw, to be honest, I’m surprised that Sam’s so willing to go to him after all this time.

DON

What’s so surprising about it? I mean, if I was Sam’s age and had the choice of living with an elderly, conservative, straight laced schoolmaster or my very own father.

JUDITH

That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?

DON

Well, I’m not so sure. I had, I had a phone call earlier from the police in Seattle. They’ve found no trace of Marilyn.

JUDITH

Don, I’m so sorry.

DON

Yes, they don’t hold out much hope of finding her either.

JUDITH

This thing with Sam is really the final straw then, isn’t it?

DON

Well, he’s the only family I’ve got left at the moment, with Rebecca being so far away and who knows where she’ll settle?

JUDITH

Have you told Sam how you feel?

DON shakes his head.

JUDITH

Why not?

DON

I don’t want to put any pressure on the boy. You know, I don’t want him to feel like he has to stay for my sake.

JUDITH

Can I give you my opinion, for what it’s worth?

DON

Yes, yes, please do.

JUDITH

I think you need each other, but neither of you are able to admit it.

THE BEACH HOUSE

WILL and SAM are sitting on the couch.

WILL

He really wants you out of the house.

SAM

He’s even let me miss school to visit my dad.

WILL

Flathead. I can’t believe it.

SAM

Yeah, I know. The guy is practically packing my bags for me.

WILL

Sorry about that man.

SAM

Yeah, well.

IRENE walks in.

IRENE

Well, I hate to break in to the sewing circle kiddos, but we’ve got to get this one to the hospital.

WILL

Yeah, I’ve got tests.

SAM

You going to be all right?

IRENE

Yeah, he’ll be fine if he gets his butt into gear. Let’s move. You too Sam.

WILL stands up.

THE STEWART HOUSE

AILSA is in the kitchen. DUNCAN walks in.

DUNCAN

I’m going to hang out down the beach.

AILSA

Duncan. Wait.

DUNCAN

What? Are you going to have a go at me again?

AILSA

No, no, darling, I’m not. Now, come here.

AILSA and DUNCAN walk out of the kitchen.

AILSA

I wanted to tell you, actually, that I’m proud of you.

DUNCAN

You are?

AILSA

Yes. Come on. Sit down.

They sit on the couch in the living room.

AILSA

Taking care of Liang the way you did. Not many people would do that for a stranger.

DUNCAN

Thanks.

AILSA

But you must understand that even the best of intentions, can sometimes lead you astray.

DUNCAN

Well, what was I supposed to do? Leave her outside to starve to death.

AILSA

No, no, no, darling, of course not, but she might be very ill and with you bringing her into the diner there might be a lot more people infected by now.

DUNCAN

Yeah, but you’re just angry because we had to close the diner down.

AILSA

No, no, I’m not. Well of course I’m not happy that we have to close the diner down, but what’s far more important is that you put peoples lives at risk. That’s hardly fair, is it?

DUNCAN

No.

AILSA

Duncan, look at me. When I said I was proud of you, I meant it, I really did, but next time darling, if anything like this ever happens again, please, please come to me first.

DUNCAN

Yeah, OK.

THE BEACH HOUSE

HAYLEY is in the kitchen. IRENE walks in.

IRENE

Hey, you hold it right there girlie. Do you mind telling me what you and your brother are blewing over? Well.

HAYLEY

Mitch and Will were looking at my portfolio.

IRENE

Oh, what, and this started world war three.

HAYLEY

Irene, it’s private, really private.

HAYLEY and IRENE walk out to the patio and sit at the table.

IRENE

All right love, so it’s private, but so what if the boys have a squizz, it’s hardly the end of life as we know it.

HAYLEY

Irene, you don’t understand. There were pictures of me in there.

IRENE

And?

HAYLEY

Self portraits Irene.

IRENE

I’m sorry Hayley. I’m obviously missing something here.

HAYLEY

Irene, self portraits, just me, nothing else.

IRENE

Oh, oh, as in.

HAYLEY nods.

IRENE

Oh.

JESSE’S GARAGE

DUNCAN runs round to the hole in the wall. LIANG is standing behind a corner.

LIANG

Duncan.

DUNCAN

What are you doing out here? Someone might see you.

LIANG

Policeman come. Check inside. I wait till gone and now too hot in there.

DUNCAN

Look, you have to go to hospital.

LIANG

No, no go hospital.

DUNCAN

But you could be very sick.

LIANG

No go hospital.

LIANG coughs.

DUNCAN

Look, you might have typhoid. You know typhoid. I’ll get you a glass of water. Wait here.

DUNCAN goes inside and gets a glass of water. LIANG runs off into the bush. When he comes back out he can’t see her.

DUNCAN

Aw, no. Liang.

DUNCAN runs off into the bush.

DON’S THOUGHTS-DON’S HOUSE

SAM walks down the stairs.

SAM

Righto, I’m off.

DON walks out the kitchen.

DON

Eh, are you sure you don’t want a ride to the bus?

SAM

No, it’s fine, it’s just down the street. Anyway, I better get going. I’ll see you in a couple of days.

DON

Yeah, fine. Sam, look, Sam, em, look, there’s something that I’ve been meaning to say to you.

SAM

Yeah.

DON

I’m not terribly good at this sort of thing, but, em, over the past few weeks, em, I don’t know what I would have done without you after Byron and then Marilyn and well, I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you did decide to go and live with Greg.

DON’S HOUSE

DON is sitting out the couch.

DON

I’d miss you terribly, you’re like a son to me and em.

SAM walks down the stairs.

SAM

Well I’m off.

DON

Are you sure you don’t want a ride to the bus?

SAM

No, no, it’s fine. It’s just down the street. Anyway, I better get going. I’ll see you in a couple of days.

DON

Yeah, all right Sam. Sam, Sam, there’s something I’ve been meaning to say to you.

SAM

Yeah.

DON

Em, it’s nothing. Em, enjoy yourself and give me a call when you get there.

SAM

Yeah, no worries.

SAM walks out.

THE BEACH HOUSE

HAYLEY is in the kitchen slicing a cucumber. There is a knock on the door. She answers it. MITCH is there.

MITCH

Hayls.

HAYLEY

I’ve got nothing to say to you.

MITCH

Can’t we talk through this?

HAYLEY

No.

HAYLEY shuts the door and walks away. MITCH opens and walks in.

MITCH

Hayls, won’t you listen to me.

HAYLEY

What?

MITCH

Look, if I knew those pictures were there I wouldn’t have gone through them. You know that.

HAYLEY

That’s not the point. You knew my work was private.

MITCH

I just thought you were really shy. I thought once you got it framed you’d see how good you were. I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy.

HAYLEY

That doesn’t change anything Mitch. I mean, how am I supposed to face you after you saw me.

MITCH

Listen, it’s no big deal.

HAYLEY

No big deal.

MITCH

Well you’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.

HAYLEY

Really. Well if that’s the way you feel, let’s see you do it.

MITCH

Do what?

HAYLEY

Strip.

MITCH

What?

HAYLEY

Well, come on, it’s no big deal, right.

MITCH

You’re serious?

HAYLEY

Deadly.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

GYPSY and PETA walk down the stairs.

PETA

He’s so annoying. I mean, Edward refuses to even think about taking a self defence course.

GYPSY

And you’re surprised? Peta, take a look at the guy.

GYPSY and PETA walk into the living room. JUSTINE is sitting on the couch.

PETA

What’s that got to do with it?

GYPSY

Your boyfriends weird.

PETA

He’s different.

GYPSY

Different, weird, whatever you want to call it, he’s still a wimp. Don’t you agree Jus.

JUSTINE

I’m not getting involved.

JUSTINE walks out. PETA and GYPSY sit on the couch.

GYPSY

Aw, come on Pete, you said it yourself. The guy chose a book over you. A book. What kind of guy does that?

PETA

I don’t know. One with principles.

GYPSY

Ah, wrong. Look, bottom line is you need to get yourself a real man.

THE BEACH HOUSE

MITCH is standing with no top on. HAYLEY is there.

MITCH

Are you sure you want me to do this?

HAYLEY

Yep.

MITCH

OK.

MITCH takes his trousers off.

HAYLEY

Em, them too.

MITCH

Them too.

HAYLEY

Yeah. It’s no big deal, right.

MITCH

Yeah, right.

MITCH goes to take his boxers off.

HAYLEY

Mitch. Don’t.

MITCH

Don’t.

HAYLEY

No, it’s OK.

MITCH

It is?

HAYLEY

Yeah, I just wanted you to know how I felt.

MITCH

I do. I really do.

HAYLEY

Here.

MITCH

So you forgive me?

HAYLEY

Yeah.

MITCH

I really am sorry about your portfolio.

HAYLEY

It’s OK, now.

HAYLEY and MITCH cuddle. IRENE walks in.

IRENE

What the?

THE BUSH

DUNCAN runs through the bush.

DUNCAN

Liang, where are you? Liang.

LIANG is running through the bush. She crouches down holding her stomach. She then gets up and runs a short distance before collapsing. DUNCAN spots her.

DUNCAN

Liang. Liang. Liang, are you all right?

DUNCAN shakes LIANG. He gets no response.

DUNCAN

Liang.