SUMMER BAY HOUSE
RHYS and JADE walk in.
JADE
Dad. Was this your idea?
RHYS
No, it was your mother’s actually.
SHELLEY is in the kitchen.
JADE
Mum, how can you not celebrate nineteen years?
SHELLEY
Oh, it’s OK sweetheart. I’m very happy with a
quiet dinner at home and with things the way they are at the drop-in
centre it’s all I really have the energy for.
JADE
What about romance?
DANI and BRODIE walk in.
JADE
Mum and dad reckon they’re not going to do
anything special for their wedding anniversary.
DANI
What about romance?
RHYS
Is there an echo in here?
SHELLEY
Girls, we really did agree on this.
DANI sits down.
DANI
Well, I hope you deliver in the present
department.
RHYS
Yep, don’t you worry. It’s all under control. I
know exactly what I’m getting your mum.
DANI
Are you she’ll like it?
RHYS
Yeah, pretty sure.
DANI
That’s it. I’m writing a list.
DANI goes and gets a pen and piece of paper.
RHYS
What’s for?
DANI
Suggestions on what you can buy mum.
JADE
Definitely no kitchen appliances.
DANI
Or perfume or towels or those girlie sofa
things.
RHYS
Why not?
BRODIE
Because they’re a bit impersonal.
JADE
It’s a bit of an insult.
RHYS
Is it? All those years, you never said a thing.
DANI, BRODIE and JADE all sit at the table.
DANI
And we’re cooking dinner.
RHYS
What just happened?
SHELLEY
Ah, you’re daughter started running your life.
RHYS
Oh, thought that was it.
THE LAWSON HOUSE
SEB looks at the photo album. There is a knock on the door. SEB
answers it. DON is there.
SEB
Oh, hey. I was just looking.
DON shows him the copies of the photo.
DON
I found these plastered up all over the school.
SEB
You think I did it.
DON
Those photographs are personal, deeply
personal. I’m appalled you could use them like this.
SEB
I had nothing to do this with this.
DON
I find that very difficult to believe. Why Seb?
Why would you want humiliate me like this?
SEB
Are you deaf? I just told you I had nothing to
do with it.
DON
I have the proof right there. Who else could
have done in?
SEB gets the photo album.
SEB
Take it. You know I’ve been waiting for this.
They all said you had changed. That you’re nothing like Alan
described you in the book. What a joke?
DON
Yes, yes. I suppose that is what I am to you.
SEB
You can believe what you want about the photos.
SEB shuts the door.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
RALPH, LEAH and VINNIE are there. COLLEEN is behind the counter.
LEAH
Colleen. One last coffee for Ralph please.
RALPH
Come and sit over here. I want to have a word.
VINNIE
Now look, if it’s about the business, don’t
worry. We’ve got it sorted. Everything’s under control.
RALPH
I know. I know. I’ve every faith in you Vinnie.
It’s just I want to prepare you both for the eventuality that I
might not be coming back.
VINNIE
Dad, don’t talk like that please. It’s just
therapy. You’ll be back in a few weeks. You’ll be back on track and
running for the empire.
RALPH
Listen to me, eh, and I’m normally a glass
half-full sort of bloke, but, well, things can change.
VINNIE
For the better dad.
RALPH
I want you to know that I never meant to hurt
you.
VINNIE
Look, that’s in the past. You’ve definitely
made up for it now.
DON and ALF walk in.
DON
I’m afraid my first instincts were right about
the boy.
ALF
Yeah, I understand how you feel Don. I would
have been roped aboard myself, but most of the kids judt thought it
was a bit of a joke, didn’t they?
DON
Yeah, if only that were the case. Giving that
photo album was an act of faith on my part. One that I now realise
was severely misguided.
ALF
Yeah, well, don’t be too hard on yourself. I
mean, the boy did show every sign of turning round. I mean, he even
agreed to d the DNA test.
DON
Oh, yes, the DNA test. I wish I could just
forget about the whole thing frankly.
ALF
Yeah. Well, it’s a bit late for that mate.
You’ve well and truly opened that can of worms. They’ll be no
turning back there.
THE PATTERSON HOUSE
LEAH and VINNIE are in the kitchen.
LEAH
Hey, you thinking about your dad.
VINNIE
Should I be feeling this scared about
everything.
ALEX walks through.
ALEX
Sorry guys.
VINNIE
No, it’s all right mate. Hey, come over here.
Get some of this goodness in you.
ALEX
Hang in there, OK.
VINNIE
I’m out of here man.
The phone rings.
VINNIE
Oh, I’ll get it.
VINNIE walks out and BRODIE walks in.
BRODIE
Hey guys.
LEAH
Hey Brodie. Do you want some fruit salad?
BRODIE
No thanks. I’ve already eaten.
BRODIE sits down.
LEAH
OK.
ALEX
What’s happening?
BRODIE
Well, we’re organising a big do for Rhys and
Shelley and just wanted to make sure you could come.
ALEX
Aw, isn’t it kind of like a family thing. I
mean, are you sure you would want me to come?
BRODIE
Yeah, of course I do.
ALEX
Maybe, I shouldn’t. I mean it does sound like
one of those family dos. I don’t want to intrude you know.
BRODIE
Will’s coming.
ALEX
Is he? Well, they’ve gone through a lot, him
and Dani and they’ve being going out. Look, I just wouldn’t feel
comfortable.
BRODIE
All right, OK. If you wouldn’t feel
comfortable.
ALEX
Oh man. I’m going to be late. Have you a key
for that?
ALEX stands up and puts his plate in the sink.
BRODIE
Em, OK. I’ll see you later.
ALEX
Hey, hey. Have fun OK.
VINNIE is on the phone in the living room. LEAH is there. ALEX
walks through.
VINNIE
All right. Yeah, well, I’ll look into it.
Thanks mate.
VINNIE hangs up.
LEAH
Who was that? Your dad?
VINNIE
No, no, no. It was the guy from the warehouse.
Reckons the cheque for the rents bounced.
LEAH
Bounced. How can it have bounced? There’s
enough money in that account isn’t there.
VINNIE
Well, yeah. I think it’s maybe one of the
payments hasn’t gone through right. Well dad says that sort of thing
happens all the time. You’re outgoings always seem to be one step
ahead of your incomings. It takes a little while to settle down dad
says.
SUMMER BAY HOUSE
JADE and DANI are in the kitchen. BRODIE walks in.
DANI
Hey, that was quick? Did you get the recipes
from Leah?
BRODIE
Oh no. I forgot.
DANI
Brodie, we had a plan.
BRODIE
Yeah, em, well, Alex didn’t want to come.
JADE
What do you mean?
BRODIE
He said that he didn’t want to intrude on a
family thing.
DANI
Well did you tell him that Will was coming?
BRODIE
Yeah.
DANI
So what’s his problem?
BRODIE
His problem’s me. You should have seen him. He
couldn’t wait to get out of there.
JADE
Maybe, he really doesn’t want to intrude.
BRODIE
I mean, he’s my boyfriend. I went to his dad’s
thing. No, no, he’s supposed to feel like it whether he feels like
it or not.
KIRSTY and SEB are sitting on the veranda.
SEB
You should have seen him. It was like this
full-on hissy fit,
KIRSTY
But you didn’t do it.
SEB
I know. I tried to tell him that. I guess now.
I know what he really thinks of me.
KIRSTY
What a loser. As if he’d bother.
SEB
What I want to figure out is how someone got
hold of that photo. I mean, I was sitting there at the end of class
and I was looking at it and then Nick came in and he started
hassling me. That jerk is so dead.
SEB leaves.
THE BEACH HOUSE
SEB and NICK are there.
NICK
I wasn’t the one who photocopied it and stuck
it all over the school.
SEB
But you were the one who stole it from my bag.
So what? You gave it to someone else?
NICK
I didn’t steal it. I found it on the floor and
then Jason took it from me and he photocopied it and he wouldn’t
give it back. What were you doing with a photo of Flathead anyway?
SEB
You’re a real jerk, you know that.
SEB goes for NICK. WILL walks through.
WILL
Right man. You better go home before you do
something you regret.
SEB
He’s not worth it anyway.
SEB walks away.
NICK
Yeah, good one loser.
WILL
What’s that all about?
NICK
Seb’s got serious mental issues with Fisher.
WILL
What?
NICK
It’s nothing, all right.
WILL
Look, if you don’t start talking you’re going
to have some mental issues with me.
NICK
I just took this photo off Seb all right. It’s
one of Fisher with full-on seventies hair and you know, it was
full-on funny and then Jason took it and printed copies of it.
WILL
So what? Fisher found it and blamed Seb.
NICK
Well yeah, but it’s not my fault. I wasn’t the
one who made the copies.
WILL
Yeah. I’m sure Fisher will take that into
consideration when you tell him.
NICK
What?
WILL
Mate, you can’t let Seb take the blame for this
and you know you can’t.
SALLY’S HOUSE
SALLY answers the door. SEB is there.
SALLY
Hi.
SEB
Hi. I’m not coming back to school. I’ve had it.
SALLY
Why? Not because of that photograph?
SEB
Well, what do you reckon? Fisher totally went
off his nut. It just automatically had to be me as far as he’s
concerned. I suppose you think so to.
SALLY
Well I didn’t really think it was your style.
SEB
Yeah, well if I really wanted to get up his
back I would have done something just a little more imaginative, but
try telling him that.
SALLY
I can understand how he’d come to blame you.
You haven’t exactly made things easy for him, have you?
SEB
Well, it wasn’t exactly been easy for me
either. I mean, he could be my family and that’s just nuts. I’ve got
to think about every day.
SALLY
Having Mr. Fisher as your family wouldn’t be
nearly as bad as you might think. You should take a minute to see
things from his point of view. His reaction to this prank
especially. If he didn’t care about you Seb, why would he waste all
this energy getting upset with you? He would have just let it go and
you would too.
THE WAREHOUSE
ALEX picks up some letters. BRODIE turns up.
BRODIE
Alex.
ALEX
Hey, what are you doing here?
BRODIE
We need to talk.
ALEX
Look, this is not exactly the best time for me.
BRODIE
You can’t just decide when you want to speak to
me Alex and when you don’t.
ALEX
No, Brodie. I need to speak to Vinnie.
BRODIE
No, no, you need to speak to me.
ALEX
Look, is this about the fact that I’m not
coming over for dinner.
BRODIE
Yes and no. It’s about you treating me
differently Alex. It’s about making up excuses why you can’t come to
dinner. It’s like the pub the other day when I know that you would
rather go by yourself. You’re always in a bad mood when I’m around
like you’d rather I wasn’t even there.
ALEX
Come on Brodie.
BRODIE
So here, you’re not even going to deny it.
You’re not going to say I’m being paranoid and that I’m making the
whole thing up because this time I’m not, am I? Everything I’m
saying is true.
ALEX
Look I just think that you want more than I do.
BRODIE
And what does that mean?
ALEX
You want us to be a serious couple Brodie.
BRODIE
I thought we were a couple.
ALEX
Yes, we are a couple, but this is too serious,
Brodie. I mean, you met my family. They really liked you. You really
liked them. It’s kind of like too much, too soon. It’s like we’re
heading for marriage and kids or something and it’s like we’re
nearly there.
BRODIE
Oh, get over yourself Alex. I never said I
wanted to get married.
ALEX
I know you didn’t say that, but that’s just the
vibe that I’m getting here Brodie, OK. It’s too predictable. It’s
too stable for me.
BRODIE
And you’d rather things be unpredictable.
ALEX
Yes. Sometimes I would.
BRODIE
Alex, you know me. You know my family and what
I’ve been through. Every day with them was unpredictable and out of
control.
ALEX
I know that.
BRODIE
I don’t think you do Alex. All I’ve ever wanted
is things to just be normal and stable and happy. I don’t need
roller coasters. I just need people around me that are going to be
loving and supportive and it seems like what you’re saying is that
you don’t want that sort of relationship. You don’t want the sort of
person that I am.
ALEX
I do want someone like you Brodie. I love you.
You’re my best friend and you know that. I just need a bit of space,
OK.
BRODIE
You’re asking me to love you in a completely
different way to the way I love you. You can have all the space you
want Alex.
BRODIE leaves.
SUMMER BAY HIGH
NICK walks along a corridor. He sees DON in a class. He turns
away. DON walks out the class.
DON
Nick, what are you doing here?
NICK
Mr. Fisher, I was just, em. There’s something I
need to tell you.
THE PATTERSON HOUSE
VINNIE, ALEX and LEAH are in the kitchen.
ALEX
Found them at the warehouse.
LEAH
Fifty thousand dollars. Who did you make this
one out to?
VINNIE
It’s got to be here somewhere.
LEAH
Vinnie, you don’t remember signing a cheque for
fifty thousand dollars.
VINNIE
They were blank cheques. I singed blank
cheques. Dad dealt with the rest.
LEAH
Well, is there another account or something
because Vinnie if the cheque from the warehouse had bounced and
these haven’t been paid then we’re going to be in a lot of.
VINNIE
Calm down, calm down. Look, I’ll call him in
the city. See if I can speak to his doctor. Get this whole mess
sorted out.
They walk through to the living room.
ALEX
Look, I hope you guys realise you have to pay
these things because you could be in some serious trouble.
VINNIE
Yes, thank you Alexi. We understand.
ALEX
Hey Vinnie. Just before you make that call give
me a second man. Look, this is probably not the best time to tell
you this, but I received a call today from a company over in Yabbie
Creek. They need some electrical work done and I was thinking of
accepting. I mean, now that, you know.
VINNIE
What? Now that what?
ALEX
Hey relax. OK, all I’m saying now that I’m not
required anymore. I mean, I’ve spent the whole day sweeping in the
warehouse. There’s nothing for me to do, I want to keep busy, OK.
VINNIE
Sure buddy. You take all the time you want. I
don’t need you working for me anyway.
LEAH
Hey Vinnie.
ALEX leaves.
VINNIE
Well he’s obviously not committed to the
business babe. We don’t need his negativity around when we’re trying
to run a business.
SUMMER BAY HOUSE
BRODIE walks in. DANI and JADE are there reading cookbooks.
DANI
Hey, how did it go? Is he coming?
BRODIE
Eh no. We broke up.
DANI
Oh no Brodie.
BRODIE
Aw, look, it’s the best thing. We were drifting
apart.
JADE
You never said anything before.
DANI
Yes she did.
BRODIE
It’s no big deal. You know, I just sort of
realised.
DANI
Well, I’m impressed, you know. Look at you,
you’ve totally got it together. I would have been a total mess.
THE LAWSON
HOUSE
SEB and DON are there.
SEB
I told you. I had nothing to do with it and you
just totally barred me.
DON
Well given all our problems in the past can’t
you understand why I jumped to the wrong conclusion.
SEB
Yeah, OK, I mucked up, but I never lied. That’s
just one thing I don’t do.
DON
Yes, well I realise that now.
SEB
You reckon. I bet next time something goes
wrong at school, you’re still just going to blame me for it.
DON
Is that why you’re not coming back to school?
SEB
No. I just don’t want to go back.
DON
You know, a quarrel between us. It hardly
justifies throwing away your education. You’re a bright young man.
It would be such a waste.
SEB
I don’t care what you think. I never have.
THE PATTERSON HOUSE
ALEX and LEAH are in the kitchen.
LEAH
You didn’t handle that very well, you know.
ALEX
Yeah, I know. I’ve just got other things on my
mind at the moment Leah. I mean, come on. I’ve got to think about
myself. I’ve got to earn a living to make.
LEAH
Yeah, I know, but so does Vinnie, OK. Now
Alexi, this stuff with his dad is really important and it just seems
like you’re abandoning him when he needs you the most.
ALEX
Leah, I think Vinnie needs a lot more than me
to get him out of this mess.
LEAH
Can you please be a bit more sensitive about
this? If Vinnie’s in trouble, we all are, OK.
VINNIE walks through.
LEAH
Hey bubs. Did you get in touch with your dad’s
doctor?
VINNIE
It was Dr. Windell, right?
LEAH
Yeah, yeah. I remember Ralph talking about him.
Why?
VINNIE
Well, the only Dr. Windell in the phone book
was a Dr. Lisa Windell, an obstetrician.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
WILL and NICK walk in.
NICK
Now, what am I going to tell Irene?
WILL
Tell her straight. Can’t exactly hide it from
her. She works there remember.
NICK
As if you’d get a suspension for nicking a dumb
photo.
WILL and NICK sit at a table.
WILL
I reckon you getting it pretty easy. I mean, if
Fisher really did think it was stealing you’d be toast by now.
COLLEEN, LEAH and ALF are in the kitchen.
ALF
So you’re saying that none of the invoices was
paid.
LEAH
That’s right.
ALF
Strewth. I didn’t think even Ralph would cover
something like this. I mean, I’ve had my doubts about him right from
the start, but I’m having trouble believing this. I mean, it’s his
own flesh and blood we’re talking about here. He even behaved like
he was sweet on you.
LEAH
I know. He was always so nice and he was so
excited about getting the opportunity to see VJ for a while.
COLLEEN
Let’s face it. Ralph Patterson’s a rotten egg.
Always has been.
VINNIE walks through.
LEAH
Hey, hey. Do you want something to eat?
VINNIE
No, it’s OK. I’ll just close up at the surf
club.
VINNIE leaves.
SUMMER BAY HOUSE
RHYS and DANI are in the kitchen.
DANI
I hope you looked at the list dad?
RHYS
I’m afraid not.
DANI
At least dinner will be good.
BRODIE, JADE and WILL sit at the table. DANI and RHYS join them.
RHYS
What a storm wind?
WILL
This looks unreal.
DANI
Thank you. I had help.
JADE
Brodie and I did the table.
SHELLEY
Well, you’ve all done a great job. Shall we
have a toast?
DANI
Yeah, yeah.
RHYS
Hang on a minute you lot. I think it’s about
time that I gave your mother my present as you all think I’m the
worst gift giver in the world.
DANI
Well, not the worst, but a contender for a top
five place.
RHYS
I love this family. So supportive.
SHELLEY gives RHYS a present.
SHELLEY
Here you go darling.
RHYS
So you’ve got no faith in me either.
SHELLEY
No, I just wanted to get in first.
DANI
I think she’s got no faith.
RHYS’S present is a watch.
RHYS
It’s beautiful Shell.
SHELLEY
Read the back.
JADE
What does it say?
RHYS
I can’t tell you that.
DANI
Come on dad.
RHYS
Yeah, all right. It says you are the apple
muffin of my life.
SHELLEY
It does not say that.
JADE
Dad.
RHYS
Yeah, well, all right. Now I really get to
grave you out. It says love eternal.
JADE
That’s beautiful mum.
They kiss.
RHYS
OK, now it’s my turn.
RHYS and SHELLEY walk over to the couch.
DANI
Prepare for disaster.
SHELLEY
Ah, this looks interesting.
RHYS
Aw, it is. It is.
It’s an oriental lampshade.
SHELLEY
Aw, Rhys.
RHYS
Do you like it?
SHELLEY
I love it.
RHYS
I’ve been looking for twenty years for one of
these.
SHELLEY
Aw, it’s wonderful. Truly wonderful.
DANI
That is hideous.
JADE
I know.
DANI
That is truly hideous.
SHELLEY and RHYS kiss.
THE BEACHSIDE DINER
DON and SALLY sit at the table.
SALLY
Did you talk to him?
DON
Yes, I did. Seb on the other hand wasn’t
particularly interested in talking to me.
SALLY
You did apologise?
DON
Yes I did, but I think it will take a lot more
than that for him to forgive me. Frankly, I don’t blame him. Our
relationship has always been built on shaky ground to begin with.
SALLY
But it is worth trying to rebuild though, don’t
you think?
DON
Yes, yes, I think it is.
DON brings out a piece of paper.
SALLY
This is amazing. Congratulations, you’re a
grandfather.
DON
I am indeed.
SUMMER BAY HOUSE
RHYS, DANI, BRODIE, JADE, WILL and SHELLEY are there.
RHYS
So, I’d came up the country from a trial at the
Swanies and my mate, Bluie, lent me the key to his place because he
didn’t think he’d be there that night. Anyway, I get home a little
bit late, can’t find the key, so I’m breaking into what I think it
Bluie’s place and as I’m going in through the window I lose my
footing and crash land on this lamp and there’s this woman going at
me with this tennis racket.
SHELLEY
That would be me.
RHYS
Yeah, with a mean forehand.
JADE
And the lamp was like this one.
RHYS
Yeah, so, anyway after the Spanish inquisition
she finally accepts the fact that I’m not a weirdo.
DANI
But you are a weirdo.
RHYS
A dangerous weirdo. I took one look into those
beautiful eyes and I knew it was true love.
SHELLEY
And I tell him he owes me a new lamp.
RHYS
So, yeah, I took her out for dinner and
nineteen years later, here we are.
JADE
Oh, that’s so beautiful.
DANI
You think everything’s beautiful Jade.
SHELLEY
I can’t believe you found one exactly like it.
DANI
Let’s clear up. Give them their moment.
RHYS and SHELLEY cuddle. JADE, DANI, WILL and BRODIE leave the
table and walk into the kitchen.
SHELLEY
Thanks everyone. I’ve had a lovely evening.
DANI
Hey, I’m sorry about all the mush stuff.
WILL
No, it’s cool. I like it. It makes you happy
and seeing you happy makes me happy.
DANI
Aw, good answer. You have the right to be my
boyfriend.
BRODIE walks outside.
DANI
What story do you think we are going to tell
our kids?
WILL
I don’t know. There’s nothing to tell.
DANI
Yeah, we’re plenty boring, aren’t we?
JADE joins BRODIE outside.
JADE
It’s Alex, isn’t it?
BRODIE
No, just had a bit too much to eat.
JADE
Aw, Brodie. Don’t cry.
BRODIE
Me and Alex used to be like Dani and Will and
your mum and your dad.
JADE
Because they are revolting.
BRODIE
He said he wanted space.
THE PATTERSON HOUSE
VINNIE is on the couch with a calculator.
LEAH
Bubs, hey.
VINNIE
Hey.
LEAH
I found this in Ralph’s room.
LEAH hands over a letter.
RALPH
I’m sorry son.
LEAH
Hey, hey. What is it?
VINNIE
We’re in trouble babe. |
