Scripts - Episode 3118

THE BEACH

SEB lies in the water, next to his surfboard. NICK sees him.

NICK

Aw Seb.

NICK takes his shoes and then runs into the sea, fully clothed. He manages to swim out to SEB. A crowd has gathered on the beach. NICK then grabs a hold of SEB and the surfboard.

NICK

Seb, come here, give me your hand. Hold onto the board.

VINNIE runs along the beach.

VINNIE

Bring him Nick. Come on mate

VINNIE takes his top off and runs into the water.

VINNIE

You take the board, you take the board, I’ve got him.

VINNIE helps SEB out the water whilst NICK carries the surfboard.

VINNIE

You’re all right mate, come on. Take it easy. Somebody call an ambulance.

VINNIE puts SEB down on the ground.

VINNIE

Just take it easy, just take it easy.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

SHELLEY and DON sit at a table.

SHELLEY

Don, this is in no a criticism of you, but I know Nick. He’s a good kid.

DON

I’m not saying he’s not, but what he did was wrong. I suspended him because I didn’t want the other students behaving like that.

SHELLEY

But don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh. It wasn’t Nick who put up the photocopies.

DON

I know, but he took the photo in the first place anyway. Now I know that there are some people who would argue that being principal leaves me open to this sort of thing, but frankly, I disagree.

SHELLEY

Well you’ve obviously mad e up your mind.

DON

I know you think you’ve got Nick’s best interests at heart, Shelley, but it’s none of your concern anyway.

COLLEEN and ALF are at the counter.

COLLEEN

Sounds like there’s trouble brewing over there.

ALF

Well you just keep your beak out of it, eh.

COLLEEN

I was simply expressing my concern.

ALF

Well a little more work and a little less concern would be a real good idea.

VINNIE comes in.

VINNIE

Hey Stewie.

ALF

Shouldn’t you be on duty?

VINNIE

Listen, Dave’s covering. There’s been a bit of an accident at the beach.

ALF

What sort of an accident?

VINNIE

Seb, we had to pull him out of the water.

DON

What?

DON stands up and walks over to Alf and VINNIE.

DON

What’s happened? Where is he?

VINNIE

He’s got a nasty gash on his head. The ambulance just rushed him to hospital.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

JUDE and DON are in one of the corridors.

DON

I don’t know what happened exactly, but apparently the surfboard hit him and he was semiconscious when they found him.

JUDE

Well, how bad is it? Is he OK?

DON

Well, yes, I believe so. He’s in casualty now. I did try to call you, but your mobile was off.

JUDE

Yeah, look, I’m just going to put this away. Do you want to come with me?

DON

Oh, no, no, I don’t think I should.  He made it perfectly clear where I stand on his popularity list.

JUDE

Right, if that’s the way you feel.

DON

Yes, I think it’s probably better if you go alone.

JUDE

Right, I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.

DON

Yes, sure.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

LEAH and VINNIE are in the kitchen.

VINNIE

I shouldn’t have gone off at him in the way that I did.

LEAH

Hey, he was surfing in the wrong area.

VINNIE

Yeah, I know. There are better ways to handle the situation.

LEAH

Hey Bubs. Don’t be so hard on yourself, OK. You’ve had a lot on your mind lately.

VINNIE

Yeah, I guess. I guess I better start taking control of my life now. Well we’ve got the house back, haven’t we?

LEAH

Exactly.

VINNIE

And Seb’s OK right.

LEAH

Right.

VINNIE

That’s all good. Now I’ve just got to worry about my dad and the money worry.

THEO walks in.

VINNIE

And your dad.

THEO

Vinnie, we need to talk.

ALF cleans some tables as THEO and VINNIE leave the diner. LEAH has come out the kitchen.

ALF

Ah, young bull, old bull, ay.

ALEX walks in.

ALEX

That looked interesting.

LEAH

Please god, can papa not say anything to make it worse.

ALEX

Leah, will you relax. He’ll sort it OK.

LEAH

That’s what I’m afraid of.

LEAH takes the plates up to a table where GYPSY and WILL sit.

LEAH

Hey guys, I’m sorry it took so long.

GYPSY

That’s all right. Are you going to the birthing class tonight?

LEAH

Oh, you, bet you. It’s the one thing Vinnie and I have got to look forward to at least. Hey, what about you?

GYPSY

No.

LEAH

Uh.

GYPSY

Sally’s busy.

LEAH

Oh, but you can still go there, can’t you.

GYPSY

Have you ever tried doing those positions by yourself?

LEAH

Yep, fair enough.

LEAH goes into the kitchen.

WILL

I’ll come with you.

GYPSY

Very funny.

WILL

No, seriously, I’d love to.

GYPSY

Why?

WILL

Well you said yourself; you can’t do it by yourself. Anyway, it would be interesting.

GYPSY

Well I reckon Dani might have something it say about it.

WILL

Ah, she’ll be fine. I’ll just tell her it’s a good practice for when we have kids.

THE BEACH

THEO and VINNIE are there.

THEO

All you have to do is ask, just ask.

VINNIE

You’d like to see me grovel wouldn’t you Theo.

THEO

I would like to see you swallow your pride.

VINNIE

Sometimes it’s all a man’s got left.

THEO

What are you talking about?

VINNIE

I’m talking about the fact that I can never do anything that’s good enough for you. What kind of a husband are you Vinnie? Where are your brains Vinnie?

THEO

That’s my anger talking, not me.

VINNIE

Look, I’m sorry I brought you down here for no reason Theo, but I don’t need you help. I can do this myself, even if it means it I’m paying it off for the rest of my life.

THEO

Now you’re being stubborn.

VINNIE

I’m being responsible for my own mistakes.

VINNIE walks away.

THEO

For your father dishonesty, you mean. What about your wife and child? What about your responsibility to them? Vinnie, don’t get me wrong. I respect your pride. It’s a good thing in a man, but you can’t do this on your own. That is Leah and the baby suffers because of your father. Let me help.

VINNIE

No thanks, your interest rate seems a little bit too high.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

SEB, KIRSTY and SHELLEY are in the living room.

KIRSTY

Can we go to the hospital now mum? I want to see him.

SHELLEY

Of course.

JADE

Mum, did you see Nick?

SHELLEY

No, I came straight home as soon as I heard.

JADE

Well is he OK?

SHELLEY

Yeah, I am sure he is. He did a brave thing today, everyone’s really proud of him. Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you give him a call? I’m sure he’ll like that.

JADE

No, it doesn’t matter.

KIRSTY

Mum.

SHELLEY

OK.

KIRSTY yanks SHELLEY out the door.

THE PATTERSON HOUSE

ALEX is on the phone. THEO, VINNIE and LEAH sit at the table.

ALEX

Yes Mrs Plamit. It is not a problem. Sure.

ALEX goes through to the kitchen.

VINNIE

I’m going to have a shower babe, before we go.

ALEX

I tell you what, I’ll being my tools on the day and we’ll talk about it then. OK.

THEO and LEAH walk through.

THEO

Too stubborn for his own good, that’s the problem.

ALEX

Guess who scored the old home job?

LEAH

Yes papa.

THEO

Don’t yes papa me; you listen to your father.

ALEX leaves the kitchen.

LEAH

Look, I have listened to you and to be honest I can’t say I blame Vinnie one bit. Your just going to use this as an excuse to interfere in our lives.

THEO

You call helping my only daughter and husband interfering. Wait until I tell your mother who you talk to me.

LEAH

Look, mum would agree with me as well, OK. You interfering is how you like to keep control of us. Let’s face it papa, you don’t do anything for nothing; just ask any of the boys.

THEO

Hey, you be careful young lady. I’m still your father.

LEAH

Yes, I know that and OK, I love you heaps, and you want to help us, thank you, we’re really grateful, thank you very much, but why do you have to rub Vinnie’s nose in all the time? What are you doing?

THEO

When a daughter starts lecturing her father there is something very wrong. I’m going for a walk before one of us says something we might regret.

THEO leaves.

LEAH

I shouldn’t have spoken to him like that.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

In one of the classrooms, WILL and GYPSY talk to two other people, CAROL and MIKE.

CAROL

I heard some of the videos are pretty full on. Mike’s a bit uncomfortable about all that.

GYPSY

Yeah, I heard some guys find it a little hard to handle.

MIKE

When’s your due?

WILL

Aw, sorry, it’s not mine. I’m just here as a mate.

VINNIE and LEAH walk in.

VINNIE

Hey guys.

LEAH

Sorry.

They gather in a group and PAT begins to speak.

PAT

OK everyone. Now I want you to split into groups of three couples, so maybe there.

GYPSY and WILL stand up.

GYPSY

Sorry about that.

WILL

Aw, it’s cool. It’s an easy enough mistake.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

DON and JUDE sit at a table.

JUDE

No, the cut’s not too deep, so it’s nothing serious.

DON

Good. So when is he coming home?

JUDE

Ah tomorrow. They’re just going to keep him under observation.

NICK walks in.

NICK

Hey Jude, how’s Seb?

JUDE

He’s doing good, thanks to you buddy.

COLLEEN walks up to NICK.

COLLEEN

Well, if it isn’t the hero of Summer Bay.

NICK

Aw Colleen.

COLLEEN

Aw, there’s no need for modesty, love. What you did today deserves a medal. Now what can I get you?

NICK

Em, Irene wanted some cake for desserts.

COLLEEN

Cake, ay. Well under the circumstances I think the might just be on the house, don’t you Alf.

ALF is behind the counter.

ALF

Yeah, why not? Mate, I might have been a bit hasty chucking you out the bronze medallion squad too, so anytime you want to come back, your fine, OK. Now what sort of cake did you want mate? Cheesecake, French sponge.

NICK

Chocolate cake.

DON

Nick, have you got a moment? Shelley had a chat to me earlier on today on your behalf and well she did have a point, and all things considered, I think it’d be a very good idea if you were to come back to school first thing tomorrow morning. Right and, oh Nick, you did very well today, thanks.

NICK

No problem.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

LEAH, VINNIE, GYPSY and WILL all sit in groups. PAT starts to talk.

PAT

OK, everyone, everyone. Let us hear about what we’ve been discussing. Group one, do you want to go first? Will, what are you thoughts about how this baby going to affect your lives?

WILL

Em, well I suppose with Gypsy being a single mum she’s going to need as much support from friends as she can, you know, like to baby sit or just for someone to talk to, but asides from that I don’t think it’ll effect me at all. Like, I’m not going to be up all night like most of you guys.

VINNIE

Hey, hey.

PAT

OK, and Mike, what about you?

MIKE

Yeah well, Carol and I are going to share the experience as much as possible. I guess it means no more beers after work with the boys.

GYPSY walks out the room.

MIKE

It’s not just Carol’s baby. It’s my baby too.

WILL joins GYPSY outside in the corridor.

WILL

Are you OK?

GYPSY

Yeah.

WILL

Do you feel sick?

GYPSY

I’m OK now. It’s just I felt a bit claustrophobic.

WILL

Do you want to go home?

GYPSY

Em, yeah, I’ll just go and get my bag.

GYPSY walks away as VINNIE and LEAH come out the room.

VINNIE

Hey, we’re just on a break.

LEAH

Hey Gypsy.

VINNIE

Are you OK?

LEAH and GYPSY go into the room.

WILL

She won’t tell me what’s wrong either, man. I think it was something I said.

VINNIE

Hey man. It wasn’t your fault. Imagine what it’s like for her. I mean, we’re in there, we’re playing happy couples, we’re there to support each other and I mean realistically, she’s got no one.

WILL

Yeah, I guess it would be tough. I mean seeing you and Leah so happy together. Now, I don’t get that Andrew guy, as if he’d miss out on something as amazing as this.

GYPSY comes out the room.

GYPSY

Can we go now?

WILL

Yeah, sure.

WILL and GYPSY leave. VINNIE and LEAH cuddle.

THE BEACH

DON watches some people out on the surf.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

NICK is there. JADE walks in.

JADE

You’re back.

NICK

Flathead said it was OK.

JADE

I’m glad.

NICK

So am I.

KIRSTY walks in.

KIRSTY

Nick.

NICK

Yeah.

KIRSTY

Em, I just want to thank you for what you did for yesterday.

NICK

Couldn’t let him drown, could I?

JASON walks in. The bell rings.

NICK

Can you hold on a second?

NICK goes up to JASON.

NICK

I want that photo back.

JASON

Get stuffed.

NICK

I want it back.

JASON

And what I don’t give it back. What are you going to do? Tell the teacher.

NICK

Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’ll tell Flathead it was you how stuck all over the school.

DON walks in.

DON

Move it along please.

NICK

Right now, if you like.

JASON

Have the stupid photograph.

NICK turns around to JADE who smiles at him.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

COLLEEN walks out the diner. THEO walks in and joins ALEX at a table.

THEO

Can I join you? I promise not to tell you how to drink your coffee.

ALEX

Have a seat, dad. So where did you get to last night?

THEO

Walking, here, there, I don’t know where.

ALEX

Have you got any idea how worried Leah was? We all were worried, dad.

THEO

I thought maybe you were happy I may never come back. This way you’d be free of me and my controlling ways.

ALEX

Come on dad. Don’t do this.

THEO

You feel the same way as your sister, don’t you?

ALEX

No, no, I don’t.

THEO

Yeah, you think I try to run your lives.

ALEX

No, not at all, of course not. Not always, anyway.

THEO

Is it a crime to love my children, to want to help them?

ALEX

No dad, it’s not a crime, but that doesn’t mean you can take over either.

THEO

If Vinnie doesn’t take this money he will go bankrupt. I’ve done the figures, Alexi. I know this.

ALEX

Well that’s exactly the problem dad. Why did you that? You didn’t need to do that. Vinnie knows exactly the mess that he’s in and so does Leah. Vinnie is Leah’s husband, OK, so if you’re going to get Leah to choose between you two, she’s going to pick Vinnie and that’s the way it’s got to be dad.

SARAH MCKAY DROP-IN CENTRE

LEAH walks in with a cake.

LEAH

Gypsy.

GYPSY walks through.

GYPSY

Hey.

LEAH

Hey.

GYPSY

What are you doing here?

LEAH

I thought I’d bring you a bit of a treat.

GYPSY

Oh, there goes what’s left of my figure.

LEAH

Ah, who cares?

GYPSY

Yeah, who cares? You want a cup of tea?

LEAH

Oh, I’ve actually got to get back to work in a minute, but em, Gyps. Las night, it bothered you, didn’t it.

GYPSY

What?

LEAH

Being on your own.

GYPSY

Oh, yeah, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t.

LEAH

Can’t imagine what you’ve been through.

GYPSY

Well I’ll survive.

LEAH

Well, I just want you to know that you’re not alone.

GYPSY

I’m not.

LEAH

No, you’ve got a lot of friends here who love you and who love your baby as well.

GYPSY

I know. Everybody’s been great.

LEAH

I couldn’t do what you’re doing. I’d fall apart.

GYPSY

I almost have a couple of times, especially what I think about what’s ahead, like making all the decisions on your own, dealing with everything on my own, but it’s like the teacher says, I’ve just got to take it one day at a time.

LEAH

Yeah, well I just want you to know that if Vinnie and I can do anything, like anything at all, you just have to ask, OK.

GYPSY

Thank you, I appreciate that. You know what they say about having your cake.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF serves JUDE and SEB.

ALF

Well, if it’s not the walking wounded, ay. How’s the head?

SEB

It’s OK.

ALF

Yeah, looks like you need a few more surfing lessons, ay.

SEB

It was a freak wave.

ALF

Yeah, yeah, that’s what they all say.

JUDE

Lay off him Alf. He just got out of hospital.

ALF

Shouldn’t he be home in bed?

SEB

There’s nothing wrong with me.

ALF

Now that young fellow is a matter of opinion.

LEAH walks in.

LEAH

Thanks for covering for me. So, did I miss anything?

ALF

No, but you might wish you had.

THEO sits at a table.

LEAH

Papa. Hey, where have you been? I didn’t hear you leave this morning.

THEO

Have you got a minute?

LEAH

Um.

ALF signals yes. LEAH sits down.

LEAH

I’m really sorry about last night, I’m really didn’t mean to upset you.

THEO

Look, I just came to say this. I know how you and Vinnie feel about helping, but the fact is I am your only option.

LEAH

Oh papa, come on, we’ve already been through this.

THEO

So the money is yours, no strings, no conditions.

LEAH

What? Are you sure?

THEO

The reason I give it to you is because I love you and although you may not believe it, I even love that flamin’ man. He’s a good boy and I know he’ll look after you.

LEAH

Oh papa, thank you so much.

THEO

No, thank you. I expect you to pay it back. I’m not a money tree.

LEAH

Yeah, we promise.

THEO

But only when you can, no pressure.

THE PATTERSON HOUSE

VINNIE and INSPECTOR CARTER walk into the living room.

INSPECTOR CARTER

I won’t take up much of your time.

VINNIE

Sure, what’s up?

INSPECTOR CARTER

We’re currently investigating a couple of complaints that have been made.

VINNIE

Yeah, what’s it got to do with me?

INSPECTOR CARTER

Complaints centring on an allegation of fraud. I’m believe that you might be able to help us with those enquiries.

THE BEACH HOUSE

SEB walks up to the door. He goes to knock on it as NICK opens the door. He almost punches NICK.

NICK

Wo, what are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack.

SEB

Sorry.

NICK

Did you want something?

SEB

Yeah, I came to say thanks.

NICK

So, how are you feeling?

SEB

Pretty stupid.

NICK

Apart from that.

SEB

OK.

NICK

Did you want to come in?

SEB

Well, it just looked like you were going back to school.

NICK

It can wait.

They both go into the house.

NICK

Do you want a drink or something?

SEB

No thanks.

NICK

Did you get your board?

SEB

Yeah, someone left it at the surf club.

NICK

Hey, I’ve got something for you.

SEB

Who did you get it back?

NICK

I asked for it, nicely of course.

THE PATTERSON HOUSE

VINNIE and INSPECTOR CARTER sit on the settee. INSPECTOR CARTER stands up.

INSPECTOR CARTER

Well, if you think of anything else.

VINNIE

Yeah, I know where to find you.

INSPECTOR CARTER

Obviously the police may need to speak with you again during the course of the investigation.

LEAH and THEO walk in.

LEAH

Hey, what’s going on?

INSPECTOR CARTER

I’m here about some business dealings your husband’s been involved in.

THEO

If this is about the money they’re owing, it’s under control. I’m going to make it good myself. All debts will be covered.

VINNIE

What?

INSPECTOR CARTER

Well the creditors will be delighted with that, but that’s not why I’m here. Vinnie will explain the situation. I’ll show myself out.

INSPECTOR CARTER leaves.

LEAH

What’s he talking about? Vinnie.

VINNIE

It’s not just about owing people money any more; it’s gone way past that. It’s fraud. It’s a criminal matter.

LEAH

But he can’t think that you’ve got anything to do with that part of it.

VINNIE

Why not babe? I was part of the business with him.

LEAH

Well, what did you tell him Vinnie?

VINNIE

Nothing, I’m not going too dob in my own flesh and blood, am I?

THEO

Vinnie, this is very serious. You must tell the police everything. You have no choice.

LEAH

No.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

The bell rings. The class leaves. DON is there. SEB walks in.

DON

Quietly please, it’s not a surf hall.

SEB

Mr. Fisher.

DON

Seb, what are you doing here?

SEB

Returning this.

SEB hands over a letter.

DON

Is that all?

SEB

Sorry.

DON

How could you? Just walk in here as if nothing had happened, no apology, nothing. Do you have any idea what you have put me through?

SEB

Well I didn’t think that it would upset you that much.

DON

Upset. You do realise, don’t you, that your father died at that very same spot.

SEB

What? What are you talking about?

DON

He was warned not to surf yet he did. It was his daily challenge to me, I couldn’t do anything to stop him and then he died, just as I was beginning to get to know him again after all the years of distrust and misunderstanding and to have you right there on that very same stretch of beach. You stupidly go out there when you were warned not to.

SEB

I didn’t know.

DON

What if you had drowned? What do you think that would have done to me? How could you put me through all this again? How could you?

THE BEACH

VINNIE is there. He watches children playing with sandcastles. He then writes his name in the sand. A wave comes and washes it away.

THE LAWSON HOUSE

JUDE is on the phone. SEB walks in.

JUDE

Yeah, see you.

JUDE hangs up.

JUDE

I don’t know how you guys do it. It’s radar or something, isn’t it? I open the fridge door and then within fifteen seconds, one of you rocks up. Hope toast and ham and cheese is OK. Too bad if it’s not, because it’s all we’ve got. Did you catch up with Nick today? Hello, am I speaking Swahili or something?

SEB

I’ve been thinking.

JUDE

Ah, he speaks.

SEB

I want to come back to school, to Summer Bay High.

JUDE

OK. Do you want some mustard on this?

SEB

Yeah, that’d be good.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF is in the diner. VINNIE walks in.

ALF

I know Dave’s not covering for you. It’s his Uni. day.

VINNIE goes into the kitchen where LEAH is.

LEAH

Hey, Vinnie, hey. What’s wrong? What is it?

VINNIE

I did it.

LEAH

Aw, Vinnie.

VINNIE

I told them everything. I told them dad’s complete history. There’s a warrant out for his arrest.