Scripts - Episode 3159

THE CARAVAN PARK

LANCE sits outside COLLEEN’S caravan. COLLEEN walks out.

COLLEEN

Sleeping like a little angel.

LANCE

She won’t be if you keep checking on her every ten minutes.

COLLEEN

Oh I know, but I can’t help it. She’s so adorable. Just like you at that age.

COLLEEN sits down.

LANCE

Mum

COLLEEN

I always knew she’d take after our side of the family. We’ve got very powerful genes.

LANCE

Most people reckon she takes after Debs.

COLLEEN

Oh no, I can’t see that at all. She’s the despit of you. That’s why, I mean, well em, Maggie’s a nice enough name and everything, but I still think Colleen would have suited her too.

LANCE

Don’t start on that again mum. You know why we called her Maggie.

COLLEEN
Yes, yes of course, not that she’s anything like her other grandmother. Still she’s only the first isn’t she? There’s plenty of time for little Colleen to come into the world. You don’t know how glad I am to have you and Maggie here Lancie, and to have Debbie’s blessing is a godsend. I know we didn’t always see eye to eye in the past, but I’m really glad to see she’s got over that selfish period of hers.

LANCE

Debs was never selfish.

COLLEEN
Well you couldn’t see it Lance because you were too smitten, but a mother knows these things. Well maybe Debbie can come down next time. Then we’ll be a one big happy family.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

WILL and ALF are there.

WILL

Leave for a week, come back and the boats in shambles.

ALF

Hey Roz, two hot breakfasts with the lot please, love. Well you see mate, that’s what happens when your staff leave you in the lurch.

WILL

Well it wouldn’t happen if I was in charge

They both sit at a table as ALF laughs.

ALF

Well we’ll soon see won’t we? When’s your first trip? Tomorrow isn’t it? Reckon you’ll do all right without me?

WILL

Yeah, I reckon I’m pretty ready to take my training wheels off.

ALF

If there’s so much as one scratch on that boat it will be your last trip.

WILL

I won’t dare do anything wrong to it. Hey, I’m a responsible young man now.

ALF

Is that right?

WILL

Yeah, well I’ll have a kid soon and if things work out for me and Gyps we’ll be a proper family.

ALF

You’re pretty fair dinkum about trying to make a go of it with Gypsy aren’t you?

WILL

Why wouldn’t I be?

ALF

Hey mate, don’t get me wrong. I think it’s great you’re standing by her. They aren’t too many young blokes around these days that’ll do the right thing.

WILL

No it’s not why we’re doing it.

ALF

Uh.

WILL

No, we’re doing it for us, not just because of the kid.

ALF

Oh well, so long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.

WILL

Yeah I do, I finally do.

A CLIFF

COLLEEN looks into MAGGIE’S pram.

COLLEEN

There we are. We don’t want the nasty sun to get into our eyes, do we darling?

She puts the screen down and runs with pram.

COLLEEN

Oh, yoo-hoo, Dr. Saunders.

She runs up to FLYNN and ASHLEY.

COLLEEN

I’m just taking my little granddaughter out for a walk. Such a shame to be cooped up indoors on a nice day like this.

FLYNN

My thoughts exactly.

COLLEEN

And how are you feeling dear? I heard about your little problem. I must say you’re looking a lot better than you were a few days back.

ASHLEY walks away.

FLYNN

I’ll have to excuse her Colleen. She’s still not feeling very well.

COLLEEN

Doesn’t give her any reason to be rude though does it? I mean why do they do it Dr. Saunders? Such a waste of a young life.

FLYNN

Well her life’s not over yet Colleen.

COLLEEN

Well let’s hope not.

FLYNN

I’ll go and see how she is.

COLLEEN

Don’t let me hold you up.

FLYNN

No.

COLLEEN

Such a waste. We won’t let that happen to you will we petal.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF and LEAH are there.

ALF

Anything you want me to do before I go?

LEAH

Go where?

ALF

The city.

LEAH

How long?

ALF

Couple of days.

LEAH

Alf, you never told me you were going away.

ALF

I’m sure I did.

LEAH

Alf, you didn’t.

ALF

Look, it’s been on for ages. It’s just a rugby reunion and I want to catch up with Duncan for a couple of days. Try and rub some Morag into his coffee.

LEAH

Well, OK, how am I supposed to cope with you and Colleen off?

ALF

Well we’ve got Rosalind here and I’m sure Vinnie will help out.

LEAH

Just go, I’ll manage.

ALF

Are you sure?

LEAH

I’m sure. Just go, OK and next time, please give me some notice.

LEAH leaves.

ALF

I’m sure I did tell you.

ALF walks over to LANCE.

ALF

Hey, kicked you out already has she?

LANCE

Who? Mum? No, no, no, she’s just taking Mags on a tour of the bay.

ALF

Ah yeah, she’s one hell of a proud grandmother that Colleen.

LANCE

Yeah, yeah I know.

ALF

So, em, how’s life in civvy street?

LANCE

Aw, it’s not bad. Bit quiet on the work front, but that’s all right. Debs got a good job. It means I get to spend more time with Mags.

ALF

Well if you’ve got a bit more time you could make the effort to get down here a bit more often. I know Colleen would appreciate it.

LANCE

Yeah, yeah, I’ll see what I can do.

THE BEACH HOUSE

WILL walks past IRENE who is hoovering.

IRENE

Bit heavy handed on the old aftershave there mate.

WILL

Really.

IRENE

Planning on meeting a certain little someone, eh?

WILL

Yeah, but I’m meant to be playing it cool.

IRENE

Sorry not convinced.

WILL

Well I shouldn’t have bothered on this shirt, eh.

IRENE

Well love, it’s just that change is a little bit obvious.

WILL

Well you’re saying that I’m like a derro normally.

IRENE

No, I’m not saying that at all.

WILL

I feel like I’m fourteen again.

IRENE

Oh god, save us from teenage angst.

WILL

Thanks, I’m trying so hard to make this thing work between me and Gypsy.

IRENE

So what have you got planned?

WILL

I’m going to strategically place myself in the diner to bump into Gypsy.

IRENE

And you reckon that’s playing it cool do you.

FLYNN’S CARAVAN

ASHLEY and FLYNN are there.

FLYNN

Listen, I was thinking, maybe it’s time we thought about getting you into some counselling.

ASHLEY

Great.

FLYNN

Getting through withdrawal is just the first step. Staying cleans actually the hard part.

ASHLEY

Look I’m not sitting in a room full of losers talking about my problems OK.

FLYNN

Doesn’t have to be group therapy.

ASHLEY

Look Flynn, I know this is your thing, but it’s not for me all right.

FLYNN

Well how about you give it a shot first. If things don’t sit well with you then we’ll examine some alternatives.

ASHLEY

I don’t need a counsellor to tell me what’s wrong with my life.

FLYNN

Maybe, but it doesn’t hurt to have some sort of practical strategy to help you stay clean.

ASHLEY

Practical strategy. Flynn what planet are you on?

FLYNN

OK, maybe that didn’t come out right, but believe me people in your position who do not get ongoing help have a lot of trouble staying off the stuff.

ASHLEY

Yeah, but I’m not ready for it yet. Not now. Don’t make me do this.

FLYNN

The longer you put this off, the harder it’s going to be.

There’s a knock on the door. FLYNN answers it. It’s DANI.

FLYNN

Hey.

DANI

Hi, mum just wanted me to bring this over.

FLYNN

Oh food, excellent. We’re doing all right out of this man.

DANI turns to ASHLEY.

DANI

Hi, I’m Dani. I just live up at the house.

ASHLEY

Yeah, I’m a freak that lives down here in the caravan.

DANI

Yeah, well, em, mum just wanted to know if you wanted anything else?

FLYNN

Like what exactly?

DANI

Em, I could take you on a tour round town.

ASHLEY

Oh, sounds great.

FLYNN

Dani’s mum’s Shelley. I work with her at the drop-in centre.

ASHLEY

Oh, she’s a counsellor.

FLYNN

Yeah.

ASHLEY

Oh good, I’m surrounded by them.

She closes the partition.

DANI

Yeah, well em. I’m just going to go.

FLYNN

I’m sorry Dan.

DANI

Yeah.

FLYNN

Thank you.

DANI leaves. FLYNN shuts the door then opens the partition.

FLYNN

Good one

ASHLEY

What?

FLYNN

Try just being a little bit nicer to people.

ASHLEY

What’s the point? It’s not like I’m ever going to see these people again.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

WILL walks up to GYPSY who is reading the menu.

WILL

Hey Gypsy.

GYPSY

Hey babe.

WILL

Are you eating lunch here?

GYPSY

Yeah, just a quick bite before I have to hit the books again.

WILL

Do you mind if I join you?

GYPSY

Ah, if you have to.

WILL
I reckon I do.

LEAH is in the kitchen. VINNIE walks in.

VINNIE

Hey, hey, hey, how’s my princess doing?

LEAH

Your princess has got a very sore back.

VINNIE
Sore back?

LEAH

Yeah.

VINNIE

OK, I’ll sort that out.

VINNIE massages LEAH’S back.

LEAH

Oh no.

VINNIE

Does that feel better?

LEAH

Yeah, it’s great, but I’d like to actually go home and put my feet up.

VINNIE

OK.

LEAH

Well I can’t.

VINNIE

Why don’t you just go ahead and do it?

LEAH

Well I can’t. I was just joking. No, we’re about to start lunch and we’re already two down.

VINNIE

Two? What?

LEAH

Colleen’s got the day off and Alf has got this rugby reunion. Did he tell you anything a rugby reunion?

VINNIE

Yeah, he might off. Every time he starts talking about the nineteen sixty-five Grand Final my eyes just glaze over.

LEAH

Oh well, he reckons he told me, but I swear he didn’t. Anyway until he gets back we’re two down.

VINNIE
Two down or not, you’re going home. I’m not having my baby working her elbows to the bone.

They exit the kitchen. ROSALIND is at the till.

LEAH

Vinnie I can’t.

VINNIE

We can look after it. There is no correspondence for you in this. Rosalind and I can do it.

LEAH

Well who’s going to look after the kitchen?

VINNIE

Rosalind and I.

LEAH

OK, but I don’t think you can handle it.

VINNIE

I can handle anything you give me, all right. Me and Alexi.

ALEX

What?

VINNIE

You’ll back me up won’t you buddy?

LEAH leaves.

GYPSY

You look good.

WILL

Thanks, so do you.

GYPSY

You don’t have to say it back to me just because I said it to you. I know that I’m past that whole glowing pregnancy thing if I had it at all.

WILL

No, I mean it.

GYPSY

Thanks.

WILL

So, em how’s studying going?

GYPSY

OK I guess. I mean I’ve got a lot to get through before the exams come, but.

WILL

Hey listen. If you need anything done because you’re doing so much study just give me a call.

GYPSY

OK then. Thank you.

THE CARAVAN PARK

COLLEEN and LANCE look at photos.

LANCE

Yeah, that was the fancy dress party. Mags looks real cute, eh?

COLLEEN

Oh goodness. She’s adorable.

LANCE

Debs made the outfit herself. Reckons she done real good. Must have taken about a hundred photographs that night.

LANCE’S phone rings.

COLLEEN

She’s a lucky girl to have a dad like you Lance.

LANCE

Sorry mum, I better get this eh.

COLLEEN

I’ll just go and check on little Maggie.

COLLEEN leaves and LANCE answers phone.

LANCE

Hey Debs. Yeah, how’s Auntie Rhonda?

Yeah, everything’s good here.

Yeah, Mags is great.

Yeah I’ve been mowing the lawn and I’m watering the plants now. Yeah.

A woman walks behind him.

LANCE

Good day Mr. Smith. That’s Mr. Smith next door. You know Mr. Smith. He says g’day.

COLLEEN rushes out of her caravan.

LANCE

Yeah, everything’s fine.

What do you mean I sound funny? Debs.

COLLEEN

Is that Debbie? Can I talk to her?

LANCE

Mum she busy.

COLLEEN

I just want to have a quick word with her.

COLLEEN wrestles phone from LANCE.

COLLEEN

Hi ya Debbie. Oh I think there’s something wrong with your phone Lancie. I can’t hear her.

LANCE takes the phone back.

LANCE

It must be sunspot activity. Blocks the signal.

COLLEEN

Oh, really. What a nuisance.

LANCE

Yeah, I know.

COLLEEN

Well aren’t you going to call her back?

LANCE

No, it’ll just drop out again.

COLLEEN

There’s a payphone just over there.

LANCE

No, like I said mum she’s been. I’ll call her back another time.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

WILL and GYPSY are at the table.

GYPSY

You look tired.

WILL

Yeah, it was an early start this morning.

GYPSY

You should go have a nap.

WILL

No, I want to stay here. Unless you want me to go

GYPSY

No, no I didn’t mean it like that. I mean it’s not.

WILL

Listen, Gypsy.

GYPSY

You know what. I should probably get going. I need to finish stuff later for taking time out of study.

WILL

Sure.

VINNIE and ALEX are in the kitchen. VINNIE cooks. ALEX rushes in.

ALEX

Right Vinnie, we need to call my sister, now.

VINNIE

We are not calling Leah.

ALEX

No, there are people out there who have started chewing furniture. OK.

ROSALIND walks through. VINNIE puts burger on a plate.

VINNIE

Oya, aya, take these.

ALEX

The restaurant now. Look please.

VINNIE

I told her I could manage and I’ll manage.

ALEX

What’s burning?

VINNIE

She needs a day off.

ALEX

Vinnie give me them.

ALEX takes tongs and picks up a burger.

VINNIE

Well are they too black too use?

ALEX

Yeah.

VINNIE

Maybe we can just scrape off the burnt bits.

ALEX

How did you survive before my sister came along?

VINNIE

I lived with Sal.

ALEX

Take these to table one, that one, that one.

THE BEACH HOUSE

WILL lies on his bed. IRENE is at the door.

IRENE

So doll, were you as cool as you hoped?

WILL

Not at all.

IRENE

Oh, you two didn’t have another barmy did you?

WILL

I would have been happier if we had a fight. It would have felt like the old times, but everything’s changed. I have, she has, everything has.

IRENE

Well love, you always knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

WILL

But what if doesn’t get any easier? I really want to make this work or am I just wasting my time?

IRENE

You know Will, I don’t know how many times I told you to stay away form that girl, but somehow the forces of nature just kept guiding you right back to her. Now I’m inclined to think those forces of nature have got something going for her. So all I’m going to say now is stick with it. Eh.

SALLY’S HOUSE

GYPSY sits at the table studying. She closes the book and sighs.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

DANI and SHELLEY are in the sitting room. RHYS walks through with washing.

DANI

Flynn is going to so much effort and Ashley’s just being a cow. She practically spat at me this morning.

SHELLEY

Oh try and not take it too personally Dan. Ashley is going to have some serious physical and emotional problems for some time to come and she’s going to need support. I think it’s important you understand that for Flynn’s sake as well as for Ashley’s.

DANI

OK, OK

SHELLEY

In fact you could do Flynn and Ashley a favour if you like.

DANI

Here we go.

SHELLEY

Well she’s going to need some clothes and.

DANI

You want me to give my clothes to a girl I don’t even like.

SHELLEY

Lend and eh, just the old things you don’t wear any more.

DANI

I shouldn’t even bother arguing, should I?

DANI leaves.

RHYS

As long as she doesn’t expect to get them back.

SHELLEY

Rhys.

RHYS

I’m sorry Shell; I’m just calling it as I see it. I mean this girl Ashley; she’s been through some pretty heavy stuff. I’m not sure I want my daughter hanging around a junkie. That’s all.

SHELLEY

What do you think she is going to do Rhys? Introduce Dani to drugs?

She puts the basket in utility room.

RHYS

Well, yeah, maybe.

SHELLEY

Rhys if Dani wanted to experiment with drugs she would’ve had the chance by now. I thought you were OK with all of this?

RHYS

Yeah, I thought I was, it’s just the last time with Kane my instinct was to protect the family. I didn’t go with it and Dani was the one that got hurt. I don’t want it to happen again.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

VINNIE and ALEX are in the kitchen. ALEX cooks and VINNIE dishes.

ALEX

Hey, I forgot I had a real knack for this, Vinnie.

VINNIE

Well mate, must be in the genes.

VINNIE goes out with food. He walks into LANCE.

VINNIE

Hey, hey, oi, Lancie you want something?

LANCE

Eh yeah, eh no, no.

VINNIE

You all right mate?

LANCE

I’ve stuffed up big time mate.

VINNIE

Hey, tell your uncle Vinnie what’s happened

LANCE

Well I haven’t exactly been up front about Debs you see. She’s not at home. She went away for a couple of days to see her Auntie and I figured it would be a good opportunity to come down and see mum with Mags. Well when Debs rang I reckon she might have overhead mums voice and if she did mate, I’m in deep, real deep.

VINNIE

You came down here behind her back?

LANCE

Yeah.

VINNIE eats the chips.

VINNIE

Why?

LANCE

Because you asked me to. There no other way I could do it.

VINNIE

You’re not even allowed to see your own mother?

LANCE

Well her and Debs don’t really see eye to eye. See last time we came down Debs said. Oh, it doesn’t matter, look if she knows I’m here mate she’s going to drop me like a dead potato. I tell you.

VINNIE

Mmm, that doesn’t sound good.

VINNIE starts eating burger.

VINNIE

I mean you could race back home and pretend you’ve been there the whole time. That’s my motto, deny, deny, deny and if that doesn’t work deny a little bit more. If the worst comes to the worst, fake your own death. That’ll get Debbie back onside.

VINNIE bites burger.

LANCE

You reckon.

VINNIE

This isn’t my burger.

He runs into kitchen.

FLYNN’S CARAVAN

ASHLEY lies on the bed. There is a knock at the door. She answers it. It’s DANI.

DANI

Hi, again. My mum thought you might like to borrow some of my old clothes.

ASHLEY

What is it about this town and clothes? That other chick offered me the daggiest stuff the other day.

DANI

What chick?

ASHLEY

Sally.

DANI

Well you might like to borrow some of mine. I don’t think they are as daggy.

ASHLEY

Right, but they’re running enough to give to a freak like me.

DANI

If you don’t want to wear them, then fine. I didn’t realise your fashion standards were do high.

ASHLEY

Oh, and what’s that supposed to mean?

DANI

I don’t know. Just that you’ve been doing other stuff, you know.

ASHLEY

Right, because I’m a junkie and I don’t hang out in the mall at the weekend. That’s it isn’t it?

DANI

I didn’t mean it like that OK.

ASHLEY

Yeah, right, sure you didn’t. Look just take your frilly little outfits and go over because I wouldn’t even wear them if you paid me.

DANI leaves. Later on FLYNN walks into the bedroom where ASHLEY lies on the bed.

FLYNN

Ash, I made an appointment for you to see a counsellor later this week. He’s a good guy. I reckon you’ll like him.

ASHLEY

Forget it, I’m not going

FLYNN

Ashley.

ASHLEY

Look I’m sick of this dump and I just want to go back to the city.

FLYNN

Why? What’s wrong? What happened?

ASHLEY

It’s this town, all the stupid people in it, it’s everything.

FLYNN

Someone being giving you hard time?

ASHLEY

Miss Goody Two Shoes came around again

FLYNN

Right, you mean Dani.

ASHLEY

Mmmm, this time she wanted to give me her old clothes.

FLYNN

Aw, that sounds terrible.

ASHLEY

Look, I don’t want handouts from anyone especially her.

FLYNN

Yeah, you have such an extensive wardrobe as it is, don’t you.

ASHLEY

Don’t laugh at me. You don’t know what this feels like. People trying to fix you, change you, tell you what to do. I wish you’d all just leave me alone.

FLYNN

Dani is not trying to change you. Come on, aren’t you getting a little bit sick and tired looking at my face all the time? I mean you’d have someone else to hang out with.

ASHLEY

You don’t expect me to hang out with that chick. Her and I are from different planets.

FLYNN

I don’t know. I think you guys might have more in common than you realise.

ASHLEY

Yeah right. She doesn’t know the first thing about the real world. You know the most disastrous thing that’s’ ever happened to that girl is breaking a nail.

FLYNN

Yeah, well that’s where you’re really pretty wrong. I mean, you’ve been to hell and back in the last year, sure, so has she.

ASHLEY

Yeah right.

FLYNN

Getting a bit sick and tired of everyone judging you, aren’t you?

ASHLEY

Yep.

FLYNN

Take a leaf out of your own book Ash. Stop judging everyone else.

THE CARAVAN PARK

LANCE and COLLEEN are there.

COLLEEN

Oh, there you are Lancie. I’ve just put Maggie down for a little nap. We had a little feed and she made a little mess, but that’s nothing to worry about. Babies are always messy and she’s not a patch on you when you were little. I sometimes had to change your outfits ten times a day. Every time I fed you, boouck, up it came.

LANCE

Mum, mum, I’ve got to go.

COLLEEN

Go, where?

LANCE

Home.

COLLEEN

Back to Queensland. Why?

LANCE

Because Debs is sick. She needs me back home.

COLLEEN

Sick. What with? It’s nothing infectious I hope because if it is your going to have to leave Maggie here with me.  You don’t want to expose her to any nasty germs.

LANCE

No, I think it’s best if I just take her with me.

COLLEEN

But Lancie, you only just got here.

LANCE

I know mum. I’m really sorry, but maybe we’ll stay longer next time.

COLLEEN

But you’re not going straight away.

LANCE

Yeah.

COLLEEN

Oh, but you’re tired. You’ll be driving in the dark. It’s not safe Lance.

LANCE

Mum, Debs needs me.

COLLEEN

No you’re much better off setting off in the morning. Now you go and sit over there and I’ll make us a nice cup of tea and how knows maybe by tomorrow Debbie will be feeling a lot better and you won’t have to go home after all.

COLLEEN leaves and LANCE sits on a bench.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

DANI is sitting in the veranda. ASHLEY walks in.

ASHLEY

Hi.

DANI

Hi.

ASHLEY

Um, you know those clothes.

DANI

Yep.

ASHLEY

Have you still got them?

DANI

Yeah, they’re upstairs.

ASHLEY

Do you think I’d be able to borrow them?

DANI

Really.

ASHLEY

Yeah, well, I mean, just for a bit. You can have them back, just until I get some more stuff of my own.

DANI

Yeah, I’ll go get them.

DANI stands up and walks into the house.

DANI

Do you want to come and choose some?

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALEX is in the kitchen.

ALEX

Vinnie.

VINNIE rushes in carrying plates. He slips on the floor.

VINNIE

Yes, I’m coming.

ALEX

All right.

VINNIE

I can hear it.

ALEX

Table one. Run, I’ll do this. Don’t worry.

VINNIE

There’s none left. There’s none left.

ALEX

We did it.

VINNIE

We did it.

ALEX

We survived.

VINNIE

Just the one more.

ALEX

All right.

They walk out the kitchen.

ALEX

No one starved to death, no one got food poisoning.

VINNIE

Yeah.

ALEX

We didn’t burn the kitchen down either.

VINNIE

That’s Colleen’s speciality.

ALEX

Mate, we did it.

They congratulate each other. The phone rings.

VINNIE

Get that.

ALEX

Righto.

ALEX answers the phone. VINNIE walks in.

ALEX

Beachside Diner, hello.

Yeah.

OK, one second.

Some guy from the tour bus company wants to know if he can bring thirty people here tonight for dinner.

VINNIE

That’s sweet babe.

ALEX

Sweet babe. We don’t have Leah. We’ve got to ring Leah.

VINNIE

Ah-ah. No can do. Leah has left the building. Tell him we can do it. We’re ready and waiting.

ALEX

We can not pull this off Vinnie. You’re crazy.

VINNIE

Alexi, we have to. If these guys like us they’ll make a permanent booking. We can meet it.

VINNIE grabs the phone.

ALEX

What are?

VINNIE

Hello, yes we accept that booking.

Greek cuisine.

ALEX

No, no.

VINNIE

Yes, we can do that.

Yep, all right, see you then.

VINNIE hangs up.

ALEX

What are you doing? Is that Greek cuisine you said?

VINNIE

We can do that, can’t we?