Scripts - Episode 3245

THE BEACH HOUSE

IRENE, HAYLEY and NATHAN are all there.

NATHAN

All right, what do you think?

IRENE

Very smart.

HAYLEY

Didn’t you wear that in the interview?

NATHAN

Yes. So?

HAYLEY

Well, did Grace see the interview?

NATHAN

Eh, yeah.

IRENE

I think what Hayley’s trying to say to you darl, is that maybe if your trying to make an impression you should wear something she hasn’t seen yet.

NATHAN

Yeah, but it’s my best shirt.

HAYLEY

Yeah, well what about that blue one.

IRENE

Mmm-mm, it’s hanging on the line.

NATHAN

Aw, great.

IRENE

Oh love, I think you’re making an awful fuss here.

NATHAN

Yeah, and who started that?

IRENE

All we said was that it looks like you’ve got yourself a date. Oh, look out.

NOAH draws up outside on his bike. They all go outside.

IRENE

Evil Kneivel. Oi, you are not leaving that thing here.

NOAH

Aw, come on Irene, please just one more night.

IRENE

Yeah, and I’ve heard that before.

NOAH

I promise, I’ll get rid of it tomorrow.

IRENE

Oh really, where?

NOAH

Well, em, you see I haven’t really thought of that yet.

IRENE

Noah, for gods’ sake, it’s a three thousand dollar bike, not a three hundred thousand dollar bike.

NOAH

Three and half thousand dollar bike.

IRENE

Oh.

Inside NICK is opening the fridge. HAYLEY runs in and NOAH and IRENE follow. JADE is already there.

HAYLEY

Em Nick, I’ll do that.

NICK

I can do it.

HAYLEY

No, no, no.

NICK

I can do it Hayley.

JADE

I’ve already asked him, he wants to do it.

NATHAN

Let him do it.

NICK makes several attempts at opening the fridge and getting the juice out.

NICK

Thank you.

NICK looks at the glasses on the shelf. IRENE gets one down.

IRENE

There you go darl.

NICK leaves in his wheelchair.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

BRODIE, DANI and DON sit on the settees. RHYS and SHELLEY stand behind them.

DON

You and the SRC have put in so much hard work on this Brodie I thought you’d deserved to hear it first. Well to stop you wasting anymore time as much as anything else.

BRODIE

Eh, thank you.

DANI

When will they close the school down?

DON

Not till the end of the year. They have to let the existing students complete the courses they are doing. I know it’s not the only reason why you got involved in this Brodie, but you will at least be able to finish your HSE without any further disruption.

SHELLEY

Jade won’t, will she. She’s got two years of commuting ahead of her. Kirsty too, if we can ever persuade her to go back.

DON

Yes, I’m afraid so.

RHYS

Well Don, it’s one of the reasons we moved here in the first place, there was always the half way decent school within walking distance.

DON

Oh well, I’m glad to hear that you think that we are half-way decent school Rhys.

RHYS

You know what I mean Don. I mean this is really going to knock the town hard, the school closing.

DON

Yes, yes I think so.

There is a knock at the door. DANI stands up. ETHAN is at the door.

DANI

I’ll get it. Ha, didn’t take you long, did it?

SHELLEY

Aw Dani.

ETHAN

Aw look, I’m not here to gloat honestly. Mr. Fisher.

DON

Hello Ethan.

ETHAN

Em, I guess it’s one of those things that no one really wins.

DANI

Well you can kind of say that when you’ve won.

RHYS

Hey Dani, there’s no need to take it out on Ethan.

BRODIE stands up.

BRODIE

So why did you come round?

ETHAN

Ah, well you know that disc I lent you with the notes from our meeting, kind of need that back, it’s got my history essay on it and I’ve crashed my C-drive.

BRODIE

Oh clever.

ETHAN

Yeah I know.

BRODIE

I’ll get it. It’s upstairs.

BRODIE goes upstairs.

ETHAN

Thanks a lot.

BRODIE

Would you like a drink Ethan?

ETHAN

Eh, no, no, I’m right thanks. My mum’s in the car and in a hurry as usual.

DON

You mother’s outside, is she.

ETHAN

Ah yeah.

DON

Right.

DON leaves.

THE CARAVAN PARK

PATRICIA sits in her car. DON walks out. She gets out the car.

DON

Patricia!

PATRICIA

Donald! I didn’t know you were here. I’d have come in.

DON

I just dropped by to let Brodie know what’s happened. The SRC have worked very hard on this and I thought she should be the first to know.

PATRICIA

Yes of course. Oh, I’m sorry Donald, I can’t pretend I’m not relieved Reefton has been spared, but doesn’t mean I take any satisfaction in it.

DON

It does rather make a mockery of all the work we’ve put in though doesn’t it? They’ve obviously given our proposal no thought whatsoever if indeed they ever read it.

PATRICIA

Does feel a bit like that, yeah.

DON

Anyway, I see no point in going ahead with the meeting tomorrow.

PATRICIA

Well I, I, didn’t really feel that. I actually think it’s really important that we go ahead with it. The decisions been made and the schools are going to be amalgamated. I think it’s really imperative that we work together to find a way to achieve that smoothly.

DON

I may need a little more time to digest all this, but Ethan tells me you’re in a hurry so we won’t go into that now.

PATRICIA

I do understand how you feel Donald.

DON leaves and ETHAN comes out the house. He and PATRICIA get into the car.

PATRICIA

Got your disc?

ETHAN

Yeah, going to have to borrow your computer tonight in order to finish it off.

PATRICIA

Oh, honestly Ethan, if you didn’t load the hard-drive up with all those stupid shoot-em up games, hard-drive wouldn’t crash a lot.

DON watches the car drive away.

THE BEACH HOUSE

NOAH, NATHAN, IRENE and HAYLEY are all there.

IRENE

Love, you look great, truly.

NATHAN

Yeah, this shirt’s not too cash.

IRENE

Where are you going?

NATHAN

Eh, the diner I think.

IRENE

Eh, you’ll be fine. Look trust me, things are lot more relaxed nowadays.

NATHAN

Yeah, ah, because you know, I just don’t know what, you know, what’s expected of him.

IRENE

Well I am afraid I can’t answer that for you Nathan. You’re going to have the brave that one by your own love.

HAYLEY

Yeah, I put the glasses here. he should be able to reach them now, shouldn’t he?

IRENE

Well he should, but whether or not his pride lets him remains to be seen.

NOAH

Well if he’s thirsty enough he will.

HAYLEY

Noah, that’s a bit off.

NOAH

Nah, nah, I know he’s going through a hard time. Everyone’s trying to help him and he can’t keep pushing them away forever.

IRENE

He can you know, you’ve got no idea how stubborn that boy can be when he puts his mind to it.

SHELLEY

Hi.

SHELLEY walks in.

IRENE

Hi darl. Hayley, can you tell Jade her mum’s here.

HAYLEY leaves.

SHELLEY

You heard about the school?

IRENE

Oh yeah, Don rang me earlier. I guess I’m going to be looking for a new job come the end of the year and hey, at my age that should be a breeze.

SHELLEY

Yeah, it’s a bit of disaster all round.

JADE, NICK and HAILEY all come into the room.

JADE

I want to stay a bit longer.

SHELLEY

Ah, Jade, it’s getting late, dinner will be on soon.

JADE

Well you can just leave the oven on and I’ll heat it up later.

SHELLEY

No, I think it would be best if you came back with me now.

IRENE

Eh, Jade love, I think Nick’s getting a bit tired.

JADE

Looks like I don’t have any choice then. Bye, have a good sleep, I’ll be back first thing in the morning.

NICK and JADE kiss.

IRENE

Bye. See ya.

JADE and SHELLEY leave, GRACE arrives.

GRACE

Hello.

SHELLEY

Hello.

GRACE

It’s as busy as the rush hour on Burt Street here. Where’s Nathan?

IRENE

Ah, he shouldn’t be a sec love.

HAYLEY

Nathan, your dates here.

GRACE

I’m his date now am I? How are you settling back in?

NICK

Good.

GRACE

Hi, nice shirt.

NATHAN walks in.

NOAH

Ah, that’s lucky; he’s been picking it all afternoon.

NATHAN

Yeah, thanks mate.

IRENE

Noah.

GRACE

We be off then.

NATHAN

Yeah, thanks. Right.

IRENE

Have a good time you guys.

NATHAN

See ya.

GRACE and NATHAN both leave.

NOAH

Man, she’s really got him under the thumb, you know, taking him out, telling him that he looks good.

IRENE

Will you two lay off. He’s embarrassed enough as it is, ratbag.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

COLLEEN is cleaning a table. NATHAN and GRACE walk in. COLLEEN runs into the kitchen.

GRACE

One of the good things about jobs that pay so little it’s not that hard to find a job when you want to go travelling.

GRACE sits down.

GRACE

You all right?

NATHAN

Sorry, just trying to get your chair, that’s all.

GRACE

Oh right.

NATHAN

It’s been a while. You get out of the habit of things.

GRACE

Not a habit most of the guys I know ever get into.

COLLEEN, LEAH and ALEX are in the kitchen.

LEAH

Well you and VJ can head of home if you like.

ALEX

No hurry.

LEAH

Well I thought you’d want to go home and ring up Kelli.

ALEX

Did you now?

LEAH

Aw, you usually do.

ALEX

Leah.

LEAH

Well what’s the story with you two anyway?

ALEX

What do you mean what’s the story? There’s no story at all.

LEAH

You told her that VJ is your son.

ALEX

No I didn’t.

LEAH

Right, she just made that up herself did she?

ALEX

Yes, as a matter of fact she made it up herself. She just assumed that I was VJ’s dad.

LEAH

So why didn’t you tell her the truth? Alexi.

ALEX

Because of the way she looked at me. She respected me, she saw me as this single dad raising this kid on my own and she just respected me for it. Leah, look, it’s been a while since someone looked at me like that.

LEAH

Hey, that is not true, what about me, huh? I mean you know how much I appreciate you look after VJ with me.

ALEX

Yes, I know, but you’re just my sister.

LEAH

Oh, thank you very much. Hey look, I think it is really nice that Kelli likes you and everything like that, but if I was you I’d be more worried about how she’s going to look at you after she finds out the truth.

LEAH walks over to COLLEEN carrying plates.

LEAH

Table six. Colleen.

COLLEEN

Oh, can’t Alex do it?

LEAH

No, he’s heading off home. Come on.

COLLEEN

Righto then.

COLLEEN leaves.

ALEX

What’s wrong with her?

LEAH

Who knows?

THE BEACH HOUSE

IRENE is outside NICK’S room.

IRENE

You decent darl? Nick.

NICK is trying to get into bed. IRENE rushes in.

IRENE

Love.

NICK

I can do it.

The phone rings.

IRENE
I know you can do it Nick, but please be careful. Em, there’s a hot chocolate for you love. I’ll come and get the mug when you’re done all right.

HAYLEY runs in with the phone.

HAYLEY

Nick, it’s Will.

NICK

Aw, yes. G’day mate.

Nah, nah, it’s fine. They said it would be fine once the swelling goes down.

Yeah, man.

HAYLEY and IRENE leave the room.

IRENE

God, will you just listen to him.

HAYLEY

Yeah, he’s just trying not to worry Will.

IRENE

Love, he’s building up his hopes again.

HAYLEY

At least he’s being positive.

IRENE

What happens if the swelling goes down and it’s bad news Hayley? He’s going to fall in a heap again and this time who knows if he’ll get over it.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

JADE, RHYS and SHELLEY are in the living room.

JADE

It’s not me who needs help. It’s Nick and that’s what I was trying to do if you hadn’t made me come home.

SHELLEY

Nobodies pretending that Nick doesn’t need help Jade.

RHYS

What your mum’s saying is that you’ve got to leave Nick to people who know what they’re doing.

JADE

So what? I’m supposed to walk away. He’s my boyfriend.

SHELLEY

No, of course not, but you went through a pretty terrible experience your self. You.

JADE

Need to see a councillor. Well mum, you’re so predictable, but I told you already I’m fine.

RHYS

Come on Jade, you’ve got to at least concede that your mum does know a little bit about these thing, eh.

JADE

How about you can see, I know what I am feeling.

SHELLEY

Jade, you are having nightmares, you are stressed, you’re on the verge of tedious constantly, so no I am sorry, but I don’t think you’re fine nor do I think you know what you’re feeling or you’re deliberately trying to ignore it. Sweetheart, your dad and I can’t just stand by and pretend nothing’s happening. I have to make an appointment for you to see someone.

JADE

You can make all the appointments you like, but I’m not going.

JADE leaves.

RHYS

Leave it Shell, you know you won’t get through to her when she’s in a mood like this.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

FLYNN and LEAH are there.

FLYNN

Poor Sal, I mean I hated telling her over the phone. She’s supposed be away having a great time with the kids. Yeah, I thought she should know.

LEAH

So how she take it?

FLYNN

She’s devastated.

LEAH

Aw dear.

FLYNN

I mean, if she wasn’t worried enough about maybe losing her job next year and actually having to move.

LEAH

Yeah, but they are amalgamating the schools right, that means the same number of students, therefore the same number of teachers.

FLYNN

What it’s going to mean is more students in each class.

LEAH

Ah no. I can’t believe this. I was so looking forward taking VJ to Summer Bay High.

FLYNN

It’s going to completely change this town. I mean, if you’ve got kids why are you going to come here.

NATHAN and GRACE sit at a table.

GRACE

I think that if you live in Australia, Unoroo and The Adas it’s just one of those things you have to do, you know? Two of them actually. I mean you look at them on the map, they look pretty close together, actually about 450K’s apart.

NATHAN

Yeah, be about that I guess.

GRACE

You been up that way?

NATHAN

Eh, no, no, not really. I just looked at maps at school. I haven’t really been anywhere. I haven’t really had the chance the last ten years.

GRACE

Oh, guess not.

COLLEEN comes to the table with the bill. She runs back into the kitchen.

NATHAN

Excuse me, I’ll be right back.

NATHAN goes into the kitchen. COLLEEN uses her pad as a fan.

NATHAN

Colleen, I want a word with you.

COLLEEN

Hello, I didn’t see you there.

NATHAN

Yeah, cut the niceties Colleen. About the television interview.

COLLEEN

Ah yes, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You see it wasn’t my fault, I was telling them what a nice boy you are, helpful, hard working.

NATHAN

Yep.

COLLEEN

And that television interview.

NATHAN

OK.

COLLEEN

And that devilling self she is.

NATHAN

Right.

COLLEEN

She took my words.

NATHAN

Right.

COLLEEN

And twisted them. I could hardly recognise.

NATHAN

It’s all right.

COLLEEN

I could have crawled under a rock when I saw it, ay.

NATHAN

It’s all right. I know how these people work.

COLLEEN

Aw right.

NATHAN

Right, so that’s that. I don’t want to see anymore of this nonsense comprende.

NATHAN leaves the kitchen and joins GRACE at the table.

NATHAN

Sorry about that.

GRACE

Everything all right?

NATHAN

Yeah, just sorting out a little bit of business, that’s all.

NATHAN goes to take the bill. GRACE grabs it off him.

GRACE

Excuse me.

NATHAN

Well the guy usually pays.

GRACE

Oh gee. You haven’t done this in while have you? Nobody thinks like that anymore. I asked you out because I wanted to thank you for helping me with the car therefore I pay, end of story.

NATHAN

Righto. Wasn’t bad was it?

GRACE

Was as good as the company I’d say. Should we go?

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

DANI, BRODIE, SHELLEY and RHYS are all there.

DANI

What did you get for number six?

BRODIE

I didn’t.

DANI

Nut, me neither.

RHYS

Don Fisher had a bit of a point, girls. You’ve got to start getting back in the groove. I mean, I know it was a shocker of a decision, but you can’t let it stuff up your whole year.

DANI

Yeah, it’s not that easy dad.

BRODIE

It just doesn’t make sense. I mean, I’m not just saying that because I’m from Summer Bay, I’ve been looking into it.

RHYS

Yeah, I know you have and that’s my point. This is your HSE year; you’ve got to get focused on that again.

BRODIE

But even Ethan had to admit that it makes more sense to keep Summer Bay open.

RHYS

Yeah, well you’re dealing with a government department Brodie. You can’t expect any sense from them.

SHELLEY

I am going to see Flynn.

RHYS

Mmm.

SHELLEY

I want to ask him if he’ll have a talk to Jade.

RHYS

Well it’s not a case of whether if, you know, he’ll talk to her. I mean you know what she said.

SHELLEY

Yes, fine, I know, it’s probably a waste of time, but I’d rather do that than do nothing.

A ROAD

GRACE and NATHAN are in the car.

GRACE

Here we are.

NATHAN

Here we are.

GRACE

Thanks for tonight; I had a really nice time.

NATHAN

Yeah, so did I.

NATHAN goes to kiss GRACE.

GRACE

Um, Nathan, Nathan.

NATHAN

I thought you wanted to do.

GRACE

What? I said I had a nice time. It’s not an invitation to jump me, like.

NATHAN

Uh god.

GRACE

Look it’s OK.

NATHAN

No sorry, I’m going to go.

GRACE

Nathan.

NATHAN gets out the car.

THE CARAVAN PARK

JADE walks through the park. FLYNN runs behind her.

FLYNN

Jade.

JADE

Yeah.

FLYNN

I was wondering if you might want to have a chat.

JADE

What about?

FLYNN

Uh, you know, about how you are feeling about things right now.

JADE

My mum’s been talking to you hasn’t she?

FLYNN

It’s just that I have caught up with most of the other kids on the bus and you and I haven’t really like linked up yet.

JADE

Yes, she’s been talking to you.

FLYNN

She’s concerned about you.

JADE

She’s the one who needs counselling OK. Look I’m sorry, I know you’re just trying to help, but I’m really in a hurry.

JADE leaves and FLYNN walks up behind FLYNN.

BRODIE

Flynn.

FLYNN

Yeah.

BRODIE

I don’t mind talking to you if you’ve got a minute.

FLYNN

Ah yeah, of course.

THE BEACH HOUSE

NATHAN and IRENE are there.

NATHAN

There’s no use talking it about it. I stuffed up big time mum. I don’t think she’s going to be in a hurry to come back, do you?

IRENE

Oh love, I’m sorry.

NATHAN

No, it’s no big deal.

JADE walks in.

JADE

Hi everyone.

NATHAN

Got to go.

NATHAN leaves.

IRENE

See ya darl.

JADE walks up to NICK

JADE

Sorry I’m late. Mum’s still hassling me about the counselling.

NICK

Yeah, we’re going out for a while.

IRENE

OK.

JADE

I don’t think we’ll get the wheelchair out past the motorbike.

NICK

Uh, there’s too many steps out the front.

IRENE

Right, I’m going to move the damm thing. Hayley, you tell Noah,  I want that damm bike moved. He just completely ignored me yesterday.

HAYLEY comes out the toilet and both she and IRENE go outside.

HAYLEY

No, he didn’t ignore you Irene.

IRENE

No, no he didn’t ignore me; he just didn’t do what I asked him to do.

The bike falls over.

HAYLEY

Irene, what have you done?

REEFTON LAKES HIGH

ETHAN sits outside. PATRICIA comes down some stairs.

PATRICIA

Aw, there you are. Wondered where you’d got to. You left the house very early this morning?

ETHAN

Yes.

PATRICIA

Oh, well that’s not very much of an answer.

ETHAN

Yeah, well wasn’t really much of a question was it?  You said you left the house very early and I said yes.

PATRICIA

If you’re in one of your silly moods I haven’t got the patience Ethan.

ETHAN

Well I need sometime to think about what I found on your laptop.

PATRICIA

I beg your pardon.

ETHAN

Yeah, you should probably learn to close your files down mum especially that one.

PATRICIA

You had no right to read my personal files.

ETHAN

Personal, it was addressed to the department.

PATRICIA

You had no right to read it

ETHAN

Where’s the real one mum, the one you and Fisher worked on, the one he thinks you sent to the department.

PATRICIA

I refuse to discuss this with you.

ETHAN

I’m not surprised. I just don’t get you mum, you can be the nicest woman in the world, but at times you’re just a cow.

PATRICIA

Ethan.

ETHAN

It’s true.

PATRICIA

My responsibility is to this school and the pupils who attend it

ETHAN

There’s only one person you think about when you wrote that and you know it.

ETHAN leaves.

THE CARAVAN PARK

BRODIE and FLYNN sit at a table.

FLYNN

Brodie, I’ve known you for a little while now. You are not a violent person.

BRODIE

You didn’t see me Flynn, I just went for her.

FLYNN

Yeah, it does sound like you had a bit of provocation. I mean, you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t lose your temper occasionally. You know what I’d be asking myself, why now? What’s different this time?

BRODIE

I suppose it was the necklace. I thought I’d lost, I’d really thought that I’d lost it.

FLYNN

Yeah, you’re grieving for someone you loved very much and that kind of stuff doesn’t go very quickly. Sometimes it never does.

BRODIE

I miss him so much.

FLYNN

That necklace was your link to him.

BRODIE

Yeah, and now it’s broken.

FLYNN

OK, this is where I tell you justifies violence.

BRODIE

No it doesn’t.

FLYNN

Right, but I’d be a hypocrite if I blamed you for that. I guess it’s just called being human.

BRODIE

I just miss him so much.

BRODIE starts to cry.

FLYNN

Yeah, I know you do.

THE BEACH HOUSE

NOAH picks up his bike. HAYLEY, JADE and IRENE watch him.

NOAH

Oh man. No.

IRENE

Boys and their toys.

HAYLEY

Irene.

IRENE

Well look, it’s not the end of the world is it? It’s a broken mirror.

HAYLEY

Yeah, and the rest.

NOAH

I told you it’d be gone today.

IRENE

Are you insinuating that I did this deliberately?

NOAH

No, of course not. And the paintwork, aw, come on.

Inside NICK tries to get a CD off a shelf.

JADE

Nick.

NICK falls out his wheelchair. JADE runs over to him.

JADE

Nick.

IRENE, HAYLEY and NOAH run in.

IRENE

Nick, oh god, oh love.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

DANI sits outside at a table reading a book. BRODIE walks up to her.

DANI

Hey, have you had lunch? I went crazy with sandwich making. It’s yours if you want it.

BRODIE

Aw, thank you, but no.

DANI

You know dad’s kind of right. I know it seems really, really crazy, but we kind of do have to start thinking about the HSE.

BRODIE

Yeah, I actually wasn’t even thinking of that. I just had a talk with Flynn about what happened with Kirsty.

DANI

But she’s the one who should be talking, Brodie.

ETHAN runs in.

ETHAN

Hey girls

BRODIE

Hey.

DANI

Hey.

ETHAN

Look, I just came by to tell you that you can’t give up. You’ve got to keep on fighting for you school.

DANI

Well there’s not much point is there. You know, they’ve made up their minds, they’re not going to change them.

ETHAN

No, it’s not the point, it’s wrong and you’ve got to fight it. You can’t let people get away with this kind of stuff.

THE BEACH HOUSE

IRENE sits at the table. GRACE comes out of NICK’S room. HAYLEY is also there.

IRENE

Love, how is he?

GRACE

I don’t think he’s done any damage.

IRENE

Oh.

GRACE

But I’m going to ring Sheridan and ask him to check on him just to be sure. I put him to bed and he should stay there till he eats tomorrow.

NATHAN walks in.

NATHAN

What’s wrong?

IRENE

Aw, Nick’s taken a fall out of his wheelchair.

NATHAN

Oh no, you’re kidding me.

GRACE

Look, like I said there is no real damage.

IRENE

Eh, thanks for that Grace. Can I get you a coffee or something?

GRACE

No thanks Irene. I’ve got to get back.

IRENE

Well like I say, thank you so much, I appreciate you coming over.

IRENE and HAYLEY leave.

GRACE

I had a really nice time last night Nathan, I hope we can do it again sometime.

NATHAN

Really, yeah, I’d like that.

GRACE

Good. Call me.

NATHAN

Righto!

GRACE leaves. NICK and JADE are on NICK’S bed.

JADE

I better get going.

NICK

No.

JADE

Well I have to or mum will be on my back again.

NICK

Jade, please. Just stay with me bit longer. I really need you.

They cuddle.