03x03 - Episode 3

Episode transcripts for the Australian TV show "Love Child". Aired: February 2014 to July 2017.*
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"Love Child" is an Australian television drama series that follows the lives of staff and residents at the fictional Kings Cross Hospital and Stanton House in Sydney in 1969.
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03x03 - Episode 3

Post by bunniefuu »

Right, after your meeting with the
lawyer, you need to pick up James.

And he'll be at the
oasis, not the creche.

Yep, got it.

And don't forget to
pick up your new suit.

- I'll never wear it.
- You will.

To the court and to the party.

- OK.
- Then you can throw it away.

Morning.

G'day.

Good to see you out.

Thanks. I'll see you later.

- Yeah, bye.
- It's a nice car.

Yeah, thanks.

He looks well.

I'm sure he'd be a lot better if he knew

you were going to stand
up for him in court.

I'm doing some locum work at
Tarramarra Girls' Home this morning.

I'm sure that'll be fine.

Do you have a minute?

It's been a year today
since baby Grace d*ed.

I know.

Can you believe it's been that long?

Eva, why are you here?

I want another baby.

And I want you to help me have it.

- Ovazerone.
- It's a new fertility drug.

It's already helped lots of women

- have babies.
- Yes, I know what it is.

You want me to administer it.

Yes.

And who do you imagine
would father this baby?

I'm a bit old to start
picking up men in bars and

you're still legally my husband, so...

Eva, the divorce is all but finalised.

It doesn't have to be. We could pretend.

We got quite good at that.

Do you... do you know
what you're asking?

Is the prospect really so awful?

On the other hand, you say no,

and we proceed with the divorce.

And I make sure to publically name
your Dr Millar as co-respondent.

The only woman under you.

Sleeping her way to the top.

Eva,

this is not like you.

Do you really want to do that to her?

All I want is a baby.

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ You think that I don't feel love ♪

♪ What I feel for you is real love ♪

♪ In others' eyes I
see reflected a hurt, ♪

♪ Scorned, rejected ♪
♪ Love Child ♪

♪ Different from the rest... ♪

So, have you told Simon
that you're not going?

Not yet. Why should I care
about the chairman retiring?

I don't even know what he looks like.

I think it's lovely
that he wants to take you

to such an important party.

He wants to make it
look like we're a couple.

At least he didn't dump you when you
turned down his marriage proposal.

You know, most blokes, they would have.

I'll be a total fish out of water.

No, rubbish.

What about all those swanky parties
you've been to at your mum's house?

I've been to one party there.

And work parties are different.

Well, I think that you should go.

And I can do a party make-up for you.

Here, you can choose your colours.

How much money do you make
selling make-up for this mob?

Well, after the initial
outlay, I am assured

that there is good money to be made.

Ivory shimmer.

Porcelain glow.

Miss Allure is made in America
so I'm sure that there's

plenty of other colours.

Because of the Negros?

The women with darker skin tones.

Joan's baby's well-behaved, isn't he?

Yes.

♪ Hey, that's what Simon said ♪

♪ What Simon said... ♪

Have you thought about the woman
you'd most like to blossom into?

- Jane Fonda.
- That's an excellent choice,

because I have it on very
good authority that Jane Fonda

never ever wears anything but
Miss Allure Coffee Kiss lipstick.

What about Diana Ross?

Yes, I heard that she wears that, too.

And when we play pass-the-parcel later,

Miss Allure Coffee Kiss lipstick,

enriched with Miss Allure
moisturising almond oil

might just be hidden
in the last tiny parcel.

What do we think of that, girls?

I'm not buying any. I'm seriously broke.

And I'm seriously never
gonna look like Jane Fonda.

Just lightly powder
the lips first, like so.

Powder, powder, powder.

If they mention morning sickness,
they're probably just trying

to get out of chores so take
it all with a grain of salt.

Got it.

Every trick in the book, they'll try it.

Especially with someone new.

I'll be on my guard.

Good girl.

You look a bit sore down there.

How did that happen?

I'm finished now. You can
put your knickers back on.

Maggie, if there's
something you need help with,

if someone's hurting you,

you can talk to me about it.

None of these girls is virtuous.

She was obviously
involved in sexual activity

before she even came back here.

It's more recent than that.

And as I said, they'll
tell you anything.

She didn't tell me anything.

And from my observations,
Maggie's not the only girl

here who's been interfered with.

Well, if you're correct,
that's truly shocking.

We take the care of the girls
here very, very seriously.

What will you do about it?

Well, I'll investigate, naturally.

- The police should be called.
- Yes, of course they should. Most definitely.

Are you saying he's
the father of her child?

- The superintendent?
- No, she hasn't been there

- long enough for that yet.
- So?

- What are you gonna do about it?
- Obviously,

I'm going to try and stop it, but...

I'm not sure how yet.

Did she ask about me?

No.

But...

she wouldn't.

To Maggie, I'm just another
grown-up who can't be trusted.

Sometimes full dilatation
can take a while.

How long would you say
Mrs Garner has, Dr Millar?

Doctor?

Sorry.

Another couple of hours, Mrs Garner.

He's not quite ready for us yet.

Or she.

You're with us, Dr Millar?

- Yes, sorry.
- Good.

- What's your opinion on Ovazerone?
- What?

- The fertility drug.
- I know what it is.

For Mrs Garner?

What?

As you were.

What have you done to your face?

Oh, Miss Allure.

That's debatable.

Ovazerone is for ovarian dysfunction.

That's not my problem and you know it.

- That's not why I asked.
- Even if it was,

I wouldn't discuss it with you.

There are dangers with Ovazerone.

There've been no longitudinal
studies of other possible effects.

I can't guarantee its safety.

I'm not asking for guarantees,
Patrick. Just a chance.

Do you really want to
put yourself through that?

If you're dodging because I
want you to be the father...

I wouldn't expect you to be involved.

You could be the father in name only.

I'm more concerned about your welfare.

It's my body.

I can't do it.

I'm sorry.

You're not sorry.

You ruined my life once,
now you're doing it again.

I know you don't care about me.

But you obviously don't care
about Joan Millar either.

I've been telling people for
years how dreadful Tarramarra is.

Even if he's not doing it himself,

at the very least he's
turning a blind eye.

- We can't just do nothing.
- We?

Have you got proof?

No. But I'm absolutely sure of it.

If Stanton House had remained open,

if people like you had supported
it instead of railing against it,

we wouldn't even be
having this conversation.

Stanton House was a baby factory

where vulnerable young
girls were coerced

into giving up their children.

They were never interfered with.

Many of the senior doctors
have already signed my petition.

If I can get the chairman's
support before he resigns,

it will be reopened

and your opinion will be even
less relevant than it is now.

You know the welfare system inside out.

You can help the Tarramarra
Girls' Home. I know you could.

Such certainty.

At least tell me who to speak to.

You asking me for help.

Never thought I'd see the day.

Mrs McNaughton.

DOCTOR: I have patients to attend to.

(LAUGHTER)

Bowditch.

Sir.

- About the party.
- Lamb soup, I know.

No, the chairman has
vetted the guest list.

He's disallowed your partner.

What? He can't do that. Can he?

It's his party.

You were right. It's gonna be boring.

- I'm gonna give it a miss.
- But you wanna go.

Small talk with people you
see every day. Who needs it?

Are you not going
because I don't wanna go?

- No.
- You said it would be fun.

Won't be.

Alright, I get what this is about.

I'll go. OK?

But we're just going as friends.

I don't want you introducing
me like we're a couple.

Martha, you can't.

- Yes, I can. It won't k*ll me.
- No, the chairman.

- He wants a smaller guest list.
- No partners?

No partners like me.

Didn't give an exact reason.

- Right, you're going.
- No, not without you.

That's right. I'm coming with you.

- I thought you said you hated the idea.
- That was before I wasn't allowed.

Joan,

have you decided what to do?

Shirley, I'm working on it. OK?

I've been to the cops. They
couldn't have been less interested.

What did you expect?

You're giving them a second-hand
story and no evidence.

- You said you'd do something.
- And I will.

- I'll go there myself and drag...
- You can't do that.

She's a ward of the state.
It'd be kidnapping. Shirl.

I'll get Maggie out.

I promise.

How?

You'll support the
reopening of Stanton House?

If you'll help me get the pregnant girls

out of Tarramarra Girls' Home, yes.

I can get the chairman of the
board to reopen Stanton House.

And what makes you think
you've got a better chance

- of doing that than I do?
- Because I'm a doctor

and you're a nurse and
whether it's fair or not,

he has more respect for me.

He also knows you bribed
your way on to the board.

Didn't know that was common knowledge?

I'll think about it.

- I'm offering you Stanton House.
- I said I'll think about it.

This way.

How are we going to do this?

Just let me do the talking.

Superintendent?

Norman, isn't it?

Matron Frances Bolton. How do you do?

And you already know
my colleague, Dr Millar.

- Mm-hmm.
- When I discovered Dr Millar

was doing locum work here I thought,

"Well, what a lovely opportunity to
catch up with an old acquaintance."

- Didn't I?
- Yes, you did.

Er, are we acquaintances?

We worked at the Royal
Children's Home together.

Briefly. In ' .

I don't remember. Sorry.

I followed your career with interest.

Is there somewhere we
can get a cup of tea?

They need the discipline. I do
what I can for them, but you know?

Silk purse, sow's ear?

Yes.

Still, there's a limit to what
you can expect to achieve in...

how long have you been here?

- months?
- Yes. Yeah, about that.

You've worked in a few places in
the last few years, haven't you?

Why are you here?

To help you.

I don't suppose you've
found the culprit?

It's not easy, I know.

Indeed not. I spoke to the police
and there's a report in place.

Excellent.

I don't suppose you have a copy handy?

No? Never mind. Another time.

Assuming you're still here.

Because I spoke to the
Director General's office

and it seems you've been moved
on quite a number of times.

You've developed quite
a reputation for it.

Am I right?

One goes where the jobs are.

Or one retires with a degree of
dignity before the past catches up.

Do you know the Director General
of the Welfare Department?

No.

He and I were in Bergenville together,

.

Lovely man.

Great integrity.

What is it you want?

An arrangement.

You didn't tell me you worked with him.

I didn't.

His employment history
is on public record.

Was the Director General
in Bergenville with you?

No idea.

We were both there at some point
and that's all that matters now.

You're a smooth liar.

And you owe me the chairman's signature.

- I look pretty.
- You are pretty!

Oh, I've got something.

I was saving this for my first date

with Mr Right but I've
not met him yet, so...

Oh, Patty!

So, you go to that party
and you show them all. OK?

Can't cry. It'll run.

- No, that's waterproof.
- Oh.

- Special delivery.
- Oh, hello, James.

Here you go, buddy.

Wow, he likes you.

Yeah. I like him. We're old friends.

I can see that.

It's a great thing you've
done with this place.

- Oh, thank you.
- I'd better head off.

- The party won't go late.
- OK.

He's nice, isn't he?

Yeah.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

- Congratulations.
- Thank you.

Look, the reason I mentioned Ovazerone

was because of my wife, not you.

That's your business.
Nothing to do with me.

Actually, it has a lot to do with you.

- What do you think?
- It looks good on you.

I know you don't want it but
things like that matter to a jury.

I already got that talk from the lawyer.

Do you like him?

Ah, who cares? As
long as he gets me off.

I already tried to get out
of him who was paying but

he was vague and said we could
talk about costs after the trial.

- Can you...
- Come here.

Yeah? OK.

- Useless.
- I know.

You look beautiful.

There's something I need to tell you.

- Am I gonna like it?
- No.

But I want you to hear it from me

before you hear it from someone else.

Or read about it in the paper.

Before I met you, I had an
affair with Patrick McNaughton.

And it shouldn't have
happened but it did...

and now his wife is going
to name me publically

as co-respondent in their divorce.

It was brief.

Brief but serious?

Serious enough.

So, did your boss hire my
mystery lawyer as a favour to you?

He hasn't said, but...

I think so.

He still loves you, then.

His idea of love is not very healthy.

I didn't ask if it was healthy.

Yes.

Must make for an interesting
work environment, then.

- It's strictly professional nowadays.
- Uh-huh.

- Jim, it's true. I'm tell you the truth.
- Any other secrets you wanna tell me

before we go to his
house for a party, Joan?

He was in the room
when Greg Matheson d*ed.

Your boss can get me
off a manslaughter charge

- if he's willing to tell the truth.
- There's no guarantee.

- Joan, it wouldn't hurt, though, would it?
- No.

- Oh, look, I don't think you should come.
- Why not?

Because...

I'm looking forward to going
now more than I thought.

Jim, I have one opportunity to help

Shirley's daughter before my
reputation gets publically trashed

and that is with the chairman of
the hospital board at this party.

I don't want to be looking
over my shoulder all night

at you and Patrick McNaughton.

He's a manipulative bastard, isn't he?

Jim, I have to go.

You don't.

Please.

Just go straight in,

won't spend much time,
then we'll get straight out.

We don't even need to
stay there for that long.

(LIVELY CHATTER)

Eric, Tom,

this is my friend, Martha.

- How you guys been?
- Excuse us.

Bowditch, what did I tell you?

It's a matter of principal, sir.

Just stay out of the
chairman's way, OK? OK.

Glad you could make it.

Where's the bloke that
doesn't want me here?

Er, he's just...

Look, as soon as you've had enough,

we can leave. Just say the word.

What a big house for one person.

- Where's your husband?
- At home. I thought it was safer.

He might have k*lled you.

You told him.

Yes. I told him everything.

Cheers again.

I'll give it some thought.

Thank you, Chairman.

- Excuse me.
- Mm.

The chairman looks well-oiled already.

Keep it up to him.

May be our last best hope.

He's impervious to my charms.

That's odd, isn't it?

You owe me.

- Lovely afternoon, Brian.
- Dr Millar.

Oh, Joan, we're not at work now.

Oh, I don't know. One way or another

these functions are
always work, aren't they?

Only if you let them be.

Here's to you. A wonderful career.

I signed Matron Bolton's
petition earlier.

About Stanton House. Did you see it?

Oh, the woman won't shut up about it.

Yes, persistence may
be her best quality.

But, Stanton House was a
very useful institution.

Reopening it would be a great legacy.

Those girls don't need Stanton House.

What they need is to
keep their legs crossed.

♪ Standing by myself ♪

♪ Never had the nerve to take a chance ♪

♪ So let the little girl dance... ♪

- I wanna punch him in the face.
- Please don't do that.

Why don't we go and meet
some of the other blokes, eh?

I thought you were in favour of
closing, and I'm sure you were.

Well, we all change our
minds about some things.

Ah, yes. A woman's prerogative.

- Who the hell was Stanton anyhow?
- I don't know.

I've been at the place
for donkey's years,

haven't had so much as
a bed pan named after me.


Go and mingle. You don't
have to stay here with me.

I think it's a good idea if I do.

He's agreed.

In exchange for a brass plaque
with his name on it out the front.

It'll need to be as big as his ego.

Good luck finding that much brass.

I... I don't think this is a good idea.

- Yes, it is.
- Martha!

Sir,

I just wanted to say congratulations.

I thought I saw you here.

- She yours?
- OK, come on. Let's go.

Your retirement couldn't
come a moment too soon.

She's an uppity little thing, isn't she?

Not bad looking either, considering.

- You should apologise for that, sir.
- Why?

It's a compliment.

She wouldn't get too many of those.

(GRUNTING)

♪ ... Never had the
nerve to take a chance ♪

♪ Let the little girl dance ♪

♪ Let the little girl dance. ♪

Did you see his face when he fell in?

He thought he was gonna drown!

What a dickhead.

I thought you were both gonna drown.

Nah, he was like a big drunk whale.

- What'll happen?
- I don't know.

I'll probably get the boot.

It's my fault. I
shouldn't have made you go.

Nah, he deserved it.

Clown.

(LAUGHS)

- It's pretty funny.
- Yeah.

Do you wanna come in?

- Oh, I'm pretty wet.
- I know.

Ah, OK.

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, ♪

♪ Who do you think you are? ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, ♪

♪ You're never gonna get my love... ♪

It's nice in here. You've done it well.

Thanks.

Oh,

Mum used to have a lamp just like that.

- Uh-huh?
- Yeah.

Except the dog ran
through the house one day

and smashed it.

She was so angry. Mum, not the dog.

- Simon.
- Yeah?

I think you need to stop talking...

- OK.
- ... and kiss me.

♪ Now I know all the
girls I've seen you with ♪

♪ I know you broke their
hearts one after the other now ♪

♪ Bit by bit ♪

♪ You made 'em cry ♪

♪ Many poor girls cry ♪

♪ When they tried to keep you happy ♪

♪ They just tried to
keep you satisfied ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, ♪

♪ Tell me, tell me, who
do you think you are? ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, ♪

♪ You're never gonna get my love ♪

♪ I'd rather give my
love to a poor guy ♪

♪ That has a love that's true ♪

♪ Than to be fooled around
and get hurt by you ♪

♪ 'Cause when I give my
love, I want love in return ♪

♪ Now I know this is a lesson,
Mr Bigstuff, you haven't learned ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, tell me, tell
me, who do you think you are? ♪

♪ Mr Bigstuff, ♪

♪ You're never gonna
get my love... ♪

What's she not telling me?

Good set.

Did you think? I
thought I was a bit off.

These flowers...

Mm, from Chris.

See? He hasn't forgotten you after all.

Leon knows you're pregnant.

He picked it.

How?

And the vomiting.

He's a dead sh*t but he's not a fool.

I can't afford to lose this job, Shirl.

I know. I've talked him into letting
you stay until you start to show.

Mumsy isn't sexy, apparently.

How long do you think that'll be?

Not long.

You might be lucky.

I didn't show till more than six months.

Yes, you did. You showed at five months.

I meant the first time.

years ago

I had a little girl

at Stanton House.

Did your parents send you there?

No, they kicked me out
when I got pregnant.

Stanton House was a bit
of a godsend in the end.

That's why I can't
hate matron like you do.

She saved me.

And she stole your baby.

No, she didn't.

I gave her up.

Do you wish you hadn't?

No.

I don't know what would've
happened if I'd kept her.

But it wouldn't have been good.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Maggie, are you alright?

I can't stay here anymore.

You're gonna run again.

Go back to sleep.

Wow.

I know.

If I'd known all I had to do
was push an idiot into a pool,

I would've done it ages ago.

Simon,

will you marry me?

Think I've already asked you that.

And I said no.

Now I'm asking you.

I'll be an unemployed layabout tomorrow.

I think I can find a
way of living with that.

(LAUGHTER)

(GURGLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

I wondered where you'd got to.

How'd you go?

Good.

Got what I wanted.

Or what matron wanted.

Mission accomplished, then.

Think so.

Now I just wait for my
name to appear in the paper.

What about you? What did you get up to?

Nothing much, just went dancing.

Me and my little mate.

Good party last night?

Er, yes.

Yes, it was.

Shame you couldn't make it.

Yeah, it's a big shame.

You and I could've
had a good old chinwag.

Mm.

There's so much to talk about.

See, I hear you're not so keen

to stick your hand up
and say what you know.

No.

I doubt you'll need my testimony anyway.

Look who's an optimist.

See, the good thing is,

if I need you at some point,

I know where to find you.

Shirley doesn't look old enough
to have a -year-old daughter.

Maybe she's been using
Miss Allure all this time.

It's so beautiful.

He said he's been carrying
it around in his pocket

- the whole time after I said no.
- Oh, really?

Have you showed your mum?

- This morning. She cried.
- Oh.

You're right.

I am lucky.

You will be, too.

Actually, I did meet
someone I like... a lot.

But he's taken so I'm just
trying not to think about him.

Go on, show me again.

(APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS)

Maggie, we're leaving.

There's a bus coming to
take us to a new place.

Just the pregnant girls.

- What place?
- I don't know.

Superintendent just
said to get our things.

Come on, get your stuff.

- I'll see you down the courtyard.
- OK.

Not you.

(FRANTIC MUSIC)

Where's Maggie?

There's one girl
missing. Maggie Prentice?

I'm sending her to Hay
Correctional Centre.

She's completely unmanageable.

It was decided she was to come with us.

- What's one girl either way?
- You get Maggie Prentice out here now.

She's in the dorm, Miss.

(COUGHING)

Maggie!

What's happened to her?

- No idea.
- Maggie?

Maggie, what have you had?

- Call an ambulance.
- She's faking it. She's a liar.

Call an ambulance.

(GROANING)

Maggie,

you're in a hospital ward.

It's alright.

Go back to sleep.

We've sedated her and
pumped her stomach.

You can sit with her, if you like.

No.

She's going to be alright.

If you're here to see Dr
McNaughton, he's not...

No, I... Actually I was looking for you.

Did Patrick tell you about my offer?

He told me about your thr*at.

In return for my discretion,

I asked him to give me fertility
treatment to help me have a baby

but he turned me down.

I'm sure you know,
gynaecology is a boys' club,

so there's no point in asking
any of his colleagues for help.

You don't know till you try.

Yes, I do.

They're thick as thieves all over
the country. They all know Patrick.

They won't do it.

Will you?

I want him out of here.

What was his name?

Bowditch. Simon Bowditch.

Out so fast he won't know what hit him.

It was bloody disgraceful behaviour.

- I can't apologise enough.
- So I can leave that to you?

Absolutely.

Sir.

Dr Bowditch.

Sorry about what happened. I...

know it's probably the end of the road.

Actually, the chairman was so drunk,

all he remembers is
falling into the pool.

He's already apologised to me so, er...

Can be the end of the road,

- I don't mind.
- No, no, still a long road ahead.

Well, if I remind him it was me,

- he might remember.
- Dr Millar.

I, erm,

just had a call from my wife.

I've no idea where
it's come from but, er,

she's changed her mind about
publicising the divorce.

That's...

good news.

She didn't say why.

We can only assume she had
some att*ck of conscience.

Well, as long as she's changed her mind,

that's all that matters.

Contrary to what you may be thinking,

this is not a holiday camp.

You will rise at
: am, breakfast at am,

laundry and cleaning duties
will commence at : am sharp.

Lunch at pm, dinner at pm.

Barbara, Cynthia, Nancy, Julie, Linda,

you're in the first floor dormitory.

The rest of you, second
floor. Any questions?

Can Maggie be with me?

Yes. Now, upstairs.

Linen is in the cupboard.

I expect the beds to
be made in five minutes.

If they are not made properly,
you will make them again.

Go.

Come, come, come.
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