01x01 - Simone

[bunniefuu]

[CICADAS CHIRP]

[VEHICLES PASS IN DISTANCE]

[AIRY, UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[FLICKING ECHOES]

[WOMAN] What do you remember?

[DELICATE PIANO MUSIC]

[FROGS CROAK]

The past narrows like a road,

winding through acres of darkness.

[PEOPLE LAUGH]

Your mind can only
hold a fraction of it.

Just random spotlit
seconds across the years.

So much disappears.

[LOW OMINOUS MUSIC]

Tess?

Swallowed whole.

- Tess.
- But that night...

[CONTEMPLATIVE PIANO MUSIC]

... that one night remains...

[BIRDS CALL]

... branded on your brain like fire.

And the pain and its scars never fade.

Simone?

- Happy?
- Yeah, I think so.

Is anyone ever happy exposing five
years of blood and toil to the world?

Well, we love it and I'm
thrilled to be publishing it.

And we are hoping to make
a splash at Frankfurt.

Debut female fic is red-hot right now.

[LAUGHS] We're not
chilli peppers, Andrew.

- It's just that one signature.
- This is Ruth.

She's also a big fan.

She just spotted a page
you missed on your contract.

- I loved your book.
- Thank you.

Oh, God, yeah, sorry. I-I
meant to get back to this.

'Warranty and indemnity'.
I didn't quite get it.

The warranty is just a promise
that your work isn't plagiarised

- or previously published.
- [WHISPERS] Don't worry about it.

- It's not, is it?
- Cross my heart. [LAUGHS]

It's really more of an
issue with nonfiction books.

Your characters are
fictional, you made up a town.

It's all good.

It is indeed.

Now, if I didn't have
back-to-backs all afternoon,

- I'd take you down for a bottle of fizz to celebrate.
- Oh!

No worries. I carry my own.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

[SOMETHING FOR KATE]
♪ He was tracing outlines ♪

♪ In the air ♪

♪ To make it ♪

♪ Perfectly clear ♪

♪ He was swimming with ♪

♪ Some beautiful sharks... ♪

[PHONE RINGS AND VIBRATES]

Oh, sh*t!

[MUSIC STOPS]

- Hey.
- [WOMAN OVER PHONE] Hi.

[SIMONE] Where are you?

I'm just coming back from the train.

- How about you?
- [CLEARS THROAT]

- I'm just coming over the bridge.
- [WOMAN] Ah.

Hey, are the kids with Mark?
Can you meet for a cheeky drink?

Well, he says that
they're on a play date,

but I can see on my phone
that they're at the cafe.

Why are you stalking him?

No, I'm not stalking him.

Just go, go, have a look for me.

He's just getting a coffee, Hat.

She makes those
incredible cinnamon rolls.

Don't be paranoid. He loves you.

Hey, I've got some news.

Oh, really? OK.

I have some too.

OK, well, I'll, um...

I'll go check on Dad and
meet you at the bowlo in 15.

OK, bye.

[SONG] ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh... ♪

[GOAT BLEATS]

[GRUNTS]

[DOGS BARK]

[GASPS] Hi!

- What are you doing?
- They're taking over the lawn.

They're dandelions. It's their job.

[TRAIN HORN BLOWS IN DISTANCE]

Where's your hat? You're getting burnt.

- Why are you all dressed up?
- I had a meeting about my book.

What book?

Dad, I told you! I'm
getting a book published.

A novel.

- No.
- I mentioned it again this morning.

You haven't been here for days.

I made you breakfast.

Oi! Eat the f*ckin' dandelions!

Come on! This way. Let's go!

Ah, you useless thing.

- Come on. Break time.
- [CHICKENS CLUCK NEARBY]

- Get you a hat, hey?
- Yes.

It's a new invasion every week.

Last week, it was
aphids on the sweet peas.

Before that, clothes moths.

Well, you've got to sign him
up for an extermination course.

- [LAUGHS]
- Get him out working.

I've got tons of ants in
my kitchen he can tackle.

I think we've reached
the hallucination stage.

The writer's fascinated.
The daughter is distressed.

[HAT] Well, it is distressing,

but does it mean you can
stay for another six months?

No, I don't think I can
look after him and his goats.

Maybe we should sell up.
It's worth so much now.

But it's been so good
having you back down here.

And the kids love it.

- You wanna hear my news?
- Yes.

- I'm having a baby.
- f*ck!

[BOTH LAUGH]

- Are you serious?
- No, I mean...

... a novel's being published.

- Oh, my gosh, Mon, you finished a novel!
- I did.

Why don't I know about this?

Well, I didn't want to
jinx it by talking about it,

and I know you think I
never finish anything,

- so I didn't want to get your hopes up.
- That's not true.

I don't think that you
don't finish things.

Well, I don't ever
finish anything, so...

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, but you just did!
- I did!

Mon, I'm so proud of you.

So, tell, tell! What is it about?

Um, it's kind of like
an emotional mystery,

but I don't want to give too much away.

- Till I read it?
- Hat, come on, you don't read.

I read! Legal briefs.

I'm so going to make an
exception for your novel.

- Come on!
- So, what about your news?

Well...

... it's about Tess.

I don't think I want to know about that.

She's coming back to Sydney.

She said she was gonna email you.

How would she email me?

I gave her your email address.

I haven't spoken to
her in 17 years, Hat.

- We're all adults now.
- Pfft.

I have no partner, no kids.
I'm still living with my dad.

By nobody's standards
have I reached adulthood.

- [PHONE RINGS]
- Ooh!

Can I not have five seconds?

- Hi, kids!
- [KIDS TALK OVER EACH OTHER]

Yeah, you get him. He's filthy!

- He needs a wash.
- Calm down!

- Help!
- What, you didn't have enough caffeine today, Mark?

I'm gonna stop sharing my location

- if you can't use it responsibly.
- No, it wasn't that.

Simone saw you at the cafe.

OK, we can talk about
it when I get back.

- Sure.
- Bye!

- [MARK] Raf! Raf! Please!
- [CALL ENDS]

I'm sorry. [MUTTERS]

Alright, bye.

- Love you.
- Love you.

- Bye.
- Bye.

[AIRY, UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[WAVES CRASH]

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[GASPS]

- [CHIMES TINKLE]
- [PANTS]

[DRAWER SLIDES LOUDLY]

- Why?
- Sorry.

I can't sleep.

Can't you go and be
awake somewhere else?

I've reached the final
drawer of random sh*t

which I don't know where to f*cking put.

Just dump it all into a box
and look at it again in a year.

- What if it's a mistake?
- Just dump it in.

- You can label it 'random sh*t'.
- No, I mean going, Vic,

back to Australia.

- It's a bit late now, isn't it?
- Is it?

Well, I took a year's sabbatical, Tess.

- I thought we all wanted this.
- Yeah, I do. I...

What if I hate it after so long away?

What if I find it parochial?

What if you're not
actually worried about that?

You are going to be fine.

If it doesn't work out,

we just kick out the
tenants and fly home,

go back to the London office.

- The kids and I will stay in Australia.
- [LAUGHS]

You get London in February
and I... I get Mardi Gras.

- You're hilarious.
- Mm.

- And kinda wise.
- Mm.

Don't forget gorgeous. Come on.

- Oh.
- Yep.

- [OBJECTS CLATTER]
- Ooh!

- That's one way.
- [LAUGHS]

[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC]

[TRAIN RATTLES]

[GLASS CLINKS]

[YOUNG TESS] I never see you cry.

Aren't you sad?

I still get sad.

I mean,

your mum was, like,
the best mum I ever had.

Of course I'm sad.

I can't just cry on command
'cause you want me to, Tess.

I don't want you to cry.

It was just...

I'm here.

I feel it too.

- [TRAIN RATTLES IN DISTANCE]
- [GLASS CLINKS]

I will never let anybody hurt you.

[YOUNG TESS] I love you.

[WHISPERS] I love you too.

[TABLET CHIMES, BUZZES]

[SIGHS]

_

I'm sorry.

[EXHALES]

[LINE RINGS]

[ANDREW ON RECORDING] Hi.
You've reached Andrew Sharma.

I can't get to the phone right
now, but please leave a message.

- Thank you.
- [LINE BEEPS]

Uh, hey, Andrew. Sorry to ring so late.

I just need to talk to you

before you send the
book off to Frankfurt.

It's kind of urgent.

If you could just ring me back...

It's Simone, by the way.

[DOGS BARK]

I know you're there!

You keep away from here, you hear?

- [DOGS BARK]
- Oi!

- What's going on?
- Oh, they ran off as soon as I came out.

- Who?
- He was howling.

It's probably just possums on heat.

It's too hot for sex, Cathy.

Hey, guess what.

Simone won the spelling bee.

[DOGS BARK]

- Come on.
- [DOGS BARK]

- Hey, get to your beds.
- Hey! Hey!

Hey, come inside, Dad.
Whatever it is, it's gone now.

Come on.

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[INTRIGUING MUSIC]

[FLYING FOXES SCREECH]

[GASPS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[INDISTINCT VOICES]

We're all tired.

I feel like I've flown
around the moon twice

to end up in Scotland.

You mean the end of the world,

cut off from civilisation.

- Like a prison.
- Beautiful prison.

[BOY] I don't mind deadly spiders,

but I thought we came
here to escape the rain.

Guys, maybe rein in taking
the piss out of my homeland?

- Oh, it's your homeland now?
- [BOY] Let's go look around.

- This is massive.
- I know.

- You're not too hot in that?
- No.

No.

When are we going to go see your mum?

- Babe?
- I said I'm not too hot.

Yeah, and then I asked when
we're going to go see your mum.

Oh, sorry. I don't know
yet. When I'm ready.

If I'm ready.

I've invited Hat up for lunch.

- Have you messaged Simone?
- No, not yet.

I'm gonna go have a shower.

[BUTTON CLICKS]

[BREATH ECHOES]

[UNSETTLING MUSIC]

Mm.

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[GROANS SOFTLY]

[SOLEMN PIANO MUSIC]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[SEAGULLS CALL]

[GENTLE MELODIC PIANO MUSIC]

[TESS ON RECORDING] Hey. It's Tess.

I'm in Sydney.

I'm dying to see you.

Bye.

[GENTLE, AIRY MUSIC]

[INTERCOM BEEPS]

[TESS] Hello?

[STAMMERS] It's Simone.

[TESS] Hey.

[INTERCOM BEEPS]

[HINGES SQUEAK]

[CICADAS CHIRP]

Wow, Mon.

Like an apparition.

Long time, no see.

- Oh!
- [GLASS BOTTLES CLINK]

Sorry.

- You haven't changed.
- Ooh! I'm more elegant.

I didn't expect to see you today.

No, I just... I live moment to moment.

Hat didn't think you'd
come, but I'm happy you did.

Of course.

[CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]

[HAT] Mm.

- OK.
- [DOOR CLOSES]

[HAT] It's through here.

Hey, Vicki, this is Simone.

- Simone, this is Vicki.
- Vicki, the wife.

[CHUCKLES]

- You have a wife!
- [VICKI] We've heard so much about you.

Yeah, we've seen all the photos.

This is Lily and Art.

These are yours?

[TESS] Well, Vicki did the
birth thing, but I've been there.

Pretty much since the beginning.

Hah! Of time.

Yeah, so, um, Tess
bats for the other team.

[TESS] I hate that
phrase. There is no team.

- Where is this team?
- It's right here.

- Aww!
- [LILY] Wait, sorry.

So, you're the one

who sleepwalked into Tess's
mum's bed when you were 15?

[ART] And used to copy all her homework.

OK, you might wanna check your facts.

- Take your chips outside, guys.
- Our chips?

- Crisps. Whatever.
- [HAT] Oh, my goodness!

You can say crisps.

I love 'crisps' and I
love your fancy accents.

So, you just here for summer holidays?

Well, Tess has a new job

and I've a year's
sabbatical with the kids.

So, you've 'moved' moved back.

I know. I didn't think
I'd ever come back here.

Aww, she's bravely put it behind her.

Well, the kids hate us, but
we're gonna convert them.

- Right, babe?
- Mm.

[CHUCKLES MILDLY]

- Would you like a drink?
- Ooh, yes, please!

[HAT CHUCKLES]

Uh, so, we've got white or...

- White!
- Would you like white? Great.

[GLASS BOTTLES CLINK]

[AIRY, UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[SHRIEKS]

Idiot!

- [KIDS SPEAK INDISTINCTLY]
- [ART] Stop splashing me!

[HAT] So, how many years is it?

[TESS] How long have I been sober?

Eight. 2,922 days.

Very specific.

- It's really amazing.
- So, even at your wedding?

[HAT] It's a good thing
that you two eloped

otherwise Mon would have
given a surprise speech.

Not drinking is part
of my recovery, so...

Well, I feel like drinking
is part of my recovery.

I don't miss it. I love not
waking up with a hangover.

I get so much more done.
I'm twice as productive.

Oh, speaking of productive...

You just wake up and you drink water.

Or maybe I'm an alcoholic. Who knows?

As I've been trying to say
for the last 10 minutes,

Mon actually has some
really exciting news.

- I really don't.
- Oh, you do!

- Hat?
- [HAT LAUGHS]

Mon's novel is getting published.

And I should be your publicist,

otherwise you would never
frickin' say anything about it!

Wow. Congratulations.

Well, I spoke too soon, didn't I?

'cause it's not being published now.

What? What do you mean? Since when?

They don't want it now.

[HAT] They're just
terminating your contract?

No, they changed their mind.

What's your agent saying?

Oh, he's a corporate knob of a man.

He says, "Blah, blah, blah."

But what does your
termination clause say?

I don't know, Hat!

But you need to know the terms, Mon!

The terms are nobody wants
a dark psychological thriller

'cause it totally
fucks with people's head

and they can't sleep at night.

You know, but maybe
if I can turn it into

some crappy sentimental
piece of romance fiction,

they might consider it again.

Well, they'd better revert your rights.

- Can we not talk about this?
- It's awful.

I-I hate them, Mon.

You can talk amongst yourselves.

I'm so sorry.

It must be very disappointing.

Whatever. Nobody's ever
cared about my non-career.

- [HAT] Hey!
- To be fair, Simone,

- we haven't spoken in a while.
- 17 years, actually,

which is a f*ck lot of days.

Ladies, please, can we just not?

[HAT] Can we have a nice day?

- I was having a lovely time.
- Pfft!

Forget it. I'm an idiot.

No!

I don't get why she came if
she doesn't want to see me.

- _
- [HAT] It's the wine, the sun.

[VICKI] It's probably nerves.
[CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

- She did drink a lot of wine.
- [SIMONE] I can hear you and I'm fine.

I'm actually knackered because
I have a mentally ill father

and no siblings,

so I'm just gonna lie down

and leave you guys to catch up.

[PHONE BUZZES]

- [HAT] How are you getting home?
- I didn't drive.

Well, we'll drive you to the station.

No, I wanna walk. I feel a bit unsteady.

- But, babe, you're drunk.
- I'll go with you.

I'd prefer to be alone right now.

[GATE CLICKS AND SQUEAKS]

You can't force me to publish it.

You cannot go cold feet on me now.

- But it's my life!
- And it's going to be amazing.

Look, look, I get it.

It's scary to publish a novel,
to put yourself out there,

but I don't think you
get how big this could be

- if it all goes well.
- No, you don't get it.

You've worked so f*cking hard on this!

No, you don't understand.

This book is my f*cking life, Andrew!

I can't publish it.

Wait, are you...

Are you saying this is true?

I am saying that it's based on my life.

But in a novel way?

And 'it actually happened to me' way.

Man.

[ANDREW SIGHS]

That is some dark sh*t.

[SIMONE] Yep.

All of it happened.

That's great.

OK.

"Based on a true
story." That sells books.

No, it... it doesn't matter.

I wrote it for myself.

[STAMMERS] I tried to write it for years

and it f*cking nearly
k*lled me, but I wrote it.

I don't need to publish it.

Listen, Frankfurt in three days.

We'll get the manuscript
to publishers on Monday.

We will put "A novel" on the cover.

We'll f*ckin' underline it,

but you cannot pull out
on me now at this point.

- I've changed my mind.
- This is f*ckin' career su1c1de, OK?!

But... [SIGHS]

But if you want to go ahead with it,

then you need to be prepared
to pay back your advance,

a termination fee, the
publisher's legal fees

plus the costs I've incurred on this.

I mean, that's not a
small amount of money.

So, you're just gonna
put a g*n to my head?

No, it's a choice, OK?

It's your choice and
your choice has a price.

Or I can offer you a compromise.

Forget it.

I'm done.

[SEAGULLS SQUAWK]

[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[PHONE CHIMES]

[ELECTRONIC MUSIC THUDS]

- [ANTHONY] You're gorgeous.
- [SIMONE] Don't talk. Don't say anything.

Don't look at me. Don't look at me.

- [BOTH GROAN]
- [ELECTRONIC MUSIC THUDS]

[MUFFLED GROANS]

[BREATHS ECHO]

[WAVE CRASHES]

[GIRLS GASP]

- [ANTHONY GROANS]
- [TESS SOBS]

[DON] Simone!

Dad!

[STAMMERS] I'm stuck.

Oh, Dad! I'm here. I'm gonna help you.

- Oh, just sh**t me.
- No! What were you...

[SWEEPS GLASS] What were you doing?

Oh, I needed a padlock for the gate.

[SIMONE] What? Why?

There was a car here last... last night.

It shone its headlights
right in my eyes.

[GRUNTS] The dogs went mental.

Dad,

look, I've been looking
into your condition,

and sometimes when the brain changes,

you start to imagine
things or hear things.

There are people that can help you.

I'll show you.

Look at that!

Bloody cigarette butts!

A bloody fire hazard. The
whole place could go up.

What kind of car was it? Did you see?

Big enough to crush
a dog without a bump.

[LOW SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[WHIPBIRD CALLS]

[BUNTING RUSTLES]

[SEAGULLS SQUAWK]

How did you get home?

- Took a train.
- Oh, Mon,

you were a bit full-on.

I got drunk.

- I deeply apologise.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.

It just seemed like you
were a bit cranky with Tess.

It's hard enough for her being back.

Maybe you could just
be a bit nicer to her.

[SCOFFS]

She's got her life together perfectly.

And so fancy!

She looked at me like
I was a lost cause,

like she's moved on and I'm still 19.

[HAT] Hm!

I never remember feeling
this sh*t around her.

Well, that's not going to help anything.

Just say you miss her, how it was.

How it was was so long ago.

You can try again by yourself.

Maybe don't drink this time?

OK, I don't need a mother right now.

Well, clearly I have
enough children, thank you.

I'm sorry.

I love you.

You're gonna find a new publisher.

Nuh, I'm done with writing.

Oh, God, I would love you
to actually finish a book,

be proud of it, send it
out for somebody to read

instead of just pretending
you wrote a book.

What the f*ck, Hat?

Sorry, Mon. Sometimes it's
just hard to believe you.

Yeah.

Well, see ya.

[WAVES CRASH]

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[WOMAN] Alright, if
you're going for a swim,

leave your gear under the tree.

Boys! Come get some sunscreen.

Leave him alone.

[MAN] It's not nice.

Coming back here where
people live and raise families

and cast aspirations
on me and me business.

I think you mean 'aspersions', Joey.

f*ck you.

We don't need your accusations.

I don't and Bec doesn't.

If you've got nothing to hide,

then I guess you've got
nothing to worry about.

I'll always f*ckin' hate
you for what you did.

Shut your f*ckin' mouth.

I'm telling you, for
your own good, lay off.

Dad, come on!

I've got to protect my kids.

f*ck your kids.

Who protected us?

[DOORS SLAM]

[BOYS CALL OUT]

[LINE RINGS]

[ANDREW OVER PHONE]
Oh, what now, Simone?

Tell me your f*ckin' compromise.

[REEL CLICKS]

[BIRDS CALL]

[PHONE RINGS]

[LINE RINGS]

Hi.

[TESS OVER PHONE] Hey.

[WHISPERS] Sorry.

- I was drunk and stupid.
- It's OK.

I mean, I didn't make it any easier.

I was just f*cking nervous!

And it's been so long.

Yeah.

I thought you weren't coming back.

- I wasn't...
- [PHONE BUZZES]

... but I feel like I've been running.

And now I'm done.

W-what do you mean, done? How?

[PHONE BUZZES]

I'm coming down for
the weekend to see Mum.

Can we just hang out for a bit?

[PHONE BUZZES]

Um, can I call you back? Just one sec.

Andrew, hey. I just woke up.

[ANDREW OVER PHONE] Well, sit down.

[SCOFFS] I'm in a field.

[SOFTLY] Hey!

I don't know. Sit on a
f*cking flower or something.

- Just tell me!
- OK.

So, it was a risky
compromise from Lindy's POV,

but it turns out it made
the manuscript even hotter.

- What do you mean?
- She sent it out,

she asked for offers very quickly

and it got snapped up in 24 hours.

Seriously?

- Are you serious?
- [LAUGHS] Yes!

It's a high-excitement,
full-buzz, you little buzzy bee!

- Oh, f*ck!
- [ANDREW BUZZES]

[ANDREW] f*ck? f*ck? [LAUGHS]

What happened to, "You
were right, Andrew"?

"You are a god, Andrew.
Thank you, Andrew"?

- _
- Are you there? Hello?

- _
- Simone?

Well, yeah, that's a
f*ck load of thanks.

[LINE BEEPS]

[EXHALES]

[SEAGULL SQUAWKS]

[BLOWS RASPBERRY]

[FROGS CROAK]

[INTRIGUING MUSIC]

[BIRD CALLS]

[TESS] Welcome to the dark,
damp valley of my nightmares.

Didn't used to be a bridge down there.

The rocks from the escarpment

- would just crash down onto the road.
- See?

Some things have changed.

Wait, that's where you used to live?

[TESS] Ah, a bit further on.

[ART] Can we please stop for a burger?

[LILY] We're literally
on the way to a barbecue.

[TESS] We're not stopping there.

[LOW UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[SIMONE AND HAT LAUGH]

[HAT] It's a sword! Raah!

[GIRL] Dad, can I have some of this?

You want this for lunch? No way!

- [CHILD] Come on, let's go.
- Hey,

I'm really sorry about what I said.

Of course I believe you. I
just want to cheer you up.

- Look at all those surfer boys.
- Lil, don't be so obvious.

- I wanna go swimming.
- Oh!

Hey.

You OK?

- Mm. You good.
- Mm.

Wanna do these?

- No, that is your job.
- Come on.

- Don't mention the night we met.
- Yeah, ingrained.

- Tess, Vicki, tinnie?
- No! She doesn't drink.

- Vicki, Simone, tinnie?
- Ah, not drinking either.

- Well, God knows I'll drink.
- OK. Thank God for that.

- Hey, mate, how are you?
- Long time.

[VICKI] I'm so excited.

I can't believe this is your view!

[HAT] So, this guy is a massive skinhead

and then Mon over here was, like,

"Oh, you can't b*at me up yourself.

You've gotta get your
girlfriend to do it for you."

That's a terrible story.

Wait, what's this terrible
story? I wanna hear it.

Well, I mean, Mon and Tess
were genuinely terrible,

like how you used to
nick all those rings, Mon?

Oh, no, Tess taught
me. I just improved it.

I used to go to these markets

where they'd have all these rings out

and she had this ingenious method.

On, off, on, off so fast,
you couldn't keep track.

Then she's make a big show,
putting them back, walking off.

And then the vendor would look
at me like it was my fault.

"Oh, my ring's gone!" And
I'd have to show him my hands

to prove it wasn't me.

But she'd turn the stone
setting round on her finger

so you couldn't tell.

I just can't believe you
guys were shoplifters.

We were bad teenagers, but,
you know, I was easily led.

Paid the price for it
and now I'm reformed.

Easily led by who?

We did really stupid and dangerous sh*t

which I'm glad you don't do.

Yeah, but, didn't you say
that's 'cause your mums

were never really there for you?

Oh, well, my mum... my
mum was there, but...

[WHISPERS] Sorry.

Yeah, I'm in here.

[RUNS TAP]

Hey. All yours.

I'm sorry that Lil said
that about your mum.

- It wasn't about that.
- Well, I'm sorry if you felt judged.

I was... I was judging myself.

You're entitled to your take. I
just thought we led each other.

I should probably go.

Dad needs feeding or otherwise
he ends up microwaving his socks.

Let's get coffee tomorrow, just us.

Can't tomorrow. Maybe next time.

[BIRDS CALL IN DISTANCE]

[WOMAN LAUGHS]

Oh!

Oh, darlings! Look at you! Oh!

I just want to breathe you in.

[LAUGHS] Oh!

- Oh, look!
- Oh, Mum, can we go for a swim?

Mum? Can we go for a swim?

- Uh, is it safe swimming-wise?
- It's a bit shark-y.

- [ART] Sharks?
- She means it's unpatrolled.

Rips and reef. You
just need to be careful.

[LILY] Well, can we have a look, though?

Five minutes.

- OK.
- Thanks.

- [LAUGHS]
- Hey, Mum.

Oh, it's so good to see the kids.

Something came for you...

... from the police

a while ago.

What is it?

It's uncollected property.

I didn't know if you'd want it back.

Do you want me to get rid of it for you?

Just leave it on the bed.

Closed the station down.

There's barely a cop
along the whole coast.

And they wonder why the
kids get so drunk at night.

[GASPS SOFTLY]

[LOW UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[GASPS]

[VOICEOVER ON TV] Fresh
Aussie fruit and veg. The best.

Picking Australia's fruit and veg first.

That's today's fresh food people.

[NARRATOR ON TV] East
Africa, the Serengeti.

[TV FALLS SILENT]

[SIMONE] Dad, that's your show.

You muted your show?

Hey, I've got my book launch this arvo.

If I go to Sydney, are you gonna be OK?

I've got a padlock for the gate.

I'm writing a book.

Yeah.

You were the one who inspired
me in the first place.

It's not finished yet, but.

We should clean out
your old writer's shed,

get you back out there.

I bought a jacket.

- An author's jacket.
- [CHUCKLES]

I'll wear it when my book is published.

I know.

I'm so proud of you.

Oh.

[NARRATOR SPEAKS ON TV]

Can I have some salt?

Yeah.

- Say hi to your dad for me.
- I will do, Graham. Thank you.

Don't ever thr*aten me again.

What was that, mate?
I'm on the f*ckin' phone.

Yeah, I said don't thr*aten me.

And don't f*cking come round
my house and scare my father.

- What are you on about?
- I know you think you're above the law.

Everyone acts like you are,
but I know what you f*cking did.

Just some crazy woman.

f*ck.

[MAN OVER PHONE] Joe, you there, mate?

It's my fault, is it?

- [LINE BEEPS]
- [DOOR BUZZES]

Hey, Trevor, you f*ckin' done
in there, mate, or what, hey?

I got cut off, didn't I?

- [DOOR BUZZES]
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

So did youse, mate.

- Ooh, far out.
- [DOGS BARK]

- Oh, my God.
- [GOAT BLEATS]

Oh, my gosh! Get off
that! Oh, God, that's rank!

Get off. Dogs! Oh, my...

Don, your dogs are out here
disembowelling a possum.

- You might wanna rein 'em in.
- They're alright!

Eugh!

Look, I just came over to cheer up Mon,

but she's not answering her phone.

She went to a party.

No, that was yesterday at mine.

No, she went to a party
today up in Sydney.

Oh.

- Right.
- [DISTANT TRAIN HORN BLARES]

Well, I'll come in and leave a note

and leave this cheeky present, hey?

Who the f*ck's that?

- [TRAFFIC PASSES]
- [PEOPLE CHATTER]

[SCOFFS]

[PHONE RINGS AND BUZZES]

[SIMONE] You wake without memory.

But when you see her

so small and cracked...

[PEOPLE LAUGH AND CHATTER INDISTINCTLY]

[SIMONE] ... it all comes flooding back.

The awful seconds of that night.

[YOUNG SIMONE] Tess?

[DOORS OPEN]

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[UNSETTLING MUSIC BUILDS]

- [FROGS CROAK]
- [INSECTS CHIRP]

[BANGLES TINKLE]

[YOUNG SIMONE] Joey?

[WAVES CRASH]

[MENACING MUSIC]

[DOOR SLAMS]

[SOBS SOFTLY]

- [UNEASY PIANO MUSIC]
- [WAVES CRASH]

_

[SIMONE] You wish you could forget.

- You would do anything to forget.
- _

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[CICADAS DRONE]

[YOUNG TESS] What
happened to me last night?

[CHELSEA JOY WOLFE] ♪ Take an eye ♪

♪ For an eye ♪

♪ Take me down ♪

♪ With you ♪

♪ Take it all ♪

♪ Away ♪

♪ I know it all ♪

♪ Comes back times three ♪

♪ That human ♪

♪ That demon showed me ♪

♪ How it ends when you ♪

♪ Treat your friends like foes... ♪