01x04 - Episode 4

[bunniefuu]

I want to know if you want to make
a comment, about how Melbourne's

favourite progressive law firm

is actually toxic for the
women that work there?

I don't want anything to do with
your McKinley & Harris story.

I already know there's an
internal investigation happening.

The Minister's chief of
staff told me this morning.

Your funding is
definitely being cut.

Eve said that you met an
adviser for a walk-through.

Mrs Yeo, your children were
left unattended. Did you know that?

- Get in the car, come on.
- Don't get in.

The priority list
at the moment is about a 3-year wait.

Why didn't you tell me
that you changed my shifts?

- It's not your choice.
- f*ck this.

Where the hell
are you gonna go, Ry?

You said things
were over with Grace.

- Why would you say that?
- I wish I could explain, but I can't.

I can't believe I
actually believed you.

I still love you.

I...

Bye, Julian.

There was an active
intervention order in place?

The police had applied for an IVO for
Julian, to protect him from Grace.

Hi. You've
reached Julian Macdonald.

I'm unable to answer
your call right now.

Please leave a message
after the beep.

Hi. It's me.

Again.

Um...

..can you call me back?

Just worried about you.

Is everything with Julian OK?

Yep. It's fine.

Kinda getting the distinct
vibe things are not OK.

Can we not talk about it, Max?

Just from an outside
perspective, it doesn't

seem like a healthy
relationship.

Can you drop it?

He's just got a really
toxic presence...

Can you shut the f*ck up?!

Do you ever shut the f*ck up?

Yeah, OK.

Sorry.

Um...

Hm.

Sorry, Max.

Julian's going to court today
for an intervention order.

What did he do?

No, the...

..police have taken one out
to protect him against Grace.

sh*t.

Well, is he... like, is he OK?

I...

..haven't been able
to get onto him.

We kind of broke up yesterday.

'Cause of this, I guess.

I don't know.

Are you not scared she's
gonna come for... you?

Like, she's gonna come here?

- Grace?
- Yeah.

No.

Hm.

I was... I was
pressuring him to...

..uh, to leave her,

even though, you know, he kept
telling me that things were...

..complicated and
difficult, and now...

..here we are.

OK, well...

..obviously, it's not
your fault at all.

Thanks, Max.

OK.

See ya later.

Here you are.

I'm OK.

I'm OK.

You're OK.

Take my car?

Erm...

..we can't take your car.

The order means we can't...

..go in together.

Of course.

But it's fine.

I'll just... park at work.

Are you gonna talk to Priestly?

Mm-hm.

Yep.

I'll talk to him
and then I'll...

..come and meet
you at the court,

after I've done it.

Good plan.

Mm-hm.

We should go.

We should go.

Read it over, and when you feel
it's as accurate as possible,

I want you to sign and
date it here and here.

Mmm.

Oh!

Oh!

Oh.

- Mummy...
- Angel.

Angel.

Ma Ma says if you want to
see me or Matthew again...

don't say anything bad
about Dad in court.

Don't hang up, Angel!
How have you been?

Angel?

Excuse me. You need
to take a number.

Phoebe! I've been calling you.

Not today, Leanne.
I've gotta go to court.

I just came to get my charger.

Phoebe!

They've been here since nine.
I don't know where Eve is.

I think she's at Legal Aid,
but I can't get onto her.

Is that...

The Minister for Women.

- sh*t!
- Yeah.

The psychopath wants to
cut our funding in person.

Standard-issue pearl necklace.

Ugh.

When was this?

Won't be long.

Hm. No worry.

Alright, just let
me know when it happens.

OK.

Ms Marks
to Court 2 immediately.

OK. What are they saying?

"We responded to a call-out
to 13 Theodore Avenue."

Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.

"Mr Macdonald welcomed us in. His
demeanour was calm and polite."

Good boy.

"He told us that this
behaviour was not uncommon

"and that his wife often got violent
when she was stressed and drinking.

"He had scratches...

"to his neck.

"Mrs Macdonald admitted
she was responsible

"for her husband's injuries."

Does this all
sound right to you?

Yep.

Jesus Christ, mate.

So we can get it thrown out?

Look, we can tell them
Grace is getting help

and you don't need the order,
but this isn't a good look.

She's gonna have to report it
to the Legal Services Board.

She's taking a break
from work for a bit.

She's resigning today, actually.

Yeah, and what about you?

Do you get a break?

I mean... come on. Violence
is a bit much, mate.

Grace is depressed.

- She's not violent. You know that.
- Yeah.

And you know those two things
are not mutually exclusive.

How's big Phil going
with the treatment?

Yeah. Dad's fine.

He's complaining about
the food already.

Course he is.

Seriously, Jules,

it'd be an easy divorce.

Uh...

..we're having a
private conversation.

This is a duty lawyer office.

Oh. Is it? I thought
it was a closet.

- Yeah, you need to leave.
- Uh, we were done anyway.

So, uh, we wanted to give
you the news in person.

OK.

- Yes, Eve.
- Phoebe.

Phoebe. Phoebe.

Phoebe.

My adviser was very impressed
with the work that you do here.

- You took him on a tour of the services?
- Mm-hm.

And Grace Macdonald's presentation to the
steering committee was very impassioned.

She truly is a force of nature.

Yeah.

It's Les. I have to take this.

Yes, Les?

What she's trying to say is
that the proposed funding cuts

won't be going ahead.

- Wait, really? The...
- Mm-hm.

- That's, um...
- It's... it's good news.

- That's... that's so great. Thank you.
- Dave?

We need to move. Can we
get the photo, please?

- Uh, we just need a photo for socials.
- Oh. Yeah, sure.

Let me get one of
the lawyers for you.

- Oh, it's...
- I'm sure someone... I'm just comms.

It really doesn't matter.

- Oh. OK.
- OK, smile.

One
more. Big smile.

- Cheese.
- Thank you.

Eve's gonna be
so upset that she...

..I'm sure she would have loved
to have been here, just to...

Goodbye, Phoebe.

- Thank you, David.
- It's been a pleasure.

OK, I can't believe
the Minister was here.

- I know.
- I probably should have egged her.

- We got the funding.
- You're joking.

No! We stopped the funding cut.
We're not getting our funding cut.

Thank f*ck!

- OK. I am gonna call Eve.
- Mmm.

She is going to freak!

- And then I think you can...
- Yeah.

..get onto Jenny, and
then after that...

Um... hey, I... I gotta go.

Uh...

- OK?
- Uh... I'll...

Sorry. I gotta go.

"Thanks, Leanne. Couldn't have
done it without you, Leanne."

OK. We're gonna go into
the courtroom soon.

Grace is still at the office.

Hey.

Stop worrying about
what she's doing, OK?

OK?

Hey, Phoebe. Do you
know when Grace arrives?

What are you doing here?

What do you think?

I'm not talking to you, Layla.

Hey, you're the one that wants
more reporting on family violence.

Hold on.

How did you know this
was happening today?

Don't report on this, please.

It's personal.

Don't you think it's
in the public interest

that the chair of the Family
Violence Legal Service board

has an IVO out against them?

Will your law student
give me a comment?

Ms Hogan
to Court 3, please.

Julian!

Hey! Hey! Julian!

I was hoping you wouldn't
find out about this.

Are you OK?

Yeah.

Look, um...

..I'm really sorry.

Uh, I... I didn't...

Why didn't you tell me?

I just... I don't
want you getting hurt.

OK?

Phoebe, just stay out of this.

Please.

Oi. Come on, mate.

Just...

Um...

..you wanted a, uh... a chat?

Yeah. Um... there's something
I have to talk to you about.

What's up?

Well, I've given
it some thought...

You alright? You sound sick.

Earth to Grace.

Grace!

Julian's sick.

He's not coming in today.

Right. That's it?

Uh, yeah. That's it.

That could have been an email.

You are forbidden from
getting another person

to do anything that YOU must
not do under this order.

- OK?
- Yes, Your Honour.

OK.

Ms Long, are we still waiting on
the respondent Grace Macdonald?

Ah, yes. I believe so.

And has
she been served?

Uh, there is an affidavit of
service on file, Your Honour.

Alright. We can delay
the hearing for half an hour.

But if Mrs Macdonald hasn't arrived,
we'll have to proceed without her.

Yes, Your Honour.

Where is she?

Resigning's hard.

Priestly's probably
talking her ear off.

Layla. Just wait.

You're not stopping
this story, Phoebe.

My editor already knows about it.
What if I give you something better?

- You've got nothing.
- Please.

The... the... the...

..the McKinley & Harris
sexual misconduct story.

I've already got two ex-staffers
willing to speak on the record.

You've got nothing
I want. I'm sorry.

What... what about...

..what... what about...

..incriminating audio?

Iris, I'm looking for Grace.

How long ago did she leave?

OK, the court won't wait
all day for a respondent.

Ms Long, what are you
seeking in this matter?

Your Honour, at the time of
incident, police had concern

for the safety of Mr Macdonald.

We understand the respondent has
significant mental health issues,

which are being
addressed at this time.

We are seeking an interim order

so police can complete further
risk assessment in this matter.

Mr Higgins? What are
your client's thoughts?

Your Honour, we're seeking that
the protection order be withdrawn.

Erm, my client does not believe
that the order's necessary,

and while he thanks the great
work of our esteemed police force,

he believes this is a private
matter that can be solved

with appropriate mental
health resources.

Mr Macdonald? What do you think?

Do you feel that you need
protection from your wife?

- Yes, I... yes, I do, Your Honour.
- What are you doing?

Uh, Mr Higgins, please. I'd
like to hear from your client.

I can't keep protecting her.

I can't.

I need protection, Your Honour.

Frankly, I have no idea
what she's capable of.

She's... she's unhinged, and...

..I think she needs to
be held accountable.

I would like to press charges.

- f*cking bullshit! Don't... don't lie to me!
- Julian...

- You know how much I wanted this!
- You can have it!

I'm not going to accept it!
I'm not going to accept it!

- They didn't even offer it to me!
- What are you talking about?

What were you doing this afternoon?
I was in meetings all afternoon.

- Just... Come on. Just...
- Your last meeting was at 1pm.

- I know your last meeting was at 1pm.
- It went a little bit late.

- It's f*cking bullshit!
- Nothing's going on here. Julian, please!

Please! There is nothing!
I cannot do this with you!

Why are you... You're
lying! You always lie to me!

Why? Why do you f*ck'
always lie to me?

Why?

Mrs Macdonald must
not commit family violence

against the protected
person, Mr Macdonald.

She must not intentionally
damage Mr Macdonald's property

or threaten to do so,

attempt to locate or follow or keep
Mr Macdonald under surveillance,

publishing on the
internet or by email

or other electronic
communication

any material about Mr Macdonald.

We're
currently experiencing

longer waiting times than usual.

Thank you for your patience.

Oh, come on, kids.

Gonna tell me where
you were last night?

I... I don't... I just...

Just f*ck off, Xander.

f*ck off.

Alright, you f*ck' sl*t.

Phoebe? Are you in here?

Yeah.

- Hi. Sorry. Sorry.
- Uh... uh, the Minister...

Leanne said that you were
in court this morning?

Yeah.

Can you tell me what happened?

Can you tell me what
happened to Grace?

How is she?

Grace actually didn't show up.

So, uh, I don't know.

What?

Yeah. Uh, they made
an order against her.

- Against HER?
- Yeah.

The f*cking b*stard!

Um...

..well done with the funding.

Thank you. You did great.

Hey. Hey.

Hey. Don't worry.
The story's k*lled.

I told my editor
there's a gag order.

Are you there?

Mm-hm. OK.

Phoebe, why are you
doing all this to protect Grace?

She was awful to
you at McKinley.

It's not for Grace.

Wait. You're
doing this for Julian?

But he's the one that told
me about the hearing today.

He asked me to report on it.

It's just complicated.

What?

What, he called you?

He did... he did what?

Grace?

M-A-C-D-O-N-A-L-D.

Grace.

And did that happen tonight?

No.

f*ck.

f*cking b*tch.

You f*cking...

..b*tch!

f*ck!

f*ck!

Phoebe, just
stay out of this.

I just... I don't
want you getting hurt.

Coming to lunch?

Oh. No, I can't. I've
got a bunch of stuff to do.

Sure? Leanne ordered in
cupcakes to celebrate.

Mm-hm.

Yeah. I'm sure.

I'm so sorry I
couldn't talk in court today.

- It was just...
- Yeah, I know.

Everything is so f*cked up.

- Phoebe, hi.
- Uh... um...

Hey, do you know where...
do you know where Grace is?

No, I don't. Why?

I... I... I haven't been
able to get onto her.

I just need to...

..uh, know where she is.

You know?

I'm just trying to
see if she's OK.

Phoebe?

Did you call Layla today?

Who?

Journo, in court.

- Did you ask her to come?
- No, I... uh, I don't... I... I... I don't know.

- I, um...
- Did you ask her to come?

Phoebe, I've just had the
worst f*cking day of my life,

and you're bringing this up now?

I...

Yes.

- I called her.
- Mm-hm. OK. So why would you do that?

I... I... I... I thought you wanted
the media to report on family violence.

I...

..I was just trying
to do you a favour.

Phoebe?

Just hold on.

You need to take a number.

Phoebe.

I'm really sorry
about all this, OK?

You know I love you.

I'm gonna make this work, OK?

Mm-hm.

Phoebe.

- Yes, yes, I'm...
- Really need to know.

I just really need to
know where Grace is.

I need to make sure she's OK.

Do you know where she is?

He...

..he's tracking everything.

My... my cards.

My phone.

Everything.

I need you to book me
a ticket to Auckland.

I can do that. I can
absolutely do that.

I...

..I'm so... sorry.

You don't have to be sorry.

But I...

..thought that...

..I was helping him.

Yeah.

..that we were...

..fighting this...

..thing together.

Yeah.

But...

..if I stay, he's gonna k*ll me.

The other night, I really
thought that he was...

..going to k*ll me.

I'm gonna get
you a new SIM card.

We have them here.
They're ready to go.

I'm gonna put you in
contact with Gladys Wong.

She's the best.

She will represent you.

And the second that you
touch down in Auckland,

we're gonna call the police,
we're gonna start this process.

Oh.

- OK?
- OK.

Alright.

Obviously, these next couple of
steps will be... complicated,

but I will be with you the
entire way, and we'll, um...

..we'll make sure
that we have...

..something to...

Hey.

Uh, yep, the cable
comes with this one.

Mmm.

And is this one also
part of the sale?

- Uh, sorry, what was that?
- Is it... is that also 20% off?

♪ Gazing at
the ceiling... ♪

It's the face.
It's actually her face.

♪ Game's
up... ♪

You should have heard it.
You should have f*ck' heard it.

♪ Face up

♪ Our love's

♪ Craving for some feeling

♪ Game's up

♪ We're nowhere to be found

♪ I'm stuck I'm stuck

♪ I'm stuck here in my skin... ♪

- Is this yours?
- Hm?

Who's going on a holiday?

It's Eve's. I'll take it to her.

I'm glad she's finally
taking my advice.

Hm.

Sorry. Uh, I'll go. Um...

Uh... Phoebe.

- Wait.
- Yeah. Um...

Eve said that you were at
the court this morning.

I was, yeah.

Can you tell me what happened?

Julian...

..told the court that he needs
an IVO to protect him from you.

Does he?

What do you think?

Do you know what
you're gonna do now?

Yep.

I'm, um...

..I'm gonna go home...

..tonight.

I just...

..I have to get away from him.

'Cause things are...

..gonna be...

You don't know Julian.

- Phoebe.
- Mm-hm.

It's OK.

It's OK.

Mmm.

You know, it's, um,
funny...

..because I thought
that I would feel...

..like, relief when
I finally left,

but, um...

..I'm not sure

if that's what this...

..is.

I'm not really sure what
I'm feeling anymore.

Sorry, um...

It's OK. You can take it.

No.

No.

Um...

..um, I'm here with you.

I'm here.

Would you mind staying
with me, just till...

..Eve gets back?

I'll stay.

- Thank you.
- I'll st... I'll stay.

OK.

As long as you need.

Just... I'll just sit with you.

It's gonna be OK.

Mm-hm.

They'll be in touch.

OK. Thanks. Bye.

FVLS. Phoebe speaking.

Leanne is on the
phone right now.

Mm-hm. I can let her know.

Alright. I'll let her know.

Mm-hm.

OK, bye.

- Hi.
- Hey.

It's alright. It's alright.

She just left for the airport.

- She... she's gone?
- Yeah.

Well, the sooner she gets out of
here, the better. It's not safe here.

- Yeah.
- Oh, darling.

Yeah.

You alright?

- Mm-hm.
- It's OK. It's alright.

Mmm.

Go home, Phoebe.

OK. I'm going.

Phoebs, are you OK?

What happened?

There's some accident outside.

Hold on. What?

- Oh, my God!
- Phoebs.

Phoebe!

Two people are dead

in a horrific family
violence m*rder-suicide.

Police have revealed Grace
Macdonald was run down and k*lled

while trying to
flee her husband.

Officers say Julian
Macdonald was laying in wait

at the wheel of his car,

accelerating as she left a
family violence legal centre.

Witnesses have described
the shocking moment

she was hit at high speed

then left for dead as the car
turned to oncoming traffic,

colliding head-on
with another vehicle.

Passers-by desperately tried
to revive Mr and Mrs Macdonald,

but, despite their best
efforts, both died at the scene.

Tonight, the area
remains a crime scene.

Police will now prepare
a report for the coroner.

Thanks
for all your help.

Here comes my
little lady to town.

Go see Penny.

"Oh! Can I have some
food? Thank you very much!

"Num-num, num-num, num-num-num.

"Oh, look, there's some tea.

"Oh! Oh, oh!"

- Grandma?
- Yes, Pen?

Are you crazy?

Oh, Di, lighten up.

Look.

Hey.

Phoebe.

If I'd have known...

..that it was you...

..that you were the person in his
phone that they were talking about,

I would have told you.

Yeah, but you didn't.

You didn't tell me.

You were too busy trying
to make a name for yourself

with your big f*ck' story.

And now Grace is dead.

If you'd told me, Layla,

if you had just told me...

Phoebe...

..then I... then I...

..you know, I...

..well, then I... then
I would have known,

and then I could
have done something,

and then I could have st...
I could have stopped it.

Stopped what?

Stopped a man who broke
his wife's ribs twice?

Who was tracking her every move?

Who was tracking
YOUR every move?

f*ck you.

Sorry.

I'm sorry, Layla.

Phoebe.

- It's not your fault.
- It is!

It actually is.

Like, when you think about
it, it really is my fault.

You told me yourself...

..that we blame victims to
make the world not feel scary,

to make us think that...

..it would never happen to us.

I'm not... I'm
not blaming Grace.

I would never blame
Grace.

I'm not talking about her.

Kelvin has never
been violent to you before.

Has he?

He's been violent to me

in many ways...

and many times.

"He has been violent to
me in many ways, many times."

You ruined my son's
life, you stupid b*tch.

I told him that marrying you was
the biggest mistake of his life.

Look at me!

I know the connection
between a mother and her son

You can't believe what your
son did, because if you did

you would have to admit that
your son is a piece of sh*t.

So you blame me.

But deep down...

you know.

You know.

♪ Say you'll stay

♪ Don't come and go like you do

♪ Sway my way

♪ Yeah, I need to know

♪ All about you

♪ And there's no... ♪

Do you know, I first met Grace

in her first year at
McKinley & Harris?

God, she was...

..she was scarily smart.

Brilliant...

..actually.

Yeah.

Stayed in my spare
room occasionally,

in between share houses.

- Wait, really?
- Mmm.

That was before...

..him.

God, he was so...

..f*cking...

..charming, you know?

He was funny. He was smart.

He was... he would always
remember everybody's names.

He'd remember everybody's
drinks orders.

Like, you didn't... you
didn't see it?

Not even close.

Not until she called
me from the hospital

the first time.

Hey.

Mmm.

When are you coming
back to the centre?

Um...

No, don't say it. Don't say it.

I think I...

- Oh!
- Yeah.

I... I don't know if I should...

- Oh!
- ..you know?

That is such a shame.

I reckon Jenny would really
have appreciated the help

in her new role.

New role?

I've done my time, you know?

Yeah.

And Jenny's good.

She's young. She's
hungry. She's ready.

Wow.

So Jenny's gonna be the new CEO.

God help those baby lawyers.

Think about what she's
gonna do to their lives.

Hm.

I'm gonna go in there.

Look after yourself.

Oh.

- You're gonna love this.
- Mmm.

Guess what I heard today.

What?

The government's announced
a new round of funding cuts.

Mrs T?

Mrs T, is there...

..anyone that I
can call for you?

I owe you 435, but...

..I'll get it to you, I promise.

You know I should
call the cops, right?

I'm not going to.

Alright?

I sacked Xander.

That incident, it shouldn't
have happened at the store.

It's fine.

No. It's not.

I'm sorry.

Alright.

I'd better get back.

- Thanks.
- Yep.

Did Xander do that to you?

No, he... he didn't.

Ry, just... tell me the truth.
You don't have to lie for him.

It was my mum.

What?

She's just got her problems.

Hey, I heard about
your big promotion.

Congrats.

Well, my mum really needed
a CEO in the family.

You know?

Mmm. Mmm.

Phoebs, I...

..I'm really glad you're here.

When I used to
listen to women talk about

being in a*usive relationships,

I thought, "Why don't
you just leave him?"

You know, as if...

..leaving was...

..the easy option.

As if any of this is easy.

The stories we tell about
love are misleading.

Sometimes...

..the big, bad monster comes in
the shape of the love of your life.

Butterflies in your
stomach aren't...

..chemistry.

They're your intuition,
telling you to run.

And the way we talk about
abuse isn't really much better.

We cut into these stories
at the most violent part...

..as if that's how it
happens, as if that's...

..how it starts, but...

..nobody punches you in
the face on the first date.

Slowly... you know,
slowly, these...

..dynamics change, develop...

..shift.

After you.

There's no beginning
and there's no ending,

no monsters lurking
in the shadows

or victims so perfect, we don't
recognise them in real life.

Abuse is something
that happens to other people...

..other families.

So we repeat the numbers -

one in... four,

one in three, one in five -

until they're just meaningless.

But behind every one of
those numbers is a person.

Cherry.

The complex story that's
hard to hear and even harder to tell.

But...

..there are really only two
types of people in this world.

Those who think family violence
would never happen to them...

..and...

..those who know it
could happen to anyone.