Mullet (2001) Movie Script
There's nothing here.
How long do you reckon we
have to stay out here for?
Another 15 minutes,
just to keep her happy.
Okay.
There used to be
thousands of 'em!
Didn't have to
hunt 'em like this.
It's too cold for prawns!
That's why there's
nobody else here!
Ah, we used to
just chuck the net in
and scoop up a couple
of pounds of 'em.
Anytime of the year.
- Yeah, yeah.
People are greedy now.
They aren't happy
just to get a feed.
Hey,
I've got something!
Something strayed into my net!
Well, pull it
out of the water!
Go on!
- It's a fish.
- What sort of fish?
- It's a beauty!
- What is it?
Oh, bugger. It's
a bloody mullet.
Oh, chuck it back.
No way! I caught it!
It's a mullet! They're
not good for anything!
They're all right.
They're good.
I'm not eating that. No way.
When you work in a pub,
people tell you things they
wouldn't tell anyone else.
This isn't my story.
I'm in it, but
it's not about me.
It mightn't be right, but
it's the way I remember it.
People think that country towns
are full of rednecks and gossip
or they think they're
about home spun wisdom
and preserved fruit.
There's some of that here,
but mostly, it's full of people
just trying to get
on with each other.
Most of this town's stories are
about people getting married
and having kids, or they're
about petty scandals,
or people leaving.
This one's about
someone coming back.
- Going to Coollawarra?
- Yeah.
You can hop in the
back, if you want.
Ta.
Do we have to go
through this every time?
Gary, just take the money.
They'll do me for corruption,
if I don't pay for the bastards.
Mate, it's just a
couple of leather jackets.
- Just take the money.
- Look, you me mate.
Now, is it unreasonable for
a mate to give a mate a fish?
And what about
poor old Jesus, eh?
When he was handing out
the loaves and the fishes?
Was that corruption? I
don't bloody think so.
If you don't take the money,
I'm gonna have to arrest you
for attending to corrupt
an officer of the law.
Geez, you're a hard bastard.
Hard...
But fair.
Yeah, just try 'em with
a bit of flour, all right?
Fried with a bit of
butter and parsley.
Well, I'm not looking
for anyone else
And I'm not searching
for big answers
I'm just sifting through
All these memories of you
All these versions of you
- Hey, copper.
- Hey.
Where's my fish?
I had a shit of a morning.
Bad?
Yeah, like not good.
What? No fish?
I thought we'd
have the mullet.
No.
Got some leather jackets.
How are you?
I'm good
- Kids good?
- Yeah, they were good.
Didn't worry you, Mom
going on the other night?
Nah. I like your mom.
You like kids, too.
Please, Pete!
You work
with 'em all day!
No, I don't wanna
have another fight about this!
Just want
you to think about it.
Yeah, but I told you
when we got married.
- Yeah, I know.
- I'd be a fucked mom.
- You'd be good.
- No, I wouldn't.
Yes, you would.
Hey, you know what'd be good?
- What?
- A puppy.
A puppy would be good.
We could get a big one and
train it to be an attack dog.
It'd be good.
We don't need a dog.
Yeah, well, we don't need one,
but we might want
one, mightn't we?
Hey? Do you reckon?
Puppy would be good, hey?
Puppy.
Hey?
- I gotta go to footy.
- What?
- I gotta go to footy.
See ya.
See ya.
- Thanks a lot.
- No worries.
Where is everyone?
Crows are playing. Hey,
aren't you Col's kid?
As far as I know.
Don't they call you Mullet?
That's what some
people call me.
Footy star, right?
No, mate.
So, you didn't go up to
Sydney to play first grade?
No, I didn't. Listen,
is the car yard open?
Down there.
Ta.
Get off him.
Get off him!
Back off!
Oh!
He ducked into it, ref.
Ref, he ducked into it.
Get him off!
Oi.
Too high, mate. Off.
Oh, that's bullshit!
Jazza, Jazza, Jazza!
Come on, Alan.
He ducked into it.
You're a copper.
You're supposed to be setting
a good example to the kids.
Hit 'em around the legs.
They can't run without legs!
How many times have
I gotta tell you?
- Think I meant to do it?
- What?
Do you think I meant to do it?
Right, it's our
penalty. Let's get set.
Fuck me dead.
Mullet, you mongrel.
How you been?
Who's that bloke?
Just a bloke.
Hey, Kay. Two Reschs, thanks.
G'day, Eddie.
I didn't know you
were back in town.
Hey, Kay.
Kay's off.
Is that the best you can do?
Three years and "Hey, Kay"
is the best you can do?
Well, it rhymed.
I want a proper
hi, you bastard!
Can I finish?
I just got in today.
So, what are you doing back?
Oh, thought I'd
see how many people
I can give the shits to.
Yeah, well, you can
put me down as the first.
Heard you were in London,
working on some big paper.
I've never been
there in my life.
So what have you been doing?
Not much.
You gonna flush that?
I'm the stupid bitch who
has to clean that out
in the morning.
And wash your hands, you grab.
Yeah, it's good to see
you, ya ugly bastard.
Yeah, well, I wish I could
say the same about you.
Now, now, I heard that
you was a big movie producer
now over in Hollywood.
Oh, yeah. Who told you that?
I don't know. Someone told me.
So, um, what about,
what about Gary?
How come he wasn't
playing today?
- Gary?
- Gary?
Gaza.
- Oh, he's not-
- Yeah, he is.
- Is he?
- He is, yeah.
Three years.
Three years.
Three years and
three kids. True.
- It's not Sandy.
- Yep.
Three years ago. You
been away that long?
Yeah.
Oh!
Stupid cow, Robbie.
He could've spilled my beer.
What's the matter, brother?
Aren't you glad to see me?
What's
going on out there?
Oh, it's just
the Maloney's, Dad.
Eddie's back.
- Mullet?
- Yeah.
Oh, for fuck sake!
I thought we got
rid of him for good!
Tell 'em to behave or
they're out the bloody door!
Yeah, it's
a head-high tackle.
Hey, are you hungry,
or are you gonna play
with that thing all night?
Gotta make it safe.
Guess what?
- What?
I heard Eddie's in town.
So
what's gonna happen?
Are they gonna stop
you playing or-
Yeah, probably.
A couple of weeks.
Have you seen him?
Yeah, he
was at the game.
What did he want?
I don't
know. I only saw him.
Well why did you say
that you heard he was in town
when you saw him?
- Whatever.
- Yeah.
I'm the one
that should be worried.
And why
should you be worried?
So, what are you doing back?
I'm not back.
I'm just visitin'.
What do you want?
Doesn't matter what I want.
Only matters what I can get.
Not very much, then.
What about you?
Thought you were gonna get
outta here as soon as you could?
Ah, I went for a bit, but
somebody's gotta run the pub,
now that Mom's gone.
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
What? That she ran off with
a poker machine repair man?
That's not funny.
Yeah, I dreamt I'd
eaten a large marshmallow
and when I woke up,
my pillow was gone.
That's
not funny at all.
Hey, you want to go
easy on that, mate.
Tell her to.
She's the one driving.
Why am I driving? Why
don't I drink and you drive?
Look, just stop being
a cop for a minute
and have your go, Pete.
I'm just concerned, that's
all. Aren't I allowed to care?
Oh, don't give us that.
Hey, aren't you getting
anyone else a drink?
Thought everyone else
was bloody driving.
You gonna have your go, mate?
You see Eddie at the game?
Blackjack.
You Mongrel.
Maybe we should have a barbie.
- Sucked in.
- Sucked in.
Yeah.
- Everyone together.
- Pick up seven.
Mm-hm.
What was that?
What?
- Did you hear something?
- I didn't hear anything.
Think I'll check the car.
Work 24 hours a
day. Doesn't stop.
What about Jonesy?
He's all right, isn't he?
Jonesy? He's bloody useless.
Okay, now you're your first.
Well done!
That's very good. Okay, Jazz.
Want me to take that
off? Okay, go, Jazz.
- Now here we go!
- Oh, nearly.
Another go. Oh, here we go.
One more.
- What about we move it here?
- Yeah, we can move it there.
Or we can
move it right here!
All right, I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have come here.
No, you shouldn't. You
should just stay away.
Are you staying?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
No. I don't know.
Gee, that's unlike
you, Eddie. Really is.
Jeez, you look good.
What do you want?
What makes you think
I want something?
Because you always
want something.
Look, I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have come here.
It wasn't fair.
And what's that
supposed to mean?
What, is there some fair way
of just turning up
after three years?
I'm sorry, I, I shouldn't
have punched in the head.
No, no, no, no. It's
all right, I deserved it.
What's
that? You married?
You know I'm married.
Who to?
To Pete. We got married
last year in October.
So why didn't
anyone let me know?
Well, nobody knew
where you were.
- That's bullshit.
- They tried.
- Such bullshit.
- Eddie, people tried!
People tried to find you!
So who's this
Mullet bloke, then?
Just a bloke.
People keep saying he
was a good footy player.
- I don't think so.
- No?
How good was he?
What do you care?
Don't get the shits.
I'm just asking.
You mates with him?
Yeah, I suppose.
Well, either you
are or you aren't.
He's my brother.
Hello.
Hello! Come here, Zip.
Hey, come here, you
grumpy old girl.
Hey? Yeah, you're a
weakly old mongrel.
Yeah.
All right?
Hello.
Hello, you dirty old mongrel.
You took your time
getting out here.
Call your mother.
- Oh, what?
She's still not talking to ya?
- Just call her.
- Mom!
- Now what's all this?
Like a rat looking
through a straw broom.
Mom!
Well, you got a bloody
kiss for me or what?
Yeah, all right.
Our Zip. She misses ya.
Hm.
Well, come on.
Gonna stand around here
like a bunch of Anglicans?
Let's go inside.
- Yeah, hang on a minute.
Tell your father it can
wait till after a cup of tea.
It'll just take a minute.
Something I wanna show you.
Here we go.
Well?
What?
The toilet.
The toilet?
The toilet.
It's a bloody flush toilet.
Put it in a couple
of months ago.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
It's good, Dad. It's good.
Here. Don't you
wanna see it flush?
No, no! Take your word for it.
Listen.
It's beautiful.
What are they?
Just some photos.
Of the wedding?
Aren't you gonna show it to me?
- You wanna see 'em?
- Why not?
Oh, they're nice.
It's a pity I
couldn't be there, eh?
Oh, don't start.
What do you mean don't start?
You didn't think it'd
bother me when I found out?
If anybody knew
where you were.
Oh, bullshit, Dad.
You didn't want me there.
We wanted you there. We
just couldn't find you.
Everybody wanted you there.
Even Peter wanted you there.
Just nobody wanted the shit
that goes with having you.
Well, should I go now?
Stop it.
Look, we're gonna sit down
and have a cup of tea.
Ed, tell your father to
get me a bloody microwave.
- Dad, get Mom a microwave.
- Piss off.
I tried, Mom. I tried.
Give you cancer.
They don't give you cancer.
They bloody do!
Tell him he's a
miserable old shit.
How long you home for, Ed?
Oh, I don't know.
Where you
gonna be staying?
Down at the van.
Who said you could stay there?
Of course you can stay
there! It's my brother's van.
It's got nothing to
do with your father.
So, what is it this time, Mom?
How come you're not
talking to him this time?
I've got nothing
to say to him.
Oh! "Nothing to say."
Listen to her. She's
full of it, isn't she?
Tell him he can go
on as much as he wants.
It's just water
off a duck's back.
So why do you
two stay together?
- What do you mean?
- We do all right.
We do all right.
Tell your father he's right.
One day, you're
gonna go missin'
Missin' all the love
we used to share
One day, you're
gonna go missin'
I wonder if
anybody's gonna care
There will come a day
when all your friends say
Hey now, didn't
he treat you good
And on that day, you'll look
the other way and wonder why
You never did anything
about it when you could
Christ, Eddie.
Tell him to shut up.
One day, you're
going to be sorry
Sorry for the love you let
slide through your hands
One day, you're
going to be sorry
And everybody's
gonna understand
Mad as a cut snake.
Come to the footy.
I don't wanna
come to the footy.
I don't care. Come anyway.
I can't help you with
deep sea work, mate.
What about mullet?
Mullet?
Yeah, Mullet, mate. Mullet.
You know what mullet are?
- Yeah.
- Very sweet fish.
Soft, textured flesh.
Mm.
You used to go up with
your dad, didn't ya?
Well, what about his boat?
So you'll take a few?
I don't know, mate. I
might be just winding you up.
I might be setting
you up for a fall.
Well, that leaves me in a
bit of a bind, don't you think?
Ah, a few, mate.
We'll take a few.
So, I hear you're married.
- Yeah, I've heard that too.
- Hm.
And how's that?
Ah, it's all right. You know?
Got some kids.
- Three.
- Yeah.
Little buggers.
Well, you must be working
pretty hard then, huh?
Ah, you know.
Head down, bum up.
Lot to be said for
that kind of work.
So, it's all right, is it?
I mean, this marriage business?
Oh, I don't think
about it, mate.
And you? What about
you and Tully?
What?
Well, isn't that
why you came back?
No.
- No?
- No.
Yeah, whatever.
Well, mate, look, I better
be getting back to work,
otherwise I'll be sacking me.
Been good to see you, bud.
- Yeah.
Get it along
the line. Come on!
Yeah, yeah,
yeah! That's the one!
Watch those passes.
Come on!
- G'day.
- What...
Ah. Look what the
cat dragged in.
So you wanna run, do you?
Wouldn't mind.
Go and get your gear on.
Get it out.
All right, same line.
Walk it!
One line.
All right, now stretch it out!
Oh, if you can't run in
a bloody straight line,
how do you expect
to play as a team?
Back and do it again.
Didn't think you'd
still be playing.
Well, I haven't for a while.
You take my place.
Eh?
I'll be out for a few weeks.
It was that high tackle.
Take my place.
What do you want?
Want? What makes you
think I want something?
In a pub, people
usually want something.
- What something?
- A drink.
People could want a drink.
That's a possibility.
What do you think I want?
Well, I think you want
a smack in the head.
But why don't you try a drink?
People have been
known to enjoy them.
Okay, I'll go for the drink.
And I'll let you surprise
me on what else I get.
Home sweet home didn't turn
out like we thought it would
When you look at me, I
feel that I'm no good
You're up and
walking to the door
Fed up and don't
know what it's for
You're walking to that door
Don't know where
you're going and I
Don't know if I really care
All I want to do
Is hang my head and cry
Come here you bugger.
Yeah.
I saw him yesterday.
How was he?
Same.
How you mean, the same?
Don't go funny on me Pete.
What, have you got a problem
with me talking to him?
No.
Well, if
you do, just say so!
I will.
Did you tell him?
About us? Yeah.
- How was that?
- Oh, it was all right.
What about seeing him?
How, how was seeing him?
Well, it's fine. It's
been three years, you know?
I'm fine. It's all over.
He gave me the shits a
bit, being a smart arse.
- On the fridge.
- Ta.
You used to enjoy that.
No, it just gave me the shits.
So, what do you think about it?
I don't know.
You don't know?
For once, just for once, Pete,
why can't you just tell me
how you feel about something?
What are you afraid of?
Nothing.
If you wanna know
something, just ask me.
Oh, God. I did, I did!
I just asked you
the bloody question!
What're you getting so upset-
Nothing!
It's fine.
Tully, what?
What's the point?
You won't answer me.
So, what's the point?
See ya.
Tully?
Tully!
Big spunk!
Hey, boofhead!
How are you?
I'm so itchy, I could
scratch me insides out.
What's wrong with you?
I've had thrush
for three days,
so I've got half a
thing of yoghurt up me.
Oh, geez. Why'd
you tell me that for?
Well, what'd you ask for,
if you didn't wanna know?
I did want to know.
I just don't wanna
know all that stuff.
You look like you're gonna
have a big cry about it.
Don't chicks in
Sydney get thrush?
Course they bloody do.
Then what are you whinging
about, you big sook?
You seen Mom and Dad?
Yeah.
You seen Tully?
Did she whack ya?
If she didn't, I bloody should.
Well, it's nice
to see you too.
Did I say I wasn't
glad to see you? Did I?
No. Don't bloody think so.
What're you doing here?
Thought you hated us
all. Too boring for you.
Here's some fish.
For Gary.
- Are you staying?
- A while.
I don't know why you
bother. Doesn't seem worth it.
Drinking money.
Hey, aren't you supposed
to eat the yoghurt?
Yuk! No way!
You going down the pub later?
Maybe.
I might see you down the pub.
Thank you very much.
Hello,
Eddie. Where are you?
G'day.
It is.
We like it.
Thought I'd better come out.
Mm. Say g'day?
That's right.
You doing a bit of,
uh, mullet fishing?
Mm.
You have
a licence, then?
For mullet?
- If you're using a gill net.
- Oh, fuck off, Peter.
I suppose it doesn't
matter that much.
Gee, thanks.
We tried to find you but
no one knew where you were.
Oh, is that right?
How were we supposed to
know you were still in Sydney?
You didn't waste
much time, did you?
Huh?
Well, you must have gotten
in pretty quick after I left.
You just left.
- Yeah.
- Just pissed off.
Yes, I did.
You hadn't contacted
Tully for three years.
Three years.
And we're supposed to
bust a gut to find you,
to invite you to the wedding.
And even if you had come,
you would've just got pissed
and started a
fight or something.
What're weddings for?
I didn't come out
here to start a blue.
Hey, I'm sorry you didn't know.
If you're gonna be around,
we're having a barbie.
Be good if you could come.
When?
Saturday.
Beauty. I'll bring some fish.
Good.
Good.
Held.
Get up and play the ball!
Now, move it out across
the line! Come on!
Try and get there,
Terry, bugger you!
Held!
All right, gentlemen.
And good luck to 'em.
Quick hands!
Not always to the inside.
They'll read that.
They'll read that!
That's it. Send it out.
Stay creative!
Feed the line!
Pressure the ball!
Up and play it smartly.
That's the way.
Call for it.
We'll be here all
night, gentlemen.
We'll be here all bloody night!
Okay, let's go!
Pick the runner up!
Good stuff. Good stuff.
That's the way. Along the line.
Use your feet.
Face the ball! Face the ball!
That's the way.
Well done.
All right, another set of six.
Yoghurt's not doing anything.
Think it's making it worse.
- Who told you to use yoghurt?
- Oh, I read it somewhere.
Who'd be a woman, eh?
Who'd be a bloke?
Wouldn't it be good to have
a cock, even just for a day?
- Robbie!
- What?
Don't you think it'd be
good to see what it's like?
Yeah, probably.
It's just that I-
You don't wanna talk about it?
No, not really.
If you had one, it'd
make you act stupid.
Do you have to say
everything that you think?
- What's wrong with that?
- Nothing, it's just...
- What's up your arse?
- Nothing's up my arse.
I just don't feel
comfortable talking about it
with my sister-in-law,
that's all.
"Sister-in-law"?
Christ. You've never
called me that before.
He's back a couple of days
and everything's different.
It's got nothing
to do with him.
So, you gonna
play with us or what?
Come on.
- What else are you gonna do?
- I'll amuse myself.
Never been
able to amuse yourself.
You get bored quicker
than it takes most people
to have a hot dinner.
You gonna play with us or what?
Come on.
League's not
just a game, you know.
Yeah. It's more
than just a game.
That's right!
It's about heart!
It's about getting knocked
down, getting back up again.
Getting the ball, getting
knocked down again.
About not giving up.
- Here you are.
- What's that?
It's a fish.
A mullet?
Yeah, a mullet.
What am I supposed
to do with it?
Cook it. Eat it.
But it's a mullet.
Oh, I can't put anything
over on you, can I?
They taste like shit.
Thanks.
Hey, it's not your fault
that mullet tastes like shit.
That's just a fact of life.
You shouldn't take it personal.
Well, here you
are. Take it home to Mom.
It'll be woofy by the
time I get it there.
Look, do you want
the bloody fish or not?
Ah, give us it. Take it
home and feed it the chooks.
See you, Dad!
Hooroo.
Hey, hey, hey!
What're you doing?
I told you I didn't want one.
I don't want one, all right?
Bought you another beer.
Least you could do is drink it.
I don't bloody
want it, but here.
I'll tell you what I will do.
Hey, hey. That's not the
point, it's not the money.
It's about you going over there,
and buying 'em for your mates.
Fine.
I'll get you one.
Fuck him, fuck him!
Why bother with the cunt?
He's always been up
himself. Fuck him.
So, what?
I'm a cunt because I
don't want the beer?
No, I think you're a cunt
because you won't drink the beer
that's been bought for you.
I said I didn't want one,
and he goes and
gets me one anyway.
That's because he's your mate,
and that's what
mates fucking do!
Look, don't worry about it.
It doesn't matter.
I'll drink it.
It does matter!
You've always been too
fucking good, haven't you?
Eh?
You want me to drink the beer?
Do you want me to
drink the beer?
I'll fucking drink the beer.
Beautiful.
Might have a bit of yours,
if you don't mind, mate.
Mm.
That'll do me for now.
What round next?
Well, I tried to get
a job on the paper,
but they didn't like my writing.
Then I met some wanker wearing
a skivvy at this party.
He got me a job as a
copywriter at an agency.
What sort of agency?
Ads.
You were writing ads?
Yeah.
I got pretty good money, too.
Most of it went up my nose.
I acted
like a wanker.
Then I got the sack.
When?
Last week.
I'm through with
hangin' around
All the boys in town
Now I want a man around
Get me out of here
I am just a red brassiere
For all the boys in town
Put this bus in top gear
Get me out of here
I must've been desperate
I must've been pretty low
I must've been desperate
I must've been pretty low
Too much, too young
Too much, too young
It doesn't go like that.
There's a whole other
verse before that bit.
You're too pissed to drive home.
I am.
What're you doing?
Catching up.
Come on, then.
I've been writing again.
Yeah?
Nothing important or anything.
Just stuff about the town.
I used to like those letters
from when you were overseas.
I used to enjoy reading them.
Oh, they're just letters.
No, no, no. They were good.
When I read them, I could see
what you were talking about.
Smell it, even.
They were true.
- Yeah, they were letters.
Sure.
So, what're you
writing about the town?
Just stuff. Just what happens.
Stuff that happens in the
town, about this place.
About people that come
in here, into the pub.
And this is your
life's work, is it?
Stuff that happens in the town?
I mean, I think it's
good that you're writing.
There should be more of it.
Why don't you read...
Why don't you go and
read something to me?
- No, no, no.
- Go on.
No, it's not for anyone
else! I just do it for me.
Would you prefer if I left?
Hm? No, I wouldn't.
I asked you to stay.
Hey.
Yeah?
I'm glad you like my letters.
Chook, chook, chook!
Chook, chook, chook,
chook, chook, chook, chook!
How you going, girls?
Are they looking after ya?
What're you toey about?
You should've fucked me.
- Hey?
- You should've.
I didn't think it was a
particularly clever thing to do.
It wasn't fair. It
would've just been a fuck.
Well, I thought it
would make it difficult
when I came in for a drink.
Well, you don't know anything.
It would've been a
fuck. That's all.
A fuck. That's all.
- You could've asked me.
- Anybody else would've.
Look, you just asked me
if I wanted to sleep here.
Yeah, with me!
Yes, and I thought it
would make it complicated
when I came in for a drink!
Why?
I just thought it would.
Well, you don't know anything.
It would've just been a fuck.
Well, that's bullshit. "It
would've just been a fuck."
Would've been something.
It's always something.
You don't mean that.
How do you know
I don't mean that?
Look, I don't know much
about anything, all right?
But I do know when
you fuck someone,
things are different forever.
It doesn't have
to be a bad thing.
That's what you mean, but you
should've stayed with Tully.
Why'd you say that?
You going fishing?
'Cause nobody wants
'em, you know.
Nobody wants your fish anyway.
- Hey, look who's here.
- It's the mullet man.
- Yeah, love yous all.
- Mm, mullet.
My favourite.
- Oh, don't you start.
I don't think
it's thrush anymore.
I think it's me ovaries.
I think they're rooted.
Poor little buggers.
They're swimming along,
enjoying a bit of mud.
Next thing they know, they've
got a net up their gills,
and they're fucked.
James' mom cooks 'em good.
You know, they say that
fish have got bad memory?
They reckon that a goldfish,
by the time he's swam from
one side of the goldfish bowl
to the other, he's
forgotten all about it.
Then they swim around again
and it's all new again.
And again and again.
That's be fucking
fantastic, wouldn't it?
Wouldn't it?
Yeah, that's the best
bit. That's the bit.
That new bit.
That's the best bit about life.
That bit when you meet
someone, you like them,
they like you, and everything
could still be perfect.
Every bit.
Perfect.
And if you're a fish, well,
you could have that bit,
over and over,
and over again.
There are other bits.
Yeah, but they're
not as good, are they?
Yeah.
Just need more effort.
Doesn't Pete
let you smoke inside?
Well, it's my house. I
can smoke wherever I want.
If you've come to see
Pete, he's not here.
Oh, well. I'll
just have to talk to you.
What for?
'Cause you were a big
part of me for a long time.
Yeah, and you left.
Didn't say a word.
You just left.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sorry about that.
I'm sorry about leaving
and not telling you why,
but I didn't know.
I spent years trying
to figure it out.
Yeah, so have I.
I wanted to say that I was
sorry about getting the shits.
If you wanted to get
married, then good on you.
It's got nothing to do with me.
No, it doesn't.
I'm sorry that you didn't know.
I didn't make it
easy for anyone.
So, did you, you got bored?
- What do you mean?
- Was that why you came back?
'Cause you were bored?
Something like that.
Well, why did you
come back, Eddie?
'Cause this is
where I come from.
Didn't you miss me? Just a bit?
You know, you used to
say it was you and me
against the world.
Fuck 'em all.
Fuck 'em all. You still
think that, don't you?
You against the world.
- No, no.
Now I think it's the
world against me.
You know, when you left,
there wasn't anyone except Pete.
You know? Pete was nice to me.
Is that
what you call it?
You don't know anything
about being nice.
So, don't even have
an opinion on it.
Pete didn't want anything.
He was just being nice.
And after a while, I got
used to him being there,
and I, I, I, I liked it, but-
Yeah. What about love?
You're a bastard.
You know that?
I missed you. I really
fucking missed you.
You should go.
So,
what're you gonna do?
About what?
I don't know.
You know, about Eddie.
You getting back with him?
- What?
- You're gonna have to decide.
He won't.
All I wanna do is just go.
With Eddie?
No, not with him. Just away.
- Where?
- I don't know, somewhere...
Somewhere where it's nice, warm.
I don't know. Anywhere
where they're not.
Aren't you and
Pete getting on?
He's just not there, you know?
And even when he is, he's...
What do you want him to do?
Well, I want him
to do something!
I, I don't know. Lose
it, just for once, I...
Ah, just anything
that'll just show me
that his heart's still beating.
Come down the pub and
have a game of pool.
No, I gotta go home.
Pretty shitty.
Ta.
Give us a couple of beers, Kay.
I thought it would
make it complicated
when you came in for a drink.
Well, it could've,
but we were lucky.
What do you mean, "lucky"?
Do you go outta your way to
take everything the wrong way?
Here.
I've ended up sleeping
with half the blokes in town.
- Well, that's a lot.
- There's not that many.
Well...
Maybe not half, but a few.
Suppose I didn't really
sleep with 'em. I fucked 'em.
None of them stayed to sleep.
Well, a couple passed out.
I guess I didn't fuck
them. They fucked me.
Then they left.
Quickly.
So, did you get nothing?
What? Like a prize?
No. Like a disease.
Oh, nah.
Suppose I was lucky.
Look, we slept together.
We slept in the same bed.
That's not a bad thing.
You want another one?
No, I'm all right.
Did you get one for James?
Yeah.
Come on.
Met downtown in a local bar
Drinking rum and smoking tar
People there want
to put you down
Ooh, babe, you
been dancin' around
It don't matter what you do
I'm still in love with you
It don't matter
what they say
You can have me anyway
I'm still in love with you
I'm still in love with you
You all right?
See ya.
What's that supposed
to fucking mean?
Nothing.
- You having a go at me, mate?
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
I mean, St. George
offered you a contract.
But no, you'd rather just
stay in this shithole
the rest of your
life and do fuck all.
This is my home,
mate. I live here.
You went away, and you're
Mr. Happiness, are ya?
You reckon people in this town
have forgotten you're
an Abo, do you?
They just forget that when
you're winning the footy for 'em.
- What'd you do that for?
- What?
Kick him in the guts.
Am I wrong?
I mean, it's the way it's
gonna be. It's the truth.
And just because it's not
pleasant, it's not nice,
doesn't stop it being
the way things are.
Nice has got
nothing to do with it.
It was a gutless thing
to do. He's your friend!
What do you know about
the truth, anyway?
So, what happened
with you in Sydney?
Why don't you tell us
the truth about that?
- What?
- Oh, it doesn't matter.
I don't care.
The truth doesn't matter.
By saying what you did to
James, by saying what you did,
you're the first one,
the first person in
town to say to him,
"You're still just an Abo."
- I didn't say that.
- You did, you did!
That's what you just said.
Sorry. It's not what I meant.
You make it so hard for
anyone to like you, you know.
You make it so hard.
- Eddie.
- Rob.
I'm not taking
them, the mullet.
- How come?
- 'Cause I can't!
Can't get rid of 'em.
No one wants them.
Since when?
I don't know.
Small town, eh?
Everyone works together
to get rid of something
they don't like.
You know what I
never miss about you?
I never missed you going on
about your opinions
of the world.
What makes you think your
opinions are interesting anyway?
Sometimes I miss
you and me, you know?
No.
- What?
- I don't know.
You know?
I don't wanna know.
Well, sometimes I remember
when you and me were together,
and you'd say something,
something that made me
feel good about myself,
made me think, "Oh, yeah,
you're not that bad.
You're all right."
Think about how kind you were.
I didn't do it because
I was being kind,
you stupid bastard!
I did because I
loved you, Eddie!
Because I thought
you were all right.
I mean, that's
love, you fucking idiot.
That's all it is.
That you do something
nice for someone,
because you think
they're all right.
Oh, god.
It's not that fucking
hard, you know.
Shouldn't you
use a dustpan or something?
Hey.
- Leave it!
Oh, shit. Shit.
No, Tull. Tull!
Leave...
Ow!
Just, Tully.
Ow!
Ow.
Tully, um, Tully's
cut her hand.
- You all right?
- Yeah, it's just a little.
It's fine, it's fine.
Tully
offered you a beer?
Yeah.
Do you want another one?
No.
What about you, Tully?
Do you want a beer?
Is your hand all right?
- Yeah.
- You sure?
- Yes!
Women.
Can't live with 'em,
can't shoot 'em.
You can't do this.
What?
You can't just come
back and we go at it
like you haven't pissed off for
three years, without a word.
I waited. I fucking waited.
I don't like
that bloke anymore.
- Who?
- Me.
- So?
- So what?
So that makes it all right?
All right that you just
left and you didn't call me?
Sorry.
Fuck sorry!
Look, it was three years
ago. I don't feel like that.
Tell me, was it me?
It was everything.
That was a long time ago.
You don't deserve
me being nice to you.
I'm a bloody idiot.
Don't you wanna know
where I've been?
What're
you doing here?
We were supposed to
swap shifts, remember?
Haven't you got a barbie?
Ah, yeah. Yeah, I forgot.
What? About the barbie?
Nah, about the shifts.
Wish I could forget
about the barbie.
How about I shoot him?
- Who?
- Your brother.
I'll shoot him. You know,
resisting arrest or something.
You just gotta back me up.
- I'm not hearing this.
You're not saying this.
- Yeah, maybe not shoot him.
But you know, just slap him
round a bit. Mess him up a bit.
I could suspend
you for saying that.
Mate, he's making a
dickhead outta you, okay?
And you're doing nothing.
You don't wanna do
it? I'll do it for ya.
No, the only dickhead here
is you. Now, you shut up!
- Mate, I was just saying-
- Just shut up!
You didn't say anything.
I didn't hear anything.
You didn't even think anything.
All right?
So, you're just
gonna do nothin'?
Hello, love. Where's Pete?
Tull.
That was a bit of
a bloody performance.
What's wrong with her?
Hello. Here's trouble.
Yeah, good to see you
too, you grumpy old bastard.
- What've you got there?
- Couple of mullet.
What're you
gonna do with them?
What do you bloody reckon?
Oh, bloody
get out of the way!
Here. Where's Tully?
She's in the dunny.
Looked a bit crook.
You all right in there?
Piss off.
Look, if you're in
there because of me,
I'll go, all right?
Why do you think everything
has to be about you?
Christ, I've wasted
the last three years
letting it be about you.
It's not about you anymore!
She all right?
She's fine.
You seen your sister?
Hey?
Why do you keep asking me
the same bloody
questions all the time?
Too complicated
for you, is it?
Oh, stop it, you two.
There you go. That'll
be her and James now.
He's a good fella, James.
Pity he's a Black fella.
Tell your
father James can't help it.
- Here, let me take that.
- No, no, you take this.
You take this. I've got it.
Why don't you want
me to take it?
It would just be easier.
You don't want the dumb
Black fella carrying the grog?
Not in front of family, eh?
Why'd you bring me then?
What're they
carrying on about?
What're
you talking about?
You and Dad have been
carrying on, half my life.
What do you mean,
"carrying on"?
What's that got to
do with anything?
Will you lot shut up?
Eddie, tell your father to go
and chop some wood
for the barbie.
Well, go on! You heard her.
Go chop some wood
for the barbie!
Eddie.
What?
Are you clever?
What?
Clever. Smart.
Are ya?
I don't know.
What do you mean?
You always said you
were. Clever, I mean.
I never really thought about it.
You should just go away, mate.
Well, I've got
nowhere else to go, Mom.
Go and give your
old man a hand,
before he has a heart attack.
Look out.
Oh, fuck!
You'd think
he'd bloody sharpen it.
Well, if you used it properly-
What do you mean,
properly? It's blunt!
You swing it like a poof.
Listen, I've been chopping
wood for 15 years, all right?
That axe is blunt.
And I've been chopping wood
since before you were born,
and after you pissed
off to the city.
Even your mother knows how
to use an axe properly.
It's blunt.
Well, maybe you should make
do with what you've got, eh?
What's that? Your contribution
of fatherly advice, is it?
That's what it is.
Look, I...
I don't get it.
What? You don't get what?
It! You know!
This family.
Life.
Love.
Love. I don't get love.
What would I know about it?
Well, you must know
something about love.
You and Mom have been
together forever.
Wanna know what I know
about love? I'll tell you.
Some mornings, I wake
up next to your mother,
I look at her and I think,
"Who the bloody hell are you?"
And there are other
mornings I wake up,
and I look at her and I think,
"Thank Christ you're here,
'cause at least I
know where I am."
It's about taking the
good with the bad,
and you don't get one with...
Without the other.
You all
right in there?
Look, I'll be out in
a minute, all right?
I've got some ice.
I was thinking about
putting it in the bath.
We don't have a bath.
Well,
where will I put it?
Just leave it outside.
Carpet will get wet.
Just leave it!
Fuck.
He's a pain in the arse,
that brother of yours.
Jones reckons I
should shoot him.
Resisting arrest.
Can I come and watch?
I thought you all liked him.
No one likes him, Pete.
People might love him,
but they don't like him.
What about you?
What about me?
So, what's all this for? You
planning on going on a bender?
Nah.
Having a barbie at my house.
Maybe you should come along.
Oh, I appreciate the offer,
but uh, what goes on in your
family's between you lot.
Thanks all the same.
Oh, we're pretty well behaved.
Maybe that's the problem.
How's it going, James?
I'm Black, mate.
Oh! Is that right?
I would've said more of
a coffee colour or a tan.
No, no, definitely
Black. No question.
I've been told, mate, in no
uncertain terms. I've been told.
- Oh, stop it.
- He's not here, huh?
What's going on here?
Are you lot fighting?
There's no need for it. There's
no need for any nastiness.
Right? Just be nice.
- What you mean by nice?
- Be normal. That's nice.
Nice and normal.
Tully?
You in there?
- Piss off.
What's going on?
Come out.
- What for?
You won't even
fucking talk to me.
I will.
Just don't start yelling at me.
Well, why should I come out
and pretend we're one
big happy family, Pete?
Why should I?
You gonna leave?
Are you gonna go off with him?
That's it, isn't it?
It's just one big
competition between you two.
But I don't matter.
I'm just the thing you're
fighting over, aren't I?
Why don't you kiss each
other or kill each other?
I don't know!
Just put the rest of us
out of our bloody misery.
Why are we having this stupid
bloody barbecue anyway?
I mean, you can just
tell them all to go away.
I'm sick of your bloody family.
Dad?
Yeah?
Can you watch the bar for me?
Yeah, no
worries. Off you go.
Is that nice?
Oh, you're
just being stupid.
What, because I don't
know what nice is?
I'm not talking to you.
What, because
I'm not being nice?
Nice, nice!
Smiling. Now, smiling's nice.
Well, hold on. Have
you ever seen anyone smile...
What type of people
smile all the time?
Mentally handicapped, used
car salesmen and Americans!
That's who.
I'm sick of
you and your bloody mouth.
It's all fun for you, isn't it?
You hate me and James
because we're happy.
You want be happy.
- What? You don't know-
No, you don't know
how to be happy!
You wanna be happy and
you're jealous about it!
You all right?
Everyone having a good time?
Got something to eat?
Something to drink?
You know what?
I wish you'd all just piss off!
What's wrong with him?
- What's wrong with me?
- Yeah.
Well, maybe my
little brother's right.
Maybe being nice isn't normal.
Well, maybe not for him.
Well, where's it gotten
you, Mum? Being nice.
You and Dad can hardly
talk to each other.
I do the right thing.
Have a barbecue to welcome
back my little brother home.
That was a nice thing
to do, wasn't it?
Well, where's it gotten me?
Jesus, Peter, listen to
yourself. "Where's it gotten me?
Where's it gotten
me? I've been nice."
You've got everything you want!
You've got everything
I bloody well want!
"Where's it gotten me?"
- You don't even have to try.
It's always been easy for you.
The sun's always
shone outta your arse.
Oh, that's right. Blame me.
I've been a shit house mother,
and all your problems
are my bloody fault, eh?
What're you doing here?
You're like some stray dog,
following your own scent!
I'm here because I thought
this is where I belonged.
- What, here?
- Yes, here!
You don't belong,
'cause you don't know
what it is to belong!
Belonging's about hanging round!
But not you!
As soon as a going gets tough,
you piss off and you
leave behind a big mess
for somebody else to clean up!
Look, I don't know
how to get what I want.
It's not about
about what you get.
It's about what you give!
Mate, I love Tully
more than anything,
but if she'd be happier
with you, then she'll go.
I'm not going anywhere!
I'm not going anywhere.
What're you doing?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Are you all right?
Um...
We're gonna have a baby.
I knew it. I knew it.
Well, that
explains a lot.
Is that what you want?
Yes, it's what I want.
Good. That's great.
Come on,
let's not make a fuss.
Let 'em be alone, eh?
Come on, let's get out.
Oh, what a
family, eh? What a beauty.
Ow!
I'm sorry.
The hard thing
about writing stories
about people you know,
is finding the end.
Because even when you
think it's finishing,
something else is
always starting up.
But I suppose
that's the point.
So, what do you know?
Well, I know one or
two things about love.
- What are they?
- I'll tell you sometime.
Sometime.
I didn't really
wanna know what you know.
- No?
- No.
It's just an expression.
What's that?
Sort of a barmaid thing?
Sort of.
Well,
what do you know about love?
Are you taking
the piss outta me?
No, I'm not. I wanna know.
Well, I don't know about
love, but I know what I like.
You gonna come inside?
No, I was just
gonna keep on driving,
as it seems everyone in
town wants me to leave.
Not everyone.
How long do you reckon we
have to stay out here for?
Another 15 minutes,
just to keep her happy.
Okay.
There used to be
thousands of 'em!
Didn't have to
hunt 'em like this.
It's too cold for prawns!
That's why there's
nobody else here!
Ah, we used to
just chuck the net in
and scoop up a couple
of pounds of 'em.
Anytime of the year.
- Yeah, yeah.
People are greedy now.
They aren't happy
just to get a feed.
Hey,
I've got something!
Something strayed into my net!
Well, pull it
out of the water!
Go on!
- It's a fish.
- What sort of fish?
- It's a beauty!
- What is it?
Oh, bugger. It's
a bloody mullet.
Oh, chuck it back.
No way! I caught it!
It's a mullet! They're
not good for anything!
They're all right.
They're good.
I'm not eating that. No way.
When you work in a pub,
people tell you things they
wouldn't tell anyone else.
This isn't my story.
I'm in it, but
it's not about me.
It mightn't be right, but
it's the way I remember it.
People think that country towns
are full of rednecks and gossip
or they think they're
about home spun wisdom
and preserved fruit.
There's some of that here,
but mostly, it's full of people
just trying to get
on with each other.
Most of this town's stories are
about people getting married
and having kids, or they're
about petty scandals,
or people leaving.
This one's about
someone coming back.
- Going to Coollawarra?
- Yeah.
You can hop in the
back, if you want.
Ta.
Do we have to go
through this every time?
Gary, just take the money.
They'll do me for corruption,
if I don't pay for the bastards.
Mate, it's just a
couple of leather jackets.
- Just take the money.
- Look, you me mate.
Now, is it unreasonable for
a mate to give a mate a fish?
And what about
poor old Jesus, eh?
When he was handing out
the loaves and the fishes?
Was that corruption? I
don't bloody think so.
If you don't take the money,
I'm gonna have to arrest you
for attending to corrupt
an officer of the law.
Geez, you're a hard bastard.
Hard...
But fair.
Yeah, just try 'em with
a bit of flour, all right?
Fried with a bit of
butter and parsley.
Well, I'm not looking
for anyone else
And I'm not searching
for big answers
I'm just sifting through
All these memories of you
All these versions of you
- Hey, copper.
- Hey.
Where's my fish?
I had a shit of a morning.
Bad?
Yeah, like not good.
What? No fish?
I thought we'd
have the mullet.
No.
Got some leather jackets.
How are you?
I'm good
- Kids good?
- Yeah, they were good.
Didn't worry you, Mom
going on the other night?
Nah. I like your mom.
You like kids, too.
Please, Pete!
You work
with 'em all day!
No, I don't wanna
have another fight about this!
Just want
you to think about it.
Yeah, but I told you
when we got married.
- Yeah, I know.
- I'd be a fucked mom.
- You'd be good.
- No, I wouldn't.
Yes, you would.
Hey, you know what'd be good?
- What?
- A puppy.
A puppy would be good.
We could get a big one and
train it to be an attack dog.
It'd be good.
We don't need a dog.
Yeah, well, we don't need one,
but we might want
one, mightn't we?
Hey? Do you reckon?
Puppy would be good, hey?
Puppy.
Hey?
- I gotta go to footy.
- What?
- I gotta go to footy.
See ya.
See ya.
- Thanks a lot.
- No worries.
Where is everyone?
Crows are playing. Hey,
aren't you Col's kid?
As far as I know.
Don't they call you Mullet?
That's what some
people call me.
Footy star, right?
No, mate.
So, you didn't go up to
Sydney to play first grade?
No, I didn't. Listen,
is the car yard open?
Down there.
Ta.
Get off him.
Get off him!
Back off!
Oh!
He ducked into it, ref.
Ref, he ducked into it.
Get him off!
Oi.
Too high, mate. Off.
Oh, that's bullshit!
Jazza, Jazza, Jazza!
Come on, Alan.
He ducked into it.
You're a copper.
You're supposed to be setting
a good example to the kids.
Hit 'em around the legs.
They can't run without legs!
How many times have
I gotta tell you?
- Think I meant to do it?
- What?
Do you think I meant to do it?
Right, it's our
penalty. Let's get set.
Fuck me dead.
Mullet, you mongrel.
How you been?
Who's that bloke?
Just a bloke.
Hey, Kay. Two Reschs, thanks.
G'day, Eddie.
I didn't know you
were back in town.
Hey, Kay.
Kay's off.
Is that the best you can do?
Three years and "Hey, Kay"
is the best you can do?
Well, it rhymed.
I want a proper
hi, you bastard!
Can I finish?
I just got in today.
So, what are you doing back?
Oh, thought I'd
see how many people
I can give the shits to.
Yeah, well, you can
put me down as the first.
Heard you were in London,
working on some big paper.
I've never been
there in my life.
So what have you been doing?
Not much.
You gonna flush that?
I'm the stupid bitch who
has to clean that out
in the morning.
And wash your hands, you grab.
Yeah, it's good to see
you, ya ugly bastard.
Yeah, well, I wish I could
say the same about you.
Now, now, I heard that
you was a big movie producer
now over in Hollywood.
Oh, yeah. Who told you that?
I don't know. Someone told me.
So, um, what about,
what about Gary?
How come he wasn't
playing today?
- Gary?
- Gary?
Gaza.
- Oh, he's not-
- Yeah, he is.
- Is he?
- He is, yeah.
Three years.
Three years.
Three years and
three kids. True.
- It's not Sandy.
- Yep.
Three years ago. You
been away that long?
Yeah.
Oh!
Stupid cow, Robbie.
He could've spilled my beer.
What's the matter, brother?
Aren't you glad to see me?
What's
going on out there?
Oh, it's just
the Maloney's, Dad.
Eddie's back.
- Mullet?
- Yeah.
Oh, for fuck sake!
I thought we got
rid of him for good!
Tell 'em to behave or
they're out the bloody door!
Yeah, it's
a head-high tackle.
Hey, are you hungry,
or are you gonna play
with that thing all night?
Gotta make it safe.
Guess what?
- What?
I heard Eddie's in town.
So
what's gonna happen?
Are they gonna stop
you playing or-
Yeah, probably.
A couple of weeks.
Have you seen him?
Yeah, he
was at the game.
What did he want?
I don't
know. I only saw him.
Well why did you say
that you heard he was in town
when you saw him?
- Whatever.
- Yeah.
I'm the one
that should be worried.
And why
should you be worried?
So, what are you doing back?
I'm not back.
I'm just visitin'.
What do you want?
Doesn't matter what I want.
Only matters what I can get.
Not very much, then.
What about you?
Thought you were gonna get
outta here as soon as you could?
Ah, I went for a bit, but
somebody's gotta run the pub,
now that Mom's gone.
I'm sorry. I didn't know.
What? That she ran off with
a poker machine repair man?
That's not funny.
Yeah, I dreamt I'd
eaten a large marshmallow
and when I woke up,
my pillow was gone.
That's
not funny at all.
Hey, you want to go
easy on that, mate.
Tell her to.
She's the one driving.
Why am I driving? Why
don't I drink and you drive?
Look, just stop being
a cop for a minute
and have your go, Pete.
I'm just concerned, that's
all. Aren't I allowed to care?
Oh, don't give us that.
Hey, aren't you getting
anyone else a drink?
Thought everyone else
was bloody driving.
You gonna have your go, mate?
You see Eddie at the game?
Blackjack.
You Mongrel.
Maybe we should have a barbie.
- Sucked in.
- Sucked in.
Yeah.
- Everyone together.
- Pick up seven.
Mm-hm.
What was that?
What?
- Did you hear something?
- I didn't hear anything.
Think I'll check the car.
Work 24 hours a
day. Doesn't stop.
What about Jonesy?
He's all right, isn't he?
Jonesy? He's bloody useless.
Okay, now you're your first.
Well done!
That's very good. Okay, Jazz.
Want me to take that
off? Okay, go, Jazz.
- Now here we go!
- Oh, nearly.
Another go. Oh, here we go.
One more.
- What about we move it here?
- Yeah, we can move it there.
Or we can
move it right here!
All right, I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have come here.
No, you shouldn't. You
should just stay away.
Are you staying?
- I don't know.
- You don't know?
No. I don't know.
Gee, that's unlike
you, Eddie. Really is.
Jeez, you look good.
What do you want?
What makes you think
I want something?
Because you always
want something.
Look, I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have come here.
It wasn't fair.
And what's that
supposed to mean?
What, is there some fair way
of just turning up
after three years?
I'm sorry, I, I shouldn't
have punched in the head.
No, no, no, no. It's
all right, I deserved it.
What's
that? You married?
You know I'm married.
Who to?
To Pete. We got married
last year in October.
So why didn't
anyone let me know?
Well, nobody knew
where you were.
- That's bullshit.
- They tried.
- Such bullshit.
- Eddie, people tried!
People tried to find you!
So who's this
Mullet bloke, then?
Just a bloke.
People keep saying he
was a good footy player.
- I don't think so.
- No?
How good was he?
What do you care?
Don't get the shits.
I'm just asking.
You mates with him?
Yeah, I suppose.
Well, either you
are or you aren't.
He's my brother.
Hello.
Hello! Come here, Zip.
Hey, come here, you
grumpy old girl.
Hey? Yeah, you're a
weakly old mongrel.
Yeah.
All right?
Hello.
Hello, you dirty old mongrel.
You took your time
getting out here.
Call your mother.
- Oh, what?
She's still not talking to ya?
- Just call her.
- Mom!
- Now what's all this?
Like a rat looking
through a straw broom.
Mom!
Well, you got a bloody
kiss for me or what?
Yeah, all right.
Our Zip. She misses ya.
Hm.
Well, come on.
Gonna stand around here
like a bunch of Anglicans?
Let's go inside.
- Yeah, hang on a minute.
Tell your father it can
wait till after a cup of tea.
It'll just take a minute.
Something I wanna show you.
Here we go.
Well?
What?
The toilet.
The toilet?
The toilet.
It's a bloody flush toilet.
Put it in a couple
of months ago.
Oh, right.
Yeah.
It's good, Dad. It's good.
Here. Don't you
wanna see it flush?
No, no! Take your word for it.
Listen.
It's beautiful.
What are they?
Just some photos.
Of the wedding?
Aren't you gonna show it to me?
- You wanna see 'em?
- Why not?
Oh, they're nice.
It's a pity I
couldn't be there, eh?
Oh, don't start.
What do you mean don't start?
You didn't think it'd
bother me when I found out?
If anybody knew
where you were.
Oh, bullshit, Dad.
You didn't want me there.
We wanted you there. We
just couldn't find you.
Everybody wanted you there.
Even Peter wanted you there.
Just nobody wanted the shit
that goes with having you.
Well, should I go now?
Stop it.
Look, we're gonna sit down
and have a cup of tea.
Ed, tell your father to
get me a bloody microwave.
- Dad, get Mom a microwave.
- Piss off.
I tried, Mom. I tried.
Give you cancer.
They don't give you cancer.
They bloody do!
Tell him he's a
miserable old shit.
How long you home for, Ed?
Oh, I don't know.
Where you
gonna be staying?
Down at the van.
Who said you could stay there?
Of course you can stay
there! It's my brother's van.
It's got nothing to
do with your father.
So, what is it this time, Mom?
How come you're not
talking to him this time?
I've got nothing
to say to him.
Oh! "Nothing to say."
Listen to her. She's
full of it, isn't she?
Tell him he can go
on as much as he wants.
It's just water
off a duck's back.
So why do you
two stay together?
- What do you mean?
- We do all right.
We do all right.
Tell your father he's right.
One day, you're
gonna go missin'
Missin' all the love
we used to share
One day, you're
gonna go missin'
I wonder if
anybody's gonna care
There will come a day
when all your friends say
Hey now, didn't
he treat you good
And on that day, you'll look
the other way and wonder why
You never did anything
about it when you could
Christ, Eddie.
Tell him to shut up.
One day, you're
going to be sorry
Sorry for the love you let
slide through your hands
One day, you're
going to be sorry
And everybody's
gonna understand
Mad as a cut snake.
Come to the footy.
I don't wanna
come to the footy.
I don't care. Come anyway.
I can't help you with
deep sea work, mate.
What about mullet?
Mullet?
Yeah, Mullet, mate. Mullet.
You know what mullet are?
- Yeah.
- Very sweet fish.
Soft, textured flesh.
Mm.
You used to go up with
your dad, didn't ya?
Well, what about his boat?
So you'll take a few?
I don't know, mate. I
might be just winding you up.
I might be setting
you up for a fall.
Well, that leaves me in a
bit of a bind, don't you think?
Ah, a few, mate.
We'll take a few.
So, I hear you're married.
- Yeah, I've heard that too.
- Hm.
And how's that?
Ah, it's all right. You know?
Got some kids.
- Three.
- Yeah.
Little buggers.
Well, you must be working
pretty hard then, huh?
Ah, you know.
Head down, bum up.
Lot to be said for
that kind of work.
So, it's all right, is it?
I mean, this marriage business?
Oh, I don't think
about it, mate.
And you? What about
you and Tully?
What?
Well, isn't that
why you came back?
No.
- No?
- No.
Yeah, whatever.
Well, mate, look, I better
be getting back to work,
otherwise I'll be sacking me.
Been good to see you, bud.
- Yeah.
Get it along
the line. Come on!
Yeah, yeah,
yeah! That's the one!
Watch those passes.
Come on!
- G'day.
- What...
Ah. Look what the
cat dragged in.
So you wanna run, do you?
Wouldn't mind.
Go and get your gear on.
Get it out.
All right, same line.
Walk it!
One line.
All right, now stretch it out!
Oh, if you can't run in
a bloody straight line,
how do you expect
to play as a team?
Back and do it again.
Didn't think you'd
still be playing.
Well, I haven't for a while.
You take my place.
Eh?
I'll be out for a few weeks.
It was that high tackle.
Take my place.
What do you want?
Want? What makes you
think I want something?
In a pub, people
usually want something.
- What something?
- A drink.
People could want a drink.
That's a possibility.
What do you think I want?
Well, I think you want
a smack in the head.
But why don't you try a drink?
People have been
known to enjoy them.
Okay, I'll go for the drink.
And I'll let you surprise
me on what else I get.
Home sweet home didn't turn
out like we thought it would
When you look at me, I
feel that I'm no good
You're up and
walking to the door
Fed up and don't
know what it's for
You're walking to that door
Don't know where
you're going and I
Don't know if I really care
All I want to do
Is hang my head and cry
Come here you bugger.
Yeah.
I saw him yesterday.
How was he?
Same.
How you mean, the same?
Don't go funny on me Pete.
What, have you got a problem
with me talking to him?
No.
Well, if
you do, just say so!
I will.
Did you tell him?
About us? Yeah.
- How was that?
- Oh, it was all right.
What about seeing him?
How, how was seeing him?
Well, it's fine. It's
been three years, you know?
I'm fine. It's all over.
He gave me the shits a
bit, being a smart arse.
- On the fridge.
- Ta.
You used to enjoy that.
No, it just gave me the shits.
So, what do you think about it?
I don't know.
You don't know?
For once, just for once, Pete,
why can't you just tell me
how you feel about something?
What are you afraid of?
Nothing.
If you wanna know
something, just ask me.
Oh, God. I did, I did!
I just asked you
the bloody question!
What're you getting so upset-
Nothing!
It's fine.
Tully, what?
What's the point?
You won't answer me.
So, what's the point?
See ya.
Tully?
Tully!
Big spunk!
Hey, boofhead!
How are you?
I'm so itchy, I could
scratch me insides out.
What's wrong with you?
I've had thrush
for three days,
so I've got half a
thing of yoghurt up me.
Oh, geez. Why'd
you tell me that for?
Well, what'd you ask for,
if you didn't wanna know?
I did want to know.
I just don't wanna
know all that stuff.
You look like you're gonna
have a big cry about it.
Don't chicks in
Sydney get thrush?
Course they bloody do.
Then what are you whinging
about, you big sook?
You seen Mom and Dad?
Yeah.
You seen Tully?
Did she whack ya?
If she didn't, I bloody should.
Well, it's nice
to see you too.
Did I say I wasn't
glad to see you? Did I?
No. Don't bloody think so.
What're you doing here?
Thought you hated us
all. Too boring for you.
Here's some fish.
For Gary.
- Are you staying?
- A while.
I don't know why you
bother. Doesn't seem worth it.
Drinking money.
Hey, aren't you supposed
to eat the yoghurt?
Yuk! No way!
You going down the pub later?
Maybe.
I might see you down the pub.
Thank you very much.
Hello,
Eddie. Where are you?
G'day.
It is.
We like it.
Thought I'd better come out.
Mm. Say g'day?
That's right.
You doing a bit of,
uh, mullet fishing?
Mm.
You have
a licence, then?
For mullet?
- If you're using a gill net.
- Oh, fuck off, Peter.
I suppose it doesn't
matter that much.
Gee, thanks.
We tried to find you but
no one knew where you were.
Oh, is that right?
How were we supposed to
know you were still in Sydney?
You didn't waste
much time, did you?
Huh?
Well, you must have gotten
in pretty quick after I left.
You just left.
- Yeah.
- Just pissed off.
Yes, I did.
You hadn't contacted
Tully for three years.
Three years.
And we're supposed to
bust a gut to find you,
to invite you to the wedding.
And even if you had come,
you would've just got pissed
and started a
fight or something.
What're weddings for?
I didn't come out
here to start a blue.
Hey, I'm sorry you didn't know.
If you're gonna be around,
we're having a barbie.
Be good if you could come.
When?
Saturday.
Beauty. I'll bring some fish.
Good.
Good.
Held.
Get up and play the ball!
Now, move it out across
the line! Come on!
Try and get there,
Terry, bugger you!
Held!
All right, gentlemen.
And good luck to 'em.
Quick hands!
Not always to the inside.
They'll read that.
They'll read that!
That's it. Send it out.
Stay creative!
Feed the line!
Pressure the ball!
Up and play it smartly.
That's the way.
Call for it.
We'll be here all
night, gentlemen.
We'll be here all bloody night!
Okay, let's go!
Pick the runner up!
Good stuff. Good stuff.
That's the way. Along the line.
Use your feet.
Face the ball! Face the ball!
That's the way.
Well done.
All right, another set of six.
Yoghurt's not doing anything.
Think it's making it worse.
- Who told you to use yoghurt?
- Oh, I read it somewhere.
Who'd be a woman, eh?
Who'd be a bloke?
Wouldn't it be good to have
a cock, even just for a day?
- Robbie!
- What?
Don't you think it'd be
good to see what it's like?
Yeah, probably.
It's just that I-
You don't wanna talk about it?
No, not really.
If you had one, it'd
make you act stupid.
Do you have to say
everything that you think?
- What's wrong with that?
- Nothing, it's just...
- What's up your arse?
- Nothing's up my arse.
I just don't feel
comfortable talking about it
with my sister-in-law,
that's all.
"Sister-in-law"?
Christ. You've never
called me that before.
He's back a couple of days
and everything's different.
It's got nothing
to do with him.
So, you gonna
play with us or what?
Come on.
- What else are you gonna do?
- I'll amuse myself.
Never been
able to amuse yourself.
You get bored quicker
than it takes most people
to have a hot dinner.
You gonna play with us or what?
Come on.
League's not
just a game, you know.
Yeah. It's more
than just a game.
That's right!
It's about heart!
It's about getting knocked
down, getting back up again.
Getting the ball, getting
knocked down again.
About not giving up.
- Here you are.
- What's that?
It's a fish.
A mullet?
Yeah, a mullet.
What am I supposed
to do with it?
Cook it. Eat it.
But it's a mullet.
Oh, I can't put anything
over on you, can I?
They taste like shit.
Thanks.
Hey, it's not your fault
that mullet tastes like shit.
That's just a fact of life.
You shouldn't take it personal.
Well, here you
are. Take it home to Mom.
It'll be woofy by the
time I get it there.
Look, do you want
the bloody fish or not?
Ah, give us it. Take it
home and feed it the chooks.
See you, Dad!
Hooroo.
Hey, hey, hey!
What're you doing?
I told you I didn't want one.
I don't want one, all right?
Bought you another beer.
Least you could do is drink it.
I don't bloody
want it, but here.
I'll tell you what I will do.
Hey, hey. That's not the
point, it's not the money.
It's about you going over there,
and buying 'em for your mates.
Fine.
I'll get you one.
Fuck him, fuck him!
Why bother with the cunt?
He's always been up
himself. Fuck him.
So, what?
I'm a cunt because I
don't want the beer?
No, I think you're a cunt
because you won't drink the beer
that's been bought for you.
I said I didn't want one,
and he goes and
gets me one anyway.
That's because he's your mate,
and that's what
mates fucking do!
Look, don't worry about it.
It doesn't matter.
I'll drink it.
It does matter!
You've always been too
fucking good, haven't you?
Eh?
You want me to drink the beer?
Do you want me to
drink the beer?
I'll fucking drink the beer.
Beautiful.
Might have a bit of yours,
if you don't mind, mate.
Mm.
That'll do me for now.
What round next?
Well, I tried to get
a job on the paper,
but they didn't like my writing.
Then I met some wanker wearing
a skivvy at this party.
He got me a job as a
copywriter at an agency.
What sort of agency?
Ads.
You were writing ads?
Yeah.
I got pretty good money, too.
Most of it went up my nose.
I acted
like a wanker.
Then I got the sack.
When?
Last week.
I'm through with
hangin' around
All the boys in town
Now I want a man around
Get me out of here
I am just a red brassiere
For all the boys in town
Put this bus in top gear
Get me out of here
I must've been desperate
I must've been pretty low
I must've been desperate
I must've been pretty low
Too much, too young
Too much, too young
It doesn't go like that.
There's a whole other
verse before that bit.
You're too pissed to drive home.
I am.
What're you doing?
Catching up.
Come on, then.
I've been writing again.
Yeah?
Nothing important or anything.
Just stuff about the town.
I used to like those letters
from when you were overseas.
I used to enjoy reading them.
Oh, they're just letters.
No, no, no. They were good.
When I read them, I could see
what you were talking about.
Smell it, even.
They were true.
- Yeah, they were letters.
Sure.
So, what're you
writing about the town?
Just stuff. Just what happens.
Stuff that happens in the
town, about this place.
About people that come
in here, into the pub.
And this is your
life's work, is it?
Stuff that happens in the town?
I mean, I think it's
good that you're writing.
There should be more of it.
Why don't you read...
Why don't you go and
read something to me?
- No, no, no.
- Go on.
No, it's not for anyone
else! I just do it for me.
Would you prefer if I left?
Hm? No, I wouldn't.
I asked you to stay.
Hey.
Yeah?
I'm glad you like my letters.
Chook, chook, chook!
Chook, chook, chook,
chook, chook, chook, chook!
How you going, girls?
Are they looking after ya?
What're you toey about?
You should've fucked me.
- Hey?
- You should've.
I didn't think it was a
particularly clever thing to do.
It wasn't fair. It
would've just been a fuck.
Well, I thought it
would make it difficult
when I came in for a drink.
Well, you don't know anything.
It would've been a
fuck. That's all.
A fuck. That's all.
- You could've asked me.
- Anybody else would've.
Look, you just asked me
if I wanted to sleep here.
Yeah, with me!
Yes, and I thought it
would make it complicated
when I came in for a drink!
Why?
I just thought it would.
Well, you don't know anything.
It would've just been a fuck.
Well, that's bullshit. "It
would've just been a fuck."
Would've been something.
It's always something.
You don't mean that.
How do you know
I don't mean that?
Look, I don't know much
about anything, all right?
But I do know when
you fuck someone,
things are different forever.
It doesn't have
to be a bad thing.
That's what you mean, but you
should've stayed with Tully.
Why'd you say that?
You going fishing?
'Cause nobody wants
'em, you know.
Nobody wants your fish anyway.
- Hey, look who's here.
- It's the mullet man.
- Yeah, love yous all.
- Mm, mullet.
My favourite.
- Oh, don't you start.
I don't think
it's thrush anymore.
I think it's me ovaries.
I think they're rooted.
Poor little buggers.
They're swimming along,
enjoying a bit of mud.
Next thing they know, they've
got a net up their gills,
and they're fucked.
James' mom cooks 'em good.
You know, they say that
fish have got bad memory?
They reckon that a goldfish,
by the time he's swam from
one side of the goldfish bowl
to the other, he's
forgotten all about it.
Then they swim around again
and it's all new again.
And again and again.
That's be fucking
fantastic, wouldn't it?
Wouldn't it?
Yeah, that's the best
bit. That's the bit.
That new bit.
That's the best bit about life.
That bit when you meet
someone, you like them,
they like you, and everything
could still be perfect.
Every bit.
Perfect.
And if you're a fish, well,
you could have that bit,
over and over,
and over again.
There are other bits.
Yeah, but they're
not as good, are they?
Yeah.
Just need more effort.
Doesn't Pete
let you smoke inside?
Well, it's my house. I
can smoke wherever I want.
If you've come to see
Pete, he's not here.
Oh, well. I'll
just have to talk to you.
What for?
'Cause you were a big
part of me for a long time.
Yeah, and you left.
Didn't say a word.
You just left.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sorry about that.
I'm sorry about leaving
and not telling you why,
but I didn't know.
I spent years trying
to figure it out.
Yeah, so have I.
I wanted to say that I was
sorry about getting the shits.
If you wanted to get
married, then good on you.
It's got nothing to do with me.
No, it doesn't.
I'm sorry that you didn't know.
I didn't make it
easy for anyone.
So, did you, you got bored?
- What do you mean?
- Was that why you came back?
'Cause you were bored?
Something like that.
Well, why did you
come back, Eddie?
'Cause this is
where I come from.
Didn't you miss me? Just a bit?
You know, you used to
say it was you and me
against the world.
Fuck 'em all.
Fuck 'em all. You still
think that, don't you?
You against the world.
- No, no.
Now I think it's the
world against me.
You know, when you left,
there wasn't anyone except Pete.
You know? Pete was nice to me.
Is that
what you call it?
You don't know anything
about being nice.
So, don't even have
an opinion on it.
Pete didn't want anything.
He was just being nice.
And after a while, I got
used to him being there,
and I, I, I, I liked it, but-
Yeah. What about love?
You're a bastard.
You know that?
I missed you. I really
fucking missed you.
You should go.
So,
what're you gonna do?
About what?
I don't know.
You know, about Eddie.
You getting back with him?
- What?
- You're gonna have to decide.
He won't.
All I wanna do is just go.
With Eddie?
No, not with him. Just away.
- Where?
- I don't know, somewhere...
Somewhere where it's nice, warm.
I don't know. Anywhere
where they're not.
Aren't you and
Pete getting on?
He's just not there, you know?
And even when he is, he's...
What do you want him to do?
Well, I want him
to do something!
I, I don't know. Lose
it, just for once, I...
Ah, just anything
that'll just show me
that his heart's still beating.
Come down the pub and
have a game of pool.
No, I gotta go home.
Pretty shitty.
Ta.
Give us a couple of beers, Kay.
I thought it would
make it complicated
when you came in for a drink.
Well, it could've,
but we were lucky.
What do you mean, "lucky"?
Do you go outta your way to
take everything the wrong way?
Here.
I've ended up sleeping
with half the blokes in town.
- Well, that's a lot.
- There's not that many.
Well...
Maybe not half, but a few.
Suppose I didn't really
sleep with 'em. I fucked 'em.
None of them stayed to sleep.
Well, a couple passed out.
I guess I didn't fuck
them. They fucked me.
Then they left.
Quickly.
So, did you get nothing?
What? Like a prize?
No. Like a disease.
Oh, nah.
Suppose I was lucky.
Look, we slept together.
We slept in the same bed.
That's not a bad thing.
You want another one?
No, I'm all right.
Did you get one for James?
Yeah.
Come on.
Met downtown in a local bar
Drinking rum and smoking tar
People there want
to put you down
Ooh, babe, you
been dancin' around
It don't matter what you do
I'm still in love with you
It don't matter
what they say
You can have me anyway
I'm still in love with you
I'm still in love with you
You all right?
See ya.
What's that supposed
to fucking mean?
Nothing.
- You having a go at me, mate?
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
I mean, St. George
offered you a contract.
But no, you'd rather just
stay in this shithole
the rest of your
life and do fuck all.
This is my home,
mate. I live here.
You went away, and you're
Mr. Happiness, are ya?
You reckon people in this town
have forgotten you're
an Abo, do you?
They just forget that when
you're winning the footy for 'em.
- What'd you do that for?
- What?
Kick him in the guts.
Am I wrong?
I mean, it's the way it's
gonna be. It's the truth.
And just because it's not
pleasant, it's not nice,
doesn't stop it being
the way things are.
Nice has got
nothing to do with it.
It was a gutless thing
to do. He's your friend!
What do you know about
the truth, anyway?
So, what happened
with you in Sydney?
Why don't you tell us
the truth about that?
- What?
- Oh, it doesn't matter.
I don't care.
The truth doesn't matter.
By saying what you did to
James, by saying what you did,
you're the first one,
the first person in
town to say to him,
"You're still just an Abo."
- I didn't say that.
- You did, you did!
That's what you just said.
Sorry. It's not what I meant.
You make it so hard for
anyone to like you, you know.
You make it so hard.
- Eddie.
- Rob.
I'm not taking
them, the mullet.
- How come?
- 'Cause I can't!
Can't get rid of 'em.
No one wants them.
Since when?
I don't know.
Small town, eh?
Everyone works together
to get rid of something
they don't like.
You know what I
never miss about you?
I never missed you going on
about your opinions
of the world.
What makes you think your
opinions are interesting anyway?
Sometimes I miss
you and me, you know?
No.
- What?
- I don't know.
You know?
I don't wanna know.
Well, sometimes I remember
when you and me were together,
and you'd say something,
something that made me
feel good about myself,
made me think, "Oh, yeah,
you're not that bad.
You're all right."
Think about how kind you were.
I didn't do it because
I was being kind,
you stupid bastard!
I did because I
loved you, Eddie!
Because I thought
you were all right.
I mean, that's
love, you fucking idiot.
That's all it is.
That you do something
nice for someone,
because you think
they're all right.
Oh, god.
It's not that fucking
hard, you know.
Shouldn't you
use a dustpan or something?
Hey.
- Leave it!
Oh, shit. Shit.
No, Tull. Tull!
Leave...
Ow!
Just, Tully.
Ow!
Ow.
Tully, um, Tully's
cut her hand.
- You all right?
- Yeah, it's just a little.
It's fine, it's fine.
Tully
offered you a beer?
Yeah.
Do you want another one?
No.
What about you, Tully?
Do you want a beer?
Is your hand all right?
- Yeah.
- You sure?
- Yes!
Women.
Can't live with 'em,
can't shoot 'em.
You can't do this.
What?
You can't just come
back and we go at it
like you haven't pissed off for
three years, without a word.
I waited. I fucking waited.
I don't like
that bloke anymore.
- Who?
- Me.
- So?
- So what?
So that makes it all right?
All right that you just
left and you didn't call me?
Sorry.
Fuck sorry!
Look, it was three years
ago. I don't feel like that.
Tell me, was it me?
It was everything.
That was a long time ago.
You don't deserve
me being nice to you.
I'm a bloody idiot.
Don't you wanna know
where I've been?
What're
you doing here?
We were supposed to
swap shifts, remember?
Haven't you got a barbie?
Ah, yeah. Yeah, I forgot.
What? About the barbie?
Nah, about the shifts.
Wish I could forget
about the barbie.
How about I shoot him?
- Who?
- Your brother.
I'll shoot him. You know,
resisting arrest or something.
You just gotta back me up.
- I'm not hearing this.
You're not saying this.
- Yeah, maybe not shoot him.
But you know, just slap him
round a bit. Mess him up a bit.
I could suspend
you for saying that.
Mate, he's making a
dickhead outta you, okay?
And you're doing nothing.
You don't wanna do
it? I'll do it for ya.
No, the only dickhead here
is you. Now, you shut up!
- Mate, I was just saying-
- Just shut up!
You didn't say anything.
I didn't hear anything.
You didn't even think anything.
All right?
So, you're just
gonna do nothin'?
Hello, love. Where's Pete?
Tull.
That was a bit of
a bloody performance.
What's wrong with her?
Hello. Here's trouble.
Yeah, good to see you
too, you grumpy old bastard.
- What've you got there?
- Couple of mullet.
What're you
gonna do with them?
What do you bloody reckon?
Oh, bloody
get out of the way!
Here. Where's Tully?
She's in the dunny.
Looked a bit crook.
You all right in there?
Piss off.
Look, if you're in
there because of me,
I'll go, all right?
Why do you think everything
has to be about you?
Christ, I've wasted
the last three years
letting it be about you.
It's not about you anymore!
She all right?
She's fine.
You seen your sister?
Hey?
Why do you keep asking me
the same bloody
questions all the time?
Too complicated
for you, is it?
Oh, stop it, you two.
There you go. That'll
be her and James now.
He's a good fella, James.
Pity he's a Black fella.
Tell your
father James can't help it.
- Here, let me take that.
- No, no, you take this.
You take this. I've got it.
Why don't you want
me to take it?
It would just be easier.
You don't want the dumb
Black fella carrying the grog?
Not in front of family, eh?
Why'd you bring me then?
What're they
carrying on about?
What're
you talking about?
You and Dad have been
carrying on, half my life.
What do you mean,
"carrying on"?
What's that got to
do with anything?
Will you lot shut up?
Eddie, tell your father to go
and chop some wood
for the barbie.
Well, go on! You heard her.
Go chop some wood
for the barbie!
Eddie.
What?
Are you clever?
What?
Clever. Smart.
Are ya?
I don't know.
What do you mean?
You always said you
were. Clever, I mean.
I never really thought about it.
You should just go away, mate.
Well, I've got
nowhere else to go, Mom.
Go and give your
old man a hand,
before he has a heart attack.
Look out.
Oh, fuck!
You'd think
he'd bloody sharpen it.
Well, if you used it properly-
What do you mean,
properly? It's blunt!
You swing it like a poof.
Listen, I've been chopping
wood for 15 years, all right?
That axe is blunt.
And I've been chopping wood
since before you were born,
and after you pissed
off to the city.
Even your mother knows how
to use an axe properly.
It's blunt.
Well, maybe you should make
do with what you've got, eh?
What's that? Your contribution
of fatherly advice, is it?
That's what it is.
Look, I...
I don't get it.
What? You don't get what?
It! You know!
This family.
Life.
Love.
Love. I don't get love.
What would I know about it?
Well, you must know
something about love.
You and Mom have been
together forever.
Wanna know what I know
about love? I'll tell you.
Some mornings, I wake
up next to your mother,
I look at her and I think,
"Who the bloody hell are you?"
And there are other
mornings I wake up,
and I look at her and I think,
"Thank Christ you're here,
'cause at least I
know where I am."
It's about taking the
good with the bad,
and you don't get one with...
Without the other.
You all
right in there?
Look, I'll be out in
a minute, all right?
I've got some ice.
I was thinking about
putting it in the bath.
We don't have a bath.
Well,
where will I put it?
Just leave it outside.
Carpet will get wet.
Just leave it!
Fuck.
He's a pain in the arse,
that brother of yours.
Jones reckons I
should shoot him.
Resisting arrest.
Can I come and watch?
I thought you all liked him.
No one likes him, Pete.
People might love him,
but they don't like him.
What about you?
What about me?
So, what's all this for? You
planning on going on a bender?
Nah.
Having a barbie at my house.
Maybe you should come along.
Oh, I appreciate the offer,
but uh, what goes on in your
family's between you lot.
Thanks all the same.
Oh, we're pretty well behaved.
Maybe that's the problem.
How's it going, James?
I'm Black, mate.
Oh! Is that right?
I would've said more of
a coffee colour or a tan.
No, no, definitely
Black. No question.
I've been told, mate, in no
uncertain terms. I've been told.
- Oh, stop it.
- He's not here, huh?
What's going on here?
Are you lot fighting?
There's no need for it. There's
no need for any nastiness.
Right? Just be nice.
- What you mean by nice?
- Be normal. That's nice.
Nice and normal.
Tully?
You in there?
- Piss off.
What's going on?
Come out.
- What for?
You won't even
fucking talk to me.
I will.
Just don't start yelling at me.
Well, why should I come out
and pretend we're one
big happy family, Pete?
Why should I?
You gonna leave?
Are you gonna go off with him?
That's it, isn't it?
It's just one big
competition between you two.
But I don't matter.
I'm just the thing you're
fighting over, aren't I?
Why don't you kiss each
other or kill each other?
I don't know!
Just put the rest of us
out of our bloody misery.
Why are we having this stupid
bloody barbecue anyway?
I mean, you can just
tell them all to go away.
I'm sick of your bloody family.
Dad?
Yeah?
Can you watch the bar for me?
Yeah, no
worries. Off you go.
Is that nice?
Oh, you're
just being stupid.
What, because I don't
know what nice is?
I'm not talking to you.
What, because
I'm not being nice?
Nice, nice!
Smiling. Now, smiling's nice.
Well, hold on. Have
you ever seen anyone smile...
What type of people
smile all the time?
Mentally handicapped, used
car salesmen and Americans!
That's who.
I'm sick of
you and your bloody mouth.
It's all fun for you, isn't it?
You hate me and James
because we're happy.
You want be happy.
- What? You don't know-
No, you don't know
how to be happy!
You wanna be happy and
you're jealous about it!
You all right?
Everyone having a good time?
Got something to eat?
Something to drink?
You know what?
I wish you'd all just piss off!
What's wrong with him?
- What's wrong with me?
- Yeah.
Well, maybe my
little brother's right.
Maybe being nice isn't normal.
Well, maybe not for him.
Well, where's it gotten
you, Mum? Being nice.
You and Dad can hardly
talk to each other.
I do the right thing.
Have a barbecue to welcome
back my little brother home.
That was a nice thing
to do, wasn't it?
Well, where's it gotten me?
Jesus, Peter, listen to
yourself. "Where's it gotten me?
Where's it gotten
me? I've been nice."
You've got everything you want!
You've got everything
I bloody well want!
"Where's it gotten me?"
- You don't even have to try.
It's always been easy for you.
The sun's always
shone outta your arse.
Oh, that's right. Blame me.
I've been a shit house mother,
and all your problems
are my bloody fault, eh?
What're you doing here?
You're like some stray dog,
following your own scent!
I'm here because I thought
this is where I belonged.
- What, here?
- Yes, here!
You don't belong,
'cause you don't know
what it is to belong!
Belonging's about hanging round!
But not you!
As soon as a going gets tough,
you piss off and you
leave behind a big mess
for somebody else to clean up!
Look, I don't know
how to get what I want.
It's not about
about what you get.
It's about what you give!
Mate, I love Tully
more than anything,
but if she'd be happier
with you, then she'll go.
I'm not going anywhere!
I'm not going anywhere.
What're you doing?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Are you all right?
Um...
We're gonna have a baby.
I knew it. I knew it.
Well, that
explains a lot.
Is that what you want?
Yes, it's what I want.
Good. That's great.
Come on,
let's not make a fuss.
Let 'em be alone, eh?
Come on, let's get out.
Oh, what a
family, eh? What a beauty.
Ow!
I'm sorry.
The hard thing
about writing stories
about people you know,
is finding the end.
Because even when you
think it's finishing,
something else is
always starting up.
But I suppose
that's the point.
So, what do you know?
Well, I know one or
two things about love.
- What are they?
- I'll tell you sometime.
Sometime.
I didn't really
wanna know what you know.
- No?
- No.
It's just an expression.
What's that?
Sort of a barmaid thing?
Sort of.
Well,
what do you know about love?
Are you taking
the piss outta me?
No, I'm not. I wanna know.
Well, I don't know about
love, but I know what I like.
You gonna come inside?
No, I was just
gonna keep on driving,
as it seems everyone in
town wants me to leave.
Not everyone.