The Travellers (2025) Movie Script
1
Hello?
-Jenny?
-Yes?
It's Stephen.
You're in London?
No, I'm here. In my old place.
You're in your old place? Why?
Family stuff.
You know the sort of thing.
Well, I'm just leaving. I can't talk now.
Can I see you?
-Unlikely. I have to go.
-Jenny...
Who was that?
That...
bloody woman from the gym.
She wants me to start yoga classes.
That stupid stretching is not exercise.
No. See you later.
-How're you going, sir?
-Hey, mate.
-Yeah, thank you very much.
-Thank you.
Hey, mate, could you grab
that red bag for me?
Taxi, mate?
Hello, Dad?
Dad?
Oh, my godfather.
My godfather.
You got here so quickly.
I didn't think you could get away.
You said that...
Nikki called.
I managed to arrange a few things.
A drink. Let me get you a drink.
Coffee would be good.
Coffee. How was the trip?
It was okay.
A bit boring. Watched a miniseries.
The place is a bit of a mess.
Bit of a mess? What do you mean?
Well, the garden's all neglected.
The pot plants are dying.
A bit of rain and they'll be all right.
And what's all this?
Where are your clothes?
They're drying.
Well, why don't you put 'em in the dryer?
Broken.
Well, you could hang 'em outside
on the line.
Hey, it's all right, you know.
What's it matter?
I mean, you come in here
after a long while
and you start criticising.
What happened to that cleaning lady?
What was her name? May?
She's been coming here for years.
She's an old cow. She's demented.
You mean she nags you to tidy up?
Well, at least
you haven't messed up my room.
So, how is she now?
May? Bloody mad as ever.
Never stops talking...
No, not May. Mother.
Mother.
She's the same. Yeah, just the same.
How is she?
Well, what do you think? Bloody awful.
When is she going to wake up?
It's hard to say.
She sleeps most of the time.
When did she last speak?
Well, she said a few words not long after
I called you in London.
And what'd she say?
She just looked at me and said,
"Hello, dear."
-Is this place okay?
-Yeah, I think so.
But from Mum's section,
I don't think anyone ever walked out.
I know all of them. They're all locals.
We all end up in here.
That was old Mrs Hince in the next bed.
She's got that, what's it called, the...
-Alzheimer's.
-Yeah, but is she in any pain?
-Mrs Hince? No, she hasn't...
-No, Mother. Mother.
-I mean, do they give her morphine?
-She's never complained.
Yeah, shame you couldn't
have got here earlier
when I called the first time.
I was working, you know?
So how long can you stay for?
-Couple of weeks, maybe a bit more.
-Couple of weeks?
It's a long way to come
for a couple of weeks.
I've got an opera to do in Germany.
What opera?
Does it matter?
You've never heard of it.
You don't know anything about opera.
What is it?
-It's Traviata.
-Never heard of it.
Beer, mate?
Please.
You Fred Seary's boy?
-How'd you know?
-Everybody knows Fred.
Your mum's sick.
Heard you were coming.
-No secrets around here, mate.
-Evidently not.
You been overseas?
That's right.
You're a painter or something, aren't you?
I'm a stage designer.
Yeah.
Want something to eat?
-What's good?
-Fish and chips is great.
Got kangaroo, if you like.
-No, fish and chips is fine, thank you.
-Sure.
So you design stages?
I design sets for plays and operas,
mostly operas.
Sounds a bit...
-Hey.
-What?
You can't be like that
these days, brother.
-You're living in the past.
-This bloke's forgotten the past. Hey?
High school?
-Right, you're...
-Dave Bell.
-I'm Greg.
-That's Greg.
I remember. You were the school bullies.
-That's us.
-We were kids then, you know?
-Kids can be pretty...
-Mean?
Mean? You want a written apology?
You learnt how to write?
-Nice one.
-Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we scraped by.
You went off to uni, eh?
Did something arty?
Architecture.
Always were a smart-arse.
-Sorry about that.
-That's okay, mate.
You couldn't help it.
-There you go, mate.
-Thank you.
He's fuckin' fruity, mate.
Most of the lights are out.
I mean, why don't you change the bulbs?
I'm going to get some.
And there's
newspapers all over the place.
I mean, they're years old, some of them.
Yeah, well, there's some articles
I want to keep.
Okay, well, keep those ones.
-Get rid of the rest.
-Don't nag me.
You want to have something to eat?
I've got some...
-baked beans.
-No, I'm good, thanks.
I got something at the pub.
Going to need a light.
Thanks.
That won't work here. It's got no...
Internet?
Yes, it will. I got this from Nikki.
It's a dongle.
She works in IT, remember?
Yeah.
IT?
Whatever that is.
Thought you'd vanished into the outback.
I'm nearly there.
Staying at my parents' place.
How's your mother?
Not too good.
I'm sorry.
How long do you think?
It's hard to say.
I miss you.
Same here.
I hate talking on this thing.
Me too.
I'm doing the Dvok concerto.
That's great.
Festival Hall?
No. Newcastle.
Stephen, they called from Germany
about the opera.
Yeah, I'm working on the details.
But I told 'em I'll email 'em.
I'll be back.
Well, don't be too long.
I might have to find another lover.
Don't do that.
You'll be disappointed.
Hello?
Hey, Mum.
Sorry I couldn't get here earlier.
You've been in Albany
visiting Nikki, Peter, and the kids?
No, London.
I live in London.
London?
-Yeah, yeah, that's... that's right.
-Yeah, he works in London, Mum.
London and all over Europe. He's famous.
Well, faintly famous.
I remember you always did want to travel.
You collected stamps
of all the countries.
It's a shame they're so far away.
They're not so far away now.
You can get to Europe in a day.
Same with America.
What's wrong with Australia?
Nothing's wrong with it.
-No, just...
-Where's that old devil?
-Which old devil?
-Your father.
He's still asleep, I suppose.
It's quite early.
I'll bet the place
looks like a gypsy camp.
Well, it's not going to make
House & Garden or Architectural Digest.
He's still having that affair, I know.
That's why he's so tired.
What affair?
With that nightclub pianist.
A night...
Mum, what nightclub pianist
is going to be interested
in an old ruin like Dad?
She's not so young herself, either.
It's been going on for years.
Really?
Anyway, what nightclub?
There's no nightclubs around here,
are there?
I mean, this isn't exactly
the Left Bank or New York.
She's... She's up in Mallamup.
Up the road, not here.
In Mallamup?
Right.
-Some tea for you, Mrs Seary?
-Yes, please, dear.
Coming up.
Excuse me?
She seems very odd.
I mean, is that the medication, maybe?
Could be. She's old.
They all go a bit barmy.
That way, Mr Gordon.
Gordon? He taught me in high school.
What's wrong with him? He seems all right.
I should say hello.
Don't bother.
He wouldn't know you.
Or anyone else.
Can't even recognise himself
in the mirror.
He'll probably go on like that for years.
I mean, most of the others
drop off the perch every few minutes.
Seems every time I sit down
for a cup of tea,
someone rushes up and says,
"So and so's popped their clogs."
Sensitive, isn't she?
Guess it's the effect of working in here.
Just becomes everyday life.
Everyday death.
-Nice bowl.
-Great bowl, Larry.
-Great bowl, mate.
-You're holding, Wayne.
If it rolls back over to the gutter,
you don't get...
you don't get that again.
No, no.
Dad!
G'day. How'd you know I'd be here?
If you're not at home, I couldn't think
of anywhere else you'd be.
-You drove here?
-Why not?
It's not that far to walk
and you're not supposed to be driving.
I'll be with you in a minute, Aub!
Nikki said they took your licence
after you drove into the river.
They all know me. I can drive. It's safe.
You're a terrible driver, Dad.
-How's your mother?
-She was awake. She was talking.
Going on about you
and some nightclub pianist in Mallamup.
Not that again.
No truth in it?
'Course not. It's ridiculous.
Why would you believe such a thing?
Well, you used
to travel around a lot, selling.
Yeah, that's me.
The last commercial traveller.
Your mother's mind's going. It's gone.
Nightclub pianist. Jesus.
How's the house?
Comfortable?
Five star.
But the food's a bit basic.
We should join Dad up
to one of those
healthy food delivery things.
No, I tried that last year.
It was a waste of time.
He wouldn't touch it. Too many salads.
Hey, did you ask him
about that nightclub pianist?
It's all too absurd for words.
This isn't exactly the town
for a surreptitious affair.
I don't know about that.
-Remember the minister when we were kids?
-Reverend Heffernan.
Yep, Reverend Heffernan.
All the wives were after him.
The ministers
were like rock stars back then.
Didn't he run off with some...
Yeah, he ran off
with the mayor's eldest daughter.
It was a big Yarrabiddy scandal.
What are we going to do with him?
-Reverend Heffernan?
-Dad.
We can't just leave him in the house,
watching old films on TV.
I don't know.
At least he's got some old cronies around.
Oh, God, I wouldn't rely on that lot.
In spite of all my efforts to guide him,
my dear friend Rainiero of Sidonia
could not correct a certain,
shall we say, carelessness.
He had failed, as usual, to notice...
I used to watch this film as a kid.
Alas, sometimes one is forced to fight.
Don't suppose he was much of an actor,
but I liked his films.
And Douglas Fairbanks.
Clark Gable.
They don't have stars like them any more.
...especially if those people
were brothers, husbands or fathers.
There's some pretty good actors around.
Not like Flynn and Gable.
You've got Cate Blanchett.
Colin Farrell.
And Mark Rylance.
Not in the same class.
You know, I wanted to be an actor.
Yeah, you told me.
You're just nervous.
You've amazed me.
I had no idea you loved me so much.
What a life they have.
What a life.
Hello.
The Ewart sisters?
-Yes. You're their niece, aren't you?
-Yeah.
They'll be glad to see you.
Round here.
Thank you.
You're back.
Didn't do too good over there, eh?
Told ya.
No, I came to see Mum.
Nikki called, said she...
Yeah, he's been designing
lots of operas, Aunt Mollie.
-Operas?
-Have you ever seen one?
Couldn't be bothered with that nonsense.
-How's your mother?
-The same.
Hello.
How are you, Aunt Annie?
Do you like it here?
'Course she doesn't bloody like it here.
Who'd like it?
Well, you both decided
to move in here, Aunty.
No bloody choice, was there?
I couldn't get up the hill
to the shops any more.
Annie's kids all gone, God knows where.
Never in touch.
And your mother in hospital,
and your father as useless as always.
Well, the staff seem nice and friendly.
They're all right.
Big mob of Filipinos and Islanders.
You never see a white face.
There's TV, I'm sure.
-You know, that's something.
-I never look at it.
Why not?
It all goes too fast.
There's no stories.
No one can drive any more.
All the cars keep crashing.
The actors all mumble.
The music's too loud,
and there's endless shows
of white girls kissing Black men.
What's the world coming to?
Talk about politically incorrect.
She was always like that.
Remember how she used to go on
about the migrants?
Yeah.
She hated the Malts and the Balts.
And the Ities and the Poms and the Greeks.
And the Lebanese.
-Now the Indians and the Chinese.
-God.
Well, at least
she's an equal opportunity bigot.
It's sad.
She's resentful.
Resentful? About what?
About everything, pretty much.
I mean, she's watched old friends marry,
have kids and all that.
Do well in jobs.
Aunt Annie didn't say a word.
Did she have a stroke?
No, the doctor told me she can talk.
She's just got nothing more to say.
-I'm not looking forward to old age.
-Well, don't look forward.
Nice to leave a mark, though.
Let 'em know you were here.
Paintings.
-A few designs.
-Don't be so bloody pompous.
I'll have the steak.
I know how you like it, Fred.
-Well done.
-Well done.
Yeah, have the steak, it's good.
Okay, I'll have the steak, please.
Medium rare, thank you.
I'll have the veggie burger, thanks.
Do you have a wine list?
Thank you.
It's like an encyclopedia.
Well, half the country
is in the wine business.
Hey, Steve.
Try the Cullen Diana Madeline 2012.
-Fruity.
-How are you, mate?
Good, mate.
I'll have that, then, thank you very much.
Ta.
Not the hospital?
No. No, it's nothing.
Just a news thing.
This place has gone upmarket,
old Yarrabiddy.
Not too much, just a bit.
No, actually quite a bit.
-There's a coffee shop with a barista.
-Barrister?
No, barista.
And I hear there's a vegan cafe
opening in a few weeks.
Yeah, and all run by those LBW types.
No, it's LGBTQ, not LBW.
Yeah, whatever. Anyway, this left-wing mob
wants to get rid of the war memorial.
-Dad.
-Stephen.
Margie.
Dave and Greg Bell told me you were back.
-You living in Perth?
-No, just a visit.
Mum's unwell.
I heard.
Sorry.
Well, might see you around.
That'd be nice.
Margie.
Wasn't she an old squeeze of yours?
Not really.
Well, a long time ago.
I mean, I was just out of high school.
Right.
If I had my time again
There'd be no days wasted
In playing hard to get
As for now
All I regret
Are the joys untasted
If I had my time again
You would find me bolder
Not hard to get to know
On the mark
All set to go
And no cold shoulder
We've been told in every generation
By the ladies
In the magazines
To keep our distance
Keep our fascination, well
They can tell it to the marines
If I had my time again
It could mean disaster
I'd be burning to begin
I guess I wouldn't always win
But at least
I'd be moving faster
Get some light bulbs
and you won't need that torch.
I'm going to, I told you.
It's only at night.
No problem during the day.
And the garden.
I mean, at least sweep up the leaves.
You know, Mum had it looking really good.
I'm going to. Don't nag me.
You used to read a lot as a kid.
You still do that?
Yeah, quite a bit.
I mean, maybe not as much.
I wanted to be a writer
when I was young, you know?
Really?
What stopped you?
Never went anywhere.
Nothing to write about.
Tennessee Williams became famous
writing about his family.
Alice Munro won a Nobel Prize
writing about her day-to-day life.
Must have been more dramatic
than what goes on around Yarrabiddy.
I doubt it.
If people want to write, they just write.
There's stories everywhere.
What's this?
It's just some rough sketches
for the sets.
Traviata.
Right.
What's it mean in English?
Something like "The Fallen Woman".
Doesn't sound too cheerful.
No.
The heroine's love life goes all wrong.
She dies of consumption at 23.
Laugh a minute.
Yeah, but the music's wonderful.
The libretto's adapted
from Dumas' Lady of the Camellias.
Is that so?
Fascinating.
Dumas, eh?
You know, even as a kid you were always...
Refined and sensitive?
I was going to say...
a bit of a pain in the arse.
I've done her four-hourly obs.
Everything's stable, as expected.
If there's any other problems,
just get in touch, okay?
Hey.
Dr Symons.
My mother.
Mrs Seary.
Isn't she being cared for?
Well, I believe so.
I was wondering...
if you could tell me perhaps...
How long she's got?
Look, I've no idea.
A few weeks, a month, perhaps.
You seem pretty bloody casual.
I mean, does anybody
give a fuck around here?
You're her son?
People get old,
their systems pack up and they die.
That's what happens.
Sorry, immortality isn't an option yet.
-Hey.
-Where are you?
I'm on the bus.
Didn't Dad tell you?
Tell me what?
Well, I have to go to Perth
for a couple of days.
Of course, he didn't tell me.
Why didn't you tell me?
Well, I forgot. I'm sorry.
Great. Now these have to go
on the line. Now.
On the line? What? What line?
No, that was for Dad.
So, what are you doing?
I have a meeting with the opera.
-Nonsense.
-What do you mean?
I can always tell when you're lying.
There's something else.
I'm not lying. There's a chance
I might do some work.
All right, well, don't be too long.
Mum's not gonna live forever.
Well done.
Very good.
I didn't think I'd hear from you.
I didn't think you would either.
You weakened.
Only for lunch.
Only for lunch.
Thank you.
Your mother?
Terrible.
I'm sorry.
She never liked me.
No.
She always seemed to like the girls
that I wasn't so keen on.
Well, they weren't such a threat.
If only she knew.
Knew?
That I wasn't going
to take you away from her.
Your career
was always going to come first.
I loved you. You know that.
We were young. Twenty?
-Twenty-one?
-So we were.
And you're involved with someone.
How do you know that?
No secrets. It's a small planet.
What does she do?
-Do?
-Well, not to you.
I can imagine that.
For a living.
She's a cellist.
She's Irish.
And she lives with you?
No. She's got her own place.
And a house in Wexford.
Well, why doesn't she stay there?
Bitch.
You still dancing?
Not so much.
Choreographing.
Choreographing what?
Right now a sarabande
for a scene in a TV show.
Sarabande?
Bach wrote sarabandes?
He did.
But it was a dance
from Mexico, they think.
It was banned for obscenity.
Obscenity?
Obscenity?
-This is obscene?
-Well, not by today's standards.
The dancers, they take a few steps,
they make hand gestures,
they move forward, move back.
It never leads to anything.
I know that situation.
Don't stop!
In films, isn't this where
they both light cigarettes
and have meaningful conversations?
I can't take up smoking now.
Or meaningful conversations.
You kept this place.
I thought you'd have let it
when you were away.
You ever tried letting an apartment?
What do you mean?
The tenants always wreck it.
I wasn't intending to do this today.
So you keep telling me.
I don't know what it is.
You've always had this effect on me.
Do you remember our first kiss?
I came after two seconds.
So did I.
Did you?
You never told me that.
I thought you knew.
What are you doing?
I'll have to go.
Go?
-Now?
-I have a class.
I miss you.
Well, that never stopped you from...
rushing off to Europe.
You can bear missing me.
I'll call.
Don't call. There's no point.
You know that.
How's John?
Fine.
Bit overweight.
Very jealous, too.
Still rich?
Not rich. Doing well.
Stock market. Shares.
Snob.
A good lover?
Enthusiastic.
Stephen!
-Hello, Michael.
-Heard you were back.
-How?
-Well, word travels around.
-Family?
-Yeah, family.
Families. Aren't they the limit?
My mother still keeps trying
to find the right girl for me.
And that's a total waste of time.
-Charles Kennelworth.
-Our new artistic director.
Stephen Seary.
Why are you over here?
Did the Sydney Opera House
collapse into the harbour?
No, we came over to hear the new soprano.
You know, a possible Lucia.
So, still showing the same
half a dozen operas over and over?
It's not half a dozen. It's about nine.
-We'd have no audience if we didn't.
-Yeah.
Still, imagine if they showed the same
nine films over and over.
Well...
And now we are about to see
an obscure Czech fairy tale
set to wonderful music.
God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy for us,
you turn the darkness of death
into the dawn of new life.
Be our refuge and strength in sorrow.
As Your son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying for us, conquered death
and by rising again restored us to life,
so may we go forward in faith
to meet Him, and after our life on Earth,
be united with our dear brothers
and sisters in Christ,
where every tear will be wiped away.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.
So what now, mate?
Now? What do you mean, Aub?
Well, Enid's gone.
Yeah, I know she's gone.
She seemed to run the show, though.
What show's that?
Your whole bloody life, mate.
Yeah.
Double, double, this, this
Double, double, that, that
Double this, double that
Double, double, this, that
Your mother going, I'm...
-I'm sorry, mate.
-Thank you, Peter.
It wasn't unexpected.
No, no.
You know, the mother of a workmate of mine
got hit by a car down in Albany.
She just stepped off the footpath and...
Bang!
-Peter!
-You know?
-What?
-Well, not a very cheerful story.
No, I guess not.
-I'll get you another drink, mate.
-Thank you.
Okay, well, you'd better face up to it.
Up to what?
Well, Dad. What do we do?
And Mum's sisters.
There's nothing we can do
about Mum's sisters.
-They're being cared for.
-I suppose.
Dad?
He won't be able to cope in that house.
You know that.
Stephen, look,
I've got to get back to Albany, all right?
The kids have got school.
I can't just move up here.
I've got to get back to Europe.
-What, to England?
-To Germany.
-Is that definite?
-Yes, it's definite.
-I've sent them all the designs.
-Here you go.
-All right. Thank you.
-Thank you.
Well, I was just...
starting to think
that you might have been undecided
about that.
If I quit this job,
I will never work in Europe again.
Well, what about that girl in Perth?
You were mad about her.
-What girl?
-Jenny.
I'm sure you've been in touch with her.
Jenny? I think she's married.
Well, I wouldn't have thought
that would stop you.
Nikki, your image of me is...
inaccurate and unflattering.
No, realistic.
-Sorry about your mum.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll stay here for dinner.
It's great. Got everything. Roast beef.
Even got bread and butter pudding.
Sounds good.
Good to see your nouveau cuisine
hasn't made it this far.
Oh, but it has. What's that horrible stuff
you made me eat?
Kale. Yeah, like seaweed.
Not as tasty.
So close!
I'd have done that.
Yeah, but you didn't.
Rebuilding the house, are you, mate?
Just about.
-All yours.
-Thank you.
-Help you, mate?
-No, not really. Just looking around.
Place opens about 6:30.
Right, thank you.
Is there a lady who works here? She...
I don't know, maybe...
Who are you?
Police?
Licence on this place is up to date,
and I've paid off those crooks
on the council.
-What do you want?
-Nothing really. I just...
heard about this place.
Well, I think it was this place.
From my dad.
He was a commercial traveller.
Jeez, that must have been
a while back, love.
Travelling men are all gone.
Sales are on the Internet.
Not as much fun.
I see.
Your dad said he came here?
He could have...
when he passed through town.
He worked for one of the wine companies.
Bodega, I think it was.
Fred Seary.
Yeah, that's my dad.
Been a long time.
Don't tell me
he hasn't dropped off the perch?
No, he's okay, more or less.
My mother died.
Travelling sales blokes were like sailors.
Girl in every port
and a wife hidden away somewhere.
Right.
Thanks. I'd better be going.
You say hello to Fred for me.
Nah, maybe not, forget that.
What's past is past.
I'm off soon, anyway.
Place will be closing by Christmas.
Off?
Queensland. Got a sister in Townsville.
Bye, love.
Gosh.
He looked pretty good in those days.
So did Mum.
Yeah, that's what happens.
Everything falls apart.
What, really?
Always?
That's what they tell me.
That's amazing. That nightclub story.
Wasn't a fantasy of Mum's after all.
I wouldn't call it a nightclub.
It was just a... sort of a bar.
Even then, I don't think
he's been there for years.
So you don't think
he's planning a comeback?
No.
Where'd you get this?
It was in the cupboard,
on top of Mum's clothes.
That's Mum, that one.
I know.
I know.
She told me she met you in some park?
She was having a party with some mates.
I crashed it.
I spotted your mum,
and I thought she was a bit of all right.
Yeah, Mum told me
you never left her alone.
Followed her all over the place
until she agreed to meet you somewhere.
Yeah, she was working in a dress shop
in King Street.
Used to meet at
one of those Italian coffee shops
that sprung up everywhere.
I must have been keen,
because I hated that ex...
Espresso?
Expresso. Yeah.
Yeah.
I hated that.
Well, good afternoon, everyone,
and welcome.
This is a rare pleasure for me.
We don't get too many celebrities
out here in Yarrabiddy.
Tommie Lang.
He was a centreman for the Eagles.
Great player. Good on ya, Tommie.
Get in there, mate.
-Get in there, Tommie.
-Tommie!
Yeah, all right, Dave.
Yeah, no, we all know Tommie,
but I'm not talking about celebrities
in your cricket or your footy.
I'm talking about celebrities
in your arts.
Okay?
Now there's a young fella here
that's been acclaimed
right around the world
in Europe and even in America
for his work in theatre design.
More specifically, in your opera.
Now, he's won a lot of awards
most recently for his work in...
Hang on a sec, it's...
Yeah, Fancy a la Del West.
Fanciulla del West.
It means "The Girl of the West".
It's by Puccini.
Thanks, Stephen.
That one was at Covent Garden, by the way.
Anyway, he's also done another award
for Elixir... d'amore by Donald Izzetti.
How'd I go with that one?
Elixir d'amore just means
"Elixir of Love",
and the composer was Gaetano Donizetti.
Too right. And then,
this one here's a bit tricky.
It's...
Gee-sep-ee...
Giuseppe Verdi.
It just means...
"Joe Green" in English, actually.
Is that right? Joe Green?
Who'd have thought?
Anyway, mate, as you can tell,
opera's not my forte, but,
mate, just wanted to say
we know you grew up around here, and...
Well, we're just glad to see you
back here for a visit,
even though it's...
under such sad circumstances.
Your mother...
well, she was a wonderful woman.
Too right. Too right.
Mate, if you wouldn't mind
making your way up, Stephen?
Stephen, if you could make your way up?
Just wanted to...
Right.
Stephen, we'd like to present you
with this small memento
of your time here in Yarrabiddy
and maybe you'll think of us
-when you're back there in London, mate.
-Thank you very much.
Hey?
And just while we got you there, mate,
you are a...
you know, an artist and a designer.
So we'd like to use your expertise to...
choose the winner of our annual art prize.
Okay.
Hey?
Yeah.
Hard to decide?
Very.
Here's our winner, folks!
I had my eye on one of the other ones.
-Don't eat all those lamingtons.
-Get lost.
I liked the bananas.
Did you arrange all that?
Of course not. It was the mayor's idea.
Not many celebrity visitors around here.
I told him you didn't even qualify.
It was difficult, though.
The paintings were ghastly.
-We're not in a West End gallery.
-You can say that again.
We're not in a West End gallery.
Don't be so superior.
Sorry, you're right.
-I just can't accept...
-What?
A double level of standards.
Either the paintings are good
or they're not, aren't they?
I thought a couple of them looked great.
When are you leaving us?
Soon. It'll have to be soon.
Yeah. At least you'll be there in a day.
I went to visit the old man
back in Scotland years ago.
The bloody plane stopped three times
on the way over.
Then, I had to catch a train
all the way up to Glasgow,
and it was bloody freezing.
I couldn't wait to get back here, could I?
-Eddie!
-Just a sec.
-Over here, mate.
-Hang on.
He's right.
Be real cold over there now.
Yes, but we do operas indoors
in heated theatres.
You know you can do operas here.
He's right, Stephen.
You don't have to go to France.
-Germany.
-Germany.
You really like it over there?
Yes, I do.
Sorry.
-Excuse me.
-No worries.
Oi, Steve!
Isn't it a bunch of crap?
Hey? This opera stuff?
I mean, who gives a bugger about it,
anyway?
You know, it's just a bunch of weird song
and music in some foreign accent.
It's a lot of great songs, David,
and great music.
Yeah? Yeah? And it's only
for rich people, isn't it, eh?
And fairies.
-Reckon you're clever, eh?
-No, I'm just alert.
Well, come on, then! Hey!
Hey!
I'm sorry, mate.
He gets a bit carried away.
Tell him opera tickets don't cost any more
than a rock concert.
That was a low blow, mate.
-Get up.
-Got me right in the shin!
-Come on, Dad.
-You're paying for this one, mate.
Got me right in the shin, mate!
Where'd you get all that?
Supermarket.
They don't just sell tins of baked beans.
How'd you learn to do that?
I learned how to cook.
I like cooking.
I remember as a kid
you used to spend days
listening to the cricket on the radio.
What's wrong with that?
You used to listen to classical music
on the radio.
Yeah, the whole point of music
is to hear it.
You got it all wrong
about the cricket, though.
I just said it was a somewhat dull game
to watch.
You said it would fade out.
Yeah, well, hours can go by
and nothing happens.
Well, it's more popular now than ever.
Even the Americans are in the World Cup.
Along with us and the Brits
and the New Zealanders and the...
South Africans and the Indians
and the... West Indies
and the Pakistanis and the Sri Lankans.
And there's even a team from Afghanistan.
Fade out? Struth.
You're going to steal my car?
Well, Dad, you don't have a licence.
I told you.
They don't take that seriously.
They will when you mow down a pedestrian.
And how do I get around without my car?
Well, you can walk into the shops.
It's not far,
and... the mob from the bowling club
will keep an eye on you.
-How far to go?
-Not too far.
That's Aub. Isn't he the taxi driver?
Yeah, only a couple of days a week.
This is his farm.
Come on. Don't sit here.
Aub's got something to show ya.
Over here.
It's an ancestry chart.
It's more than that.
You take a closer look.
See from start to finish.
Now look down the chart.
You see?
You see?
Aub is a direct descendant
of Jesus Christ.
It was totally ridiculous.
How can you say that?
You saw the chart.
-You don't believe?
-No, I don't believe it.
It's a fake chart.
It has to be.
What, do you really think
a direct descendant of Christ
is a part-time taxi driver in Yarrabiddy?
You were always like this,
even as a little boy.
You remember that water diviner
that came round?
-You said he was a fraud.
-He was a fraud.
He found water, remember?
He dug a hole next to a creek in a valley.
Of course, he was going to find water.
Stephen.
So, how is Australia?
Hermann, hello.
It's fine. It's going okay.
Are you in Sydney?
No, I'm a couple of hours
outside of Perth.
-Western Australia.
-Perth?
I don't know this place.
Your mother...
We have not heard from you.
She passed away last week.
-Sad.
-That's...
Yes, that's very sad.
-But, Stephen, we...
-The... The opera.
Yeah, I've been working on the sets,
and I've sent you the designs.
We have the designs
but, my dear Stephen,
we need you here!
A contract is a contract, Stephen.
I just have a few more things
to sort out here.
Yeah, okay. Well, sort out very fast, huh?
I know, Hermann, and I will be there.
Very good.
We see you, then.
Hey, Dad.
What's the problem now?
What's that stuff in the bath?
Bath?
Yeah, the bath.
It's just beer.
-Beer?
-Yeah, I'm brewing it.
You didn't touch it, did you?
It's got to ferment for a couple of weeks,
and then I bottle it and...
Couldn't you just buy beer?
Yeah, but it's my hobby, brewing.
Bit of malt and yeast and hops and...
Does it taste any good?
No, not too good.
Mum say anything about...
brewing stuff in the bath?
Yeah, she had quite a bit to say.
She didn't like it,
but now, a man's got to have a hobby.
You had those toy trains, remember?
Tracks all over the house.
Yeah, but not in the bath.
No, not in the bath.
Here's an aisle.
Excuse me.
Can you put that one under your seat?
Thank you.
Let me help you with that, sir.
-Where are you this time?
-I'm on a plane.
What, to Germany?
No, to Sydney.
-What the hell for?
-Well, I have a meeting.
It's only a five-hour flight.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Honestly, he's harder to find
than the Scarlet Pimpernel
or Lord Lucan,
or Amelia Earhart.
Never heard of any of them.
Stephen!
Charles. Sorry, I'm late.
-Flight was delayed.
-As usual.
What a beautiful place.
It was a dump.
I had to have this whole thing rebuilt.
You know, this... this here was a wall.
No windows.
I mean, you couldn't see the view.
Look, I thought you might be hungry,
so I had a little snack prepared.
I hope you like oysters and smoked trout.
-And this is my friend, Lydia Stephenson.
-Pleasure to meet you.
And this... is not Australian.
This is my favourite Sicilian white.
Hope you like it.
I think you might.
-Special wine for a special guest.
-Thank you.
So, tell me.
What was life like out in the sticks?
Yarrabiddy.
It's okay.
Small town. Retirees and a bowling club.
Local gossip.
I... I was very sorry
to hear about your mother.
Thanks.
It's very difficult.
Death of parents.
Were you very close?
I don't suppose I was.
As a kid, I always felt like a stranger.
I always felt like one day
my real parents would turn up
and take me with them.
And the ones you were stuck with,
were they distant or... strict?
No, not at all.
It's just a matter of interests.
We never seemed to have anything
in common.
All I ever wanted to do was...
-get out of Yarrabiddy.
-And you did.
Yeah, I did.
So, what now?
Back to Europe?
That's the plan.
-You don't sound certain.
-Certain?
I am.
Really?
Because I was thinking
with all the work you've done in Germany
and England and so on,
I thought maybe you might be getting
a little tired of all that.
I thought maybe you might
like to... come back to all this?
Work here?
That's very flattering, Charles.
I've settled in over there.
Don't worry. I know you've
carved yourself out quite a career.
What's the show you've got lined up?
Traviata.
Bit of an old warhorse.
-But a masterpiece.
-Yes.
I can send you a link,
and you can watch it online opening night.
Great.
We saw your Rosenkavalier
and Lucio online.
-It was superb.
-Yes. Superb.
Thank you.
You know, next year,
we're going to be doing Peter Grimes.
I thought that was something
that might interest you?
And not just to design.
You might like to direct.
Dad, I'm back.
Dad?
G'day. You're back early.
Dad.
What?
Don't you think that's a bit strange?
What?
Having a shower with your clothes on.
I'm washing my bloody clothes
as well as me.
What's wrong with that?
A bit eccentric, perhaps?
Eccentric?
I'd call it practical.
Haven't got my shoes on.
I didn't wash them.
We used to come up here years ago,
remember, Dad?
-When we were little.
-Yeah.
'Course, I remember.
Used to bring your mother up here, too.
Yeah. We used to have picnics right here.
Why are we here now?
Don't worry, Dad. We're not going
to throw you over the cliff.
That's a relief.
Yeah. Well, we've been
discussing things, Dad.
What things? Me?
We just need to talk.
About what?
Opera?
Your future.
Well, why should things change?
-Dad, Mum's gone.
-Yeah.
And we just don't think
that you can cope alone...
Of course, I can cope.
We've had the house for years. I can cope.
We don't think so.
It's just you're getting on, Dad.
There's nothing wrong with me, Nikki.
Nothing. Nothing wrong with me.
Dr Roberts says I'm a perfect specimen.
It's ever since that trip to Aub,
isn't it?
That was it, wasn't it?
You think I'm senile.
Dad's amazed that I don't believe
Aub Gillespie is a direct descendant
of Jesus Christ.
You were always a cynic.
Dad, quite apart from the validity
of Aub's claim,
I have to get back to Albany
with Peter and the kids, and...
Stephen's got to go back to Europe.
-And the beer.
-What's wrong with that?
Well, I did some research.
It's quite dangerous.
It can explode. You'll blow up the house.
Blow up the house?
What are you suggesting?
We sell the house.
Yeah, and I'll be able to find
a nice place in Albany.
You know, not far from me.
A nice place?
You mean a home for old duffers?
No, Dad. No, Dad.
I mean a retirement home.
We'll be able to come and visit you often.
The kids, they love your jokes.
You won't be alone.
Yes, but the roof of the camper van
has completely come off.
All my clothes,
the mattress I'd just bought
gone down the highway, the whole thing.
And I spent the next hour
picking it all up off the highway.
It was so bad!
-Bye, love.
-Don't be so dramatic, Dad.
We'll see you soon in Albany.
Albany, while all my mates are here.
Let's not go over that, Dad.
You'll be better off down there,
and you know it.
Yeah, I don't know that I know it.
You and Nikki keep telling me
that I know it.
You won't be far from us, Dad.
Tell us one of your jokes, Grandad.
I don't know I'm up for jokes.
Come on, Grandad. Don't be a spoilsport.
Not the one about the witch in the woods
-you told at the bowling club.
-Okay.
How do you fit four elephants
in a small car?
How?
Two in the front, two in the back.
-How do you fit four giraffes in the car?
-How?
They don't fit any more
'cause the elephants are in there.
That's not a very funny joke, Grandad.
It's hilarious, Rodney.
Right, we better get going, Dad.
It's a long drive.
It's nothing. It's 400 kilometres.
And what about we stop for pizza
and ice cream, eh?
Yay!
That the opera you're doing?
No, it's a production I did
a few years ago.
It's Puccini's Il Tabarro.
What's that mean? Tobacco?
Tabarro. It means "The Cloak".
Not bad.
No, it's not bad.
Margie.
You look shocked. Why so surprised?
I'm expecting someone
from the estate agency.
That's me, you dope.
But you were singing at the pub.
That's not a job. That's just fun.
I join Eddie and his boys once a week.
Right, I see.
Am I invited in?
Yeah. Sorry.
I only dress like this for work.
It's a costume.
They think the businesswoman impersonation
gives the house owners confidence.
Yeah, I must admit I just always thought
estate agents and lawyers
and accountants were just...
crooks with licences to rob their clients.
Cynical, but not far from the truth.
Where's your dad?
He's asleep in his bedroom.
I mean, do you really think you could
sell this place for a decent price?
I think so. It's a bit of a wreck.
You should have seen it
before we cleaned up.
But the position's good.
People come up here from the city.
-What, people want to move here?
-Of course.
What do they do?
Some are retired, some work from home.
They all like the quiet country life.
Not everyone wants to run off
to Europe or America.
A lot of work doing this place up.
I can arrange some cosmetic stuff.
Vases of flowers all over the place
helps a lot,
and I won't bring anyone here
in bad weather.
Big mistake.
I can see
that you are right on top of this, Margie.
I am.
Well, I'll get going.
I'll bring around some contracts.
I hear your marriage broke up. I'm sorry.
Yeah, a couple of years ago.
He left me for some femme fatale.
In Yarrabiddy, really?
Nah, not really.
Just a mousy schoolteacher.
-And you have a son?
-Anthony.
He's...
with his grandmother for the holidays.
Are you in bed?
Yeah, it's quite late here.
I wish I was there.
You'd hate this bed. It's narrow and old.
I could make do.
When do you leave?
Four or five days.
Just sorting out some business
with the house.
Don't lose that job in Germany.
No.
You practising for the Dvok concerto?
Of course.
In between sessions with lovers.
I'm learning some new tricks.
Your old ones are pretty good.
Yours, too.
I think all of these old rugs
can be thrown away.
Like the old ruin who lives here.
Don't be such a drama queen, Dad.
Nikki's found you a great place in Albany.
Your own flat with a big garden.
Fantastic. Sounds like fun.
Can't wait to get there.
Where are we going?
Are you kidnapping me?
I suppose so.
Who the hell lives here?
You'll see.
You made it.
I did.
Not much choice.
Yeah, sorry about the...
little incident, mate.
Had a bit to drink, you know.
Didn't mean to...
I thought you were pretty good.
Yeah. Bit... unexpected.
Had to learn to deal with hostile critics.
We know you're a wine buff.
So...
So you two aren't just a couple of hitmen?
It's impressive.
-You own all this?
-Yeah, more or less.
Us and the bank, you know?
Our dad, he started up here in the valley
years ago.
Give it a, you know...
It doesn't look like much now.
Just give it a couple of months.
We've just finished pruning, you know?
I just assumed you were...
somewhere with a few sheep.
No.
No, we're struggling
with a few thousand vines, mate.
Screw top.
You know, the French say
that a cork is better to keep the flavour.
No, that's rubbish.
I bet the French don't tell you
how many bottles are ruined by cork taint.
That's a good Chardonnay.
Though I hear the best ones
are from Margaret River.
Yeah, ours are just as good.
We also make the best Cabernet.
And we do it all ourselves,
from grape to bottle.
Tell me. Why am I here?
-We're old schoolmates.
-No, we just went to the same school.
There's a rumour
that you might be coming back.
-To Australia.
-To Australia.
-Who told you that?
-It's just small-town gossip.
You know how it is.
Now, Steve.
-Stephen.
-Stephen, look,
we're not doing too badly, yeah?
Business is, you know, pretty good.
Or not so good.
-Well, we could...
-We could be doing far better.
I'm not rich, I'm afraid.
I can't invest in your business.
It's not a money thing, mate, yeah?
Your name will help us.
Prestige, yeah? On our letterheads.
-And you're really well connected.
-Really well connected.
-Really well connected.
-Yeah, really nice.
Look...
someone's got to supply all the drinks
to the opening night parties
-at the Opera House.
-Yeah, and...
-The theatres.
-Theatres, yeah.
-All those events.
-And it should be us, right?
And, frankly, we're not too impressive
talking to "the arty" type.
Yeah.
-Really?
-Yeah.
We could use a frontman.
One that always has a supply
of great wine.
What do you think?
Can you help the boys?
I suppose I should.
Were they awful at school?
The worst.
People can change.
I never thought so,
but maybe they can.
Maybe they do.
Meaning?
I'll send some emails
recommending their wine.
The wine's good.
-I don't live here.
-No.
I do.
It's been a while
since I've kissed a girl in a car.
I remember our first kiss.
-In your mum's pantry.
-In my mum's pantry.
I think she saw us.
I think so. She shot me a funny look.
You told the brothers
I was coming back here?
I heard a rumour. I guess...
I hoped.
There's opera houses everywhere in Europe.
There's over 80 in Germany.
There's only...
two, three here.
Strong argument. Better than...
Better than my new career
in the wine business?
Better than Yarrabiddy, Perth.
Me.
How did your family end up here?
Remember Idi Amin?
Yeah, he was crazy.
Didn't he... eat his political opponents?
So they say.
He...
kicked all the Indians out of Uganda
in the 1970s.
He said they were taking over the place.
Probably true.
My grandfather owned a big grocery chain.
Why'd they choose Western Australia?
Nearest place with friendly locals.
That's a good reason.
So...
you must have a girl in every...
opera house.
No.
Most of my work's backstage.
Anyway, the girls like the tenors
and the baritones.
Not the handsome young designer?
Don't give me that.
There is one girl.
She's not a singer. She's a musician.
-What about you?
-What about me?
-Lovers?
-No lovers.
A couple of blokes
since Andy shot through.
Didn't think much of them.
I might try the Internet.
That's all the rage now.
And then there's the pub.
You never know who you'll meet there.
Let's clear it out.
-All of it?
-Yeah.
Jesse, don't forget the front hedge.
Take down the pictures.
All of them.
This chair that bloody real estate woman
bought is gonna cripple me.
Yeah, I know, Dad.
It's just so the house looks good
for the buyers.
Well, they'd have to be a mob of dickheads
to fall for that.
What's that?
It's for you.
What is it? Electric razor?
It's a mobile phone.
-I don't need a mobile phone.
-Yeah, you do.
You keep it in your pocket,
and Nikki and I can get you
whenever we want.
Won't there be a phone in my luxury cell
in the old duffers' home?
There will be.
But with this,
we can just call you any time.
You know, if you're out somewhere and...
you'll be able to see us.
-See you? Where?
-Right here.
I wouldn't know how to work it.
This'd baffle that bloke in the war,
that one that cracked the German code.
Alan Turing.
No, but it's really simple.
And I'll program it and set it up so that
you just press one button to answer it,
you have one button to call me,
one button to call Nikki.
Hey, mate.
-I'll have a chai latte, please.
-Yeah.
-Do you have almond milk?
-Yeah, of course.
Thank you.
Dad?
Coffee with real milk and sugar.
Thank you.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
I'm sorry, Dad.
What about?
Selling your house and sending you away.
-But you can't...
-I know.
I can't cope, you told me.
Will I see you again?
I mean, except for...
in my magic phone?
Of course.
I think you're really going to like it
in Albany.
Nikki's got it all organised,
and she's really close, so you can go
and visit her whenever you want.
How will I get to Albany?
Aub will take you.
Yeah.
Life is just one big party...
When one has not yet loved
Don't speak of love to one who
Doesn't know it
That is my destiny...
Let's enjoy ourselves! Wine and song with
Laughter make the night even better
May dawn find us still here in paradise!
Love me, Alfredo...
Love me as much as I love you
We're matadors from Madrid
Heroes of the bullring
We've come to Paris to enjoy the Carnival
Rubbish.
We'll tell you a story
About what sort of lovers we are
Yes, tell us the story!
We would love to hear it
I call on you all to witness
That I have repaid her
Dreadful! You've wounded her to the heart
Get out! You revolt us
It's so strange!
They've stopped... the spasms of pain
I feel reborn... I feel strong again!
I'm going to live!
What joy!
Brava!
Bravo!
Her voice!
It's marvellous.
It's wonderful.
That Giuseppe Verdi's not bad.
What?
-Joe Green.
-Yeah.
So, you had us worried.
Worried?
Australia.
We thought perhaps
you might not come back.
Yes, it is a beautiful place.
I visited the...
the coral...
The Barrier Reef.
I was a long way from there.
Of course.
But... you were tempted, no?
To stay?
Possibly.
Hello?
-Jenny?
-Yes?
It's Stephen.
You're in London?
No, I'm here. In my old place.
You're in your old place? Why?
Family stuff.
You know the sort of thing.
Well, I'm just leaving. I can't talk now.
Can I see you?
-Unlikely. I have to go.
-Jenny...
Who was that?
That...
bloody woman from the gym.
She wants me to start yoga classes.
That stupid stretching is not exercise.
No. See you later.
-How're you going, sir?
-Hey, mate.
-Yeah, thank you very much.
-Thank you.
Hey, mate, could you grab
that red bag for me?
Taxi, mate?
Hello, Dad?
Dad?
Oh, my godfather.
My godfather.
You got here so quickly.
I didn't think you could get away.
You said that...
Nikki called.
I managed to arrange a few things.
A drink. Let me get you a drink.
Coffee would be good.
Coffee. How was the trip?
It was okay.
A bit boring. Watched a miniseries.
The place is a bit of a mess.
Bit of a mess? What do you mean?
Well, the garden's all neglected.
The pot plants are dying.
A bit of rain and they'll be all right.
And what's all this?
Where are your clothes?
They're drying.
Well, why don't you put 'em in the dryer?
Broken.
Well, you could hang 'em outside
on the line.
Hey, it's all right, you know.
What's it matter?
I mean, you come in here
after a long while
and you start criticising.
What happened to that cleaning lady?
What was her name? May?
She's been coming here for years.
She's an old cow. She's demented.
You mean she nags you to tidy up?
Well, at least
you haven't messed up my room.
So, how is she now?
May? Bloody mad as ever.
Never stops talking...
No, not May. Mother.
Mother.
She's the same. Yeah, just the same.
How is she?
Well, what do you think? Bloody awful.
When is she going to wake up?
It's hard to say.
She sleeps most of the time.
When did she last speak?
Well, she said a few words not long after
I called you in London.
And what'd she say?
She just looked at me and said,
"Hello, dear."
-Is this place okay?
-Yeah, I think so.
But from Mum's section,
I don't think anyone ever walked out.
I know all of them. They're all locals.
We all end up in here.
That was old Mrs Hince in the next bed.
She's got that, what's it called, the...
-Alzheimer's.
-Yeah, but is she in any pain?
-Mrs Hince? No, she hasn't...
-No, Mother. Mother.
-I mean, do they give her morphine?
-She's never complained.
Yeah, shame you couldn't
have got here earlier
when I called the first time.
I was working, you know?
So how long can you stay for?
-Couple of weeks, maybe a bit more.
-Couple of weeks?
It's a long way to come
for a couple of weeks.
I've got an opera to do in Germany.
What opera?
Does it matter?
You've never heard of it.
You don't know anything about opera.
What is it?
-It's Traviata.
-Never heard of it.
Beer, mate?
Please.
You Fred Seary's boy?
-How'd you know?
-Everybody knows Fred.
Your mum's sick.
Heard you were coming.
-No secrets around here, mate.
-Evidently not.
You been overseas?
That's right.
You're a painter or something, aren't you?
I'm a stage designer.
Yeah.
Want something to eat?
-What's good?
-Fish and chips is great.
Got kangaroo, if you like.
-No, fish and chips is fine, thank you.
-Sure.
So you design stages?
I design sets for plays and operas,
mostly operas.
Sounds a bit...
-Hey.
-What?
You can't be like that
these days, brother.
-You're living in the past.
-This bloke's forgotten the past. Hey?
High school?
-Right, you're...
-Dave Bell.
-I'm Greg.
-That's Greg.
I remember. You were the school bullies.
-That's us.
-We were kids then, you know?
-Kids can be pretty...
-Mean?
Mean? You want a written apology?
You learnt how to write?
-Nice one.
-Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we scraped by.
You went off to uni, eh?
Did something arty?
Architecture.
Always were a smart-arse.
-Sorry about that.
-That's okay, mate.
You couldn't help it.
-There you go, mate.
-Thank you.
He's fuckin' fruity, mate.
Most of the lights are out.
I mean, why don't you change the bulbs?
I'm going to get some.
And there's
newspapers all over the place.
I mean, they're years old, some of them.
Yeah, well, there's some articles
I want to keep.
Okay, well, keep those ones.
-Get rid of the rest.
-Don't nag me.
You want to have something to eat?
I've got some...
-baked beans.
-No, I'm good, thanks.
I got something at the pub.
Going to need a light.
Thanks.
That won't work here. It's got no...
Internet?
Yes, it will. I got this from Nikki.
It's a dongle.
She works in IT, remember?
Yeah.
IT?
Whatever that is.
Thought you'd vanished into the outback.
I'm nearly there.
Staying at my parents' place.
How's your mother?
Not too good.
I'm sorry.
How long do you think?
It's hard to say.
I miss you.
Same here.
I hate talking on this thing.
Me too.
I'm doing the Dvok concerto.
That's great.
Festival Hall?
No. Newcastle.
Stephen, they called from Germany
about the opera.
Yeah, I'm working on the details.
But I told 'em I'll email 'em.
I'll be back.
Well, don't be too long.
I might have to find another lover.
Don't do that.
You'll be disappointed.
Hello?
Hey, Mum.
Sorry I couldn't get here earlier.
You've been in Albany
visiting Nikki, Peter, and the kids?
No, London.
I live in London.
London?
-Yeah, yeah, that's... that's right.
-Yeah, he works in London, Mum.
London and all over Europe. He's famous.
Well, faintly famous.
I remember you always did want to travel.
You collected stamps
of all the countries.
It's a shame they're so far away.
They're not so far away now.
You can get to Europe in a day.
Same with America.
What's wrong with Australia?
Nothing's wrong with it.
-No, just...
-Where's that old devil?
-Which old devil?
-Your father.
He's still asleep, I suppose.
It's quite early.
I'll bet the place
looks like a gypsy camp.
Well, it's not going to make
House & Garden or Architectural Digest.
He's still having that affair, I know.
That's why he's so tired.
What affair?
With that nightclub pianist.
A night...
Mum, what nightclub pianist
is going to be interested
in an old ruin like Dad?
She's not so young herself, either.
It's been going on for years.
Really?
Anyway, what nightclub?
There's no nightclubs around here,
are there?
I mean, this isn't exactly
the Left Bank or New York.
She's... She's up in Mallamup.
Up the road, not here.
In Mallamup?
Right.
-Some tea for you, Mrs Seary?
-Yes, please, dear.
Coming up.
Excuse me?
She seems very odd.
I mean, is that the medication, maybe?
Could be. She's old.
They all go a bit barmy.
That way, Mr Gordon.
Gordon? He taught me in high school.
What's wrong with him? He seems all right.
I should say hello.
Don't bother.
He wouldn't know you.
Or anyone else.
Can't even recognise himself
in the mirror.
He'll probably go on like that for years.
I mean, most of the others
drop off the perch every few minutes.
Seems every time I sit down
for a cup of tea,
someone rushes up and says,
"So and so's popped their clogs."
Sensitive, isn't she?
Guess it's the effect of working in here.
Just becomes everyday life.
Everyday death.
-Nice bowl.
-Great bowl, Larry.
-Great bowl, mate.
-You're holding, Wayne.
If it rolls back over to the gutter,
you don't get...
you don't get that again.
No, no.
Dad!
G'day. How'd you know I'd be here?
If you're not at home, I couldn't think
of anywhere else you'd be.
-You drove here?
-Why not?
It's not that far to walk
and you're not supposed to be driving.
I'll be with you in a minute, Aub!
Nikki said they took your licence
after you drove into the river.
They all know me. I can drive. It's safe.
You're a terrible driver, Dad.
-How's your mother?
-She was awake. She was talking.
Going on about you
and some nightclub pianist in Mallamup.
Not that again.
No truth in it?
'Course not. It's ridiculous.
Why would you believe such a thing?
Well, you used
to travel around a lot, selling.
Yeah, that's me.
The last commercial traveller.
Your mother's mind's going. It's gone.
Nightclub pianist. Jesus.
How's the house?
Comfortable?
Five star.
But the food's a bit basic.
We should join Dad up
to one of those
healthy food delivery things.
No, I tried that last year.
It was a waste of time.
He wouldn't touch it. Too many salads.
Hey, did you ask him
about that nightclub pianist?
It's all too absurd for words.
This isn't exactly the town
for a surreptitious affair.
I don't know about that.
-Remember the minister when we were kids?
-Reverend Heffernan.
Yep, Reverend Heffernan.
All the wives were after him.
The ministers
were like rock stars back then.
Didn't he run off with some...
Yeah, he ran off
with the mayor's eldest daughter.
It was a big Yarrabiddy scandal.
What are we going to do with him?
-Reverend Heffernan?
-Dad.
We can't just leave him in the house,
watching old films on TV.
I don't know.
At least he's got some old cronies around.
Oh, God, I wouldn't rely on that lot.
In spite of all my efforts to guide him,
my dear friend Rainiero of Sidonia
could not correct a certain,
shall we say, carelessness.
He had failed, as usual, to notice...
I used to watch this film as a kid.
Alas, sometimes one is forced to fight.
Don't suppose he was much of an actor,
but I liked his films.
And Douglas Fairbanks.
Clark Gable.
They don't have stars like them any more.
...especially if those people
were brothers, husbands or fathers.
There's some pretty good actors around.
Not like Flynn and Gable.
You've got Cate Blanchett.
Colin Farrell.
And Mark Rylance.
Not in the same class.
You know, I wanted to be an actor.
Yeah, you told me.
You're just nervous.
You've amazed me.
I had no idea you loved me so much.
What a life they have.
What a life.
Hello.
The Ewart sisters?
-Yes. You're their niece, aren't you?
-Yeah.
They'll be glad to see you.
Round here.
Thank you.
You're back.
Didn't do too good over there, eh?
Told ya.
No, I came to see Mum.
Nikki called, said she...
Yeah, he's been designing
lots of operas, Aunt Mollie.
-Operas?
-Have you ever seen one?
Couldn't be bothered with that nonsense.
-How's your mother?
-The same.
Hello.
How are you, Aunt Annie?
Do you like it here?
'Course she doesn't bloody like it here.
Who'd like it?
Well, you both decided
to move in here, Aunty.
No bloody choice, was there?
I couldn't get up the hill
to the shops any more.
Annie's kids all gone, God knows where.
Never in touch.
And your mother in hospital,
and your father as useless as always.
Well, the staff seem nice and friendly.
They're all right.
Big mob of Filipinos and Islanders.
You never see a white face.
There's TV, I'm sure.
-You know, that's something.
-I never look at it.
Why not?
It all goes too fast.
There's no stories.
No one can drive any more.
All the cars keep crashing.
The actors all mumble.
The music's too loud,
and there's endless shows
of white girls kissing Black men.
What's the world coming to?
Talk about politically incorrect.
She was always like that.
Remember how she used to go on
about the migrants?
Yeah.
She hated the Malts and the Balts.
And the Ities and the Poms and the Greeks.
And the Lebanese.
-Now the Indians and the Chinese.
-God.
Well, at least
she's an equal opportunity bigot.
It's sad.
She's resentful.
Resentful? About what?
About everything, pretty much.
I mean, she's watched old friends marry,
have kids and all that.
Do well in jobs.
Aunt Annie didn't say a word.
Did she have a stroke?
No, the doctor told me she can talk.
She's just got nothing more to say.
-I'm not looking forward to old age.
-Well, don't look forward.
Nice to leave a mark, though.
Let 'em know you were here.
Paintings.
-A few designs.
-Don't be so bloody pompous.
I'll have the steak.
I know how you like it, Fred.
-Well done.
-Well done.
Yeah, have the steak, it's good.
Okay, I'll have the steak, please.
Medium rare, thank you.
I'll have the veggie burger, thanks.
Do you have a wine list?
Thank you.
It's like an encyclopedia.
Well, half the country
is in the wine business.
Hey, Steve.
Try the Cullen Diana Madeline 2012.
-Fruity.
-How are you, mate?
Good, mate.
I'll have that, then, thank you very much.
Ta.
Not the hospital?
No. No, it's nothing.
Just a news thing.
This place has gone upmarket,
old Yarrabiddy.
Not too much, just a bit.
No, actually quite a bit.
-There's a coffee shop with a barista.
-Barrister?
No, barista.
And I hear there's a vegan cafe
opening in a few weeks.
Yeah, and all run by those LBW types.
No, it's LGBTQ, not LBW.
Yeah, whatever. Anyway, this left-wing mob
wants to get rid of the war memorial.
-Dad.
-Stephen.
Margie.
Dave and Greg Bell told me you were back.
-You living in Perth?
-No, just a visit.
Mum's unwell.
I heard.
Sorry.
Well, might see you around.
That'd be nice.
Margie.
Wasn't she an old squeeze of yours?
Not really.
Well, a long time ago.
I mean, I was just out of high school.
Right.
If I had my time again
There'd be no days wasted
In playing hard to get
As for now
All I regret
Are the joys untasted
If I had my time again
You would find me bolder
Not hard to get to know
On the mark
All set to go
And no cold shoulder
We've been told in every generation
By the ladies
In the magazines
To keep our distance
Keep our fascination, well
They can tell it to the marines
If I had my time again
It could mean disaster
I'd be burning to begin
I guess I wouldn't always win
But at least
I'd be moving faster
Get some light bulbs
and you won't need that torch.
I'm going to, I told you.
It's only at night.
No problem during the day.
And the garden.
I mean, at least sweep up the leaves.
You know, Mum had it looking really good.
I'm going to. Don't nag me.
You used to read a lot as a kid.
You still do that?
Yeah, quite a bit.
I mean, maybe not as much.
I wanted to be a writer
when I was young, you know?
Really?
What stopped you?
Never went anywhere.
Nothing to write about.
Tennessee Williams became famous
writing about his family.
Alice Munro won a Nobel Prize
writing about her day-to-day life.
Must have been more dramatic
than what goes on around Yarrabiddy.
I doubt it.
If people want to write, they just write.
There's stories everywhere.
What's this?
It's just some rough sketches
for the sets.
Traviata.
Right.
What's it mean in English?
Something like "The Fallen Woman".
Doesn't sound too cheerful.
No.
The heroine's love life goes all wrong.
She dies of consumption at 23.
Laugh a minute.
Yeah, but the music's wonderful.
The libretto's adapted
from Dumas' Lady of the Camellias.
Is that so?
Fascinating.
Dumas, eh?
You know, even as a kid you were always...
Refined and sensitive?
I was going to say...
a bit of a pain in the arse.
I've done her four-hourly obs.
Everything's stable, as expected.
If there's any other problems,
just get in touch, okay?
Hey.
Dr Symons.
My mother.
Mrs Seary.
Isn't she being cared for?
Well, I believe so.
I was wondering...
if you could tell me perhaps...
How long she's got?
Look, I've no idea.
A few weeks, a month, perhaps.
You seem pretty bloody casual.
I mean, does anybody
give a fuck around here?
You're her son?
People get old,
their systems pack up and they die.
That's what happens.
Sorry, immortality isn't an option yet.
-Hey.
-Where are you?
I'm on the bus.
Didn't Dad tell you?
Tell me what?
Well, I have to go to Perth
for a couple of days.
Of course, he didn't tell me.
Why didn't you tell me?
Well, I forgot. I'm sorry.
Great. Now these have to go
on the line. Now.
On the line? What? What line?
No, that was for Dad.
So, what are you doing?
I have a meeting with the opera.
-Nonsense.
-What do you mean?
I can always tell when you're lying.
There's something else.
I'm not lying. There's a chance
I might do some work.
All right, well, don't be too long.
Mum's not gonna live forever.
Well done.
Very good.
I didn't think I'd hear from you.
I didn't think you would either.
You weakened.
Only for lunch.
Only for lunch.
Thank you.
Your mother?
Terrible.
I'm sorry.
She never liked me.
No.
She always seemed to like the girls
that I wasn't so keen on.
Well, they weren't such a threat.
If only she knew.
Knew?
That I wasn't going
to take you away from her.
Your career
was always going to come first.
I loved you. You know that.
We were young. Twenty?
-Twenty-one?
-So we were.
And you're involved with someone.
How do you know that?
No secrets. It's a small planet.
What does she do?
-Do?
-Well, not to you.
I can imagine that.
For a living.
She's a cellist.
She's Irish.
And she lives with you?
No. She's got her own place.
And a house in Wexford.
Well, why doesn't she stay there?
Bitch.
You still dancing?
Not so much.
Choreographing.
Choreographing what?
Right now a sarabande
for a scene in a TV show.
Sarabande?
Bach wrote sarabandes?
He did.
But it was a dance
from Mexico, they think.
It was banned for obscenity.
Obscenity?
Obscenity?
-This is obscene?
-Well, not by today's standards.
The dancers, they take a few steps,
they make hand gestures,
they move forward, move back.
It never leads to anything.
I know that situation.
Don't stop!
In films, isn't this where
they both light cigarettes
and have meaningful conversations?
I can't take up smoking now.
Or meaningful conversations.
You kept this place.
I thought you'd have let it
when you were away.
You ever tried letting an apartment?
What do you mean?
The tenants always wreck it.
I wasn't intending to do this today.
So you keep telling me.
I don't know what it is.
You've always had this effect on me.
Do you remember our first kiss?
I came after two seconds.
So did I.
Did you?
You never told me that.
I thought you knew.
What are you doing?
I'll have to go.
Go?
-Now?
-I have a class.
I miss you.
Well, that never stopped you from...
rushing off to Europe.
You can bear missing me.
I'll call.
Don't call. There's no point.
You know that.
How's John?
Fine.
Bit overweight.
Very jealous, too.
Still rich?
Not rich. Doing well.
Stock market. Shares.
Snob.
A good lover?
Enthusiastic.
Stephen!
-Hello, Michael.
-Heard you were back.
-How?
-Well, word travels around.
-Family?
-Yeah, family.
Families. Aren't they the limit?
My mother still keeps trying
to find the right girl for me.
And that's a total waste of time.
-Charles Kennelworth.
-Our new artistic director.
Stephen Seary.
Why are you over here?
Did the Sydney Opera House
collapse into the harbour?
No, we came over to hear the new soprano.
You know, a possible Lucia.
So, still showing the same
half a dozen operas over and over?
It's not half a dozen. It's about nine.
-We'd have no audience if we didn't.
-Yeah.
Still, imagine if they showed the same
nine films over and over.
Well...
And now we are about to see
an obscure Czech fairy tale
set to wonderful music.
God of all consolation,
in your unending love and mercy for us,
you turn the darkness of death
into the dawn of new life.
Be our refuge and strength in sorrow.
As Your son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying for us, conquered death
and by rising again restored us to life,
so may we go forward in faith
to meet Him, and after our life on Earth,
be united with our dear brothers
and sisters in Christ,
where every tear will be wiped away.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.
So what now, mate?
Now? What do you mean, Aub?
Well, Enid's gone.
Yeah, I know she's gone.
She seemed to run the show, though.
What show's that?
Your whole bloody life, mate.
Yeah.
Double, double, this, this
Double, double, that, that
Double this, double that
Double, double, this, that
Your mother going, I'm...
-I'm sorry, mate.
-Thank you, Peter.
It wasn't unexpected.
No, no.
You know, the mother of a workmate of mine
got hit by a car down in Albany.
She just stepped off the footpath and...
Bang!
-Peter!
-You know?
-What?
-Well, not a very cheerful story.
No, I guess not.
-I'll get you another drink, mate.
-Thank you.
Okay, well, you'd better face up to it.
Up to what?
Well, Dad. What do we do?
And Mum's sisters.
There's nothing we can do
about Mum's sisters.
-They're being cared for.
-I suppose.
Dad?
He won't be able to cope in that house.
You know that.
Stephen, look,
I've got to get back to Albany, all right?
The kids have got school.
I can't just move up here.
I've got to get back to Europe.
-What, to England?
-To Germany.
-Is that definite?
-Yes, it's definite.
-I've sent them all the designs.
-Here you go.
-All right. Thank you.
-Thank you.
Well, I was just...
starting to think
that you might have been undecided
about that.
If I quit this job,
I will never work in Europe again.
Well, what about that girl in Perth?
You were mad about her.
-What girl?
-Jenny.
I'm sure you've been in touch with her.
Jenny? I think she's married.
Well, I wouldn't have thought
that would stop you.
Nikki, your image of me is...
inaccurate and unflattering.
No, realistic.
-Sorry about your mum.
-Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll stay here for dinner.
It's great. Got everything. Roast beef.
Even got bread and butter pudding.
Sounds good.
Good to see your nouveau cuisine
hasn't made it this far.
Oh, but it has. What's that horrible stuff
you made me eat?
Kale. Yeah, like seaweed.
Not as tasty.
So close!
I'd have done that.
Yeah, but you didn't.
Rebuilding the house, are you, mate?
Just about.
-All yours.
-Thank you.
-Help you, mate?
-No, not really. Just looking around.
Place opens about 6:30.
Right, thank you.
Is there a lady who works here? She...
I don't know, maybe...
Who are you?
Police?
Licence on this place is up to date,
and I've paid off those crooks
on the council.
-What do you want?
-Nothing really. I just...
heard about this place.
Well, I think it was this place.
From my dad.
He was a commercial traveller.
Jeez, that must have been
a while back, love.
Travelling men are all gone.
Sales are on the Internet.
Not as much fun.
I see.
Your dad said he came here?
He could have...
when he passed through town.
He worked for one of the wine companies.
Bodega, I think it was.
Fred Seary.
Yeah, that's my dad.
Been a long time.
Don't tell me
he hasn't dropped off the perch?
No, he's okay, more or less.
My mother died.
Travelling sales blokes were like sailors.
Girl in every port
and a wife hidden away somewhere.
Right.
Thanks. I'd better be going.
You say hello to Fred for me.
Nah, maybe not, forget that.
What's past is past.
I'm off soon, anyway.
Place will be closing by Christmas.
Off?
Queensland. Got a sister in Townsville.
Bye, love.
Gosh.
He looked pretty good in those days.
So did Mum.
Yeah, that's what happens.
Everything falls apart.
What, really?
Always?
That's what they tell me.
That's amazing. That nightclub story.
Wasn't a fantasy of Mum's after all.
I wouldn't call it a nightclub.
It was just a... sort of a bar.
Even then, I don't think
he's been there for years.
So you don't think
he's planning a comeback?
No.
Where'd you get this?
It was in the cupboard,
on top of Mum's clothes.
That's Mum, that one.
I know.
I know.
She told me she met you in some park?
She was having a party with some mates.
I crashed it.
I spotted your mum,
and I thought she was a bit of all right.
Yeah, Mum told me
you never left her alone.
Followed her all over the place
until she agreed to meet you somewhere.
Yeah, she was working in a dress shop
in King Street.
Used to meet at
one of those Italian coffee shops
that sprung up everywhere.
I must have been keen,
because I hated that ex...
Espresso?
Expresso. Yeah.
Yeah.
I hated that.
Well, good afternoon, everyone,
and welcome.
This is a rare pleasure for me.
We don't get too many celebrities
out here in Yarrabiddy.
Tommie Lang.
He was a centreman for the Eagles.
Great player. Good on ya, Tommie.
Get in there, mate.
-Get in there, Tommie.
-Tommie!
Yeah, all right, Dave.
Yeah, no, we all know Tommie,
but I'm not talking about celebrities
in your cricket or your footy.
I'm talking about celebrities
in your arts.
Okay?
Now there's a young fella here
that's been acclaimed
right around the world
in Europe and even in America
for his work in theatre design.
More specifically, in your opera.
Now, he's won a lot of awards
most recently for his work in...
Hang on a sec, it's...
Yeah, Fancy a la Del West.
Fanciulla del West.
It means "The Girl of the West".
It's by Puccini.
Thanks, Stephen.
That one was at Covent Garden, by the way.
Anyway, he's also done another award
for Elixir... d'amore by Donald Izzetti.
How'd I go with that one?
Elixir d'amore just means
"Elixir of Love",
and the composer was Gaetano Donizetti.
Too right. And then,
this one here's a bit tricky.
It's...
Gee-sep-ee...
Giuseppe Verdi.
It just means...
"Joe Green" in English, actually.
Is that right? Joe Green?
Who'd have thought?
Anyway, mate, as you can tell,
opera's not my forte, but,
mate, just wanted to say
we know you grew up around here, and...
Well, we're just glad to see you
back here for a visit,
even though it's...
under such sad circumstances.
Your mother...
well, she was a wonderful woman.
Too right. Too right.
Mate, if you wouldn't mind
making your way up, Stephen?
Stephen, if you could make your way up?
Just wanted to...
Right.
Stephen, we'd like to present you
with this small memento
of your time here in Yarrabiddy
and maybe you'll think of us
-when you're back there in London, mate.
-Thank you very much.
Hey?
And just while we got you there, mate,
you are a...
you know, an artist and a designer.
So we'd like to use your expertise to...
choose the winner of our annual art prize.
Okay.
Hey?
Yeah.
Hard to decide?
Very.
Here's our winner, folks!
I had my eye on one of the other ones.
-Don't eat all those lamingtons.
-Get lost.
I liked the bananas.
Did you arrange all that?
Of course not. It was the mayor's idea.
Not many celebrity visitors around here.
I told him you didn't even qualify.
It was difficult, though.
The paintings were ghastly.
-We're not in a West End gallery.
-You can say that again.
We're not in a West End gallery.
Don't be so superior.
Sorry, you're right.
-I just can't accept...
-What?
A double level of standards.
Either the paintings are good
or they're not, aren't they?
I thought a couple of them looked great.
When are you leaving us?
Soon. It'll have to be soon.
Yeah. At least you'll be there in a day.
I went to visit the old man
back in Scotland years ago.
The bloody plane stopped three times
on the way over.
Then, I had to catch a train
all the way up to Glasgow,
and it was bloody freezing.
I couldn't wait to get back here, could I?
-Eddie!
-Just a sec.
-Over here, mate.
-Hang on.
He's right.
Be real cold over there now.
Yes, but we do operas indoors
in heated theatres.
You know you can do operas here.
He's right, Stephen.
You don't have to go to France.
-Germany.
-Germany.
You really like it over there?
Yes, I do.
Sorry.
-Excuse me.
-No worries.
Oi, Steve!
Isn't it a bunch of crap?
Hey? This opera stuff?
I mean, who gives a bugger about it,
anyway?
You know, it's just a bunch of weird song
and music in some foreign accent.
It's a lot of great songs, David,
and great music.
Yeah? Yeah? And it's only
for rich people, isn't it, eh?
And fairies.
-Reckon you're clever, eh?
-No, I'm just alert.
Well, come on, then! Hey!
Hey!
I'm sorry, mate.
He gets a bit carried away.
Tell him opera tickets don't cost any more
than a rock concert.
That was a low blow, mate.
-Get up.
-Got me right in the shin!
-Come on, Dad.
-You're paying for this one, mate.
Got me right in the shin, mate!
Where'd you get all that?
Supermarket.
They don't just sell tins of baked beans.
How'd you learn to do that?
I learned how to cook.
I like cooking.
I remember as a kid
you used to spend days
listening to the cricket on the radio.
What's wrong with that?
You used to listen to classical music
on the radio.
Yeah, the whole point of music
is to hear it.
You got it all wrong
about the cricket, though.
I just said it was a somewhat dull game
to watch.
You said it would fade out.
Yeah, well, hours can go by
and nothing happens.
Well, it's more popular now than ever.
Even the Americans are in the World Cup.
Along with us and the Brits
and the New Zealanders and the...
South Africans and the Indians
and the... West Indies
and the Pakistanis and the Sri Lankans.
And there's even a team from Afghanistan.
Fade out? Struth.
You're going to steal my car?
Well, Dad, you don't have a licence.
I told you.
They don't take that seriously.
They will when you mow down a pedestrian.
And how do I get around without my car?
Well, you can walk into the shops.
It's not far,
and... the mob from the bowling club
will keep an eye on you.
-How far to go?
-Not too far.
That's Aub. Isn't he the taxi driver?
Yeah, only a couple of days a week.
This is his farm.
Come on. Don't sit here.
Aub's got something to show ya.
Over here.
It's an ancestry chart.
It's more than that.
You take a closer look.
See from start to finish.
Now look down the chart.
You see?
You see?
Aub is a direct descendant
of Jesus Christ.
It was totally ridiculous.
How can you say that?
You saw the chart.
-You don't believe?
-No, I don't believe it.
It's a fake chart.
It has to be.
What, do you really think
a direct descendant of Christ
is a part-time taxi driver in Yarrabiddy?
You were always like this,
even as a little boy.
You remember that water diviner
that came round?
-You said he was a fraud.
-He was a fraud.
He found water, remember?
He dug a hole next to a creek in a valley.
Of course, he was going to find water.
Stephen.
So, how is Australia?
Hermann, hello.
It's fine. It's going okay.
Are you in Sydney?
No, I'm a couple of hours
outside of Perth.
-Western Australia.
-Perth?
I don't know this place.
Your mother...
We have not heard from you.
She passed away last week.
-Sad.
-That's...
Yes, that's very sad.
-But, Stephen, we...
-The... The opera.
Yeah, I've been working on the sets,
and I've sent you the designs.
We have the designs
but, my dear Stephen,
we need you here!
A contract is a contract, Stephen.
I just have a few more things
to sort out here.
Yeah, okay. Well, sort out very fast, huh?
I know, Hermann, and I will be there.
Very good.
We see you, then.
Hey, Dad.
What's the problem now?
What's that stuff in the bath?
Bath?
Yeah, the bath.
It's just beer.
-Beer?
-Yeah, I'm brewing it.
You didn't touch it, did you?
It's got to ferment for a couple of weeks,
and then I bottle it and...
Couldn't you just buy beer?
Yeah, but it's my hobby, brewing.
Bit of malt and yeast and hops and...
Does it taste any good?
No, not too good.
Mum say anything about...
brewing stuff in the bath?
Yeah, she had quite a bit to say.
She didn't like it,
but now, a man's got to have a hobby.
You had those toy trains, remember?
Tracks all over the house.
Yeah, but not in the bath.
No, not in the bath.
Here's an aisle.
Excuse me.
Can you put that one under your seat?
Thank you.
Let me help you with that, sir.
-Where are you this time?
-I'm on a plane.
What, to Germany?
No, to Sydney.
-What the hell for?
-Well, I have a meeting.
It's only a five-hour flight.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Honestly, he's harder to find
than the Scarlet Pimpernel
or Lord Lucan,
or Amelia Earhart.
Never heard of any of them.
Stephen!
Charles. Sorry, I'm late.
-Flight was delayed.
-As usual.
What a beautiful place.
It was a dump.
I had to have this whole thing rebuilt.
You know, this... this here was a wall.
No windows.
I mean, you couldn't see the view.
Look, I thought you might be hungry,
so I had a little snack prepared.
I hope you like oysters and smoked trout.
-And this is my friend, Lydia Stephenson.
-Pleasure to meet you.
And this... is not Australian.
This is my favourite Sicilian white.
Hope you like it.
I think you might.
-Special wine for a special guest.
-Thank you.
So, tell me.
What was life like out in the sticks?
Yarrabiddy.
It's okay.
Small town. Retirees and a bowling club.
Local gossip.
I... I was very sorry
to hear about your mother.
Thanks.
It's very difficult.
Death of parents.
Were you very close?
I don't suppose I was.
As a kid, I always felt like a stranger.
I always felt like one day
my real parents would turn up
and take me with them.
And the ones you were stuck with,
were they distant or... strict?
No, not at all.
It's just a matter of interests.
We never seemed to have anything
in common.
All I ever wanted to do was...
-get out of Yarrabiddy.
-And you did.
Yeah, I did.
So, what now?
Back to Europe?
That's the plan.
-You don't sound certain.
-Certain?
I am.
Really?
Because I was thinking
with all the work you've done in Germany
and England and so on,
I thought maybe you might be getting
a little tired of all that.
I thought maybe you might
like to... come back to all this?
Work here?
That's very flattering, Charles.
I've settled in over there.
Don't worry. I know you've
carved yourself out quite a career.
What's the show you've got lined up?
Traviata.
Bit of an old warhorse.
-But a masterpiece.
-Yes.
I can send you a link,
and you can watch it online opening night.
Great.
We saw your Rosenkavalier
and Lucio online.
-It was superb.
-Yes. Superb.
Thank you.
You know, next year,
we're going to be doing Peter Grimes.
I thought that was something
that might interest you?
And not just to design.
You might like to direct.
Dad, I'm back.
Dad?
G'day. You're back early.
Dad.
What?
Don't you think that's a bit strange?
What?
Having a shower with your clothes on.
I'm washing my bloody clothes
as well as me.
What's wrong with that?
A bit eccentric, perhaps?
Eccentric?
I'd call it practical.
Haven't got my shoes on.
I didn't wash them.
We used to come up here years ago,
remember, Dad?
-When we were little.
-Yeah.
'Course, I remember.
Used to bring your mother up here, too.
Yeah. We used to have picnics right here.
Why are we here now?
Don't worry, Dad. We're not going
to throw you over the cliff.
That's a relief.
Yeah. Well, we've been
discussing things, Dad.
What things? Me?
We just need to talk.
About what?
Opera?
Your future.
Well, why should things change?
-Dad, Mum's gone.
-Yeah.
And we just don't think
that you can cope alone...
Of course, I can cope.
We've had the house for years. I can cope.
We don't think so.
It's just you're getting on, Dad.
There's nothing wrong with me, Nikki.
Nothing. Nothing wrong with me.
Dr Roberts says I'm a perfect specimen.
It's ever since that trip to Aub,
isn't it?
That was it, wasn't it?
You think I'm senile.
Dad's amazed that I don't believe
Aub Gillespie is a direct descendant
of Jesus Christ.
You were always a cynic.
Dad, quite apart from the validity
of Aub's claim,
I have to get back to Albany
with Peter and the kids, and...
Stephen's got to go back to Europe.
-And the beer.
-What's wrong with that?
Well, I did some research.
It's quite dangerous.
It can explode. You'll blow up the house.
Blow up the house?
What are you suggesting?
We sell the house.
Yeah, and I'll be able to find
a nice place in Albany.
You know, not far from me.
A nice place?
You mean a home for old duffers?
No, Dad. No, Dad.
I mean a retirement home.
We'll be able to come and visit you often.
The kids, they love your jokes.
You won't be alone.
Yes, but the roof of the camper van
has completely come off.
All my clothes,
the mattress I'd just bought
gone down the highway, the whole thing.
And I spent the next hour
picking it all up off the highway.
It was so bad!
-Bye, love.
-Don't be so dramatic, Dad.
We'll see you soon in Albany.
Albany, while all my mates are here.
Let's not go over that, Dad.
You'll be better off down there,
and you know it.
Yeah, I don't know that I know it.
You and Nikki keep telling me
that I know it.
You won't be far from us, Dad.
Tell us one of your jokes, Grandad.
I don't know I'm up for jokes.
Come on, Grandad. Don't be a spoilsport.
Not the one about the witch in the woods
-you told at the bowling club.
-Okay.
How do you fit four elephants
in a small car?
How?
Two in the front, two in the back.
-How do you fit four giraffes in the car?
-How?
They don't fit any more
'cause the elephants are in there.
That's not a very funny joke, Grandad.
It's hilarious, Rodney.
Right, we better get going, Dad.
It's a long drive.
It's nothing. It's 400 kilometres.
And what about we stop for pizza
and ice cream, eh?
Yay!
That the opera you're doing?
No, it's a production I did
a few years ago.
It's Puccini's Il Tabarro.
What's that mean? Tobacco?
Tabarro. It means "The Cloak".
Not bad.
No, it's not bad.
Margie.
You look shocked. Why so surprised?
I'm expecting someone
from the estate agency.
That's me, you dope.
But you were singing at the pub.
That's not a job. That's just fun.
I join Eddie and his boys once a week.
Right, I see.
Am I invited in?
Yeah. Sorry.
I only dress like this for work.
It's a costume.
They think the businesswoman impersonation
gives the house owners confidence.
Yeah, I must admit I just always thought
estate agents and lawyers
and accountants were just...
crooks with licences to rob their clients.
Cynical, but not far from the truth.
Where's your dad?
He's asleep in his bedroom.
I mean, do you really think you could
sell this place for a decent price?
I think so. It's a bit of a wreck.
You should have seen it
before we cleaned up.
But the position's good.
People come up here from the city.
-What, people want to move here?
-Of course.
What do they do?
Some are retired, some work from home.
They all like the quiet country life.
Not everyone wants to run off
to Europe or America.
A lot of work doing this place up.
I can arrange some cosmetic stuff.
Vases of flowers all over the place
helps a lot,
and I won't bring anyone here
in bad weather.
Big mistake.
I can see
that you are right on top of this, Margie.
I am.
Well, I'll get going.
I'll bring around some contracts.
I hear your marriage broke up. I'm sorry.
Yeah, a couple of years ago.
He left me for some femme fatale.
In Yarrabiddy, really?
Nah, not really.
Just a mousy schoolteacher.
-And you have a son?
-Anthony.
He's...
with his grandmother for the holidays.
Are you in bed?
Yeah, it's quite late here.
I wish I was there.
You'd hate this bed. It's narrow and old.
I could make do.
When do you leave?
Four or five days.
Just sorting out some business
with the house.
Don't lose that job in Germany.
No.
You practising for the Dvok concerto?
Of course.
In between sessions with lovers.
I'm learning some new tricks.
Your old ones are pretty good.
Yours, too.
I think all of these old rugs
can be thrown away.
Like the old ruin who lives here.
Don't be such a drama queen, Dad.
Nikki's found you a great place in Albany.
Your own flat with a big garden.
Fantastic. Sounds like fun.
Can't wait to get there.
Where are we going?
Are you kidnapping me?
I suppose so.
Who the hell lives here?
You'll see.
You made it.
I did.
Not much choice.
Yeah, sorry about the...
little incident, mate.
Had a bit to drink, you know.
Didn't mean to...
I thought you were pretty good.
Yeah. Bit... unexpected.
Had to learn to deal with hostile critics.
We know you're a wine buff.
So...
So you two aren't just a couple of hitmen?
It's impressive.
-You own all this?
-Yeah, more or less.
Us and the bank, you know?
Our dad, he started up here in the valley
years ago.
Give it a, you know...
It doesn't look like much now.
Just give it a couple of months.
We've just finished pruning, you know?
I just assumed you were...
somewhere with a few sheep.
No.
No, we're struggling
with a few thousand vines, mate.
Screw top.
You know, the French say
that a cork is better to keep the flavour.
No, that's rubbish.
I bet the French don't tell you
how many bottles are ruined by cork taint.
That's a good Chardonnay.
Though I hear the best ones
are from Margaret River.
Yeah, ours are just as good.
We also make the best Cabernet.
And we do it all ourselves,
from grape to bottle.
Tell me. Why am I here?
-We're old schoolmates.
-No, we just went to the same school.
There's a rumour
that you might be coming back.
-To Australia.
-To Australia.
-Who told you that?
-It's just small-town gossip.
You know how it is.
Now, Steve.
-Stephen.
-Stephen, look,
we're not doing too badly, yeah?
Business is, you know, pretty good.
Or not so good.
-Well, we could...
-We could be doing far better.
I'm not rich, I'm afraid.
I can't invest in your business.
It's not a money thing, mate, yeah?
Your name will help us.
Prestige, yeah? On our letterheads.
-And you're really well connected.
-Really well connected.
-Really well connected.
-Yeah, really nice.
Look...
someone's got to supply all the drinks
to the opening night parties
-at the Opera House.
-Yeah, and...
-The theatres.
-Theatres, yeah.
-All those events.
-And it should be us, right?
And, frankly, we're not too impressive
talking to "the arty" type.
Yeah.
-Really?
-Yeah.
We could use a frontman.
One that always has a supply
of great wine.
What do you think?
Can you help the boys?
I suppose I should.
Were they awful at school?
The worst.
People can change.
I never thought so,
but maybe they can.
Maybe they do.
Meaning?
I'll send some emails
recommending their wine.
The wine's good.
-I don't live here.
-No.
I do.
It's been a while
since I've kissed a girl in a car.
I remember our first kiss.
-In your mum's pantry.
-In my mum's pantry.
I think she saw us.
I think so. She shot me a funny look.
You told the brothers
I was coming back here?
I heard a rumour. I guess...
I hoped.
There's opera houses everywhere in Europe.
There's over 80 in Germany.
There's only...
two, three here.
Strong argument. Better than...
Better than my new career
in the wine business?
Better than Yarrabiddy, Perth.
Me.
How did your family end up here?
Remember Idi Amin?
Yeah, he was crazy.
Didn't he... eat his political opponents?
So they say.
He...
kicked all the Indians out of Uganda
in the 1970s.
He said they were taking over the place.
Probably true.
My grandfather owned a big grocery chain.
Why'd they choose Western Australia?
Nearest place with friendly locals.
That's a good reason.
So...
you must have a girl in every...
opera house.
No.
Most of my work's backstage.
Anyway, the girls like the tenors
and the baritones.
Not the handsome young designer?
Don't give me that.
There is one girl.
She's not a singer. She's a musician.
-What about you?
-What about me?
-Lovers?
-No lovers.
A couple of blokes
since Andy shot through.
Didn't think much of them.
I might try the Internet.
That's all the rage now.
And then there's the pub.
You never know who you'll meet there.
Let's clear it out.
-All of it?
-Yeah.
Jesse, don't forget the front hedge.
Take down the pictures.
All of them.
This chair that bloody real estate woman
bought is gonna cripple me.
Yeah, I know, Dad.
It's just so the house looks good
for the buyers.
Well, they'd have to be a mob of dickheads
to fall for that.
What's that?
It's for you.
What is it? Electric razor?
It's a mobile phone.
-I don't need a mobile phone.
-Yeah, you do.
You keep it in your pocket,
and Nikki and I can get you
whenever we want.
Won't there be a phone in my luxury cell
in the old duffers' home?
There will be.
But with this,
we can just call you any time.
You know, if you're out somewhere and...
you'll be able to see us.
-See you? Where?
-Right here.
I wouldn't know how to work it.
This'd baffle that bloke in the war,
that one that cracked the German code.
Alan Turing.
No, but it's really simple.
And I'll program it and set it up so that
you just press one button to answer it,
you have one button to call me,
one button to call Nikki.
Hey, mate.
-I'll have a chai latte, please.
-Yeah.
-Do you have almond milk?
-Yeah, of course.
Thank you.
Dad?
Coffee with real milk and sugar.
Thank you.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
I'm sorry, Dad.
What about?
Selling your house and sending you away.
-But you can't...
-I know.
I can't cope, you told me.
Will I see you again?
I mean, except for...
in my magic phone?
Of course.
I think you're really going to like it
in Albany.
Nikki's got it all organised,
and she's really close, so you can go
and visit her whenever you want.
How will I get to Albany?
Aub will take you.
Yeah.
Life is just one big party...
When one has not yet loved
Don't speak of love to one who
Doesn't know it
That is my destiny...
Let's enjoy ourselves! Wine and song with
Laughter make the night even better
May dawn find us still here in paradise!
Love me, Alfredo...
Love me as much as I love you
We're matadors from Madrid
Heroes of the bullring
We've come to Paris to enjoy the Carnival
Rubbish.
We'll tell you a story
About what sort of lovers we are
Yes, tell us the story!
We would love to hear it
I call on you all to witness
That I have repaid her
Dreadful! You've wounded her to the heart
Get out! You revolt us
It's so strange!
They've stopped... the spasms of pain
I feel reborn... I feel strong again!
I'm going to live!
What joy!
Brava!
Bravo!
Her voice!
It's marvellous.
It's wonderful.
That Giuseppe Verdi's not bad.
What?
-Joe Green.
-Yeah.
So, you had us worried.
Worried?
Australia.
We thought perhaps
you might not come back.
Yes, it is a beautiful place.
I visited the...
the coral...
The Barrier Reef.
I was a long way from there.
Of course.
But... you were tempted, no?
To stay?
Possibly.