While the Men Are Away (2023) s01e07 Episode Script
We've Always Despised Them, Now We Must Smash Them
1
I know I can rely on you
to do the right thing.
Our little brother is the
church's newest altar boy,
and in line to becoming the
second Aboriginal priest.
Ridge will be a guard at
the prisoner-of-war camp.
Any friends of theirs
is a friend of mine.
Are you breaking it off with me?
We had fun, but it's over.
ALL: (CHANT) Traitor. Traitor.
Traitor.
Traitor. Traitor.
(LAUGHS)
Your brother's gone.
Des was there. They rounded
'em up, took 'em away.
(SIREN WAILS)
(SIREN CONTINUES WAILING)
(SOBS)
WOMAN: Did anyone see you?
At the camp?
I don't think so.
Do you think they all escaped?
There's quite a few
sharp tools lying around.
- MAN: (OVER MEGAPHONE) Keep calm.
- What's that?
Remain in your home. Repeat.
A total lockdown has been declared.
Keep calm. Remain in your home.
Repeat. A total lockdown
has been declared.
- I've got to get out of here.
- No, don't.
- No, no, no.
- No, it's alright.
Don't. It's alright.
He's gonna kill you.
- No.
- It's alright.
Then he has to kill all of us.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
MAN: Look, hard lockdown
means exactly that.
No-one leaves the property for
any purposes. Do you understand?
Yes.
Well, how long will the lockdown last?
Well, that depends on how long
it takes to round up the escapees.
It could be weeks, maybe months.
Do you know how they escaped?
Look, I can't comment on an
open police investigation.
Sure.
Did I mention to keep your doors locked?
Yes.
Shed's all clear?
Yeah. Right. Best be off, then.
I'll show you out.
Gee, but I hate to go home alone ♪
MAN: (OVER RADIO)
It's the 17th day of lockdown
and 39 prisoners-of-war
still remain at large.
MAN: (OVER RADIO) the Coral Sea.
Military observers claim
that the Japanese
WOMAN: (OVER RADIO) The
Prime Minister, Mr Curtin,
in a national broadcast
last night said, "We are "
WOMAN: (OVER RADIO)
a good, true companion,
but you're nothing but a
hollowed lipstick shell.
MAN: (OVER RADIO)
Regina starts the engine,
tears rolling down her alabaster cheeks.
Drive, girl.
Don't look back.
Unaware of the letter
like an undetonated bomb
in her glove box.
Won't you be ♪
(DOOR OPENS)
Where have you been?
I snuck back to the mish.
He's gone too.
The fool's gone to go get 'em.
He'll find them.
Hey.
Murray will find them.
- Let's go.
- (LAUGHS)
Hey, I was looking for that robe!
Better on me, anyway.
- Eugh!
- Gwen.
You guys hear that noise last night?
All I could hear was
you two going at it.
What kind of noise?
Possum?
More than a possum.
One is missing.
Uno, due, tre, quattro,
cinque, sei, sette
Are you sure?
What if it's an escaped prisoner?
Why didn't Murray take me with him?
Maybe he knew you wouldn't let him go.
(BIRD TWEETS)
(JOLLY MUSIC)
(CHICKEN CLUCKS)
It's at least been a month.
Would've said two.
Might nearly be time for Sukkot.
What's that?
It's my favourite Jewish festival.
You build a hut outside with palm fronds
and an open roof to see the stars.
You eat all your meals in
it. You sleep in it too.
What's it for?
My dad used to say
it reminds us to appreciate the
shelter of our homes and bodies.
Well, whatever the date
is, we should do it anyway.
Mm.
If you're looking for
quizzes, we've done them all.
We'll compile our own.
Who's going first?
Esther?
(LAUGHTER)
So you have to answer straightaway.
You have no time to think.
- Favourite colour?
- Thulian.
Obviously.
First love?
- My mother.
- Ew.
It's the same for us all.
It's that immediate rush of oxytocin
- Do you still want children?
- Yes.
Jewish husband?
Oh.
All we have is right now.
We can't think about the future.
Hear, hear.
I, for one, love the lockdown.
In fact, the war is the best
thing that's ever happened to me.
- Gwen!
- Well, it's true.
I hope it never ends.
(BANG!)
(MUSIC STOPS)
No! No!
(WAILS) Noooo!
There, there, Gwenny.
We don't need the outside world.
- (JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYS)
- Come on.
Come on. Let's go.
(MUSIC DISTORTS, STOPS)
(MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN OVER RADIO)
(VOICE STOPS)
(GENTLE MUSIC)
(CHILD SINGS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(WHISPERS) Buonanotte, Mario.
GWEN: Whose turn for 20 questions?
Come on, Kathleen. In the hot seat.
What's your favourite colour?
All of them.
Where were you born?
Why do you want to know?
It's literally the point of the game.
What do you want to be in 20 years?
Enfranchised. We done?
Is there anything we don't
already know about you?
Was that the first question?
Did you cut your hair
because of this photo?
Oh, my God. Mother! (GASPS)
Go on, Gwenny. Take it out on Hitler.
And the Fuhrer's been let off the hook.
Argh!
Oh!
(SCREAMS)
Do it, Gwen. Show
your mother who's boss.
(OTHERS CHEER, APPLAUD)
(SHOUTS) Argh! Argh! Arrrrrgh!
Argh! Argh!
(GROANS)
- Oh, that is immensely cathartic.
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
Oh. Oh.
Mm mm.
Mm.
You have a go.
No.
Everyone on board?
(CRANEKISS BY TAMARYN PLAYS)
Love wind ♪
Around me ♪
Peel you ♪
A round heart ♪
Lovers at the wrong kiss ♪
And at the wrong tongue ♪
I'm always at the wrong pace ♪
I'm at the wrong time ♪
Lovers at the wrong kiss ♪
And at the wrong tongue ♪
I'm always at the wrong pace ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
Just like the heat of the sun ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
I'm charmed to kiss you long ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
Just like the heat of the sun ♪
I know it faded all along ♪
You've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what you wanted ♪
Take what you want ♪
Get what you want ♪
I've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what they wanted ♪
I take who I want ♪
Do what they want ♪
- (BANG!)
- (SCREAMS)
Take what you want ♪
Get what you want ♪
I've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what they wanted ♪
I take who I want ♪
Do what they want ♪
MAN: You alright, bub?
- You a ghost?
- Nah.
What you on, girl?
(LAUGHS)
I can't believe you brought 'em home.
Maybe now you'll trust me instead
of doing everything yourself, hey?
Just because you did
something right for once
doesn't mean you go spout rubbish.
I like your hair.
Oh. Thank you.
(LAUGHS)
I want to be a Sapphic.
(CHUCKLES)
How do you know that word?
That might have been me. Sorry.
What's it mean, bub?
You like girls that have good hair.
Yes.
Are there any palm trees around?
What's what's palm trees?
We are doing Sukkot,
regardless of the date.
I need palm fronds,
myrtle, citron, willow
(GLASS SMASHES)
MAN: Find 'em. Find 'em!
They've gotta be here somewhere.
Search everywhere.
Nobody move.
Where's your maid?
What's going on?
Hey. Hey!
Stand back!
- (GROANS)
- Stop!
Back away. You want to be next?
Anyone else?
Go.
Find the family.
- No! (GROANS)
- GWEN: There's no-one else.
There's three of them.
They must be here somewhere.
Clear.
(GROANS) Frankie!
(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
They took my radio.
(BIRDS TWEET)
(WATER SPLASHES)
(HUMS)
Come and swim with us.
You can leave your robes on.
Come on.
Would you baptise me?
I don't mean in a religious way.
I've been christened.
But I'm a different person now.
I want to mark my new life.
Well, I don't have any authority.
It won't mean anything.
It will to me.
I hereby
wash away your sins
and the sins that
have been done to you
so that you may live a new life.
- Whoo!
- (ALL LAUGH)
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
It's my turn.
For what?
The questions.
- Really?
- Si.
Do you think you're going to hell?
It is out of my hands.
Do you miss Harry?
I miss the simplicity.
Do you have brothers and sisters?
A sister.
What does this mean?
I found it on the pantry floor.
(READS ITALIAN WORDS HALTINGLY)
"Sei al sicuro qui."
"You are safe here."
Who's it for?
Before I came here
I was in love
with Daniella.
My husband found out
(MAN SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
and I was locked
up in an insane asylum.
(SCREAMS)
(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
(DOOR SLAMS)
(SCREAMS)
I escaped.
Then I got on a boat
where I met Harry.
And I left behind my son.
(CALLS OUT IN ITALIAN)
Mario.
Who is being raised by my sister.
He will be seven now.
I just want him to be safe.
ESTHER: It's not palm fronds,
but I don't think it'll matter.
(BELL TINKLES)
Someone's here.
(LAUGHS) Hey, champ. How are ya?
How's your mum?
Still using too much Bex powder?
Sorry, that's I've
forgotten how to do small talk.
Don't worry, everyone has.
For you, Miss.
Oh, here, I'll
It's my dad.
(READS) "Dearest Essie
thank you for your letters.
My heart soars to hear from you.
Glad the harvest was a success
and you are doing your bit
to keep the country fed.
I'm writing to you from the
newspaper's office in Zurich,
where the latest dispatches
from Germany are filtering in.
The reports are chilling.
Disturbing accounts of Jewish
people being rounded up
put on trains to who knows
where, never to be heard from again."
(SINGS IN HEBREW)
"And not just our people.
Others too.
Artists and homosexuals,
gypsies and the disabled.
Anyone classified as degenerate
are also vanishing without a trace.
I know this news must fill
you with despair, but
do not lose hope, dearest one.
Continue to love your fellows
and from that love take strength
to stand up to brutality
and inhumanity
where it rears its head.
Through many small victories,
the war will be won."
I know I can rely on you
to do the right thing.
Our little brother is the
church's newest altar boy,
and in line to becoming the
second Aboriginal priest.
Ridge will be a guard at
the prisoner-of-war camp.
Any friends of theirs
is a friend of mine.
Are you breaking it off with me?
We had fun, but it's over.
ALL: (CHANT) Traitor. Traitor.
Traitor.
Traitor. Traitor.
(LAUGHS)
Your brother's gone.
Des was there. They rounded
'em up, took 'em away.
(SIREN WAILS)
(SIREN CONTINUES WAILING)
(SOBS)
WOMAN: Did anyone see you?
At the camp?
I don't think so.
Do you think they all escaped?
There's quite a few
sharp tools lying around.
- MAN: (OVER MEGAPHONE) Keep calm.
- What's that?
Remain in your home. Repeat.
A total lockdown has been declared.
Keep calm. Remain in your home.
Repeat. A total lockdown
has been declared.
- I've got to get out of here.
- No, don't.
- No, no, no.
- No, it's alright.
Don't. It's alright.
He's gonna kill you.
- No.
- It's alright.
Then he has to kill all of us.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
MAN: Look, hard lockdown
means exactly that.
No-one leaves the property for
any purposes. Do you understand?
Yes.
Well, how long will the lockdown last?
Well, that depends on how long
it takes to round up the escapees.
It could be weeks, maybe months.
Do you know how they escaped?
Look, I can't comment on an
open police investigation.
Sure.
Did I mention to keep your doors locked?
Yes.
Shed's all clear?
Yeah. Right. Best be off, then.
I'll show you out.
Gee, but I hate to go home alone ♪
MAN: (OVER RADIO)
It's the 17th day of lockdown
and 39 prisoners-of-war
still remain at large.
MAN: (OVER RADIO) the Coral Sea.
Military observers claim
that the Japanese
WOMAN: (OVER RADIO) The
Prime Minister, Mr Curtin,
in a national broadcast
last night said, "We are "
WOMAN: (OVER RADIO)
a good, true companion,
but you're nothing but a
hollowed lipstick shell.
MAN: (OVER RADIO)
Regina starts the engine,
tears rolling down her alabaster cheeks.
Drive, girl.
Don't look back.
Unaware of the letter
like an undetonated bomb
in her glove box.
Won't you be ♪
(DOOR OPENS)
Where have you been?
I snuck back to the mish.
He's gone too.
The fool's gone to go get 'em.
He'll find them.
Hey.
Murray will find them.
- Let's go.
- (LAUGHS)
Hey, I was looking for that robe!
Better on me, anyway.
- Eugh!
- Gwen.
You guys hear that noise last night?
All I could hear was
you two going at it.
What kind of noise?
Possum?
More than a possum.
One is missing.
Uno, due, tre, quattro,
cinque, sei, sette
Are you sure?
What if it's an escaped prisoner?
Why didn't Murray take me with him?
Maybe he knew you wouldn't let him go.
(BIRD TWEETS)
(JOLLY MUSIC)
(CHICKEN CLUCKS)
It's at least been a month.
Would've said two.
Might nearly be time for Sukkot.
What's that?
It's my favourite Jewish festival.
You build a hut outside with palm fronds
and an open roof to see the stars.
You eat all your meals in
it. You sleep in it too.
What's it for?
My dad used to say
it reminds us to appreciate the
shelter of our homes and bodies.
Well, whatever the date
is, we should do it anyway.
Mm.
If you're looking for
quizzes, we've done them all.
We'll compile our own.
Who's going first?
Esther?
(LAUGHTER)
So you have to answer straightaway.
You have no time to think.
- Favourite colour?
- Thulian.
Obviously.
First love?
- My mother.
- Ew.
It's the same for us all.
It's that immediate rush of oxytocin
- Do you still want children?
- Yes.
Jewish husband?
Oh.
All we have is right now.
We can't think about the future.
Hear, hear.
I, for one, love the lockdown.
In fact, the war is the best
thing that's ever happened to me.
- Gwen!
- Well, it's true.
I hope it never ends.
(BANG!)
(MUSIC STOPS)
No! No!
(WAILS) Noooo!
There, there, Gwenny.
We don't need the outside world.
- (JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYS)
- Come on.
Come on. Let's go.
(MUSIC DISTORTS, STOPS)
(MAN SPEAKS ITALIAN OVER RADIO)
(VOICE STOPS)
(GENTLE MUSIC)
(CHILD SINGS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(WHISPERS) Buonanotte, Mario.
GWEN: Whose turn for 20 questions?
Come on, Kathleen. In the hot seat.
What's your favourite colour?
All of them.
Where were you born?
Why do you want to know?
It's literally the point of the game.
What do you want to be in 20 years?
Enfranchised. We done?
Is there anything we don't
already know about you?
Was that the first question?
Did you cut your hair
because of this photo?
Oh, my God. Mother! (GASPS)
Go on, Gwenny. Take it out on Hitler.
And the Fuhrer's been let off the hook.
Argh!
Oh!
(SCREAMS)
Do it, Gwen. Show
your mother who's boss.
(OTHERS CHEER, APPLAUD)
(SHOUTS) Argh! Argh! Arrrrrgh!
Argh! Argh!
(GROANS)
- Oh, that is immensely cathartic.
- (OTHERS LAUGH)
Oh. Oh.
Mm mm.
Mm.
You have a go.
No.
Everyone on board?
(CRANEKISS BY TAMARYN PLAYS)
Love wind ♪
Around me ♪
Peel you ♪
A round heart ♪
Lovers at the wrong kiss ♪
And at the wrong tongue ♪
I'm always at the wrong pace ♪
I'm at the wrong time ♪
Lovers at the wrong kiss ♪
And at the wrong tongue ♪
I'm always at the wrong pace ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
Just like the heat of the sun ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
I'm charmed to kiss you long ♪
I know you feel me burn up ♪
Just like the heat of the sun ♪
I know it faded all along ♪
You've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what you wanted ♪
Take what you want ♪
Get what you want ♪
I've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what they wanted ♪
I take who I want ♪
Do what they want ♪
- (BANG!)
- (SCREAMS)
Take what you want ♪
Get what you want ♪
I've seemed to move on now ♪
Forget what they wanted ♪
I take who I want ♪
Do what they want ♪
MAN: You alright, bub?
- You a ghost?
- Nah.
What you on, girl?
(LAUGHS)
I can't believe you brought 'em home.
Maybe now you'll trust me instead
of doing everything yourself, hey?
Just because you did
something right for once
doesn't mean you go spout rubbish.
I like your hair.
Oh. Thank you.
(LAUGHS)
I want to be a Sapphic.
(CHUCKLES)
How do you know that word?
That might have been me. Sorry.
What's it mean, bub?
You like girls that have good hair.
Yes.
Are there any palm trees around?
What's what's palm trees?
We are doing Sukkot,
regardless of the date.
I need palm fronds,
myrtle, citron, willow
(GLASS SMASHES)
MAN: Find 'em. Find 'em!
They've gotta be here somewhere.
Search everywhere.
Nobody move.
Where's your maid?
What's going on?
Hey. Hey!
Stand back!
- (GROANS)
- Stop!
Back away. You want to be next?
Anyone else?
Go.
Find the family.
- No! (GROANS)
- GWEN: There's no-one else.
There's three of them.
They must be here somewhere.
Clear.
(GROANS) Frankie!
(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
(PANTS)
(GROANS)
They took my radio.
(BIRDS TWEET)
(WATER SPLASHES)
(HUMS)
Come and swim with us.
You can leave your robes on.
Come on.
Would you baptise me?
I don't mean in a religious way.
I've been christened.
But I'm a different person now.
I want to mark my new life.
Well, I don't have any authority.
It won't mean anything.
It will to me.
I hereby
wash away your sins
and the sins that
have been done to you
so that you may live a new life.
- Whoo!
- (ALL LAUGH)
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
It's my turn.
For what?
The questions.
- Really?
- Si.
Do you think you're going to hell?
It is out of my hands.
Do you miss Harry?
I miss the simplicity.
Do you have brothers and sisters?
A sister.
What does this mean?
I found it on the pantry floor.
(READS ITALIAN WORDS HALTINGLY)
"Sei al sicuro qui."
"You are safe here."
Who's it for?
Before I came here
I was in love
with Daniella.
My husband found out
(MAN SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
and I was locked
up in an insane asylum.
(SCREAMS)
(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)
(DOOR SLAMS)
(SCREAMS)
I escaped.
Then I got on a boat
where I met Harry.
And I left behind my son.
(CALLS OUT IN ITALIAN)
Mario.
Who is being raised by my sister.
He will be seven now.
I just want him to be safe.
ESTHER: It's not palm fronds,
but I don't think it'll matter.
(BELL TINKLES)
Someone's here.
(LAUGHS) Hey, champ. How are ya?
How's your mum?
Still using too much Bex powder?
Sorry, that's I've
forgotten how to do small talk.
Don't worry, everyone has.
For you, Miss.
Oh, here, I'll
It's my dad.
(READS) "Dearest Essie
thank you for your letters.
My heart soars to hear from you.
Glad the harvest was a success
and you are doing your bit
to keep the country fed.
I'm writing to you from the
newspaper's office in Zurich,
where the latest dispatches
from Germany are filtering in.
The reports are chilling.
Disturbing accounts of Jewish
people being rounded up
put on trains to who knows
where, never to be heard from again."
(SINGS IN HEBREW)
"And not just our people.
Others too.
Artists and homosexuals,
gypsies and the disabled.
Anyone classified as degenerate
are also vanishing without a trace.
I know this news must fill
you with despair, but
do not lose hope, dearest one.
Continue to love your fellows
and from that love take strength
to stand up to brutality
and inhumanity
where it rears its head.
Through many small victories,
the war will be won."