Scripts - Episode 3374

THE BEACH HOUSE

IRENE and JUNE are there.

JUNE

And there we were in the diner, with all the people listening. Can you imagine how Don would have felt if I’d turned him down?

IRENE

Em, humiliated.

JUNE

Mortified.

IRENE

So, you said yes.

JUNE

Yes.

IRENE

But not just because you didn’t want Don to be mortified. I mean, you really are happy, aren’t you love?

JUNE

Oh, yeah. I’m absolutely over the moon.

IRENE

June, I am so glad for you, even if he is in my bad books at the moment.

JUNE

I’m still reeling a bit though. Who would have thought Don could be so spontaneous? A proposal was absolutely the last thing I expected/

IRENE

Not so much as even a hit?

JUNE

No, this subject never came up, but I’m thrilled, honestly and just a little scared.

IRENE

Why? Anyone can see you two are meant for each other.

JUNE

Aw, it’s not that. It’s just that everything is so happening at once.

IRENE

Aw, darl, I wouldn’t worry about that. Life is so much more fun when it’s messy, trust me.

JUNE

Yeah, I’ll drink to that.

IRENE

Cheers.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

SALLY and DON are there.

DON

I should have been more circumspect. It will be all over town by now.

SALLY

Well, it’s all over school, that’s for sure.

DON

Oh, no. What are they saying?

SALLY

The kids?

DON

Yes.

SALLY

Well, they’re surprised, that’s all.

DON

And the staff?

SALLY

They’re pleased for you and for them. I think they see June as a mellowing influence.

DON

Oh, they do, do they?

SALLY

And to add to the happiness, the agency called and they’ll be a temp here first thing in the morning.

DON

I’ll believe that when I see it.

The bell rings.

SALLY

Well, they did promise. Anyway, year ten awaits.

SALLY walks out the office. SEB walks in.

SALLY

Hey Seb, hope you haven’t forgotten about World War One?

SEB

I just need to speak to gramps. Three minutes.

SALLY

Two.

SEB walks into DON’S office.

SEB

Well, is it true? You and June, you’re going to get married?

DON

I did mean to tell you myself Seb, but I’m afraid the grapevine beat me to it, but, yes, yes, it’s true.

SEB

Awesome. Well, how do you feel?

DON

Well, as though I’ve finally jumped from a plane?

SEB

And that’s a good thing?

DON

Seb, em, when your grandmother died, she wanted the family to honour her death by jumping from a plane. Marilyn and Rebecca jumped, but I’m afraid I opted for self preservation, but today I finally decided to do it.

SEB

Excellent. Congratulations.

DON

Thank you.

JADE and KIRSTY walk downstairs.

KIRSTY

What’s up with you anyway?

JADE

I’ve had a horrible day. A horrible couple of days.

NICK is walking along. JADE walks away.

NICK

Hey Jade. Jade, wait up. I need to talk to you.

JADE

I’ve got heaps to do.

NICK

You’re the one that’s always going on about life being too short. You’ve been avoiding me all week.

KIRSTY

Guy’s, I’m just going to the surf club see you.

KIRSTY runs away.

JADE

Kirsty.

NICK

Listen, if this is about last week, I’m sorry. I don’t want things to be like this between us.

JADE

Just forget it Nick. It’s in the past.

NICK

If it’s in the past, why are you still ignoring me?

JADE

I’ve got to go home. I’ve got heaps of homework to do.

JADE walks away.

NICK

This is so great Jade. You know, what if it had been the other way around? Do you think I’d be treating you like this?

THE BEACH HOUSE

NICK walks into his room. He slams the door.

NICK

Oi, I paid good money for that door mister.

IRENE walks in.

IRENE

What is up your nose?

NICK

Nothing.

IRENE

Won’t be nothing if that door needs re-hinging. Now, what is going on?

NICK

I  don’t get girls Irene. They’ve got all these double standards. It’s all right for them to do something, but if a guy does it he’s the worst thing in the world.

IRENE

What’s Jade done now?

NICK

Ah, it doesn’t matter.

IRENE

If it didn’t matter you wouldn’t be in this mood. You didn’t put the hard word on her, did you?

NICK

No, it was the other way around

IRENE

Really. Well I have to admit I wouldn’t have expected that from Jade. Mind you, since the Eisteddfod.

NICK

Yeah, well, Irene, that’s why I didn’t want to do it. Because she’s suddenly lost the plot and now she won’t even talk to me.

IRENE

Well love, you don’t think that maybe she’s feeling just a little bit embarrassed. Rejected even. It’s a pretty big thing for her to do.

NICK

Well, I told her it wasn’t her?

IRENE

Yeah, well sometimes you can say things till your blue in the face. Doesn’t mean people hear.

NICK

Great.

IRENE

Aw, love. she’ll come around. I promise you. She’ll realise that you only did it because you love her.

DON’S HOUSE

DON and JUNE are drinking champagne.

DON

To us.

JUNE

To us.

DON

I think I owe you an apology.

JUNE

What ever for?

DON

The public proposal. You weren’t too embarrassed I hope.

JUNE

I was delighted.

DON

You didn’t feel pressured?

JUNE

No.

DON

No. No, second thoughts? I mean, you’re not now wondering, em, oh god. What have I got myself into?

JUNE

No, Don, absolutely not.

DON

Ah, right.

JUNE

Why? Are you having second thoughts?

DON

No, no, no. Not at all.

JUNE

I must admit to, eh, being just a little bit terrified.

DON

Yeah, yeah. I agree. Good word terrified.

JUNE

It is. Here’s to terrified.

SEB walks in.

SEB

Celebrating your recent proposal, right.

JUNE

Yeah. Your grandfather says you approve.

SEB

Oh, yeah, I do and I think you’re a very brave woman. Jumping out of an aeroplane on your wedding day. It’s going to take a lot of guts.

DON winks at SEB.

THE BEACH HOUSE

IRENE and NICK are in the kitchen. NICK takes some food out a pot.

IRENE

Oi, get out of there.

NICK

Just a touch more chilli.

IRENE

I’ll give you a touch more chilli. Now get.

NICK

I tried to help Irene. You’ve given me no choice. I’m just going to have to watch some TV.

DANI walks in. NICK walks away.

IRENE

Ah.

DANI

He’s in a much better mood.

IRENE

Yeah, well I think I just got lucky and said the right thing this time.

DANI

I wish things were that easy to fix for me.

IRENE

You don’t think that maybe that’s what you parents were trying to do?

DANI

Irene, they treated me like a child.

IRENE

Dan, you are their child. Love, it doesn’t matter whether you’re eight or forty-eight. Parents don’t stop being parents. They go on loving you, worrying about you, giving you advice even when you don’t want it. You know, they just can’t help themselves. Not if they’re good parents that is.

DANI

Like the ones I’ve got, right.

IRENE

Did I say that?

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

RHYS and SHELLEY are there.

RHYS

Kids are home, are they?

SHELLEY

The girls are actually studying and Max is up in his room.

RHYS

Ah, all present and accounted for. Well those who live here anyway.

SHELLEY

You know, dinners going to be a while. It might be a good time for you and Max to have that chat.

RHYS

Chat?

SHELLEY

Yeah, about the facts of life. The birds and the bees in other words.

RHYS

Aw. Yeah.

There is a knock on the door.

RHYS

Right, someone at the door.

DANI is at the door.

RHYS

Dani.

DANI

Hey dad.

SHELLEY

I was just getting dinner ready if you would like to study for stay for some.

DANI

I’ve eaten, thank you. I just came to talk to you.

SHELLEY

About coming home?

RHYS

We missed you so much Dan.

DANI

Yeah. I’ve missed you, but I’m not coming back.

RHYS

But.

DANI

I’m not ready.

SHELLEY

Dan.

DANI

Look, what happened is still there and it’s still between us so I can’t just push it aside no matter how hard I try.

RHYS

So, what are you going to do?

DANI

I’ll stay with Irene till the HSE is over. Look, I’ve come to say, yes, there is a problem, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you both very much because I do and I just thought it would help that you knew that.

DANI walks into her room. BRODIE is there.

DANI

Howdy stranger.

BRODIE

Dani, hello. Do you remember the name of that fossil that Mr. Thomas told us about in science?

DANI

The brachiopod.

BRODIE

Excellent. That’s it. I missed it.

BRODIE walks over to DANI.

BRODIE

Aw Dani. Please tell me you’ve come back to stay.

DANI

Sorry, I’m just getting some more clothes.

BRODIE

Studying is not as much fun without you.

DANI

Studying is never fun.

BRODIE

Well, yeah, OK, but it’s heaps less boring when you’re here so we can do it together.

DANI

Brods, you can still study with me. I’m down the road.

BRODIE

It’s not the same.

KIRSTY walks in.

KIRSTY

I heard you talking to mum and dad before.

BRODIE

I’ll get coffee.

BRODIE walks out.

DANI

How are you gong?

KIRSTY

Pretty bad. Dani, I didn’t mean to drive you away from home. If anyone should go, I know it should be me.

DANI

I couldn’t let that happen to my sister.

KIRSTY

I would if I was you.

DANI

Have a seat Kirst. A history lesson for you. OK, when you and Jade were born it was better than Christmas. Not only did I have one, but I had two little sisters to play with and I couldn’t believe it. I remember building you cubbie houses, brushing your hair after mum washed it.

KIRSTY

You were the only one that could do it properly, not her.

DANI

I remember that mouse you had. What was it’s name?

KIRSTY

Jemima.

DANI

Yeah.

KIRSTY

She died and you held it’s funeral. We all cried.

DANI

That’s right. Broken hearted.

KIRSTY

I’d almost forgotten.

DANI

It was a long time ago now Kirst. It’s water under the bridge, OK. We’ve been sisters for fifteen years to just throw that away.

KIRSTY

How can you ever forgive me though?

DANI

Just don’t hassle me out, OK. Just accept it, and now it’s your turn. You’ve just got to forget about those last three months, just put it behind you. What do you think?

KIRSTY

I think you’re the best sister ever.

DANI and KIRSTY cuddle.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF and ALEX are in the kitchen.

ALEX

Sushi to start with, then rice paper rolls and I reckon asparagus with smoked salmon.

ALF

Ah, no.

ALEX

What do you mean no, no?

ALF

Well, it’s the wrong sort of food.

ALEX

Well try telling that to the million Japanese people out there.

ALF

It’s wrong for a party mate. It doesn’t fill you up. It doesn’t soak up the grog.

COLLEEN and JUNE both walk in.

JUNE

Morning all.

ALF

G’day.

COLLEEN

Oh, sorry to interrupt. You haven’t forgot our little arrangement Alf, have you?

ALF

What? Oh, oh, the money I promised to get you. I’ll get it for you later.

ALEX

So, Alf. What are you suggesting? Party bites and stuff?

ALF

Well, what’s wrong with party bites?

ALEX

You’ve got to drag yourself out of the ninety fifties, you know that.

COLLEEN and JUNE are behind the counter.

COLLEEN

I didn’t get a chance yesterday. May I offer my congratulations.

JUNE

That’s very kind of you Colleen.

COLLEEN

I’m not one to harbour a grudge. Best to let bygones be bygones. I’ll hope you’ll both be very happy.

JUNE

Thank you.

COLLEEN

There was a time, you know, when everyone thought that Donald and I would make a match. The ideas people get.

JUNE

Yes, they do, don’t they?

COLLEEN

I mean, I knew all along we weren’t compatible.

ALF walks out the kitchen.

ALF

Oi, they’re always popular.

COLLEEN

But Donald got quite embarrassed. He’s very sensitive, you know. You’d do well to remember that if you hope to hang on to him.

JUNE

Thanks Colleen. I’ll bear that in mind.

COLLEEN

So, when’s the wedding to be, not that I expect an invitation?

SHELLEY walks in.

COLLEEN

I never get invited to anything.

JUNE

We haven’t thought about that yet.

SHELLEY

Here we are. Deposit for the catering. Thought you might be needing it soon.

ALF

Good on you Shell. We all have to order stuff.

SHELLEY

So, have we decided on a menu yet?

ALEX

Not quite, no. Still under discussion.

SHELLEY

Oh, I see. Well, as long there’s food there on the night.

ALEX

Aw, don’t worry about that.

SHELLEY

Morning June. Morning Colleen.

COLLEEN

Aw, morning.

SHELLEY

Did I miss something?

JUNE

Well, kind of, yes.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

RHYS and SHELLEY are there. SHELLEY is looking through a drawer.

RHYS

Of course, you would have written for Colleen, wouldn’t you?

SHELLEY

Well, she was on the list or at least she was meant to be on the list.

RHYS

Well do you remember writing an invite for her.

SHELLEY

Well, that’s the thing. I wrote some, the girls wrote some.

RHYS

What a person to miss.

SHELLEY

She’s really upset. Apparently she’s talking to Don about it yesterday and she can’t work out what’s she’s done wrong. I mean, it’s just been such a  mess this week with Dani and.

JADE and KIRSTY are in the kitchen.

KIRSTY

Mum, dad. I wrote one for Colleen. Max was supposed to give it to her.

RHYS

Ah, well. That would explain everything.

KIRSTY

Anyway, we’re out of here, so see you.

JADE

Bye.

RHYS

Thanks Kirst.

SHELLEY

Bye.

KIRSTY

Bye.

KIRSTY and JADE walk out.

RHYS

Look, don’t worry. There’s still a lot of time left. We can still write her an invite.

SHELLEY

Yeah, well the problem is how do we make it look like she wasn’t forgotten.

A PARK

KIRSTY and JADE walk along. KIRSTY turns down a path.

JADE

Where are you going?

KIRSTY

Didn’t you want to meet up with Nick? Jade, what is the problem?

JADE

Have you ever thought about, you know, having sex?

KIRSTY

Yeah, of course I have. I thought about thousands of times.

JADE

What about when you’re away? Did you ever.

KIRSTY

No, we didn’t. We actually didn’t need to. It was all too complicated. We were just happy enough to be together.

JADE

I wish that would be enough for me.

KIRSTY

Hang on, you didn’t,

JADE

No, but only because he didn’t want to.

KIRSTY

Nick didn’t want to?

JADE

Yeah. How’s that for ultimate humiliating experience.

KIRSTY

Did he say why?

JADE

Aw, he said something about not being the right time and being for the reasons. I mean, as if Nick would care about that. I just wanted to see what it was like. Obviously Nick doesn’t like me enough.

KIRSTY

Jade, you know that’s not true. The fact that he didn’t want to shows he loves you. Hey, look. I know you’re in to the whole live for the moment thing, but if you’re not careful one morning and Nick’s going to be gone.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF and ALEX are in the kitchen.

ALEX

No, not another mud cake.

ALF

Hey, come on. Everybody likes mud cake. Name me one person  who doesn’t like mud cake.

ALEX

It’s boring Alf, right. Why can’t we do something different for once.

ALF

Oh, you mean like something foreign maybe.

JUNE walks into the kitchen.

ALEX

Yeah.

ALF

Japanese?

ALEX

No. How about Greek just for a change. Torte. It’s this typical Greek birthday cake. Beautiful.

JUNE

Aw, I tried one of those once. It’s layered with chocolate, vanilla and nuts. It’s delicious.

ALEX

You see, you see.

JUNE

Do the Greek’s do something special for a wedding cake?

ALF

Not the damm wedding already. We’ll probably here nothing, but the flamin’ wedding now that you’ve got what you want.

JUNE

What do you mean?

ALF

Aw, don’t play the innocent with me June. Everybody in Summer Bay knows you only came back to get your claws into Don. Poor guy never stood a chance.

ALEX

Alf.

ALF

Eh.

ALF walks away.

SUMMER BAY HOUSE

SHELLEY walks out the house. JUNE walks up to her.

SHELLEY

Aw, June.

JUNE

Hi Shelley. I don’t suppose you’ve got time for a bit of a chat.

SHELLEY

I was on my way over sort out this problem with Colleen.

JUNE

Aw, right.

SHELLEY

I won’t be long if it can wait.

JUNE

No, no worries. It’s fine.

SHELLEY

OK.

JUNE

Bye.

SHELLEY walks away. COLLEEN is walking through the caravan park. SHELLEY runs up to her.

SHELLEY

Aw, Colleen.

COLLEEN

Oh, to what do I owe the honour?

SHELLEY

I came about the party.

COLLEEN

Aw, the party. Such a shame it clashes with the bowling club fundraiser.

SHELLEY

Oh, I.

COLLEEN

Yes, we’re having a fashion parade. I’ll be modelling outfits for the more mature woman so I won’t be able to see Rhys. However, I do have a little gift for him. If you wait here a minute I’ll go and get it. You can take it now.

SHELLEY

That really wasn’t necessary.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

DANI, BRODIE, JADE and KIRSTY are there.

DANI

How are you feeling today?

KIRSTY

Good, much better.

DANI

I’ll see you guys later.

DANI and BRODIE are walking away.

BRODIE

You are a saint.

DANI

I don’t think mum and dad think that.

JADE

I’m really glad you two have made up.

KIRSTY

So am I.

SEB and NICK are walking along.

KIRSTY

Now it’s your turn.

JADE

Can we talk?

NICK

So now you want to talk.

KIRSTY

Ah, Seb. Do you want to go and.

SEB

Yeah.

SEB and KIRSTY walk away.

JADE

I haven’t been very fair on you this week and I’m sorry.

NICK

That’s OK. I kind of got that you were feeling a bit rejected.

JADE

I just thought you didn’t love me enough.

NICK

Are you crazy. Of course I love you. I told you, it wasn’t because I didn’t want to you. You’re still getting over Charlotte.

JADE

But that’s the thing, it wasn’t just because of Charlotte. It was because I love you.

NICK

It’s like you changed overnight. You never wanted to do this before.

JADE

I haven’t changed Nick. I’m just being true to myself and I need to know that you care.

NICK

I want to. You just need to give me a chance to catch up.

JADE

I could do that.

NICK and JADE kiss.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF and ALEX are behind the counter. JUNE walks in.

JUNE

Alf, I need to speak to you.

ALF

Ah, fire away.

JUNE

I don’t know what caused your extraordinary outburst before, but given your long friendship with Don I don’t want any bad blood between us.

ALF

Bad blood?

JUNE

Yes. Now, I want you to know that no one was more surprised that I was at Don’s proposal and I came here to Summer because I like the place and because I like Don. I did not come here to get my claws into him.

ALF

June, I seem to be missing something here. What outburst are we talking about? I mean, as far as I’m concerned Don’s a mate of mine. Whatever makes him happy is fine by me.

ALF walks away. JUNE and ALEX look at each other.

SUMMER BAY HIGH

DON walks into the room outside his office. The new deputy principal, ANGIE, is there.

DON

Oh, em, good morning.

ANGIE

Angela Russell, Angie. I believe you were expecting me.

DON

Oh right, yes, of course we were. Yes, yes, thank god you’ve come, yes. Yeah, things were getting a little desperate around here to be perfectly honest. Yeah, I’m Donald Fisher, by the way, the principal.

ANGIE

Lovely to meet you at last.

DON

Yeah, and you, and you. Em, right, well, lets get you settled then shall we. This is your desk and this is your computer. Any problems with that, please don’t come to me because I’m absolutely hopeless with them and I think you’ll find that the filing system is self explanatory and if you could possibly just make a start on this vast mountain of mail.

SALLY and PHILLIPA, the new secretary, come in.

SALLY

Sorry to interrupt, this is Philippa Snow, our temporary administrator, Don Fisher, our principal.

PHILIPPA

How do you do?

SALLY

And I’m sorry.

ANGIE

Angela Russell, the new deputy.

SALLY

Ah.

ANGIE

Surely the department sent you a copy of my file.

DON

Em.

DON and ANGIE are in DON’S office.

DON

I thought I’d read the more important items of correspondence. I don’t know how I missed you file. I’m really sorry. Please take a seat. Right, now, I can see that you’re highly qualified, a former principal in fact.

ANGIE

That’s right.

DON

Yes, and since resigning from your last position you haven’t worked.

ANGIE

Correct again.

DON

Do you mind if I ask why?

ANGIE

It’s simple. I needed a break.

DON

Right, before you were totally burnt out I suppose.

ANGIE

Something like that.

DON

So why Summer Bay?

ANGIE

I’ve got an old friend here, so when I saw the job advertised I thought, why not?

DON

Well, why not indeed. Welcome back to the cold place.

ANGIE

Thank you.

THE BEACHSIDE DINER

ALF and ALEX are behind the counter.

ALF

All right, all right, you can have your flamin’ fishcakes. Just better get over to the Yabbie Creek co-op and buy the fish.

ALEX

All right, money please.

ALF

Oh, take it out of the till, ay. Out of that deposit that Shelley left here. It’s in the back.

ALEX

Thank you.

ALF

I still don’t know what’s wrong with party pies, you know, not that I’ve got anything against Thai tucker. Nothing against that all.

ALEX

Aw, of course not. I bet Rhys hasn’t either.

RHYS walks in.

RHYS

Rhys hasn’t what?

ALEX

Got anything against Asian food.

RHYS

Oh, heavens no, of course not. I love the stuff. Mind you, it did take a bit of coaxing from Shelly.

ALF

Yeah.

RHYS

I actually came here to see Colleen.

ALF

She’s out the back washing up mate. Listen, you wouldn’t be able to see your way clear to invite her to your party, would you?

RHYS

Yeah, em, Shelley went to see her about that, but she said she had something on.

ALF

Aw, no, no. She’s just trying to save a bit of pride mate. That fashion parade is on the morning.

RHYS

Right. Do you mind if I go through?

ALF

Aw, please do.

RHYS walks through to the kitchen. COLLEEN is there.

RHYS

Well, there you are.

COLLEEN

Here I am.

RHYS

Em, look. This is very embarrassing. Em, it’s about my party. I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. Somehow your invite got lost. Now, I know that we wrote you one, but what happened to it after that is anyone’s guess and I’m a bit upset because I don’t want to celebrate my party without such a good friend.

COLLEEN

Mistakes do happen.

RHYS

I was wondering if perhaps you could see your way clear to cancelling your other plans. It would mean a lot to me.

COLLEEN

Well, I suppose it might be possible.

ALEX

I’m telling you, there’s nothing here Alf.

ALF

Here, here, give us a look. It’s not there.

ALEX

That’s what I said.

ALF

You know what this means, don’t you? We’ve been robbed.