Age of Consent Page #5

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Damnation! That's not true!

I seen it with me own eyes!

Naked as the day she was born,

and you having her! Police will hear.

You stupid old woman!

She was posing for me!

- In the nelly! Underage! Prostitution!

- Oh, for God's sake!

Don't you bring Him into it!

He won't help you!

She's underage!

Come back here, you old perv!

I paid her for posing, for sketches,

for pictures!

- I never touched her!

- I seen it!

Wait till the law hears! You'll go inside!

Have some sense, woman! Get out of here!

Paid her! Paid her!

Paid her for your dirty dealings!

Used her! Underage!

- She had some money off you...

- Oh, I see.

I'll give you some money

if that's what you want.

Now, listen, she posed for me. Nothing else.

Now, take it, shut your face,

and leave me alone!

Now don't think you can

slink out of it this way!

Money or no money, I know me rights!

I know the law!

You won't buy your way out of it with this!

- You blackmailing old cow! It's all I've got!

- Liar!

Cross my heart, I'm broke!

Stony, bloody broke!

Too bad.

- Harlot!

- Leave him alone!

You thief!

But I'm too smart, girl, as you'll find out.

Too smart for the likes of you!

You should have told her

I was painting you.

- She'd only have taken the money.

- Yes, that's right.

But you should've told her just the same.

It's all it ever was.

Gosh.

I've got to make her see reason somehow.

It's no use unless you pay her.

You heard me, I've got no money left.

My mate got away with the lot of it.

I'll sort it out somehow. Damn it!

Best work I ever did.

It's not your fault, Cora.

Mrs. Ryan! I want a word with you.

- Give me that money back! It's mine!

- You stole it from me!

Cora!

I'll go down.

She's dead.

Grandma?

Take these.

What's happened?

She broke her neck.

Now the law comes in. Doctors, coroner.

They'll put you in the witness box. Me, too.

We could bury her.

Are you crazy?

It was an accident. All we have to do

is to tell them what happened.

The old lady was drunk, fell over the cliff,

broke her neck.

It's a wonder it hadn't happened before.

Trouble is, you can't trust the law.

They're always after somebody's blood.

- Morahan! Are you there, Morahan!

- Someone's coming!

- Were you looking for me?

- I'll say. Searched all over.

Ms. Marley said you might be

over this side with the Ryan girl.

Well, what is it?

I want to have a talk with you.

What's the matter with that dog?

I'd better go and have a look.

He's probably on to something.

Wild pig, maybe.

Mrs. Ryan?

Are you there, Mrs. Ryan?

I'll have a look outside.

Hello!

Mrs. Ryan?

Hey, what's this, then?

A shoe?

I can see that.

- But whose?

- Cora's?

More likely Ma Ryan's. I think I'll keep this.

There's something strange

going on around here.

I'll find out. And don't you go away.

We've got things to discuss.

Help!

Help!

Bear up, now. Tragedy.

But the old lady was well on in years,

and when the hands of the clock

come round, you gotta go.

That's right.

Tough luck.

We'll shift her in the morning.

Like to come to town with me tonight?

My wife will look after you.

Will you stay with Ms. Marley?

Quite understand.

- There'll be an inquest, I suppose?

- No, a formality.

Need me?

No. After all, it practically happened

under my nose.

Yes, it did.

Nasty experience for young Cora, but.

Bit of luck I turned up.

Very lucky.

- Now, about this other matter.

- What other matter?

The matter I came about in the first place.

I may be only a country copper,

but I don't miss much.

No one puts anything over on me.

This appears to be yours.

$300. That's mine, all right.

- I thought as much.

- You...

Hello, Brad.

- Snake thief!

- Now, now, now.

- And where are my drawings?

- I think these are the ones, sir.

Yes.

- Now, about proceedings.

- I'm not gonna press a charge.

Obstruction of an officer

in the exercise of his duties...

I'm not gonna press any charges.

- You're not?

- No.

- Well, suit yourself, then.

- I told you so.

Brad and me been mates too long

for him to bear me a grudge.

- Just get lost, cocky!

- You don't have to tell me twice.

This place is a morgue, a dump.

I'd prefer to be in the cooler.

Good luck with your alimony charge.

That's how I copped onto him

in the first place.

Should get at least a year for this

if he can't pay.

Temporary embarrassment, a mere trifle.

I've got a dozen friends in Brisbane

who'll help me out.

Not this time, they won't.

Brad, could I have my I.O.U. back,

if you have it on you?

- Here.

- Thanks, Brad.

Quite a nice-looking nude. Care to sign it?

Good evening, Mr. Morahan.

Is Mr. Kelly at home?

No, I'm afraid not.

He had to leave suddenly. Urgent business.

- Will he be back?

- No.

I'm sorry.

Well, it was really of no importance anyway.

- Good evening, mister.

- Good night.

Hello.

- I couldn't stay up there.

- I know.

I was going to come up.

I couldn't let her have the money.

I had to get it back.

I know.

Here it is.

You need it. It's for you.

You've got none left!

Thanks, Cora, but you keep it. It's yours.

Hendricks got my money back for me.

I'm all right.

Well, it's mostly yours anyway.

No, you earned it!

You're the best model I've ever had.

It's gonna be the best work I ever did, too.

Look.

Look at that light on there,

the way the figure breaks the water.

Look at that line.

The tones of the face need fixing a bit,

but no hurry.

We've got all the time in the world.

You only want me for the pictures.

Damn it, Cora, that's not true!

Cora!

Cora!

Blast you. Cora, you've got to listen to me.

You've given me back my eyes!

You've taught me to love things again,

how to be part of life.

Cora?

Oh, blast.

That's what I was trying to tell you today

on the beach

when your grandmother barged in.

I'm alive. I'm a part of...

It's all because of you, Cora! Cora!

And it's all because of you.

Don't you understand? Don't you?

What are you going to do about it?

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