Around the Block

1

Yo, yo

I remember being younger,

I used to jam on that mic

Rock, rock, rock, rockin'

Around that clock

up on a Saturday night

Man, it was fly

gettin' them people

Do their dance on the floor

See, I was never

a fan of the hype

More concerned

with having a ball

Slowly the phony

balonies

Would choke

and go creepin' home

But you could catch me

with my cronies

Doing the d-d-do-si-do

CHALMERS:

A philosopher once said,

"One is not born a woman,

but chooses to become one."

I've always wondered

if it's the same with freedom.

It's real, we're real,

so real

Done deal

Think together

we're the struggle to feel

All the same

think to feel

So why are

the black people

And white people

Our heroes,

our people?

Being from town

all over the place

We can't stop them,

but it's all about our race

We gotta stand up, speak up

Be a preacher

with this hiccup

Keep up,

become a teacher

Come to Aboriginal

We do not choose to be born,

but can we choose to be free?

Is anyone really free?

Run, run, run!

And never ride it out

Never run out when they

just wanna make you stop

People gonna

b*tch about you anyway

Tell them how it is

we'll sway them anyway

I'm gonna go ahead

and say it anyway

Just to get

the pity pennies made

Man, it's not

a lemonade stand

How was training, bub?

All right.

Liam, f*** off!

Sorry.

He's useless.

He's useless.

Hey, babe.

That's it, boy.

Where's the defense?

Push him.

Push him.

Holding the ball.

(Chattering)

Push him.

Tackle him.

He's open.

Tackle him.

Kick it.

Yes!

Goal!

Hey, how'd it go?

Good.

Wow.

Baby, did you shoot that?

Yeah.

That's amazing.

(Shouting)

Ah, sorry.

It's okay.

They'll be gone.

It'll be finished soon,

I promise.

Okay?

Yep.

You're beautiful,

and this is amazing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I should be...

You go. Go.

Got to go.

What's a fella gotta do to get

a feed around here?

You've got two hands,

haven't ya?

You coming?

Where to?

Down the Block.

Hey, Woody.

Steve.

You know Jacob?

Came down from Moree.

Hey, bud.

What's up?

This is my little brother,

Liam.

Liam.

Hey.

Hey, how's your old man?

He's all right.

Let's have a kick.

What?

Eyes closed

and shouting right now

Lights turn on

and the dark turns up

Side by side dream bigger,

next in line it's late

Now this is all me

Now this is

all me

Lights turn on

and the dark turns up

Side by side

dream bigger

Next in line it's late,

now this is all me

TAMIKA:
Oh, look out.

Now this is all me

(Siren wailing)

You!

TAMIKA:
Hey, don't touch him.

What'd he do to you?

(Indistinct chattering)

Steve!

Liam!

Years 7 and 8 English,

Elective drama

years 9 and 10,

And 3 unit

English year 11.

That should keep you

pretty busy.

Know anything about fish?

Not really.

Must be some kind

of a lurgy.

Technically...

Our year elevens

should be

Onto their high school

certificate texts,

Which this year

I believe is...

Revenge tragedy.

Revenge tragedy.

Look, the school's

more likely closing

Before the end

of the year.

And these kids

would be unlikely

To move over

to Endeavor High,

So do what

you can, eh?

Have some fun with them.

I was thinking of having them

perform one of the plays.

Help them comprehend

the story.

Ah, well, my girl,

you do what you can.

If they pass on attendance

alone, I'll be a happy man.

These students are what

the state calls "kids at risk,"

So don't expect

too much from them.

So if you've got

no more questions,

Margaret in the office will

fix you up with the keys.

Thank you, sir.

Bill.

Not sir, Bill.

You're the teacher,

remember.

What brings you to Redfern?

Fianc.

Half your luck.

Oh, sh*t.

Hey, Uncle Rex.

I'm Dino Chalmers,

teaching English and drama.

Thanks.

What happened to you?

The cops raided the Block

again last night.

Hey, bro.

You got a stick, bro?

Mm-hmm.

Hey, boys, teacher!

Let's split, boys.

Let's go!

CHALMERS:
Who is that boy?

Liam Wood.

He and the others are supposed

to be in this class,

but they never come.

(Bell ringing)

CHALMERS:
Dancing boy.

I saw you dancing

at Newtown yesterday.

Right?

You missed

my class today.

Not cool.

Bring it to class tomorrow.

A bunch of books

arrived for you.

I'll get those out

of your way.

Doesn't bother me.

I must say, though,

interesting choice for a play.

England's most celebrated

playwright.

Don't you just

love Hamlet?

You do realize over 70%

of the students

In this school are indigenous,

Maori and Pacific Islanders?

I'm aware of the student

population, yes.

And the other 30%

are Lebanese,

Vietnamese, oh,

and Caucasian.

It's in the curriculum.

So is Captain Cook.

MALE REPORTER:
(On TV) Last

night's raid in the notorious

Everleigh Street in Redfern

has resulted in three arrests.

Violent resistance is said

to have taken place

As police vehicles

entered the area

Known by locals

as the Block.

Two policemen are also being

questioned over the incident.

Did ya hear that?

Mm.

FEMALE REPORTER:
(On TV)

To sport, the Manly Sea Eagles

Continued their winning

streak, defeat...

STEVE:
Bullshit.

Are we going?

Get Liam, will ya?

Liam!

Jeez, look at your eye.

Said I'm a night owl

Flying above the city

after lights out

'Cause my thoughts

are clearest

When the noise dies down

So while you sleep

I'm up late

Working on my escape plan

So take my hand 'cause

we're leaving right now

And you can march with me

or you can move aside

Whether you a true doogie

or you just cruising by

Forget the do or die

Just loosen your suit

and tie

They too concerned

with being cool

I'm concerned

with losing mine

Hear the stomach rumble,

it's running on empty

But still I break bread

with those

Who trespass against me

'Cause even angels tell lies

on their bad days

Tryin' to navigate a world

that's man made

But the forementioned

characters

Who inhabit

my shoulder blades

And both claiming

they know the way

F***ing

with my poker face

But I'm feeling like a pimp

so I'm gonna brush 'em off

Look 'em in the eyes

when I tell 'em straight

Welcome overstayed,

truth be told

Truth be told

Let no man be afraid

to speak his part

But let it come from

the heart and the soul

An alibi's just a lie

in the absence of proof

Above all

let the truth be told

Hi, how are you doing?

How are youse?

All right.

Where's your mum?

She's just signing in.

She'll be here in a sec.

Hey, what happened to you?

Cops were down the Block

again last night.

You all right?

Yeah.

That's good.

Big game on the weekend.

Paper reckons Chicko might get

a run with the Bunnies.

Listen.

I know who screwed us.

What?

You know how the coppers

knew about that hotel room?

They knew about

the whole bloody job,

Thanks to Barry Griffen.

You serious?

Your Uncle Charlie'd still be

here if it wasn't for him.

That dog!

Hey, keep it down.

Right?

That was his cousin

down at the Block.

Who?

Tamika's mate.

We'll f***in'

show them!

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