Charlie & Boots Page #3

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Mum and Dad were married

for 45 years.

He must miss her.

Yeah.

Here I am, I couldn't even manage

to stay married for three years.

What happened?

Uh...Therese, my wife...

I don't know, I guess I was just

never really what she needed.

She was a city girl.

Mum and Dad tried

to get her involved in the farm

but I told them

to pull their head in and...

..and...with what happened...

..uh...

Did you have any kids?

Yeah, a little boy. Ben.

You know, I reckon

you'll find someone else.

Yeah, I'm not really...

JESS:
So you live on the farm

with your dad?

BOOTS:
No, my little brother

runs it now.

Me and my wife moved away, so...

Can you not go back?

No.

I mean, I love the farm,

don't get me wrong.

But I don't know, things just

didn't work out that way, I guess.

Plus, it wouldn't really be fair,

I suppose, on my brother.

Which I know disappoints my dad.

JESS:
Why are you called Boots?

BOOTS:
My mum was a real character.

I mean, what you might

call a free spirit.

You know, she was into

the arts and music,

and one day in a moment of inspiration

she decided to name me

after her favourite singer.

Dad never really

was crazy about the name

so he's always called me Boots.

Who was the singer?

(CHUCKLES)

- Dean Martin?

- I wish.

(CHUCKLES) Frank Sinatra?

(LAUGHS)

Fred Astaire?

- No, he was a dancer.

- Oh. (GIGGLES)

Um...

I'm not gonna tell you.

Sorry about that one, son.

Another argument I lost

with your mother.

(LAUGHS)

He's awake.

- Morning, Charlie.

- Morning.

BOOTS:
It's starting

to get a little bit late.

Maybe we should

stop over in Gilgandra.

OK, well, maybe you can drop me

at a service station, then?

We can take you the rest of the way

in the morning.

- I really can't afford to pay...

- No, don't worry about that.

Me and Dad can get you a room,

can't we, Dad?

Oh, sure. Not gonna just drop you

alongside the roadway.

Thank you.

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS)

(SINGS) # Giddy-up!

# She's a wild horse and I wanna ride

# She's a full moon

on a restless night... #

Wow.

(GRUNTS)

You should not be eating that.

What?

Chips, potato cakes and dim sims.

Chips - made from potatoes.

Good for ya.

Potato cakes - name says it all.

And dim sims -

finely minced stuff

wrapped in whatever it is

the Chinese wrap it in.

You know it's no good for you.

She's eating it.

Looks pretty healthy to me.

- Yeah, she's not nearly 70.

- (MUTTERS)

Mmm. Clever buggers, them Chinese.

Enjoy.

SINGER:
# She's got me

so damn hot for rodeo

# Open up the gate, baby

I'll be hanging on

# You can buck and twist

but I won't be thrown

# Giddy-up, giddy-up... #

He worries about you.

Yeah. I know.

I'm sorry to hear about Grace.

Yeah.

She sounds awesome.

Awesome.

Yeah, Gracie...

Yeah, she was something else.

Are you OK?

Oh, yeah.

I think it's great

what you and Boots are doing.

I would've loved

to have gone fishing with my dad.

Not that I have any idea how to fish.

Ahh.

I think he'd have loved it too.

Yeah, I reckon he would.

Well, that's me done.

You reckon they'd have

sticky date pudding?

Oh, yeah, I'll have some of that.

- Excuse me. Dance! Come on.

- Oh, OK.

Come on. You can come too.

SINGER:
# Unbridled love

A little one-on-one

# We're just tossing around

having too much fun

# Giddy-up, giddy-up

# Cowgirl, let's raise some hell

# Saddle up, bring it on

# Honey, let's take it to the bell

# Giddy-up, giddy-up

- # Cowgirl, let's raise some hell... #

- No.

# Saddle up, saddle up

# Buckle up, buckle up

# Honey, let's take it to the bell

# I'm man enough

to take on what you got

# Ohh, so giddy-up

# Giddy-up... #

(SNORING)

(GIGGLES)

(SNORING CONTINUES)

(BIRDS CHIRP)

- Come on.

- I really wanted to say goodbye.

- Come on, they'll survive!

- One sec.

(HORN BEEPS, ENGINE REVS)

(JESS GIGGLES)

What's that?

Oh, it's from Jess!

BOOTS:
I hope she knows

what she's doing.

CHARLIE:
Ah, she'll be right.

She's pretty switched on

for a 16-year-old kid.

- What are you doing?

- What?

I mean, to what do I owe the pleasure?

I'm always happy to drive.

Really?

All you had to do was ask.

Uh-huh.

(BIG-BAND SWING MUSIC PLAYS)

Smile.

- (CHUCKLES)

- Whoa!

BOOTS:
Bloody hell, Dad.

Sorry, Boots.

Corner just sneaked up on me.

What are we doing?

Charlie!

And Julio!

I haven't seen you since

you were this big. (CHUCKLES)

Hey, Mac, your cousin Charlie

and young Julio are here.

- Oh, it's so good to see you!

- BOOTS:
You too.

How long's it been?

I wouldn't even know.

WOMAN:
Oh, I don't know. About three

decades, I suppose, would it be?

BOOTS:
Well, I'm 176 now.

WOMAN:
And how's your dad been

since Gracie went?

Well, we're gettin' there.

Oh, it was just shocking, darl.

I couldn't believe it. I still can't.

No, it was just awful.

Might get a drop of rain.

Yeah.

It'd be good.

Good.

And how's the gorgeous Theresa?

Therese - yeah, we're

actually no longer together.

Oh, no, love. That's no good.

Oh, wait a sec.

I think your mum told me that.

- Did your mum tell me that?

- I'm not sure.

Oh, I am sorry.

- Theresa was beautiful, wasn't she?

- Yeah.

I mean, like, really beautiful,

from the photos.

Must've been tough, though, when...

Oh, you've certainly

been in the wars, love.

- Oh, well, onwards and upwards.

- Yeah.

It all gets easier with time.

And I'm sure you'll find someone else.

Looks aren't everything.

Hey, you boys! Lunch!

- BOOTS:
They're nice.

- CHARLIE:
Yeah.

She hates a chat.

BOOTS:
Dad, I'm not saying

that Mike Tyson wasn't a good fighter,

I'm just saying Muhammad Ali,

I mean, he's called 'The Greatest'.

CHARLIE:
Oh, yeah,

he was pretty to watch,

but nobody ever hit harder than Tyson.

CHARLIE:
Oh, look. Fresh strawberries.

BOOTS:
Shut up, Dad.

Are you saying Pamela Anderson's ugly?

CHARLIE:
She runs

up and down the beach...

BOOTS:
And you don't

like the look of that?

CHARLIE:
..with that

David Hopalong, Jason or...

BOOTS:
Hasselhoff.

No.

I don't believe it.

CHARLIE:
Hello!

(SIGHS) Well, it's official -

he really is an arsehole.

What did he do this time?

More of the same. What is it with boys?

Where's your guitar?

Still in the back.

I wasn't quick enough.

- JESS:
There's Tristan! Again!

- BOOTS:
Really?

- JESS:
Yeah.

- CHARLIE:
Your guitar!

I can't believe I fell for that jerk.

Oh, don't worry about it.

We all make mistakes.

His bumper sticker should've been

enough to scare me off.

BOOTS:
Can you see him?

Ah, could be anywhere by now.

There he is!

What are you doing?

BOOTS:
There we go.

Don't worry, you'll get

used to his driving.

BOOTS:
Jess, grab your guitar.

Oh, sh*t. It's not there.

Hey, it's here in the front seat.

Bugger.

Boots, keep an eye on him.

You got a wire coathanger?

TRISTAN:
Give me some ginger beer,

a pie and some hot chips.

How about this?

- Wait, wait, wait.

- Too soft.

G'day.

(WHISPERS) Oh, sh*t.

- JESS:
Have you done that before?

- Oh, sure.

- Really?

- Yeah.

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