The Black Balloon Page #3

Yeah.

I know Charlie. I'm Charlie's friend.

You don't know my name. You don't know

my name. You don't know my name.

What's your name? What's your name?

My name is Russell. I know Charlie.

We're monkeys on a boat.

We dance together on a boat.

We sit together on the bus.

Are you riding the bus?

Are you coming to our school?

No. No.

Yes you are! Yes you are! Yes you are!

Thomas is coming to our school!

Thomas rides in the bus with Charlie.

Thomas rides in the bus with Russell.

Do you like buses, Thomas?

Do you like buses?

Ah! Thomas doesn't like buses!

Thomas doesn't like buses!

Just here, thanks.

Bye, Thomas!

Bye, Thomas!

Bye, Thomas Mollison! Bye! Bye!

Hey, miss? Hey, miss?

I think you should get Mollison

in the kiddy pool.

I think he's going to drown.

That's enough, Mister Buckingham.

Oi, miss. I'm being serious.

Look at him!

Ignore him, Thomas.

You can do it! Hang on!

There you go, Tom.

Even if you do drown,

Sally's offered to give you

mouth-to-mouth.

Three minutes are up!

Okay! Out of the pool!

Next group please!

Out you get, Caroline!

And...

What the hell are those?

They're monkey ears. Can't you tell?

What are you wearing them for?

To keep my hair dry, silly.

Heave you heard of a swimming cap?

Yeah, but they leave those

yeeky lines on your forehead.

Oh, you're whacked!

Where the f*** did you get them from,

anyway?

I made 'em myself, Deano.

Do you want a pair?

Shut up, you weirdo!

Hey, Deano, he'd love a pair, Deano, hey?

They'd look good on you, mate!

Hi.

Hi.

Sorry about yesterday.

That's cool. I shouldn't

have rocked up like that.

Thanks for not...

you know, telling everyone about...

everything.

Hey, Jackie! Come on!

It's none of their business anyway.

Thanks.

See ya.

Okay now, say "mon-key".

No, no, no. Not "da". Monkey.

No, Charlie, Charlie, look here.

Look here.

Now, listen to the sound. Mon-key.

No. No signing. No signing.

Come on. Come on, sit.

No signing, right?

Use your speaking voice.

Now say mon-key.

Look, I'll give you this if you say it.

No. No signing, remember?

No signing.

Say mon-key.

Mon-key.

Monkey.

Yeah, that's it! Good. Good.

Why, hello.

Hello.

Do you want to walk home with me?

Ah no, I'm getting a lift.

That's lazy of you.

Yeah. See I um, I couldn't bring myself

to wear a pink stack hat. So...

Is that your brother?

Ah, yeah. Yeah it is.

He can walk with us.

Bye Thomas!

Thomas doesn't like buses!

Thomas doesn't like buses!

Um, Charlie. Charlie, this is Jackie.

Yeah, that's right. Girl.

Do you know sign language?

Kind of.

Wow-ee.

Could you... Could you show me how to

say hi' to Charlie?

Hello, Charlie.

Can I give him a lolly?

Yeah, yeah.

Ah, you're locked in now.

Hold on, Charlie. Charlie...

There you go.

Right, now what do you say?

It's a sign for lolly.

Okay.

Do you want to carry my bag?

Here...

Oh no, that's fine.

Thank you.

Don't wear yourself out, you pro.

So why doesn't Charlie talk?

Well, he could when he was little.

What did he say?

Oh, just stuff like"mum", "dad", "Tom".

Simple sentences like, "Charlie want food"

"Charlie want drink".

You know, stuff like that.

And then he just stopped?

Yeah. Well, they reckon it got too

hard for him,

so they taught him to sign.

It must be so hard on your parents.

Everyone says that.

It must be hard on you.

Well, it's got to be fun if you get

to run into other girl's showers.

Isn't that right, Charlie?

Oh my god!

Charlie!

Jackie, I'm really sorry.

Charlie!

Charlie!

Charlie, open your mouth please.

Open your mouth, Charlie.

Spit it out!

Open your mouth. Open...

Open up your mouth. Charlie,

OPEN UP YOUR MOUTH!!

Open. Thank you.

Oh, yuck!

Jackie, I am so sorry.

He doesn't usually do things like this...

F***, Charlie! Open up your mouth!

This isn't funny, all right?

I said spit it out!

Spit it out! Charlie, I say spit it out!

See ya.

At least it wasn't a used one.

That's one hundred and twenty eight

dollars and twenty five cents.

I've only got a hundred on me, sorry.

I told you. Mum said you'd balls this up.

Yeah, thanks a lot, Thomas.

Now be a good boy, Charlie.

Daddy's got to put some of this stuff back,

all right?

Just settle down, champ.

Charlie, settle down.

Charlie, don't be silly!

Charlie. Charlie get up.

Just... Charlie, Charlie stand up.

Charlie stand up.

Look, Charlie,

Daddy hasn' enough money.

Daddy hasn't enough money,

so he's got a few things back.

Charlie. Charlie, the nice people here

want to do their shopping,

so you're just going to have to stand up,

all right? Charlie. Charlie?

Charlie, Charlie? Charlie, get up!

Thomas, for chrissakes help me,

would you?

I'm sorry.

Charlie, come on. Yes I know,

dad didn't get the specials.

Charlie, get up. Charlie, please,

please. I know. I know.

Dad didn't get the...

Oh please! Oh, come on get up!

Security! Check out two!

Charlie, for godssake! Stand up!

Stand up now! Come on! Get up!

GET UP!

Stand up! Get up! Stand up!

Stand up! C'mon!

That's ninety-four thirty.

Yeah, hang on, Charlie, hang on.

Daddy'll get you some dinner, all right.

How's that?

I'll get you some eggs if you like?

Want some eggs?

Want some sausages?

How many sausages do you want?

Six sausages? Two?

Look Charlie, no stars!

There's no need for that. All right?

Dad, he's got to learn!

It's over! For some f***ing peace and quiet,

just leave it. All right?

He gets away with everything.

Just... Charlie! Just chill!

Thomas, for fucksakes!

Charlie! Just... Charlie!

Hello.

Hello, my boys!

Hello, sweetheart. I've missed you.

No, no, no. Mummy has to stay in hospital.

Yeah, but look,

I've been finishing your costume.

He's been practising all week with Russell.

Haven't you, mate?

Come here.

You're not too old to give your mum a kiss.

Oh, come here to me.

She's been kicking today.

How's everything?

Um yeah, it's okay.

How's school?

It's okay.

Just okay?

You'll be happy to know that I've

set the cot up and the change

table's next.

What's happened to his foot?

Oh, he just walked through a bit of glass.

He'll be all right.

Simon Mollison.

You better not be feeding me bullshit.

Just because I'm lying in bed all day

doesn't mean

I don't know when something's up.

Us Mollison boys are doing just fine

without you, Magpie.

I've got a surprise for you.

Rex misses you...

...and he wants to stay here and

keep you company.

Oh. Great. That's fabulous.

And Elizabeth called and reminded us

of the rehearsal next week, and

I said we could make it.

And I've forgotten which day is

tuck shop duty day.

It's Friday, hon.

So are you good? Coping?

Absolutely.

Dad?

Yep?

Do you ever wish Charlie was normal?

Yeah, at the start.

I don't think about it much

any more though.

Charlie's Charlie.

Yeah, but don't you think it's kind

of unfair?

Your mum reckons we got Charlie

because we're capable...

we're strong enough to deal with him.

Do you believe that?

I don't know.

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