The Daughter Page #3

Must have been tough growing

up with him as your old man.

How'd he meet her?

She was his housekeeper.

You were his housekeeper!

- Only for a little while.

- Really?

That's why she came up here.

Yes, you are a lucky bastard.

You wouldn't find a woman like

that in this town, no way!

I mean,

apart from present company.

Personally, I think she could

do a bit better, mate.

Do you want a hand?

I'm almost done.

I had no idea

you worked for my father.

Yeah.

- Then you knew my mother?

- Yeah, I did.

Awful thing,

what happened to her.

Yeah, yeah.

How long did you work there?

Um, half a year. A year, maybe.

Really?

And why did you leave?

Oliver and I got together,

and I started getting some

substitute work at the school.

It's just... it's funny,

my father never mentioned you.

He didn't?

No.

I'd better get these things

packed up.

- I met Charlotte.

- Hm?

I didn't realise

that's who it was.

- What are you talking about?

- I'd pictured her differently

- from all mom's stories.

- Christian...

What are you guys

talking about?

- We'll talk about this later.

- Does Oliver know?

- What is going on?

- Anna,

could you just

give us a moment, please?

Excuse me?

Just give us a moment, please.

Fine.

I'll have a cigarette anyway.

It was a complicated time,

Christian.

I don't expect you

to understand that.

Your mother was

seeing other people too.

She wasn't seeing anyone!

She was trying to see you.

We were keeping up appearances.

It hadn't been a relationship

for years. Can you understand?

- You never bothered to try.

- I did try.

I stuck with her.

I knew she needed me.

- It was a compromise for me.

- She needed you...

And you gave up on her.

'Cause I'd had enough.

I was exhausted.

I couldn't

keep looking after her.

Day in, day out,

taking care of her.

And I wanted...

I wanted to be happy again.

Oh, you wanted to be happy?

What about mom?

What about me, when am I

going to get my turn?

Anna,

sorry for ruining your dinner.

Christian, please.

- Christian!

- What?

There's not a day I don't wish

your mother was still alive.

Good for you.

What's going on?

Nothing.

Well, it didn't sound

like nothing.

I'll sleep in the other room

so I don't wake you.

- Henry!

- I'm sorry!

- Henry!

- Anna, just leave me alone.

What are you doing?

Um...

I just made a dummy

for everyone who's left.

Oh. Cool.

Hi.

Yeah, hi.

Can you guess who this is?

Um...

I don't know. Is it Colin?

No - Brett.

You need to give him

some red hair.

Oh, my god!

That's a great idea.

- I'm sorry.

- Hm?

About... You know.

It's ok.

Yeah, that looks better.

I've always wanted to do this.

- You decapitated Brett!

- Yeah.

- What have you done?

- It's a memorial.

Yeah, for all the kids

who left town.

It's not bad.

So, before we get started,

I'd like to remind everyone,

assignments 7a and b are due

a week on Friday.

Do you want to hang out

after school?

Yeah, ok.

- I've got a surprise.

- Ok.

Hey, lovebirds!

Where did you get this?

It's my grandad's.

Here.

- Do you know how to use it?

- Yeah.

You want a go?

- Yeah, alright.

- Yeah?

Yeah.

Alright.

You get it in your shoulder.

Yeah, like that.

And then cock the hammer.

That's it.

That's intense.

Uh-huh!

Hey, did you smell

mr Peters' breath today?

Yes. It was like

something had died in there,

like a homeless guy had set up

his camp in his mouth.

Exactly what it smelled like.

What?

Oh, just got a job interview.

Already?

Yeah, just some factory

outside the city.

- That's great!

- Yeah.

How about you take a raincheck

on that marking?

Why?

Well, you know,

I thought maybe we could...

I'm busy.

I know, I know, it's just that

you're always busy. And...

I figure it's, like, an hour

before hedvig comes back.

What was that for?

- Just wanted to.

- Get out of here!

Hey, duck.

What were you doing with that?

- You scared me!

- What were you doing?

- Just shooting some cans.

- Where?

Down at the old factory.

Next time, you ask me first.

Do you understand?

Yeah.

I don't want you handling

that gun without supervision.

Sorry, grandad.

- Promise?

- Promise.

Ok.

Seen the duck?

What's she doing?

Do you think she'll ever

be able to fly again?

She's got plenty of

determination,

I'll give her that.

Hello?

Anyone home?

Parents!

Parents?

What time is it?

- Ten to nine.

- Ah, sh*t.

Yeah. Dad, I can see your bum.

Sorry, sorry.

Sorry, we fell asleep. Mm-hm!

No, we were just having a nap.

- Sure! Nap.

- Just a nap!

Gross!

Busted.

- So busted!

- Yeah.

She saw my bum.

Where's grace?

Christian?

Tell me what's going on.

Not now. Please.

We're getting married

in two days.

Anna...

We don't keep things

from each other.

Why didn't you tell me?

I've never told anyone.

Well, I don't want to be

anyone.

I'd never do that to you.

Well, I won't stick around

if you do.

I know.

Hey, mate. What's up?

Hedgehog? Brekkie.

Who's that?

It's Christian.

What's he doing here?

He's coming to the city

with me for the interview.

- Why's he going?

- He called last night.

- He wanted to see me.

- Why?

I don't know.

- He didn't say?

- What's wrong?

Nothing.

Hedvig,

you're going to be late.

I haven't even eaten breakfast.

Hurry up, then.

- Can you answer it, baby?

- Sure.

Don't do it for her.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I thought I'd lend him a suit.

Oh. That's nice of you.

Mr Finch.

Who are you?

It's Christian...

Dad! He came camping with us.

Henry's son.

Oh. I taught you how to

play football. You were crap.

Hey, Christian. I overslept.

We're running late. Bye!

Bye!

Look after Oliver, won't you?

He hasn't been in the city

for years.

I'll do my best.

- You ready?

- I am.

Hey!

Toast kiss! You're beautiful.

- I made you lunch.

- Yeah.

Hello?

I need to talk to you.

What are you doing

in town today?

Just getting some more

chicken wire.

Bloody rabbits -

they're tunnelling

under the walls again.

Where are you going?

Is Adam coming to school

today? The bus is waiting.

Better go and have a word

to hedvig, eh?

Dad got a job up north.

What?

I'm sorry.

When are you going to

come back?

I don't know. They found me

a place at a school up there.

Hedvig?

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm sorry.

They all look so young.

We used to look like that?

I hardly remember being here,

hey.

Do you remember how hammered

we used to get?

At least you got laid,

you know?

You experienced it,

you had fun.

I wasted my time chasing

Erica flowers for two years.

What happened to her?

She turned out to be a lesbian.

- You're kidding me?

- No.

I spent three years convinced

she was playing hard-to-get.

We should hurry up.

Interview's in 20 minutes.

Yeah. I'm just

going to hang out here.

Really?

Maybe check out a few

of the old haunts.

- I'll come find you.

- Do that.

Wish me luck.

Good luck.

Thanks for coming.

That's ok.

Christian knows, doesn't he?

He may not say anything.

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