The Dressmaker Page #3

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Everybody knows that.

BARNEY:
You moved.

Yeah, I don't know.

A true killer would have cost Dungatar

the grand final.

So, why didn't you?

(TILLY SIGHS)

No, I've decided you didn't come home

to help us win the grand final.

I reckon you came home

for one of two things -

bloody revenge or... me.

(SCOFFS)

Just so you know,

both are out of the question.

Pick you up Saturday at 8:00, then?

Footballers' dance?

I'm busy.

Oh, well, what about tonight?

We'll go to the Winyerp pictures.

Oh, what's on?

Sunset Boulevard

with Gloria Swanson.

Still... busy.

Doing what?

Stirring her cauldron.

But I'd love to go.

(BARNEY GIGGLES)

MOLLY:
You shouldn't be

so rude to him.

He's a kind young man

who wants to take us to the pictures.

He wants to take me

to the pictures.

Well, go, then.

Think I want you here under my feet?

Why are you so interested

in what I do all of a sudden?

I'm not. I don't care if you stay

an old maid forever.

(CROCKERY CLATTERS)

Still not going.

You never came back for me.

You came back for them.

Well, go on, make them their dresses.

Make them think they're classy.

They'll still hate you.

(SIGHS)

Tape measure.

Oh, your centre line's off.

Got to start

from the beginning again.

Get all these pins out

and start again.

What's wrong with you?

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Stay there. It's still my house.

FARRAT:
Molly.

In trouble, is she? I'm not surprised.

Tilly, in the car...

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(MOLLY SIGHS)

What?

Molly, what is it?

I love you!

- What?

- FARRAT:
A delivery.

Do you remember my possum?

(SIGHS)

Beloved by all, missing.

And I know what happened to him.

Tilly, certain accusations

have been made,

requiring me by law

to make a thorough search

of this tea chest.

(OPENS CHEST)

What am I being accused of?

(SIGHS) oh!

"Chocolat en poudre".

Chocolate milk.

Thank you.

Ah.

(BREATHILY) Oh.

Ah.

Ooh.

Ooh, my.

Ooh.

Oh.

Ooh! (GIGGLES)

Oh!

Ah, Oh!

(CHUCKLES)

Oh!

Oh, good Lord!

Oh!

Oh, Oh! Oh!

(CHUCKLES)

Ah!

(BREATH ES HEAVILY)

MOLLY:
This isn't how

I remember you.

This isn't how

I remember you either.

Well, frankly, this is how

I'd rather you remembered me.

Don't worry, Sergeant, not much

chance of me forgetting this.

I'm brilliant with sequins and diamants

and I bet I can hem stitch

as fast as you.

I'm a whiz with zippers

and gauging and frogging.

And how do you feel

about ruffs and flounces?

Oh, I hate them.

So do I.

(SIGHS) I wish we had a better mirror

for you, Sergeant.

There's a mirror tree outside.

There is a mirror tree outside.

(FLOWER DUET BY DELIBES PLAYS)

(FARRAT CHUCKLES)

Where did you find so many mirrors?

(SIGHS)

I've always managed

to live discreetly.

But, um...

when Stewart Pettyman died...

his father wanted me

to send you away.

And you did.

I refused at first, but...

he knew about me.

Knew what?

Somehow, he managed to find

these designs I'd drawn

on a model

that was unmistakably me.

Signed by me too.

He threatened to send them

to the district inspector.

I would have lost everything.

My home here, my...

my career... my...

Everything-

Betrayed for a wardrobe.

Ironic.

Saturday night, then.

Dream on, dream on,

teenage queen

Prettiest girl I've ever seen

There's a story in our town

of the prettiest girl around

Golden hair and eyes of blue

How those eyes could flash at you

- How those eyes could...

- (MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY)

Who is that?

(MURIEL SIGHS)

Stunning.

(WOMEN MURMUR)

WOMAN 1:
Where

did she get that dress?

- WOMAN 2:
It's Gertrude.

- WOMAN 3:
Gorgeous.

Could you please play

a love song?

Yes, of course.

(BAND PLAYS 'BE ANYTHING')

I was just about to go... home.

Be a thief

Be my sunshine

Or my grief

Be anything

But, darling...

- (GASPS)

- ..be mine...

Look at our youngsters.

Oh, they make a lovely couple.

Gert, you look like someone

out of a movie.

(GIGGLES)

MOLLY:
Oh, there she is!

WOMAN:
Shh.

ACTRESS ON SCREEN: May I come in, Joe?

I've stopped crying.

I'm alright again.

Joe, tell me you're not cross.

- Popcorn?

- WOMAN:
Shh!

ACTOR:
I certainly don't want you

buying them for me.

Look, they're not even

in a real car!

WOMAN:
Shh!

ACTRESS:
Oh, there's nothing like

blue flannel for a man.

Now, this one,

single-breasted, of course.

ACTOR:
Happy new year.

Happy new year, darling.

MOLLY:
She's trying to kiss him.

Run!

WOMAN:
Shh! Shut up!

- You shut up, pervert.

- MAN:
Quiet.

This is filth.

(LAUGHS)

MOLLY:
Look at his face!

No-one told him

this scene was in the picture.

WOMAN:
Shh!

We're trying to watch the movie.

ACTRESS:
Alright, give me this.

I need some of your Scotch.

Now, close your eyes. Close 'em.

ACTRESS:
It's just that

I don't want to be left alone.

- (MOLLY SIGHS)

- Watch your head.

Oh.

Strong, aren't you?

Have you heard of this new play

from America, Molly?

South Pacific?

Oh, it sounds very...

romantic.

It sure is, Mol.

- I hate romance.

- What a surprise.

How about some music

and a... nice cup of tea?

How could I resist?

(SIGHS)

(LOVER MAN BY BILLIE HOLIDAY PLAYS)

Oh, Macbeth.

You like this?

Probably not your taste.

"Hark, something wicked

this way comes."

MOLLY:
What kind of

bloody awful music is this?

- Blues.

- Oh! Music to hang by.

Yeah, I don't know. I like it.

She's got a lot of pain

in her voice.

Yeah. Billie Holiday.

Sounds like she needs one.

That my hip flask?

Come and get it, handsome.

- Give me that.

- Oh, not you!

- Give me that.

- No.

Give it. Give it.

- Oh, you degenerate!

- Give it!

Get your hand out of me!

Don't be ridiculous.

Careful, she's old.

Oh, give it, give it!

Oh!

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

- I've heard it said...

- (CLEARS THROAT)

- That the thrill of romance...

- (BURPS)

Can be like a...

You drank all my whiskey, Mol.

Oh, big deal.

I go to bed with a prayer...

Tea?

Yes, please.

Strange as it seems...

So, where did you go from here?

(SIGHS)

Away.

To Melbourne.

To boarding school.

Then where?

I ran away to London.

Then Spain, Milan and Paris.

And then back home?

(SIGHS)

They don't like us here, Teddy.

Me and Molly.

They'll never forgive me

for that boy's death.

They never forgave Molly

and she didn't do anything.

Yeah.

They tried to take Barney away

just for being different.

People came to the school.

I had to run and get Mum and Dad.

I remember you boys.

I used to watch you from here,

you and Reg and Barney,

up on top of that silo.

You had that...

You had that telescope

and looked for...

You used to look for rockets

from outer space.

Yeah. And Superman.

You don't scare me,

Tilly Dunnage.

In fact, I reckon you could make

some bloke pretty happy.

(SIGHS)

Tilly.

I'll look after you.

If you want me to.

I have to put Molly to bed.

I'd like to see

Myrtle Dunnage, please.

I bet you would.

I'd like you to see.

Then you'd know

what we have to endure

every time we look at you.

(GASPS) Oh, there you are.

Mad mother.

Molly seems well.

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