The Second

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1

Thank you for coming.

I don't have much time.

Press tours.

You're in demand.

Yeah, it's nonstop.

You sit there.

INTERVIEWER I just need a level

for sound.

- One, two, three.

- Perfect.

I'm terrible

at interviews.

Occupational hazard

for both of us, right?

I have something to confess.

I'm a big fan. Would you mind

signing my copy?

Of course.

Erm...

..what would you like me

to write?

You're the writer.

There you go.

"Can't write

without a reader.

"It's precisely like a kiss -

you can't do it alone."

Cute. So, who do you regard

with a mutual kiss?

I don't kiss and tell.

OK.

Your first book,

an award-winning,

sexually charged memoir.

Your second,

something entirely different...

..the story of a murdered boy.

The LA Times

Book Prize - quite a win!

- Congratulations.

- Thank you.

So, how does it feel

to be a literary darling?

I'm trying not to think

about it, darling.

The Times called it "an erotic

and audacious memoir".

What do you call it?

Uh, well...my life.

..what's next, a film

adaptation? Another book?

Well, I've been kidnapped

by my publisher for the week.

He's a total sadist

in tortoiseshell glasses.

And he's not go...

He's not gonna let me go until

I give him the next book.

A week of

no distractions, then?

Uh...maybe one or two.

Come on, hop out.

Stretch your legs.

No, I'm waiting.

Last one.

I'm so proud of you.

You'd be amazed how many clients

I have that cannot do PR.

You calling me a whore?

Yeah, a little.

Thank God

there's one of you.

You know, the woman who wrote

that book grew up around here.

Her father wrote

The Bellbird's Warning.

Yeah, yeah. I know.

You're her!

"The silver-voiced bellbirds

"The darlings of daytime

"They sing in September

the songs of the May-time

"When shadows wax strong

and thunderbolts hurtle

- "They lie..."

- Hide.

They hide.

"They hide with the fear..."

- Their fear.

- With their fear.

- "In the leaves of the myrtle."

- Oh, stop it.

- I love your father's book.

- Yes.

- It's my all-time favourite.

- I don't care.

- OK, it's my second...

- Yes.

- ..favourite.

- I don't care.

Well, I do care.

Being out here,

seeing this landscape...

..gets me hard.

Gets me hard.

Whoa.

- Do you think I should get out?

- No, don't.

- Another one of your fans?

- Just no.

Oi, move!

- Don't be an idiot.

- Me?

Well, because country people

out here...

You know, it's different.

They're polite.

That's real f***in' polite.

Hey, move!

Move!

He wants a rise out of you.

Please don't.

Just don't give it to him.

What's he doing?!

Are you deaf and dumb?

- Just go.

- Hey!

I've got your number.

You're a hazard!

- Just go.

- Idiot!

I've sent the caretaker away

so we won't be disturbed.

I know he sold

a lot of books, but...

Family money.

My mother's side.

- What was she like?

- She died when I was five.

That's his study. We...

We don't go in there.

It's locked.

It's always locked.

Huh!

- Happy now?

- Very happy.

- Who's that?

- Hmm?

You and the hottie

lolling about half-naked.

Yeah, she's no-one.

Bit dusty.

I haven't been home

since he died, so...

And there it is.

I hate that sound.

Is the bellbird's

call actually a warning?

Any time a real estate

agent tries to sell you

a parcel of paradise with those

beautiful bellbird calls,

don't walk - run.

- It's a trap?

- Exactly.

You know, the bell miner -

it looks harmless enough

but they kill everything around

them until there's nothing left.

It's called dieback.

Was your father's fame a trap?

Sorry?

Was it hard to live up to?

Any time someone's

so universally loved,

you don't have a choice.

You walk in a long shadow.

What?!

Don't always want to be f***ed

and choked at the same time.

Not what it says in your memoir.

You scratched me.

- F***!

- Sorry.

Could it begin with a song

from their childhood?

'Cause that's

the f***ing problem.

F*** off!

There she is.

Sometimes

I don't want to be her.

You have

nine new voice messages.

Hey, it's me.

I don't know why

I can't get through.

Anyway, I'm arriving

on the 10 o'clock bus.

I-I can't wait to see you.

Hey, will you pick me up

in the old car?

OK, bye.

# They hide

with their fear

# In the leaves of the myrtle. #

- Did you steal them?

- He gave them to me.

- He loves me.

- Gross!

Which one?

Stars. Yeah.

I don't know why

she's gotta come now.

Of all the weeks,

this week. This "no-one".

Well, because she's not no-one.

And, you know,

I haven't seen her for years.

You'd do the same

for one of your friends.

No, I wouldn't.

Maybe...that's why

you haven't got any.

I'm an island.

Right, you stay here

and be an island.

And I'll be back soon.

Ah, and a word of warning -

she's seductive

and a devious liar.

Thought she was your friend.

She is.

He told me to tell you

something!

You have to teach me a lesson.

They don't have cars

where you come from?

Povvo ones,

not like this sexy beast.

- Don't hurt it.

- I won't.

Turn the key.

Yeah, no, I'm looking

at the pages right now.

Mm-hm.

I know. I know it's overdue,

yeah.

But she doesn't want anyone

to see it before she's finished.

Uh-huh. And can I just tell you,

I don't want to oversell it

but it's good.

It's good, yeah. Maybe even

better than the old man.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, worth every cent

of our advance.

Sorry I didn't come see you

at the funeral.

- It's OK.

- I couldn't stay.

I had this thing. I mean,

it's all very complicated.

But anyway, that's done now.

- Totally done.

- It's OK.

Yeah, my f***in' boss accuses me

of stealing their tips.

And I thought,

"I've busted my arse for years

"f***ing schlepping tables

for that piece of sh*t."

- So f*** him.

- Did you steal them?

Maybe. Hey, I had to.

Rent, coke... Who knew

life was so expensive?

What about that guy

you were seeing?

- Lenny?

- Yeah.

Yeah, well, hard to see someone

who's serving 7 to 10.

What did he do?

F***ed me

with an intent to ruin my life.

It's great to see you,

it really is. But...

..you can't stay the whole week.

I've got my publisher here

and I'm...

..trying to start the next book.

Hi.

Hey.

And don't worry.

You won't even know I'm here.

I doubt that.

- Best friend.

- Publisher.

Liar.

- She told you.

- She tells me everything.

Warned.

So which room should I take?

Usual one?

She means my old room. And...

..tongue back in mouth.

Oh, my old bed!

Oh, it's good to be back.

Come on, you're gonna have to

stay in here with me.

- I'm working.

- Oh, come on! It'll be fun.

- Alright, maybe one night.

- Yeah, it'll be good.

- Just don't make a mess.

- What, me?

- How long is she staying?

- Couple of days.

I don't know if that's good.

Well, she's had a rough trot,

you know.

I couldn't just put her back

on a bus and send her away.

You're the one who said

she was a monster.

God, look at you.

You're already under her spell.

What?

Calm down.

Mum and Dad...

..cocktail time.

So did she tell you about us?

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