Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt) (2020) - full transcript

I'm putting it out
into the universe

that I did not just like
a post from six months ago.

Thank you.

♪ Bright lights, feel alright

♪ I'm gonna see her

♪ Again tonight

♪ And now you've
got me started

♪ I'm gonna
shake it right tonight

♪ But then I see you and

♪ I wanna go where
the beach is warm

♪ And I won't get stung



And I won't get stormed by

♪ Memories of you

♪ Baby, is this how you feel?

♪ I wanna know, wanna know

♪ Is this how you feel?

♪ Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna,
wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna

♪ Wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna

♪ Wanna, wanna, wanna... ♪

Hello, my loves.
Repeat after me.

I go beyond other people's

fears and limitations.

I go beyond other people's
fears and limitations.

I claim my power
and I move beyond all limits.

I claim my power



and I move beyond all limits.

♪ Is this how you feel?

♪ In each of us
there are always these two

- ♪ The one who stays... ♪
- Heads!

♪ The one who's leaving you

♪ I could keep on
with the same mistakes

♪ Or I could
make them with... ♪

I'm finished.

Can I have some phone time?

No, you can have
some bonus questions.

Do it, Jamie!

Yeah!

- Uh...
- Jamie!

This isn't America!
It's called a 'formal' here.

Mm-hm. Also...

And why is there
an exclamation mark here?

It's so overused.

Hey, it's alright.

Huh. Go on, then.

You can do it, Jamie. Go on.

Um, so will you?

Of course, you idiot.

Alright, OK!

That's enough, thank you.

It's not daytime television.
Back to work, please.

I go beyond other people's

fears and limitations.

I claim my power
and move beyond all limits.

♪ I move up, it's called awake

♪ And then down
to the heavy nights

♪ But never forward

♪ Baby, is this how you feel?

♪ I wanna know, wanna know

♪ Is this how you feel? ♪

I was just borrowing them.

Huh, Randall's just
posted a video on Facebook

asking Sophia to the formal.

Oh, my God!

I definitely
asked for almond milk

and he got me soy.

I felt like it was deliberate.

You know those people
who make fun of you

because you drink
almond milk?

It's not my fault
I'm lactose intolerant.

You know, I say to him
I want something,

but I don't really mean it

and he just goes off and...
and does what I say

when actually
I'm saying the opposite.

Do you know what I mean?

But I can't get
rid of him 'cause

they've got too many rights,
don't they?

Workplace... Darling, you're
making that much worse. Here.

Mum, stop hovering!

Well, what is this for?

I'm asking a girl in my class
to the formal.

Hooray.

That's...

I'm gay.

Mum?

You're such a bigot!

I go beyond other people's
fears and limitations.

I claim my power
and move beyond all limits.

That went really well.

Look, if anyone
should be upset, it's me.

How would you feel

if your own niece
didn't recognise you?

How would you feel
if a strange woman showed up

in your bathroom claiming
to be your dead aunt?

Well, I wouldn't have
hid in the shower.

The door was right there.

No matter
what I do with her right now,

I just can't win.

You know I listened
to a podcast about this...

You should probably
go check on your mum.

She's been ranting
for, like, an hour now.

Oh, classic Mum.

I'm in the bathroom
with a stranger

and she's out there
having a secret cigarette,

worrying about herself.

I am so upset

and now I'm smoking,

which I would
never normally do.

Brutal!

Actually, why don't you
go and scare her?

I'm sure
she'd love to see you.

Yeah, it doesn't
really work like that.

- How does it work?
- Oh, God, I'm sorry!

I can't believe
I forgot to do this.

Congratulations on coming out.

I am Tara,
your fairy godmother.

Get it?

Fairy, gay, fair... Get it?

Fairy's gay. Gay fair...

Anyway, so coming out is hard

and I have been sent here
to help you through it.

Let's bring it in.

Come on. There you go.

Come to Aunty T.

There we go, there we go.

Cool, I get it. Yeah, not yet.
We just...

A fist bump? No.

No!

Hello!

So I take it not everyone
who comes out

gets a fairy godmother?

No, only those
who are lucky enough

to have a gay relative who
died before they were born

and never got
to pass on their wisdom.

So, for example, if you had
a gay uncle, or a 'guncle',

or in this case a lesbian
aunt, or a 'lesagna'...

Um, OK, well, please don't
take this the wrong way,

but I just don't think that...

Look, it get it. This is
a really scary time for you.

I'm not scared. I'm fine.

There's, like, five other
gay kids in my year,

so it's not really
that big of a deal.

I get it. It's different
to when you were alive.

But I don't really think that

there's anything
you could do to help.

OK, sweet Ellie.
Yeah, sure.

So, um, let's just talk about
today, then, shall we?

You were there for that?

Oh, I've been there
since the beginning.

The assignment
on Australian politicians?

Spew town!

Wait. Where were you?

Right here!

Of course, you couldn't
see me then.

Hey, I'll type these up
all ready for tomorrow.

Thanks.

See ya.

And there it was,

the moment you realised
you were gay.

I couldn't interfere

until you actually
said the words out loud...

..which luckily you did

before you had a chance
to go through with this.

What on earth
were you thinking?

I'm gonna make a video,

post it to my Facebook page.

OK, I don't know what that is,
but it sounds terrifying.

All the straight kids
in my class are doing it.

If the straight kids
were gonna jump

off a bridge, would you...

Never mind. What if she
doesn't wanna go with you?

What if she
doesn't like girls?

She does.

I think.

Someone told me that she does.

- Have you spoken to her?
- Of course.

No, not about George Reid,

the fourth prime minister
of Australia.

Sometimes
if you want something,

you just have to put it
out into the universe

and it will happen.

- Forget it.
- Look.

Let me help you with this.

Just give me one shot.
That's all I ask.

That, and that you
don't post anything.

I guarantee you I give
better advice than a planet.

If she had just
stayed for a second longer,

I would've apologised,

but she'd much rather
blame me.

You know, it's just
about grandchildren.

- What?
- Your mum.

Yeah, I figured that probably
had something to do with it.

So go out there, tell her
you'll have a grandchild

and she'll be fine.

No.

OK.

Heads!

Sorry!

It's fine.

Not in public, not in public,
not in public!

It's alright!
I'll talk, you listen.

I feel like I'm in
a crime podcast.

- What's that?
- What do you want?

My shot!

Look, if this works, you have
to let me help you. Deal?

"Yes, Tara, deal!"

So first things first -

we need to find out
if she's into girls.

Luckily, I have a fail-safe
technique I used to use

to find if a girl
played for the same team.

Ugh, what?

Ask her who her
favourite AFL player is.

If she knows any, there's
your answer right there.

That's such crap.

I'm just saying.
You'd be surprised.

I have to find
the right time to talk to her.

She's in afternoon
detention all week.

For a week?
Into bad girls, are you?

I'd like to pretend
you never said that.

Yeah, me too.

Detention, huh?

I mean, if it were me...

School captain
in detention, hey?

- Yep.
- What did you do?

Oh, you know...

No, that's why I'm asking.

Littering.

Really?

Yeah, apparently it's a pretty
big offence these days.

Yeah, it is.
It's pretty fucked, actually.

I mean, there's, like,
50 bins in the schoolyard

and you couldn't be bothered
to take the five steps

and put your rubbish
in one of them?

Sorry, I just feel
pretty strongly about it.

That's OK.

It ends up in the ocean,
birds eat it and stuff.

No, you're right.
You make an excellent point.

Actually, didn't you lead that
assembly on the environment?

Like, tell everyone to take

three pieces of rubbish
with them?

Yeah, yeah,
that was... that was me.

Ah, the irony.

What did you do?

I, um...

I dropped a C-bomb
in the principal's office.

- By accident?
- No, to his face.

How come?

Being one.

Right, yeah, I totally think
he's one of those as well.

Really? I actually think
he's pretty great.

We were just having
a heated debate. I got angry.

Like, he deserved it, but I'll
never call him that again.

- You know?
- Yeah, totally.

Anyway...

Yeah, totally.

Hey, um, I wonder...
I wonder when we'll find out

what we got for
that assignment.

It was interesting.
We had so much to work with.

Wait, are you
talking about the guy

who almost passed that
referendum and then didn't?

Yeah, I mean, I guess
I find it really interesting

when men almost do something
and then... don't.

Hey, I tell you what.

The, um... the assignment
I'm doing for history

this time is really grim.

It's about a woman
who was killed

just for standing up for
what she believed in.

- Does sound grim.
- But I love that stuff.

I'm so invested in it.

Like, I can't stop reading
about it and researching it.

It's like... it's like
watching a car crash.

You know, you just
can't look away.

- Who you doing?
- Faith Underwood.

Is she the one who does, like,
the affirmations and stuff?

Yeah, I think she's amazing.

There's a whole science behind
it. It's not just spiritual.

I don't really understand it,

but I do her affirmations
and they truly helped me

get school captain
and good grades and stuff.

You don't think that's
because you're, like,

really smart and nice
and you study hard?

No.

Are you into AFL at all?

Yeah.

Who's your
favourite player?

Roger Federer.

He's a very
famous tennis player.

Is that so?

Ellie, is that you?

Miss Trimble. Yes, uh, hi.

Hi. What are you
doing in detention?

It's not a social club,
you know.

I know. I'm... I'm actually
in detention today.

What? Oh! Uh, oh. Um...

No, no. Uh, no.

No. I've got three names
on my list

and there's four people
in detention.

- You're not on the list.
- Are you sure?

Yes.

Oh, dammit.

No, you're not on the list.

You're absolutely
not in detention.

Oh, well, I... I must have
misunderstood, then.

I can't imagine
how that's happened,

but it seems that is the case.

- So come along, get out.
- Yeah, what a mix-up.

You almost gave poor
Miss Trimble a stroke.

Yep.

I mean, it almost seems
like you were pretending.

That's dumb.

Uh, I'll see you later...
or not.

I hope you were...

..'cause I could never be
into someone who littered.

So...

OK, cool.
Well, I'll see you later.

And then she called me
a bigot, my own daughter.

I mean, she's never
said anything

like that to me before.

I don't even know where
she learned that word.

Well, it gets thrown
around a lot these days.

Yeah, well, you should've
seen the look in her eyes.

Yeah, she doesn't mean it.
She's just upset...

Are you crazy?
Don't smoke in my car!

She just took me
by surprise. That's all.

I mean, I don't...

It doesn't bother me
if she's, you know...

It was just a bit of a shock.

I mean, I just want
what's best for her.

I want life
to be easy for her.

Well, that's impossible.

But that doesn't mean that
I don't love her regardless

or respect her choices.

Yeah, maybe
don't say 'choices'.

And now I'm smoking,

which I would
never normally do.

Is that an Uber job?

We can pick them up
on the way home. I don't mind.

That is not
at all how it works.

I mean,
she's my only daughter!

- I know.
- My only child.

I know.

What about grandchildren?

I'm not gonna get
any grandchildren.

Oh, come on. Shut up!
You know that's not true.

Anyway, I don't
have grandchildren

and I have a wonderful life.

Grandkids are just parenting
again except with a sore back.

Fuck. I'm being so rude.

I have no self-awareness
sometimes.

Here you are,
sitting with me

while I basically
insult your life.

Yes. You have always
been a terrible friend.

You're this smart,
brilliant woman

who's done more with her life
than I could possibly hope for

and here I am crying

because my daughter
has a crush on some girl.

What's wrong with me?

Hi, darling.

You should pick that up, Mum.
It's littering.

Are you gonna tell me
what all this was about?

- Aunt Patty?
- Yes, darling.

Why do you put up with her?

- It means she hates you too.
- She doesn't hate me.

Don't feel you have
to answer that question.

And don't you keep
avoiding my question.

What has gotten into you?

Where as my sweet
daughter gone?

I mean, you're like
a different person

and all I can seem to think
is it must be that...

OK, let's not say anything
that we might regret.

It must be that girl.

I'll walk home, thanks.

Don't. Just... don't.

Oh, yeah!
What did I tell you?

To be fair, I'm not sure how
much you actually helped.

I just have one
little criticism.

You didn't ask her
to the freakin' formal!

- It didn't come up.
- Ohh!

That was your chance!
The momentum was there.

It's OK. I'll just
ask her tomorrow.

I feel like
it'll be easier now.

Well, that's because
you've never had

a follow-up
conversation before.

- What?
- The follow-up.

You know, the first time
that you see each other

after a first date,
a first kiss

or first-time admission
of feelings.

Follow-up conversations
are remarkably awkward,

no matter how comfortable
you were the day before.

That's not a thing anymore.

I think you're wrong.

We have this thing now
called texting.

Abolishing the awkward

follow-up
conversation forever.

I'll just text her.

It's one of the great things
about being a millennial.

What's that?

So I'm assuming texting is you
just staring at that thing?

Shh, I'm concentrating!

Would you say that 'great'

is too strong
of a word to use?

No.

- I feel like it is.
- Can you use it in a sentence?

"It was great
to see you today."

You're right. Too strong.
Take it out.

Yeah.

What a simpler time
you live in.

Actually, I think I'll just
talk to her tomorrow.

I prefer face to face anyway.

Mm-hm.

Anyway, I should probably
be heading home.

I meant what I said
about us talking in public.

It's too easy to forget
that you're a ghost.

I'm not a ghost!

I'm your fairy godmother.

La!

But I do agree that you

should go home
and talk with your mum.

Are you kidding?

- Are you on her side too?
- No!

I thought you came back
from the dead to help me.

I did. I did!

You of all people should be
appalled by her behaviour.

What is it with you old gays
and your tolerance?

Hey, I'm 28!

First Aunt Patty, now you.

Huh? Aunt Patty?
Wait. You have another aunt?

No, Patty's just
an old friend of Mum's.

They were lawyers together
or something.

But Patty's retired now.

I just call her Aunt Patty

because I love her
and she's the best.

Patty?

Is that short for Patricia?

Of course.
What else would it be?

Well, it could be for,
like, Patrice or... Patches.

No, but if it would
make you feel better,

I can ask her if her name
is short for Patches.

It must be hard.

Being dead.

No.

It's just... nothing.

Mum never talks about you.

Well, it was a long time ago

and a lot has happened
since then, so...

Not really. Just me.

Well, you're
a pretty big thing.

Big hair, big limbs,
big personality.

I would've given
anything for your hair.

Your mum had it once.

So your mum has never
told you about how...

You died? Car accident.

Oh.

- Did you not know that?
- No.

I don't remember much, really.

Just your mum.

Everything else
is pretty vague.

Well, I should probably
actually get going.

Hey.

Sorry to just bring up
your death and then leave.

It's fine. I asked.

Oh!

Ellie! What are you doing?

I... I wanted to talk to you.

Oh, good, I...

'Cause I wanted
to talk to you too

about, um... all of this.

- 'This'?
- Oh, God. Give me a break.

I'm doing my best.

OK.

Oh, this is ridiculous!

We used to... we used
to talk about everything.

You're my best friend.

I thought Patty
was your best friend.

Well, she's my
second best friend.

No, she's my second
best friend.

- And who's your best friend?
- You.

Right?

But you don't
wanna talk about this?

I do, but you... you just
keep yelling at me.

- I'm not yelling at you now!
- Well, you are, actually.

Well, that's 'cause
you're not being supportive.

Well, I am trying, but you're
making it very difficult.

Oh, well, I'm sorry
it's so difficult to love me!

This is ridiculous... No! No.

I'm not handling this new
'storming out' thing.

So just feel free to leave,

but, please,
just no... storming.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

- What?
- Go away!

I forgot to give you
my next piece of advice

and it looks like
I am just in time.

I said you could
help once, OK?

That's it.
Now I've got this, OK?

- Go away.
- I must have missed that.

Anyway, here is a list
of conversation topics

to prevent the awkward
follow-up conversation.

"Who do you prefer,

"k.d. lang
or Melissa Etheridge?"

Oh, my God.

You're making this a big deal.
It's not a big deal.

It's just two people
having a conversation.

It's not a special
gay conversation.

Fine!

If you don't need my help,
just go talk to her, then.

Go on. Just pretend
like I'm not here.

I'm basically not anyway,
physically or emotionally.

Oops!

That stint in detention
clearly taught you nothing.

What you doing,
school captain?

Nothing. Just going to class.

- Oh, it's... it's lunch.
- Yep.

- How's your day going?
- You too!

You OK?
You seem a bit on edge.

- What you got there?
- Which?

- The book.
- Oh, this? It's my journal.

Sometimes I like
to just sit here

and watch everyone
socialising on the playground,

like, finding their friends,
you know,

some of which they may have
for the rest of their lives.

Like... OK, these
two girls here, right?

They just look like any
other pair of friends.

But think about it.

That could be her
future bridesmaid

or... or the one she calls
when her first child's born

or the person
she calls in tears

when her husband
leaves her.

I just think
it's so interesting

to see these things from the
very beginning, you know?

Wow. Really?

No, of course not!

It's my fucking
science textbook.

Oh, man,
that was good, though.

You were very convincing.

For a second,
I was like, "What?!"

I bet you were thinking,
"Why'd I follow

"this chick into detention?"

- Yeah, exactly.
- Totally.

- Ah, so you admit it, then?
- What?

About detention?

No.

So, um, what
did you do last night?

Nothing. Just worked
on my assignment.

Oh, yeah? How's it going?

You know we have to present
them to the whole class?

Yeah, but only
'cause Miss Trimble

kept saying "oral exam"
and I kept laughing.

I'm sorry. I'm not
actually proud of that.

No, I love oral sex jokes.

So I was actually gonna
message you last night.

- You were?
- Mm.

Why didn't you?

If I'm being honest, I just
didn't know what to say,

so I guess I just
didn't message you.

That's silly.

I know, 'cause I wanted to,

so it's just dumb
that I didn't.

Well, next time, you should.

Alright.

Yep. I'm going to the bin.

Oh, that's OK.
I'll... I'll chuck it.

No, I'm sure you will
chuck it. That's the problem.

I'm seriously
starting to worry

about you
and your littering habit.

Thank you.

- Actually, um...
- What?

- What is on this note?
- Nothing.

'Cause you seem
to not want me to have it,

but you were perfectly happy

just to chuck it
on the ground over there.

- It's just...
- Maybe...

Maybe I should read it
so you fully understand

the consequences
of your littering.

- No! It's... You can't...
- What? What?

It's really important you
don't see what's on that note!

Give it back!
Don't be such a cunt!

Oh!

Nope.

Is everyone OK?

I cannot believe
you called me that.

I mean, there are
many acceptable things

that I deserve,

but not that.

That's debatable.

I'm really sorry
if I upset you.

I just genuinely didn't think

there could be anything
important on that note.

It's fine.

You don't really strike me
as the swearing type.

I'm not. I hate swearing.

Right.

So I guess for you to say...

..that word

it must've been something
really personal.

Hey, I'm sorry.

Thanks.

Right.

Well, I have discussed
this with the principal

and, amazingly, he's decided

this will not affect your
position as school captain

due to your almost
perfect record.

But we have
called your mother.

- Ugh, that is so much worse.
- Yes.

Well, maybe that will
make you think twice

before you call
a classmate... that word...

..over a list
of conversation topics.

And for what it's worth,
I would always choose

k.d. lang
over Melissa Etheridge.

As would the principal.

And as for you, Miss Abbie,
you've only got a couple

of detention days left,
so let's not add to them

by taking other students'
property, OK?

Of course, miss.

A list of conversation topics?

Ellie, you can
always just, like...

I don't understand
why you're trying so hard.

OK, no, that came
out wrong. Ellie?

Ellie, you can't just
leave detention!

That's, like,
the point of... detention.

Ah, yes, did she send you
to deal with me,

one lesbian to another?

Well, those weren't
her exact words.

Are in the middle
of a food delivery?

Uh, yeah, we're gonna
have to make a stop, sorry.

That's modern retirement
for you, babe.

You might not be
at that age yet

where you realise
your parents are just human.

Flawed, everyday humans.

Do you remember
Daniel Claris?

Of course,
that sweet little boy

who sent you flowers
to your classroom.

It was the first year
of high school.

All the girls in my grade
were so jealous.

I was so embarrassed
to carry them home.

And when I got home,

you and Mum gave me
so much grief.

Those flowers were
bigger than your little body!

"Ooh, Daniel, Daniel!

"What does Daniel look like?
What does Daniel like doing?

"Is he blond?
Does he have brown eyes?

"Ooh, I hope
he has brown eyes."

I know. We were so mean.

Oh, you were so upset,
you poor little thing.

She hasn't teased me
about her.

She hasn't asked me
what she looks like.

She hasn't even asked me
what her name is.

Oh, El.

"Faith Underwood
is a disruptor.

"Five years ago, she crashed
into the digital space

"with a program bringing
the laws of the universe

"to a new generation.

"Faith spent five years
in the foster care system

"before building her empire."

Wait for shocked reactions.

"That's right.

"I think we've all learned not
to judge a book by its cover."

Ooh-ooh!

That is an interesting
plot twist.

- Stop doing that!
- Oh, sorry.

I don't mean to interrupt.

I just wanted to stop in
and check that you were OK.

What, after your stupid list
got me in detention?

Not to mention
completely humiliated?

- OK, in hindsight...
- No hindsight.

Foresight could've told
anyone that you

showing up at my school
was a stupid idea.

Yes, I can now see where

you may have got
that idea from, sorry.

Will you please just go away?
I have so much homework.

And I don't wanna think
about anything else.

Sure. Yeah, OK, I'll go.

I'm sorry. I just...

Look, just remember,
if you need me, I'm here.

Need you?

All you have done
since you got here

is make everything worse.

I was fine.

I was excited about
what I was feeling

and just asking the person
I liked to the formal,

and... and now
I hate how I feel.

I feel anxious all the time

and I'm second-guessing
everything

and I feel like
I'm making everything

harder than it needs to be.

What is the point of you?

What do you want from me?

All you have done
is make me feel different.

Yes! Uh, not yes,
but that is exactly the point.

I'm not different, OK?

I realise that life
was probably

really hard for you growing up

and maybe you were different
and maybe you were a freak.

But I'm not, OK?
I'm just like everyone else.

Of course you are
just like everyone else, El.

But you are also different,
and different is wonderful.

- Stop saying that!
- El...

Shut up! I'm just like
everyone else, OK? Shut up!

Just... just go away, OK?

I just think
it's for the best.

I need to go through
this stuff on my own.

OK.

Hey.

- Hi.
- What you doing?

Just going
over my assignment.

- Cool.
- You ready to do yours?

Yeah, yeah.

So, um... so, actually,
I messaged you last night.

I know, um...

Actually, I messaged
you many times.

- I know. Yeah.
- Bit rude.

Especially considering
you specifically

asked me to message you.

Yes.

Look, I just wanna
preface this upfront -

I have absolutely no interest
in being messed around.

I know. I'm... I'm sorry.

I know it wasn't cool
of me not to reply.

I just had to do
all my homework

and there was a lot
happening at home and...

- Alright.
- Wait, no, stop.

OK.

I think I just had
a bit of a freak-out.

In the last three days,
I've been in detention twice,

I've been fighting with my mum
for the first time ever,

I've been dealing
with dead relatives

and I think I just got
a bit overwhelmed.

But...?

Oh, I, um...
I didn't have a 'but'.

I... I was just venting.
Should I have had a 'but'?

Yeah, you...
You were meant to say,

"But I like you."

What?

I don't know.
I got awkward and laughed.

Um...

But, um... I like you.

Feels really weird
to say that out loud.

I feel like people don't say
that to each other, you know?

I do.

No, it's great.
It's great. It's great.

Um... Uh, why is this so hard?

No, I'm messing with you.
It's weird.

So what now?

There was actually something
I've been meaning to ask you.

Oh, yeah?

Oh, Ellie, great.
You look ready to go.

Oh, um, but you...

You'll just watch your
language this time, yeah?

Of course, miss.

I am... I am absolutely
not calling you a liar.

I am simply saying
it's not a day rate

I believe I would ever quote.

I need the Zimmerman
quote on my desk asap.

I...

I... I am very sympathetic
to your case.

And it's true - we do offer
services for clients

who are in financial hardship.

But it's in the form
of a payment plan

or prearranged pro bono.

So, yes, I am more than happy

to offer you
a payment plan as well, sir,

but, you know,
I would never...

What the fuck?

No! No, sorry.
That was not meant...

Uh, no.

Look, I'm... I'm gonna
have to call you back.

Fuck!

Christopher!

Do you still have
those cigarettes?

The ones you
asked me to throw out?

- Yes.
- No, I threw them out.

Thanks.

OK.

- Hi.
- Sorry, are you driving?

Oh, no, I opted
to do a, uh, bike shift.

I knew I couldn't get
through today stuck in a car.

Yeah, I'm not handling it
very well this year.

Well, why don't you go home?

You know, maybe later,
me, you, and Ellie

can go out for
dinner or something.

You know, it never
used to affect me, the date.

You know, I never
let it have it any power.

I don't know what's
going on with me this year.

How are you?

Go home, darling.

And, um, let me know if Ellie

finds herself
in detention again.

Maybe just start
heading there.

It'll take longer if you have
to get her home on your bike.

OK.

After reaching 1.2 million
women around the world,

Faith Underwood had shown

that you can have
anything you want.

You just have to put it out
into the universe.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ellie. That was
a very interesting choice.

Abbie, you're up.

Um, for my presentation today,

I've decided to talk about
an amazing woman

who sadly lost her life at the
Reclaim Oxford Street march

run by the Conservative Party
on Oxford Street in 1989.

It was an anti-gay
and lesbian rally

designed to protest
the growing national support

for the LGBTQ community.

They had reported
that they would be expecting

a turnout of 100,000 people,

however, only 1,500
people turned up,

which was trumped by the
5,000 gay and lesbian allies

who showed up
to protest the march.

So while the day proved
to be somewhat a success,

it sadly ended in a tragedy.

Tara Tilden
was a much respected

spokeswoman for the community

and by the time she died,

she'd been appointed head of
the New South Wales Alliance

and was running regular
meet-up groups for teenagers.

She was also known
for her radical attempts

to get her message across.

Sadly, Tara lost her life at
the end of the rally in 1989

when she was intentionally
run down by a car full of men,

who have never
been identified.

Where did you
hear this crap?!

- Ellie, wh...
- Turn that thing off!

What on earth are you doing?
Sit down.

Where did you get
that photo of my aunt?

- Your aunt?
- That's my aunt.

But that's not her.
You've got the wrong photo.

Ellie, I did my research.

Ellie, could you please
sit down?

Everybody was
very well behaved

during your
presentation,

which was actually
quite long, if I'm honest.

My presentation was real.
That's my aunt.

But she wasn't murdered
at some rally.

It was an accident.

Uh, Ellie, maybe you would
feel more comfortable

going to the library
during Abbie's talk.

No. I... I want her to admit
that she made it up.

Ellie, I'm sorry.
I didn't know.

What did you say
this story was like?

A car crash that you
couldn't look away from?

What an excellent pun.

Where are you?
This is crap, right?

Oh, what, suddenly when
I need you, you're not here?!

Come on. Come out and
tell them they got it wrong.

- It's OK...
- Don't touch me.

Ellie, I really think
you should...

Go to hell.

Come on. Where are you?
I know you heard that.

Come on.
Don't be such a coward!

Ellie, what's wrong?

I need you to tell me
what happened to Aunt Tara.

- What?
- How did she die?

She died in
a car accident, right?

Darling, what's happened?

Mum, please.

What did Patty say to you?

Patty? Nothing.

I need you to tell me
what's going on.

How did she die?

I don't...

You never even met her.

I don't understand
why you're so upset.

Mum!

I don't wanna
talk about it, OK?

I tried very, very hard to
protect you from that story.

What will it achieve? I mean,
look what's happened to Patty.

She won't even retire.

She won't even let herself
deserve that.

She doesn't need to be
a fucking Uber driver.

Patty?

Patty and Tara were a couple.
That's how I know Patty.

I've already told you that.

Well, they were
together for years,

since they were teenagers.

I've never met two people
who were so good together.

And, um, after,

well, uh, we never really

left each other's side
after that day.

Mum...

Mum, a girl in my class
did an assignment on her.

How did I never
hear about this?

Oh...

Well, sadly, it was like
a lot of terrible things

that happened
during that time.

If you wanna
know their stories,

you have to go
looking for them.

You know, we tried to prove
it wasn't an accident,

but, um...

It just went down
as a hit and run, so...

But it wasn't?

It was not.

We watched them
as they steered towards her

and we watched them as...

..as they ran her down.

Well, who was it?

- Why didn't you find them?
- Oh, we tried.

We tried incredibly hard,

but then some other
witnesses came forward,

said it was an accident
and then that was it.

So you just...
you just dropped it?

Ellie, I...

Mum, that's... that's pathetic!

That's why they could
get away with stuff like that!

- Ellie, you...
- You let her down!

- You... you let her down.
- Hey!

You just... You shut up!

You have no idea what
you are talking about. None.

You have no idea
what it's like

to spend every day
fighting for justice.

It killed your grandparents.

It was like a... a cancer
that destroyed this family.

Knowing that
something this awful

has happened
to someone you love,

knowing that you were
so powerless to stop it,

replaying that scene
over and over in your head,

it just... it just guts you

of everything you ever were
as a person.

And in the end,
when no-one will help you,

when you hit dead end
after dead end for years,

Ellie, years,

the only kind thing
you can do for your sister

is the one thing
that you can control.

You can let her rest

because she deserves it.

Just don't.

- Hey!
- How you doing?

Alright!

- Whoo!
- You look amazing!

This is good.

Hey, sis.

Yeah!

Today is not about violence.

It's not about anger.

And for us at least,
it is not about aggravation.

They claim they are
taking back Oxford Street,

as if they own it,

as if we are taking
something that was theirs,

as if they've got
nothing left.

What they fail to understand

is that Oxford Street
is all that we have.

It's our safe space.
It welcomes us.

It provides us with
a place to dance,

a place to fall in love.

It provides us with a place

where we can truly
be ourselves.

Today, we are not fighting.

We are simply showing up.

We are standing
in solidarity with our street,

a reminder
of our community strength,

and we can continue
to hope for more safe spaces,

for a time when we will have

more places to dance,
more places to fall in love,

for a time when
we will no longer

have to show up and defend
our place in this world.

But while we do,
well, let's just make sure

we have a bloody
good time doing it.

Am I right?

Take your bigotry away!

Oxford Street is here to stay!

Take your bigotry away!

Oxford Street is here to stay!

Take your bigotry away!
Oxford Street is here to stay!

Take your bigotry away!

Oxford Street is here to stay!

Take your bigotry away!
Oxford Street is here to stay!

Whoo-hoo!

Whoo!

Tara?

Tara, are you...

..around?

I'm sorry for what I said.

I wish I hadn't said it.

That's all.

Hi.

I'm sorry, but those
are really great pyjamas.

Yeah, I'm a horse girl.

What are you doing here?

Sorry to just drop by,

but you weren't replying
to my messages,

so I thought I'd...

You thought you'd just
rock up at my house?

- Pretty creepy.
- I know.

When you didn't reply
to my messages,

I didn't rock up
at your house.

I know, I know,
but I have been here before

when we did our assignment,
so I didn't

have to find out
your address or anything.

That would've been
way worse, right?

How did you know
that stuff about my aunt?

Where did you hear it?

I, um...

I met this woman
at a meet-up group

and told her
I wanted to do someone

from the community
for my assignment

and she suggested her.

I can't believe so many people
knew about her and I didn't.

Yeah, she did some
pretty amazing stuff.

We were lucky to have her.

Also, I'm, um...

I didn't mean what I said

about the whole
car crash thing.

I don't know why I said that.

I wish I never said that.

Like, I really am
sorry about that

'cause she sounds
really amazing.

You have no idea.

Well, I did my
whole assignment on her.

True. She's practically
your aunt.

So there was something
I wanted to ask...

How did you know?

That it was... safe to like me?

- What do you mean?
- You know what I mean.

Remember Jen Brinly?

She left in Year 9?

So we were, like,
best friends in Year 7.

We did everything together.

I had a massive crush on her,

but even then I knew better
than to say anything.

Plus, I was still so young,

I was pretty confused
about my feelings.

But even as intuitive
as I was not to say anything,

I was still dumb enough
to write it down.

I had this stupid diary.

It didn't even have
a lock on it.

I'm sure you can tell
where this story is going.

Anyway, um,
one of the girls in my group

took it out of my bag
and told everybody, obviously,

'cause teenage girls
are the fucking worst.

Sorry, language.

But I didn't know.

I didn't know
anything had changed

until I went to hug her.

So... so that's how I knew.

Look, I know you were upset

when you told me
not to touch you,

but that's where
it takes me back to.

And I meant what I said

about not wanting
to be jerked around.

Like, I get it.
I get it, Ellie.

I get this all really new
and exciting for you.

But it's not for me.

I never got to come out.
I was outed.

And I've managed
to get through high school

pretty much unscathed
because I never even dreamt

of dating or liking
someone since then.

I'm so sorry.

But that was then, you know?

No-one cares
about that stuff now.

Oh, if no-one cares,
I guess I'll just

get the fuck over it,
then, shall I?

And, no, I'm not gonna
apologise for that.

I'm sorry. You pursued me.

I was fine and then
there you were,

just actively pursuing me.

I told you I liked you.

That's a massive deal for me.

I felt open enough to respond
and then you just fucking...

I'm so sorry.

I don't know how we got here.

I just wanted to
ask you to the formal.

Yeah, and I wish you
just fucking had, Ellie.

Sorry. Fuck.

Did Abbie say yes?

No.

Oh.

Mm...

♪ Even the highs
feel like lows

♪ I'm sick of
all of my clothes

♪ I'm getting tired
of the same conversations

♪ I can't accept
the feelings of elation

♪ I'm flying high,
but am I self-sabotaging?

♪ I'm leaning further in
than ever

♪ Let you in, but now
I need to be guarded

♪ Every day is a revelation

♪ Sometimes I feel

♪ Like my heart
has been split open

♪ You see everything
I'm hoping

♪ I'm a river running high

♪ Sometimes I feel

♪ Like there's a freeway
running down my neck

♪ There's traffic
passing through my chest

♪ And through my mind

♪ Sometimes I feel

♪ Like my heart
has been split open

♪ You see everything
I'm hoping

♪ I'm a river running high

♪ Sometimes I feel

♪ Like there's traffic
passing through my chest

♪ And through my mind. ♪

Repeat after me.

I go beyond other people's
fears and limitations.

This is not
how this story ends.

♪ This is new
I am not used to happy love

♪ When did choice... ♪

Please read my sign
to see an important message.

Dammit.

♪ I will paint your
portrait, though

♪ When we're moving slow... ♪

And... action.

I have something
important to tell you...

Darling, you need to speak up.
And you're mumbling.

Mum, I was on a roll!

Sorry. I have so much
glitter in my nose. OK.

♪ Because I couldn't
understand what you meant... ♪

It is plugged in!

Oh, good.

Um, I think we should have
the... the sex talk again.

No.

Because lesbian sex
is very different.

Nope!

And I don't want you
to learn about it from porn!

♪ Counting down,
I feel contrived

♪ On the behalf of every love

♪ That I ever have dreamed of

♪ I don't know how
to read books anymore... ♪

I'm gonna do it.

That terrible idea
that you told me not to do

is happening.

You better
show up and stop me.

- 1956.
- Mn-mn.

First Australian combat troops
in Vietnam? It was!

- It was 1956.
- 1965!

You are off your game, girl.

You and Tara were together
in high school, right?

Yeah.

I suppose she never
asked you to the formal?

Huh! No, it was
never an option.

They put one in my bag even
though I told them not to.

So I'm just gonna use it.

Ends up in the bin
regardless, right?

I was gonna suggest you
take that back to the store.

- That's what I should've done.
- Shit, I was joking!

It's only one straw...

..said 18 billion people.

Oh!

- I'm so stressed.
- Darling!

If she had asked you
to the formal,

how do you think
she would've done it?

Well, we were pretty
practical people.

Sorry to be boring, Ellie.

She was thoughtful.

She had a way of remembering
little things I said

and turning them
into something.

That's actually how she asked
me to the formal, I think.

♪ When I was 17,
I fell in love

♪ We had anniversaries
each month

♪ He was my first kiss

♪ The real kind of kiss

♪ Where I kissed back

♪ Remember driving
Stafford Road

♪ A message
popped up on my phone

♪ Said he thinks he likes me
and my world stood still

♪ And my eyes grew wider
than a party pill

♪ I think I'm gonna
love you for a long time

♪ Boy, I can't go a minute
without you on my mind

♪ I think I'm gonna
love you for a long time

♪ Can I build my life
around you? ♪

♪ See me walkin'

♪ Got you talkin'

♪ On

♪ And on

♪ You call me up

♪ Midnight, wake up

♪ On

♪ And on

♪ It's coming over

♪ It's on again... ♪

Mm, so we went to this...

..we went to this
hairdresser in the city

and it cost
an absolute fortune,

but I didn't have
the heart to tell her

that I couldn't see
any difference.

So you just have to...

Shh!

Just... just when
she comes out,

you just make sure
that you are...

- Your hair!
- Isn't it amazing?

- It's amazing.
- Thank you.

I'm gonna... Mmm!

Mmm! Get some more champagne.
Do you want some?

How are we getting to
the venue? Am I driving or...

Oh, God, no. We'll get
an Uber driver that isn't you.

- Actually, do we need to book?
- No, it's way too early.

OK.

- You really look beautiful.
- Thank you.

Thank you for always
including me.

Of course.

Oh, my God!
Where have you been?

I actually thought
I was quite quick.

What kind of fairy godmother
would I be

if I didn't show up
for your ball?

Pour that champagne quick.
I'm so pumped.

- OK.
- You look beautiful.

And your hair!

- Oh! Oops!
- Oh, oh, quick, quick!

Get something to clean
that up. Patty, quick.

- Mum, go to the kitchen too.
- Um, really?

- I've got it. It's alright.
- That's very rude. Sorry.

I know.

Ellie, can you... can you just
get off your phone, please?

Alright, here we are.

To Ellie...

- We need to book the Uber!
- What's that?

- Quick, quick!
- I thought it was too early.

No, that was ages ago.

Um, why don't you
go out the front?

- I'll meet you out there.
- Why out the front?

It's easier for the driver.
Right, Patty?

- Sure. Yep.
- OK.

- What's going on?
- Come on.

I think she got
a surprise for us.

- Oh!
- So let's, um...

Oh, we should've
brought the bottle with us.

It's about
what happened to you.

We found
new information and...

Is it OK if I say
that I don't wanna know?

- Right. Of course.
- I know that seems strange.

But I think it's awesome,
what it is that you're doing.

I just...

..I just really wanted
to be here today for you.

Totally. Totally.

So tell me, are you
attending this event

with a certain
horse-loving girl?

No, I... I never asked her.

What? Ellie, why not?!

You were right.

My whole idea was based
on this stupid thing

that I'd gotten from
copying other couples

and I realised that I wanted
to do something special

that was just for us,

something different...
because I am different.

But I couldn't think
of anything. Nothing.

And then I started thinking,
"Well, what does that mean?

"Maybe... maybe
I don't know her at all

"and maybe I'm just assuming
that... that she'd say yes.

"Maybe I'll just ask when

"there wasn't
as much pressure."

Then I thought, "Maybe I'm

"overthinking
the entire thing."

- Is my chest getting blotchy?!
- OK, OK.

Ellie!
The Uber's almost here!

Damn, it's way too early.

Alright?

Now, if there's nothing else
we need to do,

let's have that toast.

To my beautiful daughter,

who not only
surprised everyone

by topping her history class

with her beautiful speech
on Faith Underwood,

but who has just
turned out so good,

better than
I could have hoped,

and, uh, that's despite
having me as her mum.

Oh, Mum, none of that!
Come on.

I agree. Can we just
cry at the venue, please?

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

Heads!

God, I am
sick to death of this.

- Are you kidding me?
- Wait, Mum!

I... I need that.

And I need a pen and paper.

I mean, I'm fairy godmother
of the year!

I could just teleport there!
This is such moral support.

♪ I feel contrived

♪ On the behalf
of every love... ♪

Saddles may be balanced

different ways
for different horses,

different riders
or different disciplines.

So for example...

..if we're jumping
and we have a saddle

that's built for jumping,

the balance on that saddle

is going to be slightly
more forward...

I lied. I'm not into AFL.

But I am into you.

I'll be at the formal.
Meet me there if you like.

P.S. I really hope you do.

- Was she there?
- She was there.

Just give me a second
and then we can go.

OK.

I mean,
I'm a ghost. I'm fine.

I'm just sympathetic
panting, but...

Make the only high
you have tonight a sugar high.

We're offering
students a chance

to trade in their drugs
for chocolates.

I don't have any drugs,
but I'll take a chocolate.

That's not really
how it works.

Your pupils are really large.

OK, take a chocolate.

- Hi, miss.
- Oh! Uh, hello, miss.

Hello, miss...
Hello, Ellie! Hello.

Um, the formal's inside.

I know. I was just
getting some fresh air.

Yep. That's good.

Weird, it smells
a bit like pot out here.

Ha-ha! Um...

Yes, well, I will see you
back inside, Miss Ellie.

Good luck with your future!

You have
got to be kidding me!

- Oh!
- What?

Oh, my God. You scared me.

Is that your
horseriding outfit?

Well, you left it
pretty last-minute.

This is the fanciest
thing I own.

It has a pocket, see?

Jealous.

Out here having
a ciggie, are ya?

No!

Oh, it was... it was a joke.

Right. Right.

Though it does smell
a lot like pot out here.

I'm really glad you came.

I'm glad you asked,
although talking about

leaving it
to the last minute...

I'm so sorry...
about everything.

Oh, me too.
Um, I have many regrets.

"Never regret anything
because at one point in time,

"it was exactly
what you wanted."

Um... no.

No, I never wanted you
to find about

your aunt's death
in my history speech.

Yeah, that sucked.

I think I might be done
with the inspirational quotes.

No, don't be like that.

"Be yourself.
Everyone else is taken."

I do like that one, though.

Um...

You look really pretty.

Thanks.

You look... like you
belong at the Olympics,

in a good way.

Oh, by the way,

Adam Goodes.

That's an AFL player,
just for future conversation.

Do you wanna dance?

Yeah.
Oh, maybe not in there.

I'm... I'm pretty shit.

Fine by me.

♪ Baby, the waves were
crashing down on me

♪ Felt like I forgot how
to breathe without you

♪ But, baby, with you
I'm hanging out at 10:00

♪ It's easier than when
I'm not around you

♪ Around you

♪ I'm gonna take you
to the beach... ♪

What you doing?

Just checking we're alone.

Who could be watching?

Oh, just my family.

- Wait. What?
- No, no! It's...

It's... I'm just joking.
I'm just joking. It's OK.

♪ I'm gonna take you to

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had
a summer with a lover

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had a summer

♪ I'm gonna take you
to the water... ♪

♪ I'm gonna take you
to the water

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had
a summer with a lover

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had
a summer with a lover

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had
a summer with a lover

♪ I never had a summer
with another

♪ I never had
a summer with a lover. ♪

♪ There you go,
letting me down again

♪ Take off that crown I made

♪ You don't deserve it

♪ I know, I know
that it's all pretend

♪ Maybe I'm only afraid

♪ 'Cause I wanna preserve it

♪ We walk two steps forward

♪ We fall 10 steps back

♪ And I feel like screaming

♪ 'Cause I know
we can never go

♪ Back to that space
we used to hold

♪ Before you made me
feel alone

♪ We're so far from there

♪ And I'm a long,
long way from home

♪ I'm a long, long way
from home

♪ I'm a long,
long way from home. ♪