Princess Kate (1988) - full transcript

[classical piano music]

[birds chirping]

[girls talking and laughing]

["Fur Elise" by Beethoven]

[laughing]

[champagne cork popping]

- [Gran] Happy

birthday, darling.

- [Robbie] Happy birthday.

Why can't I have some?

- Happy birthday.

- [Kate] Thanks, dad.

[children chatter and laugh]

- Happy birthday, darling.

- Thanks, Granny.

- [Sarah] Ooh, what

is it? Let's see.

- [Bob] Take some

photos, Robbie.

- [Sarah] Oh, it's beautiful.

- [Gran] It's very old.

- [Robbie] Smile.

- [Amanda] Champagne is

wonderful, Mr. McLelland.

- [Bob] Careful girls,

it'll make you tipsy.

[glass clanging]

- First champagne birthday

for our daughter, Kate.

[group cheers and applauds]

On a more serious note,

despite the fact that Kate

has got a mind of her own,

- [Sarah] Yeah [laughs].

[Kate laughs]

- It's hard to imagine the

past 14 years without her.

For all Anne and I have had our

grumbles and groans,

a marriage wouldn't

be a marriage

without someone to love,

and build a future for.

A toast:

to Kate.

- [Group] To Kate.

- [Robbie] Dad, can

we go for a sail?

- [Kate] Dad, I only

asked for a windsurfer.

- This is its big brother.

- [Robbie] Wow, I wanna get on!

Come on, Kate, get on.

- [Amanda] My God.

I can't believe this.

- [Sarah] Kate, your

birthday present?

It's incredible.

- [Amanda] It's

beautiful. Princess Kate.

[Kate laughs]

[girls chattering]

- [Bob] Girls, could one of you

put a safety jacket on Robbie?

- [Robbie] Aww, dad.

- [Bob] Do as you're told, boy.

- There's no way

I'll get anything

like this for my birthday.

- Well, it's not just

mine, it's really for Dad.

- [Bob] Watch your

step there, girls.

Kate, watch the wind change.

[engine buzzing]

Watch it, Kate.

- [Jamie] Eh, look at this.

- [Amanda] They're

heading straight for us!

- [Bob] Get out of the way!

- Hey girls, wanna

come for a ride?

- No, thanks.

- [Jamie] Hey, you

wanna swap boats?

- Westies!

- If you don't know the rules,

you shouldn't be on the water.

- [Jamie] I'd give

you a good time.

- [Bob] Louts.

- We're not louts.

Princess Kate, come

on, jump, jump!

- What's a Westie?

- Someone from the

western suburbs.

[girls talking and laughing]

["Chopsticks" playing]

- One, two, three,

four, five, six...

That's it, keep going, come on.

- Oh, come on.

- Yes it is, do it again.

- One, two, three,

four, five, six...

One, two, three...

- Yay, we did it!

Really, keep going.

- Half a million

Australian dollars

worth of cooking pads, and we've

haven't got one sale, mate.

Right.

Well, the good news is this:

You've got two days to get

out there and sell them.

And just to help you

think it through clearly,

you do know what your current

superannuation

payments are then?

And don't forget you've got

two kids at private

school, mate.

- [Robbie] One, two...

- [Voiceover] And

how old were you?

- [Voiceover] Well,

I was only 19.

And I was told I had

to adopt him out.

I was told I had no right

to keep the baby, because...

- What's the formula for

the volume of a cylinder?

- Here, look it up in the book.

- Well, don't you know?

- Yeah, but you won't

learn if I tell you.

- [Anne] Kate, this is clean.

- [Voiceover] How do

you feel about that now?

- [Voiceover] I feel angry.

- [Voiceover] Have you

tried to find your son?

How old would he be now, Mary?

- [Voiceover] 14.

Yeah, yes, I've tried.

I dream about him

nearly every night.

I used to stand at

the school gates

waiting for kids

his age to come out,

and just look at em and

wonder if any of em were him.

You know, like they expect

you just to walk away

and leave your baby,

forget all about him.

I couldn't stop crying...

- Turn that off.

How can you study with that

blaring in the background?

- [Voiceover] And I

thought I was gonna die.

- [Anne] Should

have thought of that

before you got

yourself pregnant.

[door slams]

- [Robbie] All right then,

what's the difference

between vertebrate

and an invertebrate?

- [Anne] I know,

one's got a backbone,

and the other hasn't, ha.

- [Robbie] We're

doing it at school.

Wicket's a vertebrate.

- [Anne] No, he's a toy.

- [Robbie] He isn't,

he's a vertebrate.

Aren't you, Wicket?

- [Anne] Oh God, you're a baby.

- [Robbie] I am not.

Read me a story, please?

- [Anne] All right.

Where is it?

Now, where are we up to?

Here we are, chapter three.

"I make acquaintance

of my uncle.

"Presently, there came a

great rattling of chains

"and bolts and the door

was cautiously opened..."

[classical piano music]

- [Girl] Here they come.

[boys chattering]

- [Jamie] Hey girls, how are ya?

- [Josh] G'day

girls, how you going?

- [Girl] Hello.

- [Josh] Nice day.

- [Jamie] Radical.

Wait, wait, check out

the one in the gray.

- [Josh] How you doing?

- [Jamie] Check her

out, ahh, unreal.

- [Josh] Check out the

one with the sunnies.

- What'd he say?

- Radical, baby.

- [Josh] Shut up, Jamie.

- [Jamie] [mumbles]

Ahh, I dig the uniform.

- [Girl] Bye.

Arrivederci.

- Audios, senoritas.

- He's not a dag,

I think he's nice.

- Come off it,

Amanda, he's a dag.

[girls chatting]

- Did you see that adoption

program last night?

- Mmhmm.

- I freaked.

I made mum and dad show

me my birth certificate.

- Why?

- To prove I was theirs.

- What are you talking about?

You and your mum

look like twins.

- We don't.

- You do!

- Thanks a lot, Amanda.

- What's up with her?

- Missy McLoud's adopted.

- Is she?

- Don't you know?

- She's got awful hair.

- She always eating,

she never seems to stop.

- That's not because

she's adopted.

[bell clanging]

- [Girl] What've you got now?

- [Girl 2] Um, history, I think.

[girls talking and laughing]

[teacher calling

out instruction]

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Look, you know

you've got no intention

of paying me on time.

Who do you think I am?

Santa Claus?

Hey,

what's say we sail down

to Lane cove this weekend?

Pack a picnic, and have

lunch at the -_--_ river.

Would you like that, princess?

- A lot of kids at

school watched that

program on adoption.

- What program?

- A program.

Mum saw it.

- Well, you know those programs,

they're usually sensationalized.

- Bob, shouldn't you

be getting ready?

Clive and Edwina

will be here soon.

- Saturday, right?

Saturday.

[footsteps departing]

[piano playing]

- [Bob] Anne, they're

on their way up.

[ice clinking, liquid pouring]

- Most of my friends look

a bit like their parents.

I don't look like

either of you.

[doorbell ringing]

- Lots of children don't

look like their parents.

- [Kate] Who?

- Lots.

Don't be silly, Kate.

- [Edwina] Hello.

- [Anne] Hello, darling,

come on in.

- Wouldn't matter.

- [Edwina] Oh, it's my fault.

- [Anne] Bob's through there.

- [Clive] A kiss for me, too.

- [Edwina] You're gorgeous.

- [Clive] Bob!

[chatting and laughing]

- Right, fresh coffee.

- Oh, coffee, I feel

like a [mumbles].

- Yeah.

- As you know, Felicity saw

the exhibition, don't you know.

- [Anne] In Paris?

- [Edwina] Mmhmm.

We'd get lost there anyway.

[chatting in the other room]

- Hey, dad?

Why didn't you tell me?

- We were going to tell you,

but...

Not until you were much older.

It isn't important, princess.

You're our daughter.

We love you.

- Who are my real parents?

- We don't know.

[cry catches in Kate's throat]

- Are you all right?

You look as though

you've seen a ghost.

- Ahh...

Ice...

Some more ice.

- Uh, I think you'll find

some in the other fridge.

Excuse me, darling.

- You told her?

- What was I supposed to do?

- You could have just said,

"no, of course

you're not adopted,"

and that would have

been the end of it.

- I can't lie, not to Kate.

- Sometimes you have to

lie to protect people.

If everyone went around

blabbing the truth,

life would be impossible.

- I can't lie to Kate.

[ice dropping]

She's really upset.

[door opens gently]

- Kate?

I can't see that

it really matters.

We don't think of

you any differently.

- Than if I was your

own flesh and blood?

- Than if you weren't adopted.

If I were you,

I'd thank my lucky stars

that I was taken in

by parents who wanted me

and could give me a decent life.

- Who are my...

Real parents?

- We honestly don't know.

Or care.

And you shouldn't either.

- I must find out who

my real mother is.

- Kate, that's impossible.

- I'm going to.

- [Anne] Why?

- Because I have to know.

- I don't think we

should talk about this

while you're upset, darling.

Have a good night's sleep,

and see how you

feel in the morning.

[quiet voice talking on radio]

- [Anne] Robbie, Kate's

going to be late for school,

hurry her up, darling.

- She's gone.

["Fur Elise" by Beethoven]

[children laughing

and playing outside]

- What's wrong?

Kate?

- I'm adopted.

Don't you ever tell anyone.

- True?

You could be the daughter

of someone famous.

- Sarah...

- Your dad could be a pop star,

your mum an opera singer.

- Sarah!

- I bet you it was

somebody interesting.

She wouldn't be like that--

- Like what?

- Well, like that

woman we saw on TV.

- Why wouldn't she?

They're the sort that get their

babies adopted, aren't they?

- [Sarah] Kate...

- And the fathers are

Westies with tattoos,

who get them pregnant

and then nick off, right?

- You don't look like a Westie.

- I'm getting a bit tarty,

getting a bit fat maybe?

- Kate, don't.

- Just don't tell anyone, right?

[cries and sniffs quietly]

[notes play quietly]

[door opens]

[sorrowful piano music]

[rain dropping]

- Is Robbie adopted?

- No.

It sometimes happens that way.

- You don't think we think

any the less of you, do you?

- You were so...

Special to us, Katie.

We'd be trying for five years.

- Got one of your

own in the end.

- You are our own.

Just as much as Robbie is,

if not more so.

[scoffs] You should have seen me

the day the adoption

papers arrived.

- He had all the relatives over,

drinking French champagne,

and those were the days

when we couldn't afford it.

- I wanna found out

who my mother is.

- Why?

- Because I do.

- [Bob] Princess,

we brought you up,

why do you want to

know who she is?

- Because she's my real mother.

- Your real mother?

She gave you away.

Anne is your real mother.

- [Anne] If we gave permission,

she could find out

some details now.

- [Bob] You told me she had

to wait until she was 18.

- [Anne] Not if we

both give permission.

- [Bob] Well, she's

too young to cope.

- [Anne] Might put

her mind at rest.

- [Bob] The last thing

we want is for her

to have divided loyalties

at the age of 14.

She's just a kid.

- They won't give her

the mother's name.

- What if she finds out?

- She can't.

- You know how

determined she is.

- Well...

it won't be a

catastrophe if she does.

- [Bob] What if she

wants to live with her?

- [Anne] I'm sure she won't.

- [Bob] She better not.

We've spent a fortune

on private school fees,

all the dances, swimming,

piano tuition...

- Bob...

You're talking about

our daughter as if

she's an investment.

[Bob sighs]

- I would rather she

did wait until she's 18,

she's too young to

handle it just yet.

- [Anne] The bill for the

car repairs arrived today.

- [Bob] How much?

- Too much.

Why don't we sell it?

- We have to have a decent car.

Impresses the clients.

- Slow down, Bob.

You'll kill yourself.

- Gran rang this morning,

wondering why you haven't

been to see her lately.

She says your visits brighten

up her whole weekend.

Don't punish Robbie because

you're unhappy, darling.

You've been horrible to

him the last few days.

- I'm not punishing him.

- You won't let

him come near you.

- I don't want him near me.

- Kate, he's your

brother, he thinks

the world of you.

- [Kate] He's not

my brother.

[children calling

out to each other]

[whistle blows]

- Are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm okay.

- You sure?

- Yep.

- Kate, will you sit out

the next quarter please,

I'm putting Sally in.

- [Girl] Bad luck, Katie.

- I wasn't the only

one not playing well,

why does she always pick on me?

- God, she's cranky lately.

- Well...

Promise you won't tell anyone?

- Yeah.

- Everything's so

expensive here.

- You oughta see

the prices in Paris.

Mum took me to this place

on the Champs Elysee,

the cheapest dress was

a thousand dollars.

- What was it like?

- Excellent.

- I'd be too scared to

wear anything like that.

So how much are you

allowed to spend?

- Mum said not to

worry, she said

"for your 14th birthday party,

"I want you to look classy."

- Oh yuck Katie,

that looks Westie.

- Ahh look, there's nothing

we really like here,

how bout we go to Masons?

- Yeah.

- [Benedicte] I have to go home

and help dad with the boat.

Sorry.

- Kate, come on,

we didn't mean it.

- Katie!

- Don't lie, Sarah,

I know you told them.

Yeah some friend you

turned out to be.

No, I'm not coming over,

I'm going by myself.

[pop music playing]

[kids laughing and talking]

[muffled conversation]

- What about ya?

- G'day [laughs].

- Jamie, come on, mate.

- You look really

great tonight, Katie.

Your hair looks nice,

I love the dress.

You don't look too bad,

for a Westie.

Katie, I'm sorry.

- [Bob] Julian Westlake?

- [Anne] I'm sure

he didn't mean it.

- He meant it, mum.

- Little snob.

- [Kate] They all

think the same.

- I'm sure they don't.

- They do!

You don't know what it's like.

You don't spend your

holidays shopping in Paris,

or skiing in Switzerland,

then you're nobody.

- I was brought up in

the western suburbs,

what's wrong with that?

- You were the one who

called those boys louts.

- [Bob] When?

- When we were on the boat.

- I told you we should never

have sent her to that school,

they're a pack of snobs.

- I'm sure it's not

as bad as you think.

- It is.

I don't belong there.

I don't know who I belong to.

[classical piano music plays]

- Gran!

- [Gran] Darling, how

lovely to see you.

The nurse set up tea

for us down here.

- You're a great

collector, Gran.

Is that mum?

- Mmhmm.

I made that dress.

Look at the smocking.

You don't see work

like that these days.

[Gran chuckles]

She wore that the

first time she sang

in the Sunday school choir.

Before she got

thrown out [laughs].

She couldn't sing

a note [laughs].

Not like you, you had

a beautiful voice.

When you were four,

you'd come over

to my place, and

you'd listen to my

Gilbert and Sullivan

records for hours.

You could sing anything

from those operas.

Three Little Maids

was your favorite.

- Did you have a

good voice, Gran?

- Me? No.

Everyone in our family

was a frog, croakers.

- I know I'm adopted.

- Robbie paid me a visit.

He told me what's been going on.

Take me for a walk, dear.

I might be able to help.

- Do you know anything

about my real mother?

- Why do you want to know?

- [sighs] I need to know.

I must know.

- I know her name,

and I'm the only one in

this family who does.

- How did you find out?

- I'm a collector.

This is for you.

I've been saving it.

That was you, Baby Tribe.

- Where did you get this?

- From the hospital

where you were born.

They put name tags

on all baby's wrists

so they don't mix them up.

- But how did you get this?

- Matron brought

you into her office

wrapped in a pink blanket,

you were beautiful.

- Did someone drop this?

- No, no dear, just before

matron handed you to Anne,

she cut it off your

wrist and threw it

in the waste paper basket.

Anne wasn't supposed

to see it, of course,

nobody was.

- You took it?

- Well, they were all

busy, fussing around,

signing papers and packing

you into your carry cart,

nobody saw me.

- Gran, you devil [laughs].

- [Gran] I thought it might

come in useful one day.

- It will.

It will.

Do you know anything else

about my real mother?

- She just passed her

high school certificate.

- How do you know?

- Well, Anne's a

bit of a snob, dear,

she always has been.

[Kate laughs]

She'd embarrass me sometimes.

- What did she say?

- Well, she asked the

matron if there was

anything wrong

with you, mentally.

- [scoffs] And what

did the matron say?

- Oh, she was quite cross.

She said, "in this

hospital, they didn't

"give out babies

with brain damage."

She said your mother

was a very clever girl,

she'd just passed her

high school certificate.

I think major matron

was a bit sorry

she'd let that slip out.

- Mmm.

Hello?

Can you help me?

I'm adopted.

- [Sarah] Kate, everyone's

really down on Julian

for what he did to you.

- [Kate] Yeah, I bet.

- He's a jerk.

Benedicte's not inviting

him to her party now.

- I should have hit him over

the head with the vodka bottle.

[both laugh]

- Where are you going?

- I found out my

real mother's name.

- Really?

- Yeah, but the

government won't help you

unless you've got your

parents' written consent.

Or there's this

voluntary organization

that might help me trace her.

- [Sarah] Are you

going there now?

- Dad thinks I'm

playing tennis all day.

- Do you want me

to come with you?

Oh, how are you getting there?

- By helicopter,

how do you think?

- Bye.

[girls talking to each other]

- Where'd you get your denims?

Must have cost heaps, eh?

- Not really.

- Not really, give her a break.

- Do any of you know

where Macintosh Avenue is?

- Yeah, I'll show you outside.

- Thanks.

- So, where you from Princess?

- Um, Elizabeth Bay.

- [girls] Mmmm [laughing].

- Cassandra...

[children yelling and playing]

- Mum, mum, mum!

- [Cheryl] Coming.

- [Kate] Hello, my

name's Kate McLelland.

I talked to Mr.

Kelly on the phone.

- I told you on the phone,

I can't help you unless your

parents give their consent.

Why didn't they get

in touch with me?

- They wouldn't.

- That's a bit of a problem.

Why do you want

to find out about

your natural parents, Kate?

- I just want to.

Since I found out I'm adopted,

I can't stop

thinking about them.

I found out my mother's name.

- How?

- Gran knew.

She pinched my name tag.

- Smart Gran.

- [Boy] Daddy?

- It's not gonna help

you much, though.

- [Kate] I thought

you people could help.

- Not without your

parents' consent.

- Ooh, you're just like

the government people.

I can't go on their contact

registry until I'm 18 either.

[sighs]

- Calm down.

Are you hungry?

Look, I know how you

feel, but there's

a very good reason

for all this secrecy.

- What?

- Mmm, your natural

mother might have

been under a lot of pressure

to have you adopted.

Mothers don't give up their

babies easily, you know.

- Well, why did she?

That's what I wanna find out,

why did she.

- I dunno.

Maybe her parents pressured her,

maybe a church pressured her,

maybe she was too sick and poor,

bit depressed...

- No, I don't care what she was,

I just wanna find her.

- Did it ever occur

to you that she

mightn't want to see you?

- I'm her daughter.

- Maybe she feels guilty.

- [Cheryl] Come on

darling, eat it up.

- Do you know why we

do this counseling?

14 years ago, we gave

up our son for adoption.

- Why?

- We were 19, just kids.

Not married, not sure

if we wanted to be.

Cheryl wanted to keep

him, I was scared.

Selfish.

Three years later

we did get married,

and then we decided

to try and find him.

We searched everywhere.

- With no luck?

- I was just telling Kate

what a pathetic bloke I was,

14 years ago.

- You tell her the rest?

We found him.

We've seen him, we

know where he lives.

- But he doesn't know us.

We had to promise his parents

we wouldn't come near him.

They're scared stiff.

Like your parents, probably.

- Come on, dad, give us a push.

- Yeah dad, really hard.

- Oh, they love coming here.

I suppose they wonder

why we come so often,

it's a long way to

come for a park.

- He lives just over there.

He trains in the pool

here on Saturdays.

- Here he comes.

- Looks a bit like you.

- Looks even more

like Barry's brother.

- Why don't they tell

him he's adopted?

- They don't think

he's ready yet.

- I feel like

telling him myself.

- No, you have to be patient.

Cry about it sometimes.

- Come on boy.

[people talking and laughing]

- Excuse me.

Oh, excuse me.

- Is it bad?

- Yeah.

- You didn't take them in time.

- All right.

Look, if I can cling

to this tennis racquet

during the entire one, we'll

have nothing to worry about.

- I don't care about

the money, Bob,

you work too hard.

- Yeah...

- [Kate] Excuse me.

Mum?

- Darling.

- Hello.

- Nice to meet you.

- How was tennis?

- Fine, um, can I have a word?

- You can't be Kate?

Hasn't she grown into

a lovely young woman?

- Kate! How's school going?

- Fine.

- [stammers] I think you

know my daughter, don't you?

- Oh, yes.

- Hermione, she's in year seven.

[laughs politely]

- Mum, can I talk to you

for a second, please?

- Mmhmm, excuse us.

- Benedicte said

that she's adopted?

Did you hear?

- I didn't go to tennis, mum,

but I met these terrific people.

They're volunteer workers for

this adoption organization,

and they help people like me.

- What?

- It's all right, they're

really great people,

and they want to meet you.

- Why?

- Because they understand.

You see, their elder

son was adopted,

and now he's 14

and they found him.

They don't want to

kidnap him or anything,

they just want to know him.

- But how did you--

- Like I wanna know my parents.

- Kate, we've been

through all that.

- Please come with me

to the contact register.

I can't do anything

without your permission.

- I wish you'd get over this

obsession of yours, Kate.

It's causing your father

a lot of distress.

- It's not an obsession, mum,

it's quite normal.

Barry said--

- I'm sure Barry is

an admirable person,

but neither he nor

you have any idea

of the stress this is

causing your father.

Did you know his business

is going really badly?

Did you know that he's sick?

- Well, he doesn't look sick,

he's out there drinking

with his friends.

- He's so worried

he's thinking about

selling the apartment.

- He just bought a yacht.

- He shouldn't have.

He only did that

because he loves you.

- Well that's a stupid reason,

because I didn't even want it.

- I don't want to

hear one more word

about your adoption, Kate.

It's not important, and

I want you to forget it.

Do you understand?

- How many are there?

- 32.

- Well, what are

we gonna ask them?

- Well, we can't

exactly ask them

if they're related

to the Tribe girl,

who had a baby girl adopted

in April, 1974, can we?

- No.

- Her high school certificate.

- What?

- She got her HSC.

Come on.

[rapid classical

piano music plays]

- I think I've got her.

- Where?

Tribe, Glenys May.

Passes all subjects

in the HSC at

Penrith high school, in 1973.

- But what about

those other Tribes?

- They're all boys.

[squeals with excitement]

- No one by the name of Glenys,

no one at all?

Thank you, bye bye.

- Kate, that's the ninth call.

What if she's moved to

the country or into state?

- Yeah, we'll try

those Tribes, too.

Let's get through the

Sydney ones first.

[sighs]

- [clears throat]

Hello, Mr. Tribe?

My name's Kate

McLelland, and I'm trying

to get in contact with

an old school friend

by the name of Glenys Tribe.

Yeah, she did her high

school certificate

in 1973 at Penrith high school.

Is she?

Greg Mathieson,

you're terrific, I'll wait.

- [Sarah] Well?

- He's gone to get

the phone number.

She's married and she

lives in Mulgrave.

Oh, hello.

Uh huh...

Yeah, I've got that, thank you.

Thank you very much, goodbye.

It's her.

I've got a number.

- Well, you gonna ring her?

- I spose.

- [Sarah] What did

the dad sound like?

- Normal.

- Well spoken, or pretty rough?

- What does it matter?

- I didn't mean it like that.

- [Kate] Yes, you did.

- You're so touchy.

- Yeah, well it's about time

you and the others realize

that everyone west of Darling

Point doesn't have two heads.

- What are you gonna do if

your real mother's nice?

- What do you mean?

- [Sarah] Are you

gonna live with her?

- I don't know.

[coins clicking together]

- [sighs] Do you

want me to do it?

- No, I will.

- Well go on!

- Cheryl said there are

things you shouldn't say.

I just wanna make

sure I get it right.

[Sarah sighs]

- What things?

- You've gotta be careful.

Hello, Glenys?

Glenys Mathieson?

My name's Kate McLelland.

Kate McLelland, that name

won't mean anything to you,

but I'd like to leave my number.

It's 02 347 1064.

Have you got that?

What I'm about to ask,

you might not be able

to answer right now, but um,

would you call me back

on that number please,

after four this afternoon?

Does the date the 29th of April,

1974 mean anything to you?

- What happened?

- She said I had

the wrong number.

I'm sure we've got

the right person.

Mum?

Mum?

[plays melody]

Hello? Glenys?

It's me, Kate.

Please don't hang up.

I don't mean any harm, really.

Will you write to me, then?

Please, I only want

to talk to you.

Please!

- [Voiceover] The

country, said Darcy,

can in general supply

but few subjects

for such a study.

In a country neighborhood,

you move in a very

confined and unvarying society,

but people themselves

alter so much

that there is something new to

be observed in them forever.

Yes, indeed, cried Mrs.

Bennet, offended by

his manner of mentioning

a country neighborhood.

I assure you that

there is quite as mu--

Kate, are you listening?

- [Voiceover] Kate, what is it?

- [Voiceover] Are you all right?

- It was just fabulous.

- I didn't see it, but I heard

Robert Redford was dreadful.

- No he wasn't, who said that?

- [Woman] Glenys.

- [Glenys] Yes, I think he

was far too old for the part.

- Oh, you don't wanna

listen to Glenys,

she lives in the bush.

[women laugh]

- Hello.

- Hi.

- Do you want something?

- I heard you talking, I

thought you said Glenys.

- That's me.

- I thought you might

be Glenys Mathieson,

from Mulgrave.

- No.

- I'm sorry, I just

thought you might be.

- [Glenys] Mulgrave?

[women laugh]

- [Anne] Oh darling, you

haven't touched your lunch.

Try and eat something.

I'll be back in an hour.

[phone rings]

Kate, get that will you?

- Hello?

Yep, this is Kate

McLelland speaking.

Oh...

A photo?

Yes, yes I'll send one.

Oh, of you?

That'd be fantastic.

Our address is Apartment

12, 313 Elizabeth Bay Road,

Elizabeth Bay.

I'd love to come

and see you one day.

Do you think that'd be possible?

Oh, I see.

Will you send it today, then?

Thank you, thank you

very much, goodbye.

[Kate laughs]

- She's got pretty eyes.

- I wish I could meet her.

- Well, you know

where she lives.

- She said no, definitely.

[classical piano music]

Is Cavendish Road far from here?

- Yeah, 15 minutes

drive out of town.

- Is there a bus

that goes out there?

- No bus.

You can get the taxi.

Doesn't start work til

about nine, in fact.

- [Taxi Driver]

Been up here before?

- No, I haven't.

- Beautiful country.

Real flat.

Some people like it hilly,

I like it flat.

[gentle piano music]

- Come on.

Hey, wake up.

Come on.

[sorrowful violin music]

- Who are you?

- Kate McLelland.

I...I've been waiting

for you all day,

I hope you don't mind.

- What are you here for?

- I know your mother.

- Are you from the city?

- Yes, I am.

The train got in

early this morning.

- [May] Are you a relative?

- Sort of.

Of your mother's.

- Mum will be home

from work soon.

I've gotta feed the chooks.

Are you a cousin?

- Uh, sort of second cousin.

I'm not a very close relative.

- I didn't know we

had any more cousins.

[playing sorrowful melody]

- Why did you come here?

I told you not to.

- I had to come.

- I've got a husband, he

doesn't know you exist.

You've gotta get out of here.

[Kate cries softly]

You shouldn't have come.

Look, I'll take you down

to my girlfriend's place,

but you can't stay here.

- Who is this?

- Greg.

We've gotta have a talk.

- May?

This is Kate.

Why don't you take her down

and show her the chooks.

Don't tell May anything.

She's my first daughter.

I wanted to tell you,

but I never could.

I got involved with a man

while I was at school.

I was stupid.

He was married.

I was stupid.

- Who was he?

- One of my teachers.

I've never seen him

since, I don't know

where he is or what he's doing,

and I wouldn't care.

- Did he know about the kid?

- [Glenys] No.

- Who else knows?

- Only dad.

He took me down to Sydney

to have it doctored.

- Glenys, why

didn't you tell me?

- Why do you think?

I thought if I told you, you

wouldn't want to marry me.

Oh, for God's sake, Greg.

I was only 17, it happened

before I knew you.

- You told me I was the first.

- You were the first

that ever meant anything.

- I still had a right to know.

- I had one affair

before I was married,

how many did you have?

- That's different.

You had a kid.

- Teachers make a big

impression on you at that age.

He was nice.

I wouldn't give him a

second glance today.

I was scared stiff,

I didn't know what

was happening.

I was sick every

morning before school.

After the exams, dad

took me down to Sydney,

I stayed in a home

for unmarried mothers

for months,

til it was over.

- Why did you bring her here?

- I didn't.

She found me.

- It's gonna make me

look like a bloody fool

if it gets out.

- It happened before I knew you.

- That's not gonna

make any difference

to the gossip mongers

around here, is it?

Why did she come?

- She's going back to

Sydney in the morning.

- No, she can go tonight.

- She came all this way by

herself to talk to me, Greg.

- So, so what'll

we tell the kids?

- Tell them she's a relative.

- I'll just hope

nobody finds out.

- She'll be on the first

train in the morning.

- I'll collect the boys.

Whoop, come on then.

There you go.

- [May] Is it good,

living in the city?

- It's noisier than

here, and faster,

but it's not as peaceful.

- It gets boring here.

- No, this is nice.

- Why did you come?

- To see you all.

- [Greg] Come on,

come on, come on...

- God, brothers are awful.

Do you have any brothers?

- [Kate] Yeah, one,

about the same age.

[Kate laughs]

- Greg said you

could stay the night,

but you have to go

home in the morning.

- Look, I'm really sorry if

I caused you some trouble.

- He'll get over it.

He didn't know

anything about it.

- I'm really sorry.

I didn't realize

what might happen.

- No, he'll be all

right in a little while.

Where did you get

that wrist band?

- My grandmother's a collector.

She pinched it at the hospital.

- I suppose you

think I'm terrible

for walking out on you?

It wasn't easy, you know?

I wanted to keep you,

but they said I couldn't.

My mum was dead, you see,

and my dad couldn't have coped.

- What about...

- Oh, he didn't even know.

[laughs] I was all

set to go to Sydney

and study music

before I got pregnant.

- [Kate] Really?

- Yeah.

But after you were adopted,

I didn't want to go anymore.

- Why?

- Felt awful,

cried all the time,

hopeless.

Didn't want to go out,

didn't want to do a thing.

My dad was really good to me.

One night, he persuaded me

to go to a country ball,

that's where I met Greg.

We got married straight away.

Had May nine months later.

I felt fine again after that.

- Didn't you ever want

to try and find me?

- Hundreds of times.

I used to dream about you,

what you looked like,

what they'd called you.

What could I do?

I couldn't say anything to Greg.

Once I'd lied at the start,

I had to keep on lying.

I'm glad in a way, that it's

all come out in the open.

- So what happens now?

- Greg's scared stiff

someone's gonna find out.

You've gotta go

home in the morning.

Well, there's no sense in

stirring things up here.

- I won't stir things up.

- They'll have

gossip round here.

You got to go home.

What did you tell May?

- I said I was a cousin.

- She knows all her cousins.

- I'm much more than a cousin.

- Look, I'd love

you to get to know

your sisters and brothers

better, but you just can't.

You've gotta go in the morning.

[Kate sighs]

[gentle piano and violin music]

- [laughs] Very good!

You're so good.

You should go to the

Conservatorium in Sydney.

They've got a special

high school there,

for kids with your

sort of talent.

- That'd be fantastic.

But we couldn't afford

it, could we mum?

- No, we couldn't.

- Well you don't have to pay,

it's a government school.

- What a complete waste of time.

- Oh, can I use the phone?

I think I should ring my parents

just to tell them I'm okay.

- In Sydney?

- Yeah, she'll be

really worried.

- Well, you see, we rang

grandpa at Christmas.

And it does cost an awful lot.

- Oh, that's all right, Kate.

Just make it a quick call, eh?

- Sure.

- [Bob] Mulgrave?

- [Anne] Mulgrave?

- [Bob] Mulgrave.

- [Anne] When are

you coming back?

Tomorrow?

Central? Four o'clock.

Here's dad.

- Hello?

- [May] That's beautiful.

- [Kate] What? This?

- Yeah. It is a real Kimono?

- Yeah, my dad brought

it back from Tokyo.

Have it.

- Oh no, I couldn't.

- Please?

I've got another one.

- Gosh,

you're amazing.

I look like a model.

Where did you

learn how to do it?

- My school friends.

They look at Vogue

and experiment.

And I watch my mother.

- Could you teach me?

- Sure.

- I'd love to live in Sydney.

- You could come for a holiday.

Listen,

there's this competition

held every year

in September, for

young musicians.

There's a section

for violinists.

I entered last year

and it's really easy.

- I wouldn't be good enough.

- You are!

We'd be playing in the

competition together.

- Where would I stay?

- With me!

- You're not really

my cousin, are you?

Did mum have you

before she met dad?

We're sisters.

We'd be playing in the

competition together.

It's called the [mumbles]

Competition for Young Musicians.

- Boys!

- And May could stay with--

- I'll take the boys to school.

- Greg, you've got to

take Kate to the station.

- Yeah, I'll come back.

- Peter's lunch.

- May could stay with me and

we could practice together,

and I'm sure she would get into

the Conservatorium High School.

- We couldn't afford

to live in Sydney.

- It's practically free.

And May could

board with someone.

- May, go and get ready

for school, you're late.

And take that muck

off your face.

Kate, I wanna have

a talk to you,

outside.

I want you to stop

filling May's head

with crazy ideas

about going to Sydney.

- They're not crazy.

She's a really good violinist.

She could get into

that competition

and she could get into the

the Conservatorium School.

- Has it ever

occurred to you that

we mightn't want her to go?

- Why not?

- Because it'll

give her big ideas.

- She should be

ambitious, she's good.

- Who do you think you are,

come out here, telling me

what to do with my daughter?

- She's my sister.

And she knows she is.

- You told her?

- [Kate] I did not! She guessed!

- [Glenys] See what you've done?

She knows about me.

- She doesn't think you've

done anything wrong.

She just thinks it's

great to have a sister.

- We don't want

to send her away.

She's our daughter

and we love her.

- If you really loved

her, you'd let her do

what she's best at.

- We'll decide what's best

for her, thanks very much.

- Look, I know you

weren't able to go on

with your music, but it

isn't fair to stop her.

- You were the reason I

never went on with anything!

I'm sorry.

- Now, don't forget

to write to me.

- I won't, and you send a photo.

- Here, keep it.

It's the only one I've got.

He was a maths teacher.

[train horn sounding]

- Maths.

My worst subject.

- There she is!

[voice announcing over intercom]

- You decided to come back?

- Darling, we've

been so worried.

[Anne and Kate crying]

- [Kate] I'm sorry I put

you through all this,

I just had to find out.

- Well...

What was she like?

- Mmm, very pretty,

young and smart.

And she used to play

the piano really well.

And she's got a foul temper.

And she thinks I'm

a spoiled brat.

- Spoiled brat, eh?

- I've got three half brothers,

they're all pretty awful.

They make you look like a saint.

Oh, and then there's

the husband, Greg.

Best thing of all

is my sister, May.

She's two years younger than me,

and she's really nice.

She's a really

talented violinist.

My father...

You wouldn't believe it.

He was a maths teacher.

- Well, you've got no

excuse then, have you?

- [Kate] [laughs] None.

Mum?

I'd love to invite May to stay.

- With us?

- Could you, mum?

- Talk about it later.

- It's awful to say it,

but I didn't really

like her very much.

We sort of clashed.

It's different with May, though.

We're really close.

Glenys tries to keep us apart.

- She's probably

afraid of losing her.

Like she lost you.

- Do you think I

should persuade Glenys

into letting May play

in the competition?

- I think you should let

her decide for herself.

[door buzzer sounds]

It's the real estate man.

Aww, I know.

I hate selling it

as much as you.

- I had no idea things were

going so badly for dad.

- You were pretty wrapped

up in your own problems.

- I am a spoiled brat, aren't I?

[door buzzer sounds]

- You can be a bit

self-centered.

- Dad, do we really

need this boat?

- Has your mother

been talking to you?

- Well, it's just that

we don't use it much.

- Look, I'd sell my

right arm and leg

before I put this on the market.

- Honestly dad, we

don't use it much,

do we?

- It was your present, Kate.

It's got your name on it.

Just clean the boat.

You always get your

own way in the end.

- Tell her that even

if you entered now,

you can't win a scholarship

until you're 16,

but if you don't start

going into competitions now,

then you won't get

the experience.

May, you're really good.

Just ask her.

Okay, bye bye.

[birds chirping and squawking]

Hello!

Oh May, good!

Where's your family?

- They're just coming.

- Wait here.

But dad, you've

got to meet them.

- I don't want to.

- Why?

- Because it's too embarrassing.

- Oh, come on Bob.

They'll think we're terrible

if we don't at least say hello.

- [Bob] All right.

- Hello Mrs. McLelland.

- Anne.

- Glenys.

And this is my husband, Greg.

- [Anne] Hello.

- [Glenys] And my daughter,

May.

- [Anne] Hello May.

- [Greg] How d'ye do?

- [May] Hi.

- This is my husband, Bob.

- Hello, Bob.

- How do you do?

- And my mother, Mrs. Campbell.

- Greg Mathieson.

- Uh, Bob.

- Nice to meet you.

- And this is Robbie.

- Oh May, that's

us, we've gotta go.

- Good luck, girls.

- Bye.

- Don't run, May.

- Good luck.

- She just goes

running everywhere.

- Thanks very much for

having Kate to stay.

I hope she wasn't

too much trouble?

- [Glenys] Oh, no

trouble at all.

[instruments tuning

and warming up]

- You nervous?

- Terrified.

- You'll be all right

once you get started.

- Oh, Kate, I thought

I'd missed you.

- Oh, hi.

- I just wanted to wish

you the best of luck.

- Oh, thanks.

Sarah, this is my sister, May.

- Hi.

- Nice to meet you, Sarah.

- Good luck to you, too.

Kate tells me you're terrific.

I'd better go,

I'll see you later.

- Bye.

[people murmuring and settling]

[audience applauding]

[playing classical music]

[audience applauding]

[classical flute

and piano music]

[classical piano music]

[classical trumpet music]

[classical bassoon

and piano music]

[classical piano music]

[audience applauding]

[classical violin

and piano music]

[audience applauding]

- Before I announce the winners,

may I just pass on the

congratulations of the judges

to all the contestants.

The judges thought

that this year's standard

was one of the highest ever.

And now, we come to

the first section,

the brass.

And the winner is Joel

Fulton on trumpet.

[audience applauding]

In the piano section:

and the winner is

Kate McLelland.

[audience applauding]

We now come to the

woodwinds section:

And the winner

is Murray Kyle, on bassoon.

[audience applauding]

In the string section:

And the winner is

May Mathieson on violin.

[audience applauding]

It now gives me great pleasure

to announce the winner

of the grand prize,

open to all sections.

The judges thought

that this year's winner

had the expressive maturity

of someone much

older than her years.

And so, ladies and gentlemen,

the winner of the grand prize

is the violinist

May Mathieson.

[audience applauding]

[Kate and May laughing]

[classical piano music]