A Place to Call Home (2013–2018): Season 5, Episode 5 - Do Not Go Gently - full transcript

There must be some prospect that
I'd make a good husband one day.

But I'm not ready
to be anyone's wife.

Might I suggest that,
given the circumstances,

we revert to our former roles...

publisher and author.

Scratch out her name, all right?
She won't be coming in.

She made the appointment.
She should cancel it.

Well, I'm her husband.

Who did this to you, Sheila?

I fell.

Since the operation,
I'm a bit lopsided.



Sarah.

Douglas!

The cancer has spread,
Elizabeth.

There's nothing more we can do.

I will tell others
as and when I see fit.

You can't stay here.

I'm a different person now.

And before you leave, you don't
go anywhere near my family.

- Regina's here.
- In Inverness?

Pack your bags.
I'll take you to the station.

Sir Richard is not your friend.

He sees me as playing a hand
in your destruction.

He's always considered me
his foot soldier.

- What are you doing?
- I'm taking David to Aunt Peg's.



He'll be her target.
I know it.

Who are you gonna poison now?!

Let's go to Canberra.

Your mother might need me here.

And I am the other woman.

Oh, goodness!

Look at this!

Is this toast and tea?

Thank you, sweetheart.

Mm!

- His idea.
- Oh, bless him.

Are we sure about Canberra?

You've got a lot to lose.

I'm not losing anything.

David and I
are the great unspoken.

- Sarah, it's common knowledge.
- But not discussed.

Well, perhaps it's time it was.

And we will manage things
as they come.

Let's do it.

Well, I suppose this way
I get to hear your speech.

Look at these.
Douglas's favorite.

You're off to Canberra
this afternoon?

Yes.

Actually Sarah's decided
to come with me.

We've thought it through.

Well, I can see that taking
David away is a good idea,

but Sarah has her work.

Well, she'll make
alternative arrangements.

She's not going to be seen
in public

- Mother!
- ...with you, is she?

Because I strongly suggest that
you exercise some discretion.

Thank you, but we will
manage things as we see fit.

I've organized the staff

to convert this room
into a temporary bedroom.

Douglas won't manage the stairs
for a while.

Well, he's not coming home
just yet.

I want him here
as soon as possible.

Don't underestimate the strain
you'll be under caring for him.

Well, it'll be far less
stressful with him here

than having to traipse
back and forth to the hospital.

Well, surely that will depend
on how he's faring.

What's Sarah told you?

Nothing.

Just that it'll take time
for him to recover.

Well, he's my husband,
and I want to care for him.

Besides, I have
Carolyn to help if need be.

Of course.

But if anything was to happen.

You're just
a telephone call away.

Thank you, George.

Now, you need to be in Canberra
to get this trade deal settled.

You look after yourself, Mother.

And you give that O'Sullivan
a run for his money

while you're at it.

Bang, bang, bang!

Bang, bang!

You got me!

Good morning, Mr. O'Rourke.

Sister Nordmann from the clinic.

Yeah, I know who you are.

- I'm here to see Sheila.
- Any particular reason?

She missed an appointment

with us yesterday,
and it's important.

Well, she's not here.

Your wife needs follow-up
treatment after her mastectomy.

Well, she'll come in
when she's good and ready.

Well, I'll tell the clinic
to expect her tomorrow, then.

Unless there's something
you don't want us to see.

The ruddy women's clinic.

A bunch of clacking crows.

My wife
is none of your business.

You don't frighten me,
Mr. O'Rourke.

Is everything all right?

Go on,
piss off back to the mission.

Go on, get lost.

It's okay, Frank.

Expect a lot of crows
on your doorstep, Mr. O'Rourke.

Until Sheila comes in,
the clacking won't stop.

Yeah, and see through here
and through there.

Just as we thought.

It's certainly aggressive.

It's spread to his blood
and lymphatic systems.

Would you like to be there
when I tell him?

Tell him what?

That his condition's terminal.

Douglas is recovering
from major surgery.

What on earth
would that achieve?

It will give him time
to prepare for what's to come.

None of us can predict
how this will turn out.

I think
we can be pretty confident

that Douglas won't make it
to Christmas.

Our policy here is the same
as everywhere else.

Not at my last two hospitals.

The thinking is changing.

Well, we don't
give patients bad news

unless their next of kin
decide they want them told.

And what do we tell them, then?

Everything went well?

He'll be back on a horse
before he knows it?

Of course not.

It's wrong to encourage hope
where it doesn't exist.

It's worse
to create unnecessary despair.

Is this an existential argument,

or is there something specific
you'd like an opinion on?

Henry thinks
Douglas needs to know

that his condition is terminal.

Oh, this isn't
your decision to make.

Douglas is not to be told.

- What did they say?
- Who?

The doctors?

Is that
the best you could find?

Aah!

Young Larry Grey, Mrs. Briggs.

Oh, he's been keeping
bad company.

He and some other lads
were bragging

about throwing rocks and eggs
at Regina Bligh's cottage.

You reap what you sow.
Where do you want these?

Oh, just in here's fine.

I think you should
have a word with him, Roy.

Not that one cares
for that woman,

but it could
foster raucousness elsewhere,

and who knows
where that may lead.

Right.
I'll have a word.

Mrs. Duncan.

I took the liberty
of making Mr. Goddard a trifle,

something to soothe
his poor throat.

- Lovely.
- Ah. I'll bring it over.

Thank you, Doris.

I came very close
to hitting that man.

Probably make things worse
for her.

People think Stan O'Rourke's

an upstanding member
of the community,

as football coach,
volunteer on the fire brigade.

Mr. all-around nice guy, eh?

You will do your best for her,
won't you?

Of course.
You're not to worry.

And call if there's anything.

You should all be together, hmm?

How's Elizabeth?

Keeping up a brave face.

It's hard not telling Caro.

And George, but it's
Elizabeth's tale to tell.

If and when she's ready.

Right, you enjoy Canberra.

Just watch you don't
take a swing

at one of those pollies, hmm?

No promises.

Keep me up to date
with Douglas.

Will do.

I thought perhaps the day room
might be suitable,

but the sitting room
has that lovely morning light.

It's warmer, I think.

Oh, here she is.

How's the patient?

Fighting fit.

Ah, Elizabeth's been
telling me all about

her plans to turn Ash Park
into a rehabilitation center.

Simply converting a downstairs
room into a temporary bedroom.

So you'll all be stuck with me
for a bit longer, I'm afraid.

Actually, George and I
are heading to Canberra.

Yes.

Lizzie tells me
you'll be gone for a month.

Good on you.

It's a big step.

We'll be back and forth.

Oh, give me a chance to get
my strength back for David.

You can tell him I'll be working
on a new Airfix plane for him,

just as soon
as they let me out of here.

I will.

You take care of yourself,
Douglas.

Be back in a minute.

I won't go
if you think you can't manage.

No, no, no.
You must go.

He'll know something's up
if you change your plans.

Sarah, this situation is causing
discord between Jack and Henry.

To tell or not to tell.

What's your opinion?
Everyone else seems to have one.

It's an entirely
personal matter.

You have no opinion, then?

I think it's up to the patient

to decide how much information
they want.

Listen to Douglas.

He'll let you know
if he wants to face it.

Ah, now, remember, in Canberra,

there's no need
to flaunt your situation.

We're not ashamed
of our situation, Elizabeth.

Oi.

Tell your mates to stop
their hooning around, all right?

And this chucking rocks
and eggs, it's kid stuff.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Regina Bligh.

She killed Miss Davis.

She done the crime,
she done the time.

Just leave her alone.

Oh, give us one good reason.

I'll give you two.

One, you're stooping
to her level.

Two, you're poking
a brown snake, son.

It ends now.

Clear?

How are
your hospital digs going?

Spartan.
But they'll do.

You must be looking forward
to James coming back.

You can always use me and my
medical checkups as your cover.

When you want to visit Ash Park.

I'm very grateful to you
and Jack for saving my life.

Oh, it's all part of the job.

This hemorrhage.

What do you think caused it?

Oh, it's hard to be sure.

It could be as simple
as a postoperative bleed.

Or as complex as...?

Everyone reacts differently
to surgery.

It's rarely straightforward.

I confess
I may not have rested

as well
as I probably should have.

We don't know what
we're dealing with just yet.

But once you've recovered,
we'll reassess.

You saw Douglas?

I lied to him.
As directed.

There's a lot of gray
between what you call lying

and what I call being sensitive.

We need to stop treating
patients like children.

Is that it?

- Yes.
- Good.

♫ ...me a cake
as fast as you can ♫

Looks like this is it.

Well, you'd better
write to me, then.

I will.

You have to
send me letters too.

I don't care how bad
your spelling is.

You promise?

Yeah, I promise.

Wait! Stop!

- Wait!
- Regina, what the...?!

- Where are you going?!
- What are you doing?!

I need to talk to you!

- I came back to help you.
- Mummy, I'm frightened!

How can I help you
if you're not here? Please!

- I'm working in your favor!
- It's all right, sweetheart.

I'm feeding Sir Richard
information. I'm on your side.

- Please, George, you're a fool!
- Leave us alone! Leave us alone!

- Regina!
- Stop!

Please drive away.

How can I help you
if you won't listen?!

You're a fool, George!
George!

I can understand Sarah's need

to get as far away
from Regina as possible

and to protect David.

But Canberra?

Oh, goodness knows what
they'll make of the situation.

And I know
what you're thinking.

It's none of my concern.

You got it in one.

There's nothing
I can do about it, is there?

That's right.

I sent your letter
to the refuge, by the way.

I miss the men.

I've let them know that
you won't be in for a while.

And it seems they'll survive.

You're not entirely
indispensable, you know?

Well, that's a blow.

Tell me
if I'm chattering too much.

Oh. Lizzie.

I could listen to you
all day long.

As long
as I'm not bothering you.

Oh, darling, if you need to
close your eyes

and have a little rest,
you do that.

Dickie?

He's taking the Jew
to Canberra.

She's got guts,
that Sister Nordmann.

You're not wrong there.

She really gave it
to Stan O'Rourke.

But she'd better be careful
'cause he's a real nasty fella.

He is.

Your feet, sensation's good.

You reckon?

What you need to do
is keep it that way.

Glucose and diet, hmm?

Oh, so I hear.

Any cuts on your feet,
straight to the hospital.

Tell them you're a diabetic.

Yeah, Doc, I know the drill.

Just making sure.

Well, I'm done for the morning.

Let's go down the pub,

grab a counter lunch
before you head off.

Yeah, I could do
with a cold beer.

Well, I'm not sure beer's
what you should be drinking.

What, you're me mother now?

Not last time I looked.

I've got the broth for Douglas.
Cook said you ordered it?

I thought perhaps I could
take you back to the hospital.

You'd only have to turn around
and pick me up later.

There's no sense in that.

Before you go...

I glanced through your book.

And I can only say

I am pleased I didn't give it
to Douglas to read.

It is an absolute betrayal
of him

and of all the men
who fought for this country.

I don't know how you can
interpret it like that.

Brutish ex-servicemen too
stupefied to leave the house?

Dissatisfied wives
chained to the kitchen sink?

Douglas would be horrified.
Disgusted.

Maybe if you'd read it properly.
You've glanced through it.

I've read enough to know

that there is
absolutely no compassion

or understanding of what
those poor men went through.

It is a work of fiction.

It is also steamy and vacuous,

without any semblance
of discretion.

Actually, it reads
as if it's destined

for the censorship board.

It is one thing to talk about
that sort of thing

in private, young lady,

but it is quite another to bandy
it about in the public domain.

Anything else?

You would not be
writing novels at all

if not for the wealth
and privilege

that you were born into.

But noblesse oblige, Anna.

There are
certain responsibilities

that go with it.

I'm...

I'm disappointed.

I shouldn't have left it
where she'd find it.

It's not your fault.

Sooner or later
she was going to read the book

and take it all the wrong way.

Sounds like she overreacted.

She thinks I'm disgusting.

She thinks I'm spoiled.

What I was trying to do
was lift the lid on hypocrisy.

Challenge the status quo.

But, no, apparently
I'm the writer of a dirty book.

- Anna...
- "Steamy and vacuous."

Those were her words.

It's not the best time
to be upsetting her.

I didn't ask her to read it.

Whatever she said,
the truth is,

I think she's shattered
about Douglas.

But he's going to be all right.
He's going to get better.

Jack hasn't said anything,
but I suspect he's dying.

They're keeping it quiet.

It's possibly why she's so
sensitive about how he'd feel.

I'm not suggesting
you don't publish,

but there is wisdom
in taking a breath,

counting to 10, really thinking
about the context.

If you know
it's going to contribute

to your grandmother's distress,
can you hold back for now?

He's asleep.

I think
I'm going to like it here.

Drink?

Not for me. I need to finish
this speech for tomorrow.

I think
I should sit this one out.

Why don't I go
to the next function?

You are to put on
your glad rags, Cinderella,

and accompany me to the ball.

Well, I hope I don't need quite
that degree of transformation.

You look like
you've had a tough day.

Ah, it wasn't easy.

Is it Douglas?

He's dying, isn't he?

You know I can't.

Patient confidentiality.

He is, then.

I knew Mother wasn't...

She must be so devastated.

And Henry's not helping.

He insists
Douglas should be told.

And I take it
you agree with him.

What if I were terminally ill?
Would you keep it from me?

Yes.

If I thought
it would get in the way

of you enjoying
what time was left.

That's a very paternalistic
approach.

It's a compassionate approach

that's worked perfectly well
for many, many years.

Is it so terrifying?

Dying?

Change.

Can't you at least contemplate
there might be...

Enough!

Sorry.

Enjoy your game.

So how's it going,
Buddy Holly?

Yeah, not too bad.

Where's he off to?

Bloody smart-ass.

Sitting up like Jackie yesterday
at the inside bar

with his fancy doctor friend.

Ah, he's getting too big
for his boots.

He's been scaring the daylights
out of me missus too.

Yeah.

Eyeing her off.

Wife won't go out of the house.

She's terrified of him.

You got a light?

I'll swing by lunchtime.
We'll go for a spin.

Whereabouts?

Hey, fill her up.

Where are you off to?

I need to speak with Ed.

Anna, what I said yesterday...
I shouldn't have interfered.

Yes, you should.

I've decided to make
some changes to the manuscript,

which is why I need to see Ed.

I didn't want you to change it

so much as sit on it
until things settle down.

No, you're right.

I'm worried I've transferred
all my cynicism about men

onto the page.

I can see now why Grandmother

would be offended
on Douglas' behalf,

and after rereading it,

there are
other recognizable things,

or at least they could be
construed that way,

so I want to
make the adjustments.

All right. But don't change
the heart of what you're saying.

You've a keen eye,

especially that woman trapped
by love in a provincial setting.

Ivy?

A woman longing to make her mark
on the world.

I recognized her.

That's me with Gino,
not you with Papa.

Perhaps a combination
of us both.

You are a wonderful writer.

Go.

Don't change Ivy.

All right.

Hand me the matches, son.

Hey.

He'll be after your Leah next.

Yow! Bang!

Up she goes.

Hey?

How about that?

Yes!

Oh, that was...

...almost as good as the
crème brûlée we shared in...

- Paris.
- Ah, yeah.

Chez Benoit.

I seem to remember
you ate the lot.

- Really?
- Mm.

My manners
must have escaped me.

Well, next time we're in Paris,

we'll be sure to find
that very place again,

and you shall eat crème brûlée

to your heart's content,
my love.

Did you see the smoke?

Is he okay?

Doesn't take much guessing
to figure out what happened.

Stan O'Rourke
and his scaly mates.

The police been?

Coppers ain't gonna help
no blackfella.

Oh, that ain't right, mate.

Arson is arson,
any way you look at it.

Yeah, well, it's just the way
it is in this country, isn't it?

Everywhere.
There's two laws.

One for whitefellas
and one for blackfellas.

What'll you do?

I'm gonna clean up.
I'll let Tommo know.

Then head off.

Tell me all the paintings
weren't in there.

Yeah.

Lucky your missus
got the important one, eh?

Thank you.

- You ready?
- As ready as I'll ever be.

You will be magnificent.

The Americans don't trust us.
Not since Petrov.

Between MI5 and ASIO
there's complete trust.

- Nice to see you.
- Same can't be said for the CIA.

We won't be short
on entertainment tonight.

Plenty here on both sides
of the political fence.

- Madam?
- Oh, thank you.

Earle, allow me to introduce you
to Mrs. Sarah Nordmann.

Mrs. Nordmann,
this is Sir Earle Page,

our minister for health.

Delighted to meet you.

The pleasure's all mine.

I trust you've been studying up
on your baseball scores.

Oh, the Yanks
talk about nothing else.

I'm afraid I'll be
no use to them there.

Well, less about baseball

and more about trade agreements.

In my experience, they're gonna
be tough negotiators.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the prime minister, Mr. Menzies,
and Dame Pattie Menzies.

How's that property
of yours going, George?

Very well, thank you, Earle.
Very well indeed.

Ah, George.
Sir Richard is here.

What a surprise.

- If you'll excuse me.
- Of course.

Ah, Mrs. Nordmann,
since you're a nursing sister,

allow me to sound you out...

Richard, I wasn't aware
you were attending.

Any opportunity
to schmooze the Yanks.

What is she doing here?

For goodness' sake, man,
look around you.

She's not a debutante to be
brought out in polite society.

The majority of our colleagues
are aware of the situation,

and for those that aren't,
I'm introducing her...

Menzies is here.

And Dame Pattie
has met Sarah before.

Private home.

Keep her on the farm.
Don't rub people's faces in it.

I'll do what I can do
to minimize the damage.

- George.
- Neil.

I see you brought a friend.

She's a good sort.

Labor, of course,
wants to get rid of

the voluntary organizations,
even the friendly societies.

Makes absolutely
no sense at all.

I would like both parties to pay
more interest to women's health.

I think my wife
would agree with you.

Afternoon, Earle.

Dame Pattie.

- Sarah, isn't it?
- Yes.

We met at Prudence Swanson's
some time ago.

Yes.

Oh, Anne, come and join us.

Sarah, allow me to introduce you
to Anne Edwards.

- How do you do?
- Pleased to meet you.

Sarah's involved
in community health,

though not in charity work
as yourself.

I see.

I think you two
will get along famously.

George.

- Prime Minister.
- How are you, my good man?

Very well, sir.

George, I'd like your support in
this Lake Burley Griffin issue.

Of course.

If we can pull this off,

it'll be the jewel in the crown
of the capital.

Think of the Senne.
And the Thames.

Think of Sydney Harbour.

Mm.

I shouldn't have taken him
to the pub.

Don't blame yourself.

Those men are hateful.

Stan O'Rourke has it in
for anyone

who threatens
his brutish existence.

And now Frank's a scapegoat.

It's lucky
you took his painting.

I didn't take anything.

He asked me to hold on to his
Namatjira for safekeeping.

It's a pity
you didn't grab everything.

He's lost everything else.

I told you, I...
I didn't take or grab anything.

Fine.

It came from me sticking my nose
in where it wasn't wanted,

but thank goodness I did.

- I'm not criticizing you.
- But you have before.

Which is
why I kept it from you.

I need to clean up.

I'll have Lynette
run a bath for you.

No, I'll just
grab a quick shower.

I promised I'd go back in
to see Douglas.

Well, gentlemen, I get
the feeling from the room

that our guests
are ready to talk turkey,

as they say over there.

American trade will eclipse
our trade with Great Britain

within... within a decade.

You watch.

Remembering, of course,

that Australia
is first and foremost

a member
of the British Commonwealth.

Our loyalty
is always to the queen.

Have you given O'Sullivan
the wool price

we're quoting tonight?

I'll do that now, yeah.

You know, George, for all
their talk about progress,

the Americans
are a very moralistic lot.

Largely Puritan stock.

Mm.

And no matter how pleasant
your friend may be,

I'm surprised
you thought it appropriate

to bring her to this occasion.

That friend you're referring to

happens to be
the mother of my son.

And I would have thought tonight
was about bilateral trade,

not gossip.

Whatever your arrangements,
George,

they should remain discreet.

Of course.

- What have you done?
- I've reworked it.

- You've destroyed it.
- I haven't destroyed it.

You have taken out the things
that make it unique.

It's not that different.

It's just a more subtle version
of the same story.

No, Anna,
this is self-censorship.

It is
a limp, watered-down version

of what was
a work of substance.

I see.

You have to understand
my situation at home.

If you're gonna wait around
for permission from your family,

you will never be a good writer,
let alone a great one.

This is the third manuscript
you have destroyed.

Are you afraid of success?

If that were the case,

I wouldn't have published
"Own Worst Enemy," would I?

You wrote something fearless
and brilliant,

and for some reason
you have decided to whitewash it

into this bland rendition
of simpering love.

I won't let you throw it away.

Ed, please,
would you just leave it?

I've hurt you.
I'm... I'm sorry.

It's just that
I-I love what you wrote.

And I want to protect
the best of you.

You're bold.

Original, hmm?

Provocative.

I think that
you're making the mistake

of confusing me with my work.

Well, that's understandable,
isn't it?

It's a deeply personal book.

Let's not pretend it isn't.

Why else
do you want to destroy it?

I think that you should go.

Anna...

No, we've resolved this.

We have no future.

I think you should leave.

There's a contract.

I will be publishing
the manuscript as it is.

You can't.

Watch me.

Can I help you, Mrs. Goddard?

I'm all right, thank you.

Jack said he'd pop in
after his home visits.

I think Douglas may need
a little more pain relief.

Oh, I can organize that.

How is he faring?
How are you faring?

Ah, it's been a long day.

And have you thought any more
about telling Douglas the truth?

I have made
my position on this clear.

You know,
whenever I speak to Douglas,

I get the distinct impression
that he wants to know

what his prospects are.

And I've sat with him all day,

and I can assure you that
he has been anything but morbid.

Quite the contrary.

Wanting the truth and being
morbid are not the same thing.

- Spare me the semantics.
- Mrs. Goddard...

Henry, I understand
your dilemma,

as someone
both close to the family

and Douglas' surgeon, but...

There's a lot to be said
for letting someone

come to things gently
and in their own good time.

Your husband
wants to know the truth.

He all but asked me outright.

That's enough.

Elizabeth,
you go back to Douglas.

I'll handle this.

This so-called
progressive approach of yours

borders on cruelty.

I told you,
it is not hospital policy.

Well, hospital policy
needs to change.

- You think so.
- Yes, I do.

There is no excuse for leaving
patients in the dark

about the gravity
of their illness.

It is their life.

And yet they're the last ones to
find out it's coming to an end.

It's immoral.

Oh, don't talk to me
about morality.

Your sort wouldn't know
the meaning of the word.

Douglas.

Douglas.

Are you in pain?

No. No, the painkillers
are working nicely.

But I have a question for you.

What is it?

Am I dying?

Hmm?

I didn't...

I didn't want to say.

I couldn't.

Darling.

Lizzie Goddard.

Don't you cry over old Douglas.

He'll be all right.

Precious...

I can't
believe this place

is the capital of the country.

Where we are now, is this
what they call the outback?

Oh, it's the best-lit paddock
in Australia.

Why would
he just suddenly turn up?

- We're both thinking it.
- Regina called him.

One day this city'll be known
all around the world.

You watch.

It needs a few more skyscrapers,
in my humble opinion.

I hate
to fly. It makes me very sick.

Oh, yes,
well, you've so far to come.

Really, we thought
we would never get here.

What is it?

They told me
there are kangaroos.

I have never seen one.

Really?

Oh.

You're joking.

Excuse me.

Sarah?

What's wrong?

That... That woman.

She was a guard.

At Ravensbrück.