A Place to Call Home (2013–2018): Season 6, Episode 4 - Against the Tide - full transcript

- What do you think?
- That's good.

Now we're a Jewish home.

I have felt distant
from Ash Park before,

but never alien to it.

God has smiled on us,
Mrs. Bligh.

He has.

You think your shit
doesn't stink.

- How dare you.
- Lady Muck.

That's what they call you.

Shut... your... vicious... mouth!

She's gone, Stan.
Her and the kids.



I'll get you for it.

You and No-Nuts.

You wait!
All of youse.

Dried mud.

Must have been dropped
the night it rained.

It's a strange place for it.

I'm told you didn't see
the vehicle.

Just lights.

Well, I trust you see
justice done.

The median nerve's been cut.

Looks like
you're looking for a surgeon.

And I'm looking for a future.

Give an old flame a kiss?

I want you to do what's right,
and I'm a villain?



I can't be his father

until I know whoever gave him up
doesn't regret it.

I've let enough men control me.

I'll leave
with Georgie tomorrow.

What do you want?

Your help.
You're gonna give it.

Now...

we'd have copped a drenching
without this.

No two ways about that.

Now, if Dawnie was here,
she'd have reminded me

to keep some dry kindling
inside the tent.

Good morning, Mother.

Oh, Sydney, I love you!

London,
I've forgotten your name.

- Here's trouble.
- And, um, what time

do you call this, please?

It was all Delia's fault.

Your fault.

The jazz at El Rocco
was to die for.

- Oh!
- Good!

London clubs are either stuffy
aristocrats or gangsters.

Whereas Sydney clubs are stuffy
aristocrats who are gangsters.

- Ohh!
- Oh, bada-boom-ching.

You know, Georgie's
out fishing with the gardener.

Ah, I should get going,
just in case.

Come on.

A drink to greet the dawn first.

Name one thing the Riviera's
got that we haven't got.

Trick question.

Come on.
Give Cinderella a full report!

Oh, everywhere we went!

Don Burrows played four sets
at the Sky Lounge.

Were you dancing on tables?

Of course.
Topless.

Mama!
You're an unstoppable force.

If I didn't care
for fun and such,

I'd probably amount to much.

But I shall stay the way I am

because I do not give a damn.

So many old pals.

"Carolyn Bligh, where..." Ohh!

Oh, we're loud.
I'm loud.

No, no.
Not at all.

I'm glad you had a good time.

Um, Anna,
have you seen Olivia yet?

She must still be upstairs.

Okay.

Oh, and help yourself
to some breakfast.

You know, just 'cause
Livvy and I are...

Uh, I'll get out of your hair.

Bugger it.

Damn.

I missed you last night.

I couldn't sleep
without you beside me.

These two bits, eh?

Still won't go
where they should.

Thank you.

I have something I need to do
this morning

that I can't cancel.

If it's planned, then,
of course, you should do it.

You know, I'll be
the happiest man in Sydney

if you're still here
when I get back.

Come downstairs.

Anna's up.

Carolyn's home.

I'll buy you breakfast?

I'll be fine, thank you.

For you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Hello?

Just leaving now.

If they had forecast more rain
last night,

I would have called the coppers.
I don't know.

Not that the weather bureau
ever gets it right.

Oh, I keep forgetting
I'm in charge of the menu,

but it's done now,
so we won't starve.

- Morning, Jack.
- Morning.

Jack has a theory
about Henry's accident.

George found
four empty beer bottles

out beside the road caked in mud
earlier last night.

Yes, David was beside himself.

The thing is,
right near where the bottles

had been thrown
were some tire marks.

From a fairly heavy vehicle,

like it'd been parked there
for a while.

Now, it rained the night
of Henry's accident.

Say I'm Stan.

My world's just caved in,
I've had all the trouble

at the hospital,
and my wife and kids are gone.

I'm heading home from the pub
back to my empty house,

and I have to pass this place
staring out at me.

And there is a view
from that spot right up to here.

I sit in my truck,
open one bottle, then another,

to get up some Dutch courage
to do who knows what.

Plus, the sedatives
are still in his system.

And by this stage, I'm lucky to
be able to remember my own name.

Eventually I weave my way home.

And run Henry off the road.

Yeah. I mean, to give him
the benefit of the doubt,

he may not have even noticed.

Whoever caused it
must have seen it

and left him there to die.

If the tire prints
match his truck...

They disappeared
in last night's downpour.

Could get Sergeant Fraser to
check the truck for any damage.

It is rather speculative.

I think he'll want more
than nonexistent tire marks.

I do have an idea,
if you'll leave it with me.

Yeah.

To my working wife,
for her first day back.

Thank you, George.

Ooh.

So, where was I?
Yes.

The minute the sun goes down
on a Friday night, it begins.

So it's not like our Sabbath
at all.

It's all rather... Oh.

Mr. Fox.

Last time I looked,
I hadn't discharged you.

Just keeping an eye
on a patient.

Do you have a moment?

I was just telling Mr. Fox

about the lighting
of the candles at Shabbat.

And little Master Bligh
knowing all those foreign words.

You're welcome next Friday, too,
if you like.

I must say, I'm quite surprised
to see you here so soon.

Ah, yes, back in the saddle.

Bit like Mrs. D'Angelo, really.

Child number four on its way.

Sister Bligh!

Mr. Fox has been up watching her
all through the night.

I tried to tell him
there was no need.

Tell her I'll come in
as soon as I can.

Do you know,
I hadn't quite appreciated

what an endearing young man
Mr. Polson is.

I can well understand why he's
now an intimate at Ash Park.

He's a good stick, Harry.

I'm thinking of inviting him
to afternoon tea.

There are a few of my ladies

whom I fear might be destined
for the shelf.

Who knows?

Cupid's arrow may strike.

He's a very shy man, Doris.

Best left to his own devices.

The Neil Burton?

I assumed he'd have a number
of young up-and-comers

for us to interview,

but his call was to say
that he's interested.

In a transfer.

- Why would he want to come here?
- Thanks very much.

He said something about wanting
a change of scenery.

Permanently?
I mean, not as a locum?

Oh, best thing is to hear
what he has to say.

Get him down here, have a talk.

Neil Burton'll pull up outside,

take one look,
and throw a U-turn.

I can see it now. He'll
disappear in a cloud of dust.

Darling.

Where are you off to?

Somewhere I'd rather not be.

Oh, whatever it is,
bonne chance.

Ma'am?

All I'm asking is that
you put it to her in a way

that she'll listen
and understand.

If you're trying to stop Olivia
from leaving,

you are going the wrong way
about it.

Why not explain this to her
yourself?

'Cause she probably
wouldn't even hear me out.

How on earth
is it any of your business

if you go your separate ways?

A mother sold her baby.

Was she pressured?

Is she searching for him
as we speak?

- This has to be faced.
- Ma'am?

Excuse me, ma'am.

We're here.

Thank you.

- Thank you, driver.
- Thank you.

For Olivia's sake.

Not for yours.

Elizabeth!

Hello.

This is a surprise.

I have an invidious task.

I'm so sorry, Elizabeth.

He had no right to come to you.

It's all been said.

It's Matthew's fervent hope that
you work through this together.

That he might support you

in tracking Georgie's background

so that you can face the outcome
as a couple.

- We have been through this.
- Well, he wanted to make sure

that you understood
his full argument.

What full argument?

He intends to follow through
on tracking Georgie's mother...

...whether or not
you are involved.

I beg your pardon?

He asked me to convey to you

that even if you went back
to Ash Park this morning,

he'll still feel compelled
to investigate.

You can't be serious.

He can't be.

He can't!

What was that charade about
earlier?

"I'll respect your decision"?

How dare he not
tell me this himself?

Well, he was afraid
it might seem like a threat.

It is.

We are leaving
before he gets back.

I am not sure that
that will make any difference.

She gave him up willingly.

She has never bothered
to find him.

Well, as far as anyone knows.

I can see his point.

Even if she could be found,

why stir up painful memories
for her?

Why risk losing my son?

Matthew's waiting for you.

He went to see an old friend
at Manly Beach.

He's waiting for you
in the park.

I can choose to think
that you went to Elizabeth

to try to manipulate me,
to get your own way.

Or... I can choose to think
that you are so committed

to have this resolved
that you...

I don't know.

You tell me.

This is for you and Georgie.

You know how much I love you.

This time last week,
if someone had told me

I'd be giving back your ring
and losing all this...

If everyone had just left us
alone instead of interfering...

If I'd never told you...

But you did.

No secrets.

That's one of the reasons
I fell in love with you.

Well, perhaps I'll be heading up
to Ash Park on my own.

What we should be doing
right now

is going up to that park
and dragging Livvy away.

What will that solve?

She'll thank us 10 years on.

Or not.

Matthew's right
about one thing...

We are all far too enmeshed
in each other's lives.

He said that to you?

He did, and I concur.

Anna will resolve her situation
as best she can,

presumably asking for advice,
should she need it.

- Thank you.
- Olivia the same.

And if any of you hear me
worrying about George and Sarah,

feel free to pull me up.

They're forging a new life,

and they don't need me
in constant commentary.

I thought I should let you know
I'll be staying in town.

We'll work together
to track down the records.

You're sure?

A phone call away.

- Tea?
- Yes, please.

Thank you.

Olivia has excellent instincts.

Ignore them at your peril.

Oooh!

This is from one
of my young ladies.

She so admires the help
you're giving Mr. Briggs.

She asked me to bring this
to you for lunch.

She's a lovely girl.
Charmaine Ford.

Do you know, she's doing
a baked dinner for us tonight.

I thought you might like
to pop along.

Pretty name, isn't it,
Charmaine?

Mrs. Collins,
I'm generally pretty bushed

by the end of the day.

Thanks all the same.

But you have to eat.

I look after myself, but thanks.

Then lunch on Sunday.
Keep the cloth.

You can bring that with you
when you come. Toodle pip!

Goodness.
I'm not sure what to advise.

I thought
you might have a few tips.

Some people
are persistent matchmakers.

I fear Doris is one of them.

- You'll have to...
- Run fast.

...be very...

agile.

Officially discharged,
Sister Bligh.

Well, that is
what we like to hear.

Does she target Mr. Fox,
as well, or am I the lucky one?

What are you talking about?

Mrs. Collins
trying to set me up.

May I have a word
with you outside?

You presume too much.

I am not your friend.

What you mean is,
I'm not your equal.

Let me make this clear.

It is not appropriate for me
in my position here

to chitter-chat with you
about anything,

especially anything to do
with my private life.

Just, out here in the sticks,

it might help to talk
to one of your own kind.

Oh, for God's sake!

So, you only talk to blokes

who've got a posh school tie
in their pocket.

- Look...
- No, you look.

You're a doctor.
You've read Charles Darwin.

You know it's all random.

Our stations in life,
the families we're born into.

Yeah, I've read Darwin's book.
No need to be surprised.

See, you had a family
who could afford to...

- Excuse me!
- You had a family

who could afford
to let you stay at school.

I could have been in your shoes.
You could have been in mine.

But you can't even think that.

Otherwise, all this might crack.

You've heard of
the "surgeon as God" complex?

That was it with wings on.

When I trained
as a nursing sister,

I thought we had it hard.

But surgeons.

Six years studying
for their medical degree.

Then another degree
while working sleepless night

after sleepless night
as a resident.

To England to experience
the best hospitals they can find

and then back here
to compete for positions.

It's not just hard yakka.
It's...

It's a dedication to healing,

every day
since Henry was a young man.

And now he's frightened.

I would be, too,
if I were in his shoes.

Mr. Bligh?

Roy.

Good.

Mr. Bligh...

missy's shindig last night
made a fella realize.

So if that offer's still open...

You stay as long as you like.

There's no need to rush home.

And your timing is perfect.

I, um...

I need a hand.
I'll explain on the way.

Stay there.

You stay there.

...now with
Castle King, Reebers, Joy,

and Maddy's Find
making up the middle pack.

As they round the final turn,
it's Two Bob Watch...

and Sunshine...

...with Mark's Marvel
taking a marvelous lead there.

He's over the line.

Mark's Marvel it is, followed
by Sunshine, Two Bob Watch.

- Mr. O'Rourke.
- What an upset victory

that would be
for Terry Smithers.

Hope you had some good luck
there with race four.

- Morning.
- Come to dance on the grave?

I just thought I'd bring over
the pay that we owe you.

And to say that I'm sorry
for your circumstances.

It can't be easy.

Well, people steal away
your wife and kids.

Happens every day.

But given what was said
to my mother,

I'm sure you'll understand I had
no choice but to let you go.

And I had no choice
but to say it.

Come here.
Come here!

My sister thought
it would help matters.

Your employment.

Might mend some of the, uh...
the anger

you seem to have
towards the women's clinic...

and to us.

I've lost my wife and my kids,

thanks to your missus
and the sheilas in that place.

Well, we can sit down and
talk about that, if you like.

My pay?

Oh, no. Sullivan's Mix
is comin' 'round.

You may want to count that.

But I think it's Ben's Dilemma
that's taken it...

Well, at least I won't have to
hand it over to the missus, eh?

Is there anyone you can talk to?
A priest, perhaps?

Yeah.

Three Hail Marys
from that poofter.

That's just what I need.

...field, Wet Socks and
Bad Angel never in the race

with Kenny's Kid.

Well, I can tell you right now,
he's gonna have to do

some growing up,
the old Kenny's Kid.

But I tell you what, mate.

She's never gonna take
a race...

You flamin' assholes!

Come here.

Come here.

Get up.
Get up.

I couldn't see any damage
to the truck,

'cause the truck's not there.

I reckon he's got rid
of the evidence.

He's a very troubled man.

I'm her fiancé, Dr. Henson.

Olivia Bligh has authorized me
to speak to you on her behalf.

On the 21st of January, 1954,
a child was sold to her

following the stillbirth
of her own child.

You were party to this.

I think you're confusing me
with another doctor.

What exactly
does your fiancée want?

She requires the contact details
of the woman who gave birth.

Otherwise, she'll take
the matter further.

Well, obviously, I
can't give you that information.

May I speak to Mrs. Bligh,
please?

He insists on speaking with you.

I just need to be certain
that the girl or the lady

has no regrets.

For my sake
and that of my child.

And, uh, what makes you think
that I would have such records?

My fiancé and I are determined,
Dr. Henson.

A friend arranged it with you.

A Mr. Andrew Swanson.

I so desperately want
to jazz this place up.

Is it possible, do you think?

Look, we could start with...
with my bedroom.

Something a little more...

appealing
to the gentleman caller?

- One lives in hope.
- Now, the bones of this house

- are never going to be modern.
- Well, nor are mine, dear,

but, goodness,
I give it a red-hot go.

We'll visit Marion Best
together.

- Mm.
- Michael Gerscht.

- Florence Broadhurst.
- Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes!

Color and modern lines.

Oh, I love this girl.

Why not bunker down here instead
of rushing to find a place?

- Why not?
- Oh, Prudence, I couldn't.

Persuade her.

There's a raft of rooms
up there.

You can live here
and get a feel for the place.

Oh, what is it you artists say?

Let it speak to you.

Now, really, I must rush.

Have fun.

Oh!

Oh, and, girls, I know
it's not a competition,

but anything that could outdo
the Audette House,

I'd be over the moon.

If I see that place
in one more magazine...

We'll do our best.

Oh.

Should I stay?

Give you a chance
to find a decent flat.

Not so easy at the moment.

Then I will.

We'll be housemates,
as the Yanks say.

We'll have Prudence
and my mother at cocktail hour.

And you.

I just have to say,
I loved last night.

I really did.

It was just like old times.

You know how happy I am
to be working together.

- To learn from you.
- But...

But what happened before...

...that was long ago.

Another lifetime.

Can't wait to meet this chap
who's tamed you.

I haven't been tamed.

Well, that's promising.

But I am in a very,
very loving marriage.

I believe you, Calamity Jane.

Thousands wouldn't.

Now, where would you start...

...partner?

My dear girl, slow down.

He finally agreed
we should come in today at 4:00.

I didn't think
it would be so soon.

What am I going to do?

This is
an appointment, that's all.

One step at a time.
And just remember...

The likelihood is that the woman

has no regrets
about her decision.

The fact that she accepted money
is indicative

of an unfortunate girl
who'd fallen on hard times,

whose life
you, no doubt, helped.

Mummy!

Olivia?

Oh, I have a young man here
on a mission.

I'd better hop off the phone.

Thank you, Elizabeth,
for taking my call.

Here's the boy
with a fish to fry.

Will you come and watch me?

I wouldn't miss it
for all the tea in China.

And all of the tea in Australia
and all of the tea in Hawaii.

Why would he get rid
of his truck

if he didn't think
it'd incriminate him?

Well, the problem is,
he could have taken it anyway.

He could... Ohh.

You kept me busy
with your bullshit

while he takes a gander
out the back.

I was only looking for me dog,
that's all.

You push me any further,

and that stupid mutt of yours
might find itself eating

- the wrong cut of meat.
- Right.

Buried right next
to your missus.

- Hey! All right.
- Scumbag!

- All right, all right.
- You were looking for my truck,

trying to pin that accident
on me.

I'm not an idiot.

Right, where it is
is on loan to a mate...

who needs it more than I do.

You may need to prove that.

When my mate's done using it,
he'll give it back.

You still wanna take me on?

It's best to go now,
Mr. O'Rourke.

- That's all very clear.
- Oh, yeah.

You've got to get back
to your ladies' center.

A lot of blokes I know,
geez, they'd like

to see this place
go up in flames.

But I tell 'em, "Nah.

Does the wives
a world of good to go here."

Best not go to the police
without absolute proof.

And I've already stirred up
a hornet's nest.

He's... He's certainly
a man on the edge.

I just hope we haven't
pushed him too far.

Oh. Poppy.

- Morning, ma'am.
- Good morning.

Nice to see you.

Yes, thank you, Mildred.
The hospital, please.

Yes, I am back.

If you could just
put me through, please.

- Henry, you need to know...
- Anna just phoned.

She's back.
Did you know?

From Hawaii? No.

Well, she's here, at Ash Park.

She wants to see me.

Would you call me a taxi,
please?

Of course.

It is you.

I saw your car.
I couldn't believe it.

Why didn't you let us know?

- Hello, Father.
- Hmm? My girl.

- Are you...
- Yes.

And you're still... single.

Yes.

I am.

Is everything all right, Roy?

Yeah. I'm just waiting
for Doris, actually.

You know, you're welcome to have
dinner with us any evening...

or just be quiet at cottage,
whatever you like.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Doris.

Oh. Mr. Briggs.

You're back with us again,
I hope?

- Uh, how are you faring?
- I'm all right.

I figured you'd be
going home soon.

Yeah.

If you could tell young Emma
that I'm gonna be staying

at Ash Park for a while.

I'm not up to going home
just yet.

And that's where I'll be,
if she wants to talk.

I'll let her know.

Good on ya.

Are you sure
this man won't marry you?

What's wrong with men
these days?

I'm not sure
that I want to marry him.

Who is he?
Let me talk to him!

Of course, you're welcome
to stay here at Ash Park

throughout your confinement.

Well, that's an improvement
on Mama's banishment

when she was having me.

But I do mean stay here.

Like it or not, you need to
protect yourself from scandal,

small-town or otherwise.

I intend to look the world
in the eye

and force it
to look straight back.

Oh, good God!

Well, I do!

At least wear a wedding band.

Well, I'll boot my tenants out,

and then I can stay
in my own apartment.

- And then what?
- If I don't marry,

I intend to bring my baby up
on my own.

All children need two parents.

Many do well with one.
Papa, for instance.

His mother was widowed.

It's a completely
different matter!

Only last week,
a woman in the paper

arrested for being a moral
danger to herself and her child,

simply because
she was a single mother.

If that's the full story,

then the police
should be ashamed of themselves.

I have resources, my work.

And I'm not asking
your permission!

Yes, come in.

Mr. Fox to see you, Miss Bligh.

Have him wait in the hallway,
please.

Surely not.

- How?
- Father!

If I see him right now...

Henry has no choice
but to ask for your hand,

and you have no choice
but to accept.

It's the way the world works.

If he wasn't already injured,
I'd knock his bloody block off!

Well, uh, it was
a long time ago.

Five years.

That's not so long.

And if what you described
did happen in this hospital...

You know it did.

Still does, for all we know.

Absolutely not.

I'm sure that won't stop the
police from being interested.

If you can't give us what we
want, that'll be our next stop.

Should this have happened,
you've as much to lose in this

as anyone else
who might have been involved.

I'm not sure
what you hope to achieve.

We want you to find the records.

I don't know if they've been
kept or where they'd be.

Think of all the patients
who've been through

this hospital since then.

Well, the police will help
if you can't.

We'll call again
same time tomorrow.

See how you've progressed.

A car accident?

No one told me anything.

It looks dreadful.

They love their plaster of Paris
in Inverness.

It's serious?

I may not play the violin again,
let's put it that way.

Could you play it before,
Mr. Fox?

Is it as bad as it looks?

Yes.

Would it help to hear
some potentially good news?

Hit me with it.

You, Mr. Fox,
are going to be a father.

Are you going to cry?

I'm uncharacteristically
lost for words.

I'm... Just, it's

I'm over the moon.

In orbit.
Well done.

10 out of 10?

Children need a mother
and father.

You and I
will be so good at this.

"The Adventures
of Ozzie and Harriet."

We will be the best.

Miss Bligh, will you marry me?

I think we keep the light
fitting in the living area.

For now.

Good idea.

That's what it is.

It bugged me all last night.

You're still wearing
Heaven Sent.

When you're on a good thing.

Just now spoke to Neil Burton.

He'll be down tomorrow
to see us.

I'd prefer the day after,
but tomorrow suits him best.

Well, good.

I take it you don't know
that Anna came back today.

- Anna, back from Hawaii?
- Mm.

- Is everything all right?
- Everything's fine.

You might want to sit down,
though.

With your permission,
and George's pending...

...I've just asked her
to marry me.

For real this time.

I know she'll want to give you
the full details herself.

Is this some sort of joke?

You're having me on, right?

Henry wouldn't suggest this

if he didn't think
you could both make it work.

We could make a good couple.

But I'm worried
he's only proposed

because of the baby,
not because of me.

Well, the outcome
would be the same.

Well, as open-minded as I am,

do think of the pros
and the cons.

Whatever mistakes have been made
in similar marriages,

we could do it.

And in a few years' time,

you won't even think
about how or why you married,

only how much
you both love your child.

But then, the other part of me,
I want to be proud.

To stand up without shame...

and to lead the way
for all women

who shouldn't be forced to marry

and shouldn't be forced
to give up their babies.

Society's going
to have to catch up.

Don't tell me you're
stupid enough to marry Henry.

All right, I won't.

He's a ruddy shirt-lifter!

Stop it.
Don't say that.

I mean, what the hell
are you thinking of?!

- Jack!
- What, he doesn't deserve

to see his child grow up?

- Is that what you're saying?
- What?

- I don't think he does, no.
- Now, that's enough.

Okay, so, all the years
that you didn't know about me,

was that because
you didn't deserve it?

Well, that's not the same.

I can't see why not.

You do not settle
for half a man!

Well, Mama did,
so why shouldn't I?

I did not mean that.
I'm sorry.

Papa. I'm sorry!

I'll get youse.

Bugger ya!

This'll show 'em.

Hold on to the knot there.
That's it.

All right, pull this.
That's it.

Then you hold that,
and you pull it.

- Yes.
- There you go.

- Good boy!
- Yes.

- So, that will help it sink.
- Yes, we will.

Yeah.

The, uh, papers have been found.

He wants to see us.

Tomorrow.

Great.

You play with it for a bit.