Fires (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript

..just declared a seven-day
state of emergency

ahead of catastrophic
fire conditions...

..experiencing temperatures
higher than 39 degrees.

..playing out, the huge
toll on our unique wildlife.

Critics of the Prime Minister,
who's on holiday with his...

I'm not gonna stand
there and hold a hose.

I'm not a trained firefighter.

Roadblocks are popping up
all over the state, and...

Residents grabbed what
they could and left.

Do not wait for fire to be
bearing down at the back door

before you start
making decisions.



Joel!

We've spoken to the Weather Bureau,
and news is not looking good.

The prediction for tomorrow is
an uncomfortable 40 degrees,

with low humidity and
potential for high winds.

Conditions are unpredictable,
to say the least.

There's every possibility
of road closures,

so unless you're staying to
defend, and like I said earlier,

you need to be properly
prepared with the resources,

skills and capacity to do so,

our advice is that
you should leave.

We just got here!

Today.

OK, OK. Now, while
you're all here,

I want to give a shout out to our
amazing volunteer firefighters,



who've given up work and family
time to protect the rest of us.

Especially the crews from
interstate. Thanks, guys.

Let's give 'em a round of
applause. That's right.

Thanks, everyone. Keep your radios
on for updates at all times, please.

You guys are legends,
doing what you do.

Thanks, mate.

Right.

Oh, it's Aunty Rosie again.

She's stressing out.

She wants me home.

I'm gonna take
this. Excuse me.

Excuse me. My sister's on
her way down from Sydney

and she's already booked...
She should turn around.

It's not safe.

Yep, turn around.

Yeah, thanks Mike, thank
you. Yeah, she'll be ready.

Thanks, mate. Yeah,
see you soon. Bye.

Great. So, Mike and Pete are
going to take you to your mum's.

No way. I don't want
to go with them.

They're creepy.

They're not. They're lovely.

You're going with Mike and Pete
and that's the end of the story.

It's not safe for you
here if the road's closed.

If it's not safe,
why are you staying?

'Cause we've gotta
look after La Casa!

You good? Yeah.

I'm good.

You good?

Yeah. I'm good.

She's carrying on again.
Does it every year.

She's going on about having an
ethical Christmas or something,

whatever that means.

And all she wants is
this goat from Cambodia!

What's she gonna do with a
Cambodian goat, for Christ's sake?

So I got her soap.

Which is also ethical.

Cleanliness, Godliness
and all that.

Fair compromise,
don't you think?

Fires won't make
it to town, baby.

They never do.

Here you go.

I'll see you both on Monday, OK?

Hey, Peter, is there any chance that
we could get a couple of extra doses

just given the circumstances?

That's the most I can do, sorry.

I'll see you Monday.

Before the tourists go,
they're gonna cut my shifts.

They won't cut your
shifts, baby. It'll pass.

Yeah.

You're the only one I know who
keeps methadone in the fridge.

I like it cold.

Oh, shit. I'm sorry.

I've got some
next door. Thanks.

Last time they had
a meeting like that,

we got the same
spiel from the CFS,

we all freaked out
and nothing happened.

Yeah?

If it all turns to crap,
you can come with me.

Ride it out at my
sister's place.

OK. Thanks.

I don't think it will, but
if it does - serenity, baby.

Accept the things
we can't change.

Yeah, yeah.

That's it.

You can't make me! Come
on, Kat, be reasonable.

It's the only way to get home.
Don't give me reasonable!

I'm calling Mum.
Don't call her.

I don't want to go with some
weird guys I don't even know.

She'll be fine, Carol.

She likes Mike and Pete.

I wouldn't feel safe, Mum.

Seriously, I don't know why Dad
can't take me. It's not that far.

I
mean, just take her.

No. She's being a shit.

She's scared of
the fires, Adrian.

And if you leave now, you'll
have time to get there

and back by the morning.

And I can just do the
rest of the prep myself.

Thank you.

OK, Kat.

I'll call Mike and Pete.

Fuck me.

You alright, mate?

Are you lost?

Yeah.

Oh, that's no good.

Well, do you remember roughly
where your parents were?

Not really.

You ever been on a golf buggy?

You wanna try?

Come on.

How fast does it go?

I don't know, mate.

Shall we find out?

Whoo-hoo!

Say hi to my friend Colin.

Hi, Colin! Hey, Colin!

Yes, that's my mum! Oh!

Oh, Jesus, Roi, where were you?

I went to the toilet
but I got lost.

Oh! Your dad's looking for you.

Um... thank you.

My husband wants to go, but I think
it's crazy to just turn around

and drive straight
back to Canberra.

What do you think?

Yeah, I... I really don't know.

Hey. Oh, hey.

You got him? Yeah.

Um, sorry, what's
your name? Um, Joel.

Joel very kindly
dropped him back.

Ohh!

Thank you. Thank you so
much, mate. No problem.

No problem. Let me
give you a beer.

Oh, no, thanks. I
don't drink. Oh.

OK, well... Well,
thanks again.

We really appreciate it. Yeah,
really appreciate your help.

No problem.

Thought you'd been
eaten by crocodiles!

Mmm? Making your mum
worry, make me worry.

You like giving
headaches? You like it, huh?

No. Yeah?

No, not to your
mum, not to me, huh?

Snack bag. Oh, thanks.

You're welcome. Put
it in the front.

Hey, Kat, I'm sorry that we don't
get to spend Christmas together

but I wanted to give you this.

It's just from me.

It's small, but I thought
maybe you'd like it.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Ah, checklist is on the fridge.

Can you clear that ground
fill from around the side?

Yeah, I got it. There's going
to be traffic, so get moving.

Bye-bye.

Mwah! Call me when
you get there, though.

I will.

Bye!

Evacuate now!

What?

We need you to evacuate!

We need you to leave!

There's a leave now order in
place for all of Woolley's Bay.

We need you to
evacuate immediately.

That's just for tourists, yeah?

Situation's changed overnight.

If you're not defending,
we need you to leave now.

Even in town, man?

Evacuate now!

Oh, fuck.

Peter!

Marita, Pete's closed shop.

I've got no lift, and I've got
no methadone thanks to you.

Can you please come
back now, please?

Hello, you've reached
Woolley's Bay's Medical Centre.

We're currently closed, but in case
of an emergency, please call 000.

Fuck!

Hello? Hey, Sam.

It's me, it's Joel.

I know.

Is Mum there?

Mum doesn't wanna talk to you.

She doesn't wanna have
anything to do with you.

Don't call again, OK?

I'm sorry, Lall, Carol was
worried about me driving tired.

It was just supposed
to be a nap.

Adrian! I've just left.

I'm three hours away.

I'll go as fast as I can.

Well, don't speed. There's
gonna be cops everywhere.

I don't want you to get pulled over.
I've gotta stop for petrol, though.

Shit.

Lall, I said I was sorry.

No, no, it's... it's
that fire out of Sydney.

It's right near Nadia's place.

Their house is gonna
be gone for sure.

Well, that's not gonna be us.

We've got our checklist.
We're prepared.

Nine times out of ten these
places go up because of spot fires

that we can put out easily.

We've got the pump, we've
got plenty of water.

The CFS will probably
come round and make sure

that everyone in Woolley's
Bay's got the emergency warning.

They can't legally make you
leave, so you just tell 'em...

I know what to say, Adrian.

Lall, we didn't spend the last
three years working on the house

to watch it burn. I'm not
gonna let that happen.

We're gonna be fine.

Yeah, I know.

Adrian, I'm going
to call you back.

Dad's freaking out so
I want to call him.

OK. I'll call you back
in an hour. Love you.

Yeah, I love you too.

Hey, mate, it's me.

Um, I don't know if you've left
town already but I'm chasing a lift.

So if you're heading out of Woolley's
or if you know someone who is,

just give me a ring.

OK, thanks, mate. Bye.

Colin!

Don't pull the pegs
out yet. I'm still packing!

Hurry up, Roi.

I need you to pack up
your cricket set, please.

Quick sticks!

Did you guys need a
hand with anything?

Oh, hey, Joel.

Yeah, yeah, please. Thanks.

Should have left
yesterday, mate.

It's just... stupid.

Yeah, me too. My friend, she was
supposed to give me a lift out

but she left without me.

Shitty friend.

We need everyone
packed up, and leave immediately.

This is a leave now order.

I'm so sorry to ask this...

We're, uh... we're going
straight to Canberra.

As in directly.

No detours, you know?
No, that's good for me.

That's good for me.

Um... you'd be really
helping me out.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what else to do.

I hope you're not
a serial killer.

Hey. Roi.

I was gonna ask
you the same thing.

I've been sitting
here terrified.

I'm not a serial killer.
Are you a serial killer?

No.

Oh, thank God.

Joel, uh, you got a
family in Canberra?

Yeah, my mum's there,
yeah, and my brother, yeah.

Mum does a big family
lunch on Christmas Day.

She's a really good
cook, actually.

My mum's a great cook as well.

Yeah.

She probably lit these fires

to make sure we got back
for Christmas lunch.

That's funny.

Actually, can you text her?

Just let her know
we're on the way.

Stop her stressing.

Oh, you think that'll do it?

How long till we get
there, do you think?

Mm, maybe two and a
half, three hours.

Something like that.

OK. Yeah.

Can I open a Christmas present?

No!

Did you wanna do a quiz?

Oh, yes, Quiz Master.

You want ME to be
the Quiz Master? OK.

Alright, you got your
buzzer ready? Mm-hm.

What does it sound like?
So I know it's you.

Bzz.

Oh, no, there's
a bee in the car.

Bzz!

OK.

What is the name
of a baby elephant?

Aunty Rosie won't let up.

She wants me to stop.

Wants this to be
the last rotation.

She's worried about you.

I told her it's fine.

Here we go.

Hi. Hi.

Are you aware there's
a leave-now fire order

in place for Woolley's Bay?

Ah, yeah.

We're staying to defend.

My partner's on his way back from
Canberra, so he should be here soon.

You only have one access
road into your property.

If you get into trouble, we
won't be able to get to you.

We have a fire plan

and we've been preparing in line
with the CFS recommendations.

Well, you should
monitor your radio.

If you hear the "shelter
in place" warning,

that means the fire's close.

You won't be able to
leave by that point.

And don't get into your car.
You won't be safe in your car.

I know that. I know what to do.

You say you know what to do but
you have no idea what it's like.

The fire will hit, then
it will turn pitch black.

You won't be able
to see anything,

you won't be able to breathe
because of the smoke and the noise.

It's like a freight train going
right over the top of you.

Can we... can we get your full
name, and your partner's, please?

Um, what for?

In case the coroner needs it.

It's Lally.

L-A-L-L-Y. Yep.

Robinson.

And my partner's
name is Adrian Cash.

C-A-S-H. Yep.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Why isn't she listening to us?

She thinks she knows
how to handle it.

No-one can handle it, Tash.

She doesn't know.

Yeah, but we're the ones that
get caught when shit goes down.

Does she not know that?

She's putting others at risk.

So who else is staying?

No, I don't think anybody is.

Well, Barry and Claire are.

No, their daughter
convinced them.

They're... they've gone.

I mean, everyone's gone.
I'm the only one left.

OK, well, I'm
about an hour away.

I don't think we need to panic.

No, I'm not panicking, I just want
you to get your arse back here.

Yeah, I'm on my way.

Ah, just a small one, Roi.

You've gotta save the rest
for Christmas Day, OK?

Unbelievable.

There's two fires ahead of us.

Let's turn the radio
on. See what they say.

Emergency
warnings are now in place

for out of control fires near
Sydney and on the South Coast.

A megablaze has taken
hold just west of Sydney

and multiple homes have been
lost in the past few hours.

It's supposed to be for
Dad, but you can have it.

Hey! What's going on?

Oh, no, I couldn't.

I got you another one.

I'm just kidding.

Joel, take it, mate.

It's a Christmas present.

Hey, that was really
nice of you, Roi.

Thank you.

The seagulls are
eating the chips, see?

I love 'em. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Oh, no.

This road is now closed.

Stay in your vehicle
until diverted.

Oh, shit.

Mate, the road's closed.

Do you know how long for?

My partner's in Woolley's Bay on
her own and she's waiting for me.

We don't know. There's two fires

that look like they're
going to merge.

They're doing a back burn
in there to try and stop it.

Could be a while.

What about the back road?

Oh, no, that road's really bad.

I don't even know if it
gets through anymore.

You wouldn't want
to get stuck on it.

I think I should probably
ride it out here.

Might not be too long.

Just keep working
through the checklist.

I'll be there soon,
Lall, I promise.

Just hang on, yeah?

Alright. Well, um,
you let me know

as soon as you know
something, alright?

Yeah. I will.

You good?

Yeah, I'm good.

Love you.

Gabbo, it's Joel, man.

I really, really need
you to call me, man.

OK?

She's freaking out.

She saw on the news

there's a massive fire
just north-east of here.

Hi, you've
called Johnno. Shit!

What the...

Where are they going?

They're probably
taking the back road.

There's a back road?

Yeah. Mostly only locals
use it, but there is one.

It does get you through,
it just takes a lot longer.

No. Sai, if there
was a safe option,

then the police would be
telling people to use it.

Mum, can we turn the
air conditioning on?

Oh... We can't, buddy.

We haven't got enough petrol,
alright? We have to keep it off.

It's so hot. I feel sick.

I know, I know. Yeah.

Sai, can we just turn
it on for a minute?

We can't.

Hey, man.

Yeah, I've been
trying to get you.

You still near Canberra?

Great. Great.

I can do that,
man. I can do that.

Just... just promise me that you
won't leave until I get there, OK?

Promise me.

Alright.

I mean, is this road even
going to open tonight?

It might not.

I don't know, I just, uh...

I just don't know if it's safe.

Are the fires coming, Mum? No.

No, sweetheart, no.

Look, the fires
are that way, yeah?

Yeah. Back road
is way over there.

OK? You gotta double back for a bit,
but then it's gonna take you to here

and then that joins
up with the main road.

Straight to Canberra, you see?

There is a road.

I don't know, it just...

It just doesn't feel
safe here, you know?

It just doesn't feel safe.

Woolley's
Bay, watch and act.

Wattleside Glen, watch and act.

Caulder, emergency warning.

Tirabah, emergency warning.

Upper Moreville,
shelter in place.

For residents there,
it's too late to leave.

I repeat, Woolley's
Bay, watch and act.

Wattleside Glen, watch and act.

Fuck's sake.

Mm-hm.

Yep.

Just put it in the fridge.

We're on our way.

We'll be there soon, OK?

Amah, relax.

OK.

Bye.

Sai, slow down a bit.

I'm going slow.

Stop the car.

Could you stop the car, please?

I'm sorry, Joel, you...
Stop the car, please.

What? Stop the car.

Alright, alright.

Joel.

Are you OK?

Yeah.

I'm so sorry. I'm
just a little carsick.

Hey, uh, Roi, can you get
Joel some water, please?

Thank you.

OK.

Good to go.

Can you smell smoke?

Residents of Wattleside Glen,
you are advised to watch and act.

Residents of Woolley's
Bay are also advised

to continue to watch and act.

An emergency warning is
in place for Caulder.

Residents should leave now
and head immediately towards

the evacuation centre at the
showgrounds west of town.

There is also an emergency warning
in place for residents of Tirabah.

The latest information is
that you should leave now.

For residents at Tirabah, a
marshalling area has been set up

at the football
field on Gatton Road.

Residents of Upper Moreville...

Fuck, keep your shit together,
Lall. ..it is too late to leave.

Do not get in your car

as it will be too dangerous
to travel at this point.

Repeat, for residents of Upper
Moreville, shelter in place.

It is too late to leave.

Are you OK there, Joel?

What's that?

You OK?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm good, thanks.

Heaps better.

Alright, which way, Joel?

Left or right?

Um...

Do you know?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's... it's left.

You go left here.

Are you sure?

Yeah, definitely.
It's definitely left.

What does the map say, Bec? The
map says there's only one road.

Don't worry about the map.

It's left.

They keep saying watch and act,
but what does that even mean?

Like 'act' - act how?

Nothing, it just means be alert.

They're always overly cautious.

A warning remains
in place for Caulder.

Residents should leave
now. Maybe I should leave.

Come on, Lall.

I mean, just...

..just get in the
car, don't you think?

Get in the car and go?

Leave the house?

Yeah. It's not too late.

I could... I could
meet you somewhere.

What if the road doesn't open?

What if you don't
get back? Stop.

I'm gonna come back and we're
gonna defend, just like we planned.

You just need to calm down.

You know, Adrian, don't
tell me what to do!

Repeating those
current warnings.

Residents of Woolley's
Bay and Waterside Glen

must continue to watch and act.

An emergency warning remains
in place for Caulder.

Residents should leave now
and head immediately towards

the evacuation centre at the
showgrounds west of town.

There is also an emergency warning
in place for residents of Tirabah.

You should leave now.

..a marshalling area has been
set up at the football field...

I don't have any reception.

I think we should turn around.
There's no room to turn around.

Joel, are you sure
this is the right road?

Yeah.

I'm sorry, I... I don't
remember it being this bad.

Have you even been
on this road before?

Jesus.

Tirabah, shelter in place.

Wattleside Glen, your emergency
warning has been upgraded.

You must leave now.

Woolley's Bay, shelter in place.

It is no longer safe to leave.

Repeat message
for Woolley's Bay.

It is no longer safe to leave.

I don't like this.
We... we need to hurry.

I'm trying to, babe.
Here, let me try.

You've gotta line 'em
up with the studs.

I know that. OK.

I know that. Yep.

Sai, you need to do it.
Joel can't. He's not well.

No, I'm fine, I'm fine.
You don't look fine.

I'm all good. You're
not just carsick.

What's going on?

Bec, please, just
let it go. No!

He dragged us out here
into the middle of nowhere.

I don't even know why
we listened to him.

He's a complete stranger. We
don't know anything about him.

I mean, look at him.

There's something
seriously wrong with him.

Jesus!

Hey. Joel!

Joel!

..and the
fire is in sight,

follow directions around...

If you are in your
home, close all doors and windows.

Shelter in a room opposite
the approaching fire...

..and ensure you have clear...

Adrian!

I don't think he's coming back.

What do we do?

Mum?

It's OK, Roi.

Joel!

Joel!

Joel! Please come back!

Come on, mate!

Joel!

Joel, please!

You're right.

I'm not just carsick.

I'm, uh...

I... I used to...

..use drugs.

But I'm on methadone now.

But I haven't had any because my
friend, she stole it, yesterday.

So... so that's...

..that's why I'm like this.

You scared Roi.

I know.

I'm so sorry.

Are you even going
to your mother's?

That's what you said. You said she
has a big family Christmas lunch.

Or was that a lie too?

No.

That wasn't a lie.

I never said I was invited.

I'm trying.

I'm trying to get better.

Lall!

Babe?

Lally!

Lally!

An evacuation centre has
been set up at Walker Beach.

Hey.

Hey. Oh, God, thank God.

Oh, God. You scared me.

Oh, God. It's
OK. You're alright.

You're alright. You're safe.

Thanks so much for...
for dropping me off.

Yeah,
I better get going now

'cause my mate, he's,
um... he's waiting for me.

So I'll just, uh...

Thanks for the socks.

You're welcome.

You're sure you wanna do this?

You can still come with
us back to Canberra.

We can drop you anywhere.

Joel.

Chemists open soon, mate.

Just keep following this
road, then you'll hit the T

and then you'll see the signs.

See you, mate.

See you.

Hey, can you soak
these in the laundry?

I'm gonna go get the
pump out of the shed.

You disconnected
the gas, didn't you?

Yeah.

Residents are
advised, however...

I'll do the towels.
..to stay alert

as winds are unpredictable and
warnings could likely change.

Emergency warnings are...

Adrian?

Yeah?

I can't do this.

Can't do what?

I can't stay.

We know what we're doing.

Look, we've got a plan.

That's just a piece of paper and
it's not going to protect us.

Hey, come on.

You're OK. I'm not.

I'm so fucking scared.

I know that you might
not be, but I am.

I do not want to die in a fire, and
I don't want you to die in a fire.

I want us to go.

I just want us to go.

I'm sorry that you
spent the night alone.

Oh, my God. OK?

I'm sorry that you got scared.

Please, Adrian, I'm begging you.

I want to leave and I
want you to come with me.

Everything we have
is in this house.

All the energy...

I don't have it in me.

I can't do that all over again.

This was supposed
to be the place

we were going to grow
old together, Lall.

I can't leave it.

Please.

I mean, it's just
a fucking house.

I can't stay.

Well, the road should still
be clear, if you go now.

Shit.

Hey, Tash.

Ugh.

Hello? Excuse me.

Excuse me?

Hi.

Hey.

Um, I just wanted to let you
guys know that I'm evacuating

so you can take my
name off that list.

Oh, great. Thanks
for letting us know.

No problem. My partner,
Adrian, is staying.

If you could keep
his... his name down.

OK. Yeah, we will. Thank you.

Thanks for letting us know.

You can stop if you want, Mott.

Just make this
your last rotation.

Nah.

I wanna keep going.

OK.

Yeah.

OK.

Highway's closed.

No-one's getting out till we
get the all clear, alright?

Michelle McAullay,
Bungen's only claim to fame.

You back for Christmas?

Stuffed up my timing,
hey, Mr Finlay.

Will Santa be able to find
us if we're not at home?

They might have to
bring me my helicopter.

Santa's coming!

What'll happen when they
wake up in the morning

and there's no Santa,
no presents, nothing?

That's all the food we had!

Where are you going? The fires are
still going on out there, yeah?

I'm going to my place. There's
food and presents there.

Well, go on. Before
I change my mind.

We've got a problem.
We've lost some of them.

I don't think we
should be out here.

There's still fires burning.

Ethan!