Stateless (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Circumstances in Which They Come - full transcript

♪ You got to accentuate the positive

♪ Eliminate the negative

♪ And latch on to the affirmative

- ♪ Don't mess with Mr In Between... ♪
- Happy Christmas, Sofie.

♪ You got to spread joy
up to the maximum

♪ Bring gloom down to the minimum

♪ And have faith
♪ Amen

♪ Or pandemonium's
liable to walk upon the scene

♪ Amen
♪ To illustrate my last remark

♪ Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark

♪ And what did they do
♪ What did they do?



♪ Just when everything
looked so dark?

♪ What did they, what did they,
what did they do?

♪ Man, they said... ♪
There he is!

♪ You got to
accentuate the positive... ♪

Daddy!
♪ Eliminate the negative

♪ And latch on to the affirmative

♪ Don't mess with Mr In Between... ♪
There you go. Aircon's busted. Mwah!

Oh, it needs a big hard kick up
from the bottom.

I know who needs
a big hard kick up from the bottom!

♪ No, don't you mess
with Mr In Between

♪ No, don't mess with

♪ Mr In Between! ♪

She's here!

Ho-ho-ho!



Merry Christmas!
Presents! Presents!

Presents! Presents!

Uh-uh-uh!
We do presents after dinner, huh?

How was your flight?

On time?

Yes.

Perhaps a shower before we sit down?
No, I'm good, Mum.

Happy Christmas, Dad.
Happy Christmas, mein Schatz. Oh!

So, how was Dubai?
It was great.

Wilhelm's family have gone
to Okushiga for a skiing holiday.

And you didn't want to go with them?
I can't ski.

He can't ski, but, uh,
does wonders with a spreadsheet.

Alright, you two, back off.

- Happy Christmas, Sofe.
- Happy Christmas.

Save me.

"Ex-cel-si-or."

"Excelsior."

English, Mina-jan.

What do...
'Does'.

...does...
Mm-hm.

...this...

...mean?

Excellent.

Very excellent. Beyond excellent.

Excelsior.

Excuse me.

Your name?

Mohsin Abbasi sent us.

206.

Straight down.

Up the stairs.

Uh, what about a key?

No key.

So I get there, and it's this huge
palace in the middle of the desert,

and it's the Sheikh's birthday,
so he's throwing this massive party

and there's ice sculptures
and horses and pyramids of caviar,

but the best bit was, there were
turtles all over the floor.

They'd been painted in fluorescent
paint so they glowed in the dark.

Why?

So that when you were dancing,
you didn't step on them.

What a lovely story.

Wilhelm, why don't you tell everyone
about your plans for the company?

I... I want to hear more about
the Sheikh's turtles, please.

Wilhelm?

Well...

...the future of small business
is ever-evolving,

but an online presence is critical
for the business to reach...

...achieve maximum impact.

I-I-I think what we need, actually,

is a deeper engagement
on a more technological level

with our younger clients.

Oh, come on, Frau Klenner.

Think of the little weasel babies
you're gonna have.

Oh, God!

And look at this beautiful present
that he has given to you.

You want to hang on to that one.
Mmm. Oh, Wilhelm. Yeah.

I don't know which is better,
this or the spreadsheets.

Children are hungry for dessert,
Margot.

How long are you home for?

A few days.

All that flying
really takes its toll.

Oh, Mum!
I just worry about you.

That's all.
Well, don't!

Mmm.

Salaam. Salaam.

OK. It's not much.

But, uh...

...I beat the Pakistanis
at the cards,

so now they have to sleep downstairs
and you can come upstairs.

You can hang these up between us.

Thank you.
My name is Farid.

Ameer.
Ameer.

You going to Australia?
Inshallah.

You?
Of course.

How long do you wait?

Too long.

But, uh...

...at least here,

I don't have to worry about Saddam's
men waiting around the corner

ready to cut off my balls.

What?

Yalla.

Whenever you are ready,

go up, fix everything.

I will wait here
until you are finished.

Tashakor, Farid.
Habibi.

Weren't you going to talk to them
about transferring to a desk job?

Mum!

If she's only here for a few days,
how can she maintain a relationship?

Look, Ke... Kevin and...

...Kevin lives half the year
in Hong Kong and we manage.

That is completely different.
It's not completely diff...

Can you stop?!

It's true
there is a degree of compromise.

I don't want her
to miss the boat. That's all.

...a bulk ordering delivers
a significant profit margin...

I'm just saying,
she's not getting any younger!

See, importantly, these days,
I think what we need to do

is actually go offshore.

We can control the products...

Sofe?

You in there?

You must be ready to leave
at any time.

Bags must stay packed.

I do not know when,
so do not ask me.

You will get a knock on the door.

One bag each. Only the essentials.

Food and water will be provided.

Ameer, this is my friend Mosi.

Pleased to meet you, Mosi.
You too.

OK, shh. Listen very carefully
to the man with the bushy eyebrows.

This is where our adventure begins.

OK, OK, OK.

If you talk to anybody
outside of this room,

you will not be on a boat.

If you cause any trouble
on the boat,

it turns round,
comes straight back here.

No money back. Got it?

OK.

Sorry. Uh, this is from him.

Names?

Names.

Ameer, Najeeba, Mina, Sadiqa.

Mmm.

Yeah, but then...
then at three in the morning,

he tries to get into MY bed
with the spade.

Oh, such a good big sister!

I thought he was gonna
come down the chimney with his sack,

put me in it and take off.

By the way, that water, uh...
water hasn't been changed

since the boys were pissing in it
all afternoon, so...

Oh, you are...
..you know, enjoy that.

♪ Dashing through the snow

♪ On a one-horse open sleigh... ♪
Oh, my God, Sull!

What is this?
♪ The rest, I do not know

♪ The way-hey-hey-hey-hey... ♪

Boys, Father Christmas.
Here, look what I got you.

Thanks, Uncle Sully!
Wait there, buddy.

Let me turn it on.

Go for it. Watch out,
little brother! Watch out! Whoa!

This is the best present ever!

You spreading that cheer
out at the detention centre?

Well, they are not Christians,
Janny.

Out of all people,
you should know that.

I want a try, Sammy!

Yes!

Oh, that's nice. Oh!

And...

Mmm!

For the lady of the house...

Ahh! Merry Christmas.

Come on!
Are you for real?

Well, brother boy,
if you work with me at Barton,

you get the cha-ching-ching.

So glad you're doing it
for the right reasons, Sull.

You know it. Boys!

Oh, my God! I love this!
Fucking blood money.

Don't get greedy on me.
Don't you dare.

Are we having a good time?!

I think so.

OK, OK. I think we know
who's got the talent up here.

Teacher.

Dancer. Singer.

My beautiful Pat.

I think I scored the jackpot,
didn't I?

Oh, no, no. I think
I'm the lucky one in this equation.

But I think you did
a pretty good job of keeping up.

Don't you?

I may not be the best dancer,

but what are we all here for tonight?

Even if we're not great at what we
do, what are we trying to do tonight?

We're trying to open ourselves up!

You know, we walk around all day
wearing these suits.

And I'm not talking about the suits
that we, uh, wear to work.

I'm talking about suits
that are so much harder to take off.

And why is that?

Because these suits hold
the expectations of everybody else.

They want us to be
the perfect partner,

the perfect wife,
the perfect daughter,

the perfect brother.

But I ask you,
what about the perfect you?

- But here's the key.
- Yes!

No, wait. You know what?
Throw away the goddamn key!

Throw it away!

Pat, pass me that baby.
Pass me the baby.

Look at this beautiful baby,
everybody. Come here. Come on.

Perfect. Thank you, Melinda.
Everybody come in.

Come and look at this.

Now, look at this lovely boy.

This is the state of being that
we were all born with, all of us.

And if you can allow yourself

to be as vulnerable

and as true as this little baby,

then we'll find
our internal strength.

But if we can't do that...

Here, Pat, take.

...if we can't do that,
then we're going to stay

in this prison that other people
have created for us,

cut off from happiness,
cut off from success.

Cut off from your potential
to love and be loved.

But worst of all,
cut off from fulfilling your destiny.

So I say to you all, tonight...

...take off the suit!

Take it off! Just take it off!

Take them off.
And let's open the door. Open it up!

You know what's
on the other side of that door.

Open the door.

Because behind that door,
waiting for you...

...waiting for you,

is the person
that you were always meant to be.

- Am I right?
- Yes!

Come on, then, let's dance!

What's your name?
Sofie.

Sofie! So nice to see you.

Thank you for coming.
Thank you. Thank you so much.

From Kupang, 150km to Ashmore Reef.

A low tide means a calm sea.

Has this man Oshan
even checked the tides?

Uh, may... maybe if he... he
look up from, uh, counting his money.

January 31. There's a full moon.
This is the best time to go.

See? Ameer, you should be the one
organising our boat.

We would be there already.

And you would be a rich man.

I think in Australia,
I'm going to start my own business.

Doing what?
Tyres.

Tyres?

So many roads.

Everybody need tyres.

Hey, we should
go into business together.

Yeah? The three amigos! Hey?

Hey, we will call the business, uh...

...Farid's Wheels.

First, we must get there.
Eh.

You know, I was thinking
of another idea.

No, no. I... I tell you, here.
Listen. Here.

For business, you first need to...

...do business plan.

One, two, three. And again.
Five, six, seven, eight.

And one. Keep the rhythm, everybody.
Six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four.

No loose arms. No stray legs.

Let the dance dance you.

Five, six, seven, eight.
Turn, two, three, four.

No boundaries.

Just one...

...big...

...wave.

Better.

Right!

I think we can do better.
Let's just go back to the top.

Well done.

One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.

Come on! Shitbox!

It's alright, darling. It's OK.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

It's alright.

- Brother! Come in! Hm?
- Hey!

Come have a jug. Come in.

So the detainee says
he wants a new T-shirt.

And I say,
"Well, don't rip it, mate."

And he goes, "Motherfucker."
Yeah, yeah.

Two words I reckon they learn on the
boat - 'motherfucker' and 'visa'.

Well, why didn't you just get him
a... a new T-shirt?

Well, 'cause he's got no respect.
It's in their culture.

Can't accept a woman in authority.

Wait. You're a woman?

Fuck you! Hey. At least I do my job.
You're a total slacker.

No, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm professional. I do my job.

Oh, you're professional.

They're always looking
for new guards. You should apply.

Nah! Uh, got a job, eh, so...

He can't, you see.

His sister goes out there
to wipe the refugees' arses

and she'll never speak to him again.

Oh, you're full of shit.
Tell me this. What is stopping you?

- Hm?
- Flexible hours.

Three times what I was getting
as a boilermaker.

There you go. You've got to start
living your own life, brother.

Well, I don't have
any qualifications, so...

Qualifi... qualifications!
Harry's in charge of recruiting.

Tell my brother boy what he needs.

Well, yeah, it's a tough one, mate.
A lot of prerequisites.

Mm-hm.
Very competitive.

Really don't think
you've got what it takes, mate.

Yeah, righto. Good on ya there.

You'll be right.
Come on, mate!

Come on!
Come on!

Do it for your country, mate!
Cheers.

Beats daddy day care.

You have to be open

to transformation.

You're still holding on to all those
expectations. They're not you.

Release the breath.

There!

What was that?

I... I don't know.
I think you do.

You're scared of its power.

OK. Hold on tight.

We're gonna find out what that was.

We're going to transfer
all that fear...

...all that negative energy...

...out of you...

...into me...

...and away.

Here we go.

I was 13 years old and...

...I was...

...I was
at my ice-skating competition.

And my sister, Margot, got her
exam results on the same day and...

...my parents took her out to dinner
to celebrate.

It was my grand final and I won,

and nobody was there to watch me.

But they were proud
when they found out?

My dad said he'd wished he'd come,
but, um...

...he never sticks up for me.

Why is that?

I don't know.

I think you do.

Because Margot is better than me.
No!

That's not it, Sofie.

They want you to be
someone that you're not.

They want me to be Margot.

Here it comes.

"Go on a date with Wilhelm, Sofie."

"Wear this stupid apron, Sofie!"

"Have a baby, Sofie!"

"Get a house
like everyone else, Sofie!"

"Just be who... who we want you to be,
Sofie! Don't be yourself, Sofie.

"You're too loud, Sofie!
You're too much fun, Sofie!"

If you don't
want to be that person...

...don't be.

Sofie...

...we will stand up for you.

The person that you were...

...was the invention of other people.

But here, you can be
anyone you want to be.

You can be extraordinary.

It's OK, darling.

Here.

Let it all out.

That was excellent.

Is that better?
That was excellent.

It's better.

Oh!
Well done.

Well done.

Well done.

Every single one of you
has done excellent work this year.

It's been very hard to select
our eisteddfod competitors.

Are we ready?

Mask work is Brian Jarvis
and Harry Singh!

Please hold
your applause until the end! OK?

And in dance...

...all of our male dancers
will perform the chorus

with this year's solo by...

...Sofie Werner.

- Congratulations!
- Sofie?

Sofie? There's someone called Margot
in the foyer asking for you.

Sofie?

You've found you.

Mm-hm.

Now, you don't let anyone
take that away.

OK.

Right!
Shake out that negativity.

Why don't you return my calls?

I've been leaving messages for weeks.

I've been busy.

What is this place?

It's a dance studio.

Dance classes.

At $400 a week.

How do you know that?

I've seen your bank statement.
You went through my mail.

Well, we were worried about you.

I don't care.
You've got no right to do that.

OK, your landlord rang me
and told me

that there's 20 people
living in your apartment.

We're rehearsing
for our dance eisteddfod.

You're... you're in an eisteddfod.
I mean, how old are you? 12?!

I'm the lead dancer.

"Congratulations, Sofie.
That's really great news, Sofie."

OK, fine, whatever.
Just call Mum and Dad.

Do you know
why I don't return your calls?

It's 'cause of you and Mum.

You're always judging me
and telling me what to do!

You know, you might have the perfect
house and the perfect family,

but you've never taken a risk
in your life.

You need to take your suit off,
Margot.

I'm alive.

I'm alive, and I feel things inside,
and you...

...you're dead inside.

And when I'm around you,
I feel dead inside too.

It's time!

It's time!

It's time!

Sadi! Sadiqa!

Sadiqa! Sadiqa!

Sadiqa!

You are all starting a new life.

You must have no identity papers
on you or they will send you back.

Everybody must hand up
their passports. Come on, come on.

You cannot hold on to the past.

As soon as
you reach your destination,

you must declare yourself a refugee

and ask for a protection visa, hm?

Come on. Hurry up!

Passport.

Passport.

Passport.

Keep moving, everybody!

Wait at the edge of the sand.
Right to the edge of the water.

The boat will be here soon.
Move it along! Move it along!

Boys, come! Quick, let's go!
Quick, quick!

What's happening?

Wait! Stop!

They've taken our papers
and left us here!

Where is the boat?
There's no boat!

Polisi!

Polisi! Polisi!

Polisi!

Let's go!

Hostage skills, fire
awareness, control and restraint.

What we're gonna start with today
is cultural diversity.

OK. So, in some cultures, pointing
can be seen as highly offensive.

While we see
avoidance of eye contact as evasive,

in Muslim cultures,

it is respectful for men
to avoid looking women in the eye.

You done this work before?
No. You?

...of body language
is critical in this job.

Gatehouse, juvie. Arthur Gorrie.

You bloody name it, I've done it.

You from Queensland?
Yeah.

What are you doing here?
..Is encouraged in many cultures.

Came for the weather.

Grown men weep, shout,
jump up and down

and are respected for doing so.

Other cultures see this
as immature behaviour.

Uh...
No, no, no.

This. Got it, got it, got it, got it.
Yes.

Infraorbital.
Infraorbital...

Yes.
..Is the...

The nose. Go up there like that.
Hesitate, you'll fail this module.

It's that thing. Like that?
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Alright.
Alright.

Hypoglossal.

Hypoglossal is... is...
Yes. Yes.

...like this.

That's the hypoglossal right there.
That's the hypoglossal.

He has no idea
what he's getting into.

Yeah, the training seems
pretty thorough, though.

Six weeks. Full-time.

Here you are. Come on.

Come here, stinky nappies.

Hmm. Hello. Hello.

Oh, yuck.

Hang on.

Thank you.
Welcome back, Mrs Rumac.

We're boarding
via the rear of the aircraft.

Sorry I'm late. I'm really sorry.
Your shift started an hour ago.

You know,
you can't keep turning up late.

Sofie.
What? Come on.

The passengers are still boarding.

There's been some complaints
about your behaviour.

What complaints?

You can't dance
during the safety briefing.

Oh, come on! The passengers
loved it. They clapped.

No. HR is sending you an email
outlining our procedure.

Fine.

You know, you were holding me back
anyway.

S...

Sofe.

Whoo!

Sayonara, Southstar!

Yeah, the flying
was really taking its toll.

That's a very brave decision.
Mmm.

And it was affecting my ability
to fully commit.

So you're going to look
for some more fulfilling work?

Well, for now, I want to focus 100%
on the eisteddfod.

And I will figure out a way
to make payments for the sessions.

Sofie, darling!

This has never been about the money.

We're here to support you
on your journey.

You just need
to honour your commitment.

And we'll honour ours.

Does that make sense?
Yeah.

Come through, Sofie.

What was that?

Nothing. I feel really good.

Sofie, you know you can't hide here.

Mmm.

Look at me.

What is it that you want?

I want to be loved.

You want love?

You have to allow yourself
to be totally vulnerable.

You're not that person anymore.

Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the GOPA Eisteddfod.

Tonight...

...we welcome Melbourne...

...and Canberra to the fold

as we battle it out
for the Trophy of Transformation!

♪ Let's take a boat to Bermuda

♪ Let's take a plane to St Paul

♪ Let's take a kayak
to Quincy or Nayack

♪ Let's get away from it all

♪ Let's take a trip in a trailer

♪ No need to come back at all

♪ Let's take a powder to Boston
for chowder

♪ Let's get away from it all

♪ Let's travel south of the border

♪ Find me a real Spanish shawl

♪ Let's eat tamales
in downtown Nogales

♪ Let's get away from it all

♪ We'll charter boats
and airplanes too

♪ To far-off spots unknown

♪ Then hurry there to find somewhere

♪ Where we can be alone

♪ Let's spend a weekend in Dixie

♪ And pick up
that sweet Southern drawl

♪ Then off to Reno

♪ But just to play keno

♪ Let's get away from it all

♪ Let's paddle over to Pompeii

♪ Have our own decline and fall

♪ Doing undoings

♪ Smack in the ruins... ♪
Shh.

♪ Let's get away from it all

♪ Let's breeze to Buckingham... ♪
Pat, Pat!

♪ ..Palace... ♪
Stop, stop, stop, stop!

Stop. Sorry, Pat. Please stop.

Sorry, stop.
Sofie, what are you doing?

I'm dancing.

Well, if that's dancing,
I'm a bloody Catholic.

Well, I just think
it's a bit of stage fright, Gordon.

Is it stage fright, Sofie?

No.

I mean, all the work we've done, and
do you know what I'm seeing up here?

I'm... I'm seeing someone so...

...blocked, they're just...
you're just incapable of growth.

You told me that I didn't have to be
the person that everybody...

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Shoosh!

Shoosh.

Does everyone see
what's happening there?

Someone is incapable
of fixing themselves

and so the first thing they do
is blame.

She takes her dirty, negative energy

and she tries to put it
on someone else.

We have supported you.

We have trained you,
forgone all your fees,

and this is how you repay me,
with blame.

I mean, there are children here,
Sofie, vulnerable children,

and do you want to infect them
with your negativity?

Do you want everyone in this room
to fail utterly

to achieve their true potential,
just like you?

No. I'm s... I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Good. Then get out.

I said get out.

Go. We're done here.

Go on! Go!

Pat.

Well, there's a lot of emotion
in the room tonight,

and that's understandable,

but I think we should channel it
back into the show,

because there's still a trophy
to win!

Isn't that right?

Five, six, seven, eight.

♪ All of Europe... ♪

We found her wandering the
street. She was very disorientated.

Sofe?

What's happened?

I'm a good dancer.

I was gonna win
the Trophy of Transformation.

Here's what we're gonna do.

I'm gonna take you home,
to Mum and Dad's.

And tomorrow,

we're gonna go and see a doctor.

You remember Dr Jaegar?

They said I was extraordinary.

Yes.

Excuse me, sir. Excuse me, uh...
my dau... my daughter is very sick.

I don't have any money.

Could you please give me one tomato?

Are you sure?

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Five?

Excuse me.

How... how much is this?

Uh, I don't have any money. Um...

Ameer.

Ameer!

Hey, Ameer!

I told you, no money, no room!

Tell me where Oshan is!

Tell me!

Tell him!

If you talk to anybody
outside of this room,

you will not be on a boat.

If you cause any trouble
on the boat,

it turns round,
comes straight back here.

No money back. Got it?

OK. Come.

What is your name, please?

OK. Thank you. OK. Thank you.

You call yourself Kumar now?

You take people's money and then set
up another business with a new name.

Places are limited, everybody,
so, please, come and sign up.

What did you say to them? Huh?
What did you say to them?!

I told them the truth.

I will tell every single one of them
not to do business with you.

You are a liar and a cheat!

It's really important now
that we... we keep our eye on her.

We cannot watch her 24 hours.

Of course not!

But Dr Jaegar's concerned
she might run away.

She'll need to stay here with you.

I'll hold on
to her passport and bank cards.

She needs to know
that she's in a safe place, Mum.

She's very vulnerable.

She IS in a safe place.

I just don't understand.

Why?
Why can't she look after herself?

I don't know.
But, clearly, she can't.

Ameer!

Go! Go!

Don't let the boat leave!
Let the boat go! You can take me!

Each compound
is divided in two -

single men on one side,
families on the other.

Let me be crystal-clear.

Immigration detention
is administrative detention.

It is not a prison sentence.

You have a duty of care to the UNCs -
unlawful non-citizens.

Their dignity must be upheld...

...in culturally, linguistically,
gender- and age-appropriate ways.

Do not engage
with the Tamils on the roof.

Do not look at them
or acknowledge them in any way.

What are they doing up there?
Do you speak Tamil?

No.
Shame.

'Cause if you did, you could ask 'em.

Now, all of you have been issued
with a Hoffman knife.

Please keep this on your person
at all times.

Look out for hanging hazards -
hooks, pipes, etc.

Please check these regularly
throughout your shift.

Alright. Everybody listen up.

Let's make this
as painless as possible.

All possessions in the tubs
and declare any diseases up-front.

Very simple.

Some of these people, they speak
better English than you, right?

Don't you let them
get anything past you.

Alright? Name.

Karim-e Nasseri.
What?

Karim-e Nasseri.

Boat ID?

SER...
Mm-hm.

...53.

SER-53.

Good. Get out of here.
Um, name.

Jomo Kimathi.

Uh, yep. And boat ID?

CED-24.

Alright.

Name?

My name is Eva Hoffman.

I don't belong here.

I am just a silly backpacker
who has lost her passport.

Have you got family,
anyone know where you are? Hm?

Why didn't you tell me
your mate was such a Care Bear?

You don't want to take in anything
that they can use against you.

It's not like that at Barton.

Hey! Hey!

You get those Tamils
off the roof

or I will send someone out there
who can!

And this is the new general manager,
Ms Kowitz.

I am a refugee.
I ask for protection visa.

Do you know my wife, Najeeba?

So will you deport me now?

You can be
anyone you want to be.