The Clearing (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Episode #1.7 - full transcript

Amy?

They're waiting.

Amy?

I'll be right there.

She was 13
when she was fostered out to me.

Nobody had ever mothered those children

so how was she supposed to know
what to do?

All she knew was cruelty and abuse.

She was never held, or loved.

I tried to but, you know,

these things are buried so far down
from when she was little.



I grabbed the wheel brace
from the ute to smash the window.

Opened the car door.

Max wasn't...

Max wasn't moving
and her eyes were closed.

And I reached in to pick her up
as the ambulance arrived.

And where was the baby's mother
during all this?

I saw her across the road.

And what was she doing?

She was, ah...

She was just standing there.

Do you believe
that baby Maxine can be safe

in the sole care of her mother?

In my experience as a social worker,

our aim is to keep as many families
together as possible...



Please, answer the question.

At... at this point,

I don't believe
that would be in the best interests

of the child's welfare.

You must have known
that leaving a baby in a car

with the windows closed
on a hot summer's day

was potentially fatal?

Miss Beaufort,
can you answer the question?

I have determined
that custody rights

be granted solely to the father,

Wayne Dhurrkay.

Supervised visitation rights
are granted to the mother

each week for two hours,

at a time and place to be determined
with a review in 12 months,

pending counseling
and psychiatric assessment.

Got your ticket?

Yeah.

Let me know as soon as you arrive, okay?

- And don't forget what we talked about.
- Yeah, I know. School on Monday.

I've just got to sort a few things
out here with your brother.

Come here.

This stuff is hard, Max.

I don't always know what I'm doing.

Bye, Max!

What's she doing here?

Be nice.

We just want to say goodbye.

I'll see you real soon, little bro.

See you.

Have a safe trip.

Bye, Max!

Bye-bye, Max!

Did you tell her?

I didn't think that would be right.

I never blamed you, Freya.

What happened was because of Blackmarsh.

What Adrienne did to you there.

To all of you.

Mom?

Where's Mom?

Bath.

One of her little accidents.

- Oh, is Mo here?
- Hm.

Question is, why are you always here?

You can talk. What's with the suit?

It's pretty smart, right?

What's it for?

The wedding, of course.

Are you getting married?

Me? No. Abigail's wedding.

You're seriously going to that?

Why wouldn't I? I'm Mommy's plus one.

You can't take her to Abby's wedding!

Why not?

Because they hate her.

She is their mother!

Mom?

Oh, good.

You can help me look for my slippers.

He hides them from me, I'm sure of it.

I saw you at The Lodge last night.

Oh, where's he put them?

I kept your secret because I had to.

But if you're restarting The Kindred,
I won't stay silent.

And you know what will happen
if you don't, Amy.

Amy, you have a visitor.

It's your mother.

Christine is not my mother.

Hello, angel.

How are you, Amy?

Good.

I don't think you are.

Which is why I have a surprise for you.

You're leaving here. Today.

I know an important doctor

who can overturn
your involuntary admission order.

But there's nothing out there for me.

I lost my child.

I lost my children.

The Blue Devils took you away.

But there is always new life, Amy.

You're young. You can start again.

I don't know what to say.

"Thank you, Mommy."

Thank you, Mommy.

You never give up on your children.

And Maitreya,
she needs to sign here.

Thank you, Nurse.

One more, my darling.

I'm never going back.

That's up to you.

Mrs. Beaufort?

Ready to finish your jigsaw puzzle?

What's he saying, the man with the hair?

I found them. Look.

The missing pieces.

They were in the pot plant, of all places.

Well, you should look there
for my slippers.

Freya. Freya.

Freya, can I speak to you?

Yeah, yeah.

I don't understand.

There's a bookmark.

Okay, do...

Do you want me to read something?

The page number.

Two-twenty-four.

Yesterday it was 191.
The day before that, 168.

She's reading the book.

That's impossible.

The doctors say she can't read.
She can't comprehend.

- She's just moving the bookmark around.
- Why would she do that?

I don't know.

Why does she soil herself in her chair?

Why does she put the TV remote
in the fridge?

She does strange things.

She needs to be retested.

She's been tested. Thoroughly.

Remind me again,
do you have a medical degree?

I know who she is, Freya.

It says she should be in jail.

And if she was,
you wouldn't have a job, would you?

You wouldn't be able to send money
back home to your family.

How do you think your employer would feel,

knowing that you've been accusing
a dementia patient of making it up?

At home, I have friends.

I go to school.

I get kisses goodnight.

My Mom says it hurts the tree.

How does she know?

She says you have to imagine
you're the tree.

Hey.

I need you to meet me at The Lodge.

Whoa, what... What's going on?

I'm on my way there now.

Freya.

Bryce's car's gone.
We can get in round the back.

They were gathered in here.

There was at least 20 of them, maybe more.

They were singing the song
that they taught us.

And she was here too?

They were here.

I saw it, Joe. They were in here.

There were children,
some of them no older than Asha.

Right here.

You imagined it, Freya.

No, you have to believe me.

She's starting it up again.

She's just an old woman,

rattling around in some mansion
with a daily care nurse.

She doesn't have dementia, Joe.

She never did.

I do her shopping.

I cook her meals.

I do her ironing, I clean her house.

You knew she was fit to stand trial.

She said if I didn't keep her secret,
then they would take Billy.

You knew!

- And you kept it from me!
- They can put me back

in Greenhaven any time they want.

I signed my life away, Joe.
Medical Power of Attorney.

She can leave me in there to rot!

I lost everything,
trying to get her for you!

For the others!

You can still get her, Joe.

Look at me.

I live in a floating coffin.

My wife doesn't wanna know me.

My kids don't talk to me.

Can't you see what you've done?

Yeah.

I could have helped you.

I could have protected you.

No, you couldn't.

No one can.

Saad?

Adrienne Beaufort's been found
medically unfit to stand trial.

But we only just got the new trial date.

A Special Hearing accepted a diagnosis
of cognitive decline.

Three separate specialists.

Early onset dementia.

A non-custodial supervision order.

It's bullshit.

- She's got doctors in her pocket.
- It's done, Joe.

What am I going to tell those kids?

Well, if it's any comfort,
she'll die here.

The surrender of her passport stands.

She can't leave the country.

She'll be monitored
and periodically assessed,

along with daily home visits
by a full-time carer.

It's as good as prison.

Oh, your brother just arrived.

- How's it going, little man?
- Good.

You gonna be okay for food?

All right, bub,
I'll check in with you a little bit later.

Okay, bye.

Max made it home safely.

Oh, good.

Nan's got something for you
in the kitchen.

Yay!

Okay, bye!

Uh, everything's in here.

Pajamas, toothbrush, Brown Bear.

He's going to say he doesn't want
to sleep with Brown Bear,

but he wants to sleep with Brown Bear.

And bedtime's usually around 8:30,
or whatever, whenever you want.

8:30 is good.

- Okay.
- You look nice.

Thanks.

All right, I better go.

Hey, we should get your name
put on Billy's birth certificate.

Yeah.

All right, call me if you need anything.

Hi.

Hi.

Um, I've been doing some cooking
and housekeeping with a regular client.

And, um... and I have
a new place to live in, so.

Well, whatever you're doing,
it's working, Ames.

You look good.

No, I mean, you know, healthy.

You look healthy too.

You can ask about her if you want.

It's okay.

I just... I don't want to spoil anything.

Yeah, I wasn't sure
if I should bring her up, eh.

Don't want to upset you.

How is she?

She's good. She's great.

Yeah, seven now, obviously.
Good at school.

- Yeah.
- Smart.

Didn't get that from me.

I'm so sorry, Wayne.

I couldn't have ever forgiven myself
if anything happened.

I know.

You probably need to get back home to her.

She's staying at Mom's tonight.

I swore I was going
to pass that psych assessment

in 12 months' time.

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

spiraled.

The lawyer told me about Greenhaven.

I never meant
for any of that to happen, Amy.

I think it's just,
it was a long time coming.

Well, look at you now.

Do you think that one day,

we might be able to find a way back?

You and me, Max, as a family?

We could put it all behind us.

We can start slow and I could...

come and work in Adelaide.

Get a house to rent nearby, maybe.

I'm her mother.

I don't know, Amy.

Putting Max through all that.

Friends and family,

we are gathered here today
to celebrate the joyous...

I wanted to visit you.

It was too risky.

I wrote letters, but the lawyers
wouldn't let me send them.

I looked for you at the University.

I retired.

You've been gone a long time, Henrik.

Why did they remove your name
from the Masters Board, if you retired?

Have you somewhere to stay?

Money? Food?

You've been a loyal servant.

Maitreya will never forget.

Don't tell the court that, eh?

They might just put her away after all.

If there is ever anything you need,
we are here for you.

I need to get Amy's tape now.

The tapes are long gone, I'm afraid.

If there was anything else.

Excuse me.

Hello, you made it.

Hi, Doctor.

You find it all right?

- Yes, we did, thank you.
- Yes, yes.

Come on in.

Hi.

A speaking engagement for inquiring minds.

You care to join us?

Fireside chat, really.

Dr. Latham.

- Come on in.
- Hi, Dr. Latham.

- Good to see you.
- Just round to the left.

- Thank you so much for having us.
- Lovely to see you. Come on in.

Now, perhaps more
than at any other time in history,

we have the opportunity to look beyond
what is known and rebuild our world.

We have been left
holding the ashes of Capitalism.

Thank you.

Dr. Latham?

Thank you so much.
That was so incredibly inspiring.

Thank you for coming.

Oh please, sit down.

Would you mind signing my book?

- Your book.
- Hm.

A pleasure.

We... we are such big fans
and you are truly a pioneer.

Yeah, we would love to know more.

Speaking of the splendor within,
how far along are we?

About six months.

Look at me in that one.

Those 80's fashions.

Why would she put these up?

- Hello!
- Why would she invite her?

- Bride coming through.
- You look like a big fluffy chook.

Joe.

- Hi.
- Angela, hi.

Hi.

You remember Annabelle.

I, uh... Of course.

Good to see you again.

Want a drink?

Water.

Anorexia, bulimia, kidney failure.

You name it, I've had it.

The doctors all trace it back
to Blackmarsh.

Acute malnourishment.

And there were never any damages
to help with the medical bills.

So this is...

I just can't stand up
for long periods with the Osteo.

Hello! Hi!

Have you two had a chance
to say hello yet?

Hello.

Who are you?

Mom, this is Angela,
and this is little Annabelle.

You okay?

Why didn't you tell me she was coming?

It's my day, Annabelle.

- I can invite who I want.
- I can't stay here with her.

Okay, I'll call you a taxi.

Can't we all just move on? I have.

Bye-bye.

Why don't we find you
somewhere to sit down?

I... I like to sit in my comfy chair.

Oh, okay. Um...

- Well, there... There's one in here.
- Yeah.

- Mommy, let's go for a walk.
- There's a beautiful one in here.

You said you were hungry, yeah?
It's about dinner time.

- This way.
- Yeah.

- Just over here.
- You're a menace in that dress.

Hey.

Bit of a shitshow, isn't it?

- Yeah.
- What was she thinking?

Adam.

Joe.

You and Abby still keep in touch, then?

No, no. Do you?

No.

I don't see anyone.

Aaron and I were housemates for a while,
after school.

You heard about him, right?

Yeah.

And I was the last one to see him.

I'm sorry. It's...

I was looking for something in the garage
when I saw him standing in the shadows.

I said, "You scared
the shit out of me, Az!"

But he just stared like...

like weird, you know?

Then I heard this sound, like a...
like a twisting sound.

And that's when I saw the rope.

He was hanging so low from the rafter
that in the dark,

it looked like he was just standing there.

And I was talking to him, like an idiot.

I think Mommy getting out of that trial
was the last straw.

Yeah.

Garrison!

Join us.

No. We need to talk.

Saad's off the beers these days,
isn't that right, mate?

- Gone all Osama bin Laden on us.
- Now.

Maybe he's got his eye
on those 72 virgins.

He couldn't even handle one missus!

- How about you fuck off?
- Hey.

Let's go.

What's this?

Your car was parked
outside The Lodge in '89,

registered in your wife's maiden name.

You're their inside man.

Don't lie to me.

I was.

But after the raid,

when Adrienne skipped the country
and Henrik confessed,

I told them I was out.

They didn't need me anymore.

Fuck, why?

She, uh...

she saw right through me.

That my marriage was a sham,
that I was stuck...

stuck in a secret.

And you replaced it with another one?

This job doesn't like different,
you know that.

She took me in.
She accepted me for what I am.

You told me it gave you nightmares

what she did to those kids in Blackmarsh.

It did,
but they blackmailed me to shut me up.

They record everything.
They keep tapes, confessions,

everything you never want
to see the light of day.

If Elena and the kids saw them,

Joe, I...

Don't tell Wilkes. I'll lose my job.

Your job? You'll go to jail!

You played me the whole fucken way!

Hey.

How do you think
you made that arrest in France?

You think about it.

If they still had their claws in,
wouldn't I have tipped them off?

You owe me more than that.

You sure about this?
You don't have a warrant.

I'll get one. Just hand it over.

On the ledge above the door.

I'll see you back there.

Inspector, can I just say,
in my defense, I...

Saad.

If you speak,
I will throw this stapler at your head.

Do you know how much
your failed task force investigation

into these Ferny Creek fuck knuckles
has cost my department?

And these questions will
all be rhetorical, by the way.

Then there was the Interpol arrest
in France

for which I didn't even get a case
of fucking Merlot.

The extradition.

Two business class return airfares
for Federal Police escorts,

plus a one-way for wig lady.

A County Court mistrial after six years

and seven figures of taxpayer money
to achieve sweet fuck all.

Followed by legal and diplomatic limbo,
trying to set a new trial date

which took so long the old witch
went off her fucking rocker!

And after all that,

in a world where planes
are flying into buildings

and people are looking sideways
at people like you,

you decide it's a good idea
to misuse police power

and go off the books,

off reservation,
off fucking tap after these crackpots,

who have direct access
to extremely expensive silk lawyers

who send shit-your-pants-level threatening
letters to the Chief Commissioner!

But sir, they have an inside man...

I missed you on purpose.

Because I can't even afford a Band-Aid
for you, Saad.

This thing has bled my department dry.

I know I messed up.

But they've been white-anting
this investigation from the start.

We're done here, Saad.

I need your gun and badge.

Ooh.

Little party starter?

No.

You had to bring her, didn't you?

Come on, she was invited.

Besides, the question is

why did Abby
invite the fucking Blue Devil?

Yeah. Joe's full of shit.

All his big talk about justice
and compensation.

Let's face it,
his whole case was a mess.

Mommy was too smart for him.

- It's okay, I got him!
- Sorry, runaway child!

Amy.

- How's it going, Angela?
- Um...

Yeah, this one
and the twins keep me on my toes.

What about you? You a Mom?

Yeah.

You'd be a great Mom.

You really looked out for us younger ones.

Especially Asha.

What were you
and Adrienne just talking about?

Why do you wanna know?

Hey!

- It's me. Remember me?
- Hey!

- Do you remember me?
- Hey! Take it easy!

- Aaron sends his apologies.
- Aaron?

Who... Do I know Aaron?

Yeah, he couldn't be here tonight
because you fucking killed him.

All right, you need to calm down, okay?
You're scaring her!

- Adam, please don't make a scene.
- I saw you hugging her.

What's wrong with you?
When did she ever hug us?

Answer me, Mom. When did you ever hug us?

Okay, okay,
you need to get out of here.

- Get the fuck off!
- All right. Get away from her!

Go!

It's fine, everyone, um...

Yeah, just grab another drink and we...
we're gonna cut the cake soon.

Did you tell him?

Go home to your family, Garrison.

"And on you is this curse,
until the day of recompense."

Yeah.

Is this yours?

It's a pretty color, isn't it? Hm?
Just like your hair.

Pretty.

Hey, sweetheart,
your Mommy's looking for you.

Come on. Come on, guys,
let's go find Mommy.

You're not wanted here.
Can't you see that?

Angela's face lit up when she saw me.

She said I looked beautiful.

And Adam? Annabelle? They had to leave.

Annabelle was always the weak one.

She was the littlest,
and you didn't feed her.

You couldn't even look after Asha.

Yeah, I'd like to say a few words
if I may.

I've known Abigail
since she was this high.

Ah, well, marriage.

Well, what can I say?
Ah, it doesn't always work out.

Guilty.

But in the end, it's about love, isn't it?

It's about love, and children, and family.

Real family.

And it's about truth.

I'm sorry,

but what's happening here tonight
is not real.

Adam tried to call it out.

Why don't you piss off
with him, mate?

Because that woman over there,
Adrienne Beaufort,

doesn't know a thing
about love or family, or truth.

Sorry, Freya, but it ends here.

All the bald-faced lies, the bullshit.

The faking dementia

to avoid facing justice for what she did.

The crimes she committed!

Oh, my God!

Someone stop him!

- Get off me!
- Fuck you! Fuck!

- Settle down!
- You're a loser!

- Settle down.
- I hate you!

Settle down, mate.

Get off me!

Get off me!

- I'm fine!
- Come on.

You're Amy, aren't you?

Anton told me all about you. I'm Ebonie.

You've already met Tyler.

Guess we're all family now.

- Yeah.
- We are the initiates.

What'd you say?

Ebonie!

- Mommy wants to go home now.
- Okay.

Now. Come on...

You need to drive, okay?

Hey, Leo.

All right, got your stuff?

- Mom!
- Hey, hey, hey!

How'd you go?

I had the best time!

Bye, Dad!

See you, champion!

Thank you.

Anytime.

Hey, wait up!

But do you know the megalodon?

No.

The megalodon has bigger teeth
than the great white.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- But no longer around, are they?
- Yeah...

They lived with the dinosaurs.

Out of them, which ones would you pick?

Oh, I would pick the plesiosaurus...

- Uh-huh? Leo!
- ...against pterosaurs.

Ah-ha. Interesting.

Leo, come on. Come on!

Mississippi two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, ten...

11, 12, 13, 14,

15, 16, 17, 18...

Did I break the record?

Billy?

Billy!

Billy!

Billy!

Billy!

Billy!