Original subtitles

So how long will you be gone?

A few days.

Maybe a week.

A couple of months.

A couple of years.

Well, you don't like it here.

Look at this.

It's beautiful.

Thanks.

Stop it.

You sound like a broken record.

Go on.

It's done.

Feel it.

Go on.

Go on.

Oh, it's his secret password.

Are you comfortable?

I will be.

Yeah, just a few days.

I can't believe it.

My friend's here, mate.

Come on, put the kettle on.

I don't see this but I'm letting go of me.

I don't want to see if there's no more.

So that doesn't mean that I'm sure in the dark.

No, I, I, I'm just a tree.

My leaves are wither.

But my roots are strong.

No begins last.

I'm tearing you apart Instead I told you right from the

start This is how I want it to sound This is gonna play out

How are you doing down the spring?

How's it going?

Fine.

How's your journey?

Been a hell of a drive.

Are you tired?

Yeah.

No, I'm not far off now.

Yeah.

No, I was just... I can't...

So, darling, I can't hear you.

It's gone.

Keep your eyes open.

What are you doing?

Come here.

What are you thinking?

Look, I've told you a hundred times.

It's dangerous up there.

You're not to go there alone, alright?

Alright.

I'm sorry.

Huh?

I'm sorry.

Okay.

I promise not to go back.

Okay.

Now, come on.

It's late.

We've got to go home, alright?

It's not late.

Yes, it is.

Look, it's so cool, isn't it?

It was in the dark.

It's gonna give it to me for my birthday.

For your birthday.

I promise.

How about now?

Eh?

Give it to me now.

Please, please, please.

Now, now, now.

Please.

Mmmmm.

Mwah.

Mwah.

There it is.

Look.

It's mine now.

Come on, Puppet.

Come on.

Let's go.

Mwah.

Mwah.

How's it going, Andy?

Come on, Mix.

That's it.

There we go.

Keep your head down, darling.

What's happened?

Mwah.

Dad's not back.

What happened?

Peter.

Peter.

Dad.

Peter.

Get him out of the car.

Stop it, Peter.

Mum.

Get him out of the car.

He's not breathing.

Mum, calm down.

Get him out of the car.

Call an ambulance.

Peter.

I don't know how to help.

I'm so sorry.

Anything we can do to help?

That's all.

You're all right.

You know I'm here to help you.

Yeah, all right.

We'll go after your mum, mate.

All right?

Look, his little Charlie.

And Lou, that's you, looking just like your dad when he was your age.

Quite a family.

No-one's crying.

That's how it is when people are really sad.

People are leaving.

They want to say goodbye.

I can't.

Tim, get the phone!

Tim!

Simone, you get that.

Hello?

You've reached the home of Tim, Lou, Simone, Charlie,

Dawn and Peter, which is more than they have.

Please leave a message.

We'll be happy to find it when we get in.

Mum.

Mum, get up.

It's 11 o'clock.

Uncle Jackson.

He just called and he wants to know if you got the money.

He wants you to call him back.

Mum, when have you got school?

It's Saturday.

And anyway, you promised we'd go today.

Where?

You promised.

I can't believe this.

They still haven't engraved his name.

It's been two months.

Stupid undertakers.

What do you expect?

What if no one checks?

That's gross pathetic.

Just shut up.

Simone, Lou, Charlie.

Dinner's ready.

Mum, can you go and get your kids?

It's ready.

Go to the kitchen.

Dinner's ready.

Do you know where Simone is?

Mmm.

Simone!

Simone, it's dangerous.

Come down.

Mmm.

Mmm.

Mmm.

What

the hell were you doing up there?

Nothing.

You think I'm stupid?

You're looking for attention.

And you?

Why'd you cut off your hair?

Not for attention.

Just leave me alone.

Someone needs to go shopping.

What do we need?

I'll go to the supermarket.

Yeah.

When?

Tomorrow.

Or maybe today.

Although today, I have to bring Simone to the ophthalmologist, so maybe tomorrow.

Yeah.

One of these days.

Right.

Charlie, come and have something to eat.

And come here so I can dress you.

Look, everyone will be late for school.

I can't leave you here alone.

Look, I'm exhausted.

I'm going to get really, really angry.

Be a good boy, or Mummy's going to get very, very cross.

Just put it on!

You two, move it!

Lou, clear the table.

What do you think I am, the maid?

Simone, go and get dressed.

There's a good girl.

After yesterday's performance...

I don't feel well.

I've got a tummy ache.

If you all carry on like this, I'll leave without you.

I mean it.

Oh,

have we a meeting here today, dear?

Did you forget?

No.

No, of course not.

I'm just running a bit late.

You'd better go by bike.

I'll keep the young ones at home.

No worries.

And I hope you've been keeping a list of all your serial numbers.

What is that?

The engraver.

Dawn, really?

We spoke about this last meeting.

You engrave your name on your TV and stereo.

Anything you think they might try and sell.

Yeah, I'll have to get on to that.

Well, there's no real rush.

That's funny.

There is!

Haven't you noticed those boys riding their bikes up and down the road lately?

Biscuit?

Yes, please.

Love one.

I'll make the tea, Dawn.

Um, I'm sorry.

I'm exhausted.

Make yourselves at home.

Thank you, Dawn.

Dad?

Mum.

I know where Dad is.

Have they been having a nightmare?

I heard him.

A ghost, you mean?

No.

Not a ghost.

For real.

You can talk to him.

Let me show you.

Oh, now?

In the middle of the night?

I'll see you tomorrow, darling.

Come on, now.

Stop it, please.

You're imagining things.

Mum, I cross my heart.

Swear to die.

Come on, lie down with me.

You'll never believe me.

Oh.

OK.

Come on.

Follow me.

Simone, really, what is this?

Shh.

Come on.

Wait, wait, stop, stop.

Come down.

It's too dangerous.

I want to go there by myself.

Mm.

So?

Go on higher.

Mum?

Mum?

Did you hear him?

Maybe.

Told you.

It's our secret.

The two of us.

Promise?

Please?

I promise.

I promise.

Cross my heart.

Swear to die.

Get back to bed.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

I promise.

To say everything three times, he could be boring.

And he had hairs growing out of his nose.

And between me and you, was he always that great and... What, in bed?

You can't imagine.

Bastard.

More than 85 bushfires are still burning in New South Wales tonight.

Fires at South West Rocks and present head on

the state's north coast to force evacuations.

But so far, no property has been lost.

Yuck!

He sneaks the whisky from the sideboard.

Thinks Mum won't notice it.

That's Dad's whisky.

He doesn't need it anymore.

Selfish idiot.

Hey, turn it back on!

Who do you think you are?

Hi, you've reached the O'Neill home, which is

more than we have, unless we're out in the garden.

Feel free to express your innermost feelings after the tone.

Thanks.

Bye.

Hey, mate.

Hey.

How you going, mate?

Good, how are you?

How you been?

Oh, great, great.

How's your mum?

Yeah, she's good.

Everyone's good.

Um...

I was wondering if maybe I could have a part-time job around the yard.

Of course you can.

Aye.

The old man'd be proud of you, mate.

Aye.

Look, I'll need to think about it.

Aye, what are you thinking?

Weekends?

Or... after school?

I...

I don't know.

I'll have to talk to Mum, you know.

Thanks anyway, mate.

Alright, mate.

No worries.

You've got to go after yourself, eh?

Alright.

See you, mate.

Sorry for having disturbed you.

You didn't.

Charlie's still not speaking.

Mum doesn't seem to care.

He spoils him.

There's no reason.

Anyway, you can see more than I can.

You don't need me to tell you all this.

Me too.

I really hate maths.

Did you like maths?

That runs in the family.

I don't know why his team's so good at maths.

I can't handle it.

That's for the best.

Yeah, yeah.

I have to go.

Bye.

Bye.

Boring.

I stick out of the house at night to meet up with one of my boyfriends.

And we go off to Brisbane in this new convertible and go to a club.

Your go.

Well?

I'm 18.

I leave Australia to go to France.

I live with my mum's family.

Oh, no, don't go.

It's really great there.

I work in a bar.

Someone asked me my name.

I say Jean-Pierre Simon.

Simon.

How come you don't seem sad anymore?

I couldn't live without my dad.

Well, you have a choice to be happy or sad.

And I chose to be happy.

And I am happy.

Ah!

Ma!

Mum!

No matter how much we flush, they keep coming back.

Aw.

What's that?

Why is it doing that?

I better call Uncle Jack.

Oh, yeah, Uncle Jack.

Mum, he lives 1,350 kilometres away.

I don't think he's going to come all this way just to see some frogs.

You think you can fix it?

I'm not a bloody plumber.

You've come about the job, then?

What?

I saw you looking at the sign.

Well, have you found anyone?

No, I've only just put up the notice.

Have you done much bookkeeping?

Or sales work?

I've never really had a job before.

My husband earned enough money for both of us.

You divorced then?

No, he died.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Eight months ago.

Well, there's really not that much to it.

I need someone here while I'm out on a job.

Take bookings.

Maybe put away the stock.

Bathrooms.

Doesn't seem that difficult.

You want to give it a go, then?

Yeah, sure.

George.

Dawn.

Hello, Dawn.

So, when do you want me to start?

Tomorrow, 9.30.

OK.

Don't you want to know what the pay is?

Oh, yeah, sure.

400 a week.

Great.

Bye.

See you tomorrow.

Yeah.

Oh, by the way, you wouldn't happen to know a good plumber?

I don't know about a good one, but a plumber?

For sure.

What do you think they mean?

Looks like you've got tree roots blocking your drains.

I know people who build their house around a tree.

I wouldn't recommend it.

Plumber's nightmare.

How's your test?

Yeah, yeah, it was all right.

It's that Morton Bay fig.

They have the most awful roots.

The council ought to ban them.

Oh, look, it's pushing up a fence again.

I've already had it repaired three times.

It's not his fault.

It could be your mango.

It is not my mango.

It's not my mango.

It's a beauty.

A bit of a headache, though.

The drought's driving the roots out in such a moisture.

Should we be watering it, then?

It needs too much.

And it's banned at the moment.

There's water restrictions.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

OK, dinner, everyone.

I'm working tomorrow.

Got to get up early.

Bye-bye, everybody.

It's all toilets and sinks.

Bonnie says the ten years she's been working

I'm sure she's just saying that to cheer me up.

I don't think I can...

I can't leave Simone hanging around here all day long.

It's not good for her.

Dawn!

What in heaven's name are you doing?

I, um...

There's a cat that keeps climbing up and down the tree and makes an all-nighter.

It's an awful racket.

I can't get to sleep.

Or maybe it's rats or possums.

Go to bed, Dawn.

You must be exhausted.

What fun would it be?

I can't hear you against the trees.

Cool.

I

don't really like school.

Let's see.

I'm sweaty, eh?

My husband's dead.

I cry day and night.

Don't need anything.

I smoke a lot.

Let's play a different game.

How about we tell each other secrets, OK?

OK.

My dad talks purely in the tree.

And I go up there every day.

I listen to him.

Speak.

It's the best feeling I've had.

I thought people came back as animals, not plants.

Mine was really, really true.

You just made yourself on the spot, didn't you?

No.

I swear.

Oh, yeah.

You believe in fairy tales?

How big is a person's soul?

Bet you don't know.

Do so.

That's impressive.

You can do it again.

Spent a lot of time waiting for my father in pub lounges.

Liked the drink, did he?

He was a salesman.

Traveled all around.

My mother left us.

She went back to France.

Although, funnily enough, my father was French.

My mother's English.

Well, Scottish, actually.

Anyway, so he brought me up.

And, um... I followed him around and...

we ended up here when I was 17.

And that's how I met my husband.

In a pub.

Love at first sight, was it?

No, not really.

I think I was just fed up waiting for my dad.

I thought life would start when...

when I got married.

And, um... gradually, I...

I realised I...

I'd found a man that was, um...

just right for me.

And we were happy for a very long time.

You're lucky you got your kids.

Yeah, I know.

I can't remember what life was before them.

And I can't imagine life without them.

But I'm rambling.

What about you?

Are you married?

Do you have children?

Well... I don't know.

Oh!

Oh, my God.

Oh, it's okay, son.

I was just worried about you.

I don't know.

I'm sure that I'll get better.

Oh my God.

It's okay.

I'm fine.

It's okay.

Good luck.

Good luck to you.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Where were you?

You were with the police.

Go on, answer.

We called your work.

No one was there.

We tried calling your mobile, it was off.

If something happened to us, what were we supposed to do?

Well, nothing did happen, right?

I was at the pub.

Oh really?

With who?

No one.

No one.

Shut up, Jolly!

What's wrong?

Nothing.

What did you do to him?

Nothing.

I think he just woke up from a nightmare or something.

You can come and sleep with me if you want.

Can I come too?

Oh my god!

Oh my god.

Holy shit!

Bloody brilliant!

What has she done?

What?

Nothing.

Oh really?

What's going on in that head of yours?

It's a dead branch.

You're doing it on purpose.

Why can't you just understand?

It's okay Tim.

I'll do it.

Go to bed.

You never said it was this bad.

Well, the trouble is at night, when the wind is up.

When did it happen?

Friday night.

And you've been sleeping with it there.

Well, I got used to it.

You're lucky you weren't killed.

Oh, I don't think it meant to hurt me.

It's only a tree, doll.

Well, I know that.

I know I have to do something about it, but I just don't know where to start.

Are you kidding?

Okay Tim, start it up.

Yeah.

Make it easy.

Slowly.

Slowly.

Slowly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's it.

Good, good, good.

Yeah.

Keep it a little more.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Slow.

A little more.

Yeah.

A little more.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

That's it.

That's it.

Good.

Everyone okay?

You're too serious, aren't you?

You're a tough one.

You don't mind a bit of pain, do you?

So tell me, how old are you?

Eight.

Jealous, right?

Look at that.

You've grown that much in a year.

That much?

My God, you're growing too fast, darling.

My little girl.

You got a pen so we can mark it?

So beautiful.

Amazing.

Thank you.

They lift you a lot?

Yeah, very long.

Fifteen years.

You're lucky.

Oh, yeah.

I'd better go.

That tarp should be fine for the time being, anyway.

There will be a problem.

I think it could be true.

Nine point two metres.

Nine point two metres?

That's a big route, isn't it?

It's a big route, that's for sure.

And imagine they'd be all around here, they'd be going.

Come down, look down here.

Come on.

And then round there, it gets even worse.

I can tell you, it's practically an obstacle course.

What's all this about?

You might have knocked.

Well, if we were going to... There you were.

You were nosing around.

My apologies, madam.

We didn't know anyone was home.

Well, if you'd knocked, you'd have found out.

Well, it's not your laundry being affected, is it?

Pretty soon, it'll be all our drains.

It will.

And if the sewers back up, then it'll be a public health risk.

Oh, since when have you cared about public health?

Since you proved incapable of minding your own garden.

I won't have you telling me what to do in my own garden.

It's my own property.

Look, I'm going right up to the mayor.

And, um, my cousin is a personal friend of his.

Well, no one is going to make me chop this tree down.

It's mine.

Mrs O'Neil's right, you know.

Surely there must be a way of coming to some friendly agreement, though?

Oh, brilliant.

Then we'll all be back here in another six months.

It's not a tree.

It's... an octopus.

Get around those short poles.

See what you can make.

But the temperature drops dramatically mid-afternoon, and a southerly change

should keep... the extreme heat away.

It definitely gets to 40, 45 degrees, regularly adding...

Call this bloody holiday.

What's it called?

Go on, say it.

Chocolate.

Come on, talk.

Speak.

You won't get any.

And say, please, too.

He won't leave me alone.

Mum always lets him have his own way.

He is a favourite.

I thought Tim was.

No, it's Charlie.

Tim was Dad's favourite.

No.

I was.

Why did Mum decide on her own?

What if I didn't want to go in his crappy caravan?

Are they in love or what?

That's her business.

Can I stay here with you?

As if I'd want you hanging about.

You're so bloody mean.

What if you don't pass your test?

Whether I pass my exams or not doesn't matter.

I'm out of here.

Did you seriously think I was going to sit around

and watch your tree go for the rest of my life?

He wasn't just your dad.

You're not the only one.

Now piss off.

And give this to Mum.

What is it?

Just give it to her.

And none of your business.

So how's Tim getting down?

Well, it depends whether George comes or not.

What?

You mean we have to spend the whole Christmas with him?

Maybe.

I don't know.

Mum!

Simone!

Simone!

Simone, stop!

Simone, don't move!

Simone!

It's his caravan!

He lent it to us!

We can't tell him not to come!

Yes, we can!

OK, well, I'll call him as soon as we get there.

Call him!

I doubt we're in range.

Try.

Hello?

It's his answer machine.

Leave a message.

Hi.

Hi, George, it's...

It's Dawn.

Um...

Listen, I need to talk to you.

Um...

There might be a problem about Christmas.

I'll explain.

OK, see you.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

OK.

Bye!

Bye!

Hey!

Kristin... Where have you been all this fine time?

Just talking to myself about school.

And now it's your lullabies.

Isn't it funny that you stopped me at purchases at school after a ALL?

That's all.

Because it's nothing but of it.

I thought you wanted a fridge.

A fridge?

Oh, you want a whole fridge?

OK, fine.

I passed!

What?

Congratulations!

How are you mate, you alright?

Oh, great marks too!

Give us a hand mate.

Well done.

Look, he passed.

Oh cool.

So does that mean that he's moving to Sydney?

Well, I guess so.

You alright with that?

Thursday child has far to go, they say.

You like it?

It's wonderful, yeah.

Who wants to come for a swim?

I will.

Grace, you there?

Hey, look at you.

All tanned.

Paste?

Yeah.

Did you put any of this?

Well, we could, that's a little bit hot.

For the kids, I got the sweet one.

Like, just a little bit of that.

Careful.

Is anyone brave enough to try one of these?

I will.

That's the man.

Okay, so...

Is it good?

Yeah.

I brought a friend over for Christmas.

Oh my God!

Can I have it?

Do we?

Yeah.

It's our first Christmas without Dad.

And you don't care.

Angel, just... just because I'm having a nice

time doesn't mean that I've forgotten you're Dad.

We're all sad, even Charlie, who doesn't speak.

Deep inside, I know he's as obsessed as we are.

But I'm certain that Dad wants us to enjoy ourselves.

And we're going to miss him for as long as we live.

But we're going to have to learn to live with that.

No.

Are you going to tell me?

What's that?

I will.

I will.

They can't see us.

And we'll hear them if they can.

No, we won't.

Yeah, we will.

It's everywhere.

Dawn, it's too dangerous.

There's a limit.

A limit to what?

To the love of nature.

I've heard enough.

It's going to come down, that's all.

Never.

I can take care of it.

Okay.

Yeah.

I'll call you tomorrow.

All right.

Ready?

Simone, dinner's ready.

Come on down.

No.

Never.

We can't go on like this.

Tim!

Please.

Go up and get her.

Why do I have to do the dirty work?

Simone, come down!

Listen, Simone... Dream on.

Simone, we've had enough of this tree thing.

I'm not coming down.

I've got work tomorrow and I need to get to bed.

I'm staying here till I know for sure they won't hurt it.

How old are you?

You're needed amongst the living.

And the dead.

No.

Leave her be.

The leadership's bound to come down eventually.

I'll be there in a minute.

You shithead!

You bloody shithead!

I hate you!

What do you reckon?

It'll take us a day.

I'll start at the top.

We'll go branch by branch.

There's not the way we can do it.

We'll definitely need the winch.

Alright.

Morning.

Hi.

Simone!

You've got to be reasonable now.

Come on, love.

We've got no choice.

Fuck!

George!

Simone!

Simone!

You going?

Jump!

Careful.

She could easily do it.

George, stop.

Hey!

Simone!

Hey, listen to me.

It's a great place to play.

Look, I understand that.

I do, but can't you see it's destroying the house?

The mum needs your help.

Please.

Let's just be reasonable about this.

Come down, George.

George, come down.

Simone.

Hey.

Hey, look at me.

What is it with the tree?

Come on, sweetheart, you can tell me.

Look, you can't have everything your own way.

Come down, George.

Enough now.

You've got to get her under control.

I can't believe it.

She's eight years old.

You can't let her get away with this.

Just forget about the whole thing.

What are you hoping for, Dawn?

A fucking miracle?

Thank you, guys.

I'm sorry.

Tell me how much I owe you for coming out.

Do you know what this means?

Oh, yes, I do.

Yeah.

Bye now.

Thanks.

I don't understand you.

You're not happy, I know.

But you're not the first person this has ever happened to.

All right?

Get a life, for God's sake.

It's like you enjoy all this.

That must be it, I guess.

Just do me a favor.

Don't ever come back.

Mother Dawn, listen.

Just piss off.

That's it, love.

They're gone.

It's over.

Speak to me.

Those

open beaches, the swell was three meters and bigger in the sets.

Offshore, waves as big as four meters were recorded.

4.8 off Tweed Heads.

Some beaches were affected by erosion.

All were closed.

But every cyclone has a silver lining.

But you're not leaving tonight.

Are you in such a hurry to leave?

Mum, can you stop messing with all my things?

Thanks, Mum, but...

I'm doing stuff right now.

Would you say we're a happy family?

What do you want me to say?

Just the truth will do.

What does it matter?

Happy families are boring anyway.

Mum?

Evacuation kit.

It's cool.

Canned food.

Can opener.

Containers.

It's clean drinking water.

Do we have any spare batteries?

I'm surprised we even found a torch that works.

Don't worry.

I think it'll blow itself out.

How do you do?

At least we'll all die together.

I don't want to die.

Oh, wow, you're talking.

Well done, Johnny.

That's great.

That's all coming off.

Finally.

Everyone had so many good times.

Good on you.

Good on you, Charlie.

I'm proud of you.

Well done.

Close your eyes.

George called.

He thinks we should leave now.

Mum, I'm scared.

Come here.

Come here.

You said it would blow itself out.

Shit!

It's too late.

We have to get under the house.

Simon, Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

Simon!

Come with me!

Come down!

10?

Yeah.

I'm gonna have that one.

Don't squash him!

There might be something at the top.

And then down there.

Hey, not too much.

Just pat it down.

Hi.

Everyone all right?

Yeah, we're OK.

Sorry about your house.

Yeah, it was a great house.

Where you going?

Where you gonna leave?

Oh, well...

I don't really care.

I thought I'd find a tent or something.

You can come and pitch it in my backyard.

We'll be all right.

Will I see you again?

Who knows?

Maybe.

Life is long, right?

See you.

See you.

Bye.

This is the place that I call my home.

Built a home for you, for me... Until death, until death disappears.

I'm in the garden where we planted seeds There is a tree as old as me By the grass

of his skin I climb to the top I come and dream to see the world When a gust of wind

came to pull me down Hold on as tightly as you held on me.