Original subtitles

♫ Worlds away from anyone

♫ They were burning themselves out in the sun

♫ Worlds away from anyone

♫ They were burning themselves out in the sun

♫ There was just enough to get that far away

♫ Ooh

- [Lockie Voiceover] Every now and then,

the planets change position,

for no good reason, they just do,

and suddenly life is simple.

It's as if, for once, the whole world is speaking

a language you totally understand.

After a full-on couple of weeks, I was back in control.

No more environment to save, no more girl troubles.

No more complications.

Take Boof, for example, our arrangement was simple

and easy to understand.

Boof gave me grief, I out-surfed him.

(slow electric guitar music)

Yep, the universe had made my life simple again.

Unfortunately, forgot to have a word with my hormones.

(sirens wailing) (bell ringing)

- And the hip, hop, hap of the clap of the hands

to the swirl and the twirl

of the girl gone glancing, chancing--

- [Lockie Voiceover] Do you think my hormones cared

I had absolutely no chance of getting back

with Vicki Streeton?

No, sorry, not listening.

- Hop, hap of the clap of the hands to the twirl

and the swirl of the girl gone glancing, chancing, dancing,

backing and advancing, snapping of a clapper

to the spin out and in,

and the ting, tong, tang of the guitar!

(students laughing)

Do you remember an inn, Miranda?

Do you remember an inn?

- Um, my name's Lockie.

(students laughing)

- Have you been listening at all?

- No, neither have my hormones.

(students laughing)

- So, having trouble concentrating?

- Sorry? - Look, I realise

you must be pretty upset about Dot dropping you.

Look, if it's any comfort, it doesn't get any simpler

and women, girls, they're tricky creatures to understand.

- Right, couldn't agree more.

- Oh, and they can be a major distraction,

but I find a hobby

or an interest helps, you know, keeps you focused.

So, you're not into poetry, you're shocking at maths,

and hopeless at woodwork,

so what else does Lockie Leonard like?

- [Lockie Voiceover] Vicki Streeton,

but I wasn't saying that to my ex-girlfriend's uncle.

- There's nothing else.

Just surfing.

- Got it!

Form a board riders' association, right here at school.

Well, beats trying to get your head around girls.

- Hold the press, Vicki Streeton's got the lead

in the Nutcracker Suite.

- Nutcracker?

What's that about?

- It's a fairy tale romance about a girl

whose Christmas toy transforms into a prince,

only for a cruel twist of fate

to return him to his original form.

- We should try and get to that, make it a family night out.

- Ah, good idea.

Family night out.

What do you say, Lockie?

- Excellent idea, Sarge.

Except I'm sort of busy setting up

this board riders' association.

- Ah, yes, well that is a big responsibility.

- Ah, well, maybe next time.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Yes, this board riders' association was

a winner already.

Everything was gonna be cruisy from here on.

- Okay, serious talk time.

I received a very disturbing call from Miss Twaddle

about your poetry lesson.

Disappointed isn't the word.

Aghast is more like it.

How could you not enjoy poetry?

It's in your genes.

- Well, I guess I've just got more important stuff

to think about. - What, more important

than poetry?

What could be more important than poetry?

Poetry can change people's lives.

It can mend differences, help people fall in love.

Poetry is the language of romance.

Isn't that right, Joy?

Poetry, language of--

- Romance. - Romance.

What's the problem, son?

Having trouble understanding the language of romance, hm?

- He is!

Otherwise Dot wouldn't have dumped him.

- I was gonna dump her first!

- Oh, now, that's gotta hurt.

- Well, it's only natural after being so horribly rejected.

- I was not rejected!

And I'm not hurt!

And I'm not interested in poetry!

It's not like it's ever going to be useful!

- [Lockie Voiceover] As soon as I said it,

I wished I could swallow the words back.

- Oh, you mustn't blame yourself, Sarge.

Maybe I should have read him more Dr. Seuss.

- A Leonard without poetry,

it's akin to a forest without trees,

an ocean without water, a room without a view.

There must be something we can do, Joy.

- Maybe there is, Sarge.

When was the last time you read me a love poem?

This morning, don't you remember?

- No, I meant in public.

Maybe Lockie just needs to see

the power of poetry on the Leonard lips.

- You should read some of these poems, Lock.

They're inspired.

No wonder women love this stuff.

You should listen to what Sarge says,

unless you want your next girlfriend to dump you too.

- Night, Phillip.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Tonight, I just want to forget

about Vicki and girls and the language of romance,

all that confusing stuff.

Come on, Lockie, dream of something simple,

something you understand,

like the Board Riders' Association or surfing.

Or even Boof.

- Look at you, my princess, poised and perfect.

I know you're going to make me proud.

- Don't worry, Mum, I'm gonna dance my legs off for you.

- I know you will, my princess.

You never disappoint me.

Unlike some children.

(screams)

- [Lockie Voiceover] Okay, okay, I didn't need a dream

to tell me I had to make it up to Sarge.

I just needed a plan, like Phillip.

- "And one was there, a stripling

"on a small and weedy beast.

"He was something like a racehorse undersized

"with a touch of Timor pony, three parts thoroughbred

"at least, and such as are by mountain horsemen prized."

- Good, yeah, terrific.

Well done, Phillip.

Yeah, really enjoyed it. - Whoa, whoa, whoa,

whoa, whoa, whoa, Lisa.

He hasn't finished yet.

Go on, Phillip, "He was hard..."

"He was hard and tough and wiry

"just the sort that won't say die."

- Do you have to be a surf-rat to join?

I mean, can you be a metal head?

- Being able to swim might be useful, Egg.

- Hang on, dude, you can't put these up!

- Why not? - Read the initials!

- B-R-A?

- Which spells?

- Board Riders' Association?

- Have a closer look!

- B-R-A, bra.

Bra! Ah!

(soft crack)

- Are you okay?

Why don't you watch where you're going?

- It was an accident.

- You sure you're all right?

- I'm fine.

- Can't be too careful.

I had a friend who broke her metatarsal,

she never danced again.

- She broke her what?

- Metatarsal.

A tiny bone in your foot.

And if Vicki's broken it--

- She never danced again.

Really?

- [Lockie Voiceover] Good going, Leonard.

What else could go wrong?

- Welcome to the first meeting

of Angelus High Board Riders' Association.

- Board Riders' Association.

Check it out.

B-R-A, it's bra.

(students laughing)

- And you're looking at me because?

(students laughing)

And you're looking at me because?

- Good move, Bra Boy.

Suppose you'd better get the best surfer in the school, huh?

- Lockie's already here, genius.

- Hilarious, excuse me while I wet myself.

- Fine.

And when you're done, feel free to join up.

- Join up?

Think I might do more than that.

Think I wanna be president.

- Hey, it's Lockie's club.

If anyone's gonna be president, it's him.

- Prepare to lose, Leonard.

- Bring it on, Boof.

(bell ringing)

- We'll sort this out tomorrow.

Same time, same place.

- I'll be here.

- [Lockie Voiceover] With one disaster postponed

till tomorrow, I decided to see how Vicki was.

- [Instructor] Arms out.

- [Lockie Voiceover] And how was she?

Totally gorgeous.

That's how.

Until she started dancing.

- [Instructor] Step back.

Beautiful.

Pirouette.

- Ow.

(Lockie grunts)

- [Lockie Voiceover] How many kinds of bad can

I feel at once?

Whose life would I ruin next?

- Who did it?

Wait until your father finds out, he'll kill him!

And if he doesn't, I will!

- What you may not realise, Lockie,

is that poetry can be very powerful.

It's what made me take another look at your father.

Oh!

He had such a way with words.

- Mum, are you okay?

Your arm's kinda twitching there.

- Oh, no.

Nothing wrong here.

I was just saying, Lockie, that your father, the Sarge,

(toilet flushing) had such a way with words.

- "Shall I compare thee with a summer's day?"

- Sarge?

- "Thou art more lovely and more temperate

"when rough winds do shake the darling buds of May."

(romantic piano music)

- Lisa couldn't stop raving about

my rendition of The Man From Snowy River.

I think she's ready to commit.

- [Lockie Voiceover] My 10 year old brother knows more

about the language of romance than I do.

Am I the only one in this family who doesn't understand it?

- What about you, Cyril?

(sheep bleats)

- [Lockie Voicover] I woke up the next day determined

to be positive.

I mean, bad luck can't go on for ever, right?

- The way I figure it, Vicki's foot's just bruised,

be sore for a bit, that's all.

Just like one of those 12-hour things.

- Or a 1,200-hour thing.

- Perfect.

Now she'll never want to talk to me ever again.

- I thought you had already reached that stage.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Hello, what was that supposed to mean?

I'd ruined her life and she's winking at me?

At least with Boof, I knew exactly what was what.

I wanted to be president,

he wanted to grind my chances into the dirt.

Pure and simple.

- Let's get this over with, like tearing off a Band-Aid.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Nope, no complications here.

- Hands up!

All those in favour of Boof for president.

- [Boys] Boof, Boof, Boof!

- [Boof] Let's finish this.

- All those in favour for Lockie.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Sure, it would have been nice to win,

but I'm still the best surfer in the group.

Definitely no complications here.

(door clunks)

- What do you want?

- Lockie for president.

All those in favour?

- That's a clear majority for Leonard.

- Why'd you do that?

- [Vicki] Do what?

- Vote for me.

- Maybe it was my way of thanking you.

- But I broke your foot, you might never dance again.

- Maybe I don't wanna dance any more.

Maybe I've never wanted to be a dancer.

The only reason I did it was because Mum made me.

And then when you stood on my foot,

and Sasha told me about her friend,

it gave me the perfect way out.

There's so many tiny bones in your foot,

it's real easy to fake.

- [Lockie Voiceover] John East was right.

Girls are so tricky.

How was anyone supposed to understand them?

But at least she was talking to me again.

Quick, brain, think of something to say.

Scan the files for a conversation subject.

Surf?

That's not gonna cut it.

Are you kidding?

Next! (sheep bleats)

Sorry, Cyril.

(grunts)

Wait, hold on.

This could work.

- What about your mum?

- Sorry?

- What did you tell your mum?

- Don't worry, I didn't tell her it was you.

I said it was an accident.

- Isn't she disappointed, though?

- She'll get over it.

- But you were the lead role.

- I only got the lead role

because Dad's car yard's sponsoring the show.

I didn't deserve it.

You're the best surfer at school,

you deserve to be president.

Just don't tell anyone, okay?

- Okay.

Not a soul.

- Hey, heard about you and Dot.

Sorry.

(elegant piano music)

- [Lockie Voiceover] Vicki knew I existed again

and it felt great.

It's strange, just when you think you understand someone,

they surprise you.

(man shouting)

- What's the use of this sort of stuff?

Bend it like a blade of grass!

- [Lockie Voiceover] I couldn't hear what Boof's dad

was saying, but I'm guessing it wasn't,

"I'm proud of you, son, no matter what."

Some families have poetry in their genes, apparently,

while others, they have bullying.

- Ooh!

That is so good!

President, you, president!

Oh, that is so wonderful!

Isn't it just so wonderful?

- Great to see you putting your mind to something, son.

- Thanks, Sarge.

And I know there are more important things than surfing,

like poetry, and I promise I'll try harder

to understand them better.

- I am so proud of you, no matter what.

Just remember, poetry is in everything.

It's everywhere, it's in the air we breathe.

We just have to look for it.

(knocking)

- I'll get it!

- Hey, Phillip, I found this at the movie store,

it's the movie of Man From Snowy River.

You seemed so passionate about the poem.

- I'm passionate about many things, Lisa.

Thank you very much.

Apparently, it's a masterpiece of Australian cinema.

We should watch it together some time.

How are you placed for tonight?

- I don't think that's possible.

- What?

Why is it so impossible?

- Because the DVD player's broken.

- Oh, of course.

I knew that.

- I can't tonight, anyway, I've got plans.

(car honking)

Anyway, I better run.

(sombre guitar music)

- They could be neighbours going to the same video shop

to return their movies.

- Night, Phillip.

- Or she could be going to his house

to watch a movie with him, and what did she do first?

She came here.

- Night, Phillip.

- I was the one she bought the DVD for, with her own money,

and it all started with a poem.

- Night, Phillip.

- Sarge is right, the language of romance,

it works every time.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Let's get this straight,

I step on Vicki's foot and then, suddenly,

both her and Sasha get what they want?

It's official, girls make no sense.

Luckily, I had other less confusing things to distract me,

like the Board Riders' Association's

first surf-off competition.

I was psyched.

This was going to be the sporting event of the year.

The highlight of the surfing calendar.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly the Bells Beach classic,

but who cares, everyone who mattered turned up.

And the most important thing was

we were all there to enjoy the surfing and have a good time.

Well, almost everyone.

- [Boof's Dad] Understand?

- So, Lockie, shall we get this party started?

- Sounds good.

- All right, let's do it!

- [Lockie Voiceover] So, this is me,

Boof and the other surfers through the heats.

It took a while, so here's the highlights package.

(crowd cheering)

(slow rock music)

(horn wails)

After four knock-out rounds,

it was only Boof and I left, tied for the lead,

which meant only one thing, sudden death.

Like I said before, with me and Boof,

the arrangement is simple, easy to understand.

He gives me grief, then I out-surf him.

But now, things with Boof weren't so simple.

- What's the use of this sort of stuff?

Bend it like a blade of grass!

Know what you are?

- [Lockie Voiceover] and I knew what I had to do.

This wave coming up, it'd guarantee me victory,

and the other day, I would have taken it, but not today.

Just this once, maybe Boof deserved to win.

(upbeat pop rock music)

- Yeah!

Son!

(crowd cheering)

- Yeah!

- [Boof's Dad] Ah, yes!

Good boy!

Good job, son!

- Well done, Boof! - Good on ya, son!

- Hey, Leonard!

You might cheat your way to being president,

but who's the best surfer, eh?

- You, Boof.

- Come on! - The way I figured it,

I'd already won.

- Well done, son!

- Thanks, Dad.

I gave it all I had.

- Oh, you hear that, Joy?

A rhyming couplet.

All is not lost.

Told you poetry was in the genes.

- Aw, family hug!

- I can't believe I'm sitting here

like some dumb adoring surf chick.

Again.

I thought it was really great how you ended it.

- What? Us?

- No, the surf-off with Boof, how you let him win.

- I didn't let him win.

- You're too good a surfer to have missed that wave.

You handed it to him on purpose.

You've grown up, Lockie Leonard.

- Really?

Think so? - It was bound

to happen eventually.

I just had to be patient.

- [Lockie Voiceover] This was it.

It was now or never.

I had to tell Vicki how I felt,

speak the language of romance.

But how do you speak a language you don't understand?

- Poetry is in everything.

It's everywhere, it's in the air we breathe.

We just have to look for it.

- Your hair smells like strawberry topping.

- Excuse me?

- That Mum buys when she goes shopping.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Go on, don't give up.

Keep looking.

There has to be poetry here somewhere.

- Your eyes are nice and blue,

like water, that is blue too.

I know this poem is really dumb,

but from now on, I promise I'll try harder to understand.

I'm crazy about you, Vicki.

- [Lockie Voiceover] Sarge was right,

poetry can change people's lives.

- The poem needs work,

but you can kiss me again if you like.

- [Lockie Voiceover] And just like that,

it was as if the planets had shifted again.

Suddenly, Vicki and I understood each other

and it was a beautiful thing, just like poetry.

(elegant piano music)

(upbeat rock music)

♫ Doo, ooh, ooh, ooh

♫ Ooh, ooh, ooh

♫ Ooh, ooh, ooh

♫ A boy is breaking underneath the weight of strain

♫ Ah, ha, ha

♫ Ah, ha, ha

♫ Worlds away from anyone

♫ They were burning themselves out in the sun

♫ Worlds away from anyone

♫ They were burning themselves out in the sun

♫ There was just enough to keep them far away

♫ Ooh