Original subtitles

GEORGE: Endings can be brutal.

Like the unexpected death of a friend...

or a friendship.

This column has become, over the years, a vicarious friendship.

But even good friendships sometimes can be...

Ice?

GEORGE: interrupted.

-Dad? -Corrupted...

and have to come to an end.

You promised you´d get ice for the party.

There´s ice in the freezer.

Which will last all of two minutes

with all the people coming.

I didn´t want to make it a wide invitation

because if no one came, it could have been embarrassing for Jan.

-She doesn´t want a fuss. -Dad, it´s Weld.

We´re gonna need more ice.

Fine.

Popping down to the shop.

More juice. More lettuce. More...

Everything. Nachos.

Three bags.

And vodka.

GEORGE: Dream on.

[ Sizzling ]

That´s a lot of meat for a small gathering.

-You think? -You may have over-catered.

Yeah, but the meat is a metaphor

for the amount of love being shared.

Yeah, and as host,

you wouldn´t want to run out of love, would you?

Yeah, whatever.

♫ I´ve been awake now for far too long ♫

[ Both laugh ]

♫ But I´ve alive ♫

♫ I´m alive ♫

♫ Well, I´m alive ♫

♫ I´m alive ♫

-♫ Oh-oh ♫ -♫ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh ♫

♫ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh ♫

-Want a hand, Mr. Turner? -Oh, yeah.

-Ollie, isn´t it? -Yep.

You stocking up for the big party, eh?

-Yes. -Jan´s a great lady.

We´re all sorry to see her go.

-You know Jan? -Yeah, yeah.

She filled up your car here.

Real nice. We talked a lot.

Yeah, huge loss to Weld, eh?

Everyone´s kind of gutted.

But, um, at least Shay´s back, right?

-You must be stoked about that. -Yes, I am.

When you say everyone´s gutted about Jan...

Yeah. For sure.

I´ll just grab a few more things.

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

[ Smiler singing in Italian ]

MAN: Yeah! Nice one, Smiler!

Thank you, Smiler, for the Verdi.

And to Monty for the heartfelt poem.

Interesting how you managed to rhyme "orange"

-and "bosom." -Bosom. Yeah.

[ Laughter ]

BIG MAC: Needless to say, Jan, we are all going to miss you.

But as we say here in Weld, people arrive as strangers,

and they leave as friends.

And when they go, they take a little part of Weld with them.

-Hear, hear. -BIG MAC: Oh, here he is...

The missing host. George, a few words?

Yeah, but not 800. Just a couple, all right?

[ Laughter ]

Well, thank you all for coming.

And, Jan, you´ve obviously made quite an impression

on these great people.

Takes one to know one, George.

[ Laughter ]

Thank you, Monty.

And we will miss you.

And, uh...

And we will... We will miss you.

And no more speeches, please, you lovely people.

Just more drinking and more dancing!

-[ Cheers and applause ] -MAN: Cheers!

Okay.

-Circulate and mingle. -ARLO: Oh.

Cool.

-Did you hear Bevan resigned? -From the school?

Effective immediately.

Run off with a student teacher from Stafford.

Oh, that must have been awkward for Penny,

-the receptionist. -The slut.

-[ Stammers ] -I tried to empathize.

I really did. But I failed.

We are only human.

The thing is, I´m thinking of applying.

For the principal´s job?

You think it´s a terrible idea, don´t you?

-No, you´d be great. -Really?

GEORGE: Yeah, you´d be perfect.

Apart from being Australian... and a woman...

single, still in my 30s, and childless.

So?

Well, potential to return home and/or start a new relationship

or want to start a family before it´s too late.

Well, if it was up to me, I´d give you the job.

If only because of... And call me old-fashioned...

Your obvious talents and love of teaching.

Oh! Thank you for the vote of confidence, George.

Um, hey, I got you another.

Oh. Cheers, Woody.

[ Gasps ] Fiona.

-She seems chipper. -Tracey?

-Yeah. -Yeah, she is.

-Look, I´ve got to thank you. -Me? What for?

For all the work you´ve done around the place.

Oh, well, it worked, didn´t it? You got your girl home.

-Yeah, I did. -Yeah.

But there is still plenty of work to be done.

Like how it´s gonna be mint when the grass

-comes through on the new lawn. -Oh, yeah.

But, um...

are you gonna be wanting me to mow that for you, George?

What? You´re my builder. I wouldn´t ask you to mow my lawn.

Yeah, no, good, ´cause I reckon that it´s important

that a man maintains his own lawn.

Indeed.

Yeah.

Now that Shay´s back in her old room, that means you must be?

Sleeping on an air bed in the lounge room.

Oh.

Oh, dang. That´s tragic.

-Oh, yeah? -Mm.

Oh, yeah? And how are you and Shay, then?

Uh...

maybe I´m swearing off women for the near future.

Yeah, like I believe that.

I´d say from the look in his eyes,

he´s still very interested.

Well, he can look all he likes, but he ain´t getting any.

I offer you the job to run my newspaper,

and the next thing I know,

you´re on the plane back to Sydney.

Was the champagne not to your liking?

It was a very generous offer, but, no,

I have things to sort out back home.

Mm. Such as?

JAN: Well, the job I already have.

If it´s still there.

Exactly. So I better go face the music.

Or I could throw a hand grenade at the situation,

make an even bigger mess, and run away... again.

[ Both laugh ]

I like that.

Why cause a ripple when you can make a splash?

-Yeah. -Good luck, Jan.

And if it doesn´t pan out across the ditch,

you know where to find us.

Thank you.

You know, I´m gonna miss you... A lot.

Stop talking nonsense, George, and freshen my drink.

[ Crowd cheering, up-tempo rock music plays ]

♫ I want to see a picture of you ♫

♫ Show me the way you move ♫

♫ I want you ♫

♫ I need you, girl ♫

[ Laughs ]

Come on, boring people.

Watching you and Monty is more than enough dancing for me.

Hey, does Zac do ABBA?

Yeah, right after he does [Deep voice] Barry White.

[ Laughter ]

KATIE: So, your flight´s tomorrow, then?

Yep.

It´s been great having you ´round.

You don´t have to say that.

Oh, lucky you don´t have to stay for the summer.

Ignore her. The summer is great here.

HANNAH: Not with all the summer people.

-The who? -HANNAH: Oh, the townies,

who invade the place with their boogie boards

and their barbecue reggae.

And, oh, don´t get me started with the Jet Skis.

Seriously, don´t start her. Don´t.

Sounds like Sydney´s a safer bet.

[ Women chuckle ]

You girls look after my George.

I think George can look after himself.

Yes, but I´m putting him in your safe hands.

He deserves only the best.

♫ Don´t leave me waiting for you ♫

[ Mid-tempo rock plays ]

This particularly sexy groove is going out

to all the beautiful women in the house...

particularly the lady of the hour,

who is loving us and leaving us.

Yeah, that´s what we´re gonna miss.

Stop being a dick, Zac!

ZAC: Also going out to Katie, mother of my third child

and lover of all things artistic and manly.

You´re still being a dick.

Dance with me.

Sure.

-I think I will. -What?

Apply for the job.

-Good on you. -Yeah.

I probably won´t get it.

-GEORGE: Of course you will. -TRACEY: Oh.

-Thanks, George. -[ Laughs ]

You.

[ Squeals ]

♫ In my dreams ♫

♫ Oh, oh ♫

♫ In my dreams ♫

JAN: I guess this is it.

-SHAY: Have a safe flight. -JAN: Yeah.

Talk to you soon.

-See you soon. -Yes.

-ARLO: See ya later. -Bye, darling.

-Skype soon? -Absolutely.

Talk soon?

Yeah.

[ Chuckles ]

-See ya. -See ya.

[ Vehicle door closes, engine starts ]

[ Vehicle departs ]

Auntie Jan again.

Yes, she is.

Saying goodbye is easy when it´s the right thing to do.

But when it isn´t, goodbyes can come out of the blue,

leaving you feeling like there is unfinished business.

Knock, knock.

-Just working here, Woody. -Yeah, sure.

So, is that your final column, then, is it?

-Yes. -Yeah, what´s it about?

Being a final column.

Oh, yeah. That figures.

Everything okay, Woody?

Yeah. It´s good.

So, Jan´s gone?

Yes.

I guess that makes you a free agent now.

I hadn´t really thought about it like that.

But it is over, right?

Yes. It is over between me and Jan.

Good.

Is there something you want, Woody?

Nah. Just dropping off a little invoice for work to date.

Okay. I´ll take a look at it when I´m done here.

Whatever.

[ Door closes ]

Woody.

Woody!

-Woody! -[ Engine starts ]

Woody!

WOODY: Hey, it´s Woody.

Just ´cause I´m not talking to you

doesn´t mean I´m not hearing you.

[ Beep ]

Yeah, it´s George.

We need to talk about your little invoice.

Hey. What´s up with Woody?

Oh, have you two broken up?

Quite possibly.

-What is it? -His invoice.

Whoa! $40,000?

40 grand? For what?

GEORGE: Work done, apparently.

-ARLO: That´s not very specific. -It´s very Woody, though.

We´re out of milk, if anyone´s interested.

-Hey. -FIONA: Hey.

I´m looking for Woody.

-And what else is new? -I´m trying to get hold of him,

but he´s not answering his phone.

-Again, nothing new there. -He hasn´t been in.

Have you tried his place?

Well, no, because I realized

I actually don´t know where he lives.

But if you could tell me, that would be most helpful.

No, sorry.

Neither. Can´t help you.

-Can´t or won´t? -Can´t.

Woody´s a no-fixed-abode kind of guy.

His living arrangements are a mystery to one and all.

MONTY: Actually, I think you´ll find

he´s staying at the Baylises´ bach.

Great. Where´s that?

Although they´re coming back early,

so he might have moved on.

He´ll be at the Taits´.

-Okay. -Or the Van der Klerks´.

No, the Tremains´.

So, he house-sits?

Sits, squats. Why do you want him?

Well, Woody dumped a ridiculous invoice on my desk and ran away.

-It needs to be discussed. -Challenged?

Explained would be a start.

You all right there, Bill?

He´s pining for his daughter.

You´re welcome to take Lindsay home any time you like.

No, no. She made her bed. She can lie in it.

That bed being in my house.

You invited her to stay, George.

Not in so many words.

Maybe it´s time to get a bigger house, George.

-I´ll keep an eye out. -GEORGE: With Woody´s invoice,

I´m unlikely to be able to afford a bigger house.

-Thanks, Monty. -You´re hurting. I understand.

Woody was doing some work for Katie at her gallery.

You could try there.

Well, why didn´t you...

[ Sighs ]

KATIE: He was here two days ago.

He dropped off some materials, but he´s yet to actually start.

-Hardly surprising. -Something the matter?

Well, he just sprung a rather large invoice on me

and then disappeared.

[ Chuckles ] You´ve been Woodied.

"Woodied"?

Where he forgets and forgets and forgets,

-and then it all adds up. -Possibly.

Although "taken for a ride"

is another term that springs to mind.

George. You´re his friend.

You know it´s not in his nature to rip anyone off.

This is about business.

Friendship´s got nothing to do with it.

Things are never just about business, in my experience.

I´m not questioning his friendship.

Just his ability to quantify his billing, that´s all.

-Do you know where he lives? -Lives or stays?

Either/or.

No. [ Chuckles ]

I´ve never needed to know.

You could try Tracey´s place.

He´s staying there?

He sometimes...retreats there.

Sometimes regularly.

Okay, thanks.

TRACEY: Woody... gone to the beach.

If you need me, come find me.

-WOMAN: Hi. -Hi.

Tracey.

Hello, George.

GEORGE: Have you seen Woody?

I´m not sure I can answer that question...

Well, a simple "yes" or "no" would be a good start.

Without you obeying the rules.

[ Sighs ]

-I haven´t seen him, actually. -[ Groans ]

He was supposed to be fixing a broken trellis for me, but...

Sounds like Woody.

Over-committed and overcharging for it.

-So it´s true. -What?

You don´t want to pay his invoice.

-You know about the invoice? -The kumara vine, George.

Fiona called to ask if I´d seen him.

-Don´t you have the money? -No, I have the money.

But you don´t want to pay it?

I didn´t say that. I just need to understand it.

I can´t pay what I don´t understand.

Is it written in hieroglyphics?

GEORGE: No, but it seems that he´s been free and easy

-with the numerical system. -WOODY: [ Laughs ]

How did I know I would find you here?

Well, I thought the same thing, which is why I´m here.

Oh, really? There´s no other reason why you might be here?

No. I just want to understand the invoice.

Well, it´s not in code, George.

TRACEY: [ Clears throat ]

-Woody. -What?

Oh. Yeah, righto.

GEORGE: 40 grand for work done is a little bit vague.

Well, I´ve done the work, so please pay me.

I mean, it´s pretty bloody clear to me.

Yeah, but with your hourly rate, that´s a lot of hours.

-You calling me a liar? -No, but [Sighs]

40 grand, Woody?!

Well, you´ve never disputed my other bills.

Well, that´s because they were all itemized.

Exactly. Itemized down to the last screw.

But this isn´t. And those hours.

How many of those were work, and how many were...

Were for what? Surfing?

I have never charged you for surfing.

Okay, okay. But I didn´t keep track.

Yeah, ´cause clients never do, right? But I do.

I keep them all notated down in my little black book,

which I carry with me at all times.

Yeah, obviously not right now ´cause I´m starkers, all right?

But it´s all in there... In detail.

Guys. Maybe we should take this somewhere a little more...

Private? Well, he´s already gone public with his accusations.

I was thinking somewhere more with clothes on.

This feels like a clothes-on conversation.

No.

If George can´t say what he wants naked to my face,

then I don´t want to hear it at all.

Can I not question "work done"?

Do I just have to assume that you´re telling me the truth?

You really don´t trust me.

Trust has got nothing to do with it.

WOODY: On the subject of work done,

I never charged you for saving your life

or helping you out in times of need.

Nah, nah, nah, nah. That´s just what mates do.

Woody, this is about business.

Oh, well, would you feel more comfortable

if I invoiced our friendship

and we just keep it all on that level?

Friendship has got nothing to do with it!

Yeah! Clearly, George!

Okay, boys.

You haven´t even finished the job.

I´ve still got a hole above my bed.

Yeah, and I would never charge you for work I haven´t done!

All right, let´s all just take a step back

-and put some clothes on. -WOODY: You know what?

Maybe you need to find someone that´ll do it for you cheaper.

-I may have to. -Yeah, go ahead.

-I will. -Okay, good, and that´s that.

Yeah? I´m just your ex-builder.

And you, George Turner, you´re a free agent.

Free to go wherever you want.

TRACEY: I think it´s fair to say

that went about as badly as humanly possible.

Yeah.

Here we go.

[ Dialing ]

Stafford BuildRite?

Yeah. Hi. My name is George Turner.

I live in Weld,

and I´ve got a hole in my ceiling

which I would very much like fixing.

First thing tomorrow?

That´ll be great.

Yeah, I´ll text you my address.

Okay, thank you. See you then.

Does this mean no more Woody?

I´m after a level of professionalism

that has been sadly lacking.

Is that because you can´t pay the invoice?

I can pay. The question is, should I pay?

Have we run out of money?

No. We have not run out of money.

There´s still no milk.

Lindsay...you could always go get some yourself.

Or you could go to your house,

where I´m sure there´ll be plenty of milk.

That´s okay.

I´ll just have juice.

[ Refrigerator door opens ]

There´s no juice either.

Lindsay...

could you give us a moment?

-We need to talk. -LINDSAY: Sure.

What about?

No. It´s, um, a family talk.

Fine.

Whatever.

Get rid of her, or I will kill her.

Yep, yeah.

What are we meeting about?

Seriously, have we run out of money?

Okay. When your mother died,

I took stock of the money situation.

I devised a plan, and I wrote this out.

-Like a fiscal plan? -Which we´ve stuck to

and which has allowed us to live the way we do.

So, as you can see, we have not run out of money.

Yet.

What?

Dad, it´s only a matter of time.

According to this,

basically what we´ve been doing the last few months

is living off savings to provide for a household of three...

Now four, thanks to Arlo´s Good Samaritan

"I might get lucky" routine.

I´m a humanitarian. So sue me.

To put it bluntly, your column has always paid terribly,

and we can´t go on like this... Burning through capital

to top up the needs of an ever-expanding household.

GEORGE: [ Sighs ] Look...

You need to get a job.

I have a job.

Writing a final column

doesn´t really count as sustainable employment.

Well... Well, what about you?

Given your decision to shun

your educational endeavors, why don´t you get a job?

Help us stave off this financial Armageddon.

Exactly. Which is why I already have a job.

Since when?

Do you need a job?

Yeah. Yeah, I do.

-I have a job for you. -Cool.

-Just like that? -Yep.

Which is more than I can say for you two losers.

I´d help, but I´m still studying.

GEORGE: When a friendship ends, there is a vacuum.

When it ends badly, that vacuum

can be quickly filled with a sense of loss.

Or a belligerent need to be right.

Thank you for being so prompt. Just come this way.

Mind your step.

That it?

-Too small? -[ Chuckles ]

No job´s too big or too small, George,

but all jobs are worth doing right.

That´s what you get with BuildRite.

Well, that´s music to my ears, Dave.

I notice you´ve had some other recent work done.

-Who was that with? -Uh, a bloke called Woody.

Woody.

Oh, right. [ Laughs ]

I´ll take a look and measure up, okay?

-ARLO: Hey, Dad. -Excuse me.

Are you sure we can afford this?

Arlo, it is just a quote.

Okay, good. ´Cause like Shay said...

Arlo, the money will be fine, and the job needs doing.

That hole has been bothering me for a long time.

-Yeah, but is it a priority? -And at least this time,

it will be done on time and cost-effectively.

Okay.

-Okay? -Okay.

Dave.

I´ve got to head out.

Okay. Well, I´ll close the door behind me

and leave the quote on the bench.

Great. Thanks.

Ah.

It´s a very big ocean out there, boys.

So it´s true, then?

You two really aren´t talking to each other.

He wahine, he whenua, ka ngaro te tangata.

What?

He wahine, he whenua, ka ngaro te tangata.

WOODY: "Whenua"?

There´s no land involved.

Well, I think, in this case, land could mean money, Woody.

Yeah? Well, maybe if people

actually said what they actually mean.

Ohh!

Excuse my ignorance, but what is "he wahine"...

He whenua, ka ngaro te tangata? Well, it´s a Maori proverb.

Yeah, got that much. Meaning?

I think that´s for me to know and for you to find out.

GEORGE: No. Just tell me what it means!

-[ Rock music plays ] -Hi.

MONTY: Sad news, my friend.

-About what? -Separation.

You and Woody.

Irreconcilable differences.

It´s just a business dispute.

I want you to know I´m always here for you, George.

I´m always up for bowls, tennis, cricket,

badminton, table soccer.

I´ve got a bloody good ´80s dance DVD.

Come and have a boogie.

I´m sure that Woody and I can find a way through this.

Well, I admire your optimism, George.

We don´t usually take credit, but I can make an exception.

I can pay for my coffee.

But you can´t pay Woody.

-Money is not the issue here. -Really?

No more column, dwindling savings.

George...

you need a job.

What I need is people to get off my back.

-I have one for you. -A job?

Yeah. Barman.

I can only pay minimum wage, but you could start tonight.

But only on a trial basis, even though I know

that you´ve had previous experience.

I appreciate the offer. You´re a good friend.

No. This is business.

We don´t bring friendship into it.

-Can I think about it? -No.

You think too much.

Usual?

Uh, yeah. Ta.

[ Footsteps approaching ]

10 grand?!

The builder guy asked me if it was okay

to get to the root of the problem.

I said, "Okay, whatever."

He asked you?

LINDSAY: Arlo was at an exam, and Shay was out,

and you said you wanted the job done properly.

That hole is way bigger than it was before.

Yeah, it is.

Cool. You got avocados.

Only me.

Why are you here?

To see George.

I´m not moving back home.

BIG MAC: That´s not why I´m here.

And why would you? Looks like George

is taking better care of you than your own father...

despite the fact that the bank is foreclosing on him.

Oh, for God´s sake.

BIG MAC: Don´t worry, George.

Many great men in history have had to go bankrupt

before making their true wealth.

Of course, many others have also ended up destitute

in a ditch on the side of the road.

But I´m not gonna let that happen to you.

There really is no problem.

Don´t be silly, George. My car awaits.

I don´t follow.

On the contrary, George. You must follow.

Well, here it is...

The hub of social commentary and local news.

I take it I´m not here to place a classified.

Work wanted?

You could.

Or you could just take what´s on offer.

All of this can be yours, George.

Wow.

Editor of News of the Weld?

BIG MAC: I´ve always said you´re the best man for the job.

Although you did offer it to Jan.

But she is not a man.

And now nor is she available.

But you... You´re here.

And frankly, there isn´t anyone else who could possibly do it.

GLORIA: I suppose he´s got to be better than Monty.

BIG MAC: Not now, Gloria.

Well, that´s not saying much. Monty was completely useless.

George Turner, Gloria Henley.

Gloria.

George.

Gloria´s in charge

of the technical aspects of the operation.

What Mac´s trying to say is that he has no idea what I do.

He thinks this paper gets published by accident.

That´s not true, Gloria.

GLORIA: I wrangle the contributors.

I take input, and I make it output.

Fonts, layout, export the files,

coordinate print deadlines, point of sale.

But, apart from that, it´s true... I do nothing.

Thanks, Gloria.

Don´t want to hold you up.

GLORIA: So, you´re taking over here, are you?

Nothing´s been decided.

I like a tight ship.

Now, if you´ll excuse me, gentlemen, I must go wees.

George.

[ Door closes ]

Don´t worry about Gloria.

She´s, um... She´s a good stick.

Thanks for the offer, Big Mac, but I...

I think I´ll... I think I´ll think about it.

Hey! Mr. T.

Any word from Jan?

Not yet.

When she does, say "hi" from me, eh?

Amazing lady.

Yeah, will do.

Hey, I heard Shay got a job.

-Yeah, she has. -[ Horn honking ]

ZAC: Hey, George!

Need a lift, old fulla?

Me?

So, it is true. You are on skid row.

No.

Clearly you had to sell your car.

I got a lift into town. I want to get home.

It´s as simple as that.

Well, you did send Shay out to work.

She sent herself out to work.

Oh, tell her I say "hello," by the way.

Yeah, all right.

Hey, Zac.

Hannah said something to me yesterday in Maori

which obviously I didn´t understand.

Uh, it was, um...

"he wahine, he..."

He wahine, he whenua, ka ngaro te tangata?

Yeah, that´s it.

I´ve had that one used against me a few times.

"For women and land, men will perish."

-Land? -Or money.

Maybe it´s more about a woman.

No, no. She said it in regard to me questioning Woody´s invoice.

Uh-huh.

GEORGE: Why would she say that?

Well, it´s always been about a woman

when used against me, George.

Danced with anyone lately?

♫ Everybody knows how much it hurts ♫

Tracey.

Yes, you were.

Hmm.

I was headed for home.

But perhaps this is where you need to be.

This is a nice surprise.

Spontaneous visit. Hope you don´t mind.

-Why would I mind? -Well, you might not.

Somebody else might.

That person being?

-Woody. -Ah.

Have you two kissed and made up yet?

Not yet, but I may have tracked down the source of the problem.

You´ve found the money to pay him? Great.

No, the money isn´t the problem. I have the money.

Even without a job?

The money isn´t...

-The problem is you. -Me?

GEORGE: And him.

Together you are the problem.

Which is due largely to the way that he feels about you.

You do know how he feels about you, right?

[ Woody chuckles ]

Alley-up-ah!

[ Both laugh ]

I have a fair idea, yeah.

I mean...

He´s been absolutely wonderful to me over the years.

And I have cherished his company as a friend and...

And have you talked about this?

The thing about talking to Woody,

about anything, let alone love,

is that often when you´ve finished talking,

it´s not actually any clearer.

[ Laughs ]

Yeah, yeah, I totally get that.

Oh, my God, I am such a terrible person.

You? Why?

I´ve been taking him for granted this whole time.

I´ve been abusing the friendship.

No, no, I don´t think it´s as cut and dry as all that.

I mean, this is Woody, after all.

The important thing, however, is that you and him

need to sit down and actually have that talk.

Yeah, I guess we do.

I still don´t get how you got dragged into all this.

Well, it all started with a discussion that we were having

about lawn care, I guess.

-Lawn care? -Uh, yeah.

Well, lawn mowing and whose job it is, to be precise.

Oh.

Yeah, and then there was a misunderstanding about...

About close-dancing at the party

when you were telling me about the job.

Woody thinks I´m after you?

Yeah, and vice versa.

[ Chuckles ]

No, that´s not right.

Yeah, exactly.

Which is what I need to tell him.

And then you need to talk to him.

If we can find him, that is.

Oh, he´s staying at Smiler´s.

He is?

[ Smiler singing in foreign language ]

[ Footsteps approach ]

Ah.

The man of words.

Smiler. Is Woody in?

That depends.

On?

On whether you mean, is he in the house?

Or is he in good spirits?

Well, hopefully both.

Mm.

Hope is eternal, George Turner.

I shall leave you men in peace...

-[ Clears throat ] - to make peace with words.

I go in peace.

Woody.

George.

I think there´s been a misunderstanding.

Is that right? Well, it´s all in there.

-Check for yourself. -I´m sure it is.

-WOODY: Check it. -I don´t have to.

The tension about the invoice,

it´s actually about something else.

Yeah, 40 grand´s worth of something else.

Someone else, then.

Oh, um, no idea what you mean.

The lawn speech at the party,

I finally got it, what it was actually about.

Maybe it was just about a lawn.

I don´t think so.

These bloody drills.

They never fit back together the same after the clutch is gone.

Woody, look, I´ve been an idiot,

to have not seen that you clearly

have strong feelings for Tracey.

And then that I may have inadvertently

been treading on your toes.

Oh, yeah, if there was any toe-treading, George,

that would have been with Tracey,

while you were dancing with her.

Well, strictly speaking, she was dancing with me

because she wanted to tell me something in confidence.

She likes you, George, okay?

You don´t have to dance around it.

And I like her.

-See, I knew it. -As a friend.

But I do not want to have any kind of relationship with her.

-WOODY: Yeah, but Jan´s gone. -GEORGE: So what?

So you´re a free man, George Turner,

with an eye for the ladies.

Well, not really, and not this particular lady!

What, you´re saying there´s something wrong with her?

No!

God almighty, you can be frustrating sometimes!

Amen to that.

Tracey is lovely, but she is a friend,

and having just about screwed up one friendship

by turning it into something more,

I´m not exactly keen to make the same mistake again, okay?

So hang on. What are you... What are you saying?

What I´m saying, Woody, is that I´m not a man who wants to

or would ever try and mow another man´s lawn.

If indeed there is a lawn to be mowed here,

that is between you and Tracey.

And the lawn.

And it has nothing to do with me.

You´re not just saying that?

I´m really not just saying that.

I would never do that to a friend.

Assuming we can still be friends?

Bloody oath, mate. Come on, come here.

Oh, I´ve missed you.

And you know what?

Forget about that stupid invoice.

Okay, no, no, no, it´s not important.

Friendship´s bigger than money, right?

A debt is a debt. I will be... I will pay it.

-No, forget it. -No, I´m not going to do that.

If it´s written in the book, it has to be paid.

I don´t want your money, George.

What am I going to do with 40K anyway?

The business. Don´t forget about the business.

George, I´m not taking your money.

SMILER: Yeah, but the business might need it.

Is there some issue about a business

that you want to raise with me?

It´s just a little venture me and Smiler are looking into.

-Involving? -Solar panels.

Yeah, but don´t you worry about it.

Because, you know, you´ve got enough problems like bankruptcy.

My finances are fine.

Excellent.

You tell me about the solar panels.

Well, we´re gonna sell them so that people can catch the rays.

Did you know, as an energy source,

the sun has been burning for 4.5 billion years?

That is one hell of a long-life light bulb.

Right, and you think it´s free, right?

But people need a way to harness it.

And that´s where solar panels come in.

Right? Come out here.

That´s where solar panels come in, right?

-And they´re not free, George. -No.

Okay, someone has to sell them, install them, and maintain them.

I´m in.

What do you mean?

I´m in.

If considering a 40K investment in your business

helps you take it, then it´s a win-win.

You are a wise man, George Turner.

And I know I speak on behalf of Woody

when he says he feels much better

about this truly elegant solution.

Great. I´ll write a check as soon as I get home.

You still use checks?

Do they not have Internet banking in Australia?

Smiler, not the Internet-banking thing again.

-[ Cellphone rings ] -SMILER: No, no, no...

Hello?

Oh, late on your first shift? Bad start, bad look.

-Wh... Did we... -No, I need you down here now.

I´m not sure if...

Beggars can´t be choosers, George.

[ Click, dial tone ]

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

One Blue Lagoon.

That is remarkably blue.

That has depth.

That is why I stick to beer. I don´t want a blue liver.

My God, that is good.

Where have you been all my life, George?

And a cosmopolitan for you.

You don´t normally drink here, Brenda.

Too expensive.

But I heard George was mixing,

so I thought I´d, uh, treat myself.

Enjoy.

Do you do private parties?

Excuse me, folks.

Hi.

You wanted to see me?

I, uh... I spoke with Woody.

Good. Did you guys sort everything out?

Yes, yes, we did.

Good.

I´m sorry things got so confusing.

No, I´m sorry.

I should´ve been more sensitive to what was going on.

Or what wasn´t going on.

He really likes you, Tracey.

And I really like him.

And you need to have the conversation.

I know, and I promise, next time I see him, I will.

Good, because he´s right over there.

Seize the day.

Are you going to abandon your post

every time a hot woman turns up?

Oh, say yes. A bartender with loose morals

is exactly what this place needs.

Sorry. It was for a good cause.

Monty wants another Blue Lagoon. Apparently only you know how.

Right.

George!

BRENDA: Another one, please, garçon!

GEORGE: How is that? All right?

I hear there´s been a payout made

in the Woody vs. Turner lawsuit.

A storm in a teacup.

BIG MAC: Still, you´ve got to be looking

for some cash flow, George.

Can I get you a drink, Big Mac?

How about a bottle of champagne?

After you accept my generous offer.

Bartending, George?

You´re not 25 anymore.

MONTY: George, more Blue Lagoons, please.

ZAC: More beer, thanks, George.

-Come on. -Come on, come on.

Come on, Georgie. Come on, off you go.

WOODY: I saw you dancing with him, so I don´t know.

I just... I got... I got a little bit jealous.

And, man, I did not like that feeling, ´cause it is ugly.

Especially when there´s nothing to be jealous of.

Yes, I know, okay. Ugly and stupid.

It´s a bad combo.

[ Thunder rumbles ]

Here, come on.

We really should have had this conversation a long time ago.

Yeah, I reckon.

They´re weird things, eh?

Seagulls?

What?

Oh, sorry, you were looking off in the distance.

I thought... I thought you were looking at seagulls.

-Were you not? -No, I meant feelings.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Feelings, yeah.

-Seagulls are pretty weird, too. -They are bloody weird.

The thing about them is that nothing´s ever simple,

even when, apparently, they are simple.

I mean, you and me have been such good friends

for such a long time,

and I´m scared that if we change that, then we´ll lose that.

Right, yeah, no.

And we wouldn´t want to lose that.

No way.

No, I wouldn´t, ´cause it´s way too important to me.

Yeah, yeah, me too.

Should we...

Yeah.

I´m applying for the principal´s job.

Oh, Bevan´s leaving?

-Yeah. -Why?

There was shagging involved. It´s not important.

Oh, right. Sorry.

Made you realize that you still had feelings for him and...

What? No! God, good riddance.

The thing is that, you know, I´m applying for this job,

and it´s such a big deal.

And it´s this huge process I have to go through

and all these interviews,

and I´ve got so much working against me,

like the inherent ageism and sexism of the education system.

I really just need to focus on what I want and how to get it.

So you know what I need right now, Woody?

I´m guessing not a new boyfriend.

I need my friends.

All of them.

-Are you okay with that? -Yeah.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

You´re going to be running a school.

-That is gonna be intense. -Yes, if I get it.

Which you must. Top priority, Trace.

You know, there´s not going to be time.

You know, it wouldn´t be fair on the relationship.

It would be putting pressure on it.

-It´d be doomed. -Doomed.

Doomed.

No. Absolutely.

TRACEY: Come on, we should get back inside.

GEORGE: Sometimes goodbyes happen

when they were never meant to.

Such is life.

Bon voyage.

The end.

[ Key clacks, whoosh ]

[ Sighs ]

Milk.

[ Computer ringing ]

[ Key clacks, pop! ]

Oh, you´re back in your chair.

Back where I belong.

GEORGE: And up early.

Renewed enthusiasm now I have resolved my employment issues.

So they´re pleased to have you back?

Well, my boss is, especially now he´s clear

his wife doesn´t need to know about the affair.

Oh. You didn´t have to throw any hand grenades?

[ Laughs ] No.

Well, it is very nice to see you back in your happy place.

It is.

So that column you just sent me...

My final column.

Sorry, no. I reversed your dismissal.

So write it again and deliver me some classic George Turner.

Just like that?

Just like that.

Actually, I may be too busy.

[ Gasps ] Big Mac offered you a job.

Means nothing. You can do both.

Only takes you a couple of hours to whip up a column.

Your good ones, anyway.

Well, thank you, I think.

You´ve got 24 hours.

-[ Dial tone ] -What?

Thanks.

[ Inhales deeply ]

Mm.

[ Knuckle cracks ]

An end can only mean one thing.

The chance of a new beginning.

For it can take a crisis to bring into focus

the things that are really important...

Ka-pow!

Like friendships.

And this curious friendship

that exists between writer and reader,

one that we take for granted.

Why is this milk so much heavier than stuff that isn´t milk?

No, it´s a question of volume.

No. You feel it.

Yeah, it is kind of heavier.

Told you.

Sometimes it needs to be acknowledged

and appreciated for what it is...

A shared experience

and a chance to say thank you

for taking part in that sharing.

For like many things in life, we take them for granted.

But as the saying goes,

"You never know what you´ve got until it´s gone."

Monty, the story is about George.

Oh, right.

[ Beep, camera shutter clicks ]

Because endings are, by definition, finite,

whereas new beginnings...

bring infinite possibilities.

[ Up-tempo music plays ]