Too Old to Dream A Place to Call Home

Order, please! Order!

This year's ball is in aid of Mr Goddard's soup kitchen.

Returned Soldiers' Refuge.

Well, why don't you come and have a look?

-Does he want something else?

-N... N...

-Did you want something else?

-HE STUTTERS

Shall I put you on the roster?

Oh, I don't think so, Mr Goddard. I'm not sure I'm of use.

Are you expecting, love? Is that it?

I can't have this baby, Peg.

You are carrying a child!

-Aunt Peg, please!

-No.

So, I've decided to run for pre-selection as a candidate

for the Country Party.

Is Jack Anna's natural father?

Yes.

They can all keep a secret, that's for sure.

The most important thing, I think,

is that your parents loved Anna as if she were their own.

And who were you being?

I sent the soil from the West Hill to be analysed.

Very good soil for planting quality grapes.

Rightio, chaps, problem solved. Where am I?

Resident card shark Miss Bligh's offered to make up a table.

Watch out for my sister, she's lethal.

So it's Olivia you'll be painting, Lloyd.

And my son and husband.

Lucky me.

Cigarette?

No, thank you.

I don't want to...just be pretending.

SHE SCREAMS

I wanted to thank you for today, but I am a happily married woman.

SHE PANTS

The church teaches us that a child is a gift, a gift from God.

However, I've never been in your position.

-(ECHOED)

-'Duck bill ready?

-'I love you.

-I always will.

'You are carrying a child!

'It's so sad that your marriage to George didn't proceed.'

Stop. Stop!

-Lie down!

-I've changed my mind!

It's way too late in the piece to change your mind.

If you leave now you, won't get your money back.

-I said get her out of here!

-No! CLATTERING

No, not that door!

You should have told me you were a nurse.

Excuse me, Missus, you dropped...

Get back in here!

Now, sit down and I'll be with you in a moment.

I couldn't do it, Aunt Peg.

God was watching down, my love. He was.

A baby.

Babies only need love, darling.

You'll work it out.

OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS

Ah, excellent evening, thank you.

James, I've just been telling Sir Richard about your plans.

Excellent, James. Open the door and let the future in.

Graham Greene.

To paraphrase.

I'm not a total Philistine.

What a relief, Sir Richard.

Let the future in. Men from the boys.

-It's excellent.

-Thank you, Sir Richard.

I wouldn't mind trading Macquarie Street for Inverness.

Oh, I could live on the land.

Or off the land.

On and off.

-Well, it's hard work.

-It's all card games and morning tea.

A ride out on the horse from time to time to check on the sheep.

You medicos,

all sailing around on your yachts on whatever afternoon it is.

Yes, don't fall ill on a Wednesday.

Doctor has the tiller in the one hand and a lager in the other.

So, what sort of portrait's this Ellis-Parker going to do?

All your abstract swirly bull dust, "My child can do better than that"

sort of thing? Another Archibald scandal?

Good abstract painters, take Picasso...

Someone has to, I suppose.

..began his painting career with portraits.

Modelling Velasquez.

The question for our modern times...

Oh, don't tell me Lloyd wants 'em nude.

..is why anyone would want a portrait.

They are simply a substitute photograph.

One wants an expression of the subject,

and that's what Lloyd will do.

It's not a real job, is it?

It's not something a real man does.

Did you know that he was an official war painter on the front line

of France? Since his return, every exhibition he's had has sold out.

Oh, an investment tip, Sir Richard.

You go to all of those, do you? Exhibitions? Opening nights?

Red dots.

I do, when I'm in town.

Can you write? Why don't you show me what you can do?

Write me, what do you call it, a critique, a review.

Let's Sydneysiders know what they should like about art.

That's not the role of a critic.

Course it's bloody not. I know that. I'm trying you out for a job.

A word with George.

SHE LAUGHS

What's he talking about?

Art reporter.

Moi?!

So, this is it.

You'll head back to the city.

The art scene is hardly a full-time job.

You'll get seduced by the bright lights.

First part of that sentence I quite like.

You're back to health. You're ready.

All my regional editors are on board, very keen to see you run.

Pre-selection committee knows which way to jump,

and all you have to do is pull your finger out.

Brace yourself, George. I back winners.

Do you come down to Sydney very often?

Yes, sometimes.

You'll dine with me next time, I hope.

Monday to Friday, my body is a temple.

Saturday to Sunday, a ruin.

Goodnight, Mr Fox.

Thank you for everything you've done for my father.

How's my beautiful boy?

Georgie?

Georgie?

James, it's Georgie.

The baby's not there.

I can't find him. Georgie, where are you?!

Oh, dear God, where is he?

James, I can't find him.

-I can't find him!

-Livvy, just calm down.

I need to know where he is! I... I need you to find him.

-Just find him!

-I will. We will. Just calm down!

All right! All right.

George, we need to notify the police.

Not until we've finished searching the house.

Please, we are wasting time.

Ah, nothing, sir. I checked all the bedrooms.

Someone has taken him.

They must have, because...because where else could he be?

I've found him.

Thank God.

Now we can all go to bed.

There you are, my darling.

Georgie.

Oh...shh! BABY CRIES

Quite a relief.

Make yourself decent.

Where was he?

He was in Rose's room. He was in bed with her.

I didn't mean to worry you.

Of course you didn't.

In bed with her?

He wasn't settling. The poor wean's gums were sore.

He's teething. Everyone was busy. You wasn't here.

Of course I was here, you stupid girl!

Giving us all a fright like that.

-He's perfectly fine, Olivia.

-Sh.

Thank you, Reggie.

-BREATHLESSLY:

-Livvy.

Livvy.

SHE EXHALES

It's all right. It's all right. The baby's right here.

He's sound asleep.

You go back to sleep now.

Hello!

Oh! Gino!

-I thought you said they were vines.

-They are.

-It's all rootstock.

-They're like weensy little baby vines.

It's a twig, darling.

It's sangiovese rootstock.

It'll grow into a beautiful vine that'll produce grapes

that will make a beautiful bottle of Chianti.

It's Hans Christian Anderson.

It's the Ugly Duckling.

You are such a romantic,

and you are a much more attractive vine than I thought you were.

So, how much is all this going to cost?

Caro.

It's an investment.

But you would ask if you needed any help, wouldn't you, Gino?

If you needed money or anything?

I got the money.

How long till they start producing?

Oh, five years.

Maybe ten.

Well, ah, I need to get your mother back to Ash Park before her

reputation's in tatters.

Bye, Mama.

Bye, Jack.

Bye, Papa.

Papa.

Papa!

Dear Prudence, do forgive me.

Poor Norman was forced to remind me of the time.

I was thoroughly absorbed by the Women's Weekly.

Did you know they are planning to enter an all-women team

in the Redex Car Trails? It's quite remarkable.

Good on them. I can't think of anything worse.

The lack of facilities. Can you imagine?

They breed them differently these days.

Clearly with scant regard for personal hygiene.

Now, the fundraiser.

The rest of the committee have seen fit to

ignore your - how shall I put it -

unconventional critique of the proposed event?

If you're referring to my observation that the primary purpose

of a fundraiser is to raise funds, I hardly regard that as a critique.

Critique or not, it put a few noses out of joint.

Douglas Goddard telephoned.

Seems he tried to chase you down.

Thought you might still be staying here.

Oh, probably wanted a donation.

Sarah, she is coming?

She's in Sydney, remember?

Her Aunt wasn't well.

Peg?

Mm.

She did not tell me she was leaving.

They're an independent lot these days, Rene.

Bloody women.

The rubbish that some of these so-called critics

write about modern art.

They probably think Monet is avant-garde.

My wife just bought a Monet.

Oh, I imagine it went with the wallpaper.

Doesn't Jack serve breakfast?

In more ways than one.

Your sister thinks I'm an ignoramus.

Don't take it personally.

When I mentioned I liked Stubbs, she almost wept.

I'd rather ride a horse than see it on a wall.

Thankfully, George's political views are slightly more progressive.

Well, not too progressive, I hope.

We don't want to frighten the horses.

CLOCK CHIMES Oh, if I don't get moving soon,

my secretary's going to bring out the old whip,

which might not be an altogether unpleasant experience.

-Ladies.

-I'll see you out.

Tell me when they've confirmed pre-selection,

and I'll get things rolling.

As I said, George, I back winners.

Well, we've had too many politicians around here who make promises

they never keep. I do intend to get things done.

That what we want to hear on the hustings.

You're a shoe-in, George, but you do need a wife.

I'll see you in Sydney.

I didn't mean to scare you, Miss Olivia, I truly didn't.

I love little Georgie.

I know you do. I know.

Let's just... We'll leave it at that, shall we?

Thank you, Miss Olivia.

Darling.

I feel so silly, making all that fuss last night.

But you don't think it a bit much she had our son in bed with her?

Darling Livvy, you're like a tiger with her cub.

You're right.

Come here.

Livvy.

Not in front of the baby.

It's not right.

No. Course not.

Thank you, sir. I do appreciate your time.

-Hooroo, Ted. We'll see ya.

-See ya, Roy.

-He's a good bloke, Ted.

-Yeah.

-Where's that bloody dog gone?

-HE WHISTLES

Thank you for this, Roy.

Given the circumstances, I didn't think it appropriate to

call on the farmers in my vehicle.

-ROY LAUGHS

-Mr Bligh, your vehicle would have bust her hump up that first hill.

-HE WHISTLES

-Here!

-Pretty serious about this politics lark, eh?

-Yes, I am.

I want to drag Inverness into the 20th century,

kicking and screaming if need be.

ROY LAUGHS

You heard Ted. Two days of rain and this road's impassable.

How's a man supposed

to make a living if he can't even get his stock to market?

Some people don't take too kindly to change.

Which is why I may need your help.

Well, I'll be glad to talk to 'em for ya.

Whether or not they'll listen, that's another thing.

Thank you, Roy.

I'll drop you on the way to the hospital.

Something I want to do for Missy.

DOG BARKS

Here! Get in the back!

I thought I'd get you out and about, doing a bit of hard yakka.

Ah, there's to be no hard yakka, just gentle physical work.

Gentle.

You understand?

Um, Roy wants you to move back in with him. He's right.

Fresh air and exercise will do you more good than lying about here.

-I leave the hospital?

-Too right.

Today, if you like?

I think the nurses will like not to have the scary man.

-HE LAUGHS

-Yeah.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-I'll get it!

DISTANT CONVERSATION

No, I'm sorry, she was younger, blonde.

You must mean my niece, Sarah. I'll just get her. Hang on a minute.

Sarah!

I telephoned the doctor. I told him

Linda was unwell but he didn't listen.

I overheard you were a nurse.

SHE PANTS

Yes. Yes, come in. She needs to lie down.

STRAINED BREATHING

I'm so sorry.

Can I talk to you for a moment?

Linda's very sick, Nancy. She needs to go to the hospital.

No. If I take her to the hospital, they will report her.

-She needs to see a doctor.

-Can't you fix her?

No. Only a doctor can help her now.

They will report her to the police. It would kill her father.

Right now, the only thing we need to be concerned about is

saving your daughter's life.

You think...Linda could die?

Yes.

-Call for you, Dr Duncan.

-Ah, I'll take it in my office.

Jack Duncan.

Are you all right?

Yes.

Yes. Ah, get her here as soon as possible.

Has the mother got a car?

I'll organise transport.

I'll think of something.

-Elizabeth.

-Jack telephoned me. He said you had urgent need

of Norman's services.

Sarah, I'm fully apprised of the situation.

Come in.

It was an incomplete procedure.

Let's get you to the hospital.

Here's your case, dear.

Thanks, Peg.

Oh, darling, I love you.

Sarah!

Where is Sarah?!

Now calm down, dear old mate. She'll be home directly.

Where do you want this? How about right there?

I'll get a bit of grub on.

Got a couple of lamb chops with your name written all over 'em.

SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS

That's better, eh?

Ugh...

How often do they have to be watered?

Every day for the first month.

By hand?

After that, once a week.

So we...cart the water over here and then we

water each one of them by hand, every day?

One day we'll get irrigation.

What about everything else, Gino?

When...when do we find time to do all the rest of the work?

Hey.

Everything will be good.

Yeah? It'll all work out.

Come on, just one more row and we're done.

But I haven't ridden Stardust in days.

You can ride him tomorrow. I promise.

Please, just wait here. I'll be back in a moment.

You up to assisting?

-Of course.

-It'll just be the two of us.

What's happening? Why aren't they saying anything?

Your daughter is in the best of hands now.

Linda is all I've got.

You know you're going to have to be very strong. Come along.

I'll wait with you.

She's still bleeding.

Blood pressure fluctuating.

Thank you, Marjorie.

She'll be all right, won't she?

We'll do our best.

Linda, my name is Jack Duncan.

I'm a doctor here at Inverness. I'm going to be looking after you.

Hysterectomy at 15.

There's a lot of blood here.

Thank you. And a bowl?

Take a closer look at that, will you?

Can't see for the blood.

The uterine wall's perforated.

Come on, Linda, stay with us.

Why is it taking so long? They've been in there for hours.

PHONE RINGS

Inverness Hospital?

Is that you, Mrs Collins?

Yeah?

Um, there was a young girl brought in earlier.

Oh, yeah...

As a matter of fact, I'm very worried, Mrs Bligh.

They are still in surgery and it has been quite some time.

These will go nicely in the dining room.

And perhaps some white ones as well?

Great Maiden's Blush.

What did you say?

Oh, it's the name of the rose.

Father gave it to my mother on their first wedding anniversary.

He always was a romantic.

So, is this the young prince?

Yes.

Does he have a name?

George. After his grandfather.

And a fine, solid young fellow you are.

I will try to do justice to you, young George.

And particular justice to you.

You look a little flushed, Olivia.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't stop the bleeding.

I tried. There was nothing I could do.

But you said...!

-You said!

-I'm so sorry.

SHE CRIES

HE SIGHS

(Oh, Jack.)

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, dayan ha-emet.

Ruptured appendix.

I thought "miscarriage" was the usual euphemism

on the death certificate.

The man was a butcher.

I had to remove the uterus and I still couldn't save...

Elizabeth doesn't need to know the details.

He should be struck off.

He probably is struck off.

Christ.

She was 15. She was only a child.

Maybe we shouldn't have brought her here. All that way.

If she'd gone to a Sydney hospital

-she might still...

-Now, Jack, enough.

You did the best you could.

You really shouldn't be here, Elizabeth.

You're too involved as it is.

-Sarah's right.

-Thank you both for your consideration,

but it's quite unnecessary.

I'll run you home.

That could have been me.

I almost went through with it.

But you didn't.

I don't know how I'm going to tell Rene about the baby.

We often spoke of having children.

And then the war came.

I know it's going to break his heart.

Hey, he may surprise you.

Sarah.

WHISPERING

Evening, Dr Duncan. I thought you'd left.

I have paperwork to finish. Sergeant Franklin?

Got a bloke in lock up I want you to see.

Got a nasty gash on his leg.

And how'd he come by that?

Came in with it.

I hear you've had a busy night yourself.

KNOCKING

Yes.

Mrs Bligh. I was going to leave you a message.

I believe it was your car that brought the girl in here.

Yes, it was.

I might need you to make a statement to that effect in the near future.

Might you?

Right then.

Sergeant.

Remind me, the reason you didn't join up?

Well, I couldn't.

And I had to look after my mother.

Hm.

I miss your mother.

I knew her well.

As you know, we served on the War Memorial Committee together.

Very competent woman.

More than capable of running the farm single-handedly,

I'd have thought.

Mrs Bligh.

I promised your mother I would look after you

and I intend to keep that promise.

You have more than acquitted that promise, we both know that.

You're wrong, Jack.

You went to war.

You fought and suffered for this country.

It's I who shall be forever in your debt.

No, no, no, no, no, that needs to be in the middle of the room.

Somewhere the men can gather around it.

That's it. Very good.

Feet secure...

Yes. Thank you, Rodney.

SHE STARTS PLAYING

# When I grow too old to dream

# I'll have you to remember

# When I grow too old to dream

# Your love will live in my heart

# So kiss me, my sweet... #

-MEN JOIN IN

-# And so let us part

# And when I grow too old to dream

# That kiss will live in my heart

# When I grow too old to dream

# I'll have you to remember... #

HORSE WHINNIES

All this coming and going must put quite a strain on a relationship.

Sydney's such a wild old place.

Don't waste your breath, Regina.

I've had better men than you try to rattle my cage.

Carolyn had quite the reputation at one time.

'Are you sure you're all right?'

I'm very happy to stay.

I'm fine, honestly.

Regina has everything in hand.

You promised you'd go with Olivia with Georgie to the hospital,

remember?

Regina isn't Elaine, George.

They may look alike, but that's as far as it goes.

It wasn't just Regina. It was Mother, too, remember?

She is worming her way into this place far too much

-and I don't trust her.

-Carolyn...

..you worry too much.

Miss Art Reporter.

I can do this, Jack. I know I can.

There you are...

-Edward.

-..Edward.

What a brave little boy.

A bit of redness and swelling is normal.

He may get a slight temperature.

Telephone or just contact us if you're at all worried.

BABY CRIES Shh... It's all right.

All done?

He hasn't had the injection yet.

CRYING INTENSIFIES

Can I help?

Oh, would you? He always settles for his grandfather.

-Of course he does.

-It's all right. Shh.

I need to freshen up. I'll just be a moment.

I believe it's baby George's turn.

I hope Rene's enjoying the Satie.

We seem to share similar tastes in music.

Yes, he loves...

George...

These gifts, this kindness.

It has to stop.

I think it's best you stay away.

-Sarah!

-Ah, Olivia. Come on in.

I am so glad it's you.

Yes, well, the waiting's the worst.

Oh, thank you.

I've never seen the men so happy.

So...engaged.

I talk to them, of course. I make sure they're fed,

but this, this was living. They were...alive.

I must be going. May I leave this here?

Yes, yes, of course.

-My coat?

-Ah, I hung it up. I'll get it for you.

I have so many ideas for this place.

Things we could do with the men.

If it's not too much of an imposition,

I'd really like to talk to you about them.

Oh, certainly, Mr Goddard. I'd be most interested.

Well, if you're not doing anything this evening,

perhaps we might have dinner.

I don't think so.

B-B-But thank you for the invitation.

If Prudence Swanson could have seen you with those men.

A toast to the Chronicle's newest art critic!

Well, I'm not going to drink to something that may never happen.

You haven't even written anything

yet, and has it occurred to you Sir Richard may not like what you write?

Don't be so presbyterian, Mother.

I don't expect him to like what I write.

I expect him to publish what I write.

Vanity, thy name is woman.

Oh, all right.

Thank you.

There are two openings next Wednesday.

I plan to go to both.

One of the artists is very avant-garde.

You have a good brain, Carolyn. It's about time it was used.

Oh, good heavens.

Oh, is that a flea?

Where on earth have you been, Mother?

Playing piano at a returned servicemen's refuge all day,

since you ask.

Suddenly at a loss for words?

Not a very good omen for your future career, I wouldn't have thought.

Why were you working at Carlo's?

I was helping a friend.

You've got to learn to say no, Gino.

I'm not saying it's not good to help friends, it is,

but...we don't have the time to do our own work,

let alone anyone else's.

Gino!

Maybe he will help us one day.

The men were initially a little reticent, but we persisted.

I have completely exhausted my wartime repertoire.

I never knew you had one.

I found the whole experience profoundly moving.

Mr Goddard said he'd never seen the men look so alive.

No, what was the word he used?

"Engaged." That was it.

He said the men were "engaged".

These men, they're all war veterans?

Yeah, damaged beyond repair, some of them.

Jack was lucky to have you.

So, tell me, who is this Mr Goddard you keep talking about?

Douglas Goddard?

I've mentioned his name precisely twice.

-Goddard's Menswear?

-Mm.

Widower, about your age?

I am interested in the welfare of our returned servicemen,

and so is Mr Goddard.

Has Regina been behaving herself?

That woman has an uncanny knack for making herself invaluable to George.

You know, I cannot credit your brother's apparent

inability to see through her wiles.

-This is George we're talking about, Mother.

-Hmm.

Sweet, kind George.

GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS

IN FRENCH: