Richie The Slap

I want you, that's what I want.

I'm sorry, this keeps happening.

I do not love you, Connie.

- Hector raped me! - We need to go to the police. - No!

- It's absolutely finished. - Who?

Just this girl. It doesn't matter, it's over.

This programme contains strong language

NARRATOR: Richie had not been able to get Hector out of his head

since he found out that he had raped Connie.

He wondered why Hector had done it.

He also wondered if Connie had enjoyed it.

- You miss me? - Get us a drink.

- You miss me? - A little bit.

This much.

MAN: You want another Coke?

I want to see you in some dresses.

MAN: Give us a kiss. WOMAN: Maybe later.

- Come on. - No.

PHONE RINGS

MAN: Are you gonna answer that?

- Who is it? - It's just Connie.

I'll call her back later.

Connie, is that your girlfriend?

No, Connie... She's with a guy called Ali.

Ali? Is he an Arab?

You're so racist.

Richie, I don't give a fuck if she's rooting some Arab.

He's Australian. He was born here.

Oh, yeah, they all were, weren't they?

I know you and me don't have the best relationship...

Dad, it's cool.

..I was only your age when your mum got pregnant...

- I know, Dad. - ..I fucked up and I run away.

But it was her decision not to tell you till you were five. Not mine.

I was seven. Well... you know, whatever.

Hey, hey.

You know I love you, don't you?

I know you're too drunk to drive.

I'll fly home!

Ta-da!

Tap water OK?

Uh, yeah, OK.

Thanks.

You want a cone?

I won't tell your mum.

Piece of shit.

I'll get you another one for when you graduate.

When's that?

Oh, three weeks.

Three weeks, sorted.

- I'd prefer an iPhone if you... - Yeah, I'll get you one of them.

Really? Seriously?

Righto, then, I'm done.

Aw!

'Night, son.

'Night... Dad.

HE SIGHS

GROANING

Sick, sick, sick. Fuck!

DANCE MUSIC ON EARPHONES

MUSIC FALTERS, DISTORTS

INDISTINCT CHATTER

BOY: Hey, what's the score? - I don't know.

What's the score?

GIRL: Come on, Connie.

Fuck!

CHEERING

Whoo!

BOY: Hurry up! Hurry up!

GROANING

- Hey! Hey! JENNA: Do another shot behind your head.

OK.

He got it in before. It was amazing.

- Go, go, go. - Connie, what the fuck!

KIDS: Ooh!

Can we talk?

For, like, five minutes.

Uh...

BOY: Ah! Close.

I, uh... had geography this morning.

Yeah, how'd it go?

Bludge. Finished with over an hour to go.

- Ohhh! - How's Ali?

CONNIE: Uh... he's good. I don't know.

So, do you want to go to the movies this weekend, or...?

I can't. I'm really busy with, um... study and stuff.

Or we can just hang out. We don't have to go to the movies.

Exams and... um... yeah, it's busy.

Yeah, same.

I mean, sometimes I feel trapped, you know?

Connie, if you need to talk to somebody...

you know, I'm...

I'm just... I'm trying to get through school.

JENNA: Connie, we need you! Come on!

I...

INDISTINCT CHATTER

WOMAN: So, how many tablets do I give him?

You give Archie one with his morning meal, one with his evening meal.

How?

Mash it up with some potato or some meats.

Don't expect him to get better straightaway.

He'll, um... he'll take a few days.

Come back and visit us...

NARRATOR: Richie wondered what it was like for Aisha,

being married to a rapist.

- How are you doing, buddy? - Yeah, good.

Can you sweep up the kennel room for us?

Got a bit of paperwork to get through before we get going.

Oh.

Sooner you do it, the sooner we can go.

NARRATOR: 'You don't know anything about your husband,' he thought.

'But I do.'

DOG BARKS

Hey, Richie.

Oh, hey, Aisha. Mum said to sweep.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, this one looks bad.

Yeah, this little lady's had a rough trot.

Haven't you, Jess? Come on.

- What happened to Jess? - She got mistreated by an owner.

How's Hector? Good?

Yeah.

All right, let's hit the frog and toad. I'm hungry.

What's for dinner?

Oh, was going to make bolognese,

but this one's not gonna be home till late again,

so I'll probably just stir-fry something.

I'm studying with Gary.

He thinks Gary's cool.

Yeah, yeah, Gary's a smart guy.

Yeah, he knows everything about English and art.

Um... say hi to Rosie for me.

See you, Jess.

All right, I'll see you bright and early, Aish.

You OK?

Yeah, course.

Well, you wasn't going to say bye, or thanks for the lift.

Thanks. Bye.

Where's Connie these days?

I don't know.

Never seem to hear of her anymore.

Yeah, well, she's too cool.

Can I go?

Study hard, then.

All right, Mum.

Love you.

What are you going to do your text analysis on?

Oh, I'm thinking Duchess Of Malfi by John Webster.

Oh, yeah.

What's your angle?

Huh?

Well, what happens and why?

Well, Ferdinand doesn't really like who his sister marries, so he disowns her.

Yeah, yeah, but why?

Well...the Duchess was widowed.

Yeah, but that's just facts and figures, mate.

I can get that straight out of the text myself.

You know, with this stuff, you gotta have an opinion, mate.

You've got to have an angle on it, you know?

In this life, mate, you gotta find your own voice.

HUGO: I want boobies, Mummy. ROSIE: Not today, sweetheart.

Come on, listen to me.

Hugo, what did we say about this week? It's a boob-free zone, mate.

- Hey, Richie. - Hey, Rosie.

How's this for a pretty picture?

Wh... what's this?

It's our new house. Isn't it gorgeous?

Just outside of Daylesford.

Go up there for a while, get some fresh air.

You're going?

Yeah. Don't worry. You can still visit.

Hugo'd be upset if he didn't see his Uncle Richie.

Well, why are you leaving Melbourne?

Just with everything that's been going on, Richie,

you know, we need a clean start.

Aisha said to say hello.

Oh, yeah? How is Aisha?

Oh, she seems OK. I don't know.

Hard one to read, huh?

Yeah. Mysterious, kind of.

HE LAUGHS Mysterious.

That's a word we use when really we mean cold-hearted bitch.

- Isn't that right, Rosie? - I'm gonna get dinner ready.

Sitting up there on her fuckin' high horse.

Yeah, yeah, Gary.

See, Rich, they're the people society looks after.

They're the people who win in this life.

NARRATOR: Richie felt the weight of Connie's secret bearing down on him.

He wished he could just release it.

Just whisper those three words.

Hey, bud, you eaten yet?

Plenty of stir-fry there. Heat some up in the microwave.

- We're all busy studying, eh? - Mm-hmm.

Do you know the body of a dog contains 321 bones?

Dad, um... said he'd buy me an iPhone for graduation.

Well, I'm glad you and your dad are getting along.

You could do with a male influence.

Be OK if a friend pops around for a drink tonight?

What friend?

Derek. Derek from TAFE, yeah.

The fat one?

- Derek's not fat. - Well, he's not skinny, either.

He has a lovely body, thank you very much.

RICHIE: Chubby chaser.

- What'd you say? - Nothing.

Joking.

Is it OK, Rich? Honest.

Mum, if you want to kiss fat guys, go for it.

SHE LAUGHS You watch yourself, you cheeky bugger.

So you... you seeing anyone or...?

Have fun, Mum.

NARRATOR: Richie imagined the newspaper headlines -

'Brilliant young man uncovers local rapist...

'..just in time.'

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

What the fuck?

Hang on. Aren't you Connie's friend?

PHONE RINGS

You little prick!

Come here!

Hey! Why are you doing this, mate?!

You're a sicko! You'll go to jail, you're sick!

Excuse me? What did you say?

What did you say, freak?!

MAN: Hey, hey, hey! What's going on in here?

Nothing, mate, it's all good.

Doesn't look like nothing. If you'd step away from the cubicle door...

- It's not me. - Step away from the cubicle door, sir!

That little prick in there was taking...

- Come here! - Chase him and I'll call the police!

PHONE RINGS

Don't move.

Oh, fuck off, Lenin! Don't do that!

- Dude, you're like a tomato. - Yeah, well, I ran here.

Why?

I, um... I need a favour.

OK. PHONE RINGS

You can buy SIM cards here, yeah?

Yeah, at the counter.

Cool.

How much are they?

Uh... start-up kits are, like, 25 bucks.

Uh... I'm gonna need to see some ID.

Hey, can I ask you something, honestly?

Yeah.

Are you a terrorist?

Hey, text me later.

Hey, um...

say, hypothetically, if someone was chasing you,

or after you or something,

or anywhere you went you felt like... you know, maybe they're there...

OK...

What would you do?

Well, if they weren't hot, I'd probably, like, lead 'em into a trap or something.

Then I'd restrain them and torture them.

Thanks.

PHONE RINGS OUT

VOICEMAIL: Hi, you've called Connie. Leave a message. Thanks.

Hello, Richie. Haven't seen you for a while.

Tell me, how's exams? How's your mum? How's everything?

Yeah, Tash, I, um...

I just really need to see Connie.

Sure, sure thing.

- Is she in her room? - Yeah, she's just with the girls.

Oh.

CONNIE: How is the role of the supernatural

used to advance the tension and suspense in Wuthering Heights?

Oh.

You, uh... studying English?

Yeah, it's tomorrow.

Connie I... I need to speak to you. Now.

Now! THE GIRLS LAUGH

We're working.

GIRLS GIGGLE CONTINUOUSLY

Why are you here?

Can't I come over anymore?

Yeah, but... just studying.

Well, I take English too.

Yeah, well, you should be at home studying

instead of walking around like a freak.

I can't concentrate.

Why?

Because I think you need to tell someone what happened, Connie.

You need to come clean about that guy.

Richie.

Think about all the other girls Hector's probably preying on right now.

This is my situation. I'm dealing with it, OK?

If you don't say anything, I will go to the police.

Don't.

Connie, you have to say something.

Hector should be in jail.

Just forget about it.

JENNA: What are you two gossiping about? TINA: Can we join in?

GIRLS GIGGLE

JENNA: Are you going to come inside?

GIRLS GIGGLE

DOOR CLOSES

This has got to stop, mate.

- What does? - All of it.

Hanging out at Rosie and Gary's, the after-school socialising,

bloody babysitting for everyone in Northcote.

Yeah, cool.

- You've got English tomorrow. - Yeah, well, English is easy.

Oh, well, you better get a top mark then.

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

Uh... yeah, hang on.

It's Hector, for you.

Um, no, I've got to study.

Hector?

Fuck... Can you knock? Far out!

Chicken noodle soup with greens.

What you working on?

Research.

Listen, whatever's going on with you, Richie, I don't care.

You know? But there are no secrets in this house, remember?

Yes, I do remember.

You want to tell me something, then?

No.

Everybody's different.

There's nothing wrong with being different.

I... I just don't know how to say it.

TRACEY: Just say it.

It's...

I'm just a freak sometimes. That's all.

No, you're not, honey.

You're just you.

Beautiful, unique you.

- What did Hector say? - Hey?

Oh, something about needing a babysitter.

You'd think they'd know.

Pens down, please.

Close books.

And you may leave now.

CHEERING, CHATTER

HE CHUCKLES

- Ah, you can keep that. - Hey!

Don't let the bastards get you down.

- You know who first said that? - Who?

British Army Intelligence in the Second World War.

HE LAUGHS

- Ah! - Richie!

My little monkey!

- How'd your exam go? - Ah, smashed it!

- Is that good? - Yeah.

I, um... I might take Hugo to the park for a bit.

Well, are you sure you don't want to go home?

I'm sure your mum wants to see you.

Did you use that stuff I said about the afterlife?

Yeah, I used all the stuff you said, Gary.

- Awesome. - Are you sure you want to go?

Oh, yeah, I don't mind, Rosie.

I'm just hanging out with my little monkey!

HUGO: Let's kick-to-kick, let's go!

- Ball. - Yeah.

I can kick bigger than you.

NARRATOR: Richie yearned for a moment of innocence,

to be a child again.

Can't get it past me.

Ah, yes I can. Ready?

NARRATOR: But how long would it be before Hector found him,

before they all found out the truth,

that he was a sick pervert?

HUGO: I beat you. - Ah, whatever.

I'm bigger than you.

I think you have an unfair advantage.

- Hugo! - Got ya.

You apologise!

I... I'm so sorry, sir.

- Hugo, you apologise now. - (WHINES) No.

- Apologise now! - No!

- Say you're sorry! - No!

Right.

- It hurts! - I don't care!

Listen, you do not do that! You do not spit on people!

HUGO: Mummy! Mummy!

Honey, what happened?

GARY: Hey, what's going on? - Richie hurt me.

I... No, I didn't. I...

He spat on an old man and I told him off for it.

- That's what happened. - I can't believe that.

- Did the old man scare you, sweetie? - Mmm... Mummy.

GARY: Hugo. Did you spit on an old man? - Richie hurt me.

Hugo, what are you doing? You don't spit on old men.

I'll just take him to play with his truck.

HUGO CRIES

Want a beer?

I'm not gonna have one but you can have one.

- You friends now? - I'm sorry.

You are sorry, aren't you, Richie?

Yes, I'm sorry.

See? Richie's sorry.

Give him a quick kiss.

There you go, come on.

Help me do this one. Just take off the little ends.

The ones that you don't like.

Hey, can you help Mummy do this?

You all right, mate?

Drink your beer.

Mate, we know you wouldn't ever do anything to hurt Hugo.

What's going on, Richie? Are you OK?

I, um... I saw Hector at the pool.

What's... what's Hector got to do with any of this?

GARY: Did he say something to Hugo?

Richie?

It's, um... It's what he did to Connie.

I... I can't stop thinking about it.

Go to your room, sweetheart.

What did he do to Connie?

Richie, what did Hector do to Connie?

Hector raped Connie.

ROSIE GASPS

Let's go.

Now!

You are gonna tell that stuck-up bitch exactly what kind of man her husband is!

And you're gonna come and tell 'em exactly what you just told us!

Do you understand?

You fuckin' wait till she hears this.

You wait till she finds out the truth, huh?

Rosie.

This should come from you.

GARY: Sick fuck.

I hope he goes to jail and gets the treatment.

I hope they surround him in the laundry room.

ROSIE: Gary, Hugo's there.

GARY: So what? Let him hear it.

God knows, these are the people that kids have to stay away from.

Where's Aisha?

What's wrong?

Where the fuck is Aisha?

It's the waiting room, Gary. Behave yourself.

- I want to speak to Aisha. - She's busy. She's in the consult.

- Oh, is she? She's in a consult? - Well, this is her work.

- OK, fine! I'm in a consult too, then. - You can't go in there.

You know what, I'm happy to say this out here.

I'll let her know you're here.

Sorry, Aish, you just got, um... Rosie and Gary here.

OK, well, just put the machine on and go and check on Jess for me.

- Hey, Huges, how's it going? - Good.

What's this about?

It's about an animal you're married to.

- Oh, Gary, don't be an idiot. - Oh, of course. I'm the idiot.

Cos Hector's shit doesn't stink, does it?

You keep your voice down. This is where I work.

Do you know that Hector raped Connie?

I don't believe that for a second.

Tell her.

Go on, tell her.

What do you have to tell me, Richie?

What's wrong?

Richie seems to think that...

that Hector did something to you, something terrible.

Terrible? He raped her!

Is this true?

No, I swear. I swear. I've no idea what he's talking about.

What the fuck is this about, Richie? What did you say?

- Well, did he rape you or not? - No!

I've no idea what he's talking about. He's making it up!

- Aisha, I promise you. - OK.

He's obsessed with Hector. He's sick, he...

He stole a photo out of your album, a photo of Hector,

and he stares at it all day. And he goes to the pool just so he can perve at Hector.

He's sick, he's fucking sick!

GARY: What's going on here, mate?

Richie?

Rosie...

..you take Hugo home.

He shouldn't have to hear this.

Just fucking go and get out of my life!

Go!

Get up.

Get up.

TRACEY: Is this true?

You told all these lies cos of some sex obsession with Hector?

I'm so ashamed of you.

You get up and you say sorry.

Get up.

Get up! Get up!

Rich!

Aisha, I'm sorry.

Come here.

I want my keys.

You don't work here anymore.

Put the phones back on, and bring the next patient through when they come.

HE GASPS, BREATHES HEAVILY

HE CRIES

TAP DRIPS

NARRATOR: There were three things that made Richie not want to die -

the dipped, dipped of drops of water falling from the tap...

..the sunlight reflected through the window...

..and the thought of his mother alone in that house

blaming herself for the death of her son.

Mum?

Rich?

Oh!

Now what have you done? What have you done?

Just get it out! Get it out, mate!

Come on! Help me, buddy!

Oh! Oh!

SHE CRIES

Here! Here!

Just...

You keep breathing, you hear me?

You keep breathing!

SHE CRIES

Come on, come on, come. Come on.

You are not leaving me.

I'm sorry I hit you. I will never do that again.

I've never hit you before, have I?

Hey?

I smacked you a couple of times when you was a young bubba.

I smacked you once when you was gonna put your hand through a candle flame.

And I remember smacking you once on the bum when you was rude to your nan.

But I never hit you, never hit you, never done that.

Oh, we're nearly there.

I... I'm sorry, Mum.

I love you so much.

I am so proud of who you are.

Not what you did to Hector and Aish.

Hector's a married man, babe. He loves Aish, you know?

He can't love you.

You'll fall in love with other men.

Hey?

And many men will fall in love with you.

Here we are, here we are.

DOORBELL RINGS

CHATTER ON TV

TRACEY: Hey. CONNIE: Hi. Is Richie OK?

TRACEY: Yeah, he's in his room.

CONNIE: I went to the hospital.

Is he in his room?

Hi.

Hey.

Can I sit here?

Don't cry.

Hector didn't rape me.

Why did you tell me he did?

I wanted to hurt him.

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

Um...

I got you some tickets to this festival.

It's, um... gonna be really fun.

Ali and I are going and we got you a ticket.

Um...

OK, um...

OK.

- Hi. - Richie.

Is Aisha in?

No, mate.

I, um...

I just wanted to apologise for what happened.

Uh-huh.

I went kind of crazy.

Yeah.

If you want to keep going to the pool, it's OK, I won't go anymore.

HE LAUGHS

HE LAUGHS

Sorry. Sorry, Hector.

Yeah.

We're all sorry, mate.

When's Mum coming back?

I told you not to say that.

Soon, monkey. Want some banana?

Huh.

Long message, Mum.

Oh, had a lot to say.

Well, I love you too.

I love you so much, my boy.

CHAMPAGNE CORK POPS Craig!

Oh, it's good when it spills. It's like the Grand Prix.

- Tracey. - Idiot.

- Legend. - All right.

It's a bit warm, but it'll do the trick.

Well, come on, open your pressie. Here you go.

Wow!

- Is that the one? - Yes! This is the one!

Yeah, that's the one he said.

Mate, your dad and me split the cost.

Now, come on. You can play with it after.

Cheers your mum and dad, please.

- All right. - Come on.

- Cheers. - Good on you, legend.

DOORBELL RINGS

Mmm. I'll get that. Hang on.

So, is your mum, um... seeing anyone at the moment?

- Yeah. - She is?

- Seeing a bloke? - Mm-hmm.

- Good. TRACEY: Your friends are here, Rich.

That's a surprise.

CONNIE: Oh, my God, how rude.

Hey.

Hi.

Are you coming?

Uh... where?

To the festival.

Oh, Connie...

Oh, come on, please.

It's all right. You go.

HE BEATBOXES Who's in the house?

Richie's in the house!

Oh!

CONNIE LAUGHS

Ohh...

All right, give me a sec.

# ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC

CHEERING

# ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC

MOUTHS

# HEAVY BASS BEAT

CONNIE LAUGHS

CROWD CHEERS, WHISTLES

# GUITAR MUSIC

BOY: What time is it?

CONNIE: Oh, it's still early.

Far out.

Should come over more often. Mum'll fatten you up.

Sure! Anytime.

Mrs Faisal's awesome, isn't she?

SHE LAUGHS

All right. Do you want to go inside?

Um... I think I'll wait out here with Lenin.

Trippers.

- Goodnight, guys. Love you. - Bye.

Love you. Thanks.

It was fuckin' awesome, wasn't it?

Man, my mouth is really dry.

Fuck.

I'm not, uh... I'm not working Tuesday.

How about you?

Um... no.

Do you want to just come around, just hang out? Watch a DVD?

- Only if you want to. - Sure.

Hey. Is that a joint?

No.

Oh. Trippers.

TOILET FLUSHES

- Richie. - Uh... Derek.

G'day.

You're looking well.

Goodnight, young man.

# ANGUS AND JULIA STONE: Babylon

# So rest your head

# You're all mine

# And I stay awake

# I won't go home

# Let's go on holidays

# To burn this town

# She's my Babylon

# So rest your heart

# You're all mine

# Because if you walk away

# I fall on down

# And bleed reddest blood

# Red as wine

# She's my Babylon

# No, I don't want to see you go

# No, I don't want to be alone. #

AISHA SIGHS

# INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC