AUSTRALIAN VIOLENCE
Screenplay: Nathan Pickering
Prologue
Black
Hear Voiceover
UNKNOWN VOICE 1 (Thick Australian accent: You know what I found out yesterday. Me son in laws been hitting Crystal
UNKNOWN VOICE 2: What, as in punching
FADE IN FROM BLACK
UNKNOWN VOICE 1 is a man names LES. He is of an average build, 40-50 years of age, blonde moustache and thinning hair. He is sitting at a desk. UNKNOWN VOICE 2 is a large man named STEVE. He looks as though he plays rugby. Behind LES is a picture of his family and drawings by his son which are stuck up by sticky-tape. Some other men are in the room waiting around
Fixed Mid-shot of desk and LES: A temporary Office room with the blinds shut and shadows casting themselves on the characters. Not entirely visible
LES: It shouldn’t bloody matter. There’s some bloody codes of conduct… some bloody ethics… laws that that every man knows and should follow when it comes to violence. You don’t hurt kids or women… (Reclining on chair) Everybody bloody knows that.
Mid shot from behind LES
STEVE: Should we do ‘im in
LES: Nah, go threaten him, you know, look like we really mean business then back off. Bloody tosser, a man should know you don’t mess with someone’s family without getting the bloody roof pulled down on ya.
STEVE: Yeah what a tosser
LES: Bloody Prick. When they were standing on the bloody altar I thought she was making a mistake
Phone Rings
LES picks up
Fixed mid-shot of LES
LES: (plainly) Hello? (Warmly) Oh hello darl, yeah, yeah, no I got the same trouble down here, yeah, someone ripped us off twenty grand, yeah, yeah, I could be here all bloody day. But don’t you worry. What’s for dinner? Ok good, yeah I know he won’t, yeah, put him on
(Chirpy and playfully) Hey matey how are you? Really? Really? Oh wow, on the TV huh? Well guess what if you’re a good boy daddy will help you build it when I get home, yeah, umm paper, I don’t know ask mummy, ok son, bye, yeah ok…bye
(Happily) kids…
STEVE: yeah…
ACT 1
Enter from black
While transition occurs hear the sound of a barbeque and cicadas
Into Day: Backyard, pool, patio, garden (SUMMER 1997)
Mid shot shows LES and family: Brightly lit, open, can see everything
LES is at the barbeque turning sausages, His family chatting in pleasant conversation behind him
Cut to wide shot displaying Australian flag and rest of the backyard
LES: This is how a man is supposed to cook. Plenty of meat, beer in one hand, tongs in the other and surrounded by his family. I bloody love this country.
LES: (too himself) Australia’s been good to me I’ll tell ya that much
LES’S son Mick is aged 8 and is a spitting image of his father
Cut to low angle shot of MICK and LES
LES: Hey matey how you going
MICK: Good, can you throw the ball with me?
LES: In a minute son, daddy’s just got to finish cooking your lunch
LES’ wife JOAN walks out. She is a bit younger than LES and his second wife.
Cut to mid-shot of LES and JOAN
JOAN: Hey honey, I just found out Suzy’s having a get together sort of thing on Monday, do you mind if I go?
LES: who’s she
JOAN: You know, Suzy, she’s come around before, real poufy hair, Rugby player husband
LES: Oh yeah, Of course you can go
JOAN: Do you mind if I take some money
LES: What do you need that… yeah sure honey go and have fun, but next time I ask you for a favour…
JOAN: Thanks honey
JOAN hugs LES and walks off to talk to family member
Pan out as characters go about their own business, 5 seconds later here a car door slam, cut to front of the house.
The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac. The front of the house has two Holden’s on the grass and lots of MICK’s toys. CRYSTAL walks towards the door visibly shaken and saddened.
Cut back to LES
LES: That must be Crystal and Cal.
CRYSTAL walks out, opens the door and is met by her family
LES: Hey sweetheart
CRYSTAL walks over with her fringe hiding her face
LES calls her over about to hug her and brushes her fringe aside. LES’ face turns from happiness to anger as he sees black bruises and marks on CRYSTAL’s face
LES: I warned him, I bloody warned that prick. Joan get Mick and the rest inside
The rest of the family walk inside
LES: I told him if he hurts you again I was gonna hurt him
CRYSTAL: Dad its nothing it doesn’t even hurt
LES: doesn’t even hurt… you face is all damn black. That’s it.
CRYSTAL: Dad what are you doing?
Tracking shot of LES
LES walks off into the house with an intensive gait without answering
CRYSTAL: Dad!
LES walks into his home study and locks the door behind him. The room is dark. He picks up the phone
LES: Steve, get Bill and Dan, that prick Cal’s hurt her again, yep, about half an hour, okay see ya there
LES opens the drawer of his desk and picks something up, he accidently knocks over the small picture of CRYSTAL as he walks out of the study. CRYSTAL is waiting outside the room
CRYSTAL: Dad what are you planning?
LES walks to his car and gets in with the same fixated focus
CRYSTAL: Dad!
LES drives off and CRYSTAL hurries into her car to drive home where she knows, LES is going.
Fade to Black
ACT 2
LES, STEVE, BILL and DAN get out of their cars and walk towards a house. They get to the door and LES tries opening the door but it’s locked. He then gets STEVE to kick the door down. As he walks into the house the lights are turned off and the only sound is coming from the TV room. As they walk in CAL is sitting on the lounge in a robe eating from a packet of chips. He fumbles around and stands up.
LES: (Kindly) Hey Cal, how you been
CAL: (Nervously) Good
LES: Well that’s good. Go on sit down. What ya watching.
CAL: The cricket
LES: Oh yeah I forgot that was on, how’s Waugh goin.
CAL: He’s on 63
LES: I was having a family barby.
CAL: Yeah I forgot about that
LES: That’s fine, That’s fine
STEVE, DAN and BILL start walking around
LES: Hey Cal do you mind If the boys sit down?
CAL: No
LES: Thanks mate, Do you mind if I get a drink?
CAL: No
LES: So how’s Crystal been
CAL: Yeah, good, she’s been working at the supermarket
LES: You got a job yet
CAL: Still looking, there’s not much out there
LES: Really?
CAL: Yeah, I’ve been busy though
LES: I can see that. So Cal I love my daughter. I saw her come into the world, I raised her, I taught her what I know, I saw her grow up into a great young woman who could do just about anything she wanted. So when she chose to marry you I was supportive, I was a good Australian and I didn’t hassle her about it even though I knew she could do so much better and when I walked her down the aisle I smiled even though I wasn’t that happy. Then I let you into the family (LES gets more serious)and I treat you fairly, and kindly even though I don’t like you. Did you know I didn’t like you?
CAL: No
LES: See it was working.
LES gets up from his chair and starts pacing
LES: I gave you two 80 grand to find a home and I give you my best wishes. (Angrily) So I held up my end! But how do you repay me. You spend half of that 80 grand on booze and who knows what, while my daughter has to see you come home at 1:00 smelling of liquor. (serious tone) Then you start getting violent. If there’s one thing I bloody hate in this world its people who are violent to women and kids. If I hear anyone doing that I make it a priority to teach them some respect. But if it’s my family they hurt, well then…
CAL: I didn’t mean to hurt her. I promise okay, she was just being annoying and so I thought it might quiet her down.
LES: yeah, yeah fair enough. Well Cal I’ve decided I’m going to deliver some justice. I warned you more than once, you had a fair go of it.
Cut to the front of the house where CRYSTAL quickly gets out of her car and rushes to the door
LES: So sorry Cal but this is it
CAL: No, Im sorry I didn’t mean
STEVE points the gun at CAL and CRYSTAL runs into the house. A gunshot is then fired. CRYSTAL turns on the light
Wide shot of the room capturing everybody’s reaction, It is silent
CRYSTAL runs away inconsolable. LES runs after her
LES: Im sorry honey. I had to. He was treating you like garbage
CRYSTAL: (furiously) I will never forget this. You will never be able to justify what you’ve done.
CRYSTAL runs to her car gets in and drives away
Close up on LES’ face as he contemplates what he’s done
Fade to black with the sound of cicadas
Credits: Nina Simone Sinnerman
Prologue
Black
Hear Voiceover
UNKNOWN VOICE 1 (Thick Australian accent: You know what I found out yesterday. Me son in laws been hitting Crystal
UNKNOWN VOICE 2: What, as in punching
FADE IN FROM BLACK
UNKNOWN VOICE 1 is a man names LES. He is of an average build, 40-50 years of age, blonde moustache and thinning hair. He is sitting at a desk. UNKNOWN VOICE 2 is a large man named STEVE. He looks as though he plays rugby. Behind LES is a picture of his family and drawings by his son which are stuck up by sticky-tape. Some other men are in the room waiting around
Fixed Mid-shot of desk and LES: A temporary Office room with the blinds shut and shadows casting themselves on the characters. Not entirely visible
LES: It shouldn’t bloody matter. There’s some bloody codes of conduct… some bloody ethics… laws that that every man knows and should follow when it comes to violence. You don’t hurt kids or women… (Reclining on chair) Everybody bloody knows that.
Mid shot from behind LES
STEVE: Should we do ‘im in
LES: Nah, go threaten him, you know, look like we really mean business then back off. Bloody tosser, a man should know you don’t mess with someone’s family without getting the bloody roof pulled down on ya.
STEVE: Yeah what a tosser
LES: Bloody Prick. When they were standing on the bloody altar I thought she was making a mistake
Phone Rings
LES picks up
Fixed mid-shot of LES
LES: (plainly) Hello? (Warmly) Oh hello darl, yeah, yeah, no I got the same trouble down here, yeah, someone ripped us off twenty grand, yeah, yeah, I could be here all bloody day. But don’t you worry. What’s for dinner? Ok good, yeah I know he won’t, yeah, put him on
(Chirpy and playfully) Hey matey how are you? Really? Really? Oh wow, on the TV huh? Well guess what if you’re a good boy daddy will help you build it when I get home, yeah, umm paper, I don’t know ask mummy, ok son, bye, yeah ok…bye
(Happily) kids…
STEVE: yeah…
ACT 1
Enter from black
While transition occurs hear the sound of a barbeque and cicadas
Into Day: Backyard, pool, patio, garden (SUMMER 1997)
Mid shot shows LES and family: Brightly lit, open, can see everything
LES is at the barbeque turning sausages, His family chatting in pleasant conversation behind him
Cut to wide shot displaying Australian flag and rest of the backyard
LES: This is how a man is supposed to cook. Plenty of meat, beer in one hand, tongs in the other and surrounded by his family. I bloody love this country.
LES: (too himself) Australia’s been good to me I’ll tell ya that much
LES’S son Mick is aged 8 and is a spitting image of his father
Cut to low angle shot of MICK and LES
LES: Hey matey how you going
MICK: Good, can you throw the ball with me?
LES: In a minute son, daddy’s just got to finish cooking your lunch
LES’ wife JOAN walks out. She is a bit younger than LES and his second wife.
Cut to mid-shot of LES and JOAN
JOAN: Hey honey, I just found out Suzy’s having a get together sort of thing on Monday, do you mind if I go?
LES: who’s she
JOAN: You know, Suzy, she’s come around before, real poufy hair, Rugby player husband
LES: Oh yeah, Of course you can go
JOAN: Do you mind if I take some money
LES: What do you need that… yeah sure honey go and have fun, but next time I ask you for a favour…
JOAN: Thanks honey
JOAN hugs LES and walks off to talk to family member
Pan out as characters go about their own business, 5 seconds later here a car door slam, cut to front of the house.
The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac. The front of the house has two Holden’s on the grass and lots of MICK’s toys. CRYSTAL walks towards the door visibly shaken and saddened.
Cut back to LES
LES: That must be Crystal and Cal.
CRYSTAL walks out, opens the door and is met by her family
LES: Hey sweetheart
CRYSTAL walks over with her fringe hiding her face
LES calls her over about to hug her and brushes her fringe aside. LES’ face turns from happiness to anger as he sees black bruises and marks on CRYSTAL’s face
LES: I warned him, I bloody warned that prick. Joan get Mick and the rest inside
The rest of the family walk inside
LES: I told him if he hurts you again I was gonna hurt him
CRYSTAL: Dad its nothing it doesn’t even hurt
LES: doesn’t even hurt… you face is all damn black. That’s it.
CRYSTAL: Dad what are you doing?
Tracking shot of LES
LES walks off into the house with an intensive gait without answering
CRYSTAL: Dad!
LES walks into his home study and locks the door behind him. The room is dark. He picks up the phone
LES: Steve, get Bill and Dan, that prick Cal’s hurt her again, yep, about half an hour, okay see ya there
LES opens the drawer of his desk and picks something up, he accidently knocks over the small picture of CRYSTAL as he walks out of the study. CRYSTAL is waiting outside the room
CRYSTAL: Dad what are you planning?
LES walks to his car and gets in with the same fixated focus
CRYSTAL: Dad!
LES drives off and CRYSTAL hurries into her car to drive home where she knows, LES is going.
Fade to Black
ACT 2
LES, STEVE, BILL and DAN get out of their cars and walk towards a house. They get to the door and LES tries opening the door but it’s locked. He then gets STEVE to kick the door down. As he walks into the house the lights are turned off and the only sound is coming from the TV room. As they walk in CAL is sitting on the lounge in a robe eating from a packet of chips. He fumbles around and stands up.
LES: (Kindly) Hey Cal, how you been
CAL: (Nervously) Good
LES: Well that’s good. Go on sit down. What ya watching.
CAL: The cricket
LES: Oh yeah I forgot that was on, how’s Waugh goin.
CAL: He’s on 63
LES: I was having a family barby.
CAL: Yeah I forgot about that
LES: That’s fine, That’s fine
STEVE, DAN and BILL start walking around
LES: Hey Cal do you mind If the boys sit down?
CAL: No
LES: Thanks mate, Do you mind if I get a drink?
CAL: No
LES: So how’s Crystal been
CAL: Yeah, good, she’s been working at the supermarket
LES: You got a job yet
CAL: Still looking, there’s not much out there
LES: Really?
CAL: Yeah, I’ve been busy though
LES: I can see that. So Cal I love my daughter. I saw her come into the world, I raised her, I taught her what I know, I saw her grow up into a great young woman who could do just about anything she wanted. So when she chose to marry you I was supportive, I was a good Australian and I didn’t hassle her about it even though I knew she could do so much better and when I walked her down the aisle I smiled even though I wasn’t that happy. Then I let you into the family (LES gets more serious)and I treat you fairly, and kindly even though I don’t like you. Did you know I didn’t like you?
CAL: No
LES: See it was working.
LES gets up from his chair and starts pacing
LES: I gave you two 80 grand to find a home and I give you my best wishes. (Angrily) So I held up my end! But how do you repay me. You spend half of that 80 grand on booze and who knows what, while my daughter has to see you come home at 1:00 smelling of liquor. (serious tone) Then you start getting violent. If there’s one thing I bloody hate in this world its people who are violent to women and kids. If I hear anyone doing that I make it a priority to teach them some respect. But if it’s my family they hurt, well then…
CAL: I didn’t mean to hurt her. I promise okay, she was just being annoying and so I thought it might quiet her down.
LES: yeah, yeah fair enough. Well Cal I’ve decided I’m going to deliver some justice. I warned you more than once, you had a fair go of it.
Cut to the front of the house where CRYSTAL quickly gets out of her car and rushes to the door
LES: So sorry Cal but this is it
CAL: No, Im sorry I didn’t mean
STEVE points the gun at CAL and CRYSTAL runs into the house. A gunshot is then fired. CRYSTAL turns on the light
Wide shot of the room capturing everybody’s reaction, It is silent
CRYSTAL runs away inconsolable. LES runs after her
LES: Im sorry honey. I had to. He was treating you like garbage
CRYSTAL: (furiously) I will never forget this. You will never be able to justify what you’ve done.
CRYSTAL runs to her car gets in and drives away
Close up on LES’ face as he contemplates what he’s done
Fade to black with the sound of cicadas
Credits: Nina Simone Sinnerman