SONG: # Flocking to the sea #
# Crowds of people wait for me #
# Seagulls scavenge, steal ice-cream #
# Worries vanish within my dream #
# I left my soul there #
# Down by the sea #
# Lost control here living free #
# I left my soul there #
# Down by the sea #
# I lost control here living free. #
Hello, Tippi. How are you today?
[ sighs ] I'm good, thanks, Robbie.
How are you?
Big low-pressure cell today.
Don't know if it caught your eye. Very big.
Not that I noticed, no.
- Hey. what happened to you? - What are you doing?
You don't touch my leg.
Or the mud on my pants, because, strictly speaking,
you didn't touch my leg but you did touch the mud.
Deliberately splashed it onto me.
- Who splashed you? - Bus driver.
Drives too fast, gets here too early
and I'm the one walking around outside for seven minutes.
Shoes are too big.
You're not Tippi. I want Tippi.
It's in my diary - "Appointment with Tippi."
I'm not Tippi, Robbie, but it's alright.
I want Tippi.
She's the one that I see.
It says it in my diary - "Appointment with Tippi."
- That's OK. - I want Tippi.
- Alright, alright... - I want Tippi!
I want Tippi! I want Tippi!
You need to come and deal with this.
He didn't buy it.
Look at my face, Nat - was he ever going to buy it?
That shouldn't make any difference, he's got face blindness,
he can only remember the faces of people that he sees all the time.
Well, it appears that now he is recognising them by their shoe size.
Maybe you should... ugh... tell him about Tippi
and maybe that will calm him down.
- Forget it. - Chloe, he's harmless.
He's just not very good with changing routine.
OK, fine - you go and deliver the routine change news yourself
because I'm not doing it.
[ sighs ]
Robbie. It's Nat.
Tippi's dead.
Oh.
So that means I can't see her today.
Correct.
Nat.
Hey.
Trying out a new look?
As Tippi for one of the clients.
Maybe that would do it for you too.
[ laughs ]
- Look, Nat, about what... - We've got nothing to discuss.
Josh. What are you doing back already?
Oh, question of the century.
- Hey. - Hey.
- Hello. - Hello.
HEATHER: No, I already tried Lana. She's got a girlfriend.
And she's gone all monogamous.
What is wrong with you?
You've pulled a muscle in your back, not in your tongue,
so get on the phone.
Lisa, this is an emergency.
Right. Good. 'Bye.
[ sighs ]
I'm not of the scene, like, 10 minutes
and they're all tucked up in their jimmyjams
drinking cocoa with their sweethearts.
That's the emergency?
No, the emergency is...
...I need some pussy to counteract the cock that is messing with my head.
And in my hour of need when a little support from the sisters
would go a long way in reminding me where my loyalties lie,
there's no-one around.
Ohh.
[ blows ]
Any sharp edges?
No. Why?
Because I'm going to bed with a woman
and I want to be giving pleasure not taking a DNA sample.
Hmm. You look hot. Where are you going?
Home to get tucked up and drink cocoa with my sweetheart.
- Ooh, Josh is back. - Mmm.
Whole lot of lovin' coming up.
Yeah.
- See you. Good luck. - 'Bye. Have fun.
How is he?
I told you it was over.
[ sighs ]
Well, I suppose that's what happens when personal feelings get involved.
I hired you because you were supposed to be a professional.
You hired me to have an affair with your husband.
To pretend to have an affair with my husband.
How does that work?
Did he phone you? Is that why you were there?
I'm not going to answer that question.
Why not?
Because at a certain point in this ridiculous arrangement,
some things are none of your business.
And whatever I say,
you'll probably think I'm protecting him.
[ laughs ] And guess what, Fiona?
I am.
Do you have any idea what will happen to Terence
if anyone finds out?
[ sighs ]
People are going to start to ask questions,
so we need to be on the same page.
Who did you say you were?
I told the concierge I was a family friend.
- Did he believe you? - I don't know, Fiona.
I was too busy trying to keep your husband alive.
Oh, Jesus, this has just turned into a nightmare.
No shit.
Can you tell Terence I'm thinking about him?
You're not that much of a friend, Lauren.
This is for the next three weeks.
It should have blown over by then.
I don't need to tell you to keep away from 232.
I really hope you make it...
...both of you.
[ Fiona starts car ]
JOSH: [ laughs ] This place is a mess.
Someone came in and stole my house pride.
[ both laugh ]
I see you've been sleeping on the couch.
Yep. And in Bonnie's room.
Does that mean that you miss her more than me?
Well, I was her mu for a few years before you came along.
BOTH: Mmm.
You know, I realised while you were away
that I'm actually a bit of a slob at heart.
Oh, does that mean you've been playing the housewife just for me?
Maybe. For you and Bon. [ laughs ]
Well, my little housewife,
can we please go and make a mess of the bedroom?
Mmm.
You should have told me you were coming home.
Oh, Josh, I'm exhausted.
I'm sorry, but all that's on the menu till tomorrow is the spoon.
- [ laughs ] - Sorry.
[ laughs ]
I really, really, really wanted the fork.
Well, there's just the spoon.
- [ sighs ] - Mmm.
And if the spoon's not enough, there's always the knife.
OK, I'll settle for the spoon.
- Good. - Alright.
Come here, then.
[ moaning ]
It was a... it was a shock.
I tell you, a real stock.
'Cause I just didn't expect your kids to be that old.
You know, 'cause your body's in such good shape.
Crow's feet aren't that deep.
I mean, Ash is a bit dim but Kate's got a good head on her shoulders.
I know, Lauren, 'cause I've just been chatting to them out in the bar.
Yeah, they're out there now.
Don't worry, I said I'd bring you out after I finish screwing you.
[ shrieks ]
[ heavy breathing ]
JOSH: Oh! Ah.
- Oh! - Oh, God, we're good at that.
Yeah, well, we've had a lot of practice.
I'd be worried if we weren't good at it.
[ laughs ]
So?
'So' what?
So why are you really back?
I'm really back 'cause I really missed you.
Hmm.
And if I'm going to be away from you,
it's got to be for more than three-star hotels...
...and playing to 10 people who are watching the dogs on telly anyway.
It's good to know that my competition is four stars
and 11 people.
[ laughs ] Isn't it enough that I just really missed you?
Hey?
Course it is.
[ clears throat ]
And she's nice?
Oh! Lisa, my love, I take back every nasty thing I ever said about you.
I will be there just as soon as I can get away.
'Bye.
Hello, Chloe.
Hello, Heather.
- How are you going? - What do you want?
I just wondered how busy you are.
Busy. Why?
Well, because my dance card is very full...
...and I have a hot date tonight with a diplomatic assistant
who's going to China at 9am.
And?
I have two regular clients and...
...it turns out I'm the prize for the top three players
at the local squash comp, so...
...can you please take one of them for me?
Please! Please. Please!
If I have to do them all, I'm going to be too knackered to even kiss.
- Please! - Oh, Heather, Josh is home.
NAT: That's unfortunate.
Well, because Bill's waiting in room three.
Spur of the moment booking.
And Heather's full up, so I might ask one of the other girls.
Nat.
Look, it's OK, I'll see him.
But that is it - then I've got to go.
Chloe, you don't have to - I don't want you to feel pressured.
Unbelievable.
Heather, he's regular client.
Yeah, and here I thought I was a regular friend.
Hi.
Bill?
Uh... My mum calls me "Bill'.
Oh.
This is my first time.
I'm a bit kind of wound up enough as it is.
Probably be better if you just called me William.
Uh... If it's all the same to you.
[ sighs ]
[ phone rings ]
232.
Hi, Robbie. It's Nat.
How can we help you?
I'm prepared to see the other one.
"The other one"?
Not Tippi.
Oh, you want to see Chloe.
- [ car horns blow ] - [ car swerves ]
Robbie?
[ phone beeps ]
You still need to come in and sign that tax stuff.
Don't you want to aske me how things went with Bill?
How'd things go with Bill?
- He came in 17 seconds. - Good for you.
Is he coming back?
What was that? You knew I had to go home.
What, you wanted to squeeze a few extra bucks out of me
before the end of the shift?
You made the call - you chose to stay with Bill over going home to Josh.
- It wasn't even Bill. - It was when you decided to stay.
[ scoffs ]
You really don't like him, do you?
Look, I know you guys didn't get off the best start, but...
...you don't see the whole picture,
you don't see what he's like with Bonnie,
you don't see what he's like at home.
You don't need to sell him to me, you're the one who bought him.
Come in and sign that before you leave.
I can't believe your knickers are still in a twist
about that stupid stereo thing.
My knickers don't get in a twist about things like that.
I save that up for special.
OK, Nat, what did he do?
I'm intrigued.
You can go through these at home.
Nat, come on.
You can't do that - you can't just toss a bomb and then...
What did he do to you?
He didn't do anything... to me.
[ sighs ]
[ clears throat ]
Look, I've been around this since I was little -
men who hang out with prostitutes, they're a particular breed.
What you do they use as an excuse me.
No, you're wrong.
You're wrong about Josh.
No, I'm not.
That's a big statement, Nat.
Have you got anything to back it up with?
[ phone rings ]
Leave it.
Hey.
Go home and talk to Josh.
232.
What's going on?
Oh, Nat's just been giving me some home truths about Josh.
Ohh.
What? You know something too?
No, I've just been staring at these figures for so long
I don't know what month it is.
- Anyway, I've got to run. - Mel?
No, really, I...
My head was somewhere else.
Um... I'll see you later.
Mel.
Mel! Come on, you're my friend.
[ sighs ] This doesn't feel like a really friendly thing to do.
[ whispers ] Please.
[ whispers ] Come on.
Oh, this is such a mess.
What is?
Josh cheated on you.
- Who? - Tippi.
Tippi.
- Josh was fucking Tippi? - This wasn't some big affair.
She wanted to tell you. I talked her out of it - I'm sorry.
But she told me it's the only thing she's ever done in her life
that she's truly ashamed of.
[ scoffs ] Great.
Forgive me if that doesn't bring me a lot of comfort right now.
Thought the Tippi-Josh thing was staying in the vault.
It is in the vault.
Well, it's not anymore.
You told her.
Well, I kind of had to.
There wasn't much to tell after your little chat.
I just hinted that she could do better.
Since when did you care anyway?
I expressed an opinion - that doesn't mean I care.
She can do better.
- It's not all black and white, Nat. - No.
I think it is.
[ glass shatters ]
[ sighs ]
Chloe? What's going on?
[ knocks on door ]
- Chloe? - [ whimpers ]
Am I in trouble?
[ sighs ]
I don't know, Josh.
You done anything that might get you into trouble?
Hmm?
Come on, you can say it.
It's not that hard.
"I fucked Tippi."
Say it.
Go on, say it, Josh.
Arsehole.
Chloe.
I was drunk. And I had a head full of coke.
You are not 16, Josh.
Don't make this into something big.
It was nothing.
It didn't mean a thing.
Get out of my way.
What, did you screw me in the morning
and then do her in the afternoon?
Or did you pay her for it? Was that it?
Wanted to know what it's like
to do a hooker for cash instead of for free.
Stop it. Stop it, Chloe.
Just stop it, Chloe.
- Chloe. Chloe, stop. - Don't!
You don't get to touch me.
Second guy in the phonebook, huh?
Stop. Stop!
Chloe, stop it.
- Stop it. - Fuck you, Josh.
Ugh! Let go!
[ sighs ]
Yeah, I know it's a little bit late for dinner,
but maybe we can meet up for a coffee or something?
No?
OK.
Ohh.
Hi, it's Mum. I just rang to say hi.
And I hope you're good.
Everything's fine here.
Yep. And I miss you.
- Hey. - Hello.
Can I please have a mineral water?
What I should be having is a double Scotch.
Then I might do something slightly less spineless
than hiding till this whole thing blows over.
That's a good idea, actually. Could I have a triple Scotch, please?
BARMAID: OK.
I'm doing the accounts.
Figures always look better with a bit of alcohol.
- Could I have one too? - BARMAID: Sure.
Good for you.
You drowning your sorrows over this Terence thing?
Maybe I'm celebrating.
Mmm. That easy, is it?
Well, yes.
Apart from a man I'm totally hot for having a heart attack,
possible media exposure and worrying about the kids finding out, yeah.
You should tell them.
What?
Well, you want to get on the front foot. Take a risk. Tell the kids.
I... just... I don't know I'm ready for that.
Well, trust me, Lauren -
there's some things in life you're never ready for.
Unfortunately, they're the things that you have to do,
no matter how sick they make you feel.
[ coughs ]
- Ooh. - God, I hate Scotch.
What am I doing? [ coughs ]
Jump off the cliff. Do it.
Where did it happen? Was it here?
Was it at her place?
It was at 232.
[ exhales sharply ]
Unbelievable. You have sex with my friend at my place of work.
Then you kiss me on the cheek and run away on tour?
You don't think that's why I went on tour?
I don't know, Josh. You told me you were helping a friend.
You know, it might have been nice
if you were actually trying to earn some money so I could take a break.
But you are so goddamn lazy.
'Cause I'm sure it's whole lot easier to sit around with your mates,
banging on about how great it's gonna be when you actually make it -
if you ever make it.
Don't, Chloe.
In the meantime,
let's just let Chloe spread her legs and pay the bills -
till she gets a bit tired to put out,
then we'll try one of the others.
- That is not fair. - Not fair?
You shove it in my face every single day.
You're the breadwinner. You carry the load.
Do you know what that feels like, Chloe?
Well, it can't be that bad, Josh,
'cause you would have done something about it.
You know, some days, I think you actually prefer it that way.
You know why I pay the bills, Josh?
Apart from the fact that nobody else will?
It's so that nobody can own me.
The way you own me?
We had an agreement. You knew the deal.
And I remember you nodding your head and saying it was cool.
Chloe, don't walk out that door.
Is what why you did it? 'Cause she made you feel like a man?
I don't know.
Maybe.
Isn't that why people have affairs, Chloe? To make themselves feel good?
I didn't make you feel bad. You did that all by yourself.
Chloe, where are you going?
Work.
Hello, Nat.
I'm not Nat. I'm Mel.
I'm sorry.
You were doing the accounts, usually the preserve of the owner.
I assumed you were Nat.
No - I couldn't pay attention long enough in maths
to aim for accountancy.
- You're Robbie, aren't you? - I am.
Why don't I get Nat for you?
No, no, I'm a couple of mintues early.
If it starts early, then it'll end early, and then everything's...
Out of whack.
I would've waited outside, but it was...
Too noisy?
Precisely.
Look, I'm going to leave the room now.
And in a few minutes, I'll let Nat know that you're here.
OK?
Uh, if you're here to work, Robbie's waiting.
I forgot to cancel him, and...
...he really wants too see Not Tippi.
OK. Tell him I'll see him.
- Great. - Nat?
How come you know?
I mean I can understand her telling Mel, but you?
Well... she didn't tell me.
I saw them.
[ sighs ]
What did it look like?
Was he into it?
Were they getting off on each other?
- Oh... I... - I need to know.
I didn't stay and watch, so...
You're Not Tippi, right?
I'm Not Tippi.
And if you mention Tippi's name again I'll be very upset.
But I do have a name. My name's Chloe.
Chloe? Chloe. Six variant spellings.
Greek in origin. Meaning 'blooming'.
Used to symbolise the fertility goddess Demeter.
Set to music by Ravel.
Well, I'm not sure that's what my mum was thinking
when she picked it, but...
How come you know all that stuff?
I know a lot about tropical cyclones.
in April 1995, Tropical Cyclone Chloe hit the West Australian coast.
Category five. No loss of life.
Robbie, if this is gonna work,
you're gonna have to teach me what to do, OK?
Will there be a discount?
Because, strictly speaking, I'll be teaching you a new skill.
No, Robbie, there won't be a discount.
Active monsoon trough formed between Irian Jaya and Timor.
- Robbie, is this...? - Shh.
Land mass, limited development, on the afternoon of the 3rd.
Rapid intensification occurred in upper-level winds.
Please, not with your hands at the same time.
Sorry.
Late on the 7th, approached WA coast.
Damaged swatch through vegetation approximately 30km wide.
[ moans ]
[ sighs loudly ]
Do you have a girlfriend, Robbie?
Have you ever had one?
What's it like being you?
15, 16, 17, 18...
I have no idea why people do the things they do.
I can work it out, but it's very laborious.
It gives me an answer, but it doesn't let me feel it.
Don't pity me. My IQ is 138. I'm very satisfied with my thoughts.
All I ask is that you don't treat me like a retard.
And that you don't hurt me.
[ sobs ]
You're crying, which means you're upset.
Have I upset you? Because if I have, you'll to explain it to me.
No.
It's not you.
I'm upset because my boyfriend had sex with somebody else.
With Tippi.
That's upsetting?
Yeah, that's upsetting.
Why do you think he did that?
Not sure it really matters why.
Is that better?
It's much better. Thank you.
I'd like to have my shower now.
OK.
Robbie. It's time.
- Thank you very much. - My pleasure.
Was it OK?
It was fine.
It was not as good as with Tippi.
What was so good about her?
It felt good with Tippi
because she wasn't afraid of me, which made me feel very special.
And she understood that no-one in the world can walk in your shoes,
so she didn't judge people, including me.
And she had sensational breasts.
- Hi. - Hi.
You looking for Mel?
- Yeah, I am. - Well, she's not here right now.
Right. Um... [ clears throat ]
I'm not... I'm just a friend. Not, uh...
- A client. - Yeah.
Right. Well, me neither.
I'm Sean. Mel's brother.
Uh, Josh. Chloe's boyfriend.
Oh, right. Well, you wanna come in? Wait for her?
Yeah. Thanks, man.
Things a bit thin on the ground at the time?
[ swallows ] Things were great.
Problem with commitment?
[ laughs ] I was the one that asked her to marry me.
She was the one that talked us out of it.
Shit, mate. You're not giving me much to work with here.
- Drugs or alcohol? - Mm-mm.
Tried that one. Didn't wash.
Well, all you're left with is just meaningless sex.
Which apparently isn't so meaningless to Chloe.
You have pointed out the absurdity of that
given her line of work, haven't you?
Yeah. But we had an agreement.
Did you go there again with Tippi?
No. But I wanted to.
You know she's gonna ask you that.
[ laughs ] You're ratshit then, mate.
Yep.
HEATHER: Won't you miss your plane?
WOMAN: What's the time?
Don't know.
Oh, great. Another 15 minutes to munch.
I am, without a doubt, a 100% no questions asked,
dyed-in-the-wool bub rubber.
- Oh, my God. - What?
"Career in balance after heart attack.
"Political contender Terence O'Neill..."
No, here.
"Questions remain about whether party coffers have been spent
"on hotel accommodation two days after the conference's conclusion.
"Opposition sources claim O'Neill was entertaining a family friend
"at the time of the attack."
Family friend. [ sighs ]
How long before some journo wants to talk to his family friend?
It's not good.
No shit.
I know what you're worried about.
- It's not the publicity. - Explaining it to the kids.
What am I gonna do?
Lean on a friend? Works for me.
You could go for a run.
- Or cunnilingus. - [ laughs ]
Josh?
- Hello! What are you... - Shh.
What?
And, uh, why is there a lump sleeping on my couch?
Beer.
[ clears throat ]
Robbie. Hi.
It's Chloe.
- Thank you. Hello, Chloe. - Hi.
I didn't think you had another appointment.
There's something I wanted to tell you.
- OK. - Can we go somewhere private?
Sure.
I processed you last night.
It took a while
because your communication style is not very direct.
A list of what you said and how you said it.
Tone of voice, body language, contradictions, etc, etc.
It's like four trains coming together -
what people want, what they believe, what they know, what they feel.
And when those four questions collide, you get left with the truth.
Unconfusing truth.
So the truth is
that while you are angry with your boyfriend and with Tippi.
you are actually more angry with yourself.
- Robbie, I appreciate you doing... - I'm not finished.
It's rude to interrupt before someone's finished.
And even though you are experiencing pain,
this pain is not the pain of a broken heart
because you do not, in fact, love your boyfriend.
How would you come up with an idea like that?
When people are really in love, they care about the 'why',
and you don't care about his reasons for sleeping with Tippi.
People are not that complex. They're very predictable, really.
There's some more information in there for you,
but I think it would be wise to allow yourself time to process this first.
I need some new bras and some new knickers.
I think I might go out and splurge. Do you want to come?
No.
You alright?
Yep.
Heather, did you know that Josh had sex with Tippi?
No.
- When? - Does it matter?
Are you alright?
Not really.
But I don't really want a big discussion right now,
I just needed to ask you.
I've just done something crazy.
I was out jogging and... I don't know, I...
I stopped outside a travel agent and...
...I've booked a trip to L.A.
- I'm gonna tell the kids. - That's awesome.
It's good.
Messy enough for you?
Chloe.
I love you.
This is not something that happens when you love somebody.
I can't believe all this is happening 'cause...
...'cause I slept with someone.
It's not because you slept with someone, Josh.
Well, what is it, then?
I don't have very much that I can give somebody.
I have sex with people for a living, for Christ's sake.
But I have my word.
That's all I have. And nothing can be more important than that.
Nothing.
I'm sorry.
After all the random men I've had, I just...
...I just wanted one to be special.
I don't know what I was looking for -
big house, nice appliances, clean linen...
...committed relationship.
And I cast you.
But it's not you. Not anymore.
You're off the hook.
I don't want to be off the hook, Chloe...
It's not me, either.
I'm not going anywhere.
You've got two days to pack up your stuff.
Where are you going?
Just don't be here when I get back.
[ wails ]
- [ tearfully ] Chloe... - Don't.
- Chloe. Don't go. - Please, Josh, don't.
- Go inside. - Please.
- Please go inside. Just go inside.
Shit.
What are you doing?
Waiting for you to finish up.
Why?
Because I can't be at home.
And I need a place to stay.
I'm not seeing the connection.
Well, life's like that sometimes.
You don't always see the connections.
Why can't you stay with Mel? Or Lauren?
Because I can't actually take any sympathy at the moment,
and yours is the only place I know I won't get any.
Alright. I have to finish up here.
Fine. I'll have a drink.
Thanks.
Why did you tell me?
I didn't. I...
Yeah, I know. You hinted. But you wanted me to know.
Betraying you screwed Tippi up, and if she wasn't so upset about it,
she wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You and Josh?
Finished.
- Sorry. - No, you're not.
I don't know what to do about Tippi.
Well, I'm sure there's not a lot to be done, given she's...
Yeah. That's my point.
She's not here to yell at or slap or beg forgiveness from.
How am I supposed to be angry at a dead person?
That's achievable.
I manage to be angry with Nick about 27 times a day.
And now Tippi's gone and some lunatic is running around, living life.
What's fair about that?
- Nothing. - Nothing.
I'm gonna pack up.
ROBBIE: Dear Chloe, I am writing to you
to seek permission to become a regular client.
I will endeavour to honour your request
not to use Tippi's name in future,
but would like to note that, subsequent to your request,
you yourself used her name a further seven times.
Yours sincerely, Robbie Barnes.
Captioned by Grantman Brown