It's a present.
Is this an apology?
What for?
You gonna open it?
Thanks. Maybe later.
No, no, no, no. You have to open it now.
- Why? - Because it's what you do.
You open a gift in front of the person it's from.
- Why? - So they can share the experience.
So it's not really for me, it's for you.
[ laughs ] Fine. OK, whatever.
It's a 2-part gift, though, OK? I wanna cook for you.
You cook?
Yes, it's a very attractive quality in a man, apparently.
It's not a quality.
You're threatened by just how attractive it is.
- My father cooked. - Really.
He was excellent at it. Never tasted food so good.
Ever.
Well, you know, I like a challenge, so...
I wasn't challenging you.
Enjoy.
You bastard.
[ sighs ]
There you go.
What do you think?
It's a lump of clay.
Yeah, well, it's not finished yet.
- Do you think we should kill him? - Who?
Smith. Who do you think, girl?
Are you an eye-for-an-eye type?
I don't know.
Well, personally, I think it's the only way to go.
Now, the needle's our best option.
It's quick, clean, no mess.
- What about the body? - Oh, flesh isn't a problem.
You throw it in the fire, sling on some kero, no more flesh,
but the bones, ooh.
Bones are the thing.
Are you willing to take it that far?
[ sighs ] No, you're right.
Like you said, it's my responsibility.
- Can't keep putting things off. - Alright.
[ clears throat ]
Jimmy, there's something else I want to ask you.
- You are pushing your luck now. - Please.
What?
I want you to touch me.
Eh?
Touch me.
Where?
Now?
Mmm.
Gentle, my little bird.
Open your eyes.
They're rough.
- [ laughs ] - Yeah, well, it's a man's touch.
It wasn't so bad.
It's a beginning.
- Good morning. - Mmm.
- [ bangs keys ] - What'd it do to you?
Huh?
The keyboard - sounds like you're punishing it.
Oh, I'm just doing something that I should've done a long time ago.
What, your tax?
No, I am telling Ally where to stick it.
- Ally? - She's getting married in Canada.
Apparently her fiancee loves maple trees.
Oh, Heather, I'm so sorry.
It's fine. I don't care. I've moved on.
You know, clearly she has.
I just wish she'd leave me alone.
I mean, I don't know what's with all this,
"Let's be friends, come to my wedding" bullshit.
Well, you were a significant person in her life for a long time.
You know, I haven't heard a single thing from her since we split up?
Nothing.
She's still making me crazy from a million miles away.
- Unfinished business will do that. - Huh?
Well, you did kind of chop her out of your life.
I'm just saying that maybe you should stop running away from things.
- I don't run away from things. - You did with Ally.
Yeah, that'll do, thanks.
And stop following me, it's never gonna happen.
- Why not? - 'Cause I don't want to go to jail.
- I'm legal! - Barely.
- Anyway, that's not the point. - Well, what is?
We have this thing between us, Mel.
Don't fool yourself.
- OK, that's it, we're done. - No, we're not.
- Yes, we are. - No.
You know, I never picked you for a conformist.
[ laughs ] That's a big word for a little boy.
I've got plenty more if you're interested.
OK, try this one on for size - it's never gonna happen again.
Sure. Thank you.
- Hey. - Hello.
- You busy? - Um, yes, actually I am.
And I'm gonna be busy for a very long time.
Wait a minute.
- Look, you paid, I had sex with you. - Yeah.
And it was nothing more, nothing less.
But we've got chemistry.
Sexual chemistry, that's all it is.
- But how can you just pass it off? - Because I'm here to do a job.
And with you, I let my standards slip.
That's an interesting way of looking at it.
- Thank you. - My pleasure.
[ glasses clink ]
[ sighs ]
- Hey, Chloe. - Hey, Bill.
What are you doing here?
Well, we tried dinner and that didn't work,
so I thought this would be more comfortable.
- Can you fit me in? - Yeah, sure.
Great.
[ laughs ]
[ squawks ]
Ooh, it tickles.
Oh, it feels like millions of tongues.
I should charge you extra for this.
I'd be happy to pay more.
Come here.
Am I allowed to kiss?
Mmm, maybe here.
Now here.
OK, now everywhere.
[ shrieks and laughs ]
[ both cough ]
Heimlich? You want Heimlich?
- [ coughs loudly ] - Chloe, are you OK?
- Who's Heimlich? - Heimlich, the manoeuvre.
- You know, when you're choking. - [ both laugh ]
Hello.
Long flight? 14 hours, isn't it, from LAX?
You must feel like hell. Let me buy you a drink.
Sorry, do I know you?
Deb James. 'Weekend Prime' magazine.
How did you get in here?
I handed over my credit card, said I wanted to see the talent.
You got a minute, Lauren?
O'Neill's heart attack is big news.
- Everyone wants the inside story. - But that's not gonna happen.
Then my colleagues are just gonna make stuff up.
I'm happy to tell your story.
In fact, I think your side is the most interesting part.
Descretion is a big part of my profession.
This place certainly has a reputation
for attracting some big names.
How are the kids, by the way?
It wasn't hard, Lauren.
Basic searches, and calls from three people who claim they know you.
Are you trying to blackmail me?
No, but there are plenty of others who will.
I'm offering you an exclusive deal
and the protection that comes with that.
I'd rather not.
Ask Melanie for a reference.
You know Melanie?
Yeah, she's an acquaintance from round the traps.
She's a favourite with some of our backers.
Thanks, but no, thanks.
OK, take my card at least.
Hey.
Uh, I have not had that much fun since... I don't know.
- Since the last time we had sex? - Yeah.
- Here. - Haven't you already paid?
Well, I just want to give you a tip.
No, you don't need to do that.
- Well, I had a great time. - Me too.
Better than trying to do it out there in the real world, wasn't it?
Yeah. Well, this is what I do, so...
- Yeah, well, maybe it wasn't. - No, it was great.
- Should I make another booking? - Sure. Why not?
This is my job, Bill.
- Come on, I'll see you out. - OK.
- Do you like them? - Excuse me?
They're supposed to be beautiful on the skin -
silky and soft.
I haven't tried them on yet.
You've got something in your hair.
It's mud.
Oh, it's... it's probably clay.
- Clay? - Um...
How'd you get clay in your hair?
Turn your hand over.
They're so clean.
- No clay. - No clay.
Promise me you'll try them on, huh?
Why are you bothering?
It's just a gift, Nat. If you don't like it, fine.
I just... [ sighs ]
I've just been busy.
Let me know if they fit, huh?
Ash blocked it out.
Kate called me things I never thought I'd hear my daughter say.
Oh, I'm sure she didn't mean it.
She meant it. Anyway, she was better by the time I left.
And I got home to this - Deb James.
- She said she knew you. - Yeah. Yeah, Deb's great.
She's very well connected. She'll take care of you.
You didn't say anything to her, did you?
No, I wouldn't do that.
Here's to the end of my career.
Oh, it could just be the beginning.
I'm the scarlet woman that nearly killed a man.
I'm not sure there's any coming back from that.
Why don't you start working for yourself as an escort?
I mean, you do it occasionally already, just take the next step.
How do I find the clients?
I could give you a few leads from my book, just to get you started.
That's very generous, Mel. Are you sure?
Yeah, of course. I can't keep up with them all at the moment anyway.
What do I do about Deb James?
Use her.
She's got class. She'll get your side of the story out.
I'm not sure I want the exposure.
Take some time to think about it,
but don't miss the business angle in the meantime.
That's how I have to think of this.
It's business.
Why don't you come out with me tonight?
I could introduce you to a few of the big players, get you started.
[ both laugh ]
Uh, here she is.
What are you doing here?
Oh, well, I was just at the bar, killing brain cells.
Waiting to see if you were still busy.
Look, I really don't...
But you're not gonna give me what I want.
I think you should go home to Eloise.
Yes.
That's what I probably should do, but...
- Whop! - [ laughs softly ]
Why don't we get you a glass of water?
Why don't we...
[ sighs ]
Look at you.
You're so...
- Hmm? - Let's go.
- Fecund. - What?
You're beautiful.
You're drunk. It's time to go home.
- No. - Come on. Get up.
Ah, there you are. Special delivery.
Ooh.
- [ sighs ] - What?
It's from Josh.
Trying to weasel his way back in, is he?
"I'm gone. Time to celebrate."
Hmm, showing a bit of class for once.
Nat, can you not?
I'm sorry. It's a step forward. Now you can move on.
Mmm.
Swings and roundabouts.
Hmm?
It all ends up the same in the end.
Maybe, maybe not.
Are you alright?
Yeah. Why?
You seem different.
I'm completely the same.
Oh. Nice.
Good. You can have it.
Stupid champagne, filling up the world with bubbles.
- You love bubbles. - It's from Josh.
This is good.
- Is it? - Mmm. It's what you wanted.
So how come I feel petrified all of a sudden?
You've still got Bonnie.
Mmm. She's gonna love me when I tell her about Josh.
She'll be right.
They were mates. He looked after her.
Look, I know it's not perfect, Chloe, but I think it's really good.
It'll just be the two of you.
Yeah.
Maybe that's what the point of all of this is -
time for me to be just Mum.
No sex, just Mum.
- Are they mutually exclusive? - [ laughs ]
Not for normal people.
We're not really normal, are we?
Ah, who's wanna be?
CHLOE: Have you been getting all my messages?
I've been calling you at least once a day.
Yeah, but it's hard to answer then in the middle of the night.
- I miss you, Bon. - I miss you too.
I'm coming up there to talk to your teachers.
Yeah, I know.
Is there anything you need to tell me?
- No. - You sure?
- [ bell rings ] - Yeah, Mum. I gotta go.
But I'll talk to you later. Love you. 'Bye.
- Yeah, I love you too. Are you...? - [ phone disconnects ]
'Bye.
Gentlemen, this is the frend I was telling you about,
Terry O'Neill's downfall.
- Mel! - It's OK.
It's a shush club - you can trust these guys with your life.
- David. Nice to meet you. - Lauren.
Red's my favourite colour.
It's the colour of good luck.
- Or someone's who's very naughty. - [ both chuckle ]
- Hugh. - Lauren.
No wonder poor old Terry's heart exploded.
- Are you a member here? - Yeah, for business reasons.
I wouldn't be caught dead with these blokes otherwise.
- [ men chuckle ] - I know what you mean. [ laughs ]
It's not the easiest study we're ever done, but that's a good thing.
It means we're actually getting somewhere.
Mm-hm. Well, I'm glad for you.
But, like I said, it just wasn't working for me.
I can't change your mind?
I don't think you'd want me being half-hearted.
Can I ask you something?
Shoot.
It's got nothing to do with Jack, has it?
Um...
Are you falling in love?
No. No, I'm not.
He is.
Look...
...he came in here earlier today, drunk.
He was blabbing on about 'fecund' or something.
That's the way he sees you -
you're perfect.
Perfect for what?
Jack's always wanted a child.
Over time, he's become more and more attracted to shapely, womanly types.
Having a baby's got nothing to do with the shape of your body.
Not technically.
Unless you spend your whole sex life trying to conceive
and then every contour becomes all about your inability to do just that.
I had no idea that's what it was all about.
Of course you didn't.
- You're a hit. - [ sighs ]
I'm a bit out of depth, to be honest.
Nah, don't let these fools intimidate you.
- They're all bluff. - I suppose we all are.
Not you, Lauren. You're the real deal.
Do men like that?
They like a woman who knows how to be herself.
[ laughs ] With an 18-inch waist and a DD cup.
- [ both laugh ] - Correct.
You, of course, have the one thing
that will overwhelm any man's prejudice.
- Red hair? - You like them.
- You like men, and it shows. - That's true.
I do like men. I like them a lot.
And we like you.
- I'm good to go. - Rightio.
- I'll get your coat. - Thank you.
- Shall I arrange a car for you? - I think I might stay.
- Hugh asked if I was available later. - Great.
Now, what shall I charge?
- What?! - At the very least.
And if he wants anything beyond a standard session, double it.
- Oh, that's ridiculous. - Oh.
Thank you. Enjoy.
Thank you.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
- Whoo! Chilly out here. - It sure is.
- Let me get the door. - Thank you.
Ooh! [ giggles ]
Get your belt.
Mel, would you spank me this evening?
Certainly.
Very hard?
I have a ruler in my handbag.
- [ phone rings ] - Oh, one sec.
Oh, you're kidding?
Well, when did this happen?
[ groans ]
You got that, you prick?
What are you doing?
- Hey! - [ footsteps recede ]
I'm fine. I'm fine.
Who was that?
- What the hell were you thinking? - What?
You assaulted him, Marc. You assaulted him.
- What if he tells the police? - He won't say anything.
I threatened to tell his wife where he was.
- He's my client, Marc. - I don't want him touching you.
We're finished. Do you understand? I don't want to see you.
- Why not? - It's inappropriate.
Says who?
- The world. - They're hypocrites, Mel.
Why are you following their rules?
If this was about following rules, it would be easy, OK?
I break rules all the time.
You know, you're taking me far too seriously.
- Oh, really? - Uh-huh.
I'm just some piece of fluff for you to use and abuse.
I mean that. We have no future together.
I couldn't possibly satisfy a woman like you forever.
So why bother?
'Cause I want to. And so do you.
You never give up, do you?
Goodbye, Marc.
You'll be back.
Hello.
I've decided to stop running.
I'm just going to drink my problems away.
Have they got anything to do with Jack?
Mmm. Apparently he wants to put his seed in me.
Or, according to Eloise, "any womanly type".
What do you mean?
They can't have kids and they really want them.
What's that got to do with this study?
Nothing.
Somehow I've ended up in the middle of it.
He really messed with my head.
And your body. Sorry.
Some clients just get to you.
I actually thought he worshipped me.
When was the last time that happened?
Come on.
When was the last time someone looked at you like they adored you?
It would have been Ally.
I miss someone who just wants me.
[ sighs heavily ]
I know. I know.
But you didn't really give yourself a chance.
Heather, when you and Ally separated,
and you lost your baby...
...you just kept going.
You barely took a breath.
I thought I was being strong.
[ both sigh ]
No, you were just dodging.
Trust me, I know all about it.
It's this job.
You have this one little chink,
this tiny speck of vulnerability and...
You know, that's what makes you
the best sex worker in this place, Chloe.
Yeah, and what about the rest of my life?
Hmm.
What's so urgent, Jimmy?
It's finished.
What do you think now?
NAT: Looks like a lump of crap
with sticks stuck in it.
Huh.
Little bird.
What kind of a muse was that, anyway?
Alright, Natalie,
now, I'm gonna give you what you want.
Come on.
The man of your dreams, Natalie.
- Say hello. - [ Smith grunts ]
- [ grunts ] - Hey, sit still, Smith.
You're making a dill of yourself in front of the lady.
Here you go, Nat.
Quick and clean, just the way you wanted.
[ Smith grunts ]
You have to push it in. You have to push it all the way in.
- [ grunts loudly ] - Shh!
- Go on. Put it in. You have to... - Please! Be quiet.
Go on! Put it on. You have to put the lot in.
[ Smith pants and grunts ]
[ groans ]
You did this.
You did this to Tippi.
You didn't help me, Nat!
- For Tippi. - You didn't help me, Nat!
Now, don't fall, Smith. Go on!
- [ groans ] - I reckon Nick would be proud of ya.
- [ stammers ] What? - Doing Daddy proud, little bird.
[ groans ] I can't.
Do you know what I had to do to get this little turd in here?
- [ whispers ] No, I can't. - He killed one of your girls. Do it!
No.
Your Nicky's flesh and blood.
- You're one of us! - No, I'm not gonna do it!
I'm giving you 10 seconds.
- 10, 9, 8... - [ door opens ]
- [ door slams ] - ...seven...
- ...six... - [ grunts ]
Nat? Are you still up?
[ Nat sniffling ]
I've got your key, and I need to come and pick up my stuff.
Hey.
What's wrong?
[ sobs ] I couldn't do it.
I'm not like that.
I'm not what people think.
Has something happened?
[ exhales deeply ] Look at them.
They're all soft.
They beautiful. Did somebody buy them for you?
Was it Sean?
He's been keen on you from day one.
Oh, God!
You all know.
So what? It's great.
No, everything is...
Everything is a mess.
Dad...
...Tippi, Jimmy.
- [ cries softly ] - Who's Jimmy?
He's just... just some bastard that I know.
I'm sick of being so weird.
You're not weird, Nat.
I can't even put those on.
That's easy.
You just pull 'em on and he pulls 'em off.
I wear rubber. [ laughs ]
Sorry?
I wear rubber undies.
Yep. I'm a freak.
Oh, come on, Nat.
We've both seen a lot freakier stuff than that.
I dunno why. I think it's to do with mother.
- She wore rubber undies? - [ laughs ] No!
She used to bathe me with rubber gloves on.
She had eczema when I was a baby.
Right.
And I guess I just still like the feeling. [ sniffles ]
Is that why you hide in the cupboard?
Maybe.
I don't know.
What do I do? They all think I'm loopy.
- Oh. Nat, we're all loopy. - [ chuckles ]
You're just not very good at covering it.
Mmm.
You're OK, Nat.
[ phone beeps ]
Not much for me, thanks.
Why? Was that your heartbreaker, was it?
- I'm ignoring you, Sean. - [ laughs ]
- What about me? - You too.
[ both laugh ]
How do I look?
- Oh, perfect. - What time's the interview?
- Midday. - You'll be fine.
I did tell everyone brunch at 10:00, didn't I?
- Oh, yeah, Chloe can't come. Sorry. - Why?
She's obviously got something more important to do than indulge you.
Yeah, what's the idea, Sean?
Well, I just thought I'd get everyone together, spend some time.
Thought I could indulge you skanky lot -
a ho meeting.
- [ both laugh ] - That's my boy.
Nat say she was coming?
Oh, she's still spinning around in your head, is she?
No, I'm just being friendly, that's all.
- We warned you. - You, on the eggs. Separating.
- All of them? - If you want eggwhite omelettes, yes.
Oh, fine. Separating the eggs.
I reckon you girls are a little bit tough on Nat.
- [ laughs ] - What?
I'm serious. She runs that place all by herself.
Yeah, that's how she likes it, Sean.
Yeah, well, maybe she could do with a bit of company too.
Oh, Sean, you're so sweet.
[ phone beeps ]
Little chickadee.
- MEL: Hmm? - Eggs.
They're like little abortions, really.
That's revolting. No, they're not.
They are. Little unformed babies full of richness and potential.
You know, that's why they're so good for you.
I think I'll pass on the omelette, Sean.
Mmm, me too.
Oh, great.
I have to go.
So, you're just gonna wreck my menu and then bail, are you?
Sorry.
I hope I'm not wasting your time.
Have a seat.
So, what's this about?
Well, I have an idea
and, um, I thought you might be interested.
I have eggs,
month after month, that are going to waste.
And?
You can have some of them.
Are you serious?
Yep. I am.
But we hardly know you.
Well, there are strangers doing this every single day all over the world.
And we're not exactly strangers, are we?
El, what do you think?
I... I can't. I ca... I can't think.
This is too... it's too crazy.
Eloise, I know I've sprung this on you.
Just think about it.
And then we can talk.
What about you?
Don't you want your first baby to be yours?
I just want to be in love with someone before I have a baby.
And that's a long way off.
It's an amazing offer, Heather.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, I am.
I really wanna do this.
- Oh, that's the palm tree. - "That's the palm tree." [ laughs ]
Mmm.
- You know you make the perfect latte. - [ laughs ]
Have you ever thought about opening up a cafe?
Uh, far too busy for that.
I run 23 individual stands.
- Do you? - Mmm. It's a franchise.
- I'm the brand owner. - [ both laugh ]
Well, good for you.
About to take is OS, actually.
- Really? - Mmm.
That's why I called.
- I'm off to India. - Oh.
Seems they can't get enough of their perfect lattes,
and there's over a billion of them, so...
I thought Indians were tea drinkers.
- They haven't tried my latte. - [ laughs ]
Well, you are gonna be very, very busy.
You could come with me.
I'd love to have someone to come home to at night.
Well, back to the hotel.
I've never been to India.
It's a business trip.
I just put you down as my assistant
and you wouldn't have to worry about anything.
- [ exhales deeply ] - What do you say?
Wanna run away with me?
I would love to.
And thank you for the offer,
but I've got things I need to sort out here.
Well, I could postpone my trip till you're ready.
Indians are pretty patient.
Hmm, these things could take months to sort out.
Maybe even years.
I think they'll need their coffee before that.
Mmm.
Call you when I get back.
Please.
[ knocks ]
- Hey. - Hey.
Nat, I need some time off.
OK.
From today.
I know it's short notice, but I need to visit Bonnie's school,
and I thought it would be a good opportunity
to spend some real time with her.
Is everything OK?
Mmm.
She seemed a bit flat and I need to tell her about Josh.
Alright. A couple of days... a week?
Can I leave it open?
Until I see Bonnie, who knows?
And I think I need some time out too.
- From this place. - Mmm.
From the job, the lifestyle, everything.
You're burnt out.
Nothing touches me anymore.
You just need a break, need some time out.
[ clears throat ]
So what's happening with you and Sean?
[ sighs ]
I don't know if I can.
Of course you can. It's easy.
For you, maybe. It's hardly the same thing.
Just do it, Nat.
What if...
What if I can't?
Do you want to?
Yeah.
- I do. - [ laughs ]
[ sighs ]
- I'm jealous. - Please.
No, seriously. That's what I miss.
- Feeling inadequate? - It's called desire, Natalie.
- You're a know-it-all, aren't you? - Mmm.
If only that were true.
Now, just up here.
- [ phone beeps ] - Oh.
- Oh, busy as usual, Mel? - Yeah, something like that.
- There she is. - Hi there.
- You ready, Lauren? - I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna be.
- [ laughs nervously ] - Alright. We're just gonna set up.
I'm gonna have to love you and leave you, I'm afraid.
It's, um... it's a long story, but I really need to be somewhere.
- Go on. I'm fine. I'll handle this. - Of course you will.
Just be yourself. That's what you're selling.
- Yeah. - OK. Good luck. Knock 'em dead.
OK.
Um...
[ camera shutter clicks ]
So, what's it like to be a sex worker, Lauren?
You know, the crazy thing about that question
is the sex is the least of it.
It's the intensity of the relationships.
And not just with the clients,
but with the women as well.
[ sighs ] They're so brave and funny and smart. [ chuckles ]
You have to be normal and grounded, I suppose...
...but it's difficult not losing who you really are.
You called.
LAUREN: We're all part of a very different world.
Tell me about that world.
Well, there's lots of variety,
lots of challenges.
Not only in the work and in the clients,
but yourself,
as a woman who has her own needs that sometimes get forgotten.
There's lots of responsibility,
too much sometimes.
Bon.
You get close to things that can be really conforting...
...and not close enough to others.
You learn... [ sighs ] ...to see beauty in people.
And, most importantly of all, you learn to listen.
And not just to what a man says.
You watching?
Gonna stand up in a sec.
Ah!
But you learn to listen to his heart.
And you learn...
...that your own heart must never be silenced.
Maybe, um, sit there.
- Here? - Yes. Right... there.
[ clears throat ]
I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.
Not a clue.
Don't... don't touch.
I'll do it.
You have to look at me, Nat.
Wait.
[ exhales deeply ]
Captioned by Grantman Brown