(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
BOB: Once upon a time in a town called Dubbo,
at the crossroads of the mighty Newell and Mitchell Highways
Uh... no one listens to me. Especially not him, Thomas.
He never listens.
He works beside me at the depot.
I fix ’em, he cleans 'em.
We send ’em off,
loaded and shiny all over, everywhere.
My son, my son.
He lives with us.
He’s full of dreams.
But we worry he doesn’t finish anything.
I try to tell him.
Working with your hands,
now that’s something to be proud of.
But he loves trucks,
loves the look. Loves the sound of them.
Thomas loves the idea of them.
He’s under their spell.
So, even though he’s a natural pin striper,
with the eye and the hand for it,
he dreams of owning his own truck.
Dreams of being in the driver’s seat,
out on the open road.
He sees the owner-drivers...
-All right. -...and he thinks ’power'.
How you going? You good?
Good.
BOB: So, instead of doing what he’s good at,
he goes out with the drivers from the depot
to get his hours up.
To get his licence.
Come on. Get in.
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
BOB: And then one day,
down at the servo...
Jeez Tom, why can’t you finish something?
We let you leave school early
so you could do your panel beating
and you walked away from that to join the army
and you walked away from that...
He sees Melissa.
And he sees something more beautiful,
more beautiful than a Western Star Constellation
with a Detroit diesel.
BOB: Here.
Dreamy boy. Make yourself useful.
(BELL DINGS)
That’s $37.50.
Here.
You should go after your dreams, shouldn’t you?
What dreams are they?
Big ones.
So what now, clever dick?
I got a plan.
Yeah, I got a plan too.
Let’s go and have a couple of beers.
(ENGINE STARTING)
PHIL: Hey, Thomas,
you want to paint these up for me mate?
Something nice and fancy.
Sure.
-(DAD SCREAMING) -Dad.
-MECHANIC: Bob! Bob! You okay? -(DAD GROANING)
Bob’s under it? Get it up.
Get it off! Get it off him!
BOB: Tom.
-Lift, lift, lift! Come on. -Tom get out of the way. Tommy!
-Dad! Dad! Dad! -Tom!
-Dad! Dad! -PHIL: Tom.
-BOB: It’ll be all right. -PHIL: Get away.
MECHANIC: We gonna need a crowbar.
You’re in the way. Get out of the way.
There’s nothing you can do, mate. There’s nothing you can do.
Loosen the vice.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
PRIEST: Give our brother Robert peaceful rest in this grave
until that day when you, the resurrection
and the life, will raise him up in glory.
Then may he see the light of your presence Lord Jesus
in the kingdom where you live.
Since Almighty God has called our brother Robert
from this life to himself,
we commit his body to the earth.
-Hey. -Hey.
Where’s Dad?
Oh.
Um, I’m sorry.
You want an Aspro?
-Eh? -MUM: An Aspro. Makes you feel better.
Mmm.
I’ll get you one.
I’m sorry Mum.
I just couldn’t get it off him.
Tom. It’s not your fault, baby.
I just couldn’t get it off him.
Hey. I know you couldn’t.
I know that you tried.
You tried so hard and no one’s blaming you.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry, Mum.
What are we going to do?
You didn’t have to come in here today.
It’s a fair effort.
You’ll make a good quid out of this.
Yeah.
Till I drive myself a rig.
You stick with this.
Yeah, yeah. Stick with it. Stick with the painting.
Stuff him.
Who do you reckon he’s saying that for?
You or him, huh?
You wanna drive?
Drive.
Right?
All right.
Number 2.
Um, $20.
Twenty.
How are those dreams coming along?
They’re still big.
My car.
Do you like it?
Is that one of your dreams?
Yeah, it’s a piece of shit.
I didn’t want to say that.
Well would you wanna go for a burn in it?
-A burn? -Yeah.
Where have you been?
Go on.
I can’t, I'm working.
Well, not now. I didn’t mean right now.
Well, when then?
When you finish.
What for?
-What, what for? -I don’t even know you.
I work over the depot.
I mean you must’ve seen me.
I see you all the time.
Ten o’clock, all right?
Okay.
(BELL DINGS)
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
(MELISSA SINGING) # I got my own Two step together
# Gonna save the first Slow dance for you
# I just saw Venus rising’
# Guess I’m realising'
# I’m not mama's Little girl no more
# And you’re the first to know
# I’m not mama's little girl No more.
# Took a little time to grow
# It’s gonna be # (GASPS)
(LAUGHING) Did I give you a fright?
No.
What were you singing?
Nothing.
Uh, I’m sorry I'm late.
I’ve never seen you over there.
TOM: Really?
-I’ve been painting stuff over there for ages. -MELISSA: How long?
Weeks.
That long?
At least you’re not one of those dickhead truck drivers.
MELISSA: Where are we going?
TOM: Maybe we could go back to your place.
MELISSA: You’re a fast worker,
I live with my Mum.
TOM: So do I.
Good catch.
Give us a kiss.
-What? -TOM: What?
-Why should I? -It’d be good.
-Says you. -(TOM LAUGHS)
You’re a good sort, you know that?
How about you take this good sort home?
I get the idea that your Mum’d be inside.
MELISSA: She is.
You won’t be.
MELISSA: Go on. Go.
(TOM CHUCKLES)
-Where have you been? -Nowhere.
Come here. Nowhere.
Who do you think you bloody are?
You don’t even know him.
He doesn’t want to sit around all day getting off his face.
He wants to do something.
So he’s special, like you.
(MELISSA MUM LAUGHS)
Won’t be so special when he gets you up the duff!
PHIL: Oh yeah, that’s a fair effort.
Mate, you’re bloody good at this work, you know.
It’s a real head turner. I know some blokes,
they want some work done on their trucks,
so any time you want to come in here on the weekends
to the paint shop, use it, you go for your life.
Oh yeah.
Thanks. But I just... I really need to get my hours up.
Doing some driving.
All right.
Thanks anyway.
PHIL: I’m going off to Perth tomorrow with a load,
so you can come with me if you want.
I’ll see if you're cut out for it.
Sweet.
-I’ve got something for you. -Have you?
Mmm.
But I don’t know if you deserve it.
Fine.
What is it?
It’s you.
Melissa,
warrior queen of the bowsers.
(MELISSA CHUCKLING) Is that me?
Yeah.
It’s a good picture.
You’re a good drawer.
Hold on.
-Where are you going? -Just wait.
Here.
-What’s that? -It’s gypsy music.
-My dad was a gypsy. -Yeah?
Well, I’m a bit of gypsy.
Truckies are like gypsies.
More like cowboys.
Cowboy gypsies.
I’m still waiting for that kiss.
Well, you’re going to be waiting a long time.
Good.
What do you mean "good"?
You could’ve said it was never going to happen,
but you didn’t.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Something to look forward to.
Can I put some music on?
-Yeah, go for your life. -Yeah?
Cassette.
There you go.
(GYPSY MUSIC PLAYING)
What do you call that?
-It’s gypsy music. -Oh, yeah.
It’s all right, isn't it?
Gypsy music.
(VOLUME INCREASES)
Who’s that?
Him? He’s Saint Christopher.
He’s the saint of drivers.
-What’s he do? -Oh, keeps you out of trouble.
Mate, I’ll take whatever help I can get.
(GYPSY MUSIC CONTINUES)
Fucking’ gypsy music.
-MELISSA’S MUM: Who's this? -Thomas.
Uh-huh.
-You seen my keys? -No.
I put them on the table, you must’ve moved them.
Christ Almighty, how am I supposed to go to bloody work?
Did you look in your bag?
What?
Did you look in your bag?
-Of course I looked in my bag. See? -(KEYS JINGLING)
You going to be here when I get home?
Oh, don’t open your mouth and bloody speak to me.
(MELISSA LAUGHING)
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
Your Mum’s gone.
Yep.
Come dance with me.
Ah, I don’t really dance.
Come on.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Dance.
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
One, two, three.
Kick. One, two, three.
BOTH: Two, three. Kick.
(HORSE NEIGHING)
(ENGINE REVVING)
TOM: Wait, wait.
-MELISSA: What? -TOM: I just need something.
It’s quite big.
TOM: Wait.
What’s your plan for that?
Can you hold it?
-Hold it? -Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah, two hands.
Yeah.
(TOM CHUCKLING) Yeah.
That’s good.
(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND)
Well, it’s like a present.
Well, what is it?
Well, all right, you’re not allowed to look though.
-You got to close your eyes. -Okay.
-Okay. No looking. -I’m not looking.
TOM: Right.
(MELISSA GASPS)
You did this for me?
Well, who else am I going to do it for, eh?
I mean, it’s only little, I know. But it’s...
it’s a start.
-You like it? -It’s so beautiful.
-Yeah.
Thank you so much.
That’s all right.
It’s fine.
(whispers) Let’s give it a test run.
(MELISSA LAUGHING)
Jump up.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
We need to put the stabiliser things down.
No, it’ll be all right.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
See, told you.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
PHIL: Now see, you’ve got to check the tyres.
Yeah, all four.
All right, straight back. That’s it, that's it.
Right, hard left down. Left down.
Left down. Come on, left, left. Left!
(PHIL SHOUTING) Get the fucking left, eh!
Eh! Eh, stop it! Stop it!
Shit.
Are you sure you got a licence?
Yes.
It’s unbelievable.
Just leave it here, I’ll fix it up later on.
You, did you see that?
-You shouldn’t encourage him. -Mate. He’s got a dream.
Hey I heard you been, uh, looking at getting a truck.
Yeah.
Yeah, I want to.
It’ll get Phil off your back
How you going to pay for it?
Oh, I got it sorted. With the bank.
Yeah. Right.
The bank.
Hey, well, if that doesn’t work out,
I might know someone.
Yeah. Cheers.
SALESMAN: Five hundred horses under the bonnet, brother.
Everything else is bigger.
Your rear bogies.
They’ll handle seventy tons easy.
Double rail construction so she won’t bend.
In terms of comfort,
she’s got air.
You can even get a DVD, brother.
LCD screen.
How much does she cost?
Two hundred and forty thousand, brother.
Plus on road costs.
MUM: I’m not sure Tom. I could lose the house.
It’s just so that they, they’ll give me the money.
You don’t actually have to pay anything.
Yeah, unless something goes wrong.
But what’s going to go wrong?
Nothing’s going to go wrong, Mum.
It’s all I've got. I don’t think I can risk it.
Tom, there’s no rush for you to get a truck, is there?
Just wait a bit. What’s the big rush?
I just don’t want to end up in some shitty job
with someone ordering me around.
You mean like your father?
What did he have to show for it?
MUM: Thomas.
You turn out half as good as him
and you’ll be someone to be proud of.
Banks. Who needs ’em eh?
TOM: Yeah.
But it’s a lot of money, you know that?
Yes.
And because you haven’t got any collateral to back you up,
we’re talking higher interest rate.
-I know. -That’s a lot to come up with
every fortnight.
You sure you want to do it?
-Certain. -Because it’s a lot to come up with.
I know. I’ve got it all worked out.
Good.
-Yeah. -You know, what I love about this
is making people’s dreams come true.
I sometimes get all teary about it.
Of course, the flipside is the responsibility.
Um?
You know, you go out on a limb to help someone
and they let you down. It just makes me cranky.
So, you be sure you’re sure, Tom.
I’ve thought about this a lot.
I’ve got all the work lined up
subbing for Phil Cooper, so, I can pay this back.
Don’t have to worry about it.
Great.
Just a bit of advice.
Don’t get behind.
Not even for one week.
Because you could find yourself chasing your own tail.
And then I’d be chasing it too.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(AIR BRAKES HISS)
Have you fucked it yet?
Thanks for putting a word in for me.
Thanks for that.
Probably wouldn’t have got it without you.
Glad I could help.
Maybe someday there’s something you could do for me.
It’s beautiful.
Yeah.
(AIR BRAKES HISS)
(HORN TOOTING)
-(TRUCK DOOR CLOSES) -Look at your truck.
It’s ours.
Looks good.
Shall we celebrate? Come on.
Let’s go and celebrate.
TOM: I know it’s a long way
but I’ll get more work if we’re out there.
Will you be away all the time?
That’s how Phil started,
now he’s got more work than he can handle.
I’ll subby for him.
I just don’t really see what the rush is.
Well, I’ve got my license now
and I’ve got the truck and, you know,
things are just starting to happen.
I just want you,
I just want you to come with me.
It’ll be good, won't it?
There’ll be people like us there?
Yeah, probably.
Thanks.
Do you know what?
What?
I’m pregnant.
That’s great.
Yeah?
Yeah.
This is great, eh?
Do you love me, Tom?
Well, don’t get scared. Don’t get scared.
Of course, I love you.
Give us a kiss.
You know what I’m angry, angriest about?
Say "what"!
-What? -I’m angry that we made Mum right.
You know, I really wanted to prove her wrong
and I didn’t
and it’s your fault!
Well, we’ll prove her wrong.
Let’s get married.
-What? -You heard me!
Give us a kiss!
Come on.
Jeez, you’d be mad, wouldn’t you?
Getting married these days?
Oh, be love, wouldn’t it?
-Love, eh? -Yeah.
Nah, good on them,
-they’re mad, but good on ’em. -Eh...
This bugger owes me money.
Who’s that?
Hi.
Who told you?
Aunty May.
She said to say she’s sorry she couldn’t make it,
had to have her foot amputated.
-The smokes. -Oh.
I just thought I should come and see my girl before she’s grown up.
But I missed.
Look, um...
I’ve done all right,
house prices and that.
Put it towards a deposit on a house.
Hey, Mel!
You look beautiful.
I thought you were a gypsy.
I’m a real estate agent.
It’s cued up. Thanks.
-My Gypsy Queen. -I’m not.
You are to me.
Let’s do it.
Come on.
MC: Will everybody please welcome
Mr and Mrs Thomas McCully
to the dance floor.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(PEOPLE LAUGHING AND CHEERING)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(HORN BLARING)
BOB: And so they travelled far across hills and plains
to the mythical land
where the trucks can have more and more trailers
and Thomas can find more work.
And Melissa makes their home in a caravan park.
Out beyond the back of Bourke.
MELISSA: I don’t want to stay.
It’s our first night here.
I know, I’m sorry,
but, you know, it’s my job. I’ve got to...
I’ve got to pick up a load, then I’ve got to drop Phil back.
Can I come?
Mel.
I don’t want to stay out here by myself.
Don’t be a bastard, Tom.
Oh, wait, wait, wait.
(HORN TOOTING)
(SHEEP BLEATING)
(HORN TOOTING)
(AIR BRAKE HISS)
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
-Shit. -No...
(BLEATING CONTINUES)
(GROANS)
Oh, man.
PHIL: You stay there, love.
You couldn’t do anything about it, mate.
The bastards, they just come out on the road.
They like the heat that comes off it.
Maybe we could take them to the vet.
Just get a couple of wheel braces.
Fuck.
Well, don’t just stand there, boy.
Get into it. I don’t like doing it either!
(BLEATING CONTINUES)
(ACCORDION PLAYING)
# I’ve been hearing Around the town
# You’ve been out And getting round
# Whether it’s right Or whether it’s true
# I’m stuck here And I’m stuck on you #
TOM: Straight up through Roma, yeah?
TRUCK DRIVER: Yeah, mate, yep.
(SLOW SONG PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
(AIR BRAKES HISS)
-What are you doing here? -I missed you.
You’re supposed to be on your way to Adelaide.
Yeah, well, I missed you the second I left the gate.
-Did you? -And I’ve missed you more
-every second after that. -Have you?
So, I had to see you.
You had to drive all this way, extra
Yeah, I don’t care.
Come on, come up here.
-Hi. -Hi.
-You got the spanner? -I’ve got the spanner,
and I’ve got at least an inch and a half of good loving.
At least.
I missed you.
I missed you more!
No, I missed you more.
-TOM: I missed you. -MELISSA: No, I missed you more.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
I can heat you up some food.
-Make you some coffee. -Oh, I don’t have time.
Haven’t you got some bread or something?
Just get out of the truck, it’ll take one minute.
Yeah, I can’t.
-No, no, no. -Tom.
I just, I can’t.
I’ll see you Friday?
They called up again.
They said that you were late with the last payment.
Did they?
Yeah, bloody idiots, they must have made another mistake.
Um, don’t worry about it. I’ll sort it out okay?
Are you all right out here by yourself?
It’s not for forever, right?
No.
I can live here for a while if that’s what you really want.
(TRUCK STARTS)
See you later beautiful two.
TOM: Yeah, well, I still got to get this load down to Adelaide
and then bring one back to Dubbo by Friday.
(JOHNNIE YAWNING) Sounds like you could use some help
TOM: Why do you say that?
JOHNNIE: People have been talking about you.
People? What,
Mrs Boyd?
Eh. Eh. Hey look,
I put in a word for you, all right?
-Don’t make me look like a goose. -Yeah,
look if I just get through this week, right,
I’m in the clear.
All right.
Mate, you sure you don’t want something to help you out.
Get you through the long nights?
-No. -Hey.
It’s on the house.
It’s to help you out.
I’m all right.
MAN: You’re late. I’m docking you 200.
Mate, you’re only paying me eight.
It’s your depot at the other end.
It’s not my problem, is it?
Yeah well just, just say that I was here on time.
I mean how’s that going to hurt you?
It’s not going to hurt you, is it?
How’s that, how's that got to hurt you, eh?
Just piss off, mate.
CALENDER GIRL: Do it.
Go on. Hurt him.
I know you want to.
Do it!
MAN: Well?
Yeah.
(AIR BRAKE HISS)
Hey, Mel. Let me take that.
I’ll take that.
Everything’s okay.
Feeling all right?
You all right?
Okay.
Just push me up, Tom.
TOM: Okay.
Yeah. You’re up, you're up.
MELISSA: I’m feeling sick.
Which way is it to the hospital?
Shit.
Um. Mel, come on.
-Which way is the hospital? -I don’t know what way it is.
-This is not good. -Tom, just go one way!
Well, I don’t know which way that I’m going.
Well just go back that way then.
-TOM: Is it that way? -MELISSA: What are you doing? What are you doing?
If it’s that way, well, I don’t know if it's that way!
Just go that way then. You can’t keep going round the roundabout!
TOM: Shit.
TOM: Little Sarah.
She’s all right. For a girl.
Bastard.
She’s the best.
She’s the best ever.
Where are you going?
I’ve got that job on.
Yeah, but can’t you just stay here today?
No, well, Phil, he’ll just get someone else and then...
-No, he’ll understand, Tom. -They won’t.
They won’t.
That’s... I don't want to go.
Tom.
Are we doing okay?
Yeah. We’re doing better than okay.
I just wish that you could spend
a little bit more time with us now.
You know, with the baby.
I know. I wish I could spend some more time too,
but those repayments are every week,
and that’s the only reason why I have to go.
You’re so tired.
Just stay and rest for a couple of hours.
Me tired?
Look what you’ve just done.
I’m so proud of you.
My beautiful, beautiful girls.
I gotta go. Okay?
(SARAH COOING)
JOHNNIE: Come here.
Doesn’t have to be this hard.
JOHNNIE: (EXHALES) I can help you out.
Just this one time.
Yeah.
Just this one time.
Eh, it’s on the house.
(ENGINE REVVING)
ST. CHRISTOPHER: #I’m a rollin'
# I’m a rollin'
Through this unfriendly world
# I’m a rollin'
# Through this unfriendly world
# O, father Won’t you help me
# O, father Won’t you help me to pray?
# Oh, father Won’t you help me?
# Won’t you help me In the service of the Lord?
# I’m a rollin'
Through this unfriendly world
# I’m a rollin'
Through this unfriendly world #
(SARAH CRYING)
(CRYING CONTINUES)
(ENGINE STOPS)
Oh...
Oh.
(GROANING)
All right,
what have we got here?
MECHANIC: Yeah, you’re going to need a new one,
and I have to realign the drive shaft on it...
Well, it should be covered by the warranty.
Did you get the 50k service on it?
-How much? -With labour mate,
eight or nine, or probably more.
-Hundred? -(MECHANIC LAUGHS)
No mate.
(MECHANIC CONTINUES LAUGHING)
(SARAH CRYING)
(CRYING CONTINUES)
It’s okay.
Shh, it’s okay.
It’s okay. Come on.
I don’t know,
it’s a bit scary,
just feel like now it’s, now it’s all up to me,
you know.
PHIL: Know what you mean.
But you’ve done well there, mate.
She’s a little ripper, isn’t she?
TOM: Yeah.
Well done you.
Yeah, she’s great. Eh?
So I thought,
you know, maybe,
maybe you could give me an advance on next month.
You mean a loan.
Well, I mean an advance.
You can call it whatever you want. What do you want it for?
-Some stuff. -Just some stuff?
Mmm. Yeah.
What happens next month, what’re you going to do for money, mate?
Oh, I’ll worry about that then.
No, it’s going to be too late then, Tom.
I mean, what you’re doing is just digging yourself in deeper.
Yeah, I wouldn’t have to if you didn’t take 20% off the top.
Is that right?
-Yeah. -Who’s gonna find you loads?
Who’s gonna sort out your payment then?
Well, anyone can do that.
-Is that right? -Yeah.
Well, maybe I just go out on my own then.
Good for you. You do that.
Yeah, well, I fucking will!
Oh, Tommy, don’t be an idiot!
-Hey. -Hey. You look really tired.
TOM: Hey, have you still got that stuff?
You know, it’s not free.
-TOM: Oh, yeah. -Don’t pull any money out.
Why didn’t you tell me?
-What about? -About the diff.
-I just didn’t want you to worry about it. -Tom,
I was worried anyway.
You know, at least if you’d told me I'd have known what to worry about.
Yeah.
I didn’t tell you something.
What?
Well, you know how my dad came to the wedding?
Yeah?
He gave me this.
Shit.
I’m sorry I didn't tell you about it,
but it’s meant to be for the house,
you know, when we get one.
That’s great. That's...
Yeah, but if we need it for this...
-No. No, I can’t take that. It’s yours. -Tom.
Are we in this together?
-Yeah. -Would that sort things out?
Yeah, I mean it’s just, it’s just a bloody diff.
Then don’t be stupid.
-Now just wait here. -Where else would I go?
Just a minute. Just give me a minute.
TOM: Get Sarah.
(GYPSY MUSIC PLAYING)
You okay in there? You okay?
Come on. Come down here.
-No. -Come on, come down here.
Come down here.
I can’t do this.
Where are you going?
-Where are you going? -I’ve just got to get away from her.
I’ve just got to get away from her for a little bit.
-What are you talking about? -Tom,
if I don’t go,
I’m gonna kill her.
Oh, hey, no, no, no, Mel.
All I want is to be is a good mother.
I can’t even do that.
What are you talking about?
Of course you’re a good mother.
How would you know, Tom?
You’re never here.
Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know.
Come on, come back here, come and dance with us.
-Just come and-- -Sometimes she just cries and cries.
You know, and she just won’t stop crying.
And I feel like she’s doing it to me on purpose.
You know, like she’s doing it to me to make me go mad.
And I just think these terrible things.
You know, like I just think "You bitch."
And I feel like I’m going to do something.
Yeah, but you know what? Hey, no, no, no.
-But you know what? You haven’t done anything. -That’s not the point.
You’re not listening to me.
That’s not the point.
Like I shouldn’t even be thinking things like that.
A good mother wouldn’t think things like that.
All right, okay. Just... Hey, hey, hey. Just calm down.
Hey, just calm down.
Calm down.
I don’t...
(CAR DOOR SLAMS)
(ENGINE STARTS UP)
Hey, you,
she’s a bossy, old piece of work, your Mum.
What are we going to do? Eh?
Cowgirl?
(CUTLERY CLATTERING)
-Thank you. -There you go, love.
PHIL: Melissa!
Hi.
So what are you doing here, in this place?
Just had to get out and go somewhere.
There was nowhere else to go.
Yeah, it’d be tough on you, wouldn’t it?
Stuck out here in that little van.
It’s all right.
Yeah.
Still, I mean, when me and Rose came out here,
she went a bit mad, I reckon.
She didn’t have anyone to talk to.
Is he doing all right?
You’d have a better idea than me.
Always says that he’s doing all right.
But he never stops,
he’s always on the road.
Well,
that’s the nature of the beast.
-The beast? -Oh yeah.
-(CLANG) -(GASPS)
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYS)
Check your tyres!
Don’t!
Wake up.
Fuck!
Check your tyres!
(PHIL SHOUTING)
(BRAKES SCREECHING)
Bastard!
(AIR BRAKES HISSING)
Bastard!
I mean, what can I do, mate?
There’s nothing wrong with your service,
the stuff’s always on time, there’s no damage, mate, just business.
You know, I want to keep using you, mate,
I mean, I do...
(VOICE ECHOING) but these other blokes, mate,
I mean, they’re saying they can do it for 200 less a trailer,
and I mean what am I supposed to do?
I mean, it all adds up, doesn’t it?
You all right there, mate?
-I’ll match them. -Yeah, see I want you to, mate,
but, you know, these blokes, they’re already doing it for that price.
All right, all right.
Two hundred and fifty a trailer.
That’s as far as I can go.
All right.
(VOICE ECHOING) All right, I think we can do something with that.
Sandy, Mr. McCully wants to make some adjustments to his contract.
You could take care of that?
Mate, I-I’ve, I’ve got to run, right,
I-I-I’ve got meetings.
So, good to see you again. Drop in any time, mate, for a cuppa.
-(CAR DOOR CLOSES) -(CAR ENGINE STARTS UP)
Yeah.
MELISSA: Tom!
Tom!
You can’t make the payments.
We’re getting in deeper and deeper.
Unless something changes, we’re going to be stuffed.
It’ll be fine. I’ve got a plan.
Were you going to talk to me about it?
-GIRL: She holding you back. -What?
The only limitation is in your mind.
Well, were you?
-Well, were you? -What?
-What now, clever dick? -Were you going to talk to me about it?
-I’ve got a plan.
What sort of plan?
A plan for everything.
I’ve got a plan for everything.
(HORN BLARING)
How come you’re home?
I got a plan. I’ve been thinking.
What?
Yeah, yeah, I’ve been thinking, I’ve been thinking.
You know what we need, we need to get bigger.
We’ve got to expand! And we need to get more trucks.
-Jesus, Tom. -No, just listen to me.
Just listen, okay. Just listen. Just listen.
Just listen. Right? Because you’ve got to be big to survive, right.
Because no one’s going to mess with you if you’re big.
And the bank, they’re gonna respect you if you owe them a million bucks.
They won’t give you a million.
I know, I know. But I know people.
-I know some people. -What people?
-Well, money-lending people I know. -Who?
Where do you think I got the money from in the first place, Mel?
The bank.
Don’t be stupid.
Well, you told me the bank!
No I didn’t. I never told you the bank.
Who do we owe money to?
(TOM MUTTERS)
Phil’s right.
You’ve borrowed money off crims
and now you’re late paying it back.
Phil?
When have you seen Phil?
What?
When have you seen Phil?
(ANGRILY) When have you seen Phil?
-Let go of me! -Are you seeing Phil?
Are you? Are you seeing Phil?
-Let go of me! -Are you seeing Phil?
-Let go of me! -(SARAH CRYING)
Mel, what’s the matter?
Get out! Seriously, just get out.
Just get out or I’ll call the cops.
(SARAH CONTINUES CRYING)
BARMAID: G’day, Tom.
Bourbon.
(TOM CLEARS THROAT)
There you go.
Another one. (CLEARS THROAT)
Have you seen Phil?
Nah.
She’s lying. They're out to get you, all of them!
You don’t need to do this.
You could sleep in the back of the truck.
Shut up, you pussy! That’s why things stuffed up!
Hey.
Hey, Tom, haven’t you had enough.
My missus, did you fuck her? Did ya?
(SHOUTING) Did you fuck her?
Did ya? Did ya?
You’re an idiot.
Here. Someone’s got to do it.
Put that away.
Why don’t we all just settle down!
Shut up! Shut up!
Shut up! You shut up!
-Hey? -Shut up.
Who are you talking to, Tom?
I’ve got a plan.
Yeah.
It’s all right. It's okay. See, I got it sorted.
-Yeah, Tom. Tom. -It’s all right. No, I've got it sorted. It’s okay.
-You all right, mate? -Yeah we’ll have a drink to celebrate things.
Have a drink.
No, no, no. Hey, down you get. Come on.
Drink. I want a drink. I want a drink.
Now, Tom, enough, mate. Go home.
I want a drink! Want a...
Enough!
Righto. Get out.
TOM: All right.
Right.
Okay.
(SIGHS)
It was a good plan.
JOHNNIE: G’day Tommy.
People have been looking for you.
Sweet Johnnie. Johnnie.
Johnnie. You got something for me, man?
You owe.
Don’t think you can run off.
I got a plan.
No.
It’s too late for that.
Maybe it’s time we went and said a little hello to the missus and the kid.
-Huh? -No.
-You think? -Let go.
Keep away from them!
What do you think? You think you can just take
without paying back?
TOM: Keep away from them.
What did you do that for?
JOHNNIE: You’re an idiot, mate.
You don’t even know when you’re being beaten.
Stay down.
(TOM GROANS)
Stay down.
No, I’m not beaten.
Stay down. Stay down.
(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)
(GROANS)
TOM: Mel.
Hey, Mel!
Mel, I’m sorry.
I’m really sorry.
Mel?
(GROANS)
(BAWLS)
-JIMMY: One more. -REPO MAN 1: Yeah, right.
Wait. One more.
Got it?
Watch out, you twit!
-JIMMY: One more. -All right.
-JIMMY: Got it. -Yeah?
Whoa, look out!
TOM: You’re in the garden. Get out of the garden.
JIMMY: We’re here for the van and the truck, mate.
TOM: What for?
REPO MAN 1: For the money you owe.
JIMMY: We’re not gonna have a problem, are we?
You took her.
-You took her. Where is she? -Get off!
-Where is she? -Calm down.
JIMMY: Get off!
You just sit down, shut up, and behave yourself!
-You all right? -Yeah.
So, uh, who’s driving the truck?
Can’t you drive it?
No.
I can drive it.
Yeah, all right, no mucking around.
-Jimmy, you take the van, I’ll go with him. -Yeah, all right.
How do I get her back?
You want her back?
What do you want her back for?
What?
You haven’t looked after her, mate. She’s a bloody mess.
I’ve looked after her.
Yeah, mate, whatever you say.
You want her back, you pay what you owe.
Uh, uh, uh, uh.
All right... All right!
Get off me! Get after him!
Get in the car.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Start the bloody thing!
JIMMY: What do I do?
-REPO MAN 1: Yahoo-hoo! -JOHNNIE: Pick it up. Quicker.
Come on, pigger!
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
-Come here, you little snuffler. -Get up. Don’t let him see you.
(TIRES SQUEALING)
Don’t let him see us!
Get up on the side of him!
You let him...
We got him! Aagh! Ha-ha!
Get up on side. Pull over!
Pull over.
Get over!
All right.
(TRUCK ENGINE REVVING)
REPO MAN 1: Yeah, look out!
Get the gun.
Boss.
Get the gun!
Where’s the gun?
(BOTH SCREAMING)
Bet you thought I was beaten, didn’t you?
Heh.
REPO MAN 1: No! No!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
-JOHNNIE: Get off me! -REPO MAN 1: I didn’t do anything.
Phil.
-You all right there, mate? -Phil.
What do you think you are doing here?
-Phil, I need your help. -Yeah, okay.
You come into a man’s place uninvited, that’s a choice, isn’t it?
I need your help.
Now you need my help? They rang me from the Hill,
they told me what you did. You’re just keep digging yourself deeper.
Phil, they’ve taken her.
-Yeah. -They’ve taken her.
Yeah, and you being a genius, you take her back. That right?
What? No, not the truck. They’ve taken Melissa.
No, mate, they don’t take Melissa,
they take the truck ’cause they’ve got the law on their side.
No, bullshit. Bullshit. They’ve taken her, Phil.
Come on. Phil, come on.
-No, no, no. Hey, hey, hey. -Phil!
Tommy, they didn’t take her.
Hey?
She’s ditched you, mate.
She’s shot through, she's gone.
Hey, no.
No, she, she wouldn’t.
("SLEEPING COLD" PLAYING)
Excuse me.
(SARAH CRYING)
MELISSA’S MUM: Back?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER TV)
That’s unexpected.
They’re all the same.
You might think one’s different, but they’re all the same.
They’re kids,
make messes and leave them for someone else to clean up.
Hey.
What has happened to you?
It’s all right. It just looks a lot worse than it is.
I’m okay, I'm okay.
-My god, let me take you to the hospital, Thomas. -Mum!
I’m all right.
I’m fine.
They tried to take my truck
but I wouldn’t let them.
-Your truck? -Nah.
Thomas,
is that what you really want, you want your truck?
Ah, she’s...
She’s left me, Mum.
I know, mate.
Why would she do that?
Shit, Tom.
What did you think was gonna happen?
-Are you on her side? -No, of course I’m not.
I’m not on her side, I’m not on anyone's side.
Tom, we need to clean you up, okay?
You need to come inside, mate.
I can’t.
I can’t 'cause there’s guy's looking for me.
Tom, darling, you stink, mate.
Just come inside. We’ll clean you up, okay?
(GROANS)
Just watch that arm.
-Is she here? -Why would she want to see you?
Jesus, Tom.
-Mel-- -Don’t touch me.
Is Sarah here?
Where else would she be?
I just... I just wanted to see her.
Hello.
Hello, princess.
Come on.
(GRUNTS) Go and see your dad, sweetheart.
Hello princess.
Oh, hello. It’s my favourite little girl.
Some blokes were looking for you.
They the ones you owe money to?
What, did they, did they come here?
Hey, it’s all right.
Here you go, bub.
Um,
Oh, Mel, we’re gonna have to get going.
We’re gonna have to go. Now.
-We should get in the truck-- -Go where?
Mel, if they know where you are--
What are you talking about, Tom?
They know where you are, Mel.
-So, I’m just gonna... I'm-- -You’re going to what?
Protect us?
Look at yourself, Tom.
You can’t even look after yourself.
I think you should just go.
Just go.
Seriously, you should just go.
(SARAH COOS)
(TRUCK APPROACHING)
PHIL: You won’t take a hint, will you?
You don’t think that I could use your paint shop by any chance?
I can’t be a part of your shit.
I can’t hide you here.
It’ll come back and bite me on the arse.
Just a couple of days, that’s all. That's all.
Fine.
Right, you’ve got the weekend.
But you’ve got to be gone by Monday morning.
Yeah, okay. Okay.
Thanks.
What do you think it’s worth?
-The state it’s in? -Yeah.
You wouldn’t get a 100 grand for it.
You’re shitting me.
It’s, it's not even two years old.
-I’ve got to get at least 180. -Well, you’re not getting it.
You keep yourself out of sight.
They won’t think you’re stupid enough to come back here.
(SLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
TOM: Show you something?
See that kid there?
You know what he wants?
His own truck.
TOM: Come and have a look at this.
It’s not yours?
TOM: Yeah.
Bullshit. Is it?
Ha.
Good on you.
How much do you think it’s worth?
It’d have to be a 150 at least,
as long as they didn’t look under the bonnet.
Your old man,
he would have been proud of you for finishing it.
I’m not finished yet.
-Mrs Boyd, I’ve got everything-- -Look, it’s too late.
I told you, it’s out of my hands.
Hang on, just listen, just listen. Okay?
I’ve got a plan, I’ve got a plan.
-No, no, no, no, no, no. -In there.
In there. Go on.
(JOHNNIE LAUGHING)
You got a plan, huh?
What?
She works for me.
She’s always worked for me.
It’s like I've always owned your truck.
And now,
I own you.
It was in the glove box.
JOHNNIE: So, no more fun and games.
Sign the truck over to me.
(JOHNNIE LAUGHING)
You don’t know when you’re beaten.
All right, go get his missus, go get his kid,
smack ’em around a bit--
Get the fuck down!
Are you gonna stay down?
What are you going to do?
What are you gonna... What’re you trying to do?
Get him up.
You’re going to do what we need you to do, all right?
You’re going to get your truck,
your pretty, pretty little truck,
you’re going to bring me a load up to Queensland.
A load of what?
All you need to know
is that it starts paying off your debt.
No more bullshit.
Get the stuff.
You see?
Wasn’t that hard, was it?
So you’re going to take my truck...
and deliver it to that address.
Don’t you look at me!
(SLOW GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
Hey, good looking.
You look better than the last time I saw you.
Is that your truck?
It looks amazing, Tom.
I’m going to get rid of it.
What?
I thought you loved it.
Yeah.
It’s just a truck.
Are you just trying to do what you think I want?
Because you won’t be happy and then you’ll blame me for it!
So if you’re just trying to do this ’cause you think it’s what I want,
you’re trying to make me happy, then you can get stuffed.
Yeah. Yeah, okay.
The bloody thing’s not worth what I owe on it.
What are you going to do?
Just one more run.
Just one more.
I’ve got some work lined up, just casual.
Oh, yeah. Down at the servo?
Yeah.
Ah, good on you.
And I’m going to go to tech to finish high school.
Really?
Wow.
So, I’ll need you to look after Sarah.
Oh, yeah, yeah for sure.
-Yeah? -Yeah.
Mum would love to see her.
No, I don’t mean your Mum, Tom.
I mean you.
Yeah, well, I’ll look after her.
But...
my Mum can still see her, yeah?
You know, when,
when you said to me that you, you wanted to be a good mother?
Yeah.
You’re, you're a bloody great mother.
Nine hundred and ninety-two days since I first saw you.
(MEN SINGING)
# Am I ever gonna see Your face ever again?
TOM: (SINGING) # I’ve got to stop these tears Falling from my eyes
# Go walk out in the rain
# So no on sees me cry
# Am I ever going to see Your face again?
# Am I ever, maybe never
TOM AND GIRL: # Can’t stop the memories
# Climbing through my brain
# I get no answer
# So the question still remains
# Am I ever going to see Your face again?
TOM and GIRL: # Am I ever going To see your face again?
# Am I ever, maybe never
# Am I ever going To see your face again?
# Am I ever going to see... #
Argh!
Here.
I’m not beaten.
(JOHNNIE COUGHING)
(SLOW GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING)
BOB: And so, on that 982nd day,
as Thomas walks away from Johnnie’s house,
from Johnnie’s world,
and from his truck,
the spell is broken,
and he is free.
TOM: Do you like my new truck?
MELISSA: Sure.
Nah, it’s a piece of shit.
But it’s good enough.
Are you in the shit?
They took my truck license off me.
Neg driving.
Johnnie’s away for 10 years.
It’s all finished.
All finished.
Do you wanna take me for a burn?
A burn?
Where have you been?
-I’ve been waiting. -(TOM CHUCKLES)
You going to, or not?
Give us a kiss.
("IN SPITE OF OURSELVES" PLAYING)