Looking for Alibrandi

Come on! Hurry up.

You're talking too much!

Oh, in case you're wondering, this is Tomato Day.

Or as I like to refer to it - National Wog Day.

You might think this is all quirky and cute

but I actually find this really embarrassing.

You'd think they'd never left Sicily,

except that it was, like, 50 years ago.

This might be where I come from but do I really belong here?

That's the past and you can't let the past run your life.

Josie! Put the music back on, we have to finish.

I have got to get out of here.

You probably can't tell by looking at me

but, actually, I'm cursed.

So is my mamma.

And my nonna.

Well, that's Nonna's theory anyway.

It kind of sets us apart from the rest of the family.

The three Alibrandi women...

...outcasts.

Why can't we just buy Latina like the rest of the world?

She's going to marry an Australian

and they'll feed their children fish and chips.

My cousin Robert, the treasured grandson.

Nonna says we're lucky to be included

because being cursed means we have no right to belong.

You are very fortunate, Patrizia.

Nonna goes on and on about a lot of things

and Mamma always lets her, just for peace.

Come on, Josie. You've hardly done anything.

Christina! Christina!

Uh-oh. I wonder what the gossip is this time.

Yes! Finally!

This is the last year I'm going to have to do this.

I'm moving out of Little Sicily and it's not a moment too soon.

Josie!

Give me a few years and I'll be running things.

And it won't be a small Italian family either.

I'm not going to be trapped like them.

Josie, where are you going? You promised you'd help.

I have! Anyway, you guys aren't doing anything but talking.

I'm going places...

Hey, Josie. Forget it, bello di nonna.

Starting with the beach. Josie!

Josie! Ciao, Nonna.

Christina!

Are you going to let your daughter run around like a gypsy?

Mamma, don't start.

These are my friends Sera and Anna.

We kind of happened by default.

When everyone was choosing their friends in Year 7,

we were the only ones left in the playground.

I can't believe you still do National bloody Wog Day!

I need to be back by 6:00.

My cousin's brother-in-law's sister's baby's being christened.

Your family's worse than mine. Let's get out of here.

I've got big plans for this year.

I'm going to get Nonna off my back,

blitz my final exams so I can go to university to do law

and I'm going to make the man of my dreams fall in love with me.

And do you know what that means?

It means I'm going to be the first Alibrandi woman

to have a say in how her life will turn out.

What's this about you running around Bondi half-naked?

We were just at the beach!

Signora Formosa said you almost ran her over.

She called Zia Patrizia's next-door neighbour.

It got back to Nonna. What a liar!

If I know Sera, I'll hear about this for the next year.

What is wrong with you anyway?

Stop answering back and start helping around here.

You know, Nonna always puts you in a bad mood.

Now! This very minute. This very second!

Sure you don't mean in an hour?

You're not too old to be slapped, you know.

Poor Mamma's had to put up with so much.

I can't believe my grandfather Francesco kicked her out

when she was pregnant.

I mean, she was only 17.

That's how old I am.

Nonna says it's my birth that brought the curse on us.

I found that out when I found out Jesus died on the Cross for my sins

so... I felt pretty guilty that year.

Mamma used to tell me I was an immaculate conception

until I found out it was just the boy next door.

No-one else knows.

So Mamma and I share the biggest secret in the world.

Sera and Anna don't really understand the Mamma thing.

As long as they can hear their fathers snoring, it's OK -

nobody died during the night.

Don't tell me you're OK, Alibrandi, because I know you're not.

Oh, I'm getting old, Alibrandi.

That's what you always say to cover some horrible truth.

Michael Andretti's in Sydney.

Signora Formosa saw him.

He's going to be living here for at least a year

to work in some law chamber.

I thought you just made him up.

Yeah, sometimes I did too.

Oh, it was so hard standing there

listening to them all going on about how wonderful he is.

It's no big deal. We can handle it.

It IS a big deal, Josie.

Nonna's decided she's going to adopt him.

Well, I think it would be better

if I don't go to Nonna's for a while, then.

He might hang around there. Nice try.

Are you still in love with him?

He's a 17-year-old boy in my head.

Just say he finds out and then he goes custody insane

or comes and shoots you or something?

Let's worry more about Nonna finding out and shooting him.

Oh, great. Well, this year's just starting off perfectly.

You know, I never thought for a second

I'd actually ever meet my father.

Anyway, they all seem pretty useless to me.

I mean, take Sera's, for example.

Like most Italian fathers,

he thinks his daughter's the Virgin Mary.

And like most Italian fathers, well, he doesn't have a clue.

Anna's father's no different.

The poor guy works two jobs, saves for years

and never goes on a holiday.

What for?

So he can buy his daughter a place in the best school.

But I know better than that.

Because at St Martha's it's all about money, prestige

and what your father does for a living.

And how do I know this?

Because I'm surrounded by girls

whose fathers treat them like princesses.

Carly! How was your trip?

They think they have everything.

And do you know what?

They do.

Did you hear what her father said on his show?

Fucking racist!

Someone should have said it years ago.

Mmm. Next he's tackling wogs on handouts.

You look fantastic.

I was having such a bad hair day.

The shoot went on for hours. Give me a bucket!

At least I have the dubious honour of being vice-captain

which is like being runner-up at the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant.

I take over if Miss St Martha's gets ill

or becomes involved in a sex scandal.

Don't take it so seriously, Anna.

It can't predict the future.

Last year, I got Joan of Arc.

Two weeks later, I burnt my hand ironing.

I wouldn't go near any lion parks this year if I were you.

Who have you got, Jose? St Barbara.

She was beheaded by her father.

Bummer.

I'm going to be a saint this year.

Assessments in on time. No slacking.

No afternoon detentions.

Sera!

And you know what?

For once in my life, I'm going to stick to it.

Josephine!

We'd all like to know what you find so fascinating, Josephine.

But maybe not on my first day back.

I don't think you'd find it interesting, Sister.

You'd be surprised.

Stand up.

Sister Louise is famous for nostril flaring.

Once I said to Sera that she must have been a horse in another life.

But Sister overheard

and argued Catholics shouldn't believe in reincarnation.

What has this magazine got to do with my religion class?

Well, Sister, you said...

at the end of last year that we should bring in examples

of material that insults our intelligence.

Well, everything in this magazine insults our intelligence.

Sit down.

Do you think they're concerned

with whether we're good Christians or not?

No, it's...

They've got articles like 'Do You Love Your Sex Life?'

And 'Does Size Count?'

And let me assure you, Sister, they're not referring to his height.

You've made your point.

What year are you in, Josephine?

Why do teachers always ask questions

they already know the answer to?

Year 12, Sister.

Are we going to have a repeat of last year?

Truancy? Constant disrespect?

You've already had the chance of being captain taken away.

If you're going to spend the year in this office,

you can forget about being vice-captain.

Look at me.

Don't give people a reason to say you don't deserve a scholarship.

As if they don't say it anyway.

But just remember — It's me that decides these things.

Make sure your priorities are right, Josie.

And that goes for your new job as well.

Is there anything you don't know?

Not much.