The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

Sure. So, see how I've got them?

There.

- - How good is that?

Probably we'll see...

- What? -

Did that hurt, Dad?

No, not really, poppet.

It's just like the night you were born.

Tell me the story again.

Please!

Well, Cyclone Alice had hit the coast.

There was no way to get to the hospital.

So I got out of the truck,

and I squatted down,

and I gave birth to you in the laneway.

And Daddy wrapped you up in his shirt.

But then he realised that I wasn't breathing,

and he was trying to force the air into my lungs.

And then suddenly...

you began to cry, wailing into the night.

You brought me back to life.

Why don't we have any other family?

It's always been just us, bub.

Us against the world.

Yeah, but let's not forget,

soon there's going to be a new addition to our little family.

A brother or a sister.

- Bye, Daddy! -

And after seven long years, Selkie finally found her skin,

buried beneath the man's house.

And even though she loved her children more than life itself,

she returned to the sea, her true self,

a selkie once more.

Go and get it!

Get it! You're gonna get it!

- - I'm gonna get you!

I've got you.

- Like bursting fire pods. -

- Beautiful, aren't they? - Yeah.

So, what do you want to do tomorrow?

Town?

Alice, we can't go to town.

Please?

We don't even have the car.

We could walk.

Pretty please?

Dad's not back till Friday.

I'd love to show you the library.

I want to try... a lamington.

Alright.

Is there really a baby in here?

Yeah.

Are we still going to run away?

Wake up, sleepyhead. It's lamington day.

Made you breakfast in bed.

Just let me sleep.

Stay.

Hello.

Can I help you?

My name's Sally.

I'm a librarian here. What's your name?

I'm Alice.

Alice Hart.

How old are you?

I bet you're old enough to have your own library card.

Would you like one?

There you go.

I don't know about you, but I am starving.

Shall we have a cup of tea and something to eat

while you decide which books you want to take home today?

I'll just pop the kettle on.

Hi, it's me.

Listen, can you come down here?

It's definitely Clem Hart's daughter.

In her nightie.

She's got bruises all over her little arms.

She must have walked here!

Please, John, just come down.

You can call off that search party. She's, uh, she's here.

Lucky I came back a day early, eh?

Yeah, she just walked right in through the front door. She's, um...

Yeah, she's safe and sound.

Cheers.

No, no. Thank you for calling, mate. Thank you. I really...uh...

Yeah, I really appreciate the... the time.

Bye-bye.

- - Clem, please!

- -

- It was my fault... -

- -

- Don't you ever do that again! -

Da...

You let Daddy do all the talking, OK?

- G'day, mate. - Hey.

I apologise for turning up unannounced.

- Can I come in? - Come on through.

Can I get you a cup of tea or...

No, no. Don't go to any trouble.

- Sorry about the mess. - No, no.

Just following up after Alice's visit to the library.

Ah, yeah. She's an adventurous little thing.

Scared the pants off everyone, but, uh, no harm done.

Look, I won't waste your time.

The librarian reported seeing bruising on Alice's arms and legs.

- Alice is always climbing trees. - Roughhousing with the dog, mate.

Gets herself covered in bruises.

Is this your dog, Alice?

What's his name?

Toby.

Toby to blame for all these bruises?

He didn't mean to hurt me.

Well, um...

You left these behind.

Sally wanted me to tell you they're all yours for the next four weeks.

And then maybe Mum can bring you into town

and you can borrow some more.

That'd be good, wouldn't it, Alice?

Right, mate, well, um... How about I show you out?

"At the end of its life, the Phoenix would build a nest

"before erupting into flame.

"its body consumed by fire...

"...only to arise from the ashes, reborn...

"...made new again."

Alice.

Alice.

Alice!

I'm taking Mum for her check-up. We won't be long, poppet.

You stay here, OK?

Be good.

See you later, bub.

How about I bring you back a photo of the baby

so you can see what he looks like in there?

We'll pick you up some more books from the library if we have time.

Can we keep the selkie story?

We've already read that.

- Alright. - Come on, Agnes.

"Fire is an element that requires three things to burn:

"friction,

"fuel and oxygen."

- -

- - It's OK, Toby.

- - Alice!

- - Alice!

- - Alice... Alice!

Alice!

Alice!

- - Come back!

- Clem! -

Alice!

Alice!

- -

Alice!

Hi, sweetheart. What's going on?

- - A fire.

- At the Hart house. - What?

Agnes was just here.

Call you when I know a bit more.

Alice.

Alice, can you hear me?

Sally?

I didn't know you were friends with the Harts.

Oh...

A bit.

Well, it's good of you to be here.

They're taking her to theatre. Alice is already upstairs.

- -