Total Control

You know this is not gonna be a puff piece, right?

This thinktank, it funded all the independents,

including you.

What are you writing exactly?

Alex, the echo shows you have a condition

known as mitral valve stenosis.

You will need a surgical procedure.

Surgery?

Sloane Holdings came through. Materials, labour, like clockwork.

Would you be interested in running? I think you could win Noonan.

Does Alex know about this?

I hope Alex appreciates your loyalty.

What is happening, Peter? Like, what the actual fuck is happening?

Has he taken the money and shot through?

I don't know.

You start fires wherever you go.

Well, I'm sick to my gut of I'm putting them out.

You're the one dragging your heels on Raise The Age.

We'll take her fucking seat in the next election.

When the time comes, we'll cut her loose.

Oi! What's the hurry?

Anyone would think you had somewhere to be.

Yeah, well...

You sure you know where you're going?

It's a short cut. Could have fooled me.

Eddie's what...

..17 now?

Yeah. He's grown up.

Well, I hope he's giving you as much grief as you gave me.

I was an angel compared to him.

Were you now?

I came good, didn't I?

Yeah, you did, bub.

You're living down south now.

Yeah.

Sometimes.

I miss the town.

Me too.

I'm sorry I wasn't here, Mum.

What about you, though?

Are you OK?

Not really.

I'm sorry, bub.

I'm so sorry, Alex.

# Like a rhinestone cowboy

# Bing-bing! # I don't bloody think so!

I can't hear myself think.

Is that such a bad thing, really? I need to make a call.

It can wait till after my song, can't it?

You don't even know the words.

# Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know

# Offers coming over the phone... #

You've called Paul Murphy. Leave a message.

Paul, I asked your office for the numbers days ago

and I still haven't heard back. I need them by 11:30.

What's the worry? I don't know, something's going on.

I can feel it. He's probably just in meetings.

Or he's ghosting you.

What, like your ghosting school?

Good one, Mum.

Hello, Winton!

At least someone's happy to be home.

# But I'm gonna be where the lights are shining on me

# Like a rhinestone cowboy... #

Morning. Morning, Alex.

Um, catch up in the main office, yeah?

Morning everyone. Morning. How are we?

Good?

Just wait for everyone.

Can I just get everyone gathered around here, please?

How is everyone? We all good? Good. Good. Good.

Can we just step back for a moment and just see what you've done here?

35 grand raised for the flood relief, just here in this town alone.

450 care packages sent from this office, all on donation,

all of you volunteers.

And I'm so bloody proud of you. Thank you.

Now we're gonna shoot off to the opening

but Faye here is gonna shout you some cake and coffee. Yeah, Faye?

Mm-hm.

And, um, thank you. Keep up the good work.

Oh, big game Saturday. Go the Devils!

- Yes! - Go the Devils!

Faye...

Um, spend it somewhere where they vote for us, yeah?

For sure. You sure you don't want to come?

I'll go when I'm sick. OK.

You know Aunty Jan would be so proud of you, sissy.

So proud. Thank you.

Now you,

you're helping Aunty Faye in the office today, yeah?

No funny buggers. You hear me? Child slavery is illegal, you know.

Behave.

Thank you, everyone!

Bye.

Tegan, thanks for finally calling me back.

Yeah, no, I'm aware he's the Prime Minister.

I need that mental health spend by 11:30.

It's the fifth time I've ask...

Yeah, no, don't...don't cry. Just...

Just get me the announceables, OK? I'm opening the centre in...

OK, Jesus, 20 minutes. I need them now, Tegan.

Oi, where you going? Car's here.

Thought we could walk. It's just around the corner.

Paul needs my vote. Nothing gets done without me.

I mean, there's been nothing.

Nothing from him, nothing from Sharon,

ever since Eddie got himself picked up.

Since Ausnews blew it up.

It's not Eddie's fault. Isn't it?

Jesus, Alex!

It's the usual shit.

Now smile and wave before you lose that vote.

- G'day! - Hello, love!

See, I can smile.

Hey, you did this...

..amongst a whole bunch of other stuff.

That's why they love you, Alex.

Here, get a selfie, come on. I've gotta take a photo of this.

Nice.

Hi. Good to see you. Hi.

Good to see you, Alex. And you, Melinda.

Today's a good news day, right? Yeah. Fantastic.

Look, I'm expected back in Brisbane this afternoon.

Do you mind if we got started?

Ah, sure. I'm just waiting on some hard numbers from the PMO.

Anything yet? I'm on hold right now.

Ah, Alex. Good morning, everyone.

I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land

that we meet on, the Koa People,

and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

It's great to be here today to open the new Winton Medical Centre.

The Queensland government knows the importance

of access to local medical services.

And the Prime Minister is passionate about this.

That's why, with the support of our federal colleagues,

I'm delighted to announce $182 million

to improve mental health support at key regional health services,

including this one.

What the fuck? And I can guarantee you good people

that if the Queensland government is re-elected in six weeks time,

this will be just the start of a

Thank you.

You're up.

I'm so sorry, Mum.

This should have been here for you.

You shouldn't have had to drive 400 kays round trip every week

just for medical care.

And you shouldn't have had to die 180 kays away from home.

When Rachel Anderson offered me a place in the Senate,

she asked me what I wanted.

And I told her - this.

Proper healthcare for all our community.

It's too late for Mum but...

..it's here for us now.

This is OUR medical centre...

..and I'm so proud to officially open it.

Well done, bub.

Your mum would be so proud.

At least someone's got the number.

Can you check the email trail, Joely? Did we miss anything?

No. We never got a heads up. Someone's fucked up.

Really?

I'm starting to feel like it's deliberate.

For what it's worth, I asked them to loop you in.

That's nice of you. What did Paul say?

After you asked him to loop me in.

He said he was changing the comms process with the crossbench.

And that didn't sound like code for fucking me over?

We're six weeks out from an election.

I thought Paul was giving us a free kick.

Why would he waste an announcement somewhere like this?

It's not like you guys win out here.

It'll play well in the larger regional centres.

Winton's not necessarily our target.

Our target? What does that mean?

I don't wanna get in the middle of mum and dad having a barney.

Maybe take it up with Paul.

Good luck, Alex.

What did she mean by "good luck"?

What are you thinking?

I don't know. Maybe Paul just didn't want it to be the Alex show today.

So I'm not being paranoid? Oh, no. Something's going on.

But we've got 15 minutes to get to the CWA.

So let's get them little leggies going and hit the road.

I don't think they want your selfies out there, mate.

I've done six boxes already.

What, you on a go-slow or something?

What is this I hear about you skipping school?

You're smarter than that.

My marks are high.

That's not what I asked you, bub.

All the kids in my school are sorted.

All want to be CEOs and lawyers.

And what do you want to do?

I don't know.

You could join the army like your mum.

Look, she didn't know what she wanted to do either.

She reckons I've gotta have a plan.

I know you'll figure it out, bub.

If she lets me.