Funny Birds

A change of scenery can be nice.

You might even like it here.

You alright? - Yeah.

Oh!

Isn't it amazing? Can you see all the changes I made?

Um... I don't know, Mum. Kinda.

Well, more inside.

OK.

Hm.

What's the Wi-Fi?

Um...

Maybe check on the router in the living room.

Mm, these smell so good.

Thank you, sweetie.

Of course.

Hey, beauties.

Here we go...

Uh, you allow your chickens in the house?

Just my old gals.

Agatha, Betty, Miranda, Jo.

Surely this is unhygienic.

Oh, they're roommates.

Domesticated.

This one's Charlotte.

You gave my name to a chicken?

I thought you only went by Charlie.

Do you want to meet her?

Oh, my God! Mum!

Ugh. I miss you so much already...

Yeah, me too.

What are you up to?

Just unpacking.

And how's your mum?

Is she handling the treatment OK?

I don't know...

She doesn't seem all that different to me.

Is the countryside pretty?

Ugh. Pretty depressing.

I mean, dude, this place is in the middle of fucking nowhere.

Well, that sucks.

Yeah.

Did Professor Galvin say anything about me not being there today?

Of course not.

Everyone gets it.

Charlie?

What?

Can you come set the table?

You go take care of her, babe. That's why you're there.

I love you. - I love you too.

Will you send me your notes from today's class?

Yeah. Talk to you soon?

Talk to you soon.

Bye. - Bye.

Be strong.

Summers with your grandpa here were so magical.

Your father never wanted to come, of course. "It's not a vacation...

if there isn't a beach."

Who is this?

It's just a picture I like, found it in the attic.

It's nice.

Alrighty.

I'm so excited for you to taste the tomatoes!

There... your favourite.

What? - Zucchini.

I don't like zucchini.

Oh! Do you not like zucchini anymore?

You used to love it.

That's celery.

Beautiful.

See, if you just let nature work its magic, it's gonna give you everything you need.

It's like... a miracle!

People think it's totally normal to overpay for produce

wrapped in plastic, but I have it all for free.

It's not exactly free when you work 12 hours a day

and you're broke at the end of the month.

Better than being in an office.

When I get a job, I'd probably like it to be in an office.

Well, there's time for you to figure that out.

Anyway...

I wasn't talking about you.

Of course you weren't.

You've hardly asked me a single question since I got here.

How is my life going? How's school?

You know, I have a boyfriend.

It's gotten pretty serious between us.

Wanna know his name?

You know, you might not realise it, Charlie, but...

I've got a lot on my plate right now.

So... that's the new excuse, huh?

Being sick?

What's his name?

Please don't pretend like you care.

You want to know what I really think?

Come here.

I don't understand why a smart girl like you is so interested in the stock market

and all this neoliberal nonsense you're studying?

I'm at one of the best schools in the country.

Shouldn't you at least be proud?

Proud you want to make a living ripping people off, like your dad?

Charlie.

At least Dad understood me.

Are you up, Charlie? Coffee's ready!

You wanna get behind the wheel?

For real? - Yeah!

You gotta learn sometime. Come on.

You got it.

Do we really need to take this thing? - Mm-hm.

You didn't think we'd take the subway, did you?

That's it, you got it!

Woohoo!

How far is it?

We're almost there, just enjoy the scenery.

Good morning, ladies!

Come in. Come on, come on!

Everyone, this is Charlie.

She's gonna help take care of you.

Hey, you!

She's a sweet girl, really. She is.

She just likes company. You're company.

How is everyone today, ladies?

Why are they all different colours?

Because they're all rescues.

Y'know, most farmers send their hens to the slaughterhouse

when they get old and they become less productive.

And I just thought it was so unfair to kill them

just because they don't lay as many eggs anymore.

So I started to rescue 'em.

But... we're gonna have to feed 'em!

They're gonna eat me.

Here is the...

feed. - Here!

Let me help you with that.

You need to take it easy.

It's alright.

It's OK.

C'mon.

You must remember to always place the eggs pointy side down in the carton.

Why? - Otherwise they go bad quicker.

Something to do with the physiology of the eggs.

They don't like to be upside down.

Wanna try?

Sure.

Alright.

Look who's here!

It's Joanna and Sebastian. Come on!

We've heard a lot about you. - A lot!

They run an organic co-op and so they come every week

and pick up my eggs.

Oh, great.

And they also started a local trade system between the farmers

so I give my eggs and then I get meat or produce...

Let's have a look what I've got here. - Jams and cheese this time.

I've got it. - Yeah?

I'm alright.

Uh... Laura, we have something to tell you.

Yeah?

My God, you're expecting?

We are.

Oh, guys!

Congratulations.

I really am so happy for you. I'm so happy for you.

I hope you're gonna, y'know...

babysit!

Well...

This one!

I don't know...

Very enthusiastic!

I'll probably be back at school soon anyway.

OK, I got ya.

Mm...

Can you let them in?

What would I do without you?

What's... what was that for?

God...

I write these things down...

Boxes...

boxes and...

It's in there somewhere.

What you up to?

Oh! Just some accounting.

You know, I could help you organise all this into a spreadsheet if you want.

No...

Don't bother, I have a system.

Works just great.

Hey, Miranda!

Miranda helps.

Mum? - Mm-hm?

I think it's time.

Yup! You know, if I just...

do it every week and keep on top of it, it's...

I find it a lot easier to manage.

The doctor said it's better to anticipate.

To stay in control. Remember?

I like Dr Shakib.

He's really nice.

Dr Shakib is right.

We should do it now.

What do you think, Miranda?

Would you stop with the chicken for one second and listen to me?

You know, we could get you a nice wig.