Love Child

I will have my grandson.

James Marsh, you're under arrest for the malicious assault

and manslaughter of Gregory Mathieson.

Say anything and it will be used against you.

My bail's been refused.

It was approved!

What does your lawyer say?

- I gave him the arse, he was hopeless. - Jim!

You have wasted weeks in here.

You have got to get out and organise a defence.

I'm not going back there!

- I'm sorry. - Please! No!

Viv!

- What's happening? - She's been declared a girl in moral danger.

Her mother's made her a ward of the state.

You know the girl I came to the club with last night?

- She lost a letter from her birth mother... - Viv.

No, it's important. It's about half a page, written in pencil.

It says that she wants her daughter to be called Maggie

and that she loves her.

A girl came in last night

- looking for her birth mother... - It's against the law

- to give out that information. - You told me where my twins are.

And I have deeply regretted that moment of stupidity ever since.

First-ever edition.

- Check it out. - How to Do It Gracefully.

Do they mean it?

It's so juicy. And this is the best bit.

"Dear Dolly Doctor,

my friend says that waterskiing without a wetsuit

can stop you from having a baby.

Is that true? From Celia."

And Dolly Doctor says, "Dear Celia,

while we encourage outdoor activities,

we would not recommend waterskiing as a form of birth control."

Do you reckon Dolly Doctor's got a cure for morning sickness?

Oh, Annie, I don't think it's a real doctor.

Viv, maybe you could ask the doctor about how to find your babies.

Why would I ask that?

'Cause you always said you wanted to find them.

Maybe she could give you advice about how.

I'm going in.

You're a laugh a minute, Patty.

Come on, I was trying to be helpful.

... other countries, and kill innocent women and children...

No more war!

Pretty lady, wait there.

- Don't lift that by yourself. - Thank you. What a nice man.

- Alright, alright. - Thank you.

Dance with me, baby.

Oh!

Sorry, maybe later.

Alright. Don't leave it too long.

I'm goin' home on the groove train.

Come on, I'm good. Business is good.

Not good enough.

It's just an extra ten bucks a week, it's not much.

My rent's gone up.

Cry me a river.

I've got licensing cops with their hands out,

grog suppliers are squeezing my nuts.

Matter of fact,

I'm planning on letting some staff go.

I can get an 18-year-old in here

and she'll cost me half as much as you do.

Leon, I need this gig.

It's not personal,

you're a good girl.

I'll double Friday's turnover.

Oh, yeah?

- How? - Groove Train.

12 hours of non-stop soul music.

Sounds like a good way to throw cash down the dunny.

The Cross is crawling with black American soldiers,

all on their way home from Vietnam for the last time.

And they're ready to party.

I'll give them somewhere to spend their money.

Triple.

Sorry?

Triple the night's take, you keep your job.

Can't be fairer than that.

There's a bail application, affidavit,

and these are supporting statements from your previous employers

and character witnesses.

How'd you find the time to organise all this?

I don't know.

You look tired.

Of course I'm tired, I'm trying to do a million things at once.

- You've got to take some time off work. - I'm not doing that.

Joan, something's gonna give.

I manage.

James stays at Patty's crèche most days.

I'd manage a lot better if you stopped sacking lawyers.

They're all in it together.

Lawyers, developers,

- cops. - Jim, we need you.

Sooner or later you're gonna have to trust someone.

We need a lawyer. We can't do this by ourselves. Sign.

So, how did your husband take the news?

- About your operation? - Oh, I haven't had a chance to tell him yet.

- When does he get out? - I don't know.

I'm working on his bail application at the moment.

- Why are you doing that? - I don't have a choice.

- He doesn't have a lawyer. - Oh.

- Well, if there's anything I can do to help... - Like what?

Well, if you need some nights off from the residents' quarters

with your son, I can make sure a blind eye is turned.

I'd appreciate that. You can come in, if you'd like.

Or perhaps you'd prefer the waiting room.

If you're coming in, put that on.

Good, it's crowning.

Keep going, Mrs Price. One more, one more.

Well done.

Well done.

- He's perfect. - Congratulations.

"Dear Dolly Doctor, my boyfriend has a weird bend in his equipment.

Should I be worried?"

- What equipment? - Seven out of ten.

Seven?

Even water makes me want to puke.

Come on, what's yours?

"Dear Dolly Doctor,

- my boyfriend has never had sex and I'm worried... " - Hasn't he?

- That is unusual in a man his age. - We're making it up.

Right, yeah, sorry.

"... I'm worried on our wedding night... "

- Wedding night? - We're making it up.

- He proposed? - I said no.

- Why? 'Cause he's a virgin? - No.

Eight out of ten. Hey, I'm running late. I've got to go.

Wait, haven't heard mine!

"Dear Dolly Doctor,

my friend says her boyfriend doesn't know what love is.

Should I offer to teach him?"

What friend? What are you saying?

- Nothing, I'm making it up. That's funny. - It's kind of slutty.

- Slutty? - Hey, I'd better go.

Annie, sorry, I hate to ask, but...

- Oh. Sorry, Patty, what do I owe you for? - A week.

I haven't got any money with me. Is tomorrow... ?

Yeah, no, of course, whenever you've got it.

- Thank you. Bye, girls. Say bye! - Bye.

You should eat. Can't live on nothing. What about the baby?

The baby's fine, trust me.

Maybe I could make you feel better?

You know sex can't actually fix everything.

Yeah, but it's often worth a try, isn't it?

Did you hear back about that warehouse job?

Not yet.

- You should chase 'em up. - OK, just give me a chance.

It's been a week, and

the rent's gone up and I need you to start helping me out.

- Hey, I will, promise. - Annie!

Hello.

I just left one of these under your door.

- What do you think? - Groove Train, mm!

Who's the Soul Queen of Australia?

- Me? - You'd do four sets across 12 hours.

- She can't, she's crook. - Great exposure to the American market.

- Shirl, I don't know. - Come on, you'll be great.

You're not listening to her, Shirley.

How about you let her decide?

Why don't you go find out about that job?

I'll give you half the money upfront.

- Did you get the raise? - No,

but I'll get the bullet if this doesn't work.

Really?

Are there any jobs going here?

- For yourself? - Yeah.

I've got to come up with the rent.

You'll be marrying her, then?

I don't know.

There might be some wardsman work,

wheeling sick people around, cleaning up accidents.

- Is there anything else? - You're about to be a father.

What you'd like to do and what you should do

are less and less likely to be the same thing.

I'd like to be proud of you, Chris.

- How's Jim? - Frustrated, paranoid.

The same.

And how about you?

Oh.

Here.

Take your mind off it.

Groove Train. I need as many people as possible.

Hey, Shirley,

did you ever find that letter? The one that girl was looking for?

- Maggie? - No.

Did you meet Maggie?

She was a sad one.

Why?

She was sent to Tarrama Girls' Home.

What's that like?

I don't know.

But Maggie was absolutely terrified of going there.

Why do you ask?

When did you write this?

The day she was born.

I never expected she'd even see it.

It was more a letter to myself than her.