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LARRIKINS

By Paul Weston and Wayne Hickson.

Second draft.
Email: westonmovies@bigpond.com
Paul Weston 0421057205
Wayne Hickson 0407028917

Cast.
Barrie Gibb. Early 60s, carpenter and tribute band leader
of the Bee Geez.
Gary Stevens. Late 60s. Former top civic bureaucrat now
retired, is a charity volunteer and manages the band.
 2.

Robbie and Maurie (Mo) Tohu. Teenage Kiwi brothers who

are tradies at Barrie’s fencing company and back-up
singers in the band.
Dr Karen. In her 40s, devoted to her medical practice,
escapes to the surf, dreams of being a drummer.
Nic: Female TV reporter chasing a world-wide scoop.
One line synopsis.
A Bee Gees tribute band leader about to be bankrupted by
the COVID lockdowns is desperate to return to the road
only to face his biggest challenge - stayin’ alive after
being diagnosed with cancer.
Full synopsis.
For 40 years Barrie Gibb - that’s Barry spelt with “ie” -
has fronted the Bee Geez Experience. He is a carpenter, a
good one, but lives for his music. He left England for
Australia to keep his band alive post-disco. His thinking
was if the Bee Geez can’t get an audience in Aussie, they
won’t anywhere. Barrie agreed to employ two teenagers.
Robbie and Maurie signed on to Barrie Gibb Fencing
Solutions to get off welfare. But they really wanted to
play in a band. Barrie has been supported by his manager
and accountant, Gary Stevens, his best mate. A former top
city bureaucrat, Gary in retirement drives a bus for
disabled kids and those like the brothers who have no
family and need to get to work. Barrie doesn’t know it,
but he’s one of Gary’s charity cases.
Gary has been surprisingly silent recently. No calls to
Barrie, no gigs, no check-ins at the pub. The fencing
company is struggling to get wood and concrete supplies,
Robbie and Maurie privately talk about returning home.
The band still needs a drummer. The teenage brothers tell
Barrie to broker a deal with Gary, get them back together
as a band to pay the bills or they are going to return
across the ditch. Gary is trying to sign up some charity
gigs as Covid restrictions start to lift. But Barrie
first must pass a medical, and the news is devastating.
The real Bee Gees band was all about survival through the
decades. Now its tribute band faces the same test.

INTRODUCTION.
Widescreen television, centre stage. Black and white
photographs of the Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin and
Maurice. Singing Spicks and Specks.
 3.

NARRATOR
The Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin and
Maurice started performing in England in
the late 1950s. The family later moved to
Redcliffe, to Cribb Island. They
relocated to Surfers Paradise, playing in
the clubs for a year. The band then
achieved its first chart success with
Spicks and Specks, which charted on their
return to the UK. In the 1960s, their
power ballads would make them as
successful as The Beatles.
Footage of Stayin’ Alive from Saturday Night Fever.
NARRATOR (CONT'D)
By the 1970s, they adapted to the
changing music scene and created a new
sound, their blend of soul and rhythm and
blues along with their three part
harmonies perfect for the disco era. They
became almost too popular with Saturday
Night Fever. The bubble burst, and in the
music wilderness they continued to write
for other entertainers and perform,
outselling every other artist apart from
Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson,
Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney.

Final still photograph of the band.

NARRATOR (CONT'D)
Maurice aged 53 died in 2003, Robin
passed in 2012, aged 62. Barry is the
only surviving member.

Photograph of Barry today.

NARRATOR (CONT'D)
Their music remains alive through Barry,
and cover bands.

ACT ONE SCENE ONE: EXT: WOOD BENCH

BARRIE GIBB uses a saw to cut a fence paling, working off

a trestle. His skill as a carpenter and his muscular
strength obvious as the 61-year-old, in cut-off sleeve
shirt splits the wood.
 4.

He wipes the sweat off his cropped dark beard, puts his
hand through his shoulder length hair. Next to the
trestle a paint-stained boom box is playing. BARRIE joins
the chorus, his vocal soars.
I FEEL FINE (BEATLES)
Baby’s good to me, you know, she’s happy
as can be, you know. She said so. (BARRY
joins in for the next line) I’m in love
and I feel fine. Baby says she’s mine,
you know, she tells me all the time, you
know. She said so. (BARRY joins in again)
I’m in love with her and I feel fine.
His mobile phone rings and he turns the music down.
BARRIE
Hello. Yeah, this is Barrie. No, I’m not
that Barry Gibb (laughs). Barrie with an
“ie”. Barrie Gibb Fencing Solutions,
that’s right. Pool fencing? Nah, I’m a
chippie, we do backyard fences. Oh, you
want me to check the pool? You want me to
get into the pool? With you?(smiles). So
who recommended me? She recommended me,
hey (smiles even more). Are you single?
After 10am sure, see you then. Toodaloo.
He puts the phone down. It rings again but he misses the
call. He calls back to message bank.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Gary, was that you mate? You haven’t
called in months. C’mon mate, I need me
manager. Let’s have a catch-up.

He puts the phone on the boom box. Frustrated he missed

that call. He turns up the music. His mood immediately
lightens. The Beatles continue on the boom box. BARRIE
sings along.
I FEEL FINE (BEATLES AND
BARRIE)
I’m so glad that’s she’s my little girl
(ooh-ooh). That her baby buys her diamond
rings, you know. She said so. She’s in
love with me and I feel fine.
BARRIE) Baby says she mine, you know, she
tells me all the time, you know, she said
so. I’m in love with her and I feel fine.
 5.

SCENE TWO: EXT: WOOD BENCH: LATER

Kiwi teenage brothers ROBBIE and MAURIE (Mo) arrive with
work supplies. ROBBIE who has the shorter hair, drops a
bag of cement. MAURIE parks a wheelbarrow with bags of
sand. MAURIE takes a selfie on his phone, admires his
mullet.
MAURIE
Uso, tell me, am I’m losing my hair?
ROBBIE
Mo bro, just get it shaved on the sides,
boof it up like mine with gel. But like I
said before (PAUSE) are yah hearin’ me
bro? Gotta have the talk. With the boss.
MAURIE
He’s out a quote, bro.
ROBBIE
One of his Tiki tours down under!
ROBBIE is laughing at his own joke. MAURIE is troubled.
MAURIE
Robbie, you're the one who wants to
leave, you have the talk.
ROBBIE
Hey look at me man, we gotta be packin’
up. Both us bro. Team Tohu. You not so
dumb you don’t know that, Maurie man.
MAURIE
Barrie has been like a dad to us since
we’ve been in Aussie.
ROBBIE
He ain’t Tohu blood, he’s a Pom trying to
make good in Aussie.
MAURIE
Just like us. He’s like dad to me here.
ROBBIE
Just like our old man. Telling us we can
play in his band. Except there ain’t no
band home, and there ain’t no band here.
And we’re working our arses off and not
being paid. At least at home, mum give a
free feed, bro.
 6.

MAURIE checks his mobile phone, syncs it with the boom

box. Starts playing COMMONSIDE’S BELIEVE IN ME. He tosses
off his thongs, starts pretending to play electric
guitar. ROBBIE joins him. They are dancing to the opening
guitar riff.
COMMONSIDE (BELIEVE IN ME)
I can see the light that shines on you.
Before you were even (PAUSE).You will be
special and I know it’s true. I’ve
already got one here. Now. I will be
there if you want to. I’ll be there for
you always.
BARRIE arrives with an esky. Uses his phone to turn the
music down. The rock track plays out. The boys catch a
glance, check his mood. BARRIE slumps onto the esky. He
switches the song to GORDON LIGHTFOOT’S SUNDOWN. Turns
the boom box down slightly after the opening bars.
GORDON LIGHTFOOT (SUNDOWN)
I can see her lying back in her satin
dress. In a room where you do what you
don’t confess. Sundown, you better take
care If you find you been creepin ‘round
my back stairs. Sundown, you better take
care If I find you creeping ‘round my
back stairs.
MAURIE
What’s in the chilly bin, Barrie?
BARRIE tosses two cans of beer to the boys. Opens one for
himself. Catches MAURIE’S footwear.
BARRIE
Told you to wear boots. I bought you
boots. To wear.
MAURIE
Ah man I love me jandals. How was the
Tiki Tour? I mean um boss, how was the
quote?
BARRIE
M-m-m, nice pool. Gotta a nice set-up.
(LOOKS AT THE BOYS SMIRKING). Just need
to firm up the posts.
MAURIE
(INNOCENTLY)
Firm up the posts, boss.
ROBBIE glares at his brother.
 7.

BARRIE
Yeah strengthen the posts. One man job.
The two boys giggle to themselves, staring at the ground.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Where’s the cement?

ROBBIE
Bunnings reckons your card run out.

BARRIE is his feet, takes a huge swig of beer. Finishes

the can. Tosses it away. Opens another. Music still
playing.

GORDON LIGHTFOOT (SUNDOWN)

She’s been looking like a queen in a
sailor’s dream. And doesn’t always say
what she really means.

BARRIE
Use the other card, the credit card, not
the savings.

MAURIE looks at ROBBIE, tries to ease the conversation.

MAURIE
Been playin’ Commonside. Wanna hear‘ em?

BARRIE
Later, maybe. Gonna check the accounts.

ROBBIE
Local band. Pommie like you, playing out
front. Carpenter too. Like you

MAURIE
Except a bit younger.

ROBBIE looks at MAURIE, prompting him.

MAURIE (CONT'D)
Maybe not that much younger. They’re on
Spotify with that song.

ROBBIE
Believe in Me. Spotify! Number one on the
independent charts

MAURIE
Wander what sort of money that’d be?

BARRIE looks up, senses the mood.

 8.

BARRIE
We’re a covers band. We don’t do Spotify.
ROBBIE
But we don’t even do covers anymore,
boss.
BARRIE is going through his credit card payments on his
mobile phone. ROBBIE gestures to MAURIE to say something
more. MAURIE wants none of it.
ROBBIE (CONT'D)
Barrie, me and Maurie been thinkin’.

BARRIE keeps searching his phone.

BARRIE
Thinking. Really?

ROBBIE
Thinkin’. Haven’t we, Mo?

BARRIE is still deep into finding his credit records.

ROBBIE stares out MAURIE, hands out, urging him to talk.

MAURIE
Yeah, the accounts and what not.

BARRIE looks up briefly. MAURIE helps himself to another

beer. BARRIE returns to his mobile phone.

BARRIE
(TO HIMSELF)
This can’t be right, what we’ve spent
here on fence posts. You boys dine out at
Bunnings as well? These other debits.
Amazon. Who’s buying this shite on
Amazon?

The brothers stare at their beers.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Who is Jordan?

MAURIE
Jordans. A sports shoe, boss.

BARRIE
Lot more expensive than your thongs.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
I’ll get Gary to check these accounts.
Swear we’ve been scammed.
 9.

ROBBIE
See Barrie, that’s what we want to talk
about. Mr Stevens told us, I mean Gary
told us this was about us (PAUSE).
BARRIE
Spit it out.
ROBBIE
Getting a regular gig. Not just the
concretin’, we were going to be in a
band. Your band. All we been doin’ is
pourin’ and mixin’ sand. It’s hot, man.
BARRIE
That’s concretin’, man!
BARRIE closes his mobile phone. Turns to ROBBIE then
eyeballs MAURIE.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Jordans. Who the hell is this Jordan?
(PAUSES) You agree with your brother?

MAURIE
You mean ‘bout the heat and what not?

BARRIE
Not the “what not”. Talking about the
leaving the business.

MAURIE
Yeah nah. Umm.

BARRIE
What’s that supposed to mean? You make
more sense saying “what not”.

MAURIE
Well yeah, I’m hot. And I’ve been
thinkin’ about the leavin’ and what not.

ROBBIE
Mr Stevens, Gary right, when we met him.

BARRIE
Yeah, go on. You lads met him at
Community Services.

ROBBIE
At the community whatever, the centre
where he drives the bus for us.
(MORE)
 10.

ROBBIE (CONT'D)
And Gary told us, we worked with you by
day and night we’re in the Bee Geez.
MAURIE
Yep (enthusiastic) that’s what he said.
The Bee Geez!
ROBBIE
Mo, I’ll do this bit, okay bro.
BARRIE
Gary told you that before we had
something called COVID.
ROBBIE
(INTERRUPTS)
And you heard us sing, me and Maurie, and
you agreed. We could be in the band.
BARRIE
Listen lads, listen up good. You can both
go home, but NZ hasn’t opened up its
borders. You understand. Don’t you see we
are just about through this shite here,
the restrictions?
ROBBIE
You heard us sing. And we can sing.
BARRIE
And we will sing.
MAURIE
Is that what Mr Stevens says? That we’ve
got gigs comin’?
BARRIE
Um, well. Gary’s been getting the dates
nailed down. We’ll have a catch up.
ROBBIE
At his office?
BARRIE
At our office, yeah. We’ll meet at the
office.
ROBBIE
(to MAURIE)
The Drunken Bird.
BARRIE
Parrot. It’s the Drunken Parrot.
 11.

ROBBIE
You gotta get us the gigs. ‘Cause Barrie,
Mo and me, we’re cooked man.
BARRIE walks forward. Cracks open another beer can. He
walks away from them. ROBBIE and MAURIE return to their
mobile phones.
BARRIE
(QUIETLY TO HIMSELF))
Cooked! I’m barbecued, like someone has
napalmed the sausages.
MAURIE
Are we having a barbie, boss? Cook up a
few sangers?
BARRIE
Maybe later, Maurie.
MAURIE
Hey Barrie, wanna listen to Commonside?
BARRIE
Later, sure mate. They’re a good local
lads, that band.
The music on the boom box plays out.
GORDON LIGHTFOOT (SUNDOWN)
Sundown you better take are. If I find
you creepin’ ‘round by back stairs.
Sometimes I think it is a sin. When I
feel like I’m winnin’ when I’m losing
again.
SCENE THREE. INT. THE DRUNKEN PARROT BRITISH PUB. LATER.
A wooden bar table which can seat four. To the left, a
flashing sign which says The Drunken Parrot British Pub.
To the right, the widescreen television on a stand, an
NRL match playing, volume turned down. BARRIE alone,
seems fidgety and nervous. GARY STEVENS arrives with two
pints of Guinness. He is dressed conservatively in work
shorts and a buttoned-up shirt. He takes off an orange-
coloured vest with transport safety officer written on
it. As he drinks from his beer, BARRIE notices the froth
on GARY’S moustache.
BARRIE
Ever thought of shaving that off? Known
you what, 20 years. You’ve always had
that thing on top of your lip.
 12.

GARY
Mate, it’s Movember all year round for
me.
BARRIE
You’re a charitable bloke but that look,
mate that disappeared with the Aussie
cricket team in the 70s.
GARY
You can talk with that beard and long
hair.
BARRIE
‘Cause I’m in a Bee Gees tribute band,
Gary. Or I was.
GARY
Bee Geez. You’re still a marvel, Mr
Sheen.
BARRIE
What’s that supposed to mean? You’re
always sayin’ it.
GARY
Mate, that despite all the changes,
you’re a brand which remains and can
never be replaced.
BARRIE
Lovely words Gary, but there’s no shine
and a lot of shite going down.
GARY’S mobile phone rings. He answers it.
GARY
That’s great. Yes, Barrie is here. You
can join us inside now. We’re by the TV.
GARY opens his A4 Diary, full of scribbling and
highlighted dates. With a biro circles a date.
BARRIE
Who was that?
GARY
Niccy. Local television reporter. Wants
to do a story on bands.
BARRIE
What sort of story?
 13.

GARY
How tough it is during COVID.
BARRIE
Great, so you want me to get on the TV
news and tell everyone the Bee Geez
Experience is shite.
GARY
Thought it might help, bit of media
exposure. Get us some gigs.
BARRIE
You’re circling something in that pad of
yours. Like it when you circle. You have
some dates, right? Can tell her about
some gigs?
NIC arrives carrying a notepad and pen. She’s met Gary
before. They shake hands.
GARY
Nic, this Barrie.
BARRIE nods his head. Scrutinises her. Drinks from his
beer. Arms folded, he’s clearly unimpressed.
GARY (CONT'D)
Did you bring a cameraman?

NIC
Thought first I’d talk to Mr Gibb.

BARRIE
Mr Gibb is not being interviewed. But you
can call me Barrie. How long have you
been a journo?

She smiles at him.

NIC
Long enough. I’ve been with the network a
decade or so now. Done a few stories with
Mr Stevens on community work.

GARY
Great stories, too.

NIC gently tries to persuade BARRIE, gesturing GARY for

support.
 14.

NIC
Thought if we could just do a story about
supporting bands, I mean main acts,
supporting them during COVID.
BARRIE
No. Not this band. We don’t need support.
GARY casts a glance at NIC. Realises this will be tough.
NIC
How tough has it been with lockdown?
BARRIE
We’re about to come out of lockdown. If
your news reports are accurate.
NIC
Maybe you or the other band members then
would like to talk about their
experiences? Getting back on the road,
how that feels.
BARRIE
They might. But they’re Kiwi lads and I’m
struggling to get them to order wood from
Bunnings. And it’s not that Bunnings
hasn’t got wood now.(TO GARY) Did I tell
you I think I’m getting scammed on
Amazon? More than $200 taken out of the
account. Says from a “Jordan”.
NIC
Great shoes. Jordans. Expensive. Would
your boys talk about being here away from
home?
BARRIE shakes his head.
GARY
Nic, would you like a drink?
NIC
Umm, look Gary, I might go, so no thank
you. I can leave my card.
NIC gets up to leave.
BARRIE
The thing is Nic, it’s Nic right?
NIC
Nicolette. But Nic, yes.
 15.

BARRIE
Nic. (A PAUSE). Covid. (LONGER PAUSE).
Could tell you a lot worse stories than
Covid. Playing, I mean. Played the Golden
Garter, south Manchester, post-disco,
half full, cabaret room. Heard of it?
She shakes her head. GARY stares at his notepad. Starts
scribbling.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Red carpets thick with smoke. Old gold
and crimson furnishings. Dated like our
music. (LOOKS AT GARY). Gary?

GARY
I’m listening. The Golden Garter.

BARRIE
The Hollies played there. Drifters. Cliff
Richard. When it was pumping, in the
Sixties (PAUSE). Couples turning with
their backs to us, eating their three-
course meal, all of it shite so they’re
just drinking and drinking. Pint after
pint. We’re playing song after song. The
place has had more refits than our
flares. They won. Those bastards won. Our
voices lost.

NIC
That story, you don’t have to tell that
story.

BARRIE
That was the first night.

GARY puts his head down further in his notepad.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
The second (pause) well that’s when one
of them, ‘cause of what we were wearin’,
the white flares and gold chains, called
us “poofs”. I’ve grown up bars since I
was a kid, clearing tables. I worked with
and love gay people. That’s when they
wanted to fight. I just made sure I
ducked, and got in the first punch.

NIC extends her hand, with her business card. Leaves it

on the bar. Gives him a smirk.

NIC
Still think you’d made a great interview.
 16.

She walks away. GARY is fidgety, returns to his book.

GARY
Did you have to tell her the Golden
Garter story?
BARRIE
Do you have to keep telling me driving
those kids around in the services bus,
they’re driving you crazy? Hear that
every day.
GARY
Got you Robbie and Maurie, didn’t I?
BARRIE
All your scribblin’ there, all them dates
you circling. Those any gigs?
GARY closes his diary. Drinks his beer, wipes away the
froth from his moustache.
GARY
Just appointments. Reminders for me.
BARRIE is focused on himself. GARY looks away.
BARRIE
Gary, I’ll play this dump. We’ll do the
taverns.
GARY
Benefits. Play some halls, they’re
allowing for a third full, for charities.
BARRIE
The Bee Geez are not a benefit band!
GARY
Mate, one night for you. One night for
the other guy.
BARRIE
Don’t give me that “mate one night for
you, one night for the other guy”
lecture. I’m going to lose those boys.
Told me, demanded I give them work.
Maurie turns up in jandals. Robbie just
wants to argue the toss.
GARY
And he can sing. Robbie. Beautiful
vibrato lead. Maurie is the harmony.
That’s why I sent them!
 17.

BARRIE
Have you checked the accounts? Lately?
Poorhouse mate. Strapped. And scammed.
GARY reopens the diary.
GARY
The RSLs are starting forward bookings
for the summer. Talking say, two months.
You’ll have to get a medical, proof of
your vaccinations, all that health stuff.
GARY hands him a business card.
GARY (CONT'D)
This is my GP, Dr Kris. She will do the
checks, bulk bill, Medicare, all done.

BARRIE
Medical? Me? (FLEXES HIS BICEPS) I’m fit
as a bull.

GARY
You’re a sixty-one year old Ox. Full
bloods check, please. Now I got a bus to
drive.

GARY finishes his beer, grabs his notepad.

BARRIE
You have a GP? A Dr Kris?

GARY
Yes. One day you’ll thank me for this.

BARRIE
How old?

GARY
What does it matter? Early forties.
BARRIE
Is she single?

GARY cannot help but laugh.

GARY
Oh mate, you are (PAUSE), there is no
word for it.

BARRIE
A bloomin’ marvel.

SCENE FOUR. DOCTOR’S ROOMS. INT. LATER

 18.

A desk, with chairs either side. Laptop on the table,

some papers. A small model showing a prostate linked to
the bladder. A portable speaker at the end, music softly
playing. DR KRIS is taping away on the keyboard. When she
stops typing, she keeps tapping, to the music. A screen
divides her and her patients. BARRIE in jeans, singlet
and working boots sits opposite, his right foot tapping
to the music.
GORDON LIGHTFOOT (IF YOU
COULD READ MY MIND)
If you could read my mind, love. What a
tale my thoughts could tell. Just like an
old time movie, ‘bout a ghost from a
wishing well. In a castle dark or
fortress strong with chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me. And I will
never be set free, as long as I am ghost,
you can’t see.
DR KRIS greets BARRIE. He is lost in the song.
DR KRIS
Barrie Gibb?
BARRIE gently shakes her hand. She turns down the music
but it can still be heard, in the background.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Mr Gibb, your records.

BARRIE
Barrie.

GORDON LIGHTFOOT (IF YOU

COULD READ MY MIND)
If you could read my mind, love. What a
tale your thoughts could tell. Just like
a paperback novel, the kind the drugstore
sells.
BARRIE is clearly uncomfortable being in a doctor’s
office, tries for some short talk.

BARRIE
You know in 2010, I think it was then,
there was a radio report that Gordon
Lightfoot had died.

DR KRIS
No, I didn’t know that.
 19.

BARRIE
Some reporter got a tip-off, tracked down
his manager and the manager assuming
Gordie had passed offered a comment,
saying how Gordon would be missed.
DR KRIS
And he was alive?
BARRIE
Yes but the manager left it a bit, to
correct the story. And his album sales
took off. That’s what a celebrity death
hoax can do, bring a career back from the
dead.
A pause as she watches him entranced by the music from
the speaker. After the chorus she reaches across and
turns it off.
GORDON LIGHTFOOT )(IF YOU
COULD READ MY MIND)
When you reach the part where the
heartaches come, the hero would be me.
But heroes often fail. And you won’t read
that book again because the ending’s just
too hard to take.
DR KRIS
Barrie, when did you last have bloods?
BARRIE
Not sure. Fit as a butcher’s dog.
DR KRIS gives him a computer print out of his blood
results. Circles two areas.
DR KRIS
Your cholesterol, your good cholesterol
is good. Your bad not so good. It can be
fixed without medication, just a few
changes in diet. What is your diet like?
BARRIE smiles like school boy with his fingers caught in
a lolly jar.
BARRIE
Me, um. Don’t mind odd pie and a beer.
DR KRIS
And lunch and dinner, what do you have?
BARRIE
Have a pie for smoko and then lunch.
 20.

DR KRIS
Vegetarian pie for lunch, I hope.
BARRIE
King Beef.
DR KRIS
Beer?
BARRIE
Work up a thirst. Knock-off, most days.
DR KRIS
You obviously work out.
BARRIE
On the tools every day ‘cept Sundays.
DR KRIS
A carpenter. (PAUSE) So these results
here (POINTS TO THE CIRCLED NUMBERS) it’s
your PSA we need to address.
BARRIE
PSA?
DR KRIS
Prostate specific antigen.
BARRIE nervously starts tapping his thigh. DR KRIS holds
up the model, demonstrates to him.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
So your prostate is here. You probably
have seen this before.

BARRIE
Sure. The prostate is there. (HE’S
PEERING DOWN). And the PMA?

DR KRIS
PSA. Now your PSA, if it’s high, above
four for your age, it’s a sign something
might be wrong with the prostate. Have
you noticed anything different?

BARRIE
Like?

DR KRIS
Going to the toilet more, up at night?

BARRIE taps his thigh a little harder.

 21.

BARRIE
Ah, nope. So what does it, this PSA do?
DR KRIS
The levels. Could be an infection, a
cyst, something benign. Or cancer. Yours
is 4.6.
BARRIE stops tapping. He seems oddly relieved. DR KRIS
starts tapping in notes on the computer.
BARRIE
So that’s not bad, that level. I’m good.
Like I told Gary, he’s one of your
patients. I’m 61, never been healthier.
DR KRIS
Just need to get some details for the
referral. You’re next of kin?
BARRIE
Referral? Gary, I guess. Gary Stevens.
DR KRIS
So Gary can drive you to some of these
appointments?
BARRIE
When he’s not picking up every other
stray dog in that bus of his.

DR KRIS
Talked with him about that? Sure he’s
able to drive?
BARRIE
Guess so. If he’s not driving the kids,
he can drive me.
DR KRIS
Do you smoke?
BARRIE
Nope.
DR KRIS
Just on alcohol again, say your average
intake?
BARRIE
Six.
 22.

DR KRIS
A week.
BARRIE
No, on a hot day.
He laughs a bit.
DR KRIS
Drugs?
BARRIE
Is this all on the record?
She stops typing.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Hey, between us (PEERS AROUND, LOWERS HIS
VOICE), bit of stuff here and there, I
mean it was 80s. Beer and red wine man
now. Oh apart from (PAUSE).

DR KRIS moves the mouse to her computer away. Leans

forward, studies him.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Young fellas, Kiwi lads I work with. They
umm on Friday arvo (A PAUSE) pass around
a bit of the green stuff. Ganga.

DR KRIS
Barrie, don’t need a full history.

BARRIE
Love a cold beer. And a red.

DR KRIS
Erections?

BARRIE
Huh?
DR KRIS
How are your erections?

BARRIE
You mean my larrikins?

DR KRIS
Well yes, do you get a “larrikin”?

BARRIE
(PROUDLY)
Since 1972.
(MORE)
 23.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
And the silent flute has never not played
for the orchestra at night. Or mornin’.
He sits back, hands folded across his chest.
DR KRIS
What about a “larrikin” when you’re
drinking, having your red wine and beers?
BARRIE
Huh?
DR KRIS
After you’ve been drinking earlier, say
in the evening?
BARRIE
We all have nights where we don’t reach,
well reach the high notes.
DR KRIS
How many nights have those been? Would
you say half “larrikins”?
BARRIE
Hey, I don’t keep a diary. What’s this
about?
DR KRIS
Look, can I just say to you. I get a bit
fastidious when I see these higher PSA
levels with men your age. Need to check
your symptoms.
BARRIE
My age!
DR KRIS
Yes! We’re getting much more younger
patients showing symptoms. Here’s a form
for an MRI scan.
BARRIE
Can’t afford the time for a scan. Band’s
about to go on the road.
DR KRIS
This is a one-off morning procedure
covered by Medicare.
BARRIE
No appointments before 10am. Not for me.
 24.

DR KRIS
Sorry?
BARRIE
We could be playing the night before!
DR KRIS
Reception will arrange a suitable time.
Any questions?

She has stopped typing. Pulls the keyboard away. Just

taps on it with both hands. He watches her hands. Starts
tapping himself.
BARRIE
Solo? Play, just yourself?
DR KRIS is not sure where he is going with this.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Where’s your sticks?

DR KRIS
(EMBARRASSED)
No, I’m single. Solo. Oh, solo drummer,
no I just (PAUSE) yes, I muck around a
bit. With the drums.

BARRIE
If you ever want to rehearse, I mean
really get behind a band. We need a
drummer.

DR KRIS
Just book the scan, thanks.

SCENE FIVE. THE DRUNKEN PARROT. INT. LATER.

BARRIE and GARY deep in conversation. Half way through a

beer each. Seated at the bar, facing the audience. BARRIE
is talking rapid fire, very nervous.

BARRIE
So the MRI, have you had one of those?

GARY
Yep.

BARRIE
You’ve had one?
 25.

GARY
I said “yes”, Barrie. It’s a common
procedure for blokes our age.
BARRIE
I’m not old. Mine (A PAUSE) my results
show what Dr Kris says is a “shadow”.
GARY
Right. Well mate, that could be anything.
BARRIE
At the back my prostate. Very small. So
she wants me have to biopsy. You heard
about a biopsy?
GARY
I have heard of a biopsy. Common
procedure.
BARRIE
You seem to know everything about these
“common procedures”. Are you a quack now?
GARY
It’s a morning procedure. They will put
you under an anesthetic and you’ll be
home by after lunch. Need a driver?
BARRIE
Not doing mornings. Now this is all
costing money. And time.
GARY
Covered by Medicare, Barrie.
BARRIE takes a sip of beer. He does not want to spill
this news out, use the word “cancer”.
BARRIE
So the biopsy. (LONGER PAUSE). This test?
It will show if the shadow is (PAUSE).
GARY
(gently interrupts)
Yes, it could be that. Or a cyst. Or
nothing. Nothing to worry about. Whatever
it is. You’re lucky. You owe Dr Kris for
finding it so quickly. It can be fixed
up. You don’t want to leave this stuff
until it’s too late.
BARRIE
What if?
 26.

GARY
What if what. Don’t ask the “what ifs”.
BARRIE quickly downs his beer.
GARY (CONT'D)
Mate. One step at a time.

SCENE SIX. DOCTOR’S ROOMS. INT. LATER.

DR KRIS is standing, tapping on her desk. She turns her

back to the computer. Walks away from her desk. She is
peering outside. BARRIE is seated outside, back to the
screen. Head down. Unable to focus. Puts his phone in his
pocket. The music is playing on the speaker.
JACKSON BROWNE (ROCK ME ON
THE WATER)
Oh people, look around you. The signs are
everywhere. You’ve left it for somebody
other than you. To be the one to care.
You’re lost inside your houses. There’s
no time to find you now. While your walls
are burning, and your towers are turning,
I’m going to leave you here. And try to
get to the sea somehow.

She calls for him. Turns the speaker off.

DR KRIS
Barrie.

He walks across. Sees her looking at the view. From her

office, they can see the beaches.

BARRIE
Those beaches. So blue, the water!

DR KRIS
You surf? You’ve got the tan.
BARRIE
Never. Not enough time. You?

DR KRIS
Walk straight there. Escape. Every day.

He senses her being reflective. She returns to her desk.

Takes a breath.
 27.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Let’s get to it. The shadow is cancer.
The tests provide for a score, from 6 to
ten. You recorded a four and a five, a
nine. Quite aggressive.

BARRIE is still standing, taking in the view, except his

hands are clenched tight. He bends forward, you can see
his biceps. He returns to his seat opposite. Steely view
on her and the computer.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
But it’s (PAUSES) I’ve shown you the
location of the prostate?

She holds up the model on her desk.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
It’s at the back at the prostate. Barrie,
it’s very early. Treatment options? If
you were 80, we would probably use
radiotherapy but you are in your early
60s. As fit as a bull.

BARRIE
Not quite the bull today.

DR KRIS
If we use radiotherapy now we limit our
chances if it returns, when you are in
your seventies. So the best option is a
radical prostatectomy. You’ve read about
that?

He is unable to digest all of this.

BARRIE
Not read anything. Deliberately stayed
off Dr Google.

DR KRIS
Good. You go under a general anesthetic,
the prostate gland is removed. You will
have to discuss with your surgeon on
whether to remove the pelvic lymph nodes.

BARRIE
Lymph nodes. Is it in the lymph nodes?

DR KRIS
No, which is good. But we can’t be sure
until surgery.
 28.

BARRIE has composed himself, in fight mode, now clearly

planning ahead.
BARRIE
And if it’s there, and you say it’s
aggressive, they should be removed. You
can recommend a surgeon?
DR KRIS
Sure. And you can talk about whether they
use a robot. That’s for you and your
surgeon to discuss. Barrie?
BARRIE
A robot? Yes. Can you give me some notes
on that. The robot. The surgeon.
DR KRIS
Sure. But Barrie, your results.
She passes him a contact card for a surgeon and some
paper work. He gathers them up, is on his feet ready to
go, to escape.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Barrie, your results. This is very early.
Your cancer is curative.

He walks out quickly. DR KRIS returns to her keyboard.

Slowly starts tapping. Stops. She walks away from her
desk, to the view.

SCENE SEVEN. HOSPITAL. INT. LATER.

BARRIE in a blue hospital gown, in a wheelchair. Alone,

must be in a corridor. He has been wheeling himself
around. Asleep now, slowly stirring after surgery. DR
KRIS finds him, reaches down next to him. She checks the
catheter bag strapped to his leg, then reaches up,
adjusts the oxygen tubes to his nose. He begins to stir,
but is clearly out of it on pain medication.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Bit of trouble finding you. Exercising up
and down the corridor. Pain level?

BARRIE is surprised. Leans forward and hugs her.

BARRIE
Well, first visitor. Hello you!

DR KRIS
On my rounds, no big deal, just thought
I’d drop by.
(MORE)
 29.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Check on your pain medication. Surgery
has gone well. Have they told you?
He shakes his head.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Your heart rate dropped a bit so they had
you sitting up in a chair by your bed,
but I see you’ve wheeled yourself out
here.

BARRIE
God, you look amazing!

She blushes. But smiles just the same, sensing the remark
is from the true heart of him.
DR KRIS (BLUSHING)
Thank you. I’m guessing I’m the fourth
female on this ward you’ve said that to
this afternoon. And there are three
others on the floor! Some much younger
than me. Now (A PAUSE) we need to get
that catheter bag emptied. Your pain
level? One to ten?

BARRIE
Don’t worry about the bag.

DR KRIS
Pain level?

BARRIE
Put me down, I don’t know, maybe a
“four”. Feel like I’m in Haight-Ashbury,
in the Summer of love. Sixties, man!

He has his hands stretched out, like wings of a plane.

DR KRIS
San Francisco. All of those hippies.
You’d be in the front row for that?

BARRIE
1969. Best year on the planet. Music,
films.

DR KRIS
Except you would have been, what eight?
Were you just starting to play music?
 30.

BARRIE
Heard our set list? Heard of the Bee
Geez? From sixties pop to disco and the
great beyond.
DR KRIS
To punk?
BARRIE
Huh (LAUGHS). That’s a joke, right?
DR KRIS
Yes. I’m having a joke with you, Barrie.
BARRIE
I’m serious. Talkin’ up our set list,
drummer girl. Still tapping?
DR KRIS
Mostly keyboards.
BARRIE
Post-disco, this where it gets
interesting, when we struggle for hits.
To country. Islands in the Stream. Kenny
Rogers. (PAUSES). Gibb brothers wrote
that. Absolute classic. And gospel.
Heartbreaker.
BARRIE clears his throat. His voice is deeper. Starts
singing HEARTBREAKER.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Why do you have to be a heartbreaker. Is
it a lesson that I never knew? Got to get
out of the spell that I’m under. My love
for you.

He stops, exhausted. Eyes starting to close

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Angel voice. Angel voices. Dionne
Warwick. My voice is deep. My voice? You
hear that?

He feels for his throat, both hands, how it is bloated

from the tubes. Starts to close his eyes.

DR KRIS
Barrie? You’re drifting off.

His eyes are closed. His hands reach out in front.

 31.

BARRIE
Piano. Love that piano. Lounge room is so
small. A shoebox. (A PAUSE). Can I reach
up? Ma? Look, I can reach up to the
keyboards. Tiny hands. Dad? Dad! Let me
tune your guitar. Dad, mum? C’mon, can I
sing with you?
His body jolts. She is bent over, close to his face, not
sure to wake him from the dream. His eyes open, stares
into hers.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Textile town. Shite grey, all day.
(SHAKES) Wind rip through you. But that
room (SMILES) yeah, what they did to that
room. So warm.

BARRIE searches down the corridor. He cannot work out

whether he is still dreaming, or its the drugs. A
silhouette, someone in a hospital gown, wearing a beanie.
But the figure is bent over, struggling to walk away.
Clutching a walking stick. The image disturbs him.

BARRIE (SHOUTS OUT) (CONT'D)

Gary? Gary is that you? Talk to me, why
don’t you phone me?

DR KRIS (GENTLY)
Hey, it’s okay. Let’s get you back to
your room.

His eyes dart away, searches for a window. An ocean view.

His voice suggests panic.

BARRIE
Can I go back to your room? Mean your
office. The window. Is there a window in
my room? Can they open the blinds? Can
you see?
DR KRIS
Yes, same view. Now, tell me about the
Beatles.

BARRIE
The Beatles? What could I possibly tell
you that’s new about the most famous band
in the world?

DR KRIS
Why the Bee Gees and not the Beatles?
 32.

BARRIE
Teenager. You’re not going to barrack for
your family’s footy team, worse still if
they’re kicking goals every weekend.
He clears his throat. This time seriously sings.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
(SINGING YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE
YOUR LOVE AWAY)
Here I stand, head in hand. Turn to the
wall. If she’s gone I can’t go on.
Feeling two foot small.

This voice, she recognises, is extraordinary, some other

amazing dimension to him. This is his art.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
(SINGING YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE
YOUR LOVE AWAY)
Everywhere people stare, each and every
day. I can see them laugh at me. And I
hear them say. Hey, you’ve got to hide
your love away. Hey, you’ve got to hide
your love away.

He is coughing, out of breath, unable to finish.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Mum and Dad played Penny Lane day and
night. And then I heard “To Love
Somebody” and just old enough, to hear it
(TOUCHES HIS FOREHEAD). Yeah. Old enough
to own it as my first song.

DR KRIS
You loved them?

BARRIE
Mum and Dad?
DR KRIS
Not your parents! Obviously loved them.

BARRIE
Loved the voices of brothers, yeah. You
see. Voices of brothers can be an
instrument in themselves.

She starts to push his wheelchair then stops.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
And then there’s courage.
 33.

DR KRIS
Courage? The Bee Gees? The only
courageous thing was their flares.
He’s laughing and shaking his head. Dr KRIS pushes him
on. He pulls the brakes on the wheelchair.
BARRIE
Are we having our first serious
conversation?
DR KRIS
About music? I think. Yes.
BARRIE
Music is my life.
He slowly releases the brakes on the wheelchair.
DR KRIS
We started back there. Long corridor.
Their eyes meet.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Love it when you talk about music.

BARRIE
Love it when you don’t talk about
prostates. Or erections.

DR KRIS
You mean “larrikins”.

BARRIE chuckles to himself. Eyes catch the tubing.

BARRIE
Long way from even half a larrikin.
He looks down at all the tubing. Gives her this
flashlight smile.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Planning to dance right out of here.

DR KRIS
You need to be able to blow all the balls
up in this machine first.

DR KRIS hands him a small spirometer, which checks lung

capacity. He tries blowing into the tube. He fails to
lift a ball. It momentarily shocks him.
 34.

BARRIE
My pipes are shot.
Tries again. No movement. Rocks back in the chair. She
senses his disappointment. It impacts her. He reaches up,
first time, holds her hand.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Forgot to tell you.

DR KRIS
Yes?

BARRIE
Survival. That’s why love those brothers.
They survived. Band survived. They stayed
together.

SCENE EIGHT. HOSPITAL. INT. LATER.

Lights are down. BARRIE seated in his chair, in his room.

Tunes his old guitar, the wood faded. Fixes the harmonica
around his neck. Takes a deep breath. He cannot see DR
KRIS standing back, to his right, watching.

BARRIE (SINGING THE BEE

GEES BLUE ISLAND) (CONT'D)
Living in a world that dies within, you
are they who try and touch the wind. You
could be the blessed one that makes me
love you.

DR KRIS moves closer to him, still behind him.

BARRIE (SINGING THE BEE

GEES BLUE ISLAND) (CONT'D)
And doing what you’ve never done before,
taking every wave that hits the shore,
you could be a silver star that shines on
my blue island. It’s gonna be a blue
island. See you on a blue island. Take
you to a blue island. Blue island.

He finishes with a blast of harmonica. Looks up and sees

she is floored by his musicianship. Feels at the tubes
under his blanket. The discomfort post-surgery starts to
creep in.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
My voice. Going to have to start a Rod
Stewart covers band.
 35.

DR KRIS
Your guitar playing, you and this old
guitar!
He places the guitar gently beside the wheelchair.
BARRIE
Passed the audition, hey?
DR KRIS
Yes, more than pass.
BARRIE
This place. Cabin fever. Sometimes.
DR KRIS
You alright?
BARRIE
Sometimes you have to let a song fill a
room.
She gathers herself. A step forward.
DR KRIS
Tomorrow.
BARRIE
Tomorrow. This sounds promising.
DR KRIS
Tomorrow I’m driving you home.
BARRIE
You are? Thought you lived here.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Voice is deeper.

DR KRIS
That was the tubing. Your falsetto will
return and given your results, (STARTS
SMILING) hopefully in time everything
else.

BARRIE
Promised not to talk about larrikins.

DR KRIS
We are going to have to talk about
erections. Or if you are not comfortable,
at least another medical professional
will have to.
 36.

BARRIE
Not the top of the charts, in terms of my
priorities at the moment.
DR KRIS
Like any other organ, it will need to be
exercised.
BARRIE
Blame Gary, he’s always joking about
“getting half a larrikin”. His phrase.
The thing is, thanks I’ll work on my
stomach exercises. But Gary will pick me
up.
DR KRIS averts his eyes. This is a difficult spot,
professionally, and how she feels about him, both men.
DR KRIS
No, he had arranged for the boys. How
reliable are they? (A PAUSE). Barrie, you
understand Gary’s been going upstairs.
BARRIE
Why upstairs? I’ve been down here.
Finally losing his mind.
DR KRIS
No, he’s being going to level four.
BARRIE (INNOCENTLY)
Level four?
DR KRIS
Radiation ward. Haven’t you talked?
BARRIE
Talked me through what I’d being going
through. Yeah. Do I have to go to level
four?
DR KRIS
You guys! (FRUSTRATED). When will you
blokes learn to talk about your health!
BARRIE
Talked about prostates.
DR KRIS
Only after you were diagnosed.
He starts coughing. The pain down low cripples him.
 37.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Hold your stomach, brace yourself, if you
cough or laugh. Remember?

BARRIE
Laugh! Barry talked me through the
procedures, the tests for cancer.

DR KRIS
You need to talk to him. He’s my patient
too. We can’t have this conversation.

BARRIE
He talked to me about the big test, when
the screening was checking not just the
prostate but for other cancers. He told
me that was the one to beat.

DR KRIS
And you beat it.

BARRIE leans back in his chair. Deep breath. Holds his

stomach.

BARRIE
What sort of radiation do they do up
there?

DR KRIS
Throat cancers.

BARRIE
The big test. He had the big test, didn’t
he?

DR KRIS
Big test.

BARRIE
Stopped returning my calls. Appointments.
Not gigs. Circling appointments.
DR KRIS
What did he tell you about your tests?

BARRIE
Small steps, no stressing. Get my
incontinence under control, the stomach
exercises, get the PSA down to zero after
the operation.

DR KRIS
What did you tell him?
 38.

BARRIE
What did I tell him? To circle a date in
his book. Haven’t had a holiday. Not even
gone to the beach.
DR KRIS
So you visit him, tell him you are going
for a swim. Some good news, for him.
BARRIE cannot entertain this. His whole body shakes.
BARRIE
No, not right, me strolling out of here.
Him sitting up there.
DR KRIS hands him a blue medical insurance card.
DR KRIS
He had you and the rest of the band
covered for medical insurance. Your
surgeon fees are paid.
BARRIE
Didn’t ask him to do that.
DR KRIS
He’s not the sort of bloke who needs to
be asked.
BARRY wants to puts the card away, but he is wearing a
blue hospital gown.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
See you in my rooms in a week to get that
catheter removed. Can drive you after you
see him.

BARRIE
Thanks, I’ll get an Uber.

BARRIE holds up the card. Taps it on the guitar. DR KRIS

is about to leave.

BARRIE (TO HIMSELF) (CONT'D)

Other guy.

DR KRIS
Sorry who?

BARRIE
(TO DR KRIS)
Nothing. Not important. Just something he
says. About “the other guy”.
 39.

He turns around. She is gone. He is alone.

LIGHTS OUT.

SCENE NINE. INT. DRUNKEN PARROT AND HOSPITAL ROOM. LATER.

GARY goes to help ROBBIE and MAURIE set up two microphone
stands in the bar. But he has to sit down. ROBBIE has his
guitar on a stand. MAURIE positions his keyboards. Two
speakers in front of them. They notice him seated there,
not seeming to move.
GARY
Boys, you are going to have to arrange to
pick up Barrie for me from the hospital.
Can’t get there. And this charity gig, we
need to publicise it. Look I’m not that
great on social media. Can you do that?
ROBBIE
Gary, we need to talk.
MAURIE
TikTok. Put up a video of you. Of Barrie
maybe, talking about the gig.
GARY
Mate, anything. Hardly sold a ticket.
MAURIE
Is Barrie playing?
GARY
Told he was cleared.
ROBBIE
Gary, the next time we head south down
there. We’re not coming back.
MAURIE
Going straight to the airport, bro.
ROBBIE
Home. The money upfront you’ve given us
for the charity gig, we’ve booked
flights.
GARY stands there, he’s stooped over. Takes out his book.
Searches the dates for future gigs.
GARY
Let’s get this first sound check out of
the way.
 40.

The action switches from the pub to Barrie’s hospital

room. ROBBIE on guitar and acoustic drums, and MAURIE on
keyboards, all set up for a sound check for the gig.
Meanwhile, BARRIE in a blue hospital gown is strumming on
his acoustic guitar.
ROBBIE
(FLATLY)
Can’t do this. Can’t do it.
MAURIE
(REASSURING)
Your microphone, check it.
They walk towards each other away from the microphones.
MAURIE (CONT'D)
You always wanted to be a lead singer,
what’s your problem, bro?

ROBBIE
Can’t do it without the main man.

MAURIE
Well let’s imagine the main man is here.

MAURIE hands his brother a bottle of water. They both

take a drink, MAURIE returning to the keyboards. ROBBIE’s
falsetto is slightly lower than BARRIE’S, and
surprisingly vulnerable.

ROBBIE (I’VE GOT TO GET A

MESSAGE TO YOU)
The preacher talked to me and he smiled.
Said, “Come and walk with me. Come and
walk one mile. Now for once in your life
you’re alone. But you ain’t got a dime.
There’s no time on the phone.

Spotlight is briefly on BARRIE alone strumming his

guitar.
ROBBIE AND MAURIE
I’ve just got to get a message to you.
Hold on, hold on. One more hour and my
life will be through. Hold on, hold on.

Spotlight again on BARRIE just strumming the chords to

the chorus. Then, returning to ROBBIE AND MAURIE.

ROBBIE AND MAURIE (CONT'D)

I’ve just got to get a message to you.
Hold on, hold on. One more hour and my
life will be through. Hold on, hold on.
 41.

BARRIE slouches forward. Puts his guitar down. He picks

up a spirometer, tries to blow on it. The balls only
slightly move. He tosses the machine away, closes his
eyes. MAURIE starts playing the first few bars of SPICKS
AND SPECKS. He struggles with it. He stops and returns to
the beginning. ROBBIE waits patiently.
Spotlight on all three.
ROBBIE (SPICKS AND SPECKS)
Where is the sun that shone on my head.
The sun in my life. It is dead. It is
dead. Where is the light. That would play
in the streets. And where are the
friends. I could meet. I could meet.
MAURIE joins him on vocals. The song’s beat picks up,
together they pick up. They’re smiling.
ROBBIE AND MAURIE
Where are the girls. I left far behind.
The spicks and the specks. Of the girls
on my mind. Where is the sun. That shone
on my head. The sun in my life. It is
dead. It is dead.
The song jumps up a further beat with ROBBIE on acoustic
drums. Flickering of lights flash on BARRIE. This time he
alone is singing. The light becomes stronger.
BARRIE
Where are the girls. I left far behind.
The spicks and the specks. Of the girls
on my mind.
Finally, we are hearing the three of them, in a band.
Full stage light.
BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE
Where are the girls. I left far behind.
The spicks and the specks. Of the girls
on my mind.
Now just BARRIE unaccompanied, with a deep throaty vocal.
As he sings, DR KRIS walks towards him. Holds a cup of
water, some tablets, more pain killers in her hand.
BARRIE
Where is the girl I loved. All along. The
girl that I loved. She’s gone. She’s
gone. All of my life. I call yesterday.
The spicks and the specks. Of my life
have gone away.
(MORE)
 42.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
All of my life I call yesterday. The
spicks and the specks. Of my life have
gone away. Everybody.

BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE

Spicks and Specks. Spicks and Specks.
Spicks and Specks. Aha. Spicks and
Specks.
LIGHTS OUT.
SCENE 10. INT. DOCTOR’S ROOM. LATER.
BARRIE wearing wild printed long pajamas sits to the left
of the desk. He is looking at the screen behind it. Very
much aware there is a bed and change area. DR KRIS
scrolls through the computer screen. Tap, tap, tap. Taps
her desk. Music is playing on the boom box.
GOOD THING (FINE YOUNG
CANNIBALS)
The good thing in my life, has gone away,
I don’t know why. She’s gone away, I
don’t know where. Somewhere I can’t
follow her .
BARRIE is tapping with both feet.
GOOD THING (FINE YOUNG
CANNIBALS) (CONT'D)
The one good thing (hey, hey, hey) didn’t
stay too long (Woo, who, who, who). My
back was turned (hey, hey, hey) and she
was gone. Good thing, where have you
gone.

DR KRIS turns down the music. She cannot hide the smile
on her face. He wants to talk about anything except the
procedure which will follow.
DR KRIS
Results are in from the tests.

BARRIE
That’s early, thought it would be days.

DR KRIS
Yes, so the biopsy was right. You had a
five and a four rating, a nine. Very
aggressive.
 43.

BARRIE
Always got top marks.
DR KRIS
But the tests show it was contained in
the pocket, and had not gone to the lymph
nodes. These results are a start, but
they are everything we wanted. (CORRECTS
HERSELF) Everything you wanted.
BARRIE gets up, his back to her, facing the audience.
Forms a tight fist with his right hand, shakes it.
Several deep breaths. Wipes just below his left eye. Then
composes himself. Returns to face her. She deliberately
has her face turned.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Right, I’ll get you to get up on the bed.
Ready to get this off?

BARRIE
You assured me this would be easier than
I thought.

DR KRIS
I told you it would be “different”.

They both move behind the screen. We can see their

shadows, their outlines, hear their voices. See the
exaggerated physical action.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Just lie back, a bit on your right side,
you comfortable? Try to relax.

BARRIE
You are serious? Try to relax!

DR KRIS
Ready. I’m going to count to four. One,
two, three, four.
BARRIE
Oh, ah, jeez.

DR KRIS
Um, let me just. Um.

BARRIE can be heard heavy breathing. Several deep breaths

out.

BARRIE
Silent flute will never be the same.
 44.

DR KRIS
It’s not out. Just relax.
BARRIE
What do you mean “it’s not out”. You’re
asking me to relax. I thought it was out.
You did the count. We did the count!
DR KRIS
It’s stuck.
BARRIE
Stuck?
DR KRIS
On something.
BARRIE
How can it be stuck on something?
DR KRIS
Maybe a stitch.
BARRIE starts to panic. Is on his feet.
BARRIE
Has this happened before?
DR KRIS
Never. Please lie down.

BARRIE
No, give me a second here. Is it, could
it be, is it because of my flute?
DR KRIS
No, no, just let me make a call to check,
get some advice.
DR KRIS emerges from behind the curtain, gets her mobile
phone off the desk, exits stage right. BARRIE hobbles out
carrying his catheter. Sits in a chair, faces the
audience. He switches on the boom box.
WHIP IT (DEVO)
Crack that whip. Give the past a slip.
Step on a crack. Break your mama’s back.
He is back on his feet. Checks below his PJ trousers. He
shudders.
 45.

WHIP IT (DEVO) (CONT'D)

When a problem comes along. You must whip
it. Before the cream sits out too long.
You must whip it. When something’s going
wrong. You must whip it.

He turns and quickly turns off the boom box. He looks

down again inside his trousers.

BARRIE (TO HIMSELF AND HIS

PENIS)
Leave it in. You agree with me on that.
No more larrikins. Not even half a
larrikin. Who cares? We’re sweet. I’ll
carry this thing around. We both agree it
can stay. Not worth it, being wanked off
like this. You okay with that? I hate you
“catheter”. But you can stay.

DR KRIS returns places her mobile phone down on the desk.

She stops briefly. She’s heard him talking. From a
drawer, grabs and puts on a new pair of gloves. BARRY
watches her intently.

DR KRIS
Did you phone somebody?

BARRIE
Just talking to my flute. You don’t need
gloves. We’re all good. Just spoke to my
catheter as well.

DR KRIS
(IGNORES HIM)
Right, back on the bed. We are just going
to have to (PAUSES).

BARRIE
(INTERRUPTS)
What?
DR KRIS
(LOUDLY)
Yank it out.

She helps BARRIE up. She has to drag him toward the
screen.

BARRIE
What if we risk permanent damage to the
silent flute?

DR KRIS
Your flute will be fine.
 46.

BARRIE
Any pain killers? I’m a ten-plus pain
level here. At least give me a local?
DR KRIS
Numbing cream?
BARRIE
Use the entire tube.
DR KRIS
I’ll rub it in.
BARRIE
Give it to me. What if I get half a
larrikin?
DR KRIS
Believe me, that’s not possible. Just lie
on your side like before. Relax.
BARRIE
Stop saying “relax”.
They both disappear behind the curtain.
DR KRIS
Going to count to four and on four, right
I’ll yank it. One, two, three!
BARRIE (SHOUTS)
Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha (HIGHEST VOICE).
DR KRIS
Your voice is back!
BARRIE
You yanked on three!
They both return from behind the curtain. DR KRIS removes
the rest of catheter, the tubing and straps from his
legs.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Is it out?

DR KRIS
Gone.

DR KRIS starts ripping off the plaster which attaches the

catheter tubing to his legs. The white strips are gripped
on the hairs. BARRIE looks down at his groin.
 47.

BARRIE
Ah, ha, ha, ha.
DR KRIS
Sorry, this plaster gets caught.
BARRIE
My flute has all but disappeared. And me
bollocks. Black as grapes. But they’re
the size of eggplants.
DR KRIS
That’s normal, after surgery. Some
shrinkage, some swelling.
BARRIE
But the shrinkage is where a bloke wants
the swelling.
DR KRIS
You were very nervous.
BARRIE
You said it would be easy.
DR KRIS
No, I said “different”.
BARRIE
Different means “not the same”. That
wasn’t different!
DR KRIS
What I meant was it can be different for
different people.
BARRIE
Ever had anyone gripping onto a bed like
that?
DR KRIS
No.
All the tubing is removed. He stands up. Takes a deep
breath. Like ready to burst into song. Finally, he
smiles. She is recalling it all, trying to be
professional, not giggle.
BARRIE
Did you hear me back there?
DR KRIS
No, I was very focused on your flute.
 48.

BARRIE
My voice (STARTS SINGING IN A HIGH NOTE).
Ah, ha, ha, ha. Ah, ha, ha, ha.
DR KRIS
Your voice. Your flute. Not sure which
you love more.
BARRIE
My falsetto is back. I can go.
DR KRIS
You’re not leaving yet.
BARRIE
Bee Geez are playing tonight. Our first
charity gig?
DR KRIS
A bladder test, first. See that you are
clearing your bladder.
BARRIE
Gotta wee?
DR KRIS
Need you to drink four cups of water. See
me in an hour or so. There will be some
bleeding. If we discharge you, it could
take some hours. Signing off on some
medication. Pain killers. And some
goodies to get you back in shape. Viagra.
BARRIE (SINGING TO
HIMSELF)
Ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
(oh) ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive. Life
goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, somebody
help me yeah.
As he walks off in his PJs, we spot the top of his
bottom, his tradies' crack, as he swings his hips to
STAYIN’ ALIVE. He hitches them up as he disappears. DR
KRIS falls back in her chair. Taps the keyboard. Hits the
boom box play button.
WHIP IT (DEVO)
Now whip it. Into shape. Shape it up. Get
straight. Go forward. Move ahead. Try to
detect it. It’s not too late. To whip it.
Whip it good.
 49.

The catheter tubes are on her desk. Sees that he is gone.

Stands up, grabs the tubes, starts dancing and whipping
them on the desk, the song playing. She stops and doubles
over in laughter.
SCENE 11: INT. THE DRUNKEN PARROT: SOUND CHECK
BARRIE finishes his beer. ROBBIE and MAURIE are still
drinking from their glasses. BARRIE opens up his guitar
case. They all stop, watch some breaking news on the
television. He recognises NIC on the screen, in a live
cross. Looks outside, sees she’s reporting from the pub,
speaking into her microphone.
NIC
In breaking news, it is understood BEE
GEES band leader Barry Gibb has been
diagnosed with cancer. In a TikTok video,
two members of an Aussie tribute band,
the Bee Geez, have posted footage, grainy
footage of what appears to be the ageing
entertainer in a hospital gown. They have
tagged that Mr Gibb’s condition is
“incurable”. The video by Robbie and
Maurie Tohu talks about a benefit concert
planned tonight at a local RSL. Mr Gibb’s
management has been approached for
comment but yet to respond.
BARRIE
Holy shite!
The two brothers quickly move away to work on the
microphone stands. BARRIE covers his face with his hands.
His voice is raised.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
You two. What’s this shite about?

MAURIE
Gary told us you were “incurable”, so we
wanted to help, put it on social media to
raise funds.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
I’m “curative”. Not “incurable”

MAURIE
Same thing. Sweet as, bro.

BARRIE
No, no, do you have idea what curative
means?
 50.

MAURIE and ROBBIE shake their heads. Turn to the TV.

NIC
I’m outside the Drunken Parrot where
tonight Bee Gee fans are preparing for a
charity show. Barrie Gibb, a local chippy
whose told me in a recent meeting that
his firm is facing bankruptcy due to
Covid, is the frontman for the Bee Geez.
So it’s a tough time all round for Bee
Gees fans.
Spotlight switches to BARRIE.
BARRIE
That was “off the record”!
MAURIE
Are we munted, boss?
BARRIE
Munted?
ROBBIE
Our jobs, the band. We done?
BARRIE
Did you write Barrie with “ie” on Tik
bloody Tok or Barry with a “y”?
MAURIE
You spell your name with an “ie”, you’re
always telling clients that.
BARRIE
You typed it with a “y”, didn’t you?
MAURIE nods his head. BARRIE rests his chin on the table.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Yeah, we’re munted. Gotta get that post
down. Get Gary to put up an apology.

Spotlight on Nic. She is reading from her reporter

notepad.

NIC
In more breaking news, sales of Bee Gees
albums, since the announcement their band
leader is alleged to have cancer, have
taken off in the charts. Their Greatest
Hits album is in the top ten, the first
time in decades.
 51.

Spotlight back on BARRIE.

BARRIE
Get someone to turn that TV off. Don’t go
outside the pub. Near that reporter.
ROBBIE
She wants to talk to us later.
BARRIE
You won’t be talking to her later. I’m
the spokesperson for the band. No media,
nothing on social media. You understand?
He gets up quickly, too quickly. Feels a twinge. Not sure
if it’s the stitching from his wounds. He attempts to
move one of two large speakers.
ROBBIE
Hey, let us do that.
He’s doubled over. He feels his below his stomach, then
his side up to his heart.
MAURIE
Is it your heart? I’ve had heart problems
since a kid. Rest on your back.
BARRIE
Just my stitches. Your ticker? Would’ve
been helpful to tell me lad, before you
were diggin’ in fence poles.
BARRIE collapses on top of a speaker. MAURIE rushes to
him. Helps him on his back. BARRIE struggles to breathe.
MAURIE reaches for a spray in his pocket.
MAURIE
This is my special spray, they tell me to
use it if I get bad angina.
BARRIE (WHISPERS)
No, no. I can’t.
MAURIE
No, open your mouth, you put it under
your tongue, it will help you breathe.
BARRIE
I can’t!
MAURIE
Why not, bro?
 52.

BARRIE (SHOUTS OUT)

‘Cause I’m on Viagra and that spray could
kill me.
MAURIE and ROBBIE glance at each other, stunned. Then
turn away giggling. BARRIE slowly gets to his feet. Looks
around sheepishly. Tries to get his regular breathing
back. Feels for his stomach.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Great, that was good to share with
everyone.

MAURIE
Sorry boss, had no idea you used the
Niagra.
ROBBIE
How long have you been on Viagra, boss?

BARRIE
Haven’t had to use “the Niagra” until
now. It’s to help me regenerate (PAUSE)
what am I talking to you blokes about. If
you’ll excuse me, gotta go to the loo.

MAURIE
Do you want me to go with you?

BARRIE
(DEFIANT AND SARCASTIC) All good, thanks.
With what seemed to be a heart attack,
shouting out about Viagra, I recommend
that two of us don’t go to the loos at
once. If I’m not back in five, just call
for the cleaner. Just so you understand,
I need to sit down on the loo. Real
quick.

BARRIE walks off doubled over.

ROBBIE
What’s he on Viagra for?

MAURIE
So he can get a larrikin, cuz.

ROBBIE
Since when are you an expert?

MAURIE
Old boss back home uses it, when he
wanted to get a bit of angle on the
dangle, bro.
 53.

ROBBIE
Are you going to put away that spray?
MAURIE
No, I’m feeling a bit worked up myself.
The TV crew outside and what not. I’m in
how would Barry put it, I’m in the shite?
ROBBIE
Nah, we’re gonna be big TV stars. C’mon,
bro, let’s get a beer.

SCENE 12: INT: THE DRUNKEN PARROT. LATER.

BARRIE returns to find DR KRIS opening her medical case,
retrieving a small blood pressure machine. She is seated
next to ROBBIE AND MAURIE.
BARRIE
So you didn’t call the cleaner?
MAURIE
Just wanted to be sure, boss.
DR KRIS puts the blood pressure cuff around BARRIE’S arm.
He sits upright, left hand extended on the bench.
DR KRIS
What did you have for lunch?
BARRIE
T-bone, salad and chips. Medium rare with
mushrooms.
DR KRIS
Dessert?
BARRIE
Cheese cake. Two helpings. Maurie
wouldn’t have his.
DR KRIS
And you’ve been a bit blocked up until
now. And I’m guessing you’ve had a bit of
movement down there.
MAURIE
Raced off to the loo.
BARRIE
Thanks mate, you’ve done enough.
 54.

DR KRIS
(TO MAURIE)
You’re Maurie, right?
MAURIE
Yes, mam.
DR KRIS
Have you been told not to administer GTN
to someone on Sildenafil. Even if he’s
taking just a quarter tablet.
MAURIE
Admin-minister?

DR KRIS
Viagra. Give your medication to someone
on Viagra?
MAURIE
He didn’t tell me he was on Viagra.
BARRIE
(TO DR KRIS)
Took a full tablet.
DR KRIS
Already? You’re supposed to take only a
quarter (A PAUSE) unless you want to get
an erection.
BARRIE (SHEEPLISHY)
Confidence thing, before we played.
Again.
DR KRIS
(EXASPERATED)
You old rocker.
ROBBIE
An erection? Here, at the pub? What were
you thinking, boss?
BARRIE
Wasn’t trying to get an erection here!
It’s about nerves, restoring my nerves.
Down there. And up here (POINTS TO HIS
FOREHEAD). Please, keep your voices down.
MAURIE
You were trying to get a larrikin? You’ve
only just got out of surgery.
 55.

BARRIE
Thanks for the medical advice, mate. You
could have killed me. (A PAUSE). Half a
larrikin, I’d be happy with half a
larrikin!
DR KRIS
(TO MAURIE)
To administer glyceryl trinitrate spray
to someone who is taking sildenafil can
be lethal.
MAURIE (AT A LOSS)
Add what?
DR KRIS
You spray that on someone’s tongue, say
they are having an attack in a shopping
centre or a pub like this, and they are
on Viagra, you can kill them.
DR KRIS removes the monitor cuff. ROBBIE and MAURIE empty
their glasses. ROBBIE grabs MAURIE, they leave to go to
the bar.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
You’re blood pressure is a little
elevated, but you’re fine.

BARRIE
Beer or wine then?

The boys peer back. BARRIE waves them away.

DR KRIS
I’m on call, as you can see.

BARRIE
Bee Geez need a drummer.

DR KRIS packs up the monitor in her kit. BARRIE searches

through his guitar case.

DR KRIS
Consults, scripts, I’ll even do pub
calls. But I’ll remain a drum soloist,
thanks. (A PAUSE). Those boys. Can they
really sing?

BARRIE
Good lads.

DR KRIS
Can they sing?
 56.

BARRIE
Sit behind a drum kit and find out.
He finds the drum sticks in his guitar case. Studies them
first. Then hands them across to her. She senses some
family treasure here.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
They just struggle to talk. Bit like we
do. Except their excuse is they’re Kiwis.

DR KRIS
Can’t imagine you three together. On a
work site yes, but not on stage.

BARRIE
Their voices are better than mine,
younger, stronger. They were brought up,
like most musical families across the
ditch, on R and B. The blend it’s quite
something. (PAUSE). You don’t think I
should play tonight, do you?

DR KRIS
Barrie, we can’t talk music now. Thank
you, but I don’t think I should take
these. They must be older than you.
Family.

BARRIE
Yes, Dad’s.

She hands them back but he releases them back in her

hand. Stands up, moves away.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Should I play tonight?

DR KRIS sees her opinion matters.

DR KRIS
Some patients, they want get back on a
bike straightaway, literally. Marathon
men. One guy, your age, a cyclist. He was
riding everything after just eight weeks.
Look, I’m still not sure what you do on
stage.

BARRIE
Join us then. Be my drummer and doctor.
 57.

DR KRIS
Like are you full on John Travolta?
Because you strut your stuff you’ll be in
trouble fella with those wounds. None of
this “You can tell by the way I walk”.
(SHE LAUGHS). You’ll be hobbling into my
surgery tomorrow.
He is so quiet, it disturbs her
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
What is it?

BARRIE
My folks. Like them to see you.
DR KRIS (INNOCENTLY)
Thought they, they had passed.

BARRIE
Oh, they sneak in, keep a place always,
front of stage.

DR KRIS
How many drinks have you had?

BARRIE
One, two now.

DR KRIS
(QUIETLY)
This going back to the stage. This next
step.

She carefully packs the drum sticks away in her bag.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
You are going to be okay.

BARRIE
You told me I will need more blood tests
for clearance, that I’ve got to get my
incontinence until control, that I may
not (A PAUSE) be me again. That this,
this thing could still be there.

DR KRIS
This thing? Prostate cancer.

He shakes his head, cannot escape her gaze.

BARRIE
Cancer.
 58.

DR KRIS
First time you’ve said that word. Barrie,
you’re not going to die from prostate
cancer. There many things you can die
from, but I can tell you it won’t be
that.
He contemplates her message. Thinks of worse scenarios,
for others.
BARRIE
Gary.
BARRIE grabs his beer. He cannot talk about his mate.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
In two months, you’ll get those final
blood tests. You look great, your scars
are healing, your incontinence is under
control, next step for now is some of the
goodies we can try out on you.

BARRIE
Niagra?

DR KRIS
Viagra, yes.

BARRIE
Gary.

Silence. GARY is her patient too.

DR KRIS
You both need to talk. Did you see that
TV reporter outside? Did you see that
footage on Barry Gibb? It looked a bit
dodgy. Like, that was our hospital.

BARRIE
Really?
DR KRIS
Someone really smart in the music
business told me once that a celebrity
death hoax can boost sales overnight.

BARRIE is smiling. She is packed up ready to go.

DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Got an early start.

BARRIE
On rounds?
 59.

DR KRIS
Surf.
BARRIE
How long does it take to learn to stand
up on one of those things?
DR KRIS
Lifetime. That’s what’s great about it.
BARRIE
Lifetime.
DR KRIS
Barrie. Play. Just go out play tonight,
play for your parents, play for Gary,
play for those young very well meaning
boys. (A PAUSE). Let your music fill a
room.

LIGHTS OUT.
SCENE 12. THE CHARITY CONCERT, FULL STAGE.
A drum kit at the back of stage. Keyboards to the far
right. Four guitars on stands to the left. Three
microphones in front. But the three of them, Barrie,
Robbie and Maurie enter and stand unaccompanied, in front
of the microphones. Defiant, against any critics or
cynics in the crowd. In white flares, fabulous tight
fitting silver jackets, medallions hanging and in
BARRIE’S case sparkling from his tanned chest, the light
joining the blaze from the mirror ball above them. They
put their arms around each other, hanging on like the
team they are, and begin with this incredible opening
pitch, singing LONELY DAYS.
BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE.
Good morning mister sunshine, you
brighten up my day. Come sit beside me in
your way. I see you every morning,
outside the restaurants. The music plays
so nonchalant.
Then she enters, in white flairs and silver jacket. Head
bowed, holding those drum sticks. Sits down. Starts
smacking those drums, right from the start. DR KRIS kicks
the chorus off. And we hear those three part harmonies.
BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE. (CONT'D)
Lonely days, lonely nights. Where would I
would be without my woman?
(MORE)
 60.

BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE.

Lonely days, lonely nights. Where would I
be without my woman? Lonely days, lonely
nights. Where would I be without my
woman?
MAURIE takes his position behind the keyboards. ROBBIE
and BARRY strap on their guitars. A familiar bass line
thumps out. STAYIN’ ALIVE. BARRIE unbuttons the top of
his jacket.
BARRIE
Well you can tell by the way I use my
walk. I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk.
Music loud and women warm I been kicked
around. Since I was born. And it’s
alright, its okay. And you may look the
other way. We can try to understand. The
New York Times’ effect on man
BARRIE, ROBBIE AND MAURIE.
Whether your a brother or whether you’re
a mother. Your stayin’ alive, stayin’
alive. Feel the city breakin’ and
everybody shakin’. And we’re stayin’
alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive. Ah,
ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive. Oh when you
walk.
LIGHTS OUT.
SCENE 13. THE STAGE. THE CLEAN-UP.
BARRIE wipes the sweat from his forehead. He’s cooked.
The brothers start moving the guitars and keyboards. DR
KRIS steps down from the drums. BARRIE is unbuttoning the
silver vest, takes if off. We see the patches on his
scars - five of them, from his operation. He’s holding
himself, protective, below his stomach. She eases the
jacket off him. Then this smile, beyond anything from the
mirror ball. Him to her. Jolts her.
DR KRIS
A band is family. Someone really smart
groovy guy taught me that.
BARRIE walks towards two empty front seats. On them,
taped across, on an old A-4 sheet of paper, the words
“RESERVED”. He takes the paper with him, returns to her.
Picks up his acoustic guitar.
DR KRIS (CONT'D)
Your some lucky fella. All this family
around you.
 61.

BARRIE looks across, to the right of stage, near the

curtains. Standing with the help of a walking stick. GARY
STEVENS. BARRIE bows his head. This was unexpected. Looks
at GARY, straight down the gun barrel. Eyes never leave
him. He starts strumming his guitar, singing in his voice
husky, truly gone. He’s shot. But if this is his weakest,
it’s his strongest moment. DR KRIS sits by his side. They
both turn to GARY.
BARRIE (SINGING TO LOVE
SOMEBODY)
There’s a light. A certain kind of light.
That never shone on me. I want my life to
be lived with you. Lived with you.
There’s a way everybody say. To do each
and every little thing. But what does it
bring? If I ain’t got you, ain’t got?
GARY’S eyes never leave them. He’s holding an envelope,
stacked with money. His right hand a little shaky.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
You don’t known what it’s like, baby. You
don’t know what it’s like. To love
somebody. To love somebody. The way I
love you.

GARY walks towards him, a hobble. His recovery, so much

slower. They both hobble. BARRIE sees the bandage around
his neck, reaches out for him. They embrace. GARY stands
back, hands him the night’s takings. BARRIE holds that
large pay cheque. He licks the envelope, to seal it. A
wicked smile, both for GARY and DR KRIS. Then he puts the
envelope back in GARY’S pocket.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
Other guy.

Spotlight to the back of stage. NIC the reporter arrives

to greet ROBBIE and MAURIE. They are sharing beers with
DR KRIS.
Spotlight to BARRIE and GARY.

BARRIE (CONT'D)
She’s still hunting for a story.

GARY
She’s got a good one. Two Kiwi boys make
the auditions of Australian Idol.

BARRIE
Well. I wonder who sent them the audition
tape.
 62.

GARY a bit embarrassed, bows his head. DR KRIS leaves the

boys with NIC. Takes a few steps towards BARRIE and GARY.
Stops on seeing them deep in conversation.
GARY
Mate, do you want a beer? I can’t but I
thought you might.
BARRIE
Nah, got a early start. Got to be up at
6am.
GARY
You’re telling me 6am? You’ve never been
up at dawn.
BARRIE
I have, partying. Just can’t remember
seeing a sunrise.
BARRIE turns, catches DR KRIS, their eyes meet. Smiles
flash stronger than a mirror ball. GARY seeing them both
connect. BARRIE’S still looking at her. Takes a big, deep
breath.
BARRIE (CONT'D)
Say it’s the best time, early morning. To
go surfing.

THE END