by Rolf De Heer
Anything to drink... Father?
The wovd ^FuthcT^ is hcuvily luced with sutcustyi.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pizza.
The waitress looks at hirriy looks around at the paucity of patronage and shrugs.
WAITRESS: Got any money?
BUBBY: [as Pop] Money... [He slams the ten dollar note onto the table.] That’s all there is.
WAITRESS: So you just want pizza.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pizza.
WAITRESS: Well, what sort of pizza?
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pizza!
WAITRESS: All right! No trouble, okay?
BUBBY: [as Bubhy] Pop no trouble be.
WAITRESS: All right Pop. Keep the money.
SCENE 107 EXT. LANEWAY - NIGHT
Bubhy is wandering slowly down a deserted laneway. Residents have left piles of unwanted junk out to be picked up. Bubhy inspects various items on his way. Then he spots an old suitcase^ similar to the one Pop had. He chuckles and picks it up.
SCENE 108 EXT. BUBBY’S SLEEPOUT - NIGHT
Near the water in a derelict dockyard area of the city, Bubhy has found an old mattress lying against a shed in amongst all manner of other dumped household garbage... tins, bits of plastic, paper, bottles.
He kicks away some of the rubbish, has to bend down to untangle a piece of clingwrap from his foot. He gets down and sits on the
mattress, chuckling.
A faint miaow has him suddenly alert. He sees a friendly looking young cat (Cat) padding towards him. Bubhy hisses at Cat, spits at her, but Cat ignores him and comes right onto the mattress. Cat
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rubs herself up against him and tries to cuddle down on Euhhy's lap.
Buhhy is confused hy this behaviour. He touches Cat, carefully at first, then more confidently, stroking Cat's soft fur. Cat begins to purr.
BUBBY: [whisper] Cat!... Good cat... good cat.
Buhhy begins to hum the hymn to Cat.
SCENE 109 EXT. BOBBY’S SLEEPOUT - SUNSET
Buhhy is standing, suitcase in hand, looking at Cat sitting on the mattress.
BUBBY: [severe, as Mom] Don’t move ya little cunt, I’ll beat you brainless by Christ...
He trails off. The cat hasn't moved. Buhhy rethinks his strategy.
BUBBY: [gentle] Good cat... don’t go cat, stay... Bubby get pizza for cat... pizza... don’t go... stay... good cat... stay... don’t go... pizza... Bubby get pizza...
And Buhhy slowly hacks off, entreating the cat to stay there. As soon as he's round the corner and out of sight, Buhhy turns and runs.
SCENE I 10 EXT. PIZZA JOINT - DUSK
There is a sign on the door of the pizza joint, 'CLOSED SUNDA V. Buhhy is trying the door to no avail.
SCENE I I I EXT. STREET/PUB - NIGHT
Buhhy is walking past a pub from which a low thumping sound emanates. A derelict old drunk accosts him.
DRUNK: Can you spare a buck mate.^
Buhhy looks at the drunk. The drunk puts his arms round Buhhy's shoulder.
DRUNK: Fifty cents then.^
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Buhby looks at him curiously.
DRUNK: All right then, twenty?
No reaction from Bubhy.
DRUNK: Have you got any money at all?
Bubhy pulls out the ten dollar note triumphantly.
BUBBY: [as Pop] That’s all there is!
The drunk takes the money from Bubhy's hand.
DRUNK: That all? Oh.
The drunk stagers into the puh, pulling Bubhy with him.
SCENE I 12 INT. PUB FRONT BAR - NIGHT
As they enter the front barj it becomes clear to Bubhy that the low thumping noise is a live band. He recognises the music.
DRUNK: Let me buy youse a drink.
BUBBY: Paul! That be Paul!
He starts to pull away from the drunk, who tries to hold onto him. Bubhy pulls himself free. The drunk waves the ten dollar note at him.
DRUNK: (05) Ungrateful bastard!
Bubhy clambers over the bar into the back bar.
SCENE I 13 INT. PUB BACK BAR - NIGHT
The back bar is a large, cavernous smoky space, lots of tables and chairs, about half full of people divided equally between those standing around drinking and those listening to the music. Not a bad crowd. Bubhy walks in. He sees Paul, Steve, Greg and Greg on stage belting out a number, working hard to maintain interest.
Bubhy makes his way to the front. He walks up the steps and joins the others on stage. Some of the crowd clap, thinking it is part of the show... a reasonable assumption considering Bubby's appearance, suit six inches too short, clerical collar, rough haircut, small
suitcase.
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The band takes Bubhy's appearance in their stride^ noting the audience's generally positive reaction to his antics. They continue as Steve shoves a microphone at Bubby. Bubby^ now armed with the microphoney finds a whole new world opening up to him. He experiments with the sounds he's heard and can make...
BUBBY: Uh... uh... miaow, miaow... Get him! Get him! Get him! Jesus Ghrist, get that fucking thing out of here you mad bastard... Get off the fucking road ya greenie bastard! Look at the silly bastard would you, you poofter bastard!
The audiencey becoming more interestedy laughs. The band plays ony having gone into an improvised instrumental break to accommodate Bubby's vocalisations.
Hey Son, you can call me Pop. I’m yer Pop.
A member of the audience yells out.
DRINKER: Hey Pop!
BUBBY: [as Pop^ Hello Son.
AUDIENCE: Hello Pop! Pop! Pop!
BUBBY: [as Pop] Yeah yeah, that’ll do, don’t go making a big thing of it.
The audience laughs.
What’s the matter with you Son.^ Ya got a bit of a mental condition or something?
More laughter. It's funny to themy but Bubby is quite serious... he's reliving his pasty and it shows. The band plays ony inspired by the fact that they're getting audience reaction.
Fucking kid’s trying to be me again.
Bubby's eyes are closed. He's swaying to the music.
Shut the fuck up kid!
Bubby has a real sense of the music noWy coming in with words at musically appropriate times. He mimics the sound of blows to his head from Mom's spoony flinching and holding an arm out to protect himself from the imaginary blows.
You useless cunt, why don’t you piss off!
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Bubby whispers into the microphone. The effect is quite dramatic.
as Buhhy] Leave Bubby alone... leave Bubby alone...
He reverts to his Pop persona.
[as Pop] Hahahaha! Fucking useless shit should have been left to die!!
This is delivered with so much venom that Paul senses this may he becoming too much for Buhhy. He signals a change from the others in the hand. On the change the audience claps, and Paul begins singing the remainder of the song. Buhhy stands transfixed. The song finishes. The audience responds enthusiastically and Buhhy snaps out of it.
SCENE 1 14 INT. PUB BACK BAR - NIGHT
The house lights are on, the audience has left. It s a jovial little gathering thaPs left, with Buhhy and the hand eating pizza from a takeaway box and drinking heer. Mark is behind one of the speaker boxes groping a girl.
Buhhy puts some pizza into his suitcase.
BIG GREG; Stocking up there Bubby?
BUBBY: [as Pop'] Not Bubby. Me Pop now.
STEVE: What’s the pizza for, Pop?
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pizza for Cat.
They all laugh.
MIDDLE GREG: You still got that bloody cat? Don’t worry about it Bubby, we’ll get you more pizza tomorrow.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pop get pizza for Cat now.
He closes his suitcase and gets up to leave.
PAUL: Hey you can’t go anywhere. We need you tomorrow night, you’re part of the band now.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Cat hungry.
And Buhhy starts to
leave. Steve gets up after him and tries to reason with him.
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STEVE: Wait a minute Bubby. Look Pop, just wait. Tonight, you were good. They loved you out there. You loved it out there. We want you to do it every night... tomorrow night and the next. Okay.^ It’s a regular gig here, stay with us, we’ll look after you.
LITTLE GREG: Sure.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pop give pizza to Cat.
Pau/ has joined them.
PAUL: We’ll take you, wherever the bloody cat is.
BUBBY: [as Pop] No! No. Pop go to Cat, Pop sleep with Cat.
And he goes to leave again.
PAUL: C’mon, we can’t just let him go, we’ll never see him again. MIDDLE GREG: We can’t force him to stay.
PAUL: Bubby please.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Bubby been left to die. Me Pop now!
SCENE I 15 EXT. PUB - NIGHT
The hand are seeing Bubby off into the street. Bubby carries his suitcase in one hand and an envelope in the other hand.
BIG GREG: Don’t lose it!
STEVE: Remember, when it gets dark give the note to someone, they’ll bring you back here, we’ll pay.
A dishevelled Mark comes out.
MARK: What’s going on.^
LITTLE GREG: Go back to your woman.
PAUL: I hope he makes it back. Be a dull gig tomorrow if he doesn’t. STEVE: See you!
Bubby walks off.
SCENE I 16 EXT. BUBBY’S SLEEPOUT - NIGHT
As Bubby nears the place where he slept the previous night, he hears a yowling followed by voices. Bubby stops and listens.
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YOUTH# 1: [os] It fucking bit me!
YOUTH#2: [os] Hey kill the fucking thing!
YOUTH#3: [os] Break its fucking neck.
There is another yowl, followed by a sharp crack.
YOUTH# 1: [os] Got it. Fucking cat made me bleed.
Bubby, hearing the word 'cat calls out and heads on.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Leave Cat alone!
Rounding the comer Bubby sees three kids of about fifteen running off He goes to his mattress and puts his suitcase down. He looks around until he sees Cat lying in the rubbish.
Cat... Pop got pizza!
Bubby goes to Cat and strokes it.
Come on Cat, pizza.
Cat doesn*t move. Bubby picks it up. Its head flops crazily down. Bubby looks at it for a long, long time.
[whispers, as Bubby] Don’t be still Cat...
Bubby continues to stroke dead Cat. A tear forms in his eye.
SCENE I 17 EXT. ROADSIDE BENCH - DAY
<
Bubby is sitting on a bench by the footpath of a street. He has his suitcase open next to him and is eating a slice of cold pizza while stroking dead Cat on his lap.
A strange little procession makes its way down the footpath towards Bubby. Angel, in a nurse^s uniform, is out walking with two young people with cerebral palsy in motorised wheelchairs. One is a woman of about twenty (Rachael), the other a young man (Pandy).
Bubby is stunned by the sudden appearance of Angel. He stares open-mouthed at her approach while continuing to stroke the cat automatically. The man in the wheelchair draws level with Bubby, stops and looks at him whilst waiting for the others to catch up.
Pandy throws his head back and sticks his tongue out as he speaks.
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PANDY: Uuu-er-uu-u-ah!
Buhhy looks at him curiously then mimicSy complete with tongue and head thrown back.
BUBBY: Uuu-er-uu-u-ah!
By now A ngel and Rachael have arrived at the bench.
RACHAEL: Uuu-eh-i-e-ur...
Buhhy turns to Angel.
BUBBY: She say Cat be dead.
Buhhy holds the stiff cat out to Angel.
Is Cat dead?
Angel starts to take ity then immediately hands it hack to Buhhy. ANGEL: Yes, your cat is dead.
RACHAEL: Oahh-ehhh...
Buhhy nods.
BUBBY: Oahh-ehhh...
Buhhy shrugs an 7 don*t know Angel is hy now looking from one to the othery not quite believing what she's hearing. She looks closely at Buhhy. Buhhy smiles happily at her. Rachael notices the look.
RACHAEL: Uu-al-i-aihhhh...
BUBBY: Oh.
ANGEL: What did she say?
BUBBY: She say you name be Angel.
There is a sharp intake of breath from Angel as it hits home to her. ANGEL: Oh my God... you understand what she said.
SCENE I 18 INT. HANDICAPPED HOUSE - DAY
Buhhy is sitting in the common room of the sort of handicapped halfway house where Angel has brought him. He is holding Rachael's hand. He is surrounded hy four other occupants with cerebral palsyy plus Angel and a womany Marylay who is the chief carer.
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Buhhy is quite happy here as Angel and Mary la question him. Through the scene there is spontaneous interaction between Buhhy and those in the wheelchairs, Rachael in particular is watching him intently. Buhhy*s main interest though, is in Angel.
M ARYL A: You must have more names than just Pop.
BUBBY: [as Pop'] Pop. Me be Pop. You can call me Pop.
ANGEL: Pop, we just want to find out where you come from... where do you live?
Buhhy thinks. He can^t find an answer.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pop don’t know. Bubby don’t know.
CARER: [to Angel] Do you think he might be schizo?
ANGEL: I don’t think he’s anything... he’s just a... kid.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Bubby a big weird kid. Christ kid, you’re a weirdo. Pop not a kid.
Angel looks strangely at Buhhy when he says this. She is reminded of a certain incident at the Cafe Flamenco.
ANGEL: If we take him anywhere, they’re going to lock him up, and I feel he shouldn’t be locked up.
RACHAEL: Uh-u-ah.
MARYLA: What is it Rachael?
<
BUBBY: She think me should stay.
ANGEL: Is that what you think Rachael?
Rachael acknowledges that she did.
MARYLA: What about the others? What do you think? Do you want Pop to stay?
The others enthusiastically embrace the idea.
SCENE I 19 INT. SHOWER ROOM - DAY
Angel leads a naked Buhhy into a shower cubicle. She turns on the shower, feels the temperature of the water. She coaxes Buhhy into the shower. He stands there miserably, the water running off his head over his face. She reaches in for the soap and starts to wash Buhhy.
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ANGEL: Boy, I bet you’ve got some stories to tell. Like who’s Bubby, for instance. You’re Bubby, aren’t you.^
BUBBY: [as Pop] Bubby been left to die. Me Pop now.
ANGEL: Oh.
Angel looks up at Bubby.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Pop want to see Angel’s tits.
A ngel goes back to washing Bubby.
ANGEL: No... but I’ll show Bubby.
Bubby considers this.
BUBBY: [as Pop] Bubby want to see Angel’s tits.
ANGEL: No, I don’t hear Bubby.
There is a long silence as Angel continues to wash Bubby.
BUBBY: [as Bubby] Bubby no fit no more out here.
Angel stands and looks at Bubby. Bubby looks back at her.
Me Bubby.
The very look on his face is different. Angel unzips her uniform down to the waisty slips her large breasts out. She stands straight^ showing Bubby.
Them be beautiful... like Mom.
ANGEL: You don’t think they’re too big.^
BUBBY: Them be perfection.
ANGEL: Okay. That’s enough for now. You go back to being Pop and Bubby’s our secret. Okay?
She zips up the uniform and turns off the shower.
SCENE 120 INT. HANDICAPPED HOUSE - DAY
A newly cleaned up Bubby is joining in on one of Maryla*s touching classes. As the residents are gently held, tou
ched and massaged, Maryla softly speaks. Bubby is with Rachael.
MARYLA: The garden is filled with roses, all different colours, and it smells so beautiful in that garden. It is a very special garden.
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No one knows about this garden. No one is allowed to come in. Only people who love you, only people who care about you and only people you want to let in. There’s a very high picket fence around the garden, hidden in the high grass and no one can see it. Imagine yourself being in that garden, lying on the grass, feeling very comfortable. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining and it’s warm and the wind gently touches your cheeks...
A ngel comes in wearing her street clothes. She comes up to Buhby.
ANGEL: I’m off duty now so I’m going to show you where you’ll be sleeping. Okay?
Rachael tries to talk. Angel looks to Maryla^ who shrugs.
What?
BUBBY: as Pop'] Rachael think Pop stay in her room.
ANGEL: [smiling Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Rachael withdraws a little, from shyness.
Sorry Rachael, but Pop will stay in Pandy’s room. Okay? Rachael looks dark.
SCENE 121 INT. PANDY’S ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON
Buhby and Angel enter the room, which has had a stretcher bed added to it. Buhby *s suitcase is on the stretcher bed.
ANGEL: Here’s your bed, and there’s your suitcase and I put your cat in the freezer and we can bury that tomorrow, okay?
Buhby goes to the suitcase, opens it and takes the envelope from the hand and hands it to Angel. Angel reads the note inside.
A band?
SCENE 122 INT. PUB BACK BAR - NIGHT
The hand and Buhby are in full swing on the stage. The crowd is bigger than last time, about three quarters full. Prominent among them is Angel. Buhby is singing/moaning 'in concert with PauPs singing happy to he up there.
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As Buhhy starts to introduce various sound effectsy Paul ends his singing and concentrates on his guitar. Buhhy's body movements start to change, they become more awkward, until soon he is a spastic, head thrown back, singing the song in spastic, staggering around the stage. There is an eerie truth about the performance.
BUBBY: Cat got your tongue? It’s the animal for you...
A ngel is fascinated, the crowd is rapt.
SCENE 123 INT. PUB BACK BAR - NIGHT
After the show. Buhhy is utterly engrossed in a slice of pizza, Mark is groping another girl behind the speaker, while Angel is sitting a little away from Buhhy in earnest conversation with Paul and Steve. Big Greg and Little Greg appear in a doorway near Buhhy.
