VIC: But we did enjoy it. Very much. You should be proud, Mr Baker. This has done the school a lot of good. Brought a lot of happiness.

ROY: Oh, yes, yes. It has been a successful evening.

HARRY: You’re not tired, son?

TOM: Full of beans.

HARRY: You sure?

VIC: Leave him. This is his hour of triumph. [To MEG] You were lovely too.

MEG: Thanks.

VIC: Wasn’t she lovely? You must be proud.

JIM: Yes, we are.

GWEN: Oh, yes.

VIC: Oh, it did us good.

HARRY: What a way to end the year. Marvellous.

ROY: You going away?

HARRY: Oh… we’re going to drive for a bit. See what we find.

ROY: You seen much of this country yet? How long have you been out here?

VIC: Eight years. Not a lot of it, no, not yet.

HARRY: We will, though.

GWEN: You caravanning?

HARRY: Ohhh… no. Not exactly. We’ve got a tent.

JIM: Oh, a tent. Terrific. I miss the old tent sometimes.

GWEN: We’ve got a new caravan. Everything in it you could want.

JIM: If you need a couple of stretchers…

HARRY: It’s a small tent. We just put it up against the car.

GWEN: A lean-to?

HARRY: That’s it.

GWEN: Ohhhhh.

ROY: Well, we’ve got a plane to catch. The Gold Coast.

VIC: Oh, lovely.

GWEN: The Gold Coast… well. You’ll have a lovely time.

ROY: We’ll see you all next year. Last year for you two, eh? A good Christmas, then.

ALL: Goodnight. Safe journey. Cheerio. [etc.]

ROY and CORAL go.

GWEN: She looks awful, poor woman. Her son, you know.

VIC: Yes. We heard.

GWEN: Poor woman.

HARRY: Time we were in bed, I think.

GWEN: Have a lovely time in your… tent.

VIC: We’ll be fine. Won’t we?

TOM: I think I’ll walk home.

HARRY: You got a jumper?

VIC: He’s all right. Don’t be too long. Goodnight.

JIM: [simultaneously] Yes, goodnight.

GWEN: [simultaneously] Have a good trip.

TOM: See you.

MEG: Goodnight, Tom. Thanks for the brooch.

HARRY and VIC and TOM go.

GWEN: What brooch?

MEG: He gave me a brooch.

GWEN: What for?

MEG: I don’t know. He liked being in the play.

GWEN: He’s a bit… no-hopery.

MEG: He’s all right.

GWEN: They both work, don’t they? In a factory, isn’t it? I’m sure that’s what I heard. A lean-to. They shouldn’t be going on a holiday if they can’t afford one.

TOM runs back in. He has heard this.

TOM: I hope you have a rotten holiday. I hope it rains. I hope the dunnies overflow and you all get the runs. I hope you get sunstroke and end up in hospital. I hope all the fish you catch are poisoned. I hope you have a fucken miserable time.

He goes.

GWEN: Where do they live?

MEG: It doesn’t matter