SIMMONDS knees him in the gut. He breathes heavily. His voice is loud and jagged with emotion.

SIMMONDS: What d’you think that proves, Carter? D’you think that’s the test of a man? D’you think that’s the test? Self control is the test of manhood, Carter. Self bloody control. My wife had twenty-seven kidney fits having our son, Carter. Bloody near died. Both of them. I couldn’t go near her for five bloody years after that because she wasn’t allowed to get pregnant again. [Roaring] There’s your manhood for you, Carter. Self bloody control!

There is a pause. Everyone is shocked at SIMMONDS’ odd outburst. FIONA is dumbstruck, but KATE moves towards SIMMONDS to calm him. ROSS and the REMOVALIST take the refrigerator out.

KATE: Twenty-seven kidney fits. That’s terrible.

SIMMONDS: [breathing heavily] Yes. We gave her up at one stage.

KATE: Your… your boy. He was all right?

SIMMONDS: Fit as a fiddle. Training with Preston next year.

KATE: But it… er… meant you couldn’t have any more?

SIMMONDS: We had another one. A daughter. Got five kids of her own now. One a year.

KATE: Your wife went ahead and risked it?

SIMMONDS: The doctors said she shouldn’t, but she came through with flying colours.

KATE: That’s marvellous.

SIMMONDS: Yes. It turned out pretty well in the end, but you never know at the time. Have you got any kiddies yourself?

KATE: Yes. The eldest started third grade this year.

SIMMONDS: What school?

KATE: Grammar.

SIMMONDS: Melbourne?

KATE: Geelong.

SIMMONDS: Fine school. I’d like a penny for every notable that’s been educated there. I wanted my boy to go to a private school but I couldn’t see my way clear on a policeman’s salary.

KATE: Yes. The costs are scandalous these days. It’s not helping our budget, I can tell you.

SIMMONDS: It’s not so bad if your salary’s high. Educational expenses are tax deductible.

KATE: [feigning ignorance] Are they? That probably explains why we’re still solvent.

SIMMONDS looks narrowly at KATE. KENNY breathes heavily on the floor, scared for the first time by SIMMONDS’ violence. ROSS and the REMOVALIST return.

REMOVALIST: Anything else to go?

FIONA: The cot from Sophie’s room.

KENNY: [mildly, to FIONA] What about when she visits me?

SIMMONDS: [hoisting KENNY to his feet and speaking with menace] I don’t think we want to hear your voice any more, Carter, in fact I’m sure of it, in fact if I hear it one more time I’ll split your skull and be damned to Galbally. Get me?!

KENNY, genuinely afraid, doesn’t say a word.

[To ROSS] Get the cot.

FIONA: No, actually it can stay here. Kate’s going to give me her old cot. I’d forgotten.

KATE: Yes. I’m hoping I won’t need it any more.

SIMMONDS: [flatly] Please yourself.

FIONA: [to the men] Perhaps if you could take the double bed from our bedroom.

ROSS and the REMOVALIST move offstage.

KATE: [to FIONA] Well, that… er… taxi should be here any minute. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you shift in.