* EARLY MORNING BIRDS SING EARLY MORNING BIRDS SING My name is Dale Kerrigan and this is my story. Our family lives at 3 Highview Crescent, Coolaroo. Dad bought this place 15 years ago for a steal. As the real estate agent said, "Location, location, location!" And we're right next-door to the airport! It'll be very convenient if we ever have to fly one day. PLANE ROARS Dad still can't work out how he got it so cheap. It's worth almost as much today as when we bought it. Our crescent was going to be a major housing development, but it never got up. They reckon the planes put people off. Them and the powerlines. Not Dad. He reckons powerlines are a reminder of man's ability to generate electricity. He's always saying great things like that. That's why we love him so much. Dad is the backbone of the Kerrigan family. He made our billiard table. Shot, Dale. In fact, he's built half this house. He's always planning extensions. I reckon we need a patio. Oh, darl! How about we finish the back room first? Nup. I'm waiting on some cheap cladding. I reckon we give the patio another go. Dad is a tow truck driver. One of the best in the game. He takes great pride in his work. And he comes home with so many stories. The car was wrapped around the pole. So I said, "Hook the chain on the back axle." See, no one had thought of it. If Dad is the backbone, Mum is the other bones - all of them. She keeps the family together. Dad adores Mum and Mum adores him. They met at the greyhounds. It was love at first sight. Mum just loves craft. And she can pretty up just about anything. How'd you do that? Spray can and stencil, darl - that's all you need. You could sell that. Dad always reckons Mum could open a shop. But she has a good part-time job at the Sunbeam office. Dad reckons Mum's the greatest cook. What do you call that, darl? Sponge cake. Beautiful! And what's that stuff on top? Icing sugar. How is it, kids? Why would you go to a restaurant when this keeps coming up night after night? I have two brothers and a sister, all older than me. Steve is an apprentice mechanic but he spends most of his time reading the 'Trading Post'. Dad. He just loves buying and trading. Ergonomic chairs, four of 'em. What's he want? $180. He's dreamin'. Him and Dad really know bargains. Steve's also an ideas man. That's why Dad calls him the 'ideas man' - he has lots of ideas. It's a motorcycle helmet with a built-in brake light. YOU are an ideas man, Steve. Dad thinks all of us are tremendous, but it's no secret that Tracey is his favourite. How do I look, Dad? Dad just loves her! You look...beautiful! (SIGHS) Thanks, Dad! Tracey is the only girl in the family, apart from Mum and Gran. Tracey constantly gave Dad proud moments. Once she was on 'The Price is Right'. (People shout encouragement) It was such an exciting afternoon for us. Swap them around. We couldn't believe it was Tracey up there with Larry Emdur. $45,000 worth of prizes. The luggage needs to be more than $640 and less than $740. She almost won the lot. Go! BUZZER DRONES Ohhh! AUDIENCE: Ohhhh! If only she'd known the price of the luggage. I'm so sorry about that. But she still came home with a tumble-drier and drill set. She's the only member of the Kerrigan family who'd had a tertiary education. Dad reckons the day Trace told him she'd been accepted into Sunshine TAFE Hairdressing was about the proudest day of his life. I knew he thought about that. A lot. There were only two places he did his thinkin' - in the poolroom, and out the back, looking up at the powerlines. Yep, Dad's a real thinker. But the proudest day was the day she got married - to this nice guy called Con. He's an accountant, but also a fanatical kickboxer. Now Trace has taken up kickboxing too. Dad couldn't get the smile off his face and his speech brought the house down. As the bride's parents, I don't mind paying for the wedding, but please stop bustin' all them plates! That being a Greek custom and all. I suppose as a father, you'd like your daughter to marry one of your own. Let's not beat around the bush - the Greeks have a reputation. At first, the Petropoulouses thought he was having a go at them, but Dad was saying how much he thought of Con. I never thought anyone could love our Trace as much as me, Sal and the boys. But there is another person - Con. Smart, polite, fit as a fiddle. And anyone who loves our Trace as much as us, deserves our love. So, we love you, Con. We love ya. Thank you and, uh... ..kaleespera. That's 'good evening'. APPLAUSE We'd had many top nights, but this was the most top. Pity my oldest brother couldn't be there. His name's Wayne. He's in jail. Eight years for armed robbery. Many people would call him the black sheep of the family. Not Mum and Dad. He was with the wrong crowd. He didn't mean to rob the petrol station. Now he's sorry. With good behaviour, he'll be out in two years. I visit him every Friday. How's Mum? Good. How's Dad? Good. How's Trace? Good. How are you? Good. How's Steve? He's all right. Good. Even though he's the oldest and I'm the youngest, we get on great! We can just chat for hours. Thanks for coming, Dale. You want some chewie? Nuh. So, as you can see, our family is very close-knit. We also have pets - four greyhounds. Banshee... ..Starflash... ..Trailblazer... ..and Coco. Coco is the best, most successful Dad has ever had. She picked up two Firsts in the country and a Third in town. Dad feeds them every morning in big bowls that Steve made from tractor hub caps. They are good dogs, good to Dad, and Dad's good to them. All of them are descended from his first dog - Red Rocket. Dad never stops marvelling at the beauty of the greyhound. In fact, he doesn't even race them for the money. He reckons they are noble animals, skinny and sleek and have a beautiful snout. Another thing Dad loves is his boat - 'Sealady'. He cleans it every Saturday with something else Steve built - it's a brush with a hose in it. Dad never stops marvelling at Steve's ideas. He's an ideas man - Steve. Steve gave it to Dad for Father's Day. That's something our family prides itself on - presents. Even though none of us have much money, we love givin' each other presents. Ohhh! Trace gave him a rod and reel. A rod and reel! I gave him a new muzzle. A muzzle! Wayne sent him an ashtray he'd made in prison shop. An ashtray! But I don't smoke. And Mum...well, Mum got him a big German beer mug from Franklin Mint. Dad couldn't believe his eyes! It was too good to drink beer out of. I'd like to do pottery. You should. You'd be good at it. THIS is going straight to the poolroom. All Dad's most prized possessions are in the poolroom - all his mementoes and things that remind him of something special. So, by him saying it was "going straight to the poolroom" meant he thought it was SPECIAL. That is a collector's item. This has been the best Father's Day ever. Of course, there were ups and downs. Wayne being in jail was a down. But, all in all, 3 Highview Crescent was a happy home. Dad called it his castle. But one day in June... ..a knock at the door changed all that. Yeah? Mr Darryl Kerrigan? Yeah. John Clifton. I'm from the local council. Is this about the dogs? No. The aerial? No. The extensions? No. If it's about my truck on the nature strip... No! I'm a VALUER with the local council. I'm here to do a land valuation. What for? All properties get valued from time to time. Oh, yeah? So, you'd give me a value on this place? That's my job. That'd be good. Do you want me to show you around? If you wouldn't mind. Oh, not at all. Be pleased to. Because, between you and me, I reckon values around here are... (WHISTLES) As you can see, I've put a fair bit of work into it. Shall I point out the features? If you wouldn't mind. See that lace up there? Yeah. Fake. Plastic. Gives the place a Victoriana feel. The chimney? Fake too. Why is it there? Charm. Adds a bit of charm. Look at the size of that aerial. That's a big aerial. What do you think? Adds value? Hard to say. Yeah. You can over-capitalise, can't ya? That's a huge aerial. And this...is my backyard. PLANE DRONES Airbus - Brisbane via Sydney. How close is the end of the runway? Oh, just over the fence. Is that the runway THERE? Yeah! THERE? Yeah. Beautiful machines. Sometimes, you think they're gonna land right on top of ya. Freaks the dogs though. Greyhounds. Large kennel. Originally, it was a cubbyhouse when the kids were little. I wanted to turn it into a granny flat. But the council said no. Oh. Now, here back, all landfill. Not allowed to build there. Has the soil been tested? Oh, yeah. Nothin' too serious in there. What do you know about lead? NIGHT INSECTS SING Oh! This is beautiful, darl! What do you call these things again? Rissoles. Everybody cooks rissoles, darl. Yeah, but it's what you do with them. Mum reckons you shouldn't use mincemeat. She gets topside and crushes it. Well, it shows. She'll crush silverside too. Dad. Guy's selling a pair of jousting sticks. Joustin' sticks? What's he want for 'em? "Make us an offer." What do you want with jousting sticks? I dunno. But they wouldn't come up all that often. But what would anyone want with jousting sticks? Well, if you get 'em for half-price, it's a bargain! Give him a call? Yeah. I'll be interested to see this fella's valuation. You thinkin' of selling, Dad? No, mate. But it'd be nice to know what we're sittin' on here. Clay. No, mate. The value of the house. You know...it's odd because Farouk reckoned he had some bloke around as well. Must have been doin' the whole street. Maybe the market's on the move. Here?! STEVE: Dad! $450. For joustin' sticks? Tell him he's dreamin'! How much is a jousting stick worth, Dad? Oh, couldn't be more than $250... depending on the condition. When do we find out? Well, we should have the official notice in two weeks. And just quietly...I reckon we could be in for a little surprise. "Compulsorily acquired"? "Compulsorily acquired." You know what this means, don't you? They're acquiring it compulsorily! It must be a mistake. They're gonna take our place - we don't get a say in it. How can they do that? I dunno. 70,000 bucks. Who the hell is Airlink? Dad, guy's selling seven eskys. Hang on, Steve. What's up? Is this about Wayne? No, no. Look... What do you make of that? Jesus! This is a kick-out notice. Mmm. KNOCK AT DOOR No, I'll get it. I'll get it. Oh, g'day, Farouk. Hello, Mr Kerrigan. Can you read me something, please? Yeah, sure, mate. But I'm busy at the moment. Can I come... Shit. You've got one too. Got what? What the hell is going on? Jesus Christ. (MURMURS) Jack! PLANE ROARS (KNOCKS ON DOOR) Jack! It's Darryl, mate! (SIGHS) Someone's gonna take me house, Darryl. Mr Kerrigan? Yeah. Yeah. Mr Kerrigan...Darryl... this is a compulsory acquisition. Yeah. Mr Kerrigan, the airport is expanding. They're setting up one of the largest freight-handling facilities in the southern hemisphere, and they need a great deal of space. Yeah. And your house...is on that space. Yeah. Yeah, my house. That's right. Your house. That's why you'll be duly compensated. No, no. You've missed the point. I'm not interested in compensation. I don't wanna go. (SIGHS) Under the laws of compulsory acquisition... AND I don't necessarily agree with those laws. I can understand the pain and trouble... Would you stop pretending to be on my side? All right, Mr Kerrigan, I'll state this simply. There is an ironclad agreement between Federal, State and local Governments and the Airports Commission. Yeah? Well, where's the agreement with Darryl Kerrigan, 3 Highview Crescent, Coolaroo? Where's that agreement? It's not gonna happen. SAD PIANO MUSIC SONG: # This thing needs some working on # You just can't push it through # Put a little mind on the matter # I'm counting on you CHORUS: # Take your time # Mama gets sore at the child who # Just wants to eat and then run # She says, Baby, what's your hurry # To get this over and done? # Take your time # Take your time # Take your time # Show me you love me. # I don't know, Darryl. This isn't my area. What do you mean? This is LAW. Darryl, the airport wants to buy your place. Mmm. Airports come under Federal law. Federal. I just do small stuff - conveyancing, magistrates. You defended Wayne. Yeah - and he got eight years! But you did your best! You can hold your head up high. HE held up the... I don't know anything about this stuff. But they can't do this! I dunno - maybe they can. They can't! Well... I'll ring around, see what I can find out. Good on ya, Dennis. Hey. How is Wayne? Good... Yeah, good. Behaving himself. Any word? No, no. They reckon he's still a couple of years off. I'll let you know. DALE: But Dad was never one to bring worries home. Even in the down times, he'd tell us funny stories about his day. It's a head-on between a mini and a Volks! Dad also had a way of making everyone feel important. Come on, Dale. Tell 'em! Go on, tell 'em! Dale dug a hole. Like when I dug a hole. Started the patio. Good on ya, Dale! And he'd compliment Mum every night on her cooking. Hello-hello-hello! How's this, boys? Whoo-hoo! What do you call this? Chicken! But it's got something sprinkled on it. Seasoning. Seasoning! Looks like everybody's kicked a goal! How are our backs feelin'? Mmm? Steve did get them ergonometric chairs. And Mum had already started prettying hers up. Dad placed a great deal of importance on mealtime. He had a very strict rule - when the family starts to eat, the television is definitely turned down! But as soon as we finish eating, it's a different story. That was GREAT! Dad? It's 7.30. All right! Time for some fun! Dad reckons only one show's better than 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' - and that's 'The Best of Hey Hey It's Saturday'. It made Dad laugh. And when Dad laughed, his whole body joined in. And then we would too. Oh... Oh, gong him, Red! It was funny how on the fun nights part of me got sad 'cause I'd think about Wayne in prison and wonder what he was doing. Wayne reckoned he was doing fine, but I'd get the feeling he was missing us more than he was letting on. It'll be great when he comes home. Some say at this age life turns grey. Ahhh. La vie en Rosy. Golden Age Rosy Day Cream by L'Oreal Paris, with peony polyphenols in a rosy cream texture. Flower power. It stimulates skin and reactivates a natural glow. Get your glow back. Some say I should act my age. I am! I'm age perfect. Because we're worth it. And to correct dark circles, discover new Age Perfect Golden Age Rosy Eye Cream. * PLANE ROARS DARRYL: You're a ripper, Dennis! I said, you're a bloody RIPPER! Yeah, OK. That's it, Sal. All fixed. What did he say? He said...I have recourse to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. I just rock up there, put my case, and they can get stuffed. Good on you, darl! Yeah. He still hasn't noticed, Mum. What? (IN AWE) Oh, it's finished. (PROUDLY) Today. How is that? You should open a shop. STEVE: Dad! Some guy's selling an overhead projector. Nuh. Hang on, Steve. What's he askin'? $150. Tell him he's dreamin'! Yeah. What else did Dennis have to say? Nothin'. It's fixed. Yeah, but when's the hearing? Monday. I know exactly what I'm gonna say. Don't rabbit on, darl. I don't rabbit on. When do I rabbit on? You do rabbit on. All right. All right. But I'll tell you what we're gonna do. Friday, we're gonna pick up Trace and Con and then we're going straight up to Bonnie Doon for the weekend. And we're not worrying about those clowns for another second. DALE: Mum! 'The Price is Right' is on! Oh, righto. Maybe I'll ring up Farouk and Jack and Evonne... ..and the others and tell them what's going on. DALE: Trace and Con had a great honeymoon in Thailand. We met 'em as they came off the plane with a trolley, which was lucky, 'cause they had heaps of stuff. We couldn't wait to hear stories about the trip. And we didn't have to wait long - something good about living next to the airport is it doesn't take long to walk home. They had these masks you put over your eyes when you're sleeping so you can't see anything. They were complimentary. Yeah, for free. It was the first time anyone in our family had travelled further than Alice Springs. We sat glued, listening to the details. Really? We had a choice between fish and beef wellington. Beef Wellington?! What's that, darl? It's beef done in pastry. And it was an absolute credit to the airline. Did they show a film? Two. And they also had... What were they? Er...we saw 'Twister'. And they had... Was it a screen or a telly? Er, telly. They had easy listening, classic gold, contemporary rock... What was the other one? The other film. Er...'Juman...' 'Jumanji'. 'Jumanji', yeah. And with the headphones... Which one was first? 'Twister'. ..you could turn the sound... How many... Dale! Ask later. Sorry, Trace. It was so dry in the plane, your hair dehydrates, doesn't it, Con? Yeah, it loses its moisture. So interesting. We could've listened for hours. But then it was presents time. For you, Dad. It's a samurai sword letter-opener. Ohhh! That is handcrafted. Oh, how's that, love? That is just... This is going straight to the poolroom. You should use it, Dad. It's not coming out of the wrapper. They bought Mum a genuine Rolex for 15 bucks off a guy at the beach. He said he'd mail the warranty later. I got a necklace with a shark tooth. Steve got a Walkman. 'Cause it was Friday, I told Trace I'd take Wayne his present. It was an elephant. Elephants bring good luck, especially if the trunk's up, and this trunk was up. It really made Wayne's day. She's great, isn't she - Trace? Yeah. It brings good luck. She's coming on Monday. Oh, great! When's Dad going to that hearing? On Monday. Yeah? Yeah. He reckons they can't do it. Dad would know. Going to Bonnie Doon tonight? Yeah. Maybe. I dunno. I didn't want to tell Wayne we were going to Bonnie Doon, in case he'd feel bad. He liked it there. We all liked it there. (SINGS) # We're going to Bonnie Doon... # We all left soon after, except for Trace and Con. As you could imagine, they were just married and wanted time alone. So they drove up in their own car. Dad had a song he'd sing about Bonnie Doon, only he sang it a lot and it was repetitive. (SHARPLY) Darl... SILENCE BEEPING Dad, radar. BEEPING CONTINUES CAR ENGINE SLOWS BEEPING STOPS How much did that cost? 70 bucks. Just paid for itself. Dale, why don't you unload the boat? Steve, don't forget the dog food. Got it. Here, boy! Hey! Bloody marvellous to be up here, isn't it, Dale? Yeah. Bonnie Doon. Dad loved Bonnie Doon. How do I describe it? It's a little town on a big lake. It's a beautiful place, especially this time of year when the water levels are down. Dad could not believe his luck when he found this place. It was a bargain. He couldn't work out why. It was a block of land with a beautiful view. It took him five years to build this place. He bought a kit home from the 'Trading Post', built it, and towed it here with his truck. He was the only bloke he knew with a holiday home. He reckoned we were the luckiest family in the world. Dale, I reckon we're the luckiest family in the world. He loved the serenity of the place. How's the serenity? I think he also just loved the word. So much serenity. Let's get to bed. Tomorrow is gonna be a great day. Yeah. If there's one thing Dad loved more than serenity, it was a two-stroke engine on full throttle. BOAT ENGINE ROARS UPBEAT GUITAR MUSIC Listen to that! Singing like a bird! He just loved Bonnie Doon. He reckoned the faster you went, the more you saw. Look at that! What? Back there. But eventually, he'd find a place he reckoned looked like a good spot. I reckon this looks like a good spot. Dad loved fishing and he really looked after his equipment. He said they only ever made one good rod, called the 'Ugly Stick' by Shakespeare. It's so strong, you can bend it right around on itself. Look at that. Bends right around on itself. You see that? The lake had trout, redfin and carp. Carp wasn't a good eating fish but it was good catching. They grew quite big. Generally they just hooked themselves but occasionally they were crafty, just nibbling at the bait. Got a nibble. Dad reckoned fishing was 10% brains and 95% muscle, and the rest was just good luck. We all got a few carp that day, and we knew how to muscle fish. Where's Con? Down the shops. You and Con talked about kids yet? Yeah - Con wants to start straightaway, but... ..you know, I've got a career. Of course. I'm not having kids until I'm at least 23. Times have changed. COOL, SURFING-TYPE MUSIC Gail had a boy. Was he a whopper? Mmm, 10lb. They'll be a big, beefy family. Tyler Jay. Even the birth notice was big - stork and everything. Shannon was 9lb. Mmm. What did you make? Knitted a pair of bootees. You always need bootees. You should make fake flowers. Yeah? Jenny makes fake flowers. Jenny? Yeah. Jenny Jenny? No, microwave Jenny. She reckons the trick is to make them just real enough to know they're fake. I'd like to do pottery. On a wheel? Yeah. I just love mugs. I'd like to make my own mugs. Mum... Yeah? What's the matter? Nothing. You worried about the house? No. Dad said everything's gonna be OK. Of course it is. We ended up with four carp and one redfin - reasonable fishing considering we had to get back earlier when Coco got seasick. Steve wasn't looking all that flash either. Keep it still, Trace. Disciplined, isn't he, Sal? Here are you and I relaxing, having a beer, and he's still training. He just loves that sport. You've gotta have a passion. Yeah. MOTORBIKE APPROACHES How's the serenity? MOTORBIKE PULLS UP Dad! Where do you want me to put the chicken coop? Up the back, Steve. 45 bucks. You couldn't buy the materials for that. What do you want with a chicken coop? And what do we want with a kit home? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. (CHUCKLES) Now kiss me, you big hunk of a man. SONG: # Baby, now that I've found you # I won't let you go # I'll build my world around you # I need you so # Baby, even though # You don't need me no more # Baby, now that I've found you # I won't let you go # I'll build my world around you # I need you so # Baby, even though # You don't need me # You don't need me no more... # Marvellous, ain't it? The lake, the kids... Oh, look at the dogs! Don't they love it? (SNIFFS DEEPLY) Oh, smell that! Two-stroke. Yep. Pity Wayne can't be here. Darl... No, I could've done better. Well! Let's start cooking this feast. Who ordered medium rare? STEVE: Me. Good stuff. Check that, Steve. It could be a little underdone. I bet Thailand doesn't have places like this, Con. No, Mr Kerrigan. Hey, hey, hey! DARRYL now, mate. Sorry, Darryl. It's a good place, though. Yeah, yeah. I'm curious ` Now, I know it's unfair to compare any place to Bonnie Doon, but why would I go there instead of here? It's for young people, Dad. I know that. It's the culture, Darryl. The place is full of culture. Chockers. Oh, yeah. Something for everyone. What was that movie, the one on... Dale! There were so many stories. The hotel we stayed in, they had this one channel - kickboxing, 24 hours a day. It was just so interesting to hear about another country. Meals were $5, Mum - the most beautiful satays. What's that, darl? Meat on a skewer with peanut sauce and grilled. And the stories went on all night. The value for money is absolutely second to none. One of the other Sony Walkmans... With presets? Yeah, presets AND megabass - $85 Australian. Wow! Bargain? Shit yeah! But someone like you could've got him down even further. I can't wait to go to Bangkok. It's great to have you two back. It's great being back. Great to be up here. They haven't got a place like this in Bangkok. How's the serenity? INSECT ZAPPER FIZZES Not a sound. INSECT ZAPPER FIZZES Big, bold volume? Colossal Mascara from Maybelline New York. Volume so big, so bold, so instant, it's colossal, just like New York. And create infinite looks with new Lemonade Craze palette, only from: * On Monday morning, Dad was chomping at the bit. Feeling good, Sal. Good on you, darl. Steve, could you move the Camira? I need to get the Torana out to get the Commodore. I'll have to get the keys to the Cortina. Watch the boat, mate. Yeah. Know why I'm feeling good, Sal? Why? I'll tell you why. Because this is an example of an individual having the guts to stand up and shove it right up those people who think they can stand on top of you, that's why. DARRYL: What do you mean, what's my plea? What's the case you're putting? I told you. You just can't take a man's house. Mr Kerrigan, are you disputing the amount of compensation? I'm not interested in compensation. I'm saying that you can't kick me out. Very well. What is your argument? That's it. That's my argument. You can't...kick me out. And on what...law do you base that argument? The law of bloody common sense! Mr Kerrigan! I must ask you to restrain yourself. Yeah, all right. Mr Kerrigan, this is the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. You are an applicant. You need to show... I need to show?! It's up to me, is it? Mr Kerrigan, Airlink, as a federal authority, has the right to purchase property compulsorily. As far as I can see, you've offered no evidence to refute that right. No evidence?! It's not a house, it's a home. A man's home is his castle. I mean, it's...it's...it's Jack's castle, it's Fa-Farouk's castle... You just can't walk in and steal our home. You will be compensated. I don't want compensation! You can't buy what I've got. Mr Kerrigan, I am rapidly running out of patience. YOU'RE running out of... What is your case IN LAW? (SIGHS) Well, OK, um... The law is supposed to be about justice. No, fairness. And I know that sometimes what is right and fair is not clear-cut. It's a bit iffy. But this is not iffy. This is as clear as day. It is right and fair that a family be allowed to live in its own house. That is justice. I rest my case. DALE: Dad reckoned he'd nailed it. Farouk agreed. But Dad was wrong. I can't believe I lost. I've let you down. No, no, Mr Kerrigan. You do good job. Please, Farouk, call me Darryl. OK, Mr Darryl. But you know, I never heard that one you say before. "A man's home is his castle"? That's an old saying. No, no, other one. "Is not house, is home." Farouk, I lost. I know, Mr Darryl. Farouk, how much are they paying you? $65,000. For your place? Yes. They say the plane, they fly overhead - drop the value. I don't care. In Beirut, plane fly overhead - drop bomb. I like THIS plane. What'll we do, Darryl? I dunno, Jack. I can't afford anywhere else. I don't wanna move. See what they're doing, Sal? (SIGHS) Mmm. How long've you lived here, Jack? Three years. No, in the area. How long've you lived around here? 57 years. 57 years. And they're gonna kick you out on your arse. Well, bugger 'em! I'm not giving up, Jack. If they wanna play by the law, fine. We'll play by the law. But they're not the only big guns in town. If it's gonna be lawyers, I'll hit 'em with the big artillery. Hang on, Darryl. Jesus, these fuckin' photocopiers. What the fuck is that?! I cleared Tray 3! Get your girl to do that. She's not here on Mondays. She does Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 'F3', 'F3'. What's that?! Dennis, how'd you go? No good. I spoke to every barrister I know. No one wants to touch it. All right, you do it. I told you, Darryl, I'm not qualified. You're not qualified?! Ho ho, now I've heard everything! What do you mean, "not qualified"? I'm not in the big time. You've lost faith in yourself, Dennis. Darryl... You have lost faith. Darryl, it's over my head. It's over your head too. Over MY head? Dennis... Darryl... Have you heard of the Barlow Group? No. It's basically a big investment company controlled by three blokes worth about half a billion each. Well, the Barlow Group is Airlink. I thought Airlink was the government. It's a government authority. But the money's coming from Barlow. It's a way of privatising without privatising. Anyway, it's a big, big thing. Every level of government. Huge investment. All right, fine. So they're big. But why do they want MY house? Why don't they just fill the quarry and build there? Maybe it's just cheaper to pull down more houses. So we fight 'em. Darryl...they want this thing to work. They're gonna get their way. You know why people like that get their way? Because people like us don't stand up to 'em. Now they've still gotta play by the rules. Darryl, they WRITE the rules. They own the game. Fuck, Dennis. It's my fuckin' house. You're not going to run scared on me? I can't do this by meself. All right, mate. Lemme think about it. APPLAUSE ON TELEVISION Con's working late tonight. He's just so busy. Cannot believe this postcard arrived today. Thanks for dropping in. How's he treating my princess? Dad! All right, all right. "We saw some amazing things." Now that is a bloody big statue. It's all made of gold. Is that so? Hmm! APPLAUSE ON TELEVISION This bloke's gonna win the cars. How's the salon? Good. Look at these models. They've got ripper bodies but they let themselves down in the hair department. You oughta contact Channel Nine, get a contract with them. Dad, it doesn't work like that. Look at them and look at you. Now THAT'S a head of hair. Just beautiful. Thanks, Dad. I'm only statin' the truth. Dad, what's a pulpit? Where the minister gives his sermon from. How much? $800. Dreamin'. I know how to get you on there. Send in your photo for the home viewer. Dad, if you dare... I've got quite a few lying around. Dad! Actually, I think I've got one taken when you were two and you had no clothes on. DAD! Don't you... Why don't you choose one? No! (Laughs) No! Don't, Dad! That night, I thought of Wayne again. I wondered what he was doing and whether the elephant's trunk was still up, 'cause that's lucky. SONG: # There go the bells at midnight # Ringing all our love to you # Here comes the moon arising... # So, in conclusion, my client will be appealing the decision to the Federal Court and, as an interim, will be seeking an injunction... ..ah, to stop any further action in this matter. Sincerely, Dennis Denuto. (STARTS TYPING) * PHONE RINGS RECEPTIONIST: Hammersley & Laycock. Can I help you? Putting you through now. AEROPLANE ROARS OVERHEAD HAMMERING He can't come to the phone, Farouk. He's up in the ceiling. Righto, righto. I'll get him to call you when he comes down. OK. Oh, give my love to Taboula. 'Bye. DARRYL: Shit! (CALLS) Steve! Yeah? Beams aren't supportin'. I reckon we put a hold on the mezzanine. Yeah, all right. We'll have to call that guy about the spiral staircase, 'cause he's holdin' it for us. Darl, can you give Farouk a ring? Yeah. Where's Dad? Up in the roof. Dad. Yeah, mate? I dug another hole. It's filling with water. You are fuckin' kidding me! I cleared that tray three fuckin' times! Mr Denuto. Yeah? Ron Graham, Hammersley & Laycock. Got your note during the week. Oh, yeah...yeah. Um...sit down. Now, the Kerrigan matter. Well, we're gonna be taking it...further. Yes, we totally understand and we're here on behalf of our client to apologise. We've made a mistake. You have? Yes, it appears that the house belonging to Mr Kerrigan was grossly undervalued by mistake and our client would like to rectify the situation. Well, what are you offering? Another $25,000. Whoa. As a separate cash cheque. You know, Darryl - my client - is disputing the compulsory purchase? Yes, though, with the correct valuation, we thought this may put the dispute to rest. What if it doesn't? If I were you, I would advise Mr Kerrigan against taking any further action. This is a multi-billion-dollar project. It's been in planning for a long time. If this action were to delay or spoil the plans, well, the understandable anger could well spill into something else. Are you threatening? Hang on, I just came in here, apologised and increased the offer by $25,000. I'm sorry, yeah. And that offer should be put to Mr Kerrigan - with your strongest possible recommendation. Tell 'em to get stuffed. It's $25,000, Darryl! Don't you get this, Dennis? Darryl, they're offering 25 grand EXTRA. Dennis, this is not about money! I'm not leavin' the house. Tell 'em I'm not movin'. They're not gonna be happy. Who cares? I mean, they're gonna be really unhappy. So, what are you tellin' me, Dennis? Nothin', Darryl. Did they threaten you? Not ME, really. They threatened ME? Not exactly... They fuckin' well threatened ME?! They just said... Get on that phone right now and tell 'em where they can shove their 25 grand. Darryl, 'them' is the Barlow Group - people used to getting their way. They want to expand the airport and there's one bloke who's a pain in the arse! Tell 'em to get stuffed. CRICKETS DRONE More, darlin'? Oh, no. No, love. That was beautiful. What do you call that? Ice-cream. Yeah, but...but what you've done with it. What'd you do to it? Scooped it out of the punnet. Did I do the right thing? Oh, yeah, sweetheart. You did the right thing. 25 grand, Dad. Yeah, but not that way, Steve. We're not taking the money. I wanna tell you a story. Oh, good. About how your father and I met. I know this one. Not all of it, Dale. You see, I used to go out with a very handsome young man - well-to-do. Called Bob Thompson. Big Bob Thompson. What's he doin' now, eh? Puttin' in fence posts in Adelaide. He runs a construction company. So he says. Well, anyway, one night he took me to the greyhounds. He put on a real show. We ate at the carvery... What did you have? Ah...pork. Ohhhh! Anyway, we had wine, champagne, he put on all my bets and he was sweeping me off my feet. I thought he'd pop the question. Well, anyway, later on, I don't know what it was but out of the corner of my eye, I spotted this lanky bloke struggling with one of his greyhounds. Red Rocket. That's you, Dad. Bob went off to talk to one of the stewards and this young fella comes right up to me and starts chattin'. And he asks me out. And I said, "I'm on a date." Well, he backed right off. He said he wasn't cuttin' anyone's lunch and he wished me goodnight. And I thought, "That man has principles." And from that day on, I've only had eyes for one man. Hook, line and sinker. And that's what I love about him - his principles. So we're not takin' the money, Steve. KNOCK AT DOOR No, hang on. I'll get it. What was the carvery like? Yeah? Mr Kerrigan? Yeah. What? I've got a message to pass on. From who? I'm just passing on a message. You from the council? No, I'm not. The company? I'm just passing on a message. They always send someone different, don't they? The message is, "Take the offer and shut up." Understood? Are you threatenin' me? Just passing on a message. Fuck off, you clown! Mr Kerrigan... Fuck off! Watch your mouth. You heard my dad. Now, FUCK OFF! Whoa, whoa. Fine. I just tried to tell ya. What the fuck do ya think you're doin'?! You know what I said - no more guns in the house! But he was threatenin' you. Where'd you get it? 'Trading Post'. What did you pay for it? $180. What was he askin'? $250. He was dreamin'. Yeah. Get rid of it. (SIGHS) Sell it. TYRES SCREECH OUTSIDE DOG BARKS GLASS SHATTERS CAR ROARS AWAY Pricks! All right. All right! I'll pass on a message of my own. Don't bullshit me, pal! I know why you want Highview Crescent. It's because you're too much of a tight-arse to fill in the quarry! It's easier to destroy people's houses than to fill in a hole! What do you say to that?! MAN: Get off my property or I'll call the police. Fuck the police! You smashed my car! Settle down, mate! Settle down! That's just what he wants us to do. OK? Now, just keep our cool. We don't wanna do anything stupid. SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC ENGINE ROARS TYRES SCREECH LOUD GRINDING NOISE * Darryl John Kerrigan? You know who I am, Mick. Darryl John Kerrigan? Yes, Officer. Were you in Lancell Road, Toorak, at approximately 2.30 this morning? Nuh. Can anyone verify your whereabouts at that hour? Yeah, yeah. Everyone in this house - while I've still got it. Daz, I know you did it. I told you, mate, I don't know anything... Shut up. I'm not gonna book you. It's just a warnin'. I know what's goin' on. No-one wants you to get the rough end of the stick, but watch yourself. Otherwise you'll lose more than this house. Mick! Darryl, I seen it happen, mate. Now, settle down. If you wanna take 'em on, do it the right way - by the book. All right, Mick. Oh, and Daz... Yeah? Put them gates round the back. Oh, yeah. Listen, things are getting a bit serious. Last night I had a visit from some hired thug. Yeah, me, too. What do you mean? A man, he come to my house and he say, "Stop with the court business." If no stop, he have friend who come and beat me. I say, "You have friend, I have friend. "My friend put bomb under your car and blow you to fucking sky!" What'd he do? He get scared and he leave. I bet he did! I don't really have friend like this but people think all Arab have bomb. You're a bloody ripper, Farouk! That's fuckin' fantastic! Excuse the French, Evonne. Get your hand off it, Darryl. Anyway, um... I was worried for everyone. I didn't want to force anyone into this. Farouk? I'm with you, Mr Darryl. Evonne? Evonne? What can they do my ex hasn't done? Jack? Yeah, fuck 'em. Well, Dennis Denuto is acting on our behalf. We're in Federal Court next Tuesday. Does he think we've got a good case? He reckons it just has to contravene the Constitution. And the Constitution is the biggest law we've got. How much? Ah, good point, Evonne. Steve. Now, all up, it's gonna cost $1,500. Now, that's $750 now, $750 in six month's time. So, $150 each. Jack, I know you can't do it, so I'm kickin' in for you. Good on ya, Darryl. I'll pay you back. Evonne? Yeah, fine. Farouk? I pay cash now. No, no, no! Hold your horses! What is it with wogs and cash? Anyway, it's bargain basement prices and...you'd better wear a suit this time, Farouk. What's this Dennis Denuto like, Darryl? He's a lawyer. This is about the law. He's gotta know what he's doin'. Um...all-all right. Give me one moment...and I will. Um...it's the... ..the, um... ..the... ..the Constitution...of Australia. This is a blatant violation of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia. And when it comes to violations, they don't come any bigger. What section of the Constitution has been breached? Section? What?... What section?... There is no ONE section. It's...just the vibe...of the thing. I'm afraid, Mr Denuto, you'll have to be more specific. Yeah, sure, sure. I was just starting general and then I was getting... more specific with it. The, um... Just one moment...please. The, um... Jesus, Darryl, I am sweating here! You're killing them, Dennis. I don't even know Roman numerals. Um... X...X... I've got it here as the...Section 51. Ah...second from the bottom. "The Parliament shall have power to make laws "with respect to copyrights, patents of inventions "and designs and trademarks." It's all part of it. This is what I'm getting at. That's my point. It's...it's the vibe of it. All right, taken. Do you have a precedent which supports this...'vibe'? Ah...yes, yes, I do. Um...just one moment. What's the name of the famous Aboriginal? Cathy Freeman? No, no, the court... Evonne Goolagong? No, no, no. Ma...Ma...Mabo. Mabo. What about it? That's your classic case of big business trying to take land, and they couldn't. Mr Denuto, the Mabo decision pertains to the specific issue of native land title and terra nullius. Yeah. So, what part of the judgement is relevant to this case? A-Again...it... it's just the vibe...of it. Actually, may I...approach the bench? Am I wasting my time here? Your case is not strong. Am I sort of in the ballpark, though? I'm a judge! I understand. Can you just give me an angle? I'm sorry, Mr Denuto. I can't. Understood, understood. I think I've got a good one, anyway. In summing up, it's... the...Constitution, it's Mabo, it's justice, it's law, it's the vibe and...er... No, that's it. It's the vibe. I rest my case. That was sensational. Counsel for the respondent. Your Honour, I won't waste any more of your time. Your Honour, I won't waste any more of your time. Appreciate it. Your Honour, I won't waste Our arguments are contained in the forward documents. We'd be happy for that to constitute the case for the respondent. Thank you. So be it. I call a one-hour adjournment. Good on ya, Dennis. That shut 'em up. I'm going for a breather, mate. * GENTLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC How you goin'? Oh, fine, fine. Got a case comin' up? Er, no, no. I'm here to see someone. I'm a spectator. Oh, yeah. My son's first appearance. Oh. Do you reckon he'll get off? Oh, no, no. He's a barrister. He's appearing for the first time as a barrister. Congratulations! Oh, thank you. Darryl Kerrigan. Oh, Lawrence Hammill. G'day, Lawrence. Barrister, eh? He'd need a degree for that. Yes, yes. He's got a couple, actually. You must be as proud as punch. Well, you know. Oh, I know. I've got a daughter. Diploma Certificate - fully qualified hairdresser. The day she came home and told me she'd got into Sunshine TAFE was the proudest day of my life. Yes, I can imagine. Yeah, sure makes us parents look like a bunch of dodos, eh? (BOTH LAUGH) You wouldn't have dreamt of doin' what your son's done. No...no. Anyway, Darryl, what brings you here? Oh, bloody Government's trying to take my house. This new Airlink thing. Imagine that - Sal and me brought up our whole family in that house and they think they can walk in... Anyway, we're takin' them to court. Bloody outrageous. It's gotta be against the Constitution. Yes, it IS outrageous. Who's acting for you? Dennis Denuto. Ah... Never heard of HIM. Oh, you wouldn't have. He just does our local area. But I've never heard of him in constitutional law. No, you wouldn't. He does conveyancing, mainly. You know, wills, petty theft - that sort of thing. But hey, it's all based on the Constitution. Yes, yes...in a way, yes. Mmm. Good bloke, though. Yes, sounds like it. Anyway, I'd better be going. Sure. Yeah. Nice talkin' to you, Lawrie. Nice talking to you, Darryl. And good luck with your boy. Thanks, Darryl. I hope everything works out. Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm pretty confident. I find in favour of the respondent. Yes! It's THEM, Darryl. But we was RESPONDIN' to them. We lost, Darryl. I'm sorry. DALE: Dad reckons he must've sat there for an hour. He said it was like being kicked in the guts with the back of a bus. Dad explained to Farouk that they'd lost. It was really hard telling Evonne too. But the toughest one was Jack. GENTLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC Trace and Con were great, though. Good on you, Dad. You stood up to them. I'm so proud of you. I'm so impressed with your fighting quality, Mr Kerrigan. Thanks, mate. And can I just say how disenchanted I am with our legal system? GENTLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC DALE: Dad was very quiet after losing the court case. I'd never seen him so down. He even stopped complimenting Mum on her cooking. Are you right there, darl? Yeah. STEVE: Dad. Someone's, uh... selling a telephone box. Oh. They said no to an extension. Dennis says we gotta be out in two weeks. Two weeks? (SIGHS) I haven't told Wayne yet. I think Dad felt he'd let everyone down, but especially Wayne. That's why he'd been putting off telling him. He couldn't think how to break it to Wayne. I told Dad not to worry - I knew how to tell Wayne we'd lost. We lost. Lost? (MUMBLES) Yeah. (SIGHS) Did Dad do his nut? No, he's gone real quiet. Quiet? Yeah. I think he thinks he's let everyone down. Let US down? Well, yeah. That's what I think. See, especially you. I think he looked forward to the day you'd come back. Well, you tell Dad the only reason I love that house is 'cause it had him and Mum in it. And, like...everyone else. Wherever they go, I'll love. As long as it has them in it. All those lawyers and government people can just go and get fucked. (READS) "As long as it has them in it. "All those lawyers and government people can get fucked." Only, he wanted to change that "get fucked" bit. I forgot. On ya, mate. I better keep packing. NOSTALGIC GUITAR MUSIC AEROPLANE ROARS OVERHEAD Dad. Yeah, mate? I can, uh, get you some more boxes if you want. No, I think I'll be right, Steve. Dad. You haven't let anyone down. I don't know what the opposite of lettin' someone down is... ..but you've done the opposite. When are you gonna sign 'em? I don't know. They gotta be done by Friday. I can't. I can't. I just can't. Darryl, we gotta go. Yeah, I know. I know we lost, we gotta leave this place, I know it's no longer our house, but I'll be buggered if I can sign those papers. I just cannot physically pick up the pen and sign them! Did you speak to Jack? Yeah, yeah. His son-in-law's moved to Perth so he's no help. Poor Jack. Listen, I told him he could stay with us until we work something out. How did you go with the agent? (SIGHS) Two bedroom units are $80,000. A flat? With four people, the greyhounds, five cars, the boat and Jack. It'll be OK. And what are we gonna do with Wayne? Wayne'll understand. You know he keeps a photo of this place on his wall. I know. After serving five years, we have to put him in a laundry smaller than his cell. Maybe we rent. Rent? We not only lose our place, we're paying for someone else's. Well, darl... I'm starting to understand how the Aborigines feel. Have you been drinking? Well, this house is like their land. It holds their memories. The land is their story. It's everything. You just can't pick it up and plonk it down somewhere else. This country's gotta stop stealing other people's land. Dad...there's someone here to see you. G'day, Darryl. Lawrie! So, I thought I'd come and visit. How'd you find us? Us dodos - we got a few tricks up our sleeves. Don't I know it. I, uh, heard about the decision. Yeah! Yeah, well, that's the way these things are. How did your boy go? Oh, fine. Yeah, fine. Great. Darryl, I wonder if I could put something to you. Yeah, sure. I don't think I introduced myself fully. You see, I'm retired now but I'm actually a lawyer myself. Three degrees in the family. I'd like to see your poolroom! I'm, uh...what's called a QC. Oh, yeah. A QC? You're one of those? What's that? A Queen's Counsel. Oh! You counsel the Queen. Um, they're the lawyers rich people use, love. Yeah, well, that's probably the most accurate way of describing us. I don't think Dennis would be a QC. No, I don't think... Anyway, my specialty as a QC was constitutional law, Australian constitutional law. Now, have you heard of the Tasmanian dams case? Um... Well, um, Mabo? Oh, the Aboriginal guy, told the government to shove it. That's the one. Anyway, I've had quite a bit to do with these over the years and I've looked into your case over the last few days. I think there's more to it. What do you mean? I think you've got a case. So, Dennis was on the right track? Y...yes. I knew that judge had it in for him. There's a section of the Constitution about government's right to acquire land that hasn't been tested. But Dennis tested it. Well, I think we could test it better. Anyway, I would like to appear on your behalf GRATIS. No fee. Well, no. We couldn't. I've done pretty well from law over the years, so if you're happy for me to take it further... Further? We've been to the Federal Court. How much further can we take it? DALE: Three weeks later, Mr Hammill, Dad and Dennis went to the High Court in Canberra. Lawrie asked Dennis to be his instructing solicitor. Dennis was stoked, but shittin' himself at the same time. I'm shittin' myself. MOMENTOUS MUSIC Shall we? Let's stick it up 'em. And so Dad - or as he was called by the judge, Darryl John Kerrigan - sat in the High Court of Australia and put his case. Or, at least, Mr Hammill did. Dennis was very helpful too. He was passing books around like a librarian. He even learnt Roman numerals especially for the trip. Um, paragraph X... ..31. Thank you, Dennis. But Dad reckoned there was no doubt about it. From the moment he stood up, Mr Hammill was the star. Section 51, paragraph 31. "The parliament shall have power to make laws "with respect to the acquisition of property on just terms." Let's think about those words, "on just terms", and how they relate to real people. Your Honour, my client built his home by the law, in full accordance with the law. He doesn't know about the extensions. But does he have protection of the law? How can the forcible removal of a family, a good family, from their home, have the blessing of our Constitution? How can that be "on just terms"? Dad reckoned it was in the bag even though they had five times more lawyers than we did. Well, my client has adhered to the law - every law, every statute, from the Town Planning Act to Civil Aviation regulations. But, in what appears a last desperate measure, my client is accused of breaching none other than the Constitution! I mean, good Lord, what else are we guilty of? International war crimes? Mmm? LAUGHTER He's even paid people to laugh for him. I refer the court to His Honour, Mr Justice Dixon's decision in Grace Bros and the Commonwealth. Much as Dad hated to admit it, the other lawyer was good. He was giving us a real run for our money. But if Mr Hammill was worried, he didn't show it. He kept right on at 'em. A constitutional guarantee designed to protect the individual... But everything he said, they had an answer for. Your Honour, that statement was obiter dictum. Was not. Well, it wasn't. Was it? The interpretation... I don't know. .."on just terms" was considered in the Tasmanian dams case. The court took into account the interests of the community, such as job creation... Dad reckoned Dennis got the hang of things real quick. The main job of a senior counsel was to provide back-up for the QC. Ah, yes! And this is further underlined in Georgiades... And that's what Dennis did. Ah, utilitarianism - the greatest good for the greatest number. But what this principle fails to... What this principle fails to take into account is that competing rights cannot be weighed one against the other. Is a family's right to live freely in their home OUTWEIGHED by... It wasn't just legal argument. Mr Hammill even put jokes in - clever jokes. ..not that our children will have a place to live, but whether they'll have prompt delivery of their parcels. Dad thought it was real funny... ..even though he didn't get it. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) Suffer in your jocks. There were lots of times he didn't quite understand what was being said. But one time, he knew exactly what was being said. He's even approached the appellant with an offer of compensation. A generous offer considering the nature of the, uh, dwelling, or, as it might more accurately be called, eyesore. What are you calling an eyesore? Darryl. It's called a home, you dickhead. Your Honour. Darryl! A bloody fine one! With more like it, we'd... Have the jails full of people like your son? You bloody arsehole! Sit down, Darryl. Mr Hammill, I'm calling an adjournment and I trust that your client will, in the meantime, compose himself. Mr Lyle, I'll thank you not to make any further value judgements in this court. * I'm sorry, Lawrie, I... That's all right, Darryl. I was thinking the same thing, though, not in those words. I wish I had your words. How dare they? I mean, an EYESORE! I mean, that just goes to show that they don't get it. They're judging the place on appearances. And if it doesn't have a pool or a classy front or a big garden... It's got a pretty good gate. And because of that, it's not worth saving. But it's not a house, it's a home. It's got everything. People who love each other, care for each other. It's got memories. GREAT memories. I mean, it's a place for the family to turn to. Come back to. But that doesn't seem to mean as much as a big fuckin' driveway. Later, it was time for Mr Hammill to sum up. Dad said he was unbelievable. He reckoned he'd finished like a champion greyhound. People who love each other, people who care... He quoted cases, he quoted laws. But Dad nearly fell off his chair when Mr Hammill finished by quoting Dad, only better! And somehow that's not worth as much as a big...driveway. Now, you may think our appeal is based on emotion rather than law. Not true. It's about the highest law in this country - the Constitution - and one phrase within it - "on just terms". SENTIMENTAL MUSIC STIRS That's what this is all about - being just. They want to pay ONLY for the house. But they're taking away more than that, so much more. Sure, the Kerrigans built a house. Then they built a home and then a family. You can acquire a house but you can't acquire a home because a home is not built of bricks and mortar but love and memories. You can't pay for it and you're just short-changing people if you try. I can't speak for those who wrote this document, but I'll bet when they put in the phrase, "on just terms", they hoped it would stop anyone short-changing someone like Darryl Kerrigan. Thanks, Loz. Thank you. In the end, who knows whether it was Dad's words or Mr Hammill or even Dennis's note passing, but we won the case. ..stand in favour of the appellant. Shit! That's us. Bullshit! We won? We won. You little ripper! (LAUGHS) Thanks, lads. Huh! We won. Dad was stoked, but suitably restrained. He reckons the other side didn't know what to do with themselves. Dennis was so stunned he went quiet. Dad reckons he almost cried. In fact, I think he did. Mr Hammill just sat there for ages. He reckoned it was his most satisfying victory in 47 years. Dad reckoned it's important to be noble in victory so he spoke to the other QC... Hey! ..the one who rubbished Wayne. Bad luck... ..you dickhead. The case was all over the news that night. Good evening. Tonight, a landmark decision in the High Court today has confirmed the age-old saying, "A man's home is his castle." When the huge Airlink consortium tried to compulsorily acquire a string of homes on Melbourne's outskirts earlier this year, they didn't expect a fight. Well, they got one. REPORTER: It was Darryl vs Goliath in the High Court of Australia today when tow truck driver... DALE: Mum reckons it's funny how one day you're not famous and the next day you are - famous - and then you're not any more. Dad had one of the biggest parties EVER that night back at home. He invited everyone from the neighbourhood - his friends, family, in-laws. This case has totally regained my faith in the legal system. Mr Hammill even brought his son along. I'm really pleased to meet you, Adam. Everyone was having a real good time... ..especially Mum and Dad. I'd never seen them so happy. Dad invited everyone up to Bonnie Doon. I fix for you special Farouk pressure system. Mr Hammill said he'd love to come. He'd never fished for carp. Well, that party went on and on and on. And Dad smiled all night. This is why we need that patio. Yeah. The victory made all the papers. It became known as the 'Kerrigan Decision'. Don't thank me. This is the bloke... Although as far as Dad was concerned, it was Lawrie's victory. Don't forget Dennis here, either. Dennis... That was the beginning of a string of good luck for our family. Six months later, Wayne was eligible for parole. Mr Hammill was more than happy to come out of retirement again. Wayne said the parole board couldn't believe their eyes. When Mr Hammill walked in, he reckons they granted him parole out of shock. Dennis became very well-known after the case and people came from everywhere to hire him. He won a major case - a class action against people who put lead in the landfill 15 years ago. I think Mr Hammill helped there too. Dad's very happy for him. He even bought himself a new photocopier, one that never breaks down. And guess what? Mr Hammill did go up to Bonnie Doon. At first, Dad thought it was out of politeness. But it can't be 'cause he goes up there all the time. He and Dad still hit it off as good as when they first met. Coco never won another race, but she had a son which Dad called Son of Coco. He hasn't won yet, but Dad has high hopes. Dad did finish the patio - in a Greek style. And the extension, and he even put up those big iron gates he and Steve got for a bargain in Toorak. Steve got back with Kerry, his old girlfriend. Eventually they got married and had a little boy, three weeks later. (READS) "Baby capsule. Still in box." Con and Tracey had a kid too. He's already taken up kickboxing. They are great parents. Wayne started helping Dad with the tow truck and really made a go of it. Dad's even prouder of him now than when he was in jail! It was Wayne's idea to move into tray trucks. Pretty soon, they had two, then three, then EIGHT! Who knows when it'll stop? Mum reckons 11. She's as proud as punch with all this. And guess what? She DID take up pottery. She didn't even need lessons! And Dad, well, he reckoned he'd got everything he'd ever wished for. He often used to sit out on the patio and just smile to himself. And they still live at 3 Highview Crescent, even though it's only them two. And Dad still calls it his castle. SONG: # And, yes, we've just begun... # My name's Dale Kerrigan and that was my story. # Sharing horizons that are new to us # Watching the signs along the way # Talking it over Just the two of us # Working together day to day