"Look, I don't know what you're doing here but what I do know is that my son thinks Kane Phillips is bad news"
Kirsty looks at her, stunned by her change of tone. She continues.
"Now I've given him the benefit of the doubt but if I find out that something underhand is going on here then there will be trouble and you will be sorry you ever set foot in here"
A chill runs down Kirsty's spine as Sylvia departs. She turns and walks upstairs.
....................................
Kirsty enters the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Kane is staring out the window and he doesn't respond.
"I want the full story Kane - what does that woman know?"
He sighs, his voice expressionless, his eyes fixated on a cluster of trees in the distance.
"She knows who I am... what I did"
"What do you mean? She knows about you... you and Dani"
Kirsty stood, looking at him in shock. He doesn't turn around and his reply is uneasy.
"Sort of"
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
Kane remained frozen at the window. Kirsty sounds agitated and who could blame her? He should have been straight with her from the start.
"I denied it... she asked me up front and I denied it"
He didn't dare turn round to find out what Kirsty's reaction was. She thought that he had changed. That he knew what he did was wrong and he had moved on. Now the denial was back. He had stood up in court and said he didn't do it. He had spent a year denying it and now, in his supposedly new life he was denying it again. Had he not come anywhere in the past year? Had he not learnt anything from his past?
Kirsty was silent. Shock. Confusion. Anger that Kane had kept this from her.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
Kirsty was furious at his attitude but she managed to remain calm on the outside, unable to find words. He was hurting inside. His past was affecting his entire life. It tore away at him, trying to destroy everything that was good in his life. There was no escape.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
That was her main concern. Not that he had lied, but that he hadn't told her. That he couldn't feel he could tell her. He shrugs again. He couldn't explain it. He was always fearful of opening up to people. Whenever he felt insecure he shut people out. And he hated talking about it. That was part of his reason for not telling her. He didn't like it being brought up. It just made him feel so guilty. So dirty.
"How could I? Dani's your sister... I'm ashamed enough as it is"
A long silence passes. Kirsty doesn't know what to say. How to react. In normal circumstances she'd have blown a fuse. She was like her father when it came to lies and deceit. But these weren't normal circumstances. They were on the run. Had Kane done it for them or was he just trying to save himself? Kane needed to escape for a while. Normally he felt so at ease around Kirsty but now the atmosphere was tense.
"Look, I'm going to drive into the next town to look for work"
"Is that such a good idea? I mean, now Sylvia knows who you are anyone could find us. Shouldn't we move on?"
"No one's going to track us down Kirsty"
His voice was agitated. He rarely called her Kirsty. He forges a smile at her and leaves. He didn't know why he was being like this. She should be the one who is angry. But he's angry at himself. For his past. All the mistakes he has made. He wasn't good enough for Kirsty. She would be criticised for what he was. He didn't want her to live like that. And if they moved on he'd have failed again. They'd have to start all over again.
He couldn't tell what Kirsty had been thinking back in their room but he thought she was probably more hurt about the fact that he hadn't told her himself. He hadn't known what would be worse - telling her and wishing he hadn't or not telling her and wishing he had.
....................................
CARAVAN PARK
Shelley tries the door and is puzzled to find it locked. She takes her key from her bag, unlocks the door and enters. She calls out to her husband.
"Rhys?"
He had meant to stay home in case Kirsty called. She lays her bag down on the sofa and her eyes meet with Rhys' letter which is still lying on the kitchen table. She frowns but assumes it will only explain why he has had to go out. Picking the letter off the table, she opens the envelope, pulling out the single sheet of paper.
"Shell, I never meant this to happen. I never meant to drag our family down by taking on Pete's problems. I have decided to go away for a while but I promise I'll be back, when the times right. When I have something to offer you and the kids again.
Make sure the kids know that I didn't do this because I didn't love them, but more because I loved them too much. I haven't been able to cope in the last year and it's all become too much for me to handle. You saw how I behaved when I found out about Kane. I lost control and I don't like the person I'm becoming. I know you can hold the family together Shell. You're much stronger than I am."
Shelley collapsed down onto the sofa. It was one blow after another. How could he be so selfish? She had thought he was different to Pete. Pete ran away whenever there was trouble and now Rhys had done the same. It was the same with Kirsty. Maybe it was a family thing. She didn't have a clue what she would do or how to tell the girls. She would have to tell them the whole sorry story. It would break them. And whilst she was trying to hold the family together she would have to make cutbacks to save money. It was the only way they could cope without going under. She couldn't control her tears any longer. She couldn't believe Rhys had done that to her. And now he had left her to shoulder the consequences.
....................................
CAR
Kane drives down the country road, thoughts shooting through his mind. He had secured a job in the next town, Erinsborough, at a small community pub. He had got on quite well with the owners and had managed to make it so that he only had to work a couple of late shifts a week to enable him to spend more time with Kirsty. It was a 15 minute drive into work but at least he had a job.
A car careers towards him, more in the centre of the road than on its own side. Kane swings his car into the side of the road as the car grows nearer to avoid a collision. When the car is just metres away, he notices to his horror that the driver is Rhys. He slumps down in his seat, hoping that Rhys doesn't notice who he is and praying that his car is not recognised. The car shoots past and through the wing mirror, Kane watches it draw further away. He remains frozen into his seat, stunned for a moment.
....................................
B+B Room
Kirsty has finished work for the day. She enters their room, expecting to find Kane, but to her bitter disappointment he is not there. They were together in this, and they had to make it work. She just wanted to work things out with him. She couldn't help thinking that maybe he had abandoned her. He had been so cold when he walked out, so distant. She glanced at Kane's phone, which lay on the bed. Maybe she should call home when she had the chance. But it might hurt Kane more to know that she had gone to her family for support. Her hands grip the phone and she dials out, lingering over the final digit for what seemed like forever. The phone was immediately answered by a frantic Shelley.
"Hello?"
"Mum, it's me"
"Oh... hi Kirst"
Kirsty couldn't help but notice the hint of disappointment in her Mum's voice.
"What's wrong?"
Shelley took a deep breath but her voice was still shaky.
"Look Kirsty... me and your Dad... we've been having some problems - financial problems... it turns out we can't afford to lend you any money"
"Oh... don't worry about it... we'll be fine"
Underneath, the disappointment hit her hard. She and Kane couldn't survive on her wages alone.
"Kirsty"
Shelley's voice still sounded serious.
"Yeah?"
"There's no easy way to say this but... your Dad's gone... he left earlier..."
Shelley trailed off. How could she explain it? She couldn't even understand why Rhys had done it.
"What do you mean gone?"
"He lent money to Pete and we're nearly bankrupt... he blamed himself and now he's gone - he just left a note"
Shelley sounded distressed and broken, the words tumbling out of her mouth as she struggles to hold back tears. The two fell silent. Kirsty couldn't believe it. Her Dad was devoted to the family. It would be so out of character for him to desert them like that. She realised that she had done the same. She had run off when the going got tough. She couldn't be angry with her Dad for doing the same as her. She felt guilty. She was sure Shelley was thinking the same about her.
"Kirsty are you there?"
"Yeah... yeah I'm here"
Kirsty's voice was distant and weak.
"Look Kirst, this family is falling apart - Jade's in pieces... we need you here Kirst. We need to stick together through this"
"Mum"
"Just think about it Kirst, yeah?"
The door to the room swings open and Kane enters.
"Look Mum, I've got to go - I'll call you back later... bye"
She hurriedly hangs up and she and Kane look at each other in silence. Neither knows exactly what to say. Kane glances around awkwardly.
"I was just calling Mum..."
She trails off and Kane smiles apologetically.
"Sorry for running out earlier - I just needed to clear my head..."
Another silence follows. Kirsty nods, smiling faintly. Her mind was still on her Mum.
"...I got a job - it's just a bit of bar work but the pay's not bad"
"Yeah? That's great Babe"
Kirsty tried to sound enthusiastic but her conversation with her Mum played over and over in her head.
"I saw your Dad on my way back - he almost ran me off the road"
He sounded absurdly casual, as if it was an everyday occurrence. The truth was he didn't know quite how to approach the subject.
"What? Where?"
Kirsty was frantic with concern.
"Just out of town - he was heading towards Erinsborough. Driving like a maniac... why what's happened"
He can tell something's wrong but she isn't paying him much attention. Her mind is evidently elsewhere.
"I've got to call Mum"
"What's going on?"
"Dad walked out - there's been some problems... I need to talk to her again"
Kane felt left out. This was meant to be about them - why did Kirsty keep having to turn to her family? Why couldn't she turn to him? He was there for her. Surely she knew that. He would always be there for her.
"Right... I'll go out and see if I can get us something to eat then"
Kirsty already had her ear to his phone. She nodded and he walked out, heavy hearted.
....................................
B+B ROOM
Kirsty hangs up the phone. She had spent the majority of the call listening to her Mum pleading with her to come home. Part of her wanted to return to the secure family life but part of her knew that if she returned home things wouldn't have changed.
When she had told her Mum about Kane seeing Rhys that afternoon Shelley had demanded to know where they were in the hope of finding out where Rhys was heading. Kirsty couldn't tell her anything. Not without talking to Kane. She knew how blunt she had been with him but things were going so wrong. She missed her family more than she thought she would but she also knew that she couldn't bear not to see Kane. She was torn between loyalty to her family and her undying love for Kane. Why couldn't her life be as simple as Jade's. Jade was in love with Nick. Nick was accepted into the family. Jade did well at school. Shelley and Rhys were so proud of her.
Kirsty felt guilty for Rhys leaving. Maybe if she had stayed at home it wouldn't have come to this.
The door swings open and Kane enters cautiously.
"Hey..."
"Hi"
Kirsty walks over to him as he closes the door. She hated this tension.
"Did you get anything to eat"
"I was going to... but I ended up just walking around... thinking"
"What about?"
"Everything"
"Are you mad at me for calling Mum?"
"No, of course not... I just wish I could understand what your family mean to you... but I can't... and it's just... it's just frustrating sometimes"
She smiles at him, glad that he's trying to explain. Trying to open up to her.
"There's been some trouble at home... that's why I had to call Mum back... Dad's done a runner - it's something to do with Dad's brother and him owing a lot of money... Dad lent him the money and now they can't get it back... they can't afford to lend us anything after all"
He stepped towards her, taking her in his arms. She was evidently upset. He couldn't pretend to understand. All he could do was be there for her.
"We'll get by... now I've got a job things will get easier... we can make this work"
"Just... just tell me if there's anything going on in future... I don't want to be kept in the dark"
Kane stroked her hair lovingly. He had only kept it from her in case she got upset. He didn't want to see her unhappy and he didn't want to lose her.
"What are we going to do about Sylvia?"
"What can we do? We'll just have to keep up the act - we've got a good life here, let's not spoil it"
A moment of silence passes as Kirsty rests her head on his chest, relaxed for the first time that day. A thought crept into Kane's mind.
"Oh... I told her you were sixteen"
He thought he should tell her. If he didn't it could put her in an awkward situation. And she'd want to know why he hadn't told her about that lie.
"You did what?"
Kirsty lifted her head off his chest. He looks momentarily worried.
"I told her I was seventeen"
A slight look of amusement passes over their faces. Kane kisses her and she sinks back into his arms. She feels comfortable. Fulfilled. But in the back of her mind, worry about her family, about her Dad, is eating away at her conscience. Was it really right that she was here whilst her family was falling apart?
Kirsty looks at her, stunned by her change of tone. She continues.
"Now I've given him the benefit of the doubt but if I find out that something underhand is going on here then there will be trouble and you will be sorry you ever set foot in here"
A chill runs down Kirsty's spine as Sylvia departs. She turns and walks upstairs.
....................................
Kirsty enters the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Kane is staring out the window and he doesn't respond.
"I want the full story Kane - what does that woman know?"
He sighs, his voice expressionless, his eyes fixated on a cluster of trees in the distance.
"She knows who I am... what I did"
"What do you mean? She knows about you... you and Dani"
Kirsty stood, looking at him in shock. He doesn't turn around and his reply is uneasy.
"Sort of"
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
Kane remained frozen at the window. Kirsty sounds agitated and who could blame her? He should have been straight with her from the start.
"I denied it... she asked me up front and I denied it"
He didn't dare turn round to find out what Kirsty's reaction was. She thought that he had changed. That he knew what he did was wrong and he had moved on. Now the denial was back. He had stood up in court and said he didn't do it. He had spent a year denying it and now, in his supposedly new life he was denying it again. Had he not come anywhere in the past year? Had he not learnt anything from his past?
Kirsty was silent. Shock. Confusion. Anger that Kane had kept this from her.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."
Kirsty was furious at his attitude but she managed to remain calm on the outside, unable to find words. He was hurting inside. His past was affecting his entire life. It tore away at him, trying to destroy everything that was good in his life. There was no escape.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
That was her main concern. Not that he had lied, but that he hadn't told her. That he couldn't feel he could tell her. He shrugs again. He couldn't explain it. He was always fearful of opening up to people. Whenever he felt insecure he shut people out. And he hated talking about it. That was part of his reason for not telling her. He didn't like it being brought up. It just made him feel so guilty. So dirty.
"How could I? Dani's your sister... I'm ashamed enough as it is"
A long silence passes. Kirsty doesn't know what to say. How to react. In normal circumstances she'd have blown a fuse. She was like her father when it came to lies and deceit. But these weren't normal circumstances. They were on the run. Had Kane done it for them or was he just trying to save himself? Kane needed to escape for a while. Normally he felt so at ease around Kirsty but now the atmosphere was tense.
"Look, I'm going to drive into the next town to look for work"
"Is that such a good idea? I mean, now Sylvia knows who you are anyone could find us. Shouldn't we move on?"
"No one's going to track us down Kirsty"
His voice was agitated. He rarely called her Kirsty. He forges a smile at her and leaves. He didn't know why he was being like this. She should be the one who is angry. But he's angry at himself. For his past. All the mistakes he has made. He wasn't good enough for Kirsty. She would be criticised for what he was. He didn't want her to live like that. And if they moved on he'd have failed again. They'd have to start all over again.
He couldn't tell what Kirsty had been thinking back in their room but he thought she was probably more hurt about the fact that he hadn't told her himself. He hadn't known what would be worse - telling her and wishing he hadn't or not telling her and wishing he had.
....................................
CARAVAN PARK
Shelley tries the door and is puzzled to find it locked. She takes her key from her bag, unlocks the door and enters. She calls out to her husband.
"Rhys?"
He had meant to stay home in case Kirsty called. She lays her bag down on the sofa and her eyes meet with Rhys' letter which is still lying on the kitchen table. She frowns but assumes it will only explain why he has had to go out. Picking the letter off the table, she opens the envelope, pulling out the single sheet of paper.
"Shell, I never meant this to happen. I never meant to drag our family down by taking on Pete's problems. I have decided to go away for a while but I promise I'll be back, when the times right. When I have something to offer you and the kids again.
Make sure the kids know that I didn't do this because I didn't love them, but more because I loved them too much. I haven't been able to cope in the last year and it's all become too much for me to handle. You saw how I behaved when I found out about Kane. I lost control and I don't like the person I'm becoming. I know you can hold the family together Shell. You're much stronger than I am."
Shelley collapsed down onto the sofa. It was one blow after another. How could he be so selfish? She had thought he was different to Pete. Pete ran away whenever there was trouble and now Rhys had done the same. It was the same with Kirsty. Maybe it was a family thing. She didn't have a clue what she would do or how to tell the girls. She would have to tell them the whole sorry story. It would break them. And whilst she was trying to hold the family together she would have to make cutbacks to save money. It was the only way they could cope without going under. She couldn't control her tears any longer. She couldn't believe Rhys had done that to her. And now he had left her to shoulder the consequences.
....................................
CAR
Kane drives down the country road, thoughts shooting through his mind. He had secured a job in the next town, Erinsborough, at a small community pub. He had got on quite well with the owners and had managed to make it so that he only had to work a couple of late shifts a week to enable him to spend more time with Kirsty. It was a 15 minute drive into work but at least he had a job.
A car careers towards him, more in the centre of the road than on its own side. Kane swings his car into the side of the road as the car grows nearer to avoid a collision. When the car is just metres away, he notices to his horror that the driver is Rhys. He slumps down in his seat, hoping that Rhys doesn't notice who he is and praying that his car is not recognised. The car shoots past and through the wing mirror, Kane watches it draw further away. He remains frozen into his seat, stunned for a moment.
....................................
B+B Room
Kirsty has finished work for the day. She enters their room, expecting to find Kane, but to her bitter disappointment he is not there. They were together in this, and they had to make it work. She just wanted to work things out with him. She couldn't help thinking that maybe he had abandoned her. He had been so cold when he walked out, so distant. She glanced at Kane's phone, which lay on the bed. Maybe she should call home when she had the chance. But it might hurt Kane more to know that she had gone to her family for support. Her hands grip the phone and she dials out, lingering over the final digit for what seemed like forever. The phone was immediately answered by a frantic Shelley.
"Hello?"
"Mum, it's me"
"Oh... hi Kirst"
Kirsty couldn't help but notice the hint of disappointment in her Mum's voice.
"What's wrong?"
Shelley took a deep breath but her voice was still shaky.
"Look Kirsty... me and your Dad... we've been having some problems - financial problems... it turns out we can't afford to lend you any money"
"Oh... don't worry about it... we'll be fine"
Underneath, the disappointment hit her hard. She and Kane couldn't survive on her wages alone.
"Kirsty"
Shelley's voice still sounded serious.
"Yeah?"
"There's no easy way to say this but... your Dad's gone... he left earlier..."
Shelley trailed off. How could she explain it? She couldn't even understand why Rhys had done it.
"What do you mean gone?"
"He lent money to Pete and we're nearly bankrupt... he blamed himself and now he's gone - he just left a note"
Shelley sounded distressed and broken, the words tumbling out of her mouth as she struggles to hold back tears. The two fell silent. Kirsty couldn't believe it. Her Dad was devoted to the family. It would be so out of character for him to desert them like that. She realised that she had done the same. She had run off when the going got tough. She couldn't be angry with her Dad for doing the same as her. She felt guilty. She was sure Shelley was thinking the same about her.
"Kirsty are you there?"
"Yeah... yeah I'm here"
Kirsty's voice was distant and weak.
"Look Kirst, this family is falling apart - Jade's in pieces... we need you here Kirst. We need to stick together through this"
"Mum"
"Just think about it Kirst, yeah?"
The door to the room swings open and Kane enters.
"Look Mum, I've got to go - I'll call you back later... bye"
She hurriedly hangs up and she and Kane look at each other in silence. Neither knows exactly what to say. Kane glances around awkwardly.
"I was just calling Mum..."
She trails off and Kane smiles apologetically.
"Sorry for running out earlier - I just needed to clear my head..."
Another silence follows. Kirsty nods, smiling faintly. Her mind was still on her Mum.
"...I got a job - it's just a bit of bar work but the pay's not bad"
"Yeah? That's great Babe"
Kirsty tried to sound enthusiastic but her conversation with her Mum played over and over in her head.
"I saw your Dad on my way back - he almost ran me off the road"
He sounded absurdly casual, as if it was an everyday occurrence. The truth was he didn't know quite how to approach the subject.
"What? Where?"
Kirsty was frantic with concern.
"Just out of town - he was heading towards Erinsborough. Driving like a maniac... why what's happened"
He can tell something's wrong but she isn't paying him much attention. Her mind is evidently elsewhere.
"I've got to call Mum"
"What's going on?"
"Dad walked out - there's been some problems... I need to talk to her again"
Kane felt left out. This was meant to be about them - why did Kirsty keep having to turn to her family? Why couldn't she turn to him? He was there for her. Surely she knew that. He would always be there for her.
"Right... I'll go out and see if I can get us something to eat then"
Kirsty already had her ear to his phone. She nodded and he walked out, heavy hearted.
....................................
B+B ROOM
Kirsty hangs up the phone. She had spent the majority of the call listening to her Mum pleading with her to come home. Part of her wanted to return to the secure family life but part of her knew that if she returned home things wouldn't have changed.
When she had told her Mum about Kane seeing Rhys that afternoon Shelley had demanded to know where they were in the hope of finding out where Rhys was heading. Kirsty couldn't tell her anything. Not without talking to Kane. She knew how blunt she had been with him but things were going so wrong. She missed her family more than she thought she would but she also knew that she couldn't bear not to see Kane. She was torn between loyalty to her family and her undying love for Kane. Why couldn't her life be as simple as Jade's. Jade was in love with Nick. Nick was accepted into the family. Jade did well at school. Shelley and Rhys were so proud of her.
Kirsty felt guilty for Rhys leaving. Maybe if she had stayed at home it wouldn't have come to this.
The door swings open and Kane enters cautiously.
"Hey..."
"Hi"
Kirsty walks over to him as he closes the door. She hated this tension.
"Did you get anything to eat"
"I was going to... but I ended up just walking around... thinking"
"What about?"
"Everything"
"Are you mad at me for calling Mum?"
"No, of course not... I just wish I could understand what your family mean to you... but I can't... and it's just... it's just frustrating sometimes"
She smiles at him, glad that he's trying to explain. Trying to open up to her.
"There's been some trouble at home... that's why I had to call Mum back... Dad's done a runner - it's something to do with Dad's brother and him owing a lot of money... Dad lent him the money and now they can't get it back... they can't afford to lend us anything after all"
He stepped towards her, taking her in his arms. She was evidently upset. He couldn't pretend to understand. All he could do was be there for her.
"We'll get by... now I've got a job things will get easier... we can make this work"
"Just... just tell me if there's anything going on in future... I don't want to be kept in the dark"
Kane stroked her hair lovingly. He had only kept it from her in case she got upset. He didn't want to see her unhappy and he didn't want to lose her.
"What are we going to do about Sylvia?"
"What can we do? We'll just have to keep up the act - we've got a good life here, let's not spoil it"
A moment of silence passes as Kirsty rests her head on his chest, relaxed for the first time that day. A thought crept into Kane's mind.
"Oh... I told her you were sixteen"
He thought he should tell her. If he didn't it could put her in an awkward situation. And she'd want to know why he hadn't told her about that lie.
"You did what?"
Kirsty lifted her head off his chest. He looks momentarily worried.
"I told her I was seventeen"
A slight look of amusement passes over their faces. Kane kisses her and she sinks back into his arms. She feels comfortable. Fulfilled. But in the back of her mind, worry about her family, about her Dad, is eating away at her conscience. Was it really right that she was here whilst her family was falling apart?
