SERIES 2, EPISODE 3
© ATOM 2013 A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
ISBN: 978-1-74295-381-6 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Redfern Now Series 2 portrays contemporary inner-city Indigenous life in and around the suburb of Redfern in Sydney, New South Wales. The series offers compelling stories of ordinary people dealing with the ups and downs that life brings. Redfern Now is a drama series written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians. The series was developed in collaboration with UK screenwriter Jimmy McGovern and is produced by Blackfella Films’ Darren Dale and Miranda Dear, and presented by ABC TV and Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW.
CURRICULUM For students in Years 11–12, Redfern Now has relevance to units of work in LINKS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Australian History, Cultural Redfern Now is suitable for second- Studies, English, Health and Human ary students in Years 9–12. The Development, Literature, Media, series offers stories of Aboriginal and Religion and Society, and Sociology. Torres Strait Islander peoples told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers are advised to direct stu- peoples, allowing students to develop dents to complete activities that are an awareness and appreciation of subject-relevant and age-appropriate. Indigenous storytelling and to see the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from their perspective. BLACKFELLA FILMS Given its insight into the present expe- riences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait For twenty years, Blackfella Films has Islander peoples, the series provides created innovative and high-quality opportunities for students to engage content across documentary and nar- in discussions about Aboriginal and rative in both short and feature formats Torres Strait Islander identity and be- for theatrical, television and online plat- longing and to examine the influences forms. Its award-winning productions of family, kinship, community, place, have screened at premier international culture and mainstream Australian film festivals including Sundance, society. Berlin and Toronto, and distinguished its team as creators and curators of In addition, the stories told by Redfern distinctive Australian content. Now are those of ordinary people dealing with the extraordinary chal- The company was founded in 1992 lenges of ordinary existence. The by writer/director/producer Rachel episodes explore universal themes Perkins who was joined by producer and issues of significance to any Darren Dale in 2002. In 2010, former audience, regardless of their cultural ABC Head of Fiction, Miranda Dear background. joined Blackfella Films as producer on the company’s drama slate. For students in Years 9–10, Redfern Now has relevance to units of work in The company’s credits include the the learning areas of English, Media documentary series First Australians, SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 and History, and addresses the the feature documentary The Tall Man cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal (Tony Krawitz, 2011) the ABC telemov- and Torres Strait Islander Histories ie Mabo, the annual Indigenous film and Cultures. The series can also be festival Message Sticks (2002–2011) used to teach the general capabilities and Redfern Now Series 1. The series, of Intercultural Understanding and which went to air in November 2012, Ethical Behaviour. was the first Australian drama series 2 SERIES KEY Most Outstanding Drama Series. Dale currently serves on the board of CREATIVES Screen NSW and the Council of the written, directed and produced by Jimmy McGovern – Australian Film, Television and Radio Indigenous Australians. Story Producer School (AFTRS). Miranda Dear – Producer Visit Blackfella Films online at With his writing often based on real
year Dale was awarded this prize. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 film series The New Black. Dear also In 1900, La Perouse was declared With his Blackfella Films business commissioned the television series The an Aboriginal Reserve and this partner, Perkins, Dale co-curated the Slap, The Straits, Paper Giants and Miss brought subsequent change in film program for the Message Sticks Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Redfern. Aboriginal people began Indigenous Festival at the Sydney Since 2010, Dear has worked with returning from rural areas to Sydney Opera House from 2002 until 2011. Blackfella Films and produced, with in search of employment. Many Most recently Dale produced Redfern Darren Dale, Mabo and Redfern Now found work at the Eveleigh Railway Now Series 1 for ABC TV, which won Series 1. Workshops and settled in Redfern, the 2013 TV Week Logie Award for 3 until the Great Depression forced does this sequence portray Redfern them back into temporary camps in La and the people who live there? Perouse. How does the series portray Redfern and the people who live From the end of World War Two, the there? Draw on evidence from Aboriginal population in Redfern grew each episode to support your and a sense of community evolved. response. By the early 1960s, Redfern was home • Working as a class, discuss why to over 12,000 Aboriginal people, the filmmakers chose to set the some employed in local industry and series in Redfern. others who were unemployed and • Create an infographic about the underprivileged. New opportunities suburb of Redfern. and the freedom afforded to Aboriginal Begin your research at the people by the National Referendum Australian Bureau of Statistics: of 1967 encouraged the migration of
• What do you know about the inner addition, Redfern Now achieved an SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Living conditions remained substand- Sydney suburb of Redfern? Have Australian Directors Guild Award ard. The houses had been neglected you ever been to Redfern? What for Best Direction in a TV Drama. and were in need of repair. The AHC sort of reputation does Redfern At this year’s Deadly Awards, had trouble collecting rent and public have? Redfern Now was the winner of funding did not allow for the housing Watch the opening credit sequence Television Show of the Year. stock to be repaired. Redfern and the of Redfern Now. Make a list of Why do you think Series 1 was Block in particular became a haven for everything you see and hear. How such a success? 4 3
‘BABE IN ARMS’
‘BABE IN ARMS’ WAS WRITTEN BY STEVEN MCGREGOR AND DIRECTED BY ADRIAN RUSSELL WILLS. TEACHERS MAY SELECT FROM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS’ VIEWING AND CLOSE ANALYSIS OF ‘BABE IN ARMS’.
SYNOPSIS
Janine (Caren Pistorius) and Justin Myles (Meyne Wyatt) are the con- tented parents of a newborn son. Life seems pretty perfect until one sleepless night turns into a week of tending to a baby that just won’t stop crying. Everything unravels as Janine struggles with the responsibility of motherhood.
While Justin spends his days at work, Janine spends her days caring for their The police are called, a media appeal wine sees Justin lash out and accuse son. The baby won’t settle, won’t feed, is undertaken and professional mourn- his wife of murdering their son. won’t sleep; Janine is way out of her ers set up a vigil outside the family’s depth. Estranged from her own family, home. As the days roll on and there A knock at the door that becomes Janine refuses to depend on her in- are no clues as to the whereabouts of impossible to ignore interrupts the laws and the neighbourhood aunties. the baby, suspicion switches to the couple’s argument. Detective Harrison She believes that they disapprove parents. The neighbours’ accounts of and Morris are standing on the front of Justin’s decision to marry a non- the baby crying at all hours of the day verandah. The baby has been found. Indigenous Australian. Her decision and night – and of Janine and Justin’s Janine takes her son from Detective to manage alone leaves her feeling argument – fuel speculation. It doesn’t Morris and heads upstairs, leaving a isolated and trapped. help when the police and media distraught Justin downstairs to cope become aware that the couple had not alone. Sleep deprivation and the end of her named their son. once-ordered life places a strain on her relationship with her new son and Justin is supportive of his wife and re- CHARACTERS her husband. Justin’s insistence that fuses to believe that she had anything caring for a child is in every women’s to do with the disappearance. But with The major characters of ‘Babe in
DNA doesn’t go over well with Janine. the court of public opinion against Arms’ are Janine and Justin Myles and SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 An argument ensues and Justin them and Justin’s parents professing their newborn son. The minor char- storms off for some much-needed their doubt over Janine’s version of acters of ‘Babe in Arms’ are Norman peace and quiet. events, Justin begins to suspect his and Dottie Myles, Detectives Harrison wife may have something to hide. A and Morris, Emily, the aunties, Dean, Janine and Justin’s argument trig- visit to the local bottlo to confirm that Superintendent Giles, the pharmacy gers an incident that is every parent’s Janine did not have the baby with her assistant and the media pack outside nightmare – their son goes missing. when she popped into buy a bottle of Janine and Justin’s home. 5 3
• A sociogram is a visual representa- Why does the conversation turn to • Justin: ‘What’s your name, mate?’ tion of the relationships of a group the baby’s complexion? Janine and Justin haven’t named of people. How does Janine react and how their son. Draw and annotate a sociogram does Justin respond? Why is this the case? that describes and explains the Subsequent scenes reveal that The neighbours don’t understand. relationships between the major Janine is estranged from her own Emily feels sorry for ‘little no and minor characters of ‘Babe in family and is unwilling to depend name’. When the baby disappears, Arms’. on her Indigenous in-laws and the the fact that he is not named is re- Indigenous women in her neigh- garded as ‘unusual’ by the detec- bourhood, both old and young. tives investigating the case and by A new baby Spend time as a class discussing the media. Janine’s belief that she is disap- What explanations do Janine 1 The opening sequence of proved of because she is white. Do and Justin offer those who are ‘Babe in Arms’ tracks the Myles family you think that her estrangement confused by their decision not to as they make the trip from the hospital from her family is because she has name the baby? to home. married an Indigenous man? Spend time talking to your parents • He must be precious. I mean after about how they decided on your Janine and Justin are happy but nerv- losing the first one, you poor thing. name. Share what you learn about ous as they leave the hospital and – Emily why you have the name you do negotiate the car trip home. Explain the significance of Emily’s with the class. comment. How does this informa- • ‘Just go slow, hey.’ tion affect your perspective of the How do the scenes outside the new parents. A crying baby hospital and in the car on the way home portray the new parents? Janine, Justin and their son head in- 2 The sleepless nights begin. side. Their contentment is obvious as Justin and Janine take turns to soothe Everybody loves a baby. Janine and they sit together on the couch admir- their son back to sleep. Justin’s neighbours are eager to meet ing their son. the new arrival. • What is achieved by beginning this
• Like Episode 1 and 2 of Redfern sequence with an exterior shot of SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 • ‘Hello, mother duck. How are Now, ‘Babe in Arms’ is a story the Myles’ home at night? you?’ about family. How does this scene Describe the neighbours’ relation- portray the Myles family? Parenting a newborn is demanding. It ship with the young couple. • The Myles’ home is a key setting of brings new responsibilities. It changes • Justin: ‘He’s right. Don’t worry. the episode. What does your first a couple’s lifestyle. It affects individu- We’ll chuck him in the sun.’ glimpse of their home reveal about als’ perceptions of themselves and of Aunty: ‘That’s right, brown him up.’ the couple and their lifestyle? their partner. 6 3
• Attending to the needs of the baby the street and asking one of the about the way that Janine and becomes the couple’s priority. aunties for help? Justin perceive their own and each How does Janine spend her days • What types of support services other’s role and responsibilities? and nights? can parents of an infant access? How has becoming parents What does Justin do to help? Investigate the work of a sup- changed their relationship? • Some babies are just more difficult port service for parents of infants. to manage than others and some Create a PowerPoint presentation Justin leaves for footy training. Janine parents have little experience or consisting of three slides to pro- is home alone, again. knowledge to assist them. mote the support service. Do you think that Janine and Justin • Explain the significance of the shot struggle because of their age? of the neighbours outside their • Write a commentary that analyses The argument homes observing all that is going the use of storytelling elements on. and production elements to con- 4 Justin arrives home from work. • Why does Justin hesitate to leave? vey the challenges of caring for a He calls Janine’s name above the Is Justin’s decision to leave evi- new baby. noise but she does not answer. He dence that he is also not coping then heads upstairs to attend to his with the demands of fatherhood? son. Justin brings the baby down- What else could he have done? Coping stairs, lays him on a blanket and then moves around the house turning off Footy training 3 Morning. The street fills with appliances. He eventually finds Janine people, young and old, heading to crouched on the back verandah paint- school and to work. The baby’s cries ing her toenails. 5 Justin doesn’t go to footy are audible to all. One of the aunt- training. He heads to the cliffs at La ies stops to listen as she moves her Parenting is a constant job, twenty- Perouse, where he begins to make his wheelie bin to the front of her house. fours hours a day, seven days a way through a six-pack of beer. Inside the Myles’ home, Justin is week, and the working conditions are about to leave for work. Janine is in difficult. Janine’s joy is overshadowed • How do the lyrics of the song com- the bathroom getting ready to face the by the sense that she has lost her ment on Justin’s situation? day. Her attention soon shifts from her old life. Justin, who spends all day at • Janine calls Justin, only to hear the needs to those of the baby. work, doesn’t understand Janine’s phone ringing in the house. complaints. Why does Janine call Justin? What • It may only be early morning but do you think Janine wants to say? what evidence is there that Janine • Janine: ‘That kid’s been driving How does the acting in this scene is not coping? me mad all day. All week he hasn’t portray that Janine regrets the Describe the use of production stopped crying. I tried everything, argument? elements to convey that Janine is Justin. Rock him. Bathe him. exhausted and overwhelmed as Control crying. Everything. He just Justin is pulled over by the police. He she moves about upstairs. cries and cries.’ is nervous given he has been drinking. • A day at home caring for a baby Justin: ‘He’s a baby Janine. They can be intense and unrelenting. In cry. It’s their job.’ • Look I had a couple. I’m not over this sequence, Janine gives up. Janine: ‘Is it my job to have spew the limit. I just needed to clear my Analyse the use of diegetic and in my hair? Not have a shower. head. New baby and all … Nothing non-diegetic sound as Janine Not wear clean clothes. Sleep. like the commercials. You know moves around the house, turning No sleep. Stitches where there when the baby’s all cooing and on the television, the radio and the shouldn’t be. Can’t piss. Can’t shit. cuddly. Quiet happy babies. Happy kitchen appliances to drown out What would you know?’ mothers. Happy babies … It’s no the noise of her son’s cries. Justin: ‘You’re his mother, Janine.’ wonder, people tip over the edge • Janine picks up a bottle of nail pol- Janine: ‘And you’re his father.’ and hurt their kids. – Justin ish and heads into the backyard. Justin: ‘And I’m doing my bit.’ An apprehensive Justin keeps on Spend time as a class discussing Janine: ‘And what bit is that?’ talking, wondering out loud why Janine’s behaviour. Justin: ‘Working. Providing. For society’s portrayal of babies and
Why does Janine respond in this you. For him. For this house. I think parenting is so far from reality. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 way? Were you worried for her I’m more than doing my bit.’ What views of being a new par- and the baby? Did she gain your Janine: ‘Bragging with your mates ent are challenged in this scene sympathy? at work about your new baby son. through Justin’s comments? Why doesn’t Janine ask for help? Having a lunch break. Fresh air. • Police officer: ‘Where’s your footy Is it pride? Is it a fear of being Conversations. I haven’t slept in gear?’ judged a bad mother? Or does God knows how long.’ Justin is confused by the police of- race get in the way of her crossing What does this exchange reveal ficer’s question and why the police 7 3
and Dottie Myles. Janine can’t sleep. Justin discovers her standing in the middle of the road at 3am dressed in her nightie.
• Janine: ‘How can you sleep?’ Justin: ‘It’s 3am.’ Janine: ‘We should be out looking for our son.’ Justin: ‘He’s not a cat Janine. It’s not like we can go knocking on people’s doors. Have you seen our baby? He’s cute and cuddly and cries a lot. Someone took him.’ Why is this conversation significant?
have spoken with Janine. Describe what Justin sees as the police car turns into his street. How does Justin respond? Where’s my 6 son? At the front door of the Myles home, Detective Harrison asks an angry and confused Justin to calm down. Janine is sitting on the couch with Detective Morris. When she sees Justin, she moves towards him and they embrace. When Justin asks where the baby is, Janine says sorry.
• What does Janine tell Justin and then Detectives Harrison and Morris about the circumstances of their son’s disappearance? Janine and Justin’s home is now a Is Janine in shock? Does Justin • What were you thinking and feel- crime scene. Everything is potentially convince Janine to come inside? ing when you first watched this a clue to the baby’s whereabouts and Justin headed outside to care for sequence? Like Justin, were you may be used as evidence. Janine. Why does he return inside confused about how the baby without her? disappeared? • Why are Janine and Justine re- • Janine: ‘Do you think I did some- • Detective Harrison asks Justin, ‘So quired to strip naked and give their thing to our son?’ what happened in the hours before clothing to the police? Are they Justin: ‘Where did the bottle of your son went missing?’ already under suspicion? wine come from?’ What does Justin tell the How are production elements used Earlier in the evening, Justin had detectives? to convey Janine and Justin’s noticed a wine bottle on a table
Describe Janine’s response to vulnerability? in the living room. Janine explains SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 Justin’s comment: ‘Kids drive you that the wine was bought for the mad sometimes. Push your but- couple to drink that night. tons. Push you to the limit. You’d Helpless What reason does Janine give be a liar if you said the thought Justin for failing to tell the po- hadn’t crossed your mind to shut 7 Janine and Justine spend the lice that she left the house in the them up.’ night with Justin’s parents, Norman afternoon?
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Under 8 suspicion The next morning, Janine and Justin return home. Janine is angry when the police refuse her entry to her own home. She lashes out telling Detective Harrison, ‘It’s not a crime scene. It’s my house.’
• Janine: ‘I know what’s going on. I know what you’re thinking. You think I killed my son.’ Describe the reactions of the neighbours in the street and then the locals in the pharmacy to Janine and Justin.
Later, at the police station, Janine and Justin are interviewed separately. Janine reassures Detective Morris, ‘I was coping. I’ve heard all the horror stories about babies crying all night, weeks on end.’ Justin tells Detective Harrison, ‘Jeez mate, babies cry. It’s their job; they know how to push your button.’
• Working as a class, explain how story elements and production fence into a shrine and that they Justin struggles to find the words to elements are used to engage the think they have a right to comment convey his distress, eventually tell- audience in this sequence. on the baby’s disappearance. ing the throng of journalists that the • Janine: ‘He loved his son, and …’ Is Justin’s anger justified? last few days have been ‘completely Detective: ‘Loves. You mean, loves • Detective Harrison: ‘The investiga- unbearable’. his son.’ tion’s hit a bit of a brick wall, so we How does Janine respond to the need to change tack slightly.’ • Reporter: ‘What kind of baby was correction? Detective Morris: ‘We need to put he?’ Is Detective Morris suspicious? a human face to the story. We Janine: ‘Well he was perfect. He Were you suspicious of Janine? need you both to make a public made us complete.’ appeal.’ Describe the impact of Janine’s Why does Justin agree? Why does answer on the assembled media. Every Janine refuse? What makes her How did you react to Janine’s 9 parent’s worst change her mind? answer? nightmare The media briefing goes ahead. Janine and Justin stand outside their Doubt and home. Justin’s arm is around Janine. betrayal Janine, Justin, Dottie and Norman Superintendent Giles asks the media 10 watch the evening news. The disap- to show respect and to keep ques- pearance of Janine and Justin’s son is tions to a minimum. Norman and Dottie are waiting inside making headlines. Norman’s hand is for their son and daughter-in-law. on the remote but he does not change Janine has prepared a statement: Janine needs a cigarette and some SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 channels. time alone. Justin’s focus is Janine. He Our son is out there somewhere. I ask does not want a cup of tea or a slice • Woman with son: ‘We hope and anyone who knows anything or saw of cake. He wants Janine to rest. pray this has a happy ending.’ anything to please come forward and Justin: ‘Parasites.’ contact the police. Someone must • Dottie: ‘There’s something not right Justin is outraged that neighbours have seen something. He needs his with Janine.’ and strangers have turned his front mother. I need my son. 9 3
Justin: ‘Yeah that’s a bit of an away with it Janine? This street has crisis of Janine’s negligence and understatement.’ eyes. There’s people everywhere. Justin’s betrayal? Justin is disappointed by his par- It’s never empty and you know ents’ criticism of Janine. what, no-one saw nothing. No-one When and why does he start to saw jack shit. Nosy bitch Emily CREATIVE take their claims about Janine who sees everything saw fuck-all. RESPONSE seriously? – Justin Like Justin, did you think that Your task is to add a scene to ‘Babe Justin goes to the bottle shop to work Janine had hurt the baby? in Arms’. out exactly who and what he should ‘So you think I murdered our baby? believe. He waits his turn and then Killed our son in broad daylight?’ Your scene must offer a complex ex- asks Dean to recall the details of Is Janine’s response convincing? ploration of an aspect of the episode. Janine’s visit to the bottle shop. Back at home, he asks Janine to recount There is a knock at the door. Justin You need to be very certain of your exactly what happened. Together and Janine ignore it. When the knock purpose. What is it that you want your they return to the bottle shop. Dean becomes more insistent, Justin opens readers to think and to feel? confirms that Janine did not have the the door. Detectives Harrison and baby with her. Morris are standing on the doorstep. Your creative response must be con- The baby is cradled in Detective sistent with the episode. • If you did nothing wrong, if you Morris’ arms. have nothing to hide, why lie? Keep in mind that your decision to – Justin • Does the knock on the door come focus on a situation, character(s) or
Janine admits that she left the too late? idea of ‘Babe in Arms’ implies that SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2013 baby at home and went to the bot- • What do the closing shots of you want to offer an insight into the tle shop alone. Janine and Justin suggest about situation, character(s) or idea that has How does Janine justify her what will happen next? not been completely explored in the actions? Janine and Justin have survived episode. Your response should not • Where is he? What have you done the grief of losing a newborn child. duplicate what already exists. The ob- to him? How did you expect to get Will their relationship withstand the jective of the activity is to reveal more.
10 This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2013) ISBN: 978-1-74295-381-6 [email protected] For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit
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