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Clip description
Sydney’s parents have told her to stop seeing John or they will kick her out of their home. She (Clare Bowen) is waiting for him (George Basha) when he arrives home and tells him, in tears, that she can’t see him anymore. They start to row bitterly, for the first time reverting to their ‘tribal’ (ethnic and family) loyalties – and with ugly results.
John is being uncharacteristically cruel and aggressive. However, we know (but Sydney doesn’t) that he is upset because he has just discovered his brother Charlie is dealing drugs and has flushed them down the toilet – putting his family in danger from a drug gang.
Curator’s notes
This is a major turning point in the script – the first occasion in which the lovers’ different ethnic backgrounds become an issue between them. The scene demonstrates that rising above prejudice and ethnic tension is never easy. So far they have tried to deal with this issue by not discussing it, so when it finally rises to the surface it comes out in an ugly way.
Dramatically the scene represents one final, important challenge to the relationship – John and Sydney look here as if they have decided to give in to the forces trying to separate them. They still have the option of struggling to rise above them. But will they take it?
