800 Words

Logically, the best place to start

the story of the new beginning is at the beginning.

But where is the beginning?

I guess the beginning is that I'm back.

I went away for a while because our lives changed

and decisions needed to be made.

And the rule about decisions...

especially big, life-changing ones...

Is that opinion is always divided.

Well, first, it's uh, it's great to see everyone.

Great to see the house so full of life again.

It's, uh, it's been far too quiet these past few months...

without our Laura.

we all lost someone we love, obviously.

And... And that was hard on all of us,

especially Shay and Arlo.

But the truth of the matter was that in our grief,

we... we stopped.

We... We just stopped living.

I mean, everyone here was great... our friends, family.

Amazing support.

Especially Laura's parents, Roger and Trish.

Thank you.

But deep down... something needed to change.

New Zealand?

We bought a house there.

I-In New Zealand?

For an investment?

For us to live there.

Where suddenly, magically everything will be all right?

Instead of this, this... this standing still in the silence.

And we're just meant to forget about Mum?

-Of course not. -She's gone, and now you want us to cut everyone else out of our lives?

I want us, as a family, to get on with living.

By moving to the arse end of the world?

Oh, great idea, Dad!

I-It's not the arse end of the world, Shay.

Actually, it kind of is... geographically.

But as the idea became an inevitability

and this house was sold, you know, it started to sink in.

I'm staying here!

No. No, no. You can't stay here.

Fine. I'l get my own place.

- I'm old enough! - No, you're not!

We're going to New Zealand, Shay, as a family.

That is a fact.

So get on board with it.

And now as the inevitability has become a reality,

it's time to raise our glass.

To moving on...

and starting over.

The host in hiding.

- A bad host. - No.

It gives everyone out there a chance to talk openly

about how you're off your rocker.

Is that her sorted? Yeah.

Would have been more,

but somebody already raided

She did give good shoe, that girl.

Mm.

Even back in uni.

Excellent taste in shoes.

So, you taking this lot

No. It's going into storage.

For when you come back?

For when I have time to come back

and sort through everything.

You see, that's one of the problems when you run away...

The loose ends.

It's the right decision, Jan.

Well, the consensus out there

is that buying a house sight unseen in a whole other country

is completely barking mad.

Yeah. I know what they think.

And it was an entirely rational decision,

made after much careful thought.

And it's not sight unseen. It's the house I used to holiday in when I was a kid.

It was a sign.

Well, while you're over there,

doing whatever you need to do, going mad,

can you do me a favor and start writing your column again?

No.

Oh, come on, George. People loved your column.

And when I say people, I mean the annoying readers

who are still giving me grief

because your words of wisdom aren't there anymore.

They were never words of wisdom.

And as much as I enjoyed writing it...

things have changed.

Oh, that's so lovely. Did you have a nice time? Yeah. It was really good.

Now, if you ever need anything, you just call us, okay? -Like money? -Mm.

Even if you just feel unhappy and you want to come home.

Okay. I-1 think I'll like New Zealand.

Unless the volcano erupts.

- There's a volcano? - Yeah.

The whole middle of the North Island

is basically a caldera just waiting to blow.

Oh, dear.

B He so takes after his father.

Yeah. I do.

That's just genetics. I-Is that a bad thing?

‘Cause sometimes when I hear you talking about Dad,

it's like you think that it is.

And I-I don't get that.

I get that you don't think what Dad's doing is right.

But then, you haven't actually seen how awful it's been

- since Mum died. - Arlo, it's okay.

So after that,

I reckon if Dad thinks we should move to New Zealand,

then... that's what we should do.

If that's what's gonna make us happy again.

I'm sorry about that.

Our offer stands. You go to New Zealand.

You do what you need to do. But leave the kids with us.

They need a stable environment.

Yes, they do... with me.

The experts on this stuff reckon...

some of the most stressful things in life

revolve around death, buying and selling real estate,

emigrating, and international travel.

Only an idiot would do all these things at the same time.

Look at that view. Isn't it amazing?

Yes!

First time my parents drove this road...

It was way worse back then...

I spent the whole trip sitting in the back

gutsing on Fanta and Twisties.

And we got to the bit where it gets tight and turny,

before you drop down into the town,

and the result was not pretty.

And... And very orange.

Dad!

Dad?

- Dad, what are you doing? - It's tangled up. Unplug it!

I'm trying!

Everyone okay?

On what level?

That was unexpected.

Oh, my God!

No. Oh, no.

Is this some kind of local greeting?

Is everyone all right?

Yeah. I believe so.

My sculpture kind of got away on me.

It's okay, Mum. I called 111.

Oh, Billy, did you have to?

Welcome to Weld, mate.

So, this thing has a name, does it?

- The sculpture? - Yeah.

Yep. All right, guys.

- Ake te whenua. - Well done. Good response time.

Uh, A-K-E. A-K-E. Would it be quicker if I wrote it for you, Tom?

Thanks, Katie.

Getting smashed by a sculpture?

I'm sure there's a clause.

Need some help?

No.

Let's get that bloody rock on that truck, boys.

I'm so sorry.

Not exactly a flash start to your holiday.

We're not on holiday. We're moving here.

Really? From where?

To Weld?

No.

- Then why? - Exactly.

Long story.

Oh.

And here comes Fiona to tend the dead or dying.

Hi. My name's Billy.

What's your name?

Hey. I'm Arlo.

Arlo.

Arlo. Yeah.

What's the status?

No status, Fiona.

Car versus sculpture.

- Art wins. - Right.

And the occupants?

Yeah. Yeah.

No whiplash or any other impact-related injuries?

You sure?

Uh, we'd stopped when it rolled into us.

We may have even been going backwards.

Fine. Good.

Pleased.

‘Cause it could have been quite nasty.

Could have been a serious tragedy.

As opposed to a fun tragedy? I'm gonna do the paperwork.

Is it okay if we remove the murder weapon

from the crime scene?

Go for your life.

I suppose you want us to take this back up the hill.

Yes, Zac. This time, put it on properly.

And suddenly this is all my fault.

Some things never change.

Let's go, boys.

Can I stay here with my friends?

Sure. I'll see you at home for tea.

Your problem, not mine.

I can show you all the cool things about Weld.