For All Our Sins
CAST: 4 male, 1 female
SYNOPSIS: The lights illuminate the Freeman family home in Newcastle, on the east coast of Australia. Harry and his son George enter, carrying a new couch and exchanging terse remarks as they navigate the lounge room’s paintwork. Over a beer, George expresses dissatisfaction with his current situation in life, and the conversation shifts to Mickey, Harry's friend and the owner of a butcher’s shop, who recently had to let George go. As George leaves, they briefly discuss Charlie, Harry's high-achieving younger son, soon to assume a naval post overseas. Harry spills beer on the couch, but is interrupted in attempting to clean it by a phone call from Charlie, who confirms arrangements for a farewell dinner.
Mickey arrives with meat for the dinner, and they discuss the health of Alice, Harry’s wife. Harry bemoans competition from immigrant-owned shops, though Mickey seems ill at ease, leaving to visit his brother. Alice enters the scene with Pat, her gregarious sister, and it is revealed that Alice has been slowly recovering from a car accident. Returning with a roasting tray, Mickey reveals to a stunned Harry that he fired George for theft.
In the following scene, Harry and George have a tense conversation after the latter comes home late with a bruised face. Harry questions George about the injury and accuses him of stealing money from Mickey. George denies the accusation, claiming that he had borrowed money from Mickey and paid it back. Harry expresses his disappointment in an increasingly heated exchange, until Alice intervenes and diffuses the situation. Harry apologises and suggests that George consider attending a trade college to improve his prospects; George responds by opening up further about his frustrations. Harry sympathises, admitting that he struggled to teach himself to read later in life than most. Eventually, George takes himself off to bed.
The last scene of the first act begins with Charlie’s long-anticipated arrival, in full naval uniform. George, who seems slightly awkward, offers Charlie a beer. The family engages in casual conversation while Harry helps Alice with the wine. They discuss Charlie's girlfriend, Lucy, who couldn't make it, and Charlie reveals that he is considering leaving the navy soon. They talk about his job prospects and the opportunities he has with his computer science degree. Charlie surprises Harry and Alice with a wrapped gift, which turns out to be a laptop. They express their gratitude, and Charlie promises to set it up for them later. The family reminisce about old times, Charlie mentioning that he also knew about Harry’s struggle with literacy, shocking George, who had thought his father’s admission something private between them. He leaves the room under a cloud. Harry lightens the mood by inviting Charlie to stay an extra day, but Charlie declines due to work commitments. Just as they are about to sit down to dinner, a shot is heard from George’s room.
The second act begins a week later, with Alice seated on the new couch, numb and vacant, Harry attempting to console her without knowing how. Mickey enters and shares plans to visit his ailing mother. The trio discuss the complexities of death and their struggle to understand why someone would take their own life. Emotions escalate between Harry and Alice, leading to a heated argument. Alice leaves, and Harry, distraught but in need of something to occupy him, powers up the new laptop.
The next morning, Charlie enters to find Harry asleep on the couch, surrounded by empty beer bottles. Harry awakes and the two make small talk about the computer, before Harry reveals his grief and frustration at the unfairness of life, though he also confesses to relief that it wasn’t Charlie or himself who had died. Harry mentions that Alice hasn't cried since George's death, and Charlie reveals that he's become engaged to Lucy, who is Vietnamese, and explains that his father’s casual racism is the reason he hasn't introduced her to the family. A heated argument ensues and is interrupted when Alice enters, intoxicated and on the verge of hysteria. The scene ends in tension and more than one unresolved conflict.
In the last scene of the play, Harry attempts to enjoy the grand final on T.V., seated on the couch in team colours, a bottle of whisky for company. Charlie enters with news that Alice has been staying with Pat, though a bitter Harry claims not to care. Father and son reminisce about how much promise George showed as a footballer, before Charlie leaves the scene. The game reaches its climax, the noise swelling in the house, now empty save for the couch that was brought in at the beginning of the play.
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