Hovering was created and recorded on the unceded
lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples
of the Kulin Nation. People who have a proud
and incredible history of storytelling stretching
back thousands of years. This always was and
always will be Aboriginal land. Hovering is intended
for a mature audience. It contains strong language
and adult themes, including references to sex
and drug use. Listener discretion is advised.
Hey sorry, we're closed up for the day. Oh, no
worries. Open late tomorrow. Okay, thanks. Actually,
I wanted to ask you about something else. Oh
yeah? Leo, right? Yeah. Are you looking for any
workers currently? Not at the moment. But I'm
happy to have a look at your resume. We can keep
it on file. You got it there? Um, no, sorry.
All good. Come back tomorrow and drop it in.
My name's Sophie Smeaton. I think you know my
mum. Do I? Yeah. We get fish and chips once a
month or so. I can't say I recall. I haven't
even told you her name yet. I mean, I don't remember
seeing anyone come in once a month who looks
like you, but older. She's not that old. What's
her name? Linda. No, do I not can't think of
any I can't think of a Linda. You've never met
anyone called Linda Can I help you with anything?
No, I just it's a small town. I'm surprised you
don't know her. Sorry She's a teacher at the
primary school doesn't ring about and your daughter
goes there doesn't she does she oh? That Linda
Linda yep. Yes, she does come in now that I think
of it. Yep. Okay, right So you're Linda's kid.
Yep Well, I'm sorry we can't do any more fish
and chips today. The fryers are off already,
but come around tomorrow and - What do you think
of her? Sorry, what? Do you think of her as,
like, a person? Ah, she's... I don't... Really,
if I'm honest. I mean, she seems lovely. She's
been having a really hard time lately. Has she?
How so? I don't know, like - pretty distant.
She used to go running quite regularly but recently
she's stopped kind of all of a sudden and she
seems quite uptight. Oh hey um maybe she misses
it maybe you should tell her to take it up again.
Yeah that's what I thought except then I thought
no do you know what if someone has a problem
with something and running is making them feel
better about it then it's not really fixing the
problem is it? Because it'll still be there when
she gets home. It's just like putting it out
of her mind for a while I mean the running might
feel good and might be a good distraction, but
really she's not running because she likes running
You know what I mean? It's not the running she
cares about It's the stuff at home that she's
trying to get away from and that she cares about
and actually even though she seems more upset
now Maybe it's a good thing Because she's actually
dealing with the things in front of her, not
abandoning them for some, you know, cheap endorphin
high. Because that's the thing about family,
I guess. That even if you get to a place where
you've got issues or it feels like something
needs to change, you'll always come back to them.
Like, everything else compared to family is nothing.
Right? Yeah. Like with your daughter, you'd never
do anything that might hurt her, would you? No.
Because imagine if you did something to your
daughter that changed the way she felt with her
family, that changed how things felt when she
was at home. That'd be a pretty shitty thing
to do, wouldn't it? You know, it's awful but
sometimes you do everything you can to protect
your kids from something like that and it still
happens. And sometimes it happens because some
motherfucker thinks their actions don't have
fucking consequences. Listen. You know what?
I actually don't care. Your chips are gross and
sloppy and the mayo here tastes like shit and
everyone knows you leave the salads overnight
because the lettuce is wilted and tastes like
piss and I'm gonna tell everyone I saw cockroaches
all over your filthy kitchen, you piece of shit.
I'm sorry, alright? What do you want? You're
not sorry. You're sorry for yourself. I'm embarrassed
for you. Great. Thank you. Please leave. And
your potato cakes have so much fucking chicken
salt on them it's like, ugh, eating sand. Just
cool it on the fucking chicken salt. You're gonna
kill someone. Sure, will do. Hey Linda, listen,
Sophie was in here, just call me back when you
get the chance, I'd like to talk. Hovering is
written and directed by Alex Duncan and was produced
by Alex Duncan and Clea Frost. This episode
was performed by John Marc Desengano and Brianagh
Curran. Sound design and mixing by Clea Frost.
Music by Audrey Vixen. Cover art by Phoenix Waddell.
Full credits and more information available in
our show notes.