Reading & Responding - Unit 1
By Jane Harrison
Running Sheet PAGES
TITLE
CONTENT
1
Arriving
The actors arrive on the stage each holding a suitcase. They slip into their characters as children. They talk about home and family.
1 and 2
Adult Flashes
In this episode the characters are adults. Ruby’s home is a mental institution. Anne is living on her own. Jimmy is in prison. Sandy carries his home with him. Shirley is knitting for her grandchildren.
3 and 4
Hiding Sandy
A flashback to Sandy’s childhood shows the desperation of his mother to protect her ‘half-caste’ son from being taken by the Welfare people
4 and 5
It Rained The Day.
A flashback to Shirley and Jimmy’s childhood. Sandy is being taken by the Welfare people.
5 and 6
Line-Up 1
The children are forced to line-up from lightest to darkest and ‘sell’ themselves so they will be taken ‘home’ for the weekend.
6 and 7
The Chosen
Anne is adopted.
7 and 8
Jimmy Being Naughty
Jimmy steals apples.
8 and 9
Unspoken Abuse
Ruby has been sexually abused.
9
It Rained the Day
Shirley’s son is taken away.
9 and 10
Ruby Comforting Her Baby.
Ruby mimics her sexual abuse with a doll.
10 and 11
Sandy’s Story of the Mange
A fictional dreamtime story that shows the boogieman as white.
11-13
Your Mum’s Dead
The Matron lies when she tells Jimmy that his mother is dead.
13
Line-Up 2
Ruby reluctantly lines up because she feels her shame exposed. Jimmy is still desperate to be selected.
13 and 14
Anne’sTold She’s Aboriginal
Anne’s adopted parents decide to tell her that she’s an Aborigine and that her biological mother wants to see her because she is dying.
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
1