- 10 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:01My name is Margie Argyle and I've been the artistic director of the Argyle Theatre for six years.
00:05The theatre we make is uncompromising, it's urgent, it's visceral.
00:10Well, I think humourless is a bit unfair.
00:14Money is the death of creativity.
00:16Actually, I remember once I was like freestyle monologuing about death and decay
00:20and someone goes, oh Margie, there's a man out the front who says you haven't paid for your Uber Eats.
00:24And I just immediately lost my train of thought.
00:27It's like, oh great, now I'm just sitting here with a bar me.
00:30You know, thanks a lot.
00:31I think our next season launching tomorrow night is probably our most challenging yet.
00:36Margie, sorry.
00:38Sorry everyone.
00:40Looks cool though.
00:41I am so sorry. Could you just give me a minute?
00:43We'll probably leave it there. Let's cut.
00:44Oh no, no, don't cut.
00:46No, we've got it. Let's pack up.
00:47Thank God that's over.
00:48Thanks a lot, Christian. I had a lot more to say to them.
00:50We need you in a meeting with the CEO about half an hour ago.
00:54Oh God, what does he want?
00:55He wants you to sign off on the program for tomorrow night's launch.
00:58Yeah, this has strong admin energy.
01:01Sorry about that.
01:01Okay, all right, come on.
01:02Let's go, let's feed the capitalist machine then.
01:04Bring it up!
01:08I didn't know you had an interview. It's not in a diary.
01:10It's in my diary.
01:11Work for three hours. Is that normal?
01:13Daniel, I'm so sorry.
01:16I've just been sitting in a really creative space this morning.
01:19Well, I've been sitting here for about half an hour.
01:21Okay. Sorry.
01:22All right, let's have a look.
01:23Give me the program.
01:25Best program yet, I reckon.
01:27Oh.
01:29Great pick.
01:31Remember, this launch is tomorrow, Margie.
01:34Yeah, look, I'm still not happy about Grease being the big show next season.
01:38Like, really, Australia's premiere avant-garde theatre and we're doing Grease.
01:42It's trash.
01:43Oh, my God.
01:43Papa would be turning in his grave.
01:45Margie, we agreed on this weeks ago.
01:47Carmel says the board needs a commercial hit with a big name.
01:50Okay, so why are you letting the chair of the board tell the artistic director what to do?
01:55There's a lot of your experimental stuff in here, Margie.
01:57Look, three plays with full frontal nudity.
02:00It loses subscribers.
02:02Says you.
02:02No, I'm here to push boundaries and I am unapologetic about that.
02:06I don't think you understand the seriousness of our financial situation.
02:09And I'll be honest, a lot of the mismanagement leads back to you.
02:13Okay.
02:14Do you think when my father started this place...
02:16Ah, here we go.
02:16No, no, no, when he was doing work like this, okay, do you think he was thinking about money?
02:21We lived and breathed theatre.
02:23I basically lived under this desk when I was a child and I would listen to my father downstairs
02:27ploughing the craft all night.
02:32We're doing Grease.
02:34No, I'm sorry, Daniel.
02:35I've made a decision this morning.
02:36We're not doing Grease.
02:38I've got a bigger idea.
02:39I think I'm having a panic attack.
02:40We're not redesigning the guide.
02:42The discussion is over.
02:43Excuse me if I'm not inclined to listen to someone who eats Nando's for breakfast and
02:47scrolls realestate.com on the toilet.
02:49Okay.
02:51I'm out.
02:55Out of the meeting or...
02:57What do you mean out of this meeting?
02:58Actually, I'm allowed to change my mind.
03:01You don't understand the artistic process, Daniel.
03:03And by the way, no one wants to see you noons, okay?
03:07Well, let's not generalise.
03:08We've all seen it from every angle, back and front and bent over.
03:11I've seen more of you than my own wife.
03:13Toxic.
03:14Toxic masculinity.
03:15Good luck finding anyone else who can deal with the great Margie Argyle.
03:22Okay, Mary.
03:24Unfortunately, due to a series of strategic realignments, your position at this organisation
03:29no longer exists.
03:31Full details of your redundancy are in this information pack.
03:35Julia, please, I'm 65.
03:37I know.
03:38I'm your mentor.
03:39So you must know what I'm about to say next, which is, no further discussion will be entered
03:45into.
03:46That's right.
03:46That is one of mine.
03:48Yeah, classic Mary.
03:49All right, that's the awkwardness over.
03:51So how's things at home?
03:52How's Graham?
03:53Roger?
03:54Your husband, yes.
03:55He died.
03:57Are you sure that's not in my notes?
04:00Yes.
04:01Carmel.
04:01Quick word in your office, Julia.
04:03Now?
04:03Yes.
04:04Now.
04:04Might be a moment.
04:05How are you, Mary?
04:07She's fine.
04:08Husband died, so she's a bit sad.
04:09Take a moment, but out by the end of the day.
04:13It's all lies, Mum.
04:14Can't believe the CEO of a bank just, like, literally lies.
04:17Just literally lie and like...
04:18Just let me handle it.
04:20Fine.
04:20It seems that Ryan, in his capacity in the lending centre, has wiped a customer's personal
04:25loans.
04:26Tom McNamara.
04:28Is that your ex-husband, Julia?
04:30Ex-husband, yes.
04:32What have you done?
04:33What?
04:33He's got a new start-up.
04:35Get this, though.
04:35Edible coffee cups.
04:36So you finish the coffee table.
04:38Just edible coffee cups already exist.
04:39You can't start that up.
04:41Well, I'm glad I did it anyway.
04:42It was a legend move, so...
04:44Obviously, the police will have to be called.
04:47Police?
04:47Mum?
04:48What's like prison?
04:49Oh, stop it.
04:50No-one's going to prison.
04:52Are they?
04:52What do you think of theatre, Julia?
04:55Theatre?
04:56Did you realise they were still doing it?
04:58Don't we all just watch Netflix now?
05:00I am the chair of a fantastic little theatre, the Argyle.
05:03You will have heard of it.
05:04No.
05:04And we just lost our CEO.
05:06He was so sad to go.
05:07Mm-hmm.
05:08But I think that you would be perfect to take over.
05:12Oh, I'm sorry.
05:13Is this a joke?
05:14Am I on candid camera?
05:16No.
05:17What's candid camera?
05:18Just come over and fill in until the new CEO starts,
05:21and then we can forget all about this.
05:23Seriously, Mum, what is candid camera?
05:24Shut up!
05:26Let's just talk outside.
05:28Don't touch any of those computers, Ryan.
05:32Thick.
05:33Oliver.
05:34Oh, come on, Carmel.
05:36I tripled profit last quarter.
05:37Yes, we're all aware of your bulging trophy cabinet.
05:40And I got rid of family leave.
05:42Look, the Argyle is having a few tiny financial issues,
05:46but you iron them out in no time.
05:48And when I do iron out these tiny financial issues,
05:50I get my job back, yes?
05:51Yes, yes, yes.
05:52And Ryan does too?
05:53You will love it.
05:54And they have a really dynamic artistic director.
05:59Bring out your invoices!
06:03Approved, approved, approved.
06:05Good news, everyone, I'm in charge.
06:07Okay, so we're not going to have someone telling us
06:08there's no money for the things we need to make our art.
06:11There actually is no money, though, so...
06:13Have your fun.
06:14Good to have fun.
06:15Oh, she's off.
06:16Jacob.
06:16Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.
06:17Yeah.
06:18I've cancelled Grease.
06:19Thank God.
06:20Guess what we're going to do instead?
06:21What?
06:22Le pison é moi tientre.
06:25Sorry, what?
06:26Yep, starring me, directed by me.
06:28Um, you'll be stunning.
06:29Yeah.
06:29Are you saying you're going to do the half-buried peasant?
06:31Yes, Christian.
06:32First person to attempt it since Papa, first woman.
06:35But it's an obscure 18th-century French play.
06:38Yeah.
06:38And it goes for four hours,
06:39and it involves dumping two tonnes of sand on stage.
06:42Eight tonnes.
06:44I need eight tonnes.
06:45Well, you'll never get the board to sign off on.
06:47Oh, Christian.
06:49I feel like you're just still struggling
06:51with the fact that nothing blossomed between us.
06:54Sure, you know, we had fun.
06:56It was one night.
06:58I might leave you to it, guys.
07:00Yeah.
07:01Yeah.
07:01Excuse me.
07:02Who's that?
07:03I don't know.
07:03Okay.
07:04You know, this is bigger than us.
07:06Can you just support me, please?
07:09I have to do my job.
07:11I'm sorry.
07:11No, no.
07:12Yeah, great.
07:12I have to do my job.
07:13Do your little job.
07:14Good decision.
07:15It's not personal.
07:16No, I'll bring Donna in on it instead.
07:18Donna!
07:20Donna!
07:21I have lost my job, you absolute moron.
07:24How could you ask Ryan to do that?
07:25I did it.
07:26I just said it was something someone could do
07:28if they worked at a bank.
07:29Oh, please.
07:30You know how insecure and gullible he is.
07:32Hey.
07:32I'm talking about someone else.
07:33Oh, sweet.
07:34I don't have time for this.
07:37Yeah, he's hung up on me.
07:38Wonderful.
07:39Are you even going to apologise for committing fraud?
07:41Oh, sorry for committing fraud.
07:44This is serious, Ryan.
07:45After all the expensive schools and the tutors.
07:48Yeah, and this is all stuff that you wanted.
07:50I'm really disappointed.
07:52You know what the worst thing is?
07:53I now have to go and work at a theatre.
07:55A bunch of lefties moaning into their chakras and talking about their feelings.
08:01I actually feel sick.
08:07The work we've made is uncompromising, it's urgent, it's visceral.
08:13I think our next season is probably our most challenging yet.
08:17Don't miss it.
08:19Launch day!
08:20That's looking good, guys.
08:22Does she know?
08:23I don't think so.
08:24Shit's going to hit the fan.
08:25Morning, everyone.
08:28Christian!
08:30Margie!
08:30Who's this?
08:32Look, I only just found out the new CEO's starting at 10.
08:35The board were trying to call you last night.
08:37Yeah, I stayed at a friend's house.
08:38Right.
08:39Which friend was that?
08:40I've got heaps of friends.
08:41I don't know.
08:41Sure, yeah.
08:42Or your girl.
08:44Hello, you've reached Carmel Martin.
08:46Leave a message.
08:47Carmel, it's Margie.
08:48We need to have a serious conversation.
08:50God, never here, never available.
08:52You know what?
08:54Let's get everyone in the rehearsal space and loosen up.
08:57You know, everything's feeling really tight and congested.
09:00Okay?
09:00Who's with me?
09:01I'm with you.
09:02Let's get in there.
09:04Donna, Jacob, let's go.
09:06Hobby mother!
09:08Ooh, like coral in the ocean.
09:12Whoa!
09:19Jesus Christ.
09:23Hello?
09:27Hello?
09:30Hello?
09:31Hello?
09:53Oh, here she is.
09:55Welcome.
09:56Come on, bring it in.
09:57Bring it in.
09:58I know that that's appropriate in the workplace.
10:00Okay, first time in the theatre, taking it all in.
10:06Everyone, this is our new CEO, Julia McNamara.
10:09Chicken.
10:10Morning.
10:10Let's form a circle, guys.
10:11Oh, I won't hold hands.
10:12I've not had COVID, so feel free.
10:15All right.
10:15Close it up.
10:16All right, Julia, do you want to tell the group a bit about yourself?
10:18Then we'll go round in a circle.
10:19Now?
10:20Yeah, jump on in.
10:22All right.
10:22What defines Julia McNamara?
10:25I know what it is.
10:26It's a grind set, which is like a mindset, but I'm grinding.
10:3024-7.
10:31Do not stop the grind until I get results.
10:33And that's how I have expanded the operational bandwidth of billion-dollar companies while
10:37keeping price-to-earnings ratios through the roof.
10:40What does that mean?
10:42I don't know.
10:42I just got a bit about grinding.
10:43But hey, there's also a fun side to J-Mac.
10:46I enjoy working out, so if anyone wants to chat chin-up PBs, down for that.
10:51And my guilty pleasure is dancing with the stars.
10:56Great show.
10:57Yes.
10:57So that's me in a nutshell.
10:59Work hard, play.
11:00Not quite as hard as I work.
11:02Okay.
11:03Um, thank you, Julia.
11:05Obviously, I'm Maggie Argyle.
11:07Ew!
11:07I've been the artistic director here for six years, and I'm in charge of absolutely everything
11:12except the boring financial stuff.
11:15But I'm also a storyteller.
11:17I'm a truth custodian.
11:19I'm a disruptor.
11:20I'm a witch.
11:20I'm a feminist.
11:21I'm a mother.
11:23Yeah.
11:23My work is constantly grappling with the universality of our biological makeup combined
11:29with a collective sense of the sublime.
11:32So what does that mean?
11:33Welcome to the arts, basically.
11:35So that's me.
11:36I'll go next.
11:38Christian Miller.
11:39Marketing.
11:39Yeah, look, we probably don't have time to go around everyone.
11:42Keep it moving.
11:42So tonight is the VIP launch of our new season program.
11:47Woo!
11:48Yeah!
11:49Yes, we're going to have champagne.
11:51There'll be roving performances.
11:53We've got copious totes.
11:55Copious totes.
11:56There's some fun stuff in there.
11:57Drink bottles, fidget spinner, do-it-yourself moon cup.
12:00All Grease themed, by the way.
12:01Let's not forget.
12:02It is, yeah.
12:03Anyway, this is where we come together as a group.
12:07And we start to be the beat of the same drum.
12:13Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:16Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:17Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:19Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:21Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:21Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:23Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:24I'm sorry.
12:25How long does this usually go for?
12:2620 minutes, usually.
12:28Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:29Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:30Eh-oh eh-oh.
12:31I can't say any of that.
12:32Eh-oh eh-oh eh-oh.
12:34Eh-oh eh-oh eh-oh.
12:37Eh-oh eh-oh eh-oh eh-oh.
12:41oh every morning every morning it's a fantastic way to get into the body
12:45interesting use of staff time well i'm looking forward to working with you i've heard great
12:50things margie oh my real name is marguerite ah would you prefer i call you that no i just think
12:55it's interesting do you okay well i would like to hit the ground running so a couple of things i
13:01need to get across next year's program asap oh grab a tote no i don't know thank you and carmel
13:07mentioned the place is under financial pressure did she how do you know carmel i was her too i see
13:12at nova court bank okay you were nipping at her heels no wonder you're here
13:19i also need profit and loss statements who can i get those from me and only me well could you
13:24email
13:25those across please thank you so what is the julia mcnamara story girl talk come on married
13:32single let's have it single mother of one really a mother it's interesting i wasn't picking up on
13:38that energy i got single though i guess like recognizes like
13:46anyway thank you so much for coming past i have a huge meeting about our launch yes yes we do
13:51i'm
13:52coming to that don't think you're required don't worry about it okay so let's talk launch okay the
13:59lights are going to come down there's going to be the silence in the space the anticipation the
14:03build and then back music and here she comes margie argyle or a version of margie we're never truly
14:08ourselves on stage and then obviously i'll go to press the launch button margie sorry uh i should
14:13have said this earlier carmel emailed just a little change no biggie she she wants julia to launch
14:18the program and press the button what what margie always launches the program that's an argyle
14:24tradition no makes sense i can see the strategy means i can present my financial plan oh do you
14:29have a performance background well i've given presentations in front of the ceos of the four
14:34major banks so you tell me do i yeah well i guess if ibsen were alive today be giving powerpoint
14:41presentations all over the shop who's ipson
14:48uh interesting no one knows keep references relatable that's a good tip for everybody
14:53now the big show i'm launching is greece yes yes yes great movie high profit yield and carmel said
14:59something about getting a big name in undecided thanks yep okay well here's a thought did you know
15:07sonia kruger can sing i know i didn't realize either i saw a clip yeah so um casting's actually
15:14the artistic director's job you wait till you see this she's doing that chumbel rumba song does the
15:19wi-fi work here i've been having trouble i switched it off again donna no one was using it donna
15:24we've
15:25been through this someone's always using the wi-fi but we're all in here and it's out there that's not
15:29how wi-fi works so what's this i'll just i'll restart the router shall i add that to my list
15:34as well yep and
15:35my lunch and what just my lunch on your list as well put my lunch on thank you fish bowl
15:42yes indeed
15:43extra fish thank you all right okay well let's get on with it i guess that's it yeah that's it
15:49oh there
15:50she is the boss
15:54who's ipson honestly i nearly died like the day of the launch and they send in some corporate robot to
15:59snoop around our finances no one's to tell her anything keep her out of it waist 42 inches
16:05it's up a bit max what does that mean oh nothing i think i need a new tape measure yeah
16:09i think you
16:10do donna there's no budget for that donna why is this on here what's that it's the router she's
16:14yarn bombed it donna it buzzes and it looks ugly well it's a major fire hazard sorry it's coming off
16:20hey
16:20pick it don't snip it all right guys let's focus let's talk about the launch tonight so you're just
16:27gonna sneak a new plane to the program and pile that from julia yeah exactly but everything's
16:33grease themed all right what about all the totes just reload the totes um there's copious totes margie
16:38you said it yourself yeah i know there's copious totes christian i ordered them but can you help me
16:42out here and reload the totes it's not that hard to reload the totes i'm going to reload the totes
16:47margie
16:47not a yelling in the workplace julia how you going come in come in welcome to the wardrobe department
16:52where dreams come to life gosh so do you make all this yep yes of course you can buy costumes
17:00do you
17:00know spotlight i can't bear this yes i know spotlight okay well maybe check that out margie
17:07still don't have any profit and loss statements okay that's working now guys hey you know what our
17:12donors really love when the ceo gets into party mode on launch night don't they yeah don't worry about
17:19that because i can party with the best of them really yes you know what you should do something
17:25grease themed what about a sexy sandy i'd love to do a sandy i'm good with vinyl yeah i'm not
17:31doing
17:31that go on it'll be fun no that's a shame julia carmel is going to be really disappointed just fyi
17:39i went
17:40to last year's office christmas party as michelle bullock who's that the head of the reserve banker was
17:45hilarious okay i'm needed in wigs that was a relatable reference it's very funny because her glasses are
17:53completely different to mine donna i'll think about the sandy thing come and see me my first
18:02let's try this one okay let's have a look let's have a look
18:08oh no i don't think that that's not it it's not it it's not it is it okay here's the
18:13updated run
18:13sheet for tonight oh what's this i'm on last that was carmel's call it's not my call oh yeah but
18:19i bet
18:19you're loving it oh my god yes i'm in love with carmel now all right i'm in love with everyone
18:23i'm in
18:24love with everyone come on margie how hard is it to send an email
18:36margie oh tried to give her a dose of the craft i think a little bit of acting i still
18:42need those
18:42reports oh wow what is this do you look like the altar boy from saint cecilia's julia i've just had
18:48a
18:48phone call okay from my son little cherry oh you have a son sorry what's his name little cherry cherry
18:56he's named after his grandfather jerry but he couldn't say jerry so he said cherry cherry jerry
19:02jerry jerry jerry jerry named himself anyway he's just found out he's dyslexic what just now yep how old
19:09is he eight okay did he call you from school sorry it's 4 30 yeah but the point is i
19:15need to rush home
19:16tonight you know the poor little boy he needs his mother so okay i just need to change the running
19:22order for the launch tonight sure yeah whatever gets me those reports okay thanks jules oh jules
19:32mums get it i don't get any of it
19:38is this where you thought your life would end up oh one thousand percent yeah oh finally reloading the
19:43totes i'll see you guys tonight at the launch i'm going for a drink i'm exhausted uh i'll go get
19:50us
19:50some more totes thanks cat is that margie did she just leave yes she still hasn't given me those reports
19:58uh well i could show you the reports if you wanted yes please just between us though okay fine all
20:06right
20:06thank you so how long have you been at the argyle 20 years 20 years yep from usher all the
20:14way to the
20:15top oh wow i actually used to tread the boards myself but um no admin's my real passion and i
20:20know that
20:21now oh my god what okay this place is a disaster no wonder she didn't want me to see these
20:27well maybe
20:28maybe you shouldn't be saying oh no no okay how has she been allowed to spend like this wow if
20:34you want to
20:34turn things around she has got to go and i'm more than happy to pull the trigger oh well you
20:39can't
20:39because the board's the only one who can fire muggy uh carmel would never fire a woman to be very
20:44off
20:44brand for her oh god i think you're right i am i'm gonna be stuck here forever yeah it's a
20:51dream
21:04thank you so much thank you so much hello how are you thank you for your donation hi
21:11how are you i love that i nearly bought it but i didn't because i in the end i thought
21:17no
21:19carmel we've been trying to get in touch with you all day yes and i have been frantically trying to
21:24call you back but you know we should have brunch let's have brunch let's sort out brunch let's do
21:27brunch i love brunch talk about bye ladies and gentlemen thanks for coming and of course a very
21:34big thank you to darren henderson from the westport city council he has his demons but he's always
21:39been very supportive of us so without any further ado to announce our major production for this season
21:45and i'll bring on the brilliant the talented the effervescent magiago thank you everybody and
21:55before i get started just a little reminder um please grab a tote we have copious totes so grab one
22:01grab two grab eight take one home for your loved ones you know what i'm going to throw out the
22:07script
22:07tonight because i was asked to come up here and compromise everything they wanted me to rip out my
22:14artistic soul and feed it to the capitalist machine but i am a storyteller okay i tell stories
22:32you know my late great father jeremy argyle used to stare mediocrity down and say no thank you
22:39get on a bus and get out of here so for the first time in 20 years i will be
22:48performing the play that
22:49put this theater on the map ladies and gentlemen our major production this season
22:56let's go ahead and get out of here so let's go ahead and get out of here
23:00what it's supposed to be good
23:02farewell grace
23:27I am a peasant
23:28very half alive
23:30but by God
23:30I will prevail
23:38and now
23:39I'd like to
23:39introduce our
23:40new CEO
23:40Julia McNamara
23:51what in the
23:52number God
23:52is she wearing
23:54rubber
23:54crease lightning
23:56childish
23:58so unprofessional
23:59a lot of you
24:03good evening ladies
24:04and gentlemen
24:05well in keeping
24:06with tonight's theme
24:08I'm here to say
24:10you better shape up
24:13because you need
24:14a plan
24:16and I can keep
24:18you strategised
24:21there we go
24:22always good to
24:24have a laugh
24:25before discussing
24:26serious business
24:29unfortunately
24:30the Argyle Theatre
24:31is experiencing
24:32extreme financial
24:34difficulty
24:35and if something
24:36isn't done
24:36this may be
24:37the last season
24:38you ever have
24:39and the person
24:40single-handedly
24:41responsible for
24:42running this place
24:43into the ground
24:44is in fact
24:45thank you Julia
24:45and now I would
24:47like to launch
24:47this season's
24:49program
24:49I will do one thing
24:50I will launch this
24:51season
24:52I'm launching it
24:53the artistic director
24:55does it
24:55I'm launching it
25:19this organization is not
25:22financially viable
25:23so not going to
25:24acknowledge country
25:25or anything
25:25Christian will assist
25:26me in conducting
25:27performance reviews
25:28starting today
25:29are we not more
25:30than human resources
25:31oh don't clap that
25:33now that feels like
25:34a version of workplace
25:35harassment
25:35you will not be
25:36cutting my staff
25:37Ryan
25:38Christian
25:39this is my son Ryan
25:40Margie
25:41Julia's fired Jacob
25:42what are you doing
25:43what he's not going
25:44anywhere
25:44okay Julia
25:46if this is all so easy
25:47why don't you do it
25:53what you mean
25:54I'm a kid
25:54I'm a bad
25:56bad
25:56bad
25:56bad
25:57I'm a baddest
25:59I'm a baddest
Comments