The Deep End—S5¶
— Robyn —¶
😄🧵💛👭 💞 🖤 🍓 🌶 🚪 🔑 🛋 🫧 🌩 🌧 🧵 🪡 👗 👚 👜 👠 🩰 💄 💋 🎻 📒 ✂ 🩸 💧 🚺 —
Scene Five¶
Preview¶
🍹 Pub Call 🍹
[ Charli ]
The sun struck me in my eyes. I rolled over, then sat up as if electrocuted. Not again! My phone lay on the bed beside me. Useless.
I was halfway dressed, smock in hand, when I caught a glance in the mirror.
I made myself stop.
I splashed water on my face, patted it dry.
I put my hair up properly. A touch of mascara and a little lippie.
I selected a fresh smock, even though it was Friday. Deodorant, checked my nails, brushed my teeth.
I walked to the door. Slow down. Deep breaths.
Purse, with my dead phone and keys.
Clipboard.
Ready.
Women in our costumes smiled and waved at me along the new cobblestone street—not workmen in dusty hi-vis, but actresses already half inside the world we’d been making. It made the whole place feel as if it had turned a corner overnight.
I walked—chin up—into Wardrobe. My nose flared: clean cloth, steam, chalk instead of stale sweat and concrete dust.
Fiona was standing at the door to her office. Waved me over.
"Phone dead again?" Her lips curled when she saw the heat rise in my face. "Thought so. Just plug it in over there. You might want to get a newer phone, with a better battery."
"Or just remember to plug it in before you pop off to sleep," Sarah offered: she'd come up behind me. "Come, your students are keen and have a lot of questions for you!"
I could feel my chest tighten, but with excitement this time, not apprehension.
Three new girls were poring over a torn costume with Brittany, Ellie and Natalie. Brittany flashed me her morning smile.
"This is Lisa, Caroline and the blonde is Harriet."
"I go by 'Harri'," the blonde said.
"Nice to meet you. Welcome to Wardrobe." I flattened the split seam. "How did it happen, Brit? Did the actress say?"
"Well, she said it got caught on a wicker basket," Brittany began and grimaced at Natalie, who was shaking her head.
Natalie gave a little snort. “Yeah, nah. Porkies. She wanted to get to the pub and hauled the thing off too hard. Seam finally gave up.”
"Well spotted, Natalie," I said. "And I think you're right. A basket would’ve pulled it different.” I glanced at the three new girls. “See how it’s gone along the weakness, not across it?” They leaned in.
“So we don’t just close it,” I said. “We strengthen it, or it’ll pop again. And on this one, we hide the repair.”
Ellie looked up. “Don't we always?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Depends what the garment wants to be. Some things you hide. Some things you let look mended.” I touched the fabric with one finger. “If it’s meant to feel worn, or rushed, or period-correct, too neat can look wrong.”
I could just see Mara shudder at the idea.
"“You want the reinforcing strong, light, and invisible.” I held up some material.
I gave it to Harri. She picked it up with an experienced hand, threaded a needle and set to work. I glanced at Brittany who pressed lips momentarily with a shrug.
A workman carrying a box labelled 'Cat 6 cables' approached us, eyes darting between our faces. I pointed to Brittany and nodded at him.
"But—" she began. I grinned at her.
"Where's the laptop meant to go?" he asked her.
She frowned, then brightened as if she'd suddenly remembered.
"Just over here, mate," she said, indicating a place by the window.
I glanced over at Harri. Solemn, quiet, steady. Her stitches would have earned one of Mara’s nods.
A bang at the door announced the arrival of a group of actresses.
"We're meant to be fitted with our costumes today," said a robust girl. Could have been Sarah's twin, right down to the accent. "Hi, I'm Rachel. Rache."
Natalie looked at the assignment sheet. 12:45pm. "You're early."
"What of it?"
“Then you’ll need to come back at 12:45. We’re not ready for you.”
The confident curve of Rache's mouth had flipped to a frown.
"You aren't serious, are you?"
"As serious as a heart attack," Sarah said from the doorway.
Rache stared, then turned on her heel, the little troupe flouncing off with her.
"Good on ya, Natalie," Brittany said.
The tearoom was still mostly dust and bare concrete, so we had lunch in the little courtyard behind Wardrobe. Brittany's eyes narrowed slightly as they flicked from my face to my energy drink.
"That stuff is so bad for you," she said, settling beside me and opening her little eskie. She handed me a dragon fruit. "This'll give you energy and enhance your beauty!"
I giggled.
"What?"
"Beauty," I murmured. I grinned at her. "I think I'd have to eat the whole dragon, not just the fruit."
Her brow furrowed momentarily and then eased.
"Hey, are you coming tonight?"
"Coming? Where?"
"To the pub. If you want, I could pick you up for 'prinks' and—"
"What's 'prinks'?"
Her head tipped to one side.
"You know! Prinks. Pre-drinks."
I swallowed. Bit my lip.
"I don't get out, much."
"Clearly!" She smiled. "So, is that a yes?"
My mouth opened. Closed. She blinked at me. I looked away.
"Hey," she said, gentler now. "We don't have to, if you don't want."
"I'm just— not real good with... um, alcohol, Brit. Sorry."
Her arms came round my shoulders and drew me in. Warmth, and a real smile, close enough to feel. I hadn’t realised how tight I’d gone till then.
“Good. You can be our designated adorable.”
The music spilling out of the pub seemed loud even before I went in. Screens showing the footy, gridiron, and a tennis panel seemed bolted to every spare bit of wall. I looked around, lips tight. Through the glass at the back, I caught Harri’s blonde updo, blurred by the warping.
My hands trembled slightly as I walked slowly, chin down, to the swinging back door. Before I reached it, the door burst open, and a tall red-headed man came stumbling in. His eyes swam as they found me.
"Pissed as a newt, that bloke," I heard a man say. I slipped quickly out of the noise.
Outside on the veranda, the music was still fairly loud, but no one was shouting. Brittany waved me over.
“You look nice.” She nodded at my necklace. “Ooh—pretty.” She beamed.
“What are you having?”
I looked towards the bar. “I don’t know.”
“Right then. Lemon-lime bitters for you.”
"Wait." I pulled in the side of my lips between my teeth for a moment. "Um, you got coffees before, so it's my shout."
Her smile had a slight edge to it. She shrugged. "I'll come in with you so I can help bring drinks out. How's that?"
As we headed back into the noise, I tapped my fingers against my thigh, trying to remember who was having what. A loud rough laugh landed in my neck. I glanced at Brittany—one corner of her mouth lifted. She turned to the bartender.
"Two Chardonnays, a Cab-Sav, a diet coke and two lemon-lime bitters."
Then she caught my arm. "You're not covering all this."
"Please, let me!"
"Charli!"
I carried the two lemon-lime bitters back to the swinging back door trying not to spill, and failing.
"Hey, we were just talking about Sunday," Natalie said to Brittany.
"Oh yeah?"
"Harri's folks have invited all the Wardrobe girls over—"
Brittany turned to me. Her eyes shone.
"Oh Charli, Harri's folks are so lovely!"
I smiled. Didn't say anything.
"You— are coming, aren't you?"
I smiled at Brittany. “Like… what do I bring?”
Harri laughed.
“You don't have to bring anything. Except your togs.”
"Togs?" My hands felt like ice. My smile slipped. For a second, I couldn't seem to get a breath in.
I shot a glance at Brittany. Her mouth closed slowly, her eyes never leaving mine.
"You probably forgot to bring those, didn't you?" she offered. My nod snatched at the lifeline she’d thrown me.
“That’s all right,” Harri said quickly. “You don’t have to get in. Half the time we just sit around and talk anyway.”
They all smiled at me as though that settled it.
I tried to smile back. It didn't work properly.
"I wish I could come," Caroline said. "I have to be in Brisbane. I'm giving a class at the State Library on music theory."
"Oh, that's right," Brittany said. "How is that going, anyways?"
"Great! I have nine people coming now."
My shoulders fell the slightest bit.
Then I looked at Brittany and gave a tiny start.
Her eyes softened.
She'd seen.
Published¶
12-Mar-2026¶
🍹 Pub Call 🍹
[ Charli ]
The sun struck me in my eyes. I rolled over, then sat up as if electrocuted.
Not again!
My phone lay on the bed beside me. Useless.
I was halfway dressed, smock in hand, when I glanced in the mirror.
I made myself stop.
Splashed water on my face, patted it dry.
Put my hair up properly. A touch of mascara and a little lippie.
I selected a fresh smock, even though it was Friday. Deodorant, checked my nails, brushed my teeth.
I walked to the door.
Slow down. Deep breaths.
Grabbed purse, my dead phone and donga keys.
Clipboard.
Ready.
Women wearing Wardrobe's costumes smiled and waved at me along the new cobblestone street—no workmen in dusty hi-vis, but actresses already half inside the world we’d been making. It made the whole place feel as if it had turned a corner overnight.
I walked—chin up—into Wardrobe. My nose flared: clean cloth, steam, chalk instead of stale sweat and concrete dust.
Fiona was standing at the door to her office. Waved me over.
"Phone dead again?" Her lips curled when she saw the heat rise in my face. "Thought so. Just plug it in over there. You might want to get a newer phone, with a better battery."
"Or just remember to plug it in before you pop off to sleep," Sarah offered: she'd come up behind me. "Come, your students are keen and have a lot of questions for you!"
I could feel my chest tighten, but with excitement this time, not apprehension.
Three new girls were poring over a torn costume with Brittany, Ellie and Natalie. Brittany flashed me her morning smile.
"This is Lisa, Caroline and the blonde is Harriet."
"I go by 'Harri'," the blonde said.
"Nice to meet you. Welcome to Wardrobe." I flattened the split seam. "How did it happen, Brit? Did the actress say?"
"Well, she said it got caught on a wicker basket," Brittany began and grimaced.
Natalie gave a little snort, shaking her head. “Yeah, nah. Porkies. She just wanted to get to the pub early and hauled the thing off too hard. The seam finally gave up.”
"Well spotted, Natalie," I said. "And I think you're right. A basket would’ve pulled it different.” I glanced at the three new girls. “See how it’s gone along the weakness, not across it?” They leaned in.
“So we don’t just close it,” I said. “We strengthen it, or it’ll pop again. And on this one, we hide the repair.”
Ellie looked up. “Don't we always?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Depends what the garment wants to be. Some things you hide. Some things you let look mended.” I touched the fabric with one finger. “If it’s meant to feel worn, or rushed, or period-correct, too neat can look wrong.”
I could just see Mara shudder at the idea.
“You want the reinforcing strong, light, and invisible.” I held up some material and gave it to Harri. She took it with an experienced hand, threaded a needle and set to work. I glanced at Brittany who pressed lips momentarily with a shrug.
A workman carrying a box labelled 'Cat 6 cables' approached us, eyes darting between our faces.
I pointed to Brittany.
"But—" she began. I grinned at her.
"Where's the laptop meant to go?" he asked her.
She frowned, then brightened as if she'd suddenly remembered.
"Just over here, mate," she said, indicating a place by the window.
I glanced over at Harri. Solemn, quiet, steady. Her stitches would have earned one of Mara’s nods.
A bang at the door announced the arrival of a group of actresses.
"We're meant to be fitted with our costumes today," said a robust girl. Could have been Sarah's twin, right down to the accent. "Hi, I'm Rachel. 'Rache' to me mates."
Natalie looked at the assignment sheet. 12:45pm. "You're early."
"What of it?"
“You’ll need to come back at 12:45. We’re not ready for you.”
The confident curve of Rache's mouth had flipped to a frown.
"You aren't serious, are you?"
"As serious as a heart attack," Sarah said from the doorway.
Rache stared, then turned on her heel, the little troupe flouncing off with her.
"Good on ya, Natalie," Brittany said.
The tearoom was still mostly dust and bare concrete, so we had lunch in the little courtyard behind Wardrobe. Brittany's eyes narrowed slightly as they flicked from my face to my energy drink.
"That stuff is so bad for you," she said, settling beside me and opening her little eskie. She handed me a dragon fruit. "This'll give you energy and enhance your beauty!"
I giggled.
"What?"
"Beauty," I murmured. I grinned at her. "I think I'd have to eat the whole dragon, not just the fruit."
Her brow furrowed momentarily and then eased.
"Hey, are you coming tonight?"
"Coming? Where?"
"To the pub. If you want, I could pick you up for 'prinks' and—"
"What's 'prinks'?"
Her head tipped to one side.
"You know! Prinks. Pre-drinks."
I swallowed. Bit my lip.
"I don't get out, much."
"Clearly!" She smiled. "So, is that a yes?"
My mouth opened. Closed. She blinked at me. I looked away.
"Hey," she said, gentler now. "You don't have to, if you don't want."
"I'm just— not real good with... um, alcohol, Brit. Sorry."
Her arms came round my shoulders and drew me in. Warmth, and a real smile, close enough to feel. I hadn’t realised how tight I’d gone till then.
“Good. You can be our designated adorable.”
The music spilling out of the pub seemed loud even before I went in. Screens showing the footy, gridiron, and a tennis panel seemed bolted to every spare bit of wall. I looked around, lips tight. Through the glass at the back, I caught Harri’s blonde updo, blurred by the warping.
My hands trembled slightly as I walked slowly, chin down, to the swinging back door. Before I reached it, the door burst open, and a tall red-headed man came stumbling in. His eyes swam as they found me.
"Pissed as a newt, that bloke," I heard a man say. I slipped quickly out of the noise.
Outside on the veranda, the music was still fairly loud, but no one was shouting. Brittany waved me over.
“You look nice.” She nodded at my necklace. “Ooh—pretty.” She beamed. “What are you having?”
I looked towards the bar. “I don’t know.”
“Right then. Lemon-lime bitters for you.”
"Wait." I pulled in the side of my lips between my teeth for a moment. "Um, you got coffees before, so it's my shout."
Her smile had a slight edge to it. She shrugged. "I'll come in with you so I can help bring drinks out. How's that?"
As we headed back into the noise, I tapped my fingers against my thigh, trying to remember who was having what. A loud rough laugh landed in my neck. I glanced at Brittany—one corner of her mouth lifted. She turned to the bartender.
"Two Chardonnays, a Cab-Sav, a diet coke and two lemon-lime bitters."
Then she caught my arm. "You're not covering all this."
"Please, let me!"
"Charli!"
I carried the two lemon-lime bitters back to the swinging back door trying not to spill, and failing.
"Hey, we were just talking about Sunday," Natalie said to Brittany.
"Oh yeah?"
"Harri's folks have invited all the Wardrobe girls over—"
Brittany turned to me. Her eyes shone.
"Oh Charli, Harri's folks are so lovely!"
I smiled. Didn't say anything.
"You— are coming, aren't you?"
I smiled at Brittany. “Like… what do I bring?”
Harri laughed.
“You don't have to bring anything. Except your togs.”
"Togs?" My hands felt like ice. My smile slipped. For a second, I couldn't seem to get a breath in.
I shot a glance at Brittany. Her mouth closed slowly, her eyes never leaving mine.
"You probably forgot to bring those, didn't you?" she offered. My nod snatched at the lifeline she’d thrown me.
“That’s all right,” Harri said quickly. “You don’t have to get in. Half the time we just sit around and talk anyway.”
They all smiled at me as though that settled it.
I tried to smile back. It didn't work properly.
"I wish I could come," Caroline said. "I have to be in Brisbane. I'm giving a class at the State Library on music theory."
"Oh, that's right," Brittany said. "How is that going, anyways?"
"Great! I have nine people coming now."
My shoulders fell the slightest bit.
Then I looked at Brittany.
Her eyes had softened.
She'd seen.