Wantworth’s Independent’s Day was written by Jhonnie Blampied and was adapted and produced for broadcast by Rupert Degas. The 13 part series was performed by Rupert Degas and Aimee Horne. Music and sound design by Matt Slayden. The podcasts are a Q sound production for Jhonnie Pty Ltd.
Setting The Scene. We are introduced to the fictional world of “Oarstraylia”. We meet the hero’s of the book. They are the couple called Samantha Spaghetti-head and Francis Steel-two-drawer. Their world’s are impacted by news of the political assassination of the Prime Minster and their sitting member for “Wantworth” Malcolm Mahogany-five-drawer.
Length approx 7 mins
The Killing. It is revealed that A-Butt Veneer-paneled-three-drawer had used blood sucking Ticks to take out Malcolm Mahogany-five-drawer on the floor of the houses of Parliament. Sco-No Officeworks-four-drawer takes over as Prime Minister.
Length approx 7 mins
A ‘Goodbye’ Election. The “Lie-Burial” pre-selection process picks Karma Desk-with-three-draws-attached as their candidate for “Wantworth.” We learn of Dr. Kerryn Book-head throwing her hat in the ring.
Length approx 5 mins
The Ferry Go Round. With “Ticks” ‘en-attachement’ in the neighbourhood. Sam and Frank discuss the lay of the land for the upcoming by-election.
Length approx 5 mins
Break For Lunch. Sam rings Frank on her lunch break. They discuss the underhand and dirty tricks already being played out by the parties. Frank has to calm Sam down because today she is wearing an Arrabiata sauce on her Spaghetti-head.
Length approx 5 mins
The Pub Test. Sam and Frank discuss ScoNo Officeworks-four-drawers’ plan to move the Jewfish embassy as well as the rookie mistake made by Dr. Kerryn Book-head on her voting preferences. Frank reveals his Lie-burial allegiances and claims Dr. Kerryn Book-head just doesn’t have the experience a point which is countered by Sam
Length approx 6 mins
The Walk Home. Sam and Frank discuss the bigger picture on their walk home, realising the importance of their vote.They discuss Alex Mahogany-three-drawers’ tweets as well as Sco-No Officeworks-four-drawers’ repudiation of them.
Length approx 5 mins
Cooking At Home. Sam and Frank discuss Malcolm Mahogany-five-drawers non appearance and the non Lie-Burial candidates up for election. They discuss Labores low profile in the electoral race and the preferential voting system. They believe it is their strategy to make sure they do not to come second but third behind Dr. Kerryn Book.head.
Length approx 5mins
Checking The Field. Frank and Sam discuss and review all 16 potential candidates who are putting themselves up for election in Wantworth. They discuss the possibility of the lie-burials being able to hold onto the seat they have had since federation.
Length Approx 4 mins
Everyone Votes. We hear how few voters have taken any how to vote cards because the electorate knew exactly whatr they were going to do before the arrived at the polling stations. Frank and Sam don’t yet discuss how each other voted but do agree that ScoNo Officeworks-four-drawers comment is laughable. They find his words that “Not voting for the Lie-Burials was a vote for instability” when it has been only them that caused this instability.
Length approx 4 mins
The Coverage Begins. Frank and Sam at last discuss not only who they voted for but also why. Sam tells Frank she wanted her vote to count and that she thought her vote could actually make a difference which is why she voted for Dr. Kerryn Book-head with a conviction that this may help common sense return to Flanberra. Frank also voted for Dr. Kerryn because he likes his center being sensible.
Length approx 6 mins
The Result Is Called. Sam & Frank like being on the same page. They discuss how the Side Salad voting preferences might be a problem but they need not worry when the win by Dr. Kerryn is called early. Sam and Frank celebrate the fact that the Lie-Burials had a hung Parliament, because they were the party that had just hung itself. We see and hear the Dr. Kerryn and her purple army going off as well as bear witness to the refusal of ScoNo to hear the message the electorate had just sent him.
Length approx 9 mins
The Post Mortem For The New World. The white wash predicted for the Lie-Burials turns out to be a little closer than expected. But in the end the result is confirmed for Dr. Kerryn Book-head. Sam and Frank discuss how the world has changed and how social media played an important role in the by-election. They noted that this heralds a new ground for elections to be fought on and one that might take the old guard by surprise. Both Sam and Frank find Dr. Kerryn Book-heads victory speech inspiring. In it she said: “It is not about the Balance of Power. It is about the Power of Balance.” They agree that it might just be a road map of common sense that is needed to get us out of the chaos being caused by Flanberra.
Length approx 7 mins
