The Home Song Stories

Rose Hong sings in Hong Kong in 1964 and meets Bill, an Australian sailor. She marries him to seek a better life in Australia, taking her daughter May and her son Tom with her. An opening montage shows her attempts to establish herself with Chinese partners before she moves back to Bill.

The Ayres family migrates to Australia in search of a better life. They settle in, with Bill's house in Melbourne as a focal point for the family. Seven years after their arrival, they return to Bill's house in Melbourne and experience tensions as Bill leaves on tour.

Bill's mother Norma moves into the home and disapproves of the family’s way of life. When Bill leaves on a tour, Rose and Norma fiercely contend for control over the house. The atmosphere grows tense as the two women clash over household authority.

Rose begins an affair with Joe, the son of the local Chinese restaurateur, who moves in with her. She deceitfully tells Norma that Joe is her aunt’s son to keep up appearances. The relationship marks a turning point as the household stability fractures.

Norma discovers Joe in Rose's room, prompting a confrontation. Rose and Joe are kicked out as Norma asserts control over the household. The two begin to live separately, triggering further upheaval for Rose and her children.

Rose rents a place with Joe after leaving Bill's house, but their relationship begins to deteriorate. The mounting strain leads Rose to attempt suicide as instability surrounds them. May and Joe discover an unexpected affinity in each other, complicating the family dynamics.

Rose lashes out at May with harsh words and punishment, creating a tense and dangerous home. May then makes an escape attempt of her own, seeking to end her distress. Rose spirals into despair, realizing the damage their bond has suffered.

After a period of conflict, Rose and May find forgiveness and reconciliation. Rose opens up about her difficult childhood, including forced marriage and the loss of her first two daughters, helping May understand her mother's choices. The bond begins to heal as they connect through shared vulnerability.

The romance between Rose and Joe dissolves, forcing the family to regroup. They return to Bill's home in Melbourne, and Norma moves out, clearing the way for a new, albeit fragile, dynamic. The household once again shifts, leaving Rose to confront her shattered dream.

Tom and a classmate are walking home when they overhear others bagging Rose and her clothes in the front yard. Tom blocks himself off emotionally, creating a barrier between himself and his mother. The moment marks Tom's growing detachment from his mother's world.

With her dreams of stability shattered, Rose contemplates returning to Hong Kong. Tom, meanwhile, expresses apathy toward his mother's plight, signifying a widening emotional distance. The family dynamic becomes increasingly emotionally distant.

In the early morning, eight-year-old Tom wakes to see light in the backyard shed and discovers Rose has hanged herself. She does not die immediately, and a phone call later confirms her death. The tragedy becomes a defining moment for Tom and the family.

The adult Tom narrates about what he remembers most from his childhood, framing the story as a search for identity. The epilogue shows Tom and May with their own families returning to Bill's home. Tom explains that he never shed a tear for his mother, choosing to write the story to understand what shaped him.

The real Tom and his sister stay with Bill after their mother's death, reaffirming the surrogate guardianship. May later marries the teacher who became their guardian soon after Bill's death, tying the family’s future to the caretaker figure. The story closes with the surviving family holding onto Bill's home as a link to the past.