What Is Things I Know to Be True About?
The premise of Things I Know to Be True in 306 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a sun‑washed suburb where the rhythm of seasons mirrors the ebb and flow of family life, the Price household stands as a quiet stage for the return of its grown‑up children. The house, filled with the remnants of decades of devotion, becomes a crucible where longstanding affection and lingering questions mingle, inviting both laughter and contemplation. The atmosphere feels simultaneously familiar and charged, hinting at hidden layers beneath the everyday domesticity.
At the heart of this gathering are Bob and Fran, partners who have spent thirty years building a life together and raising four distinct personalities. Now, with their children back under their roof, they anticipate a period of well‑earned ease, yet find themselves navigating the subtle shift from caretakers to observers. Their marriage, marked by quiet humor and enduring love, is tested by the gentle pressure of change, prompting them to reflect on what it means to love someone through countless seasons.
The returning siblings each carry their own quiet revolutions. Rosie arrives from a European adventure, bringing stories that hint at both wonder and the unexpected challenges of youth. Pip grapples with the allure of a new beginning far from home, contemplating choices that stretch the boundaries of duty and desire. Mia stands on the cusp of a personal transformation, embodying the courage to align outward appearance with inner truth. Meanwhile, Ben confronts the crossroads of youthful ambition and the expectations set by his parents, hinting at the complexities of forging an independent path.
Together, the family’s interactions unfold with a blend of sharp wit, tender moments, and an almost physical sense of presence that keeps the audience attuned to every glance and gesture. The tone balances humor with heartfelt introspection, inviting viewers to recognize the universal dance of love, expectation, and the ever‑present possibility of rediscovery within the familiar walls of home.
What Happens in Things I Know to Be True?
The complete story of Things I Know to Be True, from the first scene to the last, in 770 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Things I Know To Be True centers on the Price family as they navigate love, memory, and the fragile ties that keep people connected even when they ache to change. At the heart of it are Bob Price and Fran Price, a long-married couple whose decades together are tested by the messiness of everyday life and the weight of unspoken truths. Their children push and pull at the family’s foundations, each bringing their own struggles and hopes into a living room full of questions about what it means to stay together when the ground feels unsettled.
Rosie Price opens the play with a raw, intimate monologue from a gap year in Europe, where a spontaneous fling in Berlin with a man named Emmanuel ends with theft and betrayal. The moment snaps Rosie back to the reality of home, a place where the promised safety of a family can sometimes feel more like a stage for old wounds than a sanctuary. The Berlin memory lingers, coloring how she sees love, trust, and risk as she returns to Adelaide and reenters the orbit of her parents and siblings with a renewed, if wary, voice.
As the family reconvenes, Pip Price makes a dramatic move that unsettles everyone: she leaves her husband and two children to start anew in Vancouver. Fran’s disapproval surfaces not only from the fear of losing family stability but from a history that hints at past betrayals. Pip’s decision shatters expectations and nudges the older generation to face a long-buried ache from their own upbringing, while Rosie’s homecoming becomes a crucible for old loyalties and new resentments. Pip’s arc gradually unfolds through a letter she writes to Fran, a missive that forges a fragile emotional bridge after a childhood that teetered on the edge of harm but never fully healed.
Mia Price—formerly known as Mark Price—emerges as a central, transformative presence when she comes out as transgender. Her plan to move to Sydney for hormone therapy marks a turning point for the family, a moment of truth that forces everyone to reconsider what gender means within the walls of their shared history. This revelation shifts the dynamics in unpredictable ways, not least for Fran, who grapples with acceptance and the fear of losing a child to a future she hadn’t anticipated.
Meanwhile, the family’s younger generation adds its own layer of tension through Ben Price. Bob discovers a European car outside the house and inquires about the money behind it, which Ben explains came from hard work. The truth comes spilling out in a later confrontation: Ben has been skimming, a revelation that exposes a casual, dangerous appetite for money and risk that echoes through the household. The interplay between Ben’s choices and Bob’s attempts to guide him becomes a quiet but persistent thread, highlighting how parental discipline and trust can fracture under pressure and fear.
Amid these personal storms, Fran’s relationship with Bob is tested in quieter, intimate ways. Fran reveals she has been saving roughly $250,000 as a “get-out fund” for their relationship, a pragmatic and painful acknowledgment that after thirty years of marriage, love can coexist with fatigue and the urge for escape. She admits she once considered running away herself, but chose to stay for the sake of their children. The plan morphs into a dream shared between them: a possible trip to Kruger National Park, a symbol of escape and renewal. Yet the couple’s chance for a life-altering getaway never materializes, lingering as an unspoken wish that underscores how couples negotiate unmet desires.
As these currents churn, tragedy quietly lands at their doorstep. Fran’s life is cut short by a car crash, and she dies on arrival, never fully reconciling with Mia, never emotionally connecting with Pip in person, never forgiving Ben, and never boarding that hopeful journey to South Africa with Bob. The loss reverberates through the family, testing what remains of their bonds and forcing each member to reckon with the gaps Fran leaves behind. In the final pages, the children return to Adelaide to honor Fran, gathering for her funeral and to face the future without the steady presence that once anchored them.
This story unfolds with a patient, observational tone, letting the family’s memories, regrets, and small acts of care illuminate a larger meditation on time, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to redefine family ties when everything you believed about them is challenged. It is a portrait of resilience, the messy but honest pursuit of connection, and the ways in which love endures even when it is tempered by disappointment, anger, and the ache of what might have been.
Things I Know to Be True Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
11 key events in the order they happen, from “Rosie's Berlin encounter and theft during her gap year” to “The family returns to Adelaide for Fran's funeral”. 9 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
Rosie's Berlin encounter and theft during her gap year
During her European gap year, Rosie meets a man named Emmanuel in Berlin. He steals most of her valuables and disappears when she wakes during the night, leaving her stranded abroad. The incident forces Rosie to cut her travels short and return to Australia.
When:gap year Where:Berlin
- 2
Rosie returns to Australia and is greeted by the Price family
Rosie returns to Adelaide and is greeted by the Price family. The reunion surfaces underlying tensions and hints at the different paths each family member will pursue. The moment anchors the play’s exploration of loyalty and reconciliation.
When:shortly after Berlin incident Where:Adelaide, Australia
- 3
Pip leaves husband and kids to start anew in Vancouver
Pip decides to leave her husband and their two children to begin a new life in Vancouver. Fran disapproves upon learning of Pip's cheating, revealing the strain within the family. The decision widens the rift and foreshadows later reconciliations.
When:soon after Rosie's return Where:Adelaide, Australia
- 4
Pip moves to Vancouver and writes a reconciliatory letter to Fran
Moving to Vancouver, Pip writes a letter to Fran that begins to bridge the emotional gap between them. The message acknowledges an abusive childhood and signals a cautious, tentative reconciliation. The exchange adds depth to the family history.
When:after the move Where:Vancouver, Canada
- 5
Mia comes out as transgender and plans hormone therapy in Sydney
Mia, previously referred to as Mark, comes out as transgender and announces plans to move to Sydney for hormone therapy. The revelation shocks the family, with Fran especially displeased. This marks a major shift in Mia's identity and the family dynamic.
When:later Where:Sydney (plans to move there)
- 6
Fran preserves a get-out fund and dreams of a trip with Bob
Fran reveals she has saved about 250,000 as a get-out fund for her relationship with Bob. She admits she once thought of running away, but stayed for the sake of their children. She says she now saves the money to treat themselves, and she asks Bob where he'd most like to go; he answers Kruger National Park, but they never go.
When:unspecified Where:Adelaide, Australia
- 7
Ben's money origin is revealed alongside the car
Bob discovers a European car parked outside and questions Ben about where the money came from. Ben claims he earned it by working hard. Later he reveals that he had been skimming funds to pay for drugs and the flashy car.
When:mid to late in the play Where:Adelaide, Australia
- 8
Fran's car crash and death
It is revealed that Fran has been involved in a car crash and is pronounced dead on arrival. Her death arrives amid a cascade of secrets and family strain. The loss triggers a reckoning for the remaining Price family.
When:late in the play
- 9
Mia's transition progresses; last scene where Mia presents as male
This moment shows Mia's last appearance presenting as male; she will present as a woman in later scenes. The change marks a significant point in Mia's transition and how the family responds to it. The scene highlights the personal transformation at the center of the play.
When:toward the end of the play
- 10
Fran forgives Ben and discusses taking Bob to South Africa
Before she dies, Fran forgives Ben and discusses taking Bob to South Africa. Her gesture points toward reconciliation despite earlier betrayals. The conversation frames the emotional fallout as the family faces Fran's impending death.
When:late in the play, before Fran's death Where:Home
- 11
The family returns to Adelaide for Fran's funeral
The children return to Adelaide to meet Bob and Rosie for Fran's funeral. They confront the consequences of the family's secrets and seek some sense of closure. The funeral marks the end of Fran's story and a pivot for the remaining Price family.
When:after Fran's death Where:Adelaide, Australia
Who Are the Main Characters in Things I Know to Be True?
6 characters, among them Bob Price (Ewan Stewart), Fran Price (Imogen Stubbs) and Rosie Price (Kirsty Oswald): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Bob Price (Ewan Stewart)
Played by Ewan Stewart
Bob Price is Fran's husband and the family’s steady anchor. He speaks with quiet patience, aims to protect his family, and navigates grief with restrained openness. He holds onto hope and a sense of duty even as reveals about his children unfold. His gentle, optimistic presence keeps the family tethered to one another.
- 👪 Family pillar
- 🗺️ Travel dreams
- 🕊️ Resilience
- FP
Fran Price (Imogen Stubbs)
Played by Imogen Stubbs
Fran is the family matriarch whose practical savings and steady expectations mask a longing for stability. She contemplates paths apart from her long marriage yet remains devoted to keeping the family intact. Her death in a car crash becomes the emotional fulcrum of the story, forcing forgiveness and memory to take center stage.
- 💔 Matriarch
- 🧭 Love and loyalty
- 💸 Saving and secrets
- RP
Rosie Price (Kirsty Oswald)
Played by Kirsty Oswald
Rosie is the eldest daughter who returns from a European getaway changed by a troubling encounter in Berlin. Her trajectory adds tension to the family as her bond with Fran and the siblings evolves. She embodies the sense of travel and independence that marks the newer generation.
- 🌍 Adventurer
- ✈️ Gap-year traveler
- 💬 Family ties
- PP
Pip Price (Natalie Casey)
Played by Natalie Casey
Pip leaves her husband and two children to live in Vancouver, seeking a fresh start. Her emotional distance from the family widens, but a letter reconnects her with Fran and hints at healing from a painful upbringing. Her choices illuminate the costs and consequences of independence.
- 🌍 Global seeker
- 💔 Estrangement
- 📨 Reconciliation
- BP
Ben Price (Richard Mylan)
Played by Richard Mylan
Ben is the younger son who clashes with his father and hides a troubling path that includes skimming money to fund drugs and flashier appearances. His actions reveal a restless desire for escape and status while exposing the fragility of family trust. The reveal of his money-raising method ties back to the family’s vulnerability.
- 💊 Risk-taking
- 🕵️♂️ Secrecy
- 💸 Consequences
- MP
Mia Price (Mark Price) (Matthew Barker)
Played by Matthew Barker
Mia, who is introduced as Mark Price, comes out as transgender and outlines plans to move to Sydney for hormone therapy. Her journey challenges family assumptions and tests the limits of acceptance. The transition reframes relationships, highlighting courage, identity, and love within the Price family.
- 🌈 Identity
- 🧭 Self-discovery
- 💬 Family dialogue
Where and When Is Things I Know to Be True Set?
Things I Know to Be True is set in Adelaide, Berlin, Vancouver, Sydney and Kruger National Park (Contemporary (early 21st century)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Contemporary (early 21st century)
The events unfold in the modern era, with characters traveling internationally and engaging in contemporary family issues. The narrative uses current social themes, such as gender identity and long-standing marriages, to shape decisions and conflicts. Flights, finances, and personal revelations reflect a present-day setting rather than a historical period.
Where
Adelaide, Berlin, Vancouver, Sydney, Kruger National Park
The Price family’s story centers in Adelaide, their Australian home, which frames the family’s daily life and serves as the setting for Fran’s death and the funeral. Berlin is where Rosie’s gap-year trip leads to a troubling encounter that drives her back home. Vancouver marks Pip’s new life away from Australia as she seeks independence, while Sydney is the future destination for Mia’s hormone therapy. The idea of travel and a potential trip to Kruger National Park frames Bob’s hopeful dream and the family’s international journeys, including the eventual journey toward South Africa.
- 🎭 Family dynamics
- 🌍 Cross-border travel
- 🏞️ African landscapes
- 🏙️ Australian cities
What Are the Themes of Things I Know to Be True?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Family, Identity and Grief.
-
01
Family
The Price family forms the core of the drama, with long-standing bonds strained by secrets, infidelity, and loss. Each member carries unspoken fears and loyalties that drive their choices. The play uses intimate domestic scenes to show how love, duty, and guilt shape a family's resilience.
-
02
Identity
Mia's coming-out and the exploration of gender identity test the parents' beliefs and the siblings' relationships. Pip's personal decisions also reflect shifting identities and independence. The dynamics reveal how identity can redefine loyalty and belonging within a family.
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03
Grief
Fran's sudden death triggers a cascade of grief across the family, forcing confrontations and forgiveness. The funeral and the emotional closures reshape relationships and reveal past hurts. Grief is shown not only as sorrow but as a catalyst for truth-telling and reconciliation.
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04
Secrets
Hidden motivations and unspoken histories surface throughout the narrative, from financial pretenses to past abuse and hidden desires. The characters reveal half-truths that stain trust and force difficult conversations. The uncovering of these secrets tests the strength of family ties and personal honesty.
What Kind of Film Is Things I Know to Be True?
Bittersweet in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Sad
A patient and poignant family drama that unfolds with a melancholic yet hopeful tone, blending raw emotional revelations with tender moments against a backdrop of tragic loss.
- melancholic
- reflective
- intimate
- heartfelt
- somber
- tense
- family dynamics
- identity crisis
- grief and loss
- marriage
Content notes: death of a parent, financial deceit, family conflict.
Quiz
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