Original subtitles

(BIRDS CAWING)

(BOY PANTING)

BOY: That way.

BOY: (YELLS) Stop running!

I see him.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(BOY WHEEZES)

(BIRDS CAW)

Hey, you alright?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hey. Hey, it's alright.

Hey.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Easy, easy.

Hey.

(BOTH GRUNT)

Hey, hey, it's alright. It's alright.

Hey, hey, hey, you're OK. Argh, let go of me!

Hey, hey, hey, it's OK.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Take it easy, take it easy.

It's alright. It's alright.

(BOY PANTS)

It's alright.

How you feeling?

Look, this is the part where you tell me your name

and what you're doing driving a car.

(SCOFFS)

Yeah, I didn't like cops either.

Oh, so you can hear me.

Glad we got that sorted.

You want to tell me what you're running from?

(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)

(PHONE RINGS INSIDE)

(DOGS BARK)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)

(RACE COMMENTARY ON TV)

How you going?

The name's, uh... Save the formalities, Detective.

I know who you are.

You're that black fella cop

who had the speedy rise up through the ranks, aren't ya?

Some might say...

..you're a traitor to the brotherhood.

What do you say?

I know you got your last boss locked up.

I'd do it again if I had to.

Ooh.

Shit.

Look, I, uh, went to the station, saw the sign.

Come here, find you drinking in the middle of the day.

You want to keep your powder dry there, bony.

You just got here.

I've been policing this town for 30 years.

We do things differently here.

Is that right?

Yeah.

This town looks after itself.

If they need me, they know where to find me.

Don't they, cowboy?

Yeah.

Fishing.

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

You're aware I've been assigned to the district?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

I think someone's playing a joke on you, bony.

How's that?

Payback.

Sending you to the arse end of nowhere.

Get you a beer?

Welcome drink?

I'm good, thanks.

(LAUGHS) That's a first.

Found a kid just out of town.

Crashed a car into a culvert.

Oh, you better watch out there, Simmo.

Looks like old bony's on the job already, eh?

(SARCASTICALLY) Ooh, ooh, ooh!

Look, I don't want to hold you up. Your beer might get warm.

Which way to the hospital?

Can't miss it.

Come on.

What if he followed me?

Who?

You'll be safe here.

Let's get your injuries checked out.

Come on.

Well, you must be Jay, Mary's husband.

Is that what she's calling me?

Detective Jay Swan.

Gary Lloyd, Medical Director.

Young fella's got a bit of a head injury.

Oh, what's Swayze done to himself this time, eh?

Low-impact car accident.

Come here, Swayze. Now, keep still, I just need to check you over.

Look at the light.

You feeling sick?

Got a headache?

No?

Alright, we'll get him cleaned up, do a full examination.

There's some dilation of the pupils,

so do some X-rays just to check him over.

I've got a few more questions for him, if that's alright.

Well, he needs some rest,

so we'll keep him under observation for a short while.

I can assure you he won't be going anywhere.

Come on, Swayze. Swayze, I saw you come in.

Are you OK?

That young boy can be a bit of a handful.

This is Jay, Mary's long-lost husband.

I'm Susan Lloyd, hospital social worker, and Gary's wife.

It's a pleasure to finally meet you.

Is Mary around? She wanted the morning off.

Now I know why.

Took your time.

You're giving up on me already?

Never.

I'm going to keep you to that, Mary Allen.

Yeah, you do that, Jay Swan.

Hmm.

Feels right to have our baby here.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Pull up there, cowboy.

I've got to go to work.

But I only just got here.

Hmm.

Two hours late, mind you.

You missed your chance.

Anya didn't go to school today.

She's been busting to see you.

She's over there, playing with her friend Scarlett.

Number 28.

You're not driving?

No, nothing.

Person needs the exercise.

Hello?

Anya?

Uncle Jay! Uncle Jay!

Hey, there she is.

Whoa! Hmm! (GIGGLES)

Oh, my gosh.

You're getting so big.

This is my friend Scarlett.

She's seven, too.

And we've got the same shoes.

Wow, they are very special.

Yeah, they are.

Nice to meet you, Scarlett.

Is that your mum?

Nah. That's Monica.

She's my carer.

Heard all about you.

Mary's handsome copper boyfriend, eh?

Good for her.

Heard you've been working on a big case up north.

Come on, Uncle.

Push me and Scarlett on the swings.

Go for it. They're wearing me out.

Lead the way.

Yay, come on, Scarlett. Let's go.

OK. And that was only eight and nine?

Yes, that's correct.

Good morning, Mary.

Matron Kerry.

No-one calls me that anymore.

Oh.

My nursing days are long gone.

(LAUGHS)

How's Loch Iris treating you so far?

Uh...

Good, yeah.

Caravan can be a bit crowded with a seven-year-old but.

I'm sure it is.

Heard your husband was joining you.

He rode into town today.

Be nice to be a family again.

Yeah.

It will.

Can show them where I was born, where my mum grew up.

Your mother's from here?

Yeah. Where'd she live?

In the home.

You know St Joseph's?

The old mission.

Oh...

I'm sorry.

I didn't know you were...

Scottish?

No.

I meant...

A blackfella.

I wouldn't use that term.

I've been called a lot worse, don't worry.

What was your mother's name?

Catherine Allen.

Here's trouble.

Oh. Sister Kerry, Mary. Hey.

Hide those car keys. Hey?

Or I'll have to tell your big brother you drove yourself here again!

Oh, I'm sure Gary's got much more important things to worry about

than that.

How you feeling?

You know, alright.

Did you know Mary was born in Loch Iris?

Ah!

Her mother grew up in St Joseph's.

Right.

Her name was Catherine Allen.

OK, yeah.

We should get you set up, eh?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, righto.

ANYA: Higher. Higher, Uncle.

(SCARLETT LAUGHS) Higher!

(CAR HORN BEEPS)

Don't forget to push Scarlett.

(LAUGHS) Yeah. Yeah.

Alright. We'll get this on.

Yep.

There we go.

Alright, I will just be down the hall if you need anything.

(GROANS)

So, your mum was born here?

Yeah.

Ah. Where is she now?

She, um...

She passed away a little while ago, actually.

I'm really... very sorry to hear that.

Thanks.

Did she ever talk about Loch Iris, or, you know, why she left?

Nah.

She said the lake was a beautiful, but.

Yeah.

So, um, boy or a girl?

I don't know.

(LAUGHS)

I usually hate surprises, but...

I reckon this one might be a good one.

Where you... where you staying at?

We've been at the, um...

..at the caravan park for the last month.

Close to your mum's lake, eh?

Yeah.

I got my niece with me, so, um...

..hopefully we get a house soon.

Alright, um, I might check back on you both in half an hour.

OK.

That's where it was.

St Joseph's Home.

I helped care for all those children.

Looked after your mother.

We used to call her the runner.

She was always running.

That's where you would have been born, too.

After St Joseph's was closed in the '70s,

they turned the old dining room into a maternity ward for single mums.

It's all just storage now.

Why do you think they closed it down?

Everyone wanted to forget it.

But I never did.

I never forgot any of those children.

JAY: 16.

17.

18.

19...

..20.

Alright.

Here I come.

Ready or not.

Anya?

Scarlett?

Girls?

OK, I give up.

You win.

Come on now!

Hey, mate.

You seen two little girls about seven years old?

Sparkly shoes.

Nah, mate.

Thanks.

Anya!

Scarlett!

Game's over now.

Done.

Finished.

Don't do that again.

When I call you, you come.

Understand?

Look, you're not in trouble, just...

Where's Scarlett?

With Joey.

Who's Joey?

Our friend.

Can you take me there?

Scarlett?

Hey.

You OK?

You work here?

Sometimes.

Come on.

Get you back to Monica.

Bye, Joey.

Around here, you need to keep your eye on them kids.

Anya, back at the caravan park, I wasn't angry at you.

I was just scared.

You sounded angry.

That's because I didn't know where you were.

I thought something might have happened to you.

Like what?

Hey, listen.

You just sit here.

I'm going to take a look at this car, alright?

OK.

Ah, shit.

Hey. How you going? Tim.

Jay.

Is this your vehicle?

That's him.

Work truck. Oh.

Who are you?

I'm working with Paula Simmons.

Ah, Simmo.

Are you a copper?

Yeah.

Too good there. You boss.

You know why Swayze would have been driving this vehicle?

Don't know.

Is he alright?

You didn't think to check?

He's at the hospital under observation.

I've got a farm to run.

If it was serious, Simmo would have let me know.

Swayze live out on the farm with you?

Yeah.

He's family?

No, nothing.

We've got a bunch of kids out there.

A charity runs the farm.

Some people can't look after their kids,

so we give them what they can't get at home.

Did Swayze say anything to you?

Did he say where he was going?

He just said he was trying to get out of town.

Yeah, I don't know about that.

If that was his plan, he was going the wrong way.

Gets a bit mixed up in the head sometimes.

Why is that?

Life.

Poor fella.

But... he's a good kid.

You need a hand?

All good. I've got this.

That little one might get bored sitting there.

I can take that if you like.

I'll make sure Swayze gets it when I see him next.

(WHISPER INDISTINCTLY)

Hey, my girl.

Come here.

(LAUGHS) Mm.

Hey? Oh.

Playing good cop, are we?

Can you look after her for a sec?

Yeah.

Hey, I know why you were late today.

He's down the hall.

What's this?

Swayze's.

You want me to clean it up for you?

That'd be good, thanks. Yeah.

I'll be back.

OK.

SWAYZE: Get them away!

No, no, no, no! Swayze!

They're just cards.

Get them away from me!

They're just cards. Get them away!

Get them away!

Hey, Swayze.

Hey.

He's coming for me. I told you, he's gonna find me.

What's going on here?

It's alright, Swayze, settle down.

What did you do?

What's going on, eh?

What happened?

He's scared.

These children need some comfort.

I don't think you're one to talk, it's not like the old days.

I don't appreciate your tone.

And I would appreciate it if you left me to do my job.

OK, Swayze, what's all the fuss about, eh?

What do you got him on?

Something to calm him down.

Doesn't seem to be working.

He's had episodes in the past.

Thank you, Detective.

Would you mind closing it?

Oh, thank you. That's OK.

Are you all good?

Yes. I'll be fine.

What happened back there?

I went to offer him some comfort.

Some prayers.

And he just started screaming.

Threw my prayer cards across the room.

Sister Kerry used to work at the home where Mum grew up.

I don't know how they call those places a home.

Why do you say that?

Because a home should be somewhere safe with family.

They were created with the best of intentions.

ANYA: Bye, Sister Kerry.

Thank you.

No worries.

You gonna be OK?

Cup of tea and a rest.

Sounds like a plan.

It can take a lifetime to figure out the difference

between good intentions and doing what's right.

History and God will be the judge.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

What was that about?

Saw him hanging around the girls earlier.

I told Anya not to talk to strangers.

Uncle Jay's right.

We don't talk to strangers.

Uncle Jay doesn't know that Joey's not a stranger, eh?

(STARTS ENGINE)

Ready.

Set.

Bang!

(LAUGHS)

They used to call Mum the runner at St Joseph's.

I reckon she was always running.

BOTH: Yeah!

Too deadly.

You're a proper little Cathy Freeman.

Faster than me.

(GIGGLES)

Mum used to come swimming here.

She'd go under the water where it was silent...

..where nothing could reach her.

Said it was her peaceful place.

She ever tell you why she left?

I tried, don't worry.

But if Mum didn't want to talk about something, she'd just shut you out.

Like you weren't even there.

You know what she was running from.

What are you running from?

Hey, catch anything?

Yeah, yeah, got a couple.

I'm gonna drop a few off to Sister Kerry later on.

You want one?

Ah, we're right, thanks.

Jay, this is Philip Lloyd.

One of my patients.

And Gary's brother.

Hey, I think I might have found a house for you.

It's not much chop, but it's got a big backyard.

Yeah?

Yeah.

7 Ford Street, close to town.

What do you want in rent?

Nothing.

Ah, just mow the lawn. Look after the joint.

What, you just met us and you're going to give us a house rent free?

Yeah.

I don't need the money. Place is just sitting there.

Look, hey, if you, you know, want to take a look, let me know.

If not, no worries.

That's really nice of you. Thank you.

That was a shame job.

What? With Philip.

What, you didn't think that was a bit weird?

You were weird.

He didn't give me a second glance.

You were the centre of his universe. Now he's offering us a house?

What is wrong with you?

Give a person a break, Jay.

He's got cancer. He's dying.

Anya's lost her nan.

Her mum and dad are in lock-up.

She's just stopped having nightmares.

She doesn't need this, Jay.

I don't need this.

Philip was just trying to be nice.

People do that, you know.

(KISSES)

The world's not full of boogeymen, you know.

This place could be good for us.

You just got to learn to trust it.

Yeah, I know. Shh.

Silence is sexy.

Hmm.

(DOGS BARK)

Oi!

I'll show you around the back.

My health's up shit creek, so I'm staying at me brother's.

Needs a bit of spit and polish,

but she's not going to fall down on youse.

Apart from what's inside the house...

..everything I own is in here.

You do much fishing?

'68.

Yeah.

The old HK, Monaro GTS.

She's probably worth a bit these days,

but my brother can do what he wants with it once I'm gone.

As long as I can still flick a fishing rod, I'm not selling it.

Too many good memories.

I'll tell you what, she still sings.

(STARTS ENGINE)

(HALF-LAUGHS)

(REVS ENGINE)

Slick dresser back in your day.

The fishing gear and the car stay in the shed. That's not negotiable.

You can sell the house.

Buy a new shed for your GTS.

Why give it to us?

Place is empty, Mary's in a caravan.

Who's the woman in the photo?

Do you want it or not?

We'll see.

Cheers.

I need to know what's going on.

Oh, yeah?

Did you know Welfare want to move Scarlett on?

They say I'm not coping, so they're going to re-home her

like she's a bloody cat from a shelter.

I'm sure whoever told you that didn't put it like that.

Yeah, well, that's what she meant.

Who?

Sister Kerry.

Came round yesterday to warn me.

Welfare have to do what's best for the child, Monica.

She's happy here.

She's got friends, she's off playing with Anya.

Anya's at school.

We haven't seen Scarlett since yesterday.

Well, yeah, that's what I meant. Yesterday.

She was off playing with Anya, yesterday.

We were here this morning, you said Scarlett was off playing by herself.

Yeah.

Yeah, she did, she was.

She does that sometimes.

Where's Scarlett now?

She's... When did you last see her?

Last night, I had a splitting headache.

Scarlett wanted to go on the swings.

She went, I had a lie down.

So she's been missing since last night?

No, she's not missing.

She could...

She came to bed after I was asleep,

and then she took off again this morning.

She does it all the time.

Why... Why are you looking at me like that?

People get migraines, it's not my fault.

Maybe if you kept a better eye on Scarlett,

you'd know whether she slept in her own bed last night

or was out wandering around.

Did you tell Scarlett she was being moved?

No.

I'm going to have to inform Child Protection,

and before they totally strike you from the carer's register,

you'd better find Scarlett, understand?

I have not done anything wrong.

I'll have a look for her.

That red car I saw yesterday, friend of yours?

Not really.

It's OK, bub.

You're not in trouble.

Uncle Jay just wants to ask you some questions, that's all.

You and Scarlett are good friends, yeah?

She's my best friend.

Do you ever share secrets with each other?

Sometimes.

Could you tell me any of those secrets?

No.

Why not?

Because they're secrets.

Where's Scarlett gone?

That's what we're trying to find out, bub.

Joey might know where she is.

Why would Joey know?

He's nice.

Made a cubby house for Scarlett.

Did you ever go there?

With Joey?

This way.

It's over there.

Just stay here, bub. I'm gonna have a look, OK?

Oh, come on, bony, really?

Kids go walkabout all the time.

She's probably just mucking around with her friends,

nicking stuff from the shop.

She'll show up.

She's seven years old, and Monica hasn't seen her since last night.

Hasn't seen her since last night?

No.

(SOFTLY) Fuck me.

Why is Monica taking so long to tell us this?

I'm gonna speak to Joey.

I saw him hanging around the kids at the caravan park.

You need to calm down.

Joey works at the caravan park.

That's why he hangs around there.

He's got nothing to do with this, I'm telling you.

Are you sure about that?

Yeah. I know Joey.

Joey's a...

He's a particular kind of bloke.

That's all. He's no kiddy fiddler.

I'll go find him, have a word to him.

You do a sweep of the town.

Truck stops, neighbours at the caravan park.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

SONG: # 'Cause I got dirt on me

# Dust in the veins

# This place, it breathes

# Red earth spill blood

# Will make a man feel mean

# With no place round here

# Nothing's washed clean

# Got blood on your hands

# You better stop today

# We got plenty of room out here

# For a long, long sleep

# What a man can get done

# When he's pushed to his brink

# Yeah, it won't be long You'll be just like me

# Just like me

# With the dust in your veins

# Enough to make a man feel mean

# Yeah, you're walking the line after some time

# We'll see

# A little dirt on your hands

# Oh, you just can't seem to clean

# Give it some time, you're gonna realise

# You're just like me

# And I've got dirt on me

# Yeah, I got dirt on me... #

Sister Kerry?

It's Jay Swan.

(FLICKS SWITCH)

(RUG SQUELCHES)

(WATER RUNS)

Ah, my little brother.

Sputty. That hat has grown on you.

There's obvious signs of a struggle.

Simmo, we spoke about this last night.

Your judgement's all over the place.

Yeah, and you don't know what you're messing with, Detective.

It's OK to be scared.

I get scared too.

How am I meant to trust you

if you can't tell me something like this?

What am I supposed to do?

There's a handful of people who've got this town in a chokehold.

So if you want to be the big hero, I suggest you start there.

(GRUNTS)

You're not gonna like this, Jay. Come on.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation