Original subtitles

See, the thing is, a bullet makes a small hole going in and a bigger hole

out. Do you see that?

Aye.

They say it hurts forever.

Is that true, Dad?

Hold the window open with the spoon, and I'll clean it out.

Good girl. That's it.

I know you learned from horses, Dad.

But be gentle.

He's in pain.

Bring her in.

Rotten rice seed is a sure way to make a woman bleed.

Will she die if you don't abort her baby?

Those stupid Marys are always getting themselves shot.

They don't go around shooting themselves, Dad.

I was very sad.

I thought I might despair.

Though no traveling priest nor church to pray.

A soldier, my one friend, Private Doyle.

Sometimes I would confess to him my thoughts.

He told me it often helped to write down your troubles.

And though I would maybe show him my scribbling, he might not even read it.

Most likely he would burn it or fling it to the waves.

The point of it being, it will free yourself alone.

And having read it down, you might better understand the way that things

gone. The story of your life.

We lived on the frontier to a wilderness even God himself forgot.

For everyone else, it was the furthest military outpost.

On the map, there was a clear line between us and them.

That line did not exist for me.

And so I fell in love with a Maori boy.

His name was Tommy.

We were always on the edge of the trouble, but still the Maori kids would

down river.

And when we was at school, during the peaceful time, we would ride the track

that took us over the hill.

On this one day, we came to cross the river.

We fell in love.

This was the last time that I saw my Tommy boy.

The choking sickness came and just wiped him and his village off the face of the

earth.

My Tommy boy was dead.

But he left me with his child.

I was keeping Tommy's baby no matter what Dad said.

But for all that, Richard Thurgeon that he was, he delivered the baby himself.

From him, I learned to stitch horse or man.

With boy there, I knew my place in the world.

And for the next six years, me and him were happy.

Inseparable.

Let private Doyle and Gah to clear some land.

This here is sacred ground.

We shouldn't be here.

It's army orders.

Let Vegas go.

Good boy.

Brave boy.

There we go.

We see you found. Come on.

My brave boy.

Hide and seek?

because that's where it's wrongy.

What the hell are you thinking staring down here? Back to see your Sarah's pie

again.

Our warriors died here.

And you sealed this land even from our dead.

If Jesus Christ himself was buried here, I'd still tear that land. If you carry

on like this, things will happen to you.

What?

God, our new private toy is my sister and me.

We had trouble with Old Rongy from the start.

Old Rongy was my boy's grandfather.

I know you're hiding.

Probably just Hayden. He was always Hayden.

Come on, sit down.

Where's your sister?

Little boy, been taken by his grandfather, Rangy.

On!

Private Dore will find him.

My father had had a gutful and decided to quit.

By leaving me that medical bag, he gave me a future.

I was never to see my dad and my sister again.

We'd never meant to stay up river all this time.

And now, it was I who couldn't leave.

In all the years I served with your father, you always meant well, sir.

A soldier fights long enough.

It's like he's breeding. He doesn't even know what he's fighting for.

Until he sees something he doesn't have.

Like the love you have for that boy.

Suddenly there's something worth fighting for.

You'll have to fight for what's in your heart, sir.

Poor private Doyle.

There was only room in my heart for a boy.

Lost. Lost to me, my boy was.

I was.

I don't know where they took him.

For seven years, I trailed them.

Boy's grandfather, Old Rangy, was the only tattooist around.

I thought if I could find people he'd tattooed recent, I'd be sure to find

And if I found him, I'd find my boy.

I traveled.

I searched.

Always I saw my boy.

And always he was never there.

The soldiers, most of whom had known Maida, were only meant to clear the

off the land.

Major!

Permission to call the troops off.

Permission denied.

Major.

Is that your people? We're removed.

This is not your tribe. My job is to keep them off the left.

We're not at war with these people, Major.

Let it burn, Willow.

We'll be out of paper, this one. We'll let you have to get this place cleaned

up.

You'll come back on us.

And avenge him he will.

of all the bullets that flew that night.

It was surely major beams that begun the war.

A

war.

The Chief Tikai Poe.

He rained down terror on all of us.

The frontier garrison, the only home I had, was birthed in his power.

Okay, Paul, the enemy chief himself.

Why was he watching me?

I had waited so many years to see those markings.

And here I was, being swept away in the wrong direction.

The chief to Kaipo attacked the door.

He destroyed the garrison.

Is it straight now?

Before we're left to Kaipo, it's time to rebuild.

Yes.

Major, sir.

He will attack again.

Don't.

A bad business up the river.

You might say, sir.

You might.

The girl, she has her father's talent.

Yes, sir.

You may go.

Sir.

There are our priors.

There was a wee girl I campaigned with her father.

Woman's hands are more useful than a man's.

And in your case, good at cutting and fine stitching.

Virgin's hands.

Did you know that, old man?

Still putting your hands to good use there.

I'm about as skilled as my dad, I know, they reckon.

Good, in that case, you will stay here. You will assist the surgeon in the field

hospital, and for your own safety, you will remain within the confines of this

garrison.

He who consumes the night.

I did tell you there'd be hell to pay.

That's right, wherever you did.

Never trust a Maori, eh?

Just sooner or later, he's going to want his land back.

There's history between a mate and me.

And what about him, this guy?

We had a mate?

Aye.

That there is one married that's more like this Irish.

Do you know what I mean?

No. Why?

I'm Irish, and I fight for the bloody British.

A few years ago, he used to fight against us, too, alongside his own

But apparently he saw the error of his ways and decided to come downriver.

Best marksman in the garrison, though. Where he puts his eye, he puts a bullet.

Your tent's just over there.

Would you like me to walk with you?

No.

I'll be glad.

Right. Why don't you settle in?

I'll help them and bring your things.

Good night.

Though I'd seen where I moved with old Ronnie, but had I seen those

eyes from long before?

Being parted from you grieves me heart and soul.

But your parents are rich enough and are angry with me.

I need your help.

You knew old Rangi?

He was my father.

know where my boy is?

I can take you to him if you help me.

Our chief, Decaipo, is dying.

He believes you can help him.

The rebel chief?

Decaipo?

What's wrong with him?

Come and take this.

Then you'll take me to my boy.

Where are we going?

Where are we just going?

The maps ran out.

The interior.

From this far up river, I never saw no person come back.

And how long would it take to get there?

I was crossing over enemy lines.

to heal a man that burnt my home.

Why was I going to help him?

You're never going back downriver, are you?

Back to us.

You need to pay.

Killed my father.

I suppose game now.

I need to go home.

Settlers are taking the river.

Never stop coming and taking it.

My son.

If you are Tommy Boy's brother, Why?

Why can't I remember you?

You have to find me every night.

Yes.

Why?

You have to look after me. You're special.

So they reckon.

Who reckon?

My dad.

Well, I mean, and everybody.

They say you're going to help the chief.

But that's further to go.

I'm hoping

to

find my son there.

Your son?

Aye.

He's a hawker.

He's called Boy.

What would you say if you found him?

Take him with me.

Take him where?

I don't know.

Just with me.

Back down river.

Back down river?

Did you ever think you might not be going back down river?

No surprise, eh?

But lots of people where we're going don't like parking, huh?

Most of them don't.

We had a white desert just last month.

When we started having problems, we killed them. And if the truth dies

get there, it probably was you or someone else.

What did you do after he was taken?

I didn't know if he was dead or alive.

My whole world was ruined.

I became sick with worry.

And nobody was able to help me find him.

My boy.

Are you still looking for him?

On the day my boy were taken, he fell down and he got a real bad cut in his

right knee.

I had to stitch it up.

And you know what?

He was so brave.

He never made a pep.

I loved him very much.

Is that boy your son?

He was my brother's son.

He's my son.

Because his father died a long time ago.

That does not make him your son.

You took him away from me.

Now I want him back.

I was only protecting my father.

Come on, Tina.

I just wanted to see your son.

The rebel chief.

No chief as young as him had had his face tattooed. He was the last.

Good night.

Good night.

Many with influenza.

A few survived the treatment.

And if he didn't... We must take him down to the river.

We've got to get his fever down now.

That's what I thought.

I'll be right back.

I'll be right back.

One more time.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Come here.

It's hilarious.

It's all right.

Thank you.

Amen.

There were women.

Blood.

There was blood.

It was blood in the water.

I'm good, you'll see.

Do you like them?

Do you like tattoos?

No.

Marks you for life if you wear a tattoo.

Marks who you are.

Marks where you belong.

We'll take time.

I don't know what to say.

It's like boy.

I might have heard him.

What happened to his mother?

He's with another man now.

Didn't like my uniform.

How about you?

Me? No.

No.

Not since Tommy.

Well, since my brother.

I bet you then.

How'd you get all your scars?

That one.

That's all I need.

And another day in it.

I don't know.

What about the one on your hat?

British bullet.

Lucky I nearly lost it.

I thought to you about that.

Rabbit with guacamole?

Guacamole.

I healed it myself.

First the chief comes around again.

I think they'll let you go.

Do you know where?

Do you want to go?

Will you come back with me?

Back where?

Back home.

Down river.

I am home.

I'll go get another plane, don't you ever quit.

Skinny.

Could I find a new home here?

If it become his home.

I will always be grateful to you.

From this day forward, I will make you a queen in my heart.

Queenie.

A word for you.

Cease traveling on the roads.

Stop forever the going on the roads.

Lest you be left there as food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the

field, or for me, because I have eaten the European as beef.

He was cooked in a pot. The women and children partook of the food.

I have begun to eat human flesh.

My throat is constantly open for the flesh of man.

I shall not die.

I shall not die.

When death itself is dead, I shall be alive.

That should raise the temperature a bit, don't you think?

Well, I think you'll be my message.

That'll come, Sarah. We can't leave. But it's not our war.

It's not our war?

You're my blood.

You're Irish, boy. You're Irish.

Right? I came up here to find you, to take you home with me.

You came because one of me asked for you. You and him, I like.

And you want that. And you saw me. Now it's good for you.

But you wanted me to be the same as when you left me.

I did not leave you.

I do not remember.

Rangi stole you. He could have found me. He snatched you away from me. I was

waiting for you. I waited every night.

All these years, I've been raised up by Rangi.

I've been learned up by Rangi. And soon, I'll get my face taken.

You will not. Why not?

Because then you'll be trapped upriver for the rest of your life.

It's good for me upriver.

No, it's not. I fight hard for that.

I would... Die.

Mother.

You will die.

You watch me.

In the battle.

It's coming.

You. You watch me.

The whole

garrison is coming here.

Like bees to honey.

When did they leave?

Almost on us.

What had I done?

I had healed the chief who would kill my people.

He's our palisade.

Our trenches.

Their main force will come in here.

They'll send the kupapa around to outflank us.

Please, you've got to help me take my boy downriver. I promise I will help

But right now you have to stay safe.

I'm not leaving him here to die.

It's too late. You have to... Get off me!

I am not leaving my son here to die. The boy needs you alive.

He needs you alive, Sarah. Do you understand?

Sarah.

Hellish confusion in the thick of it.

You should marry with a uniform. He's one of ours. No uniform?

It's like time.

Murder fight in these memories.

Might as well be Irish from Cromwell's time.

Skin is darkened by the sun and all.

Thank you.

They don't know we're here.

It's Bennett!

It hurts your boy. Do you understand me?

Right.

And you're smiling, Dad, aren't you?

Oh, Mother, you've come for me just in time.

There I shoot you, boy.

I did.

Almost shot him.

What if I had?

That's it.

Sarah, come with me.

Sarah!

Sarah!

Know her?

God,

whoosh.

Husband's a native, she thinks she's a native.

Madness, that's the only end. for a woman like her. Yes.

Madness.

Hey, you have some friends at the river.

In wartime, there's treason.

Eyes within.

And the person!

The deepest ocean to be mine.

So they won't mind us burn their lives for what

You can explain to me why one of the sons of an Irish whore can be a poet and

the other has to be a bastard soldier boy.

The rest of them have got left now, boy.

My life had been my son.

But no more.

There was no man I could wed.

I'll take you for a honeymoon while it's done by the Rose Garden.

Our boy is dead.

Bye.

Beauty makes a sinner.

Live is God to the state of Christ.

I brought the gods to me.

How can I?

Doyle is dead.

This

is

all wrong.

Everything is wrong.

There. Hawk's landing.

He's come back down.

If his allies believe he can consume the terrors of the night, then they know

he's not afraid to dine on us, don't they?

You think his alliances will help?

The longer we wait, the more other tribes will come to him.

Our lives are here.

We will win today and tomorrow.

My dreams were told of this woman.

She is our fate.

No, mate.

I need these people.

Come and see your white woman!

He did it.

You rebels come and go and recruit our Māoris with ease.

You speak Queen's English, don't you?

Ask him again.

Who is the Pākehā? We?

Why, Arami?

If it's your mother.

Why?

That's treason.

The good men are dying because of it, and I think you can tell me who it is.

Prisoners of war can be executed, you know.

Spies, caught behind enemy lines.

And under English law, treason is an offence punishable by death. Sarah, come

here. I think I'm going to need you to interpret for me. Does he know I

understand Maori?

Does he?

Does he know that? That he has a white mother?

Just ask a question.

Ask a question!

Get him out! Get him out! I have no mother.

I fight for my tribe because I know where I belong.

I would die because I know where I belong.

No!

No, don't hurt my boy! Do not hurt him!

Hang alone.

Purgatory is a terrifying place to be, sir.

Caught between heaven and hell.

I'll let you tomorrow, Jeff. I think that's the best thing, don't you?

Please.

You can go now.

Hey,

Toma. You smell that?

It's a big boy.

What are you going to give me for him?

What do you want, Gotham?

You're tricking him, maybe.

. .

.

He's right.

Nothing but a danger to you now.

We adapt or we die.

Where we're going, you won't be welcome.

You'll draw the enemy too. us like a light.

I can no longer protect you.

I'm sorry, Queen.

Run it out.

Get his

desire for the comfort of women get the better of him.

Or did his dream warn him that he must provoke his people into retreat?

And that way avoid a river of blood?

Find a loft against this?

They're going after them.

Don't find them sent. They'll vanish.

Blend them with the other tribes.

Sarah O 'Brien is with them.

Find her.

Find the boy.

You'll find them all.

Take prisoners?

I don't know.

Four pound a head.

I didn't know you were a mouse. The world is changing, my friend.

But I've never done a face before.

I know.

I still want you to do it.

Only a thousand bombs.

He just does his thought.

Disappeared. Maybe they have some refuge with the neutral tribe.

Keep looking.

White woman joining the rebels.

Can't allow that.

We'll see how it ends.

That bullet was small going in, but big coming out.

Now it is easy to sleep on my old, old wings.

No one won the war.

But the scars would last forever.

Far from my village, there were stories traded around about a woman called

Queenie who had crossed over to the Maori side.

It was said she'd vanished.

Some said she'd died.

times I were very sad.

I thought I might despair.

There were no traveling priests, no church to pray.

A soldier, my one friend, Private Doyle.

Sometimes I would confess to him my thoughts.

He told me it often helped to write down your troubles.

And though I would maybe show him my scribblings, he might not even read it.

Most likely he would burn it, fling it to the waves.

The point of it being,

or for yourself alone.

And having written it down, you might better understand the way that things

gone.

The story of your life.

My heart will never be free to push aside

the longings I still feel. My eyes will never

forget the fields of patchwork green, soft rain

so real.

In my dreams I keep searching for those paths

I never...

My heart longs to find me.