1 00:00:02,084 --> 00:00:05,584 (gentle orchestral music) 2 00:00:33,418 --> 00:00:36,001 (gong booming) 3 00:00:42,751 --> 00:00:46,418 (dramatic orchestral music) 4 00:02:10,793 --> 00:02:12,750 - [Narrator] In 1942, the Japanese 5 00:02:12,751 --> 00:02:16,000 were driving invincibly southward from Singapore. 6 00:02:16,001 --> 00:02:18,208 It seemed inevitable that next into their hands 7 00:02:18,209 --> 00:02:21,000 would fall the Northern Territory of Australia, 8 00:02:21,001 --> 00:02:23,208 the largest undeveloped region in the world 9 00:02:23,209 --> 00:02:25,833 with a million head of cattle and a population 10 00:02:25,834 --> 00:02:28,333 of only 5,000 whites. 11 00:02:28,334 --> 00:02:30,875 Space, scorched earth and space, 12 00:02:30,876 --> 00:02:33,000 was Australia's final weapon. 13 00:02:33,001 --> 00:02:36,500 But first, the vast herds of the north must be saved. 14 00:02:36,501 --> 00:02:39,417 And so, across Australia moved a mass migration 15 00:02:39,418 --> 00:02:41,167 unique in history. 16 00:02:41,168 --> 00:02:44,292 From small beginnings, the mobs of cattle poured south 17 00:02:44,293 --> 00:02:45,918 in an almost unending flood. 18 00:02:46,876 --> 00:02:49,708 This is the story of one mob and of the people 19 00:02:49,709 --> 00:02:52,209 who drove it across a continent. 20 00:02:53,876 --> 00:02:57,543 (dramatic orchestral music) 21 00:03:55,543 --> 00:03:57,584 - The Japs'll get nothing from me. 22 00:03:59,168 --> 00:04:02,834 (dramatic orchestral music) 23 00:04:10,459 --> 00:04:13,959 (sombre orchestral music) 24 00:04:43,626 --> 00:04:46,293 (whip cracking) 25 00:04:50,293 --> 00:04:52,458 - Old Gutsache wants you, boss. 26 00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:53,293 - Righto. 27 00:04:53,294 --> 00:04:55,293 Hold 'em, boys, I gotta see the manager! 28 00:05:03,376 --> 00:05:04,542 Lookin' for me, Burt? 29 00:05:04,543 --> 00:05:06,083 - Yes, come in, Dan. 30 00:05:06,084 --> 00:05:09,625 I was just tellin' the boys I've a shock for ya. 31 00:05:09,626 --> 00:05:11,792 - What's that, the company givin' us a rise? 32 00:05:11,793 --> 00:05:14,292 - That big a shock, you'd be turnin' on whiskey. 33 00:05:14,293 --> 00:05:16,167 (men chuckle) 34 00:05:16,168 --> 00:05:18,668 - Listen, boys, I've just had this telegram. 35 00:05:20,001 --> 00:05:22,250 Closed works, stop. 36 00:05:22,251 --> 00:05:26,750 Load vital machine parts on SS Toowoomba immediately, stop. 37 00:05:26,751 --> 00:05:30,542 Destroy freezing plant, evacuate personnel, stop. 38 00:05:30,543 --> 00:05:32,167 Regards, Barton. 39 00:05:32,168 --> 00:05:34,167 - Nice of him to send his regards anyhow. 40 00:05:34,168 --> 00:05:36,583 - [Man] Well, looks like we're through, war anyway. 41 00:05:36,584 --> 00:05:38,000 - [Man] Must be expectin' the Japs. 42 00:05:38,001 --> 00:05:38,876 They were close enough last night. 43 00:05:38,877 --> 00:05:40,042 - [Man] Yes, too bloomin' close. 44 00:05:40,043 --> 00:05:41,375 - Well, there's no use squawkin'. 45 00:05:41,376 --> 00:05:44,417 The one thing we've plenty of in Australia is space, 46 00:05:44,418 --> 00:05:47,083 so why not use it like the Russians did? 47 00:05:47,084 --> 00:05:49,542 Scorched earth and space. 48 00:05:49,543 --> 00:05:52,958 Oh, here, help yourself. 49 00:05:52,959 --> 00:05:55,833 There won't be any big shots up here for awhile. 50 00:05:55,834 --> 00:05:58,625 And don't bother about packin' that stuff. 51 00:05:58,626 --> 00:06:01,250 Just rip it out and get it aboard. 52 00:06:01,251 --> 00:06:02,251 - What about the cattle, Burt? 53 00:06:02,252 --> 00:06:03,375 - Just shoot 'em where they are. 54 00:06:03,376 --> 00:06:05,542 I've got some ammo for you here somewhere. 55 00:06:05,543 --> 00:06:08,250 - I'm not gonna shoot those cattle, Burt. 56 00:06:08,251 --> 00:06:10,333 - They'd make some fine dinners for the Japs. 57 00:06:10,334 --> 00:06:12,251 - I won't leave 'em for the Japs, boy. 58 00:06:13,793 --> 00:06:14,793 I'll overland them. 59 00:06:16,793 --> 00:06:19,209 - You'd never get through, Dan, look. 60 00:06:23,001 --> 00:06:26,000 This is just to stop you from committing suicide. 61 00:06:26,001 --> 00:06:27,375 We're here. 62 00:06:27,376 --> 00:06:30,542 You'd either have to make for Adelaide or Queensland. 63 00:06:30,543 --> 00:06:32,917 Adelaide is 2,000 miles away. 64 00:06:32,918 --> 00:06:34,208 Queensland is 1500. 65 00:06:34,209 --> 00:06:35,792 - I'll make for Queensland. 66 00:06:35,793 --> 00:06:37,208 - All right. 67 00:06:37,209 --> 00:06:38,458 And when you crossed the Orde, 68 00:06:38,459 --> 00:06:39,625 you'd be out of feed and water. 69 00:06:39,626 --> 00:06:41,001 It's terrible country. 70 00:06:42,334 --> 00:06:45,042 You know how long the Duracks were coming here? 71 00:06:45,043 --> 00:06:46,043 Three years. 72 00:06:46,793 --> 00:06:48,000 The war'd be over then. 73 00:06:48,001 --> 00:06:49,708 - You can't tell me there haven't been 74 00:06:49,709 --> 00:06:52,001 any big movements of cattle since the Duracks. 75 00:06:52,876 --> 00:06:55,750 Listen, Bert, when I went down to Halls Creek to enlist 76 00:06:55,751 --> 00:06:58,333 the sergeant there, Paterson, he said to me, 77 00:06:58,334 --> 00:07:01,250 "In this war bullocks are more important than bullets. 78 00:07:01,251 --> 00:07:02,542 "You stick to cattle," he said, "and you'll be doing 79 00:07:02,543 --> 00:07:04,167 "a better job for Australia than bashing 80 00:07:04,168 --> 00:07:05,834 "your spine in some army camp." 81 00:07:06,959 --> 00:07:08,126 Then he knocked me back. 82 00:07:09,126 --> 00:07:10,583 I was the only recruit that day, 83 00:07:10,584 --> 00:07:12,583 so we went out and got drunk. 84 00:07:12,584 --> 00:07:14,251 I've never forgotten what he said. 85 00:07:15,126 --> 00:07:17,125 "Bullocks are more important than bullets." 86 00:07:17,126 --> 00:07:18,583 - He was right in a way, but... 87 00:07:18,584 --> 00:07:21,458 - But you want me to leave a thousand head of cattle to rot. 88 00:07:21,459 --> 00:07:24,000 If I can get a plan together, will ya let me have a go? 89 00:07:24,001 --> 00:07:25,792 - I'd have to have an official okay. 90 00:07:25,793 --> 00:07:27,875 - Aww, don't give me that line of bull, Bert. 91 00:07:27,876 --> 00:07:29,958 You know you've got authority for all I need. 92 00:07:29,959 --> 00:07:30,918 Will ya back me? 93 00:07:30,919 --> 00:07:32,543 - I can't stop ya, Dan. 94 00:07:34,876 --> 00:07:36,168 I'll tell ya what I'll do. 95 00:07:38,043 --> 00:07:40,375 Don't know why people make such a fuss of these things. 96 00:07:40,376 --> 00:07:42,958 They always come unstuck on me. 97 00:07:42,959 --> 00:07:44,625 I'll tell ya what I'll do. 98 00:07:44,626 --> 00:07:46,125 I'll give you a personal contract 99 00:07:46,126 --> 00:07:48,542 and try and have it okayed when I go south. 100 00:07:48,543 --> 00:07:50,167 - Good on ya, Bert. 101 00:07:50,168 --> 00:07:51,793 I knew you wouldn't let me down. 102 00:07:54,834 --> 00:07:57,083 - Ya know what you're tryin' to do, don't ya, Dan? 103 00:07:57,084 --> 00:07:58,750 You're tryin' to drive a mob of half-wild cattle 104 00:07:58,751 --> 00:08:00,458 the distance from London to Moscow 105 00:08:00,459 --> 00:08:03,708 in a bad season and the wrong time of the year. 106 00:08:03,709 --> 00:08:06,458 - No wonder they call you old Gutsache. 107 00:08:06,459 --> 00:08:08,458 Well, I'll see ya in Moscow. 108 00:08:08,459 --> 00:08:09,750 (door slams) 109 00:08:09,751 --> 00:08:11,625 - Woo! - And heads! 110 00:08:11,626 --> 00:08:13,167 - It's heads. 111 00:08:13,168 --> 00:08:14,792 For quid in the guts wanted. 112 00:08:14,793 --> 00:08:16,125 Four quid in the guts wanted. 113 00:08:16,126 --> 00:08:18,083 Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. 114 00:08:18,084 --> 00:08:18,918 (men chattering) 115 00:08:18,919 --> 00:08:20,583 10 to set, place your bets, boys. 116 00:08:20,584 --> 00:08:23,625 (men chattering) 117 00:08:23,626 --> 00:08:25,583 10 to set, place your bets, boys. 118 00:08:25,584 --> 00:08:28,334 (men chattering) 119 00:08:29,251 --> 00:08:30,251 - Hey, Corky! 120 00:08:31,376 --> 00:08:33,625 Hold on a minute, I wanna have a yarn with the boys. 121 00:08:33,626 --> 00:08:35,292 - Not now, Dan, my boy. 122 00:08:35,293 --> 00:08:36,750 If he throws another heads, I get a cut. 123 00:08:36,751 --> 00:08:38,458 - This is important. 124 00:08:38,459 --> 00:08:40,292 - What's more important than making dough? 125 00:08:40,293 --> 00:08:41,209 Come on, stand clear. 126 00:08:41,210 --> 00:08:42,833 Come in, Spinner, come on. 127 00:08:42,834 --> 00:08:43,876 Fair go, boys, fair go. 128 00:08:46,418 --> 00:08:47,251 (coins clink) 129 00:08:47,251 --> 00:08:48,251 - [Man] Tails! 130 00:08:48,252 --> 00:08:49,667 (men chattering) 131 00:08:49,668 --> 00:08:53,000 - Gentlemen, Mr. Dan McAlpine wants to say a few words. 132 00:08:53,001 --> 00:08:55,375 - Listen, fellas, here's the story. 133 00:08:55,376 --> 00:08:56,417 I want six men to help me drive 134 00:08:56,418 --> 00:08:57,918 a mob of cattle to Queensland. 135 00:08:59,334 --> 00:09:01,250 Well, what about it? 136 00:09:01,251 --> 00:09:02,084 - You're too late, Dan. 137 00:09:02,085 --> 00:09:03,208 - It's the wrong time of the year. 138 00:09:03,209 --> 00:09:04,500 - You'd never get through the centre. 139 00:09:04,501 --> 00:09:05,708 - That's my funeral. 140 00:09:05,709 --> 00:09:06,958 - And it's likely to be. 141 00:09:06,959 --> 00:09:09,000 (men laugh) 142 00:09:09,001 --> 00:09:10,833 - It's like this, Dan. 143 00:09:10,834 --> 00:09:12,583 We're goin' to join up when we get south. 144 00:09:12,584 --> 00:09:13,418 We want to sorta stick together. 145 00:09:13,419 --> 00:09:15,292 - That's right, we oughta be doin' a war job. 146 00:09:15,293 --> 00:09:16,667 - This is a war job. 147 00:09:16,668 --> 00:09:18,708 Bullocks are more important than bullets. 148 00:09:18,709 --> 00:09:19,875 - And much bigger. 149 00:09:19,876 --> 00:09:21,208 You can see them coming. 150 00:09:21,209 --> 00:09:22,043 (men laugh) 151 00:09:22,044 --> 00:09:23,167 - Fair go, fair go. 152 00:09:23,168 --> 00:09:24,417 Let's get this straight. 153 00:09:24,418 --> 00:09:25,708 Who's coming with me? 154 00:09:25,709 --> 00:09:26,917 - None of us, Dan. 155 00:09:26,918 --> 00:09:27,918 We're going to fight. 156 00:09:27,919 --> 00:09:30,001 - [Cook] Come and get it! 157 00:09:34,668 --> 00:09:35,543 - You'll come with me, won't ya, Jackie? 158 00:09:35,544 --> 00:09:36,917 - Where to, boss? 159 00:09:36,918 --> 00:09:39,042 - Across three states, Western Australia, 160 00:09:39,043 --> 00:09:41,917 Northern Territory, and Queensland to the sea. 161 00:09:41,918 --> 00:09:42,793 - How long on the road, boss? 162 00:09:42,794 --> 00:09:44,418 - Oh, a year, maybe two. 163 00:09:45,793 --> 00:09:47,250 - Okay, I'll come with ya. 164 00:09:47,251 --> 00:09:48,084 Wait till I tell the missus. 165 00:09:48,085 --> 00:09:49,418 I'll be back in five minutes. 166 00:09:53,668 --> 00:09:55,375 - I'll come with you if you'll have me. 167 00:09:55,376 --> 00:09:56,667 - You're a sailor, aren't ya? 168 00:09:56,668 --> 00:09:57,708 - Yes. 169 00:09:57,709 --> 00:10:00,167 - There's nothing romantic about us, ya know. 170 00:10:00,168 --> 00:10:03,083 We don't carry guns or shoot up rustlers. 171 00:10:03,084 --> 00:10:04,958 We're just plain cattlemen. 172 00:10:04,959 --> 00:10:07,000 Hard yacka and hard tucker. 173 00:10:07,001 --> 00:10:08,876 I think you better stay by your ship. 174 00:10:10,376 --> 00:10:11,418 - But I hate the sea. 175 00:10:14,834 --> 00:10:16,458 My home's in Scotland. 176 00:10:16,459 --> 00:10:18,625 My mother was killed in the Blitz. 177 00:10:18,626 --> 00:10:20,625 I've been torpedoed twice. 178 00:10:20,626 --> 00:10:22,793 Once I spent 19 days in a ship's boat. 179 00:10:24,084 --> 00:10:25,167 I thought I'd got over it by now, 180 00:10:25,168 --> 00:10:27,584 but the bombing out here has brought it on again. 181 00:10:30,626 --> 00:10:32,250 I'm a coward, I suppose. 182 00:10:32,251 --> 00:10:33,917 - Oh, I wouldn't say that. 183 00:10:33,918 --> 00:10:35,458 Can ya ride a horse? 184 00:10:35,459 --> 00:10:36,792 - No, I'm afraid I can't. 185 00:10:36,793 --> 00:10:39,375 Well, not very well, anyway. 186 00:10:39,376 --> 00:10:40,875 - Can ya cook? 187 00:10:40,876 --> 00:10:43,333 - Yes, I can, and I don't mind hard work. 188 00:10:43,334 --> 00:10:44,625 - Could you get a discharge? 189 00:10:44,626 --> 00:10:47,458 - Yes, the skipper said I could on medical grounds. 190 00:10:47,459 --> 00:10:50,042 - Ah, what's the good of you and me and Jacky? 191 00:10:50,043 --> 00:10:52,168 We'd lose half the cattle the first night. 192 00:10:53,418 --> 00:10:55,418 Well, I suppose I better start shooting. 193 00:10:56,876 --> 00:10:58,875 I was dead set on getting those cattle through. 194 00:10:58,876 --> 00:11:00,417 - And so you shall, Dan, my boy. 195 00:11:00,418 --> 00:11:02,125 All is now well. 196 00:11:02,126 --> 00:11:04,083 Dr. Corkingdale in person is coming with you. 197 00:11:04,084 --> 00:11:05,500 - You are, Corky? 198 00:11:05,501 --> 00:11:07,250 It means work, ya know. 199 00:11:07,251 --> 00:11:08,833 - I've worked in my time. 200 00:11:08,834 --> 00:11:10,417 - I thought you were all set for the city. 201 00:11:10,418 --> 00:11:13,250 - Well, on sober consideration, 202 00:11:13,251 --> 00:11:15,167 wasn't it tragic about the pub? 203 00:11:15,168 --> 00:11:16,917 On sober consideration, I thought it wise 204 00:11:16,918 --> 00:11:20,417 to avoid the bright lights of Sydney a little while longer. 205 00:11:20,418 --> 00:11:21,792 We get paid for this trip, I hope. 206 00:11:21,793 --> 00:11:23,375 - You bet. 207 00:11:23,376 --> 00:11:25,167 - Yes, Dan, what are you offering? 208 00:11:25,168 --> 00:11:27,333 - Standard drover's rate, six quid a week and tucker. 209 00:11:27,334 --> 00:11:29,625 And a bonus at the end if we get through. 210 00:11:29,626 --> 00:11:31,125 - That's all right, then. 211 00:11:31,126 --> 00:11:33,375 You see, Les and I have got some pretty good horses 212 00:11:33,376 --> 00:11:35,167 that we didn't like leaving, so if we can stick them in 213 00:11:35,168 --> 00:11:37,167 with your plan, well, you can count on us. 214 00:11:37,168 --> 00:11:38,792 - You beaut. 215 00:11:38,793 --> 00:11:40,333 Moscow, here I come. 216 00:11:40,334 --> 00:11:41,168 - Moscow? 217 00:11:41,169 --> 00:11:42,375 I thought you said Queensland. 218 00:11:42,376 --> 00:11:44,250 - Aw, that's just a fancy of mine. 219 00:11:44,251 --> 00:11:46,209 Well, come on, let's get some gear together. 220 00:11:47,668 --> 00:11:51,001 (horse hooves clomping) 221 00:12:01,626 --> 00:12:03,292 - Whoa! 222 00:12:03,293 --> 00:12:04,376 - G'day, Bill. 223 00:12:05,376 --> 00:12:07,043 G'day, Mrs. Parsons, Helen. 224 00:12:09,918 --> 00:12:11,542 Gonna sell the waggon, Bill? 225 00:12:11,543 --> 00:12:12,708 - No. 226 00:12:12,709 --> 00:12:15,542 - Ah, well, I'll pinch it after you've sailed. 227 00:12:15,543 --> 00:12:17,000 - We're not sailing. 228 00:12:17,001 --> 00:12:18,084 We're coming with you. 229 00:12:19,584 --> 00:12:21,000 - No you're not, Bill. 230 00:12:21,001 --> 00:12:22,500 It's no job for women. 231 00:12:22,501 --> 00:12:24,000 But thanks for the offer. 232 00:12:24,001 --> 00:12:25,293 - Now, wait a minute, Dan. 233 00:12:26,501 --> 00:12:27,501 Hold those. 234 00:12:30,334 --> 00:12:31,750 Now look here, Dan. 235 00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:32,833 You know that me and my family are better 236 00:12:32,834 --> 00:12:35,584 with the cattle than any of these ratbags you got here. 237 00:12:38,293 --> 00:12:39,459 - Come over here, Bill. 238 00:12:46,709 --> 00:12:48,083 - Who's the girl? 239 00:12:48,084 --> 00:12:50,000 - Bill Parsons' daughter. 240 00:12:50,001 --> 00:12:50,834 But don't bother. 241 00:12:50,835 --> 00:12:52,333 Her mother watches her like a hawk. 242 00:12:52,334 --> 00:12:53,334 - Get out of here. 243 00:12:54,709 --> 00:12:55,709 - Mary. 244 00:13:00,959 --> 00:13:02,708 Here, dear, put this on. 245 00:13:02,709 --> 00:13:05,250 - But Mother, Jeff never asked me. 246 00:13:05,251 --> 00:13:06,958 - Yes, dear, I know. 247 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:08,625 But your father's set on making this trip 248 00:13:08,626 --> 00:13:09,875 and it would be better for all of us 249 00:13:09,876 --> 00:13:12,250 if the men think you're attached. 250 00:13:12,251 --> 00:13:14,125 - Hello. 251 00:13:14,126 --> 00:13:15,583 - Can I call you Sinbad? 252 00:13:15,584 --> 00:13:16,833 He was a sailor. 253 00:13:16,834 --> 00:13:18,292 - If you like. 254 00:13:18,293 --> 00:13:19,417 - All right, then. 255 00:13:19,418 --> 00:13:21,542 But there's one thing you'll have to get straight, Bill. 256 00:13:21,543 --> 00:13:22,625 I'm the boss. 257 00:13:22,626 --> 00:13:26,125 This is my idea and I'm gonna see it through as boss drover. 258 00:13:26,126 --> 00:13:27,250 - That's okay with me. 259 00:13:27,251 --> 00:13:29,333 Didn't think I wanted to take your plans over, did ya? 260 00:13:29,334 --> 00:13:31,083 - You're such an argumentative old cow, 261 00:13:31,084 --> 00:13:34,083 I wouldn't put it past ya. (chuckles) 262 00:13:34,084 --> 00:13:35,084 - Oh, sailor. 263 00:13:35,085 --> 00:13:36,417 Put that stuff on the waggon. 264 00:13:36,418 --> 00:13:37,293 The Parsons are coming with us. 265 00:13:37,293 --> 00:13:38,293 - Okay. 266 00:13:41,126 --> 00:13:42,959 - The boy will give you a hand, Mary. 267 00:13:44,584 --> 00:13:45,750 What's your name? 268 00:13:45,751 --> 00:13:48,334 - Hunter, but your little girl has christened me Sinbad. 269 00:13:49,751 --> 00:13:51,000 You see, I'm a sailor. 270 00:13:51,001 --> 00:13:53,208 - This is my daughter, Mary. 271 00:13:53,209 --> 00:13:55,000 - Hello, Mary. - Hello. 272 00:13:55,001 --> 00:13:55,876 - [Sinbad] Glad to know you. 273 00:13:55,877 --> 00:13:57,209 - Is that ship taking mail? 274 00:13:58,334 --> 00:14:00,125 Mary wants to get off a letter to her fiance 275 00:14:00,126 --> 00:14:01,708 in the Middle East. 276 00:14:01,709 --> 00:14:04,709 - Oh yes, I expect so, Mrs. Parsons. 277 00:14:06,293 --> 00:14:07,875 - Oh, Mother, you are the limit. 278 00:14:07,876 --> 00:14:10,000 (Mrs. Parsons chuckles) 279 00:14:10,001 --> 00:14:12,918 (crowd chattering) 280 00:14:13,793 --> 00:14:15,334 - Here's your contract, Dan. 281 00:14:16,334 --> 00:14:18,042 Two bob a head for every hundred miles 282 00:14:18,043 --> 00:14:19,792 and eight pound a day waiting money. 283 00:14:19,793 --> 00:14:21,625 Oh, and there's just one thing. 284 00:14:21,626 --> 00:14:23,417 This bonus, I can't promise anything, 285 00:14:23,418 --> 00:14:25,208 but I'll do the best I can. 286 00:14:25,209 --> 00:14:26,292 - Aw, that'll be all right. 287 00:14:26,293 --> 00:14:27,375 The company doesn't come across, 288 00:14:27,376 --> 00:14:28,251 I'll take it outta mine. 289 00:14:28,252 --> 00:14:30,000 - Oh, that's just plain stupid. 290 00:14:30,001 --> 00:14:31,001 - Hey, steward. 291 00:14:33,126 --> 00:14:34,250 What about a bottle of whiskey? 292 00:14:34,251 --> 00:14:35,708 - Sorry, all in bond. 293 00:14:35,709 --> 00:14:37,083 - How about a bottle of beer? 294 00:14:37,084 --> 00:14:38,583 - In bond, too. 295 00:14:38,584 --> 00:14:39,917 - Have you got any fags? 296 00:14:39,918 --> 00:14:40,918 - Got none. 297 00:14:41,959 --> 00:14:43,583 - No business sense. 298 00:14:43,584 --> 00:14:46,293 - Let's go forward, let's go aft. 299 00:14:50,209 --> 00:14:51,043 - Bye, Bill. 300 00:14:51,044 --> 00:14:52,208 And all the best, Dan. 301 00:14:52,209 --> 00:14:55,292 And I still think you're takin' on too big a job. 302 00:14:55,293 --> 00:14:58,083 - You'll be sorry, sailor! 303 00:14:58,084 --> 00:14:59,667 - [Group] You'll be sorry! 304 00:14:59,668 --> 00:15:02,042 - Don't forget to tie him up fore and aft. 305 00:15:02,043 --> 00:15:02,876 Tom, mix. 306 00:15:02,877 --> 00:15:04,583 - What do you call him, Pharlap? 307 00:15:04,584 --> 00:15:06,292 - It's a mare, not a horse. 308 00:15:06,293 --> 00:15:08,917 - He wouldn't Know the difference anyway! 309 00:15:08,918 --> 00:15:10,083 (horn bellows) 310 00:15:10,084 --> 00:15:11,708 - [Group] You'll be sorry! 311 00:15:11,709 --> 00:15:14,208 - I wish I had some more experienced men. 312 00:15:14,209 --> 00:15:17,458 - Aw, the kid's all right. - You'll be sorry! 313 00:15:17,459 --> 00:15:22,876 You'll be sorry! 314 00:15:23,918 --> 00:15:25,667 You'll be... 315 00:15:25,668 --> 00:15:28,251 (sombre music) 316 00:15:35,043 --> 00:15:36,292 - [Dan] They were the last white people 317 00:15:36,293 --> 00:15:38,918 we could expect to see for four months. 318 00:15:46,459 --> 00:15:49,959 (bright orchestral music) 319 00:15:55,918 --> 00:15:59,793 We only made four miles that first day, but it was a start. 320 00:16:09,543 --> 00:16:13,918 We had 968 head of cattle and 53 horses. 321 00:16:14,834 --> 00:16:17,083 You need about six horses per man on a trip like this 322 00:16:17,084 --> 00:16:19,125 when you're workin' 'em night and day. 323 00:16:19,126 --> 00:16:22,543 So, without Les and Charlie's 20, we'd have been very short. 324 00:16:23,918 --> 00:16:26,584 (whip cracking) 325 00:16:31,584 --> 00:16:34,542 That night we set our watches to drover's time, 326 00:16:34,543 --> 00:16:36,459 that is sunset, six o'clock. 327 00:16:37,418 --> 00:16:39,417 The cattle had settled down pretty well, 328 00:16:39,418 --> 00:16:42,043 so I let Nipper and Les take the first watch. 329 00:16:44,626 --> 00:16:46,834 Next morning we started the droving routine. 330 00:16:47,751 --> 00:16:50,000 Sleeping cattle have to be awakened gently 331 00:16:50,001 --> 00:16:52,375 or they're liable to stampede. 332 00:16:52,376 --> 00:16:55,418 So, there are no crack of whips in the piccaninny dawn. 333 00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:03,375 While the cattle were still wild, 334 00:17:03,376 --> 00:17:06,083 I put Jacky on to give them a lead. 335 00:17:06,084 --> 00:17:07,875 But soon, natural leaders from among the cattle 336 00:17:07,876 --> 00:17:10,958 take over the job, and these stay in front 337 00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:12,293 for the whole of the drove. 338 00:17:14,793 --> 00:17:16,917 Les and Charlie, having the best horses, 339 00:17:16,918 --> 00:17:19,958 rode the wings to prevent breakaways. 340 00:17:19,959 --> 00:17:22,625 I put Mary on the tail with Corky. 341 00:17:22,626 --> 00:17:24,583 I was paying her a man's wage, so I wanted 342 00:17:24,584 --> 00:17:26,417 to see how good she was. 343 00:17:26,418 --> 00:17:27,251 (whips cracking) She seemed 344 00:17:27,251 --> 00:17:28,251 to shape up all right. 345 00:17:30,251 --> 00:17:31,833 With plenty of feed and water, 346 00:17:31,834 --> 00:17:34,168 the plant and the mob settled down pretty well 347 00:17:35,084 --> 00:17:38,584 and we made good time, but I knew this was the easy bit. 348 00:17:39,459 --> 00:17:40,958 (whip cracks) 349 00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,542 A usual day's drove is eight to 10 miles. 350 00:17:43,543 --> 00:17:45,875 We sometimes did 15. 351 00:17:45,876 --> 00:17:48,918 We were late and time was our enemy. 352 00:18:02,001 --> 00:18:05,333 It took us a month to cross the coastal plains. 353 00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:07,043 Then we started through the scrub. 354 00:18:16,918 --> 00:18:19,418 There were 200 miles of that without a break. 355 00:18:20,251 --> 00:18:21,500 This made the going a lot harder 356 00:18:21,501 --> 00:18:24,417 because you must keep the cattle in a tight bunch 357 00:18:24,418 --> 00:18:26,708 or you'll lose the stragglers. 358 00:18:26,709 --> 00:18:29,333 But there was still quite a lot of surface water about 359 00:18:29,334 --> 00:18:31,251 which helped to keep the gang cheerful. 360 00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:35,500 - You know what a woman in Charters Towers said to me once? 361 00:18:35,501 --> 00:18:39,208 "Corky," she said, "you're a magnificent hunk of man." 362 00:18:39,209 --> 00:18:40,833 - And what happened then? 363 00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:42,042 - Then? (laughs) 364 00:18:42,043 --> 00:18:43,418 Then she pinched my wallet. 365 00:18:45,126 --> 00:18:47,667 - Don't you think Sinbad is lovely, Mary? 366 00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:48,708 - Yes, I think he's nice. 367 00:18:48,709 --> 00:18:50,667 - I'm terribly in love with him, you know. 368 00:18:50,668 --> 00:18:51,668 He's my boyfriend. 369 00:18:52,459 --> 00:18:54,875 Are you in love with anyone, Mary? 370 00:18:54,876 --> 00:18:56,293 - Oh, I don't know. 371 00:18:59,251 --> 00:19:01,209 - [Dan] So, the second month went by. 372 00:19:03,793 --> 00:19:06,417 Although the daily routine remained the same, 373 00:19:06,418 --> 00:19:10,875 there were always little episodes to break the monotony. 374 00:19:10,876 --> 00:19:12,292 - The black fellas know we're coming. 375 00:19:12,293 --> 00:19:13,501 See the smoke signal? 376 00:19:14,584 --> 00:19:19,584 (drovers chattering) (whip cracking) 377 00:19:31,584 --> 00:19:32,792 - Look, Helen. 378 00:19:32,793 --> 00:19:34,251 Myalls, wild blacks. 379 00:19:35,834 --> 00:19:40,834 (drovers chattering) (whip cracking) 380 00:19:47,501 --> 00:19:51,958 As we got inland, it got hotter and the drag got harder. 381 00:19:51,959 --> 00:19:53,250 So, it was quite a thrill for us 382 00:19:53,251 --> 00:19:56,250 to come on the brand new North-South Road built 383 00:19:56,251 --> 00:19:59,001 across Australia to supply the fighting in the islands. 384 00:20:02,918 --> 00:20:06,125 - Bit of a change from the old days, eh, Ma? 385 00:20:06,126 --> 00:20:07,708 - My word. 386 00:20:07,709 --> 00:20:10,250 I never thought I'd see a bitumen road in the Territory. 387 00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:11,667 - They tell me it's gonna be like this 388 00:20:11,668 --> 00:20:13,542 all the way to Darwin. 389 00:20:13,543 --> 00:20:15,125 Takes a war, eh? 390 00:20:15,126 --> 00:20:16,126 - It does. 391 00:20:16,918 --> 00:20:18,668 - Well, we'd better get them across. 392 00:20:21,251 --> 00:20:22,459 - Something coming, Dan. 393 00:20:27,209 --> 00:20:28,292 - Dan, it's a convoy. 394 00:20:28,293 --> 00:20:29,626 It's a convoy, Mum! 395 00:20:33,668 --> 00:20:35,334 - Might get some news of the war. 396 00:20:37,501 --> 00:20:39,126 - I wonder where the Japs landed. 397 00:20:43,334 --> 00:20:46,334 (soldiers shouting) 398 00:20:53,668 --> 00:20:56,125 - Look, it's a girl! 399 00:20:56,126 --> 00:20:58,667 Take a gig at this sheila! 400 00:20:58,668 --> 00:21:01,668 (soldiers shouting) 401 00:21:04,876 --> 00:21:06,333 - You beauty! 402 00:21:06,334 --> 00:21:09,501 (soldiers chattering) 403 00:21:17,668 --> 00:21:19,583 - Hey, how's the war going? 404 00:21:19,584 --> 00:21:21,625 - [Soldier] They licked them at Milne Bay! 405 00:21:21,626 --> 00:21:23,708 - They turned 'em at Kokoda. 406 00:21:23,709 --> 00:21:25,793 - Wait till we get there! 407 00:21:27,251 --> 00:21:28,458 - Good on ya, mate. 408 00:21:28,459 --> 00:21:29,708 Good on ya, digger. 409 00:21:29,709 --> 00:21:32,709 (soldiers shouting) 410 00:21:45,918 --> 00:21:48,292 It was a week after crossing the road 411 00:21:48,293 --> 00:21:51,417 that we came to our first big obstacle. 412 00:21:51,418 --> 00:21:54,917 (gun fires) (water splashing) 413 00:21:54,918 --> 00:21:56,418 - That scared 'em at any rate. 414 00:22:01,501 --> 00:22:02,833 - Well, what do you make of it, Bill? 415 00:22:02,834 --> 00:22:03,834 - I don't know. 416 00:22:04,668 --> 00:22:07,251 I've never seen so much water this time of the year. 417 00:22:08,126 --> 00:22:09,126 It's a cow. 418 00:22:10,709 --> 00:22:13,000 How far is Cootabulla Crossing, Jacky? 419 00:22:13,001 --> 00:22:14,834 - About 50 or 70 mile. 420 00:22:15,668 --> 00:22:18,542 - That means a fortnight to get back to the stock route. 421 00:22:18,543 --> 00:22:20,125 We can't afford the time, Bill. 422 00:22:20,126 --> 00:22:21,001 We'll have to swim. 423 00:22:21,002 --> 00:22:22,333 - You think we can swim here, Jacky? 424 00:22:22,334 --> 00:22:26,792 - Sure, might lose all the cattle there, boss. (laughs) 425 00:22:26,793 --> 00:22:28,168 - Encouraging bloke, Jacky. 426 00:22:37,543 --> 00:22:40,708 Well, Bill and I have just been down the main stream. 427 00:22:40,709 --> 00:22:42,458 We'll have to swim. 428 00:22:42,459 --> 00:22:44,750 The idea is I'm gonna cross over now 429 00:22:44,751 --> 00:22:46,125 and have a look at the other bank. 430 00:22:46,126 --> 00:22:49,250 If it's not too soft, Nipper'll follow with the horses. 431 00:22:49,251 --> 00:22:51,708 Mrs. Parsons, you and young Helen'll cross over 432 00:22:51,709 --> 00:22:53,958 in the waggon with the tucker. 433 00:22:53,959 --> 00:22:55,625 Then we'll have a crack at the cattle, Charlie. 434 00:22:55,626 --> 00:22:56,459 All right? 435 00:22:56,460 --> 00:22:57,708 - Yes, okay, Dan. 436 00:22:57,709 --> 00:22:58,792 - Good, let's get goin'. 437 00:22:58,793 --> 00:23:00,626 - Hang on, Dan, and I'll come with you. 438 00:23:03,251 --> 00:23:05,001 Now, this is a job for you, sailor. 439 00:23:06,043 --> 00:23:08,376 You gotta make this waggon into a boat. 440 00:23:09,584 --> 00:23:13,125 Empty out these canteens and lash 'em back and front. 441 00:23:13,126 --> 00:23:14,250 - Fore and aft, old boy. 442 00:23:14,251 --> 00:23:16,375 - So she'll float. 443 00:23:16,376 --> 00:23:19,458 And you can use those drums as well, but lash 'em tight. 444 00:23:19,459 --> 00:23:20,293 Got it? 445 00:23:20,294 --> 00:23:21,417 - Okay, Bill, I've got the idea. 446 00:23:21,418 --> 00:23:22,418 - Aye-aye, sir. 447 00:23:25,126 --> 00:23:28,126 (suspenseful music) 448 00:23:51,793 --> 00:23:53,375 - [Dan] Okay, Bill! 449 00:23:53,376 --> 00:23:56,043 Send over Nipper and the horses! 450 00:23:56,918 --> 00:23:58,751 - Righto, push 'em in. 451 00:23:59,626 --> 00:24:02,293 (whip cracking) 452 00:24:11,084 --> 00:24:12,667 - I think she'll float, all right. 453 00:24:12,668 --> 00:24:14,001 - I think she's a beaut. 454 00:24:19,293 --> 00:24:21,959 (Helen giggles) 455 00:24:22,959 --> 00:24:25,625 - So glad you could come to the launching, Lady Parsons. 456 00:24:25,626 --> 00:24:27,750 Now, if you'll take this bottle and propel it 457 00:24:27,751 --> 00:24:30,375 against the stern, saying these words: 458 00:24:30,376 --> 00:24:33,125 I hereby name thee the Saucy Sue. 459 00:24:33,126 --> 00:24:34,208 And on... - For heaven's sake, 460 00:24:34,209 --> 00:24:35,084 stop playing the fool. 461 00:24:35,085 --> 00:24:36,208 There's work to be done. 462 00:24:36,209 --> 00:24:37,708 Dan's waiting. 463 00:24:37,709 --> 00:24:39,334 Gotta get it down to the crossing. 464 00:24:42,543 --> 00:24:44,042 Right! 465 00:24:44,043 --> 00:24:46,667 - Come on, Rusty, come along, boy. 466 00:24:46,668 --> 00:24:49,667 - Righto, Helen, I'll take him in for you. 467 00:24:49,668 --> 00:24:53,168 (bright orchestral music) 468 00:24:58,501 --> 00:24:59,917 - Righto, Bill! 469 00:24:59,918 --> 00:25:02,251 Now, take it steady, Nipper. 470 00:25:16,376 --> 00:25:19,876 (gentle orchestral music) 471 00:25:31,334 --> 00:25:34,918 (ominous orchestral music) 472 00:25:43,001 --> 00:25:45,293 Straight and easy, Nipper. 473 00:26:11,709 --> 00:26:13,000 (Rusty snorts) 474 00:26:13,001 --> 00:26:14,375 (Rusty whinnies) 475 00:26:14,376 --> 00:26:16,626 - What's the matter, Rusty? 476 00:26:18,084 --> 00:26:19,708 Help, Mummy, quick! 477 00:26:19,709 --> 00:26:20,709 Sinbad! 478 00:26:21,584 --> 00:26:22,875 - Let go, Helen. 479 00:26:22,876 --> 00:26:23,793 Let go at once! 480 00:26:23,794 --> 00:26:26,543 (dramatic music) 481 00:26:29,293 --> 00:26:31,626 (gun fires) 482 00:26:35,751 --> 00:26:38,167 - Keep 'em going, keep 'em going! 483 00:26:38,168 --> 00:26:41,668 (gentle orchestral music) 484 00:26:45,751 --> 00:26:47,417 - Nice shot of yours, sailor. 485 00:26:47,418 --> 00:26:48,418 Thanks. 486 00:27:13,376 --> 00:27:14,459 - Good on ya, Ma. 487 00:27:15,793 --> 00:27:16,959 Now for the cattle. 488 00:27:18,876 --> 00:27:21,793 (drovers whooping) 489 00:27:22,709 --> 00:27:23,876 - [Drover] Ya, ya! 490 00:27:24,751 --> 00:27:25,626 Ha, ha, ha! 491 00:27:25,627 --> 00:27:30,626 (drovers whooping) (drovers whistling) 492 00:27:33,084 --> 00:27:34,084 Ya! 493 00:27:35,584 --> 00:27:36,501 (whip cracks) 494 00:27:36,501 --> 00:27:37,459 - [Drover] Ha! 495 00:27:37,460 --> 00:27:38,625 - Keep on going, Bill. 496 00:27:38,626 --> 00:27:39,667 Don't let 'em check. 497 00:27:39,668 --> 00:27:41,625 Lead 'em right in. 498 00:27:41,626 --> 00:27:42,667 (whistles) Ha! 499 00:27:42,668 --> 00:27:43,958 (whip cracks) 500 00:27:43,959 --> 00:27:46,792 (dramatic music) 501 00:27:46,793 --> 00:27:51,793 (drovers whooping) (cows mooing) 502 00:29:27,376 --> 00:29:30,043 (whip cracking) 503 00:29:43,876 --> 00:29:45,667 - What about crocs? 504 00:29:45,668 --> 00:29:47,125 - My boy, I've got such a wind up, 505 00:29:47,126 --> 00:29:49,459 if they come near me I'll take off. 506 00:30:29,043 --> 00:30:30,043 - Get up. 507 00:30:32,501 --> 00:30:33,501 Go on. 508 00:30:37,126 --> 00:30:40,043 (triumphant music) 509 00:30:44,293 --> 00:30:46,250 - Good on ya, fellas. 510 00:30:46,251 --> 00:30:47,376 We're on our way. 511 00:30:52,501 --> 00:30:54,917 (gentle orchestral music) 512 00:30:54,918 --> 00:30:58,168 After we left the river, the feed started to get very poor. 513 00:30:59,251 --> 00:31:01,208 This slowed us up a lot. 514 00:31:01,209 --> 00:31:02,792 We were down to five miles a day 515 00:31:02,793 --> 00:31:06,000 with a thousand still to go when, 516 00:31:06,001 --> 00:31:09,583 one morning, a tragedy happened. 517 00:31:09,584 --> 00:31:12,918 (horse hooves clomping) 518 00:31:28,459 --> 00:31:30,167 - Boss, boss, hey, boss! 519 00:31:30,168 --> 00:31:31,001 - What's up? 520 00:31:31,002 --> 00:31:32,208 - Wasn't my fault, boss. 521 00:31:32,209 --> 00:31:33,250 The lead horse broke his hobbles 522 00:31:33,251 --> 00:31:34,958 then went five, maybe seven miles. 523 00:31:34,959 --> 00:31:35,959 - What happened to the horses? 524 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,167 - They ate poison weed, boss. 525 00:31:37,168 --> 00:31:38,168 - [Dan] Poison weed! 526 00:31:39,209 --> 00:31:40,333 - Helen, stay here. 527 00:31:40,334 --> 00:31:41,750 - What's happened, Mum? 528 00:31:41,751 --> 00:31:43,168 - The horses are poisoned. 529 00:32:23,959 --> 00:32:25,376 - They're so lovely alive. 530 00:32:29,459 --> 00:32:31,333 - There's nothin' we can do here, Bill. 531 00:32:31,334 --> 00:32:32,334 - No. 532 00:32:33,334 --> 00:32:35,168 - Get the hobbles and the bells, Nipper. 533 00:32:36,793 --> 00:32:38,958 Any of yours among 'em, Charlie? 534 00:32:38,959 --> 00:32:40,043 - No, not one. 535 00:32:40,876 --> 00:32:41,751 - That's lucky. 536 00:32:41,752 --> 00:32:43,418 - Yeah, we're gonna need 'em now. 537 00:32:45,251 --> 00:32:46,625 - I hope he doesn't think he's gonna work 538 00:32:46,626 --> 00:32:47,918 the guts out of our bunch. 539 00:32:56,001 --> 00:32:58,751 (bells jangling) 540 00:33:15,209 --> 00:33:17,167 - The worst of it is, half the horses we got left 541 00:33:17,168 --> 00:33:18,542 are crook anyhow. 542 00:33:18,543 --> 00:33:20,000 - Not less than Charlie's. 543 00:33:20,001 --> 00:33:22,751 - Soon will be if we work 'em 24 hours a day. 544 00:33:23,668 --> 00:33:26,208 Better rest up a couple of weeks, huh? 545 00:33:26,209 --> 00:33:28,001 - Yeah, do the cattle good. 546 00:33:29,334 --> 00:33:31,125 Lucky there's feed and water. 547 00:33:31,126 --> 00:33:32,875 - We think we should move on, Dan. 548 00:33:32,876 --> 00:33:34,667 - We've gotta rest the beasts up a couple of weeks, 549 00:33:34,668 --> 00:33:37,167 Charlie, otherwise we're likely to lose the lot. 550 00:33:37,168 --> 00:33:38,001 - Yeah? 551 00:33:38,002 --> 00:33:39,084 Well, we're not staying. 552 00:33:40,126 --> 00:33:41,458 You've seen what the country's like. 553 00:33:41,459 --> 00:33:44,042 If we hang around here it'll be too dry to move. 554 00:33:44,043 --> 00:33:45,333 Then the wet'll hit us 555 00:33:45,334 --> 00:33:46,209 and we'll be stuck here till the winter. 556 00:33:46,209 --> 00:33:47,043 We're going on. 557 00:33:47,044 --> 00:33:48,751 - And we're takin' our horses. 558 00:33:52,126 --> 00:33:53,001 - You realise that means standing us 559 00:33:53,002 --> 00:33:54,958 and the cattle up here, don't ya? 560 00:33:54,959 --> 00:33:56,917 - Well, we think this trip's crazy anyway. 561 00:33:56,918 --> 00:33:58,750 You're likely to lose the whole lot, horses and all, 562 00:33:58,751 --> 00:33:59,959 so we're getting out. 563 00:34:02,001 --> 00:34:03,168 - You long cow. 564 00:34:04,918 --> 00:34:06,167 - Here, stop that. 565 00:34:06,168 --> 00:34:07,458 Stop that, both of ya. 566 00:34:07,459 --> 00:34:10,209 While we're in camp I'm boss and I won't have fighting. 567 00:34:11,126 --> 00:34:13,043 That goes for you, too, Dan MacAlpine. 568 00:34:13,918 --> 00:34:15,208 Now, you can take your mate 569 00:34:15,209 --> 00:34:16,792 and your precious horses and get out! 570 00:34:16,793 --> 00:34:18,292 - But, Ma, we need... - Shut up! 571 00:34:18,293 --> 00:34:20,501 We don't want dingoes in this camp. 572 00:34:22,084 --> 00:34:24,043 We'll get along all right without them. 573 00:34:39,001 --> 00:34:41,000 - Bill, I've got an idea. 574 00:34:41,001 --> 00:34:42,792 There's horses at Brunette Downs. 575 00:34:42,793 --> 00:34:45,667 Taking Jacky and Nipper, I could be back in a month. 576 00:34:45,668 --> 00:34:48,292 - And wait for a fortnight for the horses to recover. 577 00:34:48,293 --> 00:34:50,000 - Yeah, that's right. 578 00:34:50,001 --> 00:34:50,834 - Can't we leave the cattle here 579 00:34:50,835 --> 00:34:53,000 and pick them up after the wet? 580 00:34:53,001 --> 00:34:54,625 - You don't wanna give in, do ya, Corky? 581 00:34:54,626 --> 00:34:57,042 - Dan, my boy, I put myself to sleep every night 582 00:34:57,043 --> 00:34:58,583 counting that bonus. 583 00:34:58,584 --> 00:35:00,375 (Dan chuckles) 584 00:35:00,376 --> 00:35:01,376 - Say, Dan. 585 00:35:02,668 --> 00:35:04,250 I just saw the strangest thing. 586 00:35:04,251 --> 00:35:06,250 You know that lot of trees we call Kangaroo Clump, 587 00:35:06,251 --> 00:35:07,583 well, just at the back of it just now I saw 588 00:35:07,584 --> 00:35:08,958 a big bunch of horses. 589 00:35:08,959 --> 00:35:10,417 - Horses! 590 00:35:10,418 --> 00:35:13,250 - They're brumbies, wild horses. 591 00:35:13,251 --> 00:35:15,375 - Well, I better go out and shoot the brumby stallion 592 00:35:15,376 --> 00:35:17,250 or he'll be trying to cut out our mares. 593 00:35:17,251 --> 00:35:18,084 - But why shoot them, Bill? 594 00:35:18,085 --> 00:35:19,250 Why not catch them? 595 00:35:19,251 --> 00:35:21,043 - By crikey, the kid's right. 596 00:35:22,834 --> 00:35:24,708 - How many's in the mob, Corky? 597 00:35:24,709 --> 00:35:25,917 - About a hundred. 598 00:35:25,918 --> 00:35:27,250 - We wouldn't need a hundred, Bill. 599 00:35:27,251 --> 00:35:28,792 A dozen or so would do us. 600 00:35:28,793 --> 00:35:30,750 - Okay, okay, Dan, you're the boss. 601 00:35:30,751 --> 00:35:32,500 - What, you think it's no go? 602 00:35:32,501 --> 00:35:34,208 - It's too big a gamble. 603 00:35:34,209 --> 00:35:36,500 If you miss 'em the first time, they're gone for keeps 604 00:35:36,501 --> 00:35:37,625 and we're back where we are now, 605 00:35:37,626 --> 00:35:39,500 excepting that you'll have lost another three weeks 606 00:35:39,501 --> 00:35:41,542 and that three weeks may mean losin' the cattle. 607 00:35:41,543 --> 00:35:43,417 Too big a gamble, I tell ya. 608 00:35:43,418 --> 00:35:44,625 - Isn't this whole trip a gamble? 609 00:35:44,626 --> 00:35:46,417 - Going after brumbies at a time like this 610 00:35:46,418 --> 00:35:48,250 is just something for nothing rubbish, that's what it is. 611 00:35:48,251 --> 00:35:49,958 - Maybe you're right, but if we don't move soon 612 00:35:49,959 --> 00:35:51,250 we won't get through at all. 613 00:35:51,251 --> 00:35:53,083 And I'm gonna get those cattle through. 614 00:35:53,084 --> 00:35:55,500 We've gotta take a chance, any chance. 615 00:35:55,501 --> 00:35:57,167 So, we go after the brumbies. 616 00:35:57,168 --> 00:35:59,167 - Okay, okay, Dan, you're the boss. 617 00:35:59,168 --> 00:36:01,458 Sounds like a flaming wild goose chase to me. 618 00:36:01,459 --> 00:36:03,667 - Bill, you've named the first one we catch. 619 00:36:03,668 --> 00:36:06,250 Wild Goose out of Corky's Folly by Gamble. 620 00:36:06,251 --> 00:36:09,668 (Helen and Corky giggle) 621 00:36:11,293 --> 00:36:14,293 (crickets chirping) 622 00:36:21,501 --> 00:36:22,917 - [Dan] That night, we watched the brumbies 623 00:36:22,918 --> 00:36:23,918 come in to water. 624 00:36:27,209 --> 00:36:28,792 Luckily, the waterhole was in the gap 625 00:36:28,793 --> 00:36:31,251 in the hills which made it easier to make a trap. 626 00:36:32,668 --> 00:36:33,833 - I can see Wild Goose. 627 00:36:33,834 --> 00:36:35,333 The big stallion with white stockings. 628 00:36:35,334 --> 00:36:36,168 - No, it's not. 629 00:36:36,169 --> 00:36:37,500 It's the black mare with the diamond blaze... 630 00:36:37,501 --> 00:36:38,501 - Quiet! 631 00:36:39,293 --> 00:36:40,917 - Nice lot of horses, eh, Bill? 632 00:36:40,918 --> 00:36:42,209 - Haven't caught 'em, yet. 633 00:36:43,459 --> 00:36:44,958 - Our first job was to build a fence 634 00:36:44,959 --> 00:36:46,500 with a slip gate in the middle of it 635 00:36:46,501 --> 00:36:48,459 across the narrowest part of the gap. 636 00:36:49,709 --> 00:36:52,334 While we did this, the others got the ropes ready. 637 00:36:53,334 --> 00:36:55,667 These were to prevent the brumbies breaking back 638 00:36:55,668 --> 00:36:58,500 when we started driving them towards the gate. 639 00:36:58,501 --> 00:37:01,458 The bits of cloth made them show up in the dark. 640 00:37:01,459 --> 00:37:04,458 The women didn't like tearing up their party frocks, 641 00:37:04,459 --> 00:37:05,626 but it was all we had. 642 00:37:12,834 --> 00:37:15,000 We finished the job in two days 643 00:37:15,001 --> 00:37:16,584 and decided to go right ahead. 644 00:37:25,793 --> 00:37:28,833 This is your job, Helen, and it's very important. 645 00:37:28,834 --> 00:37:30,000 Ya see this rope? 646 00:37:30,001 --> 00:37:30,834 (Helen grunts) 647 00:37:30,835 --> 00:37:33,750 Well, it's attached to the gate at that fence down there. 648 00:37:33,751 --> 00:37:37,458 You'll see the horses pass and pause outside the stockade. 649 00:37:37,459 --> 00:37:39,667 We're goin' to try and scare 'em through the gate. 650 00:37:39,668 --> 00:37:42,958 Now, when they're all in, all in mind ya, not before, 651 00:37:42,959 --> 00:37:44,542 you cut the rope. 652 00:37:44,543 --> 00:37:46,667 Wham, the gate shuts and we got 'em. 653 00:37:46,668 --> 00:37:47,501 All right? 654 00:37:47,501 --> 00:37:48,334 - Yes, Dan. 655 00:37:48,334 --> 00:37:49,334 - Good kid. 656 00:37:52,459 --> 00:37:53,459 - Dan. 657 00:37:53,460 --> 00:37:54,792 - Yeah? 658 00:37:54,793 --> 00:37:56,250 - Suppose they don't go in? 659 00:37:56,251 --> 00:37:58,001 - They don't go in, Helen, we're sunk. 660 00:38:04,043 --> 00:38:05,043 She's all set. 661 00:38:05,043 --> 00:38:06,043 - Good. 662 00:38:07,918 --> 00:38:08,918 - Whoa, boy. 663 00:38:20,751 --> 00:38:21,875 - Here they come. 664 00:38:21,876 --> 00:38:22,876 - Yeah. 665 00:39:28,543 --> 00:39:31,293 (dramatic music) 666 00:39:33,334 --> 00:39:38,334 (men shouting) (men whistling) 667 00:40:21,584 --> 00:40:24,500 - All go in, please go in. 668 00:40:24,501 --> 00:40:29,501 (men shouting) (men whistling) 669 00:40:57,543 --> 00:40:59,667 We've done it, we've done it! 670 00:40:59,668 --> 00:41:01,501 Sinbad, we've done it! 671 00:41:04,668 --> 00:41:07,208 (Helen screams) 672 00:41:07,209 --> 00:41:08,959 - Okay, Dan, they're in. 673 00:41:10,418 --> 00:41:12,417 - Well, so far so good, eh, Bill? 674 00:41:12,418 --> 00:41:13,625 - Yeah, but now you've... 675 00:41:13,626 --> 00:41:16,501 - Yeah, I know, now we gotta break 'em. 676 00:41:22,918 --> 00:41:25,750 Well, that's got rid of the rubbish, anyhow. 677 00:41:25,751 --> 00:41:28,667 - Breaks my bleedin' heart to see them go. 678 00:41:28,668 --> 00:41:30,125 I bet you I'd get a fiver a head for them 679 00:41:30,126 --> 00:41:31,667 at Anthony's Lagoon. 680 00:41:31,668 --> 00:41:33,500 - We're not goin' to Anthony's Lagoon. 681 00:41:33,501 --> 00:41:36,167 - But Dan, they got beer there. 682 00:41:36,168 --> 00:41:37,583 You know, Dan, beer! 683 00:41:37,584 --> 00:41:39,625 The stuff they make with hops. 684 00:41:39,626 --> 00:41:41,208 Ah, I haven't tasted a drop since 685 00:41:41,209 --> 00:41:42,583 they bombed the pub at Wyndham. 686 00:41:42,584 --> 00:41:43,418 - Yeah, that's the trouble. 687 00:41:43,418 --> 00:41:44,251 We'd lose you for a week. 688 00:41:44,252 --> 00:41:46,167 You'd half kill yourself with the booze. 689 00:41:46,168 --> 00:41:47,667 - What a fate. 690 00:41:47,668 --> 00:41:48,668 Aw, come off it, Dan. 691 00:41:48,669 --> 00:41:50,292 You like a drink as well as the next one. 692 00:41:50,293 --> 00:41:52,708 - I know I do and so does Bill and the sailor. 693 00:41:52,709 --> 00:41:54,125 And what happens to the cattle then? 694 00:41:54,126 --> 00:41:55,918 We're not goin' to Anthony's Lagoon. 695 00:41:59,959 --> 00:42:00,959 - Wowser. 696 00:42:04,334 --> 00:42:05,542 - How is he, Jacky? 697 00:42:05,543 --> 00:42:06,376 - Pretty strong, boss. 698 00:42:06,377 --> 00:42:07,583 I think he'd buck the pants off ya. 699 00:42:07,584 --> 00:42:08,834 - Yeah, we'll see. 700 00:42:10,126 --> 00:42:11,418 - I'm glad we're going on. 701 00:42:12,334 --> 00:42:13,833 - Are you, Sinbad? 702 00:42:13,834 --> 00:42:14,668 - Of course, Mary. 703 00:42:14,668 --> 00:42:15,668 You know why. 704 00:42:18,543 --> 00:42:20,334 - Look, look, Dan's up. 705 00:42:26,043 --> 00:42:28,375 - Right, Jacky, let her go. 706 00:42:28,376 --> 00:42:31,126 (dramatic music) 707 00:42:54,668 --> 00:42:56,334 - Stick to him, Dan. 708 00:43:15,793 --> 00:43:17,167 - Mary, Mary, Sinbad! 709 00:43:17,168 --> 00:43:18,667 I've broken Wild Goose in. 710 00:43:18,668 --> 00:43:20,668 - But I... - Come and see. 711 00:43:26,543 --> 00:43:29,208 - If you don't feel like a beer after that, 712 00:43:29,209 --> 00:43:30,626 you're not human. 713 00:43:34,876 --> 00:43:36,417 - Look, isn't he lovely? 714 00:43:36,418 --> 00:43:38,292 Much nicer than the other wild gooses. 715 00:43:38,293 --> 00:43:39,958 - Helen, why didn't you let him go with the others? 716 00:43:39,959 --> 00:43:42,000 - Oh, but he's coming with us. 717 00:43:42,001 --> 00:43:44,708 Corky and I have got to enter him into the Melbourne Cup. 718 00:43:44,709 --> 00:43:45,918 Haven't we, Goosey? 719 00:43:47,126 --> 00:43:50,626 (bright orchestral music) 720 00:44:09,334 --> 00:44:12,084 (whips cracking) 721 00:44:19,626 --> 00:44:21,333 - [Dan] Helen got round me, of course, 722 00:44:21,334 --> 00:44:23,543 and Wild Goose became a member of the plant. 723 00:44:28,334 --> 00:44:30,583 We'd lost a week breaking the brumbies, 724 00:44:30,584 --> 00:44:33,208 and they were still hard to get any real work out of. 725 00:44:33,209 --> 00:44:36,168 But they saved us overworking our trained night horses. 726 00:44:37,168 --> 00:44:41,083 Everyone was glad to be on the move, even Corky, 727 00:44:41,084 --> 00:44:43,459 who seemed resigned to missing out on the beer. 728 00:44:46,959 --> 00:44:48,958 - Nice to get a letter, wouldn't it, Mary? 729 00:44:48,959 --> 00:44:50,792 - Oh, wonderful, Corky. 730 00:44:50,793 --> 00:44:53,917 Isn't it a shame we can't go to Anthony's Lagoon? 731 00:44:53,918 --> 00:44:55,958 - I'd speak to Dan about it. 732 00:44:55,959 --> 00:44:58,417 - Hm, I think I will. 733 00:44:58,418 --> 00:44:59,418 - Good girl. 734 00:45:02,459 --> 00:45:05,167 - You going to check your contract at the Lagoon, Bill? 735 00:45:05,168 --> 00:45:06,250 - We're not going there. 736 00:45:06,251 --> 00:45:07,792 - You oughta see your contract, Bill. 737 00:45:07,793 --> 00:45:08,626 - Why? 738 00:45:08,627 --> 00:45:11,292 - The whole family might be working for nothing. 739 00:45:11,293 --> 00:45:14,583 - Hm, I never thought of that. 740 00:45:14,584 --> 00:45:16,125 - Supplies running low, Mrs. Parsons? 741 00:45:16,126 --> 00:45:18,750 - Yes, they are a bit, Corky, but I expect we'll manage. 742 00:45:18,751 --> 00:45:21,042 - Wonderful supplies at the Lagoon. 743 00:45:21,043 --> 00:45:22,583 - Have they got milk? 744 00:45:22,584 --> 00:45:24,750 - Tonnes of it, my dear, all kinds. 745 00:45:24,751 --> 00:45:26,458 - Mum, we might run out. 746 00:45:26,459 --> 00:45:28,417 Wild Goose drinks and drinks. 747 00:45:28,418 --> 00:45:30,084 - Sensible creature. 748 00:45:41,418 --> 00:45:44,750 - Your missus tells me she's a bit short of stores, Bill. 749 00:45:44,751 --> 00:45:47,125 What about calling at the Lagoon? 750 00:45:47,126 --> 00:45:48,708 - Well, I think we oughta have a look 751 00:45:48,709 --> 00:45:50,000 at that contract, ya know? 752 00:45:50,001 --> 00:45:50,959 - There may be some letters. 753 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:52,458 - And news of the war. 754 00:45:52,459 --> 00:45:53,543 - Milk for Wild Goose. 755 00:45:56,168 --> 00:45:58,958 - Everybody seems very keen all of a sudden. 756 00:45:58,959 --> 00:46:00,209 What about you, Corky? 757 00:46:01,709 --> 00:46:03,000 - Huh? 758 00:46:03,001 --> 00:46:04,542 Oh, it's immaterial to me, Dan. 759 00:46:04,543 --> 00:46:06,542 You know the cattle come first with me. 760 00:46:06,543 --> 00:46:08,542 So, anything you say. 761 00:46:08,543 --> 00:46:10,334 - You sound too good to be true. 762 00:46:11,209 --> 00:46:12,751 Anyhow, I'll think about it. 763 00:46:25,584 --> 00:46:27,083 - Anthony's Lagoon! 764 00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:29,958 Wine, women, and song. 765 00:46:29,959 --> 00:46:31,501 Lead on, MacAlpine! 766 00:46:36,709 --> 00:46:41,043 (group singing in foreign language) 767 00:46:52,959 --> 00:46:54,417 - Any letters for Parsons? 768 00:46:54,418 --> 00:46:55,293 - Or MacAlpine? 769 00:46:55,293 --> 00:46:56,293 - Or Corkingdale, miss? 770 00:46:56,293 --> 00:46:57,126 - Just be a minute. 771 00:46:57,127 --> 00:46:58,167 Just get this telegram off. 772 00:46:58,168 --> 00:47:00,458 - Oh, can ya just see if there's any mail? 773 00:47:00,459 --> 00:47:02,250 - First come, first served, ya know. 774 00:47:02,251 --> 00:47:03,708 That gentleman's from Camooweal. 775 00:47:03,709 --> 00:47:05,042 - Well, we've come all the way from Wyndham. 776 00:47:05,043 --> 00:47:06,292 - That's a long trip. 777 00:47:06,293 --> 00:47:07,750 - Yeah, fair trot. 778 00:47:07,751 --> 00:47:09,500 Best part of a thousand miles, I reckon. 779 00:47:09,501 --> 00:47:10,334 - Cattle all right? 780 00:47:10,335 --> 00:47:12,167 - Wonderful, Nick, wonderful. 781 00:47:12,168 --> 00:47:13,500 - [Nick] They need to be for the next bit. 782 00:47:13,501 --> 00:47:14,501 - Bad is it? 783 00:47:14,501 --> 00:47:15,334 - Terrible. 784 00:47:15,335 --> 00:47:16,500 Startin' to bring all the cattle down 785 00:47:16,501 --> 00:47:17,542 from the gulf country. 786 00:47:17,543 --> 00:47:18,792 - Bad as that, eh? 787 00:47:18,793 --> 00:47:20,458 - They're eatin' the heart out of the Stock Route. 788 00:47:20,459 --> 00:47:21,750 Water's short, too. 789 00:47:21,751 --> 00:47:25,417 - Oh well, we'll get through all right. 790 00:47:25,418 --> 00:47:26,750 - Hello, hello? 791 00:47:26,751 --> 00:47:28,125 What names did you say? 792 00:47:28,126 --> 00:47:28,959 (group speaks at once) 793 00:47:28,959 --> 00:47:29,793 Is that you, Milly? 794 00:47:29,794 --> 00:47:31,250 It's Glad here. 795 00:47:31,251 --> 00:47:32,875 I've got a telegram. 796 00:47:32,876 --> 00:47:35,917 19 words ordinary, to the Carters. 797 00:47:35,918 --> 00:47:37,167 What's that? 798 00:47:37,168 --> 00:47:38,084 Is he? 799 00:47:38,085 --> 00:47:39,167 Oh, the poor dear. 800 00:47:39,168 --> 00:47:40,668 All right, I'll wait. 801 00:47:41,751 --> 00:47:43,583 Her baby's crying again. 802 00:47:43,584 --> 00:47:44,792 Always does when the phone rings. 803 00:47:44,793 --> 00:47:46,208 What names did you say? 804 00:47:46,209 --> 00:47:47,750 - Parsons. - MacAlpine. 805 00:47:47,751 --> 00:47:50,625 - Corkingdale, J. Claverhouse Corkingdale. 806 00:47:50,626 --> 00:47:52,792 - Oh, Corky, you never told us. 807 00:47:52,793 --> 00:47:54,125 It's terrific. 808 00:47:54,126 --> 00:47:55,583 - Looks beautiful on a check. 809 00:47:55,584 --> 00:47:57,375 (Mary chuckles) 810 00:47:57,376 --> 00:47:58,209 - MacAlpine? 811 00:47:58,209 --> 00:47:59,209 - Yes. 812 00:48:00,001 --> 00:48:01,043 - Mary Parsons. 813 00:48:01,959 --> 00:48:03,125 - Thanks. 814 00:48:03,126 --> 00:48:04,750 - Corkingdale. 815 00:48:04,751 --> 00:48:05,751 - No. 816 00:48:07,543 --> 00:48:09,167 - Anything for Maxwell? 817 00:48:09,168 --> 00:48:10,500 - Yes. 818 00:48:10,501 --> 00:48:12,375 Captain Hector Maxwell? 819 00:48:12,376 --> 00:48:13,376 - That's right. 820 00:48:13,377 --> 00:48:15,125 - Oh, thank you. 821 00:48:15,126 --> 00:48:17,543 Another branch of the family. 822 00:48:19,418 --> 00:48:21,542 - It's the straight contract, Bill. 823 00:48:21,543 --> 00:48:22,543 - Well, it's something anyway. 824 00:48:22,544 --> 00:48:23,833 - But no bonus? 825 00:48:23,834 --> 00:48:25,375 - No bonus, Corky. 826 00:48:25,376 --> 00:48:27,458 - That's gratitude for you. 827 00:48:27,459 --> 00:48:30,417 Well, I always knew Malone was all belly and no heart. 828 00:48:30,418 --> 00:48:32,125 Forgotten men, that's what we are. 829 00:48:32,126 --> 00:48:35,375 Save his rotten cattle from the Japs and then he forgets us. 830 00:48:35,376 --> 00:48:37,000 - You'll get your bonus, Corky. 831 00:48:37,001 --> 00:48:39,292 (corky grumbles) 832 00:48:39,293 --> 00:48:42,126 Mary hasn't been neglected anyhow. 833 00:48:46,251 --> 00:48:48,000 - Aw, he's only writing because he's 834 00:48:48,001 --> 00:48:49,375 having a good time with the English girls. 835 00:48:49,376 --> 00:48:50,209 - Lay off. 836 00:48:50,210 --> 00:48:52,917 - Now, I was in the last war, and every time I slipped 837 00:48:52,918 --> 00:48:55,750 I used to write to my girl. (chuckles) 838 00:48:55,751 --> 00:48:57,458 Remarkable the number of letters she got. 839 00:48:57,459 --> 00:48:58,751 - Oh, shut up, Corky. 840 00:49:01,251 --> 00:49:04,751 - Okay, okay, come and have a drink. 841 00:49:06,501 --> 00:49:08,126 - See ya later, Mary. 842 00:49:25,668 --> 00:49:29,083 ♪ Hardships, hardships ♪ 843 00:49:29,084 --> 00:49:33,418 ♪ You don't know what hardships are ♪ 844 00:49:41,959 --> 00:49:44,709 (group laughing) 845 00:49:51,543 --> 00:49:53,208 - Get up, you lot. 846 00:49:53,209 --> 00:49:55,875 We've got to move the cattle in the morning. 847 00:49:55,876 --> 00:49:59,501 - Ma, you're wonderful. (chuckles) 848 00:50:01,668 --> 00:50:03,667 The stages towards the Queensland border 849 00:50:03,668 --> 00:50:06,167 were everything the Camooweal bloke had said. 850 00:50:06,168 --> 00:50:08,917 No feed, no surface water. 851 00:50:08,918 --> 00:50:10,208 Dry as a bone. 852 00:50:10,209 --> 00:50:12,792 The only water we got was from government bores, 853 00:50:12,793 --> 00:50:13,793 and they were few. 854 00:50:14,793 --> 00:50:18,293 Being shorthanded made it worse and tempers got a bit edgy. 855 00:50:19,209 --> 00:50:20,375 - Get up, come on! 856 00:50:20,376 --> 00:50:22,000 Go on, get up! (whip cracks) 857 00:50:22,001 --> 00:50:24,500 Get up there! 858 00:50:24,501 --> 00:50:26,292 Get up, get out of it! (whip cracks) 859 00:50:26,293 --> 00:50:28,375 - Why the hell didn't ya keep them outta there? 860 00:50:28,376 --> 00:50:29,708 - [Sinbad] What do ya think I was doing? 861 00:50:29,709 --> 00:50:31,500 - Haven't I told you the only way to haul them back 862 00:50:31,501 --> 00:50:33,542 is to get off your horse and face them? 863 00:50:33,543 --> 00:50:35,958 A man on foot scares 'em stiff. 864 00:50:35,959 --> 00:50:38,542 Don't try to be a cowboy, just get off your horse. 865 00:50:38,543 --> 00:50:40,542 - Oh, shut your trap! 866 00:50:40,543 --> 00:50:41,376 Go on, get up! 867 00:50:41,376 --> 00:50:42,376 Go on! 868 00:50:43,376 --> 00:50:45,792 - [Dan] It's a funny thing in such dry country 869 00:50:45,793 --> 00:50:48,668 that bogholes are one of the greatest dangers to cattle. 870 00:50:51,293 --> 00:50:54,583 At last, the sight of the border hills of Queensland 871 00:50:54,584 --> 00:50:56,667 promised easier going. 872 00:50:56,668 --> 00:50:59,542 I was worried about inoculating the cattle, 873 00:50:59,543 --> 00:51:02,542 it's a strict law when you cross a state border, 874 00:51:02,543 --> 00:51:05,542 but the rest of the plant got quite cheery. 875 00:51:05,543 --> 00:51:09,000 ♪ Oh there ain't no rest in the great nor'west ♪ 876 00:51:09,001 --> 00:51:12,833 ♪ Where the shade is best near the white ant's nest ♪ 877 00:51:12,834 --> 00:51:16,042 ♪ Hardships, hardships ♪ 878 00:51:16,043 --> 00:51:19,458 ♪ You don't know what hardships are ♪ 879 00:51:19,459 --> 00:51:22,750 ♪ In summer it's dust and heat and grime ♪ 880 00:51:22,751 --> 00:51:26,333 ♪ With a wet behind in wintertime ♪ 881 00:51:26,334 --> 00:51:28,042 ? Hardships, hardships? - I don't know how Corky 882 00:51:28,043 --> 00:51:29,043 can sing in this. 883 00:51:29,044 --> 00:51:30,125 - [Mary] What? 884 00:51:30,126 --> 00:51:32,708 - [Sinbad] I said I don't know how Corky can sing! 885 00:51:32,709 --> 00:51:33,709 - [Mary] Why not? 886 00:51:33,710 --> 00:51:35,000 We're getting near the border. 887 00:51:35,001 --> 00:51:36,501 Won't be long now. 888 00:51:42,418 --> 00:51:45,208 ♪ I've just come down from Darwin town ♪ 889 00:51:45,209 --> 00:51:48,042 ♪ Where the men are black and the girls are brown ♪ 890 00:51:48,043 --> 00:51:50,083 ♪ Hardships, hardships ♪ 891 00:51:50,084 --> 00:51:51,250 - Helen, stop that. 892 00:51:51,251 --> 00:51:53,583 I won't have Corky teaching you such things. 893 00:51:53,584 --> 00:51:56,958 - But Mum, he only teaches me the clean verses. 894 00:51:56,959 --> 00:51:58,542 - I should hope so. 895 00:51:58,543 --> 00:51:59,709 - Aeroplane comin'. 896 00:52:02,626 --> 00:52:03,626 - Him come this way. 897 00:52:04,709 --> 00:52:07,583 - Hey, Corky, Jacky says there's a plane coming. 898 00:52:07,584 --> 00:52:10,543 - (chuckles) Maybe it's Mr. Curtin come to congratulate us. 899 00:52:12,668 --> 00:52:14,000 Maybe he'll give us a medal. 900 00:52:14,001 --> 00:52:15,583 - Maybe it's a Jap. 901 00:52:15,584 --> 00:52:18,209 - Blimey, I never thought of that. 902 00:52:21,334 --> 00:52:24,334 - Rough country to take cattle over. 903 00:52:29,709 --> 00:52:34,709 - There they are. 904 00:52:36,251 --> 00:52:39,251 (aeroplane rumbling) 905 00:53:27,834 --> 00:53:30,292 - Mr. MacAlpine? - That's me. 906 00:53:30,293 --> 00:53:31,500 - Gosport's my name. 907 00:53:31,501 --> 00:53:32,875 - Glad to know ya, Mr. Gosport. 908 00:53:32,876 --> 00:53:34,042 - You made good time. 909 00:53:34,043 --> 00:53:35,458 - Not bad. 910 00:53:35,459 --> 00:53:37,750 - The minister sends his congratulations. 911 00:53:37,751 --> 00:53:39,583 - Oh, thanks. 912 00:53:39,584 --> 00:53:41,333 Now, these are the members of my plant. 913 00:53:41,334 --> 00:53:46,334 There's Bill... (cow moos) 914 00:53:47,293 --> 00:53:49,043 - [Helen] Hello, boy. 915 00:53:54,043 --> 00:53:56,250 - It's a bleeder bullock. 916 00:53:56,251 --> 00:53:58,417 - My flamin' oath, it's a bleeder. 917 00:53:58,418 --> 00:54:00,375 - What's the matter with your friend? 918 00:54:00,376 --> 00:54:02,208 - Oh, you don't wanna take any notice of him. 919 00:54:02,209 --> 00:54:04,417 He thought you were Jack Curtin. 920 00:54:04,418 --> 00:54:06,542 For inoculation, eh? 921 00:54:06,543 --> 00:54:08,250 - Yeah, it's the law, ya know. 922 00:54:08,251 --> 00:54:09,958 - That'll be all right, Mr. Gosport. 923 00:54:09,959 --> 00:54:12,000 Gonna be a job yardin' 'em, though. 924 00:54:12,001 --> 00:54:14,042 - There's that old mustang camp at the 20 mile. 925 00:54:14,043 --> 00:54:16,333 - Mr. Gosport, Bill Parsons. 926 00:54:16,334 --> 00:54:17,542 - How do ya do? 927 00:54:17,543 --> 00:54:19,167 - Well, that sounds very good to me. 928 00:54:19,168 --> 00:54:20,001 - Yeah? 929 00:54:20,002 --> 00:54:21,125 Well, you'll have to make it snappy. 930 00:54:21,126 --> 00:54:23,500 There's not much water there and our limit's two days. 931 00:54:23,501 --> 00:54:25,458 - How long will it take to go to Wyndham? 932 00:54:25,459 --> 00:54:26,293 - In this? 933 00:54:26,294 --> 00:54:28,083 Oh, about six hours. 934 00:54:28,084 --> 00:54:30,083 - Do you know how long we've taken? 935 00:54:30,084 --> 00:54:31,125 - How long? 936 00:54:31,126 --> 00:54:32,333 - Six months! 937 00:54:32,334 --> 00:54:33,542 - Six months? 938 00:54:33,543 --> 00:54:34,543 - Mm. 939 00:54:35,834 --> 00:54:36,917 - [Drover] Hey. 940 00:54:36,918 --> 00:54:41,918 (drovers chattering) (whips cracking) 941 00:54:49,334 --> 00:54:51,333 - Open the gate, Mary. 942 00:54:51,334 --> 00:54:54,042 Righto, boys, bring on some more! 943 00:54:54,043 --> 00:54:57,126 (drovers chattering) 944 00:55:04,209 --> 00:55:05,583 Got another log, Bill? 945 00:55:05,584 --> 00:55:06,668 - [Bill] Yep. 946 00:55:13,834 --> 00:55:15,708 - How about debentures? 947 00:55:15,709 --> 00:55:17,542 - Oh, I wouldn't worry about them yet, Corky. 948 00:55:17,543 --> 00:55:19,417 - What are you cooking up now, Corky? 949 00:55:19,418 --> 00:55:21,833 - My friend here was a stockbroker in Civvy Street. 950 00:55:21,834 --> 00:55:23,833 He's advising me on my company. 951 00:55:23,834 --> 00:55:24,793 - What company? 952 00:55:24,794 --> 00:55:26,459 - Like to see my prospectors? 953 00:55:27,376 --> 00:55:28,376 Here. 954 00:55:31,834 --> 00:55:35,458 "Northern Territory Exploitation Company. 955 00:55:35,459 --> 00:55:37,125 "Capital 100,000 pounds. 956 00:55:37,126 --> 00:55:39,959 "J. Claverhouse Corkingdale, managing director." 957 00:55:42,084 --> 00:55:43,084 Sounds good, eh? 958 00:55:45,459 --> 00:55:47,125 - "Objects of the company. 959 00:55:47,126 --> 00:55:49,708 "To exploit the vast potential pastoral 960 00:55:49,709 --> 00:55:52,543 "and mineral wealth of Australia's Northern Territory." 961 00:55:53,418 --> 00:55:54,251 (paper crumples) 962 00:55:54,251 --> 00:55:55,084 - Hey, what's the game? 963 00:55:55,085 --> 00:55:56,792 You can't do that. 964 00:55:56,793 --> 00:55:58,167 - I've done it. 965 00:55:58,168 --> 00:55:59,750 - Well, what's wrong with it? 966 00:55:59,751 --> 00:56:02,126 - There's just one thing wrong, Corky. 967 00:56:03,459 --> 00:56:04,626 That word, exploit. 968 00:56:05,834 --> 00:56:08,250 We've exploited our south for a hundred years 969 00:56:08,251 --> 00:56:09,709 and torn the heart out of it. 970 00:56:11,251 --> 00:56:13,417 Territory's far too valuable to be messed about 971 00:56:13,418 --> 00:56:15,418 by get-rich-quick schemes like yours. 972 00:56:17,543 --> 00:56:18,917 I say let's save the North 973 00:56:18,918 --> 00:56:20,667 from what we've done to the South. 974 00:56:20,668 --> 00:56:22,875 - You mean leave it to the cattle kings. 975 00:56:22,876 --> 00:56:26,792 - No, I mean leave it to Australians, 976 00:56:26,793 --> 00:56:29,543 ordinary Australians like Bill and his family. 977 00:56:33,626 --> 00:56:35,043 National job, Corky. 978 00:56:36,418 --> 00:56:38,875 Too big for little people like you. 979 00:56:38,876 --> 00:56:39,876 - Oh, rubbish. 980 00:56:52,959 --> 00:56:56,793 (singing in foreign language) 981 00:57:10,626 --> 00:57:12,667 - [Mary] Your supper's ready, Sinbad. 982 00:57:12,668 --> 00:57:14,208 - Thanks. 983 00:57:14,209 --> 00:57:15,708 They've settled down all right. 984 00:57:15,709 --> 00:57:16,709 - Good. 985 00:57:17,501 --> 00:57:19,083 - Decent sort of night, isn't it? 986 00:57:19,084 --> 00:57:20,167 - Lovely. 987 00:57:20,168 --> 00:57:21,333 - See the cockatoos? 988 00:57:21,334 --> 00:57:22,875 Dozens of them. 989 00:57:22,876 --> 00:57:26,709 (singing in foreign language) 990 00:57:29,209 --> 00:57:31,583 I wonder what Jacky's singing about. 991 00:57:31,584 --> 00:57:34,251 - About the time his people owned this land probably. 992 00:57:35,376 --> 00:57:36,418 When they were happy. 993 00:57:38,293 --> 00:57:40,042 You'd better go now, Sinbad. 994 00:57:40,043 --> 00:57:41,043 - Yes, I suppose so. 995 00:57:41,918 --> 00:57:44,250 Well, goodnight, then. 996 00:57:44,251 --> 00:57:45,334 - Goodnight, Sinbad. 997 00:57:49,709 --> 00:57:51,917 - Oh, by the way, would you like this horse? 998 00:57:51,918 --> 00:57:54,293 - All right, he's good on night work. 999 00:58:02,668 --> 00:58:05,083 Riding real bushman style these days, Sinbad. 1000 00:58:05,084 --> 00:58:06,209 Long stirrups, eh? 1001 00:58:11,959 --> 00:58:14,500 - I've wanted to do that for a long time, Mary. 1002 00:58:14,501 --> 00:58:16,417 - So have I, but it's silly. 1003 00:58:16,418 --> 00:58:18,000 - Why is it silly? 1004 00:58:18,001 --> 00:58:20,625 - Because we both know it's the stars. 1005 00:58:20,626 --> 00:58:22,583 And because we've crossed half Australia together. 1006 00:58:22,584 --> 00:58:24,875 - I think it's more than that, Mary. 1007 00:58:24,876 --> 00:58:26,417 - Do you, Sinbad? 1008 00:58:26,418 --> 00:58:27,875 I wonder. 1009 00:58:27,876 --> 00:58:31,543 (romantic orchestral music) 1010 00:58:52,709 --> 00:58:55,458 - Are you still in love with Jeff, Mary? 1011 00:58:55,459 --> 00:58:56,459 - I think so. 1012 00:58:57,293 --> 00:58:59,459 I missed him terribly when he went away. 1013 00:59:00,334 --> 00:59:01,417 - I've loved you ever since I saw you 1014 00:59:01,418 --> 00:59:03,542 riding up with the waggon. 1015 00:59:03,543 --> 00:59:04,543 - Have you? 1016 00:59:06,751 --> 00:59:08,500 I saw you, too. 1017 00:59:08,501 --> 00:59:10,251 I pretended I didn't. 1018 00:59:17,626 --> 00:59:20,000 (horse snorts) 1019 00:59:20,001 --> 00:59:21,833 (animal howls) 1020 00:59:21,834 --> 00:59:24,542 (birds squawking) 1021 00:59:24,543 --> 00:59:27,293 (dramatic music) 1022 00:59:28,376 --> 00:59:29,376 The cattle! 1023 00:59:42,001 --> 00:59:43,333 I'll try and stop them. 1024 00:59:43,334 --> 00:59:45,751 You keep out of this, Sinbad. 1025 00:59:53,959 --> 00:59:55,333 - They've headed north. 1026 00:59:55,334 --> 00:59:56,917 - [Bill] Yes! 1027 00:59:56,918 --> 00:59:58,542 Straight for the blasted scrub. 1028 00:59:58,543 --> 01:00:00,500 - If they get too far into the bog they're gone for keeps. 1029 01:00:00,501 --> 01:00:02,750 You take the right wing and try and head 'em. 1030 01:00:02,751 --> 01:00:06,418 (dramatic orchestral music) 1031 01:01:34,793 --> 01:01:37,459 (ominous music) 1032 01:01:45,251 --> 01:01:48,918 (dramatic orchestral music) 1033 01:02:29,334 --> 01:02:31,042 (triumphant orchestral music) 1034 01:02:31,043 --> 01:02:33,793 (whips cracking) 1035 01:02:45,626 --> 01:02:46,459 - Mary. 1036 01:02:46,460 --> 01:02:49,209 (whips cracking) 1037 01:02:59,543 --> 01:03:01,000 Good on ya, Mary. 1038 01:03:01,001 --> 01:03:02,792 Now we've got 'em. 1039 01:03:02,793 --> 01:03:05,543 (whips cracking) 1040 01:03:17,001 --> 01:03:19,501 (cows mooing) 1041 01:03:22,043 --> 01:03:23,208 What do ya make, it Bill? 1042 01:03:23,209 --> 01:03:24,417 - We lost four. 1043 01:03:24,418 --> 01:03:25,750 No, make it three. 1044 01:03:25,751 --> 01:03:27,292 - Mary and Jacky did a good job. 1045 01:03:27,293 --> 01:03:31,583 - Mm, and he's the man who didn't want women in his plant. 1046 01:03:31,584 --> 01:03:34,375 - What's the black horse doing down there? 1047 01:03:34,376 --> 01:03:35,376 - [Mary] Sinbad. 1048 01:04:03,043 --> 01:04:04,001 - Here, boss! 1049 01:04:04,002 --> 01:04:05,834 - [Dan] Good, hold the horses, Jacky. 1050 01:04:08,418 --> 01:04:11,001 (sombre music) 1051 01:04:27,459 --> 01:04:29,208 - He's hurt bad. 1052 01:04:29,209 --> 01:04:30,792 I think it's a leg and this arm. 1053 01:04:30,793 --> 01:04:32,083 - Oh, Dad, it's all my fault. 1054 01:04:32,084 --> 01:04:32,918 I took the night horse. 1055 01:04:32,919 --> 01:04:33,958 - No, you should have. 1056 01:04:33,959 --> 01:04:35,583 It was your watch. 1057 01:04:35,584 --> 01:04:36,418 - Poor kid. 1058 01:04:36,419 --> 01:04:37,542 We'll have to get him to hospital. 1059 01:04:37,543 --> 01:04:39,458 - And forget that mob at the back of us? 1060 01:04:39,459 --> 01:04:41,000 You've got to shift the cattle today. 1061 01:04:41,001 --> 01:04:42,458 - Yeah, I know. 1062 01:04:42,459 --> 01:04:44,376 But two of us'll have to stay with him. 1063 01:04:46,418 --> 01:04:48,000 - The aeroplane! 1064 01:04:48,001 --> 01:04:49,001 - Good girl. 1065 01:04:50,334 --> 01:04:51,543 We better get him ready. 1066 01:05:06,334 --> 01:05:08,833 - What do you think we ought to do, Mrs. Parsons, wait? 1067 01:05:08,834 --> 01:05:11,083 - No, better go while the going's good. 1068 01:05:11,084 --> 01:05:12,792 We don't want this young man's contraption 1069 01:05:12,793 --> 01:05:14,293 frightening the cattle again. 1070 01:05:15,126 --> 01:05:17,167 - Well, goodbye, Mrs. Parsons. 1071 01:05:17,168 --> 01:05:18,126 Thank you very much. 1072 01:05:18,126 --> 01:05:19,126 - Goodbye. 1073 01:05:53,918 --> 01:05:55,375 - [Helen] What's the matter, Mary? 1074 01:05:55,376 --> 01:05:56,709 - Sinbad's hurt! 1075 01:06:18,293 --> 01:06:19,709 Stop, stop, stop! 1076 01:06:22,543 --> 01:06:23,543 Stop! 1077 01:06:57,001 --> 01:06:59,292 - Did you turn the cattle, Mary? 1078 01:06:59,293 --> 01:07:00,918 - Yes, Sinbad, they're all back. 1079 01:07:01,793 --> 01:07:03,333 - That's good. 1080 01:07:03,334 --> 01:07:04,501 Dan'll be pleased. 1081 01:07:06,209 --> 01:07:09,042 I'm afraid I'm not much of a cattleman, Mary. 1082 01:07:09,043 --> 01:07:11,125 - You should never have tried. 1083 01:07:11,126 --> 01:07:12,001 - Good luck, Mrs. Parsons. 1084 01:07:12,002 --> 01:07:13,043 - Thanks, Dan. 1085 01:07:14,834 --> 01:07:16,501 - Well, bye-bye, Meg, old girl. 1086 01:07:17,876 --> 01:07:19,417 It's a rough road, so don't forget, 1087 01:07:19,418 --> 01:07:20,625 plenty of brake on the hill. 1088 01:07:20,626 --> 01:07:23,917 - I'll be all right, Bill, but watch out for those cattle. 1089 01:07:23,918 --> 01:07:25,208 - Ah, don't start worrying, Mother. 1090 01:07:25,209 --> 01:07:26,834 You know we need the money. 1091 01:07:27,751 --> 01:07:29,375 Look after the little 'un. 1092 01:07:29,376 --> 01:07:30,209 - Goodbye, Daddy. 1093 01:07:30,209 --> 01:07:31,209 I'll be okay. 1094 01:07:33,293 --> 01:07:35,043 - Righto, Nipper, let him go. 1095 01:07:36,543 --> 01:07:37,703 - Come on, Tiger, Dolly, get. 1096 01:07:39,084 --> 01:07:40,250 Come, come on! 1097 01:07:40,251 --> 01:07:41,833 Get up, Tiger. - Cheerio, sailor. 1098 01:07:41,834 --> 01:07:43,083 You'll be all right. 1099 01:07:43,084 --> 01:07:44,793 Look after him, Helen! 1100 01:07:45,709 --> 01:07:47,375 - I did want to come with you, Sinbad, 1101 01:07:47,376 --> 01:07:48,958 but I just couldn't ask Dad. 1102 01:07:48,959 --> 01:07:50,208 He's too shorthanded. 1103 01:07:50,209 --> 01:07:53,709 (gentle orchestral music) 1104 01:08:02,043 --> 01:08:05,458 - [Dan] We hoped they would reach Naracoota Station in time, 1105 01:08:05,459 --> 01:08:07,668 but it would mean a hard day's driving. 1106 01:08:08,668 --> 01:08:10,167 They'd a pedal wireless there so they could 1107 01:08:10,168 --> 01:08:11,584 call up the flying doctor. 1108 01:08:12,876 --> 01:08:15,167 Now, our main job was to get the cattle 1109 01:08:15,168 --> 01:08:18,333 onto the next water, two days ahead. 1110 01:08:18,334 --> 01:08:21,292 Cattle can't go more than three days without water, 1111 01:08:21,293 --> 01:08:23,500 so we had to hurry 'em along. 1112 01:08:23,501 --> 01:08:25,042 I sent Nipper ahead with the horses 1113 01:08:25,043 --> 01:08:27,834 to make sure that the bore was okay. 1114 01:09:32,626 --> 01:09:36,209 When a bore goes dry on ya like that, you're in a mess. 1115 01:09:38,084 --> 01:09:41,168 (drovers chattering) 1116 01:09:43,793 --> 01:09:45,083 Did you see any surface water? 1117 01:09:45,084 --> 01:09:46,458 - No, not a drop, boss. 1118 01:09:46,459 --> 01:09:48,375 - Are ya sure the bore is busted? 1119 01:09:48,376 --> 01:09:49,626 - She's busted all right. 1120 01:09:51,251 --> 01:09:53,292 - Well, it's no use goin' back. 1121 01:09:53,293 --> 01:09:54,625 That other mob'll be there. 1122 01:09:54,626 --> 01:09:56,834 - With Nipper's news, it's no use going on. 1123 01:09:58,543 --> 01:10:00,792 - How far is it to Argadargada? 1124 01:10:00,793 --> 01:10:01,793 Should be water there. 1125 01:10:01,794 --> 01:10:03,708 - Three days at least. 1126 01:10:03,709 --> 01:10:04,668 - That's no good. 1127 01:10:04,669 --> 01:10:07,292 It's water within two days or there'll be no mob, 1128 01:10:07,293 --> 01:10:09,584 just a thousand stinkin' carcasses. 1129 01:10:14,001 --> 01:10:15,793 We'll have to take 'em over the top. 1130 01:10:17,834 --> 01:10:19,250 - [Bill] You'll never do it, Dan. 1131 01:10:19,251 --> 01:10:21,667 - What about the old Micah Road? 1132 01:10:21,668 --> 01:10:23,167 - They're bullocks, not goats. 1133 01:10:23,168 --> 01:10:24,333 - Yeah? 1134 01:10:24,334 --> 01:10:25,375 We'll have 'em climbin' ladders 1135 01:10:25,376 --> 01:10:26,500 before we're through with 'em. 1136 01:10:26,501 --> 01:10:27,501 Aw, come on, Bill. 1137 01:10:27,502 --> 01:10:28,792 Let's give it a go. 1138 01:10:28,793 --> 01:10:29,709 - All right. 1139 01:10:29,710 --> 01:10:34,709 (whip cracking) (drovers chattering) 1140 01:10:49,543 --> 01:10:53,459 (suspenseful orchestral music) 1141 01:11:04,543 --> 01:11:07,958 (Sinbad groaning) 1142 01:11:07,959 --> 01:11:10,417 - Hang on, here's another. 1143 01:11:10,418 --> 01:11:13,208 (Sinbad groaning) 1144 01:11:13,209 --> 01:11:15,500 Come on, Tiger, get up, get up. 1145 01:11:15,501 --> 01:11:16,751 Come on, Dolly! 1146 01:11:29,418 --> 01:11:32,001 (gentle music) 1147 01:11:34,126 --> 01:11:35,542 - [Dan] While the others drove the cattle 1148 01:11:35,543 --> 01:11:37,958 towards the old track I'd remembered, 1149 01:11:37,959 --> 01:11:39,709 Bill and I took our bearings. 1150 01:11:49,584 --> 01:11:52,251 Then, we started our big gamble. 1151 01:11:54,751 --> 01:11:57,834 (drovers chattering) 1152 01:12:00,209 --> 01:12:05,209 (whip cracking) (drovers chattering) 1153 01:12:17,626 --> 01:12:20,417 Cattle bred in the plains are bad hill climbers, 1154 01:12:20,418 --> 01:12:23,167 so I put Mary in front to give 'em a lead. 1155 01:12:23,168 --> 01:12:25,583 Once they start, the one thing you must do 1156 01:12:25,584 --> 01:12:26,793 is keep 'em moving. 1157 01:12:28,043 --> 01:12:29,043 (whip cracks) 1158 01:12:29,043 --> 01:12:29,918 Ha, ha, ha, ha! 1159 01:12:29,919 --> 01:12:32,084 That meant punching 'em up all the way. 1160 01:12:37,209 --> 01:12:41,293 But if ya let 'em turn back or bunch, you'll lose the lot. 1161 01:12:43,043 --> 01:12:48,043 (drovers chattering) (whips cracking) 1162 01:13:05,584 --> 01:13:06,584 Ha, ha! 1163 01:13:09,418 --> 01:13:14,418 (drovers chattering) (whips cracking) 1164 01:13:25,501 --> 01:13:29,168 (dramatic orchestral music) 1165 01:13:45,293 --> 01:13:46,958 - Dan, Dan! 1166 01:13:46,959 --> 01:13:48,542 Dan! 1167 01:13:48,543 --> 01:13:49,917 - What? 1168 01:13:49,918 --> 01:13:52,750 - There's a tree over the track. 1169 01:13:52,751 --> 01:13:53,751 - Damn. 1170 01:13:54,918 --> 01:13:56,583 Right, try and hold the cattle. 1171 01:13:56,584 --> 01:13:59,292 Jacky, see if you can get up there with a rope. 1172 01:13:59,293 --> 01:14:00,168 - Okay, boss. 1173 01:14:00,169 --> 01:14:03,168 (suspenseful music) 1174 01:14:17,584 --> 01:14:18,751 - Whoa, bully. 1175 01:14:33,918 --> 01:14:36,500 Whoa, bully, whoa, bully. 1176 01:14:36,501 --> 01:14:37,501 Whoa, whoa. 1177 01:14:38,418 --> 01:14:40,251 Steady, steady, bully. 1178 01:14:52,251 --> 01:14:55,918 (dramatic orchestral music) 1179 01:15:01,876 --> 01:15:05,793 (suspenseful orchestral music) 1180 01:15:06,959 --> 01:15:08,542 Whoa, bully. 1181 01:15:08,543 --> 01:15:09,543 Whoa, whoa. 1182 01:15:11,626 --> 01:15:12,626 Steady. 1183 01:15:28,043 --> 01:15:31,709 (dramatic orchestral music) 1184 01:15:34,876 --> 01:15:37,708 (horse whinnies) 1185 01:15:37,709 --> 01:15:41,626 (suspenseful orchestral music) 1186 01:16:23,126 --> 01:16:26,793 (dramatic orchestral music) 1187 01:16:28,168 --> 01:16:30,918 (horse whinnies) 1188 01:16:39,918 --> 01:16:42,208 (horse whinnies) 1189 01:16:42,209 --> 01:16:45,876 (dramatic orchestral music) 1190 01:16:56,501 --> 01:16:59,625 - [Dan] They got the tree away just in time. 1191 01:16:59,626 --> 01:17:01,333 It had cost us some bullocks, 1192 01:17:01,334 --> 01:17:03,459 but the main mob was over the worst of it. 1193 01:17:04,834 --> 01:17:07,918 (drovers chattering) 1194 01:17:13,459 --> 01:17:16,876 - There you are, now you'll be all right. 1195 01:17:30,418 --> 01:17:33,084 - Narwietooma Station calling flying doctor base. 1196 01:17:34,334 --> 01:17:37,625 Narwietooma Station calling flying doctor base. 1197 01:17:37,626 --> 01:17:39,042 Over to you. 1198 01:17:39,043 --> 01:17:40,125 - [Doctor] Flying doctor waiting. 1199 01:17:40,126 --> 01:17:41,750 Go ahead, please. 1200 01:17:41,751 --> 01:17:44,250 - Drover badly injured. 1201 01:17:44,251 --> 01:17:46,918 Fractured arm, injured leg. 1202 01:17:48,043 --> 01:17:50,333 Possible injuries to the skull. 1203 01:17:50,334 --> 01:17:54,168 (triumphant orchestral music) 1204 01:17:57,959 --> 01:17:59,250 - [Dan] We got down the other side 1205 01:17:59,251 --> 01:18:01,458 easier than I expected. 1206 01:18:01,459 --> 01:18:04,083 So, Bill and I rode ahead to check the water 1207 01:18:04,084 --> 01:18:05,876 at the billabong we were making for. 1208 01:18:13,168 --> 01:18:15,667 There was plenty in it and it looked as though 1209 01:18:15,668 --> 01:18:16,958 our luck had changed. 1210 01:18:16,959 --> 01:18:17,959 - Lookout! 1211 01:18:27,834 --> 01:18:29,500 - You know what that means. 1212 01:18:29,501 --> 01:18:31,208 - Yeah, it's a bog. 1213 01:18:31,209 --> 01:18:32,750 If ya let the cattle rush this hole, 1214 01:18:32,751 --> 01:18:34,000 you might just as well have left 'em 1215 01:18:34,001 --> 01:18:35,708 to rot on the other side. 1216 01:18:35,709 --> 01:18:38,418 - Yeah, once saw it happen at Katharine. 1217 01:18:39,876 --> 01:18:42,083 They'd been dry for three days. 1218 01:18:42,084 --> 01:18:43,668 Smelled the water and rushed it. 1219 01:18:45,376 --> 01:18:48,083 Mob behind kept pushin' the leaders deeper and deeper, 1220 01:18:48,084 --> 01:18:49,708 and in about 10 minutes, there wasn't more 1221 01:18:49,709 --> 01:18:51,042 than 20 bullocks in sight. 1222 01:18:51,043 --> 01:18:52,043 - Yeah. 1223 01:18:53,001 --> 01:18:55,167 You'd never hold 'em in this heat. 1224 01:18:55,168 --> 01:18:56,626 There's only one thing to do, 1225 01:18:57,459 --> 01:19:00,293 and that's to keep 'em back in the bush until the evening. 1226 01:19:02,751 --> 01:19:04,875 - One good thing anyhow. 1227 01:19:04,876 --> 01:19:07,293 Not enough wind to give 'em a smell of the water. 1228 01:19:09,126 --> 01:19:11,000 We had bedded down the cattle in the bush 1229 01:19:11,001 --> 01:19:13,250 to wait for the cool of the evening. 1230 01:19:13,251 --> 01:19:16,333 Then we'd planned to water them in small batches, 1231 01:19:16,334 --> 01:19:18,000 a hundred at a time. 1232 01:19:18,001 --> 01:19:22,042 It was a stinking hot day, and all of us were dead beat, 1233 01:19:22,043 --> 01:19:24,583 but we daren't let them near the water yet. 1234 01:19:24,584 --> 01:19:29,583 After three days dry, the smell of water sends cattle mad. 1235 01:19:29,584 --> 01:19:32,168 (gentle music) 1236 01:19:57,751 --> 01:19:59,917 - Ah, rich golden brown. 1237 01:19:59,918 --> 01:20:01,043 Might almost be beer. 1238 01:20:06,126 --> 01:20:07,833 (Corky coughs) 1239 01:20:07,834 --> 01:20:11,251 (soft suspenseful music) 1240 01:20:32,543 --> 01:20:34,293 Ah, nice cool breeze. 1241 01:20:37,751 --> 01:20:40,584 (leaves rustling) 1242 01:20:43,584 --> 01:20:46,251 (ominous music) 1243 01:21:02,001 --> 01:21:05,668 (dramatic orchestral music) 1244 01:21:23,084 --> 01:21:25,751 (ominous music) 1245 01:21:32,043 --> 01:21:34,376 - They've smelled the water! 1246 01:21:36,459 --> 01:21:38,959 (cows mooing) 1247 01:21:46,626 --> 01:21:50,543 (suspenseful orchestral music) 1248 01:21:58,418 --> 01:22:00,918 (whip cracks) 1249 01:22:06,543 --> 01:22:09,043 (whip cracks) 1250 01:22:28,709 --> 01:22:31,459 (whips cracking) 1251 01:23:04,376 --> 01:23:07,125 Get back to the water as quick as ya can. 1252 01:23:07,126 --> 01:23:09,876 (whips cracking) 1253 01:23:11,918 --> 01:23:13,167 - Look out over there. 1254 01:23:13,168 --> 01:23:14,208 There's not enough of us. 1255 01:23:14,209 --> 01:23:15,792 Get back to the water. 1256 01:23:15,793 --> 01:23:20,125 (dramatic orchestral music) 1257 01:23:20,126 --> 01:23:21,875 - [Dan] Hold 'em as long as ya can, Jacky. 1258 01:23:21,876 --> 01:23:22,918 - [Jacky] Okay, boss. 1259 01:23:28,251 --> 01:23:30,251 - Get back to the water. 1260 01:23:44,126 --> 01:23:46,125 There's only one thing might hold 'em now. 1261 01:23:46,126 --> 01:23:46,959 We get off and face 'em. 1262 01:23:46,960 --> 01:23:48,625 - Don't you think they're too thirsty? 1263 01:23:48,626 --> 01:23:49,543 - We'll give it a go. 1264 01:23:49,544 --> 01:23:50,792 Hold the horses, Mary. 1265 01:23:50,793 --> 01:23:52,167 - I'll come, too. 1266 01:23:52,168 --> 01:23:53,958 - You do as you're damn well told. 1267 01:23:53,959 --> 01:23:55,458 Come on, Corky! 1268 01:23:55,459 --> 01:23:57,208 - All right, all right. 1269 01:23:57,209 --> 01:24:00,292 (dramatic orchestral music) 1270 01:24:00,293 --> 01:24:03,043 (whips cracking) 1271 01:25:17,209 --> 01:25:21,875 What the hell's he waiting for, the whites of their eyes? 1272 01:25:21,876 --> 01:25:25,793 (suspenseful orchestral music) 1273 01:26:07,418 --> 01:26:10,125 - Now! (dramatic music) 1274 01:26:10,126 --> 01:26:15,126 (whips cracking) (drovers whooping) 1275 01:26:42,084 --> 01:26:43,667 Jacky! 1276 01:26:43,668 --> 01:26:44,668 Nipper! 1277 01:27:05,126 --> 01:27:06,333 That was close, eh? 1278 01:27:06,334 --> 01:27:07,500 - Yeah. 1279 01:27:07,501 --> 01:27:09,250 Exciting while it lasted. 1280 01:27:09,251 --> 01:27:10,251 - Exciting? 1281 01:27:11,043 --> 01:27:13,375 Blimey, did ya see the dirty look 1282 01:27:13,376 --> 01:27:15,000 that big steer gave me? 1283 01:27:15,001 --> 01:27:17,750 (Dan chuckles) 1284 01:27:17,751 --> 01:27:21,584 (triumphant orchestral music) 1285 01:27:34,876 --> 01:27:37,000 - [Dan] That was the end of our travels. 1286 01:27:37,001 --> 01:27:39,583 With good feed and water, we delivered okay 1287 01:27:39,584 --> 01:27:42,167 to the resting paddocks by the sea. 1288 01:27:42,168 --> 01:27:44,667 In eight months, we'd driven a thousand head of cattle 1289 01:27:44,668 --> 01:27:47,543 1600 miles and lost 53. 1290 01:27:50,709 --> 01:27:53,125 We all went to Brisbane to pick up the sailor. 1291 01:27:53,126 --> 01:27:55,083 He'd recovered well, and it was good 1292 01:27:55,084 --> 01:27:57,418 to have the whole plant together again. 1293 01:28:07,501 --> 01:28:09,792 The city life doesn't suit us much, 1294 01:28:09,793 --> 01:28:12,168 so we were quite glad when the sendoff came. 1295 01:28:13,126 --> 01:28:14,667 - You mind saying a few words to the camera, Mr. Minister? 1296 01:28:14,668 --> 01:28:15,792 - Why, certainly. 1297 01:28:15,793 --> 01:28:16,793 - Over here, please. 1298 01:28:19,126 --> 01:28:20,167 Right, Joe? 1299 01:28:20,168 --> 01:28:21,292 - [Joe] Okay. 1300 01:28:21,293 --> 01:28:22,126 - Now? 1301 01:28:22,127 --> 01:28:23,542 - [Man In Hat] Go ahead. 1302 01:28:23,543 --> 01:28:25,708 - At this moment, the largest mass migration 1303 01:28:25,709 --> 01:28:28,834 of cattle the world has ever known is taking place. 1304 01:28:29,876 --> 01:28:31,583 The government, realising that Australia 1305 01:28:31,584 --> 01:28:35,167 will be looked upon both in the wars and the peace 1306 01:28:35,168 --> 01:28:37,834 as one of the world's largest food reservoirs, 1307 01:28:38,709 --> 01:28:42,125 is being to safety the vast herds of the North. 1308 01:28:42,126 --> 01:28:45,500 But the initiative of this idea belongs 1309 01:28:45,501 --> 01:28:47,626 to one man and his little band of helpers. 1310 01:28:49,668 --> 01:28:51,458 - What are your plans for the future, Mr. MacAlpine? 1311 01:28:51,459 --> 01:28:53,708 - Well, they tell me they need drovers up North. 1312 01:28:53,709 --> 01:28:56,250 I'm a drover, so I'm gonna get me another mob of cattle. 1313 01:28:56,251 --> 01:28:57,833 - Where can I write you, Mary? 1314 01:28:57,834 --> 01:29:00,625 - Oh, Wyndham will always find me. 1315 01:29:00,626 --> 01:29:02,750 Or Anthony's Lagoon on the next trip. 1316 01:29:02,751 --> 01:29:04,000 - I see. 1317 01:29:04,001 --> 01:29:05,626 - All passengers aboard, please. 1318 01:29:08,126 --> 01:29:09,875 - Well, goodbye, Mary. 1319 01:29:09,876 --> 01:29:11,542 It's been lovely knowing you. 1320 01:29:11,543 --> 01:29:13,501 - It's been lovely knowing you, Sinbad. 1321 01:29:14,334 --> 01:29:18,001 (romantic orchestral music) 1322 01:29:19,834 --> 01:29:21,292 - Mary! 1323 01:29:21,293 --> 01:29:22,875 Come on, quickly, the plane's going. 1324 01:29:22,876 --> 01:29:24,417 Goodbye, Sinbad. 1325 01:29:24,418 --> 01:29:25,959 You're all covered in lipstick. 1326 01:29:26,876 --> 01:29:27,834 Come on, Mary. 1327 01:29:27,835 --> 01:29:29,792 - Best of luck with your next mob, Mr. MacAlpine. 1328 01:29:29,793 --> 01:29:32,167 - Well, if it's anything like this one, I'll need it. 1329 01:29:32,168 --> 01:29:35,168 (politician laughs) 1330 01:29:37,376 --> 01:29:39,376 Goodbye, sailor, thanks. 1331 01:29:45,376 --> 01:29:48,876 (sombre orchestral music) 1332 01:30:09,459 --> 01:30:13,126 (dramatic orchestral music) 1333 01:30:45,293 --> 01:30:47,917 - We've started something, eh, Bill? 1334 01:30:47,918 --> 01:30:48,834 - My word. 1335 01:30:48,835 --> 01:30:52,501 (dramatic orchestral music) 1336 01:31:14,793 --> 01:31:18,376 (bright orchestral music)