Original subtitles

I know you wanted to put me up for adoption.

I saw the papers,

saw your signature.

I don't know what papers you've seen,

but you're wrong.

It can take a lifetime to figure out

the difference between good intentions

and doing what's right.

Well, when Mum died, they said I died too.

That's why Sister Kerry had to stand on the chair.

Traces of blood were found in the living room.

That's where she hit her head.

Someone drowned her in the bath.

There's been a break-in!

Some of the native admission files are gone.

They're in there, the real stories.

All of them.

You're just like the rest of them.

Hopefully you'll drink yourself to death.

Gary's always been jealous about how close Sam and I are.

We grew up together.

There's a handful of people have

got this town in a chokehold.

So if you want to be the big hero,

I suggest you start there.

Cowboy was shot from somewhere around the field

near the carpark.

You'd have to be a champion shooter.

Hey, brother.

Got your stuff back from the hospital.

Get that thing away from me!

Chuck it away.

I was gonna name him Leroy.

I thought the police would take care of him,

make sure he wasn't another forgotten kid.

There's a time and a place for this.

I told her to just stay away from Sam.

I had to check up on the children.

It's a sorry place now.

Just wait here.

Swayze?

Where's my brother?

He might have gone into town to grab something to eat.

Can we wait for him?

I got somewhere you can stay.

I'll go find Swayze.

I'll bring him there.

You'll be all right.

I'll give you a room.

You can sleep.

Still not talking.

You'll rot before Banksia coughs up any legal aid, mate.

We know you killed Cowboy, Sam.

We just don't know why.

The other night at the pub,

when Joey was dragging that cross through town,

you said someone might punish him.

Who might that have been?

Come on, Jay, can we get on with it?

Someone else is involved.

Someone Sam's covering for.

You said yourself he had nothing against Joey.

He wouldn't have cut those hoses.

There's no way he killed Sister Kerry.

He had an alibi.

He was at the farm with the kids, watching a movie.

Exactly.

She died of old age.

I've got a witness who said he heard a car pull up

just on dark at Sister Kerry's.

You've got a witness?

A witness?

Someone else got to Swayze when Sam couldn't.

What are you talking about?

Swayze was at Cowboy's.

How did he get to Cowboy's?

I don't know.

He was there to be with his sister.

Point is, he's not there anymore.

Someone's taken him.

And it couldn't have been Sam.

This is bullshit.

This is bullshit, Jay.

What else are you keeping from me?

Well, I could have sketched it out

on the whiteboard for you, but you seemed

more focused on fishing.

Fuck you.

You know, something's been bugging me,

why you thought it was a good idea to access

the files in the locked ward.

Um, like I said, it was for Joey.

He just wanted to know about his next of kin.

So in your wisdom, you just pass on

confidential information, just like that?

Well, Joey's got the right to know

about his mother, doesn't he?

Oh, so you're the authority around here now, are you?

You realize what your bleeding heart of a conscience has done?

This fuss, this robbery?

It's a shitstorm, and that's on you.

Yeah, he's an asshole.

Where the hell did you get to?

I had my work.

I had to see a client.

I need you to focus.

- I am, Gary. - Are you?

All you had to do was get the files back from the police.

I tried, Gary. I tried.

Jesus Christ, you don't get what's at stake, do you?

I refuse to be judged for doing the right thing.

It's not just that.

You know what this town's like.

You gonna tell me where you're going?

Hospital.

I wanna talk to Gary Lloyd.

What's that?

Swayze had it.

He was a bit creeped out by it.

Didn't wanna be anywhere near it.

Same as Sister Kerry's prayer cards at the hospital.

Got the same symbol on it.

Yeah, it was from St. Joseph's School.

Swayze say where he got it?

He wouldn't tell me.

Gary around?

Canceled his patients for the rest of the day.

Don't know where he's gone.

Don't care.

Can you tell me if this is his signature?

Oh, yeah.

That's Gary's signature.

Show me?

Yeah, G. Lloyd.

Well, if there's nothing else--

I got it all wrong.

I gotta go.

Hey, where are you going?

There's something I gotta do.

Any news on Anya?

Nothing we can't handle.

You've got to believe me, Bub.

I loved your mother.

I wanted to marry her.

But things were different back then.

No one wanted us to be together.

I told Catherine, everything would be

different once you were born.

We'd be a family.

But... she just left.

No goodbye, nothing.

You ever wonder why Mum took off?

What she was running from?

Yeah, well, I know you think it's 'cause I wanted

to put you up for adoption.

That's bullshit.

I told you that before.

It's bullshit.

But if you still believe it, then...

I can't do much about it, can I?

Promise ya.

I've never seen that before.

Never!

Come take a closer look.

I was wrong about your signature.

It wasn't yours.

It-- it's Gary's signature.

Yeah, your brother wanted to put me up for adoption.

Susan knew about it.

She lied to my face.

Fuck!

You're safe now.

Your spirit won't be alone.

As I've already said, Susan had no business reporting

those files were stolen.

You know, there's no need for an investigation.

No one was hurt, so you got no reason to hang on to the files.

Yeah, yeah. Calm down, Gary.

We'll let you know when there's no need for any more

investigations, all right?

It's fine.

You seem pretty concerned about those files.

Well, they belong to the hospital.

They contain confidential information.

They need to be in a safe place.

The police station's a safe place.

Yeah, but--

Or maybe you'd rather see them burn in a fire.

Sorry, what did you say?

Took a look at the records.

Every file from the 1960s onwards

has a cross for a mother's signature right next to yours.

You're gonna stand there and tell me

every one of those mothers was illiterate?

Wait, you insult me with--

I-- I don't know what you--

you think this is some child abduction

conspiracy from the dark ages?

Well, good luck proving that one.

All those children were put up for adoption

because their mothers didn't have the maternal skills

to care for them.

Don't you get caught up in this bullshit, Simmo.

Remember when you came here.

You were broken.

Whole world was against you.

I put you back together.

I showed you how the town works,

how we've got each other's backs.

You'd still be broken if it wasn't for me.

Gary.

Hey, Gary.

Gary, you can't be in here.

Mate, what are you doing?

Hey, stop that.

Where's the key?

I want this open so I can access my--

Come here.

They are part of an ongoing investigation.

So until we're satisfied, get behind the other side

of the counter, or I'll put you in a fucking cell.

Simmo, what is this bullshit?

Don't you let your conscience get in the way here.

Gary, there's an ongoing arson investigation.

And when it's completed, the files will

be sent back to the hospital.

But until then--

until then, you need to get out of here.

That's a big mistake.

You'll be sorry, both of you!

Joey.

Grab some water bottles, canned food, blankets.

When's Sam coming back?

Don't worry about Sam.

Just grab your stuff.

You can't stay here no more.

You have to come with me.

I'll make ya safe.

Where's Sam's gun?

I didn't see that coming.

What's that?

You siding with me over Gary.

What was all that about?

Yeah.

Who would have thought I needed your help, hey, Bony?

But truth is,

I do need your help.

Find Swayze.

If Swayze had this hat...

he might know something about the kid it belonged to.

Sorry. This kid here,

Donny Moyo, 10 years old.

My first case.

He went missing from the farm.

Never found, no body, no nothing.

It was like he completely disappeared.

The Randalls, the old couple who ran the farm,

they weren't worried that he'd gone missing.

No one seemed to be worried.

I couldn't get my head around it.

It was like they didn't give a shit.

They just said that kids like this

took off from the farm or St. Joseph's all the time.

They just went on walkabout.

Where have I heard that before?

I did everything I could to find that kid.

Everything.

I asked for more resources.

Bosses just said, let it go.

Waste of time.

Not a good look for the Catholic Church.

But couldn't let it go.

So to shut me up, the bosses offered me a bribe.

Think what you want about me, Jay.

But a bribe?

Not happening.

No fucking way.

Somebody knew what had happened to Donny.

But nothing I could do.

Case was closed.

And I got stuck here to rot for the rest of my life.

That other kid's Sam.

That Sam.

Okay.

Thursday, 27th of April, the year 2000.

Sergeant Paula Simmons and Detective Jay Swan

interviewing Sam Anderson.

Sam, why were you so desperate to find Swayze?

To keep him safe.

Keep him safe from who?

Who's taken Swayze, Sam?

Maybe you could answer this.

Who's the girl here in the photo with you and Donny?

That's Susan.

Randalls adopted her when she was six, seven.

Susan knew Donny?

Yeah.

Last one to see him running down the road.

Is that Susan?

What was her photo doing in a native adoptions file?

This town and all around here,

there's been bad shit going on forever.

And it's still going on.

You just got to open your eyes and know where to look.

I told Swayze, don't go looking for trouble.

What did he find?

You need to get out to the farm and get those kids

and get Swayze.

Swayze ran away from the farm.

Why would he go back?

Maybe he didn't have a choice.

Susan?

The day Jay rang and said he couldn't pick up Anya,

was that the note you wrote?

Where was it?

In Susan's office.

She was the reason that Anya was left that day.

She wanted her to be taken.

She practically runs this town.

I mean, she knows everyone.

Case workers, teachers.

She probably told the school to write the report.

I don't think so, Mary.

Yeah, she told me she heard Philip

got some girl knocked up.

That girl was my mum.

With me.

And Susan knew all about it.

Philip, you hunted Catherine away.

You took my daughter from me.

You took my life from me, Gary.

Listen! You have to believe me.

I didn't have anything to do with wanting Mary adopted out.

That was all Catherine.

You're a liar!

My mother came from that world.

There is no way she would condemn me to it,

to what you did to the other mothers,

to their children.

It was never gonna work out.

I was doing what was best for you, for Mary.

Unmarried Black mothers with babies become despondent.

They don't have the skills.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the mothers!

You fucking narcissist!

How many families have you torn apart, eh?

Eh? - What?

What did you think was gonna happen

to you and Catherine, eh?

No, I saved you from a life of grief.

Ugh!

Yeah?

Gary, Gary!

Get away from my dad!

You okay? - I'm sorry, Philip.

I'm sorry.

Get away, ya snake!

Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath.

Oh.

Oh, Bub.

Oh, God.

Joey, open the door!

Joey!

Open the door.

Joey!

Jay!

Jay, it's Joey.

He's got the kids.

Who's in the boot?

Susan!

Help.

Let me out!

Help me.

Swayze?

Hey, hey.

Come here.

You all right?

Hey.

You're all right, buddy.

Just breathe.

He's in there.

That boy, Donny.

I found him at the dam.

I woke him up.

He was gonna get me.

No, one's gonna get you, Swayze.

Just wait here, all right?

Get out!

Please, Mary, let me help.

Stay the fuck away from me!

You stay away from my daughter!

You're all right, Mary.

Just breathe. Just breathe.

You're all right.

You're all right. Just breathe.

- Where's Jay? - Yeah, I'll get him.

I'll get him. I'll get him.

Yep, yep.

That's right.

Oh!

You're all right, Bub.

You're all right, Bub.

You're all right.

I'm gonna need you to stay close to me, all right?

Can you walk?

Yeah.

Okay.

Come on.

Swayze, wait here.

You okay?

Where's Joey?

Took off out the back.

Went after Susan.

All right, you mob, everyone on the couch now.

Go.

Okay, listen, you mob, when I go outside,

you lock the door behind me.

Don't open it for anyone else until I come back.

You got it?

It still haunts you, doesn't it?

I shot Cowboy because he knew too much.

If you take me out to the farm,

I'll tell you what happened to Donny.

Come in.

I rang the station.

No one picked up.

I'm gonna head over there, okay?

Find him, Sputty.

Bring him here.

Yep, yep.

I will.

You're okay.

Deep breaths.

You're all right.

What do you want, Joey?

I want it to end.

I thought it was over when the home closed down,

but it wasn't.

Put the gun down, Joey, and we can talk.

Sister Kerry told me everything she did,

all the children she took, all the lies.

She even told me what you and Gary were

still doing at the hospital

with the welfare at the farm.

I'm sorry for what Sister Kerry did to you,

but she was from another time.

I didn't take the children.

I rescued them.

You're wrong.

It's still the same.

Tell me, Joey.

What's wrong with still wanting children to have a better life?

It's the lies.

That's what's wrong.

Like my mum,

like the others in the home,

like Donny.

Just numbers buried in the ground, forgotten,

no one to tell their story,

no one to cry for them

or the forests, the land, the rivers.

They're all dying because the voices of the children

were taken from them.

What's that?

Who's there?

Get rid of your rifle!

I can't do that, Joey!

No, no, no!

Get back up there!

Get up!

You need to stay up there until you tell the truth.

You tell too many lies, Susan.

You're doing so good, Mary.

Okay, deep breaths, deep breaths.

On the next contraction, I need you to use your breath

to push, okay?

Where's Jay?

I need Jay!

He's coming, he's coming.

He'll be-- he'll be here.

Okay, deep breaths.

Whooh.

All right.

Where are you, little brother?

I'll tell you what, you're liable to be in trouble.

Ah.

Sister Kerry taught you how to lie, didn't she?

What are you talking about?

Swayze told me what he found.

Donny.

Donny's hat,

buried down there in the dam.

All those years ago, someone put him in there.

Poor little fella.

Donny ran away.

Everyone knows that, even the police.

Because that's what you told them!

You're confused.

You're upset.

You're a liar!

There was weeping in the forest when he left.

And all the trees that night had no rest.

You're rambling, Joey.

You need help.

Joey's not the one who needs help, Susan.

It's over. It's done.

There's no way out.

We should have come clean when Sister Kerry

said she was gonna talk.

He doesn't know what he's talking about!

You made Donny stand on that tree stump

for the longest time.

He was frightened.

He wasn't gonna say anything.

It was an accident!

I only wanted to scare him!

Sister Kerry knew about Donny.

That's why you drowned her.

That's a lie.

You killed Sister Kerry?

Joey.

Joey, put the weapon down.

You don't need to do this.

No, she has to say it all.

She has to tell the truth!

That's the punishment!

You stay up there until you tell the truth!

If anybody found out, we would have

got a floggin', sent away.

Donny saw you two together.

There he is.

Let's get him, eh?

Stop running!

It wasn't my fault. Sister Kerry knew that.

That's why she helped.

That's why you helped to bury him.

You needed me to stay quiet,

to cover up for who you are.

Were you ashamed?

They said you didn't look Black.

They said you could have a better life

if you said you were white.

And you believed them.

Sister Kerry, Gary, the Randalls,

they all made me better!

Yes, I take them away.

I rip them away, like I was ripped away.

It was for my own good!

It's for their own good!

No.

No, no!

That can't happen no more!

Joey, no!

No! Put it down!

Shoot him! Just shoot him!

Shut up! Shut up!

He's not right in the head.

Just shoot him!

Don't make me do this, Joey!

Joey, put the weapon down.

Joey!

Joey, just put the gun down and walk away!

Everywhere you walk on this land,

a child was born.

I'm sorry.

Joey, no!

Joey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hey, hey. Stay with me, mate.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Simmo!

Joey, Joey.

Joey.

That's it, Mary.

Well done.

And push, push, push.

[baby crying

I've let them all down,

everybody who gave me a chance, who helped me.

You murdered a woman who wanted you to face the truth.

The Randalls, Gary, those people didn't help you.

They just tore you into little pieces.

Is it true?

Where's Susan?

She's on her way to Banksia.

They don't really care about missing Blackfellas,

but you throw them a murderer, and they come skipping.

I tried.

It was only a question of time.

I haven't forgotten about what you did,

the lives you destroyed.

I'm coming back for you.

You good, my little brother?

You all right?

Jay.

It's okay.

It's okay.

I got you.

You're giving up on me already?

Never, Jay Swan.

Oh, baby.

Oh.

It's okay.

Come here.

♪ Well, how could she have fallen for a heartless man? ♪

♪ It's only sorrow that I've known ♪

♪ Couldn't be the homely man ♪

♪ It's in my veins to roam ♪

♪ Well, maybe I am like my old man ♪

♪ He's in my mirror more and more ♪

♪ Well, maybe I am like that old man ♪

♪ I'm turning into someone that I've never known ♪

♪ Time goes on and by these days ♪

♪ But it don't seem right always ♪

♪ Yeah, I'll go through the door ♪

♪ before I put her through more ♪

♪ The one I'll adore always ♪

♪ Please don't live for no heartless man ♪

♪ Oh, you can't save every soul ♪

♪ I couldn't be the homely man ♪

♪ It's in my veins to go ♪

♪ Maybe I am like my old man ♪

♪ He's in my mirror more and more ♪

♪ Maybe I am like that old man ♪

♪ Turning into someone that I've never known ♪

♪ Time goes on and by these days ♪

♪ But it don't seem right always ♪

♪ Well, I'll go through the door ♪

♪ Before I put her through more ♪

♪ The one I'll adore always ♪

♪ Well, I'll go through the door ♪

♪ Before I put her through more ♪

♪ The one I'll adore always ♪

♪ Well, time goes on and by these days ♪

♪ But it don't seem right always ♪