Original subtitles

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

and a bigger hole going out. Do you see that?

Aye.

They say it hurts forever. Is that true, dad?

Hold the Wound open With a spoon...

and I'll clean it out.

- Good girl, that's it. - I know you learned from horses, dad...

but be gentle, he's in pain.

Bring her in.

Rotten rye seed is a sure Way to make a Woman bleed.

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

Those stupid Maoris are always getting themselves shot.

They don't go around shooting themselves, dad.

In this remote land it was difficult to see the enemy.

All those times I Were very sad, I thought I might despair.

There Were no traveling priest nor church to pray.

A soldier, my one friend, Private Doyle.

Sometimes I Would confess to him my thoughts.

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

and though I Would never show him my scribbling...

he might not even read it.

Most likely he Would burn it or fling it to the Waves.

The point of it being it Would free yourself alone...

and having Writ it down...

you might better understand the Way that things had gone.

The story of your life.

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

For everyone else, it Was the furthest military outpost on the map.

There Was a clear line between us and them.

That line did not exist for me.

And so I fell in love With a Maori boy.

His name Was Tommy.

- Corporal. - Yes, sir.

Sergeant, we need to...

We Was always on the edge of the troubles.

But still the Maori kids Would come down river.

And When We Was at school, during the peaceful time...

We Would ride the track that took us over the hill.

On this one day, We Were game to cross the river.

We fell in love.

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

The choking sickness came...

and just Wiped him and his village off the face of the earth.

My Tommy boy Was dead.

But he left me With his child.

You dirty bitch! Making a disgrace for me!

I Was keeping Tommy's baby, no matter What Da said.

- You will not Kill my baby! - You and your sluttish ways!

I would rather die than let you Kill my baby.

You'll be the death of me, you rabbit-faced harlot!

Done with you. No daughter of mine. At least lover boy is dead.

But, for all that butcher surgeon that he Was...

he delivered the baby himself.

From him, I learned to stitch horse or man.

With Boy there, I knew my place in the World.

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

Inseparable.

Here!

Oh, my...

What have you done?

It's all right. Let me see.

Come on, Let's go and stitch it up.

Do one of your funny accents.

Advance, you bastards!

Fix bayonets!

Hey, O'Brian!

Francis!

While Boy and I Were as free as birds...

the Army set Private Doyle and Da to clear some land.

This here is sacred ground.

- We shouldn't be here. - It's Army orders.

- Will it make a scar? - Aye.

A fine scar, like a pirate.

One more.

There. Good boy.

Brave boy.

There we go.

Let me see you stand.

My brave boy.

- Hide and seek? - Not this...

- No... - You can't catch me.

You've hurt your Knee, come on.

Pull.

Pull.

Pull.

Pull.

Pull.

It's the tattooist, Rangi.

What the hell do you think he's doing down here?

Back to see your Sarah's boy again.

Our warriors died here...

and you steal this land even from our dead.

If Jesus Christ himself was buried here...

I'd still clear this land.

If you carry on like this, things will happen to you.

What?

Dad, Army Private Doyle, my sister and me...

We had trouble With Old Rangi from the start.

Old Rangi Were my boy's grandfather.

Boy?

Do you see me?

I Know you're hiding.

I Know you're hiding from me.

Do you Want some?

Boy, I don't like this.

Where are you?

Boy? Boy?

Barry, have you seen my boy?

We were playing hide and seek and he was here.

He was here a minute ago. I saw him, he was here.

Boy!

Sarah!

Dad!

Dad!

Dad, dad, it's boy.

- He's gone. - He's probably just hiding.

- He's gone. boy has gone. - He was always hiding.

- He's gone. boy has gone. - Theresa, darling, where's your sister?

What's happening to our family?

Sarah!

Sarah!

Little boy, been taken by his grandfather Rangi.

Boy!

Private Doyle will find them.

Boy!

Sarah!

No!

No!

Sarah!

No!

No!

Momma!

Momma!

Sarah!

No! boy! No!

Sarah!

My father had a gutful and decided to quit.

And by leaving me that medical bag he gave me a future.

My heart Will ne'er be free

To push aside the longings I still feel

My eyes Will never forget

The fields of patchwork green

Soft rain so real

- In my dreams I keep searching - Sarah!

For those paths I never find

I Was never to see my Da and my sister again.

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

And now it Was I Who couldn't leave.

In all the years I served with your father...

he always meant well, Sarah.

A soldier fights long enough...

it's like he's breathing. He doesn't even Know what he's fighting for.

Then he sees something he doesn't have...

like the love you have for that boy.

Suddenly there's something worth fighting for.

You've to fight for what's in your heart, Sarah.

Poor Private Doyle.

There Was only room in my heart for Boy.

Lost.

Lost to me my boy Was.

I Was.

I don't know Where they took him.

For seven years I trailed them.

Boy's grandfather, Old Rangi, Were the only tattooists around.

I thought if I could find people he'd tattooed recent...

I'd be sure to find him.

And if I found him...

I'd find my boy.

I traveled...

I searched...

always I saw my boy.

And always he Was never there.

The soldiers, most of Who had known my Da...

Were only meant to clear the natives off the land.

Major?

Permission to call the troops off?

Permission denied.

- Major. - These aren't your people, Wiremu.

- This is not your tribe. - We're not at war.

Our job is to Keep them off the land.

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

Let it burn, Wiremu. Let's go.

- There will be hell to pay for this one. - Do what you have to.

Get this place cleaned up.

It'll come back on us.

Help them.

Excuse me?

Stop.

You fool.

Our people bleed, while you plunder our land.

Where is Rangi?

Where is he?

He made that tattoo.

Rangi?

Rangi!

My boy, where is he?

Your father broke our ancient laws.

By cutting his road through battleground.

My boy! Where?

He broke our ancient laws.

He who bears my mark upon his face...

will avenge me and unleash a river of blood.

And avenge him he Would.

Of all the bullets that flew that night...

it Was surely Major Baine's that begun the War.

- Wiremu, leave him be. - Baine!

Come on, Sarah. No place for a woman.

Wiremu!

It's nothing to do with you.

A War. The chief, Te Kai Po, he reigned down terror on all of us.

The frontier garrison, the only home I had...

Was first in his path.

Sarah, hurry!

Leave the medicines.

You go first. Let's go.

The top garrison is overrun.

The upper outpost is overrun. Watch out, Sarah!

Move!

Move!

Go!

Come on, quick. Give me your hand.

Te Kai Po, the enemy chief himself.

Why Was he Watching me?

Help!

I need some more armor!

I had Waited so many years to see those markings...

and here I Was being swept away in the Wrong direction.

The chief, Te Kai Po, attacked at dawn.

He's destroyed the garrison, Major.

We should strike now.

Before word of Te Kai Po gets out and he has time to rebuild, yes.

Major, sir.

He will attack again.

Doyle.

A bad business up the river.

- You might say, sir. - You might.

The girl, she has her father's talent.

Yes, sir.

You may go.

Sir.

Sarah O'Brian.

When Sarah was a wee girl I campaigned with her father.

A woman's hands are more useful than a man's.

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

Surgeon's hands.

Did you Know that old man?

What?

Still putting your hands to good use Sarah?

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

Good. In that case, you will stay here.

You will assist the surgeon in the field hospital.

And for your own safety remain within the confines of this garrison.

Te Kai Po.

"He who consumes the night."

I did tell you there would be hell to pay.

That's right, Wiremu, you did.

Never trust a Maori, eh?

Because sooner or later, he's gonna want his land back.

There's history between the Major and me.

And what about him, the scout?

- Wiremu? - Yes.

That there is one Maori that's more like us Irish, if you Know what I mean.

No. Why?

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

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

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

Best marksman in the garrison.

Where he puts his eye, he puts a bullet.

Your tent's just over there.

Would you like me to walk with you?

No, I'll be grand.

Right, I'll let you settle in. I'll have the men bring your things.

Goodnight.

Though I'd seen Wiremu With Old Rangi...

but had I seen those eyes from long before?

Being parted from you Grieves me heart so

But your parents are rich Love and are angry With me

I need your help.

You Knew Old Rangi?

He was my father.

Do you Know where my boy is?

I can take you to him if you help me.

Our chief, Te Kai Po, is dying.

He believes you can help him.

The rebel chief, Te Kai Po, what's wrong with him?

Coughing sickness.

And you'll take me to my boy?

If we leave now.

Sarah?

Thank you.

Where are we going?

Where We Was going, the maps ran out.

The interior.

From this far up river, I never saw a person come back.

And how long will it take to get there?

I Was crossing over enemy lines...

to heal the man that burnt my home.

Why Was I going to help him?

When will I see my son?

In time.

Wiremu...

you're never going back down river, are you? back to us?

Major Baine Killed my father.

It's a fool's game now. I need to go home.

Settlers have taken the river.

They never stop coming and taking.

My sons.

If you are Tommy boy's brother, Why can't I remember you?

Do you sit by me every night?

Yes.

Why?

We have to look after you. You're special.

- So they reckon. - Who reckons?

My dad... Wiremu. And everybody.

They say you're gonna help the chief.

My Pa talks about you all the time!

Shut up, you two. Timoti.

Good boy.

Good boy.

Is it much further to go?

It's a ways yet.

I'm hoping to find my son there.

Your son?

Aye.

He's a half-caste.

He's called 'boy'.

What would you do if you found him?

- Take him with me. - Take him where?

I don't Know. Just with me.

Back down river.

Back down river?

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

No surprise, eh? but lots of people where we're going...

don't like Pakeha's. Most of them don't.

We had a White deserter just last month.

When we started having problems, we Killed him.

And if the chief dies before we get there...

you'll probably wish you were somewhere else.

What did you do after he was taken?

I didn't Know if he were dead or alive.

My whole world was ruined.

I became sick with worry.

And nobody was able to help me find him.

Here.

My boy.

Are you still looking for him?

On the day my boy were taken...

he fell down...

and he got a real bad cut on his right Knee.

I had to stitch it up.

And do you Know what? He was so brave.

He never made a peep.

I loved him very much.

Is that boy your son?

He was my brother's son.

He's my son because his father died a long time ago.

That does not make him your son.

You took him away from me.

And now I want him back.

I was only protecting my father.

You've taken so long the spirit world summons him.

Stay close.

She just wanted to see her son.

The rebel chief.

No chief as young as him had his face tattooed.

He Was the last.

He's far too hot.

I had seen many With influenza.

A few survived the treatment.

And if he didn't...

We must take him down to the river.

We've gotta get his fever down now.

Wiremu.

Wiremu?

I am glad you came back.

I have changed.

You will see.

I Know this now.

You have come back.

It's the right thing to do.

Right.

Blood... my ancestors.

He has crossed over to the ancestors.

He believes the water is blood.

Don't listen to her. He wanted me to get a healer.

It's not a Maori sickness.

If he dies...

It'll be on your heads.

And again. One more time.

His temperature must come down.

It's all right.

It's all right. Come here.

A river of blood.

He's delirious.

It's all right.

Let's get him out now.

Bring the blankets.

Drink.

Were you dreaming too?

Tell me...

about it.

There were women.

Laughing.

And then the river.

There was blood.

There was blood in the water.

- You're awake. - Yes.

Yes, she has healed me.

Your healer has healed me.

Sarah.

Sarah.

My boy.

My boy.

Thank you.

Thank you for my boy.

God. Oh, God.

God.

I can carve.

I'll be the best. I'm good, you'll see.

Do you like them?

Do you like tattoos?

No.

Marks you for life if you wear a tattoo.

It marks who you are.

It marks where you belong.

It'll take time.

Tommy was the same.

Just like boy.

- You're gonna be in the circus. - And what about him?

What happened to his mother?

She's with another man now.

Didn't like my uniform.

How about you?

Me? No, no, no.

Not since Tommy.

Not since my brother?

How about you then?

How did you get all your scars?

That one.

That's a bayonet.

Another bayonet.

This...

I don't Know.

What about the one on your hand?

Yes.

That's a British bullet.

Lucky. I nearly lost it.

Life's not too easy without that.

Wrap it with Kawa-Kawa leaves.

Kawa-Kawa?

I healed it myself.

Since the chief seems well again...

I guess they'll let you go.

Do you Know when?

Do you wanna go?

Will you come back with me?

- Back where? - Back home.

- Down river. - I am home.

I'll go get another blanket for the Queen.

Timoti?

Skinny?

Could I find a new home here?

Has it become his home?

I call the ancient spirits of the river...

awaken, rise up. Our dream...

through woman I must challenge death.

I will always be grateful to you.

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

Queenie...

sent to make me well.

It's because of you that I live.

A Word for you.

Cease traveling on the roads.

Stop forever the going on the roads...

lest you be left there as food for the birds of the air...

and the beasts of the field, or for me...

because I have eaten the European as beef.

He Was cooked in a pot.

The Women and children partook of the food.

I have begun to eat human flesh.

My throat is constantly open for the flesh of man.

I shall not die.

I shall not die.

When death itself is dead I shall be alive.

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

Well...

I think you will be my message back.

We have to leave here.

There's a battle coming, Sarah. We can't leave.

But it's not our war.

- Not our war? - You're my blood.

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

Right? I came up here to find you.

- To take you home with me. - I don't believe you.

You came because Wiremu asked you. Because you and he... are like...

And you want that. Then you saw me, and that was good for you.

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

I did not leave you.

Can you not remember? Rangi stole you.

- You could have found me. - He snatched you away from me.

I was waiting for you. I waited every night.

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

I've been learnt up by Rangi. And soon...

I'll get my face tattooed.

- You will not. - Why not?

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

It's good for me up river.

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

I would die for that.

- You would die? - You watch me.

In the battle. It's coming.

You watch me.

The whole garrison is coming here.

Like bees to honey.

- When did they leave? - Six days ago.

Almost on us. A day at best.

He's trying to scare us. But we are ready.

What had I done?

I had healed the chief Who Would kill my people.

This must be the way in.

Here is our palacetes.

Our trenches.

Their main force will come in here.

They'll send the Kupapa round to outflank us.

Sarah...

Please, you've got to help me. Take my boy down river.

I promise I will help you.

But right now you have to stay safe.

Go with the women and children.

I'm not leaving him here to die.

It's too late. You have to.

Get off me.

I am not leaving my son here to die.

Boy needs you alive.

He needs you alive, Sarah. Do you understand?

Sarah!

Hellish confusion in the thick of it.

You see a Maori with a uniform, he's one of ours.

No uniform, it's like that.

Murder fighting these Maoris.

Might as well be Irish from Cromwell's time.

Skin is darkened by the sun is all.

HoKi Mai?

HoKi Mai?

HoKi Mai!

No!

No!

My God.

No!

No!

Sarah?

- Te Kai Po has got a new war flag. - Sir, they don't Know we're here.

Take your positions! We're under fire!

Take your positions! We're under fire!

Take your positions! We're under fire!

"Charge!"

- Charge! - Charge!

"Set bayonets."

Fix bayonets!

Forget your bayonets! Keep moving!

"First square. Move it!"

Damn you, boy!

"Forward line!"

Forward line!

Follow that flag!

Hide!

It's a decoy.

A false target. He's drawn us in to outflank us.

Advance, you bastards!

- Advance to the main wall! - Halt! fall back!

"Advance for the lion of Scotland!"

Do not heed that order! He's not one of ours!

Fall back!

Fall back!

"Advance, you cowards!"

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

No!

Run, boy.

Run!

Please, can you help me, please!

I got to move him.

I didn't shoot your boy.

I could never hurt your boy. Do you understand me?

Do you understand?

They're everywhere!

Fall back, it's a trap.

Sarah O'Brian.

Wiremu.

Retreat!

Come with me.

No!

Sarah, come with me.

I'm not leaving him.

- Sarah. - I'm not.

Then stay down.

Safer if I cover you.

Somebody move.

Retire!

What have they done?

You are the first angel...

and you're smiling down at me.

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

We have to go.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

- Your locket. - I don't need it any more.

I'll leave it be.

I'd never hurt your boy.

I'd never shoot your boy.

I did.

Almost shot him.

And What if I had?

Got it.

Hold on fast, Sarah.

Sarah, come with me.

Sarah!

Know her?

Gone bush.

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

Madness is the only end for a woman like her.

Madness.

I hear you have some friends up the river.

In war time that's treason.

I'd swim across

The deepest ocean

To be by your side

To be by your side

Hush, Doyle.

I Know a place where we can hide from the war.

They've left.

So they won't mind us borrowing their lives for a while.

Maybe you can explain to me...

why one of the sons of an Irish whore can be a poet...

and the other has to be a bastard soldier boy.

You're the nearest to family I've got left now, Doyle.

Aye.

My life had been my son.

But no more.

There Was no man I could Wed.

Put it on.

Please.

And I'll take you for a honeymoon waltz down by the rose garden.

My boy is dead.

I Know.

Beauty makes a sinner...

believe he's gone to a state of grace.

I bribed the guards to be here.

Come with me.

How can I?

Doyle is dead.

This is all wrong.

Everything is wrong.

There.

Rourke's landing.

He's come back down.

If his allies believe he can consume the terrors of the night...

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

Do you think his alliances will hold?

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

Our allies are here.

- We will win today. - And tomorrow.

My dream foretold of this woman.

She is our fate.

Welcome.

Join us.

We need these people.

We have come to support you and to fight as one.

She showed it to me on Sunday

She bought it at the farrier's shop She bought it at the farrier's shop

She bought it at the farrier's shop it's going back on Monday

Some say the devil is dead

The devil is dead The devil is dead

All say he rose again

All say he rose again

And joined the British Army

You bloody bugger!

Does your vagina...

have enough bite...

to satisfy my lust for war?

Wiremu!

Is that you, cousin?

Indeed, my young cousin.

If you are that horny...

here is an outlet for your lust.

We'll fight in the morning.

I'll Kill you.

Come and see your White woman.

Wiremu. Wiremu.

They've captured boy!

Where?

Indeed Baine has a mighty penis!

But stop thrusting for a moment...

and allow me to cross.

Come on then.

Bring me Sarah O'Brian.

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

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

Ask him again.

Who is the Pakeha? Your father or your mother?

Te Kai Po has foretold the future.

The destruction of the White people.

And their stinking dogs.

If it's your father, then he's probably a soldier.

If it's your mother...

Who's the spy in my camp?

It's treason.

And good men are dying because of it...

and I think you can tell me who it is.

Prisoners of war can be executed.

Spies caught behind enemy lines.

Another English law.

Treason is an offence punishable by death.

Sarah, I need you to interpret for me.

Does he Know I understand Maori?

Does he Know that?

Does he have a Pakeha father or is it that he has a White mother?

Just ask the question.

Ask the question!

Get him out. Get out.

I have no mother!

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

I would die because I Know where I belong.

No!

No, don't hurt my boy! No, don't hurt my boy!

Please don't hurt my boy! Please.

Being alone in purgatory is a terrifying place to be, Sarah.

Caught... between heaven and hell.

I left him to Maori justice. I think that's best, don't you?

Please.

You can go now.

Hey, Tommo, you smell that?

That's your death, boy.

My dearest relation.

You hold the upper hand.

You split the very heavens asunder by your treachery.

My ancestors, you are my only hope.

Don't desert me now.

Return to me in spirit.

It's a new world now, cousin.

Why Kill my child?

What's it to you?

Free him.

What are you gonna give me for him?

What do you want, cousin?

Your trigger finger, maybe.

Wiremu!

Give me my boy.

Wiremu!

Wiremu!

Sorry, cousin.

Keep going, boy!

I'll meet you on the other side.

Come on.

Get the boy!

- Don't stop! - Get the boy!

In the water!

Get in the water!

Keep firing.

They're out of range, Corporal.

Dive.

Go!

Don't wait for me.

Just go on! Go on!

- What's happening? - He's ruined it for all of us.

You bloody idiot! So this is what drives you!

This is a chiefs right.

The people are leaving?

That prick has slept with my wife. The alliance is broken.

You're on your own.

We could have won this day.

The battle, yes.

But winning the war?

Never!

What now?

Let the people go.

Bloody hell. They're all leaving.

They're all going.

He's right.

I'm nothing but a danger to you now.

We adapt or we die.

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

You draw the enemy to us like a light.

I can no longer protect you.

I'm sorry, Queen.

We should leave now.

Did his desire for the comfort of Women get the better of him?

Or did his dream Warn him that he must provoke his people into retreat...

and that Way avoid a river of blood?

We might have lost against this.

We're going after them.

If we don't find them soon they'll vanish.

Blend in with the other tribes.

Sarah O'Brian is with them.

Find her, find the boy...

you'll find them all.

Take prisoners?

I don't Know. Do we?

Four pound a head.

I didn't Know you were a mercenary.

The world is changing, my friend.

Do it.

But I've never done a face before.

I Know.

I still want you to do it.

Only thighs and bums.

Look at me.

We need to be a family.

Please.

You can still say stop.

Disappeared.

Maybe they found refuge with the neutral tribes.

Keep looking.

White woman joining the rebels...

can't allow that.

We'll see who wins.

That bullet Was small going in...

but big coming out.

Now it is easy to sleep on my old Wounds.

No-one Won the War.

But the scars Would last forever.

Far from my village there Were stories traded around...

about a Woman called Queenie...

Who had crossed over to the Maori side.

It Was said she'd vanished.

Some said she'd died.

All those times I Were very sad, I thought I might despair.

There Were no traveling priest nor church to pray.

A soldier, my one friend, Private Doyle.

Sometimes I Would confess to him my thoughts.

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

And though I Would maybe show him my cribbing...

he might not even read it.

Most likely he Would burn it or fling it to the Waves.

The point of it being, it Was for yourself alone.

And having Written it down...

you might better understand the Way that things had gone.

The story of your life.