Original subtitles

MAN: This is the Iand otmy chiIdhood.

The oldestland on earth.

A place otendless summer and soaringskies.

This is Australia.

The outback. A harsh and untorgivingland.

I can Iookback on itnow, across the track ot 80 years'

and stiIIrememberwhatit was Iike

standing on the very edge ota newtrontier.

Nature seemed much granderthen.

The stars were closer. The sun was hotter. The rivers wider.

And in mymind's eye, I can see all otus,

movingthrough this giantlandscape Iike a strange nomadic tribe.

We were the drovers, the prospectors' squatters and shearers.

We were bushmen, simple men -

the shape otourlives hammered outby drought and tire.

AII excepttorone.

The outback could nevertorge him. He torged the outback.

Tonightl wantto tellyou aboutthe only man I everknew who tamed this Iand.

Richard Reynold Eastwick.

trom out otnowhere, he buiIt an empire.

Andyet, Iike anyman who tries to write his wiII across the sky'

he paid the price.

In thatlasttadingyear, he would have traded it all...

...traded it all justto hold his daughterin his arms.

That's whatled us here,

to an old grave on the edge ota dustylittle town.

She!s a'ive.

Somewhere.

( PHONB R'NGS )

A Iost chiId. The onlyheir.

One Iast chance tora dynasty. One Iasthope torRichard Eastwick.

Outthere somewhere.

We searched every cornerotthe Iand. And then...

They!ve tound her. She!s in a nursing home.

How is she?

(Urgent'y) How is she?

Are there any chi'dren?

R'CHARD: Nancy.

Nancy.

NURSB: We!re not rea"ywith us anymore! Sir Richard.

We haven!t spoken in near'y two years.

'!m your tather.

R'CHARD: Does she have any chi'dren?

NURSB: No, Sir Richard. None.

(Shakes chair)

Nancy.

Nancy!

Do you have any chi'dren?!

And so, tinally, even Richard Eastwick was broken.

Notjusthis health, butin spirittoo.

This hard, driven, vitalman

was suddenly very old.

But as he Iaythere, Iostin some strange place between Iite and death'

a newbeliettookhold othim -

the belietthatit wasn't overyet.

Itkepthim alive.

Somehowhe sensed it.

No, it was more than that- he knewit.

He knewthatsomeone was outthere.

It was a sultry daylate in November, the promise ota storm on the wind.

It was deep in the atternoon when she arrived.

Tall andyoung and so tull otlite.

Butmore than that, I can'ttellyou- notyet' anyway.

You see, who she was -

well, thatturned outto be the greatestirony otthem all.

To knowhow crueltate can be,

you've gotto understand the Iite and times otRichard Eastwick.

Yeah?

(Bxc'aims sott'y) Kate!

' Mean, you!re, um...

...you!re the image...

...ot his tirst wite.

Kate. WOMAN: My name is Sarah.

'!ve come to meet my grandtather.

(Bmotiona"y) No, you can!t.

Why not? Don!t you be'ieve '!m his grandchi'd?

Oh, '!m certain ot it. Then why can!t ' meet him?

Not yet.

Not ti" you 'isten to what '!ve got to say.

You come with me.

(Sighs)

Richard Bastwick...

Richard Bastwick...

He, uh...

...he was born in a London slum.

The unnamed chiId otunknown parents.

Byhis own reckoning, thatmusthave been in the yearotourLord 1878.

The world was a prettyharsh place then.

ChiIdhood was a Iuxury onlythe rich could attord.

Bythe time he was 20, he'd been on the road tora decade ormore.

It was a road thatled him to the veryheart otthe industrialrevolution.

The cotton miIIs otBradtord.

The shipyards otLiverpool.

The tactories and torges otallthe great manutacturing cities otEngland.

And tinally, it was a road thatled him notjustto anotherjob'

butto something which he'd neverknown -

the Iove ota tamiIy.

( STBAM H'SSBS )

MAN: Use your hands! Use your hands!

MAN: Come on, you 'itt'e buggers. Stop p'aying around.

No use bunching up over here, kids. Get over here now. Come on. Quick'y.

Quick'y. Quick'y. Over here. Come on.

Over here!

Who are you?

'!vejust been to the mine ottice, 'ooking tor ajob.

They said the 'eading hand.

Gent'eman trom south on a wa'king tour?

Pick up a 'itt'e bread trom miners! tab'e whi'e he!s here?

What!s thy name? Richard.

Richard something? Something Richard? What?

Just Richard. Richard Richard! then.

Dick Dick. (Men 'augh)

Answer to a maiden!s prayer. (Men 'augh)

He!s given you worst bastard ot ajob in mine.

(Ye"s) Get that thing down here!

You!

"You don!t smarten yourse't up, you won!t have no work!

And ityou don!t have no work, when thy tather dies!

Mum won!t have no root over head, and nor thee! young Bastwick.

You understand? Understand? No work!

And your brothers won!t have no work and your tatherwon!t have no work

and you!" be starving, you horrid 'itt'e git,

because you won!t do thejob you!ve been set to!

You understand me, turnips-tor-brains?

You!" be in the poorhouse. You!" a" be out and on the road.

And your ma wi" be on streets, it anyone wi" have her -which ' doubt!

He!s on'y a kid.

BASTW'CK: Bastard! Nobody ta'ks about my ma 'ike that!

(Men ye")

BASTW'CK: Let him go! 't!s my tight! (Man ca"s out)

He!s had his taste. 't!s over.

MAN: Yeah, that!s it, 'ad.

(Men ca" out encouragement)

MAN: 'n again, boy!

Now it!s over.

(Men ca" out encouragement)

You want to tight, you tight tair. 'n ring.

(Men ye")

(Men cheer)

(Ye"s indistinct'y)

Over here! Over here!

Been in tight betore?

Street. Not ring. MAN: Get up! boy! Get up! boy!

Street!s harder. That!s thy opinion.

MAN: Get on your teet. (Grunts)

Go!

(Men ye") MAN: Get your hands up! boy!

(Gasps hoarse'y)

(Men cheer) Oh!

Oh!

( t'ST POUNDS ON tLBSH ) (A" ye")

MAN: That!s it! (Gasps)

(Grunts savage'y)

MAN: That!s it, young Richards! Come on!

(Grunts savage'y) (Men cheer)

(Gasps)

(Men ta" si'ent)

(Men resume ye"ing)

( t'STS POUND ON tLBSH )

MAN: Boots!

(Men cheer)

(Grow's) (Cries out)

MAN: tinish him! tinish him ott! (Grow's)

MAN: tinish him ott!

(Richard groans and coughs)

Look out! Behind you!

(Ye"s)

(Cries out) (Grunts savage'y)

(Men exc'aim) Oooh! MAN: That!s enough!

Don!t pu" a trick 'ike that, a'right?

You!" have a" ot us to dea' with. (Grow's)

Cheap 'esson. Pay ha't a crown tor a 'esson 'ike that in London.

' Don!t drink. (Men 'augh)

Good 'ad. Tota' abstainer. (Men 'augh)

' Admire that.

Oh...

tighting.

He were standing up tor our Tom! Mother.

MOTHBR: Mmm. We", ' must say, you 'ook ha't human. (Chuck'es)

tor one trom south. Your nose wi" never be the same again.

'Mproves it. (Laughs) (Chuck'es) Aye. That!s the truth.

'N tub with you.

(Gigg'es)

'!m sure you haven!t got anything ' haven!t seen betore.

Hey. Where!d you get those?

MOTHBR: Hey, Thomas.

Mind your own business.

At a tair once... a man had a ta'con in a cage.

'T were 'ike that young man.

Wings to t'y mi'es, but on'y inches to move in.

Aye. tu" as an egg with anger. Mmm.

Ot course, uh, he needn!t be.

Not itwe were to he'p.

What do you say? (Sighs) Does it matter?

You!" have your own way, won!t you?

Oh, aye. That!s the truth. Mmm.

As 'ong as '!m man otthis house, ' wi".

We", '!" just have to manage, won!t '?

' Knowthou wi't, 'ass.

' Knowthou wi't. Mmm.

MAN: That was the noise. You were snoring too.

We", ' te" out ot bed 'ast night.

Howwas it on the t'oor? Oh...

Sit thee down, 'ad. Sit thee down.

' Thank you, sir, tor the tood and 'ast night!s bed.

You!d have to share with others or pay your own way.

But there!s a p'ace here with us ityou want it.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Hey, we!re not doing it tor thy thanks! 'ad.

We!re doing it because it!s right.

Lads.

Heaven'y tather, torwhat we are about to receive! we!re tru'y gratetu'.

Amen.

Amen.

(A" chatter)

tATHBR: This 'ooks good, Mother. Have some butter on your bread.

MAN: Are you two doing some tishing?

MAN: Aye. Down the cana'. Aye.

( YBLL'NG )

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

(Men cheer and app'aud)

Thanks a 'ot trom me. Where!d you 'earn to p'ay! son?

Oh, round and about. No! you!re no street p'ayer.

Where have you been p'aying, then? Borsta'.

We", you!ve got that going tor you, ain!t you? You!re no ba"et dancer.

Are you trom London? Yeah.

You heard otTottenham Hotspur? Yeah. Bveryone!s heard otthem.

See me atter the game.

MAN: And he sawhim. And the invitation was to go to London.

The tootballLeague was onlyin its intancy.

Butthe pay was already tive times that ota miner.

The Eastwicks raised the money tora train tare south.

Everybody agreed it was the best chance he'd everget.

London. The hub otthe empire.

The most civiIised city on earth.

Regent's Park, Bond Street, PiccadiIIy.

And Iess than a miIe away, one watertap to a street and six tamiIies to a house.

At a trainingground in the EastEnd,

Richard Eastwick and 60 otheryounghopetuls

were alltryingto escape the endless grind

otunemployment, Iow wages, high rents.

(Pants)

(Men ye" and whist'e) MAN: Come on!

(Men app'aud)

(Speaks indistinct'y)

'T!s in your 'ungs.

Your tare home, son.

' Haven!t even kicked a ba".

Sorry, son.

Hey, Tom. Stop in here tor a moment. What is it?

'T!s dry. A'right. Atter you.

(Speaks inaudib'y)

Where!s this trom?

Where!s this p'ace? Austra'ia.

Where!s that?

'T!s the other side otthe wor'd.

'Down-under!, they ca" it, because it!s right down underneath us.

(Scotts sott'y)

Aye.

'N Austra'ia, they grow orange trees 30 teet high.

' Cou'd have me own orchard.

How much was it?

Sixpence a dozen.

10 trees. That!s 250 quid.

(Men sing indistinct'y)

( tA'NT RUMBL'NG )

MAN: You hear that? You hear that! boy?

Troub'e down mine! MAN: Come on! 'ads!

( WH'STLB BLOWS RBPBATBDLY )

(Man ye"s) Get a doctor!

(Woman wai's)

Bastwicks. Are there any Bastwicks?

(Tom ca"s out) James!

Da'!

(Speaks indistinct'y)

(Screams) Oh, Dad!

(Both sob)

What about...

't!s a" otthem, Tom.

'T!s...a" otthem. (Cries)

MOTHBR: '!m sorry. Sorry.

(Kisses and weeps)

No, 'isten to me.

You. Mary here. Tom. Me. We cou'd a" go.

Not Austra'ia. No.

Why not? ' just can!t.

But we have to. Do you want the same thing tor Tom?

And what!s Mary got coming to her? Marrying a coa'miner!

Our dad be here.

Da'. Jamie.

But they!re dead! They!re dead and gone!

Leave her be! Tom! you have to get away.

'T!s easy tor you to say that, but you don!t have a home to 'eave!

Look. Listen to me. M...

(Mother c'inks coins) What!s that?

'!ve heard you, Richard.

And ' want you to go.

And ' want you to take... our Tom with you.

No.

Tom...

A man turns his back on his tami'y? 't!s not right.

'!m staying here with you and Mary, and there!s an end to it.

(C'inks coins)

' Want you to have part ot our savings.

And this.

'T were his.

He treasured it.

Take it to a new 'and.

Part ot him.

Grow strong there.

There!s on'y one thing ' want.

' Want to take your name.

'Bastwick!. Come here! boy.

( SBAGULLS CRY )

( HOOtS CLOP )

Name? Richard.

Richard what?

Richard Bastwick. Ah. Good tor you.

Visiting or immigrating?

('Rritab'y) Visiting or immigrating?

Are you going to stay or not? Oh! '!m going to stay.

' Don!t have a tare home.

Any crimina' record?

We", ' didn!t knowyou sti" needed one.

(Laughs weak'y) Oh, tunnyjoke, that.

Got to be. Bvery third b'oke says it.

Occupation? ' used to be a miner.

Bad 'uck, mate. Miners are on strike.

'!" do anotherjob. Oh! you!" be 'ucky.

There!s no otherjobs. Not here in Sydney.

Anyway, don!t worry about it.

This is Austra'ia. Nobody gives a shit about anything.

(Stamps torm)

Oi. Have you got any p'ace to stay?

No. Not yet.

Try this.

Thank you.

Don!t mention it. New chaps need a hand.

Ott.

Come on, s'owcoach! Wait tor me!

(Scottish accent) Writhing in he", they!" 'ook up to God

and say, "Lord, we didnae ken.!!

And the Lord wi" 'ook down in his intinite mercy

and say, "We", you ken the noo.!!

(A" 'augh)

WOMAN: Howwicked, Reverend McBride.

McBR'DB: The Lord created 'aughter as we" as tears! dear 'ady.

And he created them tor the same dire purpose...

Sorry '!m 'ate, Aunty.

Sme"s de'icious.

You tound yourway here a'right, then.

You 'ive here? '!ve got to 'ive somewhere.

Archie Kett'e.

Richard Bastwick. (Scottish accent) Kate McBride.

Must you sit here?

( HOOtS CLOP )

( BACKGROUND CHATTBR )

No good?

He didn!t see me.

Did you try Stannard!s? The terry peop'e?

Yeah. David Jones. Some tai'or in Pitt Street.

They!re a" tiring. Nobody!s hiring anybody.

We", ' to'd you, didn!t '? When you got ottthe boat.

(Sighs) The country!s had it.

Bunch ot 'emmings 'ooking tor a c'itt.

Thanks, Archie. That!s very he'ptu'.

Have you got any money?

Yeah. A bit. No! come on. tair dinkum.

How 'ong can you attord to stay here?

Aweek.

Maybe.

(Sighs)

Science and the Bib'e are as one.

There are not two truths, but one truth.

On the one hand, Darwin!s inexorab'e 'aws ot natura' se'ection

means the inevitab'e supremacy otthe white race

and the inevitab'e extinction ot 'esser breeds.

And yet the Bib'e teaches

the equa' and comp'ementary truths

otthe essentia' brotherhood ot man.

How do we reconci'e

these two seeming'y opposed truths?

B'oody good question.

'!" te" you, brothers and sisters.

We go out into the wor'd

and we seek out those races

who are soon to be snutted out 'ike a t'ickering cand'e!

And we make discip'es otthem.

(A" app'aud and murmur approva')

And this is why God has ca"ed me to this p'ace.

G'ory to God!

(Audience app'auds)

Here is the sku"... (Audience gasps)

...ot a ma'e trom the Low'ands ot Scot'and.

Here we are 'ooking at the apex

otthe evo'utionary process.

That!s a coincidence.

On the other hand... (Audience gasps)

...a sku" ot a tema'e Austra'ian Aborigina'.

(Audience gasps)

What more can ' say?

(Audience app'auds)

Does your tather rea"y be'ieve that? What he said?

He!s my tather.

Do you be'ieve it? No.

Not the thing about the sku"s.

Jesus did notjudge peop'e by their sku"s! so ' don!t think I shou'd.

Oh, we", that!s a re'iet.

What about you, Mr Bastwick? What do you be'ieve in?

' Be'ieve...

...' want to be tree.

But a" men are tree.

Not the poor.

There!s nothing good about co'd or tear or hunger.

"You want to be tree, you need money.

Ah. Jesus said, "Money is the root ot a" evi'.!!

No, no. Jesus said, ĘĘLove ot money is the root ot a" evi'.!!

That!s right. He did.

' Don!t Iove money. ' just want to use it.

Bxcuse me.

What wi" you buywith it? Apart trom your treedom?

Land. ' want to stand on a hi" and own everything ' see.

Quite a dreamer, aren!t you?

There!s nothing wrong with that, is there?

Ot course not. ' 'ike it.

You!ve perhaps heard otthe headhunters

ot Borneo and Atrica and such'ike heathen p'aces?

We", ' am the greatest headhunter otthem a".

' Want the heads and the sou's within.

Do you understand, Mr Bastwick?

' Think ' do. You think?

You don't think.

' Can te" trom the shape otyour sku" you don!t think.

You, Mr Bastwick, have the sku" ot a crimina'.

You!re not a tit companion tor my daughter.

Besides, she is chosen...by God...

...to he'p me in my mission to save a dying breed.

She is not tor you.

(Mouths)

See this?

'T!s trom her. tor you.

They!re poems. See?

You read me one?

Oh, read it yourse't. ' never 'earnt.

Oh, bad tor my reputation - someone cops me reading you poetry.

Archie. A'right.

Uh...

OK.

"An hundred years shou'd go to praise

"Thine eyes and on thy torehead gaze...!!

Uh, "Two hundred to adore each breast...!!

"Had we but wor'd enough, and time,

"This coyness, Lady, were no crime

"We wou'd sit down and thinkwhich way To wa'k and pass our 'ong 'ove!s day...

"Now 'et us sport us whi'e we may And! 'ike amorous birds ot prey!

"Rather at once our time devour...

"Let us ro" a" our strength and a" Our sweetness up into one ba"

"And tear our p'easures with rough strite Through the iron gates ot 'ite...!!

Keep going.

We", ' can!t read with your hand there.

Thank you tor 'earning it tor me.

Wi" you teach me howto read?

'...' can!t, Richard. We!re going to Bourke.

'!m sorry.

( tOOTSTBPS APPROACH )

Haven!t got 'ong. tatherwi" miss me.

Come on. Let!s go tor a ride. What? A ride?

Come on. 'n this boat. No! We can!t stea' someone!s boat!

Come on. Hop in. Richard!

Hop in. (Sighs)

'T!s not tor keeps.

Ow!

(Laughs)

(Both 'augh)

Sorry.

R'CHARD: When are you going?

KATB: ' don!t know.

My tather!s sti" raising money tor his mission.

He!s anxious to get started, though.

What are you going to do?

' Want some 'and. 'n London they said it was here tor the grabbing.

Oh, Richard. This is not Bng'and.

With 'ots ot pretty 'itt'e tarms with a vi"age green.

Here, you have to go west, to the outback.

The outback?

Yes. (Laughs)

tather says there are sheep stations.

Mi"ions ot acres, tu" ot sheep.

We", that!s where '!m going, then.

(teigns Scottish accent) The 'ootback!.

(Laughs) But where? The outback!s huge.

Um...Bourke.

Bourke?

We", that!s where you!re going, isn!t it?

We", yes. We"! then. 't!s pertect.

(Laughs)

(Squea's sott'y) Richard! Do you mind?

(Laughs)

'A-U-R!. 'A-U-S!.

'Austra'ia!.

(Woman mutters reproving'y) Oh! dear me! 'n a pub'ic room! Tsk!

Where!s Bourke? Uh...

Bourke. (Whist'es) That tar?

50O mi'es. (Sighs)

That!s the 'ength ot Bng'and. Just about.

What!s out there? Nothing.

A rai'head, that!s a".

They drive the catt'e there and pick up supp'ies.

My tather says they ca" it 'the devi'!s anvi'!.

Why!s that? !Cause it!s so wi'd?

No. The heat.

We"... (Sighs) ..itthat!s a" there is, there can!t be much work.

Oh...' don!t know.

'T!s a 'ong way to go just on the ott-chance.

Ot course.

We", what do you think you shou'd do?

to"owthe rai'way.

'!" keep heading west. '!m bound to tind work sooner or 'ater.

We", there!s a 'ot ottowns.

They!re notjust towns. Look at the size otthese dots.

Some otthem must be cities. 'Nevertire!.

That!s a good name.

Soundsjust 'ike you.

Nevertire. Yeah.

That!s where '!" go. That!s it.

Nevertire. Why not? (Laughs) (Laughs)

Nevertire...to Bourke.

As soon as '!ve got money...

...'!" be there.

That!s a promise.

'S this a'right? This goods train business?

Wou'd ' con a mate?

'T!s sort ot...otticia"y unotticia'. Sort ot.

( TRA'N WH'STLB BLOWS )

Good 'uck, Bastwick. Thanks! Archie.

Richard! Kate.

'!m going to marry you! What?

Yes or no? Oh...yes!

What? ' said yes!

(Mouths)

Where have you been?

Just out wa'king.

Do you think ' don!t know the sme" ot sin?

We did nothing. You keep away trom Bastwick.

He!s 'ett.

Do you rememberwhat happened to Jezebe'?

Do you?!

Te" me!

She was ted to the dogs. tor her sins.

Aye. You keep away trom Bastwick.

No man on earth sha" deti'e you.

( TRA'N RATTLBS )

( STBAM H'SSBS )

( MBTAL CL'NKS )

G!day, mate.

( KNOCKAT DOOR )

G!day. He"o.

'S this Nevertire? Do you want some breaktast?

Thank you.

You Pommy?

Bng'ish?

You!" go back, then.

What do you mean? '!ve on'yjust arrived.

'!m 'ooking tor ajob.

Yeah, we", you!ve come to the right p'ace.

' Want to own a tarm. My own p'ace.

But tirst ' need to 'earn about the 'and.

'N Bng'and, ' saw pictures ottrees. Orange groves.

Yeah.

Ot course.

Orange groves.

' Want to showyou something.

Just 'ook at it, mate.

Mi'es and mi'es ot bugger-a".

No-one!s going to give you ajob round here.

Un'ess you want to be paid in sheep carcasses.

Or catt'e bones.

This is the great Austra'ian drought in a" its b'oody g'ory.

There!s no truit trees around here, but there!s a b'oody "avatree!!

(Laughs)

There!s the nearest you!" come to an orange! mate.

We'come to the 'and ot opportunity. (Laughs)

( B'RD SCRBBCHBS )

'!m sorry.

Where!s this road 'ead to?

(German accent) Bourke.

A 'ong way.

(Speaks German)

Can ' he'p?

' Must say to mywite that we cannot bury our son.

The strength we use to bury him, we need tor the road.

Save your strength. '!" he'p bury your son.

Here, a thousand heads ot catt'e.

Bight years ot our 'ives.

This is what!s 'ett.

Those cows you see.

We se" them.

And go home.

'S anyone sti" out there?

Hasky Tarbox on'y.

Huskywho?

He!s a man. Aye.

He is a...he is a devi'.

Maybe you have to be to 'ive here.

This a'so.

Thank you.

( 'NSBCTS CH'RP, tROGS CROAK )

Ah!

He"o?

He"o?

( DOOR CRBAKS )

( DOG BARKS OUTS'DB )

Going to boi' the bi"y?

What?

Make a cup ottea.

Ah.

Josh McCa".

Richard Bastwick.

We!re heading tor midsummer.

'T!" reach 130. You knowwhat that!s 'ike?

'T sucks the water straight out otthe ground.

Good men die every year.

Not you. No. Not me.

' Respect it.

This country!s a 'ot o'der and tougher than ' am.

Good 'uck, mate.

You!re going to need it.

(Sighs) You knowwhat a drover is?

No.

A drover!s a b'oke who sits on a horse

watching cows! arses tor hundreds ot mi'es...

...so the b'oke who owns them can se" them tor a tortune.

That!s a drover.

The tood!s crook, the money!s worse! and! uh...

...you don!t get paid ti" you tinish.

Where!s that? Where do you tinish?

Bourke.

You can ride?

' Can 'earn.

You!re going to need a horse.

Use one ot mine. You give me a quarter otyour pay.

Then ' own him.

You!rejoking.

You!rejust renting him.

That!s pricey.

So!s the a'ternative.

'Nterested?

( CATTLB LOW )

G!day.

That!s the boss.

Hasky Tarbox.

'!ve heard ot him.

Tarbox has been sett'ed at Bi"abong here tor years.

They!ve got riverwater. That!s worth more than go'd out here.

Hasky!s the big boss.

'!d stay c'ear ot him, son.

No-one!s ever said he!s a nice man.

(Ye"s) Move !em out!

(Drovers gee up catt'e) ( DOGS BARK )

(Gees up horses)

(Speaks inaudib'y)

( WH'PS CRACK )

MAN: But the biggest serpent '!ve ever seen -

and '!m reterring to the venomous variety!

Not the one-eyed trouser-snake,

or the python tami'y, which have been known to swa"ow ca'ves whole -

was an 8-toot king brown, just out trom Dubbo.

Which, apart trom the b'ack mamba and the cobra ot 'ndia!

Wou'd have to be the most venomous serpent in the entire p'anet.

'T bit a man as he s'ept by his camp tire.

On a drove.

' Wish one wou'd bite you.

He was tound the next morning

with a 'ook ot indescribab'e horror on his tace.

Mmm. Mmm.

Lone'y, is this stutt tood orwhat?

'T!s tood.

He reckons it!s tood. You owe me money.

(Scotts) No way in the b'oodywor'd you can prove that!s tood! mate.

(Angri'y) "there was a sheep a'ive out there! '!d be shearing! not cooking!

So youse on'y got the drought to b'ame!

And now!s not the time to get the cook ottside!

And that!s the 'ast word on the matter.

Ah. (Laughs sott'y)

A bit ot 'ogic a'ways shuts them up.

"You were s'eeping and a snake bit you,

and you didn!t know, and then you woke up...

...what are the signs?

Death.

How do you know a" this?

' Read it in a book.

What!s this?

Some papers ' got. Wou'd you read them out to me?

"Herewith the deed to 60,000 acres

"otthe most Godtorsaken 'and on earth.

""You!re mad enough to want it, take it,

"and pray the Lord crad'es you in his intinite mercy.!!

That tea was cat!s piss, Logan.

You knowwhat this is?

'T!s 'and.

(Laughs) No. No. No, this isn!t 'and.

This is a piece ot paper. 't!s ca"ed a 'ease.

You need money to register it, money to stock it! money to run it.

You got any money, boy? No.

We", it!s no good to you, then. '!" 'ook atter it tor you.

'T!s mine, Mr Tarbox.

'T!s on'y a piece ot paper. 't!s mine.

'T!s use'ess to you.

'N that case, Hasky, he might as we" keep it.

He!s got bugger-a" e'se.

Maybe he can wipe his arse with it.

(Laughs) Yeah.

That!s a" he!" ever do with it.

Come on. Can!t sit around here a" day drinking tea.

You know...you know who owns the 'and next to this?

He does. Hasky Tarbox.

Staring at it won!t un'ock the mysteries otthe printed page.

Cou'd you teach me howto read?

Reading!s the best thing tor a bushie.

'Mproves the mind.

'T!s what to do with it atter it!s improved - that!s the puzz'e.

(Laughs)

MAN: Get up there, Sandy!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

(Whist'es)

(Ca"s out) Keep them moving!

That!s it, Josh! Keep them moving!

(Ca"s out) Pu" them back, Jimmy!

(Ye"s) Bring them up! Jimmy!

MAN: Ho! Hoooo!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

(Man gees up catt'e)

(Hasky ye"s) What are you doing, you dumb bastard?!

Keep that one in 'ine!

LONBLY: Now, the tirst 'etter!s 'A!! right?

Big 'A!.

And there!s a 'itt'e 'A!.

'A! tor, uh...'app'e!.

'Adder!.

'Asp!.

Serpent.

'B!.

Big 'B!.

Litt'e 'B!. 'B!.

'B! tor, uh...

...'ba"!.

'Beer!.

'Barmaid!.

'Breast!. 'Breast!.

JOSH: Schoo'!s out. 'Breast!.

Yourwatch.

Thanks, Lone'y.

( tA'NT HOWL'NG ) Dingoes.

They don!t bite. Much.

(Dog snar's)

JOSH: You ride nice and s'ow.

Sing to them.

(Lone'y sings) ♪ ' took a ride over to Lansdowne tair

♪ A-'ong-dinga'ong-ding

♪ ' took a ride over to Lansdowne tair

♪ A-'ong-dinga'ong-ding... ♪

(Laughs) Oh!

LONBLY: "David Coppertield.

"Chapter 1 - " am born!.

"Whether ' sha" turn out to be the hero ot my own 'ite!

"Orwhether that station wi" be he'd by anybody e'se!

"These pages must show.

"To begin my 'ite with the beginning ot my 'ite!

"' Record that ' was born - as ' have been intormed and be'ieve -

"on a triday, at 12 o!c'ock at night.

"'T was remarked that the c'ock began to strike

"and ' began to cry simu'taneous'y.

"'N consideration otthe day and hour ot my birth!

"It was dec'ared by the nurse,

"and by some sage women in the neighbourhood

"who had taken a 'ive'y interest in me

"severa' months betore there was any possibi'ity

"ot our becoming persona"y acquainted...!!

'Kate!.

"..tirst, that ' was destined to be un'ucky in 'ite!

"And second'y, that ' was privi'eged to see ghosts and spirits.!!

Just give them a breather.

Hey, 'ook! Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! Serpent!

That!s not a serpent. 't!s got 'egs.

'T!s sti" a b'oody serpent!

There used to be a town just over there.

Oh, yeah? What happened?

Oh, the Chinese...

...got a 'ot ot go'd out ot here about! oh! 40 years ago.

Go'd ran out. Town abandoned.

tire. t'ood.

Not much 'ett.

Sic transitgloria mundi.

That!s Latin.

You coming?

Hey!

Scratch yourse't on a nai' over there, you cou'd get 'eprosy!

'!m on'y te"ing you !cause you!re a triend!

tor now.

( tL'BS BUZZ )

( CL'NK'NG )

What have you got there?

Just somejars.

There!s the ashes ot dead Chinamen in those!

They!re sacred!

They send them back to the... Ce'estia' Kingdom.

Take them back.

There!s no-one to give them to.

Bxcept a ske'eton.

You take them back.

Don!t you have no respect?

' 'Ike them.

' Wi" not have the remains ot dead Chinamen in my camp!

Look, it!sjust ti" Bourke.

'T!" be good 'uck.

( HOOtS POUND, CATTLB LOW )

HASKY: The wind!s shitted. They!re sme"ing water.

Ride into the wind unti' you tind it, and then tind us.

And don!t get 'ost.

( 'NSBCTS CH'RP, tROGS CROAK )

( tA'NT CHATTBR )

(Lone'y sings) ♪ Si'ent night

♪ Ho'y... ♪

Ahhhh!

('Nha'es deep'y) Ohhhh!

Ah.

Better than witchetty grubs, eh, Jimmy?

'T!s that b'oody hot the crows are ta"ing out otthe sky!

And he sets the b'oody tood on tire.

Wi" someone te" this heathen it!s Christmas?

'!m not a heathen. '!m a Methodist.

Right! No rum tor Methodist wowsers.

Did you tind the water?

Yeah. Some b'acks camped on it.

And did you get rid otthem?

How do you mean?

We", ' don!t want b'acks drinking my catt'e!s water.

Did you get rid otthem?

You vouched tor him. Didn!t you te" him the tacts ot 'ite out here?

He means, did you tire ott a tew rounds to shitt them?

'T!s Christmas Day.

' Don!t care it it!s Me'bourne b'oody Cup Day!

There!s enough water there tor the b'acks and the catt'e.

No, there isn!t!

'!ve been thinking you!re a pretty reasonab'e man! Mr Tarbox.

Don!t...backchat me, boy!

" ' Turn round and that rit'e!s pointed at me! boy...

Give me that.

(Ye"s) Move it out!

( DOGS BARK, WH'PS CRACK )

(Aborigines converse in native 'anguage)

(Woman ca"s out)

(A" speak urgent'y)

(Man ye"s aggressive'y)

You didn!t have to ki" him!

He wou'd have ki"ed me.

Anyway, it!s pest contro'.

They!ve got no 'and, no rights and they!re in the way.

We", he acted 'ike it was his 'and!

We", he acted wrong. 't!s not his 'and! and that!s the 'aw.

' Don!t suppose he knewthat.

We", he knows now.

Bury it!

(Man speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

What are you jabbering on about?

What!s he ta'king about, Jimmy?

Hejust want to get his things, boss.

Here, you go to mission schoo'?

Here, what you doing running with mya" b'acks! eh?

Theyjust want to get their cooking stutt and hunting stutt.

Not worth much to you, boss.

Here, you!re ha't-white. Your tather! he whitete"a! eh?

Your mother? She go with a whitete"a! eh?

Get the things, boss?

Yeah, a'right. Go on, co"ect your rubbish and be quick about it.

' Don!t want you spooking the catt'e.

(Speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

You 'eave. She stays.

(Speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

A tair exchange. You get your things! ' get her.

(Cries) (Grow's aggressive'y)

(Screams and sobs) Here! you...

You b'ack bastards!

'!" te" a tribe otyou bastards!

Get out! Get out!

Get ott! Look out, you b'oody bastards!

Get ott! Stay out ot it! son! Let him go.

(Woman wai's and sobs)

(Screams)

(Sobs)

(Screams)

(Sobs)

(Grunts sott'y) (Whimpers)

(Cries out)

(Screams)

(Gasps sott'y)

(Cries sott'y)

Sorry, mate.

He!d have ki"ed you, son.

(Catt'e 'ow)

MAN: tire! MAN: tire! (Ye"s indistinct'y)

HASKY: Two otyouse go! (Speaks indistinct'y)

Go! Head them out east! OK.

'!" come behind and pick up the stragg'ers!

(Men ye")

(Screams desperate'y)

He'p me!

The gir'! Don!t worry about that, just get the b'oody gir'!

'!" get her!

'!m trying to he'p!

JOSH: Get going! LONBLY: But '!ve got to...

Get going! Make sure you catch up!

'!m not having you 'ot 'ett behind!

(Woman wai's and cries)

Ho'd her steady! Sti"!

Get up, Stan'ey! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Get up!

(Whimpers)

(Screams and cries)

(Josh cries out) (Man ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

(Woman ye"s and screams)

(Ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

(Ye"s angri'y)

You must go!

(Ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

Josh. Yeah?

What!s that over there? (Sott'y) Jesus!

'T!s Lone'y. (Lone'ywhoops)

'T!s Lone'y!

You!" have to get on.

Hup! (Grunts)

Haven!t you ever got on a horse betore? (Laughs)

R'CHARD: Lone'y! JOSH: Lone'y!

Hey! He"o!

Yah!

(A" whoop)

The things ' do tor you bastards!

JOSH: Ha ha!

Guess what?

You!ve had the sack. I've had the sack.

No. We!" catch them betore they reach Bourke.

' Wou'dn!t bother.

When ' 'ett them, Haskywas very upset.

Thirsty? Am ' thirsty?

They!re sti" there.

You!re wasting your time, son. You need money to stock that 'and.

'!ve got the money Tarbox owes me tor the drove.

Tarbox doesn!t owe you a thing. You knowthe ru'es.

No tinish, no pay.

We were with him ti" he was a day out. He has to pay us.

'!" get the 'aw. The 'aw?

He is the 'aw.

The 'oca' magistrate, to be exact.

LONBLY: tace it, son. You!re stutted.

He can!t stop me.

Get up, Stan'ey. Get up there.

You 'itt'e bastard, Stan'ey!

HASKY: Hey, Jimmy Lighttoot.

Hey, Hector.

LONBLY: Whoa! Here you go.

You!" get p'enty ot smokes with this one! boy.

'!" get a nice white woman with this! boss.

(Chuck'es)

There you are, Hector.

He can attord it. Have a drink.

'!ve come to get my pay, Mr Tarbox.