Original subtitles

1900, sheep country is getting pretty scarce

around the Australian coast.

Families are growing.

Land that was big enough for dad is too small

for his sons and their families.

You need room to grow.

You need land, new land.

So folks like Wally king and his brood

decide to pack up traps and move,

600 miles across plains, across desert and across mountains

to take up the new land about which they know nothing.

It's just a dot on the map they're making for

and a big map at that.

Get along there.

Hurry up!

We'll camp outside the town, mum.

Lannigan is the last town we shall be passing.

We've got to have extra hands.

I'll get them if I've got to kidnap them.

You said that in legura.

Wally, you're killing yourself.

I'm not going any further until you get 'em.

Where is this place?

Back of the truscott ranges.

Now listen, it's only 90 days.

I want three men, the pay is good, who be in it?

Which I had the honour to perform

before her majesty the queen at balmoral.

Quick, they want drovers.

At the conclusion of my performance she said,

in person she said, there's a bloke over there

looking for stockmen. Mr Pierce, I

Wally king's over there,

looking for hands. I ain't never seen the like.

No, I never ain't.

And that's from her majesty.

Dad!

Don't help me!

Don't help me!

Now, please, please, gentlemen.

I am about, now, please, please.

Stand back.

Who's coming with me?

I only want three of you.

Yes, but it's 600 miles, then what?

Abos.

Wild blacks.

Hundreds of them. Are you all doing so well

you won't take a chance with me?

Gentlemen, please.

Stand well back.

I've got to have air.

Gentlemen, I will amaze you.

Aha!

Never mind, son!

We can tighten our belts up a bit more.

What happened?

Where did they go to, Mac?

Oh, there's a bloke over there looking for stockmen.

Stockmen?

That's work.

What about it?

Och, I'm no stockman, I'm a carpenter.

Well, I'll talk him into the fact

that he needs a carpenter.

I'll carry your tools for ya.

We've got to eat, haven't we?

Come on, you've got to have push in this world.

You haven't got the guts of a mob of sheep.

We've got more flaming sense, though.

Well, we'll have to give it a go ourselves.

You heard what your mother said, son.

She's right.

As usual.

Hey, mister.

What about us?

My mate wants a job, he's a bit shy.

He's just come from Scotland

but he's quick at languages.

He'll soon speak Australian.

Ever done any droving?

No, mister, I couldn't help...

Because he hasn't, it doesn't mean he can't.

He's a carpenter but that's no reason.

Carpenter?

Just a minute, mister.

You should see him carp.

He can make a chest of drawers out of one piece of wood.

Some of his best work is in the British museum.

Ah, shut up!

If you want a job, I'll take you.

Standard drover's rate and three square meals a day.

Are you on?

Right.

Good, get your swag.

Three square meals a day?

You want stockmen, eh?

Look!

A stockman.

Sit in everybody.

There, can you tackle that?

Yes, ma'am.

I've never seen so much food in my life.

Wally, before we set out into the blue,

remember what I said?

Too right, I do.

Tomorrow's the big day, eh?

For these and all thy bounties,

we thank thee, our lord.

Amen.

Good morning, Mr. king.

What's my job?

Well, now, first up, you catch the horses

and harness the waggon.

You grease the axle, scour the pots.

You clean the lamps, you chop the wood,

you help mum.

If there's any dead sheep, well, you skin them.

You milk the goats, feed the dogs.

You can take the Chestnut for yourself and saddle her.

And don't you let me catch you idling.

All right, Charlie.

Steady, boy.

Steady, steady there.

Steady, boy.

Hold his head, Charlie.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

He's all right.

Steady, boy.

Look, dad!

Lady in trousers!

Quiet!

And don't stare.

Emma!

Trousers?

For heaven's sake!

They're an old pair of John's.

There's no one to see us.

Besides, they're easier to work in.

Well, you always wanted to be a boy.

No one to see us, eh?

Him?

He doesn't matter.

Where does this go?

Oh, miss.

What do I do with that?

You ask silly questions, you get silly answers.

All right, Charlie, you'd better go now.

Hold it, whoa there.

Whoa there!

Whoa, whoa boy.

Everything all set, mum?

Good, let's get started.

Tommy, Mac!

Give me a hand with the sheep.

All right, Mr. king.

Gee up!

Geddup!

Gee up!

Gee up!

Oh!

10 miles the first day, not bad hey?

That's what you think.

Ooh!

Is the fancy waistcoat standing up to it all right, Tommy?

It's sitting down that's worrying me.

How long does this go on for?

Well, we've got 600 miles to go,

an average of about eight miles a day,

you can work it out for yourself.

Baa.

See that?

I'm beginning to talk like them now.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Whoa!

Mac!

Tommy, Blackjack!

Another hole to fill in!

Here, this one.

Look out down there.

All right, that's good enough.

Everybody on the waggon.

Right, mum?

Right!

One, two, heave!

Get up, baldy!

Get up, baldy!

Heave!

Heave!

Get up, baldy

get up, baldy!

Come on, bride.

Heave!

Come on, bride.

Heave!

Get up, baldy!

Keep her going

keep her going.

Come on!

Hang on, baldy!

Come on, baldy!

Keep her going!

Keep her going!

All right, all right.

Hold your breath.

There'll be more holes.

All right, pull her out.

Wanna have a go, Charlie?

Must be Casey's place.

Had some trouble with the blacks.

Got himself speared.

Speared?

Yeah, he never did have too much sense.

All right.

Call it a day and we'll camp here.

Whoa!

Another day over.

I thought I told you to give mum a hand with the waggon.

But Blackjack said he would do it.

When I tell you to do a thing, do it yourself.

Hey, Mac.

Lay off that!

After three weeks with us, don't you know any better?

Petting a sheep dog spoils it for work.

And my dog at that!

Come on, bill.

Have you been taking it out on poor Mac again?

Well, I had to.

It's a bad thing to pet sheep dogs.

You can't expect him to know everything at once.

Tommy, bend down.

Why?

I haven't done anything wrong.

Don't you wear a seat to your trousers?

Oh!

Give them to me after dinner,

I'll patch them for you.

There.

It's a bit bright, do you mind?

I don't if the horse doesn't.

And here's your lamp, missus.

A fine lamp, it is too.

Wally's mother gave me this when I was married.

It's funny how little things mean so much.

It wouldn't seem home without it.

Hm, you've missed a it.

Oh, sorry.

Come on, Charlie.

Come on.

Off to bed.

You know Tommy, someday, you ought to get married again

and make a home for him.

The boy needs a bit of mothering.

A home?

Do you think so?

Emma likes Charlie, doesn't she?

Oh yes, Emma always likes children.

She's growing up, my Emma.

She's going to need a home of her own soon.

It's going to be a bit difficult where we're going.

Or maybe not.

No.

That's right.

Do you know, I look better looking in this

than I do in a mirror?

What's all this for, eh?

Well, you get tired of a beard.

It keeps catching in things.

Girls are strange things, aren't they?

Ah, I wouldn't know.

I've had no experience.

That's it.

It's experience they like.

Now young Emma.

A girl like that might take a fancy to the oddest things.

You'd think she'd go for a young chap?

You, maybe?

Och.

She seems to have taken a liking to me.

And the way she mothers Charlie,

she might be his mother.

That won't be a bad idea.

Emma.

Emma and you?

You mean she likes you.

You mean marry you?

Why not?

It's the fascination of the horrible.

Och!

What's the matter?

Mac.

Miss Emma.

What's the matter?

Are you ill?

Have you got a stomach ache or something?

I have no pain in my stomach, miss Emma.

You look bad.

I just want my own company, thank you.

Well, all right, if that's the way you feel.

Last of the permanent water, son.

Surface water from here out.

I hope we haven't left it too late.

Yeah.

What do you think you're doing?

We're just getting into desert country.

We'll just have to move fast.

Get on with your job.

We make early starts from now on.

John seems to be in trouble.

Dad, the waterhole's dry.

Dry?

Are you sure you went to the right place?

Yes, right at the foot of the bluff.

No mistaking it.

We'll have to go back.

No, we'll go on to the next.

What?

Stock have got to have water within 12 hours, son.

They'll never last another day in this heat.

We'll drive right on by night.

Well, suppose the next one's dry.

We'll never get them back at all.

I'm not going back, John.

You keep the stock moving.

I'm going on to the next water-hole.

Yip, vip!

Cha, cha.

Ah, yip!

Get along there.

Get along there.

I have to say it, Wally.

You won't.

We have to go back.

Don't fool yourself there's any surface water.

It's a month too late

and there's no use going on without the stock.

That's it, Wally.

It's beaten us.

Well, if we've done nothing else,

at least we've given my brother something to laugh at.

Hey boss, did you hear that?

Dingoes, what of it?

No, boss.

No dingo here.

No water for dingo.

Blacks!

John!

Blacks!

Hello there.

Am I pleased to see you.

We weren't taking any chances.

Well, how are you?'

what are you doing out here?

I didn't expect to see any white man within 300 miles.

Women neither.

Where are you heading for?

Back where we came from.

Oh!

What's the trouble?

Water.

Stock haven't had anything to drink for 36 hours,

we'll never get them out of here alive.

Oh, I wouldn't say it was that bad.

Do you notice that peaky little hill

over the north west?

There's an old dry stream bed across there.

Dig down into the sand a couple of feet

and you get all the water you want.

Did you hear that, mum?

Mum!

Did you hear that?

There's water within five miles, we're set.

Everything's gonna be all right.

Mum, we'll break camp.

John, Emma, get the waggons loaded.

Mind if I camp down by your fire for the night?

It'll be a pleasure.

There's still some tea in the Billy.

Tea nothing, mum.

Get the medicine chest.

Ransom's my name.

King is mine.

Wally king.

Hello.

How are you, miss?

Where are you making for?

Back of the truscott ranges.

Do you know the country?

Yes, I know it.

The government haven't leased you land there, have they?

Yes, I got an map here.

Here we are, the shaded block.

See?

Permanent Springs, plains of Mitchell grass.

Thanks, mum.

And all for 80 pounds a year.

That's right.

There's nothing wrong in the country is there?

No, nothing wrong.

Karagarni, the natives call that waterhole.

It means "bitter Springs”.

Water's got a sharp taste, they tell me.

It's good water, though.

We call the natives that live there the karagarni.

The spring's been their tribal home for a thousand years.

Two, perhaps.

Since the time we were savages anyway.

A thousand years.

One a bloke walks into the government land office

in Adelaide 800 miles away,

bangs down 80 quid.

They hand him a bit of stamped paper,

the karagarni haven't got a tribal home anymore.

It's a sheep property.

Ah, it's happening all over the place

and we're left to clear up the trouble.

What trouble?

Their hunting disturbs your stock,

your stock disturbs their game.

Well, if they don't like it,

they can get themselves some other water.

Ah, that's just what they can't do.

You see, there's a tribe

on every water hole in that country.

Two tribes can't survive on one water hole.

There wouldn't be enough game to go round.

Besides, the land's sort of sacred to them.

They don't budge easy.

Look, I've come out here to breed sheep

and I don't aim to let no mob of stone age blacks

stand in my road.

Then show 'em your paper.

They'll understand that, those of them that can read.

They'll have to.

That's not exactly a fair way of looking at it, Mr. king.

The karagarni won't see any of your 80 quid.

They've never heard of money,

wouldn't know what to do with it if you gave it to them.

But I'll tell you this.

They do know that the water hole's their tribal ground.

And no bit of paper is gonna convince them otherwise.

You seem to be on their side.

Now look, I got title to this land, haven't I?

Mr. king.

When whites take over abo land,

there's three ways of dealing with the natives.

One, you can shove them off.

Two, you can ease 'em off

and three, you can find some way of taking 'em in with you.

Now you gotta make up your mind what you're gonna do you.

You both gotta use the same water hole some way.

So watch how you go about it, that's all.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey!

Hey hal

hey, ya, hey, ha, hal

Here, what are they up to there?

- Ya hoo! - Yay!

Mum, we're here.

We're here.

Mum, everybody, we're there.

The water hole's over here.

We've made it.

This is our land, mum.

This is bitter Springs country.

Oh, you should see it from the top of the hill, em.

It's a fine bit of country.

It's fine that we've got here, Mr. king.

Well, it's a nice cosy little place you got, Mr. king

and ha, I've enjoyed the walk, too.

Look!

Blacks!

Warning the others maybe.

We'd better ride down to the Springs and have a look.

There maybe a reception committee.

Mum, you and Emma stay by the waggons.

Mac.

Mr. king, you'll not take guns against them, are you?

Just in case.

Tommy.

Is it loaded?

Itis.

Tracks.

Black fellah, boss.

Well, I never thought I'd be glad to see water.

Better sit down, boss.

They might think we wanna fight.

Don't risk it, dad.

I'll give it a go.

Come on, Blackjack.

What's he say Blackjack?

He say they got plenty of good food.

White men, black men be friends.

That's fine.

Tell them to keep off my stock, Blackjack.

No hunt my sheep.

Him say white man stay here two days, two days,

two days, finish.

White man move on.

Well now we come to it.

Blackjack tell them white man stay.

Live here, make camp.

Him say no hunt, boss.

No stay.

Only two days, two days, two days.

Six days.

They don't count, boss.

They mean no stay a long time.

Well, they'll have to think again.

Tell 'em now and get it over.

No, let them get used to the idea a bit.

Maybe we'll have to ease them out of it, slowly.

Wally.

This is the place.

Are you sure, mum?

Too right, I'm sure.

Charlie, come here.

So that's what you've been hiding all the way here.

Well, I suppose all we can do now

is to build a house around it for you.

Oh, John you'll have to make

these boards fit better than that.

Look, the edges are like concertinas there,

straighten them out a bit with your tomahawk.

Oh man, that's an awful bit of planing.

Will you mind what I told you?

You're working against the grain there.

Look, try that now and don't lean

too heavy, mind. - Listen, Mac.

We don't want your fancy carpentering here.

Leave him alone, son.

He's on his own country, now.

Go to it, Mac.

Here, hold this, will you?

Will you bring me over another corner post, Tommy?

Sure.

Here Mr. king, leave that a minute

and give me a hand with this.

Emma, your mouth's open.

Hi, Blackjack.

Have you got that roof beam ready yet?

Hello.

Can you throw that?

Oh!

Ha, no I mean, can you throw it?

Let me have a go.

There you are, Charlie.

That's making a fire the hard way.

You won't get a hot meal by Christmas.

I'll show you.

Hold that, Charlie.

Ha!

It will only work for the all master.

Nice throwing, boys.

Now remember what I told you?

Always throw them away from me.

Tommy, give us a hand here.

Well, tata for now, I'll see you at beasly.

Mac.

Tommy.

Thanks, I...

Emma.

Hm?

I've been wanting to talk to you.

What about?

Well, I've been thinking.

Yes.

Have you ever thought of getting married?

No.

Oh, I suppose I will, sometime.

Why not now whilst you're still young?

Your friend Mac doesn't seem to like me much anyway.

Mac!

I'm telling you she's changed her mind.

Women are like that. It was just a passing fancy.

A young girl and a man of the world.

Well, I want nothing to do with a woman

who takes passing fancies.

Well, you're gonna have a very lonely life, mate.

I've no wish to marry a light woman.

Aye, and one that wears breeks like a man.

What's biting you, Mac?

I've never done anything to you.

I've no call to talk to you, miss. Emma

when there's men of experience to hand.

Men of experience?

Oh, you've a right to passing fancies,

but I'm a sober, god-fearing man.

Remember that.

I just want to do my work and I've no time for...

I don't know what you mean.

It's plain enough what I mean, miss. Emma

and fine you know it.

I don't want anything to do with women, de' you see?

I'm not a marrying man.

I just want to do my work

and my work is all now, remember that.

And I simply don't want anything.

Boss!

Boss!

I've been talking with black fellah.

They give you trouble.

You keep away from the blacks' camp.

They say you stay too long.

They say you go.

Mind your own business, Blackjack.

Tell them to mind theirs, too.

But boss, maybe if you don't scare kangaroo with gun...

Now, listen.

This is my land, my family's land.

We do as we like on it.

Get back to the fencing.

John, do you think we ought to take it?

Well, we shot it.

We've got to eat, haven't we?

Aye, but what about them?

Ach.

So everything's going fine, eh.

You've got your house going well.

Hm, smells good.

I'll have a basinful of that, I hope.

No trouble with the blacks, Mr. king?

No, no trouble.

That's fine.

Sheep look good, too.

Well, I'll get the horses watered then I'll see the tribe.

But I'll be back for dinner, Mrs. king.

What's for dinner, dad?

Well, for your, sir, we've got four kinds of soup.

Hot, cold, clean, dirty.

Then we have pigs' trotter in aspic.

But over here, we have the piece de resistance,

tripe and onions.

Tonnes of tripe, hundreds of wonderful onions.

Onions to bring tears to your eyes.

It's only old kangaroo again.

Charlie, you know you like kangaroo.

I don't.

Why can't we have mutton?

Now Charlie, you know better than that.

Sheep aren't killed at this time when lambs are coming.

Mutton's off, see?

But if the blacks can have mutton, why can't we?

But the blacks don't have mutton.

They do.

I've just seen them kill two sheep.

Charlie, you don't wanna grow up to be a liar

like your father, do you?

Charlie, come here.

Where was all this?

Show me.

Over by the hill, Mr. king

I really did.

That's all right, Charlie boy.

We believe you.

Here, run along.

So it's started.

Right.

John!

Get your gun.

Mac, Blackjack!

What's the trouble, dad?

They've killed two sheep.

Once that starts, there's no end to it.

Mac, get your gun.

Now look here...

And don't argue.

Now, look here, Mr. king.

They don't mean any harm.

They've just no sense of property.

No? Then they'll have to learn, won't they?

If you can kill a kangaroo,

they think they can kill a sheep.

A sheep's just another animal to them.

Well, they'll have to learn different.

Look!

Have you got any answer to that?

Steady, Mr. king.

You thieving swine!

Go on, clear out of here.

Look out, dad!

That was murder.

What else could I do?

You're too quick off the Mark, son.

What else could I do?

He might have killed you.

That's right, he might have.

Hey!

No trouble, eh?

Oh, I saw it, he raised a spear.

Well, what do you expect them to do

when you bust in on them like that?

My son was right.

Those blacks were stealing our sheep.

You don't shoot a man for that, Mr. king.

If you think I'm gonna let this ride, think again.

You're here to protect us or aren't you?

I'm here to protect both black and white.

Now listen, our camp's over in waragarni country,

not so far from here.

I'm reporting there to my chief.

And what he does is up to him, not me.

So calm down, Mr. king.

I'll try and settle this with the tribe.

What about him?

We'll dig a hole for him.

Him belong to my people.

Blackjack.

Tell them we're not looking for any trouble.

But if I catch them around my sheep again,

I'll stop them one way or another.

You tell them, boss.

Not me.

Finished.

I go back to my people.

Well, I've done what I can with them.

But if you'll take my advice, Mr. king,

you'll pack it up for the present

and clear out of here.

If anybody goes, they do.

Well, then send the women folk away.

Here.

Thanks.

Now I reckon you're not that kind of a woman, Mrs. king.

You expect trouble, eh?

I don't know.

But that bunch of relatives of the man that was shot

didn't look the forgiving kind, believe me.

Well, I'd better be getting along.

Goodbye.

And I, warning you, Mr. king. Watch out.

He's right, you know.

Well, if you haven't go the guts to stay, go with him.

Go on, chase after him.

Oh, he didn't mean that!

It wasn't of myself I was thinking.

You've always been on their side.

Well, what do you expect of them?

You've driven the food from their country.

You've murdered one of them.

Aye you just come marching in here

and say you're the boss

and expect them to clear off their own land.

Just because a few blacks have been scratching

around here for a thousand years

doesn't mean they can keep it.

Face it, Mac.

The white man's on the way in

and no preaching scot's going to stop it.

Well, I'm having no part of it. I'm going now.

Emma, are you coming with me?

What sort of a family do you think we are?

I can't leave them now.

Let him go by himself if he's so scared.

Scared?

Yes.

You haven't got the guts of

oh!

Now you've broken it, messing about.

John, Mac, stop this.

If I have anymore of it, I'l knock saucepans

out of both of you.

Wally's right, we're here.

Right or wrong, we stay.

If you can't come in with us with your whole heart,

get right on that horse and get out!

Get out and follow that trooper now.

I'll not do that.

All right, then.

Stop going mad at each other

and start thinking how you're going

to make this place safe for all of us.

Mrs. king.

What do you want?

Beg your pardon, ma'am but your back hair's coming down.

Oh, dear, it always does when I get excited.

Men, fighting when there's work to be done.

Mum's right, Mac.

She always is.

Are you with us?

Yes, Mr. king.

Good.

Well, let's get that scrub cut.

If they try any monkey business, we can see them coming.

Mr. king.

There's something funny going on there.

Does it mean trouble, do you think?

No, it's that native's funeral.

Here, take a look.

John, here.

Here, have a look at this.

I'm sorry John.

John!

Let him alone, Mac.

I'm sorry, Mr. king.

I wasn't thinking for the minute.

I never thought that...

Forget it Mac, forget it.

The big moment, eh mum.

Come on, sit down all of you.

Charlie, show me your hands.

They're clean.

What about yours, dad?

Mind your own business.

Well, you've all got glasses.

Come on now.

Thank you, Mac.

It's a fine home.

Oh, you're just saying that.

I'll build you a real house one day.

Thanks, Mac.

Emma, I want you to have a look at the sheep

beyond the red knoll.

You go with her, Mac.

I'm going to get some water, Tommy.

I'll carry it for you.

Dad, dingoes.

They're worrying the calves.

Quick. You go around the side of the hill,

I'll cut round by the mulga and drive them your way.

Right.

Dad, dad, look what I've got.

Ha!

Help, help!

Help!

Help!

Mr. king.

Mum, let me go.

Mr. king.

Dad!

Look!

It's the house, John.

Tommy!

Here's your lamp, Mrs. king.

Look, I'll Polish it up and you won't know it from new.

Emma, have you seen young Charlie?

No, Tommy.

Oil

has anyone seen young Charlie?

He gave me the slip at the water hole this morning.

I know where he'll be.

Down at the gully, messing about with birds' eggs.

It's getting late.

I'll dust him down.

Hey, dad!

Look!

Blacks!

Now wait a minute.

Just because they walk around the house,

that doesn't mean to say they had anything to do with this.

It doesn't hey.

Here, what about this?

Porcupine grass in the house.

It was the blacks all right.

Get your guns, I'm giving the tribe their marching orders.

We'll get them down to the water hole,

the whole pack of them.

They can have one more drink of bitter Springs

and it had better be a long one

because it's the last they'll have on my land.

Right, get them on the move.

Tell them, Blackjack.

They don't drink here again,

they get off my land.

If they drink here again, they'll be shot.

Tell them again, Blackjack.

Well, you've got rid of them now, Mr. king.

Satisfied?

I suppose it's no worry of yours where they make for next.

Tommy!

Charlie's not down the gully.

I can't find him anywhere, I'm going to try the gorge.

Better give him a hand, Wally.

Yes, we'd better.

It'll soon be dark.

Let's try the scrub.

Charlie!

Where are you, Charlie?

Charlie!

Charlie!

Charlie!

Charlie!

Charlie!

Hello, boys.

I was passing,

I thought I'd pop in. - Dad!

Dad!

Everything's gonna be all right now, Charlie.

I hope.

Nice place you've got here.

How are you?

Dr. livingstone, I presume.

Well, has my little boy been behaving himself?

Well, I never...

Did you really do that?

Well, it's time to come home now.

All good things must come to an end.

Say goodbye.

Well, goodbye.

Yes.

Keep moving, Charlie, keep moving.

Now, don't get excited, boys, keep your wool on.

Well hold on, Charlie, make a dash for the horse.

We're going for a little walk.

We'll be back for supper.

Now turn it up boys.

All right, Charlie, don't drink too much, son.

This is a turn up for the book. Finding water here.

Water belongs to waragarni tribe.

Waragarni men out hunting.

Waragarni women, go tell them we here.

Trouble eh.

We got to get the kid out of it.

First chance we get, make a dash for it.

Don't do that, boss.

They might spear you.

Wonderful.

What are they saying Blackjack?

They tell waragarni boss how white fellah

drive them off bitter Springs.

Waragarni boss say there not enough food for two tribes,

they must go.

They say they can't go back

because of white fellah's gun magic.

Dad, it's you.

They want you.

Boss.

Waragarni big man wants to see gun magic.

You've hit it, dad, you've hit it.

What's he going behind the rock for?

You can't shoot round corners.

Dad!

Dad!

What's he all painted up for, Blackjack?

Him meant to be white fellah, boss.

Black fellah fight with him.

They're only pretending, like playing soldiers.

Blackjack, here.

What's the excitement all about?

They go to bitter Springs.

Waragarni boss show them how to get back water hole.

He say they must go back with many Spears.

Get all around water hole

and hide behind rocks and trees

where white fellah's gun magic can't hurt them.

Karagarni must stop white fellah getting water.

Do you want to see king, ma, all of them killed?

You know what will happen to your people afterwards.

We've got to get to bitter Springs and warn them.

Too late, we no catch them.

But the trooper.

He's camped I this area.

They say trooper camped that way, 10 or 15 miles.

If we could get to him, he's got horses.

He could warn them in time. You've got to take me to him.

What about these fellows?

Leave them to me.

Standby, Blackjack, we're gonna make

a dash for it in a minute.

Ha, it's gone.

Now it's back again.

Get behind me with the stones, Charlie,

you know this routine.

Now watch very closely.

Ha ha.

Gone.

In a moment, one of you's going over to Blackjack

and he's gonna hit you across the head. It'll kill you.

What are you laughing at?

Haha, you don't understand a word I'm saying.

But you'll find out.

See?

It's gone.

Watch closely.

There it is.

Now take your hat off and place it on the ground.

Let your conscience be your guide.

Now, allez, it's gone.

Look under the hat, sir.

It's all right gentlemen.

Pardon me calling you gentlemen.

But you know me, haha.

Always joking.

It's underneath the hat.

Watch very, very closely.

No, it's not there.

Have a good look.

There you are.

Now give me the hat.

It's over there.

Look!

Alliez, up.

Look under the hat, sir.

Right under the hat.

No it's not there.

Quick, boss.

Come on.

Mac, Mac, look at mum, something's happened.

Emma, Emma!

Call the others.

Call all of them. Yes, mum, what is it?

Blacks round the waterhole.

Blacks!

They come back.

Well, we'll soon have them out of that.

John!

Look out, dad.

Mum, Emma run into the hut there's more shelter there.

Take a wall each.

They'll come from every side.

And the more, the merrier.

They'll make easy targets.

Em.

Do you know what?

They're not coming.

They're just sticking around the waterhole,

sitting behind each stone and bush,

keeping us away.

That's their game.

We can bust through if we all went.

Yeah, and get a spear in the back.

Aye, they've got us in numbers.

I reckon they've got us all ways.

You know what I think?

It's time we got the spades and started digging for water.

The dry spring bed, dad.

It's in the open, there is no cover for them.

It would take time.

Might never make it.

It's thirsty work, too.

Bed rock, again.

We're wasting our time.

Let's get back to the hut.

There you are, look.

Even I can follow the tracks now, dozens of them.

We're near the trooper's camp.

Come on, Charlie.

We're there, son.

You'll soon be able to rest your poor, sore foot.

Ah-hoi there!

They're still warm.

Well, nearly warm.

Ashes get cold very quickly at night, you know.

Ha, look.

They've left your dad a present.

There's no need to worry, son.

They can't be very far away

and we'll catch them up in no time at all.

Everything's gonna be all right.

They've gone north, boss.

Yesterday morning.

Have a smoke, Blackjack.

Mrs. king.

You haven't had yours.

You heard what he said.

When did you have yours?

We'll make a dash for it in the morning.

Let's get some sleep.

John, it's your watch.

Ahoy, there.

Tommy.

Mum's inside, Tommy.

Take some water in.

Well done, Blackjack.

Well, you've got everything your own way, Mr. king.

You wanted the blacks of your land,

and you forced the government to do the job for you.

Well, that's my orders.

Out they go, the whole lot of them.

Where they go, I don't know.

I guess no one cares.

Well, Mr. king?

Fighting don't get you nowhere, Mr. ransom.

I've found out that.

What was it you said to me once

about dealing with the natives?

Ah, I said you could shove 'em out,

you could ease 'em out.

No, I tried that.

Or you can take 'em in with you. You wanna try that, too?

If they'd only help me grow wool.

Get new water dug.

Could I ever make them understand?

Maybe.

The point is you understand.

And that's the big thing.

It's a start.