Original subtitles

( squawking )

MUM, MUM, I CAUGHT A YABBY.

YOU WANT TO SEE IT?

I DO, OPAL.

BRING IT OVER HERE.

IT'S GOOD-LOOKING; ANOTHER ONE'S BY THAT TREE.

OPAL, LEAVE THE POOR YABBIES ALONE.

JASPER CAN PUT ONE IN HIS PUDDLE.

DON'T GIVE JASPER A YABBY, OPAL.

( hissing )

OPAL, MOMMY'S COMING.

JASPER

YOU STAY RIGHT THERE.

OPAL, DON'T MOVE.

MUM, HURRY.

OPAL, DON'T MOVE. OPAL...

( grunts )

( screams )

OH.

( crying )

STOP THIS CRYING, OPAL.

YOU WEREN'T HURT.

Man: WHAT HAPPENED?

WHY'D SHE SCREAM?

DAD, IT WAS A SNAKE, AND MOM KILLED IT.

AND I'M NOT HURT, BUT I'M SCARED ALL OVER.

YOU ALL RIGHT, GLADWYN?

EH, NO HARM DONE, EXCEPT TO THE SNAKE.

WOULDN'T BE THE BUSH WITHOUT SNAKES.

EVERYBODY'S SCARED WITLESS

BUT YOU.

TAKE HER INSIDE AND HAVE A REST.

I'LL FINISH THAT.

NO, SHE WANTS YOU.

I'LL FINISH HERE.

THEN WE'LL LOAD THE PALMS UP.

DON'T BABY HER, LARRY.

JUST MAKE IT HARD FOR HER

WHEN SHE GROWS UP.

GOT TO BE TOUGH.

( sighs )

( sighs )

OH, JAZZY.

AW...

WHAT WOULD I DO IF I LOST ONE OF YOU, EH?

WHAT WOULD I DO?

YOU'D LOOK FOR US?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'D LOOK FOR YOU FOREVER.

YOU CAN HOLD IT, JASPER, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE GENTLE.

I'LL BE CAREFUL, OPAL.

OH, HE'S GOT AWAY!

WAIT, JASPER! DON'T HIT HIM!

HELLO, SWEETHEART.

HI.

GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL?

YEP.

WHAT'S IN THE MAIL?

UM...

A LETTER POSTMARKED FROM SYDNEY.

WHO DO YOU KNOW FROM SYDNEY?

I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL LOOK AT IT TONIGHT.

PEARL, WHY DON'T YOU GO INSIDE AND GET CHANGED

SO YOU CAN HELP MAMA.

( gunshot )

THAT GOWD GADREY AGAIN.

LARRY, BE CAREFUL.

HE'S DANGEROUS WITH THAT GUN.

HE'S GOT NO AIM.

WELL, I WON'T HAVE HIM TARGET-SHOOTING SO CLOSE TO US.

DON'T WORRY. I'LL JUST BE A FEW MINUTES.

HE'S JUST A BOY.

( gunshot )

HE'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

ISN'T HE, MUM?

YEAH.

( sighs )

I THOUGHT WE AGREED

YOU WOULDN'T SHOOT UP HERE ANYMORE, GOWD.

I'M SORRY, MR. RICHARD.

AM I DISTURBING YOU?

YOU KNOW YOU'RE SHOOTING TOO CLOSE TO MY PLACE.

WHAT IF ONE OF THOSE BULLETS WENT ASTRAY?

YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD A SHOT.

WELL, MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO TALK TO MY FATHER

THE NEXT TIME YOU NEED TO USE THE PHONE.

( snickers )

MAYBE I WILL.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I'LL JUST PREVENT YOU

FROM DOING SOMETHING YOU MIGHT REGRET.

HEY, YOU CAN'T TAKE MY RIFLE.

TELL YOUR FATHER I'LL GIVE IT TO HIM...

THE NEXT TIME I NEED TO USE THE PHONE.

( Larry singing )

OPAL, MOVE YOUR PAINTS.

I CAN'T SET YOUR PLACE.

I DON'T WANT MY PLACE SET.

I'M PAINTING A PICTURE.

MUM, MAKE HER MOVE.

OPAL, TAKE YOUR PAINTS

OUT ONTO THE VERANDA SO WE CAN EAT.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU AND JAZZY PICK UP YOUR TOYS

AND PUT THEM IN THE BOX.

( sighs )

SHOULD'VE STARTED COOKING THE WATER SOONER.

HARDLY WARM ENOUGH TO HAVE A BATH.

I TOOK MINE COLD.

EH, BUT YOU'RE MADE OF TOUGHER STUFF, AREN'T YOU?

GO ON.

SIT DOWN AND KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE.

I PUT GOWD'S GUN UP THERE IN THE RAFTERS

SO THAT WE'D KEEP IT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE KIDS.

THAT CRACK ABOUT THE PHONE...

HE'S REALLY GETTING A MOUTH ON HIM, ISN'T HE?

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO USE THEIR PHONE.

I'D MUCH PREFER TO GO INTO TOWN AND RING FROM THERE.

NOT THAT WE... WE DON'T NEED A PHONE HERE, DO WE?

DO WE?

Gladwyn reading: "BUT I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT THE CANCER HAS SPREAD.

"SO BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, I'LL PROBABLY BE GONE.

"DESPITE WHAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN US, LARRY

"I KNOW YOU WANT OUR DAUGHTER

TO HAVE A HOME AND A FAMILY."

WHAT CHOICE DID SHE GIVE YOU?

I WANT HER BACK, GLAD.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HER?

SHE ABOUT THREE?

MM-HMM.

I THINK ABOUT HER EVERY DAY.

( sighs )

BUT YOU'RE REMEMBERING A BABY.

SHE'S A TEENAGER NOW.

SHE'S BEEN LIVING WITH THAT HOPELESS DREAMER OF A MOTHER.

SHE'S BEEN LIVING WITH MUSICIANS.

SHE'S BEEN HANGING AROUND NIGHTCLUBS...

ALL SO THAT CHERYL CAN BECOME A LOUNGE SINGER.

I MEAN, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM EITHER OF THEM FOR 12 YEARS.

( sighs )

HAVE YOU?

NO.

( sighs )

LARRY, I'VE SEEN WHAT CAN HAPPEN

WHEN A STRANGER IS BROUGHT INTO A FAMILY.

IT CHANGES THINGS.

WHAT-WHAT INFLUENCES IS SHE GOING TO HAVE?

WHAT IF SHE'S LIKE HER MOTHER?

I'M SORRY.

( sighs )

I KNOW YOU LOVED HER.

I KNOW YOU LOVED HER.

YOU'RE THE ONE I LOVE, GLAD.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.

( sighs )

HASN'T SHE GOT SOME OTHER RELATION SHE CAN GO WITH?

YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS.

HER MOTHER'S DYING, MAY BE DEAD ALREADY.

SHE'S GOT NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.

ANY CHILD OF MINE WILL HAVE A HOME

AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE, GLAD.

LARA IS MY CHILD.

AND SO ARE OPAL, PEARL AND JAZZY YOUR CHILDREN.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT THEM?

I'M TRYING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, LARRY.

I DON'T WANT THEM HURT.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE WHAT I NEVER HAD GROWING UP.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL SECURE.

DO YOU THINK SHE LOOKS

LIKE DAD?

SHUT UP, PEST, AND GO TO SLEEP.

HOW COULD YOU HAVE MARRIED ANYONE ELSE BESIDES MUM?

IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, PEARL

BEFORE I EVER MET YOUR MOTHER.

DID YOU LOVE HER?

I DID.

BUT I LOVE YOUR MOTHER NOW.

HOW COULD YOU KEEP IT A SECRET?

THAT YOU HAD A DAUGHTER

BEFORE ME?

I NEVER KNEW WHERE SHE WAS, PEARL

OR IF I'D EVER SEE HER AGAIN.

THERE WAS NO REASON TO TELL YOU UNTIL NOW.

SINCE YOU HAD HER FIRST, DO YOU LOVE HER MORE?

IS THAT WHY YOU'RE

BRINGING HER HERE?

COME HERE, HONEY.

COME HERE.

SIT DOWN, SWEETHEART. COME ON.

I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE MORE THAN I LOVE YOU.

THEN DON'T LET HER COME HERE, DADDY.

I DON'T WANT HER TO COME.

PEARL...

YOU LOVE ME?

THEN I'LL ASK YOU WHAT I'VE ASKED YOUR MUM.

JUST GIVE LARA A CHANCE.

FOR ME.

ALL RIGHT, PEARL?

PEARL, HONEY...

HONEY...

OPAL...

YOU'VE BEEN AWFULLY QUIET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK ANY SISTER'S BETTER THAN PEARL.

( chuckles )

WELL, THAT'S A START.

THAT'S A START.

OH, PEARL.

LOOK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

DAD AND ME, WE'RE GOING TO SORT IT ALL OUT.

EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY, HONEY.

BUT HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO ME?

TO US?

LARA?

LARA RITCHIE?

I'M YOUR DAD.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

THOSE YOURS?

THAT YOUR MOTHER'S?

I'M SORRY, LARA.

I KNOW WHAT A TERRIBLE THING IT IS

TO LOSE YOUR MOTHER SO YOUNG.

YOU LOOK LIKE CHERYL, ACTUALLY.

AROUND THE EYES, MOSTLY.

SHE WAS SUCH A BEAUTY THE FIRST TIME I SAW HER.

THAT LAUGH...

I CAN STILL REMEMBER THAT LAUGH...

AND THOSE DREAMS.

SHE WAS ALWAYS FULL OF DREAMS--

GOING TO THE STATES AND SINGING AND ALL.

WELL, I RECKON SHE GOT TO DO SOME OF IT, DIDN'T SHE?

WAS SHE A GOOD MOTHER, LARA?

DID SHE TAKE CARE OF YOU?

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT I HAD TROUBLE LEARNING TO READ

SHE TOOK A JOB BOOKKEEPING

SO SHE COULD READ WITH ME AT NIGHT.

WE READ ABOUT WONDERFUL PLACES

WITH STRANGE NAMES.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW SOMEDAY WE'D VISIT THOSE PLACES.

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS WE WERE GOING TO DO.

WE WEREN'T FINISHED YET.

SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON.

SHE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE.

TAKE A BREAK?

STRETCH YOUR LEGS?

COME ON.

WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

I'M SORRY.

DID YOU GET THE SILVER DOLLAR IN THE STATES?

YOU SAVING UP FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL?

IT'S NOT TO SPEND.

SHE KEPT IT TO REMIND US OF OUR DREAMS.

IT'S ALL I'VE GOT LEFT.

WE GOT A CHANCE AT THE LAND AND JUST DECIDED TO DO IT

SORT OF WILLY-NILLY, AND THE NAME STUCK.

WE RAISE THOSE POTTED PALMS

YOU SEE IN HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS.

WE JUST BOUGHT SOME NEW PLANTING STOCK

FOR THE MORE EXOTIC PALMS-- YOU KNOW, MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE MAKE MORE MONEY, BUT WE NEED ANOTHER 40 ACRES.

THE LAND'S AVAILABLE.

WE JUST...

WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THIS LOAN.

YOU'LL LIKE IT OUT HERE

IN THE WOLLONGAT

ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

I CAN ALWAYS GO TO AN ORPHANAGE.

ONE SET OF STRANGERS

IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER.

LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT:

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO AN ORPHANAGE, LARA

AND WE'RE NOT STRANGERS.

I'M YOUR FATHER.

I KNOW YOU'RE SCARED, BUT I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

WHEN YOUR MOTHER TOOK YOU AND LEFT ME FOR THAT MUSICIAN...

WALTER.

YEAH.

I LOOKED FOR YOU, LARA.

FOR YEARS, ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, I LOOKED FOR YOU.

YOU'RE MY CHILD.

I LOVE YOU.

I'VE LOVED YOU FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN.

YOU LOOKED FOR ME?

YES.

WELL, I... DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FOLLOW YOU TO THE STATES.

YOU WERE REALLY GONE THEN.

YOU WON'T REMEMBER THIS, BUT...

YOU USED TO KISS ME THROUGH THE GLASS

WHEN I WENT TO WORK.

THE GLASS WAS ALWAYS SMUDGED THERE FROM YOUR KISSES.

YOU WERE SUCH A LITTLE MITE.

ONLY THREE.

BUT THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU WERE STANDING THERE

KISSING...

Opal: WHAT DO YOU THINK, MUM?

MUM?

I THINK WE SHOULD PUT IT ON THE WALL.

ON THE WALL?!

MM-HMM. REALLY?!

JASPER, SHE'S GOING

TO PUT MY PICTURE ON THE WALL!

GO AWAY, PEST.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, PEARL.

MUM LIKED MY PICTURE...

AND DAD'S BRINGING ME A NEW SISTER.

SHE'S NOT YOUR SISTER.

SHE'S GOT THE SAME NAME... RITCHIE.

WE'RE ALL RITCHIES.

WHEN I MET GLADWYN, SHE HELPED ME PULL MYSELF TOGETHER.

WE HAVE THREE KIDS NOW.

PEARL, OPAL AND JASPER.

YOU NAMED THEM ALL AFTER JEWELS?

SHE DID.

SHE SURE DID.

I WAS NAMED AFTER YOU, WASN'T I?

AND I REMEMBER THE WINDOW.

( sighs )

WELL, IT ISN'T FINISHED YET.

THE BATHROOM'S OUTSIDE

BUT WE CAN HEAT THE BATH WATER NOW.

I BUILT A STOVE UNDERNEATH THE TANK.

THERE THEY ARE, LARA.

YOUR FAMILY.

GLADWYN?

PEARL? OPAL?

JASPER?

THIS IS LARA.

LARA.

COME INSIDE.

YOU MUST BE THIRSTY.

HELLO, LARA. I'M OPAL.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

DON'T MIND OPAL.

SHE'S JUST CURIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING.

NOW...

YOU CAN SLEEP IN HERE WITH THE REST OF US

OR YOU CAN HAVE THE VERANDA.

IT'S NOT VERY PRIVATE

SINCE WE GO IN AND OUT THROUGH THE BACK, BUT...

IT'S NICE AND AIRY OUT HERE.

IF IT RAINS, YOU JUST PUT THE BLINDS DOWN.

YOU'D BE OFF TO YOURSELF A BIT.

I'D, UM...I'D RATHER BE OUT HERE.

NOW, YOU CAN PUT YOUR THINGS... IN HERE.

GLADWYN CLEARED IT FOR YOU.

WELL, I'LL, UH... LET YOU GET SETTLED.

FAMILY, GLADWYN

JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS WANTED.

WE'VE GOT A FAMILY.

( both chuckling )

PEARL, GET SOME CUPS AND SAUCERS.

SIX. OKAY.

I'M GOING OUTSIDE TO CHECK THE IRRIGATION LINES.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

MM-HMM.

Opal: DON'T WORRY, LARA.

I WON'T LET JASPER TOUCH ANYTHING.

MUM'S GOT A CLOSET.

MAYBE YOU CAN HANG THEM UP IN HER ROOM.

CAN I SEE WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

THIS IS MY MOTHER

SINGING IN A CLUB IN MELBOURNE.

AND THIS IS WHEN SHE WAS SIX.

HER FRONT TEETH WERE OUT.

ISN'T THAT MY DAD WITH YOUR MUM?

WE DON'T KNOW

WHAT OUR MUM LOOKED LIKE WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY PICTURES.

OPAL?

SHOW LARA THE BATH HOUSE.

Opal: COME ON.

( chickens cackling )

OPAL? I'LL SHOW HER.

YOU GO AND TIDY OUT YOUR PAINTS.

MOM...

AWAY YOU GO.

IF YOU WANT HOT WATER FOR YOUR BATH

YOU'RE TO LIGHT THE FIRE IN HERE IN ADVANCE.

OTHERWISE, YOU TAKE IT COLD AS IT COMES OUT OF THE TANK.

IF YOU COME OUT HERE AT NIGHT

ALWAYS BRING A LIGHT AND A STICK FOR ANIMALS.

NO GOING PAST THE DAM AT NIGHT

NOT WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT COME OUT AFTER DARK.

THIS TAP HERE IS FOR WASHING MUD OFF YOURSELF

AFTER YOU'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE PADDOCK.

AND THESE ARE THE PALMS.

WE IRRIGATE THIS PADDOCK

OUT OF THAT DAM.

WE'RE STARTING A NEW PADDOCK OVER THERE.

WE HAVEN'T GOT THE PIPES IN YET

SO WE HAVE TO CARRY THE WATER BY HAND.

YOU WON'T LOOK LIKE SUCH A CITY GIRL AFTER A FEW WEEKS.

YOU CAN HELP OPAL WITH THESE.

GATHER THE EGGS, FEED THEM, WATER THEM.

BUT NEVER STICK YOUR HAND IN A NEST

WITHOUT CHECKING FOR SNAKES.

YOU CAN HELP PEARL TEND THE HORSES.

( whinnies softly )

I HOPE YOU RIDE BAREBACK.

( crickets chirping )

( bird calls echoing )

I'M HERE NOW.

AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU, LOVE.

DON'T BE SCARED.

YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME.

YOU PROMISED.

YOU WEREN'T EXACTLY WARM TO HER.

WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?

Larry: SHE'S JUST A KID--

LIKE PEARL, LIKE OPAL.

JUST TRY AND ACCEPT HER.

DID YOU SEE HER WITH OPAL?

SHE'S A STRANGER.

LIKE IT OR NOT, LARRY

SHE COULD BE GONE IN A MONTH.

IT HAPPENS.

NONE OF US KNOWS IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT.

IT HAS TO WORK, GLAD.

AND IT WILL.

BUT NOT WITHOUT YOU.

( screen door creaks open and closes )

( screams )

ALL THOSE FANCY SHOES YOU BROUGHT

AND NOT A DECENT PAIR AMONG THEM.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO QUIT FOR THE DAY, GIRLS.

GLAD, LET'S COOL OFF.

LAST ONE IN'S A ROTTEN EGG!

YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUMP IN.

THOSE SHORTS ARE A TOTAL LOSS.

COME ON. COME ON.

Opal: COME ON!

TAKE YOUR SINGLET OFF, QUICK!

IT'S STUCK!

LET ME GET MY BOOTS OFF.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Jasper: IT'S SO WARM.

Larry: ALL RIGHT, YOU GIRLS, HERE WE COME.

Jasper: COME ON, OPAL.

Larry: ONE, TWO, THREE.

HERE. TAKE MY HAND.

Jasper: GET WET, EVERYBODY.

Larry: OH, IT FEELS GOOD.

DOESN'T THAT FEEL GOOD BETWEEN YOUR TOES?

READY, SET, GO.

( laughing )

( distant playful laughter )

I GUESS WE KNOW WHICH ONE HE REALLY LOVES, DON'T WE?

PEARL, YOU KNOW YOUR FATHER ADORES YOU.

Larry: I'M GOING TO DUNK HER!

I'M GOING TO GET YOU!

Lara: GOTCHA!

( squawks )

CAN'T IGNORE PEARL LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT IGNORING HER, AM I?

WELL, IT'S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

LARA NEEDS THE EXTRA HELP.

PEARL NEEDS YOU.

SHE'S GOOD AND HURT NOW.

ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THE MILK CANS?

CAN I COME?

YES, YOU CAN COME; EVERYONE CAN COME.

PEARL! JASPER!

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE MILK CANS!

COME ON, LARA!

LARA, YOU, TOO! COME ON!

WE'RE GOING

FOR A LITTLE DRIVE.

PEARL? PEARL, HOP IN THE FRONT SEAT.

DAD'S GOING TO TAKE YOU

FOR A DRIVING LESSON.

Opal: SHE'S GOING TO KILL US ALL!

GO FASTER, PEARL, FASTER!

SHUSH, OPAL, FOR PETE'S SAKE.

OKAY, RIGHT. RIGHT, HONEY.

RIGHT. GOOD, GOOD.

OKAY, TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH.

OKAY, BACK, LOVE. BACK, LOVE.

THERE YOU GO. NOW STRAIGHT.

JUST STRAIGHT AND STEADY.

RIGHT THERE. ATTAGIRL.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I WANT TO STOP, DADDY; I DON'T LIKE THIS.

OH, PEARL, COME ON, SHOW A LITTLE SPUNK.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, SWEETHEART. OKAY.

OKAY... JASPER, RECKON YOU'RE NEXT.

JASPER'S TOO LITTLE.

LARA. LARA NEXT.

LARA, YOU, NOW.

COME ON, GIVE IT A TRY.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S THE CLUTCH, THE BRAKE...

I KNOW.

MUM SHOWED ME ON HER LITTLE CAR

IN CASE I HAD TO DRIVE HER TO THE DOCTOR.

THIS'LL HANDLE A BIT DIFFERENTLY, BUT YOU'LL GET IT.

DOWN THAT FIRE TRAIL ON THE RIGHT

TO GADREYS'.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME, NICE AND EASY.

THIS IS PRINCE

AND THAT'S REX, AND THEY USED TO HAVE JAKE

BUT HE'S GONE NOW.

HE WAS MY FAVORITE.

OKAY, KIDS.

TIME TO GO.

I HAD NO CHOICE, BILL.

( sighs )

GOWD WAS JUST SHOOTING TOO CLOSE TO MY PLACE.

YEAH, WELL, I'M SORRY, MATE.

GOWD'S A GOOD BOY--

DOES WELL AT SCHOOL, TEACHERS LIKE HIM--

BUT HE HAS GOT A BIT OF A WILD STREAK.

IMAGINE WE ALL DO AT THAT AGE, EH?

JUST DOESN'T ALWAYS

THINK THINGS THROUGH, I RECKON.

OH.

I'LL TALK TO HIM.

I'M AWFULLY SORRY

ABOUT THE GUN, MRS. RITCHIE.

I NEVER MEANT

TO SCARE ANYONE.

YEAH, WELL, IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I KNOW THAT.

YOU SETTLED ON THAT LAND YET?

GETTING THE LOAN TOMORROW.

HEY.

Woman: MR. COOPER'S CLAIM ON THAT LAND ISN'T SETTLED.

Larry: WHO'S MR. COOPER?

ED MILLER OWNS THAT LAND.

HE DOES OWN THE LAND, WHICH HE INHERITED

FROM HIS GRANDFATHER

BUT HIS COUSIN, MR. COOPER, ALSO INHERITED

AN INTEREST IN THE LAND FROM THE SAME GRANDFATHER.

SO UNTIL MR. COOPER'S CLAIM IS SETTLED

WE CAN'T LEND YOU THE MONEY TO BUY THE 40 ACRES.

HOW MUCH DOES COOPER WANT?

WELL, NO ONE KNOWS.

LAST ANYONE HEARD, HE WAS IN THE OUTBACK

MAKING A LIVING CHASING BRUMBIES.

NOT MANY PHONES OUT THERE PAST ALICE SPRINGS.

YOU MEAN WE HAVE TO GO

AND FIND HIM?

OH, NO, NOT AT ALL.

WE CAN ELIMINATE HIS CLAIM

BY PUBLISHED NOTIFICATION IN NEWSPAPERS

AND A SUIT TO QUIT TITLE.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

THAT'S A RELIEF.

WE'VE GOT 2,000 YOUNG PALMS

PAID FOR AND ON THEIR WAY.

VERY EXPENSIVE ONES.

THE ENTIRE LEGAL PROCESS

SHOULD BE FINISHED IN SIX MONTHS, LESS THAN YEAR

CERTAINLY. SIX MONTHS?

THAT'S THE WHOLE PLANTING SEASON.

WE'LL MISS A YEAR'S INCOME.

SEE THE DILEMMA?

WE'VE GOT TO GET THOSE SEEDLINGS IN THE GROUND

WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AT THE MOST.

OH, MY LOVE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO

AND FIND MR. COOPER.

Larry: IT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

YOU HELP YOUR MOM OUT LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO

AND I'LL CALL GADREYS AS OFTEN AS I CAN.

BUT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE GONE

SO LONG, DADDY?

WELL, IT'S A LONG WAYS ON BAD ROAD, HONEY.

I'LL BE LUCKY IF MY TEETH DON'T RATTLE

RIGHT OUT OF MY HEAD.

( chuckles )

( chuckles )

OH, COME ON-- IT'S A JOKE.

( chuckles )

CAN'T TAKE ALL THE CASH...

YOU'LL NEED IT.

WE'LL BE OKAY.

( sighs )

AND I'LL CLEAR SOME OF THE BUSH FROM THAT LAND

EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T OWN IT YET

SO WE CAN PLANT AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN APART FOR SO LONG.

I KNOW.

( romantic music playing )

( Larry groans )

I WANT KISSES.

YOU TAKE CARE

OF YOUR MAMA, JAZZY.

YEP.

LOVE YOU, DADDY.

LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE, LARA.

COME HERE, HONEY.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

WE'LL BE OKAY.

CALL WHEN YOU FIND MR. COOPER.

BYE.

BYE, DAD.

BYE, DAD! BYE!

BYE, DADDY!

DADDY'S GONE NOW.

WELL, WE CAN'T STAND HERE ALL DAY.

PEARL, FEED THE HORSES.

OPAL, GATHER THE EGGS.

TAKE JASPER WITH YOU.

( clears throat )

AND, LARA...

UH, WHY DON'T YOU WATER THE FAR PADDOCK.

THE BUCKET'S ON THE BRIDGE.

WHY DO YOU GIVE ME

THE HARDEST JOB?

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU'D RATHER

PEARL CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO FEED THE HORSES NOW.

THEN YOU CAN BOTH DO THE WATERING AFTER THAT.

Boy: NEIL'S BACK.

Girl: HAVE THEY STARTED THE STORIES YET?

RUN MORE AND TALK LESS, AND YOU'LL FIND OUT.

YOU SEE, IN THE DREAMTIME,

THE RAINBOW SERPENT MOVED ACROSS THE LAND

AND THE TRACKS SHE LEFT BEHIND FILLED WITH WATER

AND FORMED THE RIVERS AND THE LAKES.

AND THE TREES

AND THE GRASS BEGAN TO GROW

AND THE ANIMALS, BIRDS

AND REPTILES CAME ALSO.

IT WAS A TIME OF HAPPINESS

AND EVERYONE KNEW WHO THEY WERE AND THE LAW OF THE LAND.

HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?

WE HAVE TO KNOW THIS

BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY, MY PEOPLE

WERE NOMADIC.

THEY WERE WANDERERS.

Girl: WHY DO YOU WANDER?

WOULDN'T IT BE EASIER JUST TO STAY HOME?

THE LAND IS OUR HOME.

AND WE CARE FOR THE LAND.

WE LOVE IT AND PROTECT IT

AS IT LOVES AND PROTECTS US.

ALSO GIVES US SHELTER AND GIVES US FOOD.

SEE, WE BELONG TOGETHER

AND KNOWING WHERE YOU BELONG IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Girl: WHERE DID YOUR PEOPLE COME FROM?

EACH PERSON HAS A NAME THAT RELATES TO THE LAND

TO PROTECT THEM.

AND WE HAVE A TOTEM

AND WE KNOW WHO WE ARE WHEN WE UNDERSTAND OUR TOTEM.

WHAT'S YOUR TOTEM?

YOU DON'T TELL ANYBODY WHAT YOUR TOTEM IS.

Girl: I KNOW. IT'S A KOALA.

NAH.

KANGAROO. NAH.

IT'S A POSSUM.

NAH.

IT'S A WOMBAT.

Girl: I KNOW.

IT'S A DINGO.

SEE, MY TOTEM...

IS MY BEST FRIEND.

IT TEACHES ME TO BE BRAVE.

IT TELLS ME

THAT I HAVE ALL THE COURAGE THAT I NEED.

SOMETIMES, YOU GET LOST

AND SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE

TO REACH DEEPER DOWN TO FIND IT.

( bell ringing )

OKAY, THAT'S IT, GUYS.

PATIENCE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.

IS THAT BREAD?

IT'S DAMPER.

NEVER SEEN BREAD LIKE THAT BEFORE.

WHY DIDN'T IT PUFF UP?

'CAUSE I RAN OUT OF YEAST.

YEAST COSTS MONEY.

WHAT'S YEAST?

( sighs )

AREN'T THERE SOME TOYS OF YOURS

YOU'VE GOT TO PICK UP FROM THE VERANDA?

GO ON.

( sighs )

JAZZY, COME HERE.

MMM.

OH, I'M SO TIRED, JAZZY.

ARE YOU TIRED?

NO, MUM.

( laughs softly )

PEARLIE-GIRL TELLS ME

YOU HAVE A SILVER DOLLAR.

ALWAYS WANTED AN AMERICAN SILVER DOLLAR.

GIVE IT TO ME.

NO.

IT WAS MY MOTHER'S.

BRING IT TO SCHOOL...

OR YOU'LL BE SORRY.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, ASK PEARL.

AND I WOULDN'T TELL MRS. RITCHIE ABOUT THIS.

THEN I'D HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING

TO TELL HER ABOUT YOU--

SOMETHING THAT'D GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.

( thunder rumbling )

LARA!

CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES

AND HELP PEARL BEFORE THE STORM BREAKS!

MOM, JASPER'S PULLING

THE LETTUCE, NOT THE WEEDS!

JASPER, YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

DON'T PULL OUT THE LETTUCES.

( grunting )

UNLESS YOU WANT TO STARVE.

HOW COULD YOU TELL HIM, PEARL?

HOW DID YOU EVEN KNOW I HAD A SILVER DOLLAR?

I NEVER DID ANYTHING TO YOU.

I DIDN'T WANT TO COME HERE.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO AN ORPHANAGE.

WELL, MAYBE YOU WILL NOW.

I WISH YOU WOULD.

HE'S MY FATHER, NOT YOURS.

I WISH YOU WERE DEAD.

( thunder rumbling )

( dingo barking )

( kissing sound ): COME ON.

COME ON, COME ON.

HELLO.

COME ON.

HELLO.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

DO YOU HAVE ONE?

NICE DINGO OUGHT TO HAVE A NAME.

( thunder rumbling )

THAT THUNDER DOESN'T SCARE YOU?

NO?

( laughs softly )

YOU CAME WITH IT.

I'LL CALL YOU "WITH THUNDER."

NO. "THUNDER WITH."

I LIKE THAT BETTER.

DO YOU LIKE THAT? THUNDERWITH?

( chuckling )

COME ON, THUNDERWITH, BEFORE IT RAINS.

( yipping )

( hammering )

GO ON, MATE.

THAT PART'LL HAVE TO COME OUT FROM ADELAIDE.

TAKE ABOUT A WEEK.

'COURSE YOU'RE WELCOME

TO CHECK OUT MY SPARE PARTS DIVISION.

ANY PLACE I CAN TAKE A SHOWER AROUND HERE?

THE PUB.

THEY'LL CHARGE YOU LIKE A WOUNDED BULL.

NAH, YOU'RE BETTER OFF STAYING HERE.

KEEP YOUR DOOR CLOSED, THOUGH.

DINGOES, YOU KNOW.

THEY WALK RIGHT IN ON YOU.

THAT'LL BE $90 FOR THE WEEK.

SHOWER IN THERE, I'LL GIVE YOU 25.

YOU CAN PAY AS YOU GO.

I'LL TRUST YOU.

( sighs )

THAT INCLUDES BREAKFAST.

TOAST AND A CUPPA.

I'LL THROW IN THE VEGEMITE.

VEGEMITE.

THE WEEK'LL BE OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

RIGHT.

JAZZY.

( sighs )

OH, WHY ISN'T SHE BACK?

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT IN THIS AND FIND HER.

YEP, YOU GO LOOK FOR HER, MOM.

I'LL WATCH JAZZY.

BUT WHO'LL WATCH YOU?

SHE MIGHT BE LOST OR DROWNDED.

DROWNED, STUPID.

YOU'RE STUPID.

OH, SHUSH.

I'VE GOT ENOUGH ON MY MIND WITHOUT LISTENING TO YOU TWO.

PEARL, WATCH OPAL.

BOTH OF YOU WATCH JAZZY.

OH, WHERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN?!

SORRY.

I LOST TRACK OF TIME.

WELL, DIDN'T YOU SEE IT GETTING DARK?

LOOK, I'M JUST FINE, OKAY?

LARA, I WAS AFRAID YOU WERE LOST OR HURT

OR... LEECHES!

YOU'VE GOT LEECHES!

GET THEM OFF! GET THEM OFF!

SALT SHAKER, OPAL.

Opal: THEY COME OUT WHEN IT RAINS

BUT THEY MELT WHEN YOU SALT THEM.

Jasper: YUCK!

SEE? JUST RED SPOTS NOW.

GO AND DRY OFF BEFORE YOU GET A COLD.

COME AND HAVE YOUR DINNER

THEN GET TO BED-- I'VE HAD ENOUGH FOR ONE NIGHT.

( thunder rumbling )

WILL YOU READ ME MY BOOK?

( chuckling )

OKAY.

MY MUM USED TO READ TO ME.

EVERY NIGHT.

YOU MISS YOUR MUM, DON'T YOU?

I KNEW YOU DID.

I MISS OUR DAD, TOO.

I GET AFRAID WHEN HE'S GONE.

ME TOO, OPAL.

ME, TOO.

MY MUM USED TO MAKE ME CLOSE MY EYES

SO I COULD IMAGINE.

THEN YOU WON'T BE AFRAID.

"HERE ARE THE ADVENTURES OF SNUGGLEPOT AND CUDDLEPIE.

"THEY WERE FOSTER BROTHERS, AND THIS IS HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

"WHEN CUDDLEPIE WAS VERY SMALL--

"THAT IS, WHEN HE HAD ONLY BEEN

"OUT OF THE BUD A FEW HOURS-- A GREAT WIND AROSE

"AND LIFTING HIM OUT OF HIS MOTHER'S ARMS

"CARRIED HIM FAR ACROSS THE TOPS OF MANY TREES

"AND LEFT HIM IN A SPIDERWEB.

THIS SAVED HIS LIFE, BUT AGAIN, HE NEARLY LOST IT."

GO ON.

( phone ringing )

( computer printing )

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER.

SHUT UP AND SIT STILL.

WE DON'T ACTUALLY NEED THE MONEY, YOU UNDERSTAND.

IT'S JUST A LOAN

TILL MY HUSBAND GETS BACK.

IT SAYS HERE YOU'VE GOT THREE CHILDREN.

I, UH, THOUGHT I SAW YOU COME IN WITH FOUR.

OH, THE OLDEST ISN'T MINE.

SHE'S JUST STAYING WITH US FOR A WHILE.

WELL, CALL BACK TOMORROW.

I'LL HAVE SOME CASH FOR YOU-- SOMETHING

TO TIDE YOU OVER.

OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD-BYE.

LARA, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

LARA?

( birds chirping )

WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER?

SHE HEARD YOU TELL THAT MAN SHE WASN'T YOURS.

OH...

THUNDERWITH?

( birds chirping )

THUNDERWITH? THUNDERWITH?

( barking )

COME ON.

( kissing sounds )

( barks )

TAKE ME AWAY, THUNDERWITH...

ANYWHERE.

( sniffling )

( barking )

( whimpering )

I DON'T WANT TO GO IN THERE.

( whimpering )

IT'S ABORIGINE.

IT'S A DINGO...

( whimpering )

A TOTEM.

( dog whimpering )

HELP ME TO BE BRAVE, THUNDERWITH.

HELP ME TO BE BRAVE TILL DAD GETS BACK.

( sighs )

( engine starting )

LOOK AT HIS LONG TOES.

DO YOU LIKE HIM?

Jasper: YEAH.

OPAL, YOU GOING TO HELP PEARL WEED

THE PADDOCK? MM-HMM.

WELL, THEN, PUT SKINKY AWAY NOW.

WHERE'S LARA?

NOT HERE WHEN THERE'S WORK TO DO.

OPAL, GO AND FIND LARA.

PEARL, YOU GET THE TOOLS READY.

( water gurgling )

LARA?!

LARA?!

LARA?!

ARE YOU BURYING A TREASURE?

IT'S A TREASURE, A PIRATE TREASURE!

YOU CAN'T TELL ANYONE-- NOT PEARL, NOT JASPER, NOBODY.

NOBODY... NEVER.

IT'S OUR PERSONAL FAMILY SECRET.

WE'LL BE PIRATES

AND PROTECT IT WITH OUR LIVES.

I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH A GOOD SECRET.

COME ON.

MUM WANTS US TO WEED.

YOU COULD CHECK AT MAGILL'S, MATE

JUST DOWN THE ROAD, ABOUT 200 K.

HE BUYS BRUMBIES OFF HIM.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON I'VE MET

WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS HIM.

YEAH.

I WON'T BE TOO LONG, GIRLS.

Opal: CAN'T I COME, TOO?

NO, DARLING, IT'S TOO HOT.

YOU STAY HERE AND HELP LARA.

YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

BYE.

I'LL FINISH THIS.

YOU JUST PLAY.

THANKS, LARA.

OPAL'S CHICKEN CHIPS, DID YOU REMEMBER?

FOR LARA?

( birds chirping )

Jasper: IS IT A SKUNK?

IS IT AN AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL? NO.

YES.

Jasper: IS IT... A...?

JASPER, STAY IN THE CAR.

( grunts )

Gladwyn: HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?

WHY DIDN'T YOU GET THE HOSE?

I JUST LOOKED UP AND OPAL WAS CRYING

AND EVERYTHING WAS ON FIRE.

I DIDN'T KNOW

THERE WAS A HOSE!

( screaming )

OH, MY GOD, OPAL!

( screaming )

OPAL, STOP!

DON'T RUN. YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE!

( screaming )

OPAL, STAY DOWN!

( moaning )

( Opal screaming )

MY GOD!

OH, OPAL

WHERE ARE YOU HURT?

OH, OH, THANK HEAVEN...

JUST PINK IN A FEW PLACES.

MUM...

( screaming )

( whimpers )

( crying )

( water running )

TAKE THAT TO LARA.

SHE JUST SAVED YOUR SISTER, PEARL. MOVE!

MUM HAS US PUT BURNS IN WATER.

IT COOLS THEM DOWN.

( sniffles )

OPAL'S ALWAYS GETTING INTO IT.

SHE NEEDS WATCHING MORE THAN JASPER.

OPAL TOLD ME SHE WAS TRYING TO LIGHT THE FIRE

UNDER THE WATER TANK.

SHE WANTED TO GET CLEANED UP ALL BY HERSELF...

LIKE A BIG GIRL.

( chuckles )

ALWAYS THE LITTLE ADVENTURER.

OPAL SCARES ME TO DEATH SOMETIMES...

BUT SHE CAN MAKE ME LAUGH MORE THAN ANY CHILD I EVER KNEW.

WE'RE HAVING...

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS FOR DINNER, SO...

I'LL CUT YOURS UP

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TWIRL IT WITH A FORK.

CHIP, LARA?

YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT.

THE SALT WILL STING YOUR HANDS.

LOVE YOU, LARA.

LOVE YOU, TOO, OPAL.

( clears throat )

( horn honks )

G'DAY, BILL.

GLADWYN.

LARRY SAID YOU'D GET HIM ON THAT NUMBER

ABOUT 4:00.

THINK YOU MIGHT BE COMING OVER?

WELL, I GOT TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE

SO I MIGHT CALL HIM FROM THERE.

THANKS, ANYWAY.

YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.

YEP.

BYE.

BYE!

I'LL CATCH YOU ALONE SOMETIME, LARA

AND AFTER THAT

YOU'LL WANT TO GIVE ME THAT SILVER DOLLAR.

WON'T SHE, PEARL?

I'M SO SORRY I TOLD HIM, LARA.

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE DONE IT.

BUT... YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE IT TO HIM NOW.

IT'S JUST A COIN.

NO, IT ISN'T.

IT WAS MY MOTHER'S, AND I WON'T GIVE IT TO HIM.

HE LIVES ON OUR ROAD.

HE RIDES OUR BUS.

HE COULD HURT YOU, LARA, AND I THINK HE WOULD.

( horn honking )

HURRY UP!

WE'RE GOING TO CALL DAD.

YOU MEAN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIM

TO COME OUT OF THE BUSH?

WHEN?

OH, THAT'S NOT SO BAD.

YEAH, BUT I'LL MISS YOU.

I'LL MISS YOU.

MUM? MUM.

OKAY. THE KIDS ALL WANT TO HAVE A TALK TO YOU.

OKAY? SEE YOU SOON.

OKAY. YOUR DAD WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

HI, DAD? WHERE ARE YOU?

YOU, TOO, LARA. GO ON.

WHERE'S THAT?

OH.

Opal: LOOK, JASPER.

Jasper: DID YOU MAKE IT, OPAL?

MUM?

HMM?

THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU.

IT'S GOWD, MUM.

HE'S BOTHERING LARA AND...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "BOTHERING"?

YOU KNOW, MAKING FUN OF HER IN FRONT OF THE OTHER KIDS

TEASING HER AND STUFF.

WELL... YOU GIRLS CAN LOOK AFTER THAT, CAN'T YOU?

BUT I'M AFRAID OF HIM.

SO IS LARA.

( sighs )

OH, DEAR.

I'M SCARED OF HIM, TOO.

GOWD'S A BULLY, BUT HE'S A COWARD, TOO.

BEHIND EVERY BULLY IS A COWARD.

I RECKON IF YOU STAND UP TO HIM

HE'LL BACK OFF. TRULY.

Jasper: MUM!

YEAH?

CAN YOU COME HERE?

LOOK. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER, OKAY?

SHE JUST WANTS US TO BE BRAVE.

SHE ALWAYS SAYS WE HAVE TO BE STRONG.

SHE'D HAVE HELPED YOU.

SHE HAS OTHER REASONS

FOR NOT WANTING TO HELP ME.

( quietly ): I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO HIM.

IF YOU JUST GIVE IT TO HIM NOW

DAD WILL GET IT BACK FOR YOU WHEN HE GETS HOME.

AND IF GOWD LOSES IT OR SPENDS IT? THEN WHAT?

IT'S GONE FOREVER.

IF YOU DON'T GIVE THAT SILVER DOLLAR TO GOWD

HE'LL COME AFTER ME TO GET IT

AND I'M AFRAID.

I WANT MUM TO BE PROUD OF ME, LARA.

I DON'T WANT HER TO KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE

OR HOW SCARED I AM.

OKAY, BUT YOU'LL HAVE

TO HELP ME DIG IT UP... TONIGHT.

CAN'T WE DO IT IN THE MORNING?

I DON'T WANT OPAL TO SEE US.

YOU GOT ME INTO THIS, PEARL.

YOU'RE MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE.

IF MUM CATCHES US OUT HERE, WE'LL WISH FOR GOWD.

THEN BE QUIET, PEARL

AND TRY TO HOLD THE LIGHT STILL.

GOOD.

LET'S GO HOME.

LEAVE THE SPADE.

I'LL PUT IT AWAY IN THE MORNING.

WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING OUT HERE?

GET INSIDE, PEARL.

NOW, PEARL NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH GOWD

SHE NEVER SNEAKED OUT AT NIGHT

BEFORE YOU CAME HERE.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ANYTHING.

YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER.

NO, I'M NOT

BUT THIS IS MY HOUSE

AND WHILE YOU LIVE HERE, YOU'LL LIVE BY MY RULES.

IT'S NOT YOUR HOUSE, IT'S MY FATHER'S.

YOU HANG ON...

MY MOTHER WAS THE ONE HE LOVED

THE ONE HE FOLLOWED AND YOU KNOW IT.

THAT'S WHY YOU HATE ME.

I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID TO THAT GOVERNMENT MAN.

YOU CAN TRY AND SEND ME TO SOME ORPHANAGE

SEE IF I CARE.

YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR ME

TO WATCH MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER DIE

AND THEN FIND MYSELF

STUCK IN THE ROTTEN BUSH WITH YOU.

BUT MY FATHER LOVES ME AND HE UNDERSTANDS

AND WHEN HE GETS BACK

THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AROUND HERE.

WELL, UNTIL HE GETS BACK

YOU GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT OUT HERE

OR YOU GOING TO COME INSIDE?

I WANT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

WELL, THEN, I'LL WAIT.

SUIT YOURSELF.

MM-HMM.

AFTER LUNCH, I WANT YOU TO CLEAR A SPACE IN THE SHADE

FOR THE NEW PALMS.

THEY'LL BE HERE, WHAT--

TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY OR SOMETHING?

WHAT ABOUT BELOW THE DAM?

OH, YEAH. THAT 'S A GOOD IDEA.

( brakes squealing )

G'DAY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE FROM THE NURSERY.

NO. JUST A FEW BOXES, MRS. RITCHIE.

"TO LARA."

WHO'S LARA?

UM...

PUT THEM IN THE SHED FOR NOW.

JUST SIGN THERE.

DO WE HAVE TO FINISH ALL THIS BETWEEN THE TREES?

( groaning ): OH.

I WISH I WAS STILL LITTLE LIKE JASPER.

YOU'RE STILL SORT OF LITTLE.

BUT NOT LITTLE ENOUGH.

( thunder rumbling )

( screams )

MUM.

( thunder rumbling )

Pearl: MUM?

PEARL, GET SOME TOWELS.

GET SOME TOWELS

AND TAKE OPAL AND JASPER TO THE TRUCK

AND GET MOVING!

LARA.

LARA, GET THAT STICK.

I DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN TO SEE ME LIKE THIS.

HELP ME UP.

( groaning )

( thunder rumbling )

( crying )

( engine starting )

( Jasper whimpering )

MUM, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?

I'LL BE...

I'LL BE FINE, PEARL.

I CAN LOOK AFTER MYSELF.

MUM, YOU NEARLY WENT OFF THE ROAD.

I'M FINE, PEARL.

( Opal screams )

MUM, YOU'RE DYING!

( screaming )

LARA, YOU'VE GOT TO DRIVE.

I CAN'T DRIVE ON THE MAIN ROAD.

LARA, HURRY.

MUM'S DYING.

HURRY, LARA.

QUICK.

( gears grinding )

HURRY, LARA, HURRY.

WHERE AM I GOING?

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HOSPITAL IS.

TURN RIGHT AT THE NEXT ROAD.

( monitor beeping )

Opal: WHAT IF SHE DIES?

OPAL.

MUM'S MOTHER DIED

WHEN SHE WAS NINE.

DAD SAYS IT WAS THE WORST DAY OF HER LIFE.

SHE WAS NEVER REALLY HAPPY AGAIN.

UNTIL SHE MET DAD.

THEN SHE WAS HAPPY.

THAT'S WHAT SHE ALWAYS SAYS WHEN THEY'RE DANCING.

THE MUSIC ALWAYS WAKES ME UP

BUT I DON'T TELL.

I LIKE TO WATCH THEM DANCE.

MAKES ME HAPPY, TOO.

IS IT LIKE THAT, LARA?

WAS IT THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE?

PLEASE DON'T DIE, MUM.

OH, OPAL...

I'M NOT GOING TO DIE, DARLING.

( galloping horses approaching)

( man whistling )

( urging horses on )

( whistling )

( horses whinnying )

( urging horses on )

( whistling )

HEY!

( urging horses on )

( whistling )

( urging horses on )

( whistling )

THAT'S IT!

GO! GO! YEAH! YEAH! GOOD!

MR. COOPER.

YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A COPPER

OR A BANK MANAGER.

THE TRUCK'S NOT FLASHY ENOUGH FOR AN ALIMONY CHASER.

(chuckles)

YOU'RE AFTER HORSES?

NO, I'M NOT.

I'M HERE ABOUT SOME LAND YOU HAVE CLAIM TO.

I GOT CLAIM TO SOME LAND?

MUST BE WORTH SOMETHING TO YOU,

COMING ALL THIS WAY.

HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ME? EH, A LITTLE WHILE.

BUSH TELEGRAPH SAYS THREE WEEKS.

(chuckles): WELL...

WE CAN CUT OFF YOUR CLAIM BY PUBLICATION NOTICE

AND A COURT PROCEEDING, IT'D JUST TAKE TOO LONG.

WOULDN'T BE VERY FAIR EITHER, WOULD IT?

NO.

THIS HORSE BUSINESS...

PRETTY HARD ON AN OLD BLOKE.

I'M LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY

FOR YOUR RETIREMENT, MR. COOPER.

THIS EASY LIFE--

LIKE A TASTE OF THAT.

YES, SIR, MR. RITCHIE.

I RECKON IT WOULD JUST BE THE ANSWER TO A MAN'S PRAYERS.

( music playing softly )

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE LAST OF THEM, MUM.

GOOD WORK.

NOW LET'S GET CLEANED UP

AND HAVE AN EARLY TEA AND GET TO BED.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS ANY MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL

'CAUSE OF ME, OKAY?

( rooster crowing )

( knocking )

Opal: LARA, OPEN UP.

IT'S ME.

I FOUND IT UNDER A TOWEL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS OUR PERSONAL TREASURE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PIRATES

AND PROTECT IT WITH OUR LIVES.

OPAL, IT'S JUST A COIN, NOT A TREASURE.

IT'S A TREASURE TO ME.

IT WAS THE BEST SECRET I EVER HAD

AND IT BELONGS TO US.

YOU SAID SO.

Pearl: HURRY UP, LARA.

WE'RE GOING TO MISS THE BUS.

YOU'RE RIGHT, OPAL.

IT IS OUR TREASURE

AND WE WON'T LET ANYBODY TAKE IT AWAY FROM US.

YOU GO AND HIDE IT AGAIN-- ANY SECRET PLACE YOU WANT.

SO WHEN HE SHOWS UP FOR THE BUS

YOU JUST GIVE IT TO HIM AND RUN.

I'M NOT GIVING IT TO HIM.

I DON'T HAVE IT.

WHAT?!

WHERE'S MY SILVER DOLLAR, LARA?

I'LL NEVER GIVE IT TO YOU.

DO IT OR WORSE'LL HAPPEN TO YOU.

WON'T IT, PEARL?

TELL HIM WHERE IT IS.

GIVE IT TO ME NOW!

I'LL GIVE YOU NOTHING.

PEARL!

GIVE IT TO ME.

GET OFF!

OW!

( bus approaching )

Pearl: MUM.

WHAT'S HAPPENED?

WHY AREN'T YOU ON THE BUS?

GOWD ATTACKED US, BUT WE STOOD UP TO HIM

AND HE RAN LIKE YOU SAID. DIDN'T HE, LARA?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN

GOWD ATTACKED YOU?

OH, FIRST SNEAKING OUT, NOW FIGHTING.

WHAT NEXT?

LARA.

MUM...

WHAT?

LARA DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

I TOLD GOWD SHE HAD A SILVER DOLLAR.

I DID IT TO MAKE TROUBLE FOR HER.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I DIDN'T WANT HER HERE.

I WAS TRYING TO MAKE TROUBLE FOR HER

SO SHE'D HAVE TO LEAVE.

SORRY.

PEARL.

THOUGHT IT'S WHAT YOU WANTED, TOO.

GO AND FIND HER.

TRY AND GET HER TO COME HOME.

Gowd: I NEVER TOUCHED THEM.

IT'S THAT LARA, MRS. RITCHIE.

SHE'S ALWAYS COMING AROUND TRYING TO TALK TO ME.

UP THE HILL?

YEAH, AND I GUESS SHE COULDN'T STAND IT

WHEN I WOULDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO HER

SO SHE HAD TO MAKE UP A STORY ABOUT A SILVER DOLLAR

AND GOT PEARL TO GO ALONG WITH IT TO GET ME PUNISHED.

WHAT'S A SILVER DOLLAR TO ME?

YEAH, BUT I'VE SEEN THE BRUISES ON LARA'S ARM

AND PEARL DOESN'T LIE.

LARA COULD HAVE BRUISED HER ARM HERSELF.

PEARL'S BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH LARA.

PEARL'S CHANGED.

I DON'T THINK SHE'S THE SAME GIRL SHE USED TO BE.

YEAH. WELL, LARRY COMES HOME THIS WEEK

SO I'LL HAVE TO TELL HIM ABOUT IT, BILL.

WE BOTH WILL.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, GLADWYN

NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE A CHILD WHO'S LOST A MOTHER.

I MEAN, I HAVEN'T HAD THE HEART

TO BE STRICT WITH GOWD SINCE HIS MOTHER DIED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LOSE THEIR MOTHERS.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

YEAH. WELL, THEY SAY

THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

AND WHAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT LARA'S MOTHER...

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

WELL, I'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, SOMEHOW.

THANKS, BILL.

Bill: TAKE CARE.

YEAH. SEE YA.

GO ON.

I HOPE HE COMES SOON.

MM-HMM.

COME AND EAT, YOU TWO.

THE MESSAGE SAID THAT HE'D BE HOME SOME TIME TODAY.

IT MIGHTN'T BE FOR HOURS.

COME ON.

LARA.

HE'S HOME! HE'S HOME!

DAD! DAD!

COME HERE.

I WANT TO KISS YOU.

HEY, JASPER.

OH, PEARL, HONEY

I MISSED YOU, SWEETHEART.

I MISSED YOU, TOO.

YOU LOOK AWFUL.

I DROVE ALL NIGHT.

DID YOU SEE ANY BRUMBIES, DAD?

DOZENS OF THEM.

LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WILD

BIT YOUR MUM, TOO.

SHE CUT IT WITH THE AX.

IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF STITCHES.

SO, THE LAND...?

IT TOOK ALL WE HAD, BUT IT WAS FAIR.

COOPER'S GOT THIS WILD IDEA ABOUT THE EASY LIFE, YOU KNOW.

SO IS IT OURS?

OH!

I GOTCHA.

ALL RIGHT. BREAKFAST.

LARA, SWEETHEART.

Gladwyn: WE'VE GOT A LOT PALMS TO PLANT.

JASSIE, COME ON. LET'S GO.

Jasper: OKAY, MUM.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, THAT'S ENOUGH.

GET CLEANED UP FOR TEA.

NOW CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BRUMBIES?

RIGHT AFTER TEA, SWEETHEART.

DID YOUR TEETH RATTLE LIKE YOU SAID?

ARE THEY LOOSE?

OH, YEAH.

CAN I SEE?

GO AHEAD.

THEY'RE NOT LOOSE, DAD.

NO, I GUESS NOT.

I THINK YOU'RE TEASING ME.

HOW MANY BRUMBIES DID YOU SEE?

HUNDREDS.

DID YOU RIDE ONE?

NOT A ONE.

WHY NOT?

I'M GOING TO GIVE THESE TO THE HORSES

TO CELEBRATE DAD BEING HOME.

LET LARA HELP YOU.

YOU'RE DRY ENOUGH.

THERE YOU GO.

I'M GOING TO GET SOME TEA.

DAD!

DAD'S HOME, THUNDERWITH

BUT IT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE.

NOTHING SEEMS THE SAME.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED

AT WILLY-NILLY.

LARA RITCHIE, WHAT A SURPRISE.

SO YOU DO COME UP HERE.

JAKE, COME.

JAKE!

THIS IS MY DOG.

THAT'S JAKE, YOU IDIOT.

MY FATHER'S OLD DOG.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN LONG AGO.

COME HERE, YOU MISERABLE HOUND.

I TOLD YOU... HE'S MY DOG.

THE DOG IS MINE AND I'LL GET HIM

JUST LIKE I'LL GET YOUR PRECIOUS SILVER DOLLAR.

I'LL NEVER GIVE THAT SILVER DOLLAR TO YOU.

IT'S ALL I'VE GOT LEFT OF MY MOTHER.

THUNDERWITH, COME.

GOOD DOG.

STOP.

SEE, GOWD, YOU'RE NOBODY

AND NOTHING TO US.

Gowd: I SAID STOP!

NOW!

GOWD, NO!

LARA!

DAD, I SAW LARA GO UP ON THE HILL.

TAKE OPAL AND JASPER

AND GET IN THE HOUSE WITH YOUR MUM.

LARA!

IS SHE HURT?

HE'S DEAD.

GOWD KILLED HIM.

GOWD KILLED HIS OWN DOG?

NOT HIS DOG... MY DOG.

HE KILLED THUNDERWITH.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TROUBLE BETWEEN HER AND GOWD.

I TOLD HER TO STAND UP TO HIM AND SHE DID AND...

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

WE'LL BURY HIM TOMORROW, LARA

WHEREVER YOU LIKE.

YOU CAN STAY OUTSIDE HERE FOR A WHILE.

MAYBE WE CAN TALK LATER...

IF YOU FEEL UP TO IT.

ISN'T THIS YOUR MUM'S HANDWRITING?

SHE MUST HAVE BOXED THEM UP

BEFORE SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.

HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN HERE?

NOT LONG.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEY CAME?

NO.

GLADWYN DIDN'T TELL ME.

GLADWYN DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING HERE OF MY MOTHER'S...

INCLUDING ME.

THAT'S NOT TRUE, LARA.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

GLADWYN...

WHAT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GONE?

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HER ABOUT THOSE BOXES?

I TOLD YOU THIS COULDN'T WORK WITHOUT YOU.

YOU LEFT ME ALONE WITH A FARM

WITH THREE CHILDREN AND A STRANGER.

A STRANGER

WHO EVERY TIME I LOOK AT HER, SHE REMINDS ME OF HER MOTHER.

EVERY DAY, SHE'S A CONSTANT REMINDER.

GLADWYN...

CHERYL IS NO THREAT.

SHE NEVER HAS BEEN.

OH, COME ON.

YOU HAVE A PERFECT MEMORY OF HER, YOU KNOW

AND THEN HERE'S ME.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A... A CUT LEG

I'VE GOT TIRED EYES

I'VE GOT A BAD TEMPER...

BUT SHE'S NOT REAL ANYMORE.

I'M REAL, AND SHE DOESN'T NEED YOU, LARRY.

I NEED YOU.

JUST SHUT UP A WHILE.

DON'T BE SO AFRAID.

WHEN WILL YOU LEARN, GLADWYN?

WHEN WILL YOU EVER, EVER LEARN?

THE BOXES CAME THE DAY I CUT MY LEG, BY THE WAY.

Opal: DAD...

WAIT.

LARA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M GOING TO SYDNEY, TO AN ORPHANAGE.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

GOWD WON'T BOTHER YOU ANYMORE, HONEY.

IT'S NOT GOWD.

LOOK, LARA, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A ROUGH START HERE

AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT

BUT I LOVE YOU, HONEY.

CAN'T YOU GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE?

Lara: I WON'T STAY WHERE I'M NOT WANTED.

SO YOU'RE WILLING TO WALK OUT ON OPAL?

HUH?

PEARL AND JASSIE?

ME? YOU WILLING TO WALK OUT ON ME?

IF YOU WON'T HELP ME, I'LL JUST WALK UP TO THE ROAD

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND GO ON MY OWN.

OH, YOU WANT TO GO ON YOUR OWN.

WELL, YOU SHOULD TALK TO GLADWYN ABOUT BEING ON YOUR OWN.

SHE GREW UP IN ORPHAN HOMES, LARA

ALWAYS GOING FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER

ALWAYS LIVING WITH STRANGERS

NEVER KNOWING WHERE OR FOR HOW LONG

BEFORE SHE'D BE MOVED ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.

EVEN NOW, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, SHE'S STILL AFRAID OF LOSING ME.

SHE'S AFRAID, HONEY.

AFRAID THAT SOMEHOW, SOME WAY

YOUR BEING HERE WILL TAKE AWAY

THE ONE FAMILY SHE'S EVER REALLY KNOWN.

BUT YOU WANT TO GO.

AS LONG AS THUNDERWITH WAS HERE...

I FELT THAT I BELONGED HERE.

NOW...

I HAVE TO LEAVE.

WELL, LET ME JUST TAKE CARE OF A FEW THINGS

AND, UH... I'LL DRIVE YOU MYSELF.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE; THAT YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE...

IF THERE IS SUCH A THING.

COULD I JUST HAVE A MINUTE WITH YOU, LARA?

I DON'T WANT YOUR FATHER TO SUFFER AGAIN

THE WAY HE DID WHEN HE LOST YOU BEFORE.

WHEN I MET HIM, HE WAS A BROKEN MAN.

SO, UH...

( clears throat )

IT'S PARTLY FOR HIS SAKE I'M ASKING YOU TO STAY.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FACING YOUR FEARS.

I SUPPOSE IT'S TIME I FACE MY OWN.

I MISJUDGED YOU...

AND I ADDED TO YOUR UNHAPPINESS HERE.

I FOUGHT TO KEEP YOU AWAY

SO YOUR COMING HERE WAS VERY HARD FOR ME

BUT, UM...

WELL, PEOPLE CAN'T ALWAYS CHANGE SO FAST

AND, UM, THEY CAN'T ALWAYS BE

THE SORT OF PEOPLE THEY SHOULD BE.

I HAVE A BIT OF TROUBLE SHOWING MY FEELINGS.

I'M SORRY, LARA.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO TO A HOME.

YOU BELONG HERE.

BUT YOU DON'T LIKE ME, GLADWYN.

NO, I DO LIKE YOU. VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE A BIG HEART AND YOU'RE VERY BRAVE.

IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE

TO COME HERE ALONE TO A HOUSE FULL OF STRANGERS

AND YOU STOOD UP TO GOWD

AND YOU DRAGGED ME TO THE HOSPITAL

WHEN I WAS BLEEDING HALF TO DEATH NEXT TO YOU.

YOU SAVED OPAL.

BUT I WAS AFRAID...

ALL THOSE TIMES.

WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT COURAGE IS, YOU KNOW?

MAYBE IT'S NOT, UM...

NOT BEING AFRAID.

MAYBE IT'S, UH... OVERCOMING YOUR FEAR.

MAYBE THAT'S THE COURAGEOUS THING.

MY MOM WAS BRAVE...

ALWAYS...

EVEN AT THE END.

I BET SHE WAS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BOTH LOST MOTHERS.

MAYBE WHEN WE GET AFRAID

WE'LL... WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH THAT...

IF YOU WANT.

HELLO.

UM, WE NEED YOU TO BRING LARA'S BED IN FROM THE VERANDA

INTO HERE.

SHE WANTS TO SLEEP WITH THE KIDS.

QUICK, JASSIE, QUICK!

HURRY!

LARA, HE'S HERE! HE'S HERE! OPAL...

UH, LARA...

I FELT REALLY BAD ABOUT GOWD.

WELL, HE'LL THINK TWICE

BEFORE HE TRIES SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON AGAIN.

BUT STILL... BILL...

UH, ANYWAY...

UH, JAKE...

I MEAN, THUNDERWITH, UH...

HE COMES FROM A LITTER UP BY ST. GEORGE

AND FROM THE BERRIGANS, IN FACT,

BUT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THEM TO GET OLD ENOUGH

BEFORE I COULD TAKE THEM

OFF THEIR MOTHER, BUT I REALLY...

OH, OKAY.

Opal: LOOK, LARA, HE'S FOR YOU!

( barking )

( both laughing )