Original subtitles

Wash your hands. Comb your hair.

Come on. Come on. No no no.

Hurry up. Come on, get in the back.

- No, we have to go. - Stand up.

- He'll kill us. - Everyone in the car!

Come on, Simeon!

You're late.

- We... - Only one minute.

If you're a minute late for heaven,

do you think God will still let you in?

I told him to get his hair cut.

Well...

What is that?

It's my birthday present.

Take it off. We're going to a funeral.

- Give me the tie. - Nobody notices it.

God might.

Look dad. There's the poatas.

Over there!

The Mahanas! Drive faster!

That's crazy. We're racing to a funeral? What's the hurry?

The shearing contract! Rupeni Poata thinks he can get in there ahead of us.

You old bastard.

- Fast! Come on! Come on! - Come on! Make it quick!

Give up, you crazy maniacs!

- You fools are gonna get us killed! - Idiots.

- Drive! Go faster! - To the bridge! Drive faster!

- Look, there is Simeon's girlfriend. - No she is not.

Poata!

Idiots!

- Faster! - We have to get to the bridge before them!

Do you see that? You bastards.

Mr. Collins, our sympathies from the Mahana family. Your father was a great man.

He respected the traditions. As I know you will too.

Before he says anything, I wanna talk to you about the shearing contract.

Our contract remains the same, right? The contract I signed with your father.

Yes. Yes. Everything stays the same.

You couldn't even wait till the old fellow was dead and buried.

He only wanted to work with the best shearers.

Gentlemen... welcome.

You will remember that this is a house of God.

Built with Mahana hands.

On Poata land. Come on, family.

Please be seated.

I call on one of our most respected citizens from the Maori community,

Tamihana Mahana, to say a few words.

I remember when we all started out here...

clearing the land for grazing.

It was hard... hard making a living.

Hard for Pakeha and Maori alike.

But if you worked for old Collins here, he always did right by you.

A pound of butter a week, jam with our bread.

And payment in straight cash when the last sheep was counted out.

Hard.

This country is great because of men like old Collins.

Hard working men of God. His word was his bond.

God bless his family. God bless his lands.

Thank you. I'd now like to...

call upon the esteemed Chairman of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce...

I'm bloody starving.

Simeon.

Say bless.

So...

My grandfather always says, it's tough being Maori...

So just as well we have God to look after us...

Bless Mohi for getting out of jail, again.

And bless the judge for releasing him. Again.

Bless Lloyd for getting better from appendicitis...

and bless Collins for renewing the shearing contract,

even though we have too much work already.

- Amen. - Amen.

Wise guy.

There's no such thing as too much work, Simeon.

A lot of people are going hungry out there.

Be grateful you're not one of them.

I don't know why can't he keep his mouth shut. The other kids aren't like that.

He is a teenager. Don't you remember what that was like?

Joshua! I was always respectful.

I knew my place. Simeon is simply a know-it-all.

Darling, what's the point in discussing this? I agree with you.

Simeon will be alright.

His father is too soft on him. It's a hard world out there.

But Joshua got a hand on all it.

It's not the same world you grew up in.

No.

It's not...

Mahana One, start at Wilkinson's.

Mahana Three, work the valley farms.

Mahana Two, you're up at Collins.

Pani!

You stay at home with your aunties, Gloria.

You too, Simeon.

But they're a man short! They need me on the shearing team.

You're not a man yet.

Father...

It's your grandfather's decision.

Remember who you are and do what he says. Come on now.

- Bye honey. - Okay. Bye.

Simeon! You have an hour before the school bus.

Chop some firewood, clear out all the fireplaces...

and light a fire in the front room.

Yes, grandfather.

Simeon! The bus is coming!

- Good morning, Patutahi. - Good morning, Mr. McKenzie.

Okay, listen carefully.

"A family is a tyranny ruled over by its weakest member."

Now who said that?

-George Bernard Shaw. - Very good. Thank you, Simeon.

- Nerd. -Poppy!

What do you think Shaw meant by that?

Anyone?

Te Kaha, yes.

The little ones always get their way?

Okay, good.

Anything else?

Harry has a little one.

Quiet... settle down! Settle down.

Come on! Other kinds of weakness.

Physical, moral, intellectual...

He didn't just mean the youngest. Other kinds of weakness?

No? All right.

Other kinds of strength, then.

Simeon?

Well...

Strength doesn't have to be physical.

A small person can have a strong personality.

Look at Hitler.

Good.

Very good.

OK. Shaw was a man who expressed his views in very clean-spoken language.

Let the ax do the work.

There.

When you're finished there, clean the cowshed.

Yes, grandfather.

When you finish that, the generator needs diesel.

Yes, grandfather.

Yes, grandfather. Yes, grandfather.

That's right, darling. Butter it nice and thick while the boys are away.

- Thank you, Simeon. - It's nice to be appreciated.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Grandfather's only trying to toughen you up.

No, he's not.

Maybe if you'd let one of us cut your hair.

- Cut your own hair, auntie. - Hey! Don't speak back to your elders!

And while we're at it, stop sniffing around that Poata girl.

She's on the bus every morning. What am I supposed to do?

- Wear a blindfold? - Ignore her.

We all know what these Poatas are like.

Rupeni was good enough for grandmother.

What are you talking about?

You and Rupeni Poata, in the old days.

Are you mad? Grandmother wouldn't have anything to do with the old toad face.

They had their photo taken.

Simeon...

- Is that grandmother? - Faith, Gloria...

- Why... - All the kids, out of the room. Out.

- Where did you find that? - In grandmother's desk, when I was cleaning.

You had no right to do that. This is private.

Well, if it's private, why are they posing?

I'll tell you why. Grandmother was promised to Rupeni,

but she couldn't stand him.

That's why she's not smiling in the photo.

No one smiles in old photos.

Grandfather loved her more than Rupeni. He stole her away on her wedding day.

Yeah, he rode past the church on his horse then, and snatched her right from under Rupeni's nose.

Then how come Mom and Dad never told me this?

Oh, it's women's business. Why do you need to know?

It's family history! It's the reason why those Poatas hate us.

- Let me see that photo again. - It's not yours to look at.

- But I'm the one who found it! - Oh, stop making a nuisance of yourself!

Go and have a wash.

Did you hear all that, grandmother?

Some of it.

Is it true?...

about grandfather snatching you away on a horse?

- People exaggerate... - So what's the truth?

The truth is that men fight for what they want.

They always had and they always will. That's the way of the world, Simeon.

And what did you want?

What took you so long? When you get back from

school, I marked sheep for butchering.

Yes, grandfather.

Amen.

What are you waiting for? Christmas?

- Make it quick so the sheep won't suffer. - I can manage.

Here.

Bloody young people think life is cowboy movies and magazines.

Think you can live without working?

- Eat without killing? - I said I can manage.

Skin it, gut it, take it up to your father's crew.

- But that's an eight-hour ride. - That's by sundown tomorrow.

I can stay up and help them.

That's by tomorrow.

I wanna come with you.

You can't. Grandfather wouldn't allow it.

Why does everyone have to do what Grandfather says?

The same reason you have to do what I say.

And I want to see all these stables at least half full.

Here!

Simeon! What are you doing here?

Brought some fresh meat. Butchered 12 hours ago.

Oh, you didn't need to do that! The farmer gives us meat.

And Grandfather didn’t know that?

Put it in the meat locker.

Bring her in! Next sheep! Yes, pick it up!

Yes.

Bring her over. Clean everything.

Simeon!

Hey Dad.

Hey. Do you want to have a go at beating your best time?

Good.

Remember, a full one slower is better than a half one faster.

Keep your bottom tines the skin.

Breathe. Good. Relax. Good. Good!

Keep going.

Minute thirty.

1.35.

Very good. You're a natural, son.

Breakfast! Someone give me the tally book?

You should have seen at the last farm.

The wool up there was full of burrs and we had three days of rain.

But we're up to about... nine hundred a day now.

It would be good to have another shearer, Simeon.

There's a stand with your name on it.

No... I can't stay. Grandfather wants me back by sundown.

Today? Why?

No reason... as usual.

Hey Simeon!

How is Miriam?

- She's good. - All right. Give her this.

Tell her...

She knows you love her, Pani.

It isn't her you have to convince.

Just give her the envelope, eh?

Simeon!

There. All set.

Have fun.

Sure, mom. I'm having a great time there.

It is an honor to stay with the elders and look after them.

This is rubbish... and you know it.

Truth is, we're slaves to him.

Miriam and Pani because he won't let them get married...

You and dad because he won't give you any land of your own...

Simeon, when your grandfather came here he had nothing.

Nothing. He stood up to Poatas,

he bought that land on the hill and built a home for us.

You'd prefer that we were on our own, begging for work in the city,

to have me do Pakeha laundry while your father digs roads?

- That wouldn't happen. - Why wouldn't it?

He is toughest on the kids that he believes in.

The ones that actually might amount to something.

So...

We'll be home in a week and everything will be just as it always was.

That's what I'm afraid of!

- Where does all this come from? - You think that's a lot?

You wanna see when the shearers bring their dirty clothes in.

Hey, Simeon. Do you want to swap?

Hardly.

- What are you even doing here, Miriam? - Where else would I go?

Marry Pani and get out of here. You're the only reason he hangs around here.

- Grandfather wouldn't allow it. - What's it got to do with him?

He's playing with you, he does it with all of us.

What I can't work out is why everyone just sits back and takes it.

Simeon. Leave Miriam alone. She's got work to do, so do you.

The young ones want to go to the cinema tomorrow night.

- To see what? - A western.

So they can go?

If they want to waste their money on make-believe...

They are young, Tamihana. They're entitled to a little joy in their life.

And what about the old ones?... are we entitled?

Just give up, Simeon, you're ever downright handsome.

Stay out of trouble, look after your sisters. Right, come on! Up you go!

- All right, dear? - New Zealand, 138 to 3.

Lovely.

I love Van Heflin.

Quiet please!

Quiet!

If you don't keep quiet, I'll turn it off. Be quiet!

The rest of us will follow the prisoner in a coach. Do I have two volunteers?

We have to know what we're getting ourselves into.

Sure. Might not be safe.

Safe? Who knows what's safe?

I know a man who dropped dead from looking at his wife.

My own grandmother fought the Indians for 60 years,

then choked to death on lemon pie.

I'll hold the shotgun for you, can I?

Look, Wade, I don't have anything against you personally, you know I'm just doing this for the money.

- I know. - But I want you to understand one thing...

if you start across this... eight feet between us,

I'm gonna pull both triggers at once.

Turn off the movie! Quiet!

Hey, Poata! Take your horse and get out of here!

Get off!

- You Poatas always have to destroy everything. - Come here, you troublemaker.

If you don't get it out, I will. Come here!

Stand up. Get out of here.

Let me go!

Out!

The cops will be here soon!

Drop, Ben, drop!

Hey, Patutahi.

Today is the day we get to witness the New Zealand justice system in action. In a court room.

We're gonna start in the chambers, and then we head through

to the courthouse, which should be still in session.

Now it's important if you get to meet the judge, he should be referred to as "Your Honor."

- Everyone got it? - Yes, Mr. McKenzie.

Very good.

- Mr McKenzie. - Morning!

Good morning, children.

Good morning, Mrs. Simpson.

His Honor has already seen about 20 cases this morning.

You'll only be able to witness three or four, but it will get you an idea.

Just remember, if you will, that Maori isn't to be spoken in the courtroom or chambers.

- You can come through now. - Keep to the side.

Your Honor....

Take a seat. Fast.

I call Tangaroa Ropata...

The salient facts are before you, Your Honor.

The defendant swore at his employer and has been charged with verbal assault.

How do you plead?

The defendant pleads guilty, Your Honor.

- Fined £20. - Step down.

I'm calling Jonah Watu.

Charged with attempted fraud, Your Honor.

The accused offered to sell a stretch of

tribal land of which he was not the owner.

How do you plead?

The defendant pleads guilty, Your Honor.

Term of imprisonment - one year.

Remove the defendant.

I call Mihaere Poata.

The accused is charged with damage to property...

and endangering life in a public place.

He rode his horse into a crowded cinema.

- The circumstances were as follows... - Yes, I am aware of the circumstances.

How do you plead?

The defendant pleads guilty, Your Honor.

Since this is your second serious offense in six months, I am disinclined to be lenient, see?

I therefore I'm handing down the maximum penalty available to me.

Two years imprisonment.

Two years! That's a joke!

- Order! Order! - You must be joking!

Any more of this, and the constable will clear the court!

Remove the defendant.

As it is 1 o'clock, that brings to an end this morning session.

We will resume at 2 p.m. prompt.

Excuse me, Your Honor. Before court adjourns...

the class of Patutahi Senior School wish to thank you

for the opportunity to briefly witness the justice system.

One of our students, Simeon Mahana, will deliver the thanks.

Your Honor...

I did prepare a speech of thanks.

But instead I have a question.

If no one can speak Maori here, how can we Maori possibly defend ourselves?

Mihaere Poata rode his horse into the cinema.

By all means, may it come to him as mishap.

But to take two years away from a young man's life...

that may be the rule of law...

but it cannot be called justice.

In all respect, this is a

it does this court no honor, Your Honor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- Court is adjourned! - All rise!

Sorry, Mr McKenzie.

Never apologize, son. It's a sign of weakness.

Who did say that?

John Steinbeck?

John Wayne, in Red River.

You spoke your mind, son, I'm proud of you.

- In the bus. - Simeon Mahana!

You spoke well today. You spoke on behalf of all of us.

Come on, get on the bus.

Lord, bless this meal. Bless the hands that prepared it.

Don't let us forget who our friends are...

nor who are our enemies.

- Amen. - Amen.

Before we eat, I just want to say to the young people in this family

that you will no longer be attending the Patutahi cinema.

Why?

Because it's unwholesome.

What about religious films?

There is no such thing as religious films.

"Solomon and Sheba",

"The Robe", "The Ten Commandments"...

Simeon!

Those are just an excuse to show naked flesh.

What if you've never seen them before, how could you possibly...

That's enough!

The boy needs disciplining. We'll start with a haircut.

- Where are the shears? - Tamihana...

The shears! They're in the barn, right? Then we'll go there.

- No Please not! - No, dad!

You think all that book learning is more important than what you learn here?

I'll teach you what respect means.

The same way my uncles taught me.

- Koro! Leave my brother alone! - Get the girl away.

- Father! -Tamihana!

- Do not listen to him. - Out of my way, Joshua!

- Watch his head. - Here we are, darling.

- Put him on the bed. - Are you ready?

Watch his head.

Okay, come on. Give him some space.

- The children should stay outside. - Quiet! Away! You!

- You hit me! - Forgive me.

You and your family...

you are banished from my land.

Hey Dad...

I know what I'm saying! Shut up all of you!

Joshua and his family...

are banished from my land.

And when I die, you won't get nothing from me.

- I speak with him. Go home and... - Don't listen to him, Josh.

He has no house! Listen!

The house he was living in is mine!

And I'm taking it back.

Then I give them mine.

My land...

and my house... I give to Joshua, and Huriah, and their children.

I forbid this.

You can't, Tamihana.

Even your power has limits.

Dad, dad...

Dad, he didn't...

I'll go get some tarpaulin and we can camp inside until it's all fixed up.

Big girls, come help me!

I'm sorry mom... I thought it was just me against him.

I never thought he'd take it out on all of us.

Well, now you know.

Look!

Look, it's nanny!

What's she doing?

She's saying goodbye to her bees.

Gloria!

Grandma...

What are you telling them?

I'm promissing them that you won't cut the meadow flowers.

And in return they're telling me they'll give you the sweetest honey in the world.

- Are you hungry? - Yes.

I'll make you a paraua.

Grandmother?

I saw a man here once. Outside the house at night.

I think it was Rupeni Poata.

Come on, boy.

Leave it, Joshua. We can always get water at the river.

Okay, darling.

So, mom?

Yes.

- Son! - Yes.

Keep all those nails. We need every scrap.

Okay, dad.

- Do fellows need some help? - Yes.

I can't stay too long.

Your grandfather would kill me if he knew I was here.

What are you up to?

- Amen. - Amen.

So, Pani...

You're making a choice, are you?

The choice of where to live. You're working with Joshua now.

No. I just dropped by with some tools to help him out.

What about you, Miriam?

Do you want to live in a shed with a man who's got no job...

nowhere to live?

Because he's not staying here anymore.

Tamihana, stop it.

Your decision.

Well, then we'll live in a shed.

Look, mom!

At least she'll be company for you.

But it's still two extra mouths to feed.

Three more, that's right.

I'm not having four.

Joshua!

- Girls, get up! - Pani! Simeon!

Miriam!

Pani! Go get the tarpaulin.

Girls! Up! Look after your sister.

- And the ropes! - Yes.

Quickly!

When I get up there, tie the ropes down on this side!

I try to throwing the rest over the ridge.

I am lighter. It's better if I climb up there.

No. You hold on to the ladder. Pani, come round the other side.

Try to catch the ropes when I throw them.

Where's the broom?

- Use the towels, Miriam. - I have the towels.

Dad!

Dad! Are you alright?

- Aaagh! - Let's get him inside!

Pani, put him on the table. Faith, chairs! Hope...

Get that, Gloria.

What are you doing?

I'm taking his shoe off before it swells up.

They taught us in first aid.

Don't touch it, you'll make it worse.

Pani, give me some scissors.

Here.

We have to get him to a doctor's.

No, have you seen the river? There's no way we'll get a car through there.

- Run and get your grandfather. - He won't come.

Just ask him!

Go!

Miriam, give me some boiling water. Hope, find me a clean towel.

Did he come?

- Can I come in? - Girls, upstairs.

- What is that? - It's called the "Thomas splint".

Caesar got it when he broke his leg at the rugby.

You should have taken his boot off. Lift up his leg.

And we gotta swipe this all the way up to his thigh. All the way up. As high as you can go.

OK. Get him something to bite on.

OK? Ready?

Quick, quick! Tighten the belt. You, tighten this one.

OK...

Loosen the straps if his leg goes numb.

Keep the wound clean. And when the swelling

goes down, take him to Doctor Gillespie.

Alright?

No.

But thank you.

- Hi, Simeon. - Hey, Huia.

So, that was the break two months ago...

and this is now.

As you can see, it's healing quite well.

You're lucky you didn't get it infected. Another month...

- and we'll get the plaster off. - Another month?!!

And several weeks after that before you're fully mobile.

But he'll be alright to shear?

No, I'm afraid not.

Try not to put too much weight on it. And tell your father I need to see him.

Sooner rather than later.

Better if you drop him a note...

We don't see much of him these days.

Okay, bye.

Bye.

- Hello, Simeon. - Mr McKenzie.

- Mrs. Mahana. How can we help? - Just flour and potatoes.

- Maybe some bacon. - And shoes.

Will you be paying cash or...?

I thought we could put it on the account.

You've already quite a long list of debts...

- and with Mr. Mahana is still laid... - Come Gloria.

Well perhaps your grandfather will help you.

Mr. McKenzie...

- Where are you going? - I won't be long.

- How are you doing? Alright? - Hey.

Also working or just lazing around?

Cheers. Thanks.

Cheers.

- Excuse me, Mr. Collins. - Simeon...

You're a bit young to be in here, aren't you?

I'm here to speak to you about shearing this spring.

I'll be talking to your grandfather about it.

Better if you speak to me, sir.

We're the ones who work on your sheds.

Grandpa's gang will be doing the Wilkinsons'.

Well... If you are saying your grandfather's having a manpower shortage

I might be looking for the Poatas.

My father will be ready for the spring, sir.

OK. Fair enough.

You tell your father to come and see me when the plaster's off.

Thank you very much, sir.

Simeon.

I know it's not much, but old Gilchrist around the corner has...

Where've you been?

- The pub. - What?

Mr. McKenzie says old man Gilchrist needs some stomping wood.

Brush cutting? Is that what we've come to?

Thanks.

- Thanks. - Thank you.

Where's my cup of tea?

- Grandma! - Grandma!

My grandchildren. I missed you.

Granny!

Hello grandma.

- Show me your hands. - Show grandma the thorns.

A thorn? Oh, you need some of Grandma's Hinu oil, huh?

- Are you alright? - Yes.

- You're okay? - Yes.

Hey. There too, and for you.

- And for mom. -Oh.

I want to light it!

OK. Well, come here then.

You have to hold on tight. Complete? And then straight in.

Go on, go on.

All the way through.

Did you want something?

I called on Collins about the spring contract.

He said your family asked for it.

I don't know anything about that.

Don't you lie to me, Joshua!

Mahana One is so busy, you can't work everywhere at once.

I decide who shears where.

Leave my dad alone.

You young pup!

We don't belong to you anymore. And neither does this land.

Now get lost before I report you for trespass.

That bloody Pakeha school, huh? Breeding toughy lawyers...

- What have they done to you? - You did it. You cast us out.

Which means you can't tell us what to do anymore.

Shouldn't have done that.

- You don't know what he's capable of. - He doesn't know what we're capable of.

"Sometimes you have to fall down to know where you stand."

Jimmy Stewart said that.

I think we should enter the Golden Shears.

- "Mahana One". - Great. Simply sign here.

Yes, that's right. Here.

Why are you doing this, Joshua?

- Families don't compete against family. - Really? Then show me where it says that.

What are you gonna call yourselves?

Write us down as “Mahana Two”.

Miriam! It should be working now! Try the tap.

OK.

Look! We have water in the house!

It works!

Yes.

And tomorrow we will shear sheep!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here at the Golden Shears semi-final...

the crowd is going wild for a team of outsiders, Mahana Two, who are

giving the reigning champions a run for their money!

This Josh Mahana, now he knows his way around a sheep.

Josh Mahana and his team have certainly wowed the crowd, Stan.

They got their work cut for them taking on the Christies.

Go Daddy!

I remember when Walter Christie and Harry Climo were unbeatable.

But these Maori boys seem to be taking them to the cleaners!

This Mahana team is coming out of nowhere!

Go Daddy!

I don't know about you, Clarrie, but his is a great day, what do you think?

Well Stan, I actually think every day I breathe is a good day... But, no, I agree with you.

It's always great for the locals when the underdogs are battling the record holders.

It looks like they've done it! We'll have to wait for the final score, but I'm pretty sure

Mahana Two have beat the Christies

and sent them back to their sheds in hessian bags.

This Mahana win has certainly put the cat among the pigeons.

Well, that's for sure, Clarrie.

I suspect old man Christie will be having a few words to his boys.

So, ladies and gentlemen, an exciting final we're heading towards.

- Got any tips for our listeners, Stan? - I got a couple of tips for you, Clarrie.

Don't mow your lawns in the wet, never hangman sort of hook,

and always raise your fire from the bottom up.

Right, ladies and gentlemen, we come to the final contestants for the semi-final round.

Would the Poatas and Mahana One come to the shearing stage, please!

This is an old rivalry, Stan.

There is no love lost between 'these two gang shearers.

Okay, let's get get on with it, Clarrie. Judges, are you ready?

Timekeepers?

Okay, contestants...

Go!

We promised you a titanic fight, ladies and gentlemen. Look at these teams go!

These great shearing families pushing each other to their limits.

Come on, Caesar! Go!

There are 47 million sheep in New Zealand and they all need shearing!

Who would you bet on?

If I had any money?... Mahana One by a whisker.

- And then it would be us against them? - Eye. Then it would be us against them.

Look at that Caesar Poata. Fastest individual shearer last year,

and Maatiu Mahana matching him blow for blow.

Don't let him kick you, son.

Both these families and supporters cheering them on.

Keep your head up, Maatiu.

You know, as long as the sky is blue and the grass is green,

we'll have these teams here to show us what good shearing is.

Fill it all, Maatiu!

Come on, Caesar, come on!

Come on! Let's go!

Hello, Maatiu Mahana has been distracted by something in the audience.

Ah, a gentleman has taken his tumble.

Tamihana, tell me what's wrong.

He seems to be OK though. But a distraction can cost valuable seconds.

I'm telling you, if you close your eyes even for a moment...

If you turn away from this competition, you will lose valuable time.

Yes, Stan. I see the Poatas already on the advance, they show no mercy.

I think you're right, Clarrie. Caesar Poata pushes his team to the limit.

I fear this round was over before it even began.

- Yeah. - Let's go on!

It looks like the Poatas have nailed it.

Looks like they're through to the final.

I can tell you that Maatiu Mahana will not be a happy camper after this heat.

You're not wrong there, Clarrie.

Grandmother! Are you alright?

What's wrong with Grandpa?

Cancer. Doctor Gillespie already told him.

He had an examination. Says he's been passing blood for months.

He wouldn't admit to weakness, of course...

not even to me.

Maybe that's because he loves you.

But I don't love him. I never have.

He knows that.

- He didn't snatch you from the church? - No...

- All of that happened months before I got to the church. - What happened?

The house at bee meadow was built for me by Rupeni Poata.

We planned to live there together.

But then your grandfather had other ideas.

Tamihana...

That's how I became pregnant with Maatiu.

Afterwards the elders made us marry.

That's how it was, then.

Then the story was told that Tamihana had somehow rescued me.

Why didn't you run away?

Go where?

Pregnant... alone?

Then Rupeni went off to war, looking to forget...

maybe looking to be killed...

And I bore your grandfather five children,

each one binding me tighter to him.

- You remind me of him sometimes. - Of grandfather?!

The way you never let go.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for the big Poverty Bay final.

Oh, that's you, isn't it?

Hurry.

Can we have both teams in the stands, please?

The Poatas and Mahana Two.

So here are the Poatas gang, led by Caesar Poata,

the fastest individual shearer two years running.

And Mahana Two, the newcomers, who won their heat

with an impressive time of 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

Alright, Clarrie. Let's get the ball rolling.

Judges, timekeepers, are you ready?

Gisborne, are you ready?

Say the words, Clarrie.

Competitors... Go!

Go, Joshua!

Excellent shearing skills from young Simeon Mahana.

And I think his dead rather taught him well!

- Come on, Joshua! - Come on!

Come on, Caesar!

Look at that superb work from Joshua Mahana with a long blow!

Come on, Pani!

Come on, Joshua!

Unbelievable technique from Mahana Two.

These shearers are a joy to watch.

The old pals Poata still slightly ahead.

Come on, Caesar, come on!

Come on, Simeon.

Still everybody can win, because anything can happen.

Look at Caesar Poata go! He got a well-oiled machine.

Maatiu, take me home.

Now?

It's over.

- What time do we have, Stan? - Six minutes.

Both teams are still in the run to beat the seven minutes.

Come on, Simeon! Go, Simeon!

It's break-neck race between the two teams for everything they've got into the last few seconds.

Come on, Joshua!

Yes!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, Caesar Poata has finished first.

I hate to say it, but there is no stopping this team.

Well, Clarrie, we'll have to wait for the judges' decision.

But it looks like the Poatas have done it.

A terrific performance Mahana Two, the newcomers.

And the crowd clearly impressed by their appearance at their first Golden Shears.

All done.

Ladies and gentlemen, could you please give a warm welcome...

to Mr. Mervyn Williams from the New Zealand Chamber of Agriculture.

Thank you. Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, what a final round!

Mahana Two are in their first year of competition...

taking the fight to the reigning champs.

So, without further ado.

The award for fastest individual shearer goes to...

-Caesar Poata. - Yes!

Speed isn't everything, however.

The judges take many things into account: rough handling...

cuts, wool left on the sheep...

They're also looking for exceptional technique and close shearing.

So for that reason, and adding in penalty points...

Golden Shears award for the best shearing team this year goes to...

Mahana Two!

Gisborne East Coast and Poverty Bay District.

The leader of the Mahana team...

Joshua Mahana, to accept the award.

Congratulations.

First thing, I'd like to thank my wife...

who has stood by me through thick and thin.

I'd like to thank my son, who persuaded us to

enter into this competition.

And last please, I'd like to dedicate this to my father, Tamihana Mahana...

and I know that this will mean a lot to him.

...presented by Muir's Bookshop on Gladstone Road.

In a surprise finish to the Golden Shears regional final...

a team of newcomers led by Joshua Mahana,

has won the grand prize and helped Gisborne shearing regain its reputation.

Did you hear that, pop?

Joshua's team won! Hey, we did it!

How close are we?

It's almost there.

Hey mum. How much did we win?

250 pounds.

Hey. What was it with Grandfather?

He was a little bit tired, I think, darling.

- Thank you doctor, I appreciate it. - Okay.

- Come here, my darling. Alright? - Hello darling.

So yes...

Cancer in the bowel.

The doctor gave him something for the pain.

There's else nothing to be done. It's all spread.

We might lose him tonight, brother.

What are you hanging around for?

We take turns. Someone should be with you.

I was born without your help.

I can die without your help.

But if you're waiting for my forgiveness...

you have a long wait.

The place you're going to... it is God's forgiveness I'd worry about.

Come here...

Closer.

- Drop your trousers. - What?

Drop your trousers. What are you afraid of?

I am not afraid of you.

Do you think you have the balls to hold this family together?

Huh?

I'll learn.

It was you who went to Collins for the shearing contract.

That was a smart move. I would've done the same.

You did it for your family.

Good.

A man fights for his family, Simeon, or he's nothing.

The drawer...

There is a Bible in there.

Do you want me to read to you?

You deal with it.

- Let's do something, Maatiu. - Come on.

You old bastard. I prayed for years to see you in your coffin.

The whole of the East Coast rejoices that you are dead.

Now I can't wait to see you buried.

You've cast too long a shadow.

Take it with you... and leave us in the sun.

Why did you let them in here? Trampling our honor.

Quiet!

You want to know why Rupeni hates Grandfather?

Well maybe now is the time to discuss it.

Before he died, Grandfather gave me this letter.

It's an agreement with Grandmother, from years ago.

She agreed to marry him because he had forced himself upon her...

- got her pregnant. - That's enough!

- Sit down! - She was promised to Rupeni.

A promise she never gave up.

It's time to speak plainly. I need to talk to your mother.

Get on. And take you and your bloody brood with you.

You take your hands off me, Maatiu Mahana.

I'm not too old to punch your lights out.

What have you done? What were you thinking?

Someone has to take Grandmother's side on this.

This isn't about your grandmother!

Has everybody forgotten who just died here?

- She loves Rupeni. - She is 60 years old, Simeon!

How can she be in love with anyone?

We are here to honor Tamihana Mahana...

a rangatira.

Let us be honored with truth!

Not lies.

Simeon is right.

Now it's the time for plain speaking!

Some of you were there when I was

told that I must marry Tamihana Mahana.

And you all know what sorrow it caused me in the end.

But many good things came out of it.

Including all of you.

I promised to stay loyal until death do us part.

I will play the role of the mourning wife...

but then I'm free to live my own life.

And Rupeni Poata...

My love for you will never die.

Never.

And nore mine.

Nice work!

It took guts to stand up there.

It's funny... I sort of miss the old bugger now.

Kind of amazing, don't you think?

That you can still be in love with someone at their age.

Not really.

Want to come to the movies?

- Who's in it? - Elvis.

Elvis?

Sure!

Is Van Heflin in it? - No.

But Richard Jaeckel.

Who made it?

Don Siegel.

Oh, great!

Didn't he make Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

Yes.

Oh, I love that movie!