Original subtitles

The Holy Sheep proclaims His Gospel, Amen.

Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer,

Sonless Victim, Crucified.

All I am is love eternal,

in that love I live.

Take my heart open,

take my soul, my strength, my mind.

I'm so worried about Nicholas.

Why isn't he like other boys?

Because he's not.

He's so lonely.

Always picking fights, isn't he?

My God, he takes after your father.

My mother's from Germany.

Dad got to know her when he was a student in Heidelberg.

She often says she doesn't belong in New Zealand.

I'm sick and tired of doing it all by myself.

I know how she feels.

She's always wanted me to toe the line.

It's your job to make sure Nicholas behaves properly.

Checkmate.

You have to do something.

Put your foot down.

All right.

I'll give it another try.

Nicholas!

Nicholas!

Ever since I was younger, I've been pretty moody.

I suppose it's made me a bit difficult for Mum and Dad.

Dad infuriated me the way he was always so reasonable when I did something wrong.

Well, it seems to be time for another one of our talks, son.

It gets me. It really does.

I mean, Grandfather Flinders would have taken off

his belt and settled the whole thing in two minutes.

Look, Nick, I mightn't be the best of fathers.

God knows my father wasn't either.

But we do our best.

Most fathers do.

I hated being the son of the local schoolteacher.

I reckon teaching country kids history and

poetry would make most people do their blocks.

Dad's always saying that we should treat the Māori's better.

They were here first, with their own language and all.

The only friend I had was a Māori kid I once saved from drowning, Sam Waikai.

To tell the truth, I think kissing's a pretty

sloppy business when my mother does it.

But with Mrs Waikai, I didn't mind too much.

It was her way of showing she was happy.

You'll be in bed again, Uncle Tahu.

You know what the doctor said?

He just said no more beer.

And no more haka's either.

Thank you, all right.

Why don't we ever have a party?

A party?

Yeah, with lots of people and beer and everything. Everyone laughing and singing.

You might even enjoy yourself.

You don't know what you're talking about, people laughing and singing.

They're sick in the bathroom, ruin the furniture, trample the garden.

We've been to parties like that.

We even threw one or two ourselves.

Student parties.

A bit too old for that kind of thing now.

Too old?

One learns to accept one's age.

I wasn't so young.

I wasn't suggesting we have a party.

I was just wondering why we never do.

Like the Waikais.

I can see you and Samuel getting along well together.

You love Sam like the rest of us.

Yeah, me and Sam are pretty good friends, all right.

I couldn't help thinking we were friends.

Only because he felt he owed it to me for rescuing him.

He always had me on his hands as a brother whether he liked it or not.

Got a lot to learn, eh, mate?

Remember, Mum's expecting you to bring back a lot of meat.

Don't worry.

And don't you go near that old murder house up there.

Doesn't look scary, just old.

You've seen enough. Let's go.

I just want to have a look inside.

What do you want to find, blood?

We could sleep here tonight.

Are you crazy? Not me.

It was a horrible murder a few years ago.

My dad used to teach them kids at school.

He reckoned they were quick.

Two teenage boys killed the rest of their family.

Their mother, father and three little sisters.

Don't you want to have a look inside?

Go on.

Go inside.

If you're not too scared.

Are you scared?

The Māori's going for a lot of tapu.

Superstitions about what you can do and what you can't.

Especially where people have died.

Sometimes, you need to find out how scared you can be.

Not Sam.

He probably knew already.

You are quick.

Seen enough?

Yeah, to tell the truth, there wasn't much to see anyway.

I haven't heard another shot all day.

I reckon everyone knows this place is all shot out.

Except us.

So what? It's a nice place anyway.

It's alright for you.

But I promised to take some meat home.

It's not my problem.

Going hunting meant more to Sam than it did to me.

He made me feel a bit guilty because he was

expected to bring home some meat for the family.

He promised them he would.

I didn't have to promise my parents anything at all.

Tomorrow will be a good day, eh?

It wasn't a good day at all.

I wished Sam hadn't laughed at me.

Then I would have stopped him going out on that ledge.

Maybe there is something in Tapu after all.

I shouldn't have gone into that murder house.

We found him on the ledge below where he was trapped.

I think the other lad must have gone after him.

And they both must have fallen.

And Sam?

I'm afraid he was killed.

It was hard.

Too damn hard.

It was much easier to think about being killed.

My parents would be damn sorry for a lot of things they'd said to me.

Derek would come down for the funeral in his best dark suit.

All ready to console my parents.

He'd know just how to handle the whole business.

And I couldn't have thought of anyone better than Grandfather Flinders.

He wasn't exactly around to give advice.

But all the same, the idea of him bucked me up a lot.

Be careful Sam.

Careful you haven't that long.

Don't get him up that slow.

Everything's okay now.

Had a bad fall, right?

I didn't know yet.

They thought I didn't know Sam was dead.

Who's today's favourite, Dennis?

No one.

It's that kid from school.

Why are you so interested in young Flinders all of a sudden?

It says here, when the search party arrived, young Nicholas Flinders,

himself injured and weak from exposure,

was only concerned for the welfare of his companion.

Look after Sam, he told them.

Oh, that Waikai boy that got killed.

Wasn't he wonderful, Mum?

Don't try any of your truth jokes on me.

It's all right, Nick. It's only to ease the pain.

I'm not ignorant.

I've read books.

Well, Nick, how are we today?

You could have warned me first.

Warn you?

You take down anything I say and use it as evidence.

You're a card boy, a real card.

No, to be serious, Nick, I must ask you a few questions.

Where are the handcuffs?

Have you got something to tell me, Nick?

Warn me properly.

I must warn you, Nicholas Flinders,

that anything you say may be taken down and used as evidence against you.

It's more like it.

The first thing I want to say is...

I'm guilty.

I killed Sam Waikai.

Sam...

Sam.

He'll find us.

I...

shot him.

How did you shoot him?

With a rifle.

I'll tell you something for a fact, Nick.

"Bullets make holes" You couldn't have shot him.

Why not?

Because you were both great friends, for one thing.

Or so I've been told.

You've never read Oscar Wilde?

He said people who like each other sometimes kill each other.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Quite a card, this Oscar.

It didn't make much of an impression on Sergeant Crimmins.

Still, Oscar Wilde knew what he was talking about.

Each man kills the thing he loves.

It explained everything all of a sudden.

Come now, we're all God's children.

That's our bad luck then.

Bad luck?

He ought to accept some responsibility.

Looks like he can get away with pretty well anything.

I read a book once about the Jews

being stuffed into cattle wagons,

taken to gas chambers.

Little kids, old women and all.

Are you suggesting he was responsible?

No. He ought to put a stop to the world, the human race, right then.

He loves us, Nick.

That's great. Just great.

Where did you pick up all these ideas?

He talked as if a boy in New Zealand shouldn't

really know about the Jews or anything.

The more he rambled on, the more suspicious I got.

He was just softening me up.

Go on, ask me.

Ask you what, Nick?

Ask me why I feel guilty. Ask me! Go on!

You'd better leave.

Oh my dear God.

Farewell, Samuel. Farewell to the home of

everlasting peace on the marae of your ancestors.

You have left the pains and frustration of this world to us,

the living behind you. Death is inevitable.

What he giveth, he taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Therefore, Samuel, farewell, farewell.

Farewell.

You shouldn't leave Nick in this room. Not with that going on.

Move him to room two, then.

I don't think they would have wanted me at Sam's funeral.

The way I felt, I wouldn't have wanted to be there anyway.

When Sam died, I lost all hope of ever evening up with him.

He stayed in debt to me for once rescuing him.

I'd never know whether or not he really liked me.

Reading books is not the answer, you know, Nicholas.

To tell the truth, I wasn't too keen about being back home.

I'd just learned to cope with the hospital.

Now I had to start all over again.

We don't know what to do about Nicholas.

You can see what he's like.

Spends all his days up in the bedroom reading Oscar Wilde.

Nothing much else.

At the end of our whips.

I've told Nick many times.

Nobody else is going to help him.

He must help himself.

Homosexuality, not necessarily physical at all, is quite common among adolescents.

How do you know all this?

It's common knowledge these days.

And who gave Nicholas Oscar Wilde to read?

He would have stopped reading altogether if it hadn't been for those stories.

I'm not going to stay here and listen to this filth about Nicholas.

He's not much interested in girls.

Young people often go through a homosexual phase.

Well, I didn't.

I refuse to believe the world has gone stark raving homosexual.

Yes, Mum, but today...

Come on, wake up in there.

Bloody near midday.

Oh, it's Dad.

My God.

Hello, Dad. Good morning.

Where is he? Where's the boy?

Nicholas is still very ill.

The doctor says he's not to be disturbed.

That's all them fuckers ever say.

I can't have you disturbing him.

God, oh, Mikey, I've come 100 miles to see that boy.

I can't help that.

We asked you to stay away.

All I get told is he's sick.

Yes, he's sick, all right.

He's sick with women's fuss and doctor's bullshit.

Frank.

Frank, did you hear that?

I did not come to New Zealand to be abused by this monster.

Look, Dad.

Come into the kitchen.

I've got a bottle of brandy.

Brandy?

At this hour of the morning?

First time I've ever been offered a drink the moment I set foot in this house.

Right.

There's no question of disturbing Nicholas.

Helga.

No one's doing that.

Dad's just paying us a friendly visit, aren't you, Dad?

Well, you can call it what you bloody like.

As long as I can have a talk with Nick.

Someone in my family's got to turn out all right.

I suppose so, Dad.

This used to be a man's country.

Now the bloody women have taken over.

Did you hear that?

You might be right, Dad.

I know I'm right.

How's your eyesight, son?

Could be worse.

Have to wear glasses for reading these days.

Well, I wish you'd put them on your bloody nose.

There's an empty glass sitting here in front of me.

Sorry, Dad. More brandy?

No.

I want to see Nick.

That's it. I've had enough.

Either he goes or I go.

Let him settle down.

This is my house.

Now, come on.

I'm not being ridiculous. I say either he goes or I go.

Give the old boy a chance.

Good morning, boy.

Oh, boy.

Do you hear them? How is it?

God's sake.

If I can get around to it, Grandad.

That vicious old man.

Quiet, you two. And don't you come disturbing us.

Then why aren't you getting up?

I still feel crook.

Ah, bloody nonsense. You've got nothing to feel crook about.

You're still alive, aren't you?

Which is more than can be said for that Maori cobra of yours.

What happened up there?

I only meant to frighten him.

Tell me the truth. What really happened?

I should never have gone into that murder house.

What?

It's about Tapu and all that.

What are you reading?

Sorry, he said, I'm a bit dislocated tonight.

Why don't you get up?

Because people only want to talk to me.

Yes, people want to talk.

That's all they're good for, most of them, talking.

I get fed up with their stupid questions.

Well, you'll just have to get used to it.

Statistically, 97.5% of the population are mentally deficient.

I read that in a book once and I never forgot it.

Yeah.

Your mother, for instance, is 18 bobbing a pound.

And scatties are foul.

Most women aren't.

How do you know I'm sane?

Well, I'm not saying you are.

Derek says I'm a bit of a queer.

He reckons I've got a fixation.

Christ almighty, what's that?

A queer thinks something's psychological.

Shit, a brick, no wonder you're crook.

That idiot.

Suddenly I felt Grandfather was on my side.

I realised Grandfather understood me.

Anyone who starts seeing valleys like thighs is beyond human help.

That's for certain.

I don't feel very sane at the moment.

Well, that's a healthy sign that you admit it.

It shows you know the truth.

You know the difference.

I thought of you up there at one stage.

You did?

I wondered what you thought about when you

were stuck in the bush with your broken thigh.

Well, one of the things I was thinking was...

I wonder if I remember to milk the cows.

I never could rely on any of my bloody sons.

Did they?

No.

Course not.

Too busy here and through the bush looking for me.

And the lion buggers actually pretended they wanted to find me.

No.

But your Grandmother remembered.

What a girl she was.

So don't make women like her anymore.

Were you in love with her?

None of your business, young fella.

What you need is a holiday with your Grandmother and me.

And that's why I've come down here, to take you back with me.

What do you say?

Great.

Good.

One thing about it.

You always remembered any day Grandfather Flinders turned up.

Hey, you two.

I'll tell you what we're gonna do.

Thanks.

Here.

Mum was certainly beginning to sob.

Not because of Grandfather.

Because of me.

She cared about me.

She really did.

I mean, I didn't get on too badly with Mum and Dad on the whole.

They did their best.

Oh, bloody son!

Sometimes I feel sorry for them.

The things they miss.

The fun they've never had.

All the family keep announcing me.

Which day?

What day?

I don't know what to say.

Maybe.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Maybe not.

I wonder who I'm waiting for.

I don't know what to say.

G'day Grandfather!

Ah, Nick!

So you've arrived at last!

Good!

Come on, we've got a lot to do.

Where you going?

Up to the golf course.

What for?

To get some golf balls.

I'm running out of betting money.

Come on!

You're gonna need a little help.

You better get it done!

It's yours. Damn wind. I found it!

My grandfather had been pinching golf balls for years.

He called it his brandy and betting money.

That's the stuff.

Come and give me a hand with this hand grip.

I have to make sure my ribs have mended.

Medical rubbish.

Oh, it's you, Nick.

Nick. Nick.

Are you better now?

Oh, for God's sake, woman, give the boy a

chance to catch his breath. We're working here.

Oh, how could you, Barney? Come along inside. You need something to eat.

Are you sure you're all right now?

I'm fine, thanks. Come on.

Just make yourself at home, Nick.

There was quite a lot about you, even in the papers here, you know.

Here.

Well, you're awfully worried. You might be hurt more than the papers said.

They never tell the real story.

Who was this friend of yours, this Murray boy?

Oh, just a kid I knew. We knocked about together.

It was... he was so sad, the whole business.

I suppose you miss him.

I suppose I do.

I never really knew whether he liked me or not.

You're so thin.

You're going to need a lot of building up.

Nick, you know your parents wouldn't like you coming here.

I've seen them at Telegram.

You should always write a proper letter explaining why you left.

It's polite.

Politeness costs nothing, I always say.

I wish we had the first letter.

You've got your phone on.

But your grandfather won't have one in the house.

Honestly, Nick, it's not that we're not pleased to see you.

But you shouldn't have upset your parents like that.

I'm sure Hubert put you up to that.

Honestly, Nick, that man gets worse with age.

Turn on the wires, woman.

Turn it on yourself.

It's your department.

This fancy. He's scared of electricity.

He still won't even turn the lights on and off.

The leader, Secret Joe, is getting up very handy.

And so too is Gavadin over on the outside chum bowling.

Followed by Springback, May and Malay.

He's in on the rail.

And he's back about five lengths from the leader.

He's going to have to be more than just a good horse to... Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, mate!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Jesus!

Wit!

You've been up to your old tricks again.

Upsetting Frank and Helga.

I haven't been up to anything.

No?

No, and quiet, woman.

Bloody knacks! Turn it off!

You shouldn't upset them like that.

They had a sick child in the house.

Balls. Absolute balls.

Please, watch your language.

He's tired of their stupid questions and that idiot

bloody brother of his with his head-shrinkery and that.

Idiot indeed. Look who's talking.

And you, going off to make a fool of yourself again in court.

And you, going off to make a fool of yourself this afternoon.

You better get yourself ready.

Why didn't you remind me about this earlier?

Why is grandfather always going to court?

He likes arguing.

Barney'd sit in smoky little huts in the bush and study law books.

When he wasn't farming, he was having a court case.

His way of relaxing.

He still wants to put the world to rights.

Is this your famous British justice for which

our ancestors fought and died at Magna Carta?

Is this your famous British justice for which our ancestors fought

and died at Magna Carta?

Ancestors fought and died at Magna Carta?

Magna Carta wasn't a battle.

As far as I can see, it was just an ordinary piece of blackmail.

What do you want?

I just can't eat anymore.

That is not my problem, Your Honour. My problem is an entirely different matter.

Might I remind Your Honour that my grandfather was

one of the first Europeans to come to New Zealand?

In 1832, eight years before this country became a British colony,

we were pouring out our sweat and blood.

And where did it get us?

Where, the brave dreams?

I'll tell you where.

In the clammy hands of bureaucrats.

Where were they when men, real men, were winning this country from the wilderness?

They probably hadn't been born.

All right, Your Honour. All right.

And it probably would have been a bloody sight better if they never had been born.

Get to the point, Mr. Flinders.

Well, I haven't got to that part of the speech yet.

I haven't nutted out what I'm going to say about poultry.

But don't you come disturbing me.

What is the legal definition of poultry?

How long did you live in the bush?

Long enough.

We had six children up there.

No, no, four.

The twins, that's your Uncle Ted and Auntie Margaret,

were born in the ferns by a bush track.

On my own.

Your grandfather had ridden off to get the doctor.

Having all those kids, he seems pretty selfish.

No, Nick, not really.

Not selfish.

Barney was a man who made up his mind.

He wasn't going to be used as a doormat by anybody.

He was never afraid to stand up to the world.

He couldn't help admiring him.

If I lose this case because I haven't enough time

to get my papers together properly, it'll be your fault.

Don't mention to your grandfather what we've been talking about, Nick.

It would make him very unhappy.

Don't tell him too much.

Too much of anything is not good for him.

I'll keep an eye on him.

Hello, dear.

Nicholas Flinders here.

I'm from a school back in Taika.

Ah!

I think you must be down by the pond.

Oh, thanks.

Nick!

Hello, Nick!

Hey!

What a wonderful place!

Hey, what are you doing here?

Shove off!

I had a sick feeling the moment I heard my own name.

I knew it was Taika catching up with me at last.

And not just Taika.

My mind had been empty.

Really empty.

And now I had things all over again.

Fern and creeper dripping with rain.

And sand beside me.

Well, Mum and Dad are getting upset.

Tell them I'll be back when I'm ready.

When will that be?

When I'm ready.

See, I've got more family now than you realise.

You mean these Māori's?

I mean Mrs Waikai.

She said Sam and me were like brothers,

which makes me her son too, in a way.

Surely you don't take that seriously, Nick?

I have to, don't I?

If Mrs Waikai does.

Derek rambled on about how he understood me.

If he did, I didn't see why he should come and see me.

He couldn't seem to get it straight in his head

that I'd come to grandfather's place because I'd wanted to.

It was a pity Derek's grown old so young,

and his face was almost as unhappy as Dad's.

He was determined to make a big mystery out of it all.

So he kept on about how my escape mechanisms were operating

and that I was avoiding fundamental issues.

All perfectly natural, he thought, from a psychological point of view.

I don't see that at all.

Well, if you don't see that, you don't see anything.

You've been talking about responsibilities.

No matter what I do, somebody's going to end up getting hurt.

Hey, what's this?

No, it's a gums bear.

Be hard to throw.

No, you don't throw it. You dig with it.

Like this.

There's still a bit of gum left if you know where to look.

You mean we might go and look?

I've been meaning to talk to you about it.

You and me should take a trip back to the old places.

I've been planning it for years.

Then why haven't you gone?

No one to go with.

That's one thing.

Your grandmother would never have it on.

She's not going to move from this place.

Not till she dies.

That's what she says.

She's had enough of being dragged around from place to place in her life.

And she's not going to shift from here again.

Ever.

All right. You've got somebody to go with now.

Good.

But don't say a thing to your grandmother.

You understand?

This is strictly between you and me.

You promise?

I promise.

When are we going?

Well, hold your horses, boy.

I've got other problems right now.

Hubert!

And here's one of them.

Where is that man?

Go down to the shop and get some more salt.

You've sprinkled it all in the garden.

Grandmother and grandfather became jealous if the other took up too much of my time.

You see?

She always called him Hubert when she was angry with him.

And Barney when she wasn't.

Hey! Nick!

What the hell are you doing here?

School holidays, silly.

Had you forgotten?

Back home in Taika, people have been wondering about you.

We heard you cleared off from home.

Lucky you.

It's not true.

I merely happened to be having a holiday with my grandparents.

You know, Taika's been really quiet without you.

Without you, you mean? You're always rattling on.

Hey!

You arguing with me, Nick?

I never said a word.

Now, once upon a time, I thought you were terribly quiet.

I still am.

When I'm left alone.

You know, we were really sorry to hear about Sam and everything.

You knew he was your best friend, eh?

Yeah, he was a pretty good friend.

Just the same old Nick Flinders, huh?

He's still scared of girls.

That'll be the bloody day no girl ever scared me.

You don't fool me.

You're scaring me right now.

So why don't you just prove it to me, then?

I'm not terribly interested in proving anything right now.

You're scared of me, you are.

You don't shut up.

What sort of a lesson?

To keep your silly mouth shut.

Come on, then. You just try it.

Just like that.

There's nothing like it.

Try some.

The minerals are good for you.

I used to drink that every day when I was digging in the gum fields.

We must go up there soon, boy.

First we'll try the gum.

Then we'll try the gold.

Then we might go down the country a bit.

That trip was something he could look forward to.

At times, he probably kidded himself into believing he would really do it one day.

I wondered whether he'd ever go.

Whether he really wanted to.

Always talking about it.

Maybe only dreaming of the gum fields and gold fields.

Perhaps he was afraid they wouldn't be there anymore.

Nick.

Tell him it's not true.

Tell him what's not true.

That I've been turning against him.

It's not true.

Exactly.

I wouldn't worry about it, Grandma.

He's just got another bee in his bonnet.

You mean a great deal to him, Nick.

You know that.

Just go along with it.

Fall in with his ideas.

It's the only way.

Otherwise he'll keep on saying I'm turning you against him.

Can't put a stop to that, all right?

He'll come round again.

He's still only a child, really.

Nowadays, it just gets too much for me.

When I first met him, he was a champion axeman.

Did I ever tell you that, Nick?

He was huge.

There was no one could cut through an 18-inch log faster.

Stop me if I'm boring you, Nick.

No, you're not boring me.

I'm interested, I really am.

He didn't seem the sort of man that we'd need looking after.

But he did.

Perhaps that's why I've lasted alive so long.

Wanting to look after him.

You've done a pretty good job, all right.

You think so, Nick.

You really think so.

Give me a hand in the house, Nick.

I'm not feeling particularly strong today.

I've got a little night down.

Do you want a drink?

I'll bring you a cup of tea.

That would have been nice, Nick.

Pull the curtains, Nick, will you please?

A little shatter will do me a world of good.

God, almighty!

Bloody horses!

What's this? Down the drain again?

Where's your grandmother?

She's asleep.

At this hour of the day?

Beth, you know you don't like sleeping during the day.

You won't sleep tonight.

You must...

Now, Nick...

About that trip...

Yeah?

I've been thinking...

I've been thinking...

We must make that trip.

Yeah, we'll talk about it later. I'll just take this in the garage.

No, wait, wait, wait!

Leave her asleep.

We must talk.

Come.

Come.

Come.

I could never be too sure of the old boy at the best of times.

Then I remembered what Grandmother had said.

Fall in with his ideas.

For her sake.

There's nothing much to talk about.

Really.

It's just a question of do we go or don't we?

Do we?

In the rain?

You mean right now?

Yes, that's what I mean.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

All right.

Right at that moment, I knew he liked me.

He really did care about me after all.

And to make him that happy, I'd have gone anywhere with him.

I knew.

You knew what?

You turned out all right.

I'll go say goodbye to Grandmother.

No.

No.

You promised.

This is strictly between you and me.

If he wanted to be Don Quixote, I decided I'd better be his Sancho Panza.

Shouldn't you leave her a message?

Yes.

I'll see she gets my message.

There was something odd about the whole afternoon.

Grandfather didn't look back once.

It was raining, but he couldn't wait to get going.

And then he took me by the hand.

That's the way to do it.

Black with a few manuka leaves.

Gives it the flavour.

Good.

That's a tip for the future.

My God, it's been years.

Since what?

You can smell it for miles.

Bit of manuka and real Billy tea.

How about, er, sparing an old scrub cutter a mug of tea?

You a scrub cutter?

Yeah, I was.

Once.

Where are you now?

Here, have some.

Milk?

Ah, no, thanks.

What a waste of 50 years.

Where did you cut scrub?

All over.

Started when I was 15.

Just after my old man died and sold the farm up.

Well, you've come a long way since then.

You could say that.

I wouldn't.

Christ knows I've missed a lot.

You're a vanishing race.

Dead.

Don't get so bloody personal, man.

What right have you got to kill me off as soon as you meet me?

You two going far?

Fairway.

Mind if I come along?

What do you think, Nick?

Can we have him along?

No problem.

Fact is, we've done so well for rides up to now

that we haven't had time to study the countryside.

That's why we're taking this breather here.

I'll take you anywhere you want to go.

It's all right by me.

Good!

Uh, Adamson's the name, by the way.

Fred Adamson.

Mine's Barney. Barney Hubertson.

And this is Nick, my youngest son.

Son?

Why not?

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Let's get moving.

He's all right.

Why would we leave him when it was comfortable?

Well, it's the kindest thing we can do.

Well, he's been happy up to now.

We don't want to spoil it for him, do we?

What did you say her name was Hubertson?

Well, I never tell anybody too much.

On principle.

Is the bridge all right?

Yeah, it's safe.

There.

That's where we began.

You too, Nick.

I've always been afraid to come back...

because of the changes that I might find.

But what is there to be afraid of?

Bloody nothing.

.

This...

I... I always did my best.

And I know I've never been up to much.

And I caused you a lot of heartache through the years,

while you stood by me against all those bastards

who like bringing a man down to their own size.

Look at what I found.

Oh, it's a piece of gum from the old days.

Can I have it?

It's yours.

Holy hell.

I hadn't thought that grandfather could weep.

Why?

Because he'd had to leave this place once?

Or was it grandmother?

I had the sensation that if I moved,

the moon and stars might pop out and leave everything black.

.

I might have been right back in the bush beside Sam.

Then it struck me.

Grandfather might be dying beside me, like Sam.

And there was no one near who could come and help.

Suddenly I was sure.

He was dying, and I was alone.

I've read books which tell me there's nothing like

nature to put a bit of romance back in the soul.

But it's not true.

There's always people, everywhere.

I felt like getting a rifle and plugging every human being in sight,

myself included.

Weren't we all a bloody mistake?

It seemed to me something had gone wrong with the world,

a long time back.

And what went wrong was the first human being.

Nick! Nick!

Nick! Come and get your breakfast!

It's ready!

Coming!

What are you doing here?

Swimming.

What's the matter with you?

Nothing. I mean, there was someone in the water.

It looks like it was a Loch Ness monster.

No, it was a girl. She was trying to drown herself.

And you simply ran away?

It wasn't quite as simple as that.

But you ran away?

You would have too.

Don't jump to conclusions, son.

Never jump to conclusions in an argument.

Who is she?

Don't know.

Who is this girl?

Sally.

If you want to drown yourself, you weren't making much of a job of it.

Have a cup of tea with this.

Thank you.

Come close to the fire, Miss... Miss Nothing. Just call me Sally.

I'm sorry to walk in on you like this.

Delighted. Miss Nothing.

Oh, could I borrow a towel or something?

Nick, get her a towel, will you?

Sally, that's Nick.

He doesn't say much.

He's a little on the shy side.

They talked about me as if I was something in a museum.

You used to farm here?

Yes, I bought the farm after I made enough money in the Gumfields.

The Gumfields?

There's nothing there now.

Must have been real men in those days.

I don't know where they are now.

Dead, I suppose. Dead.

Not all of them.

It's hard to find a real man these days.

I mean, I've kept on with Michael for a year now.

God knows why.

Michael?

My boyfriend.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter?

Of course it does.

Can't find anyone better, I suppose.

But that's not the worst thing.

The worst thing is, I love him.

I do.

He's an artist.

Needless to say, he's got to teach, too.

Adoring woman, and he's even brought a pet pupil along with him.

That's the bitter end.

She was ruining everything.

We'd been quite happy until she'd come along.

Now she was making herself at home with us, all right.

It was disgusting the way Grandfather played up to her,

and the way she led him along, oohing and

aahing at some yarn he'd spin about himself.

Nick, what are you doing over there?

Sitting and looking.

Why not sit and look over here?

I can do it quite nicely over here, thank you.

Snob.

How's that towel coming along, Nick?

I could see through that.

A stunt to fetch me over.

Museum time again.

Thank you.

What would you do if your boyfriend asked you on a holiday,

and brought another girl along, too?

If you really want your Michael, you must put up a fight for him.

Make him jealous.

How about your son?

He might be a bit young.

Oh, well, I'd better get back to the battlefield.

Thanks for everything.

Could you show me the way back, Nick?

Come on, Nick, do the decent for the lady.

Lady? What a joke.

You don't know how lucky you are to have a fine old grandmother.

You don't have a father like that. Thanks.

He's really a wonderful old gentleman.

Gentleman? Ha! Almost as big a joke as lady.

They were certainly getting pretty inflated ideas about each other.

I just wish you could have seen him chasing poor little kids away from his apple tree.

What a coincidence that you're Derek Flinder's brother.

Did Grandfather tell you about Derek?

Yeah. But I've always liked his palms.

Sounds to me as if he might be very sensible.

I bet he didn't tell you Derek was sensible.

No. Doesn't seem to think too highly of Derek.

It eased my mind to know Grandfather was still on my side.

Come on.

Daddy, we've been worried about you.

I bet.

Michael, this is Nick.

Where did you spring from?

Charming. He always asks batuous questions.

And this is Kate. Kate Simmons.

Hi there.

Thank God I've had breakfast.

You'll just have to manage those sausages between you.

We can manage nicely.

I'm sure you bloody will. And probably already have.

Now look here. I thought we agreed last night. No more bitchiness.

Just a moment, Nick. I'll change.

I might have known we wouldn't have had it to ourselves again this year.

It was too good to last.

You sound as if you own the place.

You're too young to understand.

Don't jump to conclusions too quickly.

Unfair, Michael. Nick's age shouldn't make any difference.

Obviously it's not your place exclusively, that's all.

Was I saying it was mine exclusively?

Not exactly.

Then please, don't put words into my mouth.

I can do that myself, thanks.

I can see that, Michael.

What are you getting at?

I'm just agreeing.

Agreeing that you seem perfectly capable of putting your own words into your own mouth.

What do you mean, seem? Are you implying that I'm not?

Oh dear, you're terribly touchy.

Get this straight.

I don't need to be told the meaning of what I say by you or anyone.

You hear me?

Lovely day!

Shut up!

And when the dark clouds come to me We'll share a load of the sorrow

Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-dee-dee Da-da-da-da-da-dee-dee

You're a real handyman.

To come for a walk with us.

Oh, I think I'll have a little snooze.

Oh?

I've been going a bit short in sleep lately.

Come on.

Hey Sally, are you coming?

Come on, Sally.

Thanks for the towel.

My pleasure.

I hope you're not shy, Nick.

No. Why?

Because it would be nice to have a swim.

I'm not shy, Nick.

Sure. Why not?

See, I'm not shy.

Of course I'd forgotten. You were in hospital.

All those nurses.

You soon get shy and it's not bad.

No!

Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr!

To tell the truth, I'd started to like Sally quite a lot.

Some girls just don't let you forget their girls.

With Sally that day, I often forgot.

She could have been a mate like Sam for all I thought about it.

No!

It all started with the potty chair, really.

When he started laughing at me.

I just wanted to get him back.

And when we were in the bush hunting,

I came across a big cave full of bones.

I didn't realise it was bones.

I thought it was tapu though.

And I wanted to get him back and scare him.

I didn't mean to scare him as much as I did.

Because after that, he walked back and fell off the cliff.

I wanted to just help him.

And I tried. I fell down too.

And that's what happened.

Look at that! Fancy finding a house like that out here.

It's a bit weird.

Weird's right.

Wonder who lives there?

I don't know.

But Grandfather would have a fit if he saw this.

Let's have a look.

Tara!

Silly!

What are you doing here?

I could ask you the same.

Well, I'm doing a modelling job at the moment.

Well, look, we don't want to get in the way.

Oh, no, no, no. He's a friend of mine.

You know Sal Crisillo? Famous photographer. Do you know him?

Well, yeah, no offence.

Funny, huh?

Well, Sal likes his location.

Shoulders lean, love, lean.

Sal, these are my friends. Derek's brother, Nick.

Derek? Derek who? Which Derek?

You know, the poet, Derek Flinders.

What a small world. Look, we're racing.

We're running out of time, folks. Must move.

Look, love to have a chat.

Move on into the house and make yourself at home.

And we'll join you shortly.

Quickly, ladies and gentlemen. Back into this again, please.

All right?

Just move it along, ladies. The sun's going.

Nick's going to Garmis. Thanks.

Nick?

It's beautiful, isn't it?

Great, a fireplace.

Hey, shall we have a glass of wine?

Mm-hmm.

Thanks.

Cheers.

Mm.

It's nice.

For a while there this morning, I thought you didn't like me, Nick.

Come to think of it, you didn't seem to like me much either.

I'm not so sour on life now.

I'm pleased to hear that.

Are you?

I never said I was sour on life.

Oh, come on, now, Nick. No secrets between friends.

Good stuff, this, eh?

Look at this.

The second one always tastes better.

So people actually buy my brother's poems, eh?

Incredible.

Come on, heads on up. Just a little bit more.

Okay, change of garments from there, please, ladies.

Tara, just a little bit more.

Move those along, love.

David, take another cheek of that reading, buddy, because that light's going quickly.

All right.

Just again, keep... All right, just keep an eye on that make-up, ladies.

Don't knock it around too much.

Let's see.

Look at this.

Look at this.

Look at this.

Look at this.

It's quite a neat place, this, eh?

Well, thanks. Thanks for it all.

David, if you just organise those contracts and things for him.

All right, I'll get them signed, and I'll see you back at the studio.

Thank you, buddy. Thank you, thank you.

Here you go.

Done, love, done.

Let's go and meet young Flinders, eh?

Here you go.

I think there's someone in here. I'll have a look.

What's his name?

Nick.

Nick.

Sally.

Uh, excuse us.

Making yourself at home? Great.

Lovely view up there.

Uh, yeah.

We'd better get out of here.

Oh, let's not rush away.

I've always wanted to meet Sal.

Give me some music. Quickly, quickly, quickly.

Thanks.

Oh.

Don't think it isn't still new for me.

I'm not much older than you, and certainly not very much wiser.

Well, it's true. I'm still a virgin, almost.

A virgin once or twice removed, if that's possible.

I really couldn't make any sense out of this at the time.

I only understood that she was reassuring me,

and that was the main thing for now and forever.

I knew suddenly I would look after Sally whatever happened.

No one was going to hurt her again.

Hi.

Look, I'm sorry, but... Oh, no, no, no. Come on in.

Excuse me.

Join us.

Derek, so, your glasses for our good friends.

Ah, so, you're the infamous Derek Thunder's brother, are you?

Pleased to meet you.

Here you go.

Thanks.

And... No?

Oh, no, thanks.

No.

Derek, in my opinion, is a wee bit wet, but, uh,

he's a fine poet.

Yes.

Yeah, I've heard.

I like his poems.

I think he's a very sensitive person.

I must be going.

Grandfather will be waiting for me.

Thanks a lot.

Sally?

I'm sorry the stay's been so short, but, uh, we're always looking for phases.

We'll have to come up to the studio sometime.

Thank you.

We'll see you sometime.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Oh, wait a minute.

You forgot your scarf.

Thanks.

It's good seeing you again.

Yeah, likewise.

You take care.

Okay.

We'll come to you soon.

See you later.

Bye.

Come with me back to Grandfather's place.

No, I don't think so, Nat.

Don't go back.

No, I'm not going back to Michael.

But you have to go back to your grandfather.

He needs you.

Me?

Yes.

Love you, Nat.

Let's stay together.

No.

I'll walk you back.

Oh, God, darling, I've been so worried.

I thought something had happened.

Oh, well, I suppose even cradle snatchers deserve congratulations.

You always put things so nicely.

You'll be happy to know Kate's cleared off.

Back to town.

Very sad for you, Michael.

You know, I think I might have liked Kate at a given time.

We interrupt this program to bring you a message from the police.

The family of Mr. Hubert Flinders of Fraserville

would be grateful for information of his present whereabouts.

Mr. Flinders is thought to be accompanied by his grandson,

Nicholas Flinders of Taika.

Hubert Flinders is an elderly man, white-haired,

and walks with a slight blimp.

Nicholas Flinders is about to...

God almighty, who's after you this time?

Nobody.

Why would they be describing us on the radio?

Have you been drinking, boy?

The police after us?

Could be.

Once on the goldfields, there was this sneaky little claim jumper.

We had a fight, and our blood in here killed him.

We'd better get out of here.

Up in the bush.

You're out of luck if you want to buy horses.

No horses? What's the country coming to?

Wait a minute. Let me think.

Yeah, there's just a chance.

My cousin Ahu's got a couple hanging around his place.

I don't know, though. He might not still have them.

I don't know, though. He might not still have them.

We might try, old Ahu.

Where can we find him?

Not far. I'll take you there.

You don't want to buy a motorbike?

No good in the bush. Horses are what we want. Two horses.

All right. Two hundred dollars.

Fifty.

I'll leave you to it, Ahu. I must go.

Thank you for the ride.

Haere rā.

Haere rā.

Dry argument. Come and have a homebrew.

Not a bad idea.

What about these horses?

Just not any horses, you know.

They belong to my wife. She bred them.

Just before she died, she told me that the... Your wife died?

Yeah.

Listen, if, uh, you fellas have got nowhere to go, you've got to go.

You can stay around here for a couple of weeks if you like.

Doesn't matter to me.

Anyway, those two horses, they're no bloody good.

Wouldn't waste money on them.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll give you the two hundred for the horses, with the saddles.

Hard man, eh?

And some more homebrew.

Kia ora.

Kia ora.

Hmm.

Where's the gumspear? Looks like we've lost it.

Oh, that doesn't matter anymore.

Something always gets left behind.

Tell the thing for a young fella.

You lose your wife like that.

Maori bloke, too.

Remember that story I told you?

No. What story?

About the claim jumper.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, well, it was partly true, but it wasn't about gold.

Get up!

It was about a girl. My girl.

But looking back, I see that he probably did me a good turn, that fella.

By pinching her.

Why?

Well, if it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have met Beth.

Why are you looking so miserable?

It doesn't matter that we haven't found the place yet.

It's not that.

You're still thinking about that Sam?

Not Sam.

It's Sally.

You know where you're going?

Well, I used to own land here somewhere.

I knew my way around here blindfold.

When it was just a matter of crashing through the

bush before they built all these bloody roads.

You know what I mean?

I hope we get in somewhere.

Turn off somewhere.

My place used to be up there.

I don't suppose there'd be a building left now.

Ah, well, it doesn't matter.

I can see you're not too shook on the bush.

I can tell.

It's spooky in the rain.

Try to eat something.

I'm all right.

You've got a temperature.

It'll pass.

We're comfortable here.

The horses have broken loose.

No one go far.

What do we need with horses anyway?

If only I could have stopped it all.

The rain.

Grandfather B. Nell.

Suppose he should die.

Probably raining on Te Eka, too.

I wondered whether anybody would ever remember me.

Not even Sally.

I'd soon be forgotten altogether.

Raining on all the old places.

On Grandfather's house.

Everywhere.

All the footprints left in lonely places washed away.

I'll get you some medicine.

Whether it's raining or not.

Doctors. Medicine.

Get me some brandy.

This is the best medicine.

And stop worrying.

I'm not dying.

G'day.

Snack.

I have forgotten my keys for the letterbox, Miss Langford.

Oh, that's all right.

Miss Lannis, it's still open anyway.

Speak up.

Yeah, it's me, Nick.

I can't hear you.

Thank you.

I'm up in the bush.

Come on, Sally, hurry up.

Grandfather's ill.

Quick.

Yeah, look, give my regards to your grandfather, won't you?

Yeah.

Sally!

Come on!

Sally, but...

Yeah?

There's an awful fuss about you in the papers, too.

Uh-huh.

Oh, by the way, I met your brother Derek at a party.

Sally!

Anna!

Come on!

On set, please!

He's terrific.

Look, I've got to go.

I'll see you later, OK?

Bye.

Fine.

OK, over the top now, Anna.

Clean from the yellow.

Fine.

Head on up just that little bit more.

Grab.

Reach for the chips, love.

Reach for them.

OK, now money, please.

Money, money.

More money, please.

More!

Heads up.

Stool.

Fine.

Lift that child's stool a wee bit more, Anna.

Fine.

Where's the nearest doctor?

It's a letter from overseas, from Nicaragua.

Your name's Flinders, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

Want some chocolate?

No.

All right.

Now, we want to know where your grandfather is.

That's his business.

We know you took off with him.

Hey, your turn.

Oh, thanks.

See ya.

Bye.

What are you after us for?

That clean jumper was ages ago.

What?

Who put you onto us?

Was it my parents?

Grandmother Flinders?

We thought you knew.

Knew what?

About your grandmother.

What?

According to our information,

and what we've been told by your parents,

she died on the day you and your grandfather cleared off.

Come on, son. Climb aboard.

I've got to get hold of a doctor.

Don't worry about that. I'll fix that up.

You just climb aboard.

Why couldn't things have stayed as they were?

Why must I get older?

Caught up in all their adult intrigues and mysteries?

Grandmother dead?

Sally gone?

No brandy for grandfather?

And he could be dying, too.

With the jolly jumper you've got in your tucker bag

You'll come a-walkin' Matilda with me

Are you all right now?

Of course I'm all right!

I knew you wouldn't come back by yourself.

He said you were sick.

Well, that depends on how you look at it.

Come on.

No, no, no. I've handled myself for years.

I can manage the next few on my own.

Where's the brandy?

He grabbed me before I got it.

Oh, he did, did he?

I knew you weren't too shook on stayin' in the bush.

I've got some in the Land Rover. For emergencies.

I could sue you for wrongful arrest.

I'm not arrestin' you.

I could make a big case of it.

I believe you, Pop.

But the trouble is...

I'm a bit buggered.

Why don't you?

Why don't you do it, Pop?

Well, I had to get the boy away.

He loved his grandmother too much to see her dead like that.

Sometimes it's too much death.

That's about the size of it.

Oh, I can't stand it.

Drink if you have to, but for God's sake, stop smokin'.

You hear that, Nick?

You can't stand it, even out in the fresh air.

That's where the things come to these days.

Can you give us a swig of brandy?

He's told you?

Not everything.

Have a great trip, though.

Thanks, Nick.

I'd never heard him say thanks before.

Grandfather may not have found his goldfields and his gumfields.

Perhaps I can find my own.

In a country of unmatched beauty, in a place

where everything seems unspoiled and innocent,

one young woman knows nothing is what it seems.

I haven't met my daughter Cathy, have you?

We don't stand on ceremony here.

Isn't that right, Cathy?

No.

No.

Please don't make him laugh.

Oh, get away.

Okay.

Where have you been?

Just been for a ride.

All this time? I was getting worried about you.

Kathy's in trouble.

What sort of trouble?

I don't know. But she is.

Mr. Jackson doesn't like anybody touching what's his.

There's something's got to be told.

Nothing has to be told.

Otherwise, they just build out.

Not everything has to be told.

Whatever it is that's bothering you, I'll listen.

Why don't you get away from this place?

Go to town for a bit.

I'm not allowed! I'm not allowed!

You're no different to any of the others!

You just want to... Screw the farmer's daughter!

Who is there with the heart?

Wait!

You're too late!

That way, you'll never spoil a trophy.

I want you gone! I want you gone!

I want you to get out of here!

Too late. Too late.

For what? For what, Kathy?

Too late for what?

Too late for what?

The farmer's already done it!

Heart of the Stag.

An unforgettable, uncompromising, extraordinary human drama.

Heart of the Stag.