Original subtitles

[crickets chirp]

[police radio chatter]

[police radio chatter]

[police radio chatter continues]

[man] Hello?

[radio static]

[man] Can you hear me?

[dog gives a high-pitched bark]

[female voice breaks up over radio]

[dog barks]

[man] I'm not sure what to do. Could you repeat that, please?

[radio static]

[booming noise]

[voice breaking up over radio]

[man] I don't understand.

I don't know what to do. Can you hear me?

[radio breaking up]

Can you please just repeat that? I don't know what to do.

Please, can you repeat that?

[voices on radio breaking up]

Can you hear me?

[woman] Stay...

[woman's voice breaking up]

I don't understand.

[edgy music plays]

[eerie music plays]

[rooster crows]

[man rubs hands and blows on them]

[rooster crows]

[tapping sound]

[cooing]

[approaching footsteps]

[tapping sound]

[man makes sucking noises]

[rooster and chickens cooing and clucking]

[man] Shit!

No, no, no.

No. No.

[loud cluck]

OK.

[clucking]

[grain rattles]

[clucking]

[man sighs]

[clucking]

[engine idles, door closes]

[loud operatic singing on radio]

[radio announcer] And here

to help you get out of bed on this chilly winter's morning,

a little Bach.

[pacy piano music on radio]

[birds screech]

[engine stops, handbrake creaks]

[car door opens and closes]

[mooing and bleating of animals nearby]

[engine roars]

[engine putters]

[cow moos]

[engine stops]

[sound of young people nearby, playing sport]

[woman in distance, calling out] Very nice. Good.

[branches creak]

[wind howls]

[child, in distance] Get up, get up, yes.

[branches creak]

[voices grow louder]

[expectant music plays]

[music builds to a crescendo]

[music stops abruptly]

[police radio chatter]

[officer breathes deeply]

[woman] We can't have this, Dan.

It's our kids.

[Dan] I know. The girls OK?

Well, it just happened pretty quick. I don't think they...

I don't think they really knew what was happening.

[girl, yelling out] I saw his dick! [laughter]

Lock him up, officer.

[magpies sing]

[police radio chatter]

[Dan knocks on door]

Hello?

[police radio chatter]

Where is he, Boss? Huh?

[watch beeps]

I gotta go feed the chickens.

You let him know I'm looking for him, alright?

[Boss whines]

Good boy.

[chickens and rooster coo]

[edgy music plays]

[coop door opens]

[Dan] Careful. Careful.

Come on.

[Dan strains]

Hey, you alright?

[subdued music plays]

I've got your clothes in my car. Come on.

Let's get you home.

[rooster clucks]

[engine idles, handbrake creaks on]

[engine stops]

[door shuts]

- [Dan] Alright. Here we go. - [unclicks seatbelt]

Put your legs out for me. Good.

Don't tell Mum.

Come on, mate. Come on.

[rooster crows]

[rooster crows]

[Dan] Shit.

[clucking]

No. Stop. Stay.

Good boy.

[magpies sing]

[loud, pacy classical music plays on car radio]

[Dan exhales]

[tyres crunch on gravel]

[handbrake creaks]

[seatbelt unclicks]

[Boss gives a high-pitched bark]

[key turns and engine stops]

[car door opens]

[Dan] Boss. What are you doing here? Eh? Eh?

[Boss gives a quick high-pitched bark]

Boss!

Boss. Come on! Mate, come here.

[Dan pants]

Boss.

[sombre music plays]

[Boss whines]

[Dan sobs]

[Dan sobs]

[sombre music plays]

[Dan] Uh...

Did you just... Did you both just go to bed after I left?

What?

I just want to understand what happened.

You don't care about us!

You don't care about him.

I brought him home to you.

We didn't want that.

[man] Don't blame us for your...

your dereliction.

Please.

Get out. Get out!

Get out!

[woman] And, why didn't you section him?

He was clearly mentally unwell.

I thought it could be worked out within the family.

You know the family? Is this a friend of yours?

[Dan] Yeah. Childhood friend. Yeah.

[detective] Right.

[sombre music plays]

[detective] We think the evidence indicates

it was suicide. There was no sign of a struggle.

The dirt on his hands, under his nails suggest

he was just trying to cover himself up as he bled out.

We'll look at the autopsy

but chatting to people around town

it seems he was visibly deteriorating.

[woman] Put him on leave for a few weeks

till Professional Standards have a chance to investigate

the correct procedures were followed.

- [detective] Is your boss on his way? - [woman] Yep.

[detective] OK.

Eugh!

I'm sorry, Chief.

[indicator clicks]

[sombre music continues]

[turbulent music plays]

[high-pitched dog bark]

[high-pitched dog bark]

[high-pitched dog bark]

[coos like rooster]

[watch beeps]

[police radio chatter]

[engine idles and stops]

[rooster grunts quietly]

[rooster making quiet sounds]

[thunder rumbles]

[Dan breathes deeply]

[Dan breathes shakily]

[Dan grunts as axe rings]

[birds screech]

[tree branches creak]

[birds caw]

[wind howls]

[unsettling music plays]

[music stops abruptly]

[footsteps crunch in undergrowth] [Dan pants]

[fire crackles]

[insects chirp]

[Dan exhales]

[eerie music plays]

[eerie music continues]

[eerie music continues]

[music builds to a climax]

Don't tell Mum.

[harsh music plays]

[music stops abruptly]

[crickets chirp]

[Dan inhales sharply]

[Dan groans loudly]

[Dan gasps and exhales shakily]

[bird screeches nearby]

[sounds of up-beat jazz music playing nearby]

[Dan grunts]

[insects chirrup]

[footsteps crunch]

[up-beat jazz music continues]

[volume increases]

[man coughs]

[water pours]

[up-beat jazz coming from house]

[man in house coughs]

[undergrowth rustles]

[up-beat jazz music continues]

[man coughs]

Ow!

[man] Ow.

[jazz music continues]

[a twig snaps]

[jazz piece ends]

[cheering and applause on radio]

[door opens]

[retreating footsteps]

[next jazz piece starts up]

[crash from the undergrowth]

[Dan grunts]

[birds chirp and sing]

[Dan groans]

[gunshot]

[Dan pants]

You pervert.

- What? - Spyin' on my while I'm having a wash.

- I wasn't. - You're out there wankin' in the dark.

No. What? What?

Have you got any more booze?

- You gonna kill yourself? - I'm camping.

Well, just do it or fuck off.

Alright? This is my forest.

OK.

[Dan pants]

[Dan exhales]

[tapping and bouncing sounds]

[jazz music on radio]

[man] Eugh.

[tapping and bouncing continues]

[man] Oh, shit. Christ.

[man] No!

[ping pong ball continues to bounce]

[man coughs]

[man continues hitting the ping pong ball]

Hello?

[jazz music on radio]

Hello?

[Dan] Cheers.

[magpies and other birds sing]

[the hermit gulps]

I'm Dan, by the way.

Are you?

Did you build this yourself?

- You from the council? - No.

Well then, yes, mate. Yes.

No, I'm... I'm... it's a work in progress, you know.

I'm in the process of planning an extension.

I'm gonna put on an extra room

for when my little girl comes to stay for a bit.

You know, she's getting a bit old to share a room

with her old man.

Women need their privacy. I understand that. I understand.

I'm gonna put fly screen up round this veranda

so on the warmer summer evenings

I can sit here and not be bothered by

the bastard fuckin' flies.

[yells] I just want to eat my fuckin' chicken in peace!

[echo]

[birds call]

[insects chirp]

What line of work are you in?

Contemplation.

- You sure you're not from the council? - Yeah, I'm sure.

[Dan breathes deeply]

Pretty quiet here, I imagine.

Yep. Usually.

Had a bit of a barney out here a few nights ago though.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

What happened?

I hear this noise in the woods like...

[makes high-pitched moaning sound]

I thought I was dreamin' like I was in a time machine.

'Cause years ago I had this dog.

He used to go after the roos.

I dunno, roo must have rocked back,

you know, kicked him, ripped him open

and he's out there crying in the dark.

[mimics dog moaning and crying]

[hermit coughs]

It was a full moon, fortunately, so I found him.

His guts had fallen out.

I tried to sew him up on the kitchen table

but, I dunno, my hands are all shaking 'cause I been...

I been on a boozer.

And it's all falling out

and it's no good and I gotta get him to the vet.

So I wrapped him up in a blanket and I put him in the ute

and then I went and rolled the fuckin' thing.

[hermit chuckles]

I had to sleep out there.

I was holdin' onto him for warmth.

[hermit coughs and splutters]

Did he make it?

Who, the fellow in the woods or the dog?

The dog.

Yeah, course he fuckin' made it. Jeez, you're a bit grim.

What about the man?

No.

Did you see what happened?

No. It was pretty dark.

No-one with him?

Oh, it was dark.

Did you hear anything?

- You play? - No.

You hear anything?

The man in the bush, did he say anything?

Hey, hey.

- Did he say anything? - Ahh...

[hermit makes strangled groaning noises]

[hermit continues making the strangled noises]

[noises get higher and more desperate]

[pounding music plays]

[hermit chuckles]

You're not here for the hunting, are you, mate?

[Dan] The man in the bush, he was a friend.

- Oh. - Yeah.

Oh.

Oh, well, he's gone.

- I know. - No, mate, they took him away.

Yes, I know that.

Mate, I don't know where they are. Nobody tells me anything.

Hey...

Yeah. I wrote some letters, I got nothing back.

[slowly] Did you see him alive?

- You play? - What? No, please.

This is important.

No, no. Come on, you have a hit with me

and I'll tell you everything I know about that poor soul.

Come on.

21 wins, yeah?

No-one... No-one wins, mate.

Just, just, just stay in the fuckin' game.

- Alright? - Alright.

[hermit exhales]

[Dan] So, what happened?

[hermit sighs]

Well, it's hard to put pieces all together

but I'm close, mate.

I'm close.

No, I'm talking about the man in the bush.

Oh.

- You from round here? - Yeah.

Who's your old man?

Paul Jackson.

- What, the copper? - Yeah?

[hermit] Fuck. Fuck.

- Fuck! - [door slams shut]

[door thumps open]

$237.

You owe me $237.

- What? - Full weeks' pay.

That's what he took. Full weeks' pay.

- What are you talking about? - I'd just finished work.

I'd a full pay packet in my top pocket.

Now, chain-sawing's thirsty work

so I have a drink with the fellas.

Driving home. OK, I have a heavy foot but woo, woo, woo.

Jesus. Flashin' blues pull over

and this prick,

he reaches in through the window,

he slips my pay out of my pocket,

and he says,

"Now, what you gonna do about it?"

Jesus! You're not a cop too, are you?

- Yes. But I'm not... - Oh, fuck!

It's worse than the fuckin' council, you filthy pig!

You can... You can fuck right off!

And give me back my money!

Just fuck off!

[door creaks open and slams shut]

[hermit makes pig snorting sounds]

[hermit] Fuck off, you filthy pig!

[fire sizzles]

[Dan] Hello?

Look, I got you some food.

[Dan thumps on door]

I just wanna talk

and then I'll leave you alone, alright?

[ethereal music playing on radio]

Hello?

[ethereal music on radio continues]

[drawer creaks]

[music becomes stringent]

[music continues]

[door thumps open]

[music, softer, continues in house]

[kookaburras laugh]

Shit!

[running footsteps approach]

[Dan] Hey, hey.

Come on. Come on, buddy.

[hermit groans]

[hermit groans]

[Dan] You're alright. Hey, hey, hey.

- [hermit shivers] - [Dan] You're alright, man.

[running footsteps retreat]

[Dan pants]

[Dan strains]

[Dan pants rhythmically]

[car horn blares]

[Dan] This man needs help.

- [nurse] OK, what happened? - Oh, he just...

- He collapsed. - What's his name?

- I dunno. I'm sorry. - OK.

[nurse] Hey, can you hear me? Hey, buddy, what's your name?

[nurse] Hey, where are you going?

Hey, you haven't been released yet, mate.

Come back!

[approaching running footsteps]

The doctor wants to see you, mate.

[Dan starts engine]

[hermit coughs]

[Dan] Get in. Come on! Get in.

['O Mio Babbinio Caro' plays on car stereo]

[hermit coughs]

[hermit coughs]

[hermit mumbles indistinctly]

Fuckin' can't stop now,

you fuckin' ching-chong Chinaman.

Oh!

Fuck, they're my fuckin' clothes!

Who asked you to do that? Eh?

What gives you the fuckin' right?

[hermit pants]

Oh, fuck. No. No, no, no, no.

No, no.

[hermit cries] No, no. Oh, no.

- Oh, no. - You sick?

[hermit groans] Oh, no.

Oh, no.

[branches creak]

Oh, no.

There's this poem I like.

It's always brought me comfort.

It sort of...

Mate, shove your fuckin' poem up your arse, fuckhead!

Who's a fuckin' poet? Fuckin' Christ?

[crucifix thumps to the ground]

[hermit grunts and urinates]

[hermit grunts]

[hermit] Yes.

[hermit grunts]

[hermit grunts then pants]

[hermit agonises] Oh, no.

Oh, no, no, no.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

No. Oh, no.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

[Dan] Quick game?

Alright, yeah.

[hermit exhales]

That's enough.

[retreating footsteps]

I can't see.

[hermit pants]

[door opens and closes]

[footsteps inside the house]

[hermit] Go on, fuck off. I don't want you.

[insects chirrup]

[rain patters]

[thunder rumbles loudly]

[cutlery clatters]

[thunder crashes loudly]

[rain patters]

[hermit burps]

[thunder rumbles and rain patters]

[hermit] Hey, your friend...

Was there something wrong with him?

He had googly eyes.

[Dan] He had a brain injury.

There was a fight.

His head hit the concrete.

[hermit] Oh, it's probably for the best, then.

Horse breaks a leg, you shoot him.

He deserved better. A better life.

He'd already started when I found him, you know.

One wrist was open and he's...

you know, workin' away on the other.

I said, "Don't go to sleep out here, mate.

The foxes will get you."

I sat with him for a bit.

I think he'd started to cross over.

Did you try and stop him?

It's not my place.

There's a reason why animals disappear

when they're close to the end.

It's dignity.

There's no need for the humiliation of being watched

when you're in the final reckoning with yourself.

It's a man's right to die alone.

He didn't want me fussin' and fuckin' around.

I put a blanket over him.

I said, "I'll just be out there.

"I'll just be out there in the dark

"and, you know,

when it's all over I'll cover you over with the earth

"and then you'll be nice and warm when you're sleeping."

And he nodded.

So I sat out there in the dark...

and I waited.

[rain continues to patter]

Always takes longer than you think. Dying.

Except when it doesn't, of course.

[sombre music plays]

Was he scared?

Yes, mate. I reckon he was.

[tin clatters down]

[sounds of movement]

[hermit exhales]

[rain patters]

[sombre music continues]

[insects chirrup]

[croaking]

[branches creaking]

[rush of sound]

[rooster clucks]

[Dan] I had this rooster, real proud fella.

It would wake me up every morning. [crows like a rooster]

The day is here.

You made it through the night.

You're alive.

And I forgot to lock him in and a fox got him.

And ahh...

since then I've had this feeling like I'm not here anymore.

Like I've died.

Like I'm dead.

The fucking Christ! What the fuck?

You seem pretty alive to me.

Oh, what?

Right, if you're looking in the mirror

and you see yourself smiling like this...

stop drinkin'!

And stop drinkin'

if you're on your own and you hear yourself saying,

"Oh, no", out loud.

If there's a possibility for sexual intercourse,

get your fuck on.

It's become apparent

those opportunities are increasingly rare.

And also, it's very hard to fuck up

a toasted cheese sandwich.

[kookaburras laugh]

[hits ping pong ball]

Fuck!

Eugh!

I need a fuckin' drink!

[fast-paced jazz plays on radio]

[both imitate playing trumpet]

[laughter]

[Dan laughs]

Oh, no.

[both] Oh, no!

[Dan cries]

Oh, no!

[jazz music continues inside]

[insects chirrup]

Is that your daughter?

Yep.

Is it good?

- Is what? - Being a dad.

Mate, it's the best. It's the best.

I'm... I'm proud, mate. I'm just proud.

You know, she's so smart.

She's so smart.

We had this tape

so she could learn the times tables.

You know, one four is four,

two fours are eight, three fours...

[chuckles]

Anyway, she knew 'em all! [laughter]

[hermit coughs]

Where is she now?

- I dunno. - Mmm.

- Hey, you got kids? - No.

My partner and I,

we tried for years but it didn't work.

Oh, no.

[Dan laughs]

Yeah.

I was so excited to be a dad

I built a cubby house before there was a baby.

[hermit] Oh, no! [hermit laughs]

No.

So, where is she now?

She left.

- [both] Oh, no! - [laughter]

[Dan starts sobbing]

Oh, fuck.

Hey, mate.

Oh, at least it's not us making you miserable now, eh. Come on.

[hermit turns the music volume up]

- [laughter] - Oh, no.

Oh, no.

[Dan splutters]

[hermit] Come on, mate. Get up, get up.

Come on, mate.

[rhythmic jazz playing on radio]

[hermit laughs]

- Oh, no! - [laughter]

[hermit] Oh, fuck!

[hermit coughs and laughs]

["Sofrito" by Mongo Santamaria plays on radio]

[Dan grunts]

[Dan exhales]

[Dan switches off radio]

[birds chirp]

[bird caws nearby]

[hermit] Hey!

[hermit chuckles]

[Dan gives a little chuckle]

[the hermit chuckles]

[hermit] Oh.

He looks like a little baby, eh?

I'm sorry for pissing on you, little baby.

It's not your fault things worked out the way they did,

is it? Eh?

Your old man's a cunt.

Go on, you can say it. "My old man's a cunt."

No, not you, peanut. Him. [hermit chuckles]

No, Joe Quinney. Joe Quinney, he was a cunt.

Who was that?

[hermit spits]

He's a turd in my brain that just won't flush.

I'd just started boarding school.

I was seven years old.

My uncle had given me this amazing pair of slippers

that had sheep's wool inside to keep my feet warm

so I wouldn't miss home so much.

I loved 'em.

And one night, in the dorm, I'm talking to Brother O'Brien,

I'm tryin' to convince him

to give us extra rations of Milo for our milk.

Meanwhile, Joe Quinney

he's squishing a banana into my slippers,

deep down into the wool.

So of course when we go to clean our teeth, you know,

and I slip my feet into them,

oh, everybody laughed and laughed at me.

- Oh, no! - [Dan chuckles]

Next time we have dinner, we're having roast lamb,

and I sat near Joe Quinney

and I fuckin' stabbed him in the leg with my fork.

Oh, Brother O'Brien,

he pulled me up by the ear and sends me to bed.

So, later that night, everyone's asleep.

Brother O'Brien, he wakes me up.

I can hear him sitting down in the chair behind me.

"Take off your pajamas."

So I does.

And he says, "Turn around."

So I does.

And he's staring at my willy.

He says, "Close your eyes."

So I does.

It's so dark. I can't see a thing.

It's so quiet too.

It's like I can hear everything, like my ears are screamin'.

I can hear every little movement, every little sound.

He makes a little groan...

[hermit imitates the groan]

I can smell it

and I don't know whether my eyes are open or closed.

And I'm scared maybe I've gone blind.

And I was thinkin' maybe I should have stabbed Joe Quinney

in the fuckin' head

for what he fuckin' did to my fuckin' slipper!

But I got my revenge.

'Cause I had a good fuckin' life, Joe!

I had a big life!

Where did you go to school?

[hermit] Down near Ballarat.

A very good football team.

[hermit, in a sing-song voice]

"Squashed banana, squashed banana

"Hey, hey, hey

"In your shoe."

[hermit grunts]

What you fuckin' looking at?

Nothing.

[cup drops to the ground]

[hermit] Hey, do you want me to do it?

[Dan whimpers]

[loudly] You want me to do it?

What, this where you wanna be? Down there in the fuckin' dirt?

What you doin' here?

[gunshot]

[birds squawk]

[retreating footsteps]

[Dan pants]

[bell birds ding]

Washing day. You stink.

[hermit] You stinky boy.

I can smell you from here.

[Dan] There's this poem that I like.

It's about a man who hears this music.

[hermit] What sort of cop likes poems?

[Dan] I don't know. Me?

Oh, yes. Don't get this on your dick.

Ooh!

[hermit] Go.

[Dan] Ooh!

[hermit] Jeez, what are we gonna do with you? Eh?

Disgraceful.

Hey, don't sit on that! My girls are in there.

- Ooh! - [laughs]

Ha, ha. I gotcha!

[hermit] Hey, that friend of yours...

why did they dig him up?

[Dan] The family wanted to cremate him.

[hermit] Oh, that's a great shame.

He would have become a beautiful tree.

[insects chirrup]

Probably should have waited for a sunny day.

[bird calls]

[whispers] Come on, let's go. Come on.

Come on. Quick, quick, quick, quick.

[bell birds ding]

[hermit pants and gives a little groan]

You OK?

Isn't she beautiful?

I know. Before you go all Perry fuckin' Mason on me,

me and your fella, we had a gentlemen's agreement.

I might have forgotten to mention that

but part of the deal was that I get the bike.

Now, I know thieving runs in your family but this is mine.

Understand?

OK. You drive.

I know you've got the keys.

Yeah, come on. Come on. Quick or we'll miss it. Come on.

You back it up, eh?

In here.

There we go.

Right.

[birds sing]

[Dan, quietly] What are we doing here?

[hermit] Just you wait.

[bird sings nearby]

[a choir sings in the distance]

- [Dan, whispering] Can you hear that? - Course I can.

[singing grows louder]

[choir singing with beautiful harmonies]

♪ Sing praises sing praises

♪ To our Lord... ♪

[singing continues]

[whispers] Christian choir bush walking club.

[singing continues]

[vocalising in harmony]

[hermit chuckles quietly]

[snorts and chuckles]

[choir's ethereal singing plays]

[insects chirrup]

[Dan] His name was Steve.

[hermit slurps]

[Dan] We heard about this party some older kids were putting on.

We pinched some beers from his dad and snuck in.

He's talking to this girl, making her laugh,

and her boyfriend pinned him up against the wall.

[Dan sighs] I couldn't move.

He looked at me for help and...

I couldn't move.

After, I'm trying to keep him awake. He's going in and out.

And all he said was...

"Don't tell Mum."

[emotionally] He didn't want to worry her.

Part of me wishes he'd just died then instead of...

[Dan breathes deeply]

- Have you ever thought about it? - About what?

Ending things.

[hermit grunts] Have you?

It just comes.

I'll be chatting with someone

about all the rain we're getting and...

while I'm talking I sort of leave my body,

hang myself on a tree behind them.

People say, "Talk about it."

[ruefully] Talk about it.

I don't know how.

The feelings...

you can't catch them.

They're like dark shapes.

Flashes.

Like a dream.

Regret.

- Failure. - Yep.

[cigarette lighter clicks]

Shame.

I reckon that's what give me this cancer. The shame.

[Dan gives a rueful chuckle]

I dunno what happened to my life.

[Dan sniffs] I don't know where it went.

[Dan sighs] I can't see myself

in the future any more.

Your daughter, she'll remember you.

But when I'm gone...

I'll just be gone.

[hermit] You won't be gone.

You'll be a fuckin' tree.

No, I can't keep going on like this.

I failed.

[hermit struts around]

[hermit sniffs]

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Come on, mate, get up.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Come on, mate. Get up, get up, get up.

Come on, mate, get up.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

[Dan does a soft crow]

No. Louder, mate. Let 'em hear you!

Come on, son. Let 'em hear you. [hermit chuckles]

[Dan crows a little louder]

[hermit] Louder.

You're still here.

[Dan crows a little louder]

[hermit] Make 'em hear you.

[both crow like roosters]

[Dan crows really loudly]

You're still here!

[Dan crows even louder]

[echo]

[fire crackles]

[magpies sing]

[birds caw]

[kookaburras laugh]

[Dan] Um...

This is the best I could get.

[hermit coughs]

If you want the hard-core staff,

you gotta come with me to the doctor.

[hermit] Oh, no, no. No, no.

No, it'll be fine.

OK. Um...

- Oh, there's plenty of food. - Yeah.

[Dan] Oh...

Work upgraded a while ago.

Just in case you need me.

[plastic bag rustles]

Mate, when the time comes...

you leave me be, right?

I don't want you here. I don't need you.

You leave me be. Understand?

Yeah?

Dignity.

We face what's left of this life like men.

[hermit coughs]

All the best.

Yeah. All the best.

Um...

What's your name?

Mit.

- Mit? - Mit.

[Dan] Mit. Right.

Is the origin of that 'cause you're a hermit or...?

Get the fuck out of my house.

[Dan chuckles]

All the best.

Yeah.

[Mit huffs and coughs]

[melancholy music plays]

[birds sing]

[light switch clicks]

[keys rattle]

[bag thumps down]

[insects chirrup]

[sheep bleat]

[approaching car]

[ducks quack]

[Dan sighs]

[police radio beeps]

[Mit] Hello? Does this thing work?

Are you there?

Yeah, I'm here, mate.

Listen, it's not 'cause I'm a hermit, fuckhead.

Tim. My name's Tim.

When I was a kid I'd always spell it backwards

on all my paintings

and drawings and all that shit,

and it stuck.

So Mit I am, yeah?

[Mit coughs]

Thank you.

For what?

Looking at your life makes me feel a little bit better

about my own.

- Oh, piss off. - [Dan chuckles]

Do you want me to read you a poem?

- Nuh. - [Mit chuckles]

I've died, haven't I. I've died.

- This is hell. - [both chuckle]

[Mit coughs]

[Dan sighs]

[cattle lows]

[car approaches]

[car door opens and closes]

[door bangs open]

[Dan] Everything alright, Chief?

Yeah.

- [chuckles ruefully] - I can't sleep.

What's... What's the case?

Someone I've been chasing for years.

Case went cold but someone said

they saw this fella at the hospital.

[Dan] What happened?

A little girl.

That was taken by Child Services.

A few days later she and her mother disappeared.

Have you talked to the father?

Yeah, he was a drunk.

Your old man used to take his pay packets off him

and give them to his wife

so that he wouldn't blow it all on booze.

We picked him up.

He was wandering around the school.

Hard to make out what he was saying,

he was just crying so much.

Then when he pulled himself together,

he reported them missing.

We did a search.

Didn't have much to go on.

Then he disappeared.

Thought he was long dead.

What did you make of it?

I always thought he killed them,

buried them in the bush somewhere.

Never got an answer on that one.

[troubling music plays]

[Dan knocks on door]

[door opens]

Hello, mate.

[Dan shuts door]

[Mit] I wasn't expecting you.

I just came to see how you're doing.

Oh, I'm alright, mate. I'm alright.

[Dan] How's the pain?

Oh, those pills are helping.

That's good.

That's good.

Hey, what happened to them?

Oh, I don't know.

You want me to call them?

Oh, they don't wanna hear from me.

What about when you're gone?

No. I don't have a number. I just...

Best to leave them be, I reckon.

I'm not feeling too good, mate. I might have a little rest.

[Mit coughs]

OK.

What's in there?

What, you on the job, are you?

I'm just asking.

- What's in there? - Nothing.

- Got the key? - I lost it.

[Mit coughs]

[rattling]

There's no secrets between us.

[Dan kicks box] Hey, don't kick that, mate.

What happened to them?

I don't know.

- You don't know? - I don't know.

A lot of bad things happened in your life.

That a coincidence, do you think?

Some people just don't have no luck.

I saw their pictures.

What did you do to her?

- What? - Her face you...

- What happened to them? - I don't know.

[forcefully] Just tell me!

I don't know.

- That's a lie. - No, mate, it's not.

It's all a lie.

Mate, I can't remember. I can't remember.

I can't remember.

Don't look at me like that.

We're friends.

Piss off, you fuckin' pig!

[troubling music plays]

[rain patters]

[old police radio beeps]

[old police radio crackles]

[Mit, weakly] Hello?

I don't know if you can hear me or...

Can you hear me?

[radio crackles]

I'm walkin' home from the pub.

This dog starts followin' me.

He's a sweet little fellow. He's licking my hand and all.

I said, "Go home, mate. Go home."

He doesn't have a home, he just keeps following me.

So I...

I put him in my yard and I passed out on the couch.

I didn't have time to tell the missus and...

And in the mornin' my wife's screamin' and...

the dog, he's locked himself

onto my little girl's face.

She'd gone to pat him and he must've got scared.

So yep, my little girl, she lost her eye. Doctors had to take it.

That was the only bit of me she got.

She'll have a better time without it now, I reckon.

[Mit coughs]

My little girl was born at 2:33 a.m.

We thought for a moment she was stillborn 'cause she didn't cry.

She just...

looked around the room as if to say oh, OK,

so this is life, eh?"

They squashed bananas in my shoes.

[radio crackles]

I don't think God is a very good person.

She didn't cry.

She didn't cry.

Are you there?

If you make it through...

you'll forget you were ever there.

[opens drawer]

[radio crackles]

[elastic-band snaps]

[Dan puts glass down]

[Mit pants]

[gentle piano music is heard through old police radio]

["Sposa Son Disprezzata" plays]

[rain patters]

[song continues]

[song continues]

[song continues]

[Mit grunts]

[song continues]

[song ends]

[magpies sing]

[lock rattles]

[metal lid creaks]

[lid clamps shut]

[taps phone]

[calling tone]

[young woman] Hello?

Is this Florence?

No. This is her daughter.

- Can I speak with her, please? - Yeah, sure.

[young woman calls out] Hey, Mum?

[Florence] Hello?

- [Dan] Florence? - Speaking.

[Dan] I wanted to inform you

that Tim Franklin has passed away.

[Florence] Oh.

[Dan] Would you like me to organise a funeral service?

Something?

[Florence] No, thank you.

["Sposa Son Disprezzata" plays]

"The God Abandons Antony."

"When suddenly, at midnight, you hear

"an invisible procession going by

"with exquisite music, voices,

"don't mourn your luck that's failing now,

"work gone wrong, your plans

"all proving deceptive

"don't mourn them uselessly.

"As one long prepared, and graced with courage,

"say goodbye to her, the Alexandria that is leaving.

"Above all,

"don't fool yourself,

"don't say it was a dream, your ears deceived you:

"don't degrade yourself with empty hopes like these.

"As one long prepared, and graced with courage,

"as is right for you who proved worthy of this kind of city,

"go firmly to the window

"and listen with deep emotion, but not

"with the whining, the pleas of a coward;

"listen, your final delectation to the voices,

"to the exquisite music of that strange procession..."

[car approaches]

"...and say goodbye to her,

to the Alexandria you are losing."

[man] All yours, mate.

[Dan clears his throat]

- [rooster clucks] - [Dan] It's OK.

[rooster clucks]

[rooster clucks]

[rooster clucks]

[Dan chuckles]

[rooster clucks]