Original subtitles

Do you have a boyfriend?

What normal girl doesn't?

Well, to hell with marriage.

Just another colonial assimilation tool.

Yeah, of course. One of the better ones, though, eh?

MAN: Hip-hip! CROWD: hooray!

We have to pay them, Robert. The key must be on him.

You were drinking instead of doing what I asked for.

And now I have to take care of it.

Joe's pocket!

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(GULPS)

(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS)

(LOCK CLICKS)

Yes!

(CHUCKLES)

See?

I kept my promise. (CHUCKLES)

I have money.

All of my own to spend how I like.

Who am I, my father? (BOTH LAUGH)

That's... That's.... That's really good

'cause maybe now you can buy a magazine

to replace the one you stole from me.

I didn't...

..steal that.

No! I borrowed what I...thought were...

..educational manuscripts,

artistic references

for my sketches.

(PUFFS) I think you missed the point of them, poppet.

(LAUGHS)

(TITTERS)

(BELL RINGS)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)

Sorry, sir, the madams.

It's chaos at the post office today.

All the bad news.

(SIGHS HEAVILY) My brothers.

And some good.

Sometimes.

Got it.

To Miss Mountjoy?

"Your beau, Dickie, is passed away."

(SOFTLY) Gwen.

Gwen.

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

(DOOR OPENS, SHUTS)

Thank you.

Robert?

Mr Wong wanted me to tell you that they received a telegram today too.

(SCOFFS DRYLY)

(CRIES)

Your boyfriend, Dickie, was it?

I thought he was still at training.

You can take the day off.

But...the netting.

We'll do it.

What's done is done.

Can't change that now.

Might as well crack hardy and get on with things.

So...

..finally wages.

Robert.

Gwen.

Esther.

There it is - writ large.

He's worth two of us.

And now...

..Kathleen.

You're paid in rations.

That must be a mistake.

That's the amount.

The rest goes to the Aboriginal Protection Board.

Here.

I'm just gonna piss it up against the wall anyway.

For Christ's sake, Kath, you've got a family depending on you, don't ya?

Take it.

Fine.

I'll put you out of your self-imposed misery of white guilt.

(INSECTS CHIRP)

Have you seen Robert's bodybuilding magazines?

Yep.

Those men...

..all those muscles,

you find that appealing?

Yeah.

I see. Why is that, do you think?

Is it all the exposed flesh

or more so the physical act of weightlifting

and the masculine power it implies?

Um... And what is it that happens

when you feel that attraction?

I understand it's physical, but is it warm or more of a chill?

Is it purely pleasant or is it a little bit frightening?

Is it embarrassing at all?

Because I imagine it could present similar to humiliation.

Do you know that boy you're marrying?

David Kleinberg.

It's what you feel when you're with him.

And...what would that be precisely?

(SPRIGHTLY MUSIC PLAYS)

Next time that you're in the tractor...

..let it idle,

then get the revs up.

(BIRD TWITTERS)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Returning this.

I've taken all the references I need.

Are you unwell?

(SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYS)

Robert, are you alright?

(DOOR SHUTS)

I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with this chap.

And now he's dead, and I feel...

I don't know.

One might call it relief.

Oh, my God. I'm a monster.

No.

No, you're not.

You're not, Gwen.

No, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

Mummy!

You didn't have to come.

Rubbish! I wouldn't miss this occasion.

Beagle.

Dickie?

Wh... I thought you were dead.

What?!

Goodness me. Why on earth would you think that?

(STAMMERS) The telegram. It said you'd passed away.

Oh, for Pete's sake. I said we were ON our way.

That poor ducky at the post office. She must be terribly overwhelmed.

(KNOCKS)

What's... What's going on?

Gwenyth...

..Victoria Mountjoy...

..will you marry me?

Oh! (CORK POPS)

Congratulations, darling! (FLASH BULB POPS)

Smile!

Big smile.

Mrs Whitmore! You are a hoot.

We really should be getting back to that netting.

You can call me Frankie.

Well, in that case, you can call me Helen.

Beagle...

..it really is wonderful to see you.

I can only imagine how much you've missed me.

You must be getting sick of hearing about it.

Why isn't your maid in a pinafore?

It's hard to climb trees in a dress.

(CHUCKLES)

You let her work alongside you? What's next? A seat at the table?

Well, Frankie's right. With the men away, we all need to pitch in.

And I think I may have found my calling.

We were told there was a man here.

One of those bloody conchies.

Sorry. This is really... Eugh.

Sorry. That's really rather unpleasant.

Perhaps I'm a conscientious objector too...

..this cake.

(CHUCKLES)

What's happening next door? There's workmen everywhere.

They're building a prisoner-of-war camp.

Oh, that's nice and handy.

For visiting Uncle Luigi.

(CHUCKLES)

What do you mean you found your calling?

Working on the land.

Doing something meaningful.

Oh, you're hardly a trailblazer, darling.

Back in the '20s I did a little men's work myself.

My art tutor and I spent a particularly steamy summer

on a lavender farm in Provence.

They say I'll make the Land Army newsletter.

Yet you have never made the social pages.

I don't care about that shallow world.

Careful, beagle, you'll lose the few friends you have.

My friendships are more intimate than showy.

Mine are both.

After all, you've got to show a woman a good time

if you want to get her to kiss you.

(DICKIE, FRANKIE AND HELEN LAUGH)

Good one, Mummy. (LAUGHS)

(BIRDS TWITTER)

Sister!

The angels told me you would visit today.

Come off it, Nev. I know you can see me in that shiny candlestick.

Well, are you here to repent so you can come home again?

I've got nothing to repent for.

Really?

You were caught in here being stuffed by Murray

like a Sunday chicken.

You need to pray to Jesus for forgiveness!

You wicked, wicked girl!

Don't kick me out, Mrs. Please. Homer needs me.

(SCOFFS) He's better off without a sinner like you in his life!

Go on, get! Get out! And don't come back!

You make it sound worse than it was.

Please, just say sorry so you can come home.

Leeny! Homer!

You're home!

What the hell are you wearing?

Our little brother is the church's newest altar boy

and in line to becoming the second Aboriginal priest

after me.

He made that, didn't he?

No.

He did. Take it off.

The greatest honour is to serve our Lord.

Neville said so.

Here. Swallow this instead.

(GASPS)

Cakes!

You want him to turn out like you?

Neville No-Mates all alone inside on a nice day?

I wouldn't be alone if you never went...

Well, well, well.

Look who dares to show her pretty face here again.

Good afternoon, Mrs.

I was wondering if I could...

..we could revisit the question of me returning to the mission.

Oh!

So, you're ready to denounce your sin

and accept Jesus Christ

as your one true Lord and saviour?

Good. Go on, then.

Say it.

Like you mean it, dear.

I...

I denounce my sins and...

..accept Jesus Christ as my one true Lord and saviour.

What makes you think I believe you...

..an unmarried whore?

Get!

(SIGHS)

(ITEM SMASHES)

(CRIES SOFTLY)

Mr Wong.

(CRIES)

My boy.

My beautiful boy!

(CRIES)

(BIRDS TWITTER)

(HOOFS CLOP)

What happened? Why didn't you tell me about Neville?

Dragging Homer into that church stuff. Didn't want to worry ya.

I got kicked out for something we did together.

The least you can do is be my eyes and ears.

Did you try again with the Mrs?

Even told her I was renouncing my sins,

embracing baby Jesus and all that.

What happened?

She went and changed the rules, didn't she?

The problem now is that I'm not married.

And you know how I feel about that.

Yeah. Colonial assimilation tool.

I have to get back in.

Nev's a lost cause, but can still save Homer.

Mm. I promised Mum.

I just have to give that old cow what she wants.

Wait.

You mean you wanna...

We're getting married.

Yes!

But not in a bloody church.

(LAUGHS)

Well, I'll go get that marriage licence then, eh?

Getting married.

(RAIN THRUMS, THUNDER RUMBLES) (BIG-BAND MUSIC PLAYS)

A toast.

To my daughter.

Here she has finally found her purpose.

With the most glorious engagement.

To Gwen. No more floating around.

Ha! (GLASSES CLINK)

Cheers. (GLASSES CLINK)

Mummy, do you think Dickie is floating around?

Oh, goodness gracious. What a foolish idea.

Come on now, beagle. I'm part of our great army.

Mm.

Well, so am I.

You're picking berries, darling.

It's hardly compatible.

(CHUCKLES) Berries.

You've been getting in their heads, have you?

Do you have a medical certificate? Essential farm workers are exempt.

I'm not talking to you.

No.

I don't have a medical exemption.

Well, I knew it.

Rotten coward.

Men are out there dying for you. Dickie, stop it.

Look at you, letting ladies speak on your behalf.

What kind of man are you?

Speak!

Get up! I asked you a question, now answer me.

Go on, hit me!

Who raised you?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

Was this some kind of a joke?

I can't watch this.

Good Lord.

You really are an odd little chappie, aren't you?

(CHUCKLES DRYLY)

(RAIN THRUMS)

See you soon, beagle.

Now, I need you to be a good girl.

I know I can rely on you to do the right thing.

No more nonsense, darling.

(FERVENT OPERATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

(SINGER VOCALISES OPERATICALLY)

(SINGER CONTINUES VOCALISING)

(DOOR OPENS)

What are you doing?

I'm engaged.

Next stop - marriage.

That's your only rule, isn't it?

Married women only?

I'm not walking down the aisle to that wretched man without...

..without at least once acting on my true desire.

(TENDER MUSIC PLAYS)

(RAIN PATTERS)

SONG: # Babe

# There's something tragic about you

# Something so magic about you

# Don't you agree?

# Babe

# There's something lonesome about you

# Something so wholesome about you... #

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

# Get closer to me

# No tired sigh, no rolling eyes

# No irony

# No "who cares?"

# No vacant stare

# No time for me

# Honey, you're familiar

# Like my mirror years ago

# Idealism sits in prison

# Chivalry fell on his sword

# Innocence died screaming

# Honey, ask me

# I should know

# I slithered here from Eden

# Just to sit outside your door... #

(PANTS) (RAIN THRUMS)

"Let it idle. Get the revs up."

# Babe

# There's something wretched about this

# Something so precious about this

# Oh, what a sin... #

(ENGINE IDLES) (BREATHES HEAVILY)

# To the strand A picnic planned for you and me... #

(GASPS SOFTLY)

# A rope in hand for your other man to hang from a tree

# Honey, you're familiar like my mirror years ago

# Idealism sits in prison... # (GRUNTS)

# Chivalry fell on his sword... #

Ah!

# Innocence died screaming

# Honey, ask me, I should know

# I slithered here

# From Eden... # Ah!

# Just to hide outside your door... # (EXHALES HEAVILY)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(LAUGHS)

# Honey, you're familiar

# Like my mirror years ago

# Idealism sits in prison

# Chivalry fell on his sword

# Innocence died screaming

# Honey, ask me

# I should know... # (LAUGHS)

# I slithered here from Eden

# Just to hide outside... # (LAUGHS)

(PUFFS) # Your door. #

oh.

(BREATHES TREMULOUSLY)

(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYS)

(RAPS ON WINDOW)

Gwen?

This had better be good.

Oh, my gosh.

You're right. That... That...

That's a dead body.

We have to go to the police.

(WHIMPERS FAINTLY)

Gwen, clothes, please!

Now!

Get inside. We were lost!

There is a corpse here, and we're going to the authorities.

(WHIMPERS)

She said... (COCKS GUN)

..get inside.

(BREATHES SHAKILY)