Original subtitles

Happy anniversary, darling.

Te amo. Thank you.

Oh, yeah! (LAUGHS) Yay!

It's a... It's a hay baler!

..hay baler.

We've already got a hay baler.

Yeah, no shit, Einstein.

What we don't have is the latest model...until now.

Now, in order to get this started, you just need to, um...

Um...

Perhaps you should press...

(TUTS) It's OK. It's alright.

Everything's under control.

Um...

Do you want some help?

When I want your help, I'll ask for it.

So...

(GRUNTS)

(ENGINE STARTS)

See, the thing about hay balers, is it's like riding a horse.

(LAUGHS)

And riding a horse,

it's like making love.

You've just got to feel... Ow!

Are you alright? Yeah. Yeah.

No, it's OK. It's just...hot.

Um...

I'll give you a bit of a demonstration.

What you want to do is get a little bit

and it goes and it compacts it into like, a cube, which is...

..which is a bale.

A hay bale, which is why it's called...a hay bale. Bale.

And that should be pushing it out at the end there,

and it's not here at the moment.

I'm not sure...

Maybe you shouldn't... Harry.

Maybe you should shut up, Robert.

Um...

Harry, my love...

Just... Just be careful.

My darling, I know this equipment like the back of my hand.

(SCREAMS)

(MOTOR REVS)

(SCREAMS)

It doesn't explain why you didn't tell anyone.

What if they didn't believe us?

You're his wife.

Of course they'd believe you.

Yeah, let's say they did.

Harry's dead.

Means Frankie's not protected.

She's a foreigner we're at war with.

Des takes over the farm, boots me out on day one.

His contempt for Aborigines is...

..legendary.

So God knows where he's going to send Kathleen,

away from her family.

So we pretended he enlisted.

You're lying to his family.

It's wrong, plain and simple.

How can you lie to Des when he's here all the time?

He should know.

We should have told the truth.

But we can't do that now.

Going to the police isn't going to bring him back.

Gwen...

..I don't feel safe anymore.

Well, I'm pretty sure we've got to kill him.

Why is your mum's answer to everything more death?

Robert, you're not funny.

No, what's not funny, Frankie,

is that I told you we should have burnt him in the first place.

Cremation is a mortal sin.

Oh, shit. It's Des.

I'll distract him. Check Esther.

(HONKS HORN)

Ciao, Des! Ah, Francesca.

I came as soon as I heard.

Heard what?

I've got flares. I've got sandbags.

We're prepared. Flares? Sandbags?

Why you brought them?

(EXCITED, INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Bomb shelter. The bomb... Kaboomio!

Kaboom. Kaboom.

(INDISTINCT, EXCITED CHATTER)

Bomb shelter. Stand back. Bomb shelter...

(GASPS) Oh, my God.

Oh. (GASPS)

You're scaring me, Des.

Oh.

Whoa, oh, oh.

Francesca,

I will be your protector.

Thank you.

But first I have to go and collect Mother.

We'll see you at the community hall.

The hall?

You haven't heard?

Oh, my chest. I can't breathe.

"Singapore has fallen".

WOMAN: (ON RADIO) The apparently impenetrable stronghold

surrendered to the Japanese on Sunday.

Millions had been spent

on protecting it from attack from the sea.

Practically nothing had been done to protect it from a land assault.

A total of 60,000 soldiers,

British, Indian and Australian, have been taken prisoner.

The fall of the city is a smashing blow to British prestige.

Prime Minister Curtin said the disaster was Australia's Dunkirk

and that it opened the battle... Hey.

..for this continent...

Uh... Are you right?

Its capture by the Japanese will considerably help them...

Nothing a little bit of pickle won't fix.

(SIGHS) Sure.

Apart from finding a dead body, I've never been better.

(GRUNTS)

Hey!

Robert!

Robert! Let me out!

(SIGHS)

(BANGS ON DOOR)

Can't take her to the meeting, she's a liability.

(BANGS ON DOOR) Hey! Hey!

Shh!

Schmuck!

Schmuck?

(BANGS ON DOOR) Let me out!

I'm going to tell Des and Mrs Whitmore about this.

(RATTLES DOORKNOB)

I want you to know...

(GROANS FROM INSIDE ROOM)

..I believe you.

Hey!

I'll stay behind, talk to Esther.

Hello?!

WOMAN: (ON RADIO) ..he was named by Prime Minister Churchill,

who reviewed the motive and manner of Japan's...

(CLEARS THROAT)

..he has nothing to offer but the heart...

(BANGS) The window's painted shut!

(GROANS EXASPERATEDLY)

Butchered young men!

Men from here.

Men from down the road.

Men from over the mountain.

Murdered! (ALL EXCLAIM)

Please stay calm.

(LOUDLY) Murdered... (ALL EXCLAIM)

..by the Japanese

who are making their way towards us,

pillaging and looting and no doubt worse.

Chinese.

We're Chinese.

There's a curfew from sunset to sunrise.

No lights at night, or a kamikaze will crash into your house.

That starts tomorrow.

So tonight will be your last night of democracy and freedom.

Also,

all the prisoner of war camps have been expedited

because the enemy has never been closer.

Not just the Japs, but also Huns and Italians.

(MURMURING AND EXCLAMATIONS)

Our brave diggers thank you.

There is a war on. The usual morals don't apply.

Practically everyone's complicit in someone's death somewhere.

What if your family had to keep a big secret

or they'd lose their home?

Wouldn't you put aside your misgivings to protect them?

Hiding a dead body is hardly a misgiving.

Reporting his death means they lose everything.

And for what? So you can feel better about yourself?

(SIGHS)

Why were you in Frankie's bath?

Frankie never lets anyone use that bathroom.

If I tell you,

you have to promise not to say a word.

I shared space...

..with Frankie.

As in intimate space.

Oh, my God.

And I know, I know I should be feeling shame or disgust

or, at the very least, remorse.

But...

..but I don't.

I...

..I feel so happy.

Oh, Esther,

I think I'm in love.

If you're capable of loving someone

who is capable of burying her husband and lying about it,

then you must be colour blind,

because that is a colossal red flag.

What the hell were you doing

out on a tractor in the middle of the rain, anyway?

Oh, wait.

Darling,

the horrors overseas.

How are you holding up?

Terrified.

Yet truth be told,

I've never felt so alive.

Well, I've heard the government can't protect the whole country,

so they're drawing a line from Brisbane to Melbourne,

and everything west of it will be abandoned to the Japs.

(GASPS)

But...Adelaide, the City of Churches?

Perth I can understand. But...

(SLURRING DRUNKENLY) That's very good, ladies.

Well done, you all.

That's not the same mayor who farewelled the troops?

No, no, dear. He is with the angels now.

Mr Flanders, over there,

would be our sixth mayor since the war began.

Yes, it's the stress of their position and, you know, their age.

So much change. My head's spinning.

Well, change...

We don't like change.

Unless it's a new season. Like spring.

Yes, that's alright. Daffodils...

(BIRDSONG)

Harry's family will understand if you tell them the truth.

We'll vouch for you.

I'm going to tell you a story

so you'll understand.

What is this room? A confessional?

The old mission manager had a son my age.

One day we came across a bunch of bad berries

and I pretended to eat one,

and him, going along with it,

he actually ate one.

The doctor said permanent brain damage.

As punishment, they put me in a hole for months.

Oh...

Kathleen, you were a child.

You didn't deserve that.

Esther?

Yes? None of that really happened.

I never played with him.

I never even spoke to him.

That was THEIR story.

The only reason I got put in that hole

was because I found the boy.

(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)

You ready, bob?

I'm so sorry, Kathleen.

Kathleen?

Kathleen!

Are you gonna wear that? No.

Let me get changed.

# Hava nagila

# Hava nagila... #

(LAUGHS)

Oh. Oh...

Oh. Oh.

(GOAT BLEATS)

(BLEATS LIKE A GOAT)

It's me, Harry.

My soul is trapped in the body of a goat.

(SOFTLY) Oh, my God.

You found my body because you gave yourself sexual pleasure.

The only way to absolve this sin

is to tell everyone the truth about my death.

(SOFTLY) What's happening?

God saw.

He isn't pleased.

I didn't do anything. I swear.

And now you're lying.

Bella donna.

Mother wanted to know where Harry was doing his army training,

so she could write him.

But it's odd.

I can't find any record of him enlisting.

Des.

Are you going to buy a drink or...

It must take time for the paperwork to process.

Francesca,

has Harry run off and left you?

What?

Perhaps that's why there's no record?

Maybe he lied to you?

Hey,

I want you to know that I don't run away from my problems

like Harry...or Robert.

I'm a real man. MAN: Des.

For my friend.

Here. It's a fundraiser, Des.

Free for you all night.

Cheers, Des.

Reg will be a guard at the prisoner of war camp.

Oh.

Pleasure to meet you.

Any friends of Des is a friend of mine.

There's a queue.

Come on.

One cider.

I...I think you've had enough.

Robert?

Mum.

No word of warning.

Brought him his boiled egg and he was gone.

Your father wanted you to have this.

At the services next week, his battalion will see him off.

I can't go.

I'd be a hypocrite.

Robbie!

You must, to honour him. Mum.

I'd be honouring an idea of what he should have been.

Nothing real.

(CRIES)

Everyone's here.

Mm.

Someone can sign the paperwork.

But will our unity be valid under Japanese rule?

Let's go.

I don't want to be around a bunch of drunk white people.

I don't want you to marry me to please some old Christian lady.

We'll find another way for you to come home.

I'm worried.

About?

That we're on...

..different levels of...

..liking each other.

Whether it takes two minutes or two lifetimes...

..I'll be here, Kathleen.

And if you decide that maybe you'll never be happy with me...

..I'll still be here.

Him.

And he looked 12.

Yeah, well, that 12-year-old is a registered marriage celebrant.

Herbie.

I've clocked off, Kathleen.

You and your people are late to everything.

Your people seem to be late to Singapore.

We need you to sign these.

What's in it for me?

I'll spare your fucking family.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Right. Let's...

You Murray?

I am, sir.

You're in for a wild ride.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Now kiss. Let's see if it's real.

Serious?

Yeah, I'm serious.

If you don't kiss, I won't sign it.

Yep. Thought so.

Congratulations, Kathleen.

I can't wait to see the boys.

We've missed you, bob.

I don't understand why it's such a big deal.

It was one time.

Alright, maybe two.

The second was to make sure the first was real.

I will not be silent.

I will speak the truth.

Step aside.

We can't do that.

(GRUNTS) (GROANS)

Sorry!

I have to tell everyone about last night.

Esther!

Kathleen, no!

I will not be silent. Esther!

I must speak my truth.

(GRUNTS) Esther, no!

Out.

(GROANS) (FEEDBACK SQUEALS)

Excuse me... Esther.

..everyone.

Can I have everyone's attention?

Esther, don't do this, please.

Last night...

(THUD!)

(SINGS A LILTING ITALIAN SONG)

(MICROPHONE THUDS AND WHINES)

Thank you.

Pull a stunt like that again

and I won't be able to protect you.

So...

..you weren't going to tell everyone about Harry?

(SOFTLY) No.

I couldn't do it to Kathleen.

She'd be punished 10 times worse.

Then what did you get up to say?

Well, the goat,

which was my internalised guilt over sexual pleasure,

it was really shaming me.

So I felt compelled as a woman to publicly reclaim my enjoyment

of what is a completely natural neurovascular impulse.

I was very drunk. (LAUGHS)

Does this mean you don't remember anything from earlier?

I don't fully understand,

but I'm glad you're happy.

I thought you'd never talk to me again.

(BOTH LAUGH)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

For you, madame.

Thank you.

That song you sung before, what was it?

(SIGHS)

Well, you never looked more beautiful.

Can I tell you a secret?

Of course.

(WHISPERS) I don't like tea. (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

I just pretend.

Well... Sorry.

It's... (LAUGHS)

It's alright.

Well, can I tell you a secret?

Of course.

I feel like I've spent my whole life pretending.

You know that they say love is only a certain way.

I know in...

..with every cell in my body that that is not true.

And if they've been lying about that,

then what else?

(SNIFFS)

(I NEVER PLAYED THE GAME BY HARMONY BYRNE PLAYS)

# Oh, I never played the game

# But then again

# I never had much luck in love

# Oh, I never...

Eterno riposo.

(CONTINUES PRAYER IN ITALIAN)

# But then again, I never had...

Amen.

# ..much luck in love

# Oh, I never played the game

# But then again

# I never had much luck in love

# Oh, I never played the game

# But then again

# I never had much luck in love

# Oh, I never played the game

# But then again

# I never had much luck in love. #

Captions by Red Bee Media (c) SBS Australia 2023