Original subtitles

- That's three seconds better than his last run.

- He'll win, I know he will.

- Well done, Manalpuy.

- One more bad season and we're finished here.

I'm afraid it's gonna be a lean Christmas for you kids.

- Dad, you mustn't worry.

Prince is gonna win.

- And all our troubles will be over.

- Well, let's not worry about it anymore.

I just want you to enjoy the day.

- Can't I come in the pictures with you and dad?

- No!

- Look, we've had three hard years.

The floods nearly wiped us out,

and then the drought?

- Well, it's been tough for everyone, of course.

My own business is down.

As much as I'd like to help.

- All I'm asking is another six months.

Now, the drought's over,

I need time to fatten a few cattle

and sell them for a reasonable price.

Then I can pay off the mortgage.

- Thompson, I can't wait forever.

Carrol, Water is worth twice the price you've offered.

- I made you a fair offer.

- We're not selling, Carrol.

Not at any price.

- Suit yourself.

The mortgage falls due on January the first,

hope you'll have the money to pay for it.

Otherwise you'll wish you'd taken like very generous offer.

Have a Merry Christmas.

- I'd like a bike,

an air rifle, and a cricket bat,

and a football.

Look at that knife.

Maybe next year.

- Maybe this year, Johnny,

if Prince wins the cup.

- Helen, what would you like?

Dresses? Yuch.

- I'd like that one.

For Mom.

- You really think we'll pack them in this time, Bill?

- Sly, come here.

Come here.

If we don't, we're finished.

We owe for the hall, the rent for the amplifier.

We owe the band six weeks wages.

And on top of that, the bus'll only go

about another 150 yards before it falls to bits.

So, if were you, I'd pray for a crowd.

- We'll see you later, kids.

- Bye.

- Well Bobby, how are you?

- I'm not dancing with any girl.

- Johnny, it's a bush dance, you don't have to dance close.

- Yeah, just put your arm around their waist.

- Yuck.

- All right then, you can sit and watch.

- Next please.

Thank you.

One two three four, enjoy the show.

Two.

♪ The feeling is a mighty one ♪

♪ And it often be admired ♪

♪ They haven't seen the expired ♪

♪ Along the board ♪

♪ And passing by the ringer said ♪

- It's hardly what I call music,

but I suppose it has a certain rustic charm.

- Yeah, I suppose it does.

- And now I'd like you to take your partners

for a strip the willow!

- Wanna come for a dance?

- Sure do.

- What do you reckon Bill?

- Who cares?

After all that lovely money.

I've gotta say my boy, we've done it.

- Maybe I'll tell the fellas.

- If we split with the band,

we won't have enough money left over for a decent feed.

We're broke, again.

We're not gonna split with the band.

We're just gonna split.

- The bus?

- The bus.

♪ You can talk of your whiskey and talk of your beer ♪

♪ There's something much nicer that here ♪

♪ It sits on the fire ♪

♪ There's nothing much nicer than a Billy of tea ♪

- Did you see that little creep?

Come on, man.

♪ Wait till it's ready, my Billy of tea ♪

♪ You can talk of your whiskey and talk of your beer ♪

- That should just cover what you owe us.

Hand it over, mate.

♪ There's nothing much nicer than a Billy of tea ♪

♪ There's nothing much nicer than a Billy of tea ♪

- Dancing with girls are stupid.

- Didn't you like the song?

- Ever heard "The Wombat Singing in the Hills," dad?

- Wombats don't sing.

- Exactly.

- Is he talking about me?

- Shut up, Sly, I'm thinking.

- What about?

- Dinner.

- Easy on the Lammington's Manalpuy.

You're riding Prince in the cup,

we don't want you overweight.

Prince is winning.

- Yeah well, maybe he could Johnny,

but let's not tell the world, eh?

- Shut up, Sly.

Prince'll win by a mile, Jack.

- I wouldn't bet against him, son.

- If we can get a bid on that horse.

- Shut up.

I'm still thinking.

We've got two hours to go kids,

are you gonna sing all the way?

Ben, do we have to sell to Carrol?

Well, it's that or lose the property.

It might be a long way from town, Katie, but it's home.

Blimey, where do they live, New Zealand?

I hope you filled the tank.

Just about.

I was right in the middle of doing it,

when the owner came back.

We pull a few seats out of the bus,

tie them in the back,

and we're in business.

That's rustling.

They hang horse thieves.

But we're not stealing the animals, Sly.

We're borrowing.

We'll take it around the bush tracks,

win enough races to build up a bank,

then we turn her loose.

A simple loan.

All right, half an hour to trim the Christmas tree,

then off to bed.

- Oh no!

I'll get the jack.

- We haven't got a jack, I sold it.

Wouldn't matter anyway, I sold the spare wheel too.

- That means we can't steal the horse.

- Borrow.

- Borrow the horse.

Bill.

If they hang you for stealing one horse,

what would they do for three?

- This one right here.

Are you enjoying this.

- Very much, Aunt Kate.

- He's not a bad bloke, for a pommy.

- Must be strange for you,

Christmas in summer.

- It is a little bizarre.

I've been wondering what you'll serve for Christmas dinner.

Cold poultry and salads I suppose.

No, there'll roast chook and things,

and Christmas pudding with drippings and hot custard.

- But it'll be a hundred degrees in the shade.

- It's Christmas.

- Kids in bed?

- Not yet.

You will be back by Christmas eve, won't you?

- We'll leave first thing in the morning.

Get the cattle there in a couple of days.

I'll be back in time.

I promise.

Now tomato sauce, a man can't live without tomato sauce.

- Prince?

Good boy.

Prince.

- That's him.

That's the horse.

Yeah.

- What have you got there?

- Food.

- Good boy Sly, come on.

He's so big.

- Give me a bridle.

A rope one.

I'll get Prince, you get the other two.

- You, you want me to go in there?

- Well how else do you think we're gonna catch him?

- I'm more worried about them catching me.

- Try to pick a quiet one.

- How do you tell the quiet one from the noisy one?

- Come on, Sly.

There, come on.

- Good luck!

- This is John Thompson calling School of the Air,

come in Miss Curtis.

- No, I saw the men leave Manalpuy,

no one was riding Prince.

- Prince can open gates himself.

- Not that one.

- Mom!

Will you come here?

- You go look for them.

It was all right last night.

Your father used it.

- Well, it's dead as a sausage now.

- One of the bulbs is missing.

- Hold it a sec, mom.

- What is it?

- The rotor's gone.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Come on Sly, keep up.

Keep up? I can hardly keep on.

They're not trying to hide their tracks.

Because they know we can't follow them.

But we can.

Dad put some of the horses down in the south paddock.

We can get them.

- No!

They might be dangerous.

None of us are leaving this farm.

Is that understood?

- We could get dad.

- By the time we reached your father,

they'd be in the Warrigals.

- The Warrigals?

They must be crazy.

Oh, those thieves, we've got to get them.

- Helen, I said no.

- Who is it, who's there?

- Hey, wake up.

- No, no.

- You haven't got your pyjamas on.

- It was too hot.

Look Helen, your mother.

- Shh, she can hear you.

- That's what I'm trying to tell you.

- Manalpuy's going after Prince.

He's saddling up a horse, now.

- But your mother said no one was to-

- I know.

I want you to tell her in the morning.

- Why can't you tell her?

Because I'm going with him.

I'm gonna bring back Prince.

- Helen, Helen,

come back.

Helen?

You can't come.

- Give me one good reason.

Helen.

- Ah, John.

- I only woke him so he could tell your mother.

- And if you try going without me, I'll tell her now.

- Look, someone's got to stay here and look after mum.

It's the man's job.

That's why we left you.

- Mum does need looking after.

- And I'm certainly going.

I can't let you go off with just,

with those thieves around.

I take it we have ample provisions?

Ample what?

We'll live off the land,

like Manalpuy.

- Helen?

- Sly, Sly.

This side.

Come on.

- I can't get my foot in the pedal.

Can't get my foot in the pedal.

You said you could ride.

- I can!

My mum used to take me to Brighton.

You know, like lead you up and down like doggies.

I always fell off.

- Sly, come here.

Grab my foot, give me a lift up.

Lord, look at you.

Bushy's hat.

Cowboy boots, oilskin trousers,

you can't even ride.

- It's my stage costume, isn't it?

I hate the bush.

- Well this is what you do,

you hang over the reins,

feet in the stirrups, and grip with your knees, all right?

- Mm-hmm.

- Now you give me a start.

- Right.

What'll I say?

- Just use your imagination.

It's a race, right?

- All right.

On your blocks.

Huh?

- Take the water.

Go!

- Sly, my boy.

We've got the fastest horse this side

of the Randwick racetrack.

We're gonna make millions.

We can't go through there, I'll get my boots wet.

Stick them behind your ear.

Why?

'Cause you're already went there.

- Ha ha.

Stay awake, Johnny.

- You have it.

It's the last.

Here, Johnny.

I've had enough.

- Bush tomatoes again.

- Just try to think of it as a roast of beef,

with crisp golden potatoes, all steaming.

- Michael.

Helen?

Helen, I'm hungry.

- I know.

Manalpuy promised in the morning.

- What is it?

- Nothing.

Just the wind

in the trees.

- But there isn't any wind.

- It's not the wind.

- It is the wind.

- Manalpuy?

Manalpuy?

See it, will you, somebody see it?

Is this all we get for breakfast?

It's all you might get for days.

- Days? When is Christmas?

And Christmas dinner?

- How are we gonna get food?

We can't live on berries.

- Where'd you get that?

- What's that for?

- I'm an old Boy Scout.

Be prepared.

- You wouldn't shoot anyone.

- Aborigines, I don't think they'll like us being here.

- If they don't like it,

I'm not real keen on it myself.

- They're galloping Prince down there and back again.

- Then we'll just have to move faster.

At least we've got a weapon now,

that gives us an advantage.

- Who'd you shoot?

You shot an Aborigine.

They'll massacre us.

Dead as a doornail.

- You shot one of their pets.

- Ah Sly.

- They weren't shooting at us.

The sound was too far away.

- Maybe we should go back.

- I suppose the station hands could track them.

Couldn't they?

- Still no tracks to follow.

Raining cats and dogs.

We'll have to stop.

Why?

We're getting wet.

We have to find shelter.

- There.

- This is an old Aborigine cave.

All right John, give me your saddle.

Get some wood.

- What, now?

Yes, now.

- Back into the cave.

Don't worry about me.

- Get more wood.

- What's the point?

It's too wet to burn anyway.

All right, stay inside.

I'll get more.

- I'll help.

- Take your clothes off and dry them.

- Here.

- Get higher.

- I'll turn my head.

And turn yours Johnny.

- I've seen them before.

- John.

- Well, I'm your brother.

- Don't look.

All right.

Your turn now.

- This rain is probably the best thing

that could have happened for us.

- Bill.

- What?

Get a hold of yourself.

- Whoa, whoa.

Come on, we'll have to move.

The creeks'll be up after that little lot.

Don't worry, a burst of rain these boots.

Well, they're big enough.

Feels terrible.

- They'll dry as we get going.

- Tracks washed away.

- Well that does it, we can't follow them now.

Not without help.

Who do you think is going to help him?

Where are we gonna get help

in this forsaken place?

- Just follow him, Michael.

- Crazy, they're all crazy.

Who did it, who put those stones there?

Curry.

Who is Curry?

- The Courier Aboriginals,

Manalpuy's people.

I don't know what's more painful,

falling off or staying on.

It don't mean to me.

Are we there yet?

- Yeah, we're at the top.

I'll never walk again.

- Well, it's too steep to ride down down.

- Down? We only just got up.

- Yeah.

Then we go down, and up, and down.

- You kidding.

The only thing that goes up and down that often's a yo-yo.

It's half of Australia.

- It's only about an inch on the map.

- How any inches to where we're going?

- About three.

- Three inches?

I can't walk three inches.

- Right, we'll see you later then.

- Well, no you don't, you don't leave me here.

You go, I go.

- Oh, it's good to have real loyal mates.

Anybody who was following us,

that rain would have fixed them.

We'll stop for some food later.

Smart food.

- Come on.

Ow! Get off my boots, stupid.

To be a singer and go on tour.

Didn't learn to walk till I was five.

Sometimes I wish I hadn't bothered.

Taxi!

- Ben!

Ben!

The children are up in the Warrigals.

- The Warrigals, what are they doing up there?

- Someone stole Prince, the children went after them.

- Ah God.

Jack, let the others bring them in.

You'll come with me and the missus.

We didn't sell the cattle.

Agent took one look and laughed.

Come on.

Lean back in the saddle.

Give your horse a chance.

- What's in it for me?

If we were meant to be here,

there'd be running escalators.

We're at the top, Johnny.

We'll rest soon.

We made it.

- I'll look for tracks later.

- It'll be too dark then.

- Well, you look.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way.

I wouldn't see the tracks if they were on my nose.

- Yeah, I'm sorry too.

We'll look in the morning.

- Manalpuy, I'm hungry.

- All right Johnny.

- I'll help.

- Aren't you too tired?

- Not to eat.

- No, no!

Get away!

You're a woman!

No.

- What is this place, I want to look.

Leave my sister alone.

- Manalpuy.

Manalpuy, how dare you?

- You didn't see it.

You didn't see it, you didn't see it!

- See what?

- There was nothing there, nothing.

- All right.

- We'll head straight for the mountains.

Don't worry, love.

We'll find them.

It's Christmas.

No presents, no dinner, no tree.

What is it?

- Our Christmas dinner.

- Who's there?

Only us.

We're missing Christmas.

- Ah Johnny, I hoped you wouldn't know.

- Listen John, back home in England

there's no Christmas till tomorrow.

- What difference does that make?

- Well, we could have an English Christmas tomorrow.

- We won't be home tomorrow either.

And all we've got the Christmas dinner is one-

- Johnny.

- You've caught something.

- A rabbit, I'll bet it's a rabbit.

Beautiful crispy-skinned rabbit,

all golden and juicy.

Go on Sly.

Meal fit for a king.

- Is it ready?

- Try it.

- What is that?

- Our dinner.

- Our Christmas dinner.

- It's a lizard.

I wouldn't touch that slimy thing

if I was starving to death.

- Neither would I.

- Well, people eat snails and frogs' legs.

- Please, Helen.

- Well, I don't see the difference.

- Well, try one of these.

Witchities.

He must have a weak stomach.

- Try to sleep, Johnny.

- It doesn't feel like Christmas.

- I'm sorry about your sacred place.

I didn't know.

Can you forgive me?

- I will, but my people will not.

- What will they do?

- They'll do nothing.

Oh, well that's all right then.

- No, it's not.

They'll not leave sign for us, anymore.

- This is your knife, Michael.

Isn't it?

- Merry Christmas, Johnny.

- You're giving it to me?

As a present?

Geez, it's a beauty.

- Merry Christmas, everybody.

- Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Johnny.

- Merry Christmas, Michael.

- Merry Christmas, Manalpuy.

- Merry Christmas, Manalpuy.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas, Manalpuy.

Don't let up Jack, they've had a big start.

Be careful, Manalpuy.

I can see them a mile away.

- What do we do now?

- Wait until dark.

- Shut up and listen.

Who's there?

- It's those men from the band.

- Come out here.

I'm gonna take a look.

Do as you're told.

- What's that?

- A dingo.

Wild dog.

That's enough excitement for one night.

- More than enough.

- Manalpuy.

Johnny, come on.

Johnny, no.

- Hey!

- Bill, Bill, we're being attacked.

- Johnny, are you all right?

- I've hurt my knee.

- What was that?

Was it blacks?

- All I know is we're in a lot of trouble.

Let's see if anything's missing.

- The horses!

- I know the horses are gone.

- They've taken my boots.

- And they've taken the food.

- How can I sing without my boots?

- At least they didn't take the water.

Now we are in trouble.

- Well, Sly.

- Well, Bill.

- Come on, let's get after the horses.

- What about the saddles?

- You want to carry them?

- We've gotta push on, Jack.

They must have come this way.

You all right Johnny?

- Yeah.

- Come on, Sly.

Shake it up.

- My feet are full of bendies.

Around here, you'll get a backside full of spears.

- Helen?

- Johnny, what is it?

- It's my knee, it's really sore.

- We can't stay here.

It won't be too far.

- Look, why don't you go scout ahead.

See if there's somewhere that we can rest.

You might even see the horses.

- The horses will be miles away.

- I'm gonna climb up there and take a look.

- I might be able to carry you.

- I don't want to be carried.

- Helen, Manalpuy, quickly.

- Hello, there!

Help!

I haven't even heard a dog bark.

It looks deserted.

It might be it's haunted.

Oh Johnny does no such thing as ghosts.

Well actually in England, there's a castle.

Michael!

I wonder where everybody is?

- What is it?

It used to be the cool room,

where they hung the meat carcasses.

It smells like it.

It's a bit creepy, isn't it?

- Is anybody there?

- Hello?

Anyone home?

- I suppose we should go in.

- Well, come on.

- Gee, food.

- Excuse me, ma'am?

Excuse me, ma'am?

- Gotcha!

Now, what are you gonna do?

- Let us down, we give up.

- That's very wise.

- You're kidnappers.

- And horse-nappers,

my father's right behind with the police.

- Yeah, and he sent you on in front of soften us up.

- Yeah.

- Now you just hang on

while we discuss what we're gonna do with you.

Sly?

- Well, we decided you're right.

According to the law,

I suppose we're kidnappers, now.

- You'll go to jail for years, for life.

- That's true, too.

But being a such soft-hearted kooks,

we're gonna let you off the hook.

Off the hook.

But as we're also kidnappers,

we can't afford to let you kids go.

So we might have to let you hang around for awhile.

- Whoa.

Now come this way, boss.

- Do you reckon any of their boots'll fit us?

- We could try.

- Hey!

Little shavers.

- Helen's fallen down.

Help!

- Quick, grab my hand.

Helen?

- Got him!

- Michael.

Manalpuy, you all right?

I think so.

- Sly, you idiot.

Where's the rope?

- In the house.

I think.

- Michael, there's water running in.

- What's the matter?

- By the time those kids get home,

every cop in the country'll be out looking for us.

Not just for horse-stealing, for kidnapping.

- Well, we can't just leave them there, can we?

- They'll be all right.

Someone will come along and pull them up.

No worries.

We'll be miles away.

We'll find the horses.

- Bill, Bill.

Look.

Blimey, it's like a sign.

- Johnny, the water's up to our knees.

What's happening up there?

- They've gone for ropes.

They won't be long.

The water's coming faster.

- They'll be all right.

They'll get out okay.

Here, they'll find this.

Yeah, of course they will, like I did.

- And we'll be rich, Sly.

New bus, new band,

new instruments.

- New boots.

- Give me a hand.

All my life, I've had nothing,

but beating my head against a wall to earn an honest quid.

Come on.

Watch, Sly.

- The water's getting higher.

It's nearly up to my waist.

Johnny, you've got to get a rope.

I'll go and have a look.

Bridles.

Here it comes.

- It doesn't reach.

That's all there is.

- Here.

Step in my hands, you might be able to reach.

- We're gonna have a tour.

London, New York.

- Ah, the hell with it.

- Mate?

- They followed us all the way,

they tracked us up over them mountains.

- And they took our food and my boots.

- Yeah, they did that too.

I'm going back.

- Bill, go back and you're going back to jail.

I'm not leaving them kids stuck down that hole.

- Ah hell.

Giddy up.

- Right, now you.

- Well what about you?

- Don't worry.

Tie it under your arms.

Manalpuy ought to be able to pull you up.

Pull the rein!

- Michael.

He won't be able to reach the bridle.

- Hurry up!

- Looks like they're doing all right by themselves.

- It's still too short.

It can't reach Michael.

- Here.

Now watch out below.

Tie that under your arms,

and we'll pull you up.

- All right, all the way.

- Sly, try to find him a blanket.

- I'm all right.

Look after Helen.

- If you promise not to follow us,

we'll leave the two other horses.

Otherwise you'll have to walk home.

- We promise.

- Now move over son.

- You're not taking Prince.

- Yeah, I guess you're right, John.

I guess you're right.

- Boss!

They're all there, Jack.

Safe and sound.

- And they got Prince.

- Dad!

- Uncle Ben!

- Hi kids.

- Hi.

You okay?

- Yeah, fine.

I'm okay, dad.

Helen, how's Prince?

I hope he's not too tired for the race.

He'll be all right.

Let's get going.

Well, you did it, ace.

Good idea, kid.

Good idea.

- You should have seen Manalpuy,

he was swinging to.

- Really?

Good old Manalpuy, eh?

- Yeah.

- Two pounds on the press.

- That's 24 pounds, the favourite, Prince.

- Yes, ma'am.

Pound please.

- Pound on Prince, again.

- Now do your best, Manalpuy.

But don't take any chances, okay?

There you are, Prince.

- Good luck, Manalpuy.

- Good luck, Manalpuy.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Five pounds on the other.

You want five pounds on the.

That's 10 pounds.

Thank you, sir.

- Where do they race to, Uncle Ben?

- Straight out of town, cross country and back, Mike.

It's about four miles,

and they do it twice.

In a four-mile race, I've seen a lot of them.

- Yeah, it is.

But dad doesn't have much choice, does he?

- Better look after this truck, Thompson.

It'll be mine in a couple of days,

along with the rest of Carol Warren.

- Don't count your chickens, Carrol.

- I can afford to.

That's my horse, bought him in the city last week.

He's a steeplechaser.

Won every race he's been entered in.

And that's Derby Mulcahy that's riding him.

Good luck with your nag.

You're gonna need it.

- What's a steeplechaser dad?

- And who's Derby Mulcahy.

- He's a professional jockey.

I'm sorry kids, I don't think Prince has got a chance.

- Where's Prince?

- All that climbing in the Warrigals,

he's worn out.

- He can do it, he can.

Go Prince, go.

- He's gaining.

- Go Manalpuy.

Come on Prince!

Keep it going, Manalpuy go, go go!

- Come on, Manalpuy.

- Come on, Manalpuy.

- Kate, we've done it, we've done it.

We've saved the old place.

- That's enough, daddy.

Our presents, Merry Christmas!

- Great race, Manalpuy.

- Good boy.

- Thank you.

Thanks.

- Good on ya, love.

- Here's a big one on Prince.

- Oh, the big if.

There we are.

- Thanks all son.

- Good on ya, mate.

- Pleasure to do business with you.

Have a big win, did you, youngster?

- Yep.

- Good horse, that Prince.

- Yes, he is.

- You're a lucky man.

- Carrol, I believe I owe you some money.

Happy new year.

- You know Sly,

I've been thinking.

- Oh are you now?

- I reckon with the money we've got between us,

we should be able to afford to buy a small shearing outfit.

- You want to be a shearer?

You want to work?

- No, no no no no no, not exactly.

I just thought we might borrow a few sheep,

you know, maybe about a dozen from each property we pass by.

I only need them for an hour or two.

Shear them, put them back.

They grow their wool again so, nobody's lost anything.

It's only borrowing really.

Well.

Yeah, I suppose it is.

Only borrowing.

Yeah Sly, it's been a nice Christmas.

A real nice Christmas.