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I've always thought

that a man's life is like a river.

The current of it takes you,

and you just go along for the ride.

When I look at the faces in the photograph

all those years ago and think back to what happened then,

I'm reminded of that.

Some went to war and never returned.

Others toiled the land until they triumphed over it

or until it vanquished them.

This is my story, my river.

It's a story of loss and love, of hardship and hope.

It's a story of dreams; my brother Tom's dreams and mine.

It is my story of brotherhood.

Our dream was of escaping a life of backbreaking work

in the mines of our birthplace,

of finding our own way to a fortune and a better life.

The hardship was a 500-mile journey on foot.

Yeah?

Good afternoon, sir.

My name is William, and this is my brother, Thomas.

We're looking for some work,

and we were wondering if there's anything

we could help you with.

I got nothing for you.

And to save you a little time,

no else around here has, either.

I noticed you had a pile of logs over there

that need chopping into firewood.

Would that be worth, say, half a dozen oranges?

Would even pick 'em ourselves, save you the trouble.

Look, I told you before.

I've got nothing for you!

I can't go giving what little I have

to every hobo that comes knocking on my door!

Now go on.

Clear off.

- Oy! - Shit.

Get outta there!

Life on the road is never easy.

But people then treated you kindly more often than not.

A few shillings here, an odd job there,

and we not only survived, but we built up our stash.

And that stash sustained Tom, sustained his dream,

a dream from a newspaper story:

Man Makes Fortune Breeding Angora Rabbits.

What sustained me was Tom's single-minded determination.

500 miles.

It was a month of walking if you did it hard,

and more like three months if you did it our way,

picking up work as we went along.

So, where are you lads from, anyway?

Broken Hill.

Broken Hill, are you?

Done any clearing before?

Yes, sir.

All right.

I'll give you a few days, half day's trial.

We gotta clear all this lot before the end of the week.

The boys could do with some help.

See that young fella, Laurie, about getting your tools.

I'll knock your block off!

That's it, Laurie, get it now, eh, get it!

Come on, take a swing!

Hey!

Oy, back off!

That's enough, leave him alone!

Hey, hey, back off!

What's the matter with you?

Your idiotic brother nearly killed me

when that tree came down!

Reckons I did it deliberately,

which is absolute bollocks!

I won't put up with your mouthing off

when I take him to task!

If you're gonna take me to task,

at least tell it how it is!

You calling me a liar?

You saw it, Gordon.

Yeah, I saw it.

We all saw it.

Little bastard doesn't know an axe from his ass.

Yeah, go home to your mothers.

You got no business here, either of you.

Yeah, move on, mate.

Get outta here.

Yeah, piss off!

You're not in charge!

You can go to blazes!

You want to make something of this?

Come on, then!

Hey!

Hey!

Get off him!

Get off, get off!

Hey!

Get off me!

Get off me!

Hey, hey!

Hey, you leave him alone!

You gutless bastard!

What's the matter with you?

Better watch what you say, pansy.

We wouldn't want any accidents to happen around here.

You lot!

Get back to work and stop the nonsense!

Come on, stop the nonsense!

All of you, back to work!

Thank you.

Thanks.

I'm gonna need to get to a cobbler real soon,

or I'll be making the rest of this trip in my socks.

Hey there.

Good evening, fellas.

Mind if I join you both?

Take a seat.

I'm Bertie.

I'm Tom.

This is William.

Yeah, call me Bill.

Tom and Bill, eh?

Are you two brothers, I take it.

Yeah, that's right.

So, what brings you fellas

to the middle of nowhere?

Where you headed?

Melbourne.

Melbourne?

Eh.

There's nothing in Melbourne.

Slim pickings down there, believe me.

Out here's the place to be.

Where are you headed?

Anywhere.

Anywhere I can make a bauble or two, of course.

This should be ready.

Tell you boys what.

If you give me a share of the meal,

I'll let you use these.

Just 'cause we're living off the land

doesn't mean we can't be civilized.

Sounds fair.

I'm guessing you boys don't have any objections

to a good cup of tea either, eh?

This is really fancy silverware.

Where'd you get it?

From the last place I worked.

Pretty nice, eh?

What'd they do, pay you in silverware?

Oh, I wouldn't say paid.

I just sort of appropriated these,

along with a few other things.

Charity needs a little shove sometimes.

So, you take the rabbit by the head,

and you hold it firmly, and snap, you break the neck.

Well, that's a bit cruel, isn't it?

It's like killing your pet.

Nah, they don't feel it.

Here.

That's smooth, isn't it?

Mm.

You know, they make ladies scarves and gloves outta this.

Gonna need a lotta bloody rabbits.

Well, one pelt will get you about a quid.

And any butcher will give you about

a two and a six for the carcass.

Really?

Hm.

You breed enough of these little buggers,

you could bring in about 10 quid a week.

10 quid?

Mm.

That's about three times the amount you get out here,

breaking your back.

Your brother's not as stupid as he sounds.

Or looks.

Friendships formed easily on the road.

The company of others of like mind

was a precious counter to the loneliness

that so often walked alongside.

Some, like Bertie, were drifters, belonging nowhere.

But others, like us, had a purpose, a goal.

But the bonds of mateship and trust and sharing

were important to the survival of us all,

no matter why we found ourselves carrying a swag,

which is why what happened with Bertie

ultimately affected my whole life.

No.

No, I don't believe this!

50 quid!

That thieving bastard!

What?

Bertie!

Did you see him leave?

What are you talking about?

That shifty little bugger has stolen our life savings!

Come on!

How do you know he went this way?

My best guess is he'll head

the opposite way we were going.

But he'll expect us to think that!

He'll be expecting us to head in this direction!

Are you sure?

Well, that's what I would do.

He's really only got two choices.

But we take our chances either way, 50-50.

At best, he's got a few hours' head start.

But if we leg it, I reckon we can catch him.

You're right.

That little bugger will be counting on us backtracking.

Come on.

Tom.

Wait up a sec.

Just need some water.

♪ Pardon me boy ♪

♪ I think I need to get a new shoe ♪

Shh!

Quick, quick, quick, get down, get down!

Get down!

What is your bloody problem?

Shh, shh!

Come on.

Come here.

Look.

Up there.

You see him?

That's our boy.

Come on!

He's a big bloke, remember.

But it's two unto one.

Don't give the sod a chance.

Okay.

Shh.

Now!

Get him!

Hold it right there you stinking thief!

Did you hit him with a rock?

I didn't even throw one!

Well, what's the matter with him?

Well, how the heck should I know?

Ask him!

Hey, mister!

Are you all right?

How you feelin'?

Do you need a drink of water?

Nope.

There's no one around here.

Nothing.

Well, he's awake.

But he looks pretty bad.

What do you think's the matter with him?

Don't know.

Bit of sunstroke, maybe.

Look, if we leave him some food and water,

he'll be all right.

I mean, we've really gotta keep moving.

Whoa, whoa!

Whoa, hold him!

Hold him.

Get him up, get him up.

Tom.

Tom had always tried to determine

the course his river took.

It just so happened that mine had followed a similar course.

Although we didn't know it yet,

it was at this point that our lives began to change,

to flow in different directions.

Bloody hell!

You old deadbeat!

He's cooked, Tom.

Well, he's not gonna get any better

lying in the dirt every five minutes!

All right, come on.

Get him up, get him up.

That's it!

What are you doing?

We're leaving him here.

We're gonna send someone back for him.

Look, would you just forget about Bertie, Tom?

He's gone.

Forget about him?

Come on.

Do you seriously think we're ever gonna find him again?

You think I'm gonna give up for this ungrateful clown?

And what if he dies before someone finds him?

What then?

Look.

You want to play the good Samaritan?

You go right ahead.

I'm gonna go find Bertie with or without you.

Damn it, Tom!

That money was mine too, you know?

You're not the only person in the world

that's been handed a raw deal.

The money's gone, Tom.

And you know it as well as I do.

Come on, come on.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, sir.

Mugger off, Tom.

I'm sorry to bother you, but are you Mr. Norton?

Uh, I am...

I'm sorry.

I thought...

Am I not allowed to sleep here?

No, no.

I just wanted to ask, did you bring

the sick man in this morning?

Yeah.

Is there a problem?

No, not at all.

I'm Alice Carmody.

William Norton.

But you can call me Bill.

I came to thank you.

The man you brought in this morning is my dad.

You're not from around here, are you?

Uh, no.

Well, we actually used to live in Broken Hill,

but we're making our way down to Melbourne now.

Who's "we"?

My brother Tom and and I.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Tom.

I'm Alice Carmody.

Pleasure to meet you.

Excuse me.

Doctor reckons he'll be all right.

We should think about getting outta here.

Right now?

Yeah, well, there's no point hanging around.

We found some poor old geezer on the road a couple days back

and we brought him in.

I know.

He's my father.

Beg your pardon?

She's his daughter, Tom.

The sick bloke.

Mm.

My apologies.

That's quite all right.

My mother would like to invite you over for tea tonight.

Our way of saying thank you.

- Well... - Absolutely.

We'd love to come.

Very well.

So, how 'bout that, eh?

A decent home-cooked meal for a change.

And nice company for a change, too.

No matter how hard you try, Bill,

you'll never be better looking than me.

And no matter how hard you try,

you'll never be as charming as me.

Uh-huh.

Well charm this, you little bugger!

Wait your turn!

Can I take that for you?

Yes, thank you.

So, where did you boys say you found Mr. Carmody?

Um...

about three days out of Riverton.

How'd you find him?

Well, he was just lying there,

lying right in the middle of the road, poor fella.

He had passed out.

It was a pretty hot day.

Well.

I'm so grateful you boys found him when you did.

Far too many men are lost out on those roads.

It had never occurred to me

that life on the road was anything other than friendship

and hardship in equal measure.

But the road could be the end of a life as well.

The attractions of it suddenly felt

as thin as the sole of my boot.

And this one evening of insight into a normal life

began to shift the balance.

And how do you believe I'm not good at this?

Hey, Phillip!

Has Tom seen your rabbit yet?

No.

Why don't you show him?

Sure!

You want to see him?

Yeah, I suppose.

Come on, I'll show you!

Don't break its neck, Tom.

Shut up, you.

I thought you could use a break from draughts.

Phillip will keep Tom busy for a while, I'm sure.

Somehow I don't think Tom will mind.

He can talk about rabbits for hours, too.

Believe me.

So, you've walked all the way from Broken Hill.

How has that been?

It's good.

It's not too comfortable, but...

it's different.

You don't really like it that much, do you?

How'd you guess?

I mean, who would like it?

Our stash was gone,

but there was work for us in Riverton.

The town took us in like we were one of them,

and slowly we found our fate.

Together, we've got a little over six pounds.

It's not bad for a week's work.

You know, I wonder what Bertie's doing with our money.

Little bastard is probably wasting it

on a comfortable bed or grog.

I try not to think about it, myself.

Didn't get me one of those, did you?

I've left enough for you.

Well...

I got you something.

Reckon you could use a new pair of those.

Your old ones were a little embarrassing.

Thanks, Tom.

They're real beauties.

And you can't go dancing in those.

Dancing?

The Riverton spring ball is on in two days.

Dancing it is.

Thank you.

Hope you're having a wonderful evening.

Gentlemen, would you please take your partners

for a foxtrot.

♪ When whippoorwills call ♪

♪ And evening is nigh ♪

♪ I hurry to my ♪

♪ Blue heaven ♪

♪ A turn to the right ♪

♪ A little white light ♪

Would you like one?

Oh, thanks.

♪ Will lead you to my ♪

♪ Blue heaven ♪

♪ You'll see a smiling place a fireplace a cozy room ♪

♪ A little nest that's nestled where the roses bloom ♪

♪ Just Molly and me ♪

♪ And baby makes three ♪

♪ We're happy in my ♪

♪ Blue heaven ♪

Good evening.

Evening, William.

I'm glad you and Tom could stay for the ball.

Wouldn't miss it.

If there's one thing we really enjoy, it's a good dance.

Seems like every time we'd come to a town,

the dance was the week before.

So, what are you two planning to do now?

I'm not sure.

Maybe just get a few odd jobs about.

If you're looking for some steady work,

I know someone who might be able to help you.

Really?

Over there.

Robert Locchel.

He's a good family friend of mine.

He's also the foreman at his uncle's sheep estate

just outside of town.

It'd be nice of you to mention us.

I will.

♪ And baby makes three ♪

♪ We're happy in my ♪

♪ Blue heaven ♪

Now, there's someone I'd like you to meet.

Robert, may I introduce Tom and Bill Norton?

Ah, the two lads that found Mr. Carmody.

At last.

Pleased to meet you both finally.

Yeah, you too.

What have you two been doing here at Riverton?

They've been helping Mr. Crowley for the last week.

Yeah.

But that's all finished up now.

Reckon we'll be on our way shortly.

Mm.

Are you looking for work?

Well, yeah, I guess.

It just so happens I've been looking for a couple lads.

And we're getting pretty busy this time of year.

I could use the extra help.

You interested?

Welcome to the Locchel's farm.

My uncle and aunt own it, but they pretty much

leave it to me to run the place.

So, what I can offer you is three pounds a week,

including board and meals.

Sound fair?

Workers' quarters are over there.

Just see Jack about getting set up in the spare room.

Hey.

Are you Jack?

How you doin'?

I'm Tom Norton, this is William.

Yeah.

The dancing boys.

I remember.

Robert said we should see you about the spare quarters.

You two are working here now?

Yeah.

Spare quarters, eh?

He means the games room.

I don't know if we should give that up.

What do you reckon, Perse?

No, I don't think so.

Sorry, boys.

Looks like you're outside.

You'd be used to that by now, right?

Just pulling your leg, fellas.

Jack Humphries.

Pleased to meet you, Tom and...

Yeah, William.

William.

Yeah, call me Bill.

Here, Bill.

Have some.

Watch it, boss!

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill!

G'day, fellas.

- Hey, Bob. - G'day, boss.

You've never had much of that, have you?

Catch it!

Go, go, go, go, go!

Life on the road was a distant memory.

Ah, shit!

I felt at home here amongst these men,

more than anywhere I'd ever been.

There were friends here, mates who'd laugh with you

and help you out and back you up when you needed it.

Their mateship felt permanent,

unlike on the road, where everything is fleeting.

It was all like nothing I'd experienced before.

The door to being an adult had been opened up for me,

and, on the other side of it, I fitted it.

Looking back on those times, I can see I was oblivious

to everything except what my life had become.

He turns to the bartender, and he asks,

"What's with all the blokes yelling out numbers?"

And the bartender says, "You see,

"we've all been coming to this pub for years,

"and the lads always tell the same jokes over and over,

"so to make things easier, we gave them all a number."

So, he thinks, "I reckon I can join in on this."

He stands up, and he yells, "88!"

And there's a moment of silence,

and then the whole place laughs so hard,

it nearly brings the pub down.

So he turns to the bartender again, and he says,

"What was so funny about number 88?"

"Well, for starters, it was a very funny joke.

"And secondly, we'd never heard that one before."

Lads.

You started without us!

I told you we wouldn't be long.

Sorry about that, Perse.

Look what I have.

A little surprise.

A whole batch of it just came into town.

Hey, not too shabby!

Had to make sure Bob didn't catch sight of it.

Hey, Billy boy, drink up!

Put some hairs on your chest.

Take it easy with that, Jack.

Last time we brought back a heap of grog,

Henry got his ass kicked,

'cause Jack spent two days in bed with a hangover.

Yeah, a good blast that was.

Here, make that two, before you polish it all off.

Now, you watch it, lad, or you'll be going thirsty.

Two aces, a pair.

All right.

All right, okay, come on.

Are you joining the game, Tom?

No, I'll give it a miss tonight, thanks.

Yeah, me too.

Too bloody crowded.

Drink?

Yeah, thanks.

What are you working on?

Just a personal thing, you know?

Ambition.

Yeah?

Can I take a look?

That looks all right, doesn't it?

Ah, a pet store, eh?

No, it's...

Angora furs.

Rabbit furs, actually.

Where I come from, it's either get a job in the mines

or get a job somewhere else.

Mm.

Same.

Only it was beet farming for me.

Ended up here.

Not much better, really.

Hey, Henry.

More news on the war.

If this thing keeps going,

do you think you'd consider joining up?

There'd have to be Germans breaking down my front gate

before I go running off to fight a war.

Well, it's good to know you'll be there

when that happens.

Despite the brewing conflict in Europe,

life was settling into a comfortable routine.

I had work here, real work,

work that I enjoyed learning and loved doing.

There was a quiet spirit in that town;

a life of simplicity.

Thinking about it.

For the briefest time,

I hadn't a care in the world.

Oh, very nice.

Good shot, mate.

He's one lucky bugger, that Robert.

Why?

He's got such a good life here.

You know he's in line to inherit al this?

Some blokes are just lucky, I suppose.

Having all this, it doesn't mean anything.

Mm-hm.

This coming from a guy whose aim in life

is to hobnob in Melbourne's high society

with spats and gold cuff links.

Yes, those that start at the bottom

and work their way through.

I respect that.

Like Dad tried, huh?

That really worked, didn't it?

Look where that ended up.

Why do you always have to say things like that?

Like what?

You're always having a go at Dad.

Why are you always trying to defend him?

Just try to show a little respect for once, huh?

What does that make him, a liar?

Well, obviously he was mistaken.

Then where were you all night?

I told you, darling, I was visiting my mother.

You haven't visited your mother in five years.

Well, all the more reason to pay a visit,

don't you think?

Now, look, Veronica,

I don't know what you're up to,

but if I ever find that you've been seen in the company

of that no-good swindler again, I'll...

I'll...

You'll what, darling?

I'll break his legs, that's what!

Oh, really, Fredrick?

You're making much too big a deal of all this.

You're all in a fluster,

and you know that makes you irrational.

Come on.

Can we put this behind us?

So, Bill, what's going on between you

and Carmody's daughter?

Nothin'.

You bloody fibber.

I've seen the two of you around.

Well, nothing too serious.

Ah, so there is something.

You're pretty keen on her, then?

Maybe you should mind your own business?

Nah, it's obvious.

I know the story already.

Ah, do you now?

Well, you're the young, handsome, mysterious drifter,

and she's the curious town beauty.

Now, you hang around town for a while,

and sure enough, bang, you've both fallen for each other.

But you can't stay here forever,

and she ain't gonna wait for you her whole life.

Yet still you hope that, somehow, someway,

it'll all work out.

But deep down inside,

you know that this is gonna end in tears.

I'm right, aren't I?

But you know what?

The best part's yet to come.

Yeah?

And what might that be?

You get to do it all over again

in the next town you stay at.

Cricket's on that day.

It's quite a feat.

Definitely.

You guys seen where William's gotten to?

No, I haven't seen him.

Nah, me neither.

And what about this one?

That I got from a pair of clippers a couple of weeks back.

Ooh.

And this one?

Now, that one was Tom's fault.

He dropped the cooking pot onto it straight off the coals.

And to make things worse,

the meal tasted pretty ordinary as well.

When are you leaving?

I don't know.

Tom and I haven't really talked about it yet.

And things are going so well at the Locchel's,

seems no reason to be rushing off.

Nearly time to pack it in, don't you think?

Come on, let's go wash up.

Have you heard the news about Henry and Percy?

What about 'em?

They're leaving first thing tomorrow morning.

They're enlisting.

See you, Perse.

All the best, Percy.

See you, Jack.

Henry, pop a few Krauts for me, mate.

Sure thing.

- Thanks, Robert. - Look after yourself.

- Well done, Henry. - Thanks, mate.

See you around.

Take care.

- See ya later. - See ya, fellas.

Look after yourself, boys.

Bye.

Hey, Henry.

I hope you're not thinking that a uniform

will help you with the ladies!

Thought we'd seen the last

of the bloody Germans after 1918.

Now here we are again.

Next thing you know, it'll be conscriptions.

There'll be no need for that.

They'll have hundreds joining for the sake of a job.

Henry and Percy had a job.

Poor buggers.

They don't know what they're in for.

Shouldn't last too long, should it?

That's what they said last time.

Yeah.

And that's what dad told us about the last one.

Count me out.

Did your uncle serve?

Sure did, along with my dad.

But he was killed in the Flanders.

Where's that?

Somewhere in Belgium.

The permanence of mateship is an illusion.

I never saw Henry and Percy again.

Storm clouds were gathering in more ways than one.

Bill.

Is that lot finished?

Yeah, just this minute.

So, how are you finding the work?

Tough?

Nah.

I like it.

Reckon I should have been born on a farm.

You know, there's another lot a fair ways from here.

Reckon you up to helping Frank bring them in?

Yeah, sure.

So the heat doesn't kill me.

Hey, Bill.

Try this.

Fit?

Fits pretty good!

That should help.

Hey, Billy boy.

What brings you down here?

Looks like I'm going with you.

Can you ride?

Of course I can.

Okay, this one's yours.

Been mastering before, have you?

Nope.

It's the first time.

You gonna show us how this is done?

The best way to learn is to learn from the best.

Ain't that right, Frankie?

Whatever you say, Jack.

Come on, Bill.

Let's give these hay burners a warmup, shall we?

Come on, yah, yah!

H'yah, h'yah!

Jack!

Don't wear out the horses!

Last one to the creek

cleans the other's boots for a week!

Yah, yah, yah, yah!

Come on, h'yah, h'yah!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, come on!

Come on, come on!

Come on.

Come on.

Ah, well done, Billy!

Don't think I'm cleaning your boots, though, mate.

Hey.

Rob let me keep his hat.

Why?

Just a generous bloke, I suppose.

You writin' to mum?

Yeah.

Sending her some money as well.

Yeah, well, just don't tell her about Alice.

You know what she's like with us and girls.

I wasn't going to.

Besides, is there really anything to tell?

We won't be here forever, Bill.

Don't make things hard on yourself.

Here it is.

As a child, this was my favorite spot.

I used to pretend it was my house.

Where you're standing was the dining room.

And that, that was the bed over there.

And right here was my kitchen.

It seemed so much bigger to me back then.

Let me see that.

Does a stockman's hat suit me?

Well, to tell you the truth,

it suits you better than what that one does?

Fine.

I'm keeping this one, then.

And you can have this one.

We were both floating into deeper waters.

Tom felt betrayed, I know he did.

But we behaved as brothers often do.

He said nothing, and I said nothing.

And the anger inside him just built.

I don't know about you,

but Mrs. Locchel makes the best cake.

I would just work here for the food.

Don't say that too loud.

Robert might take you up on that.

Sheep.

Stinkin' sheep!

I cannot get rid of this bloody smell!

Bill.

There's someone here to see you?

Who, Alice?

Eh.

Who else would it be?

She's just arrived at the gate.

Back in a minute.

Nice girl, Alice.

Think she kinda likes your brother.

Well, she'd better not get any fancy ideas.

Well, with Henry and Percy gone,

it's left me a little shorthanded.

Good thing you two came along when you did.

Would you and Bill be interested in staying on?

No, I don't think so.

I really want to get to Melbourne

sooner rather than later.

I'd make it worth your while.

Nah.

Thanks anyway, Bob.

Well...

the offer's always available if you change your mind.

Tom?

Robert just told me he'd spoken to you about more work.

Yeah, so?

He said you turned it down!

What's the big idea?

Look, we agreed that we were going to Melbourne.

I don't want to go living like a hobo again!

Look, it's only until we get to Melbourne, Bill!

You know what?

This Angora thing, it's a fantasy,

and I don't want a part of it anymore.

Forget it!

Hold on!

You're telling me that you want to throw it all away

for some farm in the middle of nowhere.

You think I'm gonna give up the opportunity here

for something as stupid as breeding rabbits

so snobby women can have fur collars?

Well.

You should have thought of that before we left.

I'm staying!

We're leaving at the end of the week.

End of story.

What makes it your decision?

We are not staying, William!

You'll never be happy working in a place like this, Bill!

What makes you think you can tell me where I'd be happy?

The only person you're ever thinking about is yourself!

How 'bout showing a little loyalty to your family?

That should mean more to you than some rich farmer

and his bloody sheep station!

Loyalty?

You're the one that decided to leave mom

for some dream 500 miles away!

And so did you!

Then what makes this situation any different, huh?

How's it any different?

We are not gonna stay here

and become another one of these washouts!

And what makes you think you're any better?

You look down on them like you're something special,

but you're not!

You can go to blazes.

And since you plan to walk to an early grave,

you can take your flaming shoes!

I know what this is really all about.

You just want to stay here with that little tart Alice!

You watch your mouth!

- She's a whore barmaid... - Watch it!

That whores around with every new guy

that comes into town!

I said watch your damn mouth!

Bastard!

Just heard about what's been going on.

Now, what goes on between you two is your business,

but when the two of you start making displays like this

on my property, it becomes my business.

Yeah, well you won't have to worry about that anymore.

Because I quit.

What about Bill?

Is he going too?

Normally, he would.

But since you've got yourself all thick with him,

he's decided to stay.

He's got no future here.

He's just too bloody stupid to see that.

I don't really care what you think of me, Tom,

but it's a shame you think of Bill that way.

In my opinion, he's better off without you.

Yeah, well, to hell with your opinion!

You rich blokes are all the same.

You just chew us up and spit us out.

Don't think William won't see that sooner or later.

Now, hang on.

I'm offering him the chance to ear a decent living.

You think he's better off with you,

roaming around the countryside?

Don't talk to me about earning a decent living.

You've been born with a silver spoon in your mouth.

I spent the first nine years of my life in a wood hut

before my widowed mother died of tuberculosis.

What would you know about my life?

If you cared an ounce for Bill,

you'd tell him he's better of sticking with his family.

But you're not gonna do that, are you?

Wish I could say it's been a pleasure.

Tom.

Take it.

It's your pay; you earned it.

How you feeling, mate?

I'm okay.

Thanks.

You know, Bill, if you have to go, I'll understand.

No.

No, Tom's on his own.

In those first days after Tom left,

I felt hollow, empty,

like a part of my life had turned its back on me.

Why did it take you so long to tell me about Tom?

Didn't want you to worry.

I think about him out there.

I can't help but feel guilty about it, somehow.

I just don't know what to do.

You need to set things right, William.

You mean go after him?

Why should I?

He's the one that left.

I'd lived through my childhood with Tom

as if I was his shadow.

Now I saw him as a dreamer of hopeless dreams.

For the first time, I felt sorry for him.

Although I now had my own dreams,

I knew it was not about dreams, real or unreal;

it was about the different things

each of us wanted from life.

And I also knew Tom's pride.

Having left how he did,

he could never allow himself to come back.

The days turned into weeks.

And just when it seemed I might never see Tom again,

fate intervened.

Hey, I've gotta get some tobacco.

I'll be back in a sec.

Bye.

Morning, Elsie.

Ah, good morning to you, Jack!

What can I get for you?

Tobacco and papers, thanks.

Oh, that reminds me.

A letter arrived for you during the week.

Is that so?

And by the looks of it, whoever it is,

they took a while to find you.

There you are.

That'll be two and six.

Jack, are you all right, love?

Jack?

Is everything all right?

Jack?

Mr. Jack Humphries,

we have only recently learned of your whereabouts.

It is my duty to inform you that Miss Margaret Walsh

passed away in St. Anna's

Hospital on the 16th of December.

With just a few words, Jack's life,

and eventually mins, had been turned.

I'd grown close to Jack since Tom's departure,

but his always cheerful outlook,

his never being lost for a joke,

hadn't prepared any of us for the depths of despair

into which he was now to plummet.

Colin!

Another bottle!

You should slow down, Jack.

You can kill yourself drinking like that.

I said I want another bottle.

I think you had enough.

Come on.

Who do you think you are?

My damn father?

I said I want another.

And I said I think you've had enough.

Go on home.

This is none of your damn business!

Bugger off!

What do you think you're doing carrying on like this?

You bunch of bloody clowns!

All I wanted was one last drink!

Get on home before I call the coppers!

Go to hell, all of you!

Ah, here's Jack.

Hey, Jack!

Where have you been?

Jack?

Is something wrong?

Jack?

You stay away from me, you hear me?

Stay away from me!

What are you doing, Jack?

Get your hands off me!

Damn it, Jack, you're drunk!

Jack!

Jack!

Jack!

Jack?

Jack?

Jack, where are you?

It's me, Bill!

Jack!

Jack.

Jack?

Jack!

Jack!

Jack!

God damn it!

Help!

Help me!

Jack.

He'll be all right, Mr. Norton.

Um...

You two should see this.

It is my duty to inform you that Miss Margaret Walsh

passed away at the St. Anna's Hospital

on the 16th of September.

Her presence with us came to be as a result

of her parents' failure to support her

with her illegitimate child.

During her stay with us, Miss Walsh

revealed you as the father, so you could take up

the responsibility of their welfare.

However, serious complications during childbirth

resulted in her untimely death,

which in turn resulted in the death of the infant.

She and her daughter were buried here in St. Anna's.

Yours sincerely, Dr. G. Hammond.

Who's Margaret Walsh?

Maggie was...

someone that Jack got involved with

in Ballarat some time ago.

He didn't know she was expecting.

No one did.

Dear God.

Poor mate.

Tom was floating abandoned somewhere,

on his own river.

Tom, my best friend.

My mate.

My brother.

The questions that assailed me were confusing, unanswerable.

Had Tom abandoned me, or had I abandoned Tom?

If I went after him, would I in turn be abandoning Alice?

What was more important, Tom's dream and my place in it

or my dream and Alice's place in it?

Or was it to stand by Jack in his time of need?

A fight between brothers is always confused by history,

by the hurts and angers accumulated

over a lifetime, however short.

I could make no sense of anything.

It was as if the whole world had come adrift

and everyone's place in it.

One thing gradually became clear:

just as Jack had moved on from Margaret

when life had taken him elsewhere,

I had simply moved on from Tom when it had suited me.

Jack.

Are you all right, mate?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Whatcha doin'?

Just wanted to tell you something.

Mate, I'm sorry for what I put you through.

It's okay, don't worry about it.

You know, I wouldn't have left her if I knew.

She didn't tell me.

Jack...

This isn't your fault.

Yes, it is.

But I didn't mean it.

Do you believe me?

You take care of yourself, Jack.

Yeah, I'll be seeing you.

Dear Alice...

this is not the way I should have told you.

But telling you face-to-face

would have only changed my mind.

I have left Riverton, and as you are reading this,

I'm on the road to Melbourne in hope of finding Tom.

As much as I want to stay,

I cannot leave the business between me and my brother

unresolved any longer.

This has been the hardest decision to make,

but I'm sure what I'm doing is right.

There are so many things I would like to say to you,

but I won't raise hopes

without having the means to fulfill them.

I will write as often as I can

and promise that someday you will see me again.

Until then, I remain yours, always.

William.

Once I'd made the decision to go,

the burdens of the last few weeks slowly began to lift.

The walking came easily.

I was traveling with a different dream now:

to find Tom, and that he and I would, in some way,

make our peace with each other.

Name?

Thomas J. Norton.

Have you received an income in the past two weeks?

No, sir.

Here's a fortnight's rations

for flour, butter, sugar, meat, and tea.

Right.

Next, please.

Mister, are you sick?

Yeah.

I got a bit of a nasty cough.

Do you need some medicine?

My mom's got medicine.

No, I'll be all right.

Thanks anyway, little fella.

Come on, Peter.

Mom's been looking for you.

Bye!

Bye.

Do you know someone

who's looking for an extra hand?

Yeah, there's a chap a few miles south hiring help.

What's his name?

Bruce Morgan.

Watch out, though.

He's a real madman.

Chased a worker off his property with his horse once.

Yeah?

So, but if you do, just be careful.

All right.

All right.

Thanks for the tip, Colin.

- Good luck. - No worries.

Thanks, mate.

See you later.

Thieving little bastard!

I outta break your bloody legs!

Please stop!

Stop!

Miserable little cuss!

Do you remember me, Bertie?

Do you remember me?

Where's my money?

I don't have any of your money!

You better have it!

Otherwise I'll break every one of your fingers!

This is it?

50 pounds, and this is it?

I knew it.

I knew it!

I know what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna take everything from you.

I think Tom had crossed a line

into another place then.

Racked with bitterness, frustration and guilt,

he had broken his own spirit.

He'd lost his will to dream.

Of course, I knew none of that then.

And I was not to know that any thoughts and plans

I might have had already lay scattered

in the dust of Tom's broken spirit.

So...

how long did it take you to find me?

About four weeks.

To tell you the truth, I'm surprised

I caught up this quickly.

Why come back out here and live in the dirt

like a bleeding wombat?

Because my brother was out here alone,

and I promised to make this trip with him.

It's nearly ready.

Got this recipe from Jack.

It's damn good.

He said it kept him going for three weeks once.

Of course, it tastes better with jam and cream.

Tom!

Tom!

Tom?

Tom, what is it?

Tom!

Tom, wake up.

I know it's hard, Tom, but you have to keep going.

No.

Ah, my chest.

It hurts too much.

I can't do it.

Yes, you can.

You hear me, Tom?

You have to.

Now, keep going.

I just need to rest.

You just need to rest this one out, Tom.

We could be here for a few days.

Hey, mister!

Hey, mister, I need to talk to you!

My name's Bill.

My brother's just over there.

He's come down sick and he really needs to see a doctor.

- Oh, that's bad. - Look.

There's nearly six quid here.

And it's all yours if you can promise me

you'll get to the next town as quickly as possible

and send a doctor back for my brother.

My boy, I'd do that for you without the money,

but if you feel you can trust me with that,

I'll see the doctor gets here all right.

Thank you, sir.

And whatever the doctor doesn't need,

you get yourself a hot meal and a warm bed.

I will.

See if these old bones can take it,

and I'll walk a bit extra tonight.

Thank you, sir.

I really appreciate that.

Bill.

Yeah?

I'm glad you came back.

Only sorry I didn't come with you to start with, Tom.

Damn it.

If it's not one thing slowing us down, it's something else.

Don't worry, mate.

You'll be back on your feet real soon.

Help is on the way.

We just gotta wait.

All you need to think about is fighting this, all right?

Come this far.

No damn bush cough's gonna stop me now.

That's the spirit.

You'll be in Melbourne before you know it,

and everything will work out just like you planned.

You'll see.

What?

With those stupid little rabbits?

Who am I kidding?

When I get to Melbourne, I'm gonna end up

at the end of a long ration ticket queue,

just like everyone else.

But you know what?

I don't mind.

Just didn't want to be in Broken Hill anymore, you know?

Besides, I heard the Melbourne girls are awfully pretty.

That's gonna be worth the trip alone.

Yeah, but the girl I want doesn't live in Melbourne.

The Melbourne girls are all yours, Tom.

That's a good thing.

Like I always said, no matter how hard you try,

I'll always be better looking.

Oh, I'm sorry!

Oh, I'm sorry!

Won't be back here for a while, Tom.

You understand.

Until then...

you just keep on dreaming.

You want a lift, copper?

Hop in.

Hey, Bill.

I wondered where you'd got to.

I miss him, you know?

Just...

keep thinking that...

maybe if I'd stayed with him from the beginning,

he might have...

I don't know, just...

just don't know anymore.

I understand the regret.

And I know how hard it is trying to forgive yourself.

I don't even have the answers to my questions yet.

But I know that I wouldn't be here today...

if it wasn't for you.

I reckon that's gotta count for something.

Yeah.

I've learned over the years

that the river of one's life

is ever-changing, unpredictable.

It's a raging torrent for some, a gentle stream for others.

Some, like Tom, found her on the rapids.

For others, a lifeline is thrown, a chance for redemption.

I had lost my brother to the river but saved my friend.

That was my redemption.

I began a new journey, and I found my dreams,

and I've lived a good life.

That was all because of Tom.

His dream had brought me to find my own.

Tom, my best friend.

My mate.

My brother.