Original subtitles

(crickets chirping)

(humming)

(rustling leaves)

(humming)

(rustling leaves)

(dog howling)

(sobbing)

- Right, let's take a look at you.

Come on, turn around.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Who might you be, aye?

(harmonica music)

(cheerful music)

(harmonica music)

(whistling)

- That's funny, Rob said he wouldn't be back till tonight

and he's got a boy with him.

- [Matt] Well, who do we have here?

- It's alright, Josh.

This is my Dad.

- Go on, down you come.

Here you go little one.

- He's a bit shy.

I found him wondering around in the middle of nowhere.

- Josh, huh?

What's your second name, Josh?

- I found this in his pocket.

You don't recognize him, do you?

- He's not from our school.

- Well, young fella, how are we gonna get you home

if we don't who you are?

- Oh, we've got a visitor have we.

- [Rob] This is Mrs. McGregor, Josh.

- Hello, Josh.

You're quite a sight, aren't you.

I think this calls for a nice, hot bath.

- [Rob] Come on, Josh.

Wanna give us a hand, Micheal?

- Sure.

- Well, what do you think?

- He's, obviously, frightened of something.

- Mm.

- Alright, let's take your jacket off.

Put your arm up.

Michael, why don't you stoke the fire

and get some more water.

Other arm.

Josh.

Good boy.

- I'll put a notice in the newspaper tomorrow

to see if we can find your parents.

- Now Josh it would really help

if you could tell us where you live, hmm?

You better show me where you found him.

- Sure.

It's alright, I'm coming back.

Kathleen's gonna be here.

- I have to go into town later.

We could go together.

Now let's hop you into the bath

and get you all cleaned up.

Hmm?

(laughing)

So, dark hair, brown eyes

and how tall do you think he is?

- Four foot one or two.

- Stand up for a minute lad,

I might have a good look at you.

(groan) He's heavy.

- You'll be busy and he won't want to sit

around here all day,

why don't I take him with me?

- That'd be a great help.

I wasn't sure if I should ask.

- I'd like to.

- Just until I get his edition out.

Thanks.

- Josh.

We were wondering if you'd like to spend some time with me,

just while Mrs. McGregor's working.

- You can come back to Langara when I'm finished.

Rob should be back by then.

- There's a Joey that comes to visit me.

I thought you might like to see him.

- I'll be right here, Josh.

- You don't think he's just runaway from home, do you?

I mean, every boy does it

at some point or other, you know.

- And then why didn't you?

I'd have saved a lot of money.

Look at that.

- Looks like a chimney.

Can't see any smoke.

- No but I can smell it.

- Colin found him in the bush.

We don't know what happened to its mother.

I fed him for a few weeks with a bottle,

then he became very independent.

Now he won't even let us get close enough

to hand feed him anymore.

- I thought this place was abandoned.

- Yeah, it must be squatters.

They probably weren't here long.

- It looks like it could've burnt down a couple of days ago.

- The boy had a smell of smoke on his clothes.

- I know.

He had been reacting to fire rather strangely.

Found a photograph.

Could be Josh's parents.

- Rob, I found them.

(owl hooting)

- He's sound asleep.

It seems a shame to wake him.

- I'm sorry, Emily.

I didn't realize it was so late.

- No, I think he was just plain exhausted.

Why, don't we just leave him?

- Are you sure?

- It'll be alright, really.

- [Kathleen] Goodnight then.

- Night.

- Dad, help!

Dad, help!

(screaming)

Dad! (screaming)

Dad, help.

(screaming)

Dad, help!

(screaming)

- Josh.

Oh, it's alright.

Shh, it's alright darling.

It's just a nightmare.

It's just a bad dream.

- What is it.

- Shh.

- It's alright.

Leave the door.

- I'll make the arrangements, give them a burial.

- I better tell the boy.

- I'll tell him.

Be easier for him coming from me.

- You sure?

I mean, I don't mind doing it.

- No, it's alright.

- Well, you better hold off until this evening.

I'll ask around the district, see if anyone's heard.

- Oh no, poor Josh.

- I think I should tell him.

- Are you sure there couldn't be a mistake?

- No.

Hello, Josh.

Josh, we found a cabin near Bitter Springs

that's been burnt to the ground.

We also found a man and a woman.

- Josh, are these your parents?

- We found them in the cabin,

your parents.

I'm sorry, mate.

Josh.

Josh, listen to me.

- Rob.

- The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies.

Thou a no in test my head with oil.

My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life

- Are you alright?

- And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

- Emily.

Look, I think I know how you feel

about all this

but the boy doesn't seem to care

about his parent's death even.

Maybe he was mistreated or something.

- I don't know Matt but there's more to this,

more than what we know.

- Well, if there is, we may never find out.

Look, Kathleen and I are worried about you.

You're sure you're not letting yourself

get to close to all this?

- He needed somebody, somebody to care.

- Well, I've telegraphed Melbourne.

They're sending someone out to work out

what needs to be done with him.

- Done with him?

He needs a family, Matt.

That's what he needs.

- Well, if that's what they think

then that's what they'll arrange.

- Will they?

- Yeah, they'll do what's best for him.

Look, I really don't know what they'll do but...

Well, we're just worried that you'll end up

being very disappointed or hurt.

There could be, well, something

not, quite, right with Josh.

Oh, I don't know if I handled that too well.

- You sure you don't want to come and meet Montana?

She's very pretty.

No, alright, suit yourself.

Listen, if you want a drink or anything,

just give us a yell.

Well, you know what I mean.

- Thanks.

How'd he take it, the funeral?

- Well, it's hard to tell I guess.

He can't be any more than about eight.

People should understand.

- Don't they?

- Oh, I don't know.

He acts a bit strange, I suppose.

He hasn't said a word since he got here,

not even to me.

- But you understand.

- Well, better than most I suppose.

- Yeah, well.

Goodbye, Rob. - Bye.

Have you had something to eat at Montana's?

Well, I've got a big dinner ready at home,

so as soon as Colin's finished here

we'll go home and put the stove on.

- Hey, Josh.

Well, this is good timing.

Feel like lending a hand?

- I thought Josh might like to look inside the church,

while we finish.

- Well, it hasn't been long since

we finished rebuilding it after the...

After the fire.

All of Paterson's Ridge helped us build it.

- Do you like him?

- He seems to like you.

- Hard to tell really,

maybe in time.

- Those people are coming up from Melbourne.

- I hate to think of him in an orphanage.

- I'm sure they'll try to find him a home first.

- Yes.

It's just so sad to think of the boy

going through life with no family.

- Well, I'm sure he's got some relatives somewhere.

- And there are couples with no children at all.

- Ah, have you been thinking about us taking him?

- I just wondered how you'd feel?

- Well, I honestly don't know

but I can't say I haven't thought about him.

- I keep imagining how lonely he'd been in an institution.

- Would you like to go and talk to him?

- Hey, Josh.

(glass shattering)

Stop that.

(groaning)

- I got a telegram for you, Mr. Perkins.

- Plunkett.

The name's Plunkett.

- What are you doing here?

- At your service.

- What have you done with Mr. Perkins?

- Should be pulling into Melbourne about now

on the morning coach.

All a bit rushed.

- He is coming back though?

- Promoted.

- Are you temporary?

- Permanent.

So, how's that printing press of yours?

- That's fine.

You're a long way from Blainsville aren't you Plunkett?

- And glad of it.

It's a relief to be amongst honest folk for a change.

- I can trust you with this, can't I?

- Honesty and discretion, that's my motto.

At a price, of course.

A penny a word.

- Welcome to Paterson's Ridge.

- [Colin] Emily, I don't want to believe it

but you saw the oil everywhere and the matches.

- [Emily] Like I said, there's a reason for it,

there has to be.

- Well, maybe, but I don't think we can ignore it.

Now, perhaps he's more troubled than we thought.

Maybe he needs...

- Oh, if only he'd talk to me.

- Well, I think we both know that he could

if he wanted to.

- We don't know that for certain.

What are we going to do?

- I don't know whether we could,

whether anyone could take him into their family now.

The circumstances have changed.

- It hasn't changed the one thing that matters,

that Josh is a very unhappy, lonely little boy

and he needs us more than ever now.

- I have to go out for awhile and do a few things.

Will you be alright?

- Of course I will.

- I won't be long.

- Colin.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

- Alright Josh, time to get dressed.

- So, from what I could find out,

no one knew the family was living there.

The cabin's been empty for years.

They must have just moved in and made it home.

- [Colin] With no plan register at the land office?

- Yeah, well they should have.

Rob checked and there's no record.

- But, surely, someone must have seen them there,

the neighbors.

- Well, the nearest farm is five miles away.

They mustn't have been there too long,

there's no sign of any livestock,

provisional gardens only recently been planted,

not more than a couple of weeks old.

- So, we're no closer to finding out who he is.

- Well, maybe this will help.

What is it?

- Well, their cabin wasn't the only place burnt down.

There's been three or four unexplained fires

in the district.

Sheds and farm buildings mostly,

all in the last couple of weeks.

- What, since the boy and his family arrived?

- Yeah and there's something else.

Something that happened at the church yesterday.

- Watch your toes there, youngster.

- There you are, Miss.

All ready to go.

If you need anymore I'll still be in town tomorrow.

- Thank you, I think that should keep us going

for a little while.

Now, I will just take care of Mrs. Campbell, Josh.

Then I will be right with you.

I am sorry to keep you waiting Mrs. Campbell.

- It's alright.

- We had run right out of lamp oil.

I've been waiting for the cargo for days

but now it is here.

- It's too much of a coincidence

all those houses burning down

just after Josh and his family moved in

and their own house burning down.

- And his parents being killed.

I'm not going to believe that,

that little boy was responsible for that.

- Well, I tried to find a reason,

any reason why Josh was splashing oil around the church.

I can only come up with one.

- I don't believe he was going to burn the church down.

I can't believe it.

- You might be right about him

but we've got to get him to talk to us.

Where is he?

- [Emily] Outside.

- Not when I came in he wasn't.

- [Emily] Has Josh been in here?

- Well, he was, yes, for a moment or two.

He waited while I served Mrs. Campbell with her lamp oil.

Then I turn around and he's gone.

Anything?

- No, no, no, we'll find him.

Dad, Rob, we're looking for Josh.

He's gone missing.

- I'll grab my horse.

I'll check the outskirts of town.

- Thanks.

- I'll look down at the station.

- Come on, we'll keep searching here.

- Josh, it's me Rob.

(horse anxiously neighing)

Mrs. Campbell!

Josh.

Josh.

Josh.

- [Plunkett] That's the boy who starts the fires.

- Something's gotta be done about this.

- There he is.

- [Older Man] Matt.

How is she?

Is she burned bad?

- No, she's not badly hurt.

She just inhaled some smoke, that's all.

- She could've been killed by that boy.

- It makes you wonder what happened to his own folks.

You see the way he acted at their funeral,

couldn't have cared less.

- And what about the rest of us.

We could all be burned to death in our beds.

- I don't want to speak badly about a child

but if those responsible for him can't control him

they should send him somewhere they can.

- [Crowd Goer] Yeah.

- Josh.

Josh.

Come on.

- [Plunkett] That boy's ridiculous.

- You're our elected representative, Matt.

Seeing we have no police here,

it's up to you.

- There are some government officials on their way here.

I'll decide what's to happen with the boy.

Now, in the meantime I suggest...

- In the meantime, we don't know where he is.

Probably sneaking around somewhere with a box of matches.

- Yeah.

- Matt.

- Afternoon.

- Now let me remind you

we're talking about an eight year old boy here.

- That might be alright for some

but that eight year old boy happens

to live right next door to me.

- In Colin and Emily's good care.

- Let's not jump to conclusions here.

I mean Josh may not be responsible for these fires

and yet we're already pointing the finger at him.

It's not fair.

- If someone's prepared to take responsibility for him,

till they come from the orphanage.

- Someone will, you have my word on that.

- Well, that's good enough for me.

I got work to do.

- [Colin] I honestly don't know anymore.

I just don't know.

- [Emily] Well, he hasn't actually done anything.

I mean, he didn't strike the match.

- [Colin] Well, no, we stopped him just in time.

- [Emily] But do you really think

he'd do something like that?

- I wish he'd talk to us.

- He will, Colin.

It's all a matter of patience,

of Josh having confidence in us.

Then he'll talk, I know he will.

- Emily, I haven't been sure,

not so much about Josh but about myself.

I know you wanted him to stay but...

- I still do.

- But I've had to ask myself why.

Why are we doing this,

for him or for us.

- No one could ever replace the baby that we lost, Colin.

Not even Josh.

I want to do this for him.

- Robinson Crusoe.

- [Emily] I wanna give him a home.

- I got that for Christmas when I was about your age.

- [Emily] And in time if we grow to love him.

- What's going on in there, family argument?

- Come on, man Friday, let's get out of here.

Can't stay coped up all day.

- [Rob] Doing what's best for him.

- Come on, we'll go out for a little walk.

- All his troubles, maybe he needs help, medical help.

Now that's help that we can't give him.

- Well, surely, a proper home and love would...

- Well, that might not be enough.

- And you think an orphanage would be.

- No, no, I don't.

There might not be a choice.

- You know what, Josh.

Sometimes if you need help you gotta ask for it.

Cause the people that love you

they don't know you're hurting.

They don't know what you need.

Come on.

Same goes for me, you know.

See there was this piece of land next door to Langara.

The owners were moving on.

That piece of land really started to look

like everything I wanted out of life.

Trouble was I kept it all to myself.

It's just a dream, so I didn't tell anyone,

not even Dad, my best friend.

He could have really made it happen for me, you know.

All I had to do was ask and that dream would have come true

but I didn't say a word and I lost it.

Same goes for you, Josh.

Everyone's breaking their necks trying to help you,

including me.

I can't do this by myself.

You've gotta start talking to me.

You gotta tell me what really happened,

right or wrong, it doesn't matter

cause I'll help you.

I promise.

- I thought I saw him.

Hey, there he is.

- Mr. McGregor.

Colin McGregor.

- No, I'm his brother Rob.

Is this the boy?

- Who's asking?

- My name's Delany, this is Miss Cummins.

We're here to escort the boy to Melbourne.

Is this him?

- Hey. - Josh.

I'll get him.

Josh.

It's alright.

It's alright.

Come on.

- I'm afraid the boy refuses to give us so much as his name.

- He can speak, we told you that.

- And I have no doubt that he can speak

but won't because he would incriminate himself.

- The boy's been through a terrible time.

It's obvious he's deeply troubled.

- And the reason is quite clear.

He is responsible for all these fires,

including the one that took the lives of his parents.

- WE don't know that for sure.

- Fascination with fire isn't uncommon

among disturbed children.

Now, in order, to insure the safety of the others

we must keep them under strict supervision.

- Well, I told the towns people that I'm prepared to

accept that responsibility.

- We must also consider the boy's own good.

He'll return with us to Melbourne tomorrow.

Eventually, he'll be placed in a reformatory school,

where he'll be taught some skills.

- What you mean is he'll be put in a sweatshop,

where he'll be worked in some demeaning job

till all the spirit's driven out of him.

- I am doing my duty as laid down

by the law of the government.

- My wife and I have been taking care of Josh.

We've discussed his future.

We would like to take custody of him.

We'd like to become his foster parents.

- Are you sure about this?

- Yes, yes we are.

- I think there's some misunderstanding here.

There's no question of the boy staying in Paterson's Ridge

or any other town.

- The law is the law.

His future will be decided by the justices.

Now we leave on tomorrows train.

- If that's the case then I suggest that you stay the night

at our property.

(gentle piano music)

- Alright, give me your hand, boy.

- There's no need for that.

- You've had to run after him once before, Mr. McGregor.

We can't risk that again.

- I'll do it.

- [Mr. Delany] You can't do that.

- Yes I can.

Come on, Josh.

It's alright.

Good boy.

- Here you go, mate. - Thanks, Dad.

- [Mr. Delany] Giddy-up.

(moaning)

(screaming)

- Help, Dad, Dad!

(screaming)

(screaming)

Help Dad, help.

(screaming)

- [Mother] Help me!

Please, help.

- [Josh] Please come now, Dad.

(screaming)

- What?

I must have drifted off.

What are you doing here?

- I thought you might like a decent bit of sleep.

There's a spare room and a comfortable bed down the hall.

- I have to keep an eye on the boy.

- You can't do that while you're dozing.

Go on, I'll take over for a while.

- Ah-uh.

- Well, it seems to be alright

for your friend Ms. Cummins.

She's been asleep for hours.

- Well, why not.

You'll be held responsible mind you

if the boy gets away.

(moaning)

- Josh, it's Rob.

- [Josh] Help, help.

(glass shattering)

Rob, no!

No!

No!

- It's alright, it's alright.

It's alright lad, come on.

Calm down, calm down.

- What happened?

- Oh, he just had a nightmare.

I think he's coming out of it.

Everything's alright, Josh.

He's had a bad dream.

You were talking.

You were talking in your sleep.

- I saw it again

the fire.

No, no, no!

- Take the lamp outside, please.

- [Rob] It's just a dream.

- It wasn't a dream, it was real.

I burned the house down.

- Just as I thought.

- We filled the lamp, my Dad and me.

We bought the new oil that same day.

Dad said it might have been brighter than the old stuff.

- Lets see if it burns a little brighter.

Here son, the matches.

I'll do it, the matches.

- Don't worry Dad, I'll do it.

(laughing)

I tried and tried but it wouldn't light.

(laughing)

Dad laughed, he was always laughing.

He took the matches and lit it.

(laughing)

And...

- What happened then, mate?

Flames, flames were everywhere.

He picked me up.

- [Father] I've got you son, come on.

(screaming)

- [Josh] He took me outside.

(screaming)

- [Father] Stay there.

Just stay there.

- [Josh] Dad!

(screaming)

- [Mother] Help me!

- Mom.

Dad.

- Why did he go back into the fire?

- My Mother.

(screaming)

She was sick.

(coughing)

She was always in bed.

Dad!

- [Mother] Help me, please help me!

- Mom.

I waited and waited but they didn't come back out.

Dad!

He told me to stay there, he told me.

- It's alright Josh, it wasn't your fault.

It wasn't your fault at all.

- It was my fault.

- No, it was an accident.

It wasn't your fault.

- Hey.

- Why don't you get some sleep.

Do you want me to sit here with you for awhile?

- [Mr. Delany] It wasn't the little boy.

- [Ms. Cummins] Of course it was.

- [Mr. Delany] It seems he was trying to warn the man.

- Are you sure about this?

- Ms. Cummins, has Mr. Delany told you?

- Yes, he did but I'm not sure that it changes anything.

- He didn't light those fires.

- Oh, we only have his word for that.

There's no proof.

- Oh, come on.

You're not gonna tell me that the boy's responsible for...

- The decision stands.

The boy is going to Melbourne.

- [Matt] I want to check the contents of these barrels.

Get them down, men.

- [Mr. Briggs] And what gives you the right to do that.

I've got deliveries to make.

- [Matt] I don't care, this is more important.

- There's something I think you should have a look at.

- We have a train to catch.

- [Rob] Well, there's plenty of time.

It always leaves late.

- What is all this about, Mr. McGregor?

- Why don't you come and take a look.

- I'm telling you McGregor,

I washed them out with water.

Scrubbed them, every one of them.

I don't see how you can blame me.

I'm not blaming anyone.

I just want to know where you got these barrels.

- I bought them on the gold fields.

They had dozens of them empty.

I picked them up cheap.

Okay, up.

- Nothing wrong with that oil.

Who's gonna pay for these barrels?

- I will.

Right, everyone stand back.

(explosion)

Can you imagine what that would do to a glass lamp?

- What made it explode like that?

- Well, most of the oil's okay

but some of these barrels,

some of these barrels use to contain

saltpetre.

Miners and prospectors on the gold fields

use them in their explosives.

- [Mr. Briggs] But I washed them out, every one, I swear.

- Yeah, well this stuff's old and hard.

Probably baked solid from the sun.

Water wouldn't touch it.

- Now, it dissolved in the lamp oil.

- Liquid paraffin.

We've got to get anyone

who's bought oil from Mr. Briggs here

to empty it out.

Most of the oil's okay but some it it,

well we've see what it can do.

You'd better head up to the telegraph office,

cable every town that you've sold oil to.

- I will.

I never thought, I mean if I'd known...

- Just send those telegrams.

- I think that, at least, until we've had a chance

to discuss the matter with the authorities,

the boy might be permitted to stay here.

I can see that you and he have a special relationship.

However, I'm afraid we can only leave him

with a married couple, a family.

- Well, I think I'd make a better uncle anyway.

Go on, Josh.

- What do you think will happen, Colin?

- It'll take some time in Melbourne

before they make a decision.

So, I guess we've got him until then.

- Are you pleased?

- Are you?

Of course it'll mean making some changes at home.

- I think I can manage.

- I think we can too.

(cheerful music)

(harmonica music)

(harmonica music)