Original subtitles

(somber music)

- Good morning madam.

- Hello, can I be of help?

- When I visit a town it's my habit to see if

any of my old friends have taken their final rest.

(coughing)

Forgive me, the town's climate

is not as friendly as its people.

- Are you planning to stay in Pattersons Ridge?

- For a couple of days if I can find suitable accommodation.

- I can recommend the Railway Hotel.

Ah, where did you come from?

- [Woman] We must move on.

It's not wise for you to be outdoors.

- The Railway Hotel, would it be owned by Jessie McClusky?

- That's right.

- Are you by chance acquainted with her?

- She's my mother.

- Why then, you must be little Emily.

Emily.

You have the same light your eye as Jessie, like diamonds.

I should've seen it before.

- [Woman] Enough Damien, you're wasting time.

- Its a rare pleasure to meet you

after all these years Emily.

- Goodbye.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Mr. McGregor!

Mr. McGregor!

Mr. McGregor.

- Bronte, what's the rush?

- My sister Lilith's run off with her boyfriend.

Pa says he's gonna kill him and bring her back home.

You've gotta help me.

- How long will you be gone?

- Couple of days maybe, longer if the snow comes in.

- Let's go.

- Let Emily know where I am.

- Don't worry, I'll look after her.

- Thanks.

- Morning Mrs. McClusky.

- Good morning Biddie.

- How was the trip?

- Oh chilly.

How have you been going here?

- Any colder and we'd be taking in polar bears.

Oh one new guest.

The most handsome man you've ever seen.

Booked two rooms, which is a bit odd if you ask me.

- Why is that?

- He's on his own.

Mr. Winters, paid in advance.

- Who?

- Mr. Winters.

Damien Winters.

- [Woman] We should be on that, gone from this place.

- You already have my pledge,

but our business here is important.

- [Woman] Your business, not mine.

- [Bronte] Pa's home.

- This is a family matter McGregor,

the girl had no right to drag you into this.

- Yes but if there's trouble in the mountains

we'd be poor neighbors to just turn our back on it.

- Well they're nice sentiments,

but this is between me and the boy who took my Lilith.

- Perhaps he wants to marry your daughter Mr. Bates.

- She'll get nothing but hardship and misery.

- So I gather you haven't found 'em yet?

- I had to come back, the horse went lame.

But I found their tracks going up country.

- The alps?

Nothing for them up there.

- You can get to Broken Creek quicker if you go.

- I'll have none of your talk in this.

- Mr. Bates two young people on that mountain

in this weather,

I doubt if they'd make it through the snow line.

- I'll find my Lilith

and if the cold don't kill Aaron, then I will.

- Oh Danni, they're Colin's favorite.

- But they probably won't be back until tomorrow.

- Oh it must be terrible up there.

- Oh they'll be fine.

Takes more than a cold snap to worry the McGregor's.

- Especially if you're in Melbourne like Josh and Rob.

- When will they be back?

- Once they've seen every little thing

at the Royal Exhibition.

Another couple of days at least.

- You alright?

- I met a man this morning.

He claims to be a friend of my mother's.

- Good looking?

- Some would think so.

There was something really odd about him though.

And the woman he was with.

- Mr. Winters said to give you this.

- Thank you.

Don't you have work to do Biddie?

- What?

- Work to do.

- Yes ma'am.

- Got a minute?

- Of course.

- Do you know a Damien someone?

- He's invited me to dinner.

- Then he really is a friend of yours.

- I don't know that I'd call him a friend.

I knew him once.

- And the woman he's with?

- Biddie said he was alone.

- She's all in black.

Veil, gloves, everything.

Who is he?

- Damien Winters is the man I left you and your father for.

(water splashing)

- What is it?

- Well I'm not sure but it look as though one horse

bolted off in that direction, the other one,

well he must've double backed or something.

- Yeah, whose I wonder?

- Colin, get a blanket.

(gun cocking)

- Where's Lilith, what have you done with her?

- Let him be.

You'll be alright mate.

Colin.

That's it, that's it.

Now Aaron look at me.

Can you tell us where the girl is?

Where the girl is?

Let's get a fire going, quickly before we lose him.

- I'm sorry it's happened like this.

Damien coming back is a shock to me too.

- What does he want?

- Don't know.

Haven't spoken to him yet.

- You?

- Money more likely.

He'll be in trouble of some sort.

- I'd like to try and understand about him.

About why you left Dad.

- I met Damien at a musical evening in Adelaide.

And from almost the first moment I was captivated.

And every moment after that,

that we were apart seemed like a lifetime.

My marriage to your father was part of

a longstanding plan between our parents.

And I tried, but we were so different.

I'd almost resigned myself to the fact

that life had passed me by.

And then Damien came along

and when he asked me to go with him,

it was the hardest decision I've ever made.

- What happened next?

- We had the most wonderful, passionate affair.

I adored him and he adored me.

And everyone who saw us was filled with envy.

- Yet it didn't last.

- No, there was some trouble with the police.

Damien disappeared and I was devastated.

- Something must've spooked Lilith's horse,

took off down the gully.

I tried to follow her,

only my horse threw me and bolted off.

- You took after her on foot?

- I tried, I couldn't get near her.

I mean she must be out there somewhere,

she's hurt or something.

- We're wasting time, let's find Lilith?

- Just hold on a bit will ya?

Colin take him back to the shack, get him out of this cold.

- Don't bother with him, it's a waste of time.

- Mr. Bates, he stays out here much longer he could die.

- No more than he deserves.

- We'll keep going until it gets dark

and then we'll head back as well.

- Well you do as you please, makes no difference to me.

But if Lilith dies, you'll be joining her.

- I'm Jessie McClusky, I hope everything's to your liking.

- [Woman] I know who you are.

Damien's looking forward to having dinner with you.

- Do you mind my asking how you've come to be with him?

- [Woman] There's no need to be concerned with my virtue

or the good name of your hotel.

We're not lovers.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to suggest.

- [Woman] You need something to satisfy the curious.

- I need something to satisfy me.

- [Woman] He should be dead by now.

But he's refused to go until he'd seen you again.

That'll be fine thank you.

- Oh this should be used sparingly.

Only a tablespoon every four hours.

- [Woman] You're Emily McGregor's sister in law.

- Mm hmm, Danielle McGregor, everyone calls me Danni.

And you're?

- [Woman] Emily may need you in the next day or two,

until her husband returns.

- Excuse me.

- [Woman] It's a difficult time for her and her mother.

Goodbye.

- Oh must be the cold, there's hardly anyone around.

- I just had my first customer, that woman in black.

- Pardon?

- Done.

Well?

- [Woman] You are a beautiful man, beautiful.

- Will you be joining us for dinner?

- [Woman] Do what you have to.

The sooner we're away from this place, the better.

Take it sparingly Damien.

- What, afraid I might kill me?

- [Woman] Have you no taste?

- I have a taste for life, if that does not offend you.

- It's silly I know but I'm afraid

she's going to leave me again.

- It's not very likely.

Jessie came here because of you.

- Yeah well that was before

Damien Winters came back into her life.

What if he asks her to go away with him?

- Well she wouldn't go.

- She still loves him.

- How do you know?

Besides, she loves you more.

- She's left me before when I was just a child.

Well who's to say she won't do it again?

- Well if this man has such a strong influence over her,

there's not much you can do about it is there?

- He betrayed her.

I won't let him do it to her again.

- You look beautiful ma'am.

- Thank you Biddie.

Have Mr. Winters and his companion come down yet?

- He's alone.

(dramatic music)

- Jessie.

- Hello Damien.

- Please.

I've consulted with your cook

and I've ordered dinner for both of us.

- I've learned to order for myself.

- And little harm it's done you.

(coughing)

- You're not well.

- Oh it's nothing.

The cold mountain air.

My, as beautiful as ever Jessie.

I can hardly believe it.

You look no older than the young girl I fell in love with.

It's as though time has stood still.

- And you still talk as sweetly.

- It's not been easy to find you.

- If you've come to play games with this town,

I warn you I won't allow it.

- Those days are well behind me.

No, I no longer speculate with other people's fortunes

nor do I duel for a living.

- Then why?

- I'm writing my memoirs.

An epic poem of tragic love, deceit, and treachery.

I intend to spare my readers nothing,

I'm atoning for my sins.

- I doubt there's enough paper

in the world to publish such a tome.

- Pa, you didn't find her?

- Ran out of light.

Found some tracks though.

- Where?

- Up by the springs.

- Then let's get going.

Bronte we'll need lamps.

- Just hold on young fella.

- You can't stop me Mr. McGregor.

I'm in your debt, no doubt about it, but I need

to find Lilith and even you'll agree with me on that.

- Yeah well there's no point in going off half cocked.

It's too dark out there to follow the tracks.

We'd be only endangering more lives.

- I'm not afraid.

- Aaron we want to find Lilith just as much as you do.

But one slip on those icy tracks, you'll be lost forever.

- What do you say Bronte?

- The men are right, and you won't hear me say that again.

- Bronte.

- You drove her to this.

How's my sister gonna survive on her own out there.

- Hey, just take it easy.

- That's right, beat me I don't care.

You'd kill the world for your stupid pride

and what good would it do.

- I'm not the one that turned Lilith's head

and made her run off.

- Alright Damien, why have you come?

- I took all your money and left you penniless.

I could never forgive myself for that.

- It was a long time ago.

I don't even remember how much it was.

- It was 30 pounds, all you had.

Returned now with interest.

70 pounds.

- Too much.

- It's a small gesture nothing more.

I could never repay half of what I owe in my heart.

- Damien.

- Jessie, do you know why I left you?

- I had my suspicions.

- There was never another who could come close to you.

- Then I don't want to know.

- Take it and I'll be gone tomorrow.

- So soon?

- A promise I made.

A pact with my companion.

- Who is she Damien?

- She tells people she's my daughter.

Don't concern yourself with her Jessie,

all you need to know is she's a charitable soul

who's chosen to devote a little time to me, that's all.

- Do you expect me to believe that?

- Sometimes the truth bears

sour fruit and should not be tasted.

But you.

Your lips.

My dearest, they should know only

the sweetest things in life.

(birds chirping)

- You should've seen the look in your mother's eyes.

- They're simply old friends Biddie.

- Love.

And no mistake, the way he stroked

her face in front of everyone.

It was like we weren't there.

I swear I was all come over, goosebumps everywhere.

- Ah, there is two inches of ice on the water trough.

- I'm off.

It's exciting isn't it?

- What's Biddie doing here at this hour?

- She couldn't wait to tell me

about my mother's little exhibition last night.

- Look at this.

Damien Winters is a wanted man, 100 guineas reward.

- Fraud and murder.

- Does Jessie know about this?

- Probably not.

- Well what are you gonna do about it?

- Whatever's necessary.

My mother won't make the same mistake twice.

(dramatic music)

- Colin.

Colin?

Bug up, Aaron's gone.

- What do you mean gone?

- Well there's no sign of him and a horse is missing.

- What's all the noise?

- The boy's gone.

- Get breakfast, we'll need it.

He's taken a lamp too.

- You've gotta admire his courage.

- I don't deny it, not that it'll bring much joy.

- So, this is to be my last day?

- [Woman] Yes.

- Emily, good morning.

- I know all about you.

- Ah yes.

Old news I'm afraid.

- To protect my mother from you

I've telegraphed the troopers in Mansfield.

- Mansfield.

Well that should give us

plenty of time for a pleasant breakfast.

Won't you join us Emily?

There's something I'd like to tell you.

(dramatic music)

I didn't come here to harm your mother or you.

- How can I believe that?

- The past is past.

- Why did you come here if it

wasn't to get her to go with you?

Why?

- Surely you don't believe she'd leave you again?

- Yes.

When I was a child I often wondered what you were like.

I hated you for taking her away from me.

Do you know what it's like

to wish someone nothing but grief?

To pray they would die?

If it were not for a truly good man,

I would've been consumed by hatred.

My husband saved me from you.

- If it's any small consolation,

it seems your dark prayers were answered.

- Why?

Why didn't you speak to me first?

- He's a criminal.

- Ah, it's ridiculous.

Why couldn't you let us have

just a little more time together?

- I was afraid.

- Afraid of what?

- That you loved him more than me.

- Oh Emily!

Do you have any idea what it'll do to Damien to be jailed?

It'll kill him, just as surely

as if you'd shot him with a bullet yourself.

- No.

- You should never have interfered.

- I only did what I thought was right.

- For whom?

For whom Emily?

You don't understand.

You'll never understand.

- Mr. Bates.

- Yeah it's Lilith's horse.

- Lilith?

Hello?

- I've lost sight of her, I lost her tracks in the rain.

- Are you alright?

- Cold but I'll live.

- So you'd risk your life for her?

Didn't figure you for that.

- Which direction was she headed?

- West.

- I'll get you a horse, you'll have a head start

on the troopers and they'll never

be able to track you in this weather.

- Jessie, I appreciate your concern but please don't bother.

- You talk to him.

- [Woman] I will.

(coughing)

You shouldn't let Jessie upset you.

- Her upset me, no?

I should never have come here.

It seems all I've done is create

more trouble between Jessie and little Emily.

- [Woman] Tell the girl the truth, everything.

She doubts her mother's love, you took that from her.

Only you can give it back.

(intense music)

- Aaron.

- That's Lilith's.

Yeah.

There's a cave a mile or sight down that way.

- Would she know about it?

- Yeah we camped there a couple of summers ago.

- Maybe that's where she is.

- Come on, let's mount up.

- I'd like to speak with you if I may.

Emily I was wrong.

The past will not die while it's still

filled with anger and half truths.

- Won't you come in?

- Emily.

- Why did you take up with my mother?

A married woman.

- Well she was unhappy in her marriage.

- So you just ran off?

- Without a thought for the consequences?

No.

No we had 12 of the best months of both of our lives.

Until a warrant was issued against us

for the murder of a wealthy miner.

- Both of you?

- The charges were false of course,

but the evidence was stacked against us so I confessed

to the murder then escaped taking all your mother's money.

- Why would you do that if you loved her?

- I had to convince the law that she was no more

than just a mere passing fancy.

It was cruel but I didn't want her

pursued by troopers for the rest of her life.

- Well thank you for telling me that.

- Let's go on foot from here.

- How far?

- Not far.

Bring that lantern.

It's not too deep.

She's here.

- Lilith.

- We're too late.

(somber music)

- Emily I want you to know that leaving you behind

was the most painful decision your mother ever made

but she knew that the mining towns and fast cities

were no place for a little girl.

- I never heard from her, not once.

- But she sent you letters and presents every week.

Although she could never be entirely

sure whether you received them.

- I got nothing.

It was as if for her I'd ceased to exist.

- My dearest Emily that is not true.

I remember once Jessie found a doll, blonde curly hair,

it was beautiful with bright eyes

and exquisite white wedding dress of the finest silk.

Jessie sold her favorite piece of jewelry to buy it for you.

- You could escape, there's still time.

- Too late for that little Emily.

- You might as well head back,

there's nothing more you can do here.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah, you should be with Emily.

I'll pick up Bronte on the way back and we'll bring

Lilith into town and give her a proper burial.

- Thanks for this Danni.

- What's in this?

- All my things from Adelaide.

- You alright?

- Yes.

- You alright?

- Yeah.

- I've gotta get back to the store.

- Okay thanks.

(music box music)

(somber music)

- She's the image of her mother.

Both gone from me now.

I'd set streams for my Lilith.

- I'll fetch a blanket.

Noah.

This isn't the way.

Noah don't do this.

- Lilith, come back to me.

- [Matt] Noah.

- [Aaron] My darling please.

- Aaron.

- Father gave it to me.

He never told me where it came from.

I just wanted to say thank you.

- Oh Emily.

- Lilith.

- [Lilith] Oh it's so good to see you.

- So the illustrious Sergeant Slaughter

rides to face his destiny.

It's time we met.

Don't worry yourself,

I have a certain surprise in store for him.

One he'll not get much comfort from.

- Mrs. Emily McGregor.

- Yes.

- Sergeant Slaughter at your service madam.

Now where is Damien Winters?

- Not here, I'm sorry.

- Did you or did you not send a telegram

reporting his presence in Pattersons Ridge?

- I did.

- Well madam allow me to inform you of your position.

You lie to me, you go down with him.

- Sir with your permission I'd like to speak with you.

- I might uh, go and give the girls a hand with that wood.

- No there's no need to go because of him.

- Oh no, I feel like a bit of fresh air.

- Well?

- I know we did the wrong thing

in trying to run away and I regret that now.

- Yes.

- Mr. Bates I can offer your daughter

respect, honor, and my name.

- Is that all?

- That's all for now.

But I'm a good worker, I'm good with my hands.

- Not much of an offer.

Not for a girl like Lilith.

Now if we were talking about Bronte,

I wouldn't be so worried.

But Lilith, she's special.

- I know that sir, that's why I love her.

Can I ask what you brought to your own marriage?

- Well not enough to save my wife from the wasting sickness.

- Illness is not something we can bargain with.

- I'll not argue with you on that score.

- While I've got breath in my body I'll care for her

no matter what comes along the trek.

I swear.

I'd like your answer sir.

Will there be a wedding?

- Yes.

You can have my daughter's hand.

- A wedding!

I wasn't listening.

- There seems so much I haven't said.

- I know.

- The troopers are here.

- Disarm yourself sir.

- I'm unarmed.

You're welcome to draw on me if you doubt my word.

- Experience tells me to doubt everything you say.

- No.

You kill Damien Winters and you travel to hell together.

- My men could cut you down before he hits the ground.

- Two women Sergeant Slaughter?

That'd look good on your record.

- Collin!

Collin you can't imagine what's going on.

- Dani, Dani, slow down, slow down.

Now what's wrong?

- Well Sergeant.

- Do you know what you're doing madam?

- Sergeant, Sergeant, please I, I don't know

what's going on here but we have to talk about this.

- Who are you?

- My name is Colin McGregor, I'm the minister in this town.

That's my wife up there.

- Alright, we'll talk.

Nobody's to leave.

Damien Winters is a man who thumbs

his nose at convention and decency.

- Well Sergeant it would help if you could explain

what you've got with this man

and why my family's so set against it.

- Murder.

He's wanted for the deaths of four men,

all of them betrayed by a duelist treachery.

He's also wanted for a long list of fraudulent schemes.

- Well if he's done all that,

why are the women trying to protect him?

- Oh there's always a woman involved, some poor duped wench

who falls for a silver tongue, helps him to escape.

- I would hardly say the women

in my family fit that description.

- Well perhaps you don't know them

as well as you think you do.

- I beg your pardon?

- Even the most virtuous woman is prey

to his dark eyes and his clever words.

- I can feel the cold creeping through me.

- I'll get you some tea.

- When I look into your eyes I can see that your heart

still swirls with those same wild, untamed emotions.

You're my Jessie.

The woman who stole my heart and then vanished with it.

- It was your who vanished.

- Never in spirit.

- Well?

- Well Sergeant Slaughter has agreed

to a truce for half an hour.

Now after that he's gonna take Winters

and anyone else that stands in his way.

- No Colin, Slaughter remains outside

until my mother says otherwise.

- Emily I don't understand what's going on.

- Then I'll explain.

- Do you remember when we first met?

Those memories are so precious to me,

like embers glowing in the hearth.

My one regret is little Emily.

- I have her back Damien and we have no secrets anymore.

- She told you what happened?

- Damien?

Thank you for coming back.

What I felt for you went deep into the heart of who I am.

You touched my soul.

For a long time I felt sure you'd turn up any day, everyday.

And when you didn't I learned to hate you

and I never let myself feel that way again.

And now you're here.

And what we have is real, not some foolish dream.

- It was never that.

Never.

I remember once we strolled along the river,

curtained in soft rain.

Your hair gleamed like polished copper.

I thought if I died then I'd have lived the perfect life.

You were my best friend.

It's what I missed most all those years without you.

(somber piano music)

(ominous music)

- You're too late Sergeant.

It seems he's beaten you again.

Your hunt is over.

- [Sergeant] Where's the woman who was with him?

- She's gone.

- Leave us.

(sobbing)

(cheerful music)

- Dad.

- Whoa.

- Lilith.

How can this be?

- Good day to you Reverend.

- It's a miracle, no doubt.

She came back from the dead.

- Where's Dani?

We have to rustle up a wedding dress.

- [Colin] Congratulations.

(distant bells clanging)

- Was she really his daughter?

- He suffered a rare illness as a child.

He wasn't able to have children.

- Then who?

- Damien refused to leave until he'd settled his past.

He was the sweetest talker that ever walked,

maybe even death couldn't refuse him.

(dramatic music)