Original subtitles

MAN: Where's your horse?

Sore leg.

(CAN CLANGS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(DOOR RATTLES)

Inside handle.

(OLDER MAN GRUMBLES)

(DOOR SQUEAKS)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

MAN: (ON RADIO) Song of the year so far, 1999...

(SWITCHES OFF RADIO)

You look different.

Yeah, here we go.

City life not working out for ya?

Don't smoke that in front of me.

(GRUMBLES)

(GRUMBLES)

What are these idiots doing?

Oi!

What's the fuckin' problem?

Leave it.

No. I'm fuckin' hungry.

Go around him.

(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

(WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO)

Dim sims!

Poppy!

Good to see you.

Hey. Can I help you?

Just a pack of dim sims, eh?

(SNIFFS) Mm-hm.

POPPY: Any fuel?

Just that.

(CASH REGISTER BEEPS)

(CASH REGISTER DRAWER OPENS) (BELL DINGS)

Poppy, is there anyone in the bathroom?

(GASPS)

(SOBS)

You would have called the police as soon as you saw that car, yeah?

(GUN CLICKS)

They'd be here any minute.

(FIRES GUN) (MOANS)

(POPPY PANTS)

(SIRENS HOWL)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

Don't move!

Is there anyone else with you?

There were four of 'em, actually.

One inside... Put your hands up!

Put your hands up where I can see them.

The one inside was 190cm, the stop-and-go closer to...

On the ground!

I'm a police officer.

Turn around!

You're making a mistake.

(WEAPON CLICKS)

Don't be stupid, old man.

Let him go! (VEHICLE APPROACHES)

That's not helping.

MAN: Hey!

Put it away, Jack.

You're not in some cowboy movie!

G'day, Peter.

Max. Uncuff him, please.

Uh, the individual was exiting the scene of a robbery.

The individual is actually Constable Jay Swan.

Jay.

Fuck! Meet Senior Constable Max Armine.

Good to meet you, Max.

Cindy Cheung.

Excited to be working with you.

Constable.

Welcome home, Jay.

Peter.

(DOG BARKS)

(MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO)

What are you doing tonight?

Not on the roster yet.

Nothing planned.

Pick me up at seven.

Righto.

Bring womans.

And your money!

(DOG BARKS) Come on, boy.

(DOG BARKS)

SONG: # Came back from the city

# Say, "Cuz, where you been?"

# Says, "Brother, I been living on the wire"

# Sisters

# We'll take you home

# To the land we know

# Give you that peace of the evening

# Give you that moon

# With the wind on your face

# The rains and the change of each season... #

MAN: Step away! Step away from it.

# I saw people who were trapped

# Under the whip of fat cats

# Saw people there devoid of their Dreaming

# Deep down inside there

# With so much to hide, brother

# You could see it in their eyes, there's no meaning

# Came back from the city

# Said, "Cuz, where you been?"

# "Brother, I'm living on the wire." #

CINDY: Can't find it, Max.

PETER: Hey, can you get onto that hire company, uh, SOS,

and find out if that grader that was blocking the road was stolen

or what the story is with it?

And if it WAS stolen, then when?

Also employee backgrounds.

Criminal history.

If any are for robberies or violent offences.

Is he my boss now?

PETER: Jay! Let's get you your uniform.

Come on. I'll show you round.

Just through here.

(DOOR OPENS)

PETER: It's a locker room.

Haven't got a lot of space.

Hey.

We all know you passed the detective exam,

but it's not official yet.

Will be.

Yeah, look, you could be one of the first.

Black?

Under 30.

Welcome to Jardine Police.

Hey, can you do me a favour?

Can you go to court with Max today?

Why?

Just to, you know, smooth the waters a bit, yeah.

(DOOR OPENS)

PETER: What time you due in court?

Now.

So, this is the local courthouse.

This is where you'll be giving evidence

when you're called to be a witness,

which will be plenty in this place.

You want to go over what you're gonna say?

Uh, she was slurring her speech, smelled of alcohol,

she was shouting, she came at me, so I restrained her.

I'll be sweet.

Slut.

Miss Collins.

I reckon I might do the detective course.

Couldn't have been that hard.

WOMAN: How long have you been in the police force, Constable?

Senior Constable.

Uh, it'll be 19 years in August.

Would you describe yourself as easily frightened?

Your Worship.

Trying to draw a baseline of courage.

A baseline? Your Worship!

Ms Zafar!

Let me put it a better way.

(SIGHS)

ZAFAR: You've been in dangerous situations before?

(RUMBLING)

Have you?

Been in dangerous situations before?

Obviously.

Yes.

Would you describe being squirted in the face with breastmilk

as one of the more life-threatening you've faced?

(LAUGHTER)

PROSECUTOR: An assault of a police officer

is a serious offence, Your Worship.

ZAFAR: My client asked repeatedly if she could express her breasts,

which were becoming very painful to her as the night wore on.

She was denied by Constable Armine.

She shot it right in my eye!

ATTENDEES: Oh! ZAFAR: Right in your eye.

Scary.

Your Worship, the milk caused disorientation

and momentary blindness.

MAN: Bullshit!

PROSECUTOR: The senior constable was on her own.

Things could have gotten badly out of hand.

MAGISTRATE: I think things have gotten badly out of hand

well before now.

(BANGS GAVEL)

Charge is dismissed. (BANGS GAVEL) MAN: Yeah!

(APPLAUSE)

You did well in there. Sorry, what was that?

Jay!

How are ya, brother? Howdy.

(LAUGHS) Good to see ya.

It's been too long.

Mate, I was sitting in there and I was, like, "Who's this flash fella?"

(LAUGHS) Looking good.

Thought you were down south all married up.

No, I am, I am. Just, uh, up this way for a couple of contracts.

You still flying choppers? Yep.

You mad bastard. (LAUGHS)

Yeah. Bit of fun.

I got to fuck off, but, um... you'll come to the pub

and I'll shout you a couple and we'll have a proper yarn?

I don't drink.

Alright. But you'll still come? Yeah. Tomorrow night.

Alright.

He's not meeting us?

He's got a case right now. Says it's fine.

(SIGHS)

What was taken?

It's hard to say. Uh, a loose change jar was tipped over.

But nothing else was touched.

Think the robbers got interrupted?

Or it was kids.

You can't carry a TV on a BMX.

Some loose change stolen.

Broken lock.

Nobody hurt.

Owner insured?

Yep.

Then what are we doing here?

Besides this being the prosecutor's house.

Where was he last night?

Stayed at his father's. Came back this morning.

Mmm.

Bit old for a sleepover.

(SCOFFS)

When I first got here,

didn't look like a break-in.

Maybe it's a search.

"Dog."

(TEARS POSTER)

Did they find what they were looking for?

YOUNG MAN: Hey!

(TYRES SCREECH) (GROANS)

(STOPS ENGINE)

(SIGHS)

You right?

We got a kid in the car!

Look, sorry. I didn't see you'd stopped.

They're called stop signs.

Thought you lot were supposed to prevent accidents, not cause 'em.

Look, we're gonna need to exchange details.

No, we're late. (STARTS ENGINE)

I'm gonna need to see your licence. (LAUGHS) She doesn't have one.

It's suspended.

Unlicensed?

No seatbelt either.

Look.

Mum's sick with Stage 3 cancer.

And we're late for an appointment five minutes ago.

(COUNTRY SONG PLAYS ON RADIO)

You new to town?

Grew up here. Just moved back.

Who your mob?

Swans.

Are you Jack's son?

Unfortunately.

He's Jack's son.

So I heard.

MOTHER: Us aunties, we go googly-eyed over that bloke, true.

What him win?

That...horse thing.

Australian Rodeo Champion 1969.

Yeah, that's right.

What a man.

Mmm.

You right? Yep.

(SIGHS)

So, what happens with our car now, Jack Swan's son?

Number.

Get his number.

Temporary driver's licence.

(SIGHS)

(SCOFFS)

Bastard.

Jay.

Um...

No matches yet.

MAX: Uh, there was four of them.

Uh, they got away in a Kingswood.

We got a print from the prosecutor's house.

Alright.

They didn't take much.

Could the robbery have been a cover?

For what?

Someone left a message on the wall.

"Dog."

(LAUGHS)

A grudge against police. Well, that narrows it down to about 950 people.

(LAUGHS)

I'll get on it.

Oh, dear me.

(SIGHS)

We got breakfast from six till nine in the morning.

You have to get in there early, though, mate.

We got the best egg-and-bacon rolls around.

Might even get yourself a double-yolker in there.

They are superb.

(DOOR CREAKS)

Wrong room. That's where I stack the bodies.

Ah! Fuck this.

Number for the brothel's beside the phone.

(DOOR CREAKS)

(BUZZING)

(SIGHS)

(SNIFFS)

(SNIFFS)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(HORN HONKS)

Dad!

(HORSE SNORTS)

(STOPS ENGINE) (BEEPING)

(MAN CALLS RACE INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO)

..Ludo and Petatuk onto the turn, and...

JACK: Turn it up, please, love.

MAN: (ON RADIO) ..is the leader at the 400.

Then by a length on the turn... JACK: Come on! Come on!

Come on, you beautiful big horse! Oh, Jay. (LAUGHS)

Geraldine. Patrick mentioned you were back.

Look at you, all grown-up.

Jack, how about this handsome son of yours, eh?

Shh! Mmm.

You hungry? We've got a new cook.

I don't know. Are we hungry?

Go! GERALDINE: Oh.

You know what he'd say. "Eating's cheap." (LAUGHS)

Anyway, I should get back to my table,

but I'd love to catch up with you later.

I'll see you later. (SIGHS)

Fuckin' bastard!

Turn the bloody thing off!

I was there at seven.

(RADIO STOPS) WOMAN: Another one?

Yes, please. His shout.

Can we get some water as well? (GRUMBLES)

JAY: You hungry?

Yeah.

I'll have the rump.

(SIGHS)

So...

..made detective, eh?

Not official yet.

(SIGHS)

Then what?

JAY: Then here.

I'll be working here.

When did you decide this?

JAY: I've been speaking to Peter about it.

Really?

So you're back for good?

Is that a problem? WOMAN: Excuse me?

Jack Swan? G'day, love.

My daughter would really like to have a photo with you.

With this old fella?

(LAUGHS) Righto!

Jay.

Take the photo.

JACK: Yeah.

Smile. (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS) Thank you.

Uh, you want to come and join us for a drink?

Sure.

Ready to order?

I'll get two rumps.

I've been overseas but not, you know.

Mm-hm.

Have a good night. See you later.

What a day, eh?

From gross indecency to breastmilk.

I shouldn't have laughed at that.

It was... No, it was understandable.

But your client DID say she wanted to burn down the police station,

which I think is a threat under Section 338B of the Criminal Code...

Abe, come on. (LAUGHS)

(SIGHS)

Fancy a drink?

Never met a defence lawyer who doesn't like a drink.

Come on. Pub's right there.

I can't.

I've got work to... Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Work to do. Sure.

Another time.

Why are you here?

A lawyer like you.

Like me?

(LAUGHS)

A good lawyer.

We usually get has-beens or the wannabes, not...

..actual good lawyers.

I imagined I'd get to do some interesting work out here,

where things are so raw.

Murder.

Big class action against a mining company.

(LAUGHS) You don't know this place.

We're a sleepy town, not...

..the murder capital of the west.

You're a lawyer.

You know why we do it.

(MUTTERS)

JACK: I was that... that bloody close in '68.

WOMAN: Mmm. Mmm.

Come runner-up. Yep? Mmm.

Want me to put that aside for him?

Yep.

(JACK SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

Made more fuckin' money than me.

WOMAN: Mmm. JACK: Eh? I won the fuckin' champs.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(JACK SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

And I walk back and he fuckin' throws.

Whoa! Wa-hey!

Wa-ha-hey! Legs goin' up like this. I'm gonna head off.

Hey? JAY: I'm going.

Righto.

(LAUGHS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(HORSE SNORTS)

WOMAN: (ON RADIO) Some of the Goldfields and Murchison locations

are up and around the 40-, 45-degree mark...

(SWITCHES RADIO OFF)

(SWITCH CLICKS)

Need a lift?

You making a habit of creeping up on people?

Sorry.

I'm good walkin'.

You know, it's unsafe to walk around at night by yourself.

Let me guess.

It's your job to make it safe.

Come on. Let me give you a lift.

(APPLIES HANDBRAKE)

I think I'm right.

That's my house.

Maybe next time, eh?

Still got my number?

I'll call it if I'm ever in trouble.

JAY: Or if you just want to have a chat.

'Night, Constable Swan.

'Night, Mary.

(HOUSE DOOR OPENS)

(DISENGAGES HANDBRAKE)

(VEHICLE PASSES)

(SNIFFS)

(PAGES RUSTLE)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(SIGHS)

(SWITCH CLICKS)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(SIGHS)

(SNIFFS)

(PHONE RINGS)

Jay speaking.

Jay? It's Peter.

So he refused to pay the cab fare

and then there was a punch-up,

but I spoke to the driver and he's not gonna press charges.

Where's his horse?

Uh, he left it behind the pub.

So he IS capable of responsible choice.

Thanks, Peter.

Yeah.

(JACK SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

(ENGINE RUMBLES)

How much did you owe?

I had the bloody money.

What you talkin' about?

(GRUMBLES)

That's MY business.

(GRUMBLES)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Can you just tell me what happened?

Hey.

You broke? You got no money?

We'll yarn in the morning.

Everything's better after a cuppa.

You in trouble?

Answer me.

Jack!

Leave it!

You think 'cause you're police,

you can talk to me like this?

Shame me? Oh, you want to talk shame?

I work with those people.

I gotta come to MY station and pick you up?

Yeah, walk away.

It's what you're fuckin' famous for.

You gonna hit me?

I'm not 10 years old anymore.

I'm going to bed.

Come on, boy.

(DOOR CREAKS)

Come on.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(KEYS JINGLE)

Knock-knock!

I brought you some breakfast!

Oi!

(PHONE RINGS INSIDE HOUSE)

Dad!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)

I'm looking for Jack.

Jack Swan. WOMAN: Nup.

Old ringer. Nup.

MAN: Pull up now! We know Jack.

You seen him?

Yesterday, we seen him.

Or was that Wednesday?

Or...

..Wednesday last week?

Pension day.

Oi.

Oi!

(SHOUTS)

(PANTS)

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

Oh!

Hey.

Ah.

My brother.

Mmm.

(SIGHS)

Waiting for you to visit, my brother.

My own blood.

Family.

Police officer.

(LAUGHS)

Oh.

I'm looking for Jack. You seen him?

Don't know. He's probably balls-deep.

Here.

Here!

Why not?

Hm?

Why not?

'Cause it's too easy.

I'll see you around, Sputty.

It's Magistrate Banks's birthday.

It's just something we do.

It can get boring here.

(KEYBOARD CLACKS)

What are you working on?

Oh, it was in the archives.

Is it a police file?

No.

'Cause we shouldn't be in the possession of a police file.

That's a police file.

We have to take it back.

To where?

The police.

What if they made a complaint?

Which would only happen if they found out I have this kind of file,

which I don't.

'Cause I can't.

So someone just left that here?

A while ago.

But whoever left whatever this is removed the names of the witnesses,

the interviewing officers

and the interview record of the main suspect.

Yeah, right.

Why would someone do that?

I don't know why exactly.

Not yet. (SIGHS)

(KEYBOARD CLACKS)

(RADIO BLEEPS)

Swan.

CINDY: Just going through the backlogs,

and the blue Holden you saw at the roadhouse,

it was reported stolen, three days ago.

Just noticed it now.

Get a match on that fingerprint from the prosecutor's house?

CINDY: Nothing yet.

Sarge has got me out doing a licence test.

JAY: Hey, mate.

You had any police officers visit yesterday?

Right.

Thought you might be able to help me.

Had any graders stolen in the last week?

How do you mean 'stolen'?

Well, hired and never returned.

Or just pinched straight out of the yard.

No-one could do that.

Hm.

I need a list of all your recent invoices.

Who hired what, when.

Case the impossible was possible.

I'll ask my old man.

While you're at it, let him know

that if he wants his unstealable grader back...

..it's sitting on the highway near the roadhouse.

(WHISPERS) What the fuck is going on?

Fuckin' sort it out.

Fuck off, then.

(SPITS)

(INDICATOR CLICKS)

That's it.

That's it. (CAR STALLS)

Fuck!

It's OK. It's OK. You're...you're doing really well.

Alright. Let's try again. Back into neutral.

Now start her up.

(STARTS ENGINE)

(SIGHS)

Now, remember the order?

Clutch first.

Mm-hm. Let go slowly.

Accelerator.

That's it.

(LAUGHS) (LAUGHS) That's it!

(VEHICLE APPROACHES RAPIDLY) Stop!

(HORN HONKS)

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

CINDY: Slide over!

(RADIO BLEEPS)

CINDY: (PANTS) There's been an accident.

Southwell Road. Requesting assistance.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SNIFFS)

(INSECT BUZZES)

You OK?

He wouldn't stop.

Never seen a dead body before.

(JAY SNIFFS)

(CINDY SIGHS)

Call the station?

Yeah.

JAY: Sergeant should be here soon.

Why don't you go block the road?

OK.

(PETER CLEARS THROAT)

Well...

..at least it's not far to the wrecker's.

CINDY: Came through an intersection about 90 k.

Flashed my lights but he wouldn't stop.

PETER: Were in pursuit?

Christopher Edmund Miller.

He's SOS.

Means "Sons of the Soil".

Started up after the pit closed in '88.

They hire ex-cons?

PETER: They're a bit rough round the edges.

But we don't have a problem with 'em, Jay.

Well, I was just talking to this very bloke down at the yards.

He was in a hurry to get somewhere.

Yeah.

(SCOFFS)

Where YOU goin'?

(DOOR CLOSES)

(ENGINE STARTS)

JAY: Poppy.

Hey.

How you doing?

Yeah, I'm alright, Jay.

Closing up. Want something?

Actually, I was hoping you could help me with a lead.

You ever seen this face before?

Nup.

Sorry.

It's alright.

Show you something?

Here.

JAY: What am I looking at?

It wasn't just money they took.

Also Halloween costumes.

Why would a grown man take a child's mask?

(COUNTRY SONG PLAYS FAINTLY)

MAX: Can I have two fish and chips?

One calamari.

Pete's with chicken salt.

Yep.

Want the rump again?

Sure, thanks. Can you make that two?

Thanks, Sissy.

I was thinking about your old man.

Yeah?

First time he took me roo shooting, I was seven.

7-year-old with a gun? (LAUGHS) Yeah. Yeah.

Uh, we hadn't seen a roo for hours, right?

Mmm. Uh, it's about midnight.

Old Jack, he's ready for bed.

So he decides we should head back to the homestead.

Spotlight's still going on the back of the ute,

and all of a sudden, I see this big fuck-off red,

and it's, like, 150, 200 yards out on the open plain.

Jack dropped it? Nup.

(LAUGHS) No. He gives me the gun, right?

He thinks that I'll miss and we can go home to bed.

You hit it? (LAUGHS) Yeah, mate. Poor bastard.

Spends the next two hours in the cold, blood dripping off his hands.

He digs the hole, he puts it in, he puts the coals in

and he puts the soil over.

Hour later, pulls it out.

Charcoal.

(BOTH LAUGH)

JAY: Bastard. PATRICK: Yeah? Classic, right?

(LAUGHS) Jacko!

(SIGHS)

Where's your bathroom?

Uh, it's just through there, brother. There.

Great. Yeah, righto.

(COUNTRY SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)

(UNZIPS FLY)

(URINATES)

WOMAN: Oh! (SONG STOPS)

(URINATES)

MAN: Right, everyone!

Down! On the floor! (THUDDING)

(ZIPS FLY)

(WOMAN GASPS)

(CLATTERING)

PATRICK: Plea...plea...mate.

Just...what...whatever you do, just don't...don't be an idiot, OK?

Just...

Down! Yeah, no, no,...

(GUN CLICKS)

(PANTS)

MAN: Do it. (FIRES GUN)

(PEOPLE SCREAM AND MOAN)

(PANTS AND MOANS)

(PANTS)

Take the money and go.

Why are YOU still standing, champ?

Down.

Down!

(MOUTHS WORDS)

You're wasting time.

(PANTS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

He's got my belt.

(ENGINE STARTS)

(VEHICLE DRIVES AWAY)

ABE: I'm not talking to you about this.

Why did they let Ziggy Wells go?

That kid's death tore too many lives apart.

(SIRENS HOWL)

MAN: I said step out of the truck.

Tell me that's not all that's left of your car.

Did you do all that to ask me out on a date?

Well, yeah, maybe.

MARY: And it's not gonna do her any good to drag that pain up again.

He was my little boy.

PETER: ..as your direct fuckin' supervisor, I had no idea about.

JAY: Well, no-one else has to get hurt.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation