Original subtitles

(Sounds of the rainforest)

(Heavy panting)

(Desperate breaths)

(Headlong screaming)

(Loud Chinese gong)

(Daytime forest sounds)

(Haunting Chinese gongs)

(Loud flapping wings)

(Radio) A two-day police search has ended with the

discovery of a man's body at the bottom of a cliff

on one of the islands remote beaches.

Authorities have not released the man's name

but it is believed, he was a detainee in the offshore facility

on Christmas Island, for more than five years.

The department of border control says service providers staff

have reported what they called, an illegal maritime arrival

escaping the centre early on Saturday morning.

The department confirmed the man's death on Sunday evening

and said the matter is now being investigated by the Coroner.

Reporting for Nation Australian radio.

(Poh Lin) - The sand that we use in the boxes…

it's what we consider to be the smallest particles of earth.

You imagine that every grain of sand that we see

you know, used to be part of rocks, mountains, formations

and now they're down into their finest form.

- How does the sand feel, is it cool or warm?

Yeah?

I think it's, it's, it's, like cold.

- Cold. Yeah.

- Does it feel soft or hard or sharp or

gentle?

It feels…

(Rough sand rubbing)

I like the sound, you know.

- The sound

Yeah, because I guess the sound

you know it reminds me

of the waves.

- Hmmm Yeah.

I think.

(Rustling of the sand)

- Go with your feeling.

- Go with your feeling.

- and that doesn't mean you have to keep moving.

- If you feel like that's enough, then that's enough.

- But if there's a another feeling like that you're drawn to, try to follow it.

(Models being picked up and replaced)

- Hmm.

- What do you notice as you look at your picture?

Hmm.

- What do you notice?

I think this is the life that we left behind.

- Hmm.

- When you look at this picture, all of it.

- Does it feel complete for you?

- Or is there something missing or is something in the wrong place.

- Have a good look.

(Heavy sigh)

(Heavy rattle)

(Sounds of the rainforest)

(Discordant tones join the forest sounds)

(Discordant music becomes as loud as the rainforest)

(Crab rustles vegetation)

(Ranger) - Park Space, this is Parks Two. Do you receive?

(CB Radio) Hey Parks Two, do you copy?

(Ranger) - Can you give us an update at Ethel beach, mate?

(CB Radio) Inaudible

(Ranger) - Alright thank you.

On your way back can you do the red sign

and just put on Ethel is closed. Thank you.

(CB Radio) Copy that.

(Ranger) Wow.

(Ranger Trainee) - Mama crabs.

Yeah mama alright.

You can tell like.

This one here carries a lot more than the other ones.

Come here.

- They're so much smaller.

Smaller, but see how big they are?

Yeah, I say another day or two… tomorrow.

Look at this mom as well.

You see they can't cross the road.

Umm.

We need to find something so that they can cross.

Maybe if we look around for some Timber or whatever.

Ahh, so they can cross across it.

So, make a bridge. Make a bridge for them.

Otherwise they're not going to get across.

Watch out crabby.

Just put it anywhere.

We're making a bridge for them.

(Ranger Trainee) Oh no. They're so fast when they're little.

- Yeah.

(Ranger) - We just, as much as we want to do

we're just helping them out that's all.

(Child, Albertine, waking up)

Poppy must be tired she's still asleep.

(Arthur) Yeah.

Good morning.

(Albertine) - Look at the mommy.

- Mama, look at the mummy.

Hmmm.

- Look.

- Mummy.

(Poh Lin) - What's the mummy doing?

Working.

- Working.

Yep.

- Just like your mommy.

I think Papa's coming.

Quick.

(Poppy) Why?

He won't see us.

(Poppy laughing)

(Poh Lin) Oh no, my foots out the bottom, ahhh.

(Poppy) Just like me.

(Poh Lin) I can't get my foot in.

(Inside car)

(Poppy) 'We can turn there.'

(Poh Lin) 'We can't camp next to the Detention Center.'

(Poppy) 'Why?'

(Poh Lin) 'We're not allowed to.'

(Poppy) 'Oh.' (Poh Lin) 'Yeah.'

(Poppy) 'Why?'

'The Detention Centre has people that guard the gates

because people that are staying in there are not allowed to come out.'

(Poppy) 'They can't come out.'

(Poh Lin) 'No. Not unless the guards say they can.'

(Poppy) 'Oh.'

(Poppy) 'How minutes you can stay?'

(Poh Lin) 'What do you mean?'

(Poppy) 'How many minutes?'

(Poh Lin) 'Can the people stay?

Sometimes they stay for a couple of months.

Other times, for years.'

(Poppy) 'Years?' (Poh Lin) 'Yeah.'

(Poh Lin) Good thing we wore jeans.

(Poppy) Yep.

(Poh Lin) Let's hop on the mountain. See if we can find any pumpkins, Alby.

(Poh Lin) - What's happened to the world-famous pumpkin hunter?

(Arthur) - Just too early for them.

(Poh Lin) - No there's one hiding here. I'm sure of it.

(Arthur)

(Poppy)

(Arthur)

(Poh Lin) - Very gently and slowly Alby.

(Poppy)

(Poh Lin) - Do you know this could be almost 70 years old this crab.

- It's like your granddad or your grandma.

(Poh Lin) - Come on girls, let's go.

(Poh Lin) Yeah, but we haven't had dinner yet darling.

(Poh Lin) Can you imagine what these robber crabs have seen in their lifetime.

(Poppy) Nope. Humans?

(Poh Lin) Yeah, they saw the first people that arrived on the island.

Well, if they're up to 100 years old, they'd have seen the first people.

(Crab loudly rustles vegetation)

(Poh Lin) 'When you put your hands in the sand' it's to follow what feels right

and to keep going with what feels good.

If something doesn't feel okay that you stop for yourself.

You don't wait for me to stop you. Yeah.

- Okay. Does that make sense?

- Yep. Yep.

So, any questions so far.

(Refugee) - What sort of sand it is? (Poh Lin) - This is sand from the beach.

(Refugee) - Awesome. (Poh Lin) - Yeah, sand that I collected.

- I don't know if you've ever been, out on Christmas Island.

- But this is from Muriel Beach. Have you been to Muriel beach before?

No. - No, it's a very very small Beach

and you can only get to it when the tide is out, when the water is out.

Ahh okay, is this in Christmas Island, Muriel beach?

- Yeah, yeah. Yeah…

- So I collect it there, I wash it and, prepare it for the tray.

(Refugee) - Hmmm.

- Ok it's

like, in a, peaceful country.

- So there's no fight.

- Everything is okay and

the community live there.

They're secure and the country is secure. Hmmm.

They can have this nature, grain and all the time

because, in this country no one had a

like no other problems, security problems.

That's why it's nice and beautiful grew up every day improving.

But in a country is all the time fight like my country.

I don't remember one day of peace in my country

every day everything happening.

- You don't remember one day No.

- Of Peace

Like, you know, every night news is

not good.

Like every day innocent people get killed.

And also the country goes like this

no nature like

it's all sand and the buildings destroyed and you know.

So.

The difference between this and this is

too much.

Yeah.

It's really hard for me, like

I never been away, one lunch or…

breakfast or dinner.

I always, always at home, around family

eat together, and you know.

But now it's like it's like almost, nearly four years.

Like

like I didn't celebrate anything with them.

It's a bit hard.

(Plays with sand)

Yeah, but it's good. I've got friends now.

Keep me

in touch and, spend time.

Yeah.

- I can just hear how precious, your family are to you.

Hello. (Immigration Officer) - Detention ops.

Oh hello, it's umm, Poh Lin here.

I'm one of the torture and trauma counsellors from the community hospital.

How are you today? - Good thanks, how are you?

Not too bad.

I'm just calling we had some appointments for 10:30

but, it's now 10 to 11, and there's no sign of them.

I just wondered if you could check on that for us.

- Err yep, just a moment.

Okay, thanks.

(Officer uses computer)

- Okay Errrr…

No, there's no one listed here for that time sorry.

No appointments?

- No appointments.

Right, ummm.

(Mouse clicks)

Well we've definitely sent through the, the booking request

and we had people, yesterday afternoon.

So I'm not quite sure why, that's happening

are they, are they on island still

are you able to check that please.

- Ah sorry no, I'm not able to check that.

But if you could just let us know if they're on island or not

so we can follow up.

- I'm, I'm not actually allowed to give you that information sorry.

Right okay?

Have you heard from transport this morning?

Has there been an issue?

- I, I can't disclose any further information sorry.

Okay, no worries.

I'll umm, I'll give transport a call and a…

check in with the HLO.

And umm, yep try and find where they are.

Thanks anyway. - OK.

All right - No worries.

Bye. - Thanks, bye.

(Mouse clicks)

(Typing)

(Chinese gongs)

(People gathering)

What is it in the rubbish?

It's flags.

It's what, Uncle?

They're burning some offerings

and what Uncle was saying before this is like, for the new year.

So they make these offerings, so that the ghosts are happy

and the ghosts don't go and bother other people.

What is a ghost?

Is a ghost the animal or the ghost is the…

When a person dies the Chinese belief is that

the ghost leaves the body, yeah.

So it's like something you can't see but it's around us.

Does that make sense?

But I can't see any ghosts.

No, we can't see them with our eyes.

- Why?

- Because they're no longer body.

- They're no longer like you, like your body.

- It's like, kind of like air or clouds or something.

(Traditional Chinese gongs)

(Chinese speaker)

(Gongs reach crescendo)

(Crashing surf)

(Wind whistles in lava holes)

(Arthur recites…)

You okay babe?

- What's wrong?

Do you remember that boat, that went down last week.

- At night, yeah.

- Yeah, of course.

There was a young man

ahh, that I met today who, was on that boat

and umm…

- He was talking about

Like all those hours in darkness on the water.

He managed to hold on to something that time

and umm…

It was just the way that he described when the

the first light was

coming, like when they could first see what was happening.

And like I think

maybe what

32, or so, people

drowned off that boat.

He explained to me that

As the light first came up, the water was still like

like oil, it was, slick and dark.

In fact, he didn't see the, the sharks, he

he heard the people, their screams, as they were,

taken.

And I just sat there thinking like

if I was in that situation, I don't know whether I would

let go of the

like let go and just

sink, drown or whether

like, you would wait for your turn, to see if

the shark takes you or not.

It was really hard to sit with that.

I don't know, maybe he'll come back next week or

maybe they'll move him.

It's the usual, never knowing.

You don't know if you've got one moment

one conversation or

two years of conversations.

I'm exhausted.

Not much you could do babe.

(CD Radio) - Roger, and clear, that's it for now.

- I'll let you know when there's more, coming through.

You got any more coming?

Stop there by that one.

(CD Radio) - That's good, I'll let you know when I need ya.

(Trainee Ranger on CB Radio)

(Trainee Ranger) - Yeah alright.

- Should be here in a couple of minutes. Tell him to stop.

- Yep.

I've got a car coming up mate in a minute

so then I'll escort you through, ok.

Is that alright? So if you wanna just

put it there, just go to the other side

and I'll come with you.

Hey boss boss, you copy.

(Ranger on CB Radio) - Hold them there until the next ones

come through from the opposite direction.

- There's some coming through now Esme will bring them through.

(Sound of marching crabs fills the air)

(Tapping of many crab claws)

(Poh Lin) - How is it, to talk to me today?

(Refugee speaking)

(Translator) - Yeah, I feel like even if I talk for a couple of days and constant.

I wouldn't get empty. I feel like my inner…

is full of all those experiences, stories and bitter experiences.

(Poh Lin) - Is it okay to ask a question?

- I guess I'm curious about, as a mother and son.

- Is there a way that you particularly look at each other?

- Is there a way that you hold each other?

- Do you sing, do you pray, what do you do together

to experience connection

even when the conditions around are so chaotic?

(Translator) - Yeah, yeah.

- His character, he's a very kind and sensitive boy

and he's very intelligent and smart as well

and as a mom, by just holding and hugging him

it was giving both sides comfort.

(Poh Lin) - So that was something that you could give each other both ways.

(Translator interprets Poh Lin)

How old was Zane, when you first arrived?

(Translator interprets)

(Refugee speaking)

(Poh Lin) - It's ok ok.

(Poh Lin) - As we've talked before it's not illegal to seek asylum.

(Translator interprets)

(Poh Lin) - And it's not acceptable to experience punishment

for requesting safety and protection.

(Translator interprets)

It's ok.

(Manager) - Have you had any contact from anyone about them

or they just have been no-shows.

(Poh Lin) - Well I did the normal, like I rang detention ops

and they were like, it's an issue with transport

so I rang transport and they said it's an issue with

with detention operations and

I sent through the list of names and boat ID numbers.

(Manager) - Yep.

(Poh Lin) - And just got a really short email back saying

cannot advise if they are or where they are currently placed.

Or on or off Island.

- Yeah Yeah ok.

- So. So, it's gradually being reduced, isn't it.

All of our information. - Have you had any?

Nothing, I just keep being referred to

the policy, and the secrecy.

- Privacy policy of Immigration.

- At least two years ago, three years ago

we felt we could make a difference.

- I know it's now got to the point where we feel like we're just being

here as a little prop for the immigration, tick their box.

- I know it's incredibly hard to do worthy work.

Yeah.

And to ignore our recommendations week, after week, after week

as we just have to watch someone just deteriorate and

have no ability to prevent it.

- I didn't think that I would ever work in a context where

you, like…

you know, at least in other places as difficult as it was

you could hope to see some improvement

over time. I…

It sounds awful, but sometimes it's hard to come in

because I don't know that I want to see

the people that I care about

worse than the previous week. - Yeah.

(Raining)

(Man speaking)

(Woman chants)

(Woman continues to chant)

(Man speaking)

(Woman chants)

(Man speaking)

(Sounds of the rainforest)

(Haunting tones merge with the forest noise)

(Male refugee speaking)

(Rainforest noise fades away, to leave haunting tones)

(Haunting tone fades away)

(Flapping insect wings)

(Radio presenter) Lawyers and asylum seeker advocates are concerned

about new laws that will apply from tomorrow

affecting staff of immigration detention centres.

Government contracted workers risk up to two years in jail

if they disclose what they see.

(Radio guest) This new law effectively turns

the Australian department of immigration

into a secret security organisation with police powers.

It will prevent anyone working in immigration detention centres

that is international human rights bodies, doctors, teachers, councillors

from raising concerns about asylum seekers

about the conditions inside the facilities

they could go to jail for up to 2 years.

So, it will definitely have a chilling effect.

(Arthur) You okay babe? (Poh Lin) Yep.

(Arthur) I just thought of something. (Poh Lin) Alright.

(Poh Lin) Where are we camping? (Arthur) Just there in the sun, at the bottom?

(Poh Lin) Yeah, alright.

How about, just here?

(Poh Lin) - Sure.

Well I kind of

imagined a place where the girls could just scream too.

With no, no limit.

Well, I think you found that.

(Poppy speaking)

(Poppy speaking)

(Chinese cymbals gently blend with the night forest sounds)

(Poh Lin recites…)

'The locals make their offerings to those who have died.'

'Those who have lost their lives in the island and the oceans surrounding.'

(Roaring bonfire)

'The wandering spirits.'

'The hungry ghosts.'

'Those stuck between worlds.'

'Trapped between homes.'

'What offering will it take

to free those Spirits, from uncertainty?'

(Out of breath)

(Panting)

(Hilltop wind)

(Refugee speaking)

- It's alright.

And as you say that to me

You talk about having the two face that you show power to your family

and

when you said your mother met you even though she couldn't hop up

she, smiled at you.

Sounds like she was also

- She was doing that. trying to protect you.

Yeah.

Is that what gets you through?

(Whispered prayer)

(Sound of marching crabs)

(Tapping of countless crab claws)

School drives open.

Yeah.

Switch them round, yep.

North West Point.

Road is closed.

Maddock Knoll, is that open?

Aye, that's open.

- Here?

Yep.

I'm going to put this by the side.

Perfect. Does that make sense?

Yep.

(Poh Lin's manager on speaker phone)

(Poh Lin) We've put so many recommendations that he's not okay.

He's not okay to be transferred. He needs to go the mainland.

It happened the same today as well, it's…

(Manager) Yeah. Only had one person come today.

(Manager speaking)

(Poh Lin can't speak)

(Menacing tones)

(Poh Lin) I love these people dearly, but I'm not prepared to

be complicit in some way, with the system.

Can't just keep propping someone up mentally

forever, when there's complete uncertainty.

You know like someone in prison has a sentence

they have a time frame.

They know when they're going to get out. But indefinite, like…

Can you imagine trying to get your head around

no certainty?

The day becomes the month, becomes the year, becomes the decade.

When time is like that

your whole mental faculties

start to break down.

It's the first place I've worked where

even though you're doing really good therapy

you're seeing them decline.

You seeing them going from being fit and capable

to talking about suicide ideation.

And they get this real deep desire to end their life.

But I tell you what, when your life is the only thing

that you have choice over in the end?

You'd probably contemplate it too.

(Haunting tones)

(Gentle surf)

(Heavy breathing)

(Calling haunting tones)

(Sound of the surf)

(Calling haunting tones)

(Haunting tones)

(Poppy) Wow.

(Crashing surf)

(Both) Wow.

Mama, are there crabs in the water?

Not red crabs, no. Other crabs maybe.

What like crabs?

You know the ones you see on the rocks.

No. Brown ones.

Oh yeah brown.

And they live in the water?

Just on the rocks I think, but they can go under the water.

- Do you want to go back?

They're not in the waves?

- It's rough today.

- Come on, let's go.

(Crashing surf)

No, it's a…

Mommy can't do, this work anymore.

It's not possible.

Why?

Because umm

I've reached a point where the people I want to help

I can't anymore.

Why?

Ahh, there's lots of

lots of things going on, but umm.

But you know my job is about trying to help some people and

if I can't do that then

it's time for us to go somewhere else.

(Poh Lin) - That's, Poppy and Albertine.

Ok.

(Poh Lin) Can we give that one, to the op shop?

No.

(Poh Lin) We can't take everything.

(Poppy) I like that one and I keep it.

And keep that bag and Albertine bag.

(Poh Lin) Ok.

So maybe we put the things up here that we're going to take.

Are we taking this book or not? Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

(Gently crashing surf)

(Haunting theme music swells with the surf)

(Theme music swells and drowns out the surf)