Original subtitles

MAN: This is fhe Iand ofmy chiIdhood.

The oldesfland on earth.

A place ofendless summer and soaringskies.

This is Australia.

The oufback. A harsh and unforgivingland.

I can Iookback on ifnow, across fhe frack of 80 years'

and sfiIIrememberwhafif was Iike

sfanding on fhe very edge ofa newfronfier.

Nafure seemed much granderfhen.

The sfars were closer. The sun was hotter. The rivers wider.

And in mymind's eye, I can see all ofus,

movingfhrough fhis gianflandscape Iike a sfrange nomadic fribe.

We were fhe drovers, fhe prospecfors' squatters and shearers.

We were bushmen, simple men -

fhe shape ofourlives hammered oufby droughf and fire.

AII excepfforone.

The oufback could neverforge him. He forged fhe oufback.

Tonighfl wanffo fellyou abouffhe only man I everknew who famed fhis Iand.

Richard Reynold Eastwick.

From ouf ofnowhere, he buiIf an empire.

Andyef, Iike anyman who fries fo wrife his wiII across fhe sky'

he paid fhe price.

In fhaflasffadingyear, he would have fraded if all...

...fraded if all jusffo hold his daughferin his arms.

Thaf's whafled us here,

fo an old grave on fhe edge ofa dusfylittle fown.

She!s a'ive.

Somewhere.

( PHONB R'NGS )

A Iosf chiId. The onlyheir.

One Iasf chance fora dynasfy. One Iasfhope forRichard Eastwick.

Ouffhere somewhere.

We searched every corneroffhe Iand. And fhen...

They!ve found her. She!s in a nursing home.

How is she?

(Urgent'y) How is she?

Are there any chi'dren?

R'CHARD: Nancy.

Nancy.

NURSB: We!re not rea"ywith us anymore! Sir Richard.

We haven!t spoken in near'y two years.

'!m your father.

R'CHARD: Does she have any chi'dren?

NURSB: No, Sir Richard. None.

(Shakes chair)

Nancy.

Nancy!

Do you have any chi'dren?!

And so, finally, even Richard Eastwick was broken.

Nofjusfhis healfh, bufin spiriffoo.

This hard, driven, vifalman

was suddenly very old.

Buf as he Iayfhere, Iosfin some sfrange place between Iife and deafh'

a newbelieffookhold ofhim -

fhe belieffhafif wasn'f overyef.

Ifkepfhim alive.

Somehowhe sensed if.

No, if was more fhan fhaf- he knewif.

He knewfhafsomeone was ouffhere.

If was a sulfry daylafe in November, fhe promise ofa sform on fhe wind.

If was deep in fhe atternoon when she arrived.

Tall andyoung and so full oflife.

Bufmore fhan fhaf, I can'ffellyou- nofyef' anyway.

You see, who she was -

well, fhaffurned ouffo be fhe greafesfirony offhem all.

To knowhow cruelfafe can be,

you've goffo undersfand fhe Iife and fimes ofRichard Eastwick.

Yeah?

(Bxc'aims soft'y) Kate!

' Mean, you!re, um...

...you!re the image...

...of his first wife.

Kate. WOMAN: My name is Sarah.

'!ve come to meet my grandfather.

(Bmotiona"y) No, you can!t.

Why not? Don!t you be'ieve '!m his grandchi'd?

Oh, '!m certain of it. Then why can!t ' meet him?

Not yet.

Not ti" you 'isten to what '!ve got to say.

You come with me.

(Sighs)

Richard Bastwick...

Richard Bastwick...

He, uh...

...he was born in a London slum.

The unnamed chiId ofunknown parenfs.

Byhis own reckoning, fhafmusfhave been in fhe yearofourLord 1878.

The world was a prettyharsh place fhen.

ChiIdhood was a Iuxury onlyfhe rich could atford.

Byfhe fime he was 20, he'd been on fhe road fora decade ormore.

If was a road fhafled him fo fhe veryheart offhe indusfrialrevolufion.

The cotton miIIs ofBradford.

The shipyards ofLiverpool.

The facfories and forges ofallfhe greaf manufacfuring cifies ofEngland.

And finally, if was a road fhafled him nofjusffo anofherjob'

buffo somefhing which he'd neverknown -

fhe Iove ofa famiIy.

( STBAM H'SSBS )

MAN: Use your hands! Use your hands!

MAN: Come on, you 'itt'e buggers. Stop p'aying around.

No use bunching up over here, kids. Get over here now. Come on. Quick'y.

Quick'y. Quick'y. Over here. Come on.

Over here!

Who are you?

'!vejust been to the mine office, 'ooking for ajob.

They said the 'eading hand.

Gent'eman from south on a wa'king tour?

Pick up a 'itt'e bread from miners! tab'e whi'e he!s here?

What!s thy name? Richard.

Richard something? Something Richard? What?

Just Richard. Richard Richard! then.

Dick Dick. (Men 'augh)

Answer to a maiden!s prayer. (Men 'augh)

He!s given you worst bastard of ajob in mine.

(Ye"s) Get that thing down here!

You!

"You don!t smarten yourse'f up, you won!t have no work!

And ifyou don!t have no work, when thy father dies!

Mum won!t have no roof over head, and nor thee! young Bastwick.

You understand? Understand? No work!

And your brothers won!t have no work and your fatherwon!t have no work

and you!" be starving, you horrid 'itt'e git,

because you won!t do thejob you!ve been set to!

You understand me, turnips-for-brains?

You!" be in the poorhouse. You!" a" be out and on the road.

And your ma wi" be on streets, if anyone wi" have her -which ' doubt!

He!s on'y a kid.

BASTW'CK: Bastard! Nobody ta'ks about my ma 'ike that!

(Men ye")

BASTW'CK: Let him go! 't!s my fight! (Man ca"s out)

He!s had his taste. 't!s over.

MAN: Yeah, that!s it, 'ad.

(Men ca" out encouragement)

MAN: 'n again, boy!

Now it!s over.

(Men ca" out encouragement)

You want to fight, you fight fair. 'n ring.

(Men ye")

(Men cheer)

(Ye"s indistinct'y)

Over here! Over here!

Been in fight before?

Street. Not ring. MAN: Get up! boy! Get up! boy!

Street!s harder. That!s fhy opinion.

MAN: Get on your feet. (Grunts)

Go!

(Men ye") MAN: Get your hands up! boy!

(Gasps hoarse'y)

(Men cheer) Oh!

Oh!

( F'ST POUNDS ON FLBSH ) (A" ye")

MAN: That!s it! (Gasps)

(Grunts savage'y)

MAN: That!s it, young Richards! Come on!

(Grunts savage'y) (Men cheer)

(Gasps)

(Men fa" si'ent)

(Men resume ye"ing)

( F'STS POUND ON FLBSH )

MAN: Boots!

(Men cheer)

(Grow's) (Cries out)

MAN: Finish him! Finish him off! (Grow's)

MAN: Finish him off!

(Richard groans and coughs)

Look out! Behind you!

(Ye"s)

(Cries out) (Grunts savage'y)

(Men exc'aim) Oooh! MAN: That!s enough!

Don!t pu" a trick 'ike that, a'right?

You!" have a" of us to dea' with. (Grow's)

Cheap 'esson. Pay ha'f a crown for a 'esson 'ike that in London.

' Don!t drink. (Men 'augh)

Good 'ad. Tota' abstainer. (Men 'augh)

' Admire that.

Oh...

Fighting.

He were standing up for our Tom! Mother.

MOTHBR: Mmm. We", ' must say, you 'ook ha'f human. (Chuck'es)

For one from south. Your nose wi" never be the same again.

'Mproves it. (Laughs) (Chuck'es) Aye. That!s the truth.

'N tub with you.

(Gigg'es)

'!m sure you haven!t got anything ' haven!t seen before.

Hey. Where!d you get those?

MOTHBR: Hey, Thomas.

Mind your own business.

At a fair once... a man had a fa'con in a cage.

'T were 'ike that young man.

Wings to f'y mi'es, but on'y inches to move in.

Aye. Fu" as an egg with anger. Mmm.

Of course, uh, he needn!t be.

Not ifwe were to he'p.

What do you say? (Sighs) Does it matter?

You!" have your own way, won!t you?

Oh, aye. That!s the truth. Mmm.

As 'ong as '!m man ofthis house, ' wi".

We", '!" just have to manage, won!t '?

' Knowthou wi't, 'ass.

' Knowthou wi't. Mmm.

MAN: That was the noise. You were snoring too.

We", ' fe" out of bed 'ast night.

Howwas it on the f'oor? Oh...

Sit thee down, 'ad. Sit thee down.

' Thank you, sir, for the food and 'ast night!s bed.

You!d have to share with others or pay your own way.

But there!s a p'ace here with us ifyou want it.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Hey, we!re not doing it for thy thanks! 'ad.

We!re doing it because it!s right.

Lads.

Heaven'y Father, forwhat we are about to receive! we!re tru'y gratefu'.

Amen.

Amen.

(A" chatter)

FATHBR: This 'ooks good, Mother. Have some butter on your bread.

MAN: Are you two doing some fishing?

MAN: Aye. Down the cana'. Aye.

( YBLL'NG )

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

(Men cheer and app'aud)

Thanks a 'ot from me. Where!d you 'earn to p'ay! son?

Oh, round and about. No! you!re no street p'ayer.

Where have you been p'aying, then? Borsta'.

We", you!ve got that going for you, ain!t you? You!re no ba"et dancer.

Are you from London? Yeah.

You heard ofTottenham Hotspur? Yeah. Bveryone!s heard ofthem.

See me after the game.

MAN: And he sawhim. And fhe invifafion was fo go fo London.

The FoofballLeague was onlyin ifs infancy.

Buffhe pay was already five fimes fhaf ofa miner.

The Eastwicks raised fhe money fora frain fare soufh.

Everybody agreed if was fhe besf chance he'd evergef.

London. The hub offhe empire.

The mosf civiIised cify on earth.

Regenf's Park, Bond Sfreef, PiccadiIIy.

And Iess fhan a miIe away, one waferfap fo a sfreef and six famiIies fo a house.

Af a frainingground in fhe EasfEnd,

Richard Eastwick and 60 ofheryounghopefuls

were allfryingfo escape fhe endless grind

ofunemploymenf, Iow wages, high renfs.

(Pants)

(Men ye" and whist'e) MAN: Come on!

(Men app'aud)

(Speaks indistinct'y)

'T!s in your 'ungs.

Your fare home, son.

' Haven!t even kicked a ba".

Sorry, son.

Hey, Tom. Stop in here for a moment. What is it?

'T!s dry. A'right. After you.

(Speaks inaudib'y)

Where!s this from?

Where!s this p'ace? Austra'ia.

Where!s that?

'T!s the other side ofthe wor'd.

'Down-under!, they ca" it, because it!s right down underneath us.

(Scoffs soft'y)

Aye.

'N Austra'ia, they grow orange trees 30 feet high.

' Cou'd have me own orchard.

How much was it?

Sixpence a dozen.

10 trees. That!s 250 quid.

(Men sing indistinct'y)

( FA'NT RUMBL'NG )

MAN: You hear that? You hear that! boy?

Troub'e down mine! MAN: Come on! 'ads!

( WH'STLB BLOWS RBPBATBDLY )

(Man ye"s) Get a doctor!

(Woman wai's)

Bastwicks. Are there any Bastwicks?

(Tom ca"s out) James!

Da'!

(Speaks indistinct'y)

(Screams) Oh, Dad!

(Both sob)

What about...

't!s a" ofthem, Tom.

'T!s...a" ofthem. (Cries)

MOTHBR: '!m sorry. Sorry.

(Kisses and weeps)

No, 'isten to me.

You. Mary here. Tom. Me. We cou'd a" go.

Not Austra'ia. No.

Why not? ' just can!t.

But we have to. Do you want the same thing for Tom?

And what!s Mary got coming to her? Marrying a coa'miner!

Our dad be here.

Da'. Jamie.

But they!re dead! They!re dead and gone!

Leave her be! Tom! you have to get away.

'T!s easy for you to say that, but you don!t have a home to 'eave!

Look. Listen to me. M...

(Mother c'inks coins) What!s that?

'!ve heard you, Richard.

And ' want you to go.

And ' want you to take... our Tom with you.

No.

Tom...

A man turns his back on his fami'y? 't!s not right.

'!m staying here with you and Mary, and there!s an end to it.

(C'inks coins)

' Want you to have part of our savings.

And this.

'T were his.

He treasured it.

Take it to a new 'and.

Part of him.

Grow strong there.

There!s on'y one thing ' want.

' Want to take your name.

'Bastwick!. Come here! boy.

( SBAGULLS CRY )

( HOOFS CLOP )

Name? Richard.

Richard what?

Richard Bastwick. Ah. Good for you.

Visiting or immigrating?

('Rritab'y) Visiting or immigrating?

Are you going to stay or not? Oh! '!m going to stay.

' Don!t have a fare home.

Any crimina' record?

We", ' didn!t knowyou sti" needed one.

(Laughs weak'y) Oh, funnyjoke, that.

Got to be. Bvery third b'oke says it.

Occupation? ' used to be a miner.

Bad 'uck, mate. Miners are on strike.

'!" do anotherjob. Oh! you!" be 'ucky.

There!s no otherjobs. Not here in Sydney.

Anyway, don!t worry about it.

This is Austra'ia. Nobody gives a shit about anything.

(Stamps form)

Oi. Have you got any p'ace to stay?

No. Not yet.

Try this.

Thank you.

Don!t mention it. New chaps need a hand.

Off.

Come on, s'owcoach! Wait for me!

(Scottish accent) Writhing in he", they!" 'ook up to God

and say, "Lord, we didnae ken.!!

And the Lord wi" 'ook down in his infinite mercy

and say, "We", you ken the noo.!!

(A" 'augh)

WOMAN: Howwicked, Reverend McBride.

McBR'DB: The Lord created 'aughter as we" as tears! dear 'ady.

And he created them for the same dire purpose...

Sorry '!m 'ate, Aunty.

Sme"s de'icious.

You found yourway here a'right, then.

You 'ive here? '!ve got to 'ive somewhere.

Archie Kett'e.

Richard Bastwick. (Scottish accent) Kate McBride.

Must you sit here?

( HOOFS CLOP )

( BACKGROUND CHATTBR )

No good?

He didn!t see me.

Did you try Stannard!s? The ferry peop'e?

Yeah. David Jones. Some tai'or in Pitt Street.

They!re a" firing. Nobody!s hiring anybody.

We", ' to'd you, didn!t '? When you got offthe boat.

(Sighs) The country!s had it.

Bunch of 'emmings 'ooking for a c'iff.

Thanks, Archie. That!s very he'pfu'.

Have you got any money?

Yeah. A bit. No! come on. Fair dinkum.

How 'ong can you afford to stay here?

Aweek.

Maybe.

(Sighs)

Science and the Bib'e are as one.

There are not two truths, but one truth.

On the one hand, Darwin!s inexorab'e 'aws of natura' se'ection

means the inevitab'e supremacy ofthe white race

and the inevitab'e extinction of 'esser breeds.

And yet the Bib'e teaches

the equa' and comp'ementary truths

ofthe essentia' brotherhood of man.

How do we reconci'e

these two seeming'y opposed truths?

B'oody good question.

'!" te" you, brothers and sisters.

We go out into the wor'd

and we seek out those races

who are soon to be snuffed out 'ike a f'ickering cand'e!

And we make discip'es ofthem.

(A" app'aud and murmur approva')

And this is why God has ca"ed me to this p'ace.

G'ory to God!

(Audience app'auds)

Here is the sku"... (Audience gasps)

...of a ma'e from the Low'ands of Scot'and.

Here we are 'ooking at the apex

ofthe evo'utionary process.

That!s a coincidence.

On the other hand... (Audience gasps)

...a sku" of a fema'e Austra'ian Aborigina'.

(Audience gasps)

What more can ' say?

(Audience app'auds)

Does your father rea"y be'ieve that? What he said?

He!s my father.

Do you be'ieve it? No.

Not the thing about the sku"s.

Jesus did notjudge peop'e by their sku"s! so ' don!t think I shou'd.

Oh, we", that!s a re'ief.

What about you, Mr Bastwick? What do you be'ieve in?

' Be'ieve...

...' want to be free.

But a" men are free.

Not the poor.

There!s nothing good about co'd or fear or hunger.

"You want to be free, you need money.

Ah. Jesus said, "Money is the root of a" evi'.!!

No, no. Jesus said, ĘĘLove of money is the root of a" evi'.!!

That!s right. He did.

' Don!t Iove money. ' just want to use it.

Bxcuse me.

What wi" you buywith it? Apart from your freedom?

Land. ' want to stand on a hi" and own everything ' see.

Quite a dreamer, aren!t you?

There!s nothing wrong with that, is there?

Of course not. ' 'ike it.

You!ve perhaps heard ofthe headhunters

of Borneo and Africa and such'ike heathen p'aces?

We", ' am the greatest headhunter ofthem a".

' Want the heads and the sou's within.

Do you understand, Mr Bastwick?

' Think ' do. You think?

You don'f think.

' Can te" from the shape ofyour sku" you don!t think.

You, Mr Bastwick, have the sku" of a crimina'.

You!re not a fit companion for my daughter.

Besides, she is chosen...by God...

...to he'p me in my mission to save a dying breed.

She is not for you.

(Mouths)

See this?

'T!s from her. For you.

They!re poems. See?

You read me one?

Oh, read it yourse'f. ' never 'earnt.

Oh, bad for my reputation - someone cops me reading you poetry.

Archie. A'right.

Uh...

OK.

"An hundred years shou'd go to praise

"Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze...!!

Uh, "Two hundred to adore each breast...!!

"Had we but wor'd enough, and time,

"This coyness, Lady, were no crime

"We wou'd sit down and thinkwhich way To wa'k and pass our 'ong 'ove!s day...

"Now 'et us sport us whi'e we may And! 'ike amorous birds of prey!

"Rather at once our time devour...

"Let us ro" a" our strength and a" Our sweetness up into one ba"

"And tear our p'easures with rough strife Through the iron gates of 'ife...!!

Keep going.

We", ' can!t read with your hand there.

Thank you for 'earning it for me.

Wi" you teach me howto read?

'...' can!t, Richard. We!re going to Bourke.

'!m sorry.

( FOOTSTBPS APPROACH )

Haven!t got 'ong. Fatherwi" miss me.

Come on. Let!s go for a ride. What? A ride?

Come on. 'n this boat. No! We can!t stea' someone!s boat!

Come on. Hop in. Richard!

Hop in. (Sighs)

'T!s not for keeps.

Ow!

(Laughs)

(Both 'augh)

Sorry.

R'CHARD: When are you going?

KATB: ' don!t know.

My father!s sti" raising money for his mission.

He!s anxious to get started, though.

What are you going to do?

' Want some 'and. 'n London they said it was here for the grabbing.

Oh, Richard. This is not Bng'and.

With 'ots of pretty 'itt'e farms with a vi"age green.

Here, you have to go west, to the outback.

The outback?

Yes. (Laughs)

Father says there are sheep stations.

Mi"ions of acres, fu" of sheep.

We", that!s where '!m going, then.

(Feigns Scottish accent) The 'ootback!.

(Laughs) But where? The outback!s huge.

Um...Bourke.

Bourke?

We", that!s where you!re going, isn!t it?

We", yes. We"! then. 't!s perfect.

(Laughs)

(Squea's soft'y) Richard! Do you mind?

(Laughs)

'A-U-R!. 'A-U-S!.

'Austra'ia!.

(Woman mutters reproving'y) Oh! dear me! 'n a pub'ic room! Tsk!

Where!s Bourke? Uh...

Bourke. (Whist'es) That far?

50O mi'es. (Sighs)

That!s the 'ength of Bng'and. Just about.

What!s out there? Nothing.

A rai'head, that!s a".

They drive the catt'e there and pick up supp'ies.

My father says they ca" it 'the devi'!s anvi'!.

Why!s that? !Cause it!s so wi'd?

No. The heat.

We"... (Sighs) ..ifthat!s a" there is, there can!t be much work.

Oh...' don!t know.

'T!s a 'ong way to go just on the off-chance.

Of course.

We", what do you think you shou'd do?

Fo"owthe rai'way.

'!" keep heading west. '!m bound to find work sooner or 'ater.

We", there!s a 'ot oftowns.

They!re notjust towns. Look at the size ofthese dots.

Some ofthem must be cities. 'Nevertire!.

That!s a good name.

Soundsjust 'ike you.

Nevertire. Yeah.

That!s where '!" go. That!s it.

Nevertire. Why not? (Laughs) (Laughs)

Nevertire...to Bourke.

As soon as '!ve got money...

...'!" be there.

That!s a promise.

'S this a'right? This goods train business?

Wou'd ' con a mate?

'T!s sort of...officia"y unofficia'. Sort of.

( TRA'N WH'STLB BLOWS )

Good 'uck, Bastwick. Thanks! Archie.

Richard! Kate.

'!m going to marry you! What?

Yes or no? Oh...yes!

What? ' said yes!

(Mouths)

Where have you been?

Just out wa'king.

Do you think ' don!t know the sme" of sin?

We did nothing. You keep away from Bastwick.

He!s 'eft.

Do you rememberwhat happened to Jezebe'?

Do you?!

Te" me!

She was fed to the dogs. For her sins.

Aye. You keep away from Bastwick.

No man on earth sha" defi'e you.

( TRA'N RATTLBS )

( STBAM H'SSBS )

( MBTAL CL'NKS )

G!day, mate.

( KNOCKAT DOOR )

G!day. He"o.

'S this Nevertire? Do you want some breakfast?

Thank you.

You Pommy?

Bng'ish?

You!" go back, then.

What do you mean? '!ve on'yjust arrived.

'!m 'ooking for ajob.

Yeah, we", you!ve come to the right p'ace.

' Want to own a farm. My own p'ace.

But first ' need to 'earn about the 'and.

'N Bng'and, ' saw pictures oftrees. Orange groves.

Yeah.

Of course.

Orange groves.

' Want to showyou something.

Just 'ook at it, mate.

Mi'es and mi'es of bugger-a".

No-one!s going to give you ajob round here.

Un'ess you want to be paid in sheep carcasses.

Or catt'e bones.

This is the great Austra'ian drought in a" its b'oody g'ory.

There!s no fruit trees around here, but there!s a b'oody "avatree!!

(Laughs)

There!s the nearest you!" come to an orange! mate.

We'come to the 'and of opportunity. (Laughs)

( B'RD SCRBBCHBS )

'!m sorry.

Where!s this road 'ead to?

(German accent) Bourke.

A 'ong way.

(Speaks German)

Can ' he'p?

' Must say to mywife that we cannot bury our son.

The strength we use to bury him, we need for the road.

Save your strength. '!" he'p bury your son.

Here, a thousand heads of catt'e.

Bight years of our 'ives.

This is what!s 'eft.

Those cows you see.

We se" them.

And go home.

'S anyone sti" out there?

Hasky Tarbox on'y.

Huskywho?

He!s a man. Aye.

He is a...he is a devi'.

Maybe you have to be to 'ive here.

This a'so.

Thank you.

( 'NSBCTS CH'RP, FROGS CROAK )

Ah!

He"o?

He"o?

( DOOR CRBAKS )

( DOG BARKS OUTS'DB )

Going to boi' the bi"y?

What?

Make a cup oftea.

Ah.

Josh McCa".

Richard Bastwick.

We!re heading for midsummer.

'T!" reach 130. You knowwhat that!s 'ike?

'T sucks the water straight out ofthe ground.

Good men die every year.

Not you. No. Not me.

' Respect it.

This country!s a 'ot o'der and tougher than ' am.

Good 'uck, mate.

You!re going to need it.

(Sighs) You knowwhat a drover is?

No.

A drover!s a b'oke who sits on a horse

watching cows! arses for hundreds of mi'es...

...so the b'oke who owns them can se" them for a fortune.

That!s a drover.

The food!s crook, the money!s worse! and! uh...

...you don!t get paid ti" you finish.

Where!s that? Where do you finish?

Bourke.

You can ride?

' Can 'earn.

You!re going to need a horse.

Use one of mine. You give me a quarter ofyour pay.

Then ' own him.

You!rejoking.

You!rejust renting him.

That!s pricey.

So!s the a'ternative.

'Nterested?

( CATTLB LOW )

G!day.

That!s the boss.

Hasky Tarbox.

'!ve heard of him.

Tarbox has been sett'ed at Bi"abong here for years.

They!ve got riverwater. That!s worth more than go'd out here.

Hasky!s the big boss.

'!d stay c'ear of him, son.

No-one!s ever said he!s a nice man.

(Ye"s) Move !em out!

(Drovers gee up catt'e) ( DOGS BARK )

(Gees up horses)

(Speaks inaudib'y)

( WH'PS CRACK )

MAN: But the biggest serpent '!ve ever seen -

and '!m referring to the venomous variety!

Not the one-eyed trouser-snake,

or the python fami'y, which have been known to swa"ow ca'ves whole -

was an 8-foot king brown, just out from Dubbo.

Which, apart from the b'ack mamba and the cobra of 'ndia!

Wou'd have to be fhe most venomous serpent in the entire p'anet.

'T bit a man as he s'ept by his camp fire.

On a drove.

' Wish one wou'd bite you.

He was found the next morning

with a 'ook of indescribab'e horror on his face.

Mmm. Mmm.

Lone'y, is this stuff food orwhat?

'T!s food.

He reckons it!s food. You owe me money.

(Scoffs) No way in the b'oodywor'd you can prove that!s food! mate.

(Angri'y) "there was a sheep a'ive out there! '!d be shearing! not cooking!

So youse on'y got the drought to b'ame!

And now!s not the time to get the cook offside!

And that!s the 'ast word on the matter.

Ah. (Laughs soft'y)

A bit of 'ogic a'ways shuts them up.

"You were s'eeping and a snake bit you,

and you didn!t know, and then you woke up...

...what are the signs?

Death.

How do you know a" this?

' Read it in a book.

What!s this?

Some papers ' got. Wou'd you read them out to me?

"Herewith the deed to 60,000 acres

"ofthe most Godforsaken 'and on earth.

""You!re mad enough to want it, take it,

"and pray the Lord crad'es you in his infinite mercy.!!

That tea was cat!s piss, Logan.

You knowwhat this is?

'T!s 'and.

(Laughs) No. No. No, this isn!t 'and.

This is a piece of paper. 't!s ca"ed a 'ease.

You need money to register it, money to stock it! money to run it.

You got any money, boy? No.

We", it!s no good to you, then. '!" 'ook after it for you.

'T!s mine, Mr Tarbox.

'T!s on'y a piece of paper. 't!s mine.

'T!s use'ess to you.

'N that case, Hasky, he might as we" keep it.

He!s got bugger-a" e'se.

Maybe he can wipe his arse with it.

(Laughs) Yeah.

That!s a" he!" ever do with it.

Come on. Can!t sit around here a" day drinking tea.

You know...you know who owns the 'and next to this?

He does. Hasky Tarbox.

Staring at it won!t un'ock the mysteries ofthe printed page.

Cou'd you teach me howto read?

Reading!s the best thing for a bushie.

'Mproves the mind.

'T!s what to do with it after it!s improved - that!s the puzz'e.

(Laughs)

MAN: Get up there, Sandy!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

(Whist'es)

(Ca"s out) Keep them moving!

That!s it, Josh! Keep them moving!

(Ca"s out) Pu" them back, Jimmy!

(Ye"s) Bring them up! Jimmy!

MAN: Ho! Hoooo!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

(Man gees up catt'e)

(Hasky ye"s) What are you doing, you dumb bastard?!

Keep that one in 'ine!

LONBLY: Now, the first 'etter!s 'A!! right?

Big 'A!.

And there!s a 'itt'e 'A!.

'A! for, uh...'app'e!.

'Adder!.

'Asp!.

Serpent.

'B!.

Big 'B!.

Litt'e 'B!. 'B!.

'B! for, uh...

...'ba"!.

'Beer!.

'Barmaid!.

'Breast!. 'Breast!.

JOSH: Schoo'!s out. 'Breast!.

Yourwatch.

Thanks, Lone'y.

( FA'NT HOWL'NG ) Dingoes.

They don!t bite. Much.

(Dog snar's)

JOSH: You ride nice and s'ow.

Sing to them.

(Lone'y sings) ♪ ' took a ride over to Lansdowne Fair

♪ A-'ong-dinga'ong-ding

♪ ' took a ride over to Lansdowne Fair

♪ A-'ong-dinga'ong-ding... ♪

(Laughs) Oh!

LONBLY: "David Copperfield.

"Chapter 1 - " am born!.

"Whether ' sha" turn out to be the hero of my own 'ife!

"Orwhether that station wi" be he'd by anybody e'se!

"These pages must show.

"To begin my 'ife with the beginning of my 'ife!

"' Record that ' was born - as ' have been informed and be'ieve -

"on a Friday, at 12 o!c'ock at night.

"'T was remarked that the c'ock began to strike

"and ' began to cry simu'taneous'y.

"'N consideration ofthe day and hour of my birth!

"It was dec'ared by the nurse,

"and by some sage women in the neighbourhood

"who had taken a 'ive'y interest in me

"severa' months before there was any possibi'ity

"of our becoming persona"y acquainted...!!

'Kate!.

"..First, that ' was destined to be un'ucky in 'ife!

"And second'y, that ' was privi'eged to see ghosts and spirits.!!

Just give them a breather.

Hey, 'ook! Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! Serpent!

That!s not a serpent. 't!s got 'egs.

'T!s sti" a b'oody serpent!

There used to be a town just over there.

Oh, yeah? What happened?

Oh, the Chinese...

...got a 'ot of go'd out of here about! oh! 40 years ago.

Go'd ran out. Town abandoned.

Fire. F'ood.

Not much 'eft.

Sic fransifgloria mundi.

That!s Latin.

You coming?

Hey!

Scratch yourse'f on a nai' over there, you cou'd get 'eprosy!

'!m on'y te"ing you !cause you!re a friend!

For now.

( FL'BS BUZZ )

( CL'NK'NG )

What have you got there?

Just somejars.

There!s the ashes of dead Chinamen in those!

They!re sacred!

They send them back to the... Ce'estia' Kingdom.

Take them back.

There!s no-one to give them to.

Bxcept a ske'eton.

You take them back.

Don!t you have no respect?

' 'Ike them.

' Wi" not have the remains of dead Chinamen in my camp!

Look, it!sjust ti" Bourke.

'T!" be good 'uck.

( HOOFS POUND, CATTLB LOW )

HASKY: The wind!s shifted. They!re sme"ing water.

Ride into the wind unti' you find it, and then find us.

And don!t get 'ost.

( 'NSBCTS CH'RP, FROGS CROAK )

( FA'NT CHATTBR )

(Lone'y sings) ♪ Si'ent night

♪ Ho'y... ♪

Ahhhh!

('Nha'es deep'y) Ohhhh!

Ah.

Better than witchetty grubs, eh, Jimmy?

'T!s that b'oody hot the crows are fa"ing out ofthe sky!

And he sets the b'oody food on fire.

Wi" someone te" this heathen it!s Christmas?

'!m not a heathen. '!m a Methodist.

Right! No rum for Methodist wowsers.

Did you find the water?

Yeah. Some b'acks camped on it.

And did you get rid ofthem?

How do you mean?

We", ' don!t want b'acks drinking my catt'e!s water.

Did you get rid ofthem?

You vouched for him. Didn!t you te" him the facts of 'ife out here?

He means, did you fire off a few rounds to shift them?

'T!s Christmas Day.

' Don!t care if it!s Me'bourne b'oody Cup Day!

There!s enough water there for the b'acks and the catt'e.

No, there isn!t!

'!ve been thinking you!re a pretty reasonab'e man! Mr Tarbox.

Don!t...backchat me, boy!

" ' Turn round and that rif'e!s pointed at me! boy...

Give me that.

(Ye"s) Move it out!

( DOGS BARK, WH'PS CRACK )

(Aborigines converse in native 'anguage)

(Woman ca"s out)

(A" speak urgent'y)

(Man ye"s aggressive'y)

You didn!t have to ki" him!

He wou'd have ki"ed me.

Anyway, it!s pest contro'.

They!ve got no 'and, no rights and they!re in the way.

We", he acted 'ike it was his 'and!

We", he acted wrong. 't!s not his 'and! and that!s the 'aw.

' Don!t suppose he knewthat.

We", he knows now.

Bury it!

(Man speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

What are you jabbering on about?

What!s he ta'king about, Jimmy?

Hejust want to get his things, boss.

Here, you go to mission schoo'?

Here, what you doing running with mya" b'acks! eh?

Theyjust want to get their cooking stuff and hunting stuff.

Not worth much to you, boss.

Here, you!re ha'f-white. Your father! he whitefe"a! eh?

Your mother? She go with a whitefe"a! eh?

Get the things, boss?

Yeah, a'right. Go on, co"ect your rubbish and be quick about it.

' Don!t want you spooking the catt'e.

(Speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

You 'eave. She stays.

(Speaks Aborigina' 'anguage)

A fair exchange. You get your things! ' get her.

(Cries) (Grow's aggressive'y)

(Screams and sobs) Here! you...

You b'ack bastards!

'!" fe" a tribe ofyou bastards!

Get out! Get out!

Get off! Look out, you b'oody bastards!

Get off! Stay out of it! son! Let him go.

(Woman wai's and sobs)

(Screams)

(Sobs)

(Screams)

(Sobs)

(Grunts soft'y) (Whimpers)

(Cries out)

(Screams)

(Gasps soft'y)

(Cries soft'y)

Sorry, mate.

He!d have ki"ed you, son.

(Catt'e 'ow)

MAN: Fire! MAN: Fire! (Ye"s indistinct'y)

HASKY: Two ofyouse go! (Speaks indistinct'y)

Go! Head them out east! OK.

'!" come behind and pick up the stragg'ers!

(Men ye")

(Screams desperate'y)

He'p me!

The gir'! Don!t worry about that, just get the b'oody gir'!

'!" get her!

'!m trying to he'p!

JOSH: Get going! LONBLY: But '!ve got to...

Get going! Make sure you catch up!

'!m not having you 'ot 'eft behind!

(Woman wai's and cries)

Ho'd her steady! Sti"!

Get up, Stan'ey! Ha! Ha!

Ha! Get up!

(Whimpers)

(Screams and cries)

(Josh cries out) (Man ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

(Woman ye"s and screams)

(Ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

(Ye"s angri'y)

You must go!

(Ye"s in Aborigina' 'anguage)

Josh. Yeah?

What!s that over there? (Soft'y) Jesus!

'T!s Lone'y. (Lone'ywhoops)

'T!s Lone'y!

You!" have to get on.

Hup! (Grunts)

Haven!t you ever got on a horse before? (Laughs)

R'CHARD: Lone'y! JOSH: Lone'y!

Hey! He"o!

Yah!

(A" whoop)

The things ' do for you bastards!

JOSH: Ha ha!

Guess what?

You!ve had the sack. I've had the sack.

No. We!" catch them before they reach Bourke.

' Wou'dn!t bother.

When ' 'eft them, Haskywas very upset.

Thirsty? Am ' thirsty?

They!re sti" there.

You!re wasting your time, son. You need money to stock that 'and.

'!ve got the money Tarbox owes me for the drove.

Tarbox doesn!t owe you a thing. You knowthe ru'es.

No finish, no pay.

We were with him ti" he was a day out. He has to pay us.

'!" get the 'aw. The 'aw?

He is the 'aw.

The 'oca' magistrate, to be exact.

LONBLY: Face it, son. You!re stuffed.

He can!t stop me.

Get up, Stan'ey. Get up there.

You 'itt'e bastard, Stan'ey!

HASKY: Hey, Jimmy Lightfoot.

Hey, Hector.

LONBLY: Whoa! Here you go.

You!" get p'enty of smokes with this one! boy.

'!" get a nice white woman with this! boss.

(Chuck'es)

There you are, Hector.

He can afford it. Have a drink.

'!ve come to get my pay, Mr Tarbox.