Original subtitles

The ghost swamp.

Yeah, that was me.

I was seven at the time.

I was OK.

They fished me out.

(Laughs)

(Sighs)

Yeah.

Yeah.

But I hated that place.

That...island.

I've always loved this place -

our island home.

The swamp business is the only true tragedy we've had.

During the Second World War,

the island was full of American soldiers.

Yanks, Yanks, Yanks, everywhere.

They were stationed here.

Then, one night...

a poor GI - strange type -

whom I knew,

drove his tank straight into the quicksand swamp.

Sank, without a trace, and was never found.

CHATTERING

The children in the area have always told tales about him -

the ghost of the GI pulling them in.

CHATTERING

PEACEFUL, HAPPY MUSIC

He said he saw the ghost here once, when he was very young.

Oh, yes, Rick, the youngest Waddy boy.

People never knew how sweet he could be.

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

He'd break into my shop and steal all my things.

But I'd always catch him.

(Boy grunts)

JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC

Those eyes, looking up at me, and he'd always, always beg me -

"Please, please, don't tell Uncle. He'll kill me if you do."

But I'd never tell.

I suppose I should have... but I never did.

I cared for him. No-one else seemed to.

I think his mother tried... but...those step-uncles.

I shouldn't say it, but I don't think his home life was...

DRAMATIC FLOURISH

How long have I lived on the island?

My father built the main road through the island in 1926.

I was four when my mother and I joined him.

So, if I was four in 1926, that makes me...

(Mouths) 70.

WHISTLING

Anybody seen the saw?

Er, over at the left.

Behind the ladder. Behind the ladder.

Yeah, I'll get it...

Oi! Give me that!

(Men laugh)

Hey, hey. Hang on, hang on. Now, you'll really like this.

I take the egg, I throw it...

Wait here.

HAMMERING AND SAWING

MAN: How 'bout we all lift that lot?

(Giggles)

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

(Man laughs)

There you go. Thanks.

Come on.

(Men laugh and chatter)

Hey! Whoa!

One, two, three. One, two, three.

One, one, hey!

GURGLING

(Giggles)

They built a poxy cinema

above that stinkin' swamp.

Can you believe that?

WOMAN: Whoo-hoo!

(Whispers) Hi! Guess who!

How are you? Oh, great. How are you?

Terrible. Oh, what's the matter?

Those kids have been chucking rocks at me all day long.

No! Look, look at the filth.

I don't need this. It's all over me.

I bought you lunch. I don't have to put up with this.

Ta. It's not only that, it's these guys over here.

Clowns, they're clowns.

They just run around chucking things everywhere.

Oh, babe! (Laughs)

For me?

Like that, babe, hey? Mmm.

(Chuckles)

What the hell is this?

I don't know. Don't know, really.

What is it, babe? Nothing to worry about.

It's just an old hat, alright?

It says "Made in the USA". I don't know about that.

I think I've seen one before.

It's got a marking down here. Is that a name on it?

Amazing, no rust.

And I was thinking of that dumb GI bastard down below.

GURGLING (Laughs)

DRAMATIC MUSIC

(Grunts)

SCRAPING

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

RIPPING

DRAMATIC, SCREECHING MUSIC

DOG BARKS

WHEEZING

BIRDS SHRIEK AND FLAP AWAY

(Laughs) No, I want that one.

Thanks, Rick. Thanks, Rick.

(Rings bell on bike)

I want that one. No, I want it.

Come out and play! No!

I want the chocolate.

Rick?

Oh, thanks... (Man roars angrily)

Go! MAN: Where is he?!

(Girls cry out)

(Angrily) Out of the way!

(Distorted) Come down, Rick! Come down here!

SCUFFLING

DISTORTED YELLING CONTINUES

BANGING AND CRASHING

THUMPING AND CRASHING, DISTORTED YELLING

WHEEZING

DRAMATIC MUSIC

(Rick cries)

Yes, I knew that was going on.

We on the island all knew.

We could have helped that child.

We could have.

(Whispers indistinctly)

(Children laugh)

JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC

RICK: The place has changed a lot, so I've been told.

(Men yell and argue)

MAN: I don't want you walking along...!

Cut it out, you bastard!

You'll never walk on the island ever, ever again!

(Men shout)

MAN: Get out! Get out!

FOOTSTEPS

THUNDER CRASHES

OMINOUS MUSIC

It...it...it stank worse than shit.

And it was...down there.

And it was...

licking my feet.

And...and it was...it was...

gripping my legs...

and its tongue...

was all over my feet.

SLURPING

DRAMATIC MUSIC

GENTLE MUSIC

RUMBLING, DOG BARKS

(Yawns)

(Baby cries)

Go get the lamp.

She's here! She's here!

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

TRAIN CHUGS

(Breathes unevenly)

LOUD EXPLOSION, ROARING

TRAIN RATTLES PAST

LOUD WHISTLING

TRAIN RUMBLES

She's here!

EERIE MUSIC

Yay! (Claps)

"She's here. She's here!"

That's what I kept yellin'.

COUNTRY MUSIC

ALL: Whoo-hoo!

(Woman sings) # To those far-distant ranges

# Valleys and plains

# Mother nature's calling me back home again

# There's 50 miles before me, 500 miles behind

# And this old Ghan is rocking me back home on time

# When loneliness and sorrow and trouble comes your way

# Friends, you haven't any to help you on your way

# When sickness overtakes you and you are all alone

# It's the only time you'll think of the old folks at home... #

Well? What do you think of my netball team?

(All cheer)

(Woman sings) # I gaze into the distance

# To see the hills of home

# And then I start to wonder why ever did I roam?

# From friends I left behind me, in Alice Springs to roam

# My rambling days are over, and I'm going home

# To those far-distant ranges, valleys and plains

# Mother nature's calling me back home again

# There's 50 miles before me, 900 miles behind

# And this old Ghan is rocking me back home on time

# When loneliness and sorrow and trouble comes my way

# Friends, I have so many, to help me any day

# When sickness overtakes me, I won't be all alone

# My dear old folks are waiting to welcome me home... #

Want to hear spooky story?

First, a tour.

Charleville was once a great western town,

and people owned vast cattle and sheep stations.

Land sold only for one cent an acre.

Now it's gone up to $2 an acre.

Old curios, antiques, old typewriters,

old lamps, old telephones.

Mr Hobson. (Man speaks Chinese)

A train driver used to live here alone,

a well-known chap in these parts, but strange - he never spoke.

EERIE MUSIC

He was the main driver in this region for 50 years,

then, one day, while in his 80s, he went missing.

There was a search party up and down the river here.

Something had happened in his past, something haunted him.

Bedevilled, he was - he couldn't live with it anymore.

They found him hanging from...that!

Choo, choo, choo - they hear him, but they can't see him.

Wait, there is someone - an old alcoholic called Mickey.

Go and see him. He knows the train story.

He might be in the horrors by now, but he can yarn, old Mickey.

I...I have a friend.

Visits me here at night.

She's a ghost...

but I call it a spirit.

Who is she?

I don't want to tell who it is.

Well, it's not the little girl.

EERIE MUSIC

The little...

These spirits...

Perhaps they do try to tell us something.

I try to work it out.

I believe in these things.

I also believe in the hovercrafts.

I mean, the UFOs.

They've been in our family for years.

Ronnie... (Coughs) I'm going to get you.

BUZZING

RAINBIRD SINGS

Don't... Don't...

Hey, look!

MAGICAL MUSIC

Dad!

Quick! Quick! Ah, what do they want?

Dad! Dad!

Dad, come and have a look at the lights!

Hey! Dad! Hurry up!

(Murmurs angrily) Dad!

Come on!

These kids need a good hand.

What?

(Sighs)

Nothing.

Ah, those kids.

Where? There!

WOMAN: When we lived out here, strange things would happen.

Sometimes we'd see these things in the sky.

Our old people would call them min min lights.

Those old Murri people, they never knew what they were.

And neither did we. They just used to come.

The min min lights, they just used to come.

The wok! The wok! Don't forget the wok!

Then there was this little girl who had, like this...

But first, let me tell you about my husband.

Once, when he was coming home from a hunt...

(Hums)

THUNDER RUMBLES

EERIE MUSIC

(Hums)

WIND WHISTLES

(Exclaims)

DRAMATIC MUSIC

MUSIC INTENSIFIES

MUSIC STOPS

Mmm!

Ow!

Jeez, Jack, you finished early.

Not to worry, coz, plenty of time.

METALLIC SCRAPING

(Sighs)

(Laughs)

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

Stompie...

What is it? Hmm?

I don't know.

GHOSTLY WHOOSH

DOG BARKS

(Children laugh) Oi!

GHOSTLY WHOOSH

Hmm.

KOOKABURRAS LAUGH

Great job, Jack. Now, fix it!

Yep. Yeah, brother.

I was just about to do it now.

It's getting a bit late.

(Cockatoo squawks)

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

DOG BARKS

Uh.

GHOSTLY WHOOSH

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

RUMBLING

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

BANG!

BANG!

(Child murmurs in ghostly voice)

Did you hear that?

What?

No. Here, here.

Nah.

EERIE MUSIC

Don't do that.

Get. Get. Get.

That'll keep the heat in, Maudie.

Oh, well, you can see the girls and I have been busy.

This is a wild pig being cooked underground.

We've already marinated it overnight

in juniper berries, wine and fresh herbs.

Herbs of this area.

We've stuffed the pig with bush onions

and we'll serve it with sweet potatoes and yam.

But while we're waiting on it, we've got the entree happening.

This is a yabby.

It's very much like a freshwater prawn or shrimp.

The flavour, though, is a lot stronger.

We're tossing them around here in some canola oil,

a pinch of chilli and garlic.

(Speaks Aboriginal language)

Oh, sorry. Of course - thyme.

Hey! Hey! Come here! Over here!

(Speaks Aboriginal language)

She's telling them that she can't cook it now,

but we'll take it home and she'll make it into a snake terrine,

served with a walnut vinaigrette.

Just a common hollandaise, actually.

(Speaks Aboriginal language)

OK.

(Speaks Aboriginal language) OK.

OK. You don't have to carry on.

Bloody Queen Victoria of bush cuisine.

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS LOUDLY

ALL: 'Bye!

Hey!

Oh, yeah! Fireflies!

What you got there, sis? Oh, carton of beer.

(Baby cries)

Oh! Oh, baby!

(Baby cries)

Darling! WOMAN: Oh, bubby.

Baby, baby.

Oh!

Oh, come on, baby. We've got you.

SNORING

Podge, for the last time, go to bed.

I took the firecrackers off Ronnie because he's a very dangerous boy.

Oh, is he just? Hmm?

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

EERIE HIGH-PITCHED TONE

OK. Come on.

No! I'm not sleeping with those crackers...

Give me them!

Give me 'em. What are you doing?

Give me that! Put it out! Put that lighter out!

Oh, Jesus!

FIRECRACKERS EXPLODE

That's right - you bet on that horse.

No, I didn't.

I know that horse came home.

Ah, that woman... (Hiccups) is a horse.

(Moans)

Where's my money?

(Mumbles)

(Sobs)

RATTLING

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

Choo, choo, choo, choo.

They hear it, but they can't see it.

It was said something haunted him - bedevilled, he was.

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

RUMBLING

Wake up! Stompie, get up!

Stompie! Jack! Get up!

(Gasps)

LOUD ROAR OF TRAIN

Huh? (Breathes unevenly)

TAPPING

(Gasps)

A little blind girl,

she was killed on the tracks by that train driver.

Blind, she was blind.

Her and her family used to live here before we moved in.

Man, she used to drive me crazy when she'd come.

She's here! She's here!

(Women laugh)

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

URGENT, EERIE MUSIC

MAGICAL MUSIC

(People talk and laugh indistinctly)

(Woman laughs) MAN: I'm going to get you...

(Man talks indistinctly) (Woman laughs)

(Woman sings in Torres Strait Islander language)

Ow!

Yes! (Laughs)

(Both laugh)

Ooh! Quick, let's go. Come on, come on.

BELL RINGS

Go on! What's going on?

Welcome to what will be Dimitri's Casino Marina!

It's still here! What's the delay?

Why's it still there! Tell me.

It's coming down. Believe me, guys, it's coming down.

Sure, sure, sure.

Hey, Athens wasn't built in a day, hey, Georgie?

Oh, I can't stand it.

Friends of my son, in fact.

Kids, eh, Georgie? Sure, sure, sure.

Remember when we were kids, Georgie?

Mum... What is there?

Why does she blow the smoke?

Whose smoke?

Ah, Emelda.

Why is Emelda always sad?

No. It's not for you to know.

Well, perhaps you could know.

Let me tell you about Emelda.

You know she's not from around here. She's from the Torres Strait Islands.

Her people are still quite traditional in their ways,

especially concerning things like marriage.

Emelda had a son.

Beba.

He was her only child.

She was never the same after he died.

It's just a bit of a logjam... Doesn't matter. We trust you.

The alderman I donated to... Doesn't matter.

..well, he just forgot - you know what council's like.

The alderman has let me down.

We catered for his daughter's 21st...

No. Big delays here.

Look, the development and building applications will be approved

and this'll be ruined, and there'll be nothing here.

Yes, but delays. Big delays. What was that?!

Who was that?

Is that the latest model? Call me back.

I asked you if you still had anyone living there, Dimitri.

(Laughs) I can see how you would... What...what's this, Dimitri?

Er, 24 hours and they're out of here - 24 hours, tops!

You had trouble here a while back - yeah, I remember.

It was in the paper. See? Look!

What? What trouble?

Guys, I can explain the whole situation.

No shit, Dimitri. Let's go.

OK, OK, OK.

There were these two kids from up north, from the Islands, I think.

Beba was this Islander dude, and Minnie, this hippie chick.

Guys, we're going 12 years back.

These kids, they were in a bad way.

They needed work, so I...put 'em on.

Oh, you are so nice, Dimitri.

Nice? I'm nice. Yeah, he's a real nice bastard.

It was about marriage.

The whole clan were down on them. They had to get the hell out.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

And then the mother, Emelda, came looking for them.

Found 'em down here. Jeez, what a fuss she caused.

I want to see the contract, Dimitri.

And then, after Emelda moved in with them,

that's when things got really strange.

Dimitri, we're not interested in your story now,

because you always are very...

LIGHT MUSIC

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Aah! Aah!

It was 12 years back?

Shit! I would've only been two years old.

Don't swear.

Yes, you were only a baby.

Give you the rest tomorrow.

GENTLE MUSIC

MAGICAL MUSIC

Well, they weren't happy.

Minnie...Minnie would act crazy...

and get him all worked up.

Then you'd hear them start.

(People argue indistinctly)

(Woman laughs)

But...why were they like that, Ma?

Emelda knows.

That's why she's so sad.

Mm-hm.

Aah! Aah! Aah!

Get up, get up! Jesus! Jesus!

Get up! CAR DOOR SLAMS

MAN: I'll just go and see this guy. Get up! Get up!

Get up! Get up! Get up!

Aah! You make me sick.

How are you? How's your beautiful Voula?

I hear your kid's doing well at high school, Dimitri.

Ha ha! Don't know him! Never seen...ah!

Never seen him before in my life. Dimitri, my man.

I want to thank you for looking after my aunty.

She'll never want to leave this place,

and it's because of you.

You are so kind.

I love youse wog people, do you hear me?

Aunty Emelda! (Man laughs)

It's all part of a traditional squatter's farewell ceremony.

Er, tomorrow, guys. Tomorrow's the day, eh? Yassous! Ha!

You owe me rent!

LAUGHTER, CHATTERING

LAUGHTER, NOISY CHATTER

(Laughs)

INDISTINCT SINGING, LAUGHTER

(Laughs)

(People sing and clap)

Ah, here, Emelda. You have that.

It'll help you sleep - works for me.

(People sing)

I'll be back! I'll be back! Yes, I'll come back.

I'll be back. I'll be back.

Not alone. I'm not alone.

I'm not alone.

I'm not alone. (Knocks at door)

I'm not alone.

I'm not alone. (Knocks loudly on door)

If you'd only listen to me.

If you'd only listen to me.

No! I'm not having an affair with Trotsky.

EERIE MUSIC

I know you think I am...

but I'm not.

What about you?

Who are you seeing?

Don't deny it.

I've seen you with her.

What number is she?

(Inhales sharply)

(People sing in foreign language)

Hey, Dimitri!

Hey, boy. You've been watching me.

I know. I've seen you watching me, boy.

It's OK, you know, because...

I used to have a boy, a son.

Beba.

Beba.

Be-ba-a.

(Sings song in Torres Strait Islander language)

(Song continues)

MAN: Whoo! (Sings)

I'll be back. I'll be back.

(All continue singing)

LYRICAL MUSIC

Voula! (Yells in Greek)

(Emelda sings)

(Chokes)

FRANTIC MUSIC

VOULA: Leave me out of this! DIMITRI: Oh, great! That's great!

Make me look the fool!

He's a nutcase over there!

(Continues yelling)

And the rest of them, they're all at the party!

Looks like I've been cut out of the party!

(Man laughs uproariously)

MAN: I'm not having an affair with Trotsky.

EMELDA: Hey, boy... I know you think I am...

..you've been watching me.

..but I'm not.

What number is she?

I know. I've seen you watching me, boy.

If you'd only listen to me.

(People play drums and sing)

MAN: Keep going. Keep going!

(Mumbles sleepily)

(Baby cries)

VOULA: We didn't know what to do about all the bloody fighting

with Beba and Minnie.

Dimitri...

Your father was going to sack them the next day.

KNOCK AT DOOR

EMELDA: Dimitri, quick, quick. Come to help.

Quick, Dimitri.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

MUSIC INTENSIFIES

SILENCE

FOREBODING MUSIC

Oh, mad, man! Cool!

(Moans) Watch it, watch it. You'll be right.

You'll be right. Come on. Let's go.

(Moans)

(Wails)

(Coughs)

(Wails) Come on.

Get in.

CHILD: Aunty! Aunty!

(Wails and bangs on door)

You'll be right. Let's go.

Come on, come on.

You'll be right.

(Whistles)

(Hums)

(Speaks Greek)

(Speaks Greek)

(Tuts)

(Sighs)

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

(Whispers) Adios.

BELL RINGS

(Sighs)

OMINOUS MUSIC

MUSIC INTENSIFIES

SILENCE

BELL RINGS

DRAMATIC MUSIC

MUSIC INTENSIFIES

Beba... Minnie...

MUSIC REACHES CRESCENDO

SILENCE

CRASH!

CRASH!

I'll just go and check that noise out.

Yes, that's a good idea, darling.

Shh! You'll wake the bloody kid.

The bloody kid's 14, darling.

I know he's bloody 14.

I KNOW that.

(Mumbles)

DRAMATIC MUSIC

(Murmurs)

CRASH!

BELL RINGS

CRASH!

FOREBODING MUSIC

Dimitri! Dimitri!

(Yells) Dimitri, where are you?

Dimitri!

BELL RINGS

Dimitri!

Dimitri!

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC Conos...

BELL RINGS

(Grunts)

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Come on! Come on! Hurry!

TYRES SQUEAL

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

SILENCE

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

George! What do you want? What do you want?

Where are you? I'm up in the mill.

What are you doing up there? I'm getting some pen and paper.

Look, come and meet the film people. I can't get down.

Why can't you get down?

I've got no ladder. I've got no ladder.