(CRICKETS CHIRP)
MAN: (WHISPERS) Clare.
(SPEAKS GAELIC)
Clare.
(WOMAN SINGS IN GAELIC)
(BUSHES RUSTLE)
Don't use so much glaze - you'll burn the meat.
Do you want to poison our guests?
Stand up straight, ya girl!
And you, ya fat Miss Molly -
your shoes look like they're dipped in shit!
Eyes front!
I wanna see my face in those!
If you cunts are not back here tonight
lookin' like the belle of the fuckin' ball,
I'll make you wish you were never born, understood?
SOLDIERS: Yes, Sergeant!
Company, shoulder arms!
Fall out!
They'll be like nuns in church, Lieutenant. You have my word.
Polish your boots and brush your coat.
You look like shite yourself.
Yes, sir!
It's near perfect.
- Company, shoulder arms! - (HORSE WHINNIES)
Company, general salute!
Present arms!
Shoulder arms!
(MEN CHATTER)
We are honoured to welcome Captain Goodwin to our post.
We trust your visit here will be a fruitful one, Captain.
To start the evening off, I'd like to call on our little nightingale
to sing a good old British love song for all us homesick lads.
(APPLAUSE, RAUCOUS LAUGHTER)
(WOLF WHISTLING, LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE STOPS)
(PLAYS INTRO)
♪ As I went walking one morning in May
♪ I met a young couple so fondly did stray
♪ And one was a young maid so sweet and so fair
♪ And the other was a soldier and a brave grenadier
♪ And they kissed so sweet and comforting
♪ As they clung to each other
♪ They went arm in arm along the road
♪ Like sister and brother
♪ They went arm in arm along the road
♪ Till they came to a stream
♪ And they both sat down together, love
♪ To hear the nightingale sing. ♪
(FIRE CRACKLES, MEN TALK AND LAUGH)
(MAN LAUGHS SUGGESTIVELY)
- Fuckin' hell! - (LAUGHTER)
- MAN: She likes you, Wallace! - Keep it down!
May I, sir?
What's happened to his lordship?
Jago's taken him to look at the sentries.
Then he's off to bed.
- Doesn't drink. - Doesn't drink?!
I bet he likes it up the windward passage, that one.
Bloody sodomite.
Go and find his nibs, will you? Make sure he's happy.
I'm off to Bedfordshire myself.
Got a full day of arse-kissing tomorrow.
Close the door.
Come here.
I can't do that, sir.
(SCOFFS) It's alright.
(COINS CLINK)
For your singing.
And this one...
..I got in Hobart especially for you.
You'll insult me if you don't take it.
Sing a song.
Just for me.
♪ As I went a-walkin'... ♪
Oh, not that one.
The one for me.
♪ I wish my love was a butterfly
♪ I'd light on my love's breast
♪ Or if I was a blue cuckoo
♪ I'd sing my love to rest
♪ Or if I was a blackbird
♪ I'd sing till the daylight clear
♪ I'd sit and sing
♪ For you, my love
♪ For I have loved you dear. ♪
God, you're beautiful.
Every man in that room wanted you tonight.
Sit on my lap.
Sir, my letter of recommendation.
Sir, it's due three months ago now.
I'll send it when I'm ready.
I'm meant to be in the care of my husband now, sir.
It's the law.
"It's the law," cried the thief.
Didn't I rescue you from that hellhole of a prison?
They warned me you'd be too much trouble. I took you on anyway.
You'd still be there if it weren't for me.
I'm very grateful for that, sir.
I let you marry the Irishman, got you your own hut.
Not good enough for her highness?
I'm very grateful to you, sir.
I even got you your own horse.
No other convict in the district has got their own horse.
Aidan worked for that horse for three years, sir.
He paid for it himself.
Ungrateful!
Oh, here it comes. This is the part where she cries.
I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry.
I decide when you leave and when you stay.
Stop crying.
(CLARE WHIMPERS)
You're doing this deliberately, with the captain here.
- No, sir, I'm not. - Yes, you are.
You're doing it deliberately to get at me.
I shouldn't have said nothing, sir.
I'm so sorry. I'll leave you be.
Come here!
Please don't, sir!
I need to get my baby.
Please don't. No!
(CLARE SOBS)
HAWKINS: Shut it.
(SCREAMS)
(HAWKINS PANTS)
(BIRDSONG)
(GUNSHOT)
(MEN LAUGH)
Fix your sleeve.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Lieutenant.
Captain. Out you go, miss.
Your soldiers have been firing off their guns for no reason.
They do that, sir, to ward off the blacks.
They were rotten drunk
and firing at the night sky, Lieutenant.
(BABY WAILS)
Finally!
Some of us are living the high life
while I take care of their screaming babies!
And you can take that dress off. You're a convict, not royalty.
I'm taking it off now, damn you!
I beg your pardon?
You can start on the boilers before dawn.
(BABY CRIES)
- (HAMMERING) - Aidan.
Aidan!
Can we go, love?
And the little bird was so frightened.
She thought she was going to die
out there in the forest, all alone.
She called out in her sweet baby voice
to see if her ma could hear her.
Her voice was so pure,
it carried for miles through the trees.
And suddenly, out of nowhere...
..her ma came flying down
and scooped her up in her breast.
And the little baby bird chirped with delight.
She held on tight through the trees
till they came to a beautiful place
where she and her ma and da
could all live happily together.
The sun shone brightly
and the air was clear.
She was home.
She was free.
And what did he say?
He'll send it when he's ready.
Christ's sake! I'm demanding it first thing in the morning.
No, you can't order him to do anything. It won't work.
He owes you your ticket, Clare.
You've served your time and then some.
- What's that mark? - What?
- There's another on your neck. - I fell.
(SPEAKS GAELIC)
Alright?
Alright, me missus?
(RAVENS CAW)
(MEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
(MEN LAUGH AND CHATTER)
MAN: What are you made of? Come on!
(SLURS) I can't, Sergeant.
Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!
Drink! Drink! Drink!
Don't waste it, son!
(LAUGHTER)
Salutations, Lieutenant. You've done well.
Not long now, we'll be calling you Captain.
What a bloody rigmarole.
Won't be bending over for the likes of him when I'm captain.
(CLARE GASPS)
What? Give me a slice, sir!
I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've had too much.
(MEN LAUGH)
You've had five soldiers flogged and in the clink already, Sergeant.
Do you want the rest of them in there?
Get to bed, you tosspots!
Don't drain the dregs. Just get!
(SOLDIERS WHOOP, SHOUT)
(SOLDIERS SING DRUNKENLY)
Have you been drinking?
- I'm just gonna talk to him. - No!
(DRUNKEN LAUGHTER)
Aidan, no. No.
Let her go.
- Beg yours? - I asked you nice this morning.
Now I'm tellin' you. Let her go.
Hey, hey, hey. Watch your mouth.
Let him speak.
She's been askin' for three months.
Every week, you say you're gonna send the letter
and every week you don't.
Why won't you let her go?
Aidan, please. Aidan!
She's paid her dues and so have I.
Is that right?
She's my wife.
And she's my property so I'll do what I want with her.
(RUSE SNIGGERS)
Please, love.
Just walk away now.
- No! - (GRUNTS)
(HAWKINS GASPS IN PAIN)
In your office, Lieutenant.
(TREMBLES)
What the hell were you thinking, fighting an officer?
Do you want to ruin us?
He's a troublemaker, sir - he and his wife.
And what is she to you?
Nothing, Captain.
Do you think I'm an idiot?
No.
The Lieutenant Governor finds moral indiscretion in his officers abhorrent.
I agree.
I don't tolerate any indiscretions.
I've spent enough time here now,
noted your conduct and that of your soldiers.
I'm afraid I can't recommend you for the captaincy up north.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
But I was told by the Lieutenant Colonel himself
that he would put me forward to Major Bexley.
Pending my recommendation.
And I'm afraid I can't recommend you.
Sir...
..I took on this post with the promise it would be one year.
Three years later, I'm still here.
I've been handed the sorriest band of soldiers
that ever sullied the British Army
and still I've had consistent results.
I've civilised the land, got rid of the blacks, made it safe...
No-one owes you anything, Lieutenant!
There is no officer in this colony
who's put in more work than me,
no-one who knows it better.
If an officer can't even control the convict detritus that surrounds him,
how on earth could he command a bigger post up north?
I've a long trip back.
I'll travel north to Launceston, see Major Bexley myself
and apply for the position in person.
If you insist.
The post will be filled in four to five days, I'd say.
Four to five days?
Well, no other officer knows the colony better than you.
Why don't you take your nag and ride up?
It's nigh on impossible to get a horse up that way from here.
Then take some men and walk it.
Fuck!
FUCK!
We're headed up north to Launceston first thing -
through the interior.
- (SCOFFS) What? - Isn't that dangerous?
Yes, it's fucking dangerous, you fat-headed lobcock!
But we're not ready yet, sir.
I haven't handed things over to the corporal.
We don't have any supplies, no black tracker...
Then get us ready, Ruse.
Do something useful for once.
Drink up. We're paying a visit.
(SPEAKS GAELIC)
(BABY CRIES)
Shh, shh.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)
Shh.
Going somewhere?
We don't want no trouble.
That's just the way, isn't it?
You don't want trouble, but sometimes trouble wants you.
- We're very sorry. - Not you!
(BABY CRIES)
Him.
Apologise.
I'm sorry.
- No! - (BABY CRIES)
- CLARE: No! - (BABY SCREAMS)
Aidan! No!
(GRUNTING)
What, are you gonna shoot me now, you Irish cunt?
You're nothing but the shit on my shoe.
He's drunk, sir. He's very sorry for what he did. We both are.
She's a beauty, your wife.
- I've enjoyed her greatly. - (RUSE SNIGGERS)
Did she not tell you?
We've been fucking like mad since she pushed that brat out.
(WEEPS)
She loves it too.
Got the scratches on my back to prove it.
Don't listen to him, love.
She begged me for it. Says I'm the best she's ever had.
Get your hands off her!
You want to see how she likes it?
No! Aidan!
- (CLARE SCREAMS) - I'll fucking kill you!
- No! - (BABY WAILS)
(AIDAN ROARS)
- No! - (CLARE CRIES)
I'll fucking kill you!
- I'll fucking kill you! - No!
- Please, stop!
- No! - No!
- Please! - Alright, I'm sorry!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry, please!
- (CLARE SCREAMS) - No!
(ROARS)
- No! - (CLARE SOBS)
- No! - Stop!
No!
You fuckin' snake!
No!
(SPEAKS GAELIC)
(BABY WAILING)
(SHOUTS IN GAELIC)
Help me!
(GRUNTING)
No...
(BABY SCREAMING)
You've wanted to try it.
- (CLARE SOBS) - So try it.
CLARE: No!
No! My baby!
No! No!
No!
(GRUNTS)
No!
- (RUSE PANTS) - No!
(BABY WAILS)
- Shut it up. - No!
Shh, shh.
She won't shut up. Hey, shh, shh.
- Be quiet, be quiet. - Shut it up, will ya!
- CLARE: No! - (BABY CONTINUES CRYING)
No!
JAGO: Please, please, please, be quiet.
- No! No! My baby! - Shut up, please. Shut up!
Shh, shh. She won't shut up. Please, please, be quiet!
- Shut it up or I will! - No!
- (BABY SCREAMS) - No! No!
- Will you shut it up? - JAGO: Please, shut up! Shut up!
- Shut up! Shut up! - Do it now!
No!
- (THUD!) - (CRYING STOPS)
(RUSE PANTS)
You ruined it, Jago, ya dolt.
HAWKINS: We'll have to finish it.
JAGO: What do you mean?
Her... it.
No. I...I can't.
What are you made of? Finish it.
Finish it!
(GENTLE MUSIC)
(GASPS)
Oh!
(CLARE SCREAMS)
No!
(CROW CAWS)
WOMAN: What's wrong, love?
Oh, no, no!
(SOBS) Oh, dear.
You were meant to be here at sunup.
Where is he?
What have you done to the babe?
Where is the lieutenant?
Where is he?!
He left at dawn, with the sergeant and the young ensign.
To go where?
- I don't have to tell... - To go where?!
To Launceston.
To take up that new post, he said.
They were goin' overland.
(BREATHES RAGGEDLY)
Please... Clare, wait!
- Did your husband do this? - No, damn you, I told you!
Watch your mouth.
My husband is lying dead in a shack,
murdered by your officers.
You want me to take the word of a woman convict
over that of an officer?
This is my word.
This is my proof!
Are you going to help me or not?
I can write up a report, send it to Hobart.
Go to hell!
Don't go in there, Luddy. You don't need to see.
You coming with me? I'm going after them.
I've only just got my ticket myself.
They'll put me back where I come from -
away from Luddy.
I can't.
Aidan would have died for you.
Are you gonna leave him in a cold, dark grave
while his murderers are free to do as they please?
- He was my friend too, Clare. - Clare...
- And we loved the little one. - Please.
I want you to bury them under that tree.
Put her in his arms so she's safe.
- Clare, what are you doing? - Say a prayer. Bless them for me.
- Clare, you can't just... - Please, Clare.
Clare, wait!
- LUDDY: Don't go, love! - Stop!
Stop! Whoa, whoa.
What in Christ's name are you doing?
You don't even know where you're going!
- I'll follow the paths. - What are you talking about?
It's murderous out there. You'll die in a day!
Should I stay home and do needlework?
It's a fucking wilderness.
At least take a guide, for God's sake.
There's a guide that I work with.
He's smart and knows the land.
- Those black ones, they know the way... - I'm not travelling with a black!
End up in a pot of someone's dinner.
What are you trying to do to me?
Clare, please. I can't let you go out there on your own.
I couldn't live with myself.
(DOGS BARK)
Boy!
Fuck off!
Billy.
Billy!
I've got a job for you.
Them soldiers come here already.
I told 'em to bugger off.
Uncle Charlie go with 'em instead.
I'm not helping you white bastards no more.
- You never pay. - The job's for me.
I'm not workin' for no bloody white woman!
I'll give you two shilling - one now and one
when you get me to the soldiers that came this morning.
You don't have two shillin'.
I'll cash this jewellery for the rest.
If you kill me before the job's done,
you won't find anyone who'll take these for coin.
So don't even think about it.
I seen you
at the boss bastard's house.
Where's your baby?
I don't have no baby.
- What happened to your face? - Do you want the job or not?
My husband's travelling with those men.
You get me to my husband, then take us both to Launceston.
Alone - no soldiers.
I don't want no trouble.
- For God's sake, boy! - Wait, wait.
You give me one shilling now. We go tomorrow.
You take me now or I'll find someone who will.
You're not taking that horse with you.
- Too slow. - She's coming with us.
- Then I'm taking the dogs. - No dogs!
Bloody dangerous, riding with that.
- Blow your head off. - You need to move.
Move, boy!
Wait, will ya! Wait!
Go the wrong way, if you want.
Them soldiers went this way.
What's with that face, ensign?
Sorry, Lieutenant?
You've been looking like a scared little girl all day.
- Drop it. - Yes, sir.
RUSE: Move, ya cunts!
Good choice, Ruse - a skeleton, a simpleton and a midget.
- Well done. - I had no choice, sir.
All the other convicts are off finishing the bridge.
- We'd be faster without 'em. - All respect, sir.
I can shine your boots, make a fire, fetch your water,
and run faster and work harder than them old farts.
It appears the midget has some balls, Lieutenant.
(BABY CRIES)
(GUNSHOT)
Did I get them? Did you see?
- That's my black. - What do you mean, yours?
He's my guide, you fool!
Are you soft in the head?
You're travelling alone with that?
I've lost him now, thanks to you.
Them savages lit that fire.
They killed our sheep.
They'd have killed the wife and young 'uns too
if we didn't come home early.
Oh, are you mad, woman?
You cannot go out there on your own!
There's a war on, you know.
Aye, well, your funeral!
(FLIES BUZZ)
- (RUSTLING) - Jesus Christ almighty!
Don't sneak up on me like that.
What you gonna do? Shoot me or hang me?
Our people cleared that land
so we could hunt, get food.
Be quiet, boy.
Then you white devils come put sheeps on it.
Told us to get off our land.
Now we got no food. You kill us.
I heard enough.
(SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
BILLY: Where's the food?
I'm starvin'.
It must have fallen off.
- What are you doing? - I'm getting us food.
What? Stealin' it?
Boy!
Yes, I'm stealin' it!
You go anywhere near that house and I'll leave you here.
How are we gonna eat?
Maybe we can eat that bloody horse.
Why are you black, boy?
You sick?
(RUSE SNIGGERS)
Leave him be, Sergeant.
Charlie's a good boy. Aren't you, Charlie?
Three more days till we're up north?
Watch out - he'll get you in your sleep.
They eat little ones like you.
Ahh!
(RUSE LAUGHS)
Leave him alone. He's just a boy.
Says he, the great protector of children.
What'd you say?
Just makin' light, sir. Just makin' light.
What's wrong, ensign?
Just thinkin' of what happened, sir.
What we did.
What?
Some Irish convict scum trying to kill an officer.
He went for me with his musket.
The world will thank us for it.
The girl didn't die, sir.
- I'm sure of it. - So?
Even if she didn't, who's gonna do anything about it?
For all anyone knows,
her husband killed the baby in a rage.
Then he set upon her, so she shot him.
Don't worry yourself, lad.
But we could hang for it, sir.
This is the last time you'll mention it, ensign,
to anyone.
You were never there. You don't know what happened.
And when I look at your stupid face from this point on,
I wanna see a permanent fucking smile.
Alright?
RUSE: Look on the bright side, sir.
Two months in Van Diemen's Land
and you're already a baby-killer.
Hey.
Hey!
(SHOUTS) Hey!
If either of you do anything to jeopardise this post for me,
I swear I'll leave you in the fucking bush to rot!
(URINATES)
(BABY WAILS)
(ANIMAL SCREECHING)
(AIDAN MURMURS IN GAELIC)
(BABY CRIES)
- (DEVIL SNARLS) - (BABY CRIES)
- Shut it up or I will! - (GASPS)
(DEVIL SNARLS)
(RAIN PATTERS)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(GRUNTS WITH EFFORT)
Come on, sweetheart.
That's the way.
(GRUNTS)
They went that way - five of them.
- Five? - And a little one. A kid.
Plus Uncle Charlie, them seven.
They go fast. Hardly no stop.
How long till we reach them?
Maybe catch 'em up tomorrow. I don't know.
Well, can't we go a quicker way?
That way quicker way - catch 'em up today.
But much more harder, more bush, more...
(GASPS) Get them off!
- (BILLY LAUGHS) - Get them off!
That's pipina. They love you, them ones.
- Don't touch me. - Help me!
Ah, they're big and fat. They're full of themselves.
(CLARE GROANS)
(BIRD CHIRPS)
(KNOCKING, CLINKING)
Boy?
(CHAINS CLINK)
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Where are you goin'? - My husband's travelling ahead.
There's only army men through here.
- Your husband a soldier, is he? - (GIGGLES)
I need to get to my husband.
So you said.
Where's your papers?
I'm a free married woman.
What sort of a husband
lets a woman travel out here on her own?
Me and my mate, we're partial to a bit of Irish cunny.
You stay here a while, there'll be a decent coin in it for ya.
I wouldn't touch you if my life depended on it.
Then show me your papers, you Irish cunt.
When my husband finds out what you said...
Hey!
Every time something bad happens, you're nowhere to be found.
I'm paying you to protect me!
No, you're not.
I'm showing you the way.
You protect yourself.
You're a bloody coward.
I'm not a coward.
Those ones who see a blackfella, they shoot a blackfella.
Bit hard for a dead man to show you the fuckin' way.
You take 'em, midget.
I gotta piss.
(URINATES)
(DISTANT VOICES)
(WOMAN CALLS IN LANGUAGE)
(CHILD SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
- (GASPS) - Look at you.
(WAILS)
I've never seen one like you before.
- (CHILD SCREAMS) - I'm not gonna hurt ya.
Look what I found!
I was takin' a piss and she was right there.
What in the hell are you doing, bringing one here?
Where there's one, there's ten, Sergeant!
She was with a bunch of dead ones.
She was just cryin', like this. I swear they were all dead.
This was the only live one.
I just wanna try one, sir. Just once.
- No. - You've swived them before.
- Why can't I? - Don't be disgusting.
HAWKINS: Pack up!
(WOMAN WHIMPERS)
- Get rid of her. - (WOMAN SCREAMS)
I done plenty of things for you, sir!
This is the least you could do for me.
I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I-I was just...
You can swive her first, sir. I don't mind.
She's a beauty. Look at her, sir.
This was the only live one.
It's alright. It's alright.
Shh-shh-shh.
Shh-shh, shh-shh.
Tie her up to the cart.
Any problems...
..that's the end of it.
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
Shut it!
- They close. - How close?
Get to 'em today if the river not too high.
Hear that river?
(WATER RUSHES)
- Close. - Please can we hurry?
Please.
- What are you doing? - River too high.
Get to 'em another day.
- You said we would make it. - I'm not the boss!
- River the boss. - Jesus Mary!
What are you doing?
We're not going across.
- We're going across. - No!
River too high, too fast.
No!
Come on, Becky. Hyah, hyah!
Hyah, hyah, hyah!
(COUGHS HOARSELY)
Hey!
We need to eat.
(FLIES BUZZ)
(SNIFFS)
- (RAPID KNOCKING) - MAN: Hey!
You fuckin' little black devil!
Come back here!
Come here!
Plenty of food out here I could get.
But I need time. I can make spear to hunt.
Why don't you go and do it now, then? Stop whinging about it.
You bloody white people.
Take me from my family.
Say, "You'll be like white boy now.
"You don't hunt, don't do ceremony.
"That's bad way. You do it whitefella way."
Whitefella way is shit way.
- Now I got nothing. - Poor you.
No! Not poor me. Bastard England.
You think you're the only one with problems?
I've looked after myself since I was a kid.
Never knew my father.
My mother worked herself to an early grave.
I lived on the streets, stole what I could to survive.
And now I'm here at the arse end of the world with you.
Welcome to the world, boy.
Full of misery from top to bottom.
I'm not your boy.
I'm Mangana - the blackbird.
I'm Letteremairrener man.
I'm not "God save the King" like them white bastards sing.
I'm... (SINGS IN LANGUAGE)
Stop!
Stop it!
Sounds bloody awful.
My brothers, my father, my uncles -
all them dead.
Them whitefella shot 'em all in front of me when I was a kid.
My mother, my aunties -
all them run away.
Never seen 'em again.
Them whitefella take me far from my family,
chain me, beat me.
Say, "You be like white boy now."
I don't never wanna be like white boy.
Not now, not ever.
That big boss you following - he's the worst one.
He make me take him to blackfella,
then he shoot the blackfella.
I'm not working for no bloody whitefella no more.
I'm gonna go up north.
I'm gonna find my mother, my aunties.
Go back home to my country
so you can't hurt me no more.
What do you mean, me?
I didn't hurt your family. I didn't do anything.
You England.
I'm not England. I'm Ireland.
- You bloody England! - I'm Ireland!
(SPEAKS GAELIC)
- You Ireland? - Yes, I'm Ireland, you fool.
I feckin' hate the English.
I'm Ireland.
Bloody white people.
(SINGS IN GAELIC)
(SHOUTS IN LANGUAGE)
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
How was it?
All yours.
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
Are you hurtin' her?
- What's your name, lad? - Eddie. Sir.
Where are your parents, Eddie?
Both dead, sir.
I can look after myself.
Can you read or write, Eddie?
No, sir.
I'll teach you how to write your name.
(SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
(CRIES QUIETLY)
AIDAN: Clare.
Look at you.
What are you doin' here?
All the way out here.
Fuckin' hell.
I found something here!
- MAN: Where are ya? - Here!
- We see the fire! - We're comin' over.
You fuckin' li...
MAN: Cooper? Cooper!
- Where are ya? Hey! - Hurry.
(ANIMAL SCREECHES)
(METALLIC SCRAPING)
Someone's gotta get us tucker.
Food.
Remember food?
If I was gonna kill ya, I would've done it by now.
Left you in the river or with them devils last night.
Can you fix it?
Please? It's broken.
Not broken.
Just got wet when you threw it in the river.
Where did you get that?
Stole it from the hut where that bastard one shoot at me.
- What? - I'm smart.
You white ones go fast, fast, fast - get nowhere.
I go slow, get everything done.
I'm blackbird.
Just fix it. We need to get going.
Hurry up.
(SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
(MAN SCREAMS)
(WARRIORS SHOUT)
(MOANS)
- Lowanna! - Go, boy!
(SOBS)
Lowanna!
- All dead, were they? - Where's Jago?
Forget him. He's done for.
(BREATHES RAGGEDLY)
(SCREAMS IN PAIN)
(SCREAMS)
Them tracks here - older ones.
But these ones fresh.
- What? I don't under... - Shh!
Coming back this way.
Going over there.
That big fella, the soldier one.
Walk like this.
He went that way.
- When? - Very close.
He's hurt. There's blood.
(GRUNTS WITH EFFORT)
(JAGO WHIMPERS)
Hello?
Oh, no, no.
(SCREAMS IN FRUSTRATION)
What are you doing?
I just wanted him to stop is all.
If that one's your husband, you need another husband.
How do we get to him?
I don't want no trouble.
Please help me.
You know what it's like to have a whitefella
take everything you have, don't you?
They stole something from me
and I need to get it back.
You got the rum, lad.
It's all I could get, sir.
It was the best thing you could have got.
At least we can get drunk tonight.
You did better than the sergeant. He picked up bugger all.
No tears, now.
- Be a man. - I'm not cryin', sir.
Tears are for girls.
You know how to work a pistol?
No, sir.
Would you like to learn?
Yes, sir.
Come and walk up front.
You can have some rum too, once we stop.
Sergeant.
You walk back.
- Keep a lookout at the rear. - Yes, sir.
That way, if they attack again, you'll be the first to go.
How long now, boy? Get there tomorrow?
Maybe, boss. Maybe day after.
I'll give you big reward if you get us there by tomorrow, boy.
Go get Becky and wait for me there.
Go!
(JAGO PANTS)
I surrender!
You surrender?
Oh! (SCREAMS)
You surrender?!
I...I didn't mean to kill the babe.
I just wanted it to be quiet.
Please. Please!
(JAGO SCREAMS)
Please, I...
I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please! I didn't mean it!
(CLICK!)
No!
(CLARE SCREAMS)
Die!
(JAGO WHEEZES)
Mother...
(CLARE SOBS)
(BIRDSONG)
(WINGS FLUTTER)
(HARNESS CLINKS)
Boy. Boy!
Boy.
Please, just...
Billy, please.
Don't leave.
I'll give you everything I got.
Becky's yours. Do you know how much she's worth?
Ten whole pounds!
- I'll sell her for you in Launceston. - Don't want her.
If you go back that way, you won't last five hours before
some whitefella tries to blow your head off.
(TEARFULLY) Billy, please.
I can't be out here on my own.
What did he do to you to make you do that to him?
You're not lookin' for your husband, are you?
You don't have a baby no more.
Alright?
This way.
Up there?
Not here?
Too many blackfella that way.
More fight, get killed.
No good.
This looks steep.
Blackfella chasing you now
'cause you killed that woman.
Blackfella not go up mountain way.
Safer way. Quick way too.
(BIRDS CALL)
BILLY: Bad spirits here. Very bad.
(METAL CLINKING)
- Quickly. - MAN: Oi.
- (CHAINS CLINK) - Stop!
Stop!
Oi!
Come back here, you bitch!
When I find you...
..I'll not baulk to put a shot in your brain!
You and your black monkey!
Fuckin' animals!
Big, big fight here.
This is where the big fella got the spear.
Before you finished him.
Them soldiers shot a blackfella.
His family carry him away.
It was a woman.
You sure you wanna follow him? Them mad devils.
I came here to do something and I'm gonna do it.
You coming?
Boy?
You sure this is the best way?
Yes, best way.
I need to get to Launceston tomorrow.
Very important.
Do you understand?
- Answer him, boy! - HAWKINS: Shh.
Do you understand?
Charlie will get you there tomorrow to meet the big boss.
You'll be happy.
- Alright. - Getting dark.
Stop now. Up early.
BILLY: What are they doing?
- Is that a shortcut? - No.
No-one go up that way, not even blackfella.
She won't get through there. Too steep.
We go long way around, still get to 'em tomorrow.
It's getting dark. We camp around here.
I'll get some food. You wait here with her.
(TWIG SNAPS)
Billy!
BILLY: Over here!
Here. Tomorrow, wallaby.
Tonight, Ioiti.
Eat.
You need to wash them clothes.
- Get the blood out. - I'm alright.
What's your name again?
Clare.
You Ireland?
Yes.
I'm Ireland.
Ireland far away.
Charlie's your uncle?
Not like you say.
Charlie from a different family.
Plangermairreenner man.
He help me do ceremony,
help me live our way.
Blackfella way.
Charlie my family now.
You have more family here?
If I saw them white ones,
the ones that killed my family...
..I would have done what you did.
Don't worry, my love.
Don't worry about us.
I wanted to come tell you we're alright.
We're all alright.
We're all alright. We're all alright.
(ECHOING) We're all alright. We're all alright.
(MULTIPLE VOICES) We're all alright.
(DISTORTED VOICES) We're all alright.
We're alright.
We're all alright. We're all alright.
(VOICES MULTIPLY) We're all alright.
(SILENCE)
- (ROARS) We're all alright! - (CLARE SCREAMS)
We're all alright! We're all alright!
(ROARS) We're all alriiiii...
- Clare! Clare! - (CLARE GASPS)
My auntie made a paste.
Make milk dry up, pain go away.
I can make it.
We stay, I do smoke ceremony.
I don't want you puttin' your hocus pocus on me.
We're leaving.
(BLACK COCKATOO SCREECHES)
Ha!
Mangana!
That's my bird - the blackbird.
- That's me! - (BLACK COCKATOOS SCREECH)
You see that one? He's a strong spirit one.
He'll help you, show you the way.
(IMITATES BIRD CALL) Yahhh!
Yahh!
Yahh! Yahh!
Yahh!
(BILLY SINGS IN LANGUAGE)
(GASPS IN PAIN)
Got a good one.
Good little one.
Good one.
Good, good.
(CLARE SOBS)
Stop.
Stop, boy!
For Christ's sake, stop!
I haven't seen a path this whole day. Where are we?
It's very close now, boss.
Up this hill.
Here we are.
What?
You stay here.
Wait, where are you going?
You want all the land?
Here is the land.
Here.
Good view. You'll be a king up here.
You need to get me off this mountain
and into Launceston now.
Is long way from town here.
I'll come back later, see how you're doin'.
- Right, boss? - You fucking black prick!
Alright! Alright.
You've had your joke.
Boy? Boy!
I'll give you whatever you want.
I'll give you £20. You won't ever have to work again, boy!
I don't want your money.
And don't call me boy, you England bastard.
(GUNSHOT)
He...
He was makin' fun of ya.
You stupid fucking cunt head!
I don't know if you noticed, Ruse,
but we're in the middle of fucking nowhere!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry.
There was only one person who could have got us out of here
and it was that fucking black cunt!
(BREATHES SHALLOWLY)
(DEVIL GROWLS)
HAWKINS: (MUTTERS) Two days.
Two days to a captaincy or rot out here in this hellhole.
That's the situation, isn't it, Ruse?
You're our new boy, Sergeant.
You got rid of our last one so you're the new one.
You got one day to get us to Launceston. Alright?
I'll make you the sergeant now, Eddie.
This pistol's yours.
Do you remember how to use it?
Yes, sir.
Good.
And if this boy puts a foot out of place...
..you can shoot him.
No!
Charlie!
Charlie! (BILLY SOBS)
What did they do to you?
(BILLY SOBS)
HAWKINS: Where are we, boy?
Huh?
Nearly there.
I've got to start work in a day.
Get up.
- I don't... - You don't what?
You don't what?!
Please.
No, no...
What should we do, Eddie?
Kill him or let him live?
- Please... - Kill him?
Or let him live?
Please.
Kill him? Yes, no?
- No! Don't kill him! - (RUSE SCREAMS)
You owe your life to a child.
Don't you ever forget that.
(RUSE SOBS)
(SINGS AND TRILLS)
(SINGS SHARPLY)
I'll help you get them men.
They're close. Find 'em easy.
You go up there.
Follow round that mountain way.
They'll walk right to us.
We'll never get Becky round that ridge.
Yes, we will.
We should leave it.
You saw what they did to Charlie.
You gonna let them get away?
After what they did?
No time to be a bloody coward.
You don't know what you're talkin' about.
I'll be the first to put a shot in their heads myself.
Wait till they're close.
Not too high! They'll see ya.
He's seen ya!
You have to shoot! He's seen ya!
What are you doing? Shoot!
We need to get up there now!
Clare! Stop! Clare!
Clare!
I want this all to stop.
I wanna go home. I wanna go home.
I'll get you out of here, I promise.
- But we have to go now. - We have to get Becky.
- We need to go. - We can't just leave her!
- She's Aidan's horse. - Shh, shh.
Please. She's my husband's horse.
I don't have anything else from him.
You have to wait here.
No, don't leave me here. I'm goin' with you!
I'm not jokin'. I'm goin' on me own.
It's too dangerous.
I promise I'll come get you.
Here, take the musket. I don't want it.
Take it!
Please, make sure she's safe.
HAWKINS: Lord in heaven.
Look who's here.
(BILLY GRUNTS)
Get the horse!
I thought you were too good for us, boy.
So what are you doing here, you piece of shite?
Come all this way to shoot at me?
Huh, boy?!
Where is she?
I saw her.
Where is she?
She got shot. Ran off.
Mad bitch done for.
Good riddance.
Well, she'll die out here without you, that I do know.
Hear that, you Irish whore?
You could have saved yourself the trip
and killed yourself at home!
Your old mate didn't make it.
Did you know?
Had an accident.
He tripped and fell and killed himself.
- (RUSE SCOFFS) - Eddie.
This one's gonna take us to town.
Don't take your eyes from him.
If he tries to run, you shoot like I showed you.
Aim for the heart.
Yes, sir.
That's a good man.
Move, you dog.
Fuckin' move, ya black bastard!
Get up!
Yahhh!
Yahh!
I will shoot you myself, boy.
(RUSTLING)
That's right! Ireland's that way!
Keep running! Keep running!
My baby.
My baby girl.
(BABY CRIES)
- (BABY CRIES) - Shut it up or I will!
Shut it up now!
(IRISH FIDDLE PLAYS FAINTLY)
(LAUGHS)
(FIDDLE MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
(BABY GURGLES)
(FIDDLE MUSIC INTENSIFIES)
(SCREAMS)
(MUSIC FADES)
Big reward for you, boy, when you get us to town.
(RUSE GIGGLES)
Do your job, midget!
RUSE: We made it.
We fuckin' made it!
HAWKINS: Well done, boy. You deserve your reward.
Doesn't he, Eddie?
Come on.
Give him his reward and you win your freedom.
Be a man, son!
Give him his reward!
Fuck!
What did I tell you?
- Jesus. - I'm sorry, sir.
I'll shoot the next one, sir, I will! I'm sorry.
I thought you had something. You don't.
You're nothing and you'll always be nothing,
you worthless little gutter rat!
No, sir, please!
- Please! - You stay here.
As soon as I get to Launceston,
I'll tell the authorities there's a convict on the loose.
That'll get you five more years.
No. No, please, sir, please!
I can do better, sir, please!
Please don't leave me here, please!
I'll shoot the next one, I will.
Please!
I'll shoot the next one, I will!
I'll shoot...
God!
I can't stand the fucking noise of it.
(BIRDSONG)
(BIRD SWOOPS)
(COCKATOO SCREECHES)
- Where am I? - Where you going?
Nowhere.
That way's Launceston.
This way's not much of anything.
This is the main path to town?
(LAUGHS)
Please may I ride on the back, sir?
Please may I ride, sir?
Get away, ya whore!
(COINS CLINK)
Get up on the back.
And I don't want to know you're there.
Thank you.
(WHISTLES) Yah, yah!
Stop! Stop!
(CHICKEN CLUCKS)
(FLIES BUZZ)
(CHAINS CLINK)
Billy.
Put your hands up and walk in front.
Just do it!
(SETTLERS SING)
♪ And skinned so many a whaler
♪ You'll never shine in Paradise Street no more... ♪
MAN: Oi! Where you headed with this...
- Shut up, will ya! - (SINGING STOPS)
Where you headed?
Up to our farm a ways.
This one's been stealing our supplies.
Fuckin' scum. We caught these ones near town.
(SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
Shut up!
Jibber-jabber, jibber-jabber!
(SETTLERS LAUGH)
I said shut your bone box!
(LAUGHTER)
Shut it.
Shut it!
- (SETTLERS LAUGH) - Did you see 'em drop!
- We can do your one too, if you like. - No!
I want my husband to fix it.
- Suit yourself, then. - I want a trophy, Davy.
- You promised me a trophy. - Shut up, Thompson!
I want a head. Give me the head!
- Alright, alright. - (SETTLERS LAUGH)
You mad bastards!
Come on, Davy.
(SETTLERS GROAN, LAUGH)
Move, you dog!
- All the way! - Oh, get in there, mate.
You're makin' a mess of it.
Give me a bloody chance, will ya?
(BIRDSONG)
(HARNESS CLINKS)
Steady, boy. Whoa!
I'll kill you if you touch the black.
I'm not gonna touch the black.
You look a fright.
You should come for a wash and a feed.
- Oh, dear Lord, Harold! - Shut up, woman.
Jump in back.
Thank you.
You!
Come up here. Eat with rest of us.
I said come up here. Eat with rest of us.
(SOBS)
This is my country.
This is my home.
(BILLY SOBS)
(SNORING)
Whoa! Steady, boy.
Here we are, then.
Get what you need here and get out.
He'll be fine with you.
But without you...
Not with the way things are now.
Don't give yourself more trouble than you've already had.
Thank you.
Alright.
You don't go away from here.
If anyone tries to hurt you, come straight into the store.
This is for emergency.
Impressive that you made that route without a native.
I've spent years civilising this land, sir.
It's in the blood.
Well, we'll be happy to have you over for a drink
when you're ready.
- Bring the sergeant. - Very happy to, sir.
I don't buy stolen property.
They were a gift.
(SCOFFS) Where are your papers?
Are you going to take them or not?
Not.
Billy!
Billy! What are you doing?
Becky!
Clare!
Jesus Christ!
Don't you ever fucking die?
Look at you.
You and your black boy.
Ruse, go find a constable.
Tell him we have a thievin' whore in our midst.
Tell him she stole my horse and tried to kill an officer.
Yes, sir.
If I see you again,
I'll kill you myself.
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
Go back to that spot and stay there.
I mean it! Go!
(MEN CHATTER)
(CHATTER DIES DOWN)
You can tell me to shut up.
You can threaten to kill me.
But it won't do nothing.
That girl you raped,
whose husband and baby you murdered,
that girl died.
And you can't kill what's already dead.
This woman's a lying thief.
She's just upset because I caught her trying to steal my horse.
I'll have you arrested, you drunken whore.
I'm not your whore.
I'm not your nightingale...
..your little bird, your dove.
I'm not your anything.
I belong to me and no-one else!
When all the women are raped,
when all the men and babies are killed,
what will you do then, Lieutenant?
Get out, madwoman. You're not allowed in here.
CLARE: Look at you.
All dressed up and shiny.
Like butter wouldn't melt.
- The big strong man. - Someone get her out!
What's the matter, little soldier boy?
Didn't your mammy love you?
♪ I wish I were on yonder hill
♪ 'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
♪ And every tear would turn a mill
♪ Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán
♪ I'll sell my rock I'll sell my reel
♪ I'll sell my only spinning wheel
♪ To buy my love a sword of steel
♪ I wish, I wish I wish in vain
♪ I wish I had my love again... ♪
(VOICE BREAKS)
(BREATHES SHAKILY)
Clare, we have to go.
Please, Clare. We have to go now.
Do you have ones like them?
Men like them.
Blacks like them.
Like that bastard boss man?
Sometimes we have.
Bad ones.
Full of bad spirits.
And what do you do with them?
Our old people will talk to them,
try to get 'em see good way.
Ask our ancestors for help.
Do ceremony.
And if they don't listen?
If they keep being bad,
how do you deal with them then?
How do you fix them?
Fix them?
We don't fix them.
We kill them.
(BIRDSONG)
(BILLY SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
Shh.
(BILLY SINGS IN LANGUAGE)
Billy!
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
(WOMAN SHRIEKS)
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
WOMAN: Help! Help!
It's done now, Billy. It's over.
We can go.
Billy, no!
No!
- Billy! - (SCREAMING)
Billy! Billy!
(BILLY GRUNTS)
No, no, no...
(WHEEZES)
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
MAN: Hey! Hey!
(HUBBUB)
When we get to the river, just follow it all the way.
(SHOUTS) I'm still here!
You white bastards!
I'm still here!
And I'm not going nowhere!
(SINGS IN LANGUAGE)
(SHOUTS IN LANGUAGE)
Yahh!
Yahh! Yahh!
(SPEAKS IN LANGUAGE)
(SINGS IN GAELIC)
(DRAWS BREATH)
♪ THE CHIEFTAINS: The Strayaway Child ♪