01x01 - Chapter One: The Land

[bunniefuu]

[ Budjerah and Matt Corby:
♪ The Way ]

♪ Just one

♪ Drop from

♪ The sky like the

♪ Teardrop

♪ That forms in my eyes

♪ It brings

♪ New strength

♪ To take its claim

♪ Regeneration

♪ To heal our pain

♪ Ride into the wind

♪ Until you're home again

♪ Feel it in the rain

♪ Can you find the way?

♪ Feel it in the rain

♪ Can you find the way?

♪ It's time we start to relay

♪ The wonders of our history

♪ Our breath defies

♪ The story's page

♪ The songs created

♪ The path we made

♪ Ride into the wind

♪ Until you're home again

♪ Feel it in the rain
Feel it in the rain

♪ Can you find the way?

♪ The way, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Feel it in the rain
The rain

♪ Can you find the way?

♪ The way, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Feel it in the rain. ♪

[ ♪ didgeridoo playing ]

[ man speaks Language ]

[ ♪ haunting music ]

[ sings ]

[ boy cheers ]

[ men shouting and whistling ]

[ King George speaks Language ]

[ ♪ song in Language ]

Australia.

[ ♪ merry music ]

- My husband must sell
Faraway Downs.

- All Lord Ashley is asking
is that you be patient.

- Patient! Maitland has been
out there for a year.

- But, Lady Ashley, the property
is the size of Belgium

and the offer from
this Cattle King, Mr Carney,

is only one-sixth
of what it was once worth.

- £10,000 is enough to save
this house and my horses.

- But Maitland is just about to
muster the fats.

- What?

- Get the big cows
ready for market.

- Ramsden, let's be honest.

You and I both know
there is only one reason

my husband has spent
so much time down under,

and it has absolutely nothing
to do with cows.

At least not of
the animal variety.

- Lady Ashley, I...I do think
that's a bit harsh.

It's hardly a crime
that everybody loves him.

LADY ASHLEY: Oh, dear.

The world is on the brink of w*r

and all people care about
is silly fairy tales.

- Well, I rather like
Miss Garland.

- Oh, Ramsden, drink your tea.

- Lady Ashley!
What do you intend to do?

- I intend to travel
to this cattle station,

sell it,

and bring Maitland home myself!

- But, Lady Ashley...
it's Australia.

ATTENDANT: We all remember when
Lord Ashley flew out with us.

Great bloke!
Everybody loved him.

- I'm sure.

LADY ASHLEY:
Maitland, your concern

regarding w*r duly noted. Stop.

MAITLAND: Have plan
concerning cattle.

Sale to King Carney
not necessary.

Need more time. Stop.

LADY ASHLEY: Nonsense. Stop.

Expect contract
for sale of station

to be drawn by time
of my arrival. Stop.

LORD ASHLEY: Cannot meet you.
Stop. Am mustering. Stop.

Have sent trusted man. Stop.
The Drover. Stop.

- The Drover?

[ ♪ fast-paced music ]

[ ♪ majestic music ]

- [laughs ]
Drover, you boong lover.

- Any of you other Carney boys
want to have a go?

Come on, fellas. Don't let
fear stand in your way.

- I'll have ya.

[ speaks Language ]

- Hey! No boongs in here!

- He's not in the pub, Ivan.

[ man speaks Language ]

BULL: Go on.
Run after your boong friend,

'cause as far as this town's
concerned, you are a black.

You work with them,
you eat with them,

and you sleep with them.
[laughs]

- Oh, crikey.

- When you see her,
wave your hat.

- What are you waiting for?
An invitation?

- I hate comin' to town.

[ ♪ dramatic music ]

- Lady Sarah Ashley.

A genuine aristocrat
living right here in Darwin.

- Administrator, we're at w*r.

- You represent the Government.

As the officer in charge

of livestock purchases
for the armed forces--

- She's quite a looker.

- Oh, yes, she's very, very--

- Married?

- Quite.

[ cannon fires ]

SKIPPER:
Everybody knows you're here.

His Lordship won't
be able to help himself,

seeing you on the wharf.

- I beg your pardon?
- Your husband. Lord Maity.

- You know him?
- Yeah. Great bloke.

Everybody loves him.

Especially the ladies.

- Do you mind?

ADMINISTRATOR:
Her husband, Lord Ashley,

claims he's mustering fats
at Faraway Downs.

- Faraway Downs?
- Faraway Downs.

The only cattle station
in the whole of the north

not owned by Leslie King Carney.

- Lord Maitland Ashley
is mustering on Faraway Downs?

MAN: Yeah, yeah.

- Isn't quite what we had
in mind, is it, Neil?

- No. Yeah.

- And now his missus
has arrived on the flying boat.

Doesn't look like they're gonna
sell Faraway Downs to me, Neil.

- Ah, she won't last.

A delicate English rose withers
in the outback.

You with me?

- Can't see your Lord Maity.
- Oh!

If you must know, I am to be met

by my husband's trusted man,
a Mr Drover.

- The bloody Drover?

[ ♪ thrilling music ]

- That's my luggage!
That's my luggage!

Put that down. Put that down!

- Look at the little creamies.
Seem almost like us, don't they?

LADY ASHLEY: What do you mean?

SKIPPER: Those little half-caste
kids are fair on the outside

but in their hearts,
they're as black as night.

- I don't understand.

- What do you expect?
They come from cattle stations.

Lonely men. Native women.

- Native women!

SKIPPER: Church does what it can
for 'em out on Mission Island.

- Maitland!

- Ask the Drover.
He's an expert in the subject.

Well, hoo-roo!
Give my regards to his Lordship.

Tell him we'll sink a few
next time he's in Darwin.

- "Sink a few"?

- Maitland Ashley. What
a top bloke your husband is.

Everybody loves him.

Ha-ha!

[ ♪ thrumming music ]

[ woman giggles ]

[ cows mooing ]

[ wolf-whistling ]

[ disorderly commotion ]

[ gasps ]

- No, that's...
No, that's my luggage.

Hurry! Yes.
Bring that down here, thank you.

Quickly. Nine pieces.

Nine. S.A. Ashley.

My husband has sent
a trusted man. You savvy?

A Mr Drover.

- The Drover
is at the pub, Missus.

No good place for woman.

- No good place for woman.
- Pub?

Oh.

Yes.

Move it!

- It's quite a coup for my wife.

- Lady Ashley,
may I present myself?

I am the wife
of the Administrator.

- Look at my wife
and daughter down there

giving her the royal welcome.

- My fiancé, Neil Fletcher,
manages Faraway Downs.

- We were hoping that
you would be patroness

of the Women's Auxiliary Ball
at the end of the month.

- The end of the month?

Oh, no, no, I shall be returning
to London next week,

once I have divorced my husband.

Good luck with your
Auxiliary Ball, church fete,

whatever it is you call it, hm?

- Did she say 'divorce'?

[ The Benny Goodman Orchestra:
♪ Sing, Sing, Sing ]

[ men yelling ]

[ ♪ ♪ ]

- Bit pale.

Not a bad-looking sheila, but
what's the story on the luggage?

Wants to settle down
in the outback, does she?

If she stays

and helps Lord Ashley
breed cattle on Faraway Downs,

then we've got a competitor
for the Army contract, Neil.

- Administrator,
Carney's control

of every cattle station
in the north

jeopardises the supply
of beef to our troops.

You represent the Government.

It's your responsibility
to do something

about the Carney Cattle Company.

- But it's a poor w*r

that doesn't make
a decent patriot rich,

so I don't want a single beast
from Faraway Downs

to set a hoof on that wharf.

You with me, Neil?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Nature will take its course.

[ ♪ ♪ ]

CARNEY: What about the missus?

- I've arranged
for someone special

to give her
the old scenic route.

[ yelling and commotion ]

Give her a taste of the outback.

[ commotion continues ]

- Who's taking her?

- The Drover.

- The Drover?!

- Enjoy the ride, sweetheart.

[ ♪ music fades ]

- I'm Sarah Ashley.

[ motorcycles revving ]

- My husband, Lord Ashley,
has sent a trusted man

to collect me - a Mr Drover.

[ men grunting ]

- It seems as if
he has been waylaid.

[ men grunting and groaning ]

- No women.

Ladies' lounge next door.

- The hen parlour's
thataway, my dear.

- No wonder your establishment
is empty.

Good day.

[ screams ]

[ screams ]

[ cheering and commotion ]

[ screams ]

[ commotion continues ]

[ Sarah sobbing ]

[ speaks incoherently ]

[ speaks incoherently ]

[ huffs ]

- Welcome to Australia.

[Sarah huffs ]

[ Sarah groans ]

- Hey, look.

Love, you'll be a lot
more comfortable

if you change into something
a little less, er, constricting.

- You keep your eyes on the road
and your hands on the wheel.

- Alright.

Just trying to help.

[ dog barks ]

- Oh, goodness. Ah, quick!
- Drover!

- Drive faster!
- Alright.

- Faster!
[ man yells ]

- You'll never catch us.
MAN: Drover, hey, hey!

- He is! He is catching us.

- Hey! Where you going? Drover!

[ Sarah screams ]
- Drover!

- It's Magarri's cousin,
Goolajbaloong.

- Lovely name.

[ ♪ ♪ ]

[ speaks Language ]

- Oh!

- Water.
- I said... Oh! Oh!

- That's it. That's it.
Stay, Jedda, stay.

- "Trusted man."
Typical of my husband.

- Actually, your husband's
a pretty good bloke.

- Yes, well, he certainly knows
how to choose his employees.

- Employee?!

- Mm. No wonder
the place is bankrupt.

- Lady, I'm not an employee.
- Oh, really?

So you're just driving me
all the way out to Faraway Downs

as a personal favour
to my husband, are you? Hmm?

- No.

- Him being such a good bloke
and all?

- I'm driving you out there
'cause he promised me a drove

of 1,500 head of cattle.

- What, to buy?
- No, you goose, to drove.

- Oh!
- I'm a drover, right?

I move the cattle from A to B,
alright? I work on commission.

- No man hires me,
no man fires me.

[ Sarah tuts ]
- Everything I own,

I can fit in my saddlebag,
which is the way I like it.

- [ exclaims ]
Yes, well, it's all...

all very outback
adventure, isn't it?

- I'm not saying
it's for everyone.

- No. It's definitely not
for everyone.

- Most people like
to own things,

you know, land, luggage,
other people.

Makes them feel secure.

But all that can be taken away.

And in the end, the only thing
you really own is, uh...

is your story.

Just trying to live a good one.

- Yes.

Oh, yes, an adventure story,
am I right? Hmm?

- Whatever you like.
- Mm-hm. Yes.

Well, you sound
just like my husband.

He loves adventures.

And the wonderful thing about
adventures is that... [ sighs ]

is that you can break
all the rules, all the time,

whenever you want,
with whomever you want.

And then when
one adventure gets stale,

you just find a newer, fresher,

younger, more exciting
adventure.

- I just-- [ voice breaking ]
- Hey, hey. You right, love?

- I'm thirsty.
- Yeah?

Here, hang on. Have some water.
- No, no, no, no.

- Have some water. Water.
- Thank you. Oh!

- No, Magarri, no, no, no, no!

[ Sarah screams ]

[ Goolajbaloong
speaks in Language ]

[ tyres screeching ]

- Do you want me to stop?
- No, please, just keep going.

- Sure? Really?
- Yes, yes. Thank you.

Oh! Oh, kangaroos!

I love... Yes!
[ stirring music ]

DROVER: Big reds.
- Oh, lovely!

Beautiful, huh?
- Yeah, beautiful.

- I've never seen a kangaroo.
Beautiful jumping.

- Yeah, they're jumpin'.
- Oh!

- Oh, it's beautiful!
[ Drover grunts ]

- Oh, look at them jumping!

[ g*nsh*t ]
[ screams ]

DROVER: At least
we've got some dinner.

[ ♪ hillbilly-style music ]

- Mr Drover.

- Hey, Missus Boss.
- Tucker, Missus Boss?

- Mr Drover.
- Yeah?

- There's only one tent.
- That's right.

- For the four of us?

- Well, you know it gets
pretty chilly here at night.

We, uh, we like to bunk up
together, eh, Magarri?

Goolaj, huh?

Nice and close, you know?

[ men make hooting sounds ]

[ men laughing ]
[ dog barking ]

DROVER: Ooh, it's freezing!
- Oh!

- Oh, come on, Lady Ashley.
We're just having a laugh.

Never really slept
in a tent in our life.

We just bunk around
the fire, you see?

- See, we're not really
used to, um--

- A woman?

I suppose you think
I should be back in Darwin

at the church fete
or the ladies', uh...

whatever you call it.

Well, I will have you know
that I am as capable as any man.

- Guests.

We're not used to guests.
That's what I was about to say.

But now you mention it,

I happen to quite like
the women of the outback.

- But they're mostly
native women.

- Aboriginal women.

- Yeah, we, er...

We get along.

[ woman calls out in Language ]

- Flynn. Him always punctual.
Him on time.

[ Flynn groans ]

WOMAN: Get outta here!

SARAH: What's that?
- Your accountant.

- Hey, Drover. He's your
bloody problem now.

♪ Whoa, babe,
what can the matter be?

♪ How come I can't come... ♪

WOMAN: See you, Drover.

♪ ..back and around your door

♪ Whoa, babe,
why did you let me down?

♪ Whoa, babe,
why can't I hang around?

♪ Since when ain't I your... ♪

- [ drunkenly ] Kipliflip.

Kiperlifa.

- I'm sorry. What was
your name again?

- Flipling Klim, M-M'lady.

- Kipling Flynn.

- Thank you.

♪ Whoa, babe,
how do you get that way? ♪

SARAH: Oh, so horrid and dry.
Doesn't it ever rain out here?

DROVER: Sure it does.
When the wet comes.

The heavy rains.
They go on for weeks.

This place gets transformed
into something beautiful.

SARAH: Sadly, I won't
be here to see it.

[ ♪ brooding music ]

SARAH: How long will it be
before we reach Faraway Downs?

DROVER: We've been on it
for the last two days.

[♪ music gets louder ]

[ cattle lowing ]

[ whinnies ]

[ horse grunts ]

[ ♪ fast-paced music ]

- Mr Drover, my husband,
does he visit Darwin often?

Hm?

- Yeah, yeah, he goes
a bit with that, uh,

fancy black English
thoroughbred of his,

Capricornia, yeah.

She is...
She's a gorgeous creature.

- Gorgeous creature.

- I'm sure he doesn't go there
just to show off his horse.

- Oh, no, no, we're both
into breeding, you see.

- Breeding?

- Yeah, no, we're both
dead keen on breeding.

I've always had a dream.

I've always wanted to mate
an English thoroughbred

with a bush brumby.

It'd be magic,
wouldn't it? Magic.

Imagine that combination.
- Don't!

Don't you say another word!
I know what you're implying.

- You've thought about it too,
haven't you?

- Capricornia, you-- Poppycock!

- What are you talking about?
- Poppycock!

[ ♪ exciting music ]

[ ♪ music slows ]

- What are you talking about?
- You... You want...

You want to have it on with me.

- What? What... What was that?

- Oh, you know exactly
what I'm saying.

- You... You exploit those
poor women. You abuse them.

- Hang on, hang on!
- They just do as they're told--

- Hey, you watch what you say!
- Well, I do not do as I'm told!

- Yeah, I've noticed!

- You've got
a filthy mind, lady.

- You're an animal!
- I wouldn't have it on with you

if you were the only tart left
in Australia, you hear me?

- Animal. You are a...
- Believe me, I wouldn't...

[ tyres screeching ]

[ horse neighs ]

SARAH: What was that?
DROVER: Stay in the car.

- No, no!
- Get your hands off me.

For once in your life,
do as you're bloody told.

[ Magarri speaks Language ]

[ ♪ tense music ]

[ wailing ]

FLYNN: There she is.

Faraway Downs.

[ huffs ]

[ wailing continues ]

[ mutters ]

[ sings ]

[ woman wailing ]

[ Sarah screams ]

DROVER: Lady Ashley, wait!
Don't go in there.

[ ♪ ominous music ]

[ ♪ music escalates ]

[ wailing continues ]

[ speaking Cantonese ]

- I'm so sorry.

- Maitland.

FLETCHER: My family
has had the honour

of serving the owners
of Faraway Downs

for three generations.

We know how hard
this land can be,

but Lord Maitland Ashley,
he...he never gave up.

The only thing that could stop
this decent, courageous man

was a spear from
a murderous black,

the so-called King George,

and he will be
brought to justice.

Let us now pray for Maitland
Ashley,

that his soul
may enter peacefully

through the gates of heaven.

[ plays mournful tune ]

Excuse me, Lady Ashley.

Would you be prepared
to leave for Darwin today?

We could get you safely
on your way home.

Once you've concluded your
business

with Mr Carney, of course.

- You're engaged to Mr Carney's
daughter, are you not?

- Yeah. Yeah, Cath, yeah.

- This place is so barren,

I can't understand what my
husband would've seen out here.

- Yeah, this land has
a strange power.

There'll be no bringing
her back to life

now that the bore's dried up
and there's no water.

His Lordship just
couldn't accept the fact.

- I will trouble you no further.

Have them pack the car.

MAGARRI: Drover.
You might want to see this.

DROVER: Hey, Fletcher.
Hey, Fletcher!

What's going on?

Fletcher! I've been sitting
out here for three bloody hours.

Now, what about
the bloody drove?

- Please, please. Lady Ashley
just lost her husband.

- I'm sorry about that--
- We're leaving.

DROVER: Hang on. Hey, mate, no.
FLETCHER: Come on, move it.

- You're always welcome.
- Don't stand there, Chinaman.

- I only agreed to
bring her here on condition

you give me a mob of cattle
to drove back to Darwin.

Believe you me,
I bloody well earned it.

- Mr Drover, I cannot believe

you are talking about cows
at a time like this.

- I'm not,
I'm talking about cash.

Now, your stockmen tell me

they've got one day of work left
and they've completed a muster.

FLETCHER: We're leaving
for Darwin now.

- Well, drive her tomorrow,
for Christ's sake.

- She doesn't want to stay!
- Mr Fletcher, get in!

- I'm sorry, Lady Ashley.

- Not even for
another 10,000 quid?

- Did you say £10,000?

- Yeah. Out here your cattle's
worth more than your land.

- Hey, listen, sunshine. There's
a murderous black out there.

- It's not safe. You with me?
- Safe enough for you, mate.

- Yeah, but Lady Ashley's
a woman.

- Mr Fletcher, I am
as capable as any man.

Besides, I have no shame
in saying that I--

I need the money.

DROVER: Well,
that makes two of us.

- Ah, Lady Ashley's leaving.

- Yeah, you know what?
He's probably right.

You should listen to Fletcher.
As a woman, it probably is--

- Just let me out!

Very well.
I will stay one night.

You will complete the muster.

- Ah, no, he'll complete
the muster.

FLYNN: M'lady!

- I'll be back in the morning
with the horses...

sunshine.

[ distant singing in Language ]

FLETCHER: If Lady Ashley
sees that little creamy,

she'll send him
to Mission Island

and throw away the bloody key.

She has to leave tomorrow.

[ ♪ gentle piano music ]

[ ♪ operatic singing ]

[ saws at food ]

- Dinner finish!

You go bed now!

[ ♪ tense music ]

[ speaks Language ]

[ child sings haunting song ]

[ distant singing in Language ]

[ boy trills ]

[ sings in Language ]

[ yells ]

- Who are you?

- How did you get in here?

[ Nullah sings haunting song ]

- What do you want?

[ singing ]

- Wrong-sided business?

- Oh, my goodness.

- Oh, my goodness! Mr Fletcher?

- Maitland?
I...I mean, Lord Ashley?

- [ gasps ] The bulls.

Billabong.

That's where Maitland
was k*lled.

- Please, don't! Don't make him
get policeman, take away my boy.

- Please, Missus, quick!

[ footsteps receding ]

[ gasps ]

[ rooster crowing ]

[ ♪ contemplative music ]

- Missus Boss.
[screams ]

- Oh, it's you.

- Yeah, she's a beautiful day,
isn't she?

How was your sleep? Restful?

- I wouldn't say so, no.

- Yeah, no, the boys are just
taking the herd to the yards

for the drove.

Gotta tell you, they're
a pretty sorry mob of cattle.

Seems hardly worth the effort.

Right to go, Lady Ashley?

- Mr Fletcher.

Tell me about the big, fat cows
that crossed the river

down at the billabalong,
or whatever it is you call it.

- The billabong? No, that's
Carney property over there.

Our cattle
don't cross the river.

- Apparently they do.

- Yeah? Who...
Who says they do?

- That little boy there.

[ chuckling ]

- Oh, you mean the little
half-caste fella?

Hey! Hey, little fella,
come here.

- Come and tell Mr Fletcher
what you told me last night.

- Yeah, come on, Nullah.
Nullah, come on.

- They're funny ones.

Now...

did you see big, fat cattle
crossing Marmont River?

Or were they just Carney cattle
on the other side of the river

having a drink?

[ ♪ ominous music ]

- Them just Carney cattle,
Mr Fletcher.

I've been looking but myself.
- Yeah?

Ah, you tell great big
tall stories, don't ya, eh?

SARAH: It's alright,
Mr Fletcher.

I'm sure the boy
just made a mistake.

- Righto, we'd best get going,
Lady Ashley.

Hey, Sing Song, take
the little fella to the kitchen

and give him a big bloody feed
of that tucker that he likes.

SARAH: Forgive me, Mr Fletcher.
FLETCHER: Look, I understand.

- Wait, wait!

NULLAH: Let go!
- Nullah!

- Well, that old windmill
hasn't turned in years.

- He's a sweet little boy.
I don't think he meant any--

- They're funny,
little creamies.

All a bit soft
in the head, yeah.

[ softly ] Bag in, top up.

That's why the Government
sends them to the Mission.

They all tell
bloody monstrous lies.

And the next one, quick!
Come on, we haven't got all day.

[ creaking ]

WOMAN: No...
No, leave him alone!

[ women yelling ]
Leave him alone!

Leave him alone!

SARAH: Mr Fletcher!

- Get off my property!

You no longer work for me.

[ Nullah cries ]

FLETCHER:
If I go, my men go with me.

There won't be a single
bloody beast in the stockyard

to start the drove
in the morning.

SARAH: You heard what I said!

Get off my property!

- Yeah?

- Go! Now!

- You're the boss.

Flynn! Get in the car. I'll give
you a new job somewhere else.

Bunchemup, leave the cattle.
We don't work here anymore.

Let's go.

Bloody old fool.

Carney's gonna get
this property.

Been a pleasure working
for you. Real pleasure.

Open the gate! [ laughing ]

[ cattle lowing ]

[ Electric Fields: ♪ Anpuru ]