01x01 - Propriety

[bunniefuu]

(COUGHS) They're here.

Sergeant Harken.

And?

Linus Cummins, Evening Examiner.

And this is?

Headman. He runs the camp.

I see your passion for justice has

you here a day earlier than agreed.

Imagine that's why they call it

a f*ck' raid, innit?

In the name

of Commissioner William H. Wright,

I declare this premises

under the putrid influence

of ch*nk's tobacco.

What is he saying?

He pleads guilty.

A stain on the pure spirit

of the working man

..rendering of them indolent

f*ck it! Go on, then, lads.

Hold on.

May I?

Give it to him!

Aah!

(THUMP)

Check over there in the corner.

What is it?

Tell me when he wakes up.

Well, holy sh*t!

Would you look at this?

I'd have thought you'd be helping

prepare like everyone else.

English.

And I was about to say the same.

It's to remind people of home.

Yes. For a moment

I thought we were in Guangdong.

When did you start

wasting your time with that stuff?

The smoking or the gambling

or the having friends?

If you were the older brother

you'd say the same!

I'm having fun.

There is something

we should discuss, though.

A problem.

What now?

How many like this?

Four tents this morning.

Another sixteen men gone.

Well, the seam is drying out.

We've been pushed out

of the good claims.

The men can't make a profit.

What do we have coming?

Eighteen plus one due this

afternoon from Xinning, but after that

"Eighteen plus one"? What's that?

That was the message.

I don't know.

Maybe it's a dwarf.

They won't and see we've

been skimming the take.

Hing Dai Wui or the British.

They take from both sides.

I'm just trying to make a living.

I doubt Hing Dai Wui

will see it that way.

Good they don't know, then.

Either way,

we can't afford to lose more men.

If the new Chinese tax starts

That's a rumour.

If the British want more money,

they take

They don't want money.

They want us gone.

Of course I'm bluffing.

You should call.

My apologies for interrupting

your game, but I need

Shing!

Now

Don Quixote here

just folded like a little girl.

But Baldy

is still weighing it up.

What do you think?

What are the A's?

Good or bad?

Probably a bit dramaturgic with the g*n,

but when you need to make a point

The Chinese tax.

You're adding another.

I was coming to see you.

There's no way we can pay

more than we already are.

I'm sorry that the diggers

see the Chinese as a problem.

Taking land, wasting water

We don't waste it.

Working on a Sunday,

spreading disease,

general lack

of Christian moral fibre.

Not my argument, by the way.

I've been doing my job.

I need something in return.

You get paid.

And about your job

what's this Brotherhood

I've been hearing about?

'Hing Dai Wu', is it?

Well, some are called that.

Most are just people from the

same village helping one another.

But it's not easy being alone.

The secret societies

they have in California,

importing opium illegally,

gambling

We cannot have them here.

People turn to them

if they do not feel safe.

How are they not safe?

Three mining accidents

just last week. One death.

Ropes were cut in the night.

Do you have proof?

Word of my people.

Oh, well, in that case

You're the Chinese Protector.

The Commissioner wants

law and order.

Not another Buckland.

That means police, troopers.

That means money.

That means tax.

Whites attack us and we pay?

I do not write the policy.

The Commissioner, then.

Can you get me a meeting?

Doubtful.

What about this party of yours?

The Mid-Autumn Festival?

Whites and Chinese together.

That's the idea, right?

I was hoping it would help

to build relations, yes.

You're saying

you could get him to come?

Well, I won't stop you trying.

Truth is,

you've got one job.

Chinese keep to their camp,

the whites will keep to theirs.

No fuss, no problems.

Pay your taxes. If you can't do

that, I'll find someone who can.

Apples!

What is it?

He's awake.

You didn't think it might be

a good idea to let me know?

We were just talking.

Do you know where he is or not?

Time to pay the surveyor a visit.

Deliver this to the Commissioner's

house. Use a nice envelope.

Now?

What do I do with him?

Why the hell should I care?

Aaaah!

sh*t.

Albert would be disappointed

to see his press in this state.

How is it?

Need to find a part

for this busted crank.

Still not sure how it could

have broke like that.

How long?

This afternoon.

Good.

I want to be ready

for a print run tomorrow.

I've made some rearrangements.

Casting slugs in that drawer.

Type cases are over there.

I have to say I don't understand

why you've made these changes

I'll be back in an hour.

Mrs Roberts.

Mr Chen.

I am busy. You've thought

about what we discussed?

I need my job.

I have a better one.

The one that exists is better.

Six shillings a day.

The paper's ready to go.

All I need is a translator.

I have to go.

Belle!

Clara

Oh, I'm sorry it's been so long.

I should have visited.

Since the wake, I think.

Four weeks.

Well, you must come

to the house this moment.

I'm a little busy.

It's only good companionship

can salve a broken heart.

Besides, you know, all this heat,

it's terrible for the skin.

And Miss Julia is in Melbourne

attending the theatre,

whatever that means.

Elizabeth has taken to lying in.

Pregnant again, no doubt.

Like a sow!

Piglets at teat day and night.

William! Have you been

smoking in there again?

I am within my rights

and will not apologise.

So I lack for decent company.

Let's say that.

You have one invitation, at least.

Something about a festival.

It was served by some scruffy

celestial this morning.

Leung Wei Shing?

Shing?

Is that how you pronounce it?

You're quite the internationalist.

Mr Shing has been asking

to meet me for months.

The new tax, no doubt.

Like a horde of human locusts.

A third of the town already.

Ten thousand's my understanding.

I never agreed with your

husband's political posturings.

But he was right about the Chinaman.

Never should have let them in.

Like leaving the door open to

flies.

Have you found a buyer

for the press?

Not as yet.

You know how I hate to pry.

Word is Albert left some debt.

He rarely let domestic considerations

get in the way of his passion.

Yes, well,

for the truly great man,

petty materialism

is beneath concern.

It's thought and action for a cause

that stirs the blood.

Fortunately, women more naturally

enjoy petty pragmatisms

the male spirit finds

dreary.

If you ever need money,

you know you can come to us.

Within reason, of course.

I'm quite sure I'll cope.

My third cousin's sister-in-law

found herself similarly situated.

In the end had to make a living

lying on her back.

Until she was

consumed by the syphilis.

William!

Tuberculosis, and quite unconnected

to the whoring, I'm sure.

Do you want this?

I hope you don't mind English.

Ah Gok here is Hakka.

Doesn't speak Cantonese, so

Oh, you have tea!

You know, water heats up

it's like drinking spit.

So how far did we walk?

Miles.

Miles.

I'm the headman.

Oh oh.

(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY)

I didn't, um

It's just

I was under the impression

Hing Dai Wui wanted me

to report back directly, so

Hing Dai Wui sent us

to check up on you.

Oh. (LAUGHS)

In that case come, come.

The gold, of course,

is in the quartz

but the wind, water,

it wears it down, creates deposits.

So, I started in towards

the prevailing wind

since it strips out the cover

just a speck or two.

A lot of people would have

given up, but then I thought

"The river is dry now

"but once there must

have been a flood."

(BOTH LAUGH)

I was about to head back

tomorrow to report it.

It's Mister Yong, isn't it?

Yes, Yong.

Yong

How long you been

out here for now?

Oh, nine weeks, off and on.

Nine weeks Yong!

Nine weeks!

(LAUGHS)

You know, the moment I saw you,

I thought to myself

Nine weeks. Imagine that.

Hard.

You know, even a mule starts

to wonder what he is or

what he could be.

Regrets. Opportunities missed.

Eh?

(ALL LAUGH)

No, no!

No, I will not.

I will see it reported

to Cheung Sifu,

and when I do,

I will be sure to tell him about

your wholly

inappropriate suggestion.

Although

now that I think about it

some more,

we can do it your way, yeah.

Should.

The opportunity way that you

Ah!

Are you all right?

Got a problem with my tongue.

Started this morning.

Could be an ulcer.

Yeah.

(GASPS FOR AIR)

(GASPS)

There's a few Hakka I know

who could manage it.

Good diggers,

but the leader will want a cut.

You trust him?

To be greedy.

Talk to him.

Oh, and I'll check in

on the "18 plus one from Xinning"

while we're at it.

Damn it, what is this "plus one"?

And don't say a dwarf.

I was heading to the lumber site.

It wasn't till I got further up

when I saw

Saw what?

About what?

He's down there.

What's wrong?

It's a white woman.

MAN: Take the fruits

of your own labour

for your women, your children

and yourselves.

Take what is rightfully yours

for the call of freedom.

The fruits of your own labour!

To live in your own land!

Our fellows in Sydney and Melbourne

have already won their dignity

and we can wait no longer!

Got something for your arm,

like we talked on the other day.

Appreciate it.

Man wants freedom.

Man wants dignity.

Separate and equal station,

to which the Laws of Nature

and of Nature's God entitle.

The Crown will not give what

we do not have the will to take.

The spirit of Bakery Hill lives on!

Hey!

Hey!

I know you, don't I?

Bendigo, right?

Don't think so.

My mistake, then.

She's too close to our trail.

We need her clothes.

What do you think will happen if the 'gwailou'

find a m*rder*d white woman in Chinese clothes?

They'll light up the camp,

burn or string up

the first of us they find.

Let's go.

(LEAVES RUSTLE)

It was her.

It's a kangaroo.

Should have shot it for the meat.

Nothing's different.

Just go about things

in the normal way.

What if it was?

What?

One of us, that did that to her?

BELLE: Excuse me.

Mister Leung.

Leung Wei Shing?

You are Leung Wei Shing?

I'm sorry, and you are?

Mrs Albert Roberts.

I own the Ballarat Times.

You work for a newspaper.

Own it.

And you're interrupting

my afternoon because

I have a business proposition.

I've yet felt the need

to pay for female company,

though I suggest you're a shade on the

older side to demand too steep a value.

Good. Because I own a paper.

As I've said. Twice.

And my connection?

I intend starting a Chinese print

edition to serve the Chinese population.

I'm looking for advertisers.

That's your pitch?

I don't need a pitch, just men with

the half sense to do what is obvious.

And what exactly

would I be advertising?

Your next festival.

A letter opposing the Chinese tax.

I'm taking care of that already.

With little success,

I'm afraid.

Where did you get that?

Rescued from the rubbish.

My proposal is straightforward.

I'll bring the Commissioner

to your festival this evening.

You advertise

in my publication.

Even pound a week for say

six months.

Then we'll review.

Some people would call that

blackmail.

Some people have sawdust

in place of brains.

Are you always like this?

I don't take the meaning.

Perhaps I just haven't met

enough white women.

There's a wide variation,

I can assure.

Get the Commissioner to the festival

and we'll make it a year.

She's pretty.

Too busy having my pockets picked

to notice.

Carry on like that,

you'll earn a whole pack of nuts.

Cheap ones, maybe.

Right there, son?

I can take this.

It's, uh the rule.

Site free more than a day.

It's the rule.

Earle, Burke. I'm Patrick.

Daniel Price.

So what the heck is that for?

I thought perhaps

during lunch breaks.

Get a game going.

When's the last time you had some

female-type interaction there, son?

Maybe we can gab about something

other than women for one minute of the day?

Easy for you.

You have one.

Finest-looking lady

this side of Melbourne.

What she sees with this shitknuckle

is a mystery for the ages.

Where is she anyhow?

I'm going into town.

MAN: Name.

Patrick Thomas.

Buy yourself a nice meal

with all this.

Oh, looky here.

Twice in a day we meet.

If I were a religious man,

I would say that was

What's the word?

Providence.

Providence.

Aye. I like that.

I always think,

if you learn a new word every day,

the only way is up.

Patrick f*ck' Thomas

is it now?

Funny.

I could swear

you're a dead ringer

for a certain Dylan Walsh.

Aye.

f*ck' thought so.

Do admire your optimism, though,

thinking you can hide.

There's a rule for traitors.

You and your f*ck' wife.

Don't talk about her.

(GROANS)

(GRUNTS)

(GASPS)

(GURGLES)

(CRIES OUT)

Aah! Ah

(GASPS FOR AIR)

I ain't no damn traitor.

Say it!

You ain't.

Here.

Who told you to do this?

Doctor.

You're lucky it ain't green.

Burn like this,

can't let it dry out.

How'd it happen?

Heat.

I appreciate the attention.

I do it for money,

not gratitude.

Emu fat, twice a day.

Say when you want more.

(BIRDS TWITTER)

Why would I want it back?

Oh, I just assumed.

But of course, it's no problem.

Just since I talked

to Harriet Morgan.

Harriet? You know she started

smoking cigarettes.

Like some bohemian. Next she'll be

wearing tails and a monocle.

No man wants a woman

who acts like another man.

The whole concept is repulsive.

Well, so nice to see you again.

Well, what about her?

Harriet?

Oh. Just her sister's husband's

father was in Paris last year

and he said

China's all the vogue right now.

Really?

Hm. Clothes, food art.

So she's going to the festival.

With George.

George Reynolds?

It's such a pity

William doesn't want to go.

But I guess there's not a lot

you can do about it.

Eighteen plus one is here.

Eighteen

plus one.

I have some secondary duties,

of course.

You are comfortable with English?

Of course.

Good.

I will be meeting our new surveyor,

Yong Gwan, to discuss his findings.

Well, I'm sure we can dig him up.

And I'll require access

to your record of the gold take.

Well, Hing Dai Wui already has

all our records.

Though, obviously, I am proud

to have the chance

to show our achievements.

Find out where she was last.

Something about California.

You've spent time there.

And anything else you can.

(LEAVES RUSTLE)

Wait!

(DISTANT) Wait!

(SILENT)

Go make sure

the lanterns are ready.

Hau Ngai.

The land was being burned

by ten suns.

He shot down nine

and was given an elixir

of immortality as a reward.

So he's still about, then?

Fortunately, no.

Since the power

turned him into a tyrant,

he tried to m*rder his wife.

She fled, and became

the Spirit of the Moon.

Commissioner!

Surprised to see you here.

You can thank my beautiful wife.

Have you met Wei Shing,

my best headman?

Despite putting on a party with

very little liquor. (CHUCKLES)

You'll find he has an interesting

view about the new tax.

I'm sure.

We shouldn't be here.

I'm sorry?

The Chinese.

We take your land, your jobs.

Look the same, sound the same,

more every day.

So you do what you can.

The tax, for example.

I would do the same myself.

There is a natural order.

There is.

So, the question is not about

who has power, but how to keep it.

Indeed.

There is a thousand Chinese

in this camp

and they all do one thing:

they work.

And yes, they will pay more tax

and I will collect it.

But it will not be long

before I am blamed

and then you will have

a new headman here

and new headmen

all over the diggings.

But they will not be like me.

They will be trouble.

Will they?

Yes.

Well, you have

soldiers and police

but they cost money.

See, I may not be as wise

or strong

but I am yours.

I make things easy.

Why mess with that?

I'll bring it up with the Governor.

Darling.

Oh yes.

I admit I'm impressed.

For a white woman.

What?

One of our people just came back

from California.

She was there.

Three camps all went the same.

Cheung wants a headman gone,

Lei makes it happen.

From what I understand, she's not

afraid to take things to extremes.

She's here for you.

Is everything okay?

You shouldn't miss the sky lanterns.

It's quite the sight for the first time.

I'm sorry. Something's happened.

There's something wrong?

There's been a woman m*rder*d.

Where was she? Who found her?

Sheep farmer's dog

sniffed her out.

She's cut right open.

Where's she from?

We need her name.

Does anyone know her?

Right, you lot, get back.

I said back up!

Does anyone know

who this woman is?