(WIND HOWLS)
(THUNDER CRACKS)
(ALL SHOUT)
LOUISE: Almost as soon as old Bates, GH,
told us how the camp was being shut down
permanently and in disgrace,
from overhead, the heaven's waters broke.
Colonel!
And in the downpour, one thing stood out more than ever--
how all the umbrella-makers had been washed clean overboard.
(PAPER CRUMBLES)
(TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK)
Ciao.
You help me? Sure.
That's it.
Now that one's down.
OK. Thank you.
Oh, hey, wog boy!
Wog man!
Something came for you.
Telegram.
Please, you read?
(READS) "Nino, meet Joe. Town Hall. 10 o'clock Friday."
(SIGHS)
Here, I got some of my clothes for you.
Oh, ta, Dad.
Look, um, I wasn't gonna show you this, not yet,
but it's as we feared.
(SIGHS)
Oh, can't we do nothing? Appeal or something?
Well, Dante pleaded guilty, insisted on his sanity at all times,
which is a peculiar colour for anyone to nail to their mast.
We could do a petition, couldn't we?
Mmm.
Yeah, that's what I'll do. I'll start one.
Will you sign it?
Over and over and over.
There you go.
(SIGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
(WINDS TO Y)
("WEDDING MARCH' BY MENDELSSOHN PLAYS)
What is it, you reckon?
It's a whirligig of some sort.
The whirligig of time.
What?
"Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges."
Shakespeare. You're not meant to understand it.
I wish your mother could've been here
to see the fine daughter we made.
(CHUCKLES)
She had her last cup of tea,
overcooked the peas and beans.
Make her famous cheese scones,
that tasted of...
Cheese?
Of nothing.
I'd happily forsake an eternity of sharp and mild
for just one perfectly savourless day with her at my side again.
This isn't a time to be alone.
Oh, Dad.
Wait until we settle somewhere new.
You'll have more company than what you can poke a stick at.
Where I'm going, I expect to have
neighbours upon neighbours all in a row,
not starved for conversation
and a little short on human warmth.
(CHUCKLES)
Is that Shakespeare too? Because I didn't get it.
No.
(CLICK!)
(SQUEAKING)
Aww...
Oh, you don't know whether you're Arthur or Martha, do you?
Come on.
(SQUAWKS)
Here you go.
Let's find you a home.
(VOICES ECHO)
NINO: Learn English, please?
DANTE: Please, Professor, can we study pronoun?
Me, I'm getting confused.
PIETER: Forgive me, Professor,
but would it be too strenuous for you to teach them something?!
ADRIANNA: I used to cut my husband's hair.
What a coincidence -- my wife used to cut mine.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Feel like getting shickered, old chum?
TB.
Tubercu-bloody-Iosis.
(GROANS)
(SIGHS)
So, now you know.
But don't panic. I'm not going to kiss you or sneeze in your drink.
Yeah, well, thanks very much. Yeah, much appreciated.
(SIGHS)
Shouldn't you be in quarantine or something?
Now, let's not go jumping the bazooka, Henry.
None of this is official.
Doc Jensen's away on hollies.
And, uh, I sort of slipped the envelope open, so...
(SIGHS)
Who knows? I may be barking up the wrong eucalypt!
He may give me a clean bill of what's-it.
(COUGHS SHARPLY)
Does Louise know?.
Um...
No, I didn't want to rain on her parade
with all this, uh, wedding nonsense
whirling round in her head.
In any case, her little cretin boyfriend's buggered off,
so who knows where any of us stand?
Yes, well, I've got a fair idea where Nino's gone.
Well, cough it up, then.
So to speak.
They've let his brother go.
The courts?! Yep.
It seems this Bianca creature...
Yeah, Miss Washed-Out-Looking 1953.
Yes. (CHUCKLES)
Well, she, uh, testified.
Took the stand,
said she single-handedly ran the whole shebang.
SHEbang? Good name for a brothel, I suppose.
Boom-boom. (CHUCKLES)
Yes, wool-blind.
Joe Della Vergine was just a dupe.
Ah, yes. Well, some have dupeness thrust upon them.
So, Nino, your, uh, future son-in-law,
is doubtless escorting him back here as we speak.
Oh, what's one more dago among friends?
Yes. (CLEARS THROAT)
Well, um, I haven't told anyone this, Ken,
but there's the little matter of, uh, the Corporal.
Bev?
Yes, Bev. Bev...
Did you know that I've been calling her "B'
for the better part of a year?
I had noticed that, yes. (CHUCKLES) Well, thanks very much.
(SCOFFS) I thought it was short for "Beatrice'.
(LAUGHS)
Or...or a nickname, like, uh...like "honey bee'.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Or "bumblebee'.
(CHUCKLES) No.
No, that's me. "Bumbles' Bates.
Anyway,
I've asked her, uh -- B...Bev --
to, uh...to marry me.
I'm due for her answer tomorrow, but what hope have I got
if Braces shows his ugly mug in time to ruin it all?
That's B's choice, then, is it? Braces or Bumbles?
(CACKLES) Funny.
What am I gonna do, Ken?
I don't know.
Although, you know, if you had to, uh, seal off the camp --
TB scare and all that --
uh, Braces wouldn't be able to get through, would he?
(LAUGHS) Oh, Kenneth!
Kenneth, you...
Professor! Yes? (CHUCKLES)
Your blood's worth bottling.
Yeah, what's left of it.
Oh, sorry.
That's alright. (BOTH LAUGH)
Hey, Nino, come on. Wake up.
Eh, Giusepp! (LAUGHS)
Mio fratello è libero!
Happy day! Happy day!
Bring the money? Yeah, yeah.
This Australian bloke called Donald, he run two-up joint here.
He gonna double his up for us.
But the camp... There's nothing there for me now.
Huh? Giusepp!
(CHUCKLES)
(KNOCK AT DOOR, DOOR OPENS)
Uh, the sentries have been posted at the gate
and the radiography unit's setting up in the mess hall.
G-good, good.
Bev?
You know what day it is?
Mmm.
Have...you got your answer?
Look, I'd like just a little more time.
Well, when will you have it? Today?
Today?!
(SIGHS)
Lunchtime? Can I give you my answer then?
Alright. Do you thinking, then.
And while you're at it, think about this...
I'm not a eunuch.
Oh, of course not, Henry.
Back gate's locked, mate. Unless they've got a boat.
Stop there, thanks, driver.
Can I turn around?
Oh, back out and go around to the left.
Mr Bates! Henry!
Colonel? Yes.
Everyone signed the petition for them not to hang Dante.
Well, almost everyone.
Well, what do you want me to do?
It might carry more weight, I thought,
if it went to the Governor, or even in an official envelope.
And if you could put in a special plea for, um... What's the word?
Clemency.
Alright. Leave it with me. Ta.
Has there been any sign of Nino?
Nothing. Sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
(EXCLAIMS AND LAUGHS)
You both fully compos?
Never better, Professor.
ADRIANNA: Having the time of our lives!
But, uh...
If I can't have this bit of barren, bankrupt bitch of earth,
no-one can.
I'm tearing it all apart. Every last gritty silverbeet.
(CHUCKLES)
Every last useless sod!
Well, can this useless sod play as well?
Why not? Let's make it a party! Right.
Ohh! Burn in hell!
Take that!
Out, vile jelly!
(ADRIANNA LAUGHS)
Here.
ADRIANNA: Ooh! (KENNETH CACKLES)
What the hell are you doing, huh?!
What the hell are YOU?!
My spade!
Not that sodden Slavic shovel again! Shh. Have some tact.
Oh, shoosh yourself, you tulip-twirling twat.
It's only a gardening implement!
Grab him and hold him!
I'll brand his face while it's still hot! For Christ's sake!
(GROANS)
(VEHICLE APPROACHES)
Hey! Nascondere! Nascondere!
(SPEAKS ITALIAN) Sheep-killing man!
(GIGGLES)
Hey, g'day, Mr Ashbolt.
It's very nice to see you, huh? Yes.
Please, for to give lift back to migrant camp?
Oh, there's another quarantine. No-one in or out.
Ah. Ah, yes, that's too bad. Um...
But, you see, I supposed to be in.
They don't even know I is out.
Prego, Signor, please, I...
..I do anything.
Anything, eh?
Well, you can help me knock a little mate on the noggin
when we get back to camp -- is it a deal?
Uh, nog...gin. Sí, sí. (CHUCKLES)
Righto, dimwit. Get in the back, keep your head down.
Uh, thank you. Thank you very much!
Mille grazie! Grazie! (SPEAKS ITALIAN)
Yes, yes, sí, sí, sí.
ASHBOLT: Come on, come on...
GIUSEPPE: Great, Nino.
ASHBOLT: Start, you bastard. (ENGINE SPLUTTERS)
Eh, Joe? Lady Beverly.
(CHUCKLES)
Now, listen, we need hate, we need anger.
Without it, this country will just gobble us up like marshmallows.
If living in this shithole teaches us nothing but how to hate,
it will have served its purpose.
Hoot like an owl -- keep watch.
You're OK.
You, uh, haven't clapped eyes on the Italian fellow, have you?
Della Vergine?
The little dimwit or the big dimwit?
Uh, well, either one.
Yeah, but, no, particularly the big fella with tickets on himself.
No. I haven't seen him.
Dimwit?! I got to kill him.
(MUTTERS IN ITALIAN)
I just shit on him. (SPEAKS ITALIAN)
You wait in the shed. I send to you Lady Bev.
And don't go near il colonnello, huh?
Hey, don't push it, OK?
Right.
ASHBOLT: Alright, lad, here we go.
Hey, boy! Boy! (GROANS)
Bloody dagos, mate. You can't trust them.
Come to daddy, darling.
(BLEATS) (GROANS)
Get hold of him! That's the bloody dinner!
Come back, you!
I must have you answer now.
(SIGHS) What's the rush?
(SCOFFS) You promised me by 12:00!
Well... (SIGHS) ..I said by lunchtime.
That's 1300 hours.
I can't be held at ransom any longer, B. Bugger! Bev!
If you won't have me, my life is just not worth living!
If you're gonna end it for me, do the right thing --
do...do it now.
I'll do anything you want!
I'll become anything that is in my power to become!
(SNIFFLES)
Well, you can start by standing up.
If you can live with the fact that...
..a little bit of me, maybe quite a lot of me,
will always be held back for the memory of Joe...
(SIGHS)
If you can live with the fact
that I'm merely resigned to never seeing him again...
..then, alright.
Are you saying...?
I'm saying yes.
Yes?
Yes! (LAUGHS GLEEFULLY)
Oh! Ohh! (CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT)
(OPENS DRAWER)
(CLEARS THROAT)
(CHUCKLES)
With this ring...
I don't have one for you.
Well, it's alright. I'll pay for it.
Like hell you will.
(CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
(BATES KNOCKS) I know it's you in there, Braces.
You can either let me in, or I'll blast the door off its hinges.
(KNOCKS) Come on, open up.
OPEN UP!
Bad move, coming back here, mate.
I have business to finish.
Your business here's over.
(LAUGHS) I no listen to you.
Just before you go making a fool of yourself,
there's something you need to know about Miss Stafford and me.
What? You wear same perfume?
We're engaged.
You work fast.
Oh, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?
I won't mince words.
I'm here to appeal to whatever pathetic scrap of decency you've got.
You know, I've seen blokes like you
more times than you've had spaghetti with sauce.
I've seen you turn on the charm
and get whatever, whoever, you want.
You couldn't guess how many times I've wished to be in your shoes.
But bloke like me, no -- we've gotta sit back
and watch you lot reduce other people's lives to rubble
with...the turn of a profile,
one more soulful Latin stare.
Bloody marvellous, isn't it?
Do the decent thing and walk away now,
before you turn Bev inside out and upside down again!
Before you do any more harm -- that's all I'm asking.
I want to see her.
To say goodbye.
How...how do I know you won't doublecross me?
You don't.
Unfortunately, I cannot give my word
as officer and gentleman.
BEV: What's the matter with you? You prefer the cage?
(SIGHS) But you're not Robinson Crusoe in there.
(SIGHS) Come on.
(BANGING)
(EXCLAIMS IN ITALIAN)
Bastardo! That boat is mine!
Louisa's and mine! (SCREAMS)
Bastardo...!
Louisa!
Sorry. Sorry, sorry.
Prego! Perdono me, huh?
II bambino!
Don't worry about the blinking baby! It's tough as boots!
It's been punching and kicking in there
like it's got four arms and four legs!
And, now, if you don't mind me asking,
where the fuck have you been?!
I... I... (MUTTERS, CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
Of course I was going to come back!
The whirly machine is for you. Nostro bimba.
Our baby! OUR baby!
Don't you go forgetting that when it fills its nappy!
Oh, don't worry. I prepared. I already buy peg! (LAUGHS)
I'm not joking, you know, Nin. I need to know.
You need to show me that you're ready
for the responsibilities of being a father.
(SCRATCHES) Ahh!
You is the crazy one!
I promise to be a good papa. Promise.
I don't want your promises. I want proof.
Mmm.
Giusepp! Lady Bev!
(SIGHS)
(DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
(WIND BLOWS)
Peggy?
Don't tell me -- you're confused about pronouns.
(CHUCKLES)
GIUSEPPE: Well...
..congratulations.
I mean it.
In Australia, we don't congratulate the woman.
It implies scheming.
If anything, the reverse was true.
I kept wondering whether I wanted to be married to anyone at all.
Having hideous visions of myself 15 years from now...
..wagging a finger at my one teenage child,
"If you can't look after those things properly, young lady,
"you don't deserve nice things."
That's not who I want to be.
Who you want to be?
(SIGHS)
I want to be...
..someone who still has the time
to...Iook at a bunch of willows crowded on a riverbank...
..and think, well, some old, arthritic gun must've called out,
"Last one in's a rotten egg."
Now you know how crazy I am on the inside.
No, you not crazy.
You're just scared.
I wish I knew what of.
You're scared you cannot have the security together with imagination.
When you look at Bates, how boring he is,
I see the risk.
Don't say that.
He's kind and decent.
And I strung him along.
And I can't pull out now because...
It kill him.
(SNIFFLES)
But for you, Bev?
For you there must be more than just his interest, no?
And your teeth marks.
It's the kids, huh?
It's now or never for me.
I want something outside myself to care about.
Someone to care for.
I've gotten bored watching the ups and downs of my own emotions.
But if they were a child's feelings...
..the ups and downs of a whole family,
I...I might just be enthralled again.
Then you must stick to Bates.
Bev...
..how much time do you think pass before I cheat on you?
Six months?
I'm bastard. I always was in the past.
And I always will be in the future.
Forever.
Amen.
(OPENS AND CLOSES DOOR)
(DUCKS QUACK)
(BLEATS)
Can I push?
Yes. You can push.
Make sure coast is clear.
(SINGS SOFTLY)
I can't see nobody.
Ohh!
Oh, my God.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING) Ohh!
Are you alright? Nothing broken?
Professor, are you shitting yourself now?.
We could have killed him.
I wish you fucking had.
Oh, God, Dad! Are you alright?
MIHALY: Hey, Professor, where's your sense of humour?
I'll have the last laugh on you.
I'll cough in your coffee and I'll spit in your stew
and your lungs will turn to cheese like mine.
I'll never forgive you!
Or you or you!
You killed my fucking sheep.
Professor, you should be grateful.
We taught you a very important lesson.
We taught you how to hate.
It's too late. I've been practising on myself for years.
(LOUD CREAKING)
(DOOR CLOSES)
You'll never guess who's turned up.
Braces.
He congratulated the pair of us.
And how about this...
..he didn't even try to make a pass.
I know.
That...that was one of my terms.
You knew he was here?
When?
Lunchtime.
If you feel that your decision was made under...
..duress...
..I won't...won't hold you to it.
Lf...
If you wanna go to him...
..I won't stop you.
Excuse me.
(OPENS AND CLOSES DOOR)
No, no! Don't do it!
What? Don't do it!
If someone should put the rope on the head, it should be me.
Let go! Let go! I'm not stupid!
Arggh!
(BOTH GRUNT AND GROAN)
(LAUGHS)
You in one piece? Yeah.
I think so.
You?
More's the pity.
(LAUGHS) You know, what you tried to do up there
is a very big thing.
And when you think what they'd planned for Dante,
well, it's not so good taste.
Well, truth is I was just looking at the rope.
Trying the idea on for size, so to speak.
Literally, what I meant to do was to raise the carcass -- sheep carcass --
up in the air.
We've been having a bit of a problem with wild dogs.
(LAUGHS) It's not that funny, Braces.
OK. (LAUGHS)
A bloke toying with the idea of actually doing himself in
because...because...
..womenfolk actually prefer bastards like you.
Who tell you this?
What, Bev she tell you this?
Not in as many words.
(SIGHS)
But it is my understanding that there's always the door open there for you.
Long as you don't rush it.
My mistake.
(CLAPS)
So what you do?
This will give you another good laugh --
I'm thinking about going back in the army.
Give this, uh...this Korean business a bit of a go before it fizzles out,
if they'll have me.
You really think women, they prefer bastards?
Huh?
They prefer anyone...
..who doesn't look desperate.
(POIGNANT MUSIC)
You know, kiddo, sometimes there's no other choice for the modern woman.
Than what?
Than putting all her eggs in one bastard.
(LAUGHS) Ohh!
Eh?
Please, Professore, come on.
Open wide, huh?
You is going to have to eat when they put you in the ospedale place.
What place?
The hospital.
For the TBs.
Yes, yes, they is going to give you tablet or something
and make you exercise your lung.
(BREATHES DEEPLY AND CHUCKLES)
One big breath. (INHALES LOUDLY)
You do with me, huh? Two big breath. (INHALES)
Three big breath. (INHALES)
(INHALES)
(COUGHS)
Sorry.
You alright?
(CONTINUES COUGHING)
Sorry.
Professore...
..when you is better,
Louisa and me will bring our baby to you, huh?
To wave through the glass to his nonno.
That is...that is...
..if I have your permission...
..to make for Louisa a home.
To be responsibilities.
No more this stupid boy in red hat.
Proof enough.
Bev. They're going to take a photo inside my chest.
Ha, maybe inside my head too, huh?
(CHUCKLES) I wonder what they'll find.
Hey.
What?
I have a question.
Hypothetically.
Might you still want to...
..live with me if it meant having a loony old woman living with us?
Where I come from, this is compulsory.
Could you guarantee me one other thing?
Hypothetically, yeah? Mmm.
That you'll try to be faithful.
Forever and ever?
Well, for a bit more than six months.
That you'll try.
I try.
(X-RAY MACHINE WHIZZES AND CLICKS)
Bugger it!
Shit!
Oh, bugger!
Dante.
(SIGHS)
(GUNSHOT)
BATES: Well, if everyone's ready...
..I'll begin.
We're gathered here today to join these people
in holy matrimony.
If any person knows any reason why these two...
Well, these four people, should not be joined in matrimony,
let him speak now.
What, like three of them already being married to other people?
He's not married... (SIMULTANEOUS PROTESTS)
Alright, alright, alright, I stand corrected.
Or forever hold his peace.
You'll do.
(DANCE HALL MUSIC)
(GIUSEPPE AND BEV LAUGH)
So you get new rubber cap?
No, I fried that in basil and garlic.
Anyway, we don't need one.
Well, you know, the day before when I say I shoot blank,
I mean, I just make that up.
I... No, I mean we don't need one.
What, kids?
That's kind of the idea, I thought.
(CHUCKLES)
Where do they go?
Must be nearly dawn.
So?
First light today.
Dante.
So the petition changes nothing?
I never even got a letter of receipt.
Now I remember what I said.
What? What do you mean?
I said, "Where are you from?" (LAUGHS)
And he said,
"Buongiorno, Signorina. My name is Dante.
"I come from Italia.
"I make...
"I make ombrelli. "
What did you say?
I said...
.."Welcome to sunny Australia."
(CREAKING)
(COUPLE SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
LOUISE: Are you coming?
Or did you love this place too much to leave?
I loathed every last inch of it.
As well you know.
You're in luck, then.
What is it, do you reckon, love/hate...?
Love/hate...
Yes, dear heart, that's not inaccurate.
But, um...I'll let you in on a little secret.
This hole is not loving.
SONG: ♪ And who by fire
♪ Who by water
♪ Who in the sunshine
♪ Who in the night-time
♪ Who by high ordeal
♪ Who by common trial
♪ Who in your merry, merry month of May
♪ Who by very slow decay
♪ And who shall I say
♪ Is calling?
♪ And who in her lonely slip
♪ Who by barbiturate
♪ Who in these realms of love
♪ Who by something blunt
♪ Who by avalanche
♪ Who by powder
♪ Who for his greed
♪ Who for his hunger
♪ And who shall I say
♪ Is calling?
♪ And who by brave assent
♪ Who by accident
♪ Who in solitude
♪ Who in this mirror
♪ Who by his lady's command
♪ Who by his own hand
♪ Who in mortal chains
♪ Who in power
♪ And who shall I say
♪ Is calling? ♪