Bedevil (1993) - full transcript
Three Australian stories of the supernatural are recounted in this anthology. Rick (Jack Charles), an Aboriginal boy living near a swamp on Bribie Island, is haunted by an American solider who drowned in quicksand. Ruby (Tracey Moffatt) and her family live in a house near long-abandoned train tracks, which still carry ghostly apparitions. A landlord (Lex Marinos) has trouble evicting the tenants of an old warehouse: a couple that's been dead for years.
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
WAVES BREAK
FROGS CROAK
OMINOUS MUSIC
LIGHT, TINKLING MUSIC
Through here.
DRAMATIC MUSIC
LIGHT, TINKLING MUSIC
Come on!
It's too far!
Come on.
This way.
Down here.
Sit there.
You sit there.
EERIE WHEEZING
Take it.
WHEEZING
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
Don't want that.
What you doing?
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
EERIE, TINKLING MUSIC
Stay there.
OMINOUS CHORDS
(Cries out)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Boy screams)
MUSIC CLIMAXES
(Man laughs)
The ghost swamp.
Yeah, that was me.
I was seven at the time.
I was OK.
They fished me out.
(Laughs)
(Sighs)
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I hated that place.
That...island.
I've always loved this place -
our island home.
The swamp business
is the only true tragedy we've had.
During the Second World War,
the island
was full of American soldiers.
Yanks, Yanks, Yanks, everywhere.
They were stationed here.
Then, one night...
a poor GI - strange type -
whom I knew,
drove his tank
straight into the quicksand swamp.
Sank, without a trace,
and was never found.
CHATTERING
The children in the area
have always told tales about him -
the ghost of the GI pulling them in.
CHATTERING
PEACEFUL, HAPPY MUSIC
He said he saw the ghost here once,
when he was very young.
Oh, yes, Rick,
the youngest Waddy boy.
People never knew
how sweet he could be.
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
He'd break into my shop
and steal all my things.
But I'd always catch him.
(Boy grunts)
JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC
Those eyes, looking up at me,
and he'd always, always beg me -
"Please, please, don't tell Uncle.
He'll kill me if you do."
But I'd never tell.
I suppose I should have...
but I never did.
I cared for him.
No-one else seemed to.
I think his mother tried...
but...those step-uncles.
I shouldn't say it, but I don't think
his home life was...
DRAMATIC FLOURISH
How long have I lived on the island?
My father built the main road
through the island in 1926.
I was four
when my mother and I joined him.
So, if I was four in 1926,
that makes me...
(Mouths) 70.
WHISTLING
Anybody seen the saw?
Er, over at the left.
Behind the ladder.
Behind the ladder.
Yeah, I'll get it...
Oi! Give me that!
(Men laugh)
Hey, hey. Hang on, hang on.
Now, you'll really like this.
I take the egg, I throw it...
Wait here.
HAMMERING AND SAWING
MAN: How 'bout we all lift that lot?
(Giggles)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
(Man laughs)
There you go.
Thanks.
Come on.
(Men laugh and chatter)
Hey! Whoa!
One, two, three. One, two, three.
One, one, hey!
GURGLING
(Giggles)
They built a poxy cinema
above that stinkin' swamp.
Can you believe that?
WOMAN: Whoo-hoo!
(Whispers) Hi! Guess who!
How are you?
Oh, great. How are you?
Terrible.
Oh, what's the matter?
Those kids have been chucking rocks
at me all day long.
No!
Look, look at the filth.
I don't need this.
It's all over me.
I bought you lunch.
I don't have to put up with this.
Ta. It's not only that,
it's these guys over here.
Clowns, they're clowns.
They just run around
chucking things everywhere.
Oh, babe! (Laughs)
For me?
Like that, babe, hey?
Mmm.
(Chuckles)
What the hell is this?
I don't know. Don't know, really.
What is it, babe?
Nothing to worry about.
It's just an old hat, alright?
It says "Made in the USA".
I don't know about that.
I think I've seen one before.
It's got a marking down here.
Is that a name on it?
Amazing, no rust.
And I was thinking
of that dumb GI bastard down below.
GURGLING
(Laughs)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Grunts)
SCRAPING
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
RIPPING
DRAMATIC, SCREECHING MUSIC
DOG BARKS
WHEEZING
BIRDS SHRIEK AND FLAP AWAY
(Laughs)
No, I want that one.
Thanks, Rick.
Thanks, Rick.
(Rings bell on bike)
I want that one.
No, I want it.
Come out and play!
No!
I want the chocolate.
Rick?
Oh, thanks...
(Man roars angrily)
Go!
MAN: Where is he?!
(Girls cry out)
(Angrily) Out of the way!
(Distorted) Come down, Rick!
Come down here!
SCUFFLING
DISTORTED YELLING CONTINUES
BANGING AND CRASHING
THUMPING AND CRASHING,
DISTORTED YELLING
WHEEZING
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Rick cries)
Yes, I knew that was going on.
We on the island all knew.
We could have helped that child.
We could have.
(Whispers indistinctly)
(Children laugh)
JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC
RICK: The place has changed a lot,
so I've been told.
(Men yell and argue)
MAN: I don't want you walking
along...!
Cut it out, you bastard!
You'll never walk on the island
ever, ever again!
(Men shout)
MAN: Get out! Get out!
FOOTSTEPS
THUNDER CRASHES
OMINOUS MUSIC
It...it...it stank worse than shit.
And it was...down there.
And it was...
licking my feet.
And...and it was...it was...
gripping my legs...
and its tongue...
was all over my feet.
SLURPING
DRAMATIC MUSIC
GENTLE MUSIC
RUMBLING, DOG BARKS
(Yawns)
(Baby cries)
Go get the lamp.
She's here! She's here!
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
TRAIN CHUGS
(Breathes unevenly)
LOUD EXPLOSION, ROARING
TRAIN RATTLES PAST
LOUD WHISTLING
TRAIN RUMBLES
She's here!
EERIE MUSIC
Yay! (Claps)
"She's here. She's here!"
That's what I kept yellin'.
COUNTRY MUSIC
ALL: Whoo-hoo!
(Woman sings) # To those
far-distant ranges
# Valleys and plains
# Mother nature's
calling me back home again
# There's 50 miles before me,
500 miles behind
# And this old Ghan
is rocking me back home on time
# When loneliness and sorrow
and trouble comes your way
# Friends, you haven't any
to help you on your way
# When sickness overtakes you
and you are all alone
# It's the only time you'll think
of the old folks at home... #
Well?
What do you think of my netball team?
(All cheer)
(Woman sings)
# I gaze into the distance
# To see the hills of home
# And then I start to wonder
why ever did I roam?
# From friends I left behind me,
in Alice Springs to roam
# My rambling days are over,
and I'm going home
# To those far-distant ranges,
valleys and plains
# Mother nature's
calling me back home again
# There's 50 miles before me,
900 miles behind
# And this old Ghan
is rocking me back home on time
# When loneliness and sorrow
and trouble comes my way
# Friends, I have so many,
to help me any day
# When sickness overtakes me,
I won't be all alone
# My dear old folks are waiting
to welcome me home... #
Want to hear spooky story?
First, a tour.
Charleville was once
a great western town,
and people owned
vast cattle and sheep stations.
Land sold only for one cent an acre.
Now it's gone up to $2 an acre.
Old curios, antiques,
old typewriters,
old lamps, old telephones.
Mr Hobson.
(Man speaks Chinese)
A train driver
used to live here alone,
a well-known chap in these parts,
but strange - he never spoke.
EERIE MUSIC
He was the main driver in this region
for 50 years,
then, one day, while in his 80s,
he went missing.
There was a search party
up and down the river here.
Something had happened in his past,
something haunted him.
Bedevilled, he was -
he couldn't live with it anymore.
They found him hanging from...that!
Choo, choo, choo - they hear him,
but they can't see him.
Wait, there is someone -
an old alcoholic called Mickey.
Go and see him.
He knows the train story.
He might be in the horrors by now,
but he can yarn, old Mickey.
I...I have a friend.
Visits me here at night.
She's a ghost...
but I call it a spirit.
Who is she?
I don't want to tell who it is.
Well, it's not the little girl.
EERIE MUSIC
The little...
These spirits...
Perhaps they do try
to tell us something.
I try to work it out.
I believe in these things.
I also believe in the hovercrafts.
I mean, the UFOs.
They've been in our family for years.
Ronnie... (Coughs)
I'm going to get you.
BUZZING
RAINBIRD SINGS
Don't... Don't...
Hey, look!
MAGICAL MUSIC
Dad!
Quick! Quick!
Ah, what do they want?
Dad! Dad!
Dad, come and have a look
at the lights!
Hey!
Dad! Hurry up!
(Murmurs angrily)
Dad!
Come on!
These kids need a good hand.
What?
(Sighs)
Nothing.
Ah, those kids.
Where?
There!
WOMAN: When we lived out here,
strange things would happen.
Sometimes we'd see these things
in the sky.
Our old people
would call them min min lights.
Those old Murri people,
they never knew what they were.
And neither did we.
They just used to come.
The min min lights,
they just used to come.
The wok! The wok!
Don't forget the wok!
Then there was this little girl
who had, like this...
But first,
let me tell you about my husband.
Once, when he was coming home
from a hunt...
(Hums)
THUNDER RUMBLES
EERIE MUSIC
(Hums)
WIND WHISTLES
(Exclaims)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
MUSIC STOPS
Mmm!
Ow!
Jeez, Jack, you finished early.
Not to worry, coz, plenty of time.
METALLIC SCRAPING
(Sighs)
(Laughs)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Stompie...
What is it?
Hmm?
I don't know.
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
DOG BARKS
(Children laugh)
Oi!
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
Hmm.
KOOKABURRAS LAUGH
Great job, Jack. Now, fix it!
Yep. Yeah, brother.
I was just about to do it now.
It's getting a bit late.
(Cockatoo squawks)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
DOG BARKS
Uh.
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
RUMBLING
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
BANG!
BANG!
(Child murmurs in ghostly voice)
Did you hear that?
What?
No. Here, here.
Nah.
EERIE MUSIC
Don't do that.
Get. Get. Get.
That'll keep the heat in, Maudie.
Oh, well, you can see
the girls and I have been busy.
This is a wild pig
being cooked underground.
We've already marinated it overnight
in juniper berries, wine
and fresh herbs.
Herbs of this area.
We've stuffed the pig
with bush onions
and we'll serve it
with sweet potatoes and yam.
But while we're waiting on it,
we've got the entree happening.
This is a yabby.
It's very much like
a freshwater prawn or shrimp.
The flavour, though,
is a lot stronger.
We're tossing them around here
in some canola oil,
a pinch of chilli and garlic.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
Oh, sorry. Of course - thyme.
Hey! Hey! Come here! Over here!
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
She's telling them
that she can't cook it now,
but we'll take it home and she'll
make it into a snake terrine,
served with a walnut vinaigrette.
Just a common hollandaise, actually.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
OK.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
OK.
OK. You don't have to carry on.
Bloody Queen Victoria
of bush cuisine.
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS LOUDLY
ALL: 'Bye!
Hey!
Oh, yeah!
Fireflies!
What you got there, sis?
Oh, carton of beer.
(Baby cries)
Oh!
Oh, baby!
(Baby cries)
Darling!
WOMAN: Oh, bubby.
Baby, baby.
Oh!
Oh, come on, baby.
We've got you.
SNORING
Podge, for the last time, go to bed.
I took the firecrackers off Ronnie
because he's a very dangerous boy.
Oh, is he just? Hmm?
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
EERIE HIGH-PITCHED TONE
OK. Come on.
No! I'm not sleeping
with those crackers...
Give me them!
Give me 'em. What are you doing?
Give me that! Put it out!
Put that lighter out!
Oh, Jesus!
FIRECRACKERS EXPLODE
That's right -
you bet on that horse.
No, I didn't.
I know that horse came home.
Ah, that woman... (Hiccups)
is a horse.
(Moans)
Where's my money?
(Mumbles)
(Sobs)
RATTLING
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Choo, choo, choo, choo.
They hear it, but they can't see it.
It was said something haunted him -
bedevilled, he was.
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
RUMBLING
Wake up! Stompie, get up!
Stompie! Jack! Get up!
(Gasps)
LOUD ROAR OF TRAIN
Huh? (Breathes unevenly)
TAPPING
(Gasps)
A little blind girl,
she was killed on the tracks
by that train driver.
Blind, she was blind.
Her and her family used to live here
before we moved in.
Man, she used to drive me crazy
when she'd come.
She's here! She's here!
(Women laugh)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
URGENT, EERIE MUSIC
MAGICAL MUSIC
(People talk and laugh indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
MAN: I'm going to get you...
(Man talks indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
(Woman sings
in Torres Strait Islander language)
Ow!
Yes! (Laughs)
(Both laugh)
Ooh!
Quick, let's go. Come on, come on.
BELL RINGS
Go on!
What's going on?
Welcome to what will be
Dimitri's Casino Marina!
It's still here! What's the delay?
Why's it still there! Tell me.
It's coming down.
Believe me, guys, it's coming down.
Sure, sure, sure.
Hey, Athens wasn't built in a day,
hey, Georgie?
Oh, I can't stand it.
Friends of my son, in fact.
Kids, eh, Georgie?
Sure, sure, sure.
Remember when we were kids, Georgie?
Mum...
What is there?
Why does she blow the smoke?
Whose smoke?
Ah, Emelda.
Why is Emelda always sad?
No. It's not for you to know.
Well, perhaps you could know.
Let me tell you about Emelda.
You know she's not from around here.
She's from the Torres Strait Islands.
Her people are still quite
traditional in their ways,
especially concerning things
like marriage.
Emelda had a son.
Beba.
He was her only child.
She was never the same after he died.
It's just a bit of a logjam...
Doesn't matter. We trust you.
The alderman I donated to...
Doesn't matter.
..well, he just forgot -
you know what council's like.
The alderman has let me down.
We catered for
his daughter's 21st...
No. Big delays here.
Look, the development and building
applications will be approved
and this'll be ruined,
and there'll be nothing here.
Yes, but delays. Big delays.
What was that?!
Who was that?
Is that the latest model?
Call me back.
I asked you if you still had
anyone living there, Dimitri.
(Laughs) I can see how you would...
What...what's this, Dimitri?
Er, 24 hours and they're
out of here - 24 hours, tops!
You had trouble here
a while back - yeah, I remember.
It was in the paper. See? Look!
What? What trouble?
Guys, I can explain
the whole situation.
No shit, Dimitri. Let's go.
OK, OK, OK.
There were these two kids from up
north, from the Islands, I think.
Beba was this Islander dude,
and Minnie, this hippie chick.
Guys, we're going 12 years back.
These kids, they were in a bad way.
They needed work, so I...put 'em on.
Oh, you are so nice, Dimitri.
Nice? I'm nice.
Yeah, he's a real nice bastard.
It was about marriage.
The whole clan were down on them.
They had to get the hell out.
DRAMATIC MUSIC
And then the mother, Emelda,
came looking for them.
Found 'em down here.
Jeez, what a fuss she caused.
I want to see the contract, Dimitri.
And then,
after Emelda moved in with them,
that's when
things got really strange.
Dimitri, we're not interested
in your story now,
because you always are very...
LIGHT MUSIC
DRAMATIC MUSIC
Aah! Aah!
It was 12 years back?
Shit! I would've only been
two years old.
Don't swear.
Yes, you were only a baby.
Give you the rest tomorrow.
GENTLE MUSIC
MAGICAL MUSIC
Well, they weren't happy.
Minnie...Minnie would act crazy...
and get him all worked up.
Then you'd hear them start.
(People argue indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
But...why were they like that, Ma?
Emelda knows.
That's why she's so sad.
Mm-hm.
Aah! Aah! Aah!
Get up, get up! Jesus! Jesus!
Get up!
CAR DOOR SLAMS
MAN: I'll just go and see this guy.
Get up! Get up!
Get up! Get up! Get up!
Aah! You make me sick.
How are you?
How's your beautiful Voula?
I hear your kid's doing well
at high school, Dimitri.
Ha ha! Don't know him!
Never seen...ah!
Never seen him before in my life.
Dimitri, my man.
I want to thank you
for looking after my aunty.
She'll never want to leave
this place,
and it's because of you.
You are so kind.
I love youse wog people,
do you hear me?
Aunty Emelda!
(Man laughs)
It's all part of a traditional
squatter's farewell ceremony.
Er, tomorrow, guys.
Tomorrow's the day, eh? Yassous! Ha!
You owe me rent!
LAUGHTER, CHATTERING
LAUGHTER, NOISY CHATTER
(Laughs)
INDISTINCT SINGING, LAUGHTER
(Laughs)
(People sing and clap)
Ah, here, Emelda. You have that.
It'll help you sleep -
works for me.
(People sing)
I'll be back! I'll be back!
Yes, I'll come back.
I'll be back. I'll be back.
Not alone. I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
(Knocks at door)
I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
(Knocks loudly on door)
If you'd only listen to me.
If you'd only listen to me.
No! I'm not having an affair
with Trotsky.
EERIE MUSIC
I know you think I am...
but I'm not.
What about you?
Who are you seeing?
Don't deny it.
I've seen you with her.
What number is she?
(Inhales sharply)
(People sing in foreign language)
Hey, Dimitri!
Hey, boy. You've been watching me.
I know.
I've seen you watching me, boy.
It's OK, you know, because...
I used to have a boy, a son.
Beba.
Beba.
Be-ba-a.
(Sings song
in Torres Strait Islander language)
(Song continues)
MAN: Whoo!
(Sings)
I'll be back. I'll be back.
(All continue singing)
LYRICAL MUSIC
Voula! (Yells in Greek)
(Emelda sings)
(Chokes)
FRANTIC MUSIC
VOULA: Leave me out of this!
DIMITRI: Oh, great! That's great!
Make me look the fool!
He's a nutcase over there!
(Continues yelling)
And the rest of them,
they're all at the party!
Looks like
I've been cut out of the party!
(Man laughs uproariously)
MAN: I'm not having an affair
with Trotsky.
EMELDA: Hey, boy...
I know you think I am...
..you've been watching me.
..but I'm not.
What number is she?
I know.
I've seen you watching me,
boy.
If you'd only listen to me.
(People play drums and sing)
MAN: Keep going. Keep going!
(Mumbles sleepily)
(Baby cries)
VOULA: We didn't know what to do
about all the bloody fighting
with Beba and Minnie.
Dimitri...
Your father was going to sack them
the next day.
KNOCK AT DOOR
EMELDA: Dimitri, quick, quick.
Come to help.
Quick, Dimitri.
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
SILENCE
FOREBODING MUSIC
Oh, mad, man! Cool!
(Moans)
Watch it, watch it. You'll be right.
You'll be right. Come on. Let's go.
(Moans)
(Wails)
(Coughs)
(Wails)
Come on.
Get in.
CHILD: Aunty! Aunty!
(Wails and bangs on door)
You'll be right. Let's go.
Come on, come on.
You'll be right.
(Whistles)
(Hums)
(Speaks Greek)
(Speaks Greek)
(Tuts)
(Sighs)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
(Whispers) Adios.
BELL RINGS
(Sighs)
OMINOUS MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
SILENCE
BELL RINGS
DRAMATIC MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
Beba... Minnie...
MUSIC REACHES CRESCENDO
SILENCE
CRASH!
CRASH!
I'll just go
and check that noise out.
Yes, that's a good idea, darling.
Shh! You'll wake the bloody kid.
The bloody kid's 14, darling.
I know he's bloody 14.
I KNOW that.
(Mumbles)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Murmurs)
CRASH!
BELL RINGS
CRASH!
FOREBODING MUSIC
Dimitri! Dimitri!
(Yells) Dimitri, where are you?
Dimitri!
BELL RINGS
Dimitri!
Dimitri!
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Conos...
BELL RINGS
(Grunts)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
Come on! Come on! Hurry!
TYRES SQUEAL
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
SILENCE
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
George!
What do you want? What do you want?
Where are you?
I'm up in the mill.
What are you doing up there?
I'm getting some pen and paper.
Look, come and meet the film people.
I can't get down.
Why can't you get down?
I've got no ladder.
I've got no ladder.
I'll get him.
Captions C SBS Television 2014
WAVES BREAK
FROGS CROAK
OMINOUS MUSIC
LIGHT, TINKLING MUSIC
Through here.
DRAMATIC MUSIC
LIGHT, TINKLING MUSIC
Come on!
It's too far!
Come on.
This way.
Down here.
Sit there.
You sit there.
EERIE WHEEZING
Take it.
WHEEZING
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
Don't want that.
What you doing?
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
EERIE, TINKLING MUSIC
Stay there.
OMINOUS CHORDS
(Cries out)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Boy screams)
MUSIC CLIMAXES
(Man laughs)
The ghost swamp.
Yeah, that was me.
I was seven at the time.
I was OK.
They fished me out.
(Laughs)
(Sighs)
Yeah.
Yeah.
But I hated that place.
That...island.
I've always loved this place -
our island home.
The swamp business
is the only true tragedy we've had.
During the Second World War,
the island
was full of American soldiers.
Yanks, Yanks, Yanks, everywhere.
They were stationed here.
Then, one night...
a poor GI - strange type -
whom I knew,
drove his tank
straight into the quicksand swamp.
Sank, without a trace,
and was never found.
CHATTERING
The children in the area
have always told tales about him -
the ghost of the GI pulling them in.
CHATTERING
PEACEFUL, HAPPY MUSIC
He said he saw the ghost here once,
when he was very young.
Oh, yes, Rick,
the youngest Waddy boy.
People never knew
how sweet he could be.
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
He'd break into my shop
and steal all my things.
But I'd always catch him.
(Boy grunts)
JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC
Those eyes, looking up at me,
and he'd always, always beg me -
"Please, please, don't tell Uncle.
He'll kill me if you do."
But I'd never tell.
I suppose I should have...
but I never did.
I cared for him.
No-one else seemed to.
I think his mother tried...
but...those step-uncles.
I shouldn't say it, but I don't think
his home life was...
DRAMATIC FLOURISH
How long have I lived on the island?
My father built the main road
through the island in 1926.
I was four
when my mother and I joined him.
So, if I was four in 1926,
that makes me...
(Mouths) 70.
WHISTLING
Anybody seen the saw?
Er, over at the left.
Behind the ladder.
Behind the ladder.
Yeah, I'll get it...
Oi! Give me that!
(Men laugh)
Hey, hey. Hang on, hang on.
Now, you'll really like this.
I take the egg, I throw it...
Wait here.
HAMMERING AND SAWING
MAN: How 'bout we all lift that lot?
(Giggles)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
(Man laughs)
There you go.
Thanks.
Come on.
(Men laugh and chatter)
Hey! Whoa!
One, two, three. One, two, three.
One, one, hey!
GURGLING
(Giggles)
They built a poxy cinema
above that stinkin' swamp.
Can you believe that?
WOMAN: Whoo-hoo!
(Whispers) Hi! Guess who!
How are you?
Oh, great. How are you?
Terrible.
Oh, what's the matter?
Those kids have been chucking rocks
at me all day long.
No!
Look, look at the filth.
I don't need this.
It's all over me.
I bought you lunch.
I don't have to put up with this.
Ta. It's not only that,
it's these guys over here.
Clowns, they're clowns.
They just run around
chucking things everywhere.
Oh, babe! (Laughs)
For me?
Like that, babe, hey?
Mmm.
(Chuckles)
What the hell is this?
I don't know. Don't know, really.
What is it, babe?
Nothing to worry about.
It's just an old hat, alright?
It says "Made in the USA".
I don't know about that.
I think I've seen one before.
It's got a marking down here.
Is that a name on it?
Amazing, no rust.
And I was thinking
of that dumb GI bastard down below.
GURGLING
(Laughs)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Grunts)
SCRAPING
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
RIPPING
DRAMATIC, SCREECHING MUSIC
DOG BARKS
WHEEZING
BIRDS SHRIEK AND FLAP AWAY
(Laughs)
No, I want that one.
Thanks, Rick.
Thanks, Rick.
(Rings bell on bike)
I want that one.
No, I want it.
Come out and play!
No!
I want the chocolate.
Rick?
Oh, thanks...
(Man roars angrily)
Go!
MAN: Where is he?!
(Girls cry out)
(Angrily) Out of the way!
(Distorted) Come down, Rick!
Come down here!
SCUFFLING
DISTORTED YELLING CONTINUES
BANGING AND CRASHING
THUMPING AND CRASHING,
DISTORTED YELLING
WHEEZING
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Rick cries)
Yes, I knew that was going on.
We on the island all knew.
We could have helped that child.
We could have.
(Whispers indistinctly)
(Children laugh)
JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC
RICK: The place has changed a lot,
so I've been told.
(Men yell and argue)
MAN: I don't want you walking
along...!
Cut it out, you bastard!
You'll never walk on the island
ever, ever again!
(Men shout)
MAN: Get out! Get out!
FOOTSTEPS
THUNDER CRASHES
OMINOUS MUSIC
It...it...it stank worse than shit.
And it was...down there.
And it was...
licking my feet.
And...and it was...it was...
gripping my legs...
and its tongue...
was all over my feet.
SLURPING
DRAMATIC MUSIC
GENTLE MUSIC
RUMBLING, DOG BARKS
(Yawns)
(Baby cries)
Go get the lamp.
She's here! She's here!
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
TRAIN CHUGS
(Breathes unevenly)
LOUD EXPLOSION, ROARING
TRAIN RATTLES PAST
LOUD WHISTLING
TRAIN RUMBLES
She's here!
EERIE MUSIC
Yay! (Claps)
"She's here. She's here!"
That's what I kept yellin'.
COUNTRY MUSIC
ALL: Whoo-hoo!
(Woman sings) # To those
far-distant ranges
# Valleys and plains
# Mother nature's
calling me back home again
# There's 50 miles before me,
500 miles behind
# And this old Ghan
is rocking me back home on time
# When loneliness and sorrow
and trouble comes your way
# Friends, you haven't any
to help you on your way
# When sickness overtakes you
and you are all alone
# It's the only time you'll think
of the old folks at home... #
Well?
What do you think of my netball team?
(All cheer)
(Woman sings)
# I gaze into the distance
# To see the hills of home
# And then I start to wonder
why ever did I roam?
# From friends I left behind me,
in Alice Springs to roam
# My rambling days are over,
and I'm going home
# To those far-distant ranges,
valleys and plains
# Mother nature's
calling me back home again
# There's 50 miles before me,
900 miles behind
# And this old Ghan
is rocking me back home on time
# When loneliness and sorrow
and trouble comes my way
# Friends, I have so many,
to help me any day
# When sickness overtakes me,
I won't be all alone
# My dear old folks are waiting
to welcome me home... #
Want to hear spooky story?
First, a tour.
Charleville was once
a great western town,
and people owned
vast cattle and sheep stations.
Land sold only for one cent an acre.
Now it's gone up to $2 an acre.
Old curios, antiques,
old typewriters,
old lamps, old telephones.
Mr Hobson.
(Man speaks Chinese)
A train driver
used to live here alone,
a well-known chap in these parts,
but strange - he never spoke.
EERIE MUSIC
He was the main driver in this region
for 50 years,
then, one day, while in his 80s,
he went missing.
There was a search party
up and down the river here.
Something had happened in his past,
something haunted him.
Bedevilled, he was -
he couldn't live with it anymore.
They found him hanging from...that!
Choo, choo, choo - they hear him,
but they can't see him.
Wait, there is someone -
an old alcoholic called Mickey.
Go and see him.
He knows the train story.
He might be in the horrors by now,
but he can yarn, old Mickey.
I...I have a friend.
Visits me here at night.
She's a ghost...
but I call it a spirit.
Who is she?
I don't want to tell who it is.
Well, it's not the little girl.
EERIE MUSIC
The little...
These spirits...
Perhaps they do try
to tell us something.
I try to work it out.
I believe in these things.
I also believe in the hovercrafts.
I mean, the UFOs.
They've been in our family for years.
Ronnie... (Coughs)
I'm going to get you.
BUZZING
RAINBIRD SINGS
Don't... Don't...
Hey, look!
MAGICAL MUSIC
Dad!
Quick! Quick!
Ah, what do they want?
Dad! Dad!
Dad, come and have a look
at the lights!
Hey!
Dad! Hurry up!
(Murmurs angrily)
Dad!
Come on!
These kids need a good hand.
What?
(Sighs)
Nothing.
Ah, those kids.
Where?
There!
WOMAN: When we lived out here,
strange things would happen.
Sometimes we'd see these things
in the sky.
Our old people
would call them min min lights.
Those old Murri people,
they never knew what they were.
And neither did we.
They just used to come.
The min min lights,
they just used to come.
The wok! The wok!
Don't forget the wok!
Then there was this little girl
who had, like this...
But first,
let me tell you about my husband.
Once, when he was coming home
from a hunt...
(Hums)
THUNDER RUMBLES
EERIE MUSIC
(Hums)
WIND WHISTLES
(Exclaims)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
MUSIC STOPS
Mmm!
Ow!
Jeez, Jack, you finished early.
Not to worry, coz, plenty of time.
METALLIC SCRAPING
(Sighs)
(Laughs)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Stompie...
What is it?
Hmm?
I don't know.
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
DOG BARKS
(Children laugh)
Oi!
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
Hmm.
KOOKABURRAS LAUGH
Great job, Jack. Now, fix it!
Yep. Yeah, brother.
I was just about to do it now.
It's getting a bit late.
(Cockatoo squawks)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
DOG BARKS
Uh.
GHOSTLY WHOOSH
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
RUMBLING
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
BANG!
BANG!
(Child murmurs in ghostly voice)
Did you hear that?
What?
No. Here, here.
Nah.
EERIE MUSIC
Don't do that.
Get. Get. Get.
That'll keep the heat in, Maudie.
Oh, well, you can see
the girls and I have been busy.
This is a wild pig
being cooked underground.
We've already marinated it overnight
in juniper berries, wine
and fresh herbs.
Herbs of this area.
We've stuffed the pig
with bush onions
and we'll serve it
with sweet potatoes and yam.
But while we're waiting on it,
we've got the entree happening.
This is a yabby.
It's very much like
a freshwater prawn or shrimp.
The flavour, though,
is a lot stronger.
We're tossing them around here
in some canola oil,
a pinch of chilli and garlic.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
Oh, sorry. Of course - thyme.
Hey! Hey! Come here! Over here!
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
She's telling them
that she can't cook it now,
but we'll take it home and she'll
make it into a snake terrine,
served with a walnut vinaigrette.
Just a common hollandaise, actually.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
OK.
(Speaks Aboriginal language)
OK.
OK. You don't have to carry on.
Bloody Queen Victoria
of bush cuisine.
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS LOUDLY
ALL: 'Bye!
Hey!
Oh, yeah!
Fireflies!
What you got there, sis?
Oh, carton of beer.
(Baby cries)
Oh!
Oh, baby!
(Baby cries)
Darling!
WOMAN: Oh, bubby.
Baby, baby.
Oh!
Oh, come on, baby.
We've got you.
SNORING
Podge, for the last time, go to bed.
I took the firecrackers off Ronnie
because he's a very dangerous boy.
Oh, is he just? Hmm?
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
EERIE HIGH-PITCHED TONE
OK. Come on.
No! I'm not sleeping
with those crackers...
Give me them!
Give me 'em. What are you doing?
Give me that! Put it out!
Put that lighter out!
Oh, Jesus!
FIRECRACKERS EXPLODE
That's right -
you bet on that horse.
No, I didn't.
I know that horse came home.
Ah, that woman... (Hiccups)
is a horse.
(Moans)
Where's my money?
(Mumbles)
(Sobs)
RATTLING
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Choo, choo, choo, choo.
They hear it, but they can't see it.
It was said something haunted him -
bedevilled, he was.
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
RUMBLING
Wake up! Stompie, get up!
Stompie! Jack! Get up!
(Gasps)
LOUD ROAR OF TRAIN
Huh? (Breathes unevenly)
TAPPING
(Gasps)
A little blind girl,
she was killed on the tracks
by that train driver.
Blind, she was blind.
Her and her family used to live here
before we moved in.
Man, she used to drive me crazy
when she'd come.
She's here! She's here!
(Women laugh)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
URGENT, EERIE MUSIC
MAGICAL MUSIC
(People talk and laugh indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
MAN: I'm going to get you...
(Man talks indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
(Woman sings
in Torres Strait Islander language)
Ow!
Yes! (Laughs)
(Both laugh)
Ooh!
Quick, let's go. Come on, come on.
BELL RINGS
Go on!
What's going on?
Welcome to what will be
Dimitri's Casino Marina!
It's still here! What's the delay?
Why's it still there! Tell me.
It's coming down.
Believe me, guys, it's coming down.
Sure, sure, sure.
Hey, Athens wasn't built in a day,
hey, Georgie?
Oh, I can't stand it.
Friends of my son, in fact.
Kids, eh, Georgie?
Sure, sure, sure.
Remember when we were kids, Georgie?
Mum...
What is there?
Why does she blow the smoke?
Whose smoke?
Ah, Emelda.
Why is Emelda always sad?
No. It's not for you to know.
Well, perhaps you could know.
Let me tell you about Emelda.
You know she's not from around here.
She's from the Torres Strait Islands.
Her people are still quite
traditional in their ways,
especially concerning things
like marriage.
Emelda had a son.
Beba.
He was her only child.
She was never the same after he died.
It's just a bit of a logjam...
Doesn't matter. We trust you.
The alderman I donated to...
Doesn't matter.
..well, he just forgot -
you know what council's like.
The alderman has let me down.
We catered for
his daughter's 21st...
No. Big delays here.
Look, the development and building
applications will be approved
and this'll be ruined,
and there'll be nothing here.
Yes, but delays. Big delays.
What was that?!
Who was that?
Is that the latest model?
Call me back.
I asked you if you still had
anyone living there, Dimitri.
(Laughs) I can see how you would...
What...what's this, Dimitri?
Er, 24 hours and they're
out of here - 24 hours, tops!
You had trouble here
a while back - yeah, I remember.
It was in the paper. See? Look!
What? What trouble?
Guys, I can explain
the whole situation.
No shit, Dimitri. Let's go.
OK, OK, OK.
There were these two kids from up
north, from the Islands, I think.
Beba was this Islander dude,
and Minnie, this hippie chick.
Guys, we're going 12 years back.
These kids, they were in a bad way.
They needed work, so I...put 'em on.
Oh, you are so nice, Dimitri.
Nice? I'm nice.
Yeah, he's a real nice bastard.
It was about marriage.
The whole clan were down on them.
They had to get the hell out.
DRAMATIC MUSIC
And then the mother, Emelda,
came looking for them.
Found 'em down here.
Jeez, what a fuss she caused.
I want to see the contract, Dimitri.
And then,
after Emelda moved in with them,
that's when
things got really strange.
Dimitri, we're not interested
in your story now,
because you always are very...
LIGHT MUSIC
DRAMATIC MUSIC
Aah! Aah!
It was 12 years back?
Shit! I would've only been
two years old.
Don't swear.
Yes, you were only a baby.
Give you the rest tomorrow.
GENTLE MUSIC
MAGICAL MUSIC
Well, they weren't happy.
Minnie...Minnie would act crazy...
and get him all worked up.
Then you'd hear them start.
(People argue indistinctly)
(Woman laughs)
But...why were they like that, Ma?
Emelda knows.
That's why she's so sad.
Mm-hm.
Aah! Aah! Aah!
Get up, get up! Jesus! Jesus!
Get up!
CAR DOOR SLAMS
MAN: I'll just go and see this guy.
Get up! Get up!
Get up! Get up! Get up!
Aah! You make me sick.
How are you?
How's your beautiful Voula?
I hear your kid's doing well
at high school, Dimitri.
Ha ha! Don't know him!
Never seen...ah!
Never seen him before in my life.
Dimitri, my man.
I want to thank you
for looking after my aunty.
She'll never want to leave
this place,
and it's because of you.
You are so kind.
I love youse wog people,
do you hear me?
Aunty Emelda!
(Man laughs)
It's all part of a traditional
squatter's farewell ceremony.
Er, tomorrow, guys.
Tomorrow's the day, eh? Yassous! Ha!
You owe me rent!
LAUGHTER, CHATTERING
LAUGHTER, NOISY CHATTER
(Laughs)
INDISTINCT SINGING, LAUGHTER
(Laughs)
(People sing and clap)
Ah, here, Emelda. You have that.
It'll help you sleep -
works for me.
(People sing)
I'll be back! I'll be back!
Yes, I'll come back.
I'll be back. I'll be back.
Not alone. I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
(Knocks at door)
I'm not alone.
I'm not alone.
(Knocks loudly on door)
If you'd only listen to me.
If you'd only listen to me.
No! I'm not having an affair
with Trotsky.
EERIE MUSIC
I know you think I am...
but I'm not.
What about you?
Who are you seeing?
Don't deny it.
I've seen you with her.
What number is she?
(Inhales sharply)
(People sing in foreign language)
Hey, Dimitri!
Hey, boy. You've been watching me.
I know.
I've seen you watching me, boy.
It's OK, you know, because...
I used to have a boy, a son.
Beba.
Beba.
Be-ba-a.
(Sings song
in Torres Strait Islander language)
(Song continues)
MAN: Whoo!
(Sings)
I'll be back. I'll be back.
(All continue singing)
LYRICAL MUSIC
Voula! (Yells in Greek)
(Emelda sings)
(Chokes)
FRANTIC MUSIC
VOULA: Leave me out of this!
DIMITRI: Oh, great! That's great!
Make me look the fool!
He's a nutcase over there!
(Continues yelling)
And the rest of them,
they're all at the party!
Looks like
I've been cut out of the party!
(Man laughs uproariously)
MAN: I'm not having an affair
with Trotsky.
EMELDA: Hey, boy...
I know you think I am...
..you've been watching me.
..but I'm not.
What number is she?
I know.
I've seen you watching me,
boy.
If you'd only listen to me.
(People play drums and sing)
MAN: Keep going. Keep going!
(Mumbles sleepily)
(Baby cries)
VOULA: We didn't know what to do
about all the bloody fighting
with Beba and Minnie.
Dimitri...
Your father was going to sack them
the next day.
KNOCK AT DOOR
EMELDA: Dimitri, quick, quick.
Come to help.
Quick, Dimitri.
SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
SILENCE
FOREBODING MUSIC
Oh, mad, man! Cool!
(Moans)
Watch it, watch it. You'll be right.
You'll be right. Come on. Let's go.
(Moans)
(Wails)
(Coughs)
(Wails)
Come on.
Get in.
CHILD: Aunty! Aunty!
(Wails and bangs on door)
You'll be right. Let's go.
Come on, come on.
You'll be right.
(Whistles)
(Hums)
(Speaks Greek)
(Speaks Greek)
(Tuts)
(Sighs)
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
(Whispers) Adios.
BELL RINGS
(Sighs)
OMINOUS MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
SILENCE
BELL RINGS
DRAMATIC MUSIC
MUSIC INTENSIFIES
Beba... Minnie...
MUSIC REACHES CRESCENDO
SILENCE
CRASH!
CRASH!
I'll just go
and check that noise out.
Yes, that's a good idea, darling.
Shh! You'll wake the bloody kid.
The bloody kid's 14, darling.
I know he's bloody 14.
I KNOW that.
(Mumbles)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
(Murmurs)
CRASH!
BELL RINGS
CRASH!
FOREBODING MUSIC
Dimitri! Dimitri!
(Yells) Dimitri, where are you?
Dimitri!
BELL RINGS
Dimitri!
Dimitri!
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
Conos...
BELL RINGS
(Grunts)
DRAMATIC MUSIC
Come on! Come on! Hurry!
TYRES SQUEAL
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
SILENCE
MYSTERIOUS MUSIC
George!
What do you want? What do you want?
Where are you?
I'm up in the mill.
What are you doing up there?
I'm getting some pen and paper.
Look, come and meet the film people.
I can't get down.
Why can't you get down?
I've got no ladder.
I've got no ladder.
I'll get him.
Captions C SBS Television 2014