Big Sky (1997–1999): Season 1, Episode 30 - The Right Thing - full transcript
(Lighthearted music)
(Airplane buzzing)
(Lighthearted music)
- Delawong airstrip, this
is tango whisky Sierra.
(Receiver beeps)
- G'day. Delawong airstrip.
You're clear to land.
- Thank you, delawong.
Tango whisky Sierra.
(Lighthearted music)
(Birds chirping)
- G'day.
Chris manning.
- G'day. Peter Morgan.
- It's a great trip down here.
- Yeah.
- You need a hand with this?
- No, we'll be right.
- All right, it's all yours.
- See ya later.
(Birds chirping)
(Fence squeaking)
(Suspenseful music)
(Water dripping)
(Eerie music)
(Suspenseful music)
(Peaceful choir music)
(Plane engine zooming)
(Plane engine roaring)
(Plane buzzing)
- What's up?
- You should see the delawong river.
From the air, it looks
like the garden of eden
but when you get down
there, it's just slime.
It stinks.
There's dead fish, dead
birds, it's disgusting.
- I guess someone must be
doing something about it.
- Yeah, but I don't know who.
(Car engine roaring)
- Hey Riley!
That a piece of art or what?
200 bucks.
- They saw you coming.
- Hi guys.
I heard you were here.
You got a coffee?
I'll just grab one and
then we'll get started eh?
My name's Scotty Gibbs, I'm
pretty new at this meself
so if there's anything that
you guys don't understand
that I'm talking about or
something you want to know,
just stop me and I'll just do my best.
Okay, I thought we'll just go
like through a bit of a background
and than we'll take you for
a little wander around.
First thing to know about
flying in Australia
is that the arc doesn't have
a clue what it's doing.
(Chuckles)
- Hi Scotty, fellas.
Jimbo.
- Oh, g'day Riley.
Check it out.
(Steam whooshing)
- I can see it.
Are you listening?
Cut it out on the braking.
You're costing us three grand a month.
Why can't you just ease
down like everyone else?
- Yep, okay.
Aye, they don't make them
like this anymore aye?
- Probably a good reason for that.
Did you hear what I said?
- Absolutely, I'm with you all the way.
She's a beauty.
- What's it supposed to do?
- It's a smoke machine.
For sky writing.
80 bucks a letter.
Think of the potential.
Eat at Joe's, 700
bucks, 10 minutes work.
Or you can do a limerick.
There was a young man from nantucket.
Guess how much?
Seven grand.
Well, it depends on the version.
- God help us.
- What do you think about the
idea of retraining pilots?
- What do they need retraining for?
- Well, they're new to Australia.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, don't do it.
I've done it before, it's a nightmare.
You spend your whole
time trying to work out
what altimeter is in Polish
or Swahili or boganvillian.
- Oh, it's good money.
(Phone ringing)
- Okay, so, any questions so far?
What? No questions at all?
Okay, well, how about a
little bit of a revision?
Um, how do you define
controlled airspace?
- Sergei.
- Controlled airspace,
how do you define it?
- Mikhail.
- How long have you
guys been in Australia?
Have you been here long?
- Long?
- Long.
Don't worry, wait here.
Be back in a sec.
They don't speak English.
- None?
- Not a word.
What is this anyway?
Thought it was some sort
of refresher course.
- It is in a way.
They're pilots in their
country and they need to do
their retraining to get
their arc validation.
- Well, I hope they're paying for it.
- Yep, there's hundreds of them
and it's an absolute goldmine.
- I've been talking for half an hour
and they haven't understood a word.
- Do the best that you can for today
and I'll stall them onto Chris.
Show them around the place, you
don't need to communicate.
- Sure help.
(Lighthearted music)
(Speaks in foreign language)
- That means goodbye I think.
- Oh right.
(Speaks in foreign language)
- Yeah, whatever.
- What's wrong with you?
- 200 bucks down the gurgle,
that's what's wrong with me.
The sky writer is stuffed.
- Oh no, I don't believe it.
- It's true.
- Nah, not you, the cossacks.
Hey.
(Speaks in foreign language)
- Hello.
- So do you guys drink?
(Laughs)
(Suspenseful music)
(Plane zooming)
- That river's weird.
Looks great from the air.
- Yeah, looks fine from up there.
- Yeah, you get down
closer, it's a shocker.
- It's crying shame, that's what it is.
When I was a kid, that river used to
be the heart of the whole town.
We used to waterski up
between here and gibbigunya.
Bloody oath, we could
fish in it, swim in it.
- You know about the cyanide
from mount Garrett.
- Yeah the bastards.
They're killing this town.
Used to be 6000 people living here.
Now there's about two and a half.
I'll tell ya one thing.
Most of the families with young
kids have already taken off.
There's more kids getting
sick around here
than any other district.
- Well, get onto the health department.
- We did that, they said statistically,
we were no worse off
than any other area.
They told statistics to my little girl.
So months we used to drive up
to the hospital in durham.
Every week they did tests on her.
They just don't know.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Danielle, this is Chris manning.
He flies a pata for us.
Nice to meet you.
- Yeah, g'day.
- Chris has offered to
fly kirsty down today.
- Thanks, that's great.
Every visit counts.
(Plane engine roaring)
- They must know what it is.
- That's what I keep saying.
Dr. Jacobs just says, they're not sure.
It's horrible watching her fighting it.
- Your husband says it's some
kind of allergy disorder.
- From what I can make out,
it's an allergy to everything.
The asthma's getting
worse, if it is asthma.
She reacts to almost
anything, touching her skin.
She can't eat any food
with preservatives in it.
Now they're saying there's
something wrong with her liver.
She gets exhausted so easily.
And she falls asleep like this.
I always worry she's not gonna wake up.
You just gotta stay positive.
I'm just waiting for the day
when she'll be healthy again.
I'm just holding on til then.
(Plane engine roaring)
(Energetic music)
- Dr. Jacobs.
- Hi kirsty, hello Mrs. Morgan.
How are you?
- I'm feeling much
better than last time.
- Well, that's good.
Your father rang and
said you were coming.
This is a surprise.
- We got an offer to fly
here so here we are.
- Alan Jacobs.
- Chris manning.
- This place is heaps better
than daggy old doga hospital.
- Well, I'll show you around.
So you're a friend of
the family are you?
- Yeah, I feel like I am.
- It's really nice gesture you
flying them down like that.
I normally have to go up
to dorrigal to do this.
I understand the family can't
fly down on a regular basis.
- Why don't you keep her in hospital?
- That wouldn't be any good.
She's better off with her family.
She's a remarkable kid.
- [Chris] What's she allergic to?
- The 20th century.
She's one of those organisms
that's reacting to the
pollution around.
Somehow, she's developed
a low threshold
to all sorts of things.
Chemicals, pollution, food additives.
- What can you do for her?
- Maybe you should talk to her parents.
- Well, I have, I spoke to
her mother on the trip down.
- Oh yeah, what did she say?
- Well, she's trying to
stay calm, remain positive.
- She's not getting it.
Or maybe she's refusing to.
Kirsty is a very sick little girl.
(Melancholy music)
- How long's she got?
- There's no way of telling.
Something will trigger a
chemical reaction in her body
like a massive allergic reaction.
She will go into a coma then..
- Oh thanks very much, it's beautiful.
- Oh my god.
- Oh wow, two each.
- Stop it!
- Good luck guys.
- Hi, can I help you?
- We like to charter a flight to bega.
- I'm sure we can work out a rate.
When were you thinking of leaving?
- As soon as possible.
- Okay.
So bega.
You guys surfers or something?
- No.
- So what is it?
A conference?
- Something like that.
- I know, you're into
advertising, I can always tell.
- We're priests.
- Excuse me?
- Well, not quite yet.
- Priests.
- Smaller than I thought.
- Size isn't everything.
(Chuckles)
Sorry.
- Yep, if they're not
married, they're gay.
If they're not gay, they're priests.
- You'll be a chick.
- You guys don't seem
like typical priests.
- So what's a typical priest look like?
- Old guys in robes.
(Chuckles)
- Well, you don't seem
like a typical pilot.
What's this one?
- Altimeter.
- 8,300 feet.
- Very good.
- And this.
Airspeed?
- You sure you haven't
done this before?
- I've always wanted to.
Being up here, gives you
an amazing perspective.
- Yeah.
It's one of the things I love about it.
Don't you want to give it a try?
- I thought you'd never ask.
- Okay, just hold on.
Now, just pick a point on the horizon
and head straight towards it.
- Oh yeah!
Check this guys!
Oh this is amazing!
Whoo!
- Hey, how's it going?
- I dunno.
Don't touch it!
I don't even know what I'm doing.
- So why're you doing it?
- I'm not sure yet, okay?
- Idiot.
(Laughs)
(Thunderclaps)
(Plane engine roaring)
- That don't look too good.
- Whoa!
- It's all right, I've got it.
Circuit area bega.
Due to air conditions, we'll
be canceling flight plan.
Advised details later.
- That sounds ominous.
- No, not really.
Storm clouds are just
moving pretty fast.
Might just be late coming back.
- Lexy.
Hold this.
- How's it going?
- Not sure.
Can you hold this?
- Jimbo, look, I've got
to go, I'm rostered on.
- Just hang on for a sec...
- Jimbo.
- Just gotta.. And this.
Just gotta put the sticky outie bit..
- Jimbo.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
That little kid kirsty,
I spoke to her doctor.
She's not gonna make it.
- That's awful.
- Whatever she's got's terminal.
We're poisoning our fish and our birds.
Starting on ourselves.
Kids are getting sick in town.
- Someone will be doing
something about it.
You can tell me a whole
river's poisoned
and everyone's ignoring it.
- That's what's happening.
- I'm sorry Chris, I've got to go.
- Yeah, see ya.
- Do you wanna grab a drink
or something to eat later?
- No thanks.
- Okay, see ya tomorrow.
(Helicopter whirring)
(Rain pattering)
(Thunderclap)
(Laughs)
- See ya guys.
- See ya.
- Look at me, I'm sopping.
- You're gonna need a
change of clothes.
- You sound like my mum.
Um, have you got a phone?
I gotta call back to base.
- Yeah, it's just down the hall.
I'll get you some dry clothes.
- Great, thanks.
(Thunderclaps)
- Paula, yeah.
Oh there's a storm off the coast.
- After you.
- Sure.
You there?
Yeah, I dunno.
Couple of hours at least.
Yeah, you too.
- Bit of bad luck.
- Ah, yeah, just came out of nowhere.
- They do, this time of year.
Something wrong?
- No, just a bit embarrassing.
I'm stuck here with all these priests.
Well, I'm not even catholic.
- I don't think they'd mind that.
- Oh, put you off a bit.
All these believers wandering around.
- I can imagine.
- Never been in a place
like this before.
- It's not a bad place really.
- What do you do here?
- I'm in charge.
- You're kidding.
Oh god, I'm sorry.
Not god.
I didn't.. I just thought
that you were a worker.
- I am.
I'm father Stephen.
You're welcome to join us for dinner
and mass.
- Thanks.
Do I call you, what do I call you?
Father?
- You can call me Stephen.
- Okay.
(Door knocking)
- I'm decent.
- Well, that's nice to know.
- Sorry, I thought you were um..
Father Steve.
- All I've got is these
jeans and a t-shirt.
- That's great, thanks.
- They might be a bit big.
- Well, if they're not, I
won't be down for dinner.
(Chuckles)
Thank you.
- No worries.
- See ya.
- No, listen.
They've been using aerial spraying
in the district for years
plus there's some copper
mine or something upstream.
I mean, the whole place is horrible.
Kids are getting sick in the town.
This little kid's only 11 years old.
Mike, how would I know?
Just sit down and talk to her,
she's gonna die for god's sake.
Well, film all the dead fish and birds.
I mean, what the hell is this?
You were the one that
said to let you know
if I found a good story.
Yeah, all right, yeah.
See ya.
- To aeroflot.
- Aeroflot.
- Aeroflot!
(Glasses clink)
(Dramatic music)
(Glasses smashing)
- No way, it's a waste of glass.
- Go on!
(Group chattering)
- Ahem, gentlemen.
I hope you're hungry.
- Starving.
Wow.
Loaves and fishes.
You guys into tradition or what?
(Laughs)
- Brother Luke was a chef
before he joined us here.
- You cook as well?
- A little.
- Bless us oh lord for these thy gifts
which are thy bounty we
are about to receive.
Through Christ our lord, amen.
- Amen.
- After you, Paula.
(Chuckles)
- Thanks.
Cheers!
(Glasses clink)
- To ukrainia!
- Ukrainia!
(Glass shattering)
- Cut it out already.
(Glass shattering)
- Goodnight.
- Oh goodnight.
- More wine, Paula?
- Oh no thanks, I gotta fly.
- I didn't know you guys were
allowed to have so much fun.
- It's not a prison.
- Sorry.
- That's okay.
(Humming)
- All right, let's toast to,
what do they make this stuff out of?
- Potatoes!
- Yeah?
All right, to potatoes.
- Potato farmers!
- And their husbands!
- And their tractors!
- Tractors!
- To tractors!
- Oh amazing storm.
- Yeah.
- So is this your t-shirt?
- Yep.
- So where did you get it?
- At the concert.
- You were at the concert?
I was there.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
So, are you sure you're
in the right business?
- It's taken me a long time
to get me to this point.
But yeah.
This is what I'm supposed to do.
- I just, I don't get it.
I mean look at you.
You're smart, talented,
you're gorgeous.
(Laughs)
You could be anything that you want.
- Well, that's nice to know.
- I mean, what's in it for you?
What do you get out of it?
- I don't think that's
the right question.
I'm not doing this for me.
- Well, who are you doing it for?
(Church bell rings)
- I've got to go.
Bye, Paula.
(Church bell ringing)
- You fix.
- I no fix.
I hate.
I Chuck in.
- What is Chuck?
- Chuck is,
kaput.
- Ah, I'm fixing.
(Melancholy music)
(Plane engine roaring)
(Dramatic music)
- I'll be there in about 15 minutes.
- Well, get there as
quick as you can, Chris.
It seems quite urgent.
Big sky base.
- Tango whisky Sierra.
(Plane engine whooshing)
- Thanks for coming, we phoned Dr.
Jacobs
and he said it'll be better
in the city than darug.
- No problem, hi.
- kirsty, why don't you
put your pajamas on?
You'll be more comfortable.
- I don't want to wear my pajamas.
Just want to wear my boots.
Can I fly the plane?
- You feeling up to it?
- You too.
It's not fair.
I'm all right, I'm just a bit sick.
- Okay, well, you can fly the plane.
- Good.
Are we going or what?
- Just have to leave a note for dad.
- I already wrote one.
Dear dad, me and mum have
gone to see Dr. Jacobs
because I spewed all over the place.
We'll phone you when we get there.
Love you dad, kirsty.
P.S. I'm going to be a pilot.
(Melancholy music)
(Plane zooming)
- So you're sure it's his?
- He had it on when he came
in, didn't you notice?
- Hey, I thought he was
in advertising remember?
- Look, what gets me is why
normal, red-blooded guys
would just want to disappear
into something like that.
- Maybe he dropped it on purpose.
- Why would he do that?
- I dunno.
Like you know how you
accidentally on purpose
leave your jacket round a guy's place.
- As if, he's a priest!
- So?
- Hey, do they still do celibacy?
- Yeah, comes with the territory.
- I just don't get that you know.
Why can he have a relationship
with god right and with you,
surely god's not gonna
mind if you share them.
- His whole life is just gonna
be outside the real world.
How can he do that?
- I dunno.
(Pinball machine beeping)
(Plane zooming)
- kirsty, oh my god.
Please.
Oh my god.
Please.
Kirsty.
(Melancholy music)
- Mum.
- You're all right, just
relax and rest darling.
- I'll fly next time.
- Yeah, okay.
- Don't worry mum.
(Sobbing)
(Plane whooshing)
(Wheels squeaking)
- Ready to be dazzled?
- I'm nauseous with anticipation.
- You won't believe this.
- I'm impressed, I didn't think you
could actually manage it.
- Ye have little faith.
So what do you think I should write?
I was thinking keep
it short and snappy,
something like fly big sky.
- Don't you think that's
a little ambitious?
- No way, this little
baby works perfectly.
So you ready?
Fly big sky.
All right.
- [Announcer] Now stand
by for some music.
Well, it's music but
it has humour in it.
Driving hard now, red.
(Upbeat rock music)
(Plane zooming)
(Smoke whooshing)
(Beeping)
(Coughing)
- Jimbo!
(Laughs)
- Paula, where ya going?
Not rostered on right now.
- Eden run.
- Ooh, that's jimbo's run.
- Seems I accidentally
ended up with it.
- Oh, right.
Making a pitstop to the nunnery?
- Seminary.
- Bring one back for me.
(Giggles)
(Plane engine whooshing)
(Sobbing)
(Intense music)
(Suspenseful music)
(Air whooshing)
- Father Stephen!
- Paula!
What are you doing back here?
- I was looking for Luke.
I brought him back his clothes.
- You flew all the way down
here to return a t-shirt?
That's very nice of you.
- Yeah.
Well, I was on my way to eden.
- Well, I'm sorry but he's not here.
He's gone to the city
to see his parents.
- Oh.
- Would you like to stay
for a cup of coffee?
- No, no, I'd better go.
Can you just give these to him for me?
- What's wrong?
- Nothing, I just, I've gotta go.
- What happened to
your business venture?
- Don't want to talk about it.
- Got your employees working
on it now, have ya?
- What employees?
(Planes zooming)
- This time, I fix it, no vodka.
(Heart monitor beeps)
(Melancholy music)
(Sobbing)
- Yeah?
Well I happen to think the press
does have a responsibility
in something like this.
Don't give me that, Mike.
This place is poisoned, a kid dies,
what else do you need?
Oh, that's crap and you know it.
Well, why doesn't somebody
do something about it?
You're the one that's always..
Oh, go to buggery!
I see how it works.
It's not me, it's not you,
it's not the cotton farmers,
it's not anyone.
But guess what?
The river's poisoned and a kid dies.
- So do something.
- Like what?
- I don't know.
(Plane engine whirrs)
- Well, you can do six
years of medicine,
followed by 3 or 4 of a higher degree,
you can beg and scrape for
some research funding,
you can watch your marriage fall apart,
spend years in a place like this,
watching children die,
working for the breakthrough
that'll make it all worthwhile
but that's just my way,
you're probably a lot
smarter than that.
- Don't you get angry?
- I did.
Then I ran out of patience with anger.
I got work to do.
- Will you go to the funeral?
- Yes.
First I do the post-mortem,
then I go to the funeral.
Welcome to hell.
- Isn't there something I can do?
- You said that already.
I wish I could give you the
answer you're looking for.
But I can't.
- See ya.
- Yeah.
Excuse me.
A pilot?
Good.
♪ Tuesday morning ♪
♪ so strong yeah ♪
♪ get used to it ♪
♪ got a cold shiver down my spine ♪
♪ got two of the greatest
drummer number five ♪
♪ I feel writing a song ♪
♪ about going away ♪
♪ up on the dancefloor ♪
♪ every day ♪
♪ I got mass appeal ♪
- Big sky.
(Chuckles)
- Big sky.
♪ Just a little closer ♪
♪ such a beautiful thing ♪
- Paula?
- Yep.
- See ya later.
- Thanks.
Hi.
I got a call from father Stephen
saying you returned my clothes.
I just though I'd pop
in and say thanks.
- Hello.
- How many are there?
- There's two.
Could be one more, six year old boy.
- And they've all got it?
- Well, yeah, he said
they have versions of it.
- What are you gonna do?
- Fly out, pick 'em up
and take him into his doctor,
every week or so.
- Okay.
- Yeah, there'll be fuel
and something else on top
but I'll pay for it.
- No, you won't.
This one's on big sky.
It's not much when you think of it.
Will it make any difference?
- You heard the story of the starfish?
- No.
- Well, there's this guy and
he's walking along the beach
and he sees all these starfish
washed up on the sand.
There's thousands of them.
Just lying there.
Dying in the sun.
And there's this bloke walking along
and he's picking them up one by one,
chucking them back into the surf
and the guy says, what
are you doing that for?
It won't make any difference.
And the bloke bends over,
picks up another one,
tosses it back into the
water and he said,
it made a difference to that one.
(Upbeat music)
(Sighs)
- You a barfly now?
- Yep.
(Giggles)
Where'd you get that?
- Someone just gave it to me.
I've had a weird few days.
- Join the club.
- Chris?
Do you believe in god?
- Well, I like Christmas.
Didn't get much on easter.
- Well, that's not the question.
- Do you?
- Well, I never have.
- It's a big dark universe out there.
- So you do believe in god?
- Oh, I don't know.
But if he is here,
he's not gonna fix it.
- Fix what?
- Everything.
We must look pretty
stupid from up there,
what we're doing with the place.
- You lived your whole life
and you haven't worked
that out til now?
- I like working on it.
- Cheers, big ears!
- Cheers.
(Melancholy choir music)
(Airplane buzzing)
(Lighthearted music)
- Delawong airstrip, this
is tango whisky Sierra.
(Receiver beeps)
- G'day. Delawong airstrip.
You're clear to land.
- Thank you, delawong.
Tango whisky Sierra.
(Lighthearted music)
(Birds chirping)
- G'day.
Chris manning.
- G'day. Peter Morgan.
- It's a great trip down here.
- Yeah.
- You need a hand with this?
- No, we'll be right.
- All right, it's all yours.
- See ya later.
(Birds chirping)
(Fence squeaking)
(Suspenseful music)
(Water dripping)
(Eerie music)
(Suspenseful music)
(Peaceful choir music)
(Plane engine zooming)
(Plane engine roaring)
(Plane buzzing)
- What's up?
- You should see the delawong river.
From the air, it looks
like the garden of eden
but when you get down
there, it's just slime.
It stinks.
There's dead fish, dead
birds, it's disgusting.
- I guess someone must be
doing something about it.
- Yeah, but I don't know who.
(Car engine roaring)
- Hey Riley!
That a piece of art or what?
200 bucks.
- They saw you coming.
- Hi guys.
I heard you were here.
You got a coffee?
I'll just grab one and
then we'll get started eh?
My name's Scotty Gibbs, I'm
pretty new at this meself
so if there's anything that
you guys don't understand
that I'm talking about or
something you want to know,
just stop me and I'll just do my best.
Okay, I thought we'll just go
like through a bit of a background
and than we'll take you for
a little wander around.
First thing to know about
flying in Australia
is that the arc doesn't have
a clue what it's doing.
(Chuckles)
- Hi Scotty, fellas.
Jimbo.
- Oh, g'day Riley.
Check it out.
(Steam whooshing)
- I can see it.
Are you listening?
Cut it out on the braking.
You're costing us three grand a month.
Why can't you just ease
down like everyone else?
- Yep, okay.
Aye, they don't make them
like this anymore aye?
- Probably a good reason for that.
Did you hear what I said?
- Absolutely, I'm with you all the way.
She's a beauty.
- What's it supposed to do?
- It's a smoke machine.
For sky writing.
80 bucks a letter.
Think of the potential.
Eat at Joe's, 700
bucks, 10 minutes work.
Or you can do a limerick.
There was a young man from nantucket.
Guess how much?
Seven grand.
Well, it depends on the version.
- God help us.
- What do you think about the
idea of retraining pilots?
- What do they need retraining for?
- Well, they're new to Australia.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, don't do it.
I've done it before, it's a nightmare.
You spend your whole
time trying to work out
what altimeter is in Polish
or Swahili or boganvillian.
- Oh, it's good money.
(Phone ringing)
- Okay, so, any questions so far?
What? No questions at all?
Okay, well, how about a
little bit of a revision?
Um, how do you define
controlled airspace?
- Sergei.
- Controlled airspace,
how do you define it?
- Mikhail.
- How long have you
guys been in Australia?
Have you been here long?
- Long?
- Long.
Don't worry, wait here.
Be back in a sec.
They don't speak English.
- None?
- Not a word.
What is this anyway?
Thought it was some sort
of refresher course.
- It is in a way.
They're pilots in their
country and they need to do
their retraining to get
their arc validation.
- Well, I hope they're paying for it.
- Yep, there's hundreds of them
and it's an absolute goldmine.
- I've been talking for half an hour
and they haven't understood a word.
- Do the best that you can for today
and I'll stall them onto Chris.
Show them around the place, you
don't need to communicate.
- Sure help.
(Lighthearted music)
(Speaks in foreign language)
- That means goodbye I think.
- Oh right.
(Speaks in foreign language)
- Yeah, whatever.
- What's wrong with you?
- 200 bucks down the gurgle,
that's what's wrong with me.
The sky writer is stuffed.
- Oh no, I don't believe it.
- It's true.
- Nah, not you, the cossacks.
Hey.
(Speaks in foreign language)
- Hello.
- So do you guys drink?
(Laughs)
(Suspenseful music)
(Plane zooming)
- That river's weird.
Looks great from the air.
- Yeah, looks fine from up there.
- Yeah, you get down
closer, it's a shocker.
- It's crying shame, that's what it is.
When I was a kid, that river used to
be the heart of the whole town.
We used to waterski up
between here and gibbigunya.
Bloody oath, we could
fish in it, swim in it.
- You know about the cyanide
from mount Garrett.
- Yeah the bastards.
They're killing this town.
Used to be 6000 people living here.
Now there's about two and a half.
I'll tell ya one thing.
Most of the families with young
kids have already taken off.
There's more kids getting
sick around here
than any other district.
- Well, get onto the health department.
- We did that, they said statistically,
we were no worse off
than any other area.
They told statistics to my little girl.
So months we used to drive up
to the hospital in durham.
Every week they did tests on her.
They just don't know.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Danielle, this is Chris manning.
He flies a pata for us.
Nice to meet you.
- Yeah, g'day.
- Chris has offered to
fly kirsty down today.
- Thanks, that's great.
Every visit counts.
(Plane engine roaring)
- They must know what it is.
- That's what I keep saying.
Dr. Jacobs just says, they're not sure.
It's horrible watching her fighting it.
- Your husband says it's some
kind of allergy disorder.
- From what I can make out,
it's an allergy to everything.
The asthma's getting
worse, if it is asthma.
She reacts to almost
anything, touching her skin.
She can't eat any food
with preservatives in it.
Now they're saying there's
something wrong with her liver.
She gets exhausted so easily.
And she falls asleep like this.
I always worry she's not gonna wake up.
You just gotta stay positive.
I'm just waiting for the day
when she'll be healthy again.
I'm just holding on til then.
(Plane engine roaring)
(Energetic music)
- Dr. Jacobs.
- Hi kirsty, hello Mrs. Morgan.
How are you?
- I'm feeling much
better than last time.
- Well, that's good.
Your father rang and
said you were coming.
This is a surprise.
- We got an offer to fly
here so here we are.
- Alan Jacobs.
- Chris manning.
- This place is heaps better
than daggy old doga hospital.
- Well, I'll show you around.
So you're a friend of
the family are you?
- Yeah, I feel like I am.
- It's really nice gesture you
flying them down like that.
I normally have to go up
to dorrigal to do this.
I understand the family can't
fly down on a regular basis.
- Why don't you keep her in hospital?
- That wouldn't be any good.
She's better off with her family.
She's a remarkable kid.
- [Chris] What's she allergic to?
- The 20th century.
She's one of those organisms
that's reacting to the
pollution around.
Somehow, she's developed
a low threshold
to all sorts of things.
Chemicals, pollution, food additives.
- What can you do for her?
- Maybe you should talk to her parents.
- Well, I have, I spoke to
her mother on the trip down.
- Oh yeah, what did she say?
- Well, she's trying to
stay calm, remain positive.
- She's not getting it.
Or maybe she's refusing to.
Kirsty is a very sick little girl.
(Melancholy music)
- How long's she got?
- There's no way of telling.
Something will trigger a
chemical reaction in her body
like a massive allergic reaction.
She will go into a coma then..
- Oh thanks very much, it's beautiful.
- Oh my god.
- Oh wow, two each.
- Stop it!
- Good luck guys.
- Hi, can I help you?
- We like to charter a flight to bega.
- I'm sure we can work out a rate.
When were you thinking of leaving?
- As soon as possible.
- Okay.
So bega.
You guys surfers or something?
- No.
- So what is it?
A conference?
- Something like that.
- I know, you're into
advertising, I can always tell.
- We're priests.
- Excuse me?
- Well, not quite yet.
- Priests.
- Smaller than I thought.
- Size isn't everything.
(Chuckles)
Sorry.
- Yep, if they're not
married, they're gay.
If they're not gay, they're priests.
- You'll be a chick.
- You guys don't seem
like typical priests.
- So what's a typical priest look like?
- Old guys in robes.
(Chuckles)
- Well, you don't seem
like a typical pilot.
What's this one?
- Altimeter.
- 8,300 feet.
- Very good.
- And this.
Airspeed?
- You sure you haven't
done this before?
- I've always wanted to.
Being up here, gives you
an amazing perspective.
- Yeah.
It's one of the things I love about it.
Don't you want to give it a try?
- I thought you'd never ask.
- Okay, just hold on.
Now, just pick a point on the horizon
and head straight towards it.
- Oh yeah!
Check this guys!
Oh this is amazing!
Whoo!
- Hey, how's it going?
- I dunno.
Don't touch it!
I don't even know what I'm doing.
- So why're you doing it?
- I'm not sure yet, okay?
- Idiot.
(Laughs)
(Thunderclaps)
(Plane engine roaring)
- That don't look too good.
- Whoa!
- It's all right, I've got it.
Circuit area bega.
Due to air conditions, we'll
be canceling flight plan.
Advised details later.
- That sounds ominous.
- No, not really.
Storm clouds are just
moving pretty fast.
Might just be late coming back.
- Lexy.
Hold this.
- How's it going?
- Not sure.
Can you hold this?
- Jimbo, look, I've got
to go, I'm rostered on.
- Just hang on for a sec...
- Jimbo.
- Just gotta.. And this.
Just gotta put the sticky outie bit..
- Jimbo.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
That little kid kirsty,
I spoke to her doctor.
She's not gonna make it.
- That's awful.
- Whatever she's got's terminal.
We're poisoning our fish and our birds.
Starting on ourselves.
Kids are getting sick in town.
- Someone will be doing
something about it.
You can tell me a whole
river's poisoned
and everyone's ignoring it.
- That's what's happening.
- I'm sorry Chris, I've got to go.
- Yeah, see ya.
- Do you wanna grab a drink
or something to eat later?
- No thanks.
- Okay, see ya tomorrow.
(Helicopter whirring)
(Rain pattering)
(Thunderclap)
(Laughs)
- See ya guys.
- See ya.
- Look at me, I'm sopping.
- You're gonna need a
change of clothes.
- You sound like my mum.
Um, have you got a phone?
I gotta call back to base.
- Yeah, it's just down the hall.
I'll get you some dry clothes.
- Great, thanks.
(Thunderclaps)
- Paula, yeah.
Oh there's a storm off the coast.
- After you.
- Sure.
You there?
Yeah, I dunno.
Couple of hours at least.
Yeah, you too.
- Bit of bad luck.
- Ah, yeah, just came out of nowhere.
- They do, this time of year.
Something wrong?
- No, just a bit embarrassing.
I'm stuck here with all these priests.
Well, I'm not even catholic.
- I don't think they'd mind that.
- Oh, put you off a bit.
All these believers wandering around.
- I can imagine.
- Never been in a place
like this before.
- It's not a bad place really.
- What do you do here?
- I'm in charge.
- You're kidding.
Oh god, I'm sorry.
Not god.
I didn't.. I just thought
that you were a worker.
- I am.
I'm father Stephen.
You're welcome to join us for dinner
and mass.
- Thanks.
Do I call you, what do I call you?
Father?
- You can call me Stephen.
- Okay.
(Door knocking)
- I'm decent.
- Well, that's nice to know.
- Sorry, I thought you were um..
Father Steve.
- All I've got is these
jeans and a t-shirt.
- That's great, thanks.
- They might be a bit big.
- Well, if they're not, I
won't be down for dinner.
(Chuckles)
Thank you.
- No worries.
- See ya.
- No, listen.
They've been using aerial spraying
in the district for years
plus there's some copper
mine or something upstream.
I mean, the whole place is horrible.
Kids are getting sick in the town.
This little kid's only 11 years old.
Mike, how would I know?
Just sit down and talk to her,
she's gonna die for god's sake.
Well, film all the dead fish and birds.
I mean, what the hell is this?
You were the one that
said to let you know
if I found a good story.
Yeah, all right, yeah.
See ya.
- To aeroflot.
- Aeroflot.
- Aeroflot!
(Glasses clink)
(Dramatic music)
(Glasses smashing)
- No way, it's a waste of glass.
- Go on!
(Group chattering)
- Ahem, gentlemen.
I hope you're hungry.
- Starving.
Wow.
Loaves and fishes.
You guys into tradition or what?
(Laughs)
- Brother Luke was a chef
before he joined us here.
- You cook as well?
- A little.
- Bless us oh lord for these thy gifts
which are thy bounty we
are about to receive.
Through Christ our lord, amen.
- Amen.
- After you, Paula.
(Chuckles)
- Thanks.
Cheers!
(Glasses clink)
- To ukrainia!
- Ukrainia!
(Glass shattering)
- Cut it out already.
(Glass shattering)
- Goodnight.
- Oh goodnight.
- More wine, Paula?
- Oh no thanks, I gotta fly.
- I didn't know you guys were
allowed to have so much fun.
- It's not a prison.
- Sorry.
- That's okay.
(Humming)
- All right, let's toast to,
what do they make this stuff out of?
- Potatoes!
- Yeah?
All right, to potatoes.
- Potato farmers!
- And their husbands!
- And their tractors!
- Tractors!
- To tractors!
- Oh amazing storm.
- Yeah.
- So is this your t-shirt?
- Yep.
- So where did you get it?
- At the concert.
- You were at the concert?
I was there.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
So, are you sure you're
in the right business?
- It's taken me a long time
to get me to this point.
But yeah.
This is what I'm supposed to do.
- I just, I don't get it.
I mean look at you.
You're smart, talented,
you're gorgeous.
(Laughs)
You could be anything that you want.
- Well, that's nice to know.
- I mean, what's in it for you?
What do you get out of it?
- I don't think that's
the right question.
I'm not doing this for me.
- Well, who are you doing it for?
(Church bell rings)
- I've got to go.
Bye, Paula.
(Church bell ringing)
- You fix.
- I no fix.
I hate.
I Chuck in.
- What is Chuck?
- Chuck is,
kaput.
- Ah, I'm fixing.
(Melancholy music)
(Plane engine roaring)
(Dramatic music)
- I'll be there in about 15 minutes.
- Well, get there as
quick as you can, Chris.
It seems quite urgent.
Big sky base.
- Tango whisky Sierra.
(Plane engine whooshing)
- Thanks for coming, we phoned Dr.
Jacobs
and he said it'll be better
in the city than darug.
- No problem, hi.
- kirsty, why don't you
put your pajamas on?
You'll be more comfortable.
- I don't want to wear my pajamas.
Just want to wear my boots.
Can I fly the plane?
- You feeling up to it?
- You too.
It's not fair.
I'm all right, I'm just a bit sick.
- Okay, well, you can fly the plane.
- Good.
Are we going or what?
- Just have to leave a note for dad.
- I already wrote one.
Dear dad, me and mum have
gone to see Dr. Jacobs
because I spewed all over the place.
We'll phone you when we get there.
Love you dad, kirsty.
P.S. I'm going to be a pilot.
(Melancholy music)
(Plane zooming)
- So you're sure it's his?
- He had it on when he came
in, didn't you notice?
- Hey, I thought he was
in advertising remember?
- Look, what gets me is why
normal, red-blooded guys
would just want to disappear
into something like that.
- Maybe he dropped it on purpose.
- Why would he do that?
- I dunno.
Like you know how you
accidentally on purpose
leave your jacket round a guy's place.
- As if, he's a priest!
- So?
- Hey, do they still do celibacy?
- Yeah, comes with the territory.
- I just don't get that you know.
Why can he have a relationship
with god right and with you,
surely god's not gonna
mind if you share them.
- His whole life is just gonna
be outside the real world.
How can he do that?
- I dunno.
(Pinball machine beeping)
(Plane zooming)
- kirsty, oh my god.
Please.
Oh my god.
Please.
Kirsty.
(Melancholy music)
- Mum.
- You're all right, just
relax and rest darling.
- I'll fly next time.
- Yeah, okay.
- Don't worry mum.
(Sobbing)
(Plane whooshing)
(Wheels squeaking)
- Ready to be dazzled?
- I'm nauseous with anticipation.
- You won't believe this.
- I'm impressed, I didn't think you
could actually manage it.
- Ye have little faith.
So what do you think I should write?
I was thinking keep
it short and snappy,
something like fly big sky.
- Don't you think that's
a little ambitious?
- No way, this little
baby works perfectly.
So you ready?
Fly big sky.
All right.
- [Announcer] Now stand
by for some music.
Well, it's music but
it has humour in it.
Driving hard now, red.
(Upbeat rock music)
(Plane zooming)
(Smoke whooshing)
(Beeping)
(Coughing)
- Jimbo!
(Laughs)
- Paula, where ya going?
Not rostered on right now.
- Eden run.
- Ooh, that's jimbo's run.
- Seems I accidentally
ended up with it.
- Oh, right.
Making a pitstop to the nunnery?
- Seminary.
- Bring one back for me.
(Giggles)
(Plane engine whooshing)
(Sobbing)
(Intense music)
(Suspenseful music)
(Air whooshing)
- Father Stephen!
- Paula!
What are you doing back here?
- I was looking for Luke.
I brought him back his clothes.
- You flew all the way down
here to return a t-shirt?
That's very nice of you.
- Yeah.
Well, I was on my way to eden.
- Well, I'm sorry but he's not here.
He's gone to the city
to see his parents.
- Oh.
- Would you like to stay
for a cup of coffee?
- No, no, I'd better go.
Can you just give these to him for me?
- What's wrong?
- Nothing, I just, I've gotta go.
- What happened to
your business venture?
- Don't want to talk about it.
- Got your employees working
on it now, have ya?
- What employees?
(Planes zooming)
- This time, I fix it, no vodka.
(Heart monitor beeps)
(Melancholy music)
(Sobbing)
- Yeah?
Well I happen to think the press
does have a responsibility
in something like this.
Don't give me that, Mike.
This place is poisoned, a kid dies,
what else do you need?
Oh, that's crap and you know it.
Well, why doesn't somebody
do something about it?
You're the one that's always..
Oh, go to buggery!
I see how it works.
It's not me, it's not you,
it's not the cotton farmers,
it's not anyone.
But guess what?
The river's poisoned and a kid dies.
- So do something.
- Like what?
- I don't know.
(Plane engine whirrs)
- Well, you can do six
years of medicine,
followed by 3 or 4 of a higher degree,
you can beg and scrape for
some research funding,
you can watch your marriage fall apart,
spend years in a place like this,
watching children die,
working for the breakthrough
that'll make it all worthwhile
but that's just my way,
you're probably a lot
smarter than that.
- Don't you get angry?
- I did.
Then I ran out of patience with anger.
I got work to do.
- Will you go to the funeral?
- Yes.
First I do the post-mortem,
then I go to the funeral.
Welcome to hell.
- Isn't there something I can do?
- You said that already.
I wish I could give you the
answer you're looking for.
But I can't.
- See ya.
- Yeah.
Excuse me.
A pilot?
Good.
♪ Tuesday morning ♪
♪ so strong yeah ♪
♪ get used to it ♪
♪ got a cold shiver down my spine ♪
♪ got two of the greatest
drummer number five ♪
♪ I feel writing a song ♪
♪ about going away ♪
♪ up on the dancefloor ♪
♪ every day ♪
♪ I got mass appeal ♪
- Big sky.
(Chuckles)
- Big sky.
♪ Just a little closer ♪
♪ such a beautiful thing ♪
- Paula?
- Yep.
- See ya later.
- Thanks.
Hi.
I got a call from father Stephen
saying you returned my clothes.
I just though I'd pop
in and say thanks.
- Hello.
- How many are there?
- There's two.
Could be one more, six year old boy.
- And they've all got it?
- Well, yeah, he said
they have versions of it.
- What are you gonna do?
- Fly out, pick 'em up
and take him into his doctor,
every week or so.
- Okay.
- Yeah, there'll be fuel
and something else on top
but I'll pay for it.
- No, you won't.
This one's on big sky.
It's not much when you think of it.
Will it make any difference?
- You heard the story of the starfish?
- No.
- Well, there's this guy and
he's walking along the beach
and he sees all these starfish
washed up on the sand.
There's thousands of them.
Just lying there.
Dying in the sun.
And there's this bloke walking along
and he's picking them up one by one,
chucking them back into the surf
and the guy says, what
are you doing that for?
It won't make any difference.
And the bloke bends over,
picks up another one,
tosses it back into the
water and he said,
it made a difference to that one.
(Upbeat music)
(Sighs)
- You a barfly now?
- Yep.
(Giggles)
Where'd you get that?
- Someone just gave it to me.
I've had a weird few days.
- Join the club.
- Chris?
Do you believe in god?
- Well, I like Christmas.
Didn't get much on easter.
- Well, that's not the question.
- Do you?
- Well, I never have.
- It's a big dark universe out there.
- So you do believe in god?
- Oh, I don't know.
But if he is here,
he's not gonna fix it.
- Fix what?
- Everything.
We must look pretty
stupid from up there,
what we're doing with the place.
- You lived your whole life
and you haven't worked
that out til now?
- I like working on it.
- Cheers, big ears!
- Cheers.
(Melancholy choir music)