The Circuit (2007–2010): Season 2, Episode 2 - Reading the Signs - full transcript

[Bright music]

- [Announcer] Aboriginal and
Torres strait islander viewers

are warned that this program
may contain images and sounds

that relate to deceased persons.

Previously on "the circuit."

- You can't keep me here now, get that?

I want to go home!

- [Drew] Jason Freeman's
taken Sam's job,

but I still have to train him.

- You want to know that your father.

- Well, yeah, anything.



- I'm sorry, dad.

Sorry for shaming you.

- While I wonder about
the appropriateness

of Harry pope sitting on the bench.

- They found him hanging
in his prison cell.

[Bella crying]

- [Man] Get him outta
here before I kill him!

- Archie, come on.

- Bella, please!

Don't let them do this!

- There's nothing here for you.

You don't belong.

[Dramatic music]

[Gentle music]



- We did good, eh?

- Lotta work.

- We don't have to go back.

If you don't feel you're ready.

- I don't think I can
stand another night

of your cooking, old man.

[Sam laughs]

- What?

What's the matter?

- How are you going to explain that?

- [Chuckles] I can
spin a yarn, you know.

Come on.

Let's go.

[Gentle music]

- Oh!

- Oh!

Look at you, you look so well!

- Mum.

- What you been feeding him?

He's got muscles on his muscles!

- Hard work when you've got
to run after your supper, eh?

- He looks so good.

- Aw!

- Come on, I'll make you a feed, eh?

You want a cuppa?

- Yeah.

- When we got out there, the
place looked like crap.

Windmill didn't work.

We had the cart water
from the river every day.

- We?

- Hey, I did enough, old man.

- Took him a while to get there.

But once he started working,
there was no stopping him.

We got a good little
holiday hut now, eh, son?

- Yeah.

Oh, and mum, the bream in
that river are deadly, boy.

- He'd get them with a spear.

- Hmm.

Made the spear myself.

Got good at it.

- You speared 'em?

- Mm, dad showed me.

- Well, in that case, I'm
surprised you didn't starve.

My brothers took him fishing one time.

He fell head first into the river

and hit his head on a rock.

- True!

- No, not quite...

- yeah, you ask your uncles
next time you see them.

They'll tell ya.

How'd you get that scar on you?

- Like you said,

me and fishing just don't get on.

- So what are your plans now, Sam?

- Got a part-time job back with als.

- So what's happened to that new fella?

- He'll do the rest of the circuit.

I'll just do the junction.

He's happy with that.

Less money for me,

but at least I'll be around here more.

- Well, that'll be
good for you, eh, son?

- Yeah, it'll be all right.

- So you going to find a place in town?

- Might stay out at the camp
win the the landers mob.

Till I can get some money behind me.

I'll find somewhere.

- You can stay here if you want.

We'll find a bed for him, eh, Billy?

- There's always the shed.

- [Chuckles] That's very funny.

[Gentle music]

- Come on, get up.

We're gonna be late.

- Mm, you're bossy in the
morning, you know that?

- You just haven't noticed
before, that's all.

You don't usually see
me in the morning.

- I like seeing you in the mornings.

- I like seeing you
in the mornings, too.

- Yeah?

Well, maybe your mum should
take the kids away more often.

You know, we wouldn't have to
sneak around if you told them.

Not everyone, just family.

- Drew.

- It's okay.

You're ashamed of me, I get it.

- You got it.

- I'm not pressuring you.

- I can't, not yet.

It's still too soon after
everything, you know?

- Okay.

Whatever you want.

You know, I worked all weekend

so we could have last night together.

No interruptions.

- You're my big, strong man.

Would you like a gold star?

- I could tell you what I would like.

I feel like breakfast in bed. [Laughs]

- We've got court in an hour, come on.

Get up!

- Ah!

Ah!

[Gentle music]

- On the evening in question,

the accused were engaged
in a sexual act,

which was reported by an elderly couple

who sighted them at the northern end,

the nudist end of the beach.

The witnesses were unaware
they were entering

a nudist beach,

as is the case with many
visitors to our town.

- Have you spoken to Jim Wells yet?

- Yeah, I spoke to him earlier.

Here's his file.

No outstandings.

- [Magistrate] Did the
accused cease their actions

once they were discovered?

- Well, apparently the
accused became aware

of the witnesses when
the tourist screamed.

But they continued until
the inevitable conclusion,

your honor. [Onlookers laughing]

Mr. Smythe was subsequently arrested

and charged with drunk and disorderly.

There is a record, your honor.

- Uh, your honor, I would like
this case to be carried over

as my client has made
an official complaint

against the arresting officer.

- [Magistrate] Anything
to add, sergeant temple?

- Yes, there has been a
complaint received, your honor,

and there is currently an
internal investigation

about the matter.

- Mr. Ellis, we will
stand this case down

until the results of the internal
investigation are known.

- [Drew] Thank you, your honor.

- It was apparently a
retaliatory assault.

Smythe jumped o'Byrne
in the holding cell,

pushed his face into a pile of shit.

- Shit?

- Yeah, shit.

Smythe's.

O'Byrne lost it.

- [Magistrate] And hit him?

- Well, I think he had
pretty good reason.

It's his job to uphold the law.

It's not his job to get
a face full of crap.

- Doing the right thing is
not a matter of choice, Bob.

- Regardless of what they do to you?

Come on, Peter.

You know how hard the coppers have it.

- I'm not saying they don't.

But it's nobody's right
to assault somebody else.

- So you're saying that
cops have got to eat shit

and that's it?

- Sometimes, yeah.

Archie, can I help you?

This is a private conversation.

- It's a public area.

You should be more careful.

- He's having enough potshots
in the press as it is.

Prison, you, coppers.

- Thank you, Bob.

- All I'm saying is,

you don't need to hand
him anymore ammo.

- So, there's this beach
that I've heard about.

- Might be a bit tricky
if we got arrested.

How about you just come
'round to my place?

I can always throw some
sand on the back patio

if you're that keen. [Laughs]

- I'll grab some food and then, uh,

we'll see what happens after that.

- Mm-hmm.

Come on, we'd better get back.

Hi, Archie.

- Hey, Archie, how's it going?

- It's all right.

- Hey, I'm going to grab some food

and go over to Bella's tomorrow.

Would you want to join us?

- Yeah, come over.

Mum and the kids have gone to perth.

Drew's stopping me from
moping around an empty house.

- Thanks, but um...

Just not really in the mood.

- It would be good to catch up.

To talk.

- Sure.

Uh, listen, I've got um...

- [Drew] No worries, arch.

See you later.

[Dramatic music]

- He hasn't forgiven me.

- People deal with things differently.

That's all.

- I miss him.

[Birds singing]

- Oh, what are they doing here?

- There's a land council
meeting in town.

Must've come in for that.

- [Drew] Hello, Jack.

- Hello.

- Drew.

- Lionel.

I heard you're in town for a meeting.

So, what can I do for you?

- How come you never come back?

- Jack, I've been working.

I'm sorry.

- They're your family.

- Look, I've been busy.

There are lots of things I've...

You know, things have been hard.

- Been a long time, huh?

They're not happy.

- Well, tell 'em...

Tell 'em I'll come and see
'em when I get the time.

Jack.

Lionel.

[Tense music]

- Come on, you're up
that way every circuit.

Whatever happened with your
uncle, he's just one person.

- I don't want to talk
about it, all right?

- Drew, it's important.

I'm sorry.

Not the night you were expecting, eh?

- It's not too late to go to the beach.

- Bella.

- Hi, uncle, how are you?

- Can I see you for a minute, please?

- Hey, Joe.

- Clarry's buckle.

I want it back, it's mine.

Not his.

I wouldn't ask you if I
didn't have a choice.

- You can go and ask Archie yourself.

- I'm not gonna ask that fella.

You know why.

- I'm not doing this.

I took the family's side on everything.

Even when I didn't want to.

Not now.

I'm sorry.

I don't mean disrespect
and you know I love you.

But I won't be stuck
in the middle again.

- It's okay.

You call me if you need anything
while the family's away.

- I will.

[Gentle music]

- Stop fussing over me.

You're gonna wear yourself out.

- Don't worry about me.

I love having someone to fuss over.

You need anything else?

- For you to sit down.

[Ellie laughs]

Please?

- I'm going to make a cuppa.

Do you want one?

- Yes, thanks.

- And you should take your pills.

- Yes, mom.

[Ellie laughs]

- The mob, they know I'm back?

- His family?

You don't have to worry
about them, believe me.

They won't try anything.

They wouldn't dare.

He can't hurt you anymore.

And I won't let anyone
else hurt you, either.

[Clattering nearby]

Raymond chance, what do
you think you're doing?

You scared the poor girl half to death!

- Sorry, love.

But it's so dark out there

you couldn't even see
me teeth if I smiled.

- What teeth are you talking about?

[Ellie laughs]

Hey, what have you got there?

- I thought I'd bring
some treats for my girls.

But I got hungry on the way home.

Sorry.

- Ray!

You know you can't eat this stuff!

Your sugar levels will be sky-high now!

- [Ray] I'm fine!

Stop fussing.

- Okay, sit down.

Let us test you.

[Gentle music]

- Ow!

[Knocking on door]

[Tense music]

- Just a minute.

[Tense music]

Joe.

Hello.

- I come about something of clarry's.

Something that belonged to him

that I know he would
have wanted me to have.

- Okay, sure, um...

I haven't really been
through his stuff.

But I know there are photos and things.

- I want his rodeo buckle.

The one he won up at derby.

- I'm sorry,

but clarry gave that to me.

- Nah, he wouldn't have done that.

That buckle reminds him of
my father, his grandfather.

Why would he give it to you?

- I think you know why.

Because he loved me.

And he wanted me to share
that part of his life.

- Bullshit!

- No, it's not bullshit.

It's the truth,

no matter what you want to believe.

- You got any proof?

You got any proof he gave you anything?

- Piss off, Joe.

[Door bangs]

- I'll get what's rightfully
mine and then I'll go.

- Nothing is rightfully yours.

This is our home, you got
no right coming here.

- No right?

I'm his father!

You, you are nothing.

[Buckle clanks]

- Put it back!

Fuckin' put it back!

[Archie crashes]

You fucking asshole!

[Joe growls]

- You're not a man.

You're nothing.

- Here!

Take this, too!

And these!

Huh!

You may as well take everything, huh?

I got nothing now!

You fucking happy?

You killed him!

You killed him, you fucking
narrow-minded bastard!

You killed him and you know it!

[Pail clatters]

[Gentle music]

- Before we begin court today,

I'd like to welcome elder Phyllis
rhodes to the court bench.

[People clapping]

I also think it's important
to discuss what happened

on the last circuit with
regard to elder pope.

- That matter is finished.

We don't want to talk about it.

Not here.

- [Quietly] I don't understand.

We discussed this earlier.

- We said we're moving on.

No more talk.

- Right.

First case?

We've been through this before

and quite frankly, I don't
know how much longer

I can continue to give you
the benefit of the doubt.

- On the fifth of this month,

Ms. Walker was reportedly driving...

- Just a moment.

Can you please tell mina

that I need to see her before the case?

Thanks.

- His uncle, Mr. pope,
has, as you know,

been the cause of some
unrest in the community

and my client feels unfairly victimized

by some of the residents here,

including some of his former friends.

He also admits that alcohol
was a large factor

in the assault.

- This idea changes everything.

We need to go back to
him and let him know

that this is going to
be a lot more difficult

than we first thought.

- Sorry, mate, really.

- It's all right.

We just need to be more
careful, that's all, jas.

We need to find Charlie boyce.

Do you know where he is?

- Yes, we've got him
waiting over there.

Do you want me to go and get him?

- That's not Charlie boyce.

- What?

- Charlie, he's around 30.

That gentleman, he's 70 if he's a day.

- Well, when I asked him
if his name was Charlie,

he nodded.

- I know, they're
messing with you, jas.

- But getting drunk is no excuse.

Do you understand?

- Yes, your honor.

- I'm therefore placing you

on a six month good behavior bond.

That means if I see you before
me within those six months,

you will go to jail.

- I will make sure my
client understands

the seriousness of the
bond, your honor.

- Thank you, miss zdybicka.

Before we proceed any further,

I would like to ask why alcohol
seems to be at the core

of every case I've heard today.

This is supposed to be a dry community.

- Yes, it's supposed to be dry here.

But sly-grogging still goes on.

People bring that alcohol
into the community

and they sell it!

They don't care what
happens to our people.

They just want to make money.

There's no respect.

And the drinkers, they're loving it.

- Thank you, elder rhodes.

- The defendant was injured
in the crash, your honor,

and we've delayed the
hearing of this case

so that he's had a chance
to recover from his wounds

and so that he's been able to attend to

sorry business and his
brother's funeral.

- [Peter] Mr. Ellis.

[Birds singing]

- Your honor, my client,
Mikey, has suffered greatly

as a result of his actions.

It was never his intention
to hurt his family.

He has become estranged
from many of them,

as they feel that he is responsible
for his brother's death.

And he understands
that it was his fault.

Mikey has been through
trouble punishment.

His grandfather has
been working with him

to give him some understanding
of what he had done.

He's truly sorry for his actions.

And the result of his
stupidity, in his words,

will stay with him forever

and I would ask that his
pain and his mental anguish

be taken into account when
sentencing, your honor.

[People chattering quietly]

- Ready, Ellie?

- All done.

I want to carry up and
get back into town.

- Ah, romantic plans?

- [Scoffs] Not quite.

Leonie is in hospital for her checkup

and I want to be there to pick her up.

- Let me take that for you.

- Don't be hard on yourself,
you did good today, okay?

- Mm.

- Listen, I did exactly the same
thing when I first started.

I missed a prior, only I didn't
get it before the hearing.

You did.

You sorted it out.

Chin up, okay?

- I'll put these lot in the car.

- Yeah, I'll see you there.

[Upbeat music]

You can't just go punching people.

It's against the law.

You need to give me a reason why.

Otherwise, I can't do anything for you.

If I'm going to help you in court,

I need to know why.

- You know,

I played footy down south for a while.

Deadly game, eh?

And it's pretty easy to lose it

on the field sometimes, right?

Especially when it's all
that matters to you, eh?

So, what happened the other day?

Did someone get in your face or what?

- Yeah, take one deadly mark

and carried on the sideline

called me black bastard.

He was going on all day.

In the end, I just
couldn't help myself.

I just ran over there and hit him.

- Hey, you're doing well.

Keep going, brief me later.

- Right.

Yeah, football's deadly, eh?

- How you going, arch?

- Yeah, fine.

- Mr. Bali has had an
extremely troubled life,

in and out of foster care,

and has always had
trouble communicating,

as he has problems with his speech

due to a birth defect.

My client became abusive with police

when they seemed to not
understand him, your honor.

The frustration of
continually being thought of

to be drunk, when in fact,

he can't help the way he talks,

sometimes makes my client
much more aggressive

than he usually is, your honor.

- Can I say something?

This one, he's not from the country.

He shouldn't come here
and make any trouble,

yelling and swearing at the policemen.

He needs to show the
police some respect.

- You make us all look bad.

You shouldn't come here
and make havoc for us.

- Everybody has got a problem.

You deal with it the right way.

- Shame job.

Getting grilled by the
elders like that.

- They're good.

My client normally flies
home one week out of three,

but unfortunately, Mr. Ford's
wife recently left him.

He found no reason to return to perth

and no home to return
to you, your honor.

All of this led my client to spending

perhaps too much time drinking.

He is apologetic and

he has already offered financial
restitution to the hotel.

- Stand up, please.

Attempting to drink your worries away

is not going to solve anything.

I do sympathize with you

with regard to your family situation,

but your behavior remains unacceptable.

I therefore fine you
$500 and I'm placing you

on a six month good behavior bond.

- [Ellie] Thank you, your honor.

- [Peter] The court will
take a 15 minute recess.

- This is your aunty mavis.

She your dad's cousin.

She wanted to meet you.

- Oh!

I was away when you first
come to meet your family

and I've been waiting
for you to come back.

But you never did.

How come?

- I'm sorry.

I've been busy.

- Look, I heard about the
blue you had with Mick.

But don't worry about him.

He's like that.

We can get him to pull his head in.

Besides, there's people who
want you to come visit

and we need you.

We got a meeting later
on for our land claim

and we need you to be there.

- Oh, I don't know how
much help I'd be.

I don't have much
experience in native title.

- You listen here,

we lost your father.

We don't want to lose you.

This land claim is
important to our family.

You're family and you should be there.

Okay?

- Okay, I'll see what I can do,

but I can't promise anything.

[Tense music]

She just hugged me.

- They want you to come home, drew.

Don't throw this away.

[Dramatic music]

[Tool whirring]

[Dramatic music]

- Hey, bruz, it's good to see you.

- Good to see you, too, bruz.

- You want to come and see
me play some basketball?

- Yeah, sure.

- Thought you was married
to a white woman.

- Oh!

Come sit over here.

- [Drew] Okay.

- Now, you mob,

I've asked this boy to come here

because he needs to be part of this

and maybe help us with our claim.

- Hey, young fella,

when that judge asks for
evidence, what they mean?

Evidence of what?

- Well, they're looking
for something tangible,

like something solid that will
support you with your claim.

- We've already been through this.

We need to show them that we
know the stories of the land

and that we still practice
our culture on that country.

- You're a lawyer, eh?

You can help us on our claim.

- Well, native title, it's
a specialized area of law.

I don't know whether it'd be much help.

- Old man, we already got lawyers.

We don't need another one.

- But he our family,

so he needs to be part of this claim.

- Nah.

He don't know stories for our country.

He might make our claim weak.

- Yeah.

- Doesn't matter.

He family, right?

He should be on the claim.

- Why should he come in now?

He don't know nothing.

He don't need money, either.

He'd be just taking away
from what we're getting.

- Doesn't matter about the money.

It matters about blood.

- If he don't know the
stories, teach him stories.

- Yeah.

What do you reckon, drew?

- I can help you with
the case, aunty, I can.

But if you've got specialists,

then maybe you don't need my help.

- So what does that mean?

- Just what I said.

- So you don't want to be in the claim?

- I'll do what's best
for the case, aunty.

- Don't be a stranger, now.

You've got to be part
of all this, okay?

And don't go worrying
about that big buff-head.

It'll all work out.

- Thanks, aunty.

See ya.

- How was it?

- Like walking a tightrope.

- Hey, cuz, want to
play some one on one?

- Yeah, all right!

Come on!

Hey, hey, hey!

["When two worlds collide"
by Patrick davies]

♪ Have you finally found
what you were looking for ♪

♪ a place for you to hide

♪ but you just can't
hide those feelings ♪

♪ that just tear you up inside

♪ people choose your sides

♪ when two worlds collide

♪ people choose your sides

- it's okay, your uncle
will come around.

- I don't think so.

I think he wants to squash me.

- Well then,

if he hurts you,

I'll just have to kiss it better.

- Really?

- [Gasps] Sam!

Oh my god, it's so good to see you.

- Oh, it's good to be back.

[Car door slams]

I'm sorry.

- Mum wants to see you soon, though.

- No worries.

- What happened?

- Oh, nothing.

Bit of an accident, that.

- Back on the chain gang, eh?

- Someone's got to keep
an eye on you lot.

So, what's new since I've been gone?

- You know, same old same old.

- How's Billy doing?

- Oh, he's doing all right.

I might have brought him back into town

at the wrong time, though.

Things feel a bit tense around here.

So, what's this I hear?

Some guardian bloke shooting at the mob

fishing down by the tree?

- Yeah, Ellie's representing him,

but I don't think she's
too pleased about it.

- Well, what's he been charged with?

- [Drew] Reckless
endangerment, I think.

- You've got to be fucking kidding!

- I don't lay the charges, Sam.

- Well, let's hope Peter realizes

it's much more fucking
serious than that.

- Five minutes into the job

and you're going to give
yourself a heart attack already.

We have two days of court, I'm
sure we'll get through it.

- Two days?

- It's gotten a lot worse
since you've been gone.

- Sam! [Laughs]

Are you a sight for sore eyes! [Laughs]

- Looking good, Ellie.

- Oh, you too!

Being out bush seems
to agree with you, eh?

- Got a bit grayer the
second I hit town.

So, listen,

I hear you're defending
that dickhead with the gun.

You know, a lot of people are
getting hot under the collar

about this one, Ellie.

- Mm.

Have you seen what Archie's been
doing in the papers lately?

- [Sighs] About time someone
rattled their cage.

They'd get away with
murder if you let 'em.

- Mm, well, the last one
quoted Peter as saying

cops have to eat, you know, crap.

[Sam laughs]

- That's a good one.

Food for thought, eh?

- [Laughs] You're bad!

Peter's not going to
live this one down, eh?

- Some of those cops
deserve what they get.

- [Bob] He was arrested
and charged with

reckless endangerment and
possessing an unlicensed firearm.

These charges are preferred.

- Hey, mate.

See they've got you doing
all the crap work.

- [Jason] He told me you used to do it.

[Sam chuckles]

- So how's he doing?

- Well, he's not you, but
he's gonna be pretty close.

- I doubt it.

- Are you kidding me, sergeant temple?

That seems a rather lenient charge,

given that there are
eyewitness accounts

of the man actually shooting at people.

Is this the best you can do?

- Your honor, these are the charges.

- [Peter] Ms. zdybicka.

- Your honor, my client
was quite intoxicated

at the time of the offense.

He had been sitting on the riverbank

in an attempt to sober up,

but became unnerved by
a, er, crow that...

- a what?

- A crow, your honor,

that in his intoxicated state
he felt was following him.

My client assures me he did
not see the family fishing

on the other side of the creek

when he thought he was
firing at the crow.

[Onlookers chattering]

Your honor, there are no
previous charges of this nature

and my client is remorseful.

- What is the nature of
the previous charges?

- Public obscenity,
attempting to solicit,

a peeping Tom charge, and assault.

- I need the assault details, please.

Stand up, please.

Given your previous record and
the severity of what you did,

I am quite surprised by the
leniency of the charges

that have been preferred
against you today.

- Oh.

- And frankly, I'm not convinced

by your rather incredulous story

about being menaced by a crow.

- What crow?

[Onlookers chattering]

- This man should be
serving a prison sentence.

Somebody could have been killed.

However, my hands are somewhat tied.

I'm fining you $1500 with a six
months suspended sentence,

plus court fees.

[Onlookers chattering]

I also order that the
firearm be destroyed.

That is all.

[Onlookers chattering]

[Tense music]

- Check 'em out.

There's going to be
trouble over this one.

Bloody Peter!

- He did what he could.

It's not like he had much to work with.

[Crowd chattering]

- Lots of unhappy people.

- [Sam] Yeah, someone stuffed up.

- Anyone I should talk
to about the story, Sam?

- Yeah, I know the aunty of the family.

She was there.

She'll have a lot to say
about it, I reckon.

The cops should have worked harder.

Crow, my fucking ass!

- Can I quote you?

- What, like you quoted Peter
about the shit-eating cops?

What do you reckon?

- Gary.

- Peter.

- Archie.

I'm sorry.

- Thanks.

- You gonna write anymore
of these articles?

- Probably.

- You get this shooter thing.

Someone needs to say
something about it.

- I was just looking out
for my little brother.

All of them out there
are picking on him

'cause he's a small fella.

- You beat that other boy pretty badly.

I mean, you're a big guy,
you did some damage.

- Yeah.

I know.

- Look, I'll see what I can do.

But since you're pleading not guilty,

they'll want to remand you in custody.

- Oh, come on, man.

I can't go back to the watch house.

You don't know what it's like in there.

Please.

- We strongly oppose bail, your honor.

This young man's attack
on the boy in question

was very brutal, considering his age.

- [Quietly] We'll be all right.

- He's a member of a so-called gang,

the likes of which have
been causing trouble

in town for a while.

They've marked territories

and the violence between
them is escalating.

Putting this young man
back on the street

will simply further
inflame the situation.

- Mr. Ellis.

- As I said earlier, your honor,

my client takes his familial
responsibilities seriously.

And for this reason I
do not consider him

to be a flight risk.

He is very sorry for what happened.

And he assures me that it
will not happen again.

- Stand up, please.

If you will, tell me why
I should grant you bail.

- If I'm not around, my bro,

he's just gonna get into more trouble.

I can make sure he goes
to school and that.

He listens to me.

I need to be there for him, you know?

- Well, now, if I do grant you bail,

how do I know you're not going
to get into more trouble?

- I won't.

I know I've got to stay
out of fights and stuff.

I promise.

[Kids laughing]

- All right.

We'll grant you bail on two conditions.

While you're on bail,

I don't want you seeing
or hanging out with

any other members of your gang.

The other condition is that
you don't leave your home

between the hours of 6 P.M.
and seven in the morning.

Do we have a deal?

- Yes, sir.

[People chattering]

- See you back in broome.

- [Drew] What?

You're not staying for court tomorrow?

- Checked the court sheet out.

There's nothing much
happening tomorrow.

No, I'll get back and file
my story on the shooter

after I talk to leonie.

[Garbage can clatters]

[Gentle music]

- Gonna grab a shower.

- No worries, jas.

Oh, home away from home, eh?

- Yep.

- Which room you in?

- The one down the end.

- I'm up this end.

[Doors bang shut]

- So?

- I'm not avoiding talking,

I'm just trying to
process it all first.

I'm not trying to be difficult.

- Okay, but do you mind
if I say something?

It's pretty big being asked
if you want to be included

on the land claim.

It means you're accepted as
family from that country.

- I know.

I was blown away when they asked me.

I didn't know what to say.

- This is what you've been looking for.

- You know what I've been thinking?

If I'm one of the family,

you know, if they want me there,

in a blackfella way,
Leroy's my brother.

I got a younger brother.

It's pretty cool.

- Sure is.

- I'll let them know.

- How's Peter settling in?

- I've been trying to comfort
him, I think he's in shock.

First time ever he
stayed in the dongas.

- Not quite what he's used to, eh?

- Not quite, no. [Laughs]

He wants to take everyone out
to dinner as soon as possible.

- Sounds good, I'd better get changed.

- You've got half an hour.

[Ellie laughs]

[Truck rumbling]

- Sure you're gonna be all right?

- I'm fine, okay?

Stop your fussing.

I'm just gonna watch a movie.

- Call me when you're finished.

I'll come pick you up.

All right, all right.

Have a good time.

- I will.

See ya.

- Billy.

There's not a good vibe
around here tonight.

You just stay here with
your friends, all right?

Don't go out.

It was great, really.

After the first few weeks,

Billy and I fixed up my
grandfather's old shack.

Getting him to do something
physical really helped.

- More parents should be like you, Sam.

Good on you, mate.

- If there were more parents like me,

we'd have to be a lot of outstations

to fix the stuff-ups.

- You've done well, Sam.

- He's getting there.

I reckon now is the hard bit.

Back in town.

Back with his mates.

- He'll be okay.

- It's my turn on the jukebox.

Bit of country should liven you all up.

[All laugh]

- Can I choose one?

- [Bob] As long as it's
country, I don't care.

- Blackfella country?

- Hey, oh, nah!

[All laughing]

- 10 bucks drew ends up in her donga.

- 10 bucks she ends up in his.

- How's your baby?

- A lot better.

- It's hard when you're away from them.

My daughter is 26,

just about to go overseas
and suddenly I feel like

I'm never going to see her again.

- Your wife, she must be
pretty lonely then, eh?

- Hey, come on, you lot!

Start dancing or I start singing!

[All laugh]

- That can't be good.

- Nah.

- All right, my round.

Same again?

- You heard what Bob said.

Let's start dancing!

- Is everything okay?

- Yeah, I got a lot to
think about, Ellie.

I'm moving bern up here.

- With you?

Peter, are you sure that's wise?

- Ellie, I think I feel
a sermon coming on

and to be perfectly honest,

I really don't need one tonight, okay?

- I'm here if you need to talk, okay?

No sermons.

[Mobile ringing]

- Yeah?

- So what are you doing tonight?

Can I interest you in a
room without a view?

- [Bella] Maybe.

- Ah.

- Hey, got to go.

Trouble downtown and they
need reinforcements.

- What's the problem?

- Group of kids gathering in the park.

The kid you bailed this afternoon,

he's right out there amongst it all.

- I better come with you.

- Come on, jas.

No, you guys stay here.

We won't be long.

[Tense music]

- Shut this down now...

And anyone else who starts trouble,

we'll take 'em down to the station.

That kid you let off's in there.

- Well, let me go and talk to him.

- He played you, Lockhart,

and you let the little prick go.

- That piss-poor charge,
you'd be stirring them.

That fucking shooting's what
pushed this over the edge.

- Piss off.

Let's move!

[Tense music]

[Window shatters]

Shit!

[All shouting]

Get him out of here!

- [Officer] Come on!

Come on!

[All shouting]

- Call for backup!

- You're joking!

They won't get here for an hour!

- Come on, Sam, let's get outta here!

- Thank Christ Billy's not there!

- Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go, get into it!

[All shouting]

[Tense rock music]

[Siren blaring]

- Listen, Peter, it's
been brewing for a while.

But that shooter thing just
tipped it over the edge.

[Door slams]

- He's not there!

Little bastard.

[Tense music]

[Sirens wailing]

[Truck rumbling]

I've got to go and find where Billy is.

- I'm coming with you.

- Nah.

No, you stay put with the girls.

Have a beer.

- I'll go with him.

- All right, both of you be careful.

[Motor revving]

[Kids shouting]

[Tense music]

- [Sam] Is Billy here?

- No, he hasn't come home yet.

Why, what's wrong?

- The kids are running amok downtown.

I checked Kevin's place,
but he's not there.

I just hope he's not caught
up in this bloody shit.

I told him to stay put.

- You got to go and find him, Sam.

- All right.

You just lock the doors, okay?

[Shutters banging]

- You guys had better come
inside if you're staying.

[Tense music]

[Crowd clamoring nearby]

[Gate clanging]

[Kids clamoring]

- They're just kids.

They got no bone to pick here.

We'll just wait 'em out.

- Ah, go on!

Get moving!

Get moving!

- Why don't you go and get
your gun, you redneck asshole?

- Why don't you go home,
you little black bastard,

before I use this on you!

[Kids clamoring]

- That's all we need.

[Chains clanging]

[Kids clamoring]

Shit!

Quick, get in the bar!

[Kids clamoring]

[Glass shattering]

[Kids shouting and banging]

Bob, it's drew!

We're still in the same place!

We've taken refuge in the bar!

I've left a message with
Bob, he's not answering.

Are you okay?

- I was hoping to get a dance in!

But we're okay.

- Fucking kids!

[Banging against shutters]

[Tense rock music]

[Horn honking]

[Garbage cans clattering]

[Horn honking]

[Tense rock music]

[Sirens wailing]

- [Jason] Over there, over there.

I think that's him.

[Sirens wailing]

- [Officer] Get off him!

- Oi, get off him!

[All shouting]

Oh, shit! Sorry!

It was an accident.

Sorry.

- You're under arrest!

- Hey!

Let him go!

He's not one of them!

Hey, hey, hey, I saw what happened!

It was an accident!

- Get the fuck off him!

- [Sam] Billy, shut the fuck up.

- [Billy] Get off him!

Jas!

- Shut up!

I'll go and get drew!

We'll come down and
sort this out, okay?

- [Officer] Get in
there, you little prick!

You're done, mate.

[Door slams]

- We were just going for a
walk and they jumped us.

We didn't do anything.

Fuckers.

- You told me you were just
gonna be at your mate's place!

[Sirens wailing]

Why couldn't you just stay
put like you promised?

[Tense music]

- [Bella] It's quiet.

- Yeah, they've probably lost interest.

[Knocking on shutters]

- Ah!

- Police.

You can come out.

Everyone here all right?

- Thank you.

- Go down walken street,
it's the quietest way.

All this is on your head.

- I'd be more concerned for
myself, if I were you.

That charge against the
shooter was laughable.

- It's nothing to do with this.

We're going to lodge
a formal complaint.

- Do your report.

I did my job and that's
what they'll find.

If it ever got investigated.

- Believe me, mate, you've
not heard the last of this.

You're screwed, Lockhart.

["Time flies" by nokturnl]

♪ Our time is running out

♪ still living on the fringe

♪ from the safety zone leaving again ♪

♪ we're long gone don't know where ♪

♪ you know we ought to face up

♪ but I wonder if we'll
ever be that strong ♪

♪ time flies and I wonder
how we lasted this long ♪

♪ time flies