THUNDERBOLT AND MARY ANN
ACT 3
1 EXT POISONING AT YARROWICK DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
¾
A camp with two bushmen sitting by the fire on the branch of a fallen tree eating breakfast as Fred and Will ride up.
FRED:
Good-day
BUSHMAN:
Howdi
FRED:
Can I buy some provisions from you.
BUSHMAN:
Dog don’t eat dog mate. I reckon we’re all about equals here. Get off our horses and have breakfast with us.
WILL:
(DISMOUNTS)
Why thanks.
FRED DISMOUNTS AND THEY SIT BESIDE THE FIRE. BUSHMAN HANDS THEM A PANNIKIN OF TEA AND SOME BREAD
167
AND MILK. THE OTHER BUSHMAN TAKES SOME SUGAR FROM A LITTLE BOTTLE
CUT TO..
BAG OF SUGAR BESIDE THE FIRE.
CUT TO..
WILL PUTS THE TEA ON THE GROUND
WILL:
Its as hot as mustard
(MUTTERS TO FRED)
Lean over Fred, Hawks
FRED:
(FRED LEANS OVER SAYING)
Have you any mustard?
WILL:
(WHISPERS IN HIS EAR)
Tea is poisoned
FRED:
(WITHOUT TURNING A HMR)
Boy you are right. It is hot.
BUSHMAN:
It will soon go cold
FRED:
And what do you think of the government decision to allow squatters to purchase their leases?
168
BUSHMAN:
Well I think its disgraceful they already have too much land, doesn’t leave folks like you and me a chance.
FRED:
Free Selection, that’s the answer. Then we’ll have cheaper goods in the stores -it’ll open up the country and the we’ll get the rail to New England.
CUT TO..
DOG COMES OVER AND WILL PATS HIM POURING OUT THE
TEA INTO A SAUCER
THE DOG DRINKS IT ALL.
CUT TO..
FRED CONTINUES CONVERS~ON
FRED:
We might even get justice in the courts if the law isn’t controlled by the squatters.
CUT TO..
DOGS GETS UP HIS HAIR BRISTLING AND BEGINS RUNNING ROUND IN CIRCLES
BUSHMAN:
What ails the brute.
CUT TO..
FRED WHIPS OUT HIS REVOLVER AND SHOOTS THE DOG
169
(
BUSHMAN:
What did you do that for? That dog is mine, I’ve had him for years and he is a valuable animal. You had no right to.
FRED POINTS THE PISTOL AT HIS CHEST
FRED:
That dog was yours you say.
BUSHMAN:
Yes
FRED:
He served you faithfully I suppose.
BUSHMAN:
Yes
FRED:
And you are sorry to lose him?
BUSHMAN:
Yes, but what is the meaning of this. Put down your pistol.
FRED:
Silence. Listen to me. You are sorry to lose your dog, but not half as sorry as I am, for the poor brute has helped save my life. He died in my place. He drank some of the poisoned tea that you served out to us. Now do you understand?
170
CUT TO..
BUSHMAN FALL TO THEIR KNEES AND BEG FOR MERCY
BUSHMAN:
Please don’t shoot us, we didn’t mean to kill you.
FRED:
Pray to God for mercy, for as sure as I live
(TAKING HIS FOB WATCH OUT)
I will shoot the pair of you in exactly five minutes.
BUSHMEN:
Please don’t, have you no pity..
FRED:
You have three minutes to live.
CUT TO..
BUSHMAN WITH A PIECING SHRIEK LAYS FULL LENGTH ON
THE GROUND AT FRED’S FEET.
BUSHMAN.
As you hope for mercy in the hereafter, spare us now.
BUSHMAN 2:
You contemplate a deed that will stain your hands with the blood of fellow beings and which you will repent all the rest of your life. As yet you are not a murderer, Captain Thunderbolt. I call upon you now,
171
as though we both stood before the throne of God to forgive us and save your own soul. For as you treat us your Maker will treat you.
FRED:
You have one minute to live.
FRED RAISES THE HAMMER OF HIS PISTOL AND WILL LEAPS TO HIS SIDE
WILL:
Fred, Fred, you must not do this thing.
½
FRED:
I shall.
(PUSHES WILL AWAY)
WILL:
I have saved your life twice now, once within the hour. If you don’t grant me this favour, I swear to you that we part here and now.
FRED:
Curse you, why do you plead for these hounds.
WILL:
Because in their light, they are justified in doing what they did. Are we not outlaws, you and I? That means that any law abiding citizen has a perfect right to kill us when and where and how they like or can. Besides, these are poor men, and you forget the price on your head – five hundred
172
pounds. That would make them rich. Moreover, they are strangers to us, not friends. If they ever had been our friends, I’d help you shoot them. But they are strangers, and they owe us no duty.
If they had been successful the world would have applauded their act. We have no right to judge them, we alone out of all mankind. We may regard their trick as dastardly but no one else would think so. You must not kill them Fred!
FRED:
Very well, let us go.
FRED TURNS AND STRIDES TO THE HORSES WITHOUT A
BACKWARD GLANCE. WILL GOES UP TO THEIR PROSTRATE
FORMS AND TOUCHING ONE WITH HIS FOOT
WILL:
Take my advice, and leave this district. I won’t answer for your lives if Thunderbolt crosses your path again.
BUSHMAN:
(SHAKING LIKE A LEAF)
I will, God bless you young man, for what you did for us.
WILL TURNS AND FOLLOWS FRED TO THE HORSES AND
MOUNTS
FADE OUT.
173
(
2 EXT INN HORSE YARD DAY ESTABLISHING SHOT..
MARY ANN AND FRED BRITTEN WHO RUNS THE INN ON THE
DENISON DIGGINGS. THIS IS A GOLD RUSH TOWN.MARY ANN
HAS MOVED TO THE INN WHERE SHE IS WORKING.
CUT TO..
THE YARD WHERE A HORSE IS TROTTING WITH A YOUNG
RIDER
CUT TO..
MARY ANN CLAPPING HIS EFFORTS
MARY ANN:
Bravo, well done Fred
CUT TO..
FRED BRITTEN COMING OUT OF THE INN IN APRON AND GESTURING HER TOWARDS HIM
CUT TO..
MARY ANN RUNNING INTO THE INN
CUT TO…
A PISTOL BEING FIRED
CUT TO..
THE HORSE JUMPS THE FENCE AND FRED IS THROWN OFF
CUT TO…
FRED LYING UNCONCIOUS AS THE MINERS COME RUNNING
AND SURROUND FRED TRYING TO ROUSE HIM
174
3 EXT BARRINGTON TOPS WALKABOUT DAY ESTABLISHMENT SHOT..
MARY ANN IN BUSH. ITS HOT AND SHE TAKES OFF HER LONG DRESS AND PUTS ON A SHIRT AND MOLESKINS.
PAN TO.
LOOKOUT ABOVE HANGING ROCK
CLOSE UP.
MEN HUNTING WITH BOOMERANGS, WOMEN GATHERING
FRESHWATER CRAYFISH AND MUSSELS INTO BASKETS FROM
WATERHOLE
CUT TO..
GROUP OF ABORIGINALS ARE SEEN IN VALLEY
CUT TO..
CAVE WHERE CHARLOTTE IS TELLING DREAMTIME STORY
DREAMTIME STORY OF THE BOOMERANG.
In the dreamtime there came from the sky a young couple on a star. Their names were Toonco and the woman’s name Nargardi.They came to this beautiful land. It was the beginning of all creation. When Nargardi laughed the wind blew and the thunder sounded. This was the beginning of all life.
They together learned to live in the new surroundings. Toonco learned to trap animals, to give them their names. He learned all about the trees grass and flowers and everything that grew and swam. He went to hunt and. because he was not experienced enough the Great Spirit came to walk with him.
Toonco became angry and grabbing a spear aiming it at a star, he threw the spear and the Spirit caught it and bent it and threw it back. This was the beginning of the boomerang.
175
CUT TO..
Women sitting around the fire as she tells the story
CUT TO..
MARY ANN ARRIVES IN ABORIGINAL CAMP AND IS GREETED BY OTHERS
MARY ANN
My child is dead!
CUT TO..
THE WOMEN BEGIN KEENING CRYING AND BEATING THEIR
CHESTS
CUT TO..
AN ELDER HELPS HER UNDRESS AND THEY BEGIN P~NG HER BREASTS IN CORROBOREE PAINT
CUT TO..
SHE IS LED TO A SECLUDED CAVE WHERE THEY CUT MARY ANN’S HAIR AND CUT HER FOREHEAD
CUT TO..
SHE SITS IN CIRCLE HANDS LINKED DOING A HUMMING BEE
CUT TO..
DIDJERIDU PLAYER AND WOMEN CLAPPING ~CKS
CUT TO..
MARY ANN IN TRANCE
CUT TO..
WOMEN DANCE A CORROBOREE
CLOSE UP
MARY ANN’S FACE EXPRESSION CHANGES TO ANGUISH
CUT TO..
176
VISION OF A DEATH AND HER PULLING SOME ONE OUT OF KENTUCKY CREEK
CUT TO..
WISE MAN OR~SHARMANDIGS HOLE AND LINES IT WITH LOGS AND BRANCHES
CUT TO ..
WOMEN SINGING DRE~ME SONG
CUT TO..
WISE MAN PLACES BODY IN FOETAL POS~ON IN GROUND
INTONING:
Don’t look back again to your mother and your sisters. Keep away from the camp. Don’t follow us. You have to go the other way to your own waterhole in the sky.
CUT TO..
TRIBAL MEMBERS AS WISE MAN FILLS THE GRAVE THEN LIGHTS A FIRE
CUT TO..
MARY ANN KEPT AWAY FROM GRAVE CRYING
CUT TO..
BLACK COCKATOO CALLS AS TRIBE MOVES OFF FROM THE
CAMPSITE WITH MARY ANN
FADE OUT.
4 EXT. WILL FOUND BY CLARKE NIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
WILL IS LONELY AND IN THE HORSE YARD WHEN APPROACHED BY A RIDER WHO DISMOUNTS AT THE GATE AND
THROWS HIS BRIDLE OVER THE FENCE.
CLOSE UP..
HE LIGHTS A MATCH TO LIGHT HIS PIPE
177
WILL:
Ted Clarke
TED:
Well Will old man, is this where you are. I have come over purposely to see you
WILL:
What for?
TED
Don’t think for a moment boy, that I came here to injure you. I would not hurt a hair of your head, Will, as well you ought to know.
WILL:
You were very good to me when my leg was hurt. I’ve not forgotten that Mr Clarke, and I’m very grateful for it.
TED:
I did not know who you were then boy, but ever since I have known, I have been trying to get hold of you. You are wondering why?
Well lad, I’ll not keep you long in doubt. We all took a fancy to you when you stayed at our place, and it was a great shock to us to discover that you had taken so young a lad as you – to so cursed and wicked a life as bushranging.
178
CUT TO..
WILL HANGS HIS HEAD IN SHAME
TED:
Its an ungodly game you are playing. Your old mother is worried like crazy over you.
PUTS HIS HAND ON WILL’S SHOULDER AS WILL SOBS
TED:
Wouldn’t it be better to suffer a term of imprisonment as you would if you gave yourself up to the police now. If you keep on in this reckless way of yours, it can only end in your being shot down like a dog in the bush at last, or in dying a felon’s death on the gallows.
WILL;
SOBBING
I wish to God I was dead, but I can’t desert Thunderbolt Mr Clarke, I’d be a low coward if Idid. I can’t I can’t indeed.
CUT TO..
A LIGHT APPEARS AS THE DOOR OPENS AND FRED CALLS
FRED:
Will, where are you. Is that you talking out there.
WILL:
Yes, Fred its a friend.
CUT TO..
179
TED AND WILL WALK TOWARDS THE LIGHTED DOORWAY
FADE OUT
180
EXT ‘SINGING THE EYES’ ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S
CEREMONY
ESTABLISHING SHOT.
Aboriginal women leave camp to go up to a mountain sacred site This is a secret ceremony.
CHARLOTTE:
This is women’s business. No men are al-lowed to follow us
CUT TO..
THE OLDER WOMEN ACCOMPANY MARY ANN TO A BORO RING SITE
CUT TO..
GET OCHRE AND PAINT HER BODY AND DECORATE HER
HAIR WHICH HAS GROWN TO INDICATE A ~ME LAPSE SINCE
THE LAST SCENE
CUT TO..
WOMEN ARE PAINTED AND DECORATED WITH FEATHERS
CLOSE UP..
IN THEIR HANDS THEY HOLD LARGE ~CKS WHICH THEY
BEAT AGAINST THE EARTH AS THEY DANCE
CHARLOTTE:
This is love magic. Mary Ann knows the song. She’ll help you to sing it as I tell the story. When I stop you sing!
CUT TO..
WOMEN DANCE
CUT TO..
CHARLOTTE SINGS
181
CUT TO..
THE WOMEN REPEAT THE CHORUS
PAN TO..
SETTING OF BORO RING ON MOUNTAIN AS THE SUN SETS
FADE OUT
½
182
1 WILL FOUND BY CLARKE NIGHT ESTABLISHING SHOT..
WILL IS LONELY AND IN THE HORSE YARD WHEN AP-PROACHED BY A RIDER WHO DISMOUNTS AT THE GATE AND
THROWS HIS BRIDLE OVER THE FENCE.
CLOSE UP..
HE LIGHTS A MATCH TO LIGHT HIS PIPE
WILL:
Ted Clarke
TED:
Well Will old man, is this where you are? I have come over purposely to see you
WILL:
What for?
TED
Don’t think for a moment boy, that I came here to injure you. I would not hurt a hair of your head, Will, as well you ought to know.
WILL:
You were very good to me when my leg was hurt. I’ve not forgotten that Mr Clarke, and I’m very greateful for it.
183
~½
TED:
I did not know who you were then boy, but ever since I have known, I have been trying to get hold of you. You are wondering why?
Well lad, I’ll not keep you long in doubt. We all took a fancy to you when you stayed at our place, and it was a great shock to us to discover that you had taken so young a lad as you – to so cursed and wicked a life as bushranging.
CUT TO..
WILL HANGS HIS HEAD IN SHAME
TED:
Its an ungodly game you are playing. My wife is worried like crazy over you.
TED PUTS HIS HAND ON WILL’S SHOULDER AS WILL SOBS
TED:
Wouldn’t it be better to suffer a term of imprisonment as you would if you gave yourself up to the police now. If you keep on in this reckless way of yours, it can only end in your being shot down like a dog in the bush at last, or in dying a felon’s death on the gallows.
WILL:
SOBBING
184
I wish to God I was dead, but I can’t desert Thunderbolt Mr Clarke, I’d be a low coward if I did. I can’t I can’t indeed.
CUT TO..
A LIGHT APPEARS AS THE DOOR OPENS AND FRED CALLS
FRED:
Will, where are you. Is that you talking out there?
WILL:
Yes, Fred its a friend.
CUT TO..
TED AND WILL WALK TOWARDS THE LIGHTED DOORWAY
FADE OUT
2 ROCKY RIVER DIGGINGS STORE NIGHT.
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
THE STORE IS ON THE ROAD SIDE 1/4 MILE FROM THE POLICE ST~ON AFTER MIDNIGHT, FRED KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.
CUT TO..
LIGHT APPEARS IN AN UPPER WINDOW
FRED:
Is that you, Mr Weston. I’m awfully sorry to trouble you at this hour, but I’m going on a journey and I want a pound of tobacco.
STOREKEEPER:
Come on. What sort of tobacco do you want?
185
PUTTING A CANDLE~CK ON THE COUNTER.
FRED:
CHUCKLING
Queen’s Head please
STOREKEEPER:
LOOKS PUZZLED
I don’t keep that brand, never heard of it either. Won’t twist do or plug? I have the very best.
FRED:
Not for Thunderbolt.
THRUSTS REVOLVER IN STOREKEEPERS FACE
Pardon my jest Mr Weston, I said tobacco, but I want your money,
STOREKEEPER:
For God’s sake, is it really Captain Thunderbolt?
FRED:
The same.
STOREKEEPER:
Oh, oh
FRED:
Buck up man, I won’t hurt you if you are sensible. But I want your money, and your money I will have.
186
STOREKEEPER:
As the lord hears me, I have none
SHAKING VIOLENTLY
FRED:
Oh yes you have, lies won’t avail with me.
STOREKEEPER:
Before heaven..
FRED:
Bill, go behind the counter and search the till!
WILL GOES BEHIND THE EMPTY
COUNTER, OPENS THE TILL BUT ITS
WILL:
Nothing here Fred
FRED:
Search the house then, while I keep this chap covered. Look sharp.
CUT TO..
WILL SEARCHES THE ROOM THEN GOES UPSTAIRS TO
SEARCH (FOOTSTEPS ON STAIRS)
WILL
The door’s locked
FRED:
Take the axe there and break it open
187
STOREKEEPER:
For heaven’s sake don’t do it. Mrs Jackson is in that room
FRED:
A lady, I don’t war with women. It’s the worst for you though Mr Weston. I’m afraid I shall have to kill you.
STOREKEEPER:
(
No no no, spare my life and I’ll give you my money.
FRED:
Produce it then
STOREKEEPER:
It isn’t here, I keep it in a safe in a room at the back of the house. See here is the key of the door. Come round with me by the outside and I’ll show you how to get it.
FRED:
Very well, come along and no tricks or I’ll put daylight through you.
CUT TO..
FRED MARCHES OUT FOLLOWED BY STOREKEEPER AND
WILL.
CUT TO..
AS THEY EXIT THE BACK DOOR STOREKEEPTER TURNS
CLUTCHES WILL AND THRUSTS HIM OUTSIDE AGAINST
FRED THEN BOLTS THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE
188
FRED:
Done by Gad and beautifully too.
STOREKEEPER:
Can I sell you some tobacco. I have a first rate brand here – a new brand, brand new -they call it Queen’s Head.
FRED:
Oh go and drown yourself. For two pins, I’d smash your door down now, just to even things up.
TO WILL
Better not try lad, I have a revolver here and there are police about.
CUT TO..
SOUNDS OF HORSES GALLOPING ALONG THE ROAD.
FADE OUT.
189
1 EXT. BUSH CAMP DAY
WILL AND FRED HAVE BEEN CAMPED DURING THE NIGHT IN
A ROUGH CAMP. WILL GOES DOWN TO THE RWER FOR A
SWIM AND FRED FOLLOWS
WILL:
Good morning Fred.
FRED:
Good morning. Give me the soap.
WILL:
I’m awfully sorry Fred. I lost it.
FRED:
(QUICK TEMPERED HE FLARES UP)
You stupid bugger. What were you doing to lose it. You know how hard it is to get more. When will you ever learn.
CUT TO..
CAMPSITE WHERE HE CONTINUES TO BERATE WILL WHO IS COOKING BREAKFAST.
WILL:
That is quite enough Fred. After this we cannot be mates any longer. I’ll get my horse and clear Out on my own. Good bye.
FRED:
DRAWS A GUN ON HIM
Don’t you dare move from here or I’ll drop you.
CUT TO..
190
WILL FLINGS DOWN HIS SADDLE
WILL:
Fire if you dare and if there is life left in me I will drop you.
CUT TO..
FRED STARES HARD AT WILL FOR EXTENDED PERIOD, THEN
DROPS HIS ARM
(
FRED:
Its all my fault Bill old man, I can’t keep down my stubborn temper. You may shoot me if you like.
CUT TO..
THEY RESUME E~NG BREAKFAST THEN PREPARE TO
BREAK CAMP
FRED:
FRED HANDS WILL HIS FAVORITE PISTOL
You’d better take this. It was my fault you lost your own.
Th WILL:
Thank you Fred and goodbye. I wish you
no harm, but the time has come for us to
part our ways.
2 INT INN DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
FRED COMES IN AND SITS QUIETLY AT THE END OF THE BAR.
FRED BRITTEN COMES UP TO HIM
191
FRED BRITTEN:
Buy you a beer?
FRED:
I’d like something stronger.
BRITTEN
What’ll it be
FRED:
A nip of gin please
BRITTEN POURS HIM A DOUBLE GIN. HE TAKES IT BACK TO THE TABLE WITH A BEER AND SITS DOWN
FRED:
Where’s money you got sticking up the mail man as Thunderbolt?
BRITTEN:
How did you know about that?
FRED:
I heard it like I hear everything else, well?
BRITTEN:
Fred, we go back a long way, you know you’ll never make an honest man of me.
FRED:
I’ll forget it this time since I owe you a favour
192
BRITTEN:
NODS HIS HEAD
Where’s Mary Ann
BRITTEN:
I don’t know, she went walkabout after the accident
FRED:
What accident?
BRITTEN:
You don’t know? There’s no way to tell you this. Fred fell from a horse…
FRED:
You mean he’s dead!!
BRITTEN:
I’m afraid so, and Mary Ann’s taken to the
hills
FRED:
I must find her
BRITTEN: (TO HIMSELF)
I’ll be with you
THERE’S A LOUD NOISE AS A CROWD COME INTO THE BAR AND FRED LEAVES.
3 EXT ROAD FRED’S ROCK DAY ESTABLISHING SHOT
193
RIDER APPEARS AND FRED HIDDEN IN THE SPLIT OF ROCK
SMILES AS HE LOOKS AT THE HORSE THROUGH A TELESCOPE.HE SAYS TO HIMSELF
FRED:
Here’s a bit of luck, it’s Britten and it’s a fine mount he’s riding
APPROACHES FRED BRITTEN
FRED:
Bail up
BRITTEN:
Fred you know I haven’t any money
FRED:
It’s your horse I need, I’ll swap you this nag
THEY DISMOUNT AND SWAP HORSES.
FRED:
You’d better ride along with me a bit.
BRITTEN:
You know I’m glad to see you Fred, though not so pleased to lose my horse
FRED: (LAUGHING)
I’ll remember the favour . I’ve a better
chance of eluding the rosellas now. Come
I’ll buy you a drink. Watch out for them.
They’ll see you coming on the grey
(horse). Be off with you (SLAPS THE
HORSE’S RUMP)
194
CUT TO..
FRED GOING IN TO THE ROCK AND W~NG HE DRAWS OUT
A TELESCOPE
CUT TO..
ITALIAN HAWKER GIOVANNI CAPPISSOTTI APPEARS OVER
THE TOP OF THE HILL IN A HORSE DRAWN CART.
FRED:
Bail up
HAWKER:
Not ag’in, It is two times twice, I been rob in da one week. On Saturday at Cuddledog a bandit, he tak a my mun’, now you tak-a my mun’ again today. It is bad man you was.
FRED:
You’d best hand over your watch and chain, I missed it last time.
HAWKER BEGINS TO YELL AND PRACE AND HIT HIS LEGS
FOR HE HAS BEEN STANDING ON A BULL ANT’S NEST AND
THEY ARE CRAWLING UP HIS TROUSER LEGS AND ~NGING
HIM. FRED ROARS WITH LAUGHTER
FRED:
If that’s so then you can have your money back- being robbed twice in one week and then stung by bullants is misfortune indeed. It shouldn’t happen to a day.
FRED HANDS BACK SOME OF THE MONEY. THE HAWKER ASTONISHED CLIMBS ONTO HIS CART
195
HAWKER:
Giddy up
CUT TO..
FRED GALLOPS OFF THE OTHER WAY TOWARDS BLANCHE’S
INN VISIBLE IN THE DISTANCE
196
1 INT BLANCH’S INN TWILIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
FRED WARD AND FRED BRITTEN ARE DRINKING AND ARGUING ABOUT HORSES AT BLANCHE’S INN
FRED:
Why Combo’s a one man horse, I’ll bet you can’t ride him to the Rock and back without a spill.
( BRITTEN:
You’re on. I feel just like a ride to freshen me up.
LOOKOUT:
Someone’s coming
BRITTEN:
(HAVING DIFFICULTY MOUNTING COMBO)
Drat it, I must be getting old.
FRED:
To the hills lad. You continue north and I go south. Whichever of us finds Mary Ann, the other must swear to stand fast.
THEY GALLOP OFF
CUT TO..
SEEING FRED RIDING TOWARDS HIM AND TO WARN HIM
MULHULL FIRES HIS PISTOL SHO~NG WIDE
CUT TO..
MULHALL’S HORSE WHICH TURNS AND FOLLOWS FRED W
CUT TO..
197
WALKER AT THUNDERBOLT’S ROCK SEES BRITTEN ON COMBO IN THE DISTANCE
WALKER (TO HIMSELF)
I’d know that horse anywhere
CUT TO..
FRED BRITTEN GALLOPS OFF WITH WALKER IN PERSUIT.
FADE OUT..
2 EXT KENTUCKY CREEK TWILIGHT
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
FLOODS ARE RUNNING AND CREEK HAS BURST ITS BANKS
CUT TO..
THE HORSES BOGGED IN THE SWAMPY GROUND BRITTEN’S HORSE REFUSES TO SWIM ACROSS.
CUT TO..
MARY ANN IS CAMPED AT KENTUCKY CREEK WITH ABORIGINES
CUT TO..
WALKER, IS IN SIGHT OF THEM WHEN MARY ANN DECIDES TO FOLLOW HIM
CUT TO..
WALKER GALLOPS UP A NEARBY GULLY FULL OF SAPLINGS BUT FALLS OFF HIS HORSE.
CUT TO..
BRITTEN FIRES A SHOT BUT MISSES
CUT TO..
BRITTEN GET TO A SMALL HILL WITH GRANITE ROCKS AND JUMPS OFF HIS HORSE TO SWIM ACROSS
198
CUT TO..
WALKER REMOUNTS
CUT TO..
WALKER RIDES UP TO THE HORSE AND SHOOTS IT.
CUT TO..
BRITTEN IS THEN ON THE OPPOSITE BANK AND IS FACING WALKER ACROSS THE RIVER
BRITTEN:
½ Who are you?
WALKER:
Never you mind – surrender
BRITTEN:
Are you a trooper?
WALKER:
I am, you surrender
BRITTEN:
What’s your name?
WALKER:
My name is Walker
BRITTEN:
Have you a wife and family?
WALKER:
I thought of that before I came here, NOW surrender
199
BRITTEN:
No, I’ll die first
WALKER:
(DIGGING IN HIS SPURS)
Then its You and I for it
CUT TO..
WALKER’S HORSE PLUNGES INTO THE CREEK LOSES ITS
FOOTING AS WALKER HOLDS HIS GUN ABOVE THE WATER
CUT TO..
BRITTEN RUSHES INTO THE WATER AND GRABS WALKER
ATTEMPTING TO PULL HIM FROM THE SADDLE
CUT TO..
WALKER PUTS HIS PISTOL AGAINST BRITTEN’S CHEST AND
PULLS THE TRIGGER.
CUT TO..
BRITTEN UTTERS A CRY OF RAGE AND PAIN AND STAGGERS
BACK. HE HAS HIS GUN IN HIS HAND AND FIRES BUT IT MISFIRES AS ITS WET. HE STILL HOLDS ONTO WALKER
CUT TO..
WALKER’S GUN MISFIRES.
WALKER:
Damm
CUT TO..
WALKER HITS BRITTEN OVER THE HEAD WITH THE GUN
CUT TO..
BRITTEN FINALLY LETS GO OF WALKER, STUMBLES AWAY
AND COLLAPSES SEMI CONSCIOUS CUT TO..
200 WALKER DOESN’T TAKE HIS HORSE OVER THE SIDE OF THE
RAPIDLY FLOWING STREAM BUT HEARING A BLACK CUCKATOO CALL, GALLOPS OFF TO MULHULL, THINKING HIS
QUARRY IS DEAD
CUT TO..
MARY ANN SEARCHES HEARING THE BIRD CALL SEARCHES
AND FINDS BRITrEN UNCONSCIOUS, MOVES HIM TO A
SMALL CAVE.
CUT TO..
WALKER AND MULHULL RETURN BUT CAN’T FIND THE
BODY.
WALKER: (IN DISTANCE)
It was over here!
MULHULL:
We’ll find it in the morning.
CUT TO..
FRED AS HE REGMNS CONSCIOUSNESS
MARY ANN:
It’s a sorry state, we’ve come to
BRI’~EN:
I’m for it, you must go to Fred
MARY ANN:
I’ll not leave you
BRITTEN:
Go while there’s still time. Promise me!
201
MARY ANN:
Quiet now, there’s plenty of time. I’ll go well before dawn.
FADE OUT..
(
202
1 INT BLANCHS INN DAY ESTABLISHING SHOT..
THE BODY IS BROUGHT TO THE INN IN A CART BY WALKER
AND TAKEN INTO THE INN IN A ROOM AND PLACED ON DISPLAY. CROWDS GATHER TO VIEW THE BODY. THEY ARE
STRANGELY QUIET CUT TO.. THE DOCTOR ARRWES
AND EXAMINES THE BODY
DOCTOR:
There is one thing, the poor fellow could not have worried the police much longer, for he was in the last stages of consumption. One lung was entirely gone, the other almost. I doubt if he could have lived longer than another two months.
SMALL BOY:
Father, that is not Fred Ward
FATHER:
Hush, you must not say that again son.
2 EXT SETITLER’S HOUSE DAY ESTABLISHING SHOT..
JOAN AND PETER FITZ, FRED’S SISTER ARE READING THE
PAPERS ON THEIR VERHANDAH. JOAN IS CRYING WHEN A
RIDER RIDES UP TO THEM AND DISMOUNTS SMILING
JOAN:
Billy, did you see the papers? Did you read the terrible news?
203
½
BILLY
Oh, I seen the papers or right, isn’t they funny – I bin killin’ meself laffm’ all the way home.
HE LAUGHS NOISILY
JOAN: (AMAZED)
Billy, what do you mean, are you glad that Thunderbolt has been killed?
BILLY:
‘E ain’t been killed, no moren’I ‘ave. I met ‘im this mornin’ just outside Tamworth.
PETER:
Billy, you what?
BILLY:
I seen Captain Thunderbolt with me own eyes this mornin’. An wot’s more we’ad quite a yarn. It was ‘is friend Fred Britten who was killed. Thunderbolt helped him when he was lyin’ unconscious, and nursed im till ‘e got better. Now they can’t get no one to identify the corpse, so they’re bringin up Will Monckton and Mrs Ward. Now I must feed me ‘orses, for I rode fast t’ tell y the news.
JOAN:
(TO PETER AS BILLY MOUNTS)
204
½
Peter, I must see Will before he gives evidence – I must go to Uralla at once.
PETER:
But my dear, you could not possible ride all that way alone. It would take you all night and some of tomorrow. My dear, do you really think you should go?
JOAN:
Peter, I must. Billy will come with me. I know you’re not well enough. Just think what Fred has done for us, and now I see a way to save him, nothing will stop me.
FADE OUT
3 EXT. URALLA COURTHOUSE NEXT DAY.
ESTABLISHING SHOT..
THERE ARE A CROWD WMTING OUTSIDE AS WILL ARRIVES
IN A CARRIAGE.
JOAN APPROACHES WILL
JOAN:
Do you remember me?
WILL:
Why yes Mrs Fitz ESCORT GOES INTO COURTHOUSE
205
JOAN:
You know why you’ve been brought here don’t you? You’ve seen the account of Thunderbolt’s death?
WILL:
Yes, I have. But won’t the police be riled when they find that they’ve killed another man!
(
JOAN:
Will they must not find out! As you promised me, you must identify that dead man as Fred Ward. Then the police won’t hunt him any more; they’ll think he is dead and he can live in peace. If they doubt you and ask for marks of identification, remember the scar at the back of his left knee where Reynolds shot him. You’ll find that the body of the dead man, they have here has a similar scar. Some day you shall know the true identity of Thunderbolt and the dead man, but not now. Its better that you should not. It might save awkward questions.
CUT TO..
JOAN WALKS TO A HOUSE AND KNOCKS ON THE DOOR
CUT TO..
FRED MOTHER ANSWERS AND INVITES JOAN INSIDE MRS WARD:
Come m.
206
(
JOAN:
Mother, have you heard…?
4 INT COURTHOUSE DAY
INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE AS SOME OF THE CROWD ARE LET INSIDE INCLUDING WILL AND MRS WARD
CUT TO..
WILL MONKTON:
That’s him, that’s Fred Ward. I should know. He’s the one who put me behind bars.
CUT TO..
MRS WARD CRYING COMES UP TO THE BODY NODS HER
HEAD
CUT TO..
MARY ANN IN THE CROWD OUTSIDE THE INN
CUT TO..
MANNIX (DISGUSTED):
Then you’re a bloody liar – that corpse is no more Fred Ward’s than mine is!
MAGISTRATE;
Are there no marks of identification?
WILL:
Yes there are, there’s a scar at the back of the left knee, where Sergeant Reynolds shot him, if you’ll trouble to look
CUT TO..
207
½
MAGISTRATE ROLLS UP THE TROUSER LEG AND WE SEE SCAR CLOSEUP
MAGISTRATE:
That’s good enough. The lad knows what he’s talking about.
CUT TO.
CROWD TRYING TO GET INTO THE COURTHOUSE.
FADE OUT.
S EXT STORM THUNDERBOLT’S ROCK URALLA AFTER-
NOON
MARY ANN IN EUROPEAN CLOTHES IS WALKING ALONG THE
ROAD.
CREDITS BEGIN TO ROLL
CUT TO..
CEMETERY IN THE DISTANCE
CUT TO..
SKY ROLLING THUNDERHEADS
CUT TO..
PICKING FLOWERS ALONG THE ROADSIDE
CUT TO..
WALKING TOWARDS CEMETERY
CUT TO..
GRAVESTONES OF TOWNSFOLK INCLUDING MAYOR AND PASSES ON.
CUT TO..
PLACING FLOWERS ON THE GRAVE
CUT TO..
SHE PICKS UP A ~N AND OPENS IT
208
Mary Ann’s Song
Sung by swaggies, drovers, teamsters, shearers and others
There was a laughing nut brown maid
Her name was Mary Ann
She lived with her sister and an uncle
A well known drover man.
Like two bright stars her dark eyes shone
Her hair was a mass of curls
She laughed and danced and sang
Her teeth were white as pearls
Mary Ann and sister too had been to ladies school
Had learned to read and write and act as ladies should
And Mary Ann a white lover had, who loved her dearly
An honest lad was young Fred Ward who loved her most Sincerely.
They rode and sang and danced together as happy as can be
And never thought the sadness come, to marr the harmony.
To earn some money Fred and his mate Britten went a drovin’
They pledged to deliver a mob for a rogue most undeservin’
The troopers came and arrested them for the cattle were stolen For being in possession & selling them were sent to Cockatoo
Three years went by and Mary Ann a job at Longnose Point
did take
To be near her lover, her one desire – to see those lads escape
Three nights she swam to the isle, no lover did see
Once again disguised she swam & there young Ward found
She bought a file to free his mate of those cruel chains
The next night the boys swam back to freedom and Balmain.
Chorus
Oh Mary Ann, dear Mary Ann
We miss you so now you are gone
No-one to read our letters now
No-one to teach us how
When will you come back Mary Ann,
Wherever did you go?
Dear Mary Ann we feel so blue we miss you so.
209
CLOSE UP
INSIDE ARE LETTERS
SHE TAKES THEM OUT AND REPLACES THE TIN
CUT TO..
SHE READS THE LETTERS
CUT TO..
SKY AND BEGINS TO RAIN
CUT TO..
MARY ANN OPENING UMBRELLA
CUT TO..
HER FACE CLOSE UP AND THERE ARE TEARS
CUT TO..
LONE HORSEMAN ON THE HILL AS LIGHTNING STRIKES
FINISH CREDITS
CUT TO..
SKY
210
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