"I got him!" "I got him!" "Sid, breakfast's ready." "I got him!" "Tommy!" "Oh, for goodness sake." "Tommy, get up." "You'll be late for school." "Oh, I'm up, mom." "You're not taking that in the house." " Gotta show mom." " Bad enough killing it." "What you got there, Sid?" "It's the one that's been killing the chickens." "Well, skin it now, but hurry up." "Your breakfast will get cold." " I got him, dad!" " See you clean that rifle." " And I only used one shot." " You heard me." " Morning, Sally." " Morning, Mrs. O'Brien." "Bit nippy this morning." " Was the hot water okay?" " Just fine." "Two or three sausages?" "Oh, look, I'm gonna be late." "Tea and toast will be fine, thanks." "Can't start the day on an empty stomach." "Sid, hurry up." "Now, you're not going to school like that, I hope." " All right, mom." " He got the fox!" "There's a clean shirt in the ironing basket." " Bloody thing got three chicks." " I told you before." "Well, it did." "Sid skinned it to take it to school." "Stop teasing, you two." "Miss Jones has enough funny smells around that schoolhouse as it is." "Eric brought an opossum to school for the science table." "And cripes, was that on the bugle." "You could smell it all the way from here to Saturday, eh, miss?" "It's not the smell, Tommy." "The opossum was already dead." "He didn't shoot it." "And he didn't stay up three nights in a row so he's falling asleep in class." "Oh, well, foxes don't wait till after school, do they?" "Never mind." "Holidays coming up soon." "Bet you'll be glad." "Going away, are you?" "Oh, wouldn't have your job for anything." "Bet I could shoot as well as Sid when dad lets me use his gun." " Bet I can, miss." " No, you can't." "Bet I can." " Gotcha!" " You missed." "No, I didn't." "Oh, gross." "Yuck!" "Tommy." "You always spit on a dead animal, for luck." "Come away from that thing." "Stop dawdling." "No running until we're past the pub." "You little cheat." "I'll belt you." "Last one through the gate's a pig's bum." "Hey, wait for me!" "Got you now, you little cheater." "Bye, dad." "You just watch it, Richard!" "That's a good kick." "I'm the king of the castle!" "You're a dirty rascal!" "Come on, Leanne!" "One, two, three." "One, two, three." "Piggy on the railway picking up stones." "Along came a train and broke piggy's bones." ""Hey," said piggy." ""That's not fair."" "Tommy." "Tommy." "It's your turn, Tommy." ""Pooh," said the engine driver." ""I don't care."" "Oh, great kick." "Straight to him." "...the dirty rascal!" " Derek, it'll stunt your growth." " Shut up!" "My dad says so." " I'll tell." " You do and I'll bash you." "Miss Jones, Derek gave me an indian burn." " Ooh." " He's not really hurt." "He's just putting you on." "What a creep, Toby." "Derek Atchenson." "It's the same thing every morning, isn't it?" "Does it make you feel good to make little ones cry?" "Come on." "Only two more weeks." "Mom said he couldn't stay up three nights in a row, and dad said someone had to get that fox." "And Sid stayed up all night." "Derek, is there any possible reason why we have to go through this ritual every morning?" "Possible reason." "And Sid shot the fox." "Blam!" " Blasted his stupid guts..." " Tommy, for your information, and yours, Sid... for your information, Sid and Tommy, animals are not put on this earth expressly to be mutilated and spat on by capricious young boys." " What's capricious, miss?" " I know." "It's a kind of pizza with black olives and chopped meat." "Oh, gross." "Sounds like Kenny's face." "Leanne, where's your SRA card?" "Your SRA card." "Tommy O'Brien, go to the back of the class." "Now!" "Sue, have you finished the name slips for the science table?" " Yes, miss." " Well, put them on the table then." "Sarah, have you and Toby finished colouring your Australia?" " Can I use the sticky tape?" " Yes." "Be careful with the scissors." " Derek keeps stabbing me with his ruler." " Liar!" "I do not." " Miss Jones!" " What?" "!" " There's Mac the Mouse, miss." " Fascinating, Tommy," " but we're not having news this morning." " I really see him." "It's "saw him," and will you get back to the corner?" "But he's out there." "I seen him creep past the window." "Will you all get back to your seats this minute?" "!" "Miss Jones, there's Pussy Cat and Mac the Mouse and another animal out there." "They're hiding, but I saw them." "So did I. I really did." "I wasn't fooling." "Sue saw them too." "Shh!" "Sit down all of you." "She's always telling us what to do." "I'll be glad when she's gone." "I hope we get a new teacher..." "I realize we only have a fortnight to go, but before we all chuck off our shoes and do what we like, we should remember the school inspector is coming next week." "And until he leaves, we will continue with our work." "Thank you." "That's better." "Derek, lock the front door quickly." " But..." " Lock the door!" "Toby's out there." "He went to the toilet, remember?" "Children, I want you all to stay where you are." "No one is to move." "There are guns, and no one must get hurt." "Just sit quietly, and do as I say." "What do you people want?" "We're going on a picnic." "Are we, miss?" "I think we are, Toby." "Get 'em into the van." "All of 'em." "And be bloody quick about it!" "Move!" "Quick, sit down." "Richard, sit in your seat." "All right, children, please listen carefully." "We have to go with these men." "Don't be afraid." "I'm sure they mean no harm." "Stand up, go quietly to the porch, and pick up your cases." "Now!" "I going to get the first aid kit." "Come on." "Move!" " But I haven't got my case." " I don't care!" "Get in!" "Leanne!" "Put her in the van with the others." "Get in there, girlie." " Leave it back." " If I don't answer it..." "Just leave it!" "Come on, get in the bloody van." "Move!" "We did it!" "Yahoo!" "Two, maybe three phone calls." " One, one, one." " Eh?" "I'll bet one phone call." "With nine kids, they won't stall." "The money will come floating from the bloody sky." "Shut up!" "Hold on to the little ones." "Are you all right?" " Children, let's have a song." " Shut up!" "Yes, Sue?" "I want to be excused, miss." "Does anybody else have to go?" "Will we be stopping soon?" "Excuse me." "I'm speaking to you." "The children are uncomfortable." "They need to go to the toilet." "They probably need a drink and something to eat." "I'll wet myself if we don't stop, miss." "Don't worry, Sue." "If you wet yourself, I'm sure father..." "Shut up." "Right, everybody out." "Girls over there." "Boys over there." "Hey, I reckon the teacher would be good for a gang bang." "Tommy, go." "Hide nearby." "When we've gone, go for your life." "Get to a house, use the telephone." "Break in if you have to." "Go, go." " I'll go." " No, I'm going." "Don't argue now." "For christ's sake, Derek." "Has everyone finished?" "Yes, miss." "Whose is this?" "Mine, miss." "It's all right, Toby." "Don't worry." "Here you go." "Tommy's making a run for it." "Pass the word not to say anything." "Hurry up, Leanne." "I'm gonna have you before this is over." "Come on, sweetheart." "Piggy on the railway picking up stones." "Along came a train and broke piggy's bones." ""Hey," said piggy." ""That's not fair."" ""Pooh," said the engine driver." ""I don't care."" "That's Tommy's line..." "Stop!" "Stop the van!" "Back up!" "Out!" "You have 10 seconds to get that kid back!" "Or I'm gonna kill this one!" "One..." " ...two..." " Tommy!" "...three..." "Tommy!" "...four..." " Tommy, come back!" " ...five..." " It's no good, Tommy." "They know." " ...six..." " Please come back, Tommy!" " ...seven eight..." "I'm sorry, Tommy." "I had to." "The man's got a gun on Toby." "Come on!" "Watch it." "Where are we, miss?" "Right, follow me." "Come on." " Hurry up." " Come on." "Move it." "Let's go." "Come on." "Move out." "Come on." "Hurry up." "Move it, you." " Where do you reckon we are, miss?" " I don't know, Richard." " I reckon we're headed about north by..." " Quiet!" "Look, they're only kids." "Surely you can't expect..." "You got no bloody choice, lady." "Now move!" "I think, children, we're going to have an adventure." "Are we at the picnic now, miss?" "Sid and Derek, you two climb down and see what it's like." "Doesn't look too bad, miss." "I reckon if we just slide down it, we'll be okay." "Come on, Derek." "For once just do as you're asked." "It's okay, miss." "It slides down for a few feet..." "Come on." "Come on." "Right, kindergarten, first and second classes, line up." "You're to let your cases down first, then go after them." " Who's going to go first?" " Oh, me, miss." "I'm sure you are, Tommy, but Leanne go first, then you." "Go on." "Give your hand." "Don't!" "Here you go, darling." "Come on." "You're gonna love this." "Wait, Tommy, let Narelle go next." " But you said..." " Don't argue." "Just let Narelle go next." "Is it very dirty?" "Oh, for goodness sake, just go." "It's a piece of cake." "I'm hungry." "You can't be." "You've just had breakfast, Richard." "That was hours ago." "I'll say when it's lunchtime." "Come on, Sarah, I'll hold you." "Let fern down first." "Ready?" "Come on, Toby." "Be a big boy." "You'll come, won't ya?" "Course I will." "Ready, steady, go." "I can manage, thank you." " All right?" " What are they gonna do with us, miss?" "I expect they'll ask a ransom for us." "And then the police will catch them, and we'll all be home very soon." "And the cops will kick their bloody teeth in." "If I had dad's gun, I'd blow their stupid guts out." " Enough, Tommy." " Miss, what's a ransom?" "You don't know?" "Geez, you're dumb." "No, she's not." "She's a very brave girl." "You're all very brave and I'm proud of you, but let's not fight." "I reckon we can climb out of here." "You don't think they'll leave it unguarded." "Tommy O'Brien, get down from there." " Aww, miss." " What if you should fall?" "Get down." "Now." "I'm not allowed to do anything." "Oh, Toby, please be quiet." "Is that all they're gonna do, miss?" "Just ask for ransom?" "Of course it is." "What else could they do?" "Come on, Toby." "We're gonna have our lunch now, and you're gonna make the sandwiches all soggy." "Now take out your lunches, but you're to only eat one thing." "Aww, miss, I'm starving." "Yeah, miss." "I could eat 10 million sandwiches." "Well, I'm sorry to hear that Leanne." "If we get back..." "When we get back, I'll shout everyone a hamburger at Koolburra." "Yay!" "I want a double bacon and egg burger." "I want a pizza capricious." "Settle down, and remember to eat just one thing." "We've got to make our food last." "This is like that film about those guys in the lifeboat on TV, miss." "They were only allowed one sip of water a day." "Now we need a fire, eh, miss?" "That would be nice, but we don't have any matches." "Yeah, too bad nobody here smokes." "Maybe we could rub two sticks together." "Maybe we could rub Derek's legs together." "We want to make fire, not butter." "Doesn't matter anyway." "There's nothing to burn in here." "If it will make you feel any better, Sue," "I forgot my lunch too." " Here, miss, have some of mine." " Thank you." "Oh, mom's given me tomato." "There you go." "Do you like tomato sandwiches, miss Jones?" "Listen, everybody take the hand of the person..." "Stop it!" "Will you stop it?" "!" "Yay, Derek." "We need something to burn." "Paper." "Quick." "Give it to me." "Wad it up good." "It'll burn longer that way." "Okay, we're going to be all right now because the rock means something." "Can anyone guess?" "It means they've gone away, miss." "Good, Narelle." "They wouldn't just put the rock there for exercise, would they?" "I want you to arrange your cases and put the food away safely, then come and sit in the circle." "We're gonna have a council of war." "Come on." "Quickly." "Okay, kids." "We must start to use our brains." "What is the first thing we should do?" "Narelle?" "Well, I'm gonna climb up and see if I can shift the boulder." " I'll help you, miss." " Me too." "Thanks, Tommy, but there's only room for three, and I think Derek has more bulk." "We don't know how long those men are gonna be away, so we better get started." "Yeah, let's shift that sucker." "What do they think we are, a bunch of kids?" "Ready, set, push." "Push." "Push." "It's no use, miss." "We can't do it." "Oh, god." "Oh, miss, I'm thirsty." "Will someone give Derek a drink?" "Anyone else who needs it can have one too." "He can have some of mine." "Ah, geez, Narelle." "This isn't drink." "It tastes oily." "I've given him my salad dressing, miss." "Must have got the wrong bottle." "Tricked you, Derek." "Good one, Narelle." "You'd better not try that again, Narelle." "Sorry." "Does anyone have a small jar or tin?" " What for?" " Will this do?" "I've got a can." "What about string?" "Anyone have shoelace?" "Give me a shoelace." "What are you gonna do, miss?" "A lamp." "You're gonna make a lamp." " Like our project on Eskimos, right, miss?" " Will it work, miss?" "I don't know." "It's certainly worth a try." "Derek." "Ooh." "Oh, why did it go out?" "Is it gonna work?" "I want to go home." "Good." "Go!" "Shut up, Toby." "Miss, tell him to shut up." "Ahh." "She's a goer." "Beauty, miss." "Now we've got a light." "See, Toby." "Careful." "Hey, the smoke's going out through here." " There must be another way out." " It's probably just a draft." " Let's have a look." " No, it's too dangerous." "What if someone were to fall?" "We don't know what's through there." " We must stay here." " We can't just sit here." "We've gotta do something while they're still gone." "No, Tommy." "I can't risk it." "You must think of the littler ones." "I thought this was a council of war, miss." " Who said they had a can?" " Oh, here, miss." "Good." "We'll make it into a lamp as I've done with the other one." "And when he's finished," "Sid and I are going to do a bit of exploring." "Oh, no, miss." "Goody, miss." "Don't go." "I'll go." "No, you won't." "You went last time." "Quiet, you two." "You're not to worry." "Derek and Narelle will be good guards, and Sid and I won't be very far away." "Here, miss." "I reckon we should take this one." "See how it leads down along the damp line?" "Well, when you get lost in the bush, you always follow a stream downhill." "I'm sure it'd be the same underground." "That'll just take us deeper." "We're on a mountain, though." "Maybe you better lead." "Derek, do it properly." "Hold on, miss." " We can't climb up there." " I could." "You probably could, but what about me?" "I could go along and get help." "What if you got killed or something?" "No, I can't allow it, Sid." "It's much too high." "Maybe there's some better holes further on." " Tommy's right." " Pardon?" "Nothing." "Which way now?" "Listen!" "Water." " What?" " Water." "Listen." "Look, miss." "I can see it." "The water must come out somewhere, mustn't it, miss?" "Look." "That must be daylight." "We found it." "We're out." "You stay here, Sid." "I'm going through." "But that water would be freezing." "I practice in the shower every morning." "Shit, I thought you'd snuffed it." "Language, Sid." "Well, what did you find?" "There's a way out." "I knew it!" " How many shoelaces we got left?" " Two." "How many did we start with?" "I don't remember." "That's it, miss." "What do we do now?" "Piggy on the roadside eating dead cat." "Along came a truck and squashed piggy flat." "Along came the sun and baked him like clay." "Along came the wind and blew him all away." "Rat spit, cat tip." "Give it back." "Derek, leave her alone." " Sarah, come and sit down." " No." "Sid, I'll have to ask for your shirt." " I'd use mine, but it's too damp." " Not my clean one." " Mom'll freak." " Come on." "Give me it." "Derek, leave them alone!" "Listen." "Derek!" "Be quiet!" "Be quiet." " Who's there?" " It's only us." " Miss, Derek took my lamp." " I did not!" "Did you find a way out?" "What on earth have you been up to?" "We found a way out." "We're all going to leave here," " but we have to cross a stream." " How deep, miss?" "I don't know." "It doesn't matter." " Hands up, those who can swim." " Toby can't swim." " Can so." " Cannot." "All right, all right." " Who has the shoelaces?" " Here they are, miss." "You and Sid get the lamps going." "You're gonna need oil and more of Sid's shirt." "Okay, get your things together." "Can you take this?" "Thanks." "I don't think it's big enough." "Oh, go on, Derek." " If I can, you can." " I'll get stuck." "I'll push." "Sid, there are rocks falling in here!" "Quick." "Give me your lamp." "Quickly!" "Quick, go on." "Through there." "And keep ahold of one another." "Sue, collect all the food and put it in one of the cases." "The rest of you, take off your clothes and put them into your bags." "Try and keep them as dry as possible." "I'll take the matches, miss." "Mom makes the driest sandwiches this side of the Simpson Desert." "Those kidnappers are so gonna get a surprise, eh, miss?" "I should think they will, Richard." "I'll take the little ones first." "Over here, Toby." "Sit on the ledge, and I'll lift you in." "Are we going home now, miss?" "Yes, Toby, that's exactly where we're going, and this is the way." " Do you like swimming?" " It's a bit cold." "Don't worry, all right?" "Here we go." "Toby, can you hold your breath for me?" " Yes." " Let me see." "Very good." "Excellent." "Now we're gonna play a little game." "When I say, I want you to hold your breath and close your eyes tightly, see if you can keep them that way until I tell you to open them." "Okay?" "Very good." "Ready, steady, go." "Now." "Good boy, Toby." "Good boy." "Try and dry off as much as possible." "I'll be right back, okay, Toby?" " Toby?" " Okay, miss." "Good boy." "Okay, Toby's through, and he's got a message for you." "He says it's easy squeezy." "So who's next?" "Sarah?" "Not too tight." "I've got you." "Okay, same as Toby." "Where's miss?" "Don't know." "You stay here and get warm." "Tommy and me will bring the others through." "Wait, I've gotta..." "You don't gotta do nothing." "I can do it, and you can't." "Tommy and me are great swimmers, and we're used to the cold." "So you just leave it up to us, okay?" "Here." "Take my hand." "It's all right, Sarah." "Okay." "One, two, three." "Come on." "I..." "I don't like going underwater." "Can't you swim?" "I'll help you." "Oh, that's better." " Oh, miss, look at that." " Shh!" "Oh, look." "Over there." "Can we light a fire now, miss?" "Yeah, that's a good idea, miss." "Did you keep the matches dry?" "The matches are okay, but I don't think we should start a fire yet." "Sid's right." "Those men might still be around." "I don't think we should risk it." "Now, come on." "Let's move over there." "Oh, we're missing "Gilligan's Island."" "Naw, I seen this "kojak" once where the robbers picked up the ransom money on this really fast motorcycle." "My dad's got a motorcycle." "He could borrow it to the cops." "No, the kidnappers used the motorcycle, not the cops." "Yeah, but the cops have got helicopters with infrared and lasers." "I bet they're looking for us all over the place, eh, miss?" "I should say at least 10, not counting the ones without infrared." "But how will they know where to look?" "We must be miles away from the school." "We could always soak Derek in salad oil" " and use him for a beacon." " Oh, shut up." "Let's have something to eat." "Are the sandwiches all right?" "What kind do you want, miss?" "There's peanut butter and banana, but they're a bit squishy." "You kids help yourselves." "And don't eat too fast." "Eh?" "He said I should climb up and take a look around." "Maybe I can see a house or something." "Yeah, good idea, but I think I'd better go." "Geez." "Sidney." "Everyone try and get some rest." "Go to sleep if you can." "I won't be too long." "Sid, you're in charge." "There's a house a couple of miles away." "This is like that film on TV." "Don't you do anything but watch TV?" " Of course I do." " Doesn't sound like it." "Everything's like something you've seen." "Sarah, you're getting heavy." " How much further, miss?" " I don't know." "Not far." " We'll be having something to eat soon." " I could eat a whole bullock." "I could eat the whole world." "I could eat the whole bloody universe." "I wonder what they'll do when they find out we got away." "I hope they go berserk." " We beat them, didn't we?" " Yeah, now they won't get their ransom." "You said it was only a couple of miles." "We'll just have to walk some more until we get there, Derek." " I wish my daddy was here." " If we'd stayed in the cave, we'd probably be getting something to eat right now." "Whinge, whinge, whinge." " But miss said that..." " I made a mistake, Derek." "Teachers can make mistakes too." "I'm sorry, but I'm doing my best." "Yeah, shut your neck, Derek." "I saw a man upon a stair, but when I looked he wasn't there..." "How about a big dinner with baked potatoes?" "And gravy." "I love baked buds." "My mum makes them all crispy and yummy on the outside." "My mom does too, with roast pumpkin and carrots." "My favourite dinner is lemon chiffon." "That's not a proper dinner, stupid." "A dinner's the part with the meat and stuff." "Lemon chiffon is part of a dinner." "There, smarty." "Narelle said." "I smell roast lamb." "Hey, we're nearly there." "Goodie!" "Rippah." "Won't be long now." "Come on, Toby." "It's not long now." "Nearly over." "Oh, good evening." "My name is Sally Jones." "I'm the teacher from sunny flat." "These are the children from my school." "Some men tried to kidnap us and..." "May I use your phone?" "Phone." "May I use your telephone?" "Oh." "Sorry, dear." "Shut up!" "Where do you think you're going, towhead?" "Get out of the car, boy!" "Oww." "Hey." "Come here." "You bastard!" "Oh, I wish you'd try it." "Go on, run." "Run." "Run." "Run." "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" "Sid, it's all right." "Look, I wonder if we could have something to eat." "The children are so hungry and tired." "Your dinner's back at the bloody cave." "We were bringing it to you before yous pissed off." "So now yous can bloody well go without." "Well, what are you gonna do with us now?" "We're gonna have to take the old buggers with us, Jim." "I told you, no bloody names!" "Sorry." "What are we gonna do with them?" "That dinner you were serving up, dish out four places, granny." "You got anything to drink, digger?" "Not much." "Just a bit of sherry." "Perfect." "Get it." "Hope she gives us lots of spuds." "I don't think the food's for us, Rich." "It's okay." "There's no windows, and the double doors bolt from the outside." "Right." "Well, get them all out there into it." "But it's cold." "My husband's not well." "You mustn't put him out there." " Please..." " shut up!" "You mongrel!" "Out!" "Out!" "Out!" "Move!" "Out!" "Come on, move!" "Move!" "Bloody move!" "Out!" "Move!" "Go!" "Get in the barn!" "Run!" "Get in there." "Hurry up!" "Come here, you silly old bitch." "Come here when I tell ya!" "Did they shoot the old lady, miss?" "I don't know." "Miss, will the man get better?" "No, he won't get better." "Shut up!" "I'm sorry, Toby." "It's all right." "Miss, I'm cold." "Yes, Leanne, we all are." "Come on, Sarah." "Narelle, take Leanne and Sue." "We could start a fire now, miss." "Yes, yes." "I seen this "Hill Street Blues"" "and the cop said as long as the bad guys had got their masks on, you're all right." "Yeah, they could just go away, and we wouldn't even know who they were." "Oh, let me, Narelle." "With that much straw, the flames would reach the roof." "I want out!" "It's all gone wrong." "Yeah, whose idea was it to blast a kid an hour?" "Sid, light the fire." "The whole thing's turned into a bloody nightmare." " I'm splitting!" " No, you're not!" "Are they gonna kill us, miss?" "Kill each other by the sound of it." " I seen this..." " Quiet!" "Miss, do you think they're gonna kill one of us every hour, like they said?" "I don't know, Leanne." "I don't think they meant to kill the old man." "It's made things different." "But if they kill us, then they won't get their money, will they?" "If we're dead, then..." "Oh, miss, don't cry." "Please don't cry." "Don't worry." "I'm all right now." "I'm all right." "Looks like two of them have driven away, but I can't see who's left behind." "Miss." "Yes, Sid?" "Do you know how to catch a rabbit?" "No, Sid." "Well, it's funny, because you come up at him from the front." "Head on." "See, rabbits can't look straight ahead, so you come up at him from his blind spot, which is head on." "And do you think we could catch a rabbit?" "Remember, if it's Father Christmas, we don't go through with it." "Understand?" "Sid, do you understand?" "Now, are we ready?" "You must be cold." "Why don't you warm yourself a bit?" "Come on, children." "Scrunch over and make some room." "All right, children." "What should we sing now?" "...and eats the jelly between your toes." " I'm tired, miss." " Me too." "All right, then, go over there a little out of the firelight and have a rest." "Anyone else?" "I've got some chocolate biscuits, sir." "Would you like one?" " Is that a real gun, mister?" " Of course it is, silly." "Gosh." "Don't you get scared that it might go off?" "Nah." "You gotta let that up before it shoots." "I hope you don't let it up." "Have you ever killed anyone with it?" "Wow, I've never seen one cut down like that before." "Bet you could rob a bank with that." "Ooh, yes, and get lots and lots of money." "Okay, kids, are you ready for a lullaby?" "Yes, miss." "Sit up straight, then." "He shot Tommy!" "Tommy's dead!" "Tommy's dead!" "Tommy!" "Oh, god, what have I done?" "Will you get back?" "!" "He's not dead." "He's hurt." "But if you don't get back," "I won't be able to see how badly." "It'll be all right, Tom." "Don't worry." "You'll be okay." "Sue, get the bag." "Tommy?" "Can you hear me, Tommy?" "Good girl." "Sid, Derek, go to the house." "Grab any food you can." "Bandages, antiseptic." "Quickly." "Don't spend longer than two minutes in the house." "If you hear the van, grab what you can and run." "Narelle, help me with Tommy." "What about the phone, Sally?" "They'll have cut it." "Don't waste time with that." "Sue, Leanne, put out the fire." "Children, this way." "They're after us." "Are ya there?" "Oh, god." "What's the matter?" "It's all right." "It's just Sid and Derek." "You had us worried there for a minute." "All right?" "Where are we going, miss?" "I don't know." "Just keep walking." "Come on, kids." "You'll keep warm if you move quickly." "We should have taken the car." "I don't think so." "On foot, we're just as good as they are." "We can spread out." "Look, miss." "Oh, we did put out the fire, miss." "It doesn't matter, Sue." "I thought I saw a man." "They've come back." "Come on." "Toby." "Miss Jones," "I want to be excused." "Anyone else needs to go to the toilet, go now." "Quickly." "Don't you need to go, Toby?" "Can I sit by you?" "Of course you can, silly." "There's something here in the bushes!" "Where are you?" "Sue?" "Give me a cooee." "Cooee!" "He'll get her." "Cooee!" "Stand still, Sue." "Probably only a wombat." "Where are you, Sue?" "Sue, where are you?" "You're okay now." "There you go." "Come on, Sue." "It's all right." "Blow your nose." "There's a good girl." "I haven't got a hankie." "Who's got a hankie for Sue?" "Well done." "Tommy?" "Oh, thank god." "How's he doing?" "He's not bleeding so much now." "Tommy?" "It hurts, miss." " Is it bad?" " Pretty." "I'm going to pick you up now." "It'll probably hurt, and I don't want you to be brave." "If I hurt you, you yell out and I'll know to be more gentle." "All right?" "Here we go, then." "You're okay now." "Miss, did we get him?" "Bloody yes." "You're hardly hurt at all compared to Dabby Duck and pussy." "You're doing twice as well as they are." "Pass me the gun, Sid." "Maybe you better take it." " Was it a wombat?" " Don't know." "Come on." "We should have stayed in the barn, miss." "The police would have found us." "They would not." "We would have been getting shot right now." "One every hour, they said." "Shut up, Derek." "They don't shoot kids." "Not really." "Please don't quarrel, children." "I know you're tired..." "Goodness sake, what is it?" "!" "Miss, I think it's Richard." "He's fallen down somewhere, and I can't find him." "Richard, where are you?" "Richard?" "I'm down here, miss." "I fell down a hole and hurt my legs." "It's all right, Rich." "Here, come on, take my hand." "It's probably twisted a little." "Can you put your weight down?" "Miss, I found a real good cave." "Oh, Sid, I would have thought you'd have had enough of caves." "Here, Toby." "Put this over there." "Look what I got." "I love chocolate biscuits." "We just grabbed stuff." "There wasn't time to look properly." "Sid and Derek," "I could kiss you both." "You didn't happen to bring the kitchen sink, did you?" "Couldn't, miss." "It was all bolted down." " How about a can opener?" " This do?" "I should think that will more than suffice." "Thank you, Sid." "Now, what does everyone say to a hot dinner in our new home?" " You bet, miss." " You might need this." "Sorry." "Nearly through." "Come on, stiff upper lip." "You're a right one, Tommy." "Why didn't you dodge the bullets?" "I was too busy." "Too busy talking." "What is it, Derek?" "I heard something." "I think it was the van." "I can't hear anything, Derek." "What on earth were you doing out here anyway?" "Standing guard, miss." "Wake me at 4:00." "I'll take over." "Shit, how'd they find us?" "Are they there, miss?" "We're gonna have a party tonight, bitch!" "Father Christmas will be back then!" "He fancies the young one with the big tits!" "So don't go away." "We have to run." "We got away before." "No, I've done too many wrong things already." "It was our running that got the old couple killed and Tommy shot and Sarah nearly drowned." "No, this time we're gonna stay put." "If we don't put up any resistance, we might be all right." "But you heard what they said about you and Narelle." "Filthy slime-sucking animals!" "You deserve to die!" "If I was god, I'd kill ya." "Frightening little kids and threatening girls with, with..." "Miss, it's not fair." "It's not fair." "We'll show them fair!" "Sid and Derek are right." "We've got to fight them." "We outnumber them four to one." " Beauty, miss!" " We have to let them know what it's like to be frightened." "Miss says we're gonna get 'em now and she's real angry." " How?" " I don't know yet, but we're going to do it." "I don't suppose you boys have any bright ideas." "That's what he'll look like when we're finished with him!" "Now we're gonna find some sticks." "They must be tough and long." "We're going to need lots of lovely, sharp spears." "What for, miss?" "To tickle them with." "I'm the king of the castle." "We'll get those dirty rascals." "We'll get the dirty rascals." "We'll get the dirty rascals." "That's a terrific spear, Derek." "Thank you." "I think I should do all the spears." "Yes, I think you should." "Do mine real sharp, Derek." "Make mine a beauty." "I want mine to kill him, to spear him right in the heart." "What d'ya reckon, Tommy?" "Nice." "Rock, Rich." "Brilliant." "Pass it up." "Good boy." "The traps are nearly ready, miss." "Good." "Better be careful out there." "Santa's the one to be careful." "What is it, Narelle?" "Well?" "It's the curse, miss." "I've got it." "And I don't have any, you know, things." "Don't worry." "I'm sure we can find something." "I'm so scared, miss." "I'm so scared of what they're gonna do." "Narelle?" "Have you seen Narelle?" "She's not here." "I can see that." "Well, I thought she'd just gone to the toilet, but she never came back." "How long has she been gone?" "Quite a while." "Sid, did you see Narelle come out a while ago?" "No." "Narelle?" "Narelle, where are you?" "Oh, god." "No." "Narelle?" "Narelle, where are you?" "Don't worry, miss." "I'll find her for you." "Ow." "I can hear you, Narelle." "Stay where you are." "Narelle!" "I can hear you, Narelle." "Stay where you are." "I'm getting closer." "Don't run away." "Come on, baby!" "Narelle?" "Narelle, where are you?" "I've got you now, Narelle." "Sally!" "Yes, I'm coming, Sid." "Coming." "Oh, it's you, miss." "I'm coming, miss." "I'm coming." "Show us your tits, miss." "What's she doing?" "He's just about got her." "Damn it." "No, wait." "It's a trick." "Miss said to stay." "Sid, help me!" "Richard, take the lilies up there." "Don't do anything." "I'll get you, you slut." "You little..." "Help miss." "We've gotta help miss." "Don't." "Sid said." "We'll give him a fright." "Get him, miss." "Kick him!" "Sally, over this way!" "Look out!" "Come here, bitch!" "Sally, watch out for the moat!" "Sally?" "Help me, Sid." "Are you okay, miss?" "Get back." "Let her breathe." "Miss, where's Narelle?" "I don't know." "We got one, Tom." "Sally pushed him onto the stakes." "He's a goner." "Dead as a doornail." "Beauty, mate." " One." " We killed him!" "We got him!" "Stop it!" "Stop it." "We must be quiet." "There's one left." "It's Father Christmas." "It won't be easy, but we've got to get him." "Come on, now." "Sonny?" "Sonny!" "Sonny." "Sonny?" "!" "Jesus Christ." "Bitch!" ""Grendel's talon, huge, with claws like iron, was fastened to the gable." "A trophy of the warrior's courage."" "Is that the end, Sally?" "If you stopped interrupting, Tommy O'Brien, you would find that it was not." "Hey, that's like us." "We've got a trophy too." "Shut up, Leanne." "I want to hear..." " Be quiet." " Go on, Sally." ""The men gathered and marvelled at the great limb." "Beowulf had torn it from the monster's shoulder, ripping the sinews." "Now it hung in the morning air for all the men to wonder at."" "Afternoon, children." "Miss Jones." "Good afternoon, Mr. Cotter." "Miss Jones, this is Detective Sergeant Mitchell from pathology in Melbourne." "He has a few questions if you don't mind." " I suppose it's about the kidnapping." " Yes, miss." "Perhaps there's some place we might go." "I think here will do." "There's no reason to hide anything from the children." "We've found the other body, miss." "Oh, really?" "Well, I suppose his family will be interested, but it's really of no concern to us anymore." "Yes, well, there are some anomalies." "Indeed?" "Yes, certain things that don't tie in with your statement." "I do wish there was some place we could go." "Oh, all right." "Narelle, you take over." "Now what can I do for you?" "Sally, I don't want to stir this up again, but the body has, shall we say, certain injuries on it that don't tie in with your statement." " Oh?" " Miss Jones, are you certain you don't want to add anything now that the body's been found?" "Perhaps you could be more precise." "I'll have to blunt then, I see." "Do be blunt, detective sergeant." "The body seems to have been mutilated." "Unfortunately, because of the state it..." "Well, what I'm trying to say is, although there's no hard and fast evidence, it's been suggested, miss Jones, that animals alone couldn't have been responsible for some of the injuries." "Without hard and fast evidence, as you put it," "I can't help you." "You move very quietly, Sid." "I'm sure you're all a great credit to miss Jones, but our enquiries..." "These children have been through rather a lot." "They're not quite themselves and should be left alone." " Really, I think..." " They need rest." "Not more questions." "Sally, to want only dismember..." " Arrest us, then." " I haven't come to arrest..." "Then go away." "Yes, I think you're right." "We'll let you all get rested then and..." "Well, who knows?" "Maybe we ought to tie up the loose ends ourselves." "Good." "One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three." "Very funny, Tommy." "You're gonna get it." "Now, let me see who's the best." "You all are!" "Everybody has an early mark." "Off you go, then." "Care to play footie, Sid?" "Last one home's a pig's bum." "Thanks, Nurelle." "Piggy on the roadside eating dead cat." "Along came a train and squashed piggy flat." "Sid, thought you'd have gone with the others." "Oh, they're only kids." "Well, let's go." "You'll be leaving school soon, I suppose." "Oh, you bet."