"♪♪" "Is the baby mine?" "Yes." "Does Rene know?" "Yes." "But we decided to raise it as our own." "So, we cart the water over here, and then we water each one of them, by hand, every day?" "One day, we'll get irrigation." "But what about everything else, Gino?" "When.. when do we find time to do all the rest of the work?" "Eh!" "Everything will be good." "It'll all work out." "I have to say, I was shocked, when you printed my last piece." "Specially as I didn't write a single word you asked me to." "You going back to Ash Park, or you staying in town?" "I'm in the city, I have an apartment here." "How convenient." "It's Reggie's funeral on Friday" "Just gonna be me and a few of the men." "Would you mind..." "I'd like to be there." "Ah, that's gonna be wonderful." "This, whatever this is, it has to stop." "Did you sleep with my wife?" "That's probably the one thing, I haven't done with her." " Aarrgh!" " How could you." "After everything we did." "You told me I was enough." "So this is it, then?" "Is this our arrangement?" "Is James here?" "No, what happened?" "If he contacts you, let me know." "James." "You said, if I ever needed a friend." "I've spent the past twenty years, raising someone else's child." "But I..." "I could never stand back and watch someone else play father to mine." "And I've done my best, to respect your marriage." "This baby changes everything." "Rene." "I told you to stay away." "SARAH !" "Let go !" "Sarah !" "George !" "GEORGE !" "GEORGE !" "Come on you, dreamer." "Up you get." "No time for lazing about, son." "There's work to be done !" "Good morning." "Could someone organise some flowers, next to my father's photograph for my mother's arrival." "It's the anniversary of his death, today." "Of course." "I've given some thought to what you said, concerning the christening." "Now, I can have a word to Reverend Green, if you like." "No, please." "You were right, James will return." "Regina." "I'm just here, to give Olivia my christening gift." "A silver spoon." "Are you going somewhere?" "Sydney." "Is it about James?" "Have you heard anything?" "I'm having lunch with Sir Richard." "Be careful with Dickie, George." "He bites." "I'm aware of that, but thank you." "Rose." "Oh, good morning Mrs. Standish." "Aren't you a busy little thing, polishing all the silver, for the christening." "Is Master James returning today, or tomorrow?" "We couldn't be certain, Ma'am." "I have an urgent message I need delivered to him." "Do you know where he's staying?" "You must have some idea?" "Surely Mrs. Bligh is in regular contact with her husband via telephone." "Well, you see, Mrs. Standish, there was an argument." "Between Mr. James and Miss Olivia." "Miss Olivia was very upset." "And Mr. James set off for Sydney, straight after." "They say, he is at his father's club, but..." "But what?" "But he's not been answering Mr. Bligh's messages." "Perhaps he's staying with a friend?" "I wouldn't know." "I seem to recall, James and the surgeon, Mr. Fox were very friendly." "Mr. Fox lives in Sydney." "Yes he does, such a handsome man." "Well, don't let me keep you, child." "Will that silverware polish itself?" "To the left." "To the right." "Good." "And no cramps or discomfort at all?" "No." "How's Rene?" "Actually he'd eh... .. like to know, when you're coming in to visit." "He's been quite clear." "I've reduced the sedation over the week." "He's still on a small dose." "Maybe in another day or so." "Or this afternoon, if you're up to it." "Is something the matter?" "Come in, we'll talk about it." "Please, just tell me straight." "Well, someone is glad to see you up and about." "How you going, Doc?" "Good." "I was just saying to Sarah, Rene is keen to see her." "Well, I got to go into town this morning for some supplies," "You could come in with me, if you'd like." "Well, I might see you later then." "'Course, if you'd rather not, that's alright too." "Here he is." "The sooner he shakes them up in Parliament, the better." "I thought I might build a cradle, for when that baby comes." "It'll all work out alright, you know that, don't you?" "If you're worried at first, Rene can take the lean-to for a while." "There's no need for that." "Well, if you want me to come in with you today, you just say the word." "Ah, should we sit?" "Just tell me." "Tell me." "You are my wife and you are afraid of me." "Not of you." "Of why I am..." "not... .. in control." "Of design faults." "I'm going to have the operation." "I've been speaking to Patrick Kelly over the last couple of days." " I see." " Yes." "There's new research in the city." "Yes." "He's offered to hold a space on his surgical list." "You both know the prognosis of surgery?" "Kelly and I see it the same way." "And how do you see it, Rene?" "The shrapnel... .. it is removed in surgery and..." ".. more damage, neurological." "Or I die on the table." "Or I make a complete recovery." "This is the one I want." "I'm a fighter, we both are." "But the risks are too great." "I can't allow you, to have the operation." "It is MY decision Sarah." "No it's not." "Eh, Sarah.." "Jack !" "Legally, Rene would not be deemed to be of sound mind." "He'd be unable to sign the consent forms," "You know that as well as I do." "Is it true?" "As your wife, Rene, only I can sign the consent." "And I won't do it." "You are afraid of me!" "I am afraid of me." "When the baby comes, how can I be a father !" "?" "I must never be alone with him." "Sarah," "I could sign it." "As Rene's doctor." "This is my decision to make, not yours." "I won't sign it." " Sarah." " It's too risky." "I cannot take this." "In two years time, even in one years time, who knows, how much the surgery will improve!" "Let's just wait and see !" "Sarah..." "I will NOT sign his death warrant!" "And neither will you !" "Something was wrong between her and Paolo." "She couldn't put her finger on it." "Charmaine had had a... ..when she arrived back, after the long train journey, he'd forgotten to meet her at the station... ..farmhouse felt cold and sad." "Paolo seemed even more distant... .. she felt as though she was being punished for something but what had she done wrong?" "Anna, come on !" "Coming !" "You know... .. if there was an easy way to get these baby vines watered !" "And Bella, don't forget, after you finished that, the patch at the back needs to be tilled yeah?" "And fertiliser on the beans, on my list." "Eh, so is boxing the tomatoes." "Boxing tomatoes, boxing tomatoes." "Boxing potatoes, boxing potatoes." "That's my joke of the day." " Ah, I gotta go to work at Carlo's." " Again?" "!" "Yeah, I promised." "You're too kind Gino, this is every day now." "You ride the horse every day." "A thorough-breed has to be ridden every day, you know that." "Isn't that, what they're paid for at Ash Park, the eh... .. stable-hands?" "I could drive you to Carlo's." "No, I'm gonna walk, just.." ".. clear my head." " SYDNEY " "You what?" "!" "I have given this a great deal of thought." "Don't think I've made this decision lightly." "I don't give a damn, how you made the decision." "It's wrong." "You got pre-selection signed." "Now, why would you pull the bear?" "My priorities have changed." "George..." "George, I like you." "You and I know that all this talk about" "Australia, being a classless society, is a load of lefty propaganda." "Men like you, could be the conduit between the classes." "Hell, you play your cards right, you could be Prime-Minister one day." " Not anymore." " Why?" "My reasons are personal." "There's no personal, in public life." "Does this have anything to do with a married Jewess?" "You won't have a political future, if you tie yourself to baggies like that." "As I've said, I no longer want a political future." "It is about the Jew." "My reasons are my own." "I ask you to respect that." "I've already started talking to people, about you." "Your withdrawal will be a personal embarrassment." "Then I apoligise for that, sincerely." "Bligh can head the bloody bill !" "Get your wooly head out of that blasted book !" "I didn't bring you here to read." "Yes, father." "Look, you see that fellow over there?" "That's Sid Gregory." "Played sixty tests, for Australia." "And Rogers over there, won the Victoria Cross, in the Boer War." "If you want to make your mark, you need to pull up your boot straps." "Face the world." "Be a man." "Mr. Goddard." "Mrs. Bligh." " Ah, Mr. Goddard." "I heard so much about you." "All favourable, I hope?" "Mr. Goddard, my daughter Carolyn." "Thank you Carolyn, I meet you at the car." "Well, I hope to see you again." "You're leaving ?" "Returning to Ash Park." "My great-grandson's christening." "Oh, a happy occasion." "When will you be back ?" "I'm undecided." "Just wanted to thank you for coming .?" "..." "These are unnecessary, but thank you." "Well, it meant a lot to the men." "Become quite special to them." "And to me." "They're just flowers." "I must be going." "Mrs. Bligh... .. when you come back..." ".. let's continue this conversation?" "Come in." "Mrs. Standish." "Mr. Fox." "I hope, I'm not disturbing the great surgeon at his work?" "Ah, just writing some reports for the Medical Board." "I welcome the disturbance, please come in." "It's nice to see you again." "I'm staying with friends in town, and it struck me." "I never thanked you properly, for saving dear George's life." "I know, a man loves his cigars." "Monte Cristo?" "Well, I was simply doing, what I'm paid to do." "Gifts like this are really not necessary." "Not necessary, but so nice to be appreciated." "Thank you." "I'll be sure to enjoy them with a glass of Courvoisier." "Before I leave you to your accounting," "I have a small favour to ask." "I was hoping, you might pass this on to James." " James..?" " Bligh." "Why would I be seeing James Bligh?" "James is in Sydney, he might also wish to... .. express his gratitude." "And if he does, I ask that you give him this." "Good-day Mr. Fox." "Mrs. Standish." "I've been trying to find you." "I was hoping we might talk." "After all you've been through in your life, you deserve for things to be easier now." "Now that you're going to be a mother." "You deserve to feel safe." "So you can give your baby all the love you have." "And you will be a wonderful mum." "I know that." "One, who'll probably going back to work, knowing you." "Never mind, what anyone thinks." "We'll see." "But your child... .. our child... .. deserves a secure, loving, stable family life." "And we can do that, Sarah." "We can raise our child together." "We can learn to love each other again." "Please, George." "I'm not saying, that we don't look after Rene." "He'll have the very best of medical care." "He'll still be part of your life." "I could never do that." "This is our chance for happiness." "You can do that." "I'm married to Rene." "I've just withdrawn from pre-selection." "Our private lives will be our own." "You should never have done that." "This is what is important now !" "It has to be !" "Our child." "We have to give our child the future it deserves." "A future that we plan together." "George, stop !" "How can you love Rene." "He's not the man he was !" "You've no right to speak to me like this." "About who Rene was." "We have nothing left to say." "Welcome back, Mrs. Bligh." " Thank you, ehm..." " Rose." "Right, Rose." "Would you mind, putting these in a vase." "And on the piano, with something under the vase." "I'll be off." "I'm going to visit the hospital." "Say hello to Jack, for me." "Try not to cause too much trouble." "Elizabeth." " It's been so long." " Olivia." "And how is our little fellow?" "I've so missed his smiles." " Georgie is sleeping." " Ah." "He's not still keeping you awake at night, is he?" "No, no, he's much improved." "Now, I saw the other maids cleaning out the groundsman's quarters." "I'm assuming, the artist fellow has left." "I'd very much like to see the portrait." "Ah, we had to ask him to leave." "The portrait was thoroughly unsuitable, I'm afraid." "Oh." "Oh well, I can't say I'm surprised." "He is a friend of Carolyn's and her taste does tend toward the avant-garde." " Oh, yes." " Where's James?" "He's in Sydney." "And when is he due back?" "Today or tomorrow." " Well, let's hope it's today." " Yeah." "You might as well stay." "Might as well?" "Now, you gotta come back for the christening, anyway." "Such a romantic proposition, how can I say no?" "You know I'd love to, Jack, but I have a meeting with Sir Richard." " What's that look?" " No look." "I'm trying to convince him, to profile some of the new ..... artists." "Well, if anyone can convince him of that, you can." "Am I devious, common and wild?" "Well, not so devious." "Oh, are you saying I'm tactless and gauche, Dr. Duncan?" "You are a thoroughly modern woman Carolyn, but..." "Sir Richard is an old-fashioned bloke." "Sir Richard is a pussycat." "I can handle him." "But I promise, I will be careful, if you promise, not to be jealous." " Jealous?" " Hmm." "Of his money, power and influence?" "Besides, I got something he doesn't have." "Excuse me, Mr. Bligh." "Mr. Briggs is here and asking to see you." "Don't mean to be a bother, Mr. Bligh." "If it's not a good time." "Course not, Roy." "Come in." "I take it, by the look on your face, you don't want one?" "Don't go, putting words in my mouth, Mr. Bligh." "I see you're back from the big smoke, so... .. I thought now is be as good a time as any, to catch you up." "Cheers." "I done just as you asked and spoken to most of the farmers here abouts and I can guarantee you their support." "Specially when it comes to that rotten coal mine." "Roy, I appreciate everything you've done for me, I do." "But I've decided, not to run after all." "Come again?" "I've withdrawn my candidacy." "But, you're a dead-cert Mr. Bligh." "There are no guarantees in life." "People round here are counting on you." "Well, they just have to count on somebody else." "When you spoke, you've got everyone all excited for change." "I'm sure, the party will find a far better representative, than me." "Who, there's none better." "Perhaps you could run." "I thought the Blighs were men of their word." "Don't make me ashamed of you, George." "I've paid the lady for her services." "Don't insult her, or me." "I don't want to, father." "First time at anything, is the hardest." "I can't." "You can and you will." "Goddammit, you're a Bligh." "Now do you duty." "George." "George !" "George." " Mother." " Hello George." "How are you today?" "Well, thank you." "Today will always be a day of reflection." "Yes, indeed." "Can I organise someone, to take you to father's grave?" "No, I can make my own way, George, thank you." "Why is James not here?" "He and Olivia had an argument." "Now, I didn't pry and I trust you won't either." "I should tell you, I've withdrawn from pre-selection." "Please mother, spare me the lecture, to queen and country." "George, what possible reason..?" "Has this to do with Sarah?" "Why on earth would it?" "Mrs. Nordmann's concerned with her sick husband." "Probably will be, for the rest of her life." "Not what it looks like." "Is this the new farmhand?" "I'm going to keep Stardust here, so that I don't have to keep going back to Ash Park." "You were right, it'll save me an hour a day." "Anna, you're not thinking like a farmer." "Well, forgive me, but that's probably because" "I haven't been doing it for very long." "Where you going?" "Put her in the shed." "The shed's full of hay." "Well, then we'll have to move it." "She stays in the paddock, with a blanket." "Gino, I'm trying to solve our problems by finding more hours in the day." "And you brought the problem here." "Why are you being like this?" "It's a horse for a mansion, not a farmer's horse." "Well, you didn't marry a farmer." "You married me, and I'm doing my best." "Don't you remember what you said to me?" "You said that you don't want me to be like your mamma." "Not, tied to the kitchen sink in an apron, working my fingers to the bone, but somehow I think, that is exactly what you want." "No, I don't." "When the hay is sold, I put her in the shed." "It's getting cold at night." "My dear James." "Reggie." "You received my message." "Please, sit." "I want you to know, that no matter what choices you've made in your life," "I will never stop supporting you." "Having never been blessed with children of my own, my dear sister wanted me, to think of you as a son." "And I do." "Well, that's exactly what I said to him." "No, I want you to talk to him, make him see some sense." " What are you doing here?" " We have a meeting scheduled." "Sorry, but I'm too busy to talk about art, right now." "Trying to sort out this brouhaha, your brother's made." "George?" "What's he done?" "Ah, nothing for you to worry about." "I'm dealing with it." "Well, when you've "dealt" with it, perhaps you'll take the time, to read my proposal." "I haven't got the time, to read anything !" "Not even my own newspaper." "So, when will you?" "I'd like to discuss my ideas with you." "We have to find time outside office hours, to talk about your ideas then." "Perhaps tonight, I could drop by your place" "I make a mean Martini." " Perhaps." " Bennett." "Of course I know." "Who do you think told him?" "He broke the news to me, that day at the club." "He didn't give me a reason, did he?" "Well, not one.." "with a pinch of salt." "We had an argument." "We both said some things." "I HAD to leave." "Is there anything I can do?" "No, thank you, Reggie." "But... .. Olivia and I ..." "Our relationship is complicated." "I know, what it's like to be judged, for not conforming to convention." "You deserve true happiness." "That's why I can't return to Ash Park, Reggie." "You must." "You must." "For your wife and child." "You can live any life you choose, but that doesn't mean, you can forsake your responsibilities." "You sound just like a friend of mine." "It takes courage, James." "And even a courageous man needs a shoulder, to lean on." "Let me be that shoulder?" "Get out !" "I said get out !" "That is disgusting." "You're disgusting !" "Hit me back !" "I said hit me !" "BE A MAN !" "Hit me, George." "COME ON !" "Elizabeth." "I heard, your husband is in hospital again." "I'm so sorry, I thought, I'd come and see how you're bearing up." "I'm sure, Rene believes he'll practice again." "Go back to being a surgeon?" "I imagine, he was a very good one." "A brilliant." "No matter how dreadful the conditions of surgery, he just improvised his way through it." "People were in awe of him." " A remarkable man." " He was." "And surely, he can be again." "Not without this operation Elizabeth, which could kill him." "Or cure him." "Is it selfish of me, to deny him this opportunity?" "No, my dear." "All I know is, that you will have given this a great deal of serious thought." "You've been so strong, through all of this." "I'm tired." "Tired of being strong." "By my experience, sometimes, the strongest thing one can do, is to know, when to relinquish control." "Easier said than done." "Especially, when it involves the destiny, of those we love." "A scarf." "Now, she probably has children of her own." "You are a fighter, my love." "Everything is chance." "What were the chances, we would survive the war?" "Find each other again?" "You've made your decision." "And I will honour it." "I'm sorry, lad." "Roy." "He must have been thrown from his horse." "Father?" "Father?" "!" "I'm sorry." "Please, father." "FATHER !" "Now that, is the perfect Martini." "Almost makes up for your earlier rudeness, hmm." "Another one?" "For a Knight-Commander you're incorrigible." "I've been called a lot worse." "Mostly from my adoring wife." "Well, we mustn't drink too much." "This is a business meeting." "Here's to business." "I want to write about what is happening in Sydney, now." "Not ten years ago." "It's been a real invigoration with the arts, with all the new migrants coming in." "Well, wogs and baits?" "Also known as "European Immigrants", Sir Richard." "Oh, enough of the "Sir Richard"." "Call me Dickie." "Excuse me." "Jack, what are you doing here?" "Why, I came to town, to brief a surgeon." "Thought I spend the night." "Not a good time ?" "NO, come on in." "What's he doing here?" "It's a business meeting." "Ah." "So, this is the business meeting, you were telling me about?" "NO, not exactly." "Just give me half an hour, to get rid of him." "No, no, no, you take all the time you need." " Jack." " You..." "You promised to be careful." "And you promised, not to be jealous." "Ah, so there's something going on, I should be jealous of, is it?" " NO." " Great!" "Jack !" "Jack !" "Why not." "Father, was not the men, that he pretended to be." "All that talk of manliness... .. was a bloody charade." "A lie." "George, what are you talking about?" "The day he died," "I saw him in the stables." "He wasn't alone." "He was with another man." "I hoped, you'd never find out." "You knew?" "Ah, I'm so sorry." "You of all people have nothing to apologise for." "He killed himself, because of me." "I confronted him." "I said he was disgusting." "Your father fell from his horse." "It was an accident." "It wasn't an accident!" "George, your father's death had nothing to do with you." "Oh, I can't believe, you carried this burden, all these years." "It had everything to do, with his own demons." "He was a man, who loathed himself." "I was never good enough for him." "I was never manly enough." "I was a failure, in his eye." "George, that's not true." "Your father loved you very much." "He was so hard on you, because HE was the weak one." "You're not him, George." "George, none of this is your fault, none of it." "I made the decision, years ago, that none of this would be spoken." "And I was wrong." "Can you forgive me?" "So many secrets." "Hush." "No more." "Oh hey." "NO, not until you done, what you came here to do." "I didn't come here, to read some proposals, sweetheart." "Fine, we will discuss it like grown-ups, then." "Didn't come here, to talk about art either." "I couldn't give two hoots about bloody art." "Ah, well, then this meeting is over." "You're a beautiful woman, Carolyn." "Aaaw, don't be a bore." "Aha, ha, ha, who are you calling a bore?" "Ah, I think I've had enough gin." "Aha, ha, ha, I think you've had enough too, Dickie." "I like a forceful woman." "Believe it, or not, sycophants make me sick." "I don't want you, to pretend you're my equal." "Well, I am your equal." "That's a girl..." "Sir Richard, please." "Actually, you're all woman." "You're driving me crazy." "I want you to leave." "Well, don't pretend this isn't exactly what you want." "You've been playing games with me for weeks." "Come on, gimme a kiss." " No, no." " Aw!" "You're a real firecracker, aren't you?" "Let me go !" "Aah, I said NO !" "No one says no to me !" "I must have slept in, why didn't you wake me?" "You want some breakfast?" "The vines, they're not growing like they should." "Gino, what do you mean?" "They should look healthier, there was a frost this morning." "Frost?" "Frost can kill the baby vines." "We should have planted earlier." "Every day Bella, I look in that corner and think, that's where the winery will go." "Darling, it will, just.." "it'll take some time." "I better put an extra blanket on Stardust." "She might get a chill." "Oh, forget the horse !" "Get dressed and help me." "Gino?" "!" "I know the vines are our future." "That horse is just a pet." "You were wrong about me." "I'm going to be the man you never were." "Coming." "This is a surprise." "May I come in?" "Course." "Hospital is buzzing with the news." "Rene Nordmann going to Sydney." "That's right." "What the hell's that?" "I'm sorry." "About last night, that was my fault." "I was a bloody idiot." "Hate it, when we fight." "I'm sorry, for what I said." "Dr. Duncan," "I'll leave, you get back to work." "Morning." "Good morning." "Thank you for the invitation." "Please." "Morning swim, followed by breakfast at the Australia Club." "I might have to join." "Well, you need a member, to nominate you." "I'm afraid, they only allow the best of the best." "I expect, that rules me out, then?" "I think, you'll be in with a.." "..sporting chance." "So, what are you gonna do?" "Haven't decided." "Well, you know what I think, for what it's worth?" "I agree with your fabulous aunt Reggie." "And not just because she wormed her way into my heart, with a box of Monte Cristo cigars." "Henry." "Thank you, for being such a good sport." "Letting me ramble on about my own problems, these last couple of days." "I feel like I can talk to you, like I can't talk to anyone else." "Well, talk is cheap, James." "Actions matter." "Oh hello there, I expect you'd like to take my order?" "Roy is out front." "He'll take you to the station." "Ah, Mrs. Nordmann." "Doris." "Your health and the health of your baby is just as important as that of your husband's." "Does anyone tell you, what a wonderful job you do here?" "Ministry of Agriculture says, that beef prices are likely to rise." "The Country Party has announced, that Mr. George Bligh will stand for pre-selection for the upcoming bi-election, for the seat if Inverness." "That's good to hear from the horse's mouth, George." "We'll talk soon." "Crisis averted." "Now it's time for you, to get your skates on." "Well, you wanna marry him, or not?" "I give you the best man, to represent the Country Party for Inverness." "Mr. George Bligh." "Hear, hear !" "Transcript and sync by KoalaNL" "***"