Banished, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Mr. Green.

Mr. Green!

Mr. Green!

Hi, you've reached David.

Leave me a message.

Hi, you've reached David.

Leave me a message.

Hi, you've reached David.

Leave me a message.

David Dad's died.

Where are you?

I'm leaving the city now.

Call me when you get this.

Would you like some time alone?

I'm done. Thank you.

Here was some of his belongings.

Father Jennings made it clear

that he wanted you to have them.

He spoke about you a lot,

the golden child.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

You are being tested right now.

Listen to him.

Hi Grace. Uh, just checking in.

Could you please give me

a call back as soon as you can?

We're trying to schedule

a phone conference.

I know that you are out of town,

but please get back to me

as soon as you can.

Oh, and we're also very sorry

to hear about your father.

Bye.

Hello, is anyone there?

Hello, my name

is Grace Jennings.

I'm lost and I need help.

Hi, Uncle Rex.

There you are.

You look great, love.

So you're dad, eh,

none of us have seen you

in years.

How long are you staying for?

Oh, no.

I have to get back home soon.

The funeral? Nah, not for me.

Is Auntie Margie around?

No, she's not.

Where is she?

She's gone...

Nobody told me.

When did that happen?

About a year ago.

So anyway,

what's happening with Big City?

I actually wanted

to talk about David.

Do you know where he is?

We usually stay in touch,

but I haven't heard from him

for a couple of months.

I just wanna make sure

he gets his half

of dad's inheritance.

Your dad...

he left it all to the church,

you know, how he's is... was.

Davy was thrown outta the church

just around Christmas.

He was in that alley

behind the tavern.

He was with a bunch of others.

They were high on something.

I'm sorry, Grace.

There was nothing I could do.

Well, what about his girlfriend?

Just leave it. Grace.

It'll just caused you trouble.

She was in

with the dodgy backpackers.

And where's that?

In the old industrial estate.

Just junkies these days.

Tea's getting cold.

Hi

Are you looking?

I guess you're probably

just looking for someone.

My brother. His name's David.

I'll pay you to tell me.

It's a secret.

Those people in the van,

do you know where they're going?

Do you know where it is?

It's in the forest.

It's the Utopia.

Have you been there? No.

You don't come back?

Why would you?

- I can e-mail through

a photograph.

I'm not sure

if I have any current words.

Our email address

can be located at the bottom

of the certificate of receipt.

- When can I expect

to hear back from you?

Front desk.

When?

Seriously.

Hello, please. Is anyone there?

Mr. Green?

Are you there?

Hello?

G'day.

Can-- Can you hear me?

Who's this?

My name is Grace Jennings.

Is this the park ranger?

No, I'm lost.

Lost?

Yeah.

I'm uh-- I'm in the

Red Valley National Park.

I'm uh, 130Ks from the highway.

I got off track.

One of my dogs, uh, got a scent

and uh, now I'm uh,

I've lost my bloody bearings.

You sure you're not

near a Ranger?

Hello?

I'm here.

Hi.

Do you remember me?

Grace Jennings?

You've taught me geography

in year 11 and 12.

We used to egg your house.

Remember that? I need your help.

-What sort of help?

-My brother David.

What about him?

I need to find him.

I saw you today.

The backpackers and junkies.

Loading them up into the van.

Your brother left months ago.

So he did go.

I can pay you.

I'll pay you two grand

just to take me there.

I have money.

Ten grand.

I thought you said

you had money.

Five.

Nah, I want ten.

Well, what even

is this place in the bush?

It's um, it's like a commune

As in hippies?

Sure. It's a few days hike.

People get lost

and they don't get found.

Fine.

Ten grand.

I'll give you five now

and five when we get back.

Good. Have the money

and be ready at dawn tomorrow.

Thanks, Mr. Green.

Now, get the f*ck

off my property.

Hi, you've reached the message

Bank of Mary Herrod

Please leave a message.

Hi, it's Grace.

Can you tell them

I won't be there

for the conference tomorrow?

Uh, actually I won't be

coming back at all. Bye.

I've come back to find David.

Dad screwed him over again.

I'm sorry I left

without saying goodbye.

David called me out the blue

about eight months ago.

I just started a new job.

He told me he felt scared

and alone.

He'd been using

and he needed my help.

And I told him

not to worry about it,

that things will get better.

I just wanted the problem

to be gone and now he's gone.

After all he did for me,

I'm going to find David

and bring him home.

We can be a family again.

- don't want you to go.

-What?

Don't go.

I'll come back. I promise

You won't.

I'll see you soon.

- So northwest?

- Yeah.

Is it a lot hillier

where you are?

I think so.

Well, what can you see?

Where I think you are

probably is the tablelands

and then the valley

up to where I am.

It sounds about right.

Can you see that Rocky hill?

It's in the center

of the valley poking up

Rocky Hill?

Yeah, there's just the one.

Unless we're staring

in completely

opposite directions.

The one with the big crack

in it down the side.

That's it.

I'm not too far.

Neither am I. What should we do?

Oh, it'd be about a day's hike.

Same for me. I reckon.

Righto. Let's meet

on the Western slope.

I'll get there as fast as I

can.

I'll start walking there now.

Radio, if there's any problems,

just remember

to preserve the battery.

I will.

I'll see you soon, Grace.

What's your name?

Hello?

Michael.

You've gone mad

like the rest of them.

I've gotta find him

and make sure he is okay.

He's a grown man.

It's dangerous out there.

Well, I'm not just gonna do

nothing like you.

I saw Margy's poster

in the servo. She's missing.

You made me think she was dead.

You don't understand.

Things have changed around here

a lot.

-It's not safe out there.

-Come with me.

You realize this whole thing

is stupid.

Whatever you're scared of.

It isn't real.

I know it's stupid.

It's just what if I go

and she comes back?

If I leave and she comes home

and I'm not here?

Is there anything I can say

to stop you from doing this?

I see you soon, Uncle Rex.

Actually, this old document,

dad left it for me specifically,

apparently.

It's for some old company.

It's signed

by Thomas L. Jennings.

That's an old piece of paper.

That's your

great, great, great grandfather.

Give or take a great.

I had no idea.

Yeah, he's the one

that came out from England.

Settled in the mountains

and we've more or less been

in the mining game ever since

We've been around

these parts that long?

It's in our blood.

All right. It's this way.

What are you scared of?

I haven't been back here

since it happened.

It happened here?

Nothing's gonna happen to you

as long as you're with me.

Promise.

The day's moving along.

How are we going?

Could be doing better.

Why'd you start working

at that backpacker place?

What happened to teaching

at the school?

You were good at it.

Did you ever work in the mines?

Yeah.

I did when I was younger.

Those were good times.

We should get some sleep.

Just gonna, uh,

I'll be back in a sec.

What you looking at?

Kids come up here all the time

doing weird sh*t.

Taking drugs, graffitiing,

throwing eggs at my house.

Yeah, but have you

seen this before?

This symbol thingy?

No, I haven't.

We should get to move on.

-Yeah.

Yeah. Another day's hike.

I reckon.

f*ck.

My phone. f*ck!

Just get another one,

Miss Moneybags.

-Do you have it?

Check your pockets.

-No. No I don't.

Just check.

All right, here it is. Found it.

And your bag.

I don't have it.

f*ck!

Yeah. Thanks.

You should leave the town.

- Hmm.

Well, why the reluctance?

Is there literally anything

keeping you here?

I get it now.

What do you mean?

Everybody knew

what your father did

and nothing happened.

Well...

You knew.

You could have done something.

Shouldn't be too far off.

Knackered yet?

I can kind of understand

why a normal person

would wanna live out here

with a bunch of hippies.

It's peaceful.

I wouldn't say normal.

More like damaged.

-What's it like?

-What?

This commune thing? Utopia.

I don't know.

What? What do you mean?

Well, it's just a bunch

of ex junkies

and losers. I don't know.

-You've never been there?

-No.

What the f*ck?

Well, I know how to get there.

That's what you're paying me

for, isn't it?

How do you know how to get there

if you've never been?

What's on that f*cking map?

-What are you doing?

-Give it to me.

-No, it's mine.

-Show it to me!

All right.

There you go. Okay. All right.

-Why won't you show me properly?

-Look...

I know how to get there,

all right?

Okay. So just let me lead

and you follow.

All right?

You are making me very nervous.

Okay, look,

I understand that. Um,

Take this.

You can always radio ranger

if you get lost. All right?

But I'm keeping this.

So don't touch.

Sorry. I'm just tired.

I'm not used

to this much walking.

No worries.

Let's just go a little bit

further and then we'll camp.

So your dad left nothing

to you or David.

It's all going to the church.

I'm not surprised though.

If you don't mind me asking,

what actually happened

between you and your dad

on that last night?

I mean, I heard the rumors,

but...

I vaguely remember things

from when I was younger.

Fifteen, I think,

and my mom trying to protect me.

Dad would always say

how he was disappointed in us.

He used to beat

the sh*t outta David.

One night, I woke up with

his hands around my throat.

He was drunk out of his mind

and saying how he'd failed

to produce an adequate family

and wanted to start another one.

As he tried to climb

on top of me, his special girl.

Jesus.

I managed to break free

and dad chased me

into the woods.

I was there for about

three days, I think,

while he was screaming out

that he would k*ll me

if I didn't come back.

That's when David found me,

took me to the bus stop,

gave me all his money.

Dad beat the hell

out of him for that.

That's why I have to find David.

I said I'd come back for him,

but I never did.

Well, I think it's pretty nice

what you're doing

and you shouldn't beat

yourself up about it too much.

I mean you're here now.

Better late than never.

What's your name?

Your first name?

Bert.

- Bert. No, it isn't!

- Yeah, it is.

You asked.

Goodnight, Bert.

Hey, let's keep it

to Mr. Green, eh?

Also, you did the right thing.

What?

Going out into the world

and proving yourself.

Definitely the best

of the punch. Always were.

Mr. Green.

Mr. Green.

Nothing's gonna happen to you

as long as you're with me.

Promise.

Promise.

Michael?

Grace.

Are you close?

I'm nearly there. Are you okay?

I'm inside the tent

and need medical help

as soon as possible.

I'm walking towards it now.

Where are you?

I'm here. Where are you?

I'm inside the tent.

Then look out.

No, you're not. I can't see you!

Well, I can see you.

Michael!

Michael!

People get lost...

Hello?

Hello, Michael...

Hey!

Please...

Don't hurt me.

My name is Grace Jennings.

I'm looking

for my brother, David.

If he is not here,

I can just go.

Mr. Green!

Mr. Green!

You're alive.

Why did you abandon me

like that?

I'm sorry.

You still have that--

That map, right?

What?

I knew that I would eventually

find this place.

They were just waiting

for the right time

and the right person

to be brought along.

You should eat.

David...

It's been ages.

Thanks for coming.

I've been waiting.

You always said

you'd come back in for a while

I didn't believe it,

but I'm so glad to be wrong.

You should eat,

just a little bit.

I'm sorry they tied you up.

That shouldn't have happened.

You're free now.

How are you feeling?

David, please tell me

what the f*ck is going on?

This is the home

of the God of Lost Souls

and our family has

a very special relationship

with him.

Please don't talk like that.

But that's the truth.

Did you come here

to tell me about dad?

Rescue me and bring me back

to the city?

I'm interested to know why.

Was it guilt?

For abandoning me?

After we agreed

to meet all those times,

but you always

had something else to do,

something much more important

going on.

Even after dad

put me in hospital.

He took my job.

He threw me outta the house.

Out of the church.

I tried to die, twice.

I overdosed.

There was something

keeping me here...

and this place found me.

And now it's found to you.

You're k*lling people.

Not in the way that you mean.

I won't tie you back up.

No one will hurt you.

I need medical help.

You can't leave.

He won't allow it.

He brings us here and keeps us

in his warm embrace forever.

There's something you must do

to serve him.

What?

You'll see.

Eat your food.

No!

Don't! Don't!

Stop it!

David...

David.

We are so happy you came.

It was the only way

you could become

what you were meant to be.

Love.

You sacrifice what you love.

And he chooses you.

Not your father,

not your brother.

Welcome home.