01x02 - Righteousness

[bunniefuu]

You are Leung Wei Shing?

I intend starting a Chinese print

edition to serve the Chinese population.

The seam is drying out.

We've been pushed out

of the good claims.

(WHIMPERS AND GROANS)

They won't and see we've

been skimming the take.

I will be meeting our new surveyor

to discuss his findings.

MAN: She's not afraid to take

things to extremes. She's here for you.

Burn like this,

can't let it dry out.

How'd it happen?

Heat.

Patrick f*ck' Thomas is it now?

It's a white woman.

MAN: There's been a woman m*rder*d.

She's cut right open.

Where's she from?

Does anyone know her?

SHING: What do you think will happen if the 'gwailou'

find a m*rder*d white woman in Chinese clothes?

(GASPS)

Ah

(PEOPLE CHAT INDISTINCTLY OUTSIDE)

The wise man is one

who knows what he doesn't know.

I think we might have something.

Scar face, red hair?

Our opium man says he has a match.

Where?

Mr Chen. Bang on time.

Is this it?

Just came in from Melbourne.

Thought I'd give you the honours.

Chinese letters for the press.

Second-hand, but I was assured

the problems were repairable.

Six shillings, week in advance.

Get him out of here!

You!

We have to find him

and shut him up.

Maybe the 'gwailou' didn't see you.

He saw me.

If he hasn't said anything

I need to know who he is.

Scar up his face,

ear missing, red hair.

Keep looking.

MAN: Dingoes, skinned and cut!

(THUD!)

(VIOLIN PLAYS CELTIC FOLK TUNE)

(HUBBUB OF VOICES)

MAN 2: Watch it!

Get out of the way!

Filthy Chow.

MAN 3: And here in these far-flung

lands filled with savages,

and worse

diseases

in which occur total cessation of

all apparent function and vitality,

such as to give rise

to the most calamitous of extremes

ever befallen

to the lot of mere mortality.

To be buried alive.

(CROWD MURMURS)

The boundaries which divide life

from death are shadowy and vague.

Who's to say where one ends

..and the other begins?

But fear has no place

for the forward-thinking.

Because today I bring,

but for a small sum

..the safety casket.

(CROWD GASPS)

(BELL DINGS)

(CROWD APPLAUDS)

WEESEL: Watch out!

Make way for the body.

Get back!

MAN: It's the blacks!

Who else would do this?

Someone should arrest them!

Mr Shing.

An unexpected good fortune.

Just who I was on my way to see.

My luck is boundless.

A word.

I wanted to make sure our agreement

from last night remains intact.

Extortion is the word, I believe.

You have the text?

For what?

Your advertisement.

I haven't given it any thought.

A product, a service, public

notice.

In London, there are publications

where men advertise for wives.

"Snappy dresser, sense of humour."

You may have to embellish somewhat,

increase your appeal.

No matter your plan,

payment over 12 months is £52.

I'll pay by the week.

I'd prefer a sizeable

To bleed me dry, yes.

(COINS CLINK, THUD ON DESK)

And exactly what tone of publication

am I to be associated with?

The paper's going through

a transitional phase.

But I thought a piece

about last night's m*rder.

My understanding is

it was quite brutal.

People like a mystery

and some blood.

I don't see the shame

in giving it to them.

So, if you'll excuse me

..I have work to do.

m*rder stories are the gutter press.

Albert would never have allowed

Albert's dead.

I think we can fix most.

Carve replacements

for what's missing.

It will take time.

Good.

I want a print run

as soon as we can.

Week in advance.

MAN: I told you it's over here.

(g*nsh*t)

(MAN SHOUTS)

(MEN LAUGH)

Watch this, yeah?

You know, takes an animal

to cut a woman up.

How many animals around

this camp can hold a knife?

MAN: Can you?

(CLICK!)

Bam!

Ha!

(MEN LAUGH)

What is this?

You don't trust my numbers?

I wouldn't take it personally.

Next step is to check the accounts.

You have a bookkeeper?

My brother.

A brother?

Oh, and I was to meet our new

surveyor, Yong, this morning.

He failed to attend.

His habit is to meet with

the camp's bookkeeper upon arrival.

Yong might have trouble

making this meeting.

Being three feet under the ground.

I'll figure something out.

I have an idea. Meet me later.

I'll deal with Sun.

I always want to see you,

little brother. And English.

I don't need to practise.

I was thinking about

what you said to me yesterday.

I should have more fun.

When was the last time

we had a drink together? Huh?

You're always too busy.

A person can't change?

I mean, we're in a new land.

We work enough here,

buy a house in Melbourne,

start a business.

Cheung Lei wants to see the books.

How are the accounts?

The numbers add up,

if that's what you mean.

But it doesn't matter when she sees

how much gold we're actually getting out.

Talk to the men you trust.

Tell them to work slower.

And keep the numbers down.

And if they won't?

Convince them.

Also

she may ask whether you had told me

where Yong was prospecting.

You should say no.

Why?

Well, he seems to have gone missing.

Nothing.

And it's not your problem.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Mrs Albert Roberts, Ballarat Star.

I'm here because of the growing

Never heard of it.

It's new. I'm here because

of the growing public interest

in the body that was found

last night in the bush.

I wondered if I might

look at the victim.

May I help, Mrs?

Roberts. Ballarat Star.

I see.

I'm Dr Grayson.

Well, I've only made

a cursory examination so far.

Incision from the bottom of the

sternum to the edge of the pelvic floor.

Blood already congealed, so it

happened some time after death.

Bone fractures. Significant blow

to the side of the skull.

A beating would be my guess,

though an extreme one.

Who is she?

Some simpleton got herself

into trouble, I can only assume.

Annie Thomas, actually.

Husband just confirmed.

Either way, she was out there

a good day before being found.

Husband didn't report her missing?

Pretty one like that

You'd think he'd be missing

something. (CHUCKLES)

Have some respect.

Respect?

You know

I've seen that top before.

Down at the George.

Husband or not,

only women in that place is wh*res.

So mind your fat gob there,

sweetheart.

(CLANKING)

(MUTED CONVERSATION IN CANTONESE)

This is your idea?

Dingoes.

Chinese surveyor on his own

Things can go wrong.

We need to frighten her.

Never heard of them k*lling

anybody. Build a new camp.

Just make it look real

and keep her far away from the seam.

Hattie

No fish today?

Dead lady from the other night.

I remember.

Name's Annie.

Husband's a digger. I know him.

Poor man.

How is he?

Type not to mess with.

Her body was moved

from the Chinese trail.

Don't suppose you'd know

how that came about?

Can't understand

why you'd think that.

Look on your face

when she came in last night.

I appreciate you coming to me first, but

I'm not sure what you expect me to do

White woman gets k*lled,

fingers point to blacks.

There's blood coming.

White people aren't going to listen

to me any more than you.

If there's proof

What proof?

Hoofprints.

Fresh from when she died.

I followed them out past Blue Rock.

Only ones out that country

are Aboriginals and outlaws.

He was an outlaw.

I need to think.

Thinking's not doing!

I'll be at the river bend.

Do something, or I will.

Mr Shing!

Fine morning.

Apart from the

you know, horrific m*rder.

I hope you have a suspect.

Not my job.

Husband, maybe.

Autopsy should tell them more.

Time of death, weapon.

Well, I would certainly

love to hear more, but, uh

Of course.

Keep up the good work.

Weesel.

What was in this spot?

Pleasant O'Quinn.

Gold thief.

Hmm.

You were right.

Your outlaw.

How do you know it's him?

One of my people saw him near

the tracks around the time she died.

A white man m*rder*d that woman.

That's where the blame needs to go.

You said you wanted to do something.

I'm not k*lling anybody.

Neither of us would survive

doing that, even an outlaw.

But a white man does it

that's a different story.

What white man?

The husband.

The type not to be messed with,

you said.

Just needs someone to point him

in the right direction.

I came here to help you.

Skin might be different,

but we are the same, you and me.

Both do what we have to

for our people.

Right now

..this is what it takes.

Not now, girl.

I know who it was

k*lled your missus.

How?

I went out to where she died.

Took a look about.

Hoofprints.

b*ll*ts in the trees.

Men who made those

are ones who k*lled her.

Woman died the way she did

..English will take

their pound of flesh.

Blacks, Irish

doesn't matter.

Just takes someone

to do what's right.

Then we do.

EARLE: Been a while since

I was out hunting outlaws.

How many men would you say

you shot down in California?

Seventeen's where we lost count.

Are you selling me a dog?

Seventeen men?

That's right.

Have you come to learn

much of the land during your stay?

I happen to have a keen interest

in native flora and fauna

if you're also of a curious mind.

For example, right there,

what you're seeing

is the 'Melia azedarach',

commonly known as white cedar.

It's reliable nourishment if

you ever find yourself in a bind.

Or if you want to spend a week

dying in a pool of your own sh*t.

(CHUCKLES)

sh*t your pants.

f*ck off.

(METAL CLANKS)

(EXHALES)

(SIGHS)

(PIANO PLAYS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

No women in here.

Except for a job.

What if I was?

Talk to Bertha.

(MOANING)

(FASTER MOANING)

(MOANS CONTINUE)

(WOMEN CHAT SOFTLY)

Ooh. Tipping the velvet's

extra, honey.

But you can have

a Mother Goose.

Or a night pedal.

No, I wanted to know about

a woman who may have been here.

Curly brown hair,

might have had a yellow dress.

The one they found last night?

Rosie!

Woman they found.

Came in to talk to you, wasn't it?

Who's asking?

If you're trying to get me soused,

it ain't needed.

There's no secrets here.

Well, except professional.

Annie worked here too?

(LAUGHS)

Her? No.

Real romantic, that one.

Like want a poem read

before she'd spread type.

Then how did you know her?

I'm printing it either way.

Just depends

if your name's part of it or not.

Look, I only met her

a couple of times.

Maybe a month ago.

She was seeing someone.

And from the way she talked,

it was someone that she loved.

But I never saw him here.

To be frank, woman never made

a big impression.

Except, said that she was

'enfant'.

Pregnant?

Figured I was the type

to know what to do about it.

So I sent her to Grayson.

The doctor?

Much a lizard as a gent

if I had to pin it down, but

it's half a quid for a pennyroyal

and it's better than any

One dose, a little blood. Week

later you're back in the saddle.

And she went to him?

Never came back.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

Place looks dead to me.

Well, that there

is a disappointment.

sh*t!

BURKE: My arse has turned blue.

EARLE: There goes 18.

(g*nsh*t)

JORAH: Oh! Come on!

(g*nshots CONTINUE)

PATRICK: Take cover!

Don't you run, girl!

PATRICK: Throw me a g*n!

Earle!

Let 'em come!

Come on, 18!

PATRICK: Where's Hattie?

She's that way!

I don't know, I don't know.

Ohh! (GRUNTS)

(GRUNTS)

PATRICK: I think you got one!

Stop!

(GROANS) Agh, agh agh!

(GRUNTS) I'm hit!

I'm hit!

I'm hit!

You okay?

(GROANS)

Where? Where?

(GRUNTS)

I don't know.

It certainly felt as if

for a moment

Where's Hattie?

I saw one of them go after her.

That way.

(GROANS)

(LEAVES CRUNCH)

(HORSE APPROACHES)

(r*fle c*ck)

(CLICK!)

sh*t!

(HORSE SNORTS)

What'd you do that for?

God oh, God!

Help me!

Hey, you got to help!

I wrote my ma.

Bought a claim

and I was gonna

I didn't mean to.

What?

She ran.

The woman?

Never hurt her.

She

had a black with her.

Guide.

I clipped him.

Then I saw the other one.

Who? Saw who?

Chinaman Chinaman.

I I wrote my ma.

Did I tell you?

Yeah, you told me.

(SIGHS)

You okay?

I got him.

I thought you didn't even know

I had a brother.

My family were farmers.

We ran.

No burial.

Bodies left to rot in the field.

No reason. No lesson.

It must be nice

to have a brother so close.

He spent most of his time

in the north when he was young.

It was coming here

that gave us the chance

to better know each other again.

And you?

A woman in your position

There must be a story.

I have had to learn ways to be

effective.

GOK: Just up here.

Something doesn't feel right.

I can see blood.

Go see what else you can find.

It's safe.

Dingoes.

Mostly safe, but they're territorial.

Yong must have set up camp

near one of their dens.

Dingoes?

I've seen them take kangaroos.

Anything?

Not even bones.

It occurs to me

I must see to another matter

on our return,

if you think we'll be safe.

That's why we're here.

To make sure you're safe.

Mrs Roberts.

Sorry to barge in.

I had more questions

about Annie Thomas.

I see.

I thought we could start

with some of your medical interests

more generally.

You've come to the right place.

I lecture professionally.

And those?

Ah the jars.

The early embryo.

Cow, sheep, turtle.

And, of course, human.

European, Negroid.

I've found celestial

hard to procure.

All alike in the early stages.

In humans,

you can see the gill slits,

your very living flesh,

once that of a fish.

As was mine.

In us all, the primal drives

of the animal

eat

breed

k*ll.

And Annie Thomas?

Thought it odd this morning that you wouldn't

mention that you knew her previously.

I've never met the woman.

She came to you for a service.

Our conversation's finished.

I don't care about the legality,

only We'll not be meeting again.

Good day.

(MAN GASPS)

You'll excuse the arrangement.

Better to be some distance

from the camp.

What is this?

Death by a thousand cuts.

The key is where to start.

A finger?

Or a toe?

But then you can't go back

to something smaller.

Imagine the shame.

The nose.

You can take 13 or 14 pieces

with some

care.

(KNIFE SLICES)

Who is he?

Stole from us in Gold Mountain.

Thought coming here

he would avoid punishment.

A headman, once.

Like yourself.

More charming, perhaps.

Smarter.

You asked before how it was

to be a woman in my position

only child, and a daughter, no

less.

Unnoticed, unseen, unwanted.

My father's concubine forced

to care for the useless girl.

A chore they especially resented

was to read me a bedtime story.

You know them?

All the same. Someone

falls in love, but they have

disguised themselves

to be something they're not.

Afraid to show their true self

in case they are rejected.

For a long time, I found myself

not being seen for what I was.

It was unpleasant.

I will not ask again.

So, if I may go

You are the headman.

(BREATHES SHAKILY)

It's not weak, you know.

What?

To feel bad over doing what you did.

To that boy.

People die. Nothing new.

Cry now and there'd be

no time left in a day.

What are you out here for?

Why aren't you with your people?

Don't have any.

I come from Lutruwita.

Mother from there.

Father a whitefella. Sealer.

r*ped her. That's how I came.

Later she had my brothers.

Gone now.

Bunjil wanted me to live.

That's what my mother would say.

Rest of that mob

Like I said

people die, nothing new.

I'm not even sure

it's special anymore.

You wanted to know about my arm.

We had our little girl

two year after I got in.

Evelyn, we called her.

Hair like Annie's,

even when she was born.

Took slow to walking,

but she could talk.

Died when the diggers

were striking against the crown.

Fire got started.

Tents set close.

She was screaming.

I tried to get her out.

There was a man,

one of the leaders

The fire was his fault.

So I hurt him.

Bad.

His friends called us traitors.

So we ran.

Took different names.

Other things don't change so easy.

I saw that little girl in Annie

every single day.

Her face, her hair

the way she talked.

Came a time I couldn't look at her.

Couldn't listen.

And now

Never thought I'd miss pain.

So you hold on to that hurt

you got inside you there.

Over that boy and what you did.

It means the b*stards haven't

turned you into one of them.

(RUSTLING)

(DOOR OPENS)

Custom we have is to ask

before we enter people's house.

Wasn't them.

Those kids we k*lled.

It was.

I was with one when he died.

Said there was more to it.

Said he saw a Chinaman.

A dying man can lie, too.

That was in her things.

"To Annie, with all my love."

Just wanted to let you know, since

we're looking out for one another.

So alike and all.

(DOOR CLOSES)

How did it go?

Good! See, all it takes

is motivation.

When you put your mind to something,

then everything can be

(NERVOUSLY) I just, uh

I still need to review

the books one more time.