18x11 - Thursday's Children

[bunniefuu]

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

♪ Heartbeat

♪ Why does a love kiss stay in my memory? ♪

MUSIC: 'Long As I Can See The Light'

by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Are they in front or behind? I can never remember.

Well, it's tomorrow morning in Australia.

-They should've landed. - All right for some, in't it?

Wangling a trip down under at the taxpayers' expense.

When was the last time you paid any tax?

All I'm saying is, it's a fool's errand.

That Rosie Cartwright'll be sunning herself

on some tropical beach.

Then why have I heard nowt for the past three months?

Not even a postcard.

An old man in Aidensfield will be the last thing

on that young lady's mind, Bernie.

Summat's happened to her. I can feel it in my water.

What I want to know is,

why has the district nurse gone along for the ride?

She's looking for her brother.

Oh, don't be soft, David.

No, Nurse Cassidy's keeping an eye on PC Mason

to stop him falling into the clutches of that CID woman.

MUSIC: 'Bring It On Home To Me' by Sam Cooke

♪ If you ever

♪ Change your mind

♪ About leaving

♪ Leaving me behind

Next on the right, Joe.

♪ Bring it to me

♪ Bring your sweet lovin'

♪ Bring it on home to me

♪ Yeah ♪

Here we are.

All right?

Good luck, Carol.

Got a feeling I'm gonna need it, Joe.

You know how to get hold of us,

should the situation arise.

Care of the police post at Moori-loo-bah?

Don't know how to say it, either.

Mooriloobah.

Thanks.

Let's hope the situation doesn't arise, shall we?

KOOKABURRAS LAUGHING

BELL TOLLS

ECHO OF KOOKABURRAS

MAN: 'I fear, Miss Cassidy,

that you are looking for a very small needle

in a very large haystack.'

You must realise that thousands of unwanted children

from the slums of England

were sent over to Australia after the w*r.

So you haven't managed to trace my brother?

Our records show that we did indeed process

one Daniel Cassidy in .

Do you know where he is?

He was sent to Saint Finbar's,

a first-rate farm school out in the bush

where poor orphans were taught

honest rural trades and decent values.

But after he left, aged ...

Whereabouts is this school?

I've already taken the trouble

to make enquiries on your behalf.

None of the staff remember the boy

you assume to be your brother,

let alone know of his whereabouts now.

I'd still like to make contact myself.

I don't think that will be possible.

Can I at least see his files?

Files?

This was over years ago.

Let's hope the boy

made the most of the opportunities

that we offered.

So many of the riffraff the Mother Country

was only too keen to get rid ofwent to the bad,

despite the care of the Order.

Well, I'm sorry.

I can be of no more assistance, Miss Cassidy.

Brought you a new exhibit for the museum, Mrs Pike.

- Horrible creatures! - It's a talking point.

Thanks ever so, Mr Urquart.

-Tourists? - In Mooriloobah?

You mark my words, Mrs Pike,

ten years from now they'll be flocking here.

And what would tourists be wanting with the wallopers?

Word to the wise, mate. Wear a hat!

Been expecting you, Detective Sergeant Dawson.

I'm DS Dawson. This is PC Mason.

Excuse I.

I'm Sergeant Flaherty.

Nice little ticket you've worked yourselves, eh?

All expenses paid trip to God's own country.

Rosie Cartwright is our friend.

We don't intend to go back

till we find out what's happened to her.

I assure you of that, Sergeant.

That'd be right.

MONKS SINGING

Please, don't listen to the terrible things

they say about Saint Finbar's.

I can't believe those stories are all true.

I only just heard of the place.

Why don't they want me to find Daniel?

There might be something in the school year books.

There are copies in our library.

Can you show me?

I have to be in chapel for the next half-hour

with all the other brothers.

BIRDS CHIRPING

Your Rosie Cartwright caught the bus west to the Isa.

Mount Isa.

Lots of nothing out there.

So, if she did go missing,

then she'd already left my patch.

A pretty big "if", mind.

Why do you say that?

Rosie was booked on a return flight from Perth.

She never turned up, eh? Look, lady...

Miss Dawson.

Perhaps the kid's visa ran out and she's gone feral.

It happens all the time.

Who in their right mind

would want to go back to Pommie land?

Rosie got in touch with her father

asking him to send her money.

He's deposited cash in her account.

We checked. It's not been touched.

She sent that wire from the post office

here three months ago.

My enquiries have established

that she definitely left Mooriloobah.

Well, I hope you'll have no objection to us

making our own enquiries, Sergeant Flaherty?

Look, this is a nice, quiet place,

lots of lovely law-abiding citizens.

Provided you treat them with the respect they deserve,

I'm gonna do nothing to stop you fossicking around.

Thank you.

I've booked you into the rubberdy-dub.

The battleship and cruiser?

The pub, the boozer!

Crikey, I thought it was you jokers

who invented rhyming slang.

♪ Now there was a wild colonial boy

♪ Jack Doolan was his name

♪ He ran away from Ireland

♪ And to Australia came

♪ He robbed the wealthy squatters

♪ And the flocks he did destroy

♪ And a terror to the rich man was

♪ The wild colonial boy ♪

Lou!

Oh, our English guests?

Sarge didn't tell me

whether you'd be wanting two singles or a double.

Better ask the superior officer.

Detective Sergeant Dawson, no less.

- Two singles, please. - Make them the best rooms.

With the fans... and the fly screens.

Certainly!

CLEARS THROAT

My son will escort you.

Col!

This way, folks.

Now, are you gonna tell me why two pommie cops

have fronted up in our town?

They're wasting their time.

But I'll let them find that out for themselves.

Sarge... with them being here,

there won't be any problem

with this year's race meet, will there?

I seriously doubt they'll be here long enough

to upset the equilibrium.

What do they know about the state's gaming laws?

I seriously intend to risk a few dollars myself, Lou,

once I've had a squizz at the runners.

Good on you, sarge.

Are you from these parts, Col?

Born right here in this hotel.

- You like it here? - Oh, it's paradise!

You don't sound much like a pom.

That's because I'm Scottish.

Ah, that's all right, then.

You've never been to the old country, then, Col?

Never been out of state.

But I know all there is to know about England.

Warm beer!

Now, you do sound like a pom, miss.

I live in Yorkshire.

We had a lovely Yorkshire lass

living out at Salisbury Downs till about three months ago.

Maybe you've come across her? Rosie Cartwright?

Ah, that was a stupid question.

Your small country's pretty over-crowded, but...

- We do know her. - How about that!

Yeah, she was beaut, was Rosie.

She even helped me fix my fan belt

when she was in town.

You don't come across many sheilas

who know their way round an engine.

That's why we're here, Col. We're looking for Rosie.

Why? I thought she was going home.

This got something to do with that ratbag boyfriend of hers?

CHORAL MUSIC PLAYING

MUSIC: 'Boogie Chillen by John Lee Hooker

KOOKABURRAS LAUGHING

Whoa.

Attaboy.

Hey, hey! Your kind know better than to come in here.

Now, you'll get no sly grog from me.

Don't put the hard word on me.

All I want is some cotton wool and antiseptic.

- I've got money, brother. - I am not your brother.

Your money's no good here. Back to the reservation!

You gotta serve me!

One more step and I'll blow your legs off.

-I'll have the law on you. - Is that so?

And I wonder what the johns will say

when I tell them I found an abbo shoplifting?

Get out!

SPITS

Come on, let's go.

So, what's our first step?

A trip out to the place

where Rosie and Mick Macdonald were working?

Salisbury Downs, Mr and Mrs Patterson.

I ought to put in a call to Ashfordly.

Let Sergeant Miller know we've arrived in one piece.

It's the middle of last night back home.

So that's why I feel wrung out.

I'll wait till this evening.

Why don't you book an international call

from the post office?

I don't want Flaherty knowing our every move.

MUSIC: 'She's Not There' by The Zombies

♪ Well, no one told me about her

♪ The way she lied

♪ Well, no one told me about her

♪ How many people cried

♪ But it's too late you're sorry ♪

Rosie?

Nothing wrong, is there?

Why do you say that, Mrs Patterson?

She promised to keep in touch.

And I haven't heard a blessed word

from her since the day she left.

CAROL: Sorry to bother you.

I was wondering if you were the F Simmonds

who attended Saint Finbar's?

No?

Fine. OK, thank you.

I took a real shine to that young lady.

My old fellow took on the jackeroo for the season.

-Mick Macdonald? - Mm.

Rosie asked if there was any work for her.

So I started her off on the cooking and the cleaning.

But, blow me, she was game for any hard yakka, that one.

Never worried about rolling up her sleeves

and getting her hands dirty.

- Was a farmer's daughter. - Was?

Back in Yorkshire, Mrs Patterson.

And Macdonald?

When it comes to men and women,

there's usually two sides to every blue.

There was trouble between them?

He was a good enough worker. Nice as pie most of the time.

But he could be trouble when he was full.

He was a drinker?

Every other night, by the end.

Listen, love, I've never been one

to stick my beak into a domestic.

- When it came to blows... - He hit Rosie?

- You saw this? - Well, not as such.

But the roos in the paddock

and the kookaburras in the trees

would have heard the ding-dong.

I told my old man

to pay him off the next morning.

And what about Rosie?

I reckon she wasn't ready to go home.

She wanted some good memories of Oz.

Had a hankering to climb the Rock.

That's why I was expecting a postcard.

When was the last time you saw Rosie?

I drove her to the bus stop in town myself.

Did you actually see her get on the bus?

Well, no.I had to get back to the property, didn't I?

I left her outside the post office.

But nothing could've happened to her in Mooriloobah.

Could it?

MUSIC: 'Ace Of Spades' by Link Wray

PHONE RINGS

I need something to keep the sun off my face, Mrs Pike.

Have you got any suggestions?

Alf, it's Joe calling from Australia.

G'day, mate. How's Skippy?

I ran him over. Put me to Sergeant Miller.

Every second's costing a fortune.

PHONE RINGS

Mason. What have you got?

Jet lag.

-What's he saying, Alf? - It's about Mick Macdonald.

That wild colonial lad's not all he's cracked up to be.

-Any word from Joe? - He's on the phone now.

KNOCK ON DOOR

CAROL: Who is it?

MAN: The manager, Miss Cassidy.

You know a Doctor Cunningham?

About some advert you've placed.

Oh, really?

What kind of services

might you offering in my motel, missy?

-Don't be so stupid. - Did he leave a number?

We need to haul Macdonald in for a little chat.

What's he done, sergeant?

Wetherby, ask him politely

if he wouldn't mind taking the time

to come down to the station and answer a few questions.

Yes, sergeant.

Give us a pot of the amber fluid, Lou.

There you go.

Ah! Cripes.

That'll bring a brown dog back to life.

How's about anotherie, Lou?

SILENCE FALLS

Two pints, please.

Listen, love,

why don't I bring you a couple of nice, chilled pots

into the lounge, eh?

Are you refusing to serve me because I'm a woman?

Don't tell me this is the law of the land?

Not exactly, no.

But we don't want to frighten the horses, do we, hm?

Mr Macdonald!

I'd like you to accompany me to Ashfordly police station.

What's this about, mate? I think you know very well.

Come with me, please.

Come on, Rachel, when in Oz...

This is a point of principle. Are you not gonna back me up?

You can tell a man who boozes by the company he chooses.

I have no intention of remaining

in the presence of these drongos

while there's a lady present, for once.

Madam, in a spirit of hospitality

and hands across the sea,

would you allow me to accompany you

to the refined atmosphere of the ladies' lounge?

If you would allow me to buy you a drink, Mr...?

Urquart. With pleasure.

Ma...

You're not gonna like this.

Doctor Cunningham?

Yes, I'm the one who placed the notice.

You do?

Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.

When can we meet?

The Queen Adelaide Tea Rooms?

Wonderful.

Would you mind stepping in here, please?

Is this about Rosie?

This way, please.

How many times?

I went north and she took off travelling.

Amicable separation, was it?

We split up. It happens.

By mutual agreement?

I love that girl.

You know why I came back? I thought she'd be here.

I hoped she might find it in her heart to forgive me.

I was going to propose to her.

Do you know an Ada Patterson?

Me and Rosie worked on her old man's property.

Mrs Patterson has stated

that your behaviour towards Rosie Cartwright

could only be described as physically abusive.

Has she, the old cow?

GASPS

Banana Bender! Winner of the Nambour Sweep.

He'll wipe the floor with the rest of the field.

What's a colt with his form

doing in our little picnic race?

MICK: Look, I won't say we didn't have our problems.

What couple doesn't?

MILLER:And you thought that gave you the right to hit her?

You lot!

You think the sun shines out of your local girl.

Well, you never knew her like I did.

You never saw what... what she put me through.

So you admit it? You were violent?

If I was, she drove me to it.

I swear, Alf, if that...

If that shearer,if he's harmed a hair of Rosie's..

Calm down, Geoff.

You're not telling me why you dragged me in

about an argument three months ago

and , flaming miles away?

All you have to do is to account for your whereabouts

the day after you were sacked from Salisbury Downs.

Why are you asking me? I don't know.

What's happened to Rosie? Why isn't she back here?

You just tell me where you were

the day after she got onto that bus.

You are the advance party.

Ten years from now, folks from your part of the world

will be flocking here for their holidays.

It just so happens I own this bonza block of land,

just ripe for tourist development.

All it needs is water and electricity.

We have a very heavy schedule, Mr Urquart.

Do yourselves a favour. Get in on the ground floor.

I hope you're not thinking of leaving the district.

I may wish to talk to you again.

You could offer me a lift to the farm.

What do you think this is, a taxi firm?

I can give you a lift as far as Aidensfield, lad.

That's six miles away from my billet.

Take it or leave it.

Why have you let him go, sergeant?

We've a telex to send to Australia, Younger.

FLAHERTY: If Ma Patterson says it happened, it happened.

I'm not disputing.

If your girl'd had the sense to lodge a complaint,

I'd have been willing to show that mongrel

what I think of a man who resorts to his fists

when his mouth would suffice. But she didn't.

Mrs Patterson never saw Rosie get on that bus.

Granted, but your problem is,

I have found another reliable witness

who did see Miss Cartwright get on the bus

and leave town for sure.

Miss Cassidy?

Doctor Cunningham at your service.

- Fancy a Devonshire? -I suppose so. What's that?

LAUGHS

Thank you.

Yes. She bought a postcard, a stamp for Great Britain.

She wrote it, gave it to me to post,

while she went for the bus.

Was there anybody with her, Mrs Pike? Any man?

Not that I saw.

But you definitely did see her board that bus?

And the bus set off with Rosie on it?

Not that it got very far, as I recall.

The day the big rain came. The first we'd had all year.

The day Jindalong Creek broke its banks.

I'm what you might call

one of Saint Finbar's success stories.

And there aren't too many of us, believe you me.

What kind of medicine are you in, Doctor Cunningham?

Well, I'm no quack. I'm a doctor of philosophy.

Excuse me, but you look a lot older than my brother.

He can't be any more than .

I never said I was in the same year as Daniel. No.

My mate Martin was.

I gave him a bell after I saw your advert.

He was in the footie team with your Daniel.

Wasn't it cricket?

A real all-rounder was Daniel Cassidy.

DRIVER: My bus would've been held up

till the emergency services cleared the road next morning.

What did you all do that night?

Some would've called home and gone back to town.

Some stayed at the roadhouse, which is what I did.

Proper dump.

I remember that smile.

Don't get too many English travellers.

That's Rosie Cartwright. Did she stay at the roadhouse?

Can't say for sure.

She never got back on my bus when I set off next day.

- JOE: Certain of that? - Yeah.

- That didn't bother you? - Well, why would it?

She had an open touring ticket, as I recall.

Besides, she wasn't the only one of the passengers

who dropped off.

I reckoned maybe someone must've given her

a ride back into Mooriloobah.

Now, I'm going to have to make up time, folks.

Be seeing yous.

So Mick still could've got hold of Rosie?

Yeah, I'd like to know where MacDonald was

when that bus was stopped.

Does your friend know where my brother is?

He's making enquiries.

He suggests that we might meet up later.

That'd be great, Doctor Cunningham.

We could come to your motel. Shall we say this afternoon?

- Yes, please. - What's your room number?

-. - Okeydokey.

Ah, no, that's not such a bright idea.

No, Martin's Holden is in for a service.

Easier to meet in town.

-Why not here? About two? - Of course.

Oh, no, no, doctor. I'll get this.

I do appreciate what you're doing for me.

My very great pleasure.

- Too-roo! - Bye.

Now, that's fine.

You'll send me over a copy

to Sergeant Flaherty, Mooriloobah police station.

This, erm, telex from your Sergeant Miller

says that Mick Macdonald

swears blind he drove straight up north

to a tobacco farm on the Tablelands.

Well, that was the foreman

at the plantation that took him on.

He's sending me the employment records.

Macdonald's story checks out. What did I tell you?

You're barking up the wrong gum tree.

Thank you, sergeant.

♪ Look at me

♪ I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree

♪ And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud

♪ I can't understand

♪ I get misty

♪ Just holding your hand

♪ Walk my way

♪ And a thousand violins begin to play

♪ For it might be the sound

♪ Of your hello

♪ That music I hear

♪ I get misty ♪

Maybe Flaherty has a point.

Maybe Rosie has gone AWOL in the outback.

"Who in their right mind

would want to go back to Pommie land?"

Mind you, I know what he means.

Jindalong Creek.

It's as dry as a bone now.

We know this was Rosie's last confirmed sighting.

So, a trip to the Roadhouse? See if anyone saw her there?

MUSIC: 'Ready, Steady, Go' by Reliable Source

HAMMERING

See you in a minute.

SONG: 'Shakin' All Over'

♪ Well, when you move in right up close to me ♪

Fill her up?

Wipe the blowies off the windshield?

It's a nice Falcon. Is it a hire car?

Up here on business? Sure you are.

Who comes to Jindalong for pleasure?

What are you doing here at this time of night?

I couldn't sleep.

I haven't had a decent night's sleep for weeks.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

When did you ever have a good feeling

about anything, Bernie? Just go to bed.

Getting wound up like this, it'll only make matters worse.

We're not going to see her again, you know.

Two burgers, please.

No, mate.

There's a sign just there.

Yeah, I can do you meat pies. They're cold, but...

I'm Joe Mason.

Jack Meredith. No secret.

Jack...

do you remember the day the river was flooded?

When the bus got stranded?

Why wouldn't I? Best business we've had for months.

Well, I'm looking for an English girl.

Did she stay here that night?

What's this got to do with you?

She's a friend of mine.

I never clapped eyes on her, mate.

Was there anyone else working here that day?

Des!

Did this girl stay here when the creek burst its banks?

-No, Dad. -Are you sure about that?

Would I forget serving breakfast

to a good-looking bird like that?

Would you mind if we saw your register?

What do you think this is, mate?

The Outback blessed Hilton?

JOE:Is that it, then?

I don't see what more we can do here.

I think we're going to have to cast our net wider.

I'll wager a tenner on Banana Bender

to win at starting price odds.

Play the game, Urquart.

There's five other runners.

What's so special about this Banana Bender?

Tried and tested, that's what.

Word to the wise.

After a glorious career, I grant you,

that horse is past it.

They're bringing it out here to give it a run

before they put it out in the long yard.

Advice from you is like a reverse barometer,

you old brown snake.

- Best make it . - Oh!

Hm.

Yes, sarge?

Banana Bender.

I consider this is not so much of a flutter

as a dead-cert investment.

on the nose.

I'll have you this time, Lou, and the whole town with me!

Anything to report?

Why am I not surprised? So you'll be leaving us?

There is one last thing you can do for us, sergeant.

I'd like to satisfy myself

there have been no reports of women missing in the area.

Nothing of the sort in the four years I've been here.

But what about before you came to Mooriloobah?

It would set my mind at rest

if you had a look through the records.

Stone the crows!

Anything to get yous out of my hair!

You could've given us fair warning.

This is the busiest time of the year.

All the rooms are booked for the Mooriloobah Picnic Race.

But I can put a cot up for your friend.

The question is, er, which room?

Carol!

Put it in Joe's room.

It looks like our jolly swagman's alibi

has checked out.

Best let him know he's off the hook.

No, not you.

Younger, I'm sure I can trust you

to deal with this professionally?

I must be a complete and utter idiot. I've been conned.

I've been robbed and I'm no nearer finding someone

who might or might not be my brother.

It's OK, Carol. You're with us now.

Hang on, Joe. We've still got work to do.

Sorry, I'm so busy thinking about my own problems,

I didn't even ask.

- Any news about Rosie? - JOE: No, not much.

All we've achieved is eliminating Macdonald

from the frame.

- This is police business! - I'm glad of that.

I could never really believe Mick was a bad one.

I wish you'd shared that insight before we came here.

What do you want with me this time?

I've come to inform you

that you've been eliminated from enquiries.

- Have you found Rosie? - No.

MICK SIGHS

Rosie told me you carried a torch for her, Younger.

But it was me she went off with.

If anything has happened to her,

I'll still hold you personally responsible.

I'm warning you, Macdonald.

You might not think it,

but when I'm out of this uniform,

I'm a man like any other, not just a copper.

KNOCK ON DOOR

We've got work to do, Joe.

I hope I'm not interrupting anything?

-Can I help? - No.

If I were you,

I'd take this opportunity to top up your tan.

Fine. I know when I'm surplus to requirements.

I might as well take a dip in the Pacific while I'm here.

Good idea. Watch out for sharks.

Don't ever say I haven't got your best interests at heart.

I might have come up with something for you after all.

Five years ago, a Mrs Adams made an enquiry

about a student who'd been staying with her,

a friend of her daughter Janet.

It seems this young lady left Mooriloobah for sure,

but never made it to her home in Freo.

Fremantle, Western Australia.

Near Perth?

Rosie was supposed to fly back from Perth.

A blonde like Rosie.

-Sarah Wagner. - Was she ever found?

-That I don't know. - And if she did go missing...

, miles between here and the Indian Ocean, mate.

That's right off my patch.

-Is Mrs Adams still around? - No. She's dead.

But her daughter still lives in the town.

She's a Janet Murray now.

She's married to a great fishing mate of mine.

His name's Trent.

He can fix anything electrical.

Can we go and see her?

No. Have some brekky. I'll give her a bell.

Get out!

Get out of the water! Get out!

Get out of the water!

Get out!

Get out of the water! Get out of the water!

Get out!

Argh! Argh!

OK, sister. Not too late.

What are you doing? Vinegar.

-It'll stop the swelling. - Now, this may hurt.

Argh! Ow!

My elders teach us that every living creature

was put on this earth for a purpose.

Never did find out the reason for the box jellyfish.

Jellyfish?

Almost too small to see, big enough to k*ll.

I'm so sorry.

I thought you were trying to att*ck me.

Yeah, well, beautiful blonde woman,

scary black fellow.

-Thank you so much. - You'll live.

I'm Carol from England.

I'm Nev,from here,

before this place was called Australia.

I've come halfway round the world

on a wild goose chase

and I can't even go for a dip!

Sure you can.

Just not in the Pacific Ocean this time of the year.

You're best to stick to the freshwater.

Then you'd best watch out for the crocodiles.

LAUGHTER

I tell you what,

there's a waterfall up near my mob's place.

Got my ute up there.

You want me to drive you out for a swim, sister?

Oh, erm...

Oh, OK, I understand.

Actually... yeah.

Why not?

Thanks.

♪ Let me wander north to the homestead

♪ Way out further on there to roam... ♪

You get many of these creatures around here?

More every year.

But this is the Big Daddy of them all!

The Cane Toad.

The perfect symbol of man's arrogance

in the face of Nature.

A few years from now,

these things'll be all over Australia.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

What is this evil stuff doing here?

This land was free before barbed wire!

By the way, you know anyone by the name of Carol Cassidy?

Thanks.

Ah!

Chops and eggs? Kitchen's closing.

DAWSON: Yeah, that sounds great.

What about your girlfriend, Joe? Any tucker?

- Girlfriend? - The... the blonde.

Carol?

The thing is,there was this weird, hippy-dippy bloke

with a pony tail, would you credit?

He was asking about her.

I haven't seen Carol since she went to the beach.

The beach? What's she doing there?

She went for a swim.

In jellyfish season?

Anyone who's not a total galah

knows there's no swimming allowed.