Walkabout

This film contains some strong language and scenes some viewers may find disturbing.

RADIO TUNES BETWEEN STATIONS

MAN: Faites vos jeux, messieurs, dames, s'il vous plait?

DIDGERIDOO BEGINS PLAYING

GIRLS PANT SOFTLY

PIANO NOTE STRIKES

GIRLS HUM PIANO NOTE

GIRLS CHANT: Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,

Oo-Oh, Oo-Oh,

B, B, B, B, B,

P, P, P, P, P,

A, E, I, O, U.

DIDGERIDOO AND CLAPPING STICKS

RADIO: 'The ortolan is the name given to the European singing bird.

'It's extremely rare.

'When fattened for eating,

'they are left in dark cardboard boxes

'and packets of grain are pressed to a hole in the box

'through which a light is shone.

'The bird picks desperately at the grain,

'hoping to penetrate through to the light

'which he mistakes for the sun.

'This goes on for several weeks.

'When it has eaten itself so full that it cannot stand or see,

'it is drowned in cognac.

'Gourmets regard it as an exceptional delicacy.

'You will find vinegar is an acceptable substitute for cognac...'

-BOY:

-Stay there. Don't move.

GIRL: Come on. Swim out.

Come on. Further.

-Go on.

-Help! Stop!

I'll swim back.

Come on, let's go up the deep end.

-Let's do laps. Come on!

-Oh, all right.

GIRL: Not far.

-BOY:

-Watch, Dad!

'..although there are a few available in tins in better shops.'

GIRL: Give me the radio.

RADIO: 'Learn to tell a fish knife from meat knife

'and fish fork from meat fork.

'If there's no fish knife and fork,

'use the smaller cutlery for fish.

'If you make a mistake...'

-This one's red.

-'..continue eating.

-'Don't put the silver back.'

-This one's yellow.

'Be nonchalant.

-'Place the napkin on the lap.'

-This one is...

Please, don't speak with your mouth full, Son.

'Fish will be served on your left side...'

-This one's green.

-'Take the serving fork...'

-This one's white.

-'..serving spoon in your right.'

There's another red one!

'Don't eat chicken with your fingers...'

SWITCHES OFF RADIO

ENGINE STARTS

You've stopped again.

-Come back!

-He's all right.

Don't go out of sight.

We'll eat now.

HUMS LIKE AN AEROPLANE

BOY IMITATES MACHINE GUN FIRE

BOY IMITATES BOMBS EXPLODING

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

-CONTINUES SHOUTING:

-Bang! Bang...

Bang! You're dead!

I'm hot!

The wheel's come off.

Dad, my wheel's come off.

The wheel's come off!

SWITCHES ON RADIO

SONG PLAYS ON RADIO

-Chicken or ham?

-Both!

AEROPLANE FLIES OVERHEAD

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

It's ready.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Quick, men, duck!

Bang! Bang!

GUNSHOT

BANG! Bang! Bang!

GUNSHOT

You're dead!

That's not fair!

He'll get away!

You're supposed to be on my side.

-FATHER:

-What are you doing?

Come on.

And bring him with you.

It's getting late.

I've got to go now.

GUNSHOT

Can't waste time.

-ANGRILY:

-Come out now!

WE have got go now!

I...have got to go now.

-SLURS:

-Can't...can't waste time.

-MURMURS:

-We can't waste...

-SHOUTS:

-Come out NOW!

GUNSHOT

RUMBLING

GUNSHOT

Stay.

-What happened?

-He said we're to go on ahead.

He said I mustn't go out of his sight.

He'll catch us up later.

Do you know where to go?

Yes, of course.

This way.

FLIES BUZZ

SONG PLAYS SOFTLY ON RADIO

It's getting dark, isn't it?

Pass me that.

Aren't you tired?

A bit.

Are we going to stay here all night?

-If you like.

-Yes, please!

But we didn't bring any blankets.

I don't think I'm really tired, yet.

-Where are you going?

-In the bushes!

HUMS QUIETLY TO HIMSELF

Lizard!

What are you looking at?

I'm looking for a light.

Why? There won't be anybody there.

It's time you went to sleep.

You've got to be up early in the morning.

I'm going to sleep here.

RADIO KEEPS PLAYING SOFTLY

Shall we take turns at being sentries?

-No.

-Aw!

ROCK'N'ROLL SONG ON RADIO

SWITCHES OFF RADIO

We haven't got any water, have we?

There's plenty of lemonade.

You can have some in the morning.

BIRD WARBLES

BIRDS WARBLE

Are you all right?

-What are you doing?

-Nothing.

Wasn't it nice last night?

-Did you like it?

-Yes.

I had a dream.

I know...you kept fidgetting.

CUTLERY CLATTERS DOWN THE ROCK

-You're dropping everything!

-What?

The amunition's falling out.

I tore my blazer.

It doesn't matter. Come on.

-You won't tell Dad, will you?

-No.

What's up here?

We can see where we are from the top.

-GRUMPILY:

-Well, where are we now?

We've just got to climb that one.

-But you said...

-Then we'll see where we are.

-But you said...

-Come. I'll race you.

Oh crikey, my legs ache!

There's the sea!

It's the sea!

-It is the sea, isn't it?

-Maybe.

What sea is it?

What's its name?

I don't really know.

RADIO: 'Beneath the granite and the salty crust

'is the mantle of iron magnesium.

'Then possibly a sulfide and oxide shell,

'an outer core of molten nickel iron...'

You must've lost it when we were going up the cliff

to find out where we were.

I told you it was all falling out.

-You sure it isn't in your satchel?

-Yes!

'Apart from the scientific explanation,

'the expectation that the world -

'that is that human society will some day come to an end...'

It isn't there.

I've made a hole!

Look!

Go on. Have a drink.

'..the planet in which he lives,

'but does not receive importance from it.'

Leave some for me.

'The idea that man has passed

'through 10,000 years of trial and suffering

'so there might be, finally, a perpetual succession of comfortable shopkeepers...'

-SWITCHES OFF RADIO:

-I was listening!

Mustn't waste the batteries.

Dad said they'd last for 400 hours.

-Are you hungry?

-Not yet.

-We ought to eat some salt.

-Why?

Uncle Ted said...when they were soldiers in the desert,

they always had to eat salt.

Doesn't taste salty.

ZOOMS LIKE AN AEROPLANE

What are you doing?

I mustn't step in those dips.

That means we won't get home by tonight.

I'm fed up.

No, you're not. Come on.

I'll tell you what we'll do.

You walk on all the ridges and I'll practise my voice lessons.

REPEATS: P, P, P, P, P...

IMITATES AN AEROPLANE

WIND BLOWS

GASPS SLOWLY: P, P...

HARSH WIND SWELLS

Do you want a drink?

No. I'm not sweating now.

Oh, come back!

I can't walk down there.

It isn't fair!

Oh, please, make him come.

I'm not coming back.

We've got to get on.

It's late.

I'm going now.

Please. Please try.

It can't be much further.

It's silly to give in now.

It's getting late.

We've got to go.

We can't waste time.

I'll carry you for a bit.

WHIMPERS: You're awake now.

HE CROAKS HOARSELY

If you're awake, you should try and walk.

MOANS

You should try and help me.

I'm tired too.

Look! What's that?

-What?

-That!

You said you were too tired to walk.

-WHISPERS:

-It tastes lovely.

LORIKEET TWITTERS

It's all right. The birds are eating it.

It tastes like meat.

RADIO: 'Today is Armistice Day.

'At 12 o'clock, there'll be a three-minute silence

'followed by a service of remembrance.

'Meanwhile, we rejoin Captain Steel and Dusty...counteragents,

'in another episode of "Enemy"!'

SHE HUMS: "The Skye Boat Song"

Does drinking give you a big red fat nose?

-Why?

-I was just wondering.

CAPTAIN STEEL: 'I've only been here once...'

Is that why Dad's nose is all freckly?

I don't know. DUSTY: 'Captain, ahead of you!'

I've got to play without any wings on my cap.

'The bridge is blown. Brake, Captain! Brake!

SCREECHING TYRES ON RADIO

EXPLOSION AS CAR CRASHES

Did our car crash?

You must look after your blazer.

It's got to last.

DUSTY: 'Yes, skipper. I'm OK!'

We don't want people thinking we're a couple of tramps.

What people?

Did Dad tear his clothes?

Perhaps that's why he sent us on.

And you've got a hole in your pocket.

When are we going there?

-Where?

-Back home.

In a few days. SWITCHES OFF RADIO

That's the trouble with all these series -

you always know the superhero's going to get away with it.

That's the trouble with Batman.

You always know who's going to win all the fights in the end.

That's the trouble with all these series.

Even Bugs Bunny... wins all the time.

If we were superheroes, we would definitely win.

Yes.

-Are we superheroes?

-I don't know.

-I hope so.

-So do I.

We're lost, aren't we?

No, of course not.

SHE HUMS: "The Skye Boat Song"

BIRDS SCREECH

SWARMS OF BIRDS SCREECH

Don't. You'll ruin your nice shoes.

What happened?

Birds ate it all.

But they couldn't have drunk all the water.

-Is there any in the bottle?

-No.

Why didn't you fill it up?

We should've picked some fruit.

Which way are we going today?

I hope we find lots of sand.

I don't like climbing up those hills much.

They make my legs ache.

I don't suppose it matters which way we go.

We'll stay here.

Perhaps the water will come back.

Where from?

BIRD SQUAWKS

You shouldn't walk about in the sun.

It's bad for you.

INSECTS BUZZ

Dad.

SPEAKS ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE

BUZZING

-I want a drink!

-Where are the others?

-He can't be alone.

-Quick! Stop him!

-He's going away!

-Oi!

We're English!

English!

Do you understand?

This is Australia, yes?

-Where is Adelaide?

-ASK HIM FOR WATER!

Water.

Drink.

We want water to drink.

You MUST understand. Anyone can understand that.

We want to drink.

I can't make it any simpler!

Water...to drink.

The waterhole has dried up.

Where do they keep the water?

WATER! Glug! Glug! Glug!

Look! Look!

CAWS

CRIES

CRIES

RADIO: 'For one set of values for "x"

is 4-3 (x-4) =

x-2 (4-x),

'write 24, 48 as binary numbers.'

-BOY CHANTS:

-Seven fours are 28,

eight fours are 32... I can multiply 84 by 84.

I did it yesterday.

'Divide 3,893 by...'

Brrrrrm! Brrrrrrm!

HE LAUGHS

SPEAKS ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE

'..by 3.5.

-'What is 0.5...?'

-This is one of my soldiers.

'..minus a third. Give your answer as a decimal.

'What is a...' HEY!

Put your shirt on.

-'Divide 37.3...'

-He hasn't got his shirt on.

-He hasn't got a shirt.

-He can have mine.

'..and 0.0383 by 0.25...'

It wouldn't fit him.

That's a soldier.

-Give him one.

-No!

Don't be mean. I expect he'd like to play.

He's never had any toys of his own.

He's got one.

HE SPEAKS ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE

'..One centimetre to ten miles or one inch to 20 miles...

'Peter left his home at midday

'and cycled towards his uncle's house 50 miles away.

'After one hour, travelling at ten miles an hour,

'he stopped for a drink which took him...'

HE LAUGHS

Give me a piggy back! Give me a piggy back!

HE SQUEALS

-SCREAMS:

-No! Put me down!

LAUGHS

I'm not coming down!

No, get down!

HE SHOUTS AND SQUEALS

Jump! Jump!

THEY LAUGH AND SHOUT

CHEERY MALE RADIO VOICE: '..Motor Mart is in Camperdown,

'next to the hospital!

'Want to sell a good, clean, low mileage car?

'Waldo's Motor Mart will give you cash.

'And now, back to Nightbeat.'

HE SPEAKS

Good night.

HE SPEAKS

I'll be all right in the morning.

They got a bit sore from...

Oh, dear...

HE SPEAKS GENTLY

-FATHER:

-..Go now!

-GUNSHOT

Come on now!

And bring HIM with you... with you...

GUNSHOTS

SCANNING DIFFERENT RADIO STATIONS

'Nothing can ever be created or destroyed.'

OPERA, LAUGHTER, CRASHING OCEAN WAVES ON RADIO

CHILD: 'It's my turn now. Give me a go!'

MAN: 'Every man and woman is a star...'

'..like a telescope...

'..a faint...'

VOICES MERGE AND FADE

BIRD CAWS SHRILLY

BOY MAKES FEEBLE NOISES

HE COUGHS

HE WHIMPERS

I told you to keep your clothes on.

HE SPEAKS BOY GROANS

What?

No.

I'll show you how to do karate!

There's a pool down there.

"So the boy said, 'I ought to be getting home.'

"He lived with his mother in a house on top of the hill.

"She'd never spoken to him. He'd never heard her say a word.

"He thought she was dumb and she was blind, too.

"But every evening, he saw her sitting in the window

"and she was talking!

"When she heard his key in the lock, she stopped.

"When he got inside, she wouldn't say a word.

"One evening, he made up his mind to hear what she was saying.

-"He put the ladder..."

-No. He went round the back.

"Oh, yes! He got the ladder and he set it..."

He carried it.

"Carried it to the front and set it against the window."

You didn't explain she was upstairs.

-I did!

-You didn't. You left it out.

Well, anyway...

I don't know why you're telling all this. He can't understand.

He doesn't know what a ladder is.

I expect we're the first white people he's seen.

"It was very, very long and heavy. He only just got it in position.

"He climbed the ladder and got on the window sill.

"But he couldn't hear a word

"and she was only a few feet away behind the window.

"Her blind eyes stared straight at him.

"Her mouth was opening and shutting."

"But he couldn't hear

"because she was speaking silently to herself.

"He put his ear to the glass but still couldn't hear.

"So, he decided to climb down.

"The window sill was very narrow

"and when he turned he knocked the ladder down!"

SPEAKS

"So he was stuck...he couldn't jump down because it was too far

"and he couldn't shout to his mother

"because she'd know he'd been spying on her.

"So he just sat there.

"It got dark

"and as there wasn't much room on the sill his legs got very stiff.

"When people passed, he couldn't shout for help

"because his mother would hear.

"There was a drain pipe going down the wall.

"The boy thought, 'If I reach across to that, I can climb down.'

"So, he reached across but slipped off the window sill!

"And fell down and broke his neck."

I told you. He doesn't understand.

KOOKABURRAS LAUGH IN DISTANCE

"Well, his mother went on sitting there and talking to herself.

"She started worrying because he was late

"and his dinner would get spoilt, so she said..."

No, she didn't say anything.

-She got up...

-That's right!

..and groped her way downstairs.

There's another aeroplane!

Do you think he understood when I drew this house?

That doesn't look like a house.

You can't draw.

That looks like a diplodocus walking in space

or a pterodactyl flying under the sea.

I think he might take us to the moon.

I wish we had a proper pencil.

HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE

Why did you say we were the first white people he'd ever seen?

I thought you had lots of crayons and pencils in your satchel.

Please have a look.

I think he's going to take us to Mars!

MEN SPEAK IN ITALIAN

We won't find it. Once them balloons get loose, they're away.

Perhaps.

-You won't find that.

-Says you.

Look from time to time, please.

They're expensive and I don't like to waste expensive things.

Sure, sure.

Well, I'd better get back to me mud pies.

I'll be off, then.

MEN SPEAK ITALIAN

-You all right for smokes, Ella?

-What?

-On me.

-Oh...no, no, no.

-Go on!

-Then I'll owe you three packets.

Don't worry about it.

I'm trying to give it up.

Hey! Hey, stop it!

Hey!

Hey, stop it!

They're so expensive.

THUNDER CRASHES

SWITCHES ON RADIO

MAN SPEAKS RUSSIAN

LAUGHTER

MUSIC PLAYS

SONG ON RADIO: # Los Angeles...

# Los Angeles By morning it is so fine

# Especially in the early morning sunshine

# There you'll be in front of me

# So I'll catch up Turn to see you look my way

# And smile and walk awhile... #

SHE LAUGHS: Put me down.

-# ..Los Angeles is fine

-Los Angeles is fine...

# Especially in the early morning sun... #

GIRL LAUGHS

How's it going, boy?

I said, "How's things?" ..You got ear trouble?

HE RESPONDS

Suit yourself.

HUM OF BACKGROUND CHATTER

Go on! Quicker! Move it!

CHILD CRIES

Get that bloody dingo out of here! That's your last warning!

Here, paint your titties with that!

Lovely!

Be careful! Those are valuable.

Knock off for about ten minutes. But no sneaking off!

-'Who shut the door?'

-'The kids.'

-'The window's open.'

'I'm home.'

Hey! Look what I found.

Over here! Come on!

That must be a weather balloon.

This black one's bigger and it's ticking.

I wonder where it came from.

Probably someone's listening to it.

-Will it hurt me?

-No, of course not.

How long will it take?

Ask him how long it will be before we get anywhere?

BANG!

Ask him how long!

Go on.

TICKING

We'll be there today!

HE SPEAKS

HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE

HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE

Hey! There's lots of water out there!

It's coming up out of the ground.

That's a spring.

HE SPEAKS BOY REPLIES

HE REPLIES

-He wants me to fetch some wood.

-All right.

SHE WEEPS QUIETLY

What are you doing?

Nothing.

MAN ON RADIO: '..We know now that that is, is.'

SHE TRIES TO SPEAK ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE

Water?

Water.

Water?

Yes. Water.

DONKEYS BRAY

HE GIVES ORDERS

Sorry. That's all I could find.

I didn't...know where...

HE HURRIES BOY

Where are we going?

It's a road!

It's a real road!

Where does it go?

You're making me drop my sticks!

-I like these.

-HE SPEAKS

All right.

GALLOPING HOOVES

TRUCK ENGINE

GUNSHOTS BLAST

Hello.

LONG ECHOING CHANT ACCOMPANIED BY STICKS

DIDGERIDOO PLAYS

DOOR CREAKS

Didn't I get a lot? There's lots more there.

Didn't I get a lot?

Where have you been?

Picking these.

He showed me where to get them. Didn't I get a lot?

They're my favourites. Remember?

-Where are you going?

-Out.

No, stay here.

Here. I've got lots of them.

Why won't he speak?

What's he dancing for?

I don't know.

Perhaps he's pleased.

-Why?

-Because we got here at last.

MUSIC ON RADIO

Where are you going now?

Aren't you hungry now?

Please leave him alone.

You haven't cooked the meat yet.

RADIO CUTS OUT

-The radio's gone.

-Oh.

The battery's gone.

No. Dad said they last for 400 hours.

How long is that?

Longer than we've been walking, I'll bet.

Leave it. We won't need it much longer.

Put it down and go to sleep.

I want to start early in the morning.

I think he wants to stay here.

-Why should he?

-It's nice.

I think he wants to stay here for a while.

There's lots of those growing.

Anyway, I've already decided something.

We're going on our own tomorrow.

Why?

-That's best.

-No!

Suppose he wanted to do something or something happened?

Suppose he...tried to...

-Suppose he went off and left us.

-No, he won't.

He likes being with us.

Won't go.

You must have dropped it.

Will he dance all night?

It's all right. He won't keep you awake.

Can we go on the road?

What road?

Out there. We found a road.

Didn't he tell you?

What sort of road?

A real road?

Yes. Is that where we're going tomorrow?

Yes.

I knew we were getting somewhere.

BIRDS TWITTER

..not there.

He's not there.

He's not there.

-I went to sleep.

-He's gone.

Oh.

Where's he gone?

-He's gone home.

-Why?

Well, there was no reason for him to stay.

He just wanted to bring us to the road.

We must be near a town.

So he's gone back to his family.

Oh! Ooh! It's lovely and warm.

He didn't say goodbye to us.

Yes, he did - the dance.

It's their way of saying goodbye to people they love.

It'll be lovely to have a warm bath with clean towels.

And eat with real plates and knives and forks.

And have proper sheets.

And records.

And clean my teeth properly.

And wear all my own clothes.

I'm glad I washed your things.

We want to look nice when they find us.

Did you keep that button?

We must be near somewhere if there's a road.

I wanted to give him my penknife.

He's dead.

How?

I tried to give him my penknife but he wouldn't take it.

That doesn't mean that he's dead.

BLOWFLIES BUZZ

He won't take it.

Shall I see if the road's still there?

No. Of course it's there.

Did you eat your breakfast properly?

Yes.

You should always sit down when you eat.

You shouldn't wander about.

Are you ready then?

There you are.

What are you thinking?

Shall we sit down for a bit?

Stop sulking.

Where's the radio?

You forgot it.

So what? It didn't work.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: 'It's time now for Hospital Requests.

'You're listening to the first network at the ABC,

'Radio 2BL Sydney, 2FC Newcastle.

'The time is half past eight.'

JOLLY TUNE PLAYS

-Look!

-I know.

Will Dad be there?

-No.

-Ow!

Is he dead too?

I'm not sure.

Did he shoot himself?

It was an accident.

No, it wasn't.

-I don't know.

-Look!

-Did it hurt?

-Not much.

Why did he?

I suppose he thought he was doing the best thing.

That's silly.

I said I don't know, didn't I?

All right?

-You ready?

-Yes.

What's the name of that town?

I don't know.

Morning.

Wait here.

Hello? Ah, excuse me.

Hello?

SHE KNOCKS Hello?

I say, hello?

Hello?

Yes?

I'm sorry to trouble you. We're lost.

We've had an accident - in the desert.

-Would you mind if...?

-Put that down.

-Put that down!

-Please...

Put it down! Put that down!

-I have!

-This is all private property.

All this is private. I'm an employee of the company.

-They own all this and the mine.

-What's a company?

You touch their cans and you'll soon find out.

-Where's the mine?

-It's shut.

Oh? What was in it?

Nothing. That's why they shut it.

-Do people come through here?

-We get tourists.

-When will they...?

I don't know. They never send me cards.

-How often do they usually...?

-I don't know!

You'll have to wait.

-You'll find it down the road.

-What?

Where you stay.

Don't touch anything.

Would you like to see the rest of the town?

We shan't have to wait long. Someone'll come soon.

Can we see the mine?

Yes, if you like.

-Can I go and play?

-Yes.

Don't go far.

Be careful.

I'll be all right.

KICKS CAN

-What's there?

-Nothing.

-Hey!

-Yes?

-Watch!

-What?

Watch!

-Are you watching?

-SHE GIGGLES: Yes.

Well?

CRASHING

What shall we do now?

I know. Let's...!

CLANKING

TRAFFIC ROARS

ELEVATOR PINGS

Hello.

Well, they've made a decision.

I get Graham's job when he leaves Friday, Ian takes over mine

and Robbie and Alan go to Accounts

which means Doug Mayall looks like being out of a job...

Still, I don't expect that we'll...

What?

Nothing.

Course with all this changing around,

there's bound to be good news as far as salary's concerned.

Darl', in two years, we'll be holidaying on the Gold Coast...

MAN RECITES: "Into my heart an air that kills

"From yon far country blows:

"What are those blue remembered hills,

"What spires, what farms are those?

"That is the land of lost content,

"I see it shining plain,

"The happy highways where I went

"And cannot come again."