I know you wanted to put me up for adoption. I saw the papers.
I know you wanted to put me up Saw your signature.
I don't know what papers Saw your signature.
I don't know what papers you've seen, but you're wrong.
It can take a lifetime to figure out the difference between
good intentions and doing what's right.
Well, when Mum died, they said I died too.
That's why Sister Kerry had to stand on the chair.
Traces of blood were found in the living room.
Traces of blood were found That's where she hit her head.
Someone drowned her in the bath.
There's been a break in.
Some of the native admission files are gone.
They're in there. They're real stories.
All of them. They're in there. They're real stories.
All of them.
You're just like the rest of them.
Hopefully you'll drink yourself to death.
Gary's always been jealous about how close Sam and I are. Hopefully you'll drink yourself to death.
Gary's always been jealous about how close Sam and I are.
We grew up together.
There's a handful of people have got this town in a chokehold.
So if you want to be the big hero, I suggest you start there.
So if you want to be the big hero, Cowboy was shot from somewhere I suggest you start there. around the field near the car park.
Cowboy was shot from somewhere around the field near the car park.
Cowboy was shot from somewhere You'd have to be a champion shooter.
Hey, brother.
Got your stuff back from Hey, brother.
Got your stuff back from the hospital.
Get that thing away from me. Chuck it away.
(GASPS)
I was gonna name him Leroy.
I thought the police would take care of him,
make sure he wasn't another forgotten kid.
(FORBODING MUSIC PLAYS)
(CHILD BREATHES HEAVILY)
(WHIMPERS)
(FORBODING MUSIC CONTINUES)
(EERIE CHANTING)
(FORBODING MUSIC FADES)
(BIRDSONG)
(SPIRITUAL CHANTING)
(SPIRITUAL CHANTS BECOME UPLIFTING)
(SPIRITUAL CHANTING AND SONG BUILD TO CRESCENDO)
WOMAN: There's a time and a place for this.
So just stay away.
I had to check up on the children.
(SPIRITUAL CHANTING CONTINUES)
(SPIRITUAL CHANTING AND SONG ENDS)
It's a sorry place now.
Just wait here.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYS)
Swayze.
(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)
Where's my brother?
He might have gone up to town to grab something to eat.
Can we wait for him?
I got somewhere you can stay.
I'll go find Swayze. I'll bring him there.
You'll be alright.
I'll give you a room you can sleep in.
Still not talking.
You'll rot before Banksia coughs up any legal aid, mate.
We know you killed cowboy Sam. We just don't know why.
The other night at the pub,
when Joey was dragging The other night at the pub,
when Joey was dragging that cross through town...
..you said someone might punish him.
Who might that have been?
Come on, Jake, can we get on with it?
Someone else is involved.
Someone Sam's covering for.
You said yourself he had nothing against Joey.
He wouldn't have cut those hoses.
There's no way he killed Sister Kerry.
He had an alibi.
He was at the farm with the kids, He had an alibi.
He was at the farm with the kids, watching a movie.
He was at the farm with the kids, Exactly. She died of old age.
I've got a witness who said he heard a car pull up,
just on dark at Sister Kerry's.
You've got a witness?
A witness?
Someone else got to Swayze when Sam couldn't.
Someone else got to Swayze What are you talking about?
Swayze was at Cowboys.
How'd he get to Cowboys? I don't know.
He was there to be with his sister.
Point is, he's not there anymore. Someone's taken him.
Point is, he's not there anymore. And it couldn't have been Sam.
This is bullshit.
Jay, what else are you keeping This is bullshit.
Jay, what else are you keeping from me?
Well, I could have sketched it out on the whiteboard for you,
but you seem more focused on fishing.
Fuck you.
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
You know, something's been bugging me.
Why you thought it was a good idea to access the files
Why you thought it was in the locked ward?
Um, like I said. in the locked ward?
Um, like I said. It was for Joey.
He just wanted to know about his next of kin.
So in your wisdom, you just pass on confidential information,
just like that?
Well, Joey's got the right to know about his mother, doesn't he?
Oh, so you're the authority around here now, are you?
You realise what your bleeding heart of a conscience has done?
You realise what your bleeding heart This fuss, this robbery?
It's a shitstorm and that's on you.
Yeah, he's an arsehole.
(QUIETLY) Where the hell did you get to?
I had my work. I had to see a client.
I had my work. I need you to focus.
I am, Gary. Are you?
All you had to do was get the files back from the police.
I tried, Gary, I tried.
Jesus Christ, you don't get I tried, Gary, I tried.
Jesus Christ, you don't get what's at stake, do you?
I refuse to be judged for doing the right thing.
It's not just that. You know what this town's like.
Are you going to tell me where you're going?
Hospital.
I want to talk to Gary Lloyd.
What's that?
Swayze had it.
He was a bit creeped out by it. Swayze had it.
He was a bit creeped out by it. Didn't want to be anywhere near it.
Same as Sister Kerry's prayer cards at the hospital.
Got the same symbol on it.
Yeah, it was from Got the same symbol on it.
Yeah, it was from St Joseph's school.
Yeah, it was from Swayze say where he got it?
He wouldn't tell me.
Gary around?
Cancelled his patients for the rest of the day.
Don't know where he's gone. Don't care.
Can you tell me if this is his signature?
Can you tell me Uh...
Uh, yeah. That's Gary's signature.
Show me.
There. Jay Lloyd.
Well, if there's nothing else.
I got it all wrong.
I've got to go. Hey.
Where are you going?
There's something I've got to do.
Any news on Anya?
Nothing we can't handle.
You've got to believe me, bub.
I loved your mother. I wanted to marry her.
But things were different back then. No one wanted us to be together.
I told Catherine,
everything would be different once you were born, we'd be a family.
But...
..she just left.
No goodbye.
Nothing.
You ever wonder why Mum took off?
What she was running from?
Yeah, well, I know you think it's because I wanted to put you up
Yeah, well, I know you think for adoption. That's bullshit. I...
I told you that before. It's bullshit.
But if you still believe it, then...
..I can't do much about it, can I?
I promise you.
I've never seen that before.
Never.
Come take a closer look.
I was wrong about your signature.
It wasn't yours.
It...
It's Gary's signature.
Yeah. Your brother wanted to put me up for adoption.
Susan knew about it.
She lied to my face.
(SHOUTS) Fuck!
(BIRD CAWS LOUDLY)
You're safe now.
Your spirit won't be alone.
As I've already said, Susan had no business
As I've already said, reporting those files as stolen.
You know, there's no need for an investigation.
No one was hurt.
You've got no reason to hang on to No one was hurt.
You've got no reason to hang on to the files.
You've got no reason to hang on to Yeah, yeah. Calm down, Gary.
We'll let you know when there's no need
for any more investigations, alright? It's fine.
You seem pretty concerned about those files.
You seem pretty concerned about Well, they belong to the hospital.
They contain Well, they belong to the hospital.
They contain confidential information.
They contain They need to be in a safe place.
A police station's a safe place.
Yeah, but...
Or maybe you'd rather see them burn in a fire.
Sorry, what did you say?
I took a look at the records.
Every file from the 1960s onwards
has a cross for a mother's signature...
..right next to yours.
Are you gonna stand there and tell me every one of
those mothers was illiterate?
Wait, you insult me with...
I don't know what you...
You think this is some child abduction conspiracy
You think this is some from the Dark Ages?
Well, good luck proving that one.
All those children were put up for adoption
because their mothers didn't have the maternal skills to care for them.
Don't you get caught up in this bullshit, Simmo.
Remember when you came here? You were broken.
The whole world was against you. I put you back together.
I showed you how the town works. How we've got each other's backs.
You'd still be broken if it wasn't for me.
Gary. Hey, Gary.
Gary! You can't be in here.
Mate, what are you doing?
Hey, stop that! Where's the key?
I want this open so I can access my files.
No! Come here.
They are part of an ongoing investigation.
So until we're satisfied,
get behind the other side of the counter
or I'll put you in a fucking cell. Simmo, what is this bullshit?
Don't you let your conscience get in the way here.
Gary, there's an ongoing arson investigation,
Gary, there's an ongoing and when it's completed,
the files will be sent back to the hospital. But until then...
..until then, you need to get out of here.
That's a big mistake.
You'll be sorry.
Both of you.
(DOOR SLAMS)
Joey.
Grab some water bottles, canned food, blankets.
Grab some water bottles, canned food, When's Sam coming back?
Don't worry about Sam, When's Sam coming back?
Don't worry about Sam, just grab your stuff.
You can't stay here no more.
You have to come with me. I'll make you safe.
Where's Sam's gun?
I didn't see that coming.
What's that?
You siding with me over Gary.
(CHUCKLES) You siding with me over Gary.
(CHUCKLES) What was all that about?
Yeah.
Who would have thought I needed your help? Hey?
But, um...
..truth is...
..I do need your help.
Find Swayze.
If Swayze had this hat...
..he might know something about the kid it belonged to.
So this kid here...
..Donny Moyle, ten years old. My first case.
..Donny Moyle, ten years old. He went missing from the farm.
Never found no body, no nothing.
It was like Never found no body, no nothing.
It was like he completely disappeared.
The Randalls, the old couple who ran the farm,
they weren't worried that he'd gone missing.
No one seemed to be worried. I couldn't get my head around it.
No one seemed to be worried. It was like they didn't give a shit.
They just said that kids like this took off from the farm
They just said that kids like this or St Joseph's all the time.
They just went on walkabout.
Where have I heard that before?
I did everything I could to find that kid.
Everything.
I asked for more resources.
Bosses just said let it go, waste of time,
not a good look for the Catholic Church.
not a good look But I couldn't let it go,
so to shut me up, the bosses offered me a bribe.
Think what you want about me, Jay, but a bribe...
..not happening.
No fucking way.
Somebody knew what had happened to Donny.
But nothing I could do. Case was closed.
And I got stuck here to rot for the rest of my life.
That other kid, Sam.
That Sam.
OK. Thursday, 27th of April, year 2000.
Sergeant Paula Simmons and Detective Jay Swan interviewing Sam Anderson.
Sam, why were you so desperate to find Swayze?
To keep him safe.
Keep him safe from who?
Who's taken Swayze, Sam?
Maybe you could answer this.
Who's the girl here Maybe you could answer this.
Who's the girl here in the photo with you and Donny?
That's Susan.
Randalls adopted her when she was six, seven.
Susan knew Donny? Yeah.
Last one to see him - running down the road.
Is that Susan?
What was her photo doing in a native adoptions file?
This town and all around here,
there's been bad shit going on forever, and it's still going on.
You've just got to open your eyes and know where to look.
I told Swayze don't go looking for trouble.
I told Swayze don't go looking What did he find?
You need to get out to the farm and get those kids.
And get Swayze.
Swayze ran away from the farm. Why would he go back?
Maybe he didn't have a choice.
(WHIMPERS)
Susan?
The DJ rang and said he couldn't pick up Anya.
Was that the note you wrote? Where was it?
In Susan's office.
She was the reason that Anya was left In Susan's office.
She was the reason that Anya was left that day.
She was the reason that Anya was left She wanted her to be taken.
She practically runs this town. I mean, she knows everyone.
Caseworkers, teachers.
She probably told the school to write the report.
She probably told the school I don't think so, Mary.
She told me she heard I don't think so, Mary.
She told me she heard Philip got some girl knocked up.
She told me she heard That girl was my mum...with me.
And Susan knew all about it.
(RAISED VOICES AND COMMOTION)
You took my daughter from me. You took my life from me.
You took my daughter from me. Listen! You have to believe me.
I didn't have anything to do Listen! You have to believe me.
I didn't have anything to do with wanting Mary adopted out.
I didn't have anything to do That was all Catherine.
You're a liar.
My mother came from that world.
There is no way she would condemn me to it.
To what you did to the other mothers.
To what you did to To their children.
It was never going to work out.
I was doing what was best for you, for Mary.
Unmarried black mothers with babies become despondent.
They don't have the skills.
If you want to blame anyone, blame the mothers.
You fucking narcissist.
How many families You fucking narcissist.
How many families have you torn apart, hey? Hey?
What do you think was going to happen to you and Catherine, eh?
No. I saved you from a life of grief.
Yeah?
Gary! Gary!
Get away from my dad.
Argh! Get away from my dad.
Argh! Are you OK?
I'm sorry. Phillip, I'm sorry. Get away, you snake!
Deep breath, deep breath, deep breath.
Oh!
(GASPS)
(GROANS)
Oh, bub!
Oh, God.
WOMAN: (BANGING) Joey, open the door!
Joey!
(URGENT BANGING ON DOOR)
Jay!
Jay.
It's Joey. He's got the kids.
(BANGING INSIDE BOOT)
Who's in the boot?
Susan!
(GUNSHOT)
(FROM WITHIN BOOT) Help!
Let me out!
Help me!
Swayze.
Hey, hey! Come here.
You alright? Hey!
You're alright, buddy. Just breathe.
He's in there.
That boy Donny.
I found him at the dam.
I woke him up.
He was gonna get me.
No one's going to get you, Swayze.
Just wait here, alright?
(SUSTAINED GROANS)
Get out!
Please, Mary, let me help.
Stay the fuck away from me! (GROANS)
You stay away from my daughter!
Alright, Mary, just breathe.
Just breathe. You're alright. You're alright. Just breathe.
(BREATHLESSLY) Where's Jay?
Yeah, I'll get him. I'll get him. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I'll get him. I'll get him. (GROANS)
Alright, bub.
(SOBS) You're alright, bub.
Oh!
I'm gonna need you to stay close to me, alright?
Can you walk? Yeah.
OK.
(GUN CLICKS) Come on.
Swayze, wait here.
You OK?
Where's Joey?
Took off out back, went after Susan.
Alright, you mob. Everyone on the couch now. Go.
OK, listen, you mob.
When I go outside, you lock the door behind me.
You don't open it for anyone else until I come back. You got it?
This still haunts you, doesn't it?
I shot Cowboy because he knew too much.
If you take me out to the farm...
..I'll tell you what happened to Donny.
(GROANING) Come in.
I rang the station, no one picked up. I'm going to head over there, OK?
Find him and bring him now.
Yep, yep I will.
You're OK. Deep breaths. You're alright.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
WOMAN: What do you want, Joey?
I want it to end.
I thought it was over when the home closed down, but it wasn't.
Put the gun down, Joey, and we can talk.
Sister Kerry told me everything she did.
All the children she took.
All the lies.
She even told me what you and Gary were still doing at the hospital.
She even told me what you and Gary With the welfare at the farm.
I'm sorry for what Sister Kerry did to you,
I'm sorry for what Sister Kerry but she was from another time.
I didn't take the children. I rescued them.
You're wrong. It's still the same.
Tell me, Joey.
What's wrong with still wanting Tell me, Joey.
What's wrong with still wanting children to have a better life?
What's wrong with still wanting It's the lies. That's what's wrong.
Like my mum.
Like the others in the home.
Like Tony.
Just numbers buried in the ground.
Forgotten.
No one to tell their story.
No one to cry for them.
All the forests, the land, the rivers.
They're all dying because the voices of the children
They're all dying because the voices were taken from them.
(TWIG SNAPS)
What's that? Who's there?
Get rid of your rifle.
I can't do that, Joey!
Get back up there! Get up!
You need to stay up there until you tell the truth.
You tell too many lies, Susan.
(PROLONGED GROANS)
You're doing so good, Mary, OK?
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
On the next contraction, I need you to use your breath to push, OK?
Where's Jay?
I need Jay.
He's coming. He's coming. He'll be...
He's coming. He's coming. He'll be here. OK, deep breaths.
Where are you, little brother?
I'll tell you what, you love bringing trouble.
Sister Kerry taught you how to lie, didn't she?
What are you talking about?
Swayze told me what he found.
Donny.
Donny's hat.
Buried down there in the dam.
All those years ago, someone put him in there.
Poor little fella.
Donny ran away.
Everyone knows that, Donny ran away.
Everyone knows that, even the police.
Everyone knows that, Because that's what you told them.
You're confused. You're upset.
You're a liar.
There was weeping in the forest when he left.
And all the trees that night had no rest.
You're rambling, Joey. You need help.
Joey's not the one who needs help, Susan.
It's over. It's done. There's no way out.
We should have come clean when Sister Kerry said
We should have come clean she was going to talk.
He doesn't know what she was going to talk.
He doesn't know what he's talking about.
You made Donny stand on that tree stump for the longest time.
You made Donny stand on that He was frightened.
He wasn't going to say anything.
It was an accident.
I only wanted to scare him.
Sister Kerry knew about Donny.
That's why you drowned her.
That's a lie.
You killed Sister Kerry?
Joey.
Joey, put the weapon down.
You don't need to do this.
No, she has to say it all.
She has to tell the truth. That's the punishment.
You stay up there until you tell the truth.
If anybody found out, we would have got a flogging, sent away.
If anybody found out, we would have Donny saw you two together.
(DONNY BREATHES HEAVILY) There he is. Let's get him.
Stop running!
It wasn't my fault. Sister Kerry knew that.
That's why she helped.
That's why you helped to bury him.
You needed me to stay quiet, to cover up for who you are.
Were you ashamed? They said you didn't look black.
They said you could have a better life
if you said you were white and you believed them.
Sister Kerry, Gary, the Randalls, they all made me better.
Yes, I take them away.
I rip them away, like I was ripped away.
It was for my own good. It's for their own good.
It was for my own good. No.
No, no.
That can't happen no more.
Joey, no! No!
Put it down! Shoot him! Just shoot him!
Shut up! Shut up!
He's not right in the head. Just shoot him!
He's not right in the head. Don't make me do this, Joey!
Joey! Put the weapon down! Joey!
Joey, just put the gun down and walk away.
Everywhere you walk on this land...
..a child was born.
I'm sorry. Joey, no!
I'm sorry. (GUNSHOT)
Joey. Hey, hey, hey.
Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, stay with me, mate.
Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
No. No, no, no, no, no.
Simmo!
Joey. Joey!
Joey!
(GROANS IN AGONY)
That's it, Mary, well done.
(LOUD, PROLONGED GROANS)
MIDWIFE: Big push.
Ready, push, push.
(LOUD, PROLONGED GROANS)
(JOYFUL LAUGHTER)
(BABY CRIES)
I've let them all down.
Everybody who gave me a chance, who helped me.
You murdered a woman who wanted you to face the truth.
The Randalls, Gary.
Those people didn't help you.
They just tore you into little pieces.
(DISTANT SIRENS APPROACH)
(PHONE RINGS)
(SNIFFLES)
Is it true?
Where's Susan?
She's on her way to Banksia.
They don't really care about missing blackfellas but...
..you throw 'em a murderer and they come skipping.
I tried.
It was only a question of time.
I haven't forgotten about what you did.
The lives you destroyed.
I'm coming back for you.
My little brother.
You alright?
Jay?
Shh, shh, shh. It's OK. It's OK. I got you.
Shh, shh, shh. It's OK. It's OK. (CHUCKLES HAPPILY)
(BABY GRIZZLES)
You're giving up on me already?
Never, Jay Swan.
Oh, baby.
Oh, oh, oh.
It's OK.
Come here.
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
WOMAN: Wait there.
# Well, how could she have fallen for a heartless man?
# It's only sorrow that I've known
# Couldn't be the homely man
# He's in my veins to roam
# Well, maybe I am like my old man
# He's in my mirror more and more
# Well, maybe I am like that old man
# I'm turning into someone that I've never known
# Time goes on
# And by these days
# But it don't seem right always
# Yeah, I'd go through the door # But it don't seem right always
# Yeah, I'd go through the door before I put her through more
# Yeah, I'd go through the door # The one I'll adore always
# Please don't live for no heartless man
# Oh, you can't save every soul
# I couldn't be the homely man
# It's in my veins to go
# Maybe I am like my old man
# He's in my mirror more and more
# Maybe I am like that old man
# Turning into someone that I've never known
# Time goes on and by these days
# But it don't seem right always
# Well, I'll go through the door # But it don't seem right always
# Well, I'll go through the door before I put her through more
# Well, I'll go through the door # The one I'll adore always
# Well, I'll go through the door before I put her through more
# Well, I'll go through the door # The one I'll adore always
# Well, time goes on and by these days
# Well, time goes on # But it don't seem right always. #
Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation