A Cry in the Dark Page #5

Michael, what's accounted

for your strength?

The Lord Jesus Christ is

a very dear friend of ours, our saviour.

The peace of God has kept us from

being very foolish in our own lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have

something here that you may like to see.

This is a picture of Azaria

as she really was,

to prove to the world that she,

as you see, was the most beautiful baby.

Look what these poor prawns are doing

now. Anything to get their heads on TV.

Oh, yes. He's the top in his field.

Professor Cameron.

Yes. London.

And he's very keen to examine

the jump suit in particular.

Apparently I need permission from

the minister to take it out of the country.

Oh, no. I'm going anyway,

so there's no cost involved.

I'd like to welcome,

as the new semester begins,

all the new students and their families

who've come to live

and study with us at Avondale.

I mention one family in particular.

That of Pastor Michael and Lindy

Chamberlain, for the fine example they set

when the world harshly

judged them and their church.

Lindy, Michael, you've become

household names in the past six months.

- How's that affected your lives?

- We're managing.

Things are starting to settle down.

The boys are in their new school.

Michael's started his MA course.

That'll take about a year.

Then we're off to America

for his doctorate.

That would be a doctorate in theology?

- Give us a break!

- A doctorate in health science.

So we'll have to call you

Dr Chamberlain, Michael.

I don't know about that, but...

I suppose so, but we're just

a couple of ordinary Australians.

- What are your plans, Lindy?

- I've got a new house to get organised.

And I'm also starting

my Bachelor of Education.

Rumours still persist

about that tragic night at Ayers Rock.

We ignore them.

The court put that straight.

These are the product of sick minds.

We seem to have our fair share of those,

in places that you wouldn't

really expect to find them, too.

So, it's full steam ahead for the future?

- We hope so.

- You bet.

I'll ask the questions. I'll do the noddies

in-between. Is the tie straight?

Lindy, Michael, you've become

household names in the last six months.

How's this affected your lives?

Righto, let's run through it again.

Team two is going to Melbourne, to

the Whittackers, team three to the Habys.

Team four flies to Western Australia,

Esperance, to the Wests.

Team five to Hobart to the Lowes.

It's essential that everybody be ready

to make contact with our targets at 0800.

No slip-ups.

I want these witnesses hit cold.

I don't want one lot ringing another lot

before we can question them.

- Michael?

- Hi, Helen. Lindy!

I've gotta go shopping.

Can I dump this brute on you?

Anything to get out of mowing.

- Hello, Murray.

- You be a good boy.

Let's go goo at the chooks, shall we?

What are you looking for, sweetheart?

Nothing.

Are you sure?

Can I help you look for it?

What is it? Hey.

Did the dingo take

our new bubby too, Mummy?

What? Murray?

- Hi.

- Hi.

We need to see Murray, Auntie Helen.

I've just put him down for the night.

We need to see if he's OK.

Oh!

See, darling? There he is.

Back safe and sound

with his own mummy and daddy.

Lindy!

I'm in here.

These are for you, love.

Well, it's the 17th...

and I thought a gesture was in order

to mark the anniversary

of our unfortunate...

It took hours to find them.

She was so beautiful...

and I wanted something

beautiful for you...

in her memory.

I get so angry and frustrated, you know?

Because...

I hardly even knew her.

I hardly even took any notice of her.

I hardly knew Azaria.

Did you hear the one

about the Irish dingo?

It ate the tent!

OK. We got about 90 seconds,

so just make it right.

Let's go.

OK, control, this is units one and two.

We're on the move. Out.

- Can I help you?

- Mrs West?

Mrs Lowe?

Is this the Whittackers'?

G'day, Aidan. Your mum and dad home?

Uh, yeah. Come in and I'll get them.

Right, thanks.

G'day. How are you?

Get you out of the bath, did we?

- What can we do for you?

- A warrant was issued yesterday

to search your premises

for certain property.

- Can I see that?

- What's this in connection with?

There's fresh information.

Forensic evidence.

What sort of evidence?

All I can tell you is the chief minister's

ordered a new investigation.

- Feel free to get dressed.

- Do you realise today's our Sabbath?

Excuse me. I expect the cupboards

to be put back the way they were.

How long will you have

our things this time?

- Rest assured compensation's available.

- What about the damage last time?

- Boys, don't ruin Mummy's oven.

- We received no compensation last time.

Can you tell me why things that weren't

even at Ayers Rock are going?

I don't give a f***

about a freeway accident.

I've got a tip that the Chamberlain case

has been reopened. I want that chopper.

- I dunno. There's some new evidence.

- What new evidence?

The coppers won't tell you everything.

Hey, Jim. Have a look at this.

''Heber's wife took a nail of the tent

and took a hammer in her hand,

and went softly unto him

and smote the nail into his temples.''

Is this the green tent?

No, that's a brown and orange tent.

The green tent's under here.

- Sarge, got this?

- Yeah, we'll take that.

There's another one up there.

Do you want this?

- Is the car available, Mr Chamberlain?

- It's being fixed at the lake.

I'll take you there myself.

You'd never find it.

Jesus Christ!

What's this?

Oh, yes. That's for public-health lectures.

To scare smokers, you know?

Why have you still got it?

Christ knows how

they fitted all this in one car.

Is this your camera bag?

Yeah, but it's not the one

I had at the Rock.

I'll get it for you.

Michael. The switchboard's jammed with

calls from the press. What's happening?

It seems they've reopened the inquiries...

How come the press know so soon?

- I don't talk to the press.

- This is shocking for all of us.

New evidence has come to hand on

the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain.

Police will review all evidence

and investigations will begin anew.

Sir, does this mean

you're anticipating a second inquest?

No comment.

My mate in Darwin knows the sister of the

brother-in-Iaw of the copper on this case.

They reckon she's covering up for her kid.

That's why they can't break her.

Would you like to trot that past me again?

I understand they found a white baby

coffin in the house, with a Bible passage...

- For goodness' sake, give it a bloody rest.

- Let me tell you what it was about.

I've never asked you this before,

but did you kill your baby?

If I answered,

I'd be giving you an interview,

and my lawyer has advised me

not speak to you alone.

I'd deny the conversation ever took place.

Come on, it's just between you and me.

- Did you kill your baby?

- Oh, come on!

If I'd done it, why invent such

an unbelievable story about a dingo?

Don't sell yourself short.

You're crediting me

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes