Oscar and Lucinda Page #4

for your farewells.

I am told the parish is called Never Never.

Our last chap was run out of town.

"Never, never come back," they told him.

Miss Leplastrier?

Is that the Miss Leplastrier

who has just returned from England?

- Have you met?

- Yes.

Then I am responsible for your exile.

Yes, and you have tried to hide it from me.

- I never thought...

- Hush! Do you hear me?

You're wrong, quite wrong. Please.

- It is wholly theological.

- You are not forced to go.

I have no choice.

I must go where I am sent.

- By God?

- Of course.

Or a man, the bishop?

Please. Do leave it alone.

What will happen to you

in a place where there is nothing...

But mud and taverns? There's no church.

- No church building.

- Stay.

Please.

We can have the works together.

And neither of us lonely.

No, I must go.

So you will preach what you

do not believe to men who do not care.

I shall preach what I do believe.

There's no virgin birth?

That Christ died for our sins...

That we might be redeemed

through his blood...

That we might sit

at the side of God in Heaven.

There is a part of you

that wishes to be sent away.

Quite a large part.

Who will I have to talk to?

Does the track bother you, Reverend?

A little, Mrs. Judd.

You grow accustomed to it...

In time.

And 3 shillings and three pence.

That's every penny, Hugh.

- We'll double it.

- All my capital.

We'll treble it. The system works.

It's foolproof.

- It's not been thus far.

- The boy has proven it. Have faith.

Please, Hugh, I can't keep up.

Mrs. Chadwick.

I cannot find Paraguay, Mrs. Chadwick.

Have you looked in the index, Alice?

Even her duties as a governess...

did not prevent twice-widowed

Miriam Chadwick...

from chasing after

another possible husband.

I am sorry we have no better a place

for service.

Why be sorry, Verger?

Wherever we're gathered,

isn't it true God is with us?

In a cathedral, or under a tree.

- As with our first settlers.

- Our Lord was born in a stable, Verger.

I have brought flowers for the altar.

Thank you.

Now Lucinda had lost her only friend...

she wrote to him almost daily.

"What do you think of a glass arcade

to cover George Street?

"Or a little pyramid of glass

for the circular quay?

"I do wish you were here to advise me.

"Are you homesick for Sydney?"

Heads.

The Reverend's flowers!

Whose dratted horse is that?

Stupid bloody animal.

No, Mr. Hasset did not ask to go north.

He was sent.

- I asked and was refused.

- The Bishop refused you?

Mr. Judd, what's going on?

The Rev. Hasset, is he...

A good friend?

He is a very dear friend.

Look.

- I'll tell you, sir!

- Mr. Judd, Mrs. Judd. Please come in.

You've been gambling.

We'll not have this. You can't deny it.

- I'm not denying it.

- She's slipping out.

- I meant no offense.

- She's putting on her hat.

- She is my guest.

- A pretty name for it.

- Mrs. Judd...

- I will not be stopped. He is a hypocrite.

We make him lovely vestments

he will not wear. It's true.

You think God wants to see you

looking like a crow?

- No, I wear what I believe.

- You dress like a scarecrow!

He dresses like a scarecrow,

he throws out our music and candles.

Here he is with cards and women

in the temple.

You are a rude woman.

And you are a rude man.

You imagine you are civilized...

But you are like savages

with toppers and tails.

You should pray God

to forgive you your rudeness.

You may leave.

The way you came.

Close it.

I am done for.

Surely not.

"When I told

the Ecclesiastical Commission...

"that I have never gambled for

personal gain, they would not believe me.

"They have cast me out.

"I am sorry to have caused you

so much anguish, dear Papa.

"I know that you will believe

that I am destined for eternal hellfire.

"It does seem

there is nothing for a man to do...

"once he has gained the reputation

that has been so unjustly given to me. "

Is Mr. Hopkins here?

No, he is not.

- Would you tell me where he has gone?

- No, I cannot.

I am only a savage.

Giddap, boy.

Mr. Hopkins?

Forgive me.

Stand, boy. Mrs. Smith, we have a visitor.

- Too tight?

- No.

That's one paw.

Now the other.

Them cuts, they was made by praying.

- Not fighting?

- Praying. Like this.

Mr. Hopkins?

Good morning!

Mr. Hopkins?

Mr. Hopkins, may I ask you something?

I am searching for work as a clerk.

I won't trouble you much longer.

No, what I wanted to ask

is why do you ignore me?

I know you have been through awful pain,

and I am sorry for it.

But now you hide in your room.

I never see you.

Or when I do, you will not look at me.

You barely speak to me.

I cannot gamble again.

I have not asked you to gamble.

No.

I am in constant fear,

every moment of the day...

That something we say or do

will start it all over again.

I admit, yes, in that case,

we do not have a good history.

I am weak. It is like opium to me.

For years, I gambled and took what

I needed and gave the rest to the poor.

I gambled for a purpose.

There was no sin in what I did.

But then when I had all my needs paid for,

I still could not stop...

Even when I promised God.

We shall make a pact.

We shall?

To never gamble again.

I promise I shall never invite you

to a game of cards...

Or any other form of gambling.

We shall keep it and be friends.

Yes.

- I am leaving. I cannot stay.

- What do you mean?

The gentleman, so-called...

I have been told who he is.

Your friends at church

have been talking to you.

- I cannot stay.

- Well, do not stay then.

It will give me a bad name.

People will think I was part of it.

Part of what?

Go!

Both sides, Mr. Hopkins.

Pipped at the post.

- Do you know what I wish?

- No. What do you wish?

I wish I had 10 sisters.

Ten?

Then maybe I could let people

be simple, good chaps.

As my father could.

I am too critical.

Is this your confession?

And you?

I wish...

I could walk on the path

between the high downs and the sea...

Where my father lives.

I do not fit, I know that.

You do not give a hoot

what people think of you.

My friend from home, Wardley-Fish...

Said it was of no matter.

He is right, your friend.

The idea that Lucinda loved Dennis Hasset

had taken hold...

and would not easily be knocked loose.

Cheers to Mr. Hopkins.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

It is a great pleasure to see our missus

take up with a gentleman such as you.

When our window-making is at full tilt,

just come along.

We'll be pleased to explain it to you.

Thank you, Arthur. I will.

I have never seen anything so splendid

as your glassworks.

You may approach. It is not sacred.

It is merely a prototype.

I thought perhaps an exhibition hall.

It is...

It is like a kennel for God's angels.

I am bowled over.

I feel extraordinarily happy.

It is so beautiful!

I have an idea.

Are you curious?

Yes, of course I am curious.

Oscar's idea was born out of Christianity.

That if you sacrifice yourself,

you will attain the object of your desires.

Yes, thank you.

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