Red Dog: True Blue Page #4

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- This looks nice.

What's he doing here?

- I invited him.

- Why?

Because I wanted to.

You know, I asked Bill

what they did on the station

besides work.

He said all they did

was play ping-pong.

I get the boys movies

every other month.

And there's fishing

and swimming.

And Roebourne has other

socializing amenities.

Well, as I've said,

we've all gotten very good

at playing ping-pong.

As will you.

I'm already an excellent

player, thank you very much.

Is that a challenge?

It is.

- Thank you, Jimmy.

- Stemple sings.

Really? What do you sing?

Uh, rock'n'roll.

Bit of guitar too.

Well, you should

sing us something.

- Oh, later.

- Well, don't be shy.

Yeah. Please?

Uh... OK.

Sounds a bit different

with my guitar, but, um...

We skipped

the light fandango...

Blue only howls

when the kettle goes off

and it hurts his ears.

And when Stemple sings.

Isn't that hilarious?

Yeah, well, everyone's a critic.

Ever been to Paris?

- I have.

- What's it like?

They like cheese.

17-17.

- How about San Francisco?

- Nah.

- Don't you want to go?

- Why?

It's... it's where

it's happening.

It was 'happening'

in Saigon too.

Whoo!

You want me to grow my hair

long and become a hippy.

19-17.

- You'd like that, eh?

- Perhaps.

Ay, ay, ay,

ay, ay, ay, ay

Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay

My, ay, ay...

Eugh! Gross!

Yeah. Exactly.

Why would you even care?

She was so old.

Well... I had that

all worked out.

I know there's an age problem,

but it's just six years

between me and Betty

and six years between

Betty and Stemple.

So the way I'm figuring,

it's all sort of a wash.

I was engaged age 12.

Wow! How did that happen?

Family arranged it.

Do you think it's stupid?

All love's stupid,

mate. It's what love is.

Do you want to know a secret?

Me and Big John,

we're not brothers.

You're not?

No, we're close.

In fact, we're so close that

people think we're brothers,

so we let them.

You understand what I'm saying?

No.

She doesn't like me

or think of me that way.

And I don't mean the pregnant

way. That's disgusting.

But she thinks of Stemple

in that way.

The pregnant way.

What should I do?

You're gonna have to fight him.

You got a weapon?

No. Do you have one

I can borrow?

Nope.

What about that stone?

You know, Mukkine's stone.

You said that was a weapon.

- I could get that...

- That magic is not for you.

Not for some little love-drunk

wadjbala boy.

Hey, look at that!

Blue's clearly a republican!

And he breaks down

and he tells her

"The pub's got no beer"

So, it's a-lonesome away

from your kindred and all...

This is how it looked

in the old days, Michael.

When the camp was full.

People everywhere and...

hard work and sweat.

Good times.

Really good times.

Of a pub with no beer.

Why don't you go

and have a good time?

Go on.

It's getting near dawn

When lights close

their tired eyes

I'll soon be with you,

my love

I've been waiting so long

To be where I'm going

In the sunshine of your...

Mate, we need to talk.

Love...

What do you think you're doing?

What do you think you're doing?

I'm doing what I do, OK?

What men do.

Shouldn't you be off

playing with your Tonka toys

and your painted wagons?

Afraid of a little competition?

This isn't competition, mate.

You know the age difference

between me and Betty

is the same age difference

between Betty and you.

Jesus, you're as bloody crazy

as your mum!

Wh-what?

Just because your mum's in

a loony bin howling at the moon

means that everybody treats you

like a poor lost orphan.

- Take it back!

- Just telling the truth, mate.

What do you think you're doing?

- Fight!

- I'm not gonna fight you.

- Fight me!

- It's not happening, OK?

Fight me.

I lay a hand on you,

your dog's gonna bite me.

Stop staring at me!

Blue, I'm gonna fight Stemple.

Stay clear.

I want you to do nothing.

You hear?

But if I lose...

rip him apart.

This is stupid. You're stupid.

Your dog's stupid. The whole

bloody station is stupid!

Billy?

Oh, there you are!

You're missing all the...

I knew it was wrong.

But I was angry

and I didn't give a damn.

Come on!

Oh!

That night,

it sounded like all the spirits

of the Pilbara

had been let loose.

And in the morning,

when I woke up,

there's! been a death

at the station.

What happened?

Hit by lightning. Again.

It's a fact.

Lightning never strikes twice.

Well, she seems seriously

uninformed of that fact.

A very unlucky horse.

One I paid $2,648 for.

Nothing you can do

about unlucky, boss.

Ain't that right, Mick?

Come gather round,

people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

around you have grown

And accept it that soon

you'll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you

is worth saving

Then you'd better

start swimming

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times,

they are a-changin'.

I can't do it, Blue.

What's with the dog?

Oh... uh... toothache.

Uh, about the other day...

I didn't mean to impugn

on your mother's sanity.

The crazy one was me.

Betty, she...

she really got me stirred up.

We had a big old row and...

She wants me to be

a hippy in Sydney.

Play music on the corner

for coin.

But what I do is fly.

And I like this country.

It suits me.

With Betty leaving and all,

there's no point

for us mates to be spitting

at each other all the time.

Eh?

Wait... she's leaving? Why?

Mate, there's nothing for her

to do here employment-wise.

She teaches me.

Well, she can't much do that

if you're not gonna be here.

Oh, Mick! I'll miss you!

Men are dumb, mean

blocks of wood.

Whatever you do, promise me

you'll never become a man.

Grandpa.

Is it true?

Sit down, Michael.

I received a letter

from your mother.

She's in Melbourne now.

She wants you to come back.

You're going to be sent to

Victoria Grammar School.

Will I live with my mother?

Um... no, you'll board

at the school.

But... she'll see you

on weekends.

When would I leave?

In a week.

Blue can live

at the school with me.

No, that's... not allowed.

Is Mum's house near the school'?

He'll stay with her.

Your mother's not in a house.

She's in a... facility.

She can visit you at school,

but she's not allowed

to keep a dog.

I can do my school here. I'll

do it really well. I promise.

All boys your age leave

the stations for education.

And your mother...

my daughter... she's trying.

She wants to eventually...

make a home for you.

She... she wants

what's best for you.

She has no idea what's

best for me! She's crazy!

Michael Carter!

You'll do as you're told!

We all have our

responsibilities,

and yours is to your mother,

and you'll respect that

and you'll respect her.

Blue can stay here.

I'll take good care of him

and...

you'll see him when you visit.

He won't stay here without me.

Why do you say that?

Because I wouldn't stay here

without him.

This whole place

can just go to hell.

Come on, Blue.

You got a plan?

- We do.

- What be it?

We're gonna push to the

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