Storm Boy

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(BIRD SQUAWKING)

You can throw that

in the rubbish.

What is it?

Radio.

We don't want it, son.

(WOOD CREAKING)

(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

Why don't we

keep the radio, Dad?

Could have some music,

couldn't we?

(STARTING ENGINE)

(ENGINE RUNNING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(BIRD SQUAWKS)

(BIRD SQUAWKS)

(SQUAWKING CONTINUES)

(GASPING)

What are you doing here, boy?

You pinching something?

Know what happens

when little fella tell lies?

Spirit man come at night

And take him away!

Sit down!

And do some talking.

(CACKLING)

(SQUAWKING)

Got a gun.

A big one, Dad.

Might start killing things.

Can you find the place again?

- (ENGINE RUNNING)

- He's a big fellow, Dad.

People aren't allowed

to live on the reserve.

Come up now, Dad.

(ENGINE TURNS OFF)

TOM:
Sure this is the spot?

MIKE:
That's where

he had the boat.

Under that tree.

Where is it now?

Where's the fire?

Was over there.

It was!

That's where he grabbed me!

Honest, Dad.

Where you going?

Just outside.

TOM:
Come here.

It's time we had a talk, son.

I want you to grow up honest.

Now, lying's about as low

as a man can get.

It's the coward's way

of getting what he's after.

You've gotta learn

you can't have

everything you want.

The radio will tell you,

you need this and that

and a thousand other things.

You want more and more,

so you'll end up chasing

a lot of rubbish.

You got to trust me, son.

Why do we live here?

Because it's the best place

there is.

- (GUNSHOT)

- (BIRDS SQUAWKING)

(DISTANT GUNSHOT)

- (LOUD GUNSHOT)

- (BIRDS CAWING)

(GUNSHOT)

(DISTANT GUNSHOTS)

(GUNSHOTS)

(SCREAMS)

Watch where you're shooting,

there's people out here!

Hey, who's that?

Are you coming out or

do I have to come in

and get you?

Well, come on,

let's get out of here, eh?

(GUNSHOT)

You coming, boy?

See if they hit something.

- Morning!

- Morning.

What have you got today?

Cockles and mullet.

Could you spare us

a couple of mullet?

(SIGHS)

Ah, good.

- How much do

you want for them?

-(TOM GRUNTS)

- Oh, you can pay

me on the way back.

-(MAN CHUCKLES)

What's your name?

Storm Boy.

You run like a black fella!

(MIMICS WHOOSHING)

Like the wind.

I am Fingerbone Bill.

You live here

with your people?

Just my dad. Mama's dead.

Lonely place.

I don't mind.

(DOG BARKING)

(CHICKS COOING)

FINGERBONE:
Got a big fright.

All that shooting going on.

Think the old ones

will find them?

Big blow coming up tonight.

You kill pelican,

The sky comes up with a storm.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(WIND HOWLING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

TOM:
Come on, there's more.

Dad?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(CHICKS COOING)

(TOM SIGHS)

You gone out of your mind?

What are they doing here?

Come on, what's the story?

There was two men

shooting pelicans.

I thought I told you

to keep away from shooters.

Well, go on.

They shot the old ones, Dad.

Plenty of other birds there

to feed them.

- They'd have died!

- TOM:
All rubbish.

They would!

- Do you know

how much they eat?

- I'll catch fish for them.

- TOM:
Couldn't catch

enough for pelicans.

- Yes, I can.

TOM:
Anyway, you wouldn't know

how to feed them.

Yeah, I do.

Fingerbone showed me.

Who?

Fingerbone.

TOM:
Well,

who on earth is that?

You better tell me, son.

That man I saw yesterday.

Is he still around, is he?

Well, you can't

leave them there.

Put them in a box.

(CAWING)

Long time ago,

All the men were animals.

First Kurnai man

Was a pelican.

He came long way,

Long, long way,

from the hills.

Carry a bark canoe

On his head.

And, he goes and he goes

and he goes and he goes

and he goes.

Hear tut-tut-tut,

sound like knocking.

Looks here,

Looks there.

Where's the tut-tut

coming from?

Comes to a river,

Put down the canoe.

What's inside?

A musk duck.

Musk duck sit there,

goes tut-tut-tut

all the time.

Pelican happy,

Marries duck,

Start Kurnai people.

(SINGING IN LOCAL LANGUAGE)

(FINGERBONE GROWLS)

(MOTORBOAT APPROACHING)

- Morning, Tom.

- Frank.

Er, Tom, meet Miss Walker,

the new teacher at Goolwa

Primary School.

This is Tom Kingsley,

Miss Walker.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

FRANK:
Shall we go inside?

Yeah.

(CHICKS QUACKING)

Well, you must be Mike.

FRANK:
What

have you got there?

TOM:
Three chick pelicans.

Besides, the parents

were killed by shooters,

on the reserve.

FRANK:
When?

You'll have a job

on your hands,

to bring them up.

How old are they, Mike?

They're three weeks, I'd say.

This one looks a bit smaller.

- He was sick.

- Is he better now?

Have they got names?

Tell me.

This is Mr. Proud, Mr. Ponder,

And he's Mr. Percival.

Well, I best be going.

Oh, could I have a word

with you, before you go,

please, Mr. Kingsley?

What about?

Your son's education.

(SIGHS)

WALKER:
I believe

the former teacher

came to see you

About six months ago

about correspondence lessons.

That's right.

And, you haven't done anything

about them, have you?

Not yet.

Every child has a right

to an education.

- How old is he?

- TOM:
Ten.

Can he read and write,

add, subtract?

I have a new application

form here.

Mike's a bright kid, Tom.

He deserves a chance.

He's learning

all he needs to know.

(SQUAWKING)

Sit down.

I got present for you.

Still a bit wet.

Good, eh?

You like it?

Where did you find it?

Washed up.

(PELICANS CRY OUT)

Can you read?

No, but I'm going

to have lessons.

You got good brains,

Storm Boy.

You learn something.

Did you ever go to school,

Fingerbone?

Mission school.

Can you tell what it says?

Erm, that fellow

have to fight.

He gets beaten.

Can you read that?

That's a...

P.

And what's this?

That's a M.

And that?

What is it?

What's it make all together?

June, 1743...

Was large...

Battle in which...

King of England

fought in...

Person.

The French lost

6,000 men.

The English, about

3,000.

(WHISPERS) Fingerbone...

Look.

Wait.

(LATCHES PIN)

(GASPS)

He's dead, all right.

Why is he still moving?

Spirit.

(PELICAN CALLING)

That's it.

The birds are going

back tomorrow.

About time they did.

(ENGINE RUNNING)

(FLOCK CHIRPING IN DISTANCE)

(BIRDS SQUAWKING)

(SQUAWKING CONTINUES)

Mr. Proud! (ECHOING)

Mr. Ponder! (ECHOING)

Mr. Percival! (ECHOING)

They'll be all right,

Storm Boy.

Pelican proper number one

special bird.

(CHUCKLES)

He's got good brains.

Like you.

Mike?

Mike!

Mike!

Come on, have your dinner.

There's no use fretting, son.

Didn't know you'd be

upset that much.

Anyway, wild things

should be free.

(PELICAN CALLING)

He's come back,

dad, he's come back!

Mr. Percival's come back!

(GIGGLES)

- (MIKE LAUGHING)

- (MR. PERCIVAL CALLING)

(MR. PERCIVAL CALLS)

This is where

Mr. Percival went, see?

What's that, Storm Boy?

- It's a pelican sister.

- Right.

(CALLING)

(GIGGLING)

(GIGGLING)

(SQUAWKING)

Oh, you're clever,

Mr. Percival, you're terrific.

Dad!

Want to see

what Mr. Percival can do?

(CHUCKLES)

I learned him, see?

Taught.

Taught him.

Reckon he could

help you fish.

He'll bring back anything.

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