The Man from Snowy River Page #4

They're not going to be

any use to us.

What?

The men are drunk.

They won't be any use to us.

I want them ready to ride in 10 minutes.

Yes, sir.

Alright, up! I want all men.

Moss, you've got five minutes

to be dressed and outside!

Curly? Curly!

God save us.

Come on, old man. I need you.

It was him or me.

You better be careful

what you say in your sleep.

Jessica's gone and got herself lost.

I need a tracker and you're it.

Can't even see to find my boots.

Well, go without them!

Five minutes!

Whoa.

Boss, the men are exhausted...

and there's a storm coming up.

And my daughter's out there in it.

In a few minutes we're not going

to be able to see anything.

Then stay here and rot.

Kip?

JESSICA?

JESSICA?!

JESSICA?!

Yah!

Boss, there's no hope of finding

any tracks after all that rain.

We've got to keep looking.

Jessica!

Jess!

Jessica!

Jess!

HELP!

HELP ME!

Oh, help.

Jess!

So, that's it, eh?

No more working for the old...

..your father.

I never thought

I'd be sorry about that...

..but I am.

Why are you sorry?

I'll miss seeing you.

You won't miss seeing me,

'cause I'm not going back.

Come on Jess, you can't...

Listen!

When I was trapped on that cliff,

I was terrified,

but that passed and...

I started to see things very clearly.

All I wanted was to see you again.

To be with you.

Nothing else.

And so I hung on until you came.

Jess, I...

I have to take you back.

But I'm not going back.

They'll be worried sick about you.

I don't care.

There'll be men out looking for you,

risking their lives.

Anyhow, I've got to get the cattle down.

Haven't you been listening to me?

Yeah, it's just that...

..I have to finish this job.

I'll take you to Spur's place

and come back for the cattle.

I'm sorry.

It's just that,

everything seemed so clear to me.

I'm sorry.

It's so peaceful here.

It's like we're the only two people on earth.

You ready, then?

Oh, Jim.

It's...

It's beautiful.

But wait till that gets here.

It changes so suddenly, doesn't it?

One minute, it's like paradise and...

..the next, it's trying to kill you.

Yep. That's how it can be up here.

But, uh...

..if it was easy to get to know it,

there'd be...no challenge.

You've got to treat the mountains...

..like a high-spirited horse.

Never take them for granted.

It's the same with people too.

SPUR:
Gone.

Nothing.

No colour.

Jezebel!

OOOH...

Holy creature!

So, that's what you've been trying

to tell me all these years, huh?

That you're up HERE.

Spur?

Spur!

Damn.

What a strange place!

Who is this Spur?

I thought you knew him.

Why should I?

You wait here.

I'll check down at the creek.

Spur?

Hello?

He's not down there.

SPUR:
Jim!

Jim Craig!

Jim, my boy!

They said old Spur was mad...Ha!

Man! Ha! YA-HOO!

Are you alright?

I never felt better in my life!

I...

Matilda.

I found the gold.

I'm Jessica.

Jessica Harrison.

Oh, Jessica!

You've grown up.

Jess, this is Spur.

And, uh...

..he's your uncle, your father's brother.

One of life's injustices. You never

get to choose your own relatives.

Uncle?

Let this be a lesson to you, Jim.

I find a little gold

and suddenly, after all these years,

the relatives turn up.

Why do you keep

this portrait of my mother?

Uh...

The prettiest visitor I've ever had

and not even a cup of tea! Come on.

What are you trying to hide from me?

I'm not a child.

Hey, Jessica...

when you try to dig up the past.

Look Spur,

Jess has to get home,

and I have to go back for the cattle.

Can you take her down?

Sure. Sure.

You look after her for me, then.

Oh, I'll look after her...

..like you were my own daughter.

I won't be far behind you.

And don't touch his wallaby stew.

Why, you ungrateful tyke!

There'll be no wallaby tonight!

I'll kill the fatted calf.

Come to think of it,

I already have.

Yah!

It WAS silly, I suppose,

but I was so angry!

Then I couldn't think

of anything else but seeing Jim.

No harm done.

What's the sense of being young

if you can't be impulsive now and then?

Now, tablecloth.

No expense spared.

And you can read the news

while you're eating.

Aha!

They charge you three guineas extra

for the cobwebs down in the city.

Glasses?

On the shelf.

Oh. These must be quite valuable.

Matched pair.

They're both broken.

Jessica, take this plate,

and follow me to the cool room.

Now, for the pice de rsistance.

Ah, you raise beef!

Oh, well known for it.

Small, modest herd

made up of poor creatures

who've lost their way.

And, uh, `H' is for...?

Uh, `homeless'.

Thank god she's safe.

Where is she?

She's on her way home.

Why haven't I been told about Spur?

Well, was my mother unfaithful? Or...

Nonsense, girl.

Was she?

What did Spur tell you?

Nothing.

Aunt Rosemary, please.

About 20 years ago,

two brothers fell in love with

the prettiest girl in the district.

Oh, she was young and life

for Matilda was like childish games.

Well, both the men

wanted her hand in marriage,

but she couldn't choose between them.

So she decided the first one to make

his fortune would be her husband.

She hadn't the faintest idea

what chain of events

that would set in motion.

Well, one of the men scraped

all his savings together

and gambled in one bold throw -

a horse named Pardon in the Cup.

It won, at 50-to-1 . He was wealthy.

Father.

And Spur?

He went looking for gold.

My dear Mrs Bailey, tell me,

by what magic do you transform

this humble farmyard chicken

into such delicate ambrosia?

You do go on.

And you gave me my favourite piece too.

Oh?

A plump breast.

Unless it be...tenderloin.

Oooh! Mrs Bailey!

Ooh, you're a cruel woman!

Oh, I'm sorry.

Are you alright?

I knew the moment I walked in.

I said to myself, ``This...is a woman

to satisfy a man's...appetites.''

I didn't expect you for a while.

So I see.

How's Jessica?

She's fine.

Er...Spur was, er, just helping me

get her supper ready.

Oh, YOU'RE still here!

Well, you'd better not be

when your brother gets back.

Run away? I'm too old

to play the prodigal son.

Er, thank you, Mrs Bailey.

And come on, Jim.

After I see Jess.

Hey, I think we'd better be going.

We'll let the weather clear a bit.

I want to see her.

Hey!

Yes?

Forgive me?

You're back.

My thanks to you

for my daughter's safe return.

Kane speaks highly of you.

Says you'd make a good cattleman.

I've got a few ideas.

Well, maybe I can be

of some help to you.

It's time we had a talk.

You just rest, Jess.

Come.

When did you find Jessica?

Yesterday morning.

Morning.

Sit down.

You're very fond of my daughter, huh?

I love her.

Mmm. Love?

It's a goddamn strange sort of love.

Well, would you call it love?

Take a girl who'd been brought up

to this and put her in a bark hut? Hmm?

We'd make do.

Living on air? Watch her grow old

with hard work and child-bearing?

I'd look after her.

Mm-hm.

Anyway, why don't you ask her?

The decision is yours.

If you had a spark of man in you,

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