The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years Page #11

Id known how bad things are.

-How long since you've had rain?

-Why didn't you come back sooner?

I phoned the hospital. You

were discharged last week.

I was expecting you then.

Where did you go?

I went to Melbourne.

Went to see Frank.

Look, Mom, we all know

he's in for murder.

But he's my brother,

and I wanted to see him.

How is he?

He's very sick. It's pneumonia.

It's bad news, Mom. The

thing is, he might not live.

Looks like rain in those clouds.

We haven't had rain here

for two years. We need rain.

Somebody should've told me.

I am his mother. I

have a right to know.

Almost everyone I

love is buried here.

Dane isn't dead, Meggie.

A terrible thing has happened,

but it's not the end of the world.

You'll still see Dane.

You're still his mother.

And in a few years, the

court order will expire...

and then you can have

him with you again.

But you can't stop living until then.

You have to go on and make the best of it.

You can't know what it means

to a mother to lose a son.

Look at Mom.

She went on living.

She didn't give up just because

her son Frank went to jail...

and she won't now.

Even if Dane were dead...

even if some terrible

accident had happened...

you'd grieve, but

you don't stop living.

Is that what you told

the mothers in Rome...

who lost their sons fighting?

Did you tell them to be happy

because their sons are with God?

At some point in the

war, I lost my faith.

In all that suffering, I

couldn't see God's purpose.

I couldn't understand how he

could let such evil happen.

I began to doubt.

My superiors sent me here

to work for the refugees.

But in the end...

I had to see you.

-I thought perhaps you might

still love me. -Perhaps?

I thought perhaps you

might still want me.

You might want to

make a life with me.

-You never told me this.

-You were going back to Luke.

-You were going to have his child.

-Do you think that mattered to me?

Do you think I wasn't longing

to hear you say those words?

Perhaps, if you'd told me...

none of this would've happened.

Perhaps, if you'd been honest, Id

have told Luke to leave long before.

Perhaps, if you hadn't lied to

me, I would still have my son.

-I didn't lie to you.

-You didn't tell me the truth.

Meggie, my list of

sins is long enough.

Besides, I had nothing to offer you.

You don't think love is enough?

Ten years, Meggie. How could

I be sure you still loved me?

How could you not be?

All my life Ive loved you.

Sometimes I hated God

because he took you from me...

but always my love

for you was stronger.

Suddenly, Im not so sure.

So are you going to

tell me what's wrong?

Why won't you let me see Mom?

You gotta get used to

this situation, Dane...

and I don't want her upsetting you.

-But she's my mom.

-And Im your dad.

And you'll do as I

say. Now come down.

All right. You can stay up there all

night, if that's what you bloody well want.

But there's a storm coming, so

if you don't want to get wet...

and if you're hungry, and if you

want to sleep in a comfortable bed...

you'll come down. Otherwise,

Ill give your tucker to the dog.

Blue.

Come here.

I got a nice big piece

of steak for you tonight.

Yeah, Dane's piece. Come on.

My dearest Frank.

It's the rain we need,

but it's going to be bad.

There could be some

flooding. Where's Justine?

-She's in her room.

-You better get her down.

-We'll need all the help we can get.

-Ill fetch her.

-Seen Mom?

-She's with Mrs. Smith, isn't she?

Justine, open the door.

-What for?

-I want to talk to you.

Your mother isn't here.

So, you're gonna spend

the whole day up here...

moping about how unhappy you

are, and what a mess your life is.

That's my business.

There are a few other things that

are your business first, young lady.

-You can ride, can't you?

-Yes.

Then get changed into your

riding clothes and put this on.

What if I don't want to?

Justine, you're a country girl...

and your family runs this

station. It's been good to you.

It's given you security

and a safe future.

When you're old enough

to go out on your own...

you can do whatever you want,

but right now Drogheda needs you.

Why?

As you well know,

there's a storm coming...

and half the hands are useless...

and animals are going to die

unless you get off your fat behind.

It's not fat.

Maybe not, but it sure is

lazy. And we need your help.

Are you going to help us, Justine?

Not for your mother or for me...

but for yourself and Drogheda.

lf you put it like

that, how can I refuse?

You would make a good

actress, you know.

You sure had me fooled.

Young Billy!

-Boys! You got them horses ready?

-Yes.

Right, we've got to get everything

up to the top paddock. Let's go!

There's a strong filly!

Move it!

Get on! Move on!

Move!

Get in there!

It's so very beautiful.

God in all his glory.

I thought you didn't

believe in God anymore.

We'll never make it

back to Drogheda now.

There's a boundary rider's shack

on One Tree Hill. We'll go there.

What about the others?

They'll be back at

Drogheda by now. Come on.

-Dane, hold that gate!

-Ive got it, Dad.

-Go on, get up there.

-Come on, Blue, get around back!

-Get up there! Move your behinds!

-Come on, Blue!

Get around back. Come on, boy!

-That all, Dad?

-No, I can't find that blasted ram.

-And that bugger cost me a fortune.

-Can't be too far away.

You get your horse. Come on. Giddap!

Blue, get behind!

Sorry if it's a bit rough and ready,

but it's only used in emergencies.

At least we won't starve.

It's safe and dry, anyway.

-Ill see if I can get a fire going.

-Here's your dinner.

-It's Bully Beef.

-Gourmet treats.

You know, I lied to

you the other day.

Ive never stopped

loving you. I never could.

It's just Im so confused.

I don't understand

what you want from me.

I don't know what I want myself...

except...

Giddap!

Blue, come on!

Dane! It's a waste of

time. It's nearly dark.

We won't be able to see.

Over there! Told you!

Dane, be careful!

Dane! Giddap!

Dad!

Dane!

Dane!

Go on.

Dad! Help!

My leg! Over here!

-Dad, over here!

-Hold on, Son! Hold on!

-My leg! Over here!

-Hold on.

-Hold on.

-Dad, help.

-Dad, my leg hurts.

-Wait there. Hang on.

Okay. All right. You'll be fine.

Here, drink this.

The sugar's 'cause you've had a

bit of a shock, and the whiskey...

well, why not?

What about the ram?

Ill go back in a tick. He's in

the bushes. He's not going anywhere.

It's broken.

It's not that bad, it's a clean break,

but it's going to have to be set.

-Now, you trust me?

-Yeah.

Good man.

Now, it's going to hurt.

All right.

So have another swig of this...

and you can say a prayer if you like.

Ive never done this on a

person before, only a dog.

You ready?

-Morning.

-Morning.

Stay there. You get breakfast in bed.

It's baked beans and Bully Beef, Im

afraid. That's the best I could do.

Smells marvelous. Im starving.

-Last night was wonderful.

-Yes, it was.

We got lots to do.

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