My Brilliant Career

"Possum Gully, Australia, 1897.

"Dear Fellow Countrymen,

'Just a few lines to let you know...

"that this story is going

to be all about me.

"So, in answer to many requests,

"here is the story of my career.

"Here is the story...

"of my career.

"My...

"brilliant career.

"I... make...

"no apology...

"for being...

"egotistical,

"Because I am.

"I have always known...

"That I belonged...

"to...

"the world...

"of art...

Sybylla!

Get up there!

"And the world...

"Of...

"Literature and music,

Sybylla!

"And the world...

"of culture...

"and elegance.

Sybylla!

Go on, then. Take that

in the house for Mother.

Go on!

Get in the house!

Sybylla!

Secure the windows!

Sybylla!

Get out here!

I'm coming!

Sybylla, I want to have

a talk with you.

Talk away.

You're a young woman now,

and-

I have been thinking about this

a great deal.

We can't afford to keep you

any longer.

Do you think you could

earn your own living?

Of course.

And how would you do that?

I'd like to be a pianist.

Oh, Sybylla.

That takes years of practice.

You know we can't afford it. You've

thought of something already, haven't you?

I've arranged a position for you.

A position?

As a general servant.

Servant?

I won't.

We have no choice.

You just want to get rid of me.

I must do what I feel is right!

Oh, I prayed to God

for guidance.

And this is what

he told you to do?

God be damned!

It's a wonder God didn't

strike her dead at my feet.

Same as all your damned family.

Delusions of grandeur.

To have such a daughter-

useless, plain and godless.

What can I do?

I want to do great things, Gertie,

not be a servant.

I hate this life.

Should never have left

the mountains.

It's not Father's fault.

You can't blame him for the drought.

Gertie, don't you ever dream

there's more to life than this?

Don't you want to meet people

who talk about books and words...

and have visions?

Gertie, I can't settle

for a new dress,

a picnic now and then.

Living out in the bush for the rest of my life,

I might just as well be dead.

Don't say things like that.

Well, why doesn't Mother

understand?

Why doesn't anyone?

I think you're the nicest, cleverest girl

in the whole entire world.

I'm not.

I'm mad.

It'd be better if I didn't think at all.

It's no use for me.

I've no training, no money.

I haven't any time

to study or practice.

Just two states of existence-

work and sleep.

Sybylla!

Sybylla, why do you never answer

when I call?

I want you to fetch your father.

It's all right.

I'll do it.

Looking for your dad, are ya?

Just missed him.

Left with the schoolmaster.

Blind leading the blind!

As usual!

Come on.

Hup! Hup! Come on.

I've had a letter

from your grandmother.

You'd better read it!

Says she's sorry to hear you're such

a source of grief and annoyance...

and thinks you might be in danger

of forming ties beneath you here.

Oh, Syb, you're to go

to Gran at Caddagat!

Gertie!

Good day! Good day, Jack! How are ya?

Go on.

Good day, Bill!

Good day, Jack.

Had a good trip?

Fine, Bill, just fine.

Not a bad run at all.

I say, driver.

Yes, sir?

I believe Mrs. Bossier's granddaughter was

supposed to have been on the coach. Oh! That's me!

Thank you, Jack.

- Hello.

- Miss Melvyn?

Yes. Where's Uncle J.J.?

Um, he's away.

On business.

I'm Frank Hawden.

- What are you?

- Ajackaroo.

That's poetry.

Yes.

Thank you.

See you next week, then.

Bye.

Bye-bye, Jack!

Bye, missy.

Go on.

Bye!

You're a new chum,

aren't you? Certainly not.

I've been in the colony

well over three months. Oh.

Still wet behind the ears.

I was surprised back there...

at your being

Mrs. Bossier's granddaughter.

Really?

Yes.

I mean, you're not at all like them,

Mrs. Bossier or your aunt, Mrs. Bell.

They're so awfully

good-looking.

Indeed!

Yes.

But never mind. You seem like a

good sort. We'll have some fun.

Well, I'm glad I meet with

your approval, Mr. Hawden,

in even a small degree.

Caddagat!

Hello! We're here!

Sybylla!

Welcome, my dear!

Welcome!

Oh, Grandma.

Sybylla.

I remember this!

Oh!

For the gracious bounties

we are about to receive...

may the good Lord

make us truly thankful.

Amen.

Amen.

Take some more, dear.

Will this be sufficient for

you, Frank? Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Bossier.

Helen, have you seen any patterns

in the catalog you like?

Well, there were two, yes.

Yes, I bought two lovely ones for Sybylla.

That's a good idea.

What color, do you think?

Oh, sky blue.

Or pretty pink?

And what would you like,

Sybylla?

Lemon.

Thank you, dear.

But, Helen,

you look so beautiful.

Don't you recognize

your own mother?

This was her room

when she was young.

We'll see you in the morning.

Sleep well.

Good night.

Now...

what's all this about?

Mother-

Mother.

And I'm so ugly.

Nobody loves me.

Oh, Sybylla.

Stop all this

and into bed with you.

Come along.

I don't understand you,

Sybylla.

There's- There's any amount of love

and good in the world, you know.

But it doesn't just come to you.

You have to search for it.

Being misunderstood...

is a trial we must all bear.

You have a- a wildness of spirit which is

going to get you into trouble all your life.

So you must learn

to control it.

And try and cultivate

a little more feminine vanity.

Oh, I've given up.

Plain looks never stopped

anyone from being...

intelligent or witty or-

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