On Location with 'The Sundowners' Page #3

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I say we keep moving.

That way, we've got an excuse

for not having a home.

I'm sick of other people's sympathy.

And that's what we always get

if we stay too long near any one town.

We're taking those sheep to Cawndilla,

no matter what.

And Mr. Venneker and his horses

are going with us.

I'm sorry, Carmody.

I didn't mean to precipitate that.

- Right-o, we'll take you.

- Yes.

And your horses.

That's 1200 sheep. Deliver them

to Cawndilla in six weeks...

...the bloke at the other end

will pay you a shilling a head.

- Goodbye. Good luck.

- Thank you.

Do me a favor, will you?

If you're gonna be a drover,

look like a drover.

Get rid of that silly, flaming hat.

Let me tell you about this silly,

flaming hat, my good man.

And don't call me that.

I'm not your good man.

- What do you prefer? Boss?

- Wouldn't be a bad idea.

This cap belonged to a ship's master

in the China trade.

Oh, what happened to him?

Nothing happened to him. He's just

not gonna call you boss, that's all.

Got a passenger for you. Here.

Good. Thanks, Dad.

Rupe, why do you talk to your horses?

Don't you know it's very rude

to listen to other people's conversations?

Sorry.

I never thought of horses as people.

Let's hope you never have to.

Are you a real duke?

Shut up, boy.

Dad told me you'd been

a ship's captain in China.

Oh, yes. I had occasion to tell him that.

What's China like?

Very full.

Just as Australia's very empty.

Why did you leave?

My stomach.

I was a notoriously bad sailor.

Dad said you must've been a better

sailor than you are a horseman.

What the devil's he talking about?

I was cashiered from the 17th Lancers...

...before he knew one end of a horse

from the other.

Not that he does now.

What does "cashiered" mean?

A kind of promotion,

from the army into civilian life.

- Oh, congratulations.

- Thank you.

Go to sleep now.

- I'd love to go to China.

- What about the farm?

I want that more than anything.

Want a bit of everything, like me.

- Because you're young.

- But you're not, though.

I'm younger than I seem to you.

I've never really grown up, you see.

And you've never had time.

That's why we're out here instead of

in a comfortable tent, like your parents.

- Rupe...

- No more questions.

You're still growing upwards.

I'm only growing sideways now.

Apart from that,

we have a great deal in common.

Come on, Sam. Giddap, there.

Come on, giddap.

Hey, Dad, look, a dingo.

- Where?

- Over there, Mum.

Just like a dingo.

Too big a coward to come out

in the open and have a go.

He'll catch a couple of sheep tonight

and kill them just for the fun of it.

Not if I get him first, he won't.

Get him, Dad!

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