(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.
Reckon he could carry
a line out to you,
no worries.
Is that a fact?
I'll come fishing
with you, Dad.
No, you won't,
late as it is.
But I can help you,
I know how.
(CALLING)
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
(MR. PERCIVAL CALLING)
(TAPPING)
(MR. PERCIVAL CALLING)
Mr. Percival?
(VEHICLE APPROACHING)
RACERS: Yee-haw!
(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(SHOUTING CONTINUES)
- (GUNSHOT)
- (BULB SHATTERING)
MAN: Let's go!
Mr. Percival?
FINGERBONE: Storm Boy,
Storm Boy!
You all right?
- Proper devil, drink too much.
- (MR. PERCIVAL CALLING)
TOM: What's going on?
- You Fingerbone, eh?
- Yeah!
TOM: I saw them
heading this way, but I was
Too far out.
MIKE: He scared him
good and proper.
The name is Tom.
Hide-Away Tom?
Yeah.
Thanks.
FINGERBONE: Good boy,
your son.
You lucky man.
Yeah.
Do you like him?
Well, he seems all right.
He's my friend.
You've been seeing a lot
of him, have you?
- Where?
- In the reserve.
Let's have a look
at the damage.
(HAMMERING)
- Tom.
- Frank.
Looks like you had
some trouble?
What gives you that idea?
I caught up those blokes
near the south lagoon.
You'll be lying a complaint,
willful damage?
Now, what's the use,
won't fix all this, will it?
I say you shot at them.
What if I did?
Well, there's a law against
guns in the Coorong.
When's is it gonna be
one against lunatics
and buggers?
After they've
ruined the Coorong
And they've churned up
every blade of grass?
Yeah, you could have
killed someone!
Yeah, so could have they!
Your job to keep them out.
Ha-ha, well that's
easier said than done.
Didn't know
you even had a gun.
Can I see the license, Tom?
Dad didn't shoot.
He didn't.
Well, who did?
Oh, come on, son,
out with it.
- Fingerbone.
- Fingerbone?
The black fella?
He just shot at light,
that's all.
Yeah, what if he'd missed,
hit a man instead?
Hold on to this.
He a friend of yours?
Oh, then you'll know
where to find him,
won't you?
(ENGINE RUNNING)
FRANK: How much further?
Well, where to now?
Do you mean to tell me
you've lost your way?
Never, you know the Coorong
better than anyone.
You don't want to get
your friend into trouble, eh?
If you should run into him
before I do,
You tell him what I said,
no more shooting.
(STARTS ENGINE)
(MR. PERCIVAL CALLING)
You'll have to learn
to keep your mouth shut,
won't you?
(FINGERBONE CHIPPING STICK)
I've just come to tell you
there's trouble brewing.
The ranger wants to see you
about the gun.
Er, yeah, there's
a law against people
shacking the sanctuary.
- He might tell you to move on.
- This country belong to him?
TOM: Maybe not,
the law says you can't stay.
White fellas law!
You could move in with us.
Couldn't he, Dad?
I like it here.
Brought you something.
- Proper big one, eh?
- Sure.
Dad catched it.
- Caught!
- Caught.
No need to make a song
and dance about it, son.
Proper number one tucker,
this.
TOM: Got him
by the river mouth.
Why don't you stay,
help me eat.
He cooks good, Dad.
Storm Boy like
plateful of taka.
Storm Boy, is that you, is it?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
You tribal land around here?
I belong Kurnai people.
You know good heat, don't you?
Fingerbone used to
drive cattle, didn't you?
Dad had a petrol station.
That wasn't mine.
Just a little, that's all.
Mum and me used to come
and watch him work sometimes.
That was a long time ago.
She'd like it here,
wouldn't she, Dad?
Don't you think you done
enough talking, son?
TOM: Where will you go,
if you shift from here?
FINGERBONE: Go walk about.
TOM: That's what I'd do.
If I was on my own
I'd like that.
FINGERBONE:
No good on your own?
You seem to like it.
No.
Why are you here,
why aren't you
with your tribe?
Old man would kill me.
- They point the bone at me.
- TOM: Why?
I brought the law.
Tribal law.
Law of my people.
Single woman
Might have come to me.
Where's she now?
In city.
White fellows' woman now.
Best thing is to love
no one, Fingerbone.
Always end up getting hurt.
I...left my wife.
Wonder sometimes now
if I done the right thing
by the boy?
Perhaps I should have
stuck it out at him,
gone off on my own,
Left him with her.
Things might have
worked out different.
Kids need a mother anyway.
(SQUAWKING)
(SQUAWKING)
(CALLING)
(BIRDS SQUAWKING LOUDLY)
(KIDS CHATTING INDISTINCTLY)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
Mike!
Mike?
Mike!
Come back!
Hold on!
(PANTING)
What are you doing here?
What's wrong?
You on your own?
(BELL RINGING)
Come on,
come on inside.
(SIGHS)
Well, I suppose
I better ring the ranger,
so we can tell your father.
He'd be worried.
Go on, eat it.
(SIGHS)
Mmm, it's cheese,
so hope you like it.
Why'd you leave, Mike?
Is there anybody else,
Any other relatives
apart from your father
I can tell?
My mother, but I don't know
where she lives.
You don't know?
No, but I'm going to find her.
Hey, how are your pelicans?
Just got the one now,
Mr. Percival.
And so Percival was
all of those things.
And he was gentle
and humble
(CHUCKLING)
and a little bit vague
and he loved animals.
- (KNOCKING ON DOOR)
- Yes, come in.
Hello, Mr. Kingsley.
Um, won't be a minute.
Well, anyway, so Percival
Met up with, uh,
two other knights.
And one day as they were
standing on the shore
of a great sea,
They saw the Holy Grail.
It was on the deck of a ship,
laden with treasure.
Did they swim out and get it?
WALKER: Yes, well,
they did finally manage
to get hold of the cup,
But it's a long story
and I'll tell you
some other time.
Perhaps when Mike comes
to visit us again.
Come on, Mike.
Now the rest of you can
draw pelicans
And in silence, please.
Well, thanks,
the Ranger told me he'd run.
He was looking for his mother.
- Come on, let's go.
- Not going home.
What's that?
I'm not going home.
Maybe you should call her.
Well, if there's anything
else, um, I can do,
I'll be inside.
Well, thanks.
WALKER: Goodbye, Mike.
See you soon.
You'll have to do something
about his lessons.
(CLOSES DOOR)
What's the matter, son?
Come on,
what's all this about?
You always told me
my mum is dead.
Well, she is, Mike.
You told Fingerbone
you left her.
She was killed
in a car crash, son.
After I took you away.
Sorry.
Come on, let's go home.
We miss you, Storm Boy.
We all miss you.
Your dad, me,
Mr. Percival.
He's been looking
for you everywhere.
See you back at the boat.
You staying with us,
Fingerbone?
Maybe one day. Not now.
You're dad, really worried.
Look for you whole night.
(ENGINE RUNNING)
Are you coming or not?
All right,
what's your hurry anyway?
No he's right.
We better get moving
if we're gonna catch the tide.
(PELICAN CALLS)
See that?
Will you two hurry up?
(ENGINE STARTING)
(ENGINE RUNNING)
(MOTORBOAT APPROACHING)
(SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Are you staying with us?
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(WIND HOWLING)
Where's Mr. Percival?
I don't know.
(RAINING)
Better grab some sleep.
Don't know what
the night's gonna be.
Big blow, all right?
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Quick! Come on out there.
- Come on.
- Why?
(SHOUTING FROM DISTANCE)
MAN: Help!
We need to help.
Line's the only hope.
- Long way!
- (PELICAN CALLING)
MIKE: Mr. Percival,
he can do it.
He can take out line.
Come here. Mr. Percival.
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
(THUNDER CRACKING)
Go on, Mr. Percival.
Take it. Go on, Mr. Percival.
Go on.
Go on. Take it to the boat.
Take it to the boat.
Go on. You can do it.
MIKE: Go on, Mr. Percival,
you can do it.
TOM: Go on.
MIKE: Take it
to the boat.
TOM: Go on to the boat.
MIKE: That's right.
Take it to the boat.
Just a bit further.
- Back right out.
- MIKE: That's right,
Mr. Percival.
- Keep going.
- TOM: Yeah, go on.
MIKE: Go on.
Go on.
You can do it.
TOM: Go on.
MIKE: Go on.
Further!
- Come here.
- Come on.
(INDISTINCT)
Come on out here.
Quick.
I knew you could
do it, Mr. Percival.
I knew you could.
You're really great.
All right, go on, hang onto
the side of the boat.
Hang on.
All right now,
put this over you.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Go!
- Sorry to put
you out like this.
- TOM: That's all right.
I really thought this was it.
The end, if you know
what I mean.
- Milk and sugar,
help yourselves.
- Just black, thanks.
MAN 1:
I just don't understand it.
Uncanny, how it happened.
I mean, the storm
came from nowhere.
Just don't understand it.
If we hadn't flushed
the rudder.
How on earth did you
train that bird?
TOM: Ask my son. He did it.
You must have
a way with animals.
(CHUCKLES)
The whole thing's a miracle.
MAN 2: Gonna make headlines.
Absolutely.
"Pelican saves four lives."
And when he's dead,
he can go on a glass case
in the museum
For everyone to see him.
We'd like to show
our appreciation.
- Well, no need for that.
- No, no...
- We want too.
- Of course,
you saved four lives.
- It's gotta be
worth something.
- We don't want money.
What about a loan?
You can buy a proper house.
Send the boy to a good school.
Look, don't say anything now.
FINGERBONE: I've been
thinking something.
You take what they offer you.
You send Mike to school.
Big proper, number one school.
Boarding school?
Costs too much money.
Business fellas
got plenty money.
- They wanted to do it.
- TOM: Don't think
he'd like to go.
Wouldn't mind going
to school at Goolwa.
Sometimes.
Oh, that's too far, Mike.
You couldn't live there.
It's not a boarding school.
Do they lock you up
at boarding school?
No. Don't think so.
Can I come and see
Mr. Percival sometimes?
And me,
when you get holidays.
How often is that?
TOM: Well, three times a year,
I think.
Would you be all right
without me?
Can't think of myself
all the time, can I?
Don't know what to do.
What do you think?
Wish you could come along.
Then, you mightn't like it.
- (CALLING)
- Don't think I would, either.
Reckon I'll stay here
with you.
Hey, Mr. Percival.
(GUNSHOTS)
No...
Mr. Percival!
Mr. Percival!
No! No!
Don't shoot! No!
What the hell!
Get out of the way,
you stupid kid!
MIKE: Mr. Percival.
HUNTER: You'll get hurt.
(GUNSHOT)
(GUNSHOT)
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
They've shot Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
Mr. Percival.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(CALLING)
(WIND HOWLING)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Going to Goolwa
in the morning.
Would you like to come?
If he'd been killed,
you would have found him.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Reckon he's looking around
to stay on his own.
Find a wife, you know.
He might have got
sick of shooters,
gone where he's safe.
(MIKE SOBBING)
How'd you like it
if the two of us moved
to Goolwa?
To live, I mean.
Ask if they're buying
the service station.
I thought I'd write
to these three blokes.
See if they'll
lend me the cash
to make a start.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
We gotta stick together,
Don't we?
Storm Boy, Storm Boy.
I want to show you something.
(WHISTLING)
Yesterday, I went
and went and went.
Found dead pelican.
- Was it him?
- Yes.
I pick him up...
And I bury him.
Show you something else,
Storm Boy.
(PELICAN CALLING)
FINGERBONE:
Perhaps, Mr. Percival.
Starting all over again.
Bird like him, never die.
(PELICANS SQUAWKING)