1
(ETHEREAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
(METALLIC BANGING, CLANKING)
(BRAKES HISSING)
TRAIN GUARD:
Alice Springs, last stop.
(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
ROBYN: 'Dear Sir, I am planning to
walk across the Australian desert,
from Alice Springs to the Indian
Ocean... a distance of 2,000 miles.'
(HORN BEEPS, ROCK MUSIC BLARES)
(MEN WHOOP AND LAUGH)
'The trip will take
six-to-seven months.'
Dickheads.
'I arrived in Alice
Springs over a year ago.
There are herds of feral camels roaming
freely throughout Central Australia
and my idea was to capture a few
and train them to carry my gear.'
Diggity, stay.
'The trip wasn't conceived
as an adventure,
in the sense of something
to be proved or conquered.
And when people ask me why I'm doing
it, my usual answer is "why not?".'
I was wondering if
you had any work.
- What kind of work?
- Behind the bar, anything.
Ask the missus. She's out the back.
Got a place to stay?
I was planning on
camping somewhere.
Got a tent?
No.
One meal per shift is provided,
rent's deducted from first week's
pay, the loo's down the hall.
Great. Thanks.
I have a dog.
'I'd always been drawn to
the purity of the desert,
its hot wind and
wide, open spaces.'
Alone?
Yeah, well, I'll need to train
some camels to carry my gear
and... then there's
Diggity, of course.
You go right ahead, love.
Go right ahead.
'But mainly I was bored
of life in the city,
with its repetitions,
my half-finished,
half-hearted attempts at jobs
and various studies.'
(WOMAN SPEAKS IN
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE)
'And I was sick of carrying around
the self-indulgent negativity
that was so much the malaise
of my generation, my
sex and my class.'
- Come on!
- (WOMAN SHOUTS)
'The decision to act was in itself
the beginning of the journey.
I believe when you've been
stuck too long in one spot,
it's best to throw a grenade
where you're standing, and jump...
and pray.'
Hey. We are closed today.
Your plan is ridiculous.
My father crossed the
Kalahari in 1935...
that wasn't so ridiculous.
Nothing's in the blood.
I'm a hard worker.
You can work for me for
eight months... for free.
I'll show you how to train them.
After that, I give you...
two wild camels.
And that will be that.
So... do we sign a contract?
I'm good to my word.
You can stay here.
I'll clean out one of the sheds.
That's OK, I'll find my
own place. Thanks.
(HAMMERING)
Misch-Misch, Khartoum,
Ali, Fahani and Aba.
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
And these are my new
wild bulls... Dookie and Bub.
(GRUNTS)
What's wrong with him?
Nothing's wrong with him.
He's in rut. He's a bull.
Those other males are bullocks.
These are still bulls.
(BRAYS)
Die haben eier.
In rut season, they become
extremely aggressive.
Very dangerous.
He doesn't look very dangerous.
He's young. He will learn.
(CAMEL BELLOWS)
- Hey, Dookie.
- (DOOKIE BELLOWS)
Hey, Dookie. Hello.
(BELLOWS)
Hey.
- (CLICKS TONGUE)
- (GRUNTS)
(CLICKS TONGUE) Come on.
(BELLOWS)
So you want to play
with the camels?
Always watch the animal.
Watch how he thinks.
(GRUNTS)
(GROWLS)
- (SWITCH CRACKS)
- Let him know who's boss.
Come on. Try it again.
(CAMEL BRAYS)
- Careful.
- (BRAYS)
(GROWLS)
(LAUGHS)
Hurry up. We open soon.
Are you finished?
Yep.
What's that?
Sorry.
Take off those shoes.
You must toughen the feet.
There are two species of camel.
Neither is native to Australia.
Some of the first camels
brought into the country
were for the Burke and Wills
expedition in 1860...
Louder. More effort!
Today there are over 50,000
feral camels across Australia.
(PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC)
Hey! Goldie!
Here, Goldie! Come on.
Hold it.
Wait.
(ALARM CLOCK RINGS)
(CLOCK TICKS)
'If my trip was inspired by
anyone, it would be my father.
He trekked across East
Africa in his youth
and was happiest on his
own out in the bush.'
(CLICKS TONGUE)
'When I was young, he showed
me a tree on our property
marked with the letter L by the
explorer Ludwig Leichhardt.
In 1848, he attempted to
cross Australia to the ocean
with 7 horses and 20 mules.
He disappeared and was never found.
I remember imagining
Ludwig alone in the desert
with the animals,
and it sounded like a dream.'
(CAMEL BRAYS)
Yeah?
Can we talk about my trip?
My camels?
(CHUCKLES) Your camels?
Yeah, our deal.
I've tried to talk to you
about it already... twice.
I need you to get
up early tomorrow.
I want the camels in by five.
I've been here for
over eight months now,
I don't have to do shit for you.
You're fired.
I'm going to talk
to Gladdy about it.
Gladdy's gone! And I
want you gone, too.
I want all bitches
gone from my sight.
'The early settlers
needed beasts of burden
better suited to the harsh
climate of the outback,
so they imported camels.
When trains and cars came along
and there was no longer
any use for them,
the camels were set free.
But instead of perishing,
they flourished.
Now Australia has the largest
feral camel population
in the world.
I just needed three of them.'
(SIGHS)
Hey. What do you think, Dig?
Home sweet home, eh?
(BANGING)
(BICYCLE BELL RINGS)
(BANGING, MEN SHOUTING)
You must be mad, girly. You
know that's about 2,000 miles?
Six months of hard walking.
It gets tougher if
you get an injury.
No it's easy enough to get lost,
run out of water, food...
You don't have to be
unlucky to die out there.
I just want to be by myself.
MAN: Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi!
(CAMEL BRAYS)
Well, we don't train these
camels for kiddie rides. Hm?
We catch 'em, we sell 'em.
(CAMEL BRAYS)
So, will you help me out?
I can teach you how to break one.
The rest of it you
do in your own time.
You'll hire me?
Anyone who can put up with
Kurt Posel for eight months
deserves a chance.
Come back tomorrow. See how you go.
'I went to work for a camel
wrangler named Sallay Mahomet.
He came from a long line
of Afghan cameleers.'
Righto! Arms up, you've
gotta look tall.
Stand tall, arms up.
'He offered me one wild camel for
a month's work at half pay.'
Robyn, shut the gate.
(PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC)
(CAMELS GRUNT)
You'll have to break her.
Thanks.
SALLAY: You've earned it.
You're an odd girl, Robyn Davidson.
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(POP MUSIC BLARES)
(HORN TOOTS)
WOMAN: Rob?
We know you're here!
You can run but you can't hide!
What are you doing here?
How did you find me?
Well, I asked around.
I guess there's not too many
camel ladies in this town.
Mm. I hate that. It makes me
sound like a crazy woman.
Hey, come on.
- Hi.
- How ya going, Robbie?
This is Peter, Bernard, Annie
and Annie's mate Rick.
He's out from the States.
I love your place. I didn't
realise how big camels are.
It's like a cow and a
giraffe mixture...
(CHUCKLES)
RICK: They're beautiful.
Going to invite us in?
Yep, come in.
(SIGHS)
That's what I have,
that's what I don't have.
Plus I need two more camels.
Mostly I just need money.
(INHALES SHARPLY)
Money, money, money.
The eternal, uh... the
eternal explorer's dilemma.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Hm.
Well, why don't you
just shorten the trip?
To the Rock and back?
I mean, Toly and I will come
with you. We can chip in.
- TOLY: Yeah. Why not?
- Mm...
Have you looked into
sponsorship? Like a magazine?
- Rick knows lots of editors.
- Yeah, I know lots of editors.
I could put in a good word for you.
I think they'd think it was fas...
I think it's fascinating.
So I know they would. (CHUCKLES)
Oh, it's OK. I'll do it myself.
(LAUGHS)
(LOUD, LIVELY CONVERSATION)
(GUITAR-HEAVY ROCK MUSIC)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION CONTINUES)
Do you know what's
going on politically?
(MUSIC FADES OUT)
(PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC)
It's about acting on what
judgements you make...
It's about making a critique...
(CLICKS TONGUE)
- Hey, Zelly. Hey, girl.
- (ZELLY BRAYS)
Hey. (CLICKS TONGUE)
(ZELLY BRAYS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND CHUCKLING)
- Kangaroo!
- (CAMERA CLICKS)
Hey, do you mind?
Sorry, bad habit.
Oh, I, uh... I made you this.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
You're a darling. Thank you.
You know, um... your room's
still available, Rob.
Yeah...
(HORN TOOTS)
JENNY: Bye, Rob! Love you!
RICK: Bye, Robyn!
Bye, Diggity! Good luck!
ANNIE: Don't die out there!
JENNY, ON RECORDING:
I know you well enough
never to ask why you're doing this,
or why you want to do it alone.
But I guess if the reason's
good enough for you,
it's good enough for me.
Anyway, I made you a
tape for your trip.
That old record of your mother's,
the one you used to play to death.
Whatever it is you're
looking for, Robbie,
find it and come home, OK?
The lonely night
Dreaming of a song
And the melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you
- When our love was new...
- (GOLDIE WHINES)
(GASPS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
Girlie, I reckon you've got
yourself a pregnant cow.
What?
Pregnant? But is that good or bad?
You've got a calf tied
up in camp overnight,
none of the others are
gonna stray very far.
So that's good.
'A few weeks later, I heard that
Kurt Posel sold his ranch.'
Like I said, it's not possible.
'The new owner had little
experience with camels.'
One camel. That's all I want.
The bastard owed me two.
Sorry. Never mentioned that to me.
Hey, do you even know
what you're doing?
(BELLOWS)
I wouldn't use a nose-line.
(GROWLS, GRUNTS)
- Settle down, you bastard!
- ROBYN: Let go of the rope.
(CAMEL BELLOWS)
- Get outta there!
- (GROWLS)
Shut the gate.
Hey, Dookie.
(DOOKIE GROANS)
Easy.
- (DOOKIE GRUNTS)
- That's the way.
Come on, Dookie.
- Whoosh, Dookie. Whoosh.
- (GROWLS)
(GROANS)
(CONTINUES GROANING)
Do they do that often?
- The bulls?
- Yeah.
Oh, hell yeah. All the time.
You want to keep your kids
away from them, for sure.
- Come on, Dig!
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
'And so I'm writing to you
in the hope that your magazine
will sponsor my trip.
I believe National Geographic
to be of the highest
international repute.
The trip will take me through
some of the most beautiful
and barren country
the desert can show.
I am enclosing a map
of my proposed route,
from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock,
then on through the Western
Desert to the Indian Ocean.'
(CAMEL BRAYS)
'I have three camels
and one small calf
trained and ready to go.
They are perfectly reliable beasts.
Their names are Dookie...'
(BRAYS)
'...Bub, Zelly
and baby Goliath.
I am well aware of the
hardship I will be facing
and the first to admit I
am remarkably unqualified
for such a hazardous undertaking.
But this is precisely the
point of my journey.
I'd like to think an ordinary
person is capable of anything.
I look forward to hearing
from you in the near future.
Yours faithfully, Robyn Davidson.'
(BIRDS TWITTERING)
(GROWLS)
- (SALLAY GRUNTS)
- Sorry, Dookie.
Grab that. A bull in rut would
do anything to get at Zelly.
He'll bite, kick or kill
whatever gets in his way.
- That includes you.
- (KNIFE SLICES)
(GROANS)
(GROANS)
No choice. Hm?
You see what happens when
one of these bull camels
gets those lovelies
set on something.
No stopping him.
Rule number one...
protect your camels.
If you're out there on your own
and a wild bull's coming at ya,
you shoot it.
Don't think. You shoot.
You understand?
Ah, I forgot... these
packages came for you.
Oh, there's a letter too.
I got it! I got the money!
I think they'd think it was fas...
I think it's fascinating.
So I know they would. (CHUCKLES)
(CHILDREN SHOUT EXCITEDLY)
- Aunty Robbie!
- Aunty Rob!
We came to say goodbye!
How you doing? Hey,
come here. Look at you.
Hey, sis.
- You look well.
- Thanks for coming.
Hey, Pop.
I want to pat the camel!
Wow.
MARG: Oh, it's freezing in here.
Hi.
Um... this is Rick,
the photographer.
Hi, you must be her father?
Sister?
I don't know who you are.
(CHUCKLES)
This is obviously for me.
This was surprisingly expensive.
Inflatable raft. For flash floods.
And...
Um... why would I need
an exercise bike?
Oh, it's not an exercise bike.
It's a... backup
generator for the radio
in case the batteries fail.
I'm... I'm not taking a radio.
Please, Robyn, just take the radio.
You want to die out
there or something?
Take the radio. In case.
OK, I'll take the radio, but
I'm not taking the bike.
You know, it's really
reassuring to know
that my sister won't
be alone out there.
I'm only meeting up with
her four or five times.
Two or three times. Two or three.
(LOADS GUN)
No, I don't want a gun.
But you will.
(GRUNTS)
(GRUNTS)
Hi. Hi.
(KISSES)
Take care, Pop.
Thanks.
If you get in trouble, there's
no shame in turning back, OK?
- OK?
- OK.
- POP: Bye, darlin'.
- CHILD: Bye, Aunty Rob!
- Bye, Aunty Robbie!
- MARG: Bye, Robyn.
- POP: Call us from Ayers Rock.
- Bye, Diggity!
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
- Diggity, come on!
(POP MUSIC BLARES)
ROBYN: You've gotta be kidding me.
Hey hey!
That's great. And keep
back, looking at me.
- Alright.
- (CAMERA CLICKS)
Good. Good. And smile.
Great. Great. That's great.
OK. Great.
Oh, let me get this
other stuff right here.
Everybody I keep telling about
this really can't believe it.
'2,000 miles? Is she
crazy or something?'
(CHUCKLES)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Let me find your light
a little bit. Face a little...
That's great.
OK, what's the camel's
name? Bub! Hey!
- Everybody smile.
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
How do you feel?
Are we done?
Yeah, I think you're...
I think it's good.
Alright, see you in a month.
(ENGINE REVS)
(ALARM CLOCK RINGS)
(HORNS TOOTING, MUSIC BLARING)
WOMAN: Oi, lady, can we
get a photo? Over here!
Sorry, campground's full.
It would just be for one night.
Besides, camels aren't
allowed in the park grounds.
Why?
'Cause it's a sacred site.
CHILD: Hey, camel lady!
(CAMELS BRAY)
(HORN TOOTS)
(POP MUSIC BLARES)
Figuring 20 miles a day,
if that's how fast
you're travelling,
determine how long
it takes to get to
the next town with a
mail plane service,
divide that by 20, and I
should, more or less,
be able to figure out when
you're gonna be arriving.
I ran into a group of Aboriginals
who were able to point me
in the right direction.
They just knew where you were.
I said 'camel lady' and...
I guess there's not really
a lot of camel ladies.
Before I get on any kind of plane,
I have this ritual I've been
doing for the past five years
where I eat an orange before and
after when I get off the flight.
And this time I was gonna do it,
but I didn't 'cause
I ran out of time.
I got back late and
my deli was closed.
Wow. I love lentils.
Maybe try some with, uh...
with the hat.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
The white really pops against
the red of the Rock.
And don't worry, I'm
shooting on a long lens
so it compresses the distance...
it looks like you're standing
right in front of it.
Great. OK, maybe a... a tiny smile?
What about honest journalism?
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Hey, camel lady!
A friend of mine, David Burnett,
says the greatest photographs
are motivated by human feeling.
Are we done?
- Uh, almost.
- (CAMERA CLICKS)
Oh, no, I thought the hat was good!
- (POP MUSIC BLARES)
- See you tomorrow.
(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)
(HUFFS) Parasite.
Go away.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(DIGGITY WHINES)
So your father was
an explorer, huh?
Not really.
Oh, I thought you said he was.
I said he walked
around East Africa,
harpooning crocodiles
and looking for gold.
What about your mom?
I don't really remember her.
Oh, what happened to her?
She hung herself.
...why I spend
The lonely night
Dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie...
(CAMEL BRAYS)
ROBYN: Jesus.
(WIND HOWLS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
I'm gonna grab all this...!
Agh!
RICK: Put the bed stuff
in the back of the truck!
Leave that, get the food.
(CAMEL GROANS)
Whoosh, Dookie, whoosh.
Diggity!
Robyn!
- Fuck off!
- (CAMERA CLICKS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(BLOWS)
Could've been worse...
we could've been in a small
plane flying through a typhoon.
That's something you don't
want to experience.
I was in Irian Jaya covering
the riots for Time.
David Burnett was there.
He won the Capa Medal in '73.
He's a good friend of mine. We
were trying to land the plane
on this narrow strip on
the side of a mountain
and the wind kept blowing
the wings back and forth...
I just can't stand it anymore.
This whole thing is just some
ludicrous, pointless farce.
Every day, I load a pile of junk,
I walk 20 miles,
I unload a pile of junk,
and you just stand around like
some idiot, taking pictures of me.
And I can't do it anymore!
(SOBS GENTLY)
It's OK.
(CHAINS RATTLING)
(SNORES GENTLY)
(CAMELS BRAY)
Dookie! Leave him alone.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
You don't have to do that.
So I think... I was thinking
about staying on for a few days.
Why?
Just, uh...
So I guess I'll see
you in five weeks.
OK.
(SIGHS)
- (GROWLS)
- Whoa-kay.
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
- (ROBYN SHOUTS)
(SPLASH!)
Hey, Dig. Come here.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Come on! Don't get out.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Come on, girl, come back in.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(DIGGITY CONTINUES BARKING)
(ALARM CLOCK RINGS)
Hey. Hey.
Where are they, Dig?
Dookie!
Zelly!
Bub!
Dookie!
(PANTS)
Hey.
You stay here, OK?
Good girl.
(WHINES)
Dookie!
(BRAYS)
- (GROANS)
- Never do this to me again!
Don't you ever leave me!
(GRUNTS)
Sorry.
(GRUNTS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Hey, Dig. Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How are you?
- Good. How are you?
I missed you.
I take it you're the camel lady.
- Hi. Thanks for having us here.
- You're welcome.
Sorry, can I get you guys
to shake hands again?
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Great, thank you.
Hello there.
The, uh, old fellas can be a bit
stand-offish with strangers.
Takes a while for them to warm up.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER)
Would you mind not taking pictures?
A man has to do his job.
That's exactly the reason blacks
were dumped in missions...
men just doing their job.
11 million readers will
see these photographs.
I like to think that what I'm...
doing is a service.
Couple of pictures in a magazine?
You think that's really
going to make a difference?
Yeah, I do.
If it wasn't for the magazine,
you wouldn't be on this trip.
(WOMEN SING TRADITIONAL
ABORIGINAL SONG)
(SPEAKS IN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE)
(CHUCKLES)
(WOMEN CONTINUE SINGING)
(WOMEN LAUGH)
(WIND HOWLS)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(WOMAN VOCALISING IN DISTANCE)
(EXHALES)
(ROOSTER CROWING)
You didn't, did you?
Nobody saw me.
It was great images.
Some kind of... grieving ceremony.
That was secret business.
Get it? Secret.
After Malaysia, I have
a shoot in Tasmania.
I'll check in on this
number for messages.
OK, I should make Warburton
in about six weeks.
I'll be there.
Can I sit here?
Husband no good.
He's not my husband.
There's an adviser named Glendle
living outside Pipalyatjara.
Now he's the last whitefella
you'll see until Warburton.
OK. But this is the most
direct route, though, right?
Yeah, but it's dotted
with sacred sites.
It's forbidden to
women, I'm afraid.
You'd need an old fella
to guide you through.
But the other way is 160
miles out of my way.
If you like, I can ask round,
see if there's an Elder who
would travel with you.
Seems your boyfriend
was seen taking photos
of secret business.
He's not my boyfriend.
Sorry. Can't help you.
Their answer is no.
Just tell them I'm sorry.
Looks like we're taking
the long way, Bub.
(BLOWS)
(CAMEL GROANS)
(CAMELS BELLOW IN DISTANCE)
(CAMELS GRUNT)
SALLAY:
If you're out there on your own
and a wild bull's coming
at ya, you shoot it.
Don't think. You shoot.
You understand?
(CAMELS BELLOW)
- (CAMELS BRAY)
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
(BARKS)
(BRAYS)
- (CAMELS BRAY)
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(GUNSHOT)
(CAMEL GROANS)
(CAMEL GROWLS)
(GUNSHOT)
(DIGGITY BARKING)
(ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
(BIRDS SCREECH)
(CAR DOOR SLAMS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Where you go?
West to the ocean.
Uru Pulka? Big lake?
Yeah, Uru Pulka.
Too long way. Too long way for you.
You go Pipalyatjara?
- Yeah.
- Which way?
Along the road.
Too far. Too many sleeps that way.
Miil-miil. Sacred country.
Need old fella.
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Mr Eddy.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(WISTFUL PIANO MUSIC)
(ETHEREAL VOCALISING)
Glendle?
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Glendle.
I know he helped me get the money,
but he doesn't understand that
he's part of the problem.
He's a nice person, but I don't
want him and his cameras
and his hopeless romantic notions
along with my trip, you know?
I can deal with pigs really easily,
but nice people confound me.
You know, how can you
tell a nice person
that you just wish they'd
crawl into a hole and die?
Sorry. (CHUCKLES)
It's been a while since I've
had anybody to talk to.
You had Eddy.
He's one of the most respected
Elders in the community.
Yeah. I wish I could.
Ah... Words are overrated.
Hey, it's been real
nice having you around.
Hope you can stick
around for a bit.
Thanks.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Will you walk to
Warburton with me, Eddy?
Hey?
To Warburton? Will
you walk with me?
Long way, Warburton.
Little bit long way.
- Long way?
- Yeah, long way.
My... My shoes no good.
OK. Hm.
GLENDLE:
Looks good in your shoes, huh?
ROBYN: Do you think he's up
for this? It's over 200 miles.
Him? He'll outwalk the two of us.
Don't forget my telegram.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
OK. Thanks.
- Bye.
- See ya.
Bye!
- Come on, Dig.
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
(EDDY SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
- Come on, Goliath.
- (GOLIATH BRAYS)
- Come on, Goliath.
- (GOLIATH GROANS)
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Come on, Goliath.
(EDDY CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(GOLIATH GROANS)
ROBYN: The ground's too hot.
Come on, Golly. That's the way.
You got new shoes.
(EDDY CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
What is it?
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Mingkulpa. Alright? Mingkulpa.
Should I... Do I eat it?
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Mmm.
(CONTINUES SPEAKING
IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(EXCLAIMS EXCITEDLY)
(GRUNTS AND SHOUTS)
(CHUCKLES)
(IMITATES SOBBING)
Whoosh, Bub. That's the way.
(SIGHS)
How was it, Eddy?
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(SPEAKS QUESTIONINGLY)
EDDY: Whitefellas.
Where?
Come on, Bub.
Stand up. Come on.
Come on, Bub. Come on.
Stand up. Come on, get up.
Come on, Bub. Come on.
(BUB GROANS)
WOMAN: Get them to stop.
Can you stop so we
can take a photo?
- MAN: Wait up!
- Come on, Eddy.
Hold up there, love.
Do you mind if we take a picture?
- Can we take a photo?
- Can I take your photo?
Yeah, let us take your photo.
Can you stop so I can take a photo?
Please?
- Where are you heading?
- Thanks, love.
- (CAMERAS CLICK)
- How far are you going?
I'm going to the ocean.
To the ocean? You're dreaming.
Hey, Jacky-Jacky. Get a
photo with the camel, boy.
- Take your picture, eh?
- Hey. Jack.
- You're a prick!
- Whoa, whoa, steady!
- MAN: What's her problem?
- Bloody swine!
Hey, hey, hey, hey. Give me money.
Give me money! Give me money!
- Got any money?
- Agghh! Agghh!
- Three dollar!
- Yeah, don't give him too much.
(GUNSHOT)
Wiya, wiya, wiya, wiya!
(SPEAKS FRANTICALLY IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
No, I don't understand.
Woman never break the law.
Woman never break the law.
OK, I won't. I won't. Only men
do the cutting. I understand.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
OK.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
...Rick.
- Hi.
- Hi.
This is Mr Eddy.
Eddy, Rick.
I got your telegram.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
This is for you.
Oh...
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
ROBYN: Diggity! Stay close!
ROBYN: What happened to this place?
Nobody here. Everybody all gone.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
I look up, he nearly kill me.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
So... Eddy's very insistent
that you take along an Elder.
Yeah. I prefer to do
this stretch on my own.
Yeah, but it's better to do
this stretch with company.
No, I'll be fine.
You won't find a drop of water.
It'll be two months' travel
on a dead-straight track
through empty desert.
It's lucky to get six
cars a year along it.
I'll be fine.
Would it make any
difference if I told you
I didn't want you to go alone?
What do you think?
Well, I think you have
a problem with people.
You know, I'm sorry but I'm
driving ahead to Wiluna
and dropping water
drums along the track.
That's almost 1,000
miles out of your way.
Yeah. Yeah, I know how far it is.
- Are you sure?
- 100%.
I'll mark the drop
points on your map.
OK.
Thanks.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Good luck.
(SPEAKS IN PITJANTJATJARA)
Goodbye.
Thank you.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
Come on.
Steady.
(CAMEL GROANS)
(ALARM CLOCK RINGS)
(LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYS
ON CASSETTE PLAYER)
(SIGHS) The compass, Dig.
Fuck.
Come on, Dig.
POP: Hey.
Your mother gave me that.
Thanks, Pop.
POP: You be sure you look after it.
ROBYN: I will.
(INSECTS CHIRRUPING)
Where are we, Dig?
Fuck.
Diggity. Hey. Go home.
Go on. Go home.
(DIGGITY WHINES)
Home! Diggity, go home!
Go home. Go on, go home, Dig.
- Diggity, go home.
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Diggity! Good girl!
Hey!
(CAMEL BRAYS)
We're back! Did you miss me?
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Come on. Come on, bring
it back. Come on, girl.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Good girl.
Hello.
Hi.
Hey. Come on, girl.
Come on, give it here.
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Aaargghh!
(SHOUTS) Go away! Go away!
(GOLIATH WHINES)
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC)
(ENGINE RUMBLES)
MAN: Hey! Is that the camel lady?
Oh. G'day.
Oh. Fire's nice, eh?
Been following your
tracks since Warburton.
Yeah, I'm going for
an overland record.
Flat chat out of Bundaberg,
straight shot to Ningaloo.
Nonstop, mate.
Reckon I'm the first.
I'm gonna be famous.
Suzuki TS400. Bike of the future.
Fuck me, it's cold out here.
Yeah.
You like bikes?
Nah. Nah, nah, you like...
you like camels.
Yeah, nice, nice.
Yeah. Gives you a chance
to see the scenery, eh?
Me, all I wanna see of the desert
is a fuckin' blur, you know?
(CHUCKLES)
(MAN IMITATES ENGINE WHOOSHING)
Hello, dear. Nice to see you.
Will you come in for tea?
Where you from?
I grew up on a cattle
station near Darling Downs.
Oh, a Queenslander, eh?
What'd you run?
Hereford.
Hard country, that.
Reckon she copped her
share of drought, eh?
Seven years.
(SIGHS)
Muster through it, did ya?
We went broke.
(UP-TEMPO LOUNGE MUSIC)
Dye-da-dye
Daisy, have you seen the
latest dancers come along?
Daisy, go and put your
Sunday hat and jacket on
There's going to be some jollity
Come with me, happy me
Fill your heart with ecstasy...
(PLAYS SIMPLE MELODY)
MAN: Your mother's dead, darling.
You're gonna have to live with
your Aunt Gillian from now on.
Is Goldie coming with me?
No, darling. There's
no room for her there.
Will I be able to visit her?
No, darling.
We're gonna have to put her down.
MAN: After that, you'll join
up at the Canning at well ten.
Follow this track here.
I reckon you're, uh, three
weeks or so out of Wiluna.
A little something
to keep you going.
Thank you... both.
- Bye.
- Bye.
(SIGHS) Good luck.
Bye.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
(DIGGITY CONTINUES BARKING)
Hey.
(DIGGITY BARKS)
Hey, good girl. You found dinner.
Wiya, wiya, wiya, wiya!
(SPEAKS FRANTICALLY)
Woman never break the law.
Woman never break the law.
Come on, Diggity. Come on.
(KISSES)
- (DIGGITY WHINES)
- Last one, girl.
That's all there is.
There's no more.
(DIGGITY WHINES)
(LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYS
ON CASSETTE PLAYER)
Sometimes I wonder
Why I spend the lonely night
Dreaming of a song
The melody...
(BARKS)
Haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you...
(INSECTS CHIRRUPING)
(DIGGITY WHIMPERS)
- Hey, Dig.
- (DIGGITY BARKS)
Dig?
Dig?
Dig?
Come here, girl.
Diggity! Diggity.
Dig!
Come here, girl.
Dig.
- Diggity.
- (DIGGITY WHINES)
Diggity!
- (DIGGITY WHIMPERS)
- Diggity!
Hey, Diggity! Diggity, Come here!
(DIGGITY WHIMPERS AND GROANS)
Spit it out. Come on,
girl. Come on.
Come on, girl, spit it out.
(ROBYN PANTS HEAVILY)
(DIGGITY WHIMPERS)
No, no, no, no, no. Come
on, come on, come on.
Diggity, Diggity, come on.
- Hey...
- (DIGGITY WHIMPERS)
Diggity!
Diggity, come on!
Diggity!
No!
No! Go away!
Stay here.
(RADIO WHINES)
- Hello?
- (STATIC)
- Hello?
- (STATIC CONTINUES)
Is anybody there?
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(CAMEL WHINES)
(SPARSE PIANO MUSIC)
(PLANE ROARS OVERHEAD)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(CAR DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
MAN: Miss Davidson? Robyn?
- MAN: Hello?
- MAN: Where are you, Robyn?
- Wait a minute!
- Here she is!
- Hey! Whoa!
- Hey! Hey, Robyn!
(MEN CALL OUT)
MAN:
Stay right where you are! Hang on!
- You OK?
- MAN: We need to get a photo!
Hey, you OK? You alright?
I've been trying to find
you for over a week.
MAN: Miss Davidson!
(MEN CLAMOUR)
Calm down! Just stand back!
(MEN SHOUT AND CLAMOUR)
- Just give her a little space.
- Leave me alone!
(MEN CONTINUE CLAMOURING)
Go away!
(SCREAMS) Go away!
Where's Dig?
She's gone.
Poison.
RICK: You have one from London,
another from New York.
Paris, Saigon, Singapore...
Wow. I can't even read
where that's from.
Doesn't matter anyway.
What doesn't matter?
ROBYN: This trip.
I never should have started it.
They're gone?
Yeah. For now.
Ow.
Sorry.
Rick?
I'm so alone.
We all are.
(SOBS GENTLY)
(SOBS) I miss her so much.
(CONTINUES SOBBING)
(GENTLE STRINGS MUSIC)
RICK: (PLAYFULLY) Agh! No!
- Hey!
- (CHILDREN CHUCKLE)
RICK: Way up high!
(CHILDREN GIGGLE)
(CHILDREN SHOUT)
Alright, you ready?
(CHILDREN CONTINUE
SHOUTING AND GIGGLING)
I've been thinking...
Yeah?
I want to finish what I started.
You know, but I can't face
those reporters again.
Oh, I can go ahead of
you into town and...
and say that one of
your camels is sick,
and it won't be
better for six weeks.
Trust me, none of them
will be able to stay
there for six weeks.
You think they'll go?
No, they'll be waiting
for you at Carnarvon.
But I'm not going to Carnarvon.
I know.
(ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC)
- (CAMEL BRAYS)
- Come on.
Here, Dook.
Steady.
Come on.
(MUSIC SWELLS)
(CAMEL BRAYS)
(LAUGHS)
(CHUCKLES)
Here, Bub.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Ooh! Ooh!
Just be careful.
(CHUCKLES)
Come on.
Come on.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Come on.
(CAMEL GRUNTS)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Captions by CSI Australia