Under Capricorn

In 1770 Captain Cook discovered Australia.

60 years later, the city of Sydney, capital of New South Wales,

had grown on the edge of 3 million square miles of unknown land.

The colony exported raw materials.

It imported material even more raw.

Prisoners.

Many of them unjustly convicted.

Who were to be shaped into pioneers of a great dominion.

In 1831 King William had sent a new Governor,

to rule the colony.

And now our story begins.

Present arms!

As the accredited representative of his gracious majesty,

King William.

To express to you, his Majesty's loyal, and beloved subjects.

His Majesty's warm interest

in the progress and welfare of your community.

Gentlemen. I know very little of your country,

you know very little of me.

Some of you have no very good record of us.

Have I the honor of addressing the honorable Charles Adare?

- Yes, who are you? - Potters my name, Sir. Cedric Potter.

I am the manager of the Bank New South Wales.

We knew you were arriving in the governor's entourage.

We should be glad to do anything we can for you, Sir.

Anything we can.

This is an odd place to do business.

This Sir? Not at all, Sir.

You'll find it's unconventional perhaps, but we get things done very rapidly.

I'm sure you do.

I've had clients working a chain gang in January and drinking champagne by July.

Extraordinary changes of fortune you'll see here, Sir.

No doubt.

You must give me time to settle down before we talk business.

I'll call you tomorrow.

- You are staying at the government house? - Yes.

- Your second cousin is the Governor? - Yes.

An interesting relationship.

- When may I look forward to seeing you? - Tomorrow at 11?

Admirable, Sir, admirable.

Well look, he's just finishing. I must join him.

Gentlemen, I have no more to say.

Except that I am greatly obliged to you, for your welcome.

What about a song, Governor!

Viva the governor!

- Not a very warm welcome. - The climate's making up for that.

Wellington used to say he didn't give a rap for the cheers he got before the battle.

They don't know what they're in for yet.

This way, sir.

Ah, you have done some business experience - Absolutely none.

I am a youngest son you see, and the youngest

son of an Irish parent to a very bad bargain.

I ought to be able to write and shoot I suppose,

but I am rather short sighted and I hate horses.

- Unfortunate, isn't it? - Very.

Come in.

Mr. Flusky to see you, Mr. Potter.

Ask him if he wouldn't mind waiting a few minutes.

Tell him I'm engaged with the governor's cousin.

Flusky, Flusky. That's a curious name. Seems to ring a bell somewhere.

Flusky, Rusky, Dustky. Who is he?

One of our most admirable citizens.

A large land owner.

He has made some most profitable investments.

Rather a financial genius in his way. He owns the best stock in the colony and he

works like a galley slave. That is to say he works very hard.

Flusky, Flusky. Where the devil have I heard that name before?

Well so you can't tell me how to get rich?

Well really only by hard work, Mr. Adare.

Well I must ask somebody else. I must ask your friend Mr. Flusky.

How'd he start?

Well, Sir. It's rather a long story.

And to tell you the truth, in this country we don't talk too much about the

past history of our successful men.

Oh, an ex-convict. An emancipist is his?

Well yes, Sir. An emancipist.

Well what did he serve his time for? Bank robbery or is he just a murderer?

Stop Mr. Adare, stop. We do not discuss these matters in Sydney.

A man's past is his own business.

Out here, we let bygones be bygones.

You do that? It's a thing we are never allowed to do in Ireland.

I'm always bumping into bygones.

How about you introduce me to him?

- Sir, if you wish it. But... - Be careful what I say.

Mr. Flusky! Sir!

Mr. Flusky, sir. Would you be good enough to step this way?

Mr. Flusky, let me present to you the honorable Charles Adare.

He's a cousin of his excellency the Governor.

- He's come to Sydney to make his fortune. - Has he?

Please to meet you.

I hope you told him, you can't find fortunes like fleas in a blanket.

Yes, I told him that, Mr. Flusky.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a flea.

Are they difficult to pick up?

It depends on how quick you are.

Now that I come to think of it. Fleas have a great

reputation for agility in my part of the country.

- What country may that be? - Ireland, the west of Ireland.

Ireland.

- What did you say your name was? - Adare.

Do you know the west country?

I might.

So you want to make money?

You're not the only one.

How much have you got to start with?

Not enough to impress Mr. Potter.

Are you one of the Adares of Killala?

Yes. Lord Killala is my father. Do you know him?

Well Mr. Adare, perhaps you can give me a little

time to think over how I can best advise you?

If you'll drop in tomorrow...

I'm going your way. If you come with me, I might be able to tell you a thing or two.

I shan't be a minute. I have something to get from the cashier.

See you another time, Mr. Potter.

Mr. Adare, sir.

He's a strange character, Mr. Adare. A strange character.

He seems to have taken a fancy to you.

I hope you won't mind if I give you one word of advice.

If he asks you to his house, don't go.

Why not?

A gentleman in your position can't be too careful.

Ready now, Mr. Adare.

Would you like me to tell you what he said?

I don't quite follow.

"If Old Flusky asks you to his house, don't go."

That's it isn't it?

I wasn't paying much attention, I'm afraid.

Pay attention to me.

Bring the horse.

You want to make some money.

There is a bit of land for sale going for a thousand pounds.

I want you to buy.

I myself want to buy a great many things Mr. Flusky.

Unfortunately I have no money.

Potter you will make you a short-term loan.

I will buy the land straight away from you.

For a good deal more than you paid for it.

If I hear right, Mr. Klusky, you're willing to give me a considerable sum of money.

- It's worth my while. - Why?

Simple enough.

I've bought all the land from the crown that law allows.

- There is nothing against a private deal. - Sounds delightful.

Forgive me. I'm still a little puzzled.

Why are you offering me this admirable investment?

I might have my reasons. I might not.

This is the found lands office.

I have a bit of business in here.

Come in if you like and file your application.

Saves time.

Her you are. Just on the minute as usual.

I've got some grazing for your new sheep.

Never mind that now.

- I want my secretary. - I've got one for you.

And he can read and write. Says he is a gentleman.

How long is he in for? Five-years.

Let's have a look at him.

Winter!

Open your mouth.

Arms like chicken legs.

- Can you keep accounts? - Yes, sir.

- Is that what you're in for? - I don't quite understand you, Sir.

Silly in the head are you?

- Was it embezzlement? - No, Sir.

- He got a girl into trouble. - It wasn't quite like that, you see...

Her father would never allow her to marry me.

Enough! You'll get nobody into trouble around my place.

- What is your name again? - Winter, Sir.

If you take me on, I'll do my best.

I promise you that, Sir. It's on my word of honor.

Words of honor from young gentlemen are not very good currency around here.

If you don't do your best, you go back to jail.

- He'll do. - You're in luck today.

If you treat Mr. Flusky right, he'll treat you right.

But if you don't...

- See that? - Yes.

It's a pink slip.

If we put your name on that, you're a convict again. Understand?

Send him around to my house.

Those laboring men you sent me won't do.

One was a horse thief, and the other a murderer.

I'd sooner trust a tiger snake than a horse thief,

and I won't have murderers in my house.

I filled out the pink slips. Send a guard to collect them.

Well, if you say so.

- You don't like horse thieves? - No, I don't.

- Nor murderers? - No.

Here's your application.

There, there Learly, the old girl ready?

- What do you think of her? - Much of a temper?

She's got the temper of the Devil himself.

Yeh?

Mr. Flusky!

Is that a human head?

Shrunken one.

There's a trade in that sort of thing here. Forbidden by law.

Got you for that son of an old shark you, you murderer you?

Mr. Flusky...

Come around to my place tomorrow would you?

Any driver will tell you where it is. We dine at 6:30.

Well that's very kind of you, but I think perhaps we are being a little hasty.