The Nightingale

(WHISPERS) Clare.

Clare.

Don't use so much glaze - you'll burn the meat.

Do you want to poison our guests?

Stand up straight, ya girl!

And you, ya fat Miss Molly -

your shoes look like they're dipped in shit!

Eyes front!

I wanna see my face in those!

If you cunts are not back here tonight

lookin' like the belle of the fuckin' ball,

I'll make you wish you were never born, understood?

Yes, Sergeant!

Company, shoulder arms!

Fall out!

They'll be like nuns in church, Lieutenant. You have my word.

Polish your boots and brush your coat.

You look like shite yourself.

Yes, sir!

It's near perfect.

- Company, shoulder arms! - (HORSE WHINNIES)

Company, general salute!

Present arms!

Shoulder arms!

We are honoured to welcome Captain Goodwin to our post.

We trust your visit here will be a fruitful one, Captain.

To start the evening off, I'd like to call on our little nightingale

to sing a good old British love song for all us homesick lads.

(FIRE CRACKLES, MEN TALK AND LAUGH)

- Fuckin' hell! - (LAUGHTER)

She likes you, Wallace! - Keep it down!

May I, sir?

What's happened to his lordship?

Jago's taken him to look at the sentries.

Then he's off to bed.

- Doesn't drink. - Doesn't drink?!

I bet he likes it up the windward passage, that one.

Bloody sodomite.

Go and find his nibs, will you? Make sure he's happy.

I'm off to Bedfordshire myself.

Got a full day of arse-kissing tomorrow.

Close the door.

Come here.

I can't do that, sir.

It's alright.

For your Singing.

And this one...

I got in Hobart especially for you.

You'll insult me if you don't take it.

Sing a song.

Just for me.

Oh, not that one.

The one for me.

God, you're beautiful.

Every man in that room wanted you tonight.

Sit on my lap.

Sir, my letter of recommendation.

Sir, it's due three months ago now.

I'll send it when I'm ready.

I'm meant to be in the care of my husband now, sir.

It's the law.

"It's the law," cried the thief.

Didn't I rescue you from that hellhole of a prison?

They warned me you'd be too much trouble. I took you on anyway.

You'd still be there if it weren't for me.

I'm very grateful for that, sir.

I let you marry the Irishman, got you your own hut.

Not good enough for her highness?

I'm very grateful to you, sir.

I even got you your own horse.

No other convict in the district has got their own horse.

Aidan worked for that horse for three years, sir.

He paid for it himself.

Ungrateful!

Oh, here it comes. This is the part where she cries.

I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry.

I decide when you leave and when you stay.

Stop crying.

You're doing this deliberately, with the captain here.

- No, Sir, I'm not. - Yes, you are.

You're doing it deliberately to get at me.

I shouldn't have said nothing, Sir.

I'm so sorry. I'll leave you be.

Come here!

Please don't, sir!

I need to get my baby.

Please don't. No!

Shut it.

Fix your sleeve.

Lieutenant.

Captain. Out you go, miss.

Your soldiers have been firing off their guns for no reason.

They do that, sir, to ward off the blacks.

They were rotten drunk

and firing at the night sky, Lieutenant.

Finally!

Some of us are living the high life

while I take care of their screaming babies!

And you can take that dress off. You're a convict, not royalty.

I'm taking it off now, damn you!

I beg your pardon?

You can start on the boilers before dawn.

- (HAMMERING) - Aidan.

Aidan!

Can we go, love?

And the little bird was so frightened.

She thought she was going to die

out there in the forest, all alone.

She called out in her sweet baby voice

to see if her ma could hear her.

Her voice was so pure,

it carried for miles through the trees.

And suddenly, out of nowhere...

her ma came flying down

and scooped her up in her breast.

And the little baby bird chirped with delight.

She held on tight through the trees

till they came to a beautiful place

where she and her ma and da

could all live happily together.

The sun shone brightly

and the air was clear.

She was home.

She was free.

And what did he say?

He'll send it when he's ready.

Christ's sake! I'm demanding it first thing in the morning.

No, you can't order him to do anything. It won't work.

He owes you your ticket, Clare.

You've served your time and then some.

- What's that mark? - What?

- There's another on your neck. - I fell.

Alright?

Alright, me missus?

What are you made of? Come on!

I can't, Sergeant.

Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink!

Drink! Drink! Drink!

Don't waste it, son!

Salutations, Lieutenant. You've done well.

Not long now, we'll be calling you Captain.

What a bloody rigmarole.

Won't be bending over for the likes of him when I'm captain.

What? Give me a Slice, sir!

I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I've had too much.

You've had five soldiers flogged and in the clink already, Sergeant.

Do you want the rest of them in there?

Get to bed, you tosspots!

Don't drain the dregs. Just get!

Have you been drinking?

- I'm just gonna talk to him. - No!

Aidan, no. No.

Let her go.

- Beg yours? - I asked you nice this morning.

Now I'm tellin' you. Let her go.

Hey, hey, hey. Watch your mouth.

Let him speak.

She's been askin' for three months.

Every week, you say you're gonna send the letter

and every week you don't.