Goldstone

Driver's license?

You know you was ten k's over back there?

Where you headed?

Been drinking today?

No worries.

Just need you to blow into this.

Keep going. Yep.

Step out of the car, please.

I said step out of the car.

Hey!

Hey, fellas, you wanna settle down there?

Oi! You mob!

Morning, Mayor. Sally.

Usual? Thanks.

Morning, Josh. Maureen.

Heard there was a bit of silly buggers down here last night. Nothing too serious, I hope.

Just the usual.

How're you going? Oh, I'm keeping busy.

There's... just shit going on with the blackfellas out at Broken River.

You know, they're drinking, fighting, whatnot. So...

I've got enough to keep me in and out of trouble.

I bet you do.

Josh, there's something I've been meaning to let you in on.

Furnace Creek's applied for a new expansion license.

For where? Everywhere, just about.

Well, the whole Goldstone catchment, anyway.

Fuck, that's bloody big. Top you up, Josh?

Yeah. Thanks, Sally.

Yeah, it's a very big deal for all of us,

and I mean all of us. But it's complicated.

Needs blackfella approval, and there's a mile of bright red tape.

What do you want from me?

Well, I know you don't like to get too involved in things,

but just keep your eyes and ears open,

and if you feel any heat, especially from Broken River, let me know.

We got Tommy from the Land Council on our side,

but we don't want anyone further complicating things.

Yeah, no worries. Good.

Also, you might want to know.

A stranger blew into town last night. A detective.

And get this. He's a blackfella.

What, Indian black or African black?

No, I mean blackfella black.

Near as I could tell, anyhow.

What's he doing here? Ain't too sure yet.

Well, find out.

Hey.

Apple? 'Course.

And Josh? Remember.

No worries.

Mmm. Mmm. Yeah, I know. What are we payin' em a fortune for?

We should have had a contract two fuckin' weeks ago.

Look, if this thing falls through, blame the fuckin' lawyers.

No, I'm just saying if it did.

Okay. Okay.

Gidday, Josh. Johnny.

You want a soft drink? Beer? No. No, thanks.

Jeez, I hope the boys weren't too much trouble.

I've pretty well had a gutful at this point.

Yeah, no, you know what they're like.

Look, I don't have the time for it anymore,

so if you can't fix it,

I'll have to start charging people.

Come on, Josh. Mate, you know as good as anyone

with no mine, there is no pub, there's no Josh, there's no fuckin' Goldstone.

Without Furnace Creek, we'd be a bloody piss stop

on the highway to nowhere.

You know, just like when the blackfellas were in charge.

You... you heard of the new expansion license?

Look, you've always been a good supporter, Josh.

You know, always been looking for ways

to show my appreciation.

But this one's major league, mate.

We're talking a few hundred million dollars

worth of gold, probably more.

I just need to know if we can count on ya.

Looks like a lot of trees there, Johnny.

Oh, mate, that's just for starters.

How about... how about I look after it for ya

since it's, you know, it's your first time and all.

Look, I better get back to it.

All right. Yeah. You have a good one, eh? Yeah, you too.

Hey, old man.

I was looking for Maria.

Maria.

Who are you?

My name's Jay.

About six months ago,

your phone was used to call a police hotline.

It was about an Asian-looking girl in the desert.

Did you make the call?

And is this her?

Could be.

Where'd you see her?

Under that first tree, heading out to town.

And what was she doing? Sittin' in the shade.

Did she look like she needed help?

Who's that?

Oh, that's Tommy.

Big Land Council boss.

Yeah, what?

Well, fuckin' deal with it.

Well, get onto Josh. Ask if he knows anything about him.

Right?

Good evening, sir.

Please, sit down.

I'm Anne, but you can call me Pinky.

How long you been in town, Pinky? A few days.

I cruise in for a few weeks and then I cruise out, just like you guys.

Are you married? Not anymore.

I hear ya. Got kids?

A beautiful girl.

Yeah, she passed away last year.

I'm sorry.

Are you a single girl, Pinky? Yeah, most of the time.

You hear of things happening out here?

Are you a cop?

Sometimes.

I've heard... stories

about girls getting caught up in stuff.

But you should know by now that all roads lead to Furnace Creek.

There's nothing else out here.

I do know one thing for sure,

and that's this land ain't no place for a young girl.

I'll be gentle.

Maybe next time.

There is...

no...

next... time.

Fuck!

Jeez, you don't mess around, do ya?

SGs.

They meant business.

You wanna make a statement?

Are you gonna tell me what you're doin' out here?

I know you ain't out here on no holiday.

Who sent ya?

Missing Persons.

Well... I'm gonna tell ya now,

there must be some mistake.

We got no missing persons out here.

Seems to me like a big old waste of time.

You should probably just

turn that old rust bucket of yours around and...

head back to where you came from.

That's for you.

From the Region Commander.

You wanna argue about it, you can give 'em a call and you can sort it out.

But I'm guessing you don't want any extra attention out here.

Well, I can tell you now

I ain't got time to be anybody's cattle dog, especially yours.

Anyway...

old Ruby Rose, she's as mad as hell.

Wants you out of here quick as a snail's fart.

Oh, yeah? Yeah.

Best get packin'.

It's all off-grid.

Gas fridge and stove.

It's a bit rough, but should be quiet enough.

What's the old Winchester for?

Mostly wild dogs.

And whatever else comes out of the desert.

Ferals around here

have been mixing with the dingos.

Making some crazy half-breed.

Wilder than the purebreds.

Twice as cunning.

Just a word of warning.

You see, out here...

folks don't take too kindly to outsiders.

So if you do want to go lookin' around,

just be careful where you step.

There's plenty of snakes about.

Take your hands off your gun!

Take your hands off your fucking gun!

Now drop to your knees slowly!

Put your hands on your head.

Put your hands on your fuckin' head!

Go.

How're ya goin'?

You can call me Johnny.

Can I get you a cold refreshment?

You want a soft drink? Beer?

Do you realize you were... intercepted well within a restricted area?

You know, it's a fuckin' dangerous worksite out here.

You know, you could have been injured.

Well, even worse than that.

What were you doing out here? I just got lost.

You get lost much, Detective?

And what'd you see out there tonight?

A beautiful sunset.

Oh, beautiful sunset, yeah.

You might wear a badge, work for the Crown.

So do we.

The difference is that

we keep this country in business.

See, it's all about...

it's all about standards of living, you know?

We can't stop the wheel turning for anyone, including you.

So I suggest...