The Man from Snowy River

Danni!

Morning, Danni McGregor.

Morning, Mr. O'Shea, having a good day?

If I had time to enjoy it.

Is your father back from Melbourne yet?

- I'm just going to the station to pick him up.

- Give him my regards. - I will.

Whoa steady, girl.

Steady, Nellie.

It's alright, Nellie, it's alright.

What was all that about, eh?

Mrs. Walker.

Hi, Michael. - Morning, Matt.

- Is your mother here? - Just over there.

Hello, Matt, how was Melbourne?

Oh, Melbourne was fine.

Not as fine as being home, though, how are you?

I'm good.

Is Danni here?

- I haven't seen her but I'm sure she's not far away.

Is everything alright?

- Oh... - Dad, Dad!

Dad, it's Nellie, there's something wrong with her.

No sign of any lameness, Matt.

No, she seems firm enough.

- Sure she wasn't startled by a snake or a lizard, Danni?

- I'm sure, it's just like her legs kept going on her.

- Were you riding her hard? - No harder than normal.

- She might be coming down with something, she feels hot.

Best to get her on home, don't ride her, though.

George, can you lend her a horse?

You're not coming?

- No, I'll be along later, someone I have to see.

Give her a good wipe down, leave her in the stables,

keep her away from the other horses.

If she's ill, we'll know soon enough.

Well can I come with you?

It's government business, sweetie.

I'll help you saddle up, I'll be home soon.

Okay.

This must be a mistake.

It's what they transmitted, Connor.

I'm sorry.

But they're taking my land.

They're taking my land.

Dave, Brandon!

Look at that.

They're takin' my land!

- What do you mean? - No.

- It says so right there, the government's buying me out.

They can't do that!

Governments can do what they want.

Matt won't let that happen.

Good morning.

Do you know anything about this?

No.

No, I don't.

What about Matt?

He must know something.

- Oh, I'm sure Matt wouldn't support something

that took away a man's land and livelihood.

You could ask him.

Matt!

- Connor, I was just on my way up to see you.

- This government telegram says they're takin' my land.

Now, you tell me it can't be right.

- Well I'm afraid it is, the government needs your land.

Needs my land?

- It's what's called a compulsory acquisition.

More like stealin', that's what it is.

I've known you since I first came here, Matt.

One of the first horses you ever broke you broke for me.

On my land, this land.

We need to talk about this, Connor.

- You stand by and you watch them take my land

and all you wanna do is talk?

There's more to it than this, you know.

You're too right there is.

You can do all the talkin' you like, I'm not movin'.

Not the government, not for you, not for anyone.

How are the others?

Well they seem alright.

What is it exactly?

Dad didn't know.

She feels pretty hot.

- Alright, Nellie, you're gonna be alright.

It might be some kind of fever.

Maybe we should use some of this.

- Dad's tonic. - Yeah, what's left of it.

What's he put in it?

Who knows?

Not as good as Mom's, though.

So Mom made tonic as well?

Mom had a cure for everything.

Come on, girl.

Right, pour it in. - Okay.

That's it.

Good girl.

What do we do now?

Well we just wait.

I wanted to tell him myself,

I didn't want him to find out like this.

Why do they want his land?

You remember last summer how dry it got?

Well, it was even worse for those below the high country.

So this is all about water?

Government's planning to dam the valley,

build a reservoir.

It'll mean water for everyone, Kathleen.

It's Connor's land.

It's leased land.

So how long have you known?

- Well it was privileged information so I couldn't tell him.

I mean, this reservoir's for everyone.

Connor's not gonna lose money because of it.

He'll lose his way of life.

- Well I better head out there and talk to him.

- I don't think that's a good idea right now,

let him cool down.

- Might ride out in the morning and see him.

- Matty, are you sure there wasn't anywhere else?

I wish there was.

More stock?

Just a little.

Mm, smells wonderful, Mrs. Tan.

- Delicious, what would we ever do without you?

- My cooking wasn't that bad, was it?

- Well, just not enough of it. - Greedy.

The fever, it's spreading.

I think we've got real problems.

Yeah, what?

- Another horse has come down with the fever.

Any more?

- Three and I think one of the others is getting it.

What about Nellie?

She's worse.

She's not gonna die, is she?

- If we don't do something, they're all gonna get it, Dad.

So what do you reckon we should do?

Put him with Nellie, then get Palomena.

Will I put her in the stables, too?

Yep, they're the worst of the three.

When you're done that, saddle Rob to my horse,

put him in the top paddock, get Emily to give you a hand.

Okay.

- That the lot? - Yeah.

I used the last of your tonic on Nellie.

And?

Well we'll just have to make up a stronger batch, then.

Anything else we can do?

No, I think we've done all we can.

Separate the horses, cleaned out the stables.

The day's almost done.

See what tomorrow brings.

Good morning.

Did you stay here all night?

Feels like it.

How's Nellie?

I can't get her to take any water.

Poor old Nellie.

- I don't think the others are any better, either.

Dad seems really worried.

- I can't remember seeing him this worried.

What was Mom like?

Where did that come from?

- Rob said she used to make tonics and things,

I never knew that.

Too young, probably.

Hardly remember anything about her.

Remember her singing?

I think so.

Lullabies, mostly.

What sort of tonics did she make?

All kinds.

Aches, pains, fevers.

She had a tonic for everything and everyone, man or beast.

People used to say she had the touch.

What do you mean the touch?

- She seemed to know what was ailing people.

How to make them better.

Not every time but uh,

often enough for people to believe in her.

Really?

You really can't remember it, can you?

- Did she use recipes for the tonics she made?

She kept them in a book.

Well where would it be?

Probably in the trunk, in Dad's room.

- Rob, when you're finished that, I want you and Colin

to move all the cattle from the home paddock

down to lower valley.

- Do you really think it's that contagious?

Well I don't wanna risk finding out.

If it gets into the herd, it could wipe us out.

- Well your horse was in contact with Danni's,

and he's alright, isn't he?

It seems to be striking randomly.

Come on, gotta move some cattle.

Morning.

- Ah Danni, we have to make up some more tonic.