Firebite (2021) s01e01 Episode Script
Pest Control
1
[WIND BLOWS.]
[WOMAN.]
The Australian Outback.
[VEHICLE ENGINE ROARS.]
This has been our home for 80,000 years.
White miners stripped our land of opals and left behind a maze of tunnels.
Blackfellas tell stories of monsters living down below.
Most dismiss them as myths and legends.
[BRAKES SCREECH.]
[HYDRAULICS HISS.]
[ENGINE IDLES.]
But I know different.
The monsters are real.
[DARK MUSIC.]
[DARK MUSIC INTENSIFIES.]
They've been here for centuries.
And they'd finally found the perfect place to live.
[DARK MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[LOUD THUD.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
Hey, newcomer.
If you're gonna live here, let's be clear.
- You work - [THUMPS.]
- [FLESH SQUELCHES.]
- us.
[BODY THUDS.]
[HEART BEATS.]
There's a blood hunter on my trail.
Deal with it.
[ROCK MUSIC.]
[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES.]
Some heroes stand against them, the blood hunters.
Blackfellas dedicated to killing these monsters.
But they haven't been seen in a long time.
[SNARLS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[BODY THUDS.]
But this isn't a story about a hero.
- What was that? - Don't know.
Must've been a roo.
Told you that roo bar'd be handy.
What you drawing there? History presentation today.
- No! - It's so boring.
They want me to do my paper on Australia Day.
Hey, look, true history happenin' right here.
Yeah, well, hope she's tied properly.
- [WOMAN.]
Help me! - Hang on.
Let's check.
- [ENGINE REVS.]
- Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! [SCREAMS.]
Yeah, she right.
[ROCK MUSIC.]
[WOMAN GROANS.]
Oh! Ohh! I can't take this anymore.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
[WOMAN SCREAMS.]
You know, Neeks, we should just kill them where we find them.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
You won't let me go down.
This is the only way I can track 'em.
[WOMAN COUGHS.]
Yeah, all right.
Let her suck on that dust.
Come on.
We need to get ready.
- [COUGHS.]
- Nah.
Just wait.
[COUGHS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS.]
[WOMAN CONTINUES WHIMPERING.]
[COUGHS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS, THEN GRUNTS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS.]
[DOORS SLAM.]
Dirty old cow.
You could've put some bloody undies on.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
Why are you doing this to me? Please! Help me, please! Hey! One more word outta you and I'll put that right Hey, Tyson, don't kill it.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
She should shut her hole, though.
[WHIMPERS.]
[KICKS ROCKS.]
Hey! Neeks, look, opal.
That's gonna get us new hubcaps.
I can get you all the opals you want! Ah, shut up! You wait! I'm gonna kill all you blackfellas! - [SNARLS.]
- [TYSON.]
You're an ugly one.
[SNARLS.]
[TYSON.]
Hey, how's that map lookin'? Which way this time? I bet you that opal she went east.
Nah.
West.
[EXPLOSIONS.]
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Bouzzz! Take that, ya blood-suckin' bastards! Ya messin' with the master blaster now! Go! Go! Gahhhh Yah! [ROCK MUSIC.]
TYSON: Whoa! Whoa! [ENGINE ROARS.]
[TYSON.]
Headin' out to community to sell this opal to Black Elvis.
[NEEKS.]
You need to check if that was a roo you hit.
Yeah, yeah, later.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Tyson! [ENGINE STOPS.]
Can't you just pull up like a normal person? Just for once.
Hey, gate to gate.
You're the one humbugging me saying you'll be late.
I am late.
I got no sleep last night.
Ohh, hero's life, Neeks.
I didn't choose it.
It chose me.
Hmm.
[ZIPS BAG.]
Not gonna help my history report.
- Ohhh! Bossy little thing.
- [DOOR SLAMS.]
[ENGINE IDLES.]
Hey! Lunch! Hey! Trained ya good, didn't I? Hey, eyes to the ground, Neeks.
[LAUGHS.]
And the convicts built all the roads and buildings.
That's why my dad says the convicts were heroes, not crims.
[TEACHER APPLAUDS.]
[TEACHER SIGHS.]
Shanika.
You're up.
[CHAIR SCRAPES ON FLOOR.]
[MELLOW MUSIC.]
[SHANIKA SIGHS.]
You wanna call it Australia Day? Well, we call it Invasion Day.
This is the true history of Australia.
Not your convicts.
- [STUDENT WHISPERS.]
- Or your roads.
This is before them.
My people lived happily, looked after the land.
Tyson says there was just an occasional punch-up.
But it was all cool.
[DRAMATIC ROCK MUSIC.]
And then they came.
They claimed our land because they reckoned nobody lived here, but that was a straight-up lie.
They came over here with their weapons, not just guns and vials of smallpox.
that had secret creatures on the bottom of that ship that would rip and kill and tear our mob apart.
There was 11 of them.
- What were they? - [LOW SNARLING.]
Vampires.
That attack on the shores of the Sydney harbour was the first of many.
And the beginning of this war.
They quickly became addicted to the blackfella blood and they couldn't get enough.
But that was always the British plan.
They went all over Australia, stalking us from the shadows.
But our mob are still standing strong and still fighting today.
Hmm.
She's drunk, just like the rest of them.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Shanika! [ENGINE REVS.]
["CRAZY GAME CALLED RODEO" PLAYS ON STEREO.]
I keep thinking about giving up everything at home [DOG BARKS.]
Thinkin' about leaving home [HORN HONKS.]
[DOG BARKS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[SONG CONTINUES FAINTLY.]
[CHILDREN SHOUT PLAYFULLY.]
Must've been a big roo.
[DOG BARKS.]
Look here.
Ah, this is crap.
You blind? That's solid.
- Give you $500 for it.
- [TYSON LAUGHS.]
$600 at least, brah.
I could be in town talking to any one of those whitefella dealers, but I'm here supporting black business.
- Coralee, sis.
- [CORALEE.]
What? Bring over $550.
[CORALEE.]
How much? $550.
Thank you, bub.
Try not to come round here wasting our water, ya know? Love you.
Yeah.
Chuck in that doll there too.
Shanika too old for dolls, or what? Nah, she right.
Here.
For Froggy.
Tell him we're square now.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Heya.
- Hey.
- [CAR DOOR SLAMS.]
- Hey, Aunty Maria.
- Had some action, eh? Yeah, last night we got a real crusty old one.
Maybe next time you might wanna wash your vampire blood off somewhere else.
Hey.
I've been keeping this mob safe, haven't I? When's the last time you saw a vamp on the community here? Traps are clear, we got 'em on the run.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Big shot here, eh? Oh, you right there, my daughter? [AUNTY MARIA.]
Yeah, Dad.
I got this.
Shanika beep mapping the tunnels there.
Good little sidekick that one.
Oh, be careful about teaching Shanika about your blood hunting.
I'm not a blood hunter.
You hunt vampires, don't ya? Hey, I hunt vampires my own way.
You wanna keep your voice down.
This mob got enough to worry about here.
Just do your job and don't bring it here.
That's our deal.
Copy that.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[CAR DRIVES AWAY.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
Ahh.
[CHUCKLES.]
Ahh.
[CAN RATTLES.]
[CAN HISSES.]
[CAN HISSES.]
[VEHICLE DOORS SLAM.]
[BIRD CAWS.]
[KICKS DIRT.]
Nah! [WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
[MAN.]
That's all right.
Don't worry about it.
[WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
[GROANS.]
You got the rego, didn't you? Yeah.
I already wrote it down.
- Which way did he go? - I don't know.
- Why would I know that? - See all the holes out here? Could be one of those for all we know.
Have you thought about the paperwork on this? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
- [BOY CALLS OUT.]
- [DOG BARKS.]
[BOYS SPEAK INDISTINCTLY.]
- [DOG BARKS.]
- [BOY CRIES OUT.]
[BOYS CALL OUT.]
[LIGHT HUMS.]
Oi, you mob! Look there, them big holes will gobble you up.
Home time now.
[BOYS CHATTER.]
Keep your eyes down.
[BOYS CHUCKLE AND CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
You pushed me! You pushed me! [WIND WHISTLES.]
[SOLEMN MUSIC.]
- [PAN SIZZLES.]
- [ASIAN-INSPIRED MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [TYSON HUMS.]
- Here you go, babe.
Right.
Tyson, I need vegetables.
Yeah, there's vegetables in the fried rice there.
Look! Peas, carrots - Whatever the hell that's - They're this big! - Oh! - We don't even need this much.
You got money left for my school lunch tomorrow? Here I am celebrating a win, you got nothin' but complaints.
You're turning into a proper little teenager now.
- I need a proper sleep.
- [TYSON SCOFFS.]
I need proper veggies and I need to study.
Oh, jeez, anything else? Yes.
You promised me a pony.
Oh! I'll round ya up a couple of donkeys in the morning.
[ASIAN-INSPIRED MUSIC PLAYS.]
Top pocket.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Don't know why we bother anyway.
There hasn't been a sucker on the bus for ages.
Yeah, well, this is our job, pest control.
Got to protect the community.
Our blackfella blood's like crack to them.
Hey.
Hey! Hey! You're spillin' that in there.
- I just cleaned up.
- Don't look clean.
I cleaned it at Black Elvis's joint.
Here, look.
I got you something.
For doing your big presentation.
Use her for target practice.
I told 'em about vampires.
What? It's true history.
How many times have I told you? You can't tell people.
All they do is panic, get in the way.
Well, they didn't believe me, anyway.
Yeah, you wanna hope they didn't.
You know what? I'm taking this back.
No! What? No.
No.
You wrecked it.
You wrecked it.
Beautiful moment and you wrecked it.
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
Here.
We're on.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[SOFTLY.]
Come on.
Yeah.
Show us your fangs.
[SHANIKA.]
There won't be any.
[TYSON.]
What's it gonna be? Is it the hogs or the man? [PEOPLE CHATTER INDISTINCTLY.]
[SIGHS.]
- Can we go now? - Nuh! One more stop.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[PEOPLE CHATTER AND CALL OUT.]
[TYSON.]
All righty.
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Quick check inside, make sure there's no suckers, - Then straight home.
- I need sleep.
Just do your homework.
20 minutes, tops.
Hero's life, Neeks.
[TYSON GROANS, SHUTS CAR DOOR.]
This is the hero's life? - [MUFFLED ROCK MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [PEOPLE CHATTER.]
- [ROCK MUSIC PLAYS LOUDLY.]
- [MAN.]
Tyson! Right.
- [PEOPLE CHATTER.]
- [BILLIARD BALLS CLINK.]
Hey, ya old bastard.
Hey! Look out! Guard up! Guard up! Guard up! Ladies, nothing sadder than an empty glass in front of an empty chair.
How are ya going? Yeah, you good? You good? Ahhh! How are we doin'? Tyson Walker, Opal City welcome party.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Thank you, my dear.
To us! There.
There we go.
There we go.
You know you love it.
Ahhh.
[MUFFLED MUSIC AND CHATTER.]
[WIND WHISTLES, MACHINE RATTLES.]
Just gonna have a joom.
Yeah, hang on, I'm nearly done.
Save me half! [WASHING MACHINE STOPS.]
[LIGHTER LID CLICKS.]
[LIGHTER FLICKS.]
[LOUD SCREECH.]
- [WASHING MACHINE CHUGS.]
- Grab that other basket, El.
Did you save me half? [WIND WHISTLES.]
Elvis? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[SCREECHES.]
[CORALEE.]
El Elvis! Oh! Elvis! No! [LAUGHS.]
[SCREAMS.]
[TYSON.]
And I was like, "Brahs, you put a finger on her, I'm gonna have to put some fingers on you.
" And I just grabbed him like this here and bop, bop, bop, dropped him.
Got plenty more stories like that.
Ellie, you should come join us.
Rep your nation.
[LONDON ACCENT.]
I'm working, dick.
Mm-hm.
So, uh, what brings you to Opal City? A modelling assignment? [VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS.]
[MUFFLED ROCK MUSIC PLAYS.]
So the whole tunnel's built underground because of the heat, you see.
Is that why this bar's underground? Uh-huh.
Then there's the isolation Hundreds of miles from the nearest town.
But when you see that flash of colour, it's all worth it.
Did ya tell her you shoot kangaroos for a living? Oh, my God, the strippers are here! [WOMAN LAUGHS.]
- Getting over.
- [TYSON WHISTLES.]
What, not even a dance, Sarge? Go fuck yourself, Walker.
Mate! The cheek I get from the strippers these days.
[POLICEMAN.]
Yeah, thanks, mate.
We've got an abandoned truck on the highway.
No-one in it.
You hear anything about it? Have you asked around? ["FADE AWAY" BY SKEGGS PLAYS.]
Sometimes I feel nothing But hurt in my chest Almost thinking Hey, Tyson, what are you doing? Tyson! Hello, Kitty cat.
You don't get to call me that anymore.
Come on.
We're still friends.
I'm taking them opal hunting.
Who's Sporty Spice here? This is Alma.
She's my new housemate.
She'll be working nights at the clinic.
Maybe I do need a health check.
Tyson Walker, you need more than a check-up.
You know what I need, do you? [LAUGHS.]
- G'day, I'm Tyson.
- Alma.
- Alma, where are you from, Alma? - Melbourne.
I should give you a Welcome to Country, then.
I think your welcome's been warm.
- [TYSON.]
Oh! - [ELLIE HITS TYSON.]
Hey! Get out of here! Go on! Go! Bloody miners.
[ALL CHATTER INDISTINCTLY.]
He used the same bloody line on me.
Yeah.
"Welcome to Opal City.
" Yeah, You'll get used to it.
See ya, Bob.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
[TYRES SCREECH.]
[DOOR SLAMS.]
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[GROANS.]
[FIRE CRACKLES.]
[INHALES.]
[EXHALES.]
Hey, Neeks.
Neeks! Hmm? What's the difference between a racist and a vampire? What? One got a really small brain.
[LAUGHS.]
[SNORTS.]
Hey, Neeks.
Shanika! What? How come you never call me Dad? What? Just try it, like, once.
No.
Just say, "Hey.
Hey, Dad.
You're deadly.
" Nuh.
"Love you, Dad.
" Well call me Mum, then.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[SHANIKA CONTINUES SCREAMING.]
[TYSON.]
Hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, calm down.
Calm down.
Hey.
Hey.
- It's me.
- [PANTS.]
Chill out.
I saw it again.
Oh, it's gone now.
I'm here.
Everything's all right, right? [GENTLE MUSIC.]
[TYSON SIGHS.]
[EXHALES.]
[SHANIKA.]
Tyson, wake up.
Tyson! You need to take me to school.
[CLOSES CABINET.]
Tyson! [MUTTERS.]
Huh! Tyson, you're such a ["MR NEVER WRONG" BY THE SHRUGS PLAYS.]
[HARD ROCK MUSIC.]
And I don't disagree But you'll never succeed Convincing them over tea Better off if you'd plead We're on the same page We sing the same song He's not always right But he's been too long Mr Never Wrong [TEACHER.]
Your presentation was ridiculous, Shanika.
- [STUDENT.]
Not so smart anymore.
- Piss off! Are all blackfellas dumb? Lucky white people came to save youse.
[TEACHER.]
Darryl, stop it! - Keep going and I'll smash you! - Didn't save your mum, but.
[TEACHER.]
Shanika! ["THE SHADOWS" BY THE UPLIFTING BELL ENDS PLAYS.]
[STATIC ON TV.]
Ohhh! [HORSERACING COMMENTARY ON RADIO.]
Come on, Dusty Princess.
You got this, old girl.
Yeah.
And then round the outer.
And that's it.
Now let him go! [HORSERACING COMMENTARY CONTINUES.]
Oh, no.
Nah.
Come on! No, no, slower.
Faster, you [COMMENTATOR.]
Aussie Jack by a nose to young Werther [TURNS RADIO OFF.]
Useless bloody horse! [RINGS BELL.]
[SNIFFS.]
Beer, thanks, bud.
Hell, and a whisky chaser.
Why not? Might get hit by a bus tomorrow.
What, like that truckie on the highway? What truckie? One the cops are looking for.
Found the truck empty on the minefields yesterday morning.
No body.
They reckon a hit and run.
The bloke that hit him probably threw him down a mine shaft.
If this town knows anything, it's how to hide a body.
- Maybe I'll go back - [CASH REGISTER BEEPS.]
To the shadows.
[SONG CONTINUES.]
[MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS.]
[MAN.]
Hey, Tyson.
Dickhead.
[GROANS.]
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
[SHUTS DOOR.]
[BODY THUDS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
Ah, fuck.
[FIRES SEVERAL TIMES.]
[GRUNTS.]
Come on! [DULL CLATTER.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Oh, fuck! Blood hunters.
[ENGINE REVS.]
[WOMAN.]
Tyson is your dad? No.
He's my legal guardian.
He'd be out hunting roos, workin'.
We also rang the other number listed.
What other number? [DOOR OPENS.]
Aunty Kitty? Kitty Sinclair.
Are you a guardian too? No.
I'm Tyson's ex-partner, but I'm here for Shanika.
We're very concerned about the violence she's exhibiting.
She attempted to seriously assault one of her peers.
He insulted my mum.
Sounds like you've got a bully using a young girl's grief to get a reaction.
I hope you called the other parents too.
The thing is Shanika was on her last warning.
And her behaviour is escalating.
Bullshit.
Shanika.
I'd like to speak with Tyson.
[BOTH.]
He's busy.
We understand things going on in life outside of school that affects our behaviour.
Sometimes, it can be hard to talk about those things.
Shanika's right.
This is bullshit.
When you bring that other kid in, call us.
Unfortunately, we can't have Shanika on school grounds at the moment.
I'm suspended? I've also had to alert Child Protection Services.
What?! Piss off.
I'd like Tyson to meet with me before this escalates further.
[EXHALES SHAKILY.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
You know how to answer your phone? Yeah.
What did I do this time? Black Elvis is missing.
Coralee said he was dragged away by spirits.
[SIGHS.]
What? I think a blood hunter is here.
A real one.
I found his gear.
Do you know who? Nah.
I haven't spoken to those mob in 10 years.
This is bad, Tyson.
If an actual blood hunter is here, then something bad's happened.
I think it's that missing truck driver.
That's him.
- You gotta find him.
- [CAR APPROACHES.]
- Nah, he's gone down there.
- Then you gotta go down I won't go down there.
You know that.
I do pest control.
I'm not crazy.
Our mob are being killed, Tyson.
You gotta find this bloke.
[CAR DOOR SHUTS.]
Hey, Kitty cat! Don't "Kitty cat" me, dickhead.
I need a word.
Aunty Maria.
I'll leave youse mob to it.
[MOTORCYCLE ENGINE HUMS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
If you're after a reconciliation, then now's not the time.
If you bothered answering your phone, you'd know about school.
Why is everyone calling me today? What happened at school? - She got kicked out.
- Oh, what?! This girl's got a good brain in her head.
And you're leading her astray like some two-bit cowboy.
Hey, my bits are good.
Solid, even.
Well, Mr Solid, you can deal with Child Protection Services because they've now been alerted.
And once they got their eye on you I got no time for this, Kitty.
I got things to do! Like watching roos and getting pissed?! You're all she's got.
Yes.
I'm her legal guardian.
I'll deal with it.
You had your chance.
- Bye, Auntie Kitty.
- See ya, bub.
Jerk! You two still act like you're married up.
Yeah.
She wishes.
I don't wanna go with Child Protection.
I wanna stay here, with you.
Who gives a shit about Child Protection? I got bigger problems.
- What? - Get your fighting face on.
- For real? - For real.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
But vamps never go into the community.
Yeah, I know.
[SIGHS.]
Look, we've trained for this, right? So we just deal with it and things go back to normal.
Hero's life, Neeks, remember? [TYRES SKID, ENGINE REVS.]
Tyson, you're a dick.
Yeah, well, you're annoying.
Stop punching kids.
- [TYSON.]
Weapons.
- [SHANIKA.]
Yep.
All right, eyes to the ground, Neeks.
Any suckers gonna take us two on, they'd be crazy.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
[HYDRAULICS HISS.]
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN.]
[TYSON.]
Nah, just a couple of cowboys there.
- Hang on.
- [SHANIKA.]
What's going on? [TYSON.]
Look at 'em all.
They're all suckers.
- We can't take that many.
- It's all right.
We just need one.
[TYSON.]
Yeah, look at this colonisin', blood-suckin', no-arse bastard.
Yeah! Come on, you little cockroach.
[TYSON.]
Yeah, go on.
Get in there.
Right.
We're on.
- [ENGINE STARTS.]
- Eyes to the ground.
[EXCITING ROCK MUSIC.]
[HINGES SQUEAK.]
- [MAN.]
Argh! - [SHANIKA.]
Go, go, go! [ENGINE REVS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[CAR DOORS OPEN.]
[CAR DOORS SHUT.]
- [MAN SNARLS.]
- [TYSON GRUNTS.]
Oh, shit! [RIFLE COCKS, THEN FIRES TWICE.]
- [MAN SNARLS.]
- [SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[BOTH GRUNT.]
[SNARLS.]
What's going on? What are you all doing here? - [SNARLS.]
- [TYSON.]
Hey! [TYSON.]
Oh! [MAN GRUNTS.]
[EXCITING ROCK MUSIC.]
[HEAD THUMPS REPEATEDLY.]
[ROARS.]
[SHANIKA.]
Tyson! [COCKS RIFLE, THEN FIRES.]
[TYSON GRUNTS.]
[MAN PANTS.]
Hey! Eyes to the ground! - Neeks! - [SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[PANTS.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[FAINT SNARLING.]
[TYSON.]
Shanika! [ROCK MUSIC.]
[WOMAN.]
The Australian Outback.
[VEHICLE ENGINE ROARS.]
This has been our home for 80,000 years.
White miners stripped our land of opals and left behind a maze of tunnels.
Blackfellas tell stories of monsters living down below.
Most dismiss them as myths and legends.
[BRAKES SCREECH.]
[HYDRAULICS HISS.]
[ENGINE IDLES.]
But I know different.
The monsters are real.
[DARK MUSIC.]
[DARK MUSIC INTENSIFIES.]
They've been here for centuries.
And they'd finally found the perfect place to live.
[DARK MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[LOUD THUD.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
Hey, newcomer.
If you're gonna live here, let's be clear.
- You work - [THUMPS.]
- [FLESH SQUELCHES.]
- us.
[BODY THUDS.]
[HEART BEATS.]
There's a blood hunter on my trail.
Deal with it.
[ROCK MUSIC.]
[TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLES.]
Some heroes stand against them, the blood hunters.
Blackfellas dedicated to killing these monsters.
But they haven't been seen in a long time.
[SNARLS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[BODY THUDS.]
But this isn't a story about a hero.
- What was that? - Don't know.
Must've been a roo.
Told you that roo bar'd be handy.
What you drawing there? History presentation today.
- No! - It's so boring.
They want me to do my paper on Australia Day.
Hey, look, true history happenin' right here.
Yeah, well, hope she's tied properly.
- [WOMAN.]
Help me! - Hang on.
Let's check.
- [ENGINE REVS.]
- Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! [SCREAMS.]
Yeah, she right.
[ROCK MUSIC.]
[WOMAN GROANS.]
Oh! Ohh! I can't take this anymore.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
[WOMAN SCREAMS.]
You know, Neeks, we should just kill them where we find them.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
You won't let me go down.
This is the only way I can track 'em.
[WOMAN COUGHS.]
Yeah, all right.
Let her suck on that dust.
Come on.
We need to get ready.
- [COUGHS.]
- Nah.
Just wait.
[COUGHS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS.]
[WOMAN CONTINUES WHIMPERING.]
[COUGHS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS, THEN GRUNTS.]
[WOMAN WHIMPERS.]
[DOORS SLAM.]
Dirty old cow.
You could've put some bloody undies on.
[WOMAN GROANS.]
Why are you doing this to me? Please! Help me, please! Hey! One more word outta you and I'll put that right Hey, Tyson, don't kill it.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
She should shut her hole, though.
[WHIMPERS.]
[KICKS ROCKS.]
Hey! Neeks, look, opal.
That's gonna get us new hubcaps.
I can get you all the opals you want! Ah, shut up! You wait! I'm gonna kill all you blackfellas! - [SNARLS.]
- [TYSON.]
You're an ugly one.
[SNARLS.]
[TYSON.]
Hey, how's that map lookin'? Which way this time? I bet you that opal she went east.
Nah.
West.
[EXPLOSIONS.]
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Bouzzz! Take that, ya blood-suckin' bastards! Ya messin' with the master blaster now! Go! Go! Gahhhh Yah! [ROCK MUSIC.]
TYSON: Whoa! Whoa! [ENGINE ROARS.]
[TYSON.]
Headin' out to community to sell this opal to Black Elvis.
[NEEKS.]
You need to check if that was a roo you hit.
Yeah, yeah, later.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Tyson! [ENGINE STOPS.]
Can't you just pull up like a normal person? Just for once.
Hey, gate to gate.
You're the one humbugging me saying you'll be late.
I am late.
I got no sleep last night.
Ohh, hero's life, Neeks.
I didn't choose it.
It chose me.
Hmm.
[ZIPS BAG.]
Not gonna help my history report.
- Ohhh! Bossy little thing.
- [DOOR SLAMS.]
[ENGINE IDLES.]
Hey! Lunch! Hey! Trained ya good, didn't I? Hey, eyes to the ground, Neeks.
[LAUGHS.]
And the convicts built all the roads and buildings.
That's why my dad says the convicts were heroes, not crims.
[TEACHER APPLAUDS.]
[TEACHER SIGHS.]
Shanika.
You're up.
[CHAIR SCRAPES ON FLOOR.]
[MELLOW MUSIC.]
[SHANIKA SIGHS.]
You wanna call it Australia Day? Well, we call it Invasion Day.
This is the true history of Australia.
Not your convicts.
- [STUDENT WHISPERS.]
- Or your roads.
This is before them.
My people lived happily, looked after the land.
Tyson says there was just an occasional punch-up.
But it was all cool.
[DRAMATIC ROCK MUSIC.]
And then they came.
They claimed our land because they reckoned nobody lived here, but that was a straight-up lie.
They came over here with their weapons, not just guns and vials of smallpox.
that had secret creatures on the bottom of that ship that would rip and kill and tear our mob apart.
There was 11 of them.
- What were they? - [LOW SNARLING.]
Vampires.
That attack on the shores of the Sydney harbour was the first of many.
And the beginning of this war.
They quickly became addicted to the blackfella blood and they couldn't get enough.
But that was always the British plan.
They went all over Australia, stalking us from the shadows.
But our mob are still standing strong and still fighting today.
Hmm.
She's drunk, just like the rest of them.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Shanika! [ENGINE REVS.]
["CRAZY GAME CALLED RODEO" PLAYS ON STEREO.]
I keep thinking about giving up everything at home [DOG BARKS.]
Thinkin' about leaving home [HORN HONKS.]
[DOG BARKS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[SONG CONTINUES FAINTLY.]
[CHILDREN SHOUT PLAYFULLY.]
Must've been a big roo.
[DOG BARKS.]
Look here.
Ah, this is crap.
You blind? That's solid.
- Give you $500 for it.
- [TYSON LAUGHS.]
$600 at least, brah.
I could be in town talking to any one of those whitefella dealers, but I'm here supporting black business.
- Coralee, sis.
- [CORALEE.]
What? Bring over $550.
[CORALEE.]
How much? $550.
Thank you, bub.
Try not to come round here wasting our water, ya know? Love you.
Yeah.
Chuck in that doll there too.
Shanika too old for dolls, or what? Nah, she right.
Here.
For Froggy.
Tell him we're square now.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Heya.
- Hey.
- [CAR DOOR SLAMS.]
- Hey, Aunty Maria.
- Had some action, eh? Yeah, last night we got a real crusty old one.
Maybe next time you might wanna wash your vampire blood off somewhere else.
Hey.
I've been keeping this mob safe, haven't I? When's the last time you saw a vamp on the community here? Traps are clear, we got 'em on the run.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Big shot here, eh? Oh, you right there, my daughter? [AUNTY MARIA.]
Yeah, Dad.
I got this.
Shanika beep mapping the tunnels there.
Good little sidekick that one.
Oh, be careful about teaching Shanika about your blood hunting.
I'm not a blood hunter.
You hunt vampires, don't ya? Hey, I hunt vampires my own way.
You wanna keep your voice down.
This mob got enough to worry about here.
Just do your job and don't bring it here.
That's our deal.
Copy that.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[CAR DRIVES AWAY.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
Ahh.
[CHUCKLES.]
Ahh.
[CAN RATTLES.]
[CAN HISSES.]
[CAN HISSES.]
[VEHICLE DOORS SLAM.]
[BIRD CAWS.]
[KICKS DIRT.]
Nah! [WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
[MAN.]
That's all right.
Don't worry about it.
[WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY.]
[GROANS.]
You got the rego, didn't you? Yeah.
I already wrote it down.
- Which way did he go? - I don't know.
- Why would I know that? - See all the holes out here? Could be one of those for all we know.
Have you thought about the paperwork on this? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
- [BOY CALLS OUT.]
- [DOG BARKS.]
[BOYS SPEAK INDISTINCTLY.]
- [DOG BARKS.]
- [BOY CRIES OUT.]
[BOYS CALL OUT.]
[LIGHT HUMS.]
Oi, you mob! Look there, them big holes will gobble you up.
Home time now.
[BOYS CHATTER.]
Keep your eyes down.
[BOYS CHUCKLE AND CHATTER.]
[BOY.]
You pushed me! You pushed me! [WIND WHISTLES.]
[SOLEMN MUSIC.]
- [PAN SIZZLES.]
- [ASIAN-INSPIRED MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [TYSON HUMS.]
- Here you go, babe.
Right.
Tyson, I need vegetables.
Yeah, there's vegetables in the fried rice there.
Look! Peas, carrots - Whatever the hell that's - They're this big! - Oh! - We don't even need this much.
You got money left for my school lunch tomorrow? Here I am celebrating a win, you got nothin' but complaints.
You're turning into a proper little teenager now.
- I need a proper sleep.
- [TYSON SCOFFS.]
I need proper veggies and I need to study.
Oh, jeez, anything else? Yes.
You promised me a pony.
Oh! I'll round ya up a couple of donkeys in the morning.
[ASIAN-INSPIRED MUSIC PLAYS.]
Top pocket.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Don't know why we bother anyway.
There hasn't been a sucker on the bus for ages.
Yeah, well, this is our job, pest control.
Got to protect the community.
Our blackfella blood's like crack to them.
Hey.
Hey! Hey! You're spillin' that in there.
- I just cleaned up.
- Don't look clean.
I cleaned it at Black Elvis's joint.
Here, look.
I got you something.
For doing your big presentation.
Use her for target practice.
I told 'em about vampires.
What? It's true history.
How many times have I told you? You can't tell people.
All they do is panic, get in the way.
Well, they didn't believe me, anyway.
Yeah, you wanna hope they didn't.
You know what? I'm taking this back.
No! What? No.
No.
You wrecked it.
You wrecked it.
Beautiful moment and you wrecked it.
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
Here.
We're on.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[SOFTLY.]
Come on.
Yeah.
Show us your fangs.
[SHANIKA.]
There won't be any.
[TYSON.]
What's it gonna be? Is it the hogs or the man? [PEOPLE CHATTER INDISTINCTLY.]
[SIGHS.]
- Can we go now? - Nuh! One more stop.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[PEOPLE CHATTER AND CALL OUT.]
[TYSON.]
All righty.
[ENGINE STOPS.]
Quick check inside, make sure there's no suckers, - Then straight home.
- I need sleep.
Just do your homework.
20 minutes, tops.
Hero's life, Neeks.
[TYSON GROANS, SHUTS CAR DOOR.]
This is the hero's life? - [MUFFLED ROCK MUSIC PLAYS.]
- [PEOPLE CHATTER.]
- [ROCK MUSIC PLAYS LOUDLY.]
- [MAN.]
Tyson! Right.
- [PEOPLE CHATTER.]
- [BILLIARD BALLS CLINK.]
Hey, ya old bastard.
Hey! Look out! Guard up! Guard up! Guard up! Ladies, nothing sadder than an empty glass in front of an empty chair.
How are ya going? Yeah, you good? You good? Ahhh! How are we doin'? Tyson Walker, Opal City welcome party.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Thank you, my dear.
To us! There.
There we go.
There we go.
You know you love it.
Ahhh.
[MUFFLED MUSIC AND CHATTER.]
[WIND WHISTLES, MACHINE RATTLES.]
Just gonna have a joom.
Yeah, hang on, I'm nearly done.
Save me half! [WASHING MACHINE STOPS.]
[LIGHTER LID CLICKS.]
[LIGHTER FLICKS.]
[LOUD SCREECH.]
- [WASHING MACHINE CHUGS.]
- Grab that other basket, El.
Did you save me half? [WIND WHISTLES.]
Elvis? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[SCREECHES.]
[CORALEE.]
El Elvis! Oh! Elvis! No! [LAUGHS.]
[SCREAMS.]
[TYSON.]
And I was like, "Brahs, you put a finger on her, I'm gonna have to put some fingers on you.
" And I just grabbed him like this here and bop, bop, bop, dropped him.
Got plenty more stories like that.
Ellie, you should come join us.
Rep your nation.
[LONDON ACCENT.]
I'm working, dick.
Mm-hm.
So, uh, what brings you to Opal City? A modelling assignment? [VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS.]
[MUFFLED ROCK MUSIC PLAYS.]
So the whole tunnel's built underground because of the heat, you see.
Is that why this bar's underground? Uh-huh.
Then there's the isolation Hundreds of miles from the nearest town.
But when you see that flash of colour, it's all worth it.
Did ya tell her you shoot kangaroos for a living? Oh, my God, the strippers are here! [WOMAN LAUGHS.]
- Getting over.
- [TYSON WHISTLES.]
What, not even a dance, Sarge? Go fuck yourself, Walker.
Mate! The cheek I get from the strippers these days.
[POLICEMAN.]
Yeah, thanks, mate.
We've got an abandoned truck on the highway.
No-one in it.
You hear anything about it? Have you asked around? ["FADE AWAY" BY SKEGGS PLAYS.]
Sometimes I feel nothing But hurt in my chest Almost thinking Hey, Tyson, what are you doing? Tyson! Hello, Kitty cat.
You don't get to call me that anymore.
Come on.
We're still friends.
I'm taking them opal hunting.
Who's Sporty Spice here? This is Alma.
She's my new housemate.
She'll be working nights at the clinic.
Maybe I do need a health check.
Tyson Walker, you need more than a check-up.
You know what I need, do you? [LAUGHS.]
- G'day, I'm Tyson.
- Alma.
- Alma, where are you from, Alma? - Melbourne.
I should give you a Welcome to Country, then.
I think your welcome's been warm.
- [TYSON.]
Oh! - [ELLIE HITS TYSON.]
Hey! Get out of here! Go on! Go! Bloody miners.
[ALL CHATTER INDISTINCTLY.]
He used the same bloody line on me.
Yeah.
"Welcome to Opal City.
" Yeah, You'll get used to it.
See ya, Bob.
[GENTLE MUSIC.]
[TYRES SCREECH.]
[DOOR SLAMS.]
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
[GENTLE MUSIC CONTINUES.]
[GROANS.]
[FIRE CRACKLES.]
[INHALES.]
[EXHALES.]
Hey, Neeks.
Neeks! Hmm? What's the difference between a racist and a vampire? What? One got a really small brain.
[LAUGHS.]
[SNORTS.]
Hey, Neeks.
Shanika! What? How come you never call me Dad? What? Just try it, like, once.
No.
Just say, "Hey.
Hey, Dad.
You're deadly.
" Nuh.
"Love you, Dad.
" Well call me Mum, then.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[SHANIKA CONTINUES SCREAMING.]
[TYSON.]
Hey.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, calm down.
Calm down.
Hey.
Hey.
- It's me.
- [PANTS.]
Chill out.
I saw it again.
Oh, it's gone now.
I'm here.
Everything's all right, right? [GENTLE MUSIC.]
[TYSON SIGHS.]
[EXHALES.]
[SHANIKA.]
Tyson, wake up.
Tyson! You need to take me to school.
[CLOSES CABINET.]
Tyson! [MUTTERS.]
Huh! Tyson, you're such a ["MR NEVER WRONG" BY THE SHRUGS PLAYS.]
[HARD ROCK MUSIC.]
And I don't disagree But you'll never succeed Convincing them over tea Better off if you'd plead We're on the same page We sing the same song He's not always right But he's been too long Mr Never Wrong [TEACHER.]
Your presentation was ridiculous, Shanika.
- [STUDENT.]
Not so smart anymore.
- Piss off! Are all blackfellas dumb? Lucky white people came to save youse.
[TEACHER.]
Darryl, stop it! - Keep going and I'll smash you! - Didn't save your mum, but.
[TEACHER.]
Shanika! ["THE SHADOWS" BY THE UPLIFTING BELL ENDS PLAYS.]
[STATIC ON TV.]
Ohhh! [HORSERACING COMMENTARY ON RADIO.]
Come on, Dusty Princess.
You got this, old girl.
Yeah.
And then round the outer.
And that's it.
Now let him go! [HORSERACING COMMENTARY CONTINUES.]
Oh, no.
Nah.
Come on! No, no, slower.
Faster, you [COMMENTATOR.]
Aussie Jack by a nose to young Werther [TURNS RADIO OFF.]
Useless bloody horse! [RINGS BELL.]
[SNIFFS.]
Beer, thanks, bud.
Hell, and a whisky chaser.
Why not? Might get hit by a bus tomorrow.
What, like that truckie on the highway? What truckie? One the cops are looking for.
Found the truck empty on the minefields yesterday morning.
No body.
They reckon a hit and run.
The bloke that hit him probably threw him down a mine shaft.
If this town knows anything, it's how to hide a body.
- Maybe I'll go back - [CASH REGISTER BEEPS.]
To the shadows.
[SONG CONTINUES.]
[MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS.]
[MAN.]
Hey, Tyson.
Dickhead.
[GROANS.]
[ENGINE STARTS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
[SHUTS DOOR.]
[BODY THUDS.]
[FLIES BUZZ.]
Ah, fuck.
[FIRES SEVERAL TIMES.]
[GRUNTS.]
Come on! [DULL CLATTER.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Oh, fuck! Blood hunters.
[ENGINE REVS.]
[WOMAN.]
Tyson is your dad? No.
He's my legal guardian.
He'd be out hunting roos, workin'.
We also rang the other number listed.
What other number? [DOOR OPENS.]
Aunty Kitty? Kitty Sinclair.
Are you a guardian too? No.
I'm Tyson's ex-partner, but I'm here for Shanika.
We're very concerned about the violence she's exhibiting.
She attempted to seriously assault one of her peers.
He insulted my mum.
Sounds like you've got a bully using a young girl's grief to get a reaction.
I hope you called the other parents too.
The thing is Shanika was on her last warning.
And her behaviour is escalating.
Bullshit.
Shanika.
I'd like to speak with Tyson.
[BOTH.]
He's busy.
We understand things going on in life outside of school that affects our behaviour.
Sometimes, it can be hard to talk about those things.
Shanika's right.
This is bullshit.
When you bring that other kid in, call us.
Unfortunately, we can't have Shanika on school grounds at the moment.
I'm suspended? I've also had to alert Child Protection Services.
What?! Piss off.
I'd like Tyson to meet with me before this escalates further.
[EXHALES SHAKILY.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
[ENGINE STOPS.]
You know how to answer your phone? Yeah.
What did I do this time? Black Elvis is missing.
Coralee said he was dragged away by spirits.
[SIGHS.]
What? I think a blood hunter is here.
A real one.
I found his gear.
Do you know who? Nah.
I haven't spoken to those mob in 10 years.
This is bad, Tyson.
If an actual blood hunter is here, then something bad's happened.
I think it's that missing truck driver.
That's him.
- You gotta find him.
- [CAR APPROACHES.]
- Nah, he's gone down there.
- Then you gotta go down I won't go down there.
You know that.
I do pest control.
I'm not crazy.
Our mob are being killed, Tyson.
You gotta find this bloke.
[CAR DOOR SHUTS.]
Hey, Kitty cat! Don't "Kitty cat" me, dickhead.
I need a word.
Aunty Maria.
I'll leave youse mob to it.
[MOTORCYCLE ENGINE HUMS.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
If you're after a reconciliation, then now's not the time.
If you bothered answering your phone, you'd know about school.
Why is everyone calling me today? What happened at school? - She got kicked out.
- Oh, what?! This girl's got a good brain in her head.
And you're leading her astray like some two-bit cowboy.
Hey, my bits are good.
Solid, even.
Well, Mr Solid, you can deal with Child Protection Services because they've now been alerted.
And once they got their eye on you I got no time for this, Kitty.
I got things to do! Like watching roos and getting pissed?! You're all she's got.
Yes.
I'm her legal guardian.
I'll deal with it.
You had your chance.
- Bye, Auntie Kitty.
- See ya, bub.
Jerk! You two still act like you're married up.
Yeah.
She wishes.
I don't wanna go with Child Protection.
I wanna stay here, with you.
Who gives a shit about Child Protection? I got bigger problems.
- What? - Get your fighting face on.
- For real? - For real.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[ENGINE REVS.]
But vamps never go into the community.
Yeah, I know.
[SIGHS.]
Look, we've trained for this, right? So we just deal with it and things go back to normal.
Hero's life, Neeks, remember? [TYRES SKID, ENGINE REVS.]
Tyson, you're a dick.
Yeah, well, you're annoying.
Stop punching kids.
- [TYSON.]
Weapons.
- [SHANIKA.]
Yep.
All right, eyes to the ground, Neeks.
Any suckers gonna take us two on, they'd be crazy.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[VEHICLE APPROACHES.]
[BRAKES SQUEAL.]
[HYDRAULICS HISS.]
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN.]
[TYSON.]
Nah, just a couple of cowboys there.
- Hang on.
- [SHANIKA.]
What's going on? [TYSON.]
Look at 'em all.
They're all suckers.
- We can't take that many.
- It's all right.
We just need one.
[TYSON.]
Yeah, look at this colonisin', blood-suckin', no-arse bastard.
Yeah! Come on, you little cockroach.
[TYSON.]
Yeah, go on.
Get in there.
Right.
We're on.
- [ENGINE STARTS.]
- Eyes to the ground.
[EXCITING ROCK MUSIC.]
[HINGES SQUEAK.]
- [MAN.]
Argh! - [SHANIKA.]
Go, go, go! [ENGINE REVS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[CAR DOORS OPEN.]
[CAR DOORS SHUT.]
- [MAN SNARLS.]
- [TYSON GRUNTS.]
Oh, shit! [RIFLE COCKS, THEN FIRES TWICE.]
- [MAN SNARLS.]
- [SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[BOTH GRUNT.]
[SNARLS.]
What's going on? What are you all doing here? - [SNARLS.]
- [TYSON.]
Hey! [TYSON.]
Oh! [MAN GRUNTS.]
[EXCITING ROCK MUSIC.]
[HEAD THUMPS REPEATEDLY.]
[ROARS.]
[SHANIKA.]
Tyson! [COCKS RIFLE, THEN FIRES.]
[TYSON GRUNTS.]
[MAN PANTS.]
Hey! Eyes to the ground! - Neeks! - [SHANIKA SCREAMS.]
[PANTS.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[FAINT SNARLING.]
[TYSON.]
Shanika! [ROCK MUSIC.]