The Narrow Road to the Deep North (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
Hey, sir. Sir!
Dorrigo!
It's okay.
Are you okay?
Okay, mate.
Drink.
- Frank.
- Ah, morning, sir.
Hi.
Fancy a smoke?
Hey, Rabbit, mate.
Have you got have you got
something for me?
Thanks, mate. Thanks.
Yeah, I do have
one favour to ask.
What's that?
Her chest
Oh, you want
- Yeah
- Big?
- Bigger breasts, yeah.
- How big?
You know
You a gambling man?
Occasionally, yeah.
See, I'm running a book
on when I'll die.
Want to throw in a shilling?
All the boys are in.
Guy who guesses the date,
claims all the winnings.
- I picked Christmas, though.
- I got June 30, mate.
Yeah, yeah,
November 9.
Yeah, put me down
for ten shillings, hey.
Ten?
Ten shillings
you make it through
the entire year alive, hey?
For that, I'll give you
some 20-to-1 odds.
Best sardines in the country.
- Burrows! Go get the boy.
- Okay.
I've got a serious question.
What's that, mate?
Why do they call you 'Tiny'?
Is it just the width
of your shoulders
- or is there something else?
- I don't know, mate.
I guess you'll have to
find out for yourself, hey?
- Show us, then.
- Come on, mate.
- Give it a rest, fellas.
- How big's your dick?
Jesus died
on the cross for your cock.
Mate!
Oh, easy, boys
What would Jesus do
with a cock that big?
Come on, speak up. I'm taking
bets on how large his cock is.
- Oh, he's blushing.
- Look at him, he's blushing.
Look at him blushing!
Rabbit, your pad isn't
big enough to draw it, mate.
Halt! Halt!
They stepped on a mine.
Put pressure on the wound.
Yabby, look at me,
mate. You're alright
On me! On the line!
Do not stray from the line!
Yabby, mate, look at me.
Where's the kid?
Where's the kid?
I spoke to his father.
He didn't know anything,
but thought she may.
Hello?
Hello.
Hello, Ella.
I'm Amy, Keith's wife.
Keith and I were
concerned about Dorrigo.
We'd read that there'd
been a surrender.
We're wondering if
I haven't heard
from him in weeks.
And where was he then?
Somewhere in the Pacific.
That must be really hard.
- I have to go.
- I'm I know, I'm sorry, um
I know that Dorrigo's
going to call you soon.
He will.
And-and
Why didn't Keith phone?
If he was so concerned
about his nephew,
why didn't he call himself?
Good day, Miss Mulvaney.
- Mrs. Evans.
- Hello.
- Dr. Evans. Welcome.
- Thank you.
Ella, please come through.
- Have a seat.
- Thank you.
Dorrigo,
you served in both
the Middle East and Asia
before the surrender.
Tell me, how did it feel
going from a soldier
into a prisoner of war?
Feelings weren't as fashionable
as they are now.
We did what we were told.
It must have been scary, though?
More humiliating than anything.
Letting yourself be incarcerated
when others are fighting
is hard for a soldier's spirit
to accept.
What got you through?
I don't know. Luck, I suppose.
Often, luck is the only reason.
What do you recall most
of that time?
The time as a prisoner.
The strange, terrible
neverendingness of human beings.
Though, in truth, our enemies
were more monsters than men.
Well, what about us?
Hiroshima, Nagasaki.
Are those not monstrous acts?
We were forced to
extreme measures--
Atomic bombs are beyond extreme,
wouldn't you say, Mr. Evans?
I've been to Japan.
I've spoken to survivors
who lost everything.
You've been to Japan, have you?
Does that offer you
some great insight?
Believe me, young lady, you
have no comprehension of war.
Because I'm a woman?
No, because you weren't there.
It's not that you
know nothing about war.
It is that you know one thing.
War is many things.
Well, what are those things?
You don't want to fucking
know!
I've just had a call
with the producer
and they've agreed
not to air any of the footage,
if you agree to meet with
their journalist again.
When?
I've suggested tomorrow.
Sooner, the better.
- Is it really necessary?
- Mm-hm.
It's to promote the book launch.
It'll help with the sales.
- Very well.
- Good.
And maybe this time you can
do it without the profanity.
I didn't ask to be interviewed.
Yes, well,
it's not about you, is it?
You have a role to play.
Yeah, I didn't
ask for that either.
It was very disrespectful.
She's a young woman.
When did the book arrive, Ella?
This afternoon.
It's beautiful.
It is.
Hi.
- Hello.
- Ready to be fed to the wolves?
- Mmm.
- Let's go.
Excuse me. Sorry.
Do you want a drink?
Here.
Okay, I'm going to introduce
you to Mother and Father.
Oh, hello.
- Mother. Mother.
- Yes, darling.
This is the gentleman
that I was telling you about.
- Uh, Dorrigo.
- Oh, really?
- Darling, darling.
- Father.
- This is Ella's friend.
- Oh. A pleasure to meet you.
You're, uh, you're back
in Melbourne on leave?
Yes, sir. My, uh, my apologies
for not wearing black tie.
I don't own a tuxedo.
Nonsense, you look dashing.
I, uh, I wanted
to bring you both a gift.
Oh, isn't that charming?
- Thank you.
- Uh, what is it?
Books, sir.
Yes, Dorrigo's an
he's an avid reader.
Oh
Most people bring flowers, so
What about that one?
Oh, this is mine -
Catullus, a Roman poet.
Well, thank you for the books.
You, um you enjoy yourself,
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Pleasure.
- Good to meet you.
Oh, and that is my grandfather.
He helped write
our constitution.
I see the resemblance.
Mother and Father
are going to be home soon.
You better get dressed.
I told my students about you.
What did you say?
I told them that
you're a soldier
preparing to defend
our country at war.
And what did they say?
First they asked me
if you were scared,
and then one asked if I were.
Are you?
I'm a medical officer.
I'm not a machine gunner.
I'll be safe.
Promise me.
Yeah, I promise.
It's Father's birthday next
weekend. Do you have leave?
Yeah, but I told my uncle
I'd visit him.
Stay with me.
Please.
Excuse me. I'm looking
for a Keith Mulvaney.
I'm Keith's nephew.
You must be
the clever young doctor
that everyone
keeps talking about.
And your Keith's
far too young wife.
Is that what your family
are calling me?
Keith sent me a postcard
asking me to stop by,
while I'm stationed near here.
Right. Well, Keith's not
here right now, so
I can pour you a drink.
You're welcome to wait.
No, I don't have long.
Just came to say hello.
Hello.
You're Dorrigo, right?
Amy. Amy Mulvaney.
Well, you let Keith know
I stopped by, okay?
Sure will.
What were you doing?
- I was just grabbing a drink.
- Mm-hm.
Another man propositioned me.
All you did was watch.
No, I couldn't hear
what he was saying.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.
Do you think it would matter?
Would a dance be allowed, hmm?
Maybe a kiss?
- Is that what he wanted?
- At first, yeah.
Then when I told him I was
escorted here by another man,
he suggested that
we meet tomorrow.
- He's not departing?
- No, no, he trains pilots here.
You know,
I'm going to war, Ella.
Maybe you should
take him up on his offer.
You don't mean that.
No
And you deserve someone
who's going to be with you.
You will be with me.
You promised.
No, no, no, no, nope
You are not going to war.
- No, you're not.
- I've got to go.
No, you don't.
Just stay with me.
Come here.
Everyone's
getting married, Dori.
- Are they?
- Everyone's getting married.
- Everyone?
- Mm-hm.
- Who's everyone?
- Joan, Ellie
Where's my ring?
Where is it? Are you hiding it?
There's no ring under here.
Well, I couldn't
Ella
What is in that head of yours?
Will you marry me?
Do you mean it?
Yes.
"We know no mithridatum
of despair as drunks
"The angry penguins
of the night
"Straddling the cobbles
of the square
"Tying a shoelace
by fogged lamplight
"We know no astringent pain
"No flecking of thought's
dull eternal sea
"In garret image
"Of Spain and love
"Now love's parody
"See - chaos spark
"Struck from flint
and the plunging distemper
"Flare in the dawn's
dull seep of milk cart horse
"Morning horse
Chaos horse
"Walking at three
to the doors of sleep
"With the creamy poison
"Convulsions endure"
Hello again.
Hello.
You didn't stay downstairs
for very long.
No.
Did a word of it
make sense to you?
'Penguins'.
I liked 'creamy poison'.
That's
Nice flower.
I stole it.
Well, it was well worth
the larceny.
You're not going to turn me in,
are you?
I'm not so brave.
Catullus.
So who's he?
He's a Roman poet.
Would you read me some?
No.
Why not?
I'm sure you could do a better
job than the bloke downstairs.
Come on.
"Let us live and love
"And though the sager
sort our deeds reprove
"Let us not weigh them
"Heaven's great lamps
do dive into their west
"And straight again revive"
I think poetry readings
are more the domain
of your friend's mate.
No, you're doing great.
Do you have a favourite poet?
I have a favourite poem.
Should I find it?
They've got it.
It's 38.
Do you like it?
Very much.
- What?
- Are you coming?
What happened to your mate?
- He's shit house.
- He's not. He's excellent.
You're just a Neanderthal!
Come on, Amy, let's go.
The race is on.
Alright.
- Care to join?
- Perhaps another time.
Here It's for good luck.
Come on.
How's the speech going
for the book launch?
Slowly.
"As I turn the pages
of Guy's book,
"I am reminded that
we all left part of ourselves
"in that mud in that jungle.
"However, as accurate as
the book is, it is just a book.
"Horror can be
contained within a book.
"But in life, horror has no more
form than it does meaning."
"It just is"
Okay - pen.
Ta.
Okay now we just put that
there. I think that's good.
You know, and start with a quote
because people like that.
It's, you know
it captures their attention.
Thank you.
Have you eaten?
- Ah, no.
- Okay.
You okay, Frank?
Never better, sir.
Mum's cookin'.
She's makin' apple pudding.
A bit of salt,
cinnamon, flour
A few apples.
A dash of milk
and some brown sugar.
A few minutes,
it'll be ready, sir.
Bing!
Yours is up first, sir.
- I'd love some.
- Come on
- Hmm, good cook, your mum.
- Oh, stop it, sir.
She'll love that.
My name is Major Nakamura.
You are here for a great
mission, for a great cause.
To serve the Emperor.
To build a railway.
This is an honourable mission.
One you should feel proud
to be part of.
Being prisoners
brings much shame.
Great shame.
You redeem your honour
by building railway.
Come on come on.
Come on, mate, come on
For Christ's sake,
just slow down, Tiny.
We got to show them little
bastards what we're made of.
Ease up, mate.
Ease up, alright?
Keep fucking going like that,
we're all going to end up dead.
The Lord blessed us with
the body to work, gentlemen.
"Whatever you do,
work at it with all your heart,
"as working for the Lord,
not for human masters."
I ain't ever giving them
the satisfaction
of feeling superior, mate.
Fuckin' right now
he is, Tiny.
The sooner you get that through
that fucking head of yours,
the better.
They are holding
a fucking rifle, not you.
You're a fucking idiot.
Mate, you're a fucking idiot.
Ah, now he's working hard.
Shut the fuck up!
Looks like the Lord
just touched you, mate.
O Romeo!
Romeo, wherefore art thou?
Romeo
I'm down here, love.
Deny thy father
and refuse thy name.
And, if thou wilt -
be born, my love.
And I'll no longer
be a Capulet.
Juliet, it's not that
I'm worried about the Capulets.
I'm worried about that rod
and tackle between his legs!
"Tis but thy name
that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself,
and not a Montague.
No, I'm Australian.
It is not hand,
nor foot, nor arm, nor leg,
nor face, nor any other part
belonging to a man.
Let it be nothing.
If love see clearly,
kiss me, you fool.
Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
Hey, hey, hey,
if there's anyone in this house
who can really show us
what it means
to be a man of significance.
Maybe it's a man
with a giant dick!
Tiny! Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!
Tiny! Tiny! Tiny! Tiny! Tiny!
Tiny! Tiny!
Get it out!
I'm doing it once.
I'm doing it once!
Mate, I'm glad you
finally came to visit me.
- How's your old man?
- He's good, I think.
Yeah, I like your dad.
He's a good fella.
Only one of your family
that gave me the time of day.
Even after I remarried,
he, you know
he still calls me time to time
to say g'day.
- How is your wife?
- Amy?
Oh, she's great, mate.
You're sure to love her.
- So is Amy expecting me?
- Oh, yeah, mate.
She's very much
looking forward to you coming.
We don't get too many
handsome doctors
in The King of Cornwall.
Do we, Miss Beatrice?
No, we don't.
You shipping out soon?
Ah, they don't they don't
really tell us much.
Well, I think with London
being bombed,
it'd be sooner
rather than later.
No point all you boys
staying here.
No one's blitzing Adelaide.
You reckon anyone
would notice if they did?
I would.
In any case, you best be sure
to enjoy your weekend, mate.
What's mine is yours, Dorrigo.
Good food, cold beer.
King of Cornwall's
known for both,
And dead too soon ♪
As I sit here alone
in the moonlight ♪
I see your smile and pain ♪
Alright, how are you going?
This is my nephew - Dorrigo.
Dorrigo.
Rex, Jim.
Largest front bar in Australia.
Congratulations.
Amy!
Yes, I'm coming.
Amy, this is my nephew -
Dorrigo.
How's the height on him, hey?
Yeah, he's tall.
Pleasure.
Hi.
I've got to be, uh
well, truth be told,
I've gotta take her
to get wormed.
- She's been--
- Keith!
Been dragging her arse
around all over the place.
But Amy here's
going to look after ya.
- Hope you don't mind.
- No problem.
- Isn't there some movie playing?
- Yeah, there's a few movies.
- You seen Waterloo Bridge?
- Yes.
- Oh.
- Oh well, see it again.
Want to see your room?
Sure.
Beatrice, you stay here.
She listens well.
She's not allowed upstairs.
Stay.
Can we get two martinis? Dirty.
- Sure. Coming right up.
- Thank you.
Do you like it?
It's very nice.
- It's a nice place, right?
- Mm-hm.
Well
- Thank you.
- Mm-hm.
So, where are you from?
Cleveland, Tasmania.
Oh, so you're poor?
- I live in Melbourne.
- Oh, so you're rich.
I studied there and I met Ella.
- So Ella's rich?
- Her family is, yeah.
Okay.
She's the daughter
of a doctor, lawyer?
- Mmm?
- Mum comes from old money.
Grandfather wrote
the constitution, yeah.
You're kidding?
Is she very worried
about you going to war?
We don't talk
about it that much.
I think that's the only good
thing about Keith being old,
he can't go.
How'd the two of you meet?
I thought you already knew.
Aren't I the talk of
your whole family?
They say you waited
until my aunt was dead
before sinking your claws in.
Gosh,
that's not very nice, is it?
No, not at all.
I never met your aunt.
I started working at The King
a few months after she'd passed.
Then a few months
after that
I was wooed.
How did you two meet?
At a dance.
Ella loves to dance.
Oh, you dance, do you?
I wished on the moon
to throw me a beam or two ♪
I wished on the moon
for something I never knew ♪
A sweeter rose
A softer sky ♪
An April day ♪
To dance away &
Sorry.
What are you kicking? You
playing football in my hallway?
Alright
- You sit there.
- Mm-hm.
I've got something that
I want you to hear.
Do you know about
Leslie Hutchinson?
No.
Oh will you never
let me be? ♪
He's very good.
I'll be charging these
to your room.
I thought it was on the house.
Are still around us
There's no escape ♪
So, Leslie Hutchinson
Some say
that he's very familiar
with the Royal family.
- How familiar?
- Very familiar.
A cigarette that bears
a lipstick's traces ♪
An airline ticket
to romantic places ♪
Exactly
Right.
Back.
Do you think that
you and I are friends?
Friends?
You know Amy means 'friend'?
My mum taught me that.
She called me Amy
Amie
Amour
These foolish things
remind me of you ♪
I should probably go.
Friend.