Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (1993) s01e05 Episode Script

- [Narrator.]
Previously on Snowy River: The McGregor Saga.
Oliver loses his temper when a chaperone loses his daughter.
Where is Victoria? Well, she made her own arrangements.
Whoa.
Why are we stopping? I think we're lost.
She is traveling with Rob McGregor, alone.
[Narrator.]
An innocent kiss could ruin Victoria's reputation and her family name.
Victoria! [Narrator.]
And when Luke seeks backing for his mine, he gets more than he bargained for.
You expect me to go grubbing in the dirt with him? I'm not a miner.
No, Frank, you're not a miner, you're not much of anything.
But maybe you will be.
[Narrator.]
And everyone watches a friendship turn into romance.
I bet he kisses her.
He will not.
I hope that What do you hope, Matt? (kids cheer) (mellow country music) Kathleen.
Michael.
Good morning, Matt.
Hello, Mr.
NcGregor.
You need a bit of a hand? Yes, I do.
It's lucky for us you turned up.
Not a problem.
I'm just having trouble getting the nut off.
Yeah.
Well, let's have a look.
(grunts) (mumbles) There you go.
Thanks, Matt.
It needs a bit of grease, huh? Yes.
Hey, easy, fella.
Easy.
Hey.
Easy, easy fella.
Easy.
(eerie music) What is it, Matt? Ah, nothing.
Just a campfire.
Thanks again, Matt.
What are neighbors for? It was on my way anyway.
I was wondering about that smoke.
Nah, it could be anything.
Just someone passing through perhaps.
Someone who can spook a horse from a mile away? (laughs) Oh, I don't believe in those things.
What things? You better ask Jack about that.
He loves a good mystery.
Hmm.
Would you like a cup of tea? Yeah, love one.
Now you better make it quick though, Jake tells me Luke's going to start blasting.
Is that a problem? It is if it's near my cattle.
(slow country music) Luke! Luke! Jack.
What is all this mystery about that strange smoke? Do you think it's just a campfire? Don't sound like a campfire, sounds like Burly Ellen.
Burly Ellen.
(laughs) Who's she? [Jack.]
Well, it could be a she, nobody knows for certain.
Jack, stop this nonsense and tell me.
Who or what is a burly Ellen? That's what the local aborigines call it.
Burly is their name for star, Ellen something that moves.
A moving star.
Maybe.
Something that just appears out of nowhere every 10 or 20 years.
Why doesn't someone just ride out and see what it is? Be like chasing a fox with a brass band.
A lot of people don't even like talking about it.
Why, what are they so frightened of? Same thing everybody's frightened of, change.
They say when Burly Ellen appears, something always happens.
Not always for the best.
It sounds like a load of superstitious twaddle to me.
Yeah, you might be right.
Maybe nothing will happen.
(upbeat country music) You know, my dear, we've been traveling together all morning and you still haven't told me your name.
Ms.
Hargraves.
[Mrs.
Fowler.]
I suppose you're going to Paterson Ridge.
Yes.
I couldn't help noticing your hat.
Is it from Paris? San Francisco, actually.
[Mrs.
Fowler.]
Oh, you're American.
No.
Go over these mortgages for me, Herb.
All right.
Anything wrong, Father? Those sausages I had for breakfast better suited for blasting out tree stumps.
Hey, telegram's just been delivered.
It's from Anita.
What is it this time, she taking another husband? Actually, she's on her way up from Melbourne for a visit.
Sounds as if she wants to smooth things over with you.
You ever known your sister to do anything besides cause mayhem wherever she goes? It's been a long time, father.
People change.
Ha.
I'm going for a walk to try and settle this stomach.
How are you this morning, Mr.
Elliott? Oh, good [Stutters.]
Mr.
Elliott? I'm not well, Ms.
Cornish Mr.
Elliott.
(dramatic music) He's dead, all right.
Sorry, Herb.
What happened, Ms.
Cornish? Nothing, we just said good morning and then he collapsed.
[Doctor.]
Probably a heart attack.
My sister's due on the coach today.
She hasn't seen him in years.
And now I'll send someone over to pick up the body.
Reverend, my condolences, Herbert.
How sad for his daughter.
Herbert, I know you'll have arrangements to make for the funeral.
Would you like for me to meet your sister and break the news? Thank you, Colin.
I'd appreciate that.
(sorrowful music) Ms.
Hargraves? Yes.
My name is Colin McGregor.
I'm afraid I have some bad news.
Your father passed away a few hours ago.
I'm very sorry.
Thank you for letting me know.
Did you say your name was McGregor? Yes, Colin.
Any relation to Matt McGregor? He's my father.
Do you know him? Doesn't everybody know the Man from Snowy River? Grab it, Frank.
Good afternoon.
Daddy sent me to see if you're still alive.
I'm fine.
It's hard to tell with Frank though.
What are you really doing here? Have you struck the reef yet? (laughs) We're not likely to either.
There's no gold reef here.
Well, I'd love to stay and help but I have an appointment.
Frank, I'll give your regards to Charlotte Landers, shall I? Charlotte's back? We're having a garden party.
What a pity you can't come.
Goodbye.
(sighs) Hey, Frank.
Why don't you take a break? You'd love to have me out of the way, wouldn't you? Yeah, I would.
Well, I might just do that.
Give my regards to Charlotte.
(slow country music) [Bandit.]
Woo hoo! (laughter) [Chen.]
Ah! (laughter) (whips crackling) [Bandit.]
Get up.
(gunshots) Leave him alone.
Get off my land or the next one, I aim.
What was that about? Nothing, boss.
Nothing.
Me leave now, boss.
Wait, you're hurt.
Bye bye, boss, me leave.
No, wait it's all right, wait.
Come on, come on let's get a look at that leg.
There, that should help.
Thank you.
You've been very kind.
You've been educated, haven't you? Yes, I was educated by the missionaries in Hong Kong.
My family came out to find gold.
They died of fever.
And I've been getting work when and where I can.
Unfortunately, I was caught reading the bible.
It seems to have inflamed a few of the less Christian Christians.
You're welcome to share some food before you go.
[Chen.]
Thank you.
Good day, Herb.
What brings you here? Your father sent you out about my late mortgage payments, huh? My father passed away this morning, Matt.
Oh, sorry.
What happened? We're not quite certain.
He just collapsed without warning.
Is there anything I can do? No, no, thank you.
I have everything in hand.
I thought I should warn you that Anita arrived today from San Francisco.
I thought, well, all things considered.
Yes, yes, thank you.
See you tomorrow at the funeral? Yes, yes, of course.
Dad.
Hmm? Who's Ania? Mr.
Reilly's sister.
Do you know her? Has anyone ever told you that curiosity killed the cat? Sorry, Dad.
It's just that everyone's talking about Burly Ellen smoke and strange things happening.
And now Mr.
Elliott's dead and his daughter's coming back.
Don't you think it's weird? Nah, strange things happen every day.
(eerie music) I came to see how you are.
It was a disturbing thing that happened to you this morning.
That's very thoughtful of you.
Are you all right? I'm fine.
You don't have to pretend Emily.
Is there anything I can do? No.
I just, it made me realize how alone I am.
How lonely.
I suppose what I should do is go home to my parents.
(laughs) It seemed like such an adventure when I left.
Emily Cornish, traveling companion to the great soprano, Christina De Vogue.
If the old opera singer hadn't married and let you go, I'd still be looking for an organist.
Then there is a bright side to my misfortune after all.
If you were to go back to Adelaide, I would miss you.
Very much.
Then I won't go.
(slow enchanting music) Hello, Anita.
Matt.
I'm very sorry about your father.
George was a good man.
I can't pretend we got on well.
Well, he mightn't have been the easiest man to deal with, but he always did the right thing by me.
He set you up on Langara, didn't he? Yeah, well he helped.
Lent me the money to buy the land with a homestead.
So you thought you should come here and make a few conventional noises abut sorrow and loss.
I am very sorry.
I also came to see you.
Then I'm sorry you went to the trouble.
The past is the past.
And if you have anything else to say, I suggest you say it to my brother.
She came all the way from San Francisco, poor thing.
All those miles and all those years just to find her father passed away.
It must have been a shock.
I sent Mr.
Fowler over with a message of sympathy.
Of course, we became very good friends on the coach, you know.
I'm sure you'll be a great comfort to her.
Hello, Matt.
Oh, Kathleen.
Did you find Luke.
Uh, no, no, he wasn't there.
Then you're free to come to tea this afternoon? Well, I'd love to but No, no, it doesn't matter.
No, well, it's just a lot has happened with George Elliott dying and so forth.
I heard that his daughter came in on the coach.
Yes.
She's caused something of a mystery in town.
Do you know her? Well, a long time ago when she was a young girl.
Oh then you haven't seen her since she's come back.
Well, only to pay my respects.
Of course.
Yeah, well, I better get going.
Where you ridin', ? I've got business at Ballmora.
Oh yeah, me too.
(fast country music) What on earth do you think you're doing, huh? Sorry, Mr.
Blackwood.
Good afternoon, Mr.
Blackwood.
I've come for those explosives.
All right, Luke.
Rob, I repeat, what do you think you're doing? Nothing.
I was out for a ride.
Well, not around here.
Hope you weren't looking for Victoria.
She went to a fancy party this afternoon.
(slow country music) You want it, whoa, missed it.
(laughter) Woo.
(chatter) (laughter) Look at this, you want that? (laughter) (gunfire) You okay? Yes.
So you've been reading again, huh? I have nothing else to do.
You know a bit about gold, eh? Yes, a little.
Explosives? Yes, a little.
Get yourself some new pants.
Thank you.
That's an advance against your first weeks wages.
(laughs) Look at hin.
Come on, next page.
Just a minute.
What are you doing? Just looking.
Dad.
Hmm? Is this Mr.
Elliott's sister, Anita? I wouldn't ask, but for the fact he was so strange when I mentioned it.
Not like himself at all.
And you didn't want to put your foot in it when you're talking to him, correct? Well.
They were sweethearts.
I'm going to do some homework now, Mom.
What a good boy.
Off you go.
Well? And there's not much more to tell, really.
Anita went away to England and then I met your mother.
And that was that.
Well, it all looked pretty straight forward on the surface.
But everyone said there was more to it than that.
Like what? Well, I reckon that old man Elliott did some sort of a deal with Matt and then packed Anita off to England.
And he made this arrangement behind Anita's back.
So they say.
That doesn't sound like Matt.
Ah, it's all in the past.
And when I saw Anita today she reminded me that that's where it belongs.
Now, where's that picture of Rob as a baby sucking on his bottle? I'm going to take that rotten photo out and burn it.
Hey, my old picture's staying in there, so is yours.
(laughs) Hello.
Who are you? I'm Luke McGregor.
Who are you? Anita Hargraves.
Any relation to Matt McGregor? Yeah, I'm his nephew.
You're Alec's boy.
You knew my father? A long time ago.
How is he? He's uh, he's dead.
Oh, I'm sorry, I liked Alec.
How do you feel about his brother? Why? Well, we don't exactly get along.
We knew each other once.
Good day, Jack.
Good day.
Problems? Oh, there's always something when one man's gotta do the work of 10.
You complaining, Jack? To you.
Not to Ms.
O'Neill.
By the way, she was asking about you and Anita last night.
As youngsters and that.
Oh yeah.
What did you tell her? I told her it was none of my business.
And another thing that's none of my business.
Hmm? Luke.
Yeah, what about him? Well, word around town is that Alec's Folly mightn't be such a doubt as everyone thought.
Nah, there's always rumors when someone starts looking for gold, you know that, Jack.
But suppose it's true.
He could stir up a lot of trouble.
With the money to back it up.
I'll face that problem when it happens.
You could talk to him about his father.
Tell him the truth.
No.
Alec is like Anita, it's the past.
And there's no point in dragging it up again.
You got through a fair pile since yesterday.
Yeah, no thanks to you.
You told me to go.
So I did, Frank, so I did.
Now that you're here, why don't you do some work? I've just about had it with your insults and with your ordering me about.
I never wanted to do this.
You took 20$ of my mine.
I never wanted it.
I still don't it, it's worthless.
I'm working like a slave for nothing.
Then quit, I don't need you.
And you can pursue Ms.
Charlotte to your hearts content.
You mean that? Yeah, I do.
I won't say anything to your dad.
Not if we have a deal.
What deal? You sign back 10% of your share of the mine.
(Scoffs) Unless of course you're only joking about this place being worthless.
It's worthless, all right.
Then you're only giving up 10% of nothing.
You've still got 10% of nothing.
Where's the agreement? No need for that.
Just write it on a piece of paper.
(eerie music) Ah, I wasn't sure you would be open today.
Oh, yes Sir.
You know Mr.
Elliott, he wouldn't want us to miss a working day on his account.
What can I do for you, Mr.
McGregor? Oh, the check for my stock aid, is late again, as usual.
But as you know, George wouldn't let that stand in the way of my drawing.
Mr.
McGregor, my instructions are no funds are to be issued until your loans been paid off.
Your account's been frozen.
Well, I don't understand.
What's going on? My instructions are the mortgage has to be settled in full right now.
The bank's calling in my mortgage? I feel terrible about this.
But I can't operate without funds.
This would amount to a foreclosure.
Who gave you these instructions? It came directly from Mr.
Elliott.
Why is he doing this? I suggest you speak to him personally.
Oh, he's burying his father today.
[Luke.]
You've done this before.
The Chinese invented explosives, Mr.
McGregor.
Yeah, you gave a lot of wrong men a lot of ammunition.
Should we thank you for that? There's nothing evil in power, only in men.
Tell me, Mr.
McGregor Do you want to keep your job, Chen? Of course.
Then call me Luke.
You call me McGregor again and you can dry your wages.
If I ever start to pay them.
Luke, why are you here searching for gold? Now that's a funny sort of question.
Why does a man search for gold? For many reasons.
None of them same as yours.
I've got a reason, Chen.
I've got an enemy.
A man who betrayed my father.
Robbed him of what was his.
This man has wealth, land, and power.
And a penniless cowboy like myself doesn't have a chance to stand up against a man like that.
And you think gold will give you the same power? I know the gold will give me that power.
It's the only power that means anything to me.
The power to take that man down and give me back what's rightfully mine.
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
He comes forth like a flower and withers.
He passes like a shadow and does not stay.
In the midst of life, wherein death.
From whom may we seek for help, but from you, Lord God.
Though you are justly displeased on account of our sins.
You know the secrets of our hearts.
Mercifully hear us most worthy judge eternal.
Keep us at our last hour in the consolation of your love.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Slow to anger and of great goodness.
As a father has tended towards his children, so has the Lord tended to those who fear him.
For he knows what we are made of.
He remembers that we are dust.
Nice day for it.
What do you want? I just want to see for myself what kind of mess you're making of the land.
I'm looking for gold, there's no neat way to do it.
You sure you know what you're doing? Yes.
(explosion) (horse whinnies) You're wasting your time, Luke.
You're not going to find any gold.
It's going to take years to get this land back into shape for cattle after you move off.
It's going to be some time before I move off, cousin.
Woo hoo hoo, woo, woo! Woo! You found gold at Langara.
I found gold.
But this ain't Langara.
It's Luke McGregor's claim.
And right now you're trespassing.
I suggest you move off, cousin.
Woo! (knocking at door) Herb.
Hello, Matt.
Uh, look, I know this is a bad time, but, can I speak to you for a moment? Matt, whatever you have to say, I think my sister should hear it, too.
It seems she's developed a sudden interest in banking.
Come in.
Thank you.
Anita.
Uh, I stopped by the bank today to make a withdrawal.
And well, I was told you're foreclosing on me.
Yes.
That's correct.
(scoffs) Herb, your father and I, we were always on good terms.
I mean sometimes my payments were a little late, but I always paid up.
Father always had a great deal of respect for you, Matt.
Well then, why? I mean, for heaven's sakes, why are you trying to ruin me? Perhaps, Anita would care to answer that.
I made Herbert freeze your account.
(scoffs) But why? You know why.
I have no idea.
What you're doing could destroy me.
And you're asking why I would do that? I wish I knew what you were talking about.
I'm talking about the arrangement you made with my father.
What arrangement? How much did you ask for? How much to buy you off? Anita, 25 years ago, I had bit of land and a lot of debt and I thought I had you.
Why won't you tell the truth? You took money from my father in exchange for me.
No, I came for you.
I was told you'd gone to England.
I never heard from you again.
Look, this has gone far enough, Anita.
This is none of your business.
You'll pay the mortgage in full.
Now get out.
(suspenseful music) [Luke.]
Woo hoo hoo, woo! McGregor! Matt McGregor! My father was right.
There was gold there after all.
I found it.
Well, congratulations.
Don't patronize me, McGregor.
I'm rich.
Richer than you could ever dream.
And I'm going to buy you out.
Take Langara away from you.
Well, you're too late.
Someone's beaten you to it.
(laughter) What's going on? I'm rich.
(laughs) Rich.
(laughter) Gold? Gold.
You found gold? (laughs) We're rich.
I'll see you get your 10%, Frankie boy.
10? (laughing) I want to talk with you, Anita.
Oh, leave me alone.
Not until you listen to me.
Since you insist on making a complete fool of yourself, I think it's time you knew the truth.
What would you know about it, you were only a child? Yes, I was.
I was the little brother you enlisted that night to deliver your note to Matt.
Let me see, how did it go? My dearest Matthew, I cannot meet you as planned.
Father insists I go to Melbourne with him.
I'm frightened, please come to me.
You read my note? I never delivered your note.
Father caught me before I got half way to Matt's and demanded that I hand it over.
And you gave it to him? I was just a kid, for pity's sake.
He took the note and threatened to nail my hide to the door if I ever said a word about it.
I should've told you this years ago.
I was just, terrified of him.
We both were.
But he bought Matt off, he paid him not to see me.
There was no payoff, Anita.
Matt came looking for you.
But you were gone.
(Melancholic music) You better make this fast, Dad.
We were right in the middle of branding the show horse.
Well, that'll have to wait.
Do you want to tell them that? Something's wrong.
What is it? (sighs) The bank's calling in our mortgage.
Well, what does that mean? It means we'll have to pay back our loans.
We either pay or Lose Langara.
But we've got a little time.
A few days maybe.
Now if we can muster all the cattle, get them to a sale- - We wouldn't have enough time.
That will take weeks.
We haven't got weeks.
Then we'll do it.
You take the short No, the sale yards, we're going to be the target for every bargain hunter around.
So, we'll just have to sell cheap.
We've got no choice.
But, just so you understand, we'll be starting again.
No more herds, no breeding cattle.
We'll be starting from scratch.
But we'll keep Langara.
It goes right back into that hill.
All the way to Wyoming for all we know.
That's perfect.
Come on, Frank.
10% is better than nothing.
(scoffs) My father's not going to see it like that.
I'm not in the mood to see a grown man cry.
Not today, Frank.
We could do another deal.
Another deal? You buy back your 10%.
(sighs) How much? (laughs) I don't want you to think I'm a fool.
A thousand pounds? (scoffs) That's all I have in the bank.
Well, 10% of this beauty could be worth thousands.
Hundreds of thousands.
Millions.
Millions.
Given the size of the bank, I should say it would yield 10 to 20 ounces a day.
Luke had just about given up hope of finding anything.
But it was the dynamite that I suggested that blew those rocks apart.
So, you found gold this afternoon? That's right.
Then why did you withdraw all your savings from the bank this afternoon? How did you know that? Elliott came to tell me.
(sighs) He tricked me.
Luke tricked me into signing over 10% of my share from the mine.
And you bought it back? Well, what could I do? You're such a fool, Frank.
The agreement was with me.
You signed over then bought back shares that were never yours to sell in the first place.
But you said they'd be in my name.
I didn't think I could trust you.
And I was right.
(sighs) It's just as well you've got no money left, Frank.
Someone just might sell you London Bridge.
It's gone.
What's gone? Burly Ellen.
How can you tell? I don't know.
I just can.
And do you think it'll be back this way? Some will tell you it was never here at all.
Just smoke from a campfire.
What do you think? I believe in it.
The way you believe in something even though you can't see it.
You can feel it.
Like the wind.
Do you think it caused all those things that have been happening? Well, that's the mystery of Burly Ellen.
Everyone sees it in a different way.
But no one's ever really seen it.
Well, there you go.
(laughing) Oh, I better get a move on if I want to be back by nightfall.
[Jack.]
Maybe Burly Ellen touched you too.
There's a spark to you I haven't seen before.
Maybe Matt will take notice.
Silly old fool.
Tell him I said good day.
Hey Mom, where are you going? I'm just driving over to the McGregor's.
Wait, I'll come with you.
You stay here.
Oh, why? Because I said so.
Did I ever tell you about the time I was driving out King River Way and I ran into the Kelly Gang? McGregor, I want, who's that? It's Chen Yung, he's our new foreman.
He'll be in charge of the men.
(scoffs) But he's Chinese.
We haven't got any men.
We will have and they'll be Chinese too, Frank.
But they'll steal us blind.
You.
I'm watching you.
Frank.
You no stealy gold, saavy? I understand perfectly, Mr.
Blackwood.
(laughs) Very funny.
As for you, you roped me.
You mean this? Take it, Frank.
We needed money for development.
I didn't have it, the bank was getting a little tightfisted but now we have all the credit we need.
Come on, Chen.
Hey, Frank.
You putie your footie in your mouthie.
(laughs) What brings you up here? I've come to apologize.
Oh yeah? I was wrong.
All those years I thought you abandoned me.
I'd never hurt you, Anita.
Oh, Matt.
We have so much to talk about.
Yeah, I'd say we have.
I wanted this for so long.
(slow country music)