Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (1993) s01e13 Episode Script

[Narrator.]
Previously on Snowy River: The McGregor Saga.
The railroad's headed for Patterson's ridge, and Kathleen's bound to stop it.
I have a title of property to manage, and a son to raise.
Now I believe it is my right as a citizen to put my case before the governor.
[Narrator.]
The Blackwoods strike a deal to help find the mother lode.
She'll have to visit the mine and take assay samples from the exploratory drives.
[Narrator.]
And Parliament passes Matt's compromise.
What compromise? Well, the railway doesn't need all your property.
So I can stay? And you'll be a wealthy woman.
[Narrator.]
Oliver makes other arrangements for Victoria.
He's sending me away.
I just wanted to tell you I'm so sorry.
[Narrator.]
Matt and Kathleen turn their friendship into romance.
I love you Kathleen.
[Narrator.]
And Victoria bids Patterson's Ridge farewell.
Please, I don't wanna go.
I don't want you to go either.
(uplifting music) (upbeat harmonica music) (inspirational music) (light acoustic guitar music) (horse snorting) [Luke.]
Morning.
Mr.
McGregor.
[Luke.]
The repairs aren't finished? They will be, sir.
And the painting.
It doesn't look like it, now get them back to work.
They wanna be paid.
[Luke.]
That's up to you.
Not entirely, sir.
You threatenin' me, Masters? Your payment is well past due.
I'll send a check.
I'd be much happier sir if I could take it now.
I said I'd send it.
Well now, Mr.
McGregor, that's up to you.
As soon as I get it, I'll send the men back to work.
Masters.
I'll go in and write you a check.
Just don't cash it for a couple days, all right? All right.
(dramatic music) Tea Luke, pour yourself a cup.
I've come on business.
What else? I need more working capital.
Well, I can sympathize with that.
I was looking forward to another injection of capital from the mine.
We lost the vein, you know that.
Oh yes I do.
I also know you're very confident of finding it again.
We'll find it.
Well, I'm sure.
I think you've already established that your father's mine wasn't the foolhardy venture everyone supposed it was.
Must be some satisfaction in clearing his name.
My father didn't do anything wrong.
Well no, no one's ever suggested he did.
I mean, the worst people have ever said around here was that he was a little crazy even.
Foolish is probably a better word.
My father wasn't crazy, or foolish.
Obviously not.
Anyone who had the vision to initiate that mine.
Just keep the gold coming in Luke, your father would be proud of you.
Unfortunately, I can't wait.
I'd appreciate it if you could see your way clear to buying me out.
I think your father's mine should belong wholly to his son, don't you? I don't have the money, not now.
Well of course not but when the mine starts producing again as you assure me it will, I'm sure the bank will honor your commitment.
Frank.
I don't want a check, just a promissory note.
I'll ask you to witness our signatures.
All right, father.
Congratulations Luke, Alec's folly is now entirely his son's.
[Frank.]
And now for his Uncle Matt.
[Matt.]
And the bank's been pressing me on my mortgage.
You see I've been so busy with Parliament, I've got a long way behind.
Langara is a big place for one man to manage, Matt.
Mmm.
Could always try to educate the boys to take over.
But of course with Colin, the church comes first.
Yes, but there's Rob and Danni, Matt.
I'd like Danni to get a taste of city life.
You know, some good schooling, parties, dresses.
Boys.
Boys? I think she'd suffocate in the city.
Well, maybe.
I just wanna do what's best for her.
And of course with Rob, well I don't think he's ready to take on the responsibility of Langara yet.
Or perhaps he is and you're just not ready to hand it over.
I'll hand it over when the time's right.
(slow, calm music) Your builder was here with his hand out an hour after you gave him the check.
I asked him, I told him to wait a few days.
Will a few days make any difference, huh? And now you come to me asking for money to buy back a worthless mine.
The mine is not worthless.
How shall we describe a goldmine without any gold? [Luke.]
There's still gold.
Not according to the assay.
And I'm afraid there's no way I can advance you further credit.
What are you talkin' about, what assay? Blackwood.
He did get samples, didn't he? He is your partner, Luke.
Or rather was at the time, and I'm afraid the assay was completed.
The assay shows no trace of gold throughout the whole workings.
We're still testing new drives.
I'm lead to believe they've all been tested in the assay.
There is no gold, the mine is worthless.
So Blackwood knew the whole time, didn't he? He knew there was no gold when he made me sign the documents.
Business, is business, Luke.
(dramatic music) (light, relaxed music) Luke.
Ah, hey Danni.
I um, I heard the bad news about the mine.
(sighing) word gets around, huh? You still have your house.
Not for long.
The Blackwoods are gonna take everything I've got.
They can't take your house.
They can take everything.
You've got to go to dad.
I can't do that.
He'll help, Luke, I know he will.
Thanks for carin', Danni.
I can't help him, Danni.
I've got my own problems with the bank and I don't have the money available.
You could sell a piece of land.
I'm not selling any land.
This property's a legacy to you, my children.
And then to your children.
And I'm having my own financial problems.
I'm sorry, I wanna help Luke as much as anyone.
And he's most welcome to a home here, just as much as my own sons.
But right now, that's the best I can do.
(slow, sorrowful music) [Luke.]
If you've come to foreclose on the house, I'd think again.
Luke you have to understand, I have an obligation to my stockholders.
I've been instructed to call in all your notes.
Now.
Sure.
By Oliver Blackwood, huh? He has transferred your mortgages to the bank as security.
I gather you're not in a position to repay your debt.
What do you think, Herbert? Then I'm afraid we'll be obliged to reluctantly, to foreclose.
Nobody can say I didn't aim high, huh? Well, there's no necessity for you to leave immediately.
Mister Blackwood specifically stated that a few days will make no difference.
Well that's good of him.
As long as no furniture, furnishings, vehicles, or livestock are removed from the premises.
Just a formality you understand.
Don't try to nail that thing to my door, Herbert.
I, I have every right.
This is still my house until I say it's not.
And right now you're trespassing.
My hat.
(slow, solemn music) Matt, I'm truly sorry.
Sorry you sold me out, is that it, Herbert? Everything has been done within the law.
You are unable to pay off your loan so the bank is entitled to take over the securities.
Langara's worth three times the amount we owe.
There's no denying that.
I'll show you what I think of your bank.
Rob.
That won't get us anywhere.
Now the note's not due til the end of the month, right? I believe that is so.
But, that's less than a week away.
Hell, that's time enough.
How can you possibly hope to raise that sort of money in a week? Well that's no concern of yours, Herbert.
Danni would you mind showing Mister Elliot to the door, please.
I never meant for this to happen, Matt.
Believe me.
Hm, well that's not a lot a help to me, is it? Well, goodbye Matt.
Maybe this time the bank will close us down.
Unless we can get a good herd to the next sale and sell 'em off.
I don't see how we ca do it.
We can do it.
Yeah, we can.
[Rob.]
Let's get started.
(calling cattle) (whip cracking) Come on, get up, get up, ya! Come on, get 'em up boy.
That's it.
(whip cracking) (calling cattle) Come on, hup, come on.
(slow, dramatic music) (calling cattle) Take 'em down the back, hey.
(whistling) Rob, how's it going? Fine.
There's another hundred up on One Tree Ridge.
And you handle it here? We'll be all right.
Take two more men.
It looks like was got a couple of extra good hands.
What do you want us to do, Matt? Ride the other bus.
Well Jack, you could team up with Colin.
There's a mob over on Spotter's Flat.
Arthur you could help when they come in the yard.
(horse running) Mrs.
O'Neil you could probably help with the food.
I came here to work cattle, Rob.
What do you want me to do? Well, Jack and Colin could use another good hand.
Well, you've got it.
(cattle mooing) (tense music) [Oliver.]
Well? They're doing well with the master, they've got them in the home paddocks.
They've got Kathleen O'Neil, her kid, Jack Kelly helping them.
Women and children.
They seem to be doing well.
They can't sell cattle in the home paddock, Frank.
They've gotta get him to the railhead.
Oh I think they will.
No they won't.
(suspenseful music) Dad's gettin' a ride to the rally in the morning to arrange the sale.
Better get some sleep, got another big day tomorrow.
What about you? Oh, I might stay up for awhile.
Do you think we'll do it in time? Yeah, we'll do it.
See you in the morning.
(slow, sorrowful music) (bold music) Just a few more miles, fella and then you get a rest.
You understand Matt, the sale's conditional on you getting the cattle here in these yards by noon on the 30th.
Yep, I understand that.
And on the train, or I'll miss the sales in Melvin, and all deals are off.
I'm sorry Matt.
Have 'er here, you can depend on it.
(calling cattle) Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.
Come on, get up with it.
(calling cattle) (bold, upbeat music) Dad, I know he's promised you a good price.
But we still haven't mustered enough to make the contract.
Wait a minute.
There's still 200 up on the escarpment.
I think with those we should have enough.
Yeah, not enough time to get them to the railhead.
We're knocking our heads up against a brick wall.
Well, I'm not gonna give up yet.
(slow, serious music) (knocking at door) [Oliver.]
Who is it? Matt McGregor.
Matt, it's the middle of the night man, what do you want? I'm sorry about the hour, but we've got something to discuss.
(sighing) I suppose you better come in.
That's the only way we'll get the herd to the railhead in time.
We have to cross Blackwood land.
It'll save us 20 miles.
I just don't trust him, that's all.
Well we don't have a choice.
It's either that or lose Langara.
Yep.
We'll just have to keep our eyes open, be ready for anything.
[Luke.]
Mister Blackwood.
Ah, Luke, a letter from Victoria, from Melbourne.
She's at sea now, on her way to England.
Elliott's been to my house.
Your house, your house? Did you come to some arrangement then? You know I can't do that.
Then it could hardly be called your house any longer, can it? I need time.
Ah, time.
Time is one of the few commodities I don't deal in.
I'm asking for a favor, Mister Blackwood.
And favors are another commodity in which I do not deal.
Oh, Luke.
I think you should be the first to know, Victoria's met a young man, wealthy, titled, they'll be travelling together.
Chaperoned, of course.
(uplifting orchestra music) Well that's as many as we're gonna get together in the time we've got.
That's enough.
You've done well, boys.
Help from our friends.
Well I reckon if we move 'em out at dawn we should have 'em across Blackwood's fence line by noon.
That's the only way we'll get 'em there, Colin.
We've got til noon, the day after tomorrow.
(light, serious music) Good day.
[Luke.]
Jack.
What do you want? I heard what happened.
Lots of things happened, which ones you talkin' about? About you losing the house.
The mine.
I'll get 'em back.
I also heard that Matt McGregor's offered you a place at Langara.
He keeps doing that.
You here for a reason, Jack? I'm gonna break a promise I made to Matt McGregor.
A promise I've kept for 20 years.
But it's time you knew the truth.
I knew your dad.
And you're right, he and Matthew owned half of Langara each.
I knew it.
The only was, Langara in them days was just 300 acres of raw scrub.
It was hard, slow work building it up.
But your dad thought he could do it quicker.
He reckoned there was gold in the hills and he was gonna find it.
And Matt wouldn't stake 'em, right? [Jack.]
Oh he staked him all right.
For six months.
And then stole Langara from him.
Matthew bought Alex's half of Langara.
And paid him more than double its worth, I told Matt so.
That's not true.
Why would I lie? Your dad was my best friend.
He took everything Matthew gave him and poured it into holes in the ground.
And found nothing.
That's 'cause he didn't have enough time.
I proved that.
Proud man, your father.
He wouldn't go back.
So he took what he thought was an easier way.
He held up the bring-along mail.
They drove him off, killed his horse, and left him to run with a charge of shot in him.
Matthew found him, bled half to death.
Then got him on a ship bound for San Francisco.
I know what a boy's dad means to him, alive or dead.
But Alec McGregor wasn't the man you think he was.
And Matthew risked everything to save him from himself.
You're lying.
You know I'm not.
It's time for you to bury your dad, son.
And to make your peace with the living.
Ya! Ya! Ya! [Danni.]
Come on, come on! [Matt.]
Ya! Ya! Ya! You fellas take 'em in through the back.
[Matt.]
Ya! That a way, let's keep 'em moving.
Rob get ready for anything.
We're getting close to the Balmorad boundary.
[Rob.]
All right, dad.
You got the men you need? Four of them, they weren't happy about it.
But the promise of a week's extra pay did wonders.
All right, get along.
And make sure you do it right! (horses trotting) Are you sure we're doing the right thing? It's all right, we'll fix the fence once the cattle are through.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
(tense music) Ya! (cattle running and mooing) (calling cattle) (suspenseful music) Everyone knows what they've gotta do.
Let's go.
(horse snorting) (slow, sorrowful music) I'd like it if you'd take a saddle horse too, Chen.
You've earned it.
I'm already in your debt for this mule, Luke.
I can't take more.
You paid me well, and I've made a good friend.
Thank you.
(slow, sorrowful music) (dramatic music) Ya! (whip cracking) Go on, take that calf over there.
[Danni.]
I'm up to the job.
Come on (hollering).
[Matt.]
Keep moving boys.
[Rob.]
(muffled) man up, you all right, Danni? Look alive, ya'll.
Come on, hey, hey (whistling).
Thata girl, Danni.
(calling cattle) (suspenseful music) (flame sizzling) (mine exploding) (cattle mooing anxiously) Those explosions are spooking the cattle.
Sounds like they're coming from Luke's mine.
You keep 'em moving, I'll check on what's happening.
All right.
(flame swishing) (mine exploding) (suspenseful music) (mine exploding) (horse neighing frantically) (wood breaking) (Luke groaning) (horse neighing frantically) (fire cackling) You're trespassing, we're impounding your cattle.
You're an idiot, Frank.
We've got your father's permission.
You're not going anywhere.
These cattle are on Blackwood land and they're staying here.
Our fathers have an agreement, Frank.
And I think you know that.
Well it's news to me.
I suppose you could take us to court about it, eventually.
Toss him your whip, Colin.
Now Frank, I'm sure you know how to use that.
And if you wanna stop us, you're gonna have to stop me first.
You're being paid for this, stop him.
Hey I don't know about that, we're not paid to kill anybody.
And they seem pretty sure on comin' through.
Ha, come on, girl, ha! (rifle cocking) [Rob.]
Don't Frank.
(rifle firing) (cattle running) Ya, ya! [Rob.]
Come on, get him out in front of 'em! Get outta there, go on that side! (Guns firing) [Frank.]
Ya, ya! Luke! Luke! Luke! Luke! (fire cackling) Dad! [Matt.]
Luke? (fire blazing) Come on, mate! Up you get.
(fire blazing) (tense music) Danni, get back, the house's about to blow.
(tense music) (house exploding) (cattle mooing frantically) (guns firing) Ya, come on, ya! Keep going, good job, keep going, I want them moving.
Go on, go on! (guns firing) (horses running) He seems to be all right.
(rifles shooting in distance) They're rifle shots.
You stay here, look after him.
(rifles shooting) What happened? (rifles shooting) What's that? Where did your dad go, Danni? (rifles shooting) (suspenseful music) [Frank.]
Ya, come on, ya! (whip cracking) Keep firing now guys, come on! Come on! (guns firing) Wait here Danni all right, wait.
(men yelling) (guns firing) Frank, stop.
(Frank's voice muffled by noise) (Luke firing) Ha, ha, let's get outta here! Ya, ya, come on, girl! [Colin.]
Hold it, slow 'em down, slow 'em down.
That's it Jack, round them back.
Bring them around.
[Rob.]
You're the man, Colin.
(whip cracking) We'll check at this when we get them inside.
[Jack.]
Settle down, settle down.
Whoa, whoa there.
[Rob.]
Bring 'em around.
Good girl, Danni.
Come on, bring 'em around.
Bring 'em around [Rob.]
Settle 'em, easy, easy.
(men calling cattle) (cattle mooing) Well done, lads.
You doin' all right? Yeah.
No thanks to Frank Blackwood and his men.
Think he'll ever talk to me, matey? Thanks, Luke.
Well, let's move 'em out.
(cattle mooing) Well it's a fine-lookin' herd Matt, you've done well.
Yeah, we have, haven't we? Well if you wanna sign this, we can settle up and you can get to the bank, huh? Rob.
You better finish what you started.
(horse snorting) Hi, Danni.
[Danni.]
Hi.
Where's your dad? Why? I need to thank him, for pullin' me out a the fire, and some other things.
Oh Luke, if the two of you would just talk to each other.
I guess we're not very good at that, huh? Come to dinner, he'll be back then.
He's gone to see the Blackwoods.
The Blackwoods? [Danni.]
Hm.
By himself? Well, Rob wanted to go but dad wouldn't let him.
(bold, anxious music) (horse galloping) What are you doing here? I'm here to return a social call.
(tense music) They're coming.
I hope you don't plan to stand there much longer.
(tense music) Keep that gun ready.
(cocking gun) Whatda you want, McGregor? Oh I'm just here to repay my debts, Oliver.
I hear there was a little trouble over your cattle crossing my land.
Hm, just a little? Boy's a fool.
Why don't you have the guts to stand up for your own actions? You were behind that stampede.
I just thank God that none of my family were hurt.
You've come to pay your debts, so pay 'em.
[Luke.]
Frank.
Now get off my land.
Oh well that's just the first installment.
That should square everything.
(suspenseful music) Give me that gun.
Frank! Frank! (light, uplifting music) There's a home for you here, Luke.
You're family, you belong.
We'll see.
(light, uplifting music) [Matt.]
Hello, Danni.
(light, uplifting music) (soft, relaxing music) Kathleen, I don't know if you can remember, but when you first came back, you told me I'd need troops to get you off your land.
Oh, I remember.
Well I didn't get any troops, but I was wondering if a preacher could do it.
I think you'll have to be a little clear on that.
What are you asking me? Will you marry me? Yes, I will.
(dramatic music) (light, happy music)