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An Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons.

Primary Title
  • The Water Diviner
Date Broadcast
  • Saturday 22 April 2017
Release Year
  • 2014
Start Time
  • 21 : 15
Finish Time
  • 23 : 25
Duration
  • 130:00
Channel
  • Three
Broadcaster
  • MediaWorks Television
Programme Description
  • An Australian man travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons.
Classification
  • M
Owning Collection
  • Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
  • Television
Languages
  • English
Captioning Languages
  • English
Captions
Live Broadcast
  • No
Rights Statement
  • Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
  • Feature films--Australia
  • World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula--Drama
  • Soldiers--Missing in action--Australia--Drama
Genres
  • Drama
  • War
Contributors
  • Russell Crowe (Director)
  • Andrew Knight (Writer)
  • Andrew Anastasios (Writer)
  • Russell Crowe (Actor)
  • Olga Kurylenko (Actor)
  • Jai Courtney (Actor)
  • Cem Yilmaz (Actor)
  • Fear of God Films (Production Unit)
  • Hopscotch Features (Production Unit)
  • RatPac Entertainment (Production Unit)
(DISTANT EXPLOSION) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (EXPLOSION) (SPEAKS TURKISH) (SPEAKS TURKISH) (DISTANT EXPLOSIONS) (SPEAKS TURKISH) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (COMMANDER CALLS OUT IN TURKISH) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (COMMANDER SPEAKS TURKISH) Allahu akbar! MEN: Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar! (CALLS OUT IN TURKISH) (MEN ROAR) (EXPLOSIONS, GUNFIRE) Argh! (SCREAMING) (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) (EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE IN DISTANCE) (SPEAKS TURKISH) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (SPEAKS TURKISH) (DISTANT EXPLOSION) (BANG!) (MEN CALL OUT) (MAN CALLS OUT IN TURKISH) (MEN CHEER) (TRADITIONAL TURKISH MUSIC PLAYS) (WHISTLING) (GUNFIRE AND CHEERING) (FIRES SHOT) (MEN CHEER) (GUNFIRE) (MUSIC AND GUNFIRE CONTINUES) (BIRD CAWS) I think we're close, mate. I think we're very close. (HORSE WHINNIES) (GRUNTS) (GRUNTS) (GRUNTS) (GRUNTS) (LAUGHS) (BELLOWS TRIUMPHANTLY) (DOG BARKS) I told you there was water there, didn't I? I told you. (LAUGHS) (DOG BARKS) Lizzie? Everything alright? (LAUGHS) Arthur's worn through the toe of his boot again. What does he do? The boys are all in bed. They're waiting for you to read to them. I'm burned tired, Lizzie. Oh, come on. You know this is their favourite time of the day. "Prince Hussain called to the man and asked him "why the carpet he was to sell was so expensive. "Hussain - 'It must be made of something quite extraordinary.' "The merchant replied, 'My prince, "your amazement will be all the greater when I tell you that it is enchanted. "Whoever sits on this carpet closes his eyes "and says the magic word 'tangu' may be transported through the air in an instant "wherever his heart desires to be.'" (DOOR OPENS) I had water at 15 feet. A bit brackish but good pressure. You know, with water, we'll be able to put stock in that valley block. They didn't even wipe the mud off it. It's been four years, Liz. Yeah, you're so clever. You can find water, but you can't even find your own children. Why can't you find them?! (CRIES) You lost them. (DOOR CLOSES) (GUNFIRE AND SCREAMING) (MEN ROAR) (GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS) MAN: Come on, Art! You won't win any medals out there, mate. It's two hours back to Rainbow. Better get a wriggle on. You got that? Yeah. I reckon I got it by now, Dad. Arthur... Look after me brothers. And keep my bloody head down. I know. (MEN WHOOP) See ya, Dad! (DOG BARKS) (DOG CONTINUES BARKING) Lizzie? Lizzie? (DOG CONTINUES BARKING) Lizzie?! Lizzie! Lizzie! (SOLEMN MUSIC) (DIGGING) You understand in all conscience I could not bury your wife in consecrated ground if I thought she had taken her own life. Consecrated ground is his promise to the faithful. She fell in and drowned so your conscience is clear. Three sons killed. That was quite an ordeal for Eliza. As the Book of Job teaches us, God sets these trials for a reason. Many families in the district have made similar sacrifices for king and country. You know, you have a gall coming in here, making demands. You haven't stepped inside this place for four years. You haven't been to confession. You're all but lost to God. Yes, and you and God can feed me to the pigs for all I care. But you knew this woman - she was here every Sunday. I've dug the grave. I made the coffin. All I'm asking you to do is say some words and throw some dirt. That cart of yours would make a useful benefaction for our community, an offering to God. You might as well take that too. (DOG BARKS) Come on, boy. I'll find them, love. I'll find them and I'll bring them home to you. (DIGGING CONTINUES) Nearly there. Thank you. Not now, later. Thank you. Major Hasan Bey, to see Lieutenant Colonel Hughes at the war graves... I know who he is, mate. Righto. Four years ago, they'd have given me a VC for shooting that bastard. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, may I present Major Hasan Bey. Major Bey was commander of... Just Major Hasan. Bey just means 'mister'. Yes, indeed. Mr Bey gave you boys hell at Lonesome Pines... We all know who Major Hasan is, Lieutenant. Thank you. (MEN SPEAK TURKISH) Uh... English? I see you have finally taken the peninsula. Yes. Lost the battle, won the war. Well, Sergeant Tucker here will show you to your accommodations. Perhaps once you've refreshed, we could meet in my tent? Thank you. Right this way. While I'm here, I thought I'd make myself useful. If you have any horses that need any work, I might go for a little ride, preferably something with a bit of pep. Sergeant Tucker, acquaint Lieutenant Greeves with Widowmaker. She could use a workout. With pleasure, sir. Now, we've already started work in this area in the Nek, down to Hill 971. Assumed they briefed you fully at the War Office. We would appreciate your help locating our dead. Your dead? Lost over 10,000 Anzacs here on Gallipoli, and still don't know where half of them are. Some were buried properly but a lot of the graves been lost, overgrown or washed away or their crosses were pilfered for firewood after we evacuated. Retreated. You were here? 1st Light Horse. What do you need of me? Land has changed, but you know the area better than anyone. I was hoping you could help us locate the companies we lost track of. We can start in the morning. We lost 70,000 men... here at Canakkale. For me, this place is one big grave. (SPEAKS TURKISH) Your kids use as much data as you do. So if you're tired of topping up their prepay, just add Red Share to your Red+ mobile plan and keep them connected with data to share and unlimited talk and TXT. I don't know what you chaps were bellyaching about. This is a veritable garden of Eden. If your troops had taken this hill on the first day, we would have been finished. How close did we get? There. (THUNDER RUMBLES) (RAIN TEEMS DOWN) There you go, sir. Your garden of Eden. (THUNDER RUMBLES) (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMING) Joshua, where are the boys? Ed, Henry, let's go home! Run! Come on, Ed! Boys! Boys! Hurry up! Art! Art! Ed! Argh... Get down! Argh! Argh! (BOYS SCREAM) It's alright, boys. It's alright. Good on you, Art, for not leaving your brothers behind. Hey, Ed, what's the magic word - the one that makes the carpet fly? Onga? Tangu, you wombat. That's it, tangu. Come on, cuddle up. Get tight. Close your eyes. Ed's peeping, Dad. Ed, close your eyes! It only works if your eyes are closed. Alright, boys, let's get out of here altogether! ALL: Tangu! (MUEZZIN CALLS PRAYER IN THE DISTANCE) (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION, GOAT BLEATS) Mister! (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Bugger off, the pair of you. Very nice room. Go away. No. No? No. Anything you want my mama can make. Hot water. No Germans... No. Clear off. Beautiful hotel. Best room. I'm going to Gallipoli. How do I get to Gallipoli? Eh? I want to go to Gallipoli. (SPEAKS TURKISH) Mister... Gallipoli. (SPEAKS TURKISH) Come to our hotel. Beautiful hotel. Beautiful view. Anything you want my 'annem' can make. Maybe you can help me. I'm going to Gallipoli. No, you're not. No-one goes there without a permit. You have to go to the British war office in Sultanahmet. Where? Sultanahmet. We go. And I'd keep an eye on your bag if I were you. Crafty little buggers. Oi! Oi! (MAN CALLS OUT) Oi! Mister! Mister! Where you go? Little bastard. Give my bag, you little bastard. See? Beautiful hotel. Clean sheets, hot water, no Germans. Hello. I, uh... I need a room. You're from England? No. No, I'm from Australia. Uh, I'm sorry. Orhan has made a mistake. We have no rooms. Your son dragged me halfway across this wretched city... Ah, no, no, no, no. The boy was right. Our best room is now vacant, Mr...? Connor. Joshua Connor. You're most welcome, Mr Connor. The room is up the stairs. Break of fast is at 8:00. Would you like for her to bring the tea? Uh, no. No, thanks, but your son did mention... there might be some hot water. Ah, it is shameful to lie. You are a spoilt mother's boy. Oh, no, it's alright, I must have just misunderstood. Please, please, it is his duty. Thank you very much. This your room. You seem to know where everything is. How about tomorrow you take me to the war office? I'll pay you. Yes, you will. (SQUAWKS) (KNOCKING) Towels for you, Mr Connor. I'm preparing you a hot bath down the hall. It will take some time. My son is no liar. He seems a very resourceful boy. He is. Very resourceful. You have children? Yes. Three sons. (CALLING OVER PA) What are they selling? They're not selling anything, Mr Connor. It's a call to prayer. Your guidebook is out of date. I didn't come here to sight-see. You should see the Blue Mosque at least. Even in my wretched city, it is a beautiful place to find God. I didn't come here for him either. I'm on my way to Gallipoli. You mean Canakkale? There is nothing there but ghosts. My son, he cannot help you tomorrow. He's needed here. (DOOR CLOSES) Have your bath and come back. I regret to inform you we do not issue civilians travel permits to the Dardanelles. It remains a very sensitive military zone. In fact, our friends the Greeks have made things even more complicated by invading Turkey's western coast. It will be some time before we bring order to this chaos. Arthur, Henry and Edward Connor all served with the 7th AIF battalion. They all enlisted together... and they died together, all killed in the one day. August 7th, 1915, in Lone Pine. Yes. We do have the Imperial Graves Unit on the peninsula as we speak. They have a formidable task ahead of them. You must understand, these men on Gallipoli, they are experts. All I need from you is a piece of paper and a stamp saying that I can go there. I simply couldn't, Mr Connor, even if that were my inclination. I can find them. How could you possibly hope to do that? Do you know what the army used to do with the rank-and-file dead after Waterloo, Ramillies, Khartoum? They would dig an enormous bloody pit and rake the whole lot in with a few handfuls of lime. No names. Horses. Mules. And the men all turned into fertiliser. This is the first war anyone has given a damn. My boys,... should be buried at home beside their mother. Go home, Mr Connor. (MEN CHANT IN TURKISH) (CHANTING CONTINUES) Come on. (RELIGIOUS VOCALISATION) Do you have buildings like this where you come from? But he didn't give up. He kept on fighting for three days. I told you my son had work to do here, Mr Connor. Oh... He's 10. What would you expect him to say? Keep it. It's our secret. (LAUGHS) (DAINTY PIANO MUSIC PLAYS) (WOMAN LAUGHS) (DAINTY PIANO MUSIC PLAYS) (PIANO MUSIC PLAYS IN BACKGROUND) (SIGHS) (SPEAKS TURKISH) Good morning. Mr Connor. Would you like some breakfast? Please. (POURS DRINK) I'm sorry, I don't understand. What's he saying? Uh, my father hopes you enjoy your breakfast. Would you happen to have a boiled egg? (MAN SPEAKS TURKISH) (SPEAKS TURKISH) Thank you. English? Ah. Your wife - he's asking where she is. She's dead. And your sons? Without papers, you cannot go to Gallipoli. Take the ferry to the town of Canak then find a fisherman. If you pay him enough, he will send you across the straits. You will have no need for British permits. Thank you. (SPEAKS TURKISH) Mr Joshua! Please, you find my baba in Canakkale. Tell him he must come home. Annem needs him. This is your father? Mm-hm. Who's the man in the hotel? My uncle. I'll have a look. You bring him home! So, what were you doing before the war? This is the Ottoman Empire. There was no before the war. In another life, I was an architect. I was a civil engineer. Ah. Are we expecting company? Whoever they are, bring them to my tent. Sergeant, have a couple of blokes go with Lieutenant Greeves. Sir. (MEN ROAR, GUNFIRE) (HORSES NEIGH) Mr Connor, I'm at a loss. You walk off your farm, you turn up unannounced in this place of horrors. And for what? Gallipoli is eight square miles of collapsed trenches, bomb craters, barbed wire, more unexploded grenades and shells than there're pebbles on that beach, alright? It's not safe. I know what day my sons were killed at Lone Pine. There's a map. And the last entry in his diary is August 7th. Rest assured, I aim to put a name next to every man out there, including your sons. I'm sorry, but you can't stay. Tucker, escort Mr Connor back to his boat. Your sons. Sir. Dinner. Yeah, come in, Dawson. Wrap your laughing gear around that, sir. Yum, yum, pig's bum, eh? Sir... Mmm. Something you might wanna see. Damn. Want me to arrest him, sir? And then what? Take some food down to him and a blanket. (MAN CALLS OUT) Not swimming? No. What are you doing with your farmer? There's a supply ship back to Constantinople in two days. Maybe we could help him until then. You know what the chances of finding his boys are. We have the day they were killed. I know the area. Yeah, we both know it, but why change everything for one father who can't stay put? Because he is the only father who came looking. Sergeant! Change of plan. Who's the Turk? Hasan the assassin. Saw us land. Saw us off. That dog wiped out half my battalion. He would have killed your boys. We're all best friends now. Get to serve him breakfast every morning. Don't worry, Mr Connor. Abduls. Not ours. This was our front line here. You were there. Machine gun here, machine gun here and one more there. We could see you. So many blue eyes. Mashallah. It is very lucky in Turkey to have blue eyes. Everywhere, except here... (GUNFIRE) (MEN YELL) MAN: Alright, boys, listen up! We've got to move up that left flank! Get your heads low, push forward! Now! Stick it up the nose of these jokers! We're gonna take their trench tonight! (MEN ROAR) (GUNFIRE) They're throwing rocks, boys! They're out of ammo! Let's get into the bastards! (MAN CALLS OUT) Let's do it. Let's do it! Come on! (MEN ROAR) You came in from two sides - here and here. (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) We built a roof to protect us from shell fire. Instead we made a trap for ourselves. (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) Inside, it was bedlam. Knives, hands, teeth. It was so dark and close, we did not see who it was we struck. (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) (YELPS) Three days. We only stopped because we could not climb over the bodies. (GRUNTS REPEATEDLY) (ROARS) (GUNSHOTS) (FAINT SCREAMING) As long as Allah make me breathe, let me see nothing like these days again. (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMS) MAN: Are you alright, Artie? ART: Bugger off! Here I go! Leave me! Yeah, righto, mate! Whatever you reckon! Uh... No! No! Leave me! (GUNFIRE) No! (GUNFIRE) No! (MEN GROAN) (MEN YOWL) (MEN MOAN AND SCREAM) (DISTANT SCREAMING, YELLING, MOANING) (MOANS) (MOANING CONTINUES) (MOANING CONTINUES) (MOANING AND CRYING) (MOANING CONTINUES) (MOANS) (MOANS) (SOBS QUIETLY) They're right here. Sir. It's your son, Edward. No, I wouldn't. The bastards executed him. He gave the order not to take prisoners. He killed the sick, he shot the wounded. One shot through the head - that's how they did it. Especially him. He killed your son. He gave him no chance. That's what he did... Oi! Stop him! I said stop him! (ROARS) Oh... Steady on, Sergeant. You killed my sons! You sent them, Mr Connor. You invaded us. Take him away, put him under guard. I'm most terribly sorry. He has two more sons. We should keep looking. War's over, Sergeant. We found Henry. Lying beside him. How on God's earth did you know they'd be there? But you haven't found Arthur yet. No, we combed the area thoroughly. Well, he wouldn't leave his brothers, so he must be there. I'll give Henry and Edward a proper burial tomorrow. I promised their mother I would find them and bring them home. This is their home now. It's not enemy ground anymore. They're among friends, probably the closest they ever had. Leave them, and they always will be. Take them back, they're just a couple of dead blokes in a cemetery. She wanted them buried in consecrated ground. How much blood do you need for it to be holy? Now, we lost over 2,000 men in those four days at Lone Pine. Turks lost 7,000. We didn't take too many prisoners either. I don't know if I forgive any of us. "The prince closed his eyes and said tangu. He sailed through the night to his father's lands. As the carpet settled gently on the lawn of the royal palace, the Sultan dropped to his knees, salted tears streaked his cheeks. As he embraced Prince Hussain, he cried, 'My son... My son, after all your rich adventures... the magic carpet has carried you on the four winds to this. You're home.'" Forgive my intrusion. Major Hasan, I wanted to apologise to you for my outburst. There is a Persian saying - may you outlive your children. It sounds like a blessing, but it's the worst curse one can place on the head of a man. I had this list sent from Istanbul. This is your family name. What is this list? If this is your son, he was taken prisoner. He did not die here. He left Canakkale... alive. (TURKISH MUSIC PLAYS) (TURKISH MUSIC PLAYS) (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) Joshua Bey! Hello. Did you find my father? No. (SONG ENDS) (APPLAUSE) Sorry, am I intruding? Is it his birthday? No, his sunnet. Oh, bloody hell, it's a private thing. No. Sorry. Do you want to see my scar? Oh, thanks, mate. No. You have guests. Welcome back to Istanbul, Mr Connor. You are always welcome. Thank you. (PEOPLE CHANT IN TURKISH) My apologies, Major. Admiral Calthorpe will have to reschedule your meeting. Perhaps next Tuesday - does that suit? Yes, if your admiral could also reschedule the Greeks. Allow us to handle the Greeks through proper diplomatic channels. Let us not have another war. It's the same war. It hasn't ended. Major Hasan, can you tell me the... No. I have finished helping. Mr Connor, do you have your passport? You were specifically ordered not to go to Gallipoli. I'm not in your army. All I need to know is the name of the prison camp they sent my son to. If your son did not return home, the sad reality is he is deceased. This was the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest empires the world has ever known, and presently, it's being carved up. The Bolshies, they want the Black Sea, the French and the Italians, they want the Aegean, and currently in Anatolia - where the prison camps were, incidentally - the Turks and the Greeks are turning the place into a complete and utter bloodbath. So where, pray, in all this madness, would you like us to start looking for your son (?) You said the prison camps were in Anatolia? Who would have those records, the Turk army? The camps are gone. They're all gone. And so are you. Lieutenant, show Mr Connor out. I will be at your hotel 0400 on Thursday with your passport and a ticket home via Calcutta, a courtesy of the British army. We will make sure you will not miss that boat. I mean, have you bothered to ask yourself, man, if your son was still alive, would he not simply come home? Mr Connor, please. My brother died on that bloody peninsula. My fiancee works at the Red Cross here. If it would be helpful, I could arrange an appointment. That would be very helpful, thank you. Well, Mr Connor, I think you can show yourself out from here. Good luck. Thanks again. (TURKISH CHANTING) (CHANTING CONTINUES) (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) Major Hasan? I need to talk to Major Hasan. Nobody will tell me what prison camp they sent my son Arthur to. Your army must have records. Please, I'm at a dead end. Then now we are in the same place. I told you, I cannot help anymore. You must never come back here, Mr Connor. (CHICKEN SQUAWKS) (BOY LAUGHS) He is handsome, eh? Don't you think? Big, strong. I do not think about other men. I'm married. No, of course. (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) Anne, Joshua Bey is coming with us to the sisters. Uh, no. It's just you and me today. Special treat? I'm sorry, Mr Connor. This is not possible. It would not be proper. I understand. Next time. (GROANS) Mr Connor, perhaps if you were to follow 20 paces behind, then there would be no shame. (LAUGHS) I will get my hat and my coat. (KISSES) (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) You know where I live, my home - sometimes it doesn't rain for three or four years at a time. We have to find water that's fallen through the cracks in the earth. How do you find it in the ground? Well, there's the trick. You have to feel it. And you feel it every time? No, I have dug a lot of wells that just turned out to be holes. I'll show you. (UPLIFTING MUSIC) I have something of yours. Orhan asked me to find your husband. I hate this photograph. Turgut is a musician. Never a soldier. How long were you married? I am married. 12 years. My mother had arranged for me to marry someone else but my father fought her. He told her, "Why would we want our daughter to be as miserable as us?" It is not easy to marry for love here. Maybe my mother was right. Turgut was mad, bills to the roof not paid, music all hours, parties, lazy friends. I miss the chaos. I wish my mother had arranged my marriage. You did not love your wife? Oh. I adored her. I was just so bad at courting. I think she only married me out of impatience. But it was happy? Very. Till the boys were lost. It's good to know where they are. Not lost or nameless anymore. I was told my oldest son was taken prisoner. So he's alive? I don't know. But you have hope? Hope's a necessity where I come from. Goodnight, Mr Connor. Goodnight. (WEEPS) (MOURNFUL MUSIC) (MOURNFUL MUSIC CONTINUES) Take care. Your fate is in there. It is a silly peasant game. You have to drink it first. Now we wait. We decide everything here by coffee. Business, holidays, even our husbands. And that works? When two families come together to arrange a marriage, the young girl serves them coffee. If it is sweet, she approves of the match. If it is bitter, go away. The more sugar, the deeper the love. (SCOFFS) It is all peasant nonsense. (BOTH GRUNT AND GROAN) Stay here. Stop! Stop, you fool! This is not your business! This is what you want? The enemy? It has nothing to do with him! My brother was a fool! You disgrace our family! Go! Go, you have to leave now! You offended his honour! He will not forgive this. He hit you! I hit him! You see, you understand nothing. You will never understand. I thought I was doing the right thing. Yes, yes, you and your sons and your armies all doing the right thing! All you did was rob Orhan of a father and left me with choices like this! Then, please, let me help. (LAUGHS) So now you will rescue us. I didn't mean it like that. I raised three boys. And where are they now?! This is not your world! Go home, Mr Connor. You don't need to go. She gets angry with me all the time. (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) You would make a good ambassador, Connor Bey. You know him? This man has dishonoured my family. My orders are to take him to Major Hasan. Come here, Connor. First we will teach him a lesson about honour. All four of you? I found your son's name on a list of wounded. They take him from Canakkale to a camp in Afyon. After Afyon, we don't know. Winters are hard. What, you mean he died there? No more records. We are Ottoman, not German. Tomorrow you will be on a boat back to Australia. Cemal and I will travel east to Ankara. Mustafa Kemal is gathering a nationalist army there. We must pass through Afyon. I will ask if anyone remembers your son. Could he still be in Afyon? No. As a soldier, as a father, I'll tell you it is past praying. ALL: Mustafa Kemal! Who's he toasting? Turkish future. (MAN SINGS TRADITIONAL SONG) (OTHERS SING ALONG) (ALL SING TRADITIONAL SONG) Look at him. He is the worst sergeant in the whole Ottoman army. Three times I have saved this man's life. Never once in battle. Look at him, like a peacock with big moustache and gold buttons. "I love my wife, I love my children, I have a big stick up my arsehole." Tonight, we kill this man with lion's milk. Serefe. Serefe. Serefe. (SPEAKS TURKISH) (MEN CHEER) First Australian I met - not to shoot at, to talk to - was a thief at Lone Pine. This man waves a white cloth, calls out and walks straight across no-man's land. He is carrying something. 1,000 guns are on him. 2,000 eyes. But he walks. He reaches us and drops one of our wounded into our hands. We shared a cigarette and he walked back. No-one shot him? I should have. It's only when he got back I realised he had stolen my cigarettes and my lighter. AYSHE: Mr Connor... Sorry if I disturbed you. If I could pick up my bag... Of course. Orhan put it in your room. I wish to apologise for all I said. I was angry. I meant none of it. I'm the one who should be apologising. You're right. I did fill their heads with heroic nonsense. God and king and country. It was my job to steer my boys to manhood. And I failed them. I measure a man by how much he loves his children, not by what the world has done to them. I'll be here for them in the morning. Well... You can't travel on an empty stomach. (PENSIVE MUSIC) (MUSIC CONTINUES OVER) (SCREAMING AND GUNFIRE) (SOLEMN OPERATIC MUSIC) (MUEZZIN CALLS LOUDLY, TO PRAYER) Mr Connor. Mr Connor. Good morning. Come down here, please. We've a very long walk to the dock. Lieutenant, if you'd be so kind as to go down to the dock and speak to the captain and make sure he holds that boat. Thank you. I saw him. I saw him clearly. He's not dead. You cannot go back. No. (KNOCKING) Connor! Come on. Kick that damn door in. Connor! Go up over the roof. You can get through the city wall. MAN: Move! (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) Where is Joshua Connor? Upstairs! Quickly! Be careful with the tiles. On the roof! Connor! Connor! He's alive, I know he is. Please, take me with you. (SPEAKS TURKISH) Ambassador, what part of Ottoman Empire did Australia get? It wasn't about land for us. Always it's about land. We don't need any more land. We fought for a principle. You fight, you die, you get nothing. Good principle. A weapon, yes? In the right hands. Yeah? It's a game called cricket. Cricket? Yeah, it's a cricket bat. You play? Yeah. Well, yeah, everybody plays. Yeah, you need a ball and that's the bat. Show us. No, you need a lot of space. Yeah, yeah. So the idea is you have the ball and you bowl it with a straight arm and you try and hit the wicket. Straight arm? Straight arm. Ready? (MEN LAUGH) That's the way. Straight arm. Englishers, always with rules! (MEN CHEER) Give me the stick, give me the stick. The Greeks are deeper inland than I thought. They terrorise the people and burn the towns. We used to be one country, now we are constantly at war. (BRAKES HISS) (REPEATS TURKISH PHRASE IN TURKISH) (GUNSHOT) Oh... (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMING) (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMING) (MEN SHOUTING) Joshua, pick up a gun! (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) (SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE) Ah. (SPEAKS GREEK) (MAN CALLS OUT IN GREEK) I'm from Australia. Yes. Anzac Bey, don't invade a country if you don't know where it is. (MAN PRAYS IN TURKISH) (MEN GRUNT AND GROAN) (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES) Our horses need rest. Raki? Ouzo. Same mother. To Cemal. It is a miracle. Allah turned a blind eye. I will ride with you as far as Afyon. (INTRIGUING MUSIC) Joshua, where are you going? Afyon is this way. He's here. Arthur! Arthur? Joshua, come. Arthur? Art? Dad? Son. Are you here? Yes. Yes. Time to come home. I'm not coming back. None of us are. They're dead. I know. How's Mum? She's with your brothers. You told me to take care of them. You said, "Look after your brothers." I didn't. Henry had his face shot off. One minute he was there and then he just... wasn't. Ed bled out for hours. (MOANS) (MOANS) I want Mum. Hold on. Someone will come for us. I'm a gut-shot rabbit. Artie? Yes, mate? I can't shoot myself. They won't let me in heaven. You can't ask me. You have to do it. No. You're my brother. (GASPS, PANTS) (CRIES) Climb onto the carpet, mate. Let's get out of here. Take me home, Artie. It only works if you close your eyes. I love you. BOTH: Tangu. (FIRES SHOT) (CRIES) (CRIES) (ROARS) I killed them. They can't come home. So... You see... it's alright to leave me here. I didn't lift a finger to stop any of you. I killed your brothers the day I waved you off. Arthur,... your brothers live on in you. You must go. It's too dangerous here. He's right, Joshua. The Greek soldiers are here. I must leave now. (COMMOTION) (CALLS OUT IN GREEK) How do I thank you? Tesekkurler. Tesekkurler, Hasan Bey. Tell your son, when he's well, tell him he still owes me a packet of cigarettes and one lighter. Your kids use as much data as you do. So if you're tired of topping up their prepay, just add Red Share to your Red+ mobile plan and keep them connected with data to share and unlimited talk and TXT. Arthur! Dad, this way! (EXPLOSION) (SPEAKS GREEK) (BARKS INSTRUCTIONS IN GREEK) Give us a hand. This'll take you across the valley. Once you pass the village, head north towards the coast and follow it. I'm not leaving without you. I've buried your mother, I buried your brothers. If you're not coming with me, I have nowhere to go. Either we leave here together or we'll die here... together. (EXPLOSION) Is it cold? Yeah. It's freezing. (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) When we finish here, why don't we see if we can find some fresh clothes? Righto. Sounds good. You want room, clean sheets, hot water... BOTH: No Germans. (GASPS) Joshua Bey, you came back for me! Welcome back, Mr Connor. Is this your son? Arthur. Orhan, help me show Arthur our second best room. She is outside. (LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION) Mr Connor? You speak Turkish like a villager. Am I welcome here? All are welcome here. You don't seem surprised that I'm back. It was in your coffee, weeks ago, before you left. I told you, everything is in the coffee.
Subjects
  • Feature films--Australia
  • World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula--Drama
  • Soldiers--Missing in action--Australia--Drama