Cruel Hands (2026) Movie Script
1
[theme music]
My mom told me when
she was a little girl
the world was different.
She said it was greener.
The air was fresher, the
sunrise more beautiful.
She said that's why she
wanted to take me away,
to find somewhere
like that again.
[thundering]
But when the fires came,
it changed everything,
and the fires came, the
air became thick and heavy.
[thundering]
And all the grain
was washed away.
[music playing]
[traffic humming]
[clicking]
Oh, don't worry about that.
[clicking]
[crickets]
[footsteps]
Dai, don't.
Don't do that, darling.
You can't go past this fence.
OK.
We can't let anyone see us,
or we'll get into trouble, OK?
Well, why can't we
go over the other side?
Because there are
wild dogs and wolves
that love eating up little boys
for their breakfast, lunch,
-and dinner.
-No, they're not.
Are too.
No, they're not.
You good to your mother?
You do what she tells you to do?
-Ahhh.
-Yeah.
Thank you.
Take care, hey.
Yeah.
[door closing]
[engine turning]
[music playing]
[creaking]
[radio chatter] changes
[radio chatter]
And there are others.
It's not just about these three.
Apparently, the Navy's on
standby down Mallacoota Way.
[gun cocking]
in [radio chatter]
[buzzing]
Oh, wow.
Thank you, Dai.
Hey, this fridge door
doesn't shut properly, OK, so
just be careful with it, yeah
[buzzing]
[banging]
Dai!
What are you doing,
you little weirdo?
Hi, Darling.
[music playing]
OK, so we like the body.
Looks like...
Oh, yeah.
That's how you do it.
Yeah.
You get all the
excess and then...
and then that.
And then it'll dry
hard in the shape.
[slashing grass]
There's more glue in the
fridge if you need it, OK.
[music playing]
[banging]
[traffic humming]
Sorry, do you have a
phone that I could use.
-Sorry?
-Can I please use your phone?
We don't have a public phone
Please, can I just...
here, you can have just...
you can have that.
Just can I please
use your phone.
[tires screeching]
[phone chatter]
-Sorry.
-Where are we?
What... what's your address?
34 Pacific Road I think.
[music playing]
Come on, Lucille.
Come on.
Come on.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Pick up.
[dial tone]
Lucille, it's me.
It's Marie.
-Where are you?
-Mom.
Mom, are you OK?
I had a nightmare.
Come here.
What scared the bravest
boy in the world then?
It was someone suffocating me.
Did you fight back?
Fight back?
Yeah.
Show them how brave you are.
Show me.
Yeah, it's that.
It's the only way to get
rid of nightmares, baby.
You have to stand up to them.
Do you have nightmares?
Sometimes.
Do you stand up to them?
Sometimes.
Maybe go downstairs,
make some breakfast.
-I'll be down soon.
-OK.
OK.
[chirping]
[buzzing]
Mom!
What?
Did power go out again?
I don't know.
Move.
I'm sure Lucille will bring
really good stuff with her.
We had good food at home.
If Lucille doesn't come,
what are we gonna eat?
She'll come, Dai.
She was late when she
picked us up last time.
She'll come.
[thundering]
Hey!
Hello.
My name's Jason.
I was here the other night
with my wife and son.
Yeah, no, I remember.
You guys were
having car troubles.
Well, would you believe it.
She's broken down again.
I'm sorry to hear.
Cars just never do what
they're supposed to, hey.
Would you mind giving me a ride?
Oh, I'm actually going the
other way, and I'm running late.
Otherwise I would.
I didn't say where
I needed to go.
Can I use your phone?
Sir, I'm sorry, but
I really have to run.
My family's missing.
All I know is that my wife
called a number on your phone,
and then she vanished.
I just... just wanna
see who she called.
Maybe she doesn't want that.
-I don't want to get involved.
-I'm sorry.
You can't help that now.
Dai, honey, where are you?
Mom.
Hmm?
Why isn't it cold?
Hmm?
What do you mean?
Well, if it's snowing,
shouldn't it be cold?
[music playing]
It's ash.
It's... it's not snow.
Why would there
be ash in the sky.
-Well, the winds, they...
-they pick it up from the fires
and bring it over this way.
Well, they must be close.
No, no, they're miles away.
You don't have to
worry about that.
Besides, I've got more
important things to worry about.
Like what?
Like this friend of mine,
it's his birthday soon.
Actually, I think
might know him.
He's a little man, but he's
almost as tall as me now.
And he likes drawing.
He insists on petting
every dog that he meets.
He loves waking his
mom up really early.
[giggling]
[keys rattling]
[dial tone]
[music playing]
[phone chatter]
Don't do that, Dai.
Where are you going?
Going to see if I
can catch a rabbit.
Get a little bit
more for us to eat.
You're going to the supermarket?
No, Dai.
There isn't a
supermarket, OK, at least
not one that we can walk to.
Can I come with you?
What did I say
that the rule was?
-Don't go past the fence.
-Exactly.
What if I'm with you?
No, Dai, OK.
You have to stay in here.
It's safer.
I can just go when you're gone.
What was that Dai, if I find out
that you've been
going past the fence,
I'm going to start
locking you in your room.
You wouldn't.
Yes, I would because if
I don't then the police
will catch you and we'll have
even more problems, all right.
Go back inside, Dai.
[footsteps]
[music playing]
[slamming]
Who was on the phone?
[muffled speech]
How do you think
it makes me feel?
Just gonna leave me alone?
I'd kill myself if
I lost you, Maria.
Is that what you want?
You want me to kill myself?
What if it is?
[slapping]
I don't think being
around here is safe for him.
Maybe I'll take him to
live somewhere else.
How you like that?
[banging]
You all right?
That was a lot, wasn't it?
Your mother, we love her,
but she can be so dramatic,
can't she?
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, she didn't tell you where
she was taking you, did she?
Yeah, you I'd never hurt
anyone, especially not you two.
Your mother, she's just...
she's very sick,
and she needs help.
And she doesn't tell the truth.
You know that, right?
Yeah?
You're a smart kid.
You see it?
All right.
I love you.
Bye bye.
[animals calling]
[rumbling]
[screaming]
[gunshot]
Shit.
[screaming]
[clap]
Mom, I'm hungry.
Yeah.
All right, let's have
something to eat then.
But we've nothing to eat.
Oh, that's not true, is it?
I'll make us some beans.
Well, I'm bored.
There's nothing to do.
And I don't want to
eat beans and stew.
I hate it here.
Dai, just stop please, OK.
I'm trying my best.
Why are we even here?
-I'm trying to protect you.
-You're not protecting me.
You just wanted to
get back at dad.
You know that's not true.
Don't...
What do you want?
You want something special,
I'll get it for you.
Anything?
Yes, anything.
Something good.
Fine.
I'll get you something good.
[knocking]
What do you want?
Hello, Hannah.
What do you want?
Can you open this door?
You've aged badly.
Marie is missing.
You already know.
I don't know where she is.
She has my son.
Marie has a son?
Dai.
He's about to turn 12.
I just need to know they're OK.
If they want to be left
alone, I'll leave them alone.
Just want them to
know I love them
and I'm here for
them if they need.
-Fuck off.
-Jason.
If you come back, I'm
calling the police.
[door slamming]
[rustling]
[chatter]
[barking]
[knocking]
I gotta get out of here tonight.
Look out the window, Dai.
OK, but I need you to get the
key to the door from your dad.
So can you please
do that for me?
[radio chatter]
Just don't wake him up.
The country has seen in a
century have ravaged houses,
and families have been
reporting from the front line.
State of emergency
has been declared
with police and military
helping to fight
the panic around the country.
We go now to Hamish
Ferguson, who's
been reporting on
the front lines.
Hamish, what are you seeing?
That's right.
Chris.
The wind does appear to be
keeping the blazes high.
But that could change
at any moment, too.
And if that happens...
Go to bed, Dai.
I'm getting water.
Why is it taking so long to
evacuate these communities.
There are hardy people.
They've been through these fires
before, and they've come out OK.
We haven't seen
anything like it before,
and experts are saying this
could be the new normal.
[water running]
[radio chatter]
[rattling]
[barking]
[radio chatter]
[barking]
[music playing]
You OK?
Where is he?
On the couch.
Run.
Wait!
No, stop that!
[screaming]
[labored breathing]
[screaming]
Are you OK?
[labored breathing]
[screaming]
-Drive!
-Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
[banging]
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
[sobbing]
Are you OK, Dai?
[screaming]
Is it good?
Yeah, it's pretty good.
Where'd you get it?
It's a secret.
So you can go to
the supermarket?
-No, Dai.
-We can't, OK.
It was a one time thing.
Why?
Because I said so, Dai.
[scruffing]
[rumbling]
The victim identified
as Hannah Connor suffered
a severe beating
after a home invasion
this week in an
outer Sydney suburb.
According to police,
the attack scene
is random although there is...
[vibrating]
Hello.
Oh, hello.
Am I speaking with
Jason Trieste?
Yes, it is.
Who's speaking?
This is Robbie Kearns.
I'm calling from Glenmore
Road Public School.
I'm one of Dai's teachers.
We haven't seen him
in the last week.
I just wanted to make sure
that you were aware of this.
Oh, I thought Maria emailed you.
No, we're up in
Queensland for work,
so Dai won't be
coming in anymore.
Oh, OK.
I haven't received anything.
That's OK.
Thanks for calling.
[shuffling]
[distant banging]
[footsteps]
[talking in distance]
I was just like I had to
get out of there, you know.
[buzzing]
Temperatures.
These conditions
create a perfect storm.
Here we go.
The usual fear-mongering from
the scientific community.
Australia always has bushfires.
This is nothing new.
[radio chatter]
Sorry to disturb you.
I'm just looking for my mother.
She's got dementia,
and she's wandered off.
Her name's Lucille.
Do you know her?
-No.
-Sorry.
Do you know anyone
named Lucille?
That's the old one.
Good luck finding your mother.
[baby crying]
I love them at this age.
They're so cute.
You really never saw her?
Yeah.
Well, have a great day.
-Hey!
-I don't know.
No.
No, I don't know how
you do it to yourself.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, it smells like shit.
Tastes like shit.
Shit, my dad smokes.
I reckon I'm a lot like my dad.
I mean, he smokes.
Does he?
[laughing]
Yeah.
Like a pack a day.
[music playing]
What are you doing?
Wait Keep me up.
Keep me up, guys.
That's nice.
Hey!
Hey, where you going?
Yip, yip!
Here, piggy, piggy, piggy.
[yelping]
[yelping]
There you are.
He's going down there.
Oh, he's trying
to steal our billy.
Damn, dude, that
was a good spot.
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
Dai, honey.
Dai, where are you?
Dai!
What have you...
what have you done?
What is wrong with you!
Get in the bathroom now.
Dai, the rule about the
fence, it's to protect us.
OK.
I wanted to see the supermarket.
There is no supermarket, Dai.
I stole the pizzas
from the neighbors.
I shouldn't have, and I'm
not going to do it again.
But the neighbors cannot see us.
Do you understand?
Because if they do, then
they'll call the police,
and they'll report us.
And then your
father will find us.
And he'll take you
away from me, OK.
And I'm terrified that I'll
never get to see you again
if that happens, Dai.
Do you understand?
[sobbing]
[rumbling]
[tapping]
[music playing]
[crackling]
[fire rustling]
Dai, honey, can you
come out here a sec?
Happy birthday, honey.
I don't want a cake.
Come on, darling.
Come on, blow out your candles.
You can wish for
anything you want.
I don't want to make a wish.
Dai, what do you want more
than anything in the world?
I want to go home.
OK, you want to go back
to living with your father,
fine, wish for that then.
[soft banging]
Why do you want to go home?
You didn't get
angry at me as much,
and we were a whole family.
OK, then wish for that.
Go on.
Wish for it.
Sorry.
We're not gonna
stay here forever.
Mom.
Yeah, little man.
I promise I won't go
past the fence again.
Good night, darling.
I love you.
[rumbling]
[music playing]
You OK?
Whatever you hear,
just stay in here, OK.
What is it?
Is it dad?
Just stay in here, Dai.
[shuffling]
[creaking]
I don't know.
I don't know.
Something in the house.
[gunshot]
[thunk]
[footsteps]
[shaking]
[whimpering]
Hey.
It was an accident, Dai I
thought it was your dad.
[rustling]
Piss off.
You know, you can't protect
yourself with a garden hose.
Whoa.
OK.
Seems to work well.
Thank you.
[radio chatter]
Hey, Will.
What?
We got a 000 call about
gunshots in the Osgood area.
The caller couldn't
give an address.
Didn't have one.
He was apparently
hard to understand.
-Now?
-Yeah.
Probably nothing.
Hunters maybe.
Well, no, we can't ignore it.
Who was the caller.
Harold in the caravan park.
Yeah.
Right, well, he is
hard to understand.
All right, we'll be back.
Yeah.
Please get ready to evacuate.
OK.
Thank you.
[rustling]
[footsteps]
You called in about a gunshot.
Who's yelling?
Will and Francis are here.
So you heard it as well?
Oh, there was a loud
crack an hour ago.
Yeah.
Over in the forest over there.
Probably just hunters.
So who's living over there?
Nobody lives there.
Evacuated?
Abandoned.
[thumping]
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
Mom!
[footsteps]
Mom.
Nothing.
No, nothing.
Mom.
Please, Dai.
Mom.
Mom.
[creaking]
Please, Dai.
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Listen to me.
Need you take this.
I need you to stay...
look at me.
Stay quiet.
Don't move.
OK.
Go.
Go, go, go.
Hey, Francis.
Hmm.
Look.
Local kids breaking in?
Yeah.
Why don't they take
out the garbage?
We know there's someone here.
It's the police.
[thumping]
This is your final warning.
[straining]
-Sorry.
-Sorry, officer.
Sorry, I was asleep.
It's 3:00 AM.
Sorry, is this something
that I can help you with?
Yeah, we had a
report of a gunshot.
Have you heard anything?
No.
No, we're surrounded
by the forest,
so we don't really hear much.
Have you had any drugs
or alcohol this evening?
No.
No, never.
Never in my life.
You know, the fires
are closing in.
Yeah.
Yeah, they're... they're
all I can smell anymore.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
So this is your house?
No, it's my aunt Lucille's.
We... we moved in just before
everything started up.
Who's we?
My husband and I.
Yeah, do you reckon we might
be able to see some ID, miss?
Yeah, sure.
Absolutely.
Well...
-Can you give me a second.
-Sorry.
-No, no.
-It's OK.
Here we are.
Thank you.
Yeah, you know this
has expired, miss.
I know sorry.
I need to get another one.
So no proof of
residence obviously.
No, sorry.
But you can contact my
aunt Lucille Lafitte.
Right, it's just, you
know, we start forcefully
evacuating this whole
area this morning.
We'll be gone in
the early morning.
We'll make sure.
OK thank you, Mrs. Trieste.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Look, I don't like you being
here alone without a car.
OK, this is serious business.
So you need to
keep your radio on.
-OK.
-OK.
-Sound good.
-Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
Have a good night.
Thank you.
[engine turning]
Did you see her eye?
What about it?
It was... it was bruised.
Oh, yes.
I think drugs No?
No.
I think she was hit.
The husband.
Well, look, I really
don't think there's
much we can do about it.
Yeah?
There is.
Like, I want to go and talk
to the homeowner to check.
I'm going to stick to
my instructions, yeah.
My first priority is evacuating
those people most in danger
from the fires unless responding
to a life or death situation.
What?
OK.
No, that's OK.
I just think that we
should split up then.
Sure.
[music playing]
[grunting]
[whimpering]
You think you're smart
earlier, sending me
to the middle of nowhere.
Tell me where they really are,
I won't leave you here to burn.
[engine humming]
[chirping]
[knocking]
Hello.
Is anyone home?
My name's Francis.
I'm a police officer.
We're not evacuating.
Yeah... sir.
That's not why I'm here.
Is there a Lucille that
lives here, Lucille Lafitte?
Yeah, she's me wife.
What do you want with her?
Sir, can I come in?
Now's not really a
good time actually.
I know I should
have called ahead.
-I just really believe that...
-Know that's right.
You should have called ahead.
OK, however, I believe
someone is in danger,
and we can still help her.
OK.
We just need to act quickly.
Help her, eh.
Look, maybe you should come
back when my wife's in.
She'll be back later today.
All right.
-No, sir.
-We don't have enough time.
OK.
Look.
What time will she be back?
Later.
Later?
I just spoke to
Lucille's husband,
and he said to come back
later when she's in today.
We have to follow protocol
here, or we might get hurt.
Will, please just come over
here and try to talk to him.
[grunting]
What are we gonna do?
Packing your things, OK.
We're getting out of here.
Mrs. Lafitte?
[banging]
Hello!
[whimpering]
Oh, fucking hell.
Mrs. Lafitte.
[whimpering]
Hey.
Francis, come in.
This is Will.
[engine roaring]
[siren]
Yeah, hey, I'm gonna
need to get through.
Miss, I can't let
you through here.
There's only one house down
this road, and it's abandoned.
No, it's not abandoned.
I was there this morning.
Look, Miss, you can't
come through here.
But you can go around the pass.
It'll take an extra 15 minutes,
but you better be quick.
This place is going to
be a furnace in an hour.
Stop.
Stop, stop, stop, Stop.
[clicking]
[door slamming]
[rattling]
Maria!
[knocking]
Dai, it's dad.
[glass breaking]
[rattling]
[crackling]
[footsteps]
Maria!
Dai.
You're not hiding, are you?
Come on, talk to me.
Be rational.
[creaking]
I'm sorry.
[labored breathing]
Just want to make
sure you two are OK.
Come on, mate.
Know I'd never hurt
you or your mother.
Look, maybe I wasn't always
what you two needed or wanted.
But what's she
telling you about me?
Did you ever see me
hurt your mother?
[creaking]
[labored breathing]
All I ever wanted was
for us to be a family,
and it's still what I want.
[creaking]
Come on, mate.
Is life so bad at home with me?
Since I've grown up, what's
expected of men's changed.
You know, supposed to
be tough, protective.
It's hard to make
sense anymore of what
I'm supposed to be when
what I've always thought
I was supposed to be...
No, I'm not going to lose you.
Suddenly gone.
What I'm trying to say
is you and your mother
deserve all the love
in the world, mate.
Men aren't so good at loving
or nurturing I don't think.
We show our love by being
tough, protective, and sometimes
looks like we're the bad guy.
But if... if you saw how far
I'd come to find you, mate...
[creaking]
I would do anything for you.
I'd go anywhere, become anything
for you, for both of you.
I can show you that
I'm changing already.
[clicking]
[creaking]
Dai, cover your eyes.
Don't move!
Officer, you startled me.
Can I help you with anything?
Who are you talking to?
I was just talking to myself.
Put your hands up.
What for?
Put your hands up.
OK.
Up.
OK, here's what
we're going to do.
You're going to walk
towards the door.
Through this door?
Yes, that door.
OK.
[creaking]
[wincing]
[footsteps]
Then put both hands
on the blue car.
[wincing]
Stay out of this!
Stay there!
Hey!
Damn it.
Maria!
Dai!
Where are we going, mum?
We have to come inside!
This is the police!
We have the forest surrounded!
[cracking]
I'm always going to
be here for you, Dai.
OK.
We simply break
free one last time,
and then we'll never
have to run again.
OK.
[gunshots]
Maria!
Maria, I was wrong.
Look, we don't need to go home.
We can go anywhere you want.
Sydney, Melbourne.
I don't care.
France, for fuck's sake.
Just wanna be a family again.
I'll forgive you
you can forgive me.
[gunshot]
Please don't make me.
Not gonna hurt you.
[gunshot]
Run!
Run!
[knocking]
Run!
Put that gun down.
Put it down now!
[yells] No!
[gunshot]
[crying]
Bitch.
[gunshot]
[crying]
[music playing]
[chatter]
[rumbling]
[distant yelling]
[clapping]
I don't just remember the smoke.
I remember something
my mother told me
about a plant that grew only
in the Australian bush, a plant
that releases seeds only when
it's burnt in a bushfire,
about how bright,
colorful shoots can
be seen growing out of the
charred trees left behind.
I imagine if we
went back, we'd see
a whole forest has
grown back, brighter
and more colorful than before.
[chatter]
[SINGING] Say you're not afraid
Jump to the edge of it
Say you're not so vain
[singing]
Tell me now is why
[singing]
Will live for 50 years longer
I hope now it's my time
Take it all down
The wallpaper and all
the women inside of it
[singing]
Now I'm so tired
Of all this importance
of self-inventing
I want to go down
To the grave
Tell me it's not too late
I spent too many years
In the cave
[theme music]
My mom told me when
she was a little girl
the world was different.
She said it was greener.
The air was fresher, the
sunrise more beautiful.
She said that's why she
wanted to take me away,
to find somewhere
like that again.
[thundering]
But when the fires came,
it changed everything,
and the fires came, the
air became thick and heavy.
[thundering]
And all the grain
was washed away.
[music playing]
[traffic humming]
[clicking]
Oh, don't worry about that.
[clicking]
[crickets]
[footsteps]
Dai, don't.
Don't do that, darling.
You can't go past this fence.
OK.
We can't let anyone see us,
or we'll get into trouble, OK?
Well, why can't we
go over the other side?
Because there are
wild dogs and wolves
that love eating up little boys
for their breakfast, lunch,
-and dinner.
-No, they're not.
Are too.
No, they're not.
You good to your mother?
You do what she tells you to do?
-Ahhh.
-Yeah.
Thank you.
Take care, hey.
Yeah.
[door closing]
[engine turning]
[music playing]
[creaking]
[radio chatter] changes
[radio chatter]
And there are others.
It's not just about these three.
Apparently, the Navy's on
standby down Mallacoota Way.
[gun cocking]
in [radio chatter]
[buzzing]
Oh, wow.
Thank you, Dai.
Hey, this fridge door
doesn't shut properly, OK, so
just be careful with it, yeah
[buzzing]
[banging]
Dai!
What are you doing,
you little weirdo?
Hi, Darling.
[music playing]
OK, so we like the body.
Looks like...
Oh, yeah.
That's how you do it.
Yeah.
You get all the
excess and then...
and then that.
And then it'll dry
hard in the shape.
[slashing grass]
There's more glue in the
fridge if you need it, OK.
[music playing]
[banging]
[traffic humming]
Sorry, do you have a
phone that I could use.
-Sorry?
-Can I please use your phone?
We don't have a public phone
Please, can I just...
here, you can have just...
you can have that.
Just can I please
use your phone.
[tires screeching]
[phone chatter]
-Sorry.
-Where are we?
What... what's your address?
34 Pacific Road I think.
[music playing]
Come on, Lucille.
Come on.
Come on.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Pick up.
[dial tone]
Lucille, it's me.
It's Marie.
-Where are you?
-Mom.
Mom, are you OK?
I had a nightmare.
Come here.
What scared the bravest
boy in the world then?
It was someone suffocating me.
Did you fight back?
Fight back?
Yeah.
Show them how brave you are.
Show me.
Yeah, it's that.
It's the only way to get
rid of nightmares, baby.
You have to stand up to them.
Do you have nightmares?
Sometimes.
Do you stand up to them?
Sometimes.
Maybe go downstairs,
make some breakfast.
-I'll be down soon.
-OK.
OK.
[chirping]
[buzzing]
Mom!
What?
Did power go out again?
I don't know.
Move.
I'm sure Lucille will bring
really good stuff with her.
We had good food at home.
If Lucille doesn't come,
what are we gonna eat?
She'll come, Dai.
She was late when she
picked us up last time.
She'll come.
[thundering]
Hey!
Hello.
My name's Jason.
I was here the other night
with my wife and son.
Yeah, no, I remember.
You guys were
having car troubles.
Well, would you believe it.
She's broken down again.
I'm sorry to hear.
Cars just never do what
they're supposed to, hey.
Would you mind giving me a ride?
Oh, I'm actually going the
other way, and I'm running late.
Otherwise I would.
I didn't say where
I needed to go.
Can I use your phone?
Sir, I'm sorry, but
I really have to run.
My family's missing.
All I know is that my wife
called a number on your phone,
and then she vanished.
I just... just wanna
see who she called.
Maybe she doesn't want that.
-I don't want to get involved.
-I'm sorry.
You can't help that now.
Dai, honey, where are you?
Mom.
Hmm?
Why isn't it cold?
Hmm?
What do you mean?
Well, if it's snowing,
shouldn't it be cold?
[music playing]
It's ash.
It's... it's not snow.
Why would there
be ash in the sky.
-Well, the winds, they...
-they pick it up from the fires
and bring it over this way.
Well, they must be close.
No, no, they're miles away.
You don't have to
worry about that.
Besides, I've got more
important things to worry about.
Like what?
Like this friend of mine,
it's his birthday soon.
Actually, I think
might know him.
He's a little man, but he's
almost as tall as me now.
And he likes drawing.
He insists on petting
every dog that he meets.
He loves waking his
mom up really early.
[giggling]
[keys rattling]
[dial tone]
[music playing]
[phone chatter]
Don't do that, Dai.
Where are you going?
Going to see if I
can catch a rabbit.
Get a little bit
more for us to eat.
You're going to the supermarket?
No, Dai.
There isn't a
supermarket, OK, at least
not one that we can walk to.
Can I come with you?
What did I say
that the rule was?
-Don't go past the fence.
-Exactly.
What if I'm with you?
No, Dai, OK.
You have to stay in here.
It's safer.
I can just go when you're gone.
What was that Dai, if I find out
that you've been
going past the fence,
I'm going to start
locking you in your room.
You wouldn't.
Yes, I would because if
I don't then the police
will catch you and we'll have
even more problems, all right.
Go back inside, Dai.
[footsteps]
[music playing]
[slamming]
Who was on the phone?
[muffled speech]
How do you think
it makes me feel?
Just gonna leave me alone?
I'd kill myself if
I lost you, Maria.
Is that what you want?
You want me to kill myself?
What if it is?
[slapping]
I don't think being
around here is safe for him.
Maybe I'll take him to
live somewhere else.
How you like that?
[banging]
You all right?
That was a lot, wasn't it?
Your mother, we love her,
but she can be so dramatic,
can't she?
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, she didn't tell you where
she was taking you, did she?
Yeah, you I'd never hurt
anyone, especially not you two.
Your mother, she's just...
she's very sick,
and she needs help.
And she doesn't tell the truth.
You know that, right?
Yeah?
You're a smart kid.
You see it?
All right.
I love you.
Bye bye.
[animals calling]
[rumbling]
[screaming]
[gunshot]
Shit.
[screaming]
[clap]
Mom, I'm hungry.
Yeah.
All right, let's have
something to eat then.
But we've nothing to eat.
Oh, that's not true, is it?
I'll make us some beans.
Well, I'm bored.
There's nothing to do.
And I don't want to
eat beans and stew.
I hate it here.
Dai, just stop please, OK.
I'm trying my best.
Why are we even here?
-I'm trying to protect you.
-You're not protecting me.
You just wanted to
get back at dad.
You know that's not true.
Don't...
What do you want?
You want something special,
I'll get it for you.
Anything?
Yes, anything.
Something good.
Fine.
I'll get you something good.
[knocking]
What do you want?
Hello, Hannah.
What do you want?
Can you open this door?
You've aged badly.
Marie is missing.
You already know.
I don't know where she is.
She has my son.
Marie has a son?
Dai.
He's about to turn 12.
I just need to know they're OK.
If they want to be left
alone, I'll leave them alone.
Just want them to
know I love them
and I'm here for
them if they need.
-Fuck off.
-Jason.
If you come back, I'm
calling the police.
[door slamming]
[rustling]
[chatter]
[barking]
[knocking]
I gotta get out of here tonight.
Look out the window, Dai.
OK, but I need you to get the
key to the door from your dad.
So can you please
do that for me?
[radio chatter]
Just don't wake him up.
The country has seen in a
century have ravaged houses,
and families have been
reporting from the front line.
State of emergency
has been declared
with police and military
helping to fight
the panic around the country.
We go now to Hamish
Ferguson, who's
been reporting on
the front lines.
Hamish, what are you seeing?
That's right.
Chris.
The wind does appear to be
keeping the blazes high.
But that could change
at any moment, too.
And if that happens...
Go to bed, Dai.
I'm getting water.
Why is it taking so long to
evacuate these communities.
There are hardy people.
They've been through these fires
before, and they've come out OK.
We haven't seen
anything like it before,
and experts are saying this
could be the new normal.
[water running]
[radio chatter]
[rattling]
[barking]
[radio chatter]
[barking]
[music playing]
You OK?
Where is he?
On the couch.
Run.
Wait!
No, stop that!
[screaming]
[labored breathing]
[screaming]
Are you OK?
[labored breathing]
[screaming]
-Drive!
-Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
Drive!
[banging]
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
[sobbing]
Are you OK, Dai?
[screaming]
Is it good?
Yeah, it's pretty good.
Where'd you get it?
It's a secret.
So you can go to
the supermarket?
-No, Dai.
-We can't, OK.
It was a one time thing.
Why?
Because I said so, Dai.
[scruffing]
[rumbling]
The victim identified
as Hannah Connor suffered
a severe beating
after a home invasion
this week in an
outer Sydney suburb.
According to police,
the attack scene
is random although there is...
[vibrating]
Hello.
Oh, hello.
Am I speaking with
Jason Trieste?
Yes, it is.
Who's speaking?
This is Robbie Kearns.
I'm calling from Glenmore
Road Public School.
I'm one of Dai's teachers.
We haven't seen him
in the last week.
I just wanted to make sure
that you were aware of this.
Oh, I thought Maria emailed you.
No, we're up in
Queensland for work,
so Dai won't be
coming in anymore.
Oh, OK.
I haven't received anything.
That's OK.
Thanks for calling.
[shuffling]
[distant banging]
[footsteps]
[talking in distance]
I was just like I had to
get out of there, you know.
[buzzing]
Temperatures.
These conditions
create a perfect storm.
Here we go.
The usual fear-mongering from
the scientific community.
Australia always has bushfires.
This is nothing new.
[radio chatter]
Sorry to disturb you.
I'm just looking for my mother.
She's got dementia,
and she's wandered off.
Her name's Lucille.
Do you know her?
-No.
-Sorry.
Do you know anyone
named Lucille?
That's the old one.
Good luck finding your mother.
[baby crying]
I love them at this age.
They're so cute.
You really never saw her?
Yeah.
Well, have a great day.
-Hey!
-I don't know.
No.
No, I don't know how
you do it to yourself.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, it smells like shit.
Tastes like shit.
Shit, my dad smokes.
I reckon I'm a lot like my dad.
I mean, he smokes.
Does he?
[laughing]
Yeah.
Like a pack a day.
[music playing]
What are you doing?
Wait Keep me up.
Keep me up, guys.
That's nice.
Hey!
Hey, where you going?
Yip, yip!
Here, piggy, piggy, piggy.
[yelping]
[yelping]
There you are.
He's going down there.
Oh, he's trying
to steal our billy.
Damn, dude, that
was a good spot.
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
Dai, honey.
Dai, where are you?
Dai!
What have you...
what have you done?
What is wrong with you!
Get in the bathroom now.
Dai, the rule about the
fence, it's to protect us.
OK.
I wanted to see the supermarket.
There is no supermarket, Dai.
I stole the pizzas
from the neighbors.
I shouldn't have, and I'm
not going to do it again.
But the neighbors cannot see us.
Do you understand?
Because if they do, then
they'll call the police,
and they'll report us.
And then your
father will find us.
And he'll take you
away from me, OK.
And I'm terrified that I'll
never get to see you again
if that happens, Dai.
Do you understand?
[sobbing]
[rumbling]
[tapping]
[music playing]
[crackling]
[fire rustling]
Dai, honey, can you
come out here a sec?
Happy birthday, honey.
I don't want a cake.
Come on, darling.
Come on, blow out your candles.
You can wish for
anything you want.
I don't want to make a wish.
Dai, what do you want more
than anything in the world?
I want to go home.
OK, you want to go back
to living with your father,
fine, wish for that then.
[soft banging]
Why do you want to go home?
You didn't get
angry at me as much,
and we were a whole family.
OK, then wish for that.
Go on.
Wish for it.
Sorry.
We're not gonna
stay here forever.
Mom.
Yeah, little man.
I promise I won't go
past the fence again.
Good night, darling.
I love you.
[rumbling]
[music playing]
You OK?
Whatever you hear,
just stay in here, OK.
What is it?
Is it dad?
Just stay in here, Dai.
[shuffling]
[creaking]
I don't know.
I don't know.
Something in the house.
[gunshot]
[thunk]
[footsteps]
[shaking]
[whimpering]
Hey.
It was an accident, Dai I
thought it was your dad.
[rustling]
Piss off.
You know, you can't protect
yourself with a garden hose.
Whoa.
OK.
Seems to work well.
Thank you.
[radio chatter]
Hey, Will.
What?
We got a 000 call about
gunshots in the Osgood area.
The caller couldn't
give an address.
Didn't have one.
He was apparently
hard to understand.
-Now?
-Yeah.
Probably nothing.
Hunters maybe.
Well, no, we can't ignore it.
Who was the caller.
Harold in the caravan park.
Yeah.
Right, well, he is
hard to understand.
All right, we'll be back.
Yeah.
Please get ready to evacuate.
OK.
Thank you.
[rustling]
[footsteps]
You called in about a gunshot.
Who's yelling?
Will and Francis are here.
So you heard it as well?
Oh, there was a loud
crack an hour ago.
Yeah.
Over in the forest over there.
Probably just hunters.
So who's living over there?
Nobody lives there.
Evacuated?
Abandoned.
[thumping]
[music playing]
[labored breathing]
Mom!
[footsteps]
Mom.
Nothing.
No, nothing.
Mom.
Please, Dai.
Mom.
Mom.
[creaking]
Please, Dai.
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
Listen to me.
Need you take this.
I need you to stay...
look at me.
Stay quiet.
Don't move.
OK.
Go.
Go, go, go.
Hey, Francis.
Hmm.
Look.
Local kids breaking in?
Yeah.
Why don't they take
out the garbage?
We know there's someone here.
It's the police.
[thumping]
This is your final warning.
[straining]
-Sorry.
-Sorry, officer.
Sorry, I was asleep.
It's 3:00 AM.
Sorry, is this something
that I can help you with?
Yeah, we had a
report of a gunshot.
Have you heard anything?
No.
No, we're surrounded
by the forest,
so we don't really hear much.
Have you had any drugs
or alcohol this evening?
No.
No, never.
Never in my life.
You know, the fires
are closing in.
Yeah.
Yeah, they're... they're
all I can smell anymore.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
So this is your house?
No, it's my aunt Lucille's.
We... we moved in just before
everything started up.
Who's we?
My husband and I.
Yeah, do you reckon we might
be able to see some ID, miss?
Yeah, sure.
Absolutely.
Well...
-Can you give me a second.
-Sorry.
-No, no.
-It's OK.
Here we are.
Thank you.
Yeah, you know this
has expired, miss.
I know sorry.
I need to get another one.
So no proof of
residence obviously.
No, sorry.
But you can contact my
aunt Lucille Lafitte.
Right, it's just, you
know, we start forcefully
evacuating this whole
area this morning.
We'll be gone in
the early morning.
We'll make sure.
OK thank you, Mrs. Trieste.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Look, I don't like you being
here alone without a car.
OK, this is serious business.
So you need to
keep your radio on.
-OK.
-OK.
-Sound good.
-Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
Have a good night.
Thank you.
[engine turning]
Did you see her eye?
What about it?
It was... it was bruised.
Oh, yes.
I think drugs No?
No.
I think she was hit.
The husband.
Well, look, I really
don't think there's
much we can do about it.
Yeah?
There is.
Like, I want to go and talk
to the homeowner to check.
I'm going to stick to
my instructions, yeah.
My first priority is evacuating
those people most in danger
from the fires unless responding
to a life or death situation.
What?
OK.
No, that's OK.
I just think that we
should split up then.
Sure.
[music playing]
[grunting]
[whimpering]
You think you're smart
earlier, sending me
to the middle of nowhere.
Tell me where they really are,
I won't leave you here to burn.
[engine humming]
[chirping]
[knocking]
Hello.
Is anyone home?
My name's Francis.
I'm a police officer.
We're not evacuating.
Yeah... sir.
That's not why I'm here.
Is there a Lucille that
lives here, Lucille Lafitte?
Yeah, she's me wife.
What do you want with her?
Sir, can I come in?
Now's not really a
good time actually.
I know I should
have called ahead.
-I just really believe that...
-Know that's right.
You should have called ahead.
OK, however, I believe
someone is in danger,
and we can still help her.
OK.
We just need to act quickly.
Help her, eh.
Look, maybe you should come
back when my wife's in.
She'll be back later today.
All right.
-No, sir.
-We don't have enough time.
OK.
Look.
What time will she be back?
Later.
Later?
I just spoke to
Lucille's husband,
and he said to come back
later when she's in today.
We have to follow protocol
here, or we might get hurt.
Will, please just come over
here and try to talk to him.
[grunting]
What are we gonna do?
Packing your things, OK.
We're getting out of here.
Mrs. Lafitte?
[banging]
Hello!
[whimpering]
Oh, fucking hell.
Mrs. Lafitte.
[whimpering]
Hey.
Francis, come in.
This is Will.
[engine roaring]
[siren]
Yeah, hey, I'm gonna
need to get through.
Miss, I can't let
you through here.
There's only one house down
this road, and it's abandoned.
No, it's not abandoned.
I was there this morning.
Look, Miss, you can't
come through here.
But you can go around the pass.
It'll take an extra 15 minutes,
but you better be quick.
This place is going to
be a furnace in an hour.
Stop.
Stop, stop, stop, Stop.
[clicking]
[door slamming]
[rattling]
Maria!
[knocking]
Dai, it's dad.
[glass breaking]
[rattling]
[crackling]
[footsteps]
Maria!
Dai.
You're not hiding, are you?
Come on, talk to me.
Be rational.
[creaking]
I'm sorry.
[labored breathing]
Just want to make
sure you two are OK.
Come on, mate.
Know I'd never hurt
you or your mother.
Look, maybe I wasn't always
what you two needed or wanted.
But what's she
telling you about me?
Did you ever see me
hurt your mother?
[creaking]
[labored breathing]
All I ever wanted was
for us to be a family,
and it's still what I want.
[creaking]
Come on, mate.
Is life so bad at home with me?
Since I've grown up, what's
expected of men's changed.
You know, supposed to
be tough, protective.
It's hard to make
sense anymore of what
I'm supposed to be when
what I've always thought
I was supposed to be...
No, I'm not going to lose you.
Suddenly gone.
What I'm trying to say
is you and your mother
deserve all the love
in the world, mate.
Men aren't so good at loving
or nurturing I don't think.
We show our love by being
tough, protective, and sometimes
looks like we're the bad guy.
But if... if you saw how far
I'd come to find you, mate...
[creaking]
I would do anything for you.
I'd go anywhere, become anything
for you, for both of you.
I can show you that
I'm changing already.
[clicking]
[creaking]
Dai, cover your eyes.
Don't move!
Officer, you startled me.
Can I help you with anything?
Who are you talking to?
I was just talking to myself.
Put your hands up.
What for?
Put your hands up.
OK.
Up.
OK, here's what
we're going to do.
You're going to walk
towards the door.
Through this door?
Yes, that door.
OK.
[creaking]
[wincing]
[footsteps]
Then put both hands
on the blue car.
[wincing]
Stay out of this!
Stay there!
Hey!
Damn it.
Maria!
Dai!
Where are we going, mum?
We have to come inside!
This is the police!
We have the forest surrounded!
[cracking]
I'm always going to
be here for you, Dai.
OK.
We simply break
free one last time,
and then we'll never
have to run again.
OK.
[gunshots]
Maria!
Maria, I was wrong.
Look, we don't need to go home.
We can go anywhere you want.
Sydney, Melbourne.
I don't care.
France, for fuck's sake.
Just wanna be a family again.
I'll forgive you
you can forgive me.
[gunshot]
Please don't make me.
Not gonna hurt you.
[gunshot]
Run!
Run!
[knocking]
Run!
Put that gun down.
Put it down now!
[yells] No!
[gunshot]
[crying]
Bitch.
[gunshot]
[crying]
[music playing]
[chatter]
[rumbling]
[distant yelling]
[clapping]
I don't just remember the smoke.
I remember something
my mother told me
about a plant that grew only
in the Australian bush, a plant
that releases seeds only when
it's burnt in a bushfire,
about how bright,
colorful shoots can
be seen growing out of the
charred trees left behind.
I imagine if we
went back, we'd see
a whole forest has
grown back, brighter
and more colorful than before.
[chatter]
[SINGING] Say you're not afraid
Jump to the edge of it
Say you're not so vain
[singing]
Tell me now is why
[singing]
Will live for 50 years longer
I hope now it's my time
Take it all down
The wallpaper and all
the women inside of it
[singing]
Now I'm so tired
Of all this importance
of self-inventing
I want to go down
To the grave
Tell me it's not too late
I spent too many years
In the cave