Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (1993) s01e03 Episode Script

[Narrator.]
Previously on Snowy River, The McGregor Saga.
Kathleen fights for her land.
Yes, of course, anyone can.
It's whoever gets here first.
Well it doesn't matter now because I'm back and I'm reclaiming it.
And I'm saying you can't.
Watch me.
[Narrator.]
And a young man's bitterness threatens to tear a family apart.
What's going on Luke? All my life I've been hearing about the man from Snowy River and it turns out he doesn't even have the guts to get on a horse.
[Narrator.]
While Oliver joins Luke in a treacherous alliance.
Everyone knows you've declared war on your uncle.
It's a powerful ally.
[Narrator.]
Kathleen replaces the schoolmaster when he takes discipline a step too far.
Beat Danny with a cane, blasts her legs til she can hardly walk.
She tried to stop him from giving Sean Carney a belting.
I'm Sean Carney's mother.
[Narrator.]
And the search for a prized colt pits cousin against cousin.
Get me up, will ya? First things first cousin, I get you back up, I keep the horse, yes or no? (peaceful music) Come on easy boy, easy boy, settle down.
Settle down.
Whoa, whoa.
(dramatic music) Easy, easy, easy boy.
Come on whoa, come on, easy boy.
Settle down.
Come on easy boy, settle down, settle down.
Good boy, good boy.
Settle.
Ah good day.
How you doing? Well you better get down off that horse before you ruin that lovely suit of yours.
All the way from England.
I don't believe it, with all the sheep in Australia you're getting your suits made in England.
How you been going, all right? Good mate, yourself? Real good, real good.
Hey Carl.
[Carl.]
It's good to see you.
When you asked me to be your godfather I didn't know what I was taking on.
You're happy are you? Yes I am, very happy.
Are you mate, that's amazing.
Hey Rob.
Bullocks hold up mate or his eyes will pop out.
What are you still making mistakes? I asked for some brilliant mares and a stallion, what do I get? A small mare.
The rest of your blood stock's waiting back at the rally for you mate.
Well well.
Uncle Steve.
[Steve.]
You've grown up into a young lady on me, eh? Well look at you.
Wow, beautiful horse.
Where'd you get her? Glad you like her, she's yours.
Ah, thanks.
Come on dad, leg me up.
[Rob.]
Easy boy, settle down, settle down, come on.
Okay, thanks.
[Steve.]
Enjoy yourself.
Ah thanks mate, it's very good of you.
No problem.
Well let's stable these and get you sorted out huh? Yeah, good thinking.
[Rob.]
Good horse.
Hey Rob? Well done.
(peaceful music) Whoa, whoa, sorry.
How are you Matt? I'm well thanks, yourself? Fine.
Fine thank you.
How's the teaching going? Very well.
Well that's good.
Are you following me Matt McGregor? Oh no, no, I'm just heading to the rail head.
Oh, so am I.
Would you care to ride with me? (peaceful music) Beautiful day.
Certainly is.
That all balances.
Put it here.
Okay.
Ah, morning Matt.
Thought I'd get an early start, get the old paperwork out of the way.
Got young Eddie to give me a bit of a hand.
So, what do you reckon? They're good.
What do you mean good, they're great.
Likely to scour half the countryside looking for this lot.
Like I said, they're good.
So what do you reckon about the stallion then? I kind of want to see, you know have good use.
Thanks mate.
Kathleen? What the heck is that? It's a browmen.
What's it doing here? I bought it.
It's the first in the country.
And why'd you buy it? To breed.
What you be needing is a bull miss.
What you got there is a cow.
She's going to have a calf and if it's a bull I can start breeding next year.
[Matt.]
Oh no you can't.
I beg your pardon? We can't let you introduce a foreign breed in the cattle around here.
Let me, let me.
Mrs.
O'Neil, you've seen the high country, now our cattle run wild up there for six months of the year.
At the end of summer we can muster them and bring them down because they're a quite manageable breed.
I know that.
Well from what I've heard you let that new strain into our cattle, in a couple of years it's going to take 200 men to muster them.
That's your stock not mine.
You end up with a browmen bull there's no way you're going to keep it in.
It will breed where it wants to.
You're afraid of change, Matt McGregor, that's your trouble.
I'm afraid of ignorance.
In a few years my herd will be better than yours, that's what's really worrying you isn't it? That a woman might know more about cattle than you do.
Oh for heaven's sake.
Inconceivable isn't it? I guess wait a few years and you'll see.
Who is that woman? Kathleen O'Neil.
She's a widow and the stubbornest woman you've ever met.
Wouldn't you be more comfortable in the stock men's quarters? No this is better, besides, it's nearer to the boundary line.
Saves me quite a bit of time in the saddle each day.
Whoa.
(peaceful music) They say your father built it.
Yeah, yeah.
(peaceful music) Obviously he didn't intend to stay long.
He never got the chance.
Like I said, I've been cleaning up.
Could do with a women's touch.
I can be quite useful around the house if I decide to be.
I've got a ways to go yet.
The roof needs fixing and I want to re-caulk the walls before winter.
Fix the windows.
And the door.
And the door.
And you cook? The way I grew up you could cook or you go hungry.
You can stay for dinner if you like.
It's not the most gracious invitation I've ever had.
It's an invitation.
Thanks, I'd better be getting back.
Up to you.
You're expected to ride the boundaries at least once every two days.
Yeah, Frank already told me.
Good.
(peaceful music) Hey mate, maybe we should give her a bit of a hand, what are you thinking? Take that thing near that girl, you can't be serious.
What about chivalry? All right, but she won't accept, you just watch.
Offer to help her, she'll say I'm just being patronizing.
I say no, I'm just trying to be noble.
She'll say it's because she's a woman.
I'll say what's being a woman got to do with anything? She'll say everything, you just watch.
So you want some help or not? I'm fine.
Come on, it's going to take you hours to take that stupid thing home.
It is not a stupid thing and I've got hours.
Good.
Good.
(throat clearing) Steve Paige, this is Kathleen O'Neil.
Ms.
O'Neil, how are you? Hello.
[Steve.]
It's a fine looking cow you got there.
Thank you.
Browmen, Indian breed aren't they? Yeah, they carry about two to 300 pound more beef than the other ones.
You obviously know your cattle, Mr.
Paige.
Steve.
Do you mind if I ride along with you a bit, give you a bit of a hand maybe? I'd be grateful.
Thank you.
Matt why don't you get along with the horses and I'll see you back at the house eh? He was the best clown the circus ever had.
That's right you were back in the circus.
And you were the I had my own tent, until I caught influenza.
I got so thin.
We're delighted to have you here in Patterson's Ridge, Mrs.
Fowler and Mr.
Fowler.
Oh we won't be charging you for these Reverend.
They're our contribution to the cleanup of the church.
Seen as how we're tied to the store.
Thank you very much.
Excuse me.
Mr.
Fowler, why are you bringing in the displays? Ah, there's a strong wind blowing in from the west.
He was also in charge of tent directions at the circus.
I don't see any storm coming.
It's best not to argue with someone the size of Mrs.
Fowler.
Did you know that I could be giving my new horse a good workout today instead of cleaning the church? Well then I'm very grateful that you've given up your time to help us.
Who's us? Of course, Ms.
Emily.
Don't you like her? Ah, I feel sorry for her, just being left here.
She likes you though.
Danni, Ms.
Cornish is grateful because I found her work as a seamstress.
She helps out at the church when she can.
Yeah, I've seen the way she looks at you.
[Reverend.]
Good morning Ms.
Cornish.
Good morning Reverend, Danni.
Well thank you for coming but Danni has very kindly offered to serve us this morning, so please don't feel obliged Oh no, Reverend.
I'd like to help.
(peaceful music) [Kathleen.]
He is the stubbornest man I've ever met.
He tells me you've got a place near Langara.
He thinks it's on Langara.
How long have you known him? About 20 years, he pulled me out of a river once.
What about you? You've got an accent, what's that, Irish? English.
I like it.
He's a typical Scot.
(peaceful music) [Matt.]
Ah, took your time taking that cow back? I stayed around for a bit of a talk.
You know how it is.
Pretty interesting woman that one.
Stubborn, that's what she is.
I wouldn't stay stubborn, I would say more feminine you know? Feminine? Yeah, strong, delicate, well not really delicate.
I want to see the way she's done that little house up.
That's on top of working the stock during the day and running the place, teaching school, and marking exercise books at night.
She's one out of the hat, that one.
Sounds like you know more about her than what I do.
You haven't got your eye on her too, have you? Me, good lord no.
Because if I thought you did I'd back off her, I wouldn't do that to a mate.
Not if she was the last woman in the world, believe me.
Good.
Yeah, good, good.
(peaceful music) (birds chirping) You ready? Yep.
Okay.
Steve, what are you trying to do to me? Well it's all right for you, you're on the end of the hammer.
Okay, you hold on to this, I'll hold the post.
Yeah, good, good.
(laughing) All right, here we go, you ready? You ready? I'm ready.
It's been too long, I'll hold the post.
All right here we go.
I've been thinking of asking Kathleen to come back to Melbourne with me.
What do you reckon? Hey, I wasn't ready.
Sorry mate, sorry.
Try again.
[Frank.]
Victoria? Will you stop walking away from me? Leave me alone Frank.
[Frank.]
Where do you think you're going with all of that? [Victoria.]
Never you mind.
I do mind, I know where you're going.
What's going on? Frank's been spying on me daddy.
She's going off to meet that cowboy.
Is that true my darling? Dad, Luke's so lonely, he's moved into a horrible hut, practically falling down.
He could starve up there.
Not with you looking after him.
I'm just trying to be nice and Frank's being so mean.
You're just being plain stupid.
Frank? You haven't got anything better to do? You're not cross with me daddy, are you? I won't go if you are.
No, of course not.
(peaceful music) [Luke.]
Thanks for thinking of me cousin, beautiful.
You eat like a McGregor, I'll tell you that.
You ought to see Robbie when he's been working.
I skipped breakfast.
[Danni.]
And lunch? You don't have to worry about me, normally I looked after myself pretty good.
I was in a hurry.
There isn't any gold up here.
Danni, I spend my whole life traipsing after my father on the gold fields, I know where to find gold.
Here look.
There.
What? Look.
Come on Luke.
You could work your hat out for that whole year and you wouldn't keep yourself in bean.
I know, but it means it's up here, somewhere.
It means my father was right.
What was Uncle Alec like? He had some bad luck.
It wasn't bad luck really, he was just never given a chance.
He was the best man I ever knew.
Luke, I brought you a picnic.
[Danni.]
He's already eaten.
I'll eat it later though, thanks.
Don't bother.
My father is not paying you to look for fool's gold.
I've already done a full day for your father.
I'm doing this on my own time.
No wonder they call it Alec's folly.
They'll be calling it Luke's folly next.
(dramatic music) What does she mean by Alec's folly? That's what they call this area.
After my father? He spent a whole summer up here, built the cabin, panned for gold.
And they laughed at him.
He didn't have the experience then.
He didn't have the time, but he was right and I'm going to prove it.
Luke, you could find more than that in somebody's tooth.
(cow mooing) Well I suppose a bit more primary offers.
Would you at least think about it? Well Steve I'm very flattered and I'm just a little taken aback.
I'll need some, some time to think about it.
Well think about it for the boy's sake.
Kathleen, look around you.
There's a lot more opportunities for him in the city.
I know the reasons I came back and I'm just not ready to leave right now.
It'll all still be here Kathleen.
Like Matt and his family.
When I saw them all grown up I realized that I didn't want to do it on my own anymore.
Look, I'm fully successful and I want someone to share it with, someone special.
Do you see I'm not on my own? I have Michael, I have Jack to help with the property.
I have the school now.
And who's going to look after Kathleen? I better be going, I think I've said quite enough already.
Thanks for the tea.
(dramatic music) (grunting) Sorry about the picnic.
It was a silly idea.
No, it was a nice thought.
My father would like you to come to dinner if you haven't already eaten.
Your father would like me to come to dinner? Yes, he wants to talk to you.
If it's about this, I'm not doing it on his property and I'm not doing it on his time either so he can't stop me.
He doesn't want to.
Actually, I think he's quite pleased about it.
Why? Half past seven? Okay.
You do own a suit? Of course I have a suit.
I may be a cow hand but I'm not a bum.
(upbeat music) Michael, Michael? I told you to tie up the cow.
I did mum I did.
And I closed the gate.
All right, take these.
(dramatic music) Don't try and follow me, just stay in the house.
You'll never find her mum.
Why don't you wait to Mr.
Kelley gets back from Kinko with the supplies? If the creek comes up he mightn't be back until tomorrow and she'll be dead by tomorrow.
Just stay in the house, I won't be long, she can't have gone far.
Come on girl.
(dramatic music) (thundering) (dramatic music) (thundering) (thundering) Mum? Mum? Yah.
Been gone and three great kids.
Yeah, I've been lucky.
Oh, I asked Kathleen to come back to town with me.
Oh yeah, and what'd she say? I think she's going to agree.
I could get her set up, I know how independent she is, so it'd be strictly business.
How come you never got married again? How come you never got married in the first place? You know the old days, too busy having fun, making too much money.
I never really found the right woman before.
(knocking) Who can that be? Mr.
McGregor? I think mom's lost.
What do you mean? Her new cow got out and mom went to look for it.
She headed up the mountain and she said she'd only be a little while but that was ages ago.
Then the storm got worse.
Don't worry, I'll find her.
(dramatic music) Where do you think you're going? I'm going with you.
I don't want to be bringing both of you down off the mountain.
I'm going with you.
(dramatic music) (knocking) [Frank.]
Yes? I've been invited to dinner.
[Frank.]
In the house? Luke come in.
You all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
Glad you could make it.
I didn't think I would.
It's getting wild out there.
Yes, it's going to be quite a night.
(dramatic music) [Kathleen.]
Oh there you are.
(dramatic music) Hey Matt, hang on.
Stake that sell.
Badly? Yeah pretty bad.
You're going to go on ahead.
Well you take some shelter around here.
I'll get you on the way back.
You be okay? Yeah, I'll be fine, just find her for me Matt.
I'm going to marry that woman.
(dramatic music) Ooh-wee.
Kathleen? [Kathleen.]
Over here.
(gun shooting) Over here.
Right here.
(gun shooting) Kathleen? [Kathleen.]
Here, here.
Over here.
(cow mooing) You okay? Yes.
Thank you.
Don't thank me, it was Michael who raised the alarm.
It's a hard place to hear, can you ride? Yes.
We're going to get you warm and dry in a hurry, let's go.
I'm not leaving without the cow.
Oh.
Victoria also tells me you're doing a bit of prospecting.
Yes.
Any luck? Looks promising.
Excuse me my darling.
You probably also heard I've got an interest in a couple of mines south of town.
Actually I heard you own them outright.
Not quite.
If you're looking for a partner, I might be interested.
I'm not looking for a partner.
You think you can take on Matt McGregor by yourself? I thought we were talking about gold mines? Well that's just the start.
First the mine and then gold.
Like I said, I'm not looking for a partner.
Please daddy, let's get to know the man before you continue talking business.
(dramatic music) (thundering) Come on.
I'll stick her in the yard.
Matt? Yeah? I don't think she's used to this weather, she might die out there.
Well what do you suggest, I put her in the hut? She'll be fine, believe me.
(peaceful music) Yeah.
(thundering) Look, this is all I can find.
Try it on.
Thanks.
Yeah, I'll wait outside then.
No, no Matt that's stupid.
You can't go out in that.
Just turn your back.
Yeah okay, thanks.
Did you find some food? Beans, we got beans.
Oh good.
(peaceful music) Thank you for dinner, it was good.
I'm glad you could come.
I enjoyed it.
(thundering) You can't go out in this.
You'll have to stay the night.
Do you think so? I'm sure.
There's a spare bed in the stock men's quarters.
Good night.
(peaceful music) What's wrong? Nothing.
You keep looking at me.
Well, it's, well you look really pretty.
Why are you being so nice? I was just saying what I thought.
I'm sorry, I'm not used to accepting compliments.
And I'm not used to giving them.
It's just that well, it's been a long time since I've been with a woman like this.
It isn't a common occurrence for me either.
(laughing) What is it? Burnt my hand on the pot before.
Come here.
Give me your hand.
Thank you.
Steve tells me you're thinking of moving to Melbourne.
Well, he did ask me.
Well he'd look after you.
As opposed to my looking after myself.
Well, it's just that he mentioned No, whatever happens, I'll make my own decisions about the future.
And whether you think I can do it or not I intend to make a life here for myself and Michael.
I know you can make it.
I want you to make it.
(cow mooing) What is it? I know that sound.
I can say she's going to calf.
(peaceful music) Thanks Matt.
At least it's a heifer.
That's all right, I'll just have to wait another year.
Jack can bring him down later today.
Sun's up.
Better get moving.
Yeah.
[Steve.]
Ah, Kathleen.
You're all right? Fine, thanks.
By gee, you had me worried.
Thought I'd lost you.
Steve, last night gave me a chance to think about my going to Melbourne.
Uh-huh.
And it was very nice of you to ask, but my home's up here.
All right fine, that's fine.
As long as you're happy.
I am.
(dramatic music) Thanks for the use of your cabin the other night.
I'm just replacing the supplies.
No need for that.
Oh yes there is.
Luke, there isn't any gold up here.
What makes you so sure? My father says if you would have staked him another month, he would have found it.
I staked him for six months, he didn't find a thing.
You were too worried about your precious Langara.
In those days there was no Lanagara.
You didn't want him to find it.
There isn't any gold.
No, I've already found some.
Oh yeah, a few specs, Danni told me.
It's still alluvial.
What it means is that the vein's up here somewhere and when I find it I'm going to be digging nuggets and then I'm going to buy Langara out from under you.
We'll see whether my father was stupid, whether this was Alec's folly.
(dramatic music) (peaceful music)