Chapter Two: Secrets – Lady Sarah Ashley (Nichole Kidman) questions why Neil Fletcher (David Wenham) would block the water pump. Sing Song (Wah Yuen) assures her that the “no good bad man,” Kipling Flynn (Jack Thompson) has the answer. Later, Sarah visits Kipling’s office. While explaining how Lord Maitland Ashley believed men were measured by how well they overcome their failings, Kipling tries to conceal his bottle of alcohol. He confesses to not being able to overcome his failing. Pointing out his deception, she demands he tell the truth. Retrieving the cattle station’s ledger, he claims Fletcher forced him to report decline and ruin. Tossing the ledger in the wastebasket, he retrieves another ledger for King Carney’s (Bryan Brown) fat cattle, valued at 22,000 pounds. Sarah accuses him of allowing Carney to steal from Maitland. Kipling says Fletcher blackmails people under the threat of revealing their secrets. She suggests Nullah’s (Brandon Walters) father is Fletcher. He assures her that it would be impossible to prove, but if she could prove it, Fletcher’s chances of marrying Cath Carney (Essie Davis) would be zero.

Sarah threatens to report Fletcher and Carney’s theft to the authorities. Kipling says Carney is the authorities before urging her to drove the cattle to Darwin. She asks if he would mind sharing his alcohol with her. While filling her cup, he says selling her cattle to the Army will end Carney’s monopoly. He questions who will muster the cattle with Fletcher out of the picture. He opens the door as The Drover (Hugh Jackman) drives a herd of horses into a corral. When The Drover asks for Fletcher, Sarah admits to firing him. She says Fletcher opened the cattle corral. He blames her for not getting another drove until next season. Sarah tells him to round up the cattle. He asks how with only Goolaj (Angus Pilakui) and Magarri (David Ngoombujarra). She defends her decision to fire Fletcher. The Drover sarcastically asks if she dismissed Fletcher because he fancied her. She informs him of Fletcher and Carney driving Maitland’s best, unbranded cattle across the Marmont River and onto Carney’s land. He urges her to sell Faraway Downs to Carney because she will never win against him.

As The Drover prepares to leave, Sarah reminds him of his dream to breed a Bush brumby with a thoroughbred. She agrees to give him her Capricornia in exchange for his help in rounding up and driving the cattle to Darwin. He voices concern about not having enough riders. When she offers to join the cattle drive, he questions her riding skills. Hopping on a horse, she demonstrates riding skills. Daisy (Ursula Yovich), Kipling, and Bandy Legs (Lillian Crombie) watch in amazement.

Sarah joins the cattle roundup. Frustrated with her, The Drover orders her to move to the rear. Later, Sarah packs for the cattle drive. Seeing everything she wants to take, Sing Song sarcastically asks if she is traveling to Shanghai. Daisy and Nullah flee when they spot a Northern Territory Police vehicle quickly approaching. Nullah races up the water tower steps while Daisy erases his footprints in the dirt before joining him. Sing Song retrieves Sarah’s luggage. Sergeant Callahan (Tony Barry) approaches Sing Song asking where is Nullah. Sing Song refuses to give up his location. Inside the water tower, Nullah watches as an Aboriginal tracker (Crusoe Kurdal) scales the ground. When a constable turns on the water tap, the tower begins to fill. Nullah joins Daisy on the steps inside the tower. The additional weight causes the steps to break, sending both of them into the water. They grab ahold of the water spout. Callahan explains to Sarah how Maitland’s death impacted the people of the Northern Territory. The water spout breaks, sending Daisy and Nullah fighting for their lives.

Callahan promises Sarah that King George (David Gulpilil) will be brought to justice for killing Maitland. Daisy muffles Nullah’s screams with her hand. The constable turns off the water tap. Daisy sinks in the water. Callahan suggests placing Nullah in the care of the church. Sarah assures him that she will take care of him. After Callahan leaves, she rushes outside to tell The Drover to get them out of the water tower. He pulls Nullah to safety before bringing an unconscious Daisy out of the water. Nullah weeps while holding Daisy. On the ground, Bandy Legs frantically screams Daisy’s name. Later, it appears as if King George is holding Daisy’s lifeless body on a mountaintop.

Sarah tells Nulla “The Wizard of Oz” story. She haphazardly sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” He says they need to get the cheeky bulls into the big metal ship. She asks if he will help. He readily agrees as the episode ends.

 

Faraway Downs Review

Kipling tells Sarah about his manipulating Maitland’s books to make it appear as if the cattle station was destitute. He claims Fletcher was blackmailing him. He shows her the real ledger that shows a profit of 22,000 pounds. She is desperate to get the cattle to Darwin to the Army. Knowing The Drover has a dream to breed a thoroughbred with a Bush brumby, she offers him her Capricornia. He reluctantly accepts but worries there are not enough riders to participate in the cattle drive. She offers to be one of his riders.

Nullah and Daisy see Sergeant Callahan and several constables approaching the cattle station. They hide inside the water tower. Callahan suggests putting Nullah in the care of the church. Sarah assures him that she will care for Nullah. The water tower begins to fill. Knowing it isn’t safe to leave the tower until Callahan leaves, Daisy and Nullah try holding onto a spout. When the spout breaks, they fall deep into the water. Daisy drowns before The Drover can rescue them. Callahan suspects King George is Maitland’s killer.

Too much screen time is wasted on fruitless content. It would have been more effective to focus more on the actual story which is too often overlooked.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Faraway Downs recaps here. Support our independent Reel Mockery site by donating. Our onsite advertising is a great way to build brand awareness, click here to reach our support staff. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest films, TV shows, and celebrity happenings.