7.

THUD.

10 EXT. CAMP. LATER 10

THWACK. THWACK.

KING rests at the base of a tree, on a small chair. With an

ink pen he carefully draws lines on a weathered map. His
rifle rests next to him.

Away from him, SETTLER continues working in the heat,

splitting wood.

THWACK. THWACK -

He stops, straightens his back. The silence returns. SETTLER

has a feeling and looks to his periphery.

Hold.

Just the surrounding trees. No one there.

SETTLER holds his gaze, expecting something to happen.

KING stops writing and looks up.

SETTLER notices, he continues chopping.

KING watches SETTLER for a moment. He dips his pen in a small

vile of ink and continues drawing.

In thick black ink, amongst topographic lines, he writes-

‘KING’S GULLEY’

At the top of his map a large crown emblem is stamped.

11 EXT. CAMP. LATE AFTERNOON 11

SETTLER and KING rest on their swags by a small fire. SETTLER

chews on a piece of damper, while KING rests across his swag.

KING
You’re awfully quiet you know.

SETTLER looks up.

KING (CONT'D)
Not enough going on out here for
that. The silence gets to me.

SETTLER chews in silence.

 8.

KING (CONT'D)
What was it like down south?

SETTLER
Where?

KING
Van Diemen’s.

Pause.

SETTLER
Hard to say.

KING
Fair enough. How’d an innocent boy
like you end up down there then?

SETTLER
Took something that wasn’t mine.

KING
So you’re a thief?

SETTLER
No.

Pause.

SETTLER (CONT'D)
I had no other choice.

KING smirks.

KING
Well, you’re a free man after we
get paid.

Pause.
SETTLER
Mmm.

Lost in thought, SETTLER swallows the last bit of damper.

SETTLER (CONT'D)
I might try my luck out West after
this, heard there’s gold out there,
or find some work on a farm. Save
up and purchase some land. My own
place...somewhere to call home.

SETTLER stares blankly into the fire, then across at KING.

 9.

He’s fast asleep.

SETTLER pushes the embers of the fire with a stick as the

silence of the land returns.

Hold.

As it does, he feels that feeling again. He quickly looks

over the bush.

Again, no one there.

Hold.

SETTLER stands and walks over to investigate.

The tall trees move gently in the wind, like silent

witnesses.

He waits and listens, his eyes nervously scan the bush before
him - but nothing.

SETTLER exhales, and heads back to the fire.

Just as he approaches he stops in his tracks - he sees

someone.
Hold.

Across the grassland a young, Aboriginal man stares at

SETTLER.

SETTLER stares back. Frozen.

It’s BUDJA (late teens), wearing possum skin, holding a

wooden spear. His eyes are calm and focused on SETTLER. His
stature, tall and strong. His feet firm on the ground.

For a long moment, they stare at each other in silence.

Hold.

BUDJA
(Quietly in Language)
Soul of the dead, are you lost?

SETTLER is fearful.

BUDJA puts his hand on his chest.

BUDJA (CONT'D)
I’m Budja.
 10.

He looks deep into SETTLER eyes.

SETTLER’S eyes flick over to KING.

He’s asleep still.

Hold.

His rifle leans against the tree next to him.

His eyes dart back to BUDJA.

BUDJA looks over at KING. Then back to SETTLER, waiting for a

response -

SETTLER remains quiet.

Hold.

BUDJA casually turns and walks off.

In the silence, SETTLER stands alone, still frozen.

12 EXT. CAMP. NIGHT 12

SETTLER lies on his back near the soft glow of the dying
fire. KING snores next to him.

Unable to sleep, SETTLER looks up at the trees swaying in the

dark above him.

They dance like ominous figures against the stars.

13 EXT. CAMP. THE FOLLOWING MORNINIG 13

THWACK. THWACK.
SETTLER splits wood.

Away from him, KING polishes his leather boots.

THWACK. THWACK.

SETTLER’S brow is covered in cold sweat.

THWACK. THWACK.

The sound of the axe is louder, almost violent. The blade of

the axe drives clean through the wood.

THWACK -