Dominic Ward's Blog

New South Wales, 1882.  Governor Henry Parkes is just about to set Australia on the road to nationhood with his oratory at Tenterfield as more and more of the country is opened up for development.  Amidst the clamour of this nascent economy, where wealth and hedonism have become the polite norms, a dreamy young man struggles to find any meaning for himself in this awakening world.  The engineering company he works for as a surveyor wins a government contract to survey the northern tablelands region for a possible extension of the railway into Queensland.  Davis is sent alone to begin the initial work on the surveys – a job that is to set him upon his own path to awakening.

He arrives as a first stop in his hometown of Tenterfield.  Paying a visit to the over-grown ruin that was once his childhood home, a pang of melancholy takes him and he finds himself later that evening drunk and depressed at the local hotel bar.  On learning he is newly come from Sydney, two travellers make plans to take Davis to the Tenterfield show to force him into their debt.  Outside a card room at the show, Davis finally awakens to their designs and beseeches them to leave off him.  The two travellers grow angry and take Davis away from the lights of the show in order to beat him.  But they do not progress far in their work on their victim – a dark man dressed in bush garb rescues Davis from his fate, and then tempts him into daring to find himself.  It begins for Davis with the words, “I know about your dreams.”

What follows is an almost blind pursuit through the Australian bush of the fabled bunyip, a creature highly prized for its pelts, yet that can only be tracked through dreams.  As Davis is forced to juxtapose the changing nature of 19^th Century society with his observations made during the pursuit, he slowly comes to his awakening.  But what conclusion will Davis make on that final day of the pursuit?

Act 1 – Scene 1

Rural Australia, 1860s.  A young boy is cutting wood by a thicket behind a Tenterfield farm house.  He is dressed as though for early Spring.  It is mid-morning.

Narrator:  Dreams came easy to me.  Like clouds in the willow wind, wisping down on my conscious.  I could be standing, doing nothing, and they would come upon me.  Ethereal strands comprised of the finest particles conceivable to man.  What did I see then, in those moments of dream?  Splinters of thought, garnered from the waking life, spent time in solipsistic recoil – a man, my father, crying over a drowned baby; my mother, devoid of all vigour, repetitively tilling the soils of a prospective vegetable patch; Governor Henry Parkes, a chloral hydrate addict, setting a fire for his enemies; solitude and manganese lights – a penny duster for the world.  And something else.  I didn’t know what it was then.  How could I?  A creature of a breezy seven feet, hazy outline and hard, red eyes.  It looked as of a ghost – and indeed that is what I initially supposed it might have been.  Some dread part of my existence come to haunt me, prepare my table and then leave me to make supper by myself, alone.  As I would regain my conscious state, the dreams repairing back to the dark, the creature would vanish too, as though only there – in dream – could he be found.

Scene 2

Late afternoon, Sydney, 1882.  We find ourselves at work in a small, busy engineering firm.  The firm occupies a single office in Oxford Street.  The dull rays of the setting sun filter in through the wind, casting an orange pall.  Our protagonist, Davis, is sitting at a desk, alone, twirling a cartographer’s pen in his hand.  He is clearly day-dreaming.  After a moment, he begins doodling on a scrap piece of paper.  He draws the eyes of the Bunyip as he remembers them from his dreams.  But before he can finish, he is interrupted by White, his colleague and friend.

White:  Jesus Christ, Davis.  Where are you this time?

Davis:  This time?

White:  Off on one of your dreams…where are you as we speak?

Davis:  Oh…oh.  Yes, well, I’m around, you know.  Listen, White, you wouldn’t happen to know where I could get something, you know, to quiet my mind would you?

White: I don’t think anything is going to be able to quiet your mind, my friend.

Davis:  No, I suppose not.  Better get used to it then, I guess.  I might already be used to it…

White:  Well, Bruner isn’t.  So you better get some work done.  Even you won’t be able to survive in his patience forever.

Davis:  Even so…nevermind.  So you don’t know where I might find something for my mind then?

White:  What did I say?  Davis, you can be as strange as you want, but just for tonight, come and have a quiet drink with me at the Arms.

Davis:  After work, right?  I had better get some of this stuff done.

White:  Yes, better for both of us if you attend to your duties first.  Don’t forget, I’m waiting on those completed surveys as much as anyone else!!!

Davis:  Huh?  Oh, yes, yes.  Of course.

Scene 3

The Oxford Arms, night time.  A busy night crowded with gentlemen and ladies from the local offices, all out for post-work entertainment.  The room is very noisy and conversation will be difficult.  White sits alone at the bar, obviously waiting for his friend.  He is waiting patiently, as though his friend’s punctuality is understood to be an idea of his own.  After a further minute, Davis finally appears.  With the noise, they must fight to make themselves heard.

White:  Well met, my friend.

Davis:  Sorry if I am a little tardy.

White:  What?  Oh, no, not at all.  I have come to expect it from you.  You wouldn’t dare to disappoint my expectations by performing right on the requested time, would you now?

Davis:  Yes, an old friend to you, my tardiness.  You would miss it.

White:  Indeed.  Now, how was your day?

Davis:  As you saw me, White.  Frustrated by a lack of anything of substance…

White:  What?  I can’t hear you so well with all this noise.  Let us find a private booth.  And we must get you a drink first.  Rum?

Davis:  You know it well.

White:  Rum for the man, barkeep.

The two men then alight from the bar in search of a quiet nook at the back of the room.  Pushing through the crowd, they eventually find a booth against the far wall.  They slip into the seats and begin anew their conversation, placing their drinks in front of them.

White:  We live in interesting times, Davis.

Davis shrugs his shoulders.

White:  Come on, look around you.  This room, full of life, money, prosperity.  The office – project after project.  There is no seeming end to this advancement.

Davis:  It’s shallow, White.  What is it all for?

White:  What is it all for?  Really…  Sydney is catching up with London.  Maybe even one day we will surpass her.

Davis:  And then?

White:  And then good times will truly be upon us.  You might be down on all of this movement, Davis, but I plan to make my way with it.  One day I’ll have a big house in La Perouse with a comely wife and natives serving my every whim.  I may even create an article of scandal.  Yes, that’s what I want.  Why don’t you buy the house next door.  We can open both our houses together for the most magnificent parties, and I’m thinking here with a special mind to the up-coming turn-of-the-century celebrations.

Davis:  18 years distant, White.

White:  Dreams, Davis.  While you dream of invisible creatures, I plan for the future!!!

Davis:  Don’t confuse yourself.  But I am envious of your settled heart.

White:  And why shouldn’t you have one too?  I was serious when I said I would like for you to have the house next door.

Davis:  Then so it shall be, my dear White.  Two made-good orphans living side-by-side in La Perouse.  A great story for the social pages.

White:  Yes!!!

Davis:  White, you may have something to say about my dreams, but equally I have something to say about yours.

White:  Will you ever get over your existential angst, dear friend?  You are in the city now, not on your dear little pasture.  You came here for a reason – to find your success.  Now that you almost have it, you are still killing joy worrying whether you want it or not.  Forget the foul inconsistencies of the human heart.  Enjoy your intoxication.

Davis:  Yes, you maybe right, old friend.

White:  Of course I am.

The two raise their glasses in a gesture of good cheer and begin a night of debauchery.  We follow them through various scenes – a billiard hall, another bar, nitrous oxide in the first rays of the rising sun and finally we catch up with them on a short beach inside the harbour.  They look a mess, bleary eyed and still possibly drunk.  They are sitting down together, talking quietly.

Scene 4

White:  I want to do this forever, Davis.

Davis:  If I was sober, I would disagree.

White:  This is good, you know.  This is a good life.  And we still have tonight and then all of Sunday to live yet.

Davis:  Yeah, Sunday…

White:  You never sound too enthused with anything.  We are young, stupid.  Is this not our time?

Davis:  I would not want to even hope that this is my time.  Is this as good as life gets?  How many of the people we met last night would you really want to meet a second time?  This sand – I could throw it in their faces.  Give them back some of their mess.

White:  Davis, you are such a depressive.  There is no need to feel like that about the people.  Is that how you feel about me?

Davis:  No, no it isn’t.  And I don’t know why.  Is it because we both lack parents?  Do you know?

White:  I wouldn’t have a clue what goes on inside that pretty little head of yours.

Davis:  Am I a hypocrite, White?

White:  I shall decline to answer that.  You have a unique way of making pain for yourself, my friend.  I don’t wish to add anything to that.

Davis:  This water all flows out somewhere.  I even dream sometimes that if I let myself to it, the tides might take me on out to my parents.  I could throw a bottle in first, to test the currents…

White:  You and me both, brother.

Davis:  Would you come with me?

White:  I would mourn you, much as I mourn even now for that part of you that already seems lost to me.  But I would not follow you.  One day our paths will separate…

Davis:  Yes, I know.  Different energies.

White:  …But that parting day is not today, Davis.  It may not come for a long time yet.

Davis:  Why does such a man find himself in such romantic loyalty to so obviously a disparate?

White:  As you said, maybe only because we are both orphans.  But I see your thoughts.  I know what you are feeling, to a lesser or greater extent.  I have found some sort of belief, Davis.  I hope that you too can one day.  For your own peace.

Davis:  Yeah…

Scene 5

The engineering office – mid-morning.  Clerks shuffle around the office with bits of paper.  The clattering of a typewriter can be heard.  Davis is at stare at his desk, obviously in another day-dream.  He is seeing the Bunyip.  Suddenly he is awakened from his dream by a rap on his desk.  It is Fortescue, the gopher.

Fortescue:  Sir, sorry, Sir.  I didn’t mean to interrupt.  Mr Bruner would like to see you in his office now.

Davis:  Huh?  Right, um, yeah, sure.

Davis gets up from his desk and makes his way across the busy office floor to the Boss’s office.

Scene 6

Bruner’s office is a mess.  It is an enclosed room, partitioned off from the rest of the office.  Bruner is sitting, and does not even move his eyes from the papers on his desk when Davis knocks to ask for entrance to his sanctum.  A cup of tea sits cold on his desk, next to a framed picture of his family.  Bruner is a middle-aged man, a little unkempt, but nonetheless quite handsome and charismatic.

Bruner:  Yes, come in.

Davis:  Mr Bruner, you wanted to see me?

Bruner:  Davis?  Yes, yes, I did.  Come in and take a seat.  Close that door behind you.  Now, you have been doing some good work for us.  I’m not going to lie to you, you can be a little tardy, but your work is outstanding.  I can’t fault you.  Wish I could.

Davis:  Mr Bruner?

Bruner:  Jealousy, my boy.  I’m an old man, getting older even.  I can’t do the work you can.  If the Old Man finds about you, you will have my job just like that.  And I don’t begrudge you that.  I’m a big fan myself.  So I was thinking, got to start getting you ready for that responsibility, son.  You still don’t have any experience leading a project in the field.

Davis:  Mr Bruner, I don’t understand exactly…

Bruner:  God damn boy.  You’re from the country originally, is that correct?  Around Tenterfield way?

Davis:  Yes.

Bruner:  You miss it?

Davis:  I don’t know, Mr Bruner.  It’s at least possible.

Bruner:  God damn, you have to be more precise in your answers if you want the top job one day, son.

Davis:  Top job?  Yes, well…sure, I guess I miss it.

Bruner:  Good.  I don’t mean good in a nasty kind of way there by the way.  I mean, I think I may have just the project for you.

Davis:  Project?

Bruner:  Yes, it came over my desk just this morning.  Our little engineering firm just won the contract to survey the northern tableland region with a view to extending the railway up into Queensland.  I don’t know about these Queenslanders, but it seems like a nice little project for you.  It’s a government deal – not top shilling but at least the money will be guaranteed.  You know enough about this stuff now, Davis.  I want you to get up there and start work on this project right away.

Davis:  Sure, Mr Bruner, I guess.  Who would you like me to take?  Fortescue?  Donnelly?

Bruner:  No, no.  I want you to go alone.  Get a feel for things…and once you have built up an idea of the project and how you want to run it, then come back here and take who you need.  I’ll spare you anyone you request.  The documents are downstairs with Johnson.  Pick them up on your way out.  And good luck, Davis.

Davis:  Thank you, Mr Bruner.

Scene 7

At the conclusion of scene 6, the film fades to black and holds there for an exaggerated pause.  When we come back to colour, we find ourselves inside one of Davis’s dreams.  There are constant flashes of over-growth, bush and ruin…and the bunyip…

Narrator:  I see him more strongly than ever now.  He is close, I feel, or either I am coming closer to him.  Night trampolines on.  A feverish day sets awake, but I am glad only that it is day.

The road from Sydney to Tenterfield was long and arduous.  My coach was slow and hard, and meaning was bought with a discomfort so unrelenting that at numerous stops I had the thought not to re-board the coach and to rather set out on foot.  But little by little, I finally came back to the place where I was born.

Fade to black

Scene 8

We suddenly begin again in colour, finding ourselves outside an old farmhouse.  The more astute of us will realise that it is the same farmhouse from the opening scenes of the movie, albeit now in disrepair and overgrown with bush.  We follow Davis as he revisits the house, searching for what? through empty rooms.  He comes to the kitchen – the sink is over-flowing with turgid brown water; he comes to the study – the shelves are bare and the walls weather-stained; he comes to his old bedroom – the sad over-hang of a tree reaches in through where a part of the roof is missing.  Davis walks away.

Scene 9

We find Davis again at the Tenterfield Arms – in the public bar.  A mad throng of all types excites about the room and animated conversation is all around.  But Davis is sitting alone, a stranger with his thoughts.  Two men have noticed him however, and Davis’s peace is about to be shattered.  The first man is tall and dressed in faux-bourgeois tail-coat and top hat.  The second man, shorter, is dressed in simpler, working-class garb.  The tall man leans into his cigarette:

Tall man:  Yes, he will do.

Short man:  You pick him for a dandy, do you?

Tall man:  He doesn’t wear it as well as he might, but he is from old Sydney town alright.  No mistaking that.

Short man:  A troubled man if ever I saw one.

Tall man:  And perfect.  Never was there a better mark!!!  Let us introduce ourselves.

The two men walk over to Davis’s booth.  Davis doesn’t acknowledge them at first, obviously being in another dream of the Bunyip.

Tall man:  Well met, young friend.

A startled Davis suddenly is woken from his dream…

Davis:  He is here.

Tall man:  And who might that be?  We are here, at any rate.

Davis:  Sorry, yes.

Tall man:  Do you mind if we join you?  There are not many free booths tonight.

Davis:  Sure.

Davis is of course not really that sure about the company.

Tall man:  You’re not from town?  You look like a traveller…

Davis:  Huh…Oh yes.  Have I lost that much of the bush?

Tall man:  So, you were originally from the country?  And now you are…?

Davis:  A surveyor.  In Sydney.

Small man:  Interesting.  What would a surveyor be doing out here?

Davis:  Surveying.

Small man:  Yes, yes, of course.

Tall man:  That is to say, we are fellow travellers.  Up from Broken Hill in fact.  On our way up through Cunningham’s Gap to the new north.

Davis:  Good for you.

Tall man:  Have you been down south?

Davis:  No, actually.

Tall man:  Things are getting harder down there.  Big business is moving in and eating up all the profits.  Two men such as ourselves cannot make what we need in such an environment.

Small man:  We are salesmen.

Davis:  And what do you sell, exactly?

Tall man:  Anything.

Davis:  Very precise.

Tall man:  Right now you are in need of life, sitting here drinking alone as you are.

Davis:  You have something to sell me?  And what shall be your price?

Small man:  We are not always on business!!!  We are off-hours now, seeking only company.  Ah, your schooner is nearing empty.  Allow me to get the next round.

The small man gets up and leaves for the bar.

Tall man:  We are on our way again tomorrow.  Please, let us make the most of this night.

Scene 10

Outside the pub, late at night.  The three drinking men stumble out of the pub, all obviously drunk.  They are singing Nirvana’s “Rape Me”.

Davis:  Well, thank you for tonight.  Now, if you will excuse me, I shall be off to my hotel.

Tall man:  Wait, don’t leave us so suddenly.  You told us tonight you were quite a card player, Mr Davis.  Come, accompany us to the card-room at the show and let’s sit in together.

Davis:  All of it bravado and exaggeration.  I’ve had enough.

Small man:  Mr Davis…

Tall man:  Mr Davis, don’t leave us now.  We need your company yet.

Davis:  No, I’ve had enough.

Tall man:  Humour us for just a further hour.  You said you weren’t required early tomorrow.

Davis:  Very well, but only for an hour.  I’ve not much more interest in partying tonight.

The three men walk off towards the fairy lights of the Tenterfield show.

Scene 11

We follow the three men as they make their way to the card-rooms.  Stopping just outside the big tent, Davis pads his pockets and realises he doesn’t have any more money on him.

Davis:  Nothing.  Not a penny.  I’m going to bed.

Small man:  No, it’s not a problem.  We have money.  We can lend you.

Davis:  And be in your debt?  No, thank you.

Small man:  A man of your talents will win it all back and with plenty to spare!!!

Davis:  Bravado and exaggeration, my dear friend.  Goodnight.

Tall man:  Can you not be tempted to play, Mr Davis?  Our money is good enough for you.

Davis:  So that’s your game.  Why don’t you just rob me?

Tall man:  How un-pretty, Mr Davis.  That would be illegal.

Davis:  Goodnight, freaks.

Tall man:  No, Mr Davis.  If you cannot be persuaded to fall into our debt by your own hand, then it will be forced upon you.  Jonathan, help Mr Davis around to the back of this tent, where there are no lights and nobody can see.

Small man:  With pleasure.

The small man then strikes Davis in the stomach, winding him.  They both then drag Davis behind the tent and begin to beat him.  The tall man produces from his breast pocket a document and a pen.

Tall man:  This is a contract.  We were hoping to have you sign it under less violent circumstances, but never mind, because you will sign it.  Sign it, and we will let you go alive.

Davis:  Fuck you, cunt.

Small man:  No, Mr Davis.  Fuck you.

The beating intensifies.

Tall man:  Will you sign now?

Small man:  Sign, cocksucker.

From behind the tall man, another man arrives.  In the dark, only his rough form can be seen.

Interloper:  Good evening gentlemen.  A cold night to be bruising knuckles.

Tall man:  You what?

Interloper:  This man is of importance to me.

Tall man:  Leave out of it.

Interloper:  I cannot do that.  Rather, I suggest you abandon this and go now.

Small man:  Fuck you.

Tall man:  Do you know who we are?  You never come around here and…

Before the tall man can complete his sentence, the newcomer has reached out with his hand and grabbed him around the throat, lifting him off the ground.  The small man attacks, but is knocked to the ground with a fierce blow to the head.

Interloper:  Cheap villains with even cheaper skills.  Do I know who you are, you ask me?  You’re nothing to me, and now you are going to die.  Enjoy it.

The interloper begins to crush the tall man’s windpipe, but just at the fatal second, he releases the whelp.  The two villains, without even waiting to recover, scamper off into the show leaving the interloper with Davis.  Davis is beaten, lying drunk and broken on the ground.  The interloper reaches down a hand, the same hand that cursed the villain, and lifts Davis to his feet.

Interloper:  I know about your dreams.  They are fireflies in my night.  Come, dreamer.

Act 2 – Scene 3

Davis wakes up under a softly swaying willow tree on the banks of the Dumaresq River.  His head is sore and he moves slowly.  He is obviously in a state of sever hangover.

Narrator:  I had lived selfishly and secretly for so long in my dreams, retreating to them whenever the world outside took yet another turn for the worse, that I was not ready to have them forced on me like this.  And now I had no where to turn to hide – my land of escape was now my reality.

Bunyip Hunter:  You’ve spent a pretty sleep down here by the river.

Davis:  If I was asleep then I didn’t dream.

Bunyip Hunter:  You didn’t need to this night gone.  The Bunyip will know you’re with me now, and he will double his guard against us.  That pelt will not come cheaply.

Davis:  Yes, the Bunyip.  I’m glad I have found some kind of explanation for the dreams that have plagued me since childhood, and I’m sure you mean me well…but surveying…I’ve got to survey first and foremost.  Ow!  And my head is on fire, and…oh, very well.

Bunyip hunter:  You’re head will soon be clear.  A couple of hours on the trail will see to that.  But first we must get to the trail.

Davis:  I will go with you only so far as my path coincides with yours, please remember that.

Bunyip Hunter:  Yes, but only God knows what path yours is going to be.

Davis:  Fine, Mr Mason.  Let’s just say for now that your Bunyip is by happy coincidence, heading North.

Bunyip Hunter:  Coincidence?  Did you not listen to my speech last night?  Bunyips always move North.  And then you too are to go, not East, not West, nor South, but North.  And you meet me in this crossroads, when I have lost the beast blank – suddenly you appear with the dreams that can track me the Bunyip.  We leave in two hours.  Ready your things and be at the Arms before I have to come and find you.  Because I will come and find you, if I have to.

Scene 4

We find ourselves joining Davis in his preparations.  We are together with him in his hotel room, where he is packing all he needs for the journey out from Tenterfield: his field workbook, compass, theodolite, sketching stationary, provisions and sleeping roll.  Remembering what the Mason had told him about how to control the dreams, he lies down on his bed to try for himself.  He begins meditating as Mason instructed him, breathing deeply and controlling the breath, guiding it around his body and then sending it up into his brain.  He waits for the Bunyip.  For a few moments it doesn’t come, and Davis becomes visibly frustrated.  As he is about to give up, the Bunyip approaches.  Davis allows the Bunyip to enter his thoughts.  It grabs at him hard, and Davis feels as thought his mind is being stolen.  He sees the Bunyip moving away over the land, down through a sharp gully and through a creek.  It disappears on the far bank.  Davis shudders out of his dream, breathing heavily, as though awaking suddenly from a nightmare.  He calms himself and looks out the window at people going about their days – his mundane existence.

Scene 5

We follow Davis over the last few metres of his walk to meet Mason.  Mason is standing outside the pub, a swag at his feet, fob watch in hand.  We have a close up of the time…

Mason:  You’re late, boy.

Davis:  Barely…

Mason:  Don’t you say anything.  If you’re late again, I’ll kill you.

Davis barely knows how to take this…

Mason:  I’ve been walking in the valley back behind, even gone on a little bit ahead.  It’s going to be easy walking for now, for a little way at least.  But I’m keen to get going now…what did you bring?

Davis feels more than a little self-conscious under Mason’s eyes.

Davis:  Um…I brought what I need…

Mason:  Don’t fuck with the bush!  Or that blasted Bunyip.  He will eat you raw!  Show me.

Davis involuntarily opens his swag for Mason.  Mason runs his eyes over the inventory.

Mason:  You don’t need half of this.

Davis:  I am surveying.  I do need it.

Mason:  Sextant, pencil, paper…that’ll be enough for you.

Davis:  It’s not a sex…

Mason:  Tell that to the Bunyip when his fangs turn to prey upon you.  When your long, slender bones have becomes his trophy possession!!!  Angles…the Bunyip doesn’t care.

Mason roots around in Davis’s swag, throwing aside items he deems unnecessary.

Mason:  And what would anyone do with this, when facing down the beast?  Summer days…definitely coming…do you feel that sting in the morning yet?  I don’t…hedonistic porch bag…toothful of rubbish.  Here, let’s put this aside as well.  You know, boy, these roads are long, hard.  But they are not this hard!

Davis:  I’m from the country!  I know about camping out.

Mason:  Yes, so you said.  And I know you will do well on this pursuit.  But you must listen to me.  You are not altogether ready for this.  Your hands are yet too clean, smooth.  Your face bears no battle scars, nor sun-given blemishes.  You have not had to plan for the falling of trees that might kill you even as you dream of him.  Can you, boy, predict the loosening of a branch at 12 midnight?  I can, so shut the fuck up and listen.  This is all you’re going to take.  You get cold – you wear extra now and strip it and put it back on as necessary…no extra clothes in your pack.  You get hungry – we kill something on the road.  You get thirsty – there are plenty of waters between here and anywhere.  You get the picture?  Here, pick up my swag…how heavy is it?  That’s right!!!  Now stop your snivelling and let’s go.

Davis:  I can’t just leave my stuff there…

Mason:  Yes you will.  You don’t need it, and it doesn’t need you.  Leave it for some bum to pick up and sell for his next moment of diseased bliss.