1 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:09,720 [GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC] 2 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,160 [MONTY] It was the morning after the Australia Day bash 3 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:22,240 and I was the only bloke in the nation not hungover. 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:23,920 Buddah, breakfast. 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,000 [MONTY] But I did have a mean appetite. 6 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:30,520 When Paulie stayed out all night, 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,840 he'd come home so full of stories 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,160 I'd need tea, milk and six hours of free time. 9 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,160 Oh, OK. 10 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,560 [MONTY] Any other morning, I would've stopped and conversed with the natives, 11 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,040 but today, it was bacon over birds. 12 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,000 [STARTS ENGINE] 13 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,080 [SIREN WAILS] 14 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:26,360 Nothing to see here, officers. 15 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:29,880 [MONTY] Back in the day, 16 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:32,560 the first thing the government would do to break a black fella 17 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,520 was take them off the land. 18 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,800 That robbed them of their spirit. 19 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,480 Same thing would happen to me if they took my Merc. 20 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,880 How long have you had this car? 21 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:53,680 It's mine. 22 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,480 Lucky you. 23 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,840 You know why we pulled you over? 24 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,640 [MONTY] Uh, because I'm black? 25 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,120 No, why? 26 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:05,720 You left your milk on the roof, mate. 27 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,880 Oh, well, there's that too. 28 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:09,800 Didn't you see those girls waving? 29 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,840 Is that a crime? 30 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:15,960 Not unless you stain the duco on this beauty. 31 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,720 I would love to spend a bit of time in her. 32 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:22,600 If you know what I mean. 33 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,480 You have a good one. 34 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,720 [MONTY] There's a first time for everything 35 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,240 and that was the first time a copper did me a good turn. 36 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,240 Couldn't wait to tell Paulie. 37 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,200 Paulie! You're home, my brother. 38 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,000 Hey, you won't believe what just happened with me and the cops. 39 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,040 You had a big night, hey, Buddah? 40 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,320 Paulie...what happened? 41 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,600 [THUMPING AND GROANING] 42 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,040 [MONTY] After they'd bailed him up outside the pub, 43 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:19,280 they took him down to the station. 44 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,160 [GASPS] 45 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,240 They made him pay for talking back. 46 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,560 We're going to get pizza. Don't fall asleep. 47 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:40,600 First with his body. 48 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,120 Then with his spirit. 49 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:46,880 [GASPS] 50 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,280 Come here. 51 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,600 [DISTANT DIDGERIDOO] 52 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,240 [DIDGERIDOO INTENSIFIES] 53 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,960 [MONTY] When your spirit's gone, your body is an empty shell. 54 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,040 [DIDGERIDOO CONTINUES] 55 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,360 [DIDGERIDOO CONTINUES] 56 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,080 The body must follow the spirit. They cannot be parted. 57 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,240 But sometimes, the body is scared. 58 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,520 So Paulie helped it along. 59 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,600 [DIDGERIDOO CONTINUES] 60 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:44,040 [MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY] 61 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,280 [MONTY] The royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody 62 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,120 looked into Paulie's death. 63 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,440 They said the officers' conduct fell well below what was expected. 64 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,920 They got off with a warning and that was the end of it. 65 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:25,120 I closed myself off to the world and buried my head deep within the sand. 66 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,280 Wasn't pretty down there. 67 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,600 [JULIE, THROUGH A WINDOW PLAYS] ♪ As though it was yesterday ♪ 68 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,120 ♪ I remember your voice ♪ 69 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:49,680 ♪ But my song is the only way I can talk to you now ♪ 70 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,920 ♪ If I feel you beside me ♪ 71 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,480 ♪ I'll try not to weep ♪ 72 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:15,800 ♪ But I cry when I'm frustrated, you should be talking to me ♪ 73 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,040 ♪ Like you say ♪ 74 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,280 ♪ The tips of my fingers ♪ 75 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,640 ♪ Are less than you have ♪ 76 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:35,800 ♪ Without the chance for me to say goodbye ♪ 77 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,000 ♪ I'm not as strong as you ♪ 78 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,400 ♪ Would like to believe. ♪ 79 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,360 [MONTY] I decided to follow Paulie. 80 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,280 ♪ But you can't tell me what to do ♪ 81 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,200 ♪ For I'll cry if I have to ♪ 82 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:05,080 ♪ Not frown if you think I'm weak ♪ 83 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,880 ♪ You shaped me into a star ♪ 84 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,160 ♪ And threw me into the sky ♪ 85 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,960 ♪ You pushed that I kept the right path ♪ 86 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,800 ♪ Sit back and watch me fly ♪ 87 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:34,760 ♪ Like you said ♪ 88 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,000 ♪ The tips of my fingers ♪ 89 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,160 ♪ Are less than you have ♪ 90 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:49,000 ♪ Without the chance for me to say goodbye. ♪ 91 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,080 It'll be good eating tonight, Paulie. 92 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,120 I'll go check on the stingrays. 93 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,760 ♪ Without the chance for me to say goodbye. ♪ 94 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,640 [GENTLE PIANO REFRAIN] 95 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,000 Which one did he give ya? 96 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:53,240 Which what? 97 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,160 I know he gave you a story. 98 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,760 Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. 99 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,200 -Come on, which one was it? -Can't tell ya. 100 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,120 It was the stingray one, wasn't it? 101 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,400 You could tell the way Dad's arms were moving. 102 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,080 -Like how? -Like this. 103 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,520 -That's not how they go. -How would you know? 104 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,800 Because Dad told me all about it! 105 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,640 [GENTLE PIANO REFRAIN] 106 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,680 [SHOUTS] 107 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:38,800 Hey. 108 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,880 Why haven't I got that story? 109 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,360 Why'd you tell him? I'm older. 110 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,720 I didn't tell it, Mont. 111 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,080 The spirits told it through me. 112 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,640 They wanted Paulie to learn, knew it was his time. 113 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,440 His mind must've been in the right place. 114 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,400 When is it my time? 115 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,240 [MONTY] Stingrays, spirits and death, it's all in the timing. 116 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:14,240 I didn't know it then, but sometimes it's good when it's not your time. 117 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,840 Probably why I used a rope meant for tying trucks, 118 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,960 not for hanging black fellas. 119 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,360 I wanted to be rid of everything. 120 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,120 I sold the lot. 121 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,000 [MONTY] And I mean everything. 122 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:09,360 I wanted to forget. It hurt so much. 123 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,760 But a certain someone had other ideas. 124 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,960 [PHONE RINGS] 125 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,720 [PHONE CONTINUES RINGING] 126 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:38,480 [PHONE CONTINUES RINGING] 127 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:41,160 What? 128 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:42,800 Is that how you answer a phone? 129 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,440 -Busy, Mum. -[MUM] You're coming home. 130 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,320 -Why? -'Cause it's time. 131 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,520 -And you're not right. -I've got a lot on. 132 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,560 -We all have, Monty. -I don't have a car. 133 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,520 -And can't you afford one? -Of course I can, I'm a grown man. 134 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,680 Well, then get one and get your moy-you back up here! 135 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:58,320 -Easy. -Well, I'll see you Friday. 136 00:13:58,400 --> 00:13:59,840 Make it Wednesday. 137 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,200 [MONTY] Jeez, I sure showed her. 138 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,600 I should've been there more. 139 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:15,400 I should've been there more. 140 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:18,400 Should've been there, Paul! 141 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,120 [MONTY] Home was the last place I wanted to be. 142 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:55,560 Too many memories. 143 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,120 [EXHALES] 144 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,920 But my mum was a force I couldn't reckon with. 145 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:22,240 [CLEARS THROAT] 146 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,920 Porra! 147 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,640 [SQUEALS] 148 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:31,360 [MONTY] My sister, Chicky. Basically Mum in tight jeans. 149 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,240 I missed you! 150 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:34,720 Missed you too, Chicky. 151 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,440 Hey, you sound like a white fella! 152 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,560 Hey, look out. 153 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:41,200 Too long in the city, I suppose. 154 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,680 [POSH VOICE] Oh, too long in the city, I positively do suppose. 155 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:46,440 [LAUGHS] 156 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,400 Mont, I'm only gammin'. 157 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,960 Hey, you know we're all sad... 158 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,440 Chicky? It's not just you. 159 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:55,960 Hey, look out! 160 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,120 Yeah, he's visiting from Buckingham Palace. 161 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,400 Mum, Mont's here! 162 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,000 My son. 163 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,920 Look at you. My boy. 164 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,080 It's yours, Dad. I don't want it. 165 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,920 He got a lotta spirit for your brother. 166 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,960 -Paulie wanted you to have it. -Yeah? 167 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:33,520 Look what happened to him. 168 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,680 -We got ceremony tonight. -I'm not coming! 169 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,280 Of course you are. 170 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:49,480 It's alright. 171 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,320 It's OK. 172 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,920 -It hurts so. -I know. 173 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:57,800 I know, baby. 174 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,200 It really hurts. 175 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:03,720 I know. 176 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,800 It's OK, bro. Bro. 177 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,600 You're home, bro. 178 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,960 [DISTANT DIDGERIDOO PLAYS] 179 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,040 [MONTY] That night was a naming ceremony. 180 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:22,280 The elders hold the baby close to the fire so it gets the warmth. 181 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:28,880 They speak language to it and give it a birth name, an Aboriginal name. 182 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,600 When I was young, we weren't allowed one of those. 183 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,520 Despite all the whitening forced upon them, 184 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,960 the old people had ways and means of passing things on 185 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:47,880 so the culture stayed alive, even when their children didn't. 186 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,280 Paulie was our dancer, our singer, our storyteller... 187 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:00,200 and he was gone. 188 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,720 He fought so hard to keep his culture, our culture. 189 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:08,560 What had I done? 190 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,360 You back, young fella? 191 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:14,720 Where you been? 192 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:18,480 Hiya. 193 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,600 You come sit down with me now. I got something for you. 194 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:31,920 [MONTY] It was my time. 195 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:52,120 And that's when he gave me his name, Boori. 196 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:56,360 It means fire, where the old people give their stories. 197 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,200 Storykeeper. 198 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,120 An old name and a new purpose. 199 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,600 And Dad finally gave me that stingray story. 200 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:20,280 It's the story of a lost boy, that's why Paulie got it first. 201 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,560 When Paulie left us, I realised just how lost I'd become, 202 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:28,600 stuck between two worlds. 203 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,600 It was time to reach out to one by preserving the other. 204 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,280 But first, there was something I needed to get back. 205 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:38,000 [BRIGHT UPBEAT MUSIC] 206 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,560 [BOORI] People often ask me whether there's anything good 207 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,400 that white fellas brought with them. 208 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:49,080 I tell them literacy and the Mercedes V8 turbo compressor. 209 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:50,840 [DISCO MUSIC PLAYING] 210 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,080 [BOORI] Paulie had taught culture in schools. 211 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,400 One school still had him booked. 212 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,600 I decided to go in his place. 213 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,440 I must've sat in my car for at least a half an hour. 214 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,200 I'd been a model, a DJ, a human rights champion, 215 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,320 a really ordinary drunk, 216 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:16,960 but I'd never been a teacher. 217 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:18,440 I was terrified. 218 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,240 This one's for you, Paulie. 219 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,840 [DIDGERIDOO PLAYS] 220 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:50,320 [BOORI] If us black fellas lose our spirituality, our culture, 221 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,840 then you lose it too.