Cruel Hands

- My mom told me when she was a little girl

the world was different.

She said it was greener.

The air was fresher, the sunrise more beautiful.

She said that's why she wanted to take me away,

to find somewhere like that again.

But when the fires came, it changed everything,

and the fires came, the air became thick and heavy.

And all the grain was washed away.

Oh, don't worry about that.

Dai, don't.

Don't do that, darling.

You can't go past this fence.

OK.

We can't let anyone see us, or we'll get into trouble, OK?

- Well, why can't we go over the other side?

- Because there are wild dogs and wolves

that love eating up little boys for their breakfast, lunch,

and dinner. - No, they're not.

Are too.

No, they're not.

You good to your mother?

You do what she tells you to do?

Ahhh. - Yeah.

Thank you.

Take care, hey.

Yeah.

changes

And there are others.

It's not just about these three.

Apparently, the Navy's on standby down Mallacoota Way.

in

Oh, wow.

Thank you, Dai.

Hey, this fridge door doesn't shut properly, OK, so

just be careful with it, yeah

Dai!

What are you doing, you little weirdo?

Hi, Darling.

OK, so we like the body. Looks like--

Oh, yeah.

That's how you do it.

Yeah.

You get all the excess and then--

and then that.

And then it'll dry hard in the shape.

There's more glue in the fridge if you need it, OK.

Sorry, do you have a phone that I could use.

- Sorry? - Can I please use your phone?

We don't have a public phone

Please, can I just--

here, you can have just--

you can have that.

Just can I please use your phone.

- Sorry. Where are we?

What-- what's your address?

34 Pacific Road I think.

Come on, Lucille.

Come on. Come on.

Pick up.

Pick up. Pick up.

Lucille, it's me. It's Marie.

Where are you? - Mom.

Mom, are you OK?

I had a nightmare.

Come here.

What scared the bravest boy in the world then?

It was someone suffocating me.

Did you fight back?

Fight back?

Yeah.

Show them how brave you are.

Show me.

Yeah, it's that.

It's the only way to get rid of nightmares, baby.

You have to stand up to them.

Do you have nightmares?

Sometimes.

Do you stand up to them?

Sometimes.

Maybe go downstairs, make some breakfast.

I'll be down soon. - OK.

OK.

Mom!

What?

Did power go out again?

I don't know.

Move.

I'm sure Lucille will bring really good stuff with her.

We had good food at home.

If Lucille doesn't come, what are we gonna eat?

She'll come, Dai.

- She was late when she picked us up last time.

She'll come.

Hey!

Hello.

My name's Jason.

I was here the other night with my wife and son.

Yeah, no, I remember.

You guys were having car troubles.

Well, would you believe it.

She's broken down again.

I'm sorry to hear.

- Cars just never do what they're supposed to, hey.

Would you mind giving me a ride?

- Oh, I'm actually going the other way, and I'm running late.

Otherwise I would.

- I didn't say where I needed to go.

Can I use your phone?

- Sir, I'm sorry, but I really have to run.

My family's missing.

All I know is that my wife called a number on your phone,

and then she vanished.

I just-- just wanna see who she called.

Maybe she doesn't want that.

I don't want to get involved. - I'm sorry.

You can't help that now.

Dai, honey, where are you?

Mom.

Hmm?

Why isn't it cold?

Hmm?

What do you mean?

- Well, if it's snowing, shouldn't it be cold?

It's ash.

It's-- it's not snow.

- Why would there be ash in the sky.

- Well, the winds, they-- they pick it up from the fires

and bring it over this way.

Well, they must be close.

No, no, they're miles away.

You don't have to worry about that.

Besides, I've got more important things to worry about.

Like what?

- Like this friend of mine, it's his birthday soon.

Actually, I think might know him.

He's a little man, but he's almost as tall as me now.

And he likes drawing.

He insists on petting every dog that he meets.

He loves waking his mom up really early.

Don't do that, Dai.

Where are you going?

- Going to see if I can catch a rabbit.

Get a little bit more for us to eat.

- You're going to the supermarket?

No, Dai.

There isn't a supermarket, OK, at least

not one that we can walk to.

Can I come with you?

- What did I say that the rule was?

- Don't go past the fence. - Exactly.

What if I'm with you?

No, Dai, OK.

You have to stay in here.

It's safer.

- I can just go when you're gone.

- What was that Dai, if I find out

that you've been going past the fence,

I'm going to start locking you in your room.

You wouldn't.

- Yes, I would because if I don't then the police

will catch you and we'll have even more problems, all right.

Go back inside, Dai.

Who was on the phone?

How do you think it makes me feel?

Just gonna leave me alone?

I'd kill myself if I lost you, Maria.

Is that what you want? You want me to kill myself?

What if it is?

- I don't think being around here is safe for him.

Maybe I'll take him to live somewhere else.

How you like that?

You all right?

That was a lot, wasn't it?

Your mother, we love her, but she can be so dramatic,

can't she?

Hey.

Hey.

Hey, she didn't tell you where she was taking you, did she?

Yeah, you I'd never hurt anyone, especially not you two.

Your mother, she's just--

she's very sick, and she needs help.

And she doesn't tell the truth.

You know that, right?

Yeah?

You're a smart kid.

You see it?

All right.

I love you.

Bye bye.

Shit.

Mom, I'm hungry.

Yeah.

All right, let's have something to eat then.

But we've nothing to eat.

Oh, that's not true, is it?

I'll make us some beans.

Well, I'm bored.

There's nothing to do.

And I don't want to eat beans and stew.