The happiness that The Drover and Lady Sarah found (and Nullah, as well) at the end of Chapter Four is rudely snatched away from them in the grimmest and most depressing episode of Faraway Downs yet.
Basically, anything that could go wrong does: a disagreement about Nullah going walkabout in Arnhem Land with his grandfather, King George, sees Lady Sarah tell the Drover not to return in six months and when Nullah does end up on walkabout, he is captured by Northern Territory Police, taken to Darwin and handed over to the church for placement on Mission Island. (The storyline that shines a harsh light on our treatment of aboriginals continues to leave a sour taste in my mouth. ) Lady Sarah follows Nullah and King George to the capital, which is being evacuated following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. It seems that the Imperial Army is headed south for Australia, and Darwin is right in their flight path.
After watching Nullah being taken away, Lady Sarah is left disconsolate and contemplating selling Faraway Downs to Fletcher - David Wenham is as malevolent as ever. These are heartbreaking scenes on the docks amidst military mobilisation, and set up the final chapter perfectly.
Basically, anything that could go wrong does: a disagreement about Nullah going walkabout in Arnhem Land with his grandfather, King George, sees Lady Sarah tell the Drover not to return in six months and when Nullah does end up on walkabout, he is captured by Northern Territory Police, taken to Darwin and handed over to the church for placement on Mission Island. (The storyline that shines a harsh light on our treatment of aboriginals continues to leave a sour taste in my mouth. ) Lady Sarah follows Nullah and King George to the capital, which is being evacuated following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. It seems that the Imperial Army is headed south for Australia, and Darwin is right in their flight path.
After watching Nullah being taken away, Lady Sarah is left disconsolate and contemplating selling Faraway Downs to Fletcher - David Wenham is as malevolent as ever. These are heartbreaking scenes on the docks amidst military mobilisation, and set up the final chapter perfectly.
