No Sugar (13 page)

NEAL
: Yeah.

He continues working. Pause.

Yeah, now… Australia Day, the ceremony. Mr Neville likes to have the agenda in advance. I'd like you to say a few words yourself and an appropriate hymn.

SISTER
: We've been practising ‘There Is a Happy Land'… I thought it would be…

NEAL
: Good.

SISTER
: I thought it might be nice if Mr Neville announced the hymn.

NEAL
: Yeah, all right. What was it again?

SISTER
: ‘There Is a Happy Land'.

NEAL
writes it down and shuffles his papers. He ignores her.

Pause.

Is that all, Mr Neal?

NEAL
: Just a moment… There's another matter I'd like to discuss with you. I believe you've been lending books—novels—to some of the natives.

SISTER
: Yes, I have.

NEAL
: There's a sort of unofficial directive on this; it's the sort of thing which isn't encouraged by the Department.

SISTER
: What do you mean? That you don't encourage the natives to read?

NEAL
: That's right.

SISTER
: [
incredulously
] But why? I'd intended to ask your permission to start a small library.

NEAL
: I'm sorry, Sister, but—

SISTER
: [
interrupting
] It won't cost the Department a penny, I can get the books donated. Good books.

NEAL
: It's quite out of the question.

SISTER
: But why?

NEAL
: Look, my experience with natives in South Africa and here has taught—led me to believe that there's a lot of wisdom in the old adage that ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing'.

SISTER
: I can't believe what you're saying.

NEAL
: Look Sister, I've got a big mob here, over seven hundred—you know that—and there's enough troublemakers without giving them ideas.

SISTER
: But Mr Neal—

NEAL
: [
interrupting
] I don't think there's anything more to be said on the subject.

SISTER
: Well, I'd like to say something on another subject.

NEAL
: Yes?

SISTER
: The use of violence by your native policemen to enforce attendance at my religious instruction classes.

NEAL
: If I didn't make attendance compulsory, you'd have none of them there.

SISTER
: I'd prefer that they come of their own free will.

NEAL
: Look, Sister, if you're not happy here, I could arrange a transfer for you to another settlement; perhaps Mulla Bulla, on the edge of the Gibson Desert.

She goes to leave, but stops by the door.

SISTER
: Getting back to the books, what do you classify the Bible as?

She exits.

NEAL
: [
To himself
] Bloody do-gooders.

Moore River Native Settlement, Australia Day, 1934, a very hot afternoon.
MR NEVILLE
,
MR NEAL
and
MATRON
are seated on a dais.
BILLY KIMBERLEY
and
BLUEY
, dressed in new but absurdly ill-fitting uniforms, stand beside a flag pole with a flag furled ready to raise.
SISTER EILEEN
addresses the assembled population of the settlement, including the Millimurra family.
JOE
is still absent.

SISTER
: It gives me great pleasure to be with you all on this very special day, when we gather together to pledge our allegiance to the King and to celebrate the birth of this wonderful young country that we are so fortunate to be living in. We must remember today not just our country and King, but the King of kings, the Prince of princes, and to give thanks to God for what He has provided for us because our sustenance in life is provided by Him. Even we here today, Mr Neal, Matron Neal and myself, are but His humble servants, sent by Him to serve your needs. The Lord Jesus Christ has sent His servant, Mr Neville, Chief Protector of Aborigines, to speak to us on this special day. Mr Neville is going to say a few words before leading us in a song of praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

NEVILLE
rises. The whites clap while the Aborigines remain silent.

NEVILLE
: Today we are gathered here to celebrate the birth of this nation of Australia one hundred and forty-six years ago at Sydney Cove in the Eastern States. As I was driving up, I remembered that it is only a hundred and four years since the British flag was first raised on our West Australian shores. As I drove through Guildford, Midland and Bullsbrook, I saw men on the road, hundreds of men, and I was reminded that the world is in the grip of depression and that many people are suffering from hunger and deprivation of many of the essential elements which make for a contented existence. But you, in this small corner of the Empire, are fortunate in being provided for with adequate food and shelter.

JIMMY
: [
muttering
] Yeah, weevily flour.

NEVILLE
:… And to be with family and friends. Occasionally some of you might ponder why you are here—

JIMMY
: [
a little louder
] Too bloody right.

SAM
: [
to
JIMMY
]
Dubakieny wahnginy
,
gnoolya
.

NEVILLE
:… It doesn't hurt to remind yourselves that you are preparing yourselves here to take your place in Australian society, to live as other Australians live, and to live alongside other Australians; to learn to enjoy the privileges and to shoulder the responsibilities of living like the white man, to be treated equally, not worse, not better, under the law.

Pause. He looks around at the others on the dais.

SAM
: What's he talkin' about?

JIMMY
: He's talkin' outa his
kwon
.

SISTER
: [
aside, to
NEVILLE
] The hymn.

NEVILLE
: We are now going to sing the song… ah, hymn.

NEAL
: [
aside to
NEVILLE
] The hymn, then the flag raising.

NEVILLE
: Sing the hymn before we raise the flag and sing the national anthem. [
To
SISTER EILEEN
] Sorry, I've forgotten.

SISTER
: ‘There is a Happy Land'.

NEVILLE
: ‘There is a Happy Land'.

SISTER EILEEN
stands.

ALL
: [
singing
]

There is a happy land,

Far, far away,

Where saints in glory stand,

Bright, bright as day:

Oh, how they sweetly sing,

‘Worthy is our Saviour King!'

Loud let His praises ring,

Praise, praise for aye!

As the whites continue, the Aborigines break into full clear voice with a parody of the words.

There is a happy land,

Far, far away.

No sugar in our tea,

Bread and butter we never see.

That's why we're gradually

Fading away.

NEVILLE
: Stop, stop. Stop that immediately.

The Aborigines repeat the parody even louder.

Stop it. Stop this nonsense immediately. Never in my life have I witnessed such a disgraceful exhibition.

The song stops.

I'm appalled by this disgraceful demonstration of ingratitude. I can tell you that you will live to rue this day. There will be no privileges from now on.

JIMMY
: [
calling out
] Rotten spuds and onions?

NEVILLE
: Be quiet! And there will be no Christmas this year! No Christmas!

JIMMY
: What, a dried up orange and a puddin'?

NEVILLE
: Will you be quiet? Who is it, who is that fellow? Munday, isn't it? Northam. I've got police reports on you. You're a troublemaker, and a ringleader. You must listen to me.

JIMMY
: [
approaching
NEVILLE
] No, you listen to me Mr A.O. You come an' eat supper with us, tonight, right? Bread and drippin' and black tea. Are you game to try it?

NEAL
stands to leave, then turns back.

NEAL
: Look, Munday, what's your bloody game?

JIMMY
: Did you vote for Jimmy Mitchell's lot?

Silence.
JIMMY
sniggers.
SISTER EILEEN
stands and starts to sing ‘God Save the King'. The other whites join in. The Aborigines laugh
.

Yeah, you musta done, eh?

NEAL
stares at him in disbelief. The blacks, with the exception of the Millimurra family, gradually disperse.
BILLY
and
BLUEY
remain by the flag.

Nothin' to do with bloody scabies. And that's why we got dragged 'ere; so them
wetjalas
vote for him.

JIMMY
is left alone, shouting.
SAM
looks on.

So he could have a nice, white little town, a nice, white little fuckin' town.

JIMMY
runs out of breath, heaves and clutches his chest.
SAM
catches him as he collapses, clutching at the flagpole. The official party continues to sing ‘God Save the King'.
JIMMY
's family rushes to him.

MARY
: Matron, Matron, help! Help us!

NEAL
: [
to the whites
] Ah! He's only fainted.

The singing stops.
MATRON
breaks ranks and rushes to
JIMMY
's aid, loosens his clothing, checks his breathing and pulse.

MATRON
: He's got a heart condition. Billy, Bluey, pick him up. Bring him to the hospital. Come on, come on. Easy now.

MATRON
and the Millimurras exit with
BILLY
and
BLUEY
.
NEVILLE
and
NEAL
exit in the other direction.
SISTER EILEEN
remains, unsure which way to go.

The Superintendant's Office, day.
NEAL
reads the West Australian, Monday 30 January 1934.
MATRON
enters.

MATRON
: What's the latest?

NEAL
: A cool change tomorrow.

He looks at the date on the paper.

That's today.

MATRON
: Not much sign of it.

NEAL
: Pictures of cars stuck in the bitumen on Crawley Drive. Hmm, a truck load of eggs in Fremantle hatched out chickens… Hot, all right.

MATRON
: No news from Kalgoorlie?

NEAL
: Oh, yeah… Three dead.

MATRON
: Oh, dear.

NEAL
: Yeah, besides Jordan. One of us stabbed—typical—and one a them shot. The foreigners have dug themselves in around Ding Flat… They're recruiting specials.

MATRON
: Who?

NEAL
: Volunteers, special constables. A man with a military background has a responsibility to volunteer in an emergency like this.

MATRON
: Why don't you?

NEAL
: Can't leave this place.

MILLY
and
SAM
approach the office.

MATRON
: Got your own civil war?

NEAL
: Don't be stupid, woman, I can handle a mob of unruly niggers.

MATRON
: Yes? Yes, Milly? Hello, Sam.

MILLY
: [
pointing inside
] We want to see him.

MATRON
beckons them in.

NEAL
: [
to
SAM
and
MILLY
] What do you want?

SAM
: We want to know if you can get Joe out for the funeral.

NEAL
: Who?

MATRON
: Joe Millimurra.

NEAL
: Impossible.

MILLY
: Why? Other Nyoongahs get out when the 'lations die.

SAM
: You could ring up Mr Neville and ask him.

NEAL
: Too late. Funeral's tomorrow.

SAM
: Well, hold it the day after.

NEAL
: What, in this weather?

MILLY
: You could if you wanted to.

MILLY
starts to cry.

MATRON
: Don't get upset; there's nothing we can do about it.

MILLY
: And don't you go wrappin' him up in the gubment blanket. You put him in a proper box.

MATRON
: Don't worry, he'll receive a proper burial.

SAM
: Will you ring the prison and tell 'em to tell Joe?

NEAL
: As a member of the family you can write to him yourself.