Good day to you, ma'am.
Sir?
"Paterson's Ridge Chronicle."
You're a long way
from the mountains, ma'am.
You know what they say, sir.
Bad news travels fast.
I suggest we stroll,
Mrs. O'Neil.
Safer.
When governments
make decisions,
people's lives are changed.
There are fortunes to be made
out of those circumstances.
Let me make
something clear, Mister...
-Smith.
-Mr. Smith.
A mysterious letter offering
my newspaper a story
makes me very suspicious.
And secret meetings
with passwords
makes me skeptical.
But you are here.
But not for long,
if you keep talking in riddles.
The government
is to make a decision
on a second rail line
through the mountains.
That's common knowledge.
That decision
has already been made.
These documents prove it...
but it's been kept secret.
The announcement is being
deliberately delayed.
Why?
So that those in the know
can pick up
the land for a song.
They're already doing it,
Mrs. O'Neil.
Why did you come
to me with this?
Well, the ethics
of the city press
have been bought
and sold long ago.
The "Chronicle" has a reputation
for telling the truth.
Flattery makes me even
more suspicious, Mr. Smith.
This affects
your mountains, Mrs. O'Neil.
It's your people
who are being exploited.
I'll make my own inquiry,
Mr. Smith.
And if what I find
supports your claims,
I'll publish.
[theme music playing]
[bell dinging]
Yes.
I want to know if recently
there've been
any purchases of land
in this area.
Very well.
No land purchases as such,
just some options.
What kind of options?
Thirty-day options.
The purchaser
must put down a deposit
and has thirty days
to complete the transaction.
How many of these options
were taken up
in the last month?
Seventeen.
[Mr. Blackwood]
My land?
Just a small piece of it,
Mr. Blackwood.
What the Blackwoods have,
the Blackwoods hold,
Mr. Randall.
We don't sell.
[Mr. Randall]
Naturally, I'm prepared to pay
more than a reasonable price.
How much more?
More than enough.
What would you do
with this land?
I'm only acting as an agent
for a client, Mr. Blackwood.
I imagine he fancies
himself a farmer.
This would-be farmer
has a name, I presume?
Ethics, Mr. Blackwood.
Can't discuss a client.
Does it matter?
That depends
what he's offering.
Generous deposit,
thirty-day option.
If he doesn't pick up
the option,
you keep the deposit.
Well.
Depending on your facts
and figures,
I'll think about it.
Where can I get
in touch with you?
Mr. Blackwood.
He's a long way
from the city.
What did he want?
Nothing you should
worry yourself about.
Really?
Land agents and auctioneers.
We're buying land?
-Not exactly.
-We're not selling.
Frank, we're supposed to be
Managing Balmoral together.
I haven't sold anything.
Then why are we
entertaining land agents?
He invited himself.
He wants to option
some land, that's all.
-Where?
-Northwest boundary.
And you agreed?
No, I didn't.
Why an option?
If he wants the land,
why not just make
an offer for it?
Hedging his bets.
Speculating, maybe.
Speculating on what?
I don't know,
but I'm going to find out.
So, this is what took you
to Melbourne.
-What do you think?
-It's a good story.
You got your facts right?
The Lands Office
only deals in facts.
Thirteen people buy options
on 17 different properties,
but they're thirteen
different people.
Doesn't seem
like a conspiracy to me.
Except for the fact
that every one of those options
has been purchased
in the last two weeks.
Now, I don't believe
in that kind of coincidence.
These documents
and the rail line
and the junction,
who showed them to you?
I can't discuss
where they came from.
What?
Not even with you.
I'm sorry, but I gave my word.
And the land options,
they're proof enough?
They verify
the documents I saw.
So, you're convinced, then?
I have no doubts.
If I did,
I wouldn't publish.
What, um,
what does Matt think?
Matt believes
in a free press.
You've spoken to him, then?
No, he's in Melbourne.
He doesn't know
anything about this.
I mean, he didn't even know
that I was in Melbourne.
So, the first
he'll know about it
is when he reads
it in the "Chronicle"...
along with everyone else.
Anyone else know
the purpose of this meeting?
No one, Mr. Premier.
Good, let's keep it
that way.
If we're going to catch
whoever is responsible,
secrecy is the key.
Can you report your findings
directly to me on this?
-Tea?
-No, thanks.
My views on corruption
are well known.
I'll do whatever is necessary.
So, find out who
on your committee is corrupt,
and I'll do the rest.
And if it's
a member of government?
Then I'll come down
on him twice as hard.
As head of the government,
I have a duty to the people.
You're working for me on this.
The fewer people know
about it, the better.
Keep me informed.
I'll do that.
You have no English linen
in stock?
-No, I'm sorry.
-Right.
Candles, do you have
any Belgian ones?
[Clerk]
No, I'm terribly sorry.
[Victoria]
But you ran out
four months ago.
When will you
have them in stock?
[clerk]
They should be arriving
on next week's train.
[Victoria]
Fine.
This store has nothing,
as usual.
We'll have to order up
from Melbourne.
Huh?
We'll have to order
from Melbourne.
Read this.
Secret government documents.
-Good for Kathleen.
-Good for someone.
But no one thought
the new railway junction
would be built
near Paterson's Ridge.
Exactly.
See yourself home,
sister dear.
I suddenly realize
I have some business
to attend to.
Frank.
The land option,
it's for the new railway line,
-isn't it?
-Yeah.
Don't think you can sell
without my signature.
Who said anything
about selling?
I wish you'd talked to me
before publishing this.
And I wish
I knew that you
were on that committee.
The facts are correct.
I can't say.
It's confidential information,
as is the very existence
of this committee.
At least
it was until now.
I'm sorry if I've caused
you any embarrassment.
So who gave you
this information?
You know
I can't tell you that.
It's important, Kathleen.
And it's important
that I keep my word.
I can't name my source, Matt.
[sighs] All right.
Tell me about the documents.
The documents I saw
describe the new railway line
and the location
for the rail junction.
And when I checked
with the Lands Department,
they verified
land was being optioned.
Someone on the committee
must be involved.
What are you gonna do?
I can't tell ya.
We're both in the same boat.
Like you, I've given
my word to someone.
Neither of us
can betray a confidence.
Nope.
I have put you
in a difficult position,
haven't I?
Not as difficult
as the one you're in.
There's various people
in my committee
who will try and make you out
to be the villain in all this.
To protect themselves.
So I'll do
what I can, but...
Everything I wrote
is true, then.
I see.
[Matt]
Perhaps you don't.
Whoever's behind this
has a lot to lose.
You be careful.
-Matt.
-Ah, Frank.
Seems we're fellow travelers.
Yes, apparently.
Oh, there you are.
I'll save you a seat.
So, back to Melbourne.
Yes, time enough for them
to have read the "Chronicle."
I hope you understand
why I published what I did.
Never let it be said
that I stood against
freedom of the press.
Printing that article
was a matter of principle.
That's how I see it, anyway.
-[train whistle blows]
-[conductor] All aboard.
Kathleen O'Neil, I always
said you were trouble.
Bye.
Bye.
[train horn blaring]
Quite a hornet's nest
Kathleen stirred up.
Perhaps.
Those documents
she quoted, for instance,
you'd know if they're
the real thing, I suppose?
This seems to have caught
your imagination, Frank.
Hmm, it has.
Certainly has.
So, this little
trip to Melbourne--
business or pleasure?
The secret
is to combine the two.
[Higgins]
And it calls itself
the "Chronicle,"
but it's just a scurrilous rag
from the mountain country.
[Matt]
From my electorate,
to be precise.
It's outrageous,
it's intolerable.
We must deal
with the proprietor.
Well, you can't accuse
Mrs. O'Neil of getting
her facts wrong.
No, but I can accuse her
of consorting with spies
and informants.
This makes the committee
look like a bunch of shysters.
Hear, hear, hear.
There's no reason
to shoot the postman
just because the mail
is bad news.
Well, you tell me, McGregor--
you tell me how you
think she got her hands
on this information!
Well, isn't it more important
to stamp out this corruption?
Someone told her.
Someone betrayed the decisions
of this committee.
With all due respect, sir,
you're missing the point.
Now you let one
of these newshounds
get away with this, McGregor,
and the rest of them
will be after this government
like a pack of hounds
scenting blood.
[legislators murmuring]
We must make an example.
[men]
Hear, hear.
Cable for you, Mrs. O'Neil.
Oh, thanks, Mr. Perkins.
Just came in.
Town's right behind you,
Mrs. O'Neil.
Ah, thanks for helping,
Danni.
It's all right.
How long will you be away?
I hope I'll be home tomorrow.
But I don't know for sure.
So, Michael,
if I can't come back,
you'll be staying
with Emily and Colin.
Colin's promised
to look after the farm.
Why do you have to go, Mom?
Well, I have
to answer some questions
at a government inquiry.
If they don't like my answers,
I could be in serious trouble.
What sort of trouble?
They may try
and put me in prison.
For what, telling the truth?
I knew what I was doing.
I knew that printing that story
would make people
in the government angry.
But I had to do it.
I had no choice.
Why?
We've talked about this.
How important it is
to do what you think is right.
Now, if they can frighten me
into not printing this story,
it's not too far from scaring me
into telling outright lies.
Well, Dad would never
let them put you in prison.
This time, I don't think
he can help, Danni.
I'm on my own.
-Hi.
-Hi.
They won't keep you
waiting much longer.
Well, I'm glad of that.
Are they very fired up?
Very.
Good.
'Cause so am I.
[legislators chattering]
Mrs. Kathleen O'Neil,
the proprietor of
the "Paterson's Ridge Chronicle"
presents herself before
the parliamentary committee
into the railways
and transport.
Mrs. O'Neil will be accorded
all the courtesy
warranted her in this place.
Madam, we have questions
for you.
So I understand.
But what exactly
is the legal status
of this inquiry?
No, this is not a court
of law.
Cooperate and you will
not have to face one.
Cooperate?
By answering clearly
and truthfully.
Are you the author
of the article that appears
on the front page
of your newspaper?
Yes, I am.
This article describes
the proposed extension
of the new railway line
through the mountains.
It's the truth, isn't it?
No one's denied it.
Where did you get
this information?
My sources
expect protection...
[laughs]
...and I'm not going
to disappoint them.
The ethics of your profession.
That's right.
Very noble, too.
They go hand in glove
with the freedom of the press
and the right
of the people to know.
If you have anything
against those things,
Mr. Higgins,
I'll hope you'll grant me
an interview for the paper,
so that your
constituents will know
where you stand
on such matters.
This committee disagrees
with none of those things,
Mrs. O'Neil.
Heaven forbid
we should persecute
the newspapers.
Then what am I doing here?
Your newspaper quotes
from certain documents.
I was satisfied
that they were genuine.
They were.
And there's only one way
you could've
got your hands on them.
They were taken
from this room unlawfully.
You've just admitted
that my article told the truth!
No, you're missing
the point, Mrs. O'Neil.
You took possession
of those documents.
Receiving stolen goods,
a crime!
That's enough, Higgins.
The lady came here
to answer questions,
not to be bullied
or threatened by you.
This is Parliament House,
McGregor,
not your precious mountains.
I am the chairman
of this committee.
Yes, Mr. Rule?
My apologies for
interrupting, Mr. Chairman.
The papers
you requested have arrived.
[Higgins]
Oh, good, bring them here.
Oh, no, don't leave,
Mr. Rule, we may need you
to process these documents.
Now, Mrs. O'Neil...
it's very simple.
You tell us who gave
you the information.
And if I don't?
I'll have you prosecuted,
and you will go to prison.
Oh, don't make
the mistake of thinking
that's an idle threat.
I'll tell you nothing.
Madam!
Mr. Rule,
we will not be requiring
your services after all.
We will give you time
to think about it, Mrs. O'Neil.
You have one week
to name your informant
or this summons
will be served.
And from that point,
believe me,
there is no turning back.
Excuse me.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
Mr. Smith.
Or perhaps I should call
you by your real name.
Madam, please.
Someone may hear you.
I'm facing prison, Mr. Rule.
If you want
my continued protection,
you'd better start
telling me who you are,
and why you gave me
that information.
Very well, I'm going straight
back into that committee room
to tell them everything
I know.
[Mr. Rule]
Wait.
All right, but not here.
This is terrible.
I-I feel ill.
Did you know that I was
being summoned here?
Of course.
You can imagine how I felt.
Well, I'm sure
you can imagine how I felt.
But I think it's time
you told me everything,
don't you?
Everything?
I know your name is Rule,
but what's your position?
Are you a politician?
I'm an employee of
the Parliament, secretary
of their committee.
Ha. Which would have
given you plenty of time
to steal those documents.
-Oh, please.
-I haven't got time
to be polite, Mr. Rule.
Now be straightforward
with me, please.
A man does his job as
a public servant for years.
While he obeys the rules,
he sees
secrets being kept,
power abused.
One day his
conscience says, Enough.
And he makes a stand.
Look... look what
it's brought me.
Calm yourself.
I didn't tell them
you were my informant.
But that is what you're
threatening to do, isn't it?
Not if you convince me that
your motives were honorable.
Mrs. O'Neil,
I tell you honestly,
I wish I had
no such thing as a conscience.
If I'd known I'd be
in such a dreadful position,
I'd have kept my mouth shut.
The documents are genuine.
You've checked
them independently.
The committee
has not denied any of it.
Mrs. O'Neil,
I am telling the truth.
You can ease your mind,
Mr. Rule.
I'll continue to protect you.
I told you you'd be satisfied
with the price, Mr. Blackwood.
Your mysterious client
hasn't bought the land yet.
Only the option to buy.
Melbourne's very pleasant
this time of the year,
isn't it?
You'll have the balance
of the money
within the thirty days.
Your signature?
You tell your client
he got himself a bargain.
You're persecuting
a woman for telling the truth!
Instead of conducting
a witch hunt,
we should be thanking her.
[Higgins]
Thanking her?
For accusing this committee
of fostering corruption?
Now you let one newspaper
get away with this
and where will it end?
What then?
Well, who knows?
To an open government, perhaps?
Perhaps we don't need
the lady's testimony.
Perhaps the answer's
right underneath
our noses, McGregor.
Mrs. O'Neil is your fiancée,
is she not?
I made that fact
available to you all
when this business began.
Draw your own conclusions,
gentlemen.
Any success, Mr. Randall?
Another option.
Mr. Blackwood of Balmoral.
The last one.
So, our business dealings
are complete.
Glad to be of service, sir.
I don't have to remind
you that your generous fee
buys not only your services,
but your silence.
I don't even know
your name, sir.
Good day.
I beg your pardon.
Mr. Arnold Rule, isn't it?
Do you have an appointment,
Sir?
I don't think I need one,
do you?
Who are you?
I think I'm your new
business partner, Mr. Rule.
There is a constable
outside this building.
If you do not leave,
I will have you removed.
You won't do that, Rule.
The name's Blackwood.
Frank Blackwood.
You've been a clever fellow.
As soon as you knew
where the new rail line
was going to be,
you had agents like Randall
running around
picking up options
from poor unsuspecting
land owners.
I'll have mine back,
by the way.
The left inside pocket
of the jacket, I believe.
It wasn't until
I saw where you work
that I put two and two
together and figured out
who let Kathleen O'Neil
put her neck on the block.
Tell me,
who's bankrolling you?
A group of businessmen.
Speculators, huh?
What are you doing to do?
I could blow
the whistle on you
and let Kathleen
off the hook.
On the other hand,
Kathleen's a clever lady
with Matt McGregor
on her side,
but if you
get away with this...
I think there'll be
a sizable cut in it for me.
Wouldn't you agree?
Come in.
Matt.
Mr. Premier.
This fiancée
of yours, quite a woman.
Yes, she's not afraid
to speak her mind.
Unfortunately,
there are others
who may not agree
with a woman's right to do so,
especially in a delicate
matter like this.
Well, journalists have a duty
to protect their sources.
Yes, but that
is a voluntary code of ethics,
it's not a fact of law.
Well, she
hasn't confided in me,
and I don't expect she will.
There are those
who say it's not a matter
of her confiding in you,
but you confiding in her.
Well, I can assure you,
Mr. Premier, that's not true.
Oh, I believe you Matt.
I may have difficulty
convincing others in the party.
Wait, you want me to stop
my investigation, or...?
Well, rightly or wrongly,
you have been compromised.
If we're to uncover
this corruption,
we need someone
who is above reproach.
And I'm not?
Matthew, you know
I don't believe in rumors,
but there are some who might
use them to their advantage.
I'm sorry, Matthew.
Truly, I am.
If only I had known it was
gonna turn out like this.
Ah, you still would've
published the article.
How can you be so sure?
Because I know you.
What is it, Matt?
It's not just the committee.
[sighs]
Well, the mountains can't
be represented in Parliament
by a man with
a tarnished reputation.
I might have to resign.
Because I told the truth?
Because people believe
what they want to believe.
And true or not, they think
I'm responsible for that story.
Then we have to find
out who's behind all this.
And publish it
in the "Chronicle"?
-If we have to.
-No.
The city press, then.
Kathleen, it's my problem.
-It's not.
-It is my problem.
We have to face
this together.
You don't want my help,
do you?
I've done enough, is that it?
Too much perhaps.
-I didn't say that.
-Then what are you saying?
I just need some time
to think. All right?
[train horn blaring]
Mom!
They didn't put you in jail.
No, they didn't.
Well, not yet, anyway.
But they let you come back.
That means it's gonna be
all right, doesn't it?
I'll explain later.
Right now, I have to go
and see Mr. Gleeson.
-I'll take your bag.
-Thanks.
-I'll see you in a bit.
-You got my cable, then?
Yes, I did.
Will I see you later?
I just need some time
to myself.
Matt.
Don't worry about it,
Kathleen.
I had to come, Matt.
I didn't think
you'd stay away.
Oh, Matt, we can't let
this come between us.
It won't, I promise.
Well, there must be
something we can do.
Perhaps if you,
if you went to the Premier,
explained that you had nothing
to do with what I wrote,
that you didn't even
know about it
until it was already published.
No, it wouldn't do any good.
But it must!
The Premier is a fair man.
And he knows you, Matt.
You know how I told you
I gave my word to someone?
Mm.
Well, I'm just about
to break it. [sighs]
I'm gonna break it
because of what's happened
and because I trust you.
I don't understand.
You know why the committee's
decision on the railway
hasn't been announced?
It's because
the Premier personally
ordered it to be delayed.
Are you saying
the Premier's behind this?
You see, there you go again,
jumping to conclusions.
The Premier suspected
that someone
was leaking confidential
information from the committee.
So he asked me to investigate,
answering only to him.
I mean, no one else knows.
And I was getting close
when you published the article.
Ah, and cut the ground
out from under you.
Worse, it pointed
the finger at me as a person
most likely to have
given you the information.
But the Premier
can put an end to that.
All he has to do is tell
them you were working for him.
I mean, the Premier's
an honest man.
If my reputation's
too badly damaged,
you can't expect him
to leap aboard a sinking ship.
Our only hope is to find out
who's behind this.
You were investigating
in Melbourne.
Why not start at this end
with the land options?
Well, whoever it is
has been using different people
to negotiate those options.
They've been covering
their tracks.
It's worth a try, isn't it?
So here's the proposed
new line,
and the rail junction.
It crosses eighteen properties.
There are only
seventeen options.
So they missed one.
Why miss one? Why go
to all this trouble
and then miss one?
Unless...
unless one of
the land owners is behind this.
He wouldn't have
to option his own land.
Of course!
Of course. Let's see...
Fairview, Chandler's Creek,
Balmoral...
[laughs] There isn't
an option on Balmoral.
Frank.
Why are we surprised?
But it doesn't fit.
He doesn't have access
to the committee's findings.
And why take only
a thirty-day option?
I mean, why not a sixty-day
option or a ninety-days?
'Cause that's
all that was needed.
The decision was imminent...
-Until the Premier delayed it.
-So I could investigate.
And then I published
the details.
Details became
public knowledge,
then the speculators
started outbidding each other
to buy up the options.
And they used you
to make it public.
They used me.
That man you've been
protecting, what's his name?
Oh, Matt, I'm so sorry.
His name?
Rule, Arnold Rule.
[Victoria]
Matt, Kathleen,
this is a pleasant surprise.
Matt, I thought
you were still in Melbourne.
Oh, I came back
to see you, Frank.
I thought we should
have a little chat.
What have you done now,
Frank?
Why don't you and Kathleen
go make some tea?
No, I'm staying, Frank.
Got a few questions
to ask you.
And if I don't feel
like answering them?
Well, you suit yourself.
But when the police
come knocking on your door,
they won't take
no for an answer.
Come on, Matt,
this is ridiculous.
What am I being accused of?
I did some checking.
A certain Mr. Randall
came to Balmoral
offering to option
part of your land.
What of it?
I wasn't interested.
But you went
to see him in Melbourne.
Ah, so that's why
he went to Melbourne.
Sign the papers?
The deal fell through.
Or you decided
to hang onto your land
because you found out
that very soon,
it'll be much more valuable.
Guesswork.
You're grasping at straws.
I don't think
he's a gambling man,
do you, Matt?
-No, I doubt it.
-What are you talking about?
You talk now, you're assisting
a Parliamentary inquiry.
But if the man
behind this gets caught
and you've been holding
out on us,
well, you're in it
up to your neck.
Accomplices can
go to jail too, Frank.
You've both misjudge me,
you know.
-Really?
-You tell us, Frank.
I can't wait to hear.
I was trying to help
Kathleen, wasn't I?
Used my brains.
I managed to pin down
the fellow who's been
selling
government information.
You ought to thank me,
Matt. I've been doing
your job for you.
Oh, so you're not
a speculator, you're
an investigator.
I'm hurt
you thought otherwise.
The name, Frank.
The name.
[distant bell tolls]
[door closes]
[indistinct remarks]
-Higgins, gentlemen.
-What is the meaning of this?
I have a few things
to say to this committee.
You have no leave
to address this committee, sir.
You have stood down.
I'm not asking
for your permission, Higgins.
For a start, I have
a message from Mrs. O'Neil.
In the great tradition
of the free press,
she refuses
to name her sources.
Then she will pay the penalty.
And if we can prove that
you were the source of her--
If this committee is genuinely
interested in proof,
you'll hear me out.
I have a witness.
If you'll excuse me,
Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Rule!
You stay right there.
Usher, could you bring
in the witness, please?
Just for the record,
I'd like to introduce
Mr. Frank Blackwood,
a rancher
of considerable estate
and standing
in the high country.
His father was well known
to many of you.
Blackwood, what have you
got to do with all this?
If I see an injustice, sir,
I cannot remain idle.
When I heard
that Matt McGregor had been
accused of
betraying his trust,
I made a private investigation
of the circumstances.
In the course
of that investigation,
this man tried to buy
an option on my property,
the same piece
of land through which
the proposed rail line
will pass.
Police are waiting outside,
Mr. Rule.
Blackwood is a liar!
He's in it up to his neck!
That's enough from you!
Mr. Blackwood is a gentleman,
while you, sir,
it seems, are a thief.
[Michael]
Hot off the press,
read all about it.
Local hero receives
thanks of Parliament.
Never thought
I'd say this, Frank,
but I'm proud of you.
[laughs] Thank you.
Thanks of Parliament.
They might even
give you a medal.
-I wouldn't be surprised.
-[Victoria chuckles]
[Matt]
"Local hero."
You laid it on a bit
thick, didn't you?
Well, Frank'll have
to behave himself from now on.
He's got a reputation
to live up to.
Don't count on it.
Ah, Frank. Victoria.
[Kathleen]
Morning.
Come to buy a few extra copies,
have we, Frank?
Just some printing, thank you.
Read the front page, Matt?
Yes, several times.
Strange how things
turn out, isn't it?
Now they've made
the announcement
about the railway.
And it's running
through your land,
which you still own.
And if the railroad wants it,
they'll have to pay what I ask.
Yes, well, I'm sorry
to disappoint you, Frank,
but there's a law going
through Parliament right now.
Railroad land will be acquired
under compulsion at
existing market prices.
I won't speculate
on whose idea that was, Matt.
No. Come on, Frank.
Good day.
Well, not exactly justice,
but it'll have to do.
Poor Frank.
Now, as long as I'm an MP
and you're
an intrepid reporter,
we could run
into this conflict
of interest again.
We can discuss it
this evening
because I have it
on very good authority
that at some time
in the next five minutes,
you'll be inviting me
to dinner.
Oh, what makes
you think that?
And reveal my sources, Matt?
Never.
[theme music playing]
