- Charles E. Quayle: I presume, Mr. Strapp, that I would be opposing you.
- J.C. Strapp: Naturally, since I'm the police attorney.
- Charles E. Quayle: Then I think that I should inform you that my client, Mr. Pirie, is going to sue the state of New South Wales for not providing a proper education for his son.
- J.C. Strapp: What?
- Charles E. Quayle: Since he lives seven miles from town and has no means of getting him to school, an education should be provided for him at home.
- J.C. Strapp: The other bush boys ride to school.
- Charles E. Quayle: Mr. Pirie can't afford to buy a horse.
- J.C. Strapp: That's his problem. He came here as an assistant migrant, and if he can't make a go of it...
- Charles E. Quayle: He can't make a go of it because his land is salty and rocky and is quite unsuited for irrigation farming. If this comes to court, I shall expect some inquiries to be made as to who sold the land to the government and at what profit.
- J.C. Strapp: Now see here! I... I'll tell Sgt. Collins that further information has come to light.
- J.C. Strapp: And the summons will be dropped?
- Charles E. Quayle: Yes, yes, I suppose so.
- [first lines]
- Bluey Waters: Hey, you, Scott Pirie! Where do you think you're going with that pony? Scotty, come back here!
- Sgt. Collins: Pirie! Got a summons here. Keeping your boy away from school. And you, Scotty, keep away from Mr. Ellison's herd of ponies. That's an order.
- Angus Pirie: You've done what you came for. Now get off my land.
- Angus Pirie: The boy, he, uh, can't get to school.
- Charles E. Quayle: It says here that he's been absent for two months. How did he get to school before then?
- Angus Pirie: Our neighbor, John Dancey, he had a horse, and his boy and Scotty used to ride on it together.
- Charles E. Quayle: And the Danceys aren't there anymore, is that correct?
- Angus Pirie: No. The boy would have to walk seven miles each way.
- Charles E. Quayle: Mr. Ellison is chairman of the Board of Education, and he's offered to give you one of his wild ponies.
- Angus Pirie: He can keep his pony! I've never asked for charity, and I'm not gonna start now!
- Charles E. Quayle: You may as well see it.
- Jeannie Quayle: I don't like Scott Pirie. Mary Strapp has to sit next to him. She says he smells.
- Mrs. Quayle: Jeannie, he has all the farm chores to do before he comes to school in the morning.
- Jeannie Quayle: He could still have a bath.
- Mrs. Quayle: Could he? The Piries have no running water on their farm. Every drop they use has to be pumped up and heated on the stove.
- Kit Quayle: Anyway, I like Scotty.
- Jeannie Quayle: You would.
- Kit Quayle: Just because you go and visit Josie Ellison in her big rich house.
- Josie Ellison: He's too fat. He needs more exercise.
- James Ellison: Bluey will take him out.
- Josie Ellison: He needs a good gallop!
- James Ellison: Josie, I'm going into town. How would you like to come with me?
- Josie Ellison: No thanks, Dad.
- James Ellison: Oh, why don't you come? It'd be a change for you, and... I'd enjoy your company.
- Josie Ellison: All right. But I'm not going to get out of the car.
- Postmaster: Isn't that the little Ellison girl? Not often we see her in town.
- Jeannie Quayle: Hello, Josie, how are you?
- Josie Ellison: I'm very well, thank you, Jeannie.
- Postmaster: How long ago was that infantile paralysis?
- Charles E. Quayle: About two years. You know, she's a year younger than my daughter. You wouldn't think so, would you?
- Scotty Pirie: Mr. Quayle, I've got some manure here for you. Shall I put it at the end of the garden?
- [Scotty rides Taff through the Quayles's yard]
- Charles E. Quayle: What are you doing? Watch out for the tomato plants!
- Scotty Pirie: I should spread it out at night so it won't stick so much.
- Charles E. Quayle: Yes, uh, how much do I owe you?
- Scotty Pirie: Nothing, it's a present from my father.
- Charles E. Quayle: Watch out for the...
- [Scotty leaps over the fence on Taff]
- Mrs. Quayle: Well! That's one way to collect illegal fees.
- Charles E. Quayle: Angus Pirie always pays his debts the best way that he can.
- Mrs. Ellison: Josie, what are you doing with that pony?
- Josie Ellison: I'm coming out riding with you.
- James Ellison: Josie, you can't.
- Josie Ellison: Yes, I can. I often used to ride without stirrups.
- Mrs. Ellison: I know, darling, but now you must...
- Josie Ellison: It's only a matter of balance. I *know* I can do it.
- James Ellison: Bluey, take the pony back inside.
- Josie Ellison: No, Dad! Dad, I'm going to...
- James Ellison: Bluey.
- Jeannie Quayle: Hey, there's Scotty walking!
- Kit Quayle: Hey, Scotty, where's Taff?
- Scotty Pirie: Dunno. He broke out.
- Kit Quayle: Can't you find him? Hey, maybe some straggler picked him up.
- Jeannie Quayle: Or maybe he wandered off and can't find his way back.
- Scotty Pirie: Not Taff.
- Kit Quayle: Hey, maybe he fell in the river.
- Jeannie Quayle: Or seen Mr. Ellison's herd of ponies on the other side and wanted to get to them.
- Scotty Pirie: You don't know Taff! I tell you nothing would make him go near the water!
- Kit Quayle: He could've found a dry crossing.
- Scotty Pirie: I looked. There's not one near our place.
- Jeannie Quayle: Well, where is he, then?
- Scotty Pirie: He'll turn up. He always does.
- Mrs. Quayle: Why, Mrs. Pirie, do come in.
- Mrs. Pirie: Scotty is gone.
- Mrs. Quayle: Gone? You mean he disappeared? How long ago?
- Kit Quayle: He hasn't been in school since Tuesday.
- Mrs. Pirie: My husband has gone to the police.
- Mrs. Quayle: Well, come in and have a cup of tea.
- Mrs. Pirie: I thought maybe Kit could go and look for Scotty on the river.
- Mrs. Quayle: You mean on the Ellison property?
- Kit Quayle: Yeah, of course I'll go.
- Charles E. Quayle: Scotty's missing? There's, uh, no need for Kit to go. I shall... uh... ring Mr. Ellison.
- Charles E. Quayle: Mr. Ellison?
- James Ellison: Yes?
- Charles E. Quayle: Quayle here.
- James Ellison: Oh. Well, what can I do for you?
- Charles E. Quayle: We've got a missing boy, Scott Pirie. His mother thinks he might be somewhere on your property.
- James Ellison: Well, I haven't seen him myself, but I'll tell my stockman to keep an eye out for him.
- Charles E. Quayle: Thank you, I'm very much obliged. Goodbye. He's going to ask the stockman to keep an eye out for him.
- Mrs. Quayle: Oh, good.
- Mrs. Quayle: [to Mrs. Pirie] I hope that makes you feel better.
- Mrs. Ellison: James, if you're going into town, could you stop by the Quayles and ask if Jeannie Quayle could come to tea on Sunday?
- James Ellison: Yes, of course.
- Mrs. Ellison: Josie really hasn't enough to do. It's so difficult. There are so few children around here that she can associate with.
- James Ellison: Quayle's something of a troublemaker.
- Mrs. Ellison: But Jeannie's a nice little girl. Quite ladylike. Where is Josie? I thought she was here with you.
- James Ellison: She's doing her lessons, isn't she?
- Mrs. Ellison: No, she'd be finished by now.
- [Suddenly they hear Josie screaming]
- James Ellison: What do you think of it?
- Josie Ellison: It looks like your sulky.
- James Ellison: Yes, but it's not for racing.
- Bluey Waters: Now all you need is a pony. Would you like to choose one out of the paddock?
- Josie Ellison: No. I don't want one that's broken already.
- Bluey Waters: Josie, you'll have a job teaching an unbroke pony to pull this thing.
- Josie Ellison: I don't care. He'll be my pony, and I want to start from scratch. He won't do anything except for my command.
- Josie Ellison: Keep that one, Bluey, don't let him go!
- James Ellison: Good choice, Josie. He's the most intelligent and the most determined. Just what you want in a riding pony. But this pony's got to pull your cart. Why not one more docile?
- Josie Ellison: I want that one.
- James Ellison: He'll give you trouble.
- Josie Ellison: I don't care. I want him.
- Jeannie Quayle: Hey, there's that bush boy back.
- Charles E. Quayle: How long was he gone this time?
- Kit Quayle: Four days. I'll bet he had fun.
- Charles E. Quayle: Don't use that cheap expression. You don't bet anything. Kit?
- Kit Quayle: Yes, Dad?
- Charles E. Quayle: Running away can become a habit. I hope you won't forget that.
- Josie Ellison: Come here, Bo. Come here, you beauty.
- Bluey Waters: Why don't you give him a carrot?
- Josie Ellison: No, I'm not going to spoil him.
- Bluey Waters: He'll never let you near him without one.
- Josie Ellison: Yes, he will. Come on, Bo.
- Bluey Waters: He's afraid of the chair.
- James Ellison: Yes, I know.
- Bluey Waters: Would you like me to ride him a bit first, Josie?
- Josie Ellison: No, he's my pony, and I'll do it my way. Come on, Bo. I'm not going to hurt you, I'm just going to pet you a bit. Yes, you're all right.
- Josie Ellison: [after the pony bites her] That's mean!
- Bluey Waters: He's laughing at you. Go ahead and give him a good whack.
- Josie Ellison: It wasn't a bite. It wasn't. It was just... just a joke.
- Josie Ellison: He'll go in his own good time.
- James Ellison: [picking up his whip] No, Josie, that won't do. You can't let the pony decide.
- Josie Ellison: No, Dad!
- James Ellison: No, I'm right.
- Kit Quayle: What's his name?
- Scotty Pirie: Well, I don't know. He's a Welsh pony. Taff is a Welsh name. I reckon I'll call him Taff.
- Scotty Pirie: Taff's knocked the rail done and gone toward the river.
- Mrs. Pirie: Can you see him, then?
- Scotty Pirie: No. I'm going to look for him.
- Mrs. Pirie: Hold on, I'll give you a lunch to take to school.
- Scotty Pirie: I'm not going to school!
- Kit Quayle: Maybe someone stole him. Took him off to some town nearby and sold him.
- Scotty Pirie: Yeah, but then that means, Taff could be anywhere.
- Mrs. Ellison: You must promise me, darling, that you won't ride again.
- Josie Ellison: No!
- James Ellison: Josie, you must. You could've been killed.
- Josie Ellison: I won't be stuck in that house all the time, I won't! And I hate that wheelchair.
- James Ellison: Josie, we'll manage something. I promise we will.
- Bluey Waters: Look at her go!
- James Ellison: I just realized how light that buggy is with only Josie in it.
- Mrs. Ellison: But look what she's doing now! James, she's going to...
- James Ellison: I know, but she must learn for herself what she can and what she can't do.
- Mrs. Ellison: Not Josie. What she can't do, she'll simply try to do.
- Scotty Pirie: There's Taff!
- Kit Quayle: Where?
- Scotty Pirie: There, that's him!
- [Scotty starts unhitching the pony from Josie's buggy]
- Josie Ellison: Leave him alone! Take your hands off him!
- Kit Quayle: Scotty, that's Bo. That's her pony. That's not Taff.
- Scotty Pirie: It's Taff!
- Josie Ellison: Go on, Bo, go on!
- Scotty Pirie: Stay where you are, Taff, stay!
- Josie Ellison: Dad! Dad, stop him! Stop him!
- James Ellison: What do you think you're doing? Stop that!
- Scotty Pirie: He's Taff! He's my pony!
- Sgt. Collins: Good morning, Mrs. Pirie. You know Mr. Ellison.
- James Ellison: Good morning.
- Mrs. Pirie: Would you like a cup of tea?
- James Ellison: No, thank you, Mrs. Pirie.
- Sgt. Collins: Where's Scotty? He's not at school?
- Angus Pirie: What do you want?
- Sgt. Collins: We've come for the pony, Angus.
- Mrs. Pirie: Scotty's pony?
- James Ellison: My daughter's pony, Mrs. Pirie. Your son tried to take him at the town fair.
- Angus Pirie: The pony's not here, so get off my land!
- Sgt. Collins: We'll go when we're good and ready. Do you want me to search the place, Mr. Ellison?
- James Ellison: I don't see the point. The pony could be anywhere.
- Sgt. Collins: [pointing to Angus] He knows where it is.
- James Ellison: Do you?
- [Angus walks away]
- Sgt. Collins: Don't be a fool, Angus. If I find you're hiding that pony, I'll lock you up, and your boy, too.
- Angus Pirie: You just leave my boy alone and get off my land!
- Sgt. Collins: Angus...
- Angus Pirie: Get off my land!
- Josie Ellison: He's good, Dad. He's ready, Bluey, I know he is!
- James Ellison: What do you think, Bluey?
- Bluey Waters: I reckon so.
- Miss Hildebrand: Scott Pirie, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! Where have you been? What do you think will happen to you if you keep staying away from school like this?
- [Scotty doesn't answer]
- Miss Hildebrand: Don't you want to make something of your life? Scotty?
- [Scotty just stares at her]
- Miss Hildebrand: Well, go and sit down.
- Mrs. Ellison: I haven't seen her so happy since - since it happened.
- Josie Ellison: Isn't he wonderful?
- James Ellison: Josie, I'm going to enter you for best pony turnout at the town carnival. You think you'll win?
- Josie Ellison: Bo can win anything.
- Jeannie Quayle: Well, I think it's wicked and cruel of Scott Pirie trying to take Josie's pony.
- Kit Quayle: It isn't her pony. It's Scotty's.
- Charles E. Quayle: How do you know it is?
- Kit Quayle: I just know.
- Charles E. Quayle: Well, what if Josie Ellison just knows that it's hers?
- Mrs. Quayle: But supposing it really is Scott Pirie's pony? What happens then?
- Charles E. Quayle: Only a court of law can decide that.
- Jeannie Quayle: If it did go to court, Father, who do you think would win?
- Charles E. Quayle: Well, I'm not prepared to act as judge.
- Jeannie Quayle: Come on, Father, which do you think?
- Charles E. Quayle: In this case, possession is nine-tenths of the law.
- Kit Quayle: How do you know it's Taff?
- Scotty Pirie: How do I know? I know who you are, don't I?
- Kit Quayle: Well, Bluey said he caught him in a wild herd. I suppose he could've seen a herd and swam across the river.
- Scotty Pirie: He'd never do that.
- Kit Quayle: Well, maybe he wandered right along the river and found a dry crossing, one that you just didn't know about.
- Scotty Pirie: Anyway, it's Taff. That's all I know.
- Kit Quayle: They'll never let him go.
- Scotty Pirie: What did your father say?
- Kit Quayle: He said that in a case like this, possession is nine-tenths of the law.
- Scotty Pirie: What does that mean?
- Kit Quayle: It means Josie Ellison's got the pony and you haven't.
- Jeannie Quayle: Hey, Scotty, did you get Taff back?
- Kit Quayle: Well, did you get the pony back or not?
- Scotty Pirie: Mind your own business.
- Kit Quayle: I'll bet he has.
- Jeannie Quayle: Well, if he has, he ought to be ashamed of himself.
- Kit Quayle: Hey, how'd he get Taff back across the river?
- Jeannie Quayle: If that pony crossed the river, it must be Bo.
- Charles E. Quayle: Mr. Crisp says he'd know that pony anywhere.
- James Ellison: Are you suggesting that I...
- Charles E. Quayle: I'm not suggesting anything. It's a guarantee for both of us.
- James Ellison: Do you have any objection to my approaching the pony now, Mr. Quayle?
- Charles E. Quayle: None whatever. Scotty, let him go.
- [Mr. Ellison approaches the pony, but it backs away]
- Josie Ellison: Don't crowd up to his face like that. He doesn't like it.
- Scotty Pirie: No, no! They're taking him away!
- Charles E. Quayle: Scotty, stop it!
- Scotty Pirie: Let me go!
- James Ellison: Can't you control that boy?
- Charles E. Quayle: Scotty...
- James Ellison: I simply want to take the pony to my daughter, or do you object to that?
- Charles E. Quayle: No, go right ahead. Kit, will you tell him it's all right?
- Kit Quayle: Scotty, honestly, they won't take him away.
- Scotty Pirie: How do you know they won't?
- Kit Quayle: Because my father won't let them.
- Kit Quayle: You can't take him. The gate's locked.
- Scotty Pirie: Yeah, but look who's got the key.
- Kit Quayle: Well, Mr. Ellison can't take him, either.
- Scotty Pirie: He's rich. He can do what he likes.
- Kit Quayle: No, he can't. Scotty, he made an agreement, and he wouldn't break it. Anyway, my father won't let him.
- Scotty Pirie: Do I have to go to court?
- Kit Quayle: Yes, I suppose so. Mr. Ellison is suing you for the return of the pony. But it's a civil case.
- Scotty Pirie: What does that mean?
- Kit Quayle: It means you're not on trial. You're on equal terms with the Ellisons.
- Scotty Pirie: What is *she* doing here?
- Kit Quayle: She's allowed to see the pony as long as she doesn't take it away.
- Josie Ellison: Tell him not to pull his mane.
- James Ellison: Why do you pull on him like that?
- Scotty Pirie: You tell her it doesn't hurt him. If you let him go, he plays tricks on you and knocks the feed bin over.
- Charles E. Quayle: Who caught the Pirie pony?
- Bluey Waters: I did.
- Charles E. Quayle: Is there any possibility that the pony in the police pound could be Scott Pirie's?
- Bluey Waters: No, I know it isn't.
- Charles E. Quayle: When you caught the pony, did you measure it, or take any notes of its coloration, or any distinguishing marks in its tail or mane?
- Bluey Waters: No, those Welsh ponies all look alike.
- J.C. Strapp: I call Josie Ellison to the stand.
- Miss Hildebrand: Would you like to sit on the chair down there?
- Josie Ellison: No, I'd rather sit there, thank you.
- J.C. Strapp: Do you believe that the pony in the police pound is your pony Bo?
- Josie Ellison: Yes, I do.
- J.C. Strapp: How do you know?
- Josie Ellison: Well, I know my mother is my mother and my father is my father, and I know Bo is Bo.
- Jeannie Quayle: Kit, what happened? How it's going?
- Kit Quayle: I don't know. Father, well, he seems to be...
- Jeannie Quayle: What?
- Kit Quayle: He seems to be trying to prove that no one can tell whose pony it is.
- Jeannie Quayle: What will happen?
- Kit Quayle: They'll give the pony to Josie.
- Jeannie Quayle: Well, it is her pony.
- Kit Quayle: Is it?
- J.C. Strapp: I call Josie Ellison to the stand.
- Judge: Would you like to sit on the chair down there?
- Josie Ellison: No, I'd rather sit there, thank you.
- Charles E. Quayle: Scotty, you've got to bring the pony in.
- Scotty Pirie: No, I won't!
- Charles E. Quayle: Scotty...
- Scotty Pirie: If I do, they'll take him!
- Charles E. Quayle: You can't hide him forever. Scotty, you've got to learn to rely on the law and not defy it. If you bring the pony in, he'll be safe in the police pound, and we shall make a fair decision as to whose pony it is.
- Scotty Pirie: He's mine!
- Charles E. Quayle: Then I think you better bring him in and prove it. Trust me, Scotty. One day, you're going to have to trust somebody.
- James Ellison: You're giving him too much feed. He's not getting any exercise. Give him one portion of oats and one of chaff.
- Scotty Pirie: He doesn't like oats. He won't eat them.
- James Ellison: Nonsense.
- Josie Ellison: But he doesn't.
- Scotty Pirie: I don't want another pony. I want Taff.
- Charles E. Quayle: Why? Why do you want Taff?
- Scotty Pirie: Because he's my pony, that's why!