
Mystery Road
Gone
Season 1 Episode 1 | 52m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
When a truck is found abandoned in a cattle station, Detective Swan is called to investigate.
When a truck is found abandoned in an outback cattle station, Senior Sergeant Emma James calls in Detective Jay Swan to investigate what happened to Marley, the driver. CCTV footage shows that Marley was with Reese, a backpacker recently fired from the station, who is also missing.
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Mystery Road is presented by your local public television station.
Mystery Road
Gone
Season 1 Episode 1 | 52m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
When a truck is found abandoned in an outback cattle station, Senior Sergeant Emma James calls in Detective Jay Swan to investigate what happened to Marley, the driver. CCTV footage shows that Marley was with Reese, a backpacker recently fired from the station, who is also missing.
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Marley Thompson.
Works on the property.
They sent him out to do the bore run Saturday morning.
Check the tanks and the water pumps-- - Yeah, I know what a bore runner does.
- Right.
No-one even noticed he was missing until he didn't turn up for his mum's birthday dinner in town on Saturday night.
- You found the ute?
- [Officer] Nah, a couple of station hands.
Backpackers.
- They open the doors?
- Said it was just like that.
(insects buzzing) I had a bit of a look around.
(vehicle approaches) But the boss told me not to touch anything, so... I turned the engine over, checked the fuel, it's empty.
- So he walked for help?
- Oh, no.
He wouldn't have done that.
No, he's a local kid.
Aboriginal boy.
He knows to stay with the vehicle.
Besides, there's a two-way radio in there, so he'd just use that.
(engine rumbling) You're that bloke from down south, aren't you?
The one who did away with those bikies a while ago.
(car door shuts) (footsteps echoing) Senior Sergeant Emma James.
Hey, boss, this is the detective they sent us.
Jay Swan.
- Detective.
I was waiting for you at the station.
- I left a message.
I said I was coming straight here.
I didn't wanna waste any time.
- You wasted mine.
- Hey, boss, given him the long and short of everything so he's up to speed.
- Thank you, Senior Constable Muller.
We'll meet you back at Tony's.
(Muller sighs) (footsteps echoing) - [Jay] Tony?
- [Emma] Tony Ballantyne.
He owns this cattle station.
We based the search out of here.
(car door closes) (engine starts) (car drives away) - And you don't think he walked?
- [Emma] If he did, why not walk back to the nearest trough?
There's a webcam on every pump.
Could've signaled he needed help.
- [Jay] No sign of a fight.
- Doesn't mean he wasn't taken.
I mean, look.
There's tracks everywhere.
Anything could've happened out here.
We wouldn't know.
Kid just walked, right?
I don't believe that.
We've had every vehicle on this property searching for two days, nothing.
I called in a detective 'cause I think something's gone badly wrong here.
(Emma sighs) (knife clacks) (suspenseful music) (Jay groans) (chain clinks) - [Jay] I don't think he just walked.
(suspenseful music continues) (engine rumbles) (suspenseful music continues) (bird crows) (suspenseful music continues) (horse brays) (horse hooves clopping) (suspenseful music continues) (birds calling) (engine rumbles) (people speaking indistinctly) - Hi.
- Hey.
- This is Tony Ballantyne.
Detective Jay Swan.
- Detective.
- [Emma] So, this is the search area we've covered from the air and the ground.
20K radius from the ute.
That's the furthest Marley could've walked in the time.
- How big is this station?
- Quarter-million acres.
The two backpackers that found the ute, a bloke called Eric, a girl called Genevieve, are on their way right now.
- So, they found the ute on Sunday?
- [Tony] Yeah.
- 24 hours after you sent Marley out.
- It's a big operation, you know.
I can't know where everyone is every minute of the day.
(engine approaching) Slow on that!
Slow!
(engine idles) - I'm Detective Swan.
I wanna ask you a few questions about the abandoned ute.
- We just found it there.
We don't know anything else.
(key clacks) (engine stops) (horse brays) - Was there anything odd about the vehicle?
- Yeah, everything was odd, eh?
The doors open like that.
Both doors.
- Did you touch anything?
- No.
Nothing.
Because he wasn't there, so we drove around a bit.
No sign, so we left.
- Have you seen this before?
- Yeah, you have.
It's Marley's.
He wears it all the time.
One of the workers wanted to buy it off him.
He said he'd never sell it.
- Why is that?
What does it mean to him?
- Never said.
(suspenseful music) - [Linda] Linda to Tony.
It's good to go.
All sorted.
- Right.
Linda's got the footage up.
- Okay.
We're going up to the house.
(engine roaring) (suspenseful music continues) (birds crowing) (suspenseful music continues) - Right.
So, take a look at this.
This is Marley arriving at the first pump.
(suspenseful music fades) - See, he's supposed to be cleaning that pump out, not just checking it's working.
All these kids wanna do is party.
Bugger getting any work out of them.
Brits being the worst.
- [Linda] This is the next trough.
- [Tony] Here we go.
Oh, yeah.
More good work.
- Who's he talking to?
Can you go back, please?
And just pause.
(suspenseful music) - Someone's with him.
- There's no-one else missing.
- Would you know?
- Generally.
Yep.
Go to the next one, Linda.
- Mm-hm.
(suspenseful music continues) - Who the hell is that?
(suspenseful music continues) Bloody Reese Dale.
I thought he'd cleared out.
I sacked him last Thursday.
- What for?
- That sort of stuff.
Look.
Mucking around, not working.
- [Jay] Who is he?
- Oh, he's an Aussie kid.
Dubbo, I think.
He's Marley's roommate.
- I'll need his employment details and a copy of all these videos.
- Mm-hm.
There'll be hours of it.
- Where's their room?
(suspenseful music) - Hmm.
Teenage boys.
Hard to tell if it's a crime scene or just a poor attitude to washing.
(suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) You got kids?
- Nah.
(suspenseful music continues) (footsteps echoing) (man pants) (suspenseful music continues) (man continues panting) (man grunts softly) (bird crowing) (man continues panting) (bird continues crowing) (man continues panting) - Marley!
Marley!
(suspenseful music continues) (bird continues crowing) - I got Reese's details.
- Oh, thanks.
(people speaking indistinctly) (file thuds) (engine rumbling) (people speaking indistinctly) - Hey, you had a chance to think about that other thing?
- [Emma] Not now.
- It's a pretty good offer, Em.
- Yeah, that's not the problem.
(Tony sighs) - Genevieve.
You know when you found the ute, why didn't one of you just drive it back?
- Because it was out of fuel.
- Well, if you didn't touch anything, how do you know that?
- No-- - I wasn't talking to you.
Genevieve?
- The keys.
It was still turned on.
- Thank you.
(suspenseful music) (footsteps echoing) - What?
- So, your senior constable told me that when he found the ute, the ignition was turned of.
- Yep.
- But Genevieve just told me that when she found the ute the ignition was turned on.
- So the boys left the ute with the engine running and the aircon on.
- Which they've either done on purpose, or they were taken, fast, too fast to turn anything off.
So, you've wasted two days on a search because your offsider wouldn't keep his fingers out of the crime scene.
- Muller!
- Boss?
- Did you turn the ignition off in the ute?
- Uh... told you that, didn't I?
- No.
- My mistake.
- Pack up the search.
You and me will talk about this later.
(suspenseful music continues) (engines rumbling) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) - Watch your step, mate.
- Oh, yeah.
(car door shuts) - [Man] Senior Sergeant.
- [Emma] Who is it?
- It's good old Spud Jackson.
His wife said he didn't make it home from the pub.
- Mm.
Well, he won't be coming home now.
- Shame.
(Emma sighs) - [Emma] Okay, I'm heading back to the station.
(birds chirping) Thanks.
(car door shuts) - So, how's it going with the new boyfriend?
(Emma chuckles) - Man of few words.
- Right.
(car engine turns over) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) - [Emma] Hi, Kerry.
How you doing?
Okay?
- Mm-hm.
- No, it's just there's a detective who's come from... (Emma speaking inaudibly) (suspenseful music continues) Detective?
This is Detective Jay Swan.
This is Kerry Thompson.
- Hey, Kerry.
Beautiful chilies.
- Thank you.
- Why have you called off the search?
- What?
Have you?
(birds continue chirping) That's Marley's.
(pants) (suspenseful music) (car door shuts) (keys jangling) (footsteps echoing) - This is Detective Jay Swan.
Keith Groves, chair of the local Aboriginal Corporation.
- If there's anything you want, give me a call.
So, what's going on, Emma?
- It's looking like Marley left the vehicle with the engine still running.
- What does that mean?
- Kerry, he wasn't alone.
There was another boy with him, a backpacker, Reese Dale.
- Do you know him?
- No.
I don't think so.
- Yeah, he's that white kid.
Sorry, Mum.
Marley's been hanging out with him.
He should be playing footy.
What's he doing out at that station?
- I just wanna know where he is.
Don't... touch me.
You don't care about our family.
You never have.
(poignant music) (poignant music continues) (poignant music continues) - [Jay] He's good?
- Top 10 draft pick.
- So, why do you think he's working at that station?
- No idea.
- What do your parents think?
- Uncle Keith?
No, he's not our dad.
He's just always been around ever since... - Since what?
- Well, since Dad pissed off.
And our real uncle, well, he's in jail.
Been gone 10 years now.
- What did he do?
- Don't know.
- So, where do you think your brother is, Cedric?
- I don't know.
- You see, when someone in a family goes missing, usually someone in that family knows stuff everyone else doesn't.
They have a fair idea what happened.
- I don't know.
(children speaking indistinctly in the distance) - So, when was the last time you saw him?
- He was here... last week for dinner.
- You gonna help me find your brother, or what?
(footsteps approaching) - Friday night at the pub.
- What?
- What?
I ran into him at the pub, no big deal.
- What'd you talk about?
- I don't remember.
- Did you boys have a fight?
- Maybe a little one.
- Ced-- - What?
I told him to get together.
Be at your birthday.
- Was he with Reese?
- He's always with Reese.
Wherever Marley is, it's Reese's fault.
- [Jay] What's her brother in jail for?
- Persistent sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl.
When she threatened to tell, he bashed her and left her to die.
- You locked him up?
How much longer has he got to go?
- Gets out this week.
- Nephew goes missing the week he's due home.
- No, he's not coming home.
Prison transport's taking him into the city.
No-one wants him here.
Not even his family.
10 years inside, not one of them ever saw him.
- Are you sure about that?
- I'll find out.
- Mm.
- I'll show you the station.
- No, I'll see you later.
I'm gonna talk to Marley's mates.
- Oh, well, do you want me to-- - [Jay] No, I'll be right.
(car door shuts) (car engine turns over) (car engine rumbles) (pulsing music) - Is there a reward yet?
- Sure, Vince.
How much do you think they're worth?
(pulsing music continues) (car engine turns over) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) (gravel crunching) (suspenseful music continues) (dog barking) (suspenseful music continues) (hip-hop music playing in the distance) (engine rumbling) (car door opens) (car door closes) (hip-hop music continues playing in the distance) - [Jay] You Tipper?
- [Tipper] Yeah.
(hip-hop music continues playing in the distance) - [Jay] Cedric said you're a mate of his brother.
You got any dogs?
- Nah.
(dogs barking) - No dogs, huh?
(dogs growling) - They're not mine.
(dogs continue growling) - [Woman] Get out of it!
Piss off!
Get out of it, you mongrels!
(dogs barking in the distance) - [Jay] You know Marley's missing?
- Copper.
- Have you seen Marley lately?
- Nah.
(baby cries) He's too famous now.
(baby continues crying) (hip-hop music continues playing in the distance) (door closes) (footsteps echoing) (children chattering) - [Jay] How you going, boys?
- Good.
- Good.
- My name's Jay.
I'm a policeman.
- Oh.
Where'd you get that car from?
- I got that car from work.
- [Boy] Is that a real gun?
- [Jay] Yeah, it's a real gun.
- You gonna shoot us?
- No, I'm not gonna shoot you.
Can I ask you a couple of questions?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
Do you know who Marley is?
- Yeah.
- The best football player.
- He's the best football player, is he?
- [Both] Yeah.
- Does he have a girlfriend?
- [Both] Yeah.
- What's her name?
- Um, Jaz.
- Her name's Jaz?
- Yeah.
- [Jay] Oh, yeah?
Do you know where she hangs out?
(car engine roaring) (car engine idling) (handbrake clacks) (car engine stops) (car door opens) (people speaking indistinctly) (car door shuts) (birds chirping) (people speaking indistinctly) - How's Ava?
- Good.
She's in school now.
- Oh!
Time goes fast.
Listen, Shevorne, the backpackers out at Ballantyne Station, do they come in here often?
Do you know a Reese Dale?
- Aussie kid?
- Mm.
Know anything about him?
- Not really.
Why?
- [Emma] Looks like he's gone missing with Marley.
- I heard Marley was alone.
- So did we.
We also heard that Reese got fired on Thursday.
He shouldn't have been out there at all.
- Well, I wouldn't know anything about that.
- No.
(Emma taps fingers) Um, would you remember if Reese was in here Saturday night drinking up his wages?
Hear any talk?
What about Friday?
Marley got into a fight with his brother, apparently.
- I wasn't working Friday.
I have Ava on Friday.
- Ah.
Is there any reason you can think of that Reese and Marley would go missing together?
No.
Okay, thanks.
- Okay.
- See you later.
Bye.
- See ya.
(suspenseful music) (door clangs) (door shuts) (footsteps echoing) (people speaking indistinctly) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) (tattoo needle whirring) (muffled lively music playing) (door clatters) - You can't come behind the counter, mate.
(door thuds) I'm licensed.
She's not underage.
- I'm not after you.
(muffled lively music continues playing) (tattooist clears throat) Jaz, you Marley's girlfriend?
- I better be.
You think Marley will like it?
- What, Marley doesn't know?
- [Jaz] Thought I'd surprise him.
- He'll be stoked.
- When was the last time you saw Marley?
- Two weeks ago.
But we text all the time.
- So, you didn't see him on Friday night when he was down the pub?
He got into a fight with his brother, Cedric.
- You didn't tell me Marley was at the pub.
- I didn't know.
(muffled lively music continues playing) - [Jaz] Hey.
If you hear from him, let me know.
I am his girlfriend, after all.
- Yeah.
(muffled lively music continues playing) (door creaks) (door thuds) - [Jaz] Get some chips.
With sauce!
- [Jay] Hey, Lana.
- Jaz is still in there.
- I wanna talk to you.
Where do you think Marley is?
- I don't know.
- Seems to be spending a lot of time with Reese.
You think Marley's gay?
- No.
- Does Jaz?
- No, he can't be.
They have sex all the time.
- Not for some time, by the sound of it.
Come on, Lana.
What's really going on?
- She thinks there's another girl.
- Here?
In the city?
(footsteps echoing) (steady music) (car engine rumbling) (steady music continues) - Thanks.
(car engine roaring) (steady music continues) (steady music fades) - Please take me off hold.
Lucky it's just two missing kids.
Not putting out an alert for a rampaging bloody serial killer.
(footsteps echoing) Hey.
Oi!
This new bloke, what do you reckon?
Well, he's not Black Black, is he?
He's not like a real Aborigine.
- Hold on, hold on.
I'm not Indian Indian, right?
I don't even like curry.
- Just saying, how did he get to detective so fast?
(sighs) What, maybe he was fast-tracked 'cause he's darker than the rest of us.
- [David] Or smarter.
- He's not smarter.
- Mm-hm?
- Might be smarter than you.
- Oh, really?
- I imagine so.
- Mm-hm.
(woman clears throat) - [David] Oh, can we help you, ma'am?
- [Woman] I'm looking for my dad.
- Oh, yeah?
Who's your dad?
- Jay Swan.
He's a detective.
- Right, I'll leave you with Senior Constable Muller, then.
(footsteps receding) (footsteps echoing) (birds crowing) (bag thuds) (Jay sighs) (door shuts) - [Automated Voice] You have two new voicemails.
(person knocks on door) You have one saved voicemail.
(door latch clacks) - She says she's your daughter.
But since you said you didn't have any kids... I was gonna come over anyway.
There's something I need to show you at the station.
- Can you give me a minute?
- Sure.
- What are you doing here?
- [Crystal] I went to crash at yours, but you'd gone.
- How did you get here?
- Stole a car.
Just kidding.
I hitched.
- (sighs) Well, look, you can't stay here.
I'm working.
- Fine.
I'll hitch back.
- Just... Just wait.
Sit down.
Sit down.
Does your mother know that you're here?
- [Crystal] She won't care.
- [Jay] Well, look, I've gotta go.
Just call her, and I'll be back soon.
- Well, I don't have any credit.
(Jay sighs) - There's a service station on the corner.
Straight there and straight back, Crystal.
I don't want you going anywhere else, you hear?
(door closes) - No kids, huh?
(suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) I went through the webcam feeds from all the troughs Marley and Reese worked on, and I found this.
(suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) - Where was this?
- The last trough they were at.
There.
10K from the ute.
- Right.
(engine roaring) (angle grinder whirring) - [Emma] Chris.
- [Chris] Hey.
Find those boys yet?
- [Emma] Not yet.
Tony thought they might've come in on Saturday.
- I was off.
Luke would know.
- Okay.
Thanks.
(angle grinder whirring) Hey, Luke.
Working late?
- The boss drives me hard.
(Emma chuckles) - Listen, Luke, did those two boys from the station come in here on Saturday?
They were supposed to replace a pump part.
- Yep, came in right on opening.
7:00.
- [Emma] They buy anything else?
- Steel fittings, pipes.
Sort of stuff to make repairs.
- [Emma] How'd they seem?
- [Luke] Same as normal.
- Fighting with each other?
Arguing?
- Nah.
Nothing like that.
Well, you know Marley.
He's always kidding around.
- Mm.
They talk about anything?
Plans for the day?
Anything other than work?
- No.
- [Emma] Okay, thanks.
- You know, Reese used to work on a pearl farm up north.
Pearls, cattle.
Maybe he decided to move on to the next big thing.
- Which pearl farm?
- Don't think he ever said.
(steady music continues) (angle grinder whirring) - See you, Chris.
- Bye.
(steady music continues) (dog barks) (steady music continues) (steady music continues) (steady music continues) (microwave door shuts) (microwave beeps) (steady music continues) (Crystal sighs) (Crystal exhales) - Excuse me, madam.
(Crystal sighs) Excuse me!
(finger taps softly) - Sorry.
Didn't mean to scare you, but... - Can you please close the door?
- Right.
(fridge door shuts) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (country music plays in background) (pool ball clacks) (people speaking indistinctly) ♪ You missed by a whisker ♪ ♪ You wont find me ♪ ♪ Slipping through your fingers ♪ ♪ So easily ♪ - Hey, Crystal, you play?
- Yeah, sure.
- Great.
Let's do it, yeah?
(coin thunks) (pool ball clacks) ♪ Yeah, I got a car and a getaway plan ♪ - Crystal, drink?
- Uh, no.
♪ Catch me if you can ♪ - [Eric] Hello.
Two rounds of beer.
- Who's that one?
- No idea.
♪ Fever dream ♪ - [Crystal] Oh, I don't have any money.
- Hey, don't worry.
- I don't have any money.
- It's on me.
Prost.
(glasses clink) ♪ I'm the one you can't ignore ♪ ♪ The one that leaves you wanting more ♪ ♪ I got a head start and a getaway plan ♪ - [Shevorne] I can't reach either of them.
- I don't know.
(country music continues) (car door shuts) (footsteps echoing) (door opens) (door shuts) - Hey, bub?
(dog barking in the distance) No.
♪ Can ♪ (people speaking indistinctly) - Hey, put out your hand.
♪ If you can ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ (phone rings) ♪ Catch me if you can ♪ (pool ball clacks) - [Eric] Oh!
Nice shot!
All right.
We're on.
(country music continue) ♪ Catch me if you can ♪ (pool balls clack) - [Eric] Your shot.
(steady R'nB music) ♪ I put a spell on you ♪ ♪ Because you're mine ♪ - Ja!
Crystal!
Hey!
Hey-hey!
(speaks Dutch) (Genevieve laughs) ♪ Stop the things you do ♪ - [Eric] Okay, here we go.
(pool balls clack) Whoo!
♪ I ain't lying ♪ (people speaking indistinctly) ♪ I love you ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ (Jaz laughs) - Stay out of my way.
(pool stick clatters) (Jaz groans) (fist thuds) (Jaz grunts) (Jaz and Crystal grunt) - [Jaz] Bitch!
(fist thuds) (Crystal grunts) (fist thuds) (Jaz grunts) (Jaz grunts) (glass shatters) (patrons laugh and exclaim) (both grunt) - Hey!
Hey, stop it!
- Get off me.
- Break it up!
Get off her!
- (laughs) - What?
- Bitch!
- Hey, she's with me.
- Go sort it out.
- That's my daughter.
- Who its this guy?
- Yeah?
You can have her.
Knock it off.
(lively music) (door shuts) (lively music continues) - Crystal!
I can't leave you alone for two seconds.
- I didn't do anything.
I wasn't drinking.
- I can smell it on you.
- Okay, one, it's no big deal.
- I've got a job to do, and you're not even supposed to be here.
- You don't want me anywhere.
(Jay sighs) (footsteps echoing) It's your fault, anyway.
You didn't give me enough money, so Eric had to pay for my food.
- Eric?
- Yeah.
- The backpacker?
- I don't know where he's from.
(Jay sighs) Dad, just... (Jay sighs) (zipper unzips) (Jay sighs) (zipper unzips) (objects clattering) (bag thuds) (Jay sighs) (Jay breathing deeply) - I thought you'd stopped.
- I have.
- Well, it doesn't look like it.
(steady music) (Crystal sighs) (Jay sighs) (steady music continues) (car door opens) (car door shuts) (car door opens) ♪ Hunger, won't you let me sleep ♪ ♪ Pride is not enough to eat ♪ ♪ Weather told me get inside ♪ ♪ All my fears know where I hide ♪ ♪ Morning never let me sleep ♪ ♪ I don't want your summer breeze ♪ ♪ Concrete pillow, rocky floor ♪ ♪ Another casualty of war ♪ ♪ Vagrant, sinner, peasant, wise man ♪ ♪ Servant, holy, violent, he'll let you throw it ♪ ♪ Stone me, help me, shame me ♪ ♪ Unknown poets sang it and told it ♪ ♪ A prophet story ♪ (steady music continues) (aircon cover clanks) (steady music continues) - You're being charged under Section 10 of the Crimes Act, with possess and supply of a Class 1 prohibited substance, namely crystal methamphetamine.
Do you understand that?
- I didn't sell it.
- Doesn't matter.
Charge is the same, whether you receive money or not.
- I didn't do anything.
She's lying.
- He said, she said.
Come on, Emma.
It's less than two grams.
This is a waste of time.
It'll be thrown out in court.
- [Emma] For the record, Detective Jay Swan's entered the room.
(footsteps echoing) (hand thuds) - This is trafficable quantity of crystal meth.
It was found in your room, Eric.
- You can't conduct a search unless you've got-- - Oh, I've got a warrant.
It's all been done by the book.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
That's not mine.
- This is totally out of order.
Did you authorize this?
- If the detective got a search warrant, it means a magistrate authorized it.
We'll be opposing bail, and as a foreign national, your embassy will have to be-- - No, seriously.
That's not mine.
I found it, yesterday.
(Jay chuckles) - Where?
- In Reese's room.
(suspenseful music) Reese and Marley, they're the dealers.
(suspenseful music continues) (plastic crunching) (suspenseful music continues) - Well, I need to talk to my client.
And, uh, you take this all the way to court, I'll wanna question your witness.
- [Emma] Of course.
- Who is she, anyway?
- The details will be in the brief.
- She better be good on the stand.
- She will be.
(suspenseful music continues) - Who is that, anyway?
- My ex-husband.
That little stunt you pulled, I hope you actually had a warrant.
- Of course.
- Didn't see it fit to give me the heads up?
- Doesn't really matter, anyway.
We ended up with the same result.
- Really, yeah?
He gets to make up a story about Reese and Marley.
- Well, maybe it's not a story.
Maybe that's the reason why they're missing.
(footsteps echoing) (door latch clacks) - [Jay] I've called your mum.
She's on her way to pick you up.
You stay here until she does.
- There's two boys missing.
That's what you're here for, to find them?
One of them's Reese, right?
- Yes.
But we don't know much about him.
- Well, why don't you just ask his girlfriend?
- Who?
- Shevorne.
She works at the pub.
(door shuts) (horse racing commentary playing inaudibly on TV) - Reese has been gone for four days now, Shevorne.
Aren't you worried about him?
Is there anything you know?
You know Reese has been selling drugs?
- No way.
That's a lie.
- [Jay] I'm not interested in charging him, or you.
I just wanna find him.
Just wanna make sure he's okay.
- I don't know where Reese is, and I don't know why he's gone.
Ebony, can you help me restock that fridge out the back, please?
- [Ebony] Yeah, righto.
- I've already talked to Shevorne.
She wasn't working Friday night, so she doesn't know anything about the fight.
And she doesn't know Reese.
- Really?
That's funny, since she's his girlfriend.
(water flowing) - There's another thing.
Tony called.
He's missing a mob of cattle.
He reckons they went missing around about the same time as the boys.
- Stolen?
Well, where are they supposed to be?
- Well, that's where the ute is, right?
There's the nearest water trough.
Cattle won't go far from their water source, so they should be somewhere around this area.
One mob's still there.
The other one's completely disappeared.
- [Jay] How many are we talking?
- About 100.
- Has that been happening, cattle rustling?
- Especially now when the cattle prices are up.
Maybe the boys stumbled across something they shouldn't have.
So, if we track where the cattle went, what do you reckon?
- That's worth a shot.
- Can you ride a horse?
That hat's got to be good for something.
(suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) I reckon they head west.
What do you think?
(suspenseful music continues) (birds crowing) (suspenseful music continues) (birds chirping) (suspenseful music continues) (horse hooves clopping) (suspenseful music continues) We'll get a good view from up there.
(suspenseful music continues) Ah.
I reckon that's them.
(cows lowing) Down there.
(birds continue chirping) - So, not stolen.
- No.
There goes that theory.
Found, anyway.
- What's the name of that waterhole down there?
- Black Springs.
Beautiful, eh?
We used to swim in it when we were kids.
- "We"?
- Me and my brother... Tony.
- Tony Ballantyne, the station owner?
- Yep.
- The two boys go missing on your family property and you're investigating that?
- Listen, it was either me or no-one.
I mean, an Aboriginal kid and a backpacker, no-one's sending out a squad of their best and brightest.
No offense.
(birds continue chirping) The boss knows.
Doesn't worry him.
(birds continue chirping) (suspenseful music) - [Jay] What's that?
There's something down there on the side of the road.
(suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) (car door shuts) (suspenseful music continues) (car door shuts) (footsteps echoing) Looks like some sort of collision.
- Road trains go through here.
- Someone got cleaned up.
(suspenseful music continues) Bike mirror.
(suspenseful music continues) Quad bike, trail bike.
- Look at this.
(suspenseful music continues) (footsteps echoing) (suspenseful music continues) (truck approaches) (truck roars by) (suspenseful music) - We got a call back from Dubbo, finally.
- Yeah.
What, have they informed Reese's family?
- No.
There is no family.
There are four Dale families in Dubbo, and one even has a Reese, but he's not a backpacker and he's not missing.
- Then who's our missing white boy?
- I called Shevorne.
She said she's only ever known him as Reese.
- Muller, I want you to get this on the news tonight.
Get his face out there.
Someone must know who he is.
(suspenseful music continues) (suspenseful music continues) - [Reporter] In other news, two teenagers are missing from a cattle station in the remote North-West.
One is the star footballer Marley Thompson.
Thompson had only recently returned home from his city club for the end-of-season break.
The other is a traveling backpacker known as Reese Dale, but the police are yet to confirm his identity.
The boys were last seen in the town of Patterson around 7 AM last Saturday morning, before their vehicle was found abandoned on a local station the following day.
Police are treating the matter as suspicious.
(suspenseful music continues) (gate shuts in the distance) (suspenseful music grows) (suspenseful music fades) (dramatic music) (vocalist vocalizing) - We need to know Marley's blood type.
- No!
- You've got a lot of nerve turning up here, Larry.
After what you did to this town?
- They talk for 45 minutes, then a week later Marley disappears.
- Them white cops, do they tell you you're one of the good ones?
- Not really.
I tend to piss people off.
- The way you do your job gets people killed.
(dramatic music continues) (dramatic music continues) (dramatic music fades) (no audio) (no audio)
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