PETER: That wild rose we saw this morning. It grows around everything and once it’s entangled all living things, it grows back on itself to form a wall. A bit like my mother. [He sits down and takes a stone from his pocket.] I found this: it was glinting in the moonlight. [Taking a closer look at it under the lantern] I’ll have a better look at it in the morning. Once you conquered this region I’m sure you’d find huge mineral deposits.

FRANCIS: I’d be happy if we could conquer this map. We should go back the way we came, otherwise we’ll get well and truly lost. Not that we’re not anyway.

PETER: [unconcerned] We’ll be fine. Do you know that this part of Tasmania is one of the most unexplored regions on earth, like the Amazon or the highlands of New Guinea? [Standing] It’s like another world, isn’t it?

FRANCIS: [looking up at the night sky] Can’t even see the stars.

PETER: An underworld. [Jumping up and down] See how the ground springs?

FRANCIS: Soggy.

PETER: You know we’re about ten foot off the ground?

FRANCIS laughs.

True. We’re on the burial ground of nature. Rotten vegetable residue of centuries, ancient and petrified trees. So here we are, suspended ten foot above the true floor.

FRANCIS: That’s what I love about nature; it’s so treacherous.

PETER: You look at nature and your eyes glaze over.

FRANCIS: I always feel that I’m looking at a postcard. [Smiling] My mother says that nature is God’s Bible.

PETER: You know, you’ve never introduced me to her.

FRANCIS: Things that humans make: cars, gasworks, factories: now that’s something. The conquering of chaos.

PETER: You’re serious?

FRANCIS: A painter does a painting and people think it’s a miracle. It is more wonderful to see a blueprint of a building or bridge and watch it transformed into reality. The Sydney Harbour Bridge has not only conquered nature but is also beautiful. It is imagination made concrete. Mind has become matter.

PETER laughs.

What are you laughing at?

PETER: [slightly bewildered] Nothing.

FRANCIS: Take your father; he’s an artist, he heals the sick. That’s more important than painting. He saves lives.

FRANCIS notices something.

PETER: In a way.

FRANCIS: Did you see that?

PETER: Probably some animal.

PETER goes through his knapsack.

FRANCIS: I heard something over there before.

PETER: Sorry to put you through the ordeal of meeting my parents.

FRANCIS: It was interesting.

PETER laughs.

PETER: They have developed certain eccentricities.

FRANCIS: I heard you arguing with your dad before we left.