From the outback of Australia...
comes a turbulent saga that spans the decades.
Fire. Fire on Drogheda.
Colleen McCullough's best-selling novel. ;
The Thorn Birds.
The story of an ambitious priest, a beautiful woman...
and a love that lasts a lifetime.
You can marry me. You love me.
But I love God more.
His ambition took him from the woman he loved...
to the corridors of power.
Her desire brought her to a man who could take his place.
You are beautiful.
Ralph's to be made a bishop.
I've got my own announcement to make.
I'm going to marry Luke O'Neill.
And tonight, the story continues...
I'll never have what I really want.
...with no home, no babies. No husband, for that matter.
And Meggie's fighting back the only way she can.
Meghann, what have you done to me?
What I wouldn't give if she were yours instead of Luke's.
Meghann's my wife, not yours.
God knows how much I've hurt you, but I do love you.
You haven't the least idea what real love is!
I'm not going to waste the rest of my life dreaming of a man I can never have.
Forgive me.
No more.
Christopher Plummer, Piper Laurie, Earl Holliman...
Ken Howard, Mare Winningham...
Philip Anglim, Jean Simmons...
Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward...
and Richard Chamberlain.
A love unattainable...
forbidden forever. ; The Thorn Birds.
I wonder what Ralph will think...
when I write that you've married a Protestant.
What difference does it make? I'm doing what he wanted, aren't I?
Mom...
I'd really rather you didn't write.
I'll send Father Ralph a letter about it as soon as we settle in Queensland.
All right, if you prefer.
The Minister's going. I'd best go down.
I'll miss you, Meggie.
If you don't stop, you'll have me crying as well...
- and how would that look? - I'm a silly old goose.
It's just that Queensland seems so far away.
It's not forever, and I'll be home to visit.
It's just that Luke can earn so much more cutting cane in Queensland.
I suppose that means you'll be able to buy your own sheep station that much sooner.
That's right. And just think...
I'll have a new home of my own to take care of.
And I'll have children one day.
I've just got to have something of my own...
something real that I can care about.
Meggie, darling.
And I need Luke.
He's not one of those complicated men...
who'll always be wanting something more than he wants me.
Luke loves me, Mrs. Smith.
Truly, he does.
£14,000?
Why, that's more than a lot of squatters are worth. I had no idea.
What, she didn't tell you?
Oh, Lord. That's Meggie.
No more idea than a child about such things.
Ralph gave us money when the Church inherited Drogheda.
Father de Bricassart. He oversees the estate for the Church.
I've transferred Meggie's money to the bank in Dungloe...
and put it in your name.
I want you to know how much I appreciate the way you Clearys have treated me.
I don't have much, but what I do have is Meghann's.
And you can be sure I'll never touch a penny of this except to buy us a station.
And I'll take good care of her. You have my word on that.
Come on, you two!
Goodbye, Pete.
- All the best, Meggie. - Thanks, Alastair.
Be happy, Meggie.
Come on, Meghann, we'll miss our train.
Your Eminence.
Eminence?
I think I'm not quite accustomed yet to being a cardinal, Ralph.
I'm almost rather startled when you call me that.
You will see what I mean...
when first you are addressed as My Lord Bishop de Bricassart.
But I trust you're ready for it.
I hope that I am...
and that I can be worthy of it.
My dear Ralph.
Often when I speak to you of your progress in the Church...
I do so in ways that sound worldly...
even cynical.
I do not fully understand you yet.
Perhaps I never shall.
But I have never doubted...
that your life is dedicated to God.
Nor do I doubt that in making you My Lord Bishop today...
the Church will bring you...
the greatest happiness you have ever known.
Luke, look.
It's like paradise.
It's Queensland, love.
- Luke, what on earth are they doing? - They're burning up the cane.
Drives out the rats and snakes, makes it easier for the fellows to get at.
Smells wonderful, doesn't it?
That's what you'll be doing?
- That's coolie labor. - Coolie labor?
Queensland cutters are the finest in the world, the elite.
I'll be a lucky lad if my old mate, Arne, will hire me.
He will, if he wants a good worker.
I can earn 10 times as much in that cane as I ever could at Drogheda.
And that means we'll be able to buy a place that much sooner.
So if I have to be a coolie now, then I will.
Because one day, Mrs. O'Neill, I intend to be the headpin...
out on the best sheep station in the whole of Western Queensland.
I'm sorry.
Forget it, love.
First time and all.
- Does it always hurt so much? - Never got any complaints before.
I'm just so tired.
- Three days on the train and then the bus. - I know.
And this wet heat makes it worse when you're not used to it.
Tell you what. You have a nice nap, and I'll go and see Arne.
Then we'll both look at Dungloe together.
Tell me about Arne Swenson. You haven't said a word.
Should've seen his face when I told him I was married.
- Couldn't believe I'd do it to him. - Does he have a job for you?
- Only £20 a week, starting tomorrow. - £20?
That's wonderful.
Tomorrow? We don't even have a house yet.
I suppose I could look for one by myself.
That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
See, Arne's gang works six days a week, up and down the coast.
They live in barracks, and I'll have to live with them.
What am I supposed to do?
- I don't want to stay here by myself. - Of course not, and I wouldn't want you to.
Besides what sort of sense would that be? Paying rent on a place for just one person.
I fixed up for you to stay with someone Arne knows.
The Muellers.
- Mrs. Mueller needs help round the house... - Luke.
You hired me out as a housemaid?
You make it sound like the end of the world.
You'll be on a big cane plantation. The Mueller's manage it.
And they're nice people. I looked them over very carefully.
I thought at least I'd make some kind of home for us.
It's not as if we were destitute. We've got my £14,000.
And that's to stay in the bank as our nest egg.
The rest we can earn together.
If we put our heads down and work hard, we'll have our own place in no time.
- I just want us to have the best. - I know.
But living in some stranger's house...
- never seeing you? - Of course, you'll see me.
We'll have every Sunday together. Make up for the rest of the week.
Come on, let's get back to the hotel.
We got some honeymooning to do.
Good life all right, cutting the sugar.
Best life there is for the man that's up to it.
And Luke, he's got the stuff to be a bloody good cutter...
if he's not interfered with.
Let's just hope Luke is bloody good enough...
to make lots of money...
- because that's what he wants out of it. - Yeah, that's what I used to say.
Look at this, Meghann. Didn't I say it was nice?
There's plenty of cane, if that's what you mean.
- Bye, Luke. - Come on, Luke.
- Come on, say goodbye to your... - Bye, love.
- See you Sunday. - She'll be waiting for you Sunday.
Come, let's go.
We are family now.
Good day!
Can you tell me where to find the manager?
Thank you.
Get those slobs off their behinds and on their feet or I'll find somebody who can.
There's plenty looking for your job.
Mr. Mueller? I'm Meggie Cleary.
- What? - O'Neill.
You're the new girl. Why aren't you up at the house then?
Bet you took the wrong road. Everybody does.
Come on, I'd best take you up.
A wife shouldn't be left alone so long. Hop in.
- How do you like our Himmelhoch? - It's lovely, Mr. Mueller.
- So green. - Not like home?
Your husband tells me you come from somewhere down in New South Wales.
- Damn. - Anne, you all right?
God, why do you try to do these things?
Yes, why do I?
That's enough of your nonsense now.
Just hand me my canes, Luddie.
Anne, this is the new girl.
Mrs. O'Neill.
Meggie, I hope you have a strong back and plenty of patience.
I better get back to the mill.
I'll just clear this away.
Make sure you get all the pieces.
Get a move on, fellows.
Not like that, mate.
Not unless you wanna be the only one-handed cutter.
Give it here.
I'm beginning to see why this job pays so good.
Cut it low and throw it out.
Low and throw it out.
It's easy when you know how.
But you'd best stay away from that bride of yours.
To make it in this game, a man's gotta give it all to the cane.
I can certainly see why they banned this one.
- That gamekeeper. - Anne, you and your spicy books.
I'll go and start tea. No point waiting for Luke any longer.
No doubt he'll be working.
Working.
- Like every Sunday. - There's a depression on.
You can hardly blame him for working when he has the chance.
Fine.
If you ask me, he's just like most of the men around here.
Marry some poor girl and go off and traipse all over with their mates.
If a bachelor's life is what they truly want, why marry at all?
At 11:00, there's a meeting on consular relations with the secretary.
I'd watch him, Your Grace, I hear he's opposed to your position.
Then the congregation for the Oriental churches...
to discuss the establishment of more regional seminaries.
An exciting trend, don't you think?
Because a native clergy would be more sensitive to their own people.
No doubt, but all these endless conferences...
policy, diplomacy.
Are you so very certain that you want to be a cardinal?
How else can I hope to be elected Pope?
The perfect answer, always. Deceiving with the truth.
Do you never have one unguarded moment?
I beg your pardon, I've offended Your Eminence.
And I wish you'd stop calling me by that exalted title of mine.
My name is Vittorio.
When Pius X became Pope...
he was given a wonderful bed.
Do you know what he said?
It's beautiful...
but I shall die in it.
So much for the rewards of ambition.
Five tons a day, O'Neill.
Not bad for a beginner.
- While you're cutting 12 a day. - So, that's it, is it?
You're looking to outstrip me.
Could be, Arne.
Let's see those hands.
Poor Lukie.
Of course, you could always try wearing gloves.
Gloves? You think I can't beat your tally?
I think you're full of blarney, same as you always were.
Old Luke and his big plans.
Like those rich cocky's daughters you were going to marry.
Yeah, well, I didn't do too bad. £14,000, more coming in.
You'll be a cocky yourself in no time.
I will.
Come on, let's go into town and look around.
- I thought you said no sheila. - There's no harm in letting them look.
Give them something to wish for.
I'm sorry, boys, that's all there is.
She'll either be wanting money or a wedding ring.
Bloody hell, she's having another kid.
I told you not to go home last time.
What in heaven have you got on your head?
Isn't it glorious? Luddie, we had the best time.
Meggie took me into Dungloe, Christmas shopping.
She did?
What next? There's a letter in there for you.
Thanks.
Bad girl, I could do that well.
I'm sorry.
Meggie, what is it?
Luke's not taking me home for Christmas after all.
He and Arne have found some extra work.
Doesn't that man do anything but work?
This dream of his to have the best place in Australia comes before everything.
We've been here almost a year and now he says...
it may be another year before we're ready, maybe two.
I suppose you have to respect him for having a goal...
and being willing to sacrifice for it.
Yes.
Except I'm the sacrifice.
Well, I've no one to blame but myself.
I've married Luke and I'll see it through.
Oh, rubbish!
You wouldn't understand, you're not a Catholic.
Another load of rubbish.
Will you stop clattering about...
and sit down and tell me what you really want?
I'll never have what I really want.
But when I married Luke I thought I'd have something of my own.
And here I am with no home...
no babies...
no money...
and no husband, for that matter.
I know it's not like having your own place...
but as far as children are concerned, Luddie and I would love it.
I could never have any.
Well, I have been thinking...
that if we were to have a baby...
maybe Luke would be willing to settle down and buy the station sooner.
- Or at least get us our own house. - Then do it!
It's not that easy.
What? You mean, because Luke is here so seldom.
No.
Well, yes.
It's just that...
the few times that we have been together...
Luke has seen to it that...
Good Lord, girl, out with it.
You have the face of an angel and the body of a goddess...
and you don't know how to make a man get you pregnant.
What you need is a good education.
Lady Chatterly's Lover.
And Henry Miller.
Definitely Henry Miller!
It's true that we do much that is good...
but often the sacrifices seem to outweigh the rewards.
But doesn't every priest, whatever he is in the Church...
wonder about the sacrifices he must make?
Always, if he is honest with himself.
When we're young it is the promise of chastity that is hardest to bear...
isn't it?
Never to be swept away...
on a tidal wave of passion.
And then knowing...
that there will be no wife...
no soft...
round comfort in the night.
And no child.
No one to come after you.
Not ever.
But lately I've been feeling another kind of isolation.
The simple human need...
to share my innermost self...
with someone...
like any other man.
We're not like other men, we're priests.
Our inmost selves must be shared only with God.
Another perfect answer.
You think I am testing you again, don't you?
Still probing for the sake of the Church.
Never fear, for all of my probing...
there is still in the very core of you...
something I have not found.
If you haven't found it, perhaps it isn't there.
How lovely.
Still the faintest fragrance.
I kept a rose for many years...
from my mother.
I want no memories of my mother.
This was the sacrifice.
It is very fragile.
We must be careful with it.
Look what I've got here.
Hi, love. Happy 1934.
Luke, what on earth...
Don't just stand there, get your dancing shoes on.
Are you off to a fancy dress ball?
No, it's a ceilidh. Out to Kanes'.
- But you're not a Scot. - What's the difference?
We're better dancers than those Scot blokes.
We ought to be. We're out there every Saturday night.
But tonight's special.
To make up for Christmas.
I wouldn't miss this chance for the world.
Come on, that's enough.
Eleven tons I cut yesterday, mate.
I told you if you match my 12 tons, I'll make you my partner.
I'll match you before the season's out.
- Two whiskies, thanks. - That's 12 tons and a new truck.
With the money you've married, you can afford it.
Too right.
And we'll get the best bloody truck.
Hello, sweetheart. Having a good time?
I think I'm about to.
Eleven tons, mate.
Let's see you cut 11 tomorrow.
Got to go, love. Work tomorrow.
Come on, Luke, I've got something to show you.
Don't worry, Arne, I won't keep your mate very long.
Meghann...
I can't stay.
I've got to start early...
you know that.
Why not start now?
Meghann, what have you done to me?
That was so wonderful.
We should always do it that way.
I shouldn't have done it like that this time.
You know we can't afford a baby now.
Just once isn't going to matter.
Or even twice, so long as you know what you're doing.
I read up on it.
You will never tell me, will you, Ralph?
Your Eminence?
Why you remain so... deeply troubled.
I've recommended that you take up my former post in Australia...
as Papal Legate.
You wish to have me sent away?
But why?
Have I not been doing well?
Well? You've had a brilliant career so far.
You've become an archbishop already.
And there is nothing...
to stop you from rising higher.
Nothing.
Except... the rose.
When your rose fell to the ground, I understood at last...
the sadness you always wear like a holy mantle.
I've tried so hard to get her out of my heart.
- You think I don't know that? - Then why?