Pallet On The Floor

Sam Jamieson, Basil Beaumont-Foster, Brendon O'Keefe, Spud McGhee and Shorty Larsen eke out an existence in the small town of Kurikino, working seasonally at the local freezing works.

The end of each day sees them gather in the local pub, the Brian Boru, where they are served solace from the blood and filth of the works.

The group rubs shoulders with the malevolent Voot brothers, Jack and Joe. Their father, Mason Voot, heads the family-run local transport business. Jack Voot will forever bear a grudge against Sam for winning the hand of the beautiful Sue Te Kiri.

The local shrew, Miriam Breen and her drunken husband, Stan, employee of the Voots, are also regulars at the Brian Boru. Miriam, like Jack, was thwarted when Sam won Sue. She once held Sam's affections and in spite of her marriage to Stan, has always fantasised about winning Sam again.

One night, Jack Voot, drunk, seizes the opportunity to visit Sue while Sam and his friends are settled in the Brian Boru. Jack tries to rape Sue. Sue fights tooth and nail and much of the cottage is wercked in the struggle. Sue escapes and meets with Sam's friends on their way home. Meanwhile, Sam is being persued by Miriam and is behind the others. He arrives on the scene. Jack Voot is caught and dies in the fracas. Miriam, unknown to the others, is witness.

Beaumont-Foster takes control and stages an accident - Jack Voot, in his truck, crashes on to the railway line in front of a train.

Sue suggests she and Sam - the Jamieson land for Miriam and he keeping the truth about Jack Voot to themselves. In a drunken stupor, Stan later tells Joe Voot the story. Joe is hell-bent on revenge and goes in search of Beaumont-Foster.

Beaumont-Foster is steps ahead of Joe Voot and another violent scene erupts when they face each other on the wharf. Spud and Shorty are there to support Beaumont-Foster. Joe Voot is drowned. Beaumont-Foster must devise a plan to save his friends.

He offers to drive the Jamiesons and the Breens to Harrowville to see the lawyer about the land transfer. They all meet at the Brian Boru. As they are about to leave in the car, the local policeman, Larkman, approaches. Beaumont-Foster is wanted for further questioning about the Voot deaths. Beaumont-Foster takes off. He drives straight to the pa. Sue is dropped off. Coming back down the gorge road, Beaumont-Foster orders Sam out of the car. A bewildered Sam then watches as the car careers down the road and hurtles over the edge to plummet into the river below. Beaumont-Foster and the Breens are killed.

A sad and resigned Sam goes back up the road to join Sue at the pa.