Shadow of the Boomerang

Because R. J. Prince, a very successful rancher in the western United States, is greatly disappointed that his irresponsible son Bob shows little interest in the family business, he decides to send the young man to Australia to manage a recently acquired cattle station. Kathy, Bob's sister, decides to accompany him. When they reach the station in the outback, Bob immediately alarms the resident stockmen, Ben Warden and Tim Stacey, by making it clear that he intends to reorganize the business side of the operation. The station's main house is very pleasant, but Bob is disturbed to find Johnny, an aboriginal stockboy, eating in the kitchen and later makes racist comments to the boy. When Kathy goes to the stockmen's quarters to apologize to Johnny for Bob's behavior, she finds him listening to a live radio broadcast by American evangelist Billy Graham, who is conducting a religious crusade in Australia. Bob further antagonizes Ben and Tim by initiating a seven-day work week on a roster basis. Ben points out that many of the aboriginal staff, as well as he and Tim, like to attend Sunday church services, led by visiting padres, at a nearby settlement established by the Australian Inland Mission. Ben adds that many of the half-caste and full blood aboriginals were trained by the mission and take their religion very seriously. Bob is unmoved and dismisses the complaint by saying that those not scheduled to work that Sunday can go to church. Afterward, when Ben and Tim drive Bob and Kathy around the station, they find that Johnny has caught one of the wild boars that prey on newly born calves. One day, Kathy and Bob receive a visit from Penny Hastings, a nurse with the Flying Doctor service who works at the nearby hospital, helping whites and blacks on an equal basis. Kathy is enjoying her visit to Australia and is particularly happy when Johnny brings her a present of a baby kangaroo, which has become separated from its parents. When Bob and Kathy accept Penny's invitation to dinner at the hospital, they meet flying physician Dr. Cornell. After Penny shows Bob around the children's ward, she explains to a skeptical Bob that several years earlier, in her native England, she had made a commitment to Jesus Christ and believes that God sent her to the outback. Meanwhile, Kathy expresses her admiration to Dr. Cornell, a Christian, for his and the staff's devotion to their work and says that she wishes she could do more to help people. The doctor then invites Bob and Kathy to attend a live radio relay in the local hall of Graham's crusade, adding that he knows that many of Bob's stockmen will want to attend. Back at the station, Bob becomes enraged when he finds Kathy and Johnny talking about religion and threatens to beat up Johnny. Kathy slaps Bob, castigates him for his attitude, arrogance and treatment of the people at the station, then tells him she plans to leave. The Sunday of the relay broadcast, Ben and Tim escort Kathy to the town hall, but Bob insists that Johnny miss the service and take him boar hunting. While the audience listens to Graham preach about the Last Supper, Bob is charged by a boar. When his rifle malfunctions, Johnny tries to save him and is badly gored. Bob carries Johnny to their vehicle and rushes him to the hospital, then summons Cornell and Penny from the meeting. Realizing that his behavior has resulted in Johnny's injury, a contrite Bob apologizes to Kathy and promises Johnny that he will go with him to another crusade meeting. Before going into surgery, Johnny asks Bob to attend the meeting in progress. Kathy and Bob return to the hall and listen to Graham's sermon on the Resurrection, but Bob is impatient and leaves to check on Johnny and beg his forgiveness. In the hospital, Bob becomes distraught when he discovers that Johnny has suddenly gone into shock and died. Bob cannot understand why Johnny remained concerned about Bob's well-being despite Bob's mistreatment of the boy. Bob rejoins the service and, when Graham invites people to come forward and make a commitment to Christ, Bob, with Kathy at his side, walks to the front of the hall.