A family's struggle with grief, imagination, and community prejudice in the Australian outback.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Opal Capital Arrival
The Williamson family relocates to Coober Pedy seeking fortune in opal mining. Kellyanne's imaginary friends become a focal point of family life and social friction.
Key Events
Family Relocation to Coober Pedy — The Williamson family moves to the opal capital seeking fortune. Characters: Kellyanne Williamson, Rex WilliamsonLocation: Coober Pedy
Kellyanne's Imaginary World — Kellyanne plays with invisible companions Pobby and Dingan. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Family Home
Schoolyard Teasing — Local children mock Kellyanne for her imaginary friends. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: School
Christmas Party Decision — Rex promises Kellyanne her friends can join him mining. Characters: Kellyanne Williamson, Rex WilliamsonLocation: Annie's Friend's House
The Disappearance and Confrontation
Kellyanne's friends vanish, prompting a desperate search that leads to a violent territorial clash with miner Sid. Rex's arrest disrupts the family's stability.
Key Events
Christmas Party Decision — Rex promises Kellyanne her friends can join him mining. Characters: Kellyanne Williamson, Rex WilliamsonLocation: Annie's Friend's House
The Disappearance — Kellyanne reports that Pobby and Dingan have vanished. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Family Home
The Search Begins — Rex and Kellyanne head to the mines to find her friends. Characters: Kellyanne Williamson, Rex WilliamsonLocation: Opal Mining Area
Territorial Confrontation — Sid threatens Rex with a shotgun over trespassing. Characters: Rex Williamson, SidLocation: Neighboring Claim
Police Involvement — Sid calls police, leading to Rex's arrest. Characters: Rex Williamson, SidLocation: Mining Site
Kellyanne's Illness — Grief-stricken Kellyanne falls physically ill. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Family Home
Illness, Search, and Legal Battle
Grief triggers Kellyanne's mysterious illness while Rex faces legal consequences. The family navigates financial strain and community judgment during the trial.
Key Events
Kellyanne's Illness — Grief-stricken Kellyanne falls physically ill. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Family Home
Family Struggles — Rex loses his claim and rumors strain family stability. Characters: Rex WilliamsonLocation: Supermarket
The Poster Campaign — Kellyanne puts up posters searching for her friends. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Town Streets
Discovery in the Tunnel — Ashmol finds wrappers and a valuable opal deeper in the mine. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Deep Mine Tunnel
The Legal Trial — Rex faces trespassing charges with legal representation. Characters: Rex Williamson, SidLocation: Courtroom
Rex Wins the Case — The court rules in Rex's favor, clearing his name. Characters: Rex WilliamsonLocation: Courtroom
Funeral, Loss, and Resolution
The town's attitude shifts as Kellyanne's condition worsens. A symbolic funeral precedes her passing, followed by Rex reclaiming his claim and finding closure.
Key Events
Rex Wins the Case — The court rules in Rex's favor, clearing his name. Characters: Rex WilliamsonLocation: Courtroom
Town's Changing Attitude — Residents realize their cruelty contributed to Kellyanne's decline. Characters: Kellyanne Williamson, Rex WilliamsonLocation: Town Square
The Memorial Service — Kellyanne throws lollipops into the graves of her friends. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Cemetery
Kellyanne's Passing — Kellyanne succumbs to her illness and is laid to rest. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Hospital
Claim Restored — Rex reclaims his mining territory for future trips. Characters: Rex WilliamsonLocation: Opal Mine
New Mining Partnership — Ashmol is permitted to join Rex on mining expeditions. Characters: Rex WilliamsonLocation: Opal Mine
The White Fade — The original cut ends with a fade to white after the funeral. Characters: Kellyanne WilliamsonLocation: Screen
Story Breakdown
Family Migration & Settlement — The Williamson family relocates to Coober Pedy seeking financial success through opal mining.
Relocation to Coober Pedy — The family settles in the opal capital despite early financial strain.
Mining Ambitions — Rex pursues opal mining while balancing family responsibilities.
Imaginary Companions & Social Struggle — Kellyanne's invisible friends become a source of both comfort and social friction.
Pobby and Dingan's Presence — Kellyanne interacts with her imaginary companions, facing peer teasing.
Parental Intervention — Rex and Anne attempt to separate Kellyanne from her imaginary world.
The Search & Territorial Conflict — A desperate search for lost friends triggers a violent clash over mining rights.
Vanishing Friends — Kellyanne reports her companions disappear after a family outing.
Mine Trespassing — Rex and Kellyanne enter a rival claim, triggering a violent confrontation.
Illness & Family Crisis — Grief and external pressures push the family toward a breaking point.
Grief-Induced Sickness — Kellyanne falls physically ill with no medical explanation found.
Financial & Social Fallout — Rumors and arrest disrupt family stability and employment opportunities.
Legal Battle & Community Shift — Rex fights for his reputation while the town confronts its own cruelty.
Courtroom Defense — Rex faces trespassing charges with legal representation and community scrutiny.
Town's Realization — Residents acknowledge their cruelty contributed to Kellyanne's decline.
Memorial & Final Resolution — The family finds closure through ritual, loss, and renewed purpose.
Symbolic Funeral — Kellyanne honors her friends with lollipops before her passing.
Restored Claim & Legacy — Rex reclaims his mine while Ashmol joins future expeditions.
Pobby & Dingan are invisible. They live in an opal town in Australia and are friends with Kellyanne, the 9 year-old daughter of an opal miner. The film tells the story of the bizarre and inexplicable disappearance of Pobby & Dingan, Kellyanne's imaginary friends, and the impact this has on her family and the whole town. The story is told through the eyes of Kellyanne's 11 years old brother Ashmol.
