"What are you going to do about your call-up?" "Dunno." "Not going in the army, that's for sure." "Don't want to get locked up either." "Not many options now I'm on deferment." "Medical?" "Maybe." "It's not for a while yet." "Be a bit of an anticlimax, finishing uni." "It's given me a sense of direction for so long." "Ever since I met you." "You with anyone?" "Oh, not really." "Are you?" "Nothing serious." "I'm in the market." "Yeah, well, I'm pretty happy with life the way it is at the moment." "Am I too short?" "Is that it?" "Serge!" "What ever happened to free love?" "Your kids are going to read about it in the history books and say, "What did you do in the sexual revolution, Mummy?"" "And you're going to say, "Oh, I wasn't interested in any of that."" "You've got to play your part in history, I reckon." "Yeah, don't think for yourself, just follow the sheep." "Maybe sheep have more fun." "Don't try wearing your sheep's clothing with me, Serge." "I know you." "If I was a wolf, I'd starve to death around here, that's for sure." "You wanted to see me?" "Come on." "I've got to give you a briefing." "We are here to try and dismantle the infrastructure of the Vietcong in this area." "Our tasks are - the main ones - one, intelligence gathering, and two, the elimination of key VC personnel." "Killing them." "We're the good guys in this war." "We kill, but we don't wipe out a whole village to get one man." "We're selective." "Life here has its compensations." "They expect absolute brilliance from you in your work." "Any breach of security, anything stupid that endangers the others, and you're out." "You're coming on a mission with me tonight." "Soft mission - no killing." "But it will show you the ropes." "This is a bastard of a shot." "We've got to nab a noggy from a new VC unit that's begun operating east of here." "We need to know all about this unit - where it's based, how many in it, the works." "He's going home tonight." "For his mum's birthday." "We'll grab him when he comes out, bring him back for a chat." "Very good!" "I see him now." "He's talking outside the house." "He looks as though he's set to leave." "As long as he walks in the right direction, we're laughing." ""Strangers in the night"" ""Exchanging glances"" ""Wondering in the night"" ""What were the chances"" ""That we'd be sharing love"" ""Before the night was through"" ""Something in your smile"" ""Was sim..."" "Our man has a friend." "Looks as though they're leaving together." "Two's company." "There's three of them now." "They're coming." "Is that the lot?" "Correct weight." "We'll take all three." "Alive." "If anything goes wrong, Goddard, you'll back us up." "Roger." "Same old routine." "What about his commanding officer?" "Arggh!" ""It turned out so right"" ""For strangers"" ""In the night."" "Your mum said she'd come?" "Yep." "And Serge." "The boyfriend?" "He's not the boyfriend." "He's a friend." "So how many's that?" "Uh, 8." "Uh, 10, including us." "I thought I'd keep it pretty simple." "Slab of beef, potatoes, salad, bits and pieces." "I'll do the shopping tomorrow." "You could always do that mushroom and eggplant thing." "That's nice." "Which?" "You know, the one in your vegie cookbook." "Your memory's going." "Getting old." "I'll look it up." "Nup." "I'll get it." "It's on the desk, I think." "Mm-hm." "There you go." "Ta." "Miles, do you find me attractive?" "That's a funny question." "Oh." "Well, I'm a bit skinny, don't you think?" "Nonsense." "You're elegant." "Look at all the models these days." "Hmm." "Look, don't be silly." "You are so full of life." "You're sweet, you're pretty, you're intelligent..." "Surely there are hundreds of blokes who'd kill to get close to you." "Sexy?" "Uh... well, I..." "Well, now I think about it, uh..." "Uh..." "I'm sure you'd have a certain..." "Uh... for a lot of people - young men - believe me..." "I've marked the place." "Right." "I mean, if you were 10 years older, and I was, um..." "Right." "Sorry." "Don't be." "OK." "That's ridiculous." "That means work only becomes art when someone pays money for it." "That's not what I said at all." "Not in so many words, but that was the implication." "And what exactly do they examine at a... national service medical?" "I don't know." "I guess I'll find out tomorrow." "Oh, tomorrow?" "It'd be completely different if it was the politicians who were being shot at." "Quite a few of them have been, in the last war, Gorton among them." "I think he's well-intentioned, just naive." "He's as cynical as the policy that took us in there." "The only thing Gorton's naive about is the growing opposition to the war." "Your husband worked for Gorton, didn't he, Evelyn?" "Yes." "What sort of bloke is he?" "Gorton." "I don't know, really." "Like most politicians, he's very pleasant." "You know, they talk a lot but they don't say much." "Mmm." "If they stuck to talking, it wouldn't be a problem." "It's their actions that cause all the trouble." "Gorton's quite prepared to let the Americans use our troops as part of a global power play." "Fair's fair, mate." "We wanted the Americans in Vietnam." "Yeah, terrified of the yellow peril." "That's a joke." "Vietnam's a third-world country with a simple peasant culture." "Oh, come off it." "They're not all peasants." "Saigon is a sophisticated place." "You've been there, have you?" "Well, no." "But Mum has." "She was there in '65." "Only for a couple of weeks." "Oh, really?" "And how was it then?" "Pretty... corrupt." "In what way?" "People were saying that, uh Ky's political campaign was funded by the drug trade." "Really?" "Is that common knowledge?" "I don't know." "One of our intelligence people told us about it." "They say never trust a spy." "Oh, they were genuinely worried." "The South Vietnamese Army was falling apart at that time." "And... that was the dilemma facing the Americans." "I mean, they could either stand by and watch the South Vietnamese be defeated or they could go in, boots and all." "I don't think they ever anticipated the stakes would get this high." "You see, the Vietnamese have a different concept of time." "What was it that Ho Chi Minh said?" "Um..." ""A 20-year war is nothing more than the blink of an eye."" "Well, of course," "I think those busloads of tourists that go and see 'Hair', it's purely because of the nudity." "Well, it's certainly a remarkable step forward from Rogers  Hammerstein." "Have you seen it, Evelyn?" "No." "No, I haven't." "Well, you really must make the effort." "You could always chuck a sickie." "It's the night before your medical." "No, I need to go to work tonight." "I reckon he's a bit of a poonce, Miles is." "Oh, he's alright." "What do you mean?" "I don't know-farting around like he owns the world." "It was his party!" "He acts like he owns you too." "Nobody owns me." "You act like he owns you." "Serge, just because two people sleep together, doesn't mean anyone owns anyone." "What?" "What do you mean, "What?"" "You're joking." "You and Miles?" "Come on, Serge." "I've slept with you." "I've slept with a few people." "Yeah, but Miles?" "He's a bloody geriatric!" "You're putting me on." "Stop making such a fuss." "You've slept around a bit and I never quiz you." "You don't own me either, you know." "I've never slept with anyone old enough to be my bloody mother." "It's disgusting." "Did he have any trouble, did he?" "Any trouble keeping pace?" "I suppose it makes him feel younger, right?" "Shh!" "Stop it!" "I won't stop it!" "Here I am, the young blood going off to face my judgment, on the knife edge of life and death, and you're off screwing the nearest pensioner!" "Serge, be quiet." "You're twisting it." "He's a nice guy." "It just happened, that's all." "I still love you." "Oh." "And that's supposed to make everything alright, is it?" "You stick to your bloody nursing home." "I'll send you a postcard from Vietnam." "See you later." "Serge!" "Hmm?" "Hmm?" "It's alright, mate." "What do you want?" "They've just sent me in to get a specimen, if you'd... be so kind." "Well, how are you feeling?" "Alright, I suppose." "I'm surprised." "How do you mean?" "If that was your urine sample, son," "I'd give you about 48 hours to live." "It is an offence to wilfully deceive a medical officer during an examination, punishable by up to four years imprisonment." "But I'm going to give you a choice." "Either the full weight of the law" "Or you produce another specimen." "Now." "Right here." "Taking care to avoid spillages." "Is Douglas in?" "He's busy, I'm afraid." "Not for me, I don't think." "Is anyone with him?" "No, but the door's strictly barred." "What's your name?" "Monica Montgomery." "I just want to surprise him." "Please call him." "I'll just poke my head in and go." "I promise." "Cooee!" "Monica!" "Oh, don't get up!" "Just a quick hello and goodbye." "You're not getting off that easily." "Get in here." "Supercilious piece of skirt!" "When did you get back?" "Left Saigon Tuesday, moved back into the flat Wednesday, set aside today for the depression that always hits me when I hit Canberra." "Can't sleep without the gunfire?" "It was exciting." "I miss my friends." "Listen, instead of the bar, would you like to go home for a drink?" "Do you think that's wise?" "Um..." "Evelyn's left me." "So I heard." "Even so, this isn't Saigon." "No." "But we could pretend." "I've never had the time to put all the material on the war together before, not so thoroughly." "I mean, military, political, the antiwar movement." "It's very exciting." "And very scary." "Oh, I'll have it straight." "There's no tonic." "It's like a jigsaw." "Every new piece seems to confirm the picture." "Unless we can engineer a radical about-face on Vietnam, Gorton's gone." "The Government's had it." "Well, what direction do you suggest we face?" "I hardly dare say it." "I think we've got to get out, with or without America." "Cheers." "You're certainly getting reckless in your old age!" "The golden-haired boy is in for a crew cut if you start spouting that sort of talk." "That's what I haven't worked out." "How can I..." "How can I blaspheme without being crucified?" "Mmm." "And what if I'm wrong?" "Oh, I don't think you're wrong." "But I don't think the executioner's going to care much either way." "Doug, I'd like to stay but not for the night." "Not here." "I'd say he was gonna be a bit late home for tea." "Stick that on him." "What is it?" "Oh, just a calling card." ""What goes up"" ""Must come down"" ""Spinning wheel"" ""Got to go round"" ""Talking about your troubles, it's a crying sin"" ""Ride a painted pony Let the spinning wheel spin"" ""You've got no money You've got no home"" ""Spinning wheel all alone"" ""Talking about your troubles and you never learn..."" "You're not at the party." "You're lonely, so I bring fun to you." "Just a joke!" "Just a joke!" "Just a joke!" "Ah!" "No!" "Stop!" "I will be good!" "I will be good!" "Stop!" "Let me be good!" "Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Australia today in the largest demonstrations the country has seen in almost 20 years." "There was little conflict and police made few arrests as demonstrators marched through the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane and staged massive rallies, calling for an end to conscription and the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam." " In Sydney..." " Oh!" "That's great!" "There's Graham!" "There I am!" "There you are, Ros." "Where am I?" "Am I there?" "No, no, no." "There are zillions of us!" "Ah, Serge!" "Quick, you've almost missed it." "Come on!" "In Canberra, the Minister for Labour and National Service, Mr Snedden, caused a storm when he described the moratorium organisers as "political bikies pack-raping democracy"." "Oh, can you believe it?" "Thanks, Billy." "There's tomorrow's cartoon." "Hey!" "...the demonstrations were peaceful, but declared that the Government would never formulate policy as a result of street marches." "And in other news..." "Oh, we've won!" "We've won!" "Whoo!" "I looked for you today, but there were too many people." "I missed it." "I've been lining up places to go." "Oh, it's tomorrow, isn't it?" "Hey, everyone!" "Serge has to report to the army tomorrow." "Oh, no." "What are you going to do?" "Hide." "Don't worry too much." "It won't be for too long." "Yeah, the writing's on the wall for conscription now." "Look, a lot of people demonstrating isn't public opinion." "People see the ratbags taking over the streets and they get scared." "Things don't change overnight, you know." "When do you go?" "Tomorrow." "Where?" "The less you know, the better." "Serge, they're not going to torture me." "I've got to handle it my way, alright?" "OK, sorry." "Do you need anything?" "Money?" "Not yet." "You know that I'll do anything to help." "Anything, anytime." "Are you scared?" "Terrified." "Going on the run's alright." "It's just hard not knowing how long it's for, how long I'll last." "If it goes on too long, jail might seem tempting." "No, it won't!" "No!" "I don't know when I'll see you again, Megan." "Want to spend the night with me, then?" "Oh, that's a good idea." "You're not just doing this because you feel sorry for me, are you?" "Why else?" "Oh, well." "That's empathy." "Empathy's a very noble thing." "The ability to empathise sets us apart from lower animals." "Are you planning on leaving them on?" "Oh, I just thought, uh maybe we should... get to know each other a bit first." "OK, no shooting." "No cock-ups." "Fast and quiet." "It's not a nice village to be seen in." "I'll take security outside." "Knife and Marty, cover the door." "Tanzy and Phil, you take him." "Tanzy, make the grab." "Phil, cover." "Idiot!" "Look, we can't outrun them with this bastard, so we've got to make a stand." "Marty, take the little bloke over there and make him squeal." "The rest of you, go to ground." "I'll fire the first shot." "You alright, digger?" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Arggh." "Watch this, Knife." "What do you reckon about that?" "Ah, you only got the flag, Pete." "Let's blow the whole bloody thing out of the water, hey!" "Ho!" "What you doing, mate?" "Arrgggh!" "Alright, dickheads." "Knock it off." "Ho." "Ho." "Ho." "Go." "Ho." "Ho!" "Ho." "Come on, Marty." "Go on, Phil." "Go!" "Go!" "Go for it, Phil." "Goddard!" "Put it away." "Get rid of it, Goddard!" "Strike three." "You're out." "Whoa!" "Ow!" "On!" "Better than Australian Rules football, huh?" "Uh, Billy, give my back a scratch, will you?" "Certainly, Mr Prime Minister." "I'm a cut above the others too." "So are my skirts." "I'll be the leggiest first lady Australia's ever had!" "There is, uh, a leadership challenge back there." "Well, what do we do now?" "Don't look at us." "We're only puppets." "Well, I say, what about a spot of water torture?" "Oh, yeah!" "Great!" "No!" "Please!" "No!" "Glug." "Glug." "Glug." "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the President of the United States of America," "Mr Tricky Dicky!" "Hooray!" "I believe you want to buy one of our used cars?" "Mr President!" ""I'm Ho Chi Minh the fly I'm Ho Chi Minh the fly"" ""Straight from the rubbish tip to you."" "I've always believed the Vietnamese problem would be a lot easier if there were no Vietnamese." "So keep it up, boys." "Yes, sir, Mr President." "Yes, sir." "Want to make a donation to the draft resisters' legal fund?" "Thank you." "Draft resisters' legal fund." "I'm broke." "Have you been over there?" "Might have been." "Are you on leave or are you out?" "I'm out." "What did you think of the show?" "I like Sonia's pants." "We're doing a show on the weekend with a couple of veterans who spoke at the last moratorium." "They're thinking of forming a veterans against the war association." "Yeah?" "Would you be interested?" "Probably not." "558 Drummond Street, OK?" "OK." "Good luck, anyway." "There's a party, if you're interested." "One of those guys will be there - one of the vets." "Come along." "Thanks." ""Once I had a dream that made me sad"" ""How so many people can be bad"" ""Everybody wants all they can grab"" ""No-one's ever happy with their share..."" "Hey." "How long have you been here?" "A while." "Why didn't you come down and say hello?" "You were busy." "At least you found yourself a drink." "Yeah, I brought my own." "Hey, mate, they're mine." "Oh, I really need a drink, man." "There's a tap in the kitchen." "Thanks a lot." "You thirsty, are you?" "Could be a long night." "Why did you decide to come?" "You didn't like our play at all, did you?" "I didn't say that." "You didn't need to." "So now you're an expert on me, are you?" "All I know is you were in Vietnam." "And I've got a bit of an idea of what that's like." "I doubt it." "I try and imagine." "Maybe you can help me." "Haven't you ever met anyone who's been over there before?" "One of the freaks." "Bring your friends over." "I'll do a little performance for them." "I wish you'd calm down." "Maybe we should just go to bed." "Your boyfriend wouldn't mind that, would he?" "Not with a Vietnam vet." "I didn't invite you round here to go to bed with you." "Anyway, he's not my boyfriend." "We live in the same house and that's all." "Maybe we should go to bed anyway." "You're going to give me one of your precious cans?" "Sure." "Want a joint?" "No, thanks." "Mind if I have one?" "Go ahead." "You're not going to arrest me or anything?" "You're the one that said we had unlimited supplies over there, remember?" "Gee, you're a sweet person." "How many people live here?" "Four, basically, though one of the girls is hardly ever here." "She's joined the Divine Lights." "Fat 15-year-old with 20 Rolls-Royces or whatever." "Sometimes there's a few more faces here for breakfast." "And the rest of you here are in this acting thing, are you?" "Street theatre?" "Yeah." "We usually do performances at demos." "Lately we've been doing shopping centres and places where we're not just preaching to the converted." "What do they think of the antiwar movement over there?" "It's really good to know that everyone back home's cheering you on when you get your leg shot off." "Yeah, I can understand how you must feel really bitter." "You're incredible." "You really think you know all about it, don't you?" "No." "I'm sure I don't." "I'm not going to stand for this shit." "Hey!" "Cut it out!" "What the hell's going on in here?" "He's gone off his bloody head!" "Has he?" "Maybe he has." "Look out!" "Hey..." ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass"" ""Home, home Lovers alone"" ""Laying on Arkansas grass..."" ""Someday I'll have money"" ""Money isn't easy to come by"" ""By the time it's come by I'll be gone"" ""I'll sing my song and I'll be gone"" ""Someday I'll have lovin'"" ""Lovin' isn't easy to come by"" ""By the time it's come by I'll be gone"" ""I'll sing my song and I'll be gone"" ""Oh"" ""Livin' a life of luxury"" ""Doesn't seem to be for me"" ""Be for me"" ""Movin' around comes naturally"" ""Movin' around and feeling free"" ""That's for me"" ""Someday I'll have lovin'"" ""Lovin' isn't easy to come by"" ""By the time it's come by I'll be gone"" ""I'll sing my song and I'll be gone"" ""Whoa"" ""Livin' a life of luxury"" ""Doesn't seem to be for me"" ""Be for me"" ""Movin' around comes naturally"" ""Movin' around and feeling free"" ""That's for me.""