"Hello, Douglas." "Going in to see the general?" "Minor crisis, Minister." "Oooh." "Excuse me, Jean." "Is he in?" "He's with Mr Hasluck." "It is important." "I'm sorry, sir." "Mr Goddard is here." "He's quite insistent." "Can't it wait?" "No, sir." "It appears it can't." "Excuse me, Minister." "What is it, Douglas?" "There's been a leak, sir." "Cullen's onto conscription." "The 'Herald' will run it tomorrow." "Any idea who it was?" "A member of the government." "Somebody who likes a drink." "Well, that narrows it down to about 100." "How much does he know?" "Well, you know Cullen, sir - by tonight, he'll know more than we do." "Then... tonight it is." "Mrs Williams, be so kind as to bring in the first draft of that national service speech, would you?" "Well, you've got five hours." "I want the first section rewritten." "We need to go on the offensive." "Give it to Mr Goddard." "Underline the strategic position - the instability of South-East Asia, the downward thrust towards Australia." "There they go, kicking the commie can again." "If the public knows there's a real danger, they'll support it." "Never underestimate the public." "They're a good deal brighter than the opposition." "Mr Speaker, the range of likely military situations" "Australia must now face has increased as a result of recent Indonesian actions and the continued growth of communist activity in Laos and South Vietnam." "If these two countries collapse, they will represent a grave threat to Thailand..." "And the whole of South-East Asia will be at risk." "Disgusting." "In Malaysia, Australian troops..." ""She's a pisspot through and through"" ""She's a drunkard, so they say"" ""Tried to go to heaven but she went the other way."" "Drink it down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "You still want me to come round tonight?" "Yeah." "Then I'll have four beers." "For the last few months, the government has been making..." "OK." "On the house." "What do you want me to wear?" "Well, nothing much." "A bikini, maybe." "What sort of pictures have you got in mind, mate?" "Low-key glamour." "I'm building up a portfolio." "I can just see you as a fashion photographer, specialising in lingerie." "I'll probably end up in the army if Ming has anything to do with it." "The government has decided, therefore, there is no alternative to the introduction of conscription." "Little do they know, poor bastards." "Drink it down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" "Down!" ""At night while you're sleeping"" ""Poison ivy comes a-creeping all around"" ""Now, measles make you lumpy"" ""And mumps will make you bumpy"" ""And chicken pox will make you jump and twitch"" ""A common cold will do you"" ""And whooping cough will fool you"" ""But poison ivy, Lord, will make you itch..."" ""Of calamine lotion"" ""You'll be scratching like a hound"" ""The minute you start to mess around"" ""Poison ivy..."" ""Poison ivy"" ""At night, when you're sleeping..."" " Have you got it straight?" " Yes, I have." "Uh, 5'9"." "Nine?" "!" "Mmm." "Oh, my God." "Can you imagine any boy asking me out?" "Men like tall women." "It's elegant." "Yeah, men might." "I'm talking about boys." "Boys like little cuties with big norks." "Oh!" "I mean, it wouldn't be so bad if I was voluptuous." "Poor old Olive Oyl." "You're late." "I had to work back." "Hm." "Sure." "You've been cruising, I bet." "I wish I had." "The fifth-formers were in celebrating the end of year." "You heard the news." "What news?" "About conscription." "Yeah." "Well?" "Well, what?" "Well, I thought you might be concerned." "I hadn't thought about it." "Oh!" "Of course." "I was forgetting." "You don't waste time thinking about your future." "Well, you'll have to register." "There's nothing wrong with your health." "You're a perfect candidate for a uniform." "Come on, Dad." "It's a ballot." "I can't even win a chook at the pub." "It's a joke, is it?" "I've got somebody coming round." "Who?" "Never you mind." "Not Annie Phelan!" "It is, isn't it?" "You better watch out." "She'll eat you alive." "Philip." "Philip." "Jesus!" "Oh, sorry." "I do think we need to talk about this." "I am expecting someone, really." "Conscription wouldn't be a problem if you'd stayed at uni." "Students get a deferral." "Do you see what I'm saying?" "Sure." "You're back on your favourite subject." "Phil, conscription means two years as a soldier." "Casual bartenders don't get it deferred." "Now, look, it's November." "That gives you three months to decide on a career and get yourself into a course." "Well, at least, if nothing else, it'll keep you out of the army." "So will being an Aborigine." "They're exempt too." "What?" "I'm sorry." "I don't follow you." "Being an Aborigine will keep me out of the army, but that's not what I am, just like I'm not a student or a lawyer!" "What are you, then?" "A Photographer?" "Yes." "I'm a photographer." "An out-of-work photographer." "Oh, come on!" "Stop pulling yourself." "Well, that's what you guys tell the neighbours!" "Hi." "Oh." "Sorry, Mr Goddard." "Hello, Annie." "You've got three months." "Don't waste it." "I'm thinking of trading him in." "It starts with a 'P'." "A 'P'?" "Yes." "And you'd have it after dinner as a drink with your coffee." "And perhaps a cigar with it." "Oh, God." "I wouldn't have a clue." "No." "Mrs Shannon said, "I wouldn't know, I don't drink."" "Well, uh... a light shandy." "What happened?" "I won't be sorry if he does get called up." "Might do him good." "He needs a shock." "What would he have to do?" "Well, at least, it might give him some sense of discipline, for a start." "At the moment, he seems to think he can just drift along indefinitely." "Oh, he's still deciding what he wants to be." "He had a year at university to think about that." "He obviously did nothing else." "I don't think he ever wanted to go to university in the first place." "Do we have to go through all that again?" "You finished your homework?" "This is my homework." "Study of satire." "Tilbury dog!" "I'm sure that's rhyming slang." "Listen, uh..." "Upstairs, now." "What about if there was a war?" "What war are you talking about?" "Australia's not involved in any war." "Amo." "Amas." "Amat." "Amamus." "Amatis." "Amant." "Amabo." "Amabas." "Amabunt." "Amabatis." "Amabamus." "Amabant." "Amabunt." "Yeah, put your arm up." "Oh, hang on." "Let me check my hair." "Ready." "That's good!" "That's beautiful." "Just hold it there." "Pervert!" "Megan!" "Piss off!" "Hi." "Hi." "Was, uh, pretty funny, huh?" "Yeah." "Hm!" "I knew you wouldn't mind." "You can always take a joke." "Sure." "Great." "You'll get a laugh out of these too." "I took them the other day." "I was trying out a new telephoto lens." "You are low." "You are really low, going around spying on people." "Oooh, I don't know if that's what Dad'll be saying when he sees them." "No more pocket money." "No more Saturday nights." "You would too, wouldn't you?" "You bet I would." "You mention one word about Annie to anyone..." "I don't want people going around saying I'm the latest." "Oh, but you are." "Aren't you?" "It's strictly professional." "Oh, bullshit!" "She was modelling." "For what?" "One of those calendars you get from garages?" "OK!" "OK." "You win." "God!" "The old man says you need a shock." "He hopes you do get called up." "That'd be right." "He reckons you don't give a shit." "So what you gonna do?" "I'm not going back to uni." "I'm building up a portfolio." "I'm gonna go down to Sydney and see some ad agencies." "That's not going to get you out of it." "It's all luck." "I'll just be in a barrel with everyone else." "How far did you really go?" "Get off me!" "Stop it!" "Mr Hasluck." "...South-East Asia?" "I had discussions at the highest level with our American allies and I'm now convinced that the single most important strategic issue confronting Australia is Vietnam." "Are the Americans planning..." "Is this the American view, sir?" "..to increase military involvement?" "The Americans believe that if South Vietnam falls to the communists the whole of South-East Asia may follow." "You don't have to be an expert on the domino theory to realise the danger that poses to Australia." "Then do you see a situation arising where America might send in combat troops to Vietnam?" "If the American advisers currently there prove inadequate, they may be forced to look at other options." "Australia also has army advisors there." "Would we be following suit with combat troops?" "Why don't they just send in the Marines?" "And triple the aid coming into the North by the Russians and the Chinese?" "Well, something has to be done." "Communist infiltration of the South is up 30%." "Selective bombing of the North's one option." "Well, key installations - ports, Hai Phong, the industrial areas of Hanoi." "Well, that could open the floodgates too." "The North would have every excuse to bring in their whole army." "Mmm." "And then the Marines would have to go in." "I think Shane's right - all this effort and increased aid, that's not the answer." "If the Americans were to commit combat troops, it would sound a clear warning to the communists " ""This far..."" ""..and no farther."" "Hey, Lofty, you want a lift?" "Yeah!" "See you later!" "Fab car." "I wouldn't be seen dead with that guy!" "Where'd you get it, Rabbit?" "Oh, borrowed it from work." "It's fab!" "Nah." "It's a heap of junk." "Chassis is rotten with rust, it's blown a gasket and the brakes are rooted." "All it's got's twin exhaust and whitewall tyres." "How are you gonna get 300 quid for it?" "Oh, easy - revheads only look at the colour." "Anyway, that's what Jack says." "When's he gonna let you start selling them?" "Oh, well, I've really got the cleaning and washing under control now." "He reckons he might give me a go next month." "Then I'll be in the dough - all those commissions." "Just a matter of turning on the charm." "Oh!" "Well, you've got no worries there." "Shit!" "What's wrong?" "Put your foot on the brake!" "Forgot." "God, you're a dag, Rabbit." "Hi, Mum!" "Hi, darling." "Hi, Mrs Goddard." "Hi, Rabbit." "How's work?" "Still at the car yard?" "Yeah." "It's better than the job at Woolies." "I'm learning heaps." "Really?" "Yeah." "Jack Flash has taken me under his wing." "He teaching me about consumer law, things like that." "Oh." "Sounds like you're going to stay there." "Yeah, unless I get called up." "Hi." "Hi, mate." "You got yours yet?" "What?" "Rego papers." "Oh, yeah." "Got to be in it to win it." "Yeah." "Do you reckon you could give us a hand?" "Oh, jeez, Rabbit!" "It's not the leaving certificate." "It was designed for people like you." "It's moron-proof." "Oh, very funny." "Come on, I'll show you." "Yeah, well, look, there's pages of it!" "There's subsections, clauses, asterisks." "You want to work in a car yard, you'd learn to watch the fine print." "Oh, it's easy!" "Look, this is where you put your next of kin." "That's so they know who to call when you get killed." "This is education, so you just put N/A." "What's N/A?" "Not applicable." "Oh, and this part's about disabilities." "I wouldn't even try to explain." "They'll see that at the medical." "This is where you sign." "Mark it with cross and you're done!" "Thanks a lot, guys." "Thanks heaps." "When's your birthday?" "May 25th." "May 25th!" "You're on the cusp..." "How are you?" "Good." "Sealed with a loving kiss." "Now they'll think I'm a homo and I'll never get in." "I wouldn't bet on it, mate." "I reckon they'd take all the homos just so they can beat the shit out of them!" "I'll get it!" "I'll get it." "No!" "It'll be for me!" "Never for you." "Goddard Photographic Studios." "Philippe speaking." "May I help you?" "Oh!" "Monsieur Douglas?" "Certainement!" "May I say who's calling?" "Oh." "Yeah, s-sorry." "Uh, Dad!" "It's for you." "Oh!" "Good evening, Prime Minister." "A photographic studio?" "No." "Oh, of course it's not inconvenient." "I'll fly down on Thursday." "Certainly." "Thank you." "Goodnight, sir." "And this chump ain't no different." "He'll fall in eight to prove that I'm great." "And if he keeps talkin' jive, I'm gonna cut it to five." "I am the greatest!" "Do you know who that was?" "The self-proclaimed champion has, of course..." "Yeah." "What exactly did you say?" "I was just mucking around." "The Prime Minister, for God's sake!" "How was he supposed to know?" "It's not like Ming rings up every day." "It's not particularly helpful if I can't have phone calls at home in case whoever it is happens to get insulted by my children." "I didn't insult him." "I was just speaking to him in a French accent." "It's probably the first laugh he's had in 100 years." "I suppose I can't expect even the remotest signs of maturity from your sister, but you're 19 and you behave like a 10-year-old." "I'm sorry." "Can I have your autograph?" "You actually spoke to Bob Menzies?" "He probably just wanted the cricket score." "That was a lovely shot." "Looking forward to your summer break?" "It'll be good to spend some time with the kids." "We've taken a beach house for a couple of weeks." "Oh." "Thought that might be the case." "I'm afraid you're going to have to cancel it." "Is that going to cause too many problems?" "No, not at all, sir." "I'm sure the family will understand." "As you know, Shane Paltridge is going to Saigon then on to Washington." "Yes." "But frankly, I'm worried." "The Minister for Defence is not the Government's most astute player, and he's going to have to handle some very complex issues." "Oh, his visit's absolutely vital." "It can't be cancelled." "That's where you come in and your holiday goes out the window." "I want you to go along as a sort of senior advisor." "Make sure there are no foul-ups." "It's a great opportunity." "It is." "I've got a feeling that Vietnam is not only going to determine the fate of South-East Asia but also the future of Australian politics for long after I've gone." "And that's Simpson, on his way at the end of a marvellous century." "He's out." "Just listen to that crowd." "Your mother and I are relying on you to look after your sister." "Mm-hm." "I don't mind you using the car." "At least it's safer than that bomb of yours." "Thanks." "But remember - the neighbours." "No parties in this house." "It's all in good hands, Dad." "Have a good time." "Bye." "'Bye, Mum." "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." "I'll be home about 1:00." "And don't wait up." "And don't open the door to anyone." "Wait a minute!" "What is it?" "Wait!" "Oh, Megan!" "I'm coming too!" "Like hell you are." "Yes, I am." "You gotta be 18." "Coming?" "I'm a friend of Derek's." "Alright." "I'm with her." "Half your luck." "In you go." "Oh, he's her brother." "I'm her boyfriend." "Don't bullshit me!" "Get to the back of the line." "Alright." "What's this?" "Orange juice." "I said Scotch." "I don't want you getting pissed and making a fool of yourself." "What's wrong with one drink?" "Forget it." "Bloody gorilla, that guy at the door." "Hey, you want to dance?" "Don't be a dag, Rabbit." "I want to meet people." "I wouldn't bother." "There's not much talent." "Don't know about the chicks, but the guys aren't bad." "Not that guy doing the dog paddle?" "It looks like the swim, but I think he's drowning." "Hey!" "Is he pulling the chain?" "Oh, shut up." "Hey, here's a go." "Dutch courage." "That is my jug." "Bring it back, will you?" "Thanks for the phone call." "Hi, Annie." "Oh." "Yeah, sorry, I've been busy." "Sure." "Do you know my sister, Megan?" "Yeah, we sort of met last month under the spotlight." "Remember?" "Anyway, see you later." "Where are you going?" "Just circulating." "Babysitting?" "Want to dance?" "No, thank you." "Chance of a lifetime." "You've got to be joking." "Do you want to dance?" "She's the best looker here, I reckon." "The tall one." "A bit young." "Nah." "God." "I'm falling in lust with her." "Deeply in lust." "She's with me." "She your girlfriend?" "Yeah." "Sort of." "Who's that egghead?" "Here she comes." "Hi." "My name's Serge." "How am I doing so far?" "Hi." "You want a drink?" "Créme de menthe and lemonade, thanks." "Scotch and coke." "Orange juice." "Scotch and coke, and an orange juice." "No more." "You from Canberra?" "Worse luck." "I grew up here." "And now you're working, studying...?" "Oh, a bit of both." "Well, studying more than working, wouldn't you say?" "I'm going to uni part-time." "So part-time, sometimes you wonder if she's there at all." "Your shout, Rabbit." "Orange juice for Megan." "She's got to study." "And where do you work?" "Well, this is Canberra." "One guess." "Sorry, silly question." "Which department?" "External affairs." "Oh!" "Suppose you get to travel around a bit too, eh?" "Can I ask you a question?" "Sure." "Do you want to dance?" "Yeah." "Sure." "I just thought maybe you two were going out or something." "We just live together." "Oh." "Right, then." "Forget it." "He's my brother." "He's your brother?" "!" "Mate, I'm sorry about that business about..." "I'm really, really sorry about what I was saying about lust." "Look at me." "I'm Hungarian." "We don't believe in sex before marriage." "She's in mortal danger from that bloke, I reckon." "I reckon you're the one that's in mortal danger, mate." "Oh, no, I'll be right." "I'll be OK." "Just give us a sec." "It's not like that in the movies." "Can I call you?" "Sure." "Home or work?" "Oh, well, I'm pretty hard to catch at work." "How's your memory?" "Try me." "Home is J M-2646." "JM-2646." "How'd you go?" "Better than you." "I'll be right." "Just give us a sec." "Will someone shoot that bastard?" "JM-2646." "We'll have a drink." "At playlunch." "Up to now, the communist war has been fought by the National Liberation Front - the Vietcong." "Now, they're a ragbag grassroots guerilla force, but they've been very effective in spreading their influence through the South." "The government forces here are poorly organised, although the American advisers are trying to improve things..." "Um..." "The real danger lies in the possibility that it may not remain a guerilla war." "And if it doesn't?" "No, no, love." "Give it here." "If you're going to work for Australia, there's one thing you've got to know - that's how to pour a beer." "You were saying?" "Well, the danger is the North Vietnamese Army may enter the war in a big way." "Yes, yes, but this is just speculation." "It's hardly new." "The real question is the Americans." "If the South Vietnamese are losing the fight..." "Minister, I think we should let the experts complete their briefing before we start ours." "Well, as long as we get to the point." "Uh... moving along." "Dave, perhaps you..." "Dave is our expert in domestic affairs." "As far as the South Vietnamese are concerned, he's a member of our trade mission." "Which means that he moves around the countryside a lot, meeting people." "He's a spy." "Uh, the present situation is pretty grim." "For the first time, combat units of the North Vietnamese Army have entered South Vietnam." "According to the CIA, four divisions have infiltrated the South." "It's been devastating." "Right now, the South Vietnamese are losing a battalion a week." "That's 800 men." "How long can they last?" "An army with low morale, being hit and hit hard week after week it can collapse very fast." "This should help fill in some of the gaps." "Movie matinee." "Oh, sandwiches." "Are they for us?" "Yeah, I think so." "AI." "Now relax your back and flop your head round." "The idea - people aren't going to look at anything else but your head." "They don't want to see feet dancing." "They want to see your head." "And a smile." "Whatever you do." "One, two, three, four..." "Flop your heads around." "More." "Go on, more." ""You've got everything I need"" ""Satisfaction guaranteed..."" "More!" "Through there." "Thanks." "Thanks, mate." "Gin and tonic, Annie?" " Thanks." " Same for me." "How are you, Phil?" "Fine." "Why aren't you at the flicks?" "They wouldn't let us in." "Why?" "What was it?" "'Darling'." "Apparently it's absolutely filthy." "So how's Annie, Phil?" "Megan." "What?" "Can I talk to you, please?" "Oh, God." "Why can't you watch television somewhere else?" "Why?" "Oh!" "Is that why you wanted us to go to the pictures?" "Oh, jeez." "What's wrong with the garage?" "Oh, she's not going back in there after what happened last time." "Serves you right." "OK." "How much do you want?" "You're not going to use Mum and Dad's bed, are you?" "I just want to be able to use the bar." "So, what are you going to do with Rabbit?" "Oh, forget it!" "Alright, alright." "We'll take the little TV into the garage." "Thank you." "What'll happen is I'm gonna be doing a lot of test driving from now on." "Of new cars?" "No, bombs." "Well, not all of them are bombs." "They look good." "Long as they don't give up the ghost in the first few hours after somebody's bought 'em - that's the main thing." "Come out for a drive in one if you like." "Go down to Bateman's Bay, maybe." "Sounds like we could get stranded." "What, Phil?" "N-nothing." "I..." "I didn't say anything." "Uh, Rabbit, would you mind giving us a hand, please?" "Sure." "Oh, what's that?" "Oh, thanks a lot, Rabbit." "No trouble." "Just put it over there." "And if you could plug it in." "We don't want to electrocute ourselves." "What a mess!" "Where am I supposed to sit?" "Oh, sit on the bed." "The sheets are grey!" "We don't have a shower out here." "Doesn't Phil have showers?" "Of course he does, dummy!" "He's still allowed in the house." "Tell us about that fantastic car of yours, Rabbit." "The red one." "The Chew?" "Mmm." "Oh, it's a write-off." "Apparently about a week after we sold, the handbrake came off." "Thing was parked on a hill - rolled down and wrote off another car too." "Lucky no-one was hurt." "Oh, yeah." "I left my fags in the house." "Sorry." "Well, see you later." "Stay!" "Why?" "You know Ros?" "She's gonna hate me for telling you this but she really likes you." "Mmm." "Yeah?" "She's always carrying on about you, Rabbit." "Really?" "Maybe if we left the two of you together for a while, you could, you know, talk things over." "It's probably just infatuation." "She's only a kid." "Uh-uh." "She's very well developed for her age." "Very." "Well, I could, you know, chat with her." "Mmm." "Maybe in a couple of years I could be interested." "You never know." "And this is the folks' room." "Nice view." "You still pissed off about what happened in the garage?" "Oh, no, not at all." "Soft bed." "Well done." "What?" "You managed to talk for 30 seconds without making a pass at me." "Must be a record." "Oh, just being friendly." "That's as far as you'll get." "Though I'm sure tomorrow you'll tell all your friends what a fantastic bounce I was." "Oh, I wouldn't, really!" "Look, let's talk." "You can talk, can't you?" "They're taking a long time with that coffee." "Ros." "Yeah?" "When I was your age, I, uh used to... you know." "What?" "Have... strong feelings about girls who were older than me." "Did you?" "But, uh, these things take time." "It's important to wait and see, uh, if it passes." "'Cause it can be, you know, puppy love." "I do think you're really attractive." "What?" "Oh, I never worry about glasses." "It's what underneath that's important - the person." "It's hard, I know, if you feel strongly." "I'm going!" "There's something wrong with you." "Hello." "Shh." "Oh, hi." "Um, hold on." "Hang it up, Deb!" "Hello." "Look, I'm at work." "I can only stay a sec." "I was wondering, do you want to have lunch?" "Well, I don't get much of a break." "Um..." "Yeah." "Yeah, maybe a quick lunch." "Look, sorry, I've got to go." "OK." "OK, where?" "1:00 tomorrow." "At the coffee shop in the new Civic Arcade." "OK?" "Yeah." "See you." "See you."