""Dear Megan,"" ""Things have settled down a bit since my last letter."" ""After our unit hit that minefield, it was clear this village nearby"" ""probably harboured some of the Vietcong responsible"" ""for planting the mines."" ""The village was in a Communist-dominated area,"" ""so it was decided to relocate the whole population"" ""to a place nearer our base at Nui Dat,"" ""where we can keep an eye on them."" ""They're mainly women, kids and old men"" ""'cause probably half the younger men are actually away fighting us."" ""So you can imagine most of them aren't too thrilled"" ""about being moved from their homes they've lived in all their lives."" ""Some of us have been transferred to the Civil Affairs Unit,"" ""which is supervising the settling-in process."" ""So for a while, at least, there'll be no more patrols."" ""It'll be a good opportunity to try and get to know some of the people."" "There's no place like home." "I think she's at it again." "Um... can we help?" "They don't understand you." "Can we help?" "Do you need something?" "How could you help?" "Le." "Well, at least she understands English." ""I"" ""I'll give"" ""I'll give you"" ""I'll give you love"" ""Give you loving all the time"" ""Give you kisses just like wine"" ""Do his lips taste sweeter than mine?"" ""No!" "No!" "No!"" ""I'll make you happy just like your mama wants"" ""I'll make you happy just like your daddy said"" ""I'll make you happy just like your mama said to me..."" "How will we know when they come?" "We'll hear the screaming." "Look at these!" "Hey, let's put them on!" "Then none of the other guests will suspect." "Well, what about the guys?" "They're not gonna be too impressed by three cleaners!" "Don't be so bourgeois." "Well, who's getting who?" "Stevie's mine!" "You're too tall for Stevie." "You both are." "It's not up to us to choose, anyway." "Yeah." "It depends on the chemistry." "No, it's all in the scent glands." "Men are attracted by the subtle scent women give off." "Come on." "Doesn't sound like we're the only ones." "What's wrong with her?" "Come on!" "Come in, girls." "Don't be shy." "Is this the band's place?" "Yeah, right in here." "I'll show you." "If you want to hang around, the boys will be back any moment." "Are you friends of theirs?" "We're the readies." "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we run the show." "You can have a go on Harry's guitar, if you like." "Oh." "Yeah?" "Yeah, might as well have some privacy, eh?" "What's your names?" "Uh, excuse me, Des." "Thanks, mate." "What's that?" "Grass." "How come you're smoking that?" "How come we're smoking grass?" "Oh, it's cheaper than tobacco." "Do you mind?" "When are they coming?" "Should be back any moment." "No, thanks." "I only smoke tailor-mades." "Let go of it." "What did you do that for?" "Give us a bit of privacy." "God, you're slow." "I'm a bit tired." "I'm not." "Your girlfriends older than you, are they?" "No!" "Come on." "I'm feeling dizzy." "So am I. It's great." "No, the world's going round." "Where's the bathroom?" "Behind you." "Oh!" "Oh!" "Oh!" "What are they doing in there?" "!" "You're not very romantic, are you?" "I can't afford to be." "I'm jail-bait." "Oh, what?" "!" "I'm gonna go and see how she is." "Deb?" "Debra!" "What?" "We've got to help Ros!" "What's wrong with her?" "Just listen!" "Gaz, you bloody idiot." "Would you do something about that lipstick?" "It looks like something's bitten you." "It has." "Well, he kept biting my lip, for some reason." "That's what they do - bite your lip." "Shh!" "No." "Uh, this isn't our room." "Open up." "What?" "Police." "Oh, God!" "Thank you." "Thank you, Mrs Goddard." "What happened in that motel?" "There was an orgy." "Did the management..." "find out your name?" "That's the only thing that worries you, isn't it - are you and Dad going to be dragged into it?" "Mainly I care about what people think of you." "Do you think we enjoy hearing the neighbours whispering that you're..." "Oh, maybe it brightens up their lives a bit." "You've only just turned 16 and here you are, trying to get into the bedrooms of some pop band!" "It's not "some pop band..."" "It happens to be the best band in Australia." "Do you think men of their age want young girls coming to their rooms?" "They can be prosecuted, you know." "Oh, for God's sake!" "Anything could've happened to you." "Oh, yeah?" "What could've?" "I'm sure you know very well what I mean." "Oh, well, I just wish it had!" "Don't you care about Serge anymore?" "Yes." "So why are you wanting to throw yourself at people you don't even know?" "!" "I'm not trying to throw myself at anybody!" "We just..." "We just wanted to have a good time, that's all." "You were taking such a risk, Megan!" "Nothing could happen in this dump!" "Anyway, no-one will know about it, Mum, so you won't have to be embarrassed!" "I'd like to welcome you to the village of Trung Luong." "We hope that this village will grow and prosper in the knowledge that you're all safe from the threats and violence of the Communists." "You're not eating?" "How long you feed us?" "You don't have to worry about that." "For however long it takes." "This land good for our crops?" "Well, you'll get fertiliser, everything you need." "Take long time." "Look, you'll get plenty of food until you're set up." "You think we like to live like beggars?" ""Ay yai yai yai-yai ya-yai-yai"" ""Ay yai yai yai-yai ya-yai-yai"" ""Ay yai yai yai-yai ya-yai-yai"" ""Ay yai yai yai-yai ya-yai-yai..."" "Dammit!" "Hello?" "Serge?" "Megsy!" "What are you doing here?" "I've come to stay." "What?" "Well, just for a while." "Maybe a long while." "Well, do your folks know you're here?" "Yeah." "Sort of." "What do you mean, "sort of?"" "Well, aren't you pleased to see me?" "Do I get a kiss?" "Of course I am." "What happened?" "Oh, I just couldn't stand it at home any longer." "They never leave me alone." "I'm suffocating, you know?" "What did you do?" "How did you get here?" "Borrowed Dad's car." "The Jaguar?" "Except it ran out of petrol." "I thought it had a reserve tank." "Anyway, you can call them in the morning, tell them where it is." "Megan, I'm not gonna ring them." "They'll think I've abducted you." "They've probably already rung the police." "No, I left a note, said I'd ring them tomorrow." "What are you gonna do?" "You can't..." "What?" "I mean..." "..how long are you gonna stay?" "Aren't you pleased?" "We..." "We haven't seen each other for four months." "How's it going?" "How's uni?" "Your letters make it sound great." "Yeah, it is good." "Can I get in?" "What?" "I'm on the pill." "Are you?" "Serge!" "I can sleep with you." "Look..." "What?" "Don't say you want to work." "God, no." "This is so fantastic." "Megan?" "Mmm?" "Megan?" "What?" "Do you mind shifting down to the couch?" "I'm tired." "I tried to tell you that there's this other woman" "I..." "I go out with sometimes." "Theresa." "She lives in this house." "With you?" "In this bed?" "Sometimes." "Where is she?" "She does the night shift." "So you just let me climb into bed?" "!" "I tried to tell you." "Oh, well, I suppose I might as well go, then." "You can sleep on the couch." "Oh, great!" "What a fantastic first time!" "I get kicked out of bed!" "What was that?" "That can't be her." "She doesn't finish till 6:00." "You idiot!" "Sergei?" "Are you awake?" "Sergei?" "You bastard!" "The main thrust of the speech must be that Australia's going to see it through to the end, with the US." "Well, my fear is this will fall into the hands of those people who are saying we're behaving like the 51st state." "We realise..." "The fundamental purpose of this visit is to stress, as emphatically as possible, our commitment to the US cause, and that's what they're asking for above everything else." "Given all the flak in the press over the latest Hanoi-Hai Phong bombing, they need us." "The fact that we've got troops there makes our commitment pretty clear." "I think the sense of seeing it through is important." "To the end of the tunnel." "That's good - "to the end of the tunnel"." "That's what we need." "People need headlines." "Then they turn to the sports pages." "I'm lucky if I even read the headlines." "The sense of it is, the war's nasty, we're gonna have to get our hands dirty." "That's what the Americans are prepared to do and that's what we are prepared to do." "He's good with words, this boy, you've got to give him that." "Excuse me, sir." "Call for Mr Goddard." "Take it in there, Doug." "Uh... sorry." "Have you seen the recent press coverage of the bombing..." "Hello?" "I'm in a conference with the Prime Minister." "I know." "I had a row with Megan." "Surely you can at least manage things with your own daughter." "I'm in his office." "She's gone to Sydney." "Uh, look, I can't talk now." "She took the Jaguar." "What?" "She can't even drive." "Don't call the police." "She might've had an accident." "What has happened, for Christ's sake?" "I'll tell you later." "Hi." "Look... the first part of last night was great." "Does she know about me?" "Megan, it's not a big deal between her and me." "Must have been really convenient for you, having me in Canberra, her down here." "Megan, you and I are just friends." "And you're still at school." "Hmph!" "That didn't stop you last night, did it, Sergey?" "You made it pretty hard." "Hi." "Hi." "I hope I didn't wake you when I got in this morning." "I didn't know you were here." "Nothing wakes me up." "Megan, Theresa." " Hi." " Hello." "There's this YCAC meeting this afternoon, OK?" "Yeah." "He's gotta register in a month." "I don't think he should." "You can't not register or be a conscientious objector just because you don't want to get shot." "Sounds like a pretty good reason to me." "We're gonna have to work on him." "I'm gonna have a shower." "She seems nice." "She's really active around uni." "Yeah?" "What's the... the YC... whatever it is?" "Youth Campaign Against Conscription." "She's on the committee." "Her, uh, main boyfriend's overseas at the moment." "What do you mean, "her main boyfriend"?" "Well, he knows she has other friends." "You're kidding!" "No." "That's how it is down here." "You're not gonna tell her about last night, are you?" "I dunno." "Don't you dare!" "Promise?" "OK." "Oh." "Hi, Mrs Goddard." "Hello, Serge." "Is Megan here?" "Uh, yes." "Come in." "Are you alright?" "I'm fine." "What about the car?" "It's OK." "Would you, uh, like a cup of coffee or anything?" "Oh, uh, thanks." "Why did you just... go like that?" "I felt like it." "Anyway, can't stay here, so I might as well come back." "Is that what you want?" "I can't stand Canberra." "Is that the problem?" "Well, don't you hate it, being at home all day?" "I'm not at home all day." "I just can't stand having to listen to you and Dad arguing all the time." "We don't argue all the time." "Oh, that's only because he goes into his study and locks the world out." "The only time you ever talk is about me when I've done something wrong." "Oh!" "Except when people come over to dinner." "Then you both put on this big front for everyone." "I didn't realise it seemed like that to you." "Do you know what would have happened if the police had pulled you over?" "That's the only thing that's important, isn't it?" "That I don't embarrass you both." "Your father's in a very public position." "I couldn't care!" "That's him!" "That's his world!" "It's got nothing to do with me!" "You're his daughter!" "So what?" "I could've been Mick Jagger's daughter." "It doesn't mean I'd go around having orgies just to live up to him!" "Come on." "Megan!" "Let's go!" "If that music doesn't put them off their food, nothing will." "G'day, guys." "G'day." "We should be playing Vietnamese songs." ""Saigon dalem"" ""Saigon oi, Saigon oi..."" "Another couple of months and it'll all be over." "It'll be strange getting home." "Another planet." "You know, I'm even thinking of coming back." "You're kidding!" "Want to try again?" "You like bashing your head against a brick wall, don't you?" "Smells good." "No." "Thanks." "We've eaten." "What are your names?" " Le." " Le." " Lien." " Lien." "Well, I'm Laurie." "This is my mate, Phil." "Phil." "Lien doesn't like us too much, does she?" "'Like'?" "She no..." "like... us." "Where are your kids?" "What's so funny?" "Not her kids." "Sister's children." "Don't you like the music?" "Very pretty." "Got a sense of humour, this one." "Your grandfather - he should be in hospital." "Very sick, my father." "Yeah." "That's what I'm saying." "He should be in a hospital." "He's got TB." "Much money." "We can arrange that." "We're supposed to be looking after this village, aren't we?" "Can you explain that to her?" " Yes?" " Sure." "Well, we're getting a smile out of them." "Not from this one." " Che cosa e?" " E una matita..." "Would you turn that down a little, please?" " Che cosa e?" " E un passapofio." "Che cosa e?" "What are you reading?" "'The Plague'." "Hmm." "Don't know it." "It's existentialist." "Oh." "Jean-Paul Sartre." "Lots of people." "Che cosa e?" "What are the badges?" "'All the way with sweet FA' and 'No conscripts for Vietnam'." "Do you think that's fair to your brother?" "What do you mean, is it fair?" "He's over there fighting." "Risking his life." "I know." "I don't think he should have to go, that's all." "He's over there because of a principle." "Do you think the South Vietnamese had any choice in being invaded?" "Oh, what's that got to do with it?" "Well, it's got everything to do with it." "I would have thought you'd have shown a little bit more intelligence than to go around advertising that kind of shallow propaganda." "Why don't you do some reading about it?" "I think you owe it to Phil to at least understand the reasons why he's there." "I DO read about it." "What started this?" "We're having a discussion about Vietnam." "I don't think people should have to go to war against their will." "Oh, is that what the pamphlet said?" "I do actually have a brain, Dad!" "Well, you're not going to school tomorrow wearing those badges, right?" "Aren't I?" "!" "She has to make up her own mind." "That's exactly it." "She doesn't make up her own mind." "She swallows whatever claptrap propaganda anybody happens to be handing out." "I don't think it's that simple." "I suppose you're saying we should let her make up her own mind whether to go bursting into motel rooms in the middle of the night." "Are you?" "That's unfair." "This is different!" "This is completely different!" "Look, I'm not gonna talk to you." "It's pointless trying to have a discussion with you unless you can at least stay calm while we're talking." "You know, it's really quite appropriate you studying an hysterical language like Italian." "Megan!" "I got you some pears." "Do you like pears?" "Yes." "He likes." " See you later." " See you later." "Well, at least they should be able to stop the infection with the antibiotics." "So, are the vegetables getting planted?" "Maybe in a few months we have enough for ourselves." "But not enough to sell." "A couple of seasons, it'll be alright." "The soil no good." "What do we do for money?" "We want to build charcoal burners." "We can sell charcoal." "Oh, that should be easy to arrange." "Get the headman to talk to Captain Reid." "No." "We like if we can do it ourselves." "Thank you for helping Le's father to hospital." "Sydney played host to its first American President today and turned on the biggest welcome ever seen for any visitor." "Over half a million people lined the streets in a show of welcome that clearly moved the President and Lady Bird." "The motorcade was, however, halted on several occasions as placard-waving demonstrators lay on the road before being dragged away by police." "The Premier of NSW, Mr Askin, described the demonstrators..." "Oh, they would have to dwell on that one incident." "There were other demonstrations too." "A few dozen people holding placards compared to half a million cheering him." "Oh, yeah?" "Look at that." ""Several thousand demonstrators."" "And in one incident, a group of young girls..." "Wish I could come tonight." "Oh, and what would you do?" "Race up to him and pin one of your badges on him?" "You think it's just a phase I'm going through, don't you?" "...had been placed under a tree in the artificial garden outside the gallery." "And there was a brief scare when a firecracker was set off moments before the President..." "I don't enjoy seeing lists of people being killed and wounded over there coming in every day." "I think about them a lot." "And about their families." "But I believe what they are fighting for is important." "What Phil's fighting for." "It is something we agonise over." "The Prime Minister as well." "I just think you're wrong." "I would like for every Aussie that stands there in the rice paddies on this warm summer day..." ""to know that every American and LBJ"" "is with Australia all the way." "We believe it is right..." "We believe that it is right that the strong should help the weak defend their freedom." "There is a widening community of people who are beginning to feel responsible for what is happening in Vietnam." "Of all the signs, this is the brightest." "For the unilateral use of power is out of date in an age where there can be no losers in peace and where there can be no victors in war." "Haul the gooks out, Lieutenant." "Check out their IDS." "They could be linked to that minefield back there." "Yes, sir." "And send the rest of them back to where they came." "Yes, sir." "OK, Sergeant, get those gooks out of there." "Yes, sir." "I'll move on to the RV." "Choppers are due at the LZ at 19:30." "Sir." "Open her up!" "Alright, everyone out of the bus." "Let's get the hell out now!" "Come on!" "Hurry up." "Let's go!" "Check that out, Heylan." "You live around here?" "No." "I bring my father back from hospital." "You come from Ben Cat." "No, I bring my father from hospital at Black Horse." "Whoo!" "Moose, another for your collection, man." "Ohh!" "Man, you're looking good!" "Whoo-hoo!" "You VC, Papa-san?" "You dig Ho Chi Minh?" "Hey." "Papa-san's got no ID, man." " He's no-one." " Please!" "He is my father!" "Let 'em go, Heylan." "Stop fuckin' around." "Listen, man." "Demacek was my buddy." "You think we should fuck around here for two weeks with the gooks shitting on us and we ain't got nothing to show for it but three of our buddies wasted?" "Yeah." "Maybe she's going down the road to meet some more VC pals." "I'll bet you know all about mines, eh, baby-san?" "Ha!" "What's this?" "Australian pears." "Army rations." "Look at this, sir." "We gotta hold these gooks!" "Yeah." "I guess." "Alright, you!" "Move it out!" "Come on!" "Let's go!" "Please, our friends - Australian soldier." "He gave me for my father in hospital." "You stole Aussie rations, baby-san." "Maybe off the bodies of some patrol you hit." "No!" "No!" "She's a friend of Australian." "Shut up, Papa-san." "She's VC." "She's stealing pears." "For that, we're gonna screw her." "Come on, Heylan." "What you doin?" "She's friend!" "Heylan!" "Come on, VC." "You, VC." "Why you doing this?" "!" "You VC." "VC." "You and your buddies killed my pal back there." "VC." "VC." "VC." "Screw you." "VC." "VC!" "VC!" "VC!" "VC!" "Lieutenant, we gotta stop this." "VC!" "Heylan!" "It's the old man." "He's got no ID." "She's a friend of American." "Friend of you." "You ain't got no ID, man." "You're number 10." "No!" "Jesus Christ!" "You don't exist." "Moose, get me outta this thing." "So, what do you say, VC?" "You're gonna like this, honey child." "The biggest in the land." "This bitch is mine." "Whoo!" "Hey, y'all?" "Have Morrison go first." "No, Sarge." "Don't pull rank on me." "Moose!" "He's always first!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Yeah!" "They could have been VC." "Easy." "They could have been VC." "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "Moose!" "We've gotta get out of here." "Alright, y'all." "Let's move it." "You know, man, she didn't even scream." "Do you dig that?" "Maybe she was having a good time." "You make sure that VC gook down there is wasted, you hear?" "Sergeant..." "Are you a double veteran, boy?" "No, Sergeant." "Well, Windeat, we've got to have experienced men in this outfit." "And you make sure Heylan gets his ass up here on the double." "You hear?" "Is she dead?" "What do you take me for?" "That's like one of those real goo movies, man." "Windeat?" "You get a souvenir for yourself, now, you hear?" "Good price on the ears, Windy." "I-I gotta shoot you." "I don't want to." "I got to." "I gotta shoot you." "Don't stare at me!" "But if I don't do this they're gonna come back." "If I don't do this, they're gonna come back."