Perth, western gateway to the nation
and transmitting point for ABW2.
In the national network of ABC...
As the Miss Universe contest
descends on Perth, there are growing concerns
a strike at the city's main power supplies factory
might see the lights go out.
Yeah, yeah.
We deserve a holiday, huh?
Just the two of us, down at Margaret River.
We could get that room with the ocean view.
Ocean? Never noticed that.
Oh, Tony, you prat.
- You spelt "bastards" wrong. -Wayne'll get the message.
Really?
- You've been picketing for six months. - He will. Has to.
Without men to build his parts? No parts business.
And six months of showing our girls that if somebody screws you over...
sure as hell don't roll over.
You're giving me that look.
- What look? - Oh, the "look" look.
The same one your father gives me. The one that says... Judy!
-Hold on. -Stop!
Get out the way!
Hey! Hey, let me look at you.
What?
- You're bleeding. - Huh?
What?
Pass the ball. You've got it, mate. Pass it here.
-All right, mate, ready? -Look for the rebounds.
Tom, defence, mate!
-What is this? - Uh.
So, this is our plan to get to the Moon.
Yeah, it's a step-by-step from school, to university, to America
to NASA, to the Moon. Together.
I thought only kids dreamt about being spacemen.
- Astronauts. - Yeah, astronauts.
I've dreamt about this all my life, right?
Watching all six Moon landings, the Skylab space station launch.
Men walking in space...
- Remember the one that blew up? - Apollo 13.
- That's the fella. Crazy. - It didn't... it didn't...
it didn't... it didn't blow up.
We've studied really hard. Look at our grades in maths and science.
I... I made this plan. We made this plan.
Okay, what about the plan where you two just get decent jobs,
- get married, and have some kids? - What? Ew! Us?
Jono, shouldn't you and I be having a separate session?
Oh, no, no, no. Um. Our life mission after this place is shared,
so there's zero point in either of us repeating ourselves.
We'll get back 32 minutes of our lives by...
- But I know you're excellent at physics. - ...combining our meeting with you.
And, uh, plenty of promise out there
for a kid like you to get a good engineering job.
You have a problem with that, Jono?
I just... All this talk, like, jobs, the future...
I am the, uh, careers counsellor.
Well, you've all mapped out the next 20 years of my life.
You, Mum, Dad, everyone. Where do all these great ideas even go?
Like, Dad ended up slaving away in a chip shop van by the beach.
Well to be fair, Jono, those dimmies they do,
- they make a grown man wanna cry. -Jono...
A 100-step plan for the rest of my life?
-What? - It's too much.
Have you ever thought about a job at Boans department store?
They do a great staff discount.
Jump up and down! Higher!
I wouldn't worry about it if they talk to you.
Mate, she's fine, she indestructible.
You ever been hit by a brick at 60K's an hour?
Well, I was hit by an ex at 60K an hour.
- Idiot. - That's what she said.
Seriously, Gazza, you don't think that someone here, one of us?
What? Did that?
Mate, piss off.
So explain that note then. "Strike breaking bitch."
Well, technically...
"Technically"?
Technically, she's my wife...
...and the mother of my daughters.
Technically...
...a brick nearly took her head off this morning.
We've been at this for six months.
Fighting that bastard to keep our jobs! Fighting for a decent pay packet!
Not each other.
Not our wives.
How many times have I told you all? We are a union.
We are united.
Or we're nothing.
No retreat. No surrender! No retreat. No surrender!
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender!
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender!
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender! No retreat!
No surrender! No retreat!
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat!
No surrender...
- Are you okay? - I'm... I'm... I'm okay. I'm fine.
No surrender! No retreat! No surrender...
- Sambuca? - Medicinale.
Oh!
Mm!
Dare I ask how much we've lost this month?
That's a bloody good question, isn't it, Frannie?
You can tell me in about, I dunno, 20 minutes?
Judy. Darlin'. Back from the dead, eh?
I heard about those pricks out there. Yeah, I reckon trying to kill a chick
might just about finish that lot off though, right?
I mean, what kind of arseholes behave like that?
-"Strike breaking bitch." -That's enough, Wayne.
She could've bloody died.
Well, then we can get on with trimming this place
and making some serious money, can't we? And don't you two worry.
You two dolls aren't going anywhere, so keep on keeping on, eh?
His father's a good man,
but I'll never forgive him for retiring.
Actually, I was wondering if I could pick up a couple more shifts.
I thought you'd want a break from this place.
I do, but Fran, we need the money.
Part-time work, full-time bills.
Well, now that he's sacked Pete,
he needs an interim general manager.
Someone who knows the company, knows where the bodies are buried.
Who has his Royal Highness' confidence. Who could that be, hmm?
Me? GM? I keep the books.
- Fran, I just... I wouldn't know how. - Oh, Christ, Jude!
No surrender! No retreat!
- No surrender! No retreat! - You want the money?
- The work? -No surrender! No retreat!
No surrender! No retreat!
No surrender! No retreat! No surrender...
- Mia! Mia! Record's stuck. - I know. This is my favourite part.
- Come on, sis, try just once. - No, I've got homework.
- You always have homework! Come on. - Homework! Sorry.
Teacher's pet.
Better than a beach moll.
- Yes! - Oh, my...
Goddammit!
What are they doin'?
Give up now.
Mum would've been 65 this weekend.
I know.
Saturday.
Bloody nerve of them!
I should throw a brick in there at them.
- Dad! -Seriously.
He should be interrogating them, not having a pint.
"Strike breaking bitch."
Is that what those men think of me?
I'm in there, trying to make the numbers work
with that brat breathing down my neck,
threatening to close the whole place down every time he doesn't get what he wants.
And instead of "thank you," I get...
...death threats.
Thank you.
- Just going to Eileen's. -Hey! Hey!
What did you say to your sister?
She only ever wears that bottom lip when it's you who's wound her up.
She was hanging it on me, about my homework, Mum. My studying.
I... Okay, I was a cow.
I'll apologise.
-Come on! You can do it! -Come here.
-You can do it! -Go for it!
-Again? Really? - Right.
Grab a torch, mate.
- There you go. - Thanks.
-Gaz, there's one on there. -Yep, yep, yep, yep.
Oh, nice work, Dad. Who needs electricity anyway?
You'll see your stars better.
- Yes. -Okay.
All right, so what'll it be? Twister?
Mia!
Come on!
Grandad? What's going on?
Nothing. Your grandfather's leaving...
- so we can have our evening stargaze. - Can't bloody see Saturn anyway.
I was just keepin' it warm for you, Tills.
Oi, aye, aye, aye.
- Your mum all right? - Yeah, um, she's tough.
- Mm-hmm. You give her a hug? - Hmm.
And you? You okay?
How was the careers session?
It didn't go so well.
Jono suddenly decided he doesn't wanna go into space.
Well, it is a bloody long trip to Mars.
Maybe you need to talk to him.
Uh. There! Skylab!
Don't change the subject. What are you gonna do about all that?
Imagine going all the way up there
and having nobody to talk to about it with when you got home.
It'd be like going to the best party of your entire life all by yourself.
Like your mate John Glenn.
- He flew right over us, hey? - Hmm.
The Sun, she's called Ngangk.
She's life.
She's power. She fills the darkness with light.
- And the Moon? - The Moon? Miyak.
He's a cheeky bugger. Typical bloke.
That's why I need you to get up there and sort him out. With or without Jono.
Okay?
What's so great about you, huh?
-Reckon you could do that? - No.
-Oh, nice! -That was hot, mate.
- That was good, mate. - Great break off the north this morning.
Metre and a half. Absolutely cranking.
And I've got a foot and a half waiting for you in my panel van when I get back.
Oi! Get out of the way! Move!
I'll give your van a miss.
One of these days you'll try that shit with the wrong bloke.
Or maybe this morning they pulled their shit on the wrong chick.
You can't cut in on a lad's wave.
- They keep throwing bricks, I'll keep... - Go on. You're late again.
You need to get to school before they ring your mother.
Lady Chatterley?
Your mum know you're reading this?
Yeah, why?
Well, if you'd read it, you'll know why.
Have you read the book?
- I got a B+ in my review. -That's not what I asked.
Everything okay at school?
Not if I'm late.
Darling, this Avon palette is a perfect match for your skin tone!
Sandy, that colour looks great on you. How many would you like me to order?
It looks perfect with the outfit
that you are wearing right now.
I'm gonna put you down for four? Four of them?
Mary, if you turn to page 13, you will see the most beautiful shade of lipstick
that will absolutely go...
...with your outfit today. Do you agree?
And also the eye shadow,
you can see Sandy's got the lipstick...
-Doesn't that look lovely? - Girls?
It looks beautiful.
Well, ladies, looks like our host is ready with luncheon.
- Oh, little miracle worker. - Especially on a budget, Judy.
You can barely notice the cuts.
But this might help with some of them long-term.
Just for today...
-...I'll diet tomorrow. - Thanks.
Rosie?
Have you got something that's not "Fresh Peach"?
More "Dark Chocolate"?
- Um. I'll have to check. - If you could.
So, ladies, six weeks to Miss Universe. Who's got tickets?
Oh, and Miss Cambodia arrived this week. You must be excited, Sandy.
- Uh. I'm Vietnamese. - Oh, it's still in Asia, though, isn't it?
Of course, we won't be seeing any of the contestants
if Judy's hubby doesn't end that power supply strike of his soon.
Come on, Judy, have a word.
Get those little...
...transformer thingies out into the world.
And then, of course, it's our street party, ladies.
One hundred and fifty years of our great state.
Judy?
Excuse me.
Can I help you?
- Your husband home? -Uh...
Mr Bissett's at work.
You've not paid your TV rental for four weeks.
- So... - Oh, dear.
We need to take it, love.
Oh, no. Not now.
- Now. -Thanks, Jude.
- Uh. Where are you going? - I'm teaching this arvo, Judy. Sorry.
Mary and Bilya, they're coming tonight. I've gotta get the old place ready.
Uh. Buying anything, Eileen?
Nah, Rosie, thanks. I'm a natural beauty.
- Thanks for the tucker! - Could you just give me a couple of hours?
Um.
My husband had his mates over last night, so there's slabs of beer in the shed.
You got two hours.
Thúy! Sandy!
I discovered the Bee Gees are from Manchester, England.
They emigrated here, like us. Like me.
- You are no Bee Gee, Lam. - I could be, my love.
- I could be. - Oh, yeah? And I'm Coco Chanel.
You could be, my love, but you're so much better!
- You okay, my boy? Huh? - Hmm.
You sure? How was school?
Oh, apart from fighting with Tilly about not going into space?
Fine.
How can you go to Mars if you're a surgeon? Huh?
Binh!
He walked off, just like that.
He's a teenager. What do you expect, Mr Bee Gee?
You're looking foxy, darling.
Foxy? Where did you hear that?
Oh, I pick up the best lines from the surfer dudes and bros I hear.
Well, I'd look a lot foxier if you got me a proper mirror.
Hmm. We're getting serious.
- You wish. - Well...
...as a matter of fact...
I gotta go. Mary's coming home soon.
Want some company?
You want my daughter to run you over with her car?
Oh, I'd miss my secret lover on the beach.
See ya.
Gotcha!
Why can't you use a real mannequin?
Hey! C'mon, Tilly, this is your deb ball.
- It's gotta be perfect. - Why me then? It's not my deb ball.
Oh, 'cause you're cheaper than a mannequin.
And we need every cent that Steph Reith is paying us for these dresses.
Heading out with Mick. Seems like a good time to get a beer.
- What about a TV? - Oh, please.
Look at my girls. All grown up. Beautiful.
- The word is "objectified." - Nah! Beautiful.
The last person who objectified me got...
What?
Dumped.
- Are we done then, Mum? -Come on!
We can't afford to waste a scrap of material,
so we're done when we're done.
Patience, my angels.
Oh, come on, Mia! It'll be your turn next year.
You'll be standing up here...
...getting your deb dress made and you are gonna wow them.
- You know that? You both are. -Who's them?
Why can't I wow them with my surf skills
- or something else? - Oh, can you just...
Can you just enjoy this?
- I've had enough. - No, get up!
Look, girls, I need your help, all right?
We gotta make dresses, we gotta sell dresses.
- We need... -The money.
Can you get more shifts, Mum?
If I quit school, I can make us some money.
- Ow, Mum! Ow! -Oh, I'm sorry.
I am not taking any new job, and Mia is not quitting school.
- Is that clear? - I can help!
Surf contests, they have prize money. I'm good.
Don't you see? Your dad is supposed to be taking care of us.
Him and his mates need to sort out this strike,
and he needs to take care of us like he's supposed to.
And we should be talking about nice things,
like frocks and boys and shoes
and the top bloody 40 and Donny Osmond.
- Girls, have you seen Donny Osmond lately? - Ew, Mum.
I don't wanna be talking about bricks and strikes and bills.
So, you're not quitting school to surf.
Nothing is changing, all right?
Oh. I'm sorry.
And you wanna be my boss?
- No, I want us to work together. - Hmm.
And being my big brother's boss is just a happy by-product.
And let's be honest, mate,
it's not like you're doing a great job with your current gig.
- Piss off! - I can fire you for that.
- Which is why you're not hiring me. - Why are you fighting this Wayne bloke?
You know, there's other jobs, there's other companies...
Because it's the right thing to do.
That simple. We have rights. We fight for 'em.
- Jesus, Mick! -You're wasting your time.
The company's a dinosaur.
- Oh, and you're the future, eh? - Yeah.
We are. You know, TV is gonna be huge in the '80s.
People will wanna see something new, something fun.
Good news, entertaining news.
News that makes you feel good, excited, horny.
The '70s have been a drag.
Mate, I am so sorry my comrades and me haven't entertained you enough
- as we've fought for our families. -Nah, you're good.
Besides, sweaty communists...
- Socialists. - Sweaty socialists don't rate well either.
Here, look, Miss Universe.
Coming to Perth.
The eyes of the world coming to the end of the world.
You could be there.
With me.
Nah, mate.
It's just yours.
However, if you've got any old TVs in that production company of yours...
I'll take one of those.
More steak?
Hmm. Mm-hmm.
- You growing, young fella! - Hmm.
You've shot up a lot since I saw you last.
I'll have to stock up.
You'll eat me out of house and home.
- You don't have to worry about that. - Yeah, I'm not. I'm just messin', Mary.
It's Djinda, Mum. My name is Djinda.
We're just passin' through. We'll be gone first thing in the morning.
Mm-hmm.
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender!
- No retreat! No surrender! -Tam.
Tam! Shit, there you are.
We're done here. Ta. Ta, mate. Say hi to your sister for me, will ya?
No retreat! No surrender! No retreat! No surrender!
Is this the best WA has to offer?
Apparently.
Lambs to the slaughter, every one of them.
But seeing as you didn't want me recommending you to Wayne...
...I've just had a call from the bank.
They're closing us down?
Your bank. Your house. The mortgage.
They were checking if you and Tony were still employed here.
- What? - They haven't been paid for three months.
Oh, well, we're... we're all good, Fran. I've got it sorted.
Honestly, I don't know how you put up with that rabble.
These are my girls. They're just, uh, taking notes, you know.
Taking a bit of inspiration from the, uh, the big boys.
Thanks, Tam.
So, Brian...
What would you do as General Manager, mate?
I'd start by targeting the longest-serving member of staff,
- walk him out of here without a payoff. - Hmm.
Then I'd target the most popular.
And then the loudest, do the same. All of them. Gone.
The rest will fall in line.
- Marquee cuts always... - Fran!
Well, it's an interesting approach
to jackboot your way in here and stamp your name on something...
...before you have even the vaguest idea of what exactly you're stamping on.
It's just that the, uh, longest-serving employee
is the only one that actually understands the wiring on the production line.
And, um... ...the most popular is, uh...
Sorry. Um. Fran.
Really? Thanks.
- Oh, well, without you we're... - We're all fucked.
And, uh, the loudest, Dave, is the most efficient technician
that we've had for the past three quarters, so, um,
there is that.
- Not a great start, Brian. - Or finish.
Piss off. You're talking out your arse.
Not bad Jude, not bad at all.
Jono! Jono! I'm... I'm in our capsule!
Come on! Two minutes.
Well, Houston, we have a problem.
Have advised them.
We're still a go for Mars landing.
Didn't we do that trip in this three years ago?
Hmm.
We can always go again. For real.
- Tilly. We can't. I... - Okay... No...
John Glenn flew over Perth when I was in my mum's belly.
The first woman cosmonaut flew the year... ...we were born.
Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon before we were seven.
- And the Space Shuttle... - Tilly...
- I can't. - The... the... the Space Age is our age!
Ours.
You were the first friend who ever understood that.
- This is our dream. - It's your dream.
Not mine.
- Not really. - What is then?
- Mmm... - Really?
- I don't know. Bowie. Music. - David Bowie?
Neil Armstrong? John Glenn?
You want it, Tilly? Chase it.
Really, you should. But I'm not.
Sorry.
What are you up to?
-Come on, we've gotta go. - Um...
- Esperance is a long drive. -Esperance?
Yeah, they need help with their bloody mongrel MP down there.
And what do you need?
- And my grandson? - Well, he needs his people.
People? I'm his bloody people, Mar...
Bilya, he needs a high school certificate.
We've gotta go, Mum, I'm really sorry.
You wanna deal with these whitefellas? These mongrels?
Educate our boy. That's how ya do it!
Bilya isn't your son, okay?
He's mine. Adam, your son, you remember him?
- He's 1,000 miles away. -I know Bilya.
And I know Adam. Thank you.
Look, I know you've gotta go. I get it.
Let him stay with me, here.
Please.
Uh. I'll stay with Nan.
All good.
Mia?
Mia? That smoke stinks!
- Hey, Tilly. -Poppy.
Mia, Mum? Where is she?
At work.
-Oh, no! - June 6, 1979. Here come the ladies!
More Miss Universe contestants
- arrive into Perth. - Don't.
Fears grow a power strike could hit pageant and broadcast.
NASA has announced its new space shuttle program
will be delayed by another two years.
This means the Skylab space station will remain empty for at least six years,
calling into question its future.
- It's good here, though. - Huh?
Sorry for the delay, gentlemen.
Thanks for coming in on such short notice. It won't be long.
Yup.
Yeah.
Poof!
Yeah, I am.
Sod this, boys. I'm home to the missus.
Sorry for the wait, boys.
Been a bit busy hiring my new interim General Manager.
Judy Bissett. Knows the place inside out and knows you lot inside and out.
Good evening, gentlemen. We all know each other.
We know everything about each other. No more secrets.
No more games.
Wayne wants to remodel the business.
You wanna keep your jobs and get paid more.
In the meantime, the city is waiting for us to sort this out.
So, I...
We...
are gonna start to fix this.
Tonight.
Hmm.