Operation Buffalo (2020) s01e03 Episode Script

LEO: Tell me you found Carmen.
HILLY: We found someone else.
Eva Lloyd George.
My uncle is Gwilym Lloyd George.
The Home Secretary?
I thought you released three
of those last night, Dr Ratchett.
RATCHETT: And another six this
morning. Need to establish a trail.
CRANKY: I have been told that there
are no Aborigines in this region.
I've never really gone out there
to see for myself.
ST JOHN: Why don't you, sir?
I never want to hear that name again.
Do you understand?
I'm from the Australian Security
and Intelligence Organisation.
Leo? Leo!
You have to clean up
and get out of here.
There's no time to mourn.
(LIVELY CHATTER)
(DRAMATIC MOVIE MUSIC)
FILM NARRATOR: Before dawn
on the 16th of July 1945
at Alamogordo, New Mexico,
an event took place
which was to change the world
for all time to come.
(EXPLOSION)
The atomic age was born.
(CHILDREN EXCLAIM)
LORRAINE: Would you like to go
to space one day?
I guess so.
What about space monsters?
What space monsters?
There could be space monsters.
There aren't any space monsters.
No such thing.
How do you know? There's probably
another life out there.
It's unlikely they look like us,
so I think that space monsters
aren't just a possibility
but a probability.
There is no other life out there.
Is there, Mum?
No space monsters!
Everyone take a breath. OK? Come on.
The horse show starts in 10 minutes.
Giddy-up.
(THEME MUSIC)
DICK: (ON RADIO)
Mr Speaker, having just returned
from a fact-finding journey
to Maralinga,
where we found a military facility
run to the highest standards
of discipline and efficiency,
we can inform the House
the work being done there
will define this country
for generations.
It is fundamentally un-Australian
for this Opposition
to attempt to undermine our future.
This Opposition
SPEAKER: (BANGS GAVEL) Order!
..which seeks to do no more
than to pollute the minds
of our citizenry
with their hideous red propaganda!
SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Speaker, Labor does not seek
to pollute anything.
OPPOSITION MEMBERS: No, no, no, no!
What Labor seeks is straight answers
from this government
to inform the Australian people
about the goings on at Maralinga!
MAN: We want to know!
TERRY: This government volunteered
to have nuclear bombs
dropped on our country!
MAN: It's a bloody disgrace!
TERRY: Absolutely nothing
and no-one will be harmed,
according to the Prime Minister!
The girls are coming to pick me up
in a cab at half past.
Len's coming, right?
Yeah, he should be here
any minute. Here.
Take this.
What's that?
It's your marching orders.
Tell no-one, not even the girls,
until you're there and safe.
It's Lenny's uncle's
and it's remote, so you'll be safe.
Uh, Nick, this is Leo.
G'day, mate.
Hey.
NICK: Oh, we're in luck, man.
No blood's seeped through.
We'll just wrap him in the rug,
tie it off
and chuck him in the truck.
Did you want anything extra?
What do you mean, 'extra'?
No fingers means no fingerprints,
no teeth, no dental records,
burn his clothes,
that sort of thing.
I thought you said
he'd never be found.
A lot of blokes in your situation
feel as though they might sleep
a little better at night
if the body could never be ID'd.
How much extra?
£5.
Yeah.
Did he drive here?
Yeah.
Well, we'll need to deal with that.
That's another five.
There's a sedan out front
with Z plates.
Z plates? Is he a cop?
Is that a problem?
Not especially.
Terry. Can I have a quick word?
It'll have to be very quick.
I'm already late for a meeting.
You gave us some pretty good stick
today about Maralinga.
You look confident.
We're a hungry Opposition.
What do you expect?
I expect you to do
what's in the best interests
of the nation.
Is there something you know
that I,
as the responsible minister,
ought to know about Maralinga?
You've answered
your own question, Dick.
You ought to know.
(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)
MAN: (ON P.A) Attention.
The next train will not be
stopping at Canberra station.
For passengers' safety,
please stand well behind the line.
(GUARD BLOWS WHISTLE)
MAN: (ON P.A.) Perfect conditions
yet again in Maralinga
for the annual
Aussies versus Poms game.
So, go, boys!
(P.A. WHINES)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Pitch is turning a bit. (CHUCKLES)
Mm. I see.
Yeah.
Uh, a couple of gaps
out there on the on side.
This Pommy bastard's got a bit
of pace about him, so be warned.
Gotcha. I'll sort it.
JONES: How's the patient?
You mean the Russian doll
you nearly pissed yourself over?
She's fine.
Stop it.
Cor!
Duty calls. Have fun.
Yeah! It's cricket!
Ah.
MAN: Middle and leg, please, sir!
A bit towards leg.
There we go.
MEN: Oh!
(GRUNTS ANGRILY) Fuckin' rat!
HILLY: Murph. Murph
What's the bloody point?
MAN: Get him!
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Come!
Hang on. Ta-da!
How are you, darling Prof?
Chicken!
(LAUGHS)
You're my new junior?
It would appear so.
But you're
Since when have you been
a Lloyd George?
Unless you've married
a Lloyd George, of course.
No, I've always been
a Lloyd George, Prof.
Yeah, but you were Eva Lavroski.
I'm afraid not.
I used my mother's maiden name
at Cambridge.
Still do sometimes. Never liked
having preferred treatment.
You're an actual Lloyd George?
Oh, Christ, Prof! Does it matter?
If anything, it's a bloody curse.
It's all anybody
ever wants to talk about.
Prime minister or not,
I was never particularly
fond of the old bugger.
Quite frankly, I wish
I could have stayed a Lavroski.
Shall we go for a walk?
Nurse!
Nurse, give us a hand, would you?
(GROANS) Ow. Ow, ow!
Oh.
Good Lord!
Nurse.
Professor.
MURPH: Cor!
You know I love you, right?
Always have and I always will.
Come, my little rays of sunshine!
Men!
(GROANS)
I love you.
Alice! Marilyn!
Sometimes, during a drought
..the meteorologists
must tell the farmers
it's about to rain.
Because without hope,
they have nothing.
So, sometimes,
when the wind is blowing east
They must be told
it's a southerly.
I have one job, chicken -
to allay fear.
To put the gods of water and fire
..at peace.
Are you some sort of
desert war-lord shaman now?
I write my public reports
in such a way
that the Australian people
can feel comfy and secure
about the tests at Maralinga,
so all the windy politicians
in London and Canberra
can be released from liability
because the science
is officially in from yours truly
confirming the atomic
mushroom clouds don't travel.
EVA: "Sleep tight, Australia,
for safe progress is at hand."
Quite.
You must also
have written real reports.
Of course.
Who gets those?
It's a political matter
way above your pay grade.
Only two people get the truth.
Not many in London or Canberra
want it.
It seems a possibility
your truth is getting out there
beyond pay grade borders.
What do you mean?
What borders?
Porous borders.
Parties opposed to
Her Majesty's realm
seem to have received
a raft of secrets
they were obviously
not intended to discover.
It seems your secret truths
about the wandering
atomic clouds have
..been leaked -
to politicians described
by some as 'unsympathetic'.
Unsympathetic?
To whom?
Prof
..have you been indiscreet?
(BANG AT DOOR)
Excuse me, Professor Ratchett.
Uh, Dr Lloyd George,
the general requests
the pleasure of your company.
CRANKY: # As I walked along
the Bois de Boulogne
# With an independent air
# You could hear
the girls declare
# "He must be a millionaire"
ALL: # You could hear them sigh
and wish to die
# You could see them wink
with the other eye
# At the man who broke the bank
at Monte Carlo. #
Where are the scientists?
They finished their work here
yesterday, Doctor.
CRANKY: And what
a jolly good show that is, too!
That's British efficiency
teaching them, isn't it?
In and out. That's our ethic.
Ah.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Isn't that a sight to behold?
One must say,
as leader of this vital mission,
as one surveys
this symbol of progress,
which only we British can make.
Actually, you know,
looking at it from this angle,
it's really just a crater,
isn't it?
Or am I missing something?
EVA: No, it would appear to be
just a crater, sir.
Well, I must say,
that's a tad underwhelming.
To put on this most uncomfortable
and unflattering kit.
Good God! Isis that a fire?
Is it they?
ST JOHN: Who, sir?
The people. You know.
The black people we met last night.
She sang. Remember?
I think we should be discreet
about last night, don't you, sir?
Government policy
about Aborigines and all that.
All what?
I think it's just a truck, sir.
And the blacks
wouldn't be in a truck.
ST JOHN: Even if there were any,
they can't drive.
What do you mean,
"Even if there were any"?
We were all there!
Leo was with us as well!
EVA: Might it not have been
a dream, sir?
We all have them.
Nothing unusual about that.
When one is in
a position of command,
under such obvious stress,
one needs to allow for
the occasional dream.
Don't you think, sir?
Corporal, sound your klaxon!
Mymy what, sir?
Your klaxon!
Sound it immediately!
Uh
Your horn.
Ah.
(TOOTS HORN REPEATEDLY)
Corporal, start the vehicle.
Allow me, sir. Jolly good.
You two stay
and, uhmind the fort.
No, sir, really, I
Did you not hear me, Mr Moore?
This is a military installation.
I am its commandant
and those are my orders.
Let us move on, Baxter.
Sans flotsam and jetsam here.
(STARTS ENGINE)
What exactly are you doing here,
Mr Moore?
You know, that's a very good
question, Dr Lloyd George.
LEO: Oh! I'm so bloody stoned.
That stuff is unbelievable.
I know. (COUGHS)
I'm very proud.
(LAUGHS) No, that
that's not what I meant, Len.
This is notthis is not
the right time to get this stoned.
It was just meant to be a toke.
Oh, Jesus. I've got toI've
got to see Lorraine. Oh, my God.
I really need to stop
taking drugs at some point.
Why don't you stop
killing people first?
Might help.
I beg your pardon?
That's the reason
why you take drugs.
To placate the murderer within you.
Whatwhatwhat bullsh
I'm not
I'm not placating any
I'm notI'm not a murderer.
I'm not a murderer.
What do you fucking mean,
you're not a murderer?!
We just had a meeting
with someone about
how to dispose of a body stabbed
through the neck this morning!
Yeah, I told you,
it was self-defence.
Oh, and then you paid
a few extra pounds
to cut his fuckin' fingers off!
OK, shut up. Shut up! Shut up!
And then there's the small matter
of your atom bombs.
You know what?
You really need to get a haircut.
Well, I'm thinking
I'm gonna keep growing it.
Longer?
Well, I can't exactly
grow it shorter, idiot, can I?
(LEO LAUGHS)
Mate, I'm just saying,
given your profession,
you might want to adopt
a lower profile.
Mate, fashion, if nothing else,
is cyclical, yeah?
And, mate, no, the long hair,
it was the fashion hair
of the Renaissance era,
the Romantic era.
In fact, whenever mankind
has been at its best,
everyone's had long hair.
It's coming back.
It's coming back soon.
I intend to be in the vanguard.
Another inch
and they'll arrest you on sight.
Ha! I doubt it, mate.
Far out, I've got big cops
and pollies
and they're doing pretty well
out of me right now.
Yeah, they're not gonna let
my soon-to-be-glorious locks
get in the way
of good business sense.
Shit!
What?
What if ASIO knows?
Knows what?
Knows I'm in Adelaide.
It's possible. Fuck!
This place has been cleaned.
We don't know for sure
that Whicker's dead.
Maybe it's Molly.
Then why didn't Whicker report in?
Mm.
(RADIO PLAYS QUIETLY)
OK, what do we know
about the phone call
from Molly to Lachlan?
Molly was in Maralinga
with at least one other girl -
Carmen.
Yeah. I mean, if you're gonna
go to all that trouble
to get two hookers
from Adelaide to Maralinga,
you may as well make it
a real party, right?
Get a bunch of girls.
Yeah. OK. I'm with you.
Then something goes to shit
at the party.
Sex game gone wrong. Drugs.
Carmen goes missing.
Politician panics.
Yeah, next day, Molly threatens
politician over the phone.
We know that.
But she probably also threatens
the guy that booked the party.
"Find my friend or else I'll blab"
is the message, yeah?
He'd be in a world of shit
and he'd need Molly to stay quiet.
CRANKY: I'm damn sure
it wasn't a dream.
She kept on insisting it was.
I don't know what to tell you,
General. Really.
Oh, but you must have seen them.
The blacks.
If you haven't,
then what are we paying you for?
I mean, your job is to find them
and move them on,
outside the perimeter.
Have you considered the possibility
that some of your people may be
trying to protect you from yourself?
You're not meant to be
seeing blacks, sir.
I have no need for protection.
I'm a general in the British Army.
I've been decorated
in a dozen bloody theatres.
I am your commander, am I not?
Aye. You are indeed, sir.
How much petrol
do you have, Sergeant?
Uh
Huh. A lot.
Corporal!
Yes, sir?
You may return to our crater
and ferry our friends
back to the camp,
if you'd be so kind.
Dalgleish here
is taking me on an inspection tour
of the perimeter.
Yes, sir. The entire perimeter?
Time permitting.
You do know, sir,
that this facility,
in actual land size,
is bigger than the United Kingdom?
Well, it's a big job, then.
So, tarry not, man.
Right.
Jesus! Shit! Slow down.
What?
They're here.
Right there, look.
Straight ahead. A Z car.
OK, uh, take a left here.
I'll go in the back way.
What, here?
Yes, left!
Yeah, alright.
(PANTS)
(DOG BARKS)
Shh!
(BARKS)
Quiet, Major. Quiet.
Quiet, Major. There you go.
There you go. Shut up.
Not a bad neighbourhood,
don't you reckon, mate?
How does an army major
get to afford
to live in a place like this?
Red money, maybe.
(CALLS OUT) Dad!
Shh! Shh-shh!
OK, now, we only have
about 90 seconds
before there'll be a knock
on the front door.
They're men I work with.
We have to be nice to them.
What happened to your hand?
Tough roast beef.
Carving knife slipped.
This is our story, group.
I got home early this morning
from Maralinga, had a sleep.
We had breakfast, fooled around
with the dog for a while.
Walk in the park.
EMMA: We went to the show.
Did we?
Mm.
There's show stuff in there.
There are bags.
OK. Well, thatthat
that's good.
That'sthat's why
I came back, right?
The most important thing
is I've been here all day,
apart from when
we all went to the show.
And if they ask
how often you see me,
just say a fair bit -
every few weeks.
That's not a good answer.
It'll do for now.
That's not a good answer, Dad!
You can't just say
you're back every few weeks,
because they can check that,
can't they?
I mean, they'd know
if you left the camp, right?
Right. Thank you, Em.
So, we'll say Harry's birthday,
shall we?
Because we can prove that.
Sevenmonths ago.
OK. Good thinking.
Harry, come and help me
rebandage my hand, huh?
Come on. Hello, darling.
Alright, let's go.
AGENT: Calm down.
Oh!
(AGENTS CONTINUE
LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION)
Heads up.
Wait. What?
Ohh, shit!
AGENT: Mate, really?!
Mate, we're not meant to have these.
Where'd you get them?
It's a war out there, mate.
The communists are everywhere.
Mate, that guy
is a decorated war hero.
Arggh! Ohh!
It is the school holidays.
He has two kids.
More than likely, they're at home.
If we turn up there with sawn-offs
and he has got a gun,
all hell could break loose.
Whicker would have gone in
with a sawn-off.
Whicker was a psychopath, mate.
Back in the boot!
(SIGHS)
"But the man from Snowy River
let the pony have his head,
"And he swung his stock whip"
(DING!)
"..round and gave a cheer,
"And he raced him
down the mountain
"Like a torrent in its bed
"And while the others stood and"
(DING!)
"..watched in very fear."
Milk for your tea, gentlemen?
Yes. Thank you.
Yes, please.
That would be
Definitely milk.
Yeah, that would be great.
Thank you so much.
It's 'The Man from Snowy River'.
I'm just practising my typing.
Ah, right.
So, youyou, umyou went
to the show this morning, did you?
That sounds like fun.
Dad promised he'd take us.
Oh. OK.
So, youryour dad's been home
all day, has he?
Yes. Apart from
when we went to the show.
Tell me, do either of you
believe in space monsters?
I know it sounds childish.
Space monsters?
Yes.
Because my idiot brother
won't even
contemplate the possibility,
and I just can't see
how the only life in the universe
can be on this earth.
Statistically, you know?
Statistically.
I mean, they don't have to be,
like, 'monsters' monsters,
like in the movies,
but it's most likely
they won't look like us.
Isn't it?
I mean, the process of evolution.
So, is your dad gonna be long?
Well, how do you do, gentlemen?
Leo Carmichael.
Sorry for keeping you waiting.
Yeah.
G'day. How do you do?
Agent Cartwright.
Agent Martin.
What happened to your hand?
Oh. Tough roast beef.
Hunger got the better of me
and the knife slipped.
Thanks, darling.
Of course.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So, um, one of our colleagues
has disappeared.
Oh. How can I help?
Well, it depends
how you want to play this, Major.
You see, we're ASIO
and we don't have to go through
this little charade
of tea and pleasantries
with the kiddies.
We can haul you away right now
and keep you in custody
pretty much forever.
So, the last place we know
for certain our colleague visited
was the home of Molly Lipton,
and if you tell us
you don't know who that is,
that would be a huge mistake.
Very well.
Do you know where Molly Lipton is?
Well, I presume
you've tried her house.
I have her telephone number
somewhere,
if that'd be of some assistance.
OK. So, youyou do know her?
Of course.
As you said, it would be a huge
mistake to deny knowing her,
because you know it'd be untrue.
I mean, you know my job
at Maralinga.
Yes. We've been told
that you effectively run the place.
From a military and logistical
perspective, that's true.
My main official task is to design
and supervise construction
of whatever infrastructure the
scientists need to drop their bombs.
Right. Yeah.
But after General Cranford,
I am the senior soldier,
so I also run the camp.
We know you have prostitutes
flown into the camp.
Yes. And obviously,
that's where Molly comes in.
My main unofficial task
is to look after the scientists.
Whatever they want, it's my job
to make sure they get it.
If they want French wine,
I get them French wine.
If they want French women,
I get them Australian women
poorly pretending to be French.
But whatever makes them happy.
Such are my orders.
So, Molly Lipton
is a person I turn to
as a, uhservice provider,
and she's paid well
to provide those services.
She and a few of her girls
come to the camp occasionally
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Need Leo, darling.
(SIGHS)
Uhand this is for
the scientists, did you say?
Yes. So, Molly and her girls
arrived Tuesday, I think.
And then a test was called forward.
Uh, apologies, gentlemen.
Darling, there's a gentleman
at the door
wanting to use the phone.
Excuse me for a second, gentlemen.
No worries.
(WHISPERS) Just stop being
so aggressive, can you?
I'm not!
You are! It's in your eyes.
Just because you're expecting
another set of twins
doesn't mean you can steamroll
every situation.
This has nothing to do with
Wendy's unique talent for pregnancy!
He's a communist!
What are you talking about?
Who said anything about a communist?
He's not a communist!
We're here because of Whicker!
There's no history of twins
in Wendy's family.
Or mine.
(GROANS) Mate!
But when these two are born,
we will have three sets of twins
under the age of five!
Wendy's not her mother's daughter.
Or something worse.
That's all I'm saying.
(PHONE RINGS)
Oh, Jesus!
Dunne!
LENNY: Hey.
How are you, Jack?
Busy, mate. What's up?
Look, I'm not happy.
I'm not happy at all.
I've just had a big stash thieved.
And I want to know
that you've got my back on this.
I do, mate. Always.
How big was the stash?
It was four carry-ons.
Four carry-ons?!
Fuck! That's got to be 200!
Jeez! Do you know
who and where they are?
Yep.
Oh, well, they're dead meat, mate,
trust me.
Yeah, look, I'd be careful
if I was you.
I think they're ASIO.
ASIO?!
Fuck!
So, the, uhthe Defence Minister?
Yes, Mr Lachlan was in the party,
as were the scientists,
the British High Commissioner
What went on at the party?
I have no idea.
Well, you falsified records,
flight manifests.
Only way I could make it work.
And what went on at the party?
I told you, I have no idea.
When was the last time
you actually saw Molly Lipton?
Wednesday, when she left Maralinga.
We will tell the press that you are
cooperating with our investigation,
but if I were you
I would kiss your kids.
If I were you,
I'd walk away right now
and steer clear of Maralinga
for the rest of your lives.
Yep. OK, well, let's do that.
Thanks, mate, for
You're under arrest. Get up.
Mate, are you sure?
(CHUCKLES) I'm sure.
OK.
(SIRENS WAIL)
Oops.
(CARS PULL UP)
Too late, I fear.
You had your chance.
They're not here for me,
Agent Cartwright.
Oh! Come on, mate!
You've already cuffed me!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
REPORTER: Here. Another one!
There's another one!
There's another one!
Are you kidding?!
You're dead.
(SIREN WAILS)
(REPORTERS SHOUT)
Alright! Oi!
As you can observe, the perpetrators,
who we can identify as agents
of the Australian Security
and Intelligence Organisation,
have in their possession
a trafficable quantity
of illegal substances
and illegal weapons.
Weapons?!
I'll take questions now.
(REPORTERS CLAMOUR)
So, you're in trouble?
It's nothing I can't take care of.
You can take care of ASIO?
On an average day, it would seem.
And today has been pretty average.
I thought you built towers.
Yes, from which they drop atom bombs.
No towers, no bombs, no progress.
Are you a spy?
You've done more than your share
for the Empire.
Lorraine, I'm a soldier.
I like being a soldier.
It's not so much about loyalty.
You took the words
out of my mouth.
But you don't like it.
You love it.
They owe you an enormous pension.
The house is paid for.
You could walk into
any engineering firm in town
I tried that when I got back
from France, remember?
How do you think that worked out?
The offer's still on the table.
If you want a divorce,
I won't stand in your way.
I'll be the villain.
That's not what I want.
And just for the record
..it wouldn't be much of
a sacrifice on your part
to be the villain.
Well, there's not much more
I can offer right now.
You talk about divorce
like we're from Sydney.
This is Adelaide, Leo.
I'll see you as soon as I can.
HARRY: Can't you stay longer?
I'm needed back at the camp.
Remember these words, my boy -
people really like
being bossed round.
Now, what are you gonna do
for the rest of the day?
EMMA: We're going to Justin's.
HARRY: A balloon landed
in his backyard.
Everyone's going to see it.
A show balloon?
No.
A bigger balloon, he says.
Covered in muck.
Justin always makes up stuff,
though.
Right. When was this?
This morning.
It's got all these gadgets on it,
he says.
Gadgets?
OK. You know,
I'd like to see this thing.
Really?
Yeah.
What, a balloon?
Yeah, a family outing.
What do you say?
What about your flight?
Oh, it'll wait for me.
Come on. Let's get in the car.
Let's move.
Hey, um, have you
you got your keys, mate?
'Cause it's your turn to drive.
You know, we reallywe need
some equity in this relationship
or it's simply not gonna work.
(CHILDREN LAUGH)
I'm gonna get you!
(CHILDREN CHATTER)
Just wait here for a second, OK?
EMMA: Why?
Just wait here for a second!
Your father's right.
Stay put for now.
I know these people. You don't.
What's in the balloon?
Information.
You turned white
when Harry mentioned the balloon.
The kids can't go near that balloon.
Because?
It's just a precaution.
Hi!
Hi, Lorraine.
I thought I heard your car.
Hi, Maria.
Sorry. A little early.
You've met my husband, Leo,
of course.
I think so. Um, how are you?
Fine, thank you.
Well, come in.
Hi! Bring the kids in.
Oh, you should see this thing!
It fell literally out of the blue,
onto our washing line.
Has anyone touched it?
Yeah!
The kids have been
fooling around with it. Why?
Hmm. Well, I know this all sounds
strange, but I think it's mine.
And can you get the kids
to stop playing with it, please?
Oh! (CHUCKLES) Your balloon?
Leo runs the atomic tests
at Maralinga.
We use a lot of weather balloons. Are
the kids playing with it right now?
Uhthe atom bombs?
Right. I remember
Lorraine saying something
If that balloon is one of ours,
it wasn't meant to land here
and the gadgets connected to it
contain some important
scientific and military data,
so it would be a lot better
if no-one touched or tampered
with the gadgets or the balloon.
In fact, if you could just keep the
kids away from the balloon altogether
and you kept them inside.
Our washing. The
The sheets I put out to dry
yesterday
..this morning,
they had thisthis
..light grey soot all over them,
just like the balloon.
And I-I
(SCREAMS) Kids! Kids!
(KETTLE WHISTLES)
So, I have two kids
(SWITCHES OFF KETTLE)
..and a dog.
They've been playing with
your husband's balloon all day.
What would you advise me to do?!
Leo will tell you.
Oh. So, you trust Leo now, do you?
(PHONE RINGS)
Why do we always make tea?!
I'm so fucking sick of tea!
Have you got any Scotch?
Watto?
Yes. Get meget me
Professor Ratchett.
Where is he, then? Try the mess.
So, the thing is
..I know it's you
who's been doing the leaking.
You're the only person I've
discussed the truth of my work with.
And I did that
because I trusted you.
Actually, I didn't do it
because I trusted you,
I did it because
..I think I'm in love with you,
actually.
And I think you know that.
But you're not in love with me,
are you?
You can be honest with me.
Were you just using me?
CORINNE: 'Just'.
I mean, it's such an awful word.
Don't you think?
I found out I was sterile
after I'd been here for a year.
So, you can imagine mycuriosity.
And then you appeared
almost as if on cue.
It's not as if I haven't
enjoyed our time together
over the last year, but
..you're right.
I'm not in love with you.
I want you to know
that I've seen things here.
Things you don't know.
That I couldn't, in conscience,
stay silent about.
I'm sure you've seen things too.
I never meant to hurt you.
But I guess it was
an inevitable consequence.
So, I apologise.
(BARKS)
LEO: Shit. Away!
(TAPS ON WINDOW) Away!
Lorraine Uh, sorry, Maria?
The dog. The dog.
You need to pull her in.
I'm back, yeah.
(WHISTLES) Where are you?
Come here. What are you doing?
No, no, no, no.
(DOG WHIMPERS)
Thank you, Corporal.
I hope I'm not keeping you.
Yes?
Doctor.
Major. Enjoying Adelaide?
One of our balloons has landed
in the backyard
of one of my son's friends.
My neighbours and their kids
have been playing
with the balloon,
even though the balloon
is covered in, quote, "grey muck".
Are you sure this is something
we should be discussing
over the phone, Major?
We have no choice!
OK? What about my neighbours?
Is it serious?
Well, there are many variables
in play.
Mass, content, viscosity.
I can't tell from here, sir.
Check the number.
Will you please tell me
what to do?!
This isn't my area.
Not your area?
How long have you been at Maralinga?
That balloon has travelled
through an atomic bomb plume.
I wouldn't go near the thing myself
without gloves, a mask,
boots and a suit.
Do you have kids?
What would you do if you had kids
in this situation?
Isn't it obvious?
You scrub those kids
till they bleed.
Then you wrap them up
and you take them to a hospital
with a radiation unit.
Surely you don't need me
to tell you that.
So, it's really bad?
Christ!
Don't pretend to me
that you don't know.
Your job is to pretend to them
that you don't know!
(HANGS UP)
(GIRL SCREAMS, CRIES)
It's OK. I'm almost done. It's OK.
(GIRL CONTINUES CRYING
AND SCREAMING)
MARIA: Ah!
OK, almost done. Turn.
Just stay there.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
It's just a matter of precaution.
A precaution? Against what?
Just to be safe.
I understand the meaning
of the word 'precaution'!
Christ!
Lor
What the hell are you doing?
Isn't it safe?
I thought it was the safest thing
mankind ever created.
That's what you told me.
Just walk away from it,
will you, please?
Answer my question.
Why?
These are my friend's kids, Leo.
Christ! What war do you still think
you're fighting?
Whose war? Who's the enemy?
Or is it because
it's the only war on offer?
If there's another war,
don't you want us
to have a chance of winning it?
This is what winning looks like,
is it?
Bombing your own country?
Toxic balloons in backyards?
The Russians won't need a war, Leo.
We'll just kill ourselves
and save them the bother!
Tell me the truth!
Walk away from the balloon,
Lorraine, and we can talk.
I don't think
I've ever seen you this scared.
Don't play fucking games!
You don't have to touch it
to get sick!
The kids, Lorraine!
Goddamn you!
But for the fact you happen
to be back here, playing spy games,
our kids would be playing
with that balloon right now.
Yeah, so I came back, alright?
Not by design.
We need to take you and your children
to the hospital
at the Edinburgh RAAF base.
I'm not aware of any hospital
at the RAAF base.
You're not meant to be.
You'll have to sign a document
before I can take you there.
You have no choice.
You can't mention anything
that's about to happen
to you or your children to anyone.
If you do, you'll go to jail.
CRANKY: There is so much beauty
in this land, Dally,
is there not?
Aye, there is, sir.
I should have thought, with such
a permanently stunning setting,
they would have had
a bit of dress sense.
If ever there was an environment
that cried out for white linens.
Or cream, at the very least.
Well, theythey used to
roam round happily naked, sir.
And then the mish taught them
hymns and shame.
"The mish"?
Aye, the bloody Lutheran mission.
Oh.
Ah, yes. Now I understand.
It does smack of
a German sense of fashion.
(BOTH LAUGH)
Aye.
DALGLEISH AND CRANKY:
# Oh, you take the high road
# And I'll take the low road
# And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
# For me and my true love
# Will never meet again
# On the bonny
CRANKY: # Bonny banks
of Loch Lomond. #
(CRANKY LAUGHS)
# Oh, ye take the high road
# And I'll take
BOTH: # The low road
# And I'll be in Scotland
afore ye #
(FAN RATTLES)
(PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD)
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
What's going to happen
to my babies?
I'm sure they'll be fine.
Can you promise me that?
No. I'm not a doctor.
But let me make sure
that you understand
(YELLS) I bloody know!
I can't speak to anyone about this,
and if I do, the consequences
will be severe!
That's all you seem to
bloody care about!
What are you doing out there, Leo?
Making us safe.
(SOBS)
But you can't
tell anyone that either.
I'm sorry, Maria. I have my orders.
(DOOR OPENS)
MAN: Major?
Let Lorraine know
how things turn out.
I'll do what I can do.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Prof, you didn't come to dinner!
Wakey-wakey!
Hands off it, darlin'. (LAUGHS)
Good evening, Attorney-General.
And Defence Minister.
DICK: Good evening, Major.
You're visiting Maralinga
again, sir? And so soon?
Just wanted to have
a bit of a private chat, Major.
Bad news and good news.
(LEO SIGHS)
I've just been reading
an intelligence report.
You've had a busy few days,
by the looks of things, Major.
Indeed I have.
ASIO agent disappears
off the face of the earth.
(SCREAMS) No! No, no!
No! No!
No, please! No!
And just as they're about to
arrest you,
they are arrested
by local constabulary!
(LAUGHS) What a fabulous twist!
Now, if you are eventually charged
in relation to these incidents
and then found guilty,
what do you imagine
will be your sentence?
I'd say without a lawyer
for my defence at a trial in camera,
any reputable judge
would give me death.
DICK: And we have nothing less than
reputable judges.
Nevertheless, there is a chance
that you may be more useful to me
alive than dead.
Hence the good news.
You are now mine, Major.
I own you.
I need you to tell me
all the secrets behind our progress.
I will have your 100% loyalty.
But never fear.
It won't go unrewarded.
I am making you
the face of Maralinga.
I will own you
and you will own these tests.
So, on the whole,
it would be better
if things went without a hitch.
Tomorrow, Australia will have
a new hero to celebrate.
(CHUCKLES) Are we agreed?
You know, we'll have television
come October.
The government's
looking for a new face
that can project confidence,
strength and warmth
into the living rooms of the nation.
So, we daren't use a politician.
Are we agreed?
Thank you for the opportunity,
Attorney. I am at your service.
Excellent.
Rather than bring discredit
to this great national endeavour,
you will make this nation proud.
And if I don't, I'll be shot.
We are in furious agreement.
Now, as we have
a test bombing tomorrow,
I have, of course,
invited some press
to witness the proceedings.
I think he was murdered.
What do you mean, murdered?
Why didn't you tell me
we have guests?
This is not an auspicious start
to our relationship, Leo.
There's no need for a tower
in this test,
as the bomb just has to be
loaded onto a plane.
Why don't we just postpone the
whole thing for a few days, Leo?
The Attorney-General
and Defence Minister are here
and they're not leaving today
without photos of them standing
in front of a mushroom cloud.
Can you imagine
what it must be like
to be blown up by an atomic bomb?
DICK: Who IS that lunatic?!
Somebody shoot him! Shoot him now!
Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian
Broadcasting Corporation