The Goddard family is about to be torn apart by the arrival of Australian conscription during the Vietnam War.
This episode introduces the Goddard family - Douglas (Barry Otto) as the father, a politician in the Aussie government, Evelyn (Veronica Lang) and their children Phil (Nicholas Eadie) who gets drafted into the army and Megan (Nicole Kidman) the teenage rebel. At the age of 15, Megan is only interested in boys, hanging out with her friends and going to parties, and has to deal with her annoying older brother Phil winding her up! When she meets the charismatic Serge she pretends she is at University so she can go out with him.
The announcement of Australia joining the war in Vietnam rocks the family as Phil is enlisted and leaves to fight for his country. His family say an emotional farewell to him.
Once in Vietnam, the soldiers are pushed to their limits and beyond, dealing with landmines, civilian casualties, capture and the other horrors of war. The war puts a massive strain on his family back at home too - Douglas Goddard works in the Government and is involved in policy and decision making regarding the war, which creates tension between him and his family.
As Megan grows up and gets closer to Serge, she begins to feel frustrated at not being allowed her independence at home, so runs away to Sydney where Serge is at Uni.
Much to the embarrassment of her father, Megan and her friends become publicly involved with anti-war demonstrations, and Megan begins to challenge her father on his war policies. The family are re-united - on the surface - when Phil returns home on leave. Once her annoying older brother, Megan and Phil are now happy to hang out with each other, and go to a club together with friends. But it doesn't last long, as Phil has to return to Vietnam.
Megan becomes increasingly frustrated with her father up to the point where she moves out and goes to live with Serge. Serge and Megan are key figures in anti-war and draft resistance protests.
Her parents separate, and Megan introduces her mother to her new friends involved in anti-war protests, allowing the two to relate to each other in a new way and develop a real bond.
Meanwhile, on the frontline in Vietnam Phil is continuing to deal with endless horrors, and is seeing more of his friends die or become injured. When he is able to come home to Australia, he doesn't make contact with his family, and for months they are left without news of his safety.
Now an important part of the Vietnam anti-war protests, Megan is asked to take part in a radio interview about her groups efforts. Megan is informed and assured and answers questions with confidence. But she is rocked to her core when a man calling himself Tom calls up and immediately recognises the voice - it's her long lost brother Phil.
Megan struggles to retain her composure, and tries to defend her protests when her brother questions her support of the troops. When he hangs up, she breaks down. Following the end of the war, Megan and her parents are able to be civil to each other again, and have a mutual respect for each other.
Barry Otto
Douglas Goddard
Nicole Kidman
Megan Goddard
Nicholas Eadie
Phil Goddard
Veronica Lang
Evelyn Goddard
John Polson
Serge
Grace Parr
Le
Mark Lee
Laurie Fellows
Pauline Chan
Lien
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