Original subtitles

I'm Greg Mitchell. Can I help you?

Yes, I'm looking for Mr Lightfoot.

Mr Manning, I don't know what you're talking about. Mr Lightfoot has engaged

company to do special surveillance operations, and I know he works here.

Mr Manning, if there was someone here who could answer your questions, I would

be that someone.

And you'd never... I'm sorry I can't help you, but neither I nor anyone at

customs department know anything about this Lightfoot.

The photos are absolute dynamite.

There's no way I can risk getting them to you any other way.

If I don't take off within the next five minutes, I may not be able to get them

to you.

All right, okay.

I'll call you when I'm back in rank.

She did, briefly, after a plane crossed the coast, but that was five hours ago.

She was intending to refuel at Rockhampton, but she never got there.

Obviously, I held great fears, not just for her personal safety, but for that

vital information she was bringing me.

What do you intend to do about it?

Finder. Dead or alive before anyone else does.

The Tomahawk left New Guinea at about 9 o 'clock last night. It crossed the

Australian coast pretty much on schedule here headed south towards Rockhampton.

Clearly somewhere between here and here something went seriously wrong.

It's a pretty big area, so we're going to have to be methodical and stick

closely to our grid search pattern. So are we looking for a crash site? Not

necessarily. It may have been forced to land, either for mechanical reasons

or... Presumably the search and rescue services are already on the job, sir?

and they won't be either. This is a very sensitive operation. The utmost secrecy

is required.

Nobody, and I repeat, nobody, is to know anything about it.

Apart from us, of course.

Apparently we're not going to be told much either.

We know the pilot is a woman codenamed Joy.

And she's carrying documents of such critical importance to Mr Lightfoot that

none of us need to know what they are.

Yeah, thanks, Chris.

There is one other thing.

We may not be the only ones who are looking for Joy.

I cannot stress to you how vital it is that we are the only ones who find her.

Just one moment, please.

Chris, phone call for you.

Name's Grace.

Nice voice. Do you want to take her here in the office?

I'll take her here.

Hello, Chris Manning.

Hey, Chris. Grace Mitchell. Remember me?

Of course.

I was just wondering if you'd heard anything more about your mystery client.

No, not really.

I'd like to discuss this further with you, but... Right now's not exactly the

right time?

No, it's a bit awkward.

Shall I call you back?

I look forward to it.

Okay, bye.

You have got a one -track mind and you're wrong.

No, none of my business.

Hold that thought.

No, not so far. We're about halfway through the sector.

Keep me posted.

Don't get me wrong.

Lightfoot's one cluey dude, OK, but he's a bit too rigid.

You know, he's not open to spontaneity and inspiration.

People like me make him feel uncomfortable because we come at things

and exciting angles.

You know, left field is just another country to the guy.

Whatever you say.

For example.

We're conducting the search on a grid pattern.

Like straight lines, right angles, rigid.

But you look at the ocean.

Flows. Look at the land.

Flows.

What we should be doing is taking it in as a whole and being receptive to the

primal messages it gives back.

And maybe then we'd get somewhere.

Okay, genius, you take the map.

What's it telling you?

Okay, what the map's telling me, and I'm pretty sure about this,

That big blue blobby bit, that's the sea.

And the green bit next to it, that would be the land.

And I think we'd better hurry up if we want to get home before dark.

Big Sky Base, this is Charlie Tango Delta.

Big Sky Base, go ahead, Charlie Tango.

Chris, I've located a black helicopter flying roughly the same height as me,

a bit further west and a lot lower.

Certainly seems to be looking for something.

Blake, Blakewood.

Has the other pilot spotted you?

I don't think so, sir.

Good. Keep it that way.

We may need to rethink our strategy.

But you said there was a possibility somebody else would be looking for her.

Yes, but that doesn't mean there's going to be any danger of a big sky,

necessarily. Well, why don't you tell me exactly who she is and what she's

carrying, and I'll make that judgment.

I'm sorry, mate.

Hey, what's that?

Where?

In the belly, over there.

The thumb was shining off something.

Tin shed.

Come in, Chris.

Change of plans, guys. Everybody back to base.

What's going on, Chris?

You heard, Jimbo.

That's stupid.

Unless somebody else has found the plane.

Just come home, please, Jimbo.

Our client has decided to reassess the situation in light of certain new

developments.

Gotcha. So the mysterious joy has been found. Get back to base immediately and

don't use this frequency again. I want Jimbo off this mission. I decide who

flies, remember?

Chris! Chris, how can I make you see how vital this is? Maybe by telling me

what's going on.

This is not good enough.

This is nowhere near good enough.

Hi, Grace, it's me.

Are you freezing up?

My fear that others may be looking for Joy has been confirmed.

It means they know what she has with her.

I'm sure you don't need to be reminded how critical it is that we get hold of

this information.

On the bright side, if Joy's plane was sabotaged and forced down, at least like

us, they don't know where she is.

It's the photos that really matter.

Truth.

We have another problem.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep Manny in the dark.

You know how unwise we think it would be to be totally frank with him.

Besides, I thought you'd sorted out your relationship.

We had.

But he still wants to know what he and his team have become a part of. I'm just

telling you, it might be dangerous if we continue deceiving him.

Until today, I was reluctant to break confidentiality with him. There's

definitely no choice.

Yeah, I'm keen to discover who he is too, considering he claims he works for

department. Well, he never actually said that.

Ah, he allowed you to assume it, though.

Yeah, the problem is he's one of my biggest clients.

I can't really afford to lose him.

Well, would you want to keep him if you discovered he was involved in an

organised crime?

Well, no.

That's why I came to see you. I needed to talk to somebody about it.

You know what they say, two heads are better than one.

Three heads are better than one.

I have this friend in Canberra. He's a retired public servant and one of the

best connected people I know.

Maybe he could make some enquiries for us.

Well, we could fly down to Canberra tomorrow and have a chat.

We could.

We must also consider other factors that might be significant.

It wasn't a scheduled flight.

Joy may have been flying low to avoid detection by radar.

She may have flown round the major provincial cities rather than over them.

Why have we only got one search plane today?

Well, as you know, I am anxious not to draw attention to ourselves.

Three planes searching the one area probably drew attention to us.

Do we maintain radio silence?

Yeah. I have no idea if our radio communications have been compromised,

think it's safer if we keep contact via the mobile phone.

Sir, could I make a suggestion?

Go ahead.

Well, instead of the grid approach we're using, we could try retracing the

missing plane's route under matching conditions.

It's something we tried in the Air Force once. That's crazy.

It was a night flight. We won't be able to see anything.

I'm suggesting we fly in daylight, but under the same conditions as a pilot

enjoys flight. You know, use only the instruments she had, allow for the same

weather, fly at the same altitude we think she did, and so on.

Sounds like a good idea.

Yeah, we'll give it a go then.

Ta.

It's about that mix -up with the heroin and the cyanide, isn't it?

Well, not entirely, but that wasn't a great call. It's not how I wanted it to

work out, OK? I know that, Jimbo, you never do, but you've had a lot on your

plate lately. Chris, I'm OK.

Yeah.

Look, it might be better just to stick to the simple stuff.

I mean, Jodie hasn't been gone... No, look, it's got nothing to do with that.

It's about me.

Well, me and Lightfoot, to be precise. He doesn't like me. I make him feel

nervous. And that makes you feel nervous, right?

Yeah, so how long am I on the bench?

Jimbo. No, come on, Chris, how long?

Well, you're on the bench as long as I say you're on the bench. Yeah, OK,

thanks. Thank you. As long as I know it.

Well, you're really going out on a limb for this guy, you know. I hope one day

he doesn't just lop it off.

Chris. Visitor.

All right.

Are you going out?

Uh -huh.

Well, what do I say when Lightfoot comes back and he wants to speak to you?

You say I'll be back.

Well, when?

When I walk back through the door.

Lightfoot doesn't own me.

You ready?

Yep.

You're not nervous, then?

Not... not at all.

It's just the going up and coming down bits that bother me.

Oh, that's all right, then.

I am a little bit nervous about what we're doing, though.

I thought you said you trusted this guy.

I do.

The guy we're checking up on that makes me nervous.

What's he like anyway, this Lightfoot?

Well, actually, he's not a bad bloke.

Most of the time, we get on pretty well.

Yeah? You don't trust him?

No.

Did he say where he was going?

No.

Well, you must be able to contact him if you need to.

Not always.

You're his secretary, Shay.

I'm his personal assistant.

I think Chris has gone to attend to a personal matter with the knife, what you

know. And I try never to pry into my boss's personal life.

Oh, come on, you're not telling me he's gone off on some kind of, um,

assignation during work hours.

Assignation?

I like that word.

I don't believe it.

Mac!

What are you doing here? Came to see Jimbo.

Oh, I'm sorry, mate. He's just gone out on a job. He won't be back for ages.

Oh. You okay?

Yeah, it's just... It's a pupil -free day at school today. I forgot.

The teacher sent me home.

Oh, I see.

So you thought that you were going to spend some time flying with old Jimbo,

huh?

Oh, look, never mind. You can stay here until he gets back and help me out and

play around and do all that.

I think I'm going green blind.

Oh, world, it's just a blur of all these different shades of green.

She's supposed to be down there somewhere.

Probably not where we're looking, though.

Sorry, mate, it was a nice try, but no luck so far. Hey, give it a chance.

Well, what happened when you tried this in the RAAF?

Nothing. What?

Hey, it's the theory that's important. Oh, really?

Now, hang on.

Look at this.

What are they doing that for? We're not off course.

No, we're not. We're on exactly the right heading. Look at the GPS.

Okay, clever dick.

What is it?

Magnetic interference.

Hey, I bet it was those hills up ahead there. Look, there's plenty of mining

going on around here.

All sorts of strange ore concentrations everywhere.

Yeah, but we flew over the same area yesterday.

Except I bet you were much higher. Probably too high to notice any effect

your compass. See, think about it.

Joy was flying as low as she dared.

There was no visual references, no GPS.

Nothing but a compass that was sending her off.

Seems a boy might be onto something.

I think he might too.

Let's see where it takes us.

Hey kid, this Big Sky Aviation? Yeah.

Got a delivery.

You've been down there already.

Nearly.

I've got no motorbike this game is.

Mr Lightfoot?

That's for you?

It's all official.

What man?

I don't know, they're all wearing black.

Maybe he wants us to send it somewhere.

No instructions on that.

Are you sure there's nothing else to happen to this?

Just move away from the case. Just move.

Take the boy with you.

Are we clear of the old search area yet?

Yeah, miles away from it.

Oh, she would have ran out of fuel by now. I'm sorry, mate, but it looks like

you've drawn another blank. Hang on.

What's that?

Where?

Oh, yeah.

It's a plane, all right.

It's a Tomahawk.

Good on you, mate.

Don't look too badly, don't be so cool, Lightfoot.

Yeah, someone could have survived that.

We're out of range.

Well, try and radio him at the boat.

No, he said not to.

We'll have to get down and check it out for ourselves.

Well, you think he can land down there?

Yeah, perfect.

It's going to wreck the whole base, isn't it?

Only if it contains explosives and they cut the wrong wire.

I thought you had to be a public servant for 50 years before you got to be head

of a department.

Not a whole department, just a section.

Yeah, I've been pretty lucky.

You never considered practising as a lawyer?

I do practise as a lawyer, just in a different context.

Instead of defending petty criminals and handling divorce settlements, I prepare

prosecutions for customs.

Pardon my ignorance.

You're pardoned.

I can see why you love this.

It's a far more picturesque office than mine.

Yeah, the problem is I don't get to spend much time in it these days.

Well, if you're complaining about being desk -bound, you must be doing pretty

well.

I think the jury's still out on that. Ask me again in 12 months.

All right.

I will.

Seems clear.

Opening the case.

The note.

What's it say?

What's it say?

If you keep looking for joy, you'll only find despair. It was just a warning.

Wasn't even a real bomb.

I can't understand it. This is so out of character for X. He's a stickler for

punctuality.

I haven't seen him for a couple of years.

He was my mentor when I was first out of university. Hello. What do you mean,

was? I hope I still am. Hello, my dear. Lovely to see you.

Is it Chris who I was telling you about?

Hello, Chris.

How do you do it?

Well, checking up on this light footpeller has stirred up a hornet's

It may be only coincidence, I know.

But I'm afraid I'm being followed.

Max could have been killed. I could have been killed. The whole place could have

been blown to kingdom come.

I mean, did you know that there was a risk of something like this happening?

In my line of business, it's always a remote possibility. I had no idea it was

being directed at Big Sky.

Yeah, well, maybe you should have.

Mr. Manning and I will be discussing this. Thank you, Shay. Yeah, we can

on that.

Hello, Big Sky.

No, I'm sorry Jimbo's not here at the moment.

Thank you.

I just got a call from your headmaster.

He says that you've been waiting all week.

That's what I know.

I can't be too serious or else he'd be able to serve.

Yeah.

He's not sick, is he?

No, there's something wrong.

I know he really misses Jodie, and he won't talk about it.

Well, at least not to me.

You're doing your best, Jimbo.

Yeah, well, it's obviously not enough.

Did you speak to Jimbo?

I just told him that you were here, that's all.

I thought you liked school.

Hmm?

What's the problem?

You know, Max,

Your mum wouldn't like your wagging.

She doesn't mind.

How do you know?

She said.

I'm not quite sure I understand, Maxie.

Are you saying that you talked to your mum?

And she said that she didn't mind your wagging, is that it?

She likes me staying at home with her.

Have you told Jimbo?

He wouldn't understand.

He'd reckon I was a rude dodo head.

Begs one to know one.

Manning is not going to accept this.

Will he necessarily connect the bomb with his current assignment?

Man's not a fool.

The best we can hope for is that his people find our missing plane before he

terminates his contract with me.

Oh, she's obviously fit enough to get out and walk off somewhere.

You guys have a look around. I'll see if the mobile's back in range.

Hello?

Joy!

They've found a plane.

Chris is going to be very happy.

I'm going to need an aircraft.

Is there one available?

Yeah, but who's going to fly it?

Where the hell is Manning?

It was a silver Ford.

I was forced to park blocks away and walk here.

Sure you're not getting paranoid?

In my old age, you mean?

Possibly.

But let's say I've been followed enough during my chequered career to know what

it smells like.

But I'm a bit concerned for you, my dear, and it doesn't bode well for your

friend. How do you mean?

Well, as I understand it, you're involved with a man.

Clearly he has friends in very high places, and I don't think they're very

friends.

So were you able to find out anything for us?

No, not a great deal.

He's not attached to any individual government department.

The name's obviously a pseudonym, but I suppose you've already guessed that.

The interesting thing is that as soon as it's mentioned, all the walls go up.

If anybody knows anything about the man, and I'm sure some do, they obviously

feel too intimidated to say anything.

So you can't help us at all?

I didn't say that.

There's an organisation called the National Task Force.

It appears to operate independently of all departments and all official

institutions, and yet is able to secure the unqualified help of any of them when

it needs to.

So do you think that Lightfoot may be involved with them?

That's my best guess.

I believe the members of this body, and there probably are more than a dozen of

them, have code names.

Lightfoot is probably one of them.

Hey, you find her?

No.

Don't worry, Blake. We'll back in all the winners today.

My foot did not detect anything.

What the hell was that?

Down! She's armed!

What are you doing?

I found Joy, but she started firing at me. Why?

I don't know. She just pulled out this gun and started shooting at me. Were you

told that we're here to help her? I didn't get that far.

All right, you'd better run like foot.

I left the phone in the plane.

Come on.

Answer me.

Maxie, what are you doing here?

Jimbo!

Get your plane ready.

Huh? I want you to fly me north. Now!

On the tarmac. Five minutes.

At least we found the plane, eh?

Mm.

I guess whatever it is that Joy was carrying will be okay.

I hope so.

They probably will have found her too by the time we get there.

Mr Lightfoot, do you think we could have a

bit of a...

A chat? About what?

Well, I know that you've lost a bit of confidence in me lately. Well, you know,

it's... You just have a different approach to things, that's all.

See, I think I've got a real flair for this kind of work.

Flair?

Flair can be a double -edged sword.

It can be about initiative and imagination. It can also lead to

misjudgment.

I really don't think you understand me very well. Jimbo, can we just

on the job at hand, please?

Fair enough.

It's ridiculous. We can't just stay here until life would get there.

What is it, James?

Look.

You're hiding behind my plane.

You've got five seconds to move. before I stick a bullet in the fuel tank and

blow you all to hell. Joy, it's okay, all right? We really are here to help.

Life could stand up. You're not listening.

I think there'll be enough fuel in there to drown a fly. What, do you want to

take that risk? Five, four, three, two, one.

Oh, my God, she's dead.

Eh?

She's passed out.

I've nothing to say.

Oh, terrific.

So, are you glad you came?

Oh, definitely.

I feel a whole lot better.

I suppose there's some comfort in it for me, though. At least now I know

Lightfoot has nothing to do with customs.

Lucky you.

But I could be getting him way out of my depth.

So what are you going to do?

No idea.

I think I'll take Rex's advice, though, and tread very, very carefully.

Maybe a couple of broken ribs, head gash, exposure. We've got to get her to

hospital as soon as possible. No.

Lightfoot. I have to see Lightfoot.

He's on his way. Why don't you just give us what you're bringing Lightfoot? One

of us can stay here and wait for him, and the rest of us can get you to his

doctor. I'll wait.

Buddy, can you just hold it?

I don't like this. She's not going to get any better here.

I'll go back to the plane and get the phone. We'll ring Lightfoot and tell him

what we have to do.

Where's my gun?

It's right here.

Any of you know how to use it?

You might have to.

Air Force train.

Look, I'm sorry that I took a shot at you earlier, but...

I thought you must have been with the other mob.

Who are they?

Might be Lightfoot.

Wayne of Chopper?

Anyway, too soon?

No, it's Ben.

We've got to find a better cover. Fast!

If they find us, they'll kill us.

Well, that was great. Thanks for an interesting day.

Yeah, well, bits of it I enjoyed too.

I think it's probably a good idea that I don't go back in through often.

You'll probably be there one day.

Probably.

Okay, well, I guess we've sort of done whatever it is that we were doing.

Yeah, I guess we have.

Let me know if you hear anything more, okay?

Yeah, yeah, I will. All right.

Bye.

Sorry. It's okay.

Um, I don't know.

Are you seeing anyone at the moment?

No. Um, why? Are you? No, no.

Well, I could call you with or without the news and we could have a drink.

Yeah, okay.

I look forward to it. Yeah, me too. Okay, bye.

Yeah, bye.

Need a few details about the bomb scare earlier today.

We must be nearly there.

We should be right on top of it if the coordinates Paula gave us are right.

There. That must be it.

And where'd that chopper come from?

Lightfoot. Mr. Lightfoot, is that you in the plane above us?

Yes. Yes, Blake.

Have you found Joy?

Yes, sir, but she's pretty bad.

Has she got the documents with her? As far as I know, sir, we've got one other

problem. There's three armed men also looking for Joy.

Yeah, look, we need to land. Blake, Blake, Blake, Blake.

I can't afford to lose that woman or her cargo.

Blake, look, if I can get this moron's busy, can you get Joy to the plane? What

about you?

Look, leave it with me. There's a clearing on the other side of the

I'll touch down there and they should come after me and you should be able to

get into the air before they know what's happening.

Okay, brace yourself, this could be uncomfortable.

Get out of here!

Hang on, hang on, I've got to get something.

Hold on.

I think the fun part's just about to begin.

Come on.

I've got it.

You see anything yet?

No.

You?

No, not yet.

I feel like a sitting duck.

Your plan.

Let's go.

Let's go, Timbo. Let's go.

I'm glad I'm wearing my brown undies.

You know, Jimbo's got the same problem as Max when it comes down to it. A life

without a woman in the house sucks.

I don't know how PC that is.

I mean, a boy needs a female presence as well as a male one.

Better. Look, besides, I wouldn't mind living in a mixed -sex household myself.

I'm sick of living with women.

Have you ever tried it? Shared a bathroom with one of them? Man, I'm

you, it's not nice. Where is he?

Impressive. You must be pleased.

Relieved.

Although, to some extent, they raise more questions than they answer. I'm

to need more time to analyse these before I risk a final assessment.

Still a real coup, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, considering the amount of trouble we went to acquire them, we've got Chris

Manning and his Big Sky team to thank for that.

Well, you know what we think, but you're going to have to make your own decision

about Manning.

Oh, incidentally.

We acquired our own photos today.

I know who the man is, of course. Who's the woman?

We don't know.

Possibly Manning's lady friend.

When were these taken?

Today, in Canberra.

We thought you might be interested to learn that Manning has been checking up

you.

Thank you.

Well, I knew he was doing it tough, but I had no idea.

Oh, this wagon thing, I can sort that out with the teacher, but there's other

things. No, it's the same thing.

You know, from what I've heard, it's not uncommon.

I mean, even adults talk to their loved ones once they're gone.

Sometimes.

I know, besides, Max really does know that Jodie's not here.

Do you think he's going to keep doing it?

No, no, I wouldn't think so.

I don't know what to do.

Well, I've got an idea.

I've already spoken to Max, and he said he'll think about it.

But, what say you, me, and Max find a place together?

What, are you serious?

Yeah, I'm serious.

I think it'd be great for all of us.

All right, well, I'll think about it.

And we'll get back to you.

I am sorry for what happened here today.

I should have anticipated some sort of attack on Big Sky.

And I regret that your people were put in such danger in rescuing Joy.

But they responded well.

Particularly Jimbo.

I understand you were shot at too.

If it's any satisfaction for you, the intelligence this operation gathered is

likely to prove very valuable.

I'm pleased for you.

But you're still resentful about what you perceive to be my lack of frankness

with you.

I will not tolerate your lack of frankness any longer.

I will not put my people in those kinds of situations unless I know who you are,

who you're working for, and what your agenda is.

Why did you go to Canberra to check up on me?

I thought this relationship was based on trust.

Trust works both ways.

Good night, Mr. Manning.

I did think we had reached the time when I might be able to answer all your

questions.

Now, I think you may be right.

You may have to reconsider the whole basis of this relationship.

Why not, Chris?