Original subtitles

How good's a government contract?

All of those apples has to make it to harvest.

This farm has to run like a clock.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Now kiss and see if it's real.

WOMAN: The service is next week. I can't go.

I'd be a hypocrite. Robbie! You must!

Francesca, has Harry ran off and left you?

I want you to know that I don't run away from my problems like Harry.

They say love is...

..is only a certain way.

I know in every cell in my body

that that is not true.

If they've been lying about that, then what else?

Jesus came to me in a dream once. I mean, my husband.

He came to my husband in a dream once.

And he said...

.."You are the perfect man

"for the task of bringing my love

"to the heathens."

(MOANS) Oi!

You're making funny noise.

I declare this essential patriotic facility open.

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

Ooh, let's get one with all the Whitmores.

Now, then, Francesca. I need to get back.

The pickers are arriving any minute.

You promised me one photograph.

Prisoners make people anxious, but our family makes them happy.

(CHEERING INTENSIFIES)

(HORN HONKS)

Oh, stand back, everyone.

Our first arrivals.

Now, we have a combination of Italian citizens that we've rounded up,

presumably with a cattle dog with a taste of meatballs... (LAUGHS)

..and also some prisoners of war that have come from overseas.

So nothing to fear, though. You're perfectly safe.

We've got the razor wire up.

Highly trained professionals.

(ONLOOKERS BOO)

(ALL CALL OUT DERISIVELY)

They're not so scary.

# School is over

# Time to build a summer dream

# Dooby, dooby, dooby, dooby

# Dooby, dooby, doo

# Zoom, dooby, dooby, dooby Zoom, dooby, dooby

# Zoom, zoom, zoomby, dooby, doo

# I feel so happy in the summertime

# We'll be together and you'll be mine

# Nights will be warmer... #

Mrs Whitmore,

WLA Division Fruit Relief reporting for duty.

Is this all? I asked for at least 20.

We need this harvest to be a success.

Mrs Whitmore, there is a war on.

Everyone is desperate.

But don't worry, I'd tell you my girls have never lost a harvest,

but I don't want to be the one to jinx it.

Mountjoy, Levi... (BLOWS WHISTLE)

..now that we're here to save the day, you report to me,

is that understood?

Is it?!

BOTH: Yes, Brigadier Birdwood.

Levi, show us to our lodgings so we can get to work.

Come on, girls.

I was hoping to bunk in with you.

Are you mad?

With an army of strangers in the house?

They're hardly in the house.

(BLOWS WHISTLE) Another harvest day, another 10,000 apples, girls.

How's your mother going?

You got a cheeky thing for mums?

It's apparent you've regressed to old coping mechanisms

to suppress your guilt

over not attending your father's funeral with your mother.

Hmm.

You know, I think you'd feel better if you just went and saw her.

Thank you.

Esther?

I need you to help Gwen.

Come with me.

Her mother wrote me concerned about your relationship.

Relationship? What? Esther hates me.

(READS) "Esther has mentioned the name Robert 27 times in her letters

"this past fortnight alone.

"What kind of brothel are you running there, Mrs Whitmore?"

She's threatening to get the Land Army involved.

Stay away from her.

I mean it.

Ooh la la. Gorgeous.

Des Whitmore.

I've been overseeing an important event,

but I am here now to take charge.

Ah, thank heavens.

Amazons.

Hmm.

Uh, we normally have about 40 men.

We do have to pick every apple.

Good thing you're here.

You missed a few.

Sorry, sir.

D.N. Whitmore from the orchard end.

Ha! Ooh.

Down to square leg.

When's dinner?

(SNORTS)

Get a load of that. (LAUGHS)

I'm late for the mish. You can't go now.

We have to feed everyone.

Pick or cook, I can't do both. Not with this many.

Hey, all this chat's not feeding my girls.

What would you suggest?

(BLOWS WHISTLE)

Mountjoy, Levi, kitchen duty now.

I'm sorry, I can't.

Sun's about to set, which means it's officially the Sabbath.

Again?

I'll help. Thanks, Sadie.

Alright, quick sticks.

Full disclosure, I do not know how to cook.

But I do take excellent direction.

Oh, we'll make an impressive duo, then.

So, how long have you and Mrs Whitmore been fadoodling?

(SPITS)

WOMEN: (SING) # We are the girls who will harvest your crops

# We'll stick to the dumpster... #

Sorry, missus.

(WOMEN CONTINUE SINGING)

# But no other army works harder than us... #

Bloody harvest.

# Dinky-di

# No other army works harder than us. #

Shit, shit, shit!

Evening service will now be at five.

If you can't be home by then, don't bother.

You'll get kicked out.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ooh.

Why has he been ignoring you?

Oh, has he?

I hadn't noticed.

You're a terrible liar.

(SIREN WAILS)

Don't worry, girls! It's just a drill.

(LAUGHS) No-one's escaped.

(LAUGHS)

(BREATHES SHALLOWLY)

(MULTIPLE SIRENS WAIL)

(BREATHES SHALLOWLY)

Frankie? What's happening?

I can't breathe. It's fine.

It's alright.

I'm here. It's alright.

It's alright.

I have no time.

(SCREAMS)

I can't lose the harvest. I can't go back.

It's alright. I'm here, I'm here.

It's alright.

Just...just have some water. Have some water.

(FRANCESCA GASPS)

Mrs Whitmore's fine.

A bit too much sun.

(RADIO BROADCAST IN ITALIAN)

(DOOR BANGS) (GASPS)

Why are you listening to that? You'll be arrested.

Are you missing your family?

We should go back to work. Wait.

It's too risky.

You should know, Sadie...she's like us.

She says all the pickers know and they don't care.

They protect her.

We don't have to hide in front of them.

We do have to hide.

I have to hide.

Whatever fantasy world Sadie lives in, it doesn't exist.

But couldn't it exist?

If you want to be someone's girlfriend...

..maybe you should be with her.

(DOOR SLAMS)

Are you alright?

Of course.

Forget I asked.

Nothing says "I'm fine" like chimney smoking in the middle of the night.

It's Frankie.

I don't know why everything has to be so difficult with her.

(SIGHS)

Yeah, I'm really lucky I found people who'll look out for me.

But it's not like that for a lot of people.

I'd love to do this, but... I'm sorry.

..you're clearly going through something.

Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Don't be sorry.

I want to be there for you, and it's more complicated

if we're also kissing.

Thank you.

You're very strong.

Honestly, I'm getting weaker by the second.

(ECHOED LAUGHTER)

(LAUGHS)

(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)

(ALL SHOUT)

(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)

Esther...

Here. It's from your mother.

If you want to be with Robert, be with him.

I should have never told him to stay away from you.

Dear Mother...

No.

To Mother...

(WOMAN SIGHS AND MOANS)

(PANTING AND MOANING INTENSIFIES)

(MAN MOANS)

(WOMAN MOANS)

(WOMAN CRIES OUT)

(BOTH MOAN AND GASP)

Esther.

Suppose you've, uh...

..seen that one in one of my books.

Don't mock me.

Because I see you.

The drinking,

being an insufferable arse to everyone.

You think what you do doesn't matter.

Maybe because you think YOU don't matter.

Your actions affect people, Robert.

They affect me.

And I bet I'm not the only one.

Mum.

It's true what everyone says about me.

I'm a coward.

I should have gone to the funeral.

Not for him, but for you.

Oh, Robbie. I'm sorry, Mum.

(CYCLES THROUGH CHANNELS)

(BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS)

I have to say, I've underestimated you all.

If we keep going like this, we're going to finish by the end of...

No, no, no! Don't say it.

Please tell me you didn't just jinx it.

WOMAN: (ON RADIO) In breaking news,

we have received reports of an unprecedented low pressure front

moving rapidly through the region.

Farmers are urged to take shelter,

with widespread damage to crops predicted...

Too late! (BLOW WHISTLE)

Attention, ladies!

Mrs Whitmore here has just made the faux pas

of announcing a successful harvest.

Yeah, so now, of course, we've got a storm coming.

What's happening? Double time, women!

We have never lost a harvest yet!

Quick, hurry.

We can't possibly pick all the rest.

I need you up a ladder.

The Woolworths contract. We're going to lose the farm.

What will I tell Mother?

Pick, or get out the way, Des.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(THUNDER CRASHES)

(BIRDWOOD BLOWS WHISTLE)

(THUNDER CRASHES)

(BIRDWOOD BLOWS WHISTLE)

Attention, ladies!

Inside, girls! It is too dangerous! You cannot stay out here any longer!

Hurry! Hurry! Come on! Take cover!

(BIRDWOOD CONTINUES SHOUTING)

It's over.

Time to pack your bags.

(ENGINE STARTS)

Have you seen Frankie? (BLOWS WHISTLE)

Alright, quick sticks. Quick sticks, on the bus.

Alright, girls, hope you've all had a toilet stop.

Oi! It's gonna be a bit of a drive.

What the hell's going on? Let's go.

Hey.

You...you're not leaving, are you?

Don't pretend you care.

We lost the harvest.

Wasn't our fault!

Let's go.

FRANCESCA: Stop the bus! Stop!

Brandy! What?!

The crop will be brandy!

We can charge more than for cider.

Brandy! brandy!

Yes! Hey, come back, we need you.

So...now that we're friends again...

We're not friends.

Fair enough. I've been a knob.

Enemies?

Warmer.

I've got a very important matter to discuss with you.

Oh.

The fact that you've mentioned my name 27 times to your mother.

She's right to be upset. It sounds like a major crush to me.

(LAUGHS)

A... (LAUGHS)

Are you alright? I'm fine.

I assume you're gonna need help.

I mean, ongoing.

To build a brandy still, to keep the fire going.

Francesca...

I've been speaking with Mother and we agreed...

Mother agreed with me, my idea, after a fruitful...

(DISTANT SHOUTING AND LAUGHTER)

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHTER)

Yes. Hey!

BIRDWOOD: To Des.

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

Despite his best efforts, we still succeeded.

(LAUGHTER)

To Des! To Des.

Thank you, Des, you useless fool.

(ALL LAUGH)

Oh!

Join us.

I've been speaking with Mother,

and we both agree that it's not working.

What do you mean?

The experimental girls were a disaster.

And you're not capable of running the farm.

We saved the harvest.

The windfall with the brandy.

Come, have a drink with us.

I saw you...

..with the girls.

You were all laughing at me.

No.

You misunderstood.

Do not...laugh at me...Francesca!

I am not a fool.

You're...you're hurting me, Des!

You're hurting me!

You're hurting me.

(GRUNTS)