Original subtitles

(TAPE REWINDING)

(TAPE STOPS)

G'day.

Now, it's come to my attention

that some Americans still don't know where Australia is.

MAN: Australia is in the midst of an unprecedented tourism boom,

with Paul Hogan's US commercials

tempting hundreds of thousands of Americans Down Under.

Did he make you want to come to Australia?

Oh, of course. (LAUGHS) He's very good-looking.

And last night, to cap it off,

the entertainer was officially named Australian of the Year.

I'm really pleased that the committee picked me because

I myself could never decide who to give it to

between Allan Border and Jeff Fenech.

But now at least...

(TAPE WHINES AND CRACKLES)

Murray...

Shit! We've got another copy?

Shit. Oh.

There's another copy of that speech.

Sorry, mate, I think we've lost that grab.

That grab was the whole point of the story!

Fuck!

Hey! Hey!

I need to shoot a stand-up right now. It's five to six.

Can you to send a cameraman and soundo, whoever's available,

tell them to meet me at the entrance in front of reception.

Noelene, I need more Paul Hogan footage.

Can you get some footage of him on a movie

or behind the scenes wherever he's working?

What movie? It doesn't matter.

As long as it says Paul Hogan, movie star.

On it. Thank you!

Tim, Camera. Mike, downstairs now. Now!

(NEWS THEME PLAYS)

And we are on in six, five, four...

Good evening and welcome to News at Six.

Hurry. Hurry up.

The new Australian of the Year, the new Australian of the year.

And, rolling.

And the new Australian of the Year has an even bigger 1986 in store

with the release of his very first fleature...feature, feature film.

It's alright. Just, like, try breathing.

And the new Australian of the Year has an even bigger 1986 in...

Sorry, that was a bit high. That's right.

And the new Australian of the Year has an even bigger 1986 in store

with the release of his very first...

(TRUCK ROARS) Truck. Truck. Sorry.

Well, as Australia Day approaches, communities across the nation

are preparing for parades, carnivals and backyard barbecues.

The banks of the Yarra will host a week-long festival

featuring everything from damper baking

to the annual cooee competition.

Noelene! Noelene!

The only footage I could find was him at a movie premiere.

He's in black tie, it's in the edit suite with Murray.

Fine, fine, fine.

MAN: ..the banks of the Yarra River, Australia Day cel...

Open up!

You lost the Hogan grab? I've got another grab.

We can't do a story about the Australian of the Year

without the bloody Australian of the Year, OK?

This was all Dale's idea.

Australia is in the midst of an unprecedented tourism boom

with Paul Hogan's US commercials

tempting hundreds of thousands of Americans Down Under.

Did he make you want to come to Australia?

Oh, of course. (LAUGHS) He's very good-looking.

And the new Australian of the Year has an even bigger 1986 in store

with the release of his very first feature film.

Can the former Sydney Harbour Bridge rigger conquer Hollywood?

Either way, it's shaping up to be Hogan's year.

Fair suck of the sauce bottle, boys.

Dale Jennings, News at Six.

MAN: Scientists are calling it the Greenhouse Effect...

I actually think that ending was better.

Predictions are that the polar icecaps...

Mmm.

Yeah, good on you, Dale.

Paul Greaves reports.

Here we go.

Hey, wasn't I... I thought I was reading the Thatcher story.

That was a late change.

And three...

To world news now

and British PM Margaret Thatcher's integrity is under question

in the wake of a damaging leaked letter,

the latest polls showing that nearly half the country

believe that Mrs Thatcher should resign.

It's been described as the worst crisis faced by...

You said it at the Christmas party.

You said it four times in November. Christ, Helen!

You can't go off anything a bloke says at a bloody Christmas party!

You said that we could look at one story every week

and we would call it a special report.

Look at! Look at!

A very deliberate use of words. Look at!

You promised me that Thatcher story. instead I'm doing a puff piece...

(ARGUMENT CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

You had a sit-down with Andrew Peacock!

What more do you bloody want?!

Did you even look at any of the ideas I submitted?

Jean, hi.

Uh, I was pencilled in for half past six with Lindsay.

I'd give it another quarter of an hour.

Uh, yeah, but if now is not a good time, I'm happy to delay.

You're never gonna get a good time.

I mean, if he's not in a good frame of mind.

You're never gonna get that either.

Right.

You are not up to it, Helen! I'll just...wait, I guess.

You parade around this place like you're Barbara bloody Walters.

But you're not!

You're Helen Norville! And let me tell you something, Helen!

I've got 20 girls just like you ready to go tomorrow!

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR SLAMS)

Oh, Jesus wept.

He's free.

Great.

Thanks.

(CLEARS THROAT) Uh, Lindsay. What do you want?

Oh, mate, yes, uh...Dale.

Listen, mate, you may have to walk with me. I'm running late.

OK, sure. Yeah.

I just thought we could have a chat

about the rehearsal tape I filmed for the desk last year.

Did I watch it? Yes, you did.

And you said it went well

and perhaps I might get a crack at some updates in the new year.

Did I tell you this at the Christmas party?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK.

And you gave me some great feedback, which I have been working on.

Yeah, I bet you have, mate.

Night-night, Jean. Night-night.

I've been really working on my presentation.

I don't know if you saw my Paul Hogan yesterday.

Yes, mate, I saw it.

Look, the rosters are pretty full at the moment

so why don't we say maybe Easter.

Even if it was just one morning update.

Just...just one update.

Mate, newsreading - not for everyone.

Right. It's nothing personal.

It's just when the camera goes on a particular sort of person,

the viewer feels very secure.

Like, look at Helen.

You put a lens on her, she connects.

But other people - nothing.

Is it a vocal thing?

No.

Because I have been working with a vocal coach all summer.

He actually worked with Jack Thompson.

You want to get your money back, Dale.

You don't sound anything like Jack Thompson.

Mate, how well do you know Helen?

Um...we nod hello sometimes.

Then you know she's very, very set on these special reports.

Right. Yeah, so what I really need now

is a bloke with some chops to go out with her,

help her shoot, help her put the story together.

You do this for me on Monday,

then maybe I can give you a shot on an update on...Tuesday.

Is that a deal? Deal.

But you gotta watch yourself with her, OK?

She's going to hit you with a lot of shitty ideas

about cross-eyed single mothers and AIDS and Christ knows what else.

Your job is to bat her away.

OK. Heh! Great!

Uh, thanks so much, Lindsay.

Um, should we meet again after the update to...?

Goodnight.

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello. Jennings residence.

Hi. It's me. Um...

I just got my first update live on the desk next week.

When next week?

Tuesday morning.

I mean, it's just Tuesday morning right now,

but if it goes well, there will be more.

Am I allowed to tell people? Yes.

(LAUGHS)

I gotta go. Bye.

(ALONG WITH RADIO) # Kyrie Eleison, down the road that I must follow

# Kyrie Eleison, through the darkness of the night... #

# Kyrie Eleison, where I'm going, will you follow?

# Kyrie Eleison, on a highway in the light

# Whoa-oh-oh-oh... #

(TAPE REWINDS)

Dale, it's your Uncle Cliff here.

Yeah, your mum just rang, and we're thrilled for you.

Um, anyway... (BEEP)

Love, it's Mum again.

I know you told me, but,

was it the morning update or the afternoon update?

Give me a ring. (BEEP)

Hi, Dale.

It's Adam here from school.

I saw you on TV tonight, and, um, I got your number from Ron Allsop.

I know I'm probably not someone you'd want to see,

but even if I could just get an address to write to you.

My number's 4361625.

Hope to hear from you soon. Bye.

Dale Jennings here with the morning update.

Dale Jennings with the morning update.

This has been Dale Jennings with the morning update.

(ALARM BLARES)

MAN: Ah. She graces us with her presence.

You wanna be a reporter, you know what time reporters get here?

About an hour and a half ago.

Well, I just secured an interview.

Uh-huh? Yeah.

It's a woman - uh, mother of two...

Right, well, you can tell Dale all this.

He's got some options for you as well.

I'm sorry? Dale Jennings.

He'll be producing you.

Lindsay said I could... It was Lindsay's idea.

All reporters work under a producer.

They also get here at 7:00am.

Helen. Hi.

So thrilled to be working with you. Mm-hm.

Looks like it's gonna be a bit of a bumper day.

So, I'm sorry, I was under the impression that this was gonna be

a special report of my choosing.

Absolutely. And I've got quite a few options I thought we could pick from.

Well, I already have an interview.

OK. An interview with who?

Do you want to get a pen?

Yep.

(CLEARS THROAT)

So, I have been in contact with a woman.

Her name is Caroline Gibson. OK.

She has two children and she is HIV positive.

OK.

I know Lindsay's thoughts on AIDS stories,

but I see this as more of a family story.

Mm-hm.

So, Caroline contracted HIV through a blood transfusion

and there's actually quite a few women in the same position.

Except none of them have spoken to the media yet, so...

Look, I...

I think just for the first report... Oh, this isn't my first report.

The first in this particular series,

they were just hoping for something a little more upbeat.

Still with substance, but...

Like what?

OK. Um...

It's the first day of school,

so I was thinking we could actually get you interviewing a prep class.

Alternatively... Actually, this is...

Um, the new Melbourne Zoo butterfly house.

It's really world-class, it's...it's, um, innovative

and they're about to welcome their one millionth visitor.

Have you been there?

It's quite good.

Lindsay very, very specifically said...

Oh, God. Don't start having a whinge with me now, OK?

..that this was going to be a special report of my choosing.

You are more than welcome to take it up with him when he gets here.

This is a gripping family story...

(BOTH TALK OVER EACH OTHER) I think I've got a good third option.

Uh... It's about women and space.

Just being able to, um, see the planet.

I mean, you see it in pictures

but to be able to see that in reality is gonna be wonderful.

So, she's a schoolteacher and a mother of two,

and she's been picked by NASA

to be the first civilian ever sent into space.

Great. I love it.

It's a US story.

Yeah. But I think we can get some good Australian angles.

Can I speak to her? Um...

Well, no, no, no.

But we do have an excellent space scientist at the CSIRO

who we've used before.

Plus, Hawke has made some comments

about Australia getting its own space program,

so we could cover that as well.

Yep, I'd want to watch that. Well done.

I want to talk to Lindsay. I want to pitch my story.

I think it speaks for itself.

I mean, if you go in there and tell him that right now,

you can forget about these reports.

Don't worry. I'll tell Lindsay you did your best.

You know, I would just appreciate it,

if you get the chance, to tell Lindsay that I did my best too.

OK. It might not come up but, uh...

..just in case it does.

You just do not know how to put a sock in it, do you?

I have done a year and a half of doing regional.

I spent two years as a senior reporter.

I've got blokes here who've done 15 years.

If you just look at the story... They go out, they do absolute shit.

They don't mind because that's the job.

60 Minutes are sending female reporters to war zones.

(LAUGHS)

Anywhere you go is a war zone, Helen. You're a war zone on two legs.

So, yeah, try your luck there, see if they'll take you.

I will.

Well, let me tell you something, though, sweetheart.

Other networks, they hear about the shit we have to put up with from you,

they wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot bargepole.

I'm not kidding, Helen.

I am not kidding.

Every day I have to back you up.

Every day people come in here and they say,

"Helen Norville, she's a nightmare.

"She's got a face like a slapped arse."

But I bat them all back.

But, you know what, Helen?

They are fucking right!

Oh, you take one more step, Helen. One more step, you're gone.

I'm not kidding!

I won't just can your reports!

You'll be gone!

For good!

You! Noelene!

Amend the run-downs. Remove Helen Norville's name!

You! Dale Jennings!

You are going to take over Helen's space story

and you are going to take over all her updates starting tomorrow.

(SOBS)

DALE: (ON TV) And the social studies teacher says

she plans to conduct two lessons live from space.

Just being able to, uh, see the planet in reality

is gonna be wonderful.

Dale Jennings, News at Six.

To sport now. And, Rob, a difficult day for the Australian cricket team.

Oh, that's right, Geoff. Dear, oh, dear.

Captain Allan Border is again under pressure

as Australia was bowled out for just 70 on a perfect batting pitch

in today's World Series Cup match at the Adelaide Oval.

(PHONE RINGS)

Walters residence.

You saw?

Is she unwell again? No.

It all came to a head this afternoon. She's gone.

What? Permanently? Well, according to Lindsay.

Apparently, they had another screaming match

and he finally drew a line in the sand.

Ohh...

When will the network announce it? I don't know.

They need to say something quickly. She'll give interviews.

She courts those women's magazines.

Evie...

Geoff, you need to speak to Lindsay.

You need to make sure he abandons the whole idea of the second reader.

No. I think I'll leave it tonight.

I'll speak to him in the morning.

He'll have another girl in the wings,

some game show girl...

Why don't you pick out a nice bottle of red? I'm leaving now.

(SIGHS)

I love you. I love you, too, darling.

(RINGS DOORBELL)

Helen!

It's Dale Jennings from work.

I've got your, um... your bag and your book.

You left it behind.

Sorry, Helen, I just wouldn't mind if you'd let me know you're alright.

Hello?

Helen?

(CRACKLING)

Hello?

Helen?

Helen.

Helen?

Can you hear me?

Helen.

Emergency. Police, fire or ambulance?

Ambulance.

Yeah. Emergency.

(SIREN WAILS)

OK. The ambulance is here. Alright?

They're coming now.

Yes! Yes!

I can't go to the...

I can't go to the hospital.

I can't...

She's just this way.

She's conscious? Yes.

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

We might just take a quick look at you.

Mm-hm.

Do you remember what happened?

I just think that I took too many pills.

You know, from before.

You're boyfriend? Husband? Oh, no.

A work colleague.

If you could just focus on my finger, please.

Anything like this has happened before?

I wouldn't know, sorry.

Any reason to think it was intentional?

Oh, I'm not sure.

I'd prefer it if she came into the hospital,

but she's very resistant to that.

She's a public figure. Yeah.

Anywhere else she could stay? She's...uh, says there's no family.

I'm sorry. I don't know.

I mean, I could stay here for a while.

We want to get her away from here,

away from any medication she might have lying around.

Can you think of anywhere else?

(BIRDS TWITTER)

(ALARM BEEPS)

(CONTINUES BEEPING)

Helen?

Morning.

How are you feeling?

I'm fine. I'm just gonna do this and then I'm gonna get out of here.

Oh, you're welcome to stay just for the day, for a bit of rest.

I'm fine, Dale. I just had a mix-up with my pills. That was it.

OK. But why don't you stay?

You know, I've got tea, coffee.

Um... Uh...

Chicken loaf, bread, cheese.

The tape player's set to record

if you don't mind just watching the telly, but...

The midday movie is The Music Man.

Um...

I'll call home during the day, if you promise me you'll answer.

And then I will bring home some dinner

and we can come up with a plan.

What kind of plan?

To get you home.

OK.

OK.

Better get ready.

Don't know why I did that. You're not a captain. (CHUCKLES)

I kind of liked it.

OK.

Good morning. A very busy news day today.

The News at Six.

Fffffffff.

Mmm.

Ahh.

Mmmmmmmm.

De... (CLEARS THROAT) Dale.

Dale Jennings.

Dale Jennings.

Dale Jennings, the News at Six.

Is that future Gold Logie winner Dale Jennings?

Yes! Look out!

Making your big move, are you, mate? No. Just broadening experience.

Ah, he is! Ahhh!

Look at him - he's got a little spark in the eye.

(LAUGHS) Don't hide it, mate.

Don't listen to Robbo.

He said 'expecially' instead of 'especially'

for his first year on the desk.

Right...

Um, I'm imagining that Thatcher's going towards the lead?

And we'll probably do, uh, Dire Straits arriving in Australia.

OK.

Are you right? Yeah.

Sleep OK? Yep.

Maybe, uh, give yourself a little bit of extra time in make-up, huh?

Oh... fuck!

Fuck!

That's not about the update, is it?

Nah. Last night's ratings - fell off a cliff without Helen.

Right.

Good luck.

Make-up.

(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS)

Can I just do a white balance check?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

We're starting with Dire Straits.

Can you read it all clearly? Uh-huh.

There's water under the desk, if you get dry mouthed.

Thanks.

Just relax into it, mate. Yeah.

And remember, there's only, what is it,

three or four full MCGs watching.

(CHUCKLES) Just hold still for me.

Val!

How is he? Have you spoken to him?

No. I'm sure she's nervous enough without hearing from me.

Come in. Come in.

Might need to pump up the bass a bit for Jennings' voice.

(LAUGHTER)

(NEWS THEME PLAYS) And we are on in 15.

Ten.

On my hand...

Five...

(QUICKLY) Good morning. Dale Jennings here with the latest news.

UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

is steadfastly refusing to resign

in the face of the Westland helicopter crisis.

The embattled PM poses an emergency debate in the House of Commons.

THATCHER: (ON TV) Truth is often stranger than fiction...

Yeah. You need to slow down, fella.

Ask me these questions of course I will reply them.

He's so handsome.

They must reply to them, first to members of parliament...

We are back in...

..and to the House of Commons. Three...

I will do my best to get precise answers to them.

The biggest rock band in the world, Dire Straits

have commenced their Australian tour amidst a ticket scalping controversy.

with $27 seats fetching up to $400.

Come on. Slow it down.

Lead singer Mark Knopfler advises fans not to spend that kind of money.

MARK KNOPFLER: Just don't do it. The other thing that I'll say is that...

You need to slow down or there'll be dead air at the end.

I'll try to move the autocue a little slower.

Try and follow me. Sorry.

..is...is that... We are back... in...

..we're gonna make a limited amount of tickets available.

(SLOWLY) To sport now, and Australian cricket captain, Allan Broader...

..Border, has threatened to resign

in the wake of Australia's worse...worst ever

World Cricket score...Series score.

BORDER: ..put it to the blokes...

He's finding his rhythm, I think.

..should have a better performance level...

OK. You're gonna need to pad out to the wrap up

because you're still 10 seconds ahead.

..good performances, not necessarily winning...

We're back, in...

..just the performances have been very, very poor.

And I've just had enough

To weather now.

Fine today with a top of 28.

This has been Dale Jennings from the newsroom.

We'll have more updates... Poor bugger.

..for you throughout the day.

Thank you.

We're out.

Tea?

Perhaps tomorrow it might be worth coming in a little early?

We can do another practice.

Great.

Good.

Fuck!

(DOOR OPENS)

(NEWSROOM CHATTER)

Mate, if it's any consolation...

..you could really have a future

..calling horse races.

Huh. (CHUCKLES) Chin up.

Just so you know, Lindsay didn't see it. He was in some meeting.

Oh.

I don't know what happened. The rehearsal tape was fine.

It's different live.

You'll get there.

Anyone else?

ANSWERING MACHINE: Hello. You've reached Dale Jennings.

I can't take your call right now,

but if you leave me a message with your details,

I'll get back to you. (BEEP!)

Helen, if you're there, can you pick up the phone?

Helen, you promised. Just pick up.

Please?

(SONG PLAYS LOUDLY INSIDE) # Come said the boy

# Let's go down to the sand

# Let's do what we wanna do... #

Helen?

Hi! I'm so sorry.

I've taken over your kitchen.

Hey, I called the girls on reception and they told me about the ratings.

They said that they had about a hundred phone calls.

(MUSIC STOPS) Did Lindsay say anything?

You promised me you'd answer the phone.

Yeah, but I...I wanted to make dinner just to say thank you.

I rang four times.

Yeah, I was only at the shop for an hour.

Right.

What's wrong?

Oh...

Did my first update on the desk today.

It just didn't go very well, that's all.

You... What?

(PLAYS TAPE)

Good morning. Dale Jennings here with the latest...

I said don't, um, touch the VCR!

Why didn't you tell me that you were on the desk today?

You weren't in any fit state to tell you that.

Can I watch it?

No.

The first time that I ever read,

I froze for like a solid ten seconds,

and then the second time I kept stumbling

over the word 'phenomenon'.

Took me three goes at it.

Let me watch it.

It's really bad.

The biggest rock band in the world, Dire Straits,

have commenced their Australian tour amidst a ticket scalping controversy

with $27 seats fetching up for $400.

(STIFLES A LAUGH) Lead singer Mark Knopfler

advises fans not to spend that kind of money.

(LAUGHS) Just don't do it.

The other thing that I'd say is that,

quite apart from the fact that our shows are not worth $400...

It's a little bit fast, but we can work on that.

..is that...

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

GEOFF: Is he in?

Oh, Christ.

Lindsay, I need a quick word about the numbers.

Uh...

I am on my way out. Are upstairs worried?

Mate...

Mate, they're not thrilled.

Well, they were always going to dip, but they will go up again.

Yeah, mate... Now, we used to have a huge audience.

We still do. A serious news audience.

And we lost them because, at a certain point,

and I'm certainly not blaming you... Big of you.

..we started serving them glamour instead.

Oh...

Now, we can get those viewers back, Lindsay.

Let's get me back into the field. Yeah.

When I was a reporter in Vietnam, Lindsay,

people were riveted, riveted!

No, yeah, Vietnam was terrific for telly.

But, mate, you and I both know the numbers, they go up, they go down.

Probably all change tomorrow.

Right.

OK.

Whatever happens, you and I must stay the course.

Agreed?

Mm. Of course.

Good.

JEAN: Just taking some time out. Hi, Jean.

She's perfectly well,

she's just having some time.

(PHONES RINGING)

I can promise you, Helen will be back on your screen very soon.

She's absolutely still part of the News at Six team.

Thank you. Thank you for calling.

(PHONES RINGING)

Uh, newsroom. Noelene speaking.

DALE: (LOW VOICE) After two decades of rule, Philippines...

(GRUMBLES) You're doing something to your voice.

I speed up if I don't try and control the sound.

OK, well, just try one just in your normal voice.

After two decades of rule,

Philippine strongman Phil...Ferdinand Marcos...

Yeah, but you've got to talk to me. Sorry.

You've got to impart the information to me.

I'm the audience.

After two decades of rule,

Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos

is facing an election challenge... Take a little sip of your drink.

OK.

(LAUGHS)

After two decades of rule, Philippine strongman...

Now you sound like you're attacked.

Well, I actually feel a little bit like I'm under attack.

Where did you grow up?

Bendigo.

So imagine that you're there and you're talking to your parents.

It's just my mum.

OK, so imagine that you're talking to your mother

just calmly and clearly.

You're imparting the information. You want her to understand it.

And she loves you.

And she wants to understand the story too.

OK.

(CLEARS THROAT)

After two decades of rule,

Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos

is facing a fierce election challenge

from a political novice, Corazon Aquino.

Keep going.

Ms Aquino, the first woman to run for president, has accused Marcos

of being merely a front man for his wife, Imelda,

declaring, "May the better woman win the election."

Keep going?

I'd really like to get my hands on your hair.

Like, just...just just to kind of shape it a little bit.

OK. OK, so subtle, nothing too much.

You know, 80% of what people actually see is your hair.

What kind of statistic is that?

They've done studies. What studies?

You know, um, Geoff actually spends more time in the make-up chair

than he does behind the actual desk.

And I gotta get a two hour dye job once a fortnight.

Really? Yeah.

See? Go take a look.

OK.

I think at least 15% more attractive.

I'm getting very suspicious of your statistics.

Actually, more like 20%.

(MELLOW POP MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO)

NEWSREADER: This is ABC News for Wednesday, 29 January.

The highly publicised NASA mission Challenger has ended in disaster.

At approximately 3:30 Australian time, the Challenger Shuttle...

Shh! ..exploded soon after take-off,

killing everyone on board.

It was the first space mission to carry a civilian -

school teacher and mother of two, Christa McAuliffe...

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello?

Oh. Is this...?

I was after Dale.

Uh, he's still asleep.

Um, can you tell him that it's Noelene from work?

Tell him to turn on the ABC Radio right now.

The Shuttle, with the teacher... Who is it?

..exploded. Can you turn the radio on?

Uh, OK, we're doing it. Thanks, Noelene.

Helen?

(HANGS UP) (DIAL TONE SOUNDS)

NEWSREADER: The disaster was watched live by millions of Americans

and the families of the mission crew

who had assembled at the Kennedy Space Center...

You still on the updates? Uh, I think so.

Yeah, so you should go! Right.

(NEWSREADER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Is the comms in yet? Comms feed will be in any minute.

I reckon I've got four good library stories.

I've got the NASA training videos, the interviews with the family...

Have you done something to your hair?

Jesus. Gel?

Are you doing the updates? Yes, I am.

And I'm very well across the story... Rob! Where you going?

Uh, VFL Morning Show. No, you're not, mate.

Get yourself into make-up - you're doing the first update.

I understand I struggled the other day...

Dale, I saw it. It was a train wreck.

You are a very good producer. You're an OK reporter.

You're not a newsreader. It's just not you, alright?

Comms feed is in!

REPORTER: (ON VIDEO) Lift-off of the 25th Space Shuttle mission,

and it has cleared the tower.

MAN 1: (OVER RADIO) Houston, Challenger - roll program.

MAN 2: Roger - roll, Challenger.

MAN 3: Good roll program confirmed.

Challenger now heading down range. 94%.

Engines throttling up. Three engines now at 104%.

Challenger, go at throttle up.

Roger - go at throttle up.

(SCREAMING)

Look at that. They're the parents.

Oh, bugger me. Jesus Christ.

Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation.

Major malfunction.

(BUTTON CLICKS)

What else you got there, Murray?

There's...profiles with the astronauts, and...some other stuff.

Alright. Uh, look, I'm...

(CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY) ..I'm a sports reporter.

I've never done breaking news.

I know this story. I've reported on it. I know it inside out.

(SNIFFS)

(PHONE RINGS)

Walters Residence.

Yeah, I'm just wondering if, uh...if Geoff is there.

No. It's his golf morning.

Can I assist in any way?

Well, um...we've got some breaking news, Evelyn,

and we need to extend the updates.

Well, I could get the club to dispatch a groundsman -

they're usually very efficient.

Well, how long will that take?

He'd...be with you before midday.

Well, that'd be great. Thanks very much, Evelyn.

Fuck!

Dale!

You know this story inside out?

Yes.

Noelene...

..get me Helen's home number.

B-but she's...

..at your place, isn't she?

Yeah. Um...

I'll call her. I'll get her in.

What?

(PICKS UP PHONE, DIALS NUMBER)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Hi. Uh, Noelene will be on the autocue.

I'll be on the floor beside you.

We've got three minutes of the launch footage,

we've got the US story about the astronauts,

we've got the story from the other day about the teacher.

Do you wanna see the footage? No, no, no. I'll watch it on air.

I wanna react the same time as the audience does.

Good on you for coming in, Helen.

We really appreciate it, don't we? It's fantastic.

OK, so, I think that this should be more than an update -

I think that we should stay with it for the hour.

Uh, we don't have the footage.

No, we just rotate the same footage.

People have been listening to the radio, calling their friends -

they're gonna to be heading to their televisions

and we need to be the ones playing it.

We will be, Helen.

There's a report coming in - apparently, Reagan's made a speech.

OK. So...

..would it be safe to call this the...

..the worst disaster in space history?

Uh... We're on in 15.

How many died in the Apollo explosion?

Uh, I think only three?

So, yes, it's the worst.

In ten.

Thanks, Cheryl. (CLEARS THROAT) (NEWS THEME PLAYS)

(UNDER BREATH) Okey-dokey.

And five, four...

(THEME ENDS)

Good morning. I'm Helen Norville.

We interrupt our programming

to bring you breaking news from the United States,

which has just seen the worst accident in space history -

the tragic explosion of the Shuttle Challenger

just a minute after launch.

All seven astronauts aboard the Shuttle

are believed to have perished in the disaster.

The mission attracted special attention

because it involved the first civilian sent to space -

schoolteacher and mother of two Christa McAuliffe.

(ON VIDEO) Lift-off of the 25th... (CLEARS THROAT)

Uh, the next story's gonna be about Christa.

..cleared the tower.

Houston, Challenger - roll program.

Roger - roll, Challenger.

Engines throttling up. Three engines now at 104%.

Challenger, go at throttle up.

Roger - go at throttle up.

(VIEWERS EXCLAIM)

(SCREAMING ON VIDEO)

We are back in five....

What are her parents' names? Um... Uh...

Grace and Ed. Grace and Ed Corrigan.

Watching there...

..Grace and Ed Corrigan, Christa McAuliffe's parents.

Just months earlier, the McAuliffe family were jubilant

when Christa was selected from over 11,000 teachers

for an opportunity that seemed like a dream come true.

And we're...again in 30 seconds. OK.

Can I grab some water, Noelene, or...?

Noels, can we get some water? Thank you.

So, the next story's...uh, story's about the six astronauts.

Thank you. No, no, no, no.

We...we wanna show the... the footage of the explosion again.

We don't wanna ever go more than a few minutes without showing it.

Can you give me something...? Give me another intro.

Like, something about the, uh... Uh...uh...I think the...

..explosion? ..the main fuel tank exploded.

In five... Uh, yep, yep.

The-the flames coming from a defect in the booster.

The flames couldn't be seen from the observers on the ground,

but they were picked up by slow-motion footage from the launch.

OK, thank you.

Official sources have now confirmed

there is no hope the Shuttle's crew survived the fireball explosion.

It was the main fuel tank that exploded,

with the flames appearing to come from a defect in the booster.

The flames couldn't be seen by observers on the ground,

but they were picked up by slow-motion footage.

Aboard the shuttle were Mission Commander Dick Scobee...

Breaking children's television to show the deaths of seven people.

Well, we have, uh, broken into children's programming before,

when there's been a bushfire or... Yes. Yes. For public a service.

CFA warnings.

But we would never, ever show footage of people dying, Lindsay.

Yeah, the kiddies wouldn't really understand it.

Well, you've got her out there explaining it in very basic terms.

..excitement for Christa McAuliffe...

Does just means she's reinstated?

..and parishioner, who had become...

I don't know, mate. I don't know.

It's, um...

We dropped again last night.

A social studies teacher at Concord High School,

Mrs McAuliffe taught... Badly.

..American history, law, economics,

and a course that she designed herself - The American Woman.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has sent a telegram of condolence

to the United States President, Ronald Reagan.

OK.

The telegram read, "We partake of your grief..."

Uh, so, Reagan made a speech.

He spoke directly to schoolchildren, saying that the tragedy was...

..part of the process of exploration,

and he pledged that the Shuttle program will absolutely continue.

RONALD REAGAN: I've always had great faith in

and respect for our space program.

..cut out for 30 seconds. Cut out for 30.

What happened today does nothing to diminish it.

OK. (LAUGHS) OK. We don't hide our space programs.

We don't keep secrets... And, back in five...

..and cover things up.

United States President Ronald Reagan there

putting into words some of the horror that we all feel.

The impact of this tragedy will be felt for months, years.

But right now, our thoughts must be with those children tonight,

going to bed, having tragically lost a parent.

For the McAuliffe family,

their beloved daughter, wife, mother - Christa.

When that Shuttle goes, there might be one body...

..but there's gonna be 10 souls that I'm taking with me.

Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

This has been Helen Norville.

We'll return now to our regular programming.

Geoff Walters will be back with the next update, on the hour.

(NEWS THEME PLAYS)

And we're out. (CHUCKLES)

(APPLAUSE) Whoo! Whoooo!

You're incredible. Thanks.

(LAUGHS)

You're incredible!

(INHALES DEEPLY)

I just... Oh! (LAUGHS)

Thank you.

GEOFF: Helen.

Well done, pulling all that together so quickly. Quite a feat.

Oh, well, I mean, it wasn't just me.

But, um...working up emotion like that.

I wasn't working up anything.

Oh, we both know you were.

Look, some people will probably applaud you for it,

but I think, uh...

..most would prefer that that sort of thing is preserved for...

..soap operas, not the news bulletin.

We'll see.

Thank you, guys. Thank you.

Brilliant, Helen. Brilliant. (APPLAUSE)

(APPLAUSE)

LINDSAY: Absolutely. Absolutely.

Well done, you. Well done, Helen. (CHUCKLES)

Uh, would you, uh, consider staying for the evening bulletin?

I'm sacked. Aren't I?

(LAUGHS) Oh, well, you know -

you did...walk out on us.

(CHUCKLES)

I'll consider it. Hm?

If you let me do an extended update at 5:30, solo.

And then I'd like to read the lead at the 6:00pm bulletin.

And I'd like to alternate the lead story every other day.

And then, every Monday, I'd like to do

the special report of my choosing -

with Dale.

(CHUCKLES)

So, you put that in writing, and, yeah...

..I'll consider it.

(SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT)

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

What's going on there, do you reckon?

Dale Jennings?

Who knew he had it in him?

God, Helen - did I forget to lock your door?

It... I don't care. I'm so sorry.

It must've been in the rush of everything,

and I just... No, it doesn't matter.

Do you want to make sure that your jewellery and your electronics...?

Dale, I don't care.

Sorry. Ugh.

You're apologising for... for leaving my door unlocked

after you saved my life.

Thank you.

Oh...

(CLEARS THROAT)

(GLASSES CLINK)

Why DID you take those pills?

It wasn't like I... No, I know.

(OPENS DRAWER)

(CORKSCREW RATTLES)

You know those nights when everything horrible

that anybody's ever said to you, or about you,

and all the, you know, awful things that you've ever done,

just keep playing...

..over and over in your head?

And I just wanted silence.

You know, you're incredible?

(SNORTS)

Wait till you get to know me. No, I mean it.

And I could never do what you do.

Yeah, you could.

(CHUCKLES)

I think that ship has sailed.

(CORK POPS) (SIGHS)

You know, I am a fucking disaster. (CHUCKLES)

But I'm also relentless.

And I'm loyal.

I think we can make you a newsreader.

(LAUGHS)

So, come on, pick a story. No.

Yeah. Pick a story - read it.

Ugh, Helen, I have been up for 17 hours.

Well, it's breaking news. You're on. Go!

(UNDER BREATH) Oh, God.

What story would you like? Any one. Just pick any one.

Yeah? Yeah.

"It's the toy line that's sold out all over the country -

"the Cabbage Patch Kids are..."

OK, so...

..you sound dead.

Well, I feel dead. (CHUCKLES) Just go again.

"It's the toy line that's sold out all over the country -

"the Cabbage Patch Kids are..."

And now there's judgement in your voice.

(LAUGHS)

OK. Should I try it again? Yeah.

"It's the toy line that's sold out all over the country -

"the Cabbage Patch Kids..."

(CHUCKLES) "..the Cabbage Patch..."

Yes!

That was it. That was good. Yeah, OK.

Well, let me try that again. I'm not quite sure what I did.

Just relax.

"It's the toy line that's sold out all over the country -

"the Cabbage Patch Kids..."

So...

You and Helen, eh?

Have you been getting people

making comments about us at work?

People like to gossip about Helen.

I just don't like people talking about me.

HELEN: Are you sure that this is just about the gossip?

Is this your way of trying to tell me that I'm a little bit too much?

Geoff's 60th. You going as Mr Helen Norville?

Are you going? 'Cause my invite was "Rob and guest".

Halley's Comet is returning,

and Australia is being gripped by comet fever.

Geoff's not gonna be on the desk for much longer.

Are you saying that I should consider my position?

EVELYN: If you or the network mistreat my husband in any way,

I can assure you, the public response will be utterly devastating.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation