Harry, a hard-edged Special Air Service Corporal, meets a new company of soldiers during his second tour in Vietnam. There's the naive Bill, the easy-going Bung, the blunt Rogers, the pragmatic Dawson, and the youthful and innocent Scott. Because of their training as professional soldiers from Australia's toughest Army unit, these men believe they can deal with humoring themselves to keep their minds off the war. But, when the first "odd angry shot" rings out, and an enemy mortar barrage hits their camp causing many casualties, the men realize their protective shield of humor is no defense at all against the harsh realities of armed combat.

Originally produced as a motion picture in 1979. Adapted from William Nagle's original novel.