AustLit

'When Johnny Marcelli returns from Vietnam on compassionate leave, he is told by the police and the rest of his family that his father has committed suicide. Johnny, however, refuses to believe this, and sets out to solve the mystery of his father's death for himself.

'This course of action brings him into conflict with the police and also with the people on properties adjoining his father's. The farmers in the area have had poor seasons, and all, with the exception of the Marcelli family, want to sell their farms to the Horizon Development Company, which plans to amalgamate the properties and which has profitable outlets for the farmers' producp. [sic]

'Johnny's first suspicion is that Paul Moran, the development company's representative, has killed his father during an argument, and to force the truth out of the man, takes him on a terrifying ride around the mountain ranges outside Matlock.

'When all the facts are available, however, the killer is proved to be one of the neighbouring farmers, Tom Farrell. Farrell argued with Mr. Marcelli about selling the farm, and a rifle went off accidentally. As there were no witnesses, and he knew the Marcellis were in financial difficulties, he hoped the idea of suicide would be acceptable.

'The story climaxes with a hunt through the bush in which the police try to reach Johnny before he can kill Farrell.'

Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection includes the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'JOHNNY MARCELLI Early twenties, younger, Australian-born son of an Italian family, matured by service in Vietnam. Normally a good-looking, likeable boy, his personality is eroded by depression and suspicion associated with the death of his father. A sense of personal guilt unbalances his innate single-mindedness to the point of obsession.

'LEONARD JACKSON 40's. The hard, plausible, and - when he likes - charming head of a high-pressure pastoral company.

'TOM FARRELL About 50, physically tough, but emotionally edgy and unstable - worn-down by the fight to keep his property going.

'PAUL MORAN 30's. The "rough diamond" field officer for Jackson's pastoral company. Lacking his boss's smoothness, he can nevertheless be very likeable or, when required, hard as nails.

'MOMMA MARCELLI 60's. Newly-widowed, still unable to adjust to the realities of this new life. Only occasionally do we detect flashes of the real spirit and vitality of the woman.

'ANDREA MARCELLI About 19, a pleasant, attractive girl. More level-headed than Johnny, deeply devoted to him and to her mother.

'TINA FARRELL About 20, a mature, strikingly attractive girl - self-possessed, slightly tentative outside her family circle.

'HARRY TOMKINS: 40's, a bull-at-a-gate farmer. Excitable, still able to laugh at himself.

'SECRETARY Late teens.

'TRAIN PASSENGER About 40, a talkative, well-meaning, totally insensitive local.

'TRAIN PASSENGER EXTRAS F. only.'