The Odd Angry Shot

Bill, a young recruit, arrives for a year-long SAS tour in Vietnam and joins Harry, Bung, Rogers, Dawson and Scott. The close-knit unit learns to cope with mud, boredom, and endless rain as they form their wary camaraderie. The early days set a foundation that will be tested by war.

A night-time enemy mortar barrage smashes through the camp, wounding several and causing casualties. The attack shatters the soldiers' sense of safety and makes the war feel painfully close. It marks the first real reminder that danger is never far away.

Shortly after the attack, the squad conducts their first operation in dense jungle terrain. The encounter is brutal, with Scott mortally wounded and a lone VC escaping. The experience establishes the brutal tone of ongoing patrols and the ever-present threat.

Between patrols, the men turn to humor and practical jokes to buffer fear and fatigue. Laughter masks anxiety as they endure the monotony and discomfort of camp life. The dynamics of the group begin to show cracks under pressure.

A quirky insect-fighting contest with an American unit erupts into a massive fistfight. The clash underscores the strange camaraderie and volatility that can flare between allied troops. After the brawl, the soldiers try to restore order and maintain focus on the war ahead.

Back at camp, Bill receives a letter from his girlfriend that is a thinly veiled breakup. The personal rejection weighs on him amid the ongoing tensions of combat. He struggles to separate the feelings from the demands of the tour.

On leave in Saigon, Bung catches a young scam artist who has robbed two US soldiers. They seize the stolen cash and team up with the Americans for a wild night with hookers. Bill joins in for a distraction from the harsh realities of war.

Back in Vietnam, Bung learns that his mother and girlfriend have died in a car accident. The news deepens his grief and presses him to confront life back home. The loss intensifies the soldiers' sense of futility in a war that seems endless.

Rogers steps on a mine during patrol, losing both feet and part of his jaw. He is evacuated to hospital while the unit grapples with the shock of his injuries. His friends visit him, and he grimly jokes about his new condition.

Before the tour ends, the section is ordered to seize a VC-held bridge. Bung is killed by a VC machine-gunner, delivering a cruel blow to the unit. The operation ends with a withdrawal, leaving the team emotionally drained and frustrated.

Not long after the bridge incident, Harry, Bill and Dawson are informed they will be sent home. The weight of leaving their comrades and the war itself hangs heavy as they prepare to depart. The impending return brings a mix of relief and unresolved trauma.

Back in Australia, Harry and Bill share a quiet beer at a harbor-side pub in Watsons Bay. They process their return and the memories that won’t fade. The scene lingers on their restrained talk and wary hope for a future without war.

A bartender asks if they have just returned from Vietnam, but Harry says no. The line underscores the hostility that returning veterans faced and the tension between their experiences and public perception. The film ends with the men looking out over Port Jackson, reflecting on what they endured.