AllMovie

This feature is taken from a popular Australian television series and the novel by John Cleary. Frankie McCoy (Ken Shorter) is a cynical bookie, in a rundown bar in Sydney, who is summoned for military service. After a barroom brawl, he goes AWOL from the service and takes an apartment above the bar to resume his bookmaking operation. He has eyes for the barmaid Margie (Rowena Wallace), an old-fashioned girl who wants a traditional marriage before she lets Frankie have his way with her. Margie breaks up with him until he promises to return to the army. After he pays off too many bets, he steals some money from a butcher shop and goes on a drinking binge. He spends the night soothing the loneliness of Myra (Carmen Duncan), the pill-headed floozie who can't believe she was involved with a married man. Frankie gives her the rest of his money the next day in a gesture of who knows what. Myra charges some new clothes but hasn't spent the money when a panic-stricken Frankie bursts in wanting the money. The cops have the numbers on the stolen loot, and tragedy ensues as Myra and Frankie fight over the money.