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The Fast Lane - Episode 7: The Sound of One Hand Counting (1986)

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Different worlds

Original classification rating: M. This clip chosen to be M

Clip description

The instructor of the self-actualisation course (William Zappa) is sprouting his New Age speak with the two private detectives (Terry Bader and Richard Healy) a captive audience. Meanwhile the thoroughly dependable Girl Friday (Debra Lawrence) gets to know the migrant women on the factory floor during their all-too-brief lunchbreak, while the bad PA system crackles with the latest unintelligible management edict.

Curator’s notes

Each week the program makes its mark by satirising an aspect of contemporary life. Here it is this wonderful evocation of the world of a New Age self-improvement school. The instructor’s part is beautifully written, and so well played by William Zappa that he is creepy to watch. The Dickensian factory, peopled with hardworking migrant women, effectively provides a darker side to the story.

John Clarke’s hilarious management-speak announcements, broadcast to the factory floor, are pure gobbledegook – especially to the migrant women, many of whom struggle with English anyway. It shows another way that management harries these hardworking women while completely ignoring the real problems on the factory floor like unsafe machinery and a complete lack of understanding of what the women need in order to do a good job.

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This clip is available for download for the limited purpose of criticism and review in an educational context. You must obtain permission from editorial@aso.gov.au for all other purposes for use of this material.

Terms & Conditions

australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described here and elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. ALL rights are reserved.

You must read and agree to the following terms and conditions before downloading this clip:

When you access ABC materials on australianscreen you agree that:

  1. You may download this clip to assist your information, criticism and review purposes in conjunction with viewing this website only;
  2. Downloading this clip for purposes other than criticism and review is Prohibited;
  3. Downloading for purposes other than non-commercial educational uses is Prohibited;
  4. Downloading this clip in association with any commercial purpose is Prohibited;

The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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