The Dish 2001

In the quaint town of Parkes, Australia, a massive dish stands proudly in the middle of a sheep paddock, poised to broadcast a monumental event: humanity’s first steps on the Moon and the iconic moonwalk by Neil Armstrong. This dish will deliver the live feed to an eager global audience, marking a historical moment that will resonate for years to come.

Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill), the chief scientific supervisor at the satellite station, reflects on these significant days as he navigates the complexities brought by NASA’s takeover. Not everyone on his team is receptive to the changes; some employees openly express their displeasure toward NASA’s representatives and the chief operations director.

As the preparations unfold, Bob McIntyre ([Roy Billing])—the Mayor of Parkes—recognizes the opportunity for both himself and his town to shine in this historic endeavor. The arrival of the Australian Prime Minister ([Bille Brown]) and an inquisitive American Ambassador ([John McMartin]) heightens the stakes, as the ambassador insists on checking the facilities himself.

Amidst the tension, Rudi ([Tayler Kane]) injects humor into the scene, tasked with providing armed security at NASA’s demand. His comedic exchange with his sister Janine ([Eliza Szonert]), who brings homemade meals to the dish’s personnel and harbors a crush on a shy mathematician, adds light-hearted moments to the serious atmosphere. Rudi’s playful antics, like renaming sections of the complex, keep spirits lifted.

While the McIntyre family anxiously prepares for their distinguished guests, amusing family dynamics come into play. Their eldest daughter Marie ([Lenka Kripac]) offers cheeky remarks, while their son Billy ([Carl Snell]) attempts to explain technical details of the landing to their father, who struggles to understand. The family’s matriarch, May ([Genevieve Mooy]), frets over her attire, humorously quarreling with Bob over whether her dress is ‘yellow’ or ‘lemon’, leading to an awkward introduction where Bob nervously presents her as “the lemon.”

However, the day brings two critical crises at the station:

1. A blunder happens when an employee fails to refuel one of the power stations adequately, causing a sudden blackout that severs all connections with the Apollo 11 crew. In a fit of panic, the staff hesitates to disclose the mistake to NASA, fearing their exclusion from the broadcast. Ultimately, they manage to re-establish contact just in time.

2. Adding to their woes, unexpected high winds arise from a sudden gale, threatening the stability of the already precarious dish. Unforeseen by meteorologists, these ferocious winds push the station’s capabilities to the limit as they scramble to seize the chance to broadcast Armstrong’s historic exit from the spacecraft, which occurs sooner than anticipated. Their vigilance pays off as they finally achieve their goal against the odds, despite the risk of structural collapse.

In a poignant moment, Cliff pays tribute to his late wife, cherishing the support she provided over the years and dedicating their success to her memory. As the story returns to the present, a now white-haired Cliff Buxton faces an unrecognizing guard who reprimands him about visitor protocols. Without any fuss, he remarks that it doesn’t concern him and exits the premises, leaving behind a legacy that echoes in the community and beyond.