The film is based on the novel Smile by Moore Raymond, who also wrote the source novel for the sequel film.In this Australian children's movie, a sequel to Smiley, set in the outback, a local policeman tries to help a rambunctious scamp settle down by promising the lad a new gun if he can stay out of mischief and treat other people with respect. Smiley, the boy, does his very best, but when the locals begin teasing him and taking bets on whether or not he will succeed, trouble ensues and the boy ends up getting blamed for robbing an eccentric old woman.