Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.MX

♪ Wild thing ♪

♪ You make my heart sing ♪

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

- [ANNOUNCER] And now here's David

with Channel 9's Junior News Bulletin.

- Space-mad kids round the country

stayed in and watched their TV sets today

as the first broadcast from Apollo 7 went to air.

What a lot of kids don't know about the mission

is Walter Schirra, its commander,

was a keen pilot even as a boy and was already able

to fly his father's aeroplane at the age of 15.

- [NARRATOR] That's him. David McMillan.

Golden boy. The kid most likely.

His daddy a war hero, his mum a glamorous socialite.

It's a pity they didn't bother to pull his pants down

and take a strap to the cheeky bugger.

- The lesson from Captain Schirra

is if you want to achieve something, start young.

- [NARRATOR] He could've been anything.

By his 22nd birthday he'd made a million.

But it wasn't through honest sweat.

(horns toot) (traffic rumbles)

It was the white stuff. Heroin.

That's how come he wound up here.

The notorious Bangkok Hilton facing a firing squad.

(tense music)

Beats me why Australia ever did away with the death penalty.

Would've saved us all a hell of a lot of trouble

if we'd just strung him up.

Mind you, it would have meant catching him first.

And when it came to our David,

that turned out easier said than done.

(gong crashes)

(up-tempo music)

♪ It's a jungle out there ♪

♪ Jive talkin' ♪

♪ You're telling me lies, yeah ♪

♪ Good lovin' ♪

♪ Still gets in my eyes ♪

- What have we got here?

- An Admiral bakelite radio, 1947. I collect them.

(officer sniffs)

- Hmm. Never known bakelite to smell like that.

Resinous.

(tense music)

You're living in Caulfield?

Where d'you go to school?

- Caulfield Grammar.

It's just round the corner from my mum's.

- Yeah, my nephew's just started there. Good school?

- Brilliant. It's a good choice.

- I should open your radio up, son,

find out where that smell's coming from.

But I don't wanna be the bloke who ruins your life.

Now, you get outta here, and you remember,

this sort of nonsense, you don't usually get second chances.

(up-tempo music)

- [NARRATOR] You think this little smart arse

learned his lesson?

Bullshit he did.

- And get a bloody haircut.

- [NARRATOR] It took more than a soft Customs officer

to transform David McMillan from golden boy

to heroin dealing kingpin.

(up-tempo music)

- What you got on tonight, Clel? Ragin' out?

- [CLELIA] Yeah, maybe.

Couple of guys from Boys Next Door are having a party.

- Oh, they've got that lead singer. Um...

Oh, what's his name again?

- Nick Cave.

- Oh, God, he's so rootable.

Good luck to ya, love.

So, David, what are we thinking? Layer it a bit?

Maybe short around the ears? - What do you think?

- Well, 1972 was a great year, but let's move on, eh?

- Harsh words.

- If I were you, I'd cut the lot off and start from scratch.

- Clelia!

- All right, let's go short.

- Suit yourself.

- Clelia, right?

Beautiful name.

- So I've heard.

- I was wondering if I could buy you a drink,

say thank you for the advice.

- You know, just 'cause you cut your hair,

doesn't mean I'm gonna let you fuck me.

- So what would it take?

(she scoffs)

Might see you around, then.

♪ Alone with a heart ♪

- Rosie, where are ya? (door closes)

♪ A heart that needs tender care ♪

- Hi.

- Reggie's left me.

- Ah.

Well, I'm sorry.

- You don't care. You never liked him.

- Did like him. Just didn't trust him.

- I should have seen it coming.

I asked him to buy me a car last week.

- Mmm. - He said yes far too quickly.

(chuckles) - Come on, Mum.

you did do quite nicely out of poor old Reg.

Much better than the other bloke you were shacked up with.

- And I earned every cent of it.

That man had the most dreadful halitosis.

- Poor Rosie.

- David...

♪ I just don't know ♪ - I really do need a new car.

The Rover's blowing so much smoke it's embarrassing.

♪ What a fool just to imagine ♪

♪ That things would work out ♪

- That should cover a deposit.

("Rock and Roll Part II" by Gary Glitter)

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Hey ♪

- So, how did you crack an invite to this place?

- I know these guys from school.

- [MICHAEL] Oh, yeah? And you just stayed in touch, huh?

- Oh, not quite. You know, old school tie.

- Let me get this straight.

We're crashing their party

and we're attempting to sell them drugs?

- Yeah. You think that's gonna be a problem?

(people laughing)

- No. No, I don't.

I'll see ya later.

(music continues)

♪ Hey ♪

- Clelia. Hey.

Oh, what a coincidence seeing you here.

- Coincidence. Right.

So I hear you're a drug dealer?

- I don't know whether to be pleased that you asked after me

or annoyed that someone told you that.

- Have you got any speed?

- I'm a drug dealer, aren't I?

It's Dexedrine. 500mg.

I was about to say, one's probably enough.

(they both chuckle)

- Do you have more of this stuff?

- Yeah, as much as you want.

You can be...

Carol McCoy.

- Scripts!

- Mm-hm. With three repeats.

Carol suffers from narcolepsy, in case the chemist asks.

(she sniggers)

- So the real Carol, is she your girlfriend?

- There is no real Carol.

Er, and that's not a radio either.

- Well, what is it?

- A police scanner.

- You listen in to cops?

Where do you get these?

- It's one I made myself.

It's just a hobby.

- (scoffs) What are you, an evil criminal genius?

- I don't know about the "evil' part.

- Yeah, well, turn it on.

- [DISPATCHER] Any other units in the vicinity?

Approach with caution. Offenders may be armed.

- Far out!

- [OFFICER] Caulfield 206. We can attend.

We're only a minute away.

(indistinct radio chatter) (up-tempo music)

- Maybe I'll let you fuck me after all.

(woman on screen groans)

- [DAVID] Shocking resolution, Pete.

You really need a new lens on that thing.

- David.

This is my friend Brian.

Just got out of Pentridge. Armed robbery.

Pete's gonna put it on a T-shirt, aren't ya?

"My mate the stick-up man."

- It's hitting the capitalist pigs where it hurts.

- So, Pete, are you still looking for three?

I can do the lot for an even 1,500.

- If it's the Ambassador, man, we're buying.

- Wait, that's, what, 1,500 for three ounces?

- 1,800 for three, but I'm doing you a special price.

- 600 Australian dollars for one ounce of choof?

- Man, I'm not about profit.

If you wanna turn on, I'm here to help,

but I've gotta cover costs.

- You think 'cause I've been inside

I don't know what shit's worth?

You think I'm a mug?

- No, but if you're not interested,

there's plenty of people who are.

- Yeah, smart-arse?

But what if I put a bullet in your face?

- (tense music) - No, Brian! Brian, no!

Cool it. Cool it, man.

Brian, all right, it's expensive, the Ambassador,

'cause it's the shit, man.

Have a look.

Check it out. It's fully imported, from Nepal.

- [NARRATOR] It's true.

Yeah, David's hash did come from the Far East.

The far-east Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark.

Where it was cooked up by a dentist called Neville.

- And those Sherpas do come a bloody long way.

(Brian chuckles)

- Sherpas? (tense music)

All right, fuck it. I'll take the lot.

- Patrick! - Hey!

Hey!

What's happened?

- Pricks have changed my locks.

They've locked me out of my place.

They've dumped all my stuff.

- Who? - The owner!

I was behind on my rent.

They said they put my cat out.

But Patrick never goes out. He's an inside cat.

Now he's gone!

(she sobs) - Hey...

I got you these.

Look, finding a cat's really easy.

You've just gotta think positive thoughts.

And, you know, wait till they get hungry.

Here, puss, puss! (taps can on seat)

(she chuckles) Here, puss, puss, puss, puss!

I've been late on my rent before, but a year?

That's impressive!

- Yeah, my dad used to pay it.

Then he decided he wanted me living at home.

I told him to piss off, so he stopped.

- Dads.

Mine's a Nazi too.

I mean, Mum left him when I was a kid, but, thank Christ!

- So, what, you never see him?

- No. (cat meows)

Oh, Patrick, I presume! - Oh, oh, my baby!

Patrick!

- See? Positive thoughts.

And the universe gives you something good back.

Now, if you want, I can pick that lock for you,

lug your stuff back in.

Or just grab what you need and move in with me.

Your choice.

(mid-tempo music)

- Patrick's all I need.

I figured out who Carol McCoy is.

"The Getaway". Ali MacGraw's character.

- You guessed it!

- Which makes you Steve McQueen.

- I'll settle for that.

- [NARRATOR] Smoking the Ambassador at 500 bucks an ounce

meant that Brian Robards soon needed to go back to work.

So he hooked up with his old prison buddy,

Benny O'Connell, notorious armed robber.

Standover man and all round scumbag.

Together, these geniuses knocked over Guthrie's Trading.

A major firearms importer.

Lifting nearly 300 shooters.

Whatever you want. They're going cheap.

- Shit!

- [BENNY] They're top bloody quality too.

- I don't know, I'm still kinda stuck on

the whole "Make love, not war" thing.

- Bullshit. Dealers need to tool up, mate.

- Look, how about we do a deal? What do they call it?

- Contra. - Do a contra.

You give us an ounce of smack,

we'll give you your choice of the shooters.

- [DAVID] I didn't know you guys were dealing.

- It's hard to make a living

as a counter-hopper these days, Dave.

Security screens, cameras. Dye bombs in the cash bag.

- Lot of guys we know are checking out of the armed robs

and getting into your game instead, so.

- Point is, you give us the hammer, we can move it,

quick smart.

C'mon, Dave. The lady likes the bang-bangs.

Don't ya, love? (up-tempo music)

- Ohh, Clel!

Yeah!

- So, what do you think?

(rapid flash pops) - I think that

getting the guns was an inspired idea.

- [CLELIA] You know what I mean.

- Clel, are you aware, yeah, more of that.

That in most South-East Asian countries,

they hang drug smugglers?

- They'd never catch us.

We're too smart. You're too smart.

- Is that right?

- You know it is.

♪ Sold daddy's car, for getting some freedom ♪

- We could get out of this dump.

We could have some real fun.

♪ And crime (indistinct) ♪

♪ And crime it starts to ♪

(David gasps)

(up-tempo music)

- Oh!

We have fun now.

- Yeah.

There's ordinary fun

and there's super fun.

And I thought you were a super fun kinda guy.

- Michael's cousin's worked in Manila for years.

I guess he could give us some contacts over there.

(they both gasp and moan)

- [CLELIA] If we're buying smack,

we should buy big and make it worthwhile.

- Oh, fuck! Ohh!

Oh! (mid-tempo music)

Okay.

But we'll need money to do a run,

and if we buy big, even more money.

- Then we'll have to get money, hey?

- [NARRATOR] I could never figure out

if she destroyed him or he destroyed her.

Either way,

Bonnie and Clyde were going to hell in a handcart.

- David's in antiques, Dad.

- Oh, yes?

A lot of the boys from the auction houses eat here.

Who are you with?

- I have my own business.

We're small. Boutique stuff.

- Still, I might have heard of it.

- Kilo Imports.

Like I said, it's boutique.

- So, Dad, David's business is doing really well,

and he's got a great opportunity to expand into Asia.

The problem is he needs some capital to make it happen.

- Oh, capital. You mean money.

- I know it's forward, Mr Vigano,

but Clelia said you were looking for business opportunities.

- Sorry. No.

I'm in the food business,

not whatever it is that you are into.

But if you want to open a restaurant, then give me a yell.

- Jesus, I should have known it.

- Clel, just wait. That's a very generous offer, Mr Vigano.

I've always been interested in hospitality.

- What? Are you insane?

- Bella, please-

- No, if you don't wanna help me, Dad, it's fine,

because we don't need your fucking money.

- Clel, cool it. - And, you know,

six months from now,

I'm gonna walk into your shitty little restaurant

wearing diamonds that we paid for ourselves.

And I'm gonna tell you to shove your money up your arse!

Come on.

(plane whooshes over) (up-tempo music)

- [NARRATOR] One thing I'd say about David,

the bastard loved a challenge.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.

Which is how he came to meet

the biggest prick in South East Asia.

(bell tolls)

- So, that guy used to be in the House of Lords?

- Yeah.

He's also meant to be a very fine bongo player.

- Yes?

- Lord Tony, David McMillan.

And this is Clelia Vigano.

- Ah, look, I'm terribly sorry,

but we already have plenty of strippers.

Oh, unless she can do that thing with the ping pong ball?

- No, you see, we're friends of Vanessa Sullivan's,

from the embassy.

I think she mentioned me to you.

Her cousin, Michael, is my business partner.

- Uh, I have no memory of it, but if you must talk business,

then come into my office. (up-tempo music)

Oh, um, not the stripper.

- Oh, righto. We're fucking outta here.

- No, Clel. Come on.

We've sunk too much money into this.

Come on. Just have a drink.

One drink. I'll be a minute, okay?

(up-tempo music)

- [TONY] Cannabis?

- Heroin.

I've got orders for five kilograms.

I could put down 50% of the price up front.

- 50% - Mm-hmm.

- So, you expect someone else

to give you the rest on credit?

- I was hoping you might be able to recommend someone

who was, you know, agreeable.

- So, essentially, you're asking me

to act as guarantor on the balance. (laughs)

Even though I've never met you.

- Well, that's what the introduction from Vanessa Sullivan

was supposed to be about.

- All right.

Well, I think you need to know something, David,

I'm a law-abiding supporter of the Marcos regime,

and everything that you've just said has been recorded.

(tense music)

- (clears throat) All right.

Look, I'm sorry, I got it wrong.

- I also have a very good relationship

with the Australian police.

Now, I want the names of your accomplices in Australia.

They hang drug smugglers here, don't you know?

- Fine. Turn me in.

Do whatever you fucking want. I'm denying everything.

- Are you refusing to give me names, boy?

- Yeah, I am.

(tense music)

- That's the spirit! (laughs)

The look on your face is priceless!

I do hope you won't need a change of pants!

- You fucking prick!

- Yes, I certainly am that.

(up-tempo music)

Chin-chin. (glasses clink)

♪ I will lie in my side ♪

♪ 'Cause there's a weapon in my hand and a man to fight ♪

- [NARRATOR] It's not what you know that matters.

It's whose arse you're willing to kiss.

Anyway, that's how David and the little princess

stepped up to the big time.

Within a few months,

they'd built a multimillion dollar heroin empire.

And you know what they say,

nothing exceeds like excess.

♪ Can't you see that you ain't no good ♪

♪ That you ain't no good ♪

(car horn toots) ♪ Ain't no good ♪

♪ That you ain't no good ♪

- Look what I found!

- Oh darling! - You look gorgeous.

(music continues)

♪ No more time, getting back ♪

♪ Don't know what that you would want ♪

♪ And I'm ready tonight ♪

♪ I can see what you do ♪

♪ Go and don't make wait your man ♪

♪ He must be calling for you ♪

♪ Ain't no good ♪

♪ Ain't no good ♪

♪ Ain't no good ♪

♪ That you ain't no good ♪

♪ Ain't no good ♪

♪ That you ain't no good ♪

- House is in the name of David Clyde Westlake.

- [GEOFF] Hmm. He got form?

- He doesn't exist.

- Hmm.

- I wrote down the regos of the cars he drives.

All different names.

All bullshit, if you ask me.

- It doesn't make him a drug dealer.

- They're off their heads half the time.

They were out the back this morning, 5:00 AM, semi-naked.

- You're watching the place at 5:00 AM?

Boss, maybe you should ask Grace for a Bex.

- He's bringing in cars, furniture, a boat.

- Maybe he's got a rich daddy. Maybe he won the lottery.

- No, no, no, no.

There's something smells about that bastard.

- All right, boss.

If it makes you happy, I'll see what we can turn up.

- Good.

- [GEOFF] And that's how I came into the story.

You know what? I wish I'd taken a sickie that day.

Anyway. We knew what this rooster looked like.

Where he lived. Even what he had for tea.

But we didn't know his name.

God, ignorance is bliss.

- Did you go to the footy on Saturday?

- [TIM] No. No, I didn't.

- Yeah, me and the fella went. Blues vs Demons.

What an absolute ripper.

We were well behind in the third quarter,

and then Jesaulenko just takes this bloody screamer.

It turned the game around, mm.

- Um, from Brisbane, so, I don't really follow it.

- Yeah, right.

Sure he's in there?

Been quiet for a fair while.

- Patience, sweetheart. All right?

You wanna get anywhere as a detective,

patience is everything.

(knocking on window)

- Sorry I was gone so long.

But I got you something to eat,

tide you over till knock-off.

I hope you both wanted tomato sauce.

- Yeah. No, thanks.

- Oh, well. I'll see you tomorrow, eh?

(lighthearted music)

- Jesus, I'm really hungry now.

- No!

- Oh!

- That good, is it?

- Yeah. - Happy for ya.

No. Ta.

- More for me.

- [GEOFF] So, he's a man of mystery, is he?

- Well, we're still working on an ID,

but there's no direct evidence of villainy as yet.

- Mostly because we keep losing him.

- I put you on a two-bit suburban dope dealer

and you can't even tail the bastard.

- Well, he's slippery, boss.

- So you've been sitting there a week, blowing my budget,

and then we got bugger all.

Is that what you're telling me?

- No, we, uh, know that he lives with this one.

- So far, no luck ID'ing her yet either.

- He's also got two regular visitors.

That joker there, that's Michael Sullivan.

He actually rents a flat in his own name.

- Convictions?

- Uh, possession. Marijuana.

Four years ago. Piddling otherwise.

- Preliminary enquiries among St Kilda-based informants

have so far come up blank.

- A bunch of nobodies.

(phone rings) (indistinct radio chatter)

Do we forget it?

- We could turn the house over,

take a punt, see what we find.

- If he's even got half a brain,

I doubt very much he's gonna leave incriminating merchandise

just lying around the house.

(Tim snorts)

(up-tempo music)

(cat purrs)

- Honey, I'm home!

Got dinner for the cat. Coq au vin.

Hold the garlic. (cat meows)

- [CLELIA] Pussy, yum-yum!

- Looks like our copper mates have gone.

- Good. I hope so.

It's been freaking me out having the man

sitting out the front all day.

- I like it. Makes me feel safe from the baddies.

- So, David, we're all wondering. What is this thing?

- [DAVID] It's a canning machine. I picked it up cheap.

- What are we gonna do with a canning machine?

- [DAVID] Can stuff.

- Hmm, it makes sense.

- Since detectives Plod and Flatfoot have pissed off,

I might do the deliveries.

- Oh! Oh!

Deliveries?

My favorite!

(man and woman moan on film)

- No, it's on hold.

- Eh?

- They picked Bri up for the Guthrie's fucking Trade job.

Puts us all in the shit.

- But we didn't have anything to do with Guthrie's.

- You ever heard of receiving stolen firearms?

- Brian's solid. He's done time before.

- Yeah, he's also put a whole lot of smack

in his arm since then, and the thing about junkies is,

once they start yapping,

it's hard to make them fucking stop.

- Where is he?

- He's in the City Watch House right now.

After that I got no idea.

- Why don't we bust him out?

- Jesus, this ain't Tombstone, love.

- Well, why not, eh?

We're smart and the police are dumb.

Right?

- He's in the City Watch House!

There's more coppers in there

than in a knock shop on pay day.

- What if he wasn't in the Watch House?

- What do you mean?

(drum roll and fanfare)

(mid-tempo music)

- [GEOFF] What did I say about David and a challenge?

He had money. He had a whole bunch of crazy ideas.

And Benny O'Connell had the criminal contacts.

So anything was possible.

Have a guess what that is.

(door clangs) No, not drugs.

Industrial strength cleaning product.

Enough to make Brian vomit blood.

(Brian retches) And vomiting blood?

Well, it's enough to get you transferred to a hospital.

(indistinct hospital chatter)

(tense music)

(up-tempo music)

- Hands on your head, now!

Now, or I shoot.

You too.

On your head.

(gun fires)

♪ I can laugh ♪ (gun fires)

- Look out! ♪ When things ain't funny ♪

(gun fires)

- A haha-happy-go-lucky me (Brian yells)

- Hey, you! Stop there!

♪ Yeah, I can smile ♪

♪ When I ain't got no money ♪

♪ A ha ha-happy-go-lucky me ♪

- Stop!

(singer laughs)

(clattering footsteps)

- Fuck!

I cannot believe you talked me into this.

You know we're all gonna go to jail.

- Relax. Clel knows what she's doing.

- Hah! Yeah, Clel.

"Clel knows what she's doing".

- Drive.

Drive! Drive!

(up-tempo music) - Where's Brian?

- He got his face blown off. (tires screech)

And they're after me. Go, go, go!

- Is he dead?

- Who? - Brian!

- No.

Oh, he could be. He didn't look real good.

Fuck, you should've heard the sound he was making.

- At least if he's dead he can't talk, eh, Dave?

- Whoo! Ohh!

- Clel, you all right?

- Oh. Oh, my God!

I've never had a buzz like that in my entire life.

- Mad, mad bitch. (Clel laughs)

- Told you it was a bloody stupid idea.

- [DAVID] Here we are, no worse for wear.

- Oh, so far! - Oh, come inside

and have a beer.

- Don't touch me, all right? (tense music)

- Hey, hey, hey, hey.

- Don't think I won't.

- All right. - You need to fucking man up,

that's what you need to fucking do.

- [DAVID] Just get inside, please.

- Tart! - Jack didn't know

David from Adam.

But he sure as hell knew Benny O'Connell.

And that gave us the in we needed.

- Our fizz confirms that Benny O'Connell's

been dealing heroin in a big way.

Now, Benny's supplier goes by the name Westlake,

sometimes Reyne and a bunch of other things,

but his real name's David Peter McMillan.

- This fizz of yours,

he ever deal directly with McMillan?

- Well, he's not my fizz, boss. He's-

- No direct contact as yet, boss.

My informant reckons McMillan's

pretty careful who he mixes with.

- David McMillan. (mid-tempo music)

I know that name. Do I know that name?

- Channel 9 News, late '60s. They had a kids' segment.

- The smarmy little prick with a plum in his mouth?

- Yeah.

- Jesus!

- Yeah, up until a year ago, he was strictly small-time.

Moved a bit of hash, passed the occasional dodgy cheque,

conned the occasional old lady out of her savings,

but from what we're hearing,

he's now one of the biggest heroin importers in the state.

- And until a couple of weeks ago,

we'd never even heard of him.

- Well, we've heard of him now.

Eh?

(up-tempo music)

Look at the cocky little bugger.

Man of a thousand faces.

See, the thing was, he had no record,

he wasn't part of the criminal mainstream.

So from a copper's point of view he was invisible.

He could come and go to Bangkok

whenever he bloody well liked without raising a flag.

(up-tempo music)

- G'day. - Hello, mate.

Thought you might like a burger.

- Actually, maybe not.

You'll probably eat on the plane, yeah?

- [GEOFF] But with my blokes breathing down his neck...

- Hooroo. - Bon voyage, mate.

- [GEOFF] Well, he had to do a bit of a rethink. Didn't he?

- So I ended up working for this slum landlord.

Now, he had trained this enormous fucking Alsatian

to soil the beds of defaulting tenants.

You know, it was all well and good until one day,

the hound was inadvertently given the command

while we were still in my Roller! (laughing)

And he shat all over the chamois.

And I resolved in that moment

never to take paid employment again.

(all laughing)

- You're so rude, Tony!

I absolutely love it.

(Tony chuckles)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm just going to powder my nose.

- Looks like I need to pee, too.

- My lovely ladies, you shall be missed!

David, I heard some rather disquieting news

while I was in Sydney.

Apparently I'm to be named

by the Royal Commission into drug trafficking

as a person of interest.

- I've always been discreet.

- Oh, really?

I heard the police have started an entire fucking task force

for the sole purpose of catching you.

- You can't take that seriously.

They're a bunch of knuckle-walkers.

- Well, I'm sorry, David,

but I intend to warn off my contacts in Bangkok.

- Well, they're not your contacts, Tony.

I'm the one who pays them.

You just take a fat commission.

- Fine.

Then I shall simply appraise them of your situation

vis-a-vis the police and allow them

to make their own decision.

- You pompous prick.

(Tony laughs) (tense music)

- Ah, here come the girls.

Let's forget this nasty little incident, shall we,

and enjoy the remainder of our evening?

- Clellie says that she and David will need an early night,

but if you'd like an after-dinner drink, Tony,

you're welcome to come back to my place.

- Do you know, that is an absolutely tip-top suggestion.

But sadly, I have a very early flight to catch.

And I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline.

- The drinks are on me. (tense music)

- No, no. Really, I insist.

- I'm paying for the fucking bill, all right?

Let's go. - Good.

- Come on, Mum.

- [CLELIA] What a joke.

- [DAVID] What are you doing?

- Where's the big stash?

- Sold it.

- What? You sold my drugs?

- I gave you a bag this morning.

- Yeah, but that's fucking gone.

- Then you've had too much!

- What?

You expect me to sit through dinner

with Lord fucking Monotone

and I can't even get whacked at the end of it?

- Moynihan is our best contact, okay,

and now I have to build our whole set-up again!

- Yeah, well, maybe dinner would have gone better

if you'd backed off on pimping your geriatric mum to him.

- Oh, get a bloody grip!

- Fuck this! (glass smashes)

- Hey! Calm down, you.

- Get off me!

- No, calm down. - I fucking hate you!

- No, you don't. - You've bloody

done this to me.

- [DAVID] Calm down, okay?

Hey! - Fuck you!

I hate you! - You don't hate me!

Hey. Hey.

You don't hate me.

(Clelia moans) Do you?

Hey? I'll go and get you something in a minute.

I'm always gonna look after you.

You know that, right?

Right?

(Clelia sobs)

♪ Sometimes I feel I've got to ♪

♪ Run away, I've got to ♪

♪ Get away from the pain ♪ - This is a turn-around, man,

You scoring from me. ♪ You drive into ♪

♪ The heart of me ♪ - Things have been a bit tight

you know, supply wise. ♪ The love we share ♪

- And you need someone who delivers.

- Do you know someone who delivers?

- Well, he's a friend of a friend, but, uh...

I hear he's the best.

- Great! Can you, can you hook me up?

- But- - Mate, you'll never

get mentioned, I promise you.

You know you're safe.

- What, not even to David?

I trust him and that, but you and me,

we've always been more simpatico, yeah?

- Yeah. No, mate, of course.

You have my word.

♪ Oh, tainted love ♪ - You heard the name Chowdury?

He's your man.

- And, welcome to Melbourne. (laughs)

- You've got a big rep, Chowder.

If we working together, you call me "Hassan'.

- Uh, Chowder, do you want snags or just steak?

- Snags?

- Sausages.

Er, charred bags of fat and offal.

- Fat and offal?

- He'll have a steak, Mike.

- Okay. We'll make an Aussie out of you yet, Chowder.

- (laughs) Uh, I want to find one person here

to take my whole delivery.

- [DAVID] Well, yeah, okay. How much?

- [CHOWDURY] Uh, six kilograms.

Man I go to now, he taking two month to sell. Too long.

- Well, if you come to me, I'll move it all.

In one go. If the quality's high.

- 95% pure.

I bring for you sample. For present.

(adding machine beeps)

(cash register dings)

(up-tempo music)

- I think we can do business, Hassan.

(up-tempo music continues)

- Peter Howard.

Small-time dope dealer, recently graduated to heroin.

- [GEOFF] Selling Mr McMillan's wares, we think?

- Maybe yes, maybe no, but either way, a guy like that?

No record, nice family, good house...

- We pick him up, he's gonna spill his guts.

(up-tempo music continues) (knocking on door)

- Mr Howard? (water rushes)

(door bangs open)

Peter Howard gave up everyone he could think of.

He sang like a canary.

- Chowdury. He's known to us, yes.

- Known to as in, he's a priority?

(siren wails) (mid-tempo music)

We've got an informant who links Chowdury

to a bloke by the name of David McMillan.

- And you think if we get on board with this McMillan thing,

there's a good chance of us pinching Chowdury?

- An excellent chance.

But we're gonna need resources.

The question for you is,

how much do you want Chowdury?

McMillan on toast. I could smell a promotion in the air.

(gentle music)

- Can't believe she's so small,

(baby grizzles) so sort of, serene!

- Yeah, that's why we're calling her Clelia.

- (chuckles) You're not!

- Yeah! - It is the loveliest name.

You wanna hold her?

- Oh, no.

- Come on. - No.

- Come on, hold Clelia. Aunty Clellie, come on.

You're more like family than my family, so...

- Just had confirmation.

Hassan's coming in tomorrow night with our first delivery.

- Oh, shit, David, I, I'm so, so sorry.

I've really dropped the ball on this one.

- Oh, it's just business.

You've had a baby. That's transcendent, man.

- Yeah.

Well, hey, listen, um...

Why don't I go and meet him at the airport tomorrow?

That way I can-

- No, I think it's best we let him sit in the hotel,

just for a couple of days and just see what bobs up.

- Okay.

(suspenseful music)

(camera clicks rapidly)

(up-tempo music)

(up-tempo music continues)

- Word from Customs is that his suitcase is clear,

but he's carrying two large cutlery cases

that didn't X-ray cleanly.

- Cutlery cases, my arse!

(phone rings) - Hello?

- Uh, I'm here, but I get trouble at airport.

- [DAVID] It's better we talk face-to-face.

Do you remember the place where I taught you about snags?

- Sure.

- [DAVID] There in one hour.

And no need to bring the steaks.

- Okay.

- He's just organized a rendezvous. I think with McMillan.

(up-tempo music continues)

- Okay, he's out and he's leaving in a taxi, over.

- All right, get that phone off.

Everyone else, we're gonna find those cutlery boxes, okay?

But remember, we want these pricks to keep playing, okay,

so everything stays exactly as Chowdury left it, all right?

(up-tempo music continues)

- [GEOFF] The first step was to locate the heroin.

(drill whines)

That was only half the job.

To catch David, we had to wait until he took possession.

- Six runs.

I assume you can, er, seal that stuff up?

- Unless he uses a magnifying glass, he'll never pick it.

- Then we've got him.

- [CHOWDURY] Something funny at the airport.

They pretend it's nothing, but I know Customs.

- It'll be Aries, the task force that's on me.

Seems they've got Customs on board.

- Task force? Why you not tell me this?

- Look, it's all under control. Do you understand?

The place where we're rendezvousing,

not even the trigger-happy Vic Police will open fire.

Okay?

- Okay.

(drum roll and fanfare)

(siren wails) (tense up-tempo music)

- There. There.

- Nice wheels, David.

Aries 1. We have McMillan driving a yellow Vee Dub Beetle.

He's parking outside the hospital.

- Naughty, naughty.

You'll get a parking ticket there, mate.

- Hello, Aries 1. Do you read me?

Aries 1, do you read me? Hello?

What's wrong with this thing?

Aries 1? Hello, Aries 1?

Shit. - Try getting out of

that one, you prick.

(tense up-tempo music continues)

- [GEOFF] You know, I've asked myself a million times.

If McMillan knew it was an ambush

why the hell did he walk into it?

- We're surrounded by spooks, outside and in here.

Don't look.

- [GEOFF] Stand by, mate. Stand by.

Do you copy?

- What we do?

- Well, on the horn honk, you hand me the bag.

- Horn?

- On the beep-beep, Hassan.

- Okay, er, beep-beep. And then?

You run like hell.

(music builds up)

(Dixie melody car horn plays)

Run!

- Move! Move, move!

Move, move!

(baby cries)

(baby cries) - My baby!

- Holster that fucking weapon! Holster it.

Go that way!

Move, move!

(toy doll warbles)

- Yeah, it is moving.

- Go, Michael. Go!

(tires squeal)

(engine revs hard)

- Ah, shit, there go the drugs. Drive!

(tires squeal)

Use your horn, Tim. Use your bloody horn!

(horn blares)

Go, go, go!

- I was waiting for the word to move,

but I think my radio's dead.

- No reception? Fuck.

Fuck, fuck!

I need you to find that bitch with the pram.

Move it! Go!

Bonnie and Clyde 1. Task Force Aries 0.

- Slow down, Hassan.

(indistinct chatter)

The way to go unnoticed is to

avoid doing anything noteworthy.

Anyway, the goodies have gone now.

- [CHOWDURY] Go, go, go, go!

(doors clunking)

- No go, go, go.

We're waiting for Clel.

- What?

- We can't let the lady walk while we drive.

(up-tempo music)

(knocking on window)

Out, Chowder. You're in the back.

Out!

(up-tempo music)

- It turns out that Melbourne Maternity's

a radio black spot.

There's no reception except at utra-low frequencies.

- And no-one knew this.

- McMillan did, obviously.

- And the pursuit on the Yank tank?

- Well, we were parked to block in McMillan's Vee Dub,

but then a green car came around the corner

and they threw the bags in-

- You lost him.

That's all I need to hear. The rest is bullshit.

- Boss...

- Shut up.

Anything at McMillan's Brighton house? Anything?

- Well, we had the house under surveillance the whole time,

but no-one's gone back there as yet.

- By the time they do,

the drugs and Chowdury will be long gone.

- So all you've got is a drill bit

with a smear of smack on it, is that right?

- We could pick up Chowdury at Departures.

We've got a flag up on him.

- Well, maybe accidentally he's packed a bloody banana, huh?

And we can get him on quarantine breaches.

Useless.

- Right. Up until now, this was about enforcing the law.

But after that bloody debacle,

it's about our pride as police officers.

Now, no-one makes me look stupid and gets away with it.

No-one, ever.

And as my team, I expect you to take the same attitude.

Am I making myself clear?

- Yes. - Yes, boss.

- Good.

(suspenseful music)

- Do you wanna taste this?

- Nah, nah. Forget that.

I want you to fuck me.

- No, wait. I wanna ask you something.

Clelia...

Would you marry me?

- (laughs) Will you fuck me if I say yes?

- Take this seriously.

- Yeah, I will.

(laughs) Yeah, I'll marry ya.

(gentle music)

- This represents the feminine, water.

- Ah, so you get to be fire.

- [DAVID] Put your cauldron on top of mine.

- I put your fire out.

- No, together we created steam,

the union of fire and water.

"At this time,

the couple may speak of their journey in the Tao".

Or just exchange rings.

- I don't have a ring.

- Oh, that's okay. I do.

(she chuckles)

Oh.

Wow!

- Hey!

Babe, don't cry!

Hey!

- I love you.

- That's good. I love you too.

(woman gasps in pleasure on film)

- I heard you made a whole lot of coppers

look pretty fucking stupid.

- I can't take all the credit.

You know, they're naturals.

- You make an enemy of a cop, they hold the grudge.

- You're making more money

than you could ever have dreamed of, Benny.

I'm sorry, what's the problem?

- You're smart. You're a smart operator.

But you do take some stupid fucking risks.

- You can't do what we do without taking risks.

- Yeah, but you enjoy 'em.

And those pussies you hang around with,

that fucking beanpole.

- Michael's my friend. He's my best friend.

- He's a junkie.

And chicks! I mean, for Christ's sake, David.

Chicks, you can never trust.

- I disagree.

- All right.

But just remember this.

If you fuck up, that affects a whole lot of other people too

in all sorts of ways, ways you can't even imagine.

- I'll see you in a month.

(up-tempo music)

- [GEOFF] Most blokes would have pulled their heads in.

But not our bloke.

He just started planning Mr Chowdury's next drug run.

♪ Oh, there's a place in my head ♪

♪ Where I go and no and no one knows ♪

♪ What I do when I'm there ♪

♪ And I think that they don't care ♪

♪ If I go, if I stay ♪

♪ Makes no difference ♪

- [GEOFF] Mr Singh would fly from Bangkok to Amsterdam.

Mr Manni from Amsterdam to Perth.

♪ So I say, sound off ♪

♪ One, two ♪

- [GEOFF] Mr Khan from Perth to Sydney.

♪ Sound off ♪

♪ Three, four ♪

- Thank you very much. ♪ More, more, more ♪

♪ Yes, I say, sound off ♪

♪ Five, six ♪

♪ Oh, you're gonna get your kicks ♪

- [GEOFF] Mr Syan would take a flight on to Canberra.

Then finally a bus to Melbourne.

(up-tempo music)

- [GEOFF] Simple but brilliant. Right?

Wrong.

'Cause we'd been tracking the bugger every step of the way.

We got him cold with 2 million bucks worth

of heroin in his bags.

Some days you just wanna sing.

♪ So I say, sound off! ♪

♪ One, two ♪

♪ These boys are gonna come for you ♪

♪ Sound off ♪ (door crashes open)

♪ Three, four ♪

♪ And more, more, more ♪ - We'll be okay.

Say absolutely nothing and we'll be okay.

- On your knees! On your knees.

Hands on your head, shitbag!

- [KATE] Get out of bed, now!

- David McMillan and Clelia Vigano,

you are both under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy

to import and distribute a prohibited narcotic,

namely heroin.

(blows a raspberry)

What do you make of him, Kate?

- Biggest smart-arse I've ever met.

Tickets on himself, obviously, but...

I actually kinda like him.

Not like that.

- We found this in Marie Catilo's photo album.

- Oh!

- [GEOFF] Who's that, David?

- Oh, that'd be me.

- Mmm. - My hair's a little longer.

- [GEOFF] Can you tell me who that is?

- It's a familiar face. (mid-tempo music)

But I'm not great with names.

- [CLELIA] Never heard of him.

- How about you take a look at the photo?

(she sighs)

- Nah.

- So you're saying you don't know him?

- I'm not saying anything. You get it?

- Supahaus Chowdury.

According to Interpol,

he's the number one heroin smuggler in the world.

- We picked him up today in Melbourne,

carrying six kilograms of pure heroin.

- What a shock for Mr and Mrs Chowdury.

He looks like such a respectable lad.

- You are going to face a number of serious charges

related to this importation,

carrying a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

- Please. I just want my baby.

- We understand that, Marie,

and the sooner you're finished here,

the sooner you'll get to see her, okay?

- I feel sick.

- Let's take a look at the photo again, shall we?

- What, just 'cause you've got a snapshot of us

with this Chowdury guy, you're gonna lump us in with him?

- The photo's just corroboration, Michael.

We've also had listening devices

in all your homes for a matter of months now.

- And to make it nice and easy for you,

once you've listened to them, then we can take a statement.

- Things might go a bit easier for you.

- My baby.

- But we will only deal with one of you.

So it's first in, best dressed.

- [KATE] You understand that, Marie?

- [GEOFF] Naturally, I opposed bail.

So all four of them began a long, hard,

nasty stay in remand.

- So, David, how do you like Pentridge?

- Well, I always thought bluestone

a very underrated building material.

- Mmm.

A lot of fellas who wind up in here, it's easy to see why.

But that's not you.

Is it, David?

- Your church, Father, has lots of rules,

lots of prohibitions.

I'm more about letting people decide for themselves.

That's why I'm in here.

Because I believe in freedom of choice.

- I've also heard that you landed your girlfriend in prison.

Now, that takes a rare form of stupidity.

Or is it worse than that?

Greed? (tense music)

- My father worked 12 hours a day. Never saw the arsehole.

And so, in the end, my mother left him, and rightfully so.

Me, I look after my wife.

I walk around with a bag full of money,

buy her whatever she wants.

If I work more than two hours a day,

it's because I'm stuck in traffic.

- Hmm. Funny.

You don't seem the lazy type to me.

Quite the opposite.

- It's not about lazy, Father. It's about smart.

If you're done, er, I think I'm done.

- David.

- Mm-hmm?

- Just remember.

You skid further on bullshit than you do on gravel.

(tense music)

- Hey! Hey, I need to talk to someone now!

I wanna fucking talk to someone!

- What's the problem, Vigano?

- This place is a disgrace.

It fucking stinks!

- The dunny doesn't even work at all!

- It's freezing cold, our blankets are wet.

My friend is sick. She needs medical attention.

- Oh, so you don't like your accommodation, princess?

- Don't you fucking princess me, you bitch!

I have important friends.

When they hear about the conditions in this shithole,

you are rooted! - You stuck-up little bitch!

You can forget your friends.

- You can forget your job!

- Listen here.

You listen to me.

I'm the only one that can help you in here,

and you just went to the top of my shit list.

So shut it.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

(woman cries)

- You are dead, bitch!

- [GEOFF] For a spoiled little rich kid like Clelia,

prison time was tough.

(child cries)

But for a nursing mother. Well, it was a living nightmare.

(child cries loudly)

- So, what's the news?

(tense music continues)

Speak.

Man, the look on your face is giving me an ulcer.

- Um...

Marie's giving a statement to the cops.

Against us.

We need to get a message to her.

- No. No, David.

I'm the one who told her to do it.

I sent a message through my lawyer

telling her to say whatever she needed to.

- Why would you do that, Michael?

- They offered her bail, maybe even a reduced sentence.

- Listen to me. Listen to me.

Their case against her, against all of us,

is the conspiracy to import.

Now, that doesn't stick

unless they can connect us to Chowdury.

The fucking photo isn't enough,

and that's all they've got right now.

- Um, no, it's not.

- What else have they got, Michael?

- Well, do you remember how they pinched

Peter Howard a few weeks back?

- [DAVID] Yeah.

- He's the one who put me in touch with Chowdury.

- Peter Howard knows our fucking business?

He'll sell us faster than that shit dope he peddles.

Why didn't you tell me?

- I'm sorry.

- Oh, fuck!

- David, I'm, I'm sorry!

Mate, I-I got an eight-week-old child.

Do you know what they do to babies

when their mothers go to prison?

I can't think about anything else.

I'm sorry.

- It's all right, mate.

It's all right. It's okay.

We'll figure something out.

(tense music)

(door clangs shut, keys rattling)

When am I getting outta here?

- Well, I heard from your mate, Lord Tony.

Seems he wants to lend a hand.

- He lives in the Philippines.

What can fucking Tony Moynihan do for me here?

- He has contacts through his old army regiment.

Seems some of them are guns for hire now,

and they have considerable experience in, um...

Extricating people from difficult circumstances.

- How much does Moynihan want?

- 50 grand to get it rolling

and then whatever it takes to cover costs after that.

He offers himself as a consultant for free.

- Oh.

Have you still got the keys to my Brighton place?

- Yeah.

Check the pantry.

And take a can opener.

(up-tempo music)

♪ It tears me up so much inside ♪

♪ These strange feelings I can't hide ♪

♪ What am I gonna do ♪

♪ What am I gonna do ♪

- Hmm!

- [GEOFF] Enter Captain Percival Hole. Ex-SAS.

Lord Tony's old drinking buddy

and more recently commando for hire.

- Help me up to the penthouse suite, old man.

Company's picking up the tab, so no need to scrimp.

- Boss.

- [GEOFF] Even David McMillan must have known

his chances of a helicopter escape from Pentridge were slim.

But he still told Clelia to save herself

by dropping him in it.

- [DAVID] "You must now give them

a statement implicating me.

Go to town. Whatever it takes to get your bail.

Remember. We're smart and they're dumb.

And the smart will always win.

All my love. Always.

David."

♪ I gotta feel, I gotta feel ♪

- Now, the prison tennis court is, um, here. Right?

Out of range of the guard towers.

Plenty of room to land a helicopter.

- "Plenty of room" is a tad rich,

but I agree the right man could manage it.

- I've located a drop-off point well out of town.

- There'll be a semi waiting for you out the front.

He's dropping off some white goods to Sydney.

Yeah, it's totally legit.

- And from there it's onto the boat and away.

- All right, I like the plan.

- Right. In terms of personnel-

- I oughta be able to sort some blokes for us, yeah.

- Criminals, correct?

I'll use my military contacts to recruit personnel.

I will also locate my own equipment.

The only thing I require is money.

- [BENNY] Smart-arse prick.

- Yeah, well, he's charging enough,

so I guess we have to follow his lead, eh?

- This bust-out. What's the go with them girls?

- Well, they're in another prison, Benny.

- Yeah, but McMillan's hardly gonna leave

his little darling in Fairlea

while he shoots off to Manila, is he?

- Look, my understanding is

that if the girls get refused bail again,

that they'll be brokering a deal.

- Wait!

So those bitches have been given the go-ahead to dog me?

- There's no reason for them to even mention you.

- What if they do? Anyone thought about that?

Is your army man gonna come and rescue me too?

- I don't know, all right? It's not in the plan.

- You tell McMillan if he fucks me,

I will fuck him harder than he's ever been fucked.

And those two bitches, they're gone and all.

You tell him!

(Marie gasps)

- You know what it is? It's persecution.

They're trying to break you down.

When I first got into this shithole,

they did the same bloody thing.

- Don't worry, baby. I'm gonna get you out of here, okay?

- We gotta do something. (tense music)

We need to force them to pay attention.

- [GEOFF] The girls' second bail hearing

was only a few days away.

Now all they had to do was sit tight. Play it cool.

(tense music continues)

(lighter clicks)

(door clunk shut)

(gate clangs shut)

(padlock clicks)

(mournful piano music)

(lighter clicks) (flame hisses)

(mournful piano music)

(flames crackle)

- [NEWSCASTER] Fairlea Women's Prison,

described by Police Association Chief Tom Rippon

as a prisoner of war camp.

Last night at 8:19, the remand dormitory,

one of the oldest buildings within the complex,

was alight end to end and women were trapped inside.

(mournful music continues)

The funerals of two of the fire victims,

Marie Catilo and Clelia Vigano, are due to be held tomorrow.

Their de facto husbands, both Pentridge prisoners,

having applied for permission to attend the burial service,

The minister (indistinct) has refused

on the grounds of security.

(tense music)

- [GEOFF] No one ever figured out

exactly what happened at Fairlea that day.

The theory was that Clelia started the fire

as some kind of protest.

But because it was suspicious,

David and Michael were transferred to the high security

Jika Jika high-security unit for their own protection.

(tense music)

With the tomato-can cash supply running low,

the old villain known as Lord Tony

managed to wring one last pay day out of his mate,

David McMillan.

- For a fee, I could give you some information

about David McMillan's activities since being arrested.

That's well worth a flutter, I assure you.

- [GEOFF] Lord Tony's tip-off about the escape plan

meant extra prison time for David and Michael

on top of their, conspiracy to import sentences.

Now Michael was soft. He did it hard.

And David?

Now that Bonnie was gone,

nothing really mattered to Clyde anymore.

- You were right.

I've wasted my life.

And worse, I've hurt all these people that love me.

- [FATHER JOHN] And what do you intend to do about it?

- I wanna change.

I was hoping that you might be able to help me.

♪ They told me that you were really bad news ♪

♪ They said you were ♪

♪ No good for me ♪ - All up, David got 17 years.

Pretty harsh by today's standards.

But I gotta hand it to him, he took it on the chin.

In fact, he was a model prisoner.

- So we're endorsing your application for day leave.

I hope this is the first step toward a new life.

♪ I love you ♪

- [GEOFF] They gave him day leave.

Didn't mean he got out of prison any earlier.

But it did mean he could go home on the weekends.

The first step to becoming a useful member of society.

(indistinct lyrics)

- [ROSE] You know, I've been calling round.

You wouldn't believe

the amount of support you've been getting.

- Tell them to send cash, not checks.

- You remember Daniel?

Property developer I had the fling with?

Well, he's selling apartments off the plan.

Badly needs salesmen.

- Real estate? Jeez, is it really that desperate?

- Don't be a choosy beggar, David.

Now, come and sit.

I'm terribly proud I've managed

to make this damn thing work.

First day at Channel 9.

Oh, my God, you were so handsome.

- Were?

There's also that fella you were in

the hi-fi club with at school.

You know, the skinny redhead.

- Spot.

- Yeah. - Can't remember

his real name.

- Well, he's an editor now at the "Fin Review'.

Said he'd take an article from you.

You know, your impressions of how

Melbourne's changed in the last 10 years.

- Rosie, you haven't had a fling with Spot, I hope.

- Your first radio license.

The others were mostly five years older,

and you were smarter than the lot.

(gentle music)

(machine clicks)

Oh.

It's jammed.

Infernal thing!

- Want me to fix it?

- No.

Think I'll just get myself another drink.

(typewriter clacks)

"Summers of sparkly grit on fumy sidewalks

and the bright, chill slap of winter

were my 10-year-old memories of Melbourne's inner core."

- [CLELIA] "Fumy sidewalks"?

- I thought it sounded poetic.

- Real estate? (ethereal chimes)

- I don't know. Maybe something else.

- Is that what you wanna do?

(up-tempo music)

(birds calling)

- [DAVID] Hey, Mike!

- Hey.

Oh, yeah. Hi.

Jesus Christ, David.

Are you crazy? I mean, they could be watching you, man.

- Oh, come on, man. I haven't slipped that much.

It's all right, mate. There's no-one following me.

Hey!

Look, I'm getting things going again like before.

(tense music)

But I need your help.

- Inspector?

Inspector, sorry to bother you,

but I've got something here that might interest you.

We pinched O'Connell a couple of weeks ago

holding an ounce of speed already divvied up.

Open-and-shut traffic amphetamine.

- And you let him run?

- Yeah, he gave us names, mid-level distributors,

so we went with it.

Anyway, he comes in this morning

saying he's got something even better,

but he'll only talk to you.

- Right.

- [BENNY] Oh, g'day, Geoff.

Long time no see, eh?

- The inspector's a busy man,

so if you've got something to say, spit it out.

- This charge young Katie's got me on here,

that's gonna be a third offense for me, Inspector.

And there's no way I'm doing a long stretch. No way.

- What do you expect me to do about it, Benny?

- Well, a bloke like you, a mover and a shaker,

I reckon you could do a bloody lot, if you wanted to.

- Try me.

- You remember David McMillan?

(suspenseful music)

(laughs) He's not your favorite bloke, is he?

What if I could hand you McMillan,

get the prick on a big one?

- I'd say you're tripping, Benny.

McMillan's already in prison.

- Nah. Day release.

In fact, he's on a three-dayer right now.

And believe you me,

he is not spending his long weekends going water skiing.

So I can give you the full story, but firstly,

what are you gonna do for me?

- [MICHAEL] Benny O'Connell. Heard he cut a deal.

- That's not true.

- Well, maybe yes, maybe no.

I mean, the smart move here would be to call things off.

- Benny wouldn't do it. He and I go too far back.

- What planet are you on, David?

Benny O'Connell hates your guts.

- Mike, listen.

Okay, 10 years ago, you trusted me to run things

and I put you all in the shit.

I think about that every day, man, and I'm so sorry.

But believe me, I've learned my lesson.

And I'm never gonna let that happen again.

- It's fine, just, please, David,

let's just put the Bangkok run on ice

and pull our heads in a bit.

- There's no need, man, all right?

- Yeah, mate.

- All right, gentlemen.

Firstly, I wanna thank you for your quick work

on the McMillan investigation.

Seems that everything O'Connell gave us checks out.

- McMillan has been flying out to Bangkok on a Friday night,

buying heroin, then making it back to Melbourne

in time to cut the gear, distribute it,

and then check back into prison

first thing on a Monday morning.

- Well, how is that possible?

- See this?

Picked up on a raid on a well-known,

St Kilda-based heroin dealer.

Told us his supplier was a bloke named Donald Westlake.

- AKA David McMillan. (tense music)

So far, McMillan's done small runs.

The word is he's got a big one planned for this weekend.

- We have him in custody right now,

but the problem is if we re-arrest him,

we can only get him on parole breaches.

- Well, we could let him run,

grab him on the way back into the country, holding the gear.

- No.

The decision we've taken is that as the substantive offense

will take place on Thai soil,

the safest move is to alert our Thai colleagues

that McMillan's coming and let them take it from there.

- I'm sorry, boss, but they shoot

drug traffickers over there.

- When you were in uniform,

did you ever have to attend an underage heroin overdose?

Did you ever have to tell some parents

that their little girl had killed herself on smack?

- No. No, I didn't.

- Right, then shut your mouth. Any more questions?

- Good. Back to work.

- If you want me, just call Michael. I'll be at his place.

- Why?

- He's had a container of Scandinavian furniture come in,

it's lovely stuff and he needs it cataloged by Monday.

(tense music) - This parole thing.

I mean, I thought we'd be spending more time together.

- We will spend more time together, when I get back.

- David.

- Mmm? - Why don't you stop?

(gentle music)

- What, give up show business?

(she chuckles)

Now, I'm gonna see you on Sunday night.

- Hmm. - Okay?

- Mmm.

(dog barks) (tense music)

- I love you.

My lovely Rose.

(gentle music) (door clicks)

("The Captive Heart" by Zulya)

(singing foreign language)

(singing foreign language continues)

(door opens and closes)

Airport, thanks, mate.

- International one? - That's the one.

(car starts)

(plane roars overhead)

- [GEOFF] I've known a lot of crooks in my time.

The most dangerous are the ones

who don't give a damn if they live or die.

They generally wipe themselves out early.

But that wasn't our David. (tense music)

So what the hell was he thinking that day

walking through a Thai airport with a bag full of drugs,

knowing the cops were all over him?

Was he doing it for kicks?

Trying to prove a point? (tense music continues)

Was it, I don't know, a death wish?

I'll leave that one to the headshrinkers.

(foreign singing)

- Is there a problem?

- Passport!

- I've already shown my documents-

(dramatic music)

- Let me guess. Caught smuggling drugs.

Only they weren't yours, huh?

So someone must have planted them on you.

- Yeah, something like that.

- Death sentence, then. 99% conviction rate.

You know, here, they, they cane you before they shoot you.

Talk about bloody overkill, huh?

(he chuckles)

My lawyer suggests I confess, plead for clemency.

Then you get life instead.

You done time before?

- [DAVID] A little.

- Here's different.

It's better, if you can ignore the filth and the disease

and the irrational violence.

- Yes, I haven't seen much that I like.

- Well, here, money talks, okay?

But don't get any ideas.

No Westerner's ever got out of here, man. Not one.

Christ on a bike! (stool clatters)

Ohh, I've gotta shit!

Ohh!

That's the other thing that'll get you. The food.

(he gasps then sighs)

(cat meows)

- Oh, don't. Don't do that.

Don't! (kcat mewls)

I'll, I'll pay you! (tense music)

(foreign singing)

- [GEOFF] Court case looming.

A death sentence at the end of it.

David knew the clock was ticking.

- [ROSE] Hello?

- Mum?

- [ROSE] David? I didn't expect to hear from you.

- Rosie, I'm sorry I didn't call earlier.

- [ROSE] So, why are you calling now?

- I know you don't have very much, but I need money.

A little bit would go a long way here.

- [ROSE] Well, I'm broke. David.

You know better than most.

- Okay. I understand.

(soft music)

And I really am sorry

that I've disappointed you so much.

- [ROSE] You didn't disappoint me, that's the thing.

You've done exactly what I expected.

That's the awful part.

I'll send whatever I can.

- Thank you.

(line goes dead)

(David sniffs)

(up-tempo music)

- [GEOFF] Sure enough the old girl's money

soon arrived in his bank account

and Rosie's golden boy

set about improving his standard of living.

Got himself transferred to a better cell.

Ate better. Dressed better.

Even hired himself a manservant.

- Hey, this one! It's got something.

- [GEOFF] And big bonus, he was allowed to take up painting.

Which of course, involved building picture frames.

(cat meows)

In time, he received interesting packages

from old friends back home.

With David McMillan,

nothing was ever exactly what it seemed.

(up-tempo music continues)

And he waited until the perfect night arrived.

When the conditions were just right...

For a night when he launched his most audacious plan of all.

(drum roll and fanfare)

- Oh!

- I know it's tempting to sound the alarm, but believe me,

it'll be hard to enjoy your reward

with a bullet in your head.

(music plays on radio)

- It's too loud.

- I paid a small fortune in radio privileges,

so I can have it as loud as I like.

Anyway, Pornvid's on night duty. He's deaf as a post.

- [GEOFF] You gotta give him 10 outta 10 for ingenuity.

The boy from Caulfield Grammar

had designed his picture frames

to bolt together into a ladder.

(tense music)

(dowels hammer home)

(caging rattles) (man yells)

(body thumps)

- [DAVID] You all right?

- Okay.

(cat meows)

(up-tempo music)

- You're unbelievable.

- Believe, Calvin. Believe.

- Ah!

- [GEOFF] Getting out of the cell was one thing.

But then he had to gamble on the guards.

He calculated some would be on meal breaks.

Some sleeping through their shift.

Others busy watching Aussie porn

that he had thoughtfully provided.

But still, all it would take to finish him

was one pair of sharp eyes.

(tense music)

(distant sounds and speech)

(prisoners shout out)

(cat meows)

(cat meows again) - Shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh. (tense music)

(cat meows) Shh, shh, shh, shh.

(cat meows) (tense music continues)

(cat meows)

(people shouting)

(tense music continues)

(men chatter)

(door closes)

(up-tempo music)

(up-tempo music continues)

(distant traffic passes)

(up-tempo music continues)

- [GEOFF] David McMillan had a theory.

No escaping prisoner

strolls down the street under an umbrella.

And it seems the guards thought the same thing.

Because in the end, he simply walked away,

becoming the first and only Westerner

ever to escape from the Bangkok Hilton.

- Inspector, this just arrived addressed to you,

care of the Drug Squad.

It's a prison envelope. Klong Prem.

(indistinct police radio chatter)

- [DAVID] "Dear Inspector Leyland.

"I'd like to apologize for all the trouble and expense

and particularly the embarrassment

I've caused the Victoria Police over the years.

I trust that I won't trouble you again

and I hope that your war against drugs is soon won.

Yours. David McMillan."

(tense music)

- [GEOFF] McMillan eventually fled to Pakistan

where he set up a new drug smuggling operation.

Once again he was caught, jailed, and once again he escaped.

Next he went to Europe. And guess what?

Yep. He was convicted of drug trafficking.

Once in Denmark. Later in the UK.

Now he lives in London a free man

earning his living as a second-hand furniture dealer.

He's safe from the Thai firing squad

because the Poms won't extradite people

to countries where they face the death penalty.

And Australia?

Well, all he's done here is breach parole...

And break a few hearts. (up-tempo music)

Michael Sullivan stayed in touch with David until 2001

when he died of leukemia.

Best mates to the end.

You could say David McMillan got away with it all.

But that depends on how you look at it.

- This has been my last night presenting

the Channel 9 Junior News Bulletin.

But I trust I'll see you all again soon

in some other great Channel 9 program.

Till then, cheerio and goodnight.

(upbeat music)

("It's Jungle Out There" by Burkhard Dallwitz)

♪ It's a jungle out there ♪

(electronic musical tones)

(whooshing)