Underbelly s03e01 Episode Script
Into the Mystic; The Crucible
SONG: # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there.
# SONG: # If you're blue and you don't know where to go to # Why don't you go where fashion sits? # Puttin' on the Ritz # Different types who wear a day coat # Pants with stripes and cutaway coat # Perfect fits # Puttin' on the Ritz # NARRATOR: Once upon a time, there was a land of neon rainbows called Kings Cross where fantasies could be bought and nightmares walked the streets.
It was a Neverland, a land on another planet, a land where a western suburbs schoolboy called John Ibrahim came to seek his fortune.
C'mon, Buddy! Left-right, right-left.
Left! Kick his arse, Bud.
Get him, Bud! C'mon! Go, Bud! Fight him! (GRUNTS) Ooh! Hey, you gotta move your feet.
Move your feet! Nice job, boys.
What are you doing here? I had a free period.
What happened to your hand? What happened? What happened? Nothing happened.
Show me your hand.
Show me your hand.
Come here.
What? Piss off.
Show me your hand.
It's nothing.
Show me your hand! What happened? You think you're fucking cool, don't you, Ibrahim? Dirty fuckin' Leb! So that's why you got kicked out? I just walked out.
It's him that should be expelled, for racial vilifi-classification.
Vilification.
Listen, what about your HSC? I'm done with school.
What? You're a zub, man.
You know what plans we've all got for you.
Yeah, I got plans of my own.
What? Man, not this stuff again.
Come on, I've been working doors for ages.
How long you been at Images for, John? Got a bit of time under your belt! Parra's not the Cross, OK? No, it's not.
You can't stop me working here, though.
Yes, I can.
Oh, come on.
I could help you out.
You can't even do what you're told.
You're a short arse, you're gonna get in my way.
Go home.
Go home.
Go.
(GRUNTS) (OTHERS LAUGH) Far out, man.
He just can't do what he's told.
See you, Johnny.
Ahh, Johnny! NARRATOR: Hammer real name Harry Hammoud and the other boys John Ibrahim looked up to all came from the same streets out west.
Their families had emigrated from the same part of Lebanon.
They grew up together, went to school together briefly.
They were like brothers a band of up-for-anything brothers.
And Hammer's particular skills taekwondo, hot-headedness, no regard for personal safety earned him a reputation for never losing a fight.
And a reputation for reckless violence comes in handy when you're collecting protection money which is kind of like insurance cover against acts of reckless violence.
The Cross was the vice capital of Sydney no, make that Australia a one-mile stretch of strip clubs, brothels, nightclubs, discos, restaurants, coffee shops and heartbreaking sob stories.
Whatever your poison, whatever your perversion, it was for sale on the Golden Mile.
And people flooded there every night with pockets full of cash moths to a neon flame.
It was a licence to print money for those who controlled Kings Cross.
So, who were the kings of the Cross? The hard old men of Sydney's underworld George Freeman and Lennie McPherson.
Dogs! Sorcerers! The sexually immoral! You're outside the Lord's gate! Outside! Dogs! Sorcerers! The sexually immoral! Hey, your parents know where you are? I'm an orphan.
Really? What's your name.
Morrison.
First name? Van.
You look about as Irish as I do.
Arrest the little prick, officer, and give him a slap over the head.
Save me the trouble.
Hey, I'm more scared of him than you.
You two know each other, do you? Ohh! We got a smart copper on our hands! We really need to be careful now! Yeah, yeah, let's get out of here, huh? I thought I told you to go home.
(PAGER BEEPS) NARRATOR: Collecting money for George and Lennie wasn't the only use Hammer put his skills to.
He freelanced as muscle for most of the clubs and brothels.
And a message on his pager that said "Pink Flamingo no ties" meant that matters had got past the canapé stage.
Hey, what's going on? Where you off to? Pink Flamingo.
Need a hand? No, I'll page you.
You sure? Hey, stay there.
Oh, come on! Let me come with you! Stay here with us, mate.
Come on! Stay back here with us.
NARRATOR: The Golden Mile was a law unto itself, but its denizens understood very well the need for order.
When order breaks down, violence breaks out, punters get scared off and the money dries up.
And that cannot be tolerated.
Get out! Take it! Go him! Go him! NARRATOR: Bouncers, doormen, enforcers like Hammer, they all shared this love of order.
So when a mob of drunken out-of-towners overpower local security staff, peace has to be restored and quickly.
And that's what this is, by the way a peacekeeping exercise.
JOHN: Oi, sunshine! What the fuck you think you're doing? I just saved your hairy Lebanese arse, mate.
Like fuck you did.
Oi, what's going on here? Nothing.
We had a report of a brawl.
Yeah, you're a bit late.
Done your job for you.
Is everything alright? You guys alright in here? MEN: Yeah.
What about you, sir? Are you OK? Yeah, I'm fine.
Kings Cross 51 to VKG.
Everything's pretty quiet on the street here.
Fuck off! Get out of here.
Fuck off! Get out! Get out! You gotta admit, that was a pretty good kick.
Fucking overreached, mate.
Your balance was all wrong.
Oh, bullshit! I'm taekwondiva, mate! First you must learn to stand.
(PAGER BEEPS) Then you must learn to fly.
Yeah, Ross wants me over at Pussycats.
Suppose you might as well come.
Oh, you need my short arse now, do you? I need a mascot.
(LAUGHS) NARRATOR: John Ibrahim wasn't the only one attracted to the pots of gold on the Golden Mile.
Alright.
Don't miss the bus! Good luck at the new job, Dad.
Thanks, sweetheart.
'Bye, mate.
Bankcard payment's due.
Mm-hm.
I'll see you later.
NARRATOR: Greedy coppers could see the appeal of working in a place where the language was money.
For Detective Sergeant Trevor Haken, a transfer to Kings Cross was like an express train to the promised land.
This is what I call the general revenue shelf.
It's for general use.
Anyone in the office can eat all of that.
This shelf down here, though individual use only.
Now, the label system really helps out there.
The fridge fairy finished boring your balls off yet? It's a system, Chook.
Come here.
OK, this is Grunter.
G'day, mate.
G'day.
Sean.
And this is Parrot.
G'day.
They're working on those bashings on Macleay Street, aren't you, gentlemen? And Scully's supposed to be up to his perspiring pits in car rebirthing, but I don't know what the fuck he's doing.
I got a lot on my plate, Chook.
Why is it all the work here comes to me? Sorry, Jimmy.
Jim.
I'll call you back, mate.
So what do you want me on? Oh, well, take your pick.
What've we got here? Attempt murder, assault with a deadly weapon, bloody drug deals, soliciting (CHUCKLES) more drug deals.
I tell ya, the average punter on a Saturday afternoon, mowing his lawn, ain't got a clue what goes on here.
Well, that has its advantages.
What do you reckon, Jim? You two go back a ways.
What do you reckon Sergeant Haken's good for? I'm tempted to say "Nothing.
" Hmm.
Only joking, Trev! Look, mate there's a joke on here.
There's a big bloody joke on and there's a very good dollar to be made every week.
(BOTH LAUGH) Oh! It's teatime, Jimbo.
Why don't you take Trev out and get us some victuals? Oh, don't forget your lunch, mate.
He's a drug dealer.
He's another.
Who's the big bwana in the drug trade up here? There isn't one, really.
Three or four blokes got a few drug dealers each.
Though that piece of work over there has got delusions of grandeur.
Bill Bayeh.
He owns a gambling joint on Bayswater Road.
See the small guy? Mm-hm.
He's a fizz.
They call him Captain Jack.
Lunch box.
Evening.
How you doing, boys? This is Sergeant Haken.
Nice to meet you, Sergeant Haken.
SONG: # I've had all the Ionesome I can stand # The playmates in the magazines # Are only ink-and-paper dreams # I'll go home with you, just take my hand # Mate, you should see the pavers that I'm putting around the patio.
Real flash.
Yeah, that reminds me Sculls, have you bought that new rod yet? Nothing wrong with my old one, Chook.
That'd be the one Moses used when he was a nipper? (ALL LAUGH) Favourite rod.
Made an arrest on that bashing.
Confession? Signed and in the can.
Well! I think that deserves a little bit of overtime then! Thanks, mate.
You don't mind holding the fort, do you, Sculls? You could do a fridge audit, mate.
(ALL LAUGH) # I'll go home with you # I'll do anything you want me to # I've had all the Ionesome # NARRATOR: The Kings Cross detectives were headed up by the legendary Chook Fowler # The playmates in the magazines # a hard man from the old school who was tougher than all the doormen, bouncers and enforcers rolled into one.
Trevor Haken had just found his role model.
New recruit? I found him on the street.
He followed me home.
John Ibrahim.
Nice to meet you, Mr McPherson.
How you going? Pleased to meet you, Mr Freeman.
You can bring the car around when you're ready.
You know those new $10 notes have got more anti-counterfeiting devices than any other money in the world? Shadow images, microprinting, even fluorescent ink.
It's good to know your earn's the real thing, eh? (CHUCKLES) What the fuck was that all about? It's called networking, mate! It's called being a zub, more like it! Oh, yeah.
You're a zub.
Oi! They're expecting you at the door of the Tunnel.
(CAR HORN HONKS) Johnny! Hey, Michelle.
Slumming it from the 'burbs, are we? There's no law against checking out the Cross.
So are you working here now, Johnny? Yeah, I work here.
What are you, like, a bouncer? No, I'm just perusing my future investments.
What? The streets here are paved with gold, love.
Oh, is that right? So, you heard how the school social's coming up.
Kind of a shame you won't be there.
Hey, who says I won't? You can't go.
You got expelled, remember? (CAR HORN HONKS REPEATEDLY) MAN: Move it! (GRUNTS) You said you wouldn't do this anymore.
Come on, give me a break.
It was my welcome drinks.
(VOMITS) Here we are, boys.
ALL: Ohh! Management at the Bourbon wishes us a good day.
There you are, mate.
Thank you, good sir.
Trev.
(CHOOK LAUGHS) Cheers.
Here's to a top evening with the wives tonight.
NARRATOR: In Kings Cross, morality was negotiable.
One man's sin was another man's salvation.
The crooks liked to think that they had a code of honour.
Well, the dirty cops prayed that their good deeds outweighed the kickbacks, pay-offs and bribes that paid for the kids' teeth and the wife's fancy shoes.
(MEN SHOUT) Look at the freak! NARRATOR: Every man has his line in the sand.
The Kings Cross detectives drew theirs perilously close to the water's edge.
Babysitter's at 11:00.
Come on, the boys wanna show us a good time.
So, who's your favourite arrest, Jim druggies or hookers? Maria, you know, as long as the streets are nice and clean and safe, and the average punter's happy, I'm a happy copper.
How's the kids, mate? They must be getting bigger.
Mm-hm.
You know, much bigger.
Don't buy a dildo, sexy.
I'll provide the real thing for free.
What'd you say to my wife? She's your wife? Fuck me! You pay her to get hitched to you? You wanna watch your manners, buddy.
Nothing wrong with my fucking manners.
Trevor, just leave it.
Mate, you even look at her again, I'll rip your fucking nuts off.
I'm shitting myself, Romeo.
We all are.
(MEN SHOUT) C'mon, you (SIREN WAILS) Break it up! BREAK IT UP! Everything's under control, Constable.
Yeah, I can see that, Detective Sergeant.
Very controlled.
Hey! You're cops! Yeah, it's your lucky day, mate.
That's enough, Detective.
Take these shitbags back to the station for us, Constable.
We'll sort it out there.
MAN: Oh, don't break it up! Come on! (TYRES SQUEAL) MAN: You're all fucking dead! You're dead! Should've stayed out west tonight! Fucking dead man.
Open up! Anybody home? Oi, shitbag! When you're ready! MAN: C'mon, get 'em out! Do you blokes have work to do? Go! C'mon, run along! Open the van and piss off.
Hoody-hoody! Constable Webb! Ladies first.
Out you come! Those guys they'd already started a fight in Playbirds.
Maybe they had it coming.
You don't think they did.
No, actually.
Then why didn't you say something? It's wrong time, wrong place.
Oh! Any complaint you or I make will go nowhere.
Then things will never change, will they? Stick our bloody heads in the sand.
It's not about sticking our heads in the sand, Deb.
It's about making sure they don't get shot off.
MAN: Come in.
(LAUGHS) Jimbo! Look at this! (LAUGHS) Thanks for coming up.
No worries, mate.
Looking very spiffy there.
Yeah, Area Command dinner.
Don't have to wear it too often, thank Christ.
(LAUGHS) So, mate Bush telegraph's flickering.
Mm-hm.
You Kings Cross boys had a busy night.
(DETECTIVES LAUGH AND GRUNT) Just an affray, mate.
Give you any trouble? Nup.
(MEN GRUNT) Word is they ended up looking like Jeff Fenech's sparring partner.
Well, they resisted arrest, didn't they? You used only necessary force? Course.
Nothing Commissioner Avery wouldn't think was 100% kosher? You know, Den, you and your beloved leaders have been sitting behind desks for too long.
Have you forgotten what it's like out in the real world? (LAUGHS) Real world's changing, Jim.
We're just trying to do our job.
Just doing your job.
You know, journos, mate, print 'K ings Cross police brutality' and the job gets harder for all of us, mate.
What would those bloody journos know, Den? I'd like to see them spend a day HALF a day out there in the Cross dealing with the shit that we've gotta deal with.
I mean, come on those scumbags were marching up and down Darlo Road all night causing trouble.
They insulted Trev's wife, then they attacked us.
They kicked Sean Sinclair's head so hard he's got six stitches.
Now, any sort of injuries that they have happened during the brawl or in the process of arrest.
That's what your incident reports will say.
That's what happened.
(HAMMER SNIFFS DEEPLY AND SIGHS) JOHN: What's Mel Mal done, mate? Nothing.
So, why are we going there? To kick his head in? Who says we're kicking anyone's head in? We're just going for a drink.
Johnny, here.
No, no.
Alright, let's go.
Hey, matey.
Detectives! Praise the Lord.
Some druggies took my board.
I can't impart the word of the Lord without a board to write it on.
What time was this? About one hour ago.
Whereabouts? Up on the strip.
And how many were there? Four.
How long you owned this place? Couple of years.
Yeah? You do alright? Well, turnover's great.
It's one of three clubs in the Cross that's got a 6am licence.
But drugs are a problem half the staff's got their hands in the till and every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks they've got the right to hit on you for a freebie.
Quick licensing check, Mel.
I trust no-one's under age? I'm not drinking mate, so You know, I file a report, you could lose your liquor licence.
Or you could just pay an on-the-spot fine.
(LAUGHS) He had you going, didn't he? C'mon, Trev.
We've got some work to do.
See you, boys.
Yeah, see you later.
Is there a problem? A bit warm in there, mate.
I mean, opportunity knocks and everything, but don't you think you were kind of brazen? I thought you'd be pleased buy yourself a few more flash pavers, eh? Let's see if we can hunt down poor old bible boy's word of God.
Hey, matey what did he look like? THE ARCHBISHOP: There were four.
JOHN: You're too pissed to drive Freeman home.
What? What the fu What's wrong with you? I've been driving since before you (MOCKINGLY) "I've been driving since" Hey, you're not considering driving, are you, Hammer? What? How many beers have you had? I haven't had any beers! I find that hard to believe.
I'm sweet as! How are you, sweetie? Step back please, sir.
Come home with us tonight! I want you to go home, alone.
Say hello to your mother.
Oh, really? Cheeky! Alright, you guys need to take a break.
Why don't you have a coffee? Why don't you fuck off? Do you wanna spend the night in the lock-up? You fucking cops are fucking dogs! Step BACK, sir! You get behind the wheel of a car, I will bang you up so fast you'll need a chequered flag.
Hey, hey, no-one's driving here, officers.
These lovely boys were just going up to play a game of Manila, weren't ya? Bet Billy Bayeh's got a pocketful of cash and he's itching to lose.
Go clean him out for me, eh? Go on.
I'll take care of the other.
Go on.
Sorry, officers.
Smile, mate.
Smile.
See ya, sweetie.
Sorry, officers.
Mr Freeman.
John Ibrahim.
What? The boys had a busy night, so they sent me.
(LAUGHS) You got a fucking licence? Yeah, of course.
That new place what's the ask? Right, well, after compliance, we'd have to be getting not less than 15% over three years.
(BUZZ!) Get yourself a taxi at the end of the road.
Hey, Mr Freeman? 'Compliance' means conforming, right? Like, conforming to government regulations safety and shit.
Hey, what do you and Mr McPherson look for in a club? Is it just the street or does the building matter too? Didn't realise you taught basic business to the hired muscle.
Hey, I wanna be like you guys, Mr Freeman, Mr McPherson.
I wanna I wanna be as successful as you, you know? I wanna have what you've got.
I'm sure you do.
Hey, I don't wanna be someone else's bat all my life.
No offence.
Cocky little shit, aren't you? You still at school? I can read, write and multiply.
Nothing more school could teach me.
In other words, they kicked you out.
I was expelled from three schools.
I left for good when I was 14.
Never did me any harm.
Told the Chinese to stay put.
They got a whole fucking town named after them.
We get the Cross.
What, you don't trust Asians? Chinks, wogs, Lebos, bog Irish, Poms, Aussies doesn't bother me.
(LAUGHS) Me and Lennie, we've got the casino earns east of Elizabeth Street.
Hey, Georgie! G'day, Georgie.
Hey, Lennie.
G'day, darl.
Sweetheart, this is John.
Hi.
Hi.
Sweetie, the estate agent called.
We can check out that place in the Highlands this weekend.
Looking forward to it, sweetheart.
Hey, not too many of those.
Cholesterol it's a silent killer.
Nice to meet you, John.
Nice to meet you! Eyes to the front, sweetheart.
NARRATOR: Like King Arthur with Merlin, John Ibrahim sat at George Freeman's well-shod feet and soaked up everything the colourful racing identity had to teach.
MAN: Think of the marsupials! Two of his most important lessons were about money and respect.
You can't take something for nothing.
You pay your people, you pay them well.
You pay your suppliers.
Fuck me, you even pay some taxes.
If you're serious about making money, then you gotta stay out of trouble, and you won't stay out of trouble if you don't give people what they've earned.
And that includes respect.
Especially respect.
Do your time, son.
Three or four years in kindy and who knows, one day you might even know one end of the Cross from the other.
Three or four years, eh? We'll wait and see.
You're fucking kidding me.
You went inside Freeman's house? Swear to God.
He invited me in.
Gave me a cup of tea.
You should see Freeman's missus.
She is hot.
What, mate? You still think I can't handle myself? I think you're a fucking little crawler.
Alright.
I gotta go anyway.
Where you going, bro? School social.
School social? Yeah.
Isn't he expelled? NARRATOR: In fact, he'd been expelled and explicitly forbidden from attending any school functions.
But that wasn't John's biggest problem.
The social was fancy dress, and like Cinderella, he had nothing to wear.
Oi, mate! How much for your suit? What? The bear suit.
I need it.
(LAUGHS) Koalas are not bears.
Save the wilderness? Oi! You'd steal from the environment? I don't want your money.
I need your suit.
Hey, listen, I'm hiring it.
Or you can consider it a bloody donation.
But I need your suit.
Give me it.
No.
No! Fuck off! I need your bloody suit.
Ahh! Jesus! Don't fight it! Don't fight it! SONG: # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # Hey, brass nuts! Hey! How are ya? Who's that in there? It's me.
Told you I'd come.
John?! If the principal sees you, he's gonna go mental.
You'll be in so much trouble! Oh, my God! Johnny's here! Johnny's here! He's in the koala suit! Go tell everyone he's here! # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # About what's going down # Right here in hungry town # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # About what's going down # Right here in hungry town # Year 12 Year 12, a bit of shush, thanks.
I know you're out there, Ibrahim.
Everyone, masks off.
Masks off, please.
(LAUGHS) Did you see the look on his face? Yeah, it was pretty priceless.
Hey, did you know that koalas spend, like, 18 hours of the day sleeping? Really? Yeah.
What do they do the rest of the time? They watch TV and play video games.
(LAUGHS) No, I'm serious! You are not like anybody else, you know that? That suits me just fine.
(BOTH MOAN) Cheers, mate.
Saved my arse.
SONG: # I think that we could be lovers # Why don't you take a picture of me, boy? # I think that we could be lovers # Why don't you take a picture # NARRATOR: George, Lennie, Hammer, they'd all drummed it into John's skull that order on the streets was vital.
Maybe that's why he decided to jump into a fight that didn't concern him between guys he didn't even know.
He's got a knife! (GRUNTS) (GROANS) NARRATOR: It's over a mile to St Vincent's Hospital.
Still, on foot's probably faster than calling an ambulance, which is important when your liver's sliced in half, your intestines are chopped spaghetti and you've got a collapsed lung.
(HEART MONITOR BLARES) (DEFIBRILLATOR WHINES) (HEART MONITOR BEATS STEADILY) (SIGHS) Where's the boys? Everyone's at the mosque, praying to Allah for not sending you to paradise.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Get some rest, man.
Relax.
Don't worry about anything.
Me and Lennie will look after you.
We'll keep your pay coming.
That kid you went to help, he was one of our boys.
(COUGHS) You didn't know that? Don't know if I can do this, George.
(SIGHS) Let's just wait and see, shall we? You're gonna be OK, John.
You'll get better.
But you're too pretty and too small to be the toughest.
That's what I always say.
But you're smart enough to be the smartest.
(SIGHS) Look, I gotta get home before this 'no smoking' kills me.
(COUGHS) NARRATOR: Once upon a time, a young man with a bright future came to the Golden Mile only to die an untimely death.
For three long minutes, clinically speaking.
But John must have had a guardian angel watching over him, because he got to be born again.
SONG: # I'm standing here on the ground # The sky above won't fall down # See no evil in all directions # Resolution of happiness # Things have been dark for too long # Most of us would never dream of carving out a life for ourselves in Kings Cross.
It's a freak show a fantasy to be enjoyed in small doses.
But for John Ibrahim, the Golden Mile was where he had always wanted to be.
# For you # Don't change a thing for me # He always knew he belonged there.
And now everybody else did too.
SONG: # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there.
#
# SONG: # If you're blue and you don't know where to go to # Why don't you go where fashion sits? # Puttin' on the Ritz # Different types who wear a day coat # Pants with stripes and cutaway coat # Perfect fits # Puttin' on the Ritz # NARRATOR: Once upon a time, there was a land of neon rainbows called Kings Cross where fantasies could be bought and nightmares walked the streets.
It was a Neverland, a land on another planet, a land where a western suburbs schoolboy called John Ibrahim came to seek his fortune.
C'mon, Buddy! Left-right, right-left.
Left! Kick his arse, Bud.
Get him, Bud! C'mon! Go, Bud! Fight him! (GRUNTS) Ooh! Hey, you gotta move your feet.
Move your feet! Nice job, boys.
What are you doing here? I had a free period.
What happened to your hand? What happened? What happened? Nothing happened.
Show me your hand.
Show me your hand.
Come here.
What? Piss off.
Show me your hand.
It's nothing.
Show me your hand! What happened? You think you're fucking cool, don't you, Ibrahim? Dirty fuckin' Leb! So that's why you got kicked out? I just walked out.
It's him that should be expelled, for racial vilifi-classification.
Vilification.
Listen, what about your HSC? I'm done with school.
What? You're a zub, man.
You know what plans we've all got for you.
Yeah, I got plans of my own.
What? Man, not this stuff again.
Come on, I've been working doors for ages.
How long you been at Images for, John? Got a bit of time under your belt! Parra's not the Cross, OK? No, it's not.
You can't stop me working here, though.
Yes, I can.
Oh, come on.
I could help you out.
You can't even do what you're told.
You're a short arse, you're gonna get in my way.
Go home.
Go home.
Go.
(GRUNTS) (OTHERS LAUGH) Far out, man.
He just can't do what he's told.
See you, Johnny.
Ahh, Johnny! NARRATOR: Hammer real name Harry Hammoud and the other boys John Ibrahim looked up to all came from the same streets out west.
Their families had emigrated from the same part of Lebanon.
They grew up together, went to school together briefly.
They were like brothers a band of up-for-anything brothers.
And Hammer's particular skills taekwondo, hot-headedness, no regard for personal safety earned him a reputation for never losing a fight.
And a reputation for reckless violence comes in handy when you're collecting protection money which is kind of like insurance cover against acts of reckless violence.
The Cross was the vice capital of Sydney no, make that Australia a one-mile stretch of strip clubs, brothels, nightclubs, discos, restaurants, coffee shops and heartbreaking sob stories.
Whatever your poison, whatever your perversion, it was for sale on the Golden Mile.
And people flooded there every night with pockets full of cash moths to a neon flame.
It was a licence to print money for those who controlled Kings Cross.
So, who were the kings of the Cross? The hard old men of Sydney's underworld George Freeman and Lennie McPherson.
Dogs! Sorcerers! The sexually immoral! You're outside the Lord's gate! Outside! Dogs! Sorcerers! The sexually immoral! Hey, your parents know where you are? I'm an orphan.
Really? What's your name.
Morrison.
First name? Van.
You look about as Irish as I do.
Arrest the little prick, officer, and give him a slap over the head.
Save me the trouble.
Hey, I'm more scared of him than you.
You two know each other, do you? Ohh! We got a smart copper on our hands! We really need to be careful now! Yeah, yeah, let's get out of here, huh? I thought I told you to go home.
(PAGER BEEPS) NARRATOR: Collecting money for George and Lennie wasn't the only use Hammer put his skills to.
He freelanced as muscle for most of the clubs and brothels.
And a message on his pager that said "Pink Flamingo no ties" meant that matters had got past the canapé stage.
Hey, what's going on? Where you off to? Pink Flamingo.
Need a hand? No, I'll page you.
You sure? Hey, stay there.
Oh, come on! Let me come with you! Stay here with us, mate.
Come on! Stay back here with us.
NARRATOR: The Golden Mile was a law unto itself, but its denizens understood very well the need for order.
When order breaks down, violence breaks out, punters get scared off and the money dries up.
And that cannot be tolerated.
Get out! Take it! Go him! Go him! NARRATOR: Bouncers, doormen, enforcers like Hammer, they all shared this love of order.
So when a mob of drunken out-of-towners overpower local security staff, peace has to be restored and quickly.
And that's what this is, by the way a peacekeeping exercise.
JOHN: Oi, sunshine! What the fuck you think you're doing? I just saved your hairy Lebanese arse, mate.
Like fuck you did.
Oi, what's going on here? Nothing.
We had a report of a brawl.
Yeah, you're a bit late.
Done your job for you.
Is everything alright? You guys alright in here? MEN: Yeah.
What about you, sir? Are you OK? Yeah, I'm fine.
Kings Cross 51 to VKG.
Everything's pretty quiet on the street here.
Fuck off! Get out of here.
Fuck off! Get out! Get out! You gotta admit, that was a pretty good kick.
Fucking overreached, mate.
Your balance was all wrong.
Oh, bullshit! I'm taekwondiva, mate! First you must learn to stand.
(PAGER BEEPS) Then you must learn to fly.
Yeah, Ross wants me over at Pussycats.
Suppose you might as well come.
Oh, you need my short arse now, do you? I need a mascot.
(LAUGHS) NARRATOR: John Ibrahim wasn't the only one attracted to the pots of gold on the Golden Mile.
Alright.
Don't miss the bus! Good luck at the new job, Dad.
Thanks, sweetheart.
'Bye, mate.
Bankcard payment's due.
Mm-hm.
I'll see you later.
NARRATOR: Greedy coppers could see the appeal of working in a place where the language was money.
For Detective Sergeant Trevor Haken, a transfer to Kings Cross was like an express train to the promised land.
This is what I call the general revenue shelf.
It's for general use.
Anyone in the office can eat all of that.
This shelf down here, though individual use only.
Now, the label system really helps out there.
The fridge fairy finished boring your balls off yet? It's a system, Chook.
Come here.
OK, this is Grunter.
G'day, mate.
G'day.
Sean.
And this is Parrot.
G'day.
They're working on those bashings on Macleay Street, aren't you, gentlemen? And Scully's supposed to be up to his perspiring pits in car rebirthing, but I don't know what the fuck he's doing.
I got a lot on my plate, Chook.
Why is it all the work here comes to me? Sorry, Jimmy.
Jim.
I'll call you back, mate.
So what do you want me on? Oh, well, take your pick.
What've we got here? Attempt murder, assault with a deadly weapon, bloody drug deals, soliciting (CHUCKLES) more drug deals.
I tell ya, the average punter on a Saturday afternoon, mowing his lawn, ain't got a clue what goes on here.
Well, that has its advantages.
What do you reckon, Jim? You two go back a ways.
What do you reckon Sergeant Haken's good for? I'm tempted to say "Nothing.
" Hmm.
Only joking, Trev! Look, mate there's a joke on here.
There's a big bloody joke on and there's a very good dollar to be made every week.
(BOTH LAUGH) Oh! It's teatime, Jimbo.
Why don't you take Trev out and get us some victuals? Oh, don't forget your lunch, mate.
He's a drug dealer.
He's another.
Who's the big bwana in the drug trade up here? There isn't one, really.
Three or four blokes got a few drug dealers each.
Though that piece of work over there has got delusions of grandeur.
Bill Bayeh.
He owns a gambling joint on Bayswater Road.
See the small guy? Mm-hm.
He's a fizz.
They call him Captain Jack.
Lunch box.
Evening.
How you doing, boys? This is Sergeant Haken.
Nice to meet you, Sergeant Haken.
SONG: # I've had all the Ionesome I can stand # The playmates in the magazines # Are only ink-and-paper dreams # I'll go home with you, just take my hand # Mate, you should see the pavers that I'm putting around the patio.
Real flash.
Yeah, that reminds me Sculls, have you bought that new rod yet? Nothing wrong with my old one, Chook.
That'd be the one Moses used when he was a nipper? (ALL LAUGH) Favourite rod.
Made an arrest on that bashing.
Confession? Signed and in the can.
Well! I think that deserves a little bit of overtime then! Thanks, mate.
You don't mind holding the fort, do you, Sculls? You could do a fridge audit, mate.
(ALL LAUGH) # I'll go home with you # I'll do anything you want me to # I've had all the Ionesome # NARRATOR: The Kings Cross detectives were headed up by the legendary Chook Fowler # The playmates in the magazines # a hard man from the old school who was tougher than all the doormen, bouncers and enforcers rolled into one.
Trevor Haken had just found his role model.
New recruit? I found him on the street.
He followed me home.
John Ibrahim.
Nice to meet you, Mr McPherson.
How you going? Pleased to meet you, Mr Freeman.
You can bring the car around when you're ready.
You know those new $10 notes have got more anti-counterfeiting devices than any other money in the world? Shadow images, microprinting, even fluorescent ink.
It's good to know your earn's the real thing, eh? (CHUCKLES) What the fuck was that all about? It's called networking, mate! It's called being a zub, more like it! Oh, yeah.
You're a zub.
Oi! They're expecting you at the door of the Tunnel.
(CAR HORN HONKS) Johnny! Hey, Michelle.
Slumming it from the 'burbs, are we? There's no law against checking out the Cross.
So are you working here now, Johnny? Yeah, I work here.
What are you, like, a bouncer? No, I'm just perusing my future investments.
What? The streets here are paved with gold, love.
Oh, is that right? So, you heard how the school social's coming up.
Kind of a shame you won't be there.
Hey, who says I won't? You can't go.
You got expelled, remember? (CAR HORN HONKS REPEATEDLY) MAN: Move it! (GRUNTS) You said you wouldn't do this anymore.
Come on, give me a break.
It was my welcome drinks.
(VOMITS) Here we are, boys.
ALL: Ohh! Management at the Bourbon wishes us a good day.
There you are, mate.
Thank you, good sir.
Trev.
(CHOOK LAUGHS) Cheers.
Here's to a top evening with the wives tonight.
NARRATOR: In Kings Cross, morality was negotiable.
One man's sin was another man's salvation.
The crooks liked to think that they had a code of honour.
Well, the dirty cops prayed that their good deeds outweighed the kickbacks, pay-offs and bribes that paid for the kids' teeth and the wife's fancy shoes.
(MEN SHOUT) Look at the freak! NARRATOR: Every man has his line in the sand.
The Kings Cross detectives drew theirs perilously close to the water's edge.
Babysitter's at 11:00.
Come on, the boys wanna show us a good time.
So, who's your favourite arrest, Jim druggies or hookers? Maria, you know, as long as the streets are nice and clean and safe, and the average punter's happy, I'm a happy copper.
How's the kids, mate? They must be getting bigger.
Mm-hm.
You know, much bigger.
Don't buy a dildo, sexy.
I'll provide the real thing for free.
What'd you say to my wife? She's your wife? Fuck me! You pay her to get hitched to you? You wanna watch your manners, buddy.
Nothing wrong with my fucking manners.
Trevor, just leave it.
Mate, you even look at her again, I'll rip your fucking nuts off.
I'm shitting myself, Romeo.
We all are.
(MEN SHOUT) C'mon, you (SIREN WAILS) Break it up! BREAK IT UP! Everything's under control, Constable.
Yeah, I can see that, Detective Sergeant.
Very controlled.
Hey! You're cops! Yeah, it's your lucky day, mate.
That's enough, Detective.
Take these shitbags back to the station for us, Constable.
We'll sort it out there.
MAN: Oh, don't break it up! Come on! (TYRES SQUEAL) MAN: You're all fucking dead! You're dead! Should've stayed out west tonight! Fucking dead man.
Open up! Anybody home? Oi, shitbag! When you're ready! MAN: C'mon, get 'em out! Do you blokes have work to do? Go! C'mon, run along! Open the van and piss off.
Hoody-hoody! Constable Webb! Ladies first.
Out you come! Those guys they'd already started a fight in Playbirds.
Maybe they had it coming.
You don't think they did.
No, actually.
Then why didn't you say something? It's wrong time, wrong place.
Oh! Any complaint you or I make will go nowhere.
Then things will never change, will they? Stick our bloody heads in the sand.
It's not about sticking our heads in the sand, Deb.
It's about making sure they don't get shot off.
MAN: Come in.
(LAUGHS) Jimbo! Look at this! (LAUGHS) Thanks for coming up.
No worries, mate.
Looking very spiffy there.
Yeah, Area Command dinner.
Don't have to wear it too often, thank Christ.
(LAUGHS) So, mate Bush telegraph's flickering.
Mm-hm.
You Kings Cross boys had a busy night.
(DETECTIVES LAUGH AND GRUNT) Just an affray, mate.
Give you any trouble? Nup.
(MEN GRUNT) Word is they ended up looking like Jeff Fenech's sparring partner.
Well, they resisted arrest, didn't they? You used only necessary force? Course.
Nothing Commissioner Avery wouldn't think was 100% kosher? You know, Den, you and your beloved leaders have been sitting behind desks for too long.
Have you forgotten what it's like out in the real world? (LAUGHS) Real world's changing, Jim.
We're just trying to do our job.
Just doing your job.
You know, journos, mate, print 'K ings Cross police brutality' and the job gets harder for all of us, mate.
What would those bloody journos know, Den? I'd like to see them spend a day HALF a day out there in the Cross dealing with the shit that we've gotta deal with.
I mean, come on those scumbags were marching up and down Darlo Road all night causing trouble.
They insulted Trev's wife, then they attacked us.
They kicked Sean Sinclair's head so hard he's got six stitches.
Now, any sort of injuries that they have happened during the brawl or in the process of arrest.
That's what your incident reports will say.
That's what happened.
(HAMMER SNIFFS DEEPLY AND SIGHS) JOHN: What's Mel Mal done, mate? Nothing.
So, why are we going there? To kick his head in? Who says we're kicking anyone's head in? We're just going for a drink.
Johnny, here.
No, no.
Alright, let's go.
Hey, matey.
Detectives! Praise the Lord.
Some druggies took my board.
I can't impart the word of the Lord without a board to write it on.
What time was this? About one hour ago.
Whereabouts? Up on the strip.
And how many were there? Four.
How long you owned this place? Couple of years.
Yeah? You do alright? Well, turnover's great.
It's one of three clubs in the Cross that's got a 6am licence.
But drugs are a problem half the staff's got their hands in the till and every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks they've got the right to hit on you for a freebie.
Quick licensing check, Mel.
I trust no-one's under age? I'm not drinking mate, so You know, I file a report, you could lose your liquor licence.
Or you could just pay an on-the-spot fine.
(LAUGHS) He had you going, didn't he? C'mon, Trev.
We've got some work to do.
See you, boys.
Yeah, see you later.
Is there a problem? A bit warm in there, mate.
I mean, opportunity knocks and everything, but don't you think you were kind of brazen? I thought you'd be pleased buy yourself a few more flash pavers, eh? Let's see if we can hunt down poor old bible boy's word of God.
Hey, matey what did he look like? THE ARCHBISHOP: There were four.
JOHN: You're too pissed to drive Freeman home.
What? What the fu What's wrong with you? I've been driving since before you (MOCKINGLY) "I've been driving since" Hey, you're not considering driving, are you, Hammer? What? How many beers have you had? I haven't had any beers! I find that hard to believe.
I'm sweet as! How are you, sweetie? Step back please, sir.
Come home with us tonight! I want you to go home, alone.
Say hello to your mother.
Oh, really? Cheeky! Alright, you guys need to take a break.
Why don't you have a coffee? Why don't you fuck off? Do you wanna spend the night in the lock-up? You fucking cops are fucking dogs! Step BACK, sir! You get behind the wheel of a car, I will bang you up so fast you'll need a chequered flag.
Hey, hey, no-one's driving here, officers.
These lovely boys were just going up to play a game of Manila, weren't ya? Bet Billy Bayeh's got a pocketful of cash and he's itching to lose.
Go clean him out for me, eh? Go on.
I'll take care of the other.
Go on.
Sorry, officers.
Smile, mate.
Smile.
See ya, sweetie.
Sorry, officers.
Mr Freeman.
John Ibrahim.
What? The boys had a busy night, so they sent me.
(LAUGHS) You got a fucking licence? Yeah, of course.
That new place what's the ask? Right, well, after compliance, we'd have to be getting not less than 15% over three years.
(BUZZ!) Get yourself a taxi at the end of the road.
Hey, Mr Freeman? 'Compliance' means conforming, right? Like, conforming to government regulations safety and shit.
Hey, what do you and Mr McPherson look for in a club? Is it just the street or does the building matter too? Didn't realise you taught basic business to the hired muscle.
Hey, I wanna be like you guys, Mr Freeman, Mr McPherson.
I wanna I wanna be as successful as you, you know? I wanna have what you've got.
I'm sure you do.
Hey, I don't wanna be someone else's bat all my life.
No offence.
Cocky little shit, aren't you? You still at school? I can read, write and multiply.
Nothing more school could teach me.
In other words, they kicked you out.
I was expelled from three schools.
I left for good when I was 14.
Never did me any harm.
Told the Chinese to stay put.
They got a whole fucking town named after them.
We get the Cross.
What, you don't trust Asians? Chinks, wogs, Lebos, bog Irish, Poms, Aussies doesn't bother me.
(LAUGHS) Me and Lennie, we've got the casino earns east of Elizabeth Street.
Hey, Georgie! G'day, Georgie.
Hey, Lennie.
G'day, darl.
Sweetheart, this is John.
Hi.
Hi.
Sweetie, the estate agent called.
We can check out that place in the Highlands this weekend.
Looking forward to it, sweetheart.
Hey, not too many of those.
Cholesterol it's a silent killer.
Nice to meet you, John.
Nice to meet you! Eyes to the front, sweetheart.
NARRATOR: Like King Arthur with Merlin, John Ibrahim sat at George Freeman's well-shod feet and soaked up everything the colourful racing identity had to teach.
MAN: Think of the marsupials! Two of his most important lessons were about money and respect.
You can't take something for nothing.
You pay your people, you pay them well.
You pay your suppliers.
Fuck me, you even pay some taxes.
If you're serious about making money, then you gotta stay out of trouble, and you won't stay out of trouble if you don't give people what they've earned.
And that includes respect.
Especially respect.
Do your time, son.
Three or four years in kindy and who knows, one day you might even know one end of the Cross from the other.
Three or four years, eh? We'll wait and see.
You're fucking kidding me.
You went inside Freeman's house? Swear to God.
He invited me in.
Gave me a cup of tea.
You should see Freeman's missus.
She is hot.
What, mate? You still think I can't handle myself? I think you're a fucking little crawler.
Alright.
I gotta go anyway.
Where you going, bro? School social.
School social? Yeah.
Isn't he expelled? NARRATOR: In fact, he'd been expelled and explicitly forbidden from attending any school functions.
But that wasn't John's biggest problem.
The social was fancy dress, and like Cinderella, he had nothing to wear.
Oi, mate! How much for your suit? What? The bear suit.
I need it.
(LAUGHS) Koalas are not bears.
Save the wilderness? Oi! You'd steal from the environment? I don't want your money.
I need your suit.
Hey, listen, I'm hiring it.
Or you can consider it a bloody donation.
But I need your suit.
Give me it.
No.
No! Fuck off! I need your bloody suit.
Ahh! Jesus! Don't fight it! Don't fight it! SONG: # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # Hey, brass nuts! Hey! How are ya? Who's that in there? It's me.
Told you I'd come.
John?! If the principal sees you, he's gonna go mental.
You'll be in so much trouble! Oh, my God! Johnny's here! Johnny's here! He's in the koala suit! Go tell everyone he's here! # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # About what's going down # Right here in hungry town # Well, it's a hungry town # Where people kiss the ground # And the higher you go # That's where the feeling grows # There's a world out there # Where people just don't care # About what's going down # Right here in hungry town # Year 12 Year 12, a bit of shush, thanks.
I know you're out there, Ibrahim.
Everyone, masks off.
Masks off, please.
(LAUGHS) Did you see the look on his face? Yeah, it was pretty priceless.
Hey, did you know that koalas spend, like, 18 hours of the day sleeping? Really? Yeah.
What do they do the rest of the time? They watch TV and play video games.
(LAUGHS) No, I'm serious! You are not like anybody else, you know that? That suits me just fine.
(BOTH MOAN) Cheers, mate.
Saved my arse.
SONG: # I think that we could be lovers # Why don't you take a picture of me, boy? # I think that we could be lovers # Why don't you take a picture # NARRATOR: George, Lennie, Hammer, they'd all drummed it into John's skull that order on the streets was vital.
Maybe that's why he decided to jump into a fight that didn't concern him between guys he didn't even know.
He's got a knife! (GRUNTS) (GROANS) NARRATOR: It's over a mile to St Vincent's Hospital.
Still, on foot's probably faster than calling an ambulance, which is important when your liver's sliced in half, your intestines are chopped spaghetti and you've got a collapsed lung.
(HEART MONITOR BLARES) (DEFIBRILLATOR WHINES) (HEART MONITOR BEATS STEADILY) (SIGHS) Where's the boys? Everyone's at the mosque, praying to Allah for not sending you to paradise.
(SIGHS DEEPLY) Get some rest, man.
Relax.
Don't worry about anything.
Me and Lennie will look after you.
We'll keep your pay coming.
That kid you went to help, he was one of our boys.
(COUGHS) You didn't know that? Don't know if I can do this, George.
(SIGHS) Let's just wait and see, shall we? You're gonna be OK, John.
You'll get better.
But you're too pretty and too small to be the toughest.
That's what I always say.
But you're smart enough to be the smartest.
(SIGHS) Look, I gotta get home before this 'no smoking' kills me.
(COUGHS) NARRATOR: Once upon a time, a young man with a bright future came to the Golden Mile only to die an untimely death.
For three long minutes, clinically speaking.
But John must have had a guardian angel watching over him, because he got to be born again.
SONG: # I'm standing here on the ground # The sky above won't fall down # See no evil in all directions # Resolution of happiness # Things have been dark for too long # Most of us would never dream of carving out a life for ourselves in Kings Cross.
It's a freak show a fantasy to be enjoyed in small doses.
But for John Ibrahim, the Golden Mile was where he had always wanted to be.
# For you # Don't change a thing for me # He always knew he belonged there.
And now everybody else did too.
SONG: # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there # It's a jungle out there.
#