Underbelly s06e06 Episode Script

- Lorna - You have a mistress.
I lost my head.
The baby - Oh, she was my baby too! - I know, I know.
I've had police crawling all over this house, touching everything, going through all our things! Miss Pender! Fancy seeing you here.
Sit down.
This is Albert McDonald.
Miss Ida Pender.
Ida, Tank.
So you'll come visit me sometime, yeah? - Help me while away the hours? - You can count on it.
I said, "I can't sleep.
" Who was it fired the gun, then? It was Tank.
It's too risky for her here.
She's under lock and key.
Mark my words, he will find a way to get to her.
She needs protection until she testifies.
I saw her talking to Piggott with my own eyes! The jacks, they know everything.
She dogged us! And now they've hidden her somewhere.
And if she testifies, you go down for life.
Fair few quid in it for the bloke who gives this a happy ending for us, Joe.
Bang, bang, Taylor.
There isn't a word for what I am.
I'm not a good bloke.
You could say I'm a community-minded man, except my community's very different to yours.
It's got a whole different set of rules and values, none of them all that good for you people.
But it's you, your squarehead way of life - that's what I prey on.
I'll steal your silverware.
I'll fuck your daughters.
And if I hear that you've gone running to the jacks, I will hunt you down and I will put a bullet between your eyes.
'Cause I'm a thieving, cheating, violent shit of a man, and I'm celebrated for it in the papers.
You all bloody love me! So, what does that say about you? As 1921 wore on and Squizzy Taylor remained at large, so his notoriety grew.
He lived in the city of Melbourne openly, thumbing his nose at the law.
Mr Taylor, my pleasure.
- Nice to see you.
- Lovely to see you.
Oh, you've got a prop, hey? Jeez, who's that handsome bugger on the cover? - I wonder.
- Ha-ha-ha.
Melbourne's most notorious criminal.
Oh, the country's.
Most famous in the world, surely.
Yeah, well, I did knock that Ataturk bloke off the cover.
Perhaps Detectives Brophy, Piggott and Bruce were biding their time, patiently waiting to build an ironclad case against him, or perhaps it was police tip-offs that allowed him to repeatedly evade capture.
Tank will see you on the way out.
- We can count on your silence? - Of course.
'Cause I know where you live, darling.
My back door is always open to you, Mr Taylor.
- How we lookin'? - 28 quid.
Which makes you the most expensive freak show in town.
You ought to join the circus.
Or do something about that fizgig Ida! - If you please, my good lady.
- Oh, thank you.
Of course, the flipside to living in the open like an honest man - your enemies know exactly where to find you.
- My great honour.
- And mine, Mr Taylor.
Just stand there.
We all need a little help sometimes.
Deep breath.
Hold still.
You're next, sir.
Ready for your photo with the great man? You'll find Mr Taylor a very personable fellow.
Where are you going? It's your turn next.
- We've gotta fuckin' find her.
- No, you've gotta find her.
It's not me she's giggin', it's you, which doesn't surprise me, because you were being an unpleasant arsehole to her.
She's gigging you too, mate.
The sooner you accept that Nah, that's bullshit! Right, she would die before giving the jacks anything.
She's already done it, ya fuckwit! She has got no loyalty to ya! You got rid of her! And that is why they have got her in hiding! Just give us a minute, would ya? Wasn't exactly a bust-up.
I don't know what it was.
Oh, I've gotta get to her.
Good! If there's one thing I know about that girl it's she reads the papers every bloody day.
That's what I gotta get on.
I'm gonna do the newspapers.
"Dear sir, in reference to the article in Friday's 'Enterprise' "referring to Miss Ida Pender" Miss Ida Pender! ".
.
I think it is only right that I should deny "that the young lady is sharing my hiding place.
"It is taking me all my time to keep myself in baulk "without having to look after a second person.
" That's not true.
"I hold Miss Pender in the highest esteem "and would never deign to keep "a lady of such virtue and good standing "in conditions beneath her station.
"However, it must be said she is my boon companion "and each day we are separated "is a day of aching loss on my part.
"When asked, I tell people Ida is my true wife, "for that is the best description of our relationship.
"She is no fair-weather friend.
"She is my unwavering ally in good and bad.
" Nice to see you again, Mrs Taylor.
Where is the little maggot? Why don't you ask Miss Ida Pender? Thorough search, room by room.
When did you last see your husband? August.
Early August.
You look about four months gone to me.
Hardly respectful, him naming his current tart in the papers.
Must be quite upsetting for you, Mrs Taylor.
I think Mrs Taylor's been affronted enough.
I'm not affronted, Mr Bruce.
Just confused.
From what I know, Mr Brophy fared well from my husband's trough for quite some time.
Got rather fat off my husband, didn't you? Not quite as fat as you, madam.
Detective.
I'll take up no more of your time, ma'am.
What? Serious allegations.
I'm surprised you didn't challenge her further on it.
After 22 years of marriage, James, you learn not to stand in the way of an emotional woman.
I wonder how much she does know.
She knows as much as Taylor wants to tell her.
I wouldn't put any stock in what she says, or the Pender woman.
Taylor only ever goes for the low-hanging fruit.
Easy to get to, bound to disappoint.
- Cigarette, Mr Bruce? - No.
Thank you, sister.
I, um Clears the thinking, I find, when faced with vexing dilemmas.
Thank you.
Miss Pender I trust she's been behaving herself.
By the Lord's guiding hand, this was intercepted before it could reach the post.
A reply from Miss Pender to one of Taylor's recent letters to the 'Enterprise' newspaper, addressed to the Senior Editor, requesting urgent publication.
- May I? - No.
You most certainly may not.
I'll not allow you to be polluted by its content.
There is a word, Mr Bruce, a Greek term - 'pornographos' - which suitably describes the carnal nature of its message.
This is a woman without morals, without boundaries.
This is not a reformatory, Mr Bruce, and it is certainly not a permanent situation.
Certainly not.
I think you'll find we've upheld our end of the bargain.
The trouble is Mr Taylor continues to elude us.
We need you to keep Miss Pender in your care a little longer.
Is it a matter of expenses? Mr Bruce? Afternoon, Ida.
Nice suit.
Tried to make him hate me.
Look after yourself.
Interesting idea - hiding the witness so we can't turn 'em.
How about you talk to some of your tame jacks, find out where they've got her? Sorry, Les.
Your problem, you fix it.
She knows everything, Henry.
Not just the robberies and the sly grog.
Your joint.
Her big mouth is gonna bring down the house on all of us.
And if I find her? I'll stop trying to fuck your wife.
I don't think she's into little boys, old son.
But if she changes her mind, I'll let you know.
Next grog shipment's on me.
- Deal.
- You're a gent, Henry.
It's on your head, this shit.
If you'd have just backed me and tried to get along with her, none of this'd be happening.
- Don't put it on me.
- I am putting it on you! Right, if I say I like licorice allsorts, then you get a taste for aniseed or you fuck off, alright?! "Is that your girl, Les? Well, oh, she's the fuckin' queen.
"I should get down on me hands and knees and kiss her feet.
" - But instead you undermine me! - Les? Mate, this grog shipment's coming out of your pocket 'cause I'm sick and tired of paying for your screw-ups.
- Squizzy Taylor! - Hey, Squizzy! Ida had come to resent the strictures of convent life and her role as police informer.
She missed the dance halls and the parties.
Above all, she missed her lover.
It was time to renegotiate the contract.
This will be perfect for you.
Oh, Ida.
It's beautiful.
Would you mind? Oh, yes! Yeah.
What are you doing? Well, we're playing dress-ups, aren't we? Oh.
- What's wrong? - Ahh! Ida, what are you doing? - Ida, please stop! - Ahh! Ida, please What are you doing?! As much as I love the little runt, he could do a lot of damage on his way down.
Indeed.
Ida's at the convent up the bush.
I'll draw you a map.
Of course, when Mr Bruce told me Ida was safe in your care, you can imagine a father's relief.
Imagine.
In gratefulness for all your trouble, sister keeping Ida safe and all.
And, um this very fine bottle of claret.
- For the, uh - Sacrament? Yes.
Yes.
What's the saying? "A fish rots from the head.
" You, Mr Pender, are the head of the house, and your daughter's the rotten fish.
Sister, believe me, her mother and I have tried She has no place here.
The police are collecting her as we speak.
If you hurry, you might still catch her.
Godspeed.
Ma'am.
Don't you wanna hear my side of the story? No, Ida, I'd prefer not.
Ida, you do realise that this is for your own protection? Yeah, I understand.
Alright.
Mr Bruce, may I just have a moment for the toilet? Yes, of course you can.
- Go.
Go ahead.
Quickly.
- Thank you.
The jacks are here.
They're taking her.
Shit! Alright, go and find her.
In the toilet, sir? Find a sister.
She'll find her.
Constable! - You fucking gigged me! - I didn't, Les.
I didn't.
- You gigged Tank! - No, I didn't, I didn't.
I know what you did, why you did it.
I know why they had you holed up there! I fuckin' trusted you.
I never said anything about you.
II wouldn't.
I love you.
They wanted me to stay stuff, and I said something about Tank so that they'd let up, so that they'd stop about you.
II wouldn't.
I I love you.
I wouldn't Is this what you want me to do, huh?! - Tank, is this what you want?! - No, Les! - I'll fuckin' kill her! - That's enough! Pull over.
I had this trick when the police were questioning me.
Who were they, the cops? There was Mr Bruce.
He was there most.
He was tall and he had Well, so what if he's fuckin' tall? - I'm just describing him.
- I know what he looks like.
I had his place bombed once.
- Did you? - Mm-hm.
- Why? - For being tall.
- No.
Why? - Just tell me your trick.
Well, they were at me to tell 'em about this place.
"Where's his lair?" 'Lair' - they actually used that word.
They did? And they kept pushing me to tell 'em.
There was no way I was saying anything.
'Cause all I was thinking about was you.
Why did you gig Tank? - I already told you.
- You don't get it.
He's one of us.
No-one's gonna have anything to do with you.
I gotta get rid of you.
- You're the king, aren't you? - Mmm.
The king can fuck whoever he wants, can't he? As long as it's me.
Saw what you did.
I saw what you bloody did to him.
Disappointing news about Miss Pender, James.
Delivered by a grateful member of the public.
It seems not everybody thinks we're a laughing stock.
Taylor's grog? He's still out there.
I want all his old haunts turned over, every one of 'em.
Don't come back till it's done.
Move! You're right.
It is the low-hanging fruit he goes for.
What is that music? God knows.
They're Annie's pets.
She found 'em down at the docks.
They look a little retarded to me.
Whoo, Ida! Ooh, Ida! Hello, Ida! Mwah! Oh, God! Henry, do you remember when I had tits like these? Uh, no.
Come on, let's get some happy juice into you.
Dog only bites me once, Les.
Well, how do you explain me, then, Henry? Squizzy Taylor? No, I don't know anyone by that name.
Let's get a bottle of whisky for the veteran of the Belgians.
- I'm about to go.
- No, no, no.
She did the wrong thing, and she's an idiot, but she's my idiot.
I love ya, brother, but don't make me choose.
To your good health.
What about friendship? Oh, that's a given, isn't it, mate? Oi, shove off, mate, you perv! What are you trying to do?! - No, no, no, Les, listen.
- Mr Taylor, Eric Harrison.
Oh, you're Eric, hey? You wanna play with my hands, you pervert? I'm a producer of photoplays, Mr Taylor.
He makes MOVIES, Les, and he wants us in his movie.
I don't know where he is.
Why are you protecting him? He doesn't care a thing about you.
How do you live there, knowing what pays for it? Isn't it enough you breaking into my house almost every day? Do you now have to humiliate me in front of my friends? I don't think you have any friends, Mrs Taylor.
Your old ones, well, they don't care about you.
And your new ones, your husband's, well, you're not exactly one of them, are you? - What do you want from me? - An address.
Tell me where he goes.
No-one will know it came from you.
The humiliations will end.
He's my husband.
On paper only.
You must realise that by now.
You're a good woman, Mrs Taylor.
I can see that.
You deserve better.
And he doesn't deserve your loyalty.
Good day, Mr Bruce.
Where is he?! Anyone else in the house?! Huh?! I'll blow your pretty head off if you fib on me! - Where is he?! - I don't know! - Yeah, you do.
- I DON'T KNOW! No, I'm with child! Lift your dress up.
Do it.
NO! - Do it! - NOOO! - NO, NO, NOOO! - Fuckin' crazy bitch! G'day.
Our director, John Flemming.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Great honour, Mr Taylor.
Yeah, I'm sure it is.
Hello.
Ida Pender.
Very good to meet you.
Leslie, Ida.
Uh, see, I'd never do that.
- But it says - Yeah, I know what it says.
But it'd never happen like that.
I mean, that clam talks to my girl like that, I would snap the prick in two.
He's the chief steward.
He'd kick you off the course immediately.
Kick ME off the course? I'd beat the shit out of him.
Now, I think it's better if it's, you know, something like, "You know, you listen to me, mate.
"And I will fuckin' stomp on your head!" You know, something like that, that's much better.
He would.
- That's better.
- I don't doubt it.
- Do you like that? It's better.
- Leslie, just Yeah.
What happens if you get arrested before we've wound up photography? Oh, there's nothing to worry about.
The cops can't touch me.
There's a strong possibility that, uh the financiers have withdrawn all support till your legal situation becomes more stable.
Until you face court and you're acquitted, which you will do in your own inimitable fashion.
This will certainly make an impact with the ladies, Mr Taylor.
There's only one lady I'm out to impress, Leo.
That's Lady Justice.
Smile for the birdie.
Now, you take that one to the 'Argus', that goes to the 'Truth', and that one goes to the 'Enterprise'.
OK, you ask for the editor.
You won't speak to anyone but the editor.
You tell 'em Squizzy Taylor sent you.
It's big news.
Why'd you give yourself up, Squizzy? What are your chances of a fair trial, Squizzy? What's your relationship with Miss Pender? How long you been on the run with Miss Pender, Squizzy? Is this all part of an elaborate plan? - Squizzy, why'd you do it? - Come on, just a few questions.
You think you'll get a fair trial, Squizzy? - Well, here I am.
- Hello, Squizzy.
Squizzy, what are your chances? We'll just have to wait and see, gentlemen.
We demand the offender, Mr Joseph Leslie Taylor, be remanded in custody until such time Remand him? For goodness sake, the man gave himself up.
That is not to be underestimated.
Could bail him on a shilling and he'll show up in court.
Mr Taylor will be true to his word, and bail is set at Ј100.
Fortunately, I have just that amount.
No, no, I won't have it.
Listen to me.
Listen to me.
This is a criminal of the lowest Back off! This is a criminal of the lowest order.
Scurrilous innuendo! The freedom to commit further crime.
Desist immediately! There will be no threatening witnesses or juries.
They'll be out of your reach.
I'll make sure of it this time.
Out of my reach, huh? Really? Why'd you turn yourself in, Squizzy? Why'd you turn yourself in, Squizzy? To clear the air.
Right, if you believe everything you read, I'm a dangerous, vicious thug.
Right, I intimidate witnesses, juries, even using extreme violence against them, sometimes murder, right? Now, I am confident that there is not a right-minded jury out there that would find me guilty of what is nothing more than a fit-up by the police for the Scales Warehouse job.
Thank you, gentlemen.
Just one more question, Squizzy.
Oh, come on, Squizzy, just a few questions.
You think you'll get a fair trial, Squizzy? It's time, Buckley.
I'll be going now, Angus.
Good luck.
I'll not forget ya.
Angus Murray wasn't the only one with problems.
Squizzy had put himself back in the frame for the Scales Warehouse break and enter, the unhinged gunman Joe Cotter was hunting him, and now a psychopath who didn't understand the word 'no' was beating a path to his door.
Oh, look at that! That's guy.
Oh, great shot.
Look at the horsemanship.
Horsemanship! Bring him home! And feeling good.
Huh? Not bad, is it? Cut! Cut! CUT! And THAT is how you kiss a girl.
A word, Les? - Ida, if you don't mind.
- No, no, she can stay.
It's fine.
Some financiers here today observing the magic of filmmaking, and they've asked me a question, and I've said emphatically, "No.
" But reassure me that your stake in this film, it's from a legitimate business, isn't it? Or did I rob a bank to buy into this movie? A jewellery store in Prahran last week? One of these men is an associate of the victim and Eric, you're so funny.
Les doesn't do that anymore.
I just have to ask, Les.
Tell me to fuck off.
I did not rob his mate's jewellery store.
Thank you.
Now kindly fuck off.
Huh? Sit down.
Oh, shit! Fuck! - Fuck.
- You looking for this? Who the hell are you? Don't tell me you've forgotten old Richard Buckley.
Dick? You're a lot bigger than you used to be, Les.
You haven't changed a bit - you're still old.
Angus Murray sent me.
What, he told you about this place, did he? Angus and I got pretty close in jail.
- Go for a walk.
- I don't How is he? Couple of boys from the Narrows don't like him that much, but that's pretty much down to his relationship with you.
Anyway, I made sure nobody hurt him.
I looked after him because I heard he's pretty special to you.
He said if I looked after him that you'd look after me, said he sent you a letter about it.
- I never got it.
- Well, he said you would.
He did favours for you, did he? Yeah.
You're a hard man, Dick.
Pretty boys do favours for hard men - that's how it's always been.
But Gus doesn't owe you anything.
So if you came here expecting me to suck your cock, then you can walk right out that door.
Hey, I want some work.
I'm not doing any more jobs.
I'm in the movie business now.
What's a movie business? There's no more work, Richard! Talk to Angus.
He'll tell ya.
Five minutes.
See you haven't lost your sartorial flair, Les.
Sorry I didn't come sooner.
Fuck, Angus.
Narrows boys say hi.
You got any friends in here? What about you? What's happening in your world? I'm making a movie.
Gonna be a movie star.
How's that? - You gonna be in the movies? - Mmm.
You were always the one.
You were always going somewhere.
I'm happy for you.
Buckley.
Yeah, sorry about that.
Something of a force of nature.
- What did you say I'd give him? - Nothing.
But he just kept coming at me.
I mean, you don't know what it's like I know EXACTLY what it's like, but you protect your friends.
Fuck, Gus, he even knew where to find me.
- I'm sorry.
- I got nothing for him.
OK, alright.
Well, then that's that Oh, you think 'no's gonna cut the mustard, do you, with fuckin' Richard Buckley? - I held out for as long as - Oh, stop that! Get a grip on yourself.
- Sorry.
- And stop fuckin' saying sorry! Alright? Harden the fuck up! You got six years left in this place.
That's something to hold onto.
Guard! Now sit down! Les, it would be advantageous for opening arguments tomorrow to have a reason for your presence in Scales Warehouse at the time of your arrest.
You remember that little matter you absconded over? I mean, it is bloody ridiculous that they are hiding juries' names now.
Yes, apparently publishing details of the jury is open for corruption.
I had a look, Les.
They don't put 'em up anymore.
We've got a friend who can help us.
Not at General Sessions.
I can't hear you anymore, gentlemen.
Has canary here got an office? I've got a business to run.
I would be more worried about Judge Woinarski presiding.
He didn't like you when he was a crown prosecutor.
He's going to like you less now he's on the bench.
Eugene, with you bleeding me dry, a little old judge is the least of me worries.
Right, we need one name on this list.
We can do that.
Anyway, I gotta go have an argument with a producer about a writer.
One fuckin' scene change.
That's all I'm asking.
Les? Why were you in the warehouse? I don't know.
We'll work something out.
Papers! Get your papers here! - Papers! Get your papers! - Oi, Squizzy! You remember me? Joseph Cotter.
This is from the brothers Whiting! Yes.
Mr.
Taylor? Why were you in Scales Warehouse that day? And old rival of mine had made threats against me.
One of his associates was pursuing me in the street and I saw an open door and took refuge inside.
And did you believe your life was under threat? Absolutely.
Have you seen this man since, this associate, Joseph Cotter? Yes, a fortnight ago.
- What happened on that occasion? - Well, he shot me.
If the gallery cannot control itself, ejections will follow.
Joseph Cotter may as well have handed Squizzy a free pardon.
The Scales Warehouse case was thrown out, and the filming of 'In Emergency Colours' resumed.
What a day.
I know, it's beautiful.
What do you think? Who's that? He's playing the chief steward.
He's nice.
And Eric said I can keep the dress.
Ah, there he is.
Now, regarding the scene with the chief steward, OK, the writer's made a couple of compromises I think you'll like.
You confront the man regarding his unsavoury behaviour towards the good lady and you tell him what you'll do to him should he not refrain.
And then through the sheer power of personality, you win the day.
So I threaten him and he backs off? I think it's very good.
Places, please! Cut! Ooh! Ooh! Cut! OK, you fuck.
Calm down.
Calm down.
Did you talk to Angus? I got nothing for ya.
But if I did, I'd need to know that you work for me that your loyalties are to me and me only.
Whatever I say, you do without a question.
So prove it to me.
You're the boss.
Prove it.
What do you want me to do? Are you a hard man or a pretty boy? Well, I'm not a pretty boy.
Pretty boy.
Stuff ya, then.
I don't wanna know ya.
Pretty boy.
Good.
Into positions, everybody! I love you.
- What? - You heard me.
Stop everything! - Who's in charge? - I'm in charge.
On orders of the government censor, you're to immediately cease all production or public screening of the film.
Mate, you and your cronies can't stop us.
Uh yes, they can, Les.
The censors have deemed it "inadvisable in the public interest "to produce films that glorify the doings "of those who adopt an attitude of defiance to the law.
" That's you, Taylor.
You and your scum class.
You smug piece of shit.
What, you think one little piece of paper's gonna stop us? Movie's over, little pony.
- It's over.
- You fuckin' Hey, don't walk away! Don't you fuckin' walk away! The movie was never completed.
Sadly for the historical record, not a single reel of 'In Emergency Colours' survives.
The movie producer's shot through.
Cotter's been arrested, and the Whitings, they still wanna kill you.
I'll meet you back at the hotel.
- No, I wanna stay here.
- Nah, we gotta talk business.
Sit down.
I wanna start back pulling jobs.
But firstly, I've got a little pain in me leg that I want to go away.
I want that fuck Cotter.
He's in the watch-house I last heard.
Well, we're gonna pay him a visit.
- What's your name again? - GUARD! That's alright.
You can scream all you like.
GUARD, HELP! GUARD! So you tried to make a name for yourself, did ya? Sorry.
Sorry, mate.
Who are you? Say your name for me.
Joseph Cotter.
Who? Joseph Cotter.
You know, I don't know anyone by that name.
Who are ya? Jos Joseph Cotter.
- Nah.
- I'm - What? - I'm, uh - You're - Sorry.
Squizzy Taylor was never gonna find fame on the silver screen.
He was no actor.
He knew exactly what he was.
And a scorpion can never change it's nature.
Once again, the good people of Melbourne were about to be stung.