Cirrus@Austlit

This is the script for the second half of a Homicide episode called 'From the Top'. Such 'special' episodes (which cover first the investigation and second the trial) are usually described as two-hour episodes, but Storey notes that 'Due to the length of the episode requiring it to be split over two reels of 2" video tape, it was officially listed as two separate episodes, 319 "From The Top" and 319A "Trial".' This script only includes the trial portion.

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'JUDGE: Late forties. A youngish, business-like, efficient judge of the Victorian Supreme Court. Before his appointment to the bench, he himself was a leading barrister in criminal cases. He has a reputation for 'cutting through the red tape,' and 'keeping things moving' in his court. He is the antithesis of the 'old fogey' type of judge seen in some English productions. He has a good Australian accent.

'DEFENCE COUNSEL: Barrington. Aged 35 - classed as a young barrister. He is a very purposeful contender. A quick thinker, he is a remorseless cross-examiner, with an outstanding flair for bursts of rapid fire questioning. In this case - because he knows the outlook of the presiding judge - he does not go in for any theatrical display whatever.

'As Inspector Fox will be the viewers' troubled hero in his trial, Def's role must be regarded in a sense as that of the 'villain', but this professional does not make the mistake of adopting a 'nasty' manner. He knows that such an attitude would prejudice the Jury and damage his client's case. Therefore, even when attacking Fox full out, he gives the impression that he is fighting to have the truth revealed.

'PROSECUTOR: Middle forties. A thoroughly experienced barrister employed by the Crown Law Department. In this case, he is performing the duties that he carries out more or less every working day. Although more restrained than Defence Counsel, he is capable of applying pressure when necessary. However, he would never attempt to brow-beat an accused man, as it is important for him to give an impression of absolute fairness. Like the Judge and the Defence Counsel, he is an efficient officer of the court.

'MRS. SPENCER: Has developed an 'escapist psychosis' consistent with her character in 'From the Top'.

'IRVINE: Pathologist attached to the Coroner's court. A confident expert, accustomed to giving evidence in court. Has appeared in several murder cases, and hundreds of inquests that didn't make the headlines.

'WALKER: Police photographer. Another experienced formal witness.

'SURVEYOR: Has previously appeared in a few cases, and gives his evidence with straight-forward matter-of-factness.

'SPENCER: Character established in 'From the Top'. Is now concerned for his wife.

'FORSTER: Character established in 'From the Top'.

'GEORGINA: " " " " " "

'JOAN: " " " " " "

'OTHER COURT PERSONNEL: CRIER, JUDGE'S ASSOCIATE, POLICE GUARD FOR FORSTER, TWO UNIFORM POLICEMEN, DEFENCE SOLICITOR, PROSECUTION SOLICITOR.'

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'SAMMY WALKER: Must be big and strong-looking, perhaps even slightly flabby. Late twenties, early thirties. Sammy has suffered brain damage and has the mentality of a 10 year old. He always wears his cloth cap. It would help if the actor had a partial plate. (IF NOT, BLACKEN A COUPLE OF TEETH) One can see a few gaps when Sammy smiles.

'PRIMROSE TAYLOR: Policewoman who comes into Homicide. Twenties. Must be attractive. A knowledge of judo would help.

'BEN WALKER: Sammy's brother. Older. Ben looks after Sammy, treats him almost like a son. [Note: an annotation to this character note in blue ink specifies that Ben is five years older than Sammy.]

'JANINE FISHER: Young, attractive air hostess. Killed in first commerical.

'BEV ADAMS: Janine's room mate. Same age, same job.

'DR. ALCOTT: Doctor at post mortem.

'JIM HARRIS: Private detective.

'CAPTAIN RICHARDS: Airline pilot. [Note: an annotation to this character note in blue ink reads, 'needs to be good'.]

'OLD LADY: Old lady on bus.

'MARY WALKER: Ben's wife.

'MRS. FENTON: Very attractive, long blonde hair. She is not provocative in her attitude.

'SALLY GREEN: Young, attractive, ballet teacher. Second murder victim.

'MR. PHILLIPS: Late thirties, early forties. Obscene phone caller.

'T.V. SERVICEMAN:

'AMBULANCE MEN: Actuals.

'SMITH: Interviewed at airport.

'POLICE SERGEANT: One scene.

'STUDENTS IN BALLET SCHOOL: Actual.'

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'BRIAN CLARK 24. Leader of a group of young hoodlums. Probably schizoid. Clean-cut good looks belie an unstable, vicious nature.

'PINA BIANCHI 22. Attractive, Italian descent. An emotional girl. Deeply attracted to Clark, and sees a completely different side of him. She is intelligent but ingenuous.

'BIANCHI 55. Pina's father. A wealthy Italian migrant. Well-educated but no pretentions. [sic] He is addicted to cards, plays regularly for high stakes. Honest, likeable, strong character.

'BILL WOOD 24. A big youth, and a born thug. Untidy, badly spoken, vicious.

'KEITH MORGAN 22. Smaller than Wood, makes up in slyness what he lacks in size. A streak of cowardice that he covers with bravado. He and Wood form Clark's gang, and are completely under his sway. ABLE TO DRIVE.

'COSTA / MARTINO / CONTI Friends of Bianchi. Around same age or younger. Equally addicted to cards, all are well-off businessmen. Of all the Italians, only Costa and Martino have more than the slightest trace of accent.

'SPORTS STORE PROPRIETOR 40's. Small part, few lines. A suburban businessman.

'ESPRESSO BAR OWNER 40's. Italian, tendency to melodrama and over-acting. Small part.

'THREE POLICEMEN'.

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'LEIGH GARDINER. 39. A journalist on a daily paper, is a hard-bitten ruthless woman of great attractiveness. She is an indifferent mother, and an unfaithful wife. She is the victim.

'JOHN GARDINER. 44. Leigh's husband, is an industrial chemist. He is a quiet, gentle man, bound up with his career. His marriage has been a failure and he realises this. He is intelligent, well-educated. He is one of the principal suspects. Must be able to drive.

'ANNE GARDINER. 18. Their daughter. She has been neglected by her parents and has become addicted to morphine. She is an Art student at the Tech. She eventually tries to commit suicide....becoming a suspect through her addiction.

'JERRY ROSS. 22. Takes Anne out now and again, but on a casual basis. He therefore feels little loyalty or responsibility towards her. He is a student.

'JANE ADAMS. 45. The murderess, is Leigh's cousin. She has a small private income and does a lot of charity work, has an autocratic disposition. Her love for Anne triggers off the poisonings - she regards the girl as her own daughter. She is practical to the point that she chooses murder as the practical solution to her problems - with no thought to the ethics.

'BETTY ROBINSON. 63. Is Jane Adams' companion, a pensioner of vague disposition, and an inability to manage her own affairs.

'CLIFF HILL. 33. A journalist on Leigh's paper, he had been having an affair with her. He is intelligent, attractive. Had been on a country newspaper.

'DENISE MATTHEWS. 25. His fiancee, is a young journalist who takes over Leigh's column. She is gentle, rather old-fashioned.

'TRAMP. Of indeterminate age, a no-hoper with a love for drink. He manages to extort money from Anne - with his hard luck story.

'ADRIAN JOHNSTON. A chemist, is visited by Anne in her attempt to get hold of some morphine.

'DOCTOR MILER. 50. Called in by Gardiner on the night of Leigh's death. He is talkative, with a love for gardening, has treated the family for some years.

'JOE FINCH. 48. John Gardiner's superior at the laboratory. An academic, he has a dry sense of humour, and a cordial dislike for Leigh.

'SISTER TAYLOR. 40. In charge of the Grandview hospital at which Jane Adams does charity work, and obtains the morphine. She is a fairly typical nurse, practical by nature.

'A VICAR. A gentle, kind man of indeterminate age. He finds Anne after she attempts to commit suicide.

'EXTRA ONLY. A girl who resembles Anne Gardiner in appearance.

'EXTRA ONLY. A young boy.'

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'WALLY BURNS 40-55 years old. Character and a rogue. A petty criminal for most of his life, he has managed to pull one big job and get away with it. He is likeable despite his tendency to lie and cheat whenever it suits him. Witty and cunning in his own way. He has virtually adopted his nephew Tommy. By reason of his non-conformism, assisted by lies about his glamorous past, he has become a hero for the boy. Sometimes he is capable of believing his own lies and reacts strongly to any challenge of them. He is the victim.

'CLIFF ADAMS About 20 years. He kills Wally in self defence. He is a National Service evader (but not a standard student pacifist). A working class lad who believes that the Vietnam war is wrong and that he's not going over to get killed when so many people are in basic disagreement over the issues. He has not thought out his position clearly, rather he feels it. He is by no means frail, nor afraid of a fight, but his rudimentary examination of the question has convinced him that he will not go to Vietnam. He is a likeable young man forced by circumstances to kill.

'JO-ANNE EDWARDS About 20 years. Attractive and likeable working class girl. She is completely loyal to her boyfriend Cliff. She reacts emotionally to the problem of the call-up. She just doesn't want Cliff to get killed. She is confused by the events that take place and never quite sure what action is best in any stress situation.

'TOMMY BURNS About 16 years. Working class. Fiercely loyal to his uncle (Wally) whom he has adopted as a father figure. He finds his real father (Jack) intolerably dull. He is worried as soon as Cliff and Jo-Anne come on board the launch because they constitute a threat to his relationship with Wally. Many of his mannerisms and attitudes have been copied from Wally.

'JACK BURNS About 50-55 years. Working class. Tommy's father. Confined to a wheelchair. A hypochondriac who loves to rattle off his life story (which of course consists of misfortunes) to anyone who'll listen. He is sad about life - it has let him down badly - and his only way of getting back is to tell others of life's injustices. He is particularly sad that he has "lost" his son, Tommy, to his no good brother, Wally. A sad and hopeless character.

'KOESTLER 40-55 years. A rather arrogant and snobbish German whose manners give him a certain charm. He has been in Australia for many years and speaks excellent English. He has an upper class bearing and is intolerant of dirty, [sic] slovenliness and general inefficiency.

'MRS. BENNETT 40-55 years. Working class woman. Warm hearted and sympathetic. She has lost menfolk in wars and is completely on Cliff's side in his attempt to evade National Service. A strong willed woman, she stands up to the D's.

'BOB SULLIVAN About 20 years. A pleasant young man. Must be able to swim.

'JANET SULLIVAN About 20 years. An attractive girl, Bob's wife. Must be able to swim.

'TWO COMMONWEALTH POLICE. Extras. Big, burley, [sic] with bullet heads.

'BARMAN'.

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'TONY SMART Early twenties. Pop star. Masculine, good looking, long hair. Self centred, thinks he "kills the birds", and he does. Drives car.

'PENNY WILLIAMSON Early twenties. His girl friend, one of them. Quite hard, sleeps around, very attractive, gamin.

'BRIAN WILLIAMSON Early twenties. Penny's husband. Runs gift shop. Nice bloke, although with it, has fairly normal ideals. Long hair (not shoulder).

'GRAHAM MALONEY Mid twenties. Smart's manager. Slimey, smart, not good looking, but dresses modern. Long hair. Has to drive a motor-launch.

'DAVID SIMMONS Runs shop with Brian. Good friend, quiet. Long hair, similar to Brian.

'VICKI GAYE Mod. Young writer for pop magazine. Slightly kooky, pleasant, but could wear you down.

'KEVIN BARKER Record company man, thirties, weak, normal middle class. In the wrong game. Goes to parties with young ones attempts to 'swing'. [sic] Has to drive car.

'MRS. BARKER Thirties. Can't accept her husband's attitudes. Suspicious of him, but not without good cause.

'TEA-WOMAN

'SALLY Model, young (non speaking)

'PHOTOGRAPHER Young, with it. (non speaking)'.

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'DAPHNE: About 40. Tall, plump, shapely. Sweet, weak personality - easily influenced by a person like her friend Doris.

'DORIS: About 45. (Must be a little older than Daphne) Slim, wiry - noticeably shorter than Daphne. A strong, decisive character. Having made a decision - nothing will shake her. Is prepared to induce someone else to commit a murder from which she herself will reap financial benefit.

'ALFRED: Late sixties - thin, weak - with bad heart - but despite his age and physical disability, still very enthusiastic about sex. A miser by nature.

'RUTH: Elderly - a little younger than Alfred. Has long been in love with Alfred who jilted her in favour of younger, more voluptuous Daphne.

'VALERIE HILLIS: About 20. Attractive - looks and sounds like a street walker; but has a chastity complex.

'LORNA FOSTER: About same age as Valerie - well mannered, well educated, cries easily. She is the opposite of Valerie, although she doesn't look like a tramp, she is one. A sentimental tramp - falls in love with every man. (When she loses her temper, her inner self surfaces. Becomes loud and loses her good manners.)

'KEN THORNTON: Early 20's - tough 'alley playboy' with tattoos on his arms. Indifferent to people and the world (not cynical) Has a sense of humour.

[Note: the inverted commas around 'alley playboy' have been added in black ink.]

'SUE (RECEPTIONIST): Kind, sensitive, warm-hearted girl - early 30's.

'EVANS: A young detective.

'PRIEST:

'2 GRAVEDIGGERS:

'TAXI DRIVER: ACTUAL.

'LADY MOURNER:

'GENTLEMAN MOURNER:

'MAN: EXTRA.'

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'MARIA BOMPANI Under 20, Italian accent. Fanatic catholic. Very much in love with a young playboy who has left her for somebody else. Decides to kill him and after that - herself.

'FATHER GILBERT In his forties, sensitive, strong. An ex-dreamer and ex-misfit. Formerly a bombardier in the Korean war, where he came to know Mackay.

'JOHN REYNOLDS A mechanic - early twenties. Shy. In love with Maria - but will never tell her. Loses his voice every time he talks to her and therefore has to constantly clear his throat.

'TONY HEWITT (Driver) 20's - very good looking - Mother's boy. Owns boutique where Maria works. Has to constantly prove himself with girls - but the real love of his life is his car. Turns ugly when he doesn't get what he wants.

'MRS. REYNOLDS Maria's landlady. Middle-forties. Good looking - lively, warm. Strong, bossy personality. Knows life and men. (John's mother.)

'PAWNBROKER

'BARTHOLOMEW 20's. Very gay, effeminate young man. Very interested in Tony's love life.

'MR. GARRONE 40's - 50's. A widower who doesn't grieve for his wife. Bad tempered, no sympathy for his daughter.

'BARMAID Barmaid and prbstitute [sic], in her 40's. Heavy, "dressed in full traditional regalia". Sour and suspicious.

'ANA A girl that must look very much like Maria. Same figure and hair.

'SECOND GIRL Young prostitute - A bit dumb. Few lines only. Has a tattoo on her waist.

'AMBROSE Big, sinister, menacing looking thug. Few lines only.

'LUCY Early 20's. Very beautiful. Very intelligent, very sensitive. Thinks she sees through Tony but doesn't expect him to turn violent.

'FRED Same age as Tony and Bartholomew. Fresh and cheeky. Interested in Maria. Like Bartholomew - audience of Tony.

'MRS. HERNANI Middle thirties - very pregnant, neurotic, talkative. Has constant changes of mood. Italian accent essential.'

This episode involves the severe beating of an Indigenous Australian man because of the attentions he has been paying to a white Australian girl.

The character notes (reproduced below) focus heavily on the racism of small towns, which carries over into the dialogue: for example, when the victim tells his brother 'Go down to the butcher's and get some meat for Mum. A roast of beef and a couple of chickens. She's sick of mutton. And make sure he serves you in turn' (page 3) or when the storekeeper says to the victim, 'What'll it be - two pints of flour and a stick of baccy? (LAUGHS)' (page 4).

Ultimately, the script reveals that the beating the victim sustains is not the direct cause of his death: he is accidentally drowned by his uncle.

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'JOHNNY KAMADJI. Victim. Successful Aboriginal shearing contractor. Tall, good-looking, assured, Johnny has succeeded because he is better at his job than the white man. He refuses to accept the imposed limitations of his colour, but is in turn intolerant of those among his own people who have not succeeded under the white man's terms. Must be a driver. Aged about 25.

'SAM NUGGET. Johnny's uncle. A detribalised, alcoholic derelict. A fringe-dweller, but still with a shred of pride clinging to his racked frame. Possesses a sly sense of humour and an unexpected knowledge of people and the world. Aged 50-65.

'RICKY KAMADJI. Johnny's young brother. Educated, self-confident. Ricky hero-worshipped Johnny and is the only Aboriginal prepared to assist the police. Aged 15.

'BEN FOSTER. Storekeeper. Typical of the racists to be found in any Australian country town. Bland, smug, self-satisfied. His narrow-minded bigotry is hidden beneath a bluff, unsophisticated sense of humour. Aged about 45.

'SALLY FOSTER Ben's daughter. Works in her father's store. Pretty, flirtatious, unsophisticated. Not over-endowed with intelligence, but not a fool. Accepts people for what they are. Demonstrates courage and a sense of humanity when the time comes. Aged about 18.

'BRUCE FOSTER. Ben's son. Mechanic in local garage. Blessed with his father's prejudices, though rather more open about them. A small town upbringing has equipped him with the usual loyalties and limitations. Aged about 20.

'NEIL THOMAS. Sally's boyfriend. Bruce's best mate. Neil works as an assistant in Ben's store. Something of a small-time rural tearaway, without Bruce's courage or determination. Bruce leads Neil in most things. Neil and Sally's relationship is one of habitual affection. Must be a driver. Aged about 20.

'SENIOR CONSTABLE BOB FINLAY. Competent district policeman. Genuinely tries to do his best within the confines of a difficult local situation. Must be a driver. Aged about 40.

'MRS KAMADJI. Johnny's mother. An Aborginial woman, with a deep sense of pride and humility. Instinctively suspicious and afraid of policemen. Aged about 45.

'MOLLY. Local character. An old hard-bitten hard-doer. Aged 60 plus.

'ABORIGINAL CHILDREN. (EXTRAS) Johnny's brothers and sisters.

'MILKMAN (ACTUALITY).'

'A group of pensioners in an old people's home are secretly engaged in earning extra money to supplement their pensions. When one of their number, Charlie Cook, is found dead, they dispose of the body for fear that a police investigation would expose their activities and land them in trouble with the Taxation Department.'

Source: Classic Australian Television. (Sighted: 11/6/2013)