'Ryan arranges a meeting between an ex-drug addict and a crusading cop. When the addict is found dead, shot with the policeman's gun, Ryan vows to find the man responsible. He had promised the addict protection - the pathetic little man died, and now someone is going to pay for it.
'Ryan moves into the Melbourne underworld, meets the pimps and thugs and junkies on their own ground - sleazy nightclubs and back alleys. He's on the move - hammering his way through to find the killer.
'When the policeman's son dies from a drug overdose, Ryan's sympathy is mixed with cold suspicion - the cop had a motive for the killing. And the fact that the policeman was once Ryan's best friend counts for nothing.'
Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).
The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):
'JACK NELSON: Until recently he was an average cop, a good friend to have. His fairly normal middle-age blues and career frustrations were offset by a satisfying family life. Now his son is a dying drug addict and his wife is leaving him. He's a strong man eroding fast. (45).
'JAN TAYLOR: On the surface she's a brassy stripper; cynical, not too bright. Beneath the stage make-up she's a vulnerable, sensitive girl .... and a frightened one, out of her depth. She's a semi-reformed drug addict and though we'd like to believe otherwise, she will never be fully cured. (27).
'BILLY MAXWELL: Fat, slimy, physically repulsive, fringe crim, morally depraved - you name it, if it's nasty - he's it. He likes being around the big crims, and blusters a lot to kid himself he's one of them; but inside he's scared. The audience has to squirm when he fondles Jan and cheer when Ryan king-hits him. (30).
'ERIC FRASER: Another reformed addict, but again he'll never overcome the damage done by drug abuse ... he'll be physically and psychologically frail for the rest of his life (which proves to be short anyway). Had he lived, he and Jan Taylor may have been able to lean on each other enough to make a go of it. We only meet him once but we're sorry when he dies. (30).
'PAUL THOMPSON: On the surface he's a well educated man, a concerned, responsible citizen who has devoted his life to helping addicts. In fact he gained his university degrees which combine to qualify him as a "sociologist" because his wealthy grandmother virtually paid him to be a "professional student". When he got too old for that, and his grandmother died, he had to get a job - but was ill-equipped for most business positions. His family connections got him into the privately endowed Drug Action Group organisation. His work brought him into contact with hundreds of addicts, and dozens of suppliers. He picked the "best" of them to form his own organisation. He is totally amoral. (40).
'FLIP MITCHELL: A thug, though fractionally more intelligent than most. He is one of Thompson's key pushers. (35).
'NOBBY WALKER: Hangs around with Flip Mitchell, dresses a bit better. He has a greater sense of cause and effect than Mitchell, and lacks his friend's stupid courage. He is therefore a less successful "fringe crim". Some people claim there is a homosexual relationship between them, and it might be true. (35).
'MARGARET NELSON: Rather plain, not very bright, suburban housewife. She is a tense, nervous person, who for the first twenty years of their married life relied on the strength of her husband. Not that's going, and so is she. (42).
'DAVID NELSON: Sensitive boy, scared of life. Has one line only, but we should care when he dies. (20).
'VICKIE ANDERSON: She's a drug addict. She'll probably be dead within five years. She used to be a stripper, but as she says, "Nobody would pay to see it now" - the drugs have had their effect. (One scene.) (25).
'ADDICT: As with all the other addicts in this episode there is about him an air of sadness, of pathos - an inevitability of death - such that some young people watching the show might be discouraged from experimenting with hard drugs. (One scene.) 25.
'CABBIE: Not much education but lots of native cunning. Enjoys life, loves his job, an old mate of Ryan's (Two scenes.) (30).
'BOB CLARK: A very good policeman, but also a bit conservative and authoritarian - his way is the right way. He's Jack Nelson's boss, and used to be his friend. (50).
'GREG WILLIAMS: Jack's partner. A vestige of friendship remains, but it's strained. (40)
'BARTENDER:
'UNIFORMED POLICEMAN 1: One line.
'UNIFORMED POLICEMAN 2:
'DOCTOR: (Maybe an extra)
'UNIFORMED POLICEMAN: (Maybe an extra)
'NEWSBOY: Extra.
'GREEK: Extra.
'DRINKER IN BAR: Extra.'
