03x01 - Playing Advantage

[bunniefuu]

(CROWD ROARS)

(CROWD ROARS)

- (CROWD ROARS IN DISTANCE)
- (MEN CONVERSE INDISTINCTLY)

That bouncer nearly took your head off.

(MEN CONVERSE INDISTINCTLY)

That was a nice catch by you, though.

- Thanks, mate. Thanks.
- (LAUGHS)

Yeah, yeah. Starving.

(CHUCKLES) I had the
sh*t of the day, easy.

You up for a meal, Clay?

Yeah, sounds good, Ravi.

REPORTER: Oliver Pittman, when
did you start playing cricket?

Third class.

And you obviously enjoy the game.

Yeah.

- You like bowling?
- Yeah.

- Who's your favourite player?
- Clay Nelson.

And guess who's here to
present you with your trophy

for Player of the Tournament.

Congratulations, Oliver.
It's great to meet you.

On behalf of the cricket
guys, that's yours.

Thank you.

- Play for Australia one day, eh?
- Yeah.

Yeah.

And for the next eight years,
Oliver just lived for cricket.

He went from the fresh-faced
kid we see there,

to the brink of the national team

with you in his corner
every step of the way.

And now he's dead.

Do I have your attention, Mr Nelson?

Doesn't that weigh on your conscience?

He was meant to be
focusing on the test team,

and yet you got him to pull on
his boots for the Firecrackers.

Did you... did you call in a favour?

Play on what you'd done for
him? How much he owed you?

How many times did you ask him?

- Once.
- Once.

One time. I asked him, he said yes.

- Yeah, well, that's bullshit.
- How dare you!

We all know that's absolute...

TONY: Listen, let's just
take a short adjournment.

I'll give you a minute
to inform your client

of the powers at our disposal.

RICHARD: My client, Mr Examiner,

is a man of considerable
standing in the community

who deserves to be treated with respect.

I'm not interested, Mr Stirling.

You can't talk to him like that, Janet.

You're an officer of the court.

Tony, this isn't a court,
and a -year-old boy is dead.

Well, he didn't m*rder him, Janet.

- Might as well have.
- And this reference...

The more upset he becomes,
the more we get out of him.

This reference isn't
about Oliver's su1c1de.

Including the name of the match fixer.

This reference has been
established to uncover the links

between gambling, sport
and organised crime,

which means identifying
the blokes at the top.

Which is exactly what we decided.

- You mean you stated.
- Well, I am the Chief Examiner.

"But this will be
your reference, Janet."

In here, yes. But we are the
National Crime Commission.

We just want to know who's the big catch

and where are the proceeds of crime.

- Which you will get.
- Now!

- Soon!
- We should really head back in.

Uh, right. Um, well,

we are a team, yes?

- Common goals, common purposes?
- Of course.

The examination of Clay
Nelson is resuming at : pm.

All those present
prior to the adjournment

are present at the resumption.

Thank you, Mr Examiner.

Mr Examiner, if I may observe...

You may observe privately, Mr Stirling.

Unless invited to share your
thoughts, I do not expect to hear...

Under Section of the National
Crimes Commission Act...

Section refers to counsel
representing, Mr Stirling.

You are present under Section
, which is at my invitation.

So, if I may briefly
descend into common parlance,

shut up.

Thank you.

When was your last game as captain
of the Australian Test team?

It was months ago.

And since then?

Well, Ravi Hasan called and said the
Firecrackers were after a skipper.

That's a new team in
the Asia Twenty League.

So I signed on.

And you, in turn, convinced
Oliver Pittman to sign.

Yes. I said, "Mate, how
about it?" He said, "Sure."

BIANCA: Well, this is Oliver's version

at the police interview he gave
four days before his su1c1de.

WOMAN: Was it a hard decision?

Yeah. I didn't want to, at all.

I'd just got in the Test
squad, and the one-dayers.

I thought it was too much cricket.

But Clay's Clay, you know?

I mean, it's Clay Nelson.

And when he's calling you
every night of the week,

you have to.

So...

"Mate, how about it?" That was all?

Yeah, look I...

He never... said any of that to me.

I mean, we... I called him and
we spoke about it, he said yes.

Right, well that's the first lie.

And I'm sure Mr Stirling's informed you

of the punishments we may enforce

if witnesses perjure themselves
before the Commission.

Now...

who told him to bowl a wide?

- I don't know.
- Did you ask him?

No.

Even when he was labelled a cheat
on the front page of everything,

the media camped outside
his house for two weeks

and the Board of Cricket
cancelled his contract?

Did you call him then?

Offer any words of comfort at all?

Well, I thought it
would make things worse.

I mean, none of us knew...

how hard he was taking it.

Second lie.

Don't you feel you owe that
boy anything? Look at him.

You exposed him to
this grubby environment.

I didn't know any of this would happen!

You didn't know anything! Seriously?

He bowls four straight balls,

and then the betting
companies around the world

doubled the odds on the next
ball being bowled a wide,

and, what, within
seconds, millions go on it,

and it is a wide, or so
I'm told. Is that a wide?

- Yes.
- Except the referee didn't call it.

Umpire. It's cricket, not football.

The official let it go because
it wasn't clearly a wide

and some big punters lost a lot of cash.

And, well, Oliver's reaction, of course,

gave the whole game away.

So, even then, on the field,

you can't tell me you didn't
ask him what that was all about.

Or after the press conference,
when all hell broke loose.

Nothing at all?

It didn't seem... I
mean, I didn't think...

I thought...

ignoring it would be
like standing by him.

Third lie.

Who was it?

You've played with or against
the other players in that team

for over a decade, you
must have your suspicions.

We know you bet $ , on
a satellite tennis match

in Darwin last October.

I play cricket, lady. I don't bet on it.

Have you ever met Nate Baldwin?

The footballer? I don't know.

He also bet on that tennis match,

and some others who bet on that match
also bet on Oliver bowling a wide.

Can you see the pattern here?

RICHARD: Mr Examiner, please,
this line of questioning

is an unsubstantiated
personal att*ck on my client.

I believe I asked you
to shut up, Mr Stirling.

I have to protest the intimidation
being shown here towards my client.

Out, thank you. This is not a court.

Your invitation to
attend has been withdrawn.

- I beg your pardon?
- I said get out,

before I find you in contempt.

(SLAMS DOOR)

Can you see the pattern here, Clay?

If not, I'll spell it out.

Someone's giving you the valuable
tips on where the smart money is,

and it can only be someone on your team.

Ravi Hasan's house, one day
after the match in question.

Coincidence? Well, that
doesn't quite cover it, does it?

I don't know anything about that.

Pittman's wide is part
of a comprehensive network

of betting accounts
covering many sports.

And when things don't go to plan,

houses get blown up and
young players commit su1c1de.

Now, don't risk lying
to us a fourth time.

Someone on your team is
part of this syndicate,

and as captain, you were
either complicit or aware.

Who is it?

It's probably Ravi.

I spoke at Oliver's funeral, you know.

Yeah, so I saw.

Were you there for him or the cameras?

Did you get the warning

about not telling anyone
what was said in there?

- Oh, yeah, yeah.
- They mean it. Be careful.

Has that blonde chick even
seen a game of cricket before?

(CHUCKLES) I doubt it.

- So, you know her?
- Did.

I was on a Royal
Commission with her once,

and we were at the DPP
together for a while.

- It was a long time ago now.
- Mate, is she any good?

Or is she just piss and wind?

Oh, she's very good.

That's why they brought
her back for this.

BIANCA: What do you think?

Well, we either broke him
into telling the truth,

or forced him into a lie,
which is still leverage.

A wide ball in a cricket
match just seems so trivial.

And yet, it's our best
chance to get inside all this.

Ah, Janet. Your analyst, Bonnie Mahesh.

Ah. Welcome. Thanks for coming on board.

I was tossing up options
and thought I could either

work for people with real
influence or... come here.

But a national crime commission

did sound marginally cooler
than ASIO, so here I am.

Wonderful.

- Uh, Owen wants to see me.
- Oh, great. Give him my best.

Or not, if you don't want
to. All the same to me.

- I'll see you later?
- Sure.

LINA: Okay, bye.

Hello, stranger.

Janet! Hi! I heard you were back.

- How's motherhood?
- Oh, you know. Sleep, what's that?

But it's still pretty magic.

- What is he now?
- Uh, she.

She turned two, last week.

- And Andy?
- Much older. (CHUCKLES)

Oh. Uh, But busy, you know. Always busy.

Seems like I only see
him minutes a day.

- There's her smile.
- Mm, sweet.

- We'll have to catch up sometime.
- I would love that. Call me.

There you are.

Thought you might have
still been on island time.

I never was.

- Two years in Fiji? Come on.
- It wasn't a holiday.

- You were still paying me, remember?
- Yeah, tell me about it.

The UN Under-Secretary gets
us to send someone over there

to train up a bunch of new prosecutors,

and somehow it ends up on my budget.

Because we are responsible members
of the international community.

I still think you spent
half the time on the beach.

I was looking forward to
getting you back, you know.

I'd lined up all these cases.

And then, all of a sudden I
get this resignation letter.

What happened? Is it negotiable?

I've already started something else.

National Crime Commission?

Bianca swing that, did
she? Jobs for the girls?

No. Tony asked me, actually.

Ah, Tony. Is he still pissed with me?

- Well, you did take his job.
- I accepted an offer.

- No backroom conversations?
- They weren't needed.

His contract was never gonna get
renewed, Roger Embry saw to that.

You can't publicly embarrass

the head of the State
Corruption Commission

and expect no payback.

But then, Tony probably
wouldn't have minded

if they'd tapped you on
the shoulder instead of me.

Although the Attorney General
had to resign because of you.

And why weren't you
tarred with that brush?

Because I know how to play the game.

- And I don't?
- Well, when it's fair play you do.

But, uh, unfortunately,
not many games are.

Owen, why am I here if you
already know what I'm doing?

Okay, cards on the table.

It's no secret I've got six
months left on this contract,

and then I have to reapply.

If you're planning to
use success at the NCC

to get the Director's spot,
then be ready for a fight.

If not, then I'll help you
get the guys you want to nail.

Or we could just agree to
stay out of each other's way.

And that's option three.

Come on.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

- What did they ask him?
- Maxine, please, I can't tell you.

- Tell me.
- I can't!

Clay Nelson's the most
important client I have.

I appreciate that.

Look, he's a former
Australian Test captain,

winner of three Ashes series...

Oh, my God, please tell me you
know something about cricket.

Yeah, of course. I'm more into cycling.

All right, well, think of,
uh... think of Lance Armstrong.

- He's... Actually, don't.
- No.

- Cadel Evans.
- Good choice.

Clean icon of his sport. So
you think Cadel, that's Clay.

I'm in the middle of negotiating

a very important one-year contract
with him for the Firecrackers,

which will probably be his last,

and I can't afford any
more negative publicity.

So, what'd they ask him? What, was
it about Oliver Pittman? Tell me.

I couldn't possibly
confirm that statement.

I knew it!

One bad ball and
everybody's crying for blood.

I didn't say anything.

Oh, of course you didn't. What else?

Oh, come on! All the
work I'm sending your way,

you've got to give me something.

You're making more off
these guys than I am now.

I mean, not that you haven't earnt it.

Still, if I had % of your salary

I could f*ck off to the Maldives
and drink margaritas for a decade.

Actually, at this point in my career,

you'd be at Bondi with a light beer.

- So, was it just about Oliver? Tell me.
- I'm not saying any more.

In fact, I'm gonna change
the subject completely

to a totally different
topic of conversation,

utterly unrelated to anything else.

All right, go on, then.

Did you know that Nate
Baldwin used to gamble?

Well, most of Australians gamble.

Yeah, not on the same
games Clay used to bet on.

Well, observation's noted.

I'll see you at the charity auction.

Clay donated a bat.

I've got a buyer lined up for it.

All you've got to do is drive
it up to grand for us.

All good? Ciao, now.

MAN: On your marks!

Set!

(FIRES g*n)

- Go, Em!
- She's good!

Come on, Em. That's it!

- She's good.
- Come on, Emma.

Go, Emma!

She's winning! Go, Em!

Go, Em! Go! Yes!

(CROWD CHEERS)

All that running in
Fiji's really paid off.

I just remember they were
non-stop up and down that beach.

Yeah, that was such a nice week.

But if she keeps winning by that much,

these guys will probably
think she's a drug cheat.

Mm. I wish that was a joke.

You know, I was reading yesterday,

the youngest person they
ever tested was nine.

Can you believe that?

You know, Owen was saying I'm only
on the Commission because of you.

Owen sees conspiracies everywhere.

True.

And everyone knows most
of them are nonsense.

- Oh darling, that was fantastic.
- Well done!

- I'm proud of you.
- Thanks, Mum.

Can I have money for one of them?

- Yes, absolutely.
- Can I have one too?

- Sorry, I should have got you one.
- Yep.

No fizzy drinks, all
right? Bring me the change.

Sorry.

So much for basking
in the glow of victory.

All just good fun at their age.

ANNOUNCER: Janet King, please
come to the recording tent.

Janet King, please come
to the recording tent.

- Looks like I'm in trouble.
- You're in trouble, yeah.

That was good, girls. Well done.

Three-tenths outside a state record.

- On no training? That's talent.
- Run upstairs, get changed, please!

- No!
- Can we have a story?

- Yes, of course.
- Yes!

What's three-tenths? That's
like... metres, isn't it?

It's more like two.

She said both of them
should look at going to Zone.

Sorry, I just want to see what that is.

You google, I'll see you tomorrow.

All right. You sure? No, sorry,
do you want to stay? Sorry.

- Mum, come up here!
- Okay, just a minute!

Mum!

- Later. Another time.
- Thank you. Thank you.

Mm. Thanks.

See ya, guys!

- Bye.
- Bye!

Records. Where are the records?

Clever girl.

All right, what's Zone?

It's stood since ,
and Emma's nearly there.

I mean, with a little bit of training...

- Oh, if she wants to train.
- Well, I'm not gonna make her train.

- That's...
- No pain, no gain.

Updated background on Clay's teammates.

- Thanks, Wayne.
- Now where are these genes

- from, anyway?
- S'pose Ash.

You know, she always said
she was good at sport.

Excuse me.

I needed space. It's okay, right?

- While you're not really using it?
- I will be, from Monday.

- Sure.
- Can I just... Excuse me.

- Are you bringing Ravi in this arvo?
- After his teammates.

If someone dobs on him
first, it'll be easier.

Well, it's a waste of time.

- Really?
- He doesn't call any of them.

Which is odd in itself, don't you think?

A couple of group emails
when the squad was formed,

the occasional text
about training times.

- They just don't mingle.
- Well, if they are colluding,

they just don't want to
leave any trace of it.

Nah. They're a group of famous
players from all over the place,

thrown together for TV.

They don't hang out at
all. He wouldn't trust them.

Well, we'll see, hm?

Follow me.

Everyone?

You see, the real shame
about Oliver Pittman is,

with a bit more work,
that in-swinger of his

would have really rattled
the Indian batsmen next test.

I just want everyone to remember
whose death started this reference

before we get too carried away
with money and proceeds of crime.

This young man is who we are here for.

So Brandon, there hasn't been
one incident on the cricket field

that's struck you as slightly strange?

Not that I can recall.

- No suspicious outs?
- You mean dismissals?

- Yes.
- No.

No ball or hit that
seemed totally reckless?

I'm sorry, what's so funny?

Have you ever even seen a Twenty game?

- This is serious, Mr Williams.
- Sure, okay, well, fine. But...

before you keep asking
questions like that,

you really ought to know
what you're talking about.

In a Twenty game,
everything is reckless.

That's what it is.

And they're called sh*ts,
by the way, not hits.

Have you seen Ravi Hasan or any
other player from the Firecrackers

behave in a way that struck you

as out of the ordinary for
a professional sportsman?

Off the pitch, we barely see Ravi.

Have you ever witnessed
him arrange a spot bet?

No. Never.

Are we on the wrong track?

We still have nothing
solid on Ravi Hasan.

Or Brandon's just a very good liar.

Unless Oliver did it all on his own.

Well, that seems unlikely.
He was just a kid.

Nothing?

We haven't examined Ravi yet.

Bet you strike out.

Give you -to-one and put down .

Wayne, get Ravi in here.

How did it work?

How did you know when
the odds would lengthen?

I have no idea what
you're talking about.

Someone had to get a message to
Oliver, someone following the odds.

I'll take your word for it.

Ah, sarcasm's not your
ally in here, Mr Hasan.

This person needed line
of sight to the players...

They had to be in the grandstand, right?

There were over ,
people at that match.

It's not a problem if
you know where to look.

That's ridiculous.

I put it to you, Mr Hasan,
when the odds peaked,

this person in the
stands gave you a signal.

What person?

And you in turn
communicated this to Oliver.

- What?!
- Who gave you the signal, Mr Hasan?

- No one. There was no signal.
- So, why was your house firebombed?

- How should I know?
- Well, I do.

Some big punters around
the world put a lot of money

on a ball you were meant to
make happen, and it didn't.

So these big punters were very unhappy,

and a day later, you
could have been k*lled.

Am I warm?

You cannot accuse me of
match-fixing without some evidence.

Actually, in here, I
can do whatever I like.

The night before the game,
you missed the team dinner.

Weren't seen for hours.
Who were you meeting?

- No one.
- We know that's a lie.

I just don't like team dinners.

Did you approach Oliver
before or after that meeting?

I never approached Oliver.

He was just a good young
player. That's all he was to me.

We're gonna go back through
the hotel security footage.

This is outrageous!

A young boy's been hounded to death,

- and you think we're outrageous?
- What sort of a country is this?

I thought everyone had a right
to a fair judicial process.

Or have you gotta be white for that?

I've never been treated
like this anywhere.

It stops now, or I call my embassy.

Well, obviously we can't stop,
that's what he wants us to do.

We need to contact the
staff at that hotel.

- Was I right?
- When are they playing again?

- Saturday, down at the 'G.
- What's the 'G?

What?

The Melbourne Cricket Ground.

All right, this is getting embarrassing.

I should go to that. I
haven't even seen a game.

I don't know what the ground's called.

If I'm gonna stay on
the front foot in there,

I need to know what I'm talking about.

- Agreed?
- Fair point.

Well, I could go too, if you
like. Provide a specialist's eye.

Or I could go.

If we're gonna talk to
the staff at the hotel,

it probably does need one
police officer, not two lawyers.

Here I am.

Wayne, I need you on
surveillance. I'll go.

Okay, done. Get admin to book the
tickets. Same hotel as the team.

- Enjoy the game.
- Mm.

- Do you know the rules?
- Cricket, or travel expenses?

Oh, both would be handy.

In all seriousness, though,
we do need to be careful.

- I know. I know!
- (LAUGHS) No, not about you and me.

I mean, a cop and a lawyer.

Usually, lawyers stay in the office.

It's us cops who go
out and talk to people.

Well, I do things my way.

Even so, officially, for the day book,

I need some sort of explanation.

Just put Section ,
para , of the NCC Act.

When there's a reasonable
chance an off-site examination

will be required to
question the witness,

counsel should be present at the venue.

Okay.

Thanks.

Pleasure.

EMMA AND LIAM: Mummy!

(BOTH LAUGH)

(LAUGHS) Good running!

Hey, Rose.

- How was school today?
- BOTH: Good.

- What'd you do?
- Boring stuff.

(TUTS) Oh, boring stuff.
School's so boring.

- Pssh! Pssh!
- Bam! Bam!

(CHUCKLES) All right, put
the toys away now. Come on.

Um, guys, I've been given
the name of some coaches,

if you want to do some
training before Zone.

- Okay.
- What's Zone?

- Well, it's the next level up.
- Okay.

So, you want to... you
want to try it? We'll...

- try one out next week, all right?
- Yep.

- Yep.
- Yeah.

Oh, and this weekend, Mummy has to
go to Melbourne, just for the night.

- Who's gonna look after us?
- Bibi?

- Not Bianca?
- No, no. It's Uncle Tony.

- Yeah!
- Yes!

Well, I'm glad I'll be so missed.

Uh, reservation under King?
Twin-share, one night, thanks.

- WOMAN: Ravi! Ravi!
- (PEOPLE CHATTER EXCITEDLY)

Hi! I love watching you play.

- Thank you. What's your name?
- Izzy.

- Izzy. Okay. No worries.
- Oh!

Oh, Brandon, can you please sign?

That's a beautiful name.

(CHATTER)

Yes, sure.

Last time the Firecrackers
played in Melbourne,

Oliver bowled a wide
and the world collapsed.

Now they're back and they're mobbed.

Like it never happened.

- Get a photo. Get a photo.
- (CHEERING)

They must think they're untouchable.

Thank you.

I reckon it's my turn to pick.

What do you reckon about a
movie after the game tonight?

Um, no, it's my turn.

All right, you can pick.

But no cricket, yeah?

Check us in, mate.

Hi. Uh, Nelson?

(PHONE RINGS)

RICHARD: Hey. Clay?

Yeah, Rich, that bloody Janet King

and this cop friend
of hers are here, mate.

What's going on? Is
this harassment or what?

- Well, did you talk to them?
- No, of course I didn't.

Well, don't.

And maybe don't say too much over
the phone for a while, either.

All right.

Oh, did Maxine talk to
you about that auction?

- The one for the Pax Foundation?
- Yeah.

All right. Have fun.

Oh, right, okay. Are you sure?

No, no, mate, I gotta go. Gotta go. Bye.

- How'd you go? Beauty.
- Yeah.

BIANCA: His son travels with him a lot.

Lucky boy.

As are Liam and Emma.
They're just as close to you.

Oh, Liam's a funny one.

You know boys. Shows his love
by jumping on me in the morning.

- Emma's more clingy.
- Mm.

Hey, how's her running going?

You know, she is this close
to a -year-old record

but she's not interested in training,
which I find strange, but anyway.

But, like you said, maybe it's
better if sport is just fun.

Mm, guess it's harder
when it's your living.

Emma won't have that problem.
There's no money in women's sport.

- No betting scandals, either.
- Hm.

- Here we are.
- Thank you.

I hope you're not expecting
us to bid on anything.

No, no, you bought tickets.
That's support enough.

So, who else is gonna be here?

Pretty much the whole of the
Northern Devils first grade team.

- Including Nate Baldwin?
- Yes. Plus everyone else.

- Richard!
- Oh, and Maxine Reynolds.

- This is Nate's manager.
- Richard's friends.

Pleased to meet you. Now,
ready to spend thousands

to help develop sport
for the underprivileged?

- (CHUCKLES)
- Great. Why don't you head in,

grab yourselves a drink,
get pissed, open your wallet.

I just need a few minutes
with this genius here.

I got a call from Clay. Who
the f*ck are those two women?

They're with the
National Crime Commission.

What, and they're staying at
the same hotel as the team?

- What's that gonna look like?
- Suspicious.

- And is it?
- It's called pressure, Maxine.

A young man is dead, there
are betting plunges everywhere,

strange results in about
four different sports

and a Pakistani batsman
got his house burnt down.

They want answers.

Christ, I need a gin and tonic.

- (ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS)
- (PEOPLE CHATTER)

Stirlo! Yes.

- Hey, mate. Very well.
- How are ya? Come meet the boys.

Hey, guys. Who hasn't met Stirlo?

- G'day. Dave.
- Hey.

Now, if you ever get
nabbed, he's your man.

He dug me out of a hole.

How're you going, gents?
You ready for the season?

- Yeah.
- Born ready, mate.

Stirlo, this is Tyler Perati.

Now, he hasn't played first
grade yet, but he will this year.

- You remember the name.
- Well, it's nice to meet you.

Hey.

Come on, mate, let's
go meet the sponsors.

We'll say g'day to Darren.

Hi, Richard. (CHUCKLES)

You're always such a
breath of fresh air.

(CHUCKLES) Really?

Better words. Less testosterone.

Thanks.

I think.

Hey, Lucy!

You landed on your feet.

- I was lucky.
- No, you weren't.

I read how you got Nate Baldwin
off that as*ault charge last month.

That wasn't luck. That was a
very clever, well argued defence.

Thanks.

I don't think you believed
it, but it was well argued.

I believed it was good representation.

So, you're literally
the Devils' advocate now.

Ha, ha.

Well, yes, I have tried to
avoid that play on words. But...

You're their go-to barrister.

Unless I screw it up, which could
be as early as this afternoon.

Do you still enjoy doing defence work?

Well, sure.

But if Owen ever wants to flip
me a prosecution brief, then...

So, what's it like there under Owen now?

(SIGHS) It's weird.

A year on maternity leave,

I get back, you're gone,
Tony's gone, Janet's gone.

Not that I miss Janet much, but...

Well, I do and I don't,
if that makes sense.

Perfect sense.

All right, thank you,
ladies and gentlemen. Yes!

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

Yes. Come on, a little
bit... a little bit of shush.

Thank you. A little bit of shush.

All right, as you can
see, I drew the short straw

and scored today's emcee's gig.

But, look, before we get you
to part with your hard-earned,

can I just say on behalf
of the Northern Devils

how proud I am of what this
club achieved last year.

- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
- Thank you. Yeah. That's right.

I mean, going from last to fourth
in one season, it's unbelievable.

And next year, we'll go all the way.

(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)

That's right. That's right.

And also, supporting the
community that supported us is...

it's what a great club is all about.

Now, I remember at the
beginning of last year,

I sat down with Lucy, and I said,

"Lucy," I said, "we've known
each other for six years,

"but did you ever imagine,
in your wildest dreams,

"that I'd end up captain
of a club like the Devils?"

And Lucy just looked at me and said,

"Well, frankly, Nate, you're
not even in my wildest dreams."

(LAUGHTER)

All right, thank you very much
for that laugh. I appreciate it.

Now, let's get this auction
under way, ladies and gentlemen.

We're gonna go auction number one,

a seven-night, five-star
Fiji holiday, all right?

Can we get some enthusiasm?
That's a pretty good first thing.

- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
- Let's pump it up a little bit!

All right, now, who's gonna give me...

Let's start with , . , anyone?

over here. All right, ?

Have we got ...?
there. Thank you, mate.

TV COMMENTATOR: What a ball.

- TONY: Not bad.
- Did just enough...

There you go. Healthy food.
Make sure you tell Mum.

Watch this catch.

How awesome is that?

Yeah, he's very skilful...

COMMENTATOR: straight into the
safe hands of the diving Ravi Hasan.

Is this the game Mum's at?

Yeah, she's somewhere there in
that sea of hysterical humanity.

Hard at work.

What does 'hysterical' mean?

Uh... it's Uncle Tony
on a Saturday night.

(CROWD ROARS)

They're still scoring
more than seven an over.

And is that good?

- Ow! sh*t.
- Yeah, it's not bad. Um... Sorry.

Particularly on a
ground this big. But...

they've lost too many wickets.

If they don't get a really good
partnership here, they're done.

- Ow. Ugh.
- (CHEERING)

- Whoo!
- A partnership?

Oh, right, yeah. So, um, each
wicket's called a partnership

because two players are
batting at the same time.

Right.

- (CROWD GROANS)
- That was so close.

All right, the bat Clay Nelson
used to hit the Poms for

and win the legendary
Lords Test eight years ago,

signed by the whole team.

Now, who's gonna give me , ?

- MAN: Yoo!
- Thank you, mate.

Two grand here. Four, anyone?

Stirlo! Onya, buddy. Four from Stirlo.

Six? Six?

Six. Eight?

Stirlo, eight. Eight from Stirlo.

- ?
- What are you doing?

Since when do you have
a spare eight grand?

I don't. But it's okay. There's
someone here who's going to pay .

- I just have to get the price up.
- Oh.

Okay, no worries. , .

I've got , here
with Stirlo, going once.

- Are you sure?
- Eight, going twice.

- I... I was sure.
- Go, you moneybags.

Last call on $ , !

Oh, my stars.

Sold!

To the hottest lawyer
in town, Richie Stirlo.

Nice work, buddy.

All right, ladies and gentlemen,
that concludes the auction.

I'd just like to thank
you all for coming out

and supporting a really good
cause and supporting the team.

Enjoy the rest of the
function. Thank you very much.

(APPLAUSE)

- What have I done?
- I think you bought a bat.

Maybe you could get a second
job at a pub? Might pay it off.

- You could sell your car.
- Yeah, ride your bat to work.

- That'd be a look.
- (CHUCKLES)

MAXINE: Uh, Richard, this is Darren.

Richard's a lawyer.

- Darren's in concrete.
- Concrete?

Yeah. I specialise in boots.

Nah, I'm only kidding.
I'm in construction.

Oh... (CHUCKLES)

Still, I thought it'd be better you
know, for the photos in the media,

you know, of you with Clay's
bat, rather than with me,

if you know what I mean.

Still, I did say that I would buy it,

so listen, ah, there's there...

you keep two for yourself, all right?

Yeah, I'll come pick it
up in a couple of weeks,

after all the photos.

- All right, catch you round.
- Thanks, Richard.

All right...

Don't, uh, keep any of it.

Give it all to the Foundation.

You do not want to
owe that guy anything.

Who is he?

JANET: Darren who?

BIANCA: Darren Faulkes.

Gold star, Bonnie.

He's been a major person of
interest in about a dozen enquiries.

Couldn't ever nail him.

What's Richard becoming,
lawyer to the crooks?

Inspector Grieve?

Sophie. Hi.

This is Ms King, from the
National Crime Commission.

- Nice to meet you.
- I was told you're our person here.

Yeah. What do you need to know?

You were the night manager
the last time the Firecrackers

- played down here?
- Mm-hm.

(ALL CONVERSE INDISTINCTLY)

Did anyone go to Ravi
Hasan's room that night?

- Should we move somewhere else?
- No, no, it's good.

I like them feeling a
little uncomfortable.

Ravi had a guest all night.

- Did you recognise him?
- Her.

Yes, definitely. She's a
very well-known actress.

And he's married, and about
to run for office in Pakistan.

Exactly. That's why
it's all very hush-hush.

Yes, understandably.

Anyway, I think
gambling and match-fixing

were the last things on
his mind that evening.

(ALL CONVERSE INDISTINCTLY)

It's Shannon Hinksman.

He's spent more time inside
than out. Is he here much?

Oh, a bit, when the team is.

Did you ever see Shannon
talking to Oliver Pittman?

Well, yeah, but only down here.

Oliver's pretty shy. He
went to the team dinner.

- Who was he sitting next to?
- Brandon Williams.

But then he pretty much
just stayed in his room.

He was so nervous about the
game he could barely sleep.

He kept ordering snacks
all through the night,

so I had to reopen the kitchen.

Took him pizza, a club
sandwich and a cheese board.

So, you just gave him the food and left?

More or less.

I might have stayed
longer the last time.

We talked.

He was so sweet.

And worried.

Did he tell you anything specific?

He just said, "If we lose by
one, I'm gonna feel like sh*t."

But he never said why.

Although, he did say

that he just found it
really hard to say no to him.

Ravi or Brandon?

No, Clay.

He was talking about Clay Nelson.

RICHARD: You guys had
a great time, yeah?

Sorry you didn't get to go to Fiji.

Stirlo! Come and join us.

Come on, mate, you're part of the team.

- You guys mind?
- Hey, you kick on, mate.

- We've got a two-year-old to rescue.
- All right, see ya.

- See ya.
- Have fun.

- Where are we going?
- Just the pub on the corner.

No cameras, no journos. Just us.

And that includes you.

- No dr*gs.
- No, nothing.

No pills, lines,
packets, tokes, nothin'.

(WHISPERS) But if you want
something, just see Flynn, all right?

(LAUGHS) Mate, your face! f*ck!

We're good, all right.
You just relax. Have fun.

(UP-b*at ROCK MUSIC)

(PARTY DIN)

Okay, look, how much
do you need to get home?

- bucks.
- Okay.

Look, I know Mum will black
out in a couple of hours,

but if Kev's still there

I don't want to get
home till you do, yeah?

I'm going to message
you as soon as I leave.

Okay.

- All right?
- Thank you.

- I won't be much longer.
- Thanks, bubba.

It's okay.

Hey, babe. What are
you looking for tonight?

- Fresh air.
- Oh, nice one.

- You got a name?
- No.

- Oh, come on.
- No.

- Oh...
- (MAN LAUGHS)

Oi, get out of here, you sicko!

Wow. Hey, great tits, darl!

I said, get off me!

f*ck off!

No! Leave me alone!

(MEN LAUGH)

Let me go!

f*ck you!

Yeah!

- I want to go home! Let me go!
- Hey! (LAUGHS)

Get the f*ck off me!

- (LAUGHS) Oh, yes!
- f*ck you!

- Hey!
- f*ck off!

There goes she who
was about to be f*cked!

(LAUGHS)

So, Clay.

One conversation. No witnesses.

Yeah, but it's got a ring of
truth to it, don't you think?

He was so upset.

That could be guilt as well
as grief. It does make sense.

Well, it's just hearsay.
It's not much use to us.

We can use it.

How?

- Cleverly.
- (CHUCKLES)

Anyway, that's a job for tomorrow.

Work's over now.

I've heard that before.

(CHUCKLES)

Hey, Em does like you, you know that.

She's just at the age where, you know,

life's a bit like a chocolate cake,

if I give some for you,
there's less for her.

But I'll talk to her.

And she'll get used to you.

I have.

Only just.

- Just try and clear your head.
- What?

- It's better when you don't sweat it.
- (LAUGHS)

JANET: How many times did you ask him?

- CLAY: Once.
- Once?

One time. I asked him, he said yes.

Well, that's the first lie.

Who told him to bowl a wide?

- None of us knew...
- Second lie...

- how hard he was taking it.
- Did you ask him?

Ignoring it would be
like standing by him.

Thank you.

I thought you should know

that Clay'll have to
appear again tomorrow.

Why? What more can you ask him?

- What more can he tell us?
- Nothing.

- Yes, he can.
- Oh, well, it won't be the truth.

If you ramp up the
intimidation and the threats,

then it's just like t*rture,

everyone talks, but all they say
is whatever will make it stop.

Richard, I taught you that.

Please don't lecture
me with my own notes.

Either you have new
evidence or you don't.

Absolutely correct, and we do.

Which is... what?

I'm not going to spell it all out.

If it forms part of the case
against him, we've a right to know.

If he's facing trial,
yes. But he's not, yet.

(SIGHS)

But I'm meeting with
you because I believe

it's in everyone's interest for
the relationship we have with Clay

to become collaborative,
not adversarial.

And I'm... I'm hoping
you can help him realise

the benefits of this approach.

This is uncharacteristically
compassionate.

It's pragmatic.

I don't believe Clay's a major
profit taker in this labyrinth.

He may not even know who that is.

But he knows something.

I... I don't think, actually,
at this point in time,

I can do my job properly
and listen to you.

Oh, you've always listened to me.

In fact, you wouldn't be half the
barrister you are if you hadn't.

And there's a time to step out of
the shadow and into the sunlight.

The truth is, Richard, we're
after much bigger fish than him.

I have to know what the evidence is.

One of the hotel employees
spent half an hour or so

with Oliver Pittman in his
room the night before the game.

And they told us what
Clay asked Oliver to do.

Clay was distraught when he
talked to us. You were there.

He's a ball of stress
and panic and guilt.

I mean, now, I know you
can advise him to say,

"I don't recall" until
the cows come home,

but... but he will never
feel at peace with himself,

or with Oliver...

until he tells us the truth.

Now...

what is your real duty to your client?

That's all I'm gonna say.

They were at the hotel, and they
would've talked to the staff, but...

- Yeah.
- Look, is it real? Half-real?

Complete rubbish? You tell me.

So, what'd she thr*aten if
I didn't give her something?

- What, my reputation? My assets?
- No.

Nothing? I suppose she didn't
have to spell it out, though.

Look, to be honest, they don't
want to force you to talk.

They think they can now, of course,
but that's not really the point.

They want you to agree to talk.

But only if you've got something to say.

Yeah, well...

(SIGHS) Look, she thinks
that would help everybody.

But, if they're right, I
think it would mostly help you.

- Hey, Dad.
- Yeah?

- Have you got time for a game later?
- Sure, Reed.

- Homework first, all right, son?
- Yeah.

I'm not at the centre of any of this.

- I don't know that much.
- It doesn't matter.

I suppose I could...

just tell them the truth.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, God.

Sure. Why not?

She's right, you know. It actually
feels good just thinking about it.

Might as well tell them everything.

Thanks, mate.

Good man, Rich.

Who can say what he really knows?

Although he might know more than we do

about the fire at Ravi's house.

Which was definitely
arson, the police tell us.

They also told us it's actually owned

by the head of security
for the Pakistan embassy.

Well, that's gotta be worth a question.

- Right, see you tomorrow.
- See ya.

- REED: Come on. Yeah, that's it. I'm
- CLAY: Here we go. Here we go.

- Still in front. I'm still in front.
- Oh!

Hang on, I've got the
brake on or something.

Come on.

- Let's go. Oh, no, no!
- (LAUGHS)

On one wheel! Let's go.. Yes! That's it.

Come on.

- Right. Right. Right.
- Go, go, go, go, go, go. Boom.

- Oh...!
- (LAUGHS) Oh.

Come on.

Something's wrong with this...

- No, come on! I'm gonna appeal, mate.
- I'm s... I didn't meant to.

- I didn't mean to.
- I'm gonna appeal, mate.

- Ready? Ready? Ready?
- No, no, hold on. Hold on.

Can we get it? Yes!

- Oh! Oh, backflip.
- I win.

- Sucked in. Get... get wrecked!
- (LAUGHS)

- Get wrecked!
- I let you win. I let you win.

- No, you didn't.
- Okay, start again.

- Stop. Stop! Oh!
- Start again. Go, go, go!

- Go away. Come on. Go on. Go.
- You're hopeless.

- Me? Oh, nuh.
- You're done, mate. You're done.

- I'm just starting.
- You're done.

(PHONE VIBRATES)

Hey, Clay?

Rich, mate, I'd like to go over
a couple of things for tomorrow.

Yeah. Anything. Fire away.

Why don't you brush
your teeth, get in bed

and I'll read you the
rest of that story.

Come on, but you promised we'd
finish this level. Come on.

- Just get to bed. I'll...
- You promised!

Just give me a second and I'll...

- Mate, um, I was thinking...
- (BANGING AT DOOR)

Just give me a sec, would ya?

Rich, I'll call you back, mate.

See ya.

It's okay, Dad. I don't
need a story tonight.

Eh?

What are you talking about?

There's just a few chapters left.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

"If I'd told anyone
a few short weeks ago

"that things would've worked
out the way they have...

"I would have been called delusional...

"at worst, insane.

"But I can't deny reality.

"What seemed far-fetched not
long ago has come to pass."

TV REPORTER: Oliver Pittman,
what does it feel like?

Good.

- Who's your favourite player?
- Clay Nelson.

I mean, it's Clay Nelson.

I didn't want to.

And when he's calling you every
night of the week, you have to.

But Clay's Clay.

- Who's your favourite player?
- Clay Nelson.

OLDER OLIVER: It's Clay Nelson.

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

He was about to come
clean about his role

in a multi-million-dollar betting scam.

He must have realised it
was only a matter of time

before he was publicly disgraced.

Maxine Reynolds,

she managed both Clay
Nelson and Nate Baldwin.

I mean, my clients, Nate and
Clay, they are fine young men...

Who are both associated with suspect
sport betting and match fixing.

Nate Baldwin's just k*lled
one of his teammates.

- What?
- We have no further comment.

Have you seen the video
of Tyler Perati's sister?

What was your involvement
in the incident?

And the events of this
morning have no way steered you

towards this particular line of enquiry?

Facts have steered me, Tony. You are...

You cannot go gallivanting off
after your personal vendetta!