ANIKA CAROL CORMACK FERGUS JADE KEITH LIAM MORGANA NUMBER_9 RITCHIE STEVEN ZARA CORMACK Your room 9 mate wasn't in the book, but he was definitely there. Anika confirmed it. RITCHIE You didn't believe me. CORMACK No. But I believe you now. Tell me everything you remember about him. RITCHIE He was clean cut, unassuming. But something was off about him. It was like those nights when Dad would come home and you could tell the minute he walked in the door he was going to kick off. CORMACK I could tell by how he pulled into the driveway. CORMACK He loved that car. I knew if he was thrashing it, then we were fucked. RITCHIE I hated that car. CORMACK To be fair, it didn't talk back to him like we did. Good fuel efficiency too. CORMACK So this guy - race, build, hair colour? RITCHIE White. Average. Not sure about his hair, he was always wearing a cap. But I remember his face. CORMACK You think you could describe it to a sketch artist? RITCHIE Yes. Absolutely. CORMACK Isn't that selective memory at its finest. CORMACK Anika said she saw him with Zach. Were they mates? RITCHIE I don't know, but it kinda tracks. They were both nasty pricks. What's that got to do with Liam though? CORMACK I'm not sure yet. But Liam thought Zach was trying to fleece the family. Maybe this guy was helping him do it. RITCHIE So what's next? CORMACK I'll send in a sketch artist so you can put a face to the man in room 9. I'm going to find Zach Stone. CORMACK We're getting close mate. KEITH Her name is Carol. CORMACK How's she related to Zach Stone? KEITH His Aunty. She's shy and a bit reclusive, but she's a nice lady. CORMACK OK, thanks. Nice work finding her. KEITH I think it'd be better if I joined you for the interview. CORMACK Really? Well I strongly disagree. KEITH Carol and I have formed a bit of a bond. I think she'd be more comfortable with me there. CORMACK You've got the hots for her! KEITH Don't be daft. I just think it'd be better for the investigation. CORMACK The investigation of your pants? KEITH You're an idiot. CORMACK You can join. But don't interrupt. Do your flirting on your own time. CORMACK When did you last see Zach? CAROL A few days before Liam Knox was killed. KEITH Has he called, or emailed since then? CAROL That wasn't Zach's style. He used to visit me occasionally, but only when he needed money. CORMACK Did you give him money that last time? CAROL No. He actually repaid money, which he'd never done before. He gave me a $1000 casino chip, which was annoying to change over to cash. CORMACK Why didn't you report him missing? CAROL Zach didn't like the police. He'd been in trouble a lot. I figured he didn't want to be found. CORMACK Did you ever meet any of Zach's mates? CAROL He didn't have many friends. CAROL The only one I remember is Fergus Knox. He still visits me sometimes. CORMACK Zach and Fergus were close? CAROL Oh yes. Thick as thieves. CAROL Do you think Zach had something to do with Liam's murder? KEITH He just wants to talk to him. CORMACK I can speak for myself, Keith. I just want to talk to him. CAROL I pray that he's just running from bad debts. But I've always wondered. CORMACK Any idea where he might've run to? CAROL No. He left behind some things though, if that's helpful? Nothing much, just a few bits n pieces. KEITH That would be very helpful, Carol. I can come and pick it up from you, if you'd like? CORMACK When did Fergus Knox last visit you? CAROL A few months ago. He cleared out my gutters. He's a good lad. CORMACK You making a run for it? FERGUS I'm off to see my in-laws tonight, so I was considering it. I'm sorry I stood you up the other day. It's been a lot to process. CORMACK You got time for a chat now? FERGUS No, not really. I don't want to miss the tide. CORMACK No worries. I'll tag along. CORMACK Jeez Louise, what a shit-hole. You ever miss your charter days? FERGUS No. It's more about entertaining clients than fishing. It's nice to be alone out here. CORMACK Sorry to crash your zen time. FERGUS So what do you want to talk about? The trial is getting close, surely you're almost done. CORMACK Zach Stone has been missing for 26 years. His Aunt Carol saw him a few days before Liam was murdered, then poof - he disappeared. FERGUS Shit. I hope he's OK. FERGUS I'm going to switch up bait. CORMACK Can you remember any other details from your last night with Zach? Any hints about where he might've gone? FERGUS No. Why are you so hung up on Zach? CORMACK He's got violent crimes on his record, he was hitting the gear harder than Keith Richards, and he vanished the day after the murder. He's a dream for the defence, he screams reasonable doubt. FERGUS Zach was a hustler and an addict, but he wasn't a killer. CORMACK How can you be sure? You said you didn't know him that well. FERGUS I lied about that. CORMACK I know. But why? FERGUS Shame. Guilt. Zach reminds me of a time when I was using. When I was an asshole to everyone I loved. Especially Liam. FERGUS I was cruel to him the night he died. Played to his jealousy with Anika. If I hadn't done that, he would've come fishing with me and he'd still be alive. Zach's a reminder of the worst part of me. So I've tried to bury all memory of him. CORMACK Guilt is a heavy weight. CORMACK It can get lighter if you share it. FERGUS I don't know where Zach is. LIAM What have you gotten us into? FERGUS Not now. LIAM Dad might never walk properly again. FERGUS Don't push me. LIAM How's Dad? MORGANA He's in surgery. We won't know how bad it is until he gets out. FERGUS I'm sorry Mum. MORGANA Don't snivel. Stand up straight. Own what you've done. FERGUS I went and got the cash that was out on Bishops. I saw an opportunity. Zach and I... FERGUS ...Were going to spin it up at the casino, keep the cream and take the original 100 K back to the Island. Nobody woulda known. We were on a hot streak at first. But then... MORGANA How much is left? FERGUS About 25 grand. MORGANA Go and get it for me. FERGUS I don't have it. Zach took it to Brisbane to try and spin it back up. He's been banned from the local casino, after last week. MORGANA We need to move fast. We've got three days to come up with a hundred grand. You can start by selling your car. FERGUS What? No, I-- MORGANA Do as you're told. If we come up short, they will kill you. MORGANA Find Zach and bring back what's left of the money. If he hasn't already done a runner with it. FERGUS He wouldn't do that to me. MORGANA When did you last hear from him? He's probably already in Thailand. FERGUS He's probably just scared of the psycho that just fucked Dad up. MORGANA He should be more scared of me. LIAM Are you alright, Mum? MORGANA I'm fine, luv. LIAM What are we mixed up in? I thought we only brought in dodgy DVDs? MORGANA You're not mixed up in anything. LIAM Don't treat me like a baby. What's going on? MORGANA My ma got in some mess, in Ireland, a few years back. The uncles helped her through it, but nothing's free with that lot. When Ma couldn't pay the debt, they called it in from me. MORGANA I didn't have a choice, Liam. But we only ever brought in cash - no drugs, no guns. I insisted on that. LIAM What can I do to help? MORGANA I don't want you involved in this. LIAM I'm already involved, it's happening to all of us. MORGANA I just want to protect you. LIAM I don't need protecting. You'll let Fergus help, but not me? This whole thing is his fucking fault. MORGANA You're right, we're in it together. You can help me now by driving Anika and Grace to the oncologist. I was meant to do it, but I need to get back to the hospital for when your father wakes up. MORGANA Take my car. I'll drive your dad's. ANIKA What the hell happened here? RITCHIE That university Rugby team. ANIKA Classy. ANIKA It'd be easier if you just got in the water. RITCHIE You want me to strip off? ANIKA Have you seen Liam? RITCHIE No, he's still out. Why? ANIKA Mum's got an appointment with the oncologist. Morgs said he's going to take us. RITCHIE He knows it's important. He'll be here. ANIKA About fucking time. ANIKA Where have you been? We need to be at the doctor in 20 minutes. LIAM Sorry, it's been a shit day. LIAM Sorry babe, I got something I've got to do. It's important. Ritch can drive you. Can't you mate. RITCHIE Yeah. Sure. ANIKA Whatever. Let's go. RITCHIE Can you put this away. LIAM What the fuck are you doing here? NUMBER 9 I'm right for towels. But I could do with a few more of those little soaps, when you get a chance. LIAM Get the fuck out of our motel. NUMBER 9 I'm paid up until next week. And I take money very seriously. Do you want a cup of tea? LIAM This isn't a safe place for you to sleep. NUMBER 9 This issue my bosses have with your parents doesn't concern you kid. LIAM That's not how my family works. You come for one of us, you come for us all. LIAM So get the fuck out of here, before I mess you up. LIAM I swear I'll do it. NUMBER 9 I'll be here until your folks pay what they owe. Just stay out of the way - you're not a target unless you make yourself one. CORMACK Hey. ZARA Ritchie finished with the sketch artist. I'm sending it through to you now. MORGANA Where have you been? FERGUS Fishing. What's wrong? MORGANA I had that meeting with the Prosecutor yesterday. James Cormack has been lying to us. MORGANA He's not consulting for the DPP, he's Richard Vogel's brother. FERGUS Jesus Christ. I'm with him now. MORGANA Can he hear you? FERGUS No. FERGUS Copy that. Bye. CORMACK Thanks for the fish. I'm off. FERGUS Do you mind stopping by my place on your way out? That was Mum, she wants to get your professional opinion on something. STEVEN James. Thanks for making the time. CORMACK What's up? MORGANA We wanted you to take a look at this. MORGANA He was beautiful, wasn't he? CORMACK He was. STEVEN It's been tough putting that together. It's part of the victim impact statement your boss suggested we do. MORGANA I showed it to your colleagues yesterday. But given how hard you've been fighting for Liam, I wanted your opinion. Do you think this will help a jury convict your brother of my son's murder? CORMACK I know how it looks, but I am fighting for Liam. I'm trying to find the truth. MORGANA You sicken me. CORMACK Ritchie didn't kill Liam. Don't you want to find out who did? CORMACK There was a guy staying at the motel, he was creeping on the boys. Do you remember him now? CORMACK He's got something to do with it. I'm getting close, but I need your help. MORGANA Get out. MORGANA James. Your brother is going to rot in jail. ZARA Do you have any idea the mess you've made? CORMACK Can I have a hint, so I don't cop to something you're not mad about? ZARA Cute won't work today. You've jeopardised the entire case. What the hell were you thinking? CORMACK I was thinking of Ritchie. ZARA I can't have anything more to do with you. CORMACK We're so close, we just need to keep pushing. What would you do if it was your family on the line? CORMACK Please. He's all that I've got. ZARA I'm sorry about that. I am. But it is my family on the line. If I lose my job, I can't look after them. CORMACK Is everything OK? JADE Zara called today, looking for you. She said it was urgent. CORMACK Yeah. I caught up with her. JADE It's not going well, is it? CORMACK We've hit a few roadblocks. But I'm not giving up. Ritchie and I are working on unlocking his memory. JADE What you two are doing is so dangerous. CORMACK I know. But we're running out of options. JADE Ritchie trusts you, but he's scared of what's in there. And I'm scared that unlocking it might break him. CORMACK He's already broken. CORMACK And he's not going to get any better in there. We've got to do whatever it takes to get him out, no matter the risk. JADE Just be careful. RITCHIE I was staring at the blood on my hands... CORMACK What emotion's linked to that image? RITCHIE Fear. I hid my hands, but I could still see Liam on the ground. So I turned away and stared at the wall. RITCHIE There was a hole in it. It wasn't there before. It was a funny shape. RITCHIE I just kept staring at it, so I wouldn't see him. CORMACK Let's go back a bit earlier. Rewind the tape and stop it when you get to the most distressing image. CORMACK What do you see now? RITCHIE Liam's dead. And I'm above him, holding the gaff. CORMACK What emotion's linked to that image? RITCHIE Anger. RITCHIE I was angry at Dad. And sad, that I couldn't protect Mum. RITCHIE I'm sorry. I'm getting them confused again. CORMACK It's OK mate. Just keep focussing on that night with Liam. How did you get the gaff in your hand? RITCHIE I don't know. CORMACK Did you move it, when you tried to revive him? RITCHIE No. I was outside. RITCHIE There was a light on in my room. RITCHIE I'd turned it off when I left. So someone was in there. RITCHIE I was about to go inside, but I saw something on the ground, so I stopped. RITCHIE I already had it in my hand. RITCHIE I already had it in my hand. RITCHIE You made me remember it. CORMACK Remember what? What did you see? CORMACK Ritchie, it's me, Jimmy. RITCHIE I already had it in my hand. ANIKA Stay five more minutes? RITCHIE I gotta get the car back ANIKA Thank you, for today. Doctor days are the worst. Everyone's trying to be positive, but they all know she's dying. She knows she's dying. ANIKA It feels less impossible when you're around. RITCHIE Five more minutes. RITCHIE Hey. LIAM Hey. RITCHIE Are you alright? LIAM Yep. What do you want? RITCHIE I was just bringing these back. LIAM How'd you get on today? With Anika. RITCHIE Yeah, good. Got her Mum there just in time. LIAM Cool. Righto, goodnight. MORGANA OK, it's deal. Is 3pm OK? I'd rather cash. I'll knock 500 bucks off it? Great. See you then. MORGANA Got a buyer for your car. MORGANA I'm so glad you're home luv. FERGUS How much did you get for it? MORGANA Fifteen. FERGUS Jesus, Mum. It's worth twenty. MORGANA Well we're still 25K short and sadly we don't have time to sell one of your kidneys. LIAM It wouldn't be worth much. Too drug fucked. FERGUS You're such a little bitch. STEVEN Sit down! STEVEN And you need to stand up for yourself. MORGANA We don't have time to fight with each other. We've got 48 hours and nothing left to sell. Have you found Zach yet? LIAM We could sell the boat. STEVEN What? FERGUS Are you mental? MORGANA We're not selling the boat. That's the only bit of leverage we've got. LIAM What do you mean? MORGANA If we're short the cash, I might be able to negotiate more time, if we keep bringing in shipments. FERGUS And what if they don't go for it? MORGANA Let's not think like that. MORGANA Liam! MORGANA Take my car. LIAM Won't you need it? MORGANA I'm using your dad's. LIAM Maybe we should sell yours then? MORGANA We wouldn't get much. And besides, I want you to have it. To keep. LIAM For real? MORGANA Yes. I want you to drive back to Sydney. Tomorrow. LIAM What? MORGANA I need to know that you're safe. Take Ritchie with you. You were having fun down there. LIAM Until you asked me to come back and help. You need me here now more than ever. MORGANA I'm not asking Liam. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. You're my baby. RITCHIE You still got the wheels? LIAM Mum gave it to me. RITCHIE That's sick! LIAM She thinks you and I should go back to Sydney. RITCHIE Did I do something wrong? LIAM The season is winding up, so Fergus can manage the boat alone. And Mum wants to rent these room out. RITCHIE I don't want to leave. RITCHIE That guy is sketchy as hell. LIAM What makes you say that? RITCHIE I can just feel it. I've seen men like him before. I've spent half my life evading them. LIAM You can't hide from men like that, you need to fight back. They prey on weakness. RITCHIE Are you alright mate? LIAM I'm just sick of being pushed around. LIAM Ritchie, wake up. You're having a nightmare. LIAM Ritch, are you OK? LIAM Mate, it's just me, Liam. LIAM Ritchie, it's me, Liam. LIAM Ritchie! RITCHIE I'm sorry. LIAM It's OK mate. I've got you. RITCHIE I spoke to Zara. She told me about your Donnie Brasco cosplay. CORMACK I'm not proud of it. But I'd do it again. RITCHIE How are they? The Knox's. CORMACK We don't have much time. We should focus on the case. RITCHIE I'm not worried about that. They were good to me, Morgana and Steve. Are they OK? CORMACK They're as good as you can expect. They've got Grandkids to distract them now. But there'll always be a hole in their life. RITCHIE I've asked Zara to offer a plea deal. I'll plead guilty to manslaughter if they agree to a lenient sentence. CORMACK What the fuck are you talking about? RITCHIE I can't do 25 years away from my kids. If I get 8 to 10, I'll be out for some of their childhood. CORMACK Don't give up Ritch. I'm so close to finding the truth. RITCHIE That's the thing, I think the truth is that I did it. I killed him. You helped me remember it. RITCHIE I'd been cleaning my fishing gear that afternoon. It was all laid out by my front door. And I remember now, I saw the light on in my room - I knew Liam was in there. RITCHIE And then I saw the gaff. I picked it up. And I went inside. CORMACK Do you remember hitting him? RITCHIE I remember the weapon, and the anger. And then he was dead, and I remember the regret. CORMACK I don't believe it. I'm not giving up on you. RITCHIE You need to let go of the guilt Jimmy. It's not your fault I'm in here. It's not your fault what happened to Mum, we were just kids. RITCHIE You're a decent man. You're enough, just as you are. You don't need to save anyone anymore. RITCHIE Look after my family for me will you, until I get out. KEITH Afternoon. CORMACK Hey. KEITH Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt a 'private moment'. CORMACK What? No. You didn't. KEITH I can come back if you need to finish up. CORMACK I wasn't bloody wanking. But it's not a good time. KEITH Well, I'm here now. KEITH You look like shit. CORMACK I wasn't expecting company. KEITH I wasn't expecting you to be Vogel's brother. That was quite the twist. KEITH It's pretty ballsy, impersonating a DPP consultant. I respect that. CORMACK You respect my balls? You came all the way here to say that? KEITH I want to catch whoever killed Liam. And you being Vogel's brother just means you got more skin in the game. CORMACK The game's over. Ritchie's taking a plea. KEITH But he's innocent? And we're so close. CORMACK Are we? I can't see straight on this case. I'm too close to it. Maybe he did do it. KEITH You know, I was a good ink-slinger. Not great, but decent. I was never the best writer, but I worked hard. Did the research. I researched you. I read articles on murders you worked, read court transcripts. I even spoke to one of your old colleagues. And the research all showed the same thing - that you value the victim's voice above all others. KEITH I reckon having your brother in the dock has fucked with your hearing. You need to stop listening to him, and start listening to Liam. LIAM And I finished the rust-proofing. Oh, here we go. LIAM Look who shows up when the work's done. LIAM Ritch? LIAM Ritchie. Are you awake?