In Danger of Winning by Fine Cotton

In Danger of Winning
Written by
Fine Cotton
(To protect the knee caps of the writers all names, times
and places have been changed except for the horse's name)
Copyright 2016 Molly Movies Pty, Ltd.
INT. COURT ROOM - BRISBANE - DAY

The gallery is very crowded and the elderly JUDGE,
irritated by the public uproar, bangs his gavel several
times.
JUDGE
Quiet! Quiet everyone or I'll
have you all charged with
contempt!
We see those in the courtroom looking at NAT HYATTA, (30's)
a small, pathetic stature of a man, as he stands in the
dock flanked by two gigantic police officers.
JUDGE
In summary I would like to say
that in my thirty five years at
the bar, that I have never come
across such a
reprehensible
criminal act, an attempt to
defraud the punters of Australia.
Not only have you brought the
state of Queensland down during
this trial, but the Chief
Commissioner of Police has been
accused of corruption after many
years serving the public with a
just and compassionate regime.
You have also used this court to
shamefully slander many highranking members of Queensland's
social, political and law-making
bodies and smeared members of the
clergy. That's not to mention
the damage done to our tourist
industry, whose jewel in the
crown is one of the seven natural
wonders of the world, the Great
Barrier Reef.
The JURY gives grunting approval.
JUDGE
You, Nat Hy..high..Hyatta, have
been found guilty of
masterminding one of the most
confusing rorts this country has
ever witnessed. You were an
integral cog in this cloak of
deceit and skullduggery. I truly
do not believe that we shall ever
know exactly what happened, and
it's a pity that most of your
cohorts fled to Majorca with
breathing disorders that prohibit
them from returning to trial, but
you my little friend...
2.
NAT
Am I missing something?
JUDGE
...as I say, you my little friend
will take the entire fall. Not
that I have any personal selfinterest
(to ROWENA, his
assistant)
Rowena
nick down the shops and get me a
pie with sauce and a finger bun,
will you? - in this case but you
have shaken the stupid stick at a
sport, nay an humble yet honest
pass time the working man,
mothers of tiny infants and
others, myself included, hold in
great esteem, namely the Sport of
Kings, racing.
The JURY, legal personnel and wealthy members of the
gallery express total agreement and look at NAT with
distaste. NAT is bewildered.
NAT
(to POLICEMEN)
Is he talking to me?
Silence!
JUDGE
POLICEMEN turn to remonstrate with NAT.

Ssssh.
NAT is quicker.
NAT
JUDGE
I hereby sentence you to eight
years at Her Majesty's Pleasure.
To be served in the maximum
security prison HMS Dunruten.
Have you anything final to say?
The JUDGE doesn't wait for NAT and sweeps into his
chambers.
NAT
Did I miss something?
Freeze frame of NAT still talking.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
(in a deep English
accent)
(MORE)
3.
NARRATOR (V.O.) (cont'd)
It is hard to believe that behind
the bloated, perspiring dial of
this man ticks the mind of one of
the most brilliant criminals this
century has ever seen. Don't
believe it. Behind this face
ticks the mind of an idiot. I
alone know the truth behind the
racing scandal that brought down
a
nation...straight from
the horse's mouth, so to speak.
The CAMERA begins to pan through the crowded gallery.
LAURIE HOOG (50's, very overweight) is discovered among the
spectators in the court.
He is singled out and the frame
frozen.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And from my recollections, it all
began when Queensland's Minister
for Almost Everything, Laurie
Hoog, not content with his
already lucrative revenues, tried
his hand at some
international gold smuggling out
of the Philippines.
INT. MANILA AIRPORT - NIGHT
From the interior of the Manila airport we see through the
window NICK SHARP, a dapper, middle-aged playboy who's seen
better days, fleeing a taxi. He throws a note at the
DRIVER and escapes into the congestion of the airport
terminal just as two large Chinese Hitmen, the PIN BROTHERS
pull up behind and follow him in.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
When the racing scam was being
planned, the gold venture was not
concluded. Several of the
partners believed the gold lost,
but the true story was known only
by Mr Fixit, Jackson Delaney. In
Manila, Delaney's colleague Nick
Sharp was running for his life,
literally.
NICK SHARP begins to run.
BROTHERS.
He's been spotted by the PIN
EXT. PRISON FARM - GOLD COAST HINTERLAND - DAY

ESTABLISHING SHOTS of a light security prison farm, nestled
tranquilly in a sub-tropical landscape.
4.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
As I remember Delaney had been
detained by the Minister on a
bogus charge. The Minister was
anxious to discover the
whereabouts of the gold and
thought a taste of prison would
soften him up. It was the search
for the gold that kick-started
the racing scam.
INT. PRISON MESS - DAY
TIGHT SHOT of a TV showing an episode of "The Lifestyles of
the Rich & Famous". We pull back to reveal several INMATES
watching.
DELANEY (O.S.)
Turn it down!
CUT TO:
INT. PRISON KITCHEN - DAY
JACKSON DELANEY (50's), a distinguished-looking rogue with
cheeky blue eyes, dressed in an immaculate prison uniform,
turns up the radio on the counter near him. The SOUND of
the Sydney Races overwhelmes the TV soundtrack. The
COMMENTATOR announces the next race, set to start in
fifteen minutes. A long line of inmates shuffle closer to
the servery bench where DELANEY dishes slop onto their
plates. Next prisoner steps forward. He is a huge man
(30's), covered in tatoos. DELANEY puts a dob of mashed
potato on his plate, together with some spaghetti and
sausages.
DELANEY
How's things Towbar?
TOWBAR
Fabulous! I've only got a decade
to go, give or take a couple of
misdemeanors and I'll be back on
the street with the sperm count
of a knife and fork.
DELANEY
Chin up, Towbar.
DELANEY
(referring to two nearby
boiling pots)
Would you like the regular dog
food or the dog food with beans
in it? The dog food casserole or
the ratatooee?
5.
Real rats?
TOWBAR
DELANEY
Yes they are, only the best.
TOWBAR
Free range?
DELANEY
Pull your head in Towbar.
TOWBAR
I'll have the ratatoooee. What
are the odds its not gunna give
me Bali belly.
DELANEY
(as he looks at an empty
tray)
Gotta keep your strength up. Low
Gear, we're out of garlic bread.
LOW GEAR (O.S.)
(in the style of a race
caller)
Garlic Bread, down at the
barrier.
The tray of bread suddenly lands on the bench.
hand gives it a shove forward.
A small
TOWBAR
(to DELANEY as he nods
towards the radio)
Got anything at Randwick?
LOW GEAR appears from below the servery table.
nuggety, jockey type.
LOW GEAR
Yeah got herpes, I fell of me
horse, got done for careless
riding and they tampered with me
whip.
DELANEY
I'll tamper with your whip unless
you get me another tray. Jesus,
jockeys should never be allowed
in the kitchen.
Ow!
LOW GEAR (O.S.)
Garlic bread flies in the air.
He is a
6.
LOW GEAR
Garlic bread has shot out of the
barriers as butter flies!
DELANEY
(looking down at LOW
GEAR)
You take over. Time for some
business.
DELANEY grabs a box from the top of the freezer, places it
on the floor and LOW GEAR steps on top. LOW GEAR faces the
line of prisoners with the ladle poised.
Next.
LOW GEAR
EXT. PRISON COURT YARD - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

DELANEY suns himself on a BANANA LOUNGE. Nearby, a lap-top
computer sits on a table with a radio broadcasting the
Sydney Races. He studies the form guide carefully as he
talks into a mobile phone.
DELANEY
...race two, number nine...to
win.
In the background a burly GUARD approaches.
GUARD
Warden wants to see you Jackson
and he says step on it.
DELANEY
(into the phone)
...yes, my usual account.
you.
Thank
DELANEY ends his call and climbs off the LOUNGE and follows
the GUARD into the building.
GUARD
Any tips for this afternoon?
DELANEY
The Foster's Cup at Flemington.
Party Going to win...and the
ratatooee sucks.
Thanks.
GUARD
DELANEY
That'll cost you a carton of
cigarettes for Low Gear and a
chocolate mud cake for me.
7.
INT. WARDEN'S OFFICE - DAY
The WARDEN sits at his desk as DELANEY walks in and beckons
him to take a seat.
WARDEN
You're sentence has been reduced.
Really?
DELANEY
WARDEN
Shame you're going Delaney, but
apparently someone more important
than myself wants to see you.
The Minister's chauffeur, Richard
Cropper is waiting for you at the
front gate. He's been sent to
pick you up.
DELANEY
(to himself)
Dicko? The Minister's chauffer?
WARDEN
Goodluck, you'll need it.
way, any tips?
By the
They both stand and shake hands.

DELANEY
Fourth at Randwick, Monica
Lewinsky each way. Warden, it's
been a pleasure.
CUT TO:
EXT. POINT DANGER - GOLD COAST - DAY
An overhead shot follows a limousine as it drives along a
scenic mountain road. We hear a man's voice OFF SCREEN.
MAN
Stan, Stan, Stan. After all
these happy years you've been my
accountant, I suddenly wake up
one morning to discover you've
been screwing me without kissing
me.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMOUSINE - DAY
We see the back of a man's head through a thick, cigar fog.
It is FRANK MASON (50's) well groomed, grey-haired.
8.
The ACCOUNTANT starts to whimper as MASON grabs him and
throws open the door, forcing his head to within two inches
of the passing bitumen. MASON is interrupted by the car
phone. The DRIVER, ERIC DORKMAN, MASON'S heavy assistant,
opens the partitioned glass.
DORKMAN
Lady Deakin-Burnett on hold.
Partitioned glass goes up. As MASON picks up the phone, we
notice a large gold ring, shining brightly on his right
hand.
MASON
Jesus, fuckin' Christ, Mandy.
LADY DEAKIN-BURNETT (O.S.)
I'm not interrupting you am I?
No, you
wench.
Mandy.
minutes
MASON
firm thighed, fun loving
Just hold on a moment,
You've got a couple of
haven't you, Stan?
STAN nods and smiles politely. MASON pushes his head even
closer to the road. STAN screams in the background as the
bitumen passes his nostrils.
LADY DEAKIN-BURNETT (O.S.)
Heavens darling what's happening
your end? It sounds like one of
my parties, darling!
MASON
I'm just running a few things
past my accountant.
LADY DEAKIN BURNETT (O.S.)
You haven't forgotten Laurie's birthday, have you?
MASON
Of course not.
AMANDA
I'll see you there, darling.
(Kiss noise)
Bye darling.
MASON
(Kiss noise)
MASON slams down the phone and
looks at STAN.
9.
MASON
Embezzlement Stan.
rules.
You know the
STAN starts screaming again as MASON heaves him out of the

limousine.
EXT. OCEAN CLIFF - POINT DANGER - DAY
From below we see the screaming ACCOUNTANT ejected from the
limo and flying over the cliff and smashing into the rocks
below.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRISON FARM GATES - DAY
DELANEY walks through the front gates and shakes hands with
the GUARD as he passes. He puts his bag down, glances at
his watch and then looks up the dirt road. DELANEY'S POV
of a LIMOUSINE parked under a tree. He picks up the bag
and walks towards the LIMOUSINE.
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
DELANEY looks inside the front of the LIMOUSINE and sees
RICHARD "DICKO" CROPPER, (30's) thick-set, sprawled across
the front seat asleep, with his legs hanging out the open
window. The radio is playing loud music. DELANEY smiles
and carefully reties DICKO's shoe laces together, before
reaching in and releasing the parking brake. The LIMOUSINE
slowly gathers momentum and rolls past him, backwards down
the incline. DELANEY'S POV of the LIMOUSINE as it picks up
speed, jumps an embankment and comes to an abrupt halt
against a GUM TREE. DELANEY walks down the hill towards
the LIMOUSINE and again looks in the window. DICKO looks
around groggily.
DELANEY
Good afternoon, Dicko.
park here you know.
You can't
DICKO
(looking around)
What the hell?
DICKO climbs out of the LIMOUSINE to observe the damage and
falls over as he tries to walk.
DICKO
Shit, what did you do that for?
10.
DELANEY
I owed you one...remember?
Anyway, what are you concerned
about? It's a hire car isn't it?
DICKO
(as he unties his shoe
laces)
No, it's Hoog's!
DELANEY
What are you doing working for
that old slug? Where's your
uniform?
DICKO
After Laurie had you put away, he
busted me so far down the police
force ladder, the only place I
could get a job was driving for
him.
DELANEY
Oh? So you've got your licence
back?
DICKO
No, but I bought one from Mexico.
DELANEY and DICKO get in the LIMOUSINE and drive away.
INT. MANILA AIRPORT - NIGHT
SHARP stands pumping coins into a pay phone, nervously
looking around.
SHARP
Shirley. Where's Jack?
Nick Sharp.
It's
INTERCUT AS REQUIRED WITH....

INT. RANCH HOUSE - BYRON BAY - DAY
SHIRLEY, (40's, attractive) DELANEY'S long-suffering,
estranged wife takes SHARP'S call.
SHIRLEY
Sorry Nick, Laurie's had him
arrested again.
11.
INT. MANILA AIRPORT - DAY
SHARP sees THE PIN BROTHERS heading towards him through the
crowded terminal. He drops the phone and flees, leaving
the hand piece dangling. We hear SHIRLEY (OFF SCREEN)
SHIRLEY (O.S.)
Nick, can I help? Nick? Hello?
INT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE - TV NETWORK STUDIOS - BRISBANE NIGHT
We see a TV monitor, glowing through the half light. The
shadowy figure of WARWICK STOKER glances up at the monitor
between marking a newspaper with a highlighter pen. We see
his large shape in this shot but not his face. On the TV
monitor, we see a news presenter, CLAUDIA STONE introducing
a report on her current affairs program.
CLAUDIA
Illegal bookmaking has been a
part of Australian folklore since
the early settlers first arrived
on our sunny shores in 1788 and
saw two flies crawling up a gum
tree.
CUT TO:
INT. BUREAU OFFICES - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
BIANCA ROSSINI, mid twenties, an ambitious and very wellgroomed TV journalist with long legs and beyond perfect
hair sits, cross-legged, on the edge of her chair, at her
desk. She is glued to the screen. Various other staff
work and watch around her.
CLAUDIA (O.S.)
However, SP bookies as they are
known have been bleeding the
Government dry. Bianca Rossini
reports.
The following sequence is intercut, between BIANCA'S
reaction to her story on her monitor at her desk and the
studio floor where CLAUDIA is hosting the show. Footage of
horse racing and racetracks introduce the report. We see
BIANCA, with a racetrack in the background, talking to
camera.
BIANCA
A feature of all cultures is the
time people devote to their
leisure activities.
(MORE)
12.
BIANCA (cont'd)
For Australians, one of the most
popular leisure activities is
gambling. In fact, Australians'
penchant for having a punt,
separates them from the rest of
the world.
Around BIANCA, a number of her colleagues are studying
racing form guides.
CUT TO:
INT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
STOKER is checking his Gold Lotto numbers. He puts his pen
down as BIANCA'S story on one of his may monitors, draws
his interest. We close back into the monitor showing the
report.
BIANCA
The Australian Government is
concerned that half of these bets
are placed with illegal SP
bookmakers. Why are they
illegal? Because they don't pay
tax. Government statisticians
estimate that it is costing
Australian taxpayers $500 million
a year. I interviewed a man
who's been an SP bookmaker for
fifty two years, Blowfly Smith.
BLOWFLY is now facing the camera, but his face has been
matted into one of those video matrices, used by TV
stations to protect a person's identity.
I've
from
Wait
high
BLOWFLY
taken bets from everyone
Prime Ministers to priests.
till you hear this list of
rollers.
Suddenly the screen goes blank and quickly the Program Logo
fills the monitor. We see STOKER's hand replace a phone on
his desk.
CUT TO:
INT. NEWS ROOM - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
CLAUDIA STONE resumes.
13.
CLAUDIA
We apologize for the interruption
as we seem to be experiencing
some technical difficulties with
that story.
CUT TO:
INT. BUREAU OFFICES - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
BIANCA's excitement has disappeared.
She is furious.
BIANCA
Technical difficulties!
Like a Celtic warrior queen, she storms out of her office
and bursts through the studio doors, nearly colliding with
the crew operating the program and glares at CLAUDIA.
CLAUDIA shrugs and proceeds with the program. BIANCA turns
on the FLOOR MANAGER.
FLOOR MANAGER
Where are you going?
She grabs the FLOOR MANAGER by the collar and hisses into
his face.
BIANCA
I'm going to tell Stoker exactly
what I think of his technical
difficulties.
FLOOR MANAGER
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
This advice falls on deaf ears as she marches on towards
STOKER'S office.
CLAUDIA
Next up, the family who ate their
grandmother.
MAKEUP ARTIST
(To Bianca as she
passes.)
Nice career move.
STOKER watches BIANCA'S performance on one of the many
monitors on his desk. It is apparent that he's monitoring
every part of the studio. BIANCA is outside STOKER's
office now. STOKER watches BIANCA on the monitors with
relish. Suddenly, he presses a button and her image appears
on all the monitors at once.
14.
STOKER, using the remote control, brings up and freezes
frame on MASON'S story with a shot of the body on the
rocks. Further shots of HOOG holding his hand-up to the
camera, MASON and his heavies stopping the camera being
pointed at them. All these are freeze framed.
INT. EXECUTIVE FOYER - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
BIANCA sits, steaming, on a plush couch, scrutinized by the
steely gaze of STOKER'S bleached blonde SECRETARY. She
lifts the phone, speaks in a hushed tone and then turns to
BIANCA.
SECRETARY
He'll see you now.
BIANCA walks apprehensively along a darkened corridor.
Ahead of her she sees STOKER in silhouette against the
ghostly light of the TV monitors at the end of the room.
Her image is frozen simultaneously on every monitor. She
attempts to remain calm. STOKER grunts and shifts his
weight in the darkness.
BIANCA enters STOKER'S office.
BIANCA
With respect, Mr Stoker, what the
hell do you think you're doing?
STOKER
I'm sorry, Miss...er..?
BIANCA
Rossini, Sir. Bianca Rossini. I
spent eight weeks preparing that
story and you pulled the plug
because it's too close to home.
STOKER
With respect, Miss Rossini, I
couldn't give a damn if you had
brought me in to it.
STOKER
I have every right to spend my
hard earned fortune on which ever
game of chance I see fit. And
unless there's been a change of
government...
He opens a heavy leather clad cheque book and poises an
elegant pen above the page.
CUT TO:
15.
INT. BUREAU OFFICES - NIGHT
The TELEVISION CREW and STAFF are madly laying bets on
BIANCA'S impending unemployment.
FLOOR MANAGER
She's gone.
BOOM SWINGER
With her body?
INT. NEWS ROOM - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
Money flies in all directions as news staff wager between
themselves.
CUT TO:
INT. SECURITY GATEHOUSE - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
One of the SECURITY GUARDS is on the phone.
SECURITY GUARD
What do you mean, ten to one?
INT. EXECUTIVE FOYER - TV STUDIOS - OFFICE
STOKER's SECRETARY is on the phone.
SECRETARY
That's my final offer. Take it
or leave it... OK, it's 50
dollars on the babe to stay at 10
to 1.
STOKER sighs, then scrawls out a cheque, rips it from the
book with a flourish.
STOKER
I pulled your tawdry report,
because I can't afford libel
suits.
STOKER pushes the cheque across the desk.
STOKER
There's what we owe you and what
I consider a generous bonus.
BIANCA hesitantly picks up the cheque, suddenly gasps, then
quickly regains her composure.
16.
STOKER leans forward into the light, revealing his awesome
countenance for the first time, leering from the darkness
like the Great Beast.
Goodbye.
STOKER
As he says this, a News Update appears on one of his

monitors.
NEWS READER
In news that's just come to hand,
the battered body found on
Snapper Rocks this afternoon, has
been identified, as that of Stan
Rosenberg, former accountant of
prominent bookmaker, Frank Mason.
STOKER gestures to BIANCA to wait while he watches the News
Bulletin.
NEWS READER
Frank Mason, who was in court
today as a witness in the inquest
into the death of 19 year old
Sharon Petersen in Surfers
Paradise last year, said he was
too upset too talk about the
accountant's alleged suicide.
We see footage of FRANK MASON outside the court,
instructing his minders to remove any journalists from
path.
his
NEWS READER
The Minister for Racing, Sir
Laurence Hoog, a close friend of
Mason's, told Channel 6 reporters
that Frank Mason had been with
him at the opening of Wallyworld
at the time of Rosenburg's
untimely end.
We see file footage of MASON and HOOG together at the
Wallyworld opening.
STOKER picks up his remote control and freezes the frame on
a closeup of the two of them. STOKER actually appears quite
appalled. He fixes BIANCA with a reptilian stare.
STOKER
Sit down, Miss Rossini.
He takes the cheque out of her hand and rips it up.
STOKER
I think you can still be of
service to me.
17.
EXT. AERIAL SHOT - GOLD COAST - NIGHT - LATER
A long row of high-rise buildings line the beach. Strings
of lights hang around the boats and piers. Music echoes in
the night. CAMERA PULLS back from the SHERATON MIRAGE
HOTEL and skims across the dark water some distance to
reveal an enormous LUXURY CRUISER. Red Chinese lanterns
swing in the balmy night air. A party is in full swing.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPEED BOAT - NIGHT
A speed boat has moored at the side of the luxury cruiser.
DELANEY arrives at the main landing pontoon to be greeted
by courteous, scantily clad METER MAIDS passing around
champagne. Just as DELANEY takes a sip, he is hit by the
lights of a film crew, almost blinding him. It is BIANCA
and her camera crew.
BIANCA
Did you enjoy your holiday in the
Philippines Mr Delaney?
DELANEY is temporarily blinded by the flash, as the sky
ignites into a shower of fireworks.
BIANCA
Bianca Rossini, Women's Magazine.
DELANEY
How lovely, for you.
He smiles courteously and brushes past her. As he proceeds
up the gangway, he sees BIANCA non-plussed. She takes a
photograph with her camera.
EXT. CRUISER TOP DECK - NIGHT
The party guests are all standing around a large table. In
the centre of the table is a life size replica of LAURIE
HOOG made out of marzipan. MASON, STOKER and HOOG stand
with the other guests. HOOG'S sister, LADY AMANDA DEACONBURNETT, (50's), a big boned socialite holds court.
Various Police Chiefs are sitting around in appropriate
dress uniforms.
LADY DEACON-BURNETT
My friends, my dear, dear
friends. I would like to say a
few little words if I could.
HOOG rolls his eyes.
18.
LADY DEACON-BURNETT
What can I possibly say about
this wonderful, wonderful man we
know as Laurie. Kind, humble,
generous to a fault and the best
Minister for Racing this State
has had for the last twenty
years.
HOOG
(To himself)
I'm the only Minister for Racing
they've had in the last twenty
years.
LADY DEACON-BURNETT
I give you the Minister for
Racing, the Minister for Youth,
Sport and Recreation and Police.
(as she hands HOOG a
knife)
My brother Laurie Hoog!
The CROWD bursts into applause as LADY DEACON-BURNETT
plants a big sloppy kiss square on HOOG'S mouth. Champagne
pops. The CROWD instantly explode into a chorus of "For
He's a Jolly Good Fellow". HOOG stands opposite his caked
self.
HECKLER 1
Come on Laurie, stick the knife
in!
HOOG
I'll stick it in you.
HECKLER 2
Stab yourself in the back,
Laurie.
HECKLER 1
I'll have a drumstick.
HOOG
You'll have a head injury, if you
don't shutup!
HECKLER 2
Make a wish, Laurie.
HOOG takes a deep breath, raises the knife in the air with
one hand and as he plunges the knife into the expansive
white icing belly of the cake, his other hand "gooses" the
waitress standing next to the table. The girl shrieks.
HOOG laughs loudly.
LADY DEACON-BURNETT
Don't give me the dickie, Laurie.
19.
HOOG
Wouldn't dream of it, Mandy.
HOOG grunts and commences to cut pieces of himself and pass
them around. DELANEY enters as the party is in full swing.
HOOG, the cake, has been butchered to within a inch of its
life and now stands on one leg. BIANCA takes down names on
a pad as her photographer snaps away at party guests.
LADY DEACON-BURNETT
Jackson you naughty man. How
lovely to see you.
She flits across the room like an enormous tinkerbell and
gives DELANEY an enormous kiss.
DELANEY
Ah, Lady Deacon-Burnett. Thank
you for the invitation.
(referring to the cake)
Laurie's lost a bit of weight.
HOOG (O.S.)
That's a cake you smart ass. I'm
over here! Delaney, I want to
talk to you. Grab a plate of
canopies and serve them round,
make yourself useful. You're a
hired hand, remember that. And if
you don't give us answers tonight
you're crab tucker.
DELANEY
Pardon me, Amanda.
douvres?
Horses
AMANDA thinks this is hysterical and laughs loudly.

AMANDA
Hugh, darling! Come dance with
your mother!
HUGH DEACON-BURNETT her suspect son, (Mid 30's, lanky and
looks like a Scout Leader), staggers in the door drunk,
only to be whisked on to the dance floor by his over
zealous mother. DELANEY faces HOOG, his lips full of cream
from the cake. MASON stands nearby.
HOOG
Prick! You blew it in Manila. I
give you the money for the
horses. I give you the plane.
Nice whack in it for you and you
screw it up! You let a tribe of
good-for-nothing, pinko poofter
terrorists steal the nags, wreck
the friggin' plane and steal our
gold.
(MORE)
20.
HOOG (cont'd)
I've got Marcosi and the Filipino
First Family breathing down my
neck.
DELANEY
Laurie, you paid me a little bit
of money for a big job. You
didn't tell me the gold was in
dispute. I'm not going to die
for a weekly wage, old man.
HOOG
You're as useless as tits on a
coffee table. You should have
known the frigggin Filipino,
frigggin Liberation Army was in
the bloody area!
DELANEY
I've left someone looking for it.
MASON
He won't get out.
him.
They'll kill
STOKER'S entrance stops people in their tracks. BIANCA

steps in and snaps a flash shot at HOOG stuffing his face
with cake. At STOKER'S entrance his mouth drops. The
PHOTOGRAPHER flashes right in HOOG'S face and he is dazed.
HOOG
What the be-Jesus was that?
STOKER looks around.
STOKER
That's Bianca Rossini. Social
pages, Women's Monthly. She's
harmless Laurie. Don't get
paranoid, you're not the pin-up
boy!
BIANCA
It's great to see you enjoying
yourself, Laurie.
HOOG
(astounded at her
impudence)
She called me Laurie.
STOKER ignores HOOG and walks up to DELANEY.
STOKER
Hello Jackson, how was Manila?
STOKER continues walking, without waiting for a reply.
DELANEY ponders STOKER's remark.
21.
EXT. CRUISER - NIGHT - LATER
A card game is visible through large portholes on the side
of a huge cruiser. THE CAMERA pans along the deck of the
boat and observes PARTY GOERS enjoying an extremely
lascivious celebration. Glamorous PARTY-GOERS stroll around
the deck in evening dress and black tie.
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE ROOM - CRUISER - NIGHT
MASON, HOOG and STOKER are engaged in a high stakes game of
poker. Large chips and cash piles can be found in the
middle of the table. A dealer, the odd bodyguard and a few
women are present in this well-appointed casino room. HOOG
sits at the table in a big chair like a cane toad, with
MASON sitting opposite. STOKER is on his left, the chair
next to him is empty. On the table is a large iced, golden
cake in the shape of a horse. HOOG fingers the icing like
a greedy boy.
STOKER
Frank, you don't happen to know a
good accountant, do you?
No, why?
MASON
STOKER
I heard Stan Rosenberg was free.
MASON coughs at the mention of the murdered accountant's
name.
MASON
Rosenberg's out of business.
STOKER
On the rocks, Frank.
HOOG almost chokes laughing and dabs his mouth with his
sleeve.
STOKER
You went too far this time,
Mason. If you continue to do
business this way, I won't be
able to play cards with you
anymore.
MASON
He was creaming off the top.
STOKER
You don't like competition do
you, Frank?
22.
MASON
Not if they're trying to do me.
HOOG succumbs to the temptation of the cake.
bites its head off.
Lifts it and
CUT TO:
EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE - BRISBANE - NIGHT

A TAXI pulls up outside a small brick house. SHARP pays
the DRIVER and walks to the front door carrying a travel
bag. A tabby CAT appears, meowing and rubbing against his
legs. He pauses to stroke the CAT. He fumbles for his keys
and has trouble opening the door.
CUT TO:
INT. PRIVATE ROOM - CRUISER - NIGHT
STOKER
I've placed quite a few bets with
Nick Sharp. He's a good Bookie.
I never had any problems.
HOOG
Let's just say he knows too much,
Warwick.
MASON
And he's also getting in the way
of my SP booking operation.
STOKER smiles wryly at MASON's expense.
HOOG
So how do we get Delaney to talk?
MASON
He doesn't know anything.
him.
Kill
STOKER
You're not a businessman Frank,
you enjoy killing too much. Go
work in an abattoir.
HOOG bursts out laughing.
MASON looks defiantly at STOKER.

CUT TO:

The door opens and the CAT slips inside. Suddenly SHARP
sees a red light flashing in the darkness inside.
23.
He leaps to one side just as the interior of the house
erupts into a mighty fireball blasting the doors and
windows out of the building in a wall of flames.
CUT TO:
EXT. CRUISER TOP DECK -
NIGHT
DELANEY is making his way down the side of the cruiser

towards the card game. BIANCA appears out of nowhere and
pretends to be surprised to bump into him.
BIANCA
Mr Delaney. I was hoping you
might tell me more about the
Manila scam.
DELANEY
I wouldn't think so. I know
nothing about it, Miss
Rossini...but your eyes are
exquisite.
DELANEY leaves.
BIANCA is unsettled.
EXT. CRUISER TOP DECK - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

DELANEY, bearing a silver bucket of ice with chilled Dom
Pergnon and crystal champagne flutes, emerges from the
cabin and strides down the gangway, up a flight of stairs
and knocks on a cabin door.
Come!
HOOG (O.S.)
As the door opens we hear loud, pompous voices arguing.

INT. PRIVATE ROOM - CRUISER -
NIGHT
DELANEY, as the waiter, enters and proceeds to pour them

all champagne. It's a dark room with bright lights on the
table. They are all too engrossed in the card game to
notice that it's DELANEY.
MASON
I'll bet five.
HOOG
I don't trust you Frank. I'm
looking.
STOKER throws in five.
24.
STOKER
There's five - and another ten for sport.
I'm out.
Chang.
HOOG
Say your prayers,
HOOG'S so drunk - he actually says "Say your chairs,

Prang".
MASON
Your ten and another....twenty for sport.
STOKER
I'm happy to look.
STOKER puts his money in the middle and MASON turns over
three kings and two Aces - a full house. STOKER turns his
cards over calmly. He has nines - four of them. STOKER
wins and rakes in the pile. MASON stifles his
disappointment. Now that HOOG is out of the hand, he is
bored and starts to flick porky bits at the DEALER off the
palm of his hand. Tiring of this, HOOG turns his attention
to the WAITER.
You!
HOOG
Get me a sandwich.
DELANEY approaches HOOG acting like a waiter.

DELANEY
What would you like, Mr Hoog?
Ham, bacon or pork?
HOOG considers.
HOOG
Pork, with heaps of pickled
onions. It's me birthday!
STOKER is the first to see its DELANEY.
wink.
He gives him a
STOKER
You want to be careful, Laurie.
You could fade away to nothing.
HOOG
Shutup, Stoker. My body needs
food. My diabetes are playing up.
MASON
Your body needs a holiday.
25.
DELANEY
So, it's just half a pig for
Laurie. Everyone else right for
snacks?
On this remark, HOOG turns around and looks at the WAITER
and recognises DELANEY. DELANEY is right in HOOG's face
when he starts to talk to him and HOOG is taken aback.
HOOG
I give you one chance to get off
the hook, whata ya do, ya try and
screw me.
STOKER
God, what an image.
MASON
If you were working for me, you
wouldn't be standing here.
STOKER
We all know what you would have
done, Frank.
MASON
I don't suffer fools in my
organisation. That way I never
lose.
STOKER
We'll see about that, Frank.
Play your hand.
MASON plays his hand.
laughs.
This time STOKER loses.
HOOG
What the rickshaw happened in
Manila?
MASON
I'll tell you what happened in
Manila. He didn't get the gold
delivered. You send him to Manila
with twenty racehorses and he
comes back with an empty plane.
HOOG
Where's the fuckin' gold? If
it's gone you owe me. I'll take
it out of your hide.
DELANEY
(looking slyly at
Stoker)
I'll make it up to you Laurie.
But who knows where the gold is?
MASON
26.
MASON
Joining the game Delaney or
taking up space?
DELANEY
Can't afford the stakes, Frank.
HOOG shoots a distrusting look at DELANEY.
STOKER
I'll stake you. Sit down.
At this HOOG and MASON look at each other and then at the
favoured DELANEY. DELANEY eagerly takes his seat. DEALER
hands out the cards again. DELANEY looks at his cards.
They're not good enough. STOKER nudges his shin and then
hands him two good cards below the table.
STOKER
Just so we know you didn't get
the gold, I'll have you watched.
STOKER
(Turning to HOOG and
MASON)
Is that satisfactory?
CUT TO:
SHARP crouches behind a car, dazed but safe. He breathes a
sigh of relief as his CAT runs out of the bushes and up a
tree. It has escaped the inferno. He runs out into the
street and hails a TAXI.
DRIVER
Where to mate? Nearest ashtray?
Byron Bay.
SHARP
DRIVER
That'll cost you!
SHARP produces two sooty hundred dollar notes.
DRIVER
No Smoking!
SHARP groans, rolls his eyes and waves the notes under the
DRIVER'S nose. The TAXI takes off with a shower of gravel.
27.
EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - COASTAL TOWN - BYRON BAY - DAY
Aerial shot of DICKO'S car as it snakes through the
spectacular cliff roads, coming to a driveway with a big
swinging gate.
EXT. RANCH HOUSE - BYRON BAY - DAY
The car arrives in front of a classic colonial farmhouse
with the full verandah looking out onto the lush green
pastures on one side, the blue Pacific Ocean on the other.
As the car pulls to a stop, SHIRLEY emerges from the house,
glaring at DELANEY. DICKO, seeing SHIRLEY'S mood, stays
seated in the car.
DICKO
I'm going to the Beach Hotel Pub.
DICKO drives off.
SHIRLEY
What a pleasant surprise to see
you Jackson.
DELANEY
How are the children?
SHIRLEY
They're well. How was prison?
Uniforms have improved.
DELANEY
Oh, the tux. Had to go to
Laurie's birthday party. Play
poker.
SHIRLEY
Hoog? God, until this time?
Where's the gold?
DELANEY
Something went wrong, but it'll
work out.
Perfect!
SHIRLEY
DELANEY
I won a few bob on the card
table.
SHIRLEY
Give it to me. All of it.
(as she searches him)
And the rest.
28.
DELANEY reluctantly hands over the rest of his winnings clearly many thousands of dollars. SHIRLEY looks at
DELANEY, who is definitely the worse for wear.
SHIRLEY
You'd better come inside.
got a visitor.
You've
INT. RANCH HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY

DELANEY is visibly shocked as SHIRLEY pushes the door open.
SHARP is lying unconscious in an old-fashion bath, covered
in ice. Only his arms protrude. He has obviously been
burnt in the blast. DELANEY walks slowly up to the bath
and stares in shock at his mate. He checks SHARP'S pulse
and tousles his hair.
SHIRLEY
Mason's trying to take over
Nick's livelihood. He has to be
stopped, Jack. There's enough
bastards in this state getting
away with murder as it is.
DELANEY
He goes to hospital.
I'm fine.
SHARP
DELANEY
They could find you here.
SHARP
They don't know we know each
other.
INT. RANCH HOUSE DINING ROOM - DAY
SHIRLEY goes over to a sideboard, retrieves a bottle of
brandy and pours herself a stiff one. As she sips her drink
she picks up a framed photograph of DELANEY and HERSELF on
their wedding day. We see that SHARP is the best man.
There is also a photograph of DELANEY and SHARP in uniform
in Vietnam.
INT. RANCH HOUSE DINING ROOM - LATER - NIGHT
Piano music is playing. DELANEY sits at a large oak dining
table, deep in thought. SHIRLEY puts a beautiful meal down
in front of him and sits down herself. The candles have
burnt half way down. SHIRLEY and DELANEY hardly touch
their meals. DELANEY and SHIRLEY look at each other.
Their eyes meet. SHIRLEY smiles and DELANEY responds.
29.
INT. RANCH HOUSE GUEST BEDROOM - MORNING
TIGHT SHOT of SHARP's face as he sleeps. He hears a noise
and opens one eye. Perspiration breaks out on his brow as
he sees a tree move outside the window. Suddenly the
barrel of a gun appears next to his face. SHARP thinks he
is dead. An enormous jet of water hits SHARP in the face.
Two carrot-headed young Boys pop up and shout.
BOYS
King of the bed!
They begin to leap excitedly on to SHARP and there is a
huge flurry of blankets and pillows. DELANEY stands at the
door.
DELANEY
Barnum, Bailey, go and help your
mother tile the driveway!
The kids grumble as they exit. DELANEY enters, places a
cup of tea on the bedside table next to SHARP and sits
down.
DELANEY
How did you sleep, Briefcase?
SHARP tries to sit up, but can't.
SHARP
Shit, it feels like there's no
skin on my back.
DELANEY
There isn't. Shirley said you've
got second degree burns, old mate
and you'll be sleeping on your
stomach for a while.
SHARP
Bastards! Mason's after my
SP'ing here and Marcosi is after
the gold in Manila.
DELANEY
I'm thinking it over. Keep out
of sight, get well and I'll have
the word spread that you're fit
as a Mallee bull, taking bets
again - when we're ready.
SHARP
Ready for what?
30.
EXT. BYRON BAY BEACH HOTEL - DAY
DELANEY, driving SHIRLEY'S RANGE ROVER, pulls up outside a
large beachside hotel. He sounds the horn. DICKO comes
barreling out of the lounge and jumps in the passenger
door.
INT. RANGE ROVER - BYRON BAY COASTLINE - DAY
DICKO
What's the plan?
DELANEY
A substitution, Dicko.
Beauty!
DICKO
A ring-in?
DELANEY
This will be more than a ring-in
Dicko. But that's all I can tell
you.
DICKO
So we need a fast horse boss?
DELANEY
No Dicko, for this sting to work
we need a slow horse, a fast
horse, and an idiot horse
trainer.
EXT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - DUSK
A row of CAMELS' behinds are lined up, ready for the
beasts' entrance into the Big Top. Inside we can hear the
M.C. over the P.A. system. The STAGE MANAGER gives the
CAMELS a whack on the behind and in they go. We HEAR the
audience inside CHEER. The flaps fall back down to reveal
a CLOWN on one side and NAT HYATTA on the other. Piles of
steaming dung litter the ground where the CAMELS are
waiting. The MANAGER turns to NAT.
Nat!
MANAGER
Clean it up.
NAT
I certainly will not!
MANAGER
Nat! I said clean that up or
I'll fire you...again!
NAT
I'll have you know, I'm a
licenced trainer.
(MORE)
31.
NAT (cont'd)
I've trained thoroughbreds for
the Crowned Heads of Europe.
I've wrangled for some of the top
stockman in the country and I'll
have you know, the trainer of the
winner of last year's Melbourne
Cup....is no less than a very,
very, very, good friend of mine
and I do not clean up...
CUT TO:
EXT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - MOMENTS LATER
NAT
(as he shovels camel
dung)
Shit!
INT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - DUSK
DICKO and DELANEY squeeze past some kids and take an empty
bench.
DELANEY
Which one is he?
DICKO
I can't see him.
The CAMELS finish their dancing act with the GLAMOROUS
HANDLERS smiling and waving.
CUT TO:
The CLOWN pulls back the curtain and turns to NAT.
Nat!
CLOWN
The curtain!
NAT drops his shovel and makes it to his rope, lifting the
curtain just in time, as the CAMELS fly out through the
opening. Suddenly, a herd of ELEPHANTS stomp from the
opposite direction into the Big Top, nearly crushing NAT as
they go past. NAT drops the curtain, picks up his shovel
and heads back to the camel dung. As NAT passes the TIGER
CAGE, he pokes at the TIGERS with his shovel. They snarl
at him.
32.
NAT
(to tigers)
You might be able to see in the
dark but you're the ones behind
bars.
NAT sniggers.
Psssst!
GIRL (O.S.)
NAT turns to see two GIRLS smiling at him from the crowd
across the barricades. One is slim and pretty, the other
is large and unattractive. He smiles back, but the pretty
one is looking away.
The large one smiles impishly and waves back, then grabs
her companion and drags her over to NAT.
Hi, I'm
GIRL
Janis.
NAT
Who's your friend?
Joplin.
JANIS
JANIS nudges JOPLIN and they giggle.

NAT
Anyone for a sandwich?
JANIS
Can you get us in for free?
NAT glances about.
The MANAGER is nowhere to be seen.
INT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - MOMENTS LATER

NAT escorts the GIRLS past various cages. Monkeys jump up
and down performing their little routines and try to pull
NAT'S hair. They approach a caged TIGER.
NAT
Caught this one myself in India.
But there's nothing like Africa.
Ah yes, the magic of hunting
Impala down by the Limpopo.
JANIS
You've been a hunter?
NAT
Hell yes! Big game. Elephants,
lions, dinosaurs, I mean
giraffes.
(MORE)
33.
NAT (cont'd)
Until I hurt my back saving a
croc from an American tourist.
Your back?
JOPLIN
NAT
Do you know what damage American
teeth can do?
JANIS is overcome with NAT'S eloquence and pushes her chest
against NAT'S. He perspires.
NAT sees the MANAGER approaching and becomes very nervous.
NAT
Can I buy you girls a drink?
He gestures towards an irregular shaped caravan nearby with
"HARRY M'S BIG MIDGETS" written across the side.
Sure!
JANIS
JOPLIN
I want to see the circus!
JANIS
C'mon, Joplin. He's harmless.
She drags JOPLIN into the van, followed by NAT who slams
the door behind them in relief. Seconds later the MANAGER
appears.
Nat?
MANAGER
Where are you?
Nat!
Damn!
NAT is nowhere to be seen. The MANAGER turns back towards

the BIG TOP.
CUT TO:
INT. HARRY M'S BIG MIDGET VAN - DUSK
Everything inside the van is quarter size.
NAT
I like coming in here, it makes
me feel big.
He opens a tiny cupboard and produces a minature bottle of
Cream de Menthe.
NAT
Drink girls? Or a refreshment?
CUT TO:
34.
The elephant act is coming to a close. The performers take
a bow and the elephants start for their final circle around
the ring.
CUT TO:
The clown is ready on his side of the flap.
Nat?
CLOWN
Hey, where's Nat?

The ELEPHANTS are heading towards the curtain which is only
half pulled back. The RINGMASTER turns around and his
mouth drops.
RINGMASTER
(shouting)
Curtain! The curtain!
The ELEPHANTS' feet pin down the edge of the curtains. The
CANVAS starts to rip and the curtain crashes to the ground,
dragging scaffolding and rigging with it. WIRES ping, POLES
snap, PERFORMERS scream, running for their lives as half
the tent collapses.
CUT TO:
INT. HARRY M'S BIG MIDGET VAN - DUSK
NAT and the GIRLS sip their Creme de Menthe.
NAT
So that's when I decided to buy
the circus.
They are interrupted by a dull roar outside.
NAT
The curtain!
He leaps to the door.
NAT bursts out of the van, runs towards the CHAOS, slows,
then stops and simply stares at the turmoil. There is
nothing he can do. He sits on a TEETER BOARD and lights a
cigarette.
35.
Seconds later a passing ELEPHANT steps on the other end of
the TEETER BOARD, catapulting NAT into the air. He lands
in a mud bog. Dazed, he looks up and slowly focuses on
DELANEY, smiling like an angel.
NAT
Christ, I hate matinees!
DELANEY
Can you tell me where I could
find Nat Hyatta?
NAT
No, we had to fire him, he's an
idiot.
DELANEY
Thats a pity. I've got a job for
him. A very well-paid job. I'm
Jackson Delaney.
NAT
Pleased to meet you, Jack. I'm
Nat Hyatta. Take a seat. Watch
out for that one (pointing to the
teeter-board) elephants.
DELANEY
Is there somewhere we can talk?
Over DELANEY'S shoulder NAT spies the CIRCUS MANAGER
thundering towards them, frothing at the mouth, wielding an
enormous mallet.
NAT
Yeah, my estate isn't far.
EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
NAT'S car, an OLD MORRIS, is followed by DELANEY and DICKO
in SHIRLEY'S RANGE ROVER as they turn off the PACIFIC
HIGHWAY past the famous landmark, the BIG BANANA. The cars
bump up and down a dirt track, passing through a banana
plantation. They come to a clearing where there is a
ramshackle trailor home, surrounded by banana sheds, used
as makeshift stables and an old barn.
INT. TRAILER HOME - BANANA FIELDS - NIGHT
They enter the trailer home which is a mess of newspapers,
dirty clothes and piles of empty beer cans.
DELANEY
Nice place.
36.
NAT
It was better when it was parked
in Surfers Paradise. Bananas
shit me.
NAT scatters clothes and rubbish off a chair.
Sit down.
NAT
DELANEY glances around the room. He sees a collage of

photos torn from newspapers and sticky-taped to the wall one of them is a portrait of BIANCA.
DELANEY
Like a beer, do you, Nat?
NAT
No, don't drink.
DICKO
You've already got the job.
C'mon, give us a beer.
NAT
Hop up. It'll have to be a VB.
It's the only one I can spell at
the shop.
He shoos them off the couch, pulls a lever and the top of
the couch flips up revealing a freezer full of beer. He
grabs a six pack, pulls the lever and the freezer reverts
to a couch. He tosses them each a beer.
DELANEY
I've heard you're very good with
horses. Even gifted.
Bastards!
NAT
Liars!
Who told you?
DELANEY
A bloke who met you in jail.
Nat snatches away the beers.
NAT
No way,big knob! I haven't done
a switch in years. I'm spick,
I'm span, I'm a horse trainer period. I like horses. Go away.
DELANEY
It's perfectly legal. I only
want you to train a horse for a
race.
37.
DELANEY places a large wad of bank notes on the table. NAT
chokes on his beer at the sight of it. He gives the beers
back.
DELANEY
There's ten grand. There's
another fifty when the race is
over.
NAT thumbs through the wad, his hand shaking.
feebly under his breath.
Help me.
NAT
NAT stares at the money.

NAT
I usually don't take jobs on
short notice. What do you do
again?
DELANEY
I'm a businessman Nat, with
entrepreneurial interests across
a broad spectrum of industries,
both domestic and international.
Think of me as a corporate
raider.
NAT turns to DICKO.
NAT
What'd he say?
DICKO
I wasn't listening.
DELANEY
That's why I hired you Dicko.
Sorry?
NAT
DELANEY
That's why I hired Dicko, he
doesn't listen.
What?
DICKO
DELANEY
Shut up Dicko, I wasn't talking
to you.
DICKO
Good, I wasn't listening anyway.
He whispers
38.
Pardon?.
NAT
I'm confused.
DELANEY
That's why I hired you, Nat.
Sorry?
DICKO
DELANEY
That's why I hired Nat, he's
confused.
NAT
So, where's the horse?
EXT. EVERSLEY POLO FIELD - BEAUDESERT - DAY
The polo field is surrounded by various parked cars,
marquees, horse trailers, beverage tents and the many
picnic makers that have spread their blankets around their
vehicles. We hear the galloping of hoofs and a gentleman
commentating on the game in progress over a loud speaker.
We follow two horsemen as they converge on the ball as it
heads towards the goalposts, their team mates thundering
closely behind.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
One would have suspected, even
being of a limited intelligence,
that something wasn't quite
kosher, in the butcher shop. Yet
we must remember Nat was just a
passenger on this journey to
permanent infamy.
We see NAT, DICKO and DELANEY arrive through the gate and
proceed to drive towards the back of one of the marquees.
INT. DELANEY'S CAR - POLO GROUNDS - DAY
NAT
I thought we wanted a horse that
could run fast, not play cricket.
DELANEY
Many distinguished thoroughbreds
have chosen a more profitable
life and acquired more than your
regular run-around-the-track
racehorse. In fact, some of the
finest horses in the world are
polo horses.
NAT
They don't look very good.
39.
DELANEY
That's because they're smart,
Nat.
NAT
How do you bet on them?
DELANEY
We haven't come to bet, we've
come to buy.
EXT. POLO FIELD SIDELINE - SOON AFTER - DAY
Binoculars POV - We follow the game as the horses gallop
across the field.
NAT (O.S.)
So how's he doin'?
DELANEY (O.S.)
He's behind you.
We see NAT swing around and focus on a horse only a few
metres away with two children sitting on its back being led
by a female strapper. Thin and nobbily, with a head that
looks too big for his body, this horse is not the most
impressive "racehorse" in the world.
STRAPPER
Good afternoon Mr Delaney. Well,
here he is as you requested.
NAT
That's not a horse, it's been
stolen off of a merry-go round.
DELANEY
Now Nat, I think you're being a
bit hasty.
(pointing)
This is the makings of a great
racehorse. That is, with you
training him.
NAT instinctively starts to give him a proper look over.
He walks down the side of the horse, around the rear and
gives DELANEY a dirty look.
DELANEY
What do you think?
NAT
What do I think? You're out of
your fuckin mind man! Look at
it!
(MORE)
40.
NAT (cont'd)
It's got a bucket for a head,
feet like club sandwiches and it
couldn't win a race if it was
shot out of a canon!
DELANEY
He doesn't have to win the
Kentucky Derby, Nat. This is
where we have a communications
problem. It's simply a business
thing. You train him, you keep
your mouth shut, you make a
motza. Any problems with that,
Nat?
The horse nuzzles NAT'S neck affectionately and blows him a
kiss. NAT is embarrassed by the affection. He looks up at
the smiling children. DICKO looks at the horse and then at
DELANEY, incredulously.
DICKO
(whispering to DELANEY)
You gotta be kidding. What do ya
see in that?
A winner.
DELANEY
What do you see?
DICKO
What he is. A ewe necked, sway
backed, bow-legged chaff bandit.
You gotta be kidding.
NAT
(smiling at the
children)
You like this horsie don't you?
What's his name?
CHILDREN
(together)
Fine Cotton!
DELANEY
He's got the goods Nat, it's just
that no bastard will ever give
him a run.
NAT
Is it any wonder? It's the only
horse I've seen with a float with
a disabled sticker on the
dashboard.
41.
INT. BIANCA'S OFFICE - TV STUDIOS - NIGHT
BIANCA enters her office after a hard day. She picks up a
large manila envelope from her tray. The envelope contains
a bundle of dossiers and photos including 10 x 8 black and
white portraits of HOOG, MASON, HUGH DEACON-BURNETT,
DELANEY, DICKO and others. She lingers over a shot of NAT
and a shot of FINE COTTON at the polo tournament. BIANCA
doesn't know what to make of it all.
INT. TRAILER HOME - BANANA FIELDS - DAY
NAT enters and discovers FINE COTTON occupying most of the
available space. NAT edges past the horse to the
refrigerator and grabs a tinnie. He plops into a chair and
he and FINE COTTON look at each other. The horse blows
through its lips and swishes its tail.
EXT. CATHEDRAL - BRISBANE - DAY
DELANEY crosses the busy city street and runs up the
Cathedral stairs.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
With the thoroughbred purchased,
cash in hand, idiot stooge in
place and the bad boys nibbling
the bait, the only missing link
was help from the good Lord above
and he was only too pleased to
give his assistance.
INT. CATHEDRAL - DAY
DELANEY strides through the aisles, looks around, then
ducks into the confessional.
INT. CONFESSIONAL BOOTH - DAY
On the other side, DELANEY sits down and crosses himself.
DELANEY
Bless me, Father, for I have
sinned. It's been two years
since my last confession.
FATHER CROSBY
God can forgive you, if you can
forgive yourself.
DELANEY
(getting excited)
Only God can help me, Father.
(MORE)
42.
DELANEY (cont'd)
I'm about to pull a triple
switch.
FATHER CROSBY
Are innocent people being taken?
DELANEY
Only the greedy.
The screen slides back to reveal FATHER CROSBY. At the
back of the confessional a WOMAN PARISHIONER is replacing
the flowers. As she bends down to the pot on the ground,
she overhears the conversation inside.
FATHER CROSBY
This hasn't been tried for years.
You'll be needing the Lord's
assistants again.
DELANEY
As many as you can get hold of
Father.
FATHER CROSBY
And when would this miracle be
taking place?
DELANEY
Saturday week.
Outside the confessional, the WOMAN PARISHIONER writes the
date of the miracle in her diary, as she listens.
EXT. CATHEDRAL - SOON AFTER - DAY
DELANEY runs down the steps with his collar up, impatient
for DICKO to pick him up. Lightening cracks through the
sky as the rain pours down. CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal
BIANCA, parked in her car across the road. BIANCA signals
her accomplice. The CAMERAMAN waves from a concealed
window over the street. BIANCA walks across the street,
intercepting DELANEY as he goes.
BIANCA
Jackson Delaney!
DELANEY freezes in surprise. DELANEY is the
personification of innocence.
DELANEY
Bianca Rossini?
BIANCA
I wanted to catch up to apologize
for badgering you at the social
gathering.
43.
DELANEY looks around.
BIANCA off.
He sees the MR. WHIPPY VAN and cuts
DELANEY
Are you filming me?
BIANCA
I need information on Frank Mason
and Laurie Hoog for a story I'm
doing.
DELANEY grabs BIANCA'S belt and whisks her into an
adjoining RECORD STORE. He rips a button from her vest, it
is a microphone. He has a closer look and then places it
between a pair of headphones playing rock music.
CUT TO:
INT. MR. WHIPPY VAN - DAY
BIANCA'S crew are cramped inside. They fall off their
chairs and hit their heads on the roof, as their meters are
overloaded by high voltage rock and roll.
INT. RECORD STORE - DAY
DELANEY
You seem like a smart girl,
Bianca. Listen to me. I'm a
family man who enjoys a bet. If
you can find a story in that,
well...
DICKO arrives in the jeep outside the store and screeches
to a halt.
Taxi.
DELANEY
BIANCA watches as DELANEY runs down the steps and gets in

the RANGE ROVER.
EXT. TRAILER HOME - BANANA FIELDS - DAY
FINE COTTON pounds around the track, in much better form
than the last time we saw him. NAT slugs on a beer, hits
his stopwatch and sighs with pleasure. The RANGE ROVER
pulls up, towing a small horse float.
DELANEY
How's he going, Nat?
NAT
(authoritatively)
In a word ratshit.
(MORE)
44.
NAT (cont'd)
My career is gunna be shattered.
I'll need weeks to get him up to
scratch. This horse is a natural
born winner.
DELANEY
We don't want him to win, Nat.
NAT
We don't...want him to win?
DELANEY
(shakes his head)
No. We want him to lose, Nat,
badly, in fact trailing the field
would be lovely...if you could
arrange it.
NAT nervously slugs on his beer.
NAT
DELANEY
We're going to switch him Nat.
He's part of a ring in. Serious
people involved.
NAT
(shouting)
Ring in?
NAT sprays beer all over the place, then chokes as he tries
to clear his throat.
DELANEY
Serious money.
Bastards!
NAT
I knew it was a con.
DELANEY
You're smart, Nat.
want you onboard.
What?
That's why I
DICKO
Who did you want onboard?
DELANEY
Shut up Dicko. I wasn't talking
to you.
DICKO
I wasn't listening anyway.
NAT
(To Dicko)
What did he say?
45.
DICKO
Dunno, wasn't listening.
NAT
(to DICKO)
That's why he hired you.
(to DELANEY)
And you, you, you cccc, caring
understanding nice type. Don't
look at me with those used-car
salesman teeth. I told you, I'm
a legit trainer. I will have
nothing to do with it. I repeat,
nothing, nothing to do with
anything that's above board.
DELANEY
Have I asked you to do anything
illegal, Nat?
NAT
Technically, no, but...I have my
reservations.
DELANEY
Now, you just train Fine Cotton
and you will come out in front.
NAT
In front?
(methodically)
So, I train Fine Cotton to lose
in his first run so ya get his
odds up for the second, but he's
not going to be there when they
race because you're going to
replace Fine Cotton on the day,
with a faster horse who's going
to win and you're going to switch
me for another trainer, so I
won't cop any shit.
DELANEY
Can't hide anything from you,
Nat.
DICKO
What did he say?
NAT
Shut up Dicko. What about me?
What'll happen to me when they
find out?
DELANEY
But they're not going to find out
Nat.
46.
NAT
How much did you say I could
make?
DELANEY
If you keep your mouth shut,
we'll bet a hundred grand on the
winner for you.
NAT
Who's that gunna be?
DELANEY
I'll discuss it with you later
Nat.
NAT
DELANEY
We'll lay the bet with Frank
Mason. What do you say, Nat?
NAT'S eyes light up.
DELANEY
You have an outstanding bet with
him, don't you?
No.
NAT
(weakly)
DELANEY smiles. NAT is as solid as a pound of butter in

the sun. It's all too tempting. He puts his hand out.
NAT
I'll need some money for
expenses.
INT. DELANEY'S RANCH HOUSE - DAY - SOON AFTER
DELANEY and SHARP are in the livingroom.
of the room, smiling.
SHIRLEY walks out
DELANEY
That's the bloody gold organized,
now for the serious stuff.
INT. NAT'S TRAILER HOME - BANANA FIELDS - DAY
Rain and wind beat down outside.
beer still cradled on his chest.
NAT lies sleeping with a
47.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
As Queensland's weather,
beautiful one day perfect the
next, buffeted Nat's caravan, he
was oblivious to the hazardous
situation he couldn't escape.
Nor indeed could I. Nat slept,
perchance to dream.
We dissolve into NAT'S imagination. NAT is dreaming that
he is a contestant on Sale of The Century.
NAT
(still asleep)
I'll have Bianca Rossini, thanks
Glenn...I've won the twenty five!
I've won the twenty five! No,
I'm a gambler, I'll come back
tomorrow night.
A CAR HORN blares outside causing NAT to wake abruptly.
realizes where he is and stumbles towards the door.
He
EXT. TRAILER HOME - DAY

NAT pulls on a Drizabone Rain Coat and heads out into the
storm. His OLD MORRIS two-seater is sitting there hooked
up to a horse float. NAT knocks on the window of the RANGE
ROVER and it rolls down to reveal DICKO.
DICKO
What are you waiting for?
NAT
I don't know. What am I waiting
for?
DICKO
Didn't Jack tell you?
NAT
Tell me what?
DICKO
Fine Cotton's racing tomorrow in
the third at the Gold Coast.
NAT
DICKO
(rolls his eyes)
Almost everything, that's why he
hired you.
Who?
NAT
48.
DICKO
Don't worry about it.
the horse up.
Just load
NAT
Hang on bees' dick. It's pouring
out there, the horse'll get
drenched, he'll catch a chill or
hep something.
DICKO
Shut up! If we drive all night,
we're just going to make it.
NAT
Shut up yourself you big dick,
Dicko. If we drive all night,
Fine Cotton'll be stuffed! He'll
be too tired to run!
DICKO
Ours is not to reason why, Nat.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
The MORRIS chugs up the steep country roads, ploughing
through deep puddles of mud.
EXT. GOLD COAST RACETRACK - DAY
NAT strides through the crowd, exhausted, covered in sweat
and axle grease. DELANEY stands sipping champagne, looking
like the proper country gent.
DELANEY
Nat, you made it. Sorry about
the drive.
NAT gives DELANEY a foul look.
NAT
(pointing to the
mounting yard)
The horse's exhausted.
FINE COTTON can hardly stay on his legs.
suffering from the trip.
So he is.
done.
DELANEY
Well done Nat.
Well
He is definitely
49.
NAT
(very seriously)
Sometimes I feel I'm missing
something.
CUT TO:
EXT. MEMBERS' BOXES - RACETRACK - DAY
Through BINOCULARS we see DELANEY and NAT chatting, unaware
that they are being watched.
HOOG (V.O.)
What's Delaney doing at the
races?
MASON (V.O.)
He's giving Fine Cotton an
outing. That village idiot,
Hyatta's with him. Very
interesting.
MASON and HOOG both put down their binoculars and scowl.
MASON
I smell a rat.
HOOG
I smell a rat. That nag better
not win. No one fixes a race
around here without asking me
first.
EXT. TRACKSIDE - SOON AFTER - DAY
The HORSES are running.
EXT. TRAINERS' ENCLOSURE - DAY
NAT and DELANEY are watching the race through binoculars.
NAT is jumping up and down.
NAT
I told you he was a V-8.
go!
Go boy,
DELANEY
You idiot, we don't want him to
win.
NAT can't conceal his satisfaction.
Go, boy!
NAT
50.
RACE CALLER (V.O.)
GST's challenging Fine Cotton on
the inside. Fine Cotton losing
ground steadily, GST eating
everything in this race. Persian
Dream looks like he's enjoying
the ride and then Parishioner's
Pray. GST's going away from the
field. It's GST. GST's got the
money.
NAT'S disappointed. DELANEY is pleased.
the back in delight.
He slaps NAT on
CUT TO:
EXT. TRACK FINISHING LINE - DAY

The rest of the field pounds past the finish, FINE COTTON
trails in last, by three lengths.
EXT. LUXURY ESTATE - GOLD COAST - DAY
DELANEY walks through carefully manicured gardens,
surrounding an enormous Victorian manor. RITA HOOG, LAURIE
HOOG's wife, a frail bird-like woman wearing a large straw
sun-hat, suddenly appears around the corner of the
building, barreling towards him on a rider-mower. DELANEY
leaps up the stairs to avoid being cut off at the knees by
RITA. He approaches LAURIE HOOG who is on the terrace
cracking mud crabs, saliva dribbles down his chin onto a
large plastic bib attached to his throat. He is dictating
a letter to his young, Asian Secretary beside him.
HOOG
...and, as a Knight of the Realm
I will indeed do my very best to
uphold the good name of the
Monarchy... blah, blah, usual
bullshit... yours faithfully, Sir
Laurence Hoog. Now, don't get
crab on it - it's going to the
Queen.
He glances up and sees DELANEY.
HOOG
Sit down.
(as he turns to his
Secretary)
Grab us a beer, Tin Tin.
The SECRETARY departs.
51.
HOOG
What're you up to with Fine
Cotton, Delaney?
DELANEY
Fine Cotton's a real racehorse
Laurie. I think he's going to be
something.
HOOG
He's gunna be something all
right, fucking glue. When's he
going to win?
The sound of the RIDER MOWER revving drowns out DELANEY'S
reply. RITA appears from around the corner of the house,
mowing furiously. HOOG waves a beefy arm in her direction.
HOOG
(shouting)
Get off that bloody mower, Rita.
RITA can't hear him over the noise and continues around the
corner of the house as the noise recedes.
HOOG
Now, what did you say Delaney?
RITA returns on the RIDER MOWER and as the sound increases
again, DELANEY replies, but again his reply is drowned out
by the noise. DELANEY smiles and helps himself to HOOG'S
meal.
DELANEY
Excellent crab.
RITA comes around for another pass on the lawn waving at
HOOG. She continues on around the corner. The verandah is
quiet once again.
HOOG
Not the crab. You're up to
something. I can smell it
through my chins.
DELANEY
Laurie, if I was doing anything
illegal, you'd be the first to
know?
HOOG
I'd better be, or you'll earn
yourself another holiday in the
joint.
DELANEY
Laurie, when are you going to
start trusting me?
52.
HOOGS eyes narrow suspiciously.
HOOG
When the gold turns up.
with you isn't he?
Stoker's
DELANEY
(ambiguously)
He wants the gold too, Laurie.
Again RITA approaches on the RIDER MOWER. HOOG sees RITA
backing up the RIDER MOWER around the fish pond. He stands
in a fury, picks up a pot plant and hurls it at her from
the verandah. It lands harmlessly behind the MOWER and she
continues, in blissful ignorance, in a circle around the
pond. DELANEY leaves. The noise is now deafening. HOOG
hurls a phone at RITA. It misses again and splashes into
the pond.
EXT. MCDONALDS RESTAURANT - GOLD COAST - NIGHT
NAT, dressed in an ill-fitting blue flared suit, complete
with skivvy and holding a bunch of flowers, waits, hair
slicked down, in front of a McDonalds Store. A car pulls
in to the curb and toots. It is driven by BIANCA. NAT
smiles and climbs into the passenger seat.
Here, Nat.
BIANCA
A token of my esteem.
NAT has no idea what she's said, but eagerly accepts a

bottle of very good Scotch.
NAT
(handing her flowers)
Bianca, a token of my esteem.
Where we gunna pig out?
EXT. HOTEL POOLSIDE - GOLD COAST - SEVERAL DAYS LATER - DAY
The broadwater is full of YACHTS with their colourful
spinnakers filling the horizon. DELANEY cracks a bottle of
French Champagne. He is in the spa with DICKO who is going
through his notes. NAT is doing bomb dives in the pool.
DELANEY
(indicating the
champagne)
We can thank Warwick Stoker for
this?
Stoker?
DICKO
DELANEY
He financed me at the card game.
53.
DICKO
So how do we hit every track in
Australia at the same time?
DELANEY
Father Crosby and his flock will
look after that.
BIANCA arrives from nowhere and sits down beside them.
is in her poolside gear and looks stunning.
She
BIANCA
Hello, Jack.
DELANEY can't believe this woman's front.
She turns to DICKO.
BIANCA
I'm Bianca Rossini.
Richard Benton.
G'day.
He ignores her.
And you are
DICKO
She shakes hands with DICKO.

a knockout.
DICKO blushes. This woman is
NAT appears in his bathers and goggles and trundles along

the pool deck.
Bianca?
NAT
DELANEY
You two know each other?
BIANCA
I took Nat out for a drink a few
days ago.
DELANEY and DICKO turn to NAT with grim faces.
NAT
I didn't tell her anything!
(to BIANCA)
Did I?
BIANCA
No, all Nat mentioned was some
substitution, that's all.
NAT's mouth drops. DELANEY turns to NAT with cold blue
eyes. A WAITER walks by NAT.
Anarchist!
something?
NAT
Dobber!
Am I missing
54.
WAITER turns his head, looks and throws wine in Nat's face.
DELANEY
Could you excuse Miss Rossini and
I for a minute, boys?
NAT and DICKO look at each other, then rise.
NAT
I'll be in the bar.
NAT and DICKO leave.
he leaves.
DELANEY gives NAT a disgusted look as
DELANEY
What do you want?
BIANCA
I want a story on Frank Mason and
Laurie Hoog.
DELANEY
You think I'm going to talk about
those two?
BIANCA
I'll keep you out of it. The
network will put up five hundred
thousand dollars, if you can
deliver this story.
DELANEY thinks for a moment.
Cash?
DELANEY
BIANCA
If that's how you do business?
DELANEY
I'd have to leave the country.
BIANCA
Majorca's popular.
DELANEY
For that sort of money, I'll give
you so much dirt, and such a big
hole you can bury them all.
DELANEY fixes BIANCA's gaze.
DELANEY
But not until after I've done
what I have to do.
BIANCA nods.
55.
BIANCA
I'm with you from now on. I'll
follow you, whether you like it
to or not. That way, if you
disappear, I'll still have a
story.
BIANCA sits back and sips her drink.
he doesn't show it.
If DELANEY is fazed,
DELANEY
Stoker know about this?
BIANCA
What do you think?
INT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE - TV STUDIOS - LATER - DAY
From the light of a banker's lamp STOKER'S hand is seen
ripping a cheque from his cheque book for $250,000.
BIANCA
He said, cash.
STOKER
Should have said so.
STOKER pushes a button and a portrait of STOKER SENIOR
slides open to reveal a safe.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL COCKTAIL LOUNGE - GOLD COAST - DAY
NAT is chatting up the BARMAID between gulps on his beer.
The BARMAID doesn't buy one bit of it. NAT has obviously
been throwing money around, again.
NAT
My yacht's only a fifty footer,
but the pointy end's roomy.
ERIC DORKMAN steps up to his face.
Hi, Eric.
NAT looks up and grins.
NAT
NAT goes to run but ERIC grabs him by the scruff of his
neck.
DORKMAN
Win at the races did you, Nat?
56.
NAT
Funny I should bump into you.
I've been meaning to ring Frank
about the fifty grand
DORKMAN
The interest meters been
spinning. According to Frank's
calculations, you owe him a
hundred grand.
NAT
A hundred grand!
busted, pal.
Your meter's
DORKMAN
(getting heavy)
That was the deal, imbecile!
NAT
Imbecile? I might not be a brain
surgeon. I may not have any
ethics. I may not have any
morals, but I'm certainly no
idiot.
DORKMAN grabs NAT from his chair.
INT. HOTEL TOILETS - SOON AFTER - DAY
NAT leans against the basin while DORKMAN fixes NAT'S hair.
NAT
Look, I can give you something
after next Saturday. Maybe
twenty grand.
DORKMAN
What's happening on Saturday?
NAT
Nothings happening. I'm
expecting to have a good day at
the races. I mean, I'm just
betting on a hunch.
DORKMAN narrows his eyes suspiciously.
DORKMAN
You're not smart enough to have a
hunch. Cut Mason in on the scam
and maybe I can persuade him to
forget the debt.
57.
NAT
(indignant)
Huh...Do you think you can buy
me?
DORKMAN
(as grabs NAT by the
throat)
If I can't buy you, I'm going to
have to rip your head off.
NAT
Eagle Farm, Fine Cotton in the
fifth. It's a ring-in.
DORKMAN
Thanks, Nat.
EXT. HOTEL POOLSIDE - SOON AFTER - DAY
DELANEY and DICKO watch as NAT reappears, shaken.
DICKO
You're not serious?
DELANEY
Its either that, or they break
the story before we're ready.
Don't worry, Dicko. I think
Bianca's going to be a big help.
DICKO nods in agreement. DELANEY watches NAT as he sits
down. NAT has obviously just had a terrible experience.
DELANEY
Everything okay, Nat?
NAT nods feebly.
DELANEY
It's all right. You didn't mean
to tell Bianca everything, Nat.
A good woman gets the better of a
good man every time.
INT. NIGHTCLUB - GOLD COAST - DUSK
A CLASSY STRIPPER dressed in a pink jockey costume is doing
a routine on a satin hobby horse. The club is packed with
trendy rich types who are sneaking glances towards the back
of the club. The MAITRE'D walks in through the swinging
doors, leading the PIN BROTHERS and makes his way over to a
door.
58.
INT. NIGHTCLUB OFFICE - DAY
The MAITRE'D walks down the hall and knocks on the door.
DORKMAN opens the door. MASON is seated behind his desk.
MASON
What are you two doing here? I
told Marcosi I'd sort it out.
YING
Marcosi wants Delaney wasted.
YANG
And the gold.
MASON
Boys, relax. We'll get it back.
In the mean time, there's a ringin going down on Saturday at
Eagle Farm. I'll put some money
on it for her, through my Bookie,
Briefcase Sharp.
MASON picks up the phone.
CUT TO:
INT. BUNGALOW - BEHIND DELANEY'S RANCH HOUSE - DAY
NICK SHARP has recovered and is back at work. Physically,
we can still tell he's been in the wars. He has a number
of phones set up in DELANEY's bungalow.
SHARP
(on mobile phone)
Of course I'm still here. I'm
indestructible, mate. You don't
need legs to answer the phone.
MASON (O.S.)
That's true.
SHARP
While there's money to be bet,
you can be sure that the
Briefcase is running a book. You
can't stop me, mate.
SHARP hangs up and whacks the top of his desk with delight.
EXT. DELANEY'S RANCH HOUSE - DAY
DELANEY drives up to the RANCH HOUSE in the RANGE ROVER
with BIANCA beside him and DICKO in the back. NAT is
following behind in his MORRIS, towing an empty horse
float. He pulls up behind them and gets out.
59.
NAT
Can I go on the batman ride?
DELANEY
Humor doesn't become you, Nat.
Shut up.
Through the window, they see SHIRLEY sitting on the
verandah, watching BARNUM and BAILEY riding ponies.
BARNUM & BAILEY
(shouting)
Dad! Dad!
BIANCA leans forward to DELANEY.
BIANCA
You have children?
SHIRLEY walks towards them.
DELANEY
(whispering)
You tell my misses what's going
on and I'll bury you. Got me?
SHIRLEY (O.S.)
God, twice this month. You'd
better be careful you don't turn
into a family man, Jack.
DELANEY
(as he exits the jeep)
Tee hee, darling. Everything
above board?
DELANEY tries to kiss her but she keeps it very brief as
BIANCA and DICKO get out of the jeep.
SHIRLEY
You brought company without
giving me any notice.
SHIRLEY glances at BIANCA.
SHIRLEY
Hello.
(to Delaney)
She's young, isn't she?
(lowering her voice)
You make me sick.
DELANEY
(under his breath)
She's a journalist. She's doing
a story.
60.
SHIRLEY
Have you lost your mind?
DELANEY
It's business, Shirl, that's all.
You know Dicko of course.
SHIRLEY
(Referring to Nat)
Who's the ring-in?
NAT
(To Shirley)
Do you have anything by Cat
Stevens?
DELANEY
He's training Fine Cotton.
the ring-in arrive?
Did
SHIRLEY
He's in the stables.
DELANEY
Come on, Nat. Let's go and meet
the winner.
DELANEY and NAT walk off around the house with BARNUM and
BAILEY running ahead. DICKO follows after them. BIANCA is
left alone with SHIRLEY.
SHIRLEY
Come and see the house. Its my
consolation for being a track
widow.
BIANCA hesitates but SHIRLEY gives her a genuinely warm
smile.
SHIRLEY
I said track widow, not black
widow.
SHIRLEY leads BIANCA into the house.
INT. STABLES - SOON AFTER - DAY
A big horse, FINE BY ME, stands snorting in his stall. NAT
approaches with DELANEY, DICKO and the KIDS behind him.
DELANEY
Nat, this is Fine By Me.
NAT
It's fine by me as well, you
Wally?
61.
No, Wally!
the horse.
What?
No.
DICKO
That's the name of
NAT
Wally?
DELANEY
Fine By Me, Wally.
NAT
Yeah, fine by me too.
get me out of this.
Somebody
NAT is stopped when the HORSE appears in front of him.

NAT
Excuse me. It's occurred to me
that Wally doesn't even look like
Fine Cotton!
DELANEY
Nobody will notice Nat.
(as he pats the Ring In)
This horse has had its last three
races on metropolitan tracks in
Victoria. No one up here knows
him.
SHARP comes out from behind the stables.
himself with checking out the horse.
NAT busies
DELANEY
How's business, Briefcase?
SHARP
Mason's hooked. I'm playing him.
To win?
To win.
DELANEY
SHARP
Both SHARP and DELANEY are all smiles. NAT frowns with
intense concentration, looking at FINE BY ME. The horse
won't follow him.
NAT
Wally. Wally. Alright stay
there, get wet if you like, fine
by me.
The HORSE follows him.
DELANEY
(to Sharp)
A horse whisperer.
62.
EXT. FRONT GATES - SOON AFTER - DAY
DELANEY kisses and hugs BARNUM and BAILEY. DICKO and
BIANCA say goodbye. Meanwhile, NAT emerges from the
stable, leading a very frisky FINE BY ME. SHIRLEY turns to
DELANEY.
SHIRLEY
Look after yourself.
DELANEY
Haven't I always?
SHIRELY looks doubtful. NAT unlocks the back of the horse
float, and tries to lead FINE BY ME inside.
NAT
I'll just load him up.
NAT leads FINE BY ME into the float with trepidation.
Suddenly, a frenzy of Neighing and kicking erupts.
SHIRLEY
Good luck. I mean it.
EXT. ALLEYWAY - GOLD COAST - NIGHT
HUGH DEACON-BURNETT slaps KARINE, a stunning looking Asian
girl across the face. She sobs.
HUGH
I told you, no girl in my agency
says no to a client.
KARINE
(sobbing she speaks with
an accent)
I sorry. I need fix. Please,
you fix?
She kisses him on the mouth. He wipes his mouth. She
cowers against the door. HUGH pulls a dime-bag full of
powder out of his pocket and slips it into her hand.
HUGH
Don't nod off on Laurie, he's
family.
He slaps her again, relishing her pain.
INT. KINGS PALACE CASINO GAMING ROOMS - GOLD COAST - NIGHT
Elegant gamblers crowd around the high-stakes roulette
tables as HUGH arrives. Some distance away, DELANEY watches
the activity with BIANCA.
63.
BIANCA (O.S.)
Which one's Deacon-Burnett?
DELANEY (O.S.)
He's the pretty one. He's a pimp
who likes bullying his druggie
girls. That's all he can bully.
His mother's got a house near the
race track
which we'll
need as a base.
BIANCA (O.S.)
Why don't you ask his mother?
DELANEY (O.S.)
Mummy's overseas.
Their POV as we see HUGH plonk himself down at a roulette
table and start playing. DELANEY indicates to BIANCA to go
and join HUGH at the table.
DELANEY
You know what to do.
An ARAB and a JAPANESE are sitting to one side of HUGH.
HUGH is losing large amounts of money while displaying a
fierce bravado. BIANCA sits down in a vacant seat beside
HUGH and takes out a few chips from her purse and starts to
play. HUGH looks uncontrollably at BIANCA. BIANCA sits
there, uncomfortable in his stare as the game proceeds.
DICKO appears at the table dressed as a drink waiter.
BIANCA is surprised to see DICKO. He delivers a drink and
clears an ashtray. He drops a tray of drinks and creates a
major disturbance at the table. As he allows others to
clean it up, he removes HUGH'S wallet. DICKO leaves the
table and walks away. As he does so DELANEY appears and
DICKO discreetly hands DELANEY the wallet. DELANEY
exchanges HUGH'S money for chips and returns to the table.
He puts his arm around BIANCA and starts playing the same
high stakes as HUGH - with HUGH'S money. HUGH is flirting
madly with BIANCA and has no idea how much money he has
left in front of him. HUGH searches for his wallet.
HUGH
My God, I've just lost ten
thousand dollars!
Again?
DEALER
Anymore bets?
HUGH
(as he checks his
pockets)
Hang on.
DELANEY hands HUGH a stack of chips.
64.
DELANEY
Here old man, I'll stake you.
HUGH, confused, looks up at the stranger handing him chips.
DELANEY points to BIANCA who smiles at HUGH. He is
completely flattered and has lascivious thoughts
immediately. HUGH accepts DELANEY'S charity and the game
continues.
HUGH
(whispering to DELANEY)
Thanks for that.
DELANEY
Don't thank me. It was her idea.
Really?
HUGH
INT. CASINO TOILETS - NIGHT - SOON AFTER

HUGH and DELANEY are both standing at individual urinals
relieving themselves.
DELANEY
There's millions in it for you,
Hugh. After the race you'll be
rich.
I am rich.
HUGH
DELANEY
No you're not. Your mother's
rich.
HUGH
Could I be rich?
DELANEY
Of course, if you're the owner.
HUGH
Do I have to be the owner?
HUGH
I said you can use Mother's
house. Isn't that enough?
DELANEY
If anything goes wrong, Uncle
Laurie'll keep you out of jail.
HUGH
Again? My nerves aren't too good
at the moment, Jackson. I'm not
sure I can take the stress.
65.
DELANEY
(leaning closer)
Hugh, did you see the way Bianca
looked at you, before?
No?
HUGH
DELANEY
You didn't see it? She's hot for
you, mate and I know women.
HUGH
Oh God, Bianca, are you serious?
She's hot....for me?
HUGH and DELANEY are now washing their hands.
HUGH
So, how do we organize this?
What?
DELANEY
HUGH
You know. Me, her, the horse,
the other horse, the house,
us.... you know.
DELANEY
Not a problem, Hugh. When I come
out to your mother's mansion
tomorrow, I'll bring Bianca with
me and the registration papers.
HUGH
Don't mention Mother.
EXT. NAT'S TRAILER HOME - BANANA FIELDS - DAY
The sun rises over a huge steaming pile of bananas.
a few scrawny chickens peck at the ground.
Nearby
INT. TRAILER HOME - DAY

NAT sprawls asleep on the couch surrounded by empty beer
cans. FINE COTTON is asleep on the floor with his head on
a bag of feed. A scene from "Romeo & Juliette" is showing
on the TV. NAT wakes up with a start as FINE COTTON moves
and stares into his face. NAT sits up with his hand on
FINE COTTON'S head.
NAT
You could've been a champion.
You coulda been a contender.
66.
FINE COTTON blows his lips.
NAT
Yeah, that's what I thought. But
face it you're in no shape to win
a race. I wish there's something
I could do.
Suddenly, NAT is rocked by the onset of a major idea. He
stares in astonishment at FINE COTTON for a second, then
jumps up and opens a cupboard to produce a small old,
leather box. He blows the dust away, lifts a syringe,
looks at it and replaces it.
NAT
Perfect! Benzo
tryptomegaspeedinol. An oldie but
a goodie. You know what mothers
are like, always dieting. If
it's not past the use by date we
might save your career yet Fine
Cotton. What d'you reckon?
FINE COTTON blows his lips, again.
NAT
Don't make it a habit.
FINE COTTON blows another raspberry.
reservations.
NAT suddenly has
NAT
That's true you're no spring
chicken. Let's see what it does
to Fine By Me Wally.
INT. STABLES - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
NAT looks into the stall. He produces a clear plastic blow
tube from his pocket. He heads towards FINE BY ME, who
rears away.
NAT
Calm down. This is going to hurt
you a lot more than it's going to
hurt me.
NAT reveals the bottle of pills, removes a handful and puts
one in the tube. He puts the tube in the horse's mouth,
holds out its tongue and blows. The horse swallows the
pills. NAT sits bored on a chair, watching FINE BY ME, who
does not move. He stands up and approaches the horse again
and places another pill into the tube and puts it in FINE
BY ME's mouth with his mouth at the other end. As he takes
a deep breath, the HORSE coughs, shooting the pill down
NAT'S throat. The HORSE then rears into the air and kicks
NAT through the wall.
67.
EXT. STABLES - DAY
Wood splinters and chickens scatter as NAT is projected
through the wall. He stands up and clutches his chest, just
as FINE BY ME kicks through the wall opposite and
disappears through the banana plantation at full gallop.
CUT TO:
EXT. DEACON-BURNETT MANSION ESTATE - DAY
DELANEY and BIANCA pull up to the gate in a RED FERRARI.
DELANEY hits the button and the gates automatically swing
open. DELANEY accelerates up the driveway. Rolling grassy
hills spread out from the private road, leading to what
seems like endless rain forest. We reveal a three story
mansion, modern, distinctive and enormous. DELANEY and
BIANCA get out and look around in amazement. A waterfall
pours down from the rocky peak of the hill, forming a
stream that runs through a garden crowded with tall totem
poles from Papua New Guinea, one of which sports a generous
phallus. The front doors open to reveal HUGH. HUGH rushes
out, hair slicked down, wearing a suave Italian jacket and
cravat.
HUGH
Jackson and Bianca, what a
surprise my little poppit.
(to the butler)
Take Mr Delaney's and Miss
Rossini's things to their rooms.
HUGH
(to BIANCA)
Like my totems? From Papua New
Guinea. Phallic don't you think?
Drinks in the study?
He smiles seductively at BIANCA, takes her hand and leads
her inside. DELANEY follows with a bemused expression.
BIANCA shoots a concerned glance at DELANEY.
DELANEY
I've got all the papers for you
to sign. Hugh Deacon-Burnett,
owner of Fine Cotton.
HUGH
Oh, no Jack. I've decided not to
do that owner/trainer thingie.
Too dangerous. You can use
Mother's house but that's it.
I'm not getting in any further.
68.
DELANEY
(to himself)
Too late chuckles. You're up to
your eyeballs in it.
DELANEY follows HUGH and BIANCA inside.
INT. MANSION STUDY - DAY
BIANCA sits self-consciously toying with her drink. HUGH
sits beside her, lust written all over his face. He puts
his hand on her knee, she jumps, then subtly but forcefully
removes it. HUGH leans across and puts his hand around
BIANCA and feels her breast. BIANCA takes his cigarette
and places it into her mouth, inhales and then blows smoke
in his face and then presses it on his chest, sizzling his
hair.
HUGH
You little vixen. Want to play
games? Okee dokkee you call me
the Maquis de Sade.
DELANEY wipes his mouth to hide the smile on his face.
rises and walks to the verandah.
He
DELANEY
Excuse me, I have to make a
couple of urgent calls. I'll use
the verandah.
BIANCA glares at him.
HUGH
If you would. Take your time.
BIANCA looks horrified as DELANEY strolls past.
Excuse me.
BIANCA
With great self-control, she calmly gets to her feet and

hurries after DELANEY, reaching into DELANEY's briefcase on
the sideboard.
I'm sorry?
DELANEY
BIANCA
You forgot your phone.
She reaches the door with the phone just as DELANEY
sheepishly exits.
69.
EXT. MANSION VERANDAH - DAY
BIANCA shuts the door behind her. She's furious but
retains her composed expression. HUGH, watching them from
inside, smiles and waves.
BIANCA
What did you tell him?
Nothing.
DELANEY
BIANCA
He's all over me like herpes at a
twenty first party!
DELANEY
I was hoping it didn't have to be
like this, but we need him.
HUGH stops the conversation when he pops his head out the
door.
HUGH
I must show you my upstairs.
He whisks BIANCA away.
INT. MANSION STUDY - DAY
BIANCA
Tell me about yourself Hugh.
She looks back through the feature window at DELANEY,
indignantly. She pulls the curtains half shut, blows him a
kiss and angrily closes them.
DELANEY smiles and picks up his mobile phone.
number.
He dials a
CUT TO:
INT. CITY CATHEDRAL - BRISBANE - DAY

The mobile phone rings in FATHER CROSBY'S pocket. He pulls
back the screen to check if any customer's have come into
the confessional and answers the phone.
FATHER CROSBY
Father Bing. Aaah Delaney, Eagle
Farm. Race Five, Number Three.
The Lord works in mysterious
ways.
70.
At the back of the confessional, the WOMAN PARISHIONER seen
earlier, is replacing the flowers again. She writes down
the tip, mouthing the information as she does.
CUT TO:
DELANEY turns off the phone and looks out and sees NAT
arriving to the estate.
EXT. ESTATE GROUNDS - DAY
NAT is suffering the extreme effects of the horse pill.
His battered MORRIS hurtles towards the Mansion pulling
FINE COTTON'S float in a cloud of dust. It screeches to a
halt in front of the building. NAT leaps out and within
seconds has the horse standing at the stairs to the
verandah, looking up at DELANEY.
Jack!
NAT
There's been an accident!
DELANEY
Where the hell's the ring-in Nat?
NAT
He went mad! Must have been a
virus. It was horrible.
DELANEY is furious.
DELANEY
You friggin' drop kick. Not
content with telling everyone
from ass hole to breakfast what
I'm up to, you murder the ringin!
NAT
He's still alive. They found him
in Adelaide. Small pox.
NAT is almost running on the spot with nervous energy.
DELANEY
What are you on?
NAT
Shaky ground?
No, Nat.
DELANEY
What've you taken?
Nothing!
NAT
Look, Dicko!
71.
The RANGE ROVER is speeding up the driveway.
no attention.
DELANEY pays
DELANEY
Nat, what have you taken?
NAT
Nothing! A vitamin supplement, a
horsepill!
DICKO emerges from the jeep and calls out.
DELANEY
(pointing to NAT)
He's speeding off his face.
DICKO
Jungle juice!
NAT
Anyone got a drum kit?
DELANEY
Dicko, take Speedo here and stand
on him for a couple of hours
until I work out what to do!
INT. MANSION BEDROOM - DAY
The bedroom is magnificent, with an enormous four-poster
bed, ensuite, sitting room and balcony.
HUGH
...and here's the Master Suite.
You'll be sleeping adjacent.
HUGH moves closer to BIANCA.
Hugh.
She pulls away.
BIANCA
HUGH
You haven't got to know me yet.
HUGH moves even closer. BIANCA spills her drink on his
crutch. HUGH winces. She rises.
BIANCA
God I'm sorry. Lovely real
estate, position, position,
position.
HUGH
Mmmm, the Kama Sutra, darling,
all the positions. Give me
Indian filth, or nothing at all.
72.
BIANCA turns calmly away.
BIANCA
What a lovely balcony.
She breezes out without a backwards glance.
EXT. MANSION BALCONY - DAY
BIANCA watches as DICKO and NAT organize FINE COTTON on the
lawn below. The butler observes.
HUGH appears, weaving
slowly across the balcony towards her. He then looks down
at the lawn with a shocked expression on his face. BIANCA
finally realizes what he's looking at. The HORSE is tied
to the carving of a large penis on a small man.
HUGH
There's a filly tied to my
phallus!
He notices the others below.
HUGH
Who are those people?
CUT TO:
EXT. ESTATE GROUNDS - DAY
NAT holds one end of a rope as he runs from DICKO, who is
trying to reel him in, to no avail.
DICKO
Whoa boy, whoa.
They disappear in a cloud of dust. Nearby, DELANEY paces,
deep in thought. HUGH rushes out the front door, frantic,
confused.
HUGH
What's going on?
DELANEY
I had trouble finding a stable
that would take him.
HUGH
Does this look like a stable?
FINE COTTON looks offended.
DELANEY
Relax, he'll only be here until
tomorrow.
HUGH looks at FINE COTTON and grimaces.
73.
HUGH
Oh look what he's doing.
DELANEY
Fertilizer Hugh.
HUGH rushes anxiously in circles, tearing at his hair.
Oh God!
mind.
HUGH
This isn't what I had in
DELANEY puts his arm around HUGH and leads him back towards
the house.
DELANEY
Now, why don't you relax and go
look after Bianca.
HUGH
(excitedly)
Oh yes. Yes, yes, Bianca.
DELANEY
Don't be put off. It's the Latin
blood, she wants to be dominated,
Hugh.
HUGH strikes a suitably Neanderthal pose and marches
resolutely back into the house. There is a quiet pause
followed by a soft thump, then a much louder thump!
Suddenly, HUGH comes crashing through the window in a
shower of broken glass.
INT. MANSION BATHROOM - DAY
HUGH'S buttocks are covered in small cuts and bruises.
is enjoying himself.
Yes!
Yes!
He
HUGH
Yes!
BIANCA rises up holding a bloodied pair of tweezers. HUGH

looks at the tweezers and swigs desperately on a bottle of
whiskey.
HUGH
I've never done this before. My
bum is being tweezered by a girl.
He winces as she removes a fragment of glass from his
buttock and drops it into a metal bowl. BIANCA is furious.
HUGH watches her storm out, with an enamoured smile.
74.
HUGH
(to himself)
God she's incredible.
love her.
I think I
INT. MANSION LIVING ROOM - DAY

DELANEY is pouring himself a drink. He needs to think and
calm down after the news NAT brought with him. BIANCA
enters pacing like a caged tiger and turns on DELANEY.
BIANCA
You promised him my sexual
favours for his co-operation.
DELANEY
I had to get us in here somehow.
How was I to know he'd come on
like a Rottweiler?
DELANEY regards her for a beat, then crosses to his
briefcase, takes out a contract and hands it to her.
glowers as she puts on her reading glasses.
BIANCA
Transfer of ownership? You're
selling Fine Cotton? To Hugh!
DELANEY
So, if the ring-in's discovered,
Hugh will be the official owner.
BIANCA
Well count me out. If you think
I'm going to go up there to bonk
a needle dicked, sociopath, who's
prettier than I am, you're wrong.
DELANEY
I'm not asking you to go through
with it. Just smooch a signature
out of him. I'll burst in as
soon as you give me the signal.
BIANCA
Get him to sign it yourself.
DELANEY
You wanted to tag along. There's
no free rides on this one babe.
You do what I tell you, or the
deal's off. No expose.
Babe!
BIANCA
Prick!
She
75.
BIANCA is about to argue but there's nothing to say.
DELANEY leads her upstairs.
CUT TO:
EXT. ESTATE GARDENS - DAY
DICKO sits in his car, relaxing with a cigarette while NAT
passes by on a Rider Mower. Half the grass is already
missing as NAT screeches to a halt.
DICKO
Never seen you move so quick.
NAT
What was that? Hey turn the
music up! Great song! Got a
smoke? Where's Bianca? We've
got a thing go'in on. Don't tell
Jack, it'd crush him. Is that
the time?
Before DICKO can speak, NAT drives off again without
pausing.
CUT TO:
INT. MANSION GUEST BEDROOM - DAY
DELANEY is seated on the bed. BIANCA is standing in front
of him, looking at herself in the mirror.
DELANEY
Show me what you're going to do.
As if.
BIANCA
DELANEY
It's important.
BIANCA
(passionless)
Oh Jack, take me now.
Hugh.
DELANEY
His name is Hugh.
BIANCA
Hugh, take me now.
DELANEY
You're not trying very hard.
BIANCA is really annoyed. She kicks off her shoes, grabs
DELANEY by the hair and kisses him passionately.
76.
After an unusually long time, BIANCA comes up for breath
and goes to work on his ear, then works her mouth down his
neck. DELANEY is still in shock.
BIANCA caresses the skin on the nape of his neck and blows.
DELANEY'S face acquiesces to her demands as he starts to
give in. His hands drift down her back and slide around her
waist.
BIANCA
Was that okay?
DELANEY
(clearing his throat)
Not bad. Not bad at all.
BIANCA
I have to go to the bathroom.
DELANEY
(to himself)
You have to go to the bathroom.
BIANCA pulls away and marches off to the bathroom putting
her shoes back on as she goes. DELANEY slides of the bed
in a heap. He huffs and puffs to his feet.
Hey!
DELANEY
What about the rest of it.
BIANCA comes out of the bathroom smiling seductively.

DELANEY smiles as BIANCA reaches for his hand. Suddenly
she grabs him by the wrist and judo throws him to the
floor. BIANCA proceeds to practice her judo on DELANEY
through the next couple of scenes.
CUT TO:
INT. MANSION BEDROOM - DAY
HUGH, beside himself with ecstasy has a glass to the wall
listening to DELANEY and BIANCA hit the carpet in the next
room. HUGH'S voyeurism is interrupted as music swells
through the house.
CUT TO:
INT. MANSION SUN ROOM - DAY
DICKO is playing a game of solitaire on the coffee table.
In the corner, NAT pumps and peddles at an old pianola like
a marathon Runner, bursting forth with a honky-tonk
rendition of "There's a Tavern in Town".
77.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - DAY
BIANCA enters, carrying the ownership papers and shuts the
door behind her. HUGH quivers with anticipation.
BIANCA
Hugh darling, there's something I
really need you to do.
BIANCA kneels beside him.
gently takes his hand.
HUGH is beside himself.
She
INT. MANSION SUN ROOM - DAY

DICKO watches, as NAT peddles the pianola. The music stops
and NAT keeps peddling until the piano role tears and spews
all over the room, covering NAT in shredded paper.
DICKO
You should try and relax Nat.
NAT
I haven't blinked since Tuesday!
Any requests?
We hear HUGH'S shriek of pain and ecstacy.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - DAY
BIANCA has HUGH pinned on the bed, her knee on his neck and
one arm twisted up his back.
BIANCA
Sign it greaseball!
She twists his arm a few notches further up his back.
screams again.
He
CUT TO:
EXT. ROAD - OUTSIDE MANSION ESTATE - DAY
The PIN BROTHERS are in a car watching the mansion and the
tireless NAT as he clips a long hedge with a pair of
shears.
INT. MANSION LIVING ROOM - DAY
BIANCA comes down the stairs and hands DELANEY the papers.
DELANEY smiles.
78.
EXT. MANSION FRONT DOOR - DAY - SOON AFTER
LOW GEAR, the jockey has arrived on a mo-ped.
LOW GEAR
What's shakin'? Where's this
horse I'm s'posed to ride? Nat
here?
DICKO
He's doing some gardening.
CUT TO:
EXT. ESTATE GARDENS - DAY
NAT stands puffing, involuntarily moving his feet up and
down. We see the entire hedge has been clipped away to
nothing. FINE COTTON stands nearby, interested only in a
bed of daisies. DICKO and LOW GEAR approach NAT, impressed
by his creativity.
LOW GEAR
How are you Nat?
NAT
I'm a bit thirsty.
Yourself?
LOW GEAR
Your wife sends her regards.
NAT
Home wrecker!
NAT lurches at LOW GEAR and strangles him to the ground.
DELANEY and BIANCA approach.
DELANEY
Nat had an accident with the ringin, Low Gear.
LOW GEAR
(as he gets up and
brushes himself)
Where is it, Nat?
NAT
Somewhere in Adelaide. Horse
stroke. Headache. He's dead.
LOW GEAR
So it's off?
DELANEY
We're not stopping now.
79.
NAT
Any one need any ironing done?
Everyone looks at NAT.
DELANEY
We need another horse, Nat.
NAT screams.
DELANEY
It's organized.
BIANCA
There's no time!
DELANEY, NAT, BIANCA, DICKO and LOW GEAR all shout and
argue at once. Meanwhile, THE PIN BROTHERS appear, having
just walked up the driveway. They wait to be noticed, but
everyone is too busy shouting to pay attention. YING PIN
raises his sawn-off shotgun in the air and fires. Everyone
turns at once, including FINE COTTON.
DELANEY
Looking for someone?
YANG PIN
We keep eye on you from now on.
Many people put a lotta money on
this race.
DELANEY
Perfect. Now I'm sure you boys
could use a drink.
HUGH appears, limping, furiously down the driveway.
That's it!
HUGH
Everyone pauses. HUGH has worked himself into a frenzy

over the appearance of the PIN BROTHERS.
HUGH
I want everyone off my property!
I mean it! Out, all of you!
He sees the remains of the ruined hedge.
HUGH
Mother's hedge! You freaks!
want you all out!
Everyone looks at BIANCA.
contract.
She holds up the signed
80.
DELANEY
You're missing the point here,
Hugh. If we don't go through with
this, these Chinese gentlemen
will shoot us.
HUGH turns and stares at THE PIN BROTHERS.
HUGH
(worried)
I'll call Uncle Laurie.
DELANEY
He'll find out you cut him out of
a good thing.
A mobile phone is ringing in the background. NAT follows
the sound and walks over to HUGH'S vintage Bentley and
reaches in the open window and answers the call.
I didn't!
HUGH
I didn't know!
BIANCA
You're the registered owner of
Fine Cotton, Hugh. Or whatever
horse is running under that name.
NAT
Call for Hugh.
I'm Hugh.
Who's Hugh?
HUGH
NAT
Oh you, you're Hugh.
Hugh, phone for you.
Here you go
NAT hands the mobile phone to HUGH.

HUGH
NAT looks at Hugh - his line's been stolen.
HUGH takes the phone.
DELANEY hears him.
HOOG's voice screams down the line.
HOOG (O.S.)
Going behind my back are we Hugh?
HUGH
Uncle Laurie, of course not,
blood's thicker than water.
81.
HOOG (O.S.)
Tell Delaney I'm in on this gig
or he'll be back in the kitchen
before he knows what day it is
and I'm serious. I weigh thirty
fuckin' stone and I'll sit on
him.
HUGH stares at DELANEY.
DELANEY
(whispering to DICKO)
Where are we going to find
another ring-in? It couldn't be
better. Laurie's hooked. We
can't miss this opportunity.
EXT. ROAD - DAY - SOON AFTER
The RANGE ROVER pulls up to edge of the road. DICKO gets
out of jeep with a coin and flicks it, slapping it on his
arm.
Heads.
NAT
CUT TO:
EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

NAT is halfway up a telephone pole.
Shit.
NAT
While DICKO waits in the car below, NAT teeters

precariously up the telephone pole, cutting the lines with
a pair of wire cutters. He overbalances and plummets to
the ground with a muffled scream.
CUT TO:
INT. OFFICE - GOLD COAST - DAY
Trophies and photographs of a man with cups and
celebrities, dating back twenty years can be seen in a
glass cabinet. LES BRACKNER (60's), grey hair and athletic
for his age, Gold Coast horse trainer, holds a phone in one
hand while scrutinizing a cheque he holds in the other.
DELANEY hands BRACKNER registration papers, smiling
politely. BRACKNER presses the phone irritably.
82.
DELANEY
Have you got a brilliant middle
distance horse that could double
for this one?
No.
BRACKNER
Shit, I've lost the line!
He hangs up the phone.

DELANEY
It's a disgrace. You can call
Iceland for fifty cents, but you
can't get through to a bank on a
Friday afternoon.
BRACKNER eyes the cheque dubiously.
BRACKNER
No. No, I can't. Sorry.
DELANEY
I don't have time for this, Les.
We need the horse. If you don't
want sixty grand tax free, then
I'll find someone who does.
BRACKNER goes to the door with the cheque.
BRACKNER
I'll check the stables and see
what I've got.
DELANEY watches BRACKNER outside making a call.
EXT. OFFICE - DAY
BRACKNER is on a mobile phone.
BRACKNER
Yeah, all right Laurie if you say
it's on the up and up its fine by
me.
BRACKNER walks back into the room.
DELANEY
Laurie amenable?
BRACKNER
(slyly)
Yeah. Just load it up quickly
and get out of here.
DELANEY
Pleasure doing business with you.
83.
Yeah sure.
BRACKNER
Get on with it.
EXT. MANSION GROUNDS - DAY - LATER

NAT and DICKO are towing a horse float up to the house.
NAT has a band aid across the corner of his eye and is
holding an ice pack above it. The others are gathered on
the verandah waiting expectantly.
DELANEY
Well, get the winner out Nat.
Let's see how we did.
NAT unloads SPLIT PERSONALITY, a grey horse, which is twice
the size and a distinctively different color to FINE
COTTON. Everyone is in shock.
NAT
(taking control)
Everyone relax. Low Gear, get
some brushes to paint with.
Dicko, unhook the horse float.
Bianca, I'll be back. I'll give
you a hand, Dicko.
BIANCA looks very concerned but sees DELANEY looking
relaxed.
EXT. MANSION GARDENS - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
NAT is hammering at the bolt, holding the horse float to
the RANGE ROVER, as DICKO crawls underneath to place bricks
to support its weight.
NAT
Give me a hand will you.
DICKO (O.S.)
I'm underneath the float!
NAT
(as he hits the bolt
again)
You're where?
The FLOAT falls with a crash, pinning DICKO underneath.
DICKO screams in pain.
Oh shit!
Piss off!
NAT
Let me help you Dicko.
DICKO
DELANEY and BIANCA rush over.
84.
DELANEY
(to BIANCA)
Call emergency triple 0.
INT. PHARMACY - NIGHT
The PHARMACIST watches as NAT scans the shelves behind her.
NAT
Could I have some hair dye
please?
PHARMACIST
Which color?
The PHARMACIST pulls down a box and puts it on the counter.
NAT
I'm trying to match this,
er...for ah my girlfriend.
NAT pulls out a clump of FINE COTTON'S hair. The
PHARMACIST picks up the hair and examines it.
PHARMACIST
It's very coarse.
NAT
I didn't say she was attractive.
The PHARMACIST lets this pass and gets another box of hair
colour.
NAT
I'll need three dozen of those
thanks and two boxes of anything
close to that colour.
PHARMACIST
One sachet will last her for
weeks.
NAT
Its for more than one lady.
PHARMACIST
How many ladies is it for?
NAT
Mind your business. If you must
know we're going to a fancy dress
party as Phar Lap. Could you
pick up the pace? I'm in a hurry.
The PHARMACIST turns and pulls down all the boxes she can
find.
85.
PHARMACIST
I've only got two dozen.
NAT
That's fine. Just give me these
and I'll have a dozen of the
closest thing you've got.
The PHARMACIST shrugs and pulls down some more boxes while
NAT digs for his money. NAT pays for it with HUGH'S card.
EXT. MANSION GARDENS - NIGHT - LATER
FINE COTTON is dining in a glasshouse on a collection of
prize orchids. FINE COTTON breaks wind and looks over at
SPLIT PERSONALITY and blows his lips. Nearby, BIANCA
carries a bucket out from the house and drops it beside
half a dozen other buckets where NAT is applying hair dye
to SPLIT PERSONALITY with a paint roller.
BIANCA
Are you sure you know what you're
doing?
NAT
If Jack didn't think I was
capable, he wouldn't have left it
up to me. And as for you, you
Jezebel.
NAT is miffed and walks away.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN EXT. RACETRACK - BRISBANE - MORNING
CAPTION : THE DAY OF THE RACE
The racetrack is bedecked with balloons, workers putting
flower displays into place, jockeys and trainers walk
around examining the track. Various vendors, hot dogs,
hamburgers, icecreams and gourmet marquees have been
erected. In pride of place, in front of the main pavilion,
a GOLDEN RACEHORSE is being lifted by a crane onto its
mount.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
It seemed at first that Delaney
had it moving like clockwork.
Hugh owned the horse and Bianca's
story was getting juicier and
juicier by the minute. Hoog and
his cohorts thought they knew the
form and were anticipating a
killing.
(MORE)
86.
But there was more afoot on the
course of course, than those
money-eating cannibals
understood.
CUT TO:
EXT. MANSION ESTATE GROUNDS - DAY
TIGHT SHOT of DELANEY'S look of pure shock.
in a suit, ready for the big race.
He is dressed
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And as the conspirator's braved
the morning light, Nat's
expertise with paint was
revealed. Who was to know that
Nat was influenced by the
impressionist period?
Everyone is standing, resplendent in their Race Day
threads, staring at NAT who is smiling nervously. Beside
him, SPLIT PERSONALITY stands like a fire truck, gleaming
bright crimson in the morning light, with some grey showing
through and a honey blonde blotch on his hind quarters.
Nat!
DELANEY
EXT. MANSION ESTATE GARDENS - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

DICKO, NAT, BIANCA, LOW GEAR and HUGH are all dressed in
barbecue aprons scrubbing the color off SPLIT PERSONALITY
with swirl-ons and bottles of shampoo. DELANEY approaches.
DELANEY
Nat, I've got a problem.
NAT
You've got a problem.
What?
DELANEY
The trainer I lined up to front
today fell through.
NAT
Fell through! Shit!
die!
I'm gunna
DELANEY
I honestly didn't know.
NAT
Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
There is no way that I am going
to jail for you, snigger guts.
87.
DELANEY
Who's going to go to jail?
ring-in is a shoe in.
The
NAT
No way! I'm out Goldfinger! I
told you from the beginning, I
wouldn't front on the day, and I
won't. Me and the real Fine
Cotton are out of here.
FINE COTTON blows out his lips again as YING PIN appears,
blocking NAT'S way. NAT screams.
EXT. MANSION FRONT GATES - DAY
We see a convoy of cars leaving the estate. BIANCA and
DELANEY are in the FERRARI. LOW GEAR (from the eyebrows
up) is driven by HUGH in HUGH's mother's vintage BENTLEY,
followed by NAT in his MORRIS towing the HORSE FLOAT. The
PIN BROTHERS take up the rear. The convoy of cars pull out
onto the main road past the destroyed garden hedge. Over
the road, DORKMAN sits watching them from his car. He
follows the group.
CUT TO:
INT. RACE TRACK - RACECALLER'S BOOTH - DAY
ROY and HG are commentating on the progress of the day to
their audience.
ROY
Well HG, god didn't make little
green apples but he certainly
made a good day for today's
Queensland carnival.
HG
Yes Roy, you couldn't be more
right if you were. It's an
incredible day for this time of
the year. God must love a punt.
But there are false idols here
today, Roy, that paper mache
racehorse bedecked in golden
paint is a worry.
CUT TO:
88.
EXT. RACETRACK ENTRANCE - DAY
The crane is still lifting the GOLDEN HORSE onto its mount.
It's a large crane, but the weight of the GOLDEN HORSE
lifts it off its back supports. The CRANE DRIVER is
sweating profusely.
EXT. RACE TRACK REAR GATES - DAY
NAT'S car comes to rest next to a track OFFICIAL. The
OFFICIAL, showing the attitude of a bored bureaucrat, is
more interested in a Bali brochure.
OFFICIAL
A random check. Papers!
NAT stares ahead gripping the wheel.
NAT
No thanks, I've given up.
OFFICIAL
The registration papers?
Oh!
NAT
NAT fumbles through the glove box producing a scrawny piece

of paper.
OFFICIAL
Not for the car, for the horse.
NAT
For Fine Cotton?
STEWARD
(as he motions forward)
Oh, Fine Cotton! Screw the
paperwork, on your bike.
Oh?
NAT
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK - DAY

The grandstand is filling up with people. HORSES, JOCKEYS,
TRAINERS and OWNERS crowd the MOUNTING YARD below.
CUT TO:
89.
EXT. RACE TRACK CARPARK - DAY
BIANCA and DELANEY get out of the FERRARI and go their
seperate ways.
DELANEY
You know what you're doing?
BIANCA
Are you kidding?
EXT. RACE TRACK STABLES - DAY.
NAT unloads SPLIT PERSONALITY and leads him into the
stables. A STEWARD follows him. NAT shields his face in
an ineffective attempt to pretend he's not there. He is
approached by the STEWARD.
STEWARD
This horse look lighter than the
last time you raced him.
(to himself)
Not to mention the color.
NAT
We've been feeding him a secret
formula.
(gesturing pointlessly)
It's.....lighter...All above
board...It's totally legal. Take
a blood test.
NAT scurries away before the STEWARD has time to respond,
and runs right into DORKMAN.
NAT
Listen Eric, tell Frank I'm very,
very, very busy right now. I
don't know if you know this but
I've got a very important race.
DORKMAN rips NAT from the ground and drags him away by his
collar.
NAT
On the other hand, I've always
got time to speak to Frank.
YANG, who is nearby, glances up from his racing form and
goes into action, reaching into his own coat.
DORKMAN
(to Yang)
Wait your turn. Frank wants to
see him first.
90.
YANG relaxes. NAT looks up between YANG and DORKMAN, a
small piece of meat in the sandwich.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - DAY
BOOKIES are hard at work taking bets from all directions.
Punters become more enthusiastic and we see the odds on
FINE COTTON falling rapidly as the BOOKIE'S frantically
adjust their boards. CLACKERS CLARK, a BOOKIE, is standing
on a box and is monitoring the boards closely. He waves to
his assistant. In the background we see the GOLDEN HORSE.
CLACKERS
Cover for me.
CLACKERS moves towards a door marked "Private".
INT. HOOG'S PRIVATE BOX - DAY
NAT stumbles into the box, pushed by DORKMAN. He finds
himself face to face with MASON, STOKER, HOOG and HUGH.
HUGH goes into shock as NAT quickly looks away.
NAT
Looking well, Frank.
MASON
Is the ring-in here?
NAT
He's here, he's here.
Everything's going like cock,
cockwork, eer, clockwork. I've
gotta sidle up. No rest for the
wacked. Oh fuck it. Bye.
HUGH looks at NAT on this remark.
runs.
NAT feigns laughter and

CUT TO:
INT. VARIOUS T.A.B. BETTING OUTLETS - DAY

Punters are scrambling impatiently at windows to place bets
as they watch the odds monitor. They are all betting on
FINE COTTON.
CUT TO:
91.
INT. HOOG'S PRIVATE BOX - RACE TRACK - DAY
CLACKERS appears at the entrance to the box and clears his
throat.
MASON
(to Clackers)
What's the problem?
CLACKERS
There's been a plunge on Fine
Cotton.
MASON
Shit! Jesus that Hyatta's got a
big mouth. Blow out the odds on
the other runners, give 'me
anything, just stop them betting
on Fine Cotton. Give them
another favourite. Set
Bullworker at 2's. That'll work
and when Fine Cotton reaches
fours, hit everyone.
CLACKERS nods and exits.
CUT TO:
INT. MR WHIPPY VAN - DAY
BIANCA is looking at a monitor that has picked up CLACKER'S
exiting from the VIP box and she looks into the camera.
BIANCA
Getting this?
DIRECTOR
You betcha!
CUT TO:
HUGH gets up to leave but HOOG shoves him back down in his
seat.
HOOG
Where the hell are you going?
HUGH
I...er...was just going to watch
the race at the post. You
remember what National Velvet did
to me.
92.
HOOG
Sit down, ya punce. Like me
golden horse. It's a surprise for
me from the committee. It's for
all me good works in the
industry.
MASON
(to himself)
Jesus, I'm going down to watch my
money.
STOKER
I'm with you.
EXT. RACE TRACK - BETTING RING - DAY
BIANCA enters, wearing a blue dress and carrying a large
black handbag with a lens poking out. She steps up to
CLACKERS. Bianca adjusts her earpiece. CLACKERS gives her
a patronising look and then smiles at her.
CLACKERS
All right, love. If that's what
you want to do. But I'd be
putting it all on Fine Cotton.
The other BOOKIES look around at CLACKERS's innuendo.
CLACKERS
Let me see. The odds on Fine
Cotton to win are...
(as he checks the board)
Going out! Oooh, who's a lucky
girl then? Four to one.
BIANCA hands CLACKERS a wad of notes, turns and walks away
towards the stands. It is revealed that BIANCA's FILM CREW
have been filming the whole thing. MASON'S RUNNER hurries
off. We see DELANEY nearby, checking the prices. STOKER
puts his hand on DELANEY'S shoulder.
STOKER
Is that fucking golden horse what
I think it is?
DELANEY
Only way I could get it in
legally. Customs love art coming
into the country.
STOKER
What am I supposed to do with it?
DELANEY
That's your business I've
delivered.
93.
EXT. RACE TRACK FRONT GATES - DAY
A huge white ROLLS ROYCE pulls up in front of the gates.
An ASIAN CHAUFFEUR jumps out and opens the door. A big
woman in a man's white suit, Panama hat and cane, gets out.
It is ISMERELDA MARCOSI. The PIN BROTHERS rush from inside
the racecourse to greet her.
MARCOSI
When I say kill the little
freaks, you do it. The plane is
waiting. But if they give me my
money we leave quietly.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - EAGLE FARM - DAY
MASON dials his mobile phone.
MASON
Let her rip, boys.
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - MELBOURNE - DAY
MASON'S MELBOURNE BOOKIE takes a mobile phone call, then
hands his ASSISTANT a wad of cash.
MELBOURNE BOOKIE
Mason says spread this around on
Fine Cotton, in the fifth at
Eagle Farm.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - SYDNEY - DAY
More cash change hands.
SYDNEY BOOKIE
Fine Cotton, Eagle Farm in the
fifth.
CUT TO:
A TIGHT SHOT of a LONDON BOOKIE, Buckingham Palace in the
background.
Righto.
LONDON BOOKIE
CUT TO:
A TIGHT SHOT of a HONG KONG BOOKIE, the harbour in the

background.
94.
HONG KONG BOOKIE
Eagle Farm.
CUT TO:
A TIGHT SHOT of a BOOKIE in Vanuatu, beach in the
background.
Laid.
VANUATU BOOKIE
CUT TO:
A TIGHT SHOT of a FRENCH BOOKIE sitting at a cafe on the

Riviera.
Race five.
FRENCH BOOKIE
CUT TO:
A TIGHT SHOT of a RUSSIAN BOOKIE, the Kremlin in the

background.
RUSSIAN BOOKIE
Brisbane, Australia.
CUT TO:
MASON is back from the betting ring and MARCOSI has also
arrived with YANG.
MASON
(to MARCOSI)
We'll put it on with Sharp.
This'll put most of those poor
bookies out of business. Anyone
seen Sharp yet?
MASON talks into his mobile phone.
MASON
Sharp? I want to place that bet,
we discussed the other day.
INT. RACE TRACK TOILETS - DAY
SHARP is at the basin, looking in the mirror at the fading
scars on his face. He talks on his mobile phone.
SHARP
Of course, Frank. I'm always
open for your business.
95.
MASON
How are the legs Sharp? Your
business could do with a boost
couldn't it? I've got to lay off
money on Fine Cotton in the fifth
at Eagle Farm. I could get
caught.
The commotion surrounding the BOOKIES has grown as PUNTERS
all scramble to get their bets on FINE COTTON. DELANEY
stands waiting, with YING uncomfortably close behind him.
He decides he needs to lose him. DELANEY spots FATHER
CROSBY, who is jostling his way through the crowd, dressed
in his full priest's outfit. He winks at DELANEY. They
both watch the odds boards. FATHER CROSBY waits for
DELANEY'S signal.
CUT TO:
INT. PLANE - DAY
Six NUN'S are splitting money and pushing it into back
packs.
CUT TO:
DELANEYS POV on the odds board of all the runners in race
five.
DELANEY
Here we go.
DELANEY gives the nod.
pager.
FATHER CROSBY reaches down to his
We see him press a few buttons and read the message he is

sending: "Go forth and multiply". FATHER CROSBY approaches
a BOOKIE.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
As we all know the greatest plans
can go wrong. Or the most
disordered plans go right. One
of Murphy's Laws that is often
not remembered. Our players were
crawling along a razor's edge.
(MORE)
96.
Who was to be disemboweled was
still a mystery, but not for long
I promise you.
CUT TO:
INT. PLANE - DAY
The NUNS, backpacks in hand prepare to parachute out of the
plane.
NUN
Ready?
earth.
Don't worry Sisters, the meek shall inherit the
NUN
Saints preserve us.
They all jump out the plane.
CUT TO:
INT. RACECALLER'S BOOTH - DAY
ROY
What a glorious sight, HG.
HG
You took the words out of my
mouth Roy, what a glorious sight.
Let's look at the runners. Seems
to be action in the ring. I see
Fine Cotton has started to move.
ROY
Given his run last week, you'd
really have to be a flank wit.
HG
He seems to have put on a few
pounds though, Roy.
ROY
Not to mention his ski parker red
tonings.
CUT TO:
97.
SHIRLEY DELANEY approaches the betting ring, carrying a
large hand bag. She walks to the nearest Bookie.
SHIRLEY
I'm new to this, what's this
seven to one business?
BOOKIE
There's one chance he'll win,
seven chances he won't.
PUNTER
Come on lady. It means you put a dollar on and if it wins
ya get seven, none of this metaphysical bullshit.
The BOOKIE is impatient because he wants to take money from
the punting crowd behind her.
SHIRLEY
Is he going to win this time?
BOOKIE
Have no idea darling, it's a
horse race, anything can happen,
but if it wins you'll be
laughing.
SHIRLEY
Laughing's good for the soul.
All the BOOKIES are silent for a moment.
SHIRLEY
I'll have twenty thousand dollars
on Bullworker. To win. It's
only money. And the house with
no steps needs a new ramp I can
tell you.
NUN stands beside SHIRLEY and talks to a another BOOKIE.
NUN
Excuse me I'm new at this, you're obviously a professional.
Could you guide me?
BOOKIE
Look I don't want to take your
money sister, I used to be an
altar boy. Fine Cotton is going
to win.
98.
NUN
As God is my tipster, I want ten grand on Bullworker to
win.
SHIRLEY looks around the ring and the nuns are all placing
ten thousand dollar cash bets on BULLWORKER.
NUN
Ten grand to win.
BOOKIE
On Fine Cotton?
NUN
No Bullworker, it's in the book of revelations.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - MELBOURNE - DAY
TIGHT SHOT of another pager with the same message being
read by someone else in a cassock.
A priest in similar dress to FATHER CROSBY, reads his pager
message and sets marching towards the BOOKIES. A sequence
follows where several PRIESTS place bets on a number of
different race tracks on BULLWORKER.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK BETTING RING - BRISBANE - DAY
FATHER CROSBY approaches the BOOKIES.
FATHER CROSBY
What are the odds on Bullworker
in the fifth?
FATHER CROSBYS VOICE is drowned out by the P.A. making some
announcement.
INT. RACE TRACK BAR - DAY
NAT walks up to the bar, a bundle of nerves and orders a
drink from a BARMAID.
NAT
I'd like an orgasm, thanks
He glances around as YING PIN steps up beside him.
99.
Hi, Ying.
NAT
NAT gulps down a drink .

NAT
Sorry, did I miss something?
NAT heads to the door. LES BRACKNER meets NAT as he comes
in the door. They're face to face.
BRACKNER
Aren't you s'posed to be in the
mounting yard for Fine Cotton's
race? You are the trainer!
When BRACKNER says this, the people in the bar look around
at NAT. They've all bet on FINE COTTON and he's the
trainer. NAT reacts to the attention by taking a curtain
call, blows a few kisses and exits from the bar. DORKMAN
follows.
INT. JOCKEY'S ROOM - DAY
Several jockeys mingle around. TIGHT SHOT of one JOCKEY
(ENFORCER) as strolls to check his weight on the scale. He
steps on the scale and he moves the balance to get his
exact weight. He steps off. LOW GEAR approaches him.
ENFORCER
What are ya riding?
A V-8.
LOW GEAR
Fine Cotton.
Listening jockeys laugh.

ENFORCER
Apparently you're travelling easy
today.
LOW GEAR
What are you on?
ENFORCER
A lawnmower at this stage of the
game, Bullworker.
LOW GEAR and ENFORCER exchange slaps on the back.
CUT TO:
NAT rushes over to DELANEY.
YANG follows behind.
100.
Jack!
NAT
DELANEY
You're supposed to be in the
mounting yard with the horse!
NAT
I was just trying to get rid of
him. (indicating YING)
DELANEY
Just give him the slip.
NAT tries to do what DELANEY just did with YING, as he
heads off, but fails miserably. YING remains right behind.
FATHER CROSBY walks past on his way out to the stands.
We see him talk to an OLD MAN in a WHEELCHAIR and then
wheel him through the tunnel under the stands. They go
into the men's restrooms.
SHARP stands splashing water on to his face from the sink.
He reaches into his pocket and produces a handgun and
checks the magazine. He puts it away as FATHER CROSBY and
the OLD MAN enter. He looks at FATHER CROSBY but does not
acknowledge him.
FATHER CROSBY
(to old man)
If you lend me your wheelchair
for half an hour, I'll put a bet
on the winner for you.
EXT. RACE TRACK TOILETS - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
SHARP sits in the WHEELCHAIR with a rug over his legs
holding a briefcase. FATHER CROSBY pushes the wheelchair.
EXT. RACE TRACK MOUNTING YARD - DAY
NAT leads SPLIT PERSONALITY into the
approaches him to receive his riding
the reins of the RING-IN who now has
around his legs. A STEWARD carrying
approaches.
ring and LOW GEAR

instructions. He has
white bandages wrapped
a clipboard
STEWARD
You the trainer?
NAT screams. YING moves up beside him, staring down
expectantly. NAT pulls out the papers but his hands are
shaking violently.
101.
The STEWARD rolls his eyes and continues his examination of
the papers. DELANEY discreetly loosens the tape off a
front leg bandage.
STEWARD
(to Nat)
Try and keep it together. I've
got my pay cheque riding on Fine
Cotton.
NAT nods automatically and scurries off, followed by YING.
The horses move onto the track.
EXT. RACE TRACK GRANDSTAND - DAY
By now, they are all seated waiting for the race to begin.
HOOG sits with MASON and HUGH either side of him. MARCOSI
and YANG are also present. MASON is on the aisle.
An array of glamorous WOMEN sit around.
MASON
Kick ya sandals off and put your
feet up, it's gunna be a great
night tonight! I smell money!
Both MASON and HOOG'S eyes narrow as they see SHARP appear
in his wheelchair and place himself in the aisle beside
MASON. YANG remembers SHARP'S face and gets up to brutalise
him. MARCOSI motions him down.
Yang.
MARCOSI
Wait.
HOOG
I smell dogshit!
MASON
(referring to the
briefcase)
You going to pay me before the
race?
SHARP
Frank, I've so much riding on one
of the runners in the next race,
if it wins I'll be history. I
was hoping you might let me lay a
bet with you for insurance.
HOOG blurts out at the suggestion.
MASON
Which horse?
SHARP
What are the odds on Bullworker?
102.
MARCOSI, HOOG and YING have difficulty stifling their
laughter. This guy can't even get on to a ring-in when it's
going.
MASON
You can have 10 to 1, Nick...For
old times sake.
SHARP
Done. You'll witness that won't
you, Father?
FATHER CROSBY who, up until now, has just been an innocent
bystander, sticks his head in.
FATHER CROSBY
The good lord will be our
witness.
MASON
Open the bag, Sharp.
SHARP opens the briefcase and it appears to be all cash.
MASON and HOOG look at each other. HOOG takes the money
and SHARP looks at MASON, expectantly. He hands the
briefcase back to SHARP.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK CARPARK - DAY
An OFFICIAL approaches the driver of the crane.
OFFICIAL
Mr Stoker wants the golden horse
back in the truck. It was just up
for the opening ceremony.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK FENCE - DAY
BIANCA and DELANEY have linked up and prepare to watch the
race together. BIANCA is very excited. DELANEY is still
cool.
EXT. RACE TRACK MOUNTING YARD - DAY
NAT legs LOW GEAR up into the saddle and rides SPLIT
PERSONALITY out onto the track.
HG (O.S.)
Roy, it warms the cockles of your
imagination doesn't it?
(MORE)
103.
HG (O.S.) (cont'd)
To see so many families, punters,
young and old having the time of
their lives on this day of days.
ROY (O.S.)
Hang on HG there seems to be
movement at the station. I've
never seen anything like this
before. The odds are
schizophrenic. They're up and
down like a bride's nightie.
HG
Well Roy its always good to have
time to yourself.
MONTAGE of quick shots of all the expectant PLAYERS before
the race. We see one of FATHER CROSBY'S PRIESTS getting
ready, SHARP, WOMAN PARISHIONER from the cathedral, the row
of villains in the member's stand (HOOG, MASON, MARCOSI,
HUGH and YING). The final shot is of NAT with the other
TRAINERS.
EXT. RACE TRACK STARTING GATES - DAY
LOW
the
the
and
GEAR urges SPLIT PERSONALITY forward and is settled in

starting gates. The other JOCKEYS are sniggering at
sight of the RING-IN. The HORSES bolt from the gates
the race is on.
INT. RACECALLER'S BOOTH / EXT RACE TRACK AS REQUIRED - DAY

ROY
And they're racing! First out of
the barriers is White Pointer,
doing what he does best. He's got
the jump on the rest of the
field, settling down behind is
Charles Manson looking for a run
on the rails. But the favourite,
Fine Cotton seems to be tucked in
at the tail end, followed by
Bullworker who was trailing but
is moving up through the field
now.
MASON and HOOG watch through binoculars, while YING refuses
to take his eyes off SHARP.
HG (O.S.)
Barbra Cartland is looking for a
bit of romance with the outside
rails.
104.
ROY (O.S.)
She'll take her make-up off if
she's not careful. If she's on
the outside I'll give her a big
miss.
HG (O.S.)
Fine Cotton's not taking no for
an answer. He's looking for an
inside run, but its incredulous
isn't it Roy?
ROY (O.S.)
Certainly is HG.
ROY (O.S.)
Not seen very often but the other
horses seem to be picking up the
power of this rocket through the
trembling of the turf. And yes
she's through to the front of the
pack as they enter the straight.
Barbra Cartland getting testy,
doesn't like this run. Whooo,
I'll Take Manhattan has thrown
the rider and Bullworker's moving
up steadily, only two lengths
off the leaders. Errol Flynn is
certainly showing what eight
lengths can do for your self
esteem, and he's taken second
place to fight out the last four
hundred. I can barely contain
myself HG.
HG (O.S.)
Neither can I, Roy.
ROY (O.S.)
It's going to be close,
Bullworker and Fine Cotton have
split from the pack. They're
neck and neck. He's gone for the
whip on Fine Cotton.
HG (O.S.)
Hold on a mo there's jeapordy on
the track, as Fine Cotton's band
aid comes unstuck.
EXT. RACE TRACK - DAY
SPLIT PERSONALITY'S bandage starts to unravel and flaps
across his other leg, exposing his grey coat.
105.
BIANCA is beside herself while DELANEY is noticeably quiet
amongst the cheering punters. He watches the race through
steely eyes. From where he stands he can also see SHARP
surrounded by the HEAVIES.
HOOG watches through binoculars while HUGH swigs from the
champagne bottle to calm his nerves. MASON sits as cool as
a cucumber. FATHER CROSBY crosses himself.
CUT TO:
EXT. DEACON-BURNETT MANSION GROUNDS - DAY
FINE COTTON is making his way through the rose beds. The
automatic sprinkler system activates and FINE COTTON is
drenched with jets of water. He picks his head up and
canters away towards the house.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACETRACK - DAY
Flashes of coloured satin and horses.
passes BULLWORKER.
SPLIT PERSONALITY
ROY (O.S.)
And here comes Fine Cotton,
moving up on the inside, a
definite danger now. Yes it's
Fine Cotton, seriously in danger
of winning, followed by
Bullworker and Bubba Says He's
Sorry in third. A speedy finish,
he's made up several lengths.
We're waiting for the photo.
HG
Personally a photo I could do
without seeing.
As SPLIT PERSONALITY crosses the finishing line the bandage
unravels, and the leg changes colour.
BIANCA is standing with DELANEY on the lawn. She looks at
him. The HORSES are making their way towards the mounting
yard.
106.
DELANEY
Would you like to cut the cake?
BIANCA
May I?
DELANEY
You've earned it.
Ring-in!
BIANCA
It's a Ring-in!
The cry of Ring-in spreads.

Ring in!
DELANEY
Ring in!
DELANEY'S face is emotionless as the crowd around him yell.

Those who haven't heard the call of ring in, scream with
delight and some just spin in excited and idiotic circles
of self-congratulations. The sound of ring in begins to
spread like a bush fire.
EXT. RACE TRACK TRAINERS' ENCLOSURE - DAY
LOW GEAR rides SPLIT PERSONALITY off the track. A STRAPPER
leads the horse into the enclosure. NAT arrives and
snatches the reins.
Yes!
Yes!
NAT

MASON jumps to his feet. With a smug smile, MASON looks at
SHARP who naturally remains seated. SHARP looks distraught
and makes a faint attempt to grab the briefcase but is
pushed back in his wheelchair by YING. HOOG slumps back in
a cold sweat, trying to keep his heart under control. HUGH
is overjoyed. He laughs and hugs HOOG, while MASON revels
in his triumph.
HOOG
You're a fucking genius, Frank!
MARCOSI
Doesn't compensate for the gold.
HOOG
With this win we'll buy your
country. Don't worry. I'll pay
you interest as well.
The chant of ring in is gaining volume.
107.
EXT. RACE TRACK TRAINERS' ENCLOSURE - DAY
NAT, LOW GEAR, YANG and SPLIT PERSONALITY are swamped by
people and other OWNERS wishing to congratulate NAT.
OWNER
Well done, Hyatta!
NAT is in heaven as the OWNERS fight for his services.
crowd place a large winner's wreath around SPLIT
PERSONALITY'S neck.
The
LES BRACKNER stares the horse in the face, thinking it

looks familiar. BRACKNER runs his hand over SPLIT
PERSONALITY. He looks at his hand which is red from the
paint. BIANCA'S CAMERA CREW film BRACKNER.
BRACKNER
This is...this is my horse!
horse has been painted.
My
BULLWORKER'S OWNER looks up from his horse and jockey.

sees BRACKNER staring at his own red hand.
He
BRACKNER
It is a ring-in. Its a bloody
ring-in! You'd think they'd let
me know, wouldn't you? Bastards.
Within seconds, the other OWNERS and PUNTERS are all
shouting ring-in. The STEWARDS find themselves backed into
a corner.
All right.
STEWARD
We'll look into it.
NAT takes a moment to focus and disappears into the crowd.

We see DORKMAN emerge from the crowd looking for NAT.
HOOG and MASON are hugging.
chant becomes even louder.
SHARPS observes.
HOOG
Listen to the losers will ya?
Barking fucking ants.
MASON
I made a killing on this one
Laurie. I had bets on six
continents.
(to Sharp)
I'll take this.
The ring-in
108.
He takes the briefcase and opens it, revealing wads of
cash.
HOOG
Doesn't look good for you, Nicky
boy!
MASON and YING move towards SHARP, but are stopped by an
announcement. HOOG looks up at the sound of the protest
SIREN.
ROY (O.S.)
We have a protest on the last
race...about time.
HG (O.S.)
I'd say you wouldn't be alone
there, Roy.
HOOG
What? What's that?
in the plan.
HUGH goes into shock.
That wasn't
He picks up the bottle and swigs.
ROY (O.S.)
Fine Cotton has been
disqualified. I repeat, Fine
Cotton has been disqualified.
MASON looks up in horror.
ROY
And the official winner is
Bullworker. He's been declared
the official winner of race five.
Would the owner and trainer of
Fine Cotton please report to the
steward's office.
MASON goes extremely pale. HOOG smashes HUGH in the face.
The party in the members' stand is stunned for a moment,
Except for STOKER who gives a quick smile.
CUT TO:
The OLD MAN sitting on the toilet also jumps up for joy on
hearing the announcement on his radio.
FATHER CROSBY is also overjoyed. He looks up to the
heavens and winks. MASON lunges at SHARP but SHARP jumps
to his feet, sending the wheelchair flying backwards.
109.
HOOG looks at SHARP in amazement. SHARP pulls his gun while
the group is still in awe at his surprise recovery. He
retrieves his briefcase from MASON.
SHARP
I think this is mine, Frank!
SHARP gestures to the wheelchair.
SHARP
Here, Frank. You might be
needing this.
SHARP and FATHER CROSBY walk away.
MASON
(to himself)
Christ!
HOOG
I don't like you anymore Frank.
HG (O.S.)
Would Nat Hyatta please report to
the Stewards room? I repeat
would Nat Hyatta please report to
the Stewards room? And while I'm
on the subject, if anyone sees
the rotten little pri...
MASON
Look. I can cover your losses.
Don't panic. Give me twenty four
hours to sort it out. You'll
give me a hand won't you, Laurie.
No Frank.
HOOG
HG (O.S.)
Would Nat Hyatta please report to
the Stewards office. Or else!
DORKMAN appears from behind the door.
MASON
Find Nat Hyatta and kill him!
MARCOSI also despatches YING.
INT. STEWARDS' OFFICE - DAY
LES BRACKNER is shouting at the STEWARDS amidst the chaos
while a gang of REPORTERS bustle to get into the office.
110.
STEWARD
Low Gear, cough up.
What's going on?
LOW GEAR
I don't know nothing about it.
BIANCA disappears behind a pillar just as YING comes past
stalking NAT, his hand obviously on a secreted gun inside
his jacket.
EXT. RACE TRACK CAR PARK - DAY
Moments later BIANCA exits from the racecourse with her
crew. NAT is having a hard time unhitching the horse float
from his MORRIS when he glances up. DORKMAN emerges from
the turnstiles, gun in hand. NAT hides. DORKMANS POV NAT'S FEET can be seen scampering in the background.
DORKMAN draws his gun and tries to corner NAT. NAT edges
his way along a TRAILER, checking behind him. He turns and
runs straight into YANG. NAT jumps into the MORRIS, starts
the engine and doughnuts out of the confined space and
straight into another horse float. Unable to move his car,
he leaps from the crash site and climbs into the cabin of
the SEMI TRAILOR carrying the GOLDEN HORSE and starts it.
As NAT struggles to find a gear, he looks sideways to see a
big ROTTWEILER dog sitting on the seat beside him. The DOG
licks NAT and the SEMI jerks and crashes into a nearby HOT
DOG stand.
DELANEY and SHARP appear together carrying briefcases and
are scurrying towards the FERRARI. BIANCA is standing
there filming. MARCOSI and MASON appear and bundle
themselves into a waiting LIMOUSINE. Suddenly they see
NAT, being monstered by the DOG, heading towards them, out
of control in the SEMI. He nearly runs over them. NAT
careers on and heads towards BIANCA and DELANEY who are
standing next to the FERRARI, doors open. They have to
jump aside as NAT sideswipes the car. DORKMAN appears,
heading towards them on a motorcycle when the tail of the
SEMI clips the back wheel of the bike and DORKMAN is sent
spinning into the air, landing in a nearby lake. HOOG
arrives at the carpark in time to see the hindquarters of
the GOLDEN HORSE as the truck careers out of the car park.
HOOG is crushed. He clutches his heart and leans on the
nearest railing which gives way like a line of dominos
because of his weight. DELANEY takes action immediately.
He sees a family about to jump into their sedan. He looks
again across at where MARCOSI and MASON are instructing
POLICE and the PIN BROTHERS to chase them. DELANEY
approaches the owner of the sedan and gives him a handful
of cash. The owner baulks for a moment, looks at the money
in his hand and starts to bail his kids out of the car.
111.
They reluctantly get out as BIANCA, DELANEY and SHARP jump
in.
After recovering from the DOG'S affections, NAT, peering
over the wheel, realizes he is on a collision course with
another LIMOUSINE. He closes his eyes as he slices the
LIMO in two. A bunch of girls come running out of the two
halves of the car, followed by HUGH.
NAT crashes through a fence, careers across the flower
gardens in the presentation arena and the SEMI disappears
through the gate dragging the GOURMET MARQUEE behind it.
NAT, desperately trying to stop, hits a POLICE CAR sending
it into the side of a BREATH TESTING BUS. Following in hot
pursuit are DELANEY, BIANCA and SHARP in the sedan, MARCOSI
and the PIN BROTHERS in their LIMO and a squad of POLICE
CARS with sirens blaring. A CRANE manoeuvres to place its
hook above HOOG to raise him.
EXT. ROAD - DAY - SOON AFTER
The cars in pursuit, catapult into each other and in the
foreground we see BIANCA get out and slam the door of the
sedan. The POLICE arrest her. DELANEY and SHARP have
disappeared.
CUT TO:
INT. SEMI-TRAILOR - DAY
NAT looks in his rear vision mirror and sees that nobody is
following anymore. He pats the DOG thinking that he's
safe. Underestimating the speed at which he is travelling,
NAT hurtles towards the river trying to take a corner at
seventy miles an hour. NAT screams as he hits a ditch and
we see the SEMI go out of control and into the river. The
SEMI sinks into the water and all that is left to be seen
is NAT's hat, floating in the river.
CUT TO:
EXT. RACE TRACK CAR PARK - DAY
HOOG, HUGH and MASON are surrounded by POLICE. HOOG is on
an industrial strength gurney being swung into an
AMBULANCE. HOOG continues to yell despite his predicament.
HOOG
I want them all picked up!
Everyone of them! Hyawatha, that
reporter chick, what's her face
and that fuckin' Delaney! Now!
112.
He attempts to click his fingers like they do in gangster
movies, but his fingers are too chubby. He claps his hands
instead. MASON is on the mobile phone desperately trying
to organize something. He's sweating.
MASON
I know Mr Gates, I'm disappointed
too.
EXT. RIVERBANK - DAY - LATER
POLICE and EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF drag the river for
NAT'S body.
INT. POLICE STATION - DAY
From behind a two-way mirror, we see BIANCA sitting with
her arms folded, while the POLICE CHIEF paces back and
forth.
POLICE CHIEF
Come on girly, I want some names.
BIANCA
Bianca Rossini. I'm a reporter
with the Stoker Broadcasting
Network and I demand a phone
call.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
HOOG lies on a horse's operating table, talking on the
phone. MASON is still on his mobile phone fending off
calls.
MASON
Have I ever let you down before?
HOOG
(looking up from his
phone)
Frank!
What?
MASON
HOOG
The registered owner of Fine
Cotton is Hugh Deacon-Burnett!
HUGH walks into the room as he says this. MASON and HOOG
look threateningly at HUGH. HUGH looks scared.
113.
MASON and HOOG turn like animals on HUGH, pummeling him to
within an inch of his life. HUGH screams.
CUT TO:
EXT. DEACON-BURNETT'S MANSION ESTATE - DAY
A distraught LADY DEACON-BURNETT strides up the front
stairs to her mansion, carrying a small suitcase. At the
entrance, she is confronted by FINE COTTON who looks up at
her, blows a raspberry and resumes grazing on the African
Violets. With a horrible gurgling sound, she faints.
CUT TO:
INT. TAXI - DAY
NAT sits in the back of the TAXI sopping wet and slugging
on a bottle of whisky.
EXT. DEACON-BURNETT'S MANSION ESTATE - DUSK
NAT walks up the drive to FINE COTTON chomping on LADY
DEACON-BURNETT's hat. He pats him vigorously.
NAT
Don't worry, Fine Cotton. I'll
tell'em you had nothing to do
with it.
NAT looks down and sees LADY DEACON BURNETT out cold, He
revives her. She wakes up to find NAT over her. She
faints again. NAT drags her inside. FINE COTTON follows.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
BIANCA
...for the Stoker Network.
POLICE CHIEF
There's no point in protecting
your little mate, Hyatta anymore.
He drowned.
The door bursts open and HOOG in an industrial strength
wheel chair with two nurses and a doctor, enter the police
station. MASON enters holding a pathetically distraught
HUGH.
MASON
I've got the owner of the horse.
114.
HUGH
She made me do it!
MASON king hits HUGH, who is knocked across the room and
HOOG'S portrait falls on him, his head pokes through the
canvas.
MASON
Where's Delaney?
HOOG
If you don't tell us...
BIANCA hesitates.
The door opens and STOKER walks in.
STOKER
I heard one of my staff was in a
bit of bother, Laurie.
MASON and HOOG stare at STOKER, and we hear one strain of
the GOOD BAD AND THE UGLY, as their eyes thin and they
stare at each other.
STOKER
She wasn't part of the
remuneration plan.
BIANCA smiles.
STOKER has unexpectedly come to her rescue.
INT. MANSION LOUNGE ROOM - NIGHT

NAT lies on the couch with a whisky bottle in his hand.
FINE COTTON lies in front of the television still chomping
on LADY DEACON BURNETT. He's reached her pearls.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Not a bad hat as far as entrees
go. Hark, tis not finished.
Suddenly NAT hears a noise and sits bolt upright. He rises
and spins around smashing right into DELANEY. NAT starts
screaming in short involuntary bursts. DELANEY turns him
around and sits him down.
DELANEY
Nat, calm down! Calm down!
NAT
Where did you disappear to?
DELANEY
I had to pick up our winnings.
NAT
We lost! What part of that don't
you understand! We're dead,
dead, dead!
115.
DELANEY
No one's going to die Nat.
of all you.
Least
NAT
You got that right. I am out of
here for good.
NAT kicks the money case in frustration and tries to push
past DELANEY and out the door.
CUT TO:
MASON shoves the phone in BIANCA's face.
MASON
You ring. Delaney's your pen
pal, girlie.
STOKER
Do that again Mason and...
NAT is leaving.
DELANEY is trying to calm him.
DELANEY
Where are you going?
NAT
I'm disappearing myself.
DELANEY
Sooner or later Mason's going to
catch up with you.
NAT
You knew! You Knew! Bastard!
You knew from the beginning.
Everywhere I go bastards trying
to fuck me up.
DELANEY
Well I did know you owed him some
money. But...
NAT
That's why you picked me. You
knew I'd tell Mason about the
ring-in.
The phone rings.
DELANEY answers.
116.
HOOG, MASON and STOKER crowd around the phone as BIANCA
speaks.
Hello?
BIANCA
Mr Delaney isn't it?
HOOG and MASON exchange smirks.
They've got him.

INTERCUT AS
REQUIRED WITH
:
INT. MANSION LOUNGE ROOM AND POLICE STATION - NIGHT

BIANCA
I thought you'd disappeared.
DELANEY (V.O.)
I wouldn't disappear on you,
Bianca.
She doesn't reply immediately. HOOG and MASON are
listening on a conference phone.
DELANEY
Is everything alright?
BIANCA (V.O.)
I'm fine Mr Delaney, but I think
you need to know. Nat drowned
today.
DELANEY
(looking at NAT in front
of him in Lady DeakinBurnett's fluffy robe
and slippers)
Don't worry he can talk under
water.
NAT removes a succulent crustacean from the recesses of his
waterlogged trousers.
DELANEY
Be at the airport tonight.
QANTAS, domestic. Gate 12 at
nine o'clock.
DELANEY
And bring your cameras.
fill you in later.
(MORE)
I'll
117.
DELANEY (cont'd)
Lady Deakin Burnett left her case
in the VIP room.
The line goes dead. HOOG and MASON yell with delight.
BIANCA holds the phone, emotionless, staring at the wall.
STOKER'S reptilian eyes pierce hers. She cannot look away.
DELANEY puts the phone down and throws NAT some money in
bags.
DELANEY
Clean yourself up, Nat. You
promised Bianca an interview?
When?
NAT
DELANEY
In forty-five minutes.
NAT looks worried.
EXT. DOMESTIC AIRPORT
- BRISBANE - NIGHT
BIANCA'S CAMERAMAN unloads his equipment onto the curb,

glancing at his watch. A squad of police cars scream into
the terminal, sirens wailing. Two dozen UNDERCOVER AGENTS
pour out, slamming the doors, and run inside.
INT. DOMESTIC AIRPORT - NIGHT
The POLICEMEN fan out through the terminal and take up
their positions.
EXT. AIRPORT TARMAC - NIGHT
More POLICE CARS drive past the planes and baggage trains.
Another group of UNDERCOVER POLICE in airport uniforms take
up their positions.
CUT TO:
INT. ROLLS ROYCE - NIGHT
The POLICE CHIEF sits beside DORKMAN in the front seat,
listening to details on his mobile phone.
118.
POLICE CHIEF
All right, tell them to stand by.
MASON is sitting in the back seat with HOOG.
EXT. DOMESTIC TERMINAL - NIGHT
BIANCA and NAT arrive in her car, a BMW SPORTS. BIANCA
leans over to NAT and gives him a kiss. NAT blushes.
BIANCA
You were wonderful, Nat.
NAT
Can we do another interview when
my book comes out?
Sure, Nat.
BIANCA
NAT gets out of the car and she drives off. He suddenly
realises he has flowers in his hand for her. He throws
them in her direction but they miss the car, get caught in
the wind and land on a rubbish truck that is going past.
BIANCA looks at NAT and laughs. He laughs back.
NAT
(still feigning
laughter)
I'm missing something.
Oh, well.
EXT. FRONT GATE - DOMESTIC AIRPORT - NIGHT

BIANCA pulls up in her car and jumps out.
tape to her CAMERAMAN'S ASSISTANT.
She tosses a
BIANCA
Get this down the line to the
studio!
The ASSISTANT looks up in surprise.
BIANCA
It's the confession of the
mastermind behind the Fine Cotton
ring-in, exclusive, you doofus,
drive.
The ASSISTANT gets in his STUDIO VAN and speeds off.
BIANCA turns and runs toward the entrance.
INT. DOMESTIC AIRPORT - NIGHT
The UNDERCOVER POLICE are all in place.
moves his camera.
The CAMERAMAN
119.
Ready.
CAMERAMAN
BIANCA brushes her hair and picks

terminal is completely deserted.
his watch. It reads 9:00 pm. He
UNDERCOVER POLICE go on alert, as
crippled DORKMAN.
up the microphone. The

The POLICE CHIEF checks
gives a signal. The
does a bandaged and
CUT TO:
INT. ROLLS ROYCE - NIGHT

HOOG sits salivating in anticipation in the back of the
ROLLS.
HOOG
Bugger this, I'll go and get him
myself.
He heaves his immense bulk out of the vehicle and heads
towards the Domestic Airport.
INT. GATE 12 DOMESTIC AIRPORT - NIGHT
The UNDERCOVER POLICE wait, whispering into their
microphones. There's a long pause before the door finally
opens.
POLICE CHIEF
He's coming in through the gate!
HOOG appears in the doorway and roars in disgust as he is
monstered by the POLICE.
HOOG
I'm not Delaney you pack of
useless pricks!
NAT walks through the door, waves and smiles.
in amazement.
G'day!
HOOG stands
NAT
BIANCA stares, mouth open.

NAT
Hi again, Bianca.
As BIANCA hurries towards NAT, The POLICE CHIEF panics.
Grab him!
POLICE CHIEF
120.
BIANCA finally makes it to NAT.
at him, and whispers urgently.
She thrusts a microphone
BIANCA
Where's Jackson?
NAT
(under breath)
Change of plan. Gate Five.
International terminal, gallop!
POLICE CHIEF
Freeze! Hands above your head!
Lie on the ground!
NAT does as he's told without the slightest suggestion of
fear. DORKMAN moves to get a better shot at NAT.
Over here!
NAT
Suddenly, there is a barrage of flashes as a mob of

SHOUTING REPORTERS converge on the gate. DORKMAN slips the
gun back in his bandages and moves away from the crowd.
NAT is swarmed by reporters, pushing BIANCA aside. She
ducks out under the partition, unnoticed by all but DORKMAN
who follows her.
EXT. DOMESTIC TERMINAL - NIGHT
BIANCA emerges from the building, looks around, then takes
off along the curving sidewalk towards the INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT in the distance. DORKMAN follows her.
EXT. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL - NIGHT - SOON AFTER
BIANCA runs through the entrance.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - NIGHT
BIANCA finally stops and looks around winded, then keeps
running. An immigration officer steps in the way.
Ticket?
IMMIGRATION OFFICER
BIANCA realizes she can't go any further. Her shoulders

slump in defeat. Laughter trickles through the quiet
airport, causing her to turn. BIANCAS POV - In the
distance, over in the cocktail lounge, we get a glimpse of
SHARP who turns to her and gives her the nose sign. He has
a travel bag over his shoulder. BIANCA looks twice, moving
out wide to get a better view.
121.
BIANCAS POV - Sure enough she sees LOW GEAR standing beside
SHARP with an identical travel bag at his feet. DICKO on
crutches, along with FATHER CROSBY and every other customer
in the bar are laughing heartily at a TV screen on the
wall, showing NAT'S interview. MASON and DORKMAN appear,
searching for BIANCA. As they hurry past the bar, DORKMAN
sees SHARP. They head towards the group.
DORKMAN
There they are!
MASON isn't listening. Instead, he's staring horrified at
the TV screen. NAT's goofy face beams down. He's being
interviewed by BIANCA on the National News.
NAT
It all started as a plan to get
Frank Mason back. You know Frank
Mason that crooked Bookie from
Sydney. Well him and Laurie
Hoog...you know Laurie, shaped
like a waterbed, runs Queensland,
yeah, that's him. Right, well
Hoog's nephew, was up to the
eyeballs in it, further than me.
He's actually the owner of Fine
Cotton...Uh, you're not recording
this are you?
TV ANNOUNCER
We now interupt this exclusive
report...
The TV screen is filled with the scenes of NAT being
escorted by POLICE amid the mob of bustling reporters. He
is merrily blabbing to the microphones. HOOG is grabbed by
a couple of POLICEMEN.
HOOG
Take your hands off me or I'll
have your family for dinner. And
they won't be wearing party hats.
CUT TO:
STOKER watches NAT'S performance simultaneously on sixteen
TV screens in his office. He grins, then erupts into a
full belly laugh that thunders through the room.
INT. BAR - INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL - NIGHT
While everyone is laughing at NAT'S performance, all the
colour has drained from MASON'S face.
122.
He can do nothing but stare helplessly at the screen. The
PIN BROTHERS appear from the crowd. YING taps MASON on the
shoulder.
YING
Been lookin' all over for ya.
Marcosi say your time up Frankie.
MASON recoils from them in terror. DORKMAN, now hiding,
watches them escort MASON quietly from the building.
INT. INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL COCKTAIL LOUNGE - NIGHT
DELANEY and SHARP see BIANCA approaching.
DELANEY.
SHARP turns to
SHARP
Well I'd better be off. I'll see
you in Switzerland. I suppose
you'll be wanting this.
SHARP hands DELANEY a bulging briefcase. They shake hands.
BIANCA turns up as SHARP leaves and faces DELANEY. DELANEY
starts to kiss her on the cheek but she shies away.
BIANCA
You might have told me what was
going on.
DELANEY
Sorry about that. You got what
you wanted didn't you?
DELANEY hands her a present.
papers..
Here.
For me?
FINE COTTON'S registration
DELANEY
BIANCA
DELANEY
A small memento of my esteem.
BIANCA
But you said Nat...
DELANEY
Nat's busier than Tyson cooking
an ear lobe stirfry. And after a
small vacation at Her Majesty's
Pleasure he's been commissioned
to write the true story of the
ring-in.
123.
BIANCA
But no one knows the true story.
Do you?
DELANEY
Not exactly.
He kisses her hand.
DELANEY
Darling...its been fun.
Bianca!
Ciao,
DELANEY kisses her on both cheeks and as he backs away he

smiles genuinely. BIANCA watches as DELANEY walks off
through the departure doors.
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
DELANEY climbs
lounge, checks
then sits down
next him drops
the lips.
up the staircase into the first class

his seat allocation on his boarding pass,
in an empty aisle seat. The WOMAN sitting
her magazine, leans over and kisses him on
DELANEY
Hello darling.
SHIRLEY breaks from the kiss, smiling.
SHIRLEY
Everything go okay?
DELANEY
Like clockwork, Shirl.
DELANEY lets out a deep sigh and leans back in his seat.
BARNUM and BAILEY pop up from the seat in front, grinning.
Hi Dad!
KIDS
The STEWARD stops with a tray of champagne glasses and

orange juice for the Kids. They all take a filled glass.
DELANEY turns to SHIRLEY.
DELANEY
To my inventive wife.
SHIRLEY
To my reliably unreliable
husband. And let's not forget the
yearlings.
They raise their glasses, clink and drink.
124.
DELANEY
If you have any other brilliant
ideas darling, please let me know
?
SHIRLEY smiles mischievously.
They kiss again.
DELANEY breaks up laughing.
EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT - SOON AFTER

The enormous wings rise up, as the JUMBO banks and flies
into the night.
BEGIN END CREDITS
EXT. RIVERBANK - DAY
HOOG and HUGH are both handcuffed. POLICE stand around
them as the SEMI is hauled to the surface.
CUT TO:
INT. BACK OF SEMI-TRAILOR - DAY
The doors of the truck open to show sunlight streaming in
on the empty interior. The group all peer in and joy turns
to shock. HOOG passes out and hits the dirt. Dust rises
in his place.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
So Mr Fixit had fixed it alright.
Laurie Hoog and Hugh DeaconBurnett got their just desserts.
Lengthy jail terms to be served
together...
CUT TO:
INT. MASON'S HOUSE - DAY
TIGHT SHOT of the kitchen sink, the garbage disposal unit
is on, as MASON'S gold ring falls down the shute.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
...and as for Frank Mason, his
body was discovered, partially
down the garbage disposal unit of
his own house. Police say there
were no suspicious circumstances.
CUT TO:
125.
EXT. COURT HOUSE - DAY
We see NAT being led out of the COURT HOUSE by the two
gigantic POLICEMEN and into a mob of reporters and
television crews.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Even though Nat took the wrap, he
was to be out sooner than
later...
CUT TO:
EXT. PRISON FARM - DAY
We see NAT being escorted up a hill to his trailor home,
parked in the prison yard.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
...thanks to Mr Fixit having
lunch with the Prime Minister
before his holiday.
CUT TO:
INT. MANSION ESTATE LIVING ROOM - DAY
We see the back of FINE COTTON. His head is sniffing away
at LADY DEACON-BURNETT'S face, who is still passed out on
the floor.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
One might ponder on what gives me
the authority to recount this
epic saga.
FINE COTTON turns his head directly at the CAMERA and blows
a rasberry.
FINE COTTON
Phphphphph!! Well I should know
because I was there.
FINE COTTON walks to the lounge, lies down on his side and
turns towards the CAMERA.
Sssshhh!!!
FINE COTTON
FINE COTTON turns back towards the TV and taps his hoof on
the remote control. The theme song to "Mr Ed" begins to
play.
SCREEN FADES TO BLACK
126.
FINISH END CREDITS

In Danger of Winning by Fine Cotton

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In Danger of Winning by Fine Cotton

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In Danger of Winning

Copyright 2016 Molly Movies Pty, Ltd.

INT. COURT ROOM - BRISBANE - DAY

POLICEMEN turn to remonstrate with NAT.

He's been spotted by the PIN

EXT. PRISON FARM - GOLD COAST HINTERLAND - DAY

LOW GEAR (O.S.)

Garlic bread flies in the air.

EXT. PRISON COURT YARD - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

They both stand and shake hands.

You know the

STAN starts screaming again as MASON heaves him out of the

INTERCUT AS REQUIRED WITH....

As he says this, a News Update appears on one of his

AMANDA thinks this is hysterical and laughs loudly.

STOKER'S entrance stops people in their tracks. BIANCA

EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE - BRISBANE - NIGHT

MASON looks defiantly at STOKER.

EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE - BRISBANE - NIGHT

DELANEY is making his way down the side of the cruiser

EXT. CRUISER TOP DECK - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

As the door opens we hear loud, pompous voices arguing.

DELANEY, as the waiter, enters and proceeds to pour them

HOOG'S so drunk - he actually says "Say your chairs,

DELANEY approaches HOOG acting like a waiter.

This time STOKER loses.

INT. RANCH HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY

JANIS nudges JOPLIN and they giggle.

The MANAGER is nowhere to be seen.

INT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - MOMENTS LATER

NAT is nowhere to be seen. The MANAGER turns back towards

INT. BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT - DUSK

DELANEY glances around the room. He sees a collage of

Who told you?

NAT stares at the money.

He sees the MR. WHIPPY VAN and cuts

BIANCA watches as DELANEY runs down the steps and gets in

DELANEY smiles. NAT is as solid as a pound of butter in

SHIRLEY walks out

NAT lies sleeping with a

EXT. TRAILER HOME - DAY

EXT. TRACK FINISHING LINE - DAY

NAT has no idea what she's said, but eagerly accepts a

And you are

She shakes hands with DICKO.

DICKO blushes. This woman is

NAT appears in his bathers and goggles and trundles along

DELANEY gives NAT a disgusted look as

NAT looks up and grins.

NAT is stopped when the HORSE appears in front of him.

INT. CASINO TOILETS - NIGHT - SOON AFTER

INT. TRAILER HOME - DAY

NAT suddenly has

With great self-control, she calmly gets to her feet and

INT. CITY CATHEDRAL - BRISBANE - DAY

She pulls away.

BIANCA rises up holding a bloodied pair of tweezers. HUGH

INT. MANSION LIVING ROOM - DAY

BIANCA comes out of the bathroom smiling seductively.

HUGH is beside himself.

INT. MANSION SUN ROOM - DAY

Everyone pauses. HUGH has worked himself into a frenzy

She holds up the signed

NAT hands the mobile phone to HUGH.