Howzat! Kerry Packer's War (2012): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
In June 1976, Kerry Packer decides to declare war on the cricket establishment by secretly signing about 50 of the world's greatest players to form a break-away rebel tournament for ...
(CHEERING)
(COMMENTATOR SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(COMMENTATOR 2 SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Mr Packer.
Mr Parish.
Mr Packer.
Mr Steele.
Take a seat.
You got my letter?
Of course. And now that
you're here we can...
So? How much do you want?
I have to tell you that
we've already sold the
television rights to the ABC -
it's our usual
practice, as you know.
Bullshit. You haven't
signed anything yet.
The deal's done.
How much is it worth?
STEELE: Mr Packer, that's
confidential. You know that.
200,000? A bit more?
I'll give you 1.5 million.
For the rights, the television
rights, when that deal expires.
Three years. It's got to be
exclusive, alright?
Right.
Why don't you put something
down in writing,
and you can put in a bid for
the commercial television rights.
Well, what the fuck
do I want THEM for?
Blind Freddie will tell you
the punters will watch the ABC
without ads.
As Bob said, we have a longstanding
relationship with the ABC.
It's a valuable partnership
and we're not breaking it.
Didn't you hear me? $1.5 million.
Give me something.
I'll sign right now.
An exclusive contract? (LAUGHS)
No. I won't go
to the board with that.
Come on, gentlemen.
There's a little bit of the whore
in all of us.
Mr Packer...
No?
STEELE: We're sorry.
You will be.
('AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE
AGAIN?' BY THE ANGELS PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ Went down to Santa Fe
♪ Where Renoir paints the walls
♪ Described you clearly
♪ But the sky began to fall
♪ Am I ever gonna see
♪ Your face again?
♪ Am I ever gonna see
your face again?
♪ Am I ever gonna see
your face again... ♪
Good evening, viewers.
COMMENTATOR: Beautiful long run.
Well balanced.
It's short of a good length.
He's shouldered arms, has Steele.
It's through to Marsh.
The slips keeping the pressure on.
With a good round of applause.
Knott goes down the pitch
for a little gardening.
He knows this is tough.
He's trying to adjust his eyes to
the light, holding up Dennis Lillee.
I thought you got him
in this over, Dennis.
Next ball, I think.
Yeah.
COMMENTATOR: It's unusual,
but the crowd are loving it.
Steele comes forward to Lillee...
Oh, yes!
Fuckin' beauty!
HOGAN: What'd you get in this one?
I dunno, Hoges.
Course ya bloody know - every
cricketer knows every statistic
of every game he ever played in.
4/31.
See?
Dennis, I'm not pissin'
in your pocket,
but what you got, that's unique.
What about Thommo?
JOHN: Even Thommo.
What about Andy Roberts?
Oh, fuck, mate. Are you gonna be
my agent with Austin, or what?
Well, me and Austin
have to talk about it.
Ah, there's not much to talk about.
I'm looking after the guy.
Nine months full-time cricket,
best in the world.
Guess how much they paid him.
Eight grand.
Bullshit.
The bloke who pushes
the sight board,
Dennis makes about the same money
as him, so do the other guys.
That's bloody ridiculous. Me and
Hoges can get that for two nights.
You're getting ripped off.
Tell me about it.
What are they doing?
They got this great game in their
hands, and these world champions,
and they've got no idea
what they've got.
They should be selling stars
like you.
Who's on this cricket board, anyway?
A bunch of...
JOHN: Hi, Dellie.
DELVENE: Hi, guys. Don't get up.
JOHN: What's this?
They gave it to me.
So how was the shoot? They're
putting you on the cover, right?
Yes. What have you been up to?
You said something, didn't you?
I might have had
a little word to them.
I thought you might've.
What'd you say?
Agent's secret. If I was to
tell you, I'd have to kill you.
Right, well, it worked, smart-arse.
COMMENTATOR: Lillee to Randall. Oh!
Another one!
Oh, he's gone LBW,
a magnificent delivery!
('KEEP ON SMILIN"
BY JOHN PAUL YOUNG PLAYS)
♪ There's times when I'm up
♪ And times when I'm down... ♪
HOGAN: Yeah, like a quiz show.
I'm a dog, right? The quiz master
says, "What's on top of the house?"
And I say, "Roof, roof!"
(LAUGHS) Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And question number two, he goes,
"What's on the outside of a tree?"
Dog says, "Bark, bark!"
Yeah, yeah.
So he wins. What does he win?
Something like a bone, or...
What if we did it ourselves?
Signed up Lillee, all the other
guys, put on an exhibition game.
You know, the Cream of Cricket,
something like that?
And they get paid most of the gate.
We tell the board
to pay it straight to them.
Advertise it like buggery, get
a big crowd in. What do you think?
We gotta do it.
Dellie, if there was a cricket game
with all the top guys in it,
would you go?
Is David Hookes playing?
Yeah.
I'm there.
The best cricketers in Australia,
all on one ground,
all at the same time.
What we need is someone
with deep pockets and big balls.
(FEEDBACK WHINES)
(FEEDBACK CONTINUES)
(FEEDBACK WHINES)
Bloody hell.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Thanks, Rose.
What the fuck do you want?
I've got an idea.
Right, hang on.
Now?
ELECTRICIAN: Yep.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Uh, Rose, come in here, will you?
Well?
That should be OK.
Rose! Get in here!
Yes, Mr Packer?
Can you hear me on the speaker?
No.
No. Christ's sake,
get this bloody thing working!
Yeah, no worries.
Oh, leave it. Come back later!
Sorry, Mr Packer,
I'll have to rewire it later.
Yes. Get out!
(SIGHS) What kind of idea?
How would you like
some cricket on TV?
A one-day cricket match.
The best cricketers in Australia
against the best in the world.
What about the cricket board?
Fuck 'em. The cricketers
are getting shafted, Kerry.
The board's making millions,
players get practically nothing.
So I've heard.
We blitz the airwaves.
Make it a big event on Channel Nine.
What, you can get 'em?
Starting with Dennis Lillee.
I'm managing him now.
And he reckons
the others will be up for it.
He'll do the initial contacts,
talk to the players first.
So what I've got here
is a couple of fuckin' comedians
coming to me
with a major business deal.
Correct.
Yeah, come back tomorrow, son.
I'll think.
A huge one-day carnival game
at the end of the season.
Hang on.
Sit down.
So you got Dennis Lillee.
Can you get Ian Chappell?
Yeah.
Thomson? Rod Marsh, and Walters?
Easy. Dennis will get 'em for us.
What about the rest of the world?
You know, uh, Tony Greig
or Imran Khan or...?
Kerry, they're all getting screwed.
OK.
OK.
We don't piss around
with some exhibition match, son.
We do it properly. We sign 'em all
up and we... we have a competition.
Right.
(LAUGHS)
Oh, but the board can't find out
anything or they'll kill it.
How good are you at
keeping secrets round here?
Oh...
We're the best in town at that, son.
(APPLAUSE)
Nice, Chappelli.
Oh, thanks, Len.
Just got a call for you from Sydney.
Austin Robertson wants you to get on
a plane. Says you've got a meeting.
Right.
Meeting with who? He was all
secretive. What's it all about?
No idea, Len.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Chappelli.
Kerry.
Who are you supposed to be,
some kind of a fuckin' cowboy?
Austin.
Kerry.
How is it playing
for little old North Melbourne
after all the heights?
It's good. I enjoy it.
Good.
Austin tell you what we're up to?
Mmm.
What do you think?
It's probably worth a shot.
Good. So, who do you want
in this team of yours?
Mine? Hang on, Kerry,
I'm not captain anymore.
My brother's Australian captain
at the moment.
What do you think this is, son,
a fuckin' democracy?
I'm payin' the fuckin' bills,
you're the fuckin' captain. Here.
Have a look. See who else
you want in this team.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Who put this together?
I did.
Chappell, Chappell, Chappell.
This a family show, is it?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Edwards, Hookes, Robinson, yeah,
Brighty, McCosker, Davis.
Yeah, that's good.
FOT. Hang on, where's Rowdy?
No, I'm not paying for
that fuckin' straight breaker.
Oh, Kerry, he's good. He can bowl.
Didn't ya hear me? He's not getting
a contract. Nor is Gary Cosier.
Cosier's a good bat, Kerry.
Mmm. OK.
Good.
Well, I have to say,
it's about bloody time.
Something like this has
been coming for a while.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Not like this, son.
None of the old-fashioned
shit anymore.
I'm stacking it with speed bowlers.
It will be a fuckin' revolution.
JOHN: You're elite
international sportsmen
and you're getting fuck all.
John Snow, a few years back,
the world's best fast bowler,
on the dole in the off-season.
Couldn't feed himself off cricket.
The 1970 tour of South Africa,
the board makes a quarter
of a million bucks profit.
The players put in
for a pissy $500 bonus.
Knocked back flat.
Now here's the bit.
The board can't know.
If they get a whiff
of what's going on, we're dead.
You can't mention anything to them.
I know you're the captain,
but this has to be totally secret
for it to work.
The whole thing
has to stay undercover.
That's it.
(CHUCKLES) I'm in.
('LET'S STICK TOGETHER'
BY BRYAN FERRY PLAYS)
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
♪ And now the marriage vow
is very sacred
♪ The man has put us together now
♪ You ought to make it stick
together
♪ Come on, come on,
let's stick together
♪ You know we made a vow
♪ Not to leave one another
never... ♪
Yeah, Dennis rang me about it.
Who else have you got?
Everyone.
What? No-one's said anything.
Good. Don't you.
What about my wife?
Don't tell her either.
AUSTIN: Centenary Test next week.
I'll have cheques
for everyone after that.
She's gonna kill me.
(FANFARE MUSIC)
COMMENTATOR: The arrival here in
Melbourne of Her Majesty the Queen.
COMMENTATOR: So, Willis again.
Surely he's pulled it on!
It hit the face.
It's hit him in the face.
He's dragged it
onto his wicket.
COMMENTATOR: Hookes is 40.
5/227.
And away it goes.
This could be his 50.
Out towards the boundary,
a beautiful shot.
Four in a row.
Four fours off England's captain.
52 to David Hookes.
A brilliant performance.
COMMENTATOR: Lillee's being
brought back into the attack
and he's on with a great deal
of fire.
That was
a terrible-looking shot.
He hung his bat out to dry.
And that's hit him on the head.
A bad one, a bad one.
There's an appeal there.
And appeal for a caught, is he?
He's walked.
Randall, caught by Cosier.
Cosier taking
an absolutely brilliant catch.
And that's it! It's LBW.
Alan Knott is out.
Lillee has struck again
to finish off this test match,
and Australia triumphing
by a margin of 45 runs.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS, PLAYERS CHEER)
Congratulations, Greg.
Ah.
Thank you, Tony.
I was quietly confident.
Bullshit, mate. This close.
Bacchus, well done.
Thanks, Greigy.
Six for 26. This is gonna be
an historic tour of England.
Is it ever.
Excuse me, Mr Parish.
FOT, your theatre tickets.
Thanks, Ock.
Tony, can I, uh... see you
for a tick?
Sure.
Greg.
I got someone in Sydney
wants to meet you.
Who?
McCosker. How's it feel?
Oh, full of drugs, mate.
Your theatre tickets, Doug.
Thanks, Ock.
G'day, Ray. Good to see you.
Austin.
So, what's that?
Oh, it's just an invitation
to something.
What to?
You're a nosy bastard,
aren't ya, Cosier?
Hey? Open it.
You want another beer, big fella?
Yeah, alright.
They're just over there.
What's going on?
(DOOR OPENS)
G'day, son. Good to see you again.
Hi, Kerry.
You remember Bruce Francis?
Yes.
We're working together.
You were a bloody good bat, Francis.
Thanks, Kerry.
Ah, I see Hookesy belted you
for a few.
GREIG: Ah.
ROSE: Thank you.
Rose, I've got to see Kerry.
We've got a tax problem.
Sorry, Mr Warner, he's busy.
You're joking. This is important.
Who's he got in there?
I can't tell you that.
You'll have to come back later.
Well, this can't wait.
No!
Oh, for God's sake.
KERRY: We talked about
something like this last year.
I remember.
They respect you, son.
And you can sign 'em up.
You can get the South Africans
and the West Indians.
OK.
And... you're sworn to secrecy.
I don't care about the money, Kerry.
I've got my sponsorships.
I'm doing fine.
Good. So... sign.
I went straight from school
into professional cricket, Kerry.
I've never had a job.
I want one with your organisation.
Done. I'll pay you 25 grand a year.
Do we have a deal?
FRANCIS: And a loan
to help him buy a house in Sydney.
As much as he wants.
At 2%. Is that it?
Is the contract
with Consolidated Press?
No, it's with JP Sport. But don't
worry, he'll get every penny.
Can we have
your personal guarantee on that?
Personal... fuckin'...guarantee.
In writing. And I'll need
a solicitor to look over it.
Where the hell
did you get this bloke?
I sold the 'Telegraph' to Murdoch
in the back seat of a taxi
for $15 million,
and this idiot wants my guarantee
in writing for a lousy 40 grand!
Kerry, I don't mean
to be difficult...
No, take him to the next room and go
over that with a magnifying glass
if you want.
Meanwhile, I'll sit here
on my fat arse pretending to tremble
whether you're going to sign or not.
And then when you're done
playing big dick businessman,
get back in here
and fuckin' sign it!
NEWSREADER: The Australian
cricket team is off to England
to start their 3-month Ashes
tour,
fresh from their victory
over England
in the Melbourne Centenary Test.
Australia will play
a rejuvenated England
under the captaincy of Tony Greig,
who has lifted the team to new
heights since taking the helm.
(WOMAN SQUEALS, PEOPLE APPLAUD)
Alright, boys.
NEWSREADER:
In a surprise move,
the Australian squad did not include
Dennis Lillee.
The champion fast bowler is reported
to have stress fractures of the back
and will take time off cricket
for recuperation.
The Australian team will be led
by Greg Chappell
and will play three warm-up matches
before the first test.
I've got someone coming in, son, and
I want you there. He's important.
We're gonna have to get you
into a tie, son.
I don't wear ties, Kerry.
What do you mean you don't?
I just told ya, he's important.
Now get a bloody tie
and start looking decent for people.
When you work for me,
you wear a fuckin' tie.
I'll buy you some, how's that?
I don't work for you, Kerry.
I make programs for you,
which, incidentally,
win the ratings.
And I don't wear ties for anyone.
Now you listen to me, Cornell.
We're gonna work together
on this fuckin' cricket,
you're gonna start wearing ties.
Here he is. Richie, how are you,
my friend? Good to see you again.
Good to see you again, Kerry.
Richie, this is John Cornell.
Cornell, this is Richie Benaud.
Watch out for him, Richie.
He's a smart young bloke
but he's not smart enough
to take good advice.
Like what?
Oh, I was just telling him.
When he comes to work, he should
wear a nice tie, like you and me.
He's wearing my favourite
outfit, actually.
Nice slacks, smart jacket.
He looks fine.
KERRY: Asif Iqbal,
Alvin Kallicharan.
Mushtaq Mohammad, Viv Richards.
Impressive, I must say.
How many do you have in total?
35.
35?
Including the South Africans.
We've got Pollock, Richards,
Barlow, Procter.
Unbelievable. I haven't
heard a word of this.
Somehow they kept quiet.
Richie, you and Daphne, I want to
sign you both as consultants.
Think of yourself as a... tactician.
You know the cricket board
better than anyone.
Ah, the board. This is going to be
difficult. They're very old school.
You have to start
thinking like them.
Maybe you SHOULD start
wearing a tie.
('SNIFF'N THE TEARS'
BY DRIVER'S SEAT PLAYS)
♪ Doing alright
♪ A little jiving
on a Saturday night
♪ And come what may
♪ Gonna dance the day away... ♪
Oi. Have you signed yet?
Signed what?
Don't worry about it, mate.
It's alright.
MAN: Come on, watch the line!
MAN 2: I'll give you that.
(LOUD CHATTER)
Lennie. How are ya, mate?
Good, fellas. Now, listen.
Piss off, boys, alright?
Now, the blokes need
a bit of a break.
They don't want journos
hanging around.
Just got a quick question
for ya, Len.
Yeah?
After this tour, next Aussie summer,
what's going on back home?
We've got India coming.
You know that.
No, some cricket carnival. Lillee,
Ian Chappell. What's all that about?
I've got no idea, but Dennis
might not be up to it by then.
We heard he's not that injured.
What cricket carnival?
And Chappelli's retired.
See, that's not what we heard.
He said something vague to me
about the possibility of a comeback.
I've got no details. I don't know
what you're talking about.
That's what we thought.
Let's go and have a word
to Bacchus, mate.
Hey, uh, have you signed yet?
Have I signed what?
You, too. I don't know.
What's going on?
What do you mean?
I dunno. Something.
Warner, sit down.
This cricket thing's warming up.
I want you in to manage it.
What cricket thing?
Don't piss around. I know you know.
Who told ya?
Kerry...
Fuck that. Anyway, you're running
it. I'll up you five grand.
Now, stay in close contact
with Richie Benaud.
He knows what he's doing.
He's written a letter to the board.
We'll taxi it to 'em.
Cornell and I will have
a press release ready to go.
Rose, what the hell are you wearing?
Don't you like it?
You look like a sack of potatoes.
Get us some lunch, will you?
Some hamburgers
and a couple of milkshakes.
Yes, Mr Packer.
You blokes want anything?
I've gotta go.
Righto.
Right. I'll gird the loins.
Thanks, Kerry.
You'll be cursing me
before this is over, son.
Well, it sounds like
it's a fait accompli.
What are you, fuckin' educated?
(LAUGHS) I mean, it's a done deal.
I know what it means, son,
and it's not. They'll be back at us.
The question is, what have
they got to fight with?
History. A hundred years of it.
(SOBS)
Rose?
Go away.
All the best.
You, too.
Ah, tails.
OK, we'll bat.
Gentlemen, all the best.
Thank you.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Don't know if you'll be batting
anytime soon.
Oh, just means the party starts
early. All you guys coming?
Oh, yes, you bet.
Hell.
('HEY, SENORITA'
BY THE PENGUINS PLAYS)
♪ Hey, senorita
♪ Please let me take you home
♪ Oh, little girl
♪ Why don't you let me
take you home?
♪ If you do that, baby,
I promise... ♪
What have you got?
Nothing new.
But they're all half-pissed.
We just keep at 'em.
Look, I heard it's not
going to be a one-off.
I think they want to play
a whole season.
Who told you that?
It doesn't make any sense.
They'll be busy playing tests
against India.
No, I think they're jumping.
Leaving test cricket.
Christ! You seen
Tony Grieg anywhere?
No, not for a bit.
Hey, Bacchus!
Bacchus.
Hey, guys.
Mate, we know it's on.
Come on, what have you got?
What's on?
Something. Anything.
We won't quote ya.
No, no-one'll be quoting anyone.
(LAUGHS) You guys.
Oh, that went well.
MAN: Afternoon, gentlemen.
BOTH: Clive.
Glad to see the Downunder
Fourth Estate represented.
Fuck off.
Tell me, you haven't got a sniff
of piracy in the ranks, have you?
Piracy?
Mmm.
What do you mean?
Clive.
Oh, excuse me. Good to see you.
(SPEAKS QUIETLY)
Oh, mate, they've got something.
Shit, we gotta bust it tonight
or they'll scoop us.
There he is. Hang on, I'll grab him.
Greg.
Peter.
Enjoying the party?
There should be more of it,
I reckon.
Mate, let me put something to you.
A professional troupe of cricketers
put together by, say,
some cricket promoter,
and they play outside the official
sanctioned games for a lot of money.
What do you think?
Sounds interesting.
Would you sign up for it?
I'd find out more about it first.
Yeah, and if you did,
would you sign up for it?
Like I said.
Put you down as a yes?
Enjoy the party, Pete.
Hookesy.
Thank you. No worries.
I wanna ask you something.
Mm-hm?
Kerry Packer.
How well do you know him?
I don't. I haven't met him yet.
(BURPS)
Yet? What do you mean?
Oh, he wants to meet
all the players.
How come?
Just being friendly.
He's paying them enough.
Yeah.
What'd you get?
I'm not telling you that.
What'd Ian Chappell get?
Oh, mate... a lot more than me.
Yeah, right. Right.
How many others signed?
Now.
We off? Alright, OK.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Peter! What's going on?
Sorry, Greigy. Great party, mate.
Gotta go. Gotta go.
Get onto Doug Insole or Tagge
Webster, quick. We need a comment.
We should get in contact with the
Australian Cricket Board, as well.
No, deal with our board first. We'll
worry about the Australians later.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yes!
Peter McFarline. Copy. Quick!
McFarline, yeah. Ready?
Hove, May 8.
Australian television magnate Kerry
Packer is bidding to set up a troupe
of the world's best cricketers
to play matches
specifically for television.
Stop. New par.
Most of Australia's
current test team
has been approached
to join the troupe...
OK. London, Sunday.
TV magnate Kerry Packer...
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer,
media proprietor.
He's knighted. Born 1906. Hang on,
he's got to be younger than that.
No, it's a Kerry.
Kerry?
Kerry Packer.
He's not even here.
Well, anyway, Sir Frank's dead.
I remember we ran something.
Ah! Oh, hold on.
Sons, Clyde, born 1935,
and Kerry, bingo! Born 1937.
That's got to be him.
He's a bloody nobody.
I'll ring Insole first.
This'll be terrific.
They'll tear this bloke apart.
Mr Parish?
(PHONE RINGS)
Oh.
Victorian Cricket Association.
Yes, I'll just put you through.
It's Mr Steele.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I just saw it.
Victorian Cricket Association.
Oh, that bastard.
At least he could have let us know.
I'll put you through right away.
No, of course not. Impossible.
It's Sir Donald.
(PRESSES BUTTON) Sir Donald.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer, is it true you've signed
20 cricketers for your rebel group?
We've signed exactly 35.
We'll be signing more
in the future, possibly.
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer, you collected
most of your players in secret.
Does that mean you don't intend
to cooperate or work
with the cricket authorities?
Well, I've done all I can
to cooperate with
the Australian Cricket Board.
I was willing to pay big money
to cover cricket,
but they blocked me at every turn,
so now we're doing our own thing.
Well, what does that mean, exactly?
Are you declaring a cricket war?
Well, if this is a war,
it's been brought on by
the cricket authorities, not by me.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer!
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
McFarline, the 'Age'.
Mr Packer, have you read
the latest comments
by the chairman of the Australian
Cricket Board, Bob Parish?
Yes, I'm aware of what he said.
Any comment?
Yes. Mr Parish doesn't like me
and I'm not mad about Parish.
Mr Packer? Mr Packer?
Yes.
Will you continue
to operate in secret,
and how will this impact
test cricket?
Well, if the cricket boards
cooperate,
there's no reason why test cricket
will be affected at all.
But if they don't cooperate, they'll
walk straight into a meat mangler.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Greig, Mr Greig,
as captain
of the England cricket team,
you recruited many
of Mr Packer's players.
Do you feel like a traitor
to English cricket?
Not at all. The players were all
happy to sign up, eager to.
And what I've tried to do
is help provide some security
for my fellow players.
Now, I'm sure
that all this can be sorted out
and World Series Cricket and
test cricket can exist happily
side by side.
PARKER: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
How many cricket games
do you intend to schedule
in the Australian summer?
I don't know the answer to that.
We're not sure at the moment.
There'll be a number of test matches
followed by a series
of one-day games.
BELL: Hang on, test matches?
Surely they're not test matches.
I mean, they are games of cricket.
Call them what you want.
But they'll be played
by the world's best test players.
(ALL MUTTER)
Who on earth is that?
Who?
The pushy little blond chap.
I've no idea.
I've never seen him before.
Is he an administrator?
McFARLINE: His name's John Cornell.
Where's he from?
Kalgoorlie.
GAVIN: Austin? It's Gavin.
Sure, no problem.
Yeah, good. Joel Garner. Got him.
Yes. Wait a tick.
Here he is.
You boys are working overtime.
Great. Yes,
I'm on a plane this afternoon.
I'll see you the day after tomorrow.
I want to meet with Tony Greig.
Yep.
Bye.
Here you go.
How many's that now?
49.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
(BELL TOLLS)
JOHN: (READS) "And trampling on
the sacred traditions of the game,
"this money-hungry mercenary,
"aided by English cricket traitor
Tony Greig,
"is holding the game to ransom.
"This cricket circus
will never be..."
Circus?
"will never be able to match
test cricket in any way.
"The English cricket establishment
is almost certain to move
"to sabotage Mr Packer's
ill-thought-out sporting venture.
"As the supreme body
for international cricket,
"the ICC has the ability to..."
Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
It's true, though.
What was that one?
Just more crap.
Read it.
(READS) "The power behind this
cowardly sneak attack on cricket
"is Mr Kerry Packer,
an overweight Australian blimp
"who not only looks like a
hammerhead shark, but acts like one.
"With not even a nod to
the fine traditions of the game,
"this lumbering philistine has
used his millions to destroy..."
Etc.
Jeez.
They don't hold back, do they?
Bugger 'em, Kerry.
We just stick with it.
We're going OK.
Is that right?
We got a bunch of fuckin' players,
no itinerary, no marketing plan
and no complete management
structure.
We got no fuckin' grounds
to play on!
Where's Warner?
He'll be here tomorrow.
(SIGHS)
You know, we, um... still might
be able to talk to these boards.
Benaud reckons I should.
I don't see how,
after that press conference.
Well, I've written letters,
to the Australian board and the ICC,
you know, to try
and talk peace to them.
Well, I've got to give it a shot.
(SIGHS)
Blimp!
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
How much is it, mate?
You're an Aussie, then?
Yeah. That's right.
Yeah, no charge for you, lad.
Enjoy the cricket.
Well, thank you. Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.
I just wanted to meet you
and talk over a few things.
But don't worry,
it can wait till later.
I know you're pretty busy right now.
Oh, no, no, no. No, it's fine.
I heard they sacked you as England
captain this morning. I'm sorry.
Yes, well, I kind of expected it.
At least you're still
playing for England.
Yes.
(PLAYERS CHEER)
And Sussex.
I like this cricket. Well, I gotta
go. Meet you back at your hotel.
Right.
(LOUD BOOING)
You the lad talkin'
to fuckin' Tony Greig, were you?
Yes, I was.
Friend of yours, is he?
Well, not really.
Yeah, he's a fuckin' traitor.
You know that Aussie, Packer?
I work for him.
Do ya? 10 quid.
You're kidding?
I was only here 20 minutes.
10 fuckin' quid. Come on.
And you can tell your mate
Tony fucking Greig
he'll be charged double
next time he turns up.
Now fuck off.
DAVID FROST: (ON TV) We turn at that
point to you first of all, Robin.
Do you feel that this whole incident
is the way that
Kerry has described it -
that it shows Tony Greig
as a man of honour?
ROBIN MARLAR: No, I don't.
I think he's a fool.
But, David, I want
to talk about Mr Packer.
This man does not
know how to behave.
The point is this. He has made
Tony Greig do a dishonourable thing.
Our life, of which cricket
is a part,
is made up of behaviour
and how you behave
is how you are judged.
What Tony Greig has done
is totally unforgivable.
I don't understand that,
you see? I don't.
No, you don't, you see?
That's just the trouble.
(APPLAUSE)
No, but I don't...
Jeez, he's copping it, hey?
Who's that other guy?
Mm-mm.
Now this man's intervention
is absolutely tearing
the guts out of cricket.
I fail to see in any way
how Mr Packer's intervention
is welcome to our cricket here.
KERRY: Whether it's
welcome here or not,
there are 35 players to start with
who want to be in it
and they are the judges.
These people have given
long service to cricket
and I believe they're entitled
to make a decent living out of it.
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
No, I'm sorry.
(LAUGHS)
I'm sorry to hear people clapping
because that is the man that does
not care about our test cricket.
This is about the boards.
What I fail to understand
is their blind reluctance
to be informed about what I'm doing
so they can make
a balanced decision.
Why not talk to me while I'm here?
Because maybe they don't like
your attitude. How about that?
Well, I think that's highly likely.
(PEOPLE LAUGH AND APPLAUD)
David, we still haven't
got across the point
that if this circus comes along
to take the cream off...
It's arrived, boss.
It has NOT arrived, David.
(APPLAUSE)
He's arrived.
That is a nonsense statement.
The players have signed up.
They're there.
They'll be in Australia in November
and they'll be playing
in the Supertests.
Now, don't pretend
they haven't arrived.
FROST: Do you think
the Supertests should go on?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
Or should they be stopped?
AUDIENCE: No!
Well, that seems to be the vote.
We'll leave it there.
Goodnight.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS
ON TELEVISION)
So, who did the selecting anyway?
Packer choose everyone, did he?
Oh, it's done, mate. Leave it alone.
You and me, we're good enough to
play for Australia, but not for him.
Is that it?
(DOOR OPENS)
Oh, g'day, you blokes.
How are you?
Handsome fellas.
Bacchus.
What's going on? We're gonna
get something to eat. You coming in?
Yeah.
Yeah?
G'day, Lizzie, darling. How are ya?
Can we just get a couple of jugs?
You coming, Cos?
I'll, uh, see you in there.
Righto.
BBC NEWSREADER: In sports,
the International Cricket Conference
is to meet in London this week.
The ICC Chairman, Tagge Webster,
has convened a special meeting
of the world's cricket authorities
to combat the latest threat
to the sport.
The ICC yesterday
issued a communique
declaring it as "the sole promoter
of international cricket"
following the news that
49 of the world's leading players
have signed to a rebel group.
I got a charming letter
from Packer today.
He wants to meet up while
we're here and work something out.
Great. Let's do it.
I also had a call from the Don.
Oh, God.
He said, "No compromise. Let's get
stuck right into this bloke."
That'd be right.
So what did you say to Packer?
What could I say?
I told him to bugger off.
The Don should be here.
No, he's much too smart for that.
NEWSREADER: players
from England, Australia,
the West Indies and Pakistan.
In Kingston, Sir Garfield Sobers
has announced he is to act
as a consultant to the rebel group.
In other news,
Tommy Docherty has stood down
as manager of Manchester United.
Docherty, who led the club
to its recent 2-1 win
against Liverpool in the FA Cup
final, has cited personal...
(TURNS OFF TELEVISION)
(SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE)
KERRY: Gentlemen.
MAN: Mr Packer.
Are you enjoying London?
I would have enjoyed it more
if you hadn't kept me here
twiddling my thumbs for a week.
So, Mr Packer, would you like
to outline your proposals for us?
No, I wouldn't. I'm not
here to put proposals.
I'm here to see if we can work out
some sort of a compromise.
And what would that entail?
Do you know what a compromise is?
Please, Mr Packer, I feel that we...
It's when two people get together
to work out a deal.
Both sides give a bit
and they reach an agreement.
I'm here looking for a compromise.
Good.
Then let's start, shall we?
I'd appreciate it.
One - no player will participate
in privately promoted matches
unless given specific permission
from local authorities.
Two - no privately promoted 11
can be represented
as a national team.
Three - players taking part
in privately promoted matches
are to be made available
for official matches
if there is no clash.
Four - no cricket series
run by a private promoter
will run for longer than six weeks.
And five - any and all
privately promoted programs
will be under total control
of the local cricket authorities.
Yes.
OK.
I can compromise on those points.
How about we set up
a working committee?
Excellent. Let's do that.
Look, you lot can have
all my players, all 49 of them.
The boards can run the games
and we can all get on
with playing cricket.
But you'll agree
there'll be no more victimising
of the players I've signed.
Tony Greig being stripped of
the England captaincy, for example -
no more of that.
And I get exclusive rights
to televise Australian test cricket
when the present arrangement
expires.
I tell you what, gentlemen.
Why don't you have a think about it?
We'll take a bit
of a look around outside.
Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it?
I was here with my father and Clyde.
I missed seeing you play
back in '61.
Kerry, we need to think
about what we're doing.
Though I saw you take 5/13
at Old Trafford.
We need to think fast about who
we put on this working committee.
There's something magic about it.
This is the heart...
..right here.
It's not just a game.
It's something...
..more.
Kerry, did you hear what I said?
My father didn't
love much in his life.
He liked boats,
he liked horses.
But he loved cricket.
MAN: Mr Packer!
What do you reckon?
Do you think they bought it?
Of course they have.
I've offered them a fucking gift.
MAN: It is the unanimous view
of all member countries
of the International Cricket Council
that they cannot give any commitment
to exclusive television rights.
Do you agree to that?
I'm sorry.
But I am willing to keep
discussions open.
No, that's not acceptable.
MAN 1: Hey, there he is!
MAN 2: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
(ALL CALL QUESTIONS)
That's it!
Had I gotten those TV rights,
I was willing
to withdraw from the scene
and leave the running of cricket
to the board,
but I will take
no steps now to help anyone.
It's every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost.
(ALL CONTINUE YELLING)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(YELLS INAUDIBLY)
TAGGE: It's war, Douglas.
We'll have to stop this
before it gets off the ground.
How exactly?
Divide and conquer.
We'll drive a wedge
between this man and his players
and we'll use our
best weapon - cricket.
And we'll bring
the lawyers in - OUR lawyers.
It's such a pity. He doesn't
understand what he's doing.
He's impressive, Tagge.
No, he's not. He's a barbarian.
He doesn't realise
this is not just a game.
It's something more than that.
(TYPEWRITERS CLATTER)
Oh, Mr Packer,
David Hill's arrived.
Good.
Hill.
Mr Packer.
Warner tells me
you're a fucking hot shot.
Is that right?
Well...
I've seen your
'Sportsnight' program, son.
I want you doing that here at Nine.
Did he fill you in on the cricket?
He did. It sounds very exciting.
Good. Rose, get us
some food in here, will you?
ROSE: (OVER INTERCOM)
Yes, Mr Packer.
Right, you're not
at the ABC now, son,
so I want you to start thinking of
better ways of filming these games.
I'm sick of looking at the back
of batsmen's arses, for one thing.
Rose, not food. A salad... with meat.
Yes, Mr Packer.
You... Lean meat.
Yes, Mr Packer.
And what about directors?
You got them yet?
I've approached John Crilly
and Brian Morelli.
They're both very keen
to come on board.
Well, I've never
fucking heard of them,
but if you think
they're good, get them.
Welcome aboard, son.
How far out of fucking town
are we?
16 miles.
Jesus Christ.
(MEN CALL AND YELL INDISTINCTLY)
What do you think?
It's not bad apart from the fact
we're in the middle of buggery.
(CHUCKLES)
Jesus, look at that mess.
How are those wickets going?
Well, they've started
growing at least.
Kerry.
What?
Night-time cricket.
We only play English times.
Hot places like us and India
playing cricket in 110-degree heat,
middle of the day,
it's bloody madness.
That's true, son.
England runs cricket. Why?
Why keep following
old English traditions?
We should do it our own bloody way.
Limited-over one-dayers,
we play them at night. Bang!
Yes, but a night game
would finish too late.
We'd have to do
half day, half night.
You want a drink?
Uh, yeah.
We start in the afternoon
when kids finish school,
then later just switch
the lights on, finish at 10:00.
Yes, that'll fucking work, son.
You know why?
Women and kids will come.
We've only got
one ground with lights.
Eh, we'll get more.
Where?
Dunno yet.
OK, ABC, the BBC,
the single camera here.
This is where they shoot from.
Kerry reckons he's sick
of looking at batsmen's arses.
So he said.
Aren't we all.
Right, so here's our base point,
so camera one here,
camera two over there,
camera three on the opposite side
over there,
camera four up the other end.
We'll get stumpings,
run-outs, the lot.
What do you think, John?
Yeah. Yeah, good.
('HEY ST PETER'
BY FLASH & THE PAN PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ The morning
was cold and lonely
♪ The city lights old and grey... ♪
How's it look?
HILL: It's gonna be tops.
Five cameras.
Five?
I thought you said four.
No, five's better.
And, Colin, we got this great idea.
What?
Sound.
We record them at the wicket.
You can hear the whole bloody thing.
♪ Made a stand
Raised his hand
♪ Sang a song, no time to kill
I said, "Hey, hey, hey..." ♪
MAN: OK, get the guys
to sound off one at a time.
MAN: Clear.
MAN 2: Clear here.
MAN 3: Clear.
MAN 4: Looking good.
OK, all good.
Right, wicket mikes.
(CLICKS FINGERS)
How's that for you, Brian?
(OVER RADIO) Clear as a bell.
Good.
Uh, what if it rains?
What's moisture gonna do to them?
Yeah, it'll kill it.
JOHN: Well, we can't put
a roof over the bloody thing.
MAN: (OVER RADIO) Hey, Warren.
What?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Well, it's, uh, definitely
sticking up more now.
That feels much better.
More erect.
And it'll save problems later.
(ALL LAUGH)
You getting this, Brian?
(MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
They're growing better
than we thought.
They'll be great pitches.
(LAWNMOWER WHIRRS)
Yeah, that's good work, John.
How do you get them in place?
We haven't worked that out yet.
Well, if they weigh 25 tonnes,
it might be a good fucking idea.
The problem is getting them
into the centre of the oval
without damaging the outfield.
We can't just drag them
out there with a tractor.
So what's the plan?
We're thinking
maybe, uh... hovercraft.
Bullshit!
Well, it might be possible.
Hovercraft? Jesus Christ.
Who thought that one up?
Look, I don't care if you use
flying fucking saucers.
I want to be able to bowl a ball
on these things by October.
(THUNDER CRACKS AND RUMBLES)
Notwithstanding anything
herein before contained,
the International
Cricket Conference -
determined to oppose
to the maximum extent
the series of exhibition matches
arranged to take place in
the forthcoming Australian summer -
has resolved unanimously,
one, that these matches will not
be rated as first-class matches
and will not appear
in the official record.
Two, on October 1 this year,
any player still signed
with a private promoter
will be deemed
a 'disapproved person'.
Three, any match arranged by
Mr Kerry Packer or Mr Richie Benaud
or associated companies
will be disapproved.
Four, all players who sign
with a private promoter
will face a total ban
from test and domestic cricket,
such ban to be applied
by local authorities.
Thank you.
(REPORTERS CLAMOUR)
Banned?! That's it!
We see them in court.
And we schedule the Supertests
the same fucking day
as the board's tests.
From now on, no matter what,
no-one's available to play for them.
No-one!
I'll show those bastards
what a ban is, see how THEY cope!
Oh, Mr Packer,
Jeff Thomson's agent rang.
I'll bet he did.
He's gone, Kerry.
And it gets worse.
What?!
Alvin Kallicharran and Viv Richards
are pulling out, as well.
BASTARDS!
OK, we sue them!
I'll chase those pricks
through every court!
BENAUD That might not be
a good idea.
I think "softly, softly"
might be a better approach.
Richie, fuck them!
I'll leave them
barefoot and bankrupt.
And as for this agent,
this David Lord bastard...
Have you heard this?
Listen to this shit.
You fucking read it!
(READS) "This will be
the beginning of an exodus
"from the Packer circus."
Packer fucking circus again!
"The players have followed
each other like sheep,
"but now they've had
an attack of brains."
I'm going after him, too!
Uh, Kerry...
Shut up!
I'm going back to London,
try and arrange having
a go at them in court.
You're coming with me.
You, too, Chappelli.
ROSE!
What is this shit?
It's your usual. It's chicken salad.
FUCK!
Get me some fucking pies,
or something, will ya?!
And, you, what are you doing
about those pitches?
The Sydney Cricket Ground...
What are you fucking doing?!
Giving the board a shot.
I'm hopeful.
Hopeful? What fucking good is that?
I want that ground!
Sure.
What about umpires?
You got any of them yet?
Do your fucking job, why don't you?!
Yeah, but we knew they'd come at us.
Kerry certainly did.
So what's he gonna do about it?
We just have to trust him,
that he knows what he's doing.
No-one knows what they're doing.
That's the point.
No-one thought we'd get banned.
'Disapproved persons'.
What is this? The 19th century?
But, Thommo, you're fully
approved, aren't you, mate?
You can keep playing.
Well, bloody good for you.
Guys, I had to. I've got
a contract for 4IP in Brissie.
But you had that
before you bloody signed.
I know, and now things
have gotten messy.
They can sue me if I don't pull out.
Yeah, there's blokes running
to their lawyers all over town.
Can't blame them. I never thought
I'd get banned from playing tests.
That's why I got into cricket
in the first place.
We all did.
Kerry didn't think it through.
That's his problem.
Now we're all buggered.
You're getting paid
a lot of money, Hookesy.
Bugger the money.
Hookesy!
Yep, he can stick his money.
Having fun, Kerro?
Harry.
Are you sure
you want to do this?
Now's the time to pull the plug
if you have any doubts.
I'm gonna get these bastards, Harry.
Well, you might be feeling that way,
but I'm your deputy chairman
and I have a corporation to run.
I can't afford all of this.
You've no set budget,
you've no corporate direction
and you've spent
several million dollars.
Now's the time to rein it in.
I know.
And you've got Gavin Warner
running the show.
Do you think he's up to it?
Do you?
You've got nowhere decent to play.
You missed out on the Gabba
and now there's this
negative announcement
from the Sydney
Cricket Ground Trust.
Have you seen it?
They're just more crusty old men
sitting behind closed doors, Harry.
But they've got the high ground
and you haven't.
I got VFL Park.
A lot of good that'll do you.
These cricketers of yours
that they've banned -
you realise
it's just the first shot?
They'll keep coming at you.
Ask yourself -
is all of this worth it?
No, no.
We hit this
International Cricket Conference
with everything we've got.
That'll take a bit of time.
We'll get a QC and stick it
into the High Court.
If they want to bowl bouncers
we'll fight the way they want.
It turns out
Viv's not going, after all.
Good.
But we've gotta go after
Thomson and Kallicharran, Kerry.
Plus, in Adelaide, the Don's
got his claws into Hookesy.
We'd better move on him, too.
Nah, let them go.
We don't want blokes
who don't want to play.
We have to be able
to trust them at their word.
You can't force someone
to stick to their word, son.
If they don't, there's nothing to
do, except never forget it.
It's getting harder.
Yeah, it is.
This first game at VFL Park
is haunting me.
I'm sorry about all this money
going out the door.
The money doesn't matter, son.
It's what comes at you.
My father, he always used to say,
"Don't expect to be liked."
But it is hard to cop sometimes.
Anyway...
My, uh, father used
to stay in this suite.
This same one?
Yep.
Yeah, me and Clyde would
watch Mother and Father
dancing downstairs in the ballroom.
She was a beautiful dancer.
I've always admired that.
Never did learn to dance myself.
I'll teach you to dance, Kerry.
Come on!
You, um, have a dance
with golden boy over there
and just let me sit in me misery.
Up you get.
Come on. There we go.
I can hear my bones creaking.
Aww.
Alright, so...
..strong frame.
And relax.
Follow my lead.
Your forward.
And back.
That was good.
Now we go to the side.
And now your back.
And side again.
That's it. And again.
Back. And side.
And back. And side.
Kerry, you're a natural.
I'm dancing, Cornell.
Are you seeing this?
(CHUCKLES)
Mr Packer.
How are you today?
This is Mr Tony Greig.
Yes, we know.
We're members of the MCC.
So, Mr Packer,
it's our understanding
the ICC is proposing a ban
on some cricket players
and you are seeking a writ
to restrain them
from this course of action.
Correct. So who's
the best QC in town?
(CHUCKLES)
I'm sorry, Mr Packer.
It doesn't quite work like that.
Well, you tell me, then.
How does it fucking work?
There are a good many fine silks
in London, as you can imagine.
Mmm, I can. So who's the best?
Mr Packer, there is no best.
Things might
be different in Australia,
but the English legal fraternity
has a large number
of quite outstanding barristers.
Are you listening? Did you not
understand the fucking question?
Mr Packer...
..you will understandably
want to expedite your matter.
Any silk of the stature you're after
will be booked for months,
maybe years.
And there's the question of fees.
Exactly.
These men can command
very substantial amounts of money.
Well, thank you for
that interesting walk
through the Black Forest, gentlemen.
Mr Greig and I are going to go out
and have an enjoyable round of golf.
So we'll go and do that
and when we get back,
you lot have a name ready for me.
How about that?
You see, I know how this works.
I've done it before.
You give me the name
of the top bloke,
I call him, I offer him more
fucking money than anybody else,
he drops everything
and comes to work for me.
Well...
Um, Alexander?
No doubt.
We recommend Robert Alexander.
He's an absolutely remarkable silk.
But he's prohibitively busy.
Good. I'll have him.
This could be difficult.
Look, if you can't do it, give me
his fucking number, I'll do it.
We'll arrange it for you.
That didn't take
too fucking long, did it?
Now...
..who's your second best?
Do we really need both of them?
Listen, son, if I'm trying
to back the winner at Wimbledon,
I want all my money
on the top seeds.
(CHUCKLES)
Tell Chappelli to get
the fellas up to my room.
I want to have a chat.
HOOKES: "I want
to thank you for selecting me.
"But I'm sorry, Kerry.
I have to resign.
"There's a whole 'Keep Hookesy
At Home' thing in Adelaide
"and I feel as though I owe
these people my allegiance."
'Allegiance'. Shit.
"I feel as though
I owe these people...
"I feel as though I have
an obligation to these people
"and, besides, I already got
a really good job in Adelaide..."
(PHONE RINGS)
Yeah.
Alright, I'm coming.
"I want to thank you, Kerry,
but I have to resign.
"I have an obligation to Adelaide.
"I'm sorry."
(PEOPLE CHATTER QUIETLY)
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
MARSH: Have you met him before?
Hey?
Have you met him before?
No, no, this is my first time.
You scared?
Nup.
No, you don't look it.
I'm not.
Righto.
Piss off, Bacchus.
(CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKS) Hey, Bacchus.
Bacchus!
Hookesy?
Oi, you in there?
(ALL CONTINUE CHATTERING)
Welcome to London.
Good to see you, Kerry.
Richie.
(TAPS GLASS)
Right.
I want to thank you all
for joining us on this venture.
You know, if Thomson and
Kallicharran piss off, that's fine.
We're not gonna chase them.
We'll let them go.
But, as for the rest of us,
this ban on us...
The only thing we have
to fall back on is our loyalty...
..our obligation to each other.
And if we stick together,
keep our eye on the ball,
people WILL come to understand
what it is we're doing.
Now, we've got this all-important
first game at VFL Park coming up
and I want to tell you something.
It will be a smash.
People will come to see you
because you are the best.
So is anyone else
having second thoughts?
What about you, Dougie?
You sure you're in?
Oh, I'm in, Kerry.
Good.
McCosker?
Yeah, I'm in, Kerry.
Mick?
Bloody oath.
Good. Bacchus?
No worries, Kerry.
Bookshelf?
Can't wait, Kerry.
The other Kerry - Mr O'Keeffe?
I'll be there.
Excellent. Mr Davis?
Yes, I'm there, Kerry.
(MOUTHS WORDS)
What do you say?
100%.
Jeez, he's good.
Yeah.
Mr Lenny Pascoe?
Yeah, mate.
You?
Yes, Kerry.
Great.
What about you, David?
Um, Mr Packer...
What?
I want to thank you
for selecting me...
I didn't select you, son.
Chappelli did. Thank him.
Right.
Um... I want to thank you
for selecting me...
You already fucking did that.
Are you in or what?
I got a good job in Adelaide.
Doing what?
At a tyre-fitting depot.
A tyre depot?!
I'll tell you what, son.
I'll buy the fucking place.
Then I'll be your boss and you can
play cricket anytime you want.
How about that? You in? Yep?
Yep. Yes.
Good. Welcome aboard.
(MEN LAUGH)
Tangles, what are you doing here?
I don't remember signing you up.
Alright, charge your glasses.
You don't drink, Kerry.
I'm gonna make an exception
in your case, Chappelli.
To the best cricketers
in the world...
..playing the best cricket
in the world...
..with the best fucking boss
in the world.
To World Series Cricket!
ALL: World Series Cricket!
(CHANNEL 9 CRICKET THEME PLAYS)
As we discussed on Tuesday,
a locally produced 'Playboy'
magazine
would fill the niche
identified by J...
..J. Walter Thompson.
You want to take off, Rosie?
ROSE: Mr Chester.
You weren't listening, Kerro.
We're now haemorrhaging money.
It's not good business.
It will be.
Stop it. Stop it now.
We'll take the hit on 6 million.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
You lose this court case,
you'll be going out backwards.
I've come this far, Harry.
I can't go back now.
Who are you? Macbeth?
Of course you can.
These blokes are relying on me!
And I've said before,
I can't abandon them now.
Kerro, you've changed cricket.
They're being offered all sorts
of money from their boards.
The game will never look back.
This game you've got at VFL Park...
It'll work, Harry. You'll see.
It has to.
Here we go, son. This is it.
What do you reckon? 10,000, 20,000?
I wouldn't put a figure on it.
Why not? Your ads are fucking great.
Warner reckons more than 20,000.
Kerry, the place holds
nearly 80,000.
Don't get ahead of yourself, son.
My money's on 15,000.
How much you wanna bet?
How can I match you on a bet?
I bet five grand. How's that?
No way.
Two grand.
Piss off.
You're a fucking piker, son.
(PEOPLE CHATTER CHEERFULLY)
It's starting. Here they come.
Kerry, just got a call
from London, the court case.
He's due to give his judgement
Tuesday night, our time.
Right.
BENAUD: I don't need to tell you
what an historic day this is...
..what an historic cricket match
this is about to be.
I've given everything I have
to cricket.
And now I find myself
a disapproved person,
apparently excluded
from my life's work.
Everyone in this room
is disapproved.
But not for long.
The game is bigger than those
who are trying to strangle it
and today, here in this arena,
we begin the process
of proving them wrong.
They said it couldn't be done.
Now we're doing it.
It's time to show all those bastards
out there having a go at us
what we can do.
The rest of the world's
out there waiting for us, gentlemen.
And I don't mean Greigy's team.
I mean the rest of the world -
the crowd that believes in cricket,
the hundreds of thousands
of people out there in the world...
..just waiting to see how we go.
So let's show 'em.
Alright, come on.
(ALL APPLAUD)
MAN: Let's go get them, guys.
Come on.
(MEAGRE APPLAUSE)
Righto, Greigy.
Tails.
You can bat, Chappelli.
Alright.
Thomas.
Thanks, Tom.
(BOTH CHATTER QUIETLY)
GROUND ANNOUNCER: And opening
the batting for Australia,
Ian Davis and Rick McCosker.
(SPARSE APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
(KIDS CALL OUT AND YELL)
(BOTH SPEAK INAUDIBLY)
(CRACKING AND CREAKING)
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMENTATOR SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
(COMMENTATOR 2 SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
Mr Packer.
Mr Parish.
Mr Packer.
Mr Steele.
Take a seat.
You got my letter?
Of course. And now that
you're here we can...
So? How much do you want?
I have to tell you that
we've already sold the
television rights to the ABC -
it's our usual
practice, as you know.
Bullshit. You haven't
signed anything yet.
The deal's done.
How much is it worth?
STEELE: Mr Packer, that's
confidential. You know that.
200,000? A bit more?
I'll give you 1.5 million.
For the rights, the television
rights, when that deal expires.
Three years. It's got to be
exclusive, alright?
Right.
Why don't you put something
down in writing,
and you can put in a bid for
the commercial television rights.
Well, what the fuck
do I want THEM for?
Blind Freddie will tell you
the punters will watch the ABC
without ads.
As Bob said, we have a longstanding
relationship with the ABC.
It's a valuable partnership
and we're not breaking it.
Didn't you hear me? $1.5 million.
Give me something.
I'll sign right now.
An exclusive contract? (LAUGHS)
No. I won't go
to the board with that.
Come on, gentlemen.
There's a little bit of the whore
in all of us.
Mr Packer...
No?
STEELE: We're sorry.
You will be.
('AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE
AGAIN?' BY THE ANGELS PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ Went down to Santa Fe
♪ Where Renoir paints the walls
♪ Described you clearly
♪ But the sky began to fall
♪ Am I ever gonna see
♪ Your face again?
♪ Am I ever gonna see
your face again?
♪ Am I ever gonna see
your face again... ♪
Good evening, viewers.
COMMENTATOR: Beautiful long run.
Well balanced.
It's short of a good length.
He's shouldered arms, has Steele.
It's through to Marsh.
The slips keeping the pressure on.
With a good round of applause.
Knott goes down the pitch
for a little gardening.
He knows this is tough.
He's trying to adjust his eyes to
the light, holding up Dennis Lillee.
I thought you got him
in this over, Dennis.
Next ball, I think.
Yeah.
COMMENTATOR: It's unusual,
but the crowd are loving it.
Steele comes forward to Lillee...
Oh, yes!
Fuckin' beauty!
HOGAN: What'd you get in this one?
I dunno, Hoges.
Course ya bloody know - every
cricketer knows every statistic
of every game he ever played in.
4/31.
See?
Dennis, I'm not pissin'
in your pocket,
but what you got, that's unique.
What about Thommo?
JOHN: Even Thommo.
What about Andy Roberts?
Oh, fuck, mate. Are you gonna be
my agent with Austin, or what?
Well, me and Austin
have to talk about it.
Ah, there's not much to talk about.
I'm looking after the guy.
Nine months full-time cricket,
best in the world.
Guess how much they paid him.
Eight grand.
Bullshit.
The bloke who pushes
the sight board,
Dennis makes about the same money
as him, so do the other guys.
That's bloody ridiculous. Me and
Hoges can get that for two nights.
You're getting ripped off.
Tell me about it.
What are they doing?
They got this great game in their
hands, and these world champions,
and they've got no idea
what they've got.
They should be selling stars
like you.
Who's on this cricket board, anyway?
A bunch of...
JOHN: Hi, Dellie.
DELVENE: Hi, guys. Don't get up.
JOHN: What's this?
They gave it to me.
So how was the shoot? They're
putting you on the cover, right?
Yes. What have you been up to?
You said something, didn't you?
I might have had
a little word to them.
I thought you might've.
What'd you say?
Agent's secret. If I was to
tell you, I'd have to kill you.
Right, well, it worked, smart-arse.
COMMENTATOR: Lillee to Randall. Oh!
Another one!
Oh, he's gone LBW,
a magnificent delivery!
('KEEP ON SMILIN"
BY JOHN PAUL YOUNG PLAYS)
♪ There's times when I'm up
♪ And times when I'm down... ♪
HOGAN: Yeah, like a quiz show.
I'm a dog, right? The quiz master
says, "What's on top of the house?"
And I say, "Roof, roof!"
(LAUGHS) Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And question number two, he goes,
"What's on the outside of a tree?"
Dog says, "Bark, bark!"
Yeah, yeah.
So he wins. What does he win?
Something like a bone, or...
What if we did it ourselves?
Signed up Lillee, all the other
guys, put on an exhibition game.
You know, the Cream of Cricket,
something like that?
And they get paid most of the gate.
We tell the board
to pay it straight to them.
Advertise it like buggery, get
a big crowd in. What do you think?
We gotta do it.
Dellie, if there was a cricket game
with all the top guys in it,
would you go?
Is David Hookes playing?
Yeah.
I'm there.
The best cricketers in Australia,
all on one ground,
all at the same time.
What we need is someone
with deep pockets and big balls.
(FEEDBACK WHINES)
(FEEDBACK CONTINUES)
(FEEDBACK WHINES)
Bloody hell.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Thanks, Rose.
What the fuck do you want?
I've got an idea.
Right, hang on.
Now?
ELECTRICIAN: Yep.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Uh, Rose, come in here, will you?
Well?
That should be OK.
Rose! Get in here!
Yes, Mr Packer?
Can you hear me on the speaker?
No.
No. Christ's sake,
get this bloody thing working!
Yeah, no worries.
Oh, leave it. Come back later!
Sorry, Mr Packer,
I'll have to rewire it later.
Yes. Get out!
(SIGHS) What kind of idea?
How would you like
some cricket on TV?
A one-day cricket match.
The best cricketers in Australia
against the best in the world.
What about the cricket board?
Fuck 'em. The cricketers
are getting shafted, Kerry.
The board's making millions,
players get practically nothing.
So I've heard.
We blitz the airwaves.
Make it a big event on Channel Nine.
What, you can get 'em?
Starting with Dennis Lillee.
I'm managing him now.
And he reckons
the others will be up for it.
He'll do the initial contacts,
talk to the players first.
So what I've got here
is a couple of fuckin' comedians
coming to me
with a major business deal.
Correct.
Yeah, come back tomorrow, son.
I'll think.
A huge one-day carnival game
at the end of the season.
Hang on.
Sit down.
So you got Dennis Lillee.
Can you get Ian Chappell?
Yeah.
Thomson? Rod Marsh, and Walters?
Easy. Dennis will get 'em for us.
What about the rest of the world?
You know, uh, Tony Greig
or Imran Khan or...?
Kerry, they're all getting screwed.
OK.
OK.
We don't piss around
with some exhibition match, son.
We do it properly. We sign 'em all
up and we... we have a competition.
Right.
(LAUGHS)
Oh, but the board can't find out
anything or they'll kill it.
How good are you at
keeping secrets round here?
Oh...
We're the best in town at that, son.
(APPLAUSE)
Nice, Chappelli.
Oh, thanks, Len.
Just got a call for you from Sydney.
Austin Robertson wants you to get on
a plane. Says you've got a meeting.
Right.
Meeting with who? He was all
secretive. What's it all about?
No idea, Len.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Chappelli.
Kerry.
Who are you supposed to be,
some kind of a fuckin' cowboy?
Austin.
Kerry.
How is it playing
for little old North Melbourne
after all the heights?
It's good. I enjoy it.
Good.
Austin tell you what we're up to?
Mmm.
What do you think?
It's probably worth a shot.
Good. So, who do you want
in this team of yours?
Mine? Hang on, Kerry,
I'm not captain anymore.
My brother's Australian captain
at the moment.
What do you think this is, son,
a fuckin' democracy?
I'm payin' the fuckin' bills,
you're the fuckin' captain. Here.
Have a look. See who else
you want in this team.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Who put this together?
I did.
Chappell, Chappell, Chappell.
This a family show, is it?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Edwards, Hookes, Robinson, yeah,
Brighty, McCosker, Davis.
Yeah, that's good.
FOT. Hang on, where's Rowdy?
No, I'm not paying for
that fuckin' straight breaker.
Oh, Kerry, he's good. He can bowl.
Didn't ya hear me? He's not getting
a contract. Nor is Gary Cosier.
Cosier's a good bat, Kerry.
Mmm. OK.
Good.
Well, I have to say,
it's about bloody time.
Something like this has
been coming for a while.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Not like this, son.
None of the old-fashioned
shit anymore.
I'm stacking it with speed bowlers.
It will be a fuckin' revolution.
JOHN: You're elite
international sportsmen
and you're getting fuck all.
John Snow, a few years back,
the world's best fast bowler,
on the dole in the off-season.
Couldn't feed himself off cricket.
The 1970 tour of South Africa,
the board makes a quarter
of a million bucks profit.
The players put in
for a pissy $500 bonus.
Knocked back flat.
Now here's the bit.
The board can't know.
If they get a whiff
of what's going on, we're dead.
You can't mention anything to them.
I know you're the captain,
but this has to be totally secret
for it to work.
The whole thing
has to stay undercover.
That's it.
(CHUCKLES) I'm in.
('LET'S STICK TOGETHER'
BY BRYAN FERRY PLAYS)
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
♪ And now the marriage vow
is very sacred
♪ The man has put us together now
♪ You ought to make it stick
together
♪ Come on, come on,
let's stick together
♪ You know we made a vow
♪ Not to leave one another
never... ♪
Yeah, Dennis rang me about it.
Who else have you got?
Everyone.
What? No-one's said anything.
Good. Don't you.
What about my wife?
Don't tell her either.
AUSTIN: Centenary Test next week.
I'll have cheques
for everyone after that.
She's gonna kill me.
(FANFARE MUSIC)
COMMENTATOR: The arrival here in
Melbourne of Her Majesty the Queen.
COMMENTATOR: So, Willis again.
Surely he's pulled it on!
It hit the face.
It's hit him in the face.
He's dragged it
onto his wicket.
COMMENTATOR: Hookes is 40.
5/227.
And away it goes.
This could be his 50.
Out towards the boundary,
a beautiful shot.
Four in a row.
Four fours off England's captain.
52 to David Hookes.
A brilliant performance.
COMMENTATOR: Lillee's being
brought back into the attack
and he's on with a great deal
of fire.
That was
a terrible-looking shot.
He hung his bat out to dry.
And that's hit him on the head.
A bad one, a bad one.
There's an appeal there.
And appeal for a caught, is he?
He's walked.
Randall, caught by Cosier.
Cosier taking
an absolutely brilliant catch.
And that's it! It's LBW.
Alan Knott is out.
Lillee has struck again
to finish off this test match,
and Australia triumphing
by a margin of 45 runs.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYS, PLAYERS CHEER)
Congratulations, Greg.
Ah.
Thank you, Tony.
I was quietly confident.
Bullshit, mate. This close.
Bacchus, well done.
Thanks, Greigy.
Six for 26. This is gonna be
an historic tour of England.
Is it ever.
Excuse me, Mr Parish.
FOT, your theatre tickets.
Thanks, Ock.
Tony, can I, uh... see you
for a tick?
Sure.
Greg.
I got someone in Sydney
wants to meet you.
Who?
McCosker. How's it feel?
Oh, full of drugs, mate.
Your theatre tickets, Doug.
Thanks, Ock.
G'day, Ray. Good to see you.
Austin.
So, what's that?
Oh, it's just an invitation
to something.
What to?
You're a nosy bastard,
aren't ya, Cosier?
Hey? Open it.
You want another beer, big fella?
Yeah, alright.
They're just over there.
What's going on?
(DOOR OPENS)
G'day, son. Good to see you again.
Hi, Kerry.
You remember Bruce Francis?
Yes.
We're working together.
You were a bloody good bat, Francis.
Thanks, Kerry.
Ah, I see Hookesy belted you
for a few.
GREIG: Ah.
ROSE: Thank you.
Rose, I've got to see Kerry.
We've got a tax problem.
Sorry, Mr Warner, he's busy.
You're joking. This is important.
Who's he got in there?
I can't tell you that.
You'll have to come back later.
Well, this can't wait.
No!
Oh, for God's sake.
KERRY: We talked about
something like this last year.
I remember.
They respect you, son.
And you can sign 'em up.
You can get the South Africans
and the West Indians.
OK.
And... you're sworn to secrecy.
I don't care about the money, Kerry.
I've got my sponsorships.
I'm doing fine.
Good. So... sign.
I went straight from school
into professional cricket, Kerry.
I've never had a job.
I want one with your organisation.
Done. I'll pay you 25 grand a year.
Do we have a deal?
FRANCIS: And a loan
to help him buy a house in Sydney.
As much as he wants.
At 2%. Is that it?
Is the contract
with Consolidated Press?
No, it's with JP Sport. But don't
worry, he'll get every penny.
Can we have
your personal guarantee on that?
Personal... fuckin'...guarantee.
In writing. And I'll need
a solicitor to look over it.
Where the hell
did you get this bloke?
I sold the 'Telegraph' to Murdoch
in the back seat of a taxi
for $15 million,
and this idiot wants my guarantee
in writing for a lousy 40 grand!
Kerry, I don't mean
to be difficult...
No, take him to the next room and go
over that with a magnifying glass
if you want.
Meanwhile, I'll sit here
on my fat arse pretending to tremble
whether you're going to sign or not.
And then when you're done
playing big dick businessman,
get back in here
and fuckin' sign it!
NEWSREADER: The Australian
cricket team is off to England
to start their 3-month Ashes
tour,
fresh from their victory
over England
in the Melbourne Centenary Test.
Australia will play
a rejuvenated England
under the captaincy of Tony Greig,
who has lifted the team to new
heights since taking the helm.
(WOMAN SQUEALS, PEOPLE APPLAUD)
Alright, boys.
NEWSREADER:
In a surprise move,
the Australian squad did not include
Dennis Lillee.
The champion fast bowler is reported
to have stress fractures of the back
and will take time off cricket
for recuperation.
The Australian team will be led
by Greg Chappell
and will play three warm-up matches
before the first test.
I've got someone coming in, son, and
I want you there. He's important.
We're gonna have to get you
into a tie, son.
I don't wear ties, Kerry.
What do you mean you don't?
I just told ya, he's important.
Now get a bloody tie
and start looking decent for people.
When you work for me,
you wear a fuckin' tie.
I'll buy you some, how's that?
I don't work for you, Kerry.
I make programs for you,
which, incidentally,
win the ratings.
And I don't wear ties for anyone.
Now you listen to me, Cornell.
We're gonna work together
on this fuckin' cricket,
you're gonna start wearing ties.
Here he is. Richie, how are you,
my friend? Good to see you again.
Good to see you again, Kerry.
Richie, this is John Cornell.
Cornell, this is Richie Benaud.
Watch out for him, Richie.
He's a smart young bloke
but he's not smart enough
to take good advice.
Like what?
Oh, I was just telling him.
When he comes to work, he should
wear a nice tie, like you and me.
He's wearing my favourite
outfit, actually.
Nice slacks, smart jacket.
He looks fine.
KERRY: Asif Iqbal,
Alvin Kallicharan.
Mushtaq Mohammad, Viv Richards.
Impressive, I must say.
How many do you have in total?
35.
35?
Including the South Africans.
We've got Pollock, Richards,
Barlow, Procter.
Unbelievable. I haven't
heard a word of this.
Somehow they kept quiet.
Richie, you and Daphne, I want to
sign you both as consultants.
Think of yourself as a... tactician.
You know the cricket board
better than anyone.
Ah, the board. This is going to be
difficult. They're very old school.
You have to start
thinking like them.
Maybe you SHOULD start
wearing a tie.
('SNIFF'N THE TEARS'
BY DRIVER'S SEAT PLAYS)
♪ Doing alright
♪ A little jiving
on a Saturday night
♪ And come what may
♪ Gonna dance the day away... ♪
Oi. Have you signed yet?
Signed what?
Don't worry about it, mate.
It's alright.
MAN: Come on, watch the line!
MAN 2: I'll give you that.
(LOUD CHATTER)
Lennie. How are ya, mate?
Good, fellas. Now, listen.
Piss off, boys, alright?
Now, the blokes need
a bit of a break.
They don't want journos
hanging around.
Just got a quick question
for ya, Len.
Yeah?
After this tour, next Aussie summer,
what's going on back home?
We've got India coming.
You know that.
No, some cricket carnival. Lillee,
Ian Chappell. What's all that about?
I've got no idea, but Dennis
might not be up to it by then.
We heard he's not that injured.
What cricket carnival?
And Chappelli's retired.
See, that's not what we heard.
He said something vague to me
about the possibility of a comeback.
I've got no details. I don't know
what you're talking about.
That's what we thought.
Let's go and have a word
to Bacchus, mate.
Hey, uh, have you signed yet?
Have I signed what?
You, too. I don't know.
What's going on?
What do you mean?
I dunno. Something.
Warner, sit down.
This cricket thing's warming up.
I want you in to manage it.
What cricket thing?
Don't piss around. I know you know.
Who told ya?
Kerry...
Fuck that. Anyway, you're running
it. I'll up you five grand.
Now, stay in close contact
with Richie Benaud.
He knows what he's doing.
He's written a letter to the board.
We'll taxi it to 'em.
Cornell and I will have
a press release ready to go.
Rose, what the hell are you wearing?
Don't you like it?
You look like a sack of potatoes.
Get us some lunch, will you?
Some hamburgers
and a couple of milkshakes.
Yes, Mr Packer.
You blokes want anything?
I've gotta go.
Righto.
Right. I'll gird the loins.
Thanks, Kerry.
You'll be cursing me
before this is over, son.
Well, it sounds like
it's a fait accompli.
What are you, fuckin' educated?
(LAUGHS) I mean, it's a done deal.
I know what it means, son,
and it's not. They'll be back at us.
The question is, what have
they got to fight with?
History. A hundred years of it.
(SOBS)
Rose?
Go away.
All the best.
You, too.
Ah, tails.
OK, we'll bat.
Gentlemen, all the best.
Thank you.
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Don't know if you'll be batting
anytime soon.
Oh, just means the party starts
early. All you guys coming?
Oh, yes, you bet.
Hell.
('HEY, SENORITA'
BY THE PENGUINS PLAYS)
♪ Hey, senorita
♪ Please let me take you home
♪ Oh, little girl
♪ Why don't you let me
take you home?
♪ If you do that, baby,
I promise... ♪
What have you got?
Nothing new.
But they're all half-pissed.
We just keep at 'em.
Look, I heard it's not
going to be a one-off.
I think they want to play
a whole season.
Who told you that?
It doesn't make any sense.
They'll be busy playing tests
against India.
No, I think they're jumping.
Leaving test cricket.
Christ! You seen
Tony Grieg anywhere?
No, not for a bit.
Hey, Bacchus!
Bacchus.
Hey, guys.
Mate, we know it's on.
Come on, what have you got?
What's on?
Something. Anything.
We won't quote ya.
No, no-one'll be quoting anyone.
(LAUGHS) You guys.
Oh, that went well.
MAN: Afternoon, gentlemen.
BOTH: Clive.
Glad to see the Downunder
Fourth Estate represented.
Fuck off.
Tell me, you haven't got a sniff
of piracy in the ranks, have you?
Piracy?
Mmm.
What do you mean?
Clive.
Oh, excuse me. Good to see you.
(SPEAKS QUIETLY)
Oh, mate, they've got something.
Shit, we gotta bust it tonight
or they'll scoop us.
There he is. Hang on, I'll grab him.
Greg.
Peter.
Enjoying the party?
There should be more of it,
I reckon.
Mate, let me put something to you.
A professional troupe of cricketers
put together by, say,
some cricket promoter,
and they play outside the official
sanctioned games for a lot of money.
What do you think?
Sounds interesting.
Would you sign up for it?
I'd find out more about it first.
Yeah, and if you did,
would you sign up for it?
Like I said.
Put you down as a yes?
Enjoy the party, Pete.
Hookesy.
Thank you. No worries.
I wanna ask you something.
Mm-hm?
Kerry Packer.
How well do you know him?
I don't. I haven't met him yet.
(BURPS)
Yet? What do you mean?
Oh, he wants to meet
all the players.
How come?
Just being friendly.
He's paying them enough.
Yeah.
What'd you get?
I'm not telling you that.
What'd Ian Chappell get?
Oh, mate... a lot more than me.
Yeah, right. Right.
How many others signed?
Now.
We off? Alright, OK.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
Peter! What's going on?
Sorry, Greigy. Great party, mate.
Gotta go. Gotta go.
Get onto Doug Insole or Tagge
Webster, quick. We need a comment.
We should get in contact with the
Australian Cricket Board, as well.
No, deal with our board first. We'll
worry about the Australians later.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yes!
Peter McFarline. Copy. Quick!
McFarline, yeah. Ready?
Hove, May 8.
Australian television magnate Kerry
Packer is bidding to set up a troupe
of the world's best cricketers
to play matches
specifically for television.
Stop. New par.
Most of Australia's
current test team
has been approached
to join the troupe...
OK. London, Sunday.
TV magnate Kerry Packer...
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer,
media proprietor.
He's knighted. Born 1906. Hang on,
he's got to be younger than that.
No, it's a Kerry.
Kerry?
Kerry Packer.
He's not even here.
Well, anyway, Sir Frank's dead.
I remember we ran something.
Ah! Oh, hold on.
Sons, Clyde, born 1935,
and Kerry, bingo! Born 1937.
That's got to be him.
He's a bloody nobody.
I'll ring Insole first.
This'll be terrific.
They'll tear this bloke apart.
Mr Parish?
(PHONE RINGS)
Oh.
Victorian Cricket Association.
Yes, I'll just put you through.
It's Mr Steele.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I just saw it.
Victorian Cricket Association.
Oh, that bastard.
At least he could have let us know.
I'll put you through right away.
No, of course not. Impossible.
It's Sir Donald.
(PRESSES BUTTON) Sir Donald.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer, is it true you've signed
20 cricketers for your rebel group?
We've signed exactly 35.
We'll be signing more
in the future, possibly.
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Packer, you collected
most of your players in secret.
Does that mean you don't intend
to cooperate or work
with the cricket authorities?
Well, I've done all I can
to cooperate with
the Australian Cricket Board.
I was willing to pay big money
to cover cricket,
but they blocked me at every turn,
so now we're doing our own thing.
Well, what does that mean, exactly?
Are you declaring a cricket war?
Well, if this is a war,
it's been brought on by
the cricket authorities, not by me.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer!
Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
McFarline, the 'Age'.
Mr Packer, have you read
the latest comments
by the chairman of the Australian
Cricket Board, Bob Parish?
Yes, I'm aware of what he said.
Any comment?
Yes. Mr Parish doesn't like me
and I'm not mad about Parish.
Mr Packer? Mr Packer?
Yes.
Will you continue
to operate in secret,
and how will this impact
test cricket?
Well, if the cricket boards
cooperate,
there's no reason why test cricket
will be affected at all.
But if they don't cooperate, they'll
walk straight into a meat mangler.
REPORTERS: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
Mr Greig, Mr Greig,
as captain
of the England cricket team,
you recruited many
of Mr Packer's players.
Do you feel like a traitor
to English cricket?
Not at all. The players were all
happy to sign up, eager to.
And what I've tried to do
is help provide some security
for my fellow players.
Now, I'm sure
that all this can be sorted out
and World Series Cricket and
test cricket can exist happily
side by side.
PARKER: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
How many cricket games
do you intend to schedule
in the Australian summer?
I don't know the answer to that.
We're not sure at the moment.
There'll be a number of test matches
followed by a series
of one-day games.
BELL: Hang on, test matches?
Surely they're not test matches.
I mean, they are games of cricket.
Call them what you want.
But they'll be played
by the world's best test players.
(ALL MUTTER)
Who on earth is that?
Who?
The pushy little blond chap.
I've no idea.
I've never seen him before.
Is he an administrator?
McFARLINE: His name's John Cornell.
Where's he from?
Kalgoorlie.
GAVIN: Austin? It's Gavin.
Sure, no problem.
Yeah, good. Joel Garner. Got him.
Yes. Wait a tick.
Here he is.
You boys are working overtime.
Great. Yes,
I'm on a plane this afternoon.
I'll see you the day after tomorrow.
I want to meet with Tony Greig.
Yep.
Bye.
Here you go.
How many's that now?
49.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
(BELL TOLLS)
JOHN: (READS) "And trampling on
the sacred traditions of the game,
"this money-hungry mercenary,
"aided by English cricket traitor
Tony Greig,
"is holding the game to ransom.
"This cricket circus
will never be..."
Circus?
"will never be able to match
test cricket in any way.
"The English cricket establishment
is almost certain to move
"to sabotage Mr Packer's
ill-thought-out sporting venture.
"As the supreme body
for international cricket,
"the ICC has the ability to..."
Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
It's true, though.
What was that one?
Just more crap.
Read it.
(READS) "The power behind this
cowardly sneak attack on cricket
"is Mr Kerry Packer,
an overweight Australian blimp
"who not only looks like a
hammerhead shark, but acts like one.
"With not even a nod to
the fine traditions of the game,
"this lumbering philistine has
used his millions to destroy..."
Etc.
Jeez.
They don't hold back, do they?
Bugger 'em, Kerry.
We just stick with it.
We're going OK.
Is that right?
We got a bunch of fuckin' players,
no itinerary, no marketing plan
and no complete management
structure.
We got no fuckin' grounds
to play on!
Where's Warner?
He'll be here tomorrow.
(SIGHS)
You know, we, um... still might
be able to talk to these boards.
Benaud reckons I should.
I don't see how,
after that press conference.
Well, I've written letters,
to the Australian board and the ICC,
you know, to try
and talk peace to them.
Well, I've got to give it a shot.
(SIGHS)
Blimp!
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
How much is it, mate?
You're an Aussie, then?
Yeah. That's right.
Yeah, no charge for you, lad.
Enjoy the cricket.
Well, thank you. Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.
I just wanted to meet you
and talk over a few things.
But don't worry,
it can wait till later.
I know you're pretty busy right now.
Oh, no, no, no. No, it's fine.
I heard they sacked you as England
captain this morning. I'm sorry.
Yes, well, I kind of expected it.
At least you're still
playing for England.
Yes.
(PLAYERS CHEER)
And Sussex.
I like this cricket. Well, I gotta
go. Meet you back at your hotel.
Right.
(LOUD BOOING)
You the lad talkin'
to fuckin' Tony Greig, were you?
Yes, I was.
Friend of yours, is he?
Well, not really.
Yeah, he's a fuckin' traitor.
You know that Aussie, Packer?
I work for him.
Do ya? 10 quid.
You're kidding?
I was only here 20 minutes.
10 fuckin' quid. Come on.
And you can tell your mate
Tony fucking Greig
he'll be charged double
next time he turns up.
Now fuck off.
DAVID FROST: (ON TV) We turn at that
point to you first of all, Robin.
Do you feel that this whole incident
is the way that
Kerry has described it -
that it shows Tony Greig
as a man of honour?
ROBIN MARLAR: No, I don't.
I think he's a fool.
But, David, I want
to talk about Mr Packer.
This man does not
know how to behave.
The point is this. He has made
Tony Greig do a dishonourable thing.
Our life, of which cricket
is a part,
is made up of behaviour
and how you behave
is how you are judged.
What Tony Greig has done
is totally unforgivable.
I don't understand that,
you see? I don't.
No, you don't, you see?
That's just the trouble.
(APPLAUSE)
No, but I don't...
Jeez, he's copping it, hey?
Who's that other guy?
Mm-mm.
Now this man's intervention
is absolutely tearing
the guts out of cricket.
I fail to see in any way
how Mr Packer's intervention
is welcome to our cricket here.
KERRY: Whether it's
welcome here or not,
there are 35 players to start with
who want to be in it
and they are the judges.
These people have given
long service to cricket
and I believe they're entitled
to make a decent living out of it.
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
No, I'm sorry.
(LAUGHS)
I'm sorry to hear people clapping
because that is the man that does
not care about our test cricket.
This is about the boards.
What I fail to understand
is their blind reluctance
to be informed about what I'm doing
so they can make
a balanced decision.
Why not talk to me while I'm here?
Because maybe they don't like
your attitude. How about that?
Well, I think that's highly likely.
(PEOPLE LAUGH AND APPLAUD)
David, we still haven't
got across the point
that if this circus comes along
to take the cream off...
It's arrived, boss.
It has NOT arrived, David.
(APPLAUSE)
He's arrived.
That is a nonsense statement.
The players have signed up.
They're there.
They'll be in Australia in November
and they'll be playing
in the Supertests.
Now, don't pretend
they haven't arrived.
FROST: Do you think
the Supertests should go on?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
Or should they be stopped?
AUDIENCE: No!
Well, that seems to be the vote.
We'll leave it there.
Goodnight.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS
ON TELEVISION)
So, who did the selecting anyway?
Packer choose everyone, did he?
Oh, it's done, mate. Leave it alone.
You and me, we're good enough to
play for Australia, but not for him.
Is that it?
(DOOR OPENS)
Oh, g'day, you blokes.
How are you?
Handsome fellas.
Bacchus.
What's going on? We're gonna
get something to eat. You coming in?
Yeah.
Yeah?
G'day, Lizzie, darling. How are ya?
Can we just get a couple of jugs?
You coming, Cos?
I'll, uh, see you in there.
Righto.
BBC NEWSREADER: In sports,
the International Cricket Conference
is to meet in London this week.
The ICC Chairman, Tagge Webster,
has convened a special meeting
of the world's cricket authorities
to combat the latest threat
to the sport.
The ICC yesterday
issued a communique
declaring it as "the sole promoter
of international cricket"
following the news that
49 of the world's leading players
have signed to a rebel group.
I got a charming letter
from Packer today.
He wants to meet up while
we're here and work something out.
Great. Let's do it.
I also had a call from the Don.
Oh, God.
He said, "No compromise. Let's get
stuck right into this bloke."
That'd be right.
So what did you say to Packer?
What could I say?
I told him to bugger off.
The Don should be here.
No, he's much too smart for that.
NEWSREADER: players
from England, Australia,
the West Indies and Pakistan.
In Kingston, Sir Garfield Sobers
has announced he is to act
as a consultant to the rebel group.
In other news,
Tommy Docherty has stood down
as manager of Manchester United.
Docherty, who led the club
to its recent 2-1 win
against Liverpool in the FA Cup
final, has cited personal...
(TURNS OFF TELEVISION)
(SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE)
KERRY: Gentlemen.
MAN: Mr Packer.
Are you enjoying London?
I would have enjoyed it more
if you hadn't kept me here
twiddling my thumbs for a week.
So, Mr Packer, would you like
to outline your proposals for us?
No, I wouldn't. I'm not
here to put proposals.
I'm here to see if we can work out
some sort of a compromise.
And what would that entail?
Do you know what a compromise is?
Please, Mr Packer, I feel that we...
It's when two people get together
to work out a deal.
Both sides give a bit
and they reach an agreement.
I'm here looking for a compromise.
Good.
Then let's start, shall we?
I'd appreciate it.
One - no player will participate
in privately promoted matches
unless given specific permission
from local authorities.
Two - no privately promoted 11
can be represented
as a national team.
Three - players taking part
in privately promoted matches
are to be made available
for official matches
if there is no clash.
Four - no cricket series
run by a private promoter
will run for longer than six weeks.
And five - any and all
privately promoted programs
will be under total control
of the local cricket authorities.
Yes.
OK.
I can compromise on those points.
How about we set up
a working committee?
Excellent. Let's do that.
Look, you lot can have
all my players, all 49 of them.
The boards can run the games
and we can all get on
with playing cricket.
But you'll agree
there'll be no more victimising
of the players I've signed.
Tony Greig being stripped of
the England captaincy, for example -
no more of that.
And I get exclusive rights
to televise Australian test cricket
when the present arrangement
expires.
I tell you what, gentlemen.
Why don't you have a think about it?
We'll take a bit
of a look around outside.
Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it?
I was here with my father and Clyde.
I missed seeing you play
back in '61.
Kerry, we need to think
about what we're doing.
Though I saw you take 5/13
at Old Trafford.
We need to think fast about who
we put on this working committee.
There's something magic about it.
This is the heart...
..right here.
It's not just a game.
It's something...
..more.
Kerry, did you hear what I said?
My father didn't
love much in his life.
He liked boats,
he liked horses.
But he loved cricket.
MAN: Mr Packer!
What do you reckon?
Do you think they bought it?
Of course they have.
I've offered them a fucking gift.
MAN: It is the unanimous view
of all member countries
of the International Cricket Council
that they cannot give any commitment
to exclusive television rights.
Do you agree to that?
I'm sorry.
But I am willing to keep
discussions open.
No, that's not acceptable.
MAN 1: Hey, there he is!
MAN 2: Mr Packer! Mr Packer!
(ALL CALL QUESTIONS)
That's it!
Had I gotten those TV rights,
I was willing
to withdraw from the scene
and leave the running of cricket
to the board,
but I will take
no steps now to help anyone.
It's every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost.
(ALL CONTINUE YELLING)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(YELLS INAUDIBLY)
TAGGE: It's war, Douglas.
We'll have to stop this
before it gets off the ground.
How exactly?
Divide and conquer.
We'll drive a wedge
between this man and his players
and we'll use our
best weapon - cricket.
And we'll bring
the lawyers in - OUR lawyers.
It's such a pity. He doesn't
understand what he's doing.
He's impressive, Tagge.
No, he's not. He's a barbarian.
He doesn't realise
this is not just a game.
It's something more than that.
(TYPEWRITERS CLATTER)
Oh, Mr Packer,
David Hill's arrived.
Good.
Hill.
Mr Packer.
Warner tells me
you're a fucking hot shot.
Is that right?
Well...
I've seen your
'Sportsnight' program, son.
I want you doing that here at Nine.
Did he fill you in on the cricket?
He did. It sounds very exciting.
Good. Rose, get us
some food in here, will you?
ROSE: (OVER INTERCOM)
Yes, Mr Packer.
Right, you're not
at the ABC now, son,
so I want you to start thinking of
better ways of filming these games.
I'm sick of looking at the back
of batsmen's arses, for one thing.
Rose, not food. A salad... with meat.
Yes, Mr Packer.
You... Lean meat.
Yes, Mr Packer.
And what about directors?
You got them yet?
I've approached John Crilly
and Brian Morelli.
They're both very keen
to come on board.
Well, I've never
fucking heard of them,
but if you think
they're good, get them.
Welcome aboard, son.
How far out of fucking town
are we?
16 miles.
Jesus Christ.
(MEN CALL AND YELL INDISTINCTLY)
What do you think?
It's not bad apart from the fact
we're in the middle of buggery.
(CHUCKLES)
Jesus, look at that mess.
How are those wickets going?
Well, they've started
growing at least.
Kerry.
What?
Night-time cricket.
We only play English times.
Hot places like us and India
playing cricket in 110-degree heat,
middle of the day,
it's bloody madness.
That's true, son.
England runs cricket. Why?
Why keep following
old English traditions?
We should do it our own bloody way.
Limited-over one-dayers,
we play them at night. Bang!
Yes, but a night game
would finish too late.
We'd have to do
half day, half night.
You want a drink?
Uh, yeah.
We start in the afternoon
when kids finish school,
then later just switch
the lights on, finish at 10:00.
Yes, that'll fucking work, son.
You know why?
Women and kids will come.
We've only got
one ground with lights.
Eh, we'll get more.
Where?
Dunno yet.
OK, ABC, the BBC,
the single camera here.
This is where they shoot from.
Kerry reckons he's sick
of looking at batsmen's arses.
So he said.
Aren't we all.
Right, so here's our base point,
so camera one here,
camera two over there,
camera three on the opposite side
over there,
camera four up the other end.
We'll get stumpings,
run-outs, the lot.
What do you think, John?
Yeah. Yeah, good.
('HEY ST PETER'
BY FLASH & THE PAN PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ The morning
was cold and lonely
♪ The city lights old and grey... ♪
How's it look?
HILL: It's gonna be tops.
Five cameras.
Five?
I thought you said four.
No, five's better.
And, Colin, we got this great idea.
What?
Sound.
We record them at the wicket.
You can hear the whole bloody thing.
♪ Made a stand
Raised his hand
♪ Sang a song, no time to kill
I said, "Hey, hey, hey..." ♪
MAN: OK, get the guys
to sound off one at a time.
MAN: Clear.
MAN 2: Clear here.
MAN 3: Clear.
MAN 4: Looking good.
OK, all good.
Right, wicket mikes.
(CLICKS FINGERS)
How's that for you, Brian?
(OVER RADIO) Clear as a bell.
Good.
Uh, what if it rains?
What's moisture gonna do to them?
Yeah, it'll kill it.
JOHN: Well, we can't put
a roof over the bloody thing.
MAN: (OVER RADIO) Hey, Warren.
What?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Well, it's, uh, definitely
sticking up more now.
That feels much better.
More erect.
And it'll save problems later.
(ALL LAUGH)
You getting this, Brian?
(MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
They're growing better
than we thought.
They'll be great pitches.
(LAWNMOWER WHIRRS)
Yeah, that's good work, John.
How do you get them in place?
We haven't worked that out yet.
Well, if they weigh 25 tonnes,
it might be a good fucking idea.
The problem is getting them
into the centre of the oval
without damaging the outfield.
We can't just drag them
out there with a tractor.
So what's the plan?
We're thinking
maybe, uh... hovercraft.
Bullshit!
Well, it might be possible.
Hovercraft? Jesus Christ.
Who thought that one up?
Look, I don't care if you use
flying fucking saucers.
I want to be able to bowl a ball
on these things by October.
(THUNDER CRACKS AND RUMBLES)
Notwithstanding anything
herein before contained,
the International
Cricket Conference -
determined to oppose
to the maximum extent
the series of exhibition matches
arranged to take place in
the forthcoming Australian summer -
has resolved unanimously,
one, that these matches will not
be rated as first-class matches
and will not appear
in the official record.
Two, on October 1 this year,
any player still signed
with a private promoter
will be deemed
a 'disapproved person'.
Three, any match arranged by
Mr Kerry Packer or Mr Richie Benaud
or associated companies
will be disapproved.
Four, all players who sign
with a private promoter
will face a total ban
from test and domestic cricket,
such ban to be applied
by local authorities.
Thank you.
(REPORTERS CLAMOUR)
Banned?! That's it!
We see them in court.
And we schedule the Supertests
the same fucking day
as the board's tests.
From now on, no matter what,
no-one's available to play for them.
No-one!
I'll show those bastards
what a ban is, see how THEY cope!
Oh, Mr Packer,
Jeff Thomson's agent rang.
I'll bet he did.
He's gone, Kerry.
And it gets worse.
What?!
Alvin Kallicharran and Viv Richards
are pulling out, as well.
BASTARDS!
OK, we sue them!
I'll chase those pricks
through every court!
BENAUD That might not be
a good idea.
I think "softly, softly"
might be a better approach.
Richie, fuck them!
I'll leave them
barefoot and bankrupt.
And as for this agent,
this David Lord bastard...
Have you heard this?
Listen to this shit.
You fucking read it!
(READS) "This will be
the beginning of an exodus
"from the Packer circus."
Packer fucking circus again!
"The players have followed
each other like sheep,
"but now they've had
an attack of brains."
I'm going after him, too!
Uh, Kerry...
Shut up!
I'm going back to London,
try and arrange having
a go at them in court.
You're coming with me.
You, too, Chappelli.
ROSE!
What is this shit?
It's your usual. It's chicken salad.
FUCK!
Get me some fucking pies,
or something, will ya?!
And, you, what are you doing
about those pitches?
The Sydney Cricket Ground...
What are you fucking doing?!
Giving the board a shot.
I'm hopeful.
Hopeful? What fucking good is that?
I want that ground!
Sure.
What about umpires?
You got any of them yet?
Do your fucking job, why don't you?!
Yeah, but we knew they'd come at us.
Kerry certainly did.
So what's he gonna do about it?
We just have to trust him,
that he knows what he's doing.
No-one knows what they're doing.
That's the point.
No-one thought we'd get banned.
'Disapproved persons'.
What is this? The 19th century?
But, Thommo, you're fully
approved, aren't you, mate?
You can keep playing.
Well, bloody good for you.
Guys, I had to. I've got
a contract for 4IP in Brissie.
But you had that
before you bloody signed.
I know, and now things
have gotten messy.
They can sue me if I don't pull out.
Yeah, there's blokes running
to their lawyers all over town.
Can't blame them. I never thought
I'd get banned from playing tests.
That's why I got into cricket
in the first place.
We all did.
Kerry didn't think it through.
That's his problem.
Now we're all buggered.
You're getting paid
a lot of money, Hookesy.
Bugger the money.
Hookesy!
Yep, he can stick his money.
Having fun, Kerro?
Harry.
Are you sure
you want to do this?
Now's the time to pull the plug
if you have any doubts.
I'm gonna get these bastards, Harry.
Well, you might be feeling that way,
but I'm your deputy chairman
and I have a corporation to run.
I can't afford all of this.
You've no set budget,
you've no corporate direction
and you've spent
several million dollars.
Now's the time to rein it in.
I know.
And you've got Gavin Warner
running the show.
Do you think he's up to it?
Do you?
You've got nowhere decent to play.
You missed out on the Gabba
and now there's this
negative announcement
from the Sydney
Cricket Ground Trust.
Have you seen it?
They're just more crusty old men
sitting behind closed doors, Harry.
But they've got the high ground
and you haven't.
I got VFL Park.
A lot of good that'll do you.
These cricketers of yours
that they've banned -
you realise
it's just the first shot?
They'll keep coming at you.
Ask yourself -
is all of this worth it?
No, no.
We hit this
International Cricket Conference
with everything we've got.
That'll take a bit of time.
We'll get a QC and stick it
into the High Court.
If they want to bowl bouncers
we'll fight the way they want.
It turns out
Viv's not going, after all.
Good.
But we've gotta go after
Thomson and Kallicharran, Kerry.
Plus, in Adelaide, the Don's
got his claws into Hookesy.
We'd better move on him, too.
Nah, let them go.
We don't want blokes
who don't want to play.
We have to be able
to trust them at their word.
You can't force someone
to stick to their word, son.
If they don't, there's nothing to
do, except never forget it.
It's getting harder.
Yeah, it is.
This first game at VFL Park
is haunting me.
I'm sorry about all this money
going out the door.
The money doesn't matter, son.
It's what comes at you.
My father, he always used to say,
"Don't expect to be liked."
But it is hard to cop sometimes.
Anyway...
My, uh, father used
to stay in this suite.
This same one?
Yep.
Yeah, me and Clyde would
watch Mother and Father
dancing downstairs in the ballroom.
She was a beautiful dancer.
I've always admired that.
Never did learn to dance myself.
I'll teach you to dance, Kerry.
Come on!
You, um, have a dance
with golden boy over there
and just let me sit in me misery.
Up you get.
Come on. There we go.
I can hear my bones creaking.
Aww.
Alright, so...
..strong frame.
And relax.
Follow my lead.
Your forward.
And back.
That was good.
Now we go to the side.
And now your back.
And side again.
That's it. And again.
Back. And side.
And back. And side.
Kerry, you're a natural.
I'm dancing, Cornell.
Are you seeing this?
(CHUCKLES)
Mr Packer.
How are you today?
This is Mr Tony Greig.
Yes, we know.
We're members of the MCC.
So, Mr Packer,
it's our understanding
the ICC is proposing a ban
on some cricket players
and you are seeking a writ
to restrain them
from this course of action.
Correct. So who's
the best QC in town?
(CHUCKLES)
I'm sorry, Mr Packer.
It doesn't quite work like that.
Well, you tell me, then.
How does it fucking work?
There are a good many fine silks
in London, as you can imagine.
Mmm, I can. So who's the best?
Mr Packer, there is no best.
Things might
be different in Australia,
but the English legal fraternity
has a large number
of quite outstanding barristers.
Are you listening? Did you not
understand the fucking question?
Mr Packer...
..you will understandably
want to expedite your matter.
Any silk of the stature you're after
will be booked for months,
maybe years.
And there's the question of fees.
Exactly.
These men can command
very substantial amounts of money.
Well, thank you for
that interesting walk
through the Black Forest, gentlemen.
Mr Greig and I are going to go out
and have an enjoyable round of golf.
So we'll go and do that
and when we get back,
you lot have a name ready for me.
How about that?
You see, I know how this works.
I've done it before.
You give me the name
of the top bloke,
I call him, I offer him more
fucking money than anybody else,
he drops everything
and comes to work for me.
Well...
Um, Alexander?
No doubt.
We recommend Robert Alexander.
He's an absolutely remarkable silk.
But he's prohibitively busy.
Good. I'll have him.
This could be difficult.
Look, if you can't do it, give me
his fucking number, I'll do it.
We'll arrange it for you.
That didn't take
too fucking long, did it?
Now...
..who's your second best?
Do we really need both of them?
Listen, son, if I'm trying
to back the winner at Wimbledon,
I want all my money
on the top seeds.
(CHUCKLES)
Tell Chappelli to get
the fellas up to my room.
I want to have a chat.
HOOKES: "I want
to thank you for selecting me.
"But I'm sorry, Kerry.
I have to resign.
"There's a whole 'Keep Hookesy
At Home' thing in Adelaide
"and I feel as though I owe
these people my allegiance."
'Allegiance'. Shit.
"I feel as though
I owe these people...
"I feel as though I have
an obligation to these people
"and, besides, I already got
a really good job in Adelaide..."
(PHONE RINGS)
Yeah.
Alright, I'm coming.
"I want to thank you, Kerry,
but I have to resign.
"I have an obligation to Adelaide.
"I'm sorry."
(PEOPLE CHATTER QUIETLY)
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
MARSH: Have you met him before?
Hey?
Have you met him before?
No, no, this is my first time.
You scared?
Nup.
No, you don't look it.
I'm not.
Righto.
Piss off, Bacchus.
(CHUCKLES)
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKS) Hey, Bacchus.
Bacchus!
Hookesy?
Oi, you in there?
(ALL CONTINUE CHATTERING)
Welcome to London.
Good to see you, Kerry.
Richie.
(TAPS GLASS)
Right.
I want to thank you all
for joining us on this venture.
You know, if Thomson and
Kallicharran piss off, that's fine.
We're not gonna chase them.
We'll let them go.
But, as for the rest of us,
this ban on us...
The only thing we have
to fall back on is our loyalty...
..our obligation to each other.
And if we stick together,
keep our eye on the ball,
people WILL come to understand
what it is we're doing.
Now, we've got this all-important
first game at VFL Park coming up
and I want to tell you something.
It will be a smash.
People will come to see you
because you are the best.
So is anyone else
having second thoughts?
What about you, Dougie?
You sure you're in?
Oh, I'm in, Kerry.
Good.
McCosker?
Yeah, I'm in, Kerry.
Mick?
Bloody oath.
Good. Bacchus?
No worries, Kerry.
Bookshelf?
Can't wait, Kerry.
The other Kerry - Mr O'Keeffe?
I'll be there.
Excellent. Mr Davis?
Yes, I'm there, Kerry.
(MOUTHS WORDS)
What do you say?
100%.
Jeez, he's good.
Yeah.
Mr Lenny Pascoe?
Yeah, mate.
You?
Yes, Kerry.
Great.
What about you, David?
Um, Mr Packer...
What?
I want to thank you
for selecting me...
I didn't select you, son.
Chappelli did. Thank him.
Right.
Um... I want to thank you
for selecting me...
You already fucking did that.
Are you in or what?
I got a good job in Adelaide.
Doing what?
At a tyre-fitting depot.
A tyre depot?!
I'll tell you what, son.
I'll buy the fucking place.
Then I'll be your boss and you can
play cricket anytime you want.
How about that? You in? Yep?
Yep. Yes.
Good. Welcome aboard.
(MEN LAUGH)
Tangles, what are you doing here?
I don't remember signing you up.
Alright, charge your glasses.
You don't drink, Kerry.
I'm gonna make an exception
in your case, Chappelli.
To the best cricketers
in the world...
..playing the best cricket
in the world...
..with the best fucking boss
in the world.
To World Series Cricket!
ALL: World Series Cricket!
(CHANNEL 9 CRICKET THEME PLAYS)
As we discussed on Tuesday,
a locally produced 'Playboy'
magazine
would fill the niche
identified by J...
..J. Walter Thompson.
You want to take off, Rosie?
ROSE: Mr Chester.
You weren't listening, Kerro.
We're now haemorrhaging money.
It's not good business.
It will be.
Stop it. Stop it now.
We'll take the hit on 6 million.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
You lose this court case,
you'll be going out backwards.
I've come this far, Harry.
I can't go back now.
Who are you? Macbeth?
Of course you can.
These blokes are relying on me!
And I've said before,
I can't abandon them now.
Kerro, you've changed cricket.
They're being offered all sorts
of money from their boards.
The game will never look back.
This game you've got at VFL Park...
It'll work, Harry. You'll see.
It has to.
Here we go, son. This is it.
What do you reckon? 10,000, 20,000?
I wouldn't put a figure on it.
Why not? Your ads are fucking great.
Warner reckons more than 20,000.
Kerry, the place holds
nearly 80,000.
Don't get ahead of yourself, son.
My money's on 15,000.
How much you wanna bet?
How can I match you on a bet?
I bet five grand. How's that?
No way.
Two grand.
Piss off.
You're a fucking piker, son.
(PEOPLE CHATTER CHEERFULLY)
It's starting. Here they come.
Kerry, just got a call
from London, the court case.
He's due to give his judgement
Tuesday night, our time.
Right.
BENAUD: I don't need to tell you
what an historic day this is...
..what an historic cricket match
this is about to be.
I've given everything I have
to cricket.
And now I find myself
a disapproved person,
apparently excluded
from my life's work.
Everyone in this room
is disapproved.
But not for long.
The game is bigger than those
who are trying to strangle it
and today, here in this arena,
we begin the process
of proving them wrong.
They said it couldn't be done.
Now we're doing it.
It's time to show all those bastards
out there having a go at us
what we can do.
The rest of the world's
out there waiting for us, gentlemen.
And I don't mean Greigy's team.
I mean the rest of the world -
the crowd that believes in cricket,
the hundreds of thousands
of people out there in the world...
..just waiting to see how we go.
So let's show 'em.
Alright, come on.
(ALL APPLAUD)
MAN: Let's go get them, guys.
Come on.
(MEAGRE APPLAUSE)
Righto, Greigy.
Tails.
You can bat, Chappelli.
Alright.
Thomas.
Thanks, Tom.
(BOTH CHATTER QUIETLY)
GROUND ANNOUNCER: And opening
the batting for Australia,
Ian Davis and Rick McCosker.
(SPARSE APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
(KIDS CALL OUT AND YELL)
(BOTH SPEAK INAUDIBLY)
(CRACKING AND CREAKING)
(LAUGHTER)