Howzat! Kerry Packer's War (2012): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript
With attacks from the establishment and the media and a conflict among the players putting his plans for World Series Cricket into disarray and threatening to ruin him financially, Kerry Packer and his team take their most radical steps yet in a bid to win over both the players and the public.
$1.5 million.
The deal's done.
There's a little bit of the whore
in all of us.
We're sorry.
You will be.
CORNELL: Dennis,
I'm not pissing in your pocket,
but what you got, that's unique.
The bloke who pushes the sight
board, Dennis makes the same money.
They got this great game in their
hands and these world champions
and they've got no idea
what they've got.
How would you like
some cricket on TV?
The best cricketers in Australia
against the best in the world.
I've got someone in Sydney
wants to meet you.
We sign 'em all up
and we have a competition.
Richie, this is John Cornell.
Cornell, this is Richie Benaud.
You know the cricket board
better than anyone.
This is going to be difficult.
What's going on?
CORNELL: The whole thing
has to stay undercover.
I'm in.
IAN: It's about bloody time.
Something like this has
been coming for a while.
Not like this, son.
It will be a fuckin' revolution.
Warner, this cricket thing's warming
up. I want you in to manage it.
Thanks, Kerry.
You'll be cursing me
before this is over, son.
Are you declaring
a cricket war?
If the cricket boards cooperate,
there's no reason why test cricket
will be affected at all.
If they don't cooperate, they'll
walk straight into a meat mangler.
PARISH: I got a charming letter
from Packer today.
He wants to meet up while we're here
and work something out.
Let's do it.
Would you like to outline
your proposals?
I'm here looking for a compromise.
Think they bought it?
Course they have.
I've offered them a fuckin' gift.
WEBSTER: It is the unanimous view
of the International Cricket Council
that they cannot give any commitment
to exclusive television rights.
It's war, Douglas.
We'll drive a wedge
between this man and his players.
It's every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost.
I heard they sacked you
as England captain this morning.
I'm sorry.
That's it! We see 'em in court!
"This will be the beginning of
an exodus from the Packer circus."
Packer fuckin' circus again!
MARSH: Disapproved persons?
What is this, the 19th century?
WALTERS: Thommo, you're fully
approved, though, aren't you, mate?
You can keep playing.
They can sue me if I don't pull out.
Yeah, there's blokes running
to their lawyers all over town.
Stop it now.
We'll take the hit on 6 million.
These blokes are relying on me.
To World Series Cricket!
ALL: To World Series Cricket.
This game you've got at VFL Park...
It'll work, Harry.
It has to.
It's starting. Here they come.
GAVIN: Kerry,
just got a call from London.
He's due to give his judgement
Tuesday night our time.
The game is bigger than those
who are trying to strangle it.
IAN: It's time to show
all those bastards out there
having a go at us what we can do.
(CRACKING AND CREAKING)
Yeah.
(MAN TALKS INDISTINCTLY)
They're showing their true colours.
(MEN CONTINUE CONVERSING)
What's going on?
Brighty and Bookshelf have been
sacked from playing for Victoria.
Tangles, too?
Mm-hm.
Jeez, they're having a go at us.
Well, we knew they were coming.
They're sacking everyone.
That's not the worst of it.
Have you spoken to Chappelli?
WALKER: He's not playing for any
state or for North Melbourne.
Yeah, but they got him.
Won't even let him play for Glenelg.
You New South Wales blokes
are getting the chop next.
Kerry better win
this damn court case.
Well, if he doesn't, no-one's
playing anywhere. It's over.
Yep.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
Nothing.
Baseball.
JUSTICE SLADE:
The authorities believed
they acted in the best interest
of cricket,
but that is not enough
to justify the action they took.
The authorities had
an understandable desire
to make things as difficult
as possible for Mr Packer.
Nevertheless, Mr Packer
and World Series Cricket
has offered secure,
remunerative employment
to the cricketers
at a time when most had no guarantee
of regular employment in the game.
I find that the authorities
acted without proper regard
for the contractual rights
of these players.
I find for the plaintiffs,
with costs.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yes?
GAVIN: Kerry, it's Gavin Warner.
We blitzed them!
Alright, it's on.
('APRIL SUN IN CUBA'
BY DRAGON PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ I'm tired of the city life
♪ Summer's on the run
♪ People tell me I should stay
♪ But I got to get my fun
♪ So don't try and hold me back
♪ Ain't nothing you can say
♪ Snake eyes on the paradise
♪ And we got to go today
♪ Take me to the April sun in Cuba
♪ Whoa-oh-oh
♪ Take me where the April sun
♪ Gonna treat me so right
♪ So right
♪ So right
♪ I can almost
♪ Smell the perfumed night
♪ And see the starry sky
♪ I wish you comin' with me, baby
♪ 'Cause right before my eye
♪ See
♪ Castro in the alleyway
♪ Talkin' about
missile love... ♪
I've always had a firm belief in the
great traditions of British justice.
And we've got costs. 320,000 bucks.
(LAUGHS) Serves 'em right.
They won't be too keen
on another innings
if it costs 'em that much every
time, will they, Cornell?
Mr Packer, just one question...
What? Hurry up! I'm eating.
Do you think this'll force the ICC
to reopen negotiations?
It'd be easier to get an audience
with the Pope, and I'm not Catholic.
Piss off!
Just one more question.
What?!
The New South Wales Premier's
sacking the whole board
of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust.
Just wondering if you're confident
of playing at the SCG now?
I've always been confident
of that, son.
Now if you don't mind,
my bacon's getting cold and
that tie makes me want to throw up.
Thank you, Mr Packer.
Go and see my tailor, McFarline.
Thank you very much, Mr Packer.
Bloody journos!
Still, this improves our position.
Maybe find a compromise
with the board now, Kerry.
If we don't get the SCG,
we've got just about no chance.
We've got bigger problems
than that, son.
Please hold.
Mr Parish,
there's another call
from 'The Times' in London.
Tell them we're making no comment.
And 'The Bulletin' rang.
Trevor Kennedy...
Did you hear what I said?
No comment.
So, we were well stuffed.
It's a resounding victory for
Mr Packer and I congratulate him.
Now I'm happy
to take your questions.
(REPORTERS FIRE QUESTIONS)
Mr Webster, the £250,000
in court costs against you?
We'll of course be looking
into how to fund this.
It's certainly a body blow.
Do you think a compromise
is now possible?
And will you appeal
against the decision?
We'll see about that.
I will of course let you know.
(REPORTERS FIRE QUESTIONS)
The Don called.
He wants us to set up
an emergency committee.
For us to take Packer on?
Yes.
Typical.
He loads the bullets
but he never fires them.
HARRY: So you won a court case?
So what?!
This just wins you the right
to go bankrupt.
I'm disappointed in you.
Warner.
Uh, Mr Packer, Mr Singleton called.
So?
Um, he said he'd call back.
About what?
He didn't say. He was...
Well, bloody well find out!
And where were you on Tuesday night?
I thought I told you
you have to be here if I'm here!
Mr Packer,
it was 10 o'clock at night.
Did you hear what I just said?
It was my birthday.
They were all waiting for me and...
Do you want this job or not?
Of course.
Warner!
Get in here.
And where's my advertising
on the grounds? What are you doing?!
Kerry, I got curators,
I got accountants, I got players...
I've got the fuckin' players!
And I have to deal with them!
Engineers, the press.
I got bureaucrats,
bloody groundsmen, you.
I'm exhausted.
I haven't seen my family in weeks.
Don't give me your fuckin' excuses,
Warner. I don't want to hear 'em.
And how come every time I turn
around and there's a fuck-up,
your name's on it?!
(SHOUTING CONTINUES)
Hey, Rosie.
KERRY: It costs me money!
Who's he got in there?
Gavin Warner.
Right.
He's in such a horrible mood.
Mr Chester was here.
The company's financial situation
is not very good.
And get me those numbers!
How the fuck am I meant to run
an organisation
if I don't know what's going on?!
That's it. I'm resigning.
I can't take this shit anymore!
Unless he's killing people,
he thinks he's getting nowhere.
That's true.
Well, I wish him luck, 'cause he's
gonna need it. I'm out of here.
Tell Kerry I'll see him later.
You know, he has to win every time.
Always.
You know, he's got no idea
how to take a punch.
Well, he's had to cop a few, Gav.
Yeah, from his father, I know.
We all know about that.
God, what kind of father
belts his kids at home
and then insults and humiliates him
in public?
Yeah.
So he's traumatised.
Boo-hoo.
I'm the one who has to pay for it.
It's all he knows, Gav.
You're just going to
have to wear it.
Well, that's alright for you to say.
He doesn't have a go at you.
He needs you, Gav.
He just doesn't know how to show it.
Yeah.
We're still very vulnerable,
you know that.
This whole thing needs you
where you are.
I'll see you in the office tomorrow?
Yeah?
Yeah.
Good. Good.
MARSH:
Knock his head off, Dennis!
Won't get a better opportunity
than night-time.
OK, Chappelli.
Red ball.
Righto.
Ohh.
Bloody hard to see.
HILL: How's that, Warren?
Go again.
Go again.
Oh, nup.
Lost that completely.
Try orange.
Alright.
Maybe something a bit lighter?
What do you reckon?
(LAUGHS)
HILL: Like your mother's undies!
Righto.
Pink!
I don't know. Looks dumb, though.
MARSH: Yeah. Oh, it's the
totally wrong colour, anyway.
Here we go. Try yellow. Yellow?
Tony says yellow.
Righto.
Bewdy.
Yeah, that's it.
No. Sorry, blokes.
Piss off, that's bloody perfect.
They're hitting the lights. It's
flaring on screen. Looks shit.
Well, what is this, cricket or TV?
Yeah, righto.
I don't know. What do you think?
White.
(SHOUTS) White!
IAN: White, eh?
I like that.
Yeah?
Good.
Here we go.
White it is.
White it is.
Alright. We got ourselves a ball.
(DOOR OPENS)
What is it, Rosie?
What do you mean, Mr Packer?
Come on.
You bully me.
I bully everyone.
Haven't you noticed?
Yes, but I'm here with you
all the time.
So am I.
It's not easy.
It's tough times, Rosie.
I need you here.
I forgot it was your birthday.
How old were you?
40.
Same as me.
Oh, Mr Packer.
Oh, it's beautiful.
I can't take this. It's...
It's too...
Well, if you don't like it, return
it and get me my money back.
Mr Packer, I didn't mean that.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
OK, alright. I'm just going
to turn you around a little bit.
Nice. Fix up her hair,
would you? Good.
Magic.
This'll stop them treading
on the bloody things.
They were doing it on purpose.
I know.
OK? Let's test it.
That wicket should have
been in a week ago.
It should have been in
a month ago.
Don't tell me that.
I repeat, the game this weekend -
will the damn thing be ready?
It'll be ready.
You can guarantee that?
Gavin, if it pisses down rain
for the next three days,
you can kiss your
day-night game goodbye.
That is not good enough! For God's
sake, where are the fuckin' covers?
Settle down. If it doesn't rain...
Jesus Christ, John. What do you
mean, if it doesn't rain?
This is Melbourne!
What the fuck is going on with you
two?! And where's my advertising?
The night cricket,
it's scared every advertiser off.
They don't think it'll work.
So what are you doing
standing around here?
Get out there and start selling!
Kerry, I've been trying...
Did you fuckin' hear me?!
Go and do it!
How are you, John?
Kerry.
Yeah, that's it. Nice.
OK, just dip your head. That's it.
VOICEOVER:
World-famous cricketer Tony Greig
talks about Kellogg's Nutri-Grain.
Have you tried
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain yet?
It's even good
straight out of the pack.
It looks like a tiny cricket bat
with holes.
Nutri-Grain stays nice and crunchy
in milk, too.
Mmm.
Nutri-Grain is made
from corn, oats and wheat
and it's got a lot of vitamins
and protein.
Nutri-Grain's a beaut start
if you need to eat and run.
Get 'em up!
Where's Greigy?
Dunno.
Who does?
How's the ankle, Dennis?
Ah, don't ask.
Oh, welcome, Greigy.
Glad you could join us.
What, are you too busy for training
these days, are you?
What's the matter with you,
Chappell?
What were you doing,
a photo op? Another ad?
What was it?
Kellogg's, TAA, Waltons?
Bloody Golden Books? Who else?
What I do with my time
is my business.
It's not your time, mate.
Kerry's paying for it.
And we're copping shit
for not training hard enough
and you're swanning off
doing other shit.
Hey, listen,
I train as hard as anyone.
I'll arrange my life in my own
bloody way, not the way you want it.
Hey, guys, come on.
Would be alright if he deserved
his place in the team.
What was that? What did you say?
Mate, there is no way in the
wide world that you are good enough
to be in that team
if the Windies blokes are there.
Simple.
OK, Chappell.
We'll see tomorrow night
who's good enough.
WALTERS: Alright,
let's play some cricket.
Come on, Chappelli.
We'll bat first.
OK.
UMPIRE: Are we shaking hands,
gentlemen?
MARSH: Oh, here we go.
What the fuck is that?
It's a bone dome, Bacchus.
IAN: How does
he even see the ball?
I love it.
Gives me something to aim at.
You get him, FOT.
Oh, you're jokin'. You see that?
(LAUGHS)
RICHIE BENAUD: Dennis Lillee
pitching very short.
Very, very short.
The crowd's a little disappointing
on this historic occasion
for the first ever day-night match.
Oh, and there's a good cricket shot,
a la Keith Stackpole.
And that's great batting.
Richards in position quickly,
the hammer.
Hey, Brighty? Bring us out
a long sleever, will you, mate?
It's getting a bit chilly out here.
Good on ya, pal.
(APPLAUSE)
Gentlemen.
What's the gate?
Not sure yet.
More than 6,000.
The families are turning up.
Yes, but not enough of them.
Yeah!
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
Yeah!
I'll be whacking you all night if
you keep putting up shit like that.
PLAYERS: Oh!
(PEOPLE CALL OUT)
IAN: Prick.
(APPLAUSE)
(BALL CLATTERS)
This is an historic item.
So, what about the white ball?
Well, it's perfect, Kerry. You can
see it from the bowler's hand.
Yeah, even bouncers.
MARSH: It gets lost down low,
though, Kerry.
What do you mean?
Well, everyone's wearing whites.
Can't see it against their legs.
Well, what do we do about that?
I just had a call from
Tagge Webster in London.
They've decided not to appeal.
Smart decision.
How are they going
to pay the court bill?
They're still coming
to terms with that.
Anyway, I've let the Don know.
How is he?
Happy about
the Australia-India test crowds.
We're killing World Series
in numbers.
At least the public's
got some brains.
He's still unhappy
about losing Hookes.
He doesn't like losing, Bob.
No, he doesn't.
(INTRO TO 'HOWZAT' BY SHERBET PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ You told me I was the one
♪ The only one
who got your head undone
♪ And for a while I believed
the line that you spun... ♪
No, two types of people spin -
politicians and bowlers.
Right now, we're politicians.
We can spin all we want, but
the general public has to buy it.
They're starting to.
We just need critical mass.
Not only spin.
We have to give them substance.
We've got that.
No-one's faking it out there.
Give them time.
That crowd wasn't big enough.
Look at the test crowds
against India.
If this keeps up, we'll be dead
by the end of summer.
It's turned into
bloody trench warfare.
Yes, it is.
And they're winning, Richie. Easily.
IAN: And we thought, what do
you give a man that has so much?
There were a lot of suggestions,
mostly bloody stupid.
(LAUGHTER)
But in the end we thought,
"What's our relationship
to this guy, really?
"What's important
between him and us?"
So... we got you a chequebook.
(LAUGHS)
(ALL LAUGH)
No, no, it's from the heart, boss.
Oh.
We hope you like it.
It's, um...
Well, this has got to be the world's
most expensive cricket bat.
(LAUGHTER)
I want to thank
each and every one of you,
and I want you to know
that the feelings are reciprocated.
In the...
In the short time
that we've been together,
I've come to respect you all.
This might come as a shock, I know,
but I'm actually rather fond
of you blokes.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
KP!
This will never leave my side.
Thank you.
LLOYD: We also had
the same problem, Kerry.
What do you get the man?
We know it's early days
and there's tough times ahead,
so we thought...
..this man needs
all the help he can get.
Oh, thank you, Mr Lloyd, thank you.
It's a bloody voodoo doll.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
I tell you what, I probably need
this more than the bloody bat.
Three cheers for Kerry. Hip, hip!
ALL: Hooray!
Hip, hip...
Hooray!
(LOUD WHISTLE)
BENAUD: Bowling to two slips
and a gully.
Yep! Just the one.
Rodney Marsh through for a single.
Jeez, Andy's fired up.
It's OK.
I just heard Clive tell him
he's only got three more overs.
Three?
That's all.
We just have to hang on.
COMMENTATOR: Andy Roberts here,
the most experienced
of the West Indian fast bowlers,
and a great fast bowler
in his own right.
(CROWD CHEERS LOUDLY)
COMMENTATOR: This is another one!
(CROWD CONTINUES CHEERING)
He won't catch this one.
COMMENTATOR:
And the crowd is delirious.
BENAUD: Hit him.
(PEOPLE GROAN)
And he's in trouble.
You alright?
You alright, mate?
Where'd it get ya? The face? Jaw.
(GROANS)
BENAUD: Wasn't quite inside it.
I'm alright.
No, mate, you're going off.
BENAUD: And he's retired hurt
for the moment on 81.
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
I'm sorry, Chappelli.
Mate, don't worry about it.
How is he?
Ambulance is on its way.
Bugger the ambulance. Come on!
I can't hear anything I say.
Come on. OK, alright.
Come on, let's go. In you hop.
Watch your head. OK? You right?
(GROANS)
Oh, bloody hell, Kerry.
You alright? You OK?
Slow down, slow down.
I'm just trying to take
the attention off your jaw.
You're doing
a bloody good job of it.
And we're back with our usual guest,
Peter McFarline of the 'Age',
joined tonight
by English sports writer Clive Bell
to give us some insight
into the present crisis
in Australian cricket.
So back to you, Pete.
Now that the first full
World Series Cricket season's
drawing to a close,
what's the verdict?
I'd say it's a draw, Gary.
Packer and the ACB
are locked in an arm-wrestle
and no-one's leaning over yet.
Clive?
Well, I'm giving it
to your cricket board.
The Indian tour
is hugely successful.
Bobby Simpson's a very popular
Australian captain
and the crowds are turning up
in their thousands.
But not in the numbers the board was
expecting, and that's the trouble.
Well, exactly.
There is only so many people
who go to the cricket
and what Packer has done, he has
split cricket right down the middle.
And that's the tragedy
of it, Gary.
I mean, blokes I know,
cricketers who used to be mates,
are now no longer talking
to each other.
You mean like Bobby Simpson calling
the World Series players 'slobs'?
Exactly.
Packer might think he's doing
the right thing by the cricketers,
but as history shows,
you go into a war, it's very
difficult to get out of it.
Oh, we all know he's losing money
hand over fist, as are the boards.
Now I don't think it's a draw, Gary.
I think everyone's losing.
Yeah, it's a bloody mess.
What about some of their cricket,
though? It's pretty riveting stuff.
The point is they are
just playing for money.
I don't think the Australian
public will wear it.
Yeah, Gary, not good enough.
Well, we'll be back after a break.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
CROWD: Five, four,
three, two, one...
Happy new year!
(FIREWORKS POP, LOUD CHEERING)
('SOLID AS A ROCK'
BY THE ETHIOPIANS PLAYS)
Warner!
(MAN LAUGHS LOUDLY)
Where's Cornell?
Haven't seen him all night.
Tell him I want to see him
in my office in the morning.
Right.
Wait!
Where'd you get this thing from?
The roulette table?
What do you reckon, huh?
I rented it.
Had to take a few doors off
to get it in.
Buy it.
What the hell for?
I might want to put it in my pocket
and take it home.
Where you blokes off to?
The movies, man. Do you wanna come?
The movies?
Now?
'Deep Throat', man.
Gavin Warner got it from someone.
Shit, yeah. Let's go.
(LOUD TOOT)
MARSH: Hookesy! Where ya goin'?
CORNELL: Happy new year.
Where were you last night?
Sorry I couldn't make it.
I was... busy.
Doing fucking what?
Me and Dellie got married.
Don't invite a bloke, will ya?
It was on the QT.
We didn't invite anyone,
except family.
Got married at midnight.
On New Year's Eve?
Easy to remember.
You're a fuckin' romantic bastard,
son. I'll give you that.
Who was your best man?
My 8-year-old nephew.
Oh! (LAUGHS)
What do you want for a present?
I want this to work, Kerry.
Yeah.
Whoa. That'll do. No more.
Thanks, Dennis.
Well done, David.
Thanks, boss.
IAN: Hookesy, what's wrong?
I'm fair dinkum havin' flashbacks
of that ball from Andy.
As soon as Dennis gets any speed up,
I shit myself.
Well, that's not good.
Bloke at the hospital said
it'd take five years to get over.
You're selected for next week, mate.
You're going to have to front up
to Big Bird, Andy, Imran.
I know. I can do it, Chappelli.
I just need to get one ball away.
As soon as I get off the mark,
I know I'll be OK.
Mate, they're not going
to be doing you any favours.
Just one ball.
I ordered those helmets
from your blokes in Birmingham.
I don't want any more broken jaws.
We've been approached
by another mob, Kerry.
Coonan & Denlay out of Sydney.
What do they make?
Horse rider helmets.
They're really good, apparently.
What? We don't want to look
like we're playing polo.
Doesn't matter
what you look like, son,
as long as you get out
with your brains intact.
MCFARLINE: G'day, guys.
It's looking good, isn't it?
What do you want, Pete?
I just want to confirm something.
I hear there's some dissension
in the ranks.
Bit of infighting going on.
Where'd you hear that?
Oh, it's understandable.
I mean, the crowds aren't coming.
It's costing more than anyone
thought, and so on.
Look around you, mate.
The gang's all here.
Well, no-one's buying
any advertising.
You'll be lucky to last out
the season.
I heard you've had
a major resignation.
I'm just wondering who it was.
No-one's leaving, mate.
That's not what I heard.
I don't give a shit what you heard.
No-one's resigned, no-one's leaving.
Alright?
Righto.
(BALL HITS BAT)
PLAYER: Oh, yeah! Ha-ha-ha!
IAN: Yeah, look,
we're sure it'll be a great contest.
Not a big crowd again, Ian.
Is this turning into a worry
for World Series?
The crowds will come.
We're confident of that.
Well, they haven't come up till now.
I mean, the Aussie-India test crowds
have been much bigger.
What makes you think World Series
will make a breakthrough?
The quality of cricket.
These are the best around.
Look at the guys
we're playing today - the World.
They're the best bunch of cricketers
I've ever seen... with one exception.
BENAUD: Lillee
coming in again to Lloyd.
COMMENTATOR: Beautiful shot.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
Drives square.
There he goes.
Beautiful square cut from
Barry Richards. Short delivery.
Lloyd and Richards
completely comfortable out there
against Lillee,
who's struggling with the ball.
He's showing absolutely none
of his usual impact.
The World batsmen are relishing
this uncharacteristic performance
from the great bowler.
The Australians...
(CROWD GROANS)
(APPLAUSE)
(PLAYERS APPEAL)
COMMENTATOR: Well bowled. Out.
Greenidge, caught Marsh,
bowled Walker.
BENAUD:
Lillee back into the attack now.
Very unusual for this man
to go wicketless for so long.
Oh, good shot.
(APPLAUSE)
This has produced a glorious shot.
Here he goes again.
That's four runs.
And the punishment continues
for the Australians,
particularly for Lillee, who's
really copping it this morning.
(BAT HITS BALL)
At lunch, the World team is 2/144,
with Viv Richards on 78
and looking extremely comfortable.
The Australians are
in all sorts of trouble.
Chappell's men not used to being
handled in this cavalier fashion.
Lillee, at none for 51,
is struggling,
having none of his usual impact
on the game.
I got them compiled.
Good, I'm going to have
to run them for Kerry.
It's the northern end mike first.
CRICKETER: (ON TAPE)
Oh, fuckin' hell!
You fucking piece of shit!
You call that a shot?
Oh, fuck me drunk, mate!
What are you doin'?!
GREIG: Oh, fuck me, I've seen
better bowling from a girl, mate.
And it's all going out
to Mum and Dad and the kids.
Well, get them onto the faders
quicker, for God's sake.
Right.
Hey, boys.
Hey, FOT.
Got any shots of me run-up?
Ah...
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
It's a hard...
Fuck off.
I don't reckon
he's been told that too often.
Yep, got it. Thanks, boys.
Right.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: You can see Dennis
Lillee coming back into the attack
to replace Lenny Pascoe.
(CHEERING)
BENAUD: Yes, caught behind.
That's Dennis Lillee's
second wicket since lunch.
He's getting the ball
to move off the pitch now.
His line and length are superb.
I don't know what was
on the menu at lunch,
but Lillee must have had
a double helping.
This is a completely
different bowler.
The World are now
in significant trouble.
There's the bouncer to Greig,
who sways out of trouble.
Lillee now enjoying
his time out there.
This great fast bowler
can't be kept down for too long.
He's got him on the helmet,
I think.
(CHEERING AND GROANING)
Could be the first strike,
and Lillee... (LAUGHS)
..the man to do it.
I'm watching it from the box, guys.
Bloody well done.
Yeah, it's looking good.
Yeah.
It's amazing what a difference
five cameras make.
We've got seven.
I thought it was five.
Seven's better.
BENAUD: Lillee again.
And that's it. A tremendous
comeback by the Australians.
And now they're right back
into the game,
thanks in large part
to Dennis Lillee.
Wicketless before lunch,
but something happened out there,
and he's now walking off
with a remarkable 5/82.
Roberts to McCosker.
(CHEERING)
And he's gone, caught behind.
COMMENTATOR:
And that's Ian Chappell out.
That's a blow for Australia.
COMMENTATOR 2: Very annoyed,
Ian Chappell.
The vital breakthrough
for the World.
(CHEERING)
He's bowled him.
He's gone. Yorker again.
What a cricket match this is.
BENAUD:
What must he be feeling now?
The first ball since
his smashed jaw is critical.
This is it. How are you?
You alright?
Not really.
OK, well, ball at a time, yeah?
Yep.
(CROWD CHEERS AND YELLS)
Let's go, David.
BENAUD: Garner delivers the ball
from such a great height.
He gets enormous lift.
COMMENTATOR: It's in the air!
Good chance!
Could be six or out!
That's six!
Thanks, Big Bird.
Welcome back, Hookesy.
COMMENTATOR: That one was
a great shot
from a young man making a comeback.
Like I said.
(QUIET CHATTER)
Well, I'm going down the other end.
Anyone coming?
(CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
You've been doing something.
You have been doing something.
Just striking the ball?
Not too much chop here.
Hey, you can piss off out of
this dressing-room, mate.
You're not wanted in here.
Well, if you want me out, how about
you come and bloody get me out?
Hey, hey, hey, come on. Come on.
Cool it, man.
Well played, Big Bird.
Thanks, man.
Nicely played, Clive.
Thanks, man.
Viv... magic.
Thanks.
Andy.
(HUFFS)
Your team played well today.
(LAUGHS)
SHIELL: Excuse me, Mr Packer?
Are you aware of the announcement
by the Australian Cricket Board
that they are interested
in night cricket?
No. But I'll tell you
what I am aware of.
I'm aware of them calling us
a ridiculous fad and a circus act.
Mr Packer, the board's
apparently arranging
to put on official cricket
under lights.
Bob Parish reckons he's been
planning night cricket
for some time.
Well, that is complete bullshit
but I wish him luck with it.
Do you see this as a move
towards reconciliation?
No, I don't see it
as anything of the sort.
Maybe they're coming
our way a little bit
but there's still a long way to go.
Now excuse me.
"They've been thinking about it
for some time."
Now, that takes the cake.
They're starting to fold.
No, they're not.
(GROOVY DANCE MUSIC)
Kerry.
Hey.
You are the hardest bloke to get
along with that I've ever met.
What do you mean?
I knew you'd be cranky,
so I sat there for a long time
trying to work out what to say.
I tried to say something...
..to make you feel better.
I tried to find the most inoffensive
words to help you,
and you told me to fuck off.
(GROOVY MUSIC CONTINUES)
Chappelli.
FOT.
Cheers, mate.
How's that for a season?
It was different.
Mm-hm. My ankle's
now completely buggered.
Mate, you took 5/82.
Who gives a shit about an ankle?
Yeah, well, I just wanna say
it's been great with you and the
guys the last couple of seasons.
Is that right?
I'm slowing down a bit.
Thanks for everything.
You can bloody put that away.
Shake my hand.
I don't shake medium pacers
by the hand.
I only shake hands
with fast bowler...
(GRUNTS)
Shake my hand.
You heard me.
Shake my hand!
I told you, I only shake hands
with fast bowlers.
Fuck you.
I'll be back next season, I'll take
more wickets than anyone else.
Good, FOT. That's what
I wanted to hear.
Fuck you.
KERRY: Well... another season
like that and it's all over.
No more mucking about.
Tickets?
GAVIN: We're going ahead with
a print of some mock-ups.
They'll be ready for next meeting.
Why aren't they ready now?
We only put the order in last week.
Remember, you wanted them to be...
Forget it.
Programs?
Same.
(SIGHS) Clothing.
You got the colours right at least.
What about the caps?
Well, the peaks are too short.
They're the same length
as the official ones.
Yeah, but they don't look right.
Make 'em longer.
Wickets.
They're ahead of schedule, Kerry,
as we discussed yesterday.
Of course. Thank you, Richie.
Ah, Mr Hill.
Coverage.
Yeah, from the nine camera positions
we've got we should...
I thought there were seven.
Nine's better.
Also, the wicket mike problems
are fixed.
And we'll be training up
the camera guys during the winter,
and there'll be
two full rehearsal days.
The cherry picker camera?
Yeah, still testing it.
Well, get it right.
It's a good idea, David.
What's the scheduled games cost?
$1.4 million.
Well, we'd better draw a crowd.
The press.
Select journos have a draft program
for the season, Kerry,
just to give them an idea.
Some of them are coming
across much better.
Good. Legals.
We're still before the Federal Court
on use of the word
'test' in Australia.
Well, I know that, don't I?
What I want is an idea of when these
bastards will make up their mind.
It's hard to tell. I've spoken...
What do you mean, "hard to tell"?
I'll talk to Turnbull and see
if I can get a clearer idea as...
Why haven't you done that already?
Kerry, there is no hurry.
Either way, we have to
go along with...
There you fuckin' go again!
Rose.
Ian. He's waiting for you.
Is he, uh, still upset with me?
I don't think he could stay angry
at any of you boys for too long.
Right.
Is that right?
Mmm.
Warner. Get in here.
You're an Adelaide bloke, son.
The Don, he's put out feelers.
"What do we think about
using the Adelaide Oval?"
Why would he do that? He hates us.
He's got an angle, obviously.
Yeah, he's sniffing the breeze.
He's good at that.
Hmm.
(DOOR OPENS)
Oh, well, it's good for us, Kerry.
He never backs a loser.
(DOOR SHUTS)
GAVIN: What is it?
G'day, Chappelli.
G'day, mate.
Don't sit.
Tell him.
Had a few beers with Lenny Pascoe.
Jeff Thomson's not happy
playing for Simmo.
(PACKER CHUCKLES)
He wants to come back to us.
Well, how the hell do we do that?
He's contracted to
this bloody radio station.
Plus he's got a binding contract
with the board.
Thommo and Lillee back together's
a gift for us.
It'll get our crowds up.
If he wants back in, we'll have him.
Find a way.
Find a way.
(WHISPERS) Jesus.
Who's the old man?
That's Austin's dad.
Fastest man in the world in his day.
FOT's got his dander up, Ian.
Mmm.
He's pissed off at you.
Yeah, good.
Yeah, alright.
Well, he just keeps getting better.
I copped three in the guts for that.
Fuckin' worth it, though.
Look at him go.
(LAUGHS)
The first problem fixes itself.
The radio station's been
bought by another group.
Thomson's contract's
with the previous owners.
We can argue he doesn't have
a contractual relationship
with the new proprietors.
What do you mean, you can argue?
Does he have a contract
with them or not?
Maybe, possibly not.
It's a ground we can fight on.
In court. That'll cost.
Now, as to his contract with
the cricket board - he retires.
We'll script the letter for him.
They won't be happy.
The board won't force him to stay.
The cricket public
would crucify 'em.
"Poor Thommo, he's been great.
"If he wants to go, they should
let him," etc, etc.
They nullify his contract,
Thommo's officially retired
on, say, Friday, OK?
Mmm.
Monday morning, bang, what happens?
Thommo rediscovers the old fire,
loves the game,
wants to play for Australia and...
signs up for World Series Cricket.
Is it just me
or does that sound too easy?
It's just you.
Are you sure?
I mean, I'm not a lawyer, but...
CORNELL: Kerry takes it
all on himself.
I don't know how he does it.
He must be feeling it somewhere.
DELVENE: He's such a lovely man.
(LAUGHS) Tell that to Gavin Warner.
So, what are you gonna do?
What do you mean?
Come on, I've seen you
like this before.
You are far too quiet.
He's got the Sydney Cricket Ground,
he's got the lights being built,
but it's the same problem as always.
What if they don't come?
Yeah.
Should be working by now.
Hey, Strop!
Everyone's working their arses off.
We're paddling like buggery
but we're getting nowhere.
So, this first game at the cricket
ground with the lights...
If it's like VFL Park
on that first day...
It won't be that bad.
People have been coming.
Dellie, this whole thing
could still turn to shit.
What do you do when
someone's ignoring you?
Make a lot of noise
right in front of them.
His name's Wessels. Kepler Wessels.
He's just about to turn 21.
He's a kid.
But what a kid, Kerry.
He's marvellous to watch.
Swimming champion,
tennis champion, rugby.
He played schoolboy cricket.
And can you believe this?
He left one of his schools
with a batting average of 270.
Wow.
Sign him.
No, no, I want to see him first.
Here we go. How are you?
Excellent.
Dim sims.
Lovely.
Spring rolls.
Great.
Fried rice.
Beef and black bean sauce.
Chicken chop suey.
And sweet-and-sour pork
with extra sweet-and-sour.
Thank you very much, my friend.
Excellent.
Now, he can't come straight
from South Africa
and play the West Indians
because of the agreement.
So we slip him into a game
for Sussex or somewhere,
and then, bingo, he's in.
Alright. Good. Good.
Have you seen Warner's ad campaign
for the summer?
Yeah.
What do you think?
It's bloody ordinary, Kerry.
"Come and watch the white ball fly"?
I mean, what kind of crap's that?
What the fuck are you doing?
That's mine.
Uh, it's Chinese food, Kerry.
You share it.
No, I ordered it, it's mine.
Put it back on the plate.
Go on.
There you go.
Thank you.
Good.
TV ads, radio ads, print ads,
all boring.
We can do a lot better.
Well, what are you gonna do about
it?
Well, I was thinking
I could go and see this guy, Big Al.
Big Al?
Mm-hm. Writes songs.
MEN: (SING) ♪ Alright
in the middle of the night
♪ Finding touch together... ♪
This way please, Mr Cornell.
♪ Which, thank the Lord,
I'm not, sir
♪ The kind of man that I would be
♪ Would be a weak reporter
♪ I'd go hard, she'd go hard
♪ We'd both go hard together... ♪
Thank you.
G'day, Corny.
G'day, Allan.
How are ya?
Good.
The boys are getting vocal
out there.
Oh, one of the blokes
is on his way to New York
so they're farewelling him.
They've been at it
for quite a while.
Sounds like it.
So, you and your mate Packer,
you're creating quite a stir.
That's your brief, Al -
create a stir.
G'day, Strop.
Alan.
How are you, mate?
Good.
It's quite a brief.
We've, uh... we've been
thinking about it.
Good. I need some of your magic.
You say here something patriotic.
Yeah, an anthem.
We're up against the Ashes,
100 years of nostalgia.
We've got to invent a new history.
Mmm, invent history.
That's a nice brief, John. Thanks.
You want, like, a rugby song?
No, bigger, grander.
A war cry?
A call to arms.
Something like that.
(MEN SING BOISTEROUSLY)
Hear that?
Limericks, that's it. That's it.
That's what we need for the verse.
You're kidding.
No, no, no, the A-A-B-B-A rhyme.
It's a much maligned rhyming form.
For good reason.
No, no, no, that's just the lyrics.
Don't worry about that.
We were thinking a chorus,
something along the lines of this...
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SINGS) ♪ Come on, Australia
♪ Show us what ya made-a
♪ Come on, Australia... ♪
Whoa, uh...
♪ Come on. ♪
We, uh, just had
the court decision come through.
We can't use the word 'test'
and we can't use 'Australia'.
Bugger.
But we can call ourselves
'Australians'.
♪ Come on, Australians
Come on, Australians
♪ No, that's awful. ♪
(MUTTERS)
So, what have we got?
What have we got? What do we need?
Um...
(SINGS) ♪ Marshie's taking wickets
Hookesy's clearing pickets... ♪
And we need something
that rhymes with 'green'.
Green?
♪ The Chappellis
are catching it so clean... ♪
No. It's cricket
like you've never seen?
'Glean'. Something 'glean'.
'Gleam'.
'Gleaned'.
Eyes have got the gleam, something.
Dougie's eyes have got
the dreaded gleam.
No, it's not quite right.
The Chappells.
The, uh...
Th-the Chappells' eyes
have got the killer gleam.
The Chappells. The Chappell.
The Chappells' eyes.
♪ Marshie's taking wickets
Hookesy's clearing pickets
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam... ♪
I like it.
Great.
That's it?
Great, yep.
Well, let's, um...
Shall we?
Please.
We were thinking, like, maybe
starting with a montage,
a training montage or something.
Um, and it's, like...
spoken word, um...
♪ You've been
training all the winter
♪ There's not a team that's fitter
♪ And that's the way it's gotta be
♪ 'Cause you're up against
the best, you know
♪ This is Supertest, you know
♪ You've gotta beat the best
the world has seen
(SINGS) ♪ Lillee's pounding down
like a machine
♪ Pascoe's making divots
in the green
♪ Marshie's taking wickets
♪ Hookesy's clearing pickets
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam... ♪
(CHEERING AND LAUGHTER)
Oh, mate.
Hey, Tweety!
The sun is shining.
Yeah, yeah.
You wanna try out
for 'Sesame Street'?
You are the ugliest model
I've ever seen.
(CHEERING AND LAUGHTER)
Baby blue, eh?
Here ya go, Sacker.
Yeah, yeah, up ya bloody game.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm not wearing this.
You'll be the only guy on the field
that's not, Hubie.
We look ridiculous.
Yeah, it looks like your
Mum's pyjamas, mate.
(LAUGHTER)
MARSH: Yeah, yeah.
You gotta bloody wear 'em too.
Bastards.
MAN: Take your pads off.
What the fuck were you thinking
with this Thomson bullshit?!
What? What?
What's my job in
this organisation, hmm?
Fixing problems of
your fuckin' making!
Kerry, I've got no idea
what you're talking about.
Well that's been obvious
for quite a fuckin' while.
Why don't you go work for Murdoch?
You were laughed out of court
with this stupid idea for Thomson.
My idea?!
Now the board get to keep him.
And you get to look like
the fuckin' clown you are!
It was not my idea!
Is that right?
It was the legal guy.
He was convinced it would work.
I was the one that...
How's the ad campaign?!
Honestly, it was not my...
Advertising?!
Well...
Doesn't fuckin' matter.
I'll talk with Cornell.
Oh, g'day, Strop.
Hey, those cricket ads, that bloody
song, can't get it out of my head.
That's why I'm here, mate.
Kerry's not happy with
how many times you're running them.
How many times are they on tonight
between 6:00 and 10:00?
Uh, two.
Hm, only two? Not enough.
Kerry wants four. No, five.
Well, shit, who can I kick off?
Give us a look.
Uh, Claytons three times.
Get rid of them.
Ansett, who fuckin' cares?
Better drop one of them, too.
Ruffles chips, piss that off.
He wants us to cut five?
That's what he said.
And he wants it done every night.
Every night?
I won't catch up.
This is the cricket, mate.
Rose, what are you doing? Go home.
I can't.
Why, what's the problem?
Mr Packer likes me to be available
as long as he's here.
You leave Mr Packer to me.
No, please don't say anything.
I had all this work to do anyway.
$12 million, Kerro.
It's coming together, Harry.
Yes, it is.
What you've got now
is a functioning organisation.
Congratulations.
But the role of that organisation
is to lose the company's money.
We're getting too close to the edge.
Remember that conversation
we had last year
after you dumped 6 million?
Your father, Kerro,
would have cut his losses by now.
I know.
He would have given himself
an escape route.
You don't have any.
It's not good business.
What are you doing?
He had big plans for you.
Oh, no, he didn't!
Clyde was gonna run
everything, remember?
I'm not Clyde.
And you're not the old man.
Still, you're in the shoes now.
So far it's not a good fit.
Your father would never
risk the lot, never.
I've got the Sydney Cricket Ground
lights, and the game on Tuesday.
That's all you've got.
Listen, Kerro,
it's one minute past midnight.
When you're way behind on the night,
a final roll of the dice
is not a smart thing to do.
Mr Warner.
Rose.
Are you alright?
I've got an ulcer.
My wife hates me.
So do my kids.
(SOBS)
So... so do I.
He pushes a button
and he whistles at me like a dog.
I know.
How do you do it?
I just do it.
Tuesday night's
make or break, Rosie.
If it comes off, I'm alive.
If it doesn't...
I'm going into the library.
Come on, Cornell.
Where are we going?
I've got something
I want you to see.
What do you think, son?
You see that one there?
Yep.
That's yours.
All these others are mine.
You ready?
Well, let there be light.
Yeah.
SONG: ♪ You've been training
all the winter
♪ And there's not a team
that's fitter... ♪
(DISTANT CHEERING)
♪ And that's the way it's gotta be
♪ 'Cause you're up against
the best, you know
♪ This is Supertest, you know... ♪
(CHEERING BUILDS)
♪ And you've gotta beat the best
the world has seen... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ Lillee's pounding down
like a machine
♪ Pascoe's making divots
in the green
♪ Marshie's taking wickets... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ Hookesy's clearing pickets... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam
♪ Mr Walker's playing havoc
with the bats
♪ Redpath, it's good to see you back
♪ Lairdie's making runs
♪ Dougie's chewing gum
♪ And Gilmour's wielding willow
like an axe... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
(FADES) ♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on
(SOFTLY) ♪ Come on, Aussie
♪ Come on, come on... ♪
(CHEERING)
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on
Come on, Aussie... ♪
COMMENTATOR: Yes, it's
a magnificent sight, Richie.
People are just waiting
for the sun to go down
to really capture this atmosphere.
And it certainly is
a historical night here.
It really is a fantastic sight.
BENAUD: And people
queuing up outside,
trying to get into the ground.
(ALL SPEAK AT ONCE)
You.
You! What's your name?
Tim, Mr Packer.
Tim, why aren't you letting 'em in?
Well, the place is full.
We got to capacity a while ago.
Well, you can't keep 'em
out there, son.
Mr Packer, there's 10,000 of them.
Just open the fuckin' gates,
will ya?
Well, the ticketing booths are
closed. We've got no staff.
Listen to me, son, that doesn't
matter. Let 'em in anyway.
They want to see cricket.
We'll let them see cricket.
(LAUGHS)
OK, boys, step aside. Let 'em in.
(CHEERING)
KERRY: Enjoy the game.
Enjoy the game.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: Good shot.
Yes, timed that beautifully.
Going away down the hill
towards the fence at
the southern, Randwick, end.
Good shot.
(LOUD CHEERING)
50,000 out there.
I'm watching this with
the 2 million people at home, son.
BENAUD: It is so big that
they've thrown the gates open -
not closed them, thrown them open.
CROWD: (SINGS)
♪ Come on, come on
♪ Come on, Aussie... ♪
Hear that?
♪ Come on, come on... ♪
They know the words.
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on... ♪
Yep.
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on... ♪
Kerry, I've got a confession. This
might be a good time to tell you.
Tell me what?
I've been going into Channel 9
and getting them to drop ads
and putting ours on instead.
(LAUGHS) Jesus, son.
You might be hearing
from a few companies.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, he's hooking it!
Yeah, it's six!
(CHEERING)
(LAUGHS)
Bloody hell, Cornell!
(UP-BEAT CHATTER)
A beer, thank you.
This is it, Kerry.
Yeah.
I think you're right.
Morning, Rose.
Morning, Mr Warner.
Well, what do you think, huh?
I thought the party started
a bit early.
Who the fuck organised that?
(LAUGHS)
KERRY: Thommo.
G'day.
You can bowl, son,
but you haven't got a fuckin' idea
how to organise your life.
(LAUGHS) Yeah.
Welcome back.
Thanks, boss.
Kerry.
I was talking to Ray Steele
after the board called me in.
Said he wouldn't mind
seeing all of this over.
Did he, now?
And that's it for another night
with our guests,
Peter McFarline and Clive Bell,
asking the big questions on cricket.
Well, there's a long way to go
finessing this new version
of a great old game.
How long can these players
keep this up?
Lillee breaking down again,
Thomson out with a back problem,
Gilmour's done a hamstring.
Even Greg Chappell, for
the first time ever, is in trouble.
These men who have given everything
are now at breaking point.
Goodnight.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
(DOOR OPENS)
It's time to go home now, Rosie.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: The Australians look
absolutely fantastic in the field
in their gold-coloured outfits.
(CROWD ROARS)
KERRY: Now, where were we?
Firstly, in principle,
I'm happy for you to run the game.
My offer, which you
fuckin' knocked back,
was half a million a year
when the ABC contract expires,
which is next month.
Accept that?
(HOARSELY) Yes.
COMMENTATOR: Out! Lloyd gone!
The West Indies 3/15.
The crowd goes absolutely mad.
Totally exclusive TV rights.
Right.
(CHEERING)
I get exclusive promotional rights
to the game in Australia.
Right.
For 10 years.
Right.
The coloured clothing... stays.
(WHISPERS) Yes.
And...
COMMENTATOR: The ball hits
the stumps, but well home.
..we work out the details later.
Um...
We'll take it to the executive.
I'd appreciate it.
(CROWD CHEERS)
(LOUD CHEERING)
CORNELL: Hey, mate. How are you?
Hey, guys. I'll see you in a bit.
Tony.
Hey.
Hey, where's Kerry?
He's not in there?
I haven't seen him.
Are you coming back?
Yeah. Yeah, mate.
No, you don't need any of that.
What you do is you get a building
with a great big bloody front door
and you light it up
like a fucking Christmas tree.
The punters come in,
empty their wallets
and you open the door for them
on their way out.
"See you next week."
No, it's gotta be the world's
easiest way of making money, son.
Nah, what's a couple
of roulette wheels cost? (LAUGHS)
Yeah, righto.
Yeah, goodo.
Tell Jimmy I'll see him
in London, Monday.
The deal's done.
There's a little bit of the whore
in all of us.
We're sorry.
You will be.
CORNELL: Dennis,
I'm not pissing in your pocket,
but what you got, that's unique.
The bloke who pushes the sight
board, Dennis makes the same money.
They got this great game in their
hands and these world champions
and they've got no idea
what they've got.
How would you like
some cricket on TV?
The best cricketers in Australia
against the best in the world.
I've got someone in Sydney
wants to meet you.
We sign 'em all up
and we have a competition.
Richie, this is John Cornell.
Cornell, this is Richie Benaud.
You know the cricket board
better than anyone.
This is going to be difficult.
What's going on?
CORNELL: The whole thing
has to stay undercover.
I'm in.
IAN: It's about bloody time.
Something like this has
been coming for a while.
Not like this, son.
It will be a fuckin' revolution.
Warner, this cricket thing's warming
up. I want you in to manage it.
Thanks, Kerry.
You'll be cursing me
before this is over, son.
Are you declaring
a cricket war?
If the cricket boards cooperate,
there's no reason why test cricket
will be affected at all.
If they don't cooperate, they'll
walk straight into a meat mangler.
PARISH: I got a charming letter
from Packer today.
He wants to meet up while we're here
and work something out.
Let's do it.
Would you like to outline
your proposals?
I'm here looking for a compromise.
Think they bought it?
Course they have.
I've offered them a fuckin' gift.
WEBSTER: It is the unanimous view
of the International Cricket Council
that they cannot give any commitment
to exclusive television rights.
It's war, Douglas.
We'll drive a wedge
between this man and his players.
It's every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost.
I heard they sacked you
as England captain this morning.
I'm sorry.
That's it! We see 'em in court!
"This will be the beginning of
an exodus from the Packer circus."
Packer fuckin' circus again!
MARSH: Disapproved persons?
What is this, the 19th century?
WALTERS: Thommo, you're fully
approved, though, aren't you, mate?
You can keep playing.
They can sue me if I don't pull out.
Yeah, there's blokes running
to their lawyers all over town.
Stop it now.
We'll take the hit on 6 million.
These blokes are relying on me.
To World Series Cricket!
ALL: To World Series Cricket.
This game you've got at VFL Park...
It'll work, Harry.
It has to.
It's starting. Here they come.
GAVIN: Kerry,
just got a call from London.
He's due to give his judgement
Tuesday night our time.
The game is bigger than those
who are trying to strangle it.
IAN: It's time to show
all those bastards out there
having a go at us what we can do.
(CRACKING AND CREAKING)
Yeah.
(MAN TALKS INDISTINCTLY)
They're showing their true colours.
(MEN CONTINUE CONVERSING)
What's going on?
Brighty and Bookshelf have been
sacked from playing for Victoria.
Tangles, too?
Mm-hm.
Jeez, they're having a go at us.
Well, we knew they were coming.
They're sacking everyone.
That's not the worst of it.
Have you spoken to Chappelli?
WALKER: He's not playing for any
state or for North Melbourne.
Yeah, but they got him.
Won't even let him play for Glenelg.
You New South Wales blokes
are getting the chop next.
Kerry better win
this damn court case.
Well, if he doesn't, no-one's
playing anywhere. It's over.
Yep.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
Nothing.
Baseball.
JUSTICE SLADE:
The authorities believed
they acted in the best interest
of cricket,
but that is not enough
to justify the action they took.
The authorities had
an understandable desire
to make things as difficult
as possible for Mr Packer.
Nevertheless, Mr Packer
and World Series Cricket
has offered secure,
remunerative employment
to the cricketers
at a time when most had no guarantee
of regular employment in the game.
I find that the authorities
acted without proper regard
for the contractual rights
of these players.
I find for the plaintiffs,
with costs.
(PHONE RINGS)
Yes?
GAVIN: Kerry, it's Gavin Warner.
We blitzed them!
Alright, it's on.
('APRIL SUN IN CUBA'
BY DRAGON PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ I'm tired of the city life
♪ Summer's on the run
♪ People tell me I should stay
♪ But I got to get my fun
♪ So don't try and hold me back
♪ Ain't nothing you can say
♪ Snake eyes on the paradise
♪ And we got to go today
♪ Take me to the April sun in Cuba
♪ Whoa-oh-oh
♪ Take me where the April sun
♪ Gonna treat me so right
♪ So right
♪ So right
♪ I can almost
♪ Smell the perfumed night
♪ And see the starry sky
♪ I wish you comin' with me, baby
♪ 'Cause right before my eye
♪ See
♪ Castro in the alleyway
♪ Talkin' about
missile love... ♪
I've always had a firm belief in the
great traditions of British justice.
And we've got costs. 320,000 bucks.
(LAUGHS) Serves 'em right.
They won't be too keen
on another innings
if it costs 'em that much every
time, will they, Cornell?
Mr Packer, just one question...
What? Hurry up! I'm eating.
Do you think this'll force the ICC
to reopen negotiations?
It'd be easier to get an audience
with the Pope, and I'm not Catholic.
Piss off!
Just one more question.
What?!
The New South Wales Premier's
sacking the whole board
of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust.
Just wondering if you're confident
of playing at the SCG now?
I've always been confident
of that, son.
Now if you don't mind,
my bacon's getting cold and
that tie makes me want to throw up.
Thank you, Mr Packer.
Go and see my tailor, McFarline.
Thank you very much, Mr Packer.
Bloody journos!
Still, this improves our position.
Maybe find a compromise
with the board now, Kerry.
If we don't get the SCG,
we've got just about no chance.
We've got bigger problems
than that, son.
Please hold.
Mr Parish,
there's another call
from 'The Times' in London.
Tell them we're making no comment.
And 'The Bulletin' rang.
Trevor Kennedy...
Did you hear what I said?
No comment.
So, we were well stuffed.
It's a resounding victory for
Mr Packer and I congratulate him.
Now I'm happy
to take your questions.
(REPORTERS FIRE QUESTIONS)
Mr Webster, the £250,000
in court costs against you?
We'll of course be looking
into how to fund this.
It's certainly a body blow.
Do you think a compromise
is now possible?
And will you appeal
against the decision?
We'll see about that.
I will of course let you know.
(REPORTERS FIRE QUESTIONS)
The Don called.
He wants us to set up
an emergency committee.
For us to take Packer on?
Yes.
Typical.
He loads the bullets
but he never fires them.
HARRY: So you won a court case?
So what?!
This just wins you the right
to go bankrupt.
I'm disappointed in you.
Warner.
Uh, Mr Packer, Mr Singleton called.
So?
Um, he said he'd call back.
About what?
He didn't say. He was...
Well, bloody well find out!
And where were you on Tuesday night?
I thought I told you
you have to be here if I'm here!
Mr Packer,
it was 10 o'clock at night.
Did you hear what I just said?
It was my birthday.
They were all waiting for me and...
Do you want this job or not?
Of course.
Warner!
Get in here.
And where's my advertising
on the grounds? What are you doing?!
Kerry, I got curators,
I got accountants, I got players...
I've got the fuckin' players!
And I have to deal with them!
Engineers, the press.
I got bureaucrats,
bloody groundsmen, you.
I'm exhausted.
I haven't seen my family in weeks.
Don't give me your fuckin' excuses,
Warner. I don't want to hear 'em.
And how come every time I turn
around and there's a fuck-up,
your name's on it?!
(SHOUTING CONTINUES)
Hey, Rosie.
KERRY: It costs me money!
Who's he got in there?
Gavin Warner.
Right.
He's in such a horrible mood.
Mr Chester was here.
The company's financial situation
is not very good.
And get me those numbers!
How the fuck am I meant to run
an organisation
if I don't know what's going on?!
That's it. I'm resigning.
I can't take this shit anymore!
Unless he's killing people,
he thinks he's getting nowhere.
That's true.
Well, I wish him luck, 'cause he's
gonna need it. I'm out of here.
Tell Kerry I'll see him later.
You know, he has to win every time.
Always.
You know, he's got no idea
how to take a punch.
Well, he's had to cop a few, Gav.
Yeah, from his father, I know.
We all know about that.
God, what kind of father
belts his kids at home
and then insults and humiliates him
in public?
Yeah.
So he's traumatised.
Boo-hoo.
I'm the one who has to pay for it.
It's all he knows, Gav.
You're just going to
have to wear it.
Well, that's alright for you to say.
He doesn't have a go at you.
He needs you, Gav.
He just doesn't know how to show it.
Yeah.
We're still very vulnerable,
you know that.
This whole thing needs you
where you are.
I'll see you in the office tomorrow?
Yeah?
Yeah.
Good. Good.
MARSH:
Knock his head off, Dennis!
Won't get a better opportunity
than night-time.
OK, Chappelli.
Red ball.
Righto.
Ohh.
Bloody hard to see.
HILL: How's that, Warren?
Go again.
Go again.
Oh, nup.
Lost that completely.
Try orange.
Alright.
Maybe something a bit lighter?
What do you reckon?
(LAUGHS)
HILL: Like your mother's undies!
Righto.
Pink!
I don't know. Looks dumb, though.
MARSH: Yeah. Oh, it's the
totally wrong colour, anyway.
Here we go. Try yellow. Yellow?
Tony says yellow.
Righto.
Bewdy.
Yeah, that's it.
No. Sorry, blokes.
Piss off, that's bloody perfect.
They're hitting the lights. It's
flaring on screen. Looks shit.
Well, what is this, cricket or TV?
Yeah, righto.
I don't know. What do you think?
White.
(SHOUTS) White!
IAN: White, eh?
I like that.
Yeah?
Good.
Here we go.
White it is.
White it is.
Alright. We got ourselves a ball.
(DOOR OPENS)
What is it, Rosie?
What do you mean, Mr Packer?
Come on.
You bully me.
I bully everyone.
Haven't you noticed?
Yes, but I'm here with you
all the time.
So am I.
It's not easy.
It's tough times, Rosie.
I need you here.
I forgot it was your birthday.
How old were you?
40.
Same as me.
Oh, Mr Packer.
Oh, it's beautiful.
I can't take this. It's...
It's too...
Well, if you don't like it, return
it and get me my money back.
Mr Packer, I didn't mean that.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(CAMERA CLICKS)
OK, alright. I'm just going
to turn you around a little bit.
Nice. Fix up her hair,
would you? Good.
Magic.
This'll stop them treading
on the bloody things.
They were doing it on purpose.
I know.
OK? Let's test it.
That wicket should have
been in a week ago.
It should have been in
a month ago.
Don't tell me that.
I repeat, the game this weekend -
will the damn thing be ready?
It'll be ready.
You can guarantee that?
Gavin, if it pisses down rain
for the next three days,
you can kiss your
day-night game goodbye.
That is not good enough! For God's
sake, where are the fuckin' covers?
Settle down. If it doesn't rain...
Jesus Christ, John. What do you
mean, if it doesn't rain?
This is Melbourne!
What the fuck is going on with you
two?! And where's my advertising?
The night cricket,
it's scared every advertiser off.
They don't think it'll work.
So what are you doing
standing around here?
Get out there and start selling!
Kerry, I've been trying...
Did you fuckin' hear me?!
Go and do it!
How are you, John?
Kerry.
Yeah, that's it. Nice.
OK, just dip your head. That's it.
VOICEOVER:
World-famous cricketer Tony Greig
talks about Kellogg's Nutri-Grain.
Have you tried
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain yet?
It's even good
straight out of the pack.
It looks like a tiny cricket bat
with holes.
Nutri-Grain stays nice and crunchy
in milk, too.
Mmm.
Nutri-Grain is made
from corn, oats and wheat
and it's got a lot of vitamins
and protein.
Nutri-Grain's a beaut start
if you need to eat and run.
Get 'em up!
Where's Greigy?
Dunno.
Who does?
How's the ankle, Dennis?
Ah, don't ask.
Oh, welcome, Greigy.
Glad you could join us.
What, are you too busy for training
these days, are you?
What's the matter with you,
Chappell?
What were you doing,
a photo op? Another ad?
What was it?
Kellogg's, TAA, Waltons?
Bloody Golden Books? Who else?
What I do with my time
is my business.
It's not your time, mate.
Kerry's paying for it.
And we're copping shit
for not training hard enough
and you're swanning off
doing other shit.
Hey, listen,
I train as hard as anyone.
I'll arrange my life in my own
bloody way, not the way you want it.
Hey, guys, come on.
Would be alright if he deserved
his place in the team.
What was that? What did you say?
Mate, there is no way in the
wide world that you are good enough
to be in that team
if the Windies blokes are there.
Simple.
OK, Chappell.
We'll see tomorrow night
who's good enough.
WALTERS: Alright,
let's play some cricket.
Come on, Chappelli.
We'll bat first.
OK.
UMPIRE: Are we shaking hands,
gentlemen?
MARSH: Oh, here we go.
What the fuck is that?
It's a bone dome, Bacchus.
IAN: How does
he even see the ball?
I love it.
Gives me something to aim at.
You get him, FOT.
Oh, you're jokin'. You see that?
(LAUGHS)
RICHIE BENAUD: Dennis Lillee
pitching very short.
Very, very short.
The crowd's a little disappointing
on this historic occasion
for the first ever day-night match.
Oh, and there's a good cricket shot,
a la Keith Stackpole.
And that's great batting.
Richards in position quickly,
the hammer.
Hey, Brighty? Bring us out
a long sleever, will you, mate?
It's getting a bit chilly out here.
Good on ya, pal.
(APPLAUSE)
Gentlemen.
What's the gate?
Not sure yet.
More than 6,000.
The families are turning up.
Yes, but not enough of them.
Yeah!
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
Yeah!
I'll be whacking you all night if
you keep putting up shit like that.
PLAYERS: Oh!
(PEOPLE CALL OUT)
IAN: Prick.
(APPLAUSE)
(BALL CLATTERS)
This is an historic item.
So, what about the white ball?
Well, it's perfect, Kerry. You can
see it from the bowler's hand.
Yeah, even bouncers.
MARSH: It gets lost down low,
though, Kerry.
What do you mean?
Well, everyone's wearing whites.
Can't see it against their legs.
Well, what do we do about that?
I just had a call from
Tagge Webster in London.
They've decided not to appeal.
Smart decision.
How are they going
to pay the court bill?
They're still coming
to terms with that.
Anyway, I've let the Don know.
How is he?
Happy about
the Australia-India test crowds.
We're killing World Series
in numbers.
At least the public's
got some brains.
He's still unhappy
about losing Hookes.
He doesn't like losing, Bob.
No, he doesn't.
(INTRO TO 'HOWZAT' BY SHERBET PLAYS)
SONG: ♪ You told me I was the one
♪ The only one
who got your head undone
♪ And for a while I believed
the line that you spun... ♪
No, two types of people spin -
politicians and bowlers.
Right now, we're politicians.
We can spin all we want, but
the general public has to buy it.
They're starting to.
We just need critical mass.
Not only spin.
We have to give them substance.
We've got that.
No-one's faking it out there.
Give them time.
That crowd wasn't big enough.
Look at the test crowds
against India.
If this keeps up, we'll be dead
by the end of summer.
It's turned into
bloody trench warfare.
Yes, it is.
And they're winning, Richie. Easily.
IAN: And we thought, what do
you give a man that has so much?
There were a lot of suggestions,
mostly bloody stupid.
(LAUGHTER)
But in the end we thought,
"What's our relationship
to this guy, really?
"What's important
between him and us?"
So... we got you a chequebook.
(LAUGHS)
(ALL LAUGH)
No, no, it's from the heart, boss.
Oh.
We hope you like it.
It's, um...
Well, this has got to be the world's
most expensive cricket bat.
(LAUGHTER)
I want to thank
each and every one of you,
and I want you to know
that the feelings are reciprocated.
In the...
In the short time
that we've been together,
I've come to respect you all.
This might come as a shock, I know,
but I'm actually rather fond
of you blokes.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
KP!
This will never leave my side.
Thank you.
LLOYD: We also had
the same problem, Kerry.
What do you get the man?
We know it's early days
and there's tough times ahead,
so we thought...
..this man needs
all the help he can get.
Oh, thank you, Mr Lloyd, thank you.
It's a bloody voodoo doll.
(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
I tell you what, I probably need
this more than the bloody bat.
Three cheers for Kerry. Hip, hip!
ALL: Hooray!
Hip, hip...
Hooray!
(LOUD WHISTLE)
BENAUD: Bowling to two slips
and a gully.
Yep! Just the one.
Rodney Marsh through for a single.
Jeez, Andy's fired up.
It's OK.
I just heard Clive tell him
he's only got three more overs.
Three?
That's all.
We just have to hang on.
COMMENTATOR: Andy Roberts here,
the most experienced
of the West Indian fast bowlers,
and a great fast bowler
in his own right.
(CROWD CHEERS LOUDLY)
COMMENTATOR: This is another one!
(CROWD CONTINUES CHEERING)
He won't catch this one.
COMMENTATOR:
And the crowd is delirious.
BENAUD: Hit him.
(PEOPLE GROAN)
And he's in trouble.
You alright?
You alright, mate?
Where'd it get ya? The face? Jaw.
(GROANS)
BENAUD: Wasn't quite inside it.
I'm alright.
No, mate, you're going off.
BENAUD: And he's retired hurt
for the moment on 81.
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
I'm sorry, Chappelli.
Mate, don't worry about it.
How is he?
Ambulance is on its way.
Bugger the ambulance. Come on!
I can't hear anything I say.
Come on. OK, alright.
Come on, let's go. In you hop.
Watch your head. OK? You right?
(GROANS)
Oh, bloody hell, Kerry.
You alright? You OK?
Slow down, slow down.
I'm just trying to take
the attention off your jaw.
You're doing
a bloody good job of it.
And we're back with our usual guest,
Peter McFarline of the 'Age',
joined tonight
by English sports writer Clive Bell
to give us some insight
into the present crisis
in Australian cricket.
So back to you, Pete.
Now that the first full
World Series Cricket season's
drawing to a close,
what's the verdict?
I'd say it's a draw, Gary.
Packer and the ACB
are locked in an arm-wrestle
and no-one's leaning over yet.
Clive?
Well, I'm giving it
to your cricket board.
The Indian tour
is hugely successful.
Bobby Simpson's a very popular
Australian captain
and the crowds are turning up
in their thousands.
But not in the numbers the board was
expecting, and that's the trouble.
Well, exactly.
There is only so many people
who go to the cricket
and what Packer has done, he has
split cricket right down the middle.
And that's the tragedy
of it, Gary.
I mean, blokes I know,
cricketers who used to be mates,
are now no longer talking
to each other.
You mean like Bobby Simpson calling
the World Series players 'slobs'?
Exactly.
Packer might think he's doing
the right thing by the cricketers,
but as history shows,
you go into a war, it's very
difficult to get out of it.
Oh, we all know he's losing money
hand over fist, as are the boards.
Now I don't think it's a draw, Gary.
I think everyone's losing.
Yeah, it's a bloody mess.
What about some of their cricket,
though? It's pretty riveting stuff.
The point is they are
just playing for money.
I don't think the Australian
public will wear it.
Yeah, Gary, not good enough.
Well, we'll be back after a break.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
CROWD: Five, four,
three, two, one...
Happy new year!
(FIREWORKS POP, LOUD CHEERING)
('SOLID AS A ROCK'
BY THE ETHIOPIANS PLAYS)
Warner!
(MAN LAUGHS LOUDLY)
Where's Cornell?
Haven't seen him all night.
Tell him I want to see him
in my office in the morning.
Right.
Wait!
Where'd you get this thing from?
The roulette table?
What do you reckon, huh?
I rented it.
Had to take a few doors off
to get it in.
Buy it.
What the hell for?
I might want to put it in my pocket
and take it home.
Where you blokes off to?
The movies, man. Do you wanna come?
The movies?
Now?
'Deep Throat', man.
Gavin Warner got it from someone.
Shit, yeah. Let's go.
(LOUD TOOT)
MARSH: Hookesy! Where ya goin'?
CORNELL: Happy new year.
Where were you last night?
Sorry I couldn't make it.
I was... busy.
Doing fucking what?
Me and Dellie got married.
Don't invite a bloke, will ya?
It was on the QT.
We didn't invite anyone,
except family.
Got married at midnight.
On New Year's Eve?
Easy to remember.
You're a fuckin' romantic bastard,
son. I'll give you that.
Who was your best man?
My 8-year-old nephew.
Oh! (LAUGHS)
What do you want for a present?
I want this to work, Kerry.
Yeah.
Whoa. That'll do. No more.
Thanks, Dennis.
Well done, David.
Thanks, boss.
IAN: Hookesy, what's wrong?
I'm fair dinkum havin' flashbacks
of that ball from Andy.
As soon as Dennis gets any speed up,
I shit myself.
Well, that's not good.
Bloke at the hospital said
it'd take five years to get over.
You're selected for next week, mate.
You're going to have to front up
to Big Bird, Andy, Imran.
I know. I can do it, Chappelli.
I just need to get one ball away.
As soon as I get off the mark,
I know I'll be OK.
Mate, they're not going
to be doing you any favours.
Just one ball.
I ordered those helmets
from your blokes in Birmingham.
I don't want any more broken jaws.
We've been approached
by another mob, Kerry.
Coonan & Denlay out of Sydney.
What do they make?
Horse rider helmets.
They're really good, apparently.
What? We don't want to look
like we're playing polo.
Doesn't matter
what you look like, son,
as long as you get out
with your brains intact.
MCFARLINE: G'day, guys.
It's looking good, isn't it?
What do you want, Pete?
I just want to confirm something.
I hear there's some dissension
in the ranks.
Bit of infighting going on.
Where'd you hear that?
Oh, it's understandable.
I mean, the crowds aren't coming.
It's costing more than anyone
thought, and so on.
Look around you, mate.
The gang's all here.
Well, no-one's buying
any advertising.
You'll be lucky to last out
the season.
I heard you've had
a major resignation.
I'm just wondering who it was.
No-one's leaving, mate.
That's not what I heard.
I don't give a shit what you heard.
No-one's resigned, no-one's leaving.
Alright?
Righto.
(BALL HITS BAT)
PLAYER: Oh, yeah! Ha-ha-ha!
IAN: Yeah, look,
we're sure it'll be a great contest.
Not a big crowd again, Ian.
Is this turning into a worry
for World Series?
The crowds will come.
We're confident of that.
Well, they haven't come up till now.
I mean, the Aussie-India test crowds
have been much bigger.
What makes you think World Series
will make a breakthrough?
The quality of cricket.
These are the best around.
Look at the guys
we're playing today - the World.
They're the best bunch of cricketers
I've ever seen... with one exception.
BENAUD: Lillee
coming in again to Lloyd.
COMMENTATOR: Beautiful shot.
(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)
Drives square.
There he goes.
Beautiful square cut from
Barry Richards. Short delivery.
Lloyd and Richards
completely comfortable out there
against Lillee,
who's struggling with the ball.
He's showing absolutely none
of his usual impact.
The World batsmen are relishing
this uncharacteristic performance
from the great bowler.
The Australians...
(CROWD GROANS)
(APPLAUSE)
(PLAYERS APPEAL)
COMMENTATOR: Well bowled. Out.
Greenidge, caught Marsh,
bowled Walker.
BENAUD:
Lillee back into the attack now.
Very unusual for this man
to go wicketless for so long.
Oh, good shot.
(APPLAUSE)
This has produced a glorious shot.
Here he goes again.
That's four runs.
And the punishment continues
for the Australians,
particularly for Lillee, who's
really copping it this morning.
(BAT HITS BALL)
At lunch, the World team is 2/144,
with Viv Richards on 78
and looking extremely comfortable.
The Australians are
in all sorts of trouble.
Chappell's men not used to being
handled in this cavalier fashion.
Lillee, at none for 51,
is struggling,
having none of his usual impact
on the game.
I got them compiled.
Good, I'm going to have
to run them for Kerry.
It's the northern end mike first.
CRICKETER: (ON TAPE)
Oh, fuckin' hell!
You fucking piece of shit!
You call that a shot?
Oh, fuck me drunk, mate!
What are you doin'?!
GREIG: Oh, fuck me, I've seen
better bowling from a girl, mate.
And it's all going out
to Mum and Dad and the kids.
Well, get them onto the faders
quicker, for God's sake.
Right.
Hey, boys.
Hey, FOT.
Got any shots of me run-up?
Ah...
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
It's a hard...
Fuck off.
I don't reckon
he's been told that too often.
Yep, got it. Thanks, boys.
Right.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: You can see Dennis
Lillee coming back into the attack
to replace Lenny Pascoe.
(CHEERING)
BENAUD: Yes, caught behind.
That's Dennis Lillee's
second wicket since lunch.
He's getting the ball
to move off the pitch now.
His line and length are superb.
I don't know what was
on the menu at lunch,
but Lillee must have had
a double helping.
This is a completely
different bowler.
The World are now
in significant trouble.
There's the bouncer to Greig,
who sways out of trouble.
Lillee now enjoying
his time out there.
This great fast bowler
can't be kept down for too long.
He's got him on the helmet,
I think.
(CHEERING AND GROANING)
Could be the first strike,
and Lillee... (LAUGHS)
..the man to do it.
I'm watching it from the box, guys.
Bloody well done.
Yeah, it's looking good.
Yeah.
It's amazing what a difference
five cameras make.
We've got seven.
I thought it was five.
Seven's better.
BENAUD: Lillee again.
And that's it. A tremendous
comeback by the Australians.
And now they're right back
into the game,
thanks in large part
to Dennis Lillee.
Wicketless before lunch,
but something happened out there,
and he's now walking off
with a remarkable 5/82.
Roberts to McCosker.
(CHEERING)
And he's gone, caught behind.
COMMENTATOR:
And that's Ian Chappell out.
That's a blow for Australia.
COMMENTATOR 2: Very annoyed,
Ian Chappell.
The vital breakthrough
for the World.
(CHEERING)
He's bowled him.
He's gone. Yorker again.
What a cricket match this is.
BENAUD:
What must he be feeling now?
The first ball since
his smashed jaw is critical.
This is it. How are you?
You alright?
Not really.
OK, well, ball at a time, yeah?
Yep.
(CROWD CHEERS AND YELLS)
Let's go, David.
BENAUD: Garner delivers the ball
from such a great height.
He gets enormous lift.
COMMENTATOR: It's in the air!
Good chance!
Could be six or out!
That's six!
Thanks, Big Bird.
Welcome back, Hookesy.
COMMENTATOR: That one was
a great shot
from a young man making a comeback.
Like I said.
(QUIET CHATTER)
Well, I'm going down the other end.
Anyone coming?
(CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
You've been doing something.
You have been doing something.
Just striking the ball?
Not too much chop here.
Hey, you can piss off out of
this dressing-room, mate.
You're not wanted in here.
Well, if you want me out, how about
you come and bloody get me out?
Hey, hey, hey, come on. Come on.
Cool it, man.
Well played, Big Bird.
Thanks, man.
Nicely played, Clive.
Thanks, man.
Viv... magic.
Thanks.
Andy.
(HUFFS)
Your team played well today.
(LAUGHS)
SHIELL: Excuse me, Mr Packer?
Are you aware of the announcement
by the Australian Cricket Board
that they are interested
in night cricket?
No. But I'll tell you
what I am aware of.
I'm aware of them calling us
a ridiculous fad and a circus act.
Mr Packer, the board's
apparently arranging
to put on official cricket
under lights.
Bob Parish reckons he's been
planning night cricket
for some time.
Well, that is complete bullshit
but I wish him luck with it.
Do you see this as a move
towards reconciliation?
No, I don't see it
as anything of the sort.
Maybe they're coming
our way a little bit
but there's still a long way to go.
Now excuse me.
"They've been thinking about it
for some time."
Now, that takes the cake.
They're starting to fold.
No, they're not.
(GROOVY DANCE MUSIC)
Kerry.
Hey.
You are the hardest bloke to get
along with that I've ever met.
What do you mean?
I knew you'd be cranky,
so I sat there for a long time
trying to work out what to say.
I tried to say something...
..to make you feel better.
I tried to find the most inoffensive
words to help you,
and you told me to fuck off.
(GROOVY MUSIC CONTINUES)
Chappelli.
FOT.
Cheers, mate.
How's that for a season?
It was different.
Mm-hm. My ankle's
now completely buggered.
Mate, you took 5/82.
Who gives a shit about an ankle?
Yeah, well, I just wanna say
it's been great with you and the
guys the last couple of seasons.
Is that right?
I'm slowing down a bit.
Thanks for everything.
You can bloody put that away.
Shake my hand.
I don't shake medium pacers
by the hand.
I only shake hands
with fast bowler...
(GRUNTS)
Shake my hand.
You heard me.
Shake my hand!
I told you, I only shake hands
with fast bowlers.
Fuck you.
I'll be back next season, I'll take
more wickets than anyone else.
Good, FOT. That's what
I wanted to hear.
Fuck you.
KERRY: Well... another season
like that and it's all over.
No more mucking about.
Tickets?
GAVIN: We're going ahead with
a print of some mock-ups.
They'll be ready for next meeting.
Why aren't they ready now?
We only put the order in last week.
Remember, you wanted them to be...
Forget it.
Programs?
Same.
(SIGHS) Clothing.
You got the colours right at least.
What about the caps?
Well, the peaks are too short.
They're the same length
as the official ones.
Yeah, but they don't look right.
Make 'em longer.
Wickets.
They're ahead of schedule, Kerry,
as we discussed yesterday.
Of course. Thank you, Richie.
Ah, Mr Hill.
Coverage.
Yeah, from the nine camera positions
we've got we should...
I thought there were seven.
Nine's better.
Also, the wicket mike problems
are fixed.
And we'll be training up
the camera guys during the winter,
and there'll be
two full rehearsal days.
The cherry picker camera?
Yeah, still testing it.
Well, get it right.
It's a good idea, David.
What's the scheduled games cost?
$1.4 million.
Well, we'd better draw a crowd.
The press.
Select journos have a draft program
for the season, Kerry,
just to give them an idea.
Some of them are coming
across much better.
Good. Legals.
We're still before the Federal Court
on use of the word
'test' in Australia.
Well, I know that, don't I?
What I want is an idea of when these
bastards will make up their mind.
It's hard to tell. I've spoken...
What do you mean, "hard to tell"?
I'll talk to Turnbull and see
if I can get a clearer idea as...
Why haven't you done that already?
Kerry, there is no hurry.
Either way, we have to
go along with...
There you fuckin' go again!
Rose.
Ian. He's waiting for you.
Is he, uh, still upset with me?
I don't think he could stay angry
at any of you boys for too long.
Right.
Is that right?
Mmm.
Warner. Get in here.
You're an Adelaide bloke, son.
The Don, he's put out feelers.
"What do we think about
using the Adelaide Oval?"
Why would he do that? He hates us.
He's got an angle, obviously.
Yeah, he's sniffing the breeze.
He's good at that.
Hmm.
(DOOR OPENS)
Oh, well, it's good for us, Kerry.
He never backs a loser.
(DOOR SHUTS)
GAVIN: What is it?
G'day, Chappelli.
G'day, mate.
Don't sit.
Tell him.
Had a few beers with Lenny Pascoe.
Jeff Thomson's not happy
playing for Simmo.
(PACKER CHUCKLES)
He wants to come back to us.
Well, how the hell do we do that?
He's contracted to
this bloody radio station.
Plus he's got a binding contract
with the board.
Thommo and Lillee back together's
a gift for us.
It'll get our crowds up.
If he wants back in, we'll have him.
Find a way.
Find a way.
(WHISPERS) Jesus.
Who's the old man?
That's Austin's dad.
Fastest man in the world in his day.
FOT's got his dander up, Ian.
Mmm.
He's pissed off at you.
Yeah, good.
Yeah, alright.
Well, he just keeps getting better.
I copped three in the guts for that.
Fuckin' worth it, though.
Look at him go.
(LAUGHS)
The first problem fixes itself.
The radio station's been
bought by another group.
Thomson's contract's
with the previous owners.
We can argue he doesn't have
a contractual relationship
with the new proprietors.
What do you mean, you can argue?
Does he have a contract
with them or not?
Maybe, possibly not.
It's a ground we can fight on.
In court. That'll cost.
Now, as to his contract with
the cricket board - he retires.
We'll script the letter for him.
They won't be happy.
The board won't force him to stay.
The cricket public
would crucify 'em.
"Poor Thommo, he's been great.
"If he wants to go, they should
let him," etc, etc.
They nullify his contract,
Thommo's officially retired
on, say, Friday, OK?
Mmm.
Monday morning, bang, what happens?
Thommo rediscovers the old fire,
loves the game,
wants to play for Australia and...
signs up for World Series Cricket.
Is it just me
or does that sound too easy?
It's just you.
Are you sure?
I mean, I'm not a lawyer, but...
CORNELL: Kerry takes it
all on himself.
I don't know how he does it.
He must be feeling it somewhere.
DELVENE: He's such a lovely man.
(LAUGHS) Tell that to Gavin Warner.
So, what are you gonna do?
What do you mean?
Come on, I've seen you
like this before.
You are far too quiet.
He's got the Sydney Cricket Ground,
he's got the lights being built,
but it's the same problem as always.
What if they don't come?
Yeah.
Should be working by now.
Hey, Strop!
Everyone's working their arses off.
We're paddling like buggery
but we're getting nowhere.
So, this first game at the cricket
ground with the lights...
If it's like VFL Park
on that first day...
It won't be that bad.
People have been coming.
Dellie, this whole thing
could still turn to shit.
What do you do when
someone's ignoring you?
Make a lot of noise
right in front of them.
His name's Wessels. Kepler Wessels.
He's just about to turn 21.
He's a kid.
But what a kid, Kerry.
He's marvellous to watch.
Swimming champion,
tennis champion, rugby.
He played schoolboy cricket.
And can you believe this?
He left one of his schools
with a batting average of 270.
Wow.
Sign him.
No, no, I want to see him first.
Here we go. How are you?
Excellent.
Dim sims.
Lovely.
Spring rolls.
Great.
Fried rice.
Beef and black bean sauce.
Chicken chop suey.
And sweet-and-sour pork
with extra sweet-and-sour.
Thank you very much, my friend.
Excellent.
Now, he can't come straight
from South Africa
and play the West Indians
because of the agreement.
So we slip him into a game
for Sussex or somewhere,
and then, bingo, he's in.
Alright. Good. Good.
Have you seen Warner's ad campaign
for the summer?
Yeah.
What do you think?
It's bloody ordinary, Kerry.
"Come and watch the white ball fly"?
I mean, what kind of crap's that?
What the fuck are you doing?
That's mine.
Uh, it's Chinese food, Kerry.
You share it.
No, I ordered it, it's mine.
Put it back on the plate.
Go on.
There you go.
Thank you.
Good.
TV ads, radio ads, print ads,
all boring.
We can do a lot better.
Well, what are you gonna do about
it?
Well, I was thinking
I could go and see this guy, Big Al.
Big Al?
Mm-hm. Writes songs.
MEN: (SING) ♪ Alright
in the middle of the night
♪ Finding touch together... ♪
This way please, Mr Cornell.
♪ Which, thank the Lord,
I'm not, sir
♪ The kind of man that I would be
♪ Would be a weak reporter
♪ I'd go hard, she'd go hard
♪ We'd both go hard together... ♪
Thank you.
G'day, Corny.
G'day, Allan.
How are ya?
Good.
The boys are getting vocal
out there.
Oh, one of the blokes
is on his way to New York
so they're farewelling him.
They've been at it
for quite a while.
Sounds like it.
So, you and your mate Packer,
you're creating quite a stir.
That's your brief, Al -
create a stir.
G'day, Strop.
Alan.
How are you, mate?
Good.
It's quite a brief.
We've, uh... we've been
thinking about it.
Good. I need some of your magic.
You say here something patriotic.
Yeah, an anthem.
We're up against the Ashes,
100 years of nostalgia.
We've got to invent a new history.
Mmm, invent history.
That's a nice brief, John. Thanks.
You want, like, a rugby song?
No, bigger, grander.
A war cry?
A call to arms.
Something like that.
(MEN SING BOISTEROUSLY)
Hear that?
Limericks, that's it. That's it.
That's what we need for the verse.
You're kidding.
No, no, no, the A-A-B-B-A rhyme.
It's a much maligned rhyming form.
For good reason.
No, no, no, that's just the lyrics.
Don't worry about that.
We were thinking a chorus,
something along the lines of this...
(CLEARS THROAT)
(SINGS) ♪ Come on, Australia
♪ Show us what ya made-a
♪ Come on, Australia... ♪
Whoa, uh...
♪ Come on. ♪
We, uh, just had
the court decision come through.
We can't use the word 'test'
and we can't use 'Australia'.
Bugger.
But we can call ourselves
'Australians'.
♪ Come on, Australians
Come on, Australians
♪ No, that's awful. ♪
(MUTTERS)
So, what have we got?
What have we got? What do we need?
Um...
(SINGS) ♪ Marshie's taking wickets
Hookesy's clearing pickets... ♪
And we need something
that rhymes with 'green'.
Green?
♪ The Chappellis
are catching it so clean... ♪
No. It's cricket
like you've never seen?
'Glean'. Something 'glean'.
'Gleam'.
'Gleaned'.
Eyes have got the gleam, something.
Dougie's eyes have got
the dreaded gleam.
No, it's not quite right.
The Chappells.
The, uh...
Th-the Chappells' eyes
have got the killer gleam.
The Chappells. The Chappell.
The Chappells' eyes.
♪ Marshie's taking wickets
Hookesy's clearing pickets
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam... ♪
I like it.
Great.
That's it?
Great, yep.
Well, let's, um...
Shall we?
Please.
We were thinking, like, maybe
starting with a montage,
a training montage or something.
Um, and it's, like...
spoken word, um...
♪ You've been
training all the winter
♪ There's not a team that's fitter
♪ And that's the way it's gotta be
♪ 'Cause you're up against
the best, you know
♪ This is Supertest, you know
♪ You've gotta beat the best
the world has seen
(SINGS) ♪ Lillee's pounding down
like a machine
♪ Pascoe's making divots
in the green
♪ Marshie's taking wickets
♪ Hookesy's clearing pickets
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam... ♪
(CHEERING AND LAUGHTER)
Oh, mate.
Hey, Tweety!
The sun is shining.
Yeah, yeah.
You wanna try out
for 'Sesame Street'?
You are the ugliest model
I've ever seen.
(CHEERING AND LAUGHTER)
Baby blue, eh?
Here ya go, Sacker.
Yeah, yeah, up ya bloody game.
(LAUGHTER)
I'm not wearing this.
You'll be the only guy on the field
that's not, Hubie.
We look ridiculous.
Yeah, it looks like your
Mum's pyjamas, mate.
(LAUGHTER)
MARSH: Yeah, yeah.
You gotta bloody wear 'em too.
Bastards.
MAN: Take your pads off.
What the fuck were you thinking
with this Thomson bullshit?!
What? What?
What's my job in
this organisation, hmm?
Fixing problems of
your fuckin' making!
Kerry, I've got no idea
what you're talking about.
Well that's been obvious
for quite a fuckin' while.
Why don't you go work for Murdoch?
You were laughed out of court
with this stupid idea for Thomson.
My idea?!
Now the board get to keep him.
And you get to look like
the fuckin' clown you are!
It was not my idea!
Is that right?
It was the legal guy.
He was convinced it would work.
I was the one that...
How's the ad campaign?!
Honestly, it was not my...
Advertising?!
Well...
Doesn't fuckin' matter.
I'll talk with Cornell.
Oh, g'day, Strop.
Hey, those cricket ads, that bloody
song, can't get it out of my head.
That's why I'm here, mate.
Kerry's not happy with
how many times you're running them.
How many times are they on tonight
between 6:00 and 10:00?
Uh, two.
Hm, only two? Not enough.
Kerry wants four. No, five.
Well, shit, who can I kick off?
Give us a look.
Uh, Claytons three times.
Get rid of them.
Ansett, who fuckin' cares?
Better drop one of them, too.
Ruffles chips, piss that off.
He wants us to cut five?
That's what he said.
And he wants it done every night.
Every night?
I won't catch up.
This is the cricket, mate.
Rose, what are you doing? Go home.
I can't.
Why, what's the problem?
Mr Packer likes me to be available
as long as he's here.
You leave Mr Packer to me.
No, please don't say anything.
I had all this work to do anyway.
$12 million, Kerro.
It's coming together, Harry.
Yes, it is.
What you've got now
is a functioning organisation.
Congratulations.
But the role of that organisation
is to lose the company's money.
We're getting too close to the edge.
Remember that conversation
we had last year
after you dumped 6 million?
Your father, Kerro,
would have cut his losses by now.
I know.
He would have given himself
an escape route.
You don't have any.
It's not good business.
What are you doing?
He had big plans for you.
Oh, no, he didn't!
Clyde was gonna run
everything, remember?
I'm not Clyde.
And you're not the old man.
Still, you're in the shoes now.
So far it's not a good fit.
Your father would never
risk the lot, never.
I've got the Sydney Cricket Ground
lights, and the game on Tuesday.
That's all you've got.
Listen, Kerro,
it's one minute past midnight.
When you're way behind on the night,
a final roll of the dice
is not a smart thing to do.
Mr Warner.
Rose.
Are you alright?
I've got an ulcer.
My wife hates me.
So do my kids.
(SOBS)
So... so do I.
He pushes a button
and he whistles at me like a dog.
I know.
How do you do it?
I just do it.
Tuesday night's
make or break, Rosie.
If it comes off, I'm alive.
If it doesn't...
I'm going into the library.
Come on, Cornell.
Where are we going?
I've got something
I want you to see.
What do you think, son?
You see that one there?
Yep.
That's yours.
All these others are mine.
You ready?
Well, let there be light.
Yeah.
SONG: ♪ You've been training
all the winter
♪ And there's not a team
that's fitter... ♪
(DISTANT CHEERING)
♪ And that's the way it's gotta be
♪ 'Cause you're up against
the best, you know
♪ This is Supertest, you know... ♪
(CHEERING BUILDS)
♪ And you've gotta beat the best
the world has seen... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ Lillee's pounding down
like a machine
♪ Pascoe's making divots
in the green
♪ Marshie's taking wickets... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ Hookesy's clearing pickets... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
♪ And the Chappells' eyes
have got that killer gleam
♪ Mr Walker's playing havoc
with the bats
♪ Redpath, it's good to see you back
♪ Lairdie's making runs
♪ Dougie's chewing gum
♪ And Gilmour's wielding willow
like an axe... ♪
(LOUD CHEERING)
(FADES) ♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on
(SOFTLY) ♪ Come on, Aussie
♪ Come on, come on... ♪
(CHEERING)
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on
Come on, Aussie... ♪
COMMENTATOR: Yes, it's
a magnificent sight, Richie.
People are just waiting
for the sun to go down
to really capture this atmosphere.
And it certainly is
a historical night here.
It really is a fantastic sight.
BENAUD: And people
queuing up outside,
trying to get into the ground.
(ALL SPEAK AT ONCE)
You.
You! What's your name?
Tim, Mr Packer.
Tim, why aren't you letting 'em in?
Well, the place is full.
We got to capacity a while ago.
Well, you can't keep 'em
out there, son.
Mr Packer, there's 10,000 of them.
Just open the fuckin' gates,
will ya?
Well, the ticketing booths are
closed. We've got no staff.
Listen to me, son, that doesn't
matter. Let 'em in anyway.
They want to see cricket.
We'll let them see cricket.
(LAUGHS)
OK, boys, step aside. Let 'em in.
(CHEERING)
KERRY: Enjoy the game.
Enjoy the game.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: Good shot.
Yes, timed that beautifully.
Going away down the hill
towards the fence at
the southern, Randwick, end.
Good shot.
(LOUD CHEERING)
50,000 out there.
I'm watching this with
the 2 million people at home, son.
BENAUD: It is so big that
they've thrown the gates open -
not closed them, thrown them open.
CROWD: (SINGS)
♪ Come on, come on
♪ Come on, Aussie... ♪
Hear that?
♪ Come on, come on... ♪
They know the words.
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on... ♪
Yep.
♪ Come on, Aussie
Come on, come on... ♪
Kerry, I've got a confession. This
might be a good time to tell you.
Tell me what?
I've been going into Channel 9
and getting them to drop ads
and putting ours on instead.
(LAUGHS) Jesus, son.
You might be hearing
from a few companies.
COMMENTATOR: Oh, he's hooking it!
Yeah, it's six!
(CHEERING)
(LAUGHS)
Bloody hell, Cornell!
(UP-BEAT CHATTER)
A beer, thank you.
This is it, Kerry.
Yeah.
I think you're right.
Morning, Rose.
Morning, Mr Warner.
Well, what do you think, huh?
I thought the party started
a bit early.
Who the fuck organised that?
(LAUGHS)
KERRY: Thommo.
G'day.
You can bowl, son,
but you haven't got a fuckin' idea
how to organise your life.
(LAUGHS) Yeah.
Welcome back.
Thanks, boss.
Kerry.
I was talking to Ray Steele
after the board called me in.
Said he wouldn't mind
seeing all of this over.
Did he, now?
And that's it for another night
with our guests,
Peter McFarline and Clive Bell,
asking the big questions on cricket.
Well, there's a long way to go
finessing this new version
of a great old game.
How long can these players
keep this up?
Lillee breaking down again,
Thomson out with a back problem,
Gilmour's done a hamstring.
Even Greg Chappell, for
the first time ever, is in trouble.
These men who have given everything
are now at breaking point.
Goodnight.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
(DOOR OPENS)
It's time to go home now, Rosie.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: The Australians look
absolutely fantastic in the field
in their gold-coloured outfits.
(CROWD ROARS)
KERRY: Now, where were we?
Firstly, in principle,
I'm happy for you to run the game.
My offer, which you
fuckin' knocked back,
was half a million a year
when the ABC contract expires,
which is next month.
Accept that?
(HOARSELY) Yes.
COMMENTATOR: Out! Lloyd gone!
The West Indies 3/15.
The crowd goes absolutely mad.
Totally exclusive TV rights.
Right.
(CHEERING)
I get exclusive promotional rights
to the game in Australia.
Right.
For 10 years.
Right.
The coloured clothing... stays.
(WHISPERS) Yes.
And...
COMMENTATOR: The ball hits
the stumps, but well home.
..we work out the details later.
Um...
We'll take it to the executive.
I'd appreciate it.
(CROWD CHEERS)
(LOUD CHEERING)
CORNELL: Hey, mate. How are you?
Hey, guys. I'll see you in a bit.
Tony.
Hey.
Hey, where's Kerry?
He's not in there?
I haven't seen him.
Are you coming back?
Yeah. Yeah, mate.
No, you don't need any of that.
What you do is you get a building
with a great big bloody front door
and you light it up
like a fucking Christmas tree.
The punters come in,
empty their wallets
and you open the door for them
on their way out.
"See you next week."
No, it's gotta be the world's
easiest way of making money, son.
Nah, what's a couple
of roulette wheels cost? (LAUGHS)
Yeah, righto.
Yeah, goodo.
Tell Jimmy I'll see him
in London, Monday.