Underbelly: Vanishing Act (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
(KIDS YELP AND CALL OUT)
WOMAN: (NARRATES) I first went to
Bournda Beach on a school excursion
back in the days when life was simple
and I was just a regular
curly-haired kid.
I loved it.
It was six hours drive
down the South Coast
but I went back there
whenever I could.
Then, decades later,
after all the drama,
would you believe it,
on that same beach...
..washed up on the sand...
..they found my shoe
with my foot still in it.
(GAGS, COUGHS)
Oh...
(EXCLAIMS) Jesus!
(FLIES BUZZ)
And the whole nation went nuts.
MAN: $20 million that wasn't hers
suddenly vanished...
I was already a hot story.
A few months back,
when I first went missing,
I blew the pandemic
right off the front page.
REPORTER: Sydney con woman
Melissa Caddick
swindled friends and family
before disappearing...
REPORTER: The 49-year-old vanished
from her Dover Heights home
on November 12...
REPORTER: Three days
before Melissa went missing,
Federal Police raided
her $6 million home
over an Australian Securities
and Investments Commission probe...
Total frenzy
over a missing persons case.
REPORTER: The past seven days,
searching in all of Melissa's
favourite spots,
including the coastal walk
here at Dover Heights...
We're asking
for the people of Australia
to come together
and help find Melissa.
And now this.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Major breaking news...
Gabby, remains have been found,
we understand.
REPORTER: DNA confirmed
it was Melissa Caddick...
Supposedly, back in November,
I jumped off a cliff
near my house in Sydney
and my foot made a 500km solo voyage
down the east coast of Australia
in a size-six running shoe.
REPORTER: It was Melissa Caddick...
As far as the cops were concerned,
the mystery was now solved.
I got busted. I freaked out.
I topped myself. End of story.
If you believe that story...
REPORTER: Curious case
of Melissa Caddick...
REPORTER: She has vanished
without a trace...
..you will believe anything.
Then again, I've found most people
WILL believe anything.
That's how I got rich
in the first place.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
MAN: It's a jungle out there.
It's a jungle out there.
('KISS KISS AND RHINESTONES'
BY HTRK PLAYS)
SONG: # I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# Kiss, kiss and rhinestones
# I'm covered in kisses
from head to toe
# Oh, oh
# Oh, oh, oh
# If you take my hand
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter... #
Hey, sweet.
Hmm?
I might go for a run.
(GROANS) I should come.
No, no, no, no.
You sleep on...
my little lake duck.
What?
(LAUGHS)
What did you call me? (LAUGHS)
I read last night...
Mmm.
..that the lake duck has a willy
longer than the rest of its body.
(BOTH LAUGH)
Mmm. Mmm.
(LAUGHS, KISSES)
Quack, quack.
(LAUGHS)
# Kiss, kiss and rhinestones
if you take my hand... #
(CLATTERING)
Oh, shit.
Josh, you scared me.
You're scared of your own son?
It's 5:00 in the morning.
8:00pm in London.
I'm bidding on a pair of Jordans.
Sneakers?
How much are you paying?
I'll sell them for a profit, Mum.
OK. Uh, email me the receipts.
Love you.
(BEEP)
My city, Sydney -
the most expensive place on earth.
Costs more to live in
than London or New York.
OK, I just made that up.
Maybe it's true.
It feels true. Just spend
a week here. Try buying a house.
(DOG BARKS)
But then, you get what you pay for,
right?
And if it all gets too much,
you come to these cliffs,
just along from the place
known as The Gap.
As a kid, you hear about it.
So-and-so went bankrupt,
jumped off The Gap,
that kind of stuff.
Personally, I'm not good with heights
or pain, so...
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Mother.
Mum, do not throw anything
out the window.
(WHIRRING)
Right. Well, from what I can see,
it's working.
From what you can hear, you mean.
It wasn't working before.
Well, did you have it switched on?
No, darling.
I'm not that clever.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Who's phone's that?
That'll be mine.
Oh, no. It's a client.
I'll call them back.
At this hour of the day?
He's keen.
Yes, well, when it comes to money,
Dad, you'll find most people are.
As they should be.
And this guy is seriously rich.
He's a CEO.
I'm not gonna tell you his name.
He's quite well-known.
And last month, I made him 12%
on his share portfolio.
12%! (LAUGHS)
Well, I hope you get a fair slice.
Yeah, don't worry.
I had a very good month.
It's not even about the money.
I just love that I can make
that happen for someone.
It must be stressful.
Is it stressful?
She's not a beginner, Ted, huh?
Well, I know that.
I know that better than most.
I mean, look where we are.
Are you happy living here still?
(LAUGHS) Are you kidding?
We love it!
Yeah, well, if you want to upgrade,
we could talk about it...
I am not moving house again ever.
Oh... I like it here too, darling.
I do.
OK. It just makes me happy
to help you both out.
And we are both very, very proud
of you, princess.
(BLENDER WHIRRS)
Oh...
(PUFFS)
(BEEP)
WOMAN: Too slow. Do it again.
Angie!
You said you needed a copy
of my driver's licence.
Yeah, you could've just emailed it.
Yeah, I don't have a scanner
and my internet's rubbish.
I thought, "What the hell,
I'll just drive over."
Well, Ange, I'm not dressed.
Just, uh, give me ten minutes
to have a shower.
Oh, I can't stay. I have to work.
Well, at least have a coffee.
I'll, um... I'll put on some perfume.
Yeah, Mel, you smell terrific,
I'm sure.
Thank you very much. Come on.
Alright.
MELISSA: Angie Beyersdorf started
primary school the same day as me.
We've been friends ever since.
5:00 in the morning,
some idiot is revving his car
up and down my street.
How is that legal?
It's not.
Did you call the cops?
Thanks.
If I called the cops
for every dickhead on wheels,
I would never be off the phone.
Do you really want to be
that person?
Mmm... It's time to move house.
Truly, Ange.
You could afford to live
somewhere nice.
I do live somewhere nice.
I meant a...better suburb.
Yeah. I know what you meant.
Not everyone wants to live
in the Eastern Suburbs, Mel,
with all the wankers.
Yeah, says you. And you live
in the same street we grew up in.
No, I don't.
Oh, close enough.
Four blocks away.
Yeah, and I like it there.
Dr Trudy's still there,
Dino the fruit man,
Fobbs pharmacy...
Yeah, stop.
You are seriously weird.
Come on. You loved Johnny Fobbs
back in the day.
When I was 12.
Just sayin'.
They're your people too, Mel.
Yeah, they're really not.
MELISSA: A few years ago, I'd just
come back from living overseas.
We were having a girls' night in.
It's got what's-his-face...
You know, from that show
where they all have superpowers?
No.
I mean, I can't watch that stuff.
I mean, whatever happened to shows
about normal people?
Oooh, Ange, before you hit play,
did you think any more
about our conversation?
What? The Patrick Swayze thing?
What?
That you have sex dreams
about Patrick Swayze?
Oh, shut up!
(LAUGHS)
No, my business plan.
Oh, yes. You want to invest
in women.
For women.
That's what I mean.
No, women like us.
Mm-hm.
Working mums.
I would do all the financial
planning, the share trading,
the superannuation...
You should totally do that.
I should totally have more wine.
But would you be in it?
Uh, Mel, I...I have no money.
I'm a nurse. You know, we do it
for the love, don't you know?
You have savings, surely.
Yeah, when I do night shifts
and weekends and overtime.
Yeah, but you do all that.
Yeah, tell me about it.
(EXHALES) Look...
I have some money that I put aside
when I can for the kids.
OK. And how much interest
are you getting?
I don't know. Enough.
I could get you more.
I promise, I could get you a new car.
My car's fine. It goes.
I can get you there
faster than a bank.
They will take your money,
they'll invest it,
they'll give you 2%.
It is a rip-off.
You know they're making ten times
that with your dollars?
MELISSA: I know what you're thinking.
You think I took Angie's money
and spent it on myself.
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(SQUEALS)
(LAUGHS)
ANTHONY: Whoo!
MELISSA: Well, you're wrong.
I set up an investment fund
for Angie.
Totally legitimate.
For over a decade, I have
looked after her and many others.
Some years later,
when I met her nephew Nash...
Your Aunt Angie is my oldest friend.
She tells me that you look after
Sydney's best swimming pools.
Oh, I don't know about that.
But the business,
it is expanding, though.
That's great.
Yeah.
You must have some cashed-up clients.
Oh, my god, yeah.
Seriously, this one guy,
I was speaking to him this morning
on the phone, actually,
and he sounded, um...
down-to-earth...
Mmm. Bogan?
Yeah. Yeah.
Well, he didn't sound posh.
Yeah.
Anyway, I turn up to his house
and it is the size of Paraguay.
Wow. Like, the country?
Is that a country?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Isn't it?
Yeah, I just meant it's a big house.
And it's in South America.
No, it's, like, ten minutes drive
from here.
Hmm.
Do you want to...
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, Nash.
I tell you what,
I am gonna make space for you...
Oh, hey, I don't want to be
a hassle... No, no, I want to.
You have a young family, right?
Two kids?
I do, yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah. Yeah.
I've got Zoe, who's six...
MELISSA: I know. I know.
One lonely pool guy with 100 grand.
So what?
A bit of a handful of times...
But he's got clients.
A bunch of rich pool owners,
not to mention other franchisees.
It's a sexy pool of talent
right there.
Are you in the business too, Ant?
The, uh, share-trading business?
Oh, no, that'd, uh...
That'd be interesting.
No, no. Anthony is an artist.
Oh.
What, like...like painting?
Mmm...
Well...
No...
No, he doesn't paint. Well, no...
OK.
He does paint. You know,
he's brilliant. He can do anything.
But, uh, he's a music producer.
Oh.
I'm so into music.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Oh, Anthony, time for a concert.
Oh, no, no, no.
Nash doesn't want to hear...
Absolutely, man. Do it.
(GASPS)
Yeah.
Yeah.
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA PLAYS)
# White lines
We making headlines
# We getting speechless
Forgetting appetites
# Are on the edge now
We disconnected
# You in the flesh, wow
Got me affected
# Now we getting heated
Got no inhibitions
# Throw me in the deep end
You're my new religion
# Having such a good time
Banging on the blindside
# Naked and I'm speechless
No, nothing can beat this
# This... #
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA CONTINUES)
# We'll stay up till the morning
No, nothing can beat this... #
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA CONTINUES)
# Let's stay up till the morning. #
MELISSA: With a new client
like Nash...
OK, you take his money and you set up
a share-trading account online.
You deal in blue-chip shares -
nothing crazy.
Yes, it's a gamble.
Stocks go up and down.
But if I work hard, I make Nash
some cash, I take my cut
and if I find 1,000 more Nashes,
then I make a living
so long as I guess right
more than wrong,
so long as the little ball
keeps landing on red.
Or...
I take his 100 grand
and I put it in my own bank account.
I don't buy shares. I buy shoes.
Footwear. Frocks. Fast cars.
Whatever the fuck I want.
Oh... (LAUGHS) Oh, what?
You are...
You are the fuckin' best!
And every three months,
I dummy up a report,
a bit of a cut-and-paste,
to make it look official.
It says, "Hey, we bought BHP,
ABC, XYZ..."
I just look up what shares did well
and type in the numbers...
and I send that to Nash.
And he gets super-excited.
Now, Nash, like all my clients,
is saving -
for his kids, for retirement,
whatever.
He's thinking long-term, right?
So, nine times out of ten,
he'll pick up the phone and call me.
Nash. How is that gorgeous family?
I want to re-invest.
Roll it over.
Are you sure?
You know you can cash out
at any time.
16%.
You are amazing.
Mel, thank you so much.
Thank you.
(HANGS UP)
MELISSA: So, here's the thing.
I never have to pay Nash back.
Not for years and years.
And if I did, I've probably got
enough to cover it
so long as I keep pulling in
new people.
That, my friends,
is a Ponzi scheme.
As simple...
- Right. Thank you.
..and beautiful
as a Dior dress.
Thank you.
('NO EXCUSES' BY CONCRETE LAWN PLAYS)
(BEEP)
Court documents for signing.
She's on another shopping spree,
Melissa Caddick.
Oooh.
We love our Dior.
Mm-hm.
She's been there twice this week.
Would you spend that much on a dress
if you had the money?
If it were my money
and I hadn't stolen it.
Can we prove that?
Not yet.
But we will.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: (NARRATES)
So, here's the thing.
So, a Ponzi scheme
doesn't Ponzi itself.
You have to find new suckers
constantly.
I'd signed up relatives and friends
and friends of friends...
I had real estate agents...
a florist...
I even had my personal trainer.
(MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BEEPS)
Best of all, I had doctors,
a group of surgeons I'd met.
They were fantastic.
So much money.
I mean, let's be honest,
the medical industry's
the biggest financial scam on earth.
(BEEPING IN CAR)
And then I met George.
Hey, um, a warning light's come on.
Something about tyres.
Probably just need air in 'em,
that's all.
Uh, a ding-ding sound has come on.
Could you take a look?
Uh, look, just, uh,
park it on the street,
leave the keys in the office.
Uh, yeah, I, um...
I'm a bit busy. I kind of need it.
You could take a quick look now,
couldn't you, Silvio?
Come on.
Wouldn't take you five minutes.
Yeah, sure.
Uh, keys are in it.
Thank you so much.
Don't mention it.
Do you own this place?
Me? No. Just passing through.
But you can't leave a lady
in distress.
Name's George.
Hmm.
And that is
a beautiful set of wheels.
Thank you.
Melissa.
You know, you look familiar.
(HALF-LAUGHS)
Up on a cliff, maybe?
I walk the dog.
Are you a runner?
Oh, it's more of a slow jog.
Well, you look incredibly fit to me.
Oooh.
Am I allowed to say that nowadays?
Oh, absolutely. But, no, I'm not.
I couldn't keep up with you,
that's for sure.
George was the kind of guy
I dreamt about meeting.
Kind, caring, cashed-up
and ripe for ripping off.
I felt an instant connection.
Hi.
I made sure to run into him
accidentally most mornings.
Fancy seeing you here.
Yeah. How are you?
Hi, buddy.
I'm an investment analyst.
Or... Well, I was.
Now I just look after a small group
of high-rollers, I call them.
They're, um,
high-net-worth individuals
who pay me for my expertise.
You must be good.
Well, I was one of the top traders
in London five years ago
but I, um, got homesick for this,
so I came back to Oz.
I just wanted a more, you know,
relaxed lifestyle.
Hell of a risky business.
No, not if you know
what you're doing.
Can I ask, George,
about your line of work?
Oh, you know, a bit of this,
a bit of that.
Mm-hm.
Right. I'd say something legal.
Barrister? Judge?
Do I look that untrustworthy?
No, no, I think you look smart to me.
Me? Smart? Then I got your fooled.
(LAUGHS)
Yeah...
Of course,
I had regular hunting grounds.
Like the snowfields.
Aspen was my favourite.
Rich wankers and wannabes everywhere.
# They call me boss
but my real name is trouble... #
Last season, I met a woman
we'll call Wendy from Australia.
Back in Sydney, we met up for lunch.
Such a fabulous view, Mel.
And fabulous company
to share it with.
I turned up empty-handed.
I feel guilty.
Oh, Wendy, you have 2.5 million
sitting with me.
I think I can provide the champagne.
(LAUGHS)
Here's to us.
To us.
# Whoo-oooh-oooh-oooh-oooh-oooh
Coming out... #
You just have to find
which button to press.
With Nash, I tapped into
his tough childhood,
his 'work hard, save hard,
retire at 40' kind of vibe.
Surgeons are competitive.
Once I had one, I had 'em all.
Wendy wanted a friend.
And it wasn't long
before I had George on the hook too.
I could tell he was keen.
But after months of circling,
he was giving me the run-around.
(RINGING TONE)
George.
GEORGE: (ON PHONE) Mel.
Hi.
Hey, can I call you back?
Could I just have a quick word
about...
I can't really hear you.
I'm up near the lighthouse.
Look, it's about the money
we discussed...
(HANGS UP)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(RINGING TONE)
Is that Melissa Grimley?
Melissa Caddick, thank you.
(LAUGHS) You're divorced, Mel.
Shouldn't you use your maiden name?
Hell, no.
Would you want to be called Grimley?
Nope.
Hey, um, I'm actually at work.
I can't really talk.
What is happening for your birthday?
Oh, please don't make a fuss.
We're out of milk.
Josh?
I bought groceries last night.
I made a smoothie.
You made... When?
Midnight.
Your mum's gonna go apeshit.
We could go to the shops.
There's no time.
Soz.
Had a craving.
Ange, it is your 50th.
You have to have a party.
No, we're just doing family
and just, um, some drinks
at my nephew's house.
OK. Fabulous. What time?
It's an occasion. I get to dress up.
You really don't need to come.
It's nothing special.
Ange, it is you. Don't be stupid.
Long-life rice milk.
Ugh... She hates that.
What's this? What do I hate?
Hey, sweetness?
Mmm?
Did you pick up my dress
from the dry-cleaners?
Yeah. Isn't it upstairs?
No.
The Dolce & Gabbana one,
I'm talking about.
Shit. I'll pick it up today.
Yeah. Please do.
Are we, uh, having coffee?
Oh, you know I read the black coffee
is way better for you?
So...
Again?
Jesus, I have to do
every single fucking thing...
I'm sorry, Mels. I'll go now.
No, no...
I'll go now.
No, you forget it.
As if I don't have enough
to worry about.
I'll drop Josh at school
and I'll go get coffees...
No, look, there was a mark
on that dress
and if they didn't get it out,
then I now have no time to fix it.
And I have this client who, um,
sent me the wrong paperwork.
He's a doctor.
Can't seem to fill out a simple form.
And another client wants to back out
before we've even started.
Why don't you let me help?
Because you don't know how it works.
Well, you can teach me.
Oh, sweetheart.
You can't even do the groceries.
(SIGHS) What?
I'm just sayin'.
It's not funny, Mel.
I'm not your slave.
I know.
You don't have to pay slaves.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding!
I'm kidding!
I'm kid... Oh, Anthony...
I'm taking Josh to school.
Are you right, mate? Come on.
Yeah.
Let's go.
Hey, sweetheart.
Have a good day.
(DOOR OPENS)
Dry-cleaning. And coffees!
But I made an exception for Angie.
(LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION)
('I HEAR MOTION' BY THE MODELS PLAYS)
# I want to see you
# I want to see you twist it around
# Yeah, you want to change
# You should be moving it around... #
I got to see her family and friends.
Pretty much all of them
were my clients.
# Happy birthday to you... #
And they just love me.
# Happy birthday to you. #
Hip-hip!
Hooray!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)
Birthday girl. Having fun?
I was just thinking to myself,
how lucky am I?
To be 50 AND gorgeous?
(LAUGHS) To have you as a friend.
Seriously.
I mean,
you've made my future secure,
you've helped my friends, my family.
It's just what I do.
Hey, Mum, Melissa. Smile.
(TAKES PHOTO)
Hey, do you know how sad it is...
ANTHONY: What's that?
..when your friends don't know
how much your dress is worth?
Well, you could just tell them.
Yeah, I did. It kind of ruins it.
Hey, Mel, can I ask you a question?
Mm-hm.
If you died tomorrow,
what would happen to the business?
Are you thinking of having me killed?
No, what you said, it's true.
I don't know anything about
your business, how it all works.
You don't need to know.
Yeah, but what would happen if...
No, no, no. Hey...
Could we not talk about this
just now?
Well... But don't you ever think
about life, death?
Not if I can help it.
But don't you fret, my love.
If anything happened to me,
you are covered.
Mmm.
(RATTLING)
What have you got?
Mmm...
Show me.
Mel...
(LAUGHS) Mel!
Butter knives?
Did you steal these from the party?
I liked the pattern.
Oh, my god.
Look.
Took this too.
Oh, my god.
Mel...
Come to bed.
Come on.
(LAUGHS)
(LAUGHS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: Those wonderful folk
at ASIC - I knew they were a threat.
Of course they'd be watching.
They had fuck-all else to do.
I had to make sure
the circle was tight. No leaks.
I got your email, Tim. I just thought
I'd pop by and see you in person.
It was good to send.
Oh, it's just my accountant.
He wanted a few more details
on the share-trading account.
I sent him everything he needs.
Something about an AFSL number.
Mm-hm.
Is that a thing?
Yeah, that is my financial services
licence number.
I've given him that.
Oh.
Just he mentioned it.
Yeah.
And I take care of the accounts
and I keep all the records.
But if you could just
make contact...
Mm-hm.
Oh, my wife would like to know if we
can access the account ourselves.
Ah. Yes. Yes, you can.
Uh, but I'm the only one
who can make the trades.
Oh, OK.
Sorry, Tim. (LAUGHS)
I sound like a control freak.
That's what you pay me for.
I mean, you don't let your patients
help you operate.
That's true.
You have $4 million of my money,
Melissa.
Yeah.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Now I had to create a fake account
this guy could access.
And he was making me paranoid.
For all I knew,
he could be talking to ASIC.
PHOEBE: Did you ask Melissa
for her licence number?
I did.
She's sending it through.
Fascinating.
She's not licensed.
Whatever she sends you,
keep us informed.
MELISSA: Is that what was happening?
I couldn't trust anyone.
And all the while,
George was dicking me around.
Are you looking for someone?
George.
I don't have time to waste.
I need to know if you're in or out.
You told me you wanted in.
We agreed at a starting amount
of 500,000,
an amount, may I say,
far less than I usually accept
but I've checked the accounts
and you haven't deposited a cent.
I know. Changed my mind.
OK.
Right. Well, that is your loss.
Back seat.
What?
Have a look.
(UNZIPPING)
Holy f...
How much is in there?
A lot more than we discussed.
There's another one in the boot.
OK.
Right.
But I don't take cash.
Tell me, how long have you been
running this scam?
I don't know what you mean.
Oh, come on.
Talk me through it.
How much longer
can you keep it going?
This conversation's over.
(TRIES TO OPEN DOOR)
No, no, I think it's just starting.
Could you let me out of the car?
Uh...
I don't need the gory details.
I just want to know
we're on the same page, see,
before I hand over my money.
You are insane.
Let me...out of the...
Listen... Listen.
I'm in, OK?
Now, I'm gonna park
some serious cash with you.
And sorry, I like banknotes.
I'm a bit old-school that way.
And at some point,
I'm gonna want it back,
less your commission, of course.
But clean.
Do you understand?
I don't...
I am not that person.
(LAUGHS)
Oh...
Oh, I think you are.
I think I know one when I see one.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: George and his cash.
It scared me to death.
On the other hand...
it kind of turned me on.
# I make you dance
# I get you hot
# I pour you drinks
# Find you some pot
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at the party
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at the party
# I tell you things... #
Hey. It's Melissa.
I need a favour.
Wait, don't you want to know
what the favour is?
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at your party. #
I need a fake passport
or some form of ID.
More than one, if possible.
How much would that cost?
Are you going somewhere?
I'm setting up some bank accounts
in a fake name.
One would think you'd have done that
long before this.
Do we have a sudden need
for an exit strategy?
No. I told you.
Look, can you get the passport
or not?
No.
That'd be illegal.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the fuck!
Are you wearing a wire?
Are you shitting me?
Are you wearing a wire?
Oh, this is sexual harassment
in the workplace.
Where's your phone? Show me.
Here. Take this one.
Take it.
I prefer my own.
Take this one.
Now, there's one number in that
in case of emergency,
otherwise you don't contact me.
Gee.
And I thought we might have been
a match.
MELISSA: While George
was ripping my clothes,
there was another meeting
taking place at my local dentist.
Gorgeous bag.
Gucci?
Thank you. Yes, it is.
I actually saw you earlier.
You walked past my office.
It's downstairs.
The real estate?
Financial services.
It's not the most exciting thing
in the world.
Oh, I don't know.
My friend Melissa
is a fabulous financial adviser.
I met her by chance in Aspen skiing.
Aspen?
And her name's Melissa?
Mm-hm.
Melissa Caddick?
You know her?
Yeah.
I've just found out she's using
my AFSL number without my consent.
Sorry, I don't know what that is.
It's my licence to operate,
so she's using it illegally,
so if I were you, I'd get my money
back from her as soon as possible.
MELISSA: And they both had toothache
on the same day?
Get the fuck!
I had a toothache of my own.
Tim, the surgeon, was emailing me
with more questions.
I couldn't risk it.
Tim, I think it's best
that we don't proceed,
so I've transferred the 4 million
back to you
and I've closed the account.
Bye.
Haemorrhaging money.
$4 million was a big hit
I could barely afford.
And that was before
I got the phone call.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Wendy. Hi. How are you?
Mel, hi. Uh, yes, I need to make
a withdrawal.
I'm sorry. What?
I just need all my cash.
I found a house I'd like to buy.
Oh, you know that property's
not as good an investment.
I really like this house.
So, which suburb?
Uh, it's in Surry Hills.
Oooh. Oooh, Wendy,
that area's seriously overpriced.
And I'm saying that to you
as your friend.
Look, I really like this house.
I'm gonna take it.
It's the right time for me.
MELISSA: Damn!
And, yes, I know
it wasn't my money to begin with...
but I felt quite strongly it was.
I worked hard for it.
The stress was making me crazy.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
I had no option.
I gave Aspen lady her money back.
The full 2.5 million,
plus an extra 300 grand,
the profit we supposedly made.
See? I'm actually too soft.
That's my problem, too fucking soft.
And my soft side was freaking out
about George.
Dealing with a gangster?
Who did I think I was?
I took out life insurance,
made sure it was payable
in the event of my suicide,
or my alleged suicide...
and I began stashing money
all over the place -
US dollars in offshore accounts
and hard cash
in a house down by the coast.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
I deleted my social media.
All that crap is like a trail
of breadcrumbs right to your door.
I preferred being offline.
At the same time, I was still trying
to reel in new suckers.
Nice place, Nash.
Yeah. Yeah, it's not too shabby.
Yet the owner fights me
over every dollar.
He's so tight.
Yeah, well, that's why he's rich.
Now, listen, there is a space
in my premium investor circle
and you said you'd speak
to your client.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, sorry, I've just
been really busy with work.
Ah.
Well, it's just
there's another person who's keen,
so if your guy wants in,
he's gonna have to move fast.
OK.
OK.
I'll talk to him.
Hey, you know,
I shouldn't tell you this
but, uh, we're gonna make
some serious money this quarter.
We're going big, so, uh,
he'd be crazy to miss out.
(LAUGHS) Well, you're making me
jealous, Melissa.
Hey, if you have got some cash
at your disposal, now is the time.
OK. No, you talk to your client,
right?
He will thank you for it, trust me.
Alright.
(PHONE BLEEPS)
Hey, what is going on?
Car's ready. Keys are in it.
No, I don't understand.
You stole it?
Hey, I am talking to you!
Papers are in the glovebox.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: Had they planted a bomb?
I know that makes no sense
but still
I couldn't shake the thought.
(ENGINE REVS)
(EXHALES)
(BANG!)
Move your car, princess.
Yeah.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE)
(BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS)
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money
# You've got the brawn,
I've got the brains
# Let's make lots of money... #
Wow. Thanks. Where's the little guy?
# My car is parked outside
I'm afraid it doesn't work
# I'm looking for a partner
Someone who gets things fixed... #
(PHONE BLEEPS)
# Ask yourself this question,
do you want to be rich?
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money... #
MELISSA: So I'd lost a ton of cash,
but George had come through.
# I've got the brains
Let's make lots of money... #
And I had new investors lined up.
Life is a beautiful thing.
# You know it makes good sense
# There's a lot of opportunities
if you know where to take them
# There's a lot of opportunities
If there aren't, you can make them
# Make or break them
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money... #
(DOORBELL RINGS)
# You've got the brawn... #
(DOORBELL RINGS)
(DOORBELL RINGS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Yes?
Melissa Caddick?
Phoebe Quinn, Australian Securities
and Investments Commission.
I have a warrant
to search your house.
OK, this is ridiculous. I don't
understand what you're looking for.
Well, as I said...
"Evidence," is what you said,
which tells me nothing.
Evidence of financial fraud,
items gained by deception.
You have a copy of the warrant
right there.
You're investigating a complaint?
Is that right?
Who... Who from?
I can't discuss that.
So, someone is accusing me,
you can't tell me who it is?
What, are we in North Korea?
Oh...
Come on, that is just stuff
from family holidays.
I cannot see how that is relevant!
Ms Caddick...
Can I call you Melissa?
(SIGHS) No, you can't.
I have to examine all your files in
detail and it will take a long time,
probably all day, so...
All day?
At least ten to 12 hours
would be my estimate,
depending
on the level of corporation,
so can I suggest we try to make
this process less adversarial?
You can suggest it.
ANTHONY: Melissa...
What the hell?
It is a misunderstanding and I am
trying to get to the bottom of it.
All these cops?
Yep.
You'd think they'd have something
better to do with their time.
Is Josh alright?
Yeah.
Phoned the school,
said he wouldn't make it...
What? Why would you do that?
'Cause there's police everywhere.
You don't call the school...
You don't call anyone
without talking to me first.
Sorry. I panicked. I... I didn't
know if we were allowed to leave.
We're not under arrest.
Tell me you didn't say anything
about...
Mum, what's going on?
Oh, sweetheart, it's a mistake and we
are sorting it out but just maybe...
Just steer clear of downstairs
for a bit, OK?
Yeah. Sure.
Hey, what do you need from me?
Tell me.
Can you...
get Josh some breakfast...
Yep.
..make sure he's alright?
MELISSA: I was young
and in love once.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL' BY DARBY PLAYS)
Greg was older. He had a car.
(DOOR CLOSES)
You're late. We're gonna miss it.
'Silence of the Lambs'
looks pretty cool.
You promised. 'Dances with Wolves'.
MELISSA: I thought he was hot -
in 1992.
(STARTS ENGINE)
My parents were not so keen.
This Greg person
is not who he says he is.
Don't start!
We've found out some things,
Melissa.
Your father hired a detective.
What?
It's not a detective.
It's just a guy I know...
Greg is a con man.
And that's not even his real name.
He is a serial scam artist.
His name is Milo Veck.
Apparently, he...he romances women
and then he takes all their money...
(SIGHS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
They're upset because some stuff
went missing from the family safe.
You guys have a safe? Cool.
Just some cash and jewellery.
My parents blame Greg.
If that's really his name.
What? I'm just saying.
But you like him, don't you?
Ange?
Look, I've met him once
and from what your parents said...
He told me he loves me.
That's...
I mean, that's kind of what he does.
Isn't it?
MELISSA: Confronted with the truth...
I did what any self-respecting
22-year-old would do.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL'
BY DARBY CONTINUES)
I ran off with him.
We planned to fly to Vegas,
get married,
adopt a boxer dog
and drive across America.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL'
BY DARBY CONTINUES)
Greg?
MELISSA: Greg took my money,
credit cards,
my leather jacket, everything.
Took my heart. Vanished.
# Echo Point Motel... #
YOUNG MELISSA:
How could I be so stupid?
YOUNG ANGIE: He's a boy.
They make you stupid.
It's like they secretly inject you
with idiot serum.
I mean, all of us. Not just you.
It's not your fault, princess.
I just hope you've learnt a lesson.
MELISSA: I learned a lesson, alright.
Turns out I'm quite a fast learner.
(LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION)
Uh-uh... No. No.
Can you take your hands off that?
That is absolutely not yours
to touch.
It's part of the brief, Melissa.
Proceeds of crime...
No, that's...
You don't have proof of any crime.
It's in the warrant,
as discussed several times now.
That is my son's equipment.
It has nothing to do with me or...
Sweetheart.
Can you...
Can you just give us a minute?
Hang upstairs for a while
and I'll come up soon.
OK.
Come on, please. PlayStation's his.
It's not mine.
Leave the PlayStation.
The TV, sound bar, speakers,
all of that goes.
Jesus Christ.
(SIGHS)
What are they looking for?
Crystal glassware's in the cupboard,
if that's any help.
Is Mr Caddick still on the premises?
It's Mr Koletti, not Caddick.
That was the first husband.
MELISSA: I have a weakness
for guys named Anthony.
My first husband -
let's call him Tony...
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
..Tony was English.
He was a labourer when I met him
but he studied at night
and became a lawyer.
Thanks to me. I pushed him.
We moved to the UK.
There I was, raising a toddler son,
with no help, none of my own family
around me...
NEWSREADER: Wall Street financier
Bernie Madoff
has been arrested by the FBI
and charged with...
(CLATTERING)
Oh. Sorry.
Well, there's the other one.
..US$50 billion...
Josh, don't run away. Come here.
Mel, can you grab Josh?
I've gotta go.
Put it away!
People talk about the moment
they heard the call from God...
a moment of clarity, an epiphany.
..fraud and deception
over four decades...
Madoff's arrest has stunned
Wall Street and sent shockwaves...
I had a moment
right then and there...
Questions are being asked...
..a call from Bernie Madoff...
..was never detected by regulators
despite numerous red flags...
This guy made $50 billion
from a Ponzi scheme.
..using the money
from more recent...
Hey, can you...
50 billion over four decades.
Are you kidding?
Who has the balls
to pull off something like that?
Mel? Melissa?
Josh, come...
We were travelling a lot back then,
London, Europe, back to Australia
to see Mum and Dad...
and get my hair done.
Wow.
I liked my Aussie hairdresser.
It was really stressful
working and being a mum.
(BRIGHT MUSIC WITH WHISTLING)
Naturally, I tried to find some
me time, just to keep myself sane.
(WOMAN SINGS IN FRENCH)
(TAKES PHOTO)
(PHONE VIBRATES)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Hey.
TONY: How was Switzerland?
Uh, excellent.
A couple of, um,
very useful connections, I think.
How was the food?
Uh, it was OK.
So you enjoyed your dinner...
in Paris?
No, I don't know
what you're on about, Tony...
You were out to dinner in Paris.
Just tell the truth.
Is this a joke?
Tell me this is not you.
What is that?
It's you, Melissa.
You and your fuckin' hairdresser
from Sydney!
You were having me followed?
A friend saw you, by chance!
Oh, a friend. Who?
What does it matter?
You were there!
Of course it matters!
You're having me followed!
Oh, that is just...
I mean, seriously...
You don't trust me?
No... No, actually. I don't.
OK, I...I was catching up with a...
with an old acquaintance,
yes, Anthony.
He called me.
And he...
What?
To be honest, he was having
relationship troubles,
so he wanted a friend.
A friend? Yeah.
Well, it's the truth.
And I was, like, "No, I can't."
The conference finished early
and, look, I was really
just an hour away...
Just stop! Stop!
You don't want to hear me out?
I can't even think right now.
I've been sitting there 24 hours
with my brain on fire.
Tony...
You're being melodramatic.
Nothing happened.
(SIGHS)
I'm going to Mum and Dad's.
Just for the night.
I can't stay here.
Need to clear me head.
(SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYS)
(DYNAMIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(THUNDER CRACKS)
(DOOR OPENS)
You flew from England to Australia
on July 20, 2010.
Is that correct?
How would I know?
You've kept the itinerary here.
Well, then, it's...probably accurate.
I don't remember.
That was after the breakdown
of your first marriage?
Well, that...
What's that got to do with you?
It's relevant
because a property in Kensington
was later transferred to you
for no payment.
I'm trying to establish if that was
part of the family law settlement.
(EXHALES) Well...
Yes, I did get the house.
But do you want to hear my side
of it? Like, why the marriage ended?
See, that kind of detail's actually
not relevant to me, Ms Caddick.
Well, you started the questions.
I'm concerned only
with the money trail. Really?
Because you come into
my private house...
and you've gone through
all my personal stuff.
Tell me, Phoebe,
how much do you get paid?
100 grand a year? 200?
I'd say somewhere in between.
We're not here to discuss that.
Well, you work for a government body,
so I am gonna guess
you don't make a whole lot.
Or do you?
I haven't spent much on holidays,
I can tell you that.
On two short trips to Fiji,
you managed to spend $60,000.
I think I'd struggle
to achieve that.
Mmm.
I think you would on your salary.
There's also an account paid here
to Cosmopolitan Shoes
for just over 52,000.
It is not a crime to like shoes.
I noticed that payment's made
on the same day you received 60,000
from savings account ending in 364,
Dr T. Kannis.
He's a client.
You're not licensed to have clients.
He is a friend
and I help him with his business.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
I have to get this.
Be my guest, Melissa.
Dad.
Hey, princess.
What you up to?
Uh, with what?
Well, you said you were
coming over here this afternoon.
Did I?
Yeah.
You haven't forgotten
your poor old mum and dad, have you?
Uh, no, Dad, I, um...
I can't come there today. I'm sorry.
Is she coming over?
Well, I'm trying to talk to her.
No, I've just...
I've had something come up and I...
I have to stay here.
But I'll...I'll call you back.
MAN: Is she coming over or not?
Hang on, Adam's here.
Adam, come and say hello
to your sister.
Oh... Hello, sister.
How's the ankle?
What?
Dad said that you'd sprained
your ankle or something.
Um, Adam, uh, I can't talk.
I'll call you.
Hey!
Hey, wait!
Hey, can you wait?
Mum, can you come here a minute?
No. I can't.
Sorry, that's my personal laptop.
I need that.
All of this is marked for seizure.
Well, it can't be.
I've double-checked everything.
Alright, well, you've made a mistake.
Twice.
OK, look... Look... Hey, I have
given you my work computer.
I've given you
all of my business files.
That is just for personal use...
Hey, do not touch that.
You can't have it!
Step back, please.
I'm asking you.
You've been warned, OK?
If you continue to obstruct us,
we can and will arrest you.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Hey, you right there?
Do you want popcorn?
Mum?
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Yep, what do you want?
She's trying to take
our security cameras.
All the hard drives.
Please, we've been over this.
What do you want them for?
What are you hoping to see?
How much pizza we have delivered?
It's in the warrant, Ms Caddick.
Please, it's been a long day.
Oh, tell me about it.
(SIGHS) OK, yeah, fine.
Yeah. Take them.
It's a really expensive system.
No, hon, if these people
want to spend 1,000 hours
watching our empty driveway,
they can go right ahead.
I've got better things to do.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Oh...
No, you need to put those down.
Did you hear me?
You do not touch my clothes!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
My shoes.
My clothes.
They're proceeds
of alleged criminal activity...
They are irreplaceable,
is what they are.
You have no idea, do you,
what things are worth?
And you have crossed a fucking line.
If there is any damage,
you will pay.
I will sue you personally.
Yes. OK, well, I've printed
an information sheet for you here.
You must now surrender your passport
by court order.
Do you understand?
My passport is at my lawyer's.
I told you that this morning.
You have until 4:00pm tomorrow
to hand it in.
Also, you're required at
a Federal Court hearing this Friday.
The hearing will take place
via video link.
I'll email you...
I'll need my laptop for that.
You'll have to make
other arrangements, I'm sorry.
I won't have time
for other arrangements.
You can borrow my computer.
We've frozen your assets
and your bank accounts.
You'll have a living allowance
of $800 per week.
Me personally?
Between the three of you.
# Oh, money
# Money's the one true god
# Yeah, money
# Money's the one true god
# You can doubt him
# But you can't live without him
# One true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god... #
Mum?
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god... #
Are you OK?
# Money is the one true god... #
I'm fine, sweetheart.
Everything's fine.
# Money is the one true god... #
(MUSIC SWELLS)
VOICEOVER: Everyone
thinks they know...
.. how it all went down.
They don't.
WOMAN: Where is Melissa Caddick?
MELISSA: Who cares how I got here,
I got here.
The con of the century...
Hello, Melissa, where's my money?
.. goes completely off the rails.
Just do nothing, say nothing,
until I get this sorted.
TV's biggest drama...
WOMAN: Someone
is trying to frame me.
..rips open the mystery...
Melissa kept a passport...
..that just wont...
You're a head case.
..die.
WOMAN: (NARRATES) I first went to
Bournda Beach on a school excursion
back in the days when life was simple
and I was just a regular
curly-haired kid.
I loved it.
It was six hours drive
down the South Coast
but I went back there
whenever I could.
Then, decades later,
after all the drama,
would you believe it,
on that same beach...
..washed up on the sand...
..they found my shoe
with my foot still in it.
(GAGS, COUGHS)
Oh...
(EXCLAIMS) Jesus!
(FLIES BUZZ)
And the whole nation went nuts.
MAN: $20 million that wasn't hers
suddenly vanished...
I was already a hot story.
A few months back,
when I first went missing,
I blew the pandemic
right off the front page.
REPORTER: Sydney con woman
Melissa Caddick
swindled friends and family
before disappearing...
REPORTER: The 49-year-old vanished
from her Dover Heights home
on November 12...
REPORTER: Three days
before Melissa went missing,
Federal Police raided
her $6 million home
over an Australian Securities
and Investments Commission probe...
Total frenzy
over a missing persons case.
REPORTER: The past seven days,
searching in all of Melissa's
favourite spots,
including the coastal walk
here at Dover Heights...
We're asking
for the people of Australia
to come together
and help find Melissa.
And now this.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Major breaking news...
Gabby, remains have been found,
we understand.
REPORTER: DNA confirmed
it was Melissa Caddick...
Supposedly, back in November,
I jumped off a cliff
near my house in Sydney
and my foot made a 500km solo voyage
down the east coast of Australia
in a size-six running shoe.
REPORTER: It was Melissa Caddick...
As far as the cops were concerned,
the mystery was now solved.
I got busted. I freaked out.
I topped myself. End of story.
If you believe that story...
REPORTER: Curious case
of Melissa Caddick...
REPORTER: She has vanished
without a trace...
..you will believe anything.
Then again, I've found most people
WILL believe anything.
That's how I got rich
in the first place.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
MAN: It's a jungle out there.
It's a jungle out there.
('KISS KISS AND RHINESTONES'
BY HTRK PLAYS)
SONG: # I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# Kiss, kiss and rhinestones
# I'm covered in kisses
from head to toe
# Oh, oh
# Oh, oh, oh
# If you take my hand
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter
than this
# I can make you glitter
# I can make you feel glitter... #
Hey, sweet.
Hmm?
I might go for a run.
(GROANS) I should come.
No, no, no, no.
You sleep on...
my little lake duck.
What?
(LAUGHS)
What did you call me? (LAUGHS)
I read last night...
Mmm.
..that the lake duck has a willy
longer than the rest of its body.
(BOTH LAUGH)
Mmm. Mmm.
(LAUGHS, KISSES)
Quack, quack.
(LAUGHS)
# Kiss, kiss and rhinestones
if you take my hand... #
(CLATTERING)
Oh, shit.
Josh, you scared me.
You're scared of your own son?
It's 5:00 in the morning.
8:00pm in London.
I'm bidding on a pair of Jordans.
Sneakers?
How much are you paying?
I'll sell them for a profit, Mum.
OK. Uh, email me the receipts.
Love you.
(BEEP)
My city, Sydney -
the most expensive place on earth.
Costs more to live in
than London or New York.
OK, I just made that up.
Maybe it's true.
It feels true. Just spend
a week here. Try buying a house.
(DOG BARKS)
But then, you get what you pay for,
right?
And if it all gets too much,
you come to these cliffs,
just along from the place
known as The Gap.
As a kid, you hear about it.
So-and-so went bankrupt,
jumped off The Gap,
that kind of stuff.
Personally, I'm not good with heights
or pain, so...
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Mother.
Mum, do not throw anything
out the window.
(WHIRRING)
Right. Well, from what I can see,
it's working.
From what you can hear, you mean.
It wasn't working before.
Well, did you have it switched on?
No, darling.
I'm not that clever.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Who's phone's that?
That'll be mine.
Oh, no. It's a client.
I'll call them back.
At this hour of the day?
He's keen.
Yes, well, when it comes to money,
Dad, you'll find most people are.
As they should be.
And this guy is seriously rich.
He's a CEO.
I'm not gonna tell you his name.
He's quite well-known.
And last month, I made him 12%
on his share portfolio.
12%! (LAUGHS)
Well, I hope you get a fair slice.
Yeah, don't worry.
I had a very good month.
It's not even about the money.
I just love that I can make
that happen for someone.
It must be stressful.
Is it stressful?
She's not a beginner, Ted, huh?
Well, I know that.
I know that better than most.
I mean, look where we are.
Are you happy living here still?
(LAUGHS) Are you kidding?
We love it!
Yeah, well, if you want to upgrade,
we could talk about it...
I am not moving house again ever.
Oh... I like it here too, darling.
I do.
OK. It just makes me happy
to help you both out.
And we are both very, very proud
of you, princess.
(BLENDER WHIRRS)
Oh...
(PUFFS)
(BEEP)
WOMAN: Too slow. Do it again.
Angie!
You said you needed a copy
of my driver's licence.
Yeah, you could've just emailed it.
Yeah, I don't have a scanner
and my internet's rubbish.
I thought, "What the hell,
I'll just drive over."
Well, Ange, I'm not dressed.
Just, uh, give me ten minutes
to have a shower.
Oh, I can't stay. I have to work.
Well, at least have a coffee.
I'll, um... I'll put on some perfume.
Yeah, Mel, you smell terrific,
I'm sure.
Thank you very much. Come on.
Alright.
MELISSA: Angie Beyersdorf started
primary school the same day as me.
We've been friends ever since.
5:00 in the morning,
some idiot is revving his car
up and down my street.
How is that legal?
It's not.
Did you call the cops?
Thanks.
If I called the cops
for every dickhead on wheels,
I would never be off the phone.
Do you really want to be
that person?
Mmm... It's time to move house.
Truly, Ange.
You could afford to live
somewhere nice.
I do live somewhere nice.
I meant a...better suburb.
Yeah. I know what you meant.
Not everyone wants to live
in the Eastern Suburbs, Mel,
with all the wankers.
Yeah, says you. And you live
in the same street we grew up in.
No, I don't.
Oh, close enough.
Four blocks away.
Yeah, and I like it there.
Dr Trudy's still there,
Dino the fruit man,
Fobbs pharmacy...
Yeah, stop.
You are seriously weird.
Come on. You loved Johnny Fobbs
back in the day.
When I was 12.
Just sayin'.
They're your people too, Mel.
Yeah, they're really not.
MELISSA: A few years ago, I'd just
come back from living overseas.
We were having a girls' night in.
It's got what's-his-face...
You know, from that show
where they all have superpowers?
No.
I mean, I can't watch that stuff.
I mean, whatever happened to shows
about normal people?
Oooh, Ange, before you hit play,
did you think any more
about our conversation?
What? The Patrick Swayze thing?
What?
That you have sex dreams
about Patrick Swayze?
Oh, shut up!
(LAUGHS)
No, my business plan.
Oh, yes. You want to invest
in women.
For women.
That's what I mean.
No, women like us.
Mm-hm.
Working mums.
I would do all the financial
planning, the share trading,
the superannuation...
You should totally do that.
I should totally have more wine.
But would you be in it?
Uh, Mel, I...I have no money.
I'm a nurse. You know, we do it
for the love, don't you know?
You have savings, surely.
Yeah, when I do night shifts
and weekends and overtime.
Yeah, but you do all that.
Yeah, tell me about it.
(EXHALES) Look...
I have some money that I put aside
when I can for the kids.
OK. And how much interest
are you getting?
I don't know. Enough.
I could get you more.
I promise, I could get you a new car.
My car's fine. It goes.
I can get you there
faster than a bank.
They will take your money,
they'll invest it,
they'll give you 2%.
It is a rip-off.
You know they're making ten times
that with your dollars?
MELISSA: I know what you're thinking.
You think I took Angie's money
and spent it on myself.
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(SQUEALS)
(LAUGHS)
ANTHONY: Whoo!
MELISSA: Well, you're wrong.
I set up an investment fund
for Angie.
Totally legitimate.
For over a decade, I have
looked after her and many others.
Some years later,
when I met her nephew Nash...
Your Aunt Angie is my oldest friend.
She tells me that you look after
Sydney's best swimming pools.
Oh, I don't know about that.
But the business,
it is expanding, though.
That's great.
Yeah.
You must have some cashed-up clients.
Oh, my god, yeah.
Seriously, this one guy,
I was speaking to him this morning
on the phone, actually,
and he sounded, um...
down-to-earth...
Mmm. Bogan?
Yeah. Yeah.
Well, he didn't sound posh.
Yeah.
Anyway, I turn up to his house
and it is the size of Paraguay.
Wow. Like, the country?
Is that a country?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Isn't it?
Yeah, I just meant it's a big house.
And it's in South America.
No, it's, like, ten minutes drive
from here.
Hmm.
Do you want to...
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, Nash.
I tell you what,
I am gonna make space for you...
Oh, hey, I don't want to be
a hassle... No, no, I want to.
You have a young family, right?
Two kids?
I do, yeah.
Yeah?
Yeah. Yeah.
I've got Zoe, who's six...
MELISSA: I know. I know.
One lonely pool guy with 100 grand.
So what?
A bit of a handful of times...
But he's got clients.
A bunch of rich pool owners,
not to mention other franchisees.
It's a sexy pool of talent
right there.
Are you in the business too, Ant?
The, uh, share-trading business?
Oh, no, that'd, uh...
That'd be interesting.
No, no. Anthony is an artist.
Oh.
What, like...like painting?
Mmm...
Well...
No...
No, he doesn't paint. Well, no...
OK.
He does paint. You know,
he's brilliant. He can do anything.
But, uh, he's a music producer.
Oh.
I'm so into music.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Oh, Anthony, time for a concert.
Oh, no, no, no.
Nash doesn't want to hear...
Absolutely, man. Do it.
(GASPS)
Yeah.
Yeah.
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA PLAYS)
# White lines
We making headlines
# We getting speechless
Forgetting appetites
# Are on the edge now
We disconnected
# You in the flesh, wow
Got me affected
# Now we getting heated
Got no inhibitions
# Throw me in the deep end
You're my new religion
# Having such a good time
Banging on the blindside
# Naked and I'm speechless
No, nothing can beat this
# This... #
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA CONTINUES)
# We'll stay up till the morning
No, nothing can beat this... #
('STAY UP TILL THE MORNIN'
BY WILL SPARKS AND LUCIANA CONTINUES)
# Let's stay up till the morning. #
MELISSA: With a new client
like Nash...
OK, you take his money and you set up
a share-trading account online.
You deal in blue-chip shares -
nothing crazy.
Yes, it's a gamble.
Stocks go up and down.
But if I work hard, I make Nash
some cash, I take my cut
and if I find 1,000 more Nashes,
then I make a living
so long as I guess right
more than wrong,
so long as the little ball
keeps landing on red.
Or...
I take his 100 grand
and I put it in my own bank account.
I don't buy shares. I buy shoes.
Footwear. Frocks. Fast cars.
Whatever the fuck I want.
Oh... (LAUGHS) Oh, what?
You are...
You are the fuckin' best!
And every three months,
I dummy up a report,
a bit of a cut-and-paste,
to make it look official.
It says, "Hey, we bought BHP,
ABC, XYZ..."
I just look up what shares did well
and type in the numbers...
and I send that to Nash.
And he gets super-excited.
Now, Nash, like all my clients,
is saving -
for his kids, for retirement,
whatever.
He's thinking long-term, right?
So, nine times out of ten,
he'll pick up the phone and call me.
Nash. How is that gorgeous family?
I want to re-invest.
Roll it over.
Are you sure?
You know you can cash out
at any time.
16%.
You are amazing.
Mel, thank you so much.
Thank you.
(HANGS UP)
MELISSA: So, here's the thing.
I never have to pay Nash back.
Not for years and years.
And if I did, I've probably got
enough to cover it
so long as I keep pulling in
new people.
That, my friends,
is a Ponzi scheme.
As simple...
- Right. Thank you.
..and beautiful
as a Dior dress.
Thank you.
('NO EXCUSES' BY CONCRETE LAWN PLAYS)
(BEEP)
Court documents for signing.
She's on another shopping spree,
Melissa Caddick.
Oooh.
We love our Dior.
Mm-hm.
She's been there twice this week.
Would you spend that much on a dress
if you had the money?
If it were my money
and I hadn't stolen it.
Can we prove that?
Not yet.
But we will.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: (NARRATES)
So, here's the thing.
So, a Ponzi scheme
doesn't Ponzi itself.
You have to find new suckers
constantly.
I'd signed up relatives and friends
and friends of friends...
I had real estate agents...
a florist...
I even had my personal trainer.
(MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BEEPS)
Best of all, I had doctors,
a group of surgeons I'd met.
They were fantastic.
So much money.
I mean, let's be honest,
the medical industry's
the biggest financial scam on earth.
(BEEPING IN CAR)
And then I met George.
Hey, um, a warning light's come on.
Something about tyres.
Probably just need air in 'em,
that's all.
Uh, a ding-ding sound has come on.
Could you take a look?
Uh, look, just, uh,
park it on the street,
leave the keys in the office.
Uh, yeah, I, um...
I'm a bit busy. I kind of need it.
You could take a quick look now,
couldn't you, Silvio?
Come on.
Wouldn't take you five minutes.
Yeah, sure.
Uh, keys are in it.
Thank you so much.
Don't mention it.
Do you own this place?
Me? No. Just passing through.
But you can't leave a lady
in distress.
Name's George.
Hmm.
And that is
a beautiful set of wheels.
Thank you.
Melissa.
You know, you look familiar.
(HALF-LAUGHS)
Up on a cliff, maybe?
I walk the dog.
Are you a runner?
Oh, it's more of a slow jog.
Well, you look incredibly fit to me.
Oooh.
Am I allowed to say that nowadays?
Oh, absolutely. But, no, I'm not.
I couldn't keep up with you,
that's for sure.
George was the kind of guy
I dreamt about meeting.
Kind, caring, cashed-up
and ripe for ripping off.
I felt an instant connection.
Hi.
I made sure to run into him
accidentally most mornings.
Fancy seeing you here.
Yeah. How are you?
Hi, buddy.
I'm an investment analyst.
Or... Well, I was.
Now I just look after a small group
of high-rollers, I call them.
They're, um,
high-net-worth individuals
who pay me for my expertise.
You must be good.
Well, I was one of the top traders
in London five years ago
but I, um, got homesick for this,
so I came back to Oz.
I just wanted a more, you know,
relaxed lifestyle.
Hell of a risky business.
No, not if you know
what you're doing.
Can I ask, George,
about your line of work?
Oh, you know, a bit of this,
a bit of that.
Mm-hm.
Right. I'd say something legal.
Barrister? Judge?
Do I look that untrustworthy?
No, no, I think you look smart to me.
Me? Smart? Then I got your fooled.
(LAUGHS)
Yeah...
Of course,
I had regular hunting grounds.
Like the snowfields.
Aspen was my favourite.
Rich wankers and wannabes everywhere.
# They call me boss
but my real name is trouble... #
Last season, I met a woman
we'll call Wendy from Australia.
Back in Sydney, we met up for lunch.
Such a fabulous view, Mel.
And fabulous company
to share it with.
I turned up empty-handed.
I feel guilty.
Oh, Wendy, you have 2.5 million
sitting with me.
I think I can provide the champagne.
(LAUGHS)
Here's to us.
To us.
# Whoo-oooh-oooh-oooh-oooh-oooh
Coming out... #
You just have to find
which button to press.
With Nash, I tapped into
his tough childhood,
his 'work hard, save hard,
retire at 40' kind of vibe.
Surgeons are competitive.
Once I had one, I had 'em all.
Wendy wanted a friend.
And it wasn't long
before I had George on the hook too.
I could tell he was keen.
But after months of circling,
he was giving me the run-around.
(RINGING TONE)
George.
GEORGE: (ON PHONE) Mel.
Hi.
Hey, can I call you back?
Could I just have a quick word
about...
I can't really hear you.
I'm up near the lighthouse.
Look, it's about the money
we discussed...
(HANGS UP)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(RINGING TONE)
Is that Melissa Grimley?
Melissa Caddick, thank you.
(LAUGHS) You're divorced, Mel.
Shouldn't you use your maiden name?
Hell, no.
Would you want to be called Grimley?
Nope.
Hey, um, I'm actually at work.
I can't really talk.
What is happening for your birthday?
Oh, please don't make a fuss.
We're out of milk.
Josh?
I bought groceries last night.
I made a smoothie.
You made... When?
Midnight.
Your mum's gonna go apeshit.
We could go to the shops.
There's no time.
Soz.
Had a craving.
Ange, it is your 50th.
You have to have a party.
No, we're just doing family
and just, um, some drinks
at my nephew's house.
OK. Fabulous. What time?
It's an occasion. I get to dress up.
You really don't need to come.
It's nothing special.
Ange, it is you. Don't be stupid.
Long-life rice milk.
Ugh... She hates that.
What's this? What do I hate?
Hey, sweetness?
Mmm?
Did you pick up my dress
from the dry-cleaners?
Yeah. Isn't it upstairs?
No.
The Dolce & Gabbana one,
I'm talking about.
Shit. I'll pick it up today.
Yeah. Please do.
Are we, uh, having coffee?
Oh, you know I read the black coffee
is way better for you?
So...
Again?
Jesus, I have to do
every single fucking thing...
I'm sorry, Mels. I'll go now.
No, no...
I'll go now.
No, you forget it.
As if I don't have enough
to worry about.
I'll drop Josh at school
and I'll go get coffees...
No, look, there was a mark
on that dress
and if they didn't get it out,
then I now have no time to fix it.
And I have this client who, um,
sent me the wrong paperwork.
He's a doctor.
Can't seem to fill out a simple form.
And another client wants to back out
before we've even started.
Why don't you let me help?
Because you don't know how it works.
Well, you can teach me.
Oh, sweetheart.
You can't even do the groceries.
(SIGHS) What?
I'm just sayin'.
It's not funny, Mel.
I'm not your slave.
I know.
You don't have to pay slaves.
I'm kidding. I'm kidding!
I'm kidding!
I'm kid... Oh, Anthony...
I'm taking Josh to school.
Are you right, mate? Come on.
Yeah.
Let's go.
Hey, sweetheart.
Have a good day.
(DOOR OPENS)
Dry-cleaning. And coffees!
But I made an exception for Angie.
(LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION)
('I HEAR MOTION' BY THE MODELS PLAYS)
# I want to see you
# I want to see you twist it around
# Yeah, you want to change
# You should be moving it around... #
I got to see her family and friends.
Pretty much all of them
were my clients.
# Happy birthday to you... #
And they just love me.
# Happy birthday to you. #
Hip-hip!
Hooray!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
(DANCE MUSIC PLAYS)
Birthday girl. Having fun?
I was just thinking to myself,
how lucky am I?
To be 50 AND gorgeous?
(LAUGHS) To have you as a friend.
Seriously.
I mean,
you've made my future secure,
you've helped my friends, my family.
It's just what I do.
Hey, Mum, Melissa. Smile.
(TAKES PHOTO)
Hey, do you know how sad it is...
ANTHONY: What's that?
..when your friends don't know
how much your dress is worth?
Well, you could just tell them.
Yeah, I did. It kind of ruins it.
Hey, Mel, can I ask you a question?
Mm-hm.
If you died tomorrow,
what would happen to the business?
Are you thinking of having me killed?
No, what you said, it's true.
I don't know anything about
your business, how it all works.
You don't need to know.
Yeah, but what would happen if...
No, no, no. Hey...
Could we not talk about this
just now?
Well... But don't you ever think
about life, death?
Not if I can help it.
But don't you fret, my love.
If anything happened to me,
you are covered.
Mmm.
(RATTLING)
What have you got?
Mmm...
Show me.
Mel...
(LAUGHS) Mel!
Butter knives?
Did you steal these from the party?
I liked the pattern.
Oh, my god.
Look.
Took this too.
Oh, my god.
Mel...
Come to bed.
Come on.
(LAUGHS)
(LAUGHS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: Those wonderful folk
at ASIC - I knew they were a threat.
Of course they'd be watching.
They had fuck-all else to do.
I had to make sure
the circle was tight. No leaks.
I got your email, Tim. I just thought
I'd pop by and see you in person.
It was good to send.
Oh, it's just my accountant.
He wanted a few more details
on the share-trading account.
I sent him everything he needs.
Something about an AFSL number.
Mm-hm.
Is that a thing?
Yeah, that is my financial services
licence number.
I've given him that.
Oh.
Just he mentioned it.
Yeah.
And I take care of the accounts
and I keep all the records.
But if you could just
make contact...
Mm-hm.
Oh, my wife would like to know if we
can access the account ourselves.
Ah. Yes. Yes, you can.
Uh, but I'm the only one
who can make the trades.
Oh, OK.
Sorry, Tim. (LAUGHS)
I sound like a control freak.
That's what you pay me for.
I mean, you don't let your patients
help you operate.
That's true.
You have $4 million of my money,
Melissa.
Yeah.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Now I had to create a fake account
this guy could access.
And he was making me paranoid.
For all I knew,
he could be talking to ASIC.
PHOEBE: Did you ask Melissa
for her licence number?
I did.
She's sending it through.
Fascinating.
She's not licensed.
Whatever she sends you,
keep us informed.
MELISSA: Is that what was happening?
I couldn't trust anyone.
And all the while,
George was dicking me around.
Are you looking for someone?
George.
I don't have time to waste.
I need to know if you're in or out.
You told me you wanted in.
We agreed at a starting amount
of 500,000,
an amount, may I say,
far less than I usually accept
but I've checked the accounts
and you haven't deposited a cent.
I know. Changed my mind.
OK.
Right. Well, that is your loss.
Back seat.
What?
Have a look.
(UNZIPPING)
Holy f...
How much is in there?
A lot more than we discussed.
There's another one in the boot.
OK.
Right.
But I don't take cash.
Tell me, how long have you been
running this scam?
I don't know what you mean.
Oh, come on.
Talk me through it.
How much longer
can you keep it going?
This conversation's over.
(TRIES TO OPEN DOOR)
No, no, I think it's just starting.
Could you let me out of the car?
Uh...
I don't need the gory details.
I just want to know
we're on the same page, see,
before I hand over my money.
You are insane.
Let me...out of the...
Listen... Listen.
I'm in, OK?
Now, I'm gonna park
some serious cash with you.
And sorry, I like banknotes.
I'm a bit old-school that way.
And at some point,
I'm gonna want it back,
less your commission, of course.
But clean.
Do you understand?
I don't...
I am not that person.
(LAUGHS)
Oh...
Oh, I think you are.
I think I know one when I see one.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: George and his cash.
It scared me to death.
On the other hand...
it kind of turned me on.
# I make you dance
# I get you hot
# I pour you drinks
# Find you some pot
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at the party
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at the party
# I tell you things... #
Hey. It's Melissa.
I need a favour.
Wait, don't you want to know
what the favour is?
# Everybody cares
if I'm not at your party. #
I need a fake passport
or some form of ID.
More than one, if possible.
How much would that cost?
Are you going somewhere?
I'm setting up some bank accounts
in a fake name.
One would think you'd have done that
long before this.
Do we have a sudden need
for an exit strategy?
No. I told you.
Look, can you get the passport
or not?
No.
That'd be illegal.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the fuck!
Are you wearing a wire?
Are you shitting me?
Are you wearing a wire?
Oh, this is sexual harassment
in the workplace.
Where's your phone? Show me.
Here. Take this one.
Take it.
I prefer my own.
Take this one.
Now, there's one number in that
in case of emergency,
otherwise you don't contact me.
Gee.
And I thought we might have been
a match.
MELISSA: While George
was ripping my clothes,
there was another meeting
taking place at my local dentist.
Gorgeous bag.
Gucci?
Thank you. Yes, it is.
I actually saw you earlier.
You walked past my office.
It's downstairs.
The real estate?
Financial services.
It's not the most exciting thing
in the world.
Oh, I don't know.
My friend Melissa
is a fabulous financial adviser.
I met her by chance in Aspen skiing.
Aspen?
And her name's Melissa?
Mm-hm.
Melissa Caddick?
You know her?
Yeah.
I've just found out she's using
my AFSL number without my consent.
Sorry, I don't know what that is.
It's my licence to operate,
so she's using it illegally,
so if I were you, I'd get my money
back from her as soon as possible.
MELISSA: And they both had toothache
on the same day?
Get the fuck!
I had a toothache of my own.
Tim, the surgeon, was emailing me
with more questions.
I couldn't risk it.
Tim, I think it's best
that we don't proceed,
so I've transferred the 4 million
back to you
and I've closed the account.
Bye.
Haemorrhaging money.
$4 million was a big hit
I could barely afford.
And that was before
I got the phone call.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Wendy. Hi. How are you?
Mel, hi. Uh, yes, I need to make
a withdrawal.
I'm sorry. What?
I just need all my cash.
I found a house I'd like to buy.
Oh, you know that property's
not as good an investment.
I really like this house.
So, which suburb?
Uh, it's in Surry Hills.
Oooh. Oooh, Wendy,
that area's seriously overpriced.
And I'm saying that to you
as your friend.
Look, I really like this house.
I'm gonna take it.
It's the right time for me.
MELISSA: Damn!
And, yes, I know
it wasn't my money to begin with...
but I felt quite strongly it was.
I worked hard for it.
The stress was making me crazy.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
I had no option.
I gave Aspen lady her money back.
The full 2.5 million,
plus an extra 300 grand,
the profit we supposedly made.
See? I'm actually too soft.
That's my problem, too fucking soft.
And my soft side was freaking out
about George.
Dealing with a gangster?
Who did I think I was?
I took out life insurance,
made sure it was payable
in the event of my suicide,
or my alleged suicide...
and I began stashing money
all over the place -
US dollars in offshore accounts
and hard cash
in a house down by the coast.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
I deleted my social media.
All that crap is like a trail
of breadcrumbs right to your door.
I preferred being offline.
At the same time, I was still trying
to reel in new suckers.
Nice place, Nash.
Yeah. Yeah, it's not too shabby.
Yet the owner fights me
over every dollar.
He's so tight.
Yeah, well, that's why he's rich.
Now, listen, there is a space
in my premium investor circle
and you said you'd speak
to your client.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, sorry, I've just
been really busy with work.
Ah.
Well, it's just
there's another person who's keen,
so if your guy wants in,
he's gonna have to move fast.
OK.
OK.
I'll talk to him.
Hey, you know,
I shouldn't tell you this
but, uh, we're gonna make
some serious money this quarter.
We're going big, so, uh,
he'd be crazy to miss out.
(LAUGHS) Well, you're making me
jealous, Melissa.
Hey, if you have got some cash
at your disposal, now is the time.
OK. No, you talk to your client,
right?
He will thank you for it, trust me.
Alright.
(PHONE BLEEPS)
Hey, what is going on?
Car's ready. Keys are in it.
No, I don't understand.
You stole it?
Hey, I am talking to you!
Papers are in the glovebox.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
MELISSA: Had they planted a bomb?
I know that makes no sense
but still
I couldn't shake the thought.
(ENGINE REVS)
(EXHALES)
(BANG!)
Move your car, princess.
Yeah.
(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE)
(BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS)
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money
# You've got the brawn,
I've got the brains
# Let's make lots of money... #
Wow. Thanks. Where's the little guy?
# My car is parked outside
I'm afraid it doesn't work
# I'm looking for a partner
Someone who gets things fixed... #
(PHONE BLEEPS)
# Ask yourself this question,
do you want to be rich?
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money... #
MELISSA: So I'd lost a ton of cash,
but George had come through.
# I've got the brains
Let's make lots of money... #
And I had new investors lined up.
Life is a beautiful thing.
# You know it makes good sense
# There's a lot of opportunities
if you know where to take them
# There's a lot of opportunities
If there aren't, you can make them
# Make or break them
# I've got the brains,
you've got the looks
# Let's make lots of money... #
(DOORBELL RINGS)
# You've got the brawn... #
(DOORBELL RINGS)
(DOORBELL RINGS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Yes?
Melissa Caddick?
Phoebe Quinn, Australian Securities
and Investments Commission.
I have a warrant
to search your house.
OK, this is ridiculous. I don't
understand what you're looking for.
Well, as I said...
"Evidence," is what you said,
which tells me nothing.
Evidence of financial fraud,
items gained by deception.
You have a copy of the warrant
right there.
You're investigating a complaint?
Is that right?
Who... Who from?
I can't discuss that.
So, someone is accusing me,
you can't tell me who it is?
What, are we in North Korea?
Oh...
Come on, that is just stuff
from family holidays.
I cannot see how that is relevant!
Ms Caddick...
Can I call you Melissa?
(SIGHS) No, you can't.
I have to examine all your files in
detail and it will take a long time,
probably all day, so...
All day?
At least ten to 12 hours
would be my estimate,
depending
on the level of corporation,
so can I suggest we try to make
this process less adversarial?
You can suggest it.
ANTHONY: Melissa...
What the hell?
It is a misunderstanding and I am
trying to get to the bottom of it.
All these cops?
Yep.
You'd think they'd have something
better to do with their time.
Is Josh alright?
Yeah.
Phoned the school,
said he wouldn't make it...
What? Why would you do that?
'Cause there's police everywhere.
You don't call the school...
You don't call anyone
without talking to me first.
Sorry. I panicked. I... I didn't
know if we were allowed to leave.
We're not under arrest.
Tell me you didn't say anything
about...
Mum, what's going on?
Oh, sweetheart, it's a mistake and we
are sorting it out but just maybe...
Just steer clear of downstairs
for a bit, OK?
Yeah. Sure.
Hey, what do you need from me?
Tell me.
Can you...
get Josh some breakfast...
Yep.
..make sure he's alright?
MELISSA: I was young
and in love once.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL' BY DARBY PLAYS)
Greg was older. He had a car.
(DOOR CLOSES)
You're late. We're gonna miss it.
'Silence of the Lambs'
looks pretty cool.
You promised. 'Dances with Wolves'.
MELISSA: I thought he was hot -
in 1992.
(STARTS ENGINE)
My parents were not so keen.
This Greg person
is not who he says he is.
Don't start!
We've found out some things,
Melissa.
Your father hired a detective.
What?
It's not a detective.
It's just a guy I know...
Greg is a con man.
And that's not even his real name.
He is a serial scam artist.
His name is Milo Veck.
Apparently, he...he romances women
and then he takes all their money...
(SIGHS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
They're upset because some stuff
went missing from the family safe.
You guys have a safe? Cool.
Just some cash and jewellery.
My parents blame Greg.
If that's really his name.
What? I'm just saying.
But you like him, don't you?
Ange?
Look, I've met him once
and from what your parents said...
He told me he loves me.
That's...
I mean, that's kind of what he does.
Isn't it?
MELISSA: Confronted with the truth...
I did what any self-respecting
22-year-old would do.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL'
BY DARBY CONTINUES)
I ran off with him.
We planned to fly to Vegas,
get married,
adopt a boxer dog
and drive across America.
('ECHO POINT MOTEL'
BY DARBY CONTINUES)
Greg?
MELISSA: Greg took my money,
credit cards,
my leather jacket, everything.
Took my heart. Vanished.
# Echo Point Motel... #
YOUNG MELISSA:
How could I be so stupid?
YOUNG ANGIE: He's a boy.
They make you stupid.
It's like they secretly inject you
with idiot serum.
I mean, all of us. Not just you.
It's not your fault, princess.
I just hope you've learnt a lesson.
MELISSA: I learned a lesson, alright.
Turns out I'm quite a fast learner.
(LOW-LEVEL CONVERSATION)
Uh-uh... No. No.
Can you take your hands off that?
That is absolutely not yours
to touch.
It's part of the brief, Melissa.
Proceeds of crime...
No, that's...
You don't have proof of any crime.
It's in the warrant,
as discussed several times now.
That is my son's equipment.
It has nothing to do with me or...
Sweetheart.
Can you...
Can you just give us a minute?
Hang upstairs for a while
and I'll come up soon.
OK.
Come on, please. PlayStation's his.
It's not mine.
Leave the PlayStation.
The TV, sound bar, speakers,
all of that goes.
Jesus Christ.
(SIGHS)
What are they looking for?
Crystal glassware's in the cupboard,
if that's any help.
Is Mr Caddick still on the premises?
It's Mr Koletti, not Caddick.
That was the first husband.
MELISSA: I have a weakness
for guys named Anthony.
My first husband -
let's call him Tony...
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
..Tony was English.
He was a labourer when I met him
but he studied at night
and became a lawyer.
Thanks to me. I pushed him.
We moved to the UK.
There I was, raising a toddler son,
with no help, none of my own family
around me...
NEWSREADER: Wall Street financier
Bernie Madoff
has been arrested by the FBI
and charged with...
(CLATTERING)
Oh. Sorry.
Well, there's the other one.
..US$50 billion...
Josh, don't run away. Come here.
Mel, can you grab Josh?
I've gotta go.
Put it away!
People talk about the moment
they heard the call from God...
a moment of clarity, an epiphany.
..fraud and deception
over four decades...
Madoff's arrest has stunned
Wall Street and sent shockwaves...
I had a moment
right then and there...
Questions are being asked...
..a call from Bernie Madoff...
..was never detected by regulators
despite numerous red flags...
This guy made $50 billion
from a Ponzi scheme.
..using the money
from more recent...
Hey, can you...
50 billion over four decades.
Are you kidding?
Who has the balls
to pull off something like that?
Mel? Melissa?
Josh, come...
We were travelling a lot back then,
London, Europe, back to Australia
to see Mum and Dad...
and get my hair done.
Wow.
I liked my Aussie hairdresser.
It was really stressful
working and being a mum.
(BRIGHT MUSIC WITH WHISTLING)
Naturally, I tried to find some
me time, just to keep myself sane.
(WOMAN SINGS IN FRENCH)
(TAKES PHOTO)
(PHONE VIBRATES)
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
Hey.
TONY: How was Switzerland?
Uh, excellent.
A couple of, um,
very useful connections, I think.
How was the food?
Uh, it was OK.
So you enjoyed your dinner...
in Paris?
No, I don't know
what you're on about, Tony...
You were out to dinner in Paris.
Just tell the truth.
Is this a joke?
Tell me this is not you.
What is that?
It's you, Melissa.
You and your fuckin' hairdresser
from Sydney!
You were having me followed?
A friend saw you, by chance!
Oh, a friend. Who?
What does it matter?
You were there!
Of course it matters!
You're having me followed!
Oh, that is just...
I mean, seriously...
You don't trust me?
No... No, actually. I don't.
OK, I...I was catching up with a...
with an old acquaintance,
yes, Anthony.
He called me.
And he...
What?
To be honest, he was having
relationship troubles,
so he wanted a friend.
A friend? Yeah.
Well, it's the truth.
And I was, like, "No, I can't."
The conference finished early
and, look, I was really
just an hour away...
Just stop! Stop!
You don't want to hear me out?
I can't even think right now.
I've been sitting there 24 hours
with my brain on fire.
Tony...
You're being melodramatic.
Nothing happened.
(SIGHS)
I'm going to Mum and Dad's.
Just for the night.
I can't stay here.
Need to clear me head.
(SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYS)
(DYNAMIC MUSIC PLAYS)
(THUNDER CRACKS)
(DOOR OPENS)
You flew from England to Australia
on July 20, 2010.
Is that correct?
How would I know?
You've kept the itinerary here.
Well, then, it's...probably accurate.
I don't remember.
That was after the breakdown
of your first marriage?
Well, that...
What's that got to do with you?
It's relevant
because a property in Kensington
was later transferred to you
for no payment.
I'm trying to establish if that was
part of the family law settlement.
(EXHALES) Well...
Yes, I did get the house.
But do you want to hear my side
of it? Like, why the marriage ended?
See, that kind of detail's actually
not relevant to me, Ms Caddick.
Well, you started the questions.
I'm concerned only
with the money trail. Really?
Because you come into
my private house...
and you've gone through
all my personal stuff.
Tell me, Phoebe,
how much do you get paid?
100 grand a year? 200?
I'd say somewhere in between.
We're not here to discuss that.
Well, you work for a government body,
so I am gonna guess
you don't make a whole lot.
Or do you?
I haven't spent much on holidays,
I can tell you that.
On two short trips to Fiji,
you managed to spend $60,000.
I think I'd struggle
to achieve that.
Mmm.
I think you would on your salary.
There's also an account paid here
to Cosmopolitan Shoes
for just over 52,000.
It is not a crime to like shoes.
I noticed that payment's made
on the same day you received 60,000
from savings account ending in 364,
Dr T. Kannis.
He's a client.
You're not licensed to have clients.
He is a friend
and I help him with his business.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
I have to get this.
Be my guest, Melissa.
Dad.
Hey, princess.
What you up to?
Uh, with what?
Well, you said you were
coming over here this afternoon.
Did I?
Yeah.
You haven't forgotten
your poor old mum and dad, have you?
Uh, no, Dad, I, um...
I can't come there today. I'm sorry.
Is she coming over?
Well, I'm trying to talk to her.
No, I've just...
I've had something come up and I...
I have to stay here.
But I'll...I'll call you back.
MAN: Is she coming over or not?
Hang on, Adam's here.
Adam, come and say hello
to your sister.
Oh... Hello, sister.
How's the ankle?
What?
Dad said that you'd sprained
your ankle or something.
Um, Adam, uh, I can't talk.
I'll call you.
Hey!
Hey, wait!
Hey, can you wait?
Mum, can you come here a minute?
No. I can't.
Sorry, that's my personal laptop.
I need that.
All of this is marked for seizure.
Well, it can't be.
I've double-checked everything.
Alright, well, you've made a mistake.
Twice.
OK, look... Look... Hey, I have
given you my work computer.
I've given you
all of my business files.
That is just for personal use...
Hey, do not touch that.
You can't have it!
Step back, please.
I'm asking you.
You've been warned, OK?
If you continue to obstruct us,
we can and will arrest you.
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Hey, you right there?
Do you want popcorn?
Mum?
(CAMERA CLICKS)
Yep, what do you want?
She's trying to take
our security cameras.
All the hard drives.
Please, we've been over this.
What do you want them for?
What are you hoping to see?
How much pizza we have delivered?
It's in the warrant, Ms Caddick.
Please, it's been a long day.
Oh, tell me about it.
(SIGHS) OK, yeah, fine.
Yeah. Take them.
It's a really expensive system.
No, hon, if these people
want to spend 1,000 hours
watching our empty driveway,
they can go right ahead.
I've got better things to do.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Oh...
No, you need to put those down.
Did you hear me?
You do not touch my clothes!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
My shoes.
My clothes.
They're proceeds
of alleged criminal activity...
They are irreplaceable,
is what they are.
You have no idea, do you,
what things are worth?
And you have crossed a fucking line.
If there is any damage,
you will pay.
I will sue you personally.
Yes. OK, well, I've printed
an information sheet for you here.
You must now surrender your passport
by court order.
Do you understand?
My passport is at my lawyer's.
I told you that this morning.
You have until 4:00pm tomorrow
to hand it in.
Also, you're required at
a Federal Court hearing this Friday.
The hearing will take place
via video link.
I'll email you...
I'll need my laptop for that.
You'll have to make
other arrangements, I'm sorry.
I won't have time
for other arrangements.
You can borrow my computer.
We've frozen your assets
and your bank accounts.
You'll have a living allowance
of $800 per week.
Me personally?
Between the three of you.
# Oh, money
# Money's the one true god
# Yeah, money
# Money's the one true god
# You can doubt him
# But you can't live without him
# One true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god... #
Mum?
# Money is the one true god
# Money is the one true god... #
Are you OK?
# Money is the one true god... #
I'm fine, sweetheart.
Everything's fine.
# Money is the one true god... #
(MUSIC SWELLS)
VOICEOVER: Everyone
thinks they know...
.. how it all went down.
They don't.
WOMAN: Where is Melissa Caddick?
MELISSA: Who cares how I got here,
I got here.
The con of the century...
Hello, Melissa, where's my money?
.. goes completely off the rails.
Just do nothing, say nothing,
until I get this sorted.
TV's biggest drama...
WOMAN: Someone
is trying to frame me.
..rips open the mystery...
Melissa kept a passport...
..that just wont...
You're a head case.
..die.