(eerie music) (police car wailing)
- [Nicola] I was the most notorious police informer
in Australian legal history.
(Nicola breaths heavily)
I broke all the rules. I betrayed everyone.
One.
Friends and enemies.
Two ...
I had wealth, position, opportunity.
Three.
Why did I do it?
You're about to find out.
(uneasy music)
- Are you gonna do it?
- If you make me give evidence,
when people find out it's me-
- They won't find out.
- All my cases will come under scrutiny. Dozens of crims-
- Nicola- - Will go free.
- We'll make sure- - You'll be gone
and I'll be dead.
A bullet in my head.
- So are you gonna do it?
(tense music)
- [Nicola] Most people didn't feel sorry for me.
For my predicament.
Top of the list?
Carl Williams.
♪ I'm alone, you are gone ♪
- [Nicola Voiceover] He was the first to sniff me out.
The first to suspect I was an informer.
But I didn't kill him. I didn't want anyone dead.
I didn't.
(upbeat music)
I was just like you, once.
I had ambition. I wanted to make my mark.
- Unfortunately for us ladies,
though they are impressive drinkers and talkers,
Sometimes we don't want talk, do we?
(students laughing)
Though they are impressive drinkers and talkers,
most here are not as impressive in other ways.
(students laughing)
And thus would not constitute a well-hung jury.
- [Emma] You cannot write that!
- I already have.
(police siren wailing)
- [Nicola] And once a worthy jury is chosen,
if the dancing frenzy-
- Police! Nobody move!
- [Nicola] And amount of alcohol consumed are any indication
of future legal acumen,
then those at the 1993 the Law Ball
will constitute an impressive addition
to our worthy profession.
- Oh my God!
Well done.
- [Policeman] Nicola Gobbo?
- Yeah? That's me.
- Could you come with us, please?
(uneasy music)
- They got me now, eh?
- What's going on?
- Is this your bedroom?
You a smoker?
You own this house?
- Paying off a mortgage.
- You're very young. How do you have money for that?
- My father died. He left me some.
Look, I didn't know anything about the-
- Doesn't change the facts.
A hundred grams of amphetamine.
Marijuana in traffickable amounts.
- Please. I'm studying to be a lawyer.
If I get charged...
I'm begging you. I don't like to beg.
Is there anything I can do?
- (sighs) I'm afraid there's nothing we can do.
That's the law. If you own the house, you'll be charged.
- Unless you give us something else.
- I'll get a detective to take your statement.
(tense uneasy music)
(camera shutter clicks)
- [Emma] They still bothering you?
- [Nicola] Journos are following me everywhere.
- What a nightmare.
- Leave them open. My brush with the dark side, Em.
I'm notorious.
- Nic, what about your degree?
- It's okay. I'm getting a good behavior bond
with no conviction recorded.
Brian's getting the trafficking charge.
Well don't look at me like that. I didn't help them.
Are you kidding?
Never. Hate the bloody cops.
- [Nicola Voiceover] Everyone always expected me
to go into the law.
A lot of my family had.
So I studied hard, put in the hours.
I left the past behind and just kept looking forward.
By the time I was admitted to the Bar,
the Melbourne gangland war was in full flight.
(gunshots banging)
- Gangitano was shot several times
in his Templestowe home, just after 11 o'clock.
A murder investigation will not be easy.
- [Reporter] There are a number of persons of interest
in this case, and police say
there could be more than one killer.
- [Nicola Voiceover] It had never been like this before.
I was working 24/7, sleeping three hours a night.
♪ Better get a lawyer, son ♪
♪ You better get a real good one ♪
♪ Better get a lawyer, son ♪
♪ You better get a real good one ♪
♪ Get yourself a suit and tie ♪
♪ And get your hair cut way up high ♪
♪ Get yourself a lawyer, son ♪
♪ You're gonna need a real good one ♪
(lively rock music)
- [Nicola Voiceover] I became one of the youngest
female barristers in Victorian history
and started working when no one expected,
representing any crim who'd have me.
A Czech bird breeder who smuggled parrot eggs in his dacks.
A rock spider who put cameras in kids' toilets.
And even a cop killer.
But not all my clients were cockroaches.
- Her husband was an enthusiastic drinker.
He beat this woman every day.
So Maria did what any woman might.
After 50 years of emotional and physical abuse,
she belted him, with a saucepan.
Flipped the marinara out and whack!
And I for one say good riddance.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I was moving up, getting work,
getting known by crims.
(energetic music)
And cops.
- I'll be right down, Detective.
Don't start.
- Listen, I'm your friend, Nic-
- Oh, Jesus.
- And I know that you think that I am a bit...
But you're gonna have to...
You cannot be a wild child forever.
- Oh, a wild child?
- I see you, Nic. I see you.
I see you with cops one day and clients the next
and it's pretty fucking off.
- Em, I'm sorry, I'm not making fun of you.
I know you're just looking out for me,
but lawyers are so boring.
This is just the start.
I have a lot further to go than this.
- [Nicola Voiceover] And I did have a lot further to go.
All the way to Tony Mokbel.
He ran a $400 dollar drug ring, he had 30 cars,
a yacht, a horse stable and lots of shitty lawyers.
- You're kidding me, right?
- The car was unlocked?
- No, no, don't give me a fuckin' excuse. I told you, right?
- You know, the car was unlocked for 20 minutes.
I mean, I think you're actually in a really strong...
- And you couldn't get it done?
What's wrong with you blokes?
- I'll just be a tick.
Mister Mokbel.
Tony Mokbel?
You remember me?
I helped your brother Horty with his tax problem.
- Yeah, yeah, I remember you.
- And I couldn't help overhearing now
about your present difficulty.
You need some help, don't you?
- Starving kids need help, darling.
- Well, I don't know about them, but I can get you bail.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I became Fat Tony's lawyer.
He got bail and I got famous. I had arrived.
- Thank you, thank you. Just a few words.
Her Honor stated, in her wisdom,
that Australians wouldn't tolerate the indefinite detention
of one of its citizens while cases of corrupt police
are still being decided.
So, she has granted bail with a surety
of one million dollars to Mister Antonios Sajih Mokbel!
(crowd cheering)
What do you think I am, a junior shitkicker?
Yeah, I understand what you... Hang on a tick.
Nicola Gobbo. Yeah, no worries, I'll call you back in two.
Mate, mate!
I'm not looking for truth or justice,
just the best outcome for you.
Yeah, whatever you tell me, it never goes any further.
Meet me in my chambers in an hour and we can discuss things.
Okay?
Bloody muppet.
- [Nicola Voiceover] Carl Williams.
The bogan from Broadmeadows.
Drug kingpin and baby-faced killer.
- Tony said we should meet.
He said you might be interested in my representation
using the same bail tactics I did for him.
And he said my fee wouldn't be a problem?
- Nope.
- Okay.
Well if you'll sign here, hiring me,
I'll get the paperwork from your previous lawyer
and when I'm up to speed, get you out of here in a few days.
How does that sound?
(uneasy music)
- Sweet.
- I'd better keep moving.
Another client's getting the shits.
- They don't see you coming, do they?
- Who doesn't?
- Everyone.
- How can they not see this?
- You distract 'em with that.
The hair, showing a little bit of titty.
Just like I distract 'em with the slouch back.
Untied runners, trackie-dacks.
Just another dickhead eating KFC.
Crumbs down me chest and a little bit of dribble.
No reason to worry about Carl.
We're a lot alike, you and me.
- I'm nothing like you, mate.
(energetic music)
- [Nicola Voiceover] I got Williams out of prison
within a week.
Not bad, eh?
Roberta jumped for joy as Carl went straight.
Straight for the throttle.
No one knew he was about to put
the gangland war into overdrive.
- Eat a bag of dicks, ya fuckheads!
- [Nicola Voiceover] Carl's new-found freedom
made 2000 a memorable year.
(gunshot bangs)
As the bodies piled up...
- [Journalist] Without warning.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I just got busier. I was everywhere.
- Underworld sources suggest the killing was linked
to a major shipment of drugs
which was stolen from the motel room
at the time of the shooting.
(gunshot bangs)
- Police believe they know the identity
of at least one of Mr Dibra's killers.
(gunshot bangs)
- Police believe Mark Moran's killer
was waiting as he arrived home at 8:30 last night.
The 36-year-old was given no chance
to escape the assassin's bullets.
(gunshot bangs)
(light graceful music)
- You're fuckin' kidding me.
- [Nicola Voiceover] Paul Dale was a young Sergeant
in the Drug Squad.
He was good. Respected.
He got results.
- I don't trust you and you don't trust me, mate.
Get your gear off.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I thought it was bullshit,
but Carl said his dealings with Dale were
a little different.
If anyone asked, Carl said he was paying Dale
to keep trouble away.
The money meant Carl wasn't a dog.
Dale swore this was all lies.
He could prove it. He never met Carl alone.
Never took money.
He only used Carl as a source.
- I knew Dale long before Carl ever did
and so, by now, all the planets had aligned.
- What is the difference between a lawyer and a liar?
- What?
- Pronunciation.
- Get stuffed!
- [Nicola Voiceover] I knew Dale
and I knew Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel.
- What's the difference between a lawyer and a pit bull?
- [Nicola] What?
- Lipstick.
(people laughing)
- All right. I got one.
How many cops does it take to throw a crim down the stairs?
- No idea.
- None. He fell! (laughing)
- [Nicola Voiceover] It was a mad time.
Cops will tell you they hung out with me
to get intel on the crims and crims'll say
they hung out to keep tabs on the cops.
And let me tell you, sometimes it was hard to know
who was playing who.
But I won't lie. I loved it.
I was at the center of it all. On top of the world.
Then it all started to go wrong,
and it started to go wrong here,
at Harp Road, Kew, with a small-time ecstasy dealer.
(energetic music)
Terry Hodson was old school.
Love your family and never lag.
- All right!
- [Christine] Look at that!
- Hey, who wants one? Nik, you want a little one?
I know you're breastfeeding, love. Do you want one?
- Dad!
- I was only joking! Hey, what's for tea?
Is that- - You just ate it.
- Oh, get flocked.
- Oi, no wearing in from of Dylan. I told you that.
- I said flocked. It's not swearing, you silly clunt!
- Dad, get out. You're gonna drop it.
- Oh, gimme that. Here, gimme that, come here.
- Ooh gosh! Be careful.
- I will. Come on.
I never dropped you once, did I?
Except that time when you fell on your...
Oh hello, my little villain.
Look at you. I could eat you up.
- Oh, don't hurt him, Tez.
- I'm not gonna hurt him, I'm just gonna eat him up.
(door knocking) (dog barking)
I know. Turn the music down.
Get me Roscoe.
- [Christine] Ter.
- It's all right, love.
(door knocking)
- [Man] Terry?
(door knocking) Terry!
Fuck man, it's Rod.
- It's Rod, it's all right.
- Come on!
- Rod, mate. Hey!
Come on, come in. Quick.
- I've been banging on your fuckin'...
Hey, don't put the camera on me, Christine. Come on!
- I wasn't!
- Hey, no swearing. We've got bubs here, all right?
- Get fucked, and put the bloody gun away, all right?
- Molly, Rosie, shut it!
- Fuck! What a hellhole.
Fuck, you carrying or what?
- Yeah mate, always carrying.
- About bloody time.
- Have a look at my grandson. He's just like me.
He's handsome, isn't he? Say hello.
Here he is.
- So, you got eccie?
- Got lemons.
- Oh yeah, and you can suck them.
Good ones?
- Yin and Yang, mate. Yin and Yang.
There we go. All right?
- Oh, look after it.
- Right, turn the music back up. Let's party, clunts!
- You had these before?
- [Collins] Beg your pardon? Have I had what before?
- Fuckin' Yin-Yangs.
- You been fuckin' slack or something?
Jesus fuckin' Christ.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I was told Andy wanted a share
of Terry's pill business.
So without telling his Dad,
he started selling pills on the side.
But he wasn't as good at it as Terry.
(tense music)
(police siren wailing)
(energetic music)
♪ Watch out your mummy's eyes ♪
- Get off! Police brutality!
Oh, you're breaking my arm!
♪ Boys are in a queue ♪
♪ It's time for the Sunshine Drive ♪
♪ First stop - frozen tequila ♪
♪ Second stop - Melbourne Bitter ♪
♪ Third stop - cowboy cocksucker ♪
♪ Gabba gabba hey Kat ♪
(phone ringing)
- What, you're quitting? But you-
- I'm not, I'm not quitting.
I'm just, I'm taking a break.
Plus Neil wants to have kids, and so do I.
And don't you want to have kids?
- Are you kidding?
Me? Maybe one day far away,
but now, I'd be the worst mother...
Wait. Are you pregnant?
- No. No!
Not yet.
I just need a break, Nic.
Being around all those men, I...
The lawyers, the crims.
Looking at us like we're some kind of novelty.
I mean, don't you find it-
- No.
I want them to look at me.
I use it. And then-
(phone rings)
I outwork them.
I slap on a face and act like I belong.
And by acting it, well sometimes just by acting it,
I make it true.
(phone rings)
Go away.
(sighs)
And after a while, it isn't an act anymore.
I belong and they need me and I'm in control.
If I waited to be accepted by them I-
(phone rings)
What the fuck?
- How many times you gonna let this fuckin' phone ring?
- Tones, I'm sorry.
I'm busy at the moment.
- Well get unbusy. Got a friend who needs your help.
- Yeah, I can't I-
- It's not a request.
Don't get your panties in a knot, all right?
When did you turn down work?
Nic, I need you there.
- Okay.
- Tony Mokbel?
- Emma, don't.
- [Nicola Voiceover] This arrest would change everything.
Ruin the careers of a dozen people
and finally lead to murder.
(solemn music)
(tense music)
- You got my Andy with that?
Well, I didn't give it to him.
I mean, what sort of Dad do you think I am?
- Now that's a question.
- My kids are looking at real time.
Is there, ah, anything that can be done?
(Dave puffs)
I don't lag.
- No, of course not.
But if you did, it'd be your best shot
of keeping your kids out of jail.
As long as you give us good information, sweet for everyone.
(somber music)
- [Terry] Always prided myself on being staunch.
- We all gotta adapt.
- Look, you can't...
You cannot let my kids know, all right?
- Hey, only me and my boss will know about you. That's it.
- Look, if anyone finds out, I am done, mate.
- [Nicola Voiceover] 2002, 2003, there was no let up
in the gangland murders.
(gunshot bangs)
- [Reporter] Dino Dibra's killers certainly appeared
untroubled about carrying out
what amounted to a public execution.
- [Nicola Voiceover] The police finally had enough.
They decided to try something new.
- Over 20 murders. This is unacceptable.
It must stop.
(gunshot bangs)
- [Nicola Voiceover] Giving in to public pressure,
the Purana Taskforce was set up.
- We will create a new kind of detective hero,
meticulous and methodical.
They will have zero tolerance.
This is a war that we must and will win.
- [Nicola Voiceover] Run by an AFP hero,
come to make his mark by ending Melbourne's gangland war,
Assistant Commissioner, Simon Overland.
- I'll take questions, but I'll only take one at a time.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I had more work than ever.
- But Mister Moran is in deep depression.
- [Nicola Voiceover] I thought I could represent anyone,
even the Moran family, Tony Mokbel's blood enemies.
Yeah, right.
- Pretty good, eh-
- We've had a gutfull of the Moran shit--
- Get your hands off me!
- And want them off the streets.
- I'll represent who-
- No, fuck you and fuck the Morans!
- Who the hell are you to tell me who I-
- I'm the guy who tells you not to work for the Morans.
Bitch!
(tense music)
(suspenseful music)
- [Nicola Voiceover] About now, Detective Paul Dale
and Dave Miechel started watching a drug house in Oakleigh.
I hadn't heard about it yet, but everyone would soon.
(couch creaking)
- Pill press?
Music to hump to? Oh shit.
Let's find out who's financing this place
before we buckle 'em. yeah?
(cheerful energetic music)
- Oh, there he is.
We started without ya!
- [Nicola Voiceover] Detective Davied Miechel,
the guy who arrested Mandy and Andy,
hard to believe but true, was now Mandy's boyfriend.
- [Terry Voiceover] Mandy's fuckin' a cop?
- [Andrew] He arrested us. What are you doing with him?
- Well I'm not screwing him, if that's what you're asking-
- No, no, no, that's not what I'm fuckin' asking.
Stay here. - What?
- Don't fuckin' what me.
Are you fuckin' dogging to the jacks?
- I am talking to Meesh. He's in there with your sister.
- Don't fuckin' bullshit me.
- We're talking about the football. Up the Pies-
- Don't fuckin' bullshit me!
- I am not!
- If you're dogging to the jacks, and someone finds out,
they'll kill you, you fuckin' know it.
- I'm not, all right?
I am not dogging to the jacks.
- [Nicola Voiceover] Miechel spent lots of time
with Terry now and introduced him to his boss,
Detective Paul Dale, who became one of Terry's handlers.
- Yeah, it's a nice place, isn't it?
Is a little bit pricy.
- That's why you're paying.
- Oh, you're skint again. What a surprise.
- Oh Terry, you know me.
I'm always skint.
- Really? Well.
Well I've got a little pressie for you.
- I don't want that.
There's a pube on it.
- Let me get that for ya.
- Mate, I am not touching that.
Order us another one of those, will ya?
I'm going for a slash.
- Good luck, mate.
So, ah, how's that pill house in Oakleigh going?
- Mate, I'm up to my bottom lip in shit.
The bosses want the gear to go up north
so the New South Wales cops make the collar.
It's crossing state lines or some such bullshit.
- What, you do the work and they get the credit?
That is fucking unacceptable.
- Mate, don't get me started.
- You know what?
We should do it.
Golden ticket. Willy Wonka and the Choccy Factory.
- What are you talking about? Are you stoned?
- Yeah. No.
Come on, mate. We could job it.
You know when the people get there,
you know where the cash is.
We get the pills, I could sell 'em. We make a killing.
I'm joking. Am I?
- Right.
So we blow a three month op and get every cop on our arse?
Mate, you are stoned.
We are not those guys.
- 'Course not.
(energetic music)
- Look at Dhakota. Fuckin' beautiful, eh?
- Yeah, just like her Mom.
- Yeah, piss off!
- What? - I'm still angry at you.
We was supposed to get her christened last year,
but then- - But both of us got arrested.
Hey, come on, my beautiful wife, eh?
- Hell, this year we're gonna do it.
You just keep him out of jail, you hear?
- Well I'll do my best, but it's up to him more than me.
- Yeah, here? Stay out of-
- Get you in trouble.
- Yeah, get me in trouble any time you want.
- Are you sulking? Hmm?
Are you dark on me?
I'm sorry about my boy. He was a bit rough.
But I can't have you helping the Morans, Nic.
Just can't.
You're with us now.
- No worries, Tony. I get it.
Great party.
(cheerful music)
- Hey. We haven't really met.
- You work for Tony, yeah?
- Yeah. Yeah, I'm Juicy.
- Pardon?
- My name. People call me Juicy.
- I won't ask why.
- Well, my surname's Jucirovic, so...
- [Nicola] Ah.
- I brung you a wine. I figured you drank wine.
- Oh, why not?
So, ah, um, what are you doing, here, on your own?
- I think Tony and his boys are pissed off at me.
- Why?
- For all the bad things I've done.
- Yeah, right. What bad things have you done?
- Oh, I got Lewis Moran bail.
I got him bail. Tony, Carl.
Don't listen to me. I'm joking, I'm drunk.
You wanna dance, Juicy?
- Yeah. Let's go.
(energetic music)
♪ If you touch that girl ♪
♪ You know it's okay ♪
♪ People say she's a whore anyway ♪
♪ I think she looks like a nice vamp ♪
♪ Looking for love in a trashcan ♪
(people laughing)
- At Uni, five years studying law,
I got First Class Honors in one course.
Guess what in?
- Miniskirts.
(people laughing)
- No, and fuck you, Tony.
The only course I ever got First Class Honors in was,
wait for it, Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct.
(people laughing)
Can you believe it?
- Fuck, I love this chick!
- I once dreamed of being PM. First woman ever.
- Oh you still could.
I'd vote for ya!
Fucking wouldn't even know how to vote!
(people laughing)
It's funny 'cause it's true.
(people laughing) (cacophony)
(dance music)
- If I'd stayed straight, I could have ended up a judge.
- Yeah?
- Why didn't I? That's the question.
(police siren wailing)
But you know what, Juicy?
- What?
- I'm getting out of this shit right now.
- [Nicola Voiceover] But I should have known.
When you make plans, God laughs.
- [Reporter] So here we go, our second straight
Brisbane Collingwood grand final.
The Pies last year in a classic as Collingwood enter
as favorites this afternoon, and away.
(suspenseful music)
(pick tool clinks)
(door slides)
(tense music)
(device ringing)
(police sirens wailing)
(tense rhythmic music)
(police sirens wailing)
- Excuse me, sir. Sir!
What are you doing out here?
- No, nothing. I was just, ah, going for a walk.
- Get up against the wall!
- All right, all right!
All right, I was just going for a walk.
(police sirens wailing)
- [Emma's Voice Machine] Hi, you've reached Emma,
Neil and Daisy.
Leave a message after the beep.
(phone beeps)
- Em? I'm sorry.
I get it now.
I think I gotta stop.
I'll call you tomorrow.
Shit. I'm sorry to bother you.
(dog barking)
(dog growling)
- I'm on the job!
- [Police Officer] What? Silky!
- I heard the call. I came to help, right?
Can you ask the dog to calm down?
Just in case?
(phone rings)
- Who's this?
(slams phone) Fuck!
(phone rings)
- Nicola Gobbo.
(eerie music)