AustLit

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'LESLEY FISHER A unique figure among criminals .. a modern Squizzy Taylor.

'Short - 5'2" - thickset. Aged 40. Cunning and ambitious. He started as a very small-time crim., and worked his way to the position of gang-land boss. He is conceited and self-assured .. a cocky manner, but not noisy.

'A lot of his henchmen have served long sentences, but Fisher has only served a couple of short terms. He has a flair for organizing 'jobs' ... with attention to detail, and so, in the crim. world, he passes for a great 'brain'.

'His clothes are immaculate, and only a shade flash. Expensive suits ... razor sharp creases in trousers .. perfectly laundered shirt cuffs showing ... cuff links .. expensive tie pin .. a 'pre-shaped' handkerchief in breast pocket. Small, new-looking hat. Drives car.

'Genuinely loves his wife, Valerie. Completely devoted.

'VALERIE FISHER Attractive, pleasant, young woman with a good background. Has standards. Very much in love with Fisher, completely taken in by him. Would not believe anything bad about him.

'ERIC HUTCHINSON 34. Tall, strong, rugged type. A seasoned professional crim. who enjoys being on a job. Admires Fisher and is unquestioningly loyal. Despite his toughness, he has an easy-going outlook .. and a certain amount of charm. Must be able to drive fast and skilfully.

'TOM LANGLEY Aged 60. A veteran crim. with a long record of robbery and violence: Starting in the late 1920's when gangs were flourishing.

'At 60, he is still strong and active but troubled by a bad leg. On a job he is ruthless, unconcerned about his victims. At home with his grand-daughter, Julie Williams, he is just another human being.

'JULIE WILLIAMS 18-20. A nice girl, of working class background. Very fond of her grand-father, has always known of his criminal activities and just accepts it. Has a great respect for Fisher.

'GRAYSON Owner of a prosperous supermarket, has a precise mind and lives by schedules. He would attribute his success to this.

'A dreary man, but in the live scenes with Banner, he is seen as a decisive character who is not going to let a robbery and assault disturb the normal routine.

'JOAN CLEMENTS 25-30. A shop-lifter, who has had an affair with Fisher. Strong, attractive, with a coarse manner. Has an almost psychotic dread of going back to prison and this causes her to fight like a maniac when Banner and Peters arrest her.

'ELDERLY MAN Ex-blue collar worker, on pension or superannuation. Has become the complete spectator. Watches the brawl involving Joan Clements in much the same way as he would watch a quiet district cricket match.

'MRS. REYNOLDS Well-to-do, dignified, resents having a known criminal living in the house next door.

'CERNIK New Australian cafe proprietor. One scene only. No dialogue.

'DETECTIVES. One scene only. No dialogue.'