AustLit

'Ned Robbins, a former workmate of Tony Angellini's, rings him at Ryan's office after being beaten up by two thugs. He is too frightened to give any details so Ryan and Tony decide to go see him.

'When they arrive at his home, they find Ned missing and his arthritis-stricken wife, Daisy, very distraught. She draws Ryan and Tony's attention to a drug she'd been taking and points out that Ned was on the verge of revealing something about it before he was beaten up. The drug is made at a laboratory owned by a man named Summers.

'When Ned is found dead later, Daisy is moved out of her home because Ryan and Tony now fear for her safety.

'Ryan assumes the identity of a man interested in buying the "wonder drug" from Summers, while his secretary, Julie King, poses as a sexy sports fanatic in order to con Summers into revealing the real truth behind the drugs.'

Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).

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

'PETER SUMMERS: Mid 30's. Cool - ruthless - business man, but shy with girls. A bit insecure to play big lover boy, has the wrong image for that, maybe he's not tall and beautiful. He is preoccupied with sex. But surprisingly tender - and that is what hooks Julie. He is the type of bloke who chases women and feels the need to impress them with his big car and his millions. And women know this and use it. He resents it and withdraws until the day he falls in love with Julie (for real). Drives car.

'SIMMS: 50's. Honest, competent biochemist, good man under a lot of pressure, does his duty regardless. Strong personality. When he's about to crack up takes a swig of brandy and back to work. Drives car.

'NED ROBBINS: 50's. Ex alcoholic. That's why he left the cabs. Now works as caretaker. Good man, escape valve for Simms. Someone quiet and comfortable to have a chat and a drink with. Ned is proud of this friendship with "his mate Mr. Simms". Drives car.

'DAISY ROBBINS: 50's. Looks older. Ned's wife. Crippled by arthritis. Keeps up the good spirits. Strong woman on bad legs. Ned's death is the end of her strength.

'1ST MAN AND 2ND MAN: Difficult parts. 30's. Physical, not too much. These two bashers look like cops or like business men, not bashers. Short back and sides essential. Well spoken. Well dressed in dark suits. They are not the ordinary heavies. They must be good actors. Able to underplay the parts, control their faces. One drives, both bash.

'DR. CLARK: Late 30's - Competent, likeable, efficient. Mate of Ryan's. One scene.

'CLEANING WOMAN: Pleasant, friendly. Good eye for people. 50's or 60's. One scene.

'PUBLICITY MAN (JIM): Young and respectful and ambitious. Good at his job. One scene.

'SUSAN (LAB GIRL): Early 20's. Pretty. One might think that she's been given the job by Summers himself. (He likes to be surrounded by pretty girls). Two scenes.

'GEORGINA: A club waitress, early 20's. Extremely pretty and sexy (not tarty). Could be the main reason why Summers uses the club as an office. Until the day Julie appears. Few Scenes, little dialogue - emphasis on her face and figure.

'GATE MAN: 30's. Sort of dead-pan, tongue-in-cheek character.

'EXTRAS, CLUB: All executives with a lot of class.

'EXTRAS SUMMERLAB: The sort of people who work in a factory of drugs.'