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I'm the man who's gonna take down
Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine
and you're gonna help me.
Nobody pushes me around.
I haven't even started to push yet.
We got rid of your mate
Squizzy Taylor,
and we can get rid of you.
TILLY: Judge says Kate Leigh must be
the worst woman in Sydney.
No mention of Tilly Devine.
You're a gangster, aren't you?
Say you are.
Gives you a thrill, does it?
I've never met anyone like you.
(SMACK!)
JEFFS: I know from our contacts
down south you're a serious fella.
I thought maybe we can do some good
for each other.
You see, I don't think I need
a fancy man like you, Phil.
Sorry, Mr Bruhn.
Bloody heck.
I'd sooner cut me own heart out.
NORMAN: You ever had a razor cut?
The bleeding never stops.
With these things,
one stroke light as a feather,
you can open a man's face
to the bone.
MACKAY:
Walk in the light - be visible.
You're sending a message -
Darlinghurst
is not a lawless town, right?
Off you go.
WOMAN: Be careful, won't you?
NORMAN: Yeah, yeah.
They wouldn't know what to do
without you.
George Wallace?!
G'day, Sid.
You want a donnybrook?
That's not exactly
what we had in mind.
(THEME MUSIC)
SONG: # It's a jungle out there
# It's a jungle out there
# It's a jungle out there.
#
(ROCKABILLY MUSIC)
SONG: # I've been working hard
# All day.
all night
# You know.
I've been working hard
# All day.
all night #
Norman Bruhn had launched
his grand plan
to drive Tilly and Kate
out of business.
He'd attacked the toughest man
in Sydney.
leaving a calling card
that was violent and bloody
and impossible to ignore.
# You can do the hokey-pokey #
Oi! Don't give for free
nothing you could charge for!
Don't flash your bloomers neither!
Hello, Kelly.
Coming in to spend your dosh?
Where's your brother?
He ain't here?
(JAZZY MUSIC)
(LAUGHS)
We prised that clam open
good and proper.
If Jack had pressed
just that bit harder,
there'd be one less Kelly
thieving oxygen.
NORMAN: Pressed as hard
as I wanted him to.
But won't he come after you -
Kicker Kelly?
NORMAN: Very bloody disappointed
if the coot don't oblige
with a bit of payback.
And when Kelly or his brother
or their mates have a go,
I'll cut them up and send them
back out again as me messengers.
And if they want to have another go,
I'll cut them again.
Yeah!
(OTHERS LAUGH)
If they're thick enough to have another
go, I'll cut them again.
Any of them.
I'll cut them.
And I'll keep on cutting
until Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine,
Phil 'The Jew' Jeffs,
the whole *** lot of them
get me message.
(OTHERS CHEER)
(LAUGHS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE)
(SLURS) Irene, goodnight.
Noel wiggled that loose tooth out.
Long last.
Think you can find him
a ha'penny?
You know I'm the tooth fairy.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
What are you doing?
You lost a button.
I can match it.
(UNCORKS BOTTLE)
So, who was it, Sid?
Couldn't say.
Tall? Short? Fair? Dark?
Couldn't say.
Razor.
Unusual weapon.
Gave the forks to this barber once.
Maybe he's getting square.
Enough, Kelly.
Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh
have been rowing for years.
No-one's ever taken a cut-throat
to a man before.
Or have you just stood over
one drunk too many?
I'm not being a copper for you.
I'm not saying a thing.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
Mum.
Mum, the kettle's boiling.
Irene.
(CLICK!)
You'll have the range out.
Eat up, boys.
(CAR HORN ***)
Keith
eat your breakfast.
(JIM READS) "The assault certainly
made the victim's blood flow.
"His attacker's weapon
was not a pistol or cosh,
"so this correspondent was told,
"an ordinary folding razor.
"
Ooh, a razor.
It's a good idea.
You should carry one, Jim.
You too, Frank.
I'm a gunman, Tilly,
not a razor man.
You don't get six months in
Long Bay jail for carrying a razor.
Slashing Kicker Kelly.
This cove Norman Bruhn
ought to have his wits about him.
He puts his filthy mitts
on our business,
I'll bloody take to him
with a bloody razor of me own.
Alright, girls, clean drawers time!
Hey, careful, now,
you'll put an eye out.
Hey, ain't them the boys
who slashed Kelly?
Get your hand off it, sonny.
Shut your eyes.
Put out your hand.
Shrapnel.
Present from Pozières.
Medic dug it out and I kept it.
Good luck charm.
(GASPS)
Don't look at that bloke again.
Fallen comrades.
Lest we forget.
Start something round here
gotta finish it.
Melbourne.
No weapons.
Go ahead.
See how far you get.
Like everyone else.
Norman Bruhn
had been expecting reprisals.
They were part of his plan.
But he'd imagined a dark alley
and a razor in his hand.
He'd imagined winning.
Imagined scaring Kate and Tilly
even further.
What he got
was a classic Sydney pack arding.
after Packard, the make of boot
the gangsters favoured.
(READS) "The assault was witnessed by
a dozen sly imbibers
"yet police say none could,
or would,
"identify the men responsible.
"
"The chief victim, Mr Norman Bruhn,
"is the reputed leader of the worst gang
of thugs on the street.
"But Mrs Kate Leigh,
a person who's sometimes described
"as the Queen of the Underworld,
"told this correspondent
"that though she had heard
Mr Bruhn's name in passing,
"she thought him of no consequence.
"
SNOWY: So
Norm.
Clear off.
All of you.
Missus.
(KEITH READS) "Baby Ray has a dog.
"The dog is lit
"lit"
NORMAN: Little.
The dog is little.
Keep practising, Keithy.
Show up all them posh kids, eh?
"Baby Ray has a dog.
The dog is little.
"
IRENE: Norm.
Maybe
you should get out
of this business you're in
Don't start.
I'm lying here and you're having a go
at how I bring in a bloody earn.
Language, love.
You've got enough to eat, don't you?
Boys aren't in bloody rags, are they?
(MOUTHS)
Everything I do is for you
and the boys.
I came up here to get us
a better life
and that's what I'm gonna do.
A wise man would have given up
and gone back to Melbourne.
But for Norman Bruhn.
there was no going back.
Arggh!
SONG: # Tall.
mad.
mean
and good-looking
# And he's got me in his eye #
(MEN SHOUT AND GROAN)
# When he looks at me #
On the contrary.
he went on and on.
pushing harder and closer
to Tilly and Kate.
# Big.
bad.
handsome man.
yeah
# He's got me in the palm
of his hand
# He's the devil divine
# I'm so glad that he's mine
# 'Cause he's my big.
bad.
handsome man #
(WOMAN SCREAMS)
# The music he plays
The way he moves me and sways
# He rocks me to the core #
His strategy was simple.
He was going to panic them
into leaving.
scare them into yielding.
After all.
they were only a couple of women.
How much calculated terror
could they take?
# He's got me in the palm of his hand
# He's the devil divine
# I'm so glad that he's mine
# 'Cause he's my big.
bad.
handsome man #
(BAND PLAYS INTERLUDE)
The third target
of Norman's standover campaign
was Phil Jeffs
and his two -up schools.
They were a handy
and inexhaustible little earner.
# Oh.
my big.
bad.
handsome man
# Yeah
# He's got me in the palm
of his hand
# He's the devil divine
I'm so glad that he's mine
# 'Cause he's my big.
bad
# I'm so glad
that he's my big.
bad.
handsome man
# Mm-mm.
#
(WAVES LAP NEARBY,
SHIP'S HORN ***)
You, get him to St Vincent's.
In those heady bygone days.
a weapon of terror
cost just a few pence.
Suddenly.
every street hood
and standover wannabe in the city
was carrying a Bengal blade
and using it.
Norman Bruhn had ushered in the era
of the razor gangs.
More razor attacks!
Streets are running red!
Read it in 'Truth'!
More razor attacks!
Streets are running red!
As for the police.
well.
Blind Freddy could see
there was a war on.
But figuring out the whos, whys
and wherefores.
well.
that required someone
actually opening their mouth.
MACKAY: So, whose blood's that, then?
That yours, Ernest Wilson?
Not yours, I hope, Mr Jeffs.
JEFFS: No, it's not blood, Inspector.
My clumsy associate here,
he spilled a pot of paint.
What the ***'s going on?
Nothing.
What the *** is going on?
Nothin'.
Do you kiss your mother
with that mouth?
You're a sensible woman, Kate.
Something nasty's brewing.
Besides your watered-down whisky.
I don't water me whisky.
Well, whatever this is,
it's getting out of hand.
Is it Jeffs?
The Devines?
Are you and Tilly feuding again?
Or have you ladies pitched in together,
decided you'll slash your way through
the competition?
(SCOFFS)
Bill, I know that you've got
a job to do,
but there's three things
that you need to know.
One,
I don't water me whisky.
Two,
I've always looked after me own.
And three,
I could boot Tilly Devine
a bigger distance
than I'd trust her
to pitch in with anyone.
Don't understand why you'd think
of me and her in the same breath.
Selling illicit liquor,
peddling dope,
ruining young girls' lives.
(INHALES)
No-one can say I've done terrible
things like Kate Leigh.
Er Mrs Devine,
I'm trying to help you here.
Jeffs, you, Kate Leigh,
someone's targeting you 'cause you all
trade in the same general area.
Listen, 'Mackie', I wouldn't let me dog
*** in the same *** area
as Kate *** Leigh.
Now, *** off out of me house.
I got *** to do.
Go on!
Turn around.
Turn around.
Can I've a go next, Dad?
Course you can.
Keep pedalling.
Keep pedalling.
Prince of Wales had one just like it.
Pedalled it round Windsor Castle.
Soon I'll buy us
a place in the suburbs.
Maroubra, maybe.
Lane Cove.
Some nice new clothes,
silk stockings
(LAUGHS)
electric sewing machine.
Some books for the boys.
Norman Bruhn had hand-picked
his gang with an eye to diversity.
Snowy Cutmore
was a vicious loose cannon.
George Wallace
was a loy al attack dog.
While 'razor Jack' Hayes.
well.
he brought
certain technical skills.
And you could never be sure
where the gang would strike next.
SONG: # Stuck in my throat
# Pulling me down
# Like a rumble in the ground
# Crawls up from the depths
# With a deep-down sound
# Johnny got a boom boom
# Johnny got a bam
# He got a
# Big-bottom body
# Long lean neck
# Swear it was a woman
that he had in his grip
# Big vibrations.
yeah
# Just one glance
# He's gonna blow my mind
# He's gonna make me wanna
Make me wanna.
oh #
(DOGS BARK)
WALLY: Butcher's a no-show.
Didn't appreciate being blown up.
Can't say I blame him.
WOMAN: Oh, yeah, those two blokes
selling your snow
up on Oxford Street?
Gone back to the pie factory.
Probably worried about
their throats gettin' slashed.
Jeez, thanks for your insight, May.
Barney's here.
Don't be so familiar.
He's Mr Dalton to you.
Where you been?
Out delivering spuds.
Ran from Cleveland Street,
down Crown, to the wharfs.
Do sprints?
Anyone in the groggeries?
Yeah, sprints with
Ma, can I have a scone?
Thinking of trying this weekend No,
not a soul.
Bruhn's scared 'em all off.
What about Kippax Street? Mack's?
Ma, can I've a scone?
No, you can't.
You'll spoil your figure.
Will you two stop talking football?!
Actually, all of youse,
just get out of me kitchen.
Go on, *** off!
Not you.
(BOTH GRUNT AND PANT)
(MOANS)
Ugh!
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH GROAN)
We need more blades.
You make sure
that Greg, Octopus, Barney,
make sure all the boys carry 'em.
If that's what you want.
Well, I don't want.
I don't want to stoop
to Norman Bruhn's filthy level,
but you have to retaliate first.
You do have a friend
in a high place.
Maybe he could help.
(SNIGGERS)
I don't think the Lord's gonna
*** Bruhn off for me
no matter how hard I pray.
(KISSES)
I was thinking
of a more earthly power.
So Norman Bruhn's behind
this mayhem?
And you, Jeffs, the Devines, have all
been turning the other cheek?
You wanted someone
to tell you what's what.
Norman Bruhn, that's what.
Now go out and arrest him.
Your men, they're prepared
to stand in court,
swear it was Bruhn who cut 'em?
Nah.
St Vincent's treated
One lad lost an ear.
Another had his sniffer lopped off.
Not one of them'd say
how they came to be hurt.
Folk are scared of Bruhn
and his droobs.
And they're scared of you and yours
and Jeffs and the Devines.
Pains me to say this,
but not one of you's in line
for a sainthood.
Everything was just fine before Bruhn
swanned up from Melbourne.
Until one of you lot breaks your
precious code of silence,
there's precious little I can do
about him.
SNOWY: We turn over a place,
couple of days it opens up again.
Making next to no boodle.
Told you these Sydney sheilas
weren't pushovers.
They got a lot of dosh and muscle.
SNOWY: No, this is bull, Norm.
We should just
(IMITATES GUN FIRING)
Shut up.
show some balls
and fix the ***
Shut up, you galah.
MACKAY: Mr Bruhn.
Inspector Mackay,
Darlinghurst Police.
I believe you've already had
the pleasure
of Detective Sergeant Wickham's
acquaintance.
WICKHAM: We're conducting
a search for illegal weapons
under section 4.
1
of the Pistol Licensing Act 1927.
(METAL CLINKS)
Interesting.
That's not a pistol.
Here's a puzzler, Detective Wickham.
Why would a man carry a razor
in his pocket
when he pays another man
to shave him?
It's not illegal.
Get 'em.
You want to watch out, Mr Bruhn.
You're making a name for yourself.
Yeah?
Aye.
Which means we'll be keeping
a nice close eye on you.
(OTHERS LAUGH)
Luigi, give us half a dozen more
of your best Bengals, will ya?
Go on, show us what you got.
Get off.
I hate bloody footy.
All that runnin' and sweatin'.
Never would have guessed.
What do you want, George?
I want your wallet, Wally.
Wallet, Wally.
Wallet, Wally.
(BALL HISSES)
(ALL GRUNT)
Arrgh!
(ETHEREAL MUSIC)
(SCREAMS)
(ETHEREAL MUSIC CONTINUES)
It wasn't his face or even his arm.
Barney Dalton was one of the most
popular rugby league players
of his era.
But not after a severed
Achilles tendon.
Not after Norman Bruhn.
Ma.
They're for Barney and Wally.
Pass me that cake tin.
The Jew's here.
Hey?
Phil The Jew.
Here in our house?
Morning.
How's your boys?
Well, Barney will walk with a limp for
the rest of his days
and Wally, well, he's not winning
any beauty pageants.
(SNIGGERS) He was no oil painting
to begin with.
You know, I knew Bruhn was a ***,
but this
this was a real *** act.
Well, you know what his game is,
don't you?
He's gonna go through all our people
till he gets to us.
You, me, Tilly.
Yeah, well, I'm not scared of him.
He's welcome to the cockney slag.
Kate,
if he takes out just one of us,
he's gonna be unstoppable.
Every hood in the city is gonna be
howling to join his push.
Bruhn is changing the rules.
We gotta change with it.
How?
You said a private meeting
of important personages,
so what the *** is she doing here?!
JEFFS: We gotta put bad blood aside.
Look, I know it's toilsome,
but we've got a common problem here.
There's only one thing common
in here.
Right.
So, Bruhn's the problem,
we kill the slasher.
Problem solved.
Coupla bullets
(IMITATES GUN FIRING)
What?
You wanna bring
every copper in Sydney down on us?
They got a thing about murders.
They hang you for it.
Oh, maybe you could pull
the trigger, do us all a favour.
JEFFS: Mrs Leigh does have a point.
Look, we're all suffering
the slings and arrows
of an outrageous loss of fortune,
thanks to this Bruhn.
Your customers are only going
to stay away in more droves
if they think they're gonna meet their
maker if they come up this way.
Got an idea, do you, Jeffs?
Scare him off.
Shoot him in the knee.
(SCOFFS)
Both knees.
Then we drive him
to a railway station,
put a sign round his neck -
'Return to Melbourne'.
Just kill him.
It's for the best.
Jim?
JIM: They got a point, Till.
Our boy Frank Green
will do the shooting.
KATE: What, the Little Gunman?
(CHUCKLES)
I hear he's tops against chandeliers,
not so flash against the living.
Anything we suggest, she pooh-poohs!
KATE: My boy Greg Gaffney's
your bloke.
He's got guts.
Spends his time carousing
at your depraved groggeries.
You ever heard of pots and kettles?
It really upsets me
to be in your proximity.
It took a while.
but eventually the council of war
thrashed out a plan
to kneecap Norman.
Big Jim Devine would choose the gun.
Kate Leigh would provide the gunman
and Phil Jeffs' boys.
the Kelly brothers.
they were to be the backup plan.
Norman Bruhn was problem solved.
But then Tilly Devine went home.
hatched her own grand plan
and kept it all to herself.
You want me to shoot Norman Bruhn?
Yeah.
Do the job Kate Leigh's too chicken to
see done proper.
Kill him, eh?
Jeez, oh, yeah.
Sure thing.
I'm your gunman.
I can do it.
Do it like that.
You'd pay me, right?
Thir (CLEARS THROAT)
But didn't Jim agree
to just nobble him?
Ah, Jimmy's not thinking straight.
Soon as he sees the headline 'Bruhn
Dead', he'll know my way was best.
You the gunman
or aren't you, Frankie?
You want the street chiming
Greg Gaffney's name?
You want him called the Gunman
or you?
I'll fix him for you, Tilly.
(EXOTIC MUSIC)
(CHATTERING)
MAN: No sheilas in here, love.
Can I please have a sherry?
Alright, just this once.
FRANK: You don't need that.
Pretty as a picture already.
You're going to get me into trouble,
Little Gunman.
Buy you all this, did he?
You know he's married.
Couple of kids.
I don't know what you see in him.
He's old and he's from Melbourne.
He's the best.
He's the best.
Not going to happen, Frank.
Nellie, Nellie.
I'll pay you.
(FRANK BREATHES DEEPLY)
(READS) "Dan has the bag.
"Ned is a big man.
"He is by him.
"Baby Ray has a dog.
"The dog is little.
"
Good boy, Keithy.
You need a shave.
"Nell has the doll on her lap.
"
(DOOR CLOSES)
"She will put her doll in the cot.
"
Where'd you get that?
Working.
Good girl.
Sometimes Wal gets lucky,
but more often than not it's just her
and her pug-ugly daughter.
K-K-Katie's ripe for the pickin'.
But pick our moment, blow the door.
Scare the daylights
out of her livin' ***.
She'll think her number's up.
(BOTH LAUGH)
SNOWY: I like my idea better.
Just kill Kate and Tilly.
You need me to spell it out for you
again, Snow?
You need me to remind you
how well known Kate and Tilly are?
How killing 'em would be the act
of a short-sighted galoot
who didn't value his neck?
You not got that?
I got it.
Are you sure?
Seems there's an itch in your daks
you're just longin' to scratch.
I'm sweet.
You're the one lettin' the beer
go warm.
Snowy Cutmore had yet another plan.
He was going to kill his boss
and take over the gang.
But he'd have to join
a queue of people
wanting to do Norman Bruhn harm
that night.
Give him a packarding from me.
Let's go.
And it was a long queue.
Rest when the job's done.
JIM: What's going on?
Nothing.
What, are you still dirty
about Kate Leigh?
The woman just raised her voice
and you keeled over
It was the right way to handle Bruhn
and you know it!
Just trying to keep the cops
off our backs.
You and me'll swing past
Leigh's joint.
Whatever you say, Norm.
Meet up later.
Come on, Georgie Porgie.
How come you get a bonzer
nickname like Razor Jack
and I get Georgie Porgie?
Oi, Grandpa.
Mack's Cafe, mate.
(RAIN PATTERS)
SNOWY: Isn't that Kate Leigh?
That was Leigh.
Get our cut from Mack's first, eh?
She'll keep.
You're the boss.
Ah, you gents be wanting me further?
NORMAN: Yeah, wait here.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
I'm the Gunman.
I'm the Gunman.
I'm the Gunman.
(PAPER RUSTLES)
(DOOR OPENS)
You gents need a cab?
You best push off, mate.
Free world, isn't it?
Push off.
I'm the Gunman.
GAFFNEY: Who the bloody hell's that?
(GUNFIRE)
What the hell?
Who's that?
That's Bruhn.
Help.
I've been shot.
FRED: Let's go.
You'll be right, mate.
Mr Bruhn?
Inspector Mackay.
You remember me?
I won't shelf anyone.
Oh, come on, Norman.
Who shot you?
I won't be a copper.
You got nothing to lose, mate.
Do the right thing.
*** off.
Mr Bruhn
No, you heard him.
My husband's got nothing to say.
(CRIES)
(SOMBRE MUSIC)
Don't leave me.
(SOBS)
Ma'am.
Mrs Bruhn, my condolences.
Did he say anything?
Did he tell you who shot him?
No, he didn't.
And I wouldn't tell you if he had.
He's dead?
That wasn't the plan.
Yeah, it wasn't me, Kate.
I never even got the chance.
Well, who? Hmm?
Who killed him?
We only caught a glimpse.
I think it was Frank Green.
Tilly *** Devine.
(WISTFUL MUSIC)
I had the guts to do it!
*** ***!
I had the guts to do it!
SONG: # Headlong
# Straight up
# Fall down
# Get up
# We'll run
# We'll lead
# We'll fall
# We'll bleed
# We'll win
# We'll crush
# Your end
# Not us
# Disappointment is everywhere
# In your eyes
I can see it there
# Pointless ends
# And pointless means
# In this moment you'll see.
#
(THEME MUSIC)
SONG: # It's a jungle out there
# It's a jungle out there
# It's a jungle out there.
#
