Season 1

Episode 5

Producers: Michael Jenkins & Peter Schreck
Directors: Ana Kokkinos
Written by: John Banas

First aired 14th August, 2002.


Yes the usual suspects as per previous eppy's with the flash back clips.  But something different, we seem to be forgoing the cast line up stock shots in favour for the cast listed across the screen as we watch the drama start to unfold.
Guido, obviously still in a serious state after being shot, goes to confront Vince Rinaldi, who he believes is behind the attempt on his life.  They exchange heated, hate filled words while Guido is still dripping blood everywhere.  

"We define ourselves by the things we love... and by the things we hate.  Sometimes it's hard to know the difference." - Guido

The case for the week seems to be Guido and Cameron are working on a case of a missing girl.  They talk to her parents at a funeral for another street kid/runaway the girl knew, hoping she may turn up.
Back at the station, the four detectives and Inspector Kostas discuss the excess of heroin on the market and how they need to work diligently to crack down on it.  Donna notices Guido's obviously sick appearance "You look like shit" - well at least the girl tells it like she sees it! <g>   Guido passes it off as a sports injury - not that Cameron appears to believe him.
As they head out, a call comes across the radio reporting of a shooting at the fruit markets - Guido demands of Cameron that they get there.
On arrival we see the image of Vince Rinaldi shot in the head.
Guido goes ballistic, providing them with leads, Eddie gets suspicious.
Guido goes to comfort is ex-girlfriend over the death of her father, Cameron watches on in the shadows.

Eddie and Donna start interviewing the main suspect as per Guido - Daniel Crane.  Crane in turn points the finger at Guido as being responsible.  Eddie and Donna take the accusations to the Inspector and not until Eddie mentions Cameron had previously made enquires regarding Crane, that she tells them to get Cameron and Guido in.

Guido and Cameron are called to where the body of a girl has been found in a waste skip.  The missing girl's parents are there demanding to be let through to check if it is there daughter.  Guido calms them down and promises to go check.  They are met by the senior officer on the scene who Guido introduces to Cameron as his father.
Woo!  Didn't see that coming!!
Although the girl is not the one they are looking for, the scene is very powerful in bringing more of Guido's past out.  His parents are obviously not together and it's obvious the father and son are uncomfortable and awkward around each other.
Eddie and Donna turn up - demanding Guido goes to the station.

And there is the first commercial break, 13 and a half minutes in!

Eddie and Donna throw some accusations at Guido which he firmly denies, they try Cameron and she backs him up 100%.
He is hauled into the Inspectors office, still denying the accusations and basically challenging Kostas to go to Internal Investigations.

Guido goes to Sophia's house.  She tells him she is taking over the running of the family business.  They end up in bed, Sophia later telling Guido she doesn't care he took her father's money which he still denies.  He's obviously troubled that she doesn't believe him.

Through an informant, Guido thinks he has found Kelly, the missing girl.  He goes to the supposed place only to find the young girl prostituting herself is another young girl.  Guido gives the girl, Lisa, his card and asks her to contact him if she sees her.  Guido obviously has a soft spot for these runaways - there has to be a back story in that somewhere.

With evidence that he had been at the markets the night Vince Rinaldi was shot, Guido is once again hauled into the Inspectors office with the other detectives whilst accusations again fly around.  Guido is still being evasive, and when realising he still hasn't been suspended, pleads for another day to work it all out.
He leaves and Cameron follows.

They're called to yet another disturbance -  again involving the missing girls family trying to get information after a positive sighting of her.  Guido's gets knocked in a scuffle, setting his wound open again.  This time Cameron sees the blood.  She's been backing him up all the way, but she knows he's into something deep.
Cameron finally tells Eddie and Donna about her association with Daniel Crane and the message.  She still doesn't believe Guido took the money, but she now believes that Crane shot Guido.  Eddie is more than annoyed Cameron didn't come to him with the information - but she knows he'd do the same for Donna.  The detectives cruise The Cross looking for Guido, and decide in the end to bring Crane in.
Guido in the meantime is on a one man crusade to find Kelly Rosewell.  He gets a call from Lisa, obviously not in a good way.  Guido promises to come and get her - she doesn't want his help, but she has information on where to find Kelly.  Guido doesn't get to her in time.

The next morning at the station, they're all wondering where Guido is.  Eddie has changed his tune somewhat, asking for more time before the Inspector calls internal investigations in on the matter.  The mood changes when two what I can only gather are 'high up' undercover guys turn up, informing them all that Guido is part of a major undercover operation.  Even though his cover has been blown, he is still on the job with them.  This of course is a huge surprise to everyone, but explains Guido's reluctance to tell his co-workers anything.

Guido arrives on the scene and everyone is looking fairly embarrassed at the fact they didn't believe him.  There is a shipment of drugs arriving and the undercover guys need Crane to met it or the whole operation is blown.  Guido convinces Crane that they have too much on him to not go through with helping them.
While Eddie and Donna are at the drug bust, Guido and Cameron go in search of the squat to find Kelly.   They find her, along with several other girls all in various degrees of unconsciousness from drugs.

The operation a success, Guido is informed he will receive a commendation for his work and he is congratulated for his work on finding the missing girl. 
Sophia turns up at the station with a lawyer to see her brother who actually murdered her father.  Guido confronts her about the drug business her father was tied up in, that's what she has inherited.  After the exchange, Guido decides to stay with South-West.

We hear Guido and his "life defining" theory again at the end... and he thanks Cameron for sticking up for him.  It seems that he may have found the difference this time.  With that, they're off to another job!  (headless body in a topless bar???  - nice one John! <g>)

Reviewer personal rating:
8 ¹/₂ out of 10.

Oh wow!
Basically everything.  To be honest I adore John Banas' work.  He as to be one of the countries best scriptwriters and I knew it would be a well written episode when I saw his name in the opening credits.  If I had just a fraction of his writing talent with my work, I'd be a happy woman!  That being said, the actors have to carry it through, and I believe they did.  Camera work was brilliant, especially the night shots of what I assume was actually Kings Cross.  The mix of the film, teamed with background music worked wonderfully.

Did we really need...
The sex scene seemed to be just thrown in there, it's purpose was obviously for Sophia not to believe Guido about the money, but it didn't really gel IMHO.

Quotes:

Guido to Sophia: "I picked up this girl in the street last night... and I even didn't get to take her to the hospital... took her straight to morgue.  That's the business you're in.  God help me I still don't hate you." 

Guido to Cameron: "I know what you did for me... sticking your neck out... thanks."
car radio:  "South West 102... we have a headless body in a topless bar on Parramatta Road... please respond." 

Guest Actors (alphabetical listing)


Ray Anthony - Stunt driver
Jennifer Campbell - Police Receptionist
Gabrielle Carr - Vincent Rinaldi
Imelda Corcoran - Judith Rosewell
Steve Douglas-Craig - Bouncer
Kerrie Erwin - Mrs. Chase
Sandi Finlay - Prostitute
David Gambin - Tony Collo
Jim Gosden - Mr. Chase
Nigel Harbach -  Uniformed stunt officer
Adam Hedditch - Quinn
Panada Likoudis - Carver
Vince Melton - Norman Rosewell
Wayne Moran - Customer
John Noble - Gallagher
Socratis Otto - Justin Carmody
Adam Palfaram - Bozz
Jonathan Pasvolsky - Daniel Crane
Billie Prichard - Lisa Carlisle
Maya Strange - Sophia Rinaldi
Ashleigh Synnott - Kelly Rosewell
Anna Torv - Irene Nedov
John Waters - Bill Martin

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