Remember Ronald Ryan Read online

Yeah, I love coffee, Mr George. Where’s it come from?

  DOROTHY: A jar!

  Again they collapse into laughter. MR GEORGE chuckles as well.

  MR GEORGE: Christ, it’s hot.

  MRS GEORGE: Don’t bring Him into it.

  RYAN: As long as He brings a plate, he’s a white man.

  MRS GEORGE: Ronald!

  RYAN: Mother!

  MR GEORGE has also collapsed. Partly due to intense heat and partly due to boredom.

  MRS GEORGE: Perhaps we really ought to open the windows?

  DOROTHY: Into a better world.

  She covers her mouth. Holds RYAN tight.

  RYAN: I like this one. Don’t know a better one. There isn’t a better one.

  DOROTHY: Could we possibly turn Mozart down?

  RYAN: Don’t bother. I’m beginning to enjoy him. Mozart was a moulder.

  MRS GEORGE: It must be hard to court by tram.

  RYAN: I always stand up for the women.

  DOROTHY: That’s because he’s a gent.

  MRS GEORGE: She’s my only daughter.

  RYAN: I’m her only man.

  MR GEORGE: The wine appears to be empty.

  RYAN: You appear to be full.

  MR GEORGE laughs loudly.

  MRS GEORGE: That is an enormous pocket handkerchief you have, Ron.

  RYAN: I use it to cry when I can’t see Dorothy.

  MRS GEORGE: I suppose you think that’s a very smart thing to say?

  RYAN: Not at all.

  Thunder and lightning arrive.

  MRS GEORGE: A cool change. Heavenly!

  RYAN: [to DOROTHY] Not before time.

  MR GEORGE: What do you intend where Dorothy is concerned, Ron?

  RYAN: To honour her. [He whispers to DOROTHY.] To love her. To miss her. I’ll read to her. The classics. With the same intensity as in the Boys Home. Words were the way out.

  MRS GEORGE: You’d best hurry with your sweet. You’ll miss your last tram.

  RYAN: It’s beneficial for me to come here. And I really want to thank you for perfect manners. I learn where I come from.

  DOROTHY: [whispering to RYAN] You come from Heaven.

  RYAN: We’ll go there together. What’s it like being the Mayor of Hawthorn, Harold? You’re a magistrate too, aren’t you? Those two men here before. Who were they?

  MR GEORGE: Arthur Rylah and Henry Bolte, old colleagues. I have staunch allies. People of merit like Arthur Rylah. He’s progressive. They both are.

  RYAN: Funny name, isn’t it? Rylah. I hope to meet him. He might be able to help me. I better go. Don’t want to outstay my welcome. Fascinating evening.

  DOROTHY: We’ll take our coffee in the rain, Gough my darling.

  Blackout. Light up on DOROTHY and RYAN sipping coffee in the rain.

  RYAN: I love you. I can’t explain why. Just do. You’re wonderful.

  They kiss passionately and deeply.

  DOROTHY: What do you think of the Ruling Class?

  RYAN: I don’t think of them. Only you. You’re the first aristocrat I’ve ever met.

  DOROTHY: They’re not bad people. Dad makes decent hearses.

  RYAN: I’m sure he does.

  DOROTHY: He likes you.

  RYAN: I’ll live with him then.

  DOROTHY: [laughing deeply] Mother takes a bit of getting used to.

  RYAN: So does death. No offence, Dorothy! Don’t worry. I’ll do the right thing by you. You know that. Engagement ring at Dunklings. Your mother will see it before you. Your father seems to like me. All your mother needs is a heart. Your father worships you, doesn’t he, Dorothy?

  DOROTHY: He does.

  RYAN: I’m off like a Bondi.

  DOROTHY: What’s that mean?

  RYAN has walked away.

  RYAN: Oh, these privileged Brighton sheilas!

  DOROTHY: [calling out] Remember Ronald Ryan!

  Blackout on Sunday tea.

  We see RYAN and WALKER sitting in the car later at night. The same day of their breakout, February 19th 1965. It is after midnight and they eat chips in the lonely escape car.

  WALKER: Nice chips.

  RYAN: Shut up.

  POLICE RADIO: Check 8 Pilgrim Street Footscray friends of Walker. From female 24 Bruce Street Kensington car you want is outside Laurence Perfumery. It is the car. It is empty. Prison coats in the car. Car has been here since at least 1745 hours. Engine is cold. Friend of Walker named Rhoder expected to visit. We are sitting outside 8 Pilgrim Street and will do so all night. Have dogs attend scene in Elizabeth Street. Nobody at Elizabeth Street.

  WALKER: They’ll be going to your family. We’ve got to make a move. Where can we stay? Who’ll put us up? They’re all frightened of getting done for harbouring. They have forgotten The Code.

  POLICE RADIO: He has a stepbrother George 50 years old 84 Glen Eira Road, sister Gloria, Elwood. 2345 hours from Footscray two men seen in Dynon Road walking towards Maribyrnong Road. One carrying what could be a rifle. Men acting suspiciously near South Kensington Railway Station. 2318 hours require transport for dogs. Transport branch. Van on way. Returning to Coburg to knock off. 2320 hours. Mr X states that fifth house on left. Newmarket Street Kensington in Marshall Street in 1958 with Ryan dumped off stolen smokes. Checking Dynon Road Railway yards re suspects. All clear checked men okay. Man rang 3UZ said doctor required for Walker at St Vincent’s Place. Sergeant Slater at Russell Street CIB will check with car 100, 0001 hours. 3:08 a.m. Checking house break in Albert Park.

  WALKER: We’ll go to St Kilda. We’ll have to go to St Kilda.

  POLICE RADIO: 1604 hours from Mr Clarkson Mount Alexander Road Flemington re vacant house a tall man is hiding in bushes behind ICI building Ascot Vale. This man is wearing trousers only.

  WALKER: I’ll drive. I’ll drive. Where’s this bloke Farn live? Fifty bucks for a bag of bodgie plates. Where’s he live? Why do they cost that much?

  RYAN: Give us the pickled onion. I’m not going back.

  POLICE RADIO: Located the two men not escapees. An Italian and an escapee at Brunswick Football Ground. Ryan called at premises of Stanley Edward Farn who was not home. Ryan told Farn’s wife whom he knows very well that he wants to get him a bodgie set of plates. He will return later this evening. Concentrate St Kilda area keep clear of Linton Street.

  RYAN: No good going to St Kilda. That’s the first place they’d look. Every crim goes to St Kilda.

  WALKER: We’ve got no say in it. It’s got to be St Kilda. I’ll drive with the lights out.

  RYAN: Oh, yeah. Brilliant.

  WALKER: Shut up.

  They start the car. The motor roars into life.

  POLICE RADIO: Attention 12 Linton Street. Vehicle not located. Call off roadblocks. To Geelong for information. Notify Ballarat, Wangaratta. All stations. Swan Hill notify all stations. Ute GTN 074 has been abandoned. Ute engine is cold and cooking utensils, tarp, jumper and crockery. 2345 hours from car 212. Escapee did visit.

  POLICE RADIO: Walker seen near British carpet manufacturers. Two men similar to escapees go into house at 129 High Street Bayswater with criminal named Riley. Attend Luna Park. Said to be Ryan outside River Caves. Searched River Caves no sign. From man refused name Ryan at 60 Ella Grove Chelsea. From man refused name I saw two men and I am sure they are escapees with a woman come out of a single-fronted house in Dryburgh Street North Melbourne. The house is opposite a brick building.

  POLICE RADIO: Norman Sparks. I am a cab driver and am sure I picked up Ryan at Newmarket rank and dropped him in Lee Street Carlton three or four houses down from Rathdowne Street. Checked area apparent hoax. Warder from French Island saw Ryan and Walker. Two escapees seen in a truck shop. Man resembling one of the escapees got off a tram at Newmarket.

  WALKER: [nervously] Let’s walk. Let’s not walk. They’re everywhere. Every brick’s got their face in it: old mates putting us in. Where’s their philosophy? They’re not staunch. The car’s too hot.

  RYAN: Hop on the train. We’re out of money. We’ll
do a bank. Know a few nice soft ones. Christmas Eve. Everyone’s starry-eyed, distracted. Get me?

  Blackout. Rattle of electric train. RYAN and WALKER’s voices are clear above the rattle of the train. The brakes of the train shriek as it pulls up.

  WALKER: Where are we?

  RYAN: Ormond.

  WALKER counts out about three pounds from his wallet.

  WALKER: Who do you bank with, Ron?

  RYAN: Anyone who’s got any money.

  WALKER: Commonwealth, aren’t you?

  RYAN: Used to be with the English, Scottish and Australian. The good old ES&A. I think they went broke.

  WALKER: I’m happy with the ANZ. They’ve always done the right thing by me. Here’s one.

  Lights up sharply as they rob the Ormond branch of the ANZ bank. A few tellers and clerks put their hands up. RYAN aims a rifle at them.

  Righto. Whack the dough in a bag and I might let youse knock off early. If you are very good little children.

  A nervous CLERK puts a heap of notes into WALKER’s bag.

  RYAN: And don’t try anything funny. This rifle has already killed one man.

  WALKER: Merry Christmas, all. Go home and have a happy day.

  An excited woman CUSTOMER rushes in and passionately embraces RYAN.

  CUSTOMER: Who do you think you are, Father Christmas? Give us a kiss?

  RYAN: This is a robbery, lady. Haven’t you got any respect?

  CUSTOMER: [passionately kissing RYAN] I love a joke.

  RYAN: Here’s four hundred quid. Get yourself a new hairdo!

  Sirens effect. Car wheeling away. Radio static. End of the scene at ANZ bank Ormond.

  Piece of cake.

  WALKER: Don’t know why more don’t do it. Get off their backside. Get the country going again. Where’s their initiative?

  RYAN and WALKER gobbling food just like starving dogs. Ripping apart a chicken in the street with the noise of cars slicing by them.

  POLICE RADIO: Possible hold-up. One of the two men of whom was definitely Ryan. Escapees Ryan and Walker believed travelling in two-tone grey Holden GES 880 involved in armed hold-up at ANZ bank Ormond. Two pistols stolen from bank. Heading east in North Road. Reports sightings. One offender had rifle. Both now have pistols. GES 280 sedan black formerly estate of S.E. Freeman Echuca. Roadblocks Kingsway Bridge. Princes Bridge. Grange Road. Dandenong Road Caulfield area. Ryan armed with carbine and wearing navy shoes and white open-neck sports shirt. Walker armed with Mauser pistol and wearing khaki trousers and sloppy white tennis hat and round lens sunglasses. Stole 6,000 pound in assorted banknotes and two 32 Browning automatic pistols. Property of bank. Heatherton Road. Springvale Road. Concentrate on St Kilda area. Light two-tone Holden with two men wearing white open-neck sports shirts travelling fast in Chesterville Road Cheltenham. No sign.

  RYAN and WALKER consult a flashy SALESMAN at a car yard.

  RYAN: Hey, mate, would that shitheap get us to Sydney, d’ya reckon?

  SALESMAN: That’s a DeSota. It’d get to Indonesia.

  RYAN: Got any rust in it? Does it go?

  WALKER: How much is it? [To RYAN] It’s a bit flash, isn’t it?

  RYAN: I love flash.

  SALESMAN: Only had one owner. Needs nothing. Hop in. The last bloke who had it didn’t want to get rid of it.

  RYAN: Because he pinched it. Give us the keys. Get out of the road.

  He hands over a wad of notes. The SALESMAN exchanges the money for keys.

  WALKER: Elvis Presley probably drove this thing.

  RYAN: Never mind the paperwork. Come on, hop in. You drive. Let’s go.

  A newsflash over the car yard radio barks at them.

  NEWSFLASH: Two bandits, believed to be Pentridge escapees, Ronald Ryan and Peter Walker, escaped with over 4,000 pounds in cash.

  A huge wheelie is heard as they scream out of the car yard.

  RYAN: Christine Aitken’s. Go straight down St Kilda Road.

  The flat of Christine Aitken. Loud rock music; Christmas Eve. RYAN belts on the door.

  CHRISTINE: You can’t come in here. It’s Christmas Eve.

  RYAN: You have no say in the matter. Christine my dear. This is Christine, partner, a real charmer. We are desperate men. We are committed.

  WALKER: Just until we have a rest, that’s all. Just want a rest, Christine. That’s all.

  CHRISTINE: Ah well, in you come.

  A party is in progress: various kids and tough types.

  FIRST PARTYGOER: That’s a great haircut, mate. Get it in Pentridge?

  RYAN: That’s right, kid. Look fantastic, don’t I?

  They laugh and some kids dance the Twist. RYAN is fascinated.

  CHRISTINE: You’ve done so much time you missed out on the sixties.

  WALKER: What dance step is this? Hey, I like this one!

  CHRISTINE: [laughing] It gets to you, doesn’t it? It’s the Twist!

  FIRST PARTYGOER: And it goes like this…

  He dances with his girl. We hear Chubby Checker singing ‘The Twist’ loudly.

  RYAN: I can’t do that. I’ve got haemorrhoids. I like it though. Catchy thing.

  WALKER: Jesus, you’re good at it.

  CHRISTINE: Come on. Have a go at the Twist. What have you got to lose?

  We see RYAN dance the Twist: begins tentatively but soon shows his style. WALKER claps his hands and cries with laughter and approval at the sight of his fellow escapee dancing this crazy new sensation.

  WALKER: [crying out] This is the best thing I’ve seen in my life, fair dinkum.

  RYAN: [crying out] Hey, this is fun!

  The music gets louder and goes into a medley of sixties songs. People drink a lot of beer and mime talking to each other: Christine’s boyfriend, ARTHUR HENDERSON, comes over to WALKER and offers him a beer. Each guest is extravagantly dancing.

  HENDERSON: [to WALKER] She’s spoken for.

  CHRISTINE: Oh, take it easy, Arthur. This is a party, remember? Christmas Eve party.

  HENDERSON: She’s spoken for, okay, cowboy? Get on your horse.

  CHRISTINE: You don’t own me.

  WALKER: [laughing, sipping his beer] Sounds like a song.

  CHRISTINE: [laughing] Good party, isn’t it, cowboy? Jesus, you look like Alan Ladd.

  HENDERSON: I’m Arthur Henderson, mate. What’s your name?

  JOHN FISHER stumbles forward clutching a beer bottle.

  FISHER: Aren’t you going to introduce me? John Fisher. How are ya?

  FISHER shakes hands roughly with WALKER, spots RYAN holding a guitar in the corner. It is silent, the record player is off.

  [To RYAN] I know you. We did can together at Bendigo Training Prison.

  RYAN and FISHER shake hands roughly.

  RYAN: Sit down, mate. I’ll get you a beer.

  FISHER: I’ve got a beer. Who are you? I know you look like a monkey.

  RYAN: A friend of Christine’s. Jungle Jim. Who are you? King Kong?

  FISHER: I can’t place you, isn’t that strange? You are familiar.

  CHRISTINE: Let’s just keep things friendly.

  HENDERSON: Yeah. Who wants a Sao with gherkin relish?

  RYAN: I wouldn’t mind one with gherkin relish.

  RYAN moves towards the dips and empty beer bottles. CHRISTINE follows him.

  Listen, you. This is getting hot. Do as I say or you’ve had it, right?

  CHRISTINE: I didn’t ask you here. Who do you think you are? God?

  RYAN: Let’s all just relax and have a good old Christmas drink. Whoever you all are.

  RYAN undoes some St Agnes and tips brandy into many cups.

  Wish we had a pudding. Cheers, all. Have some brandy on me.

  They all sip their brandy, WALKER smoking nervously.

  CHRISTINE: [handing RYAN a guitar] Can you play?

  RYAN picks up the acoustic guitar and plays ‘Cool Water’.

  RYAN: [singing] All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water,

  Cool water.

&
nbsp; Oh, old Dan and I with throats burnt dry and souls that cry for water,

  Cool, clear, water…

  People gather around RYAN and enjoy his melodious rendition. He plays the instrumental versions and enjoys himself. FISHER conspires with HENDERSON in the background. They seem to be cooking up some sort of conspiracy as RYAN plays.

  HENDERSON: Well, if this is a party, let’s go and get some more beer. We’ll make it a party to remember, me and you. You look a bit grim, why don’t you cheer up?

  WALKER: I’ll go. I know a sly in Albert Park. You don’t look like Happy Hammond yourself. Now, you want a drink or not? Come with me.

  HENDERSON: I know a closer one. Come on. I’ll go with you.

  WALKER: We’ll go in my car. I want to return it in. New donk. Three dozen bottles and a carton of Turf.

  HENDERSON: Don’t Honk: New Donk. Yeah, I love Turf.

  As HENDERSON and WALKER leave, RYAN has a word in WALKER’s ear.

  RYAN: Watch him. Christine says he’s a towie. Got a transmitter in his truck. Don’t go on chat-back radio with him.

  WALKER: Yeah well, I’ll make sure he doesn’t transmit fuckin’ anything.

  RYAN: Just keep on your toes, right? Bring the grog and that’s all.

  WALKER: [to HENDERSON] You right? Let’s go. Who are you talking to? What are you hanging around for? Let’s go get the grog, okay?

  HENDERSON: See you all a bit later. And it goes like this…

  The Twist up loudly. Exit WALKER and HENDERSON.

  WALKER and HENDERSON are outside a sly grog shop in Albert Park. WALKER smokes apprehensively and waits as HENDERSON returns with a carton of beer and cigarettes.

  HENDERSON: No risk. They had plenty. [Holding up a bag] I feel like plenty. Jesus, I love drink. [He laughs, kisses the bag of bottles.] Love the filthy stuff.

  They walk.

  My mate Fisher back at Christine’s reckons that guitar man is Ronald Ryan. Is this correct? He’s worth five thousand pounds reward money. Johnny was at Bendigo Training Prison with him. He’d know, wouldn’t he? We are considering putting him into the cops. Want to be in it?

  WALKER: Not a bad idea. You reckon it’s him, do you? Are you sure?

  HENDERSON: Yes. John Fisher was in Bendigo Training Prison with him. He knows him. They sniff one another’s parts like dogs out there.

  WALKER: I’m not sure you’re right. It couldn’t be him. Not that man. He seems too ordinary. Like a timber cutter or ex-Army bloke.