DOMINO - Summary and Review
Michael is running down a tree-lined street and Gavin is pinned down by three shooters behind machinery at a shipping container wharf. Gavin advises Jack over the portable radio that one guy is already down. Jack tells him to wait for back-up and that they are moving in. A volley of gunshots are heard and two plainclothes officers enter the wharf together with Jack, Alex and Lance. After leaving his portable radio in his car, Mick is out of radio contact with what is happening on the wharf, although he has perfect visual acuity from behind a tall chain-mesh fence surrounding the container yard. He attempts to climb over the fence but the barbed wire at the top stops him. Jack, Alex and Lance use the shipping containers as cover. They are trying to get to where Gavin and Matt are caught under fire. Mick watches as a one of the gunmen takes control of a large forklift maneuvering it towards the containers Jack, Alex & Lance are using for cover. Yelling out a warning, his voice disappears in the sound of the gunfire. Mick pulls out his mobile phone and dials Alex's mobile number, screaming out for her to pick up the phone. She is in the process of answering the call as the forklift hits the top container. Jack sees the container move and calls a warning to Lance before pushing Alex and himself out of its path. Mick watches in horror from above. The plainclothes officers have the other gunmen under arrest. The gunman in the forklift fires upon Alex and Jack who dive for cover. Jack is finally able to return fire which fatally wounds the man. Quietness comes over the wharf. Alex and Jack hearing sounds of ragged breathing from behind a nearby container. Keeping their guard up, they both go to investigate and are shocked to find Lance pinned at the pelvis by the container.
THE REACTIONS
The Chief:
Jeff complains to Helen about not knowing about the two federal officers at the wharf when he okayed a simple surveillance which turned out to be 'the gun fight for the O.K. corral'. He blames the lack of knowledge of their presence for operation going 'belly-up and that's why one of my men is critically injured'. He tells her that he wants a full explanation from Jack.
Later Jeff tells Helen that the operation was by the book. He had followed procedure, checked with the drug squad that they had no interest in the manager at the wharf, and then made a command decision. There had been no reason to phone the Feds. Alex's informant, Tadpole, had been reliable to date. Jeff gives them the 'green light' to 'eyeball' the wharf over the next three days during which Tadpole had told them that something was going down.
Helen asks Jeff about seeing the counsellor and he tells her that while it is lonely at the top, he has the luxury of distance. Helen asks him what he is talking about and he fiddles with an American dollar note. He tells her that Clarke Webb gave him the note four years ago when he took over the job; 'It's a buck and it stops here'.
The Detectives:
Jack tells Alex and Mick that Helen knew something about the wharf before they went into their own
operation. Mick denies that Helen wouldn't have said something. Jack tells them that they are going
to want reports - IA, Hawker & the Shooting Team. Alex points out that it was her gig and she should
have checked it out better. Mick tries to alleviate her guilt but she leaves the room, heading for the
bathroom.
Alex is astounded Rorke has died, having thought it was just his legs. Jeff tells her that his pelvis was crushed. Jeff asks her to go through what happened, accentuating the fact that this isn't to lay blame. Alex tells him about the information her informant, Tadpole, gave her on drug transfer at the wharf.
In the Cutter Bar, Alex tells Jack that she shouldn't have listed to Tadpole Jack tells her that he had been reliable up until now and that they all feel guilty about what happened, even Mick, who wasn't crazy about the operation in the first place, because he left his radio in the car and from where he was he could have made a difference. Alex says that Hawker thinks it's her fault. Jack corrects her and states that Hawker spoke to her because it was her gig and that he had spoken with Jack as well It doesn't mean that it's anyone's fault.
Mick sits at his desk with his phone. He had been having trouble with the speed dial prior to the wharf incident and Alex has told him to get it fixed. Jack hangs up the phone and tells Alex that he 'shot the guy before the guy shot them and they are treating him like Billy the Kid'. Helen walks in and tells them that Jeff's after their reports. Mick queries her knowledge of the Feds involvement. Helen tells him that he should know better than to ask her that. Helen tells Jack that it's not their business and Jack responds that Rorke is dead and everything is their business. Helen changes the subject and asks Mick for his report and tells her that it's very simple; his car broke down and he missed the entire thing.
Mick heads downstairs and meets Donna. His anger boils over and he tells her that it's her fault his car broke down. Mick asks if she's ever heard of the Domino theory. He then tells her that because his car broke down, he had to get out and run and in doing so he left his portable radio behind and as a result he couldn't warn his colleagues that eight tonnes of steel was about to fall on them and turn them into pulp. He tells her that Rorke was the last Domino and storms off.
Helen speaks to Mick privately about being such a prick with how he has treated Donna. Helen tells him Donna works her butt off, trying to keep everything flowing and that Donna is dealing with people who care about getting things done. Helen tells him that he practically told her that she was responsible for Rorke's death. Mick responds that maybe Donna should have a good think about that and Helen tells him to shut up and that it was Mick who left his portable radio in his car.
Alex and Jack leave the Federal Police offices which, in Jack's opinion, was a total waste of time. Lynne Sukhart is waiting for them by her car. She asks them to pass on her 'thanks' to Helen Blackmore. Alex queries her and Lynne responds that 'you'd all stick together'. Alex asks her what she means and Lynne tells her to ask Helen. Returning to the station, Alex queries Helen on her relationship with Lynne. Helen tells her that it doesn't concern her. Alex contradicts stating that Lynn accused them of sticking together and asked her to pass on her 'thanks as in thanks for nothing'. Helen tells her that nothing is going on.
Jack tells Jeff that the Feds were there for automatic weapons, not drugs. They were on the Manager and were trying to get to the supplier. Alex walks in and tells them that the Feds didn't know that Tadpole was on to the manager too. He had been working the manager for months wanting cash in return for silence. Except Tadpole couldn't refuse one last collect and that's what he thought he'd get yesterday. Jeff finds in unbelievable that Tadpole didn't realise it was a gun smuggling operation. Alex says that he assumed it was drugs and he gave it to Alex as fact. They all wish they would have known earlier what was going down. Alex's body language gives away her anger and suspicion. Jeff questions her and points out to her that a good man is dead.
The Boat Crew:
Gavin sits at the computer, trying to write his report. He wonders what he should put down - that he
almost had him, that I would have shot him and Rorke would be okay. Matt points out that he should
write what happened and that Gavin didn't do anything wrong. Neither of them did. Gavin questions
what if he'd got off another shot or if he had a Glock instead of a .38? Matt tells him that he didn't and
that's the way life goes.
They take their reports to Helen and she questions how they are doing. Matt tells her that he's had better days. As they leave, Matt suggests that they go and get pissed and Gavin responds that it's his solution for everything and walks off. Helen is surprised by the outburst and Matt explains that Gavin is replaying the scene and his guilt.
Waiting in the D's office to be interviewed by Jeff, Matt points out to Alex that they also have to speak to IA and that this is a story that he could really get sick of telling. Gavin adds that they will also have to give evidence at the Coroner's Inquest. Alex reminds them that they'll both have to go over it with Counselling as well. Matt responds that he's not going to go and Jeff overhears, pointing out that he doesn't have a choice. He asks 'who's next?' Matt and Gavin look at each other and Matt tells him that he'll toss for it. Remembering another choice based on a toss of a coin, Gavin agrees to go first.
Gavin goes through the events at the wharf. It had been their second day of surveillance. An unmarked police car arrived at eleven hundred hours and Gavin suspected it was drug squad. He called Riley on the mobile advising of the development. Jeff asks why he didn't use the radio instead of the mobile. Gavin tries to cover but Jeff says that he believes that Alex and Jack arrived on the scene as a show of force to argue their point on what they thought was the drug squad shouldering in on their operation. A gunshot rang out during their discussion. Gavin made a run towards the gunshot while Matt called in back-up. Gavin reached a spot where he had a clean line of sight and some cover and then 'charged' the gunman. Gunfire was exchanged and the only time he had a clear shot of the gunman was when his ammo was empty.
Talking to Matt downstairs, he tells him that he had one clear shot and asks Matt what took him so long. Matt tells him that he ran over as fast as he could. Gavin debates that if Matt had got there five seconds earlier, he would have taken him. He says it was just bad luck; Rorke died because of a toss of a coin. Earlier in the year, Gavin had the opportunity to do a Glock course, but since Matt was also interested in the course and Gavin wanted to go away with Evie, they tossed a coin as to who would do the course. Matt won.
Matt recalls the night before when he partied hard. He returns to the wharf where there are still signs of Rorke's blood on the ground and container. Matt amends his report and tells Jeff that he had a hangover on the day, saying that he was feeling crook and when the adrenaline started to pump and he ran, he had thrown up. He debates that if he hadn't then things might have been different. Jeff states that his drug and alcohol analysis were negative and that maybe it wasn't a hangover. He notes that it was the first time that Matt had been under fire. Jeff tells him that they are talking about the same thing; adrenaline-fear. Matt tells him that he wasn't afraid and that he's amended his report.
The Administration Staff:
Lynne Sukhart, a Fed, comes to see Helen and wants to speak with her privately. In the interview room,
she accuses Helen of betraying her trust. Helen denies it asking how she was to know that Lynn was
working the same wharf. Lynne calls it as her mistake for being indiscreet and walks out the door.
Helen chases after her, calling her name. Jack is walking down the hallway and Lynne calls him a
'dickhead' as she passes him. Jack looks between the two of them, realising that there's something
going on.
Helen opens the door for Jeff to leave telling him that she's getting really sick of this and that her friendships are private and that she's done nothing wrong. Jeff walks out telling her that none of us lock the door on the job when leaving the office. He points out that Rorke is dead and it's his job to see if it could have been prevented.
Helen goes to the detectives and tells them that she can't believe that any of them would believe that she would deliberately withhold information from them; information that could seriously compromise an operation in which they were all involved. She states that she knows she didn't do it. Lynne never mentioned a location and only talked about guns and not drugs which they were investigating. Helen didn't make the connection so she had nothing to tell them. Helen leaves and Alex follows her out the door. Jack says to Mick that 'Maybe none of us should have friends. One minute it's fine and the next you're in a relationship and you've got to be on your guard. It just isn't worth it'.
Donna has been trying to get Mick's car towed from where it broke down but is having trouble with the contracting company. She complains to Helen that while it's probably not important in the big picture, if it stays out there overnight there is a big risk of it being vandalised which would only serve to produce more paperwork. Helen breaks in and tells her that she'll tell the company that if they don't tow the car away, she'll cancel their contract. She asks Donna if that is what she wants her to do and Donna tells her something like that. She tells Donna to bring up the paperwork.
Helen arrives in the morning to find Donna standing looking at a car in the carpark. Donna tells her she doesn't know what to do with Rorke's car. Helen tells her it will have to be impounded until they sort out the Estate. Donna complains that "Little things go wrong and then, bigger things happen, people get hurt. I mean, you think you are doing the nothing job, just sitting behind a desk doing admin but everyone affects everyone else and I screwed up and now..." Later Donna tells Helen that the garage called and will collect his car. Donna flippantly tells her that when you say jump, they jump.
Mick apologies to Donna, saying that he was upset and angry. He came down hard on her because he was angry at himself at leaving the portable in the car. Mick has redone his report and asked questions. Donna says that what if she got his car fixed and he states that she had tried her best and that's all any of us can do. Donna breaks down crying and she says she really did try her best and Mick concurs that she did and he knows she did
The Partner:
Emma is in the waiting area at the hospital. Jeff arrives and sits down beside her, letting her know that
he's called Lance's wife and she's on her way with their son, Sam. Emma tells him that they had to
amputate Lance's leg. Jeff is about to leave to warn his wife but Emma blurts out that he died five
minutes ago. Emma breaks down in tears, Jeff stands awkwardly by her side.
At the station, Emma asks Helen where Jeff is explaining that she wants to clean out Rorke's locker but a senior officer needs to be present. Helen and Emma go through the locker item by item, listing each specifically. Emma pulls off Rorke's name tag from the locker and places it in her pocket.
Later in the day, Emma places Rorke's overalls into the small bonfire in a large metal drum. Matt and Gavin watch silently at first, then Matt blurts out that Gavin that he blames him. Gavin reassures him that he doesn't. Emma pulls the badge from her pocket and lets it fall into the fire on top of the burning overalls.
Counselling - the worker's solution
The counsellor arrives and wanders around as her appointments don't show. Mick is on the phone still
trying to get his mobile fixed and tosses it in the bin when he has no luck. Jack is in an interview and
tells them that he would do it again, he wouldn't think twice about it. Gavin is trying to register for the
Glock course as soon as possible. Emma is out on the wharf eating the open packet of jelly snakes from
Rorke's locker and looking out over the bay. Helen watches the ferry's pass by on the bay. Donna
watches Rorke's car being towed away and Alex stands by for support. Jeff sits in his office thinking.
Matt enters the meal room which has been set aside for counselling and asks the counsellor, who was
in the process of packing up, if she has a minute.
REVIEW: "Domino"
My first impression as I watched the show was 'Wow, this is different'. Immediately, I noticed that we were getting a limited view of what was happening. My first question was Why was Michael running?, quickly followed by Why had he forgotten his radio? I think this worked well as you wanted to keep watching once the action had ceased - all of which happened in the first 4.25 minutes (yes, I timed it!). This can be one of the most difficult situations to carry through with a show such as Water Rats which has been reliant upon the fast pace and twists and turns of police investigations. The private lives and emotions of the Rats have taken second place to the investigation in the past and this episode showcases the flipside to the team.
I truly enjoyed the writing of John Banas and the directional skills of Geoff Bennett. The script was well written and executed. The smooth changes between flashbacks and scenes made the whole episode memorable. One scene that sticks out in my mind is between Jeff and Alex where she explains the background on the case. The initial flashback to the morgue told us that the informant we were about to see in a further flashback was dead. This was an impeccable example of a beautiful combination of writing and directing.
The episode brought to me something I thought we were going to miss. Last year, with Joss McWilliam missing for several of the final season episodes, I thought he was gone without a goodbye. How wrong was I? Over Christmas, I'd been mulling that we hadn't had the opportunity to see how all the Rats would react to a loss of one of their own in a situation like this - where guilt of their actions or lack thereof might play a part.
It was a very difficult script to execute as the writer did not want to step over the line that would put one of them open to culpability towards Rorke's death and this was brilliantly accomplished. The guilt for all of them was there, in a sad play of circumstances rather than their failure to do their job. This episode was heavily focussed on partnership, trust and doing your job to your upmost ability.
At the end of last season's episode ' True Believer', Jack told Mick and Alex "There's a lot of crap going on between you pair. And to be honest, between the three of us. And it's starting to affect our performance and it's going to stop and it's going to stop right now. Because we are mates, we're work mates and it's all it's ever going to be while we're in this office. Agreed?"
While I'm unsure what has occurred between Alex and Mick since that time, I do know that this episode portrayed the detectives working as a team. There was none of the anger, annoyance and frustration that permeated the working relationship last year. Admittedly, last season, you had the combination of a new detective as well as a budding relationship complicating matters, not to mention pasts coming back to haunt them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the tension, however, as time goes on, relationships are built upon and I would have been disappointed if this was not the case here.
Gavin and Matt were a surprise package as I wasn't sure what direction they were going. Here we have a partnership, only together for roughly twelve months, being faced with the death of a colleague. A death that both can attribute to their own actions or that of their partner. It could have made or broke the partnership and I was heartened to see it strengthened.
Then there was Helen. She supported Donna throughout her trials, trying to help her learn the confidence needed in the administrative job she was handling. Her quiet support was evident for all her colleagues at this time, much like she has provided in the past. However, one innuendo has the trust that binds her to her colleagues unravelling. I could see her gradually losing touch with each one as the internal investigation proceeded and accountability was being sought. I felt sorry for her, but was also reminded of the episodes Play It Again/Split Second last season where she didn't disclose taking amphetamines. I was unsure of whether she was guilty of not telling them about the operation.
This week I had a quiz sent to me. It contained 10 questions about yourself. Simple questions and the score would reveal the type of person you are. One of the descriptions was that 'you are a person who is discerning about where you place your friendship but once you are a friend, that friendship is steadfast. However break your trust and it will be very hard to regain that trust.' or words to that effect. The final scene between Helen and the Detectives has left me wondering how her relationship with them will be portrayed in future episodes. I have the impression that she believes her trust in them has been betrayed and I will be interested to see whether this will be expanded on in future episodes.
The character which warmed my heart the most was Emma Woods. John Banas did the right thing in allowing her to be on the outer edge of the guilt. Alison Cratchley played Emma well, carrying through the emotional shock she was experiencing at the loss of her partner from her sorrowful revelation of Rorke's death at the hospital to her quiet presence around the station as everyone else debated their guilt. Not once did she step in to argue for or against their guilt, but was surrounded by a bubble of isolation, distancing her from them. During the burning of Rorke's overalls, she is insulated from Matt and Gavin's discussion, bidding farewell to her partner.
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS:
LOTW1: Mick "You sit on that fence long enough mate, you get splinters in your arse."
LOTW2:
Jack: "My urine sample is clear"
Alex: "You're not pregnant, then."
Jack: "No. Not this time."
LOTW3: Jack: "Might as well be a platter with our name engraved on it."
Look of the Week: Emma Woods sitting on the wharf watching the world go by.