Murder, Chaos & the Fall of the Phelan Empire
"All we really want is to be left alone and have a life." Diana
It’s the penultimate episode of This City Is Ours, and the future of Ronnie Phelan’s drug empire is still in limbo. Following a bloody public fight between contenders Jamie Phelan and Michael Kavanagh, the agreement that the loser would walk away and the winner would take control has not been honored. Jamie, who expected to inherit his late father’s business but lost the fight, is furious, drinking with his two pals, Blink and Bonehead. Simply, he wants to kill Michael. At this point, Blink, who hasn’t had an easy time as Jamie’s minion, backs off. Selling weed at festivals is one thing, but murder? He leaves, and Jamie orders Bonehead to find a gun.
Michael, who returned home from the fight to find his girlfriend Diana missing and his house vandalized, receives a visit from Elaine, Jamie’s mum, and Ronnie’s widow. Technically, they are on opposite sides, but she is clearly fond of Michael, and they recently discussed taking over the business. She looks around his trashed kitchen and asks what happened. Jamie happened, Michael tells her. Once again, she asks Michael if he killed Ronnie, and once again, he blames the Amigos, their Colombian suppliers, and the victims of Ronnie’s side job as a snitch to the police.
Elaine asks Michael to end the standoff, but he tells her that Jamie won’t follow the rules. Elaine, having lost Ronnie, is terrified of losing Jamie too and begs Michael not to hurt him. On the drive home, Elaine tells Rachel that they must persuade Jamie to walk away. The family has resources – money and property – and they can pay off the Amigos and break free. Bobby emphasizes that Jamie needs their help and counsel, particularly as Jamie’s fiancée, Melissa, and his adored baby son Alfie (twins Oliver and Jacob Cleary) are now made vulnerable.
