As the episode begins, we see Chopper (Aaron Jeffrey) playing Russian Roulette. Alphonse Gangitano (Vince Colosimo) bets on the action. Ultimately, Chopper wins. Alphonse is not happy. Chopper speaks about his upcoming trial and getting the best lawyer he can find. Read speaks with a lawyer about Syd Collins (Todd Lasance) and his testimony. He is warned that he could be convicted. In the car, Chopper speaks with Margaret (Ella Scott Lynch) about his possible lawyer. Margaret stops the car and rushes away. Chopper tells the crowd about the incident. Chopper sees Syd. He tells Chopper to tell everyone what happened to Syd and how the trial went. Chopper doesn’t want to talk about Syd and the trial.

He arrives at the hospital and puts on a doctor’s uniform. He visits Syd and chokes him. He warns Syd to stop telling people that he shot him. Alphonse speaks to Lewis Moran (Kevin Harrington) about Chopper owing him 30 grand. Alphonse wants to make sure that he doesn’t beat the charges. Trent Anthony (Reef Ireland) arrives at the police station. He speaks with Detectives Hendry (Alex Tsitsopoulos) and Martin (Jane Allsop). Trent agrees to tell them everything he saw. He wants protection in return. Chopper’s property is searched once again. A gun is found. He is questioned by the detectives. He claims he has been set up. He places the blame on Alphonse, Lewis and Judy Moran (Debra Byrne).

At this point, Chopper learns about Trent testifying against him. Chopper’s dad offers to get rid of Syd for him. Mark promises that he didn’t do it. The trial gets underway. Collins is questioned by Mark’s lawyer. Chopper makes a scene during the trial. He is eventually questioned himself. He claims that he always pleads guilty to things he has done. He denies shooting Syd. The jury returns their verdict. Chopper is found guilty. He is led away by officers right away. Chopper tells the crowd that they wanted to throw away the key on him. He is returned to prison. The inmates glare at him. He receives a visit from Margaret. She wonders what they’re going to do to him. She complains about Chopper’s indefinite sentence.

Margaret tells Chopper that it is over. She leaves and Chopper sobs. Chopper admits he was envious of Syd being on the outside while he was locked away with inbreds. One of the inmates wants Chopper to write a poem to his girl. Daniel promises he is serious. He intends to pay Chopper with alcohol. Chopper’s dad tells him that the parole board won’t grant him a hearing. Chopper shows his dad his fan letters. Chopper promises that he is doing fine in prison. Chopper tells the crowd about attacking a child predator in prison. He smothers him to death with a pillow. He claims that the murder should get him into heaven with no questions asked. Chopper tells the crowd about meeting the woman from the tax department. He claims he tried to do everything he could to drive her away.

The woman kept coming back and seeing Chopper. He is surprised. Chopper speaks to the woman, Mary, about his movie. Chopper admits that the envy made him angry he wasn’t outside while Syd and Alphonse were. Chopper’s dad tells him that he might want to marry someone else. That might convince the parole board that he turned his life around. Chopper tells Mary all about his dilemma. She says yes. Chopper and Mary get married in jail. Chopper tells the crowd that the marriage helped him get released. He tells them about his old mates being dealt with. Even after his release, Chopper is still haunted by Syd. Chopper and Mary have a child together. Chopper’s movie becomes a big hit.

Chopper and Mary see the movie together. Mary (Zoe Ventoura) isn’t too impressed with the action, but Chopper loves it. He watches as Eric Bana receives an award for his portrayal. Chopper isn’t happy with the speech. One day, Mary finds Chopper letting the kid play with bullets. She is not happy. Chopper believes he is being followed and stalked. A man is sent to talk to him. Chopper beats the man up. He sends a message back to Syd. Mary is surprised to see Chopper with blood on his face. Chopper’s dad tells him that Syd needs a bullet in the skull. He tells Chopper to only forget about an enemy when he is dead. We see Syd driving around at night. He stops and gets out. He is shot twice. Chopper returns to Margaret.

He tells her that he had nowhere else to go. Chopper speaks about Margaret on stage. She decides to marry him after he is divorced. The detectives arrive at the show. They speak with Chopper about Syd’s disappearance. Chopper denies knowing anything about it. He claims that his was probably killed by Russians. Chopper begins working on a new book. His dad’s health continues to worsen and he becomes paranoid. His father asks him why he didn’t kill Syd when he had the chance. He lashes out at his dad when he calls him Chopper. He tells his father that he should have did something to try to stop him. Chopper and Margaret makes plans to ensure his dad is taken care of. He promises Margaret that he has walked away from his past troubles. He learns that Margaret wants to have a baby with him.

Chopper denies having anything to do with Syd Collins’s death. Chopper learns that the police do not have enough evidence to connect him to Syd’s disappearance. Chopper learns that he has Hep C. He blames it on prison razors. He is told that he has limited time. A month is likely. At Pentridge Prison, Chopper prepares for an interview with 60 Minutes. He complains about Eric Bana and everyone else making a dollar off of him. The 60 Minutes interview is reenacted. Chopper speaks about his impending death. He prepares to speak about Syd. He tells the interviewer that he shot Syd because of the 8 thousand for the wedding. He admits that he should have let Syd die instead of taking him to the hospital. He explains that he met with Syd after a show.

Chopper invites Syd to a beer. He claims that Syd was off his head on cocaine. He admits to taking Syd’s gun in the car and killing him on the side of the road. Chopper tells the interviewer that it doesn’t feel like anything to kill someone. He speaks about not seeing his children grow up. Chopper writes a letter to his other son. He apologizes for not being a better father. He admits he has always blamed his troubles on other people. He tells his son not to do the same. Margaret asks Chopper if he did kill Syd. He asks her what she thinks. She thinks he made it up. He speaks about how he wants to be remembered. Chopper speaks to the crowd about his legacy and his death. He asks the camera if any of this was true.

 

Underbelly Files Chopper Review

It must have been really difficult to write a show based on Chopper Read. After all, it is nearly impossible to know what was fact and fiction. There is a good chance that even Chopper started blurring the lines. This wasn’t the best Underbelly by any means. Nevertheless, it was a different look at Mark Chopper Read. Chopper knew how to weave many tales and that worked to his advantage. People wanted to listen whether or not they were true.

He certainly had a way with words. Underbelly Files Chopper was just okay. It is only 2 episodes so I cannot complain too much. The finale scores a 7 out of 10.