Cirrus@Austlit

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection includes the following character notes:

'TRUDY: 18. Eight months pregnant when we meet. Has been through a fairly daunting, traumatic phase but has emerged determined to do things her own way. She has no time for the police, or the Social Welfare Department, or any other do-gooder. She is convinced, aggressively so, that the only person she can rely on is herself. A bright, abrasive personality -- with only a few areas of uncertainty. And a few of -outright [sic] panic.

'CLIFF: Early twenties. Serving five years for his part in an armed hold-up. A crim by default. Lacks education and drive. Low resistance. Easily conned into taking the easy way out. But never ends up on the winning side. Despite this, he still allows himself to hope ... though of late discouragement seems to intrude quicker and linger longer.

'MRS SHARP: Mid-forties. Trudy's nosy neighbour. A seeker of secondhand thrills.

'DELL: An average sort of bloke trying to earn a few quid out of the property he owns. Slightly effeminate.

'BILL McLEAN: 30 - 40. He works for the Prisoner's Aid Society. Doing his best to help Cliff locate his wife.

'TAXI DRIVER:

'STATION-MASTER:

'BUS DRIVER:

'TRUCKIE:

'FARMER:

'FENCING CONTRACTOR:

'WOMAN'.

The script for this episode held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'MALCOLM NEWSON: Middle twenties. Tall. A young man with a dream. An English migrant who dislikes the person he was in London. Who sees himself as a strong outdoors man. Dresses in western style. Collects cowboy paperbacks. Affects a slow walk, a slow talk.

'ROLLAND: Middle sixties. Sheep station owner. Determined to be youthful and energetic. Drives himself and drinks like a younger man. Fears old age.

'BILLIE STREET: Twenty. Rolland's grand-daughter. Extremely "country-minded", but longs to live in the city. She feels no great affection or closeness for Rolland. Very healthy and attractive. A natural feminine guile, but insecure and anxious. A lonely person.

'NEIL TURNER: Twenties. A big bull of a man. Neil can eat more, lift more, work harder and longer than other men. A driving compensation for his overpowering, deep seated cowardice. In very thick with -

'TED SANDERS: Early thirties. A hard bitten, hard drinking man. Broken nose. Big knuckles. Tough wirey muscular arms. A definite sense of threat and dominance from him. He seems to have little time for anyone except Neil. And that includes himself.

'DAN PRESTON: Late twenties. Fair haired, fit country type who takes a simple view of most things. Easy going and doesn't care for trouble.

'KEN EWINS: Thirty. A tough man who has worked since he was twelve. Confident in his movements. A country shrewdness. Selfish. Always considers number one.

'STATION PORTER: Gnomish. Forty. Bored.'

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection includes the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'MICK CONDON: 35 years old. Tall, dark, handsome, reckless Aerial Agriculturist. Matlock's most eligible bachelor. A local hero, he wins the Matlock Aero Club Cup every year. He is constantly at war with the Department of Transport, D.O.T., calls them the Department of Trouble. He always avoids prosecution for breaking flying rules, because all the witnesses were "IN THE TOILET" at the time. He is used to having his way at all times. A winner. Life is one continual competition and game to him.

'BOB TEMPLE: 35 years old. Nicknamed "SHIRL" because of his name and his blonde curly hair. A little bloke, he is Mick's best friend, partner and mechanic. He is the real worker of their Aerial Spraying Business. He follows Mick around like a little puppy, checking all is well and rolling out the red carpet when necessary. Mick "PROTECTS" Shirl like a brother and woe betide anyone who picks on his little mate.

'MONICA PEARSON: 30 years old. A tall, beautiful girl, her beauty is a great foil to Mick's good looks and he is well aware of the fact. She is his girlfriend and lover but refuses to marry him until he reforms some of his reckless ways.

'KEITH FORBES: 45 years old. A dairy farmer. He has a dry sense of humour, likes Mick Condon, and is "IN THE TOILET" when required.

'HARRY: Thirties. Loves a beer, a fight and a bird, in that order.

'SCONER: Thirties. Loves a beer, a fight and a bird, in that order also.

'BARNEY: Thirties. Loves a beer, a fight and a bird, in that order. These three went to school together, now work together. A team. Great minds think alike. No one could break up their mateship.

'PETER NELSON: Ten/Twelve years old. A lonely child and because of this he is an expert at making up games.

'MRS. NELSON: Thirties. A worried mother. Concerned for her child's welfare.

'FARMER#1: Forties. Dry. Always been on the right side of the law but is an expert at avoiding questions.

'FARMER#2: Forties. Similar type, but perhaps less of an expert at lying.

'TWO AMBULANCE ASSISTANTS:

'MILK TRUCK DRIVER:

'PILOTS: Actuals from the Police Aero Club and the Lilydale Aero Club.'

The Matlock Police series (originally simply titled Matlock) was commissioned from Crawford Productions by ATV-0, in response to the popularity of rival-network police dramas such as Homicide and Division 4. Crawford's was initially reluctant to create another police series, but ATV-0 pressured the company for some time. Eventually, Ian Jones and Terry Stapleton devised the concept of a regional (Victorian) police series to provide viewers with something different. The more relaxed atmosphere of the country-town setting also allowed the writers to delve into the private lives of the main characters, rather than focusing heavily on big-city organised crime. In this respect, the series was situated somewhere between Homicide/Division 4 and Bellbird. The series did, however, cover typical rural policing, including such issues as break and enters, domestic issues, itinerant workers, brawls, petty crime and robberies, road accidents, the occasional homicide, and cattle rustling. On other occasions, the Matlock police also assisted Melbourne police in locating criminals on the run (among other problems). The idea behind the show was to reflect the causes of crime in a small community and show the effects on both the community and the officers themselves.

The fictional town of Matlock (loosely based on Shepparton in Victoria) is situated inland on the Central Highway, approximately 160 kilometres north of Melbourne. Although the town's population is only seventeen thousand, this increases to around seventy-five thousand when the district is included. The Matlock Police Station is typical of a Victorian country town, with a Uniform Branch and a Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). The CIB is headed by Detective Sergeant Vic Maddern, who grew up in the Matlock district and is an accomplished bushman. Second in command is Detective Allan Curtis, aged in his mid-twenties. Previously from Melbourne, Curtis has just been sent to his first country posting (against his will) when the series begins. Head of the Uniform Branch is Sergeant Bert Kennedy, an Englishman who migrated to Australia in 1950. A thorough but also easy-going man with a good sense of humour, Kennedy is married to Nell and enjoys the country life in Matlock, so much so that he has knocked back promotion to avoid moving to Melbourne. Several constables are attached to the Uniform Branch, but the most prominent is a motorcycle cop, Constable Gary Hogan, who performs a wide variety of duties. Hogan is about thirty, a friendly, easy-going person who grew up in the country and is always willing to help in whatever work is going.