Cirrus@Austlit

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

'TERRY HOOD Age 39. A farm labourer who lives with his wife and two kids in a rented house in a corner of his boss's land. A quiet, mellowed, even-tempered man - perhaps a little too easy-going for his own good. He lets his wife wear the trousers in the house - look after the money, supervise the kids - but that doesn't mean she dominates him. It's just agreed that he lets her take all the responsibilities. He's not going to change now. Rides horse.

'ROSEMARY (ROSIE) HOOD A bright 13 year old tomboy of a girl with much of her father's open good-nature combined with a deal more energy. The two most important people in her life are her dad and her elder brother, Frank, but before the end of the episode she will have seen both of them in a new light and understand their weaknesses for the first time. Rides horse.

'SALLY (SAL') HOOD Terry's wife. Middle 30's. Hard working and ready to take on all those responsibilities that her husband leaves to her. Realised a while ago that Terry was never going to be any difrerent [sic] so has tried to make her kids aware of the work outside of Terry's all-encompassing "She'll be right". Her advice has tended to fall on stoney ground and become indistinguishable from her general low-key, tidy-yourself-up nagging. And it is only nagging - she's not the real heavy she'd sound like if you took every word of hers literally.

'FRANK HOOD Age 18. A nice kid but of an age where he's quickly tiring of the seemingly aimless "Life on the farm". Doesn't know what he wants to do with his life but is certain that he doesn't want to end up the same as his father. He gets involved with Martin McGill to have some fun but then he gets out of his depth. It's a shame. Must ride and drive.

'TED BLAKE Middle-aged country garage proprietor. Easy going.'

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

'DONNY MORGAN: "Typical" country boy, at home in the bush, a good, strong swimmer because his father's property borders the river. He can drive a tractor and so knows the basic principles of driving generally and he's watched Hogan operate the Toyota radio often and can do it himself without hesitation. He's a good enough kid, breaks the rules as set by adults occasionally, but doesn't mean any real harm. About 12. Must swim.

'BILL MORGAN: Donny's father, a battler, a man who puts a lot of stock by kids being "respectful" to elders, especially parents. Underneath the stern exterior, he's a fair man and there is actually quite a good rapport between Bill and Donny, even though Bill does come down hard on him at times. Early 30's.

'MITCH STEWART: Donny's city cousin up in the country for a couple of weeks. A boy who's dreamt of "adventure" and sees the country as an ideal place to live out his dreams. He's a poor swimmer but he's long on guts. He's about Donny's age and the two boys have a lot in common and get along well. Must swim.'

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

'HARRY THOMAS: 30 years old. But mentally he's about 10. He looks normal enough, but when he speaks we see and hear the child. Harmless.

'JEFF DAVIS: 12 years old. A quiet, friendly boy and a diabetic. When he meets up with Harry, he understands Harry's need for a friend.

'TIM BENSON: 12 years old. Mischievous, always in trouble, without really meaning any harm.

'BOBBY CLARK: 12 years old. He's very like Tim and follows him in everything, they're buddies.

'MRS. JUPP: 45 years old. A sour faced woman. The Thomas' neighbour, not happy.

'MRS. DAVIS: 30 years old. Hardworking, pleasant woman. A little too easy going with Jeff perhaps.'

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

'BOBBY DUNCAN: 12 years old (well nearly). A likeable lad and usually well adjusted to the disappointments he's had on his previous birthdays, but this time he decides it's once too often and he runs away, only to regret it as soon as he does, running away isn't all that it's cooked up to be.

'BILL DUNCAN: 30 years old. Bobby's father, a hard working man with a stubborn streak, like a lot of parents, he can't understand why Bobby doesn't understand that disappointments are part of growing up. The trouble is, Bill's forgotten what it was like to be a boy.

'LOUISE DUNCAN: 29 years old. Bobby's mother. Like her husband, hard working, unlike her husband she does understand what it's like to be Bobby's age, but she also understands the problems her husband faces, so she finds herself caught between the two.

'JOHN PRITCHARD: 11 years old (11½ really). Like Bobby, likeable. He's used to disappointments and doesn't expect things to change. He's always talking about running away, but would never do it on his own. Allows himself to be led by Bobby in most things. He also finds out that running away isn't all that it's cooked up to be.'

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

'BILL BENSON 70 Years old [sic]. Known locally as "Strike Me Die" Benson, also known for his penchant for malapropisms. An old royalist and member of the ninth division in the first world war [sic]. He tries to appear stern and ornery most of the time but this is just a cover for a lonely old man. He loves his dog "Sergeant" but tries not to allow this to show, he treats him like a soldier of the lower rank.

'HARRY RILEY 45 years old. From Melbourne. A mean, weasly, sour-faced looking individual. Flashily dressed, he thinks all country people are hicks. Only one thing in life is important and that's Harry Riley.

'VERA RILEY 40 years old. From Melbourne. A plain looking woman, would probably still be single except that she decided that Harry was better than having no husband at all. She is completely dominated by him.

[...]

'SERGEANT Benson's dog. A large animal, slightly scruffy looking. Probably an Alsation cross breed.'