Cirrus@Austlit

A crossover episode with private-investigator series Ryan. The episode was, according to Don Storey, produced after the initial 39-episode series of Ryan was complete but before the decision had been made not to renew Ryan for a second series.

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

'EARL CORRIGAN: Together with Ryan, he becomes the major suspect in the murder of Billy Maxwell. He's about fifty, conservative, just a fraction right-of-centre, but with quite a lot of small-liveral [sic] about him. Educated Geelong Grammar, Oxford University (Economics, Business Administration) - has led a rather cloistered Toorak life style. Doesn't look down on the lower classes - he's simply had nothing to do with them. Occasionally wonders how any family could exist on the average wage, but it's just after dinner conversation - he hasn't really thought about it. He figures he's got maybe fifteen years of really active sex life left to him, and it's a pretty terrifying thought. Loves his wife, but a lot of the fun has gone out of their marriage.

'ROGER GREAVES: Corrigan's partner, similar style, similar age - but much more right wing. Would be shocked to realise it himself, but he verges on fascism. Deep down, he believes there is an essential difference in quality between those of the upper class and lower classes - that members of the upper class are wealthy by right, and that things must stay that way - anything else would be in conflict with "the natural order of things". Family wealth goes back so many generations any other life style is inconceivable, and any relationship between himself and "the man on the street" is irrelevant. He's a stockbroker, share manipulator - an expert at predicting market, and other, reactions.

'DR. PAUL HARROD: A gynaecologist ... and a "sick" man. Another member of the Two Hundred Club. He has no direct relationship with Corrigan and Greaves, but knows them casually - drinks with them, works out in the gym occasionally. A few scenes only.

'VICTOR POLLARD: Ryan's client. Again a member of the Club. Riches have come more recently to Pollard, and the "social" veneer sometimes wears a bit thin. He's got to the top by clawing his way up - and he hasn't completely lost the talent - for clawing. He's a winner, and doesn't like the role of victim. We get the feeling that he would go to almost any lengths to protect his hard-earned wealth and social status. But once again, he isn't really evil - just a bloody hard business-man, and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

'RITA CORRIGAN: Earl Corrigan's wife. Very well preserved forty-five. She's a great person. Born in the New England area of N.S.W. (Near Tamworth) - raised on a very large, very wealthy grazing property. Educated P.L.C. Tamworth, then New England University (Arts). Pearl-and-twinset type until she was twenty three, moved to Melbourne, society connections, married Earl. Has never been to a strip club, never read a "pornographic" book. Inherited sexual attitudes from environment.

'BILLY MAXWELL: Sleazy little crim, homosexual overtones, podgy, sweaty, gutless. Makes most of his money from blackmail - but there's a fringe benefit. He gets his kicks from voyeurism. Dies in the teaser.

'NIKI: Dancer/Prostitute. No heart of gold, but she knows what she's good at - and why the hell shouldn't she make a living doing it? She's just a little saddened by the attitudes and needs of her clients - but it's only a passing sadness. She's brittle at twenty three and will be fragile at thirty ... unless she graduates to madam - which she realises. Billy's death could be one step in the graduation process.

'VAL: Another dancer/prostitute.

'MANAGER: .. of the Two Hundred Club. Has perfected the art of catering to powerful people - assuming some of their gloss - but not too much - that would be an impertinence.

'EXTRA: In the Two Hundred Club.

'EXTRA: In Tango Club.

'WATER POLICE: (ACTUALS)'.