'The body of Katherine Gibson is found in a shallow lake. Her boss, who runs a book shop tells police that she is a lonely girl from New Zealand with very few friends and no family in Australia.
'After a chase, Police [sic] capture a youth who is driving Katherine's car. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the car had been stolen well after the time of Katherine's death.
'Inspector Lawson gets a tip from Detective Murray, a woman detective who tells Lawson that Katherine had been registered at the same computer matchmaking company that she belongs to. After interviewing the manager of the service, Thompson, Homicide Police suspect David Grant. David had been matched with both Katherine and Sally Watson, a girl who was reported missing two months earlier. When forensic scientists discover that some of the items found with Katherine's body had been submerged in water for two months, they search the lake more thoroughly and find Sally's body.
'Grant is dismissed as the chief suspect after he admits to being a homosexual and is able to verify his movements on the nights in question. The focus of the investigation now turns to Thompson. They have circumstantial evidence to convince them of his guilt, but no concrete proof. Detective Murray volunteers to go out on a date with Thompson and set him up.
'Murray is picked up by Thompson, but a series of unfortunate accidents mean that the police following her, lose the couple completely. Murray, however is able to get to a phone and get a message to her colleagues that she is going to a particular restaurant near where the bodies of the other girls were found.
'The Homicide detectives arrive on the scene as Thompson goes schizophrenic and tries to strangle Murray. When Thompson is apprehended he breaks down and it is clear that he is mentally unbalanced.'
Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).
[Note: although the synopsis indicates that Thompson 'tries to strangle' Murray, the narration at the end of the script says that he is convicted for her murder.]
[Note: Katherine's name is variously spelt 'Katherine' (in the synopsis) and 'Catherine' (in the character notes/script).]
The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):
'HELEN MURRAY Late 20's. Policewoman. Attractive looks, but not glamorous. Recently transferred to C.I. Competent in her work. However, she has reached something of a cross-road. She is concerned that the demands of her job may over-ride all else - at the expense of her being an ordinary person. She is not sure that she wants to become a twenty-four hour policewoman.
'THOMPSON 30's - 40's. Computer date manager. Good-looking. Drives. As a small boy was dominated by his mother and older sisters. As a consequence he suffers a love-hate relationship with women. A conscientious family man - he expiates his guilt concerning his frequent philanderings, by transferring the guilt to the girl concerned. In other words - a nut.
'DAVID GRANT Photographer. 30's. Intelligent. Sensitive. Helpful towards D's at first - but when it tends to drag on becomes a little supercilious. Over the last few years he has come to realize he is homosexual. For various reasons he is very reluctant to admit it - particularly to himself. Rather a sad figure.
'FLETCHER 23. Small-time crim. Not too bright. Bit of a born loser. Drives.
'USED CAR SALESMAN 30's - 40's. Battling to make a buck. Knows the business inside out and gives nothing away. More than a match for Fletcher.
'CATHERINE GIBSON 20's. Pretty, although she doesn't use a lot of make-up. A shy, reserved girl, interested in philosophy and folk music. Inexperienced in her relationships with men.
'ERIC TANNER 40's. Bookseller. Kindly towards Catherine. A little cynical towards D's when at first he thinks they are Vice Squad.
'CHARLIE SIMPSON 30's - 40's Maintenance mechanic. Brash. Cocky with D's - but mortally afraid of his wife. Considers himself God's gift to women and does his best to spread these gifts.
'CHERYL GREEN 30's. Deserted by her husband. Knows Charlie for what he is, yet still loves him in a fashion. Pretty well hardened to life over the years.
'DAVIS 19. Young, local uniform constable. Fresh, eager and enthusiastic. However his keenness tends to flag when the search for the second body drags on for six hours or so.
'JENNY 19. Sells doughnuts, hot dogs. Straight-forward. Working class. A bit cheeky, but likeable.
'MRS. GRACE 60's. Landlady. Mean and miserly. Sniffs a lot.
'DIVVY (1) 20's - 30's. Uniformed constable (Stuntman).
'DIVVY (2) 20's - 30's. Uniformed senior constable. Bit of a character.
'SEARCH AND RESCUE (1) 20's. Young policeman.
'SEARCH AND RESCUE (2) 40's. Stronger character. Experienced policeman. Kids Davis along a bit.
'FORENSIC MAN Greg Watkins. Stock character.
'TED BROWN 50's. Model boat fanatic. Rudely jolted out of his own little world by the discovery of Catherine's body.
'MODEL 20's. Glamorous but not too bright. XSSW (to fit the only Edwardian dress Wardrobe currently possesses).
'OLD LADY 70's - 80's. Old and deaf.'
