person or book cover
Script cover page (from the Crawford Collection at the AFI Research Collection)
form y separately published work icon Firing Squad single work   film/TV   crime   thriller  
Issue Details: First known date: 1972... 1972 Firing Squad
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'We open on a scrap metal foundry - a place of flames and furnaces, molten metal, brooding violence - this mood permeates the episode. The Staphopoulos family owns and operates the foundry, and Ryan is quickly drawn into a bitter conflict between father and son, ensnared in a web of jealousy and hatred dating back twenty-five years - to the Greek civil war.

'The conflict escalates as the old man becomes the victim of a bomb attack, the son is terrorised by threats and funeral wreaths - and Ryan loses patience with the Mediterranean temperaments involved.

'The tension peaks when the patriarch is kidnapped - until Ryan proves that it's a fake, that the old man arranged it himself - and he's delighted to be off the case. Then the double twist redoubles and Ryan is at work again - outsiders have become involved, it isn't a family matter any more - and the kidnap is no longer a fake.'

Source: Synopsis held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection (RMIT).


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

'MIKLOS PAPADOPOULOS: 70. Greek. Physically powerful. Scarred face. Was a resistance leader during World War 2 and a communist guerilla in the Greek civil war. Fled to Australia at the cessation of hostilities. Feels he has let his country and his dead son down.

'NANA PAPADOPOULOS: His wife. 60's. Greek. Her relationship with her husband has not been good since she sided with the rest of the family against him in a business deal. She loves him and tries to re-establish contact with him.

'DEMETRIOS PAPADOPOULOS: Third son and the main opponent of Miklos in the business deal through which he now has control of the family business having deposed Miklos. 34. No accent necessary. Drives.

'MELINA SKOVROS: Demetrios' sister. Supported him against her father initially but now supports her father. Cannot afford financially to reverse the earlier stand. Early 20's. No accent.

'PETER SKOVROS: Her husband. 30's. Greek. Works at the foundry.

'JOHNSON: 30's. Heavy. Hired by Miklos and Peter for kidnap but decides to double-cross them both. Drives.

'DAVIES: 30's. Heavy. Helps Johnson. Drives.

'GEORGE: 60's. Little tired, weak Greek. Worships Miklos and resents Demetrios. A small, tired man.

'FLORIST: 50's.

'TWO WORKMEN: Extras.

'STUNT DRIVERS: Two.'

Note: Melina's name was later changed to 'Katarina' and the family name to 'Staphopoulos'.

Notes

  • This entry has been compiled from archival research in the Crawford Collection (AFI Research Collection), undertaken by Dr Catriona Mills under the auspices of the 2012 AFI Research Collection (AFIRC) Research Fellowship: see The Writer in Australian Television History.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

      1972 .
      person or book cover
      Script cover page (from the Crawford Collection at the AFI Research Collection)
      Extent: 72p.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • The Crawford Collection contains two copies of this file, both copied on green paper, and both labelled 'Code: CIS' on the cover page.
      • Copy 1 has a notation in the upper right-hand corner of the cover page in red felt pen, indicating that this is copy number four of the script and that it is designated for 'File'. '14' is written on the cover page in black felt pen, although this episode aired as episode number three. There are no other annotations on this copy.
      • Copy 2 has a memo stapled to the cover page. The memo has a notation in the upper right-hand corner in blue felt pen reading 'Terry Stapleton'. The memo is from Terry Stapleton, and dated 28 November 1972. It notes alterations to the script, primarily the adjustment of place and character names, but also noting that 'There are several references to Mikos' plan to "shoot up" or otherwise severely damage "the generals". Closer research discloses that "the colonels" would be more appropriate.'
      • The cover page for copy 2 has a notation in the upper-right hand corner in red felt pen indicating that it is copy number ten of the script and was designated for Terry Stapleton.
      • Copy 2 is annotated in blue ink and black felt pen. Annotations are alterations to and deletions of dialogue, but appear only infrequently.
      • The file also contains the following ancillary material, access to some of which is restricted:

        1. Three pages of script amendments, in the form of a memo from Terry Stapleton, dated 6 December 1972. The changes to nomeclature outlined in the earlier memo (see abstract) have already been made here. The memo has 'Terry Stapleton' written in blue felt pen in the top right-hand corner of the first page.

        2. Casting call sheets.

      Holdings

      Held at: AFI Research Collection
      Local Id: SC RYA : 3
Last amended 30 May 2013 16:27:27
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