AustLit

'Joseph Benedict Chifley was one of the most significant Australian politicians of the twentieth century. Born into a family of limited means near Bathurst in 1885, Chifley was employed from 1902 in the New South Wales Government Railways and became actively involved in the union movement and the Australian Labor Party (ALP).' (Introduction)

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

'CHARLIE HILL: 35. Good looking with an air of failure about him. Emotionally disturbed. Taken some hard knocks. Must drive.

'SUSAN HILL: 30. Pretty, but very tired. She's borne a lot of responsibility over the years. Strong personality. Basically middle class. Suburban.

'JOHNNY HILL: 7. Very shy and of fragile constitution. Loves both his parents.

'EDDIE ROSOLINO: 45. Ex-con. Reformed, now successful artist. Rough hewn, but easy going nature.

'GERALD MOORE: 55. English and a bit superior. Elegant dresser. Art critic who wields an acidic pen. Snob. Surrounds himself with good taste.

'WALTER MACDIVOTT: 55-60. Former fence, now reformed and respectable Large man, possibly with bushy beard. Modified Bohemian.

'LUCY MACDIVOTT: 35-40. Nice looking. No lines.'

'GLADYS TOOMEY: 30-35. Very hip. Cultivates arty people. Very anti-establishment, but tolerant as well.

'JACK NEELEY: 65. Pensioner. Bar fly.

'TOM SULLEY: 65-70. Metho drinker. Comic role.

'DOUG STEPHENS: 50. Ex-service man. Burly, self made. Fancies a hero image. A suuccessful business man. A modern expensive home.

'POLICEMEN (2): Both uniformed. No lines.

'HIPPIE: Extra. 20. Male. Long hair. No lines.

'TAXI DRIVER: Friendly talkative.

'MAN: No lines. Must drive.

'WOMAN: No lines.

'DOG:

'2 MEN IN A PUB'.

'A reformed crim - and old friend of Ryan's - is caught breaking into a factory and shot dead by the security guard, but Ryan stubbornly refuses to believe that he was involved in anything illegal.

'The friend's widow is interrogated and beaten by a man posing as a police detective and Ryan pulls out all the stops. He quizzes the security guard and alienates the police, upsets the factory owner and treads on all sorts of toes in an effort to clear his friend's name. He is treading on more dangerous toes than he realises. It isn't a simple factory break-in - Ryan has stumbled into the middle of preparations for a gang war - and both sides see him as a threat to be removed.'

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):

'SHIRLEY GREEN: She's in her mid-to-late 20's. She's not pretty but is sympathetic. Had a very bad car accident once - no sign of injury but she now wears a wig. Very conscious of this when agitated. Has suffered from deadening of her personality, depression. Joe brought her out of this.

'DAVE FERGUSSON: 40ish. Heavy build, an ugly, dull, stupid man. Works as a security guard - not in uniform. Has criminal tendencies, wants to get rich. Kills a man the way most people would kill a rabbit. Able to drive.

'MAX MILLER: 40ish. A hard man, has served plenty of time in prison where he would have been number 2 or 3 in the hierarchy. Some intelligence. A lot of ambition, wants power, wants to take over the Melbourne gangs. But knows deep down he hasn't quite got what it takes.

'REGINALD CHURCH: 50ish. Church is 'the man'. Once a very tough standover man, he displayed brains, relished his work and rose fast. Totally treacherous. Now he's No. 1 in Melbourne, with all the power he wants, but always totally watchful, always afraid of losing his position. Has a veneer of style, but the rough edges show. Well dressed, but no taste for anything that isn't conservative. He got where he is by being largely unnoticed in the early days, and likes to keep it that way. Able to drive.

'SERGEANT HENRY CULLEN: Cullen, an established character is [sic] heavily built, a slow, careful and ambitious policeman. His ability doesn't match his ambition. No love for Ryan - or for many other people.

'JACK JONES: 30ish. Solid. Looks like a cop - short haired. A flat-nosed useful heavy who likes to take orders. Tough, but Ryan is too tough for him. Able to drive.

'HARRY FISHER: A nice crim, really. 29ish, slim build, some brains but not really enough guts to get near to top. Drives well, and is attached to Miller. Believes in him. Able to drive.

'CHARLIE BELL: 35ish. Squat build, a "pom" with an accent - Midlands probably. He and Fisher make a good brains/brawn team, but separated they're not so reliable. Able to drive.

'JOE GREEN: 30ish. A small man, a small time crim, anxious about everything until he met and married Shirley. Loves her. Needs her. So he reformed. But he has associated with Miller in prison, knows too much and has to die - puzzled, alone and frightened.

'WOOD: Petty crim. Thirties. One scene.

'2 DETECTIVE EXTRAS:

'POLICE EXTRA:

'2 SECURITY GUARDS:

'DRIVER:

'POLICE DRIVER:

'SPEEDBOAT DRIVER'.

'An investigation into the death of an old friend has Ryan moving in two different worlds. He follows his leads from the depths of derelict humanity to the glitter of high society.'

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):

'HORACE CHAPMAN: A reformed criminal with a history of crime and drunkenness of which he is now ashamed. He is a big, once powerful man now showing his 70 years. He moves slowly, talks slowly and, at times, seems vague. After coming out of jail at the age of 55 his wife's devotion to him in spite of his many trips to jail made him resolve to go straight.

'ELSIE CHAPMAN: Horace's wife, about 65-70, small, work-worn, weary but happy in the work she does with her husband. She feels that Horace has found his way at last and that his work at the mission is wiping out the iniquities of his past.

'TREVOR ARMSTRONG: Tall good-looking Englishman, about 35. A plausible con-man, he has made good with the Toorak set and extracts large sums of money from them, ostensibly to help the mission. Ostensibly dedicated to helping his fellow man, he is in fact helping himself. A polished, vivid personality. Must drive.

'DONALD ANDERSON: Mid-50's. A solicitor. Well educated Australian accent. Conservative dresser.

'MRS. FELICITY CLARKE: About 30. A beautiful, shapely young widow who falls for Armstrong's line. Well educated, well dressed, drives a late model luxury sports car. Should look good in a bikini.

'JACK BAKER: Tough, rough, about 25-30, working the racket with Armstrong. Must be able to drive and fight.

'MINISTER: No lines.

'ALF CLARRIE: Deadbeat, 30-50, disreputable. Couple of lines.

'BILLIARD SALOON OWNER - About 50 / CAB DRIVER - About 40 / PROSTITUTE - About 30: These three characters appear in a brief montage sequence, each speaking to Tony. But the sequence is covered by music, so none of their lines will be heard.

'UNIFORMED POLICE SERGEANT: About 40, solid type, few lines. One scene.

'UNIFORMED POLICE CONSTABLE: One scene, no lines.

'A GARDENER: About 50-60. Two lines.

'10 DEADBEATS: Varying ages. To appear in three mission scenes.

'6 SOCIETY LADIES: From the Toorak set. Ages 30-60. Appear in one scene.'

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

'BARRY TEMPLE 24-25. Murderer. A salesman who has decided that his charm and sense of humour will get him anywhere. Must be attractive and likeable. Well-dressed and with an easy manner. Usually flippant but capable of more serious moments.

'VALERIE KERSTEN 21. A very pretty girl, well-dressed as befits a rich man's daughter; Public School education.

'MARTIN LESTER 24-25. Also a salesman, but of a different type to Barry Temple - more solid, (but not stolid), dependable. The athletic type - tall, good physique. Wears slightly conservative clothes.

'TOM LODER 40-45. A big man, possibly a little over-weight. Very much in love with a much younger wife, and jealous. His business life is a success, though his domestic life isn't. In all, likeable.

'KAY LODER 28-30. Very glamorous - a small-time model with a figure for bikinis. Ambitious, discontented and shallow on the surface, but capable of deeper emotions than she chooses to reveal. Always well-dressed - hot pants, rather kinky gear.

'EDWARD ST. JOHN 60-65. A rather seedy, broken down old gentleman who still retains his good manners and a certain battered charm. Clothes, once good, are frayed and shabby. Very plummy English accent.

'RAY DUNCAN 25. Good looking in a rather flashy way but shifty. Uses his looks to get girls - and money.

'RICHARD EVANS 40-45. Neat, precise, inclined to be fussy.

'MARGARET EVANS 35-40. Pleasant, attractive, submissive with an occasional spark of rebellion.

'MRS. HOVEY 50-60. A tough landlady with no illusuions [sic] and no special liking for the police.

'MAN IN PARK 18-23. Cheerful athletic type.

'ROY HARKER Forensic man.

'BYSTANDERS'.

This is the script for the second half of a Homicide episode called 'From the Top'. Such 'special' episodes (which cover first the investigation and second the trial) are usually described as two-hour episodes, but Storey notes that 'Due to the length of the episode requiring it to be split over two reels of 2" video tape, it was officially listed as two separate episodes, 319 "From The Top" and 319A "Trial".' This script only includes the trial portion.

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

'JUDGE: Late forties. A youngish, business-like, efficient judge of the Victorian Supreme Court. Before his appointment to the bench, he himself was a leading barrister in criminal cases. He has a reputation for 'cutting through the red tape,' and 'keeping things moving' in his court. He is the antithesis of the 'old fogey' type of judge seen in some English productions. He has a good Australian accent.

'DEFENCE COUNSEL: Barrington. Aged 35 - classed as a young barrister. He is a very purposeful contender. A quick thinker, he is a remorseless cross-examiner, with an outstanding flair for bursts of rapid fire questioning. In this case - because he knows the outlook of the presiding judge - he does not go in for any theatrical display whatever.

'As Inspector Fox will be the viewers' troubled hero in his trial, Def's role must be regarded in a sense as that of the 'villain', but this professional does not make the mistake of adopting a 'nasty' manner. He knows that such an attitude would prejudice the Jury and damage his client's case. Therefore, even when attacking Fox full out, he gives the impression that he is fighting to have the truth revealed.

'PROSECUTOR: Middle forties. A thoroughly experienced barrister employed by the Crown Law Department. In this case, he is performing the duties that he carries out more or less every working day. Although more restrained than Defence Counsel, he is capable of applying pressure when necessary. However, he would never attempt to brow-beat an accused man, as it is important for him to give an impression of absolute fairness. Like the Judge and the Defence Counsel, he is an efficient officer of the court.

'MRS. SPENCER: Has developed an 'escapist psychosis' consistent with her character in 'From the Top'.

'IRVINE: Pathologist attached to the Coroner's court. A confident expert, accustomed to giving evidence in court. Has appeared in several murder cases, and hundreds of inquests that didn't make the headlines.

'WALKER: Police photographer. Another experienced formal witness.

'SURVEYOR: Has previously appeared in a few cases, and gives his evidence with straight-forward matter-of-factness.

'SPENCER: Character established in 'From the Top'. Is now concerned for his wife.

'FORSTER: Character established in 'From the Top'.

'GEORGINA: " " " " " "

'JOAN: " " " " " "

'OTHER COURT PERSONNEL: CRIER, JUDGE'S ASSOCIATE, POLICE GUARD FOR FORSTER, TWO UNIFORM POLICEMEN, DEFENCE SOLICITOR, PROSECUTION SOLICITOR.'

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

'SAMMY WALKER: Must be big and strong-looking, perhaps even slightly flabby. Late twenties, early thirties. Sammy has suffered brain damage and has the mentality of a 10 year old. He always wears his cloth cap. It would help if the actor had a partial plate. (IF NOT, BLACKEN A COUPLE OF TEETH) One can see a few gaps when Sammy smiles.

'PRIMROSE TAYLOR: Policewoman who comes into Homicide. Twenties. Must be attractive. A knowledge of judo would help.

'BEN WALKER: Sammy's brother. Older. Ben looks after Sammy, treats him almost like a son. [Note: an annotation to this character note in blue ink specifies that Ben is five years older than Sammy.]

'JANINE FISHER: Young, attractive air hostess. Killed in first commerical.

'BEV ADAMS: Janine's room mate. Same age, same job.

'DR. ALCOTT: Doctor at post mortem.

'JIM HARRIS: Private detective.

'CAPTAIN RICHARDS: Airline pilot. [Note: an annotation to this character note in blue ink reads, 'needs to be good'.]

'OLD LADY: Old lady on bus.

'MARY WALKER: Ben's wife.

'MRS. FENTON: Very attractive, long blonde hair. She is not provocative in her attitude.

'SALLY GREEN: Young, attractive, ballet teacher. Second murder victim.

'MR. PHILLIPS: Late thirties, early forties. Obscene phone caller.

'T.V. SERVICEMAN:

'AMBULANCE MEN: Actuals.

'SMITH: Interviewed at airport.

'POLICE SERGEANT: One scene.

'STUDENTS IN BALLET SCHOOL: Actual.'

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

'LEIGH GARDINER. 39. A journalist on a daily paper, is a hard-bitten ruthless woman of great attractiveness. She is an indifferent mother, and an unfaithful wife. She is the victim.

'JOHN GARDINER. 44. Leigh's husband, is an industrial chemist. He is a quiet, gentle man, bound up with his career. His marriage has been a failure and he realises this. He is intelligent, well-educated. He is one of the principal suspects. Must be able to drive.

'ANNE GARDINER. 18. Their daughter. She has been neglected by her parents and has become addicted to morphine. She is an Art student at the Tech. She eventually tries to commit suicide....becoming a suspect through her addiction.

'JERRY ROSS. 22. Takes Anne out now and again, but on a casual basis. He therefore feels little loyalty or responsibility towards her. He is a student.

'JANE ADAMS. 45. The murderess, is Leigh's cousin. She has a small private income and does a lot of charity work, has an autocratic disposition. Her love for Anne triggers off the poisonings - she regards the girl as her own daughter. She is practical to the point that she chooses murder as the practical solution to her problems - with no thought to the ethics.

'BETTY ROBINSON. 63. Is Jane Adams' companion, a pensioner of vague disposition, and an inability to manage her own affairs.

'CLIFF HILL. 33. A journalist on Leigh's paper, he had been having an affair with her. He is intelligent, attractive. Had been on a country newspaper.

'DENISE MATTHEWS. 25. His fiancee, is a young journalist who takes over Leigh's column. She is gentle, rather old-fashioned.

'TRAMP. Of indeterminate age, a no-hoper with a love for drink. He manages to extort money from Anne - with his hard luck story.

'ADRIAN JOHNSTON. A chemist, is visited by Anne in her attempt to get hold of some morphine.

'DOCTOR MILER. 50. Called in by Gardiner on the night of Leigh's death. He is talkative, with a love for gardening, has treated the family for some years.

'JOE FINCH. 48. John Gardiner's superior at the laboratory. An academic, he has a dry sense of humour, and a cordial dislike for Leigh.

'SISTER TAYLOR. 40. In charge of the Grandview hospital at which Jane Adams does charity work, and obtains the morphine. She is a fairly typical nurse, practical by nature.

'A VICAR. A gentle, kind man of indeterminate age. He finds Anne after she attempts to commit suicide.

'EXTRA ONLY. A girl who resembles Anne Gardiner in appearance.

'EXTRA ONLY. A young boy.'

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

'ARTHUR DEAKIN: Age 40-50. A large, shambling Welshman who has won international fame as a poet. He is a flamboyant character, often drunk, fond of a fistfight whenever he gets the chance. He uses language as a weapon to bluster his way out of tight corners. But all the hammy bluster conceals an insecure personality. He feels himself disintegrating since his wife divorced him. He has even lost the capacity to write. He comes to Melbourne determined to get her back at all costs.

'ELLEN DEAKIN: Age 30-40. An attractive down-to-earth woman. She divorced Arthur because she could see no hope of a reasonable life for herself or her son. But she is still deeply in love with him. So much so that she runs for her life whenever he appears because she knows he can and will talk her round into returning to him. Car driver. Some kind of English accent.

'COLIN CLARK: 30-40. Ellen's current fiancé. Good-looking. He owns an art gallery. Rather pompous with a deep streak of meanness. Car driver.

[Note: The accent in 'fiancé' has been added in black ink.]

'HERBERT MORGAN: 60-70. Petty thief and down-and-out. Arthur befriends him and Herbert repays the friendship with an unswerving loyalty to Arthur. Very sympathetic character.

'JEAN PAISLEY: 22-25. A once attractive girl whose life has been destroyed by mental illness. She breaks into Colin Clark's gallery and slashes several paintings belonging to a valuable international collection.

'GIL SUMMERS: 35-50. Professor of English Literature at a local university. A liberal thinking man who is a little out of his depth in trying to handle Arthur.

'BARMAN: Any age.

'WILSON: / CARTER: Smart-Alec petty crims who refuse Herbert a loan. Both are quite young.

'T.V. INTERVIEWER: 30-40. Interviews Arthur on television.

'FLOOR MANAGER: Has a tussle with Arthur and is very upset when making his complaint at the police station.

'T.V. CAMERAMAN: No dialogue. Resists Arthur's attempt to take over the camera.

'PRESS REPORTER: Interviews Arthur in one scene.

'PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER: Takes photograph.

'WOMEN NEIGHBOUR: Two good film scenes. She protests when she sees Arthur breaking into Ellen's house.

'TWO SCHOOLBOYS: They point out a body to the police. No dialogue.

'EXTRA (FEMALE): Elegant looking, well dressed hotel guest.

'CUSTOMER (MALE) Age 50-60. Prosperous and well-spoken.

'TAXI DRIVER'.

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

'LILLIAN GIBSON. 16 years old, highly strung. Has no contact with her parents and feels lost and unwanted. In an attempt to attract attention she maintains that she has been assaulted by a stranger, and inflicts injuries on herself to substantiate that claim.

'ROBERT GIBSON. About 45-50 years old. A successful businessman - has worked hard during his early career. Now wants to make the most of his life and indulges in something like a "Second Honeymoon" with his wife. Does not understand his daughter and her problems. A pompous, selfish, unimaginative man.

'JOYCE GIBSON. 40 years. A very ordinary woman - of average intelligence. Enjoys her husband's attention and her newly acquired riches. Squashes any pangs of guilt she might feel regarding her daughter. The actress must have courage to appear comical and unattractive at occasions.

'MARY CORBETT. 65 to 75 years old. A widow. Energetic, eccentric, stubborn. Refuses to budge from the footpath after eviction from her house.

'JOHNNY BARKER. About 18. Working-class. Must be able to drive a car. Has left home because he can't get on with his father. Quick tempered but likeable. Sense of humour. Helps Mary Corbett after her eviction.

'ED LANE. About 18. Working-class. More phlegmatic than Johnny - slower in thought and action. Becomes melancholic when drunk.

'MR WARD & MRS WARD. Upper middle class acquaintances of the Gibsons.

'SLATER. About 40 years old. A Peeping Tom. Fears that the police hold him responsible for something he didn't do and hides in an old building. A pathetic figure who should create considerable sympathy despite his perversion.

'MRS SLATER. About 40 years old. A married spinster. Partly responsible for her husband's behaviour. She finds him repulsive when he is around, but worries about him when he disappears.

'DR. MANNINGHAM. Grim, brisk - about 40 years old. Not fond of the police.

'MR SVGBODA. A New-Australian. A good citizen.

'A UNIF. POLICEMAN. No dialogue.

'CONSTABLE.'

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

'CLIFF WEBB In early 30's. Boastful, unscrupulous, unfeeling, vicious. Was crack shot in Army, and in overseas service had got used to roughing it. Mad about guns. Driver.

'VALERIE WEBB His estranged wife, about 30. A decent girl who put up with Webb's harsh treatment and womanising for years for the sake of their two children. She recently left him, and works in fruiterer's shop to maintain the children.

'JACK DELANEY About 40. Accomplice of Webb and Tommy Fraser when they rob a store. Outwardly bold and tough, he is really weak, cowardly and complaining -- and the first of the three men to crack.

'TOMMY FRASER Valerie's brother, about 20. Has hero-worshipped Webb since he was a small boy listening to boastful accounts of his exploits. Follows Webb into crime because he makes it seem adventurous.

'MARIO MIRTO Italian fruiterer who employs Valerie Webb and knows about her problems. Sympathetic. About 35.

'MRS. SHIRLEY ATKINSON Hotel manageress. About 30-35. Attractive, lively, intelligent.

'STAN SIMPSON Gloomy, middle-aged storekeeper who is robbed.

'CAPTAIN BARNABY Ex Army officer, assists Fox.

'DETECTIVE GRAHAM Plainclothes, escorts Mrs. Webb.

'MR. ELLIOTT Man aged 25-45 who is bashed and has car stolen.

'MR. GIBBS Bystander who is shot.

'MR. LEWIS Elderly shopkeeper who is shot.

'MRS. BARKER Woman shopper who is run down.'

The script (which follows the escape and subsequent re-capture of two Pentridge prisoners) bears a strong resemblance to the events surrounding the escape from Pentridge Prison of Ronald Ryan and Peter Walker and the subsequent execution of Ryan.

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

'MICHAEL XAVIER O'BYRNE Early 40's, preferably not tall, medium build, must be active. Mick O'Byrne, gaol escapee, is an egotist, becoming in his own mind, invincible. Able to drive.

'JOHN REYNOLDS Early 20's, preferably taller than O'Byrne, good-looking, well built. Reynolds is the other escapee. He's young and bewildered by the killing of the warder, bewildered by the intensity of the hunt, but most of all, bewildered by O'Byrne's manner. He comes to believe O'Byrne's self-publicity, looks up to him almost as a father. Able to drive.

'MAY CROSSWAY 25 to 30. Not beautiful, but cunning, knowing. She resigns herself to the presence of the escapees.

'BETTY KEMP About 25, more attractive than May. But dumb.

'CONST. REYNOLDS About 20, but looking younger than this. Const. Reynolds is the escapee's brother. He's painfully young, patently nervous.

'FRANK WRIGHT About 30, preferably stocky. He's a working man, good natured, dogmatic. Able to drive.

'BLACKIE About 50, disreputable-looking, cunning as a fox.

'HERBIE About 40, a small-time crim, un-prepossessing. Pretty dumb.

'THREE WARDERS

'HANGMAN Aged 40-50. Strong, calm face.

'BANK MANAGER Fussy - somewhat timid.

'CLIENT (MALE) About 35.

'BANK TELLER

'CUSTOMER (MALE) About 22.

'OLD WOMAN Refined old layd [sic] - "well-off".

'TWO YOUNG WOMEN

'(ESCAPE)

'TWO MEN AND A WOMAN, ALL MIDDLE-AGED

'NEWSCASTER

'HOUSEHOLDER Man, aged about 40.'

'A group of pensioners in an old people's home are secretly engaged in earning extra money to supplement their pensions. When one of their number, Charlie Cook, is found dead, they dispose of the body for fear that a police investigation would expose their activities and land them in trouble with the Taxation Department.'

Source: Classic Australian Television. (Sighted: 11/6/2013)

In this episode, the murder of Kragg's mentor Lestrovic finally forces the disillusioned idealist to turn his back on the Council for Unification of the Communist World (COUW) and approach COSMIC, though it takes a further two episodes and the murder of a colleague for him to fully join COSMIC (in 'A Reason for Dying').

The episode was written as 'The Jan Lestrovic File' (the title that appears on the script cover page) but aired under the title 'Doves in the East'.

The script held in the Crawford Collection has neither synopsis nor character notes.

The script held in the Crawford Collection has neither synopsis nor character notes.

The script held in the Crawford Collection has neither synopsis nor character notes.

The script held in the Crawford Collection has neither synopsis nor characer notes.

Australia's first spy show, made at a time when overseas television networks were investing heavily in counter-espionage programs.

The titular character was John Hunter, a secret agent with SCU3 (Special Clandestine Unit 3), a division of COSMIC (Commonwealth Offices for Security and Military Intelligence Co-ordination). Operating under the front of Independent Surveys, COSMIC was headed by Charles Blake. Hunter was assisted by female agent Eve Halliday.

The enemy organisation, CUCW (Council for Unification of the Communist World) was headed in Australia by Mr Smith, whose chief agent was the complicated idealist Kragg. Kragg ultimately defected to the West (and to COSMIC) after a period of disillusionment with CUCW.

Late in the show's run, John Hunter met an untimely death in front of a firing squad in an Iron Curtain country. He was replaced by a new agent, Gil Martin, but the show only continued for another eight episodes, as Ian Jones preferred to concentrate on his new vehicle for Gerard Kennedy, Division 4.

According to Moran, in his Guide to Australian TV Series, 'Coming as it did towards the end of the Cold War and indeed the whole breakdown of the hegemony of Australian society, Hunter was an uneasy combination of boys'-own spy adventures, owing something to the popularity of James Bond novels, and the more cynical and seedy variation of the genre associated with writers such as Len Deighton and John Le Carre'. Don Storey, however, writes on Classic Australian Television that it was 'a bold, sophisticated and ambitious venture into slick, professional local drama', the sophistication no doubt aided by the per-episode budget of $20,000 (compared to Homicide's per-episode budget of $7000).