AustLit

This episode is the last in the arc that began with episode 29 ('The Jan Lestrovic File'/'Doves in the East'), though it had been signalled in earlier episodes: Hunter's nemesis Kragg, disillusioned with the Council, especially after they order the murder of his mentor (and Council founder) Lestrovic, ultimately defects to COSMIC. He is aided by Council spy Georgie Savage. In this episode, Georgie is brutally murdered for assisting Kragg. Stapleton went to great lengths to ensure a specific mood and tone to the scene in which Hunter finds the dying Georgie, adding the following detailed stage directions:

'SPECIAL NOTE:

'THE OBJECT OF THIS SEQUENCE HAS CERTAINLY NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER SEX OR SENSATIONALISM.

'IT SHOULD SHOCK, AND IT SHOULD HAVE GREAT IMPACT. BUT THE INTENDED EFFECT IS ONE OF TRAGEDY.

'THE IMAGE WE RETAIN OF GEORGIE'S DEATH MUST BE POWERFUL BECAUSE, WHEN HUNTER DESCRIBES IT TO KRAGG, IN A LATER SCENE, WE MUST BELIEVE THIS MAKES SUCH AN IMPACT AS TO GIVE KRAGG ONCE MORE A REASON FOR LIVING, I.E., REVENGE.

ALSO, IN ONE OR TWO LATER EPISODES, THIS IMAGE WILL SUSTAIN HUNTER AND KRAGG IN THEIR SEARCH FOR GEORGIE'S KILLER.

'FILM DIRECTOR:

IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING THE SIMULATION OF CUTS AND BRUISES ON GEORGIE'S FACE AND BODY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE BE UTTERLY CONVINCING AND TRAGIC.

'ALSO, WE SHOULD BELIEVE THAT GEORGIE IS NAKED. WE SEE HER BARE BACK, THEN GO TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS WHEN HUNTER TURNS HER OVER.

'WHEN FIRST SEEN, SHE SHOULD BE COVERED BY AN OLD, STAINED, RAGGED TARPAULIN OR CANVAS. THE WHOLE EFFECT SHOULD BE SQUALID, PATHETICALLY TRAGIC.'

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