AustLit

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

'GERALD WILKINS. A self-admiring door-to-door salesman, having steady success with his present product - and occasional success in his concurrent project of seducing not-so-young housewives. Knows he is not physically impressive, so has developed as his stock-in-trade an individual line of "audacious" humour. He is ultra confident with ladies like, Gwen [sic] Morgan, but cuts a poor figure when confronted by the police. He drives.

'GWEN MORGAN. Early 40's. The sad aspect of her life is that she's been unable to have children. Feels her husband lacks tolerance and understanding. She has wells of malice towards him. She will coquette a little with a man like Wilkins. But is much adverse to any physical contact.

'THOMAS MORGAN. Middle 40's. Rough and ready manner. Basically a decent bloke, he finds his wife's vagaries irritating. Has strong ideas about his rights and is quick to resent infringement on the part of employers - or anyone else. Could be an ardent and voluble Labor supporter, believing in Unionism and mateship. Drives panel van.

'MICHAEL GRANT. Seemingly ordinary lad, working class background. Unemotional, self possessed, quietly amiable and co-operative.

'LINDA RICHARDSON. Age 44. Good figure, dresses well, perhaps too youthfully, with an eye to sex appeal. Her true character is, that she's never tried to overcome the natural instincts of putting herself first. This brands her as an exceptionally hard woman, and it shows in her expression at her first entrance when she is told of the deaths of her daughter and grand-child. Her first (unstated) reaction is one of concern that her own plans might be disrupted.

'SENIOR DETECTIVE JAMIESON. Straight down-the-middle detective. Efficient and uncomplicated, readily accepted by colleagues. When asked to assist the Homicide branch, he is very much on his toes. (Would naturally have in mind that he performs well. This will be noted in Mackay's report on the case.)

'PHOTOGRAPHER. A policeman attached to Forensic Science. Efficient, business like. Has a few speeches.

'BETTINE FRASER: Aged 24. (corpse) [sic] must have longish hair, sufficient to cover face.

'CAROLYN FRASER. Aged 7. (Corpse.)

'2 AMBULANCE MEN.

'4 EXTRAS. Bystanders (Actual).'