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Against the Wind: episode guide

The Seeds of Fire

Episode 1
Tue, September 12, 1978
Written by Ian Jones, Bronwyn Binns
Directed by Simon Wincer

Against the Wind begins in country Ireland in 1798 where the Mulvane family lives. Mary, the eldest daughter, is in love with Michael Connor. The English Red Coats are slowly taking over Ireland and when the Pastor's fee goes up and the Mulvane's can't pay, their cow is taken instead. Not wanting to give in to the English, Mary and Michael go to steal the cow back in the middle of the night but are caught in the act and Michael is shot dead — leaving Mary to stand trial.

With: Bryan Brown as Michael Connor, Dave Evans as Watchman, Cliff Ellen as Warder, Tim Elliot as Captain Dennott, Adrian Wright as Lieutenant Burne, Ernie Bourne as Surgeon Beyer, Stewart Faichney as Mr. Ricketts, Lulu Pinkus as Jenny, Hamish Hughes as Brannon, Michael Carmon as Redcoat, Christine Calcutt as Convict Woman, Jane Clifton as Convict Woman, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville, Anna Griffin as Elly Mulvane, Frank Thring as Magistrate, Jerry Thomas as Sergeant, Jennifer Claire as Mrs. Connor, Roz De Winter as Mrs. Mulvane, Peter Gwynne as Francis Mulvane, Bill Saly as Seamus Mulvane, John Nash as Landlord Buchanan, Wallas Eaton as Tithe Proctor, John Allen as Redcoat Officer, Cash Backman as Redcoat, Frankie Hamilton as Egan, Norman Hodges as Sentry Bates, Carlos Keena as Lookout boy, John Ley as Sean

The Wild Geese

Episode 2
Tue, September 12, 1978
Written by Bronwyn Binns, Ian Jones
Directed by Simon Wincer

Mary, now a convicted criminal, boards the convict ship 'Britania' for the arduous voyage to Sydney. On board she meets Polly, the boss of the female prisoners and Greville, a sinister officer of the NSW Corp.

With: Anna Griffin as Elly Mulvane, Bill Saly as Seamus Mulvane, Bryan Brown as Michael Connor, Jennifer Claire as Mrs. Connor, Frank Thring as Magistrate, John Nash as Landlord Buchanan, Wallas Eaton as Tithe Proctor, John Allen as Redcoat Officer, Jerry Thomas as Sergeant, Dave Evans as Watchman, John Ley as Sean, Cash Backman as Redcoat, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville, Roz De Winter as Mrs. Mulvane, Peter Gwynne as Francis Mulvane, Tim Elliot as Captain Dennott, Lulu Pinkus as Jenny, Ernie Bourne as Surgeon Beyer, Christine Calcutt as Convict Woman, Jane Clifton as Convict Woman, Stewart Faichney as Mr. Ricketts, Hamish Hughes as Brannon, Adrian Wright as Lieutenant Burne, Cliff Ellen as Warder, Carlos Keena as Lookout boy, Norman Hodges as Sentry Bates, Frankie Hamilton as Egan, Michael Carmon as Redcoat

A Question of Guilt

Episode 3
Tue, September 19, 1978
Written by Ian Jones, Bronwyn Binns
Directed by Simon Wincer

Mary and Polly survive the sea voyage and are assigned on their arrival in Sydney. Greville, still smarting at Mary's rebuke, sets out to make her life as difficult as possible.

With: Walter Pym as Judge Advocate, Julia Blake as Cook, Marion Edward as Matron Purdy, David John as Pantryman, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville, Norman Hodges as Sentry Bates, Stewart Faichney as Mr. Ricketts, Ernie Bourne as Surgeon Beyer, Frederick Parslow as Captain Charles Wiltshire, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire, Tim Elliot as Captain Dennott, Anthony Hawkins as Surgeon Balmain, Adrian Wright as Lieutenant Burne

The Flogging Parson

Episode 4
Tue, September 19, 1978
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by George Miller

Mary and Polly begin to settle into their various situations in the new colony. Jonathan falls afoul of the cruel overseer Pike, and pays for his slip in judgment.

With: Charles Gilroy as Amos, Tommy Dysart as Travers, Julia Blake as Cook, David Ravenswood as Samuel Marsden, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne, Frederick Parslow as Captain Charles Wiltshire, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire

An Agreement Between Officers and Others

Episode 5
Tue, October 3, 1978
Written by Peter Kinloch
Directed by Simon Wincer

Time passes in the colony. Jonathon begins to have genuine feelings for Mary, thinking of the future he learns to read and write. Greville expands his empire and is prepared to eliminate anyone how gets in his way.

With: Julia Blake as Cook, Howard Eyenon as Redcoat Corporal, Terry Gill as Redcoat Sergeant, Peter Cummins as Isaac Nichols, Sean Scully as John Macarthur, Atalanta Hyde as Elizabeth, Edward Hyde as Edward, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire, Frederick Parslow as Captain Charles Wiltshire, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville

A House on the Hill

Episode 6
Tue, October 3, 1978
Written by Tony Morphett
Directed by George Miller

Mary, who had originally planned to return to Ireland, decides to stay in the Colony and marry Jonathan after seeing his house and land.

With: Terry Gill as Redcoat Sergeant, Gillian O'flynn as Baby's Mother, Tom Broadbridge as Baby's Father, Shelley Aldridge as Baby, Louis McManus as Fiddler, Neil McColl as Mick, David Ravenswood as Samuel Marsden, Roger Oakley as Father Dixon, Sarah Lambert as Elizabeth Wiltshire, Jeremy Shadlow as Edward Wiltshire, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire, Frederick Parslow as Captain Charles Wiltshire, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne

The Tree of Liberty

Episode 7
Tue, October 10, 1978
Written by Paul Davies
Directed by Simon Wincer

Work on the land is hard and there is talk of an uprising among the convicts and Jonathan, against Mary's will, wants to help them.

With: Syd Conabere as Paymaster Cox, Harry Hayden as Reverend Hassall, Brendan Cassidy as Convict overseer, Patrick Edgeworth as Redcoat Sergeant, Terry Gill as Redcoat Sergeant, Chris Haywood as John Leary, Don Barker as Captain Abbott, Tim Robertson as "General" Holt, David Cameron as Liam Johnston, Jim Norton as Cunningham, Roger Oakley as Father Dixon, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne

When Kings Go Forth to Battle

Episode 8
Tue, October 10, 1978
Written by Ian Jones, Bronwyn Binns
Directed by George Miller

The uprising has begun but the convicts are tricked and betrayed. The British troops are too powerful and the uprising fails.

With: Patrick Edgeworth as Redcoat Sergeant, Terry Gill as Redcoat Sergeant, Syd Conabere as Paymaster Cox, Hugh Munro as Joshua Holt, Tommy Dysart as Drunken Rebel, John Cousins as Prosperous Settler, Marcel Cugola as French Settler, Don Barker as Captain Abbott, Nick Waters as Trooper Andlesack, Vince Gill as Quartermaster Laycock, Warwick Sims as Ensign Maurice Greville, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne, Roger Oakley as Father Dixon, Jim Norton as Cunningham, David Cameron as Liam Johnston, Tim Robertson as "General" Holt, Don Barkham as Major Johnston

The Farmer's Friend

Episode 9
Tue, October 17, 1978
Written by Cliff Green
Directed by George Miller

Dinny, although wounded, escapes the slaughter and hides at Jonathan's house. Meanwhile, their old adversary Ensign Greville has taken over the neighbouring farm.

With: Robin Harrison as Redcoat Sergeant, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire, Jonathan Hardy as Sam Fitchett, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne, Warwick Sims as Lieutenant Maurice Greville

A Matter of Life and Death

Episode 10
Tue, October 17, 1978
Written by Tony Morphett
Directed by Simon Wincer

Dinny finds an Aboriginal wife and, as he is a wanted man, has to live rough in the bush with her. Mary gives birth to a son. Dinny is spotted by the military and shot dead.

With: Charles Gilroy as Amos, Roy Edmunds as Dragoon, Nick Waters as Dragoon, Tom Broadbridge as Soldier, Ken Weaver as Blacksmith, Jerry Thomas as Sergeant, John Stanton as Surgeon, Justine Saunders as Ngilgi, Gerard Kennedy as Dinny O'Byrne, Warwick Sims as Lieutenant Maurice Greville

The Spirit of Enterprise

Episode 11
Tue, October 24, 1978
Written by Cliff Green
Directed by George Miller

Crops are bad at Jonathan's farm and the military want to take advantage of this and buy the crops off his farm. Jonathan finally has no choice but to sell. Later he finds out the payment is only given out in rum.

With: George Dixon as Steward, Keith Kaye as Labourer, Charles Gilroy as Amos, David John as Traveller, Neil Thompson as Farm Commandant, Rod Mullinar as John Macarthur, Frederick Parslow as Mr. Charles Wiltshire, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Warwick Sims as Lieutenant Maurice Greville

The Whip Hand

Episode 12
Tue, October 24, 1978
Written by Tom Hegarty
Directed by George Miller

Jonathan and Will, Polly's husband, start their own illegal distillery. But when this is discovered, Will is fiercely punished.

With: Charles Gilroy as Amos, Peter Felmingham as Sergeant Major Whittle, Robin Harrison as Constable, Don Barkham as Major Johnston, Don Barker as Captain Abbott, Damon Pascoe as Young Dinny, Rod Mullinar as John Macarthur, Frederick Parslow as Mr. Charles Wiltshire, Hu Pryce as Jonas Pike, Warwick Sims as Lieutenant Maurice Greville, Frankie Hamilton as Trader

The Windfall Summer

Episode 13
Tue, October 31, 1978
Written by Ian Jones, Bronwyn Binns
Directed by George Miller

Lieutenant Greville uses Mrs Wiltshire's affection for him to gain power in the Colony. Jonathan is sentenced to six months jail for writing a letter to the Governor exposing the corruption of the overseers after he refuses to do as the new "government" orders. Will is still imprisioned after being turned in for his whiskey making.

With: Malcolm Phillips as Judge Advocate, Tommy Dysart as Settler, Julia Blake as Cook, Vernon Weaver as Thief, Jim Danton as Thief, Alex Porteous as Traveller, Charles Gilroy as Amos, Anne Lambert as Miss Stodart, Warwick Sims as Lieutenant Maurice Greville, Bryan Stokes as Young Dinny, Frederick Parslow as Mr. Charles Wiltshire, Lynn Rainbow as Mrs. Louisa Wiltshire, Vincent Ball as Governor Macquarie, Don Barker as Captain Abbott