Banished: episode guide

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Part 3

UK: Thu, March 19, 2015
Written by Jimmy McGovern
Directed by Daniel Percival

Gathered on the beach under the blistering sun, Reverend Johnson leads the community in prayer as they bury another poor soul who has succumbed to the hardships of life in the colony. Suddenly shouting is heard from out at sea, where some marines are gesturing that their fishing nets have been slashed. But by whom?

Later there is much joy and jubilation as the marriage of Elizabeth and Tommy is blessed by Reverend Johnson in the partially constructed church. A structure that the convicts are voluntarily helping their vicar build with whatever blood, sweat and tears they can muster after their penal labour.

When Governor Phillip arrives to investigate what is happening, he orders a stop to work on the church. With rations running so short, all energy and effort must go into the colony's development, spiritual edifices have to come second. Reverend Johnson is crestfallen.

Happily, doubly good news soon follows: Elizabeth discovers she is pregnant and Deborah the governor's trusted housekeeper has found a strong, sweet-natured convict, Stubbins, with to fill the crucial role of camp blacksmith.

By the side of a small, shady inlet Captain Collins and Mary Johnson have begun literacy classes for those convicts they think worthy of bettering themselves. Stubbins is one of these lucky few and looks forward to the day he can read for himself a letter he cherishes from his wife. But his friend Letters Molloy a wise and unusually a literate convict, worries about the consequences of his friend's edification.

Meanwhile, Katherine McVitie is torn apart by her devotion to her recently elevated lover Corporal MacDonald and being coerced into sexual servitude with Major Ross. Extra scraps of rice cannot compensate for her hurt. Her increasing despair propels her to an extreme bid for freedom.

Then a chance discovery is made. Overwhelming implicated as the killer, James, has no choice but to run for his life. He charges into the bush in a hail of bullets. Sergeant Timmins and his men are in hot pursuit.

Cast:

  • Orla Brady as Anne Meredith
  • Ewen Bremner as Reverend Johnson
  • MyAnna Buring as Elizabeth Quinn
  • Ryan Corr as Private MacDonald
  • Brooke Harman as Deborah
  • David Dawson as Captain Collins
  • Ned Dennehy as Letters Molloy
  • Cal MacAninch as Sergeant Timmins
  • Rory McCann as Marston
  • Joseph Millson as Major Ross
  • Nick Moss as Spragg
  • Adam Nagaitis as Private Buckley
  • Genevieve O'Reilly as Mrs Johnson
  • Jordan Patrick Smith as Private Mulrooney
  • Russell Tovey as James Freeman
  • Julian Rhind-Tutt as Tommy Barrett
  • Joanna Vanderham as Katherine McVitie
  • David Walmsley as Stubbins
  • David Wenham as Governor Arthur Phillip