australian television information archive

The Cockatoo Has Landed

Episode 2.01 (7)
Saturday, February 13, 2010 (7.30pm)
Ratings: 0.675 million viewers (10th)
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Grant Brown

Louisa comes back from her overseas trip with Holly, still on the 'gold nugget' high. She has a plan. Sort of. She is going to be an art photographer— and maybe, just maybe she will get together with Nick? Holly bumps into Sean and he notices that she looks older, more grown up. He's starting to see her a little differently.

Meanwhile, Louisa catches up on the goss with the girls; Marg is taking a course to become a civil celebrant; Deb, as always, has too many animals to save in not enough time; and Gemma's 20-year-old son Jake is visiting soon.

Nick takes Louisa out for dinner to the pub, but it is not the romantic evening Louisa was hoping for. The conversation is awkward and Nick has a knack for saying just the wrong thing. He drives her home, and their first kiss is a complete disaster.

Excitement builds in the town over the imminent unveiling of the Big Nugget, devised by Gavin to capitalise on growing 'gold-tourism' in the district but this is undercut when Vivien learns that the Rainbow Echo is going to shut down — the next issue will be its last due to financial issues.

The Big Nugget has been built by Marty and Rooster, and continuing in their tradition of shoddy workmanship, the event doesn't run to plan. Whilst opening the Big Nugget Louisa comes to realise that she can save the Echo. Louisa seizes the opportunity to say she'll buy the newspaper, but nobody notices Gavin quietly schmoozing the newspaper's owner Bob Stinson.

Cast (in order of appearance): Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Rowan Francis as Amateur Prospector, Peppa Sindar as Woman, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Christopher Bunworth as Pat O'Reilly, Jasper Bagg as Trev Mathieson, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Richard Moss as Bob Stinson, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Geoffrey Graham as Prospector #2, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, Brendan Parry Kaufmann as Propector #3, Peter Richards as Propector #4, Cameron McKenzie as Young Cop, Richard Davies as Rooser McIver, Susan Ryan as Mrs Stinson

Note: series 2 of Bed of Roses marks the final television performance of the legendary Charles 'Bud' Tingwell. He passed away May 15, 2009 at age 86.

Rainbow Warriors

Episode 2.02 (8)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Ratings: 0.615 million viewers (9th)
Written by Jutta Goetze
Directed by Grant Brown

Her gold fortune whittled away, Louisa realises she needs a job. Hat in hand she asks Gavin for a position. He's not so keen to employ her but grudgingly gives her a temporary job selling ad space for The Echo.

It's a depressing grind of a job and one that Louisa is completely unsuited for. Finally it gets too much for her and she mouths off to a handsome stranger. What Louisa doesn't know is that Tim Price is Gavin's new business partner and the new financial manager of The Echo.

Later that day, Marg wants the dirt on Louisa's and Nick's date. Sheepishly, Louisa tells them that kissing Nick was like kissing her brother! It's not going to work— there is just no chemistry.

A small protest is forming outside the office of the Department of Sustainability and the Environment. A local farmer is adamant his cattle are being killed by algae in the creek and Jake, Gemma's son passionately joins in the argument as Minna, Sean and Holly look on.

The next morning, Jake, Holly and a handful of students arrive at the butter factory, which backs on to the polluted creek and chain themselves to the gates. When the police arrive and begin to drag protesters away, Holly is overpowered and Louisa, trying to protect her daughter, inadvertently elbows Gregg, the young cop, in the nose, resulting in a trip to the police station.

Back at The Echo, Louisa receives a very big surprise when she is appointed probationary editor by the newly arrived financial manager.

Cast: Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Jasper Bagg as Trev Mathieson, Sofia Kuc as Rosie O'Reilly, Christopher Bunworth as Pat O'Reilly, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Richard Davies as Rooser McIver, Sweeney Young as Jake O'Reilly, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, Ken Radley as Ray Jenkins, Dan Purdey as Alan, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Ryan Hoult as Mike, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Margot Hedt as CWA Lady, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Tim Sullivan as Ern Swann, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Timothy Bell as Sergeant, Paul Hampton as Ed Priestly, Cameron McKenzie as Young Cop

The Front Page

Episode 2.03 (9)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Ratings: 0.492 million viewers (13th)
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Grant Brown

It is not all smooth sailing as Louisa takes up her position of editor at The Echo. Louisa has a vision for the paper and it's soon clear that the bottom line is Tim Price's primary concern.

At Gemma's belly dancing class Marg reveals she's asked Tim out for dinner and that from now on she's going to set the agenda with men. But the dinner with Tim is not quite as successful as she had hoped.

Sean, hurt by Holly's perceived betrayal with Jake, continues to avoid Holly, and Nick, smarting over their date, uses Holly as a go-between so he doesn't need to speak to Louisa. Finally both generations of the Atherton women have had enough and demand answers.

Back at The Echo, tension is growing. Tim is making changes to try and bring in more advertising revenue. Minna confronts him about the new look of the paper but may have met her match. Then Tim flags a problem with this first edition of the paper. The Echo should be gritty, showcasing hard news, even scandalous stories. Louisa confronts his tabloid mentality.

That night Sean, still upset after his fight with Holly, is having dinner and a few drinks with Rooster when he gets a call from his Dad; Evelyn Longbottom's died. Sean thinks he's fine to drive and takes his car to pick up the body. Unfortunately he comes across a breath testing station on the way back into town… and The Echo may have found the front page that Tim was looking for.

Cast: Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Richard Davies as Rooser McIver, Christopher Connelly as Lionel Smithwick, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Christopher Bunworth as Pat O'Reilly, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Jasper Bagg as Trev Mathieson, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, Yang Li as Temple Soothsayer, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Cameron McKenzie as Young Cop, Dawn Klingberg as Evelyn Longbottom, Craig Millar as Foreman, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln

Gaaa… aarth

Episode 2.04 (10)
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Ratings: 0.613 million viewers (13th)
Written by Jutta Goetze
Directed by Darren Ashton

Despite Tim's efforts to smooth over his Sean Smithwick article, Louisa remains indignant about The Echo's content and her role as the editor. She heads out to Deb's animal shelter to research a community profile for the paper. It's obvious Deb was born for this job and Louisa is beginning to feel the same about working at The Echo.

Sandy and Minna show Rita , Lily and Tsung Chi where the Chinese used to pan for gold on the block of land owned by the Heritage Committee. Tsung Chi cannot shake a bad feeling about this place.

Minna notices that the native bush is being destroyed by marauding goats owned by Owen Diston. Owen wants to buy the land and when his offer is rejected begins a campaign of intimidation against Minna.

Louisa, Marg and Gemma decide that Deb needs to spend more time with her husband Trev, so offer to watch the shelter while she goes out on the town with Trev. But their confidence soon dissipates when they realise just how difficult looking after the menagerie of animals really is.

In the face of Owen's harassment, Minna starts to think that she can't continue, but when she and Sandy are invited to Holly's school they hear that the students have devised a plan for a sustainable community garden on the Heritage Committee land. After some deliberation the oldies on the committee agree to help.

Cast: Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Jasper Bagg as Trev Mathieson, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Terry Gill as Owen Diston, Natalia Aksenova as Diner, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Christopher Bunworth as Pat O'Reilly, Sofia Kuc as Rosie O'Reilly, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Cliff Ellen as Clem, Brenda Palmer as Addie, Denise Scott as Patti Rankin, Nicole Gulasekharam as Tahlia, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln

Note: Darren Ashton's television directorial debut

Goddess Of The Rainbow

Episode 2.05 (11)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Ratings: 0.578 million viewers (9th)
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Darren Ashton

With exams looming Louisa is concerned about Holly's focus and gently suggests she slows things down with Sean and maybe quit the Rainbow Inn… only to discover Holly earns more in her waitressing job than she does as the editor of The Echo!

Gemma and Pat's difficulties escalate, with Gemma becoming convinced that Pat has lost interest in her, but Pat is avoiding intimacy for different reasons.

The success of Caring Caroline is going to Vivien's head and when Marty blurts out the secret of Pat's impotence, Vivien is sure that she can offer some good advice.

At the Rainbow Inn, Tsung Chi shows the Lims a photo of Ah Chin. The mystery of his missing ancestor is fast becoming all-consuming for him; why did Ah Chin never return to China from the goldfields?

Louisa and Tim share a drink after successfully meeting their deadline for this week's paper and Tim reveals she's getting a raise. Things start to look more intimate when Nick, Pat, Gavin and Marty join them and the men decide on a game of pool. What starts off as a friendly game becomes increasingly competitive between Nick and Tim as both men try and impress Louisa.

At the gym, Gemma is shocked to read the Caring Caroline column that seems to be about her and Pat. Gemma accuses Louisa of betraying her private business, until finally Vivien steps forward and admits that she's Caring Caroline. The crisis prompts more open communication between Gemma and Pat as they seek a way through their difficulties.

Cast: Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Christopher Bunworth as Pat O'Reilly, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Kirsten Snowden as Steph, Mahalia Brown as Kylie, Troy Cartwrigth as Male Gym-Goer, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Anna Anderson as Museum Curator, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Benjamin Seow as Good Looking Chinese Man

Green Versus Gold

Episode 2.06 (12)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Ratings: 0.726 million viewers (6th)
Written by Jutta Goetze
Directed by Ted Emery

Minna and Sandy visit an essential oils warehouse estate to buy ingredients for their mysterious business, Foxglove Fragrances. On the way home Sandy suddenly forgets the way, Minna gently talks him through it, but it's clear that his Alzheimer's is worsening.

Louisa learns that Wendy Watt is back in town working for the mining company Chimaera Gold, which has secretly begun exploration in the area. Louisa discovers evidence of Chimaera Gold's questionable practices elsewhere and when Wendy is confronted with some ugly home truths about Chimaera, she does her best to 'spin' it.

Nick gives Holly another driving lesson, and discovers that Jack had been cheating on Louisa before he died. Nick resolves to tell Louisa what he really feels, but once again becomes tongue tied.

When Louisa discovers that Chimaera is buying up local land and will soon make a claim on the Community Garden which Holly and the Heritage Committee have worked so hard to develop, Louisa confronts Wendy at a very public press conference.

Meanwhile the Foxglove board convenes under a marquee in Sandy's yard for what are obviously some very secretive and carefully planned operations but when water gets on the chemical the whole marquee is blown sky high.

The police have their suspicions that the oldies weren't just making perfume, but can't prove it. But Louisa has figured exactly what they were making. She is furious with Minna, who argues to Louisa that she has controlled her whole life — how she has lived and how she will die.

Cast: Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Dale Azzopardi as Sales Assistant, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Richard Davies as Rooser McIver, Kallista Kaval as Wendy Watt Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln, Brenda Palmer as Addie, Cliff Ellen as Clem, Tom Fravers as Bob, Robin Collins as Thelma, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Benedict Hardie as Brent Davies, Chloe Foster as Leoni, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Jeremy Kewley as Tom Cruise, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Kevin Hopkins as Skype Man, Tim Sullivan as Ern Swann, Cameron McKenzie as Gregg the Young Cop, Sebastian Bartoli as Journo #1, Timothy Bell as Sergeant, Sarah Berry as Police Woman, Brian Lock as Sandy double

Two Bulls in the Paddock

Episode 2.07 (13)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Ratings: 0.619 million viewers (9th)
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Ted Emery

A mine at Rainbow's End looks inevitable. Outside The Echo, Louisa and Wendy continue to debate Chimaera's mining practices, both refusing to give ground.

Holly and Sean are helping the Heritage Committee clean up Sandy's Museum of Oddities and Holly uses this as her chance to 'borrow' the preserved specimen of the now extinct Golden Speckled Leaping Legless Lizard. Near the Community Gardens, Rooster catches a standard legless lizard. Holly prepares some gold paint and starts snapping photos. Holly shows an astonished Louisa — the extinct lizard is alive… This could change everything!

Tim and Nick's rivalry for Louisa's affection is reaching boiling point and when Nick finds Tim broken down at the side of the road he seizes the opportunity to show Tim some of the 'local sights'. Tim's sarcastic wit sees Nick dumping him in the bush and Tim spends the night in unfamiliar surrounds far from home!

With a deadline looming and Tim missing, Louisa must decide whether to print a story about the Golden Speckled Leaping Legless Lizard. Louisa writes an editorial about the lizard, without confirming its existence, but questioning the legitimacy of the gold mine. When Tim finally turns up he offers little in the way of explanation. That night a conscience stricken Holly confesses to Louisa about her lizard hoax.

Meanwhile Marg tells Louisa about seeing a bedraggled Tim walking into town the previous day, which flies in the face of everything he had told her about his disappearance. Louisa confronts both Tim and Nick simultaneously about their attitudes; she won't be a prize to be 'won'. She leaves both of them in the ute's dust. What will she do and who, if any, is the right man for her?

Cast: Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Kallista Kaval as Wendy Watt, Cihan Tohumcuer as Hoon #1, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Cliff Ellen as Clem, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Richard Davies as Rooser McIver, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, David Duhs as Limo Driver, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly

Raucous Angel

Episode 2.08 (14)
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Ratings: 0.651 million viewers (8th)
Written by Jutta Goetze
Directed by Ted Emery

Tim and Gavin break the news to the team; they're selling the newspaper to Wentworth Regional Press. Tim surprises Louisa by asking her to come with him to a new and better job in the city. Louisa is anxious… Tim… Nick… the job of a lifetime in the city or her life now at Rainbow's End — what does the future hold? What does she want?

At the mining office, Wendy announces that no trace of the lizard has been found. She strongly implies Louisa's photos are not authentic. It looks like Louisa and Holly might be in real trouble. Louisa picks Minna (Julia Blake) and Sandy up from the hospital; his health is deteriorating and Minna has decided he'll move in with her.

At The Echo Tim tells Louisa that Chimaera wants a public hearing, and that she will have to testify about the publication of the lizard editorial. Chimaera attempts to gag Louisa by intimidating Holly — a mysterious ute has been following Holly home and coming dangerously close to her bike. Holly is frightened, she goes to Nick and he soon shows that he is more than a match for a couple of two-bit thugs.

Meanwhile Vivien tells Louisa the Chimaera hearing has been re-scheduled… for right now, so Tim cannot be there! Louisa must go to meet her fate, Vivien (Susie Dee) will rally the troops. Back at The Echo Tim tells Louisa he's organised a job for her in the city, but Louisa's mind is made up — she wants to stay with the Echo, even if this means going into business with the most unlikely of partners!

As morning dawns Minna finds Sandy has passed away during the night. Louisa, Holly and Sandy's friends gather at the house whilst Sean gently prepares the body. Sandy's life will be celebrated at the community gardens as the bulldozers wait to begin clearing the land for the mine. And as they prepare to lay Sandy to rest, a rustle in the long grass reveals a visitor that just might save the day.

Cast: Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Charlies 'Bud' Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Susie Dee as Vivien Dixon, Amanda Ma as Lily Lim, Scott Casey as Bill Snowdon, Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Frank Magree as Marty Mason, Philip Quast as Tim Price, Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, Kallista Kaval as Wendy Watt, Gareth Yuen as Chin Trueng Chi, HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Philip Lau as Jimmy Lee, Jessie Wei as Nina Lee, Teik Buck Ooi as Frank Lee, Lawrence Mah as Wayne Lim, Cihan Tohumcuer as Hoon #1, Liam Kilgour as Hoon #2, Tony Rickards as Legal, Christopher Broadstock as Convenor, Janet Foye as Lorna Lincoln, Cliff Ellen as Clem, Brenda Palmer as Addie, Tom Travers as Bob, Cameron McKenzie as Gregg the Young Cop, Brett Christian as Foreman, Russell Jacobs as Worker #1

In Honour and Memory of
Charles "Bud" Tingwell
1923–2009