australian television information archive

Three's Company

Episode 1
Thu, May 29, 1975 (7:30)
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Russell Hagg

The discovery of gold in the 1850s shattered the pastoral harmony of the Australian colonies. Thousands poured into Victoria every week intent on making a fortune. Crime was rampant. The police were so understaffed that even convicts were conscripted.

Just out of prison, Sam Cash meets up with Joe Brady in the defence of some miners being victimised by Keogh, an ambitious and cruel police Lieutenant. In the fight that follows, Sam and Joe shoot two troopers in self-defence, putting themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Sam and Joe visit the homestead of the widow Jessica Johnson to inform her of her brother's murder and she joins their cause, working behind the scenes, to clear their names and bring Keogh to justice. Their first stop is Tandarra in search of a witness to Keogh's crime.

Starring: Serge Lazareff as Sam Cash, Gus Mercurio as Joe Brady, Penne Hackforth-Jones as Jessica Johnson, Bruce Kerr as Lieut. Keogh

With: John Frawley as Father-in-Law, David Ravenswood as Magistrate, Frank Hamilton as Warder, Bob Horsfall as Andy, Kurt Beimel as Franz, Michael Croft as Charlie, Dorothy Lawrence as Bertha, Sandy Gore as Madam, Allan Easther as Miner, Tom Lake as Shopkeeper, Rob Hewett as Bushranger 1, Patrick James as Bushranger 2, Brenda Addie as Bar Girl, Greg Smith as Miner 1, Ken Webb as Miner 2, Nick Waters as Trooper, John Bowman as Trooper, Graham Ross as Stunt Trooper

Notes: airdates and episode order are for the original Melbourne airing based on the contemporary published tv listings.

The Witness

Episode 2
Thu, June 05, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: George Miller

Sam Cash and Joe Brady continue their search for the sole witness who can clear their names. Cash pleads their case to a magistrate and leaves with an assurance their witness will be given a fair hearing and not be harmed. Sam and Joe hide out at the homestead with their witness but nearly run into Lieutenant Keogh when he calls on Jessica. Having learned about Cash and Brady's witness, Keogh sets a trap to silence the man for good.

With: Kurt Beimel as Franz, Kevin Colebrook as Magistrate, Sean Myers as Shopkeeper, Terry Gill as Higgins, Cliff Ellen as Ridley, Noel O'Connor as Prisoner, Ginny Geraghty as Maid, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heath as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper

Up To Scratch

Episode 3
Thu, June 12, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: George Miller

Sam is goaded into squaring off against a champion boxer in a bare knuckle fight but a post-victory photograph of him and Joe must be recovered lest it fall into the hands of Lt. Keogh who could use it to aid in police identification. The photographer agrees to hand over the photo on the condition that Sam particpate in another fight and take a dive but he also makes a deal with Keogh.

With: Jerry Thomas as Harry Horlock, Roz De Winter as Betty Horlock, John Murphy as Barker, Ken Webb as Contender, Ken Brady as Champ, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heather as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper

Golden Girl

Episode 4
Thu, June 19, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Simon Wincer

Sam and Jessica are intrigued by the relationship between Joe Brady and goldfields entertainer Sarah Simmonds when he risks capture to see her perform. Sarah's manager turns Joe in to Keogh but it is Sam who is caught when he follows Joe to the show. Sam insists Keogh's caught the wrong man, no one knows what he looks like after all, so Keogh seeks Jessica's testimony as one of the few people who knows what Sam Cash and Joe Brady look like. Jessica learns the tragic details of Joe and Sarah's shared past when she invites her to the homestead.

With: Judith Durham as Sarah Simmons, Jon Finlayson as Travers Lewis, Ron Edgeworth as Charlie Owen, Anne Pendlebury as Annie, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heath as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper, Nick Waters as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Vernon Wells as Trooper

Dolly Mop

Episode 5
Thu, June 26, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Simon Wincer

In the dead of night, a storm is raging when Mary Fincham arrives at the homestead with a hard luck story that derides the household. She claims to be on the run from her husband who is out to kill her but Keogh later stops by to warn Jessica that he's in pursuit of two outlaws wanted for robbery — Mary and her husband. Mary uses her considerable wiles to charm Sam Cash and Joe Brady, and in doing so, endangers their lives. When Ruffler tracks Mary to the homestead, he and Sam face off in a sword duel.

With: Judy Morris as Mary Fincham, Tony Bonner as Titas Ruffler

The Intruders

Episode 6
Thu, July 03, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Simon Wincer

Morgan, leader of a gang of bushrangers, and his men hold up a gold escort and kill all the troopers, but not before Morgan himself is shot in the leg. Sam and Joe come across the scene and foil their getaway, taking the gold back to the homestead. Some days later, dirty and dishevelled, Morgan and his men ride into Jessica Johnson's homestead. They take the household hostage and demand their gold back in exchange for their lives.

With: Bruce Barry as Morgan, Neville Stonehouse as McBean, Gil Tucker as Luke, Bill Stacey as Mills, Anne Pendlebury as Annie, Peter Kanoa as Jacky, Ian Johnson as Tracker, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heath as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, Robbie McGregor as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper, Mick Webster as Trooper

Joe Sent Me

Episode 7
Thu, July 10, 1975
Writer: Theodore Baer
Director: George Miller

Drinking and gambling were both illegal pursuits on the goldfields in the early 1850s. Not that this stops Joe Brady. He loses Sam Cash's money when the police raid the poker game. Sam, Joe and Jessica make a number of attempts to recover it, before hitting on what seems to be a fool-proof scheme.

With: John Frawley as Father-in-Law, Ken Weaver as Blacksmith, Matthew King as Cockatoo, Leila Hayes as Lola, Yvonne Coen as Erma, Leighton Watts as Trooper, Nick Waters as Trooper, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heath as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Rob McGregor as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper, Mick Webster as Trooper, Vernon Wells as Trooper

A P.J. Clarke Original

Episode 8
Thu, July 17, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Simon Wincer

When Sam Cash comes to the aid of artist P.J. Clarke, who is being bullied by the police, he gets more than he bargained for. The artist offers to help Sam recover his horse, stolen by Lieutenant Keogh. Joe Brady is distrustful of P.J. Clarke and uses every opportunity to make the point.

With: Michael Duffield as P.J. Clarke, Ray Saunders as Bartender, Anne Pendlebury as Anne, Graham Braddy as Trooper, Vernon Weaver as Trooper, Ken Grant as Trooper, Doug Bennett as Trooper, David Bradshaw as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Rob McGregor as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper, Mick Webster as Trooper, Vernon Wells as Trooper

Home Brewed

Episode 9
Thu, July 24, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Russell Hagg

The selling of liquor was illegal on the goldfields yet grog tents flourished — and so did police corruption. So, when Emma Riley's sly grog tent is burned down by the police, leaving her and her young daughter destitute, Sam Cash and Joe Brady attempt to set her up in business once more. Keogh takes away Emma's daughter when she spurns his advances but Cash and Co. are aided in their endeavour to retrieve the young girl by an unlikely ally, one of Keogh's own troopers.

With: Lynette Curran as Emma, Kristina McCallum as Alice, John Bowman as Gilbert Adams, Sean Myers as Barman, Peter Heather as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Nick Waters as Trooper

Halfway House

Episode 10
Thu, July 31, 1975
Writer: Theodore Baer
Director: Russell Hagg

With Keogh hot on their heels and a swollen river ahead, Cash and Company are forced to seek refuge with the bizarre inhabitants of the Halfway House Hotel. Among the guests is an eccentric scientist who claims to have invented a device that can turn lead into gold. After Joe buys the device using Sam's money, an armed standoff erupts over the contraption's ability to do the impossible.

With: Noel Ferrier as Dr. Stone, Ernie Bourne as Inn Keeper, Noel Browne as Cecil Kickbush, Murielle Salter as Inn Keeper's Wife, Ken Grant as Trooper, Peter Heather as Trooper, Robbie McGregor as Trooper, John Pugh as Trooper, Mick Webster as Trooper, Les Bunning as Trooper, Gil McGregor as Trooper, Nick Waters as Trooper

All My Worldly Goods

Episode 11
Thu, August 07, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Simon Wincer

Desiring an heir, the ambitious and arrogant Jacob Striker is determined to take over the neighbouring Johnson homestead and marry the young widow Jessica. Sam and Joe attempt to thwart Striker's plans but Jessica isn't as quick to dismiss Striker's proposal. Keogh apprehends Sam and Joe at the homestead but is prepared to sacrifice their capture to get rid of a greater threat.

With: Michael Pate as Striker, Berrie Cameron-Allen as Mildred, David Murray as Jackeroo 1, Peter Noble as Jackeroo 2, Noel O'Connor as Miner, Tim Robertson as Reed, Les Bunning as Trooper/Rider, Gil McGregor as Trooper/Rider, Robbie McGregor as Trooper/Rider

Happy Christmas?

Episode 12
Thu, August 14, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Russell Hagg

An escaped prisoner involves Sam Cash and Joe Brady in a daring raid into the Police stronghold. However, the prisoner deceives Cash and Company — and makes plans to turn them over to Keogh.

With: Martin Phelan as Rufus, Robert Coleman as Raleigh, David Mitchell as Ben, Alan Bickford as Sean, Jeffrey Hodgson as Priest, David Hawley as Trooper, David Murray as Trooper, Doug Bennett as Trooper, Robert Randall as Trooper, Ken Grant as Trooper/Rider, John Pugh as Trooper/Rider, Gil McGregor as Trooper/Rider, Les Bunning as Trooper/Rider, Peter Heather as Trooper/Rider

Such Sweet Sorrow

Episode 13
Thu, August 21, 1975
Writer: Patrick Edgeworth
Director: Russell Hagg

Having successfully avoided capture by Lieutenant Keogh for the past year, Sam Cash and Joe Brady have a new threat to worry about ̶ a professional bounty hunter. When he tracks the gang to Jessica's homestead, they make the difficult decision to split up and go their separate ways.

With: Gerard Kennedy as Ryler, Ben Gabriel as Lucky, John Frawley as Father-in-Law, Patrick Edgeworth as East, Jabanunga Kantilla as Tracker, Rani Petherbridge as Masseuse, Peter North as Bounty Hunter, Peter Culpan as Bounty Hunter, Peter Cavanagh as Bounty Hunter, Les Bunning as Posse, Gil McGregor as Posse, Robbie McGregor as Posse, John Pugh as Posse