australian television information archive

Still Waters

Episode 1
Fri, February 01, 2013 (ABC1, 8:30)
Ratings: 1.176 million viewers (1st)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Andrew Prowse

The Doctor Blake Mysteries is an original 10-part murder mystery series starring Logie award-winner Craig McLachlan as the maverick country town doctor Lucien Blake. A risk-taker, he's impulsive and not afraid to upset the status quo.

Set in the late 1950s, the series begins as Dr Blake return to a place he once called home to take over his deceased father's medical practice. Everything seems peaceful on the surface, but seething underneath are the age-old passions of a regional town clashing head-on with the tensions and fears of the decade to come.

Haunted by the horrors of war, his own personal loss and changed by his experiences as a POW, the wry, dry, yet very human Dr Blake undertakes his other role as police surgeon with precision and gusto — yet many find his unpredictable and unconventional manner unnerving.

Beside Blake, helping and at times hindering, are his housekeeper Jean (Nadine Garner), her nephew Danny (Rick Donald), a young constable, District Nurse Mattie O'Brien (Cate Wolfe) and Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson (Joel Tobeck).

When a young woman's body is found floating in the local lake, Dr Blake can't help digging deeper into the mystery. There is more to the case than meets the eye. He is certain the dead girl — a runaway from a local reform school — was dead before she was dumped in the water. The autopsy proves his theory but finding the killer is more complicated.

In a classic whodunit, Dr Blake sifts through the obvious suspects, before revealing the culprit.

Starring: Craig McLachlan as Doctor Lucien Blake, Nadine Garner as Jean Beazley, Rick Donald as Constable Daniel Parks, Cate Wolfe as Mattie O'Brien, Joel Tobeck as Chief Supt. Matthew Lawson

With: Louise Siversen as Rosemary Morrisey, John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, Penne Hackforth-Jones as Nell Clasby, Tim Potter as Gus Hawting, Ian Bliss as Keith Morrissey, Michael Clarke Tokely as Ricky Arnott; Philli Anderson as Ann Fitzgerald, Ian Rooney as Cec, Kate Atkinson as Monica Patterson, Bianca Linton as Josie McPhee, Annelies Bachman as Kathleen, Thomas Moore as Bodgie #1, Kayla Jackson as Girl #1, Andrew Day as Mr Bradley, Lance Anderson as Stunt Performer

The Greater Good

Episode 2
Friday, February 08, 2013
Ratings: 0.935 million viewers (4th)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Declan Eames

On the eve of ANZAC Day, Dr Blake bumps into a former British Army colleague at the police station, Major Derek Alderton. Alderton is in town, trying to track down two army deserters believed to be hiding out in the area. But before they can reminisce, Dr Blake is called to the morgue where the body of the attendant, Bert Prentice, lies with shocking injuries in a pool of blood.

Chief Superintendent Lawson immediately suspects the obvious culprit, the former morgue attendant Ron Jackson. Ron was sacked to make way for the new boy, Hugh, and it appears Ron has also done a runner… what more evidence do you need? But when Constable Parks finds lowlife Gordon McRae snooping in Bert's bachelor pad, he adds him to the list of suspects.

Meanwhile on the home front, tension is growing between Dr Blake and his housekeeper Jean. Convinced he doesn't need her, Jean threatens to leave. Blake responds by wishing her well with a job interview!

The mystery deepens when a local woman starts bothering Dr Blake with fake symptoms — even though she looks fine. Blake wonders whom she is protecting.

With: David Whiteley as Sergeant Bill Hobart, Neil Pigot as Major Derek Alderton, Ben Anderson as Sgt Robert Hannam, Chloe Boreham as Sally Clements, Jamieson Caldwell as Ron Jackson, Patrick Kelleher as Gordon McRae; Brendon Bacon as Hugh Stevens, Josh Blau as Doctor Angus, Sharelle Starr as Nurse, Ian Rooney as Cec, Richard Davine as Police Photographer, Roy Edmunds as Bert Prentice

Death of a Travelling Salesman

Episode 3
Friday, February 15, 2013
Ratings: 0.980 million viewers (3rd)
Written by Stuart Page, Chelsea Cassio
Directed by Ian Barry

When a travelling salesman dies in a single car accident on a quiet country road, Chief Superintendant Lawson labels it a drink driving case. But when Constable Parks reveals the corpse's face was blue, Dr Blake is intrigued. Although the victim's clothes reek of alcohol, Blake concludes that the salesman was not drunk and certainly died before the crash. But how? And why is the face blue?

Dr Blake and Jean head to the boarding house where the dead salesman had been staying. In town for the appliance fair, the state's top vacuum salesmen pitch their new vacuum cleaners to Jean — who is desperate for a new machine. With everyone distracted, Blake snoops around the boarding house and finds a locked basement.

Lawson considers the obvious culprits however Dr Blake follows his own hunches until he makes an alarming discovery that shocks everyone.

With: Socratis Otto as Clive Churchill, Fred Whitlock as Frank Connolly, Petra Glieson as Claire Connolly, David Bradshaw as Eddie Carlin, Tim Potter as Gus Hawting, Sean James Murphy as Jim Thurlston; Phil Di-Gusto as Truck Driver, Rowan Francis as Carlin's Heavy [Morris], Christian Poppi as Ray Beck, Chris Weir as Stunt Performer, Nicole McDonald as Stunt Performer

Brotherly Love

Episode 4
Friday, February 22, 2013
Ratings: 0.950 million viewers (3rd)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Andrew Prowse

When a delirious prisoner on death row tells Dr Blake he is innocent of the police shooting for which he is soon to hang, Blake is stunned — and believes him. But no one else seems interested in uncovering the truth.

Irish immigrant Sean McBride is accused of shooting a policeman, Clive Cooper. Sealing his fate on death row, Sean originally pleaded guilty to the crime and refused to defend himself in court.

The town is divided over the rights and wrongs of capital punishment. The police rally around their own, determined to get 'justice'.

District Nurse Mattie O'Brien is vehemently against capital punishment and finds herself at loggerheads with friend Danny Parks. Constable Parks arrived at the crime scene just minutes after the shooting that fateful day and Sean McBride even shot at him. Danny desperately wants to back his copper mates but starts to doubt the evidence as Dr Blake asks more and more pertinent questions.

The closer Blake gets to the shocking truth, the tighter the circle closes.

With: David Whiteley as Sergeant Bill Hobart, Sara Gleeson as Joy McDonald, Daniel Daperis as Sean McBride, Luke Ryan as Xavier McBride, Brendan McCallum as Peter McBride, Tamara Donnellan as Brigid McBride, Rachel Berger as Nurse Gloria, James Lawson as Bill Parsons, Timothy Quabba as Harris, Sullivan Cassidy as Baby Cooper, Graham Jahne as Clive Cooper, Antonius Verlaan as Stan the Publican; Hamish Pearce, Estella DeBolfo & Taylor Radford as McBride Children

Hearts And Flowers

Episode 5
Friday, March 01, 2013
Ratings: 0.961 million viewers (4th)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Ian Barry

When the Begonia Festival's head judge is found incinerated in his own glasshouse, all eyes turn to two feuding contestants.

Nick Manos and Charles Griffiths are lifelong rivals at everything, thanks to a family argument that started back in 1870. They are also fierce competitors in the flower festival. The day before the head flower judge died, Manos publicly accused him of taking bribes and threatening him. Charles Griffith also has motive. It is an event also marred by the sudden collapse of another judge, heiress Angela Waterston.

Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson suspects it could be either of the men. The autopsy reveals how the professor was murdered however vested interests want to keep it quiet until after the festival. Lawson agrees and Dr Lucien Blake reluctantly takes Professor Ormond's place on the judging panel.

Entrant Maria Manos thrills locals by publicly demanding pageant host Charles Griffith shake hands and end the family feud with her father. She then announces her engagement to Griffith's son, Oliver. Meanwhile Dr Blake is asked to walk the terminally ill heiress, Angela, down the aisle and do the bridal waltz, to which he agrees despite loathing dancing.

Back at Dr Blake's surgery, an airmail letter arrives from Singapore, giving him hope of finding his missing wife and daughter.

Are people really murdering over their prize winning begonias — or is there something more sinister going on?

With: David Whiteley as Sergeant Bill Hobart, John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, Tony Nikolakopoulos as Nick Manos, Alinta Chidzey as Maria Manos, Michael Bishop as Charles Griffith, Bartholomew Walsh as Oliver Griffith, Pia Prendville as Angela Waterson, Paul Cousins as Anthony Farmer, Chris Waters as Professor Ormond