The Insider's Guide To Happiness: episode guide

...Guide to Happinesss | ...Guide to Love

Is Happiness an Accident?

<

Chapter 1
New Zealand: May 19, 2004
Australia: April 06, 2008
Written by Peter Cox and Paula Boock
Directed by Brendan Donovan

Julie, a thirty-something caterer, meets her husband Simon at a café to tell him the good news that she is pregnant, but his response is to choke on a mushroom and collapse. In the ambulance on the way to hospital Simon revives, just as the ambulance swerves, loses control and smashes into a parked car at a busy intersection. At the hospital a doctor, William, is ill-equipped to tell Julie that Simon died in the crash. Julie, in shock, goes home, collects all Simon's possessions and burns them in the bath. Then she returns to the café, demanding to know how one of their mushrooms can kill a man.

Starring: Fasitua Amosa as Matthew, Ben Barrington as William, Fraser Brown as Sam, Will Hall as James, Sophia Hawthorne as Julie, Samantha Jukes as Tina, Madeleine Sami as Tess, Sally Stockwell as Lindy

Guest Cast: Brian Sergent as Father of Bride, Matthew Chamberlain as Simon, Paul McLaughlin as John, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Thomas Robins as Karl, Renee Ellwood as Jasmine, Holly Shanahan as Bride, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Nick Gibbs as Cyclist, Lee Foon as Receptionist, Jacob Hannagan as Kyle (Young Boy), Ben Hurley as Music Store Guy, Shahir Daud as Doctor, Mitchell Manuel as Moving Man, Rebecca Most as Cafe Waitress, Stephanie Reid as Nurse

Who Controls Your Happiness?

<

Chapter 2
New Zealand: May 26, 2004
Australia: April 13, 2008
Story by Paul Boock and Peter Cox
Written by Damien Wilkins
Directed by Jonathan Brough

Tina rescues an old lottery ticket from under a stray cat at the accident intersection — and is scratched in the process. Because she suffers from Von Willebrand's, a rare blood disease, she goes to hospital for treatment. She calls Sam, unknowingly disturbing him from a tryst with Kat. Sam lies and tells Kat that Tina is his sister, and is then angry with Tina at her 'neediness'. He leaves her at the hospital. On a whim, Tina checks the lottery ticket at a dairy — only to find that it's a first division winner — she has just won 6.3 million dollars! Sam chooses a really bad time to break up. Julie cremates Simon and informs his family by email. James sees himself in a parallel universe and doesn't like it.

Guest Cast: Loren Horsley as Olive, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Paul McLaughlin as John, Emily Keddell as Sophie, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Shane Bartle as Crematorium Guy, Erroll Shand as Noel, Stephanie Reid as Nurse, Sam Husson as TV Editor, Barbara Donnelly as Golden Egg Woman, Matthew Saville as Pizza Guy

Will The Truth Make You Happy?

<

Chapter 3
New Zealand: June 03, 2004
Australia: April 20, 2008
Written by David Brechin-Smith and Damien Wilkins
Directed by Brendan Donovan

Matthew escapes from the hospital and goes to his own funeral. He feels guilty about having cheated on his fiancée with Tess on his last day alive. But during his funeral Matthew discovers to his horror that his father is having an affair, and that his fiancée wasn't sure that she wanted to marry him anyway. Worse, his family all remember versions of Matthew that are not really true and Matthew begins to question whether his family really knew him at all. He decides that everything he believed in was based on a lie and that the only true thing in his life was the way he felt about Tess.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Tofiga Sefo Fepulea'i as Michael, Tio Leota as Rico, Eteuati Ete as Samoan Minister, Anatoa Tekira as Sia (Tiatia), Brian Hotter as Nathan, Liz Kaye as Josie, Ashleen Singh as Rebecca, Zara Nicely as Kay, Felix Preval as Rowan, James Nokise as Casino Banker, Richard Trow as Guy, Sean McChesney as 2nd Guy, Tanisha Fearon as Shop Assistant, AJ Hickling as Wuming Quan Teacher, Myles Climo as Waiter, Melanie Hargreaves as Young Woman

What Are You Afraid Of?

<

Chapter 4
New Zealand: June 10, 2004
Australia: April 27, 2008
Written by Paula Boock and David Brechin-Smith
Directed by Mark Beesley

When Lindy is fired from her new job at the bookshop, she hits rock bottom and has to fight an old demon. Tina is still grieving for Sam and tries to block out the pain by snorting coke and partying with Corin. But the downward spiral leads to recklessness, and she loses her job. William's worst fear comes true when he is moved to the Oncology department. The move coincides with a visit from his ex-girlfriend, Lindy and the arrival of his oldest friend, Phil. Tess visits Matthew's home and meets Rico. He gives her a photo of Matthew to keep, and she treasures it. Tim has made himself at home at Julie's and surprisingly, Julie is okay with that. James is terrified when he sees himself on television in the future.

Guest Cast: Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Desmond Kelly as Cecil B. Bolton, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Tom McCrory as Alan, Paul McLaughlin as John, Tio Leota as Rico, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Perry Piercy as Cheryl Chapman, Brian Hotter as Nathan, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Jeremy Randerson as Grant, AJ Hickling as Wuming Quan Teacher, Olivia Mulholland as Caitlin, Juliane-Estella Bush as Melissa, Inia Maxwell as Floor Man, Phil Vaughan as TV Exec

Are you In Denial?

<

Chapter 5
New Zealand: June 17, 2004
Australia: May 04, 2008
Written by Damien Wilkins with Peter Cox
Directed by Jonathan Brough

James tries to deny the surreal things that are happening to him, but becomes increasingly distressed as the monks assert that he is the reincarnation of Yu Ku'an Wu. When he time-slips again, he decides to fight whatever is happening by going to a rugby game and changing what he saw would happen in the future. But in fact his very actions in trying to change things make the prophecy come true. James gives in, and accepts the monks' explanation — the boy from Wanganui is the reincarnation of Yu Ku'an Wu. Phil challenges William to make up for lost time, Tina and Julie's lives are thrown into turmoil when their mother turns up; and Kat stuns Sam when she tells him he's into commitment.

Guest Cast: Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Loren Horsley as Olive, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Kelson Henderson as Corin, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Peter Burger as Kevin, Pip Hall as Pregnant Woman [Steph], Olivia Mulholland as Caitlin, Shelley Probert as Nurse, John Shrapnell as Priest, James Stewart as IT Guy, Jamie McCaskill as Steve, Aaron Whyte as Maitre D', Mel Johnston as Midwife, Rhys Jordan as Parent

Do You Deserve To Be Happy?

<

Chapter 6
New Zealand: June 24, 2004
Australia: May 11, 2008
Written by David Brechin-Smith
Directed by Mark Beesley

As Phil's condition deteriorates, William comes to terms with his guilty past. Tina decides the money is bad karma and resolves to give it away — just as Sam re-enters her life having learned she has 6.3 million dollars in the bank. Julie finds that Tim has drawn a picture of the ambulance crash that killed Simon, and put it on her fridge. He maintains he dreamed of the event before it happened. Julie is a bit freaked by Tim and suggests he sleep on the couch.James finds out that Matthew is a dead guy but agrees to help him deliver another message to Tess.

Guest Cast: Jason Whyte as Phil, Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Dena Kennedy as Kat, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Nick Fenton as Young William, Michael W. O'Dwyer as William's Father, Kerryn Palmer as William's Mother, Tony Burton as Medium, Esther Burdett as Corporate Woman

What If You Could Start Over?

<

Chapter 7
New Zealand: July 01, 2004
Australia: May 18, 2008
Written by Paul Boock
Directed by Brendan Donovan

When James, Matthew and Tina take a bungy ride together, something happens and they land in a street scene frozen in time. Freaked out, they gradually realise it is the moment a split second before the ambulance crash occurs. Matthew is convinced they can stop the crash from happening and he won't die. Tina thinks if the crash doesn't happen Simon won't die either, so agrees to it. Before they do anything, James grabs a baby he thinks might get in the way of the action. Then they pick up a piece of the broken vase from the road and watch. Can they change history? And what would Matthew do if he did get a second chance?

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Tom McCrory as Alan, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Tim Gordon as Denis, Vivien Bell as Bo, Narelle Ahrens as Pip, Stephen Butterworth as Jeff, Rosella Hart as Receptionist, Steve Wrigley as Photo Shop Guy, Estelle Clifford as Doctor, Phil Vaughan as TV Executive, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Janette Smidt as Policeman #1, Dave Martin as Policeman #2, Erica Lowe as Watch Shop Assistant

Will You Be Happy Tomorrow?

<

Chapter 8
New Zealand: July 08, 2004
Written by David Brechin-Smith
Directed by Jonathan Brough

Julie's finished with Tim, but has he finished with her? The Old Monk decides it's time to go and James realises he's lost something special. Matthew is finding the transition from death to life more difficult than he anticipated. Having first hand knowledge of what death is like, he wants to live life with 'magnificent intensity' but this just seems to annoy people. Tina catches Sam out at his old tricks. Convinced the money is the source of all her unhappiness, she throws it away. All of it. William and Lindy argue over whose job is more important.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Tom McCrory as Alan, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Tim Gordon as Denis, Vivien Bell as Bo, Narelle Ahrens as Pip, Stephen Butterworth as Jeff, Rosella Hart as Receptionist, Steve Wrigley as Photo Shop Guy, Estelle Clifford as Doctor, Phil Vaughan as TV Executive, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Janette Smidt as Policeman #1, Dave Martin as Policeman #2, Erica Lowe as Watch Shop Assistant

Who Taught You To Be Happy?

<

Chapter 9
New Zealand: July 15, 2004
Written by Paula Boock
Directed by Jonathan Brough

Tina's 25th birthday is coming up and she feels lost without Sam, so she moves in with Julie, despite her sister's protestations. However when Tina messes up a catering order, old family tensions erupt. Lindy and William have a pregnancy scare, and it causes them to consider the idea of children. Missing his family, Matthew seeks solace in a kava den. There he gains some escape from his overwrought mind, until he comes face-to-face with his father. James farewells the young monk, who tells him his job now is to look after the Master. Tim hooks up with a disgruntled Sam, from whom he gets the screwy idea that he could cause 'car trouble' to get back at the Gilbert sisters. James sadly breaks the news to an amused Olive that they have to break up because they don't have a spiritual connection.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Loren Horsley as Olive, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Paul McLaughlin as John, Des Morgan as Graeme, Cath Harkins as Maria, Jerome Leota as Rodney, Shelley Probert as Maternity Nurse, Beth Chote as Young Julie, Eve Carvell as Young Tina, Jed Thian as Samoan Guy, Tania Sawicki Mead as Checkout Operator

Being Happy is Being Who You Are

<

Chapter 10
New Zealand: July 22, 2004
Australia: May 12, 2008
Written by Paul Boock and Damien Wilkins
Directed by Mark Beesley

James feels the need to do something more worthwhile with his life, and gets time off work to sort himself out. He makes friends with Gene, a worker with the homeless, who encourages James to give up all his possessions and help others. Matthew is approached by Dallas, a client who wants to sue Tess for cutting his hair too short. Lindy has been short-listed for the job in Toronto, but still hasn't told William about it. William, meantime, is asked to be a sperm donor by a nurse, and finds himself thinking more about the positives of fatherhood. Julie is happy. Blissed out. Tina thinks it's the hormones, but when a mysterious bouquet of flowers arrives for her, Julie finds their smell off-putting and becomes convinced there's something bad about them.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Richard Chapman as Gene, Dra McKay as Bev, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Loren Horsley as Olive, Russell Raethel as Mr Dixon, Tom McCrory as Alan, Luanne Gordon as Maxine, Tio Leota as Rico, Tofiga Sefo Fepulea'i as Michael, Kent Lambert as Dallas, Shelley Probert as Nurse, Frank Edwards as Terry, Matt Wilson as Graham, Barbara MacDonald as Lawyer, Sam Kelly as Man at Bank, Taylor Johnson as Woman at Bank, Kim Chung as Serena

Does Happiness Grow Up?

<

Chapter 11
New Zealand: July 29, 2004
Australia: May 2012, 2008
Written by David Brechin-Smith
Directed by Yvonne Mackay

William is tested to see if he can be a sperm donor for Donna and is shocked to find out that he is infertile. As William withdraws from Lindy, she finds it harder to resist the advances of Robert, the French Canadian executive who is wooing her to come to Toronto to work for him. James and Barry challenge each other to ask a simple question. Barry has to ask his birth mother why she gave him away; and James has to ask Tina out. Tess wants to meet Matthew's parents, but Matthew is nervous and confesses that his parents won't approve of her because she's not Samoan. Julie has issued Tim with a restraining order, but he interprets this as her not being able to let him go.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Dra McKay as Bev, Peter Hamobleton as Guy, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Joe Ballard as Robert, Shelley Probert as Nurse, Janette Smidt as Policewoman, Dave Martin as Policeman, Nick Fenton as Young William

Can You Embrace A New Life?

<

Chapter 12
New Zealand: August 05, 2004
Written by Paula Boock and Damien Wilkins
Directed by David Brechin-Smith

Julie is nearing the end of her pregnancy and finds herself sleepwalking for the first time in her life — right to the intersection where the ambulance crash occurred. She is doubly disturbed by text messages she receives from 'Aaron', the name she has chosen for the baby.

Lindy and William try to let each other go lovingly, but Lindy finds it too hard. She tells William to tear up her ticket but William refuses, believing that this isn't what she really wants. Lindy forces him to break her vase, and William does, telling her at the same time that he has cancer.

Sam sleeps with Annette, Tina's mother, but when she realises he's only doing it to hurt Tina, she chucks him out. Matthew and Tess decide they don't want to get married, and tell Matthew's father this. But during the conversation, they discover they both want to have children together. Tim prepares to leave. But will he? He sends Julie numerous text messages saying 'You're a bad mother' and then orders home bomb-making equipment online.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Tom McCrory as Alan, Matt Chamberlain as Simon, Lani Tupu Snr as Mr Pule, Fa'atuai Moors as Mrs Pule, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Jay Ocampo as Young Monk, Toby Leach as Courier, Carol Smith as Antenatal Tutor, Michele Amas as Pregnant Woman, Theo Palmer as Young Aaron

You Are Happy

<

Chapter 13 (finale)
New Zealand: August 12, 2004
Written by Paula Boock
Directed by Brendan Donovan and Yvonne Mackay

A solar eclipse brings everything into alignment: Tess tells Matthew that she's pregnant, but his joy is tempered by a sighting of the (dead) Old Monk. When the monk confronts Matthew in a shop, he tells him that it is time to 'come home'.

Julie goes into labour, Sam tries to get her to hospital, but they are intercepted by Tim. After Matthew distracts him, Julie, with the help of Sam, delivers Aaron in Sam's van. She is happy.

James is happy. He wants for nothing. Then he wins a free carwash and Tina insists they go through the same carwash where he's had strange experiences. The carwash halts and Tina and James are stuck. When they finally can exit, they see Matthew lying prone on the forecourt.

Matthew, relieved after saving Julie and Tim, relaxes on the petrol station forecourt, playing with some sand. The Old Monk appears to him again, and this time seems adamant that his time has come. Matthew doesn't understand until he realises the small spider that just nipped him was a katipo, harboured amongst the sand shaken out of Tina's car. Matthew dies.

William finally feels optimistic enough to ring Lindy and tell her he's going to be all right. When Matthew is brought in dead, William delivers the news to Tess with compassion and understanding. He's finally come to terms with his mortality fear.

Guest Cast: Paolo Rotondo as Tim, Denise O'Connell as Annette, Charles Lum as Old Monk, Spencer Greenham as Barry, Mick Rose as Dougal, Tio Leota as Rico, Nick Gibbs as Cyclist, Tim Spite as Radiotherapist, Kirk Torrance as Police Negotiator, William Brandt as Officer in Charge, Brian Gibb as Astronomer 1, Robert J Fowles as Astronomer 2