Mercy Peak: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3

What She Least Expected

Episode 1
Written by Rachel Lang
Directed by Geoff Cawthorne
New Zealand: July 25, 2001

Trauma registrar Nicky Somerville has a very bad night. She gets punched by a patient she is trying to save, then realises her boyfriend is having an affair. A fresh start takes her to the small town of Bassett—only to find that she may be without a job. Her appointment hasn't been ratified by her new boss, Dr William Kingsley—but Nicky is adamant that she can't go back to town.

With: Goeffrey Dolan as Ross Duval, Hilary Cleary as Eind Bulstcode, William Johnson as Arthur Bulstrode, Mark Clare as Gil Crouch, Steven Moore as Wayne Lusk, Dylan Pine as Taylor Masefield, Katie Wolfe as Amanda Masefield, Chloe Gordon as Sacha Masefield, John Leigh as Chook, Roz Turnbull as Lynda Bracey, Simon Prast as Tom Strachey, Megan Nichol as Marcia, Marek Sumich as Russ, Vincent Martell as Martin, Karen Drummond as Nurse Patsy, Julie Collis as Diane Peach, Sally McKinnon as Sally, Mary Henderson as Carol, Vanessa White as Susan, Carol Seay as Liz, Mark Atterbury as Jason, Rebecca Mallitte as Nurse Shelly, Kelvin Jones as Ambulance Officer, Kevin Murray as Mr Phillips, Bill Draper as Furious Man

Her Secret Passion

Episode 2
Written by Rachel Lang and Judith van Trigt
Directed by Geoff Cawthorne
New Zealand: August 01, 2001

Nicky is called to an emergency at Bassett High, where 13-year-old Hayley is in the final throes of labour. Despite limited experience, Nicky delivers the baby. She also meets the local midwife Rhonda, who doubles as Bassett's hairdresser.

Some Kind of Madness

New Zealand: August 08, 2001
Episode 3
Written by Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Geoff Cawthorne

William is not coping well with the end of his relationship to Louise. Enid is admitted with complications from diabetes and an ulcer. Nicky has some time off. She wants to keep life simple and tries to concentrate on yoga.

For the Greater Good

Episode 4
Written by Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Geoff Cawthorne
New Zealand: August 15, 2001

William is not coping well with the end of his relationship to Louise. Uncharacteristically, he becomes something of a stalker and goes to her house to confront her. Louise is adamant that she won't reconsider, but as they conclude the conversation, Louise's husband Ross arrives home unexpectedly. William suspects that Ross has overheard the conversation. The feeling grows stronger when Ross insists on taking William by chopper to see a patient on an outlying farm.

Paternal Feeling

Episode 5
Written by Fiona Samuel
Directed by Mark Piper
New Zealand: August 22, 2001

When Alistair sees a man bullying his son, he wants to intervene. Alistair also feels anger towards his own father. Since he's twigged about William's affair with Louise, he feels he was dragged back to Bassett under false pretences. Meanwhile, the psych survivors have a house, but hit a rock in the form of the council rezoning plans.

With: Hilary Cleary as Eind Bulstcode, William Johnson as Arthur Bulstrode, Mark Clare as Gil Crouch, Steven Moore as Wayne Lusk, Claire Waldron as Gabrielle Pauling, Dylan Pine as Taylor Masefield, Katie Wolfe as Amanda Masefield, Chloe Gordon as Sacha Masefield, Teresa Woodham as Rhonda Beale, Irene Malone as Margaret, Patrick Wilson as Eric Whitelaw, Neill Rea as Malcolm Sweet, Patrick Morrison as Aidan Sweet, Sonja Williams as Sheryn Sweet, Rory Whitehead as Teasing Kid

More Things in Heaven and Earth

Episode 6
Written by Rachel Lang and Niki Caro
Directed by Mark Piper
New Zealand: August 29, 2001

Cliff scoffs at Nicky's belief in tragic love and also suggests that being Pakeha (European) she lacks a spiritual connection. Nicky's not impressed. They witness a pub fight between two women, which everyone assumes is over a man - because one of the women, Materoa is a prostitute. When Materoa brought in, Nicky finds she has a raft of medical problems - and also that her pneumonia is in fact tuberculosis.

Crime, Punishment and Everything In Between

Episode 7
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Andrew Merrifield
New Zealand: September 05, 2001

Nicky gets an invitation to Chook and Lynda's wedding. Chook and Lynda are the garage proprietors, whose public arguments are notorious in Bassett. What the public doesn't see is that the relationship is also violent. When Nicky realises this, she encourages Lynda to think about the relationship—she's about to marry this man. Lynda doesn't seem to want to hear her. Meanwhile, Enid gets a nasty fright when she finds an intruder in her home.

Bassett Confidential

Episode 8
Written by Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Andrew Merrifield
New Zealand: September 19, 2001

Nicky has her first "date" with Kieran which is met with some resistance from Cliff. Gus and Henk have the same infection and Nicky comes to a nasty conclusion of how they got it. Sascha is caught with Gus and asks Nicky not to say anything which puts her in a patient/doctor privelege dilema.

All's Fair

Episode 9
Written by Rachel Lang
Directed by Mark Piper
New Zealand: September 26, 2001

Dana visits her pregnant friend Kyra when she finds Kyras other child dead in his crib. Dana feels that Kyra should tell her partner Baz. Dana feeling torn about breaching confidentiality is relieved when William sholders the burden. Louise has made a decision will it be William or Ross?

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Episode 1.10
Written by Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Mark Piper
New Zealand: October 03, 2001
Canada: November 05, 2002 (W Network)

A quiet Sunday. Nicky is washing her hair; William and Alistair are playing golf; Louise and Ross are off to an anniversary lunch. When Ken gives chase to a speeding sedan and everything changes…

With: Goeffrey Dolan as Ross Duval, Winston Harris as Liam Duval, Mark Clare as Gil Crouch, Steven Moore as Wayne Lusk, Mark Clare as Gil Crough, Steven Moore as Wayne Lusk, Katie Wolfe as Amanda Masefield, Marek Sumich as Russ, Simon Vincent as Josh, Daniel Meade as David, David Taylor as Ricky, Bruce Hopkins as Colin Mitford, Rachel Nash as Sue Lansford, Calandra Smith as Rhiannon, Karen Duncan as Janeo's Mother, Cherie James as Julia Hench

The Most Deserving

Episode 11
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Mark Piper
New Zealand: March 06, 2002

Nicky does what she can to get Kieran's friend a pressing operation; Ken is adversely affected by a car accident that he thinks he caused.

Lost and Found

Episode 12
Written by Gavin Strawhan
Directed by Ian Mune
New Zealand: March 13, 2002

The search for Gabrielle leads Nicky to some odd conclusions; Cliff embarks on an exploration of his own; and William faces a choice between love and lust.

Undue Influence

Episode 13
Written by Niki Caro
Directed by Mark Beesley
New Zealand: March 20, 2002

A number of Bassett residents seem to be suffering from a rotovirus. Since Nicky is too busy with early-return patients, Alistair is left to tend to them all. Meanwhile thanks to Nicky's influence, William finds he is about to lose one of his supporters on the District Health Board.

Patience

Episode 14
Written by Fiona Samuel
Directed by Mark Beesley
New Zealand: March 27, 2002

Gil talks to Nicky about the virtues of 'Patience', one of the only Gilbert and Sullivan operas Bassett Operatic has yet to perform. When it turns out he wants Nicky to audition, Nicky turns him down. She thinks Gilbert and Sullivan is very silly.

Do the Right Thing

Episode 15
New Zealand: April 03, 2002
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Richard Sarell

Nicky has given some assistance to Cliff's proposed teen health programme—but is annoyed to find that everyone at the local marae thinks she and Cliff are a couple. When she confronts Cliff, he gives her an ultimatum—if he's wasting his time, he'll stop bothering her. Meanwhile, Eric is annoyed about the budget blow-out at Mercy Peak Hospital and Louise seems to be the one who's being blamed. Ken is reluctantly involved in an early morning police raid on Dana's house. Ken continues to have trouble coping with his work duties, but refuses to take anti-depressants.

The Best Laid Plans

Episode 16
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Richard Sarell
New Zealand: April 10, 2002

Dana's fidelity is tested when she discovers what has happened to Ken and Nicky and Cliff resolve their differences.

Revelations

Episode 17
Written by Jan Prettejohns
Directed by Peter Sharp
New Zealand: April 17, 2002

Nicky discovers Diane's painful secret; Alistair decides to declare his feelings; and Dana gets more than she bargained for after helping a friend.

Chickens, Roosting

Episode 18
Written by Rachel Lang
Directed by Peter Sharp
New Zealand: April 24, 2002

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Live and Let Live

Episode 19
Written by Judith van Trigt
Directed by Andrew Merrifield
New Zealand: May 01, 2002

Todd's right to live in a pig sty carries no weight with Dana.

Blame

Episode 20
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Andrew Merrifield
New Zealand: May 08, 2002

William is heckled by the crowd when the opera "Patience" opens; Amanda is suspicious that Kieran knows about her tryst with Alistair.

With: Goeffrey Dolan as Ross Duval, Hilary Cleary as Eind Bulstcode, Mark Clare as Gil Crouch, Steven Moore as Wayne Lusk, Dylan Pine as Taylor Masefield, Katie Wolfe as Amanda Masefield, Julie Collis as Diane Peach, Antony Starr as Todd Van Der Velter, Dwayne Cameron as Gus Van Der Velter, Claire Waldron as Gabrielle Pauling, Teresa Woodham as Rhonda Beale, Peter Rowley as Bruce Strick, Caitlin Bossley as Sarah, Kirstie O'sullivan as Melanie Barthhold, Celia Nicholson as Erica, Ally Fox as Reporter