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The Silence: episode guide

Part One | Part Two

The Silence: Part One

Sunday, April 02, 2006 (ABC)
Written by Alice Addison and Mary Walsh
Directed by Cate Shortland

Police detective Richard Treloar (Richard Roxburgh) is taking some time out...

Traumatised and unable to use his gun when a woman is murdered in front of him, he has been reassigned to a desk job at the Police and Justice Museum. His task is to curate an exhibition of 1960s crime scene photos, while undergoing counselling with the police shrink, Juliet (Essie Davis). He has to try to convince her that he's stable enough to go back to his old job.

Already unhappy with his situation, it's made worse by his long-time girlfriend Helen's (Alice McConnell) continued accomplishments as a detective in his own unit. Her successes are making the celebrations at the pub with his ex-colleagues decidedly uncomfortable.

Richard is being assisted with the photos by fashion student Evelyn (Emily Barclay). One day they notice a woman lurking on the edges in more than one of the old photos, and when she turns up as a victim in a crime scene photo, Richard's instincts tell him this is no coincidence. All he knows is that the woman is a prostitute, but there is no name on the photo.

He becomes obsessed with solving the case, but trying to get information from retired and reluctant cops 40 years after the event is going to be a hard task.

Who is the woman, and why can't he get her out of his mind?

As he becomes more deeply involved, everyone around him starts to distance themselves, and he begins to wonder who he can trust.

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Cast:

  • Richard Roxburgh as Richard Treloar
  • Essie Davis as Juliet Moore
  • Alice McConnell as Helen Wilson
  • Emily Barclay as Evelyn Hutchison
  • Damian de Montemas as Michael Hanlon
  • Tony Barry as Dennis Riordan
  • Jennifer Hagan as Olive Eton
  • Joel Tobeck as Ross Moss
  • Skye Wansey as Fleur
  • Ellouise Rothwell as May
  • Leslie Dayman as Edwin Hall
  • Olivia Syabbouliah as Denise Tilbury
  • Daniel Roberts as David Dawkins
  • Firass Dirani as Anthony Vassalio
  • Bruce Sacre as Kocovski
  • Michael Dorman as Eddison
  • Will Ward as Chris Robinson
  • Derrick Siu as Glen (Framing Shop)
  • Amelia Cormack as Woman (Tobacconist)
  • Valerie Coy as Swimming Lady
  • Alan Flower as Tsoulis
  • Ella Scott Lynch as Lilya
  • Zoe Houghton as Prostitute
  • Billie Rose Pritchard as Surry Hills Girl
  • Karena Thomas as Surry Hills Girl
  • Christian Stead as Drunk
  • Robert Bowerman as Ferry Driver
  • Kurt Turansky as Young Richard
  • Libby Richmond as Secretary
  • Gary McGuire as Road Worker
  • Richie Cotton as Road Worker
  • Robert Duncan as Police Informant
  • Terry Reilly as Butcher
  • Ross Bolin as Lilya's Client
  • Justin Redhead as Garroted Victim
  • Lionel Tozer as Young Riordan
  • Reid Laklow as Ratty Kid in Backyard
  • James Watson as Ratty Kid in Backyard
  • Gary Vincent as Running Man
  • Greg Tomes as Running Man
  • Craig Barbour as Running Man
  • Greg Bull as Man in Window
  • Nash Edgerton as Eddision's Opponent
  • Kobi Hookey as School Kid
  • Julie Clarke as Archivist
  • Robert Maas as Detective
  • Ralphael Talipeau as Detective
  • Peter Vlug as Detective