The Straits: episode guide


The Proposition

<

Episode 1
Thu, February 02, 2012 (8.30, ABC1)
Ratings: 599,000 viewers (13th)
Written by Nick Parsons
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

Harry announces his unexpected succession plan. Supported by his mother, Noel expands the family's operations, without his father's knowledge, by setting up a methamphetamine lab in PNG. This leads to conflict with the DC outlaw motorcycle gang and the family's lives are threatened.

  • Starring:
  • Brian Cox as Harry,
  • Rena Owen as Kitty,
  • Aaron Fa'aoso as Noel,
  • Jimi Bani as Marou,
  • Firass Dirani as Gary,
  • Suzannah Bayes-Morton as Sissi
  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Kim Gyngell as Paddy,
  • Richard Sutherland as Bonnie Doon,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Sri Sacdpraseuth as Quay Lin,
  • Dan Wyllie as JoJo,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Jacob Lui as Jason,
  • Finn George Newman as Andrew,
  • Stewart Jones as P-Z,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Sue Hayes as Ms Bertram,
  • Vicki Saylor as Mandy Kukuam,
  • Billy Segeyaro as Kips,
  • Manua Illingworth as Bike Shop Owner,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank the Pilot,
  • Bill Doa Neill as Dizzy,
  • Raymond Doa Neill as Freedy,
  • Matt Trevitt-Lyall as Male Home Buyer,
  • Sarah Boulle as Policewoman

The Trouble With Raskols

<

Episode 2
Thursday, February 02, 2012 (9.30)
Written by Nick Parsons, Jaime Browne
with original scenarios by Louis Nowra
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

When a PNG raskol dies after Noel's meth lab explodes, the dead raskol's brother goes to the family's home on Zey Island intent on revenge. Gary flees to Cairns prompting Harry, Marou and Noel to go to PNG to square things with the raskols and the expat Chinese trader, Quay Lin.

Meanwhile, Sissi starts work with the family's accountant Paddy and discovers that Paddy has been embezzling money from the family for years. And Marou's wife Lola puts in place a plan to blackmail Gary into supporting Marou as future head of the family business.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Kim Gyngell as Paddy,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Chum Ehelepola as Joseph,
  • Bill Doa Neill as Dizzy,
  • Sri Sacdpraseuth as Quay Lin,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Norah Bagiri as Auntie Karen,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Jacob Lui as Jason,
  • Raymond Doa Neill as Freedy,
  • Christiaan Westerveld as Det Inspector Wong,
  • Rita Dorante as Woman on Zey,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank the Pilot,
  • Dru Lee as Head Raskol

Yawor My Lovely

<

Episode 3
Thursday, February 09, 2012 (8.30)
Ratings: 542,000 viewers (17th)
Written by Blake Ayshford
with original scenarios by Louis Nowra
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

A hired killer, Vlad, sets out for Cairns with a high-powered rifle. Harry is his target, but who has hired Vlad?

As Harry prepares for his and Kitty's wedding anniversary, Kitty takes Gary back to the islands to persuade the Zey Islanders they need to protect Gary better.

Meanwhile, wrestling with her discovery of Paddy's embezzlement, Sissi finally tells Harry what she has learned. Harry is deeply upset by the news. He takes Paddy on their weekly fishing expedition and confronts him over the money he's skimmed. When Sissi learns what Harry has done, she is shocked and wracked with guilt. She has an almighty fight with her father and runs.

Gary, who has been bitten by a snake on Zey and believes he's going to die, tells Harry that he slept with his brother's wife Lola. Harry, who has never liked Lola much, confronts her and tells her she is out of the family, however, before he has time to tell the others what has happened, Vlad has Harry in his sights.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Kim Gyngell as Paddy,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Chum Ehelepola as Joseph,
  • Richard Cawthorne as Vlad,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • Merwez Whaleboat as Auntie Lorraine,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Jacob Lui as Jason,
  • Sharon Wardle as Tasmin,
  • Jack Heywood as Farmer,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank the Pilot,
  • Melanie Nash as Nurse on Zey

The Hunt For Vlad

<

Episode 4
Thursday, February 16, 2012 (8.30)
Ratings: 540,000 viewers (19th)
Written by Blake Ayshford
Directed by Rachel Ward

With Harry lying comatose in hospital after being shot, his sons, led by Noel, are determined to find his attacker. Calling on the assistance of the Islander network in Cairns, the brothers hunt down Vlad. Noel in particular is determined to exact revenge on what he believes is biker payback.

Meanwhile, Sissi, still traumatised by Harry's killing of Paddy, can't bring herself to be part of the family's bedside vigil for her father. When Sissi finds a large sum of money hidden inside Paddy's house she sets about leaving Cairns but is prevented from doing so by Sutherland, a corrupt cop on the Montebello's payroll.

When Noel, Marou and Gary track down Vlad they feed him to the crocodiles at the family's wildlife farm but not before Noel finds a bikie tattoo on Vlad's chest. Noel then takes it upon himself to retaliate by blowing up the gang's clubhouse, killing the bikie's president in the process.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Richard Cawthorne as Vlad,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Chum Ehelepola as Joseph,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Richard Sutherland as Bonnie Doon,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Norah Bagiri as Auntie Karen,
  • Deba Pilot as Uncle George,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • Andrew Bramble as Male Nurse,
  • Laura Pike as Harry's Doctor,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Jacob Lui as Jason,
  • Finn George Newman as Andrew,
  • Lance Helms as Pharmacist

Epiphanies

<

Episode 5
Thursday, February 23, 2012 (8.30)
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Nick Parsons
Directed by Rachel Ward

Police attention follows the blowing up of the clubhouse and Noel's siblings are angry with him. For the first time Marou believes he would make the better leader. Lola is thrilled but also nervous that Harry will remember Gary's confession when he recovers and then banish her from the family.

Noel decides to import some sex workers, even though Harry has said no to this trade in the past. Noel bullies Sissi into releasing the funds and orders Gary to do the pickup in the islands. When Gary sees the women are underage, he refuses. Noel is outraged but has a personal moral epiphany and secretly organises for the girls to be picked up by the federal police.

Meanwhile Marou, trying to find an alternative approach to Noel's 'crash or crash through' style, organises to meet secretly with the DC bikies who promptly kidnap him. In hospital, Harry opens his eyes.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Chum Ehelepola as Joseph,
  • Peter Kent as Boydie,
  • Mark Hambrow as Ambrose,
  • Alex Petersons as Günter,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • Sri Sacdpraseuth as Quay Lin,
  • Bando Neliman as Hendy Titui,
  • Damon Leftwich as Wils Titui,
  • Zipporah Geageo as Mrs Titui,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Finn George Newman as Andrew,
  • Dru Lee as Head Raskol,
  • Claire Tierney as Heather,
  • Piers Freeman as Police Officer at Funeral

The Price

<

Episode 6
Thursday, March 01, 2012 (8.30)
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Blake Ayshford
Directed by Rachel Ward

The family desperately try to free Marou who is being tortured by the DC bikies. The DCs — dealing only with Sissi — tell the Montebellos they must decide what price to put on Marou's life and then the DCs will decide if it's a fair deal.

Meanwhile Sissi is alarmed to encounter Paddy's nephew, the backpacking Thomson, who has come looking for his disappeared relative.

Lola plays the dutiful daughter-in-law to the recovering Harry, who appears not to remember anything about her blackmail of Gary.

When Sissi delivers all the family's available cash and drugs to the DCs, they tell her that they want more — they want Noel to pay for what he did. So, Kitty persuades Noel to turn himself in to the police for the bombing of the clubhouse and the murder of the DC's president.

Marou is released but when the deal is explained to Harry, he speaks for the first time since his shooting. He says the price they paid for Marou's release was too high. Marou is devastated.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Malcolm Kennard as Inspector Sutherland,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Chum Ehelepola as Joseph,
  • James Mackay as Joel Thomson,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Justin Smith as Puffs,
  • Peter Kent as Boydie,
  • Alex George as Oliver,
  • Amara Tabuai as Cousin Barry,
  • Petale Tai as Cousin Leroy,
  • Leon Cain as Humphries,
  • Kelly Moran as Boydie's Neighbour,
  • Natalie Mann as Customs Officer,
  • Fredrik Fauid as "Package" Donga Mate,
  • Jagarizza Va'a as "Ibis Store" Donga Mate,
  • Mardi Miller as Oliver's Mum,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank The Pilot

Poison

<

Episode 7
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Kristen Dunphy
Directed by Rowan Woods

Fresh out of hospital, Harry reasserts his authority and creates a plan to get Noel out of prison. Meanwhile, in an effort to earn their father's respect, Marou and Gary score a stash of drugs from a ship.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • James Mackay as Joel Thomson,
  • Martin Sacks as Howard Reeman,
  • Bando Neliman as Hendy Titui,
  • Damon Leftwich as Wils Titui,
  • Zipporah Geagea as Mrs Titui,
  • Alex Petersons as Günther,
  • Thomas Van Donkelaar as Dave Cook,
  • Paul He as Japanese Cook,
  • Mirco Grillini as Truck Driver,
  • Paul Cantoni as Truck Driver's Mate,
  • FInn George Newman as Andrew,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Justin Smith as Puffs,
  • Yasca Sinigaglia as Lero,
  • Suzanne Wyatt as Jackie,
  • Josh Hutchins as DC Bikie,
  • Lisa Forrest as Radio Psychic,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank The Pilot

The Big Mistake

<

Episode 8
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Nick Parsons
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

Kitty arrives on Zey Island to find that Gary has become involved with Bridget, a sixteen-year old local girl. Gary tells his mother that Bridget is a source of information — which ultimately leads to the overthrow of a competing drug importation racket.

Back in Cairns, Harry ends his relationship with Natasha and she leaves town. There's a price for attempting to win Kitty back — the plan to get Noel out of prison is now scuttled with Natasha's departure.

Lola realises that Harry remembers everything and comes to beg his forgiveness. When he won't give it, Lola pushes him down the stairs and tries to smother him, not realising that her actions are being captured by one of Sissi's secret cameras.

  • With:
  • Rachael Blake as Natasha,
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • James Mackay as Joel Thomson,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Greg Kapernick as Kingsten,
  • Martin Sacks as Howard Reeman,
  • Bando Neliman as Hendy Titui,
  • Damon Leftwich as Wils Titui,
  • Kenneth Kari as Kepas,
  • Zipporah Geagea as Mrs Titui,
  • FInn George Newman as Andrew,
  • Dorian N'Kono as Yeak Mapo,
  • Martha Babao as Kepas' Mum,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank The Pilot,
  • Laura Pike as Harry's Doctor

Dead Reckoning

<

Episode 9
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Nick Parsons
Directed by Rowan Woods

Noel is on the run — from both the police and the DCs. He makes a clandestine visit to his estranged wife, Antoinette, telling her he's going to South America. To Noel's delight, Antoinette lets him know that she wants to join him there, with the kids. Noel then heads north to the islands, planning to raise enough money to be able to live overseas with his family.

Kitty takes Bridget out to a remote island to dig up a stash of drugs with which she plans to bankroll Noel. But when those drugs (and their boat) are stolen, Kitty and Bridget are left stranded.

Harry is desperately worried about both Noel and Marou, who hasn't been seen since he disappeared with Lola.

  • With:
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Kate Jenkinson as Antoinette,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • James Mackay as Joel Thomson,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Jasper Bagg as Two Stroke,
  • Greg Kapernick as Kingsten,
  • Warren Clements as Squid,
  • Bando Neliman as Hendy Titui,
  • Damon Leftwich as Wils Titui,
  • Aaron Guligo as Adi,
  • Jimmy Mudu as Lolo,
  • Mele-Ana Fa'aoso as Dylina,
  • Jacob Lui as Jason,
  • Rhonda Bosnich as Roadhouse Policewoman,
  • Anthony Ring as Motel Manager,
  • Charles Passi as Adi's Uncle,
  • Peter "Bear" Best as Bikie in Clubhouse,
  • Darren Mitchell as DC Bikie,
  • Marcus Johnson as Kingsten's 2nd Man,
  • Chris Lloyds as Police Spokesperson,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank The Pilot

Fatherhood

<

Episode 10
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Ratings: na (<20th)
Written by Blake Ayshford
Directed by Rowan Woods

Marou arrives on Zey Island and accuses Gary of creating the circumstances that led to Lola's death. Meanwhile, Sissi has discovered that Thomson is planning to leave town, but will she leave with him?

  • With:
  • Emma Lung as Lola,
  • Andy Anderson as Vince,
  • Tasia Zalar as Bridget,
  • James Mackay as Joel Thomson,
  • Sri Sacdpraseuth as Quay Lin,
  • Cramer Cain as Eddie,
  • Barry Lea as Cousin Leroy,
  • Petale Tai as Nickson,
  • Greg Kapernick as Kingsten,
  • Justin Smith as Puffs,
  • Dimitri Bani as Football Boy,
  • Chris Thiesfield as Frank The Pilot