australian television information archive

The Weakest Link

Episode 2.14
November 18, 2005
Written by Simon Butters
Directed by Colin Budds

Toby's liquid nitrogen cryogenic refrigeration chamber malfunctions, spelling potential disaster. The Raptor cells stored inside begin to thaw and Toby must allow them to grow or lose them. Meanwhile, Jack is eager to learn more about Toby. He orchestrates events so Russ, Toby and Sacha are all distracted, allowing him the opportunity to raid the bungalow. Jack sneaks in and comes face to face with a rapidly growing Raptor. When Toby finds out Jack set them up, he heads back to the bungalow to find Jack locked inside with the human-size, scary Raptor. Toby saves Jack just in time from the dinosaur — but at a price: Jack must keep Toby's secret safe.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylor Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Rebecca Macaulay as Ms Hammer, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Sonya Suares as Sophie

Talk to the Animals

Episode 2.15
November 25, 2005
Written by Susan MacGillicuddy
Directed by Sally-Anne Kerr

Working on the odd theory that if she makes Toby desperately ill he will come running to her for a cure, Elizabeth invents a device that drains his hyperfunctions. To get his sympathy she pretends that she is suffering too. But the device has an unexpected side effect when Sacha is inadvertently zapped and awakes to find that she can communicate with animals. She uses this power to good effect. Obliging birds, lab rats, and even a large python are only too happy to obey Sacha's commands and make Elizabeth's life miserable. Sacha confronts Elizabeth who surrenders and turns off the device. Toby is thrilled to be well again and Sacha is grateful for the peace and quiet.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylor Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Polo as Chainsaw

Verity from the Black Lagoon

Episode 2.16
December 02, 2005
Written by Susan MacGillicuddy
Directed by Colin Budds

After damaging an experiment involving a rare plant from Boggy Creek, Verity is banished from Elizabeth's lab. To her horror, she starts growing scales and gradually turns into an amphibious monster! As rumours of the strange creature spread, Verity is delighted to find she can terrorize Garth and decides to pay out on him. Knowing an oblivious Garth and Elizabeth are returning to Boggy Creek for more samples, Sacha realises Garth could be in real danger. Toby does some DNA tests on the monster's slime and discovers a cure for Verity. An underwater struggle between Toby, Garth and the creature ends when Toby releases the antidote into the water. Verity emerges from the murky waters … Elizabeth and Garth welcome her back to the fold, showing her renewed respect — 'Verity from the Black Lagoon' is not someone to mess around with!

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, La Shea Pentony as Verity Monster Stunt Double, Bruan as Chainsaw

The Truth is Out There

Episode 2.17
December 09, 2005
Written by Sam Carroll
Directed by Sally-Anne Kerr

Jack films the lead-up to an inter-school Science Expo as an excuse to find wicked science and hopefully blackmail Elizabeth and Toby into making him a genius too. When Elizabeth hears Sacha's exhibit is a secret, she invents a truth serum and forces Russ to spill the beans. She teleports Sacha's invention to the lab so she can sabotage it, not realising she's also teleported Jack. Once alone in the Lab he steals the truth serum, escapes and confronts Elizabeth, using the serum on her. Jack demands she tells him how she became a genius! She is just about to blow the secret, when Toby tackles him to the floor. Jack gets sprayed with the serum and is about to reveal his knowledge of wicked science to the whole school when Toby, using Elizabeth's re-wiring, blows up Sacha's exhibit. It's a narrow escape for Toby and Elizabeth as Jack is left completely humiliated — though determined not to give up.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos

Air Dog

Episode 2.18
December 16, 2005
Written by Alix Beane
Directed by Sally-Anne Kerr

Toby invents an anti gravity belt that will lift the wearer to any height. But Jack manages to steal the belt and attach it to a small dog, Dudley, who belongs to the school's new benefactor, Mrs Xavier. As Dudley disappears from view amongst the treetops, happily chasing birds, Mr Woods is left with the problem of how to explain his disappearance to Mrs Xavier. Toby invents a mechanical seagull, knowing Dudley will chase it. Meanwhile, Russ has painted a look-alike dog hoping to fool Mrs Xavier. He fails completely and is about to be expelled when Toby and Sacha arrive with a tired but happy Dudley.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Rebecca Macauley as Ms Hammer, Jill Forster as Mrs Xavier, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Dudley as Dudley, Per as Dudley 2, Brett Anderson as Mrs Xavier Motorcycle Double

Crazy for You

Episode 2.19
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Sally-Anne Kerr

When Elizabeth finds that Verity and Garth can't meet her exacting standards as personal assistants, she decides to create a self-learning artificial intelligence program to do the job instead. She calls it Max — and it doesn't take her long to realise that she's created a monster. Max soon decides that he alone knows what is best for Elizabeth and keeps her prisoner in her own lab. He attacks Toby via his computer and spies on Verity and Garth. Toby is forced to sacrifice a special date with Nikki to help the trapped Elizabeth. He outsmarts Max, frees Elizabeth and has to dream up a very special date to get back in Nikki's good books. But that's what you do when you're crazy for someone.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Jeremy Stanford as Max

Time Loop

Episode 2.20
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Sally-Anne Kerr

Unable to bear the thought of Toby and Nikki getting together, Elizabeth traps Toby in a time loop, forcing him to relive the same day over and over until he accepts the alternate reality she has created for them. In Elizabeth's world, she and Toby have been together for six months, she's given him a new image, he gets 100% in his tests, and he no longer has anything to do with his old friends. But Toby wants nothing to do with this new world. He confronts Elizabeth who tells him they are together, the way it's meant to be. Upset, she hits the control and Toby's day starts over from scratch… again and again and again. To get out of the time loop he has to convince a hostile Sacha and Russ that he is still their friend. Eventually with a little help from his friends, Toby steals the controller and destroys the time loop machine. Back in class, he gets 47% on his science test — at last everything's back to normal. He couldn't be happier.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Rebecca Macauley as Ms Hammer, David Bergin as Mr Johnson, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos

Underwater

Episode 2.21
Written by Jo Watson
Directed by Jeffrey Walker

The crimson-ringed octopus has venom so toxic that one drop can immobilise an elephant — or Mr Woods and Elizabeth. Mr Woods, hit by a poisoned spitball from Garth, ends up stuffed into a cupboard and Elizabeth, accidentally stung, remains gracefully unconscious on her laboratory floor. Meanwhile, Ms Hammer demands to know Mr Woods whereabouts and Sacha and Verity have to create a diversion plus hide Mr Woods and his mobile phone. Toby needs the octopus to manufacture an antidote, but Verity has let the octopus go in the ocean and it's now hiding in a crevasse. A shrunken Garth nearly becomes fish food as he bullies the octopus into Russ's waiting net and Toby is eventually able to rescue Mr Woods and Elizabeth.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Rebecca Macauley as Ms Hammer, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Siros Niaros as Mr Woods Stunt Double

Ghost Girl

Episode 2.22
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Jeffrey Walker

Nadine Sterling, a movie star, has come to Sandy Bay to shoot her new film in the house where the legendary Violet Strickland is believed to have died a horrible death. Meeting Nadine, Russ is immediately in love. The class go on an excursion to the movie set where Nadine, with the help of the film crew, humiliates Elizabeth by scaring her with some movie magic. Elizabeth swears revenge and lures Nadine and her new friends — Russ, Toby and Sacha — back to the house that night, where she scares the wits out of Nadine, presenting her with the 'real' ghost of Violet (Verity dressed up) and Violet's murdered fiancé, Tyrell Prendergast (Garth). Toby discreetly saves the day allowing Russ to look like the hero and get more than he ever dreamed — a kiss from Nadine. But as they leave the house another figure appears — the real ghost of Violet Strickland?

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Rebecca Macauley as Ms Hammer, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Jessica Tovey as Nadine Sterling, Erin Dewar as Violet Strickland, Sam Lee as Tyrell Prenderdast, Bernad Curry as The Director [Rex]

Spider Boy

Episode 2.23
Written by Jo Watson
Directed by Jeffrey Walker

When Garth's little cousin, Rodney, turns up in Sandy Bay, he immediately causes havoc with his pranks. He starts by spraying Sacha with a water hose and soon goes on to bigger and better things at the school. Sacha gets back at him with itching powder — which he doesn't like. Tinkering with one of Elizabeth's experiments, Rodney is bitten by a spider and emerges from a silvery cocoon as half arachnid, half boy who can spit a high tensile web. So powerful is the goo, he snares Garth, Verity and Elizabeth before escaping the lab and sticks Toby and Russ together. He then goes in search of his enemy Sacha and envelops her in a web cocoon before Toby and Russ intervene. Before Rodney can do any more harm, Elizabeth arrives and gives Rodney the antidote, returning him to a cheeky little kid.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Kyle McLeary as Rodney, Amanda Graver as Sacha Stunt Double

Meet the Parents

Episode 2.24
Written by Chris Anastassiades
Directed by Jeffrey Walker

Desperate for information about Elizabeth's genius, Jack offers her a deal. If he can turn his (and Nikki's parents) against Toby causing the couple to split up, will Elizabeth tell him what he wants to know about wicked science? Planning on telling him nothing, Elizabeth agrees and sets out to ensure the lunch with Jack and Nikki's parents is a disaster. Initially, it seems as if she doesn't have to do anything as Toby is virtually interrogated by Mr Bailey and unable to answer questions such as 'What are you going to do when you leave school?' When Elizabeth's hidden ray gun starts to turn Nikki's prince into a toad — complete with croaking voice and long insect seeking tongue — it seems Toby's relationship with Nikki is doomed. However Toby finds the hidden Garth, returns himself to normal and ends up charming the Baileys by just being himself.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Nicholas Bell as Virgil Bailey, Louise Siversen as Elsa Bailey

Jack Makes His Move

Episode 2.25
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Jeffrey Walker

In an attempt to make Toby jealous, Elizabeth partners Jack in an end-of-year science experiment. However, Jack's persistence and undeniable charms are working their magic and when Jack kisses Elizabeth she begins to fall for him. Elizabeth shows off her lab to an impressed Jack who diverts her long enough to steal her mini-disc with the wicked science genius formula on it. Back in the classroom, a distracted Toby mucks up the final chemical reaction in Russ's polymer experiment which explodes, entrapping Mr Woods in a foam bubble. Toby quickly invents a spray to dissolve the foam leaving Mr Woods amazed at Russ's unlikely sudden talent.

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos

King Cuddly

Episode 2.26
Written by Greg Millin
Directed by Colin Budds

Jack skilfully convinces Elizabeth to de-genius Toby and she builds a new MFE machine. When Elizabeth leaves to find Toby, Jack powers up the machine and, having already stolen the formula, turns himself into a genius. Toby and Elizabeth return and Jack threatens to de-genius them both. In a scuffle, Jack escapes with the shrink ray and the MFE machine. Toby goes after him. Jack fires the shrink ray, missing Toby, but hits a koala, turning it into a giant. He aims again, about to shrink Toby when Russ turns on the MFE machine, de-geniusing Jack just in time.

The King Kong sized koala is terrifying Sandy Bay and Elizabeth invents a high frequency scream machine to lure it away. Instead it captures her, and takes her to the top of Sandy Bay Bridge. It looks as if there is no hope for Elizabeth but Toby arrives on a flying surf board, buzzes and blinds the giant koala so it drops her. He swoops and rescues Elizabeth, carrying her to safety on the beach. Russ and Sacha shrink the koala back to size and the trio return to the bungalow to eat some pizza and plan for the holidays…

Cast: Andre De Vanny as Toby Johnson, Bridget Neval as Elizabeth Hawke, Ben Schmideg as Russell Skinner, Greta Larkins as Sacha Johnson, Emma Leonard as Verity McGuire, Brook Sykes as Garth King, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Jack Bailey, Matylda Buczko as Nikki Bailey, Colin Moody as Neil Woods, Rebecca Macauley as Ms Hammer, Katie Campbell as Peta Vinci, Cleopatra Coleman as Emma Hellman, Ratidzo Mambo as Maddison French, Nick Colla as Oliver Simmons, Vinodh Fernando as Simon Taylor, Nathan Vernon as Matt Costos, Mick Farnell as Mick The Wildlife Officer, Chris Humphrey as Koala Handler, Katie as Koala, David Taylor as Jack Stunt Double