australian television information archive

The Runaways

Episode 1
Sat, May 12, 1973 (Seven)
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Gerald Turney-Smith

Believing he is responsible for an accident that has killed his uncle, nine-year-old orphan Catch Kandy and his seven-year-old sister Kate run away from their uncle's home. The pair hide out at the Taronga Park Zoo where they meet a helpful man named Christian who lives in a cave near the sea. Meanwhile, their uncle begins a desperate search for his young charges.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate, Shane Porteous as Christian, Zac Martin as Munganye, Peter Reynolds as Uncle Earle, Carmen Duncan as Mrs Wayne, Colin Hughes as Police Sergeant, Bob Lee as Policeman, Darrel Martin as Kiosk Attendant

Note: Carmen Duncan's only episode. Lyn James takes over the role of Mrs Wayne going forward

Into The Net

Episode 2
Sat, May 19, 1973
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Gerald Turney-Smith

Mistakenly thinking the kids face being institutionalized if they are returned to their uncle, Christian changes the kids' appearances to help hide them on a trip to a shopping centre.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Peter Reynolds as Uncle Earle, Lyn James as Mrs Wayne, Zac Martin as Munganye, Ruth Cracknell as Gladys Evans, Robert Quilter as Det. Sgt Cassidy

Christian Faber

Episode 3
Sat, May 26, 1973
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: ?

Christian leaves the kids in the care of Munganye while he attends a university demonstration. Earle Kandy offers a reward for information on the children's whereabouts but requires anonymity.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Peter Reynolds as Uncle Earle, Lyn James as Mrs Wayne, Zac Martin as Munganye, Don Barkham as Det. Sgt. Rourke, Sandy Harbutt as Stock Dean, Gregory Ross as Clive, Steven Costain as Harold, John Armstrong as Charlie

Enemy Country

Episode 4
Sat, June 02, 1973
Story: ?
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: ?

After Catch and Kate play at Canon Park, Kate is later approached by a confused elderly man who believes he is still in a war battle. After taking the sick man to Christian's cave, he collapses. Munganye arrives to help take him back (with police assistance) to a nursing facility.

Cast: ...

The Bait

Episode 5
Sat, June 09, 1973
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Peter Maxwell

Catch goes out with some feuding fishermen and nearly drowns when he falls overboard. Kate is left back on the dock where she is recognised from a reward poster.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Graeme Smith as Slow Kelly, Barry Donnelly as Fox Reagan, Don Barkham as Det. Sgt. Rourke, Norman Yemm as Riley, Lionel Long as Antonio, Charles Thorne as Fulvio, Dennis Grosvenor as Constable Kelly

Follow The Band

Episode 6
Sat, June 16, 1973
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Ron Way

The attraction of a military marching band separates Catch from Kate who follows the band back to their barracks.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Peter Reynolds as Uncle Earle, Lyn James as Mrs Wayne, Gavin Hamilton as Commandant, Peter Whittle as Corporal Wallace, Kenneth Laird as Drum Major, Ray Mitchell as Laundryman, Cecily Poulson as Mrs James, John Winston as Guard Sergeant

Young Fugitive

Episode 7
Sat, June 23, 1973
Story: Romie Hill
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Eric Fullilove

After witnessing an armed robbery, Catch is taken hostage by a gunman and his getaway driver.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Graeme Smith as Slow Kelly, Zac Martin as Munganye, Danny Adcocks as Ale, Kevin Leslie as Benson, Mike Dorsey as Senior Constable, John Wood as Pete, Slim De Grey as Sergeant, John Larking as Man with Dog

Close Call

Episode 8
Sat, June 30, 1973
Story: ?
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: ?

Earle invites Det. Sgt. Rourke to dinner beside Rose Bay Flying Boat Aeroplane Service to discuss the kids' whereabouts. Meanwhile, Munganye boards an aeroplane to Lord Howe island unaware there are two crooks on board. Christian, in his small boat, stops them taking off enabling the crooks' capture. The kids narrowly avoid being seen.

Cast: ...

The Price

Episode 9
Sat, July 07, 1973
Story: ?
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: ?

Christian promises to take Kate and Catch swimming but at the last minute he has to cancel out, so he leaves them with Slow Kelly. Unfortunately, Kelly is involved in an accident and has to be hospitalized. Meanwhile, a guy recognizes Catch from the "missing" poster that Catch's uncle has been circulating.

Cast: ...

Capsize

Episode 10
Sat, July 14, 1973
Story: Enid Conley
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Terry Bourke

Catch gets himself into trouble when he takes out a sailboat he has been asked to watch. When the boat capsizes Catch makes it to shore at a military base where he must avoid detection. Kate and Christian take an injured penguin to the zoo for care.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Graeme Smith as Slow Kelly, Carla Hoogeveen as Linda, Brendon Lunney as Luke, Ian Richards as Paul, Reg Gillam as Mr Oliver, Stuart Finch as Sergeant, Lex Mitchell as Policeman, Al Kenny as Sailor

Climb into Trouble

Episode 11
Sat, July 21/28?, 1973
Story: Lilith Norman
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Peter Maxwell

Catch and Kate attempt to befriend another runaway child but the young troublemaker threatens to turn Catch and his sister in to the police.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Graeme Smith as Slow Kelly, Peter Reynolds as Uncle Earle, Zac Martin as Munganye, Don Barkham as Set. Sgt. Rourke, Barry Donnelly as Fox Reagon, Adrian Hack as Chicka Moore, John Fegan as Mr Moore [uncredited]

Man in a Wetsuit

Episode 12
Sat, Aug 04, 1973
Story: ?
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: ?

A diver gets washed up on the beach where Catch and Kate are playing. Not knowing that the man had been hired by a syndicate to steal diamonds, Catch rushes to get medical help for him. In his absence, two syndicate men arrive on the scene. Seeing Kate there, they decide to capture her to prevent her from blowing the whistle on their activities.

Cast: ...

Gone Astray

Episode 13
Sat, Aug 11, 1973
Story: Brian Wright
Screenplay: Denys Burrows
Director: Ron Way

While searching for a lost wallaroo at the zoo, Catch and Kate run into Mrs Wayne, their uncle's housekeeper. Soon reunited with their uncle, who Catch is shocked to discover is alive, the kids return home but refuse to speak about where they have been. The kids manage to telephone Christian to tell him they are back home with their uncle, which puzzles Christian who thought they had no family, before settling back into life with their uncle and Mrs Wayne.©tzuk

Cast: Jann Ramel as Catch, Jacqueline Foley as Kate Shane Porteous as Christian, Carla Hoogeveen as Linda, Graeme Smith as Slow Kelly, Hudson Faussett as H.C. Barnes, Lyn James as Mrs Wayne