Crash Zone: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2

Series 2

The software development company, Catalyst, is in crisis. An economic downturn has forced the owner of the company, Alexandra Davis, into deep financial trouble. She's let most of her staff go. The kids may be next. Into the mix comes 12-year-old Penny Gallagher, who, after being discovered by Ram, convinces her dad, Mathew Gallagher, to offer Alex a deal. Mathew is a successful businessman who knows little about games and gaming, but is fully aware that they're a growth industry and a good opportunity. He saves Catalyst, but brings about changes that profoundly affect everybody

Something New

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Episode 2.01
Australia: Saturday, June 02, 2001
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by David Swann

The kids are stunned to find that Catalyst is on the brink of financial ruin. How can they save the company when they've just offended the only potential investor, Matthew Gallagher? The kids find an electronic solution.

Starring: Cassandra Magrath as Pi, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Mike, Paul Pantano as Marcello, Frances Wang as Bec, Damien Bodie as Ram, Heidi Valkenburg as Penny, Nicki Wendt as Alex

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Sean Ladhams as Brad Kane, David Swann as Investor #1, Jimmy Panagiotou as Vinnie's Driver Double, Lance Anderson as Mathew's Driver Double, Szumai Anderson as Alex's Driver Double, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

It's an Art

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Episode 2.02
Saturday, June 09, 2001
Written by Jeff Peck, Philip Dalkin
Directed by Ray Boseley

Inventor Phil Godwin brings his radical new 3-D glasses to Catalyst. Alex convinces him that Catalyst has the perfect game to showcase them to the world. Only, which game?

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Andrew Blackman as Phil Godwin, Hamish Hughes as Vincent Van Gogh, Bob Ruggiero as Leonardo Da Vinci, Chris Kirby as Glen Wilson, Nicholas Crawford-Smith as Gillford, Susan Tan as Rose Chan, Fred Lee as Lee Chan, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Free Stuff

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Episode 2.03
Saturday, June 16, 2001
Written by Jeff Peck
Directed by Julian McSwiney

The lure of a program that can automatically order all the free stuff from the web is Marcello's latest brainwave. But when it goes horribly wrong it threatens everyone's future.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Vince D'Amico as Tony Di Campili, Mary Sitarenos as Elissa Di Campili, Maryanne Dragone as Sam Di Campili, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Solidarity

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Episode 2.04
Saturday, June 23, 2001
Written by Jeff Peck
Directed by David Swann

The kids are torn between their principles and Alex when they go on strike for better conditions but their actions threaten the launch of Alex's latest game.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Margie Nunn as June Foley, Katie Hardiman as Computer Jockeys #1, Matt O'Connor as Computer Jockeys #2, Shaun Worrell as Computer Jockeys #3, Shane McNamara as Mr Moseley, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Games People Play

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Episode 2.05
Saturday, June 30, 2001
Written by Jeff Peck
Directed by Ray Boseley

Depressed at breaking up with Pi, Mike is drawn into playing a violent game on the ‘Net. The fun suddenly stops when his nemesis, "Damon", starts to pursue him in the real world.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, James Patrick Reed as Dave Hansen, Jeffrey Pacey as Tattooed Man, Ron Jacobson as Shopkeeper, Wendy Strehlow as Mrs Sparks, Julian Jones as Damon, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist, Russell Allan as Car Driver

Your Cheating Heart

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Episode 2.06
Saturday, July 07, 2001
Written by Susan Macgillicuddy
Directed by Ray Boseley

Marcello uses a "cheat site" to help him beat Bec in a school essay contest. She's highly offended — is this going to be the end of Marcello's friendship with the others?

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Nicholas Crawford-Smith as Gillford, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Basketball Diaries

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Episode 2.07
Saturday, July 14, 2001
Written by Susan Macgillicuddy
Directed by Julian McSwiney

Bec returns from America feeling cocky and full of herself. This becomes a liability when the others try to save Virgil who has escaped from Catalyst inside Mathew Gallagher's laptop.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist, Merron Cullum as Ticket Collector, Michael Hassett as Sports Fan; Dale Cochrane, Cam Van Steel, Tahu Marumaru, James Macauley as Security Guards; Jacqueline Flood as Reporter; Paul Collins as Photographer; Rob Horne, Jamie Treasure, James Boeghero as Referees; Tim Chambers as Sabres Coach, John Conley as Maverick's Coach, Brad Lowry as Mascot Guy

Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?

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Episode 2.08
Saturday, July 21, 2001
Written by Susan Macgillicuddy
Directed by Julian McSwiney

Finally one of Marcello's schemes works! His "virtual band" is a huge hit on the ‘Net and he becomes, on paper, a millionaire! But is it all it's cracked up to be? Meanwhile, Alex asks Vinnie to become the new face of Nemo, the star of Catalyst's new game.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist, Vince D'Amico as Tony Di Campili, Mary Sitarenos as Elissa Di Campili; Christian Bell, Kelly McConville, Seth Rintoule as Viewers; Stella Angelico as Presenter

Sabretooth

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Episode 2.09
Saturday, July 28, 2001
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Steve Jodrell

Famous hacker "Sabertooth" steals Alex's new hologram game and Catalyst's future looks grim. When Marcello realises that Sabertooth is someone he knows, he's got difficult decisions to make.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Kestie Morassi as Lisa, Robert Grubb as Garrison, John Arnold as Evans, Mary Sitarenos as Elissa Di Campili, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Walkabout

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Episode 2.10
Saturday, August 04, 2001
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by David Swann

Virgil jumps inside a robotic body and runs away from Catalyst. The kids are frantic. How do they find him and convince him to return before Alex finds out he is gone?

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Shane McNamara as Mr Moseley, Amanda Burt as Girl #1, Kate Hopkins as Girl #2, Megan Jones as Monica, Phil Moye as Commuter, Carole Browne as ATM Customer, Damien Boden as Turk, Kevin Hopkins as Policeman, Aaron Donovan as Kid on Bike, Maureen Andrew as Dance Instructor, Steve Pretty as Bike Riding Double, Paul Zaidman as Virgil/Sludge, Latecha Cadle as Emily, Graham Jahne as Policeman Driver, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Man in Khaki

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Episode 2.11
Saturday, August 11, 2001
Written by Pino Amenta, Philip Dalkin, Jeff Peck
Directed by Steve Jodrell

Army Intelligence raid the offices of Catalyst and they're after one thing — the Artificial Intelligence, Virgil! How can our heroes save Virgil from being conscripted?

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Lisa Baumwol as Smythe, Bruce Roberts as Winter, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist, Steve O'Donnell as Sludge Virgil

Skin Deep

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Episode 2.12
Saturday, August 18, 2001
Written by Chris Anastassiades
Directed by David Swann

Pi discovers her film star father is exploiting his daughter on the ‘Net from publicity purposes. She's livid and decides the time has come to tell him just how she feels.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Andrew Clarke as Keenan Reed, Kate Jason-Omodei as Auntie Salvina, Serge De Nardo as Uncle Serge, John O'May as Phil Kurtz, Fred Lee as Lee Chan, Kate Denborough as Louise, Corina Pierdomenico as Elderley Lady, Antonia Francoli as Daughter, Stuart Schulze as Doorman at Hotel, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist

Rear Windows

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Episode 2.13
Saturday, August 25, 2001
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Steve Jodrell

A game Ram has successfully conquered on the 'net turns out to be the blueprint for a real life kidnapping. The team, distracted by the most important day of their careers, must stop a band of criminals from using Ram's strategy.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Jeremy Stanford as Mathew Gallagher, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Shane McNamara as Mr Moseley, Kenneth Ransom as Senior Agent, Katherine Muir as Brittany, Roy Edmunds as Criminal #1, Phil Reilley as Criminal #2, David Le Page as Agent #2, Stephen Jenkins as Security Guard, Elizabeth Shingleton as Receptionist