australian television information archive

Mother Of Pearl

Episode 3.01
Wed, October 13, 2010 (ABC1)
726,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

Frances is devastated when she learns that her mother, Pearl, suffering from both dementia and a really horrible personality, needs full time care. But to make matters worse, a government bureaucrat Xavier Fisher rules that public libraries are to turn a profit or face closure.

With a million dollars to raise, Frances appoints Dawn to head up the fundraising campaign. But getting the rest of the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre staff motivated isn't easy. Matthew is pursuing a book deal; Nada is fighting off advances from her ex-husband Hasan, Neil has a new girlfriend Jane, and Ky is busy planning his wedding day.

On the home front, Terry tells Frances he's reforming his 80s tribute band Oils Ain't Oils. If that's not enough to send Frances over the edge, she learns that her detestable mum Pearl has run up an unimaginable debt and ends up on the O'Brien's doorstep.

Starring: Robyn Butler as Frances O'Brien, Roz Hammond as Christine Grimwood, Heidi Arena as Dawn, Stephan Ballantyne as Matthew, Keith Brockett as Ky, Bob Franklin as Neil, Kim Gyngell as Father Harris, Wayne Hope as Terry O'Brien, Nicole Nabout as Nada

And: Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher, Hannah Gadsby as Carmel, Daniel Cordeaux as Clyde, Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Lachy Hulme as Hasan, Fiona Harris as Jane, George McEncroe as Policewoman

With: Hunter Smith, Cameron Marshall, Michael Chamberlin, Brendan Kaufmann, Masae Mito, Bill Lee, Philip Lau, Lisa Hill, Katsue Thomas, Richard Anastasios, Russell Frost, Chris Pace

Note: series 3 was filmed from April 29 to June 23, 2010

Quid Pro Quo

Episode 3.02
Wed, October 20, 2010
541,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

With the help of Father Harris, Frances settles Pearl into a nursing home. To pay for Pearl's new accommodation at Gentle Pines, Frances needs to sell her mother's house, and fast.

When Xavier Fisher learns how badly the fundraising at the library is progressing, he threatens staff cuts. Christine revs up Dawn on the fundraising front. Neil and Jane decide to go into business together and approach Frances to take over the library's cleaning contract. After the debacle at his wedding, Ky returns to work on crutches.

And: Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Nicola Perry as Berverly, Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher, Lachy Hulme as Hasan, Fiona Harris as Jane, Marty Sheargold as Paolo, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Patrick Brammall as Stuart

With: Cameron Marshall, Kai Hughes, Sarsha Hughes, Ebon Browning, Askash Gupta, Peter Menea, Lachlan Ward, Luke Follacchio, Chris Pace, Richard Anastasios, Chris Ogilvie

Tsukiji

Episode 3.03
Wed, October 27, 2010
595,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

Frances meets Indigo the 'new age' real estate agent who is going to sell Pearl's house. Back at the library, Christine sets up a major fundraising initiative that promises to make a lot of money. After another discouraging rejection letter for his novel, Matthew gets encouragement from Dawn to start writing DVD reviews instead.

With his old band mates Biscuit, Bingo and Skunk on board, Terry is reliving his youth, playing with his old band — Oils Ain't Oils… in the garage. Much to Frances's relief, Indigo sells Pearl's house, but celebrations are cut short when the mystery contents of the shipping container parked in Pearl's front yard are revealed.

And: Celia Pacquola as Indigo, Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Nicola Parry as Beverly, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, et al

With: Robin Brown, Justin Kennedy, Sarah Collins, Yoshi Abe, Sam Zanghi, Rick Tonna, Pixie Jones, Andrew Roberts, Riki Takahashi, Megan Ibrahim, Terry Carter, Chris Kemp

Dark Before Dawn

Episode 3.04
Wed, November 03, 2010
582,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

Pearl's nursing home, Gentle Pines, is hounding Frances for payment, money Frances doesn't have. But if she doesn't pay up, Pearl will end up living at the O'Brien house. Terry desperately seeks a buyer for the tonnes of tuna stocked up in their garage.

Back at the library, Neil gives Matthew some writing tips for his DVD reviews 'Matthew Recommends' and Frances is shocked when Dawn hands in her resignation.

And: Andrew Hallsworth as Graham, Peter Stefanou as Muslim Job Applicant, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Fiona Harris as Jane, Amanda Muggleton as Rose, Victoria Eagger as Pearl

With: Ted Green, Tanya Mitford, Andrew Campbell, Russell Frost, Emma Chapman, Kerrie Charter, Thor Bloomfield

Kerching Kerching

Episode 3.05
Wed, November 10, 2010
572,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Tony Martin

Frances' worst nightmare has come true... she's once again living under the same roof as her mother. With the tuna for sale on eBay, Frances hopes it won't be long before they can afford to send chain-smoking Pearl back to Gentle Pines. In the meantime, Terry is charged with keeping an eye on her during the day.

Since giving up breastfeeding, Christine has trouble controlling her eating. Still feeling guilty about Ky's accident, Dawn starts fundraising for stem cell research in the hope of being able to walk again one day. Nada finds her personal details posted on an online Muslim dating service and Xavier Fisher pays an unexpected visit to the library.

And: Arthur Angel as Nikko, Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Daniel Cordeaux as Clyde, Molly Daniels as Bernadette, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher

With: Steve Petrou, Damian McInerney

Milk, Not Cheese, Moon

Episode 3.06
Wed, November 17, 2010
534,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

A security guard catches Frances and Christine trying to steal the fundraising money from the library. What could drive them to such desperate measures?

Nada is visited by Jaffar Abassi, a very promising single man from the Muslim dating site. Only there's a lot more to Jaffar than his good looks and pleasant personality as both Mathew and Neil reveal. Dawn steps up her campaign to walk again, and in an effort to lose her bum, Christine is put on a strict diet and exercise regime by Ky. Oils Ain't Oils score their first gig.

And: Toby Truslove as Dave, Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Mike McLeish as Jaffar Abassi, Stephen Hall as Minister, Fiona Harris as Jane, Sue Jones as Olwyn

With: Patrick Williams, Cameron Marshall, Geraldine Hickey, Lou Sanz, Kelly Wilkinson, Sean Dennis, Hugo Cran, Steve Francis, Jayson McCarthy

Pearl Of Wisdom

Episode 3.07
Wed, November 24, 2010
489,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Wayne Hope

The library is a hub of activity for Senior Citizens Day. Ky is busy conducting video interviews for an oral history project and Christine is manning the Devonshire tea stand. With the tour-guide waylaid, Neil steps in to lead a group of seniors on a historical walk of Middleton.

To Frances's shock, Terry arrives with Pearl. But the day gets progressively worse as Frances learns that Showbiz Video is in liquidation when the receivers turn up to seize all assets.

And: Victoria Eagger as Pearl, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Fiona Harris as Jane, Sue Jones as Olwyn, Amanda Muggleton as Rose, Ken Radley as Cliff, Damian Callinan as Kevin, Marty Sheargold as Paolo

With: Cliff Ellen, Robyn Arthur, Dave Warneke, Val Jellay, Sleeman Fayad, Anthony Guilbert, Graeme Callen, Carol King

The Power and the Passion

Episode 3.08
Wed, December 01, 2010
658,000 viewers
Written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Directed by Tony Martin

The fundraising thermometer has hit rock bottom since the closure of Showbiz Video and government bureaucrat Xavier Fisher orders immediate cutbacks. Frances is determined to make a stand and save her staff.

And: Peta Brady as Marzena Stovic, Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher, Peter Garrett as Himself, Stefan Bramble as Waleed, Justin Hamilton as Biscuit, Tony Moclair as Bingo, Daniel Cordeaux as Clyde, Hunter Smith as Darren, Craig Pilkington as Skunk, Arthur Angel as Nikko

With: Cameron Marshall, Neil Sinclair, Masae Mito, Ellie McEvoy, Bill Lee, William Green, Katie Holding, Georgina Bundy, Tayla Van Der Riet, Brendan Stroud, Damian McInerney, Ben Grogan