australian television information archive

Murder Most Scandalous

Episode 2.01
Fri, September 06, 2013
852,000 viewers (4th)
Written by Kristen Dunphy
Directed by Tony Tilse

When Jack's ex-father-in-law, Deputy Commissioner George Sanderson, is implicated in the brutal murder of a prostitute, Jack is determined to clear his name. Despite strict instructions from Jack not to meddle in his case, Phryne decides to perfect her 'fan dance' in order to go undercover at the gentleman's club of the notorious Madam Lyon.

Starring: Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher, Nathan Page as Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Constable Hugh Collins, Ashleigh Cummings as Dot Williams

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Neil Melville as George Sanderson, Daniel Frederickson as Sidney Fletcher, Dee Smart as Rosie Sanderson, Belinda McClory as Madam Lyon Anna Bamford as Lola

Guest Cast: Jan Friedl as Mrs Blunt, Jon Bryden as Maurie Burke, Lyall Brooks as Father Blackburn, Fabio Robles as Carlos Romaro, Stephen Carracher as Sergeant Crossley, Biljana Vukovic as Lavinia, Shareena Clanton as Lena, Chloe Gouneau as Louisa, Andrea McCannon as Matron, Nesina Viola as Protestor #1, Kristina Benton as Protestor #2, Brent Trott as Constable Lewis, Alexandria as Belly Dancer

Death Comes Knocking

Episode 2.02
Fri, September 13, 2013
827,000 viewers (4th)
Screenplay by Ysabelle Dean
Directed by Ken Cameron

Phryne plays host to ghostly soldiers and exotic spiritualists. Aunt Prudence is swept up in the new spiritualist fad and enlists the famed Mrs Bolkonsky to contact her dead godson, Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Claremont. The séance leaves Phryne certain there is something amiss — but it has nothing to do with the psychic realm.

With: Miriam Margoyles as Aunt Prudence, Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Kate Atkinson as Maude Ashmead, John McTernan as Larry Dunn, Teague Rook as Freddy Ashmead, Jonny Pasvolsky as Warwick Hamilton, Julie Forsythe as Mrs Bolkonsky

Guest Cast: Nicholas Brien as Perce Bishop, Paul De Freitas as Henry Beale, Philip Reilley as Ernie Potts, Billy Smedley as Lieutenant Colonel Roland Claremont, Maurice Mammoliti as Lance Corporal Basil Hamilton

Dead Man's Chest

Episode 2.03
Fri, September 20, 2013
729,000 viewers (8th)
Screenplay by John Banas
Directed by Ken Cameron

Phryne heads off for a quiet holiday at the seaside holiday town of Queenscliff, confident she will not be disturbed by an investigation. However, buried treasure and pirate legends bubble to the surface in the seaside holiday town. When Aunt Prudence insists Phryne help an old school chum whose holiday mansion has been burgled, Phryne and Jack discover the summer paradise is not so perfect — and Phryne finds herself at the pointy end of a Spanish dagger.

With: Miriam Margoyles as Aunt Prudence, Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Ruby Rees-Wemyss as Jane, Julia Blake as Hilly McNaster, Dany Wyllie as Gerald McNaster, Reef Ireland as Kip

Guest Cast: Tony Rickards as Sergeant Baxter, John Brumpton as Finlay Ellis, Jasper Bagg as Wally Stirling, Mark Campbell as Frank the Fishmonger, Chris Peters as Clive Johnson, Henley Harker as Moira Johnson, Jennifer Castles as Temperance Woman, Colin Donald as Guard, Peter Prenga as Treasure Hunter

Deadweight

Episode 2.04
Fri, September 27, 2013
806,000 viewers (7th)
Screenplay by John Banas
Directed by Declan Eames

The gaiety of St Kilda's famous Esplanade is marred by the violence of gang warfare and the police who struggle to control it. When a gang leader is found dead outside a travelling boxing tent, Phryne's investigation leads her into the dangerous but thrilling world of fight rigging and tribal payback.

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Glenda Linscott as Mrs Biggs, Brett Swain as Arthur Biggs, Rachael Maza as Cora Derrimut, Mark Coles Smith as Tom Derrimut

Guest Cast: Isiah Lane as Dan Derrimut, Scott Smart as Freckles Delahunty, Adam Stafford as Kevin Bradley, Chris Asimos as Giorgos The Greek, Wayne Cartwright as Constable Fry, Toni Cakovski as Big Challenger

Murder A La Mode

Episode 2.05
Fri, October 04, 2013
926,000 viewers (3rd)
Screenplay by Kristen Dunphy
Directed by Sian Davies

When Phryne arrives for a fitting at the Fleuri sisters' exclusive fashion salon at the 'Paris end' of Collins Street, she unexpectedly finds herself amidst a crime scene. The salon's benefactor has been found impaled on her own hairpin in the sumptuous powder room, and everyone present is a suspect!

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Heather Mitchell as Madame Fleuri, Sibylla Budd as Renee Fleuri, Freya Stafford as Genevieve Lamaire, Mark Leonard Winter as Aubrey Wilde

Guest Cast: Tessa Lind as Violet Hopkins, Heather Lythe as Frances Wilde, Fiona MacLeod as Mrs Carlyon, Judith Roberts as Mrs Tippet, Kerrie-Anne Baker as Melba Cruise, Linc Hasler as Mr Harvreaves

Marked For Murder

Episode 2.06
Fri, October 11, 2013
896,000 viewers (4th)
Screenplay by John Banas
Directed by Declan Eames

Inspired by a Kerry Greenwood short story and set amidst the passion and fanaticism of 1929 Australian Rules football. When Phryne is duped into investigating the coach's missing 'lucky cap', she discovers a gruesome murder instead. The local team captain is found hanging by a rival team's scarf and it seems at first a clear-cut case of murderous sabotage.

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Neil Melville as George Sanderson, Daniel Frederickson as Sidney Fletcher, Dee Smart as Rosie Sanderson, Robert Morgan as Joe Mclean, Damien Garvey as Neville Gibbs, Kaiya Jones as Poppy Brown

Guest Cast: Brad McMurray as Stan Baines, Benjamin Rigby as Harry "The Hangman" Harper, Daniel O'Connor as Vince Barlow, Jessica Clarke as Celia Harper, Mat Stevenson as Pat O'Farrell, Carole Patullo as Mrs Dangerfield

Blood At The Wheel

Episode 2.07
Fri, October 18, 2013
912,000 viewers (3rd)
Screenplay by Michelle Offen
Directed by Sian Davies

In the fast-moving world of an all-women's motorcar garage, Phryne's mechanic Ailsa is preparing for an annual rally put on by the Victorian Automobile Association. Everything changes when Gerty, the driver for the ladies' team, is found dead in her roadster. The crash deals a solid blow to the case for women drivers and has Phryne up in arms struggling to convince Jack that her friend's death was no accident.

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Rachael Blake as Ailsa Wilton, David Roberts as Lachlan Pepper, Nikita Leigh Pritchard as Millie Wilton

Guest Cast: Rohan Browne as Claude Haynes, Annie Stanford as Gertrude 'Gerty' Haynes, Shaun Goss as Antony Rose, Scott Harrison as Wal, Cameron Box as Doorman [Reg], Kerry Greenwood as Rally Spectator #1, David Greagg as Rally Spectator #2

Notes: Miss Fisher novelist Kerry Greenwood and her partner, fellow author David Greagg, appear as race spectators [see image 10]. The episode is dedicated to the memory of Mia Tolhurst who worked as a script editor on MFMM.

In Loving memory of Mia Tolhurst
11.3.77 – 29-9-13
With her wit and warmth, the "Ladies Team" was always in great hands

The Blood Of Juana The Mad

Episode 2.08
Fri, October 25, 2013
890,000 viewers (4th)
Screenplay by John Banas
Directed by Peter Adrikidis

When the fresh corpse of Professor Katz turns up in place of a cadaver in Dr Mac's anatomy lecture she demands that Phryne and Jack, now estranged, work together in her interest. As the pair step around each other to investigate the murder — and the disappearance of a valuable manuscript — a web of college pranking, politics, and eugenics theory looks set to unravel.

With: Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Andrea Demetriades as Beatrice Mason, Nicholas Hope as Geoffrey Spall, Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Professor Bradbury, Jared Daperis as Charlie Street, Will Ewing as Amos Oliver

Guest Cast: Greg Attrill as Prof. Martin Katz, Richard Anastasios as Student 1, Craig Bradshaw as Student 2

Framed For Murder

Episode 2.09
Fri, November 01, 2013
912,000 viewers (3rd)
Screenplay by Chris Corbett
Directed by Peter Andrikidis

Hollywood has a stranglehold on the Australian industry and with 'talkies' on the way, the exotic 'Bride of Babylon' production is in serious jeopardy. With one of Phryne's oldest friends producing the movie, she has no choice but to get involved when the lead actor is murdered on set. Phryne steps in to solve the crime and save the production — juggling the roles of principal investor and private investigator. The show must go on, and when the director is also killed, Phryne takes the reins.

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Craig Hall as Jefferson Clarke, Hamish Michael as Raymond Hirsch, Jane Harber as Clara Whiting

Richard Sutherland as Gordon Thackaway, Stephanie King as Lily Luscombe, James Beck as Vernon Palmer Jr, Alan Lieman as Donald Everton, Ben Sofowara as Slave Leader

Death On The Vine

Episode 2.10
Fri, November 08, 2013
856,000 viewers (4th)
Screenplay by Chris Corbett
Directed by Catherine Millar

When Phryne arrives at an idyllic vineyard in the countryside to investigate a suspicious death in the past, she lands in the middle of an annual Wine Festival and the recent murder of her own 'client'. Hostile townsfolk do everything they can to drive her out of town, while Hugh prepares for a perfect proposal.

With: David Field as Sergeant Ford, Genevieve Picot as Valma Brightwell, Geoff Morrell as Bob Ryan, Kerry Walker as Ida Voigt

Guest Cast: James Saunders as Erik Voigt, Ramona Von Pusch as Flora Ford, Luke Clayson as Frank Ford, Joss Gower as Oskar Voigt, Gavin Van Der Meer as Mikael Voigt

Dead Air

Episode 2.11
Fri, November 15, 2013
874,000 viewers (4th)
Screenplay by Ysabelle Dean & Mia Tolhurst
Directed by Catherine Millar

There's a new wireless in the Fisher household — but there's murder on the airwaves when Dot's new favourite show is interrupted by an on air panic. The radio station's bookkeeper and budding announcer is found choked to death but when Phryne gets involved, she finds Jack already undercover as the newsreader. Dot suffers the realisation that she doesn't want to relinquish working for Miss Fisher when she marries.

With: Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Rhys Muldoon as Clarence Ball, Marco Chiappi as Jimmy Creswick

Guest Cast: Pip Edwards as Hazel Creswick, Travis Cotton as Dodger, Amy Arnott as Louise Singleton

Music: "Let's Misbehave" written by Cole Porter, performed by Harry James Angus and Essie Davis, Nathan Page and Hue Blanes; "I Must Have It" written & performed by King Oliver

Unnatural Habits

Episode 2.12
Fri, November 22, 2013
908,000 viewers (5th)
Screenplay by Ysabelle Dean
Directed by Tony Tilse

The gothic world of the Magdalene Laundries — a halfway house for pregnant and wayward girls, run by Catholic nuns — sets the scene for the tragic death of an escaping teenager. As Phryne becomes more suspicious of the goings-on behind the convent walls, she and Jack realise the threads of this crime lead higher up and closer to home than they ever suspected.

With: Miriam Margoyles as Aunt Prudence, Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Neil Melville as George Sanderson, Dee Smart as Rosie Sanderson, Daniel Frederickson as Sidney Fletcher

Guest Cast: Joan Sydney as Mother Aloysius, Shayne Francis as Perpetua, Sally-Anne Upton as Sister Dominica, Alice Cavanagh as Mary, Paul Moder as Captain De Vere, Fantine Banulski as Joan, Kellie Trewin as Bernadette, Isabella Gilbert as Catherine

Murder Under The Mistletoe

Episode 2.13
Sun, December 22, 2013
969,000 viewers (2nd)
Screenplay by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Tony Tilse

Phryne, Dot and Dr. Mac happily accompany Aunt Prudence to a picturesque chalet to celebrate a white Christmas in July. The party arrives to find one of the residents dead — electrocuted while hanging festive lights. No more suspicious than the usual Miss Fisher investigation, until the body count starts to rapidly rise.

Heavy snowfalls and harsh weather trap them all with a murderer in their midst — and any one of them the next victim. It's a race against time for Phryne and Jack to hunt down the culprit — and restore enough Christmas joy to take full advantage should they find themselves standing under that bunch of mistletoe!

With: Miriam Margoyles as Aunt Prudence, Tammy Macintosh as Dr Mac, Travis McMahon as Bert, Anthony Sharpe as Cec, Richard Bligh as Mr Butler, Ruby Rees-Wemyss as Jane, Simon Burke as Nicolas Mortimer, John Noble as Edward Stanley

Guest Cast: George Shevtsov as Chester Groves, Greg Saunders as Quentin Lynch, Alicia Gardiner as Birdie, Emily Milledge as Isobel Darcy, Sylvie De Crespigny as Vera Mortimer, Todd Morgan as Len Fowler, Josh Gordon as Laurie