australian television information archive

Maggie Takes a Holiday

Episode 1

Arthur decides to institutionalize his eccentric mother.

With: Suzanne Roylance as Deirdre Beare, Jane Hardes as Matron, Colleen Clifford as Old Lady

Maggie Gets the Milk

Episode 2

Arthur tries to clear up Maggie's affairs with the social worker.

With: Lola Brooks as Heather, Cathy Downes as Rosemary

Maggie Alone

Episode 3

Arthur tries to stop Maggie from befriending odd people.

With: Alan Becher as Policeman, Constance Lansberg as Helen, Warwick Moss as Patient

Arthur's Holiday

Arthur tries to hide his vacation plans from Maggie.

Arthur's Night Out

Episode 5

Maggie tries to stop Arthur's date with his wife.

With: Suzanne Roylance as Deirdre Beare, Marianne Howard as Lisa

Maggie in Love

Episode 6

Maggie invites a boyfriend to her birthday party.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Gordon McDougall as Lionel

Maggie Makes a Will

Episode 7

Maggie falls ill after Arthur announces plans to move out.

With: Suzanne Roylance as Deirdre Beare, Martin Vaughan as Dr Holloway

The Money

Episode 8

Arthur and Robert both have plans for Maggie's uncashed pension checks.

With: Peter Collingwood as Bank Manager, Shauna O'Grady as Bank Teller, Constance Lansberg as Helen, Amos Szeps as Sean

The Divorce

Episode 9

Maggie wishes Arthur could have a marriage like Robert's.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare

The Funeral

Episode 10

It seems even Uncle Andrew’s funeral is not cause enough to affect Maggie’s cheerful good humour. After a little mix-up with the cars and an unscheduled shopping stop along the way, the procession finally reaches the cemetery. And that’s when the fun really starts. It could have been a beautiful service, except for those damned oranges. Afterwards, as the family returns to the house, death seems to be on everyone’s mind—especially Uncle Tom. But nothing seems to deter Maggie’s good mood—even if she’s not sure who has died, or whether it’s her fault. After all, what’s a little poison among family?

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Peter Gwynne as Uncle Tom, John Gaden as Funeral Assistant, Martin Vaughan as Doctor, Peter Whitford as Minister

The Promotion

Episode 11

Arthur receives a job offer in another city. Will Maggie let him go?

With: Suzanne Roylance as Deirdre Beare

The Aunt

Episode 12

Maggie's sister Lorna visits, and the meeting is far from pleasant. Arthur is hoping Lorna's company will give him a chance to go out with his new girlfriend.

With: Melissa Jaffer as Lorna, Roslyn Gentle as Wendy

The Card Game

Episode 13

Maggie insists on joining Arthur and his friends at cards.

With: Terry Bader as Igor, Ray Meagher as Geoff, Lance Curtis as Leonard

Morning After

Episode 14

Maggie decides to move when Arthur asserts his independence.

With: Roslyn Gentle as Wendy

The Sign

Episode 15

Maggie tries to ensure her place in heaven.

With: Tony Barry as Rector, Frank Lloyd as Priest

The Picnic

Episode 16

Liz and Robert have arrived to collect Maggie for a picnic, but she refuses to go unless Arthur joins them. She wants to relive the family picnics of the boys’ childhood, but things don’t quite work out as planned. After a lot of singing and a little confusion over the location (it looked different 30 years ago), the others refuse to join Maggie in her proposed games or walking. So you could argue that if Arthur, Robert, Liz and the others had been a bit nicer to Maggie, none of it would have happened. But even so, just how can you possibly lose your mother at a picnic?

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Janine O'Brien as Teonie Beare, Kristin Vergia as Damien Beare, Judi Farr as Matron, Dorothy St Heaps as Norma, Queenie Ashton as Elsie, Suzette Williams as Policewoman, Stan Kouros as Park Ranger

The Accident

Episode 17

Arthur accidentally drops a typewriter on his foot, forcing him to stay home, and have Maggie as his carer... could things get any more worse for Arthur? Trying to buy a sandwich for Arthur lands Maggie in a baby clinic, and then at a hospital, where she meets a friend.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Penne Hackforth-Jones as Community Medical Officer, Ron Haddrick as Claude, John Ewart as Hospital Worker, Suzanne Hawley as Taxi Driver, Rosalie Fletcher as Young Mother, Lucy Charles as Nursing Sister

The Last Will

Episode 18

Maggie reads her will to her astonished family.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare

The Neighbours

Episode 19

Maggie is sure that the woman next door is spying on her. Worse than that she's foreign and doesn't speak English. Arthur's attempts to heal the breach aren't too successful, but it is amazing what a TV soap opera can do.

With: Nicos Lathouris as Kosta, Sally McKenzie as Senior Constable, Arky Michael as Constable, Stella Stefaniois as Mrs Akon

The Cruise

Episode 20

Maggie agrees to accompany a virtual stranger on a cruise.

With: Ron Haddrick as Claude, Barbara Stephens as Susan

Christmas Drinks

Episode 21

It's a hot summer christmas for Arthur, who is having a party for all his friends and family. But as far as Maggie is concerned, she just wants Arthur to take her to church and forget about the party. A series of incidents leads to an argument between the family..and finally to the church.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Paul Bertram as Max

The Medals

Episode 22

Maggie dons her late husband's war medals.

With: Graham Rouse as Sergeant, Brandon Burke as Constable

The Surprise

Episode 23

Robert's evening plans don't include his wife or mother.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Diane Craig as Delores

The Car

Episode 24

Maggie insists Arthur teach her to drive.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Robert Baxter as Postman, May Howlett as Neighbour

The Friend

Episode 25

Arthur pays a woman to befriend Maggie.

With: Anne Phelan as Wilma, Martin Vaughan as Doctor, Joy Hruby as Woman Shopper

The Dog

Episode 26

In the middle of a cold and stormy night, Maggie can’t sleep so she seeks out Arthur for a bit of company, much to his annoyance. Luckily Robert turns up with a present for his mother—a dog. Maggie decides since Arthur doesn’t need her any more, a puppy is just the ticket; that is until Arthur realises she’s left the back door open and ‘Fluffy’ has escaped. Next thing, they’re both out searching the streets in the middle of the night with no luck. No matter how hard he tries, Arthur can’t seem to convince Maggie it wasn’t his fault.

With: Warwick Moss as Fireman, Kirrily Nolan as Boy's Mother, Robert Fraser as Young Boy

The Fridge

Episode 27

Maggie deals with jealousy between Arthur and Robert.

With: Ron Blanchard as Emile

The Last Straw

Episode 28

Arthur and Robert devise a plan for Maggie's welfare.

With: John Derum as Estate Agent, Gerry Duggan as Senior Citizen

The Budgie

Episode 29

A visiting parakeet causes problems.

With: Willie Fennell as Pet Shop Owner, Anna Phillips as Louise

The Big Sleep

Episode 30

Funeral arrangements are always trying, so Maggie decides they should do a few trial runs of Arthur finding her dead in her bed. But then she panics about dying and convinces herself he’s trying to get rid of her, before deciding its time to start planning her own funeral and asks Arthur to arrange someone to come by and talk to her. Of course, when the funeral director arrives the next day, she has no recollection of her request and immediately suspects Arthur of trying to get rid of her. But curiosity soon gets the better of Maggie and she is drawn into planning her final goodbye. Little does Arthur know this will lead to him having to excavate his father’s ashes in the middle of the night, nor that they’ll end up in Maggie’s handbag.

With: Rhys McConnochie as Ronald Stanley, Sonia Todd as Policewoman, Tim McKenzie as Policeman

The Clock

Episode 31

Maggie steals a clock from a neighbour.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Paula Duncan as Real Estate Agent, Ric Hutton as Mr Powell

The Rest

Episode 32

Maggie returns home at an odd hour during respite care.

With: Joan Sydney as Merle MacDonald, Jennifer Cluff as Carrie Samuels, Grace Parr as Dr Chan, Julie Nihill as Receptionist

The Baby

Episode 33

Arthur finds a baby at home when he returns from work.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Odile Le Clezio as Gina, Ton Oliver as Sergeant, Suzette Williams as Constable, Ashley Cameron as Baby

The Sunday Roast

Episode 34

Maggie resists meeting Arthur's girlfriend at a Sunday lunch.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Kirsty Child as Meredith, Don Barker as Butcher

The Deed

Episode 35

Maggie returns to her own home after a drive with Arthur.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Jacqueline Kott as Sister, Les Foxcroft as Old Man, Annie Davies as Nurse

The Ride

Episode 36

Robert comes by to take Maggie out for a drive—he’s learnt that to look after yourself, the best way is to look after others first—or so he says. Arthur is suspicious but delighted, as it allows him to finally do Maggie’s laundry. Half way through the outing, Robert reveals his ulterior motive when he stops off for a quick visit at his new lady friend’s house, leaving Maggie in the car. Not surprisingly, when he returns, she’s gone. Can Robert woo his new girlfriend, find his mum and stop his wife from finding out what he’s been up to?.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Tina Bursill as Carmen, Kiri Paramore as Rob, Kate McDonald as Marija

The Trip

Episode 37

A trip to Britain doesn't include Maggie as originally planned.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Melissa Jaffer as Lorna

The Family Feud

Episode 38

Arthur tries to put an end to the family feud.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Melissa Jaffer as Lorna

The Caravan

Episode 39

Maggie chooses her favourite son; Robert is kidnapped.

With: Stephen Shanahan as Youth, Kaoru Sato as Japanese Tourist, Alan Lovell as Photographer, Christopher Bancroft as Driver

The Lamingtons

Episode 40

Maggie's jury duty interferes with her charity work.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Betty Lucas as Mavis, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as Judge, Katrina Foster as Solicitor

The Promise

Episode 41

Maggie arranges a cure for Arthur.

The Ring Cycle

Episode 42

Arthur mistakenly trusts Robert; Maggie loses her wedding ring.

With: Judy Morris as Liz Beare, Suzanne Roylance as Deirdre