Murder Call: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3

Dead Offerings

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Episode 3.01 (37)
Wednesday, April 21, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Deborah Parsons
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones

Tessa and Steve investigate when a young blind man is found dead in his swimming pool. It is feared that the killer is copying murders that Tootsie uses as examples for her lectures. When Thorne asks Tootsie to set a trap for the killer, she uses herself as bait.

Guest Cast: Annie Byron as Madga Trabor, Danielle Long as Janice Petrie, Andrew McFarlane as Adrian MacKerras, Morgan Smallbone as Drew Leep, Kerry Walker as Iris Leep, Greg Robinson as Daniel Spivak; Stunt Performers: Greg Blandy, Deborah Boyce, Rocky McDonald, Avril Wynne

Evil Chances

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Episode 3.02 (38)
Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Andrew Kelly
Directed by Paul Faint

A sports teacher is found impaled at a boarding school where the headmistress is Fisk's older sister Lois. Tessa and Steve investigate, but Fisk is frustrated when he is taken off the case and his sister is interviewed and becomes a suspect.

Guest Cast: Rebecca Bowles as Elva McEvoy, Imelda Corcoran as Cecily Waterman, Jane Harders as Dr. Lois Fisk, Ric Herbert as Edward Stump, Rainey Mayo as Holly Ronan, Josh Picker as Ben Lipman, Bevan Wilson as Simon Moses

Tongue Tied

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Episode 3.03 (39)
Wednesday, May 05, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Peter Gawler
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones

A mutilited body is found near a church, with identical markings to the victims of a serial killer 15 years ago- Thorne's first case. Experiencing a sense of deja-vu, Thorne heads the investigation. Has the killer returned, or is this a copycat crime?

Guest Cast: Brandon Burke as Forrest Peak, Gabrielle Adkins as Virginia Peak, John Allen as Ronald Bootland, Brian Adams as Norman Grace, Harry Cripps as Joe Hargett, David Harriman as Andrew Peak, Bernadette Madell as Rosie's Mum, Veronica Porcaro as Rosie, Tove Peterson as Rosie Stunt Double

Dying Day

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Episode 3.04 (40)
Wednesday, May 12, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Rick Maier
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorn

Steve and Tessa investigate when a young woman is found hanging from a tree limb in a popular city park, and Tootsie's preliminary findings indicate it was not suicide.

Guest Cast: Bogdan Koca as Kosta Bonik, Danielle Spencer as Ingrid Nergun, Ian Stenlake as Jamie Nikolides, Karen Davidson as Annie Vega, Rob Sampson as Hamish Moodie, Murray Bartlett as Gavin Todd, Dion Hunt as Morgue Assistant.

Death in the Family

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Episode 3.05 (41)
Wednesday, May 19, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Cathryn Strickland
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones

A vagrant is found dead at an inner city underpass surrounded by the corpses of poisoned sparrows. When Tootsie diagnoses death by Strychnine, Tessa, Steve and Thorne fear that someone is out there purging the streets of the homeless. The investigation takes a twist when Fisk finds ten thousand dollars hidden in the stuffing of the vagrant's mattress, but is it enough to kill for?

Guest Cast: Brian Rooney as Nero, Camilla Ah Kin as Leila Dukakis, Duncan Wass as Matthew "Duke" Dukakis, Michael Denkha as Carlo, Michael Percival as Julius Hogg, Lisa Bailey as Fleur, May Lloyd as Faith Teldane, Cass Cumerford as Douglas Burnie, Rebecca Rogers as Security Guard, Kevin Taumata as Newspaper Vendor, Garath Gilham as Police Officer, Rebecca Ingram as Police woman.

Death Down Market

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Episode 3.06 (42)
Wednesday, June 02, 1999
Story by Duncan Ball
Screenplay by Denise Morgan
Directed by Karl Steinberg

When a woman is found murdered in a neighbourhood that is terrorised by a local gang, Steve and Tessa are called in to investigate.

Guest Cast: Linden Wilkinson as Rose Van Zeller, DJ Foster as Rov Pecci, Justin Rosniak as Luchano "Andy" Andrea, Shirley Cameron as Mrs. Darcy, Matthew Doran as Joel, Evan Sheaves as Nicolas "Trog" Andrea, Bronwyn Eather as Janet Toltz, Adam D'Amato as Stuart, Neil Young as Milos, Paul Sanders as Barman, Jane Willcox as Newsreader, Kathy McMorrow as Faith Pecci.

A Blow to the Heart

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Episode 3.07 (43)
Wednesday, June 16, 1999
Story by Kel Richards
Screenplay by Margaret Wilson
Directed by Karl Steinberg

Tessa and Steve are called in to investigate a series of murders revolving around a prominent bio-chemistry lab.

Guest Cast: Zoe Carides as Dr. Constance Young, Karen Colston as Rosemary Stone, Donal Forde as Carl Tatum, Neil Gladwin as Dr. Worthington, Douglas Hedge as Dr. Edgar Travers, Catherine Marie Jones as Elaine, Gerard Maguire as Donald Cook, John Ridley as Journalist, Amanda Shillaker as Zena Sutherland.

Bad Business

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Episode 3.08 (44)
Wednesday, June 30, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Louise Crane
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorne

A shop assistant opens up for the day in O'Leary's Dry Cleaners, but there is more hanging on the rack than coats and evening wear today… namely one very dead boss, Irene O'Leary. It looks at first as if it's a simple case of robbery ending in murder, but as the details of O'Leary's business practices unfold, it appears that there is much more to this case and Tessa and Steve soon uncover a dangerous web of blackmail and righteous fanaticism.

Guest Cast: Adam Ray as Winton Firth, Toby Villis as Edward Fry, Steve Vella as Simon Cohen, Steve Le Marquand as David Hand, Bojana Novakovic as Sophie Misfud, Amanda Crompton as Donna Lobo, Marta Kiec-Gubala as Caroline Milovitch, Shirley Murphy as Irene O'Leary, Geoff Perry as Police officer, Miladin Peric as Sophie's Dad, Richard Vaughan as Mr Isson

Hide & Seek

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Episode 3.09 (45)
Wednesday, July 14, 1999
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Chris McCourt
Directed by Russell Burton

When Cyril Crease, an elderly worker at the equally ancient Bilby Leather Factory is found dead, mangled beyond all recognition inside an industrial drum, it is initially thought to be an unfortunate accident. Tessa and Steve must race against time to avert another tragedy growing from the ruins of the first.

Guest Cast: Brian Bird as Cyril Crease, Dana Diaz'tutaan as Bopha Lyng, Justin Green as Cain Marsden, Harold Hopkins as Brian Capper, Celia Ireland as Barb Ferris, Faye Montgomery as Ena Harding, Sandy Winton as Peter Sharp, Rob Greenough as Cyril Stunt Double

Booming Business

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Episode 3.10 (460
Wednesday, July 28, 1999
Story by Duncan Ball
Screenplay by Daniel Krige, Louise Crane
Directed by Julian McSwiney

Tessa and Steve uncover a web of intrigue surrounding businessman Brian Hart's horrific death when he is killed as he commutes to work by train when a letter bomb concealed in a card explodes. Tessa and Steve are confronted by a bewildering array of suspects and motives to finally apprehend the person they believe to be the killer, only to realise at the last moment that they only have it half right.

Guest Cast: Suzanne Devery as Barbara Tovish, Sebastian Goldspink as Jeremy Tonks, Gabrielle Hammond as Sally Hart, Jim Holt as Graham Hart, Emily Howe as Judith Beacroft, Sean McKenzie as Brian Hart, Peter Scrine as Bomb Technician, Martin Vaughan as Walter Hart

Cut and Dried

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Episode 3.11 (47)
Wednesday, August 04, 1999
Story by Jenny Pausacker
Screenplay by Louise Crane
Directed by Ray Quint

When a man's head is found mounted in a taxidermist's shop Tessa and Steve's investigation is caught in the crossfire between the local gun club and an anti-gun lobby.

Guest Cast: Michala Banas as Kylie McDonald, Nicholas Bishop as Marshall Bowdon, Tim Elliott as Arthur Smith, Barry Kennedy as Daniel Traynor, Scott Milling as Joe, Ken Porter as Hunter, Tom Richards as Stan Greaves, Alyson Standen as Sheridan Traynor

Note: this was the last episode to air in the series' regular timeslot before the series was cancelled. The remaining episodes would not air until the following year.

A Stab in the Dark

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Episode 3.12 (48)
Monday, August 14, 2000
Story by Kel Richards
Screenplay by David Phillips
Directed by Julian McSwiney

When horror novelist Sebastian Tombs is found lying dead with a knife in his back, Tessa and Steve must investigate the four people closest to him, each of whom has a strong motive for committing the murder.

Guest Cast: Danielle Nuss as Gilly Londsdale, Alison Van Reeken as Miranda Tombs, Kate Raison as Abigail Easton, Bartholomew Johns as Sebastian Tombs, Andrew Lloyde as Hugh Hollingsworth, Marilyn Allen as Inge Kohlmann, Adrian Adam as Solicitor

Paid in Full

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Episode 3.13 (49)
Monday, August 28, 2000
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Chris Hawkshaw
Directed by Julian McSwiney

A man's body is found floating in a spa, a large roll of cash stuffed into his mouth. Steve and Tessa discover that almost everyone who knew him had a reason to kill him.

Guest Cast: Sarah Aubrey as Amy Simms, Josef Ber as Michael Frampton, Ashley Bindon as Ralph Eadie, Lynette Curran as Janet Simms, Liddy Holloway as Delia Frampton, Paul Kelman as Ernie Meinhardt, Amar as Young Man (Damien), Grant Page as Lindsay Frampton

Grave Matters

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Episode 3.14 (50)
Monday, August 21, 2000
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Sally Webb
Directed by Richard Sarell

As a crypt is opened for an interment, the funeral goers are shocked to discover the sarcophagus already occupied by the corpse of a young woman holding a rare orchid in her hand.

Guest Cast: Damian de Montemas as Shane De Bono, Zena Cumpston as Gabriella Ghiberti, Arianthe Galani as Antionette De Bono, John Cuffe as Tony De Bono, Kerry Casey as Carlo Ghiberti, Daniel Guia as Gino Merotti, Phoebe Hennesy as Katie Pryor

Last Act

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Episode 3.15 (51)
Monday, September 04, 2000
Story by Jean Bedford
Screenplay by Margaret Wilson
Directed by Steve Mann

A busker suffers from hallucinations while performing mime outside a train station. When he collapses and dies, Tootsie's autopsy points to poisoning.

Guest Cast: Aaron Jeffery as Rory Simmons, Marta Dusseldorp as Marion Dreyfuss, Justin Ratcliffe as Jared Hawker, Lenka Kripac as Lily Aureli, Jan Kingsbury as Anita Aureli, Daniel Dinnen as Tim Cooke, Sean Kramer as McGee, Lea Patterson as Railway Guard

Scent of Evil

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Episode 3.16 (52)
Monday, September 11, 2000
Story by John Banas
Screenplay by Susan Hore
Directed by Steve Mann

A woman is ripped to shreds by savage dogs on the grounds of an empty house. Steve and Tessa must determine whether her death was an accident, or if the dogs were trained to kill by someone with a grudge and a vicious streak.

Guest Cast: Caitlin Ashton as Samantha Reading, Shane Briant as Willard Thatcher, Noel Hodda as Jack Turkington, Kimberley Joseph as Andrea Thatcher, Siobhan Lawless as Emma Chambers, Paul Mercurio as Travis Draper, Damian Pike as Nigel Warner, Tricia Jones as Woman with Poodles

Still Life

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Episode 3.17 (53)
Monday, September 18, 2000
Story by Karen Petersen
Screenplay by David Phillips
Directed by Karl Steinberg

At the opening night of his exhibition, artist Vincent Osborne's head is discovered inside his own death mask.

Guest Cast: Rose Byrne as Sarah Watson, Sandy Gore as Penny Satchwell, Bob Hornery as Warren Leyman, Peter Kowitz as Richard Nossiter, Franko Milostnik as Franco Garcia, Chris Mitchell as Security Guard, Steve Ostrow as Neighbour

Absent Friends

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Episode 3.18 (54)
Monday, September 25, 2000
Story by Jennifer Rowe
Screenplay by Katherine Thomson
Directed by Chris Martin-Jones

While attending a school reunion, Tessa is called to a homicide on the school grounds. The victim is one of her friends — stabbed in a reenactment of a Muckup Day prank, leaving Tessa as either a suspect, or another possible victim.

Guest Cast: Rodney Bell as Nick Tesoreiro, Richard Cass as Policeman, Max Hart as Caterer, Lisbeth Kennelly as Geraldine Murray, Chris King as Detective Roudonikis, Lou Pollard as Poppy Tremaine, Nicole Stinton as M.C., Ling Hsueh Tang as Emma Trimble, Vivienne Walsha as Roxanne Meninders

House of Spirits

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Episode 3.19 (55)
Monday, October 02, 2000
Story by Kel Richards
Screenplay by Charlie Strachan
Directed by Grant Brown

Tessa and Steve investigate when a psychic conducting a séance in a storm-swept house is shot dead by the ghost of the man he was trying to contact.

Guest Cast: Ralph Cotterill as Talkback Tel/Arthur Pitman, Brett Fellows as Ian Pitman, Kathryn Hartman as Lisa Herriman, Clarissa House as Helen Pitman, Helen O'Leary as Sestina Pitman, Julian Pulvermacher as Quentin Warburton, Anna Volska as Gillian Pitman, Adrian Adam as Northe

Note: guest actor Anna Volska (pictured) is Lucy Bell's mother (her father is John Bell, founder and artistic director of the Bell Shakespeare Company)

Done to Death

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Episode 3.20 (56)
Monday, October 09, 2000
Story by Helen Robinson
Screenplay by Deborah Parsons
Directed by Paul Faint

The cleaner at an up-market beauty parlour makes a gruesome find — the proprietor strung up in a tanning booth and roasted like a pig-on-a-spit. Tessa and Steve's investigation uncovers a wealth of secrets and resentments harboured from birth.

Guest Cast: Bridie Carter as Jessica Millay, Bill Conn as Ivor Peters, Shelley Johnston as Ellen Brennan, Jacquelyn Jones as Tanya Murray, Eric Oldfield as Shaun Brennan, Jeremiah Tickell as Handy Davis, Ken Welsh as James Florie